Wandering Eyes

With the fourth leg of the 2019 MATCH Series approaching, multiple horses have qualified for bonus money but many need to start in at least one of the final two legs to have a chance to share in the $375,000 available to owners and trainers. 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 seven-figure KEESEP yearling graduate. 5.45 Yarmouth, Novice, £14,000, 2yo, 7f 3yT SUN CUISINE (Medaglia d’Oro) was a $1.3-million purchase by Godolphin at the Keeneland September Sale who debuts for the Charlie Appleby stable. The February-foaled bay is the first foal out of the GII John C Mabee S. winner Moulin de Mougin (Curlin), who is a half-sister to the GII Royal Heroine Mile scorer Schiaparelli (Ghostzapper) and the dam of Roaring Lion (Kitten’s Joy). 6.0 Kempton, Novice, £10,000, 3yo/up, 8f (AWT) DUBAI WARRIOR (GB) (Dansili {GB}) makes his eagerly-awaited 3-year-old bow for the John Gosden stable, having prompted Derby talk after his debut win at Chelmsford in November. Sheikh Mohammed bin Khalifa Al Maktoum’s homebred son of his G1 Golden Slipper winner Mahbooba (Aus) (Galileo {Ire}) gives weight away all round, including a huge 11 pounds to Shadwell’s Roger Varian-trained unraced filly Khabeerah (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}), the first foal out of the operation’s G1 Prix de l’Opera third Hadaatha (Ire) (Sea the Stars {Ire}). The post Observations: Aug. 7, 2019 appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

“Inside the Winner’s Circle, Presented by Keeneland” is a series showcasing graduates of the Keeneland September sale who have gone on to achieve success on racing’s biggest stages. When Covfefe (Into Mischief) arrived at Brad Cox’s barn at the Fair Grounds to begin training for her 2019 campaign, the trainer could have circled just about any race on his calendar. He had a talented, fast, well-bred filly and might have entertained thoughts of trying the GI Kentucky Oaks. But what makes Cox one of the fastest rising stars in his profession is that he knows his horses, their strengths, their weaknesses, and which races to point for. Way back on Feb. 17, Covfefe had her first work of the year, a three-furlong breeze at the Fair Grounds, and Cox soon thereafter circled August 3 on his calendar. His plan was to do whatever it took to win the GI Longines Test S. at Saratoga. “From day one, when she came to New Orleans, the goal was to get her to the Test,” he said. “It’s a tremendous, important race and we really wanted to win it. The idea was to have her as good as she could possibly be on that day.” It’s not often that things work out that way in the roller-coaster world that is horse racing, but for Cox and the owners, LNJ Foxwoods, the 2017 Keeneland September graduate acted like she was in on the plan. Winning her first Grade I race, she outgamed GI Kentucky Oaks winner Serengeti Empress in the stretch to win by a half-length under Joel Rosario. Bellafina (Quality Road) was third. All three were entered in the 2017 Keeneland September sale. Covfefe was consigned by Gainesway Farm, was bred Helen Alexander and sold for $150,000. When she entered the sale, the Gainesway team was confident they might be selling a future star. “All I can say is Helen Alexander breeds some of the best race horses year after year, year in and year out, including Grade I winners,” said Gainesway’s director of sales Brian Graves. “We’re just fortunate to sell them for her. She gets all the credit. She was a medium-sized filly, perfectly balanced, and she looked like she would be razor sharp.” Covfefe | Sarah K. Andrew Cox was already impressed before Covfefe ran her first race, an easy maiden win in September at Churchill Downs. “This filly, from day one, from the first time we breezed her it was like, ‘Wow, she is special.'” Cox said. “I can’t say I knew she’d win a Grade I win but I knew this was an extremely fast filly. The McKathans broke her and thought a lot of her. There have always been a lot of expectations with her. She has a tremendous pedigree. She’s just freaky fast, and that’s the bottom line.” After the maiden win, Cox tried the GI Frizette S. at Belmont, which is run at a mile. Though he’s not convinced Covfefe is just a sprinter, he found out that day that maybe he had asked too much of her distance-wise as she finished fourth. The connections put her away for the winter and didn’t bring her back until an April 6 allowance race at Keeneland, which she won by a half-length. But it was in her next start, the GIII Ms. Preakness S. that she first served notice that she was among the fastest three-year-old fillies in training. She won the May 17 race by 8 ½ lengths and recorded a 107 Beyer figure. Yet, as always seems to happen in horse racing, there was a bump in the road. In her last prep for the Test, Covfefe was entered against older horses in the Roxelana Stakes at Churchill Downs. Sent off at 2-5, she got hooked up in a speed duel with Mia Mischief (Into Mischief), a Grade I winner, and lost the battle. She finished third and her Beyer number tumbled to an 84. Cox wasn’t worried. “The Roxelana was a very tough set up for her,” he said. “She was down on the inside and pressed by a very nice filly who she sat right on the outside of her. The track was kind of drying out that day. I don’t want to use that as an excuse, but they went extremely fast early, there’s that long stretch at Churchill and she was beaten by an older filly who is a Grade I winner. In the end, everything still worked out.” If Cox had any reservations about the Roxelana loss, they were erased when Covfefe had two outstanding workouts at Churchill Downs in preparation for the race. He came to Saratoga glowing with confidence. He had done his job. Covfefe was peaking at the exact time he wanted her to peak. The biggest problem this time would be the level of competition. Serengeti is a Grade I winner, Bellafina is a three-time Grade I winner and Chad Brown had an undefeated filly in Royal Charlotte (Cairo Prince) who looked like she had yet to reach her potential. There was also the matter of another possible pace meltdown. Serengeti Empress has as much early foot as Covfefe has and drew the rail. “The public made Bellfina the favorite and Royal Charlotte the second choice, and I think that’s because they figured my filly and Serengeti Empress would get caught up in a speed duel,” Cox said. Serengeti Empress did get the lead, but Rosario was in no hurry to go after her. He sat a length off the pace, which went in 22, 44 1/5 and got by her rival inside the final furlong. The main goal from her will be the GI Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Sprint, and Cox said he has not picked out Covfefe’s next race. But it’s not out of the question that some day we might find out what she can do beyond seven furlongs. Her second dam is Aurora, who has produced GI Juddmonte Spinster S. winner Acoma, GI Super Derby winner Arch and GIII Godolphin Mile winner Festival of Light. The first dam is Antics (Unbridled), whose best offspring prior to Covfefe was Albiano (Harlan’s Holiday), a Grade III winner at nine furlongs in Japan. “It wouldn’t surprise me if this filly were able to win at longer distances,” Graves said. “But neither am I surprised she’s so good sprinting. Basing this on her second dam, when they come from a family like that and are a good physical specimen like she is, they usually can get it done.” But that’s nothing Cox needs to worry about for now. He had one race in mind all along that he wanted to win and he got the job done. For his clients, he has developed a very good horse, who has made a lot of money and will someday be a very valuable broodmare. The game isn’t always that easy. The post Inside the Winner’s Circle: Covfefe appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Mirage Dancer (GB) (Frankel {GB}) has been sold to race in Australia, with new connections already eyeing outings in the G1 Caulfield and G1 Melbourne Cups. Trained by Sir Michael Stoute in Britain, Mirage Dancer won four of his 16 starts and was last seen when finishing 2 1/4 lengths second in the G3 Glorious S. at Goodwood last week. The 5-year-old will join the yard of training partners Trent Busuttin and Natalie Young after he jets out of Newmarket next month. Busuttin told www.racing.com, “He’s been bought for Caulfield and Melbourne Cup berths. He raced in the Group 3 mile-and-a-half race the other night and ran second and he seems to have the right credentials for the Cups. We chanced upon him with [bloodstock agent] Mark Pilkington and he’s put a group together including Seymour Bloodstock and Mark Casey to race him and obviously we are very lucky that he’s going to end up in our stable. We’ll get out of quarantine in time for a Caulfield Cup start and so it will be very exciting for the owners and for the stable.” While the Caulfield Cup is the initial target, Busuttin also confirmed the Cox Plate could be on Mirage Dancer’s radar. He added, “We have been looking for a Cups horse and he is qualified for both races and would get in with a competitive weight. The Caulfield Cup would be an immediate goal and from there, on to a Melbourne Cup. It [the Caulfield Cup] seems a nice race for him but we’ve also got him in the Cox Plate and I’m sure he wouldn’t be out of place in a Cox Plate if he ended up going there.” The post Mirage Dancer Sold to Race in Oz appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Aidan O’Brien has set his sights on winning the G1 Ladbrokes Cox Plate for a second time, with Derby hero Anthony Van Dyck (Aus) (Galileo {Ire}0 and Royal Ascot victor Circus Maximus (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) among his 11 initial entries for the Australian feature. O’Brien sent Adelaide (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) to win the 2014 renewal, with the Moonee Valley Group 1 subsequently dominated by Chris Waller’s superstar Winx (Aus) (Street Cry {Ire}), a record four-times winner before her retirement earlier this year. No stranger to competing in Australia, O’Brien has the likes of Japan (GB) (Galileo {Ire}), Hermosa (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) and Fleeting (Ire) (Zoffany) also in the mix. “To win a Cox Plate, you need a horse with plenty of tactical speed that gets a mile and a quarter well,” said O’Brien. “We have entered 11 horses that we think might suit the race, but of course some of them don’t always progress as well as we were hoping. But Anthony Van Dyck and Circus Maximus are two very hardy colts with good tactical speed, and both should handle nice ground. “It’s probably too early at this stage to say who our number one seed is, we usually nominate a number of horses and then we will see how they progress from now.” A total of 27 overseas entries include David Menuisier’s German Group 1 victor Danceteria (Fr) (Redoute’s Choice {Aus}), Andrew Balding’s John Smith’s Cup hero Pivoine (Ire) (Redoute’s Choice {Aus}) and the Mark Johnston-trained Communique (Ire) (Casamento {Ire}), a dual Group 2 scorer. Joseph O’Brien, who already has a G1 Melbourne Cup triumph on his CV, has Irish Derby winner Latrobe (Ire) (Camelot {GB}), Master Of Reality (Ire) (Frankel {GB}), Buckhurst (Ire) (Australia {GB}) and Iridessa (Ire) (Ruler of the World {Ire}) entered. The post O’Brien Nominates 11 to Cox Plate appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

