Wandering Eyes

Odds-on favourite Mr Malek (NZ) (Swiss Ace) showed that his closing debut third was no flash in the pan after he followed up with a resounding win in the $75,000 Restricted Maiden race over 1200m on Sunday. The three-year-old had to get back in the field from a wide gate at his first race, but from barrier No 1 second-up, he could be ridden more positive by Patrick Moloney as he kicked up on the rails to lead. At least momentarily, as he soon received some pressure on his outside when ... View the full article

The Jockey Club's 67th annual Round Table Conference on Matters Pertaining to Racing brought several hundred industry leaders together Aug. 11 for an informational session that put a spotlight on the crisis the sport is facing. View the full article

IT was a most unusual week for the All Stars barn as the Breeders Crown series heats unfolded across Victoria. Staggeringly, both Our Princess Tiffany and Jesse Duke were well beaten as hot favourites in their respective heats. They both missed a place! Our Princess Tiffany was first out at Kilmore in horribly cold and wet conditions last Thursday night. Stand-in driver Luke McCarthy could only suggested the megastar filly didn’t handle the bog track conditions when she laboured into third as a $1.04 favourite in a heat won so dominantly by Emma Stewart’s Two Times Bettor, who sat parked throughout. Our Princess Tiffany was crossed at the start, but got clear air from the home bend and looked a shadow of herself. Obviously she can improve a mile for the semis and final, but purely on what we saw in the heat, Two Times Bettor will be a serious threat in the final. Jesse Duke was crunched into $1.40 favourite from gate two in his Ballarat heat last Friday night, but gave nothing in the home straight after having the perfect one-one trip throughout. He finished a well-held fourth. The standout of those Ballarat 3YO colts and geldings heats was the classy Hurricane Harley, who led throughout in freezing conditions and ran his last mile in a flying 1min52.5sec for an 11m win over a gallant Lochinvar Art, who sat parked. Hurricane Harley’s 2200m mile rate of 1min54.2sec was way ahead of the other two heat winners: Crime Writer in 1min57.4sec and Demon Delight in 2min2.5sec. Emma Stewart dominated the earlier Crown heats last week, winning both 2YO fillies qualifiers with Maajida and Jemstone. She also won both 2YO colts and geldings heats at Shepparton last Wednesday night with Be Happy Mach and Pacifico Dream. With Australian Gold winner Jilliby Nitro sidelined after surgery, Be Happy Mach can cement Aussie 2YO of the Year honours with victory in the Crown final. Kiwis Zeuss Bromac and Perfect Stride both ran well, but were well beaten seconds in their 2YO colts and geldings heats. X X X INTER Dominion champ Tornado Valley has picked up just where he left off. Two runs back from a well-deserved spell have netted two easy wins, the latest at Melton last night in the Group 3 Aldebaran Park Melton Trotters’ free-for-all. All Tornado Valley’s customary gate speed was on display as he ran to the lead from the outside draw (gate seven) then driver Kate Gath dictated terms through a soft 63.4sec middle half. The classy Big Jack Hammer trailed Tornado Valley throughout and ran second, just as he did when they clashed six days earlier at Maryborough. Trainer Andy Gath reaffirmed plans to keep Tornado Valley in Victoria because of he’s such a bad traveller. McLovin is set to be the stable’s Auckland Inter Dominion runner. X X X WA Derby winner Major Trojan continued his long build-up to the Golden Nugget with another easy Gloucester Park win last Friday night. The son of Art Major is two-from-two this campaign and has won his past four on end. Last Friday was little more than trackwork with Gary Hall Jr leading from gate three, dictating through a 61.3sec middle half then really only quickening for a 27.6sec closing quarter. In the other highlights of the night, trainer Debbie Lewis continued her fantastic form by combining with husband, Chris, and One Off Delight to win the $50,000 Channel 7 San Simeon. And former WA Derby winner Handsandwheels was superbly driven by Aiden De Campo to win the free-for-all out of a one-one trail over leader Convert Denario in a 1min55.6sec mile rate for 2130m. X X X EMMA Stewart looks to have a budding Grand Circuit horse in Maraetai. The son of Somebeachsomewhere has always showed plenty of potential, but his three runs this campaign indicated he’s taken the next step. Last night’s powerhouse Melton win – his 12th from just 21 starts – was fantastic after sitting parked in quick time and finishing-off in 54.8 and 27.4sec to win very impressively. It was another big night for Stewart, who also trained former star juvenile filly Nostra Villa to easily win the $30,000 Group 3 Alabar Vicbred Championship final (2240m). Chris Alford took the reins as the daughter of Art Major worked to the front and roared clear to win by 9.7m in a brisk 1min55.1sec mile rate. It’s been a terrific training performance with Nostra Villa having a year away from the track and returning to her best form, including wins at her past three starts. X X X SHANE Tritton has high hopes for his lightly-raced former Kiwi pacer Gods Spirit. The son of Tintin In America turned around a frustrating trio of seconds placings to open this campaign when he won easily at Menangle last night. Two runs back he chased home the immensely exciting Commander Kirk in 1min49.7sec. Last night it was his turn to win by a big space, leading throughout to score by 9.9m in a 1min52.5sec mile. “He’s done a fantastic job since coming across and he’s getting better all the time,” Tritton said. Gods Spirit’s raced 10 times for Shane and Lauren Tritton for five wins, four seconds and a third. X X X IN a stellar juvenile season, Expensive Ego is right up there with the best of them. Sure Be Happy Mach and Jilliby Nitro have been the standouts through our biggest juvenile races, but Expensive Ego has made his mark late. Trained by David Thorn in NSW, Expensive Ego won his first two runs in his home state before heading to Queensland to chase Group 1 glory. He’s won two Group 1’s at Albion Park over the past few weeks. First came the Qbred Triad final, then came last night’s phenomenal 29.5m win in the Group 1 Albion Park Australian Gold final. Despite drawing the back row and sitting parked, it was an armchair drive for Jimmy Douglas as Expensive Ego powered clear in a brisk 1min54.4sec mile rate for 1660m. View the full article

Tiger Tara. THE indecision is over and superstar pacer Tiger Tara will chase NZ Cup glory again this year. Trainer Kevin Pizzuto had refused to be drawn on plans with his reigning Inter Dominion champion, but today confirmed the NZ Cup was again his major target. “Everything now is about having at his top for NZ Cup Day,” Pizzuto said. “He’s back and going well and I’ll just take him through the free-for-alls here before we head back across to Christchurch. “He’s an older horse and I need to keep him in work, even though there aren’t any big races for him for a while.” Tiger Tara has won two of three runs back from a spell, the latest in a slick 1min53.9sec mile rate for the longer 2300m trip at Menangle in cold and very windy conditions last night. “I know he didn’t win by much, but it was a big win because the wind was so strong,” Pizzuto said. “I’m sure he’s going as well as ever and I’m still hurting over getting so close in last year’s NZ Cup without winning it.” Pizzuto has the option of heading to Melton for the $200,000 Group 1 Victoria Cup on October 12 – a race Tiger Tara won last year – but he said it’s more likely he would go across to NZ earlier than last year and have his final lead-up race over there. “That’s what I’m thinking, go over there earlier than last year. Maybe a race like Ashburton,” Pizzuto said. “If I do that, I wouldn’t take him to Victoria.” And what about defending that Inter Dominion crown in Auckland from November 29? “It’s likely, but I won’t say definite yet,” Pizzuto said. “I’m only looking as far as ahead as the NZ Cup. If he gets through that well, then I’ll look at staying over there.” View the full article

