Wandering Eyes

Trainer Eusebio Juarez was suspended 24 months and fined $18,000 after two syringes with needles containing the banned substance diisopropylamine were found in his truck. Juarez claimed the syringes were put there without his knowledge.View the full article

2nd-Santa Anita, $61,000, Msw, 10-13, 2yo, 1m, 1:38.01, ft, nose. MR. A. P. (r, 2, American Pharoah–Trenchtown Cat {MSW & GSP, $236,945}, by Discreet Cat) was audaciously claimed for $150,000 out of a debut runner-up effort at Del Mar July 31 and ran a winning race when beaten three-parts of a length into second by $1.15-million Keeneland September grad Kristofferson (Nyquist) at the seaside Aug. 31, earning a strong 88 Beyer for the effort. Beaten for speed in this first two-turn endeavor, the 3-5 favorite managed to tuck in and save ground early as longshot Work (American Pharoah) and Cherokee Nation, a KEESEP-sourced $1.15-million son of Not This Time, matched motors up front. Antonio Fresu asked Mr. A. P. for a burst of speed three furlongs from home, enabling him to secure a three-wide run inside of a rival and the battle was joined in earnest at the head of the lane. Mr. A. P. looked to have the necessary momentum to go on to a comfortable win, but Cherokee Nation would not lie down inside and with Fresu doing his best to keep his mount off of his rival, shifting to his right in the saddle in the final stages, Mr. A. P. got the bob in, if only just. The winner's dam is also represented by a Constitution colt that fetched $325,000 from Centennial Farm at KEESEP last month and a weanling filly by Not This Time. Trenchtown Cat was covered by McKinzie this past season. Sales history: $47,000 RNA Ylg '24 FTKOCT. Lifetime Record: 3-1-2-0, $63,000. Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV. O-Holly & David Wilson; B-Pollock Farms (KY); T-Vladimir Cerin. It was an exciting photo finish in race 2 at Santa Anita as #5 MR. A. P. ($3.20) just noses out #2 Cherokee Nation. The son of American Pharoah was ridden by @Antonio1Fresu and is trained by Vladimir Cerin. Watch more on @FanDuelTV. pic.twitter.com/fjCd636qS8 — FanDuel Racing (@FanDuel_Racing) October 13, 2025 The post American Pharoah’s Mr. A. P. Gets The Nod In Santa Anita Maiden appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

BH Interview: Madison MeyersView the full article

On the Oct. 13 episode of BloodHorse Monday, Lane's End sales director Allaire Ryan highlights their offerings at the Nov. 4-11 Keeneland November Breeding Stock Sale. Frank Angst previews potential milestones in this year's Breeders' Cup.View the full article

A Lexington native, trainer Madison Meyers accomplished a dream while winning her first graded stakes with Desvio in the Sycamore Stakes (G2T) at Keeneland. She spoke with BloodHorse about her career and that moment in this week's BH Interview.View the full article

By Michael Guerin It is hard not to get the feeling the road to the IRT New Zealand Trotting Cup actually starts this weekend. We may suggest that is starts with the first open class race of the spring or some of the others along the way. But it is not until you get all the big boys together in one place you get to really measure who is going in the right direction for November 11. Friday night’s $60,000 Lamb And Hayward Canterbury Classic at Addington is that race. A win-and-you-are-in for the Cup it sees the best in the north, Merlin and Sooner The Bettor, come down to take on Republican Party, We Walk By Faith, Alta Meteor and Don’t Stop Dreaming among others. Sure Akuta isn’t there after mucus was found in his throat following his below expected effort at Addington last Friday. But we know where he stands and maybe he might not even make it to the Cup. And Friday night’s drama is set against the backdrop of Leap To Fame racing in the Victoria Cup on Saturday night. If he wins the top of the NZ Cup market might stay the same. If he doesn’t the harness world will tilt on its axis. So Akuta and Swayzee aside, we have all the big players on show this weekend with nowhere to hide. The barrier draws for Friday’s Group 2 would seem to suit Merlin and Sooner The Bettor on the front line best but the TAB have opened Republican Party and We Walk By Faith as the favourites and a rare capacity open class field adds to the importance of luck in the running. The open class trot just 31 minutes earlier will be a great form guide to the Renwick Farms Dominion Trot as Mighty Logan meets the big three again in Oscar, Bet N Win and Muscle Mountain and while the handicaps stay the same as when he won the Worthy Queen last Friday the backmarkers have 600m more to catch him this time. The night also boasts the Garrards’ Sires’ Stakes Sophomore Classic. To see the fields at Addington this Friday night click here View the full article

Stablemates Tamara (Bolt d'Oro) and Kopion (Omaha Beach) were among several Breeders' Cup hopefuls to make an appearance Monday morning on the worktab at Santa Anita ahead of a multi-day rainstorm that's expected to arrive in the area later in the evening. Trained by Richard Mandella, Grade I winners Tamara and Kopion both worked three furlongs with the former being clocked in :37.40 (7/19) on the main track while the latter went to the synthetic training track and was timed in :39.80 (4/4). Kopion wears glue-on shoes, according to Mandella, and was barefoot for a few days. The trainer included that the move was more meant to 'do something with her' before the poor weather came in than it was intended to be a real work. Both fillies are owned by Spendthrift Farm, and might be on track for entry in the same Breeders' Cup race. Tamara, the 'TDN Rising Star, presented by Hagyard' daughter of Hall of Famer Beholder is ticketed for the GI Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Sprint while Kopion has a slight chance of tackling the males in the GI Breeders' Cup Sprint. If that does not pan out, Mandella says she'll be joining Tamara in the Filly & Mare contest. “We're just taking everything in, but at the moment I would say it's more than likely they both run in the Filly & Mare (Sprint).” Also sending out a noteworthy team was Bob Baffert, whose Explora (Blame), Bottle of Rouge (Vino Rosso), and Desert Gate (Omaha Beach) all went out in preparation for their expected tilt on Future Star Friday Oct. 31. Grade I-placed, and the recent winner of the GII Oak Leaf Stakes, Explora breezed four furlongs in :48.80 (19/63) in her first move since that aforementioned graded victory. It had been her first time going two-turns after an immediate jump into elite company two back Sept. 6 in the GI Del Mar Debutante. That start was post 'TDN Rising Star, presented by Hagyard' debut Aug. 17 at the venue. She was defeated in the Grade I contest by stablemate Bottle of Rouge, who drilled five furlongs in 1:00.40 (3/43) Monday morning. Both runners are being pointed toward the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies. Well beaten in both of the above graded races after she claimed the GIII Sorrento Stakes in just her second start, another of Baffert's 'Rising Stars' Himika (Curlin) was also clocked going through her paces Monday with a three-furlong drill in :37.60 (8/19). Of his potential candidates for the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile, Baffert's Desert Gate produced a four-furlong work in :50.60 (55/63) in his first move since running second in the GI American Pharoah Stakes Oct. 4. The older divisions also saw a strong contender for next month's World Championships take a spin around the track, namely MGISW Formidable Man (City of Light) from the Michael McCarthy barn. The winner of the 2025 GI Frank E. Kilroe Mile was timed doing four-furlongs on the main track in 1:02.60. He is being pointed for the GI Breeders' Cup Mile. The post Tamara, Kopion Among Breeders’ Cup Hopefuls on Santa Anita Worktab appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

