Wandering Eyes

2019 G1 Investec Derby hero Anthony Van Dyck (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) has been scratched from the latest round of forfeits for Sunday’s G1 Qatar Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe and is instead possible for the Breeders’ Cup. The Aidan O’Brien runner was not certain to compete if the ground was not good or firm, and 5 1/2mm of rain has fallen in the past 24 hours resulting in soft ground as of Wednesday. This leaves the Arc field at an even dozen as Juddmonte’s Enable (GB) (Nathaniel {Ire}) attempts to win the historic race for the third year running. O’Brien still has MG1SWs Japan (GB) (Galileo {Ire}) and Magical (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) signed on for Coolmore. Some of the other runners include Ghaiyyath (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) for Godolphin and G1 QIPCO Prix du Jockey Club hero Sottsass (Fr) (Siyouni {Fr}) runs Peter Brant’s White Birch Farm. Claudio Marzocco’s MGSP Soft Light (Fr) (Authorized {Ire}) was a late supplementary entry at €120,000 on Wednesday. Yutaka Take has the call. The post Anthony Van Dyck Out of Arc Contention appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Dual Grade I winner Code of Honor (Noble Mission) will make his next start in the GI Breeders’ Cup Classic at Santa Anita next month, his trainer Shug McGaughey confirmed Wednesday morning. The story was originally reported by the Daily Racing Form. “I always sort of hedged on going out there,” McGaughey said. “I think he is a different horse than I was talking about before the Travers and his race here the other day [in the GI Jockey Club Gold Cup]. The other thing is, he seemed to come out of the Jockey Club Gold Cup really well. I think it is a great opportunity to go out there. These horses are made to run and if he is doing all the right things, we will go out there and run him.” Promoted to second via DQ in the GI Kentucky Derby, Code of Honor was given a brief freshening and returned a winner in Belmont’s GIII Dwyer S. July 6. Rallying strongly for a decisive score in the GI Runhappy Travers S. next out Aug. 24, the chestnut came up a nose short on the line in Saturday’s JC Gold Cup after a lengthy stretch battle with Vino Rosso (Curlin), but was promoted to first after his elder was disqualified following a claim of foul by John Velazquez for brushing in the lane. The post Code of Honor Confirmed for BC Classic 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?’ I truly believe that the whole industry needs to be streamlined. We are governed by 32 state governments. I’m no longer naïve in thinking that we can just mandate change. I think the biggest issue is that we need a federally appointed racing commission, with one set of rules regarding medication, whatever those may be. One set of rules regarding licensing. We make everything so difficult. Can you imagine driving your car and every time that you cross state lines you have to get a license every single year? I don’t think any of it is going to be streamlined and fixed because it’s all about the money. Another thing is the irrational side of government. I have to get fingerprinted every three years to get a Florida license. Guess what? Your fingerprints don’t change, so it’s really frustrating. I had a filly race at Woodbine and there was purse money in the account at Woodbine. I wanted to shift over the funds from my winnings to my trainer’s account, which is in house at Woodbine, so that I can cover the training bill. They said, “Oh, yeah, well we can do that if we have a copy of your drivers license and a notarized this and that,” and at the time I just wanted to tell them to forget it. The fact that people can order their groceries online and have them delivered, that’s the way life is going. The life of immediate gratification. Our industry is the opposite. We put up so many hoops to jump. Why is there not one universal license? It’s because of money. Every single time I go to get fingerprinted I have to pay money to the police department. Every time I send in a fingerprint card I also have to send a check. We create our own obstacles. People are terrified by the Federal government and I just think that we are already run by 32 different state commissions. That’s why our industry toils, because ultimately, the government is not a good steward of anyone’s money. There’s no accountability, so they just take, take, take. So the culture of Louisiana racing is going to be completely different than the culture of Virginia at Colonial Downs. That is to me the most pressing issue and we continue to go down the rabbit hole. We need to embrace a federally appointed commission. Everyone is arguing that if the commission was appointed, we would have to get rid of drugs in racing and our horses can’t run without drugs. Even if you feel that way, at least there’s going to be a unified policy of how much of some drug that you can have in your system. At least its not going to be different from Kentucky, as it is in Virginia, as it is in New York. Human nature is to choose the path of least resistance. The path of least resistance in the thoroughbred industry is to get out of it. Susan Montayne is a good friend and a two year old consignor. She was on Facebook recently about some horses she had running, and the staggering amount of hoops she had to run through just to get licensed. Until these things start to change, we are just going in circles. I got here in 2001. Craig Bandoroff and I were talking and thinking about back in 2008. He had said, “Oh great, I’m glad you guys are in to fight the fight.” And now I’ve been fighting the battle for 18 years, and he’s been fighting for 10 years before me. Nothing can change because no rules can supersede the state government, except the federal government. I’m not asking for the feds to run it, I’m just asking for the ability to have a unified racing commission with teeth and power, and it has to be federally appointed. We were in the Vision 2020 group about seven years ago and tried to have a Lasix-free race at Keeneland. It wasn’t allowed. We wanted to have a drug- free race. I have a two-year-old training with Kenny McPeek I would love to run her in a drug-free race. She doesn’t need Lasix. We couldn’t do it because of the legislature. Stuff like that boggles my mind. I will say that all of this negative publicity has actually been positive to get horse racing back in the news. It would be great if we took this opportunity to sort out all the major problems. We have the most important thing of all in our corner–the horse. It has to be about the horse. Until it’s about the horse, we will continue to go down the rabbit hole. The post What Would You Fix? Carrie Brogden appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Off a rail-riding victory in the Sept. 1 Spinaway Stakes (G1) at Saratoga Race Course, Tracy Farmer's Perfect Alibi tops a field of 11 2-year-old fillies in the $400,000 Darley Alcibiades Stakes (G1) Oct. 4 at Keeneland. View the full article

