Wandering Eyes

Godolphin's Rapid Force (Mehmas) had little to beat on his belated debut at Kempton on Wednesday, but carried out the task proficiently nevertheless to begin justifying his £1million purchase price. Having been held back since topping the Goffs UK Breeze-Up in April, the son of the Sapphire Stakes third Rapid Reaction (Shamardal) from the family of Wootton Bassett sat last of the trio that contested the six-furlong novice that opened the card. Wound up by William Buick to take over a furlong out, the Charlie Appleby-trained 2-5 favourite stayed on strongly to account for the experienced Mr Writer (Dark Angel) by two lengths. “He's a strong boy and he's going to get better next year as well,” his rider said. “It couldn't have been better for his first run and when he got to the front he had a little look which is never a bad sign.” One MILLION quid's worth of horse Rapid Force (Mehmas) takes some time to warm to his task on debut but ultimately shows a nice change of gear to score under @WilliamBuickX.@godolphin | @unibet pic.twitter.com/AynSDGzi9u — Racing TV (@RacingTV) October 8, 2025 The post Godolphin’s Goffs UK Breeze-Up Topper Rapid Force Off The Mark On Debut appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Notable absentees from the first-day buyers' sheet at Book 1 of the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale, the Coolmore partners made their second seven-figure purchase of Wednesday's session when going to 1,700,000gns for the No Nay Never colt out of the G1 Cheveley Park Stakes heroine Millisle (Starspangledbanner). Consigned by Watership Down Stud, lot 266 is the third foal out of Millisle, who also won the G3 Ballyogan Stakes as a three-year-old. Her first foal, Alfareqa (Frankel), successful once in five career starts, was herself a Book 1 yearling when bought by Shadwell for 1,600,000gns in 2023. Simon Marsh, manager of Watership Down Stud, said of the No Nay Never colt, “To get all the stars to align is very difficult, but this is a lovely horse and he was on a lot of lists. It is a wonderful price, but now we need him to be a good racehorse.” MV Magnier and White Birch Farm signed for lot 266, as they did the Dubawi filly out of Group 1 winner Lady Bowthorpe [lot 218] for 1,300,000gns earlier in the session. Another purchase was lot 230, Glenvale Stud's half-brother to G1 Flying Five Stakes winner Arizona Blaze (Sergei Prokofiev), who fetched 500,000gns. He belongs to the first crop of Coolmore stallion Blackbeard, a son of No Nay Never. “No Nay Never is having another great year with the likes of Charles Darwin, who's very good, and True Love,” said Magnier. “The mare was very good.” He added, “Blackbeard is having a good sale and there's plenty of good word for the Little Big Bear foals. The best ones by Blackbeard that we have will be going to Ballydoyle. We bought the Blackbeard half-brother to Arizona Blaze earlier today. He is a very good horse – Flash [Conroy] always spoke very highly of him.” The post ‘It Is A Wonderful Price’ – Regally-Bred No Nay Never Colt Sells to Coolmore for 1.7m Gns appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

A lawsuit filed against jockey Luan Machado for poor riding after he finished second in a race at Churchill Downs last November was dismissed by Jefferson Circuit Court in Louisville, Ky.View the full article

Sierra Leone (Gun Runner–Heavenly Love, by Malibu Moon), last year's champion 3-year-old colt, will join the roster at Coolmore's Ashford Stud in Kentucky next year, the operation announced Wednesday. Racing for Peter Brant, Susan Magnier, Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith, Westerberg, and Brook Smith and trained by Chad Brown, Sierra Leone is expected to make his final career start in the Nov. 1 GI Breeders' Cup Classic, a race he won in 2024. Sierra Leone, who topped the 2022 Fasig-Tipton Saratoga sale when selling for $2.3 million, was tabbed a 'TDN Rising Star' following his debut victory at Aqueduct the following November. He faced only graded company from then on and has hit the board in all 13 starts to date, with five wins and current earnings of $7,006,200. “I've trained a lot of great horses, and to me, I'd say unequivocally he's the best horse I've had my hands on…he's just in a different league,” Brown said of Sierra Leone. During his sophomore campaign, Sierra Leone won the GII Risen Star Stakes and GI Toyota Blue Grass Stakes en route to an agonizingly close runner-up effort in the GI Kentucky Derby and a third-place finish in the GI Belmont Stakes. Second in the GII Jim Dandy Stakes and third in the GI Travers Stakes, he concluded his championship season with a 1 1/2-length victory in the GI Breeders' Cup Classic. In 2025, Sierra Leone added a win in the GI Whitney Stakes and runner-up efforts in the GI Stephen Foster Stakes and GI Jockey Club Gold Cup. “We're incredibly excited to welcome Sierra Leone to Ashford for the coming season,” commented Ashford Stud's Dermot Ryan. “When you hear someone like Chad Brown say that he is the best he has ever trained, it doesn't get any better than that.” Sierra Leone's 2026 stud fee is still to be announced. The post Sierra Leone to Ashford Stud in 2026 appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