TATTERSALLS, ENGLAND – After spending close to 14 million gns at Book 1 of the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale, Amo Racing picked up from where it left off at Park Paddocks on Monday, spending 525,000gns on a Starman filly, which led the opening session of Book 2 and prompted Kevin Philippart De Foy to share his excitement about the prospects of training next year's batch of two-year-olds. Philippart De Foy, who took over at Freemason Lodge this year, has been a key cog in Kia Joorabchian's travelling posse at all of the major yearling sales in Europe and America this autumn and will train the Tally-Ho Stud-consigned Book 2 sale-topper. Philippart de Foy said, “She was my pick of the sale. It is a very good dam side and she is a very easy-going filly and very racey. Obviously, Starman can do very little wrong and he had winners again today so I am delighted to get the filly.” Few stallions burst onto the scene quite like the Tally-Ho resident has this year. Venetian Star, North Coast, Lady Iman and more have contributed to what has been one of the most memorable performances that any first-season sire has produced for many years and Starman has already been anointed as a stallion that is here to stay by a host of leading buyers at the yearling sales. None more so than Amo, who landed three six-figure yearlings by the stallion on Monday. Asked about Amo's support of Starman, Philippart de Foy said, “I don't think it is only Amo, I think a fair few people are big on Starman. It looks as though they are horses who will progress as three-year-olds – they are not small, racy two-year-olds. They have size and scope, so hopefully they will progress on from what has been a very strong start.” He added, “It's a very exciting time. From Deauville in August through to Keeneland and now Book 1 and 2 at Tattersalls, we have picked up some lovely horses with good pedigrees and by good stallions. So it's very exciting and we're looking forward to next year.” Asked if he was getting used to his new boss, who was doing his best to distract him during the interview down in the chute entering the sales ring, the trainer joked, “you would never get used to him!” The Starman filly is out of Emirates Empress (Dark Angel), a sister to two high-class performers in Royal Champion (Shamardal) and Outbox (Frankel), who Tally-Ho sourced for only 30,000gns at the December Mares Sale in 2022. Tony O'Callaghan commented, “It is a great return on the mare's purchase and it is an exceptional trade here for fillies. We are obviously delighted with Starman's progress, they should stay a mile. He has such a great temperament.” When two powerhouses go head-to-head on a horse, it usually spells celebration for the vendor, but in the case of lot 727, Justin Casse and Amo teamed up to secure a 360,000gns Starman colt from Pier House Stud, which will go into training with Joseph O'Brien. O'Brien has trained for Amo Racing in the past and Casse, who bought G3 Tyros Stakes winner North Coast at this sale 12 months ago, says he is hoping for similar luck with the stallion. “The stallion has been good to me and to Joseph,” he said. “Starman has had a couple of Group winners, one of whom [North Coast] I bought, as well as a filly in France. Hopefully we can replicate that success. This colt was a standout for me today.” Casse added, “This colt walks a little better than North Coast. We bought two in America with Amo. We are working individually, but if we land on the same one, we might get together.” Amo also spent 145,000gns on a Starman colt from Tally-Ho, bringing the operation's total spend on Monday to 2,135,000gns on nine yearlings. That headlined a strong opening session to Book 2, where the turnover climbed by 16% to 24,988,500gns. The average was up by 13% to 116,769gns while the median jumped by 38% to 90,000gns. The clearance rate nestled at a respectable 87%, which was down by just 3%. Mangan Keeps Standards High For Thoroughbred Corporation After drawing a blank at Book 1 on behalf of the Thoroughbred Corporation, Jane Mangan opened up about how Prince Faisal Salman has remained patient through to Book 2, where the pair came away with a Night Of Thunder filly from Plantation Stud and a St Mark's Basilica filly from Linden Bloodstock for a combined 800,000gns. Speaking after securing the Night Of Thunder filly for the joint sale-topping sum of 450,000gns, Mangan said, “Last week, we failed. We underbid five last week. I suppose, The Corporation are looking for well-bred [yearlings] and good physicals. We value them as individuals and we met a lot of good company last week. To be honest, this filly was our pick of the entire sale. The sire needs no explanation and she comes from a great farm. Physically, she is exactly what we are looking for. It was a lot of money but it's good to get her.” She added, “You need to keep your standards where you want them – don't settle and don't buy a horse you don't want to buy. The Prince is very diligent in terms of valuing each horse individually – not buying the market, buying the horse. Buy a horse that you want to look at in the spring. We've got two today and [we are] very happy to get them. Night Of Thunder Continues To Brew Up A Storm Night Of Thunder produced one of the performances of Book 1 with 23 yearlings selling for over 14 million gns and that momentum carried over into Book 2. Night Of Thunder was responsible for four of the 10 most expensive yearlings sold on Monday, including a 525,000gns colt that was consigned by Cheveley Park Stud that was knocked down to Godolphin. Anthony Stroud commented, “He's for Godolphin and will go to Moulton Paddocks. He's bred very similarly to the Dewhurst winner [Gewan] on Saturday. Night Of Thunder has done amazingly well. He's going to be champion sire and he's got so many good horses.” Speaking on the prowess of the stallion, Stroud added, “They seem to win over all sorts of distances; they're very versatile and seem to have excellent temperaments. The progeny from his better books of mares are coming on-stream now so his results are only going to get better and better. It really highlights how important Dubawi is as a sire of sires.” Stroud also landed a Night Of Thunder colt from Genesis Green Stud for 350,000gns on a day when the Darley-based stallion was responsible for eight yearlings who sold for an average of 281,875gns. Buy of the day Plenty of breeze-up handlers got in on the action on the opening day of Book 2 and Justin Timmons of Dolmen Bloodstock can dream with the New Bay colt he sourced from Highclere Stud for 100,000gns. Up relatively early in the sale, the New Bay colt is out of a Kingman mare, who has already produced a winner, and from the family of Baaeed and Hukum. He boasts plenty of quality and could be one for Arqana or one of the later breeze-up sales. Thought for the day A quick read of the pinhookers' table would put hairs on your chest. While the 450,000gns Minzaal would provide just about anyone with the confidence to plough into the pinhooking game, there was some reality in the figures given just 48% of the 65 pinhooks made profit. The post “Very Exciting Time” For Amo With Another Top Lot Added To The Team At Tattersalls appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Arctic Beast (Yaupon) made it three-for-three in his young career with a second straight romping success in stakes company in Monday's New York Breeders' Futurity at Finger Lakes. Sent off at a nickel on the dollar to build on a 7 1/4-length success over Diamond Child (Weekend Hideaway) and Party in the Army (Army Mule) in the 5 1/2-furlong Aspirant Stakes Sept. 22, the two-time Fasig-Tipton graduate was content to track outside of Diamond Child through the early exchanges as Party in the Army made up for lost time after going in the air at the break. Cruising up to the front-runner nearing the stretch, Arctic Beast wrested command under a hold and raced away to yet another convincing victory. Party in the Army was along late to complete the exacta as the 12-1 second choice. Arctic Beast is the lone winner for his dam, a close relative of the dual stakes-winning Freudie Anne (Freud). He is the last listed produce for Frostie Anne. Click for the Equibase.com chart. NEW YORK BREEDERS' FUTURITY, $155,667, Finger Lakes, 10-13, (S), 2yo, 6f, 1:11.47, ft. 1–ARCTIC BEAST, 122, c, 2, by Yaupon 1st Dam: Frostie Anne (MSW, $584,443), by Frost Giant 2nd Dam: Lake Toccet, by Toccet 3rd Dam: Lake Honey, by Meadowlake ($120,000 Wlg '23 FTNMIX; $275,000 Ylg '24 SARAUG). O-Paradise Farms Corp, JP Racing Stable, David Staudacher, Zilla Racing Stables & Jennifer Rice; B-Rockridge Stud LLC & Saratoga Glen Farm & Beal's Racing Stable LLC (NY); T-Michael J Maker; J-Ricardo Santana Jr. $93,400. Lifetime Record: 3-3-0-0, $205,503. 2–Party in the Army, 122, c, 2, Army Mule–Party Like Grandma, by Desert Party. O/B-Flower City Racing LLC, Christopher J Meyer & Richard Spiesman (NY); T-Jeremiah C Englehart. $34,247. 3–Diamond Child, 122, c, 2, Weekend Hideaway–Boss Barney's Babe, by Street Boss. O-Irish Hill Century Farm; B-Irish Century Hill Farm & Morgan O'Brien (NY); T-Melanie Giddings. $18,680. Margins: 5 3/4, 4, NO. Odds: 0.05, 12.45, 24.07. Also Ran: Hey Pal. Scratched: Pepper J. #3 ARTIC BEAST ($2.10) was a beast again today improving to 3 for 3 in his career after dominating the $155,667 NY Breeders' Futurity at Finger Lakes. The son of Yaupon (@spendthriftfarm) was ridden by @RSantana_Jr and is trained by Michael Maker. pic.twitter.com/w2NsULz030 — FanDuel Racing (@FanDuel_Racing) October 13, 2025 The post Yaupon’s Arctic Beast Sails Home in NY Breeders’ Futurity appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

