Wandering Eyes

A trans-Tasman ownership double prompted long and enthusiastic celebrations for Ashburton’s Barneswood Farm. Husband-and-wife Chris and Sarah Green and business partner Ger Beemsterboer’s colours were carried to victory at The Valley by Desert Lightning and at Ellerslie by progressive mare Arabian Songbird. “It was brilliant and we were so excited, I was at Moonee Valley and cheering him on,” Sarah Green said. Trained by Peter Moody and Katherine Coleman, Desert Lightning capped off a grand run of form when he won the So You Think Stakes (1500m) after finishing fourth in the Gr.1 Stradbroke Handicap (1400m) and second in the Gr.2 PB Lawrence Stakes (1400m). “He was great at Caulfield to fight like he did and was unlucky in the Stradbroke,” Green said. “Our trainers had confidence, but you never know, and he had a wide barrier to overcome so we were really proud of him. “It was a long weekend, we came home on Sunday morning and had to get up at 3.30am to be at the airport so I was still celebrating with a glass of champagne and a sausage for breakfast.” Out of the High Chaparral mare Isstoora, Desert Lightning was purchased out of Little Avondale Stud’s draft at Karaka for $150,000 on behalf of Barneswood by now retired trainers Peter and Dawn Williams. He won five races for them, including the Gr.1 TAB Classic (1600m) and placed in the Gr.1 Otaki-Maori WFA Classic (1600m) and Gr.1 New Zealand 2000 Guineas (1600m) before relocating to his Pakenham base. “We just love him to pieces, Peter and Dawn trained him so well and Peter and Katherine have kept him in top form as a six-year-old and they have all done excellent jobs,” Green said. “They’re talking maybe the Underwood Stakes (Gr.1, 1800m), but it’s not confirmed, and they’ll see how he does at the beach during the week first.” Arabian Songbird is trained for the partnership by Roger James and Robert Wellwood and powered to victory over 1300m at Ellerslie for the fourth win of her nine-start career. “We watched that with Robert in the bar at Moonee Valley and silenced them with our screaming, she was so far back and the Masa (Hashizume) gave her a great ride,” Green said. “She may come down to Cup Week for what was the Coupland’s Bakeries Mile (now Gr.3 Join TAB Racing Club Mile, 1600m), that’s maybe the path she’ll take.” Pierro mare Arabian Songbird was bred by Jamieson Park and was a $260,000 Karaka buy for Barneswood who also have her half-sister Saint Alice, an earlier $220,000 purchase. The daughter of So You Think and the Redoute’s Choice mare Rare Delight won seven races, including the Listed Kaimai Stakes (2000m) and was a multiple Group placegetter from Williams’ stable. She is at Sledmere Stud in the Hunter Valley after recently produced her first foal, a colt by Wootton Bassett. View the full article

Group One glory eluded Wexford Stables at Ellerslie, but trainers Lance O’Sullivan and Andrew Scott were nevertheless buoyed by the performances of their representatives. Tomodachi fared best of the stablemates when third in the Gr.1 Proisir Plate (1400m) while Checkmate and Waitak were less than four lengths off the winner and Grail Seeker had no luck in the running. The Sir Peter Vela-bred and raced Tomodachi produced a top effort in her elite level debut and first outing since she claimed the Gr.3 Rotorua Stakes (1400m) in the autumn. “We were really pleased and she’ll get her turn and win a nice race,” O’Sullivan said. “She’s definitely got a future and we think she can be better than what she was at the weekend, she’s still very wintery at the present time. “She’s come through the race well and she’ll have three weeks in the paddock now with the idea of running in some of the better races later on, the Telegraph (Gr.1, 1200m) etc.” Checkmate will also enjoy some time off after his midfield finish on Saturday. “He’ll go to the paddock for a bit, probably close on three weeks out, with the idea of getting him ready for a race like the Rich Hill Mile (Gr.2, 1600m) and the Karaka four-year-old Mile,” O’Sullivan. “There’s a lot of improvement in him and he blooms a bit later in the season, but we were very pleased with his performance and he’s certainly up to them.” He won the Listed Armacup Stakes (1500m) and placed in both the Gr.2 Auckland Guineas (1400m) and $3.5 million NZB Kiwi (1500m) last term. Waitak will remain in work after the rub of the green went against him at Ellerslie. “He was good and didn’t get much of a crack at them,” O’Sullivan said. “He will carry on and run in the mile (Gr.1 Howden Insurance, 1600m) in three weeks’ time, that’s a nice progression for him.” Grail Seeker finished one spot behind Waitaki in 12th after she lost momentum early in the run home when shut out of a gap. “She will run in five weeks’ time in the Sweynesse Stakes (Gr.3, 1215m), we’ll get a very good line on her and you’d think she’d be awfully hard to beat, if not she’d need a good excuse,” O’Sullivan said. “She looks terrific and Andrew and I are pleased with the progress she’s made.” Not surprisingly, Grail Seeker was also named New Zealand’s 2024/25 Champion Sprinter-Miler at New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing’s black-tie event in Hamilton on Sunday evening. “We looked through it and thought she’d get it, she only had the four starts and won two Group Ones (Tarzino Trophy, 1400m), Telegraph (1200m),” O’Sullivan said. View the full article

