Wandering Eyes

5). CURTAIN CALL, SAR, 7/12, 6 furlongs (VIDEO) R1 Beyer Speed Figure- 82 (c, 2, by Tiz the Law–Deep Trouble, by Into Mischief). O-West Point Thoroughbreds. B-Nancy Stone (Fla). T-Mark Casse. J-Jose Ortiz. Tim Wilkin related in TDN how Casse sent West Point's Terry Finley a simple text message to sum up his opinion about Curtain Call. Actually, it was a photo–of a Porsche. And Curtain Call lived up to the private hype in Saturday's Saratoga opener, blowing away even-money Tagermeen to the tune of 8 1/2 lengths. Curtain Call can be forgiven for his well-beaten debut second last month at Churchill Downs: he was up against future Sanford Stakes winner Obliteration. 4). STURDY, SAR, 7/13, 1 1/8 miles (3rd) (VIDEO) R1 Beyer Speed Figure- 82 (g, 4, by Mitole–Holidays Saratoga, by Harlan's Holiday) O-Repole Stable and R.A. Hill Stable. B-ERJ Racing (Ky). T-George Weaver. J-Manny Franco. Here's a son of sprint champion Mitole who clearly prefers to run at least nine furlongs. He makes the list this week by virtue of his third at that distance Sunday at Saratoga, crossing the wire 5 1/4 lengths back after rallying from last in the five-horse field. He's now an eight-race maiden, but against fast competition that has included Locked, Domestic Product and Strategic Focus. 3). RUNAWAY AGAIN, WO, 7/13, 1 1/16 miles (VIDEO) R2 Beyer Speed Figure- 83 (g, 3, by Hard Spun–Golden Venus, by Storm Cat) O-Stronach Stable. B-Adena Springs (Ont-C). Trainer-Sid Attard. Jockey-Ryan Munger. A blast from the past: owned and bred by 92-year-old Frank Stronach, as a product of his Ontario Adena Springs operation. Attard chose two turns for Runaway Again's debut for good reason—the gelding quickly dropped to last and trailed by seven lengths before his second-turn rally saw him strike the front at the quarter pole. His five siblings to race were all cheap claimers, but go back another generation and his unraced dam is a half-sister to Stronach stars Awesome Again and Macho Uno. 2). CHILLAX, SAR, 7/13, 1 1/8 miles (2nd) (VIDEO) R1 Beyer Speed Figure- 87 (c, 3, by Bernardini–Keepshercool by Smart Strike) O/B-Godolphin (Ky). T-Bill Mott. J-Junior Alvarado. The talent is there, but for a third straight race Chillax cruised to the pacesetter in upper stretch as if victory was inevitable, only to be rebuffed…or to hang, in which case Mott will likely come up with a solution. Godolphin paid $110,000 for his dam, who is out of Santa Anita Oaks/Las Virgenes/Oak Leaf winner (and Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies runner-up) Composure. 1). CLASSICIST, SAR, 7/13, 1 1/8 miles (1st) (VIDEO) R1 Beyer Speed Figure- 90 (c, 3, by Curlin–Playtime, by Street Cry {Ire}) O/B-St. Elias Stables (Ky). T-Todd Pletcher. J-Irad Ortiz, Jr. He's the colt who rebuffed Chillax after setting the fractions– and he was running for the first time in 9 1/2 months, having trained steadily in the Pletcher program since mid-April. Vinny Viola bought dam Playtime from the late Dinny Phipps about a decade ago, and she couldn't run much, but she has already produced a graded winner in Jouster. And there's this: Playtime's dam is Phipps champion Storm Flag Flying, which means, of course, the third and fourth dams on the pedigree page are My Flag and Personal Ensign. The post The Five Fastest Maidens for the Week, Presented by Taylor Made, of July 6 -13 appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

GSW/MGISP Mopotism (Uncle Mo), the dam of GI Preakness Stakes winner and this weekend's GI Haskell Stakes favorite Journalism, has died from complications of colic, Don Alberto Corp confirmed Tuesday. Social media posts, which credit an Instagram message, read: “Mopotism, mother of Journalism, has died due to complications from colic at Don Alberto USA. She leaves two unraced products, a yearling filly daughter of Into Mischief and a 2-month old filly by Flightline.” Don Alberto mourned the loss of their mare with the following message: “We are heartbroken to report the loss of our mare Mopotism, due to complications related to colic. She was a gift to all those that got to know her beautiful eye, strong mind, and gentle way. We are grateful to everyone that has taken care of her over the years and poured so much love into her each day. We are humbled to watch the brilliance of her son, Journalism, and to know that her legacy will continue through him and her other foals. On to greener pastures, Mopo. You will be dearly missed.” The post Mopotism, Dam Of Journalism, Dies From Colic Complications appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Sandra Russell, breeder of Grade I winner Excellent Truth, opens up about the emotion surrounding that top-notch triumph Much of the attention surrounding Excellent Truth's breakthrough success at the highest level at Saratoga last weekend revolved around the game's larger than life owner John Stewart. And rightly so given it was the man behind Resolute Racing who forked out €1.6 million for the daughter of Cotai Glory at the Arqana Breeding Stock Sale last December. But a little over 3,000 miles away from Saratoga, the magnitude of what Excellent Truth had just achieved in out-battling race favourite She Feels Pretty to record that memorable Dunkin' Diana Stakes victory, was being felt in Bansha, County Tipperary, by the mare's breeder Sandra Russell. “For someone like me to dine at the top table is out of this world because there are not many seats at that table,” Russell surmised of her greatest achievement in bloodstock. “I watched the race from behind the cushion! I lived in America for a number of years so I got lots of texts and calls from people straight after the race. There was plenty of chatting and celebrating late into the night and it was just absolutely fabulous. She is the best horse I have bred.” She added, “I bred Ventura Diamond, who won a listed race for Richard Fahey, and Cowardofthecounty as well. Ventura Diamond was the first black-type horse I bred but, definitely, Excellent Truth is the best.” Russell is the definition of a small breeder. She keeps seven or eight mares of her own but it's the boarding arm of her business that puts bread on the table. Excellent Truth's dam Moment Of Truth, who was sourced for just €14,000 at Goffs in 2016, has in Russell's own words allowed her to dine at the top table. And what an experience this has been. “The big thing that attracted me to Moment Of Truth was the fact she was by Teofilo,” Russell explained. “She is a big, scopey mare, which tends to be the type of mare I am drawn to. The dam of Ventura Diamond, Shehila (Zamindar), was the very same. I can remember when I got her home I actually got a fright. I am not a tall person but I thought I must have been on stilts at the sales.” She added, “But Moment Of Truth had a very kind eye and temperament is a huge thing for me. She had a very good back page as well. Okay, the mare hadn't done it but, if she had, we wouldn't have been able to afford her. I am not sure if Tony O'Callaghan remembers or not but he was bidding on the mare at one point. When I went out to him afterwards, he said to me, 'sure you might consider sending the mare to Mehmas'. He was just starting off at the time so we sent her to Mehmas and the resulting progeny [Memo De L'Alguer] was sold to Italy where she got black-type. The same connections bought the Gutaifan the following year and then along came the Cotai Glory filly, which ended up being Excellent Truth.” Many people would be quick to seek praise for what has turned out to be a clever mating but Russell is not one to go down that road. Instead, she puts producing a breakthrough Grade I winner down to nothing more than pure chance. Sandra Ruseell: with Ventura Diamond at Tattersalls Recalling the mating, she says with refreshing honesty, “There was no planning in using Cotai Glory. I can't take any great credit for that aspect of it. Maybe it was as simple as a quick call to Roger O'Callaghan to find out what stallion was free at the time and Cotai Glory being the one who was available. We cover a lot of mares here given we look after a lot of UK-based clients so there are lorries going in every direction in the height of the breeding season. To be fair to Roger, Tony and Henry, they would never steer you wrong. They have been very, very loyal to this mare down through the years and she has been good to all of us.” The latest progeny from Moment Of Truth, a Starman colt by the name of Armstrong, who made a promising debut for Al Shaqab and Amo Racing for trainer George Boughey when third at Lingfield, is a good example of how things have worked out well for both Russell and the O'Callaghans. Tally-Ho signed for Armstrong at the Goffs November Foal Sale for €115,000 before reoffering him at what turned out to be a memorable Book 1 session of the October Yearling Sale at Tattersalls, where he sold to his current connections for 260,000gns. He remains a colt of some promise and Russell revealed that she has repaid the favour to the Westmeath men in recent years. As the saying goes, if it's not broken, don't fix it. Russell said, “She has a lovely Good Guess filly foal on the ground and is back in foal to Big Evs. I felt I had to be loyal to the O'Callaghan family as they have pretty much made the mare. I felt I couldn't shop elsewhere. Other people may have felt that they could go to more proven stallions but I think you have to be honest in this game, too. On a separate point, Cotai Glory is a flaking horse and this is a reminder of what he can do as well.” She added, “I remember speaking with Gavin O'Connor, who works for John Stewart at Resolute Racing, after they bought Excellent Truth at Arqana. I nearly fell off the edge of my chair when that happened. But I thought it was interesting that Gavin said that this mare matched up very well on whatever scoring system they use. They really liked the cross, which is why they were so keen on her. Look, they've been proved right with their Group I win and isn't it great to see? John Stewart has put a lot of money into the game and I'm thrilled to see them having some success. Those guys that put in the big money, they need the results. It's unfamiliar territory for me but I'm enjoying it also.” And with this newfound success there inevitably comes some big questions. Excellent Truth's dam has now become quite a sought after broodmare. Updates like this don't come around very often and, when they do, it's hard not to cash in. Bills need to be paid and books need to be balanced. So will her breeder sell? Russell explained, “That question has been asked and, to be honest, it will probably work out that I won't be able to afford to keep her. I suppose, with having a filly on the ground out of her, it would open the door to selling the mare. In a dream world, I would race the Good Guess filly but I am only a small player and there are plenty of bills that need to be paid so we'll see. They are nice thoughts to have anyway.” In many ways, Russell's story speaks to everything that is great about this game and can provide inspiration for people in similar positions. After spending a little shy of a decade honing her craft with some of the sharpest minds in bloodstock over in America, Russell returned home to Ireland with not much by way of a plan but a strong desire to make a go of it by herself. By surrounding herself with good people and even better horses, she has scaled heights that were at one point unimaginable and admits to being unable to wipe the smile from her face since Excellent Truth crossed the winning line in front on Saturday. She said, “I'm in my early 50s – I won't say how early or late! I spent eight-and-a-half years working for Robbie Lyons in America. Robbie, Gerry Dilger and Mike Ryan were some of the first guys who started pinhooking foals to yearlings and they had a big syndicate going. That was an incredible experience and I learned so much from those guys. The contacts and friends for life that I made in America were amazing but I came back to Ireland in the early 2000s not really with any great plan. I realised pretty quickly that pinhooking was not going to be an option because the market was quite saturated. I was in my early 30s at the time and went and worked in Mount Coote Stud with Luke and Alan Lillingston for a year. I suppose I had a desire to go out and do things on my own and this farm in Bansha became available in 2004. I knew the owners, Jim and Kate Nicholson, who were good friends of the family. So I decided to give it a go and we've been here ever since. “Jim and Kate are good friends with Kirsten Rausing and she was one of the first people who sent me mares for boarding. She has become a good friend of mine and is a wonderful sounding board to have. We also board mares and foal mares for Stringston Farm, Ed Player, Tom Blain as well as Clive and Tina Cox. I have surrounded myself with good people and have just been so lucky with the support. Looking back on it now, it was probably pure madness to set up on my own in my early 30s. If a bank manager were to have asked me back then what my 10-year plan was, I don't think I'd have been able to provide them with a 10-month plan. But thankfully it has all worked out.” Russell concluded, “People have been so kind. From the top down, the amount of people who have congratulated me has been amazing. They all know how hard it is to produce a horse like Excellent Truth and the amount of messages and calls we have received has been crazy. The phone has been going non-stop ever since the race. We're just thrilled. I haven't been able to wipe the smile off my face since Saturday. It's just fantastic.” The post ‘I Watched Excellent Truth From Behind A Cushion – It Was Crazy’ appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

