Wandering Eyes

More than 30 years have passed since one of Peter Brant's horses raced in the Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe (G1), but that long wait will end Oct. 6 when his colors will be carried by the 3-year-old Sottsass. View the full article

In a short period of time, Preservationist has made enough noise to establish himself as a major force in the handicap division, but a victory in Saturday's Grade 1, $750,000 Jockey Club Gold Cup could put him atop the older horse division. View the full article

Pasadena Fan Fest, a special community celebration created to commemorate the first day of the 2019 Breeders’ Cup World Championships, returns this year. Taking place Friday, Nov. 1 at 7p.m., the event will cap off the World Championships’ first day of racing with live entertainment, food trucks, cash bars and more. “We’re very excited to be bringing back Pasadena Fan Fest following its great success when we were last at Santa Anita in 2016,” said Stefanie Palmieri, Vice President of Events at Breeders’ Cup. “Designed as a vibrant celebration of world-class racing and hospitality, the Fan Fest will offer fans from all over the world an opportunity to delight in food, drink and entertainment. We look forward to joining the Breeders’ Cup and Pasadena communities to revel in the energy and excitement of what will surely be a great weekend.” Tickets for Pasadena Fan Fest are available now at Ticketmaster.com and are limited to the first 500 purchasers. Ranging from $15 for general admission to $45 for the top seating tier, all tickets provide access to live entertainment, participating food trucks and cash bars featuring signature Breeders’ Cup Cocktails. The post Pasadena Fan Fest Returns to BC 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. Saturday’s Insights features Queen’s Favour, a half-sister to Breeders’ Cup heroine Queen’s Trust. 4.15 Newmarket, Mdn, £10,000, 2yo, f, 7fT QUEEN’S FAVOUR (GB) (Muhaarar {GB}) represents Cheveley Park Stud and Sir Michael Stoute and is a half-sister to their GI Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf heroine Queen’s Trust (GB) (Dansili {GB}). The May-foaled bay is in deep on debut taking on some experienced fillies headed by Godolphin’s Princess Bride (GB) (Shamardal), a Saeed bin Suroor-trained descendant of the high-class Infamy (GB) (Shirley Heights {GB}). The post Half to Queen’s Trust Unleashed at Newmarket appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

One start after Ollie's Candy edged Secret Spice by a head to win the Clement L. Hirsch Stakes (G1) July 28 at Del Mar, those two rivals will meet again in the $200,000 Zenyatta Stakes (G2) Sept. 29 at Santa Anita Park. View the full article

When Canmor Farms' Explode takes on older horses for the first time in the Sept. 29 British Columbia Premier's Handicap at Hastings Racecourse, it will set up a showdown between two of the year's more consistent runners on the local circuit. View the full article

If all goes as trainer Tom Clark hopes in the $100,000 Rainbow Heir Stakes Sept. 28 at Monmouth Park, Justaholic could continue to reward a casual decision to try the turf in a big way. View the full article

