Wandering Eyes

G1 Irish 2000 Guineas winner Phoenix of Spain (Ire) (Lope de Vega {Ire}) is set to step up in trip after disappointing in the G1 Sussex S. last week. He holds entries in the G1 Juddmonte International at York on Aug. 21 and the G1 Irish Champion S. at Leopardstown on Sept. 14. Trainer Charlie Hills admitted he does not know what to attribute the colt’s lacklustre Sussex effort to. “He had a canter [on Tuesday] and moved really nicely,” Hills said. “We are just scratching our heads. Whether the track suited him, I’m not sure, as plenty of horses don’t handle Goodwood. “We don’t know where we are going to go straight away, but the next week or two will tell us where to go. I think we are definitely looking to step him up to 10 furlongs. He is in a couple of 10-furlong races now and that is something we will look towards. We have a couple more tests to do this week and we will know a bit more.” The post Phoenix Of Spain Up In Trip appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

In the midst of a hot streak for Japanese-bred runners in Britain, 2017 G1 Japan Cup winner Cheval Grand (Jpn) (Heart’s Cry {Jpn}) is gearing up for a second British start of the summer in the G1 Juddmonte International at York on Aug. 21. The 7-year-old entire kicked off 2019 with a second in the G1 Dubai Sheema Classic on Mar. 30, after which he was beaten 13 lengths by Enable (GB) (Nathaniel {Ire}) in the G1 King George VI and Queen Elizabeth S. on July 27, an effort assistant trainer Yusuke Oe attributed to the soft going. “Cheval Grand is in very good form,” Oe said. “He’s training towards York and we’re trying to get him better than last time. The ground was too soft for him in the King George. It was very unfortunate that it kept raining from the night before until the afternoon of the race and it was too slippy for him. He is a horse who prefers firm ground. “He will have another few gallops before York. He was fit in the King George, but he was beaten by two very brilliant horses in Enable and Crystal Ocean. Last month I visited York myself to see the racecourse and meet with the clerk of the course, William Derby. It felt like a racecourse with a good atmosphere.” Deirdre (Jpn) (Harbinger {GB}) became just the second-ever Japanese-bred winner of a British Group 1 when taking the Nassau S. at Goodwood last week, and Adrian Beaumont of the International Racing Bureau confirmed on Wednesday that while the G1 Irish Champion S. on Sept. 14 is likely the next port of call for the 5-year-old mare, connections are still entertaining the possibility of targets in France, America and British Champions Day. The Japanese brigade suffered a blow on Wednesday when it was revealed that this year’s G1 Tokyo Yushun (Japanese Derby) winner Roger Barows (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}), who had been targeting the G1 Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe, has been retired due to tendonitis. Roger Barows will no doubt have high hopes pinned on him to be the heir of his late great sire Deep Impact, especially considering he comes from the female family of his sire’s highest earner Gentildonna (Jpn). Trainer Katsuhiko Sumii told Racing Post, “After a discussion with the owner we have decided he will be retired and sent to stud. His pedigree is very valuable because of his sire Deep Impact’s death. It was good for him that he could win the Japanese Derby.” Still under consideration for the Arc are Japanese-breds Blast Onepiece (Jpn) (Harbinger {GB}), Deirdre, Fierement (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) and Kiseki (Jpn) (Rulership {Jpn}). The post Grand Gearing Up For York; Roger Barows Retired appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

