Wandering Eyes

"It is reasonable to say the ride is over," trainer Kenny McPeek said Oct. 10 on his "Horse Races Now" podcast about the racing career of 2024 Horse of the Year Thorpedo Anna.View the full article

Renowned equine veterinarian Dr. Bob Hunt dies Oct. 9 from cancer.View the full article

The team at Kamel and Pauline Chehboub's Haras de Beaumont has been extended by the appointment of Sylvain Vidal in the role of nominations and client relations. Vidal's return to the stallion business revives an old partnership with long-time friend and ally Mathieu Alex, the manager of Beaumont. “Mathieu called me a few weeks ago and I spoke with Pauline and Kamel,” said Vidal. “I really like the team. I've known them for many years and I love the energy they have and what they have developed in a short time. They've built a new farm, a wonderful farm. They have good stallions. I'm very pleased to be part of the team now.” Vidal, along with his former wife Elisabeth, was instrumental in developing Haras de la Cauviniere into an internationally recognised stallion farm after recruiting Gerard Augustin-Normand's Prix du Jockey Club winner Le Havre. The stallion's owner later invested in a nearby farm, with the Cauviniere operation eventually becoming known as Haras de Montfort et Preaux. Mathieu Alex was recruited to assist Vidal as the operation expanded. That farm is now owned by Nurlan Bizakov of Sumbe. Three years ago the Chehboub family purchased part of the historic Haras du Quesnay from the Head family and set about establishing their own stallion roster at the newly christened Haras de Beaumont. The Normandy farm, close to Deauville, is now home to Arc winner Ace Impact, Sealiway, Puchkine, Stunning Spirit and Intello. Alex, who previously worked with Vidal at Coolmore in Ireland, said, “Sylvain will help to sell nominations and will assist our clients. A lot of people admire what he has done and so when they come to Beaumont they will be dealing with familiar people, nice horses. And his help will be much appreciated. We have a long-standing working relationship and friendship.” He continued, “We currently have five stallions, and we might have more soon. So we'd rather get organised, get someone that we like, and someone that French breeders, international breeders would like and know. And next year is going to be very busy. So we'd rather get organised. The team is ready.” The post Sylvain Vidal Joins Haras de Beaumont Team appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

5th-KEE, $110k, Msw, 2yo, f, 5 1/2fT, post time: 3:08 p.m. ET LADY JANCIS (Speightstown) is the latest to make the races out of Thyme For Roses (Aus) (Redoute's Choice {Aus}), a Group 3 winner at two in Australia for the late Jon and Sarah Kelly and Gai Waterhouse and purchased by Stonestreet for A$800,000 ($595,200) out of the 2017 Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale. The mare's second foal is Zeitlos (Curlin), runner-up to the classy Future Is Now (Great Notion) in the GIII Caress Stakes on the grass at Saratoga this summer and a latest third in defense of her title in the GII Thoroughbred Club of America Stakes over this main track on Oct. 4. Lady Jancis was bought back on a bid of $275,000 at last year's Keeneland September Sale. TJCIS PPs The post Saturday Insights: Speightstown Firster Debuts In Keeneland Turf Sprint appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Eleven weeks ago, jockey Tyler Conner lay on the turf at Colonial Downs calm, but for all the wrong reasons. “I couldn't feel anything,” he said. “I was totally calm which was weird but it was because I wasn't in any pain.” Conner was involved in an incident in the seventh race in Virginia July 24 when his mount, the Elizabeth Merryman-trained Stanza (Great Notion), clipped heels with eventually-disqualified race winner Montador (Nyquist) and fell around the far turn. Francisco Arrieta, who was aboard Montador, was suspended 15 days by the stewards for actions which were noted as “extremely careless”. Time has given Conner a bit of perspective about the fall itself. “My career is over because of this,” he said. “It is what it is but it was also totally avoidable. [I] can't change it now and I'm not going to hold grudges. It's what happens [in this sport].” Conner was airlifted from the track in New Kent to Virginia Commonwealth Hospital in nearby Richmond, VA where he remained until returning home to Pennsylvania for further treatment. Now, 11 weeks after the fall, Conner is still working on his recovery, a process which will take upwards of at least another year, and planning for a future without race riding. “There's no guarantee that I fully recover,” he admitted. “It's up to my body and it's just time at this point. There's a lot of pain in my neck and my back. A lot of my left arm is pretty much asleep. I can use it, but the little things are very hard to do. Things like tying your shoes. Doing anything quickly is tough. Turning around, anything where you could lose your balance. Things you don't think are that hard to do! ” Shortly after the fall, Conner announced his retirement from riding but has still spent the second half of summer at the track, watching daily training at Penn National. “I go the racetrack every day to hang out. The horses are always there [for you] and that's what's important. I love the game and I love the horses,” Conner said, adding that a career in the industry is still his long-term plan. “I'm probably going to be an agent. I've had some people reach out, saying that they would be interested in working with me. I want to try and make a positive impact.” And while his riding career may have been cut short, Conner emphasized that helping his fellow jockeys, especially those in similar situations to his own, was paramount. He recently shared the GoFundMe for Carol Cedeno who was injured herself in a serious fall during a race at the Monmouth at the Meadowlands meet Sept. 27. “I've had an overwhelming amount of support,” Conner said of the industry's help and of his own GoFundMe which has raised north of $70,000. “I've been blown away with the support I've gotten from the riders and the [Jockeys] Guild. They've been in touch a lot and have helped me whether it's with doctors or things like that. HISA has been good. Dr. Peter Hester, who is part of HISA, he has been very, very good. He's helped me with whatever I needed and put me in touch with the Miami Project. The donations from tracks all over the country has been really unexpected and a huge help. I'm really appreciative of everyone that's helped me. But there's a lot of other riders [who] have gotten hurt since me. There's a lot of people that need help.” Conner noted that he recently split a fundraiser with a fellow rider, making sure half the funds went to riders who he felt may not have gotten the same level of acknowledgment or assistance. “Sometimes we get in [bad] situations [in this game],” he said. “I always want to try and help if I can. [All of the jockeys] deserve our support.” The post ‘Things Can Change Really Fast’: Tyler Conner Plans A Future Without Riding Following Colonial Downs Race Injury appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Group 2 winner Geography is one of four wildcards added to the upcoming Tattersalls Autumn HIT Sale, which is scheduled for October 27-31. The son of Holy Roman Emperor is a multiple group winner in Germany and was fifth to Maranoa Charlie (Wootton Bassett) in the G1 Prix de la Foret on Arc Sunday. He is rated 114 by Timeform and is lot 726A. Rated the equal of Geography is Naqeeb (Nathaniel) (lot 726B), the winner of the Listed Foundation Stakes. He is a half-brother to the Sea The Stars pair of Baaeed and Hukum. G3 Prix d'Arenberg hero Afjan (Mehmas) (lot 726C) is also set to sell. He was also second in the G3 Prix de Cabourg. Rounding out the wildcards is G2 Italian Derby hero Molveno (Almanzor). He will be sold as lot 1110A and is rated 110 by Timeform. To view the catalogue, please visit the Tattersalls website. The post Geography Anchors Quartet Of Tattersalls Autumn HIT Wildcards appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

