Wandering Eyes

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

Beuzelin suspended three days View the full article

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

Earthlight (Ire) (Shamardal) may be on course to run in a star-studded G1 Juddmonte Middle Park Stakes at Newmarket this month. Trainer Andre Fabre had been aiming the unbeaten G1 Prix Morny winner at the Oct. 12 G1 Darley Dewhurst S. over seven furlongs–but with Charlie Appleby’s devastating G1 National S. winner Pinatubo (Ire) (Shamardal) now likely to represent owners Godolphin in that, Earthlight’s target is set to switch. As a result, a mouthwatering clash with the likes of Ger Lyon’s unbeaten Siskin (First Defence) and Richard Hannon’s flying machine Mums Tipple (Ire) (Footstepsinthesand {GB}) is on the cards on Sept. 28. “Of course, given that Pinatubo is now likely to head to the Dewhurst, we have had a rethink about Earthlight,” said Fabre. “I’m waiting for Sheikh Mohammed’s decision, but I’d have thought he would go for the Middle Park now. He’s already won a Group 1 over six furlongs in the Prix Morny, so we won’t be asking him to do anything different. The Middle Park does seem quite a good race this year, but there is no such thing as an easy Group 1.” The post Earthlight Camp Mulls Middle Park appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Richard Fahey is keen to give Space Traveller (GB) (Bated Breath {GB}) the chance to prove himself at the top table in the GI Breeders’ Cup Mile at Santa Anita in November. A surprise winner of the G3 Jersey S. at Royal Ascot in June, the Bated Breath colt then suffered back-to-back defeats at Goodwood and York. However, he bounced back to winning ways in the G2 Boomerang S. at Leopardstown on Saturday–and Fahey has earmarked the Grade I contest on Nov. 2 as the end-of-season target for his charge. Fahey said, “It was a fantastic performance at Leopardstown, and it was just the job. The mile seems to be his trip. I was happy to see him win again, because he is a good little horse. I thought he was a fraction unlucky the time before at York, because not everything went right. “I was led to believe straight after the race that we would get an invite to the Breeders’ Cup. It is a bit up in the air, but I would love to go there. He has got that natural speed and travels well, and he would be well suited to the track. Hopefully we can get there with a bit of luck.” The post Space Traveller Eyes Breeders’ Cup appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Cameron Beatty was at that stage in life–young, healthy, athletic, motivated, naive–where he never even imagined the possibility that everything he had could be taken away from him. He was the starting quarterback at Freehold Township (NJ) High School and had accepted an offer to play at Fairleigh Dickinson, where he had an academic scholarship. He was going places, and on the fast track. In an instant, everything changed. In 2010, Beatty, now 27, was on his way to the gym to workout when he had a motorcycle accident so serious that it nearly cost him his life. He suffered a brain injury, a ruptured spleen and internal bleeding. At first, the doctors did not realize the extent of the spleen injury and the bleeding it was causing, but when his heart rate dropped to under 20 beats per minute he was rushed into emergency surgery. “I woke up one morning bleeding to death,” he said. It was a windy, grey morning on the backstretch at Monmouth Park as Beatty told his story. He was there not just to talk about his accident but about the horse he owns, Horologist (Gemologist). The New Jersey-bred is coming off an upset win over 2018 Eclipse Award winner Jaywalk (Cross Traffic) in the GIII Monmouth Oaks and is preparing for the biggest start of her career, the GI Cotillion S. Sept. 21 at Parx. Life is good now. He’s married, got his degree from New Jersey City University, recovered from his accident to the point where he was able to play semi-pro football and owns a valuable and talented horse. What does one story have to do with the other? Everything. Click to continue reading in TDN Look. The post TDN Look: A Young Man, an Old Man, a Second Chance, and a Dream appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

The National Steeplechase Association's race to the Eclipse Award begins in earnest Sept. 19 when American jumping sport's leading lights line up at Belmont Park for the $150,000 Lonesome Glory Handicap (NSA-G1). View the full article