Newmarket’s “Future Champions Day” is not for another fortnight, but the track stages a renewal of the G1 Juddmonte Middle Park S. on Saturday that would befit that title in its own right. While the six-furlong highlight has generally come to live in the shade of the Dewhurst of late, there will be deflation all around if none of the latest protagonists do not slot into the same category as the likes of the race’s best recent winners Oasis Dream (GB), Dream Ahead and Ten Sovereigns (Ire) (No Nay Never). A trio of unbeaten colts from France, Britain and Ireland in Earthlight (Ire) (Shamardal), Mums Tipple (Ire) (Footstepsinthesand {GB}) and Siskin (First Defence) respectively will be pitched against each other and a far-from outclassed remainder who boast wins in the G2 Gimcrack S., G2 Champagne S., G2 Richmond S. and G3 Round Tower S. Earthlight hails from the Andre Fabre stable successful in this in 1990 and 1992 with Lycius and Zieten and it is notable how focused the Chantilly maestro is when opting to send horses to this Suffolk venue. Like fellow Godolphin luminary Pinatubo (Ire), he is a prolific son of Shamardal with abundant speed but stamina on the dam’s side who has so far demonstrated the kind of versatility that marks out only the very best. After wins at Maisons-Laffitte June 19 and Deauville July 2, the homebred exceeded at the latter course during its month-long festival when winning the July 28 G3 Prix de Cabourg by four lengths and a heavy-ground G1 Prix Morny by a neck from what will probably be the G1 Cheveley Park S. winner in Raffle Prize (Ire) (Slade Power {Ire}) Aug. 18. Fabre has this week outlined that he has concerns about how Earthlight will handle the undulations of this track and the bay will have to be alert and going forward running downhill during that crucial final quarter-mile surge. He was also wondering on Friday whether he might be found wanting against more speed-orientated rivals. “Hopefully the draw is okay and I think the ground should be fine for him after the bit of rain they’ve had in Newmarket,” he said. “That is not a concern. There are some other very good horses in the race. Our horse is in good condition and everything is fine, so we hope for the best. The likes of Siskin and Mums Tipple look like they may have a little more speed than him, as he is the type of colt who might be able to stay a bit further next year.” Like Earthlight, Mums Tipple is also unproven on this type of terrain having produced a remarkable effort on York’s flat straight when winning the Aug. 22 Goffs UK Premier Yearling S. by 11 lengths. What he did beforehand at Ascot is also commendable, as he beat Shadwell’s subsequent Listed Flying Scotsman S. scorer Molatham (GB) (Night of Thunder {Ire}) and other subsequent winners in a novice contest July 26, but this is another dimension for Marian Lyons and Patricia Zanelli’s bargain purchase. Richard Hannon also saddles Cheveley Park Stud’s Gimcrack and Champagne-winning TDN Rising Star Threat (Ire) (Footstepsinthesand {GB}), who will adore a strong tempo if it comes about. With Mums Tipple the type to be on the front foot, a potential Ballydoyle pacemaker in the useful King Neptune (War Front), and his forward-going Aug. 1 Richmond conqueror Golden Horde (Ire) (Lethal Force {Ire}) in attendance a searching gallop is a likely scenario. Their trainer Richard Hannon said, “They both deserve their chance. It’s fabulous–it’s going to be one of the best Middle Parks we have seen for years. It will be a very intriguing race. Mums Tipple is the horse with the ‘wow’ factor, but Threat is the horse that has been there and done it at group-race level with a penalty and he shouldn’t have a problem coming back in trip. It is nice to have two good bullets to fire. There is the French horse to worry about and Siskin and all sorts of others. It’s lovely to be part of it, but you want to win it and I’m very hopeful that one of them will go there and win.” Khalid Abdullah’s Siskin has gone from the May 24 Listed Marble Hill S. to the June 29 G2 Railway S. to the Aug. 9 G1 Phoenix S. with a lethal mix of high-class ability and unshakeable temperament and yet he is only third favourite with the bookmakers at present. That may underestimate the race’s ultimate professional and he is another who has gone on differing surfaces, overcoming soft ground when beating TDN Rising Star Monarch of Egypt (American Pharoah) in the Phoenix. He will relish the slick surface and Ger Lyons will be a disappointed man if he does not make his significant presence felt. His owner-breeder’s racing manager Teddy Grimthorpe said, “I think this is the best two-year-old race of the season so far in terms of strength in depth. It’s very solid and you could make a good case for nearly every horse in the field–it will take a lot of winning. Siskin is in good form and has been straightforward–Ger is very pleased with him. We decided not to run him in the National Stakes as we were worried the ground might go too soft and we also felt sticking to six furlongs was the right call at this stage. I think Siskin would prefer good, fast ground to be seen at his best. There hasn’t been much rain in Newmarket so far, so I don’t think we’ll be using that as an excuse.” Lyons added, “I think that Siskin is as well as we have ever had him–we couldn’t be happier with him. He’s a very straightforward horse and thus far everything has gone to plan. I will be very surprised if either the course at Newmarket or travelling outside Ireland for the first time bother him–my only concern is the opposition. What Mums Tipple achieved at York was seriously jaw-dropping and I have huge respect for Earthlight, the other group one winner in the field, who is in the hands of one of the best trainers on planet Earth.” The Middle Park comes 35 minutes after the G1 Juddmonte Cheveley Park S., where the aforementioned Raffle Prize bids to stake her claim to champion juvenile filly status following her wins in the G2 Queen Mary S. at Royal Ascot June 19 and G2 Duchess of Cambridge S. on the July Course here July 12. Earthlight proved her master in the Morny, but only by a neck and she had the group 2 winners Golden Horde, Arizona (Ire) (No Nay Never) and A’Ali (Ire) (Society Rock {Ire}) in arrears and the subsequent G3 Prix Eclipse winner Devil (Ire) (Siyouni {Fr}) beaten stone-cold in last. Charlie Johnston said, “She’s had a phenomenal year and was just touched off in France last time. If she runs up to the level of her last three runs, she should really win, to be honest. She’s proved she’s versatile ground-wise. I think she’d prefer top-of-the-ground as she has so much speed, but she has won a Queen Mary in soft ground and finished a close second in a Prix Morny in very soft ground, so you can’t say it’s a problem for her. If anything, we’d have liked the race to have been two or three weeks ago as she was screaming out for a run at home and we’ve just had to keep a lid on her. She seems in the same form she was in during the summer and if she runs up to her best she should be very hard to beat.” Andre Fabre has a line on Raffle Prize and it is significant that he puts up Lady Bamford’s Tropbeau (GB) (Showcasing {GB}) against her. Smooth and authoritative when taking the seven-furlong G3 Prix Six Perfections and G2 Prix du Calvados at Deauville July 27 and Aug. 17, she will need to press on from the outset to make her stamina count. “I’ll be delighted if she can finish in the first three,” Fabre said, “I think she is a good, sweet filly and her form is good–the filly she beat easily at Deauville won a listed race at Maisons-Laffitte on Wednesday. The drop back to six furlongs may be a bit sharp for her, but I am hoping that she will make up into a Guineas filly. This should be a good rehearsal with next year in mind.” Clipper Logistics’ G2 Lowther S. winner Living In the Past (Ire) (Bungle Inthejungle {Ire}) also likes to bowl along on the front end and she comes into the equation after her defeat of Liberty Beach (GB) (Cable Bay {Ire}) in that Aug. 22 York contest. Trainer Karl Burke commented, “She worked very well earlier in the week and we’re looking forward to seeing her run. I just hope the ground doesn’t go soft.” Ballydoyle’s duo include Etoile (War Front), a relative of Pour Moi (Ire) who managed to win the G3 Coolmore Stud Irish EBF Fillies’ Sprint S. on her sole start at Naas May 19 and remains an unknown quantity. Newmarket’s card begins with the G2 Juddmonte Royal Lodge S., where Qatar Racing’s Kameko (Kitten’s Joy) steps up to a mile after a strong-finishing second to Positive (GB) (Dutch Art {GB}) in the G3 Solario S. at Sandown Aug. 31. Denied a nose on that occasion, he will have more time to organise here and trainer Andrew Balding has some smart juveniles to measure him against. “Obviously it was a smashing run last time at Sandown,” he said. “We’re delighted with the way he’s come out of the race. The extra furlong should suit him. I think he’s developing into a really nice horse and hopefully he’ll run a big race.” Fitri Hay’s Highland Chief (Ire) (Gleneagles {Ire}) has not been seen since finishing third behind Pinatubo (Ire) (Shamardal) and Lope Y Fernandez (Ire) (Lope de Vega {Ire}) in the Listed Chesham S. over seven furlongs at Royal Ascot June 22, but the Paul Cole stable won this in 2013 with Berkshire (Ire) (Mount Nelson {GB}) who was also coming off a lengthy break after that same race. “He’s in great form. He’s strengthened and is looking good,” the trainer’s son Oliver said. “He’s working well, he’s fit and should put up a good performance. He got knocked over in the Chesham, otherwise he’d have been closer. The mile should suit him. He should run a big race and he’s an exciting horse.” Also featuring are the Sept. 7 Listed Ascendant S. first and second Pyledriver (GB) (Harbour Watch {Ire}) and Sound of Cannons (GB) (Nathaniel {Ire}) who may be underestimated. They both have faster ground to contend with here, but Pyledriver scored on a surface that was officially firm on debut at Salisbury July 13 and may be one of those versatile types. “In my opinion, he wants faster ground,” trainer William Muir said. “PJ [McDonald] said the feel he gave him was that of a top-class horse. He’s 16.1 and only a frame of a horse. When he fills it completely and strengthens up, he’ll be a very nice horse. We said we’d give him one more run and we’ve decided on this.” The post Newmarket Faithful Anticipate Vintage Middle Park Showdown appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. 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 Hanshin Racecourse, while Mr Melody (Scat Daddy) flies the US-bred flag in Sunday’s G1 Sprinters’ S. at Nakayama: Saturday, September 28, 2019 1st-HSN, ¥9,550,000 ($89k), Maiden, 2yo, 1800m FULLEREN (JPN) (f, 2, Pioneerof the Nile–Dust and Diamonds, by Vindication), a full-sister to this year’s GIII Bay Shore S. runner-up and GIII Sham S. third Much Better, finished fourth to the promising Serein (Uncle Mo) on Sapporo debut July 28 and improved by a couple spots when last seen at that track Aug. 10 (see below, gate 10). The March foal’s dam, a two-time graded winner and second to Groupie Doll (Bowman’s Band) in the 2012 GI Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Sprint, was purchased for an even $1 million carrying this filly in utero at Keeneland November in 2016. Fulleren is odds-on ante-post with Christophe Lemaire to ride. B-Northern Farm JET MAX (c, 2 Goldencents–Song’n Dance, by Carson City) switches to the main track after placing second from two tries on the grass to begin his career. A half-brother to three stakes-placed runners, including recent Beverly J. Lewis S. third Message (Warrior’s Reward), the bay was a $72K KEESEP yearling turned $100K OBSMAR juvenile. He is the 29-5 second choice as of this writing with Yutaka Take in the irons. B-C Kidder & N Cole (KY) The post Notable US-Bred/Sired Runners in Japan: Sept. 28 & 29, 2019 appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

