Wandering Eyes

A full field of 18 3-year-old milers line up for the G1 NHK Mile Cup at Tokyo on Sunday. Ante-post favouritism has been granted to G1 Asahi Hai Futurity Stakes hero and Junko Kondo runner Admire Zoom. The son of four-time Group 1-winning miler Maurice warmed up for this with a stalking neck second in the G2 New Zealand Trophy at Nakayama in April behind Katsumi Yoshida's Immigrant Song (Makfi) and 1 1/4 lengths in front of the Saturnalia filly Caught Alliciant in third. Trainer Yasuo Tomomichi said, “He wasn't fully wound up for his last race, but he ran well enough. It was good that he handled the long trip to the track and the overnight stay, so those things were a real plus. In the meantime, things have been as expected with him.” Owned by Teruya Yoshida, Caught Alliciant is one of six fillies in the race. If successful on Sunday, she would become the first filly to win since Aerolithe (Kurofune) in 2017. Jockey Akiro Sugawara will have his hands full, as he leaves from the widest stall in 18 aboard the ante-post fifth choice. Trainer Daishi Ito said, “She started well last time [in the New Zealand Trophy] and got into a good rhythm in the race. She's not the type where her condition changes so much, but the warmer weather is definitely better for her.” Another filly to watch is Oka Sho (Japanese 1000 Guineas) fourth Ma Puce (Mind Your Biscuits). The Yuji Yoshimoto runner was second in the G2 Daily Hai Queen Cup to subsequent 1000 Guineas heroine Embroidery (Admire Mars) back in February. Hironobu Tanabe is booked to ride and the duo leaves from stall 12. The one-two finishers out of April's G3 Churchill Downs Cup, a prep for the NHK Mile Cup, have been entered in Yoshinori Itsukage's Lance Of Chaos (Silver State) and TO Racing's Arte Veloce (Maurice) who leave from stalls five and 15, respectively. Also coming off a win is Hirotsugu Inokuma's Yankee Barows, who won the G3 Falcon Stakes over Kazumi Yoshida colourbearer Mondo Dell'Amore (World Ace {Jpn}) in March. The son of Epiphaneia is drawn in stall four under Mirai Iwata. Trainer Hiroyuki Uemura said of Yankee Barows, “He had a break at the farm after his last race, with this next one being his target. In recent work, the ground was bad, but he managed to run well throughout that piece of training. There's no big change with him, and I think he showed some of his potential last time in the Falcon Stakes.” The post More To ‘Admire’ In NHK Mile Cup? appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

When lawmakers passed the New York State budget Thursday, the package included a gift for horseplayers. Starting Sept. 1, New York will join Kentucky and Washington as the only racing states to break payoffs to the penny. However, the bill allows for nickel breakage on on-track wagers, provided all breakage proceeds are dedicated to aftercare funding. It was not immediately clear which tracks would adopt the penny breakage and which would chose the nickel-breakage package. Both NYRA and Gov. Kathy Hochul were supportive of the move to penny breakage. “The adoption of penny breakage in New York State is a win for horseplayers made possible by Governor Hochul and the New York State Legislature, who prioritized racing in a variety of important ways in this year's budget. NYRA looks forward to implementing this commonsense breakage reform later this year,” said NRA Vice President, Communications Pat McKenna. The movement to get tracks to revert to a penny breakage system was headed by at Pat Cummings, who, at the time, was with the Thoroughbred Idea Foundation. Kentucky was the first state to adopt the system. Cummings is now with the National Thoroughbred Alliance, a group founded by owner Mike Repole. “This is super exciting,” Cummings said. “I give full credit to (NYRA CEO and President) David O'Rourke and his team for coming back around to it when they had the ability to do so. It takes times and every state is different and different political elements are involved. It is not easy. Dave never let it drop and he was on-board from the beginning of the movement, all the way back to 2018 when the Thoroughbred Idea Foundation first went to work on this. David and his team knew when the time was right to be able to get this going again.” Cummings estimated that the switch to penny breakage will result in an extra $10 million going into the pockets of horseplayers each year. NYRA out-handles Kentucky, where penny breakage has, according to Cummings, meant an extra $7 million a year paid to the bettors. Sovereignty (Into Mischief) paid, across the board $17.96, $7.50 and $5.58 in the GI Kentucky Derby. Without penny breakage, he would have paid $17.80, $7.40 and $5.40. “We think that this will mean $10 million more in the pockets of the players and then the effect that has on churn we think can be significant,” Cummings said. The post Penny Breakage Coming To New York appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Champion Westerner has died at Castlehyde Stud in Ireland, Coolmore announced on Friday. The bay was just a few days shy of his 26th birthday. “Westerner was always a pleasure to deal with and was an old favourite of the breeders too,” said Castlehyde's Cathal Murphy. “He got you a lovely sort of horse with a good attitude that jumped well. He has been a wonderful servant for us over the years producing so many top-class horses and will be greatly missed by all the team here in Castlehyde.” Bred by the Wildenstein family's Dayton Investments in the UK, the son of Danehill was out of the Troy mare Walensee. Successful in the 2003 G1 Prix Royal-Oaks and G1 Prix du Cadran, as well as the 2004 editions of those races, the Ellie Lellouche trainee also won the 2005 G1 Gold Cup at York. His record upon his 2007 retirement to Coolmore's National Hunt arm was 28-11-9-2, and $1,885,154 in earnings. At stud, he left numerous NH top-liners, including Cole Harden, Western Warhorse and Ferny Hollow, all Grade 1 winner at Cheltenham. The post Star NH Stallion And Champion Stayer Westerner Dies appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

