Wandering Eyes

El Vencedor will take his place in Saturday’s $700,000 Group 1 Herbie Dyke Stakes (2000m) at Te Rapa. Photo: Kenton Wright (Race Images) El Vencedor has been an unstoppable force at Ellerslie, and while there are looming targets at northern headquarters for the gelding, a lucrative bonus and prize money on offer at Te Rapa this weekend have lured his connections south. The Stephen Marsh-trained six-year-old will line-up in the $700,000 Group 1 Herbie Dyke Stakes (2000m) on Saturday where he will be chasing a share of the $500,000 on offer in the Rich Hill Champion Middle Distance Series. The son of Shocking currently sits in second place (seven points) on the leaderboard behind Snazzytavi (10 points), and with the in-form mare ruled out of Saturday’s contest and glamour mare Orchestral also not taking her place in the quality line-up, it opens a golden opportunity for El Vencedor to take control of the series as it heads into the business end of the competition. “It is a great series that is worth a lot of money, and he is going so well,” Marsh said. “The field has changed shape (with the withdrawal of Snazzytavi and Orchestral) in the last 48 hours, but it makes it a very open affair now.” El Vencedor heads into the weekend in good form, dominating his rivals in the Listed Fulton Family Stakes (1500m) at Ellerslie last weekend, extending his record to three wins from four starts at the Auckland venue, including victories in the Group 1 Bonecrusher New Zealand Stakes and Group 3 Balmerino Stakes (2000m), and placing in the Group 1 Zabeel Classic (2000m) on Boxing Day. The series will return to Ellerslie for the last two legs, the Group 1 Otaki-Maori WFA Classic (1600m) and Group 1 Bonecrusher New Zealand Stakes (2000m), and a solid performance on Saturday will put El Vencedor in a good position to claim the lion’s share of the $500,000 bonus on offer. “It is a $700,000 race on Saturday, it is a great bonus, and we are going to get a good track,” Marsh said. “Once his fitness is up and rolling, he holds his fitness well and races well.” Horse racing news View the full article

Savaglee will contest the Group 1 BCD Group Sprint (1400m) at Te Rapa on Saturday. Photo: Race Images South Savaglee has conquered all before him at age-group level in New Zealand, and on Saturday, the star colt will take on the older horses in a star-studded edition of the Group 1 BCD Group Sprint (1400m). In six starts as a three-year-old, Savaglee has won on five occasions, including the Group 2 Hawke’s Bay Guineas (1400m), Group 2 Sarten Memorial (1400m), Group 1 New Zealand 2000 Guineas (1600m) and Group 2 Levin Classic (1400m), all with considerable ease. His owners The Oaks Stud, and Pam Gerard, who trains the gelding at Matamata, resisted the temptation of a $1.5 million prize on Karaka Millions Night in favour of the $500,000 feature, which gives a more favourable lead-in to a tilt at the $1 million Group 1 Australian Guineas (1600m) at Flemington on March 1. The son of Savabeel had his final public appearance in an exhibition gallop last Friday at Te Rapa, where he will return this weekend to take on the likes of Grail Seeker and Australian raiders Busustow and Here To Shock. “It was a nice day out and a bit of a hit out for him, he’s always pretty casual and never gives too much away,” Gerard said. “I’m happy with how he’s come away from that. “He’ll work in the morning and have a swim in the afternoon as usual for the next couple of days, it’s just keeping him ticking over. We’re just aiming to have him bright, healthy and happy. “He can do whatever he needs to do, he jumps and puts himself in the race, he can be back, forward, it doesn’t matter. He’s very adaptable, nothing needs to change.” As he has at every start this season, the colt will be ridden by Sam Spratt, and in the early market with horse racing betting sites, he is rated a $3.80 second favourite behind Grail Seeker ($2.30). Horse racing news View the full article

Check out this week’s The Box Seat with Matt Cross and Greg O’Connor View the full article

A refurbished track and a number of Sunday meetings will be features of Manawatu’s 2025 season. With the club’s first meetings of the year on next week (February 11 and 13) the Palmerston North track has had a major upgrade. “We have had the top done before but this is bigger than that, we are scrapping right down to the base,” says Manawatu Harness Racing Club President Dan Lynch, “the last time that happened was 18 to 19 years ago.” “We have John Denton (HRNZ’s Track Facilities Manager) here and 800 to 900 tons of old track will be replaced by around 450 tons of new material.” “It should be in great condition for the first meeting on the 11th.” The club is also looking at upgrading its lighting system in March-April after the new lights and pylons arrive from China. “We are essentially replacing like for like but it will make a big difference.” Funding for the track has come from the club and the Racing Safety Fund while the Manawatu-based Central Energy Trust is helping out with the lighting upgrade to the tune of $200,000. “They are very supportive and we are very grateful. However, we are always keen to access any additional funding that may be available” he said. The club will stump up with the remaining $100,000. The club has 12 race meetings between February and May and the season will have a markedly different look about it. While they will still have their regular Tuesday – Thursday meetings, they will also have many on a Sunday and a Tuesday, starting mid to late afternoon. Numbers permitting, each will have eight races. “It will be a new experience and we will do the best we can,” says Lynch, “and we do have some good stakes – on March the 13th for instance we have a $25,000 Pace and a $20,000 Trot.” The minimum stake on both February 11 and 13 is $10,000. “We think trainers will see the opportunities here, good stakes and two bites of the cherry if you like – a meeting on a Sunday and then another just two days later.” View the full article

Sad news about harness racing writer and enthusiast Don Rae, two new races at Winton and Addington, and the yearling parades down south all feature in this week’s News Briefs. Vale Don Rae Breeding authority and harness racing enthusiast Don Rae has lost his battle with cancer. The 67-year-old lived out a lifetime dream when he was registered as an official owner of a horse in the IRT New Zealand Cup last November, thanks to the kindness of Tact McLeod’s owners Trevor Proctor and Diane Dynes. They hosted Don for the day at Addington. At the time Rae said he was “blown away by their open heartedness and generosity”. A life long harness racing fan, Rae researched pedigrees and wrote extensively on breeding and racing-related matters and also took part in the TV Show Mastermind in 2016 where his specialist subject was The New Zealand Trotting Cup. His funeral will be held next week. Sorority to debut at Winton A brand new race for the three-year-old pacing fillies will debut at the Wairio Trotting Club’s meeting at Winton this weekend. The $30,000 Sorority is restricted to fillies who have yet to win a Group 1 or earn $100,000 in stakes money. Though light on numbers this Sunday it is just a starting point with hopes it will grow in years to come. The Sorority marks the beginning of a stakes season in the southern region which will culminate in Diamonds Day at Invercargill on April 27. To find out more about the Sorority click here New 2YO race at Addington Due to the large number of two-year-olds at the trials and workouts at the moment, a new $15,000 2YO race has been programmed for Addington on Friday, February 14. It will have a preferential barrier draw based on : winning stakes then sex (fillies drawn inside colts and geldings). The race will be part of the Love at the Races race night on Valentines Day. Near clean sweep for the juniors at Hawera What a couple of days out the Next Gen of our drivers had at Hawera. Junior Drivers won 17 of the 20 races on both Friday and Sunday. On Sunday the six winning drivers were Zev Meredith (Rewiri Hill), Harrison Orange (Tina Ace, Golden Line, Boudica), Neita Balle (Conrad H), Crystal Hackett (Kourtney Kardash, High Energy) Alicia Harrison (Akatea), and Wilson House (State Trooper). Alicia Harrison’s win with Akatea came in the third heat of the Hygain Revell Douglas Memorial Series. It was her first win in over a year after having an extended spell on the sidelines after needing surgery on her shoulder. The Hygain Revell Douglas Memorial series for the junior drivers is nearing the halfway mark and it’s turning into a close run thing. Orange has 34 points, one ahead of Hackett with Harrison (26), Meredith (22) and Hanara (17) rounding out the top five. Hackett, Harrison and Hanara have been the three heat winners so far. They will be seven heats in all, with the next being at Methven (Hororata meeting) this Sunday (February 9) before Banks Peninsula on February 16 and then Cromwell on February 21 and 23. Plenty of dash for KK Kourtney Kardash has had a ripper of a start to 2025. The Bettor’s Delight five-year-old has won four from four this year after going back to back at both Otaki and Hawera. Trained by Shane Butcher, the mare has won all four in convincing fashion, with her second Kapiti victory being by more than four lengths. Kourtney Kardash has now won six from 32 starts and just over $70K in stakes. Cullen hits 300 Hayden Cullen has had two milestones in the last two weeks. Last week it was Hayden and wife Amanda’s first win in partnership when We Walk By Faith won at Addington on January 24. Now Cullen has racked up his 300th career success number with Crunch Time winning at Addington last Friday. He has had 79 on his own account and the rest in partnership. Yearling parades heading south The last of the on-farm parades before the National Standardbred Yearling Sales will be held around Southland next week. The SBSR Yearling Tour will be held on Monday February 10 and Tuesday February 11. On Monday the tour commences at Shard Farm at 2pm, and then takes in Price Bloodstock and others before concluding at Beaudiene Breeding at 6pm. On Tuesday the day starts bright and early at Ascot Park, Invercargill, with final viewing at Tuapeka Lodge in Lawrence from 12.20pm. SBSR will offer 40 yearlings at the sales, which will be held in Karaka in Auckland on February 15 and in Christchurch on February 18. The parades kicked off in the North Island before the Canterbury parades were completed yesterday, after two days of viewings at nine different venues. For more info click here Club News : Wairio The Wairio Trotting Club are planning a great day for all when they host their annual Cup Day at Central Southland Raceway in Winton on Sunday (9 February). The feature races are the $25,000 Otautau Four Square Supermarket Wairio Cup over 2400m, the SBSR/Diamond Creek Farm/Caduceus 3YO Fillies Sorority, the first heat of the Southern Belle Series supported by the Southern Standardbred Breeders Assn and the Wilbur Ellis NZ Ltd Gold Chip Final Handicap Trot. The club has also planned a wonderful day of family entertainment with a popular favourite – the Heads/Tails Game with a $250 Prezzy Card up for Grabs. Mr Whippy will provide the first 100 ice creams to kids for free, plus there are pony rides, sack races, a lolly scramble, mini jeeps and a bouncy castle. All the kid’s entertainment is free. There will also be a Punters Club operating plus the chance to win rides on the EH Ball ITM Mobile Barrier throughout the day and several Kidz Kartz heats. The first race is timed for 12.15pm and admission is free. View the full article

The $2 million Inglis Millennium, a highlight of the Sydney racing calendar, is set to ignite Royal Randwick this Saturday, and the excitement is high with a field of talented two-year-olds descending upon the iconic track, each vying for the coveted title and a share of the lucrative prize money. Leading the charge and 2025 […] The post Inglis Millennium 2025: Price Tag a Hot Favourite appeared first on HorseRacing.com.au. View the full article

