Wandering Eyes

Riva Capri winning the Listed The O’Learys Fillies Stakes (1200m) at Wanganui The victory of promising three-year-old filly Riva Capri in Saturday’s Listed The O’Learys Fillies Stakes (1200m) at Wanganui conjured up mixed emotions for well known bloodstock agent Bruce Perry. Perry, who selects and manages the thoroughbred interests of Wellington-based owner/breeder Lib Petagna, was thrilled to see the Guy Lowry and Grant Cullen-trained filly carry Petagna’s colours to victory as the first stakes winner for the ill-fated Mapperley Stud stallion Atlante. The win also brought with it the sting of losing Atlante to a freak accident after completing his second season in the breeding barn, with Petagna holding a significant stake in the Gr.1 New Zealand 2000 Guineas (1600m) winner. Riva Capri is the second foal of High Chaparral mare, Chaparella who Perry had purchased for $38,000 on Petagna’s behalf at the 2015 New Zealand Bloodstock Winter Mixed Bloodstock Sale. “It was quite special to see her (Riva Capri) win on Saturday as she will always be in the record books as Atlante’s first stakes winner,” Perry said. “Guy and Grant had told us all along they thought she had plenty of ability and she certainly showed that on Saturday. “She missed a run when they called off the Taupo meeting, which I think showed a little over the last 50m. “She’s plenty tough though and hopefully she can go on with it now.” Perry was philosophical about the circumstances surrounding the demise of Atlante but admitted he did harbour a what might have been feeling after witnessing Riva Capri in action. Riva Capri became her sire Atlante’s (pictured) first stakes winner on Saturday Trish Dunell “It can be a tough old game at times and when we lost Atlante it was a blow as Lib was heavily invested in him and the mares’ we had bought to support his stud career,” he said. “Riva Capri’s dam was one of those we bought specifically for that purpose so I know Lib is pretty chuffed to breed and own Atlante’s first stakes winner despite what has happened. “You can’t help but think what heights he might have reached as a stallion but on the other hand he could have flopped as you just don’t know in the breeding game.” With the death of Atlante, Petagna and Perry had to make some significant commercial decisions about the broodmare band that they had assembled to support the stallion, including the sale of Chaparella. “A number of those mares became surplus to requirements once Atlante died so we did have to move many of them on,” Perry said. “We sold Chaparella in foal to Per Incanto at the 2018 May Sale at Karaka along with her Atlante weanling colt. “Our thinking was if the family was to become a commercial prospect in the sale ring then it would be through the deeds of Riva Capri, who Lib had retained. “Sometimes you have to make a tough call but Lib is a commercial breeder and that goes with the territory.” While most of the attention on Saturday was centred around Riva Capri, the run of the Petagna-owned Savabeel filly Sorrentina to flash into third in the race also brought a smile to Perry’s face. Petagna has enjoyed staggering success with the progeny of Waikato Stud stallion Savabeel with Sorrentina becoming the ninth black-type Savabeel from the 12 he has owned. “Lib and the whole industry have a lot to thank Savabeel for,” Perry said. “Sorrentina is a filly we purchased for $180,000 from Waikato Stud’s 2018 Karaka draft and she has the makings of a classic filly by the look of her. “To get black-type first up is fantastic and augurs well for the future. “Stephen Marsh (trainer) has liked her all the way along and has done well with this type of filly for Lib in the past. “She holds a nomination for the 1000 Guineas (Gr.1, 1600m) at Riccarton so I think once the dust has settled from her debut run that will be where Stephen will be heading with her. “If she can perform at the top level then there is no reason to think she won’t head to Sydney in the autumn.” Marsh is no stranger to success for Petagna having prepared 2009 Gr.1 Australian Oaks (2400m) winner Sofia Rosa for Petagna while he also trained multiple Group One winner Lucia Valentina during her New Zealand career before she was transferred to the Australian stable of Kris Lees. Petagna rounded out a successful weekend when he was voted Owner of the Year for the fourth successive year at the New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing Horse of the Year Awards at Ellerslie on Sunday evening. Petagna had 14 winners or stakes-placed horses, from 26 runners, including Gr.1 New Zealand Thoroughbred Breeder’s Stakes (1600m) winner Nicoletta and Gr.1 New Zealand Derby (2400m) winner Crown Prosecutor (who he holds a 50 percent interest in). View the full article

The Elkstone Group's Social Paranoia was less than a length away from being a stakes winner—and a grade 1 winner at that—when he was entered in the Sept. 8, $600,000 Exacta Systems Dueling Grounds Derby at Kentucky Downs. View the full article

Six-time graded stakes-winner Catholic Boy came out of his Sept. 7 breeze in good order and is slated to make his next start in the Sept. 21 Kelso Handicap (G2) at Belmont Park, trainer Jonathan Thomas said Sept. 8. View the full article

Glamour galloper Melody Belle has added the New Zealand Horse of the Year title to her growing list of achievements. The Matamata mare was an almost unanimous choice for Horse of the Year, which was announced at the New Zealand Thoroughbred Horse of the Year Awards, in Auckland on Sunday night. Of the 61 votes cast for Horse of the Year, Melody Belle received 59, with one apiece for stablemate Te Akau Shark and Bostonian, who was a dual Group I winner in Australia. Melody Belle was also named Champion Sprinter-Miler for the 2018-19 season and was narrowly beaten by Danzdanzdance in the middle-distance category. Yourdeel, a stablemate of Melody Belle, was named Champion Two-Year-Old, with Madison County (three-year-old), Gory Days (stayer) and Jackfrost (Jumper) taking the other horse categories. Opie Bosson, who won six Group I races, headed off premiership winner Lisa Allpress by four votes in a tight battle for Champion Jockey. It was a fifth win for Bosson and came 21 years after his first. Champion trainer Murray Baker, who had trained the previous five Horse of the Year winners, received the prestigious Contribution to Racing award. Baker has had a long and successful career and has won more Group I races in Australia than any other New Zealand trainer. Baker and his training partner Andrew Forsman have won almost 600 races over the past five seasons and set new benchmarks in terms of wins, stake earnings and black-type wins. They have won 105 back type races over that period, including 78 Group races, with 23 at Group I level. The stable’s stake earnings for the period have topped $25 million. Melody Belle broke the recent pattern by earning the Horse of the Year title without leaving the country. The previous eight Horse of the Year winners had underlined their credentials by recording at least one Group I victory in Australia during the season. However, Melody Belle presented an irresistible case with a near faultless four-year-old campaign, which produced six Group wins from eight starts, ranging in distance from 1200m to 2000m. She was a dominant force at weight-for-age level, with six wins from six weight-for-age outings, including a record five Group I wins. The Group race structure has been operating in New Zealand since the 1977-78 season and Melody Belle is the first horse to win five Group I races in a single New Zealand season. She won the first two legs of the Hawke’s Bay Triple Crown in the spring and maintained her form in the latter half of the season, capping her campaign by beating the Zabeel Classic winner Danzdanzdance in the 2000m Bonecrusher Stakes, which was Melody Belle’s first race past 1600m. No other New Zealand-trained horse won more than two Group I races in the 2018-19 season and only Bostonian, who recorded his sprint double in Brisbane, was able to record a Group I win in Australia. Melody Belle has already made a mark in the new season, with a stunning win in the Group I Tarzino Trophy at Hastings on August 31 and looks to be a real chance of becoming the first horse to win the Hastings Triple Crown. The Commands mare, who was bred by veteran breeder Marie Leicester, is trained by Jamie Richards and raced by the Fortuna Melody Belle Syndicate, which is managed by syndicator John Galvin. The syndicate has 37 shareholders. Melody Belle was a $57,500 yearling buy and her second Tarzino win took her career earnings to $1.75 million. Danzdanzdance shaded Melody Belle by two votes in the middle-distance category. In addition to winning the Zabeel Classic and being runner-up in the Bonecrusher Stakes, Danzdanzdance was placed in the Group I Ranvet Stakes in Sydney and the Livamol Classic at Hastings She was also a Group I winner at 1600m, in the Captain Cook Stakes. Yourdeel, a dual Group I winner, comfortably headed off stablemate Probabeel for the two-year-old title, a trophy won by Melody Belle in 2017. Champion Three-year-old of the year, Madison County Trish Dunell Madison County, another dual Group I winner and runner-up in the Australian Derby, gained all bar one of the votes cast in the three-year-old category and Auckland Cup winner Glory Days, who is a potential Melbourne Cup contender this spring, was an almost unanimous choice for Champion Stayer. Madison County is prepared at Cambridge by Murray Baker and his training partner Andrew Forsman, who were named Trainers of the Year for the third successive year and the fourth time in the last five years. Wellington owner Lib Petagna, who races under the JML Bloodstock banner, was voted Owner of the Year for the fourth successive year. Petagna had 14 winners or stakes-placed horses, from 26 runners, including two Group I winners and three group placegetters. He had a 50 percent share in New Zealand Derby winner Crown Prosecutor and raced NZ Breeders’ Stakes winner Nicoletta on his own. The deeds of champion Hong Kong galloper Beauty Generation were reflected in the two major breeding awards. Nearco Stud, which bred Beauty Generation, was Breeder of the Year and Beauty Generation’s dam, Stylish Bel, was Broodmare of the Year. Beauty Generation, a son of Road To Rock, was unbeaten in eight starts in Hong Kong in the 2018-19 season and is third-equal in the 2019 world thoroughbred rankings. Nearco Stud, which is owned by South Island businessman Greg Tomlinson, was also represented by the Group II winner Belle du Nord and the Group III winner Miss Federer. Murray Baker picked up the award for Outstanding Contribution to Racing Trish Dunell 2019 NEW ZEALAND THOROUGHBRED HORSE OF THE YEAR AWARDS Twenty-five awards were presented at the 2019 New Zealand Thoroughbred Horse of the Year Awards dinner in Auckland on Sunday night. Horse of the Year: Melody Belle (59 votes) Also: Bostonian (1), Te Akau Shark (1). NZTR Award for Outstanding Contribution to Racing: Murray Baker. Champion Two-Year-Old: Yourdeel (55). Other finalists: Probabeel (9), Aotea Lad, Aretha. Champion Three-Year-Old – sponsored by FastTrack Insurance: Madison County (58). Other finalists: Media Sensation (1), Crown Prosecutor, Sentimental Miss, Surely Sacred. Champion Sprinter-Miler (up to 1600m) – sponsored by Majestic Horse Floats: Melody Belle (55). Other finalists: Bostonian (8), Enzo’s Lad, Shadows Cast, Te Akau Shark. Champion Middle-Distance Horse (1601m-2200m): Danzdanzdance (32). Other finalists: Melody Belle (30), Savvy Coup (2), On The Rocks. Champion Stayer (2201m +): Glory Days (62). Other finalists: Rondinella (1), Five To Midnight. Champion Jumper: Jackfrost (51). Other finalists: Shamal (6), Gagarin (2), Perry Mason (2), Chocolate Fish (1). Trainer of the Year – sponsored by Dunstan: Murray Baker & Andrew Forsman (50). Other finalists: Jamie Richards (12). Jockey of the Year: Opie Bosson (29). Other finalists: Lisa Allpress (25), Matthew Cameron (4), Johnathan Parkes (1). Jumps Jockey of the Year: Aaron Kuru (58). Other finalists: Buddy Lammas (4), Shaun Phelan. Owner of the Year – sponsored by TAB: JML Bloodstock (24). Other finalists: China Horse Club Racing (12), Archer Equine Investments (8), Brendan and Jo Lindsay Partnership (8), Sir Peter Vela (3), NZ Thoroughbred Holdings (1), Raffles Dancers (1), Kevin Hickman, Kamada Racing and Bloodstock, Kelvin Tyler. New Zealand Strapper of the Year – sponsored by Chris Waller Racing: Brittany Moore (employed by Pitman Racing). NZTR Award for Contribution to Media, Digital & Content: Isola Racing Stables. Other finalists: Boys Get Paid, Des Coppins, Mark Nowell, Aidan Rodley, Paul Vettise. Breeder of the Year: Nearco Stud (Breeder of Beauty Generation, Belle du Nord and Miss Federer). Other finalists: Archer Equine, Garry Chittick and Waikato Stud and partners, WJ Gleeson and WJ Bloodstock, Don Goodwin. Eight Carat Broodmare of the Year – sponsored by Arion Pedigrees: Stylish Bel (dam of Beauty Generation). Other finalists: Meleka Belle, Red Delicious. Trainers’ Premiership: Murray Baker & Andrew Forsman. Jockeys’ Premiership: Lisa Allpress. Apprentice Jockeys’ Premiership: Ryan Elliot. Owners’ Premiership: Sir Peter Vela. Newcomer to Training – sponsored by gavelhouse.com: Jamie Richards. Grosvenor Award (stallion earnings in NZ): Savabeel. Dewar Stallion Trophy: (stallion earnings in New Zealand and Australia): Savabeel. Centaine Award: (stallion earnings worldwide): Savabeel. New Zealand Bloodstock Filly of the Year: Imelda Mary and Queen Of Diamonds. View the full article

The Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association (TOBA) held the 34th Annual National Awards Dinner at Fasig-Tipton near Lexington Saturday, honoring Seth Klarman of Klaravich Stables as National Owner of the Year and John D. Gunther as National Breeder of the Year. Reed Ringler of Fasig-Tipton hosted the ceremony. Klaravich Stables, which recently nabbed Saratoga’s leading owner title for the second consecutive year, has campaigned a number of top horses in recent years, including current multiple Grade I-winning turf superstar Bricks and Mortar (Giant’s Causeway) in partnership. Gunther has bred several prominent horses at his Glennwood Farm, including 2018 Horse of the Year and Triple Crown winner Justify (Scat Daddy). Justify’s dam, Stage Magic (Ghostzapper), was named TOBA’s Broodmare of the Year, while his ownership group, WinStar Farm, China Horse Club, Head of Plains Partners, and Starlight Racing, received Partnership of the Year honors. It marked the first year a partnership award was given. Thomas and Lori Fackler of Best A Luck Farm LLC were honored as National Small Breeder of the Year. James E. “Ted” Bassett, formerly of Keeneland and Breeders’ Cup, was presented with the Industry Service Award for exceptional contributions to the Thoroughbred industry, while the Robert N. Clay Award, which recognizes outstanding contributions to preserving land for equine use, went to Wayne and Susie Chatfield-Taylor. The Clay Award is presented in partnership with the Equine Land Conservation Resource. Aztec Sense (Street Sense) was named Claiming Crown Horse of the Year and Archie Rocks (race name: Smittys Messiah {Le Monde}), an OTTB accumulating the most points in competition, was honored as Rood & Riddle Thoroughbred Sport Horse of the Year. In addition, the achievements of owners in the four major North American racing regions were recognized at the dinner. State breeders from 22 states and Canada were also feted during a luncheon at Godolphin Sept. 6. The post Klaravich, Gunther, & More Honored at TOBA Awards appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Slalom (Fr) (Intello {Ger}), a close second to Japan (GB) (Galileo {Ire}) in the G1 Grand Prix de Paris, has been ruled out for the rest of the season. Andre Fabre had been planning on taking the 3-year-old back to ParisLongchamp for a crack at Enable (GB) (Nathaniel {Ire}) in the G1 Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe. Given Japan has subsequently beaten Crystal Ocean (GB) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) in the G1 Juddmonte International at York he would have been well worth his place in the line-up. However, he is now on the sidelines. Fabre said, “Slalom has had a setback, unfortunately. Sadly he’ll be out for the rest of the season. It’s a shame, I was expecting some big races from him.” No final decision has yet been made over whether the unbeaten Earthlight (Ire) (Shamardal) will have his final start of the season in Britain. Following his victory in a very strong renewal of the G1 Prix Morny at Deauville, Fabre intimated he would like to run in the G1 Darley Dewhurst S. at Newmarket next month, sponsored by his owner, Sheikh Mohammed. “We haven’t fully decided yet, we’re waiting to see what happens with a few others,” said Fabre. The post Slalom Done for Year After Setback appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

