Wandering Eyes

Covfefe picked up her first grade 1 win Aug. 3 in the $500,000 Longines Test Stakes (G1) at Saratoga Race Course, and got the best of a determined rival in the process. View the full article

Sometimes it's all a matter of distance and surface as converting Leinster into a turf sprinter has proven to be a gem of wisdom as he rolled to a track-record victory in the $200,000 Troy Stakes (G2T) at Saratoga Race Course Aug. 3. View the full article

Breeze Easy’s Karak (f, 2, Karakontie {Jpn}–Down the Well {Ire}, by Mujadil) powered clear to a three-length victory in the Tyro S. Saturday at Monmouth Park, becoming the first stakes winner for her freshman sire. The 3-5 favorite attended the pace through an opening quarter in :20.03 over the firm turf course. She overtook the lead after a half in :44.24 and drew clear despite drifting out down the lane to complete the five furlongs in :57.08. Slap Happy (Ire) (Kodiac {GB}) was second and Now Is (Sidney’s Candy) was third. Tabbed a ‘TDN Rising Star’ after a front-running three-length debut win at Belmont Park May 25, the bay filly traveled to Royal Ascot and finished 15th in the June 19 Windsor Castle S. last time out. A $22,000 Keeneland November weanling, Karak RNA’d for $30,000 as a Keeneland September yearling and was a $365,000 OBS March acqusition. Lifetime Record: 3-2-0-0, $95,000. O-Breeze Easy LLC. B-Parrish Hill, Amanda Roach Cole & Karakontie (Ky). T-Wesley Ward. The post Karak Is Karakontie’s First Stakes Winner appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Covfefe (f, 3, Into Mischief–Antics, by Unbridled), a runaway heroine of the GIII Miss Preakness S. at Pimlico with a gaudy 107 Beyer Speed Figure earlier this spring, came out on top in a GI Longines Test S. for the ages Saturday. Off at odds of 3-1, the bay chased GI Kentucky Oaks victress Serengeti Empress (Alternation) from second through fractions of :22.19 and :44.28. The two locked horns approaching the quarter pole and the stage was set. Covfefe finally fought her way past Serengeti Empress in deep stretch and had about a half length on her game rival on the wire. It was a long way back to Bellafina (Quality Road) in third. The final time for seven furlongs was 1:21.26. Sales history: $250,000 yrl ’17 KEESEP. Lifetime Record: 6-4-0-1. O-LNJ Foxwoods; B-Alexander-Groves Thoroughbreds (Ky); T-Brad Cox. The post Into Mischief Filly Passes the Test appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Peter Brant’s Eclipse Award winner Sistercharlie (Ire) (Myboycharlie {Ire}) is one of eight pre-entries for and looks to become the first in the 30-year history to win the GI Beverly D. S. more than once when she lines up in the 9 1/2-furlong heat at Arlington Park Aug. 10. Trainer Chad Brown, who has sent out the winner of the Beverly D. for four consecutive years, is also set to be represented by GI American Oaks winner Competitionofideas (Speightstown) as well as Brant’s Thais (Fr) (Rio de la Plata), a longshot third to round out a Brown 1-2-3 last summer. Aidan O’Brien sends in a pair of Ballydoyle runners, including G1 Irish Oaks runner-up and G1 Investec Oaks third Fleeting (Ire) (Zoffany {Ire}). Magic Wand (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) has also been pre-entered for the Beverly D., but is likely to face the boys in the GI Arlington Million. Robert Bruce (Chi) (Fast Company {Ire}) will look to join the legendary John Henry as two-time winners of America’s original seven-figure race and would become the first to put them back-to-back. But he will play second fiddle to stablemate Bricks and Mortar (Giant’s Causeway), who easily accounted for Robert Bruce in the GI Manhattan S. June 8 and will look to remain perfect in five appearances this season. Intellogent (Ire) (Intello {Ger}), a latest fourth in