Mr Brightside and Craig Williams after winning the 2024 CF Orr Stakes. Photo: Bruno Cannatelli The first Group 1 of 2025 headlines the action at Caulfield on Saturday afternoon, with a quality field of 10 assembled for the time-honoured Group 1 C.F. Orr Stakes (1400m). Four of the 10 runners engaged have tasted Group 1 success in the past, including last year’s winner and eight-time Group 1 winning gelding Mr Brightside who makes his return after a slashing victory in the Group 1 Champions Mile (1600m) at Flemington on November 9 at the end of last preparation. The Lindsay Park-trained seven-year-old is the current $2.50 favourite with horse racing bookmakers post-barrier draw; however, jockey Craig Williams may need some luck to fall his way after drawing out in gate eight. After a barnstorming effort in the Group 1 Champions Sprint (1200m) on the same day, the Chris Waller-trained Private Life ($10.00) gets another chance to take on the older horses, with the son of Written Tycoon likely to be suited by the extra 200m to chase down his rivals. The Group 1 Caulfield Guineas (1600m) winner is the only three-year-old set to line up in Saturday’s $750,000 feature and seemingly gets every chance to figure after drawing barrier one under star hoop Damien Lane. The Ciaron Maher barn sends around three runners to represent his stable, including Group 1 Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes (1400m) runner-up Another Wil ($4.80) who goes in search of his first Group 1 success as Jamie Melham gets legged aboard once again, continuing her association with the Street Boss gelding. The chances don’t end there, with the likes of Schwarz ($5.50) and Pinstriped ($15.00) garnering early support with Neds as we draw closer to the weight-for-age classic. The 2025 C.F. Orr Stakes is the penultimate race on the Caulfield program and is scheduled to get underway at 4:55pm local time. 2025 CF Orr Stakes Final Field 1. Mr Brightside (8) T: Ben, Will & JD Hayes J: Craig Williams W: 59kg Age: 7YO Colour: Bay or Brown Sex: Gelding Sire: Bullbars Dam: Lilahjay (NZ) +140 -333.33 2. Southport Tycoon (2) T: Ciaron Maher J: Mark Zahra W: 59kg Age: 4YO Colour: Chestnut Sex: Horse Sire: Written Tycoon Dam: Ready to Rule (USA) +1300 +230 3. Pinstriped (10) T: Enver Jusufovic J: Ben Allen W: 59kg Age: 6YO Colour: Chestnut Sex: Gelding Sire: Street Boss (USA) Dam: Snitzel Blitz +1500 +260 4. Steparty (4) T: Paul Preusker J: Blaike McDougall W: 59kg Age: 4YO Colour: Bay Sex: Gelding Sire: Artie Schiller (USA) Dam: Watch Your Step +1300 +230 5. Another Wil (3) T: Ciaron Maher J: Ms Jamie Melham W: 59kg Age: 5YO Colour: Chestnut Sex: Gelding Sire: Street Boss (USA) Dam: Arohanui +360 -142.86 6. Freedom Rally (6) T: Tony Gollan J: Ethan Brown W: 59kg Age: 5YO Colour: Bay Sex: Gelding Sire: Rubick Dam: Ipioga +3300 +500 7. Schwarz (7) T: John O’Shea & Tom Charlton J: Blake Shinn W: 59kg Age: 4YO Colour: Bay Sex: Horse Sire: Zoustar Dam: Summer Sham +500 -105.26 8. Semana (9) T: Ciaron Maher J: Thomas Stockdale W: 57kg Age: 5YO Colour: Chestnut Sex: Mare Sire: Winning Rupert Dam: Festivity +4000 +600 9. Super Smink (5) T: Daniel Morton J: John Allen W: 57kg Age: 4YO Colour: Bay Sex: Mare Sire: Super One Dam: Sminky Shorts +3300 +500 10. Private Life (1) T: Chris Waller J: Damian Lane W: 55.5kg Age: 3YO Colour: Bay Sex: Colt Sire: Written Tycoon Dam: Aliyana Tilde +700 +130 Horse racing news View the full article

Stefi Magnetica sprinted sharply to claim the 2024 Group 1 Stradbroke Handicap. Photo: Racing Queensland The nation’s premier Winter Carnival will take centre stage in 2025, with more than $28 million in prize money on offer. The most innovative and lucrative Queensland Racing Carnival in its history will take place from May 3 to July 5, headlined by nine million-dollar races and 55 black-type features—including eight Group 1 events—across 11 race meetings. The $3 million Stradbroke Handicap headlines a trio of million-dollar sprints that will attract Australia’s premier gallopers to the Sunshine State, with the $1.5 million Doomben 10,000 and $1 million Kingsford Smith Cup acting as the perfectly placed lead-up races. The Brisbane Racing Club’s Stradbroke Season will present six of the Winter Carnival’s marquee racedays, with the $6.5 million Stradbroke Day acting as the crowning jewel, including the $3 million Group 1 sitting alongside the $1 million Group 1 JJ Atkins and the $1.2 million Group 2 Q22. Minister for Sport and Racing and Minister for the Olympic and Paralympic Games Tim Mander said the State Government is proud to support the Queensland Racing Carnival. “The Queensland Racing Carnival helps drive racing’s $2.4 billion economic contribution to the state each year,” he said. “Not only is it renowned as one of Australia’s great racing carnivals, but it’s also recognised globally with the Doomben 10,000, Kingsford Smith Cup and Stradbroke Handicap all sitting inside the world’s top-100 Group 1 races. “The eyes of the world are on our great state in the lead-up to the 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games and the Queensland Racing Carnival is a key opportunity to showcase Queensland to a global audience.” The Gold Coast Turf Club will play a leading role in this year’s Winter Carnival, with a new meeting under lights to be held in May, headlined by the $1 million Magic Millions National 2YO Classic — coinciding with the Gold Coast National Weanling, Broodmare and Yearling Sale. At the front-end of the programme, the $500,000 Group 2 A.D. Hollindale Stakes returns to Aquis Park, providing the perfect platform for middle-distance gallopers into both the $1 million Group 1 Doomben Cup and the Q22. Racing Queensland CEO Jason Scott said that the Queensland Racing Carnival continues to forge a reputation of where the nation’s champions shine brightest. “At its core, the Queensland Racing Carnival is about championing everything that is great about racing in the Sunshine State, both on and off the track,” Mr Scott said. “Every year, we see the current and future stars of the sport light up the track right here in Queensland, with eight Group 1s and nine million-dollar races ensuring all eyes are on SEQ for almost three months of feature racing. “It was no different in 2024, as champion mare Bella Nipotina claimed both the Group 1 Doomben 10,000 and Tattersall’s Tiara – as well as two placings at the top level – before going on to dominate the $20 million The Everest in the spring. “At the other end of their careers, both Broadsiding and Stefi Magnetica confirmed their status as fledgling stars of Australian racing in the Winter Carnival, which speaks to our impact as the breeding ground of future champions.” The Ipswich Cup Raceday on June 21 – featuring the $250,000 Ipswich Cup – looks set to draw another bumper crowd, while the Sunshine Coast Turf Club’s Group 3 Winx Guineas, alongside the Listed Caloundra Cup and Glasshouse Handicap, will close out the Winter Carnival on July 5. Finally, the famous Tattersall’s meeting at Eagle Farm on June 28 will play host to the final Group 1 of the Australian racing season – the $700,000 Tattersall’s Tiara – alongside the Battle of the Bush Final, where country horses battle it out on the metropolitan stage for $200,000 in stakes. Brisbane Racing Club CEO Karl deKroo said Stradbroke Season was increasingly being recognised as one of Australia’s premier and must-attend racing carnivals. “The Star Stradbroke Season had traditionally had a reputation for unearthing the next wave of racing stars, but increasingly we are seeing top trainers and stables from across Australia making it a priority to bring their best horses north for the winter,” Mr deKroo said. “They’re not just chasing significant prize money— they’re strategically setting up their runners for The Everest, Cox Plate, and Melbourne Cup campaigns. “We are consistently attracting top-class talent to be pitted against a quality crop of hometown heroes and giving racing fans – both local and from interstate – an unparalleled experience at the Queensland Racing Carnival.” Click here to see the full 2025 Queensland Racing Carnival programme. Horse racing news View the full article

