Wandering Eyes

New York Racing Association cancels live racing Jan. 28-30 at Aqueduct Racetrack due to arctic temperatures and extremely low wind chill values forecast to impact the New York metropolitan area. Turfway Park cancels racing Jan. 28-29.View the full article

The Jockey Club Thoroughbred Incentive Program's 2026 Championship horse show will be held at Stable View in Aiken, South Carolina, Sept. 30 through Oct. 4, The Jockey Club announced Tuesday. The championship show is part of a schedule which includes 8,000 awards and classes at more than 1,600 shows in 42 states and five Canadian provinces in 2026. Awards are available for multiple disciplines, including eventing, dressage, Western and English pleasure, ranch horse, hunter/jumper, competitive trail, barrel racing, polo, and polocrosse. A full calendar of shows offering awards is available at tjctip.com/CalendarOfEvents and will be updated as show dates are confirmed. “This year marks the 15th year in which T.I.P. is offering awards, and we are proud of the success of this initiative in promoting the versatility of the Thoroughbred,” said Kristin Werner, deputy general counsel and director of industry initiatives for The Jockey Club and administrator of T.I.P. “Through 2025, there have been more than 13,000 shows that have offered T.I.P. awards, more than 48,000 T.I.P. numbers that have been assigned, and more than 114,000 award entries submitted for horses. We look forward to celebrating the talents of Thoroughbreds in a range of disciplines and putting their versatility on display in the greater equestrian community.” The post T.I.P. Championship at Stable View Highlights 2026 Show Schedule appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Byron King's Top 12 on the Road to the Kentucky Derby, presented by Spendthrift Farm.View the full article

Ted Noffey and Sovereignty, honored as 2025 champions at the Resolute Racing Eclipse Awards ceremony last week in Florida, remain popular choices in early-season media voting this year.View the full article

New York Racing Association cancels live racing Jan. 28-30 at Aqueduct Racetrack due to arctic temperatures and extremely low wind chill values forecast to impact the New York metropolitan area. Turfway Park cancels racing Jan. 28-29.View the full article

