Wandering Eyes

Charles Briere’s Fairway Consignment seems to have sailed a smooth upward trajectory since its establishment four years ago, hitting one target after the next. This June, a significant milestone was achieved when Fairway pinhook graduate Arizona (Ire) (No Nay Never) took Royal Ascot’s G2 Coventry S. Fairway Partners purchased the dark bay for 65,000gns at the Tattersalls December Foal Sale and sold him to MV Magnier for €260,000 at last year’s Arqana August sale. From the second crop of No Nay Never, Arizona is out of the placed English Channel (Smart Strike) mare Lady Ederle, herself a daughter of the G1 Oaks d’Italia winner and G1 Moyglare Stud S. second Bright Generation (Ire) (Rainbow Quest), who is also the second dam of French champion 2-year-old and good young sire Dabirsim (Fr) (Hat Trick {Jpn}). Last year’s Irish and Yorkshire Oaks winner Sea Of Class (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}), out of the seven-time stakes producer Holy Moon (Ire) (Hernando {Fr}), appears under the third dam. “The main reason we bought him is because he was a son of No Nay Never,” Briere explained. “And Dabirsim was in the pedigree, and at the time he was doing very well with his 2-year-olds in France so we thought he’d be the ideal horse to sell back in France at the August Sale.” Briere admitted that the Fairway Partners rolled the dice with Arizona putting him through the August sale as he was not a precocious yearling, but their gamble paid off with the shrewd Coolmore team recognizing his potential. “He did well back at the farm, but the August sale did come a bit fast for him,” Briere said. “But there were only three No Nay Nevers in the sale so we thought we’d take a chance, and it worked. But he was always a very straightforward horse, very easy to look after and with a great temperament.” Briere was not at Ascot to celebrate Arizona’s victory-he stayed back in Normandy to keep an eye on the 17 yearlings he sells in Deauville this weekend and at the v2 sale-but the 32-year-old said the fact that he had spent some of his formative years with the Coolmore team made the victory extra sweet. “You really enjoy it, especially with a horse you’ve pinhooked,” he said. “I worked for Coolmore for a couple years so it was even nicer to have that kind of horse win a big race for them.” Briere, who also spent time working for the likes of The Castlebridge Consignment before stints in Kentucky with Indian Creek Farm and Woods Edge Farm, sent out his first consignment at Arqana’s August sale in 2015 with a pair of colts he had bought as pinhooks with California-based Frenchman Hubert Guy. One doubled its purchase price, while the other made a shade more than his original price, and Briere was on his way. His August draft grew to eight the following year, then 14, then 16, and this year he has 17 between the main sale and the v2 sale. Briere noted that, more importantly, his consignment’s quality is increasing year-on-year; he has more than ever selling this year during the boutique Saturday and Sunday sessions. “I don’t want it to get too big, I want to keep it boutique, but the quality is increasing year after year, and especially now with all the good results we’ve had on the track this year, it helps us get better horses for the sales,” Briere said. Indeed, it hasn’t only been Arizona flying the Fairway flag. Other graduates include Olendon (Fr) (Le Havre {Ire}), who won the Listed Prix Finlande in April and was second to Siyarafina (Fr) (Pivotal {GB}) in the G1 Prix Saint-Alary before joining trainer Chad Brown in the U.S. Boitron (Fr), another by Le Havre, won last year’s Listed Denford S. and was fourth in the G1 Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere, while 2-year-old Helter Skelter (Fr) (Wootton Bassett {GB}) looks a smart prospect, having won on debut by 3 1/2 lengths at ParisLongchamp on June 13 before finishing a neck second in listed company a month later. In this year’s Fairway August consignment, buyers will have their chance to get their hands on another No Nay Never pinhook, lot 102, a colt bought for 120,000gns at Tattersalls last December out of the Montjeu (Ire) mare Je T’Adore (Ire). He is one of five by the sire this year in the catalogue. He is followed through the ring by Fairway’s Showcasing (GB) colt (lot 103), who is the only one by his sire in the sale. He was also a six-figure Tattersalls purchase, having cost 130,000gns, and the timing could hardly be better with Showcasing having an excellent year headed by G1 Commonwealth Cup and G1 Prix Maurice de Gheest winner Advertise (GB) and supported by exciting juveniles like G3 Prix Six Perfections winner Tropbeau (GB) and ‘TDN Rising Stars’ Free Solo (Ire) and Windracer (Ire). Lot 49 is a filly that should appeal to a transatlantic audience. By leading French sire Siyouni (Fr), she is out of the American stakes winner Apple Charlotte (Smart Strike), already the dam of Lottie (Arch) who is twice graded placed on the turf. Grade I-winning sprinter Marley’s Freedom (Blame) appears under the third dam. The consignment also includes a pair by Camelot (GB), a daughter of Fastnet Rock (Aus), a colt by Holy Roman Emperor (Ire), two sons of Intello (Ger) and a colt by highly anticipated first-season sire Shalaa, among others. Briere made another significant upgrade to his business last year with the purchase of a farm. After operating out of rented facilities during his early years, his yearlings are now prepped on his 20-hectare parcel of land about 30 minutes outside Deauville, in the vicinity of the likes of Monceaux and the Aga Khan’s Haras de Bonneville. “It used to be a cattle farm,” Briere said. “We transformed it last year and we’re there full-time now. The location is very handy. At the moment we have 23 stables with all the facilities for prepping; a lunging ring, a walker and small paddocks.” Briere will tick another box in October when, for the first time, he will offer a consignment outside France with three yearlings at Book 2 of Tattersalls October: fillies by No Nay Never and Elusive Quality, and a colt by Camelot. “It’s a small draft but it’s better to start small over there to find our mark and see how it works out,” Briere said. “We’re not doing Book 1; you need some really big horses to go there so we’ll start small with Book 2.” In just four years in business, Briere has already proven that starting small is no hindrance to making it big, and the name Fairway is one that we’ll likely see continue to rise through the ranks. The post From Arizona To Ascot appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

New Zealand racing fans are to be included in the voting for the 2020 All-Star Mile, which will itself be expanded to take in 15 runners and a revised set of conditions. Racing Victoria on Tuesday announced the core structure of March's All-Star Mile to be run at Caulfield, with prizemoney to remain at $5 million and the 10 top horses from a public vote to gain automatic entry, but there are a number of other important changes: The field size is to rise from 14 to 15;There are two 'win-and-you'r... View the full article

Having defeated a subsequent city winner when breaking her maiden at Echuca, lightly raced filly Acting will return to town chasing her own metropolitan victory at Sandown on Wednesday. A homebred for Waikato Stud, the three-year-old Trent Busuttin and Natalie Young-trained Acting is by Savabeel out of Hollywood and is a grand-daughter of Group One winner Glamous Puss. Young said Acting "got completely lost" when she was unplaced on debut at Sandown early last month before heading to Echuca on J... View the full article