Lot 262, the Galileo (Ire) filly out of Green Room (Theatrical {Ire}) certainly lived up to her star billing as she was knocked down to a partnership of MV Magnier and Georg von Opel for €3-Million. The Ballylinch Stud consigned yearling is a full-sister to two Group 1 winning fillies and a half-sister to the Group 1 winning Lord Shanakill. Another full-sister, now called Do You Love Me (Ire) topped last year’s Orby Sale when selling for €3.2-Million The post New Sale Topper At Goffs As Galileo Filly Fetches €3-Million appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Exciting three-year-old Catalyst will take a growing reputation into the Gr.2 Sacred Falls Hawke’s Bay Guineas (1400m) and Gr.1 Al Basti Equiworld New Zealand 2000 Guineas (1600m) in his next two starts, attempting to follow in the footsteps of his sire Darci Brahma. Eleven horses have won both of New Zealand’s spring age-group features, with Darci Brahma in 2005 among the most memorable. His Hawke’s Bay Guineas-winning time of 1:19.97 still stands as a Hastings track record, and he went on to outclass his opposition by four lengths at Riccarton. Catalyst, who will be the odds-on favourite for the Hawke’s Bay Guineas at Hastings on Saturday, has made a spectacular start to his own three-year-old campaign. Trained by Clayton Chipperfield for owner-breeder Dick Karreman, he blew his rivals off the track first-up with a four-length victory in the Listed El Roca-Sir Colin Meads Trophy (1200m) at Hastings. He then ventured north to Ruakaka, where he turned an awkward position into an easy victory within a few explosive strides in the Gr.3 Northland Breeders’ Stakes (1200m). “He’s delivered two pretty spectacular performances in his campaign so far,” Chipperfield said. “He’s something a bit special, I think. “It’s an incredible opportunity to have a horse like him in the stable so early in my training career, but it does come with a bit of pressure as well. There’s always pressure when you have a horse that everyone expects to win a Group Two race. “But there’s a lot of people out there who’d love to be in that position, so I’m not going to complain about it.” Chipperfield believes his stable star learned a lot from the Northland Breeders’ Stakes three weeks ago, where he showed signs of greenness. “It was the first time he’d ever had horses around him during a race, so he was just inclined to do a few things wrong,” he said. “I think that was a really good learning experience for him.” There are some new faces among Catalyst’s opposition on Saturday, such as a stakes winner from this season’s filly crop, Riva Capri, and stylish last-start winners Callsign Mav and Sherwood Forest. But Chipperfield is delighted with Catalyst’s condition heading into the race. “Everything’s gone really well with him in the lead-up to Saturday,” he said. “He’s had his final gallop, where he did everything we wanted him to do and then pulled up really well. “The only thing I’d like to see now is a little bit of sunshine in Hawke’s Bay for the rest of the week. I see the track is a Slow7 today after some rain overnight. “He handles rain-affected ground – it was a Slow9 when he won at New Plymouth. But I think you’ll see a better horse on top of the ground.” The Hawke’s Bay Guineas will be Catalyst’s final lead-up run before the 2000 Guineas on November 9. “I won’t give him another run in between times, but he could have a jumpout or an exhibition gallop if he needs it,” Chipperfield said. The post Catalyst all the rage in Hawke’s Bay Guineas appeared first on BOAY Racing News. View the full article

Spring imports Cape Of Good Hope (outside) and Constantinople have have galloped at Werribee. Senior Lindsay Park co-trainer David Hayes likes the look of his two spring carnival purchases from Aidan O’Brien after they were put through their paces at Werribee. Caulfield and Melbourne Cup hope Constantinople was joined by Cox Plate contender Cape Of Good Hope in a workout on Wednesday morning, their first serious hit-outs since arriving from Europe on Saturday afternoon. The pair are in quarantine until October 12 after which they will transfer to the Flemington stables of Lindsay Park. Cape Of Good Hope is set to run in the Caulfield Stakes (2000m) that day while Hayes will seek permission to gallop Constantinople at Caulfield the same day in preparation for the Cup the following week. “They grabbed the bit beautifully and strode out well, their actions looked good, they breathed well, and I couldn’t be happier with them,” Hayes said. “They were willing, wanting to go faster and the jockeys were both happy with them.” Hayes said he was taking a cautious approach with the pair until their quarantine stay at Werribee finishes, saying they would continue to work at around 75-80 per cent capacity. “I’m taking a cautious approach and I’m treating their first run as education and hopefully they’ll springboard out of it,” Hayes said. “Criterion won a few of years ago (Caulfield Stakes) and then ran second to Winx, so it has worked pretty well. “They arrived here pretty fit anyway, so it’s just a matter of keeping them happy.” Luke Nolen, who has been booked to ride Constantinople in the Caulfield Cup, had his first ride aboard the northern hemisphere three-year-old on Wednesday morning. Constantinople is on the third line of Caulfield Cup betting at $15 and is also high up at $18 in Melbourne Cup markets. “He’s a nice athletic horse and it was a happy first experience,” Nolen said. “He’s a bit deceiving. He looks like he’s still got furnishing to do, but you wouldn’t know it to be on top of him. “He does take a nice long stride and you feel that underneath you. “He’s an exciting enough prospect.” The post Lindsay Park pair get big tick of approval appeared first on BOAY Racing News. View the full article

A field of 12 will line up for the Group One Turnbull Stakes at Flemington, a race that could shape the prospects of a number of spring contenders. Mystic Journey will be out to bounce back from her defeat in the Makybe Diva Stakes at Flemington on September 14 when she steps out over 2000m for the first time on Saturday. The Adam Trinder-trained mare, drawn in barrier nine, had been successful in her previous seven outings and was sent out a short-priced favourite when beaten by $101 outsider Gatting in the Makybe Diva. The 2016 Turnbull winner Hartnell, to be ridden by Underwood Stakes-winning jockey Brad Rawiller, has drawn barrier five and will be out to improve on his fourth placings at his past two starts in the Makybe Diva Stakes and Underwood Stakes. Chris Waller, who prepared Winx to win the past two Turnbull Stakes on her way to Cox Plate glory, will have three runners – Finche, Verry Elleegant and Kings Will Dream while the Queensland Derby quinella pairing of Mr Quickie and Vow And Declare have drawn barriers 11 and four respectively. The post Mystic Journey draws nine in G1 Turnbull appeared first on BOAY Racing News. View the full article

There has never been a $16,000 maiden claimer like the 10th race at Gulfstream Park Dec. 20, 2018. Not by any stretch of the imagination. This one has become the sport's Maltese Falcon. It is the stuff of dreams. View the full article

S John cleared for ride on My Boss View the full article

Hosayliao, got new name, hope can win some more View the full article

Joao Moreira took the National Day Cup en route to a four-timer.The win of Frankie Lor-trained Fat Turtle in the Class 2 Beijing Handicap (1200m) at Sha Tin yesterday, Tuesday, 1 October, completed a Joao Moreira four-timer, initiated when he took the day’s other feature, the Group 3 National Day Cup Handicap (1000m), on the John Size-trained Full Of Beauty (115lb). The five-year-old Full Of Beauty had raced exclusively at 1200m, clinching five wins last season, but handled the drop in distance with aplomb. The bay scored his biggest success to date by a neck from Jolly Banner (113lb), with Wishful Thinker (126lb) a further short-head third. Moreira followed up in the next race, the Class 4 Jinan Handicap (1600m), aboard the Manfred Man-trained Smart Patch. That win delivered a brace for Man, the trainer having taken the opener, section two of the Class 4 Chengdu Handicap (1200m), with the Derek Leung-ridden E Star. Moreira’s third came atop the Tony Millard-trained Super Star in the Class 3 Tianjin Handicap (1400m). That completed a double for the handler, Ezra having earlier landed the Class 4 Nanning Handicap (1400m) under Aldo Domeyer. Matthew Poon teamed with his boss David Hall to take section one of the Class 4 Chengdu Handicap (1200m) on the 10-race maiden Quadruple Double. The bay returned the 4.5 favourite. Cruz and Teetan teamed up to take the Class 3 Chongqing Handicap (1800m) with Happy Sebring. The post Another Beauty scores appeared first on BOAY Racing News. View the full article