Having so often berated Europeans for neglecting Not This Time, I do see the irony in the odyssey of his son Six Speed. Last spring, this colt was one of few Not This Time foals to have been given conspicuous opportunity to plant his flag on European turf. As a yearling, he had been found at Keeneland by Mags O'Toole, showing the familiar acuity that exonerates her from charges of myopia that must be leveled at so many other bloodstock professionals over the water. He cost just $50,000, from breeder KatieRich Farms, and at the Tattersalls Craven Breeze-Up Sale showed enough dash to realize 220,000gns (around $300,000). Yet it turned out that he had been passed up by all the big local programs. Instead he was exported to Dubai by Bhupat Seemar, for whom he last week won the G3 U.A.E. 2,000 Guineas by five lengths. He did so in new American ownership, banking 20 gate points for the GI Kentucky Derby. So a colt that might easily have advertised to Europe his sire's equal prowess on turf could well find himself instead returning to his native soil to confirm a core efficacy on dirt. That's obviously crucial to a sire now standing at $250,000. Not This Time was champion turf stallion last year and six of his 11 elite scorers to date have come on that surface, but the balance will doubtless be tilting back with the upgrading of his mares. For the most important thing about Not This Time remains the astonishing fact that even his incoming sophomores were still only conceived at $45,000. Really this horse cannot be accused of any specialisms. He is as likely to get you an Epicenter as an Up to the Mark, a Cogburn as a Next. Versatility, after all, was also a trademark of his sire, Giant's Causeway, and grandsire, Storm Cat. Six Speed results from one of those $45,000 covers in 2022. And his dam Browse (Medaglia d'Oro) was an early sign of the way Not This Time was going up in the world. For she represents a line previously in Phipps hands for nine generations, all the way back to Baby League (Bubbling Over), the daughter of La Troienne (Fr) purchased from Colonel Bradley's estate in 1946–at a price doubtless reflecting the Horse of the Year campaign of her daughter Busher (War Admiral) in 1945. This branch of the dynasty is branded by Busher's sister Striking, acquired in utero, via So Chic's sister Glamour (Nasrullah) as granddam of champion juvenile filly Numbered Account (Buckpasser). The latter is fourth dam of Browse. As a stakes-placed four-time winner, Browse herself attested to the continued genetic functionality of her noble family, which had been as well seeded as you might expect. Her half-brother by the sire of Not This Time, Imagining (Giant's Causeway), landed the GI Man o' War Stakes; and their Forestry half-sister is granddam of GI Frizette Stakes winner Chocolate Gelato (Practical Joke). They are out of multiple graded stakes winner Daydreaming (A.P. Indy), who brings a series of accomplished siblings onto the page. For instance, brothers Girolamo (Vosburgh Stakes) and Accelerator, respectively, won and placed at the elite level; and a Deputy Minister half-sister produced GI Spinster Stakes winner Got Lucky (A.P. Indy). Then there were two sisters that each produced three graded stakes winners. In the case of unraced She's a Winner (A.P. Indy), her best was GI Haskell Stakes winner/Derby runner-up Bluegrass Cat (Storm Cat); while her sister Supercharger went one better by producing Super Saver (Maria's Mon). So while he has not tended to need much help, Not This Time was offered plenty by Browse. The mare had been culled from the Phipps program on retirement, for $600,000 at the 2019 Keeneland November Sale. Returned to the same ring two years later, her value somehow depreciated to $350,000 even though neither of her first two foals had yet run. Purchasers KatieRich will have been satisfied, then, to see her daughter Pipit (Quality Road) come out and win a Woodbine sprint stakes as a juvenile, especially after favoring Browse with Curlin and Uncle Mo for her next two covers. In turn, the continued rise of Six Speed has put a nice gloss on other recent transactions. Pipit changed hands only days ago for $585,000 (to Pursuit of Success) at the Keeneland January Sale, in foal to Practical Joke; while a 13-year-old sister to Browse, three-time winner Sabbatical (Medaglia d'Oro), was also culled at the 2024 Keeneland November Sale, for $400,000 to D.J. Stable–in foal to none other than Not This Time. The Taylor Made top gun is arguably owed a favor by the barn aiming to get Six Speed to Churchill via the GII U.A.E. Derby, having previously taken the same route with Summer Is Tomorrow (Summer Front). It was the manic pace set by that horse in 2022 that helped to set things up for Rich Strike's pounce on Epicenter, so denying Not This Time a Derby winner from his second crop. Sooner or later, that is going to be redressed–though I suppose that will just make the Europeans even less disposed to try him. Another Masterpiece for Humor Mares Medaglia d'Oro certainly quit at the top, having made a mockery of the self-fulfilling prejudice against ageing stallions. And Six Speed could yet be adding to his distaff legacy, with young sires out of his daughters already including Olympiad, National Treasure, Prince of Monaco and First Mission. Very often, of course, broodmare sires reserve their real pomp for when they have left us altogether, and sadly that is now where we find ourselves with Distorted Humor, who died a few days ago at the venerable age of 33. Distorted Humor does have an accomplished sire of sires extending his male line in Maclean's Music, but his daughters have been spreading his footprint wider yet, through the likes of Arrogate, Constitution and Practical Joke, and now Life is Good, Citizen Bull and Patch Adams. The latter four, all by Into Mischief, represent quite a challenge for those of us inclined to scepticism about the whole business of nicks. (And very big business it is, too!). Maybe these are indeed just daughters of one very good stallion being covered by another. Either way, the cross has yielded another exciting talent in Canaletto, whose eight-length debut success at Gulfstream made him an automatic 'TDN Rising Star, presented by Hagyard.' Certainly there's an awful lot more to this horse than a nice “cross.” That much was clear from two visits to the ring as a yearling: he raised $650,000 as an unusual proposition at the Fasig-Tipton February Sale, in the poignant dispersal of the late Bob Lothenbach's program; and elevated himself to $1 million at Saratoga not six months later. At that stage, his half-brother by Tapit had only run once, disappointing at Churchill, but two days after the sale, he broke his maiden over the street. His name is Sandman and last spring, of course, he won the GI Arkansas Derby. Their dam, three-time winner Distorted Music, had already produced multiple black-type winner (GIII Chilukki Stakes) She Can't Sing (Bernardini), and Distorted Music was herself a half-sister to the dam of solid graded stakes performer Moon Over Miami (Malibu Moon). But the real action in this family centers on third dam Note Musicale (GB), an unraced daughter of Sadler's Wells and champion It's in the Air (Mr. Prospector). She's dam of two elite performers: French Classic winner Musical Chimes (In Excess {Ire}) and five-time Grade I scorer Music Note (A.P. Indy), subsequently celebrated as dam of G1 Dubai World Cup winner Mystic Guide (Ghostzapper). It's in the Air is also granddam of an elite scorer both sides of the Atlantic in Storming Home (GB) (Machiavellian). With all that behind her, and now another son shaping up on the track, Distorted Music looks a characteristically smart pick by Springhouse Farm, for $375,000, as a 14-year-old at the dispersal. John Magnier and his partners have proved quite unerring when reserving names of great painters for their most promising prospects, and we look forward to seeing Canaletto fill out this flamboyant first sketch. Skippylongstocking | Coglianese An Exaggerated Effect Yet another by Into Mischief out of a Distorted Humor mare is Tappan Street, who beat the Horse of the Year at Gulfstream last March, but disappointed back over the same circuit last weekend. That left us an old-school finish, with the first three in the GI Pegasus World Cup adding up to an aggregate age of 20. Evergreen winner Skippylongstocking is much the most accomplished son of Exaggerator, a pretty disappointing sire given his class (split Nyquist and Gun Runner in the Derby) and constitution (won the GI Preakness two weeks later, overall 15 starts inside 16 months). He was only nine when moving to Louisiana, however, so can certainly keep consolidating there. As for what clicked with “Skippy,” the rags-to-riches $15,000 yearling: his dam has produced two other stakes winners, while her own sire War Chant principally reserved his Danzig flair for his daughters, who have additionally come up with Derby winner Country House (Lookin At Lucky) and top-class European juvenile Shalaa (Ire) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}). Tempting though it is, not even I will pin his toughness on the sire of his fifth dam! Nonetheless, it's fun to see a small footprint for Tudor Way (Arg), whose family traces to a mare imported to Uruguay way back in 1895. That South American ore has always been worth mining… The post Breeding Digest: Time Traveler Returning to Roots appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

