Wandering Eyes

NEWMARKET, UK—The Rowley Mile’s autumn racing programme and the October Sales at Tattersalls have long been a draw for industry professionals and racegoers from all over the world to Newmarket. For the first time, the two key events in the town during late September and October have been officially linked to form the Newmarket Gold Season. The two weeks of Britain’s flagship yearling sale, which starts on Oct. 8, routinely sees ferocious trade at Tattersalls’ Park Paddocks, with more than 160 million gns having changed hands throughout the fortnight last year. The extra visitors in Newmarket for the sale, and for the top-class racing on offer, are estimated to deliver more than £40 million to the local economy through that month alone. “For the team and for me, it’s not just about racecourses, it’s about the whole town—we are team Newmarket,” said Amy Starkey, Regional Director for Jockey Cub Racecourses’ East Region, at a launch for the Gold Season on Tuesday. The four consecutive weekends of racing at the Rowley Mile begin this Saturday, coinciding with the Henry Cecil Open Weekend and featuring the Cesarewitch Trial. This is followed by the Cambridgeshire Meeting from Sept. 26 to 28, Sun Chariot Day on Oct. 5, with the action culminating in the Dubai Future Champions Festival on Oct. 11 and 12. During what will now be known as the Gold Season, a total of 21 Pattern races will be staged, including five Group 1 contests, with a total of £4.2 million in prize-money on offer. “If I look back on some of the prouder moments at Newmarket, the 350 campaign celebrating 350 years of racing here was fantastic but it was a one-year campaign,” Starkey added. “The amazing thing with the Newmarket Gold Season is that we can continue to develop the stories and the resonance for many years to come. This year is about embedding the concept.” Referring to the loss of the G1 Champion S. to Ascot in 2011 and a regular reshuffling of the autumn stakes races in the years that followed, she said, “After years of having an unsettled racing programme, we can now stand here and say that we are proud of our racing programme.” Starkey was joined at the press conference by champion trainer John Gosden, who has sent out 13 Group 1 winners already this season and last year landed the G1 Darley Dewhurst S. with Too Darn Hot (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) just days after his full-brother had sold for a sale-topping 3.5 million gns to Qatar Racing at Tattersalls. Now named Darain, that colt is also with Gosden, who trained his dam Dar Re Mi (GB) (Singspiel {Ire}) to three Group 1 wins. “He’s very much shown me that he’s more like his mother and will develop more as a 3-year-old, whereas Too Darn Hot just wanted to get on with things,” said the trainer. “But he’s going very nicely and he should make his debut in mid-October.” Gosden also issued an update on stable star Enable (GB) (Nathaniel {Ire}) as she heads towards her attempt at an historic third victory in the G1 Qatar Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe. He said, “I’m very pleased with her. She cantered this morning and she enjoys her training. She makes it easy on her trainer because she is willing and positive, but these preparations are never easy because you’re always watching out for any little problem but so far we are happy with her. The key thing is to keep it as natural as possible.” While his fellow trainers may run scared of Enable, Gosden admitted that the horse he fears is Godolphin’s Pinatubo (Ire) (Shamardal) ahead of a possible Dewhurst tilt for his smart debut winner Palace Pier (GB) (Kingman {GB}), who runs today (Wednesday) at Sandown. He added, “It was very impressive the way Palace Pier won the other day but if Pinatubo turns up in the Dewhurst he will terrify people, so we may head across the Channel [for the Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere] as long as they don’t lock us out.” Taking place during the weeks either side of the Dubai Future Champions Festival is the October Sale, with 2,084 yearlings catalogued to sell during throughout nine days of trade. “For seven consecutive years the highest-priced yearling in the world has come from Book 1 and this year it features 59 full- or half-siblings to Classic or Group 1 winners,” said Tatttersalls’ Marketing Director Jimmy George at the launch. While last year’s top lot is waiting in the wings to make his debut, the colt who ran him a close second was one of the stars of Irish Champions Weekend, the G2 KPMG Champions Juvenile S. winner Mogul (GB) (Galileo {Ire}). A 3.4 million-guinea yearling, he is a brother to dual Group 1 winner Japan (GB), who was sold from Book 1 for 1.3 million gns the previous year. Mogul has two entries during the Gold Season, in the G2 Juddmonte Royal Lodge S. and the Dewhurst. George added, “A partnership has existed between Tattersalls and Newmarket Racecourses for a very long time but this makes it official. We’ve worked very closely together and Tattersalls have sponsored prestigious races here for as long as I can remember. “Last year’s 2-year-old programme at Newmarket perfectly encapsulated what it is all about and the story that caught everyone’s imagination was Too Darn Hot and then his brother topping Book 1. Then at the same time we had Ten Sovereigns (Ire) and Fairyland (Ire) winning two of the most prestigious juvenile races here at the Rowley Mile and both of them were purchased here at the October Yearling Sale, so it marries up beautifully. If we could see that happen again this year we’d all be very pleased.” The post Newmarket Launches Gold Season appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

The Stronach Group announced today that Mike Lakow has been appointed Vice President of Racing Operations at Gulfstream Park. View the full article

BMW Hong Kong Derby (2000m) winner Furore caught the eye, running on for third in a dirt track barrier trial at Sha Tin on Tuesday morning under Grant van Niekerk. Frankie Lor’s charge has not been seen in action since finishing a disappointing 10th in the Gr.1 FWD QEII Cup (2000m) in April. “I just wanted to give him a little bit of a chance and then run on,” the South African jockey said. “They went quite slow early on so he was a bit keen but he finished off pretty good and I’m very happy with him. He travelled and he finished off so he’s quite fit and he’s a really nice horse to be on.” The five-year-old is expected to return to action in the Gr.3 Cleberation Cup Handicap (1400m) on 1 October, when he will likely meet Hong Kong high-weight Beauty Generation. Furore, a son of Pierro, was sold out of the 2016 New Zealand Bloodstock Premier Sale when consigned by Haunui Farm. The post Furore returns appeared first on BOAY Racing News. View the full article