The Coolmore partners' Minnie Hauk (Frankel) is under consideration for the GI Breeders' Cup Turf in November, Aidan O'Brien has revealed. The winner of the G1 Oaks, G1 Irish Oaks, G1 Yorkshire Oaks and second in the G1 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe, the bay was just touched off in that ParisLongchamp cornerstone. “Minnie is very good, everything seems well with her and it's possible she could be trained for the Breeders' Cup Turf,” O'Brien told the PA news agency. “It would be good to see her in that, it's a possible and obviously she has to go through her work and everything perfectly.” Second to Minnie Hauk in the Oaks, Whirl (Wootton Bassett) will not be seen again this season. A winner of the G1 Pretty Polly Stakes in late June, the daughter of Salsa (Galileo) added the G1 Nassau Stakes in July before running sixth in the G1 Prix Vermeille. “Whirl is finished for the year. It's possible she could stay in training, in the last month they [the owners] will decide on the ones who stay in training,” said O'Brien. The post Breeders’ Cup Turf Possible For Minnie Hauk appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Newstead Stables LLC's Laurelin (Ire) (Zarak {Fr}) looks to take her career mark to a perfect six wins from as many starts when she faces a maximum of eight fellow sophomore fillies in Saturday's GI Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup at Keeneland, the year's most prestigious race for the division. Graham Motion sent out Film Maker (Dynaformer) to take the 2003 QE II and Laurelin figures a strong chance to double that tally. An €160,000 purchase out of the 2023 Goffs Orby Sale, the chestnut has built on a two-for-two freshman season with a neck defeat of the re-opposing Opulent Restraint (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) in the Apr. 27 Memories of Silver Stakes, a 1 1/4-length success over Candy Quest (Connect) in the June 27 Penn Mile and the GII Saratoga Oaks Invitational Aug. 9, where Opulent Restraint was an excuse-free and perfect-trip third. The 5-2 morning-line choice has handled all underfoot conditions with aplomb, can sit handy or farther back in the field and should give her rivals fits. Fionn (Twirling Candy) finished well to take the GIII Regret Stakes at Churchill May 31 and belied odds of 6-1 to best divisional heavy Nitrogen (Medaglia d'Oro) in the GI Belmont Oaks Invitational Stakes July 5, with Opulent Restraint again rounding out the triple. She and Candy Quest came with wide runs in unison in the GIII Dueling Grounds Oaks Sept. 10, and the latter was narrowly in front at the eighth pole before Flavien Prat shoved Fionn across the line narrowly best to the inside. Candy Quest is an intriguing outsider for contrarian bettors. Simmering (GB) (Too Darn Hot {GB}) was scratched from last weekend's GI First Lady Stakes in favor of this age-restricted contest going an extra furlong. A longshot–but non-threatening–third in this year's G1 Betfred 1000 Guineas at Newmarket, she was well held in the G1 Irish 1000 Guineas at the Curragh and G1 Coronation Stakes at Royal Ascot, but improved to be a latest third in the G3 Prix de Lieurey in the soft at Deauville Aug. 16. Lush Lips (GB) (Ten Sovereigns {Ire}) ran with credit behind Nitrogen in the GIII Florida Oaks and GII Edgewood Stakes before a convincing win in the June 28 Tepin Stakes at Churchill. Her late run when last seen in the GI Del Mar Oaks fell just a half-length short of longshot Velocity (Nyquist). Glen Cove A Sharper Option For 3YO Fillies Saturday's Glen Cove Stakes is set to be run as a Grade III event for the first time in its brief history, and trainer Miguel Clement looks to hold all the aces. Love Cervere (Into Mischief) is already a course-and-distance winner, having arrived late to win the Take The A Train Stakes for the late Christophe Clement May 10 and added Woodbine's Alywow Stakes over 6 1/2 panels in her first run for the junior Clement. A tough-trip third to Pop Idol (Maclean's Music) and Abientot (Not This Time) in the Aug. 7 Galway Stakes at Saratoga and exits a runner-up effort in a valuable age-restricted Kentucky Downs allowance Sept. 6. Love Cervere | Sarah Andrew New York-bred Annascaul (American Pharoah), a close fourth in the Take The A Train for Clement, completed the exacta in the July 12 Blue Sparkler Stakes at Monmouth before easily defeating older Empire-breds in a first-level allowance at the Spa Aug. 23. Flat Out Time (Not This Time) tries the grass for the first time in her career off consecutive 82 Beyer Speed Figures achieved in a Delaware allowance victory July 17 ahead of a third to next-out GII TCA Stakes heroine Praying (Vekoma) in the GIII Prioress Stakes upstate Aug. 30. The afternoon's third and final graded event is the GIII Ontario Fashion Stakes, where Clement will saddle GII Presque Isle Downs Masters Stakes heroine Gal in a Rush (Ghostzapper)–the 5-2 pick on the morning line–and the rail-drawn MSW Les Reys (Fr) (Penny's Picnic {Ire}), a 3-1 chance trying a synthetic track for the first time in her career. The post Undefeated Laurelin, Fionn Square Off In QE II Challenge Cup 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, we take 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 weekend running at Tokyo and Kyoto Racecourses: Sunday, October 12, 2025 4th-TOK, ¥14,250,000 ($93k), Newcomers, 2yo, 1300m MON SOUHAIT (c, 2, McKinzie–Fashion World {GB}, by Dubawi {Ire}), a $100,000 Keeneland September yearling and $100,000 OBS April breezer (see below), is the latest starter out of an unraced daughter of GI Personal Ensign Stakes heroine Icon Project (Empire Maker), whose three winners includes Fashion Business (GB) (Frankel {GB}), winner of the GII Del Mar Handicap. Fashion World, who was acquired by this breeder for $240,000 in foal to Munnings at the 2021 Keeneland November Sale, is a granddaughter of La Gueriere (Lord At War {Arg}), victorious in the 1991 GI QE II Challenge Cup and the dam of seven winners, including MGSW/MGISP Lasting Approval (With Approval) and the unraced La Comete (Holy Bull), dam of the aforementioned Munnings (Speigtstown) and MSW & MGSP Munnings Sister (Speightstown). O-North Hills Co Ltd; B-Candy Meadows LLC (KY); T-Kazuya Takahashi 6th-KYO, ¥14,250,000 ($93k), Newcomers, 2yo, 1800m JUNE RETRIEVER (c, 2, Good Magic–Silva {Fr}, by Anabaa), whose dam was a two-time stakes winner in France for owner Alec Head, fetched $170,000 at the 2023 Keeneland November Sale and was hammered down to this owner for $350,000 at Keeneland September last year. Silva is a half-sister to the dam of Haras du Quesnay homebred Silver Pond (Fr) (Act One {GB}), twice a winner at group level at home and Group 1-placed in France and Hong Kong; and French listed winner Silver Point (Fr) (Commands {Aus}). O-Jun Yoshikawa; B-Ghislaine Head (KY); T-Kodai Hasegawa Monday, October 13, 2025 6th-KYO, ¥14,250,000 ($93k), Newcomers, 2yo, 1600mT LOVE IN ACTION (f, 2, Nyquist–My Sweet Girl, by Bernardini), a $610,000 KEESEP acquisition, looks to become the second winner out of a stakes-winning daughter of Bit of Whimsy (Distorted Humor), who defeated champion Dreaming of Anna (Rahy) in the GI QE II Cup in 2007 and went on to produce Caroline Thomas (Giant's Causeway), a Grade II winner and longshot third in the QE II Cup in 2013 and herself responsible for the Grade II-placed Highland Grace (American Pharoah). This is also the Bonner and Joyce Young family of MSW & GISP stayer Highland Sky (Sky Mesa) and SW & GSP Highland Glory (Sky Mesa). O-Koki Maeda; B-Hinkle Farms (KY); T-Shinsuke Hashiguchi The post Well-Related Nyquist Filly Debuts On the Grass at Kyoto appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

