Wandering Eyes

Horses' body weights August 11 View the full article

Early scratchings August 11 View the full article

Chad Brown pulled off a major hat track 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

Klaravich Stables and William Lawrence’s Bricks and Mortar (h, 5, Giant’s Causeway-Beyond the Waves, by Ocean Crest) continued his domination of the turf division, surging late to victory in the GI Arlington Million and giving trainer Chad Brown a hat trick of Grade I wins in Chicago Saturday. The 5-year-old, the 1-2 favorite, settled well back in the field as Bandua (The Factor) set all the pace. Trapped behind a wall of horses at the top of the lane, Bricks and Mortar found a seam to run through, shadowing the rally of Irish invader Magic Wand (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), who was first to overtake the pacesetter. But Bricks and Mortar was unleashing a devastating late kick to earn his fourth Grade I win of the year by 3/4 lengths. Magic Wand was second and Bandua was third. Lifetime Record: 12-10-0-2, $4,903,650. O-Klaravich Stables & William Lawrence. B-George Strawbridge Jr (Ky). T-Chad Brown. The post Bricks and Mortar Gives Brown the Arlington Hat Trick in Million appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Valid Point stepped from allowance company to the sport's top level Aug. 10, and remained undefeated with an impressive victory in the $500,000 Secretariat Stakes (G1T) at Arlington International Racecourse. View the full article

E Five Racing Thoroughbreds and Mike Ryan’s Valid Point (c, 3, Scat Daddy-Goldbud, by Buddha) gave trainer Chad Brown his second Grade I win on the card with a late-charging score in the GI Secretariat S. at Arlington Saturday. The 5-2 shot settled well off the pace as The Last Zip (City Zip) and Crafty Daddy (Scat Daddy) battled on the front end. Valid Point was tipped out to the center of the course at the top of the lane and rallied stoutly to win going away by one length. Van Beethoven (Scat Daddy) was second and The Last Zip held for third. Valid Point, sidelined by injury as a 2-year-old, debuted a winner at Gulfstream Park in February and was making his stakes debut off a June 7 optional claimer at Belmont Park. Lifetime Record: 3-3-0-0, $376,400. O-e Five Racing and Michael Ryan. B-Westwind Farms (Ky). T- Chad Brown. The post Valid Point Makes a Statement in Secretariat appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Peter Brant’s reigning Eclipse Award-winning turf distaffer Sistercharlie (Ire) (Myboycharlie {Ire}), sent off the prohibitive 2-5 chalk, made history Saturday at Arlington Park, becoming the first in the 30-year history of the GI Beverly D. S. to record multiple victories while easily establishing a new mark for 9 1/2 furlongs over a very firm turf course. It was the fifth consecutive win in the race for trainer Chad Brown–one of which came via DQ–and his sixth overall dating back to 2011 when Stacelita (Fr) (Monsun {Ger}) gave him his first. With stablemate and last year’s third placegetter Thais (Fr) (Rio de la Plata) signed on as her pacemaker, Sistercharlie had only top European 3-year-old filly Fleeting (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) behind as Thais opened up a sizable advantage, covering the opening quarter-mile in :22.76 and the half in an unsustainable :46.23. Thais carried that long lead into the far turn after six panels in 1:09.66, but in the meantime, John Velazquez had slipped Sistercharlie a bit of rein and they improved three wide into third on the swing for home. Shaken up only hands and heels as she quickly found top gear approaching the final furlong, Sistercharlie swooshed past her spent rabbit soon after and quickened clear. Awesometank (GB) (Intense Focus) raced closest to the runaway leader for the bulk of the race and could offer no resistance to Sistercharlie, but held for a valuble Grade I placing. Competitionofideas (Speightstown), inside the eventual winner, down the backstretch, followed her move into the stretch, but could do no better than third. Fleeting, runner-up to Star Catcher (GB) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) in the G2 Ribblesdale S. and in the G1 Darley Irish Oaks, came with a late rally from the tail to be fourth. A Group 3 winner and second in the G1 G1 Prix de Diane in 2017 while under the care of Henri-Alex Pantall, Sistercharlie was a four-time Grade I winner in 2018, following her half-length defeat of stablemate Fourstar Crook (Freud) in this event with a tough neck decision over Wild Illusion (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) in the GI Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf. Allowed to train on into a 5-year-old season, Sistercharlie prepped for this title defense with a 1 3/4-length defeat of ‘TDN Rising Star’ and fellow Brown trainee Rushing Fall (More Than Ready) in the GI Diana S. at Saratoga July 13. Pedigree Notes: One of four top-level winners–two each in the Northern and Southern Hemisphere–and one of two Beverly D. winners (Euro Charline {GB}) for her sire (by Danetime {Ire}), Sistercharlie is a half-sister to Sottsass, winner for Peter Brant’s White Birch Farm of this year’s G1 QIPCO Prix du Jockey Club (French Derby). Starlet’s Sister, a full-sister to French Group 3 winner Leo’s Starlet, is also a half-sister to SW & GI/G1SP Anabaa’s Creation (Ire) (Anabaa), dam of SW Create a Dream (Oasis Dream {GB}). Sistercharlie is a half-sister to the 2-year-old colt Radiant Child (Ire) (Charm Spirit {Ire}), purchased by Brant for €400,000 out of the 2018 Arqana August Yearling Sale, a yearling colt by Fastnet Rock (Aus) that is cataloged as lot 21 at Arqana next week and a filly foal by Dubawi (Ire). The post Twin Beverly D. Wins for Sistercharlie appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

After already accomplishing a repeat victory in the Diana Stakes (G1T) this year, Sistercharlie made history Aug. 10 at Arlington International Racecourse as the first two-time winner of the $600,000 Beverly D. Stakes (G1T). View the full article

Gary Barber and Southern Equine Stable's Got Stormy beat the boys Aug. 10 in the $500,000 Fourstardave Handicap (G1T) at Saratoga Race Course, and did so in remarkable fashion. View the full article

