Wandering Eyes

Wood Memorial Stakes (G2) winner Rodriguez will miss the May 17 Preakness Stakes (G1) because of a foot issue, but his connections have another colt in mind for the second leg of the Triple Crown, undefeated Goal Oriented.View the full article

Kathy Walsh, who started training as an interloper among the nation's almost hermetically-sealed male ranks and who pursued her career with a rare combination of grit, guts, gumption and generosity, passed quietly in her sleep at the age of 85. A consummate horsewoman, Walsh brooked no fools and minced no words, yet garnered the kind of deeply held reverence and affection typically extended to those of royal lineage. There's a reason she was nicknamed The Queen. “She probably hired and fired me more times than she changed her underwear, I used to tell her,” said jockey Mike Smith. “She could be tough on you–but once you were part of the family, buddy, you were part of the family, man.” Walsh was born into racing. Her father James trained. She cultivated great taste in mentors. Walsh spent the formative years of her equine education mining nuggets of wisdom from the likes Allen Jerkens, Charlie Whittingham and Buster Millerick, who she viewed as her “adoptive grandfather.” Walsh started training in the early 1970s, taking over her father's stable upon his death. She soon hung out her shingle as a trainer to note, winning multiple titles at Longacres in Washington State and Canterbury Downs in Minnesota. “We go way back, me and Kathy, back to the old Canterbury Downs days,” said Smith. “She's a great horsewoman. She had a strong stable back then. She was someone you wanted to ride for all the time.” Once becoming a permanent fixture of the California circuit, so the overall quality of her stock improved in leaps. She won 15 graded stakes during a career comprising 1231 individual wins. This includes the 2001 GI Santa Monica Handicap with Nany's Sweep. Walsh's moon shot came in 2007, and the arrival in her barn of Cal-bred Georgie Boy (Tribal Rule), who took that year's GI Del Mar Futurity. The following spring, Georgie Boy claimed wins in the GII San Vicente Stakes and San Felipe Stakes, on the way to what was expected to be a bold tilt at the Kentucky Derby. He missed the race, however, with pulled muscles in his back, but he returned to action later that year before claiming the GII San Carlos Stakes, his final race. As a two-year-old still learning his craft, Georgie Boy was headstrong, a real bruiser. “But we knew he could run,” said Smith, who rode the horse to second in the GII Best Pal Stakes, a prep for his next race, the Del Mar Futurity. “He was so aggressive with the blinkers on when we finished second. And she was pretty aggravated because we'd gone pretty quick. And I said 'Kathy, he doesn't need these blinkers anymore. I know he did when he was young, bless him, but he needs to relax. Take them off,” Smith recalled. “Well, she took the blinkers off but she took me off with them!” said Smith. “Of course, the horse relaxed beautifully in the Futurity and won it. “I ran into her the next day and I said, 'Well, first of all congratulations. But if I knew I was attached to those damned blinkers, I would never have told you to take them off!' That's just the game, isn't it,” said Smith. “And you know, we were having dinner together two nights after that.” Walsh was a pioneer among female trainers–a distinction she would begrudgingly acknowledge but more readily downplay. “So many other people are deserving to be here, men and women,” Walsh told the LA Times in 1988, before her trainee, Hanuman Highway, took a shot at the Kentucky Derby. He finished seventh. “But really, this horse doesn't know me as a woman or a man. He just knows me as an individual. I don't mean this as a put-down on women, but I think the respect I might get has more to do with getting a horse to the Derby than what sex I am.” Former trainer Mike Puhich, now trainer and director of horse operations at the Pegasus Training and Rehabilitation Center in Redmond, Washington, knew Walsh since he was knee-high to a pastern. She was Puhich's godmother. “My dad's the one who gave her the nickname The Queen,” said Puhich, of his father, Nick. “She was a great horseperson and a great person. It's hard to think she's gone.” Marietta Gelalich was a long-time owner with Walsh, and one of her closest friends. “Not only was she good with the horses and honest with me about when they should run and shouldn't run, but when my husband ['Tiny'] died–and she loved my husband–she stayed with me 24-7 to help me get back on my feet. She was a true, true friend,” said Gelalich. “I miss her and I love her and she was a true friend and a good trainer. And she did not like a lot of women, you know. You had to cuddle up to her to make her like you. She'd been a woman in a man's world for so long,” said Gelalich. “They broke the mold–thank god–when they made The Queen. She was made of cast iron,” said XBTV and TDN Writers Room presenter Zoe Cadman, who became close friends with Walsh after working for her as a freelance exercise rider. “She loved her horses, cussed like a sailor and tolerated people. She tried for years to get me to work for her full-time but would never acquiesce to giving me a day off. She said I could sleep when I was dead. I declined! Sleep tight, Queen.” Said Smith, “She led a wonderful life. She wouldn't have traded her life for anybody. I can guarantee you that.” The post The Queen Of Racing Kathy Walsh Passes At 85 appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Albaugh Family Stables and Castleton Lyons's Cyclone Mischief (Into Mischief–Areyoucominghere, by Bernardini), third to 'TDN Rising Star' and champion Forte (Violence) in the GI Curlin Florida Derby and GII Fountain of Youth Stakes in 2022, will enter stud at Haras Don Florentino in Argentina for the 2025 breeding season, Turf Diario reported on Friday. Bred in Kentucky by Castleton Lyons and Kilboy Estate, Cyclone Mischief cost $450,000 at the 2021 Keeneland September Sale and won two of his first four starts for trainer Dale Romans, including a 5 3/4-length allowance success that saw him jump as the 6-5 favorite in the GIII Holy Bull Stakes. A troubled seventh on that occasion, he bounced back in the final two Gulfstream legs on the Derby trail before finishing down the field in the Run for the Roses. He added allowance victories at Ellis Park last August and back in Hallandale Beach on Jan. 26 and amassed a record of 4-1-4 from 18 starts for earnings of $405,528. Bred on the exact same cross as last weekend's GI Kentucky Derby hero Sovereignty, Cyclone Mischief is out of a half-sister to Suddenbreakingnews (Mineshaft), a 3-year-old of note in 2016 when taking out the GIII Southwest Stakes ahead of a runner-up effort in the GI Arkansas Derby. The Grade III-winning and G1/GISP third dam Party Cited (Alleged) produced seven winners, including GIII West Virginia Derby scorer Ready Set (Touch Gold) and dual Grade I winner Composure (Touch Gold), the dam of GSW & GISP Penwith (Bernardini). A Munnings half-sister to Cyclone Mischief was purchased by Frank Fletcher Racing for $225,000 at Keeneland September last fall. The post Cyclone Mischief To Stand In Argentina appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