Progressive galloper Helena Baby faces his toughest assignment to date when he tackles a star-studded field in the Gr.2 U S Navy Flag Foxbridge Plate (1200m) at Te Rapa on Saturday. But trainer John Bell has full confidence in his lightly-tried five-year-old as he attempts to go one better than stablemate Julius, who was beaten a nose last year by reigning Horse of the Year Melody Belle. Spring might not yet have sprung, but a host of Group One stars will assemble at Te Rapa on Saturday, with Me... View the full article

Dual Group One winner Danzdanzdance had her first hit-out of the season at the Avondale trials on Tuesday ahead of what could be a lucrative spring. The Chris Gibbs and Michelle Bradley-trained mare finished third in her 1000m heat on the heavy11 surface and her connections were pleased with what they saw ahead of her raceday return later this month in the Gr.1 Tarzino Trophy (1400m) at Hastings. “She trialled really well,” Gibbs said. “Obviously it was very heavy, but we were expecting th... View the full article

Moor ready to sweat buckets for Louis View the full article

Older but Gold still glitters for Bahana View the full article

SARATOGA SPRINGS, NY – The two-day Fasig-Tipton New York-Bred Yearlings Sale couldn’t match up to its record-setting 2018 renewal, but when the dust settled Monday evening at the Humphrey S. Finney Pavilion, the auction had seen its fourth straight record-priced yearling. The record bid came from Larry Best, who said he had only seen the filly two hours before he spent $775,000 to acquire the daughter of Malibu Moon from the Winter Quarter Farm consignment. In all, 186 yearlings sold during the 2019 New York sale for a total of $16,200,000. The average was $87,097-down 18.9% from last year’s record figure of $107,512. The median of $60,000 was down 21.1% from last year’s highwater mark of $76,000. “It was another strong edition of the New York-bred sale in 2019,” said Fasig-Tipton President Boyd Browning, Jr. “Virtually every buyer I ran into today was complaining that they couldn’t get anything bought or that they were having to pay significantly more money then they wanted to for the horses they were bidding on.” With 266 yearlings offered, 80 failed to sell for a buy-back rate of 30.1%. It was 34.6% a year ago. “The RNA rate showed a pretty significant improvement this year compared to last year which probably led to a decrease in the average price and the median,” Browning said. “All in all, we were coming off an unbelievable jump last year compared to 2017.” While 74 yearlings brought six figures in 2018, that number fell to 59 in 2019, but the top 20 lots were all purchased by unique buying interests. “The buyer base continues to be very, very good for this sale and continues to improve,” Browning said. “I thought it was a very strong marketplace, similar to last year. The New York program has matured and, in my mind, is the finest state-bred program in the country.” Malibu Moon Filly Sets New York Record Larry Best admitted that he wasn’t planning on shopping the New York-Bred Sale, but when he found himself at the Fasig-Tipton sales grounds Monday, he decided he couldn’t go home without a certain filly by Malibu Moon. Best went to a sale-record $775,000 to acquire the yearling from the Winter Quarter Farm consignment. “I’ve never shopped the New York sale before,” Best said after signing the ticket on hip 592. “I didn’t even intend to shop today. But I had nothing to do this afternoon, so I came over and looked at some horses and that one caught my eye. It’s a beautiful day. I had other business to do this morning, got done early and felt like I’d come over and look. And here we are.” The bay filly is the second foal out of Savvy Sassy (Street Sense), a half-sister to multiple graded stakes winner Southdale (Street Cry {Ire}). “I love Malibu Moon as a broodmare sire,” Best explained of the yearling’s appeal. “So I look at it from a breeding standpoint, long-term. If she wins some races, that would be really special, but I don’t see very many Malibu Moon fillies that I just fall in love with. This was one that is very athletic, she has a shot at the track, but after racing, I’ll use her as a broodmare. There is a consistency of quality in the filly.” “That said, it’s a crapshoot,” he added with a laugh. A colt by Pioneerof the Nile was the previous high-priced yearling at the New York sale, bringing a final bid of $600,000 a year ago. That figure eclipsed the 2017 record price of $500,000 for a son of Cairo Prince. Of the investment, Best added, “She’s just a beautiful physical and then you look at the pedigree. If you are willing to be patient in the breeding side and you look five or six years out, I should get a good return if I breed her to the right sires. Which I will. I think it was a safe bet. Did I pay more than I wanted to, yes, I was going to be happy around $600,000, but quality costs money.” The first person to congratulate Best on the purchase was trainer Christophe Clement, who co-bred the yearling along with Richard Leahy’s Oak Bluff Farm. “Somebody wonderful with a great racing program bought the filly and that’s Mr. Best,” Clement said. “I wish him the best of luck with her. As you know, he has been very successful at different auctions for the last two years and I just hope the filly wins many great races for him.” Clement, who said he generally owns between two to five mares in partnership, credited the sales success to the whole team behind the yearling. “The filly belonged to a partnership of Dick Leahy of Oak Bluff Stable and myself and I trained the mare and we made all the decisions together,” Clement said. “The partner is just as good a partner as you can find. He is a very smart man. He believed in the New York-bred program and he has two good advisors in Doug Koch at Berkshire Stud and Don Robinson of Winter Quarter Farm. It’s a great team, which is why it all works out. I am delighted.” Robinson purchased Savvy Sassy for $150,000 at the 2012 Keeneland September Yearling Sale. Racing for Leahy’s Waterville Lake Stable partnership, the mare won twice in six starts. Leahy’s bloodstock agent John Donaldson signed the ticket at $80,000 to acquire the filly while in foal to Bayern at the 2016 Keeneland November sale. Her Bayern colt, now named Bourbon Bay, sold for $205,000 at last year’s Fasig-Tipton New York sale and RNA’d for $240,000 at this year’s Fasig-Tipton Gulfstream sale. Outwork Filly Jumps to the Top in Saratoga Trainer Jeremiah Englehart, seated alongside Travis Durr and It’s All About the Girls Racing founder Anna Seitz Ciannello, overcame a host of challengers to secure a filly from the first crop of Grade I winner Outwork (Uncle Mo) for $500,000 during Monday’s second session of the Fasig-Tipton New York-Bred Yearling Sale. “She is a filly that Travis really liked and when I went and saw her, she is a really pretty filly,” Englehart said. “I like the sire and I’m glad that we got her. I’ve been outbid on a lot of them, so I was glad to get this one.” Of the filly’s new ownership group, Englehart said, “Right now, she’s for Travis and I and It’s All About the Girls.” The yearling (hip 495), consigned by Denali Stud on behalf of her breeder, WinStar Farm, is out of the unraced Light and Variable (Tiznow). She is a half to group-placed Bye Bye Hong Kong (Street Sense) and to recent Saratoga maiden-winning 2-year-old Our Country (Constitution). “We’re very happy with that result,” confirmed WinStar CEO Elliott Walden. “Outworks continue to be very well received. They just look so much like Uncle Mos and we hope they run like Uncle Mos.” The WinStar team had considered putting the New York-bred yearling in last week’s select sale. “We discussed it,” Walden said. “Obviously, she had a big update with Our Country winning up here. So we felt like she would be a filly who would stand out in this sale. That’s one thing we try to do with our younger sires is put them in a position where people will notice them. Being by a first-year sire, it made a lot of sense to have her here. David Hanley makes those decisions and he’s done a great job with it.” Outwork has plenty to live up to when his first 2-year-olds hit the track next year. His WinStar stablemates include a host of impressive freshman sires, led by Constitution (Tapit), who already has been represented by a pair of graded winners. Asked if 2016 GI Wood Memorial winner Outwork would be carrying the flag for the WinStar stallion roster in 2020, Walden said, “I hope so. It would be great. We are really pleased with Constitution and Carpe Diem and Daredevil and Commissioner. So hopefully we have a couple more in the pipeline with Speightster, Tourist and Outwork.” Twirling Candy Colt to Farmer Longtime owner Tracy Farmer, who enjoyed a career day on the racetrack when his Sir Winston (Awesome Again) won the GI Belmont S. in June, added a filly by Twirling Candy to his racing stable Monday in Saratoga when bloodstock agent Lincoln Collins made a final bid of $320,000 for hip 617. The bay filly was consigned by Fort Christopher’s Thoroughbreds as agent for Kingsport Farm, which purchased her in utero for $115,000 at the 2017 Keeneland November sale. “We all liked her-[trainer] Mark Casse liked her, I liked her, we perhaps ill-advisedly passed on a couple earlier today for this one,” Collins said. “Tracy really likes the New York-breds he’s got so far this year and he’s had a great year on the racetrack. So let’s hope she is as good as as much as we like her. She’s a bit plain-headed, but we like that. She is a very honest-looking filly.” The bay filly is out of multiple Grade I placed Soul Search (A.P. Indy) and is a half-sister to graded stakes winner Journey Home (War Front). Collins continued to see polarization in the marketplace during the two-day New York-bred sale. “It’s like all sales now, it’s feast or famine,” he said of the market. “The nice ones make plenty of money and the horses who fall even a little bit below the bar, there is just nobody to buy them. From the consignors point of view, it is a challenge and to some degree from the buyers point of view, it is a challenge because everybody is concentrating on the same horses. This game has become very professionally orientated in the last few years. I think we are all on the same horses. Occasionally, we’ll get lucky and one will slip through the cracks. But on the whole, to buy the nice ones, you have to step up to the plate.” WinStar Strikes for Constitution Colt WinStar Farm is plenty familiar with Constitution and struck Monday in Saratoga to acquire a colt by the farm’s leading freshman sire in partnership with China Horse Club for $275,000. “He’s a very athletic colt. The Constitutions have that athleticism and class. They are very light on their feet. And this colt seemed to be that way,” said WinStar Farm’s Elliott Walden. Out of Polly Freeze (Super Saver), hip 559 was consigned by Taylor Made Sales Agency on behalf of breeders Fred Hertrich and John Fielding. Walden has positive associations with the New York-bred sale and Hertrich-bred yearlings, having secured future multiple Grade I winner Diversify (Bellamy Road) from the sale for $150,000 in 2014. “The last horse I bought out of this sale was Diversify from Mr. Hertrich, so hopefully we can strike again with a Hertrich and Fielding bred.” Hertrich purchased Polly Freeze, in foal to Wicked Strong, for $75,000 at the 2016 Keeneland November sale. Her Wicked Strong filly, Text Dont Call, who was a $30,000 Keeneland January yearling and a $40,000 Fasig-Tipton Midlantic May juvenile, was second in a Del Mar maiden special weight Sunday. “That’s about what we thought the market was. There were a lot of people who liked the colt,” Hertrich said. “It helped that his little brother went and ran pretty well yesterday. And Constitution is as hot as any horse on the freshman sire list. It kind of all lined up and he vetted well. Great connections bought him, so we’re excited about that.” The colt wasn’t Hertrich’s only success in Saratoga with a yearling by a WinStar stallion out of mares he purchased in 2016. Hip 487, a colt by Carpe Diem, sold for $130,000 Monday. He is out of Lady in Shades (Congrats), who Hertrich purchased for $24,000 at the 2016 Keeneland November sale. “I like breeding mares at WinStar,” Hertrich said. “They do such a great job. They are a great entity in the industry at all ends. And they support their stallions.” Hunter Valley Has the New York Vibe Hunter Valley Farm, which annually pinhooks a handful of yearlings to the New York-Bred Sale, enjoyed another standout two days in the auction ring. “Last year wasn’t so pretty, but I knew coming up this year that this was probably the best group of horses that we’ve brought up here,” Hunter Valley’s Adrian Regan said. “They were lovely individuals and the guys at home did a great job prepping them. Fergus [Galvin], who came up here in October, did a great job picking them out.” Hunter Valley brought five yearlings to the New York sale as part of its Atlantic Bloodstock pinhooking partnership. The farm kicked off the sale with hip 309, a colt by Freud purchased for $58,000 at last year’s Fasig-Tipton New York Mixed Sale, who brought $150,000 Sunday. Hip 406, a colt by Lemon Drop Kid who was purchased for $45,000 as a weanling, sold for $110,000; Hip 437, a colt by Outwork purchased for $45,000 last fall, sold for $165,000; and hip 506, a colt by Laoban purchased for $65,000 last year, sold for $170,000. The Hunter Valley consignment sold 10 horses at the New York sale for a total of $971,000. “Five of them were ours and the rest of them were for clients,” Regan said. “And the clients horses for the most part did very well. He continued, “I am probably a little biased as to how the market was this year because it was so good to us. But I am not hearing many complaints. I am hearing the nice individuals are selling really well. There is a good demand for horses at the moment. Which is great. We have the big one here in a little while, so it would give you a bit of optimism going into it-cautious optimism.” Regan said the plan for this year’s New York Mixed Sale will remain the same. “We’ll do the same again,” he said. “I always stay at home because we have so much going on, so Fergus will come up and shop it, we’ll talk about it in the evenings and in the mornings make a plan. And start praying from there on.” Sales Success for Mallory Mallory Mort, longtime manager of Gallagher’s Stud, enjoyed sales success in his own name Monday in Saratoga, selling a colt by Speightster for $210,000 to Brick City Thoroughbreds. The yearling is the third foal out of the unraced Sheet Humor (Distorted Humor), who Mort purchased for $15,000 at the 2015 Keeneland November sale. “She was a $300,000 RNA as a yearling and I thought she might be able to produce some nice yearlings for me,” Mort said of the mare’s appeal four years ago. “I bought her from Denali-Robert Masterson bred her. I bought her in foal to Midnight Lute, who was still pretty cold at the time, so I thought I got her bought at a nice price. She was very young.” The mare’s Midnight Lute colt RNA’d for $45,000 at the 2017 New York sale, but her second foal, a filly by Central Banker, sold for $35,000 a year ago. “We had a little bit of bad luck with the Midnight Lute colt, he was a nice-looking colt, but he had a splint. And Midnight Lute hadn’t come back yet. And then, we bred her to Central Banker to make the Midnight Lute a New York-bred. She was a beautiful filly and we sold here for $35,000, which was ok.” Of the decision to send the mare to first-crop sire Speightster, Mort said, “I saw Speightster at WinStar and he was in my price range and I liked the nick and it worked out well.” Mort expected big things from the yearling, but admitted he exceeded expectations. “We loved him at home, but sometimes you can get a little barn blind until they get in among everybody else,” he said. “Once we saw who was looking at him and how many looks he was getting and how many vets he got, we were pretty confident we’d be ok. We weren’t quite expecting this.” Sheet Humor is the only mare Mort currently owns. “I bred her to Competitive Edge this year and I was going to sell her in the November sale, but she slipped. So she is barren right now. We’ll breed her back and maybe we’ll sell her next year. Or maybe we’ll just keep her.” The post Malibu Moon Filly Sets New York Sale Record appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Arlington Million (G1) win only added to accomplishments of NTRA poll leader. View the full article