Nagano Gold has an opportunity to put racing in the Czech Republic on the world map when he runs in the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe at ParisLongchamp. While he will line up alongside Enable and the rest as one of the outsiders on Sunday, Nagano Gold has proved already that he can outrun his odds, having been an unconsidered 25-1 shot at Royal Ascot when he nearly pulled off a shock in the Hardwicke Stakes. He was marginally unlucky that day having been broadsided by 2018 Derby winner Masar coming out of the stalls, losing far more ground than the eventual half a length he was beaten by Defoe. On the back of that, he was sent off favourite for the Grand Prix de Deauville but could finish only third. “Everything has gone fine. His preparation has been perfect. We did what we wanted with no problems and he’s in top form,” Tomas Janda, racing manager to owner-trainer Vaclav Luka Jr, said. “Of course it’s going to be a hard race. Some of the best horses in the world are running, and we’ll be very happy to finish in the first five. That would be great. “He’s a star at home, and if he’s in the first five that would be outstanding for our country. “When he nearly won at Royal Ascot it was a huge story at home, and he was a little unlucky, but even still it was a good result. He’s a good horse, given a perfect race, but to show his top form he needs a fast pace.” At Tuesday’s confirmation stage, four horses were taken out – Silverwave, Matchwinner, Musis Amica and Mehdaayih leaving 12 – with Soft Light expected to be a late entry. Enable is the overwhelming favourite to claim an unprecedented third in the Arc for trainer John Gosden and jockey Frankie Dettori. The post Nagano Gold primed for Arc experience appeared first on BOAY Racing News. View the full article

Beauty Generation is far too good for his rivals.Beauty Generation caned his rivals on his return to action in the Group 3 Celebration Cup Handicap (1400m) at Sha Tin today, Tuesday, 1 October. Hong Kong’s star galloper displayed imperious form at his first start of the season. The brilliant bay brushed off the burden of 133lb, as well as large weight concessions to all his rivals, and surged to victory in a track record 1m 20.05s. “He’s just an amazing horse. To do what he does defies logic to a certain degree,” jockey Zac Purton said. “We only just started to see the best of him at the end of last season so I believe he’s still got plenty ahead of him now.” Beauty Generation now holds Sha Tin track records at three distances, with today’s 1400m mark standing alongside his jaw-dropping mile time and, remarkably, an all-time best over 2200m. “That’s the first part of the mission accomplished!” trainer John Moore said. “With the tail-wind in the straight today I thought he’d have to break a track record to give so much weight away to the others and he did. “Zac said he felt it in the last 50 metres but that’s to be expected when you’re carrying 133 pounds and giving away so much weight.” Beauty Generation’s victory marked him as the first to complete a hat-trick in the seven-furlong contest. Moore’s plan now is to follow the usual route to what he hopes will be a third win in December’s Group 1 LONGINES Hong Kong Mile. “We’re right on target now to go and do what we did last season. Let’s move on to the next one, the Group 2 mile on 20 October, and then the Mile trial (Group 2 Jockey Club Mile) in November,” Moore said. Ka Ying Star (113lb) set the pace under Karis Teetan as Purton positioned Beauty Generation second, to the leader’s outside, but when his pink-hooded head poked to the fore at the turn for home, and Purton asked for acceleration, the race was over. The Road To Rock gelding powered to a length and a quarter score over the brave Ka Ying Star. Waikuku (115lb) ran on for third. “He’s won out of the box, he’s gone into this the heaviest he’s ever weighed-in in his life, off one soft 1000-metre trial, carrying the grandstand against horses carrying feather weights on their backs,” Purton said, with no shortage of awe. “That was against him and then, as well as that, he had to run into the headwind down the back straight – it’s really strong and no other horse all day has been able to race on the pace and then been able to compete in the finish.” There was unfulfilled talk last season of the champ taking his talents overseas. Moore is now keen to take that path before the campaign ends. “He’s the best in Hong Kong and he’s one of the best in the world,” Moore said. “They’ve got to come to beat him in December and if the owner agrees, we’ll take him to Dubai and prove him on the world stage. That’s definitely in my diary, if everything goes to plan up to then. “It’s the twilight of my career and I’d love to take him overseas and win a Group 1, to let the whole world see how good he is. I would regret it 100 percent if we didn’t try it, but the owner has talked about travelling so I think if he’s sound and healthy, definitely. He’s done everything else but he hasn’t won off-shore and I’m of the opinion he’ll definitely travel. But let’s take them as they come and we can talk about Dubai when that time is approaching.” In behind Beauty Generation, Teetan was satisfied with the effort Ka Ying Star put in to finish second. “He ran a very good race,” he said. “He was a little bit green getting to the front and I had to use him a little bit to go around Zac. He saved a lot of ground when he got to the front but he was beaten by a champion.” Joao Moreira was pleased with the run in third of last season’s BMW Hong Kong Derby runner-up Waikuku. “That was a good run,” he said. “It felt like he was still carrying a little bit of condition so he should improve for this run.” Purton bagged a double when the Chris So-trained Mr Croissant won the Class 3 Shanghai Handicap (1200m). But the champion jockey was out of luck in the last, the Class 2 Beijing Handicap (1200m), aboard the Moore-trained rising star Aethero. The three-year-old over-raced and took a couple of bumps as he ran on well for third behind the admirable Frankie Lor-trained Fat Turtle. The post Record-setting resumption for brilliant Beauty Generation appeared first on BOAY Racing News. View the full article