His Highness Prince Karim Al-Hussaini, Aga Khan IV, who has died in Lisbon at the age of 88, ranks as one of the greatest owner/breeders of this or any other era, as well as one of the most significant religious figures of the modern world. He inherited the title of Aga Khan (commanding leader) on the death of his grandfather Aga Khan III in 1957 and then took control of the family's bloodstock interests three years later when his father Prince Aly Khan lost his life in a car crash. During the subsequent decades he oversaw the spiritual and temporal welfare of his estimated 20 million followers worldwide (the Ismaili Muslims, a denomination within Shia Islam) in an ever-changing world; and he built upon the racing success enjoyed by his grandfather and father, to the extent that the Aga Khan Studs remain a byword for excellence and triumph at the highest level. Although only the fourth to hold the title Aga Khan, Karim was the 49th Imam (spiritual leader) of the Nizari Ismailis, being the 50th generation in direct descent from the prophet Mohammed through the latter's daughter Fatima and son-in-law (and cousin) Ali, the first Imam. Although the position thus goes back to the seventh century AD, the title of Aga Khan was only officially recognised by the wider world after Karim's great-great- grandfather Agha Khan Mehalatee, the 46th Imam, having travelled eastwards out of Persia, had presented himself to a British garrison in Girishk on 'the North-West Frontier' of the British Raj in what is now the Kandahar province of Afghanistan on Aug. 5, 1841, offering to pledge his and his followers' loyalty to the British Empire. Subsequent to Agha Khan Mehalatee becoming recognised as Aga Khan I, the family, by now well established in British imperial society in the Indian subcontinent, began to make trips to Europe, where in time Aga Khan III became not only a notable figure in British and French society but also a devotee of the turf. His first European bloodstock purchases were at Tattersalls' July Sale in Newmarket in 1921 and he had his first runners the following year. The enterprise was an immediate success with his first 2-year-olds including the feature-race winners Paola (GB), Bombay Duck (GB) and Cos (GB), who became her owners first runner and first winner when taking the Queen Mary S. at Ascot on debut. His second crop of 2-year-olds in 1923 included a horse even more significant: 'The Flying Filly' Mumtaz Mahal (GB), a champion on the track and at stud. By the end of the 1925 season, Aga Khan III had been champion owner in each of Britain, France and Ireland at least once; and once his first homebreds had started racing, he was soon established as a leading owner/breeder. Mumtaz Mahal played a key part in this process because many of the stars bred by him descended from her, including Mahmoud (Fr), Nasrullah (Ire), Migoli (Ire), and Petite Etoile (GB). In turn, she continued to play a key role in the operation after Aga Khan IV had taken over, thanks to such champions as Shergar (Ire) and Zarkava (Ire), the brilliant filly who ended her stellar, unbeaten career with victory in the G1 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe of 2008 and was described by her owner as “the greatest reward a breeder could have”. She is now making a further ongoing contribution by her son Zarak (Fr), an extremely promising young stallion on the roster at Haras de Bonneval. In the years following the end of the Second World War, Aga Khan III's son Prince Aly Khan, a gifted sportsman whose notable race-riding ability was matched by his passion for the game, was giving his father plenty of help in the running of the family's bloodstock empire. However, although Aly Khan was the ideal man to inherit a bloodstock empire, his playboy lifestyle caused his father to take the presumably difficult decision that he would not be a suitable leader of the Nizari Ismailis and that the title should thus skip a generation and go straight to Karim, the first of the two sons born to Aly Khan and his first wife, Joan Yarde-Buller, an English socialite. One of her sisters, Lydia, married the 13th Duke of Bedford and another, Primrose, married the 7th Earl Cadogan; and a nice racing family tie came about in the late 1980s via the smart miler Phountzi, a colt by Raise A Cup out of Pushy (GB) who was bred, like his smart dam and even more distinguished granddam Mrs Moss (GB), by the then Marchioness of Tavistock (now the Dowager Duchess of Bedford) who was the 13th Duke of Bedford's daughter-in-law. Michael Stoute trained Phountzi for Aga Khan IV until the horse reverted to the ownership of Lord Tavistock (later the 14th Duke of Bedford) towards the end of his racing career. Born in Geneva on Dec. 13, 1936, Karim was thus still aged only 20 and an undergraduate at Harvard University when he became Aga Khan IV on the death of his grandfather on July 11, 1957. From his early days, he had been a gifted sportsman, excelling at tennis, rowing, ice hockey and football while at Harvard, from which he graduated with a degree in Islamic history in 1959. By this time of his graduation, he was already two years into his Imamate, the commitments of which meant that he had to abandon his plans to study for a post-graduate doctorate in history. He did, though, continue to enjoy his sport, most obviously going on to represent Iran in the downhill skiing in the Winter Olympics at Innsbruck in 1964. Racing, though, was not initially one of his passions, but he suddenly found himself the steward of the family's bloodstock empire when his father was tragically killed in a car crash in Paris on May 12, 1960. His grandfather had started in racing on the basis that, “I wanted to do the thing thoroughly, or not at all”, and Karim clearly felt that he faced a similar dilemma when having to decide whether to maintain the studs. Happily, after a period of reflection, he chose to do so, taking the decision to immerse himself thoroughly in the greatest game of all, a decision for which generations of racing enthusiasts have every reason to be thankful. Aga Khan III had initially made England the primary focus of his racing operations, although there had been horses in France too. From the early 1950s onwards, though, the bulk of the family's horses had been trained in France (mostly by Alec Head). After a period of reflection in which he decided firstly if and then how he would take the family's racing and breeding operations forward, in 1964 Aga Khan IV further rationalised the operation, focussing completely on France. He chose as his principal trainer Francois Mathet, who was already a proven conditioner of top-class horses. His patrons included the hugely successful owner/breeder M. Francois Dupre for whom he had trained numerous stars including Relko (Fr), winner the previous year of the Poule d'Essai des Poulains and the Derby. It was an inspired decision as over the years Mathet and Aga Khan IV built up a close friendship based on mutual respect. In an interview with Galop in 1978, Aga Khan IV said, “While I learned about breeding elsewhere and from others, everything I learned about racing I learned from him.” After Francois Mathet died in January 1983 (only three months after saddling Aga Khan IV's Akiyda (GB) to win the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe) his successor was another trainer with whom Aga Khan IV would built up a rock-solid partnership, Alain de Royer-Dupre. De Royer-Dupre, who had been training some of the Aga Khan IV's lesser horses during Mathet's final years, thus moved into the Aiglemont training centre (now occupied by Francis-Henri Graffard, who succeeded de Royer-Dupre on the latter's retirement at the end of 2021) which had been completed in 1980 in Gouvieux, near Chantilly. This beautiful property forms part of an Aga Khan nerve-centre which also contains the headquarters of the Aga Khan Development Network, which is effectively a multi-billion dollar charitable corporation which is run for the benefit of the Nizari Ismailis, using and redistributing the tithe which the Aga Khan's followers have traditionally paid to their Imam. Even though the dictum of Aga Khan III had famously been 'speed, speed and more speed', he was at least as adept at producing fast horses who could stay, as his record in the Derby demonstrated. (He won the Derby three times in the 1930s including with the homebreds Bahram (Ire) and Mahmoud (Fr). In time, Aga Khan IV, whose first top-class horses with Francois Mathet were the brilliantly fast 1968 Poule d'Essai des Poulains winner Zeddaan (GB) and his Poule d'Essai des Poulains-winning first-crop son Kalamoun (GB), would become primarily synonymous with high-class stamina. This was perfectly illustrated by the first truly great horse whom he bred, the 1981 Derby hero Shergar. By this time he had a string of horses in England, having appointed Michael Stoute and Fulke Johnson Houghton as his trainers there in 1978. Shergar joined the former's stable as a yearling in the autumn of 1979, and the rest, including his 10-length romp in the 1981 Derby and the tragedy of his kidnapping, is history. That memorable 1981 season ended with Aga Khan IV champion owner of Great Britain, taking the title for the first time to follow in the footsteps of his grandfather (Britain's champion owner 13 times between 1924 and 1952) and his father (Britain's champion owner of 1959). He also ended the year as champion owner of France for the second year in a row. Aga Khan IV won his second Derby in 1986 when the Michael Stoute-trained Shahrastani held off the late challenge of Dancing Brave. Kahyasi (Ire), also trained in Newmarket but by Luca Cumani, provided Aga Khan IV with his third Derby victory when scoring in 1988 (with his owner's Stoute-trained Doyoun (Ire), winner a month previously of the 2000 Guineas, finishing third) but his fourth Derby winner was trained in Ireland. By this time Ireland had joined France and England as countries in which he was racing a significant string, with John Oxx having been appointed as his trainer there, receiving his first batch of yearlings in the autumn of 1988. Together they enjoyed a stunning run of success, headed by the Derby, Irish Derby and Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe victories of Sinndar (Ire) in 2000. Three years after Sinndar, Oxx sent out another Aga Khan homebred to take the Irish Derby but on this occasion the winner Alamshar (Ire) was wearing (as Kahyasi had done at Epsom) his owner's second colours (the old chocolate and green hoops of the Aga Khan III) because the runner-up, the de Royer-Dupre-trained Prix du Jockey-Club winner Dalakhani (Ire), was felt to have the better chance. Such belief, misplaced on the day, became understandable in the autumn when Dalakhani provided his owner/breeder with the third of his four Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe victories. Alamshar, incidentally, must have earned a special place in his owner/breeder's heart as Aga Khan IV, a keen sailor, subsequently named his new yacht after him. In later years, Dermot Weld succeeded John Oxx as Aga Khan IV's principal Irish trainer. The highlight of this partnership was the Derby/Irish Derby double of Harzand (Ire) in 2016 and the Breeders' Cup Turf triumph of Tarnawa (Ire) in 2019. Harzand's sire Sea The Stars (Ire), although neither bred nor raced by Aga Khan IV, has spent his stud career at Gilltown Stud in Ireland, maintaining a strong roster there to complement the one at Haras de Bonneval in France, where the Aga Khan home-bred Siyouni (Fr) has proved such a success. Over the years, Aga Khan IV judiciously augmented the families which he inherited from his grandfather and father, initially by purchasing the studs developed by the late Francois Dupre and the late Marcel Boussac, and more recently the stud of the late Jean-Luc Lagardere subsequent to the latter's death in 2003. The 1979 G1 Prix du Jockey-Club victory of Top Ville (Ire) was an early dividend from the Dupre purchase, while the 1982 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe victory of Akiyda was one of the first major dividends from the Boussac acquisition. Two years later the Prix du Jockey-Club triumph of the subsequently hugely influential stallion Darshaan (GB) was another notable triumph for the Boussac families. Top Ville and Darshaan were the second and third of the eight Prix du Jockey-Club winners raced by Aga Khan IV. The first, the Alec Head-trained Charlottesville (GB), took the race in 1960 less than a month after Aga Khan IV had suddenly become his owner on the tragic death of his father. Siyouni and the 2022 Prix du Jockey-Club winner Vadeni (Fr) rank as two of the most notable products of the Lagardere families. Nowadays, the Aga Khan Studs' broodmare band includes families from all three of these sources as well as those descending from the families developed by Aga Khan III. Siyouni, fittingly a winner of the G1 Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere, played his part in an extraordinary Arc weekend of 2009 when the Aga Khan Studs celebrated seven group winners across the two days. The sustained success of the Aga Khan Studs in the 21st century has not, of course, depended solely on the strength of the broodmare-band. Shrewd mating plans were a hallmark of the Aga Khan IV's breeding operation, and not by merely taking the obvious option. As he was the overseer of huge sums of his followers' money, it was clearly prudent for him, just as it was for the late Queen Elizabeth II, not to be seen to be spending large sums on racing. Consequently he always aimed for his bloodstock operation to pay its way, and one key component in this strategy was the use of value-for-money stallions. Judicious use of inexpensive sires such as Ile De Bourbon (to breed Kahyasi), Key Of Luck (to breed Alamshar), Priolo (to breed 1999 Poule d'Essai des Poulains winner Sendawar) and Zamindar (to produce Zarkava) were classic examples. Desert Style (Ire) was another unfashionable stallion whom he used to great effect. He used him to breed 2006 G1 Prix de la Foret winner Caradak (Ire) while his daughter Princess Zahra bred the top-class Desert Style filly Mandesha (Fr) whom Alain de Royer-Dupre trained to win three Group 1 races in her colours in 2006. Many owner/breeders keep their operations financially manageable by retaining their fillies but selling their colts. Aga Khan IV, however, was always happy to race both genders and was able to do so in a cost-efficient way. Selling the colts once they had raced proved to be a plentiful source of income. An obvious example was Daylami's sale to Godolphin after his 3-year-old season in 1997, during which he had become the sixth of his owner's seven Poule d'Essai Poulains winners (all but one of which were homebreds, the exception being the brilliant Blushing Groom (Fr), who was bought for 16,500 guineas as a foal at Tattersalls' December Sale in 1974 and was a rare example of a horse raced by Aga Khan IV which he had not bred). Daylami went on to win a further six Group/Grade 1 races including the Coronation Cup, King George VI And Queen Elizabeth S., Irish Champion S. and Breeders' Cup Turf in 1999, earning himself Cartier Horse of the Year status. Blushing Groom, of course, had done plenty to balance the books thanks to his syndication for $6,000,000 after his Poule d'Essai des Poulains victory and before his non-staying third place in the Derby. This syndication saw him heading across the Atlantic to Gainesway Farm in America, where he became a champion sire. Another very different but equally notable Aga Khan alumnus was the redoubtable Karasi (Ire), successful for Australian trainer Eric Musgrove in three runnings of the Nakayami Grand Jump Steeplechase in Japan after starting off with Michael Stoute. It was rare for Aga Khan IV to geld his colts and keep racing them himself as older horses but he understandably made an exception with one of the most special stayers of the modern era: Vazirabad (Fr), winner of 15 of his 23 starts between May 2015 and June 2018, when he signed off with a close second to Stradivarius (Ire) in the Ascot Gold Cup, narrowly failing in his bid to follow in the footsteps of the John Oxx-trained Aga Khan home-bred Enzeli (Ire), who won the great race in 1999. Aga Khan IV bred a second Gold Cup winner from Enzeli's family thanks to Estimate (Ire) taking the race in 2013. However, that mare's finest hour came in the colours of Queen Elizabeth II, as she had been a gift as a yearling to Her Majesty from the Aga Khan. This act of generosity followed nicely on from the kindness of Aga Khan III, who gave the then Princess Elizabeth a horse called Astrakhan (Ire) as a wedding present in 1947, the filly going on to provide her new owner with her first win on the Flat when scoring at Hurst Park. Aga Khan IV and Queen Elizabeth II (who granted him the title 'His Highness' in 1957 when he succeeded his grandfather, who had also been thus honoured) always seemed to be kindred spirits, both passionate owner/breeders for whom the highest standards were the norm. Their friendship was perfectly illustrated when she was his guest in a private lunch when she visited Gilltown Stud during her historic state visit to the Irish Republic in 2011. It must have given him great pleasure to receive the Gold Cup from her after Enzeli's triumph in 1999, and also thrice to win the King George and Queen Elizabeth S., the great race named after her parents, with Shergar in 1981, with Alamshar in 2003 and with another John Oxx-trained homebred, Azamour (Ire), two years later. Estimate joined the broodmare band at the Royal Studs after her retirement. Mares from the Aga Khan Studs' bloodlines are cherished items at studs all round the world, with the fillies and mares in the Aga Khan Studs' drafts at breeding stock sales invariably attracting plenty of attention. Many breeders have produced top-class horses from Aga Khan families. Both Hascombe Stud and Lanwades Stud have developed their own branches of the Mumtaz Mahal family and each has produced a Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe winner from it: Golden Horn (GB) and Alpinista (GB), respectively. Two recent Melbourne Cup winners also come from long-standing Aga Khan families. Sarvana (Fr), dam of the 2022 winner Gold Trip (Fr), was bred by Aga Khan IV and has as her sixth dam But Lovely (Ire) who won the Prix Vanteaux in 1958 for his father Prince Aly Khan; while the 2021 heroine Verry Elleegant (NZ) is notable for the fact that both her sire Zed (NZ) and her dam Opulence (NZ) descend from Mumtaz Mahal. As befits a religious leader, Aga Khan IV was a man of impeccable manners who lived by a strict moral compass. To the racing world, his clear understanding of right and wrong was illustrated by the high-profile defences which he mounted on the rare occasions when his horses failed dope tests but he did not believe them to have been given any prohibited substance. After the Mathet-trained Vayrann (Ire) won the G1 Champion S. at Newmarket in 1981, he tested positive for an anabolic steroid. Mathet having given an assurance that the horse had not received any steroids, the Aga Khan's lawyers mounted a formidable defence, the upshot of which was that, in a ground-breaking judgement, the Jockey Club eventually decided not to disqualify the horse on the grounds that he may have produced the drug himself, and that in the Rules of Racing the definition of a prohibited substance included the description of it as “… a substance which originates externally …”. Next came the shock of Lashkari (GB) returning a positive test for ethorpine (elephant juice) after finishing fourth in the 1985 G1 Breeders' Cup Turf, a race which the horse had won the previous year. Alain de Royer-Dupre was adamant that Lashkari had received no ethorpine and the Aga Khan's lawyers were eventually able to prove that this was a false positive, caused by the incompetence of the testers at Cornell University. Four years later things did not go so well after Mumtaz Mahal's descendant Aliysa (Ire) passed the post first in the Oaks at Epsom and then tested positive for camphor. Michael Stoute assured Aga Khan IV that the filly had not received anything which might have contained this amount of camphor and a long-running legal battle ensued. Eventually, Aliysa was disqualified and the Aga Khan IV consequently withdrew from British racing for four years, only to return in 1994. Five years later, though, two of his horses trained by Luca Cumani failed dope tests which their owner did not dispute and, “dismayed”, he removed all of his horses from the stable. He subsequently ceased to have horses trained in Britain altogether. He maintained his string in Ireland, along with France, and continued to be a staunch supporter of the Irish racing industry, particularly as a generous benefactor to the Curragh racecourse, in the same way that he has been a great supporter of Chantilly. The death of Aga Khan IV, who held citizenship in Switzerland, France (where he was honoured with the title 'Son Altesse'), the United Kingdom and Portugal, represents a grievous loss to the Nizari Ismailis and leaves a big hole in the world in general, his religious significance illustrated by the fact that on Feb. 27, 2014 he became the first faith leader ever to address the Joint Session of the Parliament of Canada. He also leaves a chasm in the racing world, in which he has been one of the most respected as well as one of the most successful figures of the modern era. It is to be hoped that his daughter Princess Zahra, who has clearly inherited both her father's passion for the sport and his deep understanding of bloodstock, will maintain his studs; while his eldest son Prince Rahim becomes Aga Khan V. The post Vale His Highness The Aga Khan IV appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. 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The first reported foals for the G3 Marble Hill Stakes winner Castle Star (Ire) have arrived, Capital Stud announced in a statement on Wednesday. A bay colt out of the unraced Al Sultana (GB) (Charm Spirit {Ire}) was the first arrival in mid-January. Al Sultana, who has already produced two winners, is out of the winning Royal Applause (GB) mare Centime (GB), a full-sister to the GI American Oaks Invitational scorer Ticker Tape (GB) and a half to the G1 Prix Maurice de Gheest winner Brando (GB) (Pivotal {GB}). Breeder Ambrose Madden said of the new arrival, “He's a sharp, strong colt, plenty big–the best foal she's had to date.” Castle Star is also responsible for a bay colt out of the unraced Shamardal mare Raoufah (GB), bred by Rathnee Bloodstock's Cormac O'Flynn, and a bay filly bred by Sam O'Rourke. The filly is out of Lady's Wish (Ire) (Rock Of Gibraltar {Ire}), a half-sister to the G1 Premio Lydia Tesio winner Laganore (Ire) (Fastnet Rock {Aus}). “On first impression we were impressed with her size,” O'Rourke said of his foal. “She is a big filly and strong. She's a lovely bay colour and very pretty with a nice head. [I'm] very pleased and will be sending mares to him [Castle Star] this year for sure.” Castle Star, who also filled the runner-up spot in the G1 Middle Park Stakes and G2 Railway Stakes in his seven starts as a two-year-old, will stand for a fee of €3,000 this season. He covered 92 mares when introduced at a fee of €5,000 in 2024. “Seeing Castle Star's first foals on the ground is an exciting milestone,” Capital Stud's Ger O'Neill said of the son of Starspangledbanner (Aus). “From the moment he joined the roster, Castle Star has been a pleasure to deal with and it's fantastic to be hearing good reports on his foals at this very early stage.” The post First Foals for Capital Stud’s Castle Star appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Group 1 and Royal Ascot-winning trainer Mick Halford has announced his joint venture with Tracey Collins will come to an end shortly and that he will retire before the start of the turf season.View the full article

