Wandering Eyes

Star mare Enable secured the tenth Group One victory of her career when taking out the Yorkshire Oaks (2400m) at York on Thursday. “She felt great and she’s had a great send-off in front of the English people,” jockey Frankie Detorri said. “I was always in control today. The temptation in the past on her has always been to kick a bit too soon but today I thought I’d let Ryan (Moore, on Magical) come to me before I kicked. “When I gave her a little tap she put her head down, and I knew then I’d won. “In fairness we wanted an exercise canter. But Magical made a race of it, because she’s very solid.” Thursday’s race was her British swansong, with Enable set to try and add a third Gr.1 Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe (2400m) to her record in October, and trainer John Gosden was pleased with the mare’s efforts in her final race on home soil. “Magical came to her, but she found a lot in the last 400 metres,” he said. “To that extent she showed her class and it was a good performance. “She’s not a filly that likes to be let all the way down, so between the King George (Gr.1, 2400m) and the Arc was too big a gap. She prefers to be let down a little and then brought back up for a race.” The daughter of Nathaniel has only tasted defeat once in 14 starts, placing third behind Shutter Speed in the Dubai Duty Free Golf World Cup Stakes at Newbury in her second start. View the full article

The connections of Group One performer Hiflyer have taken a patient approach with the gelding’s return after he suffered an injury following his last start unplaced run in the Gr.2 Japan NZ International Trophy (1600m) at Tauranga. “He had a minor setback after his last race, he pulled a muscle in his back,” Lock said. “We have just given him time to get over it. We decided we weren’t going to target the Tarzino Trophy (Gr.1, 1400m) and the triple crown series at Hastings this year, so we have left him out a little bit longer and he has really done well. “He is due back in the stable in the next six weeks and he looks fantastic.” With a likely summer return Lock said there are plenty of opportunities for the son of Tavistock and he will take a lot of benefit from is extended spell. “He has never really had a long decent break like this, so we will just get him fit and ready and if he comes up and does everything right in his first couple of runs we will step him up and may go back to Sydney with him or just stay around here,” Lock said. “Once the tracks get better I am looking forward to stepping him up over ground again and see whether he can handle it. “There are a lot of opportunities over the summer carnivals for him over miles, like the Thorndon Mile (Gr.1, 1600m).” Lock is also excited about the potential of Hiflyer’s two-year-old full-sister who he believes could be a bit more precocious than her older brother. “We have just broken his full-sister in,” Lock said. “All reports are that the breakers are really happy. “She is a little bit more precocious and short-coupled (than Hiflyer) and looks like she might come up a little bit earlier than what he did. She is a beautiful filly and we are really excited with her.” View the full article

Viktor Vegas will appreciate a heavy track at New Plymouth on Saturday. Te Aroha conditioner Peter Lock will take two runners south for Saturday’s New Plymouth meeting and he believes both horses are winning chances. Six-year-old gelding Viktor Vegas will tackle the feature race of the day, the New Plymouth ITM Interprovincial Challenge (1600m), and he takes some strong form into the race. The son of Tavistock has had two runs this preparation for a win first-up over 1200m at Awapuni before getting pipped at the line by The Good Fight over 1400m at Te Rapa earlier this month. “We thought it was a very good effort first-up because he is not a 1200 or 1400m horse,” Lock said. “I think he is going to be better once he has this run under his belt and gets up over 2000m. “In his fresh-up run he was under pressure the whole race and it was a very good ride by Jonathan Parkes to get him up to win that race. I thought we had won last time, but we got bobbed on the line. “He’s looking for the mile, so I think this week with the very heavy track (rated Heavy11 on Friday) it’s going to be like 1800m. Hopefully that should play into his hands. “I don’t think it (heavy11) will be a problem for him. It looks like it is going to be a very loose track, so that should suit him right down to the ground.” Viktor Vegas has a strong record on heavy tracks having won two and finished runner-up twice in his four starts on the surface. However, the Te Aroha galloper ironically doesn’t enjoy the wet conditions back home. “He has done everything right, but is a horse that has been a wee bit difficult to train,” Lock said. “He doesn’t like being in a box, so it has been a bit difficult for him going into this with all the rain we have had, but hopefully he puts his best foot forward. Rosie Myers will ride Viktor Vegas on Saturday and Lock said while he has drawn barrier two he is not overly concerned heading into the race. “That’s probably not the ideal barrier because he jumps and gets himself back a little bit and then gets into a nice rhythm. “But with a small field I don’t think it’s going to be a major problem if you are handling the ground.” TAB bookmakers have installed Viktor Vegas as a $3.50 favourite ahead of last start winner Alvins Dream, and Lock shares the bookmakers confidence in his horse. “I am pretty happy with the horse, he has come through that race well and his work has been really good,” he said. “I would be disappointed if he didn’t go a very bold race.” Lock is looking forward to the future with Viktor Vegas and believes he has the potential to be a genuine country cups horse. “Safely through here I am really looking forward to his next run over 2000m because I think he is a horse that has got a good cup race in him, whether it be a Waikato Cup (Gr.3, 2400m) or something like that. “He’s going to be a very good country cups horse I think, but we’ll just take it one step at a time.” Lock is also optimistic about the chances of Southern Princess ahead of her tilt at the ITM Pukepine 1400m. The daughter of guillotine was well beaten in open grade last start, but Lock said he was pleased with the run given it was her first raceday start in 18 months. “She has had a long layoff with injury. She got a hairline fracture on her cannon bone, so we had to give her some time off. “It has healed up well, she has won a trial (1100m) since then and she came through her race at Te Rapa very well. “It was a last minute thought to go there because the trials had been cancelled, so we decided to run her in the Open 1200m just to give her a good blowout.” Southern Princess will step back to rating 72 company on Saturday and will be assisted by apprentice jockey Mub Kareem’s claim, and will only carry 54.5kg. “Her work on Tuesday morning was very good,” Lock said. “It’s a small field and back to her own class with a four kilo claim, she has got to be a chance. “It might be just a fraction too heavy for her, but with no weight on her back and a good stake, you have got to have a go.” View the full article