TIMONIUM, MD – The Fasig-Tipton Midlantic Fall Yearlings Sale concluded two sessions of steady trade Tuesday in Timonium with figures largely in line with the auction’s 2018 edition. Eleven yearlings sold for six figures, led by a ridgling by Honor Code who brought the auction’s top price when selling for $190,000 to trainer Tim Hills bidding on behalf of Patrick Welsh’s Seagull Capital. The yearling was consigned by Bill Reightler on behalf of breeder Barbara Brown. “I am happy with those results,” said Fasig-Tipton Midlantic Sales Director Paget Bennett. “We had a good crowd both days and we had new buyers. At this sale, every year, we see a new face. And I think we’ll see a lot of them back here in May [for the 2-year-olds in training sale]. This is a great marketplace and people love buying out of this sale. They always find good value.” In all, 300 yearlings sold for $7,275,900. The average of $24,253 was up 12% from 2018, while the median of $14,000 dipped 6.7%. The buy-back rate was 21.3%. During last year’s Midlantic Fall sale, 338 yearlings sold for $7,318,700. The average was $21,653 and the median was $15,000. With 94 horses reported not sold, the buy-back rate was 21.7%. Ten yearlings sold for six figures during the 2018 auction, with a top price of $210,000. “I think, as we say about all the sales lately, it was a bit polarized,” Reightler said as the sale wound down Tuesday afternoon. “The realities of it are, you’ve got to have a well-conformed, good physical horse who vets well. The Honor Code colt was an outstanding individual who towered over a lot of horses. He was by a good sire and the dam produced a Grade II winner, so everything fit there. Nice horses sold well and for the ones that don’t tick the boxes, it’s tough.” The Midlantic sale came on the heels of the Keeneland September Yearling Sale and Reightler admitted he was worried buyers might have filled all their orders during that mammoth 13-day auction. “I didn’t really know coming in what to expect with the mass of horses that sold before us-were we going to have enough buyers to have a healthy market,” Reightler said. “But we did. We had plenty of people who were willing to buy a nice horse. I was really encouraged over the weekend by the showing. We showed our consignment over the first two days over 1100 times. And we had a good mix of end-users and pinhookers.” Hills Makes Top Bid at Midlantic Sale Trainer Tim Hills made the highest bid of the two-day Fasig-Tipton Midlantic Fall sale when he went to $190,000 to acquire a ridgling by Honor Code Tuesday in Timonium. The youngster was one of four yearlings Hills purchased on behalf of Patrick Welsh’s Seagull Capital during the two-day sale. Bred by Barbara Brown and consigned by Bill Reightler, the yearling (hip 237) is out of 18-year-old mare Mrs. Vanderbilt (Citidancer) and is a half to graded winner Dancing Afleet (Afleet Alex). “About everything,” Hills said when asked what he liked about the yearling. “It’s an older family-the mare was older, but she throws nothing but runners. The colt just grabs you. He’s a handsome colt and all class.” During Monday’s first session of the auction, Hills purchased a colt by Girolamo (hip 138) and a filly by Liam’s Map (hip 17), both for $90,000. Later Tuesday, Hills was back in action again, going to $130,000 to acquire a colt by Kantharos (hip 278). “We’ve been able to get the ones that we’ve zeroed in on,” Hills said. Hills was active finding racing prospects for Sea Gull Capital at the juveniles sales this past spring. He purchased three juveniles at the Midlantic May sale, led by a $290,000 son of Into Mischief (hip 263). Sea Gull Capital’s four acquisitions at the OBS April sale included a $430,000 son of Hard Spun (hip 207) and the stable added a colt by Flatter (hip 102) for $350,000 at this year’s Fasig-Tipton Gulfstream sale. “At the 2-year-olds in training sales, we kind of came up with some big numbers, and we thought we’d go back to the source and go this route,” Hills said. “This is normally what we do, buy yearlings, and this has worked out.” Frommer Stays Strong on Day 2 Cary Frommer, who purchased the second-highest priced lot during Monday’s opening session of the Midlantic sale, continued to be active during the auction’s second session Tuesday and ultimately signed for 15 yearlings for a total of $761,000. “I bought for racing people, and for one man who wants to race at a little lower level, and then I bought some pinhooking horses for me,” Frommer said of her two-day buying spree in Timonium. “This is the place to be. ” Frommer, who purchased a Jump Start colt on behalf of owner Chuck Zacney for $130,000 Monday, paid $120,000 for a filly from the first crop of Upstart (hip 271) Tuesday. The dark bay, bred and consigned by Dark Hollow Farm, is out of stakes winner Plum (Pure Prize) and she is destined for resale next spring, according to Frommer. “I like the sire,” Frommer said of the youngster’s appeal. “All of them that I’ve looked at have been really nice. And I had that family. I had Plum, the dam, and I had a lot of the others. There is a horse out there, a 2-coming-3-year-old named Toy (Tapizar) who I think is going to be very exciting. So I know the family is going to be improving, too. And she was smooth and lovely.” Also Tuesday, Frommer purchased an Into Mischief filly (hip 369) for $100,000. Consigned by CandyLand, the bay filly is the first foal out of Tasha’s Moon (Malibu Moon) and was bred by Classic Thoroughbred XXIX. “The Into Mischief I bought for an owner who races,” Frommer said. “There was a little bit of a vetting issue and he wasn’t afraid of it. I think he’s going to have a lot of fun with her. I thought it was good value.” Of the 11 horses to sell for six figures at the Midlantic sale, Frommer purchased four. “You weren’t going to steal any nice horses out of here,” Frommer said. “People were lined up on the nice ones, but that’s the same everyone. You can’t hide a nice horse.” The post Honor Code Yearling Tops Fasig Finale appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Champagne Glow humanely euthanized due to infirmities of old age. View the full article

