Wandering Eyes

The second half of 2025 will begin for Sovereignty July 26 when he faces four rivals in the $500,000 Jim Dandy Stakes (G2) at Saratoga Race Course, a race for 3-year-olds with an important meaning attached to it.View the full article

2024 Sovereign Award champion 3-year-old filly Caitlinhergrtness returns to the synthetic in hopes of reclaiming her top form in the July 26 CA$150,000 Trillium Stakes (G3) at Woodbine. View the full article

Ryan Moore was able to control Thursday's G3 Saudi Cup Silver Flash Stakes from an early stage on the hot favourite Composing (Wootton Bassett) and duly extended the admirable record of Aidan O'Brien in this year's juvenile Pattern races. Soon in front, the Curragh maiden winner dictated on her own terms and kicked turning for home to dominate Leopardstown's seven-furlong contest. Skydance (Night Of Thunder) was 3 1/4 lengths behind the 4-9 favourite in a slowly-run affair which was over two seconds slower than the preceding maiden. “We're delighted with her, she's a lovely straightforward filly,” O'Brien said after greeting his 15th Silver Flash winner. “She won lovely the last day and Ryan loved her. She was very professional. She'll go for the Debutante Stakes at the Curragh next and could be a filly for the Moyglare.” A 15th win in the Silver Flash for Aidan O'Brien as Composing bosses proceedings in the G3 event @LeopardstownRC pic.twitter.com/4aILBz1lZ0 — Racing TV (@RacingTV) July 24, 2025 The post Composing Bosses The Silver Flash, Debutante Next appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Delaware Park has canceled the live racing card scheduled for Friday, July 25, due to the excessive heat index forecast by the National Weather Service, which is expected to exceed 105º for the region. View the full article

A winner of two of his three starts at distances up to a mile, Juddmonte homebred Garamond (Uncle Mo) will try to atone for a disappointing effort when heavily favored in the NYRA Bets Pegasus Stakes in Friday's GII Amsterdam Stakes at Saratoga. A popular debut winner going Friday's 6 1/2-furlong distance at Tampa back in late January, Garamond was a very sound third to Flood Zone (Frosted) making his stakes debut in the GIII Gotham Stakes going the one-turn eight-furlong configuration at Aqueduct Mar. 1. The bay colt set strong fractions and led every step of the way to best 'TDN Rising Star' Cornucopian (Into Mischief) by 3 1/4 lengths in a first-level allowance going a mile on Long Island Apr. 27, good for a 99 Beyer, but things went pear-shaped in the Pegasus, as he never looked comfortable over a heavily rain-affected strip at the Jersey Shore and struggled home last of the six at 3-5. Four of Friday's seven remaining entrants exit unplaced efforts in the June 7 GI Woody Stephens Stakes and a few of those could earn a rematch with that contest's winner 'TDN Rising Star' Patch Adams (Into Mischief) in the Aug. 23 GI H. Allen Jerkens Stakes with a bold showing here. Macho Music (Maclean's Music) caused a 13-1 upset in the GII Pat Day Mile at Churchill May 3 and made the early running in the Woody Stephens before drifting back to finish in a dead heat for seventh. Irad Ortiz, Jr. takes over from the fence on Friday. T Kraft (Connect), a half-brother to champion Straight No Chaser (Speighster), won the Jimmy Wakefield Stakes in March and was first off the layoff in the Stephens, finishing a respectable fifth. He has the right to go better with the tightener under his belt. “He's doing OK,” said trainer Bill Mott, who won the 2002 Amsterdam with Listen Here (Gulch). “He's one that doesn't wow you when he's working, so we'll just see how he does in the afternoon.” Gunmetal (Gun Runner) was impressive in defeating next-out Chick Lang Stakes winner Retribution (Vekoma) and future GIII Indiana Derby hero 'Rising Star' Tip Top Thomas (Volatile) in a six-furlong Keeneland allowance in April, but failed to land a blow in the Stephens, trailing in last of 10. The post Garamond Back To One Turn For The Amsterdam appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Gabby Gaudet has been named the new Director of Communications at Keeneland, the organization announced Thursday. A respected voice in Thoroughbred racing with more than a decade of national media experience, Gaudet will oversee Keeneland's strategic communications efforts. In this role, she will serve as a key spokesperson and guide the organization's messaging and earned media strategy across multiple platforms. Gaudet joins Keeneland from FanDuel TV, where she has been a lead racing analyst and reporter since 2019, covering premier events such as the Triple Crown and the Breeders' Cup World Championships. Her international assignments have included racing coverage from Hong Kong, Canada and Royal Ascot in England. In her new role, Gaudet will spearhead Keeneland's comprehensive communications strategy, ensuring alignment with racing, sales and brand initiatives in support of the organization's mission. Drawing on her journalistic background, on-air experience and deep industry knowledge, she will shape how Keeneland connects with fans, media and the broader racing community. From media engagement to brand storytelling, Gaudet will play a key role in advancing Keeneland's mission and elevating its presence across platforms. “I'm incredibly proud and excited to begin this next chapter of my career at Keeneland–a place I deeply believe in,” Gaudet said. “This role presents an opportunity to think both creatively and strategically as we continue to share Keeneland's story with intention and impact. I'm so grateful to my FanDuel TV family for the experiences and growth I've had there–they helped shape me as a broadcaster and storyteller, preparing me well for this next chapter. This was not an easy decision, but what ultimately guided me was the chance to be more present with my family while continuing to do work I'm passionate about.” Gaudet has a long-standing relationship with Keeneland, having served in multiple capacities including Paddock Analyst, co-host of “Today at Keeneland” and a U.S. sales representative. She also became the first female to announce at a public Thoroughbred auction at the Keeneland January Horses of All Ages Sale in 2020. Her deep familiarity with the organization, combined with her skills as a journalist, storyteller and communicator, uniquely position her to lead Keeneland's communications. “Gabby has been an important part of our team for several years, bringing energy, professionalism and a deep understanding of our sport to everything she does,” Keeneland President and CEO Shannon Arvin said. “She's earned the respect of our staff, horsemen and fans alike, and we're excited to see her take on this leadership role and help shape how we share Keeneland's story with the world.” “Gabby has been an integral part of the network for over six years, and she will be deeply missed by both her colleagues and the FanDuel TV audience,” said Becky Somerville, Senior Director of Production, FanDuel TV. “Her unmatched enthusiasm, work ethic and professionalism have made her an invaluable asset to our programming. While we are sad to see her go, we're excited to continue working with her in her new role with our long-standing partners at Keeneland.” Gaudet will continue her on-air role as co-host of “Today at Keeneland” alongside Scott Hazelton and will contribute to the enhancement of live coverage and content during Keeneland's Spring and Fall race meets. In her role at Keeneland, Gaudet will be supported by a seasoned communications team that includes Dara Allen, Senior Director of Marketing and Communications; Meredith Daugherty, Communications Manager; and Amy Owens, Communications Associate. The post Gabby Gaudet Named Keeneland’s New Director Of Communications appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Trainer Humberto Ascanio, Hall of Fame trainer Bobby Frankel's right-hand man for 36 years in Southern California, has died, broadcaster Steve Byk reported July 23 on his SiriusXM radio show "At the Races with Steve Byk." View the full article