The top three horses by points in this year's MATCH Series turf sprint division are entered in the final leg Sept. 28 at Monmouth Park, and the championship clearly is up for grabs. View the full article

Michael Banahan, Director of Farm Operations at Godolphin’s Jonabell Farm, has been named the 2019 Ted Bates Farm Manager of the Year, the Kentucky Thoroughbred Farm Managers’ Club (KTFMC) announced. “It is the committee’s unanimous belief that Michael exemplifies all the criteria set forth for Farm Manager of the Year: excellence in farm management, service to the KTFMC, and service to the community,” a release from the organization read. “Michael takes a hands-on approach by going into the field with the mares, foals, and stallions. Michael has been a role model for many in the industry and gives back to the community that has given so much to him.” A native of County Meath, Ireland, Banahan worked at Coolmore Stud in Ireland and at Ashord Stud in Kentucky before breaking yearlings at Juddmonte Farm and working with trainers Colin Hayes (Australia), Guy Harwood (England) and Bill Mott (U.S.). He began his stint at Darley/Godolphin 26 years ago, initially working at Dalham Hall Stud in Newmarket under Liam O’Rourke. Subsequently promoted to manager of Raceland Farm–Darley’s original U.S. farm–he was eventually elevated to overseeing Godolphin’s farm operations in the States at his current post. Banahan resides at Jonabell with his wife Kathryn and their three children, Grace, Brian and Laura. He serves on the board of directors of Central Kentucky Riding for Hope and the Kentucky Equine Management Internship and is Vice Chair of the Gluck Foundation. “I am delighted to hear of this fitting accolade for Michael,” said Liam O’Rourke, Director of Studs, Stallions & Breeding at Godolphin’s Dalham Hall Stud. “He has been a key team player for the company going back to the early nineties. He is a person of great qualities–a leader, a talented and thoroughly proficient all-around horseman and an equally great family man. His in-depth industry knowledge has been gained from several working placements around the globe during his formative years. He remains as unassuming as ever and I cannot think of a more deserving recipient of this most coveted award for industry professionals.” Godolphin Chief Operating Officer Dan Pride said: “Michael has served Darley and Godolphin for over 25 years in various capacities. He dedicates himself to not only manage and develop horses and people for our operation, but also believes strongly in giving back to the community and serves on numerous industry boards. He takes a keen interest in the Godolphin Flying Start program and works closely with the trainees during their time in Kentucky. We are very fortunate to have him on the Godolphin team.” Jimmy Bell, President of Godolphin, added: “It is wonderful to see that Michael’s peers in the KTFMC feel as strongly about Michael as we do here at Godolphin. His dedication to our horses, personnel, and farm sets him in perfect company with past recipients. Michael has been a valued friend and colleague during my tenure at Godolphin. He represents Godolphin well in all his endeavors.” The KTFMC will honor Michael Banahan as the 2019 “Ted Bates Farm Manager of the Year” at its annual Dinner Dance on Friday, December 6th at Distillery Square in Lexington. More information about the Dinner Dance can be found by visiting ktfmc.org. The post Banahan Named Farm Manager of the Year appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Michael Banahan has been named the 2019 Ted Bates Farm Manager of the Year by the Kentucky Thoroughbred Farm Managers’ Club. Banahan initially worked at Coolmore Stud in both Fethard Ireland and at Ashford Stud before breaking yearlings at Juddmonte Farm and working with leading trainers Colin Hayes, Guy Harwood and Bill Mott. The Irishman started working for Darley/Godolphin initially at Dalham Hall Stud in Newmarket and was promoted to managing Raceland Farm in Paris, to now being a director of Godolphin overseeing farm operations in the U.S. Godolphin’s Chief Operating Officer, Dan Pride said, “Michael has served Darley and Godolphin for over 25 years in various capacities. He dedicates himself to not only manage and develop horses and people for our operation, but also believes strongly in giving back to the community and serves on numerous industry boards. He takes a keen interest in the Godolphin Flying Start program and works closely with the trainees during their time in Kentucky. We are very fortunate to have him on the Godolphin team.” The post Banahan Named Farm Manager of the Year appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Making his debut in 2019, TDN Rising Star Benbatl (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) turned Friday’s G2 Shadwell Joel S. into a procession at Newmarket with an all-the-way five-length success that proved the day’s true head-turner. Sent forward by Oisin Murphy from the break, the 4-1 second favourite showed no rustiness and skipped clear of fellow TDN Rising Star and 6-5 favourite King of Comedy (Ire) (Kingman {GB}) heading down into the “dip” before maintaining the momentum up the rising ground. King of Comedy, who missed the break and was free in the race, had 1 1/4 lengths to spare over Zaaki (GB) (Leroidesanimaux {Brz}) in a sound trial for the Oct. 19 G1 Queen Elizabeth II S. “It is a super training performance by Saeed and that was a brilliant performance,” Murphy said. “He can go a mile or ten–he has loads of class and there is a reasonable period between now and Champions Day. I hadn’t slept much this week with the excitement and he hasn’t had a slap in the race. He was electric.” Despite being trained in this town for the most part of the year, this was only the second time that Benbatl had raced at his local track, with the first being the 2017 G3 Craven S. when he was third as a still-raw talent. Despite winning that season’s G3 Hampton Court S. at Royal Ascot, it was only when the homebred went to Dubai that he began to flourish last winter with wins in the G3 Singspiel S., G2 Al Rashidiya and G1 Dubai Turf. Disappointing when 10th as favourite for the G1 Queen Anne S. at Royal Ascot last June, he bounced back to take the 10-furlong G1 Grosser Dallmayr Preis at Munich in July before finishing fifth in the G1 Juddmonte International at York in August. Sent on his travels again, he annexed the Caulfield’s G1 Ladbrokes S. again over a mile and a quarter in October before running Winx (Aus) (Street Cry {Ire}) to two lengths in the G1 Cox Plate at Moonee Valley two weeks later. Saeed bin Suroor is keeping his options open. “Benbatl had been working really well and he showed his class in his final piece of work before this race,” he explained. “We gave him a break after Australia, because last year was a hard season for him and he ran in many races. I talked to Sheikh Mohammed and we decided to wait until the autumn, so we gave Benbatl time and didn’t push him in the summer. He needed the race today and, luckily, he won well. I will speak with Sheikh Mohammed next week and he could head to [Oct. 19] Champions Day at Ascot for the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes or the Champion Stakes, or he may head back out to Germany. More likely, we will take him back to Dubai and run him in the big races there again.” Benbatl is the first foal out of Nahrain (GB) (Selkirk), who captured the GI Flower Bowl Invitational and G1 Prix de l’Opera and was second in the GI Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Turf. Her dam Bahr (GB) (Generous {Ire}) took the G2 Ribblesdale S. and G3 Musidora S. and was placed in the G1 Epsom and Irish Oaks and the Flower Bowl. Nahrain’s 3-year-old gelding Montzar (GB) (Dansili {GB}) has yet to race, while she also has a 2-year-old full-sister to Benbatl named Fooraat (Ire) and a yearling filly by Sea The Stars (Ire). Her 2019 foal is a fully again by Dubawi. Friday, Newmarket, Britain SHADWELL JOEL S.-G2, £100,000, Newmarket, 9-27, 3yo/up, 8fT, 1:35.60, gd. 1–BENBATL (GB), 130, h, 5, by Dubawi (Ire) 1st Dam: Nahrain (GB) (Hwt. 3yo Filly-Eng at 9.5-11f, G1SW-Fr, GISW-US, SW-Eng & GSP-Ire, $1,041,961), by Selkirk 2nd Dam: Bahr (GB), by Generous (Ire) 3rd Dam: Lady of the Sea, by Mill Reef O-Godolphin; B-Darley (GB); T-Saeed bin Suroor; J-Oisin Murphy. £56,710. Lifetime Record: Hwt. Older Horse-Eng & UAE at 7-9.5f, Hwt. Older Horse-Ger at 9.5-11f, G1SW-Aus, Ger & UAE, 17-8-3-1, $5,295,731. Werk Nick Rating: A. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree. 2–King of Comedy (Ire), 126, c, 3, Kingman (GB)–Stage Presence (Ire), by Selkirk. O/B-Lady Bamford (IRE); T-John Gosden. £21,500. 3–Zaaki (GB), 130, g, 4, Leroidesanimaux (Brz)–Kesara (GB), by Sadler’s Wells. (40,000gns Ylg ’16 TAOCT). O-Ahmad Alotaibi; B-Kirsten Rausing (GB); T-Sir Michael Stoute. £10,760. Margins: 5, 1 1/4, NK. Odds: 4.00, 1.20, 8.00. Also Ran: UAE Jewel (GB), Happy Power (Ire), Anna Nerium (GB). Scratched: Pogo (Ire). Click for the Racing Post result or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. Video, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton The post Benbatl Back with a Bang in the Joel appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Sheikh Nasser bin Hamad Al Khalifa’s Daahyeh (GB) (Bated Breath {GB}) boasted the best form heading in to the G2 Shadwell Rockfel S. at Newmarket on Friday and she produced her consistent best to complete the task of garnering a “Win and You’re In” ticket to the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf. Successful in the June 21 G3 Albany S. at Royal Ascot and runner-up in the G2 Duchess of Cambridge S. on the July Course here July 12 and the G1 Moyglare Stud S. at The Curragh Sept. 15, the 11-8 favourite waited behind the leading quartet early before delivering a surge to take over passing the two-furlong pole. Kept up to her work from there by William Buick, the chestnut had a half length to spare over stablemate Stylistique (GB) (Dansili {GB}) at the line, with a short head to Cloak of Spirits (Ire) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}) in third. “William was very impressed with her–he felt she didn’t handle the dip very well, but he loved how she moved into it between the three and the two,” trainer Roger Varian said. “We even had the discussion after she came second in the Moyglare that the Breeders’ Cup might be an option and I’m sure it still is, but it will all depend on her condition.” Daahyeh, who is still the only filly to beat Raffle Prize (Ire) (Slade Power {Ire}) after she upstaged her on debut here May 18, will have to last a mile at Santa Anita Nov. 1 and Varian is hopeful it will not pose a problem. “She would have to prove herself at a mile, but I’m sure you could compare an American mile to a Curragh or Newmarket seven furlongs, which is what she has contested the last twice, so you would be hopeful she would get the trip,” he added. “Whether she goes to the Breeders’ Cup or not, assessing her performances this season we would have to consider her a 1000 Guineas candidate at the very least.” Varian said of the runner-up, who is still a maiden after five starts having met smart rivals at every turn, “She is a lovely filly and it is a black mark against my training career that is she still a maiden. She is a lovely filly that is owned by a very enthusiastic owner-breeder. I’m delighted she has got some meaningful black-type. I’m sure she will win in her turn, even if we come back to novice company. She is a big, scopey filly and she is going to be an exciting prospect for next year. Frankie jumped off her and loved her–he said she will get a mile, but no more.” Daahyeh is out of Affluent (GB) (Oasis Dream {GB}), a former Roger Charlton trainee who won over five furlongs and only raced over slightly further throughout her brief career. A 35,000gns Juddmonte cast-off at the 2016 Tattersalls December Mares Sale, she is a half-sister to four black-type and stakes performers who were all sprinters in Europe. Chief among them is the G2 Flying Five-winning sire Deportivo (GB) (Night Shift), while So Beloved (GB) (Dansili {GB}) is a seven-furlong specialist whose finest days came when capturing the G3 Supreme S. and finishing runner-up in the G1 Prix de la Foret. His full-sister Cantabria (GB) was second in the G3 Fred Darling S. over this trip in this country before heading to the States to fill the same spot in the 8 1/2-furlong GIII Hawthorne H. for Bobby Frankel, so the prospects of Daahyeh getting the mile in California are in the balance. Affluent also hails from the family of Wandesta (GB) (Nashwan), the champion grass mare who took the GI Matriarch S., GI Santa Barbara H. and GI Santa Ana H., while this year’s G2 Futurity S. and G3 Tyros S. winner and G1 Vincent O’Brien National S. runner-up Armory (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) also features. Her yearling colt is by Al Kazeem (GB), while she also has a colt foal by Ribchester (Ire). Friday, Newmarket, Britain SHADWELL ROCKFEL S.