Wandering Eyes

The world has a new richest race, with the announcement of the creation of the US$20 million Saudi Cup (1800m), to be run at King Abdulaziz Racetrack in Riyadh on February 29. The race will be run on dirt and have a maximum field of 14 starters. The race will be free to enter and free to run in. The prize for the winning horse will be US$10 million with horses down to 10th place sharing another US$10 million between them. “The introduction of the Saudi Cup as an international race is without ... View the full article

Saudi racing officials announced Aug. 7 the inaugural Saudi Cup, to be held Feb. 29 at King Abdulaziz Racetrack in Riyadh, will be the world's richest race, with a purse of $20 million—with $10 million to the winner. View the full article

Peters takes a chance with Grand Koonta View the full article

Durban July winner Marinaresco begins Gold Cup trail View the full article

“It’s all over” – Red Rover scores his debut Singapore win for the Fortuna Team View the full article

When Uni, a 5-year-old mare, popped up in the entries for the $500,000 Fourstardave Handicap (G1T) at Saratoga Race Course Aug. 10, and it sent a rather loud message about her current form. View the full article

With only one grade 1 winner entered in the $500,000 stakes at Arlington International Racecourse, most entrants could grasp a major victory. View the full article

BALRAJ crossed the ditch without much fanfare, but it hasn’t taken long for him to become one off the buzz horses of Australia. The lightly-raced Art Major three-year-old is unbeaten in four Aussie starts and made one heck of a statement scoring at his first Menangle run yesterday (Tuesday). Balraj won by 22.4m, but it was his time which did most of the talking. The gelding’s 1min49.1sec mile was an Australasian record for a three-year-old, slicing 0.5sec off Muscle Factory’s record. Just as he did winning by what seemed the length of the home straight at Newcastle a few weeks ago, driver Robbie Morris crushed his rivals with a 26.1sec split from the 800-400m. It’s the second time in as many starts the Shaun Simiana-trained pacer has smashed a record. His 1min50.9sec mile win at Newcastle two starts back on July 15 was an all-aged record for the track which has hosted some off the sport’s greats in the Newcastle Mile. Balraj raced just five times in NZ for trainer Steven McRae, missing a place in first three runs then showing a glimpse of his potential winning back-to-back Forbury Park races on February 21 and March 7. He was sold to Australia soon after and won his Aussie debut at Penrith by 7.1m on June 6. Since then he’s won by 25.7m at Newcastle on June 14, 55.9m again at Newcastle on July 15 and now Menangle by 22.4m View the full article

Life is like a box of chocolates for recently crowned South Canterbury horse of the year Clifden Clowers. Its been a case of you never know what you’re going to get for the horse dubbed the area’s version of Forrest Gump. The veteran trotter, who just loves to run, took the top honours at the annual South Canterbury awards on a big night for trainer Sandra Mounce and her family. Mounce took home four awards, bagging the trainer of the year, owner of the year and broodmare of the year with Clifden Clowers’ dam, Gina, as well as the overall award. “It was a great thrill, especially for the trotter,” Mounce said. The past month has not been all peas and carrots for the 11yr-old squaregaiter. Clifden Clowers, who people call Clifden Clowers, faces a three month stint on the sidelines after sustaining a lower leg injury in his last start at Forbury Park, late last month. “I got him x-rayed and there is no fracture of the pedal bone – there is only a slight hairline [crack] in the nevicular and it is so minute.” Mounce said. Like his namesake in the 1994 movie, the horse dubbed Forrest Gump has been fitted with a special shoe to help correct his injury. “He is in the bar shoe and running around like nothing has happened.” Mounce said. Mounce said a decision on the horse’s racing future would be make after Clifden Clowers’ enforced layoff is over. “The vet said to give him three months off and we will do that, then we could retire him, we just don’t know.” One thing is for certain, the spritely 11yr-old is not happy about being forced of the training and racing tracks. “He is always waiting at the gate every morning and he is pee’d off.” Mounce said. “I have never known a horse that lines up as if to say ‘come on get the gear on, we are off’.” “He just runs – its just crazy.” Clifden Clowers is the first foal from the broodmare award winner, Gina. She has also left the well-travelled former racehorse, Cocktail Waiter. Trainer Michael Ward gave her third foal, Time In A Bottle, two starts earlier this year. Mounce said the only other live foal from the Sundon mare, a 2yr-old by Superfast Stuart, had pleased in her early preparations. Gina is due to foal to Creatine in the spring. Anna Barclay was crowned the best South Canterbury owned horse at the awards thanks to her five wins, last term, for trainer Michael House. Brendon Hill won the award for leading trainer at Phar Lap raceway and Wayne Low won the South Canterbury Driver Of The Year award. View the full article