The Fasig-Tipton November sale added another pair of supplements to the catalogue with Grade I star power to their families Monday, namely Streak of Luck (Old Fashioned), the dam of MGISW Ted Noffey (Into Mischief), and MSW Avana (Vino Rosso). The former, who is by a son of leading broodmare sire Unbridled's Song, will go through the ring as HIP 220 via the Taylor Made Sales Agency consignment for Aaron and Marie Jones. She was purchased by said owners back in 2021 for $620,000 at the KEENOV sale. The 'TDN Rising Star, presented by Hagyard' is the mare's second foal with her first being Fully Authorized (Authentic), a two-time winner in his own right as a juvenile. Ted Noffey was recently seen dominating the GI Claiborne Breeders' Futurity at Keeneland to firmly stamp himself as the one to beat at the Breeders' Cup this November at Del Mar. Her yearling filly by Munnings sold to Repole Stables at KEESEP for $425,000 last month. The mare is being offered in foal to red-hot sire Not This Time, who counts 12 individual graded winners in 2025 and two Grade I winners on the turf in the last two months–those being Rhetorical and Troubleshooting. He also sired the exacta in Saturday's GII Franklin Stakes, won by Time to Dazzle–herself out of an Unbridled's Song broodmare, with In Our Time running second. He again made his power known Sunday when siring the bottom two-thirds of the trifecta in the GIII Glen Cove Stakes via Flat Out Time and Abientot. He claimed the entire board in the GII Jessamine Stakes Oct. 3 on opening weekend at Keeneland among other fruitful results for the stallion this year. Catalogued as HIP 219 is Avana, an 11-time winner in her career with five victories coming during her 2025 campaign. She's a multiple stakes winner who is out of a full-sister to MGISW Belle Gallantey (After Market), and counts a half-sibling named Revealing Quality (Quality Road), the dam of SP Mo Quality (Mo Town). That pair also has a four-time winning half-brother by Good Magic. This is the extended female family of the late champion, MGISW Arrogate. Avana will go through the ring as a racing or broodmare prospect consigned by Indian Creek, agent for the Complete Dispersal of Peter Redekop B.C. Ltd. The entire catalogue, complete with the most recent supplements, may be viewed here. Print versions of the supplemental catalogue will be available on-site at sale time. The post Dam of Ted Noffey Latest Supplement to Fasig-Tipton November Sale appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Observations on the European Racing Scene turns the spotlight on the best European races of the day, highlighting well-bred horses early in their careers, horses of note returning to action and young runners that achieved notable results in the sales ring. Tuesday's Observations features an exciting son of Zarak. 14.30 Chantilly, €31,100, Cond, 2yo, 8fT Andre Fabre nominee SENEQUE (IRE) (Zarak {Fr}) failed to meet his reserve when stalling on €1.2 million at last week's Arqana Arc Sale and heads postward off the back of an impressive five-length score over course and distance last month. The grandson of G1 Grosser Preis von Bayern heroine Temida (Ire) (Oratorio {Ire}) encounters three prior winners in a field of eight. They include Bordeaux maiden victor Lyneham (Fr) (Wootton Bassett {GB}), a half-brother to G1 Poule d'Essai des Pouliches and G1 Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup runner-up Lindy (Fr) (Le Havre {Ire}), who is one of four colts by Wootton Bassett named Lyneham. The post Arqana Arc €1.2 Million RNA On Deck at Chantilly appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Bidding returns to the Humphrey S. Finney Pavilion in upstate New York for the Fasig-Tipton Saratoga Fall Mixed Sale, which begins Tuesday at 10 a.m. A total of 281 horses, including weanlings, broodmares, and broodmare prospects, have been catalogued for the one-session auction. Lili Kobielski saw plenty to be optimistic about as she oversaw her The New Hill Farm consignment at barn seven Monday. “The activity has been wonderful,” she said. “We have been non-stop yesterday and today. We've seen some new faces today that I think just got in. The energy is amazing.” The Saratoga auction comes as an ultra-competitive yearling sales season nears its finale. “The yearling sales were so strong, I would certainly expect that everyone would be excited to buy babies,” Kobielski said. “I would think all the yearling sellers would be feeling confident and have some cash in their pockets.” The newly passed tax code which features bonus depreciation, allowing buyers to write off the up-front cost of a horse in its first year, has helped drive much of the national demand for yearlings this summer and fall. On a regional level, purse parity will begin in 2026, allowing New York-breds to race for equal purse money as open company horses on the New York Racing Association circuit. Both factors–plus high purses–figure to make for a competitive market in Saratoga, according to Kobielski. “I think depreciation is a big deal, right now,” Kobielski said. “And there is also purse parity in New York starting soon, so New York-breds will be running for the same money as open company. That's another great incentive to buy one. And purses are so big. It's a really exciting time to be buying.” The Fasig-Tipton New York-Bred Yearlings Sale in August, which produced records for gross and average and a record-tying median, also rewarded several pinhookers who had purchased weanlings at last year's Fall sale. The $525,000 co-topping daughter of Early Voting had been purchased for $150,000 last October, while a daughter of Practical Joke purchased for $62,500 last year, sold in August for $500,000. Pinhookers shopping The New Hill Farm consignment last October also found success in August, with a daughter of Upstart purchased as a weanling for $80,000 selling this year for $350,000 and a colt by Vekoma purchased for $90,000 selling for $325,000. “We are very grateful to the pinhookers,” Kobielski said. “It's always good news for everyone when someone buys from you and they do well with your horses. Then they come back and hopefully buy more.” During last year's Saratoga Fall sale, 148 head sold for $3,920,500. The average was $26,490 and the median was $14,500. A filly by Cyberknife brought the auction's top price of $230,000 and the weanling was one of eight to sell for six figures. The post Optimism Abounds Ahead of Fasig-Tipton Saratoga Fall Mixed Sale appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