The 2020 fixture list was published by the British Horseracing Authority on Tuesday. Policies governing the compilation of the list were announced here last month. There are a number of new measures introduced after agreement was reached by the cross-industry Fixtures and Funding Group including: no race starting later than 9 p.m. at summer evening fixtures no race starting later than 8:30 p.m. the rest of the year extending the Christmas and summer Jump racing breaks to four and 12 days, respectively ensuring that the days’s first race starts by 2 p.m. These measures aim to take into consideration the well-being of industry participants, the competitiveness of the racing produce and the commercial need for the list to work for the sport’s customers. Twenty BHA-allocated fixtures were removed from the list and 10 other fixtures staged at Towcester were withheld from the list as the future of that racecourse is being discussed with the new ownership group. It is likely that those 10 fixtures will be added to the list and take place either at Towcester or other venues. As it stands, the 2020 fixture list is as follows: 1481 fixtures (2019 had 1511) 2020 fixture surface ratios are Jump: 39.1%, Flat Turf 37.8%, All Weather 23.1% (2019: Jump: 39.4%, Flat Turf 37.3%, All Weather 23.2%) 902 Flat fixtures scheduled (13 fewer than in 2019). Of these fixtures, 560 are Flat Turf fixtures (four fewer than 2019) while 342 are All Weather fixtures (nine fewer than originally scheduled in 2019) 579 Jump fixtures scheduled (17 fewer than 2019) 1,070 afternoon fixtures (11 fewer than 2019) and 411 evening (or floodlit) fixtures (19 fewer than 2019). In addition, Portas Consulting, appointed by the sport’s executive committee, is developing an independent analysis of the financial and economic state of British racing, which will begin in August and will assist in the size and shape of the 2021 fixture list. “The 2020 fixture list and the policies governing it aim to balance the impact of the size of the fixture list on the thousands of people that work tirelessly to service it; the need to support the industry’s revenues and prize money levels; and the importance of promoting the longer-term interests of the sport by delivering more competitive and compelling racing,” said BHA Chief Operating Officer Richard Wayman in a statement. “Production of the fixture list is rarely straightforward with sometimes conflicting objectives amongst the different parties within racing. In the current climate it is more important than ever that all the parties involved continue to work together to create a fixture list that delivers the best overall outcome for the sport. “Looking to the future, it is very encouraging that all involved in the process are supportive of the external analysis of the financial and economic state of the sport that is about to commence. This is an important piece of work as it will provide a basis of agreed facts from which to develop fixture strategy for the future.” The post 2020 British Fixture List Released appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

