Wandering Eyes

It has been an outstanding year for well-respected owner Tracy Farmer, whose Shadowlawn Farm sits about 10 miles northwest of Keeneland Race Course in nearby Midway. The native Kentuckian has won with roughly 17% of his runners in 2019 and was represented by his first Classic winner when Sir Winston (Awesome Again) took out this year’s GI Belmont S. Perfect Alibi (Sky Mesa) provided him with a second top-level success in the GI Spinaway S. last month and the dark bay filly will look to add to that tally in Friday’s GI Darley Alcibiades S., a ‘Win and You’re In’ qualifier for the GI Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies in four weeks’ time. A $220,000 graduate of last year’s Fasig-Tipton Saratoga sale, Perfect Alibi dusted Churchill maidens by 9 1/2 lengths on her May 16 debut but ran in spots and could do no better than second as the 5-4 favorite when making her stakes debut in Belmont’s Astoria S. June 6. Atoning for that effort with a 13-2 upset of the GII Adirondack S. at Saratoga Aug. 4, she backed it up with a 1 1/4-length success in the Spinaway, sticking on very gamely while pinned down along the inside. The 5-2 favorite on the morning line, Perfect Alibi will try to give trainer Mark Casse a fourth Alcibiades victory since 2012. British Idiom (Flashback) has but one start under her belt, but a very promising one it was, as she sat handy to the pace in an Aug. 15 Saratoga restricted maiden over six furlongs and finished full of run to best next-out maiden romper Miss Marissa (He’s Had Enough) by 3 1/2 solid lengths. In receipt of first-time Lasix Friday, she has since recorded five breezes at Churchill and she should see out this first two-turn test. Godolphin’s Micheline (Bernardini) ran on to be third to the very impressive Morning Gold (Morning Line) in a 1 1/16-mile turf maiden at Saratoga Aug. 11 before breaking her maiden in style in the Sept. 1 Sorority S. at Monmouth Park. The bay is the lone member of this field with a victory at two turns and her dam was a Grade I winner on turf and synthetic and winner of the GII Black-Eyed Susan S. on the main track. Gone Glimmering (Tapiture) has some longshot appeal from gate one. A four-length debut winner going 5 1/2 panels at Indiana Grand Aug. 2, the $62,000 Keeneland September purchase missed the break slightly in a non-two-lifetime allowance at the same track Sept. 6 and was checked hard a half-mile out, but picked herself up off the canvas and rolled home late to score by 2 1/2 lengths. The half-sister to GSP router Sheer Flattery (Flatter) will need to pick up her feet some to be a factor, but the Alcibiades can toss up a longshot winner and just five runnings since 2000 have been won by the post-time favorite. The post Farmer’s Big Year Can Continue in Alcibiades appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

The lure of racing at Keeneland is such that 13 rivals oppose Rushing Fall in the $400,000 First Lady Stakes (G1T) Oct. 5. View the full article

G1SW Crystal Ocean (GB) (Sea The Stars {Ire}–Crystal Star {GB}, by Mark of Esteem {Ire}), winner of this year’s G1 Prince of Wales’s S., has been bought by Coolmore and will stand under its National Hunt banner at The Beeches Stud in 2020. A fee will be announced later. The 5-year-old suffered a career-ending injury on the gallops last month, bowing out with an official rating of 127. “We’ve been lucky enough to get some great horses over the years, but Crystal Ocean could be the best of the lot,” said The Beeches manager Bobby McCarthy. “He’s a great outcross option for the many good mares from the Sadler’s Wells line.” Bred by Sir Evelyn de Rothschild’s Southcourt Stud, the homebred won the G3 Gordon S. and was placed second in the 2017 G1 St. Leger S. at three, before adding a trio of group victories at four. His season culminated with a pair of seconds in the G1 King George VI & Queen Elizabeth S. and the G1 QIPCO Champions S. two starts later. After adding a brace of Group 3s to start his 2019 season, Crystal Ocean captured the aforementioned Prince Of Wales’s S. at Royal Ascot and ended his career with two more runner-up performances at the top level-once again in the King George VI & Queen Elizabeth S. and in York’s Juddmonte International S. in his final start. In total, the Sir Michael Stoute trainee scored seven times at the group level and carries a mark of 17-8-7-2 and $2,647,105 in earnings. “If you look at his race record, it’s quite amazing,” commented trainer Sir Michael Stoute. “He has a lovely temperament and is a joy to train.” Out of the English SW & GSP mare Crystal Star, Crystal Ocean is a half-brother to English highweights Crystal Capella (GB) (Cape Cross {Ire}), a MGSW, and Hillstar (GB) (Danehill Dancer {Ire}), who won the GI Pattison Canadian International S., as well as SW Crystal Zvezda (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}). Under the third dam is G1 Poule d’Essai des Pouliches heroine Rose Gypsy (GB) (Green Desert). The post Crystal Ocean to Stand at The Beeches Stud appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Keeneland and UK HealthCare have entered into a multiyear agreement that includes sponsorship of the Keeneland Kids Club, the run/walk program and the GI First Lady S. during the Fall Meet, Keeneland announced Thursday. Established in 1957 as the academic medical center for the University of Kentucky, UK HealthCare is a network of nearly 10,000 doctors, nurses, researchers and staff driven by a mission to provide care for the Commonwealth of Kentucky and beyond. U.S. News Best Hospitals’ analysis ranked UK HealthCare as the number one hospital in Kentucky for the fourth year in a row this year. “Keeneland and UK HealthCare share a common mission to enhance the quality of life in our community,” Keeneland President and CEO Bill Thomason said. “This sponsorship continues Keeneland’s storied history with the University of Kentucky, during which we’ve partnered to promote excellence in education, support scientific breakthroughs for the horse industry, improve the vibrancy of our community through philanthropy and creatively connect two signature brands in support of one of the most celebrated athletic programs in the country. We are excited to welcome UK HealthCare to the Keeneland family and thank them for their support of Thoroughbred racing.” The post Keeneland Partners With UK HealthCare appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