Two high-class mares have been published to GoffsGo, including the Listed-placed Hibiscus, a full-sister to both the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf winner Line Of Duty and the G1 Prix de l'Opera second Jackie Oh. The 12-year-old Hibiscus, a daughter of Galileo and the 1,000 Guineas runner-up Jacqueline Quest, will be offered by Baroda Stud with a Too Darn Hot colt foal at foot. Already the dam of the G3 Ballysax Stakes and G3 Derby Trial Stakes runner-up Up And Under (Lope De Vega), she was recently represented by her second winner (from four runners) when her two-year-old filly Queen Of Hawaii (Kingman) opened her account in a Leopardstown maiden. Hibiscus will be sold with 5% agent's commission and bidding will be open for a four-hour window between 9am and 1.10pm on Thursday, July 31. The six-year-old White Jasmine will also be offered by Baroda Stud on the same terms. The daughter of Dark Angel is a full-sister to the dual G1 Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes hero Khaadem, as well as the Listed scorer and multiple Group 2-placed Log Out Island. An eight-race maiden, White Jasmine has been confirmed in foal to the six-time top-level winner Auguste Rodin. For more information on Hibiscus and White Jasmine, Baroda Stud can be contacted on +353 (0)45 438777. The post Pair of Full-Sisters to Group 1 Winners Added to GoffsGo appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

The live racing card at Delaware Park will be canceled Friday due to expected extreme heat conditions in the area, the track said Thursday. In a statement, the Delaware Thoroughbred Racing Commission said, “Acting upon the recommendation of the DTRC, veterinarians and stewards, Delaware Park has cancelled the live racing card scheduled for Friday, July 25, due to the excessive heat index forecasted by the National Weather Service to be above 105 for the region.” Racing remained on schedule for Thursday and is due to resume with a full card on Saturday, July 26. The post Heat K.O.’s Friday Racing At Delaware appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

In this series, the TDN takes a look at notable successes of European-based sires in North America. This week's column is highlighted by the win of Navy Seal (Dubawi). Navy Seal Another For Dubawi At Saratoga Fitri Hay's Navy Seal clawed out a nose victory at the Spa for trainer Wesley Ward on July 19 (video). Bred by Coolmore, the gelding was formerly trained by Aidan O'Brien and earned a Galway victory from five Irish starts before signing off his career for the Coolmore partners with a fifth in the G2 UAE Derby last March. The Canterbury Derby third is the second foal and second winner out of the GI Belmont Oaks Invitational Stakes heroine Athena (Camelot). Her first is the multiple group winner Never Ending Story (Dubawi), who was second in the G1 Prix de Diane and third in the G1 Prix Marcel Boussac. Athena, herself a three-parts sister to G1 Irish Oaks winner Bracelet (Montjeu), has since produced a pair of full-siblings to that pair in the 3-year-old filly Mariinsky Theatre and the juvenile colt Circle Of Life. Her latest progeny is a weanling colt by Justify. Navy Seal's third dam is the bluehen G1 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe heroine Urban Sea (Miswaki). Darley's Dubawi, who stands for £350,000 at Dalham Hall Stud this year, has sired 46 winners from 89 runners in North America (52%). Of those 46, 25 have won stakes, 10 of them at Grade I level. Triple Crown winner and Hall of Famer @VictorEspinoza gets his first-ever win in Saratoga! NAVY SEAL wins Race 8 for trainer Wesley Ward in a milestone moment for Victor at the Spa! pic.twitter.com/WtC9DcNv79 — NYRA () (@TheNYRA) July 19, 2025 Unreasonable Prevails At The Spa No Nay Never's Unreasonable made her third American start a winning one when taking out a Saratoga allowance on July 19 (video). Bred by Barrownstown Stud and trained by Miguel Clement, the 4-year-old filly races in the colours of Newtown Anner Stud Farm. The 375,000gns Tattersalls October Book 1 yearling won at first asking at Cork for previous trainer Joseph O'Brien back in September 2023. She placed twice at listed level in her eight Irish starts before joining the Clement barn. The fifth foal and one of six winners for her unraced dam Silent Thoughts (Galileo), the filly counts stakes winner Neptune Rock (Muhaarar) and G3 Eyrefield Stakes heroine Sigh No More (Starspangledbanner) as half-sisters. Her dam's latest produce are her full-siblings, with a filly born in 2024 and a colt this term. Silent Thoughts is a half-sister to dual Group 3 winner Yellow Rosebud (Jeremy), while this is also the family of Group 1 winner Malhub (Kingmambo). Offspring of Coolmore's No Nay Never are frequent entries in Making Waves, and the sire is credited with 65 winners from 110 runners (59%). He has 10 stakes winners in the US. Unreasonable is a 9/1 top pick winner for @atthetrack7 in the sixth at Saratoga! Miguel Clement trains the 4YO filly and @jrosariojockey had the mount. pic.twitter.com/dRtEt6o2aB — TwinSpires Racing (@TwinSpires) July 19, 2025 Sands Of Mali Filly Gallops At Del Mar Rancho Temescal Thoroughbred Partners' Edge Of Mali (Sands Of Mali) ran out a 1 1/2-length winner in her third lifetime start at Del Mar on July 20 (video). Trained by Jeff Mullins, she was bred by Ballyhane Stud, where her sire stands. Second on the Dundalk all-weather for Riona Teggart and trainer Claire O'Connell in March, the 3,000gns Tattersalls July Sale grad switched Stateside thereafter. The first foal and winner for the unraced Edge Of Town (Showcasing), Edge Of Mali has a juvenile full-sister named Town Of Mali and a yearling full-brother. Under the third dam is listed winner Hymn Of Love (Barathea), who was third in the G3 Derrinstown Stud 1000 Guineas Trial Stakes. One of the success stories of his sire crop, Sands Of Mali has sired 31 winners from 76 runners worldwide (41%). G1 Commonwealth Cup winner Time For Sandals is one of four stakes winners for the son of Panis. Edge Of Mali is his only runner in the US. Slow out of the gate, but she's going to be really fast late. ️@larrycollmus calls Edge of Mali & @Antonio1Fresu to the wire. pic.twitter.com/Q52wKHDosi — Del Mar Racetrack (@DelMarRacing) July 20, 2025 Regal Is As Regal Does Regalton became the latest American winner for his former reverse shuttle sire Zoustar at Saratoga on July 20 (video). Owned by Emcee Stable, Fortune Farm (Richard Nicolai), Robert Hahn and John LaPolla, the 3-year-old is trained by George Weaver. Part of the Plantation Stud breeding programme, Regalton has twice graced the Goffs ring–when making €135,000 as a November foal, and again when selling for €130,000 to Legion Bloodstock at the Orby Yearling Sale in 2023. The half-brother to Listed Golden Rose Stakes winner and G3 Chipchase Stakes third Willem Twee (Ribchester) is out of Paulinie (Royal Applause). Her 2-year-old filly is Shama El (Earthlight), while she foaled a full-brother to Regalton in 2024. Paulinie is a half-sister to GII Honeymoon Breeders' Cup Handicap heroine and GI Matriarch Stakes and GI Del Mar Oaks second Three Degrees (Singspiel). Three Degrees also ran third in the GI Yellow Ribbon Stakes. Former Tweenhills stallion Zoustar has sired nine winners from 15 runners (60%) in the US. Two of his trio of stakes winners have landed Grade Is in King Of Gosford (Shoemaker Mile Stakes) and Starlust (Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint). 