Wandering Eyes

While his status for the Preakness is still undecided, GI Kentucky Derby hero Sovereignty (Into Mischief) continues to impress his team with how well he has rebounded from his long stretch battle with Journalism (Curlin) last Saturday, but a decision might be around the corner. Since his win in the Spring marquee race, the son of Into Mischief has reportedly done no wrong, and has continued to thrive in his return to routine. Michael Banahan, Godolphin's director of bloodstock, told Steve Byk on his Monday morning satellite radio show that a decision on the colt's Preakness prospects would likely be made 'in the next couple of days.' “We fully respect what the Triple Crown means for the industry, for racing in America,” Banahan told Byk. “Most importantly, the decision will be made to do what's best for the horse.” “It looks like he's come out of the race well. He did have a scrape on his pastern that needed to be treated somewhat. We'll just see how he gets over that, what his energy levels are going to be like. That is always the question that's asked the minute the winner goes by the finish line under the Twin Spires: 'Is he going to run in the Preakness?'” He continued, “[Trainer Bill Mott] will see how he responds, how the team thinks the horse is doing, and we'll huddle up in probably in the next couple of days. We won't wait too long, because if he's pulled in that direction, we need to get him placed to do that.” Bob Baffert is reportedly mulling a trip to Pimlico for more runners than just Rodriguez (Authentic), who was scratched out of the Kentucky Derby with a minor foot bruise. The trip back to California was postponed to monitor track and weather conditions after four straight days of rain. “We're planning on going with Rodriguez,” Baffert said of the GII Wood Memorial winner. “Citizen Bull [the 2-year-old champion who finished 15th], I doubt if I'm taking him.” Baffert did conceded that he's changed his mind before on horses he wasn't intending to take to the Preakness, and had it work in his favor. He continued that it took about a week to properly evaluate horses after they come back from the Derby. If the pattern holds, Citizen Bull's status may yet change. As for his other 'Rising Star', it is all systems go. “[Rodriguez's] foot is fine now. It was one of those things. We can't run a horse over a track like that when [the bruise] is fresh.” Another noteworthy addition on the plane to Maryland could be 'TDN Rising Star' Goal Oriented (Not This Time), who is being considered for the Listed Sir Barton Stakes, after a stylish allowance victory on the Derby undercard. Trainer D. Wayne Lukas confirmed Monday that American Promise (Justify) will be pointed toward the middle jewel of the Triple Crown. After a rough trip where the conditioner contends his charge was twice compromised, the chestnut finished 16th and seeks to rebound from that effort with a record-tying eighth victory for Lukas. “He got wiped out at the gate by the one-hole coming over. Actually, three of us took a beating on that. Then he made up good ground, and when he was ready to make a move, they shut him down again.” The Brendan Walsh runner, GII Stonestreet Lexington Stakes winner Gosger (Nyquist), is under consideration for the Preakness. The grandson of Arch's Gal Edith–dam of I'll Have Another–worked five-eighths May 1 in 1-minute flat. The trainer floated the idea of a start after his colt's win in the Keeneland graded, stating in the post race interview that while it hadn't been in the plans initially, they would be putting more thought into an entry. Withdrawn from the Derby to focus on the upcoming target, 'TDN Rising Star' GISP River Thames (Maclean's Music) is slated for the Preakness as well as trainer Jamie Osborne's G2 UAE Derby runner-up Heart of Honor (GB) (Honor A.P.). Another possible is Pay Billy (Improbable), who earned an automatic entry into the race via capturing the Listed Federico Tesio Stakes at Laurel Park Apr. 19, and his trainer as previously mentioned that the intent is to go if the horse is doing well. The post Sovereignty Decision Around the Corner, Preakness Field Takes a Hazy Shape appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

With Derby weekend in the books, we take a look back at the graded races in April that led us there. The month did not disappoint with great racing from coast to coast, although Keeneland, as per usual, was the star of the show. If the top of the sport is measured by graded races, few race weeks are as packed with quality or as anticipated as the boutique meets at Keeneland. With an inevitable focus on the Lexington track, we look at trends and notable items from the country's graded races in April, with the sheer number of homebred winners standing out this month. Keeneland packed 16 graded races into just under three weeks in April, giving the Central Kentucky track more than half of the 30 graded contests in the nation for the month. Three other tracks also hosted graded events in April, with Santa Anita running seven, Aqueduct holding four, and Oaklawn Park hosting three. Seven Grade I races were contested, with five at Keeneland and one each at Oaklawn and Santa Anita. Another nine Grade II races were held, as were 14 with Grade III designation. Eighteen of the 30 graded races were on the dirt and 12 on the grass. The 30 graded races were run at distances ranging from 5 1/2 furlongs (two) to 1 1/2 miles (two), with 1 1/16 miles being the most popular (eight). Eleven of the graded events in April were dedicated to 3-year-olds, including the last three significant GI Kentucky Derby preps: the GI Santa Anita Derby, the GI Toyota Blue Grass Stakes, and the GII Wood Memorial Stakes. All three are usually held on the Saturday four weeks prior to the Derby, but torrential rains in Kentucky forced the delay of the Blue Grass to the next Tuesday. Twenty-one different trainers won graded races in April. Bob Baffert won the most, with three, and twice finished one-two, but no one had a better day than Ian Wilkes, who won the Blue Grass and the GI Resolute Racing Madison Stakes in the same afternoon. Eighteen homebreds–some with additional ownership partners added–won the 30 graded races in April. Remarkably, 15 of the 16 graded events at Keeneland were won by homebreds, underscoring how special it is to win in front of the home crowd in Lexington. Fourteen of those were homebreds outright and the 15th was a homebred with additional partners. The only non-homebred to win a graded race at Keeneland this April was a $1.35-million Keeneland September yearling. Two breeders won multiple graded races in April: Godolphin with three and Calumet Farm with two. All five of those winners were homebreds, with four of the five winning at Keeneland. The least-expensive American-sold graded winner in April was Crazy Mason (Coal Front), who fetched $20,000 as a weanling at Keeneland November. The most expensive was the aforementioned $1.35-million Keeneland September purchase and 'TDN Rising Star' Extra Anejo (Into Mischief). Included among the stallion milestones in April was the first graded winner for 2020 Horse of the Year Authentic with the Wood Memorial victory by Rodriguez, while interesting breeding notes included the in-foal Forever After All (Connect)'s win in the GIII Bewitch Stakes. She was bred to Flightline this term and will continue to race for a little longer. The 30 graded race winners were sired by 26 individual stallions. Three stallions won multiple graded events. Remarkably, all three stand at Darley: Nyquist with three, Medaglia d'Oro with two, and Street Sense with two. Godolphin campaigns two of those seven winners. Fifteen of the 26 sires currently stand in Kentucky, as did another four who are now deceased. Other states that stand graded sires from the month are Louisiana, Maryland, and New York, with one each. Three of the remaining graded sires stand in Ireland, while the last is in Chile. Twenty-one individual broodmare sires were represented in April's graded races. Six sires were represented by more than one winner, with a trio getting three–Bernardini, Tapit, and Uncle Mo–and another trio getting two–Hard Spun, Kitten's Joy, and Scat Daddy. Both Tapit and Hard Spun are still active at Gainesway and Darley, respectively. Into Mischief had one graded winner in April, as did four of his sons: Authentic, Goldencents, Maximus Mischief, and Practical Joke. Medaglia d'Oro had two winners, while his late son Fast Anna had one. Curlin also had one winner, as did his son Connect. In addition, three separate Smart Strike stallions had graded winners: Curlin, English Channel, and Lookin At Lucky. The highest graded Beyer Speed Figure in April was the 109 earned by 'TDN Rising Star' First Mission (Street Sense) in the GII Oaklawn Handicap. The highest graded April Beyer for a 3-year-old was the 102 earned by Journalism (Curlin) in the Santa Anita Derby. The post Numbers Game: All About the Homebreds in April’s 30 Graded Races appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