Splendido winning at Ruakaka on Sunday. Proven international jockey Grant Cooksley tasted success of a different kind at Ruakaka on Sunday when saddling up his first two winners as a trainer. Cooksley gained his trainers’ license in late March to go into partnership with Bruce Wallace and he produced Splendido and Havana Heat to win, while Badea (his other runner at the Ruakaka meeting) finished second. Making the occasion even more memorable for Cooksley was having stable apprentice Masa Hashizume share in the milestone. “He’s a good young rider,” Cooksley said. “He’s got good balance and pushes them out well. And he listens and takes it in. I’m happy for him.” Hashizume (23) transferred to the Cooksley-Wallace stable after initially being apprenticed to Matamata trainer Graham Richardson and appreciates the significance of the wins. “Mr Cooksley almost smiled,” Hashizume said jokingly in reference to the poker face for which Cooksley is well-known. Cooksley admits it was a special feeling notching that first training win with Splendido, even though he has ridden more than 2600 winners (over 1000 wins in New Zealand), registered 66 Group One wins and enjoyed success in Australia, Singapore, Malaysia, Hong Kong, Macau and New Caledonia. “It’s a bit different than winning as a jockey,” he said. “I got the same enjoyment, but you put in more background work as a trainer. Because of that it probably feels a bit better to win as a trainer.” Cooksley had to settle for four seconds and a couple of thirds as a trainer before Splendido’s breakthrough win, which didn’t surprise him. “He had been working really well and I did a bit of jumping with him just to vary his work,” Cooksley said. “He’s got the ability and it’s good to see him winning again.” Splendido contested the Gr.1 New Zealand Derby (2400m) after six placings, including seconds to Group One winners Lizzie L’Amour and Provocative and Derby runner-up What’s The Story and was also Listed runner-up as a three-year-old. Cooksley was aboard when Splendido notched his previous win, at Avondale over 2100m in January 2017 when dictating terms in front and Hashizume copied the tactics at Ruakaka. Apprentice jockey Masa Hashizume is all smiles after securing a double aboard Havana Heat at Ruakaka on Sunday Trish Dunell “I followed what Mr Cooksley had done when he won on him at Avondale,” Hashizume said. Hashizume also got to the front on Havana Heat and the pair hung on narrowly to score by a short head, while Badea was outfinished by I See Red. “It was a perfect day for me until I dropped my stick on Badea,” Hashizume said. “I think she could have won, too.” Hashizume has ridden five winners and is looking forward to riding one of those, Crystallize, again at Te Rapa on Saturday for trainer Danny Walker. Cooksley is also keen to keep the momentum going for Hashizume, though he knows his stable won’t be into full force until later in the season. “We’re working 20 at the moment and we won’t have much going until the end of September,” he said. “For now, there are the three horses who ran at Ruakaka and One Kotuku Street, who might run at Te Rapa on Saturday.” Six-race winner Ronchi, the highest-rated member of the stable and a multiple black type placegetter with Cooksley aboard, is back in work and coming along quietly. “He’s been back in around five weeks and he’s come back looking well,” Cooksley said. “He’ll tell me when he’s ready.” Gino Severini, a winner in Ireland who joined the Byerley Park stable via Hong Kong, is also in the early stages of another campaign. He was a winner at Ruakaka last January and runner-up twice from five New Zealand starts last campaign. Cooksley also has hopes for Blackrocksdetox, who was put aside after running on late for eighth in the Karaka Million 2YO (1200m) at Ellerslie last January. The son of Rip Van Winkle was third on debut last November in a Listed 1100m event at Pukekohe behind the talented Bavella then finished third to Appellant (third equal in the Karaka Million 2YO) at Ellerslie. “I’ll just take him through the grades and he could be a nice three-year-old,” Cooksley said. “He could kick off in a 1200m race at Ruakaka at the end of September. “It’s taken a while working the horses out, but I’ve got a nice team to work with this season.” View the full article

Proven international jockey Grant Cooksley tasted success of a different kind at Ruakaka on Sunday when saddling up his first two winners as a trainer. Cooksley gained his trainers’ license in late March to go into partnership with Bruce Wallace and he produced Splendido and Havana Heat to win, while Badea (his other runner at the Ruakaka meeting) finished second. Making the occasion even more memorable for Cooksley was having stable apprentice Masa Hashizume share in the milestone. “He’s ... View the full article

The bidding pace continued to sizzle late during the Aug. 12 final session of the Fasig-Tipton New York-Bred Yearlings Sale, as prominent owner Tracy Farmer, represented by Lincoln Collins, went to $320,000 for a Twirling Candy filly. View the full article