We’ve had two really good festivals over the last week and the quality of racing at Goodwood. Again John Gosden and Frankie Dettori took centre stage but I think the highlight was really Deirdre (Jpn) winning the Nassau Stakes. Japan is such a great racing nation and I think we’ll see more and more Japanese horses coming in this direction to race and that’s only good for the sport and for international racing. I hope that the connections of those Japanese horses racing in this part of the world would look at a race like the Irish Champion Stakes en route to the Arc. We all know that the Arc is the race they want to win, but it would be amazing if we could attract them to come to race at one of the premier races in Ireland, and it is very exciting to hear that it’s a race under consideration for Deirdre. Galway is a long week of racing and obviously it’s a bit different to Goodwood with its mixture of Flat and National Hunt racing. I think it works very well and gives lots of people an opportunity to be competitive at such a good festival. Last week was dominated by the Mullins family. In Ireland we’ve always been fortunate to have some great racing families but I think it’s quite remarkable what the Mullins family is achieving at the moment. At Galway, we had two brothers and a nephew winning as trainers and then three cousins riding winners. Willie of course needs no introduction but his brother Tom trained two winners and their nephew Emmet had three winners during the week. Their success all comes from their father and grandfather Paddy, who set up a unique training operation where Tom trains from now. Back in the day it was a simple, circular gallop and he trained lots of really good horses to win big races. Willie has a huge number for horses in training but is very relaxed about life. He’s obviously a very intelligent man and has a great asset and his wife Jackie, who is an integral part of the business. Willie has been clever in surrounding himself by a good team of people and I think he’d be the first to admit that the whole operation wouldn’t work without that team. Emmet is earning a reputation as a target trainer. He’s a young man and he wouldn’t have a huge string of horses but he targeted Galway this year and two of his three winners were for one of his main patrons, the Mee family. They love to have success at the Galway Festival and Emmet delivered again. He surely has a great career ahead of him. Moving on to the riders, David Danny and Patrick Mullins rode winners through the week. David is a Grand National-winning jockey, Danny has been very successful on the Flat before turning to National Hunt, and what can we say about Patrick? His association with his mum Jackie and dad Willie has seen him break records as an amateur. There’s no doubt that Paddy Mullins established a remarkable dynasty. I think because Ireland is such a small country, to make a living out of training racecourses you have to be able to adapt, and for the majority that means taking any horse to train to try to win races, whether that’s 2-year-olds or 4-year-old bumper horses. I rode a lot of winners for Paddy Mullins, then Willie, Tom and Tony, and though the main core of their business is National Hunt, they’ve always had a lot of Flat horses. That’s more the nature of Ireland, and it also comes down to the fact that they are simply very good horsemen. Are Jockeys Team Players? I’m really looking forward to the Shergar Cup this weekend. I’ve ridden in it in the past and won it one year with Richard Hughes and Fran Berry. It’s a unique day and it’s a great way to attract riders from all over the world and see the different riding styles and different personalities. However, I’m not really sure that the format of teams is the right thing to do. When a competition is based on a points basis for teams, obviously you’re going out to try why to win as many points as you possibly can, so don’t tell me that if a jockey dropping back and your team mate is inside and going well you’re not going to insure he gets the run to try to get through and win. That’s only human nature and it’s how you’re going to win the competition. It’s a day when the focus is really on the jockeys and on occasion that is nice, but every jockey knows we can’t do it without the horse. That said, it is nice to have the attention on the riders and great to have those international riders here and showcasing what an amazing racecourse Ascot is. It has been a successful competition from the outset and what the organisers are doing has been correct in the main, but I just wonder if it would be better to have an individual winner rather than a team competition. I’ve been fortunate to ride in quite a few of the jockeys’ championships around the world, and in Japan and Hong Kong it’s all about the individual winner, which is probably the correct way to do it. I think every individual should be encouraged to go out there thinking they are the best rather than thinking about the team. You don’t survive in this industry if you think that you’re second best or third best. If you’ve earned your place in the competition then obviously people think that you are one of the best riders in the world. So I think it should be encouraged that jockeys compete to see who is the best on the day. It might just make it a little bit more exciting if there was an individual winner. Once again there is a fantastic international line-up for the day and it is particularly interesting to see Nanako Fujita on the girls’ team. She has broken new ground in Japan as the only female licenced jockey in the JRA and isn’t that brilliant to see? We know that Japan is a very competitive environment for riders and for her to be riding on the JRA circuit is a fantastic achievement. Nanako also recently won the women jockeys’ championship in Sweden, so she is a lady with a lot of talent and I’m really looking forward to seeing her ride at Ascot. The post The Pat Smullen Column: The Marvellous Mullins Family appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

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... View the full article

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 wh... View the full article