The International Thoroughbred Breeders' Federation (ITBF) has announced the launch of its Stud Farm Supporters initiative. In a move to help meet the not-for-profit organisation's increased running costs, several individual Thoroughbred stud farms from across the globe are donating to ensure the continued vital work and achievements of the ITBF. As the sole international representative body for Thoroughbred breeders, ITBF currently serves the Thoroughbred breeding organisations, and the individual members within, of 29 member countries across six continents. ITBF Stud Farm Supporters include Coolmore (global), Godolphin's breeding operation, Darley (global), Juddmonte (global), Shadwell (Europe), Lanwades (Europe), Arrowfield (Australia), Northern Farm (Japan), Usha Stud (India) and the National Stud (England), as well as support in South America. The ITBF's CEO, Sarah Carmichael, said “The ITBF crucially speaks for, and acts on behalf of Thoroughbred breeders, ensuring that the voice of breeders is heard and responded to on the global stage. “Our industry faces more challenges than ever before and requires unfaltering representation at the highest level. The ITBF has an ever-evolving remit, and with that, our running costs have naturally increased in tandem. “We are delighted at the positive response from 'ITBF Stud Farm Supporters' who have so generously shown their appreciation of the ITBF's vital work in representing 'breeding' within the wider Thoroughbred industry, the equine world, at governmental and supra governmental levels.” She added, “We are enormously grateful to the stud farms who have contributed to help meet our needs. The ITBF, of course, does remain resolutely neutral in representing all breeders equally, across all member nations.” The post The ITBF Launches Stud Farm Supporters Initiative appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

The Goffs QIPCO British Champions Day Sale returns to Ascot Racecourse on Saturday, with a pair of promising two-year-olds set to go under the hammer before the richest day in the British racing calendar gets underway. Opening Saturday's sale is the Showcasing colt Generous Rascal (lot 1), who broke his maiden on his second and most recent start at Kempton earlier this month. A half-brother to Juddmonte's G1 Dewhurst Stakes and G1 2,000 Guineas hero Chaldean (Frankel), who now stands as a stallion at Banstead Manor Stud, Generous Rascal will be sold by trainer Oliver Cole's Whatcombe Racing with an entry in the Listed Criterium de Vitesse at Deauville. The filly Birdcall (lot 2) follows, an impressive four-length winner on her recent debut at Nottingham. Consigned by Ollie Sangster Racing, the daughter of in-form sire Night Of Thunder hails from the family of Group 1 winners such as Dream Of Dreams, Airwave, Churchill and Clemmie. She will be sold with an entry in the Listed Bosra Sham Stakes at Newmarket. Goffs Group chief executive Henry Beeby said, “The Goffs QIPCO British Champions Day Sale hit the headlines when selling Rogue Lightning for £1,000,000 in 2023 and it's wonderful to partner with Ascot Racecourse again as part of Britain's richest race day. “This sale is very much in keeping with the 'right time, right place' ethos of our hugely successful Goffs London Sale which has been the curtain raiser to Royal Ascot for over a decade and has offered many top-class horses over the years including current recent Group 1 winners Woodshauna, Lazzat and Red Lion. “Generous Rascal and Birdcall are both London Sale calibre horses as they have a huge amount of potential, and we look forward to selling them before racing from Ascot's iconic winners' podium.” Both horses will be offered with 5% agent's commission and have been vetted. Veterinary Certificates are available to view online, along with conformation photos and videos. The post Pair of Promising Juvenile Winners to be Offered at Goffs QIPCO British Champions Day Sale appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

