Wandering Eyes

The Ocala Breeders’ Sales Company has added a total of 49 additional yearlings to its upcoming October Yearling Sale, which will be held Tuesday, Oct. 8 and Wednesday, Oct. 9. Twenty yearlings (hips 205-224) were added to the sale’s select session, which begins at noon on the 8th; 29 youngsters (hips 694-722) were added to the open session, scheduled for 10:30 a.m. the following day. “We were delighted with the response to the supplemental entry program a year ago, in both the quality of the offerings and their reception in the marketplace,” said OBS Director of Sales Tod Wojciechowski. “We have again cataloged a number of horses perhaps not shown at their best advantage earlier in the season, but the additional time to mature should enhance their appeal.” The entire catalog can be viewed at www.obssales.com and includes the first group of walking videos accompanying Selected yearlings. More videos will be added in the coming days and will also be available o the Equineline app. A supplemental print catalog will be available on the sales grounds. “The evolution from still photos to walking videos has been well received by both consignors and buyers,” Wojciechowski said. “The videos provide a much more meaningful way to gain information in advance of the sale.” The post 49 Supplements Added to OBSOCT Sale appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

FAIRYHOUSE, Ireland–Another day of steady business on Wednesday brought proceedings to a close at the Tattersalls Ireland September Yearling Sale. With a reduced catalogue, matching last year’s turnover was always going to be a challenge and coupled with the absence of some big ticket lots the aggregate of €9,415,500 for the two days came in a bit shy of the 2018 figure of €10,488,000. However the clearance rate was quite encouraging and came in at 86% overall and was indicative of the general current healthy demand for racehorses. Wednesday’s average and median were down slightly on both the previous day and the corresponding day last year and thus had a knock on effect on the cumulative figures of €24,267 (down 5% on last year) and €20,000 (no change). There was perhaps a lack of star quality on offer as, compared to last year when there were 10 six-figure lots and a record breaking sale topper of €275,000, only two horses reached or passed the €100,000 mark this time around. Irish Thoroughbred Marketing works closely with the Irish sales companies to ensure as many buyers as possible participate in the sale, particularly from overseas, and from that respect ITM boss Charles O’Neill was quite happy with proceedings. “The clearance rate was well up on last year and we are very happy with the level of trade, particularly from international purchasers,” said O’Neill. “Irish horses continue to be much sought after the world over and I would like to thank all the people who contributed to the success of the sale.” Mick Kinane hasn’t wasted any time making his mark in his new role with the Hong Kong Jockey Club and having bought the top lot on Tuesday he again held sway on Wednesday when paying €165,000 for a colt by No Nay Never, the overall sale topper. Lot 467 was offered by the Hore family’s Mount Eaton Stud out of Rio’s Pearl (GB) (Captain Rio {GB}). Afterwards Kinane said, “He is by an exciting sire in No Nay Never and he is a lovely big horse but one that will need time. It’s nice to be able to buy one by the sire.” Breeder and consignor Philip Hore is no stranger to success both in the sales ring and on the racetrack and he said, “He was always an easy, loose-moving foal. We did have him entered up to sell as a foal but decided to wait to sell as a yearling. He’s done really well in the last three months so I am thrilled.” Wednesday’s session didn’t take long to kick into gear and while lot 252 from The Castlebridge Consignment was circling the ring, it appeared that Ed Sackville was about to bag the Exceed And Excel (Aus) colt for €90,000. However Eamonn Reilly, taking instructions on the phone, had at least another bid in him and when he offered €95,000 Sackville admitted defeat. Similar to Reilly’s main purchase on Tuesday this colt is for a US owner though he may remain in Ireland to be trained initially. “I’ve bought him for Magic Cap Stables,” Reilly revealed. “I’m not sure yet whether this colt will be trained in the US or Europe, it is to be decided but we have had winners in Ireland with Jessica Harrington. He was my pick of today.” Exceed and Excels in Demand Soon after another yearling by Exceed And Excel (Aus), this time a filly, fetched the sum of €90,000 when knocked down to the formidable breeze up partnership of Jim McCartan and Willie Brown. Lot 260, out of First Party (GB), (Royal Applause {GB}) was pinhooked as a foal by Joanna Morgan at Tattersalls last December for 30,000gns and offered by Morgan’s Portlester Stud. “I thought she was the best filly here and she comes from a good vendor,” McCartan said. “She’ll go breezing obviously and we’ll pick a sale for her in the spring. She is a great physical and I like Exceed And Excel fillies, we’ve had plenty of luck with them in the past.” Joanna Morgan has proved most adept at selecting both foals and yearlings in recent years–Sir Dancealot (Ire) (Sir Prancealot {Ire}) and Mums Tipple (Ire) (Footstepsinthesand {GB}) just two of the high profile horses to have passed through her hands– and she predicts a similarly bright future for this filly. “I think she’ll be a rocket, she certainly looks it,” Morgan said. “I loved her as a foal and I didn’t think we’d buy her for 30,000gns–that is the most I’d ever spend on a foal.” Footstepsinthesand Colt Attracts Doyles The above mentioned Mums Tipple was bought by Peter & Ross Doyle last year as a yearling and the father and son duo zoned in on another son of Footstepsinthesand (GB) from Coole House Farm. Lot 359 benefitted from a smart update with his half-brother Intuitive (Ire) (Haatef {GB}) winning for the third time recently and is now rated 95. There was plenty of competition for the brown colt with Jono Mills and Shane Lyons both bidding, but it was Ross Doyle who emerged victorious with a final nod of €90,000. Doyle was accompanied by Tim and Tom Palin and Mike Prince of Middleham Park Racing and the syndicate managers revealed the colt would be trained by Richard Hannon, who also has charge of another high class son of the stallion in Threat (Ire). “He was our pick of the colts this week,” said Tim Palin. “He was the first horse we vetted on Monday and we went to see him three times and every time there was a queue of people there to pull him out. He is a strong, well-developed horse and is a half-brother to a three-time winner rated 95 who is still progressing so there was plenty to like.” The Doyles and Middleham Park had earlier combined to land lot 348 from Jonathan Fogarty’s Gaynestown Stud for €62,000. The son of Equiano (Fr) represented a good pinhook for connections having been bought as a foal by Peter & Ross Doyle Bloodstock at Tattersalls last year for 16,000gns. Sea The Stars Filly Goes to O’Neill It was no surprise to see French based Irish trainer Eoghan O’Neill enter the bidding fray for lot 297, the Sea The Stars (Ire) filly offered by Kilcarn Park. Not only did O’Neill train the dam Holy Spring (Ire) (Dylan Thomas {Ire}), but also several other family members including Holy Spring’s stakes winning half-sister Nans Joy (Ire) (In The Wings {GB}). O’Neill has also bought stakes winners at this sale in the past. After signing the docket at €70,000 he said, “I trained her mother Holy Spring and she was very quick for one by Dylan Thomas. She was very talented and twice finished second at listed level. I also trained the listed winner Nans Joy and another filly called Kenouska (Fr) (Kendargent {Fr}). This filly is very like her mother and is by a top stallion in Sea The Stars.” McConnell Acquires Kodiac Miss Local trainer John McConnell is enjoying another fruitful season with his dual-purpose string and he added a smart filly to his stable in the shape of lot 320. McConnell was pushed to €65,000 to acquire the Kodiac (GB) full-sister to G3 Chipchase S. winner Koropick (Ire) but he was determined to do so. “I was under-bidder on Koropick and I trained another half-brother [four-time winner Phebes Wish (Ire)], so I was keen not be denied,” he said. “She is a typical Kodiac, not over big, but strong and she has residual value as well. She comes from a good source in Knockatrina House and she is for an existing owner in the yard.” O’Ryan Just “Dandy” Bobby O’Ryan was another buyer who was keen to go back to the family well when giving €65,000 for a Camacho (GB) colt from Baroda Stud. O’Ryan had bought a 2-year-old half-sister to lot 447 earlier in the year and subsequently named Auckland Lodge (Ire) (Dandy Man {Ire}), she has won three times this year for Yorkshire trainer Ben Haslam. “He’s a lovely horse,” said O’Ryan. “I bought his half-sister at the breeze-up sales and she has won three now. She is trained by Ben Haslam and this colt is heading there too. He looks a real 2-year-old type.” The pair are the first two progeny out of the unraced mare Proud Maria (Ire) (Medicean {GB}) and were bred by Richie Galway. The single session Part II of the sale commences on Thursday at 10 a.m. The post No Nay Never Colt Stars at Tattersalls Ireland appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Champion grass mare Possibly Perfect (Northern Baby– Avasand, by Avatar) passed away Tuesday at age 29 due to the infirmities of old age, reported Jackie Ramos of Ashleigh Stud, where the mare was born, raised and retired. Kicking off her career in France, the Mr. & Mrs. Robert Witt homebred was sent Stateside in 1993 and placed in the care of Bobby Frankel. The bay proved a force to be reckoned with in America, winning the 1993 GI Yellow Ribbon S., the 1994 GI Santa Ana H. and GI Santa Barbara H, and the 1995 GI Gamely H., GI Ramona H. and GI Beverly D S. Possibly Perfect took home the Eclipse Award at the end of that 1995 season, which was also the end of her career. Possibly Perfect is the dam of nine foals with four winners from eight to race. Her best progeny on the racetrack was her first foal Promontory Gold (Gone West), who won Belmont’s GIII Hill Prince S. in 2000. She had a few sales ring successes with her second foal Dubai Status (Seeking the Gold) summoning $700,000 as a yearling at the 2000 Keeneland July Sale; and her third foal Perfect World (Gone West); selling for $650,000 in foal to Giant’s Causeway at the 2005 Keeneland November Sale. The post Champion Possibly Perfect Passes Away appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