3YO REGALTON is an impressive winner at Saratoga for George Weaver & connections The Zoustar filly was purchased by @LegionBldstk from @jamierailton, who purchased her at #GoffsNovember from @PlantationStud1 pic.twitter.com/u8yf0Jt45r — Goffs (@Goffs1866) July 21, 2025 Sheila Closes To Take Colonial Affair T Zach Racing and Brad Allhouse's Sheila's Lion (Persian King) got off the mark in start four at Colonial Downs on July 19 (video). Trained by Keith Desormeaux, she was bred by SF Bloodstock in Kentucky. The $75,000 Keeneland September yearling was purchased by T Zach Racing. She is a half-sister to stakes winners Prissy (Unbridled's Song) and Leadem In Ken (Sky Mesa), while another half-sibling, Hint Of Roses (Tapit), was third in the GIII Iowa Derby. Last Kitten foaled a filly by Twirling Candy in 2024 and was covered by that sire last spring. Under the second dam is champion and star sire Kitten's Joy and multiple Grade I winner Precious Kitten (Catienus), as well as Grade I winner Dreaming Of Anna (Rahy), a champion at two. Haras d'Etreham's Persian King is credited with three winners from three runners Stateside. The French Classic winner stands for €25,000 this year. Sheila's Lion breaks her maiden in the finale at @colonialdowns for trainer Keith Desormeaux with @a_concepcion16 aboard! #TwinSpiresReplay pic.twitter.com/n6hieQRR4x — TwinSpires Racing (@TwinSpires) July 19, 2025 Repeat Winners Miguel Clement trainee Big Everest returned a winner at Saratoga on July 18 (video). The son of The Gurkha is owned by Reeves Thoroughbred Racing, Steven Rocco and William Branch. Making Waves alums continued to fly the flag on June 19, with Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners' Hannah Buckle (Bated Breath) first past the post at Del Mar for trainer Leonard Powell (video). Del Mar's Wickerr Stakes went to Almendares (Havana Grey) for trainer Phil D'Amato (video). The multiple graded stakes-placed 5-year-old gelding, the 25th stakes winner for his sire, is owned by CYBT, McLean Racing Stables, Saul Gevertz, Michael Nentwig and Ray Pagano. Redistricting, who races for Klaravich Stables and trainer Chad Brown, won the GII United Nations Stakes at Monmouth Park on Saturday (video). It was a first graded tally for the Kingman 5-year-old gelding. REDISTRICTING wins the G2 United Nations at Monmouth. By @JuddmonteFarms' Kingman, he's from the Hurry Call branch of @ClaiborneFarm foundation mare Fleet Flight. Dam is ½ to MG1W St Nicholas Abbey. Congrats to the connections! #ClaiborneBlood pic.twitter.com/3goMpJVXow — Claiborne Farm Bloodlines (@ClaiborneBlood) July 19, 2025 The post Making Waves: Navy Seal Completes His Mission appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

June may have turned to July but the echoes of a superb Royal Ascot will echo through this Friday when Ascot stages its annual lunch to celebrate the winning breeders. It's a lovely touch by the racecourse management, and one which is much appreciated by those who have produced a horse good enough to shine at one of the world's most prestigious meetings. Among the guests this Friday will be Lady Cobham, breeder of the Windsor Castle Stakes winner Havana Hurricane. “I couldn't believe I would ever be asked to such a thing, it's amazing. I'm looking forward to it. I'm sure there'll be very interesting people there with lots of stories to tell,” she says, but then Lady Cobham has some interesting stories to tell herself, not least when it comes to the existence of Havana Hurricane. Trained by Eve Johnson Houghton, the Havana Gold colt is out of Lady Cobham's homebred mare Spitfire Limited (Excelebration). Those who have followed some of the good horses she has bred over the years, such as G2 Prix d'Harcourt winner Air Pilot and Bunbury Cup hero Biggles, will have noted the aviation theme. The breeder's late father-in-law Sir Alan Cobham, himself a pilot with a dash of derring-do who it is believed inspired WE Johns's fictional character Biggles, founded the pioneering aerospace company Cobham, later run by his son Sir Michael. Much has been made of the fact that Havana Hurricane, who was subsequently beaten mere inches by Anthelia when second in the Weatherbys Super Sprint, was bought for only 9,000gns when offered at the Tattersalls Somerville Sale by Norris Bloodstock. If circumstances had been different for Lady Cobham at the time, he may never have been sold at all. “It's just that I'd had a very bad health prognosis and I was told that I wasn't going to last very much longer,” she says. “And I said to Jenny [Norris] that the most saleable of my horses had to go to the yearling sales. I moved on some mares but I'm still here, and Havana Hurricane is now running in somebody else's name.” Happily, Lady Cobham, 82, reports that her health has improved. “I decided to give up and now I'm keeping going again,” she says. “And the horses definitely keep me going.” Perseverance and dedication to her horses are common themes in the tale of this owner-breeder's life. Many would not have bred Havana Hurricane in the first place. His dam may have been named after an iconic fighter jet but fly she did not. Spitfire Limited (Excelebration) retired winless after eight starts with one placing to her name and a mark of 48. “I raced her in my colours and she was not a particularly good racehorse,” recalls Lady Cobham. “So I decided that I'd try to find another home for her and she went as a polo pony but I don't think she was very good at that. She came back to me mid-winter the following year with a shaved tail and hogged mane, so I put her out in the field, got her mane long again, and then I found another home for her in the spring with a riding club. But the lady who had her couldn't afford to keep her any longer so I had her back again.” Eventually deciding to cover the mare with Havana Gold in the year before he died, Lady Cobham welcomed her first foal when Spitfire Limited was aged nine. Last year's bad news prompted another move for the mare, however. She says, “I gave away two mares to the local farmer, and one of them was Spitfire Limited. He bred her to a New Forest [pony] stallion and she had a foal this year. But, very kindly, we have reached an agreement that I shall have her back when the foal is weaned.” Havana Hurricane wins the Windsor Castle Stakes | Racingfotos While Havana Hurricane can to some extent be viewed as one who got away, Lady Cobham has recently welcomed back to her fold Walson's Law (Wootton Bassett), a colt out of a half-sister to Air Pilot who was originally sold as a yearling to John Dance's Manor House Farm for 280,000gns. Dance's subsequent fall from grace prompted a reoffering of much of his bloodstock and Lady Cobham eventually managed to buy the now-gelded four-year-old back and sent him to be trained alongside Havana Hurricane. Walson's Law's two-year-old half-brother Senior Awareness, by New Bay, is in training with James Owen for the Gredley family. “I think that I really don't like the sales at all. I'm not very good at them,” says Lady Cobham. “I didn't think anyone was going to bid for Havana Hurricane, and then Anthony Bromley came and went just over the reserve price and he got him. I knew then he was going to Eve Johnson Houghton, so I was quite relieved about that. “Walson's Law is doing really well. I sent him to Eve as I thought she was suitable for this horse who'd had a rather difficult time, and he's already won twice for us. So, where I've lost one, I gained another one, didn't I?” She adds, “I feel very responsible for the horses I've bred. And the problem is with the sales you lose control, and I like to know what happens to them and like to find homes for them when they end their career.” On her farm in Dorset the aforementioned Air Pilot resides still after an heroic career of nine wins from 32 starts, including four at group level. Trained by Ralph Beckett, his final success came in the Listed Foundation Stakes at Goodwood at the age of 10. “Air Pilot still goes out riding with a friend a few days a week, and he's a very good nanny for my youngsters, he's a really nice-natured horse,” she says. “Maybe Havana Hurricane can be as good as him. And Biggles is now eventing. He was competing on Saturday at the Portman Horse Trials.” Lady Cobham's royal connections do not end with the breeding of Havana Hurricane. Brought up on a farm, she says her mother bred “much lower-key type of horses, but she did manage to breed Special Cargo.” Not many horses end up being commemorated in bronze, but the likeness of the Queen Mother's brilliant steeplechaser Special Cargo still watches over the winner's enclosure at Sandown where he posted his greatest victory in the 1984 Whitbread Gold Cup, a race which Lady Cobham remembers witnessing in person. “It was a very special day,” she says. For a breeder who refuses to give up, and with the horses to spur her on, there will doubtless be more special days to come. The post ‘I Feel Very Responsible for the Horses I’ve Bred’: Lady Cobham on Breeding Havana Hurricane and a Reunion With Walson’s Law appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Tomorrow's Front Runners is a new TDN series spotlighting young people who got involved with horse racing through Amplify Horse Racing and are now pursuing careers in the industry. Amplify is a 501 (c)(3) organization dedicated to amplifying education, mentorship and career opportunities for young people in the Thoroughbred industry. For Matt Scull, it all began with the annual family reunion at Monmouth Park in Oceanport, N.J. At the age of five, it was just something to do. He'd take the $20 bill from his mom and share his picks with his uncle, who would place the $2 bets on his behalf. By the time he was a teenager, Scull's trips to the track had evolved from annual to more frequent, with a piqued interest in reading through past performances and increased confidence in his bets. From there, it was a natural progression for Scull to evolve from simply being a guest at the track to becoming a true fan and devoted horseplayer. While pursuing a Bachelor's Degree in Mechanical Engineering with a minor in Entrepreneurship at Clemson University, he was delving into books written by esteemed handicappers Andrew Beyer and Steve Davidowitz and keeping a notebook with his own picks and bets. Scull had always been a fan of horse racing, and was progressively becoming a more invested handicapper, but once he graduated in the spring of 2020, he knew he wanted to become involved in the industry in a more substantial way. The question was: how? That's when Scull came across Amplify Horse Racing's Mentorship Program, connecting youth and young adults interested in pursuing a career in the industry with experienced industry professionals who can offer guidance. The program not only opens the door for those on the outside looking for a way in, but also provides a safe and structured environment for mentees to connect with mentors both online and in-person. A member of the inaugural group of mentees when the program was launched in August of 2021, Scull was matched with Shannon Castagnola, who was working as the Director of Marketing and Client Relations at Woodford Thoroughbreds at the time. An open doorway to opportunity, and a hand to guide him through it, was all Scull needed to fully immerse himself in the Thoroughbred industry. Matt Scull | Next-Gen Thoroughbred Photography “I came into it from a gambling point of view and truly, my background is sports. I grew up playing football, basketball, baseball and for those [sports] at the professional level, if you want to go behind-the-scenes, you have to be super high-technically trained or be a billionaire. It made me realize that horse racing is super accessible, highlighted by the magic of physically being around a horse,” said Scull. Making the most of his Amplify mentorship experience, Scull traveled from South Carolina to New York to experience Saratoga Race Course with Annise Montplaisir, Amplify's Co-Founder and Executive Director. Following that trip, he ventured out to Lexington, Ky. to shadow Castagnola during the Keeneland September Yearling Sale. “I did one day with Shannon on the consignor side, and then one day with Conor Foley on the buyer side, so I got a really good holistic view of how a sale really works,” said Scull. “The closest I had been to horses [previously] was watching them in the paddock at Monmouth Park, and then suddenly I was on the backside at Saratoga and standing next to a yearling [at the sale]. I didn't even know what a yearling was before the mentorship.” The experience was just as rewarding for Castagnola, now the Stallion Season and Public Sales Director at Airdrie Stud, who learned plenty from her own mentors throughout her time working in various facets of the industry. “I love to share my knowledge, so I thought this was a really cool opportunity. I thought the best thing to do would be to go through and figure out what things we could really focus on and asking Matt, 'What do you want to learn? What do you want to know more about?' Then, we would dial into that. We would go through different topics and I gave him some assignments,” said Castagnola. “Matt had a natural desire to learn; it was almost like I couldn't feed him enough information. When you're getting feedback from somebody, it made me want to give him more information and educate more. A lot of this is about Matt as an individual. He was so interested and he took all of that exposure, those experiences, and made his next path. I provided information and exposure, but it was Matt who did the work.” Following his completion of the three-month mentorship program, Scull spent a winter working hands-on with young Thoroughbreds at Nick Esler's Sandhurst Thoroughbreds in Ocala, Fla. It was another eye-opening experience for Scull, who hadn't previously worked that closely with horses, and one that solidified that his path in the industry wasn't necessarily on the farm or the backside. “It taught me a lot about myself and hard work, and really how important the way you present yourself is. For example, your body language. The horses are going to accentuate what you give and give it back, and it's important to remember that with people too,” said Scull. The realization led him to pursue an engineering job, which relocated him to Louisville, Ky. and more recently Austin, Texas, all the while balancing his passion for the sport by launching his very own partnership group, First Rodeo Racing. “We chose the name 'First Rodeo Racing' because we want to be people's first introduction to horse racing. The first year, it was buying five percent of a filly. The second year we said, 'Okay, let's try claiming and buying.' In the beginning, it was my best friend from Louisville and my buddy Brian, who helps me run it. Last year, we had 29 partners, all friends of friends, and that was the moment I said, 'Okay, I really like doing this,'” said Scull. “It was a crazy experience with the first horse we claimed, having very good beginner's luck, and we've taken that lightning bolt and run with it. This year, we raised $150,000 from 129 people. [They're from] 28 states, with over 50 percent of us under 30, easily 70 percent have never owned a horse, and over half had never previously been to a racetrack.” Matt Scull and First Rodeo Racing | Next-Gen Thoroughbred Photography Now two years into the adventure with First Rodeo Racing, with a small group of racehorses owned outright or in partnerships with other groups based in a few states, Scull couldn't be more appreciative of the experiences he's had and the connections he's made along the way. “The relationships that come with being around the horses, from introducing new people to helping you reach your goals in the industry, are very cool. The number of friends and people that I've met only through horse racing is unreal,” said Scull. “There are opportunities outside of working with the horses every day that are super fulfilling. There are so many different avenues where you can appreciate the sport and also love and respect it to bring it forward. Don't be afraid to ask questions, closed mouths don't get fed, and find the people that are willing to help you out.” Though many career pathways exist, the stigma that the industry is 'hard to break into' or 'intimidating' unless one was born into it or already connected to it remains. However, programs like those offered by Amplify and the success of the program's graduates continue to bridge that gap between the sport and its next generation of successors. “The common thing [I've heard] is that every single person wants to go back to the barn to meet the horses, so that's important for us. My whole goal and mission is to build the next generation of fans and owners while increasing the surface area of people that are exposed to horses, because that's where the magic happens,” said Scull. “Amplify is so good because it took me from being a casual fan to introducing me to this world, where the beauty of it is that you can choose your adventure. My biggest takeaway is that you don't have to be number one of number one to be in it. It was a great introduction.” Learn more about the Amplify Mentorship Program. The post Tomorrow’s Front Runners: Amplify Mentorship Graduate Matt Scull Paying It Forward With First Rodeo Racing appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Roll On Big Joe and Dr. Venkman, the 1-2 finishers in the Kelly's Landing Stakes at Churchill Downs, meet again in the $400,000 Bing Crosby Stakes (G1) July 26 at Del Mar.View the full article