Lisa Allpress will compete in the World All Stars Jockeys series in Japan this weekend. Lisa Allpress is hoping her competitive streak and previous experience in Japan can give her an edge in this weekend’s World All Stars Jockeys series at Sapporo Racecourse in Hokkaido. The Wanganui jockey has arrived in Hokkaido ahead of the four-race series which runs over two meetings at Sapporo. She has also picked up a further three rides including Daimei Fuji in the Gr.3 Keeneland Cup (1200m) on Sunday. As well as competing for individual honours, Allpress is part of the international team, which also features Ireland’s Colm O’Donoghue, Hong Kong’s Karis Teetan and the United States’ Julien Leparoux, up against Japan’s finest including Yutaka Take, Christophe Lemaire, Suguru Hamanaka and Nanako Fujita. “I’m super excited. When I got here yesterday I felt that connection with Japan again. I really like Japan. It’s a nice place to be and the people are lovely,” Allpress said. “I just hope the horses go well. A lot is the luck of the draw. I’m here to enjoy myself but to do my best and go as close to winning as I can. We’ve already been so well looked after.” Allpress’ participation in the series is the 20th occasion a New Zealand rider has competed for the title, though Shane Dye and James McDonald have ridden as Australian representatives. Dye finished second in 1991, while Jim Collett finished fourth in 1997 and fifth in 1995. Other Kiwi jockeys to have ridden in the series include Lance O’Sullivan, David Walsh, Tony Allan, Opie Bosson, Darryl Bradley, Michael Walker, Leith Innes and Samantha Collett. “I remember going through my apprenticeship and hearing all about the World Jockeys Super Series and the trip to Japan and it’s always been something I’ve aspired to do,” Allpress said. Allpress earned her invitation to the series after sealing her third New Zealand jockeys’ premiership last season. She is familiar with Japanese racing having ridden there on three previous short-term contracts, winning 11 races and finishing second in the Gr.3 Niigata Daishoten (2000m) at Fukushima in 2015 aboard Nakayama Knight. “I’m hoping my experience here stands me in good stead for this series. I know how they race here and I’ve ridden on the dirt before, not that I really like it. “They ride on a long rein here and push hard in the first 400m of the race. It shouldn’t take me long to get back into the swing of racing here.” View the full article

Hronis Racing’s once-beaten Catalina Cruiser (Union Rags) figures a warm favorite as he goes out in defense of his title in the GI Pat O’Brien S. at Del Mar, a ‘Win and You’re In’ qualifier for the GI Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile Nov. 2. The 5-year-old chestnut is undefeated in four tries around one turn, including this race 12 months ago in which he defeated Battle of Midway (Smart Strike), who was making his first appearance since winning the previous year’s Dirt Mile, by 7 1/4 lengths. Out of sorts when sixth as the 9-10 chalk in the 2018 Dirt Mile, Catalina Cruiser was the determined winner of the GII True North S. on the eve of the GI Belmont S. June 7 and comes off a second consecutive victory in the GII San Diego H. Connections land here after taking a pass on last week’s GI TVG Pacific Classic and having decided against a ship to Saratoga for Saturday’s GI Forego S. New York-bred Giant Expectations (Frost Giant) posted a 9-2 score in the 2017 O’Brien, but has been on the road for a good portion of this year. Third to the late Battle of Midway and ‘TDN Rising Star’ McKinzie (Street Sense) in Santa Anita’s GII San Pasqual S. in February, the chestnut made two appearances at Oaklawn, finishing a close third in the Mar. 16 Essex H. and fifth in the GII Oaklawn H. the following month. He returned to state-bred restricted company for the first time in two years last time, going down by a nose to the talented Pat On the Back (Congrats) in the May 27 Commentator S. going Belmont’s one-turn mile. American Anthem (Bodemeister) is four-for-six at seven-eighths and was third in the 2017 GI H. Allen Jerkens S. The bay is two-for-three at the seaside oval, including a 3/4-length allowance tally July 20. Jalen Journey (With Distinction), the top-priced offering during the horses-of-racing-age section at Fasig-Tipton July, gave a solid account of himself in his local debut, a third in the GI Bing Crosby S. going a furlong shorter July 27. The post ‘Cruiser’ Difficult to Oppose in O’Brien Defense appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Trainer Jorge Navarro has manage to saddle the winner of a Grade I sprint at Saratoga every other year since 2015. That summer he sent out the fleet-footed Private Zone (Macho Uno) to an unextended defeat of The Big Beast (Yes It’s True) in the GI Forego S. on this program and two summers later was represented by El Deal (Speightstown), a towering eight-length winner of the GI A. G. Vanderbilt H. Navarro, who has also overseen the career of G1 Dubai Golden Shaheen hero X Y Jet (Kantharos), will have the prohibitive chalk to keep the streak alive in Saturday’s GI H. Allen Jerkens Memorial S. in the form of the unbeaten Shancelot (Shanghai Bobby). Rested off a debut victory in February–in which he accounted for future GISP Bodexpress (Bodemeister)–the dark bay pummeled Monmouth allowance foes by 6 1/4 lengths June 23, then turned the GII Amsterdam S. into a laugher, stopping the clock in an eye-popping 1:14.01 for the 6 ½ panels while defeating Nitrous (Tapit) by better than a dozen lengths. A repeat or even something close to that effort wins this for fun, although Call Paul (Friesan Fire), drawn just to his outside in gate two, could prove a fly in the ointment from a pace perspective. Mind Control (Stay Thirsty) won the GI Hopeful S. over track and trip last summer and has an admirable record of 4-2-0-1 at this specialist distance. After disembarking the Triple Crown trail, the Red Oak homebred annexed the seven-furlong GIII Bay Shore S. Apr. 6 and encountered a fair bit of trouble when eighth to Hog Creek Hustle (Overanalyze) in the GI Woody Stephens S. June 8 and when third at long odds-on in Laurel’s Concern S. July 14. Rowayton (Into Mischief) cuts back to one turn for the first time since posting a career-best 97 Beyer in landing a first-level Belmont allowance going 6 1/2 panels June 6. Second to ‘TDN Rising Star’ and champion Game Winner (Candy Ride {Arg}) in last year’s GI Del Mar Futurity, Rowayton would give his sire a second Jerkens in three years (Practical Joke, 2017). The post Shancelot Looks Long Gone in Jerkens appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

One year removed from a gut-wrenching and much-discussed defeat at the hands of favored Abel Tasman (Quality Road), Claiborne Farm and Adele Dilschneider’s ‘TDN Rising Star‘ Elate (Medaglia d’Oro) is seeking a reversal of fate in Saturday’s GI Personal Ensign S. at Saratoga, with a fees-paid berth in the GI Breeders’ Cup Distaff on the line. Runaway winner of the GI Alabama S. at this meeting two summers ago, the lanky dark bay dropped a neck decision to Eclipse Award winner Abel Tasman 12 months ago, a result which was ultimately allowed to stand despite a claim of foul. Forced to miss the 2018 Breeders’ Cup owing to a splint issue, Elate was allowed to train on this term, finishing second to Midnight Bisou (Midnight Lute) when spotting that one a recency advantage in the GII Azeri S. at Oaklawn Mar. 16 before a no-excuses third in the GI Apple Blossom H. Back to winning ways in no uncertain terms in the GII Fleur de Lis S. under the lights at Churchill June 15, she successfully defended her title at 30 cents on the dollar in the 10-furlong GII Delaware H. July 13. The Personal Ensign was run over the mile and a quarter from 1995 to 2011 and were it that trip Saturday, Elate could well go favored. In spite of the curious absence of a victory at Saturday’s nine-furlong distance, Midnight Bisou figures a razor-thin choice. A model of consistency, the dark bay has not tasted defeat in five start since finishing third to champion Monomoy Girl (Tapizar) in last year’s Distaff. Her 3 1/2-length success in Belmont’s GI Ogden Phipps S. came over Come Dancing (Malibu Moon), the favorite for Saturday’s GI Ballerina S., and she did what she had to do last time, overcoming the heat to best Coach Rocks (Oxbow) in the GIII Molly Pitcher S. at Monmouth July 20. Wow Cat (Chi) (Lookin At Lucky), last year’s GI Beldame S. victress and Distaff runner-up, has a single tightener under her belt this term, a second-place finish to the Elate’s stablemate Golden Award (Medaglia d’Oro) in the GIII Shuvee S. over this course and distance July 21. She’s A Julie (Elusive Quality), victorious in the GI La Troienne S. in June, exits a low-odds third after contesting the pace in the Shuvee. The post Elate Out For Revenge in Personal Ensign appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Last season's Cartier Horse of the Year Roaring Lion has been put down after suffering another bout of colic. View the full article