The Henry Cecil Open Weekend, where visitors are given a rare chance to see behind the scenes at British Horseracing’s HQ in Newmarket, is scheduled for Sept. 21-22. Renamed to celebrate the life of the late, great Sir Henry Cecil, the 3-year partnership is backed by a group of his previous owners with the aim of supporting the development and welfare of young people working in the racing industry. Beneficiaries include Racing Welfare, Race Centre and the British Racing School. Among the events over the two-day open weekend, are tours of the British Racing School, Newmarket Equine Hospital, Palace House-the National Horseracing Museum, National Stud, Newmarket Racecourse and Jockey Club Rooms. At 8 a.m. on Sunday, several equine stars can be observed on the Warren Hill Gallops, among them Enable (GB) (Nathaniel {Ire}) and Stradivarius (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}). A total of 21 trainers will open their yards to the public from 9 a.m.-12:30 p.m. later that morning. Tickets start at £17 per person for a Sunday wristband, with selling locations including all equine sites, car parks and yards. Children aged 12 and under are free all weekend. For the full schedule of events, full ticket pricing and more information, go to www.thehenrycecilopenweekend.co.uk. “The Open Weekend is a fantastic opportunity for the public to go behind the scenes and meet the trainers, staff, and horses that have made this a summer to remember of racing,” said Charlie Fellowes, Chairman of The Henry Cecil Open Weekend. “We have an action packed weekend planned for our visitors to enjoy. The queen of racing Enable will canter on Warren Hill, alongside a host of other big names on Sunday morning. Please help us raise funds for our amazing charities and we look forward to welcoming you to Newmarket this weekend.” The post Henry Cecil Open Weekend Scheduled for Sept. 21-22 appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