New Zealand’s three-year-old ranks have proven to be an exciting crop to date this season and that excitement could enhance at Matamata on Wednesday when promising galloper Harlech kicks-off his spring campaign. Local trainers Pam Gerard and Michael Moroney have a lot of time for the son of Darci Brahma who had two starts as a juvenile, including a placing, before impressing with his 1020m trial win at Te Teko last month. “I do like the horse,” Gerard said. “We had a high opinion of him even as a two-year-old. We put him straight into a stakes race where he was a little bit unlucky. He should of probably already have a stakes placing. “He was very impressive in his trial. Obviously it’s only a trial and it is hard to get a line on them, but Cameron (Lammas, jockey) was very happy with him and thinks he is pretty forward. “I think he is a live chance of really being competitive in the three-year-old races and the mile is going to be ideal for him.” While there are big plans instore for Harlech this spring his connections are concentrating on their home meeting on Wednesday where he will attempt to clear maiden company in the Waharoa Transport CO(1995) Ltd 1200. Gerard is pleased with the colt heading into Wednesday, but believes the 1200m is well short of his best distance. “I think tomorrow is going to be a little bit short,” Gerard said. “It’s not a bad little field, but I am very happy with where he is at, at the moment. If he can get a nice trip and be finishing off well, I think he can be right in it.” Harlech has a number of black-type targets ahead of him this spring, including the Gr.1 Al Basti Equiworld 4th NZ 2000 Guineas (1600m) at Riccarton in November before his connections weigh up his future. Promising three-year-old Harlech Photo credit: Trish Dunell“He has still got to step up to the mark and get a win under his belt,” Gerard said. “Depending on how he goes tomorrow we will probably return for the three-year-old 1400m back at Matamata in the following meeting (October 12) before heading to the Sarten (Gr.2, 1400m) and then fly down to Christchurch. “He does hold a nomination for the Guineas. That’s the first (major) aim and then we will look to whether he heads to Australia or carries on for his three-year-old season.” A $100,000 Karaka yearling purchase by Michael’s brother, international bloodstock agent Paul Moroney, Harlech could add some more excitement to his sire Darci Brahma’s three-year-old crop. The Oaks Stud stallion is already have a dream run with his dual stakes-winning son Catalyst who heads the 2000 Guineas futures market at $1.90 with TAB bookmakers after his impressive 3-1/4 length win in the Gr.3 Northland Breeders’ Stakes (1200m) at Ruakaka on Saturday. Meanwhile, Gerard is also looking forward lining up another exciting prospect in the form of O’Reilly gelding Glenhope. The Kevin Hickman-bred and owned four-year-old won on debut at Matamata last month after two impressive trial wins at Te Rapa in July and Gerard is hoping he continue his winning form. “It was a nice win on debut and he trialled up very well,” she said. “He is a big, raw, green horse and by no means has he sorted it out yet.” Gerard was weighing up whether to line-up Glenhope at Hastings on Saturday, but said it was more than likely he would take his place in the Transport Mechanical Waharoa Ltd 1400 at Matamata on Wednesday. “My gut feeling is just another run on his home track, just to get him doing things right, might be the best option,” she said. “I know he is going to go a long way, but mentally we will just get him in the right place.” The post Home track test for exciting three-year-old appeared first on BOAY Racing News. View the full article

Frankie Lor Fu-chuen and Zac Purton are one of the most dependable duos in Hong Kong racing, so it’s only appropriate they are joining forces at Happy Valley on Wednesday night with the aptly named Reliable Team.Since Lor joined the training ranks at the start of the 2017-18 season, the two have combined on 110 occasions for 34 winners at a sensational strike rate of 30.9 per cent, while earning a top-three finish 68 times (61.8 per cent).Even if you did no form and just put HK$100 on each one… View the full article

The Cox Plate is a magical time of year for racing fans, and it’ll be the first time in four years that it won’t feature the mighty mare, Winx. View the full article

Pakistan Star could have yet another new jockey when he kicks off a preparation that trainer Paul O’Sullivan says shapes as “a little bit radical”.Blake Shinn was in the saddle as Pakistan Star saluted nicely in a trial at Sha Tin on Tuesday morning, with O’Sullivan saying the Australian has been offered the ride when the horse returns to the races on October 20.“There’s plenty of other guys to ride him but I think Blake will suit him well. Horses travel pretty kindly for him,” O’Sullivan said… View the full article

The form out of the Makybe Diva Stakes and Run To The Rose looks outstanding as the spring carnival draws closer. View the full article

Hotshot Anna gave owner-trainer Hugh Robertson back-to-back wins in the $400,000 Presque Isle Downs Masters Stakes (G2) Sept. 16, when she outran Talk Veuve to Me in the Presque Isle Downs stretch to win by 1 1/4 lengths. View the full article