Sent away the 3-1 joint-second favorite for the Wednesday lidlifter at Del Mar, Hronis Racing’s ENCODER (c, 2, English Channel–Nono Rose, by Hard Spun) sat a midfield trip while saving ground for the opening three furlongs, caught the eye when traveling ominously well at the quarter pole, switched off heels and into the four path at the furlong grounds and was punched out hands and heels by Flavien Prat to record an authoritative two-length victory. Fellow firster K P Indy (Competitive Edge) tracked the eventual winner into the stretch and rallied nicely to finish a promising second. The well-bet Tomorrow Knows (Carpe Diem) appeared to take an awkward step about an eighth of a mile into the race and was pulled up by Victor Espinoza. A $60,000 Fasig-Tipton October graduate, Encoder hails from the female family of GI Kentucky Derby hero and Canadian champion Mine That Bird (Birdstone), his three-time Grade I-winning half-brother Dullahan (Even the Score) and turf GISW Bolo (Temple City). The winner has a yearling half-brother by Smart Strike’s son Dominus. Lifetime Record: 1-1-0-0. O-Hronis Racing LLC; B-Peter Lamantia & Greg Ramsby; T-John Sadler. The post English Channel Firster Wins With Authority at Del Mar appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Alfie Dee in full flight at Riccarton. It has been a meteoric rise in jumps racing for Alfie Dee. The Ken Duncan-trained gelding won his maiden hurdle just weeks ago and at Riccarton on Wednesday he took out one of the biggest prizes in the jumps racing calendar, the Hospitality New Zealand Canterbury 130th Grand National Hurdles (4200m). In a daring ride by jockey Buddy Lammas, the pair served it up to their competitors, taking an early lead and they kept a strong tempo throughout, leading by as much as 12 lengths in the mid-stages of the race. Lammas rated his ride perfectly and was able to get the most out of a tiring Alfie Dee to win the time-honoured race by a nose over the fast-finishing race favourite, Bad Boy Brown. Duncan has thought a lot of the nine-year-old for some time and he was delighted with the result. “I have always rated this horse very highly,” he said. “Probably too high, he has run out of his grade his entire life. “For him to finally stand up and say how good of a horse he is, is a great thrill.” Duncan was full of praise for Lammas after the race and is looking forward to partnering with him again on Saturday when Shamal attempts to defend his title in the Racecourse Hotel & Motor Lodge 145th Grand National Steeplechase (5600m), for which he is a $3.50 joint favourite with TAB bookmakers. “That was an exceptional ride,” he said. “It was a tired horse he picked up and got over the line, so that was a fantastic ride from Buddy. “That’s why I put him on my horses. He has got that balance and ability.” Lammas was elated with the win and said his strategy all along was to get to the lead. “My whole game plan was to get to the front. I was going to aim for the front down the home straight on the first lap, but I got there sooner. “He was just happy cruising and pricked his ears. I just kept him in a happy spot. When he wanted to get a bit quicker I let him roll a bit, then I eased him back. I gave him a couple of breathers.” Lammas thought he had been beaten on the line, but he was pleasantly surprised when he found out otherwise. “I thought he (Bad Boy Brown) got me on the line, but he just stuck his nose out and got the win,” he said. Lammas is enjoying his time in the jumps jockey ranks and is looking forward to potentially taking out the Grand National double on Saturday. “It hasn’t been bad, a National Steeples and a National Hurdles, it’s a great a game,” he said. View the full article