Finalists for six of the seven Thoroughbred Industry Employee Awards, sponsored by Godolphin, were announced Friday afternoon. Additionally, the winner of the Thoroughbred Industry Community Award is Bobby Lillis, Executive Director of the Maryland Horsemen’s Assistance Foundation Inc. and Director of Benefits for the Maryland Thoroughbred Horsemen’s Association. A new award was added this year to honor those in administrative roles. Awards in all seven categories will be presented at Keeneland Oct. 11. The shortlist judging panel met at the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame in Saratoga Aug. 13 to select finalists and the Community Award winner. A second panel will convene Oct. 10 to select winners in the remaining six categories. The finalists are: Administration Award Andrea Greathouse, Paramount Sales Bessie Gruwell, Delaware Thoroughbred Horsemen’s Association Maria Catignani, Charles Town HBPA Dedication to Breeding Award Barrett Midkiff, Taylor Made Farm Ernest Blair, Lane’s End Farm Steve Clark, Godolphin, LLC Dedication to Racing Award Cristobal Trejo, Tomlinson Thoroughbred Training LLC Janeen Painter, Richard Mandella Lesley McCall, Moquett Racing Leadership – Breeding Award Jenny Carpenter, Buttonwood Farm Joe Peel, Claiborne Farm Mark Cunningham, Airdrie Farm Leadership – Racing Award Destin Heath, WinStar Farm Saul Castellanos, Mark Hennig Racing Stable Thomas Brandebourger, Chad Brown Newcomer Award Amy Stokes, Godolphin, LLC Courtney Schneider, Shawhan Place Michael Norris, Katherine Ritvo “I was truly honored to again be a part of these meaningful awards, and on behalf of my fellow judges, let me offer sincere congratulations to Bobby Lillis, as well as to all the finalists and all of the nominees,” said Dan Fick, shortlist panel chairman and Chairman of Racing Officials Accreditation Program. “Yet again, our job was a difficult one as the quality of the group was extremely high. All those involved, including the nominators, should be very proud of their participation this year.” Fick continued, “Godolphin and Sheikh Mohammed, in partnership with the National HBPA, TOBA, The Jockey Club, and Breeders’ Cup, have been underwriting these awards for four years now and they have quickly become a very important part of our industry’s landscape. Without the support of Sheikh Mohammed, these hard-working individuals might not truly get the acknowledgment and recognition they deserve for the important work they do. “I look forward to sitting down with each of the finalists when the final judging panel meets in October. And based on the strength of the nominees, we will certainly have our work cut out for us, but it will be an honor for all of us to meet these exceptional individuals in person.” The shortlist panel was comprised of Fick, along with Ramiro Restrepo, Market Representative for Fasig-Tipton; Maggie Wolfendale, Paddock Analyst and reporter for the New York Racing Association; Cate Johnson, Director of the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame; and Stuart Angus, Sales Account Manager at Taylor Made. The post Finalists for TIEA Awards Announced appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Those who love European racing have a bit of everything on Saturday, with a plethora of notable meetings across Britain including seven group races and a dash of black-type action also at beautiful Killarney and Baden-Baden to spice things up. York’s Knavesmire is the main focus as the Ebor festival reaches its climax, with the £1-million feature race probably the most competitive ever staged. Just eight pounds cover the entire field of 22 runners, with six of them by Frankel (GB) who provided this fixture with one of its all-time great moments seven years ago. The shortest-priced of them is the actual Ebor favourite King’s Advice (GB), the Mark Johnston-trained son of the brilliant Queen’s Logic (Ire) (Grand Lodge) who has tasted defeat only once in nine starts in 2019 when not partnered by Joe Fanning. Also in the line-up for Britain’s answer to the Melbourne Cup is last year’s runner-up Weekender (GB), another son of Frankel (GB) who gives an idea of the standard required in this prize now having finished third in the G1 Irish St Leger in September. Teddy Grimthorpe, racing manager to Khalid Abdullah, summed up the increased profile of the Ebor as it stands in 2019. “He went close last year, but it looks a tougher contest this year,” he said. “It’s effectively a group race, but it should be with the money on offer.” Also on York’s card is the newly-promoted G2 City of York S. over seven furlongs, which is graced by the locally-trained star filly Laurens (Fr) (Siyouni {Fr}). John Dance’s six-time Group 1 winner was here 12 months ago tackling the mile and a half of the G1 Yorkshire Oaks to no avail and races over the shortest trip she has tackled since runner-up in the G3 Prix du Calvados on her second start as a juvenile. Also saddled with a five-pound penalty as a result of her latest top-level triumph in Deauville’s G1 Prix Rothschild, she will have to rock and roll from the front to hold off some speedy rivals. “She’s in great form, I couldn’t be happier with her,” trainer Karl Burke commented. “I’m really pleased with the draw as well–six of 10 is perfect for her, it’ll suit her way of running.” Laurens’ rivals include King Power Racing’s Shine So Bright (GB) (Oasis Dream {GB}), who was third in the six-furlong G2 Gimcrack S. here in 2018 before returning to beat the subsequent G3 Jersey S. scorer Space Traveller (GB) (Bated Breath {GB}) in an above-average renewal of the Listed European Free H. at this distance at Newmarket Apr. 16. Off since his game effort when sixth in the G1 2000 Guineas trying a mile that stretched him too far at Newmarket May 4, the grey is unexposed in this category. Trainer Andrew Balding said, “He had a setback after the Guineas and he has had a nice break, but this is quite an ask on the back of a long break against race-fit opposition. The horse seems in great form and fast ground on a track like that should be fine. It was a smashing run in the Guineas, but he didn’t quite get home. It looked like he was going to finish second until the last half-furlong, when he was just outstayed.” The day’s action kicks off with the G3 Strensall S., where George Strawbridge’s long-absent Wissahickon (Tapit) finally gets the quick surface he needs for the Gosden-Dettori combination. Successful in the G3 Winter Derby on Lingfield’s Polytrack Feb. 23, the homebred is back on turf for the first time since landing the Cambridgeshire H. over this nine-furlong trip in September. He encounters the aforementioned Space Traveller and Ahmad Alotaibi’s June 1 G3 Diomed S. winner and July 13 G2 Summer Mile runner-up Zaaki (GB) (Leroidesanimaux {Brz}), who may have been compromised by the slow ground when seventh in the July 30 G2 Lennox S. over a seven-furlong trip that is possibly too sharp for him. Away from York, Goodwood hosts the G2 Celebration Mile in which Skardu (GB) (Shamardal) emerges after a break having endured a tough spring campaign. Abdulla Al Khalifa’s Apr. 17 G3 Craven S. winner gave his all each time when first in the far-side group and third overall in the 2000 Guineas, fourth in the G1 Irish 2000 Guineas at The Curragh May 25 and in the G1 St James’s Palace S. at Royal Ascot June 18. In a renewal dominated by the 3-year-olds, Fitri Hay’s Aug. 2 G3 Thoroughbred S. winner Duke of Hazzard (Fr) (Lope de Vega {Ire}) and Sullivan Bloodstock and Merriebelle Irish Farm’s Beat Le Bon (Fr) (Wootton Bassett {GB}) who took the prestigious Golden Mile on the same Goodwood card are two that can keep building towards the top. Richard Hannon said of the latter, “Beat Le Bon is going up in grade into the big pond now, but he likes the track and will like the ground. He is finally maturing now and that is why he is starting to come good. Pat Dobbs has struck up a good relationship with the horse and has helped to get him relaxed early in his races. These are the best horses he has taken on, but I would like to think he is better than a handicapper. He loves it at Goodwood and we know he gets the mile well.” Goodwood’s G3 Prestige S. is a fascinating conundrum, with nine 2-year-old fillies lining up to promote their Classic credentials including Khalid Abdullah’s impressive Aug. 1 course-and-distance maiden winner Vividly (GB) (Charm Spirit {Ire}). Trainer Charlie Hills said, “It seemed to make sense to run her back here after winning over course and distance last time. She has been training well and I’m happy enough with her. She was drawn very wide last time and Kieran [Shoemark] did a good job to get her in front. They think quite a lot of the second, so it was a good run. This trip is fine for her, but she will probably get a mile in the future.” She is taken on by another potentially famous grey sporting Kirsten Rausing’s silks in Alpinista (GB) (Frankel {GB}), a granddaughter of one of the most famous of that colour in Alnabova (GB) (Alzao) who has already proven she can handle unsettling undulations when off the mark on debut over this trip at Epsom July 18. Elsewhere on Saturday, Waverley Racing and Ralph Beckett’s G1 Epsom Oaks fourth Manuela de Vega (Ire) (Lope de Vega {Ire}) takes on a more unexposed member of the Classic generation in the impressive July 5 Doncaster maiden winner Promissory (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) from the John Gosden stable in Goodwood’s G3 March S. over 14 furlongs. The latter’s jockey Rab Havlin said, “I rode her first time behind Terebellum (Ire) (Sea the Stars {Ire}), who won a Group 2 [the Prix de la Nonette] in France the other day, and I loved her that day. She was very green but learnt plenty and won the next day at Doncaster. The Goodwood race could not have worked out any better. The penny didn’t drop until the last furlong and a half at Goodwood, but she didn’t half finish off well. Frankie kicked her in the belly three and a half out last time and she just galloped everything into the ground, so the step up in trip won’t be a problem. This is only the third run of her life, but she is the least exposed, she has been pleasing everybody at home and is a filly is going the right way.” Newmarket’s Listed Hopeful S. sees the Gredleys’ G1 Prix Morny heroine Pretty Pollyanna (GB) (Oasis Dream {GB}) search for a confidence boost after four gruelling Group 1 attempts, while on Windsor’s evening fixture there is the G3 Winter Hill S. The sole 3-year-old in the field is King Power Racing’s June 20 G2 Ribblesdale S. fourth Queen Power (Ire) (Shamardal), who reverts to the 10-furlong trip over which she was so impressive in Newbury’s Listed Haras de Bouquetot Fillies’ Trial May 18. The post Ebor Saturday Boasts Riches Aplenty appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Treading a familiar path to some of Ballydoyle’s top juveniles of the past, Armory (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) followed a smooth win in the July 25 G3 Tyros S. at Leopardstown with a more hard-fought one in Friday’s G2 Futurity S. at The Curragh. Settled third early by Ryan Moore behind the stable’s Toronto (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) and Iberia (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), the 4-6 favourite enjoyed a split between to gain the lead two out and may have been idling late as the 50-1 shot Rebel Tale (Tale of the Cat) got to within 3/4 of a length. Geometrical (Ire) (Dawn Approach {Ire}) was third, a length away. 1–ARMORY (IRE), 129, c, 2, by Galileo (Ire) 1st Dam: After (Ire) (MGSP-Ire, $107,377), by Danehill Dancer (Ire) 2nd Dam: Noahs Ark (Ire), by Charnwood Forest (Ire) 3rd Dam: Abstraction (GB), by Rainbow Quest O-Susan Magnier, Michael Tabor & Derrick Smith; B-Coolmore (IRE); T-Aidan O’Brien; J-Ryan Moore. €76,700. Lifetime Record: 4-3-0-1, €125,387. The post Galileo’s Armory Wins the Futurity appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Owner/breeder enjoying success with disciplined business plan View the full article