LEXINGTON, KY – The Keeneland September Yearling Sale concluded its two-day Book 3 section with a day of frenetic bidding Monday in Lexington. A colt by Quality Road became the day’s highest-priced offering when selling to bloodstock agent Justin Casse for $625,000. The yearling was one of five to sell for $400,000 or over on the day. A total of 524 yearlings sold in Book 3–which encompassed the auction’s sixth and seventh overall sessions–for a gross of $56,781,500. The average was $108,362 and the median was $80,000. The buy-back rate was 29.1%. With a slightly different format a year ago, the 2018 Book 3 was held over the auction’s seventh and eighth sessions and saw 560 yearlings sell for $41,963,900. The average was $74,936 and the median was $50,000. The section’s top price was $450,000 and there were five yearlings to sell for $400,000 or over. Bidding was still fast and furious late Monday evening when Casse made his session-topping buy, securing hip 2119 from the KatieRich Farms consignment. “I am surprised by the demand that is still here,” Casse said. “I’ve been selling some and trying to buy some. You’ve got to be prepared to pay for the ones you like. Generally, you’ve got to jump through all the hoops and do everything right, but I’m finding that even horses that make three out of four hoops, or who check most of the proverbial boxes, are getting done for a good price. We have probably the best high-end market that we’ve ever had, so there is going to be a trickle down from there. It’s nice to see. I just hope it stays this way for a little while. It doesn’t even have to get better–if it just stays this way for a little while.” Greg Goodman’s Mt. Brilliant Farm led consignors with more than one sold on the day by average. The operation sold four yearlings for an average of $350,000, including a $500,000 son of American Pharoah. Goodman echoed many consignors who felt Book 3 was a good place for their yearlings to stand out. “I love Book 3,” Goodman said. “We just felt really good about Book 3. We thought they would stand out more here. I think if you have a decent horse, the buyers are here. This whole sale has been incredible the whole way through. And I guess a lot of people didn’t get what they wanted in Book 1 and 2 and they are still here. So we’re happy about that.” The first consignment of Everett Dobson’s Candy Meadows Sales had its biggest sale to date when selling a filly by Nyquist for $425,000. “It’s all about the product,” said Candy Meadows Senior Vice President Matt Lyons. “If you have the right one, they are here for it. And it doesn’t matter what book. I think it shows the strength of the market. Books 1 and 2 were strong and a lot of people didn’t get horses, so now the good ones might be sticking out a little bit more and people are zeroing in on them.” With six sessions still to go, the September gross passed the $300-million mark Monday, with 1,309 yearlings selling for an aggregate of $314,829,500. This is the third straight year the sale has passed that milestone. Prior to the 2017 edition, the last time the auction hit that mark was 2008–the year of the global economic crash. The 2018 gross of $377,130,400 was the highest since 2007. The Keeneland September sale continues through Sunday with sessions beginning daily at 10 a.m. For complete results, visit www.keeneland.com. Casse Calls for Back-Up on Quality Road Colt As Book 3 steamed aggressively towards its conclusion Monday evening at Keeneland, bloodstock agent Justin Casse made the day’s highest bid, going to $625,000 to acquire a colt by Quality Road. Casse admitted he had to make a quick call to extend his budget before ultimately signing the ticket on hip 2119 in the name of Team Casse. “I was given a budget and, once it went past that, I had to make a late phone call,” Casse said. “As the horse got closer up and I got to see him more, he really presented himself well and he looked the part, so I had a feeling that he was going to bring a little more than we had first hoped. But he’s a Quality Road and we’re in the second day of Book 3, so he’s going to stand out like a sore thumb. The pedigree is going to stick out pretty well here. It’s an active female family by one of the best sires in the world and he came from a good farm. I think he’ll be a beautiful horse once he gets into training.” Bred and consigned by KatieRich Farms, the yearling is out of multiple stakes winner Miss Red Delicious (Empire Maker) and is a half to graded winner Nootka Sound (Lonhro {Aus}). “He was a standout here,” KatieRich’s Tammy Ingebritson explained of the colt’s placement in Book 3. “He was a very nice colt, probably a little immature for Book 1. So he just looked like he would be the right type for Book 3. He got a lot of attention here.” KatieRich owner Larry Doyle was enjoying the standout sale and gave credit for the success to the farm’s staff. “The team works very hard and it’s great to see their efforts rewarded,” Doyle said. “It was very nice.” Tiznow Colt to Winchell A colt by Tiznow jumped to the top of the results sheets Monday at Keeneland when selling for $525,000 to David Fiske, racing manager for Winchell Thoroughbreds. “We thought he was the nicest one in today,” Fiske said after signing the ticket on hip 1941. “We had not bought a Tiznow yet this week, so we had to fill a slot. We had bought one by everyone else practically, just not a Tiznow.” The bay yearling is out of the unraced Catch the Moon (Malibu Moon), who also produced Grade I winner Girvin (Tale of Ekati) and graded winner Cocked and Loaded (Colonel John). He was consigned by Warrendale Sales as agent for Stonestreet Bred and Raised. Barbara Banke’s Stonestreet purchased Catch the Moon, in foal to Shanghai Bobby, for $240,000 at the 2015 Keeneland November sale. On its own and in partnership with Phoenix Thoroughbreds, Ron Winchell’s Winchell Thoroughbreds has been active all week at Keeneland. “He will have been the 12th one that we’ve bought this week,” Fiske said. “I think he fits in with all our other ones this week. He was a little tough to buy. He was a little bit higher than I thought he’d be. But the other highest price of the day was $500,000, so I kind of figured he’d be right around $400,000 to $500,000.” Winchell partnered with Phoenix Thoroughbreds on an $875,000 Into Mischief colt (hip 488) and a $375,000 son of Tapit (hip 879) earlier in the week. The operation also bought a filly by Uncle Mo (hip 378) for $450,000. Fiske said he wasn’t surprised by the continued demand as the September sale entered its second week. “It seems like every year there are a couple of individuals in the later books that are really nice and for some reason, either the consignors thought they would stand out in the later books, or whatever, they go in later.” Fiske added a 13th yearling to his Keeneland haul Monday, going to $230,000 to acquire a colt by Constitution (hip 2000). Glass in Action for Wests A colt by American Pharoah is joining the racing stable of Gary and Mary West after the couple’s bloodstock advisor Ben Glass went to $500,000 to acquire the yearling bred and consigned by Mt. Brilliant Farm Monday at Keeneland. “We like American Pharoah,” Glass said after signing the ticket on hip 1895. “We actually just had an American Pharoah born in Australia yesterday, a half-brother to Fighting Mad (New Year’s Day). We like the family and we like the colt. He looks like he’ll take a lot of training–he looks like a tough son of a gun.” West homebred Fighting Mad won the GIII Torrey Pines S. at Del Mar in August. Her dam Smokey’s Love (Forestry) produced her first Australian-bred foal with a son of Tapit in 2017. Hip 1895 is out of You Make Luvin Fun (A.P. Indy), a half-sister to graded winner Classic Elegance (Carson City) and to the dam of GI Kentucky Oaks winner Believe You Can, whose yearling colt by War Front sold for $2.9 million during Book 1. Glass has now purchased 18 yearlings–all colts–on behalf of the Wests this week at Keeneland for a total of $5,480,000. In addition to the American Pharoah colt, Glass signed for a Quality Road colt (hip 470) for $535,000. “It’s been tough here all the way through,” Glass said of his September bidding assignments. “Mr. West went far on a lot of horses and they just kept going, they never quit. The partnerships are tough to outrun. If you lead a good one in there, it’s tough. We…really weren’t going to buy that many this