The word champion can be used in many different categories in racing and during Irish Champions Weekend, there were a number of individuals, both human and equine, for whom this already applies or soon will. The champion everyone in racing was most pleased to see in person at the Curragh was Pat Smullen, and we’ll be hearing more from him in his TDN column on Wednesday. It is worth adding, however, that Smullen’s modesty is such that his words tomorrow will doubtless focus on others, so here’s a brief thought about him. Simply, without the extraordinary exploits of his race-riding career coupled with an appaealing lack of egotism in his day-to-day life, racing folk—from fans and grooms to some of the sport’s biggest owner-breeders—would not have put their hands so deep in their pockets. The various activities surrounding the Irish Champions Weekend have so far raised €1.3 million for Cancer Trials Ireland, and that tally will rise still. Furthermore, this is a man currently undergoing another course of chemotherapy, which is as physically draining as it is mentally. It is not an exaggeration to say that it was a Herculean effort for Smullen even to attend the races on Sunday, so while he is thanking others, it is important that we thank him for spearheading this campaign in the midst of his own illness. Here, There and Everywhere There was no shortage of champion jockeys in Ireland over the weekend. A magnificent nine lined up for the Pat Smullen Champions Race on Sunday, and though Britain’s reigning champion Silvestre de Sousa is sidelined through injury, the champion jockey-elect, Oisin Murphy, made a quick visit to his homeland on Saturday for a frustrating ride on Deirdre (Jpn) in the G1 QIPCO Irish Champion S. before taking part in an informative day of Arc trials in Paris on Sunday. The one star name missing from Ireland was Frankie Dettori. The fact that he takes so few rides in comparison to his younger rivals means that numerically he is way down the jockeys’ table with 57 wins to Murphy’s 190, but reshuffle the order by prize-money won and Dettori’s stellar season is writ large. With £5,437,576 earned by his mounts this season he has a tally more than double that of his nearest pursuer Ryan Moore, and he added another two Group 1 victories aboard Logician (GB) (Frankel {GB}) and Star Catcher (GB) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) to his haul of 16 top-flight wins in 2019. There have been two Irish champion jockeys since Pat Smullen notched his ninth title in 2016 and those two, Colin Keane and Donnacha O’Brien, are currently just one win apart at the top of the table. The same number splits Andrew Slattery and Oisin Orr in Ireland’s apprentice title, with Slattery having taken a narrow lead on Saturday courtesy of his third consecutive win on Kastasa (Ire) (Rock Of Gibraltar {Ire}) for the Aga Khan and Dermot Weld. All Guns Blazing The Aga Khan’s success over the weekend extended to the G2 Blandford S. winner Tarnawa (Ire), a daughter of Shamardal, who was also in the limelight after Pinatubo (Ire) won the G1 Goffs Vincent O’Brien National S. by a whopping nine lengths. For a colt who started his winning streak on his May 10 debut at Wolverhampton, it would have been easy to dismiss him as an early 2-year-old who might be found out once some bigger guns started to fire in the autumn. However, his electrifying performance at the Curragh, following a five-length strike in the G2 Vintage S., was akin to a cannon’s boom which could have been heard by Siskin (First Defence) from his stable at Glenburnie. With Pinatubo likely to head to the Dewhurst and Siskin to the Middle Park, the two exciting juveniles may not meet until next year but if both remain healthy and sound, they are scintillating prospects to savour ahead of the Classics. Shamardal is currently fourth in the European stallion table behind Galileo (Ire), Dubawi (Ire) and Sea The Stars (Ire), with Frankel (GB) behind him in fifth. Each member of that quintet played a significant part in stakes results over the last week. The irrepressible Galileo was represented by Group 1 winners Love (Ire), Magical (Ire) and Search For A Song (Ire), Group 2 winners Waldgeist (GB) and Mogul (GB), Group 3 winner Norway (Ire) and listed scorers Blissful (Ire) and Lancaster House (Ire). Moreover, his offspring filled the top three slots in both the Irish Champion S. and the Irish St Leger. Galileo’s sons Frankel and Ruler Of The World (Ire) were responsible for the G1 St Leger winner Logician (GB) and G1 Matron S. winner Iridessa (Ire), while his daughters Starlet’s Sister (Ire) and Sky Crystal (Ire), were represented by Group 2 winners Sottsass (Fr) (Siyouni {Fr}) and Space Traveller (GB) (Bated Breath {GB}). Newsells Park’s Stakes Treble The aforementioned Mogul and Waldgeist continued an excellent season for their breeder/co-breeder Newsells Park Stud, with Mogul being the brother to dual Group 1 winner and Derby third Japan (GB). Ispolini (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) completed a memorable weekend for the Hertfordshire stud by collecting the G3 Deutsches St Leger for Godolphin in Dortmund and he paid a further compliment to Newsells Park Stud resident Nathaniel (Ire), who is a three-parts-brother to Ispolini’s grandam Playful Act (Ire) (Sadler’s Wells). The Frankel yearling colt out of Ispolini’s dam Giant’s Play (Giant’s Causeway) is heading to Book 1 of the Tattersalls October Sale in a 26-strong draft for the stud, which will also offer a Dubawi half-brother to Without Parole (GB) (Frankel {GB}) and Tamarkuz (Speightstown) for