Gary Barber and Southern Equine Stables’s Got Stormy (f, 4, Get Stormy-Super Phoebe, by Malabar Gold), who trainer Mark Casse called his next Tepin, strode clear to a course-record setting victory over the boys in the GI Fourstardave H. at Saratoga Saturday. Coming back on just a week’s rest after winning the Aug. 3 De La Rose S., the chestnut filly settled off the pace as longshot Gidu (Ire) (Frankel {GB}) opened a clear lead through rapid splits of :22.66 and :44.61. As the pacesetter began to falter, Got Stormy was finding her best stride, gliding to the lead and pulling away to a three-length victory. She completed the mile in 1:32 flat to become the first female winner of the Fourstardave. Raging Bull (Dark Angel {Ire}) was second and favored Uni (GB) (More Than Ready) was third. Lifetime Record: 15-7-1-3, $785,078. O-Gary Barber & Southern Equine Stables. B-Mt Joy Stable, Pope and Marc McLean, et al. T-Mark Casse. The post Got Stormy Reigns in Fourstardave appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

With the marquee race of the meet, the $1-million GI TVG Pacific Classic just seven days down the road, a number of hopefuls for the 10-furlong feature got in their final serious works at Del Mar Saturday morning. Trainer John Sadler could send out as many as three runners in the Pacific Classic, including Campaign (Curlin), who will actually be cutting back in distance after annexing the GIII Cougar II H. over 12 furlongs July 24. With jockey Rafael Bejarano in the irons, Campaign was given 1:04 flat for five furlongs before galloping out three-quarters of a mile in 1:15.80. Higher Power (Medaglia d’Oro), a latest second as the favorite in the restricted Wickerr H. at a mile on turf July 21, covered six furlongs in 1:13.40. “An impressive work, [leading jockey Flavien] Prat was very happy with him,” Sadler said of the Higher Power exercise. “Campaign went a little slower but he finished up well and Bejarano was happy with him.” Hronis Racing’s Catalina Cruiser (Union Rags) made it two wins from as many starts when taking out the GII San Diego H. at a mile and a sixteenth July 20 and went five furlongs in 1:00 flat in splits of :24.40, :35.40 and :47.60 before galloping out six furlongs in 1:13 flat. Connections could yet bypass the Classic in favor of a title defense in the seven-furlong GII Pat O’Brien S., a “Win and You’re In” qualifier for the GI Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile. “Catalina Cruiser went really well and I’ll come out with what my plan is for him maybe tomorrow,” Sadler said. Pavel (Creative Cause), runner-up to the Sadler-trained Accelerate (Lookin At Lucky) in last year’s Classic, went a half-mile in :49.40 Saturday morning. Mario Gutierrez has the call on the well-traveld 5-year-old, a latest third to Preservationist (Arch), in the GII Suburban S. at Belmont July 6. “He galloped out with great energy and we’re very happy with him,” trainer Doug O’Neill said. Draft Pick, a son of 2003 Classic winner Candy Ride (Arg) and exiting a third to Catalina Cruiser in the San Diego, galloped five-eighths of a mile in 1:00.60 for trainer Peter Eurton. The post Del Mar Diary: Several Tune Up for Pacific Classic appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