SARATOGA SPRINGS N.Y.–While Tapit ran the ring during Monday’s session with the two top-priced yearlings, it was Curlin day at Fasig-Tipton’s Saratoga Selected Yearlings Sale Tuesday with a trio of colts by the Hill ‘n’ Dale stallion reaching seven figures. Hips 174 and 153 topped the session and the sale at $1.5 million and Hip 159 tied Monday’s Tapit topper, Hip 80, at a cool $1 million. “It’s really pretty simple: quality sells,” said Fasig-Tipton President Boyd Browning. “We had a remarkable group of horses on offer tonight and the buyers responded very favorably. You thank the consignors and the owners and breeders who provided us with the opportunity to sell a great collection of horses tonight and over the last two nights.” A total of 135 yearlings changed hands over the two-day auction for a gross of $55,547,000 with the average hitting a record $411,459 and a record median of $350,000. Forty-seven horses failed to find new homes for an RNA rate of 25.82%. Last year, 170 yearlings sold for $62,794,000 with an average of $369,376 and a median of $300,000. Tuesday’s session saw 74 horses summon $32,772,000 with the average reaching $442,865 and the median at $360,000. Twenty-three horses were led from the ring unsold. “I would not have dared this morning to say we would average $442,000,” said Browning. “We are thrilled overall with the results of 2019 and we will try for 2020 to recruit an even better group of horses. We think this is the greatest place in the world to sell a nice yearling. Next year we will really be busting our tails because it is the 100th anniversary of Saratoga.” He continued, “I think we live in a very realistic market, where buyers are willing to pay what they consider to be a fair price and probably a little bit more. There is tremendous competition at the upper end of the market place. People are craving to have horses to run at Saratoga next summer or run in the Classics two years from now and they are willing to pay for them, but they have limits.” Bloodstock agent David Ingordo, who selected one of the co-toppers, Hip 174, was one of many buyers to agree with Browning on the state of the Saratoga marketplace. “If you have the right horse, people are paying for it,” Ingordo said. “They have high expectations here for the buyers. They have to jump through all the hoops like they always do. Fasig did a great job with their first sale here without Bill Graves helping to get good horses here like they always do.” Conrad Bandoroff of Denali Stud, who sold two of the seven-figure Curlin colts (Hips 153 and 159), expressed similar sentiments from the seller’s point of view. “Saratoga can be tough because people have a lot of time to view horses and they almost overthink sometimes,” Bandoroff said. “But, if you bring the right horses that can withstand the scrutiny, you will be duly rewarded.” Curlin the Color of the Day There was a healthy debate around grounds in the days leading up to the Saratoga auction as to just which of the yearlings by Curlin would top the boutique sale and at the end of two sessions, the brilliant stallion did not disappoint. Curlin, who stands at John Sikura’s Hill ‘n’ Dale Farm, was represented by three of the sale’s four seven-figure transactions, including the two $1.5-million co-toppers. In all, 10 yearlings by Curlin sold at Saratoga this week for a total of $8,350,000 and an average of $835,000. The results continued a big year in the sales ring for the 15-year-old stallion, who topped the Fasig-Tipton Gulfstream Sale with a $3.65-million juvenile. His winners on the racetrack this season include Grade I winner Vino Rosso and graded winners Gladiator King, Lady Apple, Campaign, Electric Forest, Global Campaign, Tenfold, Point of Honor, and Mylady Curlin. “It’s very rewarding to watch Curlin emerge as a great sire and be justly rewarded in the sales ring,” Sikura said. “The quality of his book has increased exponentially each year. I am sure the best is yet to come on the racetrack and in the sales ring. Our association with Stonestreet and the shared success of Curlin has been one of the highlights of my career.” —@JessMartiniTDN Partnership Hits High Note for Curlin Colt Shane McGrath, chief executive officer of the Fung family’s Australian-based Aquis Farm, came to Saratoga with a directive to find the best yearling he could. McGrath teamed with veteran bloodstock agent Demi O’Byrne and midway through Tuesday’s second session of the Fasig-Tipton Saratoga sale, he partnered up with Let’s Go Stable and Crawford Farm and struck to secure a colt by Curlin for a co-sale-topping $1.5 million. McGrath, along with O’Byrne, trainer Todd Pletcher, and James Scatuorchio did his bidding while standing along the back row of seats in the pavilion. “We’ve had Demi on board for a while and we came up here and looked at 25 colts and he said this was the one,” McGrath said. “I came up and looked at him and I agreed with him. And fortunately, Todd Pletcher loved him as well. At the end of the day, when you have the colt of the sale, you’re going to have to step up and you’re going to have to bat up. We’re a big operation down in Australia and we want to get global.” Based in Hong Kong, Tony Fung is in the global financial services and investment industry. Aquis assets in Australia include a $400-million luxury hotel on The Esplanade in Surfers Paradise and the Casino Canberra in the Australian Capital Territory (ACT). Fung’s son Justin manages the family’s Australian interests. Of the Aquis’s presence in the Australian Thoroughbred industry, McGrath said, “We have farms in Queensland, farms in New South Wales and we just opened a new farm in Victoria. It’s a big operation in Australia. And what they’d like to do is experience world racing. We ran a horse in Dubai last year. We had a horse run really well at Goodwood last week. Justin, Tony’s son, really wants to get involved in the American side of things and hopefully this horse is the catalyst.” O’Byrne added, “I just really liked him and I love Curlin as a stallion. He’ll be trained by Todd.” The yearling (hip 153) is out of Chilean champion Wapi (Chi) (Scat Daddy). The chestnut was consigned by Denali Stud on behalf of breeders Don Alberto Corporation and Three Chimneys Farm, who teamed to purchased the mare with the Curlin colt in utero for $1.05 million at the 2017 Keeneland November sale. “Our expectations were high,” admitted Three Chimneys’ Chris Baker. “We really liked the colt. That was well beyond the reserve, but when two people who really want the horse hook up and have the resources to go, there is no telling where it will go. So to a certain extent, it’s not surprising but it certainly exceeded our expectations and was well beyond the reserve.” Don Alberto’s Fabricio Buffolo added of the yearling, “We always liked him from day one. Since he was born, he was a fantastic colt. We were kind of not surprised about the price, because we always thought he was a fantastic colt who could bring a lot of money. That’s why we thought bringing him to Saratoga would be a great place for him.” The Chilean super mare, who was named champion 3-year-old filly in her native country in 2015, appealed to the South American-based principals of both partners, according to Baker. “There was certainly an affinity for Don Alberto for her being Chilean and an Oaks and Derby winner and she was a tremendous race mare over there,” Baker said. “Scat Daddy, you don’t have to say much. It’s well known what he is. And the Scat Daddy bringing the speed to the cross of Curlin, the mating was very attractive as well. It was an easy thing to get excited about with two South American owners who had a great appreciation for that Chilean form.” Wapi produced a colt by Three Chimneys’ champion Gun Runner in 2019, but passed away after a recent bout with colic. “She colicked 2 1/2 weeks ago, so she is no longer with us, but she does have a Gun Runner colt who is an exceptional colt as well,” Baker said. “So, a lot of remorse in having lost her and now we’ll need to find a mare to go out and replace her. But she was on her way to being an important broodmare and maybe, through the two offspring she does have, she’ll prove to be one.” —@JessMartiniTDN Yet Another Curlin Colt Brings Seven Figures Curlin was the talk of the town in Saratoga Springs the past few days and he did not disappoint with three seven-figure colts. Bloodstock agent David Ingordo snapped up the last of that trio of coveted colts (Hip 174) for a co-topping $1.5 million on behalf of a partnership led by West Point Thoroughbreds’ Terry Finley, who signed the ticket as West Point, Siena, Woodford, Valdes Singleton, Sandbrook and Freeman. The other co-topper was also a son of Curlin, Hip 153. “We got a really good colt for the West Coast last night, so this one will probably stay on the East Coast,” said Ingordo, referring to Monday’s session-topping Tapit colt (Hip 80). “That is what we were expecting, between $1 million and $2 million. Those kind of horses are always going to be expensive. We got fortunate that they did not go crazy on the price.” Ingordo compared the chestnut to another successful offspring of Curlin he purchased, champion filly Stellar