Jaber Abdullah's once-raced Hope Queen (Night Of Thunder), a granddaughter of storied European champion Attraction, posted a debut success for the Karl Burke stable at Beverley last month and repeated the dose on black-type bow with a battling victory in Thursday's Listed European Bloodstock News EBF Star Stakes at Sandown. “We knew we had a nice filly after she won at Beverley and it's nice to get a Listed win into her,” said winning rider Clifford Lee. “Once we got a clear run, I knew I was always going to get there at some point. She handled the [good] ground very well and galloped to the line nicely.” Settled third along the fence after an alert getaway from the inside stall, the 15-2 chance came under pressure in the straight to go second entering the final furlong and was driven out on the climb to oust long-time leader Jennifer Jane (New Bay) by a neck on the line. 11 Hope Queen wins the Listed @bloodstocknews Star Stakes @Sandownpark pic.twitter.com/NxSwlLWp5Q — Racing TV (@RacingTV) July 24, 2025 Hope Queen is the second of four foals and lone runner thrown by a daughter of the aforementioned multiple Group 1-winning European champion Attraction (Efisio). The February-foaled bay's dam Motion (Invincible Spirit) is kin to G1 International third and multiple Group-winning sire Elarqam (Frankel), G3 Sapphire Stakes-winning sire Fountain Of Youth (Oasis Dream), Listed Doonside Cup victor Maydanny (Dubawi) and the dual Grade III-placed Cushion (Galileo). The latter, in turn, is the dam of G2 Queen's Vase and G3 Zetland Stakes third Hafit (Dubawi). Hope Queen is a half-sister to a yearling colt by Sea The Stars and a weanling filly by Ghaiyyath. The post Night Of Thunder Filly Hope Queen Pounces Late for Stakes Breakthrough at Sandown appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Following Thursday's confirmation stage, Field Of Gold could face up to 10 rivals as he tries to emulate his brilliant sire, Kingman, by completing a Group 1 hat-trick in Wednesday's Visit Qatar Sussex Stakes. Trained by John and Thady Gosden, Field Of Gold has followed an almost identical path to Kingman so far this season, with his narrow defeat in the 2,000 Guineas at Newmarket being followed by devastating victories in the Irish 2,000 Guineas and the St James's Palace Stakes. Kingman had only three rivals to beat when winning the Sussex Stakes in explosive fashion back in 2014, but Field Of Gold and jockey William Buick – deputising for the suspended Colin Keane – appear likely to have bigger field to negotiate when the season's outstanding three-year-old miler takes on his elders for the first time at Goodwood. The Gosdens and owners Juddmonte have also confirmed their G1 Lockinge Stakes hero Lead Artist. The son of Dubawi is said to be an unlikely runner at this stage, but the Juddmonte team is still set to field a second runner in Qirat (Showcasing), a potential pacemaker for Field Of Gold after being supplemented at a cost of £70,000. Field Of Gold is one of five three-year-olds still in contention, with the other four all trained by Aidan O'Brien. The Ballydoyle handler has left in the G1 Poule d'Essai des Poulains winner Henri Matisse (Wootton Bassett), who filled the runner-up spot behind Field Of Gold at Royal Ascot, as well as Serengeti (Wootton Bassett), The Lion In Winter (Sea The Stars) and Exactly (Frankel) from his Classic crop. Talented older miler Diego Velazquez (Frankel) could make a quick reappearance for O'Brien as well, having followed his below-par run in the G1 Queen Anne Stakes at Royal Ascot with a battling success in the G2 Minstrel Stakes at the Curragh last weekend. The Harry Eustace-trained Docklands (Massaat) and Richard Hannon's Rosallion (Blue Point) look set to renew rivalry after finishing first and second, with only a nose between them, in the Queen Anne. That was a first Group 1 success for Docklands, while Rosallion showed that he retains much of the ability he showed as a three-year-old when winning the Irish 2,000 Guineas and St James's Palace. Back in sixth in the Queen Anne was Carl Spackler (Lope De Vega), who completes the potential field on the final stop of his European adventure before he continues his racing career in Australia. A multiple Grade 1 winner when trained in America by Chad Brown, he was having his first start for Ciaron Maher and Yulong Investments when beaten only three lengths at Royal Ascot. The post Field Of Gold Towers Over 10 Potential Sussex Stakes Rivals appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Juddmonte homebred Publish (Kingman) was an unlucky-in-running debut second going seven furlongs at Sandown earlier in the month and returned over the same strip to shed maiden status with a bristling display in Thursday's Martin Densham & Peter Deal Memorial British EBF Maiden Stakes. The contest's honour roll includes Kameko in 2019 and Ruling Court last year. “They didn't go overly mad in front early, so I let him build into his gears and, once he knuckled down and got organised, he hit the line well,” said winning rider James Doyle. Sent forward from third to lead along the rail after the opening exchanges, the 4-7 favourite was shaken up when tackled by Catullus (Invincible Spirit) passing the quarter-mile marker and kept on strongly under stern urging up the hill to deny that rival by 1 1/4 lengths. Publish is the first of three foals produced by dual Graded-winning GI Flower Bowl Invitational third Nay Lady Nay (No Nay Never), herself a full-sister to G2 Coventry-winning G1 Vincent O'Brien National Stakes and G1 Dewhurst Stakes placegetter Arizona. Descendants of his G1 Oaks d'Italia-winning third dam Bright Generation (Rainbow Quest) include dual Group 1-winning sire Dabirsim (Hat Trick). The January-foaled homebred is half to a yearling filly and weanling colt by Frankel. Publish opens his account at the second time of asking for team Gosden @Sandownpark pic.twitter.com/scN6N662Ki — Racing TV (@RacingTV) July 24, 2025 The post Juddmonte’s Publish Graduates in Ruling Court Maiden at Sandown appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Horse racing is notoriously slow to embrace change. Take yearling inspection, for example. Walk up to the consignment, get a paper card and a pen and fill out the horses you want to see, and get in line to wait your turn. That's how it has always happened. But if the Taylor Made Sales Agency has anything to say about it, pretty soon, everyone will arrive with their pre-made selections, hold their QR code up to a scanner, and get ready to see their horses, courtesy of their new OpenRing App. The idea was born when Katie Taylor, the Vice President of Operations at Taylor Made, was looking at horses herself for bloodstock investments on behalf of the farm. “That's when I got to wear the shoes of a buyer or shortlister,” she recalls. “And I wished there was a better way to make a card for myself ahead of time or to get myself organized. I'd get back at night and be like, `man, I missed one vet report, or didn't get to see one horse, or whatever.” From that experience was born OpenRing, named after the popular OpenTable app which has transformed dining out. The OpenRing app allows buyers to make their card up ahead of time. Each of their choices is accompanied by the catalogue page, photos and videos, and, after you have seen the horse, vet reports. The app ensures you don't go to see your horses at Barn 2 when they're really in Barn 31, and, before you head to the barn, you are told how long the approximate wait time is, so you know if you should head over now, or see other horses in advance. When you do arrive at the barn, you scan the QR code, and are immediately put in the queue to see your horses. Push notifications let you know if there is an update on any one of your selections. Users can see the horses available on the app as soon as they ship in. You can also choose all colts, all fillies, and at mixed sales, all