One of three top national recipients of the 2025 CareerViewXR Production Grant, Amplify Horse Racing has been selected to participate in a program which works toward the creation of an immersive, virtual 'field trip' to introduce students across the U.S. to careers in the Thoroughbred racing industry, the group announced via press release Monday afternoon. Amplify joins Keystone LifeSci Collaborative and Oklahoma Connections Academy to garner the award out of a pool of applicants from across the country. All winners will collaborate with CareerViewXR to develop a custom video-based field trip which connects students with real-world career paths in their communities and beyond. The video will place a spotlight on the Thoroughbred industry by showcasing a behind-the-scenes view of the sport and its workforce. Amplify will also receive a 12-month CareerViewXR subscription for up to 5,000 individuals and two VR headsets to enhance in-person education and outreach events. “At Amplify Horse Racing, our mission is to make the Thoroughbred industry as accessible and inclusive as possible, while introducing young people to its many career paths in a way that is engaging, hands-on, and safe,” said Annise Montplaisir, executive director at Amplify Horse Racing. “We can't always bring students to a racetrack, sales company, or breeding farm–and there are certain roles, like driving a tractor, riding a racehorse, or working as a farrier, that aren't easy to experience firsthand. The CareerViewXR platform will be a game-changer for how we deliver our programming, allowing us to bring the industry directly to students–no matter where they are.” The post Amplify Horse Racing Selected for National CareerViewXR Grant appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Tuesday, Chantilly, France, post time: 15:05, PRIX DE GUICHE-G3, €80,000, 3yo, c/g, 9fT Field: Pure Legend (Fr) (Mehmas {Ire}), Les Petits Princes (Fr) (Bated Breath {GB}), Al Aali (Fr) (City Light {Fr}), Cualificar (GB) (Lope De Vega {Ire}), Bulnes (Ire) (Galileo Gold {GB}), Curragh Camp (Fr) (Romanised {Ire}) and Madero (Fr) (Lope De Vega {Ire}). TDN Verdict: Cualificar may have surprised some when winning the G3 Prix la Force over this trip at ParisLongchamp last month, but he's a Fabre project out of the Oaks winner Qualify so should now be treated as a top prospect until proven otherwise. Spain's Gran Criterium-winning champion 2-year-old colt Bulnes is already proven in this country, having won the Listed Grand Criterium de Bordeaux in October and it will be interesting to see how far he can go in this sphere, while Les Petits Princes is not out of the equation, having beaten this card's Listed Prix des Lilas contender Belong Together and the subsequent G3 Prix de la Grotte third Godspeed in a mile conditions event on Chantilly's Polytrack in March. [Tom Frary]. Tuesday, Chantilly, France, post time: 15:40, PRIX DES LILAS-Listed, €55,000, 3yo, f, 8fT Field: Ashikidah (Fr) (Belardo {Ire}), Cankoura (Fr) (Persian King {Ire}), Qarlyga (Fr) (Golden Horde {Ire}), Eponine (Ire) (Tamayuz {GB}), Ilda Rosa (GB) (Lope De Vega {Ire}), Belong Together (GB) (Bated Breath {GB}), American Gal (GB) (Kameko), With Zest (Fr) (Romanised {Ire}), Relaxx (Fr) (City Light {Fr}) and Wassail (War Front). TDN Verdict: It's probably too late for these to get to the G1 Poule d'Essai des Pouliches, but this is staged over the same course and distance as the G2 Prix de Sandringham which can be a stepping stone to the G1 Coronation Stakes and so eyes peeled. The Aga Khan's Studs' Cankoura won by nine lengths over 9 1/2 furlongs here in March and drops in trip to join stablemate Ashikidah, the course-and-distance winner who holds an entry in Sunday's ParisLongchamp Classic with Mickael Barzalona on the former. Godolphin are in wonderland at present and the unbeaten Ilda Rosa bids to keep the joy flowing. A daughter of Zhukova and relative of Ghaiyyath, she sticks at a mile for now with Henri-Alex Pantall keen to see what he's got. [Tom Frary]. Tuesday, Cork, post time: 18:08, GOFFS IRISH EBF POLONIA STAKES-Listed, €31,500, 3yo, f, 5 1/2fT Field: Babouche (GB) (Kodiac {GB}), Truly Enchanting (Ire) (No Nay Never), Beauty Queen (Ire) (Soldier's Call {GB}), First Instinct (GB) (Bated Breath {GB}), Fregada (Ire) (Kodiac {GB}), Grande Marques (Ire) (Starspangledbanner {Aus}), Li Ban (Ire) (Prince Of Lir {Ire}), Likedbymike (Ire) (Inns Of Court {Ire}), Maw Lam (Ire) (Acclamation {GB}), Revoke (GB) (Blue Point {Ire}), Saratoga Special (Ire) (Mehmas {Ire}), Songhai (Ire) (Sands Of Mali {Fr}), Town And Country (Ire) (Earthlight {Ire}) and Usdi Atohi (Ire) (Ten Sovereigns {Ire}). TDN Verdict: This has attracted a proper line-up headed by last year's G1 Phoenix Stakes and G3 Anglesey Stakes winner Babouche, whose class edge is negated by a five-pound penalty as she begins her 3-year-old campaign. Ger Lyons has another Juddmonte representative in Revoke, whose second to Lady With The Lamp in the Listed Legacy Stakes looks solid, while Ballydoyle's G2 Airlie Stud Stakes winner Truly Enchanting is back having been sidelined since that contest in June. Ballyhimikin Stud's taking Curragh maiden winner Fregada has a squeak, but she is in deep. [Tom Frary]. The post Black-Type Analysis: Cualificar Fancied to Shine at Chantilly appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