TATTERSALLS, ENGLAND – The young pinhookers behind the 450,000gns Minzaal filly that lit up Book 2 will face an interesting proposition when they return to school on Tuesday given the teenagers each walked out of Tattersalls on Monday with more money than their teachers will earn in a year. Fionn White (16) and brothers Jack (17) and Max Galway (13), whose father Richie is racing manager at Punchestown and son-in-law of Jessica Harrington, will do well to ignore sales catalogues for school books from this day on given the three whippersnappers turned their €85,000 investment into more than €500,000 at the current exchange rate. There are some things you can't learn in a classroom and for White, who operates under Clunemore Lodge Stud, this was not his first rodeo given he sold a Gleneagles colt for 230,000gns at this sale last year. He has sourced the colt for just €36,000 as a foal. In the case of lot 668, who was knocked down to Karl Burke for 450,000gns, the Baroda Stud-drafted Minzaal filly benefited from a major pedigree update given the sister, Saratoga Special (Mehmas), won a Listed race for trainer Jessica Harrington. Shortly after the hammer fell, Harrington's daughter and assistant trainer Kate joked that, 'There was more pressure on Saratoga Special than any other horse in the yard this year!' However, while White might only be 16, he doesn't do pressure and took the life-changing sum in his stride. “[I] didn't expect it all,” he cooly said. “[I] can't get over it – can't even put it into words. Jack, Max and I went around the foal sales together. Jack and Max had to go back to school but, because I was in transition year, I had the year off and spent that with Baroda Stud. I really liked her as a foal so I followed her in. I rang Richard to ask him how Saratoga Special was getting on and he told me that she was very nice and would win this year. Saratoga Special won a Listed race – it always helps, doesn't it?” Asked if he felt any emotion as the bidding climbed, White added, “The sweat was pumping out of me. I can't really put it into words. We're going back to school tomorrow. Last year I had a Gleneagles that made 230,000gns and I bought him for €36,000 so that was nice as well.” Saratoga Special won a Listed contest over the minimum trip at Ayr back in June. The dam, Chiclet (Dandy Man), was similarly speedy and reached a rating of 100 for trainer Tracey Collins. She has produced another highly-rated runner in Turn On The Jets (Mehmas) and Burke was not going to get beaten on the latest offering from the mare. He said, “She is lovely sort – vetted well and I am delighted to get her. We have bought a couple by the sire and a few months back now Jim Cowley, who used to ride Minzaal, said that he was a lovely, laid-back horse and recommended the progeny to us. I have been impressed by them. She has been bought for an owner in the yard. I did not think that she would get to that amount. It is a lot of money – hopefully she can run!” The post You Won’t Learn That At School! – Teenage Pinhookers Make Half-A-Million At Tattersalls appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Group 1-winning juvenile and Classic hero Camille Pissarro will stand at Coolmore Stud in Fethard, Ireland for the 2026 breeding season, following in the footsteps of his late sire, Wootton Bassett. Bred by James Cloney, Camille Pissarro was bought by MV Magnier and White Birch Farm for 1,250,000gns at Book 1 of the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale. A half-brother to the G1 Commonwealth Cup-winning sire Golden Horde (Lethal Force), he ran seven times as a two-year-old and saved his best performance for last when emulating Wootton Bassett with his victory in the Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere on Arc weekend. He also filled the runner-up spot on three occasions, including when beaten just a head by this year's G1 Flying Five Stakes winner Arizona Blaze (Sergei Prokofiev) in the G3 Marble Hill Stakes at the Curragh. Returning in March this year with another runner-up finish in the Listed Gladness Stakes at the last-named venue, Camille Pissarro then returned to ParisLongchamp for the G1 Poule d'Essai des Poulains where he finished third behind stablemate Henri Matisse (Wootton Bassett), before justifying favouritism with a comfortable success in the G1 Prix du Jockey Club at Chantilly. Last seen finishing fourth in July's G1 Coral-Eclipse at Sandown, he was retired shortly afterwards due to a fissure fracture which was found in his fetlock. The Group 1 scorers Camille Pissarro and Golden Horde feature among eight winners from nine runners out of the winning Pivotal mare Entreat, with the others including the Listed Cathedral Stakes victor Line Of Departure (Mehmas) and the Listed Pipalong Stakes heroine Exhort (Dutch Art). Entreat, in turn, is out of the Irish River mare River Saint, a half-sister to the legendary Serena's Song (Rahy), who won 11 Grade I races in America and was an outstanding producer in her own right. Coolmore's David O'Loughlin said, “Camille Pissarro is a huge addition to our roster. Wootton Bassett is obviously a tremendous loss for us all, but we can be very confident that Camille Pissarro will follow in his father's footsteps. He is made very much in his father's image, arguably even better looking, according to a lot of the judges! Like his father, he won the Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere but went on to add the renowned sire-making Prix du Jockey Club. He has a pedigree stacked with Group 1-speed but managed to carry that speed over 10 and a half furlongs.” Camille Pissarro's stud fee for 2026 will be announced in due course. The post Prix du Jockey Club Winner Camille Pissarro Retired to Coolmore Stud for 2026 appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Mike Campbell's gut told him he would follow the lead of his grandfather and father by becoming a trainer. The former jockey never anticipated the awful turn that would lead him to that second career and, now, a second trip to the Breeders' Cup.View the full article