Wind. “He is the image of Stellar Wind in the head and the body, except in colt form,” said Ingordo, who heads Lane’s End’s bloodstock division. “We have obviously seen a lot of Curlins because we had him at Lane’s End and got him started. A lot of his success came off our breedings and this is what the good foals look like.” He continued, “He is what you want in a racehorse. He is real classic. He looks like the oil paintings they have upstairs.” The colt was consigned by Arthur Hancock’s Stone Farm on behalf of breeder Bobby Flay. Finley credited Hancock with selling him on the yearling. “As you grow up in the business, you really appreciate the wisdom Arthur Hancock offers and he really liked this colt, so that really sold me,” Finley said. “Siena Farm and other people jumped in. It all just came together.” Hip 174 is a second-generation Flay homebred and the first foal out of GSW & GISP America (A.P. Indy). The celebrity chef privately purchased his second dam, SP Lacadena (Fasliyev), and sold her for $1.3 million in foal to Bernardini at the 2015 Keeneland November Sale. Flay raced America after she RNA’d for $725,000 at Keeneland September and she won the GIII Turnback the Alarm H., closing out her career with earnings of $580,532. The mares hail from the family of GSW and blue hen Better Than Honour, who produced a pair of GI Belmont S. winners in Jazil (Seeking the Gold) and champion filly Rags to Riches (A.P. Indy). “I don’t think you ever expect something that good, but I was hoping the horse would sell well,” Flay said. “He has had a lot of interest over the past week.” Curlin has been quite good to Flay over the past year. He sold his Grade I winner Dame Dorothy (Bernardini)’s first foal, a filly by the Hill ‘n’ Dale stallion, for $1.05 million at the Keeneland September Sale. The now 2-year-old named Spice Is Nice was purchased by Jacob West on behalf of Robert and Lawana Low. “I breed to proven stallions,” Flay said. “With the kind of families that I own, I am only going to use the top families in the stud book. Curlin has proven himself to be a fantastic stallion in the past few years and people want to own his progeny, so that is the kind of stallion I am going to always use.”–@CDeBernardisTDN LaPenta, Bridlewood Team For Curlin Colt Four years ago, Bob LaPenta and John and Leslie Malone’s Bridlewood Farm teamed up to buy future GI Belmont S. winner Tapwrit (Tapit) for $1.2 million at the Fasig-Tipton Saratoga sale. The partners were back in action Tuesday, going to $1 million to secure one of the sessions’ three seven-figure Curlin (hip 159) colts. “Bridlewood Farm and Mr. LaPenta teamed up before,” LaPenta’s racing manager John Panagot said. “We had Tapwrit, who we bought from this same sale, and we have a few current 2-year-olds together.” The chestnut colt is out of Yes Liz (Yes It’s True) and was consigned to the Saratoga sale by Denali Stud on behalf of breeder Stonestreet Thoroughbreds Holdings. Stonestreet purchased the mare as a 2-year-old for $200,000 at the 2013 OBS April sale and she was second in the farm’s gold and burgundy colors in that year’s Sorority S. Yes Liz’s first foal, a colt by Into Mischief, sold for $500,000 at the 2017 Fasig-Tipton Saratoga sale. She produced a colt by Maclean’s Music this year. “Any time you get a chance to buy a Stonestreet-raised yearling, it’s an extra incentive to buy,” Panagot said. “We thought he was the most well-balanced horse in the sale. We are looking for colts, but if a filly comes up, she comes up. But we were here looking for colts and we thought this was the best athlete here and by possibly the best dirt stallion in the country.” Panagot said a trainer had not yet been picked out for the yearling. Denali Stud consigned two of the three seven-figure yearlings to sell at Saratoga Tuesday. In all, Denali sold eight horses during the Saratoga sale for a total of $5,825,000 and an average of $728,125. “We’ve been coming to Saratoga for a long time,” Conrad Bandoroff said. “We love selling here. We came into this sale thinking and hoping that we had a good group. We got some really nice feedback and compliments throughout the pre-sale inspections. I have to admit, I think this is the best group we ever brought up here. We were never not busy, which was nice. We get to work for really good people. At the end of the day, you have to have a high-quality product up here and we are very careful what we bring up here.” Bandoroff credited the late Bill Graves, who, as a senior vice president at Fasig-Tipton, was instrumental in the evolution of the Saratoga sale, with some of Denali’s success this week. “We missed the million-dollar mark just barely last year, so this year was for Bill Graves,” Bandoroff said. “He meant a lot to our operation and we were lucky to have him smiling down. The stars aligned and that’s what you need sometimes.” —@JessMartiniTDN A Curlin for Fireman On an evening with a seemingly endless parade of dazzling Curlins, it was somehow fitting that the initial salvo for the stallion’s offspring was fired by trainer Ken McPeek, who purchased a colt by the Hill ‘n’ Dale stallion for $950,000 early in Tuesday’s second session of the Saratoga sale. McPeek signed the ticket on the future champion at $57,000 at the 2005 Keeneland September sale. “I bought him for Paul Fireman, the founder of Reebok,” McPeek said after signing the ticket on hip 134 out back. “He partnered in on [Grade I winner] Restless Rider (Distorted Humor) and a lot of other horses and he wants top, top quality. Paul likes playing at the high level. Of course, I bought Curlin for a little bit less, but he was a similar type horse.” Hip 134 is out of Grade I winner Taris (Flatter) and was consigned by Hill ‘n’ Dale Sales Agency on behalf of his breeder, Heider Family Stables. Of the final price on the yearling, McPeek admitted, “I expected to go higher. I thought it was going to be a lot stronger than even that. I feel kind of lucky that we got him for even that number.” —@JessMartiniTDN A Pharoah for Coolmore Coolmore’s M.V. Magnier added another yearling by the farm’s Triple Crown-winning stallion American Pharoah to its roster late in Tuesday’s session of the Saratoga sale when the team went to $950,000 to acquire hip 191. Out of Grade I-placed Bon Jovi Girl (Malibu Moon), the yearling was consigned by St George Sales on behalf of breeder Bryant Prentice’s Pursuit of Success. “He’s a lovely horse, very well prepared,” said Coolmore’s Adrian Wallace. “He came up here and jumped through all the hoops. We loved him from the moment we saw him. We are very happy to buy a horse from Archie [St George]-he always does a great job.” American Pharoah’s fast start in the sales ring has been matched by the early success of his progeny on the racetrack. The first-crop stallion has seven winners to date, including group stakes winner Maven and group-placed Monarch of Egypt. “Obviously, it’s very gratifying to see how the American Pharoahs are doing,” Wallace said. “And it’s great to see how well they are running on dirt and turf. The best is hopefully yet to come. But if you had told us by the end of July, beginning of August, that he already would have had seven winners and a few stakes horses here and in Europe, I think it’s fair to say it’s very gratifying for the breeders who bred to him and for us who stand him. Obviously we supported him heavily ourselves, but we’re looking to hopefully pick up a few more both here and in September.” Bon Jovi Girl, who is a half-sister to champion Gio Ponti (Tale of the Cat), has already produced graded winner You’re to Blame (Distorted Humor). She was purchased by Prentice for $950,000 at the 2010 Keeneland January sale. “We had a lot of interest, he was a very nice horse and he was very well received,” said St George. “Congratulations to Mr. Prentice and his whole team. I’d like to thank Coolmore and everyone else who was interested in him. We’ve had him on the farm since November and he’s a really special horse.” St George added of Prentice, “He has eight mares on the farm and they are really nice mares. They breed to some good horses and we’re just happy to be part of it.” —@JessMartiniTDN Medaglia d’Oro Proves To Be The Gift That Keeps on Giving for Edwards One of Bob Edwards’ earliest racing successes was MGISW New Money Honey, a Medaglia d’Oro filly out of a Distorted Humor mare. He returned to that well when choosing a mate for his own Distorted Humor mare Veracity and the resulting filly summoned $1 million from Lael Stables at this auction last year. The Darley stalwart and Veracity provided another home run for Edwards in Saratoga Tuesday when her latest Medaglia d’Oro filly (Hip 150) summoned $900,000 from Claiborne Farm. The operation’s Bernie Sams signed the ticket on behalf of a new client. “We bought her for a client to race, who is starting in the business,” Sams said. “She fits the mold and we own the family. She is a nice filly. We sold her dam as a yearling.” Edwards, who races as e Five Racing, but breeds as Fifth Avenue Bloodstock, was all smiles after shaking hands with Sams and Claiborne’s Walker Hancock. “This is the second baby I have out of the mare, both by Medaglia d’Oro, and I have a