A year on from making 3.7million gns at Tattersalls October Book 1, Godolphin's Act Of Kindness (Siyouni) began the winning trail in Friday's seven-furlong maiden at Newmarket. Third behind the day's Oh So Sharp runner-up Mubasimah over course and distance last month, the Charlie Appleby-trained 4-5 favourite was produced by William Buick to lead approaching the furlong pole and score by 1 1/4 lengths from Wadooda (Dubawi). The winner is a half-sister to Frankel's Fillies' Mile winner Ylang Ylang from the family of the Hong Kong luminary Viva Pataca (Marju) and the dual Grade I winner Laughing (Dansili). Act Of Kindness (Siyouni) wins! The 3.7million guineas purchase sheds her maiden tag for team @godolphin @NewmarketRace pic.twitter.com/VFZfB5ahYV — Racing TV (@RacingTV) October 10, 2025 The post Siyouni’s 3.7m Gns Daughter Act Of Kindness Off The Mark appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Unbeaten Dewhurst winners are common, but unbeaten Dewhurst winners who have already won a July Stakes, Vintage Stakes and National Stakes are extremely rare and Zavateri (Without Parole) looks to complete that formidable quartet in Saturday's Darley-sponsored Newmarket feature. The one that very much got away from the bloodstock cognoscenti at 35,000gns, the huge talent whose third dam is the brilliant Zarkava has taken everything thrown at him at the July Festival, Glorious Goodwood and Irish Champions Weekend in his impressive stride. “He's great, he's been working really, really well and we're going there full of hope,” trainer Eve Johnson Houghton said of the chestnut, her “dude” who could emulate her late father Fulke's 2002 Dewhurst hero Tout Seul. “He obviously hasn't run at the track before, but he handled the July course and he handled Goodwood, so we've got every reason to believe that he'll handle this.” “It will take a good horse to beat him and if they're better than him then so be it, but they will have to be very good,” she added. “He has been a dream this year, and to win this would really be the icing on the cake.” Lining up against Zavateri once more is Ballydoyle's Gstaad (Starspangledbanner), who has a head to make up on his peer from their Curragh tussle. The Coventry winner and Prix Morny runner-up clearly stays this seven-furlong trip well, but it may be that he lacks that extra acceleration to reverse the form. Favourite at present is Godolphin's Distant Storm (Night Of Thunder), who was impressive in the course-and-distance Tattersalls Stakes following his deflating third in the Acomb. Charlie Appleby also saddles the Superlative winner Saba Desert (Dubawi), who backtracked when last of six in the National. “Distant Storm matured a lot mentally for his run at York and got back on track on his latest start, when he was very impressive and picked up very well on the rising ground. It's a Dewhurst, and there's always plenty of strength to the race, but a repeat of his last run will make him very competitive,” he said. “We took a route that we have taken before with Saba Desert, going from the Superlative Stakes to the National Stakes, but he was disappointing at the Curragh,” he added. “The ground was on the slow side of good that day and he never really picked up. He came out of the race without any issues and we are popping the cheek-pieces on this time to keep him focused and hopefully rekindle his Superlative Stakes form.” If there is one outsider who could shake things up it could be Prince Faisal's Oxagon (Frankel), who was unable to get to Ballydoyle's Puerto Rico on soft ground in the Champagne Stakes last month. That form took on greater gravity on Sunday and he remains unexposed. Godolphin's Autumn Domination To Continue? Also on Newmarket's card is the G3 Emirates Autumn Stakes over the Guineas course and distance and which features another big Appleby hope in the July Course winner Al Zanati (Dubawi), who bids to enhance Godolphin's impressive record of seven wins from the last nine renewals. “We were confident about Al Zanati going into his debut, but he was very raw that day and has come on a lot for the run, both physically and mentally,” the trainer said. “He's a horse we like, he's a Dubawi, plenty of presence about him and he's a player.” This is a fascinating affair, with Sheikh Mohammed Obaid Al Maktoum's Flying Scotsman runner-up Hankelow (Night Of Thunder), Ballydoyle's duo of New Zealand (Frankel) and Straight Up (Wootton Bassett) and the Doncaster maiden winner Pathein (St Mark's Basilica), a TDN Rising Star, presented by Hagyard, adding intrigue ahead of the 2026 Classics. In the 10-furlong G3 Night Of Thunder Zetland Stakes, Ballydoyle's two promising maiden winners Endorsement (Wootton Bassett) and Pierre Bonnard (Camelot) are taken on by Godolphin's Haynes, Hanson & Clark winner Look To The Stars (Galiway) who was eight lengths behind the Dewhurst contender Oxagon at Sandown this summer. At Chantilly on Saturday, the feature is the six-furlong G2 Criterium de Maisons-Laffitte where the Francis-Henri Graffard-trained Samangan (Blue Point) bids to follow up his course-and-distance Prix Eclipse success for The Aga Khan Studs. The post ‘This Would Be The Icing On The Cake’: Zavateri Primed For The Dewhurst appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Godolphin has extended its sponsorship of the two-day Dubai Future Champions Festival meeting for a further three years, along with extending their affiliation as an associate partner of The Jockey Club, Newmarket Racecourse announced on Friday. Godolphin has been the headline sponsor of the Future Champions Festival since its inception in 2015, and the Maktoum family has previously sponsored the G1 Darley Dewhurst Stakes since 2000. Godolphin and The Jockey Club have enjoyed a successful partnership with both the Under Starters Orders Programme and Dubai Future Champions Education Week forming part of their considerable charitable activities. Across the two days of the Dubai Future Champions Festival, Godolphin showcase their Charitable Programme. Godolphin Lifetime Care continues to promote the fantastic versatility of retired racehorses, while their support of Newmarket Pony Academy continues to provide the next generation with the opportunity to learn more about the industry and the wide range of careers it offers. Hugh Anderson, Godolphin's managing director (UK and Dubai), said, “Godolphin is delighted to extend its sponsorship of the Dubai Future Champions Festival, undoubtedly the showpiece of British autumn racing.” The post Godolphin Extends Dubai Future Champions Festival Sponsorship For Three More Years appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