Maiden Watch: Week of Jan. 27- Feb. 2View the full article

Explore a multitude of captivating racing promotions offered by horse racing bookmakers on Wednesday, February 5. Immerse yourself in the thrill with generous bonus back offers, elevating your betting experience. Delve into these promotions from top-tier online bookmakers to maximise your betting opportunities. The top Australian racing promotions for February 5, 2025, include: Today’s best horse racing promotions Sandown R1-3 | Run 2nd or 3rd Bonus Back up to $25 Run 2nd or 3rd in Races 1-3 at Sandown on Wednesday and receive a bonus back up to $25. PlayUp T&Cs apply. Login to PlayUp to Claim Promo 25% Boosted Winnings – Sandown Get 25% Boosted Winnings paid in BONUS CASH. Fixed win only. First bet only. Cash bet only. Max Bonus $250. Picklebet T&Cs apply. Login to Picklebet to Claim Promo Wednesday Bonus Back 2nd & 3rd Races 1-3 at Sandown & Warwick Farm Auto-applied in Bet Slip. Limits apply. Min 6 runners. Fixed odds only. T&C’s apply. Login to UniBet to Claim Promo 10 Again! – Happy Valley, Riccarton & Warwick Farm Get 10% Boosted Winnings paid in BONUS CASH. Max bonus $100. First bet only. Paid in bonus cash. Cash Bets Only. T&C’s apply. Picklebet T&Cs apply. Login to Picklebet to Claim Promo COPYCASH. GET COPIED. GET PAID – Get paid $0.10 every time someone uses copy bet to copy your bets Earn $0.10 per unique Copy Bet. Max $1000 per week. Copy Cash is real money into your account. Dabble T&Cs apply. Login to Dabble to Claim Promo Odds Drift Protector If the price at the jump is bigger than the price that you took, we will pay you out at the bigger odds Eligible customers. T&C’s apply. Login to Bet365 to Claim Promo Blonde Boosts! Elevate your prices! BlondeBet T&C’s Apply. Login to BlondeBet to Claim Promo Best Tote and Starting Price Guarantees a dividend equal to the highest of the official win dividend paid by the three Australian TAB pools or the official starting price. Maximum stake: $2,000. 18+ Gamble Responsibly. Login to BoomBet to Claim Promo Owners Bonus – Win a bet on your horse & receive an extra 15% of winnings in cash Account holder must be registered as an official owner of the nominated horse. Fixed odds only. PlayUp T&Cs Apply. Login to PlayUp to Claim Promo Daily Exotics Boost Boost your exotics by 20%. Excludes quaddies. Check your Vault for eligibility Login to UniBet to Claim Promo BoomBet Daily Race Returns Use your daily Race Returns to back a runner in ANY RACE you want* and if your horse doesn’t win but finishes in the specified positions, you get your stake back as a bonus bet. 18+ Gamble responsibly. Can be used across any race and code unless specified in customer’s BoomBox. Fix odds, win bets only. Max bonus $50. Login to BoomBet to Claim Promo How does horsebetting.com.au source its racing bonus offers? HorseBetting.com.au meticulously assesses leading Australian horse racing bookmakers, revealing thoroughbred bonus promotions for February 5, 2025. These ongoing offers underscore the dedication of top horse racing bookmakers. In the realm of horse racing betting, when one bookmaker isn’t featuring a promotion, another is stepping up. Count on HorseBetting.com.au as your go-to source for daily rewarding horse racing bookmaker bonuses. Enhance your value with competitive odds and promotions tailored for existing customers. Easily access these offers by logging in to each online bookmaker’s platform. For valuable insights into races and horses to optimise your bonus bets, trust HorseBetting’s daily free racing tips. Horse racing promotions View the full article