weanlings, in-foal mares, or all show. You can also make a card for someone, text it them, and once that person checks in with the app, the two people will be connected going forward. In that way, a shortlister can create cards for someone else who will automatically have the QR codes. Notifications also let you know if a horse you have been waiting for has shipped in, particularly useful at a horses-of-racing-age sale. Emily Csenar, Taylor Made's Boarding Operations Assistant Manager, said that traditionally, “lookers come up to the welcome center and will read off their short list, request the Taylor Made short list, or ask for an all-show. Our welcome center employee will enter their list, ask their name and possibly a spelling. They are then in our sale queue to be placed with a sales person for their show.” Vet reports are also requested at this time from an employee. Now, said Digital Sales Coordinator Maxine Pina, “I'd say it varies depending on the person, but anywhere between 10-15 minutes is saved from scrolling/sorting out the lists on the iPad or reading off the catalog. You also no longer need to find anyone for a vet report and are able to see it at your leisure.” Taylor said she felt that the green light-yellow light-red light functions were going to be one of the most useful features in the app. “You'll know if it's, `hey, they have some open rings right now, so I'm going to head that way, and the wait won't be very long,' or if it's red, I'm going to kind of steer clear. If it's green, `come on down and we will get you on a ring.' So that's kind of what we're shooting for, and I think we'll get more sophisticated with that as we go forward. But right now we're just getting started.” The app debuted at the Fasig-Tipton July sale, where it got top reviews from the people who tried it. “It's a new technology and process so I can understand the hesitance and reluctance to jump right into it,” said Csenar, “but our team has spent months working on the app, testing it, and working out bugs and are constantly making improvements and changes. The people that did use the app were excited and enjoyed it. They especially liked being able to access the vet reports after looking at the horses.” Said Pina, “We had 121 users download and register by the end of the July Sale. The first couple of days we spent mainly getting people registered and familiar with the app and by the second/third day we had lookers checking in with the app.” “We kind of wanted to get a couple of sales under our belts, but really a lot of the feedback we got at July was that the people that used it loved it,” said Taylor. “And then there were some other people like, `well, I don't really need it until September. I'll wait and download it then.' But we're really trying to encourage people to try it and use it at Saratoga and New York Preferred, just so that they're totally used to it when it comes to September, because September, November is where it's really going to be helpful to people.” At the end of the day, OpenRing is another way for Taylor Made to put the customer first, said Taylor. “I think the real goal of it is to eliminate frustration,” said Taylor. “I know people look at Taylor Made and they say, `oh, they're so big. I go there and get lost.' We want it to be as personalized and user-friendly. We want our size and our scope and our resources to be something that makes their lives easier, not more difficult. What we're trying to do is to make the whole process a lot easier and a lot more simple, and cater to the fact that everyone's tired and worn down and it's hard work out there and long days. So if you forget an X-ray report or whatever, it's just at the tip of your fingers. White-glove service is what we're trying to go after for our sellers and for our buyers.” The app is currently available for iOS, and is available in the App store by searching Taylor Made OpenRing, or by clicking here. An Android version is in development. To watch a demonstration, click here. The post Taylor Made’s OpenRing App Aims to Streamline the Sales Inspection Process 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 return to Saratoga during the first week of August to highlight accredited aftercare through a variety of initiatives at both Saratoga Race Course and Fasig-Tipton, the TAA announced Thursday. The organization will participate in events during Whitney weekend, which includes the GI Whitney Stakes, and will remain active through the Fasig-Tipton Selected Yearling Sale the following week. The New York Racing Association will feature Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance as its Community Partner during Whitney weekend and TAA will also be present at NYRA's Community Outreach Booth on Saturday and Sunday, where fans can learn more about accredited aftercare. Branded merchandise will be available in exchange for donations, including a limited-edition Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance t-shirt. Donna Barton Brothers, author of Inside Track: Insider's Guide to Horse Racing, will appear at the booth on Saturday from 11 a.m. to noon. Signed copies of her book will be available for $10 each, while supplies last. NYRA will also recognize Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance with a named race on the undercard on both Saturday and Sunday. Following each race, a presentation will be made to the winning connections, who will receive a branded blanket and gift bag. “NYRA is pleased to continue this important partnership with Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance during Whitney weekend at Saratoga,” said Tony Allevato, NYRA Chief Revenue Officer and President of NYRA Bets. “Saratoga provides the ideal stage for highlighting the importance of supporting accredited aftercare, and we thank TAA for their commitment to the sport.” The weekend will also include hosting the winners of the VIP experience auctioned earlier this year through the “Off to the Races” campaign supporting accredited aftercare. This experience was donated by NYRA, the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame, and Anne's Washington Inn. The winners will enjoy a horseman's box for five, paddock and winner's circle access, a private tour with Tom Durkin, a family museum membership, and more. Fasig-Tipton, a supporting partner of Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance, will host The Saratoga Sale of selected yearlings Aug. 4-5. Representatives will be on-site to meet with supporters, consigners, and buyers to promote accredited aftercare. Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance will also distribute New York Thoroughbred Breeding & Development Fund co-branded gifts to consigners participating in the New York Bred Yearlings Sale, scheduled for Aug. 10-11. While in Saratoga, Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance will also conduct inspections at accredited aftercare facilities as part of its ongoing accreditation process. In addition, staff will meet with trainers, owners, and supporters throughout the week and convene for the organization's annual board meeting on Thursday, Aug. 7. The post Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance In The Spotlight During Whitney Weekend At Saratoga appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

NBC Sports will showcase the 2026 GI Longines Kentucky Oaks in prime time for the first time ever in 2026, Churchill Downs Incorporated announced Thursday. The 152nd Kentucky Oaks, featuring racing's best 3-year-old fillies, will be presented Friday, May 1, 2026, at 8 p.m. ET on NBC and Peacock. In addition to racing, Kentucky Oaks traditions centered around fashion and women's health advocacy will remain central pillars of the event pageantry–now culminating in a twilight finish. “We are excited to present the Kentucky Oaks in prime time for the first time ever,” said Jon Miller, President, Acquisitions & Partnerships, NBC Sports. “With the Oaks on Friday night leading into the Kentucky Derby on the first Saturday in May, we can't wait to get back to Churchill Downs for another historic weekend of racing.” “By moving the Kentucky Oaks to prime time, we're giving one of horse racing's most treasured traditions the national stage it deserves,” said CDI CEO Bill Carstanjen. “This decision is rooted in our commitment to growing the sport, reaching new audiences and creating unforgettable experiences for our fans.” The Kentucky Derby stands as America's oldest continually held major sporting event. The 152nd Kentucky Derby will be held Saturday, May 2, 2026, on NBC and Peacock. In May 2024, NBC Sports and Churchill Downs announced a multi-year extension of their historic partnership. The relationship, which began with the 2001 Kentucky Derby, will make NBC the longest running home of the Kentucky Derby, as NBCUniversal will become the first media company to present the most prestigious event in horse racing for three decades (32 editions of the Kentucky Derby from 2001-32). The post NBC To Air 2026 Kentucky Oaks In Prime Time appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