New York-based trainer Shug McGaughey could notch a fourth Travers Stakes (G1) Aug. 24 with William S. Farish homebred Code of Honor. View the full article

Impressive when breaking her maiden with real authority over seven furlongs at the Galway festival Aug. 2, the Niarchos Family’s Alpine Star (Ire) (Sea the Moon {Ger}) got up late to deny Petite Mustique (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) in a thrilling finale to The Curragh’s G2 Debutante S. on Friday. Tracking the early pace carved out by TDN Rising Star and stablemate Windracer (Ire) (Showcasing {GB}), the 2-1 second favourite who is a half-sister to Alpha Centauri (Ire) (Mastercraftsman {Ire}) allowed Petite Mustique first run but reeled in the Ballydoyle representative in the final yards to score by a short head, with Soul Search (Ire) (Zoffany {Ire}) 3/4 of a length away in third. ALPINE STAR (IRE), 126, f, 2, Sea The Moon (Ger)–Alpha Lupi (Ire), by Rahy. 1ST BLACK-TYPE WIN; 1ST GROUP WIN. O/B-Niarchos Family (IRE); T-Jessica Harrington; J-Shane Foley. €67,850. Lifetime Record: 3-2-0-1, €81,600. *1/2 to Alpha Centauri (Ire) (Mastercraftsman {Ire}), Hwt. 3yo-Eur, Eng, Fr & Ire at 7-9.5f, MG1SW-Eng, G1SW-Fr & Ire, $1,639,990; and Tenth Star (Ire) (Dansili {GB}), SW & GSP-Ire, GSP-Eng. The post Sea the Moon’s Half To Alpha Centauri Wins the Debutante appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Cartier Horse of the Year and four-time Group 1 winner Roaring Lion (Kitten’s Joy-Vionnet, by Street Sense), who raced for Qatar Racing, was euthanised in New Zealand on Friday evening after another bout of colic, Tweenhills Stud announced. The 4-year-old, who had shuttled from Tweenhills to Cambridge Stud in New Zealand to stand his first Southern Hemisphere season, was on the mend at Cambridge Stud after a second colic surgery performed earlier this month. Originally the grey had exhibited signs of discomfort immediately after leaving quarantine and had undergone his first colic operation in late July. Tweenhills Stud’s David Redvers said, “At approximately midday (GMT)/23:00 NZ today Roaring Lion was observed to be uncomfortable in his stable at Cambridge Stud. On examination by stud vet Rob Hitchcock, Roaring Lion was admitted to Cambridge Equine hospital. There operating surgeons Dr. Alanna Zantingh and Dr. Greg Quinn performed ultrasound examination and at 14:45 (GMT) the decision was made on welfare grounds to put Roaring Lion to sleep.” The post Cartier Champion Roaring Lion Euthanised in NZ appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