An 81-year-old Penn National-based veterinarian charged in February by the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority (HISA) with allegedly intentional, conspirational and repeated violations of intra-articular injection rules designed to safeguard the health of horses has consented to an “agreed order” of a lifetime ban of practicing medicine on Thoroughbreds covered by HISA. Allen Post Bonnell, a veterinarian who has been practicing for 45 years, signed the consent order May 7, according to documentation provided by HISA. Beyond his work as a veterinarian, Bonnell is barred from “participating in any activity” at a racetrack or training facility. According to the consent order, Bonnell agreed to a stipulation that his acceptance of the lifetime ban resolves only the HISA charges against him, and that the penalty is separate from charges, “if any,” that might be issued by the Horseracing Integrity and Welfare Unit (HIWU). An investigation initially led by the Pennsylvania State Horse Racing Commission last year had revealed that Bonnell allegedly conspired with 13 implicated trainers from May 2023 through November 2024 to administer intra-articular injections to the joints of Thoroughbreds within the prohibited stand-down periods, in direct violation of HISA's Anti-Doping and Medication Control (ADMC) and Racetrack Safety Programs. According to the PSHRC investigative report that was later handed over to HISA, “Dr. Bonnell informed investigators that trainers will request his services for intra-articular injections because they know he will not report them as required, allowing them to run their horses during the time they should have been placed on the veterinarians list… “Dr. Bonnell went on to [tell investigators] that he feels what he is doing is harmless and it just helps the horse with pain and inflammation. He said the reason he does not report it is that the injections he gives are worthless if it's done too far out because it eventually wears off. If he reports it and the horse is put on the veterinarians list for 14 days, it could be an additional 14 days to a month, even two months, before it runs in a race,” the PSHRC report stated. In a November article published by the Paulick Report in the wake of Bonnell's summary suspension by the PSHRC, the veterinarian told Ray Paulick that he believes the “HISA rules are a nightmare” because they “don't make any sense.” HISA disagreed, stating in a press release in February that of the more than 100 unique horses alleged to have breezed or raced in violation of HISA's intra-articular stand-down times, 30% never raced again, “strongly suggesting these injections were used to mask pain.” Approximately 10% were observed to be lame post-race by a regulatory veterinarian. Three horses were euthanized as a direct result of injuries sustained in those races, HISA stated. Under HISA's rules, horses treated with intra-articular injections are not permitted to race within 14 days or perform a workout within seven days of the treatment. The post Penn Vet Agrees To Lifetime Ban To Resolve HISA Allegations Of 18-Month Joint Injection Conspiracy 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. Saturday's Observations features a half-brother to multiple Group 1 winner Vandeek. 2.35 Naas, Mdn, €18,000, 2yo, 5f 205yT Besides Ballydoyle buzz horse Albert Einstein (Ire) (Wootton Bassett {GB}), Aidan O'Brien will also saddle GSTAAD (GB) (Starspangledbanner {Aus}), a 450,000gns Tattersalls December purchase who is a half-brother to the G1 Prix Morny and Middle Park Stakes hero Vandeek in their Naas debuts. The post Ballydoyle Duo Debut At Naas appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Michael Behrens and MyRacehorse, owners of last year's GI Preakness Stakes winner Seize the Grey (Arrogate), will be celebrated at Thursday's Alibi Breakfast with the role of Honorary Postmaster for Preakness 150. Previous Honorary Postmasters have included Hall of Fame trainers D. Wayne Lukas, Nick Zito, and Bob Baffert; Hall of Fame jockey Edgar Prado; and Horse of the Year recipients Cigar and Knicks Go. Behrens is the Founder and CEO of MyRacehorse, the platform that brought fractional racehorse ownership to the masses. Under his leadership, MyRacehorse has opened the gates of the sport to over 100,000 fans worldwide. “It is an incredible honor to be named Honorary Postmaster for Preakness 150,” said Behrens. “This race means the world to us. Winning it last year with over 2,000 MyRacehorse owners behind the horse was one of the most powerful moments in our journey. To be back here a year later in this role is truly special.” The post Preakness Names Michael Behrens, MyRaceHorse Honorary Postmaster appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

The federal lawsuit in Michigan involving TwinSpires and a state law requiring advance-deposit wagering (ADW) platforms to partner with a brick-and-mortar racetrack before accepting simulcast wagers took a twist Friday when a judge granted in part and denied in part a motion by state defendants to dismiss the claim initiated back in January by Churchill Downs Technology Initiatives Company. “TwinSpires brings this claim under the implied cause of action to enjoin state actors from violating federal law,” United States District Court Judge Hala Jarbou of the Western District of Michigan wrote in a May 9 opinion. “It has alleged facts sufficient to state a claim under preemption, but not for a claim under the dormant Commerce Clause. While the Michigan Gaming Control Board (MGCB) will be dismissed as a defendant, the Executive Director of the MGCB and the Attorney General remain as defendants in this lawsuit.” That means the underlying case (minus the dormant commerce clause allegations) will proceed against those two individuals while a preliminary injunction issued two months ago in favor of TwinSpires remains in effect. Back on Feb. 19, the judge had ruled that the MGCB was unconstitutionally violating the Interstate Horseracing Act (IHA) by requiring that ADW to partner with a brick-and-mortar state racetrack before accepting simulcast wagers from Michigan residents. Via that earlier injunction, which survived an Apr. 18 motion to dismiss by the Michigan defendants, the judge had ordered the MGCB not to enforce the contested Michigan Horse Racing Law (MHRL) licensing requirement about partnering with an in-state racetrack or to issue any sanctions against TwinSpires, a Churchill Downs, Inc. (CDI) subsidiary, for accepting bets from Michigan residents on out-of-state simulcast races. An entirely separate lawsuit brought against TwinSpires by Henry Williams, the executive director of the MGCB, was remanded from the federal court system to a state court in March. Both lawsuits stem from the fact that at the start of 2025, Michigan's law requiring ADWs to partner with a racetrack in the state couldn't be fulfilled by any ADW operator because there hasn't been any Thoroughbred racing in Michigan since 2018, and Standardbred races last ran in February 2024. TwinSpires (and other ADWs) previously partnered with the now-demolished and to-be-developed Northville Downs, whose license-holders as of Jan. 1 were planning to-but had not yet received at that time-approval for the required 30 days of Standardbred racing at a different location so that all parties could be eligible for ADW and simulcasting in 2025. On Dec. 23, 2024, the MGCB notified all licensed ADWs to cease offering wagering for Michigan residents effective Jan. 1, 2025. The shutdown was to be temporary until the harness track's licensing issue got resolved. While ADW operators Xpressbet, NYRA Bets, and TVG Network voluntarily complied with the order, TwinSpires did not. After a week of continuing to take bets against the order, the MGCB suspended the TwinSpires license Jan. 7. On Jan. 31, Northville Downs received its licensing, allowing third-party facilitators to accept wagers in accordance with the MHRL license requirement. However, the MGCB continued to maintain its suspension against TwinSpires. The post Gaming Board–But Not State Officials–Dismissed As Defendant In TwinSpires Vs. Michigan Suit appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

British racing's largest marketing campaign yet will launch May 20 under the title "The Going Is Good," with Simon Michaelides of Great British Racing declaring he was "incredibly confident" about what it can do for the sport. View the full article