The 2025 Ascot fan experience has been enhanced with the introduction of infographics powered by GPS data from Total Performance Data (TPD). The graphics, already shown post-race at Royal Ascot, are now set to feature throughout the autumn programme at the racecourse and include QIPCO British Champions Day, as well as the upcoming jumps season. Each infographic contains key performance metrics from TPD's GPS tracking including the time taken for a horse to accelerate from 0-30mph, the top speed achieved during the race, the horse's speed through the final two furlongs, and the horse's stride length and frequency. “We're delighted to be working with Ascot to showcase the raw athleticism of racehorses in such a compelling way,” said TPD's director of racing partnerships Adam Moore. “These infographics give fans, owners and trainers a fresh perspective on performance–much like Formula 1 has done for motor racing–and we're proud to help bring that excitement to British racing's most iconic stage.” The post Ascot Enhances Fan Experience With Total Performance Data’s Infographics appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

By Adam Hamilton Champion Aussie stayer Swayzee remains on target for the IRT NZ Trotting Cup despite being ruled-out of a key lead-up race. Trainer Jason Grimson has confirmed Swayzee would not defend his crown in next Saturday’s $A250,000 Group 1 Victoria Cup at Melton after a health setback. But he quickly stressed Swayzee would still chase a record-equalling third successive $1m NZ Cup on November 11. Swayzee was a clear $4 second favourite for the Victoria Cup behind his arch-rival and younger half-brother Leap To Fame ($1.35). Leap To Fame’s odds have now been slashed to $1.20. The pair have clashed six times with Leap To Fame holding a 4-2 advantage, but Swayzee did beat Leap To Fame when they clashed at Melton in the Hunter Cup on February 1. Swayzee’s setback paves the way for his regular driver Cam Hart to be reunited with TAB Eureka winner Bay Of Biscay in the Victoria Cup should connections wish. Victorian young gun Ryan Sanderson will drive Bay Of Biscay in tomorrow night’s Smoken Up Sprint at Melton and was expected to keep the drive in the Victoria Cup given Hart’s long and amazing association with Swayzee. Hart has been aboard Bay Of Biscay for his two biggest wins, in the Group 1 Chariots Of Fire in March and last month’s TAB Eureka. Doubts emerged over Swayzee when he was easily beaten for the second time in as many runs this campaign, and for the fourth start in succession, at Menangle last Saturday night. Grimson will now use the 2300m Battle of Beersheba free-for-all at Menangle on October 25 to fine-tune Swayzee for his NZ raid. Swayzee won the race in 2023 before his first NZ Cup win, while Leap To Fame also won it last year before a throat infection derailed his NZ plans. Cutting it fine is nothing new for Swayzee when it comes to the NZ Cup. In a remarkable set of circumstances, the gelding had an eight-hour return road trip to win at Young on November 8 last year before flying to Auckland and then onto Christchurch and winning his second NZ Cup less than four days later. Swayzee has been sparingly raced since that win with just 11 starts over the past 11 months. Grimson opted to give him a long spell and bypass the Brisbane Inter Dominion series in July and he returned with a sixth in the Group 1 Len Smith Mile on September 6 and last week’s second to the emerging Kingman at Menangle. View the full article