2nd-SAR, $90k, Msw, 2yo, 6f, 12:08 p.m. ET ONWARD (Street Sense), the most expensive yearling colt by his sire to switch hands in 2018 when dropping the hammer at $600,000 at Keeneland September, gets his career started on the GI Runhappy Travers S. undercard. Produced by the unraced Arch mare Queenofperfection, champion sprinter and leading sire Speightstown appears under his third dam. Campaigned in partnership by Jump Sucker Stable, Claiborne Farm and Adele B. Dilschneider, Onward is trained by Christophe Clement. Live Oak homebred Tap It to Win (Tapit), hailing from the extended female family of the brilliant Songbird (Medaglia d’Oro), switches to dirt after placing second as the 6-5 favorite over the Woodbine grass on debut July 21. TJCIS PPs 5th-ELP, $50k, Msw, 2yo, 1m, 3:42 p.m. ET Hall of Famer Steve Asmussen unveils the very well-bred KENTUCKY SUMMER (Tapit) at the Pea Patch Saturday. The $500,000 KEESEP yearling graduate is out of GI Apple Blossom H. heroine Dream of Summer (Siberian Summer), making him a half-brother to GISW Creative Cause (Giant’s Causeway) and GSWs Destin (Giant’s Causeway) and Vexatious (Giant’s Causeway). The rail-drawn gray, listed as the morning-line 9-5 favorite, is owned by Phoenix Thoroughbred III Ltd. TJCIS PPs 13th-SAR, $90k, Msw, 3yo/up, f/m, 1 1/16mT, 6:54 p.m. ET MAGIC STAR (Scat Daddy), produced by GI Matron S. heroine Meadow Breeze (Meadowlake), debuts for Don Alberto Stable and leading trainer Chad Brown. The 2017 $500,000 KEESEP yearling has been working in company with talented Brown stablemates Mascha (Fr) (Le Havre {Ire}) (five furlongs in 1:01 3/5 on Oklahoma training turf Aug. 16 XBTV Video) (entered in Saturday’s GII Ballston Spa S.) and GI Alabama S. heroine Dunbar Road (Quality Road) (five furlongs in 1:01 3/5 on the main track Aug. 3 XBTV Video). TJCIS PPs The post Saturday’s Insights: Scat Daddy Filly ‘Stars’ in Saratoga Nightcap appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

After last month defending his title in the San Diego Handicap (G2), Catalina Cruiser will try to win the Pat O'Brien Stakes (G2) for a second year in a row Aug. 24 at Del Mar. View the full article

Come Dancing (Malibu Moon) was so impressive in posting back-to-back wins in the GIII Distaff H. with a gaudy 114 Beyer Speed Figure and GII Ruffian S. this spring that she went off the 4-5 favorite in the GI Ogden Phipps S. June 8. While she couldn’t match strides with the streaking division leader Midnight Bisou (Midnight Lute) when second-best after stumbling at the start in that 1 1/16-mile contest, the Blue Devil Racing Stable colorbearer looks like a major player cutting back to seven furlongs in Saturday’s GI Ketel One Ballerina S. at the Spa, a ‘Win and You’re In’ for the GI Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Sprint. Javier Castellano replaces Manny Franco aboard the 6-5 morning-line favorite. “I’m excited about cutting her back to seven-eighths,” trainer Carlos Martin said. “We regrouped, and in the last month, she’s trained sensational with Javier [Castellano]. So, I’m really excited about running her on Saturday.” ‘TDN Rising Stars’ Separationofpowers (Candy Ride {Arg}) and Mia Mischief (Into Mischief), just a neck apart with the former getting the money in a thrilling renewal of last summer’s GI Test S., finally get their rematch here. Separationofpowers has only made three starts since that throwdown, most recently capturing Belmont’s GIII Bed o’ Roses Invitational S. June 7 with a career-high 100 Beyer Speed Figure. She was third in her seasonal debut in the GIII Vagrancy H. May 11. Mia Mischief, meanwhile, posted her first win at the highest level with an 11-1 upset at this distance in the GI Humana Distaff S. May 4. She defeated subsequent GI Test S. victress Covfefe (Into Mischief) with a hard-fought victory in the Roxelana Overnight S. at Churchill Downs June 22, then disappointed with a fourth-place finish as the 6-5 chalk in the GII Honorable Miss H. July 24. The post Field of Seven Ready to Tango appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