third on the farm now,” he said. “I got $1 million last year and now $900,000, so I will probably keep the one next year.” Edwards continued, “We loved her. She has a really nice page and it is a live page thanks to Claiborne. She looked really good. She is a little different body type than her sister last year and her sister on the farm. We are excited to sell her. It is a lot of money.” Bloodstock agent Mike Ryan purchased Veracity on Edwards’ behalf for $460,000 at the 2016 Keeneland January Sale. Her 2017 Medaglia d’Oro filly, now named Correctness, was her first foal. Hailing from a deep Claiborne family, Veracity is out of MGSW & MGISP Yell (A.P. Indy), making her a full-sister to SW Cheery, who is the dam of MGISW Elate (Medaglia d’Oro). Veracity is also a full-sister to MSP Shrill and a half to GISP Chide (Blame) and the dam of GII Jim Dandy S. victor Tax (Arch). “Medaglia d’Oro is a great cross with a Distorted Humor mare,” said Edwards, who consigns his horses with Indian Creek. “It worked well with New Money Honey. I met Walker [Hancock] a while back when I was looking at horses and he put me on the mare [Veracity] and they bought the horse today, so it was great.” —@CDeBernardisTDN Best Buys Most Expensive Frosted to Date Larry Best of OXO Equine made his presence known early in Tuesday’s session when going to $850,000 for a filly from the first crop of MGISW Frosted (Hip 130), making her the most expensive progeny to date for her young sire by Tapit. “She is just a beautiful filly,” Best said after signing the ticket out back beside bloodstock advisor John Dowd. “I like the cross with Victory Gallop. She looks the part. I don’t think you can lose on her long term. She is a good buy at $850,000.” As for the price, Best said, “I expected to go in this range. She was never in her stall. I am surprised she is still standing. I am surprised I am still standing!” The gray was bred by Bayne and Christina Welker in partnership with consignor Denali Stud. The Welkers purchased Hip 130’s MSW dam Swingit (Victory Gallop) for $50,000 at the 2016 Keeneland November Sale, carrying a foal by Bodemeister. The resulting colt brought $310,000 from Robert LaPenta’s Whitehorse Stables at this auction last year and the Welkers bred to Frosted for $50,000. Swingit is also the dam of MGISP millionaire Neolithic (Harlan’s Holiday). —@CDeBernardisTDN Casse Returns to the Well Bloodstock agent Justin Casse picked out last term’s GI La Troienne S. heroine Salty (Quality Road), so it was no surprise to find him signing the $850,000 ticket for her half-sister by Into Mischief (Hip 140) in the initial stages of the second session. He signed the ticket on behalf of Team Casse and when asked to the name the client, said, “You might be able to figure it out.” “As soon as I saw this filly, I was kind of blown away,” Casse said. “She stands over a lot of ground for an Into Mischief. The family has been good to us. I thought she was a superb athlete. Even if she wasn’t a half-sibling to Salty, she stands on her own physically.” Salty was campaigned by longtime Casse client Gary Barber in partnership with her co-breeder Chester Prince and Chris Baccari, who bred and consigned this filly. In addition to her top- level success at Churchill Downs, the bay captured the 2017 GII Gulfstream Park Oaks and summoned $3 million from Don Alberto at last term’s Fasig-Tipton November Sale. When asked if this yearling reminded him of her sister, Casse said, “A little bit. Salty had that stretch. Into Mischief usually doesn’t get you that, so it must have come from the momma.” Chester and Anne Prince bred Hip 140 in partnership with Seclusive Farm. Baccari purchased the bay filly’s dam, SP Theycallmeladyluck (Dixie Union), for $60,000 at the 2009 Keeneland September Sale. She is a daughter of GSW Vegas Prospector (Crafty Prospector). —@CDeBernardisTDN Young Keeps Busy at Saratoga Bloodstock agent Steve Young flew under the radar during Monday’s opening session, but he came out swinging Tuesday, snapping up a trio of pricey yearlings. Just a few hips into the evening, the former trainer signed the ticket on a $450,000 colt by first-crop sire Runhappy (Hip 116). A $650,000 daughter of American Pharoah (Hip 151) was next on Young’s list and he saved the best for last, concluding his shopping with a $850,000 colt by Medaglia d’Oro (Hip 157), who had been one of the week’s buzz horses. “He is a terrific horse,” Young said of the Medaglia d’Oro colt. “We vetted him and bid on him as a weanling and did not buy him. The nine months have done him good and he is a super nice horse. If we want to find a fault with him, I don’t know what it would be.” As for the price, Young said, “He stands on his own merit. He is a stallion if he hits, so that is what he is supposed to cost.” Gainesway’s Brian Graves purchased Hip 157 for $470,000 at the Keeneland November Sale on behalf of his Clear Ridge pinhooking partnership. Bred by Team Valor International, the bay is out of the unraced Mineshaft mare Wide Range, who is a daughter of GSW Ivanavinalot (West Acre) and a half-sister to two-time champion Songbird (Medaglia d’Oro). Wide Range also produced GSW Mico Margarita (Run Away and Hide).–@CDeBernardisTDN Baoma Breeding Off to Quick Start Susan and Charlie Chu’s Baoma Corporation has enjoyed standout success on the racetrack, most notably with sprint champion Drefong (Gio Ponti), but two years ago the couple decided to give breeding a try and the program was quick out of the gate with a son of American Pharoah selling for $800,000 Tuesday in Saratoga. The yearling, purchased by White Birch Farm and M.V. Magnier, is the first foal out of graded winner Super Majesty (Super Saver), who was purchased by the Chus for $475,000 at the 2017 Fasig-Tipton February sale. “We were very proud,” Susan Chu said of the results. “A few years ago, I decided to expand into breeding. I tried to buy very good broodmares and I started to get into that so much more. It is such a joy when you see the babies be born and see them with the momma in the field. We always fly to Kentucky to see our babies. And that’s a totally different experience than racing. It’s totally different. It is not just the passion for the sport, when you see the breeding part, I think I really like that.” Chu continued, “This is the first baby that we had. We bought Super Majesty just because we wanted to breed to American Pharoah.” Chu currently has 25 broodmares and plans to sell all of the resulting foals. Chu and her husband also purchased a yearling at the two-day Saratoga sale, going to $750,000 for a daughter of Into Mischief (hip 89). “Pretty much yes, because of my husband,” Chu said of that purchase. “Charlie loves the racing. He has such passion for it-it’s his dream. We hope to add her to the broodmare band. She has a very good pedigree, very good physical.”–@JessMartiniTDN Frosted Colt Rewards Facklers Thomas and Lori Fackler traditionally sell their Best a Luck Farm homebreds as 2-year-olds, but decided to strike while the iron was hot with a yearling from the first crop of Grade I winner Frosted and the Ocala couple were rewarded handsomely Monday evening in Saratoga. Just the sixth horse through the ring at the opening session of the Fasig-Tipton sale, the yearling (hip 7) sold for $500,000 to Spendthrift Farm. “That was awesome for a homebred,” Lori Fackler said of the transaction. “He is an extremely athletic, very, very intelligent colt and he was that way from within a few days. He’s really a special colt and we have really high hopes for him. We understand he’s going to a great place, so hopefully it’s a win-win for everybody.” Of the decision to send the colt through the ring as a yearling, rather than as part of one of Best a Luck’s consignments to the OBS juvenile sales next spring, Fackler explained, “It was just because it was Frosted and Saratoga–we actually watched Frosted a couple of years ago and really loved him–and we thought this might be the special place for him. It was hard to let him go, but to be able to sell one like that as a yearling, it’s hard to duplicate it as a 2-year-old. A lot of stuff has to go right, even though he was one of our favorites.” The dark bay colt is out of Flirting with Fate (Saint Ballado), a mare the Facklers purchased for $28,000 at the 2007 Keeneland November sale. The mare is the dam of GI Toyota Blue Grass S. winner Dance with Fate (Two Step Salsa). “I just liked her look, the way she walked, and that she was by Saint Ballado,” Fackler recalled of the mare’s appeal. Flirting with Fate had another big score at the Saratoga sale three years ago when her colt by Uncle Mo sold for $650,000. Best a Luck, which partners on some 12 mares, owns just three or four mares on its own. The Facklers picked up another of the farm’s stalwart mares at that same 2007 November sale, going to $35,000 to acquire Slew’s Quality (Elusive Quality). That mare went on to produce champion female sprinter Shamrock Rose (First Dude). “Both mares were bought at the same time, which is kind of really, really lucky,” Fackler said with a smile. —@JessMartiniTDN The post Curlin Reigns Supreme at Saratoga appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