A competitive group of 3-year-olds have signed on for Saturday's GIII Peter Pan Stakes, headlining a quartet of graded stakes at the Big A Saturday. Attempting to rebound off a last-out fourth as the favorite in the GII Wood Memorial Stakes in April, St Elias Stable's 'TDN Rising Star' Captain Cook (Practical Joke) will try to revert to the form that saw him win a pair of tests at the New York oval. Sixth going six panels at Churchill in his career debut for Norm Casse last October, the bay galloped home a 9 1/4-length winner for Rick Dutrow, Jr. in a sloppy seven-furlong test at the Big A Dec. 28. Stretching to nine furlongs for the Feb. 1 Withers Stakes, Captain Cook again won as the favorite. “We thought that he ran as good as he could,” said Dutrow, Jr. “He had everything go his way in the race and it seemed to me that he just kind of got outrun, and that is OK. He has bounced back in his training and he is doing good. We are very happy with him.” Dutrow, Jr. also sends out Black Type Thoroughbreds, Swinbank Stables, Scott Rice and breeder Judy Hicks's McAfee (Cloud Computing), who finished 1 1/2 lengths behind Captain Cook in fifth in the Wood Memorial. The son of Sataves (Uncle Mo), who is a half-brother to 2024 Horse of the Year Thorpedo Anna, also finished fifth in the one-turn mile GIII Gotham Stakes in March. Facing the sole black-type winner in the field, Chad Brown offers up two, GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile third Hill Road (Quality Road) in addition to last-out debut winner Lordship (Gun Runner). The former, campaigned by Amo Racing USA, won his debut for trainer Adrian Murray at Leopardstown last August before failing to hit the board in the G1 Vincent O'Brien National Stakes at the Curragh in September. Let go at 61-1 for his U.S. bow on Breeders' Cup Day, the colt belied his odds to finish 4 3/4-lengths behind winner and ultimate juvenile champion Citizen Bull (Into Mischief) in the 1 1/16-mile test. Turned over to Brown, the colt kicked off his 3-year-old campaign with a third in the GIII Lambholm South Tampa Bay Derby Mar. 8. On tracked to start in the Wood, the colt was scratched due to a fever. “He's doing great,” confirmed Brown. “He's fully recovered from the temperature and looks good. I'm pleased with him.” “It's a really strong crop so, if he's able to get to the Belmont [Stakes June 7], it will be a real challenging race, but we'll take it one race at a time.” Also, lining up for Brown, Earle Mack's homebred Lordship, who came from off the pace to annex a 1 mile 40 yard-test at Tampa Mar. 22. Dylan Davis gets the call here. “It looks like he's going to want more distance, and I thought this was a good spot to stretch him out. It's a big step for an inexperienced horse, but I do like the distance for him” Brown said. “We've taken our time with him and he's starting to come around now.” Trainer Todd Pletcher is also represented by a pair of colts here–Vassimo (Nyquist), officially credited with one win from two starts in Florida who has finished off the board in a pair of graded starts since in addition to Uncaged (Curlin), a first-out winner at Saratoga last summer who most recently won in his second start of the season when going a mile in the mud at the Big A last month. The former, owned by Team Penney Racing, will be ridden by Irad Ortiz Jr., while the latter, campaigned by WinStar Farm and Mike Repole, will have Kendrick Carmouche in the irons. Stacked Stakes Lineup on Saturday Card Aqueduct's Saturday card also features a pair of Grade II events–the Ruffian and Man O' War Stakes. Last season's GII Black-Eyed Susan Stakes scorer Gun Song (Gun Runner) attempts to mark her first return to the winner's circle since a victory in Parx's Cathryn Sophia Stakes in August. Only a neck behind subsequent champion Thorpedo Anna (Fast Anna) in the GI Cotillion Stakes, she found herself a head behind 'Rising Star' Tarifa (Bernardini) in the GII Mother Goose over this track in October. Favored in her latest start, she was a well-beaten third going a mile in a Gulfstream optional claimer Mar. 13. Also in the lineup, dual graded stakes winner My Mane Squeeze (Audible) makes her first start back since finishing third in Keeneland's GI Madison Stakes in addition to last-out winner of the nine-furlong Top Flight Invitational, Headline Numbers (Gun Runner). The former is trained by Mike Maker and the latter is conditioned by Chad Brown. Multiple Grade I-winning 'TDN Rising Star' Far Bridge (English Channel) looks to bag his fifth career graded win in 1 3/8-mile Man O' War. Trained by Christophe Clement, the 5-year-old was last seen posting a neck score in the 1 1/2-mile GIII Pan American on Mar. 29 at Gulfstream in his seasonal bow. A winner of the 2023 GI Belmont Derby, the bay also added wins in the GI Sword Dancer and GI Turf Classic last season. “He had three weeks off after the Pan American with no breezes because it was such a strong effort off the layoff,” said assistant trainer Miguel Clement. “He's coming into this race quite well.” In the six-furlong GIII John A. Nerud, Full Moon Madness (Into Mischief) cuts back from the seven-furlong GII Carter Stakes after tiring to seventh. Prior to that effort, the 5-year-old won the GIII Tom Fool Stakes Mar. 1. In addition to the racing action in New York, Churchill Downs hosts its sole graded test of the afternoon, the GIII Mamzelle Stakes. Recent Limestone Stakes winner 'TDN Rising Star' Shisospicy (Mitole) tries to add her third victory of the season, while second and third-place finishers out of that race–Dreamaway (Flameaway) and Abientot (Not This Time)–look to add to black-type wins last season. The post Peter Pan Contender Captain Cook Looks for Redemption on Saturday’s Stacked Card in New York appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Deauville, FRANCE-Talk about timing. The Arqana Breeze-Up Sale will get underway a week to the day after star graduate Ruling Court did his thing in the 2,000 Guineas. Take that result and couple it with the fact the sales results at the breeze-up sales in America and Europe have been off the charts this year, there is rightly optimism in the Deauville air. Three horses made more than a million-including Ruling Court who sold to Godolphin at €2.3 million-at the breeze-up sales last year. That figure has already been equalled between the Craven and the Doncaster breeze-up sales and it's anyone's guess as to what numbers will fly through the air when the sale gets underway here in Deauville at 11am on Saturday. Arqana boss Freddy Powell said, “All of the signals are showing that things could be good. We have been around the barns and vendors are happy. The breeze went very well and, while it is never good to throw flowers to yourself, everyone has been very complimentary. Plenty of people are coming to this sale and obviously the results at the breeze-up sales in America and in Europe have been good so let's hope that things can continue in the right way.” He added, “It was a great satisfaction seeing Ruling Court win the 2,000 Guineas and we were delighted for Godolphin and Sheikh Mohammed. They do a lot of work at the sales and when they get a big result like this it is great for everyone. Obviously, Norman Williamson, who travels all over the world and has brought us some very nice horses year after year, is an excellent consignor and it was brilliant for him as well.” No surprise then that there were a number of familiar faces busy inspecting on the ground at Arqana this week. From Charlie Appleby to MV Magnier and Kia Joorabchian, everyone who should be here is here. And there is also talk of a number of leading buyers from Australia flying in before the sale kicks off. Another familiar face bidding the get in on the action is legendary jockey turned burgeoning bloodstock agent Olivier Peslier. The 52-year-old called time on his glittering career last year and, since hanging up his saddle, has channeled his energy into bloodstock and has been busy inspecting stock at Arqana this week. Peslier said, “I have become an owner since I retired. I have one horse with clients of mine and he is in training with Antoine de Watrigant. Indian Streak is his name and he has been second and third in his two starts for us and the plan is to run him next in June where hopefully he can win. We bought him for €34,000 at the October Yearling Sale here in 2023 and I was like 'why not?' I am really enjoying being an owner and I actually ride that horse once a week so it is nice to be able to help prepare. “I have a client that told me to come here and watch the breeze and to try to find him a horse. I arrived on Wednesday and saw every horse breeze and looked at the ones we liked with the vet. Now we wait for tomorrow. But it is very interesting. The breeze was excellent because you got to see the gallop, the stride and there were a lot of nice horses. I am very interested in bloodstock and finding new ways of finding a good horse. All my life, I could tell a horse was good by riding as a jockey, but now I have to find new ways of finding the good horses. Of course, sometimes when people are thinking about buying a horse, they will ask me to ride that horse to see what I think.” He added, “I find bloodstock agency work very interesting and I would like to step it up. It was not an easy decision to stop riding but I knew for a while that I needed to stop. So it wasn't such a sudden decision. It wasn't as if I woke up one day and said, 'okay, I need to stop'. I had thought about it for a while. But I am very happy with my life right now. I still ride out to keep myself fit and healthy and I enjoy it. Let's see how tomorrow goes.” There are also new faces in attendance. Noel Fehily and David Crosse, who are the driving forces behind the Noel Fehily Racing Club, one of the most successful National Hunt syndicates in the business, are starting to branch out into the Flat. Fehily explained, “It's our first time coming to the breeze-ups. We bought three Flat yearlings last year and now we are branching out into the breeze-ups. We are looking for something that would run before the back end of the season and that can make up into a three-year-old. There are a lot of good horses here and trade will be pretty strong but we'll give it a go.” Crosse added, “We had owners approach us about getting more involved on the Flat and our first yearlings are progressing nicely. We'll probably have our first runners within the next six weeks and it will be interesting to see how it goes. If they can go well, you'll probably see us a lot more at these breeze-up and Flat yearling sales in the future.” It must be noted that for all that last year's sale was electric at the top, there were holes in the middle tiers. Powell revealed that Arqana have put in extensive work all year to convince buyers that this is a sale worth shopping at for every level and pointed to French 1,000 Guineas hope She's Perfect as being a prime example as what can be found. He concluded, “It is very difficult to control the middle market because it really depends on the circumstances at that moment, the economy and a lot of other things. When you have a big sale with horses making a lot of money at the top, it can frighten some clients that would have been coming to work at the middle market. But this is something we have been working all year long on. We have been trying to show people that there is something for everyone here and there really is. Take for example She's Perfect, who runs in the French 1,000 Guineas on Sunday. She was bought for €50,000 outside the ring last year and is a good example of what you can get when you come and work the sale hard.” The post Familiar Faces On The Hunt For The Next Ruling Court At Arqana Breeze-Up Sale appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