Enable (GB) (Nathaniel {Ire}) and Stradivarius (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) are set to lead a strong team for champion trainer John Gosden at York next week. The brilliant Enable is on course for the G1 Darley Yorkshire Oaks on the Thursday of the four-day Welcome to Yorkshire Ebor Festival, with Stradivarius once more in line for the £-1million Weatherbys Hamilton Stayers’ bonus if he can win the G2 Lonsdale Cup on the Friday. The Khalid Abdullah-owned mare has already won the G1 Coral-Eclipse and G1King George VI And Queen Elizabeth S. this season. Gosden said, “She has had a nice easy time since the King George. She just did a breeze on her own with Frankie [Dettori] on her on Saturday–into a strong headwind, so they just did a nice quiet bit. She’ll pick up again in her work this week, but she is out there enjoying herself, looking well and moving nicely. Lord Lloyd-Webber’s G2 Middleton Fillies’ S. winner & MG1SP La Ti Dar (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) could be in opposition to Enable, with Gosden adding, “Lah Ti Dar may well be in the Oaks as well. The owner-breeders are very keen to run her–they’ve been wanting to run her in the race all year, so I’m sure that’s where she’ll probably be going. She is training nicely.” Like last year, Stradivarius will arrive on the Knavesmire on the back of victories in the Gold Cup and Goodwood Cup. Gosden said, “He is as cheeky as ever. He is full of himself, a very happy horse. He is training up nicely for the race. Obviously, the Goodwood Cup was not that long ago, so we come into the Lonsdale just trying to keep the freshness in him. “He probably had tougher races coming through last year–the Gold Cup last year was a formidable race, whereas they probably didn’t go as hard this year. Therefore, for him, it didn’t drain him so much.” The post Gosden Stars Well Ahead of York’s Ebor Meeting appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

A Malibu Moon filly brought $775,000 from Larry Best’s Oxo Equine to take the lead at Monday’s Fasig-Tipton New York-bred Yearling Sale in Saratoga. Hip 592, consigned by Winter Quarter Farm, agent for Oak Bluff Stable LLC, was bred in New York by Oak Bluff Stables and Christophe Clement. She is the second foal out of the winning Street Sense mare Savvy Sassy. The post Malibu Moon Filly Brings $775k at FT NY-Bred Sale appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Don’t try telling Grant Crabbe that New Zealand harness horses aren’t the equal of the best in the world. Because he is on a one-man crusade to prove they are. And when it comes to his world champion mare Shartin, Crabbe is winning the war. The mare Crabbe bred out of his Canterbury base became the fastest pacing mare of all time when she blasted around The Meadowlands in 1:46.8 recently, winning so easily it is realistic to think she could have threatened the all-comers world mark of 1:46 had she been pushed or asked. That continued a stunning last 18 months for Shartin and coming on top of Lazarus pacing close to 1:46 last year, New Zealand horses are running world class times in an industry where times are a far more valued than in thoroughbred racing. Crabbe, a retired motor mechanic, isn’t surprised by the Kiwi resurgence and is more than willing to put his money where his mouth is to say it can continue. Shartin is by New Zealand pacer Tintin In America, who was a speed freak when trained by Geoff Small but like so many domestic stallions doesn’t get elite broodmares. But the first time Crabbe saw Tintin In America he knew he was the stallion for his one-win mare Bagdarin. “I was doing some work at Nevele R Stud at the time and he got off the float and I said to one of the other guys, “that is the fastest horse I have seen in a straight line since Lord Module. “The other guy told me that was fine but being a colonial stallion he will struggle for numbers. “I knew he was right but I don’t care. I know our horses as as good as anywhere in the world and if our best stallions got the mares that Bettors Delight and Art Major did they would have just as much success.” Back when Crabbe bred Bagdarin to Tintin In America it hardly seemed much of a gamble, she was a one-win mare who only had three starts and was retired “because she had arthritis in her knees so bad they looked like gorgonzola cheese,” he remembers. “But she could run. She was from Bruce Francis’s breed and to be honest she was going to be retired before I started training because she was a bit uncontrollable. “It took me three weeks to get her settled enough to work. But this whole family can run.”
 Shartin proved that straight away but she was too fast to last with a part-time trainer like Crabbe. After a blazing trial at Ashburton she was sold to Australia where she had a top class three-year-old career before moving on to North America, where she hasn’t stopped improving. So consistently dominant has she been that after last weekend’s world record she deserves to be in the conversation with the greatest New Zealand pacing mares, a list of beauty and brilliance. But even though Bagdarin is only 12 and Crabbe could send her to any stallion in the world and get a high-priced yearling, he keeps the faith with the Kiwis. Shartin has a three-year-old brother “who can really run” called Knockawarwon while last season she even visited local stallion Gold Ace, a former New Zealand racehorse who has only just sired his first domestic winner. “I am a proud Kiwi and I don’t want to hear our horses aren’t as good as the best in North America, cause its not true.” Crabbe says he watches every race Shartin has live online and gets regular emails from her connections but has never been tempted to jump on the big bird to go watch her. “I am sure I’d have a good time if I did go see her but I’d also feel like spare part, and being a former mechanic, I don’t want to feel like a spare part,” he laughs. And as for the question every breeder has to suffer when they sell a horse who goes on to the greatness: does Crabbe ever wonder, what if? “No, never. I actually don’t enjoy racing horses that much because they lose more than they win and I hate losing. “I am not a bad loser, I just hate the disappointment. “So I get just as much thrill watching her race now as I would as the owner and she is bringing other people happiness. “And she is doing our New Zealand industry proud. And I love that.” View the full article

Speeding Spur has done New Zealand proud and given his future stud career a massive boost with a track record breaking win in North America. The reigning New Zealand Trotter Of The Year won his first race on American soil in style, when clocking 1:52.4 to win the $US148,000 Crawford Farms Open Trot at Tioga Downs on Monday morning (New Zealand time). That mile (1609m) time saw the 8yr-old set a new mark for aged male trotters at the New York track. The victory for trainer Linda Toscano and driver Brian Sears was not only impressive, it was a coup for owner Woodlands Stud. A feature race win in North America puts a massive tick on Speeding Spur’s stud resume. Woodlands Stud co-founder, Andrew Grierson, said he was buzzing after the race. “I was absolutely ecstatic this morning, it was fantastic.” “He is just such a lovely horse, he has done a good job for us.” Speeding Spur has fitted seamlessly into Toscano’s stable after arriving in the United States. Grierson said the trainer told him the horse has the potential to clock an even more impressive mile time. “She loves him, she tells me he shows real speed and she reckons if she got the right trip with him he could go 1:49.” Though Speeding Spur has massively enhanced his stud resume already, it is not a case of mission accomplished on his North American expedition. The trotter will continue to compete in big races, with the hope of adding to his CV. It is hoped his campaign will culminate with a big showing in the Yonkers International Trot in October. Grierson is hoping for a little more luck with barrier draws than the horse has had in his three American starts, so far. “He has had the visitor’s draw every start.” “The first two starts he went great – he went 1:51.1 – he just never had any luck.” “We have staked him for everything and it would be nice to have a chance in the International Trot if got a decent draw.” Speeding Spur showed the grit and determination he was renown for in New Zealand when winning at Tioga Downs. The Pegasus Spur entire had to fight hard to earn his victory during his epic homestraight duel with runner-up, Mission Accepted. Earlier in the race, the pair traded places in the lead with Mission Accepted’s driver Yannick Gingras retaking the front from Sears after he moved Speeding Spur to the top with a lap to go. Sears angled Speeding Spur off Mission Accepted’s back in the straight and the New Zealand bred nosed out the $1.45 on the line. Speeding Spur’s victory impressed his champion driver. “He’s a classy horse. He’s made close to a million dollars overseas, so he knows what it’s all about,” Sears told North American trotting media. “He’s only raced a couple times, so far, since he’s been over here.” “I just tried to put him in the race a little bit with the short field, and it worked out.” Speeding Spur’s win in the Crawford Farms Open Trot was his 28th career victory and it took his total stake earnings past NZ$1,200,000. View the full article