It can be easy to read the headlines from Book 1 and conclude that this is a sale for the big boys and, unless you have millions in the bank, you cannot compete. Pinhooker Fearghal Hogan put that theory in the bin on Wednesday when a St Mark's Basilica colt that he bought for €120,000 sold for a whopping 800,000gns to Amo Racing. It was the type of pinhooking profit that left Hogan puffing for air down in the gangway as the numbers kept on climbing. And when the gavel eventually fell, the man behind Apollo Bloodstock nearly collapsed to his knees. “My legs just went to jelly,” Hogan said. “I don't even know what was going through my mind. I couldn't believe it – it's just an unbelievable feeling. I knew the horse was going really well yesterday. We had 20 vets on the horse. And today, he just took off again. I had a good feeling going to bed last night that something good was going to happen. Now, I didn't think he could go and make 800,000gns. But I thought that maybe he might make half of that.” He added, “I rang my mother straight away. She doesn't really understand the horse business so she can't wrap her head around it. To see that kind of money exchanging hands, she was just like, 'oh my God.' I really can't explain what I am feeling. I'm still in shock to be honest.” Hogan purchased the St Mark's Basilica colt at the Goffs November Foal Sale last year. He admits that taking a chance on the progeny of a first-season sire was a big risk but qualified the six-figure outlay by saying he was a massive fan of St Mark's Basilica as a racehorse and that this colt was an excellent model by the multiple Group 1-winning son of Siyouni. However, saying all of that is well and good now, but because Hogan admits there were times this year where he didn't feel so clever. He explained, “Spending €120,000 on a foal, that's a big throw for me. And people were laughing at me during the summer when St Mark's Basilica wasn't going as well as he is now. Everyone kept reminding me that St Mark's Basilica was a half-brother to Magna Grecia but I kept telling them to keep the faith. I loved St Mark's Basilica as a racehorse and I loved this foal at the sales. Basically, I just took a chance and St Mark's Basilica has enjoyed an excellent second half to the season. He looks as though he's going to be a very good stallion. “The first-season sires are so dangerous and oftentimes you can be either a hero or a zero when you pinhook a foal by one of them. But I loved everything about St Mark's Basilica so I wanted to take a chance on him, basically, and that's what happened. There were one or two other people involved and I am delighted for them. Fair play to Pa Doyle of Galbertstown who consigned him for me as well – he's done a brilliant job.” Hogan added, “I'll be completely honest with you, my costs are massive. I rent a farm on the Curragh and I have one girl, Jackie Mooney, who works for me and I would be completely lost without her. My landlords Philip and Sheena O'Connor are unbelievable as well. But there are a lot of people who have helped me and they know who they are. Even the vets not ringing and annoying you for money and having a farrier who works with you, all of those things matter because, as a pinhooker, you only get one payday every year. After that, you might be short on cash so there are so many people who help you through the tougher times and I just want them to know that it is appreciated. People in the horse game are great people. It really is a great game. The good days can be just around the corner and, if you don't try, you'll have no chance. If you can keep your head above water during the bad years and just survive, survive, survive, you can hit on a result like this. When you do, you don't even remember the bad times!” The post ‘My Legs Went To Jelly’ – Massive Pinhooking Profit For Fearghal Hogan At Book 1 appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Hall of Fame jockey John Velazquez was unanimously voted Jockey of the Week for Sept. 29-Oct. 5 after winning eight races, including four stakes.View the full article

Having endured bad luck with Crypto Force (Time Test) after his G2 Beresford Stakes victory as a juvenile, Kia Joorabchian will be praying that things pan out more smoothly for the Wootton Bassett half-brother who cost the Amo Racing founder 2,200,000gns during the second session at Book 1 of the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale. Matching the sum fetched by the Fittocks Stud-consigned Frankel colt earlier in the day, lot 247 is the fourth foal out of the winning Galileo mare Luna Mare, from the family of Lord Weinstock's globetrotting champion Pilsudski. Her first foal was the aforementioned Crypto Force, who won two of his three starts as a juvenile and later finished third in the G1 Tattersalls Gold Cup after missing his entire three-year-old campaign. Luna Mare was bought by Marlhill House Stud for 500,000gns at the 2022 Tattersalls December Mares Sale, just a couple of months after Crypto Force's win in the Beresford. She has a filly foal, also by Wootton Bassett, but is not in foal this year, according to Marlhill House manager Brian McConnon, who was understandably delighted with the result. He said, “The plan always was, when we bought the mare here three years ago, that we'd send her to Wootton Bassett. She was a young Galileo mare, and Crypto Force was one of the flagbearers for her, so she had a great profile. “This is the first Wootton Bassett we got out of the mare, so the plan came to fruition. It's fantastic. We were hopeful that he'd sell well, but you obviously don't know until you get here. Then all the right people vetted him and you just need them to step up. We were obviously delighted that Coolmore and Amo Racing locked horns again.” Having been pushed all the way by the Coolmore team, Joorabchian admitted that the colt had proved harder to get his hands on than he had originally hoped. “To be honest with you, I was hoping it would be half of that [fee],” he conceded. “Unfortunately, when you're bidding against the other big guys, you have to really go for it. You don't have a choice. “We own the half-brother, Crypto Force, and he won a Group 2 for us in Ireland. So, we know the mare and we know she can produce a good horse. We love Crypto, really. He's been a bit fragile for us. He had a couple of bad injuries at the end of his two-year-old career and never really managed to pick up that velocity that he had as a two-year-old. “But we know what happened to him and and this is a big upgrade with Wootton Bassett who is now gone. It's a family that we know and we thought we had to have him.” On future plans for the colt, Joorabchain added, “He'll go to Freemason [Lodge]. He'll go to our own yard here and we'll see how he goes. Hopefully, he'll be an earlier type of Wootton Bassett.” Amo Racing's total spend at Book 1 now stands at 8,145,000gns from seven yearlings, including one bought in partnership with Valmont. Earlier on Wednesday, lot 231, a St Mark's Basilica colt from Galbertstown Stables, was added to the team at a cost of 800,000gns. He previously sold to Fearghal Hogan for €120,000 at the Goffs November Foal Sale. The post Wootton Bassett Colt Joins Wednesday’s Toppers at Book 1 with 2.2m Gns Sale to Amo Racing appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