the G1 Prix d’Ispahan, looms the most intriguing of a four-strong foreign contingent. Shortened to a mile for this running, the GI Secretariat S. also looks to be in Brown’s wheelhouse, as he has entered Brant’s GISW Fog of War (War Front) and eFive Racing and Mike Ryan’s unbeaten Valid Point (Scat Daddy). Faraway Kitten (Kitten’s Joy) is set to cut back in trip off his upset win in the GIII American Derby July 13, while the O’Brien-trained Never No More (Ire) (No Nay Never) could make his first appearance since annexing the Listed Leopardstown 2000 Guineas Trial Apr. 6. The post Sistercharlie Ready for Arlington ‘D’-Fense appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Ashbrook Farm and BBN Racing’s Concrete Rose (Twirling Candy) is ‘probable’ to proceed to the final leg of the inaugural Turf Tiara series, the $750,000 Jockey Club Oaks, to be contested over a mile and three-eighths at Belmont Park Sept. 7. Also victorious in the GI Belmont Oaks last month, the $61,000 Fasig-Tipton Midlantic juvenile acquisition remains under consideration for Keeneland’s GI Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup Oct. 12. “We’ll probably run at Belmont,” trainer Rusty Arnold told the NYRA notes team. “If she’s good, she’ll probably run [in the Jockey Club Oaks], now that we have thought things over, as long as we don’t have any kind of issues.” Arnold believes the 11-furlong trip is within his filly’s capabilities. “With the way she has run, I don’t think [1 3/8 miles] will be a problem,” Arnold continued. “Let’s face it, I don’t think you know until you do it, and I don’t think anybody knows, but it looks like after the way she ran we wouldn’t have an issue trying it, especially if she can get another easy lead. The fact the [Queen Elizabeth is a Grade I] would factor more into our decision if she wasn’t already a Grade I winner, but we’re going to take her where she fits best, and the grading probably won’t matter.” Tom’s d’Etat Possible For Woodward… G M B Racing’s Tom’s d’Etat (Curlin) has emerged none the worse for wear from his stylish victory in Friday’s Alydar S. at Saratoga and could make his next appearance in the GI Woodward S. over the same course and distance Aug. 31, trainer Al Stall, Jr. said. “He certainly did it the right way [Friday], so we’ll take a good long look at him this week and see how he comes out of the race,” Stall said. “The next logical spot would be the Woodward, but we’ll see. It takes us about a week or so to evaluate how he comes out of a race. We’ll take our time and see what’s what.” The post Spa Notebook: Concrete Rose ‘Probable’ for Turf Tiara Finale appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Hronis Racing’s Jasikan (Ire) (Bated Breath {GB}) has snatched victory from the jaws of defeat in winning three of his five starts to date, the product of some bad habits in the stalls, and connections will certainly be hoping their charge gets off to a better start in Sunday’s GIII LaJolla H. at Del Mar. A maiden winner over the Dundalk all-weather in two starts for Mick Halford, the dark bay was last away and had to settle for third to pace-pressing Neptune’s Storm ( in his stateside debut in the Apr. 28 Singletary S.. He gave his rivals another head start in a May 27 allowance, but overcame the sluggish beginning to prevail and pulled another rabbit out of the hat last time, just tagging Nolde (Pioneerof the Nile) on the wire after walking out of the gate in the restricted Runhappy Oceanside S. July 17. An allowance winner at Santa Anita Apr. 4, Rijeka (Ire) (Roderic O’Connor {Ire}) raced prominently in the Singletary before fading readily into seventh. Taken back further off the pace in the Oceanside, the chestnut was strung up in a bit of traffic while Jasikan and Nolde were making runs in the clear and stayed on well