year. But we found some colts that we liked and Mr. West said to keep going.” Later in Monday’s session, Glass purchased a pair of colts by Candy Ride (Arg), going to $250,000 for hip 2066 and $105,000 for hip 2081. Nyquist Filly Draws a Crowd Richard Rigney, bidding out back alongside trainer Phil Bauer, went to $425,000 to acquire a filly from the first crop of GI Kentucky Derby winner Nyquist for his Rigney Racing stable Monday at Keeneland. “She just looks like a racehorse,” Bauer said of hip 2054. “She looks precocious and fast. And she seemed to have a good mind on her.” The bay yearling, bred and consigned by Everett Dobson’s Candy Meadows, is out of the unraced Is It Safe (Yes It’s True), a half-sister to Grade I winners Justin Phillip (First Samurai) and Greenpointcrusader (Bernardini), as well as graded winners Keyed Entry (Honour and Glory) and Algorithms (Bernardini). Of the filly’s final price, Bauer said, “It seems like for the good ones, you’re going to have to give a little more than you probably want.” Rigney and Bauer signed for the filly under the name J.C.M., which was also the name on the ticket for four other yearlings this week, including a Liam’s Map filly (hip 1676) for $295,000. Rigney Racing was the name on the ticket for a filly by Ghostzapper (hip 534) for $350,000 and an Into Mischief filly (hip 1038) for $280,000. “We’ve bought a few,” Bauer confirmed. “We think [hip 2054] might be the best. You never know what you’re going to run into in these later books. Hopefully she’ll turn out to be what we hope she is. She’ll go to Bill and Gene Recio in Ocala and probably come to us at Churchill in the spring.” Dobson purchased Is It Safe, in foal to Hard Spun, for $275,000 at the 2016 Keeneland January sale. Her Hard Spun colt sold for $100,000 at the 2017 Keeneland September sale and the mare herself, with the Nyquist foal in utero, RNA’d for $150,000 at that year’s Keeneland November sale. The September sale has marked Candy Meadow’s first-ever consignment and the farm recognized its highest result with the Nyquist filly. “It felt great, but we had a high-value product there,” said Candy Meadows senior vice president and COO Matt Lyons. “She was a beautiful filly and I think she was perfectly placed in Book 3. She’s been an absolute queen the last couple of days. She showed 100 times yesterday and she showed close to 60 times today. A lot of very, very good judges had vetted her and that made us feel pretty good coming up here. You never know for sure when you come up to the auction ring what they’re going to bring, but we felt good about the judges that were looking at her. Thankfully, she realized a great price and we’re very pleased.” Bernardini Colt to Speedway Bloodstock agent Marette Farrell continued buying yearlings for Peter Fluor and K.C. Weiner’s Speedway Racing Monday at Keeneland, going to $425,000 to take home a colt by Bernardini (hip 2086). Farrell made her biggest of five September purchases for the group when going to $1 million for a colt by Candy Ride (Arg) (hip 1062) last Friday. Hip 2086 is out of Listen (Chester Hope) and is a half-brother to Grade I winner La Coronel (Colonel John). He was bred by Kim and Rodney Nardelli and William Werner and was consigned by Nardelli Sales. “We loved him from the day he was born,” Kim Nardelli beamed after the sale. “We knew he was special. We were hoping to get close to that [price], but we are very happy that he made it. We wanted Book 3–we wanted to be a big fish in a small pond.” Red Oak Strikes for Uncle Mo Colt Red Oak Stable co-owner Steve Brunetti, bidding out back alongside the farm’s Rick Sacco and Barry Dolan, went to $380,000 to acquire a flashy colt by Uncle Mo in partnership with Newtown Anner Stud Monday at Keeneland. “He’s very well-balanced and we’ve had a lot of luck with Uncle Mo–we had a Grade I winner with Unbridled Mo, and of course, King for a Day,” Sacco said of the yearling’s appeal. “We loved everything about him and he checked all of our boxes.” Bred and consigned by Mt. Brilliant Farm, hip 1801 is the first foal out of Secret Someone (A.P. Indy) who was a two-time stakes winner and third in the 2016 GIII Modesty H. for Greg Goodman’s operation. The mare is a daughter of Private Gift (Unbridled), whose Into Mischief filly sold for $750,000 at the Fasig-Tipton Saratoga sale in August. She is also a half-sister to the dam of recent GI Alabama S. winner Dunbar Road (Quality Road). Secret Someone produced a filly by Candy Ride (Arg) this year and was bred back to Into Mischief. Red Oak has enjoyed plenty of success with its homebreds in recent years. Unbridled Mo won the 2018 GI Apple Blossom H. and sophomore King for a Day has won two stakes for the farm this year. Mind Control (Stay Thirsty), winner of last year’s GI Hopeful S., recently added the GI H. Allen Jerkens S. to his resume. Hip 1801 was Red Oak’s fifth purchase of the Keeneland sale. The operation, founded by the late John Brunetti, Sr. and now run by his sons Steve and John, Jr., also purchased a colt by Into Mischief (hip 1258) for $360,000; a filly by Union Rags (hip 1687) for $190,000; and a Carpe Diem filly (hip 1040) for $170,000. “We are starting to [buy more yearlings],” Sacco said of the buying spree this week in Lexington. “We have a lot of homebreds. Steve breeds all of our mares and we are a boutique stable. We have eight broodmares and we are trying to fill some gaps. Right now, we don’t have a strong crop of yearling colts, we have six or seven yearling fillies and hardly any colts. So everything we’re doing, we’re trying to do everything a little better. We’re upgrading all of our stock.” Red Oak also partnered with Newtown Anner to acquire a colt by Tiznow (hip 208) for $420,000 at this year’s OBS April 2-Year-Olds in Training Sale. “We had partnered with them in the April sale with a Tiznow colt, so we partnered with them we again. We have two-thirds and they have a third,” Sacco said of the partnership. Timely Update for Runhappy Colt When James Keogh first sent a colt by Runhappy out of True Kiss (Is it True) through the Keeneland sales ring, the youngster RNA’d for $145,000 as a short yearling this past January before selling privately to Jim and Katie FitzGerald. Eight months on, the bay is now a half-brother to speedy graded winner Shancelot (Shanghai Bobby) and his stock was decidedly on the rise when he sold for $360,000 during Monday’s session of the Keeneland September sale. Bloodstock agent Susan Montanye, bidding alongside trainer Steve Asmussen out back, signed the ticket on the colt on behalf of Bill and Corinne Heiligbrodt. “He was a smashing horse,” Keogh said of the yearling (hip 1866). “He was raised by Chip Muth over at Glendalough Farm. He owns the mare. I RNA’d the foal here in January and Jim, a very good friend, came in and bought the foal off of me. He raised him on his Chilly Bleak Farm in Virginia.” Of the FitzGeralds, Keogh added, “They pinhook about six or eight a year and they have about 15 broodmares.” Shancelot, a $50,000 Fasig-Tipton Saratoga yearling turned $245,000 OBS March juvenile, romped by 12 1/2 lengths in the GII Amsterdam S. and was just nipped at the wire when third in the Aug. 24 GI H. Allen Jerkens S. In addition, the colt’s half-sister Sweet Kisses (Carpe Diem) was a maiden winner at Saratoga in July. “The pedigree sure has,” Keogh said when asked what had changed since January. “The update was huge. I would fully expect the 2-year-old half-sister to win a Grade I and Mr. [Jorge] Navarro has done a fabulous job with Shancelot. I think we’ll see him back in the [Dec. 26 GI] Malibu S., I think that’s what he’s calling for.” The Heiligbrodts certainly know something about speedy types. The couple campaign GI Forego S. winner Mitole (Eskendereya), who heads to stud at Spendthrift next year. “He looks like a fast, early, precocious horse,” Montanye said of the yearling. “He was bought for the Heiligbrodts and he quite fits their program.” Whether the yearling will be reoffered for sale next year or race in the Heiligbrodts’ colors is still to be determined, according to Montanye. “We’ll get all these horses home and broke and going,” she said. “Most of everything is offered in the 2-year-old sales. We’ll just see how he comes along. He might just go right to Steve. I’m not sure yet.” The post KEESEP Powers On As High-Demand Book 3 Concludes appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