-G2, £100,000, Newmarket, 9-27, 2yo, f, 7fT, 1:24.14, gd. 1–DAAHYEH (GB), 126, f, 2, by Bated Breath (GB) 1st Dam: Affluent (GB), by Oasis Dream (GB) 2nd Dam: Valencia (GB), by Kenmare (Fr) 3rd Dam: De Stael, by Nijinsky II (£75,000 Ylg ’18 GOUKPR). O-HH Sheikh Nasser bin Hamad Al Khalifa; B-D J & Mrs Deer (GB); T-Roger Varian; J-William Buick. £56,710. Lifetime Record: G1SP-Ire, 5-3-2-0, $246,989. Werk Nick Rating: A+. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree. 2–Stylistique (GB), 126, f, 2, Dansili (GB)–Sleek (GB), by Oasis Dream (GB). O-Yvonne Jacques; B-Carisbrooke Stud (GB); T-Roger Varian. £21,500. 3–Cloak of Spirits (Ire), 126, f, 2, Invincible Spirit (Ire)–Pivotique (GB), by Pivotal (GB). O/B-Sheikh Mohammed Obaid Al Maktoum (IRE); T-Richard Hannon. £10,760. Margins: HF, NO, NK. Odds: 1.35, 14.00, 4.00. Also Ran: Under the Stars (Ire), Hot Touch (GB), Blissful (Ire), Alabama Whitman (GB), Festival Day (GB). Scratched: Alash Orda (GB). Click for the Racing Post result or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. Video, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton. The post Daahyeh Santa Anita-Bound with Rockfel Win appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Pat O’Kelly’s Kilcarn Stud has been synonymous with the Goffs Orby Sale for several decades through sale-topping yearlings and high-achieving graduates. While Kilcarn Stud is missing from the index of consignors at next week’s edition of the sale, the farm is still strongly represented via The Castlebridge Consignment, which is offering O’Kelly’s yearlings on her behalf this year. Staffing issues have led to the policy change this year but apart from the change of livery to the Castlebridge red and green, nothing else about the select Kilcarn draft of five yearlings will be different. Quality has always been the key at Kilcarn, where the broodmare band has rarely stretched to more than a dozen and consignor Bill Dwan is naturally proud to have been selected to prep and offer a draft of yearlings from such a revered farm. “We are delighted to be consigning these yearlings on behalf of Miss O’Kelly’s wonderful nursery,” Dwan said. “She has an exciting group of yearlings on offer at Goffs next week by proven, world-class stallions and from her wonderful dam lines that continue to produce top-class racehorses. With colts by Sea The Stars (Ire) and Kingman (GB), two fillies by Invincible Spirit (Ire) and a Holy Roman Emperor (Ire) full-sister to Banimpire (Ire), it is an elite bunch of horses and a fantastic addition to Castlebridge’s already extensive and quality draft of yearlings at the Orby Sale.” In a way it’s a poignant departure for Kilcarn to contract out the prepping and selling of its yearlings and a situation that was slightly lamented by O’Kelly when the TDN spoke to her last week. “We have never used a consignor before, we have always done it ourselves,” she explained. “The Lanney family, firstly Seamus and now his son Stuart, my current stud manager, have always handled it here but they couldn’t get the help they needed this year so we had to make other arrangements.” While Kilcarn is famed for nurturing a select few bloodlines over the last 40 years, it is ironic that its first yearling in the ring at Goffs this week is out of a mare added to the broodmare band less than two years ago. The Kingman (GB) colt, lot 287, is out of I Am Beautiful (Ire) (Rip Van Winkle {Ire}), a stakes winner for Aidan O’Brien who was bought by Kilcarn carrying this colt at Tattersalls in December 2017 for 700,000gns. I Am Beautiful has a regal lineage coming from the family of Miesque (Nureyev), Tapestry (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), Kingmambo, et al and she has a 2-year-old colt named Stalingrad (GB) (War Front) in training with Fozzy Stack which is ready to start. Kilcarn is represented by consecutive lots when a filly (lot 390) by Holy Roman Emperor (Ire) out of My Renee (Kris S) is followed into the ring by a Sea The Stars (Ire) colt (lot 391) of My Renee’s daughter My Spirit (Ire) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}). The Holy Roman Emperor filly is a full-sister to MGSW Banimpire (Ire), who famously went through the ring at Goffs as a broodmare for €2.3-million seven years ago. O’Kelly was also heartened to see Banimpire, who she bred and sold as a yearling at Goffs, listed among the index of mares in the catalogue as the dam of a Galileo (Ire) colt, lot 155, and appropriately enough offered by the Castlebridge Consigment. Meanwhile, the Sea The Stars colt is the second produce out of the multiple stakes placed My Spirit, herself a half-sister to Banimpire. Kilcarn Stud’s draft is completed by a pair of Invincible Spirit (Ire) fillies, the first of those being lot 432. The daughter of G3 Athasi S. winner Prima Luce (Ire) (Galileo {Ire})–whose stock have grossed over €1.2-million at the Orby Sale for Kilcarn in the last five years–is a full-sister to the stakes winner Emmaus (Ire) who is now in training in America with Irishman Conor Murphy. According to O’Kelly, the mare’s 2-year-old filly Golden Dawn (Ire) (Golden Horn {GB}) is in pre-training and doing everything right. Kilcarn’s final offering is lot 447, a half-sister to Group 2-winning juvenile Fighting Irish (Ire) (Camelot {GB}) out of the Pivotal (GB) mare Quixotic (GB). Explaining her regular use of the Irish National Stud’s flagship stallion O’Kelly said, “I was on the board of the Irish National Stud at the time they bought Invincible Spirit so I put my money where my mouth was and it seems to have paid off.” While Kilcarn Stud are no stranger to selling seven figure lots at the Orby, the most recent being the 2015 sale topper Tocco D’Amore (Ire) (Raven’s Pass) who was knocked down to Moyglare Stud for €2-million, buyers can take heart in the fact that there is sometimes spectacular value available in their draft. This year’s G1 Prix de Diane winner Channel (Ire) (Nathaniel {Ire}) is a perfect example, having been bought by Meridian International for just €18,000 at the 2017 Orby. While Love Magic (GB) (Dansili {GB}), the dam of Channel, has no yearling to sell this year she does have a Sea The Stars filly foal and is in foal to Saxon Warrior (Jpn), and one suspects when these are brought to the market they should fetch a bit more than their Classic-winning sibling. “Channel has certainly outrun her purchase price so I imagine connections are quite happy,” O’Kelly said. “Obviously I’m still delighted as I have the mare and she is only 9-years-old so that is quite something.” For decades Kilcarn Stud has been best known for the dynasty spawned by the mare Flame Of Tara (GB) (Artaius). She was the champion 3-year-old filly in Ireland in 1983 following wins in the Coronation S. and Pretty Polly S., but her track achievements were almost overshadowed by her prowess as a broodmare. She became the dam of Salsabil (GB) (Sadler’s Wells) and Marju (Ire) (Last Tycoon {Ire}) along with five other stakes performers. The last of her black-type performers Spirit Of Tara (Ire) (Sadler’s Well) is still at Kilcarn but at 25-years-of age has been pensioned from breeding. Spirit Of Tara has also left a lasting legacy being the dam of the above mentioned stakes-winning Tocco D’Amore, along with MGSW Echo Of Light (GB) (Dubai Millennium {GB}) and several other stakes performers. This line is currently being continued at Kilcarn by Spirit Of Tara’s young daughter Dream Of Tara (Ire) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}). The 6-year-old has a yearling colt by Zoffany (Ire) in the Sportsman’s Sale (lot 658), a Dark Angel (Ire) colt foal and was covered earlier this year by Frankel (GB). Pat O’Kelly took over the running of Kilcarn Stud following the death of her father Major Ned O’Kelly in 1986 and since then very little has changed regarding how stock is raised at the County Meath nursery. Nature is very much embraced and with some of the sizable paddocks sloping quite steeply downhill to the banks of the River Boyne, Kilcarn offers both natural and manmade drinking outlets. “They can drink from the river as it’s never been fenced,” explained O’Kelly. “Our theory was if they happened to gallop down into the river they were more likely to get out unharmed if they hadn’t crashed through a fence to get through in the first place. We’ve never had any mishaps so we’re not going to fence it off now.” She continued, “The land is very good here, we have cattle and the farm has never been overstocked. It’s a very natural environment and they seem to thrive and develop good minds here. I think there is less prepping done nowadays with horses. When I was young I used to drive the yearlings in long reins around the farm and down to the river, for at least an hour. I think it was a help to them when they went into training as trainers found them well rounded and forward going. I guess things have changed now though, people are more inclined to do things in a hurry.” As boutique farms go Kilcarn has an outstanding record and with significant investment made in some new, high-achieving bloodlines in the last five years, the roll call of Group 1 winners looks likely to grow further. O’Kelly’s allegiance to Goffs is also significant and her support has played a pivotal role in the growth of the Orby Sale. While no doubt an exciting annual event for her, O’Kelly often has mixed feelings when saying goodbye to her proteges. “I don’t like to see them go but I know it has to happen as you can’t just keep them all,” she said. The post Kilcarn Flame Still Blazing Brightly appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Editor’s Note: Responses continue to come in for The Jockey Club’s proposed mandate to cap stallion covers at 140 annually. Today, we publish a reply from the long-time general manager for Lane’s End Farm. I have followed and read with great curiosity people’s thoughts and opinions on The Jockey Club’s proposal to control book sizes and would like to take this opportunity to give my own. I have had both the pleasure and responsibility of working for the Farishes and Lane’s End for more than 40 years. At Lane’s End, like so many other farms, everything we do is in the best interest of the horse. We have more the 2,000 acres and 200 stalls; everything is planned, from barn development to stall and field sizes, for the health and well-being of the animals we care for. I’ve seen many changes in our industry through the years; some good, some bad, but the one I’m most concerned with is the increase in stallion book size. Unfortunately, I’ve seen it rise to levels I’m just not comfortable with. Granted, I come from a different side of the industry from many of the owners and breeders weighing in on this issue. I admit I’ve never bought a multi-million dollar stallion. I have, however, helped to syndicate and manage, along with Billy Sellers, the careers from start to finish of many of them. I have purchased shares and bred mares to several of them, so I am very aware of the economics of the stallion business. There is a toll on large books and overbreeding. It affects mare handlers, stallion handlers, booking personnel, breeders and farms. Trying to get a spot on a certain day to a popular but oversubscribed stallion is frustrating. It often forces a mare to miss a heat cycle, thus pushing her foaling date back by three weeks. Our stallions and mares are affected both mentally and physically by overbreeding. There are just so many days in the short breeding season. Horses often need time to rest and recuperate from injury or sickness, which forces them to miss days, compounding the problem. Yes, some stallions handle large books better than others, but I would argue that they would benefit from not being forced to breed multiple mares a day, often only a few hours apart. People can argue fair trade, capitalism, genetics and all other issues with respect to capping the stallion limit. We may even, in the end, have to agree to disagree on some of the specifics. I believe it comes down to greed versus our responsibilities, as caretakers, to always do what is right by the horse. People would have to be ill-informed or not paying attention to think overbreeding is not harming our horses. We are both an industry and a sport structured around living beings that depend on us. Whether it’s a break between races or between breeding, it’s our responsibility to always give horses the time they need. Many of you who know me are aware I seldom, if ever, speak out in print with regards to controversial matters affecting our industry. With that said, I believe a total somewhere between 125-140 total mares bred is an acceptable number. Supply and demand will work itself out. We at Lane’s End are supportive of regulations put in place to benefit horses, and The Jockey Club’s proposed stallion cap undoubtedly does that. The post Put Horses First appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

The Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation (TRF) farm at the Lowell Correctional Center, now in its 19th year, is the third in sequence of the TRF’s Second Chances Programs, which pairs retired racehorses with incarcerated men and women. It was launched in partnership with the Florida Thoroughbred Breeders and Owners Association which continues to fund the program through Florida Thoroughbred Charities. At the 100-acre farm which houses between 45- 50 horses, incarcerated women are assigned to the farm 5-7 days per week to care for the horses, perform all of the farm maintenance and upkeep, and attend classes in a rigorous vocational training program. In the program they learn not only the basics of horse husbandry but also the specifics of caring for racehorses. Their teacher, John Evans, is a veteran thoroughbred horse farm manager and trainer. In 2016, he received the Thoroughbred Charities of America Award of Merit for his work at the prison-based farm. Last week, the program lost its most famous and well-loved resident with the passing of Carterista (Dr. Carter) at the age of 30. When Carterista retired to the prison farm in Marion County 19 years ago, he had earned more than $750,000 in 102 starts with 27 career wins. He had a reputation of being difficult to handle and not very friendly. That he would become a model horse for the inmates’ vocational training program seems counter-intuitive. In fact, he very quickly became the model teacher and go-to horse for new inmates with no horse experience. When he died last week, the women who cared for him were deeply affected. “He was a proud, easy going horse here at the farm,” said Evans. “He was kind and patient and our go-to horse for new students with no experience. We were thankful that he showed no signs of distress or discomfort when we found him in the field that morning. We all miss him dearly.” “We all learned how to pick feet on Carter because he was so nice about it,” said Lorrey Richard, an inmate student who will be released from prison in the next month after close to five years in the program. “I’ve now cared for horses of every age and every personality type. Carter was super special to us because he was so respectful of everyone.” Rebecca Kerns was the inmate student at Lowell who had been Carterista’s main caretaker for more than a year when he passed away last week. She sent me this short essay on what he meant to her: ‘Racehorse coming through’– these are the very words I would say when announcing Carter’s arrival in the shedrow every morning. Like clockwork, Carter would be at the gate of his paddock waiting for me to bring him in for breakfast. What a wonderful feeling knowing that this horse would be anxiously waiting for me. To walk him into the barn and have him carrying himself with dignity and pride and setting the precedent for other horses was a real honor for me. I once read in a book that a 30-year-old horse is the equivalent to an 86-year-old man. That is why Carter could have whatever he wanted including spa days, lots of care and grooming, and all the delicious clover he could eat. I loved Carter and made sure he was well cared for. Upon entering the Equine Program, I was apprehensive about horses. Sure, I rode at the fair when I was little and I petted the horses. But I never cared for a horse. Carter gave me confidence and reassured me that I was okay. Carter showed me unconditional love and changed my heart forever. So, just as he eager as he was for me, I was equally eager to see him. Carter showed me that love has no limits and that I am worthy of being loved. And just like he assured me, I assured him every day that he was the greatest racehorse that ever lived.” -Rebecca Kerns ‘Racehorse coming through’ is what I expect was heard when he passed on to wherever racehorses go. Diana Pikulski is a partner in Yepsen & Pikulski and the editor of the Thoroughbred Adoption Network. For more information about the Lowell Correctional Facility program, go to www.trfinc.org or www.ftboa.com or call John Evans at 352-895-9845. The post On Aftercare: A Sad Farewell to Carterista appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Top-level racing returns to Japan Sept. 29 at Nakayama Racecourse as a diverse cast of speedsters chases a Breeders' Cup "Win and You're In" berth to the Turf Sprint (G1T) in the Sprinters Stakes (G1). View the full article