At Tattersalls on Wednesday, MV Magnier confirmed that Delacroix will retire to Coolmore Stud for the 2026 breeding season. The winner of the G1 Coral-Eclipse Stakes and G1 Royal Bahrain Irish Champion Stakes, Delacroix is set to appear first on Qipco British Champions Day where he holds entries for the G1 Champion Stakes and G1 Queen Elizabeth II Stakes. The three-year-old son of Dubawi and the brilliant racemare Tepin is the winner of six of his 11 races and he was beaten just a nose when second last year in the G1 Futurity Stakes. Along with his two Group 1 victories this season, Delacroix won two Group 3 Classic trials at Leopardstown in the spring and was also runner-up to Ombudsman in the G1 Juddmonte International at York. That pair could clash again in the Champion Stakes. The Coolmore team added another son of Dubawi to its string for next year when buying the second offspring of the G1 Nassau Stakes winner Lady Bowthorpe (Nathaniel) from breeder Emma Banks at Tattersalls. The chestnut colt was sold for 1,300,000gns from the draft of Fittocks Stud. Magnier said of the yearling colt, “He's a lovely horse and Lady Bowthorpe was a very good race filly, as we all know. It's a great result for Emma Banks. She's a very nice lady and well done to her.” He added, “Dubawi is still going very well and we are going to retire Delacroix this year. Delacroix is probably one of the most important horses we have retired in Ireland in a good while. He has everything: race record, pedigree, and he's a complete outcross, so we can really get behind him.” The post Champions Day Beckons for Delacroix; Will Stand at Coolmore in 2026 appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

New Vocation has launched its 16th annual Breeders' Cup Pledge, giving contenders the opportunity to donate a percentage of their earnings from the championships to support the charity's mission of rehabilitating, retraining, and rehoming retired racehorses. Since its inception in 2009, the pledge has raised more than $1.2 million for aftercare. This year, in conjunction with New Vocations' recently launched Capital Campaign Phase II, participants in the pledge will receive a complimentary personalized brick, which will be placed along the walkway at the organization's Lexington facility. “We are very grateful for the tremendous support we've received over the years through the pledge,” said New Vocations' Thoroughbred Program Director Anna Ford. “The pledge offers an easy way for connections to give back to the horses and support their transition into new careers. The funds raised play a vital role in our mission, allowing us to serve more than 600 horses annually. We hope many will be inspired to join this year, and we look forward to placing a large number of new bricks as part of our Lexington expansion.” In 2024, the Pledge raised over $120,000, with more than 50 championship contenders represented by owners and/or trainers who pledged a percentage of their earnings. New Vocations will continue to accept pledges from owners and trainers until Oct. 30. For more information about the pledge, visit www.newvocations.org/events or contact anna@horseadoption.com or carey@horseadoption.com. The post New Vocations Launches Annual Breeders’ Cup Pledge, With an Added Incentive appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

A great day for the Cumanis' Fittocks Stud draft continued with the sale of lot 218, the Dubawi colt out of G1 Nassau Stakes winner Lady Bowthorpe (Nathaniel), for 1,300,000gns. He became the first purchase at Book 1 this week for Coolmore. The colt's breeder Emma Banks, who sold his full-brother to Godolphin at last year's sale for 2,000,000gns, said, “I'm so lucky to have a mare that has produced two beautiful yearlings. Her [Too Darn Hot colt] foal is lovely and she's in foal to Wootton Bassett, so it's exciting.” She continued, “Both of them are getting the best possible chance with trainers that are at the top of their game, so I'm very happy. It gives me an excuse to descend on Ballydoyle next year to see how he's getting on. “It's not every day that you can sell a horse for that much money. If the vets are right, we've got a filly, a Wootton Bassett filly in the oven. So, I'm thrilled about that. I am very emotionally invested in the mare, of course, so that first filly stays with me, I think.” MV Magnier, who confirmed that fellow Dubawi colt, the dual Group 1 winner Delacroix, will be retired to Coolmore Stud for the 2026 season, said of his latest purchase, “He's a lovely horse and Lady Bowthorpe was a very good race filly, as we all know. It's a great result for Emma Banks. She's a very nice lady and well done to her.” He added, “Dubawi is still going very well and we are going to retire Delacroix this year. Delacroix is probably one of the most important horses we have retired in Ireland in a good while. He has everything: race record, pedigree, and he's a complete outcross, so we can really get behind him.” The post Second Millionaire for Fittocks as Lady Bowthorpe’s Dubawi Colt Sells for 1.3m Gns to Coolmore appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