enough to be third. Quiet tactics could see him hitting the line hard Sunday as well. Stubbins (Morning Line) narrowly annexed a pair of starts down the hillside turf course over the winter before walloping Neptune’s Storm by eight lengths in a rained-off running of the Pasadena S. Mar. 2. Sixth to Plus Que Parfait (Point of Entry) in the G2 UAE Derby, he earned a field-best 90 Beyer for a third to GSW turf sprinter Eddie Haskell (Square Eddie) going five furlongs here July 24. He’s a threat Sunday if able to avoid a duel up front with Neptune’s Storm. The post Jasikan Could Use a ‘Break’ in LaJolla appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

A pair of ‘TDN Rising Stars’–one by arguably the hottest stallion around and the other a half-sister to a recent Saratoga Grade I winner–lock horns in what appears on paper to be a strong renewal of the GII Adirondack S. at Saratoga Sunday afternoon. Three Chimneys Farm’s Magic Dance (More Than Ready) was no better than an 8-1 shot for her debut June 7, about 24 hours before her year-older relation and fellow ‘Rising Star’ Guarana (Ghostzapper) would announce herself really and truly as one of the leaders of her generation in the GI Acorn S. at Belmont Park. Guarana has since added this track’s GI CCA Oaks. While Magic Dance did not graduate by the same double-digit margin as did Guarana some seven weeks prior, she was no less impressive, taking over at will en route to a 4 3/4-length tally and defeating a pair of next-out winners in the process. The homebred tacked on a 1 1/2-length success in the June 29 Debutante S. in Louisville and is set up for a stalking trip from her outside draw here. Frank’s Rockette is a daughter of the white-hot Into Mischief, sire already this meet of GIII Schuylerville S. winner and ‘Rising Star’ Comical and a pair of impressive maiden winners July 31, including ‘Rising Star’ Risky Mischief. Favored at 14-5 for her June 21 bow beneath the Twin Spires, the Bill Mott-trained homebred rocketed away from her seven rivals to graduate by 8 3/4 lengths. Lasix goes on Saturday afternoon. Though she wasn’t nearly as impressive against the clock as either of her two more-fancied foes, Tracy Farmer’s Perfect Alibi (Sky Mesa) pummeled a group of Churchill maidens by 9 1/2 lengths May 16. That effort made the $220,000 Fasig-Tipton Saratoga grad the 5-4 chalk for the June 6 Astoria S. at Belmont and she made hard work of it before leveling off late to just miss to well-regarded firster and subsequent ‘Rising Star’ Maryanorginger (Strong Mandate). While perhaps unlikely as a win candidate, Miss Peppina (Bayern)–one of two in the race for trainer Gary Gullo–has place claims off a come-from-behind, two-length graduation downstate July 3. Joel Rosario retains the mount. The post Rising Stars Loom Large in Adirondack appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

AIRDRIE STALLIONS IN THE SPOTLIGHT IN SPA OPENER Sponsored by Alex Nichols Agency 1st-SAR, $90K, Msw, 2yo, f, 7f, 1:00p.m. Trainer Jeremiah Englehart went to $525,000 to acquire DAPHNE MOON (Cairo Prince) at the OBS April Sale on behalf of Gold Square and Double O Racing Stable and she makes her career bow in this spot. The dark bay, who breezed in :21 flat at OBS, is a half-sister to stakes winner Perfect Wife (Majesticperfection). Cairo Prince’s barnmate at Airdire Creative Cause is also represented by an intriguing firster here in Lucky Dime, who is a half-sister to multiple Grade I-winning millionaire sprinter Mitole (Eskendereya). Her dam is a half to GSW Live Lively (Medaglia d’Oro). TJCIS PPs PRICEY EMPIRE MAKER COLT DEBUTS AT ELLIS 1st-ELP, $50K, Msw, 2yo, 1m, 1:50p.m. Ian Wilkes unveils a pricey first timer in FRANK SENIOR (Empire Maker), who summoned $550,000 from Lothenbach Stables at last year’s Fasig-Tipton Saratoga