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 ... View the full article

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... View the full article

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, winni... View the full article

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 (2... View the full article

It was the day “a champion became a legend”. Makybe Diva’s unprecented third successive Melbourne Cup triumph will go down as one of the most remarkable achievements in Australian sport. View the full article

Dez (inside) winning the Gr.3 Winter Cup (1600m). Saturday’s Gr.3 Winter Cup (1600m) added some black-type lustre to a brief foray into thoroughbred breeding for Carole and Doug Isaacson. The time-honoured Riccarton feature was won in strong style by Dez, who was bred by the Dannevirke couple in unusual circumstances. Doug Isaacson is a respected name in show-jumping, where he competed with distinction for several decades before retiring earlier this year at the age of 71. One of his many victories in that arena came in Masterton a decade ago, where the winner’s prize set the Dez story in motion. Doug Isaacson is currently in Scotland, but Carole reflected this week on how the unusual story played out. “It all started with a prize that Doug won, but he didn’t really want to breed a racehorse and I did,” she said. “Doug was competing in a Grand Prix during a show in Masterton, and Sam Williams from Little Avondale Stud walked up to the announcer and said he’d add a service to Zed to the prize. Zed was standing at Little Avondale at that stage. “Doug won that competition, and then we had to choose a mare for the service to Zed. I happened to see a mare advertised somewhere, where the lady that owned her said she was upsetting a gelding that she had. I did some research and saw that this mare had won a couple of races, and I thought she might be suitable.” The mare was Black Falcon, a daughter of Felix the Cat. From 25 starts in the Karen Zimmerman stable, she recorded two wins and four placings. The victories came over 2060m at Wanganui and 2200m at Awapuni, both in 2006. “When we got the mare, Doug commented on what a lovely mare she was,” Carole Isaacson continued. “Then he got on her and said she felt terrific to ride, and he thought she was a very good jumper too. I said, ‘Too bad – she’s going in the broodmare paddock.’ “Unfortunately, Dez was the only foal we were able to breed from her. We lost her the following year while she was foaling a warmblood. That’s the sad thing about it.” When the time came to start preparing Dez for a racetrack career, the Isaacsons had their hands full with their show-jumpers. The beneficiary of that was Simon Wilson, an old friend from equestrian circles. “Once he was a rising two-year-old, we were busy with our show-jumpers and knew we weren’t going to be able to do both,” Isaacson said. “Doug knew Simon well from show-jumping, and when he was over in Waipukurau one day he offered to sell him the horse.” Wilson shares ownership of Dez with friends Sam Lennox and Paul Mitchell, and he trains him at Waipukurau. Nursed back to health after a tendon injury in the early stages of his career, the now eight-year-old gelding has won seven of his 17 starts. He finished third in last year’s Winter Cup before going two better on Saturday. “We’ve been very proud to watch everything that he’s done,” Isaacson said. “We’ve followed him closely all the way through and we’re really pleased. Simon has done a great job with him and it’s been fantastic to watch. “Saturday’s win was special. He’s a horse who clearly loves racing and tries so hard.” While watching Dez is enough for now, Isaacson has not ruled out dipping her toes into thoroughbred waters again in the future. “We’ve had a bit to do with racing over the years without being directly involved – Doug’s dad was very much into it,” she said. “The only breeding we’ve done in recent years is a few crossbred horses, who we’ve sold. “But, now that Doug’s not doing the show-jumping any more, you never know.” Dez becomes the 11th stakes winner for Grangewilliam Stud stallion Zed, the well-bred son of Zabeel who has continued to deliver quality middle distance horses, stayers and jumpers. Standing at $6,000+GST this season, Zed is the sire of dual Group One winner Verry Elleegant, who is nearing a return and expected to be a major player in Australia in spring. View the full article

Saturday’s Gr.3 Winter Cup (1600m) added some black-type lustre to a brief foray into thoroughbred breeding for Carole and Doug Isaacson. The time-honoured Riccarton feature was won in strong style by Dez, who was bred by the Dannevirke couple in unusual circumstances. Doug Isaacson is a respected name in show-jumping, where he competed with distinction for several decades before retiring earlier this year at the age of 71. One of his many victories in that arena came in Masterton a decade ago... View the full article

The Curlin show continued Tuesday evening at the Fasig-Tipton Saratoga Yearling Sale when another son of the leading sire brought a co-topping $1.5 million from the partnership group of West Point, Woodford, Siena, Valdes Singleton, Sandbrook and Freeman. Consigned by Stone Farm, agent, Hip 174, the first foal out of GSW & MGISP America (A.P. Indy), was bred in Kentucky by B. Flay Thoroughbreds. This is the extended female family of bluehen mare Better Than Honour. A Curlin colt out of Chilean champion & MG1SW Wapi (Chi) (Scat Daddy) (Hip 153) brought $1.5 million from Aquis Farm Aus and Let’s Go Stable earlier in the session. The post Another Curlin Colt Brings Co-Leading $1.5 million at F-T appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