KILDARE, Ireland—The price and name of the buyer may have changed but the star player for the opening session of the Goffs Orby Sale was, as last year, a sister to the treble Group 1 winner Alice Springs (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), consigned by Glenvale Stud and one of three seven-figure yearlings of the day. The filly (lot 127) has already exceeded her year-older sister—who is now named Luck On Sunday (Ire)—in one respect in that she fetched an extra €200,000, bringing the hammer down at €2.2 million after Jamie McCalmont exchanged bids with Justin Casse and eventually came out on top. McCalmont was joined at the sale by the filly’s new owner Georg von Opel, who races under the name of his German-based family farm Westerberg and currently has horses in training with Aidan O’Brien, John Gosden and Ralph Beckett. Speaking after securing his latest acquisition, von Opel said his plan is to establish a “significant band of broodmares” in England. Already in training in that country is the promising Miss Yoda (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}), the top lot at last year’s BBAG Yearling Sale and now a dual winner in her only two starts for Gosden. The owner also has Mythic (Ire) (Australia {Ire}) in training at Ballydoyle and his latest purchase, bred by Lynch-Bages and Longfield Stud, may well also end up with O’Brien, who has trained five of her siblings. Von Opel continued, “She will stay mostly in this country. She has a wonderful pedigree and we hope that she will be a good racehorse but for us the key thing is to breed from her in the future.” The owner-breeder, whose niece Aline Rodde and her husband Peter run Gestut Westerberg near Frankfurt, plans to start his own breeding operation in Britain, where he now lives. Solid Clearance Rate The range of buyers at Goffs stretched well beyond those based in Europe. The brothers Sheikh Hamdan and Sheikh Mohammed, both with vast racing and breeding empires in Britain and Ireland, were there in person with their respective teams, while American buyers during the first day included Jon Kelly, Craig Bernick, Deuce Greathouse, Shawn Dugan, Ben McElroy and Justin Casse. Australian-based Aquis Farm also appeared on the buyers’ list, partnering with Phoenix Thoroughbreds for the second-top lot of the sale, and other international participants included Yulong Investments, China Horse Club, South Africa’s Form Bloodstock and Hong Kong Jockey Club. That diverse buying bench helped to record a decent clearance rate for a select sale of 85%, with 187 of the 213 yearlings offered selling for a total of €23,119,500. That figure was down slightly on last year’s first-day tally by 4%, while the median of €75,000 was down by 12% and the average dropped by 14% at €123,634. Phoenix and Aquis Team Up Phoenix Thoroughbreds played a major role at last year’s Orby Sale, spending €5.2 million on the top two fillies of the sale, and they left it until late in the day to make a mark on this year’s trade, with Tom Ludt going to €1.1 million for another Galileo sister to a Group 1 winner. In the case of lot 213, offered by breeder David and Diane Nagle’s Barronstown Stud, the filly is a sibling to this year’s Irish Derby winner Sovereign (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}). She will not, however, race solely for the Phoenix team, as Ludt outlined. He said, “We loved her and so did Aquis Farm so we decided to set up a partnership to buy her. The plan is for her to be trained up here rather than in Australia.” Phoenix Thoroughbreds’ principal Amer Abdulaziz added, “It’s Galileo again but potential broodmares by him don’t come on to the market that easily.” Another Angel To Fly For Godolphin China Horse Club has been a regular name on the list of buyers but it also featured prominently as breeder on Tuesday in the sale of the sister to crack sprinter Harry Angel (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}) for €1 million. The club’s founder Teo Ah Khing was there to watch the lot 156 sell and the identity of the buyer was no surprise, as Anthony Stroud saw off attempts from Alastair Donald, David Redvers and Dermot Farrington to secure her on behalf of Sheikh Mohammed. “She’s a really smooth, lovely filly—very athletic and Sheikh Mohammed really liked her,” said Stroud. “Obviously, with Harry Angel standing at Dalham Hall Stud, the filly was already pretty close to our heart.” Harry Angel won the Darley July Cup and Haydock Sprint Cup on his way to being the world’s leading sprinter of 2017, but he is not the only draw in the filly’s immediate pedigree. The sheikh’s cousin, Sheikh Mohammed Obaid, races her half—brother Pierre Lapin (Ire), who recently became the first stakes winner for his freshman sire Cappella Sansevero (GB) when landing the G2 Dubai Mill Reef S., while the family also includes the Group 1-winning miler and stallion Xtension (Ire) (Xaar {GB}), who is a half-brother to the filly’s dam Beatrix Potter (Ire) (Cadeaux Genereux {GB}). China Horse Club bought the mare privately from her breeder Paul and Marie McCartan of Ballyphilip Stud, who were also responsible for breeding Harry Angel and Pierre Lapin, as well as another top-class sprinter by Dark Angel, Battaash (Ire). Another of Godolphin’s three purchases of the day was lot 122, a colt by Invincible Spirit (Ire), at €460,000. Bred and consigned by the Irish National Stud, he is the first foal of his dam Aimhirgin Lass (Ire) (Pivotal {GB}), a dual winner herself and a sister to listed winner Seeharn (Ire) as well as being a half-sister to dual Group 3 winner Yellow Rosebud (Ire) (Jeremy). Shadwell’s Staunch Support Sheikh Hamdan has long been a solid supporter of the Orby Sale and he participated in several of the early highlights of the opening session. They included the purchase of lot 55, a Frankel (GB) half-sister to dual Group 3 winner and G1 Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere runner-up Broome (Ire) (Australia {GB}) offered by her breeder Croom House Stud. Earlier in the day the sheikh’s Derrinstown Stud manager Stephen Collins had signed for lot 28, a Sea The Stars (Ire) half-brother to listed winner Mind of Madness (Ire) (Azamour {Ire}), for €400,000. Bred by Jacqueline Norris and consigned by her Jockey Hall Stud at last year’s foal sale, the son of Sioduil (Ire) (Oasis Dream {GB}) was bought then by Camas Park Stud for €290,000. The mare, herself a winner at three and rated 92, had been bought by Norris as a 4-year-old for €21,000 and she hails from a family with which Sheikh Hamdan is very familiar as the breeder of her grandam Abyat (Shadeed), a half-sister to the dam of dual Group 1 winner and first-season sire Shalaa (Ire) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}). King Power Investment Continues On a day when plenty of pinhookers struggled, there was a decent return for Willie Browne and Mark Dwyer with a son of Street Sense bought at the Fasig-Tipton November Sale for $70,000 and sent back through the ring to sell for €380,000. Alastair Donald was the successful bidder, outlasting Mick Kinane on Hong Kong Jockey Club duty. Consigned through Dwyer’s Oaks Farm Stables, the first foal of the unraced mare Snap Dragon, a Super Saver half-sister to minor stakes winners Scholastic Giant (Giant’s Causeway) and Smokin Forest (Forestry), was bred by Crosshaven Bloodstock. Donald confirmed that the colt was for King Power Racing, which has already enjoyed success with a WinStar-bred son of Street Sense, the listed winner and Group 3 runner-up Bye Bye Hong Kong. “King Power have had a great season on the track with 12 or 13 stakes winners and they are currently lying fifth in the owners’ table, so there’s great enthusiasm,” said the agent. Donald later outbid the team from China Horse Club in pursuit of lot 67, signing for the daughter of Dark Angel (Ire) at €440,000. “We were underbidder on her sister so hopefully we will have more luck this time,” he added. That sister is the G3 Princess Margaret Keeneland S. winner and multiple group-placed Angel’s Hideaway, while another full sibling is the G2 Mill Reef S. runner-up Perfect Angel (Ire). All three were bred by Yeomanstown Stud and Doc Bloodstock from the stakes-placed juvenile winner The Hermitage (Ire) (Kheleyf). International Boost For Orby Mick Kinane has been kept almost as busy as in his riding days since the start of this yearling sales season as the principal buyer for the Hong Kong Jockey Club team, aided by daughter and son-in-law Aisling and Mark Gittins as well as Ric Wylie. The team recruited another five yearlings for next year’s breeze-up sale in Hong Kong for a total of €1,505,000, led by a Showcasing (GB) colt from Grove Stud (lot 179) at €420,000. A brave foal purchase by Brendan Holland at €160,000 from the Goffs November Sale, the first foal of Casila (Ire) (High Chaparral {Ire}), a daughter of the G2 Ribblesdale S. winner Miletrian (Ire) (Marju {Ire}) was bred by Grenane House Stud. Kinane also selected lot 80, Killourney Mor Farm’s Kodiac (GB) colt out of Vee Gita (Ire) (Vettori {Ire}) for €375,000. The 15-year-old mare—an unraced half-sister to GI Breeders’ Cup Juvenile winner Vale Of York (Ire) (Invincible Spirit {Ire})—has been good to the colt’s breeder Pat Grogan, with two other siblings to the colt having been sold at Goffs for €140,000 each, while half-sister Responsibleforlove (Ire) (Duke Of Marmalade {Ire}) won an Italian listed race. There was a Hong Kong connection behind the sale of lot 59, an Exceed And Excel (Aus) colt from Croom House Stud. Demi O’Byrne did the bidding for the son of Symposia (Ire), a Galileo (Ire) half-sister to the Group/Graded winning Dansili (GB) brothers Early March (GB) and Aviate (GB), and the hammer finally fell in his favour at €430,000. But the name alongside the purchase is Aquis Farm, based in Australia and owned by Hong Kong businessman Tony Fung. Shane McGrath, CEO of Aquis Farm, explained, “After our lunch with Tom Taaffe in Saratoga we agreed it was a good idea to attend Goffs. We shortlisted a bunch of colts and Dr O’Byrne, as our international bloodstock consultant, said that this was the one we couldn’t leave without.” Denis Brosnan’s Croom House Stud bought Symposia from the Juddmonte draft at the 2016 Tattersalls December Mares’ Sale for 68,000gns when carrying to Bated Breath (GB). Another Classy Filly For Harrington Jessica Harrington added another Group 1 to her laurels on Saturday with the victory of Millisle (Ire) (Starspangledbanner {Aus}) in the Cheveley Park S. at Newmarket and her roster for next season will include a smart Iffraaj (GB) filly for owner Jon Kelly. Bred by Deerpark Stud, she is the second foal of the unraced Abend (Ire), a Sea The Stars (Ire) half-sister to five black-type earners produced by the Alzao mare Frond (GB) at the County Meath farm. Conducting the bidding on the American owner’s behalf was Philippa Mains, who had to stretch to €280,000. “We absolutely loved her and the whole team agreed,” said Mains. “We are just delighted that she will be going to such a good trainer,” added Deerpark’s Peter Fagan. “She’s a lovely filly with a really good temperament. She was one of those who just blossomed when she arrived at the sale and she took all the shows in her stride. We still have Frond, who is now 24 and retired, and she has been so good to us over the years.” The post Déjà Vu As Galileo Filly Leads Orby at €2.2m appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