The start of the Keeneland November Breeding Stock Sale has been pushed back one day to Wednesday, Nov. 6, officials at the Lexington auction house announced Sept. 25. The move will, according to a release, allow buyers more time to travel to Kentucky from the Breeders’ Cup World Championships Nov. 1 and 2 at Santa Anita. The November sale runs through Sunday, Nov. 17. “In keeping with Keeneland’s mission, we continually strive to do things that better the entire industry,” Keeneland President and CEO Bill Thomason said. “We listen to our customers and we respond; that’s what Keeneland does. We adjusted the September Sale format based on feedback from horsemen and produced the fifth-highest gross in that sale’s history. This change to the November Sale start date and our continued focus on quality guest experiences and hospitality are further evidence of how much we value our partnerships with owners, consignors and buyers, and respond to their needs.” He continued, “We recognize the importance of being flexible With two marquee industry events within days of each other, this allows our customers to enjoy both the Breeders’ Cup and the Keeneland November Sale to their fullest. We are excited to continue the energy and positive momentum from the September Sale and upcoming Fall Meet into Breeders’ Cup and the November Sale.” Added Breeders’ Cup President and CEO Craig Fravel: “I would like to take this opportunity to thank Keeneland for its continued leadership in support of the Breeders’ Cup World Championships. Their recognition of the needs of our customers, who are also their customers, and a willingness to make a significant change to one of the most important events on the worldwide commercial auction landscape is laudable and appreciated.” Immediately following the final session of the November Sale on Sunday, Nov. 17, Keeneland will host a champagne reception followed by the seventh annual Sporting Art Auction in partnership with Cross Gate Gallery. The post Keeneland Pushes Back Start of November Breeding Stock Sale appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Fasig-Tipton will present a catalogue of 1,589 yearlings during its four-day Kentucky October Yearling Sale, to be held Oct. 21 through Oct. 24 in Lexington. Each session will begin at 10:00 a.m. The catalogue can be viewed online or via the Equineline app now. Print catalogues will be available on Oct. 9. “Kentucky October continues to grow in all facets–size, overall quality, and popularity among both buyers and sellers,” said Fasig-Tipton President Boyd Browning. “The sire power in this year’s catalogue is particularly impressive.” Browning added, “Sale graduates have globally accrued more than 400 stakes wins or placings since 2018. It’s rare that one goes through daily race results and not come across a quality performance by one of our Kentucky October grads.” The post Fasig-Tipton Catalogues 1589 for October Yearling Sale appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