In an effort to find out why 2024 Horse of the Year Thorpedo Anna (Fast Anna) ran so poorly in the GI Fasig-Tipton La Troienne S. Friday at Churchill Downs, trainer Kenny McPeek sent her to be examined by Dr. Larry Bramlage at the Rood & Riddle Equine Hospital. Thorpedo Anna finished seventh and last. Coming into the race she had never been worse than second. According to McPeek, Bramlage could not find anything wrong with the 4-year-old filly. “At this point, she has a clean bill of health,” McPeek said. As to why she ran so poorly, McPeek has come up with a theory of his own. Entering the first turn Thorpedo Anna was squeezed and bumped between Dorth Vader (Girvin) on the inside and Randomized (Nyquist) on the outside. McPeek believes that's where she lost the race. “The only thing we can figure is… people who watched the race from the first turn said that when they squeezed her that there was a lot of noise, that she got hit pretty hard,” McPeek said. “The only thing I can figure is maybe they knocked the breath out of her. I thought the five horse (Randomized) really didn't keep her lane. I really don't understand why the stewards didn't look at that. She crossed over on her. I thought it was pretty ugly. That's the only excuse that I have. That first turn incident was a little worse than it looked. It was a bit of a shocker. Did I ever think she'd be last? No way. No way.” McPeek said he won't be in any hurry to get Thorpedo Anna back to the races. “I would say you won't see her back at the races for seven, eight weeks,” he said. “We'll look at the Fleur de Lis or something in New York. We'll ease her back into things.” The post Bramlage Examines Thorpedo Anna, Can’t Find Anything Wrong appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

At its latest meeting at the end of last month, the Louisiana Racing Commission voted unanimously to largely roll back its current voided claim rule, according to commission executive director, Stephen Landry. The proposed rule change, said Landry, will now be sent for public comment in the state register. The formal process of adopting a new rule could take up to six months, he added. The proposed rule changes remove all but one line from the state's current voided claim rule. If adopted, the new rule will read: “A claim shall be voided if a horse is entered into a race but fails to be declared a starter.” Stripped under the proposed changes are the following conditions that currently void (or potentially void) the claim of a horse: If the horse is vanned off the track by an official If an official veterinarian observes the horse to be lame while on the track for that race If the horse bleeds through the nose (epistaxis) while on the track If the horse fails a subsequent test (requested by the claimant) for infectious anemia (a viral disease affecting horses), or for recombinant erythropoietin (EPO) and/or darbepoietin (a bone marrow stimulant) If the horse dies on the track or is euthanized by an official due to injury According to Louisiana Horsemen's Benevolent and Protective Association (HBPA) executive director, Ed Fenasci, his board had voted in accord with the proposed changes because of the veterinary scrutiny already in place in Louisiana. “My board voted to support that, and that was their reasoning,” said Fenasci, adding that horses racing in the state already undergo veterinary scrutiny pre-race, in the paddock and at the gate. “The horses are examined multiple times, and if it turns up something, they're not allowed to run, which would then have the same effect of the voided claim,” said Fenasci. When asked about the language potentially stripped from the current rules that give the claimant an opportunity to test for infectious anemia, EPO and/or darbepoietin, Fenasci said “that was not discussed at our board meeting.” When asked if he agrees with this part of the proposed changes, Fenasci replied that he does not have an opinion on it. Louisiana is one of a small handful of states that currently operate outside of the legal purview of the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Act (HISA). Research strongly indicates that voided claim rules are an important factor in race-day equine fatality rates. Research published in March-an extensive study that looked at 14 years of North American data-found that the stricter the voided claim rule, the less likely the horse will suffer a catastrophic injury, compared with weaker voided claim rules. Nearly a year ago, Louisiana's racing commission caused a stir in the industry when passing emergency rules that raised the permissible dosage and shrunk the allowable withdrawal times for several medications, most notably the bronchodilator Clenbuterol and corticosteroid Depo-Medrol. The commission later rescinded these medication usage changes. When asked what he would say to those in the industry critical of the state's proposed voided rule changes, Fenasci repeated how he believes the pre-race scrutiny already in place in Louisiana nullifies the need for the current voided claim rule conditions. “We feel that horses are examined three times-[which is] more than they used to be examined-and that's when you're supposed to determine whether the horse is sound and able to run,” Fenasci said. The post Louisiana Racing Commission Votes to Largely Roll Back Voided Claim Rule appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