SARATOGA SPRINGS, NY – The Fasig-Tipton Saratoga Selected Yearlings Sale opened its two-day run at the Humphrey S. Finney Pavilion Monday evening, with a pair of yearlings by Tapit causing the biggest fireworks during a session which produced slight increases in both average and median compared with the auction’s 2018 opener. “It was an outstanding opening session of the 2019 Saratoga sale,” said Fasig-Tipton President Boyd Browning, Jr. “I thought we saw very competitive bidding throughout the evening. There was a lot of strength and a lot of diversity in the buying bench and overall we’re very pleased. And we’re very excited to have another group of outstanding horses on deck for tomorrow night. I think it will be another outstanding session tomorrow.” A total of 61 yearlings sold Monday for a gross of $22,775,000. The average of $373,361 was up 7% from the 2018 opening day figure of $348,976 and was ahead of the cumulative 2018 figure of $369,376, which was second best in the auction’s history. The median of $315,000 was up 5% from last year’s first-session median of $300,000. “We’re pleased to have increases in the average and median compared to day one last year, although I always caution that you have to look at the whole sale as a composite,” Browning said. “There can be some fluctuations and variations from day to day, but I think we are set for another strong session tomorrow.” West Point Thoroughbreds, which partnered to purchase the 2018 Saratoga sale topper as well as this year’s $2-million OBS March-topping colt Chestertown (Tapit), made the highest bid of Monday’s opening session of the 2019 auction, going to $1 million to secure a son of Tapit from the Lane’s End consignment. Minutes later, Scott Heider secured a filly by the Gainesway stallion for $950,000. A filly by Medaglia d’Oro rounded out the trio of yearlings to sell for $900,000 or over Monday. The Saratoga sale continues Tuesday with bidding beginning at 6:30 p.m. Tapit Colt Shines Brightest at Saratoga A colt by Tapit out of Grade III winner Feathered (Indian Charlie), was the first and only yearling to reach $1 million during Monday’s opening session, selling to David Ingordo, acting on behalf of West Point Thoroughbreds, after a furious round of bidding about halfway through the evening’s festivities. Hip 80 was consigned by Lane’s End on behalf of breeder Jane Lyon’s Summer Wind Farm. “He is by Tapit and we love Tapit,” said West Point President and CEO Terry Finley. “We thought he was a great physical, so we tried to buy him. We thought we would have a good shot at that level, so we are glad we had the winning bid at the hammer drop.” The West Point team had hip 80, currently named Flightline, on their radar before he reached the sales grounds thanks to Ingordo, who is the leader of Lane’s End’s bloodstock team. “He saw him for the first time in the middle of the spring, so that is a big help. We are really happy with the relationship we have with Ingordo and the Lane’s End family.” Finley continued, “I am just very excited. We keep buying these types of horses and we just hope we will get back to the big time. That is what partners want. They want really top end horses to take a shot at the brass ring, so to speak.” Breeder Jane Lyon was equally excited after the sale, wearing the beaming smile of a proud mother while seated alongside her farm manager Bobby Spalding in the middle of the pavilion. “We did expect the colt to bring this much because we think he is an extremely nice colt and he has been since birth,” Lyon said. “You always hope you get paid for good colts, so we are very happy.” Out of a stakes-placed daughter of MGISW Finder’s Fee (Storm Cat), Feathered was a graded winner on turf and Grade I-placed on both turf and dirt. Lyon purchased her for $2.35 million carrying a foal by War Front at the 2016 Keeneland November Sale. The resulting foal was a filly now named Good On Paper. The 7-year-old mare produced a colt by the late Pioneerof the Nile Apr. 15 of this year and was bred back to Tapit. “Feathered is a mare we bought several years ago,” Lyon said. “She is a lovely mare who ran well on both dirt and turf. This is her second foal for us. We loved him since the day he was born. We are very, very happy that he is such a nice yearling and we are happy with the price.” Summer Wind Farm has been on fire the past few seasons both on the racetrack and in the sales ring, including selling an $875,000 American Pharoah filly at last year’s renewal of this auction and topping the 2018 Fasig-Tipton July Yearling Sale with a $520,000 son of Flatter. The Georgetown nursery has produced the liked of champion Game Winner (Candy Ride {Arg}), Saturday’s GI Whitney S. victor McKinzie (Streer Sense), MGISW Moonshine Memories (Malibu Moon), GISW Chasing Yesterday (Tapit) and Japanese Group 1 winner Mozu Ascot (Frankel {GB}). —@CDeBernardisTDN Heider Adds Tapit Filly to the Family It was a big couple minutes for Gainesway’s super sire Tapit, who followed up a $1-million colt with a $950,000 filly Monday in Saratoga. Scott Heider, sitting alongside bloodstock agent Donato Lanni, made the final bid on the filly (hip 82), who will be trained by Steve Asmussen. “She is a lovely filly with an unbelievable female family,” Heider said. “She is exactly what we look for when we are looking to buy from the ring. And on this particular filly, when Steve Asmussen says special and Donato Lanni says special, I have to pay attention to the two of them.” As Heider was talking, Asmussen walked by and congratulated him on the purchase. Heider told the Hall of Famer, “She’s all yours,” and Asmussen responded, “I love that.” The dark bay yearling, bred and consigned by Gainesway, is out of Pension (Seeking the Gold) and is a half-sister to graded stakes winner Annual Report (Harlan’s Holiday). The filly’s second dam is Grade I winner Furlough (Easy Goer) and her third dam is Blitey (Riva Ridge), dam of Grade I winners Dancing Spree and Fantastic Find. “We are trying to balance out some of our turf pedigrees with the dirt,” Heider said. “And we really like the folks at Gainesway. We breed to Tapit and we all have all the faith in the world in Tapit. I think this is a special filly. I hope Steve is excited.” Heider said the filly was purchased with an eye toward her potential to join the family’s broodmare band. “That’s what we try to do, do well at the track, but we would love to have this filly long term. That would be the plan. Eventually, we would absolutely would want to keep her in our portfolio.” Heider will switch gears during Tuesday’s second session of the Saratoga sale and, through the Hill ‘n’ Dale Sales consignment, will offer a buzz-worthy son of Curlin who is the first foal out of Grade I winner Taris (Flatter) (hip 134). “We’re cautiously optimistic,” Heider said of the pending offering. “That colt out of Taris has been a superstar from the day he was born and he’s never looked anything other than incredible. We sell the colts. Otherwise we would keep him and race him, but he’s been phenomenal from day one. It appears that everyone likes him and he is absolutely here to sell. I hope the right folks end up with him. We want him to do well. Tomorrow night is going to be a different kind of nervous.” Tapit ended the session with the two top-priced offerings and the results were gratifying to Gainesway’s Michael Hernon. “Two super offerings,” Hernon said. “That was a lovely colt from Lane’s End, he was just a top-drawer product (hip 80). And then our own filly, she was aggressively pursued by three leading buyers and thanks to buyers Scott Heider and Donato Lanni. Roy and Gretchen Jackson were aggressive underbidders and chased her all the way. We are delighted with the sale. She is a filly with great potential, a great family behind her–her third dam is Blitey, it’s top Phipps blood there. And she’s a daughter Tapit, who speaks for himself. It’s all there. The pedigree is there, the physical is there she had a lot of class. She’s in good hands and we wish them the very best.” Gainesway purchased Pension for $160,000 as a 5-year-old at the 2008 Keeneland November sale. She was bred back to Tapit this year. —@JessMartiniTDN Partnership Strikes for Medaglia d’Oro Filly A filly by Medaglia d’Oro (hip 49) set off fireworks midway through Monday’s opening session of the Fasig-Tipton Saratoga sale, selling for $900,000 to bloodstock agent Kerri Radcliffe. Radcliffe did her bidding out back flanked by George Bolton and Sheila Rosenblum. The yearling will be campaigned by a partnership which includes those two prominent owners. “We said if we get this filly our slogan would be, ‘Hot women buy fast horses,'” Bolton said with a chuckle. “I am holding on for dear life.” He added, “Basically this was [Kerri’s] pick of the whole sale. She was the athlete she loves to buy. So you get another partner and get the horse versus lose the horse and that’s what we are going to do.” Radcliffe said, “She’s very special. She looks like an athlete and she’s by a great sire. I loved her. She has a beautiful head. She’s very quality.” Of the new ownership group, Radcliffe said, “There is a whole group of them–a lovely big partnership. She’ll stay in America, but we haven’t picked a trainer yet.” The dark bay filly is out of Grade I-placed Light the City (Street Sense). Consigned by Eaton Sales, the yearling was bred by Mike Hall and Sam Ross’s Breeze Easy. The operation purchased Light the City, in foal to American Pharoah, for $600,000 at the 2016 Fasig-Tipton November sale. Her American Pharoah filly RNA’d for $525,000 at the 2018 Keeneland September sale. She produced another daughter of the Triple Crown winner in 2019 and was bred back to Medaglia d’Oro. Breeze Easy’s fledgling broodmare band was represented by its first few yearlings to sell a year ago and was represented by weanlings to sell for $450,000 and $300,000 at last year’s Fasig-Tipton November sale. —@JessMartiniTDN The post Tapit on Top at Saratoga appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Trainer Regan Todd’s road from Wyndham to Woodend led him to a 100-win milestone at Forbury Park on Sunday. Todd got to 100 wins on New Zealand soil when King Of Heroes scored a deserved win for driver Tim Williams. The Southland born horseman’s career has taken off recently, with 71 of his 100 wins coming in the past three seasons. Before then, Todd trained a small team of his own while overseeing the beach training arm of Mark Jones’ stable. That progression has given him an introduction to stable management that set him up for further success, Todd said. “I never had more than four or five horses of my own before having a bigger team for the last three seasons.” “It is probably good the way things have worked up, to build up over time and get a clientele behind you.” “I am very lucky in that respect, I have got some great owners.” Prior to working with Jones and becoming the man behind former star trotter, Master Lavros, Todd gained experience with Brendon McLellan and David and Catherine Butt. The experience he gained at those three stables also gave him a strong platform for success, the trainer said. “I have been pretty lucky working for Jonsey.” “I also spent three Davey and Catherine Butt and they put me on some very nice horses.” “That probably gave me the confidence to give things a crack.” “Before that, Snow [McLellan] kept me in line when I was a young fellow.” The combination of Todd’s undoubtedly ability as a trainer and the band of owners he has gathered has seen his stable’s success has continued to grow since he branched out on his own. Last season he notched a personal best 27 wins, following tallies of 26 and 18. Todd has ticked off a training 100 winners in New Zealand and kicked the goal every trainer strives for – training a group 1 winner. His two Australasian Breeders Crown race victories with Show Gait mean Todd trained a total of 29 winners, last season, and his total career haul stands at 102 wins. With two big goals already checked off, Todd’s sights are firmly on the new season. “I’d like to keep building the team up, I thought that getting to 30 wins would be a good goal for this season.” The trainer got off to the perfect start in chasing down that target, as King Of Heroes was his first starter for the new term. View the full article