The National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame and the New York Thoroughbred Breeders are partnering to offer a bus trip from Saratoga Springs to Aqueduct Racetrack for Wood Memorial Stakes Day Apr. 4. This year's edition of the Wood Memorial will be the final time the event is held at Aqueduct before moving to the new Belmont Park in 2027. Tickets are $75 for Museum and NYTB members and $90 for non-members and are on sale now here: https://1049a.blackbaudhosting.com/1049a/Aqueduct-Bus-Trip. The post National Museum of Racing, NYTB Offer Wood Memorial Bus Trip appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Keeneland's newly constructed Paddock Building–offering more than 1,000 new public dining tickets in a variety of venues each race day–will make its debut at the track's 2026 Spring Meet, which opens Apr. 3. “The Paddock Building represents an investment in the Thoroughbred industry and furthers Keeneland's mission to support and grow the sport,” said Keeneland President and CEO Shannon Arvin. “It speaks to our confidence in racing's future while creating new, meaningful ways to engage guests year-round. These new venues will enrich the experience for racing fans, sales customers and special event guests and allow us to further showcase the very best of Keeneland's world-renowned hospitality.” The Paddock Building, which is designed for year-round use, will serve as a setting for sales and private events, as well as an area to enhance the race-day experience with a range of distinctive dining options. The new public ticketed venues in the Paddock Building include: The 1936 Room, featuring lounge seating, high-top tables, passed heavy hors d'oeuvres and premium bar service in a reception-style setting that affords fans exclusive access to the Paddock Lawn next to the Saddling Paddock; The Sycamore Room, offering a la carte high-end dining and located on the south end of the first floor of the Paddock Building adjacent to the new Stakes Winner's Circle; The Dogwood Room, a second-floor venue overlooking the Saddling Paddock featuring buffet-style dining; The Ivy Room, designed for private group gatherings and not included in public ticket offerings; and The Rooftop, located on the third floor of the Paddock Building, and featuring two distinct spaces with sweeping views of the Paddock and the entire Keeneland campus. There is a fully enclosed premium indoor dining room and a covered outdoor space anchored by a focal bar. Fans can explore the new Paddock Building here. Tickets go on sale Feb. 17 at 9 a.m. at Tickets.Keeneland.com. The Keeneland Spring Meet runs from Apr. 3-24. The post Keeneland Unveils Paddock Building Ahead of Spring Meet appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

As much as there were several Eclipse Awards categories that seemed like toss-ups, there were no real surprises in the announcements of 2025 champions the evening of Jan. 22 at The Breakers Palm Beach in South Florida.View the full article

Live racing has been cancelled at Turfway Park on Wednesday and Thursday due to severe winter weather in the Florence, Kentucky area. Officials from the National Weather Service are forecasting wind chill values to not rise above the single digits over the next 48 hours and dip as low as minus 11 degrees on Wednesday. Turfway Park officials continue to monitor the forecast and will make a determination Wednesday regarding Friday and Saturday's racing cards. The post Frigid Temps Force Turfway Cancellations appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Graded stakes winner Stormcast (Mitole) is among 19 additional entries to the Fasig-Tipton Kentucky Winter Mixed Sale, which will be held Feb. 9 in Lexington. The latest group of supplements to the auction are catalogued as hip 386-404 and include several stakes winners and a half-sibling to a recent Grade I winner. The 5-year-old mare Stormcast, winner of the 2024 GIII Bessarabian Stakes, will be offered as hip 395 and will be consigned as a racing or broodmare prospect by Taylor Made Sales Agency. Other supplemental entries include: Athena's War (Kor) (New Year's Day) (hip 386), a full-sister to champion Maximum Security, in foal to Oscar Performance and consigned by Mulholland Springs, agent; Sun Kissed Soiree (Medaglia d'Oro) (hip 388), a full-sister to graded stakes winner Marzo consigned as a broodmare prospect by Taylor Made Sales Agency, agent; stakes-winning My Sassenach (Uncaptured) (hip 389), in foal to Flameaway and consigned by Mulholland Springs, agent; Mia's Mom (Maclean's Music) (hip 397), a winning half-sister to recent GI Pegasus World Cup Invitational winner Skippylongstocking (Exaggerator), who is carrying her first foal by Essential Quality and is consigned by Buckland Sales, agent; Leo Toro (Nyquist) (hip 398), winner of last year's Ginger Punch Stakes at Gulfstream who is consigned as a racing/broodmare prospect byGainesway, agent; and multiple stakes winner and multiple graded-placed Dancing N Dixie (Neolithic) (hip 399), consigned as a broodmare prospect by Taylor Made Sales Agency, agent. To view the entire Kentucky Winter Mixed catalogue, click here. The post Graded Winner Stormcast Among Latest Supplements to Fasig-Tipton Winter Mixed Sale appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