A Curlin colt out of Chilean champion & MG1SW Wapi (Chi) (Scat Daddy) brought $1.5 million from Aquis Farm Aus and Let’s Go Stable to lead the way Tuesday evening at the Fasig-Tipton Saratoga Yearling Sale. He was bred in Kentucky by Don Alberto Corporation and Three Chimneys Farm. Wapi brought $1.05 million from Don Alberto Corp. & Three Chimneys carrying this colt in utero at the 2017 KEENOV Sale. Hip 153 was consigned by Denali Stud, Agent V. Wapi had a Gun Runner colt earlier this year. It’s been a banner session at the Saratoga Sale for leading sire Curlin so far. Hip 159, a Curlin-Yes Liz colt (Yes It’s True) colt was purchased by Whitehorse & Bridlewood Farm for $1 million. He was consigned by Denali Stud, agent for Stonestreet Bred & Raised. Stonestreet Thoroughbred Holdings bred the colt. Another son of Curlin out of the classy GISW & ‘TDN Rising Star’ Taris (Flatter) (Hip 134), consigned by Hill ‘n’ Dale Sales Agency, brought $950,000 from Ken McPeek, agent for Fern Circle earlier this evening. Hip 134 was bred by Heider Family Stables. The post Fireworks for Curlin Colts at F-T Saratoga appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Daytona Red looked a promising proposition heading into last season, however, a tendon injury cut short those plans. The Shaune Ritchie-trained six-year-old won the Listed New Zealand St Leger (2500m) at Trentham in March 2018, but was forced to sit on the sidelines after suffering an injury in his subsequent preparation. “Unfortunately, he tweaked a tendon in the prep after that St Leger win, so he has been off the track,” Ritchie said. “He’s out at Kariotahi Beach with Luke Pertab. He’s on the water walker there and is just doing some straight work. “We are hoping to see him when the tracks dry up. We are reluctant to try him in the spring with the tracks still being a little bit wet. “I would say late in the spring and early in the summer he will be stepping back out on the race track. He has got a tonne of talent and a lot of raw ability.” Daytona Red beat Felaar and Bizzwinkle in the St Leger and while Ritchie is ruing lost opportunities, he is looking on the brighter side of the situation. “The Hawke’s Bay Cup (Listed, 2200m) winner was Felaar and the New Zealand Cup (Gr.3, 3200m) winner was Bizzwinkle,” Ritchie said. “He was a bit of a loss last season, it would have been nice to have him on the race track, but he was always a big, scopey, narrow style horse. “Now that he has filled out, sometimes these things can be a blessing in disguise. If the tendon does hold up, we have got an exciting summer ahead of us.” View the full article

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Walker aiming Elite Power at EW Barker Trophy View the full article

Trainer Stephen Gray will give King’s Speech his first 2000m test in the S$70,000 Class 3 race this Friday, keeping fingers crossed it will chart a path towards a golden prize in November. The son of Darci Brahma was last being prepped up towards the Singapore Derby (1800m) on July 21, but was disappointingly left out as the third emergency in the end. He ran in the Derby Consolation stakes, a Class 3 race over 1800m, closing off pleasingly for fifth, less than four lengths off the winner, Gold Strike, who was also the second Derby reserve. The Derby wasn’t meant to be, but Gray is still hopeful the Paul Hickman-owned four-time winner (1200m, 1400m, 1600m and 1800m) can become a Singapore Gold Cup contender one day. “He keeps improving this horse. He couldn’t make it for the Derby, but he ran well in the other race,” said the Kiwi handler. “He got a long way back after he drew wide, and made good ground carrying the big weight. “There was a 2000m race this Friday, we had to give him a run, as there are not many options for him. “We’ll give him a first test over 2000m and hope he comes through well. He’s not a big horse, but he’s nice and happy and deserves a shot. “If things go well, he could be a Gold Cup horse.” The Dester Singapore Gold Cup (2000m) on November 10 is the country’s premier handicap feature race which Gray captured once with Bahana in 2016. It is the third and final Leg of the Singapore Triple Crown series. The first two Legs are the Raffles Cup (1600m) on September 22 and the Queen Elizabeth II Cup (1800m) on October 20 Gray has booked a rider who knows King’s Speech well for having partnered him at two of his four wins – leading apprentice jockey Simon Kok Wei Hoong. “Simon Kok will ride him this Friday. He knows him well as he won twice on him,” said Gray. -STC View the full article

Trainer Stephen Gray will give King’s Speech his first 2000m test in the S$70,000 Class 3 race this Friday, keeping fingers crossed it will chart a path towards a golden prize in November. The son of Darci Brahma was last being prepped up towards the Singapore Derby (1800m) on July 21, but was disappointingly left out as the third emergency in the end. He ran in the Derby Consolation stakes, a Class 3 race over 1800m, closing off pleasingly for fifth, less than four lengths off the winner, Gol... View the full article

Champion expat reinsman Anthony Butt has a word of warning for Kiwi punters as our interest in the Breeders Crown heats ramps up at Shepparton tonight. Talented juveniles Zeuss Bromac and Perfect Stride contest different heats of the male series, which has a A$300,000 final at Melton on August 24, with Butt to partner Perfect Stride. Regular reinsman Zachary Butcher is actually in Victoria and will drive Zeuss Bromac, who he trains, but Butt will drive Perfect Stride as he has become the go-to man for big-money NSW owner Emilio Rosati. Butt partnered Ultimate Stride, owned by Rosati, to win the A$50,000 Redwood Trot at Maryborough on Sunday and is engaged to partner four of the eight New Zealand reps in the Breeders Crown. “It works well for me and I hope well for the horses connections,” says Butt mater-of-factly. “Obviously I watch the racing back home very close but also do the form for over here. And I have been thrilled by the support I am getting.” While former Canterbury-based Butt rates Perfect Stride a real speedster who can shock the Aussies in his heat tonight he does say changes to the series suggest punters on horses not drawn to lead should be careful. “With the changes to the series (all heats now in Victoria) all the horses starting in those two heats are guaranteed a place in the semi final next week. “So they could be tame races because those drawn to get back might not be able to win. “A horse like Perfect Stride follows out a good beginner and should be handy on the outer but he looks best driven with a sit. “And with this heat and semi make-up and maybe not much pressure in the heats I can see him having a hard job to win, unless somebody goes hard up front.” The usual leader bias of Breeders Crown heats, and often semis, could aid Zeuss Bromac tonight because while he is in by far the stronger heat he should settle handy from a front line draw Butt will also partner Pukekohe filly Best Western in her three-year-old fillies heat at Kilmore on tomorrow night but she also faces a second line draw but more importantly series hot favourite Princess Tiffany, who has drawn barrier one. View the full article