New Zealand Bloodstock’s Managing Director Andrew Seabrook has announced three new Triple Crown Series, each comprising of a $100,000 bonus Photo: Supplied New Zealand Bloodstock Insurance, in association with New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing, has announced three new Triple Crown Series for the 2019-20 New Zealand racing season. Each series comprises three prestigious Group races, and each series will carry a bonus of $100,000 for any horse that can win all three races. The new initiative includes a weight-for-age, sprint, and fillies and mares series. The Weight-For-Age Triple Crown begins with the Gr.1 Cambridge Stud Zabeel Classic (2000m) at Ellerslie on December 26, followed by the Gr.1 Herbie Dyke Stakes (2000m) at Te Rapa on February 8, and the Gr.1 Bonecrusher New Zealand Stakes (2000m) at Ellerslie on March 7. The Sprint Triple Crown comprises of the Gr.1 Sistema Railway (1200m) at Ellerslie on January 1, the Gr.1 JR & N Berkett Telegraph (1200m) at Trentham on January 18, and the Gr.1 BCD Group Sprint (1400m) at Te Rapa on February 8. The third Series is the Fillies and Mares Triple Crown, made up of the Gr.3 Cuddle Stakes (1600m) at Trentham on March 14, the Gr.1 Fiber Fresh New Zealand Thoroughbred Breeders’ Stakes (1600m) at Te Aroha on April 4, and the Gr.2 Travis Stakes (2000m) at Te Rapa on April 25. New Zealand Bloodstock’s managing director Andrew Seabrook believes the new Triple Crowns will provide a vital and timely boost to the New Zealand thoroughbred industry. “New Zealand Bloodstock, through its Insurance Division, is delighted to be offering these three significant bonuses,” he said. “In a time of stagnant prizemoney, I’m sure this announcement will be welcome news for stakeholders. “I would like to particularly thank NZTR for its support, along with the Auckland Racing Club, Waikato Racing Club, and Wellington Racing Club, who have all contributed financially. The Cambridge Jockey Club is also likely to confirm their support early this week. “NZB Insurance has been a significant sponsor of New Zealand racing, so thanks go to our hard-working insurance team and our very supportive underwriters in the UK.” New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing’s chief executive Bernard Saundry has also welcomed the concept. “We are delighted to partner with New Zealand Bloodstock Insurance on the Triple Crown Series,” Saundry said. “The series will be a fantastic addition to the 19/20 racing calendar. We appreciate the support New Zealand Bloodstock provides to thoroughbred racing in New Zealand and their innovative thinking. Concepts such as this will continue to make a significant difference to our industry.” The post Triple Crown Series Launched appeared first on BOAY Racing News. View the full article