SHARONS BEACH, SA, 1-23, 4th race, 6 1/2 furlongs BEYER SPEED FIGURE-89 (2nd) (g, 3, Omaha Beach–Cosmic Code, by Into Mischief) O-Panic Stable. B-Bryan Hawk (Ky). T-Jonathan Thomas. J-Umberto Rispoli. He has always been auspiciously supported: as a debut 2-1 choice on turf when he lost by 22 3/4 lengths, then at 8-5 on dirt when he faded to lose by 9 1/4 lengths, and again last week at 9-5. This time, he lived up to the stubborn optimism. Few could have expected a Beyer leap from 58 to 89, but he pressed 6-5 favorite Liam Smith (below) from the outset, dropped about two lengths behind in upper stretch yet kept doggedly pursuing until he came up short by a diminishing neck–as they stopped the timer in a swift 1:15.95. LIAM SMITH, SA, 1-23, 4th race, 6 1/2 furlongs BEYER SPEED FIGURE-89 (c, 3, Midshipman–Mama Joyce, by First Dude) O/B-Donald Dizney (Ky). T-Chief Stipe O'Neill. J-Ernesto Jaramillo. In the race described above, it took less of a leap of faith to expect such improvement from Liam Smith. He never got untracked in his debut against a strong maiden field, as he was shuffled back to last and climbed from kickback while the leaders sped through a half in :43.45–faster even than the Malibu Stakes later on the card. In this spot, he dashed right to the lead in :44.52 and led all the way. He was also one of three horses entered to be claimed, and was taken for $50k. CANALETTO, GP, 1/25, 7th race, 1 mile BEYER SPEED FIGURE-89 (c, 3, Into Mischief–Distorted Music, by Distorted Humor) O-Mrs. John Magnier, Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith, Peter Brant and Brook Smith. B-Lothenbach Stables (Ky). T-Chad Brown. J-Flavien Prat. Ever since Minnesota racing and breeding titan Bob Lothenbach passed away unexpectedly in November 2023, his dispersed stock has lit up tracks from coast to coast. Last year it was GI Arkansas Derby winner Sandman. And the latest is Sandman's half-brother, Coolmore's promising Canaletto, a pinhooked $1-million Saratoga yearling who kicked off his career Sunday with an eight-length romp at Gulfstream, earning 'TDN Rising Star presented by Hagyard' honors. In the same race, Coolmore also had Spartacus, a half-brother to Nest, but he finished a well-beaten fifth. CORONA DE ORO, FG, 1-24, 7th race, 6 furlongs BEYER SPEED FIGURE-92 (2nd) (c, 3, Bolt d'Oro-Lemon de Oro, by Lemon Drop Kid) O-On Our Own Stable, U Racing Stables, Commonwealth Stable, James Nichols, Saints or Sinners, Edwin Barker, Daniel Rivers, John Haines, Titletown Racing, Deborah Self and Dallas Stewart. B-Willow Oaks Stable (Ky). T-Dallas Stewart. J-Brian Hernandez Jr. At the very least, Corona De Oro has shattered the Five Fastest Maidens record for most ownership principals by a single entry: 11. As the 2-1 favorite making his third start, he burst from the pack to attack pacesetter Noble Affair (below) but couldn't get past him despite speeding his final quarter-mile in :23.61 and opening 8 1/2 lengths on the rest of the field. If he wins next time, the winners' circle should be crowded. NOBLE AFFAIR, FG, 1-24, 7th race, 6 furlongs BEYER SPEED FIGURE-93 (c, 3, Vekoma-Paden Affair, by Rockport Harbor) O-Wathnan Racing. B-Sandra Sexton and Silver Fern Farm (Ky). T-Steve Asmussen. J-James Graham. Wathnan's $600k 2-year-old buy led from the start in his debut, refusing to let Corona de Oro by as the two colts flew down the Fair Grounds stretch. Based on earlier dirt races Saturday, the swift 1:09.84 final time translates to a sparkling Beyer, but a rainstorm hit just before the race, which in theory could have tightened the surface. That's why the performance of horses in this race will be monitored going forward to determine if the 93 figure needs to be adjusted. The post Five Fastest Maidens: Jan. 20-26 appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Jay Rooney MEOWTH - R6 (1) Won from gate one three starts back and can repeat tonight Owen Goulding CHINA WIN - R8 (12) C&D near-miss before overcoming stall 14 at Sha Tin, more to come Trackwork Spy ACE WAR - R5 (11) Has been knocking on the door on his past two starts and can break through here Phillip Woo MEOWTH - R6 (1) Looks a major chance from gate one after drawing 12 in both starts since a win Shannon (Vincent Wong) ACE POWER - R3 (7) Looks spot on after a good third at Happy...View the full article