The New Jersey Thoroughbred Horsemen’s Association (NJTHA) won a legal victory in a 5-year-old court case Tuesday when a panel of three federal judges ruled 2-1 that the group, which operates Monmouth Park, is entitled to collect damages from pro sports leagues that tried to block the track’s initial attempts at getting sports betting up and running. According to the Sept. 24 opinion issued by the United States Court of Appeals (Third Circuit), when the four major U.S. pro sports leagues and one college sports regulatory body (NFL, MLB, NBA, NHL and NCAA) filed a lawsuit and got a temporary restraining order (TRO) in 2014 to keep Monmouth from taking sports bets, those leagues had to post a $3.4 million bond as security in the event that they lost the case. The leagues’ primary argument, at the time, centered on the plank that Monmouth (and the State of New Jersey) were violating a federal law known as the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act (PASPA). But as that lawsuit crawled through the legal system, in May 2018 the U.S. Supreme Court struck down PASPA, which had prohibited betting in all but a few grandfathered states. As a result, last summer Monmouth became the first of numerous entities nationwide to start taking legal sports bets. But the 2014 lawsuit continued, and the NJTHA went after the leagues to collect on the bond as damages. The NJTHA contended that the 2014 TRO had been secured “in bad faith” and had the potential to put Monmouth out of business. In the NJTHA’s opinion, the leagues should be liable for much more than the initial $3.4 million of the bond–as much as $150 million in damages–because of allegedly lost business. Initially, that claim was denied by a federal judge. The NJTHA appealed, and in Tuesday’s ruling, the Third Circuit panel found that because Monmouth had been unlawfully subjected to the TRO for 28 days, that it was “wrongfully enjoined,” which the ruling defined as when a party “had a right all along to do what is was enjoined from doing.” The court’s majority opinion states that “Here, PASPA provided the only basis for enjoining NJTHA from conducting sports gambling, and the Supreme Court ultimately held that that law is unconstitutional. Therefore, NJTHA had a right to conduct sports gambling all along. We conclude that NJTHA was wrongfully enjoined and should be able to call on the bond.” The case isn’t over yet. Now the issue will center on how much money the NJTHA may or may not go after beyond the original $3.4-million bond amount. The horsemen will likely argue, as they have in the past, that they are entitled to far more in damages. Dennis Drazin, the chairman and chief executive of Darby Development LLC, which operates Monmouth Park, told the Asbury Park Press that the ruling “is what we were looking for. Not only to state our case, but it says we are entitled to damages. “The circuit court did not address the numbers in excess of the bond, because they didn’t feel that was in front of them,” Drazin continued. “The horsemen will collect some money…. We still have to prove what our actual damages were, so that would require us to show that had we been able to conduct sports betting what the revenues would have been.” The post NJ Horsemen Win Right to Collect Sports Betting Damages appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Kakadu (Tizway) was remarkably unremarkable until January 3, 2017, when she made headlines in the Thoroughbred world. Early that morning, she produced the first reported foal by American Pharoah. The colt is appropriately named First Pharoah and has not yet started. With her accomplishment and rich bloodlines, Kakadu seemed like a natural broodmare but because of subsequent reproductive problems that was not to be her calling. Owner-breeder Oussama Aboughazale (of International Equities Holdings and Sumaya U.S. Stable) opted to channel her youthful beauty in another direction. The 6-year-old mare found her true destiny in the show ring at the New Vocations All-Thoroughbred Charity Horse Show Sept. 6-8 at the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington. She was eighth of 46 in a special hunter division judged on jumping form and collected ribbons in other categories. Kakadu’s transition from pampered broodmare to specialized pleasure mount was seamless according to Brooke Schafer, who handles the ground work while Taylor Wienold does the riding. “When we restarted her, we decided to treat her like any young, unbroken horse by going very slowly and starting from scratch,” Schafer said. “We started by lunging her and to our surprise, she lunged beautifully–even better than some seasoned horses.” The women decided within a few minutes to bridle her and Kakadu eagerly opened her mouth for the bit. The saddle followed and Wienold soon was in the tack cantering quietly around. “She seemed very willing about the prospect of a new job,” Schafer said. “She has been nothing but a pleasure since the very first day.” Wienold fine-tuned the confident and willing mare to follow the rider’s leg commands and to balance herself for the show ring. Kakadu thrives on the horse show’s activity and the attention she receives. “She has been unfazed by each new place and is always open to new questions and challenges,” Schafer said. “She has no vices and is happy inside the stall or outside.” Kakadu first came to Wienold’s and Schafer’s attention via a friend who had been contacted by her owner. Schafer liked her photo so she sent her expert-eyed mother to see her in the flesh at a Central Kentucky farm this past spring. Her mother deemed Kakadu worthy and the next day she was shipped to Schafer and Wienold in Lexington. Kakadu is out of the unplaced A.P. Indy mare Alpha Spirit, who also produced multiple graded stakes winner and near-millionaire Protonico (Giant’s Causeway). Their second dam is Wild Spirit (Chi) (Hussonet), a Grade I winner in North America and Horse of the Year in her native Chile. Kakadu was a lackluster ninth at Gulfstream Park West as a 2-year-old in her lone career start. Despite her shortcomings on track and in the broodmare band, Kakadu stands as a sterling example of repurposing any Thoroughbred mare for other endeavors. “I have found that many former broodmares enjoy having a job so I don’t think anyone should rule them out,” Wienold said. “The trick is to take everything one step at a time and stay in tune to how they handle what is asked of them. Every horse is unique with a different personality. Some will take more time than others.” The post Unique Broodmare Transitions to Show Horse World appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Verrazano (More Than Ready–Enchanted Rock, by Giant’s Causeway), whose daughter Seek and Destroy provided him with his first graded stakes winner in this year’s GIII Soaring Softly S., has been acquired by a Brazilian-based syndicate and will continue his stud