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Horses' test results September 17 View the full article

Nunes looks to make Raffles ticket Count View the full article

Malaysia's top gun among Brown's party of five in fourth Raffles bid View the full article

Melody Belle, the new queen of the NZ turf View the full article

Winning partner reunites with Quarteto in Saturday gallop View the full article

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

Reeves Thoroughbred Racing and Peter and Patty Searles' City Man will try to maintain a perfect record Sept. 20 when he lines up against four other 2-year-olds in the $150,000 Bertram F. Bongard Stakes at Belmont Park. View the full article

Keith and Faith Taylor Equine Scholarship recipient Hannah Airey Photo: Supplied Three young women working in the thoroughbred industry are heading overseas early next year to enhance their careers thanks to scholarships promoted by the NZTBA Sunline Education Trust. The Sunline International Management Scholarship has been awarded to Kyla Robb, and due to the high calibre of applicants and the generosity of the Keith and Faith Taylor Family both Hannah Airey and Laura Macnab will study at the Irish National Stud. According to previous International Management Scholarship winner and now NZTBA Councillor and Sunline Education Trust trustee Shannon Taylor, who is on the selection committee, the applicants this year were the best she has seen in her tenure. “They were an amazing, talented group of young people and it is very heartening to see so many young people working in the thoroughbred industry and applying,” she said. “So much so that we asked the Irish National Stud if we could send a second student and thanks to Faith and the Taylor family, we were able fund two students. “The fact that we chose three women this year is testament to the fact that they have loads of passion and believe they can have a successful future in the industry and are keen to progress their careers.” Sunline International Management Scholarship recipient Kyla Robb Photo: SuppliedFor Kyla Robb, who is currently the Broodmare Manager at The Oaks, winning the scholarship was a nice surprise. “Honestly it means so much to me,” she said. “It reconfirms all my hard-work in the industry has been worth it, and now the industry is helping me and giving something back. “I want to keep striving and learning in this industry and the scholarship gives me a wonderful opportunity to do that.” Robb will spend 30 weeks experiencing the operational infrastructure and systems at three of the world’s premier farms – Cheveley Park Stud in England, Coolmore Stud in Ireland and Winstar Farm in Kentucky. Keith and Faith Taylor Equine Scholarship recipient Laura McNab Photo: Supplied“I am really looking forward to going to Kentucky as what I have heard about Kentucky is incredible, they seem to do things so differently there and with no expense is spared,” she said. Meanwhile, Keith and Faith Taylor equine scholarship recipients Hannah Airey and Laura MacNab will travel to Kildare next January to undertake the five-month Breeding course at the Irish National Stud. The course covers both practical and academic units covering everything from business studies, to animal welfare and pasture management. The NZTBA has been sponsoring students to the Irish National Stud for nearly 30 years. The post Overseas experiences ahead for Scholarship recipients appeared first on BOAY Racing News. View the full article

Mystery Creek trainer Neil O’Dowd has set promising jumper Aigne some lofty goals later this year after his impressive 7-3/4 length victory in the Team Wealleans Hurdle (3500m) at Arawa Park on Sunday. Although he was pleased with the win, O’Dowd admitted to feeling slightly anxious heading into the race. “It was a very good run, Michael (Roustoby, jockey) timed it well and went at the right time,” O’Dowd said. “But your heart is in your mouth because it was only his second hurdle start and he was up against open horses and you just hope he jumps well, which he did, except when he fluffed the last one.” While the seven-year-old gelding now boasts a record of a win and a placing from just the two starts over hurdles, his immediate future lies on the flat, with the ultimate goal being The Jericho Cup (4600m) at Warrnambool on December 1. “There are big things instore for him,” O’Dowd said. “He will go to the Road To The Jericho (3210m) at Taranaki in two weeks (to try and qualify for The Jericho Cup) and then we will see what happens from there. “If he wins at Taranaki it’s all paid for, so you would be going. “He would go out for two weeks (after New Plymouth) and then he would come back in and run in a 2400m at Auckland at the end of October. “Then he’ll go to Christchurch for the New Zealand Cup (Gr.3, 3200m) and then go to Warrnambool.” With plenty of ability, Aigne also comes with plenty of attitude according to O’Dowd, who said the son of Sufficient is aptly named. “Aigne is Irish for attitude. He’s a real handful of a horse to train. He has got to be doing something all the time, he’s like a naughty kid.” While his hands are kept full with his rising stable star, O’Dowd also trains three other horses off his Hamilton property and he will be hoping Hong Qui can record his maiden victory at Matamata on Wednesday. The six-year-old gelding will line-up in the Waharoa Industrial Park 2000 in his first start on the flat since an injury enforced layoff. “He’s looking good,” O’Dowd said. “He’s a big, rangy horse. He showed us a bit of promise last year at Taupo when he ran a good fifth over 1800m. “I bought him to be a steeplechaser. He had a good trial at the beginning of the year, but he bumped his tendon about a week later, so I had to chuck him out for two months. “He’s been back in nine weeks now, so he is starting to come up.” The post Jericho tilt on the cards for Aigne appeared first on BOAY Racing News. View the full article