We've seen a Classic double double, but could we now see a double Triple Crown bid for Godolphin? The quest for the Triple Crown is usually more of 'a thing' in America, though its compact five-week challenge draws consternation from some quarters, and Bill Mott is biding his time before committing Sovereignty to a run in the Preakness Stakes on May 17. Though the American Triple Crown is a more marketable concept than the sprawling near-five-month challenge that has remained unfulfilled in Britain for 55 years, certainly the Derby had been the longer-term aim for Ruling Court. His trainer Charlie Appleby said nothing to contradict that in the aftermath of the Justify colt's 2,000 Guineas win on Saturday. In the Newmarket press room on Saturday, bookmakers' slips were scattered around the desks offering 12/1 about Ruling Court for the Triple Crown. While that's not necessarily a tempting bet, it is a tantalising notion, and one made even more poetic in its appeal for the fact that the colt is by the most recent winner of the American Triple Crown, Justify. Now 10, Justify is honours even in his split of Group/Grade 1 winners in Europe and America – four apiece – including being responsible for last year's Derby winner City Of Troy. Derby history echoes down those bloodlines with a nice bit of symmetry in City Of Troy and Ruling Court as the former is out of a mare by the 2001 Derby winner Galileo, and Ruling Court's dam is by the horse who succeeded him at Epsom, High Chaparral. If you like nicks, it is worth noting that another of Justify's European Group 1 winners, Opera Singer, is out of a mare by that pair's sire, Sadler's Wells, but then, considering where all of those stallions stood, it is perhaps not that noteworthy at all. We shouldn't just be thinking about the colts though. Appleby was quick to check with sponsor Betfred whether or not the £2 million Triple Crown bonus applies to fillies as well. It does. The rangey 1,000 Guineas winner Desert Flower certainly looks like a middle-distance filly and, even if some of the closer-up influences in her pedigree don't suggest that she would stay the Derby or St Leger trip, we can grasp a few straws and note that her fifth dam Swansea (Turn-To) is a half-sister to the great US Triple Crown winner Secretariat and a full-sister to Sir Gaylord, the sire of Derby winner Sir Ivor. Desert Flower's first Classic success capped a terrific day for her sire Night Of Thunder on Sunday. Over at Longchamp, another of his three-year-old fillies, Sunly (GB), remained unbeaten for Juddmonte in the Listed Prix de la Seine, while at Belmont at the Big A, the Croom House Stud graduate Dynamic Pricing (Ire) landed the GIII Beauty Stakes for Chad Brown and Klaravich Stables. In fact, the influence of Dubawi was prevalent, particularly at Newmarket on Sunday, where another of his sons, New Bay, was the sire of the impressive Pretty Polly Stakes winner Falakeyah, a homebred for Shadwell and fifth-generation descendant of Height Of Fashion. The G2 Dahlia Stakes winner Cinderella's Dream is by Shamardal but she is out of a Dubawi mare, and then in the big race itself, Dubawi and sons were responsible for three of the first four home. Desert Flower's dam, the Hard Spun mare Promising Run, has been mated exclusively with either Dubawi or his sons Night Of Thunder and Ghaiyyath, and she has a colt foal by the latter this year – her first offspring since Desert Flower. Family Sprinting Double Act at HQ The opening race of 2,000 Guineas day at Newmarket saw Tiger Bay became the latest black-type winner for her sire Harry Angel (Ire), who is steadily compiling a useful portfolio. His results are arguably better in Australia, where he has been represented by the Group 1 winners Tom Kitten and Private Harry. Promisingly, he is in seventh place in Australia's general sires' table with only three crops of racing age to represent him there. Tiger Bay races in the colours of her trainer Henry Candy, who owns her in partnership with Clive Brandon, and she is just the type of progressive sprinter with which Candy has excelled over the years. This seems to run in the family as an hour or so later, the G3 Palace House Stakes was won by Rumstar, trained by Candy's nephew Jonny Portman. Jonny Portman is heading to Royal Ascot with Rumstar | Racingfotos Rumstar, a five-year-old son of Havana Grey, appears to relish the straight five furlongs of the Rowley Mile, as he claimed his first Group 3 win there at two in the Beacon Stakes. It was good to see him back, and his famously pessimistic trainer has taken the optimistic decision to enter him in the G1 King Charles III Stakes (formerly the King's Stand) at Royal Ascot. Tally-Ho's Star Pupil As detailed elsewhere in this edition, the July Cup winner Starman, who was first off the mark among this year's first-season sires when Lady Iman won at Dundalk on March 28, is now the first of that group to sire a stakes winner, courtesy of that same filly. Lady Iman races in the colours of her breeder Tony O'Callaghan whose Tally-Ho Stud has played such a dominant role in the freshman sire ranks in recent years, with Mehmas becoming the champion in that division in 2020, followed by Cotai Glory in 2021. It is early days for Starman, of course, but he will certainly have plenty of representatives on the track this season, having been the busiest stallion in the year he retired to Mullingar, with a first book of 259 – the largest number ever covered by first-season sire in Europe. The Mehmas phenomenon rolls on. At this season's breeze-up sales, his stock have been among the hottest on offer. At Tattersalls, he had seven sold in the Craven Sale for an average price of 177,143gns, and another two sold at the Guineas Sale last week at an average of 87,500gns. But it was at the Goffs UK Breeze-up which he truly ruled, with the three most expensive juveniles of the sale all being by Mehmas, including the record-breaking £1 million colt. His 14 to sell in Doncaster returned an average of £262,500. NZ Black Type for Hello Youmzain and Circus Maximus For European eyes, much of the focus was on the Rowley Mile over the last weekend but way over yonder in New Zealand there were two stakes winners for young stallions who both raced in this part of the world. Hello Youmzain (Fr) has been shuttling from Haras d'Etreham to Cambridge Stud and the latter has been rewarded as the owner-breeder of Lucy In The Sky, winner of the Listed Berkley Stud Champagne Stakes at Riccarton Park. From the stallion's first New Zealand crop, she is also his first stakes winner in the southern hemisphere. At Te Rapa on the same day, the former Coolmore resident Circus Maximus also notched his first stakes winner with Towering Vision in the Listed Waikato Equine Veterinary Centre Stakes. The two-year-old gelding's pedigree has a proper European feel to it as he is out of a mare by Iffraaj. Circus Maximus stood three seasons in Ireland but has remained in situ at his shuttling base of Windsor Park Stud for the last two years, and he will soon be joined there by the shuttlers Auguste Rodin and Paddington. A Name in Lights If you're not already getting confused between the Haras d'Etreham stallion City Light and Lane's End Farm's City Of Light, let's throw into the mix City Of Lights. This one's a mare though, and the Australian-bred daughter of Deep Impact is a half-sister to none other than Winx. The five-year-old races for her breeder John Camilleri's Fairway Thoroughbreds Syndicate and won the G3 Hawkesbury Crown on Saturday in Australia. The post Seven Days: Classic Double to Triple Crown? appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Twelve of the world's leading Flat riders, including Irad Ortiz Jr., Flavien Prat, and Frankie Dettori have joined forces to create a global jockeys' league that is expected to launch across the sport's most prestigious racing venues early next year.View the full article