The momentum from a record Book 1 session at NZB’s 100th National Yearling Sale continued into Book 2 on Tuesday, where a condensed session saw 188 yearlings sell for an incredible $12,247,000. Surpassing all previous records, the Book 2 session reached an average of $65,144 (up 80%), a median of $60,000 (up 124%) and a clearance rate of 76%. “As we had expected, putting the Book 2 horses in front of the international buyers has been key,” commented NZB’s Managing Director Andrew Seabrook. “To see a $2.5 million increase in turnover from a catalogue with 146 less horses, the results are just extraordinary really. “The Australian spend has more than doubled compared to this session last year, and while the Kiwis were stronger too, there were plenty who missed out so we hope to see them active at the Karaka Summer Sale on Thursday.” Lot 601 was the Book 2 Sale topper. Photo supplied Among the Australian buyers was Wylie Dalziel, who praised the new format of the popular second session. “Credit due to the team here for getting all the Book 2 horses on the grounds early.” “In previous years when they weren’t on the complex, we never got to inspect them. Now, Peter Moody and I have had the chance to steal some good ones. “We’ve had really good success buying out of Karaka, especially at this kind of price point. We couldn’t be happier.” Initially passed in, the top lot of the day came when Busuttin Racing negotiated a sale for Lot 601. $200,000 was outlaid for the filly by Embellish out of Queen of Wizardy from leading vendor Cambridge Stud. After being titled the Leading Vendor for the 34th time during Book 1, Cambridge Stud also took Book 2 honours, selling a further 14 yearlings for just shy of $1.2 million. Little Avondale Stud took the Leading Vendor by average title for Book 2, selling five lots at an average price of $103,000. Lot 762, was Shocking’s highest lot, selling for $160,000. Photo supplied Leading sire by average was Rich Hill Stud’s resident stallion Shocking, who sold three lots at an average of $121,667. Headed by Lot 762 (ex Gardenier), who sold for $160,000 to Hong Kong’s Lok Lor. Attention now turns to the inaugural Karaka Summer Sale kicking off Thursday 29 January from 11am. Inspections continue from Wednesday 28 January, while a welcome BBQ will take place from 4pm at the Garden Bar with all welcome. All yearlings purchased at Karaka 2026 are eligible to be nominated for NZB’s lucrative Karaka Millions Series, featuring the $1m TAB Karaka Millions 2YO, $1.5m TAB Karaka Millions 3YO and the $1m NZB Mega Maiden Series. To nominate your yearling, contact finance@nzb.co.nz or call +64 9 298 0055. Entries close Monday 2 March 2026. To enquire about Passed Lots from Book 2 contact Patrick Cunningham on +64 21 181 5898 or email Patrick.Cunningham@nzb.co.nz, or Andrew Buick on +64 27 555 0640 or email Andrew.Buick@nzb.co.nz. View the full Book 2 results here. Catch the highlights and Lot-by-Lot footage from Book 2 here. Karaka 2026: Book 2 Statistics (as at end of selling) 2026 BOOK 2 TOTAL (NEW FORMAT) 2025 BOOK 2 TOTAL 2024 BOOK 2 TOTAL 2023 BOOK 2 TOTAL AGGREGATE $12,247,000 $9,759,000 $11,444,000 $11,516,000 AVERAGE $65,144 $36,144 $43,185 $43,131 MEDIAN $60,000 $26,750 $32,500 $32,000 CLEARANCE 76% 76% 70% 71% CATALOGUED 281 427 443 435 SOLD 188 270 265 267 TOP LOT Lot 601 Embellish – Queen of Wizardy (B.F) $200,000 Lot 855 Satono Aladdin – Sparkling Rose (B.F) $260,000 Lot 790 Time Test – Kerre (Br.C) $220,000 Lot 789 Proisir – Harriet Wilson (G.C) $180,000 Karaka 2026: Book 2 Top Lots Lot Sire Dam Sex Vendor Purchaser Price 601 Embellish Queen of Wizardry Filly Cambridge Stud Busuttin Young (VIC) $ 200,000 657 Sword of State Tina Again Filly Landsdowne Park Mr RA James / Mr R Wellwood (Waikato) $ 170,000 838 Sword of State Membership Colt Leanach Lodge Riversley Park/De Burgh Equine (Waikato) $ 170,000 762 Shocking Gardenier Colt Rich Hill Stud Lok Lor (Hong Kong) $ 160,000 585 Sword of State Palace Whispers Colt Woburn Farm Mr G Thompson (VIC) $ 150,000 756 Ardrossan Feuilla Colt The Oaks Stud Bleakley Bloodstock (Manawatu) $ 150,000 826 Ace High Maenoha Filly Seaton Park Rising Sun Syndicate/ Henry Dwyer Racing (VIC) $ 150,000 842 Contributer Miss Banff Colt Riversley Park BBA Ireland / BMD Bloodstock / Hurworth Bloodstock / David Skelly (Ireland) $ 150,000 592 Trapeze Artist Pickup the Pieces Colt Woburn Farm David Ellis CNZM (BAFNZ) (Te Akau) $ 145,000 801 Per Incanto Kechika Colt Little Avondale Stud Mr Frankie Ting (Hong Kong) $ 145,000 Karaka 2026: Book 2 Leading Buyers Purchaser Lots Aggregate Top Price Top Lot Mr Frankie Ting 4 $ 380,000 $ 145,000 801 Lok Lor 2 $ 300,000 $ 160,000 762 Mr RA James / Mr R Wellwood 2 $ 300,000 $ 170,000 657 Ritchie Murray Racing / Chris Rutten Bloodstock (BAFNZ) 3 $ 275,000 $ 110,000 806 Andrew Campbell Bloodstock / T Heptinstall 4 $ 266,000 $ 110,000 641 Bleakley Bloodstock Ltd 2 $ 240,000 $ 150,000 756 Forsman Racing 3 $ 210,000 $ 100,000 754 Benner Racing Ltd 2 $ 205,000 $ 140,000 607 Busuttin Young 1 $ 200,000 $ 200,000 601 Ballymore Racing / Paul Moroney Bloodstock / Catheryne Bruggeman 3 $ 192,500 $ 110,000 812 Karaka 2026: Book 2 Leading Vendors by Aggregate Vendor Offered Sold Aggregate Average Top Price Top Lot Cambridge Stud 15 14 $ 1,195,000 $ 85,357 $ 200,000 601 Waikato Stud 22 18 $ 902,500 $ 50,139 $ 130,000 631 Woburn Farm 10 10 $ 865,000 $ 86,500 $ 150,000 585 Rich Hill Stud 14 9 $ 812,500 $ 90,278 $ 160,000 762 Windsor Park Stud 15 11 $ 805,000 $ 73,182 $ 120,000 581 Landsdowne Park 10 8 $ 557,000 $ 69,625 $ 170,000 657 Westbury Stud 16 8 $ 550,000 $ 68,750 $ 100,000 628 Little Avondale Stud 7 5 $ 515,000 $ 103,000 $ 145,000 801 HGT Bloodstock 6 6 $ 435,000 $ 72,500 $ 110,000 752 Hallmark Stud 8 8 $ 415,000 $ 51,875 $ 75,000 725 Karaka 2026: Book 2 Leading Vendors by Average (three or more sold) Vendor Offered Sold Average Top Price Top Lot Little Avondale Stud 7 5 $ 103,000 $ 145,000 801 Cambria Park 5 4 $ 98,750 $ 125,000 633 Rich Hill Stud 14 9 $ 90,278 $ 160,000 762 Woburn Farm 10 10 $ 86,500 $ 150,000 585 Cambridge Stud 15 14 $ 85,357 $ 200,000 601 Leanach Lodge Ltd 4 4 $ 78,750 $ 170,000 838 The Oaks Stud 3 3 $ 75,333 $ 150,000 756 Windsor Park Stud 15 11 $ 73,182 $ 120,000 581 HGT Bloodstock Ltd 6 6 $ 72,500 $ 110,000 752 Highline Thoroughbreds 8 5 $ 71,500 $ 130,000 622 Karaka 2026: Book 2 Leading Sires by Average (three or more sold) Sire Offered Sold Average Top Price Top Lot Shocking 3 3 $ 121,667 $ 160,000 762 Embellish 3 3 $ 105,833 $ 200,000 601 Per Incanto 7 5 $ 104,000 $ 145,000 801 Sword of State 25 24 $ 94,896 $ 170,000 838 Tarzino 7 3 $ 70,000 $ 75,000 804 Derryn 3 3 $ 68,333 $ 120,000 800 Satono Aladdin 13 8 $ 63,875 $ 110,000 616 Ardrossan 22 19 $ 62,211 $ 150,000 756 Noverre 21 18 $ 59,583 $ 130,000 786 Ocean Park 5 4 $ 56,250 $ 100,000 754 Shocking 3 3 $ 121,667 $ 160,000 762 View the full article