Camelot sire of Te Akau’s latest acquisition Caliburn. Te Akau principal David Ellis may have sold Gr.1 Melbourne Cup (3200m) prospect Torcedor last year, but he thinks he has found a worthy replacement in Caliburn. The son of Camelot, who has won two of his nine career starts, was purchased by Ellis with Australian feature distance racing in-mind. “Earlier this year, Karyn (Fenton-Ellis) and I decided to buy a European Stayer and approached two of the best judges in the world, especially of European form, bloodstock agents Hubie de Burgh and Paul Moroney,” Ellis said. “Paul and I have had many conversations and on his recommendation we purchased Caliburn from Andrew Balding’s Newmarket stable, and following a period of quarantine he is expected mid-August in the Southern Hemisphere.” Moroney said he was impressed when he inspected Caliburn. “Caliburn fills the eye, from his intelligent quality head to his highly athletic balanced body. He has a real strut to him, with a beautiful fluid stride and a whole lot of presence.” Caliburn will be trained by Jamie Richards, who finished his first season as sole trainer for Te Akau with 98 wins, including 17 stakes victories. “Te Akau NZ trainer Jamie Richards hasn’t been missed by judges around the world,” Moroney said. “He’s made a remarkable start to his training career and I am sure he can take this exciting stayer a long way in New Zealand and Australia in the future.” Ellis said the goal was to a buy a horse with the calibre to contest races like the Sydney, Caulfield, and Melbourne Cups. “Caliburn is an exciting addition to the stable,” Richards said. “He has some exciting form in the Northern Hemisphere and initially we plan to set him for assignments during the Spring Carnival in Melbourne. “He’s lightly raced and I think has the makings of an ideal Auckland Cup (Gr.1, 3200m) and Sydney Cup (Gr.1, 3200m) horse in the autumn, and could well be a Melbourne Cup (Gr.1, 3200m) horse for next year. “That’s the sort of quality we think this horse has got. It’s incredibly exciting for our owners and staff to be bringing a horse like this back to New Zealand.” View the full article

Group 1 winner Deirdre will take on the Irish Champion Stakes View the full article

Kurt winning his trial heat at Te Teko on Tuesday. Exciting performances at the Te Teko trials on Tuesday have put Matamata trainer Stephen Autridge back on the road towards the 2000 and 1000 Guineas at Riccarton in November. With more than 1000 training successes in New Zealand to his name, Autridge has returned to training in his own account after a hugely successful three-year Te Akau partnership with Jamie Richards that produced more than 250 winners. The major spring features in Christchurch became familiar territory during that time, winning the Gr.1 New Zealand 2000 Guineas (1600m) with Xtravagant in 2015 and Embellish in a remarkable first-second-fourth sweep in 2017. They also claimed the Gr.1 New Zealand 1000 Guineas (1600m) in 2015 with Risque. In July of last year, Autridge was appointed to a key training role for Kevin Hickman’s rapidly growing Valachi Downs operation. “I’ve got about 35 in work now, and most of them are young ones,” Autridge said. “A lot of them have only trialled so far. “It’s probably going to take a year or so to really consolidate, but the talent’s there and things are looking good.” The first of his impressive trials performers on Tuesday was Woodcote Lass, who produced an eye-catching finish for a close second in an open 1040m heat. “I was really happy with that trial against older horses,” Autridge said. “She goes very well and her work had been good leading into that.” Bred and raced by Hickman, Woodcote Lass is by Showcasing out of a British-bred half-sister to Group One-winning sprinter Maarek. In two autumn two-year-old appearances, Woodcote Lass finished third at Matamata before winning at Rotorua. That victory came at the expense of the highly rated Quick Thinker, who later won the Listed Champagne Stakes (1600m). “Woodcote Lass is likely to start off in the three-year-old fillies’ race at Taupo on August 21, and then we’ll just work out what we do from there, with the idea of trying to get her to Christchurch early in the spring for her Guineas build-up.” Next up was Kurt, a colt by superstar galloper Kingman out of a half-sister to the dam of Humidor. He scored a dominant three-length victory in his trial, having made two starts last season for a sixth on debut and a close and unlucky fifth in the Listed Waikato Veterinary Centre 2YO Stakes (1100m). “He’s a very promising colt,” Autridge said. “We’ll pick out a few races in the northern region for him early on, and the end goal for him is certainly the 2000 Guineas. I think he’s got a lot of potential.” The very next heat was won by the unraced Last Hoorah, by No Excuse Needed out of a stakes-placed mare. Having been unplaced in her previous two trials, she took a big step forward in defeating the stakes-performed Long Jack by a nose. “She surprised us a little bit, although her work had improved leading into that,” Autridge said. “She’ll have a maiden race up here, and then we’ll see where we go from here. “With Mr Hickman being based in the South Island and keen to see his horses race as much as he can, she may well join Woodcote Lass in heading down there quite early on.” View the full article