career at Haras Old Friends in the region of Bage, Rio Grande do Sul. The syndicate includes the same group of breeders responsible for bringing New Year’s Day (Street Cry {Ire}) to the country, only to sell him to Japan after three months. The deal was brokered by Priscilla Beloch of Prospect Agency. Trained by Todd Pletcher for Let’s Go Stables and Coolmore, Verrazano earned ‘TDN Rising Star’ status at first asking, graduating by nearly eight lengths and went on to win four graded races at three, including the GI William Hill Haskell Invitational S. by 9 3/4 lengths in addition to the GI Wood Memorial S. Kept in training at four and campaigned in Europe under the care of Aidan O’Brien, he was third in the G1 Lockinge S. and second–one spot ahead of future GI Breeders’ Cup Mile runner-up Anodin (Ire) (Anabaa)–in the G1 Queen Anne S. at Royal Ascot before suffering a career-ending injury in the G1 Coral-Eclipse S. Retired to Ashford Stud in Kentucky, Verrazano has sired four black-type winners in total and currently sits in fourth position on the list of second-crop sires, according to ‘TDN Sire Lists.’ He stood for a $15,000 fee in 2019. Verrazano is the complete package: a great physical by a sire who is proven in the Southern Hemisphere not only as one of the best ever, but as a sire of sires, with a huge female family and probably the best race record of a stallion exported from the USA to ever stand in Brazil,” Beloch said. “On top of all of that, his progeny can really run on the turf, the surface were most of the graded stakes races in Brazil are run. He is being very well received and will cover the best mares in the country, so the future looks good for Verrazano there.” Bred in Kentucky by Emory Hamilton, Verrazano is a maternal grandson of GISW Chic Shirine (Mr. Prospector) and his female family includes other top-level winners such as Serra Lake (Seattle Slew), Somali Lemonade (Lemon Drop Kid) and champion Queena (Mr. Prospector), herself the dam of GISW Brahms (Danzig). Verrazano’s paternal grandsire, Southern Halo, was a South American sire legend, having accounted for no fewer than 155 black-type winners and 119 group winners in Argentina and Brazil. More Than Ready is closing in on 200 black-type winners worldwide. The post Verrazano Sold to Stand in Brazil appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Lessons Learned from Australia Racing Prove when a Gambling Pie Grows, It Can Benefit Everyone Back in 2008, Australia began opening up their betting markets. In particular, corporate bookmakers and exchanges were allowed to flourish, offering racing and sports betting customers myriad choice. As we’ve often noticed in horse racing when presented with something new, in 2010, the sport down under was in full protection mode. They fought the changes in court, predicting “the total destruction of the racing industry as we know it,” and “all 50,000 participants in the sport will lose.” A decade later, the results are in, and that has not happened. Since 2010, according to the “Australia Racing Fact Book,” purses increased from $430M to $651M (all figures Australian dollars). The lower end of the business–many times the first to feel the pinch, like it has here in North America–has not suffered. Horses earning between $10,000 and $100,000 numbered 9,001 in 2010; 11,877 in 2018. Meanwhile, in betting dollars, where purses are derived, we’ve seen some eye-opening numbers, because when supply changes, demand shifts. TAB Retail–the old tote system–has seen the predicted drops, with total wagering cut in half, from about $6B in 2010 to $3B last year. However, with new competition the tote had to modernize and offer fixed-odds wagering. This new medium via the tote grew from $581M to $4.4B between 2010 and 2018. Total tote wagering was about even between the two time periods. The tangible top-line growth happened via the bookmakers and exchanges that were licensed to operate. These entities saw wagering grow from $4.2B in 2010 to a record $9.6B in 2018. The exchange and bookmaker influence on the growth of sports betting was similarly impressive. Sports wagering almost quadrupled from just short of $3B to $11.2B between the two time periods. While all this was going on, total wagering on Thoroughbred racing was up from $14.5B to $19.6B, an increase of 35%. Overall gambling turnover hit $35B in 2018, an increase of 57% over 2010. Yes, despite dire warnings, allowing new skill-game gambling games and new modern mediums grew the entire pie for everyone, and created a bigger, more vibrant gambling ecosystem. Here across the pond we’ve had a similar shock with the legalization of sports betting, and even in its infancy it has shown explosive growth. In New Jersey alone, monthly handle numbers are now outpacing Nevada, something few ever predicted. The major difference between Australia and the U.S., however, is sports betting and racing offerings are not linked. New Jersey’s betting exchange has seen modest volumes, and takeout at 12% is nowhere near what a younger, price-sensitive punter betting on Australian horse racing would receive. Earlier this year, a DraftKings sportsbook posted Kentucky Derby futures odds, only to quickly take them down, reportedly at the behest of Churchill Downs. Surely, if this report was accurate, the ask was not untoward–it is Churchill’s product, after all. But in Australia a Cox Plate is offered out like an IHOP offers syrup; the difference is seismic. I think everyone can agree: we want sportsbooks and online-wagering giants like DraftKings and FanDuel with billions of dollars on customer account to be offering some form of fixed-odds wagering on our sport. We want tech-savvy customers to exploit exchanges in Jersey and elsewhere, playing the great sport of horse racing just like they have down under. We’re a long way off from that ideal outcome. What, in my view, should horse racing do? I believe the sport needs to stop worrying about that cannibalization of wagering and look more toward top-line growth, as we’ve seen in the Australia experience. Make a plan, embrace its principles and test out these new mediums. It just might grow the entire sport. Dean Towers is a bettor, horse owner and marketer. He’s presented at various gambling conferences across North America since 2008. The post The Changing U.S. Betting Landscape Can Deliver Both Higher Handle & Purses appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Phoenix Thoroughbreds went to $750,000 to secure IRREPRESSIBLE (Into Mischief) after the filly breezed a quarter-mile in :21 1/5 at OBS April, and she opens her career Thursday evening at Churchill. Trained by Steve Asmussen, the bay shows four consecutive five-furlong breezes at Saratoga, most recently going in 1:02 1/5 (13/15) over the Oklahoma dirt Sept. 15. Also set to open her account is Hoffman Family Racing and Steve Landry’s Wicked Smart (Wicked Strong), who