MEDIA RELEASE CLUB FUNDING FOR 2019-20 HARNESS RACING SEASON Harness Racing New Zealand (HRNZ) today announced that funding to clubs for the 2019-20 racing season remains unchanged (on a race-by-race basis) from 2018-19. This has been achieved due to the Racing Industry Transition Agency (RITA) maintaining funding to the codes at a consistent level. Ken Spicer, Board Chair, said “We are delighted to be able to hold funding at existing levels and congratulate the new board of RITA for ensuring that distributions to the codes has allowed this to continue”. All clubs are now bulk-funded by HRNZ and set their own stakes levels. It is the expectation of the HRNZ board that all clubs set stakes at a level that matches or betters the 2018-19 season. This season all clubs will pay stakes monies to the first five place getters (in line with the rating system) as well as making a payment to all starters. The minimum stake remains at $6,000 with most clubs choosing to pay well above this level. HRNZ has confirmed it will not continue with the first totalisator win supplement for the 2019-20 season. This initiative, introduced in March 2017, has largely been funded from reserves, in anticipation of new funding coming into the industry. There is an expectation that all codes will see several new sources of funding coming on stream later in the season (reduction in the Betting Levy, Race Fields, Point of Consumption) enabling a later review of this decision, however there is no certainty as to exactly when these funds will become available. “We know how popular the first winners supplement has been, however as a Board we must ensure we are acting in a fiscally responsible manner. HRNZ is keen to restore the first winners supplement as funding allows,” said Spicer. View the full article

An exclamation point was put at the end of freak show pacer U May Cullect’s first season of racing when he was crowned Southland Harness Racing Horse Of The Year in Invercargill on Sunday night. The title gave trainers Kirstin Barclay and Paul ‘Tank’ Ellis another highlight to celebrate after their breakout first season in partnership. Barclay and Ellis were crowned Southland’s leading trainers moments before U May Cullect beat out Harness Jewels placegetter, Robyns Playboy, and fellow listed race winner, Get Lucky, to score the Southland awards’ biggest prize. U May Cullect burst on to the New Zealand harness racing scene with jaw-dropping performance produced a seven-win unbeaten streak that culminated in the pacer winning the listed Uncut Gems at Addington in June. The pacer had a brief spell after that victory and is being prepared for a tilt at the New Zealand Cup. U May Cullect’s seven victories helped his trainers to a tally of 38 wins, last season. That total came at an excellent strike rate, and with 71 placings, from their 258 starts. Nathan Williamson was crowned Southland’s leading driver with his 54 wins. Ellie Barron took out the award for the province’s leading junior driver with 17 victories. Barron was also awarded an Award of Excellence for her accomplishments during the season, which included her contribution to the national team teal campaign. The Achievement Of The Year Award was won out by Gore trainer Ross Wilson. Wilson enjoyed his best winning season, with 15 victories. He also topped 100 career wins, last term, and produced Robyns Playboy for a group 1 placing at the Harness Jewels in June There were two winners for award recognising significant contributions to the Southland harness racing industry. One was awarded to long serving administrator and breeder-owner Brendan Fahy. Another was awarded to the Kidz Kartz Southland organisation for fostering youth participation in the sport. View the full article

Rebecca Heads. Rebecca Heads scored her first win and provided her family with a special moment when driving He’s A Ladies Man to victory at Rangiora on Sunday. The reinswoman notched win number one in style, when the 5yr-old, who is trainer by her employer Nigel McGrath, came with a booming finish. The victory will be impossible for the Heads family to forget as He’s A Ladies Man is raced by the junior driver’s parents, Billy and Janine Heads. “Mum and Dad bred him and they own him, so it was a big thrill for the family,” Heads said. He’s A Ladies Man put Heads’ skills to the test by giving her a challenging drive. He over raced early, before running erratically in the run home. Once the junior driver got him balanced in the straight, he powered home impressively. “He runs in a bit, but once he straightened up he was good,” Heads said. “He was travelling pretty good before the turn.” Heads’ first driving victory came in the first drive of her second season of driving. She had gone close to winning last season with five second placings, before getting her deserved victory on Sunday. “You have got to have a bit of patience in this game and it has finally paid off.” The junior driver has worked her way up the South Island to work in the McGrath stable. After getting her early grounding in driving after progressing through the Kidz Kartz programme in Southland, Heads moved to Otago. During her time there, she had good support from two trainers, in particular. “Amber Hoffman gave me a really good go when I was with her,” Heads said. “And Ginger Woodhouse has given me a lot of drives, as well.” Heads moved to Canterbury to work for McGrath last season and is thoroughly enjoying her time there. “I love it at Nigel’s.” “There is a lot of nice stock to work with.” Heads’ first win came in her 46th drive and after she had racked up seven placings. View the full article

INSPIRESSA (f, 2, The Big Beast–Lucky Trip, by Trippi), the priciest filly and co-fourth topper at OBS March at $850,000, proved fastest of a promising looking bunch to score first up at Del Mar and become the fourth winner for her sire (Yes It’s True) Sunday at Del Mar. The :20 4/5 breezer quickly emerged between foes to vie for command through an opening quarter in :22.06, before shaking clear and almost appearing to run off through a :45.87 half. Bast (Uncle Mo), a $500,000 Fasig-Tipton Saratoga grad herself who covered all the ground (50 ft., or approximately 5 3/4 lengths more than the winner, according to Trakus data), gave game chase in the lane, but Inspiressa still had more in the tank and reported home 1 1/2 lengths clear in 1:04.31. America’s Surprise (American Pharoah), the half-sister to Songbird (Medaglia d’Oro), was a non-threatening third. Inspiressa is out of a winning full-sister to SW/GISP Candrea and MSW Dream of Angels (Trippi). Lifetime Record: 1-1-0-0. O-Hronis Racing LLC, West Point Thoroughbreds & William Sandbrook. B-Ocala Stud (FL). T-John Sadler. The post Pricey The Big Beast Filly Shows Off Her Speed at Del Mar appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Gary Barber and Southern Equine Stables' Got Stormy had her connections in positive spirits Aug. 11 after the 4-year-old filly bested the boys by 2 1/2 lengths in Saturday's Fourstardave Handicap (G1) at Saratoga Race Course. View the full article