QIPCO British Champions Day at Ascot on Saturday is set to feature four of the top ten horses in the world, with Ombudsman (Night Of Thunder), Field Of Gold (Kingman), Delacroix (Dubawi) and Calandagan (Gleneagles) headlining the confirmations for the five Group 1 races made on Monday. The £1.3m QIPCO Champion Stakes looks like being one of the races of the year, with the world's top-rated horse, Ombudsman, leading 15 confirmations for the 10-furlong contest. The Godolphin-owned four-year-old's ongoing rivalry with Coolmore's Delacroix will be settled at Ascot on Saturday with the Aidan O'Brien-trained three-year-old also confirmed for the race – the series between the two currently stands at 1-1. This year's G1 King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes winner Calandagan, who was second in this race in 2024, will bid to go one better this year, meaning that this year's QIPCO Champion Stakes will feature three of the eight best turf horses in the world, according to the Longines World's Best Racehorse Rankings. Meanwhile, Economics (Night Of Thunder) will have his first run of the season in Saturday's showpiece, having last been seen in this contest last year, where he finished a close-up sixth. The two supplementary entries for the race are Devil's Advocate (Too Darn Hot) for Godolphin and John and Thady Gosden, an intended pacemaker for Ombudsman, and First Look (Lope De Vega), the Andre Fabre-trained four-year-old who won the G2 Prix Dollar on Arc weekend. Field Of Gold, the world's joint-second best horse, will make his long-awaited reappearance in the £1.1m Queen Elizabeth II Stakes (sponsored by QIPCO), which sees 17 confirmed for the one-mile contest. John and Thady Gosden's Juddmonte-owned colt has been given time to recover after being found to be lame following the G1 Sussex Stakes where he finished fourth. The three-year-old had previously looked like a superstar when steaking away from his rivals in the G1 Irish 2,000 Guineas at the Curragh and G1 St James's Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot. Fallen Angel (Too Darn Hot) steps back into open company for the first time since May, having rattled off three consecutive Group 1 wins against her own sex. Rosallion (Blue Point) has finished runner-up in three Group 1 contests this year, each time by a neck or less, and will bid to add to his impressive Ascot record, as will Docklands (Massaat), who has finished first or second six times in seven starts in Berkshire, including when beating Rosallion in this year's G1 Queen Anne Stakes. Andrew Balding's Marvelman (Invincible Spirit) has been supplemented for the race, having impressively won the G2 Park Stakes at Doncaster last time. The £500,000 QIPCO British Champions Sprint Stakes sees 21 confirmed, including last year's winner Kind Of Blue (Blue Point). Wathnan Racing hold a strong hand in the race with Lazzat (Territories), this year's G1 Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes winner, and Flora Of Bermuda (Dark Angel), third in this race last year, also confirmed. Course-and-distance winner Big Mojo (Mohaather), who took the Haydock Sprint Cup last time, and No Half Measures (Cable Bay), who sprung a surprise when winning Newmarket's July Cup, will look to add more Group 1 glory to their CVs, as will the eight-year-old Art Power (Dark Angel), who won this race in 2023 and proved age is just a number when taking a Group 3 at the Curragh last month. George Boughey's Rosy Affair (Havana Grey) and Francis-Henri Graffard's Rayevka (Blue Point) have been supplemented for the race. The £500,000 QIPCO British Champions Fillies & Mares Stakes could also see last year's heroine look to defend their crown. Kalpana (Study Of Man), who finished seventh in the G1 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe earlier this month, is among 13 confirmed for the race, along with Estrange (Night Of Thunder), who was an intended runner in the Arc but suffered a late setback, and Waardah (Postponed), who proved too strong for Danielle (Cracksman) in the G2 Lillie Langtry Stakes at Goodwood at the start of August. Francis-Henri Graffard has confirmed Latakia (Frankel), a Group 2 winner at Deauville in August, and Quisisana (Le Havre), who won the G1 Prix Jean Romanet at the same meeting. Wathnan Racing's One Look (Gleneagles), trained by Paddy Twomey, is a supplementary entry. Trawlerman (Golden Horn) will look to cap a dominant season in the staying division with a second success in the £500,000 QIPCO British Champions Long Distance Cup, which sees six confirmed as it is run as a Group 1 for the first time. John and Thady Gosden's seven-year-old won this race in 2023, before finishing second behind Kyprios in 2024, and this year he has looked better than ever in registering three consecutive victories, notably winning the G1 Gold Cup at Royal Ascot. The Gosden team also send out Sweet William (Sea The Stars), successful in the G2 Doncaster Cup last month, while Al Qareem (Awtaad) makes a quick return to Ascot having become the first ever three-time winner of the G3 Cumberland Lodge Stakes earlier in October. Aidan O'Brien has supplemented G1 St Leger third Stay True (Galileo). For the first time ever there will be seven races on QIPCO British Champions Day with a new two-year-old race kicking off proceedings. The £250,000 QIPCO British Champions Day Two-Year-Old Conditions Stakes sees 19 entered, including the G2 Mill Reef Stakes winner Words Of Truth (Lope De Vega) and G1 Middle Park Stakes runner-up Brussels (Wootton Bassett). The card will close as always with the £200,000 Balmoral Handicap, which will have a maximum field of 20 with three reserves. Following Monday's confirmation stage, 46 horses remain in contention, including ante-post market leaders Native Warrior (Wootton Bassett) and Crown Of Oaks (Wootton Bassett). Regarding track conditions for QIPCO British Champions Day, Chris Stickels, clerk of the course at Ascot, said, “As of Monday morning we've got good ground on the straight course and we're good, good to soft in places on the round course. We're not expecting much rain through the week, with just a few light showers in the forecast, so I'd expect that we will be racing on a mixture of good and good to firm ground on Saturday.” The post World’s Best Confirmed for QIPCO British Champions Day Blockbuster appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Modest to a fault, breeder and former chairman of the Breeders' Cup Fred Hertrich likes to talk about how lucky he has been. “I've been very fortunate, very lucky,” he said. He also said, “If you're not lucky, things won't fall your way in this business.” Perhaps. But there's a lot more to it than that. Luck is not the reason Hertrich became the youngest Ford dealer in the United States, forming Frederick Ford Mercury in Seaford, Delaware. Today, he is the President of the Hertrich Family of Automobile Dealerships, representing 23 automotive dealerships, 13 collision centers and a long-term leasing company, ranking them in the top 50 privately owned retail automobile groups in North America. Luck is not the reason that Hertrich and his partners have bred numerous stakes winners, including 2017 GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies winner Rushing Fall (More Than Ready) and such standouts as GI Hopeful Stakes winner Boys At Tosconova (Officer) and GI Travers Stakes winner Catholic Boy (More Than Ready) or European champion Shamardal (Giant's Causeway). Luck is not the reason he was chosen to be the Chairman of the Board of the Breeders' Cup from 2017 to 2021. Then, just what is his secret sauce? It starts with attention to detail. “I attribute our success to our staff and how we raise the horses and how we get them from Point A to Point B,” he said. “People ask how do we do it. There are so many things, but it starts with luck. Then you have to have the staff. Somebody asked me once, 'What does it take to make a good horse?' and I said that, 'Believe it or not, it probably takes 60 different people who have had something to do with the success of that horse.' So many horses don't get that opportunity because they don't have those 60 people working with the horse. There might be a horse someone paid a couple million dollars for and because the groom isn't paying attention the horse falls over backwards and breaks its neck. It's so labor intensive to get that animal to the gate where it performs. It takes all of that. It's such a game of inches and fifths of a second that just can't miss anything. The devil is in the details in raising a horse and getting that horse to reach its full potential. It is a really difficult task that not many people have an understanding of.” Long before he got into Thoroughbred racing, Hertrich was in the Standardbred game and always made sure that he surrounded himself with knowledgeable, reliable people. While he was ensconced in the Standardbred business, he didn't give much thought to the Thoroughbred game. That changed overnight. Hertrich was at a Standardbred sale in Lexington with his then-partner Dr. Phil McCarthy when McCarthy suggested they head down the road and check out a Thoroughbred sale. Hertrich didn't think he had anything to lose. “Doc said we ought to go to the Thoroughbred breeding stock sale,” Hertrich said. “So we put together a partnership that included [prominent Standardbred owner] the late Lou Guida. Lou and Phil had been friends for years. Lou came in for 25% of the partnership to buy Thoroughbred broodmares. A gentleman named Ben Walden, Jr. of the Walden family, which has been in the business for 50 years, joined us. His father really educated me at that sale about buying Thoroughbreds. We all had 25% and we spent a couple of million dollars and bought mares in what turned out to be a very down market. My entire life, I've been very lucky and was lucky to put that partnership together.” Hertrich, who owns Watercress Farm near Paris, Kentucky, was still somewhat of a greenhorn when it came to Thoroughbreds, so he reached out to some of the smartest people in the industry. “I found the farm and I bought it,” he said. “When I bought the farm, Dr. McCarthy had just returned from working in Europe for two years and he came out and looked at the farm. We also had Joe Taylor, the father of the Taylor Made sons, come out and look at it with me and tell me all about the soil maps that he thought were the best anywhere in Bourbon County or the surrounding area. I didn't know anything about soil maps.” He likes to call himself a trader more so than a breeder. He doesn't just sell yearlings or 2-year-olds, but will sell anywhere where he thinks he can get the price he is looking for. It's the same when he decides he needs to add to his broodmare band. “The process starts once that foal is born and then we decide how we are going to market that foal,” he said. “We could sell it as a weanling, we could sell it as a yearling, we could sell it at 2-year-old-in-training sale. Or we could race it. The great thing about the industry to me is there is always a market. If you decide you want to sell a horse, you can usually do it within the next 30 days. For a trader, which is what we truly are, that's very enticing because we always know we can go to a market or find another mare in another market. It's kind of been our mantra that we participate at all levels because I think you really have to. If you are going to be one-dimensional, then you are at the mercy of the market on that particular day. That's kind of what makes the Standardbred business difficult, as you don't have those multiple markets like you have with the Thoroughbreds. The market is always moving and you can't really know until you get there what that market is going to be.” Hertrich took on a new partner in John Fielding before McCarthy passed away. The two hit it off right from the start. “John came in while Dr. McCarthy was still alive,” Hertrich said. “We've been friends for probably 25-odd years and John likes to tell people we've been partners for that long and have never had a cross word. That is true. We met at a Standardbred sale in Toronto at Woodbine Racetrack. I probably shouldn't say this, but at end of sale, we got a case of Labatts beer and sat on a couple of hay bales and, by the time we left, we were best friends.” Hertrich said he has about 100 mares at Watercress, but would like to get down to 80 or 90. But planning the matings for even 80 horses is a monumental task. He knows he couldn't get it down without the help of his right-hand man, Rob Tribbett. “I met Rob when he was cleaning stalls for his father, who trained for me,” Hertrich said. “He was the assistant racing secretary at Ocean Downs right out of college. He didn't like that and said to me, 'Fred I'd like to come to work with you. I just want to learn different things. I'll do it for free.' He's been with me ever since. He's a big piece of the puzzle that goes into the work that has to be done to decide on your matings. We are mating some 100 mares. We also own stallion shares, but you have to go to the market and buy some breedings, as well. Then we sit down and put it all together based on what we know about the mare and what we know about the stallion. All the conformation information. All the information like that cross has been bred 50 times and has never worked, so we're not going to go there. “There's an awful lot of effort and time that goes into it,” he said. “You think you're brilliant when you figure out the puzzle and then you think how dumb you are when you don't. You know the stallion and you know the mare and then the foal comes out and it doesn't look anything like you thought it was going to look. On the other hand, you worry about a mare because she has a conformation defect and she might throw the perfect horse. In all honesty, the guy with the most money does not always win.” Rushing Fall | Sarah Andrew Of all the top horses he has bred, Hertrich said Rushing Fall is his favorite. Her record includes a win in the 2017 GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf. “Your first memory is always the best,” he said. “That was Rushing Fall. We sold her to a good friend in Bobby Edwards. And she turned out to be a Grade I horse right about the time when I first came in as the Chairman of the Board of the Breeders' Cup. We were at the Breeders' Cup and watched her win. That built us up, making us think we could do this every year. The owners of that horse are very good friends and so is the trainer, Chad Brown. It was very exciting for us to win at that level. As incoming chairman, I even got to present the trophy to them.” He owns shares in several top sires. “We own shares at every major farm that sells shares,” he said. “We don't own any at Coolmore or Spendthrift because they don't sell shares. We have shares of stallions at WinStar, Lane's End, Hill 'n' Dale, Claiborne and Gainesway. Hertrich is in the process of getting out of the Standardbred game, which will give him more time and more money to devote to his Thoroughbred breeding operation. He would like nothing more than to own a Breeders' Cup winner, but because Hertrich and Fielding never have many horses in training, that's not likely to happen. But you never know. They'll just have to get lucky. They have before. The post Keeneland Breeder Spotlight: Sustained Excellence, How Fred Hertrich Has Stayed on Top appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Multiple graded stakes winner Arzak (Not This Time–Delightful Melody, by Tapit) has been purchased by Amsterdam Two Farm in Middleburgh, New York, where he will retire to stud for a fee of $6,000, with special consideration to approved mares. A $575,000 OBS Spring 2-year-old in 2020, Arzak won the 2023 GII Woodford Stakes and 2024 GII Shakertown Stakes on the grass at Keeneland and he was also runner-up behind Cogburn (Not This Time) in the 2024 GI Jaipur Stakes. He won the 2022 GIII Jacques Cartier Stakes and Thorncliffe Stakes–where he set a new track record of 1:02.62 for 5 1/2 furlongs–on the Tapeta at Woodbine, and the 2021 Tom Ridge Stakes at Presque Isle Downs. On the board in 16 of 36 starts, Arzak won eight times and earned $1,081,294 while racing in the colors of Marc Tacher's Sonata Stable for trainer Michael Trombetta. “This horse was so sound and so willing–I never had a moment's problem with him,” Trombetta said. “Arzak was as clean-legged on retirement as the day he came to the barn. And I think, based on his sire's accomplishments and Arzak's own win going a mile at Tampa Bay in his third career start, his offspring will be well-suited to most distances offered at the new Belmont Park.” Ken Williams, manager of Amsterdam Two, added, “Physically, Arzak is an absolute rocket ship. He's 16.2 hands, with tremendous bone, a powerful build and an absolutely monster walk–and he's got arguably the three most important qualities sought by New York breeders: speed, soundness and precocity. We knew we needed a special horse to launch Amsterdam Two's stallion operation, and Arzak fits that description to a tee.” Bloodstock agent Michael Slezak brokered the deal to bring Arzak to New York and will stay involved to help Amsterdam Two sell shares and seasons. Amsterdam Two has built a state-of-the-art stallion barn and will be offering an open house after Thanksgiving. The post Millionaire Arzak Retired to Stud at New York’s Amsterdam Two Farm appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