With the top older female sprinter in California, Marley's Freedom, receiving a freshening, the West Coast division is without a leading prospect heading into the Nov. 2 Filly and Mare Sprint, unless the $100,000 L.A. Woman (G3) alters the picture. View the full article

Breeders’ Cup has launched a new sweepstakes with the Los Angeles Dodgers’ star pitcher Walker Buehler. Titled ‘Win with Walker’, the sweepstakes offers one lucky winner the opportunity to experience the 2019 Breeders’ Cup, alongside the baseball great. In addition to receiving two VIP tickets to the World Championships event, the winner will get the chance to watch a race with the famed athlete. To enter the Win with Walker sweepstakes, participants must visit WinWithWalker.com and sign up with their name and email address. Hopeful fans can share a unique referral link via social media and email to earn additional entries into the sweepstakes and increase their chances of winning the Grand Prize. Entries are currently being accepted now through Oct. 23, at which point the Grand Prize winner will be randomly chosen from the eligible entries and notified via email. Winners and guests must both be 18 years of age. Any and all transportation to/from Santa Anita Park and any corresponding accommodations will not be provided and will be winner’s sole responsibility. For complete rules visit WinWithWalker.com/rules. The post BC Launches ‘Win With Walker’ Sweepstakes appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

All contests on Horseplayers.com in October will be exclusive to the BCBC with up to five qualifying contests offered each weekend, the Breeders’ Cup announced Thursday. The winners of each qualifying contest on Horseplayers.com will receive a free $10,000 berth into the BCBC, which will take place on Nov. 1-2 at Santa Anita, Gulfstream, Monmouth Park and Churchill Downs. Entrants can also play online at TVG.com and on Xpressbet.com. The post Horseplayers.com to Offer BC Betting Challenge appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