After becoming his first graded stakes and grade 1 winner last fall, Scottish Lassie will aim to give trainer and co-owner Jorge Abreu another milestone of his first graded winner at Saratoga July 19 in the $500,000 Coaching Club American Oaks (G1).View the full article

The top 10 of the latest National Thoroughbred Racing Association Top Thoroughbred Poll remains virtually unchanged. But the big mover is Far Bridge, who shot into the No. 10 spot after not getting votes a week ago.View the full article

The TDN's Christina Bossinakis, senior editor for the Thoroughbred Daily News and a prominent TV racing personality, has been named the winner of the 2025 Bill Handleman Award for outstanding coverage of last year's NYRA Bets Haskell Stakes, Monmouth Park announced Tuesday. First presented in 2012, the Handleman Award honors distinguished media coverage of the GI NYRA Bets Haskell Stakes, Monmouth Park's showcase race. It is presented annually prior to the Haskell. The award honors the late Bill Handleman, one of New Jersey's top sportswriters for nearly three decades for the Asbury Park Press. Handleman, a fixture at Monmouth Park and a passionate chronicler of the sport, died in June of 2010 at the age of 62. Bossinakis, who hails from Montreal, Canada, has worked as an on-air racing analyst, as a TV handicapper and paddock reporter and as a racing TV show host in addition to her role at Thoroughbred Daily News. She co-authored the book “Sermon on the Mount” with the late Hall of Fame trainer D. Wayne Lukas. “This means a lot. I've always had a soft spot for Monmouth Park from working there with TVG,” Bossinakis said. “I have spent a lot of time with the people at Monmouth Park, so it makes it a special honor for me. It's nice to feel rewarded when you put your heart and soul into something you love, so I am very appreciative.” Monmouth Park general manager John Heims called Bossinakis “the consummate professional.” “Her knowledge of Thoroughbred racing, both historical and current, never fails to impress,” said Heims. “In addition to her excellent coverage of last year's Haskell on the Thoroughbred Daily News site, she has excelled in a variety of roles in the racing industry.” Bossinakis joins a list of recipients that include Tom Luicci of The Star-Ledger, followed by Steve Edelson of The Asbury Park Press in 2013, Dave Johnson of Sirius XM in 2014, Ed McNamara of Newsday in 2015, Bob Ehalt of ESPN.com and Bloodhorse in 2016, Tom Cassidy of TVG.com in 2017, Jim Dunleavy of Daily Racing Form in 2018, Mike Farrell of The Associated Press in 2019, Steve Byk of At the Races With Steve Byk in 2020, Matt Shifman of Horse Racing Nation in 2021, John Brennan of usbets.com in 2022, announcer/TV racing analyst Larry Collmus in 2023 and videographer Carlos Morales of Agentes 305 last year. The post TDN’s Christina Bossinakis Named 2025 Bill Handleman Award Winner appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

A rematch between Minnie Hauk (Frankel) and Whirl (Wootton Bassett) in Saturday's G1 Juddmonte Irish Oaks at the Curragh is unlikely, according to trainer Aidan O'Brien, who was responsible for six of the nine fillies left in the Classic on Tuesday. Just a neck separated the two stablemates when they met in the Oaks at Epsom, with Minnie Hauk edging ahead in the final strides to get the better of the gutsy Whirl, who has since gained a first Group 1 success of her own when seeing off her elders to win the Pretty Polly Stakes at the Curragh. Following that form boost, Minnie Hauk is the odds-on favourite with bookmakers to emulate Lambourn by completing a Classic double for her connections, who also have Bedtime Story (Frankel), Butterfly Wings (Justify), Island Hopping (Wootton Bassett) and Merrily (No Nay Never) still in contention for the Irish Oaks. “They probably won't both run, I'd imagine,” O'Brien said of Minnie Hauk and Whirl. “We were thinking that Whirl and Bedtime Story might go for the Nassau Stakes at Goodwood over 10 furlongs. Whirl came back to a mile and a quarter last time in the Pretty Polly and she was happy over that distance.” He added, “Minnie Hauk has been fine since Epsom. She had a little break and everything has been good since.” Fozzy Stack's Bay Colony (New Bay), Johnny Murtagh's Subsonic (Lope De Vega) and Joseph O'Brien's Wemightakedlongway (Australia) are the other confirmations. The post Ballydoyle Dominate Irish Oaks Confirmations, But Epsom Rematch Unlikely appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Ellis Park and the Kentucky HBPA will present College Day on Sunday, July 27 with 27 lucky full-time students winning a prize. In partnership with Ellis Park, the Kentucky Horsemen's Benevolent & Protective Association will conduct three separate drawings before each of nine races to give out a $1,000 scholarship, an iPad Mini with AirPods package and a $150 Amazon gift card. First post is 11:50 a.m. CST and full-time students can register throughout the afternoon to be eligible for any remaining drawings. Representatives from the University of Kentucky's Ag Equine programs, the University of Louisville's Equine Industry Program and the Kentucky Equine Management Internship (KEMI) will be on hand to provide information to current and future undergraduate and graduate students interested in a potential career in the horse industry or who want to learn more about the commonwealth's signature tourism leader and agribusiness. “The fastest route to making a new horse-racing fan is first getting them to the track,” said Alex Foley, the Kentucky HBPA's Executive Director. “This is a great collaboration with Ellis Park to invest in our future, and we're delighted to have UK, U of L and KEMI on hand. What college student can't use $1,000, an iPad Mini and AirPods or Amazon gift card? It's free admission and parking every day at Ellis Park and Sunday's are Kentucky HBPA Dollar Days with $1 hot dogs. College Day is a fun, affordable way for college students to come out with friends or family. You don't have to know anything about horse racing to enjoy the excitement and beauty of the sport.” A valid college I.D. or letter of admission is required to register for the drawings, with incoming freshmen welcome. Those attending or enrolled for the fall term at a two- or four-year college, graduate school, professional school, vocational, technical, barber or another post-high school program that qualifies for federal aid are eligible. Students must register in person, be present to win and can only enter once. Said Steve Roof, General Manager, Owensboro Racing & Gaming/Ellis Park Racing & Gaming: “We're excited to continue our support of Kentucky HBPA College Day at Ellis Park. This event reflects our ongoing commitment to education and the future of our community.” The post Kentucky HBPA And Ellis Park To Host College Day July 27 appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