European champion two-year-old Shadow Of Light (Lope De Vega) has been retired from racing and will take up stud duties at Kildangan Stud in Ireland next year. A stud fee will be announced at a later date. Trained by Charlie Appleby for Godolphin, Shadow Of Light joins the Darley roster as a dual Group 1 winner, having become only the third two-year-old since the Pattern began to win both the Middle Park Stakes and Dewhurst Stakes. Beaten just once in five starts that season, when filling the runner-up spot in the G2 Gimcrack Stakes at York, he followed that effort with a four-length success in the Middle Park, before returning to Newmarket just two weeks later to win the Dewhurst by a neck. Though unable to add to those Group 1 spoils in four starts as a three-year-old, Shadow Of Light proved himself at least as good as ever when beginning the campaign with a close-up third in the 2,000 Guineas. He was also fourth in a blanket finish to the Prix Jean Prat at Deauville, with just half a length separating him from the winner. Godolphin homebred Shadow Of Light is out of the G1 Fillies' Mile and G3 Sweet Solera Stakes third Winter's Moon (New Approach), whose first foal, Earthlight (Shamardal), has stood the past five seasons at Kildangan Stud. He too was a dual Group 1-winning juvenile, having completed the Prix Morny/Middle Park double in 2019. Winter's Moon is also the dam of this year's GI Summer Stakes and G2 Superlative Stakes placegetter Wild Desert (Too Darn Hot), while Shadow Of Light's second dam, the G3 Prix des Reservoirs winner and G1 Prix Saint-Alary third Summertime Legacy (Darshaan), has produced seven other winners. They include the G1 Criterium de Saint-Cloud hero Mandean (Manduro) and G1 Prix Saint-Alary scorer Wavering (Refuse To Bend), while another daughter, the unraced Hurricane Irene (Green Desert), is the second dam of this year's G1 Prix Morny winner Venetian Sun (Starman). Sam Bullard, Darley's director of stallions, said, “Shadow Of Light hails from an extraordinary family packed with precocious Group 1 performers and his own record at two is simply outstanding. We are very excited to show him to breeders in the coming weeks.” The post Champion Juvenile Shadow Of Light Joins the Darley Roster for 2026 appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

