Wandering Eyes

Jockey Club chief steward Kim Kelly revealed his panel discussed charging Hugh Bowman with improper riding after causing interference to six riders on his way to winning the HK$10 million Classic Mile with Furore. The Australian’s move to shoulder clear on Furore with 350m to go had a concertina effect, ultimately affecting six of his rivals, including the favourite Dark Dream. One rider quipped he had never seen so many jockeys waiting outside the door to the stewards’ room ahead... View the full article

Alberto Sanna’s long recovery from a brutal hip injury is finally complete after the Italian jockey rode his first winner in 102 days at Sha Tin on Sunday. While Sanna’s physical recovery was complete weeks ago – he was back riding within two months of the injury after being told by doctors it would take five – it has been a mental battle for a man who admits he is “a very competitive person”. “If I play PlayStation with my son I can’t even lose... View the full article

Hugh Bowman has compared his scintillating Classic Mile-winning mount Furore favourably to champion galloper Werther as trainer Frankie Lor Fu-chuen celebrated a landmark day. The star jockey was full of praise for the Australian import, who he selected from a slew of horses to ride in the four-year-old series, saying he was taken back by the explosive turn of foot he showed in the HK$10 million feature. “He was dynamic, I was so impressed with him, I am so excited now and looking forward... View the full article

It’s been 47 years and 2,146 winners since Tony Cruz walked into the Hong Kong Jockey Club apprentice school for a medical at the age of 15 but the prolific trainer loves his job as much now as he ever has. The 62-year-old ticked off another milestone at Sha Tin on Sunday, landing his 1,200th winner as a trainer when Exultant took out the Group Three Centenary Vase (1,800m) in barnstorming fashion after Diamond Legend became his 1,199th victory three races earlier. “You get excited... View the full article

Splashing across the sloppy track, Mr. and Mrs. William K. Warren Jr.'s son of Quality Road turned back a late challenge from Breeders' Cup Classic (G1) winner Accelerate and drew off to win the $9 million Pegasus World Cup (G1) by 5 3/4 lengths. View the full article

In his second start off a lengthy layoff, Joseph P. Morey Jr. Revocable Trust's Rye saved every inch of ground under Kent Desormeax as he successfully defended his title Jan. 26 in the $200,000 Unusual Heat Turf Classic at Santa Anita Park. View the full article

With three of the day's 12 races switched from the turf course to the main track and a total of 25 scratches, total wagering checked in at $37,786,967, the lowest handle of the three editions of the Pegasus. View the full article