GII Wood Memorial Stakes winner and 'TDN Rising Star' Rodriguez (Authentic) will miss the upcoming GI Preakness Stakes as he continues to heal from a foot issue, trainer Bob Baffert told the Daily Racing Form Friday morning. Scratched from the GI Kentucky Derby due to a foot bruise, the colt will now aim for the GI Belmont Stakes at Saratoga in June. “He'll be perfect for the Belmont,” Baffert told the DRF. “I couldn't prep him like I wanted to [for the Preakness]. Once he had the foot issue, you got to let those things simmer down. I didn't have enough time.” Baffert will still be represented in the Preakness starting gate by fellow 'Rising Star' Goal Oriented (Not This Time). The post Wood Memorial Winner Rodriguez, Scratched From Derby, Will Also Miss Preakness appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

The Maryland Jockey Club, Inc., a newly formed nonprofit entity charged with overseeing live Thoroughbred racing at Laurel Park, Pimlico Race Course and a new, state-of-the-art training facility built in Carroll County Maryland, has named its inaugural Board of Directors, the Maryland Thoroughbred Racetrack Operating Authority announced Friday. The MTROA, established to secure the long-term stability and modernization of Thoroughbred racing in the state, played a central role in establishing The Maryland Jockey Club, Inc. as a nonprofit operator that prioritizes the interests of horsemen, fans, and the broader Maryland community. The list of board members includes James Dresher, Jr., Tim Keefe, Chuck Tildon, Lisa Golden Hofstetter, Michael Hopkins, TK Kuegler, Jeff Cherry, Dr. Kathleen Anderson and Michael Hankin. “I could not be more thrilled that this all-star group has agreed to volunteer their deep experience and time to take the baton from MTROA and build off of the new foundation that is in place for Maryland racing as we look to the future,” said MTROA chair Greg Cross. “The Maryland Horse Breeders Association looks forward to working with the State and the new Maryland Jockey Club Board as we work to revitalize Maryland's horse industry,” added executive director Cricket Goodall. “With a new Pimlico and energized Preakness coming soon, the future looks bright.” David Richardson, Executive Director of the Maryland Thoroughbred Horsemen's Association, concurred. “The Maryland Thoroughbred Horsemen's Association congratulates the newly appointed Board of Directors of The Maryland Jockey Club. This group brings together a diverse and experienced cross-section of leadership that understands the historic significance and future potential of Maryland racing.” The post Maryland Jockey Club Names Inaugural Board Of Directors appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

With new plans unveiled for a redesigned Pimlico Race Course by the Maryland Stadium Authority, Governor Wes Moore and the Board of Public Works approved a demolition package for the track after next week's GI Preakness Stakes and also the acquisition of Shamrock Farm in Carroll County as the state's new training center hub, according a Wednesday press release from the governor's office. “Today we take another step toward a new, reimagined Pimlico,” said Gov. Moore. “I thank my colleagues on the Board of Public Works, the Maryland General Assembly, the Maryland Stadium Authority, the Maryland Thoroughbred Racetrack Operating Authority, and our local community partners for securing the future of Preakness in Maryland. Together, we will continue to drive economic growth in Park Heights, throughout Baltimore, and across the entire state.” During the meeting, representatives from the Maryland Stadium Authority revealed the design concept for Pimlico. “We are excited to deliver a new, modern Pimlico for racing fans and the Park Heights community,” said Maryland Stadium Authority Chairman Craig Thompson. “But this work is bigger than a racetrack, as historic and important as it is. This is about bringing hundreds of millions of dollars in state investment to Park Heights and working in partnership with MEDCO and the local community to realize a shared vision for the future.” The new Pimlico grandstand | Maryland Stadium Authority The Maryland Stadium Authority–in partnership with The Maryland Jockey Club and the Park Heights community–will oversee the construction of Pimlico. The new facility will support approximately 500 jobs and will be a year-round hub of economic activity in Park Heights. Pimlico, which currently hosts about 15 racing days per year, will become the permanent home of Maryland Thoroughbred racing with well over 100 racing days annually. The site design centers around a new clubhouse inspired by Baltimore landmarks such as the Rawlings Conservatory in Druid Hill Park and the original grandstand. The new Pimlico stretch | Maryland Stadium Authority The approved acquisition of Shamrock Farm sets in motion one of the largest state investments in Carroll County in recent history, following a two-year investigation of more than eight sites across six Maryland counties. The State of Maryland will direct at least $110 million to the new training center, which will offer 328 acres to create a training facility with more than 800 boarded horses, housing for backstretch workers and a training track with dimensions identical to those at Pimlico. The Shamrock Farm acquisition is supported by the Carroll County government, which has agreed to commit $1.5 million to offset infrastructure costs. The post Gov. Moore And Co. Talk Pimlico Demo, Training Facility And Concept Art appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

In this continuing series, Alan Carasso takes a look ahead at US-bred and/or conceived runners entered for the upcoming weekend at the tracks on the Japan Racing Association circuit, with a focus on pedigree and/or performance in the sales ring. Here are the horses of interest for this Sunday running at Tokyo Racecourses, where 3-year-old turf milers are front and center in the G1 NHK Mile Cup: Sunday, May 11, 2025 5th-TOK, ¥15,200,000 ($105k), Allowance, 3yo, 2100m MERCURY DIME (JPN) (f, 3, Medaglia d'Oro–Lucky Dime, by Creative Cause) overcame a wide draw and a three-wide journey to win her maiden narrowly at first asking over 1800 meters at Nakayama at the back end of January (see below, SC 11). Lucky Dime is a winning daughter of Indian Miss (Indian Charlie), whose five additional scorers include Eclipse Award-winning sprinter and top young sire Mitole (Eskendereya) as well as the popular GISW and multiple Classic-placed Hot Rod Charlie (Oxbow), now standing in Japan. Lucky Dime was offered at Keeneland November in 2021 and was purchased by Katsumi Yoshida for $850,000 with this filly in utero. Just days after Hot Rod Charlie belied odds of 94-1 when second to 'TDN Rising Star' and future champion Essential Quality (Tapit) in the 2020 GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile, Indian Miss fetched $1.9 million from OXO Equine at KEENOV while pregnant to Into Mischief. Mercury Dime carries the famed Sunday Racing colors and will once again by ridden by Christophe Lemaire. O-Sunday Racing Co Ltd; B-Shunsuke Yoshida; T-Ryo Takei #マーキュリーダイム 彼女にとってはデビュー戦、勝利おめでとう pic.twitter.com/a1rE1soYyN — S1 (@s1nihs) January 26, 2025 The post Well-Related Medaglia d’Oro Filly Looks To Stay Perfect at Tokyo appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Multiple group winner Passenger is on the comeback trail and is reportedly thriving at new trainer George Scott's base ahead of a potential return at Royal Ascot next month. The Niarchos family-owned runner and former Sir Michael Stoute trainee underwent surgery in August and has been recovering since. “When Passenger arrived we were very much seeing which direction he took us in after his injuries, but he's been training beautifully and I'm very pleased with his trajectory at the moment,” said Scott of the Flaxman Stables homebred. “You can easily see why he has been able to show a really high level of form during parts of his short career and of course it's very much a week-by-week thing with him, but I'm very pleased with his conditioning.” The son of Ulysses won the G2 Huxley Stakes last May, and was third in the G2 York Stakes during which he sustained a condylar fracture that derailed the rest of his 2024 campaign. He was gelded in the interim and is pointing toward the Wolferton Stakes. Scott added, “I guess with a horse like him and his rating, there are very few options and I'll be keeping half an eye on the Wolferton Stakes at Royal Ascot. “The timing fits and if he does turn up in the Wolferton he would have been away for racecourse gallops, so I'm keeping an eye on the Royal meeting, but everything will have to go right and he will have to jump through every hoop.” The post Royal Ascot Pencilled In For Passenger’s Return appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