became easily the most expensive progeny of her sire to sell at auction when hammering for $425,000 at OBS March after a :9 4/5 furlong breeze. The Tom Amoss pupil totes a smattering of quick works, finished off with a local half-mile spin in :47 2/5 (3/64) Sept. 20. Rigney Racing’s Purrfectly Claire (Munnings) warrants a look as well. Out of a full-sister to GISW Unrivaled Belle (Unbridled’s Song), the $250,000 Keeneland September grad tuned up for this unveiling with a swift five-furlong breeze in :59 3/5 (2/44) here Sept. 20. TJCIS PPs The post Sept. 26 Insights: Pricey Into Mischief Filly Debuts at Churchill appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Two veteran stallion sons of the iron horse Giant’s Causeway have been enjoying outstanding seasons in 2019. The brilliant Pinatubo, rated 134p by Timeform, goes straight to the top of Shamardal‘s list of top runners by Timeform, displacing dual Royal Ascot scorer Blue Point, rated 131 after his rare King’s Stand–Diamond Jubilee double. Another Shamardal juvenile–the Andre Fabre-trained Earthlight–also has every opportunity to break into Shamardal’s top ten Timeform horses. Like Pinatubo, he’s undefeated and also has a Group 1 success, the Prix Morny, to his name. Then there’s Victor Ludorum, another unbeaten Shamardal, heading to the G1 Prix Jean Luc Lagardere. So three Group 1-winning 2-year-olds in a year for Shamardal looks a distinct possibility. And siring three Group 1-winning youngsters in the same year is no mean feat. Only three European stallions–Sadler’s Wells, Galileo and Danehill–have ever had seasons with as many as three Group 1 winners. The brilliant Galileo has sired three Group 1-winning juveniles on no fewer than four occasions, including from the golden crops of 2012, 2013 and 2014. Moreover, his own sire Sadler’s Wells holds the world record with his grand total five individual Group 1 winners in 2001. It has also been a stellar year for Giant’s Causeway’s other son Footstepsinthesand, an unbeaten winner of the G1 2000 Guineas in an injury-shortened career. Like Shamardal, Footstepsinthesand has–if the latest Timeform figures hold true–sired his best-ever runner in Mums Tipple. Rated 124, Mums Tipple has no black-type whatsoever, but he could easily put that right in the G1 Middle Park S., where he could take on his sire’s second-best ever 2-year-old in Threat, winner of the G2 Gimcrack and G2 Champagne. The post On The Shoulders of Giant’s appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Dual G1 Qatar Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe heroine Enable (GB) (Nathaniel {Ire}) turned in a strong piece of work over the Rowley Mile at Newmarket on Wednesday. The TDN was on hand for the Juddmonte colourbearer’s outing at HQ, as she prepares for an historic third Arc bid. See Emma Berry’s piece for the full details. Her regular pilot, Italian reinsman Frankie Dettori, was at the controls. {"id":3,"instanceName":"Articles No Playlist","videos":[{"videoType":"HTML5","title":"Enable Works for Arc","description":"","info":"","thumbImg":"","mp4":"https://player.vimeo.com/external/362344953.sd.mp4?s=ac1751f6fcba0cb20b79f91b9a18f89a5a06d150&profile_id=165","enable_mp4_download":"no","prerollAD":"yes","prerollGotoLink":"prerollGotoLink","preroll_mp4_title":"preroll_mp4_title","preroll_mp4":"https://player.vimeo.com/external/359551069.sd.mp4?s=de7d86c51996ea08837988633de7b63b203d9593&profile_id=165","prerollSkipTimer":"5","midrollAD":"no","midrollAD_displayTime":"midrollAD_displayTime","midrollGotoLink":"midrollGotoLink","midroll_mp4":"midroll_mp4","midrollSkipTimer":"midrollSkipTimer","postrollAD":"no","postrollGotoLink":"postrollGotoLink","postroll_mp4":"postroll_mp4","postrollSkipTimer":"postrollSkipTimer","popupAdShow":"no","popupImg":"popupImg","popupAdStartTime":"popupAdStartTime","popupAdEndTime":"popupAdEndTime","popupAdGoToLink":"popupAdGoToLink"}],"instanceTheme":"light","playerLayout":"fitToContainer","videoPlayerWidth":720,"videoPlayerHeight":405,"videoRatio":1.7777777777778,"videoRatioStretch":true,"videoPlayerShadow":"effect1","colorAccent":"#000000","posterImg":"","posterImgOnVideoFinish":"","logoShow":"No","logoPath":"","logoPosition":"bottom-right","logoClickable":"No","logoGoToLink":"","allowSkipAd":true,"advertisementTitle":"Ad","skipAdvertisementText":"Skip Ad","skipAdText":"You can skip this ad in","playBtnTooltipTxt":"Play","pauseBtnTooltipTxt":"Pause","rewindBtnTooltipTxt":"Rewind","downloadVideoBtnTooltipTxt":"Download video","qualityBtnOpenedTooltipTxt":"Close settings","qualityBtnClosedTooltipTxt":"Settings","muteBtnTooltipTxt":"Mute","unmuteBtnTooltipTxt":"Unmute","fullscreenBtnTooltipTxt":"Fullscreen","exitFullscreenBtnTooltipTxt":"Exit fullscreen","infoBtnTooltipTxt":"Show info","embedBtnTooltipTxt":"Embed","shareBtnTooltipTxt":"Share","volumeTooltipTxt":"Volume","playlistBtnClosedTooltipTxt":"Show playlist","playlistBtnOpenedTooltipTxt":"Hide playlist","facebookBtnTooltipTxt":"Share on Facebook","twitterBtnTooltipTxt":"Share on Twitter","googlePlusBtnTooltipTxt":"Share on Google+","lastBtnTooltipTxt":"Go to last video","firstBtnTooltipTxt":"Go to first video","nextBtnTooltipTxt":"Play next video","previousBtnTooltipTxt":"Play previous video","shuffleBtnOnTooltipTxt":"Shuffle on","shuffleBtnOffTooltipTxt":"Shuffle off","nowPlayingTooltipTxt":"NOW PLAYING","embedWindowTitle1":"SHARE THIS PLAYER:","embedWindowTitle2":"EMBED THIS VIDEO IN YOUR SITE:","embedWindowTitle3":"SHARE LINK TO THIS PLAYER:","lightBox":false,"lightBoxAutoplay":false,"lightBoxThumbnail":"","lightBoxThumbnailWidth":400,"lightBoxThumbnailHeight":220,"lightBoxCloseOnOutsideClick":true,"onFinish":"Play next video","autoplay":false,"loadRandomVideoOnStart":"No","shuffle":"No","playlist":"Off","playlistBehaviourOnPageload":"opened (default)","playlistScrollType":"light","preloadSelfHosted":"none","hideVideoSource":true,"showAllControls":true,"rightClickMenu":true,"autohideControls":2,"hideControlsOnMouseOut":"No","nowPlayingText":"Yes","infoShow":"No","shareShow":"No","facebookShow":"No","twitterShow":"No","mailShow":"No","facebookShareName":"","facebookShareLink":"","facebookShareDescription":"","facebookSharePicture":"","twitterText":"","twitterLink":"","twitterHashtags":"","twitterVia":"","googlePlus":"","embedShow":"No","embedCodeSrc":"","embedCodeW":720,"embedCodeH":405,"embedShareLink":"","youtubeControls":"custom controls","youtubeSkin":"dark","youtubeColor":"red","youtubeQuality":"default","youtubeShowRelatedVideos":"Yes","vimeoColor":"00adef","showGlobalPrerollAds":false,"globalPrerollAds":"url1;url2;url3;url4;url5","globalPrerollAdsSkipTimer":5,"globalPrerollAdsGotoLink":"","videoType":"HTML5 (self-hosted)","submit":"Save Changes","rootFolder":"http:\/\/wp.tdn.pmadv.com\/wp-content\/plugins\/Elite-video-player\/"} The post Enable Works Over the Rowley Mile on Wednesday appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