A three-year-old full sister to the great Verry Elleegant (NZ) is slated to make her debut on Friday night at Southside Cranbourne. The Chris Waller-trained Verry Stella (NZ) (Zed) has been accepted to contest Race 2 – a maiden event over 1300 metres. Very Stella has the same trainer as her now-deceased sister and was also bred by Don Goodwin, who has also since passed away. The filly will carry the same colours – red, royal blue band, armbands, band on cap and pom pom. Very Stella is the seventh-named foal from the two-time winner Opulence, herself a daughter of Danroad. Opulence’s other foals are Black Lace (by Towkay), Verry Flash (Zed), Verry Elleegant (Zed), Grand Prospect (Haradasun), Affluential (Zed) and So Suave (Zed). Goodwin purchased Opulence in foal to Towkay for NZ$14,000 at the 2011 New Zealand Bloodstock May Sale. He had a plan to send the mare to Grangewilliam Stud stallion Zed, for whom he was a shareholder. Opulence is a great-granddaughter of Cotehele House and she herself is the dam of Group 1 winner Danewin and G3 victor Commands (both then became G1-producing sires). Opulence’s fourth dam is the blue hen Eight Carat, who has produced five elite-level scorers – Diamond Lover, Kaapstad, Marquise, Mouawad and Octagonal. The Zed-Opulence mating has produced a good deal of success for Goodwin, who died last December aged 86, and his fellow owners. In 2022, Verry Flash won the Listed Rangitikei Gold Cup (1600m) at Trentham. He won 14 races and was twice placed at G3 level. Verry Elleegant, who died in February last year, is remembered as one of the all-time greats. The 2020-21 Australian Horse of the Year boasted a record of 16 wins, 11 at G1 level and prizemoney earnings of $14.8 million. She was victorious in the Caulfield Cup in 2021, before taking out the Melbourne Cup a year later. Grand Prospect won four races in New Zealand and the Bob Peters-owned, John Leek Jnr-trained Affluential triumphed in the Grand National Hurdle in 2024, while the Waller-trained So Suave, who races in Brae Sokolski’s colours, shed his maiden tag at Doomben in June. Verry Stella has prepped-up for her debut with three trials and two jumpouts. She will be handled by Fred Kersley, with the pair to jump from gate three. Before his death, Goodwin, who was named the inaugural winner of the New Zealand Small Breeder of the Year Award in 2020-21, said of Verry Stella: “Waller has got the cracking full to Verry Elleegant and they tell me that she is a gorgeous filly.” Opulence passed away in 2022, with Verry Stella being her final foal, while Zed died in 2024. View the full article