The David Bruce Cassidy Memorial Scholarship Program, named after the musician who was also a passionate breeder and owner, is rolling out four new scholarships. They include: The David Bruce Cassidy New Generation In Horse Racing Scholarship; The David Bruce Cassidy Permanently Disabled Jockey Family Scholarship; The David Bruce Cassidy New Careers for Retired Thoroughbreds Scholarship; and The David Bruce Cassidy Backstretch Workers Scholarship. The additional scholarships will be given out beginning in the late fall. You can email davidcassidyits4ever@gmail.com for more information. The post Cassidy Memorial Program Adds Four New Scholarships appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Connections of the runners in Sunday's Poule d'Essai des Pouliches will be able to breathe a sigh of relief when they look around the ParisLongchamp paddock and discover that the Godolphin blue is nowhere to be seen. Their domination of the early-season Classics, on both sides of the Atlantic, had to end somewhere, though it may not be in the Poule d'Essai des Poulains which precedes the fillies' equivalent. The red-hot combination that is Charlie Appleby and William Buick will be represented there by last year's G2 Vintage Stakes winner Aomori City, who returned in 2025 with a creditable third in the G3 Craven Stakes won by Field Of Gold. However, smart though Aomori City is, there's a strong chance that the Godolphin party takes a pause for this weekend at least. Instead, the Classic action in the Bois de Boulogne provides a shot at redemption for some of those who have suffered most keenly at their hands in recent days. Look no further than the connections of the aforementioned Field Of Gold, who followed his impressive Craven victory with what many saw as an unlucky defeat behind Godolphin's Ruling Court in last weekend's 2,000 Guineas. The fallout from that reversal has seen Kieran Shoemark lose his job as number one jockey to the Gosdens, hence why Colin Keane takes the mount on Detain in the Poulains. It's no doubt been a difficult few days for Shoemark, but it's a sign of how widely his talents are appreciated that he's still set to be involved in both of Sunday's Classics for Charlie Fellowes. In the Poulains he partners Luther, who was a length behind Detain when they filled the first two places in a conditions race at Chelmsford last month, while his Pouliches mount, Shes Perfect, staked her Classic claim with a huge run in the G3 Prix de la Grotte. Sometimes the stars align in this funny old game and, if sheer force of good will was the difference maker, then Shoemark would already be home and hosed. Home Or Away? Few would begrudge Ollie Sangster a first Classic success, either, after he saddled the second and third in the 1,000 Guineas won by Desert Flower, no mean feat for a trainer entering just his third season with a licence. In the Pouliches, Sangster saddles Celestial Orbit, who is no back number herself after her runner-up finish in the G3 Nell Gwyn Stakes, especially as the winner of that race, Zanzoun, is absent from the opposition following a late setback. That leaves Andre Fabre's G3 Prix Imprudence heroine Better Together as the sole Juddmonte representative. Aidan O'Brien is mob-handed with four runners, headed by Bedtime Story and Exactly, but it's Francis-Henri Graffard who towers over this field with his duo, Zarigana and Mandanaba. Prix de la Grotte scorer Zarigana dominates the betting as she tries to emulate her illustrious grandam, Zarkava, who won the Pouliches back in 2008, while Mandanaba is a daughter of Princess Zahra Aga Khan's treble Group 1 scorer Mandesha. She made it two from two when winning last month's G3 Prix Vanteaux. The Aga Khan Studs team is also responsible for what looks the best of the home defence in the Poulains, last month's G3 Prix de Fointainebleau winner Ridari. However, this one looks booked for export, with four colts who skipped Newmarket to come here topping the shortlist. Irish raiders Camille Pissarro, Henri Matisse and Hotazhell will all have their fair share of supporters as Group/Grade 1-winning juveniles, while Andrew Balding's Jonquil looked ready for these deeper waters when easily winning the G3 Greenham Stakes. The son of Lope De Vega is from a top Juddmonte family and victory here would at least go some way to atoning for the defeat of their Field Of Gold. Lingfield Fare Fails to Inspire Expanded and Lake Victoria might have proved little more than bit-part players in their Classic assignments at Newmarket, but already the team at Ballydoyle is entitled to feel more optimistic about its Epsom prospects, after a clean sweep of the recognised trials at Chester this week. Now, the Ballydoyle bluebloods have Lingfield and Leopardstown in their sights, with the omens not looking good for those who have dared to oppose them, if they've bothered at all. In Saturday's Lingfield Oaks Trial, Giselle is heavily odds-on to account for two fillies rated just 91 and 84. Concerns about the state of the turf track at Lingfield, which had to pass an inspection on Tuesday, might have been at play, but it's still a meagre turnout for a contest which was won last year by the subsequent Irish Oaks heroine You Got To Me, with Anapurna the last horse to complete the Lingfield/Epsom double in 2019. As for the colts, Anthony Van Dyck was the last winner of the Lingfield Derby Trial to follow up at Epsom, also in 2019, ending a drought which lasted more than two decades after High-Rise completed the same double in 1998. More recently, Adayar won the Derby after finishing second at Lingfield in 2021, while Ambiente Friendly chased home City Of Troy at Epsom last year after an emphatic success in his trial here. That suggests the Lingfield Derby Trial has rediscovered its mojo in a big way in recent years, but at this stage the chances of the 2025 renewal throwing up a serious contender for Classic glory look negligible at best. Of the seven runners, Ballydoyle's Stay True figures most prominently in the Derby betting at 40/1, with stable-mate Puppet Master next best at 66/1. Hopefully, Leopardstown debut winner Stay True can at least show enough to earn himself a place in the Epsom line-up. It would certainly be fitting should the final crop of Galileo yield a runner in the race he made his own by siring a record five Derby winners, as well as producing one of the most dominant performances the race has ever seen when successful himself in 2001. Ballydoyle Bandwagon Rolls On Galileo completed his Epsom prep in the Leopardstown Derby Trial, which produced three straight winners of the Derby between 2000 and 2002. Since then, however, Leopardstown winners are 0/19 at Epsom, with Fame And Glory coming closest to completing the double when chasing home a certain Sea The Stars in the 2009 Derby. Delacroix could be the horse to try and set the record straight this year, having stepped up on his juvenile form when making a winning return to action in the G3 Ballysax Stakes. The son of Dubawi and champion racemare Tepin hit the line over two lengths clear of stable-mate Lambourn–who gave the form a boost when winning Wednesday's G3 Chester Vase–with Lingfield Derby Trial contender Puppet Master back in fourth. A general 8/1 chance for the Derby at the time of writing, Delacroix will more than likely be a point or two shorter come Sunday evening, certainly if he's able to dish out a similar beating to last year's G1 Criterium de Saint-Cloud hero Tennessee Stud. Aidan O'Brien, already a 16-time winner of the Leopardstown Derby Trial, also saddles Acapulco Bay and Rock Of Cashel to bring the curtain down on a week which, if the betting is correct, could conceivably end with him having won the Cheshire Oaks, Chester Vase, Dee Stakes, Lingfield Oaks Trial and Lingfield Derby Trial, plus the Leopardstown feature. Most worryingly for those trying to stand in his way, there's a good chance that the best is yet to come, with The Lion In Winter, the ante-post favourite for the Derby, standing his ground among 13 entries for next week's G2 Dante Stakes at York following Friday's confirmation stage. Widely regarded as the pre-eminent trial for the Derby, having produced six winners this century, the Dante hasn't gone the way of a Ballydoyle runner since Cape Blanco obliged in 2010. However, it might appeal more to O'Brien's keen eye this year with it falling 23 days before Epsom, rather than the usual 16. Racing's Superpowers at War It's still very early days with the juveniles, but we could see some major developments in that division on Saturday, both on the racecourse and in the sales ring. At Naas, Albert Einstein is set to debut for Ballydoyle, having been singled out for special praise by O'Brien when it comes to his two-year-old class of 2025. A son of Wootton Bassett and the G2 Airlie Stud Stakes runner-up Yet, he runs over six furlongs and could enter the reckoning for the G2 Coventry Stakes at Royal Ascot if all goes to plan in this first start. Another Wootton Bassett colt to look out for is Godolphin's Military Code, one of the early market leaders for the Coventry after his winning debut at Newmarket's Craven meeting. His six rivals in the five-furlong novice which kicks off Saturday's card at Ascot include Amo Racing's Celestial King, the son of Havana Grey who topped the Tattersalls Craven Breeze-up Sale at 1,750,000gns. Godolphin were the