TV One News article on Shartin’s record breaking feat. View the full article

BUZZ NSW pacer Balraj will stir plenty of interest when he steps out at Menangle for the first time on Tuesday. He’s the former Kiwi pacer who is unbeaten in three Aussie runs for trainer Anthony Simiana, including his latest staggering 55.9m win in a track record smashing 1min50.9sec mile on July 15. Remember he sat parked for the first 900m of that race and Menangle is a significantly faster track than Newcastle. If that’s a true indication of his potential, then he’s headed for big things and some blazing times around Menangle. Balraj raced five times in NZ, missing a place at his first three runs then winning twice at Forbury Park on February 21 and March 7 before heading to Australia. X X X BRENT Lilley “owned” day of the Redwood Carnival with four wins last Friday. His most significant win came with former top juvenile Cruisin Around in the fast-class trot, who just nabbed Ymbro Wasted to score by a head. Lilley’s other wins came with four-year-old mare Bacardi Chardy, former Kiwi three-year-old filly Sunnys Little Jestic and four-yeaar-old gelding Birthday Suit. Champion driver Chris Alford drove three of Lilley’s winners, but snared five wins across the day. Also scoring in smart three-year-old filly I Am Pegasus and Miranda Maid in race nine. X X X FORMER Kiwi three-year-old Wildwest stretched his unbeaten record to three wins with an easy Gloucester Park win last Friday night. The son of Raging Bull, who won his only Kiwi start at Winton on May 11, won at Pinjarra last Monday and then again four days later at Gloucester Park. “He’s pretty green, but he’s got plenty there. He relaxes great during his races and he’s pretty exciting,” driver Gary Hall Jr said. “I think a really good horse like Major Trojan would have his work cut out to trying to sit outside him and beat him. “When he settles down a little bit more and keeps improving, he should be right up with the best of them. It’s exciting to have him and Major Trojan in the stable and aiming for the Golden Nugget (in December).” Another highlight of the night came when former WA Derby winner Handsandwheels scored one of the most impressive wins of his career in the free-for-all. It was a huge effort to sit parked over the 1730m trip and dig deep to beat Im Soxy by a half-head in a sizzling 1min53.9sec mile rate, capped by closing splits of 55.4 and 27.6sec. It took the Andrew De Campo-trained five-year-old’s record to 21 wins and 22 placings from his 64 starts and edged him past $450,000 in earnings. X X X IT has been a breakthrough season for NSW bush pacer Courtsinsession. The Bathurst-based gelding has transformed from handy performer to serious Menangle player with 1 starts this season netting 10 wins and six seconds. He’s won five of his past six runs at Menangle and posted some slick times including a 1min50.8sec mile winning last night (Saturday). His best is a 1min50sec flat mile on July 6. The son of Art Major did a big job to overpower the leader Replaced Eye (third) with Major League sitting behind the leader and finishing second. They dashed home in 54.5sec. Classy trotter Tough Monarch smashed his PB winning easily in a 1min53.7sec mile. Better known as a stayer, Rickie Alchin’s gelding showed he’d taken no harm from a recent Queensland campaign when he romped home by 9.1m. X X X PHOENIX Prince must surely rate up with the “finds” of the season in Victoria. He’s roared through the grades from a C1 country class to multiple free-for-all winner at Melton for Emma Stewart. The five-year-old found the front from gate three, driver Darby McGuigan dictated terms early then ripped home in 54.4sec to win another free-for-all at Melton last night (Saturday) in a 1min53sec mile rate for 1720m. Phoenix Prince has won nine of 16 starts this season and 13 of his 21 lifetime. Emerging pacer Rackemup Tigerpie ran a mighty race for second from the back row give the sectional times. McGuigan has won his past three drives on Phoenix Prince, helping build a strong bond with the powerhouse Stewart stable. He also scored an easy win last night on Stewart’s emerging four-year-old Tam Major, who made light of a back row draw to win by 16.5m in a blistering 1min53.7sec mile rate for 2240m. Tam Major has been a rung below the best through his two and three-year-old campaigns, but has gone to another level late this season. X X X TRAINER David Aiken and driven Kima Frenning teamed with Aiken’s star three-year-old pair Max Delight and Malcoms Rhythm for easy wins at Melton last night. NSW Derby winner Max Delight thrashed his older rivals in a 1min52.5sec mile rate for 1720m, 0.5sec quicker than they ran in the free-for-all on the night. And Malcolms Rhythm beat a small but select field to win the Nevele R Stud Graduiate. View the full article