Wagering on U.S. races dipped 5.16% to $878,811,558 (worldwide commingled figures) during the month of April in 2025 versus figures registered one year ago, according to an Equibase release of Thoroughbred Racing Economic indicators Monday. Conversely, average field size rose 2.29% from 7.54 in 2024 to 7.71 last month. Also up, average wagering per race day increased 1.24% to $3,487,347, while average available purses per day ticked up by 3.14% to $364,014. In year-to-date figures (2025 vs. 2024), wagering in the U.S. fell 3.77% to $3,384,083,316 (worldwide commingled wagering on U.S. races), while U.S. purses (paid) dropped 3.29% to $333,703,257. Also in 2025, U.S. race days decreased to 967 from 1,023 in 2024. Showing an increase in 2025, average field size rose 3% to 7.88 and average available purses per day was up 2.8% to $364,099. Average wagering per day increased by 1.8% to $3,499,569. The post Wagering in the U.S. Down 5%, Average Field Size Up for April appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Returning to the scene of his G1 Irish Derby triumph, Ballydoyle's Los Angeles got his 4-year-old campaign off to a flyer in Monday's G2 Coolmore Stud City Of Troy Irish EBF Mooresbridge Stakes at The Curragh. Tracking the pace in second under Ryan Moore, the son of Camelot who was sent off the 10-11 favourite took over approaching the furlong pole and stayed on grimly to deny last year's winner White Birch by a neck. Belting finish! Irish Derby winner and Arc third Los Angeles gets the better of gallant and returning Group 1 winner White Birch in a thrilling @coolmorestud @IrishEBF_ Mooresbridge Stakes at @curraghrace pic.twitter.com/Q4yeUOZvQ5 — Racing TV (@RacingTV) May 5, 2025 The post Camelot’s Los Angeles Back To Winning Ways For Ballydoyle appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Coming into Monday's G3 Coolmore Stud Auguste Rodin Irish EBF Athasi Stakes at The Curragh on the back of a debut win at Bellewstown, Barry Fowler's Atsila sprang a minor surprise to stake her Irish 1,000 Guineas claim. Threaded through rivals by Gavin Ryan to overhaul Cercene inside the final 100 yards, the Donnacha O'Brien-trained daughter of Phoenix Of Spain asserted to beat that proven Australia filly by half a length, with a neck back to another established Group performer in Calyx's Barnavara in third. Unbeaten! Atsila (Phoenix Of Spain) arrives here after a maiden win at Bellewstown last month and is now a Group 3 winner on her second start, landing the @coolmorestud @IrishEBF_ Athasi Stakes for Donnacha O'Brien @curraghrace pic.twitter.com/KnDeUeJoa4 — Racing TV (@RacingTV) May 5, 2025 The post Athasi Win For Phoenix Of Spain’s Atsila appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Al Shaqab Racing and Trevor Stewart's 2-year-old colt Andab (Saxon Warrior), a full-brother to GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf hero Victoria Road, made a winning debut in Monday's Irish EBF Median Sires Series Maiden over six furlong at the Curragh. Let go at odds of 8-1, he pulled clear in the closing stages to register an impressive 4 3/4-length success. Andab (Saxon Warrior) is a brother to @BreedersCup Juvenile winner Victoria Road and makes a very likeable start in the @AlShaqabRacing silks for the @JosephOBrien2 team @curraghrace | @DylanBrowneMcM pic.twitter.com/Vws2ALuqsK — Racing TV (@RacingTV) May 5, 2025 1st-Curragh, €25,000, Mdn, 5-5, 2yo, 6fT, 1:13.24, gd. ANDAB (IRE) (c, 2, Saxon Warrior {Jpn}–Tickled Pink {Ire} {MGSW-Eng, $117,768}, by Invincible Spirit {Ire}), broke swiftly and settled back in midfield through the initial fractions of this debut. Making smooth headway from halfway, the 8-1 chance seized control approaching the final furlong and was ridden clear in the closing stages to easily outpoint Gavoo (Elzaam) by an impressive 4 3/4 lengths. “It was a smart performance, but I'd be lying if I said we thought that he would win,” admitted Joseph O'Brien. “He's always been a little wayward mentally and we just wanted to get a start into him. He needed it as he was turning into a bit of a messer at home. You'd have to be very impressed with the fashion he won and the professionalism that he showed. The obvious thing to do is to come back for the Marble Hill and the dream would be that he might be a [G2] Coventry horse. We thought he was quick enough to start off at six [furlongs] and we thought that he'd enjoy going seven eventually. I would still say that's the case, but undoubtedly he's quick enough to stick to six for the minute.” Andab is the sixth foal and scorer produced by dual Group 3 winner Tickled Pink (Invincible Spirit), herself one of four black-type performers out of dual Group 2-winning G1 July Cup runner-up Cassandra Go (Indian Ridge). Cassandra Go's leading performer is three-time Group 1 winner Halfway To Heaven (Pivotal), whose own descendants include multiple Group 1 winners Magical (Galileo), Rhododendron (Galileo) and Auguste Rodin (Deep Impact). Andab is a full-brother to GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf hero Victoria Road and a yearling colt. Sales history: 290,000gns Ylg '24 TATOCT. Lifetime Record: 1-1-0-0, $16,955. O-Al Shaqab Racing & Trevor C Stewart; B-Trevor C Stewart (IRE); T-Joseph O'Brien. The post Victoria Road’s Brother Andab Makes Winning debut at The Curragh appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Plans are taking shape for a new global jockeys' league, which would see 12 world-renowned riders compete against each other multiple times a year, across prestigious racecourses located in each of the major racing jurisdictions. It is hoped that the project will get off the ground in 2026, provided commercial partners to help fund the competition can be found in the interim. Co-founded by former Godolphin chief executive John Ferguson and Lachlan Fitt, who served as chief financial officer of Entain Australia from 2018 until earlier this year, the idea has been conceived with the aim of bringing a fresh audience to the sport. Frankie Dettori, Ryan Moore and William Buick are among the jockeys expected to be involved in the competition, which would see them compete for points under their own individual team branding in up to 10 events a year. Fitt said, “We have watched the success of other sports take the power of their athletes and build them into global icons, with the outcome being a whole new generation of fans that now feel a deeper human connection with the athletes. “The concept we have developed with our foundation jockeys is designed around following a similar model to other sports and we're delighted that the world's best jockeys have come together to drive this change in the way our sport is marketed to the next generation fan.” It is understood the jockeys will also own equity in their own team and be shareholders in the league, with organisers of the franchise seeking to secure commercial partners with the aim of securing a total prize fund of $15 million within two years. Fitt added, “One of the guiding principles we have developed with our foundation jockeys is to ensure this league complements the existing global racing calendar and with that principle in mind, we will be looking to align the timing of our league events to be in close proximity to the major racing carnivals across the world. “It is still early days in our conversations with potential host venues and we are a number of months away from finalising plans in relation to what a launch season could look like. We're hopeful there will be a number of opportunities for the league to be racing in the UK in the first 12 months.” James McDonald, Christophe Lemaire and Mickael Barzalona are other star names in the frame to take part, while Joao Moreira and Zac Purton could renew their fierce rivalry from their years riding against each other in Hong Kong. Vincent Ho, another leading rider in that jurisdiction, is also set to be involved, along with Japanese legend Yutaka Take and US-based riders Flavien Prat and Irad Ortiz Jr. For Dettori the competition could see him him riding on British soil for the first time since he partnered King Of Steel to victory in the Champion Stakes at Ascot in October 2023. He said, “It's a project they have been working on for a few months and I am super excited. It will appeal to a worldwide audience–especially after the Race For The Crown Netflix series–and I can't wait to get started.” The post Dettori and Moore Among Potential Participants in New Jockeys’ League appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Ger Lyons trainee Lady Iman (Starman) lined up as unbeaten winner-of-one for Monday's Listed Holden Plant Rentals First Flier Stakes and continued her winning streak to provide her freshman sire with a breakthrough stakes winner at the Curragh. The crowd's 4-7 selection, fresh off a Mar. 28 maiden win at Dundalk, broke swiftly and raced in a close-up fourth through the early stages of this five-furlong contest. Going well on the bridle when slipping one position passing the quarter-mile marker, she eased through a gap to lead with 100 yards remaining and easily asserted superiority from there, hitting the line with a 1 1/4-length advantage from True Love (No Nay Never). “She's a lovely filly and Colin [Keane] was very impressed with her,” commented Lyons. “She has plenty of speed and will learn plenty from that. I've never took this filly off the bridle so I don't know what the limit is with her. At the moment, I'm thinking of Naas for the [G3 Juvenile Fillies] Sprint and I know that would suit Tally-Ho. I'm delighted for them because training for them is a pleasure. They gave me the horse to promote the sire, they didn't give her to me because they like me, so I ran her. I'll sleep on it and talk to Colin about it, but I've no problem with her getting six.” That's impressive Lady Iman (Starman) lands Listed honours almost like it's a piece of work as this exciting filly remains unbeaten for Ger Lyons and @ctkjockey @curraghrace pic.twitter.com/90oq8h5l8J — Racing TV (@RacingTV) May 5, 2025 Monday, Curragh, Ireland HOLDEN PLANT RENTALS FIRST FLIER STAKES-Listed, €50,000, Curragh, 5-5, 2yo, 5fT, 1:02.56, gd. 1–LADY IMAN (IRE), 126, f, 2, by Starman (GB) 1st Dam: Lady Aria (GB) (GSP-Eng), by Kodiac (GB) 2nd Dam: Dot Hill (GB), by Refuse To Bend (Ire) 3rd Dam: Purple Tiger (Ire), by Rainbow Quest 1ST BLACK-TYPE WIN. (£185,000 Ylg '24 GOFFUK). O-Mrs A O'Callaghan; B-Tally-Ho Stud (IRE); T-Ger Lyons; J-Colin Keane. €30,000. Lifetime Record: 2-2-0-0, $50,114. *1/2 to West Acre (Ire) (Mehmas {Ire}), MGSW-UAE, $378,255. 2–True Love (Ire), 126, f, 2, No Nay Never–Alluringly, by Fastnet Rock (Aus). 1ST BLACK TYPE. O-Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith & Mrs John Magnier; B-Coolmore (IRE); T-Aidan O'Brien. €10,000. 3–Power Blue (Ire), 131, c, 2, Space Blues (Ire)–Visions (Ire), by Worthadd (Ire). 1ST BLACK TYPE. (€30,000 Wlg '23 GOFNOF; £44,000 Ylg '24 GOFFUK). O-LNA Racing Syndicate; B-Finanza Locale Consulting (IRE); T-Adrian Murray. €5,000. Margins: 1 1/4, HD, 1. Odds: 0.57, 12.00, 2.50. Also Ran: Spring Is Here (Ire), Stop The Nation (Ire), Call Margot (Ire). The post First Stakes Winner for Starman as Lady Iman Snags First Flier Success appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