After Accelerate (Lookin At Lucky) polished off the field in the GI Breeders’ Cup Classic, the debate began. Who was 2018’s best horse, and what criteria should be used to come to that conclusion? Was it speed, ability, accomplishment, number of Grade I wins, the length or brevity of their campaigns? No matter what traits we focused on, the debate always came down to just two horses, Accelerate and Justify (Scat Daddy). Just two days before the running of the GI Pegasus World Cup, the decision of Eclipse Award voters was announced. By virtue of his being named Horse of the Year, Justify was deemed the best horse. The voters got it right. I can’t begin to think of a scenario where a Triple Crown winner should be denied Horse of the Year. Accelerate got his consolation prize, the older male championship. Now, after watching what happened yesterday on an absolutely miserable day at Gulfstream Park in the Pegasus, I’m wondering if everyone got it wrong. That’s how good City of Light (Quality Road) in winning the Pegasus. This was a major star, yet he was so overshadowed by Justify and Accelerate that the hype for him couldn’t have filled a thimble. Yes, the biggest accomplishment of City of Light’s career came in 2019, but what I saw Saturday made me wonder if he wasn’t the best horse who ran in 2018, or at least that he developed into the best horse by the end of the year when he won the GI Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile? If nothing else, he was obviously 2018’s most underappreciated race horse. You can talk all you want about how the speed-favoring nature of Gulfstream’s sloppy surface gave City of Light an advantage over Accelerate yesterday or that the very talented McKinzie (Street Sense) stayed back in California or even, if you wish, wonder what Justify would have done to the field? None of that takes away from what was one of the most powerful performances we’ll likely see all year on the racetrack. Under a snug hold by Javier Castellano, City of Light was second early, right off the flank of Patternrecognition (Adios Charlie). With that horse about to hit the wall entering the far turn, City of Light inherited the lead, but Accelerate would make his presence felt. Accelerate made his bid and drew within a half-length of City of Light nearing the top of the stretch. For a moment, it looked like this Pegasus would turn into a scintillating two-horse race to the wire. Instead, City of Light switched gears and drew off from a very talented horse with frightening ease. He won by 5 3/4 lengths in a performance that was as every bit as impressive as those put in by the two previous Pegasus winners, superstars Arrogate (Unbridled’s Song) and Gun Runner (Candy Ride {Arg}). “This horse is a gift,” said an emotional winning trainer Michael McCarthy. “Amazing.” He continued: “It’s the fashion he did it. That’s why I’m so emotional. It seemed like this was effortless today.” The folks over at Lane’s End were probably pretty emotional, too. A sire that dominated in the Pegasus World Cup, won a Breeders’ Cup race, is fast enough to have won the GI Malibu at seven furlongs and also has the stamina to have won both the GII Oaklawn H. and the Pegasus Wolrd Cup at nine furlongs, is about to show up on their doorstep. He entered the day a nice stallion prospect. He exited the day a super stallion prospect. This was also the last career race for Accelerate, who finished third. He will also stand at Lane’s End. Such a good, honest horse, he lost nothing in defeat. He ran well and the track conditions didn’t suit him. But City of Light beat him in two of the three times they met and everything that we saw in the Pegasus suggested that City of Light is simply the better horse. That’s not a knock on Accelerate; it’s recognition of the fact that City of Light is that good. Snoop was a Dogg, and Other Thoughts… Calvin Cordozar Broadus Jr. (a.k.a Snoop Dogg) was the featured post-race entertainment and was given the privilege of announcing “Rider’s Up” in the paddock before the race. It would have been impossible for him to have come across as less enthusiastic. For a guy who has made millions in the entertainment business, he showed all the charisma of a door knob. C’mon, Dogg, for all the money they must have paid you could have at least pretended you cared. One of the backdrops to the race was the on-going feud between Frank and Belinda Stronach, who have sued one another in efforts to control the Stronach Group. We don’t know where this story will end, but Belinda left no doubt yesterday that, at least right now, she is very much the boss. She was interviewed prior to the races on NBC and presented the trophies for both the Pegasus World Cup and the GI Pegasus World Cup Turf Invitational. Frank did not get a second of air time. You could pay for your kids’ college educations betting on Dallas Stewart-trained horses to place in big races. He did it again in the World Cup as Seeking the Soul (Perfect Soul {Ire}) finished second at odds of 34-1 and paid $19.20 to place. He was also second behind City of Light in the Dirt Mile at 10-1. What more can you say about Chad Brown? His Bricks and Mortar (Giant’s Causeway) was injured, laid off for 14 months, had one prep and then wins the $7-million Pegasus Turf. Another amazing training job. At 26-1, Mexican hero Kukulkan (Point Determined) might have been the biggest underlay in the history of the sport. But, surprisingly, he was not last. He was 11th, finishing 15 lengths ahead of an exhausted pacesetter, Patternrecogniton (Adios Charlie). View the full article

In his second start off a 15-month layoff, Klaravich Stables and William Lawrence's Bricks and Mortar put in the top effort of his career to win the $7 million Pegasus World Cup Turf Invitational Stakes (G1T) Jan. 26 at Gulfstream Park. View the full article

There was a lot on the line Jan. 26 for Joseph E. Besecker's Aztec Sense as he entered the gate for the $150,000 Fred W. Hooper Stakes (G3) at Gulfstream Park. View the full article

City of Light closed his career with an impressive performance Jan. 26 when he drew off to win the $9 million Pegasus World Cup Invitational Stakes (G1) by daylight at Gulfstream Park. View the full article

There was a lot on the line Jan. 26 for Joseph E. Besecker's Aztec Sense as he entered the gate for $150,000 Fred W. Hooper Stakes (G3) at Gulfstream Park. View the full article