By Dane McLeod/TTRAusNZ Big changes are on the horizon for Mitch Cunningham and his family, following the decision to sell their Hunter Valley property, Ridgmont Farm. While this marks the end of their time as stud farm owners, their commitment to the racing and breeding industry remains strong, with their involvement continuing from Newgate Farm. Cunningham originally acquired the property – then known as Glastonbury Farm – in 2020 alongside Andrew Dunemann and Neil Douglas, purchasing it from Duncan and Di Grimley, and Yvonne and Mark Clerke. Following the sale, the farm was rebranded as Ridgmont and, in 2023, Cunningham bought out his business partners and assumed sole ownership. Cunningham acknowledged the challenges and questions that could arise around making this announcement mid-season, but he explained that upcoming Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sales preparations have been a significant factor. He said, “There was never the right timing for this decision, but first and foremost on our mind was that preparations for Magic Millions are starting very shortly, so one factor of the decision is around that. “We had no intention of moving horses mid-preparation. This way, we can travel the horses to Newgate, and they can start their Millions preparation there. There wasn't much time left, so we had to make the call and let our staff know. “It's a regrettable decision, but a decision that has been made to redistribute equity into building our racing and breeding portfolio. It is a re-calibration of the allocation of funds for us, and a desire to continue to develop our broodmare band.” With the sale of Ridgmont Farm now pending, the Cunninghams have made arrangements to relocate their horses. All broodmares, foals and yearlings will move to Newgate Farm, which will also act as consignor for Ridgmont-owned yearlings during the 2025 sales season. “We have done a lot of business together in the past, so it is a natural fit,” Cunningham added. “Henry Field and the team have been a huge source of counsel for us, and we have a lot of stallion equity with them. “I'm really looking forward to working with Henry, Bruce [Slade] and Jim [Carey], and I'm sure we will have lots of success. Ridgmont will continue building towards having one of the leading broodmare bands in Australia.” The post Ridgmont Farm On The Market as Cunningham Family Shift Focus appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Luca Cumani admitted to holding back the tears after he and his wife Sarah enjoyed their greatest day in bloodstock when their Fittocks Stud-consigned Frankel colt sold to Godolphin for 2.2 million gns on day two of the Book 1 Tattersalls October Yearling Sale. The Frankel colt was bred in partnership with Newsells Stud and Marina and Leonidas Marinopoulos and it was Japanese trainer Mitsu Nakauchida who filled the role as underbidder. Cumani said, “It's fantastic, absolutely fantastic. It's the highest we have ever done. We sold one for two million last year, which was very exciting and this is even better. He is such a lovely horse – never puts a foot wrong. He is a great-looking Frankel horse out of a mare who is already proven. I am delighted that he has gone to a very good home.” He added, “This is our best day at the sales. It is very emotional and we are especially thankful to the people who appreciate a good horse. I am also very thankful to my stud groom Martin Languillet. He and all of the staff have done a fantastic job.” The Frankel colt is out of Motivator mare Innevera, who Godolphin knows well given she is the dam of the outfit's Group 2 winner Ottoman Fleet. The sale of lot 197 helped bring Godolphin's total spend at Book 1 this week to 12.3 million gns and counting. The post ‘Our Best Day’ – Fittocks Stud Sets Early Tempo At Book 1 With 2.2 Million Frankel Colt To Godolphin appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Champion sprinter Muhaarar, the sire of six individual stakes winners in 2025, is on the move to Haras de Montaigu for the 2026 breeding season, after two seasons at Haras du Petit Tellier. Back in May, the Saffie Joseph-trained Be Your Best became Muhaarar's third top-level winner when landing the Gamely Stakes at Santa Anita, while other notable runners for the sire in 2025 include Motorious, a dual Grade III winner in America, G3 Bengough Stakes scorer Annaf and Listed-winning two-year-old Clea Chope. Be Your Best, Motorious and Annaf were all conceived during Muhaarar's six seasons on the Shadwell roster, after the son of Oasis Dream retired to Nunnery Stud as the winner of the Commonwealth Cup, July Cup, Prix Maurice de Gheest and British Champions Sprint Stakes for owner-breeder Sheikh Hamdan Al Maktoum in 2015. Muhaarar relocated to France in 2022 and spent two seasons at Haras des Faunes, before moving to Haras du Petit Tellier ahead of the 2024 season. During his time there, he covered 235 mares, including more than 45 black-type mares or dams of black-type performers. Aliette Forien, director of Haras de Montaigu, said, “A remarkable racehorse combining precocity and speed, Muhaarar is now a reliable and high-value stallion within the French roster, offered at a very competitive fee. We are delighted to welcome him to Montaigu.” A stud fee for Muhaarar will be announced at a later date. The post Champion Sprinter Muhaarar Moves to Haras de Montaigu for 2026 appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Promising three-year-old Kygo Star (NZ) (Wootton Bassett) overcame a wide journey to come out on top in a tight finish in the Allspark Electrical Maiden 3YO (1400m) at Avondale on Wednesday. The Chad Ormsby-trained gelding was impressive on debut at Taupo, storming home late to finish second behind Oratia Beauty (Too Darn Hot). Finishing third in that contest was Magic Carpet (NZ) (Satono Aladdin), who came out 10 days later to win the Gr.2 Hawke’s Bay Guineas (1400m) at Te Rapa. Despite the form coming out of the race, Kygo Star opened at $9 with the TAB, but that was swiftly snapped up by punters and he closed a well-supported $3.70 favourite ahead of Shoma (NZ) (Contributer) ($3.90). Kygo Star jumped positively from barrier nine but was unable to find cover, settling three-wide in the open for jockey Tayla Mitchell. He was still travelling strongly into the home turn and fought hard to get on even terms with Shoma at the 150m, but coming hard to his inside was Miss Parker (NZ) (Circus Maximus), who looked like she was going straight past. Showing tenacity in the final bounds, Kygo Star lifted off the canvas to hit the front right on the line, pipping Miss Parker by a half-head, with Shoma less than a length back in third. Mitchell had been on board in his first raceday outing and saw plenty of improvement in the son of Wootton Bassett. “He’s a really lovely horse, I really like him,” she said. “It probably didn’t go to plan, I was three-wide but they’ve been quite messy races today and I didn’t have any interference, so it was pretty good. “I think he learned a lot from Taupo, he was a bit green coming around the corner there and letting down, but he definitely let down today.” Cambridge-based Ormsby was similarly impressed, having expected the step up to 1400m to suit. “I just like the way he was beaten at the 100 but he really showed a big effort and grit to win by a half-head,” he said. “He’s always been keen to get on with the job and he showed that grit in his last start and probably ended up winning the race after the line there. It was always encouraging going that bit further.” Racing in the colours of breeders Jamieson Park, Kygo Star is out of a Camelot mare Star Karen, who placed in a Gr.1 New Zealand Oaks (2400m). View the full article

Gringotts (NZ) (Per Incanto) will be on a mission to put an interrupted campaign back on track when he takes his place in the $1.5 million Alan Brown Stakes at Rosehill. The Group 1 winner has missed scheduled starts in the 7 Stakes (1600m) and Shannon Stakes (1500m), both times due to poor blood readings, although trainer Ciaron Maher says they have been the result of a mild virus rather than anything sinister. “There are a lot of viruses around this year and it was just unfortunate that he got one,” Maher said. “But he seems good now. You never really know where you’re at with that sort of thing but it should be a nice race for him to kick off. “He could even end up in the Big Dance.” Gringotts was being aimed towards the King Charles III Stakes (1600m) on Saturday week but the missed runs have all but forced Maher into a campaign pivot with the gelding’s new potential target, the Big Dance (1600m), at Randwick on Melbourne Cup day. View the full article