Godolphin's Kentucky Oaks (G1) winner Good Cheer returned to training May 6 at Churchill Downs, and trainer Brad Cox said the $500,000 Acorn Stakes (G1) on Belmont Stakes (G1) weekend at Saratoga Race Course could be her next target.View the full article

A panel of veterinarians serving in equine medical leadership roles discussed Kentucky's equine safety protocols and advances in technology during a May 9 panel of the ARCI Annual Conference at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Ky.View the full article

The Maryland Thoroughbred Racetrack Operating Authority announced the inaugural board of directors for The Maryland Jockey Club, a newly formed nonprofit entity charged with overseeing live racing at Laurel Park, Pimlico, and a new training facility.View the full article

A big step for Maryland racing was made May 9, when Maryland Gov. Wes Moore approved a plan that called for the demolition and restoration of Pimlico Race Course, in addition to the acquisition of Shamrock Farm as a satellite training center. View the full article

A full field of 18 3-year-old milers line up for the G1 NHK Mile Cup at Tokyo on Sunday. Ante-post favouritism has been granted to G1 Asahi Hai Futurity Stakes hero and Junko Kondo runner Admire Zoom. The son of four-time Group 1-winning miler Maurice warmed up for this with a stalking neck second in the G2 New Zealand Trophy at Nakayama in April behind Katsumi Yoshida's Immigrant Song (Makfi) and 1 1/4 lengths in front of the Saturnalia filly Caught Alliciant in third. Trainer Yasuo Tomomichi said, “He wasn't fully wound up for his last race, but he ran well enough. It was good that he handled the long trip to the track and the overnight stay, so those things were a real plus. In the meantime, things have been as expected with him.” Owned by Teruya Yoshida, Caught Alliciant is one of six fillies in the race. If successful on Sunday, she would become the first filly to win since Aerolithe (Kurofune) in 2017. Jockey Akiro Sugawara will have his hands full, as he leaves from the widest stall in 18 aboard the ante-post fifth choice. Trainer Daishi Ito said, “She started well last time [in the New Zealand Trophy] and got into a good rhythm in the race. She's not the type where her condition changes so much, but the warmer weather is definitely better for her.” Another filly to watch is Oka Sho (Japanese 1000 Guineas) fourth Ma Puce (Mind Your Biscuits). The Yuji Yoshimoto runner was second in the G2 Daily Hai Queen Cup to subsequent 1000 Guineas heroine Embroidery (Admire Mars) back in February. Hironobu Tanabe is booked to ride and the duo leaves from stall 12. The one-two finishers out of April's G3 Churchill Downs Cup, a prep for the NHK Mile Cup, have been entered in Yoshinori Itsukage's Lance Of Chaos (Silver State) and TO Racing's Arte Veloce (Maurice) who leave from stalls five and 15, respectively. Also coming off a win is Hirotsugu Inokuma's Yankee Barows, who won the G3 Falcon Stakes over Kazumi Yoshida colourbearer Mondo Dell'Amore (World Ace {Jpn}) in March. The son of Epiphaneia is drawn in stall four under Mirai Iwata. Trainer Hiroyuki Uemura said of Yankee Barows, “He had a break at the farm after his last race, with this next one being his target. In recent work, the ground was bad, but he managed to run well throughout that piece of training. There's no big change with him, and I think he showed some of his potential last time in the Falcon Stakes.” The post More To ‘Admire’ In NHK Mile Cup? appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

When lawmakers passed the New York State budget Thursday, the package included a gift for horseplayers. Starting Sept. 1, New York will join Kentucky and Washington as the only racing states to break payoffs to the penny. However, the bill allows for nickel breakage on on-track wagers, provided all breakage proceeds are dedicated to aftercare funding. It was not immediately clear which tracks would adopt the penny breakage and which would chose the nickel-breakage package. Both NYRA and Gov. Kathy Hochul were supportive of the move to penny breakage. “The adoption of penny breakage in New York State is a win for horseplayers made possible by Governor Hochul and the New York State Legislature, who prioritized racing in a variety of important ways in this year's budget. NYRA looks forward to implementing this commonsense breakage reform later this year,” said NRA Vice President, Communications Pat McKenna. The movement to get tracks to revert to a penny breakage system was headed by at Pat Cummings, who, at the time, was with the Thoroughbred Idea Foundation. Kentucky was the first state to adopt the system. Cummings is now with the National Thoroughbred Alliance, a group founded by owner Mike Repole. “This is super exciting,” Cummings said. “I give full credit to (NYRA CEO and President) David O'Rourke and his team for coming back around to it when they had the ability to do so. It takes times and every state is different and different political elements are involved. It is not easy. Dave never let it drop and he was on-board from the beginning of the movement, all the way back to 2018 when the Thoroughbred Idea Foundation first went to work on this. David and his team knew when the time was right to be able to get this going again.” Cummings estimated that the switch to penny breakage will result in an extra $10 million going into the pockets of horseplayers each year. NYRA out-handles Kentucky, where penny breakage has, according to Cummings, meant an extra $7 million a year paid to the bettors. Sovereignty (Into Mischief) paid, across the board $17.96, $7.50 and $5.58 in the GI Kentucky Derby. Without penny breakage, he would have paid $17.80, $7.40 and $5.40. “We think that this will mean $10 million more in the pockets of the players and then the effect that has on churn we think can be significant,” Cummings said. The post Penny Breakage Coming To New York appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Champion Westerner has died at Castlehyde Stud in Ireland, Coolmore announced on Friday. The bay was just a few days shy of his 26th birthday. “Westerner was always a pleasure to deal with and was an old favourite of the breeders too,” said Castlehyde's Cathal Murphy. “He got you a lovely sort of horse with a good attitude that jumped well. He has been a wonderful servant for us over the years producing so many top-class horses and will be greatly missed by all the team here in Castlehyde.” Bred by the Wildenstein family's Dayton Investments in the UK, the son of Danehill was out of the Troy mare Walensee. Successful in the 2003 G1 Prix Royal-Oaks and G1 Prix du Cadran, as well as the 2004 editions of those races, the Ellie Lellouche trainee also won the 2005 G1 Gold Cup at York. His record upon his 2007 retirement to Coolmore's National Hunt arm was 28-11-9-2, and $1,885,154 in earnings. At stud, he left numerous NH top-liners, including Cole Harden, Western Warhorse and Ferny Hollow, all Grade 1 winner at Cheltenham. The post Star NH Stallion And Champion Stayer Westerner Dies appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