underbidders on that occasion as records were smashed at Park Paddocks. The bidding wars fought out by Amo and Godolphin have dominated the breeze-up sales held so far in 2025, with no reason why it should be any different at Arqana on Saturday. Last year Godolphin saw off Coolmore for the €2,300,000 top lot–the Justify colt who turned out to be none other than Ruling Court–while the Amo purchases included the G2 Royal Lodge Stakes third Angelo Buonarroti at €1,000,000 and G3 Oh So Sharp Stakes runner-up Cathedral at €800,000. Angelo Buonarotti is sadly no longer with us, but Cathedral remains a filly of significant potential. She is set to kick off her three-year-old campaign in Saturday's G3 Chartwell Fillies' Stakes at Lingfield, the scene of her striking debut success on the all-weather last September. The post Weekend Watch: Shoemark’s Shot at Redemption appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Saturday, Lingfield, post time: 15:35, WILLIAM HILL CHARTWELL FILLIES' STAKES-G3, £90,000, 3yo/up, f/m, 7fT Field: Great Generation (Ire) (Holy Roman Emperor {Ire}), Fair Angellica (GB) (Harry Angel {Ire}), Jabaara (Ire) (Exceed And Excel {Aus}), Spiritual (Ire) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}), Ziggy's Dream (Ire) (Inns Of Court {Ire}), Cathedral (GB) (Too Darn Hot {GB}). TDN Verdict: Cathedral takes on her elders, getting a significant weight-for-age advantage which could give her the edge despite her inexperience. Second in the G3 Oh So Sharp Stakes at Newmarket in October, she had two of this season's movers and shakers Flight and First Instinct behind on that occasion. Jabaara is solid at this trip and her G1 Falmouth Stakes second sets the standard. [Tom Frary]. Saturday, Lingfield, post time: 15:00, WILLIAM HILL LINGFIELD DERBY TRIAL STAKES-Listed, £60,000, 3yo, c/g, 11f 133yT Field: Nightime Dancer (Ire) (Ghaiyyath {Ire}), Our 'enery (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}), Prince of The Seas (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}), Puppet Master (Ire) (Camelot {GB}), Rahiebb (GB) (Frankel {GB}), Rogue Impact (GB) (Study Of Man {Ire}), Stay True (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}). TDN Verdict: Aidan O'Brien has won most of the recognised British and Irish Derby trials so far in 2025 and saddles a duo here including one of the last of the Galileo crew in Stay True. Professional on debut at Leopardstown, he may have more to offer than the G3 Ballsax Stakes fourth Puppet Master and on the face of it is the only one of these that could make an impact in the Derby market. All that said, Ryan Moore rarely gets these wrong as he proved again at Chester this week. [Tom Frary]. Saturday, Lingfield, post time: 13:15, WILLIAM HILL OAKS TRIAL FILLIES' STAKES-Listed, £60,000, 3yo, f, 11f 133yT Field: Giselle (Ire) (Frankel {GB}), Harpsichord (GB) (Ribchester {Ire}), Love Talk (Ire) (Ten Sovereigns {Ire}). TDN Verdict: If the Derby Trial looks substandard, this is something else with a disappointing three-runner turnout suggesting this should have been switched to the Polytrack. At least we get to see Giselle put through her paces as she starts a potentially big 3-year-old campaign following the sign-off fourth of the daughter of Newspaperofrecord in the G3 Staffordstown Stud Stakes at The Curragh in October. [Tom Frary]. Saturday, Naas, post time: 16:20 DARLEY IRISH EBF NAAS OAKS TRIAL STAKES-Listed, €33,000, 3yo, f, 10f 84yT Field: Garden Of Eden (Ire) (Saxon Warrior {Jpn}), Gotomylovely (Ire) (Camelot {GB}), Hollys Graces (Ire) (Australia {GB}), Island Hopping (Ire) (Wootton Bassett {GB}), Jaliyah (Ire) (Mehmas {Ire}), Kalixa (Ire) (Kingman {GB}), Medici Venus (Tiz The Law), Tamam Desert (Ire) (Sea The Moon {Ger}). TDN Verdict: Island Hopping may not need to improve on her return third in the G3 Salsabil Stakes at Navan last month to enter the Classic picture, while it is probably no coincidence that Dermot Weld chose a course-and-distance maiden to reintroduce The Aga Khan's Studs' Kalixa. [Tom Frary]. Sunday, ParisLongchamp, France, post time: 16:25, EMIRATES POULE D'ESSAI DES POULAINS-G1, €650,000, 3yo, c, 8fT Field: Ridari (Fr) (Churchill {Ire}), Sahlan (Ire) (Wootton Bassett {GB}), Selenien (Fr) (Mehmas {Ire}), Misunderstood (Fr) (Hello Youmzain {Fr}), Dos Mukasan (Fr) (Golden Horde {Ire}), Aomori City (Fr) (Oasis Dream {GB}), Reach The Sky (Fr) (Calyx {GB}), Detain (Ire) (Wootton Bassett {GB}), Jonquil (GB) (Lope De Vega {Ire}), Heybetli (Ire) (Showcasing {GB}), Zarraf (Fr) (Zarak {Fr}), Henri Matisse (Ire) (Wootton Bassett {GB}), Luther (GB) (Frankel {GB}), TIpinso (Fr) (Pinatubo {Ire}), Houquetot (Ire) (Wootton Bassett {GB}), Hotazhell (GB) (Too Darn Hot {GB}), Serengeti (Fr) (Wootton Bassett {GB}), Camille Pissarro (Ire) (Wootton Bassett {GB}). TDN Verdict: Ballydoyle look to get off the mark in the 2025 Classics and will be buoyed by the news on Friday that Henri Matisse has received a highly favourable draw in six for this turning test. Kept back for this following his success in the G3 Ballylinch Stud Red Rocks Stakes in March, the experienced son of Immortal Verse has all boxes ticked with Ryan Moore on board despite the presence of last year's G1 Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere winner Camille Pissarro. Drawn in 15, that stablemate will have to navigate the crowd to overcome a terrible post position, but at least he is a hold-up merchant and Christophe Soumillon clicked on him here on Arc day. Another Irish challenger to do well in the draw is the G1 Futurity Trophy and G2 Beresford Stakes winner Hotazhell, but he has a length to find on Henri Matisse on their G2 Futurity Stakes meeting last summer and will need to be sharp to win this on his seasonal bow. First and second in the course-and-distance G3 Prix de Fontainebleau, Ridari and Sahlan have fared contrastingly with the draw and that has probably killed the chance of the latter, while Juddmonte's G3 Greenham Stakes winner Jonquil has a tricky stall in 12 so Oisin Murphy will be in full analysis mode in the lead-up. [Tom Frary]. Sunday, ParisLongchamp, France, post time: 17:05, EMIRATES POULE D'ESSAI DES POULICHES-G1, €550,000, 3yo, f, 8fT Field: Mandanaba (Fr) (Ghaiyyath {Ire}), Zarigana (GB) (Siyouni {Fr}), Ghoufrann (Ire) (Oasis Dream {GB}), Shes Perfect (Ire) (Sioux Nation), Godspeed (Fr) (Hello Youmzain {Fr}), Bedtime Story (Ire) (Frankel {GB}), Exactly (Ire) (Frankel {GB}), Merrily (No Nay Never), Daylight (Fr) (Earthlight {Ire}), Mimos (Fr) (City Light {Fr}), Better Together (GB) (Oasis Dream {GB}), Heavens Gate (Ire) (Churchill {Ire}), Celestial Orbit (GB) (No Nay Never). TDN Verdict: Francis-Henri Graffard has the draw gods to thank for the mercy shown to his star duo Zarigana and Mandanaba and their showdown greatly enhances this renewal. Preference is for the former, who bids to erase the memory of her painful course-and-distance defeat in the G1 Prix Marcel Boussac on Arc day with her stablemate perhaps more one for the Diane next month. Better Together represents the G3 Prix Imprudence form and she will love this mile, while the main Ballydoyle hopes Exactly and Bedtime Story are fascinating contenders. Exactly was bang there with Zarigana at the end of the Marcel Boussac and could just have improved more, while the latter was only fifth there as she staged a meek retreat into the shadows having looked champion material earlier in the season. Few will ever forget her sensational Royal Ascot display last June, when the thought of Ryan Moore not even choosing her for a Pouliches would have been unimaginable and from stall nine she will be hunted around by Colin Keane in what could be the start of a process of re-education. Outside Godspeed is not out of things, having impressed with her effort behind Zarigana in the G3 Prix de la Grotte, while Ollie Sangster looks to get heavily involved in a second fillies' Classic in the space of eight days with the classy Celestial Orbit. [Tom Frary]. Click here for the complete fields. The post Black-Type Analysis: Henri Matisse The Pick Of Moore In French 2000 Guineas appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Godolphin's GI Longines Kentucky Oaks winner Good Cheer (Medaglia d'Oro) returned to training Tuesday at Churchill Downs and trainer Brad Cox said the GI Acorn Stakes on Belmont Stakes weekend at Saratoga could be her next target. “I thought she came out of the race incredibly well,” Cox said. “If all goes to plan the next couple of weeks, we're looking at the Acorn for her.” Good Cheer, now undefeated in seven starts, splashed home a convincing winner in the Oaks. Cox had a strong Kentucky Derby weekend, saddling Liberal Arts (Arrogate) to victory in the Knicks Go Stakes and 'TDN Rising Star' Patch Adams (Into Mischief) to an allowance win on Derby Day. “[Patch Adams] really enjoyed the cutback,” Cox said on “At the Races with Steve Byk.” “I think he really likes Churchill. When he broke his maiden in the fall we saw some brilliance from him. With him, his next starts could either be the Woody Stephens or Maxfield. One of those two.” The Maxfield Stakes is scheduled for Sunday, June 29, at Churchill Downs. The GI Woody Stephens Stakes will be run Saturday, June 7, on the Belmont Stakes undercard at Saratoga. The post Good Cheer Resumes Churchill Training, Acorn At The Spa Next appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