The Keeneland Library has unveiled an exhibit of photos by early Turf photographer John C. Hemment. The Library, which is free and open to the public Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. ET, will feature “A Day in the Life: Volume I,” which recognizes Hemment’s influential work. The exhibit, curated by Head Librarian Roda Ferraro and the first in a series, is running through March 2020 with a virtual counterpart at keenelandlibrary.omeka.net/exhibits. Although his early emphasis was the finish line, Hemment’s work spanned every aspect of the track from the backside to the winner’s circle and from posed shots of industry greats to candid reflections of daily life in and around the sport. The post Keeneland Library Launches Hemment Exhibit appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Godolphin supply two leading chances for Friday’s G3 Prix Thomas Bryon at Saint-Cloud as the operation warms up for Arc weekend. Both are trained by Charlie Appleby, with William Buick on the Sept. 14 G2 Champagne S. runner-up Royal Crusade (GB) (Shamardal) and Mickael Barzalona employed for King’s Command (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) who was third last time in the Listed Prix Francois Boutin over this seven-furlong trip at Deauville Aug. 11. “We were delighted with the performance of Royal Crusade in the Champagne S., when he was only narrowly beaten by a good horse in Threat,” he said. “He came out of that race in good order and a repeat of his Doncaster race should make him a very strong contender at this level. King’s Command has been slightly disappointing since winning nicely on debut. He has been gelded since his latest start and we are hoping that it will bring about an improved effort.” Also in the line-up is Al Shaqab’s Sept. 1 G3 Prix la Rochette runner-up Wooded (Ire) (Wootton Bassett {GB}) and the Wertheimers’ Sept. 13 debut course-and-distance winner Oxalis (Ire) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}). Earlier on the card, Appleby saddles Godolphin’s long-absent TDN Rising Star Magic Lily (GB) (New Approach {Ire}) in the 10-furlong Listed Prix Dahlia. The daughter of the G1 Epsom Oaks heroine Dancing Rain (Ire) (Danehill Dancer {Ire}) was kept in training following her third placing in the 2017 G1 Fillies’ Mile and this is her first subsequent outing. The post Godolphin Crusade Gets Underway appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Dennis Yokum has been named Rancho San Miguel Farm Manager, effective Oct. 28. On the racetrack, he worked for such legendary horsemen as Charlie Whittingham, Dickie Dutrow and John Gosden and at farms for operations such as Hobeau Farm, Mrs. Markey’s Calumet Farm (where he took care of Alydar upon his retirement), Leslie Combs’ Spendthrift Farm and Domino Stud. He most recently worked at Premier Thoroughbreds, where he served as manager for the past four years. The post Yokum Becomes Rancho San Miguel Manager appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Ohio (BRZ) and Bolo, who both boast grade 1 wins this season on the Santa Anita Park turf, return to that course in search of more success Oct. 5 in the $200,000 City of Hope Mile Stakes (G2T). View the full article

To date in 2018, trainer Mark Casse and owner Tracy Farmer have teamed for some big wins and they'll try to add to that list this weekend. View the full article