Grant Nisbett. Hawke’s Bay Racing is excited to announce that two legends of New Zealand broadcasting will attend Tarzino Trophy TAB Daffodil Raceday on Saturday August 31 at Hastings. SKY Sport commentators Grant Nisbett and Ian Smith have taken time away from Mitre 10 Cup duties to step in as guest presenters for TAB Trackside. This year’s event is a celebration of ‘Rugby, Racing and Volunteers’ to raise money for the Hawke’s Bay Cancer Society. “Their involvement in the day certainly creates another talking point and underlines what an important cause it is we are raising money for,” Hawke’s Bay Racing chief executive Andrew Castles said. Smith will provide his infamous ‘pitch report’ reviewing conditions on track before the commencement of the days racing, then the pair will replace regular presenters Brendan Popplewell and Bevan Sweeney and preview the El Roca Sir Colin Meads Trophy. “They both have a real interest in and passion for thoroughbred racing so I’m sure they will transfer their world class broadcasting skills to their preview of the El Roca Sir Colin Meads trophy,” Castles said. Tarzino Trophy TAB Daffodil Raceday is the opening day of the Bostock New Zealand Spring Carnival. Admission on the day is by $5 donation to the Hawke’s Bay Cancer Society. For more information go to www.daffodilraceday.co.nz View the full article

Eminent. Brighthill Farm will parade their stallions at their Waikato property (1352 Tauwhare Road, Hamilton) this Friday, August 16, at 2pm. Breeders will be able to view Brighthill’s four resident stallion, including the farm’s new season stallion Eminent. The son of Frankel won three of his 14 careers starts, including the Gr.2 Prix Guillaume d’Ornano (2000) and Gr.3 Craven Stakes (1600m), and was Group One placed in the Ranvet Stakes (2000m) and Irish Champion Stakes (2000m). He will stand for a fee of $8,000+gst this season, alongside Preferment at $12,500+gst, Dalghar at $5,000+gst, and Perfectly Ready at $3,000+gst. View the full article

Shared Secrets. Promising staying mare Shared Secrets has been forced into retirement on a winning note. The daughter of Nadeem was on target to chase a sought-after black type win after scoring over 2500m at Hastings on April 13, but instead her connections are now working on plans for her as a broodmare. “About a week after she won at Hastings she sprained the ligament over her back hock,” trainer Mark Oulaghan said. “She was all set to go down to Riccarton in early May, but instead she ended up at Massey University. “The outcome is that she would have to have a long time out, probably a year, and even then there was no certainty she would be right, so there was no choice but to retire her. “She was a good stayer and I’d love to have won a black type race with her.” Shared Secrets won five of her 24 starts, including the St Leger Trial (2100m) at Otaki two years ago after finishing fourth in Gr.3 Desert Gold Stakes (1600m) at Trentham, and last season she won three races, including the Summer Cup (2400m) at Trentham. View the full article

Fox Hill Farms' Omaha Beach stretched out to six furlongs Aug. 12 at Del Mar in his fourth work back since recovering from minor throat surgery in early May, and remains on target for a comeback start in the Aug. 25 Shared Belief Stakes. View the full article

Arlington Million (G1) win only adds to accomplishments of NTRA poll leader. View the full article