The Week in Review, Bill Finley When The Jockey Club proposed last week a limit to the numbers of mares a stallion could be bred to, Russell Williams, the president of the United States Trotting Association (USTA) had many thoughts, among them, “What took you so long?” Williams, who is also the president of Hanover Shoe Farms, by far the largest breeder in harness racing, was the one who led the charge to have similar rules enacted by the USTA, the Standardbred equivalent of the Jockey Club. He started to call for limits on the amount of mares a stallion could be bred to as far back as 2004. Starting in 2009, no new Standardbred stallion was allowed to breed to more than 140 mares. That’s the same number being proposed by the Jockey Club. Because there are roughly one third as many Standardbreds bred in the U.S. each year as there are Thoroughbreds, the problems of in-breeding were more dire for the trotters and pacers. The breeding industry was dominated by a handful of top stallions, some of whom were sent to 200 or more mares a year. There was not a lot of science available at the time, but you didn’t need to be an expert in the field of genetics to realize this could cause serious problems. “I was the instigator,” said Williams, who, at the time was a vice president at Hanover and on the USTA Board of Directors. “I felt we might be breeding ourselves into a corner and we needed to look a that.” The USTA commissioned a study by Dr. Gus Cothran of the University of Kentucky. Cothran concluded that the Standardbred gene pool was becoming less diverse, and that the breed would suffer in the future because of that lack of diversity. “Cothran, he did a study for us to assess the loss of heterozygosity in the Standardbred breed,” Williams said. “He looked at both pacers and trotters and he calculated we were going to breed ourselves into a corner if we kept on going with unlimited books.” Heterozygosity has been defined as “overall genetic diversity in an individual that can then be averaged over the entire population–or in this case, the breed.” Williams said that the breeding industry was already seeing a rise in the amount of horses born with Osteochondritis Dissecans problems (OCD), as well as an increase in fertility problems, but it was more the fear of the unknown that had the sport worried. Certainly, too much in-breeding was likely to lead to a less healthy horse. “When I was growing up you did not see cancer in horses,” Williams said. “You just didn’t see it and (top pacing stallion) Somebeachsomewhere died of cancer (in January of 2018) at the age of 13, half the age you’d expect a horse to die at. What’s going on? Situations like that show you how careful you have to be.” It took a few years from the time Cothran’s study was completed until the USTA implemented its new rules, but once they went into effect the industry has not looked back. In fact, some believe 140 is still too high a number and have called for the number to be reduced to 100. As expected, some breeders objected and sued. The same could happen in Thoroughbred racing if The Jockey Club goes through with its proposal. Williams said the lawsuits went nowhere, a factor The Jockey Club’s lawyers are likely well aware of. Williams said antitrust lawsuits were filed alleging restraint of trade by the USTA and Williams was among those deposed. He said that once the depositions began it became so clear that the plaintiffs had no case against the USTA and the lawsuits were dropped. “I had contacted lawyers with what is probably the best antitrust law firm in the country and the lawyers there gave us their opinion that we were OK,” Williams said. “He said there were no antitrust problems with doing this. Basically, if you do something which is a burden on commerce but it is not done for commercial reasons but rather for scientific reasons that benefit an industry you can do it.” He said most people in the industry already understood that in-breeding was a problem that had to be dealt with and didn’t object to the rule changes. “Most people were very good about this,” he said. “They felt in their hearts a dedication to the breed and saw the value to this. A feeling persisted that this is good for our horses, so we’re OK with it.” Ironically, Hanover had more to lose than perhaps any other entity in the sport. It has been the annual leading breeder in the sport for as many years as the USTA has been keeping records and was among the guilty parties when it came to breeding their stallions to huge books of mares. “At Hanover, we were clearly hurt by this,” Williams said. “It was one of those situations where, as a USTA director I had a potential conflict of interest, but, because I took a position contrary to my economic interests it was a moot point.” At least for now, Williams is not in favor of lowering the number of mares a stallion can be bred to any further. He said there’s no reason to make any changes until the results of on-going research into the Standardbred genome are completed. A genome is an organism’s complete set of DNA, including all of its genes. In time, when the full make up of the DNA of a Standardbred is available to breeders, people will be able to make breeding decisions equipped with scientific data that will give them the ability to avoid problems that could be caused by in-breeding. The USTA is strongly opposed to the Horse Racing Integrity Act, which is being pushed hard by The Jockey Club, so the two organizations are often at odds. But when it comes to The Jockey Club’s attempts to limit book sizes, Williams believes it is on the right track. “This may be the only thing I agree with them on, but, yes, definitely, I believe what they are trying to do is important and the right thing to do,” he said. Why Some Races are “Win and You’re In” and Some Are Not? Why was the GI Haskell, a race restricted to 3-year-olds, a “Win and You’re In” (WAYI) race for the GI Breeders’ Cup Classic, but the GI Runhappy Travers, also a race restricted to 3-year-olds, not? People might have been asking a similar question Saturday at Belmont when the Jockey Club Derby was a WAYI race for the GI Breeders’ Cup Turf, but the filly equivalent, the Jockey Club Oaks Invitational was not a WAYI for the GI Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf. Why not something simple, like every Grade I race that fits a particular Breeders’ Cup race automatically becomes a WAYI race? When a horse wins a WAYI event the owners do not have to pay an entry fee to get into a Breeders’ Cup race and the horse’s travel expenses are covered. Breeders’ Cup President and CEO Craig Fravel said the Breeders’ Cup can only afford to have so many “challenge” races and therefore must pick and choose. He said several criteria are involved, including the history and importance of the race, making sure that one racing circuit isn’t favored over any other and helping tracks bolster particular races they are looking to promote by adding the WAYI bonus. “Because of the way American and International racing calendars are it can’t be a scientific as we would all like it to be,” he said. “The pattern of racing and placements and timing of racing are not so well defined. It doesn’t lend itself to easy scheduling. It’s a confounding problem that underlies the situation overall.” So far as the Travers versus Haskell goes, the date of the Haskell was moved up by eight days because there was a window on July 20 to televise the race on NBC, the network the Breeders’ Cup is affiliated with. As part of the deal to get Monmouth to move the race, the Breeders’ Cup agreed to make it a WAYI race. (Ironically, because of the excessive heat that day and Monmouth’s decision to delay the Haskell, it never did appear on TV). As for the Travers, Fravel said that NYRA already has a preponderance of challenge races and the Breeders’ Cup tries to be careful not to give one track too many races. He also said that when a track calls upon the Breeders’ Cup for a favor it will listen. “The Breeders’ Cup is an industry asset and when the industry asks us to help with things we try to help,” he said. He used the two Belmont races from this Saturday as an example. “(NYRA Senior Vice President, Racing Operations) Martin (Panza) was very interested in getting the six-race turf series they put together this year off to a fast start,” Fravel said. “He wanted us to name one of them a challenge race. In discussions with him and the NYRA team this was the race we came up with. We didn’t have the capacity to add two. “The same thing happened with the race at Kentucky Down (the Runhappy Turf Sprint). That track is doing a lot of good things and we thought it would be a good thing to help them out by making that a challenge race.” The post When the Standardbreds Instituted Breeding Limits and What Happened appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