Europe has been searching for a leader for its older mile division and in Romanised, who streaked to an impressive success in one of the most reliable indicators in the calendar, it may transpire that the answer was hiding in plain sight. View the full article

Two new programs to educate North American stewards on international officiating standards have been created by The Jockey Club and Racing Officials Accreditation Program (ROAP), which accredits and provides continuing education to all racing officials, stewards, and judges. Both new programs provide immersive experiences internationally, will be administered by ROAP, and will be partly funded by The Jockey Club. The ROAP International Apprenticeship Program is a supplement to ROAP’s current apprenticeship program and adds exposure to international race stewarding. Selected individuals will be in a foreign racing jurisdiction for up to 10 weeks, learning the practices followed and challenges faced by stewards in these areas. The second program is similar but will be geared toward more experienced stewards. Selected individuals will spend approximately three to four weeks in an internationally recognized racing jurisdiction working alongside their foreign counterparts. “We are excited to offer these two programs, which directly serve ROAP’s long-standing mission to provide quality educational opportunities to racing officials,” said Dan Fick, chairman of ROAP. “Horse racing is becoming an increasingly global sport, and stewards at all levels of experience stand to benefit from exposure to a range of officiating rules and practices.” Those interested in more information should contact Cathy O’Meara, ROAP manager, at comeara@jockeyclub.com or visit horseracingofficials.com. The post ROAP Introduces New International Stewards Programs appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Against the backdrop of just-released news that the 2020 North American foal crop projects to be the lowest since 1966, speakers at The Jockey Club’s 67th annual Round Table Conference in Saratoga Springs, New York, Sunday underscored the need for unity within a fragmented industry to help the sport seize opportunities during a time of existential crisis. Stuart S. Janney III, The Jockey Club’s chairman, briefly mentioned during remarks leading into the Round Table’s intermission that the 2020 foal crop projection is expected to dip to 20,500. After the event, The Jockey Club issued a press release confirming that number while also announcing a downward revision to the 2019 foal crop projection, from 21,500 to 20,800. The high mark for the continent’s crop was in 1986, when 51,296 Thoroughbreds were foaled. It’s not news that the decades-long trajectory of the foal crop–long considered the key metric for measuring the health of the bloodstock industry–has been diminishing. But Sunday’s Round Table drilled home the point that that decline, coupled with a more recent calamity–the 30 equine fatalities at Santa Anita Park that put racing under a media microscope and triggered extremists’ calls for banishment of the sport–together present a very real threat that is still not adequately being dealt with. By using the 2019 Round Table’s list of speakers as a guide, it’s no secret that The Jockey Club sees the best path to long-term industry viability as going straight through the United States Congress. In addition to one agenda item specifically devoted to “The Case for the Horseracing Integrity Act,” three other hand-picked panelists made it a point Sunday to speak in favor of pending federal legislation to establish an independent anti-doping and medication control program. As per the custom of the Round Table format, there were no opportunities for audience members or journalists to ask the speakers questions during the event, thus no opposing viewpoints of HR 1754 were raised. The fact that The Jockey Club now contracts with a crisis management firm to help the industry deal with the aftermath of the Santa Anita emergency (and other equine welfare-related issues that pop up nationwide) speaks volumes about the need for stakeholders to not only come up with meaningful changes, but to be able to articulate them properly to the public. “Recognize that we can’t market or spin our way back to the public perception of eight months ago,” David Fuscus, a crisis communications specialist who is the president and chief executive for Xenophon Strategies, told the Round Table audience. “That is gone forever.” Fuscus, whose firm is being retained by The Jockey Club, added that “This story is not going away. We can’t wait it out. We can’t muddy the waters. This is the most critical time that American horse racing has ever experienced. And without better unity and action, this sport will be diminished, and in places it will cease to exist.” But, Fuscus added, “if we come together as an industry, negative perception can be turned. There is hope we can come through these dark days. But to do so, the public needs to understand what we are doing and believe we are on a path to success.” Fuscus said that since January, when the Santa Anita horse deaths began to mount, his firm tallied 20,000 news stories “on the industry and our troubles.” (TDN could not independently verify that figure). Over the past few weeks, Fuscus said, there has been “less event-based coverage now that the Santa Anita meet is done, but we’re seeing that coverage is evolving. We’re seeing less event-driven news coverage and the appearance of long-lead investigative pieces. These pieces are by high-quality journalists. And I can tell you, none of these stories are going to be flattering to the horse racing industry. “If we look at the key elements of crisis communications–engagement, transparency, responsibility, meaningful actions–we don’t score very well,” Fuscus said. He explained that although many stakeholders are engaged in coming up with solutions, the industry suffers because those efforts are not coordinated. “With fragmented efforts, the industry’s response is cloudy. There’s no unified narrative,” Fuscus said. “From the public’s perspective, there isn’t a clearly communicated fix or even consensus on the chief reasons for the spikes in the equine fatalities. We are a long, long way from meeting the first rule of crisis communications, which is ‘End it.'” Separately, for the past several years, The Jockey Club has sought help from outside of the racing industry by attempting to leverage relations with The Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) to work toward passage of HR 1754. Valerie Pringle, the campaign manager for equine protection within the HSUS, said that, “We are not one of the animal welfare crazies who is trying to shut you down. We want to work with you.” William Lear, Jr., a Kentucky-based equine law attorney who is The Jockey Club’s vice chair, spoke about The Jockey Club’s perspective on HR 1754. His most resonant comment about the need for reform happened during a digression, when Lear tried to get across an anecdote about how he believes the lack of a uniform drug policy is forcing some Thoroughbred breeders to consider leaving the business. “Within the last three weeks, I’ve had two separate conversations with longtime, successful breeders who are giving serious, serious thought to having to sell their farms if something doesn’t happen quickly and effectively soon,” Lear said. Widening the anti-doping lens to the international level, John Messara, the founder of Arrowfield Stud in Australia who has also served as chairman of the Australian Racing Board and other regulatory and marketing agencies in his country, predicted that passage of an overarching no-drugs law in U.S. racing “would unleash an economic monster” that could benefit the entire global bloodstock industry. “I think one of the benefits is going to be that the likes of myself would look at America again as somewhat of a [marketplace] for horses,” Messara said. “As it stands today, it’s difficult [for international buyers] to judge whether we should be buying a mare [because of whether or not she was] treated with Lasix [or other drugs]. So rather than get bitten by [not knowing what drugs might have been administered] we stay clear. The same is applied as far as stallions are concerned. America’s credibility as an international provider of bloodlines is low compared to what it could be.” Various versions of the federal bill backed by The Jockey Club have existed since 2015. GovTrack, a government transparency organization that uses logistic regression analysis to rank likelihood of passage, currently gives HR 1754 a 4% chance of being enacted. The bill’s sponsor, Rep. Paul Tonko (D-NY), was in attendance and was introduced to the Round Table audience, but he was not called upon to speak during the conference. Other Round Table topics that were discussed included updates on racing surfaces research, the pros and cons of alternate forms of stewards’ officiating, sports betting integration at racetracks, and new media and television initiatives. “Most of us will agree that there will be more changes in the next five years than we’ve seen in the last 50,” Janney said in summary remarks that closed the conference. The post Amid Welfare Crisis and Foal Crop Drop, Jockey Club Stresses Need for Unified Front appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Two trainers seemed to have lost their minds Saturday at Saratoga. The result? Two graded stakes wins. In an era in racing where trainers can’t space the races for their horses far enough apart, Mark Casse was setting himself up to look foolish when he dropped Got Stormy (Get Stormy) into the entry box for the GI Fourstardave H. It wasn’t just that he was running a filly against boys, he was running her back off one week’s rest. Seven days earlier, she had romped in the Fasig-Tipton De La Rose S. Most anyone else would have backed off and looked for a race five or six weeks down the road. But it was actually owner Gary Barber who had other ideas. The Fourstardave is a $500,0000, Grade I race and is a “Win and You’re In” race for the GI Breeders’ Cup Mile. The horse was not nominated for the race, so Barber had to pay a $7,500 supplementary fee to enter, but that was not nearly enough to discourage him. Casse didn’t really want to run. Barber did. “I said, ‘Honestly, I’ve never seen her train so good,'” Casse explained when asked what he told Barber prior to the race. “He said, ‘We’re running.’ I wish I could say I was the smart one, but it was Gary Barber. He’s not afraid to step out of the box.” Got Stormy won by 2 1/2 lengths, set a new course record (1:32) for the mile run over a firm turf course, made $275,000 and is now guaranteed a spot in the Breeders’ Cup Mile. That’s the same race that Casse also won with another filly, Tepin (Bernstein), in 2015. Got Stormy has a way to go before she can be compared to Tepin, but she took a huge step forward in her career Saturday. All thanks to an owner, and, in some small part, a trainer, who weren’t afraid to take a chance in a game where almost no one takes any chances anymore. Some 30 minutes earlier, a field of seven 2-year-olds went to the gate for the GII Saratoga Special S. Only one was not on Lasix, Green Light Go (Hard Spun). The 2-year-old is owned by Stronach Stables. Looking very much like a star in the making, Green Light Go won by 3 3/4 lengths. Trainer Jimmy Jerkens said that the Stronachs have told him not to run their first-time starters on Lasix. Other than that, he can do whatever he feels gives the horse the best chance to win. With Green Light Go, he saw no need to use Lasix for his second career start. “A lot of their horses ultimately run on Lasix, but I know deep down they’d rather they not run on it unless it is necessary,” Jerkens said. “With this horse, if it looked like there was a reason for it we would have used it. If he had actually ever bled, yes, we would have used it. They leave it up to me. If you have a horse that runs good without it, it has to help them overall. Bleeding is certainly no good. But if you don’t use Lasix there’s got to be a lot more left in the tank running without Lasix than with it. They think horses last longer and it’s better for them in the long run if they don’t run with it. You can’t argue with that.” Of the 95 horses that started at Saratoga Saturday, eight ran without Lasix and all were 2-year-olds. The non-Lasix angle produced another winner as the Christophe Clement-trained Decorated Invader (Declaration of War) won a maiden special weight race on the grass without Lasix. The Impact of the Saudi Cup? It will be interesting to see how the new $20 million race scheduled to be run Feb. 29 in Saudi Arabia will affect the schedules of America’s top horses. One possibility, and the best-case scenario for the sport, would be that it will lead to more horses staying in training rather than retiring to become stallions. Throw in the GI Pegasus World Cup and the G1 Dubai World Cup and there will now be $41 million in purse money available to a horse over just a two-month window. That’s a pretty strong incentive to stay in training. Anyone sweeping the three races would be more than well rewarded, but doing so would be a monumental task and many owners and trainers may choose not to bite off more than they can probably chew. Not only does it involve racing three times within two months, it would require an extraordinary amount of travel. Gulfstream Park is about 7,500 miles from Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Then you’d still have to get to Dubai, through that’s only about 535 miles from Saudi Arabia, and then head back to the U.S. The Pegasus will likely still get the horses who are scheduled to go off to stud, as the Jan. 25 date makes it possible to race one last time for big money before starting a career as a sire. But if someone is planning on keeping a horse in training, the Pegasus could be the odd race out. Not only does it have the smallest purse of the three races at $9 million, but anyone wanting to run has to pay $500,000 to earn a spot in the field. That’s not the case with the other two races. It might just be easier to pass the Pegasus, ship once to the Middle East, and run for a total of $32 million with the two races four weeks apart. If you’re going to go over for one, you might as well go for both. A Super Saturday for Chad Brown Four graded stakes at Arlington, three Grade I’s. He sweeps all four. Four straight GI Beverly D. winners. Three straight GI Arlington Million winners. Sorry, when it comes to his accomplishments I’ve simply run out of superlatives. Something to Add to the Jockey Club Round Table Agenda Though people get frustrated that after so many ideas are exchanged at the annual Jockey Club Round Table Conference nothing ever seems to get done, the annual gathering in Saratoga is a valuable resource for the sport and occasionally does move the needle in one direction or the other. On Sunday in Saratoga, the industry group tackled many of the most important issues facing the sport today, mainly horse safety and lessons in crisis management. The one thing the Round Table does not do enough of is look at issues that relate to the bettor, and there’s one out there that keeps popping up that leads people to question the integrity of the pari-mutuel system. XBTV’s Jeff Siegel tweeted last week about another one of those last-second, massive-odds drop on a winner. According to Siegel, when the horses were loading for Thursday’s fourth race at Del Mar, a horse named Zipper Mischief (Into Mischief) was 9-1. The horse won for fun and was, lo and behold, 5-1, when crossing the wire. As is usually the case when something like this happens, one of the computer “batch” bettors, who are able to bet a milli-second before the wagering closes and get huge rebates, likely believed–and was right–that Zipper Mischief was an overlay at 9-1. It’s understood that this is not fixed-odds betting, but the constant and significant odds changes that come in after 99.8% of the public has made their wagers have made it where you are betting without having any idea what the price on your horse is going to be. That’s a betting system people can’t trust and if people can’t trust the pari-mutuel system, they’re not going to bet anymore. You also have a situation where people are betting on winners and end up angry and feeling ripped off. Winning feels like losing. There’s got to be a better way, and the issue has been dealt with in other countries. Let’s hear what the experts have to say and why this is happening. This would be a perfect subject for the 2020 Round Table. The post The Week in Review: At Saratoga, So Much for Conventional Wisdom appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Consolidating a memorable spell for the Ger Lyons stable, Justifier (Ire) (Free Eagle {Ire}) who was his sire’s first winner at Leopardstown June 13 is now his first black-type scorer after this game effort in Sunday’s Listed Coolmore Caravaggio S. at Tipperary. Settled in a share of second early by Colin Keane, the chestnut was taken to the centre of the track after turning for home and had first run on Harpocrates (Ire) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}) there. Always doing enough to comfortably hold that Ballydoyle rival by 1 1/2 lengths, the 6-4 second favourite looks set for a step up to a mile now. “Colin said he is still green and handled the ground and will get a furlong extra no problem,” the trainer’s brother Shane told Irish Racing.com. “He has done what we’ve asked him there and will genuinely improve for stepping up and he is ticking all the right boxes at the minute. It is five weeks to the [G2 Champions] Juvenile Stakes [at Leopardstown] on Champions Weekend, but we’ll run wherever the race presents itself.” Justifier’s speedy dam Pale Orchid, who also has a yearling filly by Mehmas (Ire) and a filly foal by Galileo Gold (GB), is a daughter of Chelsea Rose (Ire) (Desert King {Ire}) who landed the G1 Moyglare Stud S. at two and was also runner-up in the G1 Pretty Polly S. Her progeny list is headed by last year’s G1 St Leger and G1 Grand Prix de Paris hero Kew Gardens (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) and the G3 Prix de Ris-Orangis winner and G1 Prix Maurice de Gheest runner-up Thawaany (Ire) (Tamayuz {GB}). Chelsea Rose is a half-sister to the Listed Amethyst S. winner and GIII Elkhorn S. runner-up European (Ire) (Great Commotion) and the dual listed-winning Downdraft (Ire) (Camelot {GB}). This is also the family of the G2 Prix Eugene Adam scorer and GI San Juan Capistrano H. runner-up River Warden (Riverman) and the GIII Hoist the Flag S. winner Sweettuc (Spectacular Bid). COOLMORE CARAVAGGIO S.-Listed, €52,500, Tipperary, 8-11, 2yo, 7f 115yT, 1:39.20, s/h. 1–JUSTIFIER (IRE), 129, c, 2, by Free Eagle (Ire) 1st Dam: Pale Orchid (Ire), by Invincible Spirit (Ire) 2nd Dam: Chelsea Rose (Ire), by Desert King (Ire) 3rd Dam: Cinnamon Rose, by Trempolino 1ST BLACK TYPE WIN. (€60,000 Ylg ’18 GOFOR). O-Sean Jones & David Spratt & Mrs Lynne Lyons; B-Tally Ho Stud (IRE); T-Ger Lyons; J-Colin Keane. €30,975. Lifetime Record: 2-2-0-0, $46,797. 2–Harpocrates (Ire), 129, c, 2, Invincible Spirit (Ire)–Ideal (GB), by Galileo (Ire). O-Michael Tabor & Derrick Smith & Mrs John Magnier; B-Coolmore (IRE); T-Aidan O’Brien. €9,975. 3–Rebel Tale, 129, c, 2, Tale of the Cat–Purr and Prowl, by Purim. ($37,000 Ylg ’18 KEESEP). O-P Garvey; B-Parrish Hill Farm & Ashford Stud (KY); T-Andrew Slattery. €4,725. Margins: 1HF, 3 3/4, 4 3/4. Odds: 1.50, 1.25, 10.00. Also Ran: Lougher (Ire), Cap d’Antibes (Ire). Scratched: Royal County Down (Ire), Vitalogy (GB). Click for the Racing Post result. Video, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton. The post Free Eagle Has His First Black-Type Winner At Tipperary appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Chad Brown pulled off a major hat trick at Arlington International Racecourse Aug. 10 when the country's leading turf horse Bricks and Mortar swept to his sixth consecutive victory in the Arlington Million XXXVII (G1T). View the full article