Back in 2006, when the first two flashed past the winning post in the G1 Dewhurst S., they also earned themselves first and second places on the European Two-Year-Old Thoroughbred Racehorse Rankings. Galileo’s unbeaten son Teofilo topped the table by 1lb from Danehill’s dual Group 1-winning son Holy Roman Emperor, who had also been beaten into second place by Teofilo in the G1 National S. Holy Roman Emperor, for his part, had won four of his remaining five starts, notably taking the G1 Phoenix S. and the G1 Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere. It didn’t take much imagination to envisage these two also fighting out the finish of the 2000 Guineas, but–extraordinarily–neither was to race again, for different reasons. The breeding world’s gain was definitely racing’s loss, as Vital Equine, a colt who was twice beaten around three lengths by Holy Roman Emperor, was to finish second in the 2000 Guineas, beaten only a length and a half. Both young stallions were to make a Classic impact, with Teofilo siring Pleascach (Irish 1000 Guineas) and Trading Leather (Irish Derby), while Holy Roman Emperor has been responsible for Homecoming Queen (1000 Guineas by nine lengths), Well Timed (Preis der Diana) and Romanised (Irish 2000 Guineas). Romanised, of course, has recently used his telling burst of acceleration to revive his career with victories in the G2 Minstrel S. over seven furlongs at The Curragh and the G1 Prix Jacques le Marois over a mile at Deauville. Holy Roman Emperor has also gone close to siring an Irish Oaks winner, as Banimpire was beaten only a short head in the 2011 race, and his Group 1-winning son Morandi was second in the 2013 Prix du Jockey-Club. During a peripatetic career, he has also sired an Australian Derby winner in Mongolian Khan and a New Zealand 1000 Guineas winner in Rollout The Carpet. There have also been a couple of major earners in Hong Kong, in the form of Designs On Rome and Beauty Only, as well as the American Grade I winners Rich Tapestry (Santa Anita Sprint Championship) and Glorious Empire (Sword Dancer S.) and the Brazilian Group 1 scorers Salto Olimpico and Maraton. That adds up to quite an impressive collection for a stallion who is still only 15 years old and who has been priced no higher than €15,000 in 2018 and 2019. I think it is fair to say that Holy Roman Emperor and his progeny have often flown under the radar, with both Homecoming Queen and Romanised starting at 25-1 when they won their Classics. Holy Roman Emperor’s premature retirement came in such unusual circumstances that it is worth retelling the story. He had been retired unexpectedly in early March, when another first-rate son of Danehill, the 2000 Guineas winner George Washington, encountered serious fertility issues while standing his first season at Coolmore at a fee of €60,000. The situation at Coolmore was made all the more complicated by the fact that Rock of Gibraltar, another 2000 Guineas winner by Danehill, had been leased to Japan for the 2007 season and Danehill Dancer was already heavily booked at a fee of €115,000. Coolmore attempted to remedy this difficult situation by shuttling the top Australian stallion Encosta de Lago to Ireland, but he didn’t leave Australia until Mar. 20, and Holy Roman Emperor carried most of the burden, covering 136 mares compared to Encosta de Lago’s 59. While the decision to retire Holy Roman Emperor can’t have been easy, I have always wondered whether connections were worried that his racing prospects at three might be compromised by his lack of size, as he stands just over 15.2 hands. However, Holy Roman Emperor had been very progressive as a 2-year-old, with his Dewhurst second arguably representing his best effort, and many of his progeny have thrived after the age of two. Good examples include Designs On Rome, Beauty Only, Rich Tapestry and Glorious Empire, all of whom were all at least five year olds when they recorded their last Group 1 success. It is surely no coincidence that Romanised is owned by the Hong Kong-based Robert Ng, as Holy Roman Emperor’s progeny have been extremely popular and successful there. In addition to Designs On Rome and Beauty Only, the American Grade I winner Rich Tapestry was originally based in Hong Kong after leaving Ireland, and so too was Glorious Empire. The speedy Charles The Great was another who developed into a group winner in Hong Kong after a useful juvenile career in England. Romanised’s appeal to Mr. Ng no doubt owed a lot to the fact that he shares the same sire and the same Moyglare Stud female line as Designs On Rome, with his dam, the Indian Ridge mare Romantic Venture, being a half-sister to Designs On Rome. In becoming something of a superstar in Hong Kong, Designs On Rome gained four Group 1 wins over a mile and a quarter and a Group 2 over a mile. Romanised has so far raced exclusively at up to a mile, which is what might be expected of a Holy Roman Emperor colt out of an Indian Ridge mare who won over 8.5 furlongs on her debut at three. However, there is a distinct theoretical possibility that he too could stay a mile and a quarter. His dam Romantic Venture may have had a sprinter as her sire but she also had the dual Arc winner Alleged–whose progeny had a high average winning distance of 11.6 furlongs–as her broodmare sire. Romantic Venture managed only one further start, at Group 3 level, before joining the Moyglare broodmare band but she was culled for €40,000 as an 11-year-old in 2008. Since then she has demonstrated how difficult it can be to establish the stamina potential of mares who are the product to two extremes. Fictional Account, her Moyglare-bred filly by the champion sprinter Stravinsky, showed Alleged’s influence rather than those of Stravinsky and Indian Ridge. Her two listed victories came over a mile-and-three-quarters at The Curragh and two miles at Ascot. It was a similar story when Romantic Venture was mated to the top miler Rock of Gibraltar, a horse bred to a similar pattern to Holy Roman Emperor. The result was Rock of Romance, winner of the G3 St Leger Italiano over a mile-and-three-quarters and a German listed race over two miles. Romanised’s second dam Summer Trysting, produced middle-distance Group winners to three fast horses, including Romantic Venture’s smart brother Sights On Gold, who was once beaten only half a length by Phoenix Reach in the G1 Hong Kong Vase over a mile and a half. Simple Exchange, Summer Trysting’s colt by Romanised’s grandsire Danehill, won the GII American Derby over 1 3/16 miles. Romanised’s third dam Bubinka did sterling work for Moyglare and Romanised ranks alongside the Irish Derby and Tattersalls Gold Cup winner Grey Swallow and the Irish Oaks and Prix de l’Opera winner Covert Love as one of four Group 1 winners descending from her. The post Pedigree Insights: Romanised appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Investec Oaks (G1) winner will likely not challenge stablemate Enable View the full article