Spendthrift Farm's six-time champion General Sire Into Mischief (Harlan's Holiday) will once again stand for $250,000 S&N in 2026, while second crop sire Vekoma (Candy Ride {Arg}) will be increased to $100,000 S&N, up from $35,000 in 2025, according to a Spendthrift release. Also increased for 2026: leading third crop sire Omaha Beach (War Front) has been increased to $75,000 S&N from $35,000, while leading first crop sire Yaupon (Uncle Mo) will stand for $60,000 S&N, up from $25,000 in 2025. Omaha Beach currently ranks 13th on the General Sires List, while Yaupon ranks in the top 5 among all North American sires by 2-year-old earnings. “What Into Mischief is doing to add to his legacy–siring his record third Kentucky Derby winner and directly accounting for 10 Grade 1 victories so far, not to mention Grade 1 winners sired by four of his sons at stud this year–it just continues to make you realize that we're witnessing one of the greatest sires of all time,” said Ned Toffey, general manager of Spendthrift. “We are now seeing the emergence of young stallions like Vekoma, Omaha Beach, and Yaupon who are also No. 1 in their respective sire crops. You could make the argument that we're in the best of times at Spendthrift, which certainly has a long history that I greatly respect and don't take lightly. It is extremely humbling and gratifying, and it makes you proud of the work that is being done here by the entire team from the top down, starting with Eric and Tammy Gustavson.” In 2025, Into Mischief surpassed Tapit as the all-time leading sire by progeny earnings–becoming the first in history to exceed the $225 million mark–and appears on his way to a seventh straight General Sire title in North America. Vekoma also ranks as the No. 2 Sire of 3-Year-Olds in North America from his first crop, only behind Into Mischief. Yet, his 12 black type-winning 3-year-olds are the most of any sire this year–including Into Mischief–and his 6 graded-winning 3-year-olds to date from his debut crop is the co-highest among all North American sires. Spendthrift recently announced that it will stand GI Hopeful winner Chancer McPatrick (McKinzie) in 2026. The 3-year-old will make his final start in the GI Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile at Del Mar. His introductory fee will be announced upon retirement. Decreasing slightly for 2026, Forte (Violence) ($45,000 in '25) and National Treasure (Quality Road) ($40,000 in '25) will both stand for $35,000, while Dornoch (Good Magic)'s fee has been set at $30,000, down from $40,000 this year. Stallions participating in Spendthrift's Safe Bet Program for 2026 are Greatest Honour (Tapit) and Mo Donegal (Uncle Mo). Both will be represented by their first crop of 2-year-olds to race, and the Safe Bet Program guarantees breeders a graded stakes winner in 2026, or a stud fee would not be owed for any foal resulting from a 2026 cover to those stallions. “We still have a lot to look forward to this year, including what is shaping up to be the best representation by our stallions that we've had in a Breeders' Cup,” said Toffey. “It's an exciting time, and we are energized to announce stud fees and get to work.” 2026 Spendthrift Fees: Into Mischief (Harlan's Holiday) $250,000 Vekoma (Candy Ride {Arg}) $100,000 Omaha Beach (War Front) $75,000 Yaupon (Uncle Mo) $60,000 Forte (Violence) $35,000 National Treasure (Quality Road) $35,000 Dornoch (Good Magic) $30,000 Bolt d'Oro (Medaglia d'Oro) $25,000 Jackie's Warrior (Maclean's Music) $25,000 Taiba (Gun Runner) $25,000 Maximus Mischief (Into Mischief) $20,000 Kingsbarns (Uncle Mo) $17,500 Arabian Lion (Justify) $15,000 Authentic (Into Mischief) $15,000 Cyberknife (Gun Runner) $15,000 Goldencents (Into Mischief) $10,000 Mitole (Eskendereya) $10,000 Greatest Honour (Tapit) $7,500 Jimmy Creed (Distorted Humor) $7,500 Rock Your World (Candy Ride {Arg}) $7,500 Thousand Words (Pioneerof the Nile) $7,500 Vino Rosso (Curlin) $7,500 Zandon (Upstart) $7,500 Basin (Liam's Map) $5,000 By My Standards (Goldencents) $5,000 Known Agenda (Curlin) $5,000 Mo Donegal (Uncle Mo) $5,000 Temple City (Dynaformer) Private The post Into Mischief to Stand for $250K in 2026, Vekoma Up To $100K; Big Increases for Omaha Beach, Yaupon appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Future Is Now is a remarkably consistent turf sprinter who won the 2024 Franklin Stakes (G3T) by three-quarters of a length and since then has won three of four stakes. View the full article

Sam Mynott has her sights set on the New Zealand Cup carnival with Electron (NZ) (Turn Me Loose), but where the gifted mare takes her first steps toward Riccarton is yet to be locked in. The Cambridge trainer’s preference is to kick off in Saturday’s Gr.3 fastinternet.nz Spring Sprint (1400m) at Otaki if there is any improvement in track conditions, currently rated a Heavy 10. Plan B is for multiple Group Three placegetter Electron to resume closer to home a day before in the Placemakers Taupo Handicap (1300m). “Ideally, she will go to Otaki, but we will see if the sun comes out for us or not and I’ll wait until Thursday afternoon to make that call,” Mynott said. “I am really happy with her and that’s why I don’t want to give her a gut buster first-up, there’s a long season ahead.” Electron has posted two wins and a placing from four first-up appearances and has again worked well ahead of her return without going to the trials. “She’s a bit funny in the barriers and I keep her away from them as much as I can,” Mynott said. “I’ve taken her off the property out to the Windsor Park track and given her some good gallops there. She’s pretty fit but will improve with a run regardless.” Joe Doyle, who won on the Turn Me Loose mare last season, has been booked for the ride at Otaki and George Rooke for Taupo. Mynott has plans to trip south with Electron for the Gr.3 Windsor Park Stud Canterbury Breeders’ Stakes (1400m) on the opening day of the Riccarton carnival and is also nominated for the Gr.3 TAB Mile (1600m) on the middle day. “We’re hoping to get down to Riccarton where I’ve targeted the Breeders’ Stakes and there’s the option to run in both,” she said. “It would just depend how she went and came through the first one, so she could run on both days.” Mynott is also keen to run Miss Madridista at Otaki in the Harcourts Premier Otaki (1200m). “I’d love to get a run into her, and she will cop a bit of cut in the ground,” she said. The Shamexpress mare has won twice from six appearances and hasn’t been seen since her autumn campaign. “She’s come up super well this time in, she’s flying and I’d love to get her rating up to target some better races,” Mynott said. At Taupo, she also formed a good opinion of Too Darn Sweet (Too Darn Hot), who will debut in the McLeod Hiabs Maiden (1100m) with Matthew Cameron in the saddle. “She’s fast and she’s got a beautiful gate (two). She has trialled up really nicely the other day and is definitely one to watch,” Mynott said. View the full article