Mr. and Mrs. William Warren Jr.’s City of Light (h, 5, Quality Road–Paris Notion, by Dehere) turned back fellow Breeders’ Cup winner Accelerate (Lookin at Lucky) at the head of the stretch and splashed home a five-length winner of the $9-million GI Pegasus World Cup Invitational at Gulfstream Park Saturday. Patternrecognition (Adios Charlie) broke from the outside in the 12-horse field and immediately angled over to grab the early lead, but City of Light, a 9-5 shot, kept the longshot company through fractions of :23.23 and :46.84. The bay took over leaving the backstretch and had only GI Breeders’ Cup Classic winner Accelerate to worry about turning for home, but he easily shrugged off that foe and strode clear. Seeking the Soul (Perfect Soul {Ire}) was second and Accelerate was third. The time for the nine furlongs over a sloppy track was 1:47.71. Winner of the 2017 GI Malibu S., City of Light opened 2018 with a win in the GI Triple Bend S. and defeated Accelerate by a neck in the GII Oaklawn H. He was third behind that Eclipse champion in the GI Gold Cup and second in the GI Forego S. before concluding the year with a front-running 2 3/4-length tally in the Nov. 3 GI Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile. Lifetime Record: 11-6-4-1. O-Mr & Mrs William Warren, Jr. B-Ann Marie Farm (Ky). T-Michael McCarthy. View the full article

As the field entered the final turn of the $150,000 Fasig-Tipton Hurricane Bertie Stakes (G3) Jan. 26 at Gulfstream Park, jockey Javier Castellano and Dream Pauline skimmed the rail like a runaway train. View the full article

In his second start of a 15-month layoff, Klaravich Stables and William Lawrence's Bricks and Mortar put in the top effort of his career to win the $7 million Pegasus World Cup Turf Invitational Stakes (G1T) Jan. 26 at Gulfstream Park. View the full article

For jockey Chris Landeros, the patience of waiting a few strides before he made his move aboard Takaya Shimakawa's Si Que Es Buena (ARG) may have been the difference in the $200,000 La Prevoyante Stakes (G3T) Jan. 26. View the full article

Klaravich Stables and William Lawrence’s Bricks and Mortar (h, 5, Giant’s Causeway–Beyond the Waves, by Ocean Crest) came flying down the center of the course and strode home a three-length victor of the inaugural $7-million GI Pegasus World Cup Turf Invitational at Gulfstream Park Saturday. Sent off at 5-2, the 5-year-old, whose lone 2018 outing was an optional-claiming score over the Gulfstream lawn in December, settled off the pace as longshot Fahan Mura (English Channel) set the pace through fractions of :22.94 and :47.93. Catapult (Kitten’s Joy) was first to move, surging to the lead midway down the backstretch as Bricks and Mortar was shuffled well back in the field. Bricks and Mortar, angled out four wide, was making rapid progress nearing the stretch and, while Delta Prince (Street Cry {Ire}) was able to forge to a narrow lead in midstretch, the eventual winner was unleashing a powerful late rally and swooped to victory. Magic Wand (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) was second and Delta Prince was third. The final time for the 1 3/16-mile race was 1:54.59. Bricks and Mortar opened his racing career with four straight wins in 2017, culminating with a 3/4-length victory in the GII Hall of Fame S. He went to the sidelines after narrowly beaten third-place efforts in the GIII Saranac S. and GIII Hill Prince S. In his lone 2018 outing, the dark bay took a one-mile optional claimer over the Gulfstream lawn Dec. 22. A $200,000 KEESEP purchase in 2015, Bricks and Mortar is a son of multiple group placed Beyond the Waves and he is a half-brother to graded stakes winner Emerald Beech (Maria’s Mon). Lifetime Record: 8-6-0-2. O-Klaravich Stables & William Lawrence. B-George Strawbridge, Jr. T-Chad Brown. View the full article

Champion sprinter Shamrock Rose finished fourth. View the full article

World of Trouble didn't get his rematch with champion Stormy Liberal when the $150,000 Gulfstream Park Turf Sprint was taken off the grass because of soggy conditions Jan. 26, but he put on an impressive performance nonetheless. View the full article

World of Trouble didn't get his rematch with champion Stormy Liberal when the $150,000 Gulfstream Park Turf Sprint was taken off the grass because of soggy conditions Jan. 26, but he put on an impressive performance nonetheless. View the full article

World of Trouble didn't get his rematch with champion Stormy Liberal when the $150,000 Gulfstream Park Turf Sprint was taken off the grass because of soggy conditions Jan. 26, but he put on an impressive performance nonetheless. View the full article