Cambridge Stud enjoyed another strong day of selling at the Book 2 session of the New Zealand Bloodstock National Yearling Sales at Karaka. The famed nursery were leading vendors of the Book 1 Sale and also held that mantle on Tuesday, clearing all but one of their 16-strong draft in Book 2 Progeny of Cambridge Stud’s emerging sire Sword Of State were again in vogue, while barn-mate Embellish provided the day’s top lot, with Trent Busuttin and Natalie Young signing for a filly out of Queen Of Wizardry for $200,000. “She is a lovely filly that had a lot of her sire and grand sire (Savabeel) about her and she is out of a good Not A Single Doubt mare who is a half-sister to a Group One winner (Coco Sun),” Busuttin said. “We trained Emphasize, who is also by Embellish, who had good ability and we have a couple by the sire that are pleasing us at home. “It’s always great to be able to buy one from Cambridge Stud, who have presented a terrific line-up of horses this week and we’re delighted to get her.” All three lots by Embellish sold at Karaka on Tuesday, with fillies sold for $75,000 and $42,500 respectively to Gold Coast trainer David McColm and Southland trainer Robert Dennis. A Sword Of State filly out of Tina Again fetched $170,000 to the bid of Roger James and Robert Wellwood Photo: Angelique Bridson Sword Of State provided the sale-topper of the Book 1 Sale at $1.1 million and was again at the pointy end in Book 2, with three of the top five lots. The Group One winning son of Snitzel has made a good impression with his early runners, headed by Listed Debutant Stakes (1000m) winner and Karaka Millions 2YO (1200m) placegetter Torture and smart two-win colt Warwoven, who is currently favourite for the Gr.1 Golden Slipper. A filly out of the four-win El Roca mare Tina Again set the early pace, knocked down to Cambridge trainers Roger James and Robert Wellwood for $170,000 from the draft of Landsdowne Park. Robert Wellwood and Roger James at Karaka Photo: Angelique Bridson “She’s a filly that we loved on farm and she’s got a great flow and walk,” Wellwood said. “She looks like she’ll go early and she has got the upside of Swiss Prince in her pedigree, who’s now won a stakes race and run second in a Group Two. We are terrifically happy to have her walk into the stable.” Later in the day, a Sword Of State colt from the draft of Leanach Lodge also made $170,000, purchased by Riversley Park’s Sam Beatson in conjunction with Martin Buick of De Burgh Equine and will likely be re-offered at November’s New Zealand Bloodstock Ready to Run Sale. Flemington trainer Glen Thompson went to $150,000 to purchase a Sword Of State colt out of Palace Whispers from the draft of Woburn Farm. With 24 lots sold for a total of $2,278,000 at an average of $95,000, Sword Of State was the highest-grossing sire in a strong day of trade in which $12.3 million worth of horses changed hands, significantly up on the previous year. View the full article

Andrea Atzeni is looking to continue the momentum of last week’s Wednesday treble when he teams up with the likes of hat-trick seeking Amazing Kid, Refusetobeenglish and I Can at Happy Valley seven days on. The Sardinian jockey surged up to 19 winners for the season after the Sha Tin dirt treble and a week later, he has another strong book ahead of him with his sights set on third in the jockeys’ premiership. “It was good to get a treble last week, I did have good rides but as we all know,...View the full article

By Adam Hamilton Champion horseman Luke McCarthy could hardly contain his excitement after New Zealand Cup winner Kingman drew perfectly in gate one for Saturday night’s $150,000 Group 1 Cranbourne Cup (2555m). It is a huge advantage when he clashes for the first time in the same race with both Leap To Fame and Swayzee. Leap To Fame, who led throughout to beat Kingman into fourth spot in last Saturday night’s Group 2 Ballarat Cup, will start from gate four. Swayzee, winner of two NZ Cups and the reigning Hunter Cup hero, fared worst with the outside draw (gate seven) in a field of just seven. “You beauty. That’s huge. The draws are just so important when you get these great horses together,” McCarthy said. The draw looks especially important to Kingman given it’s his fourth run in as many weeks and his only win in his past three starts came when he drew the pole and led throughout in the Shepparton Cup to beat Leap To Fame. Kingman sat one-one when a lacklustre third to Bulletproof Boy in the Bendigo Cup on January 10. You could cut him slack on that given a hectic travel schedule in extreme heat. But the five-year-old looked all at sea when he hung very badly at times after sitting outside Leap To Fame and tired late for fourth. “He just didn’t handle the tight bends at all at Ballarat,” McCarthy said. Cranbourne has a tricky home bend, but Kingman, like all pacers, will handle it much better against the marker pegs. He looks like a certain leader. What will be fascinating is how Swayzee is driven from the wide draw and whether that creates a rare opportunity for Grant Dixon to drive Leap To Fame with a trail. To have all three superstars in the same race is awesome for Cranbourne and rewards the club for boosting prize money by $50,000 and gaining Group 1 status for its Cup. Between them, the trio has won 110 races and earned almost $8.3 million in prize money. Although this is the first time they have clashed, Kingman holds a 3-1 lead over Leap To Fame in their meetings and Swayzee is 1-1 with Kingman so far. In contrast, Saturday night’s $75,000 Group 1 Cranbourne Trotters’ Cup looks like another easy win for the amazing Keayang Zahara. She should work to the front and post her 23rd win from 24 starts. Victory this week would mean she only has to add the $250,000 Group 1 Great Southern Star at Melton on February 14 to cement the new $500,000 bonus. View the full article