While compared with last year it's a new set of circumstances in terms of his recent form, Promises Fulfilled will try to win the $250,000 Stoll Keenon Ogden Phoenix Stakes (G2) a second straight year Oct. 4 at Keeneland. View the full article

The Oklahoma Derby Day program Sunday, Sept. 29 generated a record pari-mutuel handle day for Remington Park. View the full article

Horse Racing Ireland today announced a two-year sponsorship extension of ‘Friday Night Racing’ with sports media group Off The Ball. Horse Racing Ireland will continue as title sponsor of Off The Ball’s ‘Friday Night Racing’ segment until 2021. Presented by Ger Gilroy, Friday Night Racing’s content is shared across Off The Ball’s radio, online and social channels, providing listeners and followers with in-depth, behind the scenes racing action and analysis every week. “Over the last twelve months this partnership has enabled us to shine a light on some the wonderful stars–horse and human–that Irish racing has to offer,” said Paul Dermody, Commercial & Marketing Director, Horse Racing Ireland. “We have recently invested in a new brand advertising campaign for HRI and it therefore makes perfect sense for us to continue this Off The Ball relationship to help us tell the story of Irish racing and celebrate what is achieved on national and global stages. We look forward to continuing to create great events, promote race days and generate engaging content with the Off The Ball team for the next two years.” Added Ger Gilroy, Off The Ball Managing Director: “HRI have been a brilliant partner over the last year and we’re really enthusiastic about talking to the biggest names in racing and uncovering some of the unheralded stories that combine to make up the fabric of the sport. We’re thrilled to have renewed this partnership and bringing our racing coverage to another level.” Off The Ball’s partnership with Horse Racing Ireland, brokered by Media Central and OMD, will continue until July 2021. Off The Ball, now a stand-alone sports media group, delivers the most up-to-date, real-time sports content and in-depth analysis daily, via OffTheBall.com and via the group’s social media channels. The post HRA Announces 2-year Sponsorship with Off The Ball appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

The British Horseracing Authority (BHA) has today confirmed the appointment of Luca Cumani as a Member Nominated Director of its Board for a 3-year term. Cumani, who retired in December 2018 following a distinguished 43-year-training career, was nominated by the Racehorse Owners Association (ROA), Thoroughbred Breeders Association (TBA) and Licensed Personnel, comprised of the Professional Jockeys Association (PJA), National Trainers Federation (NTF) and National Association of Racing Staff (NAORS). His appointment is with immediate effect and he replaces NTF Chief Executive Rupert Arnold, who has stepped down after having served on the Board since the beginning of 2015. “I am very much looking forward to welcoming Luca to the BHA Board,” said BHA Chair Annamarie Phelps. “His legendary status as a successful trainer and the experiences that has brought him will be a huge asset to the organisation. As well as bringing a global perspective of the industry to the table, he has also worked with individuals at many levels and across many aspects of the sport: invaluable insights for the BHA as we continue to work more collaboratively with the different parts of the racing industry. I would also like to thank Rupert Arnold, who has been a key sounding board and counsel for matters affecting horsemen and the wider sport since 2015. Rupert has been a valuable member of the board and we will miss his astute observations, advice and considered judgement.” “I am very flattered and excited to have been asked to join the BHA Board as a Member Nominated Director,” said Luca Cumani. “I am very much looking forward to working with Annamarie and all the Board members on the many and varied challenges that our great industry is and will be facing. I will endeavour to put my 40 plus years of practical experience gained both in the UK and on many racing jurisdictions around the world to good use. Rupert has done a great job over the past four years and I am sure he will continue to be an invaluable source of advice and support to me.” Since retiring from training, the Italian-born trainer and his wife Sara have focused on their breeding operation at Fittocks Stud. The post BHA Appoints Cumani as Board Director appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Observations on the European Racing Scene turns the spotlight on the best European races of the day, highlighting well-pedigreed horses early in their careers, horses of note returning to action and young runners that achieved notable results in the sales ring. Wednesday’s Insights features Ya Hayati, a son of Grade I winner Wedding Toast. 6.10 Kempton, Novice, £9,000, 2yo, 8f (AWT) YA HAYATI (Dubawi {Ire}) gets a second chance to show what he is made of having been withdrawn from his intended debut at Wolverhampton last week after getting upset in the stalls. The first foal out of the GI Ogden Phipps S. and GI Beldame S. heroine Wedding Toast (Street Sense), Godolphin’s February-foaled bay from the family of Congaree (Arazi) represents the Charlie Appleby stable. The post Observations: October 2 appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