In this continuing series, Alan Carasso takes a look ahead at US-bred and/or conceived runners entered for the upcoming weekend at the tracks on the Japan Racing Association circuit, with a focus on pedigree and/or performance in the sales ring. Here are the horses of interest for this weekend running at Kyoto and Tokyo Racecourses, including the first two runners in the country for freshman sire Carpe Diem: Saturday, October 5, 2019 4th-TOK, ¥13,400,000 ($125k), Newcomers, 2yo, 1600m AMERICAN NINA (f, 2, Carpe Diem–Mane Princess, by Mineshaft), a $110K Keeneland November weanling, was pinhooked to last year’s Keeneland September sale, where she fetched $260K. The first Japanese runner for her 2014 GI Claiborne Breeders’ Futurity-winning sire (by Giant’s Causeway), the Mar. 30 foal is out of a daughter of SW & GISP Extended Applause (Exbourne)–also runner-up to champion Silverbulletday (Silver Deputy) in the 1998 GII Alcibiades S.–whose son Channel Marker (Purim) was a Grade III-winning turf sprinter. B-Catherine Jennings & Marian Kuhtaschek (MD) 6th-KYO, ¥13,400,000 ($125k), Newcomers, 2yo, 1200mT TRAIN BEARER (f, 2, Carpe Diem-Cabaret Starlet, by Tale of the Cat) was a $90K in utero purchase at KEEJAN in 2017, then realized that same amount when offered at KEENOV seven months after her foaling. A $150K Fasig-Tipton Saratoga yearling, the bay was hammered down for $250K at OBS March after breezing a quarter in :21 1/5. Train Bearer, out of a half-sister to Canadian Horse of the Year Arravale (Arch), is herself a half-sister to San Jose Tesoro (The Factor), a two-time winner from four starts in Japan. B-Daniel S Mallory, Amy Bayle & Allen Racing LLC (KY) Sunday, October 6, 2019 4th-KYO, ¥13,400,000 ($125k), Newcomers, 2yo, 1800m KAZU VENATOR (c, 2, Orb–Satyana, by Street Cry {Ire}), a $250K in utero purchase at KEENOV in 2016, hails from a female family that has crossed exceptionally well with A.P. Indy and/or his stallion sons. Out of a half to MGSW Thiskyhasnolimit (Sky Mesa), the colt’s second dam, Lovely Regina (Deputy Minister), was a daughter of GISW Cara Rafaela (Quiet American), also victorious in the 1995 Alcibiades S., and later the dam of champion Bernardini (A.P. Indy). Cara Rafaela’s GISP daughter Ile de France (Storm Cat) was responsible for MGISW Love and Pride (A.P. Indy). Satyana produced a Deep Impact (Jpn) filly in 2018 and a filly by King Kamehameha (Jpn) this season. B-Mishima Bokujo 11th-TOK, Mainichi Okan-G2, ¥127.7m ($1.2m), 3yo/up, 1800mT MOZU ASCOT (h, 5, Frankel {GB}–India, by Hennessy) is one of his sire’s two Group 1 winners in Japan, having turned in a spectacular effort to scoop the 2018 Yasuda Kinen at this venue (see below, gate 10). The $275K KEESEP buyback is winless in five runs since, inlcuding a sixth in defense of the Yasuda Kinen June 2, and stretches out to this distance for the first time since finishing fourth in his second career start in June 2017. Mozu Ascot’s yearling half-sister by Frosted was knocked down for $575K at Fasig-Tipton Saratoga two months back. B-Summer Wind Farm (KY) The post US Bred-/Sired Runners in Japan: Oct. 5 & 6, 2019 appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Yearling viewers with a penchant for Italian food will be in for a treat at one of the hospitality boxes at the Tattersalls October Sale. It probably wouldn’t take a genius to work out that the consignors behind the Italian-themed pitstop in the Wall Boxes are Luca and Sara Cumani. There’s some debate over who will slice the Parma ham—Sara’s suggestion that Luca could perform this task in a side room is not met with great enthusiasm by the former master trainer—but what the couple does agree on is that the time is now right for their Fittocks Stud to make its debut as yearling consignors. “We always sold our own mares and foals,” says Sara Cumani in the kitchen of their sumptuous new home on the stud which they have owned for 35 years. “And horses in training,” adds her husband quickly. From the window, a sweeping view over the most rolling part of Suffolk takes the eye across the ha-ha to a paddock of mares and foals, the last group on the stud still to be weaned. It’s a scene worthy of Stubbs’s paintbrush and, if there were any lingering sorrow at leaving Bedford House Stables, one of Newmarket’s most beautiful training yards, this would provide a soothing balm. Sara Cumani continues, “So we have experience of selling horses but we’ve never done the yearlings because we always thought that being trainers and trying to sell your yearlings makes it difficult for people to understand what role you’re filling—are you buying or selling? But we can sell our own now.” It is not just the Fittocks homebreds filling the 12-strong October draft but also yearlings bred by a select bunch of friends and clients at the farm. The pair of colts for Book 1 represent one of each. In 2015, Koora (GB), trained by Luca in the Fittocks colours, won the G3 St Simon S. before going on to be runner-up in the G2 Middleton S. The decision to retain the Pivotal (GB) filly as a youngster was easy. Not only is she by one of the best broodmare sires in the land but, as a half-sister to St Leger winner Milan (GB) (Sadler’s Wells), she continues a line which has been good to the Cumanis. Koora’s dam Kithanga (Ire) (Darshaan {GB}) has a yard named in her honour at Fittocks, and it is from