Northern veteran retired No Doctor Needed, the established veteran of the northern open class ranks, has been retired after the recurrence of a tendon injury. His longtime trainer Steve Telfer confirmed the move on Tuesday after discussions with the horse’s owners. “He’s just got ongoing tendon issues so we’ve made the decision to retire him,” said Telfer. “He’s been a lovely horse to deal with and has taken us to a lot of the big races, where he always tried hard and was there or thereabouts.” The just-turned nine-year-old won 16 races and over $332,000 in a career that also saw him contest three New Zealand Cups from 2015 to 2017. Telfer says stable life agrees with No Doctor Needed and he won’t be lost to Stonewall Stud anytime soon. “He’ll stay here on the farm and probably look after a few weanlings and yearlings. “In six months’ time, he might be able to do some light work in front of the babies. “He’s a horse that just loves the routine and loved racing, so it will be a big adjustment for him.” Country Cups star heads to Sydney One of the stars of last season’s Country Cups circuit has been sold and will do his future racing in Sydney. Funatthebeach took out the Geraldine, Ashburton, Central Otago and Invercargill Cups during a stellar summer for trainers Mark Purdon and Natalie Rasmussen last season. But as the season wore on, he found himself up in grade and competing against the likes of stablemates Turn It Up and Ashley Locaz and went nine starts without a win. His owners, Trevor Casey and Peter Hailes, have sold him to clients connected to the leading Menangle stable of Shane and Lauren Tritton. Funatthebeach flies out of Christchurch next week. Gath and Jenkin strike again The experienced buying combination of trainer Andy Gath and owner Norm Jenkin have struck again, acquiring two promising trotting mares in Monaro Maro and Miss Blissful. The pint-sized Monaro Maro, a daughter of Superfast Stuart, won five races this season for Blenheim trainer Merv Bryers, though that number would have been higher had she brought her best manners every start. Soon after she competed in the Harness Jewels at Addington, Gath swooped, and she has joined his Victorian stable alongside the likes of Tornado Valley, McLovin and Sunday’s Victorian Trotting Derby winner, Majestuoso. “Her best is quite good,” said Gath, who took possession of her last week. Waikato mare Miss Blissful, destined for open class this season after an excellent four-year-old term, will likely head to Gath next week. Co-trainer Jason Teaz said he and wife Megan were shocked and disappointed to be losing their stable star just a week after she returned from a winter spell. Miss Blissful is a finalist for Harness Racing New Zealand’s four-year-old trotting mare of the year award, alongside Kenny’s Dream, Show Gait and Zsa Zoe. View the full article

Addington’s most consistent horses of the spring are in for a big reward. Because not only will they be winning their usual stakes but the five most consistent pacers between August 16 and October 25 will share in a new $20,000 bonus scheme. And the Dunstan Horse Feeds Met Mega Series which begins next week won’t discriminate between the best horses in the country and maidens. The series will be open to all horses of both gaits with points accrued in all races at the 11 eligible meetings. Every horse who races will get points for every start. The top five horses on October 25, regardless of class or if they even win a race, will win $20,000 between them, distributed to their owners. The points for the races will be 10 for a win, 7 for second, 4 for third, 3 for fourth, 2 for fifth and one point for every other runner. So at the end of the series, a first for Addington, the Mega Series winner will get $10,000, second place $4000, $3000 for third, $2000 for fourth and the fifth horse’s owners will get $1000, all of that on top of the stakes money won at the eligible meetings. The news series should appeal to a wide array of owners because it not only rewards regular attendees at Addington but while open class horses are eligible they will be starting later and in less race. And any wins in even the most elite races are worth no more than a maiden trot. So while the best horses could accrue 20 or 30 points by winning three open class races, a consistent horse who starts at 10 meetings could accrue more by recording 10 fourth placings. “We are looking forward to partnering with Dunstan Horse Feeds to bring you this new series,” says long-time Addington racing secretary Brian Rabbitt. “Our aim is to reward those who attend Addington race meetings regularly and are competitive in doing so.” The series is a nice sponsorship fit for Dunstan, with their brand and the series likely to be in the forefront of connections of so many horses throughout the series. Territory Manager for Dunstan Horse Feeds Kristie Hill agreed. “Dunstan Horse Feeds are excited to be teaming up with Addington Raceway to bring you the series,” said Hill. “It is a series any horse, regardless of rating, can win so it is another step in Dunstan’s commitment to the Standardbred/Harness Racing Industry in New Zealand.” View the full article

Cool Aza Beel winning his trial heat at Te Teko on Tuesday. Te Teko has come to be a great starting point for many of Te Akau’s top two-year-olds and trainer Jamie Richards is hoping this year is no different. “It’s always an important date on the calendar for our team,” Richards said. “We have been fortunate this year with the use of the Te Rapa inside trials track, which has allowed for us to get a trial in to some of the horses during July rather than having to wait until Te Teko. “But it’s always an important date for us to kick-off the two-year-olds especially.” Te Akau dominated the two-year-old heats at the Bay of Plenty track on Tuesday, taking out all three 630m heats. Richards was pleased with what he saw and he is excited with the prospects of many of the stable’s juveniles at the dawn of the new season. “We have got some lovely two-year-olds around us,” Richards said. “David (Ellis, Te Akau principal) was as strong as he has ever been at the yearling sales and hopefully that is going to stand us in good stead for the upcoming season. “We have got some lovely horses that David bought and some lovely horses to train for outside clients, which is really exciting as well.” One of those outside clients is Chris Rutten who has a successful association with Richards through last season’s dual Group One-winning juvenile Yourdeel. Rutten purchased a Bullpoint colt for $100,000 out of Brighthill Farm’s New Zealand Bloodstock Book 1 Yearling Sale draft earlier this year and Richards thinks he might have another promising juvenile on his hands going by his heat win on Tuesday. “Chris has got a knack of picking them out at the sale,” Richards said. “It is a real privilege to have a horse in the stable for him, especially after we have had to say goodbye to Yourdeel, so hopefully this horse can fill the void. “I thought he trialled well. He’s a bit of an immature horse, he lacks concentration, but I think once he puts it all together he could hopefully turn into a Karaka Million horse. “We will give him a little bit of time, probably a couple of weeks, to freshen-up now. He is going to be a nice two-year-old for later in the season.” Richards was also pleased with the performance of More Than Ready colt Ready For This, who ran home well to deadheat his trial. “I was really happy with him,” Richards said. “Usually at Te Teko over 600m when they jump and rail they are very hard to run down and I thought he did a really good job from back in the field to make good steady ground. “When he got on the right leg halfway down he really attacked the line strongly. He’s a beautiful horse, he looks like a readymade two-year-old – a small to medium size with plenty of strength. “We will just see how he comes through, but he might have a couple of weeks to freshen a little bit as well and then get ready for later in the season.” Te Akau’s other two-year-old trial winner, Cool Aza Beel, won his heat by two lengths and he reminds Richards of a quality juvenile from last season. “He’s a Savabeel colt from a very fast Australian family that Dave bought off Fairdale. He’s a nice horse,” Richards said. “The way that he trialled there today, he really followed the rail and quickened in well. He looks like a nice prospect, he reminds me a lot of Aotea Lad, so hopefully he can live up to something like what he did as a two-year-old.” Aotea Lad won the Gr.2 Wakefield Challenge Stakes (1100m) on debut at Trentham last season before finishing runner-up in three consecutive stakes races. The three-year-old son of Savabeel also kicked off his season at Te Teko on Tuesday. “He had a nice, quiet trial today,” Richards said. “He wasn’t out there to do too much. “I am happy with how he is coming to hand. He is going to get a bit more serious in a couple of weeks at Te Rapa and all going well he will kick-off at Ruakaka in that three-year-old 1200m (Northland Breeders’ Stakes, Gr.3) up there.” Another Te Akau three-year-old that Richards thought was impressive in her trial was Rhapsody In Blue. “I like the way she found the line,” he said. “She has had one start for a second as a two-year-old. “She came from well off them and made nice, steady ground without really being asked to do too much. “She is a filly who is going to appreciate a little give in the track in the spring and hopefully we can work her through to some of those better races.” View the full article