New Zealand sourced runners were to the fore at Sha Tin on Sunday with six winners from the ten races. Sky Heart (NZ) (Ardrossan) landed the fourth win of his 13-start career when fighting bravely to score in a Class 3 over 1400m. The Caspar Fownes-trained five-year-old overcame barrier 13 to win by a nose under Ellis Wong for the Kwan family after being sidelined for the best part of six months. “He’s a good horse and we’ve always had a very high opinion of him, but he’s just had umpteen problems,” Fownes said. “He had colic surgery and he was out for a while but we’ve given him a really good prep and we were just gutted when we saw the draw. But we just pressed on and relied on his fitness and you can see he’s a good horse because he really stuck his neck out.” Fownes had earlier saddled Daily Trophy (NZ) (Tarzino) to win a Class 4 over 1200m. Jamie Richards continued his good early-season form when $1.20 favourite Jubilant Winner (Capitalist) notched a workmanlike victory in a Class 4 over 1200m. A son of Capitalist, Jubilant Winner was a trial winner in New Zealand at Te Rapa for Richards father Paul and is now a two-time winner in Hong Kong. See video below for a full review of the New Zealand success at Sha Tin. View the full article

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Jamie Richards looks to continue his strong start to the campaign with his aptly named La Forza in the Class Three Hok Yuen Handicap (1,200m) at Happy Valley on Wednesday night. The 36-year-old endured a frustrating campaign last season but has quickly put that in the dust, racing to seven successes and unleashing some smart winners along the way. “We had a shocker last season, but I’m very pleased with how things have kicked off this time around. Long may it continue,” said Richards. A...View the full article

French jockey Corentin Berge had to wait longer than anticipated to partner Sicillian at the races, but he made that opportunity count at Arawa Park on Sunday, earning his first win on New Zealand soil. Berge arrived in New Zealand last month and had five raceday rides prior to the Arawa Park Hotel Rotorua (1400m), a take two aboard the Wexford-trained mare having been scheduled to ride her at Matamata last Saturday before the late abandonment. He retained the ride for the following weekend and had confidence that she could produce a winning result, having shown promise as a three-year-old and resuming in Rating 65 company. Sicillian only stepped fairly from the gates and Berge pressed on to find cover off the rail in midfield, while Beetlegeuse ensured a solid tempo up-front. That pace played into the hands of Sicillian, who ranged up at the top of the straight and comfortably ran down the favourite Sweetazme, kicking clear by 1 – ¼ lengths to Sneak Peek and Live On Air. “I was pretty confident in this filly, I’d ridden her at the trials two or three weeks ago and was supposed to ride her in the last meeting at Matamata before it was called off,” Berge said. “I thought she could be my first winner so it’s really nice to get that done. “I didn’t have any clear instructions, her trainers (Lance O’Sullivan and Andrew Scott) gave me a free card, but she probably started a bit slower than I expected. In saying that, we didn’t end up too far from the leader and it all worked out well.” Originally from Toulouse, Berge rode 86 winners in his homeland before seeking further opportunities in Germany where he added another six wins to his tally, including success at Listed and Group Two level. Now plying his trade in Matamata, Berge is working for Te Akau Racing, having been in contact through a French association with Cambridge Stud. “I’m from Toulouse, I started my apprenticeship in the southwest of France before going to Chantilly, which is the main place for horse racing,” he said. “After I lost my claim, I moved to ride a bit in Germany for a couple of months, but it wasn’t all exactly as I’d expected, so I decided to come over to New Zealand. “I was looking for a country not only for racing, but also for a nice lifestyle and opportunity for international jockeys. I think New Zealand was a good fit for that and it’s going well so far. “There wasn’t a real connection between France and New Zealand, but I was lucky because a French trainer, Nicholas Clement, trained for Cambridge Stud a few years ago so he got in contact with them, which led me to Te Akau. “Te Akau have given me a few trial rides over the last few weeks and are really open to giving me the opportunity to ride for other stables in the mornings, so I try to ride for Wexford, Pam Gerard and Graham Richardson as well.” Berge is enjoying his new surroundings in the Waikato, while adjusting to a different pattern of racing than what he is accustomed to at home. “I arrived last month and it’s a nice country, I’ve ridden on four racecourses and the facilities are nice for the horses,” he said. “The races here are quite different. In a typical French race we start slow and the last 400m is very quick, but here, the races have a stronger pace throughout.” Berge is available to be booked for rides through his agent Ted McLachlan (021 147 7378). View the full article