here that Koora’s first foal by Dubawi (Ire) (lot 381) is being prepared for the sale. “He’s a super exciting first foal,” says Sara. “To have a colt like that out of a Pivotal mare is very exciting. He has a full-brother foal to come and now the mare is in foal to Galileo (Ire), so she has been given every chance, which she deserves.” The colt will be accompanied to Book 1 by a son of Frankel (GB) (lot 214) out of Cascata (Ire) (Montjeu {Ire}), a sister to the brilliant St Nicholas Abbey (Ire). Another G1 Racing Post Trophy winner, Aristotle (Ire) (Sadler’s Wells), features among a rash of group winners under his third dam. Cascata was herself a winner as a 2-year-old, and for her owner Stuart Stuckey she has already produced the listed-placed seven-time winner Pacharana (GB) (Oasis Dream {GB}) among her four winners. Her 2-year-old colt by Siyouni (Fr), named Matthew Flinders (GB) with a nod to Stuckey’s Australian heritage, is in training with Ed Walker. “He’s a very good moving horse, I just love watching him on the lunge,” says Sara Cumani as the Frankel colt parades around the Kithanga yard. As a trainer’s wife for so many years and an accomplished amateur rider in her day, it is clear she still very much enjoys the hands-on nature of life on a stud farm. “Sara has been panicking for the last month already,” says Luca as talk turns to the key fortnight of the October Sale, at which they will offer a further eight yearlings in Book 2 and two in Book 3. His wife adds, “I’m very happy prepping the horses, showing them, dealing with the lads, but when it comes down to the nitty-gritty of the finances and all that side of life, Luca is much better at that, so I can offload my panic a bit onto him. As long as I can just be with horses and concentrate on what they’re doing then I’m happy and that works well. “What’s quite fun about being at the stud rather than at the racing yard is that you very much have your seasons, and after foaling you have a bit of a lull in the early summer to get on with the maintenance before you start the yearling prep and foal sales. And then you start the whole thing over again.” She continues, “We prefer to sell our own horses as yearlings and we sell a few foals for other people, and would like to sell a few more foals. But we very much want to keep it to a nice select number of good quality horses to sell.” The Italian theme doesn’t end with the food on offer in the Fittocks hospitality box but continues through to a number of the farm’s clients with yearlings to sell. Another excellent former amateur rider and old friend Franca Vittadini is the breeder of a racy-looking Wootton Basset (GB) filly who will be offered as lot 684 on the opening day of Book 2. Vittadini also bred lot 947, a Le Havre (Ire) filly from the same family and the first foal of the winning Exceed And Excel (Aus) mare Encore Moi (GB). The filly’s grandam is the dual Group 3 winner Di Moi Oui (GB) (Warning {GB}), who is also the third dam of the Wootton Bassett filly. Furthermore, the draft includes a Mayson (GB) half-sister to dual Group 3-winning sprinter Speak In Colours (GB) (Excelebration {Ire}) (lot 1142), bred by Paolo and Emma Agostini, who were also the owner-breeders of the Cumani-trained G2 Challenge S. winner Le Vie Dei Colori (GB) (Efisio {GB}). The Cumanis will doubtless be eager to witness the progress of a number of yearlings from Floors Stud who took their first steps at Fittocks, where many of the Duke of Roxburghe’s mares have been foaled over the years. This year’s draft from the Kelso farm, which includes a brother to Attraction (GB)’s son Elarqam (GB) (Frankel {GB}) (lot 180), carries with it an air of poignancy following the death of the duke in late August. Sara Cumani says, “We were so lucky to have his mares here to foal for the last 12 years and it was a great privilege to have been entrusted with Attraction. From 2007 to 2019 Attraction had 12 foals and she is in foal again now, and Comic, who is now retired, had 14 foals. They both had a great record and Attraction is the most lovely mare—he adored her.” She continues, “[The duke’s] efforts with the National Stud were beginning to pay off and it would be a great tribute if Time Test (GB) turns out to be a superstar. We haven’t got many of his sort left in the business. He was a real fan of racing and everything to do with it. He did his bit for the Jockey Club and had tremendous success building up a lovely stud. It’s a great loss because he was brilliant with everybody and he will be sorely missed.” As owner-breeders themselves, the Cumanis landed one of Newmarket’s more unusual races on Sept. 26 when Felix (GB) (Lope De Vega {Ire}) won the Newmarket Challenge Whip, which is restricted to horses owned by Jockey Club members and run for no prize-money but a rather grand Charlie Langton bronze as a trophy, as well as a small slice of Jockey Club history. Felix’s trainer Sir Michael Stoute is one of three men in Newmarket now entrusted with the second stage of nurturing the Fittocks graduates and, despite Luca Cumani’s proximity to the training centre, he insists that he is not meddling in their education. “There’s no point having trained for 43 years without having learned how to behave as an owner,” he says with a wry grin. The post A First For Fittocks appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