One of the Australia’s most talented juveniles, Warwoven (Sword Of State), won’t be racing for next month’s Gr.1 Blue Diamond Stakes at Caulfield and remains in doubt for the autumn juvenile riches in Sydney. Trainer Bjorn Baker said on Tuesday that the colt had been sent for a short let-up after his sensational Magic Millions scratching earlier this month, but he was due to return to the stable at the end of the week with an eye to reviving his Golden Slipper prospects. The son of Sword Of State was most impressive in his first two wins over the summer, but he did not get the chance to race as the odds-on favourite for the A$3 million Magic Millions Classic (1200m) on the Gold Coast earlier this month after veterinary stewards ordered his withdrawal due to signs of lameness. He had held the position as the third favourite for the Blue Diamond Stakes on February 21 and was still marked on Tuesday as the co-favourite at $8 for the March 21 Golden Slipper Stakes. “We’ll try to get him to the Slipper, but we’ll just take it one step at a time,” Baker said on Tuesday. “We thought he was OK to run (in the Magic Millions) and they (veterinary stewards) didn’t, so that’s the way it goes.” “If we have any doubts with him, we’ll put him straight out.” Baker said he was disappointed not to have had his first Blue Diamond Stakes contender this year, but said he expected his stable could still impact in Melbourne this autumn. “Hopefully we will be down with Caballus in the Newmarket Handicap and we will also consider the (Black Caviar) Lightning Stakes with him,” Baker said. “Pericles will definitely go to the Futurity first-up. He trialed really well this morning at Randwick and I think he’s in for a good prep.” Baker said the last start Champions Mile runner-up was likely to stay on in Melbourne to tackle races like the G1 $2 million All-Star Mile at Flemington on March 7 and the G1 $2 million Australian Cup (2000m) at Flemington on March 28. View the full article

Robbie Patterson isn’t letting weight and pedigree queries dent his confidence with One Bold Cat (NZ) (The Bold Cat) ahead of Saturday’s Gr. 3 NZCIS Wellington Cup (3200m). The New Plymouth trainer reports that everything has gone to plan with One Bold Cat since running on the first two days of the Trentham carnival. Ridden by main stable jockey Craig Grylls, in the first of those races, One Bold Cat won the Listed Marton Cup (2200m), followed by a late-closing third in the Gr.3 Trentham Stakes (2100m). “I couldn’t be happier with him, he’s as good as he could be,” Patterson said. “Craig said just keep doing what I’ve been doing, so it’s all gone smoothly.” Patterson does concede that One Bold Cat will be obliged to carry clear topweight in Saturday’s staying test, while the gelding’s pedigree does raise stamina queries, but neither is a great concern. His anticipated handicap of 59kgs is some five kilograms more than the favourite Rosso, however Patterson makes a relevant point. “It’s not like the days of Great Sensation when he carried those massive weights, there was a much lower minimum back then and my horse has already managed big weights. “As far as pedigree goes, we won the (2024 Wellington) Cup with Mary Louise, who was also by The Bold One from a mare by a sprinting stallion and that didn’t stop her. “All I know is we’ve got a horse in the right form, we set him for the race a long time ago, and everything has gone to plan.” Patterson is also looking forward to lining up stable members Belles Fate (Rating 75 1600m), Sir Bruce (Rating 65 2100m) and Wild At Heart (MAAT 1699m) in support races on Saturday’s card. “Belles Fate won at Trentham last season and has gone well in her last two starts on the track over 1400. She’ll enjoy stepping up to 1600 on Saturday. “We entered Sir Bruce for Remutaka Classic but he needed to win another race to make the cut. He’s well placed in his own grade though after finishing fourth in a similar race there last week. “Wild At Heart won her first start on the home track at Christmas and that was a good effort for fifth in the MAAT race at Trentham last time, so she’s well worth another shot at a decent stake.” View the full article

The New York Racing Association (NYRA) announced Jan. 26 the cancellation of live racing Jan. 28-30 at Aqueduct Racetrack due to arctic temperatures and extremely low wind chill values forecast to impact the New York metropolitan area.View the full article

Sir Brendan and Lady Jo Lindsay decided to support the milestone 100th edition of New Zealand’s National Yearling Sale with 100 percent of Cambridge Stud’s yearlings that were for sale this season, and that commitment was richly rewarded with a Book 1 triumph that they and their team will never forget. Across two outstanding days of selling at Karaka on Sunday and Monday, Cambridge Stud sold 50 of the 54 yearlings they offered. They earned an aggregate of $10.64 million and an average price of $212,800. Cambridge Stud finished $4.74 million ahead of second-placed Waikato Stud to be crowned leading vendor – their second such title since the Lindsays purchased the esteemed nursery from 31-time leading vendors Sir Patrick and Lady Hogan a decade ago. The Lindsay-owned Cambridge Stud was also the leading vendor in 2021, when they sold 45 yearlings for a total of $5.7 million at an average of $126,667. The obvious highlight came towards the end of the Book 1 session on Monday with the eagerly anticipated sale of Lot 513, a colt from the second crop of exciting Cambridge Stud stallion Sword Of State. The half-brother to four-time Group One winner Ceolwulf was purchased by Mr Sanxiong Gao and Ciaron Maher Bloodstock for a sale-topping $1.1 million. “It means a lot, because there’s a whole lot of things going on here,” Sir Brendan Lindsay said. “John Foote bought the dam for us (Las Brisas), and he was helping us even before we had Cambridge Stud. And since then he’s bought horses for us in England and France. “And then David Ellis was the underbidder. We bought Sword Of State off David. “It’s an awful lot of money and it tells the industry that, from a $15,000 service fee, you can actually turn it into $1 million. “And it’s encouraging for New Zealand. You know, we’re a great country and we breed the best horses. It’s great for New Zealand, because it gives everybody a leg up. This is great for our country and our breeding industry. “More important from our point of view is what it means to Henry Plumptre, Scott Calder, Cameron Ring, Ben Tappenden and the whole crew – all the people that do the long hours and the hard hours. They were over there crying their eyes out. They are so emotional and relieved. It’s a moment that they’re going to remember for the rest of their lives. “Everybody’s heard it before, but the point is that this is a fantastic game. Jo and I believe in our country, and everything we do is about New Zealand. “It’s the 100-year anniversary of an iconic New Zealand brand, the National Yearling Sale, and we’re happy to be part of it. “Sir Patrick always celebrated other people’s success as well as his own, and I’d like to think he would have been proud. And Lady Justine and their family have been so supportive of Jo and I.” Along with the $1.1 million sale-topper, five other Cambridge Stud yearlings sold for $400,000 or more. A colt by Snitzel out of Amarelinha was bought by Chris Waller Racing and Mulcaster Bloodstock for $850,000, while Mulberry Racing paid $650,000 for an Anamoe colt out of Save The Date. Shijiazhuang Hongtao Horse Breeding secured a Savabeel colt out of Allemande for $550,000, Scott Cameron and Cameron Cooke went to $475,000 for a Sword Of State filly out of Fuld’s Bet, and Stephen Marsh Racing and Dylan Johnson Bloodstock paid $420,000 for a filly by Sword Of State out of Botanic. Four of those six top-priced lots in the Cambridge draft were purchased by Australian buyers, and Sir Brendan Lindsay recognised the massive role that they played during Book 1 of Karaka 2026. Visitors from across the Tasman combined for a total of 184 purchases on Sunday and Monday (35 percent of the total number of yearlings sold) for an aggregate of over $39 million. “A lot of New Zealand breeders have supported us, and a lot of them have made money out of Sword Of State in particular, which is great and means they can reinvest it,” Sir Brendan Lindsay said. “But a result like this would not have happened without our Australian friends coming across the Tasman and wanting to buy New Zealand bloodstock. They’re the ones that have been buying the horses this week.” View the full article