GREEN LIGHT GO (c, 2, Hard Spun–Light Green, by Pleasantly Perfect), backed down to 3-2 favoritism off a 3 1/4-length debut score downstate July 4 that earned him a field’s best 84 Beyer Speed Figure, proved best of a promising group in Saturday’s GII Saratoga Special S. as he drew off emphatically by some five lengths. Racing without Lasix, the Stronach homebred was away second last and moved up to sit in fifth early as a hot pace developed. Saving all the ground tucked just behind the speed through :21.71 and :44.16 splits, he swung out heading for home and wore down pacesetter Tuggle (Point of Entry) before being geared down late and stopping the clock in 1:15.68. Second choice Noose (More Than Ready) rallied from far back to take place honors from Tuggle. Green Light Go had been further flattered when the runner-up from his unveiling, Another Miracle (American Pharoah), came back to score here July 24. He prepped for this with a pair of bullets at the Spa, including a :46 1/5 (1/26) move over the main track Aug. 6. Lifetime Record: 2-2-0-0. O-Stronach Stable. B-Adena Springs (Ky). T-James A Jerkens. The post Hard Spun Colt Impresses in Saratoga Special appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Zayat Stables’ Gozilla (c, 2, Flatter-Atlantic Dream, by Stormy Atlantic), the 3-5 favorite, skipped clear down the lane to score a front-running debut victory and earn the ‘TDN Rising Star’ tag. The chestnut colt hopped at the break, but recovered quickly to take the lead and cut out fractions of :22.46, :45.55 and :57.38 and sailed clear in the final furlong to score by six lengths, completing the six furlongs in 1:09.59. Ox Bridge (Oxbow) was second and Sprawl (City Zip) was third. Gozilla was a $150,000 Fasig-Tipton October yearling purchase and RNA’d for $395,000 at this year’s OBS April sale. Atlantic Dream is a full-sister to multiple graded stakes winner Icy Atlantic. Lifetime Record: 1-1-0-0, $54,000. O-Zayat Stables. B-Wildwood Farm & Indian Creek (Ky). T-Steve Asmussen. The post Flatter Colt Storms to Rising Star Debut appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Norman Weisbord, father of former TDN publisher Barry Weisbord and well-known to the racing industry through his role in the Matchmaker Breeders Exchange, died Saturday morning at his home in Tom’s River. He was 95. Norm and Gladys (Gottlieb) Weisbord were married for 70 years. Born in Philadelphia June 11, 1924, he was a World War II veteran who served in the Pacific theater, and followed his own father into the printing and stationery business after the war. For the bulk of his professional career, he ran the Plymouth Incorporated stationery business, which made and sold stationery for retail sale. He expanded the business into school supplies, and subsequently acquired the license to print school supplies for the Peanuts products. “My dad made stationery and school supplies running a business my grandfather started,” Barry Weisbord recalled. “I spent some time working there. After working on the racetrack one semester, Al Goldberg and I headed to Aqueduct to get jobs and learn. My father gave his blessing to us and informed Mr. Kelley we were `worth his attention.’ Dad knew nothing about the racetrack but ended up supporting us by visiting and coming racing often, and even owning some horses with his friends. We always felt his full support.” Years later, after he sold his business, he and Gladys spent time in Kentucky helping their son run Matchmaker. “We were young,” said Barry Weisbord, “and we needed some business acumen. He and my mom were only too happy to come and help.” “He got involved, and very happily,” said Gladys. “He loved meeting all of the new people in a new industry. What he brought was the ability to run a business, and run an office.” The couple had lived most of their lives in Bala Cynwyd, Pennsylvania, but when the American Championship Racing Series started in 1991, they relocated to New Jersey, again so that Norm could help out. In the early days of the TDN, he would often be found standing in front of the row of fax machines early in the morning making sure that people who hadn’t received a fax the night before got their “resend” in the morning. Weisbord became very involved in his Greenbriar Woodlands community in Tom’s River, and was elected as president of the men’s club and the camera club, and was very well known and respected in the community for his fairness and levelheadedness. Weisbord is survived by his son, Barry, daughter Ellen, wife Gladys and five grandchildren, including Brad Weisbord of BSW Bloodstock and Elite Sales, and one great-grandchild. He is predeceased by two days by his daughter Harriet, who passed away Thursday. The family will hold a graveside service Sunday at 2:30 p.m. at Roosevelt Memorial Park, 2701 Old Lincoln Highway in Trevose, PA. The post Norm Weisbord Passes at 95 appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Observations on the European Racing Scene turns the spotlight on the best European races of the day, highlighting well-pedigreed horses early in their careers, horses of note returning to action and young runners that achieved notable results in the sales ring. Today’s Observations features the debut of filly from the same family as Showcasing (GB). 