Kiwi harness horses starred on both sides of the globe yesterday with one setting a new world record on harness racing’s biggest day. Former New Zealand mare Shartin stunned harness racing fans when she paced a 1:46.8 mile on Hambletonian Day at The Meadowlands in New Jersey, the fastest mile ever paced by a mare. Her all the way win in the US$183,000 Lady Liberty to continue her incredible last 18 months to confirm her place as the best pacing mare in the world. Ironically, Shartin never raced in New Zealand, being exported to Australia before becoming a superstar in North America, her success even more surprising as she is by former speed freak Tintin In America, who as a stallion has struggled to leave top racehorses. Shartin wasn’t the only Kiwi to star on Hambletonian Day, with driver Dexter Dunn winning the main trot for older horses with Machego and finishing second in the Hambeltonian Oaks, Cane Pace and fourth in the US$1million Hambletonian. Closer to home Oamaru juvenile trotter Ultimate Stride overcame a second line draw courtesy of a beautiful Anthony Butt drive to win the A$50,000 Redwood at Maryborough in Victoria. The giant baby is only campaigning in Victoria after owner Emilio Rosati talked trainer Phil Williamson into the trip because he looks anything but a natural two-year-old. “He is a very good stayer which is why I let him stride down the back straight to turn it into a staying contest,” said Butt. “He is already a good horse but he is only going to get better.” Williamson couldn’t pull off the group race double when heavily-backed favourite Liberty Stride galloped at the start of the A$75,000 Victoria Derby and tailed off. The race was won by Kiwi bred Majestuoso with Auckland trotter Kratos a solid third. View the full article

PHIL Williamson has put his name alongside Mark Purdon as the only Kiwi trainer to win Australia’s treasured Group 1 Redwood Classic. Purdon has trained and driven two winners of the juvenile trot at Maryborough – High Gait (2015) and Daenerys Targaryen (2013) – and Williamson won yesterday’s renewal with the exciting Ultimate Stride. It was a truly Kiwi affair with Anthony Butt making the trip down from his NSW-base to take the reins on Ultimate Stride. “It’s a time-honoured race and one I’ve always wanted to win. It’s great to finally get it,” Butt said. “It’s been a hard race for the Kiwis to win, so all credit to Phil for coming across and winning it.” The Aussie flavour from the win came through owners Emilio and Mary Rosati, who not race Ultimate Stride, but went back-to-back in the Redwood after Emerald Stride scored last year for trainer-driver David Miles. Butt said he was also confident in the run even when he had to make his move earlier than he wanted. “He was almost going to too, I couldn’t hold him any longer,” he said. “I was happy to make it a staying test anyway, I had faith in his staying ability.” Ultimate Stride was backed into $1.60 favouritism and won by 3.4m over Is That A Bid with Im Daddy Warbucks third in a 2min4.1sec mile rate for the 2190m standing start. His task was certainly made easier when second favourite Powderkeg galloped his way out of contention. Williamson’s hopes of a Group 1 double were dashed when his Victoria Trotters’ Derby favourite Liberty Stride galloped hopelessly at the start and finished tailed-out. X X X YOU know something else special happened when winning first-up aboard Inter Dominion champ Tornado Valley isn’t the highlight of Kate Gath’s massive Redwood Day. Gath was left in awe of the raw but seriously gifted Majestuoso after thrashed his rivals in the Group 1 Victoria Trotters’ Derby. It’s no secret Kate and Andy Gath have a big opinion of the son of Majestic Son and no everybody knows why. The way he stormed around the field from near last, out four, five and six wide, then powered clear to win by an increasing 10.1m was something to behold. Majestuoso’s manners were an issue last season when he won two of nine runs, but he’s come back and although still green at times, he’s won eight of his nine starts this term. All Cashed Up led and ran well for second despite having every chance, while Kiwi raider Kratos couldn’t match Majestuoso’s brilliance, but worked home quite well for third. Majestuoso’s win capped a magical 30 minutes for the Gaths with Tornado Valley sparkling in his first-up win in the free-for-all. Despite drawing the back row and settling third-last while main danger Big Jack Hammer led, Tornado Valley launched a three-wide run from the 700m without cover and toyed with his rivals. Kate Gath just nursed him down the straight to win by 8.9m in a slick 1min57.9sec mile rate for 2190m. Arguably it was as impressive as Tornado Valley’s ever looked. X X X ANOTHER of the highlights on Redwood Day was the winning return of former superstar juvenile trotter Wobelee. The Alison and Chris Alford-trained four-year-old did everything asked of him and won well after working to the front from a wide draw and dictating terms. It was Wobelee’s first run back after 13 months sidelined by injury. Kiwis will remember he ran third when clearly not at his top in the 3YO Jewels trotting final at Cambridge in June, last year. Wobelee’s raced 20 times for 15 wins, three seconds and two thirds. View the full article

El Disparo will contest the Hospitality New Zealand Canterbury 13th Grand National Hurdles (4200m) at Riccarton on Wednesday. Cambridge trainer Mark Brooks is hoping that his jumpers El Disparo and El Fernando will be met by a better track at Riccarton on Wednesday for the second day of the Grand National Festival of Racing. The geldings started on Saturday, the first day of the meeting, and Brooks thought the going was too tough for both runners. El Disparo will tackle the feature race of the day, the Hospitality New Zealand Canterbury 13th Grand National Hurdles (4200m), and Brooks believes the son of El Hermano will put in a good showing after his third-placing in the Sydenham Hurdles (3100m). “I was pretty happy with his run on Saturday, he probably just hit the wall the last little bit,” Brooks said. “I thought the track was a touch heavy for him, so hopefully these frosts over the last couple of mornings just might dry it out a little bit.” El Disparo arrived with his stablemate at Riccarton on Friday after a two day trip and Brooks believes the eight-year-old gelding will improve off Saturday’s run. “He had a month between runs and I hadn’t done that much with the big trip down here and two races within four days, so he should improve a little bit with Saturday’s run under his belt I think.” Brooks said the eight-year-old has pulled up well after Saturday’s contest and he is looking forward to Wednesday’s test with the gelding. “He’s been good since Saturday, he’s happy and has eaten everything. If the track is slightly better than it was on Saturday, I’d be quietly confident that he’ll be a chance.” TAB bookmakers have set Bad Boy Brown as a $3.70 race favourite for the race, while El Disparo has been labelled a $9.50 winning chance. Brooks will also line-up El Fernando in the Racecourse Hotel and Motor Lodge Steeplechase (3200m) and he said the son of El Hermano has taken no harm from falling at the final fence in Saturday’s Maiden Steeplechase (3200m). “He looked like he was getting a bit tired and he had a lie down at the last,” Brooks said. “He seems to have taken no harm from that, so we will go again on Wednesday. “He was going well down the back straight. The steeplechase fences are on the outside, so the track is a bit better, and he wasn’t handling the heavier ground up the home straight. “It’s the same for him, a couple of fine days and a few frosts, it might be a touch better, so that might suit him too.” Brooks doesn’t have any set plans with either jumper after Wednesday, however, he was toying with the idea of taking El Disparo across the Tasman to contest the Grand National Steeplechase (4500m) at Ballarat later this month. “I had the slightest inkling that if El Disparo won well on Wednesday, and travelled home well, I’d consider taking him to Australia for the Grand National Steeplechase. “But it just might be a bit too much travelling for him to get there this year.” View the full article