A competitive group of 3-year-olds have signed on for Saturday's GIII Peter Pan Stakes, headlining a quartet of graded stakes at the Big A Saturday. Attempting to rebound off a last-out fourth as the favorite in the GII Wood Memorial Stakes in April, St Elias Stable's 'TDN Rising Star' Captain Cook (Practical Joke) will try to revert to the form that saw him win a pair of tests at the New York oval. Sixth going six panels at Churchill in his career debut for Norm Casse last October, the bay galloped home a 9 1/4-length winner for Rick Dutrow, Jr. in a sloppy seven-furlong test at the Big A Dec. 28. Stretching to nine furlongs for the Feb. 1 Withers Stakes, Captain Cook again won as the favorite. “We thought that he ran as good as he could,” said Dutrow, Jr. “He had everything go his way in the race and it seemed to me that he just kind of got outrun, and that is OK. He has bounced back in his training and he is doing good. We are very happy with him.” Dutrow, Jr. also sends out Black Type Thoroughbreds, Swinbank Stables, Scott Rice and breeder Judy Hicks's McAfee (Cloud Computing), who finished 1 1/2 lengths behind Captain Cook in fifth in the Wood Memorial. The son of Sataves (Uncle Mo), who is a half-brother to 2024 Horse of the Year Thorpedo Anna, also finished fifth in the one-turn mile GIII Gotham Stakes in March. Facing the sole black-type winner in the field, Chad Brown offers up two, GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile third Hill Road (Quality Road) in addition to last-out debut winner Lordship (Gun Runner). The former, campaigned by Amo Racing USA, won his debut for trainer Adrian Murray at Leopardstown last August before failing to hit the board in the G1 Vincent O'Brien National Stakes at the Curragh in September. Let go at 61-1 for his U.S. bow on Breeders' Cup Day, the colt belied his odds to finish 4 3/4-lengths behind winner and ultimate juvenile champion Citizen Bull (Into Mischief) in the 1 1/16-mile test. Turned over to Brown, the colt kicked off his 3-year-old campaign with a third in the GIII Lambholm South Tampa Bay Derby Mar. 8. On tracked to start in the Wood, the colt was scratched due to a fever. “He's doing great,” confirmed Brown. “He's fully recovered from the temperature and looks good. I'm pleased with him.” “It's a really strong crop so, if he's able to get to the Belmont [Stakes June 7], it will be a real challenging race, but we'll take it one race at a time.” Also, lining up for Brown, Earle Mack's homebred Lordship, who came from off the pace to annex a 1 mile 40 yard-test at Tampa Mar. 22. Dylan Davis gets the call here. “It looks like he's going to want more distance, and I thought this was a good spot to stretch him out. It's a big step for an inexperienced horse, but I do like the distance for him” Brown said. “We've taken our time with him and he's starting to come around now.” Trainer Todd Pletcher is also represented by a pair of colts here–Vassimo (Nyquist), officially credited with one win from two starts in Florida who has finished off the board in a pair of graded starts since in addition to Uncaged (Curlin), a first-out winner at Saratoga last summer who most recently won in his second start of the season when going a mile in the mud at the Big A last month. The former, owned by Team Penney Racing, will be ridden by Irad Ortiz Jr., while the latter, campaigned by WinStar Farm and Mike Repole, will have Kendrick Carmouche in the irons. Stacked Stakes Lineup on Saturday Card Aqueduct's Saturday card also features a pair of Grade II events–the Ruffian and Man O' War Stakes. Last season's GII Black-Eyed Susan Stakes scorer Gun Song (Gun Runner) attempts to mark her first return to the winner's circle since a victory in Parx's Cathryn Sophia Stakes in August. Only a neck behind subsequent champion Thorpedo Anna (Fast Anna) in the GI Cotillion Stakes, she found herself a head behind 'Rising Star' Tarifa (Bernardini) in the GII Mother Goose over this track in October. Favored in her latest start, she was a well-beaten third going a mile in a Gulfstream optional claimer Mar. 13. Also in the lineup, dual graded stakes winner My Mane Squeeze (Audible) makes her first start back since finishing third in Keeneland's GI Madison Stakes in addition to last-out winner of the nine-furlong Top Flight Invitational, Headline Numbers (Gun Runner). The former is trained by Mike Maker and the latter is conditioned by Chad Brown. Multiple Grade I-winning 'TDN Rising Star' Far Bridge (English Channel) looks to bag his fifth career graded win in 1 3/8-mile Man O' War. Trained by Christophe Clement, the 5-year-old was last seen posting a neck score in the 1 1/2-mile GIII Pan American on Mar. 29 at Gulfstream in his seasonal bow. A winner of the 2023 GI Belmont Derby, the bay also added wins in the GI Sword Dancer and GI Turf Classic last season. “He had three weeks off after the Pan American with no breezes because it was such a strong effort off the layoff,” said assistant trainer Miguel Clement. “He's coming into this race quite well.” In the six-furlong GIII John A. Nerud, Full Moon Madness (Into Mischief) cuts back from the seven-furlong GII Carter Stakes after tiring to seventh. Prior to that effort, the 5-year-old won the GIII Tom Fool Stakes Mar. 1. In addition to the racing action in New York, Churchill Downs hosts its sole graded test of the afternoon, the GIII Mamzelle Stakes. Recent Limestone Stakes winner 'TDN Rising Star' Shisospicy (Mitole) tries to add her third victory of the season, while second and third-place finishers out of that race–Dreamaway (Flameaway) and Abientot (Not This Time)–look to add to black-type wins last season. The post Peter Pan Contender Captain Cook Looks for Redemption on Saturday’s Stacked Card in New York appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Deauville, FRANCE-Talk about timing. The Arqana Breeze-Up Sale will get underway a week to the day after star graduate Ruling Court did his thing in the 2,000 Guineas. Take that result and couple it with the fact the sales results at the breeze-up sales in America and Europe have been off the charts this year, there is rightly optimism in the Deauville air. Three horses made more than a million-including Ruling Court who sold to Godolphin at €2.3 million-at the breeze-up sales last year. That figure has already been equalled between the Craven and the Doncaster breeze-up sales and it's anyone's guess as to what numbers will fly through the air when the sale gets underway here in Deauville at 11am on Saturday. Arqana boss Freddy Powell said, “All of the signals are showing that things could be good. We have been around the barns and vendors are happy. The breeze went very well and, while it is never good to throw flowers to yourself, everyone has been very complimentary. Plenty of people are coming to this sale and obviously the results at the breeze-up sales in America and in Europe have been good so let's hope that things can continue in the right way.” He added, “It was a great satisfaction seeing Ruling Court win the 2,000 Guineas and we were delighted for Godolphin and Sheikh Mohammed. They do a lot of work at the sales and when they get a big result like this it is great for everyone. Obviously, Norman Williamson, who travels all over the world and has brought us some very nice horses year after year, is an excellent consignor and it was brilliant for him as well.” No surprise then that there were a number of familiar faces busy inspecting on the ground at Arqana this week. From Charlie Appleby to MV Magnier and Kia Joorabchian, everyone who should be here is here. And there is also talk of a number of leading buyers from Australia flying in before the sale kicks off. Another familiar face bidding the get in on the action is legendary jockey turned burgeoning bloodstock agent Olivier Peslier. The 52-year-old called time on his glittering career last year and, since hanging up his saddle, has channeled his energy into bloodstock and has been busy inspecting stock at Arqana this week. Peslier said, “I have become an owner since I retired. I have one horse with clients of mine and he is in training with Antoine de Watrigant. Indian Streak is his name and he has been second and third in his two starts for us and the plan is to run him next in June where hopefully he can win. We bought him for €34,000 at the October Yearling Sale here in 2023 and I was like 'why not?' I am really enjoying being an owner and I actually ride that horse once a week so it is nice to be able to help prepare. “I have a client that told me to come here and watch the breeze and to try to find him a horse. I arrived on Wednesday and saw every horse breeze and looked at the ones we liked with the vet. Now we wait for tomorrow. But it is very interesting. The breeze was excellent because you got to see the gallop, the stride and there were a lot of nice horses. I am very interested in bloodstock and finding new ways of finding a good horse. All my life, I could tell a horse was good by riding as a jockey, but now I have to find new ways of finding the good horses. Of course, sometimes when people are thinking about buying a horse, they will ask me to ride that horse to see what I think.” He added, “I find bloodstock agency work very interesting and I would like to step it up. It was not an easy decision to stop riding but I knew for a while that I needed to stop. So it wasn't such a sudden decision. It wasn't as if I woke up one day and said, 'okay, I need to stop'. I had thought about it for a while. But I am very happy with my life right now. I still ride out to keep myself fit and healthy and I enjoy it. Let's see how tomorrow goes.” There are also new faces in attendance. Noel Fehily and David Crosse, who are the driving forces behind the Noel Fehily Racing Club, one of the most successful National Hunt syndicates in the business, are starting to branch out into the Flat. Fehily explained, “It's our first time coming to the breeze-ups. We bought three Flat yearlings last year and now we are branching out into the breeze-ups. We are looking for something that would run before the back end of the season and that can make up into a three-year-old. There are a lot of good horses here and trade will be pretty strong but we'll give it a go.” Crosse added, “We had owners approach us about getting more involved on the Flat and our first yearlings are progressing nicely. We'll probably have our first runners within the next six weeks and it will be interesting to see how it goes. If they can go well, you'll probably see us a lot more at these breeze-up and Flat yearling sales in the future.” It must be noted that for all that last year's sale was electric at the top, there were holes in the middle tiers. Powell revealed that Arqana have put in extensive work all year to convince buyers that this is a sale worth shopping at for every level and pointed to French 1,000 Guineas hope She's Perfect as being a prime example as what can be found. He concluded, “It is very difficult to control the middle market because it really depends on the circumstances at that moment, the economy and a lot of other things. When you have a big sale with horses making a lot of money at the top, it can frighten some clients that would have been coming to work at the middle market. But this is something we have been working all year long on. We have been trying to show people that there is something for everyone here and there really is. Take for example She's Perfect, who runs in the French 1,000 Guineas on Sunday. She was bought for €50,000 outside the ring last year and is a good example of what you can get when you come and work the sale hard.” The post Familiar Faces On The Hunt For The Next Ruling Court At Arqana Breeze-Up Sale appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