LEXINGTON, KY – The Keeneland September Yearling Sale, traditionally considered a bellwether auction for the industry, opens its 13-day run Monday with the first of three select Book 1 sessions beginning at noon. The 2018 September sale was one for the record books, with an all-time high average and the fourth-highest gross in auction history. The gross of $377,140,400 was up over $69 million from the 2017 auction and the sale featured 27 seven-figure transactions. “I would say guardedly optimistic,” Keeneland’s Vice President of Racing and Sales Bob Elliston said of expectations for the 2019 September sale. “I’m optimistic because I see the quality of the stock that breeders and consignors have brought to the grounds-it’s just extraordinary. And I see the number of folks who are the grounds inspecting the horses, people from literally every continent on the planet. All the right folks are in attendance and are giving us great feedback about the quality of the offerings.” Elliston admitted 2018’s lofty figures would be hard to surpass. “The guarded part is that we’re up against the huge number we put up last year, when we were up $70 million from the prior year. To get back to that bar would be positive in my opinion, so a flat year would be a great year. That’s what gives me just a little bit of guarded thoughts.” The September sale will be the fourth major yearling sale of the season, following on Fasig-Tipton July and Saratoga sales. Consignors, who were kept busy during a brisk day of showing Sunday morning, were expecting to see a continuation of familiar market trends. “I don’t see any reason for things to change too much,” said Gainesway’s Brian Graves. “All the same people are here. The market is good. I know the yearlings sales were down a little in gross leading up to this, but I think that is more a function of just the numbers that were sold. There were fewer horses sold in Saratoga this year, so I think the change in gross is mainly because of that. The traffic [at the barn] has been encouraging. I don’t see any big changes one way or the other, I think it will be the same.” With continued demand at the top of the market, Four Star Sales’ Kerry Cauthen said there will always be buyers for the right product. “Last year was an exceptional sale,” Cauthen said. “As a consignor, my view is always fairly myopic-it’s what is right in front of me, which is of course my consignment. I think my traffic has been excellent and I think I have a very good group of horses overall and with all the right folks in tow. And the old adage my father said, ‘If you give them a good horse, it’s going to sell really well.’ I think I’d be overly zealous to hope for better than last year, but I think we’re going to have a nice sale.” With the sales barns awash with activity Sunday, Carl McEntee of Ballysax Bloodstock is expecting another strong September. “The market will be good this year,” McEntee said. “All of the right players have arrived in town. So that will help the market through Book 3 and I think if you have the right horse, in the right book, I think you’ll do very well.” One standout feature of the 2018 September sale was the strong demand which started in Book 1 and continued straight through to the end of the sale. “When you have all the buyers globally coming into the sale, that trickle down forces everybody back a book or so, which I think is fantastic for the economy and it’s fantastic for the industry,” McEntee said. McEntee said there were plenty of European shoppers at the sales grounds ahead of Monday’s first September session, despite uncertainties in the international economy led by the looming “no-deal’ Brexit at the end of October. “The only thing I was questioning was the value of the pound right now, but there seem to be more Europeans here then there were last year,” McEntee said. “Usually when the pound is a little stronger, obviously they are buying 70 cents on the dollar, so that does help the market a little bit. But there seems to be a large contingent of the Europeans buyers and internationally, we have an awful lot of people in. I think Brexit has been an issue for five years and I still don’t know what they are going to do. From a standpoint of a no-deal Brexit supposed to be happening Oct. 31, it will be interesting to see what happens, but I think the economy on a national level here in the U.S. will stay strong through next year. We’ve seen some fluctuation in the stock market, but I think at the very top end of the market, that doesn’t really affect too many of the players.” Cauthen agreed global uncertainties would play a part in how the September sale unfolds, but he expects a weakness in one area will be counteracted from another segment of the buying bench. “It’s Brexit. It’s the value of their currency right now. That will play a factor, but what happens in all markets is that when you have one action, you have an equal reaction in another area,” Cauthen said. “Hopefully we get some Americans and some strong other parts of the world buyers to come in and fill any void. You have certain overseas buyers that a weaker currency or a Brexit doesn’t change the way that they are going to do business. They see that as a blip on the screen and they are going to continue on. I think you’d be foolish to think it won’t have some effect, but I don’t think it’s going to stop them from buying the right horses.” Keeneland has been tinkering with the format of the September sale for the last several years. In 2018, Book 1 was held over four sessions and included close to 1,000 horses. Book 1 has been shortened to three sessions this year, with 569 catalogued yearlings. “It was completely in response to what our buyers asked from us,” Elliston said of the change. “With 989 horses as part of Book 1 last year, the price you have to pay to get a horse like that requires you to spend some quality time doing your due diligence on them and the buyers said they simply didn’t have the time to see that many horses. So by spreading it out more and having a more manageable number, that gives them the time to do their homework and feel confident when they have to pay that kind of money for a Book 1 horse. And we’re getting good, positive feedback from them on what they are experiencing on the grounds.” Cauthen said he was pleased with the shorter Book 1, which gave buyers the chance to spend more time looking at consignors’ best product. “I think this is a good format,” Cauthen said. “I think the buyers are more relaxed this time. There always has to be a balance between slow and fast, and buyers will probably get a little bored towards Tuesday and Wednesday because they’re going to be ready to get on to the next book. But we want them to focus on what is in front of them and we want them to see our A+++ grouping. We want them to be very focused on them. And I think they will be. So far, I’ve heard very positive buyer feedback.” Major buyers such as Larry Best and Peter Brant were conspicuous at the sales grounds Sunday morning, and many consignors were likely buoyed by the anticipated arrival of another major player. Sheikh Mohammed’s Godolphin was the leading buyer at the 2018 auction, purchasing 27 yearlings for $19,960,000. The sheikh made his first in-person visit to the sale in nearly a decade in 2018 and returned to Lexington Saturday evening. “We have a tremendous buying bench, but it’s always an honor to have Sheikh Mohammed here,” Elliston said. “He is an extraordinary gentleman who has put so much into this industry worldwide and when he takes time from his very busy schedule to be with us, it is a tremendous honor for all of us at Keeneland to have him with us.” The three Book 1 sessions of the September sale will begin at noon. Following a dark day Thursday, the auction resumes Friday and continues through Sept. 22 with sessions beginning daily at 10 a.m. The post Keeneland September Sale Starts Monday appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Parisian businessman-turned Normandy horse farmer Samuel de Barros describes his short time in the Thoroughbred industry as a “friendship story.” It is likely he will be friends for life, then, with agent Bertrand Le Metayer and trainer Francis Graffard after the trio teamed up to produce this year’s G1 Prix de Diane winner Channel (Ire) (Nathaniel {Ire}), de Barros’s first–and up until recently only–racehorse. “We’re all the same age, we’re all 40, we got started pretty much together,” de Barros said last month at the Arqana August yearling sale in Deauville. “It’s been a really fun story between what’s become quite a strong team just around this filly starting from scratch.” De Barros described Diane day, when Channel burst through an opening in midstretch and held on by a head at 9-1 on her fourth start-as “madness,” and ranked it behind only the birth of his children and his wedding day as the best days of his life. De Barros’s wife, Elodie, is an accomplished breeder of trotters, and about 10 years ago at Elodie’s urging the couple moved from Paris to Normandy to live on their farm where they keep about a dozen high-quality trotting mares and about 15 horses in training. Now fully immersed in country life, De Barros decided he wanted to dabble in the horse game himself, but he didn’t want to compete with his wife, who among her accomplishments had already produced two homebred stallions and won a handful of group-level races. So Samuel turned to Thoroughbreds. “I had been visually attracted to the Thoroughbreds for quite some time and I wanted to share the involvement in horses with my wife, but I wanted to have my own thing within the horses,” De Barros explained. “Elodie has done what she’s done for years and I wanted to have my own thing, but now I’m trying to get Elodie to share in the Thoroughbreds with me. “I’m very attracted to the international side of the Thoroughbred business. It’s very eye-opening that you can travel and meet people all over the world and buy and trade horses with them. Trotting is a very protected market in France. With Thoroughbreds you meet so many different people around the world and there are so many more opportunities than with the trotters. I want to be part of this international industry.” The first step was finding the right expert to guide him, and De Barros was introduced by a mutual associate to Bertrand Le Metayer. “One of their friends and racing advisors in the trotters contacted me one day and said, ‘I have some clients who would like to look into Thoroughbreds,'” Le Metayer recalled. “He said, ‘that’s not my game, I don’t know anything about it, would you mind meeting them?’ We met at their farm and they told me they wanted to get into breeding Thoroughbreds to potentially sell and sometimes race one or two fillies.” The first stop was Tattersalls December in 2017, where the couple found the market to be quite different to the Standardbred market they were accustomed to. “Samuel and Elodie are used to, with the trotters, when they want a mare they can almost certainly have her,” Le Metayer explained. “They were surprised when they discovered what the Thoroughbred market was all about: we got beat nine times before buying the first mare. There was some frustration in the early stages because we went to Tattersalls to buy some nice commercial mares and just couldn’t get one. We managed to buy one the first year after bidding on 10, and then one in the Arqana February sale, a very nice mare from a dispersal. Then we bought a mare in partnership with Newsells Park.” De Barros’s broodmare band after that first sales season comprised Embiyra (Ire) (Tamayuz {GB}), a now 6-year-old granddaughter of the Aga Khan’s excellent producer Ebaziya (Ire) (Darshaan {GB}), the dam of G1 Gold Cup winners Estimate (Ire) (Monsun {Ger}) and Enzeli (Ire) (Kahyasi {Ire}) and G1 Irish Oaks victress Ebadiyla (Ire) (Sadler’s Wells), bought for 260,000gns at Tattersalls December in foal to Gleneagles (Ire) (she has subsequently produced a filly); the stakes-winning Lbretha (Fr) (Exceed and Excel {Aus}), whose third dam is the multiple French champion Allez France (Sea-Bird) for €260,000 at Arqana February; and the 4-year-old Pinkster (GB), who is incidentally closely related to Channel being by Nathaniel and out of Puce (GB) (Darshaan {GB}), whose granddaughter Prudenzia (Ire) (Dansili {Ire}) has produced G1 Irish Oaks winner Chicquita (Ire) (Montjeu {Ire}) and G2 Ribblesdale S. winner Magic Wand (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}). Pinkster’s second dam is Ecurie des Monceaux’s Souk (Ire), and Channel was produced by another branch of that mare, her second dam being Souk’s G1 Cheveley Park S.-winning granddaughter Magical Romance (Ire) (Barathea {Ire}). So De Barros had established the foundations of an enviable broodmare band when the racecourse began to call. “We had our first three mares and it was all going well and then Samuel said, ‘I’d love to have my silks,'” Le Metayer recalled. “He designed his silks, which was a fun process, and then one day around breeze-up time he said, ‘we need a horse for my silks.'” So Le Metayer, De Barros and trainer Francis Graffard headed to Arqana’s May Breeze-Up Sale, where they found a bay filly by Nathaniel at the Mayfield Stables consignment. She was from a family that has featured prominently at Arqana over the last few years-Magic Wand topped the August Yearling Sale in 2016 at €1.4-million and this year a Dubawi (Ire) filly and a Galileo (Ire) colt out of full-sisters Prudenzia (Ire) and Prudente (Fr) were the top two lots-but she flew under the radar perhaps because of her slight stature and De Barros was able to secure her for €70,000. “I had said, ‘why don’t we buy something good value?'” Le Metayer said. “‘The breeze-ups are all about speed, so let’s go the opposite and buy a staying filly from a good pedigree.’ She was a great mover and breezed very well for what she was physically, and we decided to go for her. We weren’t expecting much, although she had a lovely family and an amazing page.” The bay filly headed to Graffard’s Chantilly yard and De Barros and Le Metayer turned their focus back to the burgeoning broodmare band. They bought two more mares last December: Aurora Gold (GB) (Frankel {GB}), an unraced daughter of six-time Group 1 winner Midday (GB) (Oasis Dream {GB}) for 550,000gns from the Juddmonte consignment at Tattersalls December in foal to Kingman (GB), and the German Group 3 winner Peace In Motion (Hat Trick {Jpn}) for €860,000 at Arqana December. And De Barros has given his mares the matings they warrant, using top sires like Dubawi, Sea The Stars (Ire), Showcasing (GB) and Siyouni (Fr). All the while, they continued to check in on Channel. “Samuel kept asking, ‘have you heard from Francis?'” Le Metayer said. “I said, ‘yes, he says she’s ok.’ Five months later: ‘have you heard from Francis?’ ‘Yes, he thinks she’s ok.’ And then Francis called and said, ‘would you be ok if we put her in the Prix de Diane?'” Channel was sent off at 11-1 for her career debut going 2000 metres at Saint-Cloud on Mar. 30, 2019 and found only Coolmore’s Secret Walk (Ire) (Dansili {GB})–a 600,000gns foal out of the G3 St Simon S. winner High Heeled (Ire) (High Chaparral {Ire})-a half-length too tough. “We haven’t seen [Secret Walk] again but Andre Fabre said she was really good,” Le Metayer said. “And this tiny little filly [Channel] really came and got to her heels. We thought, ‘maybe she is ok.'” Four weeks later, Channel broke her maiden by two lengths under Pierre-Charles Boudot at Lyon Parilly. She followed up three weeks later in a Diane course-and-distance conditions race at Chantilly, leaving her connections no choice but to pitch her into the Classic. Breaking swiftly at Chantilly on June 16, Channel took up an ideal stalking position while avoiding the early scrimmaging in behind. Sitting a joint third and bottled up behind the pacesetters as they climbed the hill and turned for home, Channel and Boudot found a seam as Amarena (Fr) (Soldier Hollow {GB}) began to tire approaching the 300. The pair struck the lead inside the final furlong and held off late drives from a handful of fillies, with about a length separating the first six across the line. Channel didn’t enjoy quite as seamless a journey next out in the G1 Nassau S. at Goodwood on Aug. 1, tiring late to finish seventh of nine against older fillies and mares, but she will have a chance to redeem herself in Saturday’s G1 Prix Vermeille, where she will step up to a mile and a half for the first time. “With the way the Prix de Diane was run we can question her best trip; we’re not quite sure because she’d had so little experience before the Diane,” Le Metayer said. “She’d only run three times and she’d never seen the whip before the Diane. She went and won quite gamely. We wouldn’t like to over race her; she’ll probably have a few more races and then we’ll send her to a nice stallion.” As For De Barros, his racing stable has now doubled in size to two–he picked up a filly by Dabirsim (Fr) for €130,000 at this year’s Arqana May Breeze-Up Sale that is now named Whistle (Fr) and in training with Graffard-and with the promise of his quality broodmare band coming up beneath, there is every reason to think De Barros will enjoy many more big days on the racecourse. That could eventually include, he said, some international involvement. “It would be wrong to think it couldn’t,” De Barros said. “I’ve started young and started with good stock so it would be wrong not to think about it. I’ve been quite curious about Thoroughbred racing internationally so I just want to make the experience worthwhile and keep the business plan going.” The post Channel A Fine Start For De Barros appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Going into Korea's biggest international races Sept. 8 at Seoul Racecourse, it appeared the local contingent had added a big measure of talent to the usual home-field advantage. View the full article