2.00 Deauville, Debutantes, €27,000, 2yo, f, 6 1/2f (AWT) FEMINA (IRE) (Siyouni {Fr}) debuts for the Wertheimers and Carlos Laffon-Parias and is the latest progeny out of the G2 Prix de Malleret winner and G1 Prix de l’Opera third Legerete (Rahy) whose best so far is the multiple group-placed Pilote (Ire) (Pivotal {GB}). In opposition is Khalid Abdullah’s Silver Palm (GB) (Kendargent {Fr}), a Henri-Francois Devin trainee whose dam is a full-sister to the prominent sire Showcasing (GB). The post Observations: Aug. 11, 2019 appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Sponsored by Alex Nichols Agency 4th-Sar, $90k, Msw, 2yo, f, 6f, 3:42 p.m. ET MUNDAYE CALL (Into Mischief) was acquired by Larry Best’s OXO Equine for $950,000 at last year’s Fasig-Tipton Saratoga Select Sale. The blue-blooded filly hails from a deep family of Grade I winners, including the GI Belmont S.-winning siblings Jazil (Seeking the Gold) and Rags to Riches (A.P. Indy). The Don Chatlos pupil recorded a 1.00 3/5 (1/24) bullet drill out of the gate here at the Spa Aug. 4 (Click for XBTV Video) in preparation for her debut. Harlem Heights (Bernardini) will attempt to follow in the hoofprints of her highly esteemed siblings when she takes her place in the starting gate just to the inside of Mundaye Call. The Phipps colorbearer is a half-sister to multiple Grade I-winning turf star and sire Point of Entry (Dynaformer) and the ill-fated Grade I victress Pine Island (Arch). Trained by Hall of Famer Shug McGaughey, the bay has been breezing consistently over this surface, including a July 21 half-mile out the gate in company in :49 flat (32/101) (Click for XBTV Video). Trainer Bill Mott sends out Claiborne Farm and Adele Dilschneider’s homebred Plea (Lea) in this field of 10. The bay is out of the outstanding broodmare Praise (Mr. Prospector), the dam of prominent stallions Congrats (A.P. Indy) and Flatter (A.P. Indy). Praise is a half-sister to Grade I victor Eastern Echo (Damascus). Recent July 27 GII Jim Dandy S. winner Tax (Arch) and July 13 Grade II Delaware H. heroine Elate (Medaglia d’Oro) spring from this illustrious family as well. TJCIS PPs 4th-Dmr, $61k, Msw, 2yo, f, 5 1/2f, 6:30 p.m. ET A highly touted group of juvenile fillies will line up for the fourth event on Sunday’s Del Mar card. The impeccably bred AMERICA’S SURPRISE (American Pharoah) was snatched up by Phoenix Thoroughbreds for just $325,000 at last year’s Keeneland September Sale. She boasts the same trainer/rider connections of Jerry Hollendorfer and Mike Smith as her half-sister Songbird (Medaglia d’Oro), a dual Eclipse Award Champion and nine-time Grade I winner. Songbird was undefeated as a juvenile, capturing three consecutive races before capping her 2-year-old season with a tour-de-force victory in the 2015 GI Breeders Cup Juvenile Fillies. Inspiressa (The Big Beast) turned heads after a :20 4/5 quarter-mile breeze at this year’s OBS March sale and became the most expensive filly at the sale after fetching $850,000 from West Point Thoroughbreds and Anthony B. Sandbrook. The imposing filly has turned in several sharp workouts for trainer John Sadler over this track, including a bullet :35 1/5 (1/27) three-eighths out the gate July 18. Her dam Lucky Trip has produced an outstanding seven winners from seven runners to race. Breaking from the outside of Inspiressa is the Richard Mandella trained-Superstition (Ghostzapper). An $850,000 yearling purchase at the Keeneland September Sale, the dark bay is a full-sister to Grade III victress Gloryzapper and a half to graded stakes performer Banree (Macho Uno). She blitzed three-eighths out the gate in :36 1/5 (1/16) July 29 at this oval. TJCIS PPs The post August 11 Insights: Blue-Blooded Juvenile Fillies Debut at Del Mar, Saratoga appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

William and Corinne Heiligbrodt’s Tumbling Sky (c, 2, Competitive Edge-Tareks Dream, by Distorted Humor), a $200,000 FTMMAY juvenile purchase, attended a quick pace and had enough left late to graduate on debut Saturday at Saratoga. The 2-1 shot sat just off Irish Front (Summer Front) zipped through fractions of :21.84 and :44.94. Tumbling Sky took charge at the top of lane and, while Bellavia (Honor Code) gave chase late, he held on well to win by 1 1/2 lengths, completing the six furlongs in 1:09.86. Famished (Uncle Mo) closed for third. Favored Kittansett (American Pharoah) stalked in fourth while racing along the rail, before tiring down the lane. Tumbling Sky is the seventh winner, and second of the day, for his freshman sire (by Super Saver). Lifetime Record: 1-1-0-0, $54,000. O-Corinne & William Heiligbrodt. B-George E Bates Trustee (Ky). T-Steve Asmussen. The post Tumbling Sky Another Winner for Competitive Edge appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Hall of Fame jockey Julie Krone will be honored on TVG Pacific Classic day at Del Mar Aug. 17 when she will be presented with the prestigious Laffit Pincay, Jr. Award after taking part in a book signing of “One Sweet Ride,” written by her husband Jay Hovdey about her 2003 season at the seaside oval. That year featured her victory aboard Candy Ride (Arg) in the Classic. Krone, the only woman to have won a Triple Crown race and first woman to win a Breeders’ Cup race, will be joined for the book signing by Candy Ride’s part-owner Jenny Craig and Hall of Fame trainer Ron McAnally. Also in the gathering will be Hall of Fame riders Mike Smith, Kent Desormeaux, Alex Solis and Victor Espinoza. The Pincay Award goes annually to those who have served the sport “with integrity, extraordinary dedication, determination and distinction.” The post Krone to Be Double Honored Pacific Classic Day at Del Mar appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