Sunday’s G1 Prix du Haras de Fresnay-le-Buffard Jacques le Marois looked perfectly teed-up for Robert Ng’s Romanised (Ire) (Holy Roman Emperor {Ire}) and last year’s G1 Irish 2000 Guineas hero was not fully extended to secure another major prize at Deauville. Ridden patiently in fifth by Billy Lee, the 4-1 shot cruised to Shaman (Ire) (Shamardal) approaching the furlong pole and readily asserted from there to beat that rival by 1 1/4 lengths, with Line of Duty (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) a nose back in third. Sunday, Deauville, France PRIX DU HARAS DE FRESNAY-LE-BUFFARD JACQUES LE MAROIS-G1, €1,000,000, Deauville, 8-11, 3yo/up, 8fT, 1:35.16, gd. 1–ROMANISED (IRE), 134, c, 4, by Holy Roman Emperor (Ire) 1st Dam: Romantic Venture (Ire), by Indian Ridge (Ire) 2nd Dam: Summer Trysting, by Alleged 3rd Dam: Seasonal Pickup, by The Minstrel O-Robert Ng; B-Mrs Monica Aherne (IRE); T-Ken Condon; J-Billy Lee. €571,400. Lifetime Record: G1SW-Ire & GSP-Eng, 14-4-1-0, €986,465. *1/2 to Rock of Romance (Ire) (Rock of Gibraltar {Ire}), GSW-Ity, SW & MGSP-Ger, $125,944; and Fictional Account (Ire) (Stravinsky), Hwt. Older Mare-Ire at 14f+, SW-Eng & Ire, SP-Aus, $178,094. Werk Nick Rating: B+. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree. 2–Shaman (Ire), 125, c, 3, Shamardal–Only Green (Ire), by Green Desert. O/B-Wertheimer & Frere (IRE); T-Carlos Laffon-Parias. €228,600. 3–Line of Duty (Ire), 125, c, 3, Galileo (Ire)–Jacqueline Quest (Ire), by Rock of Gibraltar (Ire). (400,000gns Ylg ’17 TATOCT). O-Godolphin; B-Triermore Stud (IRE); T-Charlie Appleby. €114,300. Margins: 1 1/4, NO, 1 1/4. Odds: 3.50, 3.70, 7.80. Also Ran: Watch Me (Fr), Graignes (Fr), Study of Man (Ire), Success Days (Ire), Vocal Music (Ire). Click for the Racing Post result or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. Video, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton. The post Easy For Holy Roman Emperor’s Romanised In the Jacques le Marois appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