A competition involving popular grey gelding Roy Rocket (Fr) (Layman) will kick off during the Henry Cecil Open Weekend at Newmarket on Sept. 22, with all proceeds supporting Pat Smullen‘s fundraising efforts for Cancer Trials Ireland. One week after the Pat Smullen Champions Race during the second day of Longines Irish Champions Weekend on Sept. 15, visitors to John and Emma Berry’s Beverley House Stables can meet the famous Brighton specialist and enter a competition to win four owners’ badges for one of Roy Rocket’s race days in 2020. Each entrant must guess the number of spots on Gus the Dalmatian, with the official count being undertaken by independent judge Sir Mark Prescott. The winner is welcome to bring friends and spend a morning with Roy on the Newmarket gallops, and if a correct guess isn’t made, the next nearest number will be deemed the winner. A minimum donation of £10 per guess is requested to support champion jockey Pat Smullen’s fundraising efforts towards important research in the ongoing battle against cancer. Donations and guesses can be made in person at the open day on Sept. 22 or at www.gofundme.com/dotty-about-roy-rocket. “Cancer touches the lives of almost everybody in some way,” said John Berry. “This year alone, we have lost my mother-in-law Carol Collings and close friend Nicky Murray to cancer, and Emma and I are very keen to support Pat Smullen in the work he is doing to raise money for a charity which will help everyone affected by the disease, wherever they happen to live. “Thanks to Charlie Fellowes and the committee, the Henry Cecil Open Weekend is always an excellent event, and this year there is the extra bonus of being able to visit Sir Mark Prescott’s Heath House Stables. All visitors to Newmarket’s open weekend will be raising valuable funds for Racing Welfare and we hope that fans of Roy Rocket may dig a little deeper to support this charity. We look forward to welcoming visitors to Beverley House Stables for Newmarket sausages, and of course the chance to meet Roy Rocket and our team. Roy is having a deserved three-month holiday but he has ended the season sound and full of beans, and he will be back to race on as a 10-year-old next season.” The post Roy Rocket Ownership Competition to Support Cancer Trials Ireland appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Prior to Sunday’s running of the Keeneland Korea Cup (1800m) and Keeneland Korea Sprint (1200m), it had already been a banner year for locally based horses. Dolkong (Afleet Alex) flew the flag for Korea at this year’s Dubai World Cup Carnival with distinction, posting a smashing tally in the Listed Curlin H. ahead of a third placing–with future G1 Dubai World Cup repeater Thunder Snow (Ire) (Helmet {Aus}) just ahead of him–in Round 3 of the G1 Maktoum Challenge. Racing in the peninsula nation took yet another massive forward step Sunday when Moonhak Chief (Pioneerof the Nile) and Blue Chipper (Tiznow)–each a Keeneland sales graduate–proved too strong in the Cup and Sprint, respectively. Korea’s champion 2-year-old of 2017, Moonhak Chief had yet to break through in the limited opportunities for local black-type wins, but was entering the Cup off a solid second behind Dolkong–runner-up in last year’s Korea Cup–in the Owners’ Cup down at Busan a little over two months ago. Drawn widest in the field Sunday, the 4-year-old was off the track rounding the first turn, but was asked for some speed at the 1200-meter mark and wrested command soon after. Cheongdam Dokki (To Honor and Serve), fourth last season, gave game chase, but Moonhak Chief had something left and maintained a safe margin to the wire. The Jane Chapple-Hyam-trained Ambassadorial (Elusive Quality), a bargain purchase at Tattersalls earlier this year, was three and four wide the trip, but boxed on gamely to post the best finish on the day by a foreign invitee. Hong Kong’s Glorious Artist (Ire) (Zoffany {Ire}) saved ground from gate one and kept on nicely to pick up a nice check in fourth. America’s Harvey Wallbanger (Congrats) was sixth, while Lone Sailor (Majestic Warrior) was 10th as the 13-10 favorite. Blue Chipper was a warm item to become the first locally trained winner of the Sprint and did not disappoint. Drawn awkwardly in 13, the once-beaten gelding jumped right into the bridle and was able to cross down to the inside, where he had company in the form of the talented Gaon Champ (Kor) (Ecton Park). The two raced heads apart into the stretch, Gaon Champ refusing to go down without a fight, but Blue Chipper found that little bit extra in the final 100 meters to win clear. Dia Socks (Langfuhr) rallied up the fence to touch Gaon Champ out of second on the line. American sprinters largely struggled over the sandy surface, with Heartwood (Tapit)’s eight-place effort the best of three participants. Moonhak Chief, the 26th black-type winner for his sire, hails from the female family of Jump Start and Miswaki and has a foal half-sister by Pioneerof the Nile’s Taylor Made-based son Midnight Storm. Blue Chipper, whose dam was successful in the 2010 GII Demoiselle S., descends from the same female family as champion 2-year-old Dehere and ‘TDN Rising Star’ Unified (Candy Ride {Arg}), who stands alongside his sire at Lane’s End. Blue Chipper’s 2-year-old half-sister, the Tracy Farmer-owned and Mark Casse-conditioned Humor Me Dixie (Distorted Humor), was third in an Ellis maiden special turf sprint in July and he has a foal half-brother by Candy Ride. Sunday, Seoul, South Korea KEENELAND KOREA CUP, W1,000,000,000 ($839,033), Seoul, 9-8, 3yo/up, 1800m, 1:53.3, my. 1–MOONHAK CHIEF, 126, c, 4, Pioneerof the Nile–Talullah Lula (GSP), by Old Trieste. 1ST STAKES WIN. ($37,000 RNA Ylg ’16 KEESEP). O-Kwon Kyung Ja; B-White Fox Farm (KY); T-Kim Soon Keun; J-Moon Se Young; W570,000,000. Lifetime Record: Ch. 2yo Colt-Kor, 19-10-3-3, W1,579,600,000. 2–Cheongdam Dokki, 126, g, 5, To Honor and Serve–Elusive Gold, by Strike the Gold. ($20,000 Ylg ’15 KEESEP). O-Kimbyeongjin; B-Blue Heaven Farm LLC (KY); T-Luigi- Salvatore Riccardi; J-Lim Gi Won; W210,000,000. 3–Ambassadorial, 126, g, 5, Elusive Quality–Tactfully (Ire), by Discreet Cat. (20,000gns HRA ’19 TATFEB). O/T-Jane Chapple- Hyam; B-Darley (KY) J-David Egan; W130,000,000. Margins: 2HF, 4, NK. Odds: 5.70, 13.60, 70.70. Also Ran: Glorious Artist (Ire), Dolkong, Harvey Wallbanger, Baengmunbaekdap, King of Glory, New Legend (Kor), Lone Sailor, King of Ace. VIDEO Sunday, Seoul, South Korea KEENELAND KOREA SPRINT, W1,000,000,000 ($839,033), Seoul, 9-8, 3yo/up, 1200m, 1:11.1, my. 1–BLUE CHIPPER, 126, g, 4, Tiznow–Dixie City (GSW, $231,980), by Dixie Union. ($95,000 RNA Ylg ’16 KEESEP). O-Choi Byeong-Bu; B-Diamond A Racing Corp (KY); T-Kim Young Kwan; J-You Hyun Myung; W570,000,000. Lifetime Record: 8-7-0-0, W1,097,250,000. 2–Dia Socks, 126, h, 5, Langfuhr–Royal Strategy, by Woodman. ($30,000 Ylg ’15 FTKOCT). O-Kim Chang Sik; B-Henri & Stephan Mastey (KY); T-Ji Yong Cheol; J-Moon Se Young; W210,000,000. 3–Gaon Champ (Kor), 126, c, 4, Ecton Park–Ruby Queen (Kor), by Badge of Silver. O-Kim Ki Jong; B-Park Dong Hun; T-An Byung Ki; J-Lim Gi Won; W130,000,000. Margins: 1 1/4, NO, 1 3/4. Odds: 1.50, 33.70, 16.00. Also Ran: Spring Back, Final Energy (Kor), Doraonpogyeongseon, Global Captain, Heartwood, Wonder Bolt, Holy Legal (Brz), Today (Kor), Ace Korea, Ugly Warrior (NZ), Fast Pass, Bakoel Koffie (Ire), Pass the Vino (Ire). VIDEO The post Landmark Victories for Korea in Keeneland Cup, Sprint appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