The highlight of Deauville’s month-long meeting, Sunday’s G1 Prix du Haras de Fresnay-le-Buffard Jacques le Marois has welcomed a stronger group in the past and this below-par renewal offers ideal opportunity for Romanised (Ire) (Holy Roman Emperor {Ire}) to continue the overseas glut of success in France. Highly impressive when overcoming a pace bias to beat the seven-furlong specialist Hey Gaman (GB) (New Approach {Ire}) in The Curragh’s G2 Minstrel S. over that trip July 20, last year’s G1 Irish 2000 Guineas hero was previously an unlucky fourth in the G1 Queen Anne S. at Royal Ascot June 18. Romanised trainer’s Ken Condon is using Robert Ng’s smart veteran Success Days (Ire) (Jeremy) as a pacemaker to ensure the end-to-end gallop his Classic hero needs. “Hopefully there’ll be plenty of pace on, as I think it’s pretty obvious by now Romanised is at his best when there’s a good gallop,” he said. “Both horses seem well and Romanised has been running to a good level all year. He ran a good race in the Lockinge and ran well in Ascot, where he was maybe a bit unlucky. He didn’t get the splits when he needed them and he might have finished a little bit closer but for that. He backed that up with a very good performance over a fast-run seven furlongs at The Curragh. He won well in a good time that day and we’ve been very happy with him since.” Alexander Tamagni-Bodmer and Regula Vannod’s Watch Me (Fr) (Olympic Glory {Ire}) beat the G1 English and Irish 1000 Guineas heroine Hermosa (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) and Jubiloso (GB) (Shamardal) when causing an upset in the G1 Coronation S. at Royal Ascot June 21, but faces an altogether different test here. Trainer Francis-Henri Graffard commented, “Everything is good and I’m very pleased with the condition of the filly. We have had plenty of time since Ascot. She is taking on the older horses and the colts, so it should be an interesting race.” There seems little obvious reason why last year’s G1 Prix du Jockey Club hero Study of Man (Ire) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) should win a race of this nature over the track and trip at which he was a disappointing third in the July 21 G3 Prix Messidor, while Godolphin’s Line of Duty (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) needs to bounce back after a ninth in the G1 Epsom Derby at the start of June. The latter, who took the GI Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf and G3 Prix de Conde as a 2-year-old, is expected to be more effective back at this trip on rain-softened turf. “Line of Duty has won twice over a mile and hopefully there will be a bit of ease in the ground at Deauville,” trainer Charlie Appleby said. “He didn’t stay a mile and a half in the Derby and the ground was too quick for him as well. We have left the cheekpieces on to help him travel and are hoping that he can rekindle his 2-year-old form, which should see him make the places.” At Hoppegarten, the 129th G1 Longines Grosser Preis Von Baden plays host to a trio of fascinating 4-year-olds in Old Persian (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}), Communique (Ire) (Casamento {Ire}) and French King (GB) (French Fifteen {Fr}). The former holds sway on the basis of his Mar. 30 G1 Dubai Sheema Classic success and has been rested since flopping when seventh in the May 31 G1 Coronation Cup at Epsom. Charlie Appleby is hoping he has him right. “I think his victory in the Dubai Sheema Classic may have taken slightly more out of him that we thought at the time,” he explained. “We gave him a break after the Coronation Cup and, if he brings his A-game to the race, we feel that he will be the one to beat. He is a different horse compared to going into the Coronation Cup–he has been freshened up and looks different class now.” Communique, who confirmed his love of Newmarket with a game win in the G2 Princess of Wales’s S. there last time July 11, was fourth in the Coronation Cup and could be an improved performer in 2019. Charlie Johnston thinks that is the case. “The horse ran to a career best [at Newmarket] and if he can reproduce that effort, he will take a lot of beating,” he said. “We are not going to find a weaker group one at home, so we knew we would have to be prepared to travel. He is fairly versatile regarding ground, but we would rather it be better ground.” French King is on a roll, having annexed the Feb. 23 H H The Amir Trophy, Cologne’s G2 Gerling-Preis May 5 and Hamburg’s G2 Grosser Hansa Preis June 30. There are some interesting juvenile contests on the day, with Deauville’s supporting card including the seven-furlong Listed Prix Francois Boutin in which Andre Fabre saddles Susan Magnier, Michael Tabor and Derrick Smith’s June 12 Saint-Cloud and July 21 course winner Arapaho (Fr) (Lope de Vega {Ire}). At Tipperary, the Listed Coolmore Caravaggio S. over 7 1/2 furlongs sees Ballydoyle’s recent winners Harpocrates (Ire) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}) and Royal County Down (Ire) (Gleneagles {Ire}) take on a potentially smart pair of maiden winners in Vitalogy (GB) (No Nay Never) from the Joseph O’Brien stable and Justifier (Ire) (Free Eagle {Ire}) who hails from the Ger Lyons yard. Click here for Sunday’s group fields. The post Romanised Faces Jacques Le Marois Test appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