Group One winning owner Scott Richardson. Group One-winning owner Scott Richardson passed away on Monday after a lengthy battle with illness. A former stock broker, Richardson was a director of the Auckland Racing Club for 11 years until 2002. A passionate racing man, he then turned his attention to his 100-acre property in Matamata which he called Flemington Farm, with well-regarded horse people Mark and Cath Lupton at the helm. Richardson’s pink silks with grey armbands became synonymous with success and his greatest triumph came when Diademe won the 2015 Gr.1 New Zealand Thoroughbred Breeders’ Stakes (1600m) at Te Aroha. Diademe, who was sold as a broodmare for A$740,000 at the conclusion of her racing career, was prepared by Murray Baker in partnership with Andrew Forsman. Richardson formed a good association with Baker and was also a strong supporter of his son Bjorn, who relocated to Sydney in 2011. “I first met Scott back in New Zealand around 2007 when I started training with my father,” Bjorn Baker said. “We are truly grateful for the association we had with him – in fact, there are over 70 winners on the board with Scott as owner and Murray or I as trainer. “When I moved to Australia to strike out on my own, Scott was one of the first to throw the weight of his support behind me, and continued to send me good horses such as Burbero and Mr Tipsy. “Scott was a Group One owner and a Group One bloke. I’ll raise a beer in his honour at Rosehill on Saturday. He will be missed.” Richardson also raced venerable stayer Highlad and promising mare Vee Cece. View the full article

At this time last year Bricks and Mortar (Giant’s Causeway) was starting over, re-learning the lessons that had enabled him to become a standout 3-year-old turf runner in 2017. Though he was nine months removed from career-saving surgery performed by Dr. Larry Bramlage at Rood and Riddle Equine Hospital in Lexington, Ky., there was no guarantee that he would be able to regain the brilliance. While sport is littered with tales of athletes who never could make a full comeback from injury, Bricks and Mortar is an unqualified success story. In this second chapter he has won all five of his starts–three of them in Grade I races this year–is top-ranked in the NTRA poll and is the 8-5 morning-line favorite in the Saturday’s GI Arlington Million at Arlington Park. “It’s gratifying to see a horse come back and do well, that you help them get to their potential,” Bramlage said. “We always joke about the fact that veterinarians that work on racehorses don’t retire. They try to retire and then you end up seeing them back part-time or seeing them as consultants. I think the reason is because it’s reinforcing to test your work continuously. And it keeps it interesting.” Bricks and Mortar has been anything but boring. Following a troubled third by three-quarters of a length in the GIII Hill Prince S. in October 2017, he was diagnosed with stringhalt, a neuro-muscular condition, in his right hind leg. Preakness winner War of Will (War Front) has a mild case of stringhalt, but Bricks and Mortar was far more severely affected, to the point where he could not gallop and needed surgery. During the lengthy recovery and re-training period he had to overcome another problem. Trainer Chad Brown acknowledged that during the 14 months between starts he feared that Bricks and Mortar, owned by Klaravich Stables and William Lawrence, might not make it back to competition. Brown said that even if he was able to return, Bramlage told him there was a 50-50 chance Bricks and Mortar would be capable at the same level. “Dr. Bramlage worked his magic. Again,” Brown said. “He’s operated on so many high-profile horses for us and got them back. This is probably one of his best pieces of work. This horse took a long time and he then had some other issues, some bone remodeling. We tried him back and he needed some more time. When he finally made it back he was better than ever.” The gap between the Hill Prince and an optional claimer at Gulfstream Park on Dec. 22, 2018 was 440 days. He won that first race by a half-length, has since won the GI Pegasus World Cup Turf Invitational, the GII Muniz Memorial Handicap, the GI Old Forester Turf Classic and the GI Manhattan and is once again a bright star in Brown’s talent-deep stable. “I’m pleasantly surprised,” Brown said. “I’m not surprised at his potential; I’m surprised he reached it, given his long break and the surgery and such. I always thought he had the potential to be this good. He was a remarkable 3-year-old, winning the [GII] Hall of Fame. He really never should have lost a race, this horse. In his two losses, he really was in a lot of trouble.” Brown said he believes that an important reason why Bricks and Mortar had a better chance to recover was that the injury and resulting lameness did not appear to involve any pain. While uncommon in Thoroughbreds, Bramlage said that stringhalt is an old lameness more commonly seen in draft horses. It involves tendon-muscle junctions, usually one muscle, the lateral digital extensor. “We believe that it happens when a horse somehow overextends the hind leg,” Bramlage said. “The reason we believe that is draft horses will get it when they are pulling a load and their feet break out from under them and they go down on their belly with their legs extended straight out backwards. A horse rarely does that, but the draft horse people have noticed that when that happens the horses sometimes develop stringhalt the next day or within a few days.” Bramlage described stringhalt as a disruption in the normal coordination of motion in the hind leg. “Horses are about two-thirds or more spinal reflex,” he said. “What that means is that when they start galloping it happens automatically. They don’t have to think about it with their brain. It happens just in the local reflex arcs. That actually is one of the things you try to train when you’re training a horse, is you develop that reflex arc so that it works efficiently. Now if a horse strains the muscle tendon junction and damages the connection of the nerve to the muscle and tendon, that reflex arc gets mixed up and instead of flexing at the correct time it flexes abnormally, it will over-flex compared to what it should be.” The surgery involves removing the muscle-tendon junction that is providing the wrong neurological information to the body and the one muscle. Due to the severity of the situation, surgery was the only option for Bricks and Mortar. “The question mark always is,” Bramlage said, “is there more than one muscle involved? This one, the lateral extensor, is one of two extensors that the horse has in their hind legs. Two muscles that lift the toe, and it’s actually the least-important one, fortunately. You can take that thing out and it doesn’t affect the horse’s ability at all. The real question mark is if it involves some other muscle-tendon junction as well, you can’t take out the rest of them, like the flexors of the stifle and the big muscles of the hip. You can’t take those muscle-tendon junctions out, but you can the lateral extensor. We were fortunate with Bricks and Mortar that it involved only that one muscle for him.” Bramlage said it was rare for a race horse to have the level of stringhalt that threatened Bricks and Mortar’s career. He estimated that Rood and Riddle sees two to four cases a year. The surgery can be termed a success by analyzing the horse’s action a few days after the procedure, but it takes six months or more for the horse to regain full coordination. Bramlage said he could not recall another patient who has had as much success as Bricks and Mortar. With his explosive stalk-and-pounce tactics, he is 9-0-2 in 11 starts and has earned $4.3 million in purses. “He’s a really great, good-looking horse,” Bramlage said. “I think what’s impressive is his style of running because not very many horses run like that anymore. They tend to go at or on the lead. He just sits off the back of the pack and passes them all.” The post Down and Possibly Out, Bricks and Mortar Has Climbed to the Top appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

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