One-time Melbourne Cup fancy Mark Twain (NZ) (Shocking) will make his first public appearance for more than 12 months when the Roger James and Robert Wellwood-trained gelding has an exhibition gallop at Te Rapa on Saturday. The lightly-raced son of Shocking won last year’s Listed Roy Higgins (2600m) at Flemington to secure a place in the 2024 Melbourne Cup only for a tendon injury last spring to quash the Cup dream. A year on and the rising six-year-old has pleased in his recovery with the OTI-raced gelding on the Cup comeback trail. “He’s in great order. He didn’t have a lot of idle time,” James said. “The OTI team have used the services of Matthew Williams in Warrnambool who has had a lot of success with those similar injuries. “He was not idle from the time it happened until four or five months afterwards and then they gave him a month off, two months before he came back over to us. “We are mixing it up with a combination of swimming, treadmill and some trackwork, so he’s on a varied program. “We were very grateful to Terry Henderson and the OTI team to get the horse back. I actually sowed the seed as to whether Terry wanted to leave the horse there given he had rehabilitated in Australia, but it was never in question.” The winner of four of his 12 starts with a further three placings including a luckless third in last year’s Gr.2 Auckland Cup (3200m), Mark Twain will likely have just one start in New Zealand this spring before an Australian campaign. “He will have an exhibition gallop after race two at Te Rapa on Saturday,” James said. “All going well he will have a trial on August 12 and then head to the races at Te Aroha over a mile on August 31 before heading to Australia.” OTI’s Terry Henderson described Mark Twain as the most talented horse in their southern hemisphere arsenal. “He is a very special horse. We got a glimpse of that in last year’s Roy Higgins, where he came from last and won,” Henderson said. “He needs to qualify for the Melbourne Cup again so he will be aimed towards a race like the Bart Cummings (Gr.3, 2500m) in October.” Looking ahead to spring, Henderson is also bullish about the prospects of New Zealand Derby placegetter Golden Century (NZ) (Pierro), who has transferred to Chris Waller from Tony Pike. “He trialled really well on Tuesday,” Henderson said. “He will have another trial in two weeks, and there is a race for him on August 15. “He could be a Caulfield Cup (Gr.1, 2400m) horse or he could even be a Metropolitan (Gr.1, 2400m) horse.” An avid fan of sourcing horses from New Zealand, Henderson credited bloodstock agent Phill Cataldo as a key component to the syndicator’s success. “We are blessed with having Phill Cataldo over there. Phill is a highly respected bloodstock agent who is at the track every morning,” Henderson said. “Many of the horses that we buy, we know about before they have actually gone to the trials, so we are able to act quickly, which has been a huge advantage to us. “Phill has been able to produce seven or eight Group One winners, including I’m Thunderstruck. The value is there. The New Zealand dollar is ten percent lower than the Australian dollar, and the logistics of getting them over to Australia are easy. “We find the New Zealand market to be very attractive, not only in the trial sector but also in the Ready to Run sale. We have had a fair bit of luck with the Ready to Run horses that go under the hammer in November.” View the full article

Havana Grey, the sire of the most expensive lot at the Tattersalls Somerville Yearling Sale in both 2023 and 2024, will be represented by 10 yearlings when the Whitsbury Manor Stud stallion tries to repeat those sale-topping exploits at this year's Somerville, which takes place at Park Paddocks on Tuesday, September 2. A total of 272 yearlings have been catalogued, with lot 145 featuring among the sons and daughters of Havana Grey. Offered by Bearstone Stud, the filly is a full-sister to the G3 Prix Eclipse and Weatherbys Super Sprint winner Eddie's Boy, who was a 45,000gns purchase at the Somerville Yearling Sale in 2021. Havana Grey will also be represented by lot 73, a filly out of the Listed winner and G1 Cheveley Park Stakes fourth Miss Work Of Art, herself the dam of the Listed scorer Tapisserie. First-season sires Caturra and Perfect Power lead the way numerically with 13 yearlings apiece, while other stallions with their first yearlings catalogued include Baaeed, Bayside Boy, Dubawi Legend, Minzaal, Naval Crown, Persian Force, Space Traveller and State Of Rest. Lot 267, Houghton Bloodstock's half-sister to the G2 Dubai City Of Gold Stakes hero Prize Money, is one of the potential highlights among Perfect Power's yearlings, while lot 205 is another to look out for as a son of Minzaal and the dual Group 3 winner Alanza. Other well-bred yearlings catalogued include lot 74, a Tasleet half-brother to the Cheveley Park third Baileys Jubilee; lot 139, Castledillon Stud's Ardad half-brother to the G1 2,000 Guineas fourth Galeron; and lot 151, a Sioux Nation half-sister to the GII Dance Smartly Stakes heroine and GI Just A Game Stakes runner-up Wakanaka. The largest consignment of yearlings will come from Tally-Ho Stud with 21 lots catalogued, including lot 271, a Cotai Glory half-sister to the GII Appalachian Stakes winner and Cheveley Park second The Mackem Bullet. Meanwhile, last year's sale-topping consignor, Whitsbury Manor Stud, will offer a draft of 6 lots. One of the bargains from last year's sale was Norris Bloodstock's Havana Gold colt out of Spitfire Limited, who sold to Highflyer and Eve Johnson Houghton for just 9,000gns. Later named Havana Hurricane, he has proved himself a smart two-year-old this season, having followed his victory in the Listed Windsor Castle Stakes at Royal Ascot with a runner-up finish in the Weatherbys Super Sprint. The Royal Ascot roll of honour among Somerville graduates is headed by Bradsell, the winner of the G2 Coventry Stakes and G1 King's Stand Stakes. Meanwhile, this year's G2 Queen Mary Stakes second Flowerhead features among a further eight Somerville juveniles who have gone on to finish placed at that meeting since the sale's inception in 2021. All yearlings catalogued in the Tattersalls Somerville Yearling Sale are eligible for the £200,000 Tattersalls Somerville Auction Stakes, as well as the £200,000 Tattersalls October Auction Stakes held five weeks later. “Yet another Royal Ascot two-year-old winner for the Tattersalls Somerville Yearling Sale in 2025 underlines the sale's extraordinary record as a source of top-class juvenile talent in its short history,” said Tattersalls chairman Edmond Mahony. “Havana Hurricane joins the ranks of star graduates such as Bradsell, with their respective purchase prices of 9,000 guineas and 12,000 guineas illustrating the remarkable value to be found at the sale. “Additional incentive to buyers is provided by a substantial increase in the prize-money for the Tattersalls Somerville Auction Stakes and the Tattersalls October Auction Stakes which will now both be run for £200,000 each, underlining Tattersalls commitment to rewarding owners and further enhancing the appeal of the sale to a wide cross-section of domestic and international buyers.” The post Another Strong Hand for Havana Grey in Somerville Yearling Sale Catalogue appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Aidan