Harness Racing New Zealand’s Blue September fund-raiser has got off to a flying start. The campaign officially started at Winton last Thursday and already there is more than $12,000 in the kitty for the New Zealand Prostate Foundation. Money is raised every time one of the 11 ambassadors wins a race, through the drivers’ individual sponsors plus contributions from clubs and HRNZ ($100 each). So far there have been 13 wins, with the total currently standing at $12,140. Nathan Williamson kicked the 2025 campaign off on the right note with three wins at Winton with John Dunn following that up with four more at Addington on Friday. With an impressive list of sponsors every win Dunn has adds $1360 to the cause. Blair Orange has also had four winners so far, with the other two successful drivers being his son Harrison and Matty Williamson. This is the fifth year that HRNZ has been involved in Blue September, with last year’s campaign raising more than $40,000. From September 18-21 will be the first Big Blue Drive. It’s a Donation Drive weekend aimed at raising funds for research. Everyone’s encouraged to wear blue, with spot prizes awarded to those wearing the most striking outfits at Addington and Alexandra Park as well as raffles and other activities throughout the weekend. On Thursday September 18, Winton and a “Blokes Night” at Cambridge will kick things off before the campaign moves to Addington and Auckland (Friday). It will then wind up at Motukarara on Sunday, September 21. The meeting will also feature two male only races and the ever popular Blue Bolt where the ambassadors “sprint” 100 metres down the home straight. More details on the Blue Big Drive, as well as other Blue September news, will be on the hrnz website and social media channels throughout the month. Anyone keen to contribute to the campaign or sponsor an individual driver can contact courtney@hrnz.co.nz View the full article

Two new schemes, with the joint goal of getting more mares in foal, have been announced in time for the 2025 breeding season. The New Zealand Standardbred Breeders Association (NZSBA) has created a database of mares that are available right around the country while the North Canterbury-based Wai Eyre Farm has come up with a new “Lease to Buy” programme. NZSBA : The NZSBA’s live table of all available mares is an interim step before it launches its Breeders Exchange platform later this month. It is an easy to use guide to see what mares are available and where they are based. To see the available mares click here http://bit.ly/4nebIVK Got a mare you won’t be breeding this year? It’s not too late to add her to the list! List your mare here: http://bit.ly/45YyqtZ The database updates automatically as new entries are added. To see more about the NZSBA click here Wai Eyre Farm : Wai Eyre Farm in conjunction with Dancingonmoonlight Farm and Yabby Dam Farms is again looking for broodmares. They want : Mares for sale Mares and Fillies currently racing for sale or lease Lease mares for us to breed They have many options, including discounts, in place to help breeders. The Farm had also announced what it says is an “industry first”. It is going to trial a Lease to Buy Program for a select number of mares that it will then breed to a selection of its stallions. In the first instance there will be no cost. Breeders will then have the option to purchase the resulting foal at an agreed price, at weaning. Wai Eyre says the program takes away the inherent risks involved with breeding and will give breeders confidence knowing that there will be a viable weanling at the end of the process. For more details : Phone Lisa 03 312 6338 or Darryl 0274 732 250 Email: admin@waieyrefarm.co.nz www.waieyrefarm.co.nz View the full article