One of the many highlights of Book 1 of the Keeneland September Sale is the chance to see and purchase the first offspring of some of the top racemares in recent memory. This year is no different with first foals out of the likes of MGISW Cavorting (Street Sense) and GI Kentucky Oaks victress Cathryn Sophia (Street Boss) among the many high class yearlings on offer during the sale’s opening three days. TDN‘s Associate Editor Christie DeBernardis compiled a list of some of racing’s best and brightest mares’ first produce on offer during Book 1, which opens Monday, Sept. 9. (The following list is in hip order and is comprised of Grade I-winning mares.) OFFTHETRACKS – Into Mischief filly (Hip 2) Offthetracks (Curlin) opened her account with a trio of wins, including the 2015 GII Schuylerville S. at Saratoga. Second in the 2016 GI Acorn S., the bay captured the GI Mother Goose S. at Belmont in her next outing and RNA’d for $1.1 million at that year’s Fasig-Tipton November Sale. Retained by Newtown Anner Stud, her first foal, a filly by red-hot sire Into Mischief, will be just the second yearling through the ring as part of the Blake Albina-Thoroughbred Services consignment. PHOTO CALL (IRE) – War Front filly (Hip 23) Initially campaigned in Europe, Photo Call (Galileo {Ire}) came to America in 2014 and was placed in the barn of Graham Motion. She captured the 2015 GIII Violet S. and GI Rodeo Drive S. during her tenure there and was sold to Vinnie and Teresa Viola for $3-million at that term’s Keeneland November Sale. They transferred the bay to Todd Pletcher and she secured a second top-level win in the GI First Lady S. in 2016 before retiring to the breeding shed. Photo Call was mated to War Front for her first cover, which proved to be a prudent choice as the War Front/Galileo cross has been quite successful in recent years thanks to the likes of Fog of War and Roly Poly. Photo Call’s first filly by that top Claiborne sire can be found in Denali Stud’s barn. RACHEL’S VALENTINA – Curlin colt (Hip 42) Rachel’s Valentina (Bernardini) had big shoes to fill when she hit the track as the second foal and first daughter out of Horse of the Year Rachel Alexandra (Medaglia d’Oro) and she lived up to the hype right away. Named a ‘TDN Rising Star’ for her debut win at Saratoga, the bay followed suit with a victory in the 2015 GI Spinaway S. and was second in that year’s GI Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies, as well as the 2016 GI Central Bank Ashland S. Her first foal is a colt by Curlin, who is consigned by Gainesway on behalf of Stonestreet Stables. ROSALIND – Speightstown colt (Hip 52) Runner-up in the 2013 GI Darley Alcibiades S., Rosalind (Broken Vow) went one better at Keeneland the following year with a win in the GI Ashland S. Sold to SF Bloodstock for $1-million later that season at the Fasig-Tipton November Sale, the chestnut was transferred to Chad Brown’s barn, winning the 2015 GII Sheepshead Bay S. and running third in that year’s GI E.P. Taylor S. Her first foal, a colt by Speightstown, is consigned by Bedouin Bloodstock. TARA’S TANGO – Medaglia d’Oro colt (Hip 138) Stonestreet also offers the first son of Grade I winner Tara’s Tango (Unbridled’s Song) Monday, but this Medaglia d’Oro colt is consigned by Denali Stud. Also bred and raised at Barbara Banke’s farm, Tara’s Tango captured the GI Santa Margarita S., GII Santa Maria S. and GIII Rancho Bernardo H. in 2016. The gray mare also has a notable pedigree as she is a half-sister to GISW Visionaire (Grand Slam); GSW & MGISP Scarlet Strike (Smart Strike); and GSW Madison’s Luna (Tapit). ANGELA RENEE – Empire Maker colt (Hip 227) Angela Renee (Bernardini) is a daughter of stakes-winning blue hen Pilfer (Deputy Minister), who also produced MGISW sire To Honor and Serve (Bernardini) and SW & MGSP Elnaawi (Street Sense). Initially campaigned by her breeder Siena Farm and Todd Pletcher, the bay won the GI Chandelier S. in 2014. Purchased by Don Alberto for $3 million at the 2015 Fasig-Tipton November Sale and sent to Brown, she closed her career in 2016 with a win in Monmouth’s Lady’s Secret S. Angela Renee’s first offspring, a colt by Empire Maker, will be presented by Paramount Sales. BOUNDING (AUS) – Curlin colt (Hip 274) Bounding (Lonhro {Aus}) did her best work in the land down under, earning the status of champion sprinter in New Zealand. Stonestreet bought her at the Magic Million National Broodmare Sale in 2016 for over $1.3 million USD and bred her to Curlin. The resulting colt is consigned by Eaton Sales. CATHRYN SOPHIA – Pioneerof the Nile filly (Hip 301) A $30,000 EASSEP yearling, Cathryn Sophia more than repaid her owners for their investment. Kicking off her career with four straight dominant victories, including the 2016 GII Forward Gal S. and GII Davona Dale S., the bay captured the GI Kentucky Oaks in impressive fashion that May. She summoned $1.4 million from SF Bloodstock at that year’s Fasig-Tipton November Sale and was bred to the late Pioneerof the Nile. Cathryn Sophia was sent through the ring again carrying her first foal at the 2017 Keeneland November Sale, where she was purchased by Bridlewood Farm and Don Alberto for $2.3-million. The resulting foal was a filly, who is presented here by Denali Stud. CAVORTING – Curlin filly (Hip 306) Out of GSW Promenade Girl (Carson City), Cavorting showed her talent from the start with a ‘TDN Rising Star’-worthy debut at Belmont in 2014. Winning the GII Adirondack S. at Saratoga in her next outing, the Kiaran McLaughlin pupil went on to capture the GI Test S. and GII Prioress S. in 2015, as well as the GII Ruffian S., GI Ogden Phipps S. and GI Personal Ensign S. in 2016. Retired to Stonestreet’s broodmare band, Cavorting was sent to the operation’s Hall of Famer Curlin for her first mating and the resulting filly is offered here by Eaton Sales, who also consigned Cavorting herself at the 2012 KEENOV Sale, where Banke bought her for $360,000. Click here for a TDN video of Cavorting and her 2019 Medaglia d’Oro filly. GOMO – Medaglia d’Oro filly (Hip 427) Campaigned by California-based Reddam Racing and Doug O’Neill, Gomo (Uncle Mo)’s career high came at Keeneland when she won the GI Alcibiades S. in 2015. The bay was picked up by Bridlewood Farm for $1.5 million at the 2017 Fasig-Tipton November Sale carrying her first foal by Medaglia d’Oro. She produced a filly by the Darley stalwart Feb. 11 of last year and the bay is part of Denali Stud’s KEESEP consignment. The post First Foals Out of Top Racemares On Offer at KEESEP appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Sunday’s G1 Prix du Moulin de Longchamp was decided in the stewards’ room after the Irish duo Circus Maximus (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) and Romanised (Ire) (Holy Roman Emperor {Ire}) fought out a frantic finale. Joining battle inside the last 300 metres, it was the Ballydoyle raider who prevailed by a nose, with a length back to Line of Duty (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) in third. However, the June 18 G1 St James’s Palace S. winner had drifted left and interfered with the G1 Prix Jacques le Marois hero. In a decision far removed from past precedent where the French authorities are concerned, Circus Maximus was allowed to keep the race at 4-1. Sunday, ParisLongchamp, France PRIX DU MOULIN DE LONGCHAMP-G1, €450,000, ParisLongchamp, 9-8, 3yo/up, c/f, 8fT, 1:36.54, g/s. 1–CIRCUS MAXIMUS (IRE), 125, c, 3, by Galileo (Ire) 1st Dam: Duntle (Ire) (MGSW & G1SP-Ire, GSW & G1SP-Eng, G1SP-Fr, $458,532), by Danehill Dancer (Ire) 2nd Dam: Lady Angola, by Lord At War (Arg) 3rd Dam: Benguela, by Little Current O-Flaxman Stables Ireland Ltd, Susan Magnier, Michael Tabor & Derrick Smith; B-Flaxman Stables Ireland Ltd (IRE); T-Aidan O’Brien; J-Ryan Moore. €257,130. Lifetime Record: G1SW-Eng, 10-4-1-1, €955,035. Werk Nick Rating: A+++ *Triple Plus*. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree. 2–Romanised (Ire), 129, c, 4, Holy Roman Emperor (Ire)–Romantic Venture (Ire), by Indian Ridge (Ire). O-Robert Ng; B-Mrs Monica Aherne (IRE); T-Ken Condon. €102,870. 3–Line of Duty (Ire), 125, c, 3, Galileo (Ire)–Jacqueline Quest (Ire), by Rock of Gibraltar (Ire). (400,000gns Ylg ’17 TATOCT). O-Godolphin; B-Triermore Stud (IRE); T-Charlie Appleby. €51,435. Margins: NO, 1, HF. Odds: 4.10, 3.20, 7.50. Also Ran: Olmedo (Fr), Phoenix of Spain (Ire), Shaman (Ire), Robin of Navan (Fr), Obligate (GB), Delaware (GB), Success Days (Ire). Scratched: Kick On (GB). Click for the Racing Post result or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. Video, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton. The post Circus Maximus Keeps Moulin Win After Late Drama appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Betfair Australia has defied the Jockey Club’s demand, continuing to host markets on Hong Kong racing.On Wednesday, the Jockey Club wrote an open letter to the company, ordering it to cease and desist, but that request was ignored with the betting exchange operating on Sunday’s Sha Tin meeting and promoting the fact it was doing so on Twitter.A total of A$472,165 (HK$2.52 million) was matched across the 10 races – an increase of about A$50,000 (HK$267,000) on last week’s meeting – with the… View the full article