The newly-published catalogue for the Goffs Premier Yearling Sale features entries from many of Europe's leading sires, as well as first-season sensation Starman, who is responsible for 17 of the 409 “athletic, precocious Doncaster yearlings” set to go under the hammer on Wednesday, August 27 and Thursday, August 28. Last year Starman was responsible for two of the top five lots, including the subsequent G3 Fillies Sprint Stakes heroine Lady Iman, one of 16 individual winners for her leading first-season sire in 2025. The notable yearlings by Starman featuring in the 2025 catalogue include lot 118, a filly out of the G3 Prix d'Arenberg winner Corazon from the Tally-Ho Stud draft. Sergei Prokofiev and Sioux Nation boast the strongest representation numerically with 21 and 18 yearlings, respectively, while leading two-year-old stallions Mehmas and Havana Grey also feature prominently, having joined Starman among the top three sires by aggregate at last year's sale. The 14 yearlings by Mehmas in the 2025 catalogue include lot 290, a colt out of a full-sister to the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint winner Mischief Magic, while lot 108, a colt out of the G3 Premio Carlo e Francesco Aloisi winner Charline Royale, features among the 13 by Havana Grey. Elite sires such as Blue Point, Dark Angel, Kingman and No Nay Never are represented in smaller numbers, along with Wootton Bassett, whose sole offering is lot 384, a colt out of a half-sister to the G1 Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud hero Broome, plus the Group 2 winners Point Lonsdale and Diego Velazquez. Caturra (14 yearlings), Persian Force (13) and Minzaal (11) lead the way among the stallions with their first yearlings on the market. Those by Persian Force include lot 146, Camas Park Stud's half-brother to the G3 Coral Charge Sprint winner and G1 Nunthorpe Stakes third Extortionist, while lot 41 is a Minzaal half-sister to the G1 Prix Jean Romanet scorer Aristia. Other potential highlights include lot 236, a Muhaarar half-brother to the Group 1-winning sprinter and sire Sands Of Mali; lot 332, a Too Darn Hot colt out of the Listed-placed mare Perfect Blessings, from the family of the Group 1 winner Polydream; and lot 383, an Oasis Dream colt out of a half-sister to the G1 1,000 Guineas heroine Cachet. Barton Stud's Soldier's Call filly, who will be offered as lot 279, also promises to attract plenty of interest after she received a significant pedigree update last weekend. She is out of a half-sister to the dam of the G1 July Cup heroine No Half Measures, who was bought by trainer Richard Hughes for £34,000 at the Premier Yearling Sale back in 2022. In 2023, Arizona Blaze (£82,000) and Sayidah Dariyan (£35,000) were both five-figure purchases at this sale, before going on to finish second and fourth, respectively, in this year's G1 Commonwealth Cup at Royal Ascot, while Listed National Stakes winner Anthelia joins Lady Iman among the best performers so far to have been sold at Doncaster last year. Anthelia is set to line up in Saturday's Weatherbys Super Sprint Stakes at Newbury, before a potential appearance in the Harry's Half Million By Goffs. All lots catalogued for the Premier Yearling Sale are eligible to run in that valuable contest at York's Ebor Festival. Goffs UK managing director Tim Kent said, “Premier continues to deliver the results all around the world, and it seems fitting that it produced the winner of one of the season's most prestigious sprint races, the July Cup with No Half Measures, on the eve of the release of the 2025 catalogue. “The sale's two-year-old record speaks for itself – season after season this sale outperforms all others and we are seeing that again in 2025 with Premier having a comfortable lead over its competition in terms of two-year-old winners.” He added, “As in previous years, all yearlings offered will be eligible for entry into Premier's enduringly popular sales race which was renamed Harry's Half Million by Goffs last year. With an increased guaranteed prize fund of £500,000, the launch of the upgraded race was a big success last year, and the huge uptake from buyers saw its prize-money increase further to just shy of £620,000 in 2024, a great endorsement of the race which continues to be a major draw card for buyers. “We have been travelling around the world to promote this sale and we will continue to do so in the build-up to the event, and we look forward to hosting the 2025 Harry's Half Million by Goffs at the fabulous York Ebor Festival before the sale on 27 & 28 August.” The post Elite Sires and Emerging Forces Headline Premier Yearling Sale Catalogue appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Taking the waters proved a fairly literal recreation through opening week at the Spa. Despite short fields and soggy turf, however, there were one or two sunbeams for those who relish a pedigree. 'TDN Rising Star' Far Bridge (English Channel) was scarcely a revelation in outclassing three rivals for the GII Bowling Green Stakes, his fifth graded success in his last seven starts. But his overall body of work and deeper family together demand the opportunity, someday, to extend his sire's legacy at stud. Admittedly Far Bridge's page features little else in his immediate vicinity, but his dam (by English Channel's great rival as a turf influence, Kitten's Joy) had tragically limited opportunity. And the maternal line had previously been sown by A.P. Indy, Storm Cat, Pleasant Colony, Northern Dancer and Bold Ruler. That's because it eventually traces to Lea Lark (Bull Lea), ancestress of over 50 elite winners. This branch of her dynasty, through a daughter by Bold Ruler, has produced two names especially resonant in Argentina: Southern Halo and Blue Prize (Pure Prize). And the genes certainly seemed to be functioning when Far Bridge's third dam, Pleasant Temper (Storm Cat), won two graded stakes on grass; and indeed when subsequently producing the dam of millionaire Long Range Toddy (Take Charge Indy). Pleasant Temper additionally produced a couple of stakes performers while her daughter by A.P. Indy, Teenage Temper, showed early talent in winning a Churchill maiden by daylight and following up in an allowance. But she regressed thereafter and, after a tepid start to her breeding career, was sold as a 12-year-old for $70,000 at the 2013 Keeneland January Sale, in foal to Kitten's Joy. The resulting filly, retained by the mare's purchasers at Calumet, showed modest ability on grass as Fitpitcher–gaining her solitary win in a Suffolk Downs maiden–but not enough to prevent her dam being culled as soon as 2017 for just $3,000. The Oklahoma buyers of Teenage Temper were given brief excitement when her Oxbow colt won a dirt sprint on debut at Oaklawn, but he disappeared after his next start to leave the page looking pretty stale. Fitpitcher appeared unlikely to stoke the embers when her first foal, an English Channel filly, was sold as a weanling for $1,000, duly finishing tailed off in two maiden claimers. Wherever she is now, however, she has meanwhile soared up in the world. Her dam's next foal is the third-highest domestic earner by Bal a Bali (Brz)–a limited distinction, true, but arguably all the more meritorious as a result. And then, having returned to English Channel, Fitpitcher produced a son who, as a sophomore early in 2023, won his first two starts at Gulfstream. A private purchase by LSU Stables proved ahead of the curve. For hindsight discloses that this horse–and we are, of course, talking about Far Bridge–beat none other than 'TDN Rising Star' Carl Spackler (Ire) (Lope De Vega {Ire}) on debut. Some maiden, that anticipates six Grade I prizes in one photo! Far Bridge won his first that summer, in the Belmont Derby, but has reached a still higher level with maturity–just as we know to expect from the Smart Strike line, as branded by English Channel alongside Curlin and Lookin At Lucky. The latter has now remained in Chile, where he's properly appreciated, but earlier this month offered a rebuke to the market that deplored his “uncommercial” stock when the exemplary Amerman program added homebred Test Score (another, incidentally, out of a mare by Kitten's Joy) to the Belmont Derby roll of honor. The Amermans have now won both runnings since Far Bridge, last year with a son of their own stallion, Oscar Performance, in Trikari. Test Score's nearest pursuer, incidentally, was also by Oscar Performance–whose accession as principal heir to Kitten's Joy has proved as seamless as it is unequivocal. Now we just need a horse to perform a similar service for English Channel, who never achieved even the commercial traction of Kitten's Joy but ended up insisting on an equal share of hegemony–such as it can be, nowadays–among Kentucky grass stallions. English Channel died eight months before Kitten's Joy, in 2021, and is now down to his final sophomores (from a crop of just 45 live foals). Many of his best sons have been geldings, while the couple at stud will do well to carve a lasting foothold from the little support they have received. Sadly Fitpitcher died the same year as English Channel, but two of her three foals figure among the highest achievers by their respective sires. That obviously counts for far more with one than the other, but suggests her to have been competently reviving a faded branch of a noble dynasty. Given that Far Bridge, as a runner, is displaying precisely those hallmarks that distinguished English Channel on the track, he's suggesting an auspicious capacity for replication top and bottom. It's a long way to dry land, for any turf stallion tried in Kentucky, but here's a bridge that may yet reach the far bank. Deep Satin | Sarah Andrew A Rose With Deep Roots An even glossier pedigree on the Saratoga grass last week was that of the meet's first black-type scorer. Unsurprisingly De La Rose Stakes winner Deep Satin (American Pharoah) was never offered at auction by John Gunther and his daughter Tanya, being out of one of their most cherished mares, Take the Ribbon. Herself a graded stakes winner on turf, Take the Ribbon's half-sister is Glinda the Good (Hard Spun), the dam of Good Magic. All of us should by now be making progress in imitating the way the Gunthers go about matings–or should at least be trying our best!–and the luminous feature of the one that produced Deep Satin is inbreeding to broodmare legend Toussaud (El Gran Senor). One of her sons, Chester House, sired Take the Ribbon; another, Empire Maker, is grandsire of American Pharoah. This page could yet develop significantly within the same barn through Deep Satin's half-brother Deep Manhattan (Justify), who beat Tom's Magic–another son of Justify, meanwhile winner of two stakes–by five lengths at the Fair Grounds last November. Patiently restored after a setback, he's back breezing and remains an exciting prospect. Beau Cuts An Early Dash For now we can only be talking about straws in the wind. But two stakes winners already make Beau Liam a match for all the other first-crop sires combined, only Yaupon and Leinster otherwise mustering one apiece. And that's absolutely consistent with his profile to this point, the son of Liam's Map having included home runs of $270,000, $220,000, $200,000 and $195,000 among a first crop of yearlings conceived at just $6,000. This was a meteor of a sprinter, brief but bright: his 'TDN Rising Star' debut at Churchill, in 1:08.62, remains the fastest 6f maiden at that storied track; on his next start at Saratoga, his 106 Beyer jostles only Jackie's Warrior (107) and Life Is Good (106) among 7f sophomores of that crop; and he then doubled down with a 107 when burning off his pursuers over 6.5f, again at Saratoga, in 1:15 flat. Beaten a length on his graded stakes debut, he was not seen again–but a flying start in his second career reminds us how his genes stack up, too. His dam Belle of Perintown (by the excellent distaff influence Dehere) won the GII Silverbulletday Stakes and has additionally produced graded stakes and stakes winners, plus a stakes-placed Grade I producer. And the granddam is an unraced daughter of Mr. Prospector and GI Fantasy Stakes winner/GI Kentucky Oaks runner-up Jeanne Jones (Nijinsky), herself half-sister to Avenue of Flags (Seattle Slew). Beau Liam at Saratoga | Sarah Andrew Pitched at such a fair price, Beau Liam can go to war with 81 named foals. Not quite a match for Yaupon, with a class-high 115, and that horse duly cuts out the early running with six winners from 14 starters including dual black-type scorer 'TDN Rising Star' Sassy C W. The other with an early stakes strike, Leinster in Florida, has three winners from six including Lennilu, who additionally placed at Royal Ascot. That suggests Leinster to be overcoming his own template, having needed 13 attempts before breaking his maiden at four but finishing with three graded stakes in his final four starts, in between beaten a length at the Breeders' Cup. He appears to be purveying significantly more precocity, along with his speed, at just $2,500. Mischief Into Uncharted Territory Just a footnote, here, but that doesn't diminish a historic moment. It's just that we have said it all before, and will be seeking new ways of saying it all again when he matches Bold Ruler this year with a seventh consecutive title. Moreover the transfer of the sceptre has been inevitable for a long time. The least we can do, however, is draw your attention to the fact that Into Mischief has just overtaken Tapit as the richest stallion in American history. Spendthrift's champion now stands on $218,217,957, having edged past his venerable rival on $217,828,604. As we've often noted, libido and fertility have given Into Mischief virtually identical volume to this point, despite Tapit having four more crops. And his upgrading mares are meanwhile closing the gap, in elite ratios: in fact he has now reached parity, in black-type scorers, at 10 percent of named foals. For now Tapit retains a marginal edge in graded stakes/Grade I action, but the trends here will presumably prove just as inexorable as the one that has brought Into Mischief to this fresh summit. The post Breeding Digest: A Bridge Across The Channel appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Some of the most highly anticipated races during the summer season are the 'baby' races during the boutique meetings at Saratoga and Del Mar and at Ellis Park, which attract its fair share of high-priced juveniles from a variety of top national outfits. Summer Breezes, sponsored by OBS Sales, highlights debuting and stakes-entered 2-year-olds at those meetings that have been sourced at the breeze-up sales earlier in the year, including links to their under-tack previews. Here are the horses entered for Wednesday at Saratoga. Wednesday, July 16, 2025 Saratoga 5, $90k, 2yo, (S), 5 1/2fT, 3:33 p.m. Horse (Sire), Sale, Price ($), Breeze Funny Factor (The Factor), OBSMAR, 40,000, :10 3/5 C-Eddie Woods, agent; B-Anthony M Perri “] Illmatic (Honest Mischief), OBSAPR, 290,000, :10 C-Sequel Bloodstock, agent; B-J Migliore for S Rocco/Adelphi Three Thirteen (Unified), OBSMAR, 10,000, :10 2/5 C-Sequel Bloodstock, agent; B-MEG Racing LLC The post Summer Breezes, Sponsored By OBS: Wednesday, July 16, 2025 appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