GII Wood Memorial Stakes winner and 'TDN Rising Star' Rodriguez (Authentic) will miss the upcoming GI Preakness Stakes as he continues to heal from a foot issue, trainer Bob Baffert told the Daily Racing Form Friday morning. Scratched from the GI Kentucky Derby due to a foot bruise, the colt will now aim for the GI Belmont Stakes at Saratoga in June. “He'll be perfect for the Belmont,” Baffert told the DRF. “I couldn't prep him like I wanted to [for the Preakness]. Once he had the foot issue, you got to let those things simmer down. I didn't have enough time.” Baffert will still be represented in the Preakness starting gate by fellow 'Rising Star' Goal Oriented (Not This Time). The post Wood Memorial Winner Rodriguez, Scratched From Derby, Will Also Miss Preakness appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

The Maryland Jockey Club, Inc., a newly formed nonprofit entity charged with overseeing live Thoroughbred racing at Laurel Park, Pimlico Race Course and a new, state-of-the-art training facility built in Carroll County Maryland, has named its inaugural Board of Directors, the Maryland Thoroughbred Racetrack Operating Authority announced Friday. The MTROA, established to secure the long-term stability and modernization of Thoroughbred racing in the state, played a central role in establishing The Maryland Jockey Club, Inc. as a nonprofit operator that prioritizes the interests of horsemen, fans, and the broader Maryland community. The list of board members includes James Dresher, Jr., Tim Keefe, Chuck Tildon, Lisa Golden Hofstetter, Michael Hopkins, TK Kuegler, Jeff Cherry, Dr. Kathleen Anderson and Michael Hankin. “I could not be more thrilled that this all-star group has agreed to volunteer their deep experience and time to take the baton from MTROA and build off of the new foundation that is in place for Maryland racing as we look to the future,” said MTROA chair Greg Cross. “The Maryland Horse Breeders Association looks forward to working with the State and the new Maryland Jockey Club Board as we work to revitalize Maryland's horse industry,” added executive director Cricket Goodall. “With a new Pimlico and energized Preakness coming soon, the future looks bright.” David Richardson, Executive Director of the Maryland Thoroughbred Horsemen's Association, concurred. “The Maryland Thoroughbred Horsemen's Association congratulates the newly appointed Board of Directors of The Maryland Jockey Club. This group brings together a diverse and experienced cross-section of leadership that understands the historic significance and future potential of Maryland racing.” The post Maryland Jockey Club Names Inaugural Board Of Directors appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

With new plans unveiled for a redesigned Pimlico Race Course by the Maryland Stadium Authority, Governor Wes Moore and the Board of Public Works approved a demolition package for the track after next week's GI Preakness Stakes and also the acquisition of Shamrock Farm in Carroll County as the state's new training center hub, according a Wednesday press release from the governor's office. “Today we take another step toward a new, reimagined Pimlico,” said Gov. Moore. “I thank my colleagues on the Board of Public Works, the Maryland General Assembly, the Maryland Stadium Authority, the Maryland Thoroughbred Racetrack Operating Authority, and our local community partners for securing the future of Preakness in Maryland. Together, we will continue to drive economic growth in Park Heights, throughout Baltimore, and across the entire state.” During the meeting, representatives from the Maryland Stadium Authority revealed the design concept for Pimlico. “We are excited to deliver a new, modern Pimlico for racing fans and the Park Heights community,” said Maryland Stadium Authority Chairman Craig Thompson. “But this work is bigger than a racetrack, as historic and important as it is. This is about bringing hundreds of millions of dollars in state investment to Park Heights and working in partnership with MEDCO and the local community to realize a shared vision for the future.” The new Pimlico grandstand | Maryland Stadium Authority The Maryland Stadium Authority–in partnership with The Maryland Jockey Club and the Park Heights community–will oversee the construction of Pimlico. The new facility will support approximately 500 jobs and will be a year-round hub of economic activity in Park Heights. Pimlico, which currently hosts about 15 racing days per year, will become the permanent home of Maryland Thoroughbred racing with well over 100 racing days annually. The site design centers around a new clubhouse inspired by Baltimore landmarks such as the Rawlings Conservatory in Druid Hill Park and the original grandstand. The new Pimlico stretch | Maryland Stadium Authority The approved acquisition of Shamrock Farm sets in motion one of the largest state investments in Carroll County in recent history, following a two-year investigation of more than eight sites across six Maryland counties. The State of Maryland will direct at least $110 million to the new training center, which will offer 328 acres to create a training facility with more than 800 boarded horses, housing for backstretch workers and a training track with dimensions identical to those at Pimlico. The Shamrock Farm acquisition is supported by the Carroll County government, which has agreed to commit $1.5 million to offset infrastructure costs. The post Gov. Moore And Co. Talk Pimlico Demo, Training Facility And Concept Art appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