For an instructive snapshot of what’s wrong with this business, just take a look at the plunge in the going rate for yearlings by almost all sires represented by their second crop. Not even the most precocious, remember, have yet launched half their named foals onto the track; while most of those whose stock will only flourish with maturity, and two turns, have barely dipped a toe in the water. Yet only a handful, having achieved an early impact from a low base, have actually advanced their averages. For the rest, even treading water is a triumph. Because some have seen their second crops halve in value, or worse, despite perfectly respectable stats among their few runners to date. Farms nowadays feel obliged to throw everything at new sires, to maximise their shop window in a market manically prejudiced in favour of untested risk. Yet that same window is increasingly likely to be boarded up overnight, as the next intake of new blood opens for business next door. Today’s market is floodlit by candles that burn brightly but briefly, being all wick and no wax. And it is becoming harder and harder for stallions to find a niche in which a low but sturdy glow can safely endure the fitful draughts of fashion. Harder and harder, that is, to emulate the sire of Perfect Alibi, who bids to consolidate her status among the season’s leading juvenile fillies in the GI Darley Alcibiades S. at Keeneland today. Strange to reflect that Sky Mesa (Pulpit), now 19, was himself once a young stallion who had talked the talk but apparently not walked the walk. As an unbeaten Grade I winner at two–underpinned by a terrific pedigree, plus brawn, balance and conformation–his sales debut had even been highlighted by a seven-figure yearling. But a solitary black-type performer from 43 juvenile starters, out of that first crop, was the kind of return that would today probably earn him a one-way ticket to Oklahoma or Korea. The business was not quite so hysterical and jittery in those days. And after a handful of that first crop matured into graded stakes winners, he then produced two elite scorers from his second, foaled in 2006: Frizette winner Sky Diva, and Blue Grass S. hero General Quarters. Unfortunately, despite 22 other graded stakes scorers altogether, Sky Mesa did not produce another Grade I winner until Perfect Alibi won the Spinaway S. last month. Nonetheless he has carved out a reputation that few new sires, in today’s market, can hope to emulate. We all know that hardly any of them will ever again command a fee as high as their opening one, but Sky Mesa started at Three Chimneys in 2004 at $30,000 and his services cost exactly the same in 2012. As he has aged, and the market has become more puerile, his fee has slipped a notch or two and this was his third year at $15,000. But while he dropped to 63 mares last year, he had previously maintained a rock-solid three-figure average, with a devoted following among those possessed by the quaint idea of breeding a horse that can actually run (i.e. not just sell). They know you can set your clock by Sky Mesa, who has duly produced another eight stakes winners so far this year. These include one of the most exciting unbeaten colts around in Meru, who recently burned off his pursuers in the Smoke Glacken S. at Monmouth in 1:08.93. There really can’t be much better value around at this kind of money. TDN lifetime stats show Sky Mesa producing stakes winners at a clip surpassing Tiznow, Candy Ride (Arg), Hard Spun, Flatter, Bernardini, Empire Maker, Street Sense and Union Rags, to give a random sample of more expensive stallions too excellent to be embarrassed by the comparison; and basically in step, moreover, with Malibu Moon, Kitten’s Joy, Uncle Mo and More Than Ready. It’s not hard to figure out why he should have become such a consistent stallion. In grandsire and damsire he brings together Secretariat’s premier achievements as a broodmare sire, A.P. Indy and Storm Cat. And the bottom line, which extends to La Troienne, starts with his MGSW dam Caress (Storm Cat)–a full-sister to Tepin’s sire Bernstein out of a half-sister to champion Outstandingly (Exclusive Native). Most interestingly, however, his pedigree is weighted both top and bottom by two really important mares: Knight’s Daughter and Busanda, respectively the mothers of Round Table and Buckpasser. Sky Mesa’s third dam is by Round Table, whose sister Monarchy is the fourth dam of his sire Pulpit. And his fourth dam is a half-sister to Buckpasser, whose daughter Lassie Dear is granddam of Pulpit’s sire A.P. Indy. Perfect Alibi’s dam, Pin Oak’s homebred stakes winner No Use Denying (Maria’s Mon), complements this depth and breadth with a classy family of her own–tracing to the Calumet matriarch Two Bob, via a fourth dam who produced both champion Chris Evert and the mother of Winning Colors. A $220,000 Saratoga yearling, Perfect Alibi is trained for Tracy Farmer by Mark Casse. She won by 9 1/2 lengths over a bare five furlongs at Churchill in May, too easily to learn a great deal, and duly found everything happening a little too quickly when rallying for a close second in stakes company at Belmont next time. But that seasoning proved critical when she bravely scuttled through heavy traffic in the GII Adirondack S. Having herself been buffeted, runner-up Frank’s Rockette (Into Mischief) was favoured for revenge in their Spinaway rematch. Once again, however, Perfect Alibi had the courage to burrow her way through a half-gap, this time on the rail. She’s built to look after herself, which is certainly what she has been doing; but Casse also reckons her constructed to relish a second turn today, and is duly impressed by her deeds in sprints. Success today would confirm her as the East Coast’s top candidate to topple Bast (Uncle Mo) in her own backyard at the Breeders’ Cup. What a shame that another leading lady on the West Coast, Amalfi Sunrise, is apparently unlikely to race again after an attack of pneumonia. She had contributed to such a brisk start by her sire Constitution (Tapit) that he has even bucked the trend and sharply increased the value of his second crop of yearlings. Constitution is seizing the moment–and just as well, since a moment is all these young sires tend to get. Even so, he will do very well to become as reliable a conduit of the Pulpit line as Sky Mesa. The post Alibi Reaching for the Sky appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