By Mike Love Nearly two years after making his debut Verducci broke his maiden status at start number 29 at Methven yesterday. The six-year-old Sportswriter gelding took out the Mt Hutt Motels Mobile Pace for West Melton trainer-driver Jessica Young-Grant, after placing eight times previously. It was Young-Grant’s 128th success in the sulky and her third as a trainer. “It was a good win. He’s been an enigma. He’s a super track worker,” said Young-Grant. Young-Grant said her expectations had been set high early in the gelding’s career. “When he ran second in his first start I thought ‘shit we’re going to win one soon.’ But here we are 29 starts later,” she said. In what was an eventful race with She’s A Major Act and Ideal Conqueror playing cat and mouse on a fast tempo, the race was set up for a swooper. Young-Grant was able to watch everything unfold from back in the field. Verducci was checked at the 400 metres, and was in fact in a gallop dead last at the top of the straight. Young-Grant and Verducci quickly recovered to get a roll on with a huge run to pick them up and win by half a length at the line. “It’s always a good run when they come from last,” Young-Grant said. Young-Grant said she has persevered with the gelding. “He wouldn’t be around in most other stables,” she said. Recent form had given some encouragement. “He was a bit unlucky at Addington two starts ago. But even so we were more hopeful than confident today,” Young-Grant said. Verducci is out of Roxy Bromac, a mare that Young-Grant drove to seven wins. “She was such a little darling. I was a junior then. She kinda got me on the map as a driver. She had speed. She could win from anywhere and tried so hard,” Young-Grant said. View the full article

Eager to improve on a successful second season in Hong Kong, Mark Newnham is banking on the brilliance of champion jockey Zac Purton in his bid to strike at Happy Valley’s first meeting of the term on Wednesday night. After a strong debut campaign in the city with 31 wins, Newnham made impressive progress to notch 44 victories last term highlighted by My Wish’s success in the Classic Mile. The astute Australian handler has one simple aim for the new season. “I’ll just try to do better than last...View the full article

Returning from a victory on the Aug. 28 opening day card at Kentucky Downs, Midway Racing's Street Beast pulled away to a seven-length victory in the $1 million Juvenile Mile Stakes Sept. 7.View the full article

Fred Mo quickly moved to the front of the field and won in his second career start, giving his sire Jess Mo his first winner Sept. 7 at Emerald Downs. View the full article