In this continuing series, Alan Carasso takes a look ahead at US-bred and/or conceived runners entered for the upcoming weekend at the tracks on the Japan Racing Association circuit, with a focus on pedigree and/or performance in the sales ring. Here are the horses of interest for this Sunday running at Tokyo Racecourses, where 3-year-old turf milers are front and center in the G1 NHK Mile Cup: Sunday, May 11, 2025 5th-TOK, ¥15,200,000 ($105k), Allowance, 3yo, 2100m MERCURY DIME (JPN) (f, 3, Medaglia d'Oro–Lucky Dime, by Creative Cause) overcame a wide draw and a three-wide journey to win her maiden narrowly at first asking over 1800 meters at Nakayama at the back end of January (see below, SC 11). Lucky Dime is a winning daughter of Indian Miss (Indian Charlie), whose five additional scorers include Eclipse Award-winning sprinter and top young sire Mitole (Eskendereya) as well as the popular GISW and multiple Classic-placed Hot Rod Charlie (Oxbow), now standing in Japan. Lucky Dime was offered at Keeneland November in 2021 and was purchased by Katsumi Yoshida for $850,000 with this filly in utero. Just days after Hot Rod Charlie belied odds of 94-1 when second to 'TDN Rising Star' and future champion Essential Quality (Tapit) in the 2020 GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile, Indian Miss fetched $1.9 million from OXO Equine at KEENOV while pregnant to Into Mischief. Mercury Dime carries the famed Sunday Racing colors and will once again by ridden by Christophe Lemaire. O-Sunday Racing Co Ltd; B-Shunsuke Yoshida; T-Ryo Takei #マーキュリーダイム 彼女にとってはデビュー戦、勝利おめでとう pic.twitter.com/a1rE1soYyN — S1 (@s1nihs) January 26, 2025 The post Well-Related Medaglia d’Oro Filly Looks To Stay Perfect at Tokyo appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Multiple group winner Passenger is on the comeback trail and is reportedly thriving at new trainer George Scott's base ahead of a potential return at Royal Ascot next month. The Niarchos family-owned runner and former Sir Michael Stoute trainee underwent surgery in August and has been recovering since. “When Passenger arrived we were very much seeing which direction he took us in after his injuries, but he's been training beautifully and I'm very pleased with his trajectory at the moment,” said Scott of the Flaxman Stables homebred. “You can easily see why he has been able to show a really high level of form during parts of his short career and of course it's very much a week-by-week thing with him, but I'm very pleased with his conditioning.” The son of Ulysses won the G2 Huxley Stakes last May, and was third in the G2 York Stakes during which he sustained a condylar fracture that derailed the rest of his 2024 campaign. He was gelded in the interim and is pointing toward the Wolferton Stakes. Scott added, “I guess with a horse like him and his rating, there are very few options and I'll be keeping half an eye on the Wolferton Stakes at Royal Ascot. “The timing fits and if he does turn up in the Wolferton he would have been away for racecourse gallops, so I'm keeping an eye on the Royal meeting, but everything will have to go right and he will have to jump through every hoop.” The post Royal Ascot Pencilled In For Passenger’s Return appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