Kiwi Group One winner Pier (NZ) (Proisir) will not feature in this year’s Gr.1 Cox Plate (2040m), but he will still have the opportunity to run for a A$5 million stake back in Sydney. After a successful campaign in Queensland through the winter, Pier was set on a path towards the Gr.1 Epsom Handicap (1600m) and got off to a flying start when placing in the Gr.2 Theo Marks Stakes (1300m). He was among the main dangers to hot-favourite Autumn Glow (The Autumn Sun) in last Saturday’s Epsom, where he ran a respectable fifth. “His effort was better than it looked, it wasn’t a bad run by any means,” said Darryn Weatherley, who trains in partnership with his daughter Briar. “The occasion got to him a little bit to be fair, when we saddled him at Rosehill for the Theo Marks he was good, but the three weeks in between and being at Randwick for the first time, he was very agitated saddling up. “He got really hot in the Theatre of the Horse and dislodged Ethan Brown (jockey) when he got on him, so he had a bit of a race before he got to the start. “Ethan rode him beautifully, but he did ride him a little bit to take the edge off the favourite (Autumn Glow) early, keeping her three-wide. It was good piloting, but I think we were one run away from having such a hard mile. “When the pace came out of the race at the 800, he was up and running through the bridle, then he came off Autumn Glow’s heels before the turn and got on the wrong leg but still had the audacity to fight on for fifth. “We got a nice enough paycheck for that being such a prestigious race.” Pier’s ownership group, which includes the Weatherleys and prominent Australian owner Ozzie Kheir, opted to pay the late entry fee into the Cox Plate in early September, but he was withdrawn from the nominations in favour of the Gr.1 King Charles III Stakes (1600m), run at Randwick on Everest Day (October 18). “He was in there (Cox Plate) because if you’re not in there, you can’t run, but it was all down to Saturday,” Weatherley said. “I just feel another mile will be more suitable than going the 2040m at Moonee Valley, and he’s also stabled in Sydney at the present time, so it would be a big trip to go into a high pressure race. “I feel the run has improved him so his next run will be in the King Charles. I know it’ll be a very strong field, but I think we’ll have a better horse on the day and we’ll chance our luck. “He’s ticking all the boxes, I’ve never seen him look so good and had him feel so good. I just hope next Saturday week that with his freshness taken off him, his manners are a bit better and he can be competitive. “If he gets some of the chocolates in a A$5 million race, it’s certainly well worth being there.” Pier is currently rated a $15 hope in the King Charles, in a market headed by glamour mares Pride Of Jenni (Pride of Dubai) ($3.50) and Fangirl (Sebring) ($3.60). View the full article

A filly from the first crop of GI Belmont Stakes winner Mo Donegal (hip 177) brought top price of $240,000 during the first session of the Ocala Breeders' Sales Company's October Yearlings Sale Monday in Central Florida. The bay filly–one of three to bring $200,000 or more during the session–was bred by Peter E. Blum Thoroughbreds LLC and was consigned by Richard Kent's Kaizen Sales. Christophe Nouvellet, bidding on behalf of Dream With Me Florida, LLC, made the winning bid. “She was a standout in the back ring,” Nouvellet said. “She looked good, moved good and had something to her. We have open plans for her. We don't know if we are going to race her or sell back. We just liked her. And she was definitely the standout of the day.” The session-topping yearling is out of the unraced On The Good List (Speightstown), a half-sister to Grade I winner Dunbar Road (Quality Road). Blum purchased the mare, with the filly in utero, for $95,000 at the 2023 Keeneland November sale. The filly RNA'd as a weanling for $55,000 at last year's Keeneland November sale. “I sold Serena Song's as a yearling and this filly has that kind of class,” said Kent, whose Kaizen Sales was the session's leading consignor with 18 sold for $605,000. “That's big words.” Of the yearling's session-topping price, Kent added, “The price was excellent. The filly justified the price. She was just a super star all week. She'd been scoped eight times and showed herself just brilliantly over 100 times. She's a very classy filly. We had all the players in town bidding on her.” Nouvellet was philosophical about the filly's six-figure price tag. “Every time you buy a horse, you expect to pay less,” he said. “Unfortunately, you often pay more. There is a good horse everywhere. It's a question of opportunities. You are either there or you're not. And when you are there and you see a nice horse, if you have enough money left, you try your luck.” Dream With Me Florida, which recently purchased the 200-acre McKathan Brothers' Farm in nearby Citra, also acquired a Florida-bred filly by Colonel Liam (hip 182) for $13,000 during Tuesday's session. Hip 177 was one of four to bring six figures during Tuesday's session. There were seven to reach that threshold in the entire 2024 auction. During Tuesday's session, 146 yearlings sold for $3,255,600 for an average of $22,299 and a median of $15,000. The buy-back rate was 32.4%. At last year's opening session, which was abbreviated as the sales company shuffled the auction's schedule ahead of an incoming hurricane, 104 horses grossed $1,713,900 for an average of $16,480 and a median of $10,000. The 2024 auction's cumulative average was $19,275 and median was $10,000. The final session of the OBS October sale begins Wednesday at noon. The post Mo Donegal Filly Tops OBS October Opener appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