Fitting a similar profile to that of G3 Prix des Chenes victor Ecrivain (Fr) (Lope de Vega {Ire} earlier on the card, Masaaki Matsushima and Teruya Yoshida’s Savarin (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) went postward for Sunday’s G3 Prix d’Aumale at ParisLongchamp returning off a once-out win in a Deauville newcomers’ heat and duly doubled up to remain unbeaten and punch her ticket to the Oct. 6 G1 Prix Marcel Boussac back at the same track on Arc day. The bay was under restraint tracking the pace along the fence in a handy third after the initial strides. Improving into second at halfway, the 7-5 favourite launched her challenge passing the quarter-mile marker and kept on relentlessly under continued rousting in the closing stages to earn a first stakes rosette in a bunch finish. Secret Time (Ger) (Camacho {GB}) found a late seam along the rail to finish 3/4-of-a-length behind, edging the unlucky-in-running Flighty Lady (Ire) (Sir Percy {GB}) by a short head for second. “I’m really delighted with her performance considering her lack of experience,” expressed trained Andre Fabre after securing a fifth renewal. “She doesn’t have an explosive turn of foot, but keeps finding more and is a filly with room for improvement. The programme dictates we should now target the [G1] Prix Marcel Boussac so she will go for that race. Ground conditions might be different come Arc day so we’ll see how she fares.” Savarin, one of four scorers from as many foals out of MG1SW European champion Sarafina (Fr) (Refuse To Bend {Ire}), is a full-sister to G3 Prix Messidor victor Geniale (Jpn) and G3 Radio Nikkei Sho third Go Timing (Jpn). Sarafina is herself kin to G3 Dubai Firebreak S. victor Sandagiyr (Fr) (Dr. Fong), stakes-winning G1 Prix Saint-Alary runner-up Sanaya (Ire) (Barathea {Ire}) and the three-time Group 3-placed Sanjida (Ire) (Polish Precedent). Savarin’s third dam is the stakes-placed Sanamia (Ire) (Top Ville {Ire}), herself a daughter of Listed Prix Joubert victress Santalina (relko {GB}), who in turn is a half-sister to G1 Grand Prix de Paris and G1 Preis von Europa-winning sire Sumayr (Ire) (Ela-Mana-Mou {Ire}). Sunday, ParisLongchamp, France PRIX D’AUMALE-G3, €80,000, ParisLongchamp, 9-8, 2yo, f, 8fT, 1:39.18, g/s. 1–SAVARIN (JPN), 126, f, 2, Deep Impact (Jpn) 1st Dam: Sarafina (Fr) (Ch. 3yo Filly-Eur, Hwt. Older Mare-Fr at 11-14f, MG1SW-Fr, $2,241,282), by Refuse to Bend (Ire) 2nd Dam: Sanariya (Ire), by Darshaan (GB) 3rd Dam: Sanamia (Ire), by Top Ville (Ire) 1ST BLACK-TYPE WIN; 1ST GROUP WIN. O-Masaaki Matsushima & Teruya Yoshida; B-Shadai Farm (JPN); T-Andre Fabre; J-Pierre-Charles Boudot. €40,000. Lifetime Record: 2-2-0-0, €53,500. *Full to Geniale (Jpn), GSW-Fr, $193,469; and Go Timing (Jpn), GSP-Jpn, $236,476. Werk Nick Rating: B. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree. 2–Secret Time (Ger), 126, f, 2, Camacho (GB)–Song of Time (Ire), by Kheleyf. (€13,000 Wlg ’17 ARQDEC; €130,000 Ylg ’18 AROCT). O-Giacomo Algranti; B-Gestut Kussaberg (GER); T-Fabrice Chappet. €16,000. 3–Flighty Lady (Ire), 126, f, 2, Sir Percy (GB)–Airfield (GB), by Dansili (GB). (21,000gns Ylg ’18 TAOCT). O-Paul Hancock; B-Tally-Ho Stud (IRE); T-Gavin Hernon. €12,000. Margins: 3/4, SHD, NO. Odds: 1.40, 11.00, 13.00. Also Ran: Alpinista (GB), Nunzia (Fr), Kenlova (Fr), Warzuzu (Ire). Click for the Racing Post result or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. Video, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton. The post Deep Impact’s Savarin Doubles Up in the Prix d’Aumale appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Tony Millard says Elusive State could head towards a race being trumpeted as the richest in the world after the six-year-old’s impressive return to the track at Sha Tin on Sunday.Despite stepping out at a distance considered far short of his best, Elusive State ran on strongly for second in the Class Two Po Yan Handicap (1,200m) and Millard says the sky is the limit for the gelding.He suggested the Saudi Cup, an 1,800m dirt race in February with a first prize of US$10 million, may be on his… View the full article

Alain and Gerard Wertheimer’s homebred Ecrivain (Fr) (Lope de Vega {Ire}) overcame early troubles to prevail in his Aug. 20 debut going one mile at Deauville and followed up in style over the same trip in Sunday’s G3 Prix des Chenes at ParisLongchamp. He was allowed off at 41-10 for this pointer to the same venue’s Oct. 6 G1 Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere and was restrained to track the tempo in third after breaking sharply and fighting for his head up front early doors. Shaken up soon after turning for home, the chestnut quickened smartly to wrest control from pacesetting stablemate Hopeful (Fr) (Motivator {GB}) approaching the final furlong and was pushed out to comfortably secure a career high by a length from that rival. Godolphin’s hitherto undefeated Al Dabaran (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) was unable to deliver a decisive blow, despite threatening in the straight, and kept on to finish a half-length adrift in third. “It is always satisfying to finish first and second in a Group race and, obviously, we’re very happy,” said winning trainer Carlos Laffon-Parias after claiming a first edition of the contest. “Before the race I did not know which of the two would finish in front of the other, but the best horse won on the day. The [G1 Prix] Jean-Luc Lagardere is the usual target for winners of this race so we will be back here for that in four weeks.” Ecrivain becomes the first stakes winner from four runners and as many winners out of G3 Derrinstown Stud 1000 Guineas Trial second Sapphire Pendant (Ire) (Danehill Dancer {Ire}), who has also produced recent Listed Prix de Occitanie third Starifique (Ire) (Sea the Stars {Ire}) and the yearling colt Statisticien (GB) (Intello {Ger}). Sapphire Pendant, who was bred to Empire Maker this year, is herself kin to three stakes performers including Listed Victoria S. runner-up Lacadena (Fasliyev), who in turn is the dam of GSW GI Mother Goose S. and GI Delaware H. third America (A.P. Indy). Ecrivain’s third dam Blush With Pride (Blushing Groom {Fr}) annexed the GI Kentucky Oaks and GI Santa Susanna S. and produced five stakes horses headed by GSW GI Acorn S. second Better Than Honour (Deputy Minister), who in turn is the dam of the MGISW GI Belmont S. and GI Kentucky Oaks heroine Rags To Riches (A.P. Indy). Sunday, ParisLongchamp, France PRIX DES CHENES-G3, €80,000, ParisLongchamp, 9-8, 2yo, c/g, 8fT, 1:40.97, g/s. 1–ECRIVAIN (FR), 128, c, 2, by Lope de Vega (Ire) 1st Dam: Sapphire Pendant (Ire) (GSP-Ire), by Danehill Dancer (Ire) 2nd Dam: Butterfly Blue (Ire), by Sadler’s Wells 3rd Dam: Blush With Pride, by Blushing Groom (Fr) 1ST BLACK-TYPE WIN; 1ST GROUP WIN. O/B-Wertheimer & Frere (FR); T-Carlos Laffon-Parias; J-Maxime Guyon. €40,000. Lifetime Record: 2-2-0-0, €53,500. *1/2 to Starifique (Ire) (Sea the Stars {Ire}), SP-Fr. Werk Nick Rating: A+++ *Triple Plus*. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree. 2–Hopeful (Fr), 128, g, 2, Motivator (GB)–Monst (Ire), by Monsun (Ger). O/B-Wertheimer & Frere (FR); T-Carlos Laffon-Parias. €16,000. 3–Al Dabaran (GB), 128, c, 2, Dubawi (Ire)–Bright Beacon (GB), by Manduro (Ger). O/B-Godolphin (GB); T-Charlie Appleby. €12,000. Margins: 1, HF, NK. Odds: 4.10, 7.40, 0.80. Also Ran: Happy Bere (Fr), Troilus (Fr). Click for the Racing Post result or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. Video, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton. The post Lope de Vega’s Ecrivain Stays Perfect in the Chenes appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

They’ve long been friends off the track and now Alberto Sanna and Douglas Whyte have shown they combine equally well on it after teaming up for their first winner at Sha Tin on Sunday.First-year trainer Whyte has made it clear Sanna will be one of his go-to riders and his decision paid early dividends when Big Fortune took out the Class Four Tung Wah Group Of Hospitals Challenge Cup (1,200m).Whyte was visibly excited to provide Sanna with his first winner of the season and hopes their success… View the full article

The money was on but the plunge didn’t land.Hong Kong-trained horses have failed to finish in the placings in South Korea with both Ugly Warrior and Glorious Artist coming up short in the Korea Sprint (1,200m) and Korea Cup (1,800m) at Seoul on Sunday.With more than 90 Hong Kong owners on track between the two horses combined, they were savagely backed into odds-on quotes before drifting to 3.5 and 3.6 respectively at jump time while overseas markets had the pair rated double-figure chances… View the full article