By Michael Guerin Mighty Logan is ready to take the next step and it might be at the perfect time. The quirky trotter led home a Diamond Racing-trained quinella in the Worthy Queen Trot at Addington on Friday night, beating stablemate I Dream Of Jeannie and Muscle Mountain in a pressure-filled race. While he made the most of a 10m head start over the hotshot backmarkers by stepping quickly and heading to the lead soon after Mighty Logan was then taken on by One Over All. They ran hard early and that meant those backmarkers, led up by Muscle Mountain and tracked by Oscar Bonavena, were deterred from taking off and when they did it was too late. Because even after his early exertions Mighty Logan had shot to a winning advantage soon after entering the straight, his stablemate using the passing lane late to grab second. Muscle Mountain, Oscar Bonavena and Bet N Win all reaffirmed again just how hard those backmark handicaps are to overcome but the honours were still with the winner. And driver John Dunn says it may not be for the last time this spring. Mighty Logan suggested the same last autumn when he won the Anzac Cup at Alexandra Park only to fail in the Rowe Cup two weeks later. But Dunn says there was an excuse and a blessing in all of that. “The Rowe Cup wasn’t his fault, the horse outside him started hitting its sulky and getting keen and that made this guy just pull way too hard. “So I am willing to forgive that but more importantly that whole trip north helped really make him,” says Dunn. “He feels stronger and more experienced now and I can’t see any reason he won’t win a really big one, even the Dominion, this time in. “I know it won’t be easy but I think he is the horse on the way up.” Mighty Logan is also suited by the 3200m of the Dominion as he prefers the back straight starting point at Addington as opposed to the 2600m start point. While he will be back on level marks with the big three in the Dominion, you get the feeling Mighty Logan has closed the gap and is the trotter heading in the right direction. While the favoured trotters couldn’t overcome their backmarks, Auckland Cup winner Republican Party finally broke the hoodoo for those off the big handicaps this spring when he made short work of his 25m handicap in the open pace. He bobbled for a few strides at the start but got tactical advantage over favourite Akuta and driver Carter Dalgety won the race when he moved early on Republican Party and wrested the lead. He never looked like being beaten after and he confirmed himself as the best of the Kiwi defenders in the IRT New Zealand Cup a month on Saturday. “He will probably back up here next week and then we have options like Ashburton but the Kaikoura Cup is not out of the question either,” said Dalgety. Earlier in the night Wat Next lived up to her breeding winning the NZBS Harness Million for the two-year-old pacing fillies, paying off a gamble by trainers Mark and Nathan Purdon to bring her south a month ago even though she was unraced. She was also part on a driving treble for Bob Butt early in the evening and Wat Next looks to have an exciting future as she was clearly too good for the other fillies and yet looks the one with the most natural improvement to come. Wat Next is a daughter of Wat A Woman who has already left 1:49.6 mare Manhattan and NZ Oaks winner No Matter Wat. She wasn’t the only really smart young filly on show on Friday night as Winelight downed her stablemate Arafura with both excellent in the Leigh and Greg Ayers Classic for the three-year-old fillies, the pair peaking nicely for their features to come for trainers Hayden and Amanda Cullen. View the full article

Coolmore's G3 Prestige Stakes and G1 Moyglare Stud Stakes heroine Precise (Starspangledbanner) added to her impressive palmares with a stunning performance in Friday's G1 bet365 Fillies' Mile, dominating the latter stages to register a 22nd Group 1 success of the season, and a record seven renewal, for Aidan O'Brien. “She impressed me when she won at the Curragh and I knew she had a good turn of foot,” commented Christophe Soumillon. “She was a little bit nervous in the stalls and that's why she missed the jump. I was hoping to be a little bit closer, but she cruised the whole way. I didn't want to come there too soon and I think I still got there too soon. She's a really nice filly and she'll handle the mile easily next year.” Soumillon, stepping in for a fifth elite-level triumph after replacing the injured Ryan Moore as Ballydoyle's go-to jockey, guided the 5-4 favourite towards the stands' side after breaking in rear from a far-side stall and employed patient tactics through halfway. Cruising closer once leaving the three-furlong pole in the rear-view mirror, Precise quickened in stylish fashion to seize control approaching the final furlong and powered clear impressively on the climb to easily overpower the pacesetting Venetian Lace (Masar) by a geared-down 3 1/4 lengths. Evolutionist (Night Of Thunder) fared best of the remainder and finished one length further adrift in third. PRECISE wins the @bet365 Fillies' Mile @NewmarketRace | @coolmorestud pic.twitter.com/gat5Ea3okW — Racing TV (@RacingTV) October 10, 2025 The post Starspangledbanner’s Precise Powers To Impressive Fillies’ Mile Triumph appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Beauvatier (Lope De Vega) may have come into Friday's G2 Thoroughbred Industry Employee Awards Challenge Stakes at Newmarket on the back of a minor slump, but he proved much the best of the line-up to restore confidence. Delivered by Alexis Pouchin to overwhelm Poet Master (Lope De Vega) inside the final furlong, the 7-1 shot registered a 2 1/4-length success as the 2-1 favourite Cosmic Year (Kingman) disappointed in third. “He was very relaxed today, perfect, as he can be difficult sometimes and can pull,” Pouchin said of the Yann Barberot-trained winner, a dual Group 3 scorer with four top-level placings. Alex Solis, racing manager to part owners LNJ Foxwoods SC, said, “It was amazing, as it has been a tough year for him this year. We finally found out today that he wants a bit more cover and a little more distance and he was very impressive.” “In the Group 1s this year he never got cover and was a little rank, so today he just grabbed him out of the gate. Yann wanted him covered up, and he was right so he deserves all the credit. We were lucky to buy a piece of him and Nicolas des Chambure was right on the money.” “Truthfully I don't know what we will do with him and we were thinking he could be a nice stallion prospect, but maybe there might be more to running him internationally. We're very fortunate to have that problem.” One for France! Beauvatier pulls clear in the Thoroughbred Industry Employee Awards Challenge Stakes for Alexis Pouchin and Yann Barberot @NewmarketRace pic.twitter.com/95m4p219F6 — Racing TV (@RacingTV) October 10, 2025 The post Beauvatier Bounces Back In The Challenge appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