Looking to stay perfect and attain his first graded win for the trophy case, Hey Nay Nay (Ire) (No Nay Never) ran on nicely to capture the GIII Del Mar Juvenile Turf Stakes on Sunday afternoon at the seaside oval. The $300,000 Keeneland September grad made his debut a winning one going from pillar to post while sprinting over the Santa Anita turf course June 1. The John Sadler trainee shipped across the country to contest the Tyro Stakes at Monmouth Park and he passed that test with flying colors when he won by seven lengths over four others. Set for a much bigger field and bet down to even-money here, the favorite was beaten to the punch after the bell by a longshot who stubbornly wrangled the lead away by using his position to the inside. Hey Nay Nay relaxed heading into the first turn and took up a spot just off the speed to the outside. On hold up the backstretch, jockey Hector Berrios asked the question around the far turn and the dark bay was itching to answer. Hey Nay Nay started to apply pressure just before the top of the lane and he took control turning for home. With a healthy margin to cut into, Plutarch (Into Mischief) did his best to run late, but he could not get to the winner. The final running time was 1:35.57. Lifetime Record: 3-3-0-0. Sales History: $300,000 KEESEP '24. O-Hronis Racing LLC and Iapetus Racing LLC; B-Lynch Bages, Camas Park & Summerhill B/S (Ire); T-John W. Sadler. #5 HEY NAY NAY ($4.00) is 3-for-3 and a two-time stakes winner with a victory in the $100,000 Del Mar Juvenile Turf Stakes (G3) at @DelMarRacing. @HIBerrios was in the irons for trainer @sadlerracing and owners @Hronis_Racing and Iapetus Racing. pic.twitter.com/j5sFLqukKB — FanDuel Racing (@FanDuel_Racing) September 8, 2025 The post Hey Nay Nay Runs To Odds And Stays Perfect In Del Mar Juvenile Turf appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Unlock a range of exciting racing deals from Australia’s top horse racing bookmakers this Monday, September 8. Take your punting to the next level with money-back specials, bonus-back offers, and boosted odds. These promotions give you more ways to win and add extra value to your Monday racing bets — all from trusted online betting sites. Here are the standout Aussie racing promotions for September 8, 2025: Top horse racing offers for today 10% Winnings Boost! – Tatura Get 10% Boosted Winnings paid in BONUS CASH. First eligible bet per race. Must apply Promotion in betslip. Cash bets only. Max bonus $100. Eligible customers only Login to Picklebet to Claim Promo Bet Boost | Monday Thoroughbred Meetings Get a bet boost on thoroughbred races around Australia on Monday. Eligible customers. Login to Bet365 to Claim Promo Owners Bonus – Win a bet on your horse & receive an extra 15% winnings in cash Max Payout $2000. Account holder must be registered as an official owner of the nominated horse. Fixed odds win bets on Australian thoroughbred races only. Excludes boosted, multi, live and bonus bets. PlayUp T&Cs apply. Login to PlayUp to Claim Promo Blonde Boosts! Elevate your prices! BlondeBet T&C’s Apply. Eligible Customers Only. Login to BlondeBet to Claim Promo Daily Exotic Boosts Boost your exotics by up to 20%. Available on Exactas, Quinellas, Trifectas & First Fours. Excludes Quaddies. Check your vault for eligibility. Login to Unibet to Claim Promo Odds Drift Protector | If Your Horse Drifts, You Get The Bigger Price Only available on Australian Horse Racing Fixed Price Win bets placed from 8am AET the day of the race. Eligible customers. Login to Bet365 to Claim Promo Copycash – Get Copied. Get Paid. Get paid $0.10 every time someone uses Copy Bet to copy your bets. Eligible Customers Only. Login to Dabble to Claim Promo Daily Multi Insurance Any Race. Any Runner. Any Odds. Get a Bonus Back if your Multi loses by a specified number of legs. Fixed odds only. Check your vault for eligibility. Login to Unibet to Claim Promo Where do we find these bookmaker offers? At HorseBetting.com.au, our team keeps a close eye on the latest promos from Australia’s most popular horse racing bookies — so you don’t miss a thing. We dig through the daily deals and highlight the best value racing offers for Monday, September 1. While some bookmakers pause their promos, others ramp up with can’t-miss specials — and we bring it all to you in one place. Bookmark HorseBetting.com.au for your go-to guide to the freshest racing bookmaker promotions. From enhanced odds to cashback perks, there’s something for every punter. Just log in to your account with any featured bookie to activate your chosen bonus. Need help picking winners? Don’t forget to check our daily free racing tips to make the most of your bonus bets. Horse Racing Promotions View the full article

In just his second outing, Brant turned in a professional victory in the Del Mar Futurity, beating stablemate Desert Gate, both trained by Bob Baffert.View the full article