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The Betfred Derby will become the first race in Britain to have declarations made at the 72-hour stage instead of 48 hours before the race, which is standard across the UK. An announcement from Jockey Club Racecourses on Monday stated that bringing forward the deadline by 24 hours would “prove beneficial in building a sense of anticipation and excitement, both domestically and globally, for the prestigious £1.5 million contest”. In 1896, the Derby, which was first run in 1780, became the first horse race to be filmed and shown in cinemas after the event. By 1931, the Epsom Classic notched another important milestone when becoming the first televised horse race and first remote outside television broadcast in the world. Jim Allen, general manager of Epsom Downs Racecourse, said, “This racecourse has been at the forefront of positive change and new initiatives in British horseracing for generations. “We're delighted to be able to introduce 72-hour declarations for this year's Betfred Derby, demonstrating that we are always looking for new ways to innovate and ensure that our sport's most iconic Flat race continues to stand out from the rest. “Having consulted with a range of stakeholders on this issue we are confident that this change will not only help build anticipation for the world's most famous Flat race earlier in the week but also provide more certainty around the runners and riders on the day, driving more interest and engagement in advance of the start of the Betfred Derby Festival.” An “enhanced” draw ceremony for the Betfred Derby will take place around 11am on Wednesday, June 4 at Epsom's Picturehouse, using equipment deployed for football's FA Cup draws. The first scratchings stage for the Derby is tomorrow, Tuesday, May 6, with a second stage on Tuesday, May 20. Five-day confirmations and the supplementary entry stage is Monday, June 2, with the final declarations to be made by 10am on Wednesday, June 4. The post Derby to Switch to 72-Hour Declarations appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

By Michael Guerin General Jen may have to go to a new peak to win the biggest race of her career this Friday but she has been gifted the draw to do it. The Canterbury three-year-old filly made quite the Alexandra Park debut when smashing her older rivals last Friday night and now steps back in against her own sex in the $200,000 Magness Benrow Sires’ Stakes Final back at The Park this Friday. She meets a red hot field containing Beside Me, Northern Oaks winner (and Hayden and Amanda Cullen-trained stablemate) Arafura and last season’s Sires’ Stakes Final winner Captains Mistress. Winelight and Without You add to the form depth in the race with the biggest “out” being Stella Rouge. “She didn’t have an ideal prep for the Oaks last start but she was still very brave so we have put her aside to concentrate on the back end of the season,” said the latter’s co-trainer Steve Telfer. Even without that high quality northern filly the Group 1 is one of the hottest races of the season so far and General Jen got the early advantage of barrier 2 for the mobile 2200m. That puts her inside Beside Me (barrier 3), Without You (6) and Winelight (8) and in front of Captains Mistress (1 second line) and Arafura (2 second line). Beside Me is certain to open favourite but the market will be an interesting one for the TAB bookies to price as all the big names can’t be short. The barrier draw wasn’t quite so crucial to the market for Friday’s other Group 1, the $120,000 IRT Sires’ Stakes Trot for the three-year-olds as favourite Meant To Be is still unruly. His stablemate Higher Power gets barrier 2 over the 2200m mobile but the fillies Habibti Pat (6), Frazzled (7) and Ya Rite Darl (9) have not fared so well. Later in the night the $40,000 Classique Landscapers North Island Mares Trot Championship sees a rare Alexandra Park race with a sole front marker, with an equally rare case of half the 10-strong field being off a 30m handicap. At Addington the $60,000 Continental Event Hire Superstars looks set to be hectic with on-pace speedsters like Beach Ball (1) and Rakero Rocket (5) drawn to go forward in a 2600m mobile with some very hard running horses. The Addington meeting also sees Marketplace return home and he will use the $50,000 Garrards Sires Stakes Semi Final to prepare for next week’s Final and as a heat winner he has to start from the outside of the front line. That disadvantage is somewhat negated by main rival Got The Chocolates drawing the second line. To see the Auckland fields click here To see the Addington fields click here View the full article