In the sixth instalment of The Hong Kong Jockey Club’s Road to the Derby series, Manfred Man’s Patch Of Cosmo (NZ) (Super Seth) is in the spotlight after returning from injury with a striking victory at Sha Tin recently. With just days until the first leg of the prestigious 2025/26 Four-Year-Old Classic Series – the HK$13 million Hong Kong Classic Mile (1600m) this Sunday (1 February) – and with the 149th HK$26 million BMW Hong Kong Derby (2000m) on 22 March on the horizon, Patch Of Cosmo has stamped himself as one of the city’s leading four-year-olds after brushing off a tendon injury. Victorious in four of 11 starts before the left fore tendon injury he suffered in March last year, Patch Of Cosmo’s fifth career success – a barnstorming effort down the middle of the track in the Class 3 Tennis 1600m Handicap on 18 January – pushed his career prize money past HK$5 million. The son of Waikato Stud stallion Super Seth lifted himself to a rating of 84 with his recent Sha Tin success, making him the joint-sixth highest-rated galloper among the entries for this weekend’s Hong Kong Classic Mile. Man earned praise from Zac Purton for his training effort after the jockey booted the galloper to victory under top weight of 135lb on 18 January. However, the star Australian has committed to riding Pierre Ng-trained Sagacious Life on Sunday. That means Matthew Chadwick gets his chance to reunite with Patch Of Cosmo after winning twice from three rides aboard the gelding last season. “I like this horse. He’s a lovely character and he’s got a lovely big stride on him. He’s always given me a good feel, and I was never certain where his ceiling was,” Chadwick said. “It was unfortunate he had that setback last season. I liked the way he was going about his work and his races. “You’d like to think he’s got improvement for the run and having a win under his belt. The way it looked, it was a nice race to come back into – the way it was run, and he got a nice run through carrying top weight. “They’re all positives coming back and I’m sure Manfred has him well. It seems he pulled up nicely and he’s ticking all of the boxes. “It’s shaping up to be a very open, competitive field, so it’s going to be very interesting. But I don’t think he’ll be out of place. Last season, I was very happy with him.” Patch Of Cosmo will take on the likes of Sagacious Life, Little Paradise, Invincible Ibis and Beauty Bolt in a vintage edition of the Hong Kong Classic Mile. “It’s shaping up to be a good mile. Hopefully they go a nice even tempo that gives everyone a chance and then the best horse will win,” Chadwick said. “It’s a very good year and the Club will be very happy. It looks like a lot of them haven’t hit their peak and it looks like there will be five or six who will be rated over 100 eventually. “It’s an exciting race and hopefully it will be a good finish. This is exciting for Hong Kong racing. I’m excited and I rarely say that. It’s a race that you want to watch.” The Contenders Name Rating Trainer Owner Record Country of Origin Import Type Sagacious Life 97 Pierre Ng Leslie Lui Chi Yuen 2-0-0-3 Brazil PP Little Paradise 95 Jimmy Ting Ko Kam Piu 5-1-1-8 Australia PPG Invincible Ibis 91 Mark Newnham Ibis Syndicate 4-2-1-7 Australia PPG Numbers 90 Frankie Lor 23/24 Frankie Lor Fu Chuen Trainer Syndicate 1-0-1-2 New Zealand PP Patch Of Cosmo 84 Manfred Man Simon Yeung Chun Kin 5-0-0-12 New Zealand PPG Regal Gem 83 Frankie Lor Everest Syndicate 3-1-0-9 Great Britain PP Top Dragon 81 Chris So Vincent To Wai Keung, Kenneth To Kin Ting & Ronald To Yiu Ting 3-3-2-11 Australia PPG View the full article

In September 2024, Cambridge Stud gave the Guerin Report a foal to follow. Fast forward to January 2026, and Lil Mickey G sold for 1.1 million at the NZB Yearling Sales; and we were there for it. Guerin Report – S2 Ep. 21 – Lil Mickey G gets sold! – YouTube View the full article

Speaking on the Jan. 26 episode of the BloodHorse Monday podcast, French trainer Francis-Henri Graffard expressed an interest in growing his presence on the American racing calendar.View the full article

Grade 1 winners Burnham Square and East Avenue returned to the worktab Jan. 25 at Palm Meadows Training Center for the first time since racing in August.View the full article