Zedan Racing Stable's Boyd (c, 2, Violence–A Taste of Red, by Street Boss), a $1.05-million purchase at the Fasig-Tipton Midlantic May sale, bound home an effortless wire-to-wire victor in his debut at Del Mar Sunday, earning the 'TDN Rising Star' label. The chestnut colt, sent off at even money, was hustled of the gate and was easily in front through a quarter in :21.32 and he turned for home three lengths in front through a half in :43.91. Well in front down the lane, Boyd gave his backers their only anxious moment when he appeared to drift in and brush the rail in upper stretch, but he was soon righted by Tyler Gaffalione and glided home a six-length winner, completing the 5 1/2 furlongs in 1:02.79. Lifetime Record: 1-1-0-0. O-Zedan Racing Stable. B-Nasser Omihira (Ky). T-Bob Baffert. Boy oh BOYD ($4.20)! The juvenile colt by Violence broke his maiden in dominant fashion in R6 at @DelMarRacing. @Tyler_Gaff was aboard for trainer @BobBaffert and owner @ZedanRacing. pic.twitter.com/V0uC0krWyz — FanDuel Racing (@FanDuel_Racing) September 7, 2025 The post Violence’s Boyd Blasts Home a ‘TDN Rising Star’ in Del Mar Debut appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Godolphin homebred Quiet Street (f, 2, Street Boss–Serene, by Tapit), a debut winner going 5 1/2 furlongs over the Saratoga lawn Aug. 13, powered to the lead late to take the $1-million Untapable Stakes at Kentucky Downs Sunday. The 2-1 shot settled off the pace early, tipped out to the center of the course for the stretch run and produced a quick turn of foot to garner the one-length victory. Snow Face Princess (Midshipman) was second and Believe in Magic (Not This Time) was third. Lifetime Record: 2-2-0-0. O/B-Godolphin (Ky). T-William Mott. QUIET STREET ($6.64) jumped into the fray late and flew home under @JuniorandKellyA in the $1,000,000 Untapable Stakes @KYDownsRacing. Bill Mott trains the homebred daughter of Street Boss (@DarleyAus) for @Godolphin. The 2YO is now 2-for-2. pic.twitter.com/sAN7U0l0S3 — FanDuel Racing (@FanDuel_Racing) September 7, 2025 The post Street Boss’s Quiet Street Makes All the Noise in Untapable appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

A speed demon by all accounts coming into the GI Del Mar Futurity, 'TDN Rising Star' Brant (Gun Runner–Tynan, by Liam's Map) blazed out of the gate and never relinquished the lead to take down the top level race at the seaside oval on closing day. The topper from the OBS March sale who was acquired by Zedan Racing for a cool $3-million at the auction, was named 'Rising Star' after a sparkling debut at Del Mar July 26. Backed as the heavy favorite here, Brant broke inwardly at the bell, but soon came online to lead up the backstretch. The colt was pressed around the far turn and his stablemate Desert Gate (Omaha Beach) was ready to throw down the gauntlet at the top of the lane. Brant was ready for the match and dug down deep to earn the prize as he won by a length in the end. The final running time was 1:21.92. This was Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert's 19th Del Mar Futurity victory. Lifetime Record: 2-2-0-0. Sales History: $200,000 '24 KEESEP; $3,000,000 '25 OBSMAR. O-Zedan Racing Stables; B-PTK, LLC (KY); T-Bob Baffert. #2 BRANT ($2.20) held off a challenge from stablemate Desert Gate to win $300,000 Del Mar Futurity (G1) at @DelMarRacing. The $3 million son of @Three_Chimneys' Gun Runner was piloted by Flavien Prat for @BobBaffert and @ZedanRacing. pic.twitter.com/kFa7svIKvB — FanDuel Racing (@FanDuel_Racing) September 7, 2025 The post Venga, Venga! Gun Runner’s Brant Made Of Stern Stuff In Del Mar Futurity Win appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Midway Racing's Street Beast (c, 2, Street Sense–Flower Party {Ire}, by Duke of Marmalade) romped home a much-the-best winner of the $1-million Global Tote Juvenile Turf Mile Sunday at Kentucky Downs. The even-money favorite, coming off a maiden-breaking score in a 6 1/2-furlong allowance over the Kentucky Downs course Aug. 28, broke sharply, but ceded his early advantage to Baytown Dreamer (Mendelssohn). The pacesetter turned into the stretch with a clear advantage, but saw his lead quickly diminish as Street Beast strode to the lead and stormed clear to score by some eight lengths. Awesome Connection (Connect) was second and Baytown Dreamer was third. Lifetime Record: 3-2-1-0. O-Midway Racing. B-Sunnybrook Stable (Ky). T-Ben Colebrook. WHAT A BEAST!! STREET BEAST ($4.08) wheeled back in 10 days to win the $1,000,000 Juvenile Mile Stakes at @KYDownsRacing. A fantastic training job by @colebrookstable on the Street Sense (@DarleyAmerica) colt owned by Midway Racing. @luanmachado85 piloted the 2YO. pic.twitter.com/EDkvW5D4J0 — FanDuel Racing (@FanDuel_Racing) September 7, 2025 The post Street Sense’s Street Beast Romps in Juvenile Turf Mile appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