It was back in 1988 that John Sadler began his stake race winning spree at Del Mar, when the mild-mannered speedball Olympic Prospect took the then-$75,000 Bing Crosby H., prompting jockey Alex Solis afterwards to breathlessly exclaim, “I never rode a horse that fast in my life.” When given this little factoid at his Del Mar barn one recent morning–a full 31 years after the event–Sadler assumed the look of someone who’d just been told that water wasn’t wet. “I wouldn’t think so–it’s got to be before that,” he said of his inaugural Del Mar stake win, alluding to the successes he’d enjoyed at the track during his first 10 years with a trainer’s license. “I remember winning some stakes that aren’t here now.” But true it is, and in the more than three decades since, Sadler has notched another 71 black-type victories at the track that put him clearly in the fourth spot on the all-time stakes-winning list there, behind the likes of Charlie Whittingham and Ron McAnally, and ahead of the likes of Bobby Frankel. Good company to keep, by any stretch. Five of those wins have arrived this summer alone, during a slingshot start to the meet that includes a second consecutive victory in the GII San Diego H. for the strapping quarterback of a chestnut, Catalina Cruiser (Union Rags). “Maybe he was showing some of the effects of his trip back east,” said Sadler, pointing to the 5-year-old’s seasonal debut win in the GII True North S. at Belmont Park–in near track-record time, no less–as a possible explainer for why this year’s victory had less of the scorched-earth imprint as last year’s, when he gave the opposition a near seven-length drubbing. Nevertheless, Catalina Cruiser “had a good work [Saturday, going four furlongs in :48.20], and he’s going to have another one next weekend, and then we’re going to decide what race we’re going to go in,” Sadler said. What race indeed, for Sadler pinpointed the GII Pat O’Brien S. at Del Mar (which he won last year), the GI Forego S. at Saratoga, or a possible tilt at the GI Pacific Classic, which the trainer annexed 12 months ago with future GI Breeders’ Cup Classic champ, Accelerate. While the 1 1/4-mile Pacific Classic might appear the most attractive target, Sadler is all too aware that the horse has yet to race further than 1 1/16 miles. The next seven days will prove crucial. “He’ll have a long work next weekend and we’ll see how it goes,” Sadler said. “He’s a very good work horse, and I think it’s more about whether I’ve really bounced him back from that East Coast trip. We’ll just see how his energy is, see how the week goes.” If Catalina Cruiser bypasses the Pacific Classic, his trainer has two more arrows pointed towards the race, including Campaign (Curlin), winner of the GII Cougar II H. early in the meet, and a definite for the Del Mar showpiece, Sadler said. “[Campaign] was fourth in the [GI] Santa Anita H. with no pace, so, if he gets pace in front of him in the Pacific Classic, he’s a dangerous horse because he has no problems with the distance,” he said. That the track is currently deep and slow can only play to the horse’s strengths, Sadler added. “He’s a real stayer.” Another possible Pacific Classic contender is Higher Power (Medaglia d’Oro), recently second in the Wickerr S. on the turf. “He really trains good on the dirt. He’s been on the grass his last two starts, but if he trains like we think he can, he might run in the Pacific Classic also,” he said. “Essentially, I’m going with the Baffert position: we’re going to see who’s training best at the time and pick the race we want to go in,” Sadler added, about his cards-close-to-chest attitude towards the Pacific Classic. “We’ll see how it goes.” In contrast, Sadler has a much clearer itinerary in mind for Ollie’s Candy (Candy Ride {Arg}), recent game winner of the GI Clement L. Hirsch S. in her third start for the trainer. Ollie’s Candy was moved to Sadler’s barn when her former handler, William Morey, was suspended 45 days by the California Horse Racing Board after his assistant was found guilty of administering a supplement called Blood Buffer to two horses on race day. “When she came down to Del Mar she had a brilliant work over the track, and I said, ‘I think she likes this dirt course here,'” said Sadler about Ollie’s Candy’s works prior to her Grade I victory. “The day after her win, the owner calls me and says, ‘What can we do to get the Breeders’ Cup run at Del Mar?'” The GII Zenyatta S. at Santa Anita is the next intended target for the daughter of Candy Ride, as a springboard for the GI Breeders’ Cup Distaff. “She’s improving, so, hopefully she’ll keep improving,” said Sadler. Another Breeders’ Cup-bound horse is Cistron (The Factor), recent winner of the GI Bing Crosby S. “He’s found his best stride at five. He came of the Bing Crosby beautifully. He’s a very sound horse at five. A very strong horse.” For much of his career, Cistron was campaigned on the turf, until Sadler made the switch to dirt when Santa Anita pulled the plug on its 6 1/2-furlong downhill turf course this spring. Since then, Cistron’s two for three, including an earlier victory in the GII Kona Gold S. “Sometimes it’s not genius,” said Sadler, about the circumstances that led to the surface switch. “Sometimes it’s just things working out.” This year’s GI Santa Anita H. winner Gift Box (Twirling Candy) has been temporarily sidelined with a “couple minor issues” since finishing fourth in the GII Stephen Foster H. said Sadler, but the horse is gearing up for a more active end-of-season campaign. “We’ll get him ready for Santa Anita, probably prep him in the Awesome Again S.,” with a view to then running in the Breeders’ Cup Classic, said Sadler. “There’s been a lot of stop-start this winter. He didn’t get the best trip in the Stephen Foster, yet still finished fourth.” In the long-term, it’s possible Gift Box might have to dust off the old passport, as Sadler mooted the idea of running the son of Twirling Candy in the proposed $15-$20 million dirt race in Saudi Arabia next February. “Why wouldn’t I?” he said. The trainer’s admirable start to the meet has played out, of course, against a state racing industry that’s changing skin with almost chameleon-like speed. One of those skin-changes involves the various safety protocols Del Mar has implemented this year, building on the work done the prior two years–a primary reason, said Sadler, behind Del Mar’s good safety record so far this year, with one horse catastrophically injured as a result of a breakdown. “The trainers have been great about accepting all of the protocols and such,” he said. Nevertheless, “There’s a lot more that Del Mar could be doing for safety, and I’ve talked to them about it,” he added. When pressed for specifics, Sadler replied, “That’s for behind closed doors,” although he mentioned that it includes “structural changes” to make the place safer. “It’s tough because it involves money, so, hopefully they’ll put the money where it’s needed.” Given the