Observations on the European Racing Scene turns the spotlight on the best European races of the day, highlighting well-bred horses early in their careers, horses of note returning to action and young runners that achieved notable results in the sales ring. Wednesday's Observations features a Pinatubo (Ire) half-sister to McKulick (GB) (Frankel {GB}). 17.30 Kempton, Nov, £8,000, 3yo/up, f/m, 8f (AWT) Sheikh Mohammed bin Khalifa Al Maktoum's JOY OF DUBAI (GB) (Pinatubo {Ire}) is a daughter of G3 Oh So Sharp Stakes runner-up Astrelle (Ire) (Makfi {GB}) and thus a half-sister to GI Belmont Oaks Invitational heroine McKulick (GB) (Frankel {GB}) and dual Group-winning G1 Matron Stakes third Just Beautiful (GB) (Pride Of Dubai {Aus}). Opposition to the Roger Varian-conditioned debutante includes Ed Walker trainee Champagne On Ice (Ire) (No Nay Never), who is out of a winning half-sister to dual Group 3-winning G1 Derby fifth Hazapour (Ire) (Shamardal). The post Half-Sister To McKulick Set For Kempton Debut appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

By Adam Hamilton The barrier draws haven’t been kind to the Kiwis chasing feature race success at Cranbourne on Saturday night. In the feature, the $100,000 Group 2 Cranbourne Cup, Don’t Stop Dreaming drew wide on the front row (gate six), while Tact McLeod drew the back (nine). Making it worse, defending champion Leap To Fame drew superbly in gate two and will be a $1.10 favourite to bounce back from his narrow defeat in last Saturday night’s Hunter Cup. Tact McLeod will trail through behind Leap To Fame at the start. Most interest will be at the start and whether slick beginner Mach Dan (gate three) can cross Leap To Fame. And, if he does as most expect, whether stand-in driver Greg Sugars pushes forward on Don’t Stop Dreaming and is first to Mach Dan to try and take the lead before Leap To Fame can. That would at least give us a contest. Don’t Stop Dreaming’s stablemate, Oscar Bonavena, backs up from an out-of-character flop in the Great Southern Star final last Saturday to tackle the $60,000 Group 1 Bruce Skeggs Trotters’ Cup at Cranbourne. Under the preferential conditions, Oscar Bonavena will start from gate 11. The other class runners are Mufasa Metro (12), Parisian Artiste (nine) and Aldebaran Zeus (seven). It’s an important night for Oscar Bonavena and Don’t Stop Dreaming to confirm they should push on to NSW to chase the Hammerhead Mile and Miracle Mile respectively. In other news, former pin-up pacer Captain Ravishing has joined Jason Grimson’s stable to target the Miracle Mile. Former trainer Freddy Taiba confirmed the switch and said the six-year-old would join Swayzee on a road trip from Melbourne to Grimson’s Menangle stables later this week. Grimson will be Captain Ravishing’s fifth trainer in a 25-start career, which has been interrupted by injury but still managed 12 wins and over $600,000. The entire hasn’t raced since a second at Gloucester Park on November 29. He ran fourth in the Group 1 WA Pacing Cup two starts back. Captain Ravishing’s last Menangle run was a third in the 2023 TAB Eureka. He also ran second in the Chariots Of Fire that same year. View the full article

Three Grade I winners off the farm in 2024, out of a broodmare band of no more than 28–with dams respectively by Giant Gizmo, Majestic Warrior and Silent Name (Jpn). How do you pull off something like that? Well, Kiki Courtelis makes the customary acknowledgement of luck, and further professes a trust in divine dispensation. She also enthuses about her team at Town and Country. But just as the farm's name reconciles polarities, so its success reflects an inherited ability to turn a question inside out until it becomes an answer. Because when she reflects on her late father's remarkable story, Courtelis identifies his extraordinary ability, whenever presented with a problem, to recast it. He had arrived into the melting pot of postwar America in 1947, aged 20. His parents had once done something similar themselves, in leaving Greece for Egypt. “At that time, Alexandria to the Greeks was like Miami to the South Americans,” Courtelis explains. “But his own dream was always to come to this country. He didn't see a lot of opportunity in Egypt. And he got a first-class ticket, which meant he only had to share hammocks with 16 other people.” He reached the real Miami to match aspiration with perspiration. His daughter lists his jobs, a breathless litany: “He mowed lawns and was a short-order cook and cleaned dance halls and chauffeured for the people he lived with…” Just the four, then? “Yes, but he was going to school full-time!” Courtelis replies. “He learned the language very quickly and went to the University of Miami. When he'd saved enough money, he rented half a duplex and rented out the two other rooms to professors, which enabled him to live there for free. So very entrepreneurial from the get-go. And he hit the ground running when he got out. Miami at that time needed someone like him.” Which city wouldn't, at any time? He started out testing concrete. His employers could see what they were dealing with. “You're going to end up on your own and we want to be part of that,” they told him. “So as you go on, remember us.” And, duly with various partners along the way, he simply applied the same mindset to convert bigger and bigger challenges, in real estate and construction, into bigger opportunities. “Because that was his philosophy,” Courtelis recalls. “Whenever he got stuck, there was always a way to reinvent the problem. For example, there was a beautiful piece of land being sold for 40 cents on the dollar. The problem was, the I-95 went right through the middle. He had investors ready to go and was so frustrated. And he kept going back there, walking round and round and asking himself how to move that road; how to reinvent the problem. “He found out that the land either side of this parcel was all owned by the county. So he got his architect to draw up a whole development plan, took it to the county: 'I'm hoping you can help me with this.' They're seeing tax dollars coming in, they're real happy: 'Well, this is great. What's the problem, Mr. Courtelis?' And he rolls out the vellum paper, and here's I-95 right down the middle. And the county is like, 'Well, who owns this land over here?' Somebody says, 'We do, sir.' So they say, 'Well, Mr. Courtelis, why don't we move the road?' And my dad says, 'Now why didn't I think of that?!'” By this time Alec Courtelis had married Louise (“Lulu”), a blind date at college, who loved horses. So, too, did their little girl, who was riding as early as two. The family's great affinity was with Arabians, and a growing involvement eventually extended–helped by his great friend Frank De Francis–to Alec's foundation of the Arabian Jockey Club of America, and the breed's introduction to racetracks such as Delaware. These sensitive, loyal animals would prove a source of succor as Kiki and her mother absorbed the consecutive loss, to cancer, of both Alec and Kiki's brother Pan. But between a small foothold near Miami (town) and a massively expanded upstate site near Ocala (country), the farm had outgrown itself: boarding, raising and breaking not just their own string, but the entire Arabian breeding stock of Sheikh Mohammed. “And, well, it's quite tiring to go through a couple of illnesses with a family,” Courtelis acknowledges. “And mom and I decided, 'We don't have to do this. We can just do our own.' And then she said, 'You know, what I really want is go to all Thoroughbreds.'” That was 20 years ago. At first, they bred mares in Kentucky and took them to Florida to foal. “But then four of our top mares lost their pregnancies,” Courtelis recalls. “So we realized we needed to keep them [in Kentucky] longer. And mom always wanted one of those pretty antebellum homes.” In 2007 they found just the place, on the Russell Cave Road in Bourbon County. Shannon Potter, initially managing their account at TaylorMade, came aboard as president and together they adapted a proven family expertise with Arabians to a different breed. Call it reinventing a problem. “If you're lunging an Arabian, and a truck dumps a load, the horse will come to you if it's afraid,” Courtelis explains. “Whereas the Thoroughbred will drag you down the road. Arabians are incredibly smart, can really bond with humans. Thoroughbreds are completely different, mentally. So one thing I've learned, that Shannon and I have tried to adopt, is to breed really good minds. Because that's what these Thoroughbreds need, to do what they do. I think a lot of attitude comes from the dam. But it's genetics too: the cross. I see that breeding dogs as well.” Sure enough, whenever they asked Bob Baffert about the first foal (co-bred with Gary Broad) of their $95,000 Giant Gizmo mare, Brooklynsway, they were gratified to hear what lay beneath what became a $2 million, triple Grade I talent. “Bob and his wife always said how everyone in the barn loved Adare Manor,” Courtelis remarks. “She was just very kind and then, when she got tacked up, became all business.” Herself a graded stakes winner with the resilience for four campaigns, Brooklynsway had been acquired on retirement after failing to meet her reserve at $170,000. Her 2-year-old by Uncle Mo (i.e. brother to Adare Manor) was sold privately to join Todd Pletcher, and she's imminently expecting to Curlin. Courtelis credits Potter with finding Brooklynsway. “She was very sound and had won on almost every surface,” Potter explains. “I've actually bought three Giant Gizmo mares, and they've all done really well. So it's a little crazy. It's not that I'm a huge Giant Gizmo fan but, as Kiki always says, sometimes you just need something that's a little different in a pedigree. It's the kind of thing I like to do: get a tough, hard-knocking mare, and breed her to one of the big-name stallions.” A similar model, stakes-placed three years running, was Majestic Presence (Majestic Warrior), a $360,000 Keeneland November purchase in 2017. Her 2020 colt by Into Mischief made $850,000 in Book I at September; and his sister brought $500,000 a year later. Last spring, as Newgate and Denim and Pearls, they respectively won the GI Santa Anita Handicap and GII Beaumont Stakes a month apart. Formidable Man | Benoit The third farm graduate with a 2024 elite score was GI Hollywood Derby winner Formidable Man (City of Light), sold the same September as Denim and Pearls for $375,000. He's out of Fanticola (Silent Name {Jpn}), another hardy campaigner (Grade II winner, raced to six) who had been a $270,000 KeeNov RNA in 2016. (Luckily for purchasers Clear Creek Stud, she slipped the net when returned to the equivalent sale in 2021, culled for $60,000.) So while the private acquisition of the blatantly talented Stopchargingmaria (Tale of the Cat) duly took Courtelis and Lulu to the GI Breeders' Cup Distaff in 2015, other pivotal investments have required more imagination. “If anybody knew exactly what the science behind it was–what's going to make a runner or broodmare, or what's not–you wouldn't have all these people going round the sales searching,” Potter observes. “The whole thing would collapse. And that's just what's so great about the game: you never know. It's the surprise, the gamble.” Kiki Courtelis | Keeneland As Courtelis emphasizes, however, the odds are reduced by her team at the farm, headed by manager Kirt Cahill and assistant Martin Deanda. “Oh gosh, they're awesome,” she says. “Hands-on from birth all the way until we see them go. There's not a better team that grabs ahold of those animals from the get-go, and loves them like their own. We're very blessed.” The objective is to make Town and Country a viable commercial farm: everything goes to the ring, albeit some with more aggressive reserves than others. But it's all far more boutique than the farm's original incarnation, which eventually accommodated 300 of Sheikh Mohammed's Arabians and 100 of their own on 1,100 acres–and, as such, eroded precisely those connections that make that breed special. “I don't miss that scale,” Courtelis admits. “I like having a much more intimate setting for the horses. That way we know them better, too. They're not just a number. And because we have so few mares, we can really give them so much hands-on.” “And watch them pretty close without putting bubble wrap around them,” adds Potter. “We let them be a horse, turn them out and let them do their thing. But we can analyze and scrutinize the feed, from supplements before birth all the way through.” “We try to be very proactive,” agrees Courtelis. “I'm not a wait-and-see kind of person. But no, it's never an exact science.” All the more important, then, to deploy an instinct that conflates the benign legacies of her parents: her mother's horsemanship, her father's business verve. Courtelis only lost Lulu in 2023, 28 years after her father. “She had this kitchen table, and when her home was sold Shannon and I knew we had to figure out a place to put it, because all our decisions were made around that table–with her leading the discussion,” Courtelis says. “She was always right in the thick of it, really was the heart. She'd get in that car every morning and drive around the farm saying hi to everybody…” “…And then call and tell us what we were doing wrong!” intervenes Potter with a chuckle. “Of course, part of it is being able to accept failure, too. Because that's going to happen more often than success. Meaning, 'Hey, messed up. Figure it out. Go on to the next.' As one of our trainers always says, 'Never get too high in this game–and never get too low.'” “Shannon and I have a very strong faith,” adds Courtelis. “We trust that failures are there for us to learn from, and that they're a blessing also.” But if you think about it, that mindset is just a twist on her father's determination to reset any problem. “He had such a creative way of thinking, and I've tried to adopt that in what I'm doing here,” Courtelis says. “A few years back I found myself at the September Sale with only two of five Book I yearlings sold. So I thought to myself: 'Reinvent the problem.' The year before, in November, I'd bought some beautiful mares, pregnant to fabulous stallions, so I packaged three of them together and sold pieces in 10 percent increments. And that saved us at a time when the business was very low. “But in the end, always, it all comes back to the horses. I've done many other things: retail, restaurants. But it's the horses that have my heart. I'm so blessed to be able to do it, and I'll carry on as long as I can.” The post Keeneland Breeder Spotlight: Reinvented Town and Country Maintaining Unchanged Standards appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance will offer a Lexitonian 2025 breeding season for auction from 8 a.m. ET Thursday to 8 p.m. ET Friday. Donated by Lexitonian's trainer Jack Sisterson, this no-guarantee season with breed back to Lexitonian is to benefit Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance. Lexitonian stands at Calumet Farm. “He's a horse who fights,” Sisterson said. “He has the talent, the will, and the heart. He's a class act winning and placing second in multiple Grade I races. I've had a tremendous amount of confidence in him throughout his career because you can run him over any track, and he always knows what to do. Lexitonian brought a lot of great opportunities to our barn which we are forever grateful for–if it were not for the horses, we wouldn't be here. I'm happy for this opportunity to give back to these wonderful horses.” “Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance is excited to work with Jack Sisterson and Calumet to offer this 2025 no guarantee season with breed back to Lexitonian,” said Emily Dresen, Director of Funding & Events, Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance. “A special thank you to Jack Sisterson for his generous donation and support of aftercare.” To register and bid in the two-day only auction, visit: https://stallionseason.cbo.io The post Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance to Auction 2025 Lexitonian Breeding Season appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