O'Brien will rely on the G1 Coronation Cup hero Jan Brueghel (Galileo) in Saturday's G1 King George VI And Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Ascot after opting to withdraw the Derby and Irish Derby hero Lambourn (Australia) and the Pretty Polly winner Whirl (Wootton Bassett). Just five remain, with Ballydoyle's pacemaker Continuous (Heart's Cry) there to set up the rematch between his stablemate and The Aga Khan Studs Epsom runner-up Calandagan (Gleneagles), who has since captured the G1 Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud. Juddmonte's G1 British Champions Fillies & Mares Stakes heroine Kalpana (Study Of Man) and Godolphin's multiple top-level-winning international heavyweight Rebel's Romance (Dubawi) complete the select field. After Jessica Harrington withdrew Marcstown Farms' Green Impact (Wootton Bassett), the midsummer monument will have no three-year-old representation. He instead goes for Saturday's G2 York Stakes. The post O’Brien Relies On Jan Brueghel, King George Rematch With Calandagan Is On appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Thirsk Racecourse stages the second edition of the Graham Lee IJF Stable Staff Stakes on Friday. Sponsored by Sky Bet, the Graham Lee IJF Stable Staff Stakes sees 11 employees from racing yards compete in a one-mile 'hands-and-heels' race. The riders will be 'led up' by professional jockeys, with all participants having agreed to meet the minimum sponsorship obligation of £500. Last year's race raised £20,000 for the Injured Jockeys Fund (IJF), specifically to provide for the future needs of Lee, who was left with life-changing injuries after a fall at Newcastle in November 2023. The 49-year-old rode with great success under both codes, notably winning the 2004 Grand National on Amberleigh House and the 2015 Gold Cup at Royal Ascot on Trip To Paris. Race organiser Adele Mulrennan said, “The Sky Bet Graham Lee IJF charity race is a chance for jockeys to show their support for stable staff in a unique twist of roles. It also gives them an opportunity to get involved with some fundraising for Graham – and the race has been so well supported again this year. I look forward to seeing who wins this year's bespoke saddle and, even better, Graham will be in attendance.” More information about the participants in the Graham Lee IJF Stable Staff Stakes can be found here. The post Thirsk Hosts Second Edition of the Graham Lee Charity Race appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Riccarton horseman Andrew Carston collected a winning double at his local synthetic meeting on Thursday, firstly as an owner and later as a trainer. From his own barn, Delmonico (NZ) (Prince Of Brooklyn) was aiming for back-to-back victories in the BMC Construction Rating 75 1600, having caught Rule Of Law (NZ) (Justify)right on the line last start on the all-weather surface. In the hands of Krishna Mudhoo, the gelding was customarily slow away, before coming through on the rail to settle in fifth. The big-striding Peecee Pussycat (NZ) (Pure Champion) went up to lead and gave a sight down much of the home straight, only for the win to be snatched by Delmonico in the shadows of the post. It was the fifth win from 27 starts for the son of Prince Of Brooklyn, who has hit his straps again this campaign. “I’m really happy with him, he’s really come of age this year,” Carston said. “I told a couple of people today that he won his first couple of starts for me as a four-year-old, then he just got right up in the grades as a bit of a big dumb-dumb. He’s taken a long time to work it all out and he hasn’t gone a bad race this whole preparation to be fair. “I was a little worried in the smaller field that we would be a bit closer than we were, but Krishna rides him well, he just leaves him alone early and he showed a really good turn of foot. He hasn’t really shown that same turn of foot on the grass, but he really gets going on the poly.” Carston intends to run Delmonico during the Grand National Festival of Racing in the coming weeks, but unfortunately won’t have a synthetic option. “I will run him on National Week, but he’ll have to go to the grass because there isn’t a suitable race for him on the poly, which is a bit disappointing,” he said. “But he has got a pretty good record on wet ground, so he’ll run there, then we’ll reassess.” Earlier in the meeting, Carston was represented by Go Your Own Way (NZ) (Belardo), a son of Belardo, prepared by West Melton trainer Nayton Mitchell. Go Your Own Way had made four appearances since joining Mitchell, all with merit, and stepping up to the middle-distance trip, he looked well suited and punters agreed, backing the gelding into $2.40 favouritism. Jumping from the ace barrier, Go Your Own Way took his time to get into stride, settling near the tail of the field. Princess Solitaire (NZ) (U S Navy Flag) was the pacemaker throughout and led the maiden field into the straight, where Go Your Own Way started to go through his gears. He hit the lead at the 50m alongside Typsy (NZ) (U S Navy Flag) and had the edge over that runner late, powering clear to salute by three-quarters of a length. The four-year-old was a $2,900 purchase via gavelhouse.com for Carston and Mitchell, and has more than doubled that investment with Thursday’s result. “He was a gavelhouse purchase for Nayton and he’s doing a good job with him,” Carston said. “At the time, he was going for the newcomer to training award, but I think he’ll end up second or third. “This horse was a bit headstrong initially, but Nayton has worked him out and he was quite dominant today, although in maiden grade, he did win well.” View the full article

Tony Furness will head to Otaki with family history on his side when he tackles the Listed Phils Electrical and Gipsy Caravans Ryder Stakes (1200m) with his promising juvenile Reconvene (NZ) (Derryn) on Saturday. His father, Bert Furness, won the race with High Saint (NZ), and Furness would dearly love to repeat the feat. “Dad won the race 50-odd years ago, I was 14 or 15 back then,” he said. “I won a couple of trials on the horse myself, but I think Bob Skelton was a wee bit better than me. “He wasn’t a bad little horse, he went on to win the Foxbridge (Plate) after that.” Furness’ representative in this year’s edition will be Derryn gelding Reconvene, who has finished runner-up in his last two outings, including last start behind Saturday race rival Spandeedo. “He has been going well, so it is worth a crack I think,” Furness said. “He made up a lot of ground on him (Spandeedo (NZ) (Ferrando)). He wasn’t copping the track as good as I thought he would, but every track is different, and he got through it still.” Furness happened on Reconvene by chance after asking Grangewilliam Stud’s Mark Corcoran if he had any young stock he was looking to sell when having one of his mares served by resident stallion The Bold One. “I got one of Dan Myers’ mares, who I had won a couple of races with, and went to The Bold One,” Furness said. “I asked him (Corcoran) if he had any I could look at and he said he had this little fella there. I went and had a look and off we went. “He is a neat little horse. He is quiet and travels by himself. He is a dream horse really.” A dairy farmer, Furness has trained a couple of horses at a time over the last 30 years, and he said it’s a nice distraction from the farm. “I milk cows, so I do one or two,” he said. “I have been a bit lucky to train a few for Dan Myers, who is just up the road from me. I have trained three for Dan and they have all won, we have had a bit of fun.” Furness also spent some time as a jockey and said he had a memorable day in the saddle at Ellerslie in his youth. “I had a horse bolt on me and rode a winner at Ellerslie. I got two hot dogs and a snow freeze down the straight it was that wide,” he quipped. “I only had a handful of rides as a jockey, I was pretty big and heavy. It was good to have a win at Ellerslie, but that was about it.” Things are ramping up on the farm for Furness and he said Reconvene will head for a spell following Saturday’s run. “He will be going out as I have got all my cows coming in, so I am getting busy,” he said. View the full article