The clear cut leader of her division Midnight Bisou (Midnight Lute) is quite the imposing presence in this year’s GII Beldame S. at Belmont Saturday. A perfect six-for-six this season, she boasts a pair of top-level scores in the GI Apple Blossom H. Apr. 14 and the GI Ogden Phipps S. June 8. The bay scored a facile victory in the GIII Molly Pitcher S. at Monmouth Park July 20 and out-slugged MGISW Elate (Medaglia d’Oro) last time in a thrilling renewal of Saratoga’s GI Personal Ensign S. Aug. 24. “I think, more than anything else, she has continued to both physically and mentally mature as she has gotten older. There’s really no magic to it,” co-owner Jeff Bloom said to the NYRA notes team. “We’re pretty proud of her 3-year-old campaign, but certainly she’s much better this year. Oddly enough, she seems to get better with each race, including the Personal Ensign where she battled with Elate. One would think that would take something out of her, but she was jumping out her skin after the race. She’s just really continued to grow.” Wow Cat (Chi) (Lookin at Lucky) last visited the winner’s circle when taking last term’s renewal of this event, which still held Grade I status. Runner-up to Monomoy Girl (Tapizar) in the GI Breeders’ Cup Distaff, she was second to Golden Award (Medaglia d’Oro) in Saratoga’s GIII Shuvee S. July 21 and was fourth last time in the Personal Ensign. The well-bred Vexatious (Giant’s Causeway) owns a grade victory on turf in Keeneland’s GIII Rood and Riddle Dowager S., but is MGSP on dirt as well. Second in the grassy GIII Modesty H. at Arlington July 13, she completed the exacta behind GISW Blue Prize (Arg) (Pure Prize) in Saratoga’s Summer Colony S. last time Aug. 18. The post Midnight Bisou Towers Over Beldame Field appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Twenty-five offerings have been supplemented to the catalogue for the upcoming Fasig-Tipton Midlantic Fall Yearlings Sale, set for Monday, Sept. 30 and Tuesday, Oct. 1 in Timonium, MD. The entries, catalogued as hips 411-435, can now be viewed online or in the Equineline sales catalogue app. Print copies of the supplemental catalogue will be available on the sales grounds. “There is strong sire power among the supplemental entries,” said Midlantic Director of Sales Paget Bennett. “Between this catalogue, and the continued Grade I success of our graduates, the Midlantic Fall Yearlings Sale is not to be missed.” Hips 1-150 will sell starting at 4:00 p.m. Monday, with the remaining yearlings on offer during a Tuesday starting at 10:00 a.m. The post 25 Supplements Added to Fasig-Tipton Midlantic appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