The Thoroughbred industry is one of the ways to own a piece of sports. For those of us who enjoy competition but cannot afford the “billion-dollar price tag” associated with the New York Yankees or Dallas Cowboys, “the sport of kings” provides an opportunity to participate in sports at the highest levels. Due to a multiple number of variables, it is considered to be a challenging and arduous business. Even the IRS considers this activity as an “uphill battle” and, therefore, regulates it under a unique set of rules and codes. One example is the way the IRS extends the time horizon for profitability. The unique rule variations for our industry provide a more lenient landscape to prove that a) your racing and/or breeding operations are “for profit” and b) that you are taking the required steps to provide yourself with the opportunity to accomplish a profit motive. There are two safe-harbor rules for determining if you have a for-profit business. Normal Rule. An activity is presumed to be a for-profit business if it produces positive taxable income (revenues in excess of deductions) for at least three out of every five years. Losses from the other years can be deducted because they are considered to be business losses as opposed to hobby losses. Special Rule. Specifically for the horse industry includes that horse racing, breeding, training or showing activities are presumed to be for-profit business if they produce positive taxable income in two out of every seven years. Taxpayers who can plan ahead to qualify for these safe-harbor rules earn the right to deduct their losses against their earned income from outside sources during unprofitable years. Intent To Make Profit Even if you cannot qualify for one of the aforementioned safe-harbor rules, you may still be able to treat the activity as a for-profit business and rightfully deduct the losses. Basically, you must demonstrate an honest intent to make a profit. Factors that can prove (or disprove) such intent include: Conducting the activity in a business-like manner by keeping good records and searching for profit-making strategies. Having a business plan in place would reinforce the profit-making objective. Spending enough time at your craft to prove that the activity is a business, and not a hobby. This includes the “500-hour test,” which represents the minimum amount of time devoted to the business during the course of one calendar year. Some items which qualify toward the test and have historically passed IRS scrutiny include: 1. Discussions with trainers, jockeys and other industry-related professionals (i.e. phone calls, texts, emails and meetings). 2. Attendance at races and other industry-related activities. 3. Attendance at horse sales. 4. Licensing and regulatory requirements. 5. Reading trade publications. 6. All other work done in connection with the business (this is a “catch-all” item that basically equates to any other items not previously listed). In order to best provide evidence of the above, we recommend that you annually provide your tax preparer with your horse-related electronic calendars. This should include attended races, meetings, sales, etc. The expectation of asset appreciation (this is why the IRS will almost never claim that owning rental real estate is a hobby even when tax losses are incurred for many years). Providing the IRS with proof of expertise and/or hiring a third-party service (i.e. attorney, accountant, bookkeeper, etc.) with years of experience working within the equine field. Evidence of such will add tremendous weight in circumstances such as an audit. Testament of success in other ventures will aid in indicating business acumen. The history and magnitude of income and losses from the activity. Occasional large profits hold more weight than frequent small profits. Losses caused by unusual events or bad luck are more justifiable than ongoing losses that only a hobbyist would be willing to accept. Your financial status–the higher your net worth, the more likely you can afford to absorb ongoing losses (which may indicate a hobby). Elements of personal pleasure–attending stakes races is usually more fun than digging post holes for fences. However, the IRS is far more likely to claim the former is a hobby if losses start showing up on your tax returns. Bottom Line As an active member in the Thoroughbred industry, you are well aware of how difficult it is to be profitable. Thankfully the IRS also understands the difficulty of normal profitability standards. When you invest in the stock market, you rarely have to worry if General Mills had a bout with colic the night before a big event. However, when investing in delicate athletes, like Thoroughbreds, you are constantly worried about a plethora of factors. This can include their overall health, the track conditions, if they break from the gate alertly, if your yearling vetted out before a sale, if your mare carried her pregnancy full-term and countless other variables completely out of your control. Nonetheless, what is in your control, are following some of the above-mentioned guidelines to prove your intention for profit. It is in your best interest to attend sales, meet with your trainer regularly, talk sale strategy with your consignor and most importantly surround yourself with experts in the industry who have successful racing and breeding operations. We hope you enjoyed this month’s article and, as always, please feel free to call The Green Group and speak to one of our equine tax experts. Remember to mention TDN and receive your first one-hour consultation for free! The post Proven Strategies: “Hobby” is a Four-Letter Word appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

SARATOGA SPRINGS, NY – Action returns to the Humphrey S. Finney Pavilion Sunday evening with the first of two sessions of the Fasig-Tipton New York-Bred Yearlings Sale in Saratoga. The auction, which gets underway at 7 p.m., comes four days after Fasig-Tipton’s record-setting Saratoga Select Sale, and will look to follow up on back-to-back record-setting renewals of its own. The New York sale set highwater mares for gross, median and average, as well as top price, in both 2017 and 2018 as the state’s breeders, supported by high purses and breeders incentives awards, continue to improve the quality of their stock. “This is definitely the best group we’ve ever brought here,” Derek MacKenzie said as he oversaw his 18-horse Vinery Sales consignment Saturday morning. “I say that every year and every year it’s true. The New York-breds have gotten better. Every breeder in New York has stepped their game up every year. I’m guessing it’s the hardest sale to get into, so if you don’t get the product that’s good enough, you don’t get in. Everybody wants to get in this sale because it is a great market here.” Chad Summers, who trained the New York-bred two-time G1 Dubai Golden Shaheen winner Mind Your Biscuits (Posse), was busy shopping at the Fasig sales grounds Sunday and agreed with MacKenzie’s assessment. “To get into this sale, you have to have strength in pedigree,” Summers said. “This sale has changed over the last five or six years. It used to be, if you had a good individual, you were set. Now, not only do you have to have a good individual, but you have to have pedigree power behind it. Because every year there are probably 300 or 400 New York-breds who get rejected from this sale. This sale has gone from being a New York-bred sale after the premier sale to being a boutique, premier sale. That’s why the averages are what they are and why you have to bring the right horses here.” The New York-bred sale has traditionally begun the Saturday following the select sale, leaving just one full day of showing. With the auction beginning Sunday this year, the action at the sales barns wasn’t quite as frenetic, but consignors were still kept busy. “We showed 18 horses 775 times [Friday],” MacKenzie said. “I like the format that they moved it back one day. I think it takes a little of the pressure off, so we might not have been as busy as we have in years’ past, but I think that’s a good thing. It’s been steady today, but not crazy and we’re seeing a lot of second and third looks already, so probably most of the buyers have gotten through most consignments.” At last year’s New York-bred Sale, 172 yearlings grossed $18,492,000 for an average of $107,512 and a median of $76,000. A colt by Pioneerof the Nile became the auction’s highest-priced graduate when selling for $600,000. Following its Sunday session, the New York-bred sales continues Monday with bidding beginning at noon. Shelli Brings the Youth to New York Sale Chris Shelli, who returned to his home state to set up shop in 2003, has had a front row seat to the continuing evolution of the New York breeding program and his Fort Christopher’s Thoroughbreds will offer 16 yearlings at this year’s Fasig-Tipton New York-bred Sale. The group, which is peppered with a plethora of first-crop sires, features a pair of colts by Frosted, who was represented by the highest-priced yearling by a first-crop sire this year when his daughter sold for $850,000 during Tuesday’s second session of the Select Sale. “They are both very different, but both have depth of pedigree,” Shelli said of the two colts. “They’ve been very popular and we are happy with both of them.” Fort Christopher’s first offering by Frosted is hip 369. Out of Boston Lady (Boston Harbor), the yearling is a half-brother to Grade I placed Normandy Invasion (Tapit), as well as to the dam of graded winner Quip (Distorted Humor). Out of Maggie’s Storm (Stormy Atlantic), hip 503 is a half-brother to Grade I winner Comma to the Top (Bwana Charlie). Frosted has had 11 yearlings sell this year for a first-crop leading average of $319,545. He is followed by Runhappy, whose eight have sold for an average of $275,875; and Nyquist, with 11 sold for an average of $275,000. Fort Christopher offers a son of GI Kentucky Derby winner Nyquist (hip 335), who is out of Yanquee Reign (Yankee Victor) and is a half to multiple Grade I winner Melatonin (Kodiak Kowboy), as well as a colt by sprint champion Runhappy (hip 393), who is a half to graded placed Scaramagna (Speightstown). The consignment also includes yearlings by first-crop sires Brody’s Cause (hip 395); Not This Time (hip 431); and Laoban (hip 439). “I think people are interested and excited to see the first-crop sires and what they are producing,” Shelli said. “So that was part of our design in bringing some of those horses here.” The Fort Christopher consignment also includes a son of Palace Malice (hip 420). The GI Belmont S. winner is represented by his first crop of 2-year-olds this year and already has a stakes winner to his credit. Shelli expects to see continued growth in the New York sale. “For us the biggest thing about participating in the New York program is the purses,” he explained. “It starts with the track and the breeders’ rewards. And with the breeders’ rewards and the purse structure currently in place, I think there is room for more growth and more potential as the purses increase consistently each year.” The post F-T New York-Bred Sale Starts Sunday appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