A lawsuit filed against jockey Luan Machado for poor riding after he finished second in a race at Churchill Downs last November was dismissed by Jefferson Circuit Court in Louisville, Ky.View the full article

Week of Sept. 29-Oct. 5View the full article

The Horse Racing Women's Association, Jockey Club Safety Net Foundation, and Keeneland hosted a backstretch women's appreciation event Oct. 7 in the sales pavilion at Keeneland, honoring the women who work tirelessly to care for the equine athletes.View the full article

5. MIZZOU, KEE, 10/3, about 7 furlongs (VIDEO) Beyer Speed Figure-88 (2nd) (c, 3, by Munnings–Mo'ne Davis, by Bernardini) O-Harrell Ventures and Seaside Racing. B-Brenda and Philip Robertson (Ky). T-George Weaver. J-Jose Ortiz. This Friday maiden sprint kicks off a clean sweep for Keeneland in the Five Fastest Maidens. Mizzou battled with Divine Justice (below) from the start to ultimately lose a head bob despite having been away from the races for more than a year. Curtis Harrell and his nephew Forrest Jr. bought Mizzou for $300,000 at Keeneland September in 2023 from Versailles, Ky., husband and wife breeders Phil and Brenda Robertson. The Robertsons bought dam Mo'ne Davis from Roy Jackson four years ago–she's a half-sister to Jackson's 2006 Kentucky Derby winner Barbaro. 4. DIVINE JUSTICE, KEE, 10/3, about 7 furlongs (VIDEO) Beyer Speed Figure-88 (c, 3, by Justify–Rarities, by City Zip) O-Flurry Racing Stable, Titletown Racing Stables, Mathiesen Racing and KC Racing. B-Killora Stud (Ky). T-Brad Cox. J-Tyler Gaffalione. A month-and-a-half ago, Semper Primus broke his maiden at Ellis Park by 8 1/4 lengths with a 100 Beyer, becoming only the second triple-digit-Beyer maiden since we started Five Fastest Maidens this May. Next across the finish in that race was Divine Justice, who just managed to outduel Mizzou Friday in his second career outing. He's a son of Justify out of a full-sister to two-time Grade I winning sprinter Palace. 3. GALLIVANT, KEE, 10/4, 6 furlongs (VIDEO) Beyer Speed Figure-89 (3rd) (c, 2, by Into Mischief–Fancy Dress Party, by Munnings) O/B-LNJ Foxwoods (Ky). T-Ben Colebrook. J-Luan Machado. And now we get to the swift Saturday sprint at Keeneland. This son of supersire Into Mischief was well-backed at 5/1, and a pacesetting third-place 89 debut Beyer is a fine launching pad. His dam, also raced by the Roth family, won five of her six starts including the GIII Beaumont Stakes at Keeneland, so Gallivant has strong genes on both sides of his pedigree. 2. ROCKIES BALBOA, KEE, 10/4, 6 furlongs (VIDEO) Beyer Speed Figure- 91 (2nd) (c, 2, by Girvin–Toni Ann's Miracle, by Hear No Evil) O-Charles Monfort, Americas Pastime Stables and Bloom Racing Stable. B-Tonya Hunt (Fla). T-Dale Romans. J-Corey Lanerie. “Rocky” probably thought he had pacesetter Gallivant measured, until Local Knowledge landed an uppercut in the final furlong. In large part, his massive improvement from a no-excuses fifth in his first lifetime start is why some may look at the race's lofty rating with raised eyebrows. In that Sept. 1 debut, he trudged home 9 3/4 lengths behind highly-regarded Oscar's Hope with a mediocre 60 Beyer. By contrast, his 91 Beyer on Saturday came a half-hour before Oscar's Hope finished second in a Keeneland allowance–in a six-furlong time 1.16 seconds slower than Rockies Balboa. That might seem illogical, but in making speed figures you go where the data takes you. 1. LOCAL KNOWLEDGE, KEE, 10/4, 6 furlongs (VIDEO) Beyer Speed Figure-94 (c, 2, by Yaupon–Chestnut Street, by Scat Daddy) O-Spendthrift Farm. B-Stoneriggs Farm (Ky). T-Todd Pletcher. J-Dylan Davis. 'TDN Rising Star, presented by Hagyard'. Right in the middle of Spendthrift's banner weekend, this performance flew under the radar. But the $625,000 OBS April purchase delivered a big debut Beyer despite a disadvantageous trip. Watch the head-on replay and you'll see the son of Yaupon slam into the side of the gate at the break and drop five lengths behind average fractions. He also took the long way four wide around the turn, yet still ran down the leaders with nice-looking strides and a final quarter of :23.87. The post Five Fastest Maidens, Presented By Taylor Made: Sept. 30-Oct. 6 appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article