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

Whether you consider it just a random squeaking of the hamster wheel, or evidence of some latent order awaiting our discovery, these Thoroughbreds certainly know how to make us stop and think about the strange operation of life. Last Friday it was announced that Miss Macy Sue (Trippi) had died at 22. The very next day, her son Liam's Map produced a Derby contender in GIII Holy Bull Stakes winner Burnham Square. The 20 starting points banked there, moreover, matched those earned two weeks previously in the GIII Lecomte Stakes by Disco Time, a new star for Not This Time–Miss Macy Sue's still more successful son, who famously owes his name to the lucrative success of his half-brother by Unbridled's Song. (“Not this time” being Dennis Albaugh's response when asked whether the mare's latest yearling, by Giant's Causeway, should follow Liam's Map to the sales.) Miss Macy Sue closely combined two of just five named foals out of Ta Wee, the champion sprinter who joined her half-brother Dr. Fager in the Hall of Fame: Ta Wee's daughter by Secretariat, Tweak, as third dam; and her son by Minnestoa Mac, Great Above, as damsire. Some familiar Tartan Farm brands there–and it was actually the farm's general manager, Bryan Howlett, who bred Miss Macy Sue with its trademark inbreeding to dominant females. The best example of that strategy was Quiet American, who shared both a third dam (Cequillo) and a damsire (Dr. Fager) with his own sire Fappiano. And the Albaugh family evidently kept that philosophy in mind when choosing a son of Unbridled for Miss Macy Sue: Unbridled's third dam was a Buckpasser half-sister to Dr. Fager and Ta Wee, and we just noted how Unbridled's sire Fappiano was out of a Dr. Fager mare. That said, Giant's Causeway conveyed no Tartan Farm duplications and perhaps the priority, all along, was simply to complement Miss Macy Sue's Florida speed (sufficient to have secured her a Breeders' Cup podium) with Classic, two-turn influences. Many breeders have sought that kind of balance and ended up with the worst of both worlds, but this mare has twice achieved an optimal, speed-carrying blend. But Liam's Map is himself counterweighted, in Burnham Square, by the work of another remarkable family program. For this gelding represents a third consecutive generation of graded stakes winners homebred by Whitham Thoroughbreds as a result of the $150,000 purchase at the 1992 Keeneland November Sale, through the family's great friend and counselor Frank Penn, of a young Secretariat mare named Listen Well. Liam's Map | Sarah Andrew She had only won a maiden, in a light career, but her dam and two half-sisters were graded stakes winners and she was pregnant to Night Shift. That first foal turned out to be GI Hollywood Oaks winner Listening, but the mare was just getting started. Her next foal, a Storm Bird filly, was unraced but produced GII Amsterdam Stakes winner Listen Here (Gulch) plus the dam of GI Queen Elizabeth Challenge Cup winner La Coronel (Colonel John); while a later daughter by Spinning World was beaten a neck in the GI Del Mar Oaks. In between, moreover, Listen Well came up with GII Santa Ana Handicap winner Beautiful Noise (Sunny's Halo). In turn Beautiful Noise did produce another Grade II winner on turf (Mrs. Revere Stakes) in Linda (Scat Daddy) but otherwise had a fairly thin production record. And Linda, in turn, had made a modest start as a producer–three starters (two by Whitham stallions Fort Larned and McCraken) all bumping along in claimers, with a solitary success between them–by the time she was culled for $55,000 to Springwood at the Keeneland January Sale last year. Her next foal, however, has turned out to be Burnham Square. The Derby trail will have to be its own reward, then: the horse himself has been castrated, his dam sold, his two half-sisters claimed. But he represents a program that has punched far above weight, over the years, and the gratification available in this latest adventure can be judged from the Whithams' fidelity to those horsemen who have served their cause over the years: when Carl Nafzger retired, for instance, they stayed with his assistant Ian Wilkes–who trained Linda, and is now nurturing Burnham Square. These folk come from rural Kansas; the Albaughs from Iowa. Both have quietly developed a formula for repeating talent, conflated in Burnham Square, that we would all do well to emulate–not least their shared priority of horses that can run, rather than merely sell. If Liam's Map and Linda both slipped into other hands, programs like these have wider legacies: most obviously Not This Time, now one of the world's top stallions and already with several sons extending the dynasty founded by Miss Macy Sue. And perhaps destiny has reserved a fitting memorial for that mare for the first Saturday in May, with a stretch duel between Burnham Square and Disco Time. A WIN-WIN SCENARIO Scat Daddy's daughters haven't quite emulated him in terms of producing sire sons of their own–albeit 200 mares for Pappacap in his debut book have given him a rather startling opportunity to do something about that. In the meantime Burnham Square's castration has left him in the same boat as Whitmore, while the portfolio of fillies out of Scat Daddy mares continues to expand. A week after Take Charge Milady (Take Charge Indy) stated her claims as Kenny McPeek's next Oaks filly, in the Martha Washington Stakes, Eclatant (Into Mischief) cut her rivals for the GIII Forward Gal Stakes. Eclatant is out of Downside Scenario, who was claimed by Steve Asmussen for just $40,000 on the final of eight starts (had won a Fair Grounds maiden). She was then sold at the 2018 Keeneland January Sale, to BlackRidge Stables for $250,000, carrying a first foal by Into Mischief. That foal turned out to be Mutasaabeq, a $425,000 yearling purchase by Shadwell who went on to win the GII Bourbon Stakes. (Confusingly her owners gave the same name to an Invincible Spirit (Ire) colt from the same crop, over in Britain, who became a still more accomplished runner and is now standing at the National Stud in Newmarket.) Downside Scenario was duly returned to Into Mischief prior to her return to the same ring in the 2021 November Sale, where she was acquired by Stonestreet for $1.15 million. The filly she was carrying in utero that day was Eclatant. But Into Mischief had already been summoned to the service of this page, having barely started when producing Downside Scenario's older half-sister back in 2015. Catching Diamonds failed to make much impact on the track, despite starting favorite for each of her three starts, and was in fact sent by her owners at Spendthrift straight from her final disappointment for a date with their $6,000 cover Race Day. Their son was sold for $7,500 as an OBS short yearling, and for $40,000 back in the same ring as a juvenile. His name, of course, is White Abarrio–who has just completed his latest revival in the GI Pegasus World Cup. White Abarrio is obviously a wild outlier, by the standards of his sire. But his dam and Downside Scenario have another notable sibling in Cool Cowboy, whose two Group wins in Dubai qualify him as one of the very top earners by Kodiak Kowboy. So it does seem as though some kind of genetic potency must be in play. White Abarrio | Lauren King Their dam Grand Breeze (Grand Slam) is a half-sister to an important mare in Brazil, and their mother in turn is out of Faneuil Lass (Somebody II {Aus}), runner-up in the GI Hollywood Oaks and sibling to GI Matron Stakes winner Fiesta Lady (Secretariat). But around here this becomes a family conspicuous primarily for its cosmopolitan origins, plus a collector's item in Grand Breeze's fourth dam Miss Newcastle, one of the few foals mustered by Coaltown. Co-Horse of the Year in 1949, Coaltown broke a series of world records before unfortunately proving subfertile. Too long ago to be relevant, no doubt. It was certainly a different era: Miss Newcastle made 130 starts across seven campaigns! HUMOR MARES ALWAYS NEED TAKING SERIOUSLY Distorted Humor's late start at stud didn't prevent him being blessed by far greater longevity than Scat Daddy and his daughters have taken significant advantage in widening his legacy. Though Arrogate left us tragically soon, Constitution and Practical Joke are other top guns out of Distorted Humor mares, while younger prospects like Life Is Good, Arabian Lion and Happy Saver are among those that could be contributing in the coming years. It will certainly be a resonant cross that Citizen Bull (Into Mischief) eventually takes to stud, though we didn't learn much about the champion on his return, indulged as he was in the GIII Robert B. Lewis Stakes. His connections must have been just as pleased with their less experienced runner-up, the May 20 foal Rodriguez, who regrouped smoothly after somehow losing his position and switching out. He could prove an important horse for Into Mischief's son Authentic, who has endured such a giddy plunge in fee after his tepid start last year. Citizen Bull | Benoit Incidentally, two others that shaped well in defeat on their sophomore resumption are both out of Distorted Humor mares: Tappan Street (another Into Mischief) pulled nine lengths clear of the third once headed in the Holy Bull, having somewhat set things up for the winner; while Sandman (Tapit) closed much the best on Speed King in the GIII Southwest Stakes. Distorted Humor's sons don't look like they will quite match the legacy of his daughters, but Maclean's Music has one to watch in River Thames, who followed up his TDN 'Rising Star' debut in an allowance at Gulfstream at the weekend. Out of a Discreet Cat mare, we'll have to see how far he can stretch but he's obviously quite a dasher. CAPTAIN COOK'S EPIC WHITNEY VOYAGE The premature loss of John Hendrickson last year could yet have a poignant sequel for his friend Vinnie Viola, who bought a $410,000 Practical Joke colt (through agent Steve Young) from the dispersal at the Keeneland last November. Captain Cook had made his debut just days previously, a troubled midfield in a Churchill sprint, and promptly broke his maiden with a TDN 'Rising Star' romp at Aqueduct at the end of the year. He has now put himself in the Derby picture with his win in the Withers, the extra distance enabling him to draw on one of the deepest families bequeathed by Hendrickson's late wife Marylou Whitney. Captain Cook | Sarah Andrew His third dam is Bird Town (Cape Town)–and if you rewind to her GI Kentucky Oaks success in 2003, you may recall that she already had a further five generations of Whitney homebreds dividing her from an Idle Hour mare named Boys I'm It, who seems to have arrived at Greentree via the famous syndicate deal (along with King Ranch and Ogden Phipps) for the E.R. Bradley estate after his death in 1946. It's just as we said at the outset, then, regarding the dam of Liam's Map and Not This Time. Whether from Macy Sue or Marylou, and whether by the accidents or design of fate, the Derby trail this year is already allowing us to cherish some great legacies. The post Breeding Digest: Lamented Mare Mapping Out the Derby Trail appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Following a successful return to the races, 2-year-old champion male Citizen Bull widened his lead on stablemate Barnes in the second week of the National Thoroughbred Racing Association's Top 3-Year-Old poll, released Feb. 4.View the full article