topic, there was no avoiding the issue of Jerry Hollendorfer, recently awarded judicial permission to run horses at Del Mar. The facility barred him from doing so after The Stronach Group and NYRA had imposed similar bans in light of six Hollendorfer-trained horses being catastrophically injured at Santa Anita and Golden Gate Fields within a six-month period. “We were really pleased that Jerry was able to get back. He’s lost a great portion of his business, which was sad,” Sadler said, before discussing more broadly the view from the backstretch of events these past few months. “It’s been a tough year–we’ve been under siege, some of it unfairly,” he said. “To say all the problems this winter were all the trainers’ fault, I thought the trainers were scapegoated. There’s a lot of things that went wrong, and a lot of reasons why, but it’s not just the trainers.” “It’s a very important time for California racing,” Sadler added. “Let’s keep our fingers crossed.” The post Sadler Talks Stable Stars, Big Race Targets, Hollendorfer and Safety Measures appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Expat Kiwi trainer Stephen Gray has reached a major milestone in Singapore. When expat Kiwi trainer Stephen Gray was told he had saddled his 700th winner at Kranji with five-year-old gelding Larry on Sunday, his face lit up with surprise and delight first, but a more solemn sense of self-reflection and nostalgia soon took over. The boy from Waverley has come a long way since he landed in Singapore in 2000 along with track rider Bridget Aiken, who would become his wife soon after. It’s been a rollercoaster ride, with many highs like the 2007 Emirates Singapore Derby (2000m) with Lim’s Prestige and the 2016 Dester Singapore Gold Cup (2200m) win with Bahana. The defeats, the disappointments, the setbacks like his first stable star Emperor Max’s bleeding attacks, or more recently UK raider Lim’s Cruiser’s last-minute injury have thrown more than a few spanners in the works, but such lowlights are par for the course in the life of a trainer. His close brush with death when he survived a life-threatening intestinal hernia in 2011 was another agonising episode for the father of two. But it’s something else which has given Gray a more sobering perspective to Sunday’s milestone when the bon vivant would normally be popping the bubbly with owners, friends and loved ones. Gray said the last four or five years have been a struggle, even if he did hit the half-century with Pusaka in 2015, another 100 with Darc Bounty two years later, and next thing he knew, another milestone was under his belt. In the time Larry took to come back to scale as he stood at the winner’s stall waiting, the former rugby player had gathered these mixed emotions and rolled them into one word that keeps coming back: Survival. “I’ve trained a Derby and a Gold Cup winner here, but you know what’s my biggest and proudest achievement here besides my family and getting my kids, who were both born here, through education?” Gray said. “It’s longevity and it came through only one thing: Survival.” Gray had a head brimful of hopes and dreams when he first walked into his empty barn at Kranji with 14 horses, the winner of 411 races in New Zealand, including 13 over jumps – effectively making him the winning trainer of 1,111 races. Forget the culture shock, a more daunting task faced the wide-eyed newbie, going head-on against heavyweights like Malcolm Thwaites, Mick Kent, John Brink, Charles Leck or Don Baertschiger. Eventual nine-time Singapore champion Laurie Laxon and John Meagher, father of current Kranji trainer Daniel, were just starting out, too, but their more awesome firepower quickly turned them into the new superpowers that would rule the roost years on end. The son of trainer Kevin Gray just wanted to pinch his own little place in the sun at Kranji. Nineteen years later, he was pinching himself as he was presented with a bottle of champagne as a reward for his feat – but truth be told, the vintage years felt remote. “It’s been a long time. It’s quite amazing when I look back,” he said. “If someone had told me a few years ago that one day I would have trained 700 winners here, I would say ‘no chance’. “I got a bit of a shock as it wasn’t too long ago I hit 500, then 600. It’s slowly but surely crept up on me. “I must have done pretty good because it was very tough to get going when I just arrived with Bridget. The competition was very strong. “In the mornings, I would look forward to chatting with Charlie Read and Dougie Dragon at the heath track. They’ve both passed on today, but I have fond memories of such positive vibes. “I have a picture of all of the trainers at the parade ring in 2002. Most of them have dropped off and today, only three of us are left: Mohd Yusof, Michael Clements and myself. “I’ve seen a large amount of people come and go. Where’s the time gone? The industry was so exciting then, it was a hive of activity. “In the early days, races were not on TV, we had no internet, no casinos. Then we had good international races and international jockeys. “I’ve always loved promoting Singapore as I’ve always said it was a great model. For 16 years, we worked hard and we got the results, but everything has changed now. “I think we have not kept up with the times. We are playing catch-up against internet betting, casinos, football betting. “At the end of the day, we need to get revenue. I wonder where it’s all going to end up. “When we lost our international races (Singapore Airlines International Cup and KrisFlyer International Sprint), we didn’t have the same enthusiasm anymore. “I’m actually confused to be honest. I’m not sure what to think, what the future holds for us. “I’m also disappointed. I just have to get owners to buy horses. Last time, I wanted to have a good horse, now I worry about surviving.” At times, he felt like upping stumps to return to New Zealand, but the passion that fuels him has been his spark of hope in the last 19 years, and more so now. If he’s been from the mountains high to the valleys low, and survived, so can racing, he said. “Yes, I am concerned where racing is heading, but it’s still pretty good. To me, our racing is the greatest model, but the mindset in the government will have to change. “I hope it’s not too late as we can have a great business and a great lifestyle. The Club is coming up with bold changes, hopefully, it’ll turn it around. “I for one have always wanted to achieve big things with racing. That’s why I took Max and Cruiser to England. “I was heartbroken when Cruiser had to pull out but things like that keep me going. Yes, I have to pay my mortgage, but it’s the love of racing, my family, that drive me forward – it’s my passion. “My dad is still training at the age of 82, but I always told myself I would retire when I hit 1,000 wins here. I’m now 54 and I’d like to do it for another few years until I’m 60 maybe. “I will survive.” – Singapore Turf Club View the full article