After upsetting the Prix du Moulin (G1) at Longchamp Sept. 7, trainer Francis Graffard said he's eyeing the Breeders' Cup Mile (G1T) at Del Mar Nov. 1 with Sahlan.View the full article

Trainer Troy Corstens was moved to tears after injury-prone gelding Baraqiel overcame a career of setbacks to capture the Moir Stakes (G1) at The Valley Sept. 6, delivering one of the most emotional victories of his career.View the full article

Resolute Bloodstock and Philip Baron Von Ullmann's Goliath returned to winning ways at the group 1 level when landing the Grosser Preis von Baden (G1) in Germany Sept. 7.View the full article

With victories in the Korea Cup (G3) and Korea Sprint (G3), Diktaean and Self Improvement have clinched berths to the Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile (G1) and Sprint (G1), respectively, through the Breeders' Cup Challenge Series.View the full article

Tuesday, Lyon Parilly, France, post time: 14:12, CRITERIUM DE LYON-Listed, €54,900, 2yo, 8fT Field: Mefie Toi (Fr) (De Treville {GB}), Siciliano (Fr) (Time Test {GB}), Special Wood (Fr) (Wooded {Ire}), Kiss Melody (Ire) (Almanzor {Fr}), Family Secret (GB) (Victor Ludorum {GB}), Baklawa (Fr) (Stunning Spirit {GB}), Here I Bow (Fr) (Bow Creek {Ire}), Ozone (Fr) (Lope De Vega {Ire}). TDN Verdict: Craig Bernick's supplementary entry Special Wood heads into this stakes debut with a two-for-two record and was last seen downing Saturday's Listed Criterium de l'Ouest short-head runner-up Zambezi in the second of two starts at Vichy. She is one of three undefeated entries and dangers include Alain and Gerard Wertheimer's Ozone, who notched an impressive debut triumph tackling 7 1/2 furlongs at Saint-Cloud in July, and Gerald Mosse trainee Kiss Melody, who opened with a win over the same trip at Deauville last month. Remi Fradet contender Baklawa was two lengths adrift of Special Wood when the pair met in July and has since shed maiden status in style at La Teste. This open edition also features the dual scorers Mefie Toi and Siciliano, while Francis Graffard saddles the once-raced Family Secret, who ran third in Deauville's €160,000 Arqana Series des Pouliches last month. [Sean Cronin]. Click here for the complete field. The post Black-Type Analysis: Supplemented Special Wood Leads Listed Field at Lyon Parilly appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Observations on the European Racing Scene turns the spotlight on the best European races of the day, highlighting well-bred horses early in their careers, horses of note returning to action and young runners that achieved notable results in the sales ring. Monday's Observations features a sibling to a Classic winner. 14.32 Windsor, £6,800, Nov, 2yo, 6f 12yT Oliver Cole trainee GENEROUS RASCAL (GB) (Showcasing {GB}), who was knocked down for 260,000gns at Tattersalls' December Foal and October Book 1 sales, is a half-brother to five black-type performers headed by G1 2,000 Guineas and G1 Dewhurst Stakes hero Chaldean (GB) (Frankel {GB}). The March-foaled bay faces a baker's dozen in this low-key debut. The post Half-Brother to Chaldean Set for Windsor Debut appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

A record-shattering total of $25,385,003 was wagered on Saturday's 12-race card at Kentucky Downs, a press release from the track said late on Saturday. Six of the races were stakes. Each race featured at least 10 starters, and 10 races had 11 or more. The previous Kentucky Downs wagering record was the $21,184,941 wagered last year on the corresponding day, reflecting an increase this year of more than $4.2 million. The post Kentucky Downs Smashes Single Day Mark With Over $25 Million Wagered On Saturday appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