As the yearling sales season gets underway there will doubtless be breeders who end up taking yearlings home with them, but they may take some comfort from one of this season’s feel-good stories. If things had gone to plan last September, the G3 Markel Insurance Molecomb S. winner Liberty Beach (GB) would have been racing in colours other than those of her breeder, Philip Wilkins. Plan A for this first-crop daughter of Cable Bay (Ire) was her first public outing at the Tattersalls Ascot Yearling Sale. But when no bidder came forward at a suitable level, Wilkins bought her in at £16,000 and sent her back to Mickley Stud where she had been born. Plan B has been highly successful. Since being put into training by Wilkins with John Quinn, and in only three short months since she made her debut, Liberty Beach is now a four-time winner with two stakes victories to her name. She heads next to the G2 Sky Bet Lowther S. at York’s Ebor meeting. “I hadn’t expected this at all,” says Wilkins, who bought Liberty Beach’s dam, the Southwell maiden winner Flirtinaskirt (GB) (Avonbridge {GB}), as a yearling with trainer Ed McMahon eight years ago for £11,000. “I didn’t start breeding until Flirtinaskirt was retired. I was just hoping to be able to get back into racing. We know there’s some talent in the pedigree but I never dreamed she would be as successful as this, certainly not straightaway.” He continues. “I’ve been involved in racing horses since about 2004 but I’d never really had a great deal of success with horses racing beyond the age of four. I just seemed to have injury problems with every single horse and then I lost a horse who had cost a lot of money in my eyes. “Ed McMahon’s wife Rachel felt that Flirtinaskirt would make a good mother and I thought, ‘well why not?’ I’d met Richard Kent in Newmarket when I’d been at the sales and decided to send her to Mickley Stud, where she was covered by Heeraat (Ire).” Flirtinaskirt’s first foal by the Mickley Stud stallion was born prematurely and, according to her breeder, lacked strength. Named Tease Maid (GB), she too is in training with Quinn and has been placed once but has had to play second fiddle to her year-younger sister. “Alastair Nicholson gave us some mating advice for the mare,” Wilkins explains. “The first three stallions he suggested for her were well beyond the budget and the fourth on the list was Cable Bay, so he was within budget and we sent her off to him. The rest is history.” In a family which boasts plenty of fillies, there is another to follow from Flirtinaskirt, a first-crop daughter of Mehmas (Ire). She lost her foal this year and is now in foal to Mickley Stud’s new stallion Massaat (Ire). “Her Mehmas half-sister is a cracker to look at and they’re chalk and cheese really, but Liberty Beach has a real engine,” says the breeder. “I could have another one on my hands with her but then I might not, but that doesn’t matter, I’m just going to enjoy it. The whole family is really enjoying this, we’re in another world.” And Wilkins is not about to allow the fun to stop any time soon. Predictably, a number of agents have signalled their interest, not just in Liberty Beach but in her dam, too. But each has been rebuffed with the simple message, ‘not for sale’. Similarly, the Mehmas filly will not be sent to a yearling sale. He says, “We had quite an unbelievable offer for Liberty Beach and after that was turned down Richard has fended everyone else off. We had our own business which has now been handed down to the children, but I was able to take a sum of money out of the business and with that we’re comfortable. We would rather have the excitement in our retirement of going racing and having a racehorse who is successful. You can go to try to buy them at the sales, but as we’ve already experienced, it doesn’t always work out.” With their son Scott now at the helm of the family company Hexis UK, Wilkins and his wife Barbara, who live in Lichfield, Staffordshire, have more time to visit their fledgling breeding operation at Mickley Stud. They keep two mares with Richard Kent, whom the Wilkins credits with much of the success. “Richard is such a nice guy and has done so much to help me,” he says. “I can’t think of anyone who knows more about horses than he does. When Flirtinaskirt lost her foal this year, Richard and Claire were out having a meal for Claire’s birthday. He got a phone call and dropped everything in the middle of his meal to rush back and look after the mare. He just left the table and I love that sort of attitude. I’ve employed many people in the past and you don’t often find people with that level of dedication.” He adds, “The mare has gone back in foal and we are keeping our fingers crossed that she carries this one without any problems, and then we’ll probably put her to something a little bit more serious. If she has problems foaling this year I won’t cover her again. I have Tease Maid and we might even send her to Cable Bay. That’s the thing about breeding—it’s a complete unknown quantity and you don’t know what you’re going to get, but at the moment I feel like I’ve won the lottery.” Three generations of the Wilkins family will be at York on Aug. 22, including Philip and Barbara’s four-year-old grand-daughter, who will be making her first trip to the races to cheer on Liberty Beach as she takes her next step up the ladder. “She has that real burst of speed and it will take a good horse to beat her,” Wilkins says. “It was her Sandown run that made me realise I really had a racehorse. Up until then I’d been pinching myself and I kept thinking that the bubble was going to burst any time, that something was bound to go wrong. I’d never had a first-time out winner, which she was, and then she won the Hillary Needler on her second start and that has been a listed race in the past. She went so well at Royal Ascot [when fourth in the Queen Mary] and if we had had the luck of the draw, maybe we could nearly have got there, there’s no way to tell of course. She wants to run and that’s what’s so wonderful about her, she doesn’t need any persuading.” Looking ahead, Wilkins has one more race in mind for his star filly before the end of the season, with the G1 Cheveley Park S. a potential target if all goes well in the Lowther. “It would be a bit like having a bronze, silver and gold medal if she could do that. Then she would have a holiday,” he says. The only problem Liberty Beach has provided her breeder with to date is finding the space to display her trophy haul, especially once he had made his firm decision to continue to ignore all offers to lure her away. “I’m getting so much enjoyment out of it I just don’t want to sell,” he says emphatically. “The day will come when I will have to sell some of the family but at least we’re improving the pedigree and she has some nice black type there now. I don’t really like the way people come in and try to buy their way into other people’s success. I’ve been fortunate: it’s not a business for me, so I don’t have to rely on selling. I don’t want a helicopter, I don’t want a plane, I don’t want a boat. We’re quite happy where we are, doing what we’re doing. My wife doesn’t want to leave our home to live in a mansion, so what’s the point of putting lots of money in the bank? We will keep racing the filly.” With such an admirable approach to a sport in which the sheer fun of it can sometimes be overtaken by more pecuniary matters, it’s hard not to hope that Wilkins continues to enjoy a joyful summer on Liberty Beach. The post Liberty Not For The Taking appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Team Rest of the World-comprised of Japan’s Yuga Kawada, Hong Kong’s Vincent Ho and Australia’s Mark Zahra-accumulated 86 points throughout six races at Ascot on Saturday to take the Shergar Cup jockeys’ team competition. All three were riding in the Shergar Cup for the first time. The joint runners-up were Europe and The Girls on 63 points. “I didn’t have a great day myself, but my other [team] members were very successful today and rode very well winning a race each,” said team captain Kawada. “I came here last year during a trip to England and it has been great to catch up with people I met last year. It has been good to meet new people–it has been a fun day. It has been a great atmosphere, a great result and I am thrilled to have been the captain. I hope I can come back next year.” Zahra was awarded the Dubai Duty Free Ride of the Day for his victory aboard Indianapolis (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) in the Dubai Duty Free Shergar Cup Challenge. “It is a real thrill to get the award of the Dubai Duty Free Ride of the Day,” Zahra said. “To be honest, I had never ridden at the track and you can only walk up the straight and back. I thought that for the first couple of races I could sit at the back a little and let it all unfold on horses I don’t know much about. On Indianapolis I got there in the nick of time and it all went