John and Tanya Gunther. Dubawi’s results were enhanced by the return to form of G1 Dubai Sheema Classic winner Old Persian (GB), who won the GI Northern Dancer Turf S. at Woodbine and, like Too Darn Hot (GB) and Wuheida (GB), is out of a mare by Singspiel (Ire). A Galaxy of Stars Stradivarius (Ire) remains the stellar performer for his sire Sea The Stars (Ire) and, having already won his second Weatherbys Hamilton Stayers’ Million, he completed the old-fashioned stayers’ Triple Crown by adding the G2 Doncaster Cup to his Gold Cup and Goodwood Cup victories. The Gosden stable’s embarrassment of riches was augmented by the G1 Prix Vermeille victory for a high-class daughter of Sea The Stars in Irish Oaks winner Star Catcher (GB) for Anthony Oppenheimer but, unlike the owner-breeder’s Golden Horn (GB) (Cape Cross {Ire}), she is unlikely to head to the Arc even after her authoritative win at ParisLongchamp. Instead Star Catcher will swerve stable-mate Enable (GB) and be saved for QIPCO British Champions Day at Ascot. Gosden also fielded Anapurna (GB) in the Vermeille but she could manage only seventh on her first start since becoming Frankel’s first British Classic winner in the Oaks back in June. His second was provided by yet another Clarehaven representative, Logician (GB), who gave Gosden his fifth victory in the St Leger and Frankie Dettori his sixth. Logician, an echo of his damsire Daylami (Ire) with his shimmering grey coat, is now unbeaten in five starts and is the highlight to date for his dam Scuffle (GB), a half-sister to Bated Breath (GB) and Cityscape (GB), despite the fact that the mare’s previous four foals are all multiple winners. Two of them—Suffused (GB)(Champs Elysees {GB}) and Battlement (GB) (Dansili {GB})—have also earned black type. Scuffle’s sibling, the Juddmonte stallion Bated Breath, heaped further glory on their dam Tantina (Distant View) as the sire of two stakes winners this weekend. Breathtaking Look (GB) won the G3 Japan Racing Association Sceptre S. for Stuart Williams and Jonathan Parry, while Space Traveller (GB) ensured that owner Steve Parkin would at least have some of his sponsorship money returned when he added the G3 Clipper Logistics Boomerang S. to his victory in the G3 Jersey S. at Royal Ascot. Bated Breath’s second Royal Ascot winner, Daahyeh (GB), also performed well in Ireland at the weekend when finishing second to Love in the G1 Moyglare Stud S. Ringfort Bubbling Over There were two champagne moments for Derek and Gay Veitch’s Ringfort Stud on Saturday. Firstly Threat (Ire) (Footstepsinthesand {GB}), bred by the Lumiere Partnership at Ringfort, continued on his upward trajectory to win his second Group 2 contest of the term when holding off Royal Crusade (Ire) (Shamardal) in the Pommery Champagne S. at Doncaster. The same sponsor also supported Musselburgh’s card where another Ringfort graduate, Just Hubert (Ire), rallied impressively to win the Edinburgh Cup. As a member of the first crop of the late Dunaden (Fr), the 3-year-old also earned his connections extra reward from the stallion’s breeders’ scheme premiums which are paid out by Sheikh Fahad on top of any prize-money earned. As a four-time winner, Just Hubert is his sire’s most prolific scorer and biggest plunderer of the breeders’ scheme pot. A Rare Gem While John Gosden’s record in the St Leger is impressive, Dermot Weld’s dominance of the Irish equivalent will take some beating. The trainer’s Vintage Crop (GB) (Rousillon) won back-to-back runnings each side of his historic Melbourne Cup victory in 1993 and 1994, but this feat was surpassed by the phenomenally consistent Vinnie Roe (Ire) (Definite Article {GB}), who made the race his own between 2001 and 2004. Voleuse De Coeurs (Ire) (Teofilo {Ire}) followed up with a six-length win in 2013 and was the most recent mare to triumph until Sunday’s dominant performance by Moyglare Stud’s homebred Search For A Song. It was a victory that was entirely fitting for so many reasons. Moyglare’s Eva Maria Bucher-Haefner has not only been a significant donor to the complete overhaul of the Curragh racecourse but has also provided funding for great improvements to the training centre, while her stud was a Group 1 sponsor during the Irish Champions Weekend. The only 3-year-old in the Leger field, Search For A Song is the second stakes winner for her dam Polished Gem (Ire) (Danehill) this season after her brother Falcon Eight (Ire)’s victory in the listed Coral Marathon at Sandown. She is also her dam’s second Group 1 winner after Free Eagle (Ire) (High Chaparral {Ire}), whose name has been given to the new all-weather gallop on the Curragh which runs alongside the ‘Old Vic’. Arguably the most resilient of Polished Gem’s offspring is Custom Cut (Ire) (Notnowcato {GB}), whose 13 wins include three Group 2s, three Group 3s and another three listed contests, while her daughter Sapphire (Ire) (Medicean {GB}) won the G2 QIPCO British Champions Fillies’ and Mares’ S. Such a matriarch has indeed been a gem for an owner-breeder whose generosity in supporting others within the industry deserves to be rewarded. Stars Out For Newmarket’s Open Weekend Newmarket throws open its doors on Saturday and Sunday for the Henry Cecil Open Weekend and among the many events throughout the two days, the chance to see some of John Gosden’s stars will be worth getting out of bed early for on a Sunday morning. Enable, Stradivarius and Logician are among those who will canter up Warren Hill at 8am, an hour before 21 Newmarket yards open their doors for the morning. These include Sir Mark Prescott’s Heath House