The David Bruce Cassidy Memorial Scholarship Program, named after the musician who was also a passionate breeder and owner, is rolling out four new scholarships. They include: The David Bruce Cassidy New Generation In Horse Racing Scholarship; The David Bruce Cassidy Permanently Disabled Jockey Family Scholarship; The David Bruce Cassidy New Careers for Retired Thoroughbreds Scholarship; and The David Bruce Cassidy Backstretch Workers Scholarship. The additional scholarships will be given out beginning in the late fall. You can email davidcassidyits4ever@gmail.com for more information. The post Cassidy Memorial Program Adds Four New Scholarships appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Connections of the runners in Sunday's Poule d'Essai des Pouliches will be able to breathe a sigh of relief when they look around the ParisLongchamp paddock and discover that the Godolphin blue is nowhere to be seen. Their domination of the early-season Classics, on both sides of the Atlantic, had to end somewhere, though it may not be in the Poule d'Essai des Poulains which precedes the fillies' equivalent. The red-hot combination that is Charlie Appleby and William Buick will be represented there by last year's G2 Vintage Stakes winner Aomori City, who returned in 2025 with a creditable third in the G3 Craven Stakes won by Field Of Gold. However, smart though Aomori City is, there's a strong chance that the Godolphin party takes a pause for this weekend at least. Instead, the Classic action in the Bois de Boulogne provides a shot at redemption for some of those who have suffered most keenly at their hands in recent days. Look no further than the connections of the aforementioned Field Of Gold, who followed his impressive Craven victory with what many saw as an unlucky defeat behind Godolphin's Ruling Court in last weekend's 2,000 Guineas. The fallout from that reversal has seen Kieran Shoemark lose his job as number one jockey to the Gosdens, hence why Colin Keane takes the mount on Detain in the Poulains. It's no doubt been a difficult few days for Shoemark, but it's a sign of how widely his talents are appreciated that he's still set to be involved in both of Sunday's Classics for Charlie Fellowes. In the Poulains he partners Luther, who was a length behind Detain when they filled the first two places in a conditions race at Chelmsford last month, while his Pouliches mount, Shes Perfect, staked her Classic claim with a huge run in the G3 Prix de la Grotte. Sometimes the stars align in this funny old game and, if sheer force of good will was the difference maker, then Shoemark would already be home and hosed. Home Or Away? Few would begrudge Ollie Sangster a first Classic success, either, after he saddled the second and third in the 1,000 Guineas won by Desert Flower, no mean feat for a trainer entering just his third season with a licence. In the Pouliches, Sangster saddles Celestial Orbit, who is no back number herself after her runner-up finish in the G3 Nell Gwyn Stakes, especially as the winner of that race, Zanzoun, is absent from the opposition following a late setback. That leaves Andre Fabre's G3 Prix Imprudence heroine Better Together as the sole Juddmonte representative. Aidan O'Brien is mob-handed with four runners, headed by Bedtime Story and Exactly, but it's Francis-Henri Graffard who towers over this field with his duo, Zarigana and Mandanaba. Prix de la Grotte scorer Zarigana dominates the betting as she tries to emulate her illustrious grandam, Zarkava, who won the Pouliches back in 2008, while Mandanaba is a daughter of Princess Zahra Aga Khan's treble Group 1 scorer Mandesha. She made it two from two when winning last month's G3 Prix Vanteaux. The Aga Khan Studs team is also responsible for what looks the best of the home defence in the Poulains, last month's G3 Prix de Fointainebleau winner Ridari. However, this one looks booked for export, with four colts who skipped Newmarket to come here topping the shortlist. Irish raiders Camille Pissarro, Henri Matisse and Hotazhell will all have their fair share of supporters as Group/Grade 1-winning juveniles, while Andrew Balding's Jonquil looked ready for these deeper waters when easily winning the G3 Greenham Stakes. The son of Lope De Vega is from a top Juddmonte family and victory here would at least go some way to atoning for the defeat of their Field Of Gold. Lingfield Fare Fails to Inspire Expanded and Lake Victoria might have proved little more than bit-part players in their Classic assignments at Newmarket, but already the team at Ballydoyle is entitled to feel more optimistic about its Epsom prospects, after a clean sweep of the recognised trials at Chester this week. Now, the Ballydoyle bluebloods have Lingfield and Leopardstown in their sights, with the omens not looking good for those who have dared to oppose them, if they've bothered at all. In Saturday's Lingfield Oaks Trial, Giselle is heavily odds-on to account for two fillies rated just 91 and 84. Concerns about the state of the turf track at Lingfield, which had to pass an inspection on Tuesday, might have been at play, but it's still a meagre turnout for a contest which was won last year by the subsequent Irish Oaks heroine You Got To Me, with Anapurna the last horse to complete the Lingfield/Epsom double in 2019. As for the colts, Anthony Van Dyck was the last winner of the Lingfield Derby Trial to follow up at Epsom, also in 2019, ending a drought which lasted more than two decades after High-Rise completed the same double in 1998. More recently, Adayar won the Derby after finishing second at Lingfield in 2021, while Ambiente Friendly chased home City Of Troy at Epsom last year after an emphatic success in his trial here. That suggests the Lingfield Derby Trial has rediscovered its mojo in a big way in recent years, but at this stage the chances of the 2025 renewal throwing up a serious contender for Classic glory look negligible at best. Of the seven runners, Ballydoyle's Stay True figures most prominently in the Derby betting at 40/1, with stable-mate Puppet Master next best at 66/1. Hopefully, Leopardstown debut winner Stay True can at least show enough to earn himself a place in the Epsom line-up. It would certainly be fitting should the final crop of Galileo yield a runner in the race he made his own by siring a record five Derby winners, as well as producing one of the most dominant performances the race has ever seen when successful himself in 2001. Ballydoyle Bandwagon Rolls On Galileo completed his Epsom prep in the Leopardstown Derby Trial, which produced three straight winners of the Derby between 2000 and 2002. Since then, however, Leopardstown winners are 0/19 at Epsom, with Fame And Glory coming closest to completing the double when chasing home a certain Sea The Stars in the 2009 Derby. Delacroix could be the horse to try and set the record straight this year, having stepped up on his juvenile form when making a winning return to action in the G3 Ballysax Stakes. The son of Dubawi and champion racemare Tepin hit the line over two lengths clear of stable-mate Lambourn–who gave the form a boost when winning Wednesday's G3 Chester Vase–with Lingfield Derby Trial contender Puppet Master back in fourth. A general 8/1 chance for the Derby at the time of writing, Delacroix will more than likely be a point or two shorter come Sunday evening, certainly if he's able to dish out a similar beating to last year's G1 Criterium de Saint-Cloud hero Tennessee Stud. Aidan O'Brien, already a 16-time winner of the Leopardstown Derby Trial, also saddles Acapulco Bay and Rock Of Cashel to bring the curtain down on a week which, if the betting is correct, could conceivably end with him having won the Cheshire Oaks, Chester Vase, Dee Stakes, Lingfield Oaks Trial and Lingfield Derby Trial, plus the Leopardstown feature. Most worryingly for those trying to stand in his way, there's a good chance that the best is yet to come, with The Lion In Winter, the ante-post favourite for the Derby, standing his ground among 13 entries for next week's G2 Dante Stakes at York following Friday's confirmation stage. Widely regarded as the pre-eminent trial for the Derby, having produced six winners this century, the Dante hasn't gone the way of a Ballydoyle runner since Cape Blanco obliged in 2010. However, it might appeal more to O'Brien's keen eye this year with it falling 23 days before Epsom, rather than the usual 16. Racing's Superpowers at War It's still very early days with the juveniles, but we could see some major developments in that division on Saturday, both on the racecourse and in the sales ring. At Naas, Albert Einstein is set to debut for Ballydoyle, having been singled out for special praise by O'Brien when it comes to his two-year-old class