Hasanabad (Ire) (Nathaniel {Ire}) posted a timely win at Galway last week, and that enough to propel the 4-year-old to the top of trade on Wednesday at the Goffs UK August Sale at Doncaster. Consigned by The Aga Khan Studs, Hasanabad (lot 196) was bought by agent Richard Ryan for £230,000. Second-top billing went to a pair of Irish pointers, The Bosses Oscar (Ire) (Oscar {Ire}) (lot 141) and five-time winner Marnie James (GB) (Camacho {GB}) (lot 232), who each commanded £75,000 respectively from Aidan O’Ryan and Gordon Elliott, and Jedd O’Keeffe. At the end of the day, 216-head were sold at an 85% clearance rate. The aggregate was £2,897,100, while the average and median were up 16% and 6%, respectively, at £13,413 and £7,500. Goffs UK Managing Director Tony Williams said, “We have enjoyed a solid day’s trade in the ring today with strong demand throughout, demonstrated by an 85% clearance rate and a full complex of buyers from across Europe. The obvious highlight of today’s sale was the Aga Khan Studs-consigned Hasanabad, who was destined to attract plenty of interest in the ring following his smart win at last week’s Galway Festival. “We once again attracted a number of pointers from Ireland and it’s pleasing to see this sector of the sale continue to grow, as it was to see point-to-point trainers on the buyers’ sheet for the stores early in the day. We would like to thank all our vendors and buyers at today’s sale and look forward to welcoming many back to our Premier and Silver Yearling Sales later this month.” The post Hasanabad Tops August Sale 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 a duo of intriguing Ballydoyle juveniles. 5.50 Leopardstown, Mdn, €17,500, 2yo, c/g, 8fT MYTHICAL (FR) (Camelot {GB}) is the pick of Donnacha O’Brien over the experienced fellow Ballydoyle trainee Cormorant (Ire) (Kingman {GB}), which could be significant as the latter was favourite when fourth behind ‘TDN Rising Star’ Free Solo (Ire) (Showcasing {GB}) on debut here last month. Mythical, who sports the Magnier silks, is a half-brother to the G1 Racing Post Trophy runner-up Johann Strauss (GB) (High Chaparral {Ire}) and is the forecast favourite in the maiden won in recent times by Free Eagle (Ire), Order of St George (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) and Madhmoon (Ire) (New Approach {Ire}). The post Observations: Aug. 8, 2019 appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