good.” While The Girls could not defend their team title from last year, team captain Hayley Turn retained the Silver Saddle award for leading rider at the meeting, becoming the first rider to earn that honor in back-to-back years. Two wins and a second in the day’s final race put her at 40 points, five clear of Zahra. “I can’t believe I won the Silver Saddle again,” Turner said. “It’s a massive thrill–this event means so much to me. I really enjoy it and it’s great because all my family are here as well. “Even though the other girls [Jamie Kah and Nanako Fujita] didn’t ride a winner, they will have gained lots of experience from riding here and they’ve both enjoyed it. And it’s brilliant that our team finished joint-second as well. I’m definitely going to celebrate this evening. I’d like to think that’s bagged me a spot here for next year.” The post Rest of the World Wins Shergar Cup appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Fifth but unlucky not to finish closer in the Listed Star S. last time, Alan Spence’s West End Girl (GB) (Golden Horn {GB}) applied the building block to up her game and conquer Newmarket’s G3 German-thoroughbred.com Sweet Solera S. on Saturday. Badly hampered late and around two lengths behind stablemate Walk In Marrakesh (Ire) (Siyouni {Fr}) in that Sandown encounter which took place in soaring temperatures July 25, the bay had provided her sire with his first winner on debut at Haydock July 5. In front from the outset, the 11-2 shot was tackled and headed by the smooth-travelling Dark Lady (GB) (Dark Angel {Ire}) a furlong out before it became physical as they bumped together. Finishing off strongly to win that war of attrition on the uphill climb, West End Girl had 1 1/4 lengths to spare over the staying-on Soffika (Ire) (Zoffany {Ire}) at the line with TDN Rising Star and 11-4 favourite Ultra Violet (GB) (Gleneagles {Ire}) fading disappointingly to last after racing far too freely. Trainer Mark Johnston’s son and assistant Charlie had one target in mind for the winner immediately afterwards. “The [G2] May Hill [at Doncaster Sept. 12] is the obvious race for her and I was thinking that as soon as she crossed the line,” he said. “I thought she was in trouble at the two pole, but she was doing her best work in the last 100 yards and the mile will suit her there. We had left Sandown obviously quite pleased with the result, but also knowing that this filly had shown huge promise in defeat. She could even have won that with a clear passage and this more galloping track was going to suit her. She tended to lug left there and I don’t know what that was about, but it was a pleasing performance.” West End Girl, who now is the first black-type winner for her G1 Epsom Derby, G1 Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe and G1 Eclipse-winning sire, is out of a half-sister to the G1 Middle Park S., G1 Prix Morny and G2 Norfolk S. winner Reckless Abandon (GB) (Exchange Rate) and the stakes-winning and G2 Hai Aoba Sho runner-up Best Approach (GB) (New Approach {Ire}). This is the family of the G1 Racing Post Trophy winner Crowded House (GB) (Rainbow Quest), the GI American Oaks Invitational and GI Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup heroine Ticker Tape (GB) (Royal Applause {GB}) and the G1 Prix Maurice de Gheest hero Brando (GB) (Pivotal {GB}). Free Rein (GB) (Dansili {GB}) also has a yearling filly by Lope de Vega (Ire) and a colt foal by Acclamation (GB). Saturday, Newmarket, Britain GERMAN-THOROUGHBRED.COM SWEET SOLERA S.-G3, £50,000, Newmarket, 8-10, 2yo, f, 7fT, 1:25.32, g/f. 1–WEST END GIRL (GB), 126, f, 2, by Golden Horn (GB) 1st Dam: Free Rein (GB), by Dansili (GB) 2nd Dam: Sant Elena (GB), by Efisio (GB) 3rd Dam: Argent du Bois, by Silver Hawk 1ST BLACK-TYPE WIN; 1ST GROUP WIN. (95,000gns Ylg ’18 TAOCT). O-A D Spence & M B Spence; B-Car Colston Hall Stud (GB); T-Mark Johnston; J-Francis Norton. £28,355. Lifetime Record: 3-2-0-0, $44,355. Werk Nick Rating: B+. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree. 2–Soffika (Ire), 126, f, 2, Zoffany (Ire)–Rosika (GB), by Sakhee. O-Sir Evelyn de Rothschild; B-Southcourt Stud (IRE); T-Sir Michael Stoute. £10,750. 3–Dark Lady (GB), 126, f, 2, Dark Angel (Ire)–Ladyship (GB), by Oasis Dream (GB). O/B-Cheveley Park Stud Ltd (GB); T-Richard Hannon. £5,380. Margins: 1 1/4, HF, 1. Odds: 5.50, 4.50, 8.00. Also Ran: Romsey (GB), Ananya (GB), Dalanijujo (Ire), Light Blush (Ire), Ultra Violet (GB). Scratched: Diamond Sparkles. Click for the Racing Post result or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. Video, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton. The post First Black-Type Winner For Golden Horn In the Sweet Solera appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Multiple Group 1 winner and perennial leading Japanese sire King Kamehameha (Jpn) (Kingmambo-Manfath {Ire}, by Last Tycoon {Ire}), who was recently pensioned at Shadai Stallion Station, has died aged 18. King Kamehameha was bred by Northern Farm and raced by Makoto Kaneko. Kaneko also campaigned Deep Impact (Jpn), who died just weeks ago following spinal surgery. King Kamehameha is out Manfath, who raced in Britain for Sheikh Hamdan but failed to find the winner’s enclosure in seven outings. Manfath was offloaded for 4,200gns at the 1994 Tattersalls December Mares Sale, and proved to be an incredible bargain when her first live foal, The Deputy (Ire) (Petardia {GB}), went on to win the GI Santa Anita Derby in 2000. Manfath, by that point, had already been expatriated to the U.S., and she was sold to Katsumi Yoshida at Keeneland November in 2000 carrying King Kamehameha for $650,000. King Kamehameha won seven of his eight starts over the 2003/2004 seasons. Unbeaten in two outings at two, he finished third on his 3-year-old debut but would not lose again. He won the G1 NHK Mile Cup by five lengths in early May and three weeks later stepped up to a mile and a half to win the G1 Tokyo Yushun (Japanese Derby), opening Kaneko’s Derby double that would be completed by Deep Impact the following season. King Kamehameha ran just once more, winning the G2 Kobe Shimbun Hai in September before retiring to stud. Just as he had done on the track, King Kamehameha hit the ground running in his second career, earning the title of champion sire of 2-year-olds in his first two years with runners. In 2010, when his first crop was four, he earned his first of two consecutive champion sire titles. Were it not for Deep Impact coming along with his first runners in 2010, King Kamehameha would have taken nine straight sire championships; he was second to his barnmate annually from 2012 through 2018, and at the time of his death he sat fifth on the 2019 sires’ table, with his books having been limited to 100 mares or fewer from 2014 onwards. King Kamehameha made his presence fully known with his second crop, which yielded the fillies’ Triple Crown winner Apapane (Jpn), the G1 QEII Cup victor Rulership (Jpn), and G1 Japan Cup winner Rose Kingdom (Jpn). King Kamehameha’s highest earner and heir apparent Lord Kanaloa (Jpn) came along in his third crop, and he was named Japan’s champion sprinter/miler and Horse of the Year off an incredible six Group 1 wins, including two editions of the G1 Longines Hong Kong Sprint and the G1 Yasuda Kinen. Rulership and Lord Kanaloa will ensure that King Kamehameha’s legacy lives on. Rulership was champion first-season sire in Japan in 2016 and his first-crop son Kiseki (Jpn) won the 2017 G1 Kikuka Sho. Lord Kanaloa followed up as champion first-season sire in 2017 and he has not yet slowed down; his flagbearers include Japan’s 2018 Horse of the Year and globetrotting Group 1 winner Almond Eye (Jpn), G1 Satsuki Sho (Japanese 2000 Guineas), G1 Hopeful S. winner Saturnalia (Jpn) and G1 Mile Championship victor Stelvio (Jpn). Also standing alongside that pair at Shadai is King Kamehameha’s dual Classic winner Duramente (Jpn), whose first crop are yearlings this year. King Kamehameha’s later stars have also included Hokko Tarumae (Jpn), a three-time Group 1 winner on the dirt; G1 Tokyo Yushun and G1 Tenno Sho Autumn scorer Rey de Oro (Jpn), Tenno Sho Autumn and G1 Takarazuka Kinen victor Lovely Day (Jpn), Takarazuka Kinen winner Mikki Rocket (Jpn) and Let’s Go Donki (Jpn), winner of the G1 Oka Sho (Japanese 1000 Guineas). King Kamehameha has to date sired 78 black-type winners, 55 of those group winners and 12 Group 1 winners. He is also well on his way to securing his legacy as a broodmare sire. King Kamehameha is the damsire of 14 black-type winners, including Group 1 winners Wagnerian (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn), last year’s Tokyo Yushun winner; G1 Queen Elizabeth II Cup winner Mozu Katchan (Jpn) (Harbinger {GB}); G1 Arima Kinen victor Blast Onepiece (Jpn) (Harbinger {GB}) and G1 Yasuda Kinen winner Indy Champ (Jpn) (Stay Gold {Jpn}). The post King Kamehameha Dead At 18 appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article