Lucy In The Sky delivered a memorable result on multiple fronts with her historic success at Riccarton. The Cambridge Stud-bred and raced filly executed her southern plan to perfection on Saturday when the Tony Pike-trained juvenile was untroubled to triumph in the Listed Champagne Stakes (1200m). Her victory stroll credited the farm’s young shuttle stallion Hello Youmzain with his first Southern Hemisphere stakes victory. It was also the first running of a black-type event on a synthetic track in New Zealand after the feature two-year-old event was switched from the turf to the all-weather due to the weather bomb that hit the Canterbury region. “There were five races at that distance and she was almost a second faster than the open handicap, the quickest of the day, so her time backs up the performance,” Cambridge Stud Head of Sales and Nominations Scott Calder said. “It was an unfortunate situation with the weather, but for the stallion it was a great result and a well-deserved stakes win for the filly. “I think she’s a pretty talented horse and Tony Pike’s view is that November at Riccarton for the Guineas (Gr.1, 1600m) is the longer-term aim. “She is a very fast filly, but Hello Youmzain is starting to show in the Northern Hemisphere already that some of his progeny get over a bit of ground and hopefully a mile will be within her reach.” It was a notable result for the farm at Riccarton as runner-up Queen’s Legacy is also a homebred graduate. Lucy In The Sky is a daughter of O’Reilly’s unraced daughter Too Many Diamonds, also the dam of the Gr.2 Rich Hill Mile (1600m) winner Ruud Not Too. “The mare is retired and Lucy In The Sky is her last living foal, for a mare of her age she didn’t have as many foals as we would have hoped for,” Calder said. “We retained the filly to keep the family going and she’s a beautiful broodmare prospect for down the line.” Cambridge Stud also celebrated a homebred success across the Tasman with the Trent Busuttin and Natalie Young-prepared Immediacy continuing his hot run of form at Caulfield with a dominant 2000m performance. Successful over ground at his previous run at Mornington, last season’s Gr.2 Autumn Classic (1800m) winner is now likely to head to Queensland for the Gr.3 Chairman’s Handicap (2000m) and Gr.2 Brisbane Cup (3200m). “He was obviously a quality three-year-old and it’s been good to see him step into the open ranks and hopefully he can add to his black-type record,” Calder said. By Tarzino, Immediacy was originally purchased as a yearling from the draft of Kiltannon Stables at Karaka for $15,000 by Game Lodge and then secured by Busuttin and Group 1 Racing for $200,000 when offered by Riverrrock Farm at the Ready to Run Sale. He is a half-brother to Cambridge Stud’s dual stakes winner Bella Waters with their dam the Irish-bred Pivotal mare But Beautiful. Her Hello Youmzain filly was sold at Karaka last year for $280,000 to Busuttin and Andrew Williams Bloodstock. “She has an Embellish weanling colt and unfortunately missed to Chaldean this year,” Calder said. View the full article

Three-year-old gelding Dazzling Fit threw his hat in the ring as a potential Classic Series horse for next season with a sparkling win in the first section of the Class Four Cox’s Handicap (1400m) at Sha Tin on Sunday. Jockey Luke Ferraris settled David Eustace’s galloper in mid-pack early on and turning out of the back straight still had a lot of ground to make up. When hitting top gear, the well-supported Dazzling Fit flew down the straight to record a very comfortable win over Max Que, after being sent off $2.65. Winning trainer David Eustace was very bullish about the progressive youngster post-race. “We’ve always liked him. He’d put in two really good performances but was showing signs of greenness and just inexperience, which is very normal,” he told SCMP. “He was good today. He jumped well and he relaxed. He had a bit of ground to make up and I thought he flattened out well and picked them up well. “He’ll be a lovely horse for next season. He’ll definitely stay a mile. Whether he needs to do that now I’m not sure, but for next year he will. “We’ll see how he is as to whether he has another run or whether we give him a chance to mature. I’ll just be guided by the horse.” Dazzling Fit was sold for $115,000 at the New Zealand Bloodstock Book 2 Yearling Sale through the draft of Haunui Farm. A son of Ribchester, he is out of the Charge Forward mare Sapphire Lass and was purchased by Tartan Meadow Bloodstock’s Paul Chow. Named Ribblesdale in New Zealand, Dazzling Fit was an impressive Ellerslie trial winner for trainer Alex Oliveira last September, prior to his export to Hong Kong. View the full article

Ciaron Maher and connections have opted to fly Pride Of Jenni (Pride Of Dubai) to Queensland ahead of her tilt at the Gr.1 Doomben Cup (2000m) on May 24. The leading trainer reported that the star mare has pulled up well after her win at Caulfield last Saturday and won’t be asked to do too much at home before heading north. “She’s come through it in pretty good order … track was on the firmer side but that’s what you come to expect at Caulfield,” Maher told RSN. “She’s going to fly up there (Queensland), she’ll have a quiet week this week, travel up the next, do a couple of pieces of work and should be ready to go for Doomben, which has been her target.” Maher hinted that the Doomben Cup will likely be Pride Of Jenni’s sole Queensland run but that an exact plan has not been set in stone. “At this stage that’s her plan, we’ll see how she is up there but Doomben 2000m, you would think that’s going to suit her down to the ground,” Maher said. Pride Of Jenni is $4 second favourite for the Doomben Cup behind $3.50 market leader Buckaroo (Fastnet Rock). View the full article

Foxton trainer Gail Temperton will have a two-pronged attack in the postponed Foxton New World Foxton Cup (2100m) at Hawera on Tuesday, but each of her representatives have two very different paths ahead of them. Group Three performer Royal Flower (NZ) (Proisir) is dropping back from stakes grade after placing in the Gr.3 Manawatu Breeders’ Stakes (2050m) at Wanganui last month, and Temperton has been pleased with her this time in, having placed in her last two outings following a five-month break from racing. “She always does her best and she will do her best again tomorrow,” Temperton said. “She’s pretty consistent, I would like her to go up a notch, but there is just nothing for her at the moment. She had a big holiday when the tracks were hard because she doesn’t like them rock hard, and she hadn’t had a holiday for a long time. “It’s unfortunate because by the time she is back in and ready there really isn’t a lot of good racing for her. She wasn’t up to the Travis Stakes (Gr.2, 2000m), but she is somewhere in the middle.” Temperton has no particular plan in mind for Royal Flower over the winter months, but finding a suitable track may prove to be a Goldilocks-type fable, with it needing to be just right. “It will purely depend on the weather,” she said. “She is no good when it’s a bog, but she is good up to a Heavy9 on some tracks but not on others, that is about her limit.” Royal Flower will be ridden on Tuesday by three-kilogram claiming apprentice Liam Kauri and will jump from barrier five. “Liam won on her in the only ride he has had on her,” Temperton said. “Liam always follows instructions very well.” Temperton will also be represented in the race by Never Look Back (NZ) (Shocking), who will be ridden by Leah Hemi from barrier two. The six-year-old gelding was victorious in a high weight at Woodville last week and has a jumping future ahead of him post-Tuesday. “He won well last week but there is a big difference between a high weight and a Foxton Cup, but he will do his best,” Temperton said. “He will be jumping on the weekend, so that will be his main aim now.” Temperton said the Foxton Cup field has benefited with the postponement and transfer of the meeting from Otaki on Sunday to Hawera on Tuesday. “The field has improved with leaving it open, it got some better horses in it. We will just do our best, we can do no more,” she said.Royal Flower is on the second line of betting in the TAB market for the Foxton Cup at $4.60, behind $2.60 favourite Boomtown Boy (NZ) (Caravaggio), while Never Look Back is rated a $9 winning chance. View the full article