While Maximum Security's next start is still to be determined, the 3-year-old son of New Year's Day completed a two-minute mile the morning of Aug. 7 at Monmouth Park, with clockers catching the dual grade 1 winner in :54 flat for four furlongs. View the full article

The Richard Hannon-trained juveniles Threat (Ire) (Footstepsinthesand {GB}) and Mystery Power (Ire) (No Nay Never) were both overturned at Goodwood last week, but the trainer said he is confident both colts will bounce back. Cheveley Park Stud’s ‘TDN Rising Star’ Threat, who had finished second in the G2 Coventry S., was beaten 3/4 of a length in second in the G2 Richmond S. at Goodwood after a less than ideal trip. “I was disappointed he didn’t win at Goodwood as I think the world of the horse, but they did finish clear of the third,” Hannon said. “He was dragged over from stall one over to the stands rail and that probably didn’t help. I’d like to think we are working back from the 2000 Guineas with this horse, though. Staying at six furlongs might be the answer for this year. Whether he goes to the Gimcrack at York or the Prix Morny at Deauville next, we will just have to wait and see.” King Power Racing’s G2 Superlative S. winner Mystery Power beat just one home in Goodwood’s G2 Vintage S., and Hannon revealed that the colt scoped poorly post-race. “He came back after the Vintage and scoped wrong, so that would explain the poor run,” he said. “We might just wait for the Champagne S. at Doncaster with him. He will have a three-pound penalty, but we won the Superlative and the Champagne with Estidhkaar.” The post Hannon Keeps The Faith In Juveniles 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 1st-DMR, $61k, 3yo/up, f/m, (S), 6f, 5:00 p.m. ET Trainer Brian Koriner saddles 2017 Barretts Select Yearling Sale topper TAKETHEDIAMONDLANE (Bodemeister) in her career debut in Thursday’s opener at Del Mar. Acquired by Jay Em Ess Stables for $300,000, the dark bay sports an impressive and consistent work tab over the past two months, including a Aug. 3 half-mile drill in :47 2/5 (5/91) over this course. Takethediamondlane is a half-sister to multiple stakes winner and grade I-placed Take the One O One (Acclamation) and juvenile Square Deal (Square Eddie), who recently crossed the wire first in the Aug. 3 Graduation S. here before being disqualified to third for interference in the stretch. TJCIS PPS The post August 8 Insights: Sales-Topping Bodemeister Primed for Del Mar Debut appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Gary and Mary West’s Maximum Security (New Year’s Day), last-out winner of the TVG.com Haskell Invitational S. at Monmouth Park July 20, breezed a leisurely half-mile in :54 flat Wednesday morning as he works toward a yet-to-be determined next start which could come in either the GI Runhappy Travers S. at Saratoga Aug. 24 or in the GI Pennsylvania Derby at Parx Sept. 21. “I just want to make sure he is 100%,” trainer Jason Servis told the Monmouth press office. “He’s still not there yet.” Servis said a decision on the Travers would come Aug. 19 or 20. Servis said that Maximum Security did a mile of work in total Wednesday morning. “He went the first half in 1:06 and the second half in :54 [seconds],” Servis said. “He did good. I was just getting some air in him. Nothing serious.” The post Maximum Security Stretches Legs at MTH, Next Start Up in Air appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