A Galileo (Ire) full-sister to this year’s G1 Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby winner Sovereign (Ire) was another to break the million mark when Tom Ludt of Phoenix Thoroughbreds bid €1.1-Million for the Barronstown Stud bred filly. Offered as lot 213 the yearling is the third seven figure lot at Goffs on Tuesday and was bought in partnership by Phoenix Thoroughbreds and Aquis Farm. The post Sister To Irish Derby Winner Sells For €1.1-Million appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Keeneland has cataloged 4,549 horses for the 2019 November Breeding Stock Sale, which will be held Nov. 6-17. It will begin with a single-session Book 1 featuring 275 graded stakes-winning fillies and mares and notable weanlings. Some of the many November highlights include champion and former $6 million KEENOV topper Take Charge Brandi (Giant’s Causeway) in foal to Justify; Lil Indy, the dam of MGISW Maximum Security (New Year’s Day), who sells in foal to Quality Road; GI Natalma S. heroine Abscond (Blame); Grade I winners Ollie’s Candy (Candy Ride {Arg}) and Spiced Perfection (Smiling Tiger); and GISW Dame Dorothy (Bernardini) in foal to Uncle Mo. Also cataloged to the sale are 23 broodmares in foal to 2015 Triple Crown winner American Pharoah, 22 weanlings by the stallion and 16 mares carrying the first offspring of 2018 Triple Crown winner Justify. “The November Sale is the world’s most important auction of its kind because it offers tremendous opportunities in several market segments and at all price levels to acquire quality breeding and racing stock,” Keeneland Vice President of Racing and Sales Bob Elliston said. “Horsemen know Keeneland is one-stop shopping for stakes-winning fillies and stakes-producing mares in foal to leading sires, well-bred weanlings and talented horses of racing age.” A total of 2,134 broodmares and broodmare prospects, 1,932 weanlings, 476 horses of racing age and seven stallions have been cataloged to the November Sale. Catalogs are available on Keeneland.com and will be mailed Oct. 11. The sale begins Wednesday, Nov. 6 with a one-session Book 1 starting at noon. Books 2 through 6 will take place Nov. 7 through Nov. 17 with sessions beginning at 10 a.m. daily. The post Keeneland Catalogs 4,549 Horses for November Sale appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Jeff Bloom knows that he won’t own Midnight Bisou (Midnight Lute) much longer. After the Horse of the Year candidate starts in the GI Breeders’ Cup Distaff, Bloom’s syndicate, Bloom Racing LLC, and its partners will sell her at Fasig-Tipton’s Nov. 5 November Sale, the Night of Stars. But for her primary owner, the memories and thrills of what she has done on the track will never fade. And someday, her new owner may be saying the same things. “Midnight Bisou is a game changer,” Bloom said. “I mean, things had been going pretty well for us in terms of the work that we do and the different things that we’re involved with, but there’s no question that Midnight Bisou elevated our brand and the awareness around Bloom Racing. You could never buy that kind of attention or exposure. For us internally, we recognize how fortunate we are to be involved in this experience and what Midnight Bisou has done for all of us and the racing community. So, I’d say it’s been pretty special.” That Midnight Bisou, who will be 7-for-7 on the year entering the Breeders’ Cup, will be just 4 when sold makes a rare opportunity for the buyer. The new owner may want to breed her, but he or she will certainly give strong consideration to keeping her in training. “The thing that’s really exciting, from a perspective of going to the auction, is her racing potential next year,” said Fasig-Tipton President and CEO Boyd Browing Jr. “She’s just four and she’s had a remarkable season this year. The possibilities, when you think about it, of what could she accomplish next year based on her performance last year and this year are pretty remarkable. I mean can you dream about competing against the boys in a race like the (GI) Pegasus World Cup? Possibly. Could you have an opportunity to potentially replicate another championship season? {"id":3,"instanceName":"Articles No Playlist","videos":[{"videoType":"HTML5","title":"Midnight Bisou A Star Among Stars","description":"","info":"","thumbImg":"","mp4":"https://player.vimeo.com/external/363566081.sd.mp4?s=5b037bbc94640e689fc69c0ae10021a3dd088d9a&profile_id=165","enable_mp4_download":"no","prerollAD":"yes","prerollGotoLink":"prerollGotoLink","preroll_mp4_title":"preroll_mp4_title","preroll_mp4":"https://player.vimeo.com/external/348675150.sd.mp4?s=f30cdebf7dc0718fed3800070a46c5cfb170794c&profile_id=164","prerollSkipTimer":"5","midrollAD":"no","midrollAD_displayTime":"midrollAD_displayTime","midrollGotoLink":"midrollGotoLink","midroll_mp4":"midroll_mp4","midrollSkipTimer":"midrollSkipTimer","postrollAD":"no","postrollGotoLink":"postrollGotoLink","postroll_mp4":"postroll_mp4","postrollSkipTimer":"postrollSkipTimer","popupAdShow":"no","popupImg":"popupImg","popupAdStartTime":"popupAdStartTime","popupAdEndTime":"popupAdEndTime","popupAdGoToLink":"popupAdGoToLink"}],"instanceTheme":"light","playerLayout":"fitToContainer","videoPlayerWidth":720,"videoPlayerHeight":405,"videoRatio":1.7777777777778,"videoRatioStretch":true,"videoPlayerShadow":"effect1","colorAccent":"#000000","posterImg":"","posterImgOnVideoFinish":"","logoShow":"No","logoPath":"","logoPosition":"bottom-right","logoClickable":"No","logoGoToLink":"","allowSkipAd":true,"advertisementTitle":"Ad","skipAdvertisementText":"Skip Ad","skipAdText":"You can skip this ad in","playBtnTooltipTxt":"Play","pauseBtnTooltipTxt":"Pause","rewindBtnTooltipTxt":"Rewind","downloadVideoBtnTooltipTxt":"Download video","qualityBtnOpenedTooltipTxt":"Close settings","qualityBtnClosedTooltipTxt":"Settings","muteBtnTooltipTxt":"Mute","unmuteBtnTooltipTxt":"Unmute","fullscreenBtnTooltipTxt":"Fullscreen","exitFullscreenBtnTooltipTxt":"Exit fullscreen","infoBtnTooltipTxt":"Show info","embedBtnTooltipTxt":"Embed","shareBtnTooltipTxt":"Share","volumeTooltipTxt":"Volume","playlistBtnClosedTooltipTxt":"Show playlist","playlistBtnOpenedTooltipTxt":"Hide playlist","facebookBtnTooltipTxt":"Share on Facebook","twitterBtnTooltipTxt":"Share on Twitter","googlePlusBtnTooltipTxt":"Share on Google+","lastBtnTooltipTxt":"Go to last video","firstBtnTooltipTxt":"Go to first video","nextBtnTooltipTxt":"Play next video","previousBtnTooltipTxt":"Play previous video","shuffleBtnOnTooltipTxt":"Shuffle on","shuffleBtnOffTooltipTxt":"Shuffle off","nowPlayingTooltipTxt":"NOW PLAYING","embedWindowTitle1":"SHARE THIS PLAYER:","embedWindowTitle2":"EMBED THIS VIDEO IN YOUR SITE:","embedWindowTitle3":"SHARE LINK TO THIS PLAYER:","lightBox":false,"lightBoxAutoplay":false,"lightBoxThumbnail":"","lightBoxThumbnailWidth":400,"lightBoxThumbnailHeight":220,"lightBoxCloseOnOutsideClick":true,"onFinish":"Play next