Tony Allan is moving to Queensland to continue his riding career. Catching up with old acquaintances on a Queensland holiday last month has led to Melbourne Cup-winning jockey Tony Allan deciding to continue his riding career in the Sunshine state of Australia. Allan, who won the 1988 Gr.1 Melbourne Cup (3200m) on Empire Rose, has accepted an offer to be stable rider for former prominent New Zealand trainer Paddy Busuttin, who is making a comeback to training at Deagon after retiring a few years ago. “Paddy made me an offer and it’s a fantastic opportunity for me,” Allan said. “I rode winners for Paddy years ago and it’ll be good to ride for him again. “I go over on Thursday and already have a ride for Saturday at the Gold Coast meeting for another of my old New Zealand contacts, Graeme Cameron, who I had a lot of success with when he was training in Te Aroha. “While I was over there on holiday I caught up with other old contacts, (trainers) Brian Smith and Sheila Laxon. I’m really looking forward to riding there. Deagon is close to Eagle Farm and I’ll be able to go in there to ride trackwork when I want.” Allan spent six months on the sideline after breaking his arm in a race fall at New Plymouth last December and resumed at Te Rapa on July 20. “The arm took a bit longer to heal and I didn’t want rush things,” Allan said. “I’ve had a couple of rides back and I’m happy with my progress. “I’m looking forward to teaming up with Paddy. He’s got some nice horses in work.” The original mentor of champion Sydney trainer Chris Waller, Busuttin was one of New Zealand’s leading trainers, preparing 778 winners, and he made successful Australian raids when travelling from his Foxton base with such top gallopers as the great stayer Castletown, an inductee into the NZ Racing Hall of Fame. He also made his mark in Singapore when blazing the trail for other New Zealand trainers such as Laurie Laxon, Stephen Gray, Bruce Marsh, Mark Walker and Donna Logan. During his nine years in Singapore, his best performer was 2001 Singapore Horse of the Year Bocelli. Busuttin also trained for a few seasons in Macau, winning the Macau Guineas (1500m) and Macau Derby (1800m) in 2011 with New Zealand-bred Imabayboy, and did have some success when training on the Gold Coast for a couple of seasons before calling it quits three years ago. Busuttin has proudly watched his son, Trent, and partner Natalie Young making their mark as a successful training partnership from their Cranbourne base in Melbourne. “I’m dead-keen again now and have got my old foreman, Rata Prince, working for me,” Busuttin said. “With Tony on board, I’m excited about the future. “Tony rode quite a few winners for me back when he was young and I think he can really do well over here. “I’ve got a young team and many of them are ready to kick off. Tony will be my stable rider and I’ll also be helping him get as many outside rides.” Allan spent even longer off the scene than Busuttin, retiring in 2005 and working as a track rider in Japan then doing a stint in the same role for Sydney trainers Peter and Paul Snowden before the desire to reach 1000 winners in New Zealand drew him back to race riding, settling back in Levin. He reached 1000 wins aboard Aigne in March last year and added another 11 to the total before his fall last December, forming a successful association with Blondlign, winning a hat-trick of races. Allan (52) believes now is the time to try his luck in Queensland after so long off the scene with injury. “I lost a lot of my contacts being out for so long with other jockeys picking up the rides,” Allan said. “I could get going again, but it would take time. It’s better to try doing it somewhere new for now. “I’m looking forward to riding in Queensland again. I had some good results there early in my career. “I remember winning a couple at Eagle Farm and running third on Finezza Belle for Laurie Laxon in a Group Two (Prime Minister’s Cup, 2400m) at the Gold Coast. “I also ran second on Sapio in the Brisbane Cup (Gr. 1, 3200m) and I rode Poetic Prince when he ran second to Planet Ruler in the Queensland Guineas (Gr.2, 1600m).” View the full article

Ace High. After a wet and windy start to the day the sun appeared on cue to give shareholders and local breeders an excellent first look at Rich Hill’s latest stallion recruit the dual Australian Group One winner Ace High (High Chaparral). Among those in attendance were Ace High’s former trainer David Payne and owner John Cordina who both addressed the crowd of almost 200. “David and John are both hugely excited and very positive about Ace High’s stud future and it was great to have them fly over and share their thoughts and insight into Ace High’s racing career and future stallion prospects,” Rich Hill principal John Thompson said. “David Payne has trained well over 100 Group One winners worldwide and when he tells you Ace High was up with the very best gallopers he has trained it certainly carries some weight.” Also parading on the day was the Monsun stallion Vadamos whose first crop weanlings lead the way at Karaka’s May sale this year, Proisir (Choisir) who was New Zealand’s joint leading first season sire by winners last season, and Shocking (Street Cry) who is sire of a leading Melbourne Cup candidate In Surprise Baby. Rich Hill’s Group One winning son of Deep Impact Satono Aladdin is currently in quarantine and arrives on the farm next week. View the full article

Last year’s Gr.1 Vodafone Derby winner, Crown Prosecutor, returns to scale. Horses who finish in the top three placings of the Gr.2 Waikato Guineas (2000m) will now be exempt from the ballot for the Gr.1 Vodafone New Zealand Derby (2400m). This amendment to the balloting conditions of the Derby comes after a recent review undertaken by the Auckland Racing Club’s (ARC) management and board. ”We had an unfortunate case this year when the third placed horse in the Waikato Guineas, a race recognised as a significant lead-up event to the Vodafone New Zealand Derby, missed a start in the big race due to not earning enough stake money,” ARC Executive GM of Racing & Operations, Craig Baker said. “Giving ballot exemption status to the first three placed horses fixes that anomaly.” It was also decided that the fourth-placed horse in the Avondale Guineas will no longer receive ballot exemption from the Derby and only horses placed in the top five in the Karaka Million 3YO Classic (1600m) will have their stake earnings from that race counted towards the Derby order of entry. ”Ultimately, we did not believe it was fair that horses that were well beaten in the Karaka Million 3YO Classic had stake money count towards the order of entry in the Vodafone New Zealand Derby,” Baker said. “We believe that including stake money for horses that finished first to fifth is a fair compromise.” Nominations for the 2020 $1 million Vodafone New Zealand Derby close in November with the race to be run at Ellerslie Racecourse as part of Auckland Cup Week on Saturday, February 29. View the full article