A five-time winner in Iowa in 2024, Seventeen Black was named the Iowa Thoroughbred Breeders and Owners Association Horse of the Year and top older colt/gelding.View the full article

A total of 373 3-year-olds, led by champion 2-year-old male Citizen Bull, were made eligible to this year’s Triple Crown series with a $600 early nomination payment that was due Jan. 27. This year’s total represents a 7.8% increase from last year.View the full article

The WhatsApp group titled TDN Europe was abuzz on Wednesday evening of last week, after the Charlie Appleby-trained Opera Ballo (Ire) had announced himself as potentially something out of the ordinary with a jet-propelled performance in the first division of the one-mile maiden at Kempton. “Big day for Ghaiyyath!!” pinged the first message from Brian Sheerin, barely seconds after Opera Ballo had powered past the line in a different postcode to his eight rivals, becoming the second first-time-out winner for his Kildangan Stud-based sire in the space of a few hours. It prompted a call to Eamon Moloney the next day which saw Darley's nominations manager confirm what most of us had already deduced from an SP of 4/9. “I know that the Godolphin team thinks an awful lot of Opera Ballo and they expect big things,” he said. “He's started out on that journey in the best possible way.” Certainly, debuts don't come much more impressive than that produced by the son of Ghaiyyath (Ire), so there was an inevitability about Sean Cronin's later message in said WhatsApp group, confirming that 'TDN Rising Star' status had been achieved. It sees Ghaiyyath stand alone as the only stallion to have provided more than one such horse on the all-weather this winter, after his Chantilly maiden winner Mandanaba (Fr) got him off the mark back in November. Now, after that first leg of Opera Ballo's journey has already been so well covered in TDN, it's the job of Winter Watch to consider what comes next. Specifically, could this be the horse we've been looking for all winter, a bona fide Classic contender to row in behind this spring? Blistering Sectionals from Opera Ballo The boring answer is that it's simply too early to be sure, but then Opera Ballo is already one step ahead of stable-mate Notable Speech (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}), who made a successful debut in the second division of the same maiden last year on his way to 2,000 Guineas glory. The difference is that, whilst Notable Speech arrived at Newmarket as a 'TDN Rising Star', it took him until his third start on the all-weather to earn that billing. Opera Ballo scaled that peak on debut with a performance of rare authority, even if it's possible to pick holes in the bare result. It was probably a limited bunch of horses who opposed him, admittedly, while the overall time was around 1.6 seconds slower than the second division which followed. However, what's key is that they went a fairly steady gallop in the early stages of the contest won by Opera Ballo. Not only is that not conducive to fast times, but it's also typically harder to win by a wide margin when a race is run in that manner. What set this colt apart was his ability to quicken off slow fractions as he completed the final two furlongs in just 22.12 seconds–including a sub-11-second penultimate furlong–when the next fastest was 23.44 seconds. At the line Opera Ballo was eight and a half lengths clear of his closest pursuer, doing all of the damage with those rapid closing sectionals, and despite jockey Billy Loughnane resorting to no more than hands-and-heels riding. Moloney indicated that the Godolphin team are minded to follow a similar path to what they did in 2024 with Notable Speech, which makes it likely that we'll see this colt back in action at Kempton before the end of the month in the run race last year as the “European Road To The Kentucky Derby” Conditions Stakes. That ought to be a deeper contest and it will give us a clearer idea of where we stand with a horse who was introduced at 20-1 for the 2,000 Guineas after his debut romp. Impressive debut! @loughnane_billy guides €600,000 purchase Opera Ballo (Ghaiyyath) to a debut success for Charlie Appleby in the race won last year by Notable Speech @godolphin @UnibetRacing | @kemptonparkrace pic.twitter.com/fUs0oHHc1M — Racing TV (@RacingTV) January 29, 2025 The Padre in the Shop Window? Opera Ballo, bred by Ecurie de Cachene out of a full-sister to the dual Group 3 winner Lockwood (GB) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}), was the second most expensive yearling by Ghaiyyath to sell in 2023 when fetching €600,000 at the Arqana August Sale, whereas the sire's Dundalk winner the same day, The Padre (Ire), failed to find a buyer at 60,000gns when offered at Book 2 of the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale. That meant that The Padre sported the colours of his owner-breeder John Halley when he returned an SP of 33-1 for the maiden run over an extended 10 furlongs, with another paternal sibling, Waterford Flow (Ire), being sent off the 7-4 favourite. In the event, it was The Padre who came away with the family bragging rights, and in emphatic fashion, too, with his waywardness in the final furlong clearly not slowing him down as he pulled clear to win by two and three-quarter lengths. To continue the family theme, The Padre is trained by Halley's son, Josh, who told Racing TV afterwards that such a decisive win wasn't as much of a surprise to him as the odds might suggest. “I was hoping he'd do that,” the trainer said, before providing a coy reply when it was put to him by interviewer Fran Berry that the colt had put himself in the shop window with that performance, adding with a laugh, “We'll see what tomorrow brings.” Wherever and for whomever The Padre races next, he's certainly one to keep on the right side with a pedigree which suggests it wouldn't be a bolt from the blue should he turn out to be a black-type performer. He is one of eight winners from nine runners out of the G1 Prix de l'Opera scorer Shalanaya (Ire) (Lomitas {GB})–who was sold by the Aga Khan Studs for €55,000 at the 2019 Arqana December Breeding Stock Sale–with the others including the G3 Premio Ambrosiano third Shalamba (Ire) (Zoffany {Ire}). Impressive The Padre (Ghaiyyath) springs a surprise on debut to win convincingly at 33/1 under Wayne Lordan for Josh Halley @DundalkStadium pic.twitter.com/KKfh53yZGw — Racing TV (@RacingTV) January 29, 2025 Farrell Family Keeps on Giving Joseph O'Brien was out of luck with Waterford Flow, a 220,000gns purchase at Book 2 of the October Yearling Sale, but he made no mistake with another three-year-old on Friday's evening card at Dundalk, with the newcomer Snapaurum (Ire) running out a comfortable winner of the one-mile maiden. Like his stable-mate, Snapaurum was well touted beforehand and this one was never in much doubt as he rewarded favourite backers at odds of 6-4. He was still travelling well within himself when moving up to challenge the leaders with less than two furlongs to run and from there he quickly asserted to win readily by three and a half lengths. Already gelded, JP Farrell's homebred Snapaurum is from a family that O'Brien knows very well, having trained the dam, the dual Group 3 runner-up Snapraeceps (Ire) (Canford Cliffs {Ire}), as well as several of her siblings, including the three-time Listed winner and G2 Beresford Stakes third Snapraeterea (Ire) (Buratino {Ire}). With Coolmore castoff Ten Sovereigns (Ire) as the sire, Snaupaurum's pedigree is one of contrasts, being by a sprinter and out of a mare who showed her best form at around a mile and a half. The way he cruised through this contest suggests you wouldn't be in a hurry to move up in trip and, with further improvement on the cards, he could perhaps emulate Snapraeterea by developing into a useful miler for his powerful yard in 2025. Debutante Snapaurum shows a lovely change of gear to win going away for @JosephOBrien2 in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Median Auction Maiden, under @declanmcdonogh @IrishEBF_ | @DundalkStadium pic.twitter.com/GmdgCZ2nZU — Horse Racing Ireland (@HRIRacing) January 31, 2025 Balding Eyeing Opera Ballo Clash The ammunition at Andrew Balding's disposal in 2025 would be the envy of many trainers, headlined by the high-class older filly Kalpana (GB) (Study Of Man {Ire}) and exciting three-year-old Cool Hoof Luke (GB) (Advertise {GB}), the only horse to have beaten the subsequent dual Group 1 winner Shadow Of Light (GB) (Lope De Vega {Ire}} when landing last year's G2 Gimcrack Stakes. It might be asking a lot to expect Quai De Bethune (Fr) to shoulder his way into that company, but the son of Persian King (Ire) certainly isn't one to sleep on following his victory in the second division of the one-mile maiden at Kempton on Wednesday, as mentioned, in a quicker time than the first won by Opera Ballo. Beaten over eight lengths when finishing third on his debut at Sandown in September, when the electric winner Cosmic Year (GB) (Kingman {GB}) earned 'TDN Rising Star' status, Quai De Bethune had nothing of that calibre in opposition on his second start as he completed a routine success at odds of 2-5. Shaken up to lead entering the final furlong, he just needed to be kept up to his work thereafter to score by two and three-quarter lengths. It would be fair to say that his performance on the clock–the overall time was also at least 1.5 seconds faster than both class 5 handicaps staged on the same card–provides more substance to the form than the horses who chased him home, while assessing the relative merits of this colt and Opera Ballo will be made much easier should Balding follow through with his plan to target the same conditions race run at Kempton later this month. Quai De Bethune's connections certainly have no reason to shy away from that clash with their €75,000 purchase at the BBAG September Yearling Sale. He is the first foal out of an unraced Wootton Bassett (GB) mare who, in turn, is out of an unraced half-sister to the three-time Group 1 heroine Ervedya (Fr) (Siyouni {Fr}), the dam of the G2 Prix Daniel Wildenstein winner and sire Erevann (Fr). Price Tag Lottery at Dunstall Park Before we move on to Godolphin's latest big-money purchase to make a successful debut at Wolverhampton on Monday, it's worth giving an honourable mention to another recent winner at Dunstall Park who was picked up by trainer Jack Jones for just 1,600gns in last year's Tattersalls Online August Sale. Jones has already made quite the impression since sending out his first runners with a licence in May 2022, notably winning last year's Weatherbys Super Sprint with 24,000gns buy Caburn (Ire) (Twilight Son {GB}), and Enola Holmes (Ire) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}) looked another speedy sort cut from the same cloth when landing the six-furlong maiden at Wolverhampton on Saturday. Raced just once as a juvenile when trained by Ollie Sangster, Enola Holmes immediately looked a shrewd purchase in opening her account at the second attempt at odds of 12-1, scampering clear in the final furlong to win by two and a half lengths with plenty in hand from one who came into the race with a BHA rating of 75. Clearly, this is a filly with a good level of ability, speedier too than most on the distaff side of her pedigree. She is the first foal out of the Nathaniel (Ire) mare Jane Marple (GB), who gained her sole career victory over a mile and a half and is a full-sister to the G3 Bronte Cup winner Precious Ramotswe (GB). As for Godolphin's Alpine Trail (Fr) (Dubawi {Ire}), who cost them €550,000 at the same sale where they forked out €600,000 for Opera Ballo, he too is blessed with plenty of stamina on the dam's side of his pedigree as a son of the G3 Prix de Royaumont winner Pollara (Ire) (Camelot {GB}). Pollara herself is a half-sister to the multiple Listed scorer Stormina (Gulch), the dam of the G1 Prix Marcel Boussac heroine Silasol (Ire) (Monsun {Ger}). Sent off the 4-9 favourite for the novice run over an extended nine furlongs at Wolverhampton, Alpine Trail duly obliged in fairly straightforward fashion, impressing most with his strength at the finish after it had taken a while for the penny to drop. This three-length winner is already crying out for a mile and a half and he has the makings of a smart performer at around that trip. One for the boys in blue! The well-bred Alpine Trail wins with a fair bit in hand on debut for Charlie Appleby and @The_Doyler at @WolvesRaces! pic.twitter.com/b2NfCC0Qkd — At The Races (@AtTheRaces) February 3, 2025 Winner in Waiting Lady Lilac (Ire) Inns Of Court (Ire)–Lilac Mist (GB), by Spectrum (Ire) An SP of 100-1 suggests very little was expected of Lady Lilac in the maiden won by Snapaurum at Dundalk, which isn't untypical for one trained by Joseph Murphy, whose horses usually improve for the run. The fact that she ended up being beaten a little over seven lengths in fourth, having made steady headway from her position in rear, was a notable effort under those circumstances, certainly promising plenty for the future. Her half-sister by Gale Force Ten (GB), Galtee Mist (Ire), was a Listed winner for Murphy over seven furlongs, and this filly is one to watch next time when she's unlikely to be a three-figure price. Dancing Teapot (Ire), runner-up at Dundalk (November 22) since publication Padua (Ire), seventh at Kempton (December 4) since publication Marhaba Ghaiyyath (Ire), winner at Lingfield (December 3) since publication Safe Idea (GB), third at Wolverhampton (December 21) since publication Indian Springs (Ire) Spanish Voice (GB) Noble Horizon (GB) Dixieland Blues (GB) City Of God (Ire), winner at Southwell (January 17) since publication War And Love (GB), runner-up at Chelmsford (January 11) since publication Cupola (GB) The post Winter Watch: Opera Ballo Makes Big Statement at Kempton appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