The brilliant and consistent McKinzie (Street Sense) will clash with the ascendant Higher Power (Medaglia d’Oro) in Saturday’s GI Awesome Again S. at Santa Anita, a “Win and You’re In” race for the GI Breeders’ Cup Classic. ‘TDN Rising Star’ McKinzie has won seven times in 12 starts and was second, beaten less than a length, in four others, with his only dull effort being a 12th-place run in last year’s Classic. Bouncing back from that with a dominant GI Malibu S. conquest, he was a close runner-up in both the GII San Pasqual S. and GI Santa Anita H. to start his 4-year-old season before dominating the GII Alysheba S. May 3 at Churchill. Stuck in traffic for much of the stretch of the GI Runhappy Metropolitan H. June 8 at Belmont, he still finished fast to complete the exacta behind streaking Mitole (Eskendereya), and the bay earned a career-best 111 Beyer when taking down the GI Whitney S. last out Aug. 3 at Saratoga. Higher Power was a middling allowance horse over the winter at Fair Grounds, but his fortunes changed when selling to Hronis Racing for $250,000 at Keeneland April. Running a new top when fifth in the GI Gold Cup S. here May 27 in his first start for John Sadler, he annexed an optional claimer on the local grass June 14 before finishing second in the Wickerr S. July 21 at Del Mar. Switched back to the main track, he produced a staggering 5 1/4-length triumph in the GI TVG.com Pacific Classic Aug. 17. Looking to bounce back from a non-factor seventh in that event is Chuck Fipke’s Seeking the Soul (Perfect Soul {Ire}). The Grade I winner won just one time six starts last year, but ran a big second at 34-1 in the GI Pegasus World Cup Invitational S., beating champion Accelerate (Lookin At Lucky) in the process. No match for McKinzie when third in the Alysheba, he rallied into a slow pace to capture the GII Stephen Foster S. June 15 at Churchill before his Pacific Classic no-show. The post McKinzie Meets Higher Power in Awesome Again appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

There has been a mighty shadow over the California filly and mare turf ranks for the past year in former claim Vasilika (Skipshot), the win machine who has picked off a remarkable eight graded stakes victories in SoCal since annexing last September’s GII John C. Mabee S. at Del Mar. But the chestnut will vacate her comfort zone for a shot at Keeneland’s GI First Lady S. next weekend, leaving a half-dozen combatants in Saturday’s GI Rodeo Drive S. at Santa Anita, a “Win and You’re In” spot for the GI Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf. Favored on the morning line is Beau Recall (Ire) (Sir Prancealot {Ire}). Unable to challenge Vasilika last fall, the 5-year-old has found new life since switching to the Brad Cox barn, running first or second in all six starts for the Kentucky-based outfit. Following up a pair of listed stakes wins at Fair Grounds, Beau Recall pulled off a 10-1 upset in the GII Distaff Turf Mile S. May 4 at Churchill and impressed again with a sharp second in the GI Just A Game S. June 8 at Belmont. Last time out Aug. 3, she got her belated revenge on Vasilika, surging in the dying strides to best that foe and four others in the GII Yellow Ribbon H. at Del Mar. Paved (Quality Road) is the second choice and will try to break a losing streak that goes back to last summer. Capturing three of her first six starts, including the GII Honeymoon S. here last spring, the dark bay was runner-up, beaten just a half-length by Vasilika, in this event last fall. She’s cracked the trifecta just once in four subsequent starts, however, and comes in off a fourth-place run in the Mabee Aug. 31 at Del Mar. Multiple graded stakes winner Elysea’s World (Ire) (Champs Elysees {GB}) looks to recapture her top form. Victorious in the GIII Suwanee River S., GIII Matchmaker S. and GIII Violet S. last year, she added the GIII Santa Ana S. second time out this year, but has been off the board in her last three, most recently running sixth in the Mabee. The post Sans Vasilika, Half-Dozen Try to Navigate Rodeo Drive appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

The small, but mighty Imperial Hint (Imperialism) looks to capture his second straight renewal of Belmont’s GI Vosburgh S. Saturday and secure a spot in the gate for the GI Breeders’ Cup Sprint. Prepping for last year’s Vosburgh with wins in the GII True North S. and GI Alfred G. Vanderbilt S., the bay was third in the Breeders’ Cup at Churchill Downs last term. Completing the trifecta in his seasonal bow in Tampa’s Pelican S. Feb. 16, he was sent to Meydan, where he finished third once again in the G1 Dubai Golden Shaheen Mar. 30. Given a bit of a breather after that journey, Imperial Hint made his American return a winning one with a four-length triumph in Saratoga’s Alfred Vanderbilt July 27, stopping the clock in new track-record time of 1:07.92. Finishing third that day was divisional leader Mitole (Eskendereya), who came back to win the GI Forego S. at the Spa Aug. 24. “He’s come out of the Vanderbilt great and been training up to the Vosburgh in good form,” said trainer Luis Carvajal, Jr., told the NYRA notes team. “We know he likes Belmont. This race comes at the perfect time, setting us up for the Breeders’ Cup which is a plan we had at the start of this year.” While Mitole will sit this one out, Vanderbilt fourth-place finisher and Forego runner-up Firenze Fire (Poseidon’s Warrior) will take another shot at Imperial Hint. Winner of the 2017 GI Champagne S., the bay captured the Runhappy S. at Belmont in May and was fifth to Mitole in a salty renewal of the GI Met Mile June 8. Promises Fulfilled (Shackleford) looks to make amends after a disappointing sixth last time in the Forego. Victor of the GIII Amsterdam S., GI H. Allen Jerkens S. and GII Phoenix S. last term, he was fourth behind Imperial Hint in both the Breeders’ Cup and Dubai Golden Shaheen. The chestnut got right back to it pretty quickly after his voyage to Meydan, finishing third behind Mitole in the GI Churchill Downs S. May 4 and fourth in the Met Mile. He returned to winning ways in Belmont’s GII John A. Nerud S. July 6. American Power (Power Broker) is an intriguing longshot taking a big leap up for trainer Linda Rice. The chestnut enters off a trio of late-closing victories this summer, taking two allowances at Parx June 29 and July 29 and most recently winning a start optional claimer at Saratoga Aug. 29. He should get plenty of pace to run into here and could charge up late to get a piece with Jose Ortiz aboard. The post Imperial Hint Attempts Title Defense in Vosburgh appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