Jim McIngvale says that the toilet paper in the Del Mar bathrooms will be sponsored by Runhappy next year. He’s kidding. Then again, with McIngvale, you never know. The sport has never seen a marketing effort quite like the one “Mattress Mack” has put forth for his sire Runhappy. He’s sponsored numerous races, including the GI Runhappy Travers, sponsored the entire meet at Kentucky Downs, advertised aggressively in the trade publications and is offering a $100,000 bonus to the owner of any son or daughter of Runhappy who wins an unrestricted maiden race next year at the summer meets at Del Mar, Saratoga and Kentucky Downs. When asked how much he has spent on the marketing campaign, McIngvale replied: “A lot.” The returns so far? Through Sept. 15, 37 Runhappy yearlings have sold for an average of $280,027, tops among all freshman stallions. Those figures do not include a Runhappy colt who sold Monday at Keeneland to Bill and Corinne Heiligbrodt for $360,000. “The marketing efforts are certainly instrumental in getting people to look at the Runhappy horses and then after that, no matter how much marketing I do, it’s up to Runhappy,” McIngvale said. “He’s doing a better job than me, but at least I’m getting them inside to look at his yearlings and it’s certainly helping the consignors and the people selling the Runhappys.” So far, the marketing hasn’t directly put any money back into McIngvale’s pocket, as he is not selling any Runhappys at the sales. He says he owns about 75% of the stallion, who stands at Claiborne. Clearly, a rise in his stud fee would be a positive for McIngvale, but he said he would leave that decision up to Claiborne’s Bernie Sams and Walker Hancock. “It’s up to Bernie and the people at Claiborne,” he said. “They are the experts in that field. Let’s face it, they have been at this for 130 years, so I will defer to their judgment. The whole idea is to keep Runhappy a hot stallion where he is a great commodity and a great value for the customers. “That’s their expertise. I am a marketing guy and this is a long-term marketing plan. I always look at the long term. I think marketing is an investment and not a cost.” McIngvale said the $100,000 bonus will be back for Runhappys bought at the 2020 sales and that he will market the horse every bit as aggressively next year as he has this year. “I have a couple of other crazy ideas but, I have to pass them by Bernie and Walker and see what they think about it,” he said. “I always want to do stuff that is fun and good for horse racing and good for the people in the sport.” McIngvale said that of all the marketing ploys he used, the one he thought was most effective was the creation of lounges off the winner’s circles at Del Mar and Kentucky Downs. The winners of any races at those meets were able to go into an area and celebrate their victory. McIngvale provided the furniture and there were, of course, Runhappy signs everywhere. “The people loved that,” he said. “When they won, they got to sit on this nice Runhappy sofa and sit on Runhappy bar stools and everything was labeled ‘Runhappy.’ It made it special for the owners. Whether they won a maiden claiming race or a stakes race, they got to go into the Runhappy lounge and go and celebrate their victory. They got to think about Runhappy when they were still in a state of euphoria over winning.” There are a few more yearling sales to come, but McIngvale said he felt it was pretty clear that his marketing plan had increased the prices paid for Runhapy. McIngvale said his only regret is that they are selling for so much that he can’t buy them any more because they’ve risen outside his preferred price range. He said he has bought “two or three.” “I’m happy with the way everything is working out,” McIngvale said. “I did it pretty much because I like marketing and like marketing challenges. I like creating new brands and we’ve certainly done that with Runhappy and I’m certainly thrilled with the outcome of his success at the Keeneland September sale, the Fasig-Tipton Saratoga sale and the Fasig-Tipton July sale. A lot of the consignors have called me and thanked me because they sold their horses for more than they expected and they had a lot of people looking at their Runhappys. So far, so good.” The post Is Massive Marketing Effort Behind Runhappy Sales Success? appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