The third installment in the 2025 OwnerView webinar series was held May 6 and featured veterinarians from Rood & Riddle Equine Hospital discussing broodmare reproduction during breeding season, according to a press release from the Jockey Club of America who co-sponsored the event. The discussion specifically covered all aspects of mare reproduction, including gestation times, broodmare age considerations, twins, and complications during pregnancy and foaling. The guests were Dr. Maria Schnobrich and Dr. Pete Sheerin. The former works as a theriogenologist with a primary focus on challenges facing with mares and stallions, while the latter's specific interest is in large animal theriogenology. The series is co-hosted by the Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association and presented by Bessemer Trust, Keeneland, and Stoll Keenon Ogden. The panel was sponsored by Airdrie Stud Inc. and Equilume. A Q&A was sponsored by West Point Thoroughbreds, and attendees were able to ask questions through a link. Click here to access replays of past sessions. The post OwnerView Webinar Covers Mare Reproduction appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

The Road, sponsored by Gainesway and Darby Dan FarmView the full article

As much as the $400,000 Man o' War Stakes (G2T) has only five starters, it can present a tricky test for older turf males.View the full article

The Association of Racing Commissioners International's (ARCI) annual Animal Welfare and Integrity Conference, which was hosted at Churchill Downs during the afternoon of Thursday, May 8, heard from a pair of panels that specifically delved into how social media can impact the industry, according to a Friday press release from the organization. The 'Thoroughbred Racing Roundtable' included West Point Thoroughbreds own Terry Finley along with Churchill Downs's Vice President and General Manager Mike Ziegler and Tina Bond, an owner-breeder who is president of both the New York Thoroughbred Horsemen's Association and the national THA. “The social media impact of this past Derby was exponentially bigger than Derby 150,” Ziegler said. “Now, whether that has to do with Griffin Johnson and the other influencers here for Derby, but that's really impactful. That's what we have to give credit to, to increase television viewership. People are getting notifications about horse racing and the Kentucky Derby who otherwise wouldn't be paying attention.” As far as needing a national horse-racing marketing campaign, Bond said “absolutely… I don't think we've ever done a good job of it, and I've been in this business 45 years.” By contrast, Finley said his opinion changed over Derby weekend, seeing first-hand the impact of online influencers. Griffin Johnson with Sandman | courtesy of Griffin Johnson “We have a path now where we don't have to guess,” he said of a marketing strategy. “… Think about the difference in giving a 25-year-old a chance to hit a button to come to TwinSpires to sign up with a coupon code, as opposed to seeing a TV ad and then having to go to a website, and if they haven't been exposed to our industry, to learn a little bit about it…. I don't see a path forward for a national marketing program. But I see a lot of opportunities for the racetracks overall to be very surgical in their investment in their areas to get people to be made aware of what's going on at the racetrack and what you can do to be part of the races by betting on that race.” The panel “Marketing Racing in Today's Competitive World” followed and highlighted the efforts of Light Up Racing. Their mission is to provide transparency, real-time updates and accurate information about increased efforts to keep horses safe while also dispelling misinformation by engaging teams of volunteers to post responses setting the record straight. Price Bell, one of Light Up Racing's founders, used the example of social-media posts accusing 2-year-old racing of being bad for horses. Light Up Racing's ambassadors point out that studies have established that 2-year-old racing actually benefits bone development. The session also featured The Heart of Horse Racing, an enterprise created by Bond in partnership with award-winning branding videographer Jimmy Chaffin of Integrated Marketing, which specializes in creative strategy and visual storytelling. The post ARCI Conference Delves Into Social Media Issues For The Industry appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Sam Agars LIGHT YEARS CHARM - R8 (2) Big run last start and can salute from improved draw Jay Rooney AHREN - R9 (9) Dominant last-start winner maps to get a perfect run today Trackwork Spy LIGHT YEARS CHARM - R8 (2) Has been racing in top form and deserves another win Phillip Woo LIGHT YEARS CHARM - R8 (2) Has been racing well and deserves another win Shannon (Vincent Wong) CHILL KAKA - R7 (9) Has solid dirt form this season and looks primed for a bold showing today Racing Post Online JUNEAU PRIDE - R8 (1) Honest galloper never runs a bad race and looks a good each-way chance here Tom Wood LIGHT YEARS CHARM - R8 (2) Great run last start when close behind Hong Lok GolfView the full article

The current stallion manager at Darley in America Jimmy Lovatt has been on the Godolphin team since 2007, and he describes his journey with “the Royal Blue” on this week's Boundless podcast with jockey-veterinarian Ferrin Peterson. The Australian native was bitten by the horse bug as a child. “My parents bought a pony for me when I was five years of age,” Lovatt tells Peterson. “I grew up in a riding school. I guess I fell in love with horses back then. In 2001, when I was back home in Australia, my bother and I were just sitting outside one afternoon having a beer. My brother said, `You know what? We should pack up our bags, go to the Bush, and work at a horse stud.' I said, `You know what? Let's do it.' Literally two weeks later we were at Widden Stud. I was there for six years. Absolutely loved it. There's what it really started for me there.” In 2007, he made the switch to Darley Australia, and moved to Darley America in 2008. For seven years, he worked both the Northern and Southern Hemisphere breeding seasons for the outfit, but met his future wife Emma in the American office and settled in America full-time, with the exception of a four-year stint at Dalham Hall. “It's been a journey,” he said. “It's important to get the experience. Breeding season is demanding. It's long hours. But if you manage your time right, there's still life outside of work.” Peterson asked Lovatt what he tells young people looking to explore the industry and traveling the world. “Since I've been here, to the amount of Americans who said, `I really want to go to Australia one day,' go and do it! If you're young, getting out of college, and trying to figure out what you want to do, and if this is the industry you want to be in, take those opportunities and go. No regrets.” The podcast is now out on YouTube. An audio version is also available on Spotify and Apple podcasts. The post Darley America Stallion Manager Jimmy Lovatt on Boundless Podcast appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