WinStar Farm has been confirmed as a participant in The Pitons Cup, to be held at the new Royal Saint Lucia Turf Club on Dec. 13. “It’s always exciting to be a part of something new whether it is the Dubai World Cup, the Pegasus World Cup or a race like The Pitons Cup,” said Elliott Walden, President and Racing Manager of WinStar Farm. “[The Pitons Cup] is certainly capturing some attention and some good operators are signing on. It will be a great fun to get down to Saint Lucia and be a part of what is shaping as a great event.” Walden continued, “The importance the Thoroughbred industry supporting itself and supporting new initiatives cannot be understated. We all benefit with a strong industry and we are all responsible for ensuring it is strong and healthy,” Of the developments in St. Lucia, spearheaded by China Horse Club’s Teo Ah Khing, Walden said, “The creation of a new industry in Saint Lucia is very exciting. It is difficult to fully understand what opportunities may arise with a new center of horse racing in the Caribbean but what is clear is that helping the sport grow can only be a positive thing.” Other U.S.-based entities/individuals set to participate in the $150,000 race include Taylor Made Farm, trainer Todd Pletcher, owner Sol Kumin and bloodstock agent Bradley Weisbord. The post WinStar Confirmed for Pitons Cup appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Making his debut in 2019, TDN Rising Star Benbatl (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) turned Friday’s G2 Shadwell Joel S. into a procession at Newmarket with an all-the-way five-length success that proved the day’s true head-turner. Sent forward by Oisin Murphy from the break, the 4-1 second favourite showed no rustiness and skipped clear of fellow TDN Rising Star and 6-5 favourite King of Comedy (Ire) (Kingman {GB}) heading down into the “dip” before maintaining the momentum up the rising ground. King of Comedy, who missed the break and was free in the race, had 1 1/4 lengths to spare over Zaaki (GB) (Leroidesanimaux {Brz}) in a sound trial for the Oct. 19 G1 Queen Elizabeth II S. “It is a super training performance by Saeed and that was a brilliant performance,” Murphy said. “He can go a mile or ten–he has loads of class and there is a reasonable period between now and Champions Day. I hadn’t slept much this week with the excitement and he hasn’t had a slap in the race. He was electric.” Despite being trained in this town for the most part of the year, this was only the second time that Benbatl had raced at his local track, with the first being the 2017 G3 Craven S. when he was third as a still-raw talent. Despite winning that season’s G3 Hampton Court S. at Royal Ascot, it was only when the homebred went to Dubai that he began to flourish last winter with wins in the G3 Singspiel S., G2 Al Rashidiya and G1 Dubai Turf. Disappointing when 10th as favourite for the G1 Queen Anne S. at Royal Ascot last June, he bounced back to take the 10-furlong G1 Grosser Dallmayr Preis at Munich in July before finishing fifth in the G1 Juddmonte International at York in August. Sent on his travels again, he annexed the Caulfield’s G1 Ladbrokes S. again over a mile and a quarter in October before running Winx (Aus) (Street Cry {Ire}) to two lengths in the G1 Cox Plate at Moonee Valley two weeks later. Saeed bin Suroor is keeping his options open. “Benbatl had been working really well and he showed his class in his final piece of work before this race,” he explained. “We gave him a break after Australia, because last year was a hard season for him and he ran in many races. I talked to Sheikh Mohammed and we decided to wait until the autumn, so we gave Benbatl time and didn’t push him in the summer. He needed the race today and, luckily, he won well. I will speak with Sheikh Mohammed next week and he could head to [Oct. 19] Champions Day at Ascot for the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes or the Champion Stakes, or he may head back out to Germany. More likely, we will take him back to Dubai and run him in the big races there again.” Benbatl is the first foal out of Nahrain (GB) (Selkirk), who captured the GI Flower Bowl Invitational and G1 Prix de l’Opera and was second in the GI Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Turf. Her dam Bahr (GB) (Generous {Ire}) took the G2 Ribblesdale S. and G3 Musidora S. and was placed in the G1 Epsom and Irish Oaks and the Flower Bowl. Nahrain’s 3-year-old gelding Montzar (GB) (Dansili {GB}) has yet to race, while she also has a 2-year-old full-sister to Benbatl named Fooraat (Ire) and a yearling filly by Sea The Stars (Ire). Her 2019 foal is a fully again by Dubawi. Friday, Newmarket, Britain SHADWELL JOEL S.-G2, £100,000, Newmarket, 9-27, 3yo/up, 8fT, 1:35.60, gd. 1–BENBATL (GB), 130, h, 5, by Dubawi (Ire) 1st Dam: Nahrain (GB) (Hwt. 3yo Filly-Eng at 9.5-11f, G1SW-Fr, GISW-US, SW-Eng & GSP-Ire, $1,041,961), by Selkirk 2nd Dam: Bahr (GB), by Generous (Ire) 3rd Dam: Lady of the Sea, by Mill Reef O-Godolphin; B-Darley (GB); T-Saeed bin Suroor; J-Oisin Murphy. £56,710. Lifetime Record: Hwt. Older Horse-Eng & UAE at 7-9.5f, Hwt. Older Horse-Ger at 9.5-11f, G1SW-Aus, Ger & UAE, 17-8-3-1, $5,295,731. Werk Nick Rating: A. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree. 2–King of Comedy (Ire), 126, c, 3, Kingman (GB)–Stage Presence (Ire), by Selkirk. O/B-Lady Bamford (IRE); T-John Gosden. £21,500. 3–Zaaki (GB), 130, g, 4, Leroidesanimaux (Brz)–Kesara (GB), by Sadler’s Wells. (40,000gns Ylg ’16 TAOCT). O-Ahmad Alotaibi; B-Kirsten Rausing (GB); T-Sir Michael Stoute. £10,760. Margins: 5, 1 1/4, NK. Odds: 4.00, 1.20, 8.00. Also Ran: UAE Jewel (GB), Happy Power (Ire), Anna Nerium (GB). Scratched: Pogo (Ire). Click for the Racing Post result or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. Video, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton. The post Dubawi’s Benbatl Back With a Bang In the Joel appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article