The inaugural Fasig-Tipton California Fall Yearlings Sale will be held Thursday at Fairplex in Pomona, with bidding on the first of 285 catalogued yearlings scheduled to begin at 12 p.m. PT. The Fairplex sales grounds, which last saw auction action with the CTBA sale in January, was crowded with shoppers Wednesday morning. “It’s been a ridiculous amount of traffic,” said Adrian Gonzalez of Checkmate Thoroughbreds. “We were swamped Tuesday and they are already hitting us pretty hard this morning. It’s super, super encouraging seeing the turnout so far and we still have a whole other day to go.” With training hours still underway on the West Coast, Gonzalez said, “Mostly we’ve been showing to pinhookers. We haven’t seen very many California guys here yet, so it’s been mostly out-of-towners doing all-shows here so far.” Fasig-Tipton conducted its first Santa Anita 2-Year-Olds in Training Sale in June and the catalogue included a very limited number of Florida-based consignors. With a strong group of pinhookers shopping ahead of the yearlings sale, Gonzalez is hoping some might return as sellers next spring. “I kind of have that feeling, that they might be looking for something to bring back to the training sale here,” he agreed. Between the activity at the barns and the strength of the catalogue, Gonzalez is looking for a strong sale Thursday. “Personally, I brought some horses that I really, really like, so I am hoping that it will be pretty strong,” Gonzalez said. “I’ve looked through the catalogue and it seems like there are quite a few very well-bred horses through different consignors’ barns. So I am hoping they brought some really nice stock as well. If it’s a strong sale, that should rise all tides.” While California-based sires are well-represented, there are also a large number of Kentucky-based sires with yearlings in the catalogue and many of those yearlings by Kentucky sires are California-breds. The success of Thursday’s sale could go a long way towards determining the direction the state’s breeding industry goes in the future, according to Gonzalez. “I think what you can see in this catalogue is a lot of Kentucky-sired Cal-breds that came here as a result of a few new stallions standing in California a couple of years ago,” Gonzalez said. “People bought mares in Kentucky or had mares back there that they purposefully brought to California to breed to some of these new horses. So what you’re seeing is the result of a couple of stallions who drew these mares here and now you’re seeing a little bit better yearling crop. So I am hopeful that, if those breeders are rewarded with these yearlings, then they will continue to bring their good mares here. Because almost every farm I know out here has a string of mares that resides in Kentucky as well as here. And they swap them back and forth to make these Kentucky-sired Cal-breds. But if nobody gets paid for them–I don’t want to be negative–but they won’t do it again if these don’t sell well. That part of the program has made this catalogue strong and I hope it continues.” For years, Fairplex was the regular home of the now-defunct Barretts, which held its final auction in Pomona last October. The California Thoroughbred Breeders Association hosted a stop-gap sale on the grounds in January and Gonzalez said he was happy to be back. “There is not a better sales barns in the country than this venue,” he said. “I love being here. These barns are amazing. The horses show great here. There is plenty of room to see everything. For ease on the horses and my crew and the buyers, this a lovely place to be. Of any place that I’ve sold, this facility is the best.” It has been a quick turnaround for the Checkmate team, which was active throughout the 13-day Keeneland September sale that concluded Sunday in Lexington. “It’s a little rough on all of us,” Gonzalez said with a chuckle. “We literally had one travel day in between to repack and get to a new sale. My crew all works in Kentucky at those sales and we got here on fumes. But we’re sales prepped, so we are ready for this. As far as the calendar date, we knew what it was going to be, so our horses are ready. It’s just, for us humans, we’re just a little fried at the moment. But a good sale will help ease that pain.” The post Fasig-Tipton Returns Bidding to Fairplex Thursday appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