One vendor will be making its Deauville debut at this weekend’s Arqana August Yearling Sale, while another is returning after a lengthy hiatus. The two operations, America’s Taylor Made Sales and France’s Haras de Gouffern, will team up to offer five colts under the banner Gouffern Taylor Made Sales. While the monikor is new, the business relationship between Jean-Pierre de Gaste’s Haras de Gouffern and the Taylor Brothers’ Taylor Made goes back almost 20 years to when de Gaste purchased the Group 2-placed Attractive Crown (Chief’s Crown) on behalf of Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan for $260,000 at the 2001 Keeneland November sale through his commercial arm International Thoroughbred Consultants. De Gaste and the Taylors soon struck up a friendship and a successful business association that saw de Gaste purchase numerous mares-as well as stallions-from Taylor Made for his main client base in the Middle East. De Gaste’s son Philippe, now the stud manager of Haras de Gouffern and Haras de Genevraye, Gouffern’s sister stud, even spent a stint at Taylor Made in Kentucky. Duncan Taylor, president and chief executive officer of Taylor Made Farm and the eldest of the four brothers who share responsibilities at the helm of Taylor Made, said that discussions began more recently with de Gaste about what more they could do in conjunction on an international level. “We had been working together for several years selling stallions to Saudi Arabia and different countries. And so, we started saying, ‘How could we do more together?'” Taylor explained. “At Taylor Made, we have a 20/20 vision where we’re trying to accomplish more on an international level. Jean-Pierre said he thought it could work, bringing some Kentucky-breds to France to sell and we could also have some European-breds.” De Gaste said the idea to join forces with a consignment was the brainchild of Gouffern and Genevraye’s Bloodstock Manager Alexandra Saint Martin, who joined the team four years ago after a stint as Arqana’s media and communications director. “Alexandra had the idea to try to build on our relationships and all the connections I have in the U.S.,” de Gaste explained. “She proposed to Duncan and I to create a consignment in Europe, because [overseas vendors] isn’t something that’s done very much with yearlings.” {"id":3,"instanceName":"Articles No Playlist","videos":[{"videoType":"HTML5","title":"Taylor Made Arqana","description":"","info":"","thumbImg":"","mp4":"https://player.vimeo.com/external/352529637.sd.mp4?s=65919c8053c7562597f6471f2e2471b2d2d6f920&profile_id=165","enable_mp4_download":"no","prerollAD":"yes","prerollGotoLink":"prerollGotoLink","preroll_mp4_title":"preroll_mp4_title","preroll_mp4":"https://player.vimeo.com/external/347498239.sd.mp4?s=24c030905d8027c06033a42c784ac1ab1f4b03f7&profile_id=165","prerollSkipTimer":"5","midrollAD":"no","midrollAD_displayTime":"midrollAD_displayTime","midrollGotoLink":"midrollGotoLink","midroll_mp4":"midroll_mp4","midrollSkipTimer":"midrollSkipTimer","postrollAD":"no","postrollGotoLink":"postrollGotoLink","postroll_mp4":"postroll_mp4","postrollSkipTimer":"postrollSkipTimer","popupAdShow":"no","popupImg":"popupImg","popupAdStartTime":"popupAdStartTime","popupAdEndTime":"popupAdEndTime","popupAdGoToLink":"popupAdGoToLink"}],"instanceTheme":"light","playerLayout":"fitToContainer","videoPlayerWidth":720,"videoPlayerHeight":405,"videoRatio":1.7777777777778,"videoRatioStretch":true,"videoPlayerShadow":"effect1","colorAccent":"#000000","posterImg":"","posterImgOnVideoFinish":"","logoShow":"No","logoPath":"","logoPosition":"bottom-right","logoClickable":"No","logoGoToLink":"","allowSkipAd":true,"advertisementTitle":"Ad","skipAdvertisementText":"Skip Ad","skipAdText":"You can skip this ad in","playBtnTooltipTxt":"Play","pauseBtnTooltipTxt":"Pause","rewindBtnTooltipTxt":"Rewind","downloadVideoBtnTooltipTxt":"Download video","qualityBtnOpenedTooltipTxt":"Close settings","qualityBtnClosedTooltipTxt":"Settings","muteBtnTooltipTxt":"Mute","unmuteBtnTooltipTxt":"Unmute","fullscreenBtnTooltipTxt":"Fullscreen","exitFullscreenBtnTooltipTxt":"Exit fullscreen","infoBtnTooltipTxt":"Show info","embedBtnTooltipTxt":"Embed","shareBtnTooltipTxt":"Share","volumeTooltipTxt":"Volume","playlistBtnClosedTooltipTxt":"Show playlist","playlistBtnOpenedTooltipTxt":"Hide playlist","facebookBtnTooltipTxt":"Share on Facebook","twitterBtnTooltipTxt":"Share on Twitter","googlePlusBtnTooltipTxt":"Share on Google+","lastBtnTooltipTxt":"Go to last video","firstBtnTooltipTxt":"Go to first video","nextBtnTooltipTxt":"Play next video","previousBtnTooltipTxt":"Play previous video","shuffleBtnOnTooltipTxt":"Shuffle on","shuffleBtnOffTooltipTxt":"Shuffle off","nowPlayingTooltipTxt":"NOW PLAYING","embedWindowTitle1":"SHARE THIS PLAYER:","embedWindowTitle2":"EMBED THIS VIDEO IN YOUR SITE:","embedWindowTitle3":"SHARE LINK TO THIS PLAYER:","lightBox":false,"lightBoxAutoplay":false,"lightBoxThumbnail":"","lightBoxThumbnailWidth":400,"lightBoxThumbnailHeight":220,"lightBoxCloseOnOutsideClick":true,"onFinish":"Play next video","autoplay":false,"loadRandomVideoOnStart":"No","shuffle":"No","playlist":"Off","playlistBehaviourOnPageload":"opened (default)","playlistScrollType":"light","preloadSelfHosted":"none","hideVideoSource":true,"showAllControls":true,"rightClickMenu":true,"autohideControls":2,"hideControlsOnMouseOut":"No","nowPlayingText":"Yes","infoShow":"No","shareShow":"No","facebookShow":"No","twitterShow":"No","mailShow":"No","facebookShareName":"","facebookShareLink":"","facebookShareDescription":"","facebookSharePicture":"","twitterText":"","twitterLink":"","twitterHashtags":"","twitterVia":"","googlePlus":"","embedShow":"No","embedCodeSrc":"","embedCodeW":720,"embedCodeH":405,"embedShareLink":"","youtubeControls":"custom controls","youtubeSkin":"dark","youtubeColor":"red","youtubeQuality":"default","youtubeShowRelatedVideos":"Yes","vimeoColor":"00adef","showGlobalPrerollAds":false,"globalPrerollAds":"url1;url2;url3;url4;url5","globalPrerollAdsSkipTimer":5,"globalPrerollAdsGotoLink":"","videoType":"HTML5 (self-hosted)","submit":"Save Changes","rootFolder":"http:\/\/wp.tdn.pmadv.com\/wp-content\/plugins\/Elite-video-player\/"} De Gaste also touched on the popularity of American-bred 2-year-olds at the breeze up sales, and the success they’ve gone on to have on the racetracks in Europe. “More and more American-bred 2-year-olds are being sent to Europe for the breeze-up sales, and American horses are doing fantastically in Europe,” he said. “There are not many consignments of yearlings from the U.S. in Europe, while the horses are running very well here. So we thought it was an idea to build on. If we take yearlings that suit Europe, horses by sires like Giant’s Causeway or Kitten’s Joy, I think those kinds of horses could be very attractive in the European market.” The first of the five Gouffern Taylor Made Sales colts to hit the ring will be a colt from the penultimate crop of the aforementioned Giant’s Causeway who will go through the ring early in the sale’s second session as lot 92. He and the Union Rags colt, set to be sold on Monday as lot 315, were offered up for the French experiment by an existing client of Taylor Made and sent from Kentucky over to Gouffern to prep for the sale a few months ago. The Giant’s Causeway colt is out of the Empire Maker mare Grey Lina, whose second foal is the U.S. listed winner Royal By Nature (Fr) (Myboycharlie {Ire}). Alexandra Saint Martin pointed out the while the colt is grey like Grey Lina’s maternal grandsire Linamix (Fr), he is more in the mould of Empire Maker. “He’s a tall horse and a great mover with a great temperament,” Saint Martin said. Union Rags is a name that will be much less familiar to the European audience, but he has established himself as an exciting young sire in America. A Grade I winner himself at two and victorious in the GI Belmont S. at three, the son of Dixie Union sits second among his sire crop by cumulative earnings. He has sired three 2-year-old Grade I winners from four crops of racing age in addition to the brilliant Paradise Woods, a dual Grade I winner at three. Union Rags’s Catalina Cruiser is knocking on the door of a Grade I win, having taken four Grade IIs including the July 20 San Diego H. Union Rags stood at Lane’s End Farm for $60,000 this year. Lot 315 is out of the listed-placed Palazzo Babe (Rahy), and de Gaste said he thinks the colt will appeal to the European market because he looks like his damsire, who is well known on the continent as the sire of Noverre, in turn the sire of leading French stallion Le Havre (Ire), and the damsire of Giant’s Causeway. The 2-year-old out of the mare, Constitutional Pal, is by Constitution, a son of Tapit who vaulted to the top of the American first-season sires’ table over the weekend when his unbeaten filly Amalfi Sunrise took the GII Sorrento S. at Del Mar. Constitutional Pal has yet to start but posted three works last month at Monmouth Park. Gouffern and Taylor Made were able to secure a first-crop colt by Gutaifan (Ire) privately after he was led out unsold at 26,000gns at Tattersalls last December, and that move has proven shrewd thanks to positive updates on both sides of the pedigree. Gutaifan has hit the ground running at stud and is Europe’s leading first-crop sire by winners with 14 while the female family features Japan (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), winner of the G1 Grand Prix de Paris since the catalogue was printed. The Gutaifan colt’s dam, Sakarya (Ire) (Duke of Marmalade {Ire}), is a three-quarter-sister to Japan’s dam Shastye (Ire) (Danehill), and the page also features the likes of G1 Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe winner Sagamix (Fr), G1 Criterium de Saint-Cloud victor Sagacity (Fr) (Highest Honor {Fr}) and G2 Middleton S. winner Secret Gesture (GB) (Galileo {Ire}). The colt’s 3-year-old half-brother Sound of Victory (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) could provide a last-minute update with an entry in the Aug. 17 G3 Prix Daphnis at Deauville. The Gutaifan colt will be the first horse through the ring on day three as lot 159. “He is a very, very strong colt, a good mover and a very correct horse,” said Saint Martin. Lot 184 is by first-crop sire The Gurkha (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), who will resonate with the French audience as the winner of the G1 Poule d’Essai des Poulains and the G1 Sussex S. He was bought by de Gaste’s International Thoroughbred Consultants for 40,000gns at Tattersalls December, and as Saint Martin explained he comes from a family that turns up stars of the European turf year after year. “The colt is out of Skimmia (GB) (Mark of Esteem {Ire}), who is a proven broodmare. She has produced two black-type horses and is a sister to 2017 G1 Melbourne Cup hero Rekindling (Ire) (High Chaparral {Ire}), and this is the fantastic family of Souk (Ire) (Ahonoora {GB}), who every year provides Group 1 horses. This year, for example, the family has produced Magic Wand (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), who was recently second in the G1 Pretty Polly S.; Channel (Ire) (Nathaniel {Ire}), who won the French Oaks, and Aspetar (Fr) (Al Kazeem {GB}), a Group 2 winner who was fourth in the G1 Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud recently.” Finally, lot 281 is a colt by Iffraaj (GB) out of the listed-placed Imperialistic Diva (Ire) (Haafhd {GB}) who was bought by ITC at Goffs November for €62,000. The colt is a half-brother to Queen of Bermuda (GB) (Exceed and Excel {Aus}), last year’s G3 Firth of Clyde S. winner who is now in training with Graham Motion. The 2-year-old out of the mare and full-sister to Queen of Bermuda, Mia Diva (GB), was bought by Phoenix Thoroughbreds for £70,000 from Goffs UK’s Premier Yearling Sale last summer and was a winner on her second start for trainer John Quinn since the catalogue was printed. “He’s very much a typical Iffraaj with a lovely head and, as we say in Europe, a lovely expression,” said de Gaste. “He’s built to be a miler. He’s a lovely looking horse.” For de Gaste, Arqana August will mark a return to the consigning ranks after a hiatus of around 20 years. He had been a prominent seller while focused on Haras de Genevraye, which has been in his family since 1453; he is the 21st generation of his family to run the estate, which sits on about 1300 acres in the Merlerault region. Since purchasing the 350-acre Gouffern in the nearby Pays d’Auge region, however, his focus has turned primarily to serving clients from the Middle East and their breeding interests. De Gaste’s main client is Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the Emir of Abu Dhabi and President of the UAE, who keeps around 200 mares with de Gaste under the moniker Al Asayl. Remember the aforementioned Attractive Crown, bought by de Gaste from Taylor Made? She produced the 2017 G1 Prix Vermeille winner Bateel (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) for Al Asayl. Taylor Made, meanwhile, is perennially among the leading sellers at all of America’s major yearling and breeding stock sales and has raised or consigned over 100 Grade I winners. Taylor Made was founded over 40 years ago and is today still run by brothers Duncan, Ben, Frank and Mark Taylor-sons of the late legendary Kentucky farm manager Joe Taylor-and their lifelong friend Pat Payne. Taylor Made also encompasses a stallion operation-its current flagbearer is California Chrome, and it was also home to the late Unbridled’s Song-and a boarding farm while also offering various investment opportunities at the yearling and racehorse levels. Taylor Made raised and sold last year’s Cartier Horse of the Year Roaring Lion (Kitten’s Joy) and was also the seller of Dayjur and Dancing Brave, as well as the dams of Giant’s Causeway, Lady Aurelia, Nathaniel (Ire) and Shamardal. In its first foray consigning in Europe, Taylor Made offered six mares at Tattersalls December last year, selling the likes of Midnight Crossing (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}) for 400,000gns and Glade (GB) (Bertolini) for 190,000gns. “We’re good horse people,” Duncan Taylor said when asked what the European market should know about Taylor Made. “We have core values. We put customer satisfaction as second to honesty, and we think that those are the two things that our father really put in the four brothers. You have to be honest, you have to do what you say you’re going to do, and you have to do the best you can raising a good horse and taking care of the horse. If you take care of the horse right, you’re taking care of the customer. People, when they deal with Taylor Made, they’re going to get a fair shake, and we’re always going to do the right thing for the customer.” De Gaste said it was, undoubtedly, these shared values that promoted the two operations to partner. “We have exactly the same integrity with the client,” he said. “This is the most important thing, and we’re devoted to the client to be able to provide them with the best services. Since we’ve been working with Taylor Made we have had a great relationship. Our aim was to start slowly and to build it step-by- step.” Taylor admitted that, despite the successes of horses like Roaring Lion, Lady Aurelia and Tepin in recent years, and the popularity of American-sired horses at the European breeze-ups, the interest from Americans in selling their yearlings in Deauville wasn’t quite what he had hoped. The consignment is smaller than anticipated, however, they have focused on quality and Taylor said he is pleased with the horses they have. He said an option next year could be to run a pinhooking partnership like they do in the American market. “We really didn’t accomplish, in the first year, everything that we would like to accomplish,” he said. “People were reluctant. We didn’t get a Kitten’s Joy to bring over, and I think with Roaring Lion being over there and being Horse of the Year last year, I think this would have been a great year to bring a Kitten’s Joy into that market. And, it would actually help the customer that owned the Kitten’s Joy-he wouldn’t be selling it against 50 other Kitten’s Joys in Deauville.” Taylor said, however, they are committed to the project long term. “It’s not a one-time thing,” he said. “We’re going to continue to do it. We wanted to make sure that our horses were nice horses in the first consignment, and we just didn’t want to be bringing a horse to bring a horse. We have five colts this year and they’re nice horses. We’re hoping they will sell well, that will kick us off, and then the idea will continue.” Saint Martin also expressed a long-term commitment to the project. “We are working very closely with Taylor Made to target the right pedigrees with European activity,” she said. “You want to find some European horses in the pedigree mated with good U.S. sires, and we are aiming at identifying these horses and convincing the breeders to bring them to Deauville to sell. There’s still a lot to do, but like we say, Rome wasn’t built in one day. It takes time.” The post Transatlantic Team To Sell At Arqana appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