GI Preakness Stakes winner Journalism (Curlin) was named the 4-5 morning-line favorite for Saturday's GI NYRA Bets Haskell Stakes at Monmouth Park, a 'Win and You're In' race for the GI Breeders' Cup Classic at Del Mar. Trained by Michael McCarthy, the GI Kentucky Derby and GI Belmont Stakes runner up drew post two in a field of eight. The full field, in post-position order, is listed below along with corresponding morning-line odds. Bracket Buster (Vekoma), 10-1 Journalism, 4-5 Wildncrazynight (Midnight Lute), 30-1 Burnham Square (Liam's Map), 5-1 National Law (Constitution), 20-1 Gosger (Nyquist), 9-2 Kentucky Outlaw (Outwork), 15-1 Goal Oriented (Not This Time), 4-1 The post Journalism Named 4-5 Haskell Morning-Line Favorite, Draws Post Two appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Six semifinalists for the 19th annual Dr. Tony Ryan Book Award have been selected by a panel of judges, representing excellence in Thoroughbred sports literature published in 2024. View the full article

After a short pause in Thoroughbred racing in California after Los Alamitos Race Course concluded its summer afternoon meet July 6, racing returns to the Golden State July 18 when Del Mar opens for its 86th summer season.View the full article

The National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame along with Amplify Horse Racing have partnered to launch 'The Winner's Circle Summer Camp', an immersive four-day experience aimed at introducing high school students to the thrilling world of thoroughbred racing, the group announced Tuesday. Taking place Tuesday, July 22 through Friday, July 25, in Saratoga Springs, NY, 'The Winner's Circle Summer Camp' will give participants access to some of the sport's most iconic locations and career opportunities. The four-day camp combines classroom-style learning at the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame with exclusive behind-the-scenes tours at Saratoga Race Course and local industry partners. From learning how a racetrack operates and exploring veterinary science to visiting the backstretch and building their own model racetrack, students will discover how their personal skills and interests can connect to a wide variety of career paths in the thoroughbred industry. “We're thrilled to be collaborating with the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame as a regional partner to offer this wonderful program,” said Annise Montplaisir, Executive Director of Amplify Horse Racing. “This camp will be an incredible way for youth to learn about horse racing and experience the magic of Saratoga, including those who may not come from a horse background and want to gain hands-on experience.” The camp is open to rising 9th through 12th graders and enrollment is limited to 30 students, with a registration fee of $50. Museum members receive a discounted rate of $40. Click here to learn more or register. The post National Museum Of Racing Partners With Amplify Horse Racing To Form ‘The Winner’s Circle Summer Camp’ appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Sam Agars PRESTIGE ALWAYS - R7 (7) In-form galloper should get a nice run from gate seven and can salute Jay Rooney SUPER SICARIO - R4 (12) Well drawn, should relish new trip and still looked green last time Trackwork Spy COPARTNER FLEET - R9 (9) Won with lots to spare at Sha Tin latest and should have plenty more to offer Phillip Woo MONARCH COUNTY - R2 (4) Has winning claims on the back of an eye-catching fifth last start Shannon (Vincent Wong) KAHOLO ANGEL - R8 (5) Scored well over...View the full article

Six semifinalists for the 19th annual Dr. Tony Ryan Book Award have been selected, by a panel of judges, representing excellence in thoroughbred sports literature published in 2024, Castleton Lyons announced Tuesday. These six titles illustrate the scope of the Book Award, including histories, biographies, a memoir, and two works of fiction. Per Castleton Lyons's release, the books “were chosen from nearly 20 submissions, an indicator that literature on horse racing remains very much alive despite thoroughbred industry controversies and the global economic hardships of recent years.” Three finalists will be announced in coming weeks and a winner, who will receive a $10,000 prize, will be crowned this fall at a cocktail reception at Castleton Lyons farm near Lexington. Following is a synopsis of the six semifinalists published during the 2024 calendar year, listed alphabetically by title. Beggar's Ride, by John Perrotta. Author Perrotta's latest mystery is a sequel to his 2015 novel If Wishes Were Horses, in which he introduced runaway teenager and New York backstretch worker Hamilton Greer. Dark Horses: A Memoir of Redemption, by Arthur B. Hancock III. Dark Horses is the story of a pre-eminent racing family, a legendary Thoroughbred farm, a personal and profound fall from grace, and, ultimately, a triumphant redemption–one that propelled Arthur B. Hancock III to the heights of the Thoroughbred industry. The History of the Kentucky Derby in 75 Objects, by Kentucky Derby Museum and Jessica K. Whitehead. Released in time for the sesquicentennial celebration of the Kentucky Derby, this lovely coffee-table book tells the fascinating story of America's longest continuously held sporting event. Jockey Queen: Lillian Jenkinson Holder, Horse Racing's Fearless Lady, by Roger Peach. Long before women were licensed to ride in American parimutuel races, a girl from Nebraska was tearing up the rough, tough bush tracks of the Midwest, often putting chauvinistic male riders to shame. Letters From Country Life: Adolphe Pons, Man o' War, and the Founding of Maryland's Oldest Thoroughbred Farm, by Josh Pons. Josh Pons is a two-time Eclipse Award-winning writer, third-generation horseman, and co-owner of Maryland's famed Country Life Farm. In 2016 he uncovered a treasure trove of letters in the century-old farmhouse basement–trunks packed with correspondence to his grandfather Adolphe Pons. Those letters provided a rare glimpse into the life of a special man, told by voices from the deep past What Horses Do After Racing: The Story of Good Carma, by Jay Privman. Long passionate about Thoroughbred aftercare, Privman has become increasingly involved in that arena. His latest literary effort, What Horses Do After Racing: The Story of Good Carma, features four ex-racehorses who dream of what their second careers might be–whether show jumping, trail riding, dressage, or therapy. The post Six Semifinalists Names For Dr. Tony Ryan Book Award appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