Woodcote Lass scores first-up in the South Island for owner Kevin Hickman A gritty win by promising filly Woodcote Lass at Riccarton on Saturday has kicked off Matamata trainer Stephen Autridge’s southern campaign in the best possible style. Autridge has based a five-strong team at Riccarton for the past few weeks as they get ready to tackle some of the feature events at November’s New Zealand Cup & Show Week for owner Kevin Hickman. Autridge’s contingent is spearheaded by Gr.1 Gavelhouse.com New Zealand 1000 Guineas (1600m) nominees Woodcote Lass and Last Hoorah, while he also has three mares bought by Hickman in England in Red Chois, Blue Valley and Unbeatable Dancer on hand. Woodcote Lass and Last Hoorah clashed in Saturday’s NZ Bloodstock Three-Year-Old (1000m) contest with Woodcote Lass prevailing in a stirring battle with Miss Federer while Last Hoorah closed off nicely to finish 8th in her raceday debut. “I was pleased with both runs as they went as we had expected,” Autridge said. “Woodcote Lass is just a real little professional and is always up for a fight. “She is very relaxed in her manner at home but she is tough and seems to thrive when she is in a scrap. “Last Hoorah is more of a staying filly that won’t be at her best until she steps up to 1400m and further. “She got home nicely so it was a good debut effort.” Autridge believes that Showcasing filly Woodcote Lass also has the natural attributes to see out the 1600m distance of the 1000 Guineas despite her pedigree suggesting she is better suited to the sprint distances. “She has always shown us plenty of talent and when she gets on good ground, I think she will be even better,” he said. “She beat a smart type in Quick Thinker when she won her first race on a wet track at Rotorua and I don’t think she appreciated the Heavy10 on Saturday that much either. “She just goes out there to win and takes it all in her stride but the way she relaxes in her races suggests to me that she will see out 1600m. “We have talked to her race and trackwork riders and they are of the same opinion. “She will go to the Canterbury Belle Stakes (Listed, 1200m) next and then we will step her up in distance after that as we track towards the Guineas.” Meanwhile Autridge’s three-year-old classic contender Kurt has hit a snag in his build-up to a possible tilt at the Gr.1 Al Basti Equiworld New Zealand 2000 Guineas (1600m) following a lacklustre performance at Hastings last week. “I wasn’t that happy with his run at Hastings on the first day of their carnival as he seemed to be in a little discomfort when he pulled up,” Autridge said. “He got twisted sideways early in the race and never really hit-out after that so we are taking him to the vet clinic on Monday for a thorough going over. “If there is something troubling him, they should be able to find it and we can then make plans from there. “Hopefully it is just a niggle and we can keep him on a Guineas path.” View the full article

20190907RANR08_V.mp4 Te Akau Shark closes well late into second (No.2) behind easy winner Dreamforce in the Gr.2 Tramway Stakes (1400m) Despite not managing to put a win on the board, members of the New Zealand contingent that launched their assault on the riches of the Australian spring racing carnivals in Sydney and Melbourne were happy with their showings on Saturday. Te Akau Racing mentor Jamie Richards produced Te Akau Shark and Probabeel at Royal Randwick, with their second and fourth placings respectively delighting their trainer. “I was very pleased with both their runs on a day where there was a bias towards those who were in or near the lead most of the day,” Richards said. “Probabeel just got caught in a tricky spot in a small field. We had wanted her to make her challenge a little wider in the straight but circumstances saw her having to stay on the fence. “We know that she is going to be better suited once she steps up in distance but I thought she fought on nicely and will take benefit from the run. “She will head to the Tea Rose Stakes (Gr.2, 1400m) in a fortnight for her next run.” The highly-regarded Te Akau Shark opened his Australian campaign with a fighting effort for second in the Gr.2 Tramway Stakes (1400m) and will now head straight into the Gr.1 Epsom Handicap (1600m) back at Randwick on October 5. “He (Te Akau Shark) was very good as he was another that wasn’t suited by the up and in pattern of racing on the day,” Richards said. “He had a horse laying all over him most of the way, which didn’t help, but I just liked the way he closed it off in the last piece to claim second. “He is a horse that goes best on the fresh side so he will go straight into the Epsom in a month.” Fresh from success with impressive three-year-old Long Jack, who made a winning Australian debut at Ballarat on Friday, co-trainer Murray Baker was also in a positive frame of mind as he outlined his thoughts on the performance of The Chosen One at Moonee Valley on Saturday. The four-year-old Savabeel entire was having his first run since winning the Gr.3 Frank Packer Plate (2000m) at Randwick back in April and overcame a wide run throughout to finish a gritty fifth in the Gr.2 Feehan Stakes (1600m). “I thought his run was very good as he was the only four-year-old in the race, up against the older horses and was caught out wide most of the way,” Baker said. “He kept coming nicely in the run home when he had every excuse to chuck it away a little. “Provided he comes through the race alright, I think we might head to the Underwood Stakes (Gr.1 1800m) for his next start. “It’s a favourite race of mine as I’ve won it four times so it would be nice to make it five.” Baker, who trains in partnership with Andrew Forsman, also advised that multiple Group One winner Madison County would make his campaign debut in the Gr.1 Rupert Clarke Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield on September 21 while their Sydney-based three-year-olds Quick Thinker and Rhaegar would be seen next in the Gr.3 Gloaming Stakes (1800m) at Rosehill on September 28. Matamata trainer Lance O’Sullivan was also upbeat despite his Gr.1 Melbourne Cup (3200m) candidate Sir Charles Road finishing amongst the tail-enders in the Gr2. Chelmsford Stakes (1600m) at Randwick. “He never really got the rub of the green and had a pretty chequered path over the last 600m,” O’Sullivan said. “It was his second run back this time and he looks a picture of health so we are expecting he will bounce back pretty quickly. “He is looking for more ground so we will be stepping him up over further for his next start.” View the full article

Jerry Caroom's High on Gin remained undefeated and became the first black-type winner for her sire, Florida stallion Fury Kapcori, when she drew off by two lengths to win the $60,000 Happy Ticket Stakes Sept. 7 on the turf at Louisiana Downs. View the full article

Progressive five-year-old Comeback was humanely euthanased after suffering a serious injury in the Gr.1 Tarzino Trophy (1400m) Trainer Graeme Rogerson is looking forward to the second day of the Bostock New Zealand Spring Racing Carnival at Hastings later this month despite the unfortunate loss of progressive five-year-old Comeback. The Makfi gelding was humanely euthanised following his gritty run for sixth in the Gr.1 Tarzino Trophy (1400m) at Hastings on August 31 after sustaining a slab fracture in his left fore carpal joint during the closing stages of the contest. “He was very brave and it’s such a shame we couldn’t save him after he suffered his injury,” Rogerson said. “I guess that is racing, where you have to take the good with the bad, but it is a tough old game when this sort of thing happens. He was a genuine and much-loved horse.” Team Rogerson will likely have only one runner in the feature attraction at Hastings on September 21 with four-year-old gelding More Wonder set to take his place in the Gr.1 Windsor Park Plate (1600m) following his midfield finish in the Tarzino Trophy. “He (More Wonder) didn’t get a lot of luck in the run home as he was hampered by Comeback when he faltered,” Rogerson said. “I was pleased without being delighted by the run, but he has worked up nicely since then and we’re hopeful of a better effort in the Windsor Park Plate.” Team Rogerson will also be represented by promising sprinter Malambo who will tackle the open 1200m contest on the day. Meanwhile talented three-year-old Aalaalune will miss the second day at Hastings with the Reliable Man filly having a brief freshen up before commencing a campaign focussed on the New Zealand Bloodstock Filly of the Year series. “We sat down and had a good chat with her owner and we decided to give her a little time off before her next run,” Rogerson said. “She can have a freshen up and then will most likely go to either the Soliloquy Stakes (Gr.3, 1400m) at Ellerslie or the Sarten Memorial (Gr.2, 1400m) at Te Rapa in October. “From there we will concentrate on the Filly of the Year series with the 1000 Guineas (Gr.1, 1600m) at Riccarton her main focus to start with.” Rogerson was also delighted with the debut performance of Aalaalune’s little sister, De La Terre, who was narrowly beaten in the first two-year-old contest of the season at Wanganui on Saturday. “She (De La Terre) went a beauty and might have even won the race if she hadn’t been slightly impeded by another horse coming to the home bend,” he said. “We really like her and she seems to have inherited plenty of the family ability. “Provided she comes through the race well, she will go to the Wellesley Stakes (Listed, 1000m) at Trentham next month.” Rogerson also advised that last season’s Gr.1 Telegraph (1200m) runner-up, Ferrando was making good progress in his current build-up and would be seen at the trials in the next few weeks once track conditions had improved. View the full article

Tofane on her way to winning at Moonee Valley Trainer Michael Moroney had been confident of a strong performance from Group Two performer Tofane leading into Saturday and the four-year-old mare did not disappoint. The daughter of Ocean Park was second-up in the Pfd Food Services (1200m) at Moonee Valley and despite having to travel three-wide most of the trip, she had plenty in the tank to collar leader Haut Brion Hur (Zoustar) with 100m to go and went on to win by .3L. “She got the right spot to a degree,” Moroney said. “I thought she did a really good job because he (jockey Michael Dee) tried to get in because he was always three wide but he kept her balanced.” Tofane was coming off a last-start fourth at Sandown in August and Moroney admits there were excuses to that performance. “We probably made a bit of a blue first up,” he said. “We were well aware we had to get through the class and get her rating up to make some of these races and we thought we would get away with a 1000m and it just didn’t pan out, whether it was running down the hill or whatever happened to her. “Certainly that run brought her on and she is on the right path.” Bred by Curraghmore’s Gordon Cunningham, Tofane is out of Galileo mare Baggy Green, a three-quarter-sister to Group One winner Youngstar (High Chaparral). “We would like to think she is good enough to run in the mare’s mile on Derby Day if we could get there,” Moroney said. “I think being an Ocean Park out of Galileo mare it is a pretty stout family. “It is a good staying family and she is showing real speed.” View the full article