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Tumbleweed (inner) completes an all-the-way victory at Ruakaka. Trainer Shaune Ritchie’s decision to base a number of the members of his Cambridge stable at Ruakaka over the past few weeks paid immediate dividends on Sunday when promising filly Tumbleweed led all the way over 1200m to break her maiden status. The Super Easy filly had looked to have plenty of potential when finishing second behind the ultra-impressive Annie’s Song at the venue back in mid-July, to cap off a two-year-old campaign that saw her also finish fifth in the Gr.3 Woburn Farm 2YO Classic (1200m) at New Plymouth. Rated beautifully by in-form apprentice Ashvin Goindasamy, Tumbleweed never gave her maiden rivals a look in as she bounced straight to the front from a midfield barrier and dictated throughout. Hotly challenged by the well-favoured Romantic Lady in the closing stages, Tumbleweed fought gamely to score by half a length with Lake Superior finishing off strongly to grab third. “She was a bit unlucky not to finish closer last time and the 1200m today suited,” Ritchie said. “She copped a couple of decent checks when she finsished second at her most recent start, so she deserved to get a clean run and I thought Ashvin did a good job. “The three-year-old fillies don’t have a great record against the older maidens at this time of the year so the three-kilo claim was a great help and he rode her with plenty of confidence. “She has been up here for a week or so and that experience also played in her favour as she had had a chance to gallop on the track and to familiarise herself with the surroundings.” Ritchie will now map out a programme for the well-related filly who hails from the family of Group One performers Gee I Jane, Katie Lee and Banchee. “I think at this stage she might be a notch below our best three-year-old fillies so we will just take her quietly through the grades,” he said. “With a bit of time and some more maturity on her I think she will be an ideal type to take down to the South Island for some of those races like the Gore Guineas (Listed, 1335m), so that’s the longer-term plan for her.” View the full article