A pair of teenagers guided their retired racehorses to win the 2019 TAKE2 High-Score Junior Rider Awards. Alyssa Paulette of Virginia accrued 593 points aboard Always Drama in the TAKE2 jumper division and MacKenna Bochnak of Illinois topped the TAKE2 hunter division with 100 points on Heart of Gold. “We are proud to support TAKE2 in their efforts to encourage sport horse owners to consider a Thoroughbred as their next mount,” said Erin Crady, executive director of TCA. “Thoroughbreds are incredibly versatile and can go on to a multitude of different disciplines after the track. The High-Score Junior Rider Award highlights some of the success that Thoroughbreds can find once their racing days are over. We congratulate Alyssa and MacKenna on their hard work and outstanding accomplishments.” The post Junior Riders Win TAKE2 Awards appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Delaware Park and the Delaware Thoroughbred Horsemen’s Association have joined forces with CANTER-Delaware (CDE) and Mid-Atlantic Horse Rescue (MAHR) for the annual “End of Meet Showcase,” held at Delaware Park Oct. 13. Approximately 25 to 40 horses will be available for purchase and their trainers will be on hand to answer questions. “Thanks to Delaware Park, DTHA, CANTER, and MAHR, the annual “Delaware Park Showcase” has been very successful and we want to continue to provide a venue that brings together thoroughbreds and the horsemen and women who love them,” said Lauren Gassaway, CANTER Delaware Executive Director, “We have built great relationships with the horsemen and women at this track and look forward to highlighting their horses that are ready for second careers.” Bev Strauss of MAHR added, “Again, this event is a great opportunity for local shoppers to find their next sport horse. Because of their athleticism Thoroughbreds have become very popular mounts. They are extremely versatile and perform successfully across the board whether it’s dressage, jumping, eventing or pleasure riding.” The post Delaware Park to Showcase Retired Racehorses appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