HOKKAIDO, Japan — Via a select bunch of his first foals, Equinox made a JRHA Select Sale debut every bit as explosive as his killer turn of foot on the track, with 23 of his youngsters sold for an average of ¥155m ($1.04m/€897,450). As widely tipped, the group was led by the colt out of Midnight Bisou (Midnight Lute), a champion herself on the dirt of America, and the first winner of the world's most valuable race, the Saudi Cup. She had herself topped the Keeneland November Sale of 2022 at $5.5 million, her buyer that day having been Katsumi Yoshida, whose Northern Farm presented her colt foal. He equalled the second-highest price ever recorded for a foal at this sale, the final bid of ¥580m ($3.91m/€ 3.36m) coming from a new partnership by the name of Nebraska Racing, which reportedly features a group of new owners along with a more established name in Japanese racing. The same group had bought the most expensive yearling, by Equinox's sire Kitasan Black out of Australian Classic winner Mosheen, on the sale's opening day. It's a select strategy: one purchase a day, at top dollar (or yen). With a star turn from the 2023 world champion and a notable rise in new buyers, the sale continued on its upward trajectory, with Shadai Farm principal Teruya Yoshida referring to the “unrealistic market” in his close-of-trade address to the media. He said, “I am amazed to see this market. I have been seeing a very strong market all over the world in recent years, but I have never seen a market where there is such depth. “Of course I have to thank the long established clients of JRHA but I am also very happy to see many new players coming into this market. And I am very pleased that these new players do not hesitate to invest a huge amount of money on horses that we have bred. “I think they are really enjoying it just for the simple pleasure of ownership, and I am very happy to see that. Horseracing in this country is very attractive entertainment.” Yoshida continued, “Now we have a very strong roster of stallions, such as Kizuna and Kitasan Black, who are proven stallions, and in addition to them we have new young stallions like Contrail and Equinox. Japanese breeders have been spending a lot of money to invest in mares of the highest quality from all over the world, and now those mares we have bought in America and Europe are producing good foals and we can afford to buy more good mares.” He added, “I think Kitasan Black is now establishing Japan's own sire-line. He is producing horses with good size, good depth and most of Kitasan Black's offspring are correct horses.” That amazing market saw a clearance rate of 95 per cent, with only 12 of the 240 foals offered returning to their farms unsold. The second-day turnover increased by 19 per cent from the record trade at last year's sale to ¥17,154,000,000 ($115.9m/€99.3m). The average rose by 20.5 per cent to ¥75,240,000 ($507,965/€435,291). The aggregate for the sale as a whole increased by 13.1 per cent to ¥32,700,000,000 ($221m/189.3m), while the average similarly climbed by 13.6 per cent to ¥72,190,000 ($488,004/418,124). Equinox Brings Buyer To Tears The clamour for certain members of Equinox's stock began with his first foal through the ring, lot 518, a lookalike colt out of the French Group 3 winner Camprock (Myboycharlie), who was sold for ¥230m ($1.55m) to Makoto Kaneko and will be sent eventually to the stable of his sire's trainer Tetsuya Kimura. Yoshihisa Osaza, buyer of lot 431, the colt out of Northern Farm's GI Rodeo Drove Stakes winner Going To Vegas (Goldencents), said that he was “about to cry, because this is too expensive”, but he was smiling as he did so, having been urged on by the colt's future trainer, Yoshito Yahagi, who sat alongside the owner as he made his play. “I could not stop bidding,” Osaza admitted after having his final say at ¥450m ($3.04m/€2.6m). “He is very nice horse and he has a gorgeous pedigree behind him. As I am convinced that this is the best foal in today's catalogue, I tried to save my budget until this colt went up to the sale ring.” He added, “I hope he will be competitive in three-year-old Classic races in 2028.” It was another heroine of the Rodeo Drive Stakes, the eight-time winner Mucho Unusual (Mucho Macho Man), who featured as the dam of lot 396, Shadai Farm's March-born son of Equinox, who sold for ¥260m ($1.75m/€1.5m) to Susumu Fujita, the sale's leading buyer overall. Don't Forget Dad… Always in danger of being upstaged by his own son as his first foals appeared, Kitasan Black did however provide the second-top foal of the day in lot 407, the colt out of Simply Glorious (War Front), whose immediate family has performed consistently well at the highest level in Ireland At ¥500m ($3.38m/€2.89m), the Northern Farm offering was bought by Naohiro Sakaguchi, who will send him into training when the time comes with Makoto Saito. The trainer said, “I have seen him at Northern Farm three times and found that he has been getting better and better. “He is well-balanced, walks beautifully, and is very elegant thoroughbred.” The stakes-placed Simply Glorious is a sister to the G1 July Cup and G1 Dewhurst Stakes winner US Navy Flag as well as the treble Group 1-winning miler Roly Poly. Their dam is the European champion two-year-old filly Misty For Me (Galileo). …Or His Brother A colt by a Triple Crown winner and a half-brother to one of the hottest stallions in the world? That'll do nicely was the view taken by the buyer of lot 327, the Contrail half-brother to Kitasan Black for ¥220m ($1.48m) from Yanagawa Farm. Contrail was twice named Japanese Horse of the Year during his days in training with Yoshito Yahagi, and this colt will eventually end up in the same barn. The foal's dam Sugar Heart (Sakura Bakushin O) is now 20 and has produced another three black-type earners in addition to the 12-time winner Kitasan Black, who also took Horse of the Year honours twice during his racing career. “I could not believe it when I saw this colt for the first time at Yanagawa Farm,” said Yahagi, who will train him for a leading owner who trades under the name of Y's Consignment Sales. “He is very nice individual and I hope he will run in the Japanese Derby for his owner.” Contrail was also the first covering sire for the unbeaten G1 Fillies' Mile winner Commissioning (Kingman), who was sold privately to Katsumi Yoshida by her owner-breeders Isa Salman and Abdulla Al Khalifa after the end of her successful juvenile season. Her first foal (lot 389) was bought from Northern Farm by Junko Kondo for ¥220m ($1,48m/€1.27m). His future trainer Yasuo Tomomichi said, “When I saw him for the first time at Northern Farm, I felt a lot of the influence of Deep Impact in him. He is a very nice individual and he has pedigree of the highest class: his dam won the Fillies' Mile at Newmarket, his broodmare sire is Kingman and the sire of his second dam is Galileo – both of them were champions in Europe – and he is by a Japanese champion.” Commissioning's dam Sovereign Parade is a full-sister to the Irish Derby and St Leger winner Capri as well as G2 Curragh Cup winner Tower Of London. Fireburn's First is Hot Stuff In interviews this week, both Teruya and Katsumi Yoshida have referred to their international quest for broodmares and it is no empty boast. America and Ireland were the origins of the dams of some of the most expensive horses of the day, but so too was Australia. Yearlings out of Group 1 winners Mosheen and Yankee Rose had sold well on Monday and a similar story was repeated in the foal session, where lot 369, the first foal of the G1 Golden Slipper and G1 Sires' Produce Stakes winner Fireburn (Rebel Dane) brought the hammer down at ¥320m ($2.16m/€1.85m) in favour of Tetsuhide Kunimoto. Fireburn, who won more than A$4.2m from her 20 starts, was a private purchase by Northern Farm and is the daughter of the So You Think mare Mull Over, who was bought for A$22,000 by Fireburn's co-breeder Louis Mihalyka of Laurel Oak Bloodstock. Chile, too, got in on the action when lot 381, the chestnut colt by Japan Cup winner Suave Richard out of the G1 Premio Seleccion de Potrancas winner Sankalpa (True Cause), fetched ¥290m ($1.96m/€1.68m). Epiphaneia Rules The Waves Rule Britannia (Deep Impact), the winning sister to Japanese Oaks winner Mikki Queen, featured as the dam of one of a pair of Epiphaneia colts in the spotlight. Her son, lot 331, was one of a number of foals bought on the day by Hajime Satomi, the former CEO of gaming company Sega, who acquired the full-brother to G3 Kokura Daishoten winner Epiphany at ¥230m ($1.56m/€1.33m). Epiphaneia is also the sire of lot 377, a ¥260m purchase by Masahiro Noda's Danox Ltd. The colt's Grade 3-winning dam Shamrock Hill (Kizuna) is herself a daughter of the GI Hollywood Starlet Stakes winner Laragh (Tapit). Noda, who is involved in the software business, runs his horses with the Danon suffix, including last year's Japanese Derby winner and this season's Dubai Sheema Classic winner Danon Decile, who is also by Epiphaneia. The four-year-old is currently being prepared by trainer Shogo Yasuda for a trip to England to run in the G1 Juddmonte International at York. He is set to arrive in Newmarket on August 6. Grand Adventure with European Purchases A Frankel colt out of Sauterne (Kingman), from the family of his sire's first top-level winner Soul Stirring, was the star of the Grand Stud draft when he too was bought by Danox Ltd for ¥300m ($2.03m/€1.74m). A homebred of Jean-Pierre Dubois, Sauterne won the Prix du Moulin and was bought on Grand Stud's behalf by Emmanuel de Seroux of Narvick International for $4.2m at Fasig-Tipton two months after her Group 1 victory. Frankel's Irish Derby-winning son Westover, now resident at Japan's Yushun Stallion Station, had two members of his first crop sell on Tuesday for ¥80m (€463,280) and ¥62m (€359,052) from Northern Farm and Shadai Farm respectively. Also of European interest early in the session was the first foal of Marc Chan and Andrew Rosen's G1 Cheveley Park Stakes winner Lezoo (Zoustar), a colt by Kingman (lot 307), who was another consigned by Grand Stud and fetched ¥135m ($912,163/€782,055). Lezoo, like Westover, was trained by Ralph Beckett, and was sold to Grand Stud, again through Narvick International, at the 2023 Tattersalls December Sale for 2.2m gns. Just as John Stewart had been the day before, David Redvers became the sole buyer from outside Japan during the foal sale when securing a Palace Malice filly out of Storm Hill for ¥18m ($121,700/€104,274) from Harry Sweeney's Paca Paca Farm. Her dam, by Stormy Atlantic, won twice at Grade 3 level in the USA and her sire has proved quite the hit with local breeders since relocating from that same country, where he stood at Three Chimneys Farm, to Darley Japan two years ago. That popularity owes much to his top-rated son, the treble Grade 1 winner Jantar Mantar, who was bred by Shadai Farm and recently won the Yasuda Kinen. Palace Malice covered 262 mares in 2024, and Sweeney, who is also the president of Darley Japan, reported that he had also been busy this season. Redvers meanwhile said of his new Palace Malice filly, “I thought she was an absolute star and I'm delighted to have been able to buy her as we've been blown out of the water a few times this week. The market has been very strong and it is difficult to buy. “She's for Sheikh Fahad and will be trained in time by Mitsu Nakauchida.” The post ‘I’m About To Cry’: Bidders Go All In On Equinox’s First Foals At The JRHA Select Sale appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Wednesday, Vichy, France, post time: 21:15, GRAND PRIX DE VICHY-G3, €73,200, 3yo/up, 10fT Field: Woodchuck (Fr) (Birchwood {Ire}), Mont De Soleil (Ire) (Siyouni {Fr}), Casapueblo (Ire) (Le Havre {Ire}), Cambronne (Fr) (Alex The Winner), Good Gift (Fr) (Territories {Ire}), Rose Jaipur (Fr) (Doctor Dino {Fr}), Tito Mo Cen (Ire) (Uncle Mo). TDN Verdict: Yeguada Centurion's TDN Rising Star Tito Mo Cen, successful in March's Listed Prix Maurice Caillault, makes his first start in 13 weeks and is the lone sophomore on show attempting to regain the winning thread after suffering a first reversal in April's G3 Prix Noailles last time. Andre Fabre seeks a record-equalling fourth edition and nominates Casapueblo, who has hit the board in four of his seven prior stakes outings. He was not disgraced when fifth in a piping-hot renewal of last month's G3 La Coupe, but is winless for the best part of two years. Woodchuck has been the model of consistency when venturing to Italy, earning prize-money in all seven starts there, and ran seventh in March's G3 Prix Edmond Blanc when last appearing in this jurisdiction. Mont De Soleil failed to beat a single rival in his last two starts, but is better than the bare form implies, while Rose Jaipur is the lone distaffer in the field and merits respect coming back off a win in May's Listed Prix Urban Sea. [Sean Cronin]. Wednesday, Vichy, France, post time: 19:41, HARAS DE BEAUMONT – PRIX DES JOUVENCEAUX & JOUVENCELLES – BERNARD FERRAND-Listed, €54,900, 2yo, 7fT Field: Siciliano (Fr) (Time Test {GB}), Mefie Toi (Fr) (De Treville {GB}), Canalejas (Fr) (Armor {GB}), Falou Chope (Fr) (Gutaifan {Ire}), Clea Chope (Fr) (Muhaarar {GB}), Here I Bow (Fr) (Bow Creek {Ire}), Free Movement (GB) (Time Test {GB}), Donnalucata (Fr) (Toronado {Ire}), Polly Shelby (Fr) (Space Blues {Ire}), Ceramic (Ire) (Lope De Vega {Ire}). TDN Verdict: Christopher Head registered a maiden triumph last year, with subsequent G3 Preis der Winterkonigin runner-up La Guapisima making the breakthrough, and relies on another filly this time around. Alain and Gerard Wertheimer's hitherto undefeated Ceramic is the chosen one and she was value for much more, and then some, than the official winning margin of 1 1/2 lengths over this trip on debut at Compiegne last month. It would be unwise to discount Francis Graffard trainee Polly Shelby, who had the measure of Free Movement at Cholet before running third in a hot contest upped to seven furlongs at Saint-Cloud last month. Mefie Toi is on a roll, having won both latest starts going 55 yards shy of this distance at Lyon Parilly, and outwitted debutante Falou Chope in the second of those last month. The latter drops on the wrong side of a nine-pound swing here. [Sean Cronin]. Wednesday, Killarney, Ireland, post time: 18:50, IRISH STALLION FARMS EBF CAIRN ROUGE STAKES-Listed, €30,000, 3yo, 8f 40y Field: And So To Bed (Ire) (Kodiac {GB}), Bella Isabella (Ire) (Wootton Bassett {GB}), Ecstatic (Jpn) (Lord Kanaloa {Jpn}), Fiery Lucy (GB) (Without Parole {GB}), Mojave River (Fr) (Mohaather {GB}), Nancy J (Ire) (Ten Sovereigns {Ire}), Orchidaceae (Ire) (Churchill {Ire}), Red Letter (GB) (Frankel {GB}), Rion Rubette (GB) (New Bay {GB}), Shiota (Ire) (Tamayuz {GB}), Sweet Chariot (Ire) (Wootton Bassett {GB}), Tamam Desert (Ire) (Sea The Moon {Ger}), Wannabe Royal (Ire) (Wootton Bassett {GB}). TDN Verdict: TDN Rising Star and G1 Moyglare Stud Stakes fourth Red Letter gets a fourth opportunity of making her black-type breakthrough, and securing a second renewal for Ger Lyons, in this distaffers' test and will head postward coming back off a second in last month's Listed Kooyonga Stakes at Navan. The Gavin Cromwell-trained GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf fourth Fiery Lucy has finished second in three prior Group 3 starts and rates an obvious danger. Aidan O'Brien seeks a record-extending fourth edition and sends forth TDN Rising Star Ecstatic with Wayne Lordan, bidding for a record-breaking fourth of his own, in the plate. The January-foaled bay was last seen running eighth in Royal Ascot's G2 Ribblesdale and is accompanied by stablemate Sweet Chariot. [Sean Cronin]. Click here for the complete fields. The post Black-Type Analysis: ‘TDN Rising Star’ Tito Mo Cen Returns at Vichy appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Ascot Racecourse is set to return record prize-money of £17.75 million to the sport in 2025, having announced its financial results for the 12 months ended December 31, 2024. Turnover for that period rose by 2% to £113.1 million, with a pre-tax profit of £8.4 million – up from £5.9 million in 2023. The 2024 business summary highlighted several other points of interest: Gross profit was broadly static, reflecting the general inflationary economic conditions. whilst this also included an increase of £526k in the executive contribution towards prize-money. Profit before tax increased by £2.5m. EBITDA (Earnings Before Interest, Taxes, Depreciation and Amortisation) rose by £549k (3.4%). Overhead costs decreased with the depreciation charge falling by nearly £1m as assets are fully written off and a drop in the base rate resulted in interest payable costs dropping by 16%. £5m of the (2004-2006 redevelopment) loan was repaid in 2024 (a £3m mandatory repayment and a voluntary partial early repayment of £2m). Net debt as at 31st December 2024 was £4.6m (2023 £9.5m). On-course attendance was largely unchanged year-on-year, with 513,869 racegoers in 2024 compared to 514,208 in 2023. There was £6.8m capital investment (up from £4.9m in 2023) in technology, sustainability enterprises and customer experience as part of the long-term strategy. In 2024, 12 of the top 20 (including ties) racehorses in the globally ratified Longines World's Best Racehorse Rankings ran at Ascot, while internationally trained horses from Ireland, France, Germany, Australia and America travelled to race. Strong 2024 performance has enabled record planned prize=money in 2025 with £17.75m programmed, excluding the industry-owned QIPCO British Champions Day. The King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes later this month will be run for a record £1.5m, making it Britain's equally most valuable race. Furthermore, the racecourse has invested more in its executive contribution by making it a 'run for free' race, with all horses that run having their entry fees refunded in full. Felicity Barnard, chief executive officer at Ascot Racecourse, said, “We were delighted to see continued revenue growth in 2024, reaching record levels of more than £113.1m. This reflects the popularity of our events, especially the enduring appeal of Royal Ascot which saw increased attendances year-on-year in 2024 (266,145 to 273,526) and was supported this year by a further 4.8% rise (286,541). “Generating increased revenues will allow us to reinvest back into the business, demonstrated by prize-money uplifts in 2025, most notably for the King George, which will become the richest race ever run at Ascot. “Ongoing investment in our venue and brand is vital to ensuring we consistently deliver a world-class experience for everyone who visits or engages with Ascot, across every touchpoint.” The post Ascot Racecourse Announces 2024 Financial Results appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