Juddmonte Farms homebred Hidden Scroll (c, 3, Hard Spun–Sheba Queen, by Empire Maker) romped home a resounding debut winner at Gulfstream Park Saturday to become the newest ‘TDN Rising Star.’ Sent off at 8-1, the bay colt went right to the lead and led every step of the way before strolling under the wire geared down by 12 lengths in front. He completed the mile over the wet going in 1:34.82. High Amplitude (Bernardini) was second and Ranger Up (First Samurai) was third. The Rising Star debut comes two years after Juddmonte’s colors were carried to victory by Arrogate (Unbridled’s Song) in Gulfstream Park’s inaugural GI Pegasus World Cup. The unraced Sheba Queen is a daughter of Group 1 winner Etoile Montante (Miswaki) and she is a half-sister to multiple graded stakes winner Starformer (Dynaformer). In foal to Flintshire (GB), the mare sold for $7,500 at the 2017 Keeneland November sale. Lifetime Record: 1-1-0-0, $36,000. O/B-Juddmonte Farms (Ky). T-Bill Mott. View the full article

A thrilling finish to the G1 Sun Met at Kenilworth on Saturday saw Rainbow Bridge (SAf) (Ideal World) reverse recent form with race favourite Do It Again (SAf) (Twice Over {GB}) to claim a popular victory for trainer Eric Sands. The winner had finished third to Do It Again in the G1 L’Ormarins Queen’s Plate at Kenilworth three weeks ago but found the requisite improvement on Saturday to bridge that three-length deficit and land his first success at the top level by a length. The gallant Head Honcho (SAf) (Querari {Ger}), who had slipped the field and still looked likely to win 200 metres from home, finished third with last year’s fourth Legal Eagle (SAf) (Greys Inn) finishing strongly to occupy the same position this year under different tactics. Beforehand it looked like Rainbow Bridge may have left his race in the preliminaries as he sweated up profusely, so it is testament to the horse’s ability to overcome that habit. He was patiently ridden by Anton Marcus, who bided his time as the aforementioned Head Honcho made the best of his way home. That runner began to get weary in the last furlong as the winner and Do It Again challenged on either side, but it was the gelded 4-year-old who prevailed to bring his tally to six wins from eight starts. There was a poignant postscript to the race as Rainbow Bridge ran in the colours of the late Chris Gerber, who died tragically from malaria some months ago. Marcus had earlier landed both of the valuable Cape Thoroughbred Sales Races and he commented, “It’s a great feeling and just to win it for Eric [Sands] is great and I’m sure Chris is looking down on us so it is a special day.” Sands acknowledged Rainbow Bridge is not an easy horse to handle and was quick to credit his backroom team. “He can be a difficult horse but I’ve had a lot of help with him and have too many people to thank. Obviously it’s so sad that Chris isn’t here to enjoy this,” he said. Pedigree Notes Rainbow Bridge is out of the ‘other’ Halfway To Heaven (SAf) (Jet Master {SAf}), who was a stakes winner in South Africa. She has also produced the G2 Dingaans S. winner Hawwaam (SAf) (Silvano {Ger}) from only two runners to date. The victory also represented the second Met win in the last four years for the regally bred Mauitzfontein Stud stallion Ideal World (by Kingmambo ex Banks Hill), following Smart Call (SAf)’s win in 2016. Rainbow Bridge was a bargain R300,000 ($22,026/£16,685/€19,320) yearling purchase at the Bloodstock South Africa Sale in 2016. Saturday, Kenilworth, South Africa SUN MET CELEBRATED WITH G.H. MUMM-G1, R5,000,000, Kenilworth, 1-26, 3yo/up, 10fT, 2:02.96, gd. 1–RAINBOW BRIDGE (SAF), 131, g, 4, by Ideal World 1st Dam: Halfway To Heaven (SAf) (GSW-SAf), by Jet Master (SAf) 2nd Dam: Pas de Basque (SAf), by Rambo Dancer 3rd Dam: Our Elegant Girl (SAf), by Our Casey’s Boy 1ST GROUP 1 WIN. (R300,000 yrl ’16 BSAAPR) O-Late Mr M C Gerber; B-Wilgerbosdrift & Mauritzfontein (SAF); T-Eric Sands; J-Anton Marcus. R2,850,000. Lifetime Record: 7 starts, 5 wins, 2 places, R1,407,500. *1/2 to Hawwaam (SAf) (Silvano {Ger}), MGSW-SAf. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree. Werk Nick Rating: A. 2–Do It Again (SAf), 131, g, 4, Twice Over (GB)–Sweet Virginia (SAf), by Casey Tibbs (Ire). (R1,100,000 yrl ’16 BSAAPR) O- Messrs N Jonsson, B Kantor & W J C Mitchell; B-Northfields Stud (SAF); T-Justin Snaith. R1,000,000. 3–Head Honcho (SAf), 132, g, 5, Querari (Ger)–School Captain (SAf), by Captain Al (SAf). O-Mrs S Plattner; B-La Plaisance Stud (SAF); T-Andre Nel. R500,000. Margins: 3/4, HD, 1 1/4. Odds: 5.25, 3.55, 1.70. Also Ran: Undercover Agent (SAf), Legal Eagle (SAf), Doublemint (SAf), Oh Susanna (Aus), Kampala Campari (SAf), Eyes Wide Open (SAf), Tap O’ Noth (SAf), Made To Conquer (SAf), Hat Puntano (Arg), Milton (Saf). Click for the Racing Post result. Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. VIDEO. View the full article