Talented Matamata hurdler Tommyra has been sidelined until next year. Trainer Toby Autridge had both the Grand National Hurdles (4200m) at Riccarton on Wednesday and the Great Northern Hurdle (4190m) at Ellerslie next month on the radar for Tommyra after he won the K.S. Browne Hurdles (3350m) at Ellerslie on June 3. However, Tommyra was pulled up with three fences to jump in the Wellington Hurdles (3400m) at Trentham last month. “At the 600m he looked like he could win, but within five strides he was gone,” Autridge said. “He choked and Shaun (Phelan, jockey) had to pull him up. Afterwards we found out he had a soft palate that needed to be operated on. “The operation went to plan, but he’s finished for this year. He is being boxed for a few weeks and there’s a good chance he’ll be back next year. “A lot of horses have come back from the operation and done well so we’ve got our fingers crossed he can be back to have a go at the big races next year.” View the full article

Tallyho Twinkletoe in full flight in the Grand National Hurdle (4200m) at Sandown on Sunday. New Zealand jumps jockey Aaron Kuru took home one of the biggest scalps in his riding career on Sunday after taking out the Grand National Hurdle (4200m) aboard Kiwi jumper Tallyho Twinkletoe at Sandown. Just 24 hours earlier Kuru was without a ride in the race, however, a fall at Riccarton on Saturday ruled out original rider Matthew Gillies. Kuru was already flying to Melbourne to ride in the meeting and last season’s premiership winning jumps jockey was only too happy to oblige when asked to take the ride. He duly rewarded the connections of the nine-year-old gelding when scoring by nearly five lengths in the A$250,000 contest. Kuru was delighted to get the win aboard the Patrick Payne-trained gelding, but had mixed emotions given the circumstances around attaining the ride. “I was lucky enough to get on for this ride,” he said. “It was unfortunate for Matt Gillies back home, I do feel for him, but I am very happy. I picked up a very nice ride and I am glad we delivered.” While officially trained by Payne, Tallyho Twinkletoe had been prepared in New Zealand by Wanganui horseman Kevin “Dummy” Myers up until just days before the race. “He only arrived at my place at 11pm on Wednesday night and he was at Ballarat the following morning at seven o’clock to qualify,” Payne said. “So I’m only the fake trainer. “All thanks to the “Dummy” Myers team back in New Zealand and a special thanks to Jo Rathbone (part-owner) who is close to this horse. “She has spent a lot of time with him at the beach.” Kuru echoed those sentiments and was rapt to get the victory for Myers. “I don’t get many rides for him, so I am glad I could pick up a win in Australia,” Kuru said. She’s apples for Aaron Kuru after Grand National Hurdle (4200m) victory Bruno Cannatelli “He does a great job and Jo Rathbone, she has done a lot in the New Zealand ranks and she has a lot to play in this horse’s success. “It was a massive team effort and I am over the moon.” Kuru was also delighted that the win came aboard a New Zealand horse and he is hoping for more success on Australian soil in the future. “That’s always the goal for the Kiwi riders, to get a bit of a go in Australia,” he said. “We can compete, we just need the horses. It was satisfying riding a Kiwi horse, with myself being a Kiwi, it was really thrilling.” It was the second Grand National Hurdle victory for Tallyho Twinkletoe, with the son of St Reims winning the New Zealand equivalent at Riccarton in 2005. “His record back home in New Zealand is pretty outstanding and he is still pretty untapped at the moment,” Kuru said. He will now be set to try and add a Grand National Steeplechase (4500m) trophy to the mantle when he contests the A$350,000 race at Ballarat on August 25. The two Australian assignments were earmarked by Myers when he sent the gelding to Payne and his new trainer believes Tallyho Twinkletoe is more adept at jumping the bigger fences. “He (Myers) named this horse and said he was coming over for the two Nationals,” Payne said. “That was probably a pretty good barometer for this race, but I must admit I’m a little bit surprised as I thought he jumped the steeples better the other day than the hurdles and I thought he’d be better for next time. “He’s proven me wrong which he’s allowed to do. “All going well, if he pulls up well he will head there (Grand National Steeplechase).” View the full article

Cambridge trainer Mark Brooks is hoping that his jumpers El Disparo and El Fernando will be met by a better track at Riccarton on Wednesday for the second day of the Grand National Festival of Racing. The geldings started on Saturday, the first day of the meeting, and Brooks thought the going was too tough for both runners. El Disparo will tackle the feature race of the day, the Hospitality New Zealand Canterbury 13th Grand National Hurdles (4200m), and Brooks believes the son of El Hermano will... View the full article

Heider Family Stables secured the second of back-to-back pricey Tapits Monday when he scooped up hip 82 for $950,000. The half-sister to Grade II-winning juvenile Annual Report (Harlan’s Holiday) was consigned by Gainesway, Agent V. Gainesway also bred the Mar. 14 foal. The sale came just one hip after West Point Thoroughbreds paid $1 million for a son of the Gainesway stalwart. The post Tapit Goes Back to Back in Saratoga appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

The Tapit colt Flightline became the first seven-figure seller of the Fasig-Tipton Saratoga sale after bringing a cool $1 million from West Point Thoroughbreds. Consigned as hip 80 by Lane’s End, the Mar. 14 foal is out of GSW/MGISP Feathered (Indian Charlie). Jane Lyon’s Summer Wind Equine paid $2,350,000 for Feathered in foal to War Front at the 2016 Keeneland November sale. The post Tapit Colt First to Seven Figures at Fasig appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

A Medaglia d’Oro filly out of the stakes-winning and Grade I-placed Light the City (Street Sense) was the first yearling to approach the $1-million mark Monday evening as agent Kerri Radcliffe went to $900,000 to secure her at the Fasig-Tipton Saratoga sale on behalf of a partnership that will include George Bolton, Sheila Rosenblum and others. Catalogued as hip 49, the Mar. 21 foal was consigned by Eaton Sales. Breeze Easy paid $600,000 for Light the City at the 2016 Fasig-Tipton November sale. The resulting filly was a $525,000 RNA at KEESEP last season. The post Medaglia d’Oro Filly ‘Lights’ Things Up in Saratoga appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article