The GI Pattison Canadian International winner Cannock Chase (Lemon Drop Kid), who was sold by private treaty in early July, will stand next season at Graham Heal’s Vauterhill Stud in Devon. The 8-year-old stallion—a half-brother to this season’s Irish Oaks winner Star Catcher (GB) (Sea The Stars {Ire})—formerly stood at Worsall Grange Farm in Yorkshire and was offered for sale when his previous owner Killashee House Ltd was placed in administration. A number of broodmares and young stock under the same ownership were sold at the Exeter Livestock Centre through auctioneers Kivells on behalf of the administrators Moorfields. James Morrish, who has conducted two auctions and the private sale of Cannock Chase for Kivells, told TDN on Monday, “I cannot disclose the identity of Cannock Chase’s new owner but he is now at Vauterhill Stud not far from here.” Morrish also indicated that the two other former residents of the Worsall Grange stallion yard, the treble Italian Group 1 winner Dylan Mouth (Ire) (Dylan Thomas {Ire}) and juvenile Group 3 winner Peace Envoy (Fr) (Power {GB}), are also now for sale privately. “Both stallions are in very good condition and are being well looked after at a stud in the Midlands. Potential buyers can arrange an inspection by appointment through Moorfields of London,” he added. Bred by Anthony Oppenheimer’s Hascombe & Valiant Studs, Cannock Chase won five races for Saeed Suhail and Sir Michael Stoute, including his top-level strike at Woodbine and the G3 Tercentenary S. at Royal Ascot in 2014, three years after his full-brother Pisco Sour won the same race for Hughie Morrison. This season, Star Catcher became the third offspring of the Horse Chestnut (SAF) mare Lynnwood Chase to win at the Royal meeting when landing the G2 Ribblesdale S. for her breeder before going on to Classic glory at the Curragh. The former champion amateur rider Lucy Horner, who managed Worsall Grange Farm and was listed as one of the company directors of Killashee House Ltd along with Kahlil de Burca, died last month at the age of 42. The post Cannock Chase To Stand At Vauterhill Stud appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. –The confluence of the number 13 and the word “upset” came into play perfectly Aug. 13, 1919, in a race that gave birth to Saratoga’s oft-repeated citation as “The Graveyard of Favorites.” Bad luck was a key ingredient to the only defeat of Man o’ War, whose talents, even as a youngster, were considered otherworldly. That the Sanford S. was won by a horse coincidentally named Upset adds to the story. That the riders of both Man o’ War and Upset were denied licenses–without comment from The Jockey Club when their riding licenses came up for renewal the next year–adds to its legend. Heading into the six-furlong Sanford, it’s difficult to overstate the regard held for Man o’ War not only by the public but also by veteran horsemen and journalists, who unashamedly compared him to the earlier greats of the then-young 20th century, Colin and Sysonby. That respect was earned with the ease of his victories in six previous outings, five of which were in stakes races, the last of which was a comfortable two-length tally over Upset, to whom he was conceding 15 pounds, in the United States Hotel S. over the course and distance of the Sanford. Even though the margins of victory weren’t nearly as gaudy as they would be during his campaign as a 3-year-old, racegoers knew that most of rider Johnny Loftus’s energy was expended on throttling down his mount well before the wire. Man o’ War’s bad luck began the morning of the race, when word came that starter Mars Cassidy was ill and unable to perform his duties that day. Summoned from the patrol judge’s booth was a former starter, the venerable Charles Pettingill. Pettingill had years of experience as a racing official, landing in New York after a tenure in the Midwest. “Mr. Pettingill is widely and favorably known as a racing official,” said the Morning Telegraph in its Aug. 15, 1900, edition, adding that he “… has the confidence of all horsemen,” and that with him in the stands “horsemen and the public will be well served.” Unmentioned in the report was Pettingill’s role in the 1893 World’s Fair American Derby. Run amidst Chicago’s marvels, mayhem and mass murders that year, as chronicled in Erik Larson’s “The Devil in the White City,” Daily Racing Form breathlessly described the race nearly 40 years later in its June 22, 1935, editions as “one of the most sensational races run anywhere.” The race featured Hall of Fame rider Edward “Snapper” Garrison at his resourceful best. “The horses were at the post for an hour and a half, during which Garrison received permission from the starter to dismount and fix the saddle girth on Boundless,” DRF reported. “While the other horses were fretting and stamping about with their weight up, Boundless was taking things easy with the result that when they finally were off he was a decidedly fresh horse. In the home stretch Garrison called on Boundless and he came with a rush to win by six lengths.” Pettingill would have been comfortable if people had forgotten about that American Derby so many years before and, in a sense, the Sanford would go a long way toward achieving that hope, although perhaps not in a manner he would have preferred. Man o’ War’s presence in the Sanford, run on a Wednesday, enticed 20,000 fans to the track. Before the advent of pari-mutuel wagering, action was handled by bookmakers, and in most books the price on Man o’ War was 1-2, with Golden Broom the second-choice, and the co-highweight at 130 pounds, at around 5-2. Upset, with wily Willie Knapp aboard, and once again carrying 15 pounds less than Man o’ War, was 8-1. Pettingill kept the field of seven at bay for several minutes before letting them go, and when he did Man o’ War was sideways and thoroughly unprepared. “Man o’ War was very fractious at the gate that day,” Loftus told Sports Illustrated‘s Jack Mahon in 1966. “He broke through about three times before the starter warned me to quiet down–or else. “I wheeled Man o’ War around for another try. My head was turned when the field was sent away. I wasn’t ready.” Golden Broom broke sharply to get the early lead with Upset assuming the stalker’s position. Man o’ War and Loftus gathered themselves and got back into the fray approaching the turn, but at that point it was Knapp’s game to lose: Ahead of him he had Golden Broom in his crosshairs, and behind him he had Man o’ War locked in what he called “a mousetrap,” pinned to the rail. He kept him there as long as possible, but at the eighth pole, deciding he could wait no longer, he let Upset go, gaining the lead while freeing Man o’ War, which led to a nail-biting final furlong. Upset lasted, just barely, and he got to the wire with DRF‘s official margin being a half-length, although Knapp insisted it was only Upset’s head that beat Man o’ War to the line. Whatever the margin, it was rapidly diminishing. Man o’ War was in front 20 feet beyond the wire. Loftus and Man o’ War would exact their revenge next time out in the Grand Union Hotel S., then again in the Hopeful S., both at Saratoga, and they concluded the campaign with victory in Belmont’s Futurity S. Without explanation, The Jockey Club denied both Loftus and Knapp their riding licenses the next year, and neither rode competitively again. Knapp enjoyed recounting the race to fans, horsemen and journalists while Loftus went to extreme measures to avoid the topic, even ducking his induction into the Jockey Hall of Fame at Pimlico so as to avoid talking about a $4,950 race more than 40 years in his past. “I was the goat. That’s all there was to it. It could happen to anyone,” he told Mahon. “Heck, if a ballplayer makes an error, it’s forgotten.” Some baseball fans may disagree with that assertion: It took a championship 13 years later for Chicago Cub fans to forgive Steve Bartman for interfering with a foul ball that, if caught, could have helped their team snap a World Series drought that would eventually hit 108 years, and it took 18 years and a championship in 2004 before Red Sox fans could forgive Bill Buckner, a former Cub playing for Boston, for his fielding miscue that helped extend a World Series drought that reached 85 years. And maybe it’s coincidental that the “Black Sox Scandal” and the fallout from the fixed World Series between the Chicago White Sox and the Cincinnati Reds would taint the sporting world less than two months after the Sanford. It’s a World Series that wasn’t forgotten, especially by Hollywood: Well after Loftus’s passing, the series was detailed in the hit movie “Eight Men Out” and was significantly referenced in “Field of Dreams.” Perhaps redemption would have come to Loftus, a Chicago native, had he been relicensed and allowed to ride Man o’ War to his great victories as a 3-year-old in 1920, a campaign in which he set five American records, seven track records, and equaled an eighth, while concluding his career with 20 wins in 21 starts and earnings of $249,465. But Loftus was in constant company with the metaphorical black dog for his ride aboard Big Red. “Johnny was so humiliated that he didn’t speak to me for two or three weeks following the race,” said Knapp, who earned $25 for engineering Upset’s upset and who vigorously disputed allegations against his friend and rival. “Any talk of Johnny Loftus pulling Man o’ War in the Sanford is pure bunk. I don’t think he would have taken $100,000 to throw that race.” Loftus and Knapp were among the top jockeys of the era. Loftus was the regular rider of Sir Barton, who had swept the classics of 1919, while Knapp was “The Giant Killer” of his day: In addition to his defeat of Man o’ War, he beat three Kentucky Derby winners with the otherwise undistinguished 9-year-old gelding Borrow in the 1917 Brooklyn H. and he won the 1918 Kentucky Derby with 30-1 Exterminator. For their riding ability they were inducted into racing’s National Hall of Fame, Loftus in 1959 and Knapp in 1969. Although denied riding licenses, they both had successful second careers as trainers. Loftus died in California at 81 in 1976; Knapp passed away at 84 in 1972, a day after he was hit by a car in New York. Man o’ War went to stud in 1921. His groom during his racing career was Frank Loftus, no relation to the jockey. His first groom after his retirement from racing was John Buckner, no relation to the ballplayer. Man o’ War lived to be 30, dying in 1947. He was embalmed and had 2,000 mourners at his funeral in Lexington, Ky. The post 100 Years Ago Today: Man o’ War’s Upset appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article