G2 Coventry S. winner Arizona (Ire) (No Nay Never) was not among the final entries for Friday’s G1 Keeneland Phoenix S. when the field for the six-furlong contest at the The Curragh was drawn on Wednesday. The quintet standing their ground is headed by Juddmonte’s unbeaten homebred Siskin (First Defence). The Ger Lyons trainee won the Listed Marble Hill S. at second asking over this course and distance on May 24 before adding the G2 Railway S. over the same on June 29. He is reopposed by the Railway second and ‘TDN Rising Star’ Monarch of Egypt (American Pharoah). He is one of three trained by Aidan O’Brien, who also fields the G2 July S. winner Royal Lytham (Ire) (Gleneagles {Ire}) and the maiden winner Mount Fuji (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}). The field is completed by John Joseph Murphy’s July 26 maiden winner Think Big (Ire) (Night Of Thunder {Ire}). The post Siskin Takes On Four In The Phoenix appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Trainer John Gosden is working back from the G1 Champion S. at Ascot on Oct. 19 with ‘TDN Rising Star’ King Of Comedy (Ire) (Kingman {GB}), and the G1 St James’s Palace S. second will be seen next in the Aug. 21 G1 Juddmonte International at York. “I said after the St James’s Palace S. that the Champion S. would be an obvious target. I think it will be right up his alley,” Gosden said. “We’ve freshened him up and given him a break since Ascot. He was on the go fairly early in the spring. I think in the end his best trip is going to be a mile and a quarter and he likes Ascot. He’ll be suited by the trip and the track. “He’s going to run in the Juddmonte International and he wouldn’t necessarily go straight to Ascot as he’s been entered in the Qipco Irish Champion S. as well. He’s going the right way and we’ve always thought enough of him.” King Of Comedy could meet another ‘TDN Rising Star’ son of the red-hot Kingman in the G1 Champion S.: the Juddmonte homebred Headman (GB), trained by Roger Charlton. Headman will first try to emulate his sire with a win in Sunday’s G1 Prix Jacques le Marois. “Headman is going to run in Deauville so we’ll see how he goes from there, but he certainly could be one for the Champion S.,” said Teddy Grimthorpe, racing manager to Khalid Abdullah. The post Champion Plan For King Of Comedy appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

The Empire Racing Club will present an educational series Aug. 11 from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. in the Fasig-Tipton pavilion in Saratoga Springs, New York. Empire Racing Club’s coordinator Christina Bossinakis will serve as the moderator and there will be four presentations from guest speakers. They are: “Thoroughbred Auctions: Behind the Scenes at a Major Horse Sale,” from the Fasig-Tipton team; “Increase Your Odds of Making Money in the Thoroughbred Industry” from the Green Group’s and DJ Stables’ Len Green, who writes a monthly TDN column; “Buying for the First Time at Auction,” by NYTHA and Empire Racing Club board member Rob Masiello; and “A Closer Look at Yearling Conformation and Pedigree: What the Experts are Looking For,” by the Taylor Made Sales Agency. Each presentation will be followed by a question-and-answer period. Interested parties may register at https://empireracingclub.wildapricot.org/event-3495994 The post Empire Racing Club To Present Educational Series appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article