The catalogue for the Goffs November Foal Sale, which has 998 lots, was released on Friday. Recent past graduates include the G1 Irish 2000 Guineas/G1 St James's Palace Stakes hero Field Of Gold (Kingman), G1 Phoenix Stakes winner Power Blue (Space Blues) and G1 Prix du Cadran winner Caballo De Mar (Phoenix Of Spain). Some of the choicest lots on offer include: lot 553, a son of Gleneagles who is a half-brother to G2 Gimcrack Stakes hero Lifeplan (Kodi Bear); a State Of Rest half-brother (lot 565) to G2 Prix Robert Papin hero Green Sense (Starman); a daughter of Wootton Bassett (lot 598) out of a winning full-sister to War Front's multiple Group 1 winners Roly Poly and U S Navy Flag; a half-brother to Group 1 winner Gear Up (Teofilo) by Naval Crown (lot 612); a Mehmas half-brother (lot 618) to G1 Irish 2000 Guineas scorer Mac Swiney (New Approach); a Night Of Thunder half-sister (lot 672) to Grade II winner La Mehana (Al Wukair) and German champion Ocean Fantasy (Make Believe); a half-sister to G1 Prix de Paris hero Onesto by undefeated Arc winner Ace Impact (lot 675); and a Lope De Vega half-brother (lot 713) to champion sprinter Suesa (Night Of Thunder). Some other sires represented are: Blue Point, Camelot, Dark Angel, Havana Grey, New Bay, No Nay Never, Sea The Stars, Starman, Starspangledbanner, and Zarak, while Goffs November is the first opportunity in Europe to acquire foals by Bay Bridge, Bouttemont, Chaldean, Dragon Symbol, El Caballo, Erevann, Good Guess, Little Big Bear, Maries Diamond, Mishriff, Modern Games, Native Trail, Paddington, Shaquille and Triple Time. Goffs Group chief executive Henry Beeby said, “'The cream of the Irish foal crop' is no idle statement as the overwhelming majority of Irish vendors have made the November Sale their first choice for foals of quality once again. “Foal buyers will find strength, depth and diversity at every level of the market at this Goffs market leader, whether they are seeking to race or to resell. Field Of Gold exemplifies the quality that end users can expect from Goffs November foals, while it was heartwarming to see so many spectacular pinhooking touches achieved at the recent yearling sales with November Foal purchases, not least at our own Orby and Premier Sales. “A theme unique to Goffs in recent years is the vast number of established and burgeoning pinhookers on the November Foal buyers list, and there is a wealth of potential on offer for them next month at Kildare Paddocks, as well as the added incentive of the unique Goffs Customer Loyalty Scheme that rewards pinhookers who buy and resell with Goffs.” The sale's format will be as follows, with foals catalogued alphabetically by dam each day from Monday to Thursday inclusive. Monday and Thursday's sessions are billed as equal, Tuesday raises the bar, and Wednesday features the highest concentration of black-type pedigrees. The November Foal Sale will be followed by the two-day November Breeding Stock Sale on Friday, November 21 and Saturday, November 22. The Breeding Stock catalogue will be published on Monday, October 13. Selling commences at 10 a.m. each day of the entire November Sale. The post ‘Wealth Of Potential On Offer’ As Goffs November Foal Catalogue Released appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Providing connections with the big money when taking Doncaster's Weatherbys Scientific £300,000 2-Y-O Stakes last month, Calendar Girl (Advertise) added vital black-type in Friday's G3 Godolphin Lifetime Care Oh So Sharp Stakes at Newmarket. Delivered from mid-division to take over inside the last two furlongs, the 6-5 favourite battled for Callum Rodriguez to ward off Mubasimah (Frankel) by a neck. “I thought she was a bit too short to be truthful, but she hung on in there well,” trainer Owen Burrows said of the Kennet Valley Syndicate flagbearer. “She was always doing enough when she felt the other horse there and Callum said she has not had a hard time of it.” “She will be a miler next year,” he added. “She is a big filly and we would like to think she will improve with a winter on her back. It is great for these guys who are now dreaming. It is great that she has had a bit of experience here and the Guineas is the obvious plan. If it is a nice enough spring we might pop up to Newbury with her for the trial.” The progressive Calendar Girl (Advertise) claims a Group Three success in the Oh So Sharp Stakes @OwenBurrowsRace @godolphin | @NewmarketRace | @CallumRodrigue4 pic.twitter.com/Vftzp8qRfU — Racing TV (@RacingTV) October 10, 2025 The post Calendar Girl Lifts The Oh So Sharp appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Four weanlings from the first crop of Equinox are bound to attract attention when sales action returns to the Northern Horse Park in Hokkaido on Tuesday, October 21. The single-session Mixed Sale features a selection of 135 weanlings, fillies out of training and broodmares. Plenty of pedigrees familiar to European breeders feature among the 68 foals in the catalogue, including Equinox colts out of the G1 Prix Saint-Alary winner Incarville (Wootton Bassett) and four-time Group 1 winner Iridessa (Ruler Of The World). Twenty-three of the world champion's first foals were sold at the JRHA Select Sale in July for an average of ¥155m ($1.04m/€897,450). The first foal of the G1 Prix de l'Abbaye winner The Platinum Queen (Cotai Glory), a colt by Drefong, is also catalogued, along with a colt by Kingman out of 1,000 Guineas winner Cachet (Aclaim). Another first foal is that of the G1 Nunthorpe Stakes winner Winter Power (Bungle Inthejungle), who has a colt by Japanese champion sire Kizuna. Two sons of Frankel are also represented by first-crop foals: the Irish Derby winner Westover has a weanling colt and filly in the sale, as does the Grade 1 winner Grenadier Guards. Among the broodmares and broodmare prospects is the six-year-old Chaton Ange, a daughter of Deep Impact and Breeders' Cup winner Stephanie's Kitten, who is offered carrying her second foal by Nadal, while later in the book her Maurice half-sister Kitten Hill also features, in foal for the first time to Indy Champ. Replete (Makfi), a 12-year-old daughter of Banks Hill is being sold with a February cover to Siskin, while among the fillies out of training is the four-year-old Cumberland, a winner last year over 1700m, who is by Duramente out of the GI La Troienne Stakes winner Big World (Custom For Carlos). “This is a great opportunity for owners and breeders to buy some some Japanese bloodstock,” said Northern Farm's representative Shingo Hashimoto at Tattersalls this week. “International breeders have bought at this sale in the past and sometimes they keep the mares in the country for a while to be covered with a Japanese stallion and then export them afterwards.” He added, “The weanling catalogue is very strong. It's almost the same as the July [JRHA Select] sale. The reason we started this sale was because the buyers requested more opportunities to buy more foals, but we couldn't expand the July sale any more. So we decided to make a mixed sale with the weanlings and the broodmares.” The English version of the catalogue for the Northern Farm Mixed Sale 2025 is available in the Equineline sales app or can be viewed online. The post Equinox Foals Among Well-Bred Offerings at Northern Farm’s Mixed Sale appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