By Michael Guerin For the second time in just three weeks Alexandra Park has had a meeting postponed because of wet weather. Only one race was run tonight before the remainder of the meeting was postponed because of track conditions caused by the very heavy rain in Auckland. A large pool of water had developed on the inside on the track and crept into the passing lane while rutting was starting to develop on the home bend from water flowing down the track because of the steep camber. The rain also made visibility difficult in the first race that was taken out in all the way fashion by Words. The rest of the meeting was postponed and will resume as a new meeting starting at 6.19pm on Saturday night, with all final field and tote bets quickly refunded. Horses who were scratched from the Friday night meeting have the option to be re-enter Saturday’s fields for what will be an eight-race card. “There wasn’t a lot we could do because the rain was so heavy,” says HRNZ’s Racing and Wagering Manager Matthew Peden, who was at Alexandra Park. “But speaking to John Denton [track expert] he is confident if the weather plays its part with a bit of work we will be good to go for tomorrow night.” The second Friday to Saturday shift at Alexandra Park in three weeks will make for a big Saturday night for harness racing fans as the Group 1 meeting will race alongside a huge card at Menangle, outside Sydney, which will see trotting heroine Keayang Zahara the star of the show as she contests the $100,000 Macarthur Mile. To see Saturday’s fields click here View the full article

Hugh Bowman has described Fast Network (NZ) (Wrote) as one of Hong Kong’s most progressive horses as Dennis Yip’s emerging talent squares off against a highly-competitive field in the Class 2 Pok Fu Lam Reservoir Road Handicap (1200m) at Sha Tin on Saturday (10 May). Chasing his fifth victory of the season, Fast Network meets three fellow last-start winners – Bottomuptogether (Shamus Award), Invincible Shield (I Am Invincible) and Gustosisimo (Exceed And Excel) – as well as a host of other genuine contenders, including Wunderbar (Written Tycoon), the only horse so far to lower champion sprinter Ka Ying Rising’s (NZ) (Shamexpress) colours. Fresh from a Happy Valley double on Wednesday (7 May), Bowman is confident Fast Network can make it three wins in a row after a four-length romp over this course and distance on 30 March, when he easily accounted for Bottomuptogether when carrying 130lb. “He (Fast Network) is one of the most progressive horses in the jurisdiction. He’s a sensible horse, he’s got a good brain and he’s got a good engine. It’s one step at a time, but I think we’re yet to see the ceiling with him,” Bowman said. “(Last start) he enjoyed the fast tempo, it really set it up for him to finish the way he did. He’s trialled well at Conghua since his last run and he’s aided this time by an ace barrier, number one. “There’s some very worthy opponents in this race and we’ve got to give them a few pounds but he won with authority last time and I don’t think this race is any stronger. He goes up a little bit in weight but he’s earnt that and if he gets the same sort of circumstances, I don’t think the weight will stop him.” Invincible Shield has been a revelation for reigning champion Hong Kong trainer Francis Lui since arriving at Sha Tin from Queensland in Australia, where he won four races in a row for Tony Gollan. With a trio of consecutive wins for Tom Marquand, Ryan Moore and Craig Williams after finishing 11th on debut for Lui, the I Am Invincible gelding will attempt to make it four in a row in Hong Kong under Lyle Hewitson after drawing gate five. “He impressed me from day one. I always thought he was a Class 1 horse and that there was scope for improvement later on as well. It’s getting harder now that he’s racked up the rating points and I’m probably getting on at the toughest stage,” Hewitson said. “It’s a nice race but he’ll handle himself well and will perform – hopefully he can continue his winning ways but it’s getting more difficult. He does have a nice draw in five and it could work out for him again, but we’re going to have to be on our A-game to win a race like this.” With six wins – including two over Ka Ying Rising as a three-year-old – from only 10 starts, Wunderbar resumes for John Size and will jump from barrier three for Brenton Avdulla. “It’ll be good to be on him for the first time on race day and he’s drawn well. He’s probably found one of the hottest Class 2s of the season but I’m looking forward to riding him,” Avdulla said. “He had those couple of runs where little things were against him and he probably didn’t perform to his best and John started again with him. He seems like he’s trialled OK, so you’ve got to respect the master taking him back to the races. “He’s obviously probably going to improve on whatever he does but I’d expect him to run well if he’s anywhere near his best. He’ll give himself every chance from the draw.” Saturday’s (10 May) 10-race card at Sha Tin starts with the Class 5 Castle Peak Handicap (1600m) at 1pm. View the full article

Francis Graffard's stable continues its plunder of French stakes contests and the hitherto unbeaten Midak (Footstepsinthesand) made his mark for the yard with a pillar-to-post victory in Friday's G3 Prix Greffulhe at Saint-Cloud. The 13-5 second choice, successful in staying contests at Lyon La Soie and Chantilly, asserted for early control after a level break in this black-type debut and held sway throughout. Shaken up when threatened with 500 metres remaining, he was ridden clear approaching the final furlong and kept on relentlessly in the closing stages to easily account for 9-1 chance Dioptase (New Bay) and the late-closing 1-2 favourite Uther (Camelot) by 2 1/2 lengths and a head. “The horse has obviously improved from his last race, as much mentally as physically, and his behaviour at the races and during the race was very much satisfactory,” said Graffard. “He is not entered in the [G1] Prix du Jockey Club, so we will savour the moment for now and later we will discuss the future with his entourage. Maybe Willie Mullins will get in contact with us!” Pedigree Notes Midak is the latest of five foals and one of two scorers out of a dual-winning half-sister to Listed Prix de Thiberville victrix Mila (Cape Cross) and G2 Prix de Malleret and G3 Prix de Royaumont placegetter Mandistana (Azamour). Mila is the dam of the stakes-placed duo Mirann (Motivator) and Mirabad (Gleneagles) while descendants of Midak's G3 Prix de Royaumont-winning second dam Minatlya (Linamix) also include G3 Prix Penelope victrix Cartiem (Cape Cross) and Listed Prix de la Cochere third Stop The Cavalry (Lope De Vega). Midak remains unbeaten with a straight-forward success in the Prix Greffulhe at Saint-Cloud! Another progressive type for @GraffardRacing and @AgaKhanStuds! pic.twitter.com/Vug9tCfE4f — At The Races (@AtTheRaces) May 9, 2025 Friday, Saint-Cloud, France PRIX GREFFULHE-G3, €80,000, Saint-Cloud, 5-9, 3yo, 10 1/2fT, 2:11.64, gd. 1–MIDAK (FR), 128, c, 3, by Footstepsinthesand (GB) 1st Dam: Minya (Fr), by Sinndar (Ire) 2nd Dam: Minatlya (Fr), by Linamix (Fr) 3rd Dam: Mintly Fresh, by Rubiano 1ST BLACK-TYPE WIN; 1ST GROUP WIN. O-Suc. H H The Aga Khan; B-H H The Aga Khan's Studs SC (FR); T-Francis-Henri Graffard; J-Mickael Barzalona. €40,000. Lifetime Record: 3-3-0-0, €64,500. Werk Nick Rating: A+. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree, or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. 2–Dioptase (Ire), 128, c, 3, New Bay (GB)–Gouville (Fr), by Rajsaman (Fr). 1ST BLACK TYPE; 1ST GROUP BLACK TYPE. (€55,000 Ylg '23 ARQOCT). O-Le Marais SAS, Ecuries Serge Stempniak & Guy Pariente Holding; B-SCEA Marmion Vauville, Ecurie Skymarc Farm & Nightchill LLC (IRE); T-Jean-Claude Rouget. €16,000. 3–Uther (GB), 128, c, 3, Camelot (GB)–Sosia (Ger), by Shamardal. O/B-Wertheimer & Frere (GB); T-Christophe Ferland. €12,000. Margins: 2HF, HD, 7HF. Odds: 2.60, 9.00, 0.50. Also Ran: Piquoiseau (Fr), Aidan's Phone (Fr). The post Undefeated Francis Graffard Trainee Midak Makes All For Greffulhe Triumph appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