From Havana Grey (GB) to Blue Bresil (Fr), the whole gamut of sires is represented among the youngsters on offer at the Goffs February Sale, which takes place this Wednesday and Thursday. Flat and National Hunt yearlings, stores, horses in training and broodmares will all come under the hammer, with one of the earlier offerings including an unraced Shaman (Ire) half-sister to Group 3 winner and G1 Irish 1,000 Guineas runner-up A Lilac Rolla (Ire) (Harry Angel {Ire}), who is consigned for breeder John Cullinan by Baroda Stud as lot 27. Spurred on by a decent result at this sale last year, Whatton Manor Stud is taking just one horse to Ireland: a yearling colt from the first crop of Baaeed (GB) out of the three-year-old winner Anasheed (GB) (Frankel {GB}). “Under someone else's name we sent a Havana Grey colt last year out of How High The Sky and he came close to topping it,” said Ed Player of Whatton Manor Stud. “Our clients were keen to give it a go. He's a lovely horse who has really pulled himself together in the last few weeks and there are a lot of people looking so hopefully he can shine and sell well.” He continued, “The other thinking was that a lot of pinhookers were short on numbers last year and this was an opportunity with a sexy sire. His brother last year, a gorgeous colt by Night Of Thunder, made 260,000gns as a yearling so they've got a chance of an update so we just thought we'd test the market. “We're all for trying to think outside the box a bit more and hopefully it will work. Obviously my brother-in-law Nick [Nugent] is here and we love trying to support Goffs, they do a great job. Most of ours get sold at Tattersalls but we like to support Goffs as well.” Also of note from the Castlebridge Consignment is a colt (lot 239) by European champion sire Camelot (GB) who is a half-brother to three-time Group 3 winner Shamida (Ire) (Australia {GB}). Meanwhile, Ballynure Park Stud offers a yearling colt by Ghaiyyath (Ire) as lot 104, whose dam Entertainment (GB) (Halling) was runner-up in the Listed Cheshire Oaks and is a half-sister to the GI Arlington Million winner Debussy (Ire) (Diesis). Moyglare Stud Farm is the breeder and consignor of the sole yearling by Study Of Man (Ire) in the sale, lot 267, a colt out of the Listed-placed Titanium Sky (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}) who has already produced the two-year-old winner and G3 EBF Naas Juvenile Sprint Stakes runner-up Sparkling Sea (Ire) (Starspangledbanner {Aus}). Moyglare also consigns a colt by Blue Point (Ire) from the immediate family of Classic winner Homeless Songs (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) as lot 266. The dual Derby winner Harzand (Ire) was represented by his first Grade 1 winner over hurdles at the Dublin Racing Festival over the weekend when Hello Neighbour (Ire) won the Spring Juvenile Hurdle, and there will doubtless be some interest in the yearling colt by the stallion (lot 100) who is offered by The Glebe Farm. The late May foal is out of the eight-time winner and Grade 2-placed hurdler Ejayteekay (GB) (Big Bad Bob), who is herself out of a half-sister to the GI Yellow Ribbon Stakes winner Janet (GB) (Emperor Jones). A colt from the second crop of Space Blues (Ire) features as lot 230 from Charel Park Stud and he is well related to some decent National Hunt runners, notably the multiple Grade 1-winning hurdler Appreciate It (Ire) (Jeremy). Action gets underway at Goffs at 11am on Wednesday and 10am on Thursday. The post Annual Curtain Up at Goffs as February Sale Gets Underway appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

The 2025 Spring Meet Gala, presented by Payson Stud, Inc. benefitting Stable Recovery will be held Saturday, April 19 at Fasig-Tipton in Lexington, KY, the organization announced Tuesday. The evening will celebrate the power of philanthropy, recovery and the transformative work Stable Recovery does in helping individuals rebuild their lives. “We're honored to sponsor the Stable Recovery Gala this year,” said Payson Stud's Christian Erickson. “Their approach to recovery, especially their work with horses and the thoroughbred industry, gives individuals a sense of purpose and helps them find lasting employment. I know Virginia Payton, a trailblazer in the thoroughbred world, would have truly valued this partnership.” The Gala, which serves as one of the organization's major fundraising events, brings together industry leaders, philanthropists and supporters to enjoy a night of dinner, live entertainment and an exciting auction with all proceeds directly benefitting Stable Recovery's programs and its life-changing work. “Christian and Payson Stud Inc. have been supporter of Stable Recovery since its inception, and we are deeply grateful,” said Stable Recovery's Robert Osbourn. “This event will be a remarkable opportunity to showcase the progress and accomplishments of our program participants while shaping a brighter future for our organization.” Interested parties can contact Robert Osbourne here for more information and to RSVP. The post Stable Recovery To Host 2025 Spring Meet Gala Fundraiser appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article