The Challenge, presented by GaineswayView the full article

Cambridge trainer Shaun Phelan took special satisfaction from an all-the-way win by Pacheco in the $60,000 Poverty Bay Turf Club Cup (2600m) at Taupo on Friday. The Rating 75 staying test was the fifth start in a new campaign for the Makfi gelding, who had recorded a second and two thirds from his first four starts this time in. Before finishing third in his resuming run over 1600m at Te Rapa in early August, Pacheco had spent more than a year on the sidelines with a serious injury. “He’s a horse that we’ve always thought a lot of, both on the flat and over jumps,” Phelan said. “We gave him his first two starts over hurdles in July of last year and managed to win them both, but then he actually fractured a fetlock. “The owners have been really patient and the horse has done a great job to come back as well as he has. It’s a big thrill to get this result with him today.” Pacheco was given a perfect ride by two-kilogram claimer Liam Kauri, who dictated terms out in front and gave the eight-year-old a relatively easy time through the first half of the race. The intensity moved up a few notches when Golden came up to breathe down his neck coming down the side of the track, but Pacheco withstood the pressure. He kicked hard at the home turn and held the challengers at bay all the way down the straight, going on to win by a length and a quarter. Novak got up into second in a tight four-way finish, with a head to Golden, a nose to Tempest Moon and another head to I’m A Dirty Rascal. “It was a beautiful ride and a good, tough effort by the horse,” Phelan said. “It’s great to have a race for a $60,000 stake in this grade, and up over 2600m too – that distance suited him a lot better than the 2000m to 2200m races he often has to run in. I’d love to see a few more races like this one in the schedule.” Pacheco was bought by part-owner Thomas Nicholson for $10,000 off Gavelhouse.com as an unraced three-year-old in February of 2021. He has now had 30 starts for six wins, nine placings and $156,975 in stakes. Phelan already has one leading contender for next month’s Gr.3 New Zealand Cup (3200m) in the form of Notabadspillane, who has been an impressive winner of his last two starts at Te Rapa. But the trainer is non-committal about following a similar path with Pacheco, who has moved up to $21 in the fixed-odds market for the Riccarton feature. “In some ways I’d like to get him down there for the Cup, but he’s not the best traveller in the truck,” Phelan said. “We’ll see how he comes through this and come up with a plan. There could be a few other options that we could consider.” The Poverty Bay Turf Club Cup was the first leg of the inaugural Prezzy Card Northern Country Cups Bonus Series, which carries a total of $485,000 in stakes and bonuses including a $50,000 winner-takes-all prize. The new initiative from New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing (NZTR) and the Taupo Racing Club will see seven Country Cups staged across the North Island from October to December, with horses earning points for top-four finishes and required to contest at least three races, including the $100,000 Harcourts Taupo Cup (2000m). Sponsored by leading prepaid gift provider Prezzy Card, the series is designed to encourage participation, create a competitive narrative between regional racedays, and culminate in a high-stakes finale on Harcourts Taupo Cup Day on December 28. The Harcourts Taupo Cup itself has received a $15,000 stakes uplift from last season. The remaining legs of the series are the $80,000 Listed Team Wealleans Matamata Cup (1600m) at Matamata on October 15, the $50,000 Wanganui Steelformers Waverley Cup (2200m) at Waverley on October 19, the $80,000 Mode Technology Feilding Cup (2100m) at Tauherenikau on November 1, the $35,000 DMAK Electrical Waipukurau Cup (2100m) at Waipukurau on November 16, the $30,000 Duncan Dental Tauranga Twilight Cup (2100m) at Tauranga on December 12, and the $100,000 Harcourts Taupo Cup (2000m) at Taupo on December 28. View the full article