For the past few weeks, we have been running a series of responses to The Jockey Club’s proposed cap on a stallion’s book at 140 mares. Many people expressed the feeling that there were more pressing problems to which the industry should attend. So we asked a group of respondents, `What would you fix first?’ Far and away the most important action toward “fixing” our continuously declining industry is to work with Congress to establish a centralized governing body across all states that can establish policy and growth objectives, create common rules and regulation for racing, monitor participant conduct including use of drugs and whipping, and enforce compliance with consistent and strict consequences for infractions. Without a national office providing this kind of leadership and regulation, the sport will continue to dwindle and perhaps implode. Any other “fixes” are simply band-aids on a heavily bleeding artery. The post What Would You Fix? Rob Whiteley appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Breeze Easy's Imprimis will carry top weight in the $200,000 Woodford Stakes Presented by Keeneland Select (G2T) Oct. 5 on Keeneland's opening weekend. View the full article

The Jockey Club reported that 1,630 stallions covered 32,508 mares in North America during 2018, according to statistics compiled through Sept. 26, 2019. These breedings have resulted in 20,363 live foals of 2019 being reported to The Jockey Club. The Jockey Club estimates that the number of live foals reported so far is approximately 90% complete. The reporting of live foals of 2019 is down 3.6% from last year at this time when The Jockey Club had received reports for 21,130 live foals of 2018. In addition to the 20,363 live foals of 2019 reported through Sept. 26, The Jockey Club also received 2,405 No Foal Reports for the 2019 foaling season. Ultimately, the 2019 registered foal crop is projected to reach 20,800. The number of stallions declined 8.3% from the 1,778 reported for 2017 at this time last year, while the number of mares bred declined 5.2% from the 34,288 reported for 2017. The 2018 breeding statistics are available alphabetically by stallion name through the Resources – Fact Book link on The Jockey Club homepage. Kentucky annually leads all states and provinces in terms of Thoroughbred breeding activity. Kentucky-based stallions accounted for 53.7% of the mares reported bred in North America in 2018 and 59.9% of the live foals reported for 2019. The 17,446 mares reported bred to 241 Kentucky stallions in 2018 have produced 12,200 live foals, a 1.4% decrease on the 12,370 Kentucky-sired live foals of 2018 reported at this time last year. The number of mares reported bred to Kentucky stallions in 2018 increased 0.3% compared to the 17,401 reported for 2017 at this time last year. Among the 10 states and provinces with the most mares covered in 2018, three produced more live foals in 2019 than in 2018 as reported at this time last year: California, Louisiana, and Maryland. The statistics include 303 progeny of stallions standing in North America but foaled abroad, as reported by foreign stud book authorities at the time of publication. The report also includes 86 mares bred to 14 stallions in North America on Southern Hemisphere time; the majority of these mares have not foaled. As customary, a report listing the number of mares bred in 2019 will be released later this month. The post The Jockey Club Releases 2018 Breeding Stats appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Khalid Abdullah’s history-seeker Enable (GB) (Nathaniel {Ire}) will break from stall nine in Sunday’s G1 Qatar Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe after the draw was made this morning. Having broken from two and six in her last two successes in the ParisLongchamp showpiece, the 10-times group 1 heroine has a wider berth to contend with, but the Ballydoyle challengers Magical (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) and Japan (GB) (Galileo {Ire}) either side in eight and 10 respectively. Godolphin’s G1 Grosser Preis von Baden winner Ghaiyyath (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) received the widest draw in 12, with Peter Brant’s G1 Prix du Jockey Club hero Sottsass (Fr) (Siyouni {Fr}) on the rail in one. Ryan Moore has opted for the G1 Grand Prix de Paris and G1 Juddmonte International winner Japan over the G1 Irish Champion S. scorer Magical. The post Enable Drawn In Nine For the Arc appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Addressing your thoughts, questions and statements about Hong Kong racing. Have something to say? Send a tweet to @SCMPRacingPost.People start arriving at Sha Tin Racecourse ahead of the National Day races. Spectators open their bags to be checked as part of enhanced security measures – @SCMPNewsTuesday’s National Day meeting proves that Hong Kong racing exists in a bubble.While chaos reigned around the city, it was basically business as usual at Sha Tin – it was one of the safest places to be… View the full article

He is named after a dance that gets faster and faster, and trainer Paul O’Sullivan believes his flying four-year-old is ready to do just that.Chicken Dance was one of the shining lights of O’Sullivan’s stable last season and returns for the first time this season in the Class Three Shek Tong Tsui Handicap (1,200m) at Sha Tin on Sunday.Imported from his brother Lance’s stable in New Zealand, Chicken Dance showed untapped potential in his first two starts last season before bolting in with his… View the full article

Acceptances are in for Randwick and Flemington this weekend in what promises to be another drool-worthy weekend of Group racing. View the full article