video","autoplay":false,"loadRandomVideoOnStart":"No","shuffle":"No","playlist":"Off","playlistBehaviourOnPageload":"opened (default)","playlistScrollType":"light","preloadSelfHosted":"none","hideVideoSource":true,"showAllControls":true,"rightClickMenu":true,"autohideControls":2,"hideControlsOnMouseOut":"No","nowPlayingText":"Yes","infoShow":"No","shareShow":"No","facebookShow":"No","twitterShow":"No","mailShow":"No","facebookShareName":"","facebookShareLink":"","facebookShareDescription":"","facebookSharePicture":"","twitterText":"","twitterLink":"","twitterHashtags":"","twitterVia":"","googlePlus":"","embedShow":"No","embedCodeSrc":"","embedCodeW":720,"embedCodeH":405,"embedShareLink":"","youtubeControls":"custom controls","youtubeSkin":"dark","youtubeColor":"red","youtubeQuality":"default","youtubeShowRelatedVideos":"Yes","vimeoColor":"00adef","showGlobalPrerollAds":false,"globalPrerollAds":"url1;url2;url3;url4;url5","globalPrerollAdsSkipTimer":5,"globalPrerollAdsGotoLink":"","videoType":"HTML5 (self-hosted)","submit":"Save Changes","rootFolder":"http:\/\/wp.tdn.pmadv.com\/wp-content\/plugins\/Elite-video-player\/"} Possibly. It would be a chance to not only own a filly that will become an ultimate great addition to any broodmare band, but the possibilities of having an unbelievable year next year, 2020, at the race track for a potential owner is very, very, very unique. It’s very rare to have a filly of this quality at the top of her game, from a racing standpoint, and be offered at public auction.” Bloom bought Midnight Bisou for $80,000 at the 2017 OBS April 2-Year-Old sale. “I was really impressed with how the filly handled herself on the race track during her breeze show,” Bloom said. “She didn’t have a sizzle kind of pop-type breeze show, but at the same time I loved the way she leveled out as she was approaching the finish line. And then more importantly, following her breeze, she had a beautiful gallop out and really looked like a horse that wanted a distance of ground as she really settled quite nicely. There’s also all the obvious things that you look for in a horse: the way they’re put together, the makeup, the physical attributes that a horse has, but her presence is what really stood out for me. She has an incredibly intelligent eye, and just a very curious but not nervous demeanor about her. When I would go back and visit her, she always seemed to be in such a comfortable state. You know, confidence, not nervous, not reacting negatively to the experiences of being in a sale.” Midnight Bisou was second in two tries as a 2-year-old before having a stellar 3-year-old season. Trained By Steve Asmussen, she won five of nine starts, all of them stakes. She won the GI Santa Anita Oaks and the GI Cotillion (via disqualification) before finishing a solid third in the Distaff. But if her 3-year-old season was outstanding, her 4-year-old year has been one of perfection. Starting way back in January in the GIII Houston Ladies Classic at Sam Houston, no one has found a way to beat her yet. When asked what was, for him, the most memorable moment of Midnight Bisou’s career, Bloom replied: “The most memorable moment with Midnight Bisou is not a single moment. It’s all of the experiences we’ve had. It’s a collection of incredible time and enjoyment that we’ve had by being able to go on this extended ride that’s been fun for us from the get-go. If I did have to pick one moment, I don’t think I’ve ever been more anxious, more nervous, more prepared, if you will, for a race than her running in the (GI) Personal Ensign at Saratoga. Once the numbers flashed up on the screen showing that we were the eventual winner against Elate (Medaglia d’Oro) in that photo finish, that’s right up there at the top in terms of being a pretty incredible moment.” To many, the Personal Ensign was the most exciting race run this year. Midnight Bisou was last early but advanced steadily and drew even with fellow star Elate at the three-sixteenths pole. From there, neither horse would give an inch. An epic stretch battle could have gone either way, but it was Midnight Bisou who had her nose first on the wire. “I think anybody that’s a racing fan that watched the Personal Ensign at Saratoga, well, it was just an incredible performance seeing two horses of the caliber of Elate and Midnight Bisou just lay it on the line,” Browning said. “It was a stimulating performance by both fillies. Both of them giving 110% and clearly they were two special fillies.” She had a much easier time of things in her final prep for the Distaff, winning the GII Beldame Invitational this past Saturday by 3 1/4 lengths. For Bloom and co-owners Madaket Stables LLC and Allen Racing LLC, the bottom line, her career earnings, now reads $3,410,000. She has won 12 stakes, all of them graded. “She’s at the top of her game,” Browning said. “There’s not a blemish on her resume in 2019. She seems like she’s continuing to improve. I know the owners and the trainers think so. She is training great and let’s hope those performances continue.” Her new owners will have bought not only one of the top fillies to race over the last several years, but, also, of course, a top broodmare prospect. “She’s exactly what you look for from a broodmare perspective,” Browning said. “She was a fantastic racehorse. Her conformation is outstanding. She’s got depth of pedigree. She’s got all the ingredients and all the characteristics to become a foundation mare and influence a program not only for a few years, but for many generations with her quality.” Bloom’s take? “Midnight Bisou really has a pretty strong page when you think about it,” he said. “Her mare had been a pretty solid racehorse in her own right on the race track. Midnight Lute, who I had always been a huge fan of, has turned out to be a pretty exceptional stallion. He’s had numerous graded stake horses that are showing that they’re versatile and can run against any of the best horses out there. So Midnight Bisou not only has the pedigree, but she also has just a beautiful balance. Her physical makeup is exceptional in that she’s about as balanced as a horse can be. She’s well put-together, and she’s so light on her feet. Her conformation is such that she has such a fluidity of motion. She kind of takes care of herself in the way that she trains and runs and races. She really is the perfect combination of class and elegance and physical greatness.” It may be hard to part with a horse like that, but racing is a business and Bloom and his partners can expect to be paid handsomely when they sell Midnight Bisou. Bloom personally, has so much to thank her for, from the money she has earned, to the excitement she has given to him to how she has raised his syndicate’s profile in the manner that only a championship horse can do. There’s just one race left, the Distaff. A win there might mean Horse of the Year. It will mean perfection has been achieved. The post Midnight Bisou a “Game Changer” appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article