It was business as usual at Happy Valley on Wednesday night – with no protesters or controversial political figures in sight – and one horse delighted to strut his stuff at the venue was the John Moore-trained Helene Charisma.While last week’s meeting was cancelled because of safety concerns surrounding the running of polarising pro-establishment lawmaker Junius Ho Kwan-yiu’s horse Hong Kong Bet and the threat of protesters, just seven days later is was like nothing had happened.Normal service… View the full article

NEWMARKET, UK—Despite being bred and trained in Newmarket, Enable (GB) (Nathaniel {Ire}) has never raced in her home town but she set foot on the Rowley Mile on Wednesday for a crucial piece of fast work ahead of her bid for an historic third victory in the Qatar Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe. A prolonged dry spell in East Anglia has rendered the town’s extensive network of turf gallops too firm for galloping, and while Enable does much of her work on the all-weather surface of the Al Bahathri gallop close to her home at Clarehaven, John Gosden felt an away trip, albeit only to the other side of town, would be to the mare’s benefit. “This was just what we wanted,” he said after Enable had completed her exercise with Frankie Dettori alongside her stablemate Crosssed Baton (GB) (Dansili {GB}), ridden by Rab Havlin. “We went back to the mile and we were very pleased with the work, she built it up nicely. I wanted her just to stay with her lead horse—we’re not here to see if she could go eight lengths clear or anything like that—but I’m very pleased, and she’s had a good healthy blow. It went to plan which doesn’t always happen with work mornings.” Accompanied by son and assistant trainer Thady, as well as Juddmonte’s racing manager Lord Grimthorpe, Gosden continued, “I walked the Limekilns [gallops] yesterday and they’ve been very dry for seven or eight weeks, so it was perfect to be able to come here. It is watered ground and we had seven or eight millimetres of rain yesterday so it is perfect—it’s good ground, perfect racing ground.” Enable appeared unfazed by the fairly large media throng which accompanied her appearance at the racecourse, going about her exercise in her usual unflappable manner, ears pricked and attentive throughout. She came alive once asked to step up a gear, however, taking a hold with Dettori as she cantered down the track before galloping back towards the stands. Her trainer added, “She enjoys herself, she pulled Frankie all the way down to the Rubbing House and then she worked just how we wanted on the way back.” Assessing the likely competition for Enable at ParisLongchamp on Sunday week, Gosden said, “We have the best 3-year olds in the form of Sottsass (Fr), who is the best 3-year old in France, and Japan (GB), who is looking like the best 3-year old colt right now, so she has those two to contend with, who she will give weigh to. Then in France there is also Waldgeist (GB), and if the ground remains like it is at the moment he will run a huge race. Andre [Fabre] tells me he’s training better than ever as a 5-year-old and he is taking the work well, and he won his trial well. And of course from here we have from the best older horse Ghaiyyath (Ire), who came right back to his top form in the Grosser Preis Von Baden when he destroyed the field, and there’s every reason to think that he’s found his way again now having lost it in the spring. He’s a mighty rival, so I think it’s a race of great depth. It looks a very good Arc. She’ll have to be in top form to win it, but you have to be to win a race like that.” The post Enable Pleases Gosden As History Beckons appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

I love Golden Slipper Day in Sydney and I love Derby Day in Melbourne. Although the former is in Autumn and the latter is in Spring, they’re two key days every jockey has their eye on. View the full article

The spring carnival is heating up with Group 1 racing on show all weekend across Melbourne and Sydney. View the full article

Which five horses are punters.com.au picking as perfect for SuperCoach Racing? View the full article

The Daily Telegraph racing editor Ray Thomas has been doing his form — his Supercoach Racing stable form that is. View the full article

Three months after the troubled winter/spring meet at Santa Anita Park concluded, marked by 30 equine fatalities from racing or training, Santa Anita reopens Sept. 27 for its 23-day autumn season with scrutinizing eyes upon it. View the full article

Claiborne Farm and Adele Dilschneider's 5-year-old homebred mare Elate has jumped into the Top 10 in the latest poll of the Breeders' Cup Classic Rankings, while Mike Pegram, Karl Watson, and Paul Weitman's 4-year-old McKinzie remains in first place. View the full article

Updates on Stewards' follow-ups to Friday and Sunday meetings View the full article

New names always emerge every spring racing carnival. View the full article