Marton horseman Fraser Auret has enjoyed the limelight in recent years as the man behind star sprinter Ka Ying Rising. The outstanding son of Shamexpress was bred and originally trained by Auret, and the world’s highest-rated galloper will step onto the biggest stage when he contests the A$20 million Everest at Randwick on Saturday week. But while Ka Ying Rising will dominate the headlines for the next week, Auret will be closely watching another of his graduates, Romantic Encounter, who contests Saturday’s Gr,1 Caulfield Guineas (1600m). A New Zealand bred son of Ghaiyyath, Romantic Encounter stepped from a debut Bendigo maiden win to finish second in the Gr.2 Stutt Stakes (1600m) and will enter the Guineas at his third start for trainers Ben, Will & JD Hayes. Romantic Encounter was knocked down to PR Thoroughbreds and Lindsay Park Racing at last year’s New Zealand Bloodstock Ready To Run Sale for $425,000 from the draft of Phoenix Park, after Auret had originally purchased the horse at the Book 2 Karaka Yearling Sales for $60,000 from the draft of Wentwood Grange. “He was purchased from the yearling sales on behalf of a client and we did the prep work with him before sending him to the Ready to Run Sale,” Auret said. “He was just a magnificent horse all the way through. He was very impressive at a jump out before heading to the sale. He stamped himself right from the time we were breaking him in as a really serious horse.” Auret has been impressed with the way the colt has progressed under the care of the Hayes team and he believes the $26 shot is not without a chance in what shapes as an even Guineas. “He is a young colt having just his third start so he’s come a long way in a very short space of time, but the Hayes team have handled him beautifully,” Auret said. “He’s got to be in there with some chance. The way he’s just continued to improve from his first run to his second run, and he obviously does need to raise the bar again, but there’s no reason why he couldn’t take the leap.” Other Ready to Run graduates prepared by Auret have also found success in Australia. “We sold Mongolian Mission, by Dubious out of Tinjirarni, at the Ready to Run Sale last year. He won at the trials and then won on debut in Australia for Danny O’Brien. Also an El Roca colt, Lion City Express, that we sold has had two trial wins for Tim Fitzsimmons in Australia as well.” Meanwhile, Auret has been staggered by the scrutiny of Ka Ying Rising’s trial in Sydney earlier this week as the David Hayes-trained sprinter prepares for the Everest. “I’ve never seen so much feedback from everyone about a trial,” Auret said. “It was certainly scrutinised to every degree, but at the end of the day, I think it was a really nice trial. You could see that he needed it, but I think he’ll be cherry ripe on the day. “I just hope it’s run on a hard and fast track. When you’re going into a massive sprint race like the Everest you want the fastest horse to be winning. He looks a picture to my eye anyway.” Auret said the family would be gathered around the television on Saturday week. “We are just getting the family together to watch, and certainly can’t wait for that Saturday, that’s for sure, but I’d also love to see Romantic Encounter run well in the Guineas this weekend,” he said. View the full article

A lucrative race at Selangor on Sunday will shine a spotlight on next month’s NZB Ready to Run Sale at Karaka as well as showcasing the high-quality graduates of the Sale that are currently racing in Malaysia. The New Zealand Bloodstock Ready To Run Open Championship (1400m), offering prize money of RM300,000, is held in recognition of the New Zealand Bloodstock’s strong affiliation with the Selangor Turf Club and the club’s commitment to support the Ready to Run Sale. New Zealand Bloodstock Director of Business Development, Mr Mike Kneebone, Mr Alex Teng from NZB Airfreight and New Zealand Thoroughbred Marketing (NZTM) Chief Executive Officer, Mr Andrew Birch will be in attendance at the races in Kuala Lumpur on Sunday. The 1400m Championship features the clash of New Zealand bred stars Antipodean (NZ) (Derryn), Lucky Magic (NZ) (Mendelssohn) and the Frank Maynard-trained pair, Duma (NZ) (Too Darn Hot) and Trees of Valinor (NZ) (Telperion). View the full article

Trainers Simon and Katrina Alexander have set their sights towards summer targets with their star mare La Crique following yet another runner-up result in last month’s Gr.1 Howden Insurance Mile (1600m) at Te Rapa. La Crique has two Group One victories to her name but has earned the perennial bridesmaid tag after finishing runner-up at elite-level on eight occasions, including her last six starts, and her trainers are hoping a freshen-up can help give her that extra edge to claim another Group One scalp. “We have decided to take a sit and put her away,” Katrina Alexander said. “She is just having 10 days out at the moment, we won’t press onto the next leg (Gr.1 Livamol Classic, 2040m). “We opted not to go to Australia, she just takes a bit when she pulls up, other than Ellerslie, she comes off Ellerslie in super form. “We know we probably haven’t got her quite as good as what we want. We know we have got room for improvement, and we just want to get that extra 10 percent and see if we can nail it (Group One win) for her. “We are happy to be patient. At her age (seven), we sort of target two races and then take a breather with her. Currently she is having a wee break away from the stable and we will bring her back and focus on something a little later in the year.” Meanwhile, stablemate Midnight Scandal is set to have one more run before heading for the spelling paddock. The stakes performer finished fifth in last weekend’s Gr.3 Grangewilliam Stud Breeders’ Stakes (1400m) at Hawera and the Alexanders are happy to give her one more run closer to home. “Nothing went right in that race at Hawera the other day,” Alexander said. “She is a horse I think needs true tempo. They crawled around and tried to sprint home, which absolutely doesn’t suit her. She is a horse that has got a high cruising speed. “That was to be her last race, but while the weather is the way it is, it looks like she could go into a rating 75 mile at Ellerslie (next Saturday). “Given that she has come through that Hawera run really well, and didn’t really have much of a race, we will look at that and that will probably be the end for her for this part of the season, she has been up a long time, and she will have a good summer break after that.” View the full article