Trainer Colin Little is looking forward to the return of Vassilator despite delaying the Group One placegetter’s season kick-off by a week. Little had Vassilator entered for the Aurie’s Star Handicap at Flemington on Saturday but has elected instead to start him in the Regal Roller Stakes (1200m) at Caulfield. Vassilator showed his promise as a two-year-old before chasing The Autumn Sun home in last year’s Caulfield Guineas. He failed to flatter in two autumn starts but pleased his trainer in a trial at Cranbourne last week, finishing third behind Causeway Girl and Extreme Bliss, showing Little he was ready for a good spring campaign. “He was very strong and he was very competitive over 800 metres against horses that have black-type form over 1000 and 1200 metres and he finished less than a length away from those horses,” Little said. “His action looked great off a really good spell and I thought he looked super in the trial.” Little reasoned another week of work would be beneficial for Vassilator allowing him extra time to work on the gelding’s head problem. Vassilator has been his own worst enemy by throwing his head around in his races and Little and his staff have worked hard to overcome the issue. “He jumped well but got his head up a bit in the first 100 metres in the trial but then he settled down quite well after that,” Little said. “There’s probably a little work to be done there as that’s his weakness. “When he starts tugging, he throws his head in the air and stops breathing and sometimes he can get run over when he does that. “He’s a good horse and we’re hopeful of getting his head down as we’ve done a lot of work with him.” To finalise his preparation for Saturday’s race at Caulfield, Little said Vassilator would either contest a jump-out on Tuesday morning or have a gallop on the course proper at Caulfield. View the full article

Trainer Shaune Ritchie’s decision to base a number of the members of his Cambridge stable at Ruakaka over the past few weeks paid immediate dividends on Sunday when promising filly Tumbleweed led all the way over 1200m to break her maiden status. The Super Easy filly had looked to have plenty of potential when finishing second behind the ultra-impressive Annie’s Song at the venue back in mid-July, to cap off a two-year-old campaign that saw her also finish fifth in the Gr.3 Woburn Farm 2YO C... View the full article

Trainer Colin Little is looking forward to the return of Vassilator despite delaying the Group One placegetter's season kick-off by a week. Little had Vassilator entered for the Aurie's Star Handicap at Flemington on Saturday but has elected instead to start him in the Regal Roller Stakes (1200m) at Caulfield. Vassilator showed his promise as a two-year-old before chasing The Autumn Sun home in last year's Caulfield Guineas. He failed to flatter in two autumn starts but pleased his trainer in a ... View the full article

Colonial Downs capped off its opening weekend with four stakes races carded Aug. 10 for Virginia-bred horses 3 years old and up on the Secretariat Turf Course. View the full article

The Water Hay Oats Alliance continued its support of the Horseracing Integrity Act Aug. 10 with a call from trainer members of the alliance, inviting other like-minded trainers to add their names to the WHOA roster. View the full article

In just the second start of his career, Collusion Illusion raced to a $17.40 upset over five rivals in the $200,351 Best Pal Stakes (G2) Aug. 10 at Del Mar. View the full article