DEAUVILLE, France — Plenty of people will be cheering on the two runners of Charlie Fellowes in the French Classics on Sunday, not least because the trainer has booked Kieran Shoemark for both horses after a tumultuous week for the jockey. But there will be one person hoping perhaps harder than any for dream results for Luther in the Poule d'Essai des Poulains and Shes Perfect in the Poule d'Essai des Pouliches and that's Will Douglass, the agent responsible for matching each horse to their respective owners. Douglass is a familiar face on the sales scene having spent the last 15 years working alongside Charlie Gordon-Watson, but from the beginning of this year he went out on his own under the banner of Will Douglass Bloodstock. He now has a double shot at enhancing his record as an agent with two Group 1 runners within 40 minutes of each other. Douglass is back at the Arqana Breeze-up Sale where last year he found Shes Perfect for Fellowes and the Basher Watts Racing Syndicate. The daughter of Sioux Nation, who was breezed by Ryan Conran of Lacka House Stables, was initially led out of the Arqana ring unsold, but Douglass urged Fellowes to take the filly and agreed a private sale of €50,000 with the vendor. She won her maiden on debut at Haydock with Shoemark aboard and was then third in the valuable British EBF Fillies' Series Final at Goodwood. This year, only the favourite for Sunday's Poule d'Essai des Pouliches, the Aga Khan Studs' representative Zarigana, could get the better of her in the G3 Prix de la Grotte, in which Shes Perfect was beaten a neck when second. “Shes Perfect is owned by a microshare syndicate set up by Basher Watts and there are around 60 people going to Longchamp with the filly on Sunday,” said Douglass between two-year-old inspections at Arqana. “Basher has this lovely filly and he has a kind of social media-based syndicate, and the content that she is producing for him has been incredible.” The agent, who is based in Wiltshire, works closely with Fellowes, who now trains from Bedford House Stables, where Douglass previously spent time working as an assistant to the yard's former owner Luca Cumani. He also served stints with Ed Dunlop and David Hayes in Australia before deciding that the sales beat was the life for him. “I always liked the sales and I was never that keen to be a trainer,” he says. “They're both a way of life – racing is an all-consuming career for people where they can do all sorts of different things. “It's not easy to find people who want to spend a lot of money on yearlings to race in Europe so horses in training are an easier way to get going. I sell a lot of stuff privately, mainly to Hong Kong and Qatar.” In the case of Luther, the smartly-bred son of Frankel out of the G3 Musidora Stakes winner Give And Take (Cityscape), Douglass did however have a client keen to find some yearlings to race. Paul Hickman is now the majority owner of the colt, in partnership with breeder Nicholas Jones of Coln Valley Stud. Luther has won two of his five starts to date, including last season's Listed Ascendant Stakes at Haydock. His sole start this year saw him finish a length behind Juddmonte's Detain when second in Chelmsford's Cardinal Stakes, and the pair will meet again on Sunday in the 18-strong field for the Poule d'Essai des Poulains. “Nicholas Jones has kept a leg but Paul Hickman wanted to spend some money on yearlings, he wanted a Frankel and he wanted a horse to run in the Classics,” Douglass says. “He bought two horses that year – Luther was one and Sword Of Wessex was the other one – so it's amazing for him and Luther probably has a great each-way chance.” Amazing for Hickman, and satisfying indeed for the man responsible for buying two Classic runners on the same day. The post Douglass Doubles Up in French Classics as he Launches Solo Agency appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

The TAB Racing Club’s debut season has already produced multiple highlights for its more than 10,000 members, and Cambridge trainers Shaune Ritchie and Colm Murray are excited to unveil another bright prospect in the dark blue and red colours at Trentham on Saturday. An initiative by Entain Australia and New Zealand to promote racehorse ownership among TAB customers, the TAB Racing Club is free to join. Its members have already had cause for celebration, with four-year-old mare Bella Regazza winning at Ascot Park in November and two-year-old filly In Haste scoring impressively at Matamata in January. The latest to step out in the TAB Racing Club colours is first-starter Transcend in Saturday’s Ladies Man 2YO (1200m) at Trentham. The daughter of So You Think was a $150,000 purchase by the TAB Racing Club and Ritchie Murray Racing from Henley Park’s draft in Book 1 of Karaka 2024. Ritchie has made no secret of his high regard for the filly, who will be the stable’s only starter at the Wellington track on Saturday. “She’s a lovely filly,” he said. “For us to be taking her down to Trentham as our only runner at the meeting shows that we really like her. We certainly wouldn’t be taking a horse that far otherwise. “It’s a privilege for Colm and I to train a horse in those TAB Racing Club colours. It’s great for our stable’s profile. “We’ve taken only one two-year-old to the races so far this season, and that was Tajana, who was a winner and also placed in the Manawatu Sires’ Produce Stakes (Gr.1, 1400m) and Colin Jillings Classic (Gr.3, 1200m). Hopefully we can maintain that strong record with our two-year-olds this season.” Further illustrating the stable’s opinion of Transcend, Ritchie explained that Saturday’s Trentham assignment is a one-race mission with a long-term target in mind. “She’s always shown us exceptional ability and we think she might be up to a 1000 Guineas (Gr.1, 1600m) in the spring,” he said. “That’s the reason for the big trip away. If she is indeed up to going down to Christchurch, there aren’t many tracks that mirror Riccarton as well as Trentham does. “We think one run will be more than enough for her in this campaign. Being by So You Think, we believe she’ll handle a mile as a three-year-old. We can’t wait to see what she can do next season.” Ritchie was pleased with Transcend’s two trials, which produced second placings at Ellerslie on April 1 and on the Cambridge synthetic track two weeks later. “Her first trial was extremely good,” he said. “She couldn’t get on her right leg going the Ellerslie way around and looked lost, but then she made up five or six lengths down the straight and really showed how much talent she has. “Her second trial was what we call a handbrake trial. It was just a soft trial on the Polytrack at home. We just sat quietly and cruised around. “She has a few quirks, she has a bit of a dance in the birdcage and has a mind of her own, but there’s no doubting her ability.” The stable’s main concern leading into the $35,000 race is the Trentham track, which was rated Heavy8 on Friday and may deteriorate further. “It’s unfortunate that the rain has come, but she is extremely fit,” Ritchie said. “We’re lucky to have a lovely Polytrack to train horses on at Cambridge, but the downside of that is that it really takes away your ability to know whether horses will handle heavy ground. “It helps that it’s the first race on the card on Saturday, and the ground tends to be a bit better on that dog leg at Trentham. Coming across on to the course proper is when we’ll find out how she copes with really heavy footing. We do think her class will take her a long way. “She’s drawn the outside gate, but that doesn’t bother me. We won’t be too aggressive coming out of the gates, and we’ll just try to keep her on the bridle. Tactics will be left up to Bridget (Grylls, jockey), but it will probably be the horse herself that determines whereabouts she settles in the running. “You always want to present the best horse in any given race, and if she’s that, she’s certainly going to take some beating this weekend.” View the full article