After having a seven-race winning streak snapped with a puzzling third in the GI Alfred G. Vanderbilt H. July 27, Mitole (Eskendereya) looks to bounce back versus five rivals in Saturday’s GI Forego S. at the Spa. The William and Corinne Heiligbrodt colorbearer was hammered into 1-2 favoritism while drawing the dreaded one-hole in that six-furlong contest following top-level successes in the GI Churchill Downs S. May 4 and GI Runhappy Metropolitan H. June 8. He reported home 7 1/2 lengths behind Imperial Hint (Imperialism), who set a new track record while defending his Vanderbilt title. Mitole is the 4-5 morning-line favorite for the Forego. The rail-drawn Promises Fulfilled (Shackleford), third in the Churchill Downs and fourth in the Met Mile, got back in the win column with a powerful decision in Belmont’s GII John A. Nerud S. July 6. He’s perfect in two previous attempts at the Spa last season, headed by the GI H. Allen Jerkens S. WinStar Farm LLC has since joined Robert J. Baron on the ownership line. “I got great respect for Mitole, he’s been a great horse this year, so we’ll have to see how he bounces back, but I think that we’re moving forward,” trainer Dale Romans said. “It should be a good race.” The post Mitole Looks to Rebound in Forego appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Two years ago, for the first time since 1982 and only the second time ever, all three winners of the spring Classics met up in the GI Runhappy Travers S., only for none of them to come out on top as West Coast (Flatter) started his blitz to champion 3-year-old honors. This Saturday at Saratoga, zero of the three Triple Crown race winners will enter the gate for the Midsummer Derby, but that hasn’t tamped down the intrigue, as 12 sophomores go postward looking to take advantage of one of the few remaining opportunities to plant their respective flags in a still-murky race for champion 3-year-old. The narrow standard-bearer in the division right now, Gary and Mary West’s Maximum Security (New Year’s Day), decided to pass on the race and chase the GI Pennsylvania Derby, so favoritism in this 150th running of the Saratoga meet centerpiece has fallen to Juddmonte Farms’ Tacitus (Tapit), who, with a few more breaks, could be sitting on top himself. Reeling off victories in the GII Tampa Bay Derby and GII Wood Memorial S. to start his campaign, the gray son of champion Close Hatches (First Defence) ran well with a rough trip to be third in the GI Kentucky Derby. Passing on the GI Preakness S., he produced a winning effort when runner-up to Sir Winston (Awesome Again) in the GI Belmont S., covering 65 more feet than the winner from his far-outside post. Resurfacing in the GII Jim Dandy S., he had another unlucky trip, going down to his nose at the start and finishing a game second despite racing over a deep rail through much of the stretch. Besting him that day was rival Tax (Arch), who Tacitus got the better of in the Wood Memorial, Derby and Belmont. The Jim Dandy was a breakthrough victory for the overachieving gelding, who had mostly been getting pieces in big races since being claimed for $50,000 by Danny Gargan last fall at Keeneland. Pulling the 12 post at Tuesday’s draw, Gargan made no secrets about the plan from the gate for Tax, saying, “We’re going to see how fast they are now. Somebody’s going to have to be real fast, because I’m going to have to heat it up. I have no choice from the 12 hole.” Shug McGaughey has won the Travers three times, but not since sending Coronado’s Quest out to victory in 1998, and will saddle the morning-line’s second choice in W.S. Farish’s Code of Honor (Noble Mission {GB}). Victor of the GII Xpressbet Fountain of Youth S. Mar. 2 at Gulfstream, the homebred was third behind Maximum Security in a merry-go-round GI Xpressbet Florida Derby before finishing second in the roughly run Derby. Given a brief break, he returned with a scintillating success in the one-mile GIII Dwyer S. July 6 at Belmont, rallying from last into a slow pace to score going away. “I think he’s come a long way in the last two or three months,” said McGaughey. “He’s a laid-back, one-run type of horse and that’s what we’ll try to do with him. Hopefully, at the quarter pole, we’re in a decent position where he can go on and make his run and see what happens.” Chad Brown is having another stellar meet at Saratoga en route to a nearly certain fourth consecutive Eclipse Award, but the Mechanicville native is still searching for his first Travers win, and will start a pair of contenders in Saturday’s renewal. Farish’s lightly raced Highest Honors (Tapit) was a neck second after fighting through stretch traffic on debut Apr. 20 at Keeneland and graduated next out June 1 at Belmont before rallying to victory in the Curlin S. here July 26. Brown also will be represented by Looking At Bikinis (Lookin At Lucky), who started his career two-for-two before checking in third while racing on a dead rail in the Curlin. Bob Baffert, whose champion Game Winner (Candy Ride {Arg}) was declared from the race last week, looks for his third Travers in four years with Michael Lund Petersen’s ‘TDN Rising Star‘ Mucho Gusto (Mucho Macho Man). Never out of the trifecta in eight career tries, the chestnut picked up graded tallies in the GIII Robert B. Lewis S., GIII Laz Barrera S. and GIII Affirmed S. earlier this year before finishing a clear second to Maximum Security in the GI TVG.com Haskell Invitational last out. Rupp Racing’s Owendale (Into Mischief) followed up an upset conquest of the GIII Stonestreet Lexington S. with a good third in the GI Preakness S. Bypassing a try at the Belmont, the chestnut earned a game victory in the GIII Ohio Derby last out and drew the rail for this return to Grade I company. The post Diverse Dozen Look to Stake Claim in Travers appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