LEXINGTON, KY – Domestic and international shoppers galore were steadily making their way through the sales barns on a blissful Sunday morning in the Bluegrass–the quiet before the storm–a day before bidding opens for the 12-day Keeneland September Yearling Sale in Lexington. Following a competitive 2-year-old sales season this spring, the yearling auctions opened with strong demand across town in July and continued in upstate New York last month, leaving consignors optimistic of a strong market a day before the industry's bellwether yearling auction begins. “I think everybody on the sales grounds feels very positive about the market after a very strong Saratoga,” said Four Star Sales Kerry Cauthen. “I think we all sit here and look at the tea leaves and feel like we would expect this to be a very good sale, too.” Buyers will have plenty to look at over the next two weeks, with 4,692 yearlings representing the largest Keeneland September catalogue since 2010. “That really comes back to the breeders,” Keeneland's Senior Director of Sales Operations Cormac Breathnach said of the larger catalogue. “The breeding industry is so sophisticated. The breeders are really experts at what they do. They are quicker to cull mares than they would have been in the past. The stallions are extremely strong and deep, especially when you include the yearling first-crop sires. There is a tremendous wealth of good, quality horses.” The depth of quality offerings through the auction led the sales company to eschew the auction's traditional final Book 6 section and instead designate the final four days of the auction as Book 5A and Book 5B. “We just want everyone to know any connotation that might be associated with Book 6 just doesn't really apply this year,” Breathnach said of the distinction. “There really is depth and quality all the way through the 12 days.” Of the paradox of an expanding September catalogue with a declining foal crop, Breathnach said, “The commercial breeders are very active, as well as at a high level. So that side of the industry is holding up better, maybe, then the breed-to-race side. So the decline of the foal crop is probably more from that sector than commercial breeding. And then I feel, hopefully, [the larger catalogue] is an endorsement of our sale, that the market here has been so strong. We have set record averages the last four years and two record medians and three of the top four grossing sales, so I would like to think that there is some recognition of that.” During last year's September sale, 2,735 horses grossed a record $411,749,500, while the average was a record $150,548 and the median was a record-tying $70,000. Asked if he thought the 2025 auction could surpass those lofty standards, Breathnach said with a laugh, “That would be a brave claim. So we will let the horses do the talking on that.” Consignors watching the foot traffic at the sales barns Saturday and Sunday certainly found reasons to expect another strong renewal of the September sale. “It's been great activity,” said Mark Taylor of Taylor Made Sales Agency. “It's been very busy. We actually ran some metrics on it and we were about 15% up on shows at the end of the day yesterday and today has continued to be very busy. That doesn't always translate into the sale being any better than last year, but you like to see the foot traffic and we are very happy.” Taylor said he was seeing a diverse group of buyers on the sales grounds, including some who may be planning on staying longer than they traditionally have. “There are definitely a lot of Japanese buyers around,” Taylor said. “We have all of the major players domestically and there are a lot of Europeans. The Europeans players, from what I see, have expanded to where they like to stay longer. They have sales that are going on in Europe that some of them have to get back for, but a lot of them are inquiring about when we are moving horses in. They want to get their eyes on more flesh before they get out of here. I think American-bred runners are doing great internationally and they want the Kentucky-bred product that we have on display here.” Headley VanMeter will present his first Keeneland September consignment under his VanMeter Sales banner, starting off Monday with a pair of well-bred colts. “It's really special to be here at Keeneland September and in Book 1,” VanMeter said amongst the dappled sunshine in front of his Barn 15 Sunday morning. “This is why you breed horses. This is why you want to get involved in the game. It's really cool to be up here with these two colts that we raised on the farm. The Uncle Mo colt out of Marley's Freedom is out of a Grade I winner and a half-brother to a Grade I winner, so pedigrees don't get much better than that. And of course, we have the Flightline colt who is a half-brother to Golden Pal.” Following its Book 1 offerings, VanMeter Sales will be back in action from Book 3 through the end of the auction. “Traffic has been really steady,” VanMeter said of the activity he has seen so far. “There