The New Zealand thoroughbred breeding community will come together on Saturday July 26 to celebrate another year of excellence at the Property Brokers National Breeding Awards at the Sir Don Rowlands Centre in Cambridge. The evening will acknowledge 24 individual winners of 37 Group One races as breeders can again take pride in the global success of horses with the NZ suffix. Recently crowned Hong Kong Horse of the Year Ka Ying Rising (NZ) (Shamexpress) and Australian star Mr Brightside (NZ) (Bullbars) will be among the leading contenders for the Property Brokers Seton Otway Horse of the Year along with triple Group One winner El Vencedor (NZ) (Shocking), in a nod to the calibre of equine produced. “The National Breeding Awards remain the premier occasion to celebrate the exceptional achievements of New Zealand breeders and horses,” NZTBA CEO Nick Johnson said. “This year’s finalists continue to show why the Kiwi-bred is so highly regarded on the world stage. “It’s not just about trophies — it’s about coming together as an industry to acknowledge talent, dedication, and success, both human and equine. We’re proud to host a night that shines a light on those stories and the people behind them. “Season after season, the New Zealand-bred proves its worth at the highest levels internationally. The 2024/25 season has been no exception, with breeders, horses, and owners making their mark across Australasia and beyond. “These awards are a testament to what can be achieved when passion and perseverance meet. It’s inspiring to see the depth of skill and commitment that underpins the success of our breeders and their horses.” Ka Ying Rising as a foal at Windsor Park Stud with his dam Missy Moo Photo: supplied The gala evening will commence at 5:30pm with tickets $230 or $2250 for a table of 10, purchased from https://www.nzthoroughbred.co.nz/nztba-awards-dinner/ The humans behind the New Zealand bred stars will be recognised, including breeders of all scale in addition to the Mary-Lynne Ryan Young Achiever of the Year and the Entain AU & NZ Personality of the Year. Emily Murphy and Steve Davis will MC the event, with the latter’s auctioneering skills on show as nominations to Proisir, Sword Of State and Circus Maximus go under the hammer to raise funds for the Sunline Trust International Management Scholarship. Date: Saturday July 26 Venue: Sir Don Rowlands Centre in Cambridge. Tickets • $230pp (incl. GST) • $2,250 (incl. GST) for a table of 10 • Available from: https://www.nzthoroughbred.co.nz/nztba-awards-dinner/ Stallion Award winners: Dewar (Australasian earnings): Savabeel Grosvenor (New Zealand earnings): Savabeel Centaine (Worldwide earnings): Per Incanto Nominations: Breeder of the Year sponsored by Dunstan Horsefeeds Ltd: Nearco Stud Waikato Stud Pencarrow Stud Brendan and Jo Lindsay Eight Carat Broodmare of the Year sponsored by Arion Pedigrees: Lilahjay (Mr Brightside, owned by Ed Sheather) Missy Moo (Ka Ying Rising, owned by Fraser Auret) Sombreuil (Provence, Damask Rose, owned by Tony Rider) Strictly Maternal (El Vencedor, owned by M W Freeman and D G Price) Small Breeder of the Year sponsored by Luigi Muollo Grandmoral Lodge M W Freeman and D G Price R I & Est late M A G Johnson Mary-Lynne Ryan Young Achiever of the Year sponsored by LOVERACING.NZ: Jack Stewart – White Robe Lodge Richelle McMillan – Wentwood Grange Simon Lawson – Waikato Stud Personality of the Year sponsored by Entain AU & NZ– announced on the evening Property Brokers Seton Otway Horse of the Year – announced on the evening View the full article