He doesn’t run often, but when he does, he’s usually brilliant, and Annals of Time (Temple City) will shoot for his second Grade I triumph, over 2 1/2 years removed from his first one, in Saturday’s GI Sword Dancer S. at Saratoga. Debuting with a sharp success in November of 2015, the bay had his most rigorous campaign thus far when running three times in 2016, finishing third in the GIII Hill Prince S. before rallying from well back to capture the GI Hollywood Derby at Del Mar. Appearing just once in 2017, he annexed a Belmont optional claimer. Then came a near 21-month layoff, but the Chad Brown trainee returned no worse for the wear, flying late to be second in another Big Sandy optional claimer June 7 and blowing away a similar field by 4 1/2 lengths over the local turf July 24. That race, run over 1 3/16 miles, was the longest Annals of Time has traveled so far, and he’ll try to stretch his devastating closing kick out to the 12-furlong distance of the Sword Dancer. “A mile and a half will be a test for him,” Brown told the NYRA notes team. “He’s never run in a three-turn race before. I’d prefer there to be some pace in the race, but he has a really good turn of foot and he’s going need to.” The first, second, fourth and sixth finishers from the local prep for this, the GII Bowling Green S. July 27, will return, led by upset winner Channel Cat (English Channel). Capturing a pair of stakes as a sophomore, the Calumet Farm homebred was off the board in his first two attempts this season before running a close third in the GI United Nations S. June 22 at Monmouth. Setting the pace in the Bowling Green, he gamely repelled several challenges late to score at over 13-1. “I think he’s consistent with a lot of English Channels. He had some success at 2 and 3, but he really improved at 4 and I think he will continue to improve,” said trainer Todd Pletcher. “I think for the most part [offspring of English Channel] tend to peak in their 5-year-old year in a lot of cases. And this is a horse we’ve always liked. I kind of called him as a 2-year-old our sleeper horse that would hopefully develop into a top-class older horse and he’s right on the verge of that.” One of those challenges came from runner-up, the Chilean Horse of the Year Ya Primo (Chi) (Mastercraftsman {Ire}), who was making his North American debut. Prior to that, the gray had reeled off three straight comprehensive victories in South America, including a pair of Group 1 triumphs, before being sent to Brown. “He’s been training particularly well since and we’re looking to running in the Sword Dancer,” said his conditioner. “It was always our plan.” Also re-opposing are fourth-place finisher and multiple Grade I winner Channel Maker (English Channel) and sixth-place Sadler’s Joy (Kitten’s Joy), who captured this event in 2017. The post Annals of Time Returns to Big Stage in Sword Dancer appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Four-time Grade I winner and ‘TDN Rising Star’ Rushing Fall (More Than Ready) was expected to be a heavy favorite in Saturday’s GII Woodford Reserve Ballston Spa S. at Saratoga, but trainer Chad Brown decided to scratch the filly after a subpar breeze this week. Such is the life of America’s perennial leading trainer that he still looks very tough to beat in the race, starting a trio of contenders in the nine-horse affair. Leading the charge is the promising Mascha (Fr) (Le Havre {Ire}). Owned by Martin Schwartz, the dark bay annexed the Kronimus Diana-Trial in Germany last June before running second to future barnmate Homerique (Exchange Rate) in the G3 Prix de Psyche and fifth in the G2 Prix de la Nonette at Deauville. Laid up for nearly a year, she came back running with a last-to-first success behind a slow pace in a course-and-distance optional claimer July 31. Peter Brant’s Fifty Five (Get Stormy) looks to bounce back from a shocking defeat. Cleaning up with four straight stakes wins, three of them against New York-bred company, dating back to last September, the bay came up a half-length short at 2-5 in the GIII Dr. James Penny Memorial S. last out July 2 at Parx. Rounding out the Brown trio is Stephanie Seymour Brant’s Significant Form (Creative Cause). Dominating the Memories of Silver S. last spring at Aqueduct, the gray went winless in her next four starts before scoring in the seven-furlong GIII Intercontinental S. June 6 at Belmont. She stretches back out after running fifth in the 5 1/2-furlong Caress S. here July 21. Secret Message (Hat Trick {Jpn}) and Starship Jubilee (Indy Wind) look most likely to derail the Brown train. The former, victress of the GIII Pucker Up S. last summer and GII Nassau S. and Dahlia S. this term, finished fourth with traffic trouble in the GI Diana S. here July 13, while the latter, a former claimer and three-time graded stakes winner, is coming in off runner-up finishes in the Nassau and GII Dance Smartly S. north of the border. The post Even Without Rushing Fall, Brown Has Ballston Spa Covered appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Eclipsing even Enable (GB) (Nathaniel {Ire}) and Stradivarius (Ire) (Sea the Stars {Ire}), Shadwell’s Battaash (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}) destroyed his opponents on Friday in the greatest performance witnessed in the history of York’s G1 Coolmore Nunthorpe S. Rolling smoothly from the outset granted an early lead from Soldier’s Call (GB) (Showcasing {GB}), the 7-4 second favourite wanted it as early as halfway and Jim Crowley was in no position to deny him as he put the rest in the shade. Drawing on all his inherent prowess to open up in sensational style from there, he went through the barrier to hit the line 3 3/4 lengths to the good over Soldier’s Call. Capping a display for the ages, the 5-year-old who had been here and failed in 2017 and 2018 was stopped at 55.90, becoming the first ever to dip under 56 seconds and in the process ending the 29-year dominion of the operation’s sprinting legend Dayjur. As a measure of how fast this race was, the 13-8 favourite Ten Sovereigns (Ire) (No Nay Never) was unable to land a blow, with Ballydoyle’s best finisher the filly So Perfect (Scat Daddy), a length behind Soldier’s Call in third. “He loves York!” Charlie Hills quipped. “All the chat saying he doesn’t and he’s broken the track record, and that’s Dayjur’s track record as well. Everything went well today–he was so cool and calm and he’s seriously fast.” While nobody in the racing firmament would have argued that Battaash is the best of his kind that has ever graced Goodwood’s festival after three consecutive renewals of the G2 King George S., there was continuing doubt that he would ever produce on this track that in principal is so ideally suited to him. Much has been said of his previous reversals in the last two runnings, but as a relatively lightly-raced 5-year-old who has taken all this time to properly mature it was unfair to downgrade him based on less than two minutes of disappointment. Travelled up from his home on the morning of the race this time, the bay now only has to conquer the G1 King’s Stand S. to complete his portfolio at this trip. Were it not for the stumble of Houtzen (Aus) (I Am Invincible {Aus}) alongside him in the most recent renewal of Royal Ascot’s speed test June 18, he may have been better placed to reverse his 2018 defeat by Blue Point (Ire) (Shamardal) but such are the minor margins by which these races are decided it will forever be a matter of conjecture. Versatile regarding ground conditions, he put up one of his finest displays prior to this tour de force when beating Marsha (Ire) (Acclamation {GB}) by four lengths on soft ground in what was amazingly his only prior group 1 success in the 2017 G1 Prix de l’Abbaye. This ground, which began as officially “good” at the start of racing but was ever-quickening in the ramped-up temperatures, was perfectly set up for a track record attempt but few would have expected Dayjur’s gold standard to be under threat. Angus Gold was there in 1990 and he said, “It was fantastic. I’m thrilled for Sheikh Hamdan, who puts a lot into it and it’s great he was here to see this. I would never have dared mention him in the same breath as Dayjur, but I suppose I’ll have to after today! You never quite know with him, but I simply couldn’t understand why a horse wouldn’t like York as it’s not a quirky track. He was very calm off the box and very good in the preliminaries today and he accepted a lead in the race whereas at Goodwood he was unbelievably fast in the first part of the race. He did it the right way round today and Jim kicked at exactly the right moment. It’s nice to see him still going at the end–he was still galloping on at the line.” Charlie Hills added, “It was a good decision to keep him at home last night. He loves his stable at home and it’s nice to keep a routine with him. I was really pleased with the draw and Jim gave him an absolute peach of a ride. He got a lovely tow in there. He’s obviously been gelded, so we can come back here again next year. I’d love to go to Ireland [for the Sept. 16 G1 Flying Five at The Curragh] with him in a few weeks and then hopefully go to France [for the G1 Prix de l’Abbaye at ParisLongchamp] and why not the Breeder’s Cup, but I’ll have to speak to the owner.” Archie Watson said of Soldier’s Call, “I’m delighted–he’s got bags of pace, quick ground suits and an easy five. He’s bumped into one of the best sprinters of recent times, but he’s ran a huge race to be second and I’m delighted with him. There are obviously three more group ones that are suitable for him–there’s Ireland, there’s the Abbaye–which he was third in as a two-year-old last year–and the Breeders’ Cup which is run on a flat five this year. We’ll have to think about Ireland, as he disappointed there last time. We’ll sit down and have a think about it, but I’d say the two main targets are France and America.” Battaash is the first foal out of Anna Law (Ire) (Lawman {Fr}), who is a half-sister to four black-type performers headed by this operation’s Etlaala (GB) (Selkirk) who captured the G2 Champagne S. and was third in the G1 July Cup. Her other half-sibling Bird Key (GB) (Cadeaux Genereux {GB}) produced another leading sprinter in the blue-and-white in the G2 Duke of York S. winner and G1 Diamond Jubilee S. and G1 QIPCO British Champions Sprint S.-placed Tasleet (GB) (Showcasing {GB}). Anna Law also has Phoenix Thoroughbreds’ unraced 2-year-old filly Valletta Gold (Ire) (Gutaifan {Ire}) in training with John Quinn and a yearling full-sister to Battaash. Friday, York, Britain COOLMORE NUNTHORPE S.-G1, £400,000, York, 8-23, 2yo/up, 5fT, :55.90 (NTR), g/f. 1–BATTAASH (IRE), 137, g, 5, by Dark Angel (Ire) 1st Dam: Anna Law (Ire), by Lawman (Fr) 2nd Dam: Portelet (GB), by Night Shift 3rd Dam: Noirmant (Ire), by Dominion (GB) (200,000gns Ylg ’15 TAOCT). O-Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum; B-Ballyphilip Stud (IRE); T-C Hills; J-Jim Crowley. £226,840. Lifetime Record: Hwt. Older Horse-Eur at 5-7f, Hwt. 3yo-Fr at 5-7f & G1SW-Fr, 19-10-2-3, $1,793,398. Werk Nick Rating: A+++ *Triple Plus*. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree. 2–Soldier’s Call (GB), 135, c, 3, Showcasing (GB)–Dijarvo (GB), by Iceman (GB). (85,000gns Ylg ’17 TAOCT). O-Clipper Logistics; B-Llety Farms (GB); T-Archie Watson. £86,000. 3–So Perfect, 132, f, 3, Scat Daddy–Hopeoverexperience, by Songandaprayer. ($400,000 Ylg ’17 KEESEP). O-Derrick Smith, Susan Magnier & Michael Tabor; B-Machmer Hall (KY); T-Aidan O’Brien. £43,040. Margins: 3 3/4, 1, 1. Odds: 1.75, 20.00, 25.00. Also Ran: Mabs Cross (GB), Copper Knight (Ire), Ten Sovereigns (Ire), Ornate (GB), El Astronaute (Ire), Rumble Inthejungle (Ire), Fairyland (Ire), Garrus (Ire). Scratched: Intense Romance (Ire). Click for the Racing Post result or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. Video, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton. The post No Mistake As Brilliant Battaash Makes It Third Time Lucky appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