have been a lot of familiar faces and there are some new ones coming. It feels like the atmosphere over the next couple of days will be really good.” The Keeneland September sale will open with a pair of Book 1 sessions–Monday and Tuesday–beginning at 1 p.m., and will continue with Book 2 sessions Wednesday and Thursday beginning at 11 a.m. Following a dark day Friday, the auction continues through Sept. 20 with sessions beginning daily at 10 a.m. While the competitive top end of the market on offer during the auction's first four days can be expected to be reliably strong, consignors hope a trickle-down effect of buyers shut out in Books 1 and 2 will carry the auction into its second week. “I think when you have a very strong Book 1 and Book 2–I watched it happen all through last year–you have those people who wanted to participate in Book 2 and they might not get to participate until Book 4,” Cauthen said. “When that happens, it carries all the way through.” What makes the Keeneland September sale special, according to Taylor, is the sheer numbers that present buyers with boundless opportunity. “Keeneland September is a different animal–the volume is just a completely different thing,” Taylor said. “I think we have seen a lot of strength for select sales. Saratoga was extremely strong, but that's a really strong group of hand-picked physicals. So you are going to see more opportunities for buyers to find value here. You also have a lot more by each stallion. A lot of times, in the era we are in of big [stallion] books, on a given day, you might have 20 by that sire selling, maybe 30. So if you are willing to do your homework, and look and give each one a chance, you might be able to find a really good deal. That is what I am encouraging people to do. To keep working. There is quality in quantity, both at Taylor Made and the sale as a whole. Those top horses are going to be competitive, but there is going to be some value. There always is at Keeneland September. There are a lot of incentives to be buying horses and there is no place in the world like Keeneland September if you are looking for yearlings.” That potential was on display at the Taylor Made consignment last year when a colt by Into Mischief sold for $650,000 to Spendthrift Farm. Now named Ted Noffey, the colt gave his half-sister by Munnings who sells with Taylor Made Monday an update with his win in the GI Hopeful Stakes last week. “You love a timely update and with Ted Noffey the timing couldn't have been better,” Taylor said. “And the way he won was just breathtaking. It's really cool to think he was just walking around right here in this barn this time last year, a totally unproven horse who never had a saddle on him and Spendthrift stepped up and took a shot. They have developed him beautifully and it looks like he is going to have a spot in their stallion barn. We raised him on the farm for Marie Jones and she has a great program. We were always biased towards him. We loved him.” Taylor Made is also riding the wave of success of Not This Time and will offer 10 yearlings by its all-conquering stallion during Book 1. “Not This Time is on such a roll right now,” Taylor said. “And we are blessed to have quite a few of them in our Book 1 consignment. It's just one of the most fun times I've enjoyed in the horse business, selling this many Not This Times.” Hips one through 183 will be offered during Monday's first Book 1 session of the Keeneland September sale, with hips 191 through 374 scheduled to be offered Tuesday. The post ‘No Place in the World Like Keeneland September:’ 12-Day Bellwether Auction Begins Monday appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Ka Ying Rising won the Opening Day feature in Hong Kong easily over Lucky Sweynesse and both champion sprinters now head for overseas assignments.View the full article

Racing at York on Sunday was marred by a nasty incident in the feature Sky Bet Starman Garrowby Stakes, with both Jim Crowley and Trevor Whelan having to be taken to hospital with suspected lower-leg injuries. Crowley was riding the William Haggas-trained favourite Almeraq when the son of Dark Angel clipped heels and came down entering the final furlong. Whelan's mount Tiger Bay was following close behind and was brought down, having been left with nowhere to go. Miraculously both horses escaped largely unscathed, but Crowley and Whelan were treated on the track for some time before being taken to Leeds General Infirmary. William Derby, clerk of the course and chief executive at York, said, “Both jockeys were conscious and talking. The assessment that I've got, although they will need further assessment, is that they have lower-limb injuries – Trevor Whelan to his ankle and Jim Crowley to his lower leg. That's the information I have at this stage. “Both horses are back in the stables and largely okay with a few bruises.” The post Jim Crowley and Trevor Whelan Taken to Hospital Following York Incident appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article