The road to the HK$18-million BMW Hong Kong Derby kicks off Sunday with the first leg of the series, the Hong Kong Classic Mile, and while he is fully 12 points clear on the ratings, there are some questions about Dark Dream (Aus) (All American {Aus}), who figures to take plenty of action at the windows. Like many a Classics aspirant over the last several years, Dark Dream left his hoofprints over the G1 Queensland Derby last season, winning that 2200-metre event, and he has made an immediate impression in Hong Kong. Third in a contentious Class 2 over 1600m on International Day Dec. 9, he exploded late to win a 2000-metre Class 2 with something left in the locker Dec. 23. The obvious concern Sunday is the drop back to the metric mile, a fact that is not lost on trainer Frankie Lor. “His form is good, the only thing is he’s back to 1600 metres which may be a little bit short for him but we need to try,” Lor, who will saddle a record five runners in the race, told HKJC’s David Morgan. Silvestre de Sousa will have to work out a trip from gate 12, while Ka Ying Star (GB) (Cityscape {GB}) is drawn even further out in 14. Winner of three from four when trained by Andrew Balding as Urban Secret in England, the bay belied odds of 28-1 to take his local debut in Class 2 in front-running fashion over the track and trip Jan. 6. He clocked a smart :22.03 for his final two furlongs to account for the re-opposing Easy Go Easy Win (NZ) (Savabeel {Aus}) and the improving Furore (NZ) (Pierro {Aus}). “Everyone said I got a slow, easy lead but he’s a good horse–to run that fast sectional at his first start means he’s a good horse,” jockey Vincent Ho said. “He can only improve, he’s still young and very green so if he can improve, he should handle the gate.” Superich (NZ) (Red Giant) turned in a pair of tough efforts in Class 2 in his two most recent runs, most recently going down by a neck to Mr So and So (Aus) (So You Think {NZ}) over 1400m Dec. 29. The Lor-trained Superich will be ridden by leading jockey Zac Purton, while Joao Moreira returns in the saddle on Mr So and So for John Size, who had won his previous start under 133 pounds in Class 3. Though he sits on a rating of just 81, Green Luck (Aus) (Street Cry {Ire}), a latest second as the favourite going the extended mile trip at Happy Valley, is a live longshot according to trainer Caspar Fownes. “Being just 4-year-olds in the race, some will run better than their ratings suggest. If he’s not hassled and sits there in midfield, he’ll run well,” said Fownes, who won the 2011 Classic Mile with future superstar sprinter Lucky Nine (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}). View the full article

14:40 Sedgefield Charmant has won in impressive fashion on both chase runs to date, looking a potentially smart prospect when beating a subsequent winner at Kelso last time out. He seems to have struck up a great partnership with Brian Hughes, a jockey with nine wins from twenty-one in the last twelve months when riding for […] The post appeared first on RaceBets Blog EN. View the full article