LONDON, UK—New additions to the global program, in the era of the “super race,” have three options: blow the opposition out of the water; come up with something entirely different; or work together. But if the organisers of the Saudi Cup appears to have favoured the first, in offering Thoroughbreds the biggest prize in the history of the breed, then the $6.8-million undercard revealed on Monday shows that they intend to embrace both other approaches, too. With elite European turf runners in mind, they have been at pains to stress the congenial nature of the dirt course at King Abdulaziz Racetrack, which will stage the inaugural $20-million showcase on Feb. 29. The supporting program, however, offers even those European horsemen lacking the nerve to switch a champion to a new surface every opportunity to share in the bonanza. Certainly few among the dozens of trainers invited to the launch, at Fortnum and Mason on Piccadilly, can have expected the most valuable of three new turf races to be a handicap over nearly two miles (actually 3000m, or 15 furlongs). From a total prize fund of $2.5 million, it will offer no less than $1.5 million to the winner—which extraordinary sum may well cause renewed inflation in what is already a very competitive market for Melbourne Cup types in Europe. (Albeit protocols for Southern Hemisphere horses, as opposed to European raiders who can return home, are unlikely to be in place for the first running.) If the timing plainly makes Riyadh a feasible target after the Melbourne Cup in November, then the other two grass races work with the calendar by facing the other way. Purses of $1 million apiece ($600,000 to the winner) qualify both as natural springboards to big prizes on the Dubai World Cup card four weeks later. One is over 10.5 furlongs (2100m) and, as such, would work as an intermediate option for those targeting the turf prizes over 9f and 12f at Meydan. The other, at the intriguing distance of 6.75 furlongs (1350 metres), potentially falls within the ambit of both sprinters and milers. The undercard is completed by two dirt events, a $1.5-million dash over six furlongs and an $800,000 mile race for 3-year-olds—intended as an ideal platform for candidates for the G2 UAE Derby. Frankie Dettori was on hand to urge European horsemen to contemplate all the dirt options for their grass runners, acclaiming the course the best of its type he has sampled. “I’ve ridden numerous turf horses round there and they adapt very well,” the jockey said. “It’s an amazing surface that bridges the gap. It’ll be a very level playing field.” These innovations will perhaps not be uniformly welcomed in Dubai, with some degree of dilution seeming inevitable in their local prep races. But at least the Saudi promoters have been animated, in the bigger picture, by a quest for synergy: most obviously, in slotting the main event halfway between the Pegasus and Dubai World Cups. At every level, after all, there could eventually be mutual benefits from a maturing regional program, as an incentive for longer migrations to the Gulf. Besides, the hosts naturally have their own priorities. Some of these extend far beyond the racetrack, as was acknowledged by Prince Bandar bin Khalid Al Faisal, Chairman of the Jockey Club of Saudi Arabia. While the project had originated with his own organisation, it had been warmly embraced by the government “at a time when the economic and political environment is very much in favour of pushing initiatives of this kind.” He added, “I see this very much as Vision 2030, as opening up. We are going through a transformation. We are learning. But there is a definite will to go there.” Many of these broader themes were reprised from the Saudi Cup’s launch at Saratoga last month. And there are obvious challenges for an event that reaches for the stars from a standing start. For one thing, everyone will obviously be hoping that the current instabilities in the region do not boil over; while reassurances were sought over the treatment to be expected by female visitors. Prince Bandar welcomed such questions. “All equestrian sports in Saudi Arabia have always been open to male and female participation and attendance,” he said. “But what would be new, although we have women show jumpers and endurance riders, is female jockeys—so I would like to take the opportunity to invite owners and trainers to engage with some of the wonderful new talent that is now available to them around the world.” But there will be no jockeys at all, without horses; and no horses, without a track. So the first imperative, in practical terms, was to guarantee a top-class turf course by February—even though it is still under construction. Tom Ryan, appointed Director of Strategy and International Racing after building his reputation at Naas racecourse in Ireland, persuasively put any concerns to rest. “We have engaged with the world’s best expertise, including the Sports Turf Research Institute, from the outset,” he said. “If the timescale appears tightish, from the traditional viewpoint, we actually have a longer period to settle the turf in [than Meydan] plus the benefit of their 10 to 15 years of knowhow. We have been very, very careful in the selection of material, particularly in the root zone, and the watering system is optimal to the last square millimetre. We’re getting weekly reports and the stage we’re at now puts us handsomely ahead of schedule.” Ryan explained that it would have been possible to lay out the course earlier, but that exposing the young grass to the extremes of summer would have represented one step forward for two steps back. As it is, the preferred schedule permits growth towards a surface more akin to that familiar in Europe. With so many top-class riders wintering locally in Dubai, trials will be staged in January while preserving the inside racing line. “We’re very, very confident about the turf track, it’s not something we’ve had a moment’s doubt about,” Ryan added. “And the dirt track is so sweeping that the radius of the turf bends will be more generous than most U.K. courses. It won’t have the tight bends of some American tracks, but will ride a nice, galloping track.” Assuming that such valuable races will be oversubscribed, an evaluation committee will sit within a couple of days of the entry deadline on Jan. 7. The former senior handicapper at the British Horseracing Authority, Phil Smith, has been hired to supervise the local ratings and race program, and Ryan stressed that the order of elimination would not be determined by bald numbers. “It won’t be exact ratings,” he explained. “They will be a very strong element, but not exclusively so. This is a no-closed-doors scenario. We will use our best judgement to make sure we have the best spectacle and the most competitive races.” That process should be most delicate in the handicap itself, a race that gives players below the elite level a fairytale chance to be first among equals—a point underlined by Harry Herbert, the meeting’s Global Ambassador. “It opens up to smaller trainers and owners the opportunity to race internationally,” he said. “We’ve seen that in the Melbourne Cup over the years, and that’s what this whole thing is all about: giving people the opportunity to be part of a fantastic adventure. “Everyone knows how important international racing has become over the past 25 years. Because it’s not just about opening up racing communities, but whole countries and cultures. It’s what the sport now is all about.” “Our goal is for everyone who attends to absolutely enjoy their time in Saudi Arabia and book the race for the year after,” confirmed Prince Bandar. “That’s what we’re driving for. We think we’ve put together a team that know what they’re doing, and that people can trust. We’re confident we will have a very, very special event, regardless of the prizemoney.” The post Imagination Matches Purses on Saudi Cup Undercard appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Showjumper Kevin Babington suffered life-changing spinal injuries in a fall at The Hampton Classic Stateside on Aug. 30, and, in an effort to assist with his medical expenses and care, Coolmore has donated a no guarantee nomination to champion Gleneagles (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}). One of Ireland’s top international horsemen, Babington is also one of the most well-regarded horsemen on the international circuit. The highest bid for the nomination currently stands at €40,000 from Ira Gumberg, a showjumping owner whose Skara Glen Stables bred champion and GI Belmont S. heroine Rags to Riches (A.P. Indy) and fellow Belmont hero Jazil (Seeking the Gold) when owned by Ira’s father Stanley Gumberg. Other bidders included Trevor Stewart, Anthony Rogers of Airlie Stud and William Kennedy (Tullpark Ltd). All bids must be entered by email to Mark Byrne at m.byrne@coolmore.ie. Bidding will close at 5 p.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 18. The highest bids will be published daily on Coolmore.com and on Coolmore’s social media accounts. The post Gleneagles Nom Auctioned on Behalf of Babington appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

A guide to this week's radio and television coverage of racing, highlighted by NBC's coverage of the Pennsylvania Derby (G1) and Cotillion Stakes (G1) from Parx Racing. View the full article