It was a red-letter day at Hawera on Tuesday for Gavin Sharrock, with the Stratford trainer posting his first treble. “It was a big day, I haven’t had one of them (treble) before, I have never had enough horses to win three on a day, but I have had a couple of doubles,” Sharrock said. His exciting juvenile Spandeedo (NZ) (Ferrando) kicked off proceedings when dominating his rivals to score a 2-3/4 length victory in the Simon Bendall @ Metcalfe Real Estate (1200m) and in the process booked his berth into next Saturday’s Listed Phil Electrical & Gipsy Caravans – Ryder Stakes (1200m) at Otaki. “I was rapt with his run today, he dominated really,” Sharrock said. “He is a very smart galloper. He has done a few things wrong, but we think we are getting on top of him. “He ran straight and did everything right today, so onwards to the Ryder. He doesn’t seem to mind a wet track, and we will definitely have that in the Ryder.” The son of Ferrando will be a leading prospect in the juvenile feature and takes a handy form line into the race, having now won two and placed in two of his four starts, and he has accrued more than $35,000 in prizemoney. Sharrock was back in the winner’s circle in the following race when Stewart (NZ) (Darci Brahma) put in an eye-catching 6-1/2 length winning performance in the Sharna Caskey @ Metcalfe Real Estate (1200m). “He was very unlucky last start (when runner-up) at Te Rapa. He only went down a nose and he got carted out,” he said. “It was a really nice performance today and we will take him through the grades.” While pleased to get a double, Sharrock’s day got even better when Vibration (NZ) (Proisir) made it back-to-back victories in the Grace Hornby @ Metcalfe Real Estate (1400m), cementing Sharrock’s first treble. “He is a very talented horse,” Sharrock said. “He is a bit wayward, but he has done everything right in his last two starts. He stepped up to 75 grade today, so it was a good effort.” Sharrock is hoping his winning momentum continues into the weekend where stable representative Soldier Boy (NZ) (Proisir) will contest the Listed Sinclair Electrical & Refrigeration Opunake Cup (1400m) at New Plymouth. The last start victor pleased in his exhibition gallop at Hawera on Tuesday and Sharrock is hopeful of a bold showing this weekend. “He had a dream gallop today with Spencer,” Sharrock said. “He had his ears pricked, was half a length in front and went really well. I am rapt with him, he has just grown another leg in the last month or so. “It would be a dream if he won as well.” View the full article

Stephen Nickalls might be heading home from Hawera with a smile on his face, but he could be in a bit of trouble when he gets there. Nickalls’ Group One performer Chase (NZ) (Zed) returned to the winner’s circle on Tuesday when taking out the Scott Roberts @ Metcalfe Real Estate (1600m), but there was someone special missing from the winning photo, his daughter Mya, who is the rising nine-year-old’s biggest fan. Mya was set to be trackside for the race on Saturday, but adverse weather and track conditions forced the meeting to be postponed to Tuesday, just two days back into term time at school. “I am a little worried with how much trouble I will be in with my daughter when I get home,” Nickalls quipped. “She was coming when it was on Saturday, but they postponed it and she had to go to school. She will be excited but annoyed at me. “He has been a genuine family horse right from the day we bought him. My daughter goes and catches him and brings him in, puts him out and rides him back from work. We are very blessed to have him as part of the family.” Nickalls was optimistic heading to Tuesday, despite his 60kg impost, and said he had a gut feeling of a positive result when fetching his charge from the paddock on raceday morning. “He went fantastic last start (when third) in that deep mud at Wellington,” he said. “I was a bit concerned about the weight, he was giving everything 3.5kg and more and on that really heavy track. “I caught him in the paddock to put on the truck and he had a feel about him today and when he is in that kind of mood you know he is ready to rumble. “Amber (Riddell, jockey) said he jumped with them and travelled really well and towed her into the race. When he is in that kind of mood, he is a very good horse.” Nickalls was stoked with the result and said it was made even more special with longtime family friend Amber Riddell in the saddle. “He has been such a good horse to us, and he is such an honest horse, it’s an absolute thrill,” he said. “Amber has been part of the family for a long time too. Amber came out and rode for us years ago and schooled jumpers when she was at school. “Amber had a couple of ponies, and she used to come out and have a few lessons and then she would come out and ride ours. “Wins like that is what it is all about, doing it with people that you have had a good connection with for a long time. “We are only a small team and we are blessed with the people we have to help us.” Nickalls doesn’t have any set plans for Chase but said he will make sure his next target lands on a weekend. “We will just find somewhere nice, but we will just make sure it is a Saturday so Mya can come,” he said. View the full article

It was early last spring when Hit The Road Jack (NZ) (Jakkalberry) almost pulled off a remarkable life-changing plunge, but there are no such lofty expectations as he returns to Flemington on Saturday. Last September, the former Kiwi galloper, who was purchased by Symon Wilde and owners to become a jumper, was backed from $41 to start at $19 before running a half-length second in the Group 2 Archer Stakes (2500m), a race where the winner is exempt from the ballot for the Melbourne Cup. But this time around, he heads to Flemington to simply try and emulate his run of 12 months ago when he reveled in wet conditions to win the Deane Lester Flemington Cup (2800m). His trainer is not so wild about his chances this year, although he said he is expecting the horse to find his form this campaign after a bit of a sluggish start to his flat and jumps preparation. “He had a wonderful prep 12 months ago when he came over from New Zealand,” Wilde said. “We bought him to jump but he really exceeded expectations on the flat. “This time around, he hasn’t really recaptured that same sort of form. I think maybe he’s a really good wet-tracker and he hasn’t had the right conditions this season getting ready on some pretty hard tracks. “I think it rained on that day last year in the Archer and it almost fell into place for him. This winter being so dry, he’s just not in the same sort of form. He seems well and if we get a downpour of rain, history could repeat and we could go back-to-back.” View the full article

Evergreen galloper Tavis Court (NZ) (Tavistock) had won a race in every season of his career since he debuted as a three-year-old, and at the tail end of his nine-year-old year, he kept that remarkable streak alive at Hawera on Tuesday. Lining up in a compact field of just four runners, Tavis Court was the $13.50 outsider, with the lightly tried Lazio backed as though nearly unbeatable, closing at $1.20. In the hands of Kate Hercock, Tavis Court was the quickest out of the barriers and full of running early, taking a clear lead and travelled comfortably through the mid-stages. Lazio came up to draw level with Tavis Court turning for home and looked to have the upper hand in the straight, but the son of Tavistock fought back on the inside, powering through late to score by a length. The victory took Tavis Court’s tally up to 11, and over the $315,000 mark in earnings for his breeder-owners, Graham and Annette Hill. Right from the start, he has been trained locally by Anna Clement, and she was delighted to see him back in the winner’s circle. “He fought really hard, I thought Allan Sharrock’s horse (Lazio) was going to beat us but he put his head down and fought even harder,” she said. “It’s always nice to see the older horses have a win, so we’re very happy. “He doesn’t think he’s rising ten, he thinks he’s a two-year-old. He’s always honest, whenever you put a saddle on him he grows an extra hand and he knows he’s here to do a job. “He’s had four starts here now for two wins and two placings, so being his home track, he seems to go well.” The Hawera meeting was initially set to be run on Saturday, but severe weather in the region caused for the rescheduled running on Tuesday. Chajaba and Old Town Road, who were third and fourth in the race, both hold nominations for Saturday’s Listed Sinclair Electrical and Refrigeration Opunake Cup (1400m), but Clement won’t be putting in a late entry for her charge. “I think he’s more of a 1200m horse, so we opted to go for this race instead,” she said. “Plus, his owners live locally and they don’t travel anywhere now, so it was nice to have a decent Saturday meeting at their home track, where they can come and watch all of their horses racing. “He’s a good old campaigner and he’s done us proud, as with the owners too.” View the full article