Trainer Anthony Freedman is to have two runners in the Caulfield Guineas and the Thousand Guineas. Trainer Anthony Freedman is set to be two-handed in the two Guineas races on the opening day of the Caulfield Cup carnival. Freedman says Super Seth and Groundswell will contest the Group One Caulfield Guineas with the stable to be represented by Lyre and Southbank in the fillies division, the Thousand Guineas. Both races are for three-year-olds and run over 1600m on October 12. Freedman said Mark Zahra would ride Super Seth and Kerrin McEvoy Groundswell while Blue Diamond Stakes winner Lyre is to be ridden by Luke Currie with James McDonald on Southbank. Super Seth and Groundswell finished fifth and third respectively in the Caulfield Guineas Prelude last Sunday with Southbank and Lyre finishing second and seventh respectively in the Thousand Guineas Prelude. Groundswell and Super Seth are both $15 chances in the Caulfield Guineas while Lyre is at $15 and Southbank $26 in the Thousand Guineas. Dalasan remains favourite at $3 for the Guineas with Alligator Blood, who beat him in the Prelude, at $5 while Flit is the $2.80 favourite for the Thousand Guineas with Hugh Bowman scheduled to ride both. The post Anthony Freedman announces Guineas runners appeared first on BOAY Racing News. View the full article

A second round of donations will be gifted to drought-stricken towns in northern NSW struggling to pay the rising cost of horse feed. The Australian Turf Club Foundation will announce on Thursday another lot of grants for racing industry participants to help pay for hay bales. It follows earlier drought relief in April across hardest hit parts of the state’s Central and Western Districts, with the ATC Foundation raising more than $60,000 and providing water in the worst affected areas. The ATC Foundation was announced in October 2018 to oversee collections and programs for charitable organisations to enhance the Club’s support of racing in communities across Sydney and NSW. Australian Turf Club’s Steve McMahon will be on hand alongside Tamworth member Kevin Anderson to make the announcement at Tamworth Jockey Club. The post ATC Foundation to give more drought funds appeared first on BOAY Racing News. View the full article

He Kin Fly will tackle Saturday’s Coupland’s Bakeries Mile Trial (1400m). Photo credit: Race Images SouthChristchurch trainer Neill Ridley will get a tangible assessment of his chances for two of New Zealand Cup week’s major prizes when he produces He Kin Fly and Far Site at Riccarton on Saturday. Both horses have pleased Ridley in the leadup to their weekend assignments but their race performances will provide the best guide to their Group race prospects next month. Darci Brahma seven-year-old gelding He Kin Fly will tackle Saturday’s Coupland’s Bakeries Mile Trial (1400m) as a stepping stone towards the Group 2 Coupland’s Bakeries Mile (1600m) at Riccarton on November 13, while Makfi filly Far Site contests the Inglewood Stud Guineas Trial (1400m) as a potential precursor to the Group 1 gavelhouse.com 1000 Guineas (1600m) at Riccarton on November 16. He Kin Fly was no match for Melody Belle when he finished 12th resuming in the Group 1 Tarzino Trophy (1400m) at Hastings in August but back home he hit the line nicely after an interrupted run in the straight for fifth in the open sprint at Riccarton on September 21, just 1-1/2 lengths from winner Prince Oz. “His last run was good. He’s trained on nicely and I’m quite happy with him,” Ridley said. “He’s well and he’s going to get the sting out of the track which helps. The hard tracks aren’t good for his old joints. But he doesn’t take much to keep fit. “He’ll run here and probably run in the open mile at Ashburton in a couple of weeks’ time to find out whether he’ll run out a strong 1600m for the Coupland’s Mile. It might be a bit far for him but time will tell. We’ll give him his chance.” He Kin Fly, a $31 quote for the Coupland’s Bakeries Mile, has only twice run past 1400m previously for second and sixth placings at 1600m in the lower grades. TAB bookmakers opened him as a $4 second favourite for Saturday’s race behind Kiwi Ida, who has firmed to $3.20. Far Site, currently at $19 with TAB bookmakers for Saturday’s Guineas Trial and at $81 for the 1000 Guineas, impressed with a trial win at Rangiora last week and she was a first-up winner at Ashburton in July. “She’s on trial for the Guineas and she’s got to get things right at the start. She’s got some ability but she’ll have to be running on,” Ridley said. Ridley will also produce Hibachi, Raff Race, Highly Xcited, Dreamtesta and Mamba at Riccarton and was optimistic of a bold run from Dreamtesta. “She’s drawn a marble and she’s going well,” he said. The post Cup week spoils lure Ridley pair appeared first on BOAY Racing News. View the full article