of 2025. A son of Wootton Bassett and the G2 Airlie Stud Stakes runner-up Yet, he runs over six furlongs and could enter the reckoning for the G2 Coventry Stakes at Royal Ascot if all goes to plan in this first start. Another Wootton Bassett colt to look out for is Godolphin's Military Code, one of the early market leaders for the Coventry after his winning debut at Newmarket's Craven meeting. His six rivals in the five-furlong novice which kicks off Saturday's card at Ascot include Amo Racing's Celestial King, the son of Havana Grey who topped the Tattersalls Craven Breeze-up Sale at 1,750,000gns. Godolphin were the underbidders on that occasion as records were smashed at Park Paddocks. The bidding wars fought out by Amo and Godolphin have dominated the breeze-up sales held so far in 2025, with no reason why it should be any different at Arqana on Saturday. Last year Godolphin saw off Coolmore for the €2,300,000 top lot–the Justify colt who turned out to be none other than Ruling Court–while the Amo purchases included the G2 Royal Lodge Stakes third Angelo Buonarroti at €1,000,000 and G3 Oh So Sharp Stakes runner-up Cathedral at €800,000. Angelo Buonarotti is sadly no longer with us, but Cathedral remains a filly of significant potential. She is set to kick off her three-year-old campaign in Saturday's G3 Chartwell Fillies' Stakes at Lingfield, the scene of her striking debut success on the all-weather last September. The post Weekend Watch: Shoemark’s Shot at Redemption appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Saturday, Lingfield, post time: 15:35, WILLIAM HILL CHARTWELL FILLIES' STAKES-G3, £90,000, 3yo/up, f/m, 7fT Field: Great Generation (Ire) (Holy Roman Emperor {Ire}), Fair Angellica (GB) (Harry Angel {Ire}), Jabaara (Ire) (Exceed And Excel {Aus}), Spiritual (Ire) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}), Ziggy's Dream (Ire) (Inns Of Court {Ire}), Cathedral (GB) (Too Darn Hot {GB}). TDN Verdict: Cathedral takes on her elders, getting a significant weight-for-age advantage which could give her the edge despite her inexperience. Second in the G3 Oh So Sharp Stakes at Newmarket in October, she had two of this season's movers and shakers Flight and First Instinct behind on that occasion. Jabaara is solid at this trip and her G1 Falmouth Stakes second sets the standard. [Tom Frary]. Saturday, Lingfield, post time: 15:00, WILLIAM HILL LINGFIELD DERBY TRIAL STAKES-Listed, £60,000, 3yo, c/g, 11f 133yT Field: Nightime Dancer (Ire) (Ghaiyyath {Ire}), Our 'enery (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}), Prince of The Seas (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}), Puppet Master (Ire) (Camelot {GB}), Rahiebb (GB) (Frankel {GB}), Rogue Impact (GB) (Study Of Man {Ire}), Stay True (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}). TDN Verdict: Aidan O'Brien has won most of the recognised British and Irish Derby trials so far in 2025 and saddles a duo here including one of the last of the Galileo crew in Stay True. Professional on debut at Leopardstown, he may have more to offer than the G3 Ballsax Stakes fourth Puppet Master and on the face of it is the only one of these that could make an impact in the Derby market. All that said, Ryan Moore rarely gets these wrong as he proved again at Chester this week. [Tom Frary]. Saturday, Lingfield, post time: 13:15, WILLIAM HILL OAKS TRIAL FILLIES' STAKES-Listed, £60,000, 3yo, f, 11f 133yT Field: Giselle (Ire) (Frankel {GB}), Harpsichord (GB) (Ribchester {Ire}), Love Talk (Ire) (Ten Sovereigns {Ire}). TDN Verdict: If the Derby Trial looks substandard, this is something else with a disappointing three-runner turnout suggesting this should have been switched to the Polytrack. At least we get to see Giselle put through her paces as she starts a potentially big 3-year-old campaign following the sign-off fourth of the daughter of Newspaperofrecord in the G3 Staffordstown Stud Stakes at The Curragh in October. [Tom Frary]. Saturday, Naas, post time: 16:20 DARLEY IRISH EBF NAAS OAKS TRIAL STAKES-Listed, €33,000, 3yo, f, 10f 84yT Field: Garden Of Eden (Ire) (Saxon Warrior {Jpn}), Gotomylovely (Ire) (Camelot {GB}), Hollys Graces (Ire) (Australia {GB}), Island Hopping (Ire) (Wootton Bassett {GB}), Jaliyah (Ire) (Mehmas {Ire}), Kalixa (Ire) (Kingman {GB}), Medici Venus (Tiz The Law), Tamam Desert (Ire) (Sea The Moon {Ger}). TDN Verdict: Island Hopping may not need to improve on her return third in the G3 Salsabil Stakes at Navan last month to enter the Classic picture, while it is probably no coincidence that Dermot Weld chose a course-and-distance maiden to reintroduce The Aga Khan's Studs' Kalixa. [Tom Frary]. Sunday, ParisLongchamp, France, post time: 16:25, EMIRATES POULE D'ESSAI DES POULAINS-G1, €650,000, 3yo, c, 8fT Field: Ridari (Fr) (Churchill {Ire}), Sahlan (Ire) (Wootton Bassett {GB}), Selenien (Fr) (Mehmas {Ire}), Misunderstood (Fr) (Hello Youmzain {Fr}), Dos Mukasan (Fr) (Golden Horde {Ire}), Aomori City (Fr) (Oasis Dream {GB}), Reach The Sky (Fr) (Calyx {GB}), Detain (Ire) (Wootton Bassett {GB}), Jonquil (GB) (Lope De Vega {Ire}), Heybetli (Ire) (Showcasing {GB}), Zarraf (Fr) (Zarak {Fr}), Henri Matisse (Ire) (Wootton Bassett {GB}), Luther (GB) (Frankel {GB}), TIpinso (Fr) (Pinatubo {Ire}), Houquetot (Ire) (Wootton Bassett {GB}), Hotazhell (GB) (Too Darn Hot {GB}), Serengeti (Fr) (Wootton Bassett {GB}), Camille Pissarro (Ire) (Wootton Bassett {GB}). TDN Verdict: Ballydoyle look to get off the mark in the 2025 Classics and will be buoyed by the news on Friday that Henri Matisse has received a highly favourable draw in six for this turning test. Kept back for this following his success in the G3 Ballylinch Stud Red Rocks Stakes in March, the experienced son of Immortal Verse has all boxes ticked with Ryan Moore on board despite the presence of last year's G1 Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere winner Camille Pissarro. Drawn in 15, that stablemate will have to navigate the crowd to overcome a terrible post position, but at least he is a hold-up merchant and Christophe Soumillon clicked on him here on Arc day. Another Irish challenger to do well in the draw is the G1 Futurity Trophy and G2 Beresford Stakes winner Hotazhell, but he has a length to find on Henri Matisse on their G2 Futurity Stakes meeting last summer and will need to be sharp to win this on his seasonal bow. First and second in the course-and-distance G3 Prix de Fontainebleau, Ridari and Sahlan have fared contrastingly with the draw and that has probably killed the chance of the latter, while Juddmonte's G3 Greenham Stakes winner Jonquil has a tricky stall in 12 so Oisin Murphy will be in full analysis mode in the lead-up. [Tom Frary]. Sunday, ParisLongchamp, France, post time: 17:05, EMIRATES POULE D'ESSAI DES POULICHES-G1, €550,000, 3yo, f, 8fT Field: Mandanaba (Fr) (Ghaiyyath {Ire}), Zarigana (GB) (Siyouni {Fr}), Ghoufrann (Ire) (Oasis Dream {GB}), Shes Perfect (Ire) (Sioux Nation), Godspeed (Fr) (Hello Youmzain {Fr}), Bedtime Story (Ire) (Frankel {GB}), Exactly (Ire) (Frankel {GB}), Merrily (No Nay Never), Daylight (Fr) (Earthlight {Ire}), Mimos (Fr) (City Light {Fr}), Better Together (GB) (Oasis Dream {GB}), Heavens Gate (Ire) (Churchill {Ire}), Celestial Orbit (GB) (No Nay Never). TDN Verdict: Francis-Henri Graffard has the draw gods to thank for the mercy shown to his star duo Zarigana and Mandanaba and their showdown greatly enhances this renewal. Preference is for the former, who bids to erase the memory of her painful course-and-distance defeat in the G1 Prix Marcel Boussac on Arc day with her stablemate perhaps more one for the Diane next month. Better Together represents the G3 Prix Imprudence form and she will love this mile, while the main Ballydoyle hopes Exactly and Bedtime Story are fascinating contenders. Exactly was bang there with Zarigana at the end of the Marcel Boussac and could just have improved more, while the latter was only fifth there as she staged a meek retreat into the shadows having looked champion material earlier in the season. Few will ever forget her sensational Royal Ascot display last June, when the thought of Ryan Moore not even choosing her for a Pouliches would have been unimaginable and from stall nine she will be hunted around by Colin Keane in what could be the start of a process of re-education. Outside Godspeed is not out of things, having impressed with her effort behind Zarigana in the G3 Prix de la Grotte, while Ollie Sangster looks to get heavily involved in a second fillies' Classic in the space of eight days with the classy Celestial Orbit. [Tom Frary]. Click here for the complete fields. The post Black-Type Analysis: Henri Matisse The Pick Of Moore In French 2000 Guineas appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article