Stables and Roger Varian’s Carlburg Stables. On Sunday afternoon, a variety of racing stars, including William Buick and Ryan Moore, will be showing their versatility when competing in the show jumping competition on the Severals, while much less glamorously this correspondent will be serving Newmarket’s finest sausages at Beverley House Stables from 9am. There really is no rest for the wicked. The post The Weekly Wrap: Championing The Cause appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Editor’s Note: The Jockey Club has asked for public comment on their proposal to cap at 140 the number of mares a stallion can breed annually. In this ongoing series, we will publish the perspectives of breeders, stallion farms and others on the proposal. Arthur Hancock, Stone Farm I’m all for the proposal. I used to stand stallions; we had Halo, Bold Forbes, Northern Baby, and Cougar, the sire of Gato del Sol, but I got out of it because in order to buy a stallion prospect, you had to go out and breed so many mares. My father, Bull Hancock, everyone knows, was a top stallion man. I asked him, `Why don’t you take a few more mares to Bold Ruler?’ He told me in his own words: overbreeding a stallion compromises the quality of the offspring. And I agree with my father. And he told me back then if you had a son of Bold Ruler, even if he didn’t race, you could sell him for $50,000 to Argentina or Turkey, or somewhere. In the old days, you could get $25,000-$50,000 for the top 10-15 colts in all kinds of countries. If you’re the 10th best three-year-old colt in America now, it doesn’t mean a damn thing. If you’re the 10th best colt in the sale, maybe you’ll make two or three times your stud fee, maybe not. Now if you’ve got a son of Tapit, or any of these other good stallions, you can’t get anything for him unless he wins a graded stakes, and unless he wins a Grade I, you’re still out of the ballgame. If a stallion doesn’t hit, and most of them don’t, you pollute the gene pool with mediocre stock. Another wise old saying that my father used to say is that a good bull is half your herd and a bad bull is all of it. So a lot of bad bulls that you don’t know are going to be bad bulls go to stud and that downgrades the American bloodstock registry. Also, I think it’s unfair if you’re out here at the sales and you’ve got a yearling by a really good stallion, and you’re one of 60 or 70. There will be a few that hit big or do great, but talk to the others. I always felt it was unfair as a person who stood stallions to my customers who had bred to them, because if I did that, they’re going come out here and be one of 50 yearlings. So I think it’s the best thing for the future of the bloodstock industry. I think it’s the best thing for your customers. I agree with my father, because overbreeding stallions compromises the quality of the offspring. How many Secretariats have you seen lately? I haven’t seen any track records broken the past few years. When I was a boy, if you owned a racehorse, you could expect 45 lifetime starts. Now it’s nine or 10. Maybe that’s part of the reason. It compromises the quality of the offspring. I think the stallion people would b a lot better instead of breeding 200 mares to breed 100 to 130 and charge double or one-and-a-half times the current stud fee, and you can make your money back that way. I don’t know how stallions can breed that many mares. In the old days, my dad wouldn’t double a stallion two days in a row. Now, they breed four mares a day, every day. If you’ve got 100,000 Cadillacs to sell, each one is going to be worth less money than if you old had 1,000. It’s the old law of supply and demand. So we’re saturating the supply and it’s costing us all, I think, in the long run. We’d all be better off if we did this. The industry would, the breeders would, the people who buy would. I think it’s a win-win situation across the board. Want to share your opinion? Email suefinley@thetdn.com The post Opinions on the Cap: Arthur Hancock appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Addressing your thoughts, questions and statements about Hong Kong racing. Have something to say? Send a tweet to @SCMPRacingPost.Seldom do you see a Class Two race start a Wednesday night Happy Valley meeting – @ChareneWooWhile the political and social chaos in Hong Kong continues to degenerate into fighting on the streets, the city’s number one sport – horse racing – has remained largely unaffected.For whatever combination of reasons – the Jockey Club’s neutrality, the need for an escape, the… View the full article

Champion trainer John Moore has paid tribute to former Hong Kong horseman Geoff Lane, who died in Australia at the age of 80 on Sunday, saying “you wouldn’t find a nicer guy”.Lane was a star apprentice in Melbourne early in his career before winning the senior jockeys’ championship in 1959-60, collecting a host of features – including three Victoria Derbies and a Cox Plate, before being forced into an early retirement because of weight issues.He made the move to Hong Kong in the early 1970s,… View the full article

Fresh off his first winner of the season at Sha Tin on Sunday, reigning champion trainer John Size unveils exciting ex-Godolphin galloper Beauty Rush at Happy Valley on Wednesday night.Named Tin Hat when trained by James Cummings in Australia, Beauty Rush won four times from eight starts, with the highlight coming when he saluted in the Group Three Manfred Stakes (1,200m) at Caulfield in his last start before coming to Hong Kong.But better than his four-from-eight record is the form he has… View the full article