The Ebor festival at York is one of the biggest and the best of the year and now with £1 million up for grabs in the Ebor the quality of the racing is even higher. It’s been a great week already with the likes of Japan and Enable producing such good performances, and I’m looking […] The post Kieren Fallon York Ebor Preview appeared first on RaceBets Blog EN. View the full article

Making up for defeats in the G2 Coventry S. and G2 Richmond S., TDN Rising Star Threat (Ire) (Footstepsinthesand {GB}) put himself where Richard Hannon believes is his rightful place after Friday’s G2 Al Basti Equiworld Dubai Gimcrack S. at York. His trainer’s visible and lasting disappointment as he was eclipsed by Golden Horde (Ire) (Lethal Force {Ire}) at Goodwood was notable, so anything other than a command performance here would have led to total dismay at East Everleigh. In the event, Cheveley Park Stud’s heavily-backed 11-10 favourite enjoyed the perfect trip, stalking the early leaders under cover before putting on the squeeze 1 1/2 furlongs out. Chased by the game Lord of the Lodge (Ire) (Dandy Man {Ire}) from there, the chestnut was too strong and had 1 1/4 lengths to spare at the line, with 2 3/4 lengths back to fellow TDN Rising Star Repartee (Ire) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}) who was unsettled in the stalls. “The preliminaries went to plan and everything went smoothly,” jockey Oisin Murphy said. “He’s a high-class horse who is learning how to relax and as long as I had a nice position and things went smoothly he was always going to win. I’d imagine he’ll get a mile, no problem, and the fact that he’s won a group two over six furlongs is really exciting. I think he’ll go on to better things.” Threat has already ensured he will be in demand after his racing career, progressing from a striking five-furlong debut win at Newmarket May 5 to runner-up placings in up-to-scratch renewals of Royal Ascot’s Coventry June 18 and the Richmond Aug. 1. Richard Hannon’s 2000 Guineas hand is looking stronger by the day, with Thursday seeing the stable unleash the emphatic Goffs UK Premier Yearling S. winner Mums Tipple (Ire) by the same sire. “I was gutted at Goodwood,” the trainer said. “He got a bit warm there and I don’t think we’ll stop him getting warm, but he is a very, very good horse. I made the mistake of watching him at Goodwood with Chris Richardson and I walked away feeling like someone had kicked me. If they had, I actually wouldn’t have felt it–I was just numb.” “I’ve never seen a bad horse win the Gimcrack, or even a good horse, they have to be very good,” he added. “He’s danced every dance, pretty much, and has been second to some very good horses. I’m not making excuses for him. We’ll work back from something like the Guineas. I’ve not hidden how good I think he is. He could go for the [Sept. 28 G1] Middle Park [at Newmarket], but it might not be a bad idea to step him up to seven furlongs. He’s in races like the [Sept. 14 G2] Champagne Stakes [at Doncaster] and the [G1] Dewhurst [at Newmarket Oct. 12], so we’ll see.” Karl Burke said of Lord of the Lodge, who came clear of the remainder and was benefitting from a return to quicker ground having been unplaced in the Coventry, “I quietly fancied him really, they’ve always thought a world of the winner–I hope he’s as good as they think he is! The phone was buzzing with bloodstock agents after his Haydock run [when winning a novice Aug. 8], so I’m sure we’ll be on the phone again. We’ll see if we can keep hold of him, but that was the plan today–he likes that quick ground and takes to that really good. He certainly holds entries in all of the better races. I want to step him up to seven, but the Lagardere has gone up to a mile. I don’t know whether he’d stay a mile, but he’ll certainly stay seven.” Threat is showing speed probably more out of raw talent than pedigree, with his dam being the Niarchos’s Flare of Firelight (Birdstone) who was campaigned between a mile and 9 1/2 furlongs. A half to the listed-winning That Which Is Not (Elusive Quality) who was also runner-up in the G2 Prix Corrida over 10 1/2 furlongs, they are out of Shiva (Jpn) (Hector Protector) who beat Daylami (Ire) in the 1999 G1 Tattersalls Gold Cup and was placed in the G1 Champion S. and G1 Eclipse S. Her half-sister Light Shift (Kingmambo) took the 2007 G1 Epsom Oaks before producing the G1 Juddmonte International and G1 Eclipse S. hero Ulysses (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), who stands at Cheveley Park Stud. Shiva is also a full-sister to the group-winning sire Limnos (Jpn), who was at his best over a mile and a half, while the third dam Lingerie (GB) (Shirley Heights {GB}) also boasts among her descendants the multiple grade one winner Main Sequence (Aldebaran) and the G1 Prix Ganay hero and Arc-placed Cloth of Stars (Ire) (Sea the Stars {Ire}). Flare of Firelight’s yearling filly is by Slade Power (Ire), while she also has a filly foal by Galileo Gold (GB). Friday, York, Britain AL BASTI EQUIWORLD DUBAI GIMCRACK S.-G2, £225,000, York, 8-23, 2yo, c/g, 6fT, 1:09.62, g/f. 1–THREAT (IRE), 126, c, 2, by Footstepsinthesand (GB) 1st Dam: Flare of Firelight, by Birdstone 2nd Dam: Shiva (Jpn), by Hector Protector 3rd Dam: Lingerie (GB), by Shirley Heights (GB) 1ST BLACK-TYPE WIN; 1ST GROUP WIN. (100,000gns Wlg ’17 TATFOA). O-Cheveley Park Stud; B-La Lumiere Partnership (IRE); T-Richard Hannon; J-Oisin Murphy. £127,598. Lifetime Record: 4-2-2-0, $259,287. Werk Nick Rating: B+. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree. 2–Lord of the Lodge (Ire), 126, c, 2, Dandy Man (Ire)–Archetypal (Ire), by Cape Cross (Ire). (€4,200 Wlg ’17 TATFBR; €35,000 Ylg ’18 TIRSEP). O-Mrs Elaine M Burke; B-Mount Armstrong Stud. (IRE); T-Karl Burke. £48,375. 3–Repartee (Ire), 126, c, 2, Invincible Spirit (Ire)–Pleasantry (GB), by Johannesburg. (310,000gns Ylg ’18 TATOCT). O-Sheikh Mohammed Obaid Al Maktoum; B-Wansdyke Farms Ltd & J M Burke (IRE); T-Kevin Ryan. £24,210. Margins: 1 1/4, 2 3/4, 1. Odds: 1.10, 16.00, 5.50. Also Ran: Malotru (GB), Summer Sands (GB), Pistoletto, Byline (GB), Spartan Fighter (GB), Misty Grey (Ire), Iffraaz (Ire), Dubai Station (GB), Abstemious (GB). Scratched: Colonel Whitehead (Ire), Royal Commando (Ire). Click for the Racing Post result or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. Video, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton. 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