Promising youngster Towering Vision (NZ) crowned a successful couple of days for Windsor Park Stud when he credited resident sire Circus Maximus with his first Southern Hemisphere black-type winner. The farm graduate claimed top honours in Saturday’s Listed Waikato Equine Veterinary Centre Stakes (1400m) at Te Rapa a day after the farm hosted another top edition of their annual Rugby, Racing and Beer Sale at Riccarton. Trained by Mark Walker and Sam Bergerson, Towering Vision is a first crop representative of Galileo’s triple Group One winner Circus Maximus. “This is the time of the year you want to be doing it with this type of stallion, Ha’penny Hatch was stakes placed the previous weekend, and this is what we really want going into the breeding season,” Windsor Park’s Rodney Schick said. “The favourite, Engine Of War, was scratched and he’s an exciting horse and then Rufus will also be running in the Champagne Stakes in a couple of weeks as well. “It’s really starting to happen for Circus Maximus, so we’re really excited.” Towering Vision was offered by Windsor Park at New Zealand Bloodstock’s National Yearling Sale and Te Akau’s David Ellis purchased the son of the unraced Iffraaj mare Qiji Vision for $105,000. “He was off the farm, I bought him from a client as a weanling,” Schick said. “The Circus Maximus’ are not really bred to be out and out two-year-olds, but you want to see them start to operate at the back end of the season.” The weekend was kick-started by Windsor Park’s Riccarton Sale, which again featured 10 yearlings. “It was fantastic and we sold all 10, highlighted by the filly that went to Ben Kwok for $100,000,” Schick said. “She is a lovely, sharp filly and very much in the mould of Sword Of State.” She is a daughter of Sword Of State and the Charm Spirit mare Paper Dragon, a sister to the Listed Ryder Stakes (1200m) winner and multiple Group placegetter Pacific Dragon. “That was our fourth sale and we’ve taken 40 horses down there and sold them all, so it’s been a great clearance rate,” Schick said. Steve Davis again auctioned off the lots with a pair of high-profile guest speakers complementing the occasion. “We had All Black legend Kieran Read come to speak as well as Will Hayes from Lindsay Park, and what an outstanding young guy he is,” Schick said. “We had a great day and a lot of fun, the weather turned it on for us at the end after the weather bomb, so it all went to plan.” View the full article

Group One-winning mare Campionessa (NZ) (Contributer) has been retired from racing and will be offered at Magic Millions’ Gold Coast National Broodmare Sale later this month. Bred by Mapperley Stud principal Simms Davison, Campionessa was passed in as a yearling at Karaka, and again the Magic Million Gold Coast National Yearling Sale. Te Akau Racing principal David Ellis was Johnny-on-the-spot on the Gold Coast and offered Davison $60,000 for the filly, which he duly accepted. It would prove to be an astute purchase by Ellis, with the daughter of Contributer carrying Te Akau’s tangerine and blue silks to victory on 11 occasions, including the Gr.1 Zabeel Classic (2050m), and she amassed $1.4 million in career earnings for her syndicate. A model of consistency throughout her career, Campionessa was also Group One placed on three occasions, including the Bonecrusher New Zealand Stakes (2000m), and twice in the Herbie Dyke Stakes (2000m). She also tested her talent in Australia, where she performed with distinction, including winning the Gr.2 Peter Young Stakes (1800m). A daughter of three-win O’Reilly mare Bella Carolina (NZ), Campionessa is a half-sister to stakes winners Leedox (NZ) (Time Test) and Tennesse (NZ) (Per Incanto), and hails from the family of Group One winners Dress Circle (NZ) (Zabeel) and Carson’s Cash (NZ) (Lord Ballina). Campionessa retires after finishing fifth in the Gr.1 New Zealand Thoroughbred Breeders’ Stakes (1600m), run on the inaugural Champions Day meeting at Ellerslie in March. Mark Walker trained her in partnership with Sam Bergerson over the last couple of seasons, and he was impressed with her talent and resilient nature. “She was a great mare, very tough, and just got better from season-to-season,” he said. “As a three-year-old, she went through the grades, but we didn’t necessarily think that she was up to Group One quality. “But she continued to improve and as a four-year-old and went down to our Riccarton base in search of black-type. She ran second in the Spring Classic (Listed, 2000m) and then won Metropolitan Trophy (Listed, 2500m), the lead-up to the New Zealand Cup (Gr.3, 3200m), with a brilliant ride by Josh Parr. “We spelled her and she came back and won the Rich Hill Mile (Gr. 2, 1600m) first-up, which has always been a hard race to win, and it was an exceptional effort. “To win it first-up, we knew then that she was continuing to improve, and each season she just got better and better, highlighted with her two peak performances in the Zabeel Classic and the Peter Young Stakes in Melbourne. “She’s always been a very sound mare, very tough, and she’d be a great addition to anyone’s broodmare band.” Campionessa won’t be the only former Te Akau Racing representative on offer on the Gold Coast, with the trans-Tasman powerhouse also offering Group One performer Wolverine (NZ) (Tivaci), stakes winner Family Ties (NZ) (Contributer), stakes performers Sans Doute (Not A Single Doubt) and Millefiori (NZ) (Iffraaj), two-win filly The Victress (Zousain), and The Sky Above (American Pharoah), a half-sister to Group One performer Landlock (Merchant Navy). View the full article

The 57-year-old handler has a pair of horses backing up off last-start victories at the city circuit on Wednesday night.View the full article

The world’s best sprinter will be set for the Russell Balding Stakes at Rosehill, with Racing Victoria’s tough protocols prompting the move away from the Champions Sprint.View the full article