Sale. His unraced dam is a full-sister to GISW Mr. Sidney (Storm Cat) and daughter of MGISW millionaire Tomisue’s Delight (A.P. Indy), who is out of MGISW Prospectors Delite (Mr. Prospector). Frank Senior is a half to GSW Term of Art (Tiznow). Steve Asmussen saddles another firster in $375,000 KEESEP buy Code Runner (Honor Code). Out of GISW Nereid (Rock Hard Ten), the bay is a half to SW & GSP Figarella’s Queen (Medaglia d’Oro). TJCIS PPs SEVERAL FIRSTERS OF INTRIGUE IN SARATOGA TURF TEST 4th-SAR, $90K, Msw, 2yo, f, 1 1/16mT, 2:45p.m. Barry Schwartz was pushed to $650,000 to secure SPARKLING SKY (More Than Ready) at the Keeneland September Sale and she makes her career bow for Todd Pletcher in this test. Out of GSP Bet to Win (Pulpit), the chestnut is a full-sibling to SW & GSP Justa Lady. She hails from the family of GISW Behrens and MGSW Hot Novel. Peter Brant traveled across the pond to purchase Sketches of Spain (Ire) (Lope de Vega {Ire}) for 400,000 guineas at the Tattersall’s October Sale. The Chad Brown pupil is out of GSP Janicellaine (Ire) (Beat Hollow {GB}), who is a half-sister to European Highweight and dual Grade I winner Chriselliam (Ire) (Iffraj {GB}) and MGSW Very Special (Ire) (Lope de Vega {Ire}). Brown also saddles first timer Situation Room (Summer Front) for Klaravich Stables here. A half to GSW Silver Reunion (Harlan’s Holiday), the $275,000 KEESEP buy is out of GSW Silver Comic (Silver Hawk), who is a half to English, Irish and European Highweight Lucayan Prince (Fast Play) and MGSW Comic Strip (Red Ransom). Shug McGaughey unveils a granddaughter of GISW Carriage Trail (Giant’s Causeway) in this event in Bridal Path (Hard Spun). TJCIS PPs HALF-BROTHER TO TWIRLING CANDY MAKES CAREER BOW IN HALLANDALE 5th-GP, $47K, Msw, 3yo/up, 6f, 2:47p.m. John Oxley’s $500,000 KEESEP purchase DANZAR (Will Take Charge) looks to open his account for trainer Mark Casse in this race. The bay is a half to Grade I-winning sire Twirling Candy (Candy Ride {Arg}) and graded winners Dubai Sky (Candy Ride {Arg}) and Ethnic Dance (Tribal Rule). TJCIS PPs ROMANS UNVEILS EXPENSIVE UNCLE MO 3rd-ELP, $50K, Msw, 2yo, 5 1/2f, 2:46p.m. Albaugh Family Stables and Spendthrift teamed up for $850,000 KEESEP buy FIGHT FIGHT FIGHT (Uncle Mo) and he makes his first trip to the post at Ellis Park Sunday. His dam Dawn Chorus (Unbridled’s Song) is a daughter of SW & GSP Dawn Princess (Polish Numbers). Brendan Walsh sends out a Godolphin firster in Banks Island (Tapit), a half to SW Sunset Wish (Malibu Moon). His second dam is GISW Cara Rafaela (Quiet American), who produced champion and top sire Bernardini (A.P. Indy) and GISP Ile de France (Storm Cat), who is the dam of MGISW Love and Pride (A.P. Indy). Phoenix Thoroughbred’s $325,000 KEESEP buy Something Super (Super Saver) also debuts in this spot. The chestnut is out of MSW & GSP Somethinaboutbetty (Forestry), who is a half to the dam of MGSW Eskenformoney (Eskendereya). This is also the family of GISW My Trusty Cat (Tale of the Cat) and GISW Include Betty (Include). TJCIS PPs BEST REPRESENTED BY ANOTHER WELL-RELATED MEDAG COLT 11th-SAR, $90K, Msw, 3yo/up, 1mT, 6:57p.m. Larry Best has picked up quite a few expensive and well-bred horses by Medaglia d’Oro over the past few years and first timer CARDIFF CAY is no exception. Out of SW Lemon Kiss (Lemon Drop Kid), a full-sister to MGSW Kiss the Kid, the $560,000 KEESEP acquisition is a full-brother to GISW turfer Lochte. The bay hails from the family of Horse of the Year Black Tie Affair (Ire) (Miswaki), and Italian Group 1 winner Great Palm (Manila). Click here to watch XBTV footage of her five-panel work at the Spa in 1:02.26 (27/36 July 28. Meet leader Chad Brown also sends out an intriguing firster in Good Governance (GB) (Kingman {GB}), a son of GSW Please Sing (GB) (Royal Applause {GB}), who hails from the family of MGSW Belvoir Bay (GB) (Equiano {Fr}). TJCIS PPs PAIR OF PRICEY COLTS DEBUT AT DEL MAR 5th-DMR, $61K, Msw, 2yo, 5 1/2f, 7:00p.m. Hall of Famer Bob Baffert can never be ignored with a first time starter and he saddles the morning-line favorite here in EIGHT RINGS (Empire Maker). The $520,000 KEESEP purchase is out of a daughter of MGISW November Snow (Storm Cat) and hails from the family of New Zealand champion Bounding (Aus) (Lonhro {Aus}) and Group 1 winner Anthony Van Dyke (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}). Click here to watch his five-furlong bullet breeze from the gate in 1:00 flat (1/50) at Del Mar July 25. John Shireffs also unveils an expensive KEESEP buy in $500,000 Express Train (Union Rags), who is a son of GSW Purely Hot (Pure Prize). TJCIS PPs The post Aug. 4 Insights appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Despite sending out nearly one-third of the field in the July 6 GI Belmont Derby, trainer Chad Brown finished third, fourth and seventh behind Henley’s Joy (Kitten’s Joy). The barn is out looking for revenge with two of those runners in Sunday’s second leg of the ‘Turf Trinity,’ the inaugural $1-million Belmont Derby. At odds of 10-1, Rockemperor (Ire) (Holy Roman Emperor {Ire}) was the third choice among the Brown quartet on the back of solid, if not entirely spectacular, European form. A debut winner in the French provinces, he won the Prix Policeman conditions race over the Cagnes-Sur-Mer all-weather in February ahead of a near-miss second in the G3 Prix La Force at ParisLongchamp Apr. 7. A low-odds sixth in the G1 Prix du Jockey Club (2100m), he got far back in the Belmont Derby behind a decent pace, but flew home in a race-fastest :22.14 to be third. He’ll have to lay a bit closer and get going a bit sooner, but he should be a factor. Those gamblers that remained faithful to Henley’s Joy following some tough defeats were rewarded to the tune of $43.60 in the Belmont Derby. Able to secure the box seat beneath Jose Lezcano, he was always forward, and even though Social Paranoia (Street Boss) got first run three wide into the lane, Lezcano didn’t panic, pulled Henley’s Joy out and finished over the top for the victory. A similar trip is in the offing from gate one Sunday. Digital Age (Ire) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}), the GII American Turf winner, was done no favors in the Derby by drawing gate 13, but in reality, Irad Ortiz, Jr. was able to work out a decent trip and they rallied late into fourth despite some traffic in deep stretch. Seismic Wave (Tapit) kept company with Digital Age for the opening six furlongs of the Derby and he, too, rallied inside in the lane to be fifth. A couple new shooters have some longshot appeal. Mohawk (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), third to stablemate and future G1 Investec Derby victor Anthony Van Dyck (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) in last year’s G2 Futurity S., won the G2 Royal Lodge S. last season. Second to subsequent G1 St James’s Palace hero Circus Maximus (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) in the Listed Dee S. at tight-turning Chester in May, he was one spot behind Rockemperor in the French Derby and most recently defied a five-pound penalty to defeat his elders in the G3 Meld S. at Leopardstown July 18 (video). He sheds nine pounds and adds Lasix for this. Phoenix Thoroughbred III’s Kadar (Scat Daddy), a maiden winner in two European starts for Karl Burke, made a favorable impression in his U.S. debut July 18 at the Spa, covering his final five-sixteenths of a mile in a strong :29.04 to finish a close third. Blinkers go on ‘the other Maker.’ The post Brown Barn to Bounce Back in Saratoga Derby appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Connections of Enable (GB) (Nathaniel {Ire}) have revealed that the 5-year-old mare will take in the mile-and-a-half G1 Yorkshire Oaks on Aug. 22 rather than the G1 Juddmonte International over two furlongs shorter the day prior. Enable won the Yorkshire Oaks two years ago at three and it will be her last race on British soil before she attempts a historic third victory in the G1 Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe on Oct. 6. Enable kicked off her season with a win in the G1 Coral-Eclipse over 10 furlongs on July 6 before winning her second G1 King George VI and Queen Elizabeth S. three weeks later over 12 furlongs, and Teddy Grimthorpe, racing manager to owner/breeder Khalid Abdullah, said the thinking is to keep her over the Arc trip. “We know she is effective over a mile and a quarter, but John didn’t want to bring her back [in trip] again, so we thought the Yorkshire Oaks would be a more suitable race bearing in mind her main objective,” he explained. The post Yorkshire Oaks Date For Enable appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Godolphin's multiple group 1 winner Thunder Snow, back-to-back winner of the Dubai World Cup Sponsored by Emirates Airline (G1) for trainer Saeed bin Suroor, will not run in the Aug. 3 Whitney Stakes (G1) at Saratoga Race Course. View the full article

Following Friday’s rapid display of Battaash (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}) at Goodwood, it is the turn of the long sprinters in Sunday’s G1 Larc Prix Maurice de Gheest at Deauville. The last two winners, Brando (GB) (Pivotal {GB}) and Polydream (Ire) (Oasis Dream {GB}), are both in attendance with the latter registering a confidence-boosting win in the G3 Prix de la Porte Maillot on ParisLongchamp’s turning seven furlongs on July 4. Unbeaten in Normandy, the Wertheimers’ homebred bids to go some way towards emulating the former Freddy Head-trained pair of triple winners Marchand d’Or (Fr) (Marchand de Sable) and Moonlight Cloud (GB) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}). “I’m very happy with her and I think she’s as good as she was last year,” Head commented. “I was delighted to see her winning again last time. You need a lot of luck in a race like this, so we’ll see.” Heading the customary overseas challenge is Lael Stable’s G1 Prix de la Foret heroine One Master (GB) (Fastnet Rock {Aus}), shortening up from a mile after finishing third in the G1 Queen Anne S. at Royal Ascot on June 18 and second in Newmarket’s G1 Falmouth S. on July 12. Trainer William Haggas is hoping things will fall right for her. “There are no Group 1s over seven furlongs until the Foret, so we have to juggle and I had her in the Lennox this week. After the rain, I wish I’d run her. When I gave Monsieur Boudot the option of last week’s Rothschild over a mile or this, he was in absolutely no doubt to go for this. She nearly gets a mile–the last bit just catches her out–but you’d hope her turn of foot will stand her in good stead. It’s a strong race, though.” Saeed Manana’s Invincible Army (Ire) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}) looked to be peaking when winning the May 15 G2 Duke of York S., but was only seventh in the G1 Diamond Jubilee S. at Royal Ascot on June 22 before rebounding to take the G3 Chipchase S. on Newcastle’s Tapeta a week later. “He’s ready and raring to go–we’ve enjoyed ourselves in France this season,” trainer James Tate said. “We’ve won with everything that has completed–unfortunately New Graduate pulled up at Vichy. We let him down just for a week after Newcastle, because he’d had two quick-ish runs. We think the flat track at Deauville should really suit him. It’s half a furlong extra, but I don’t see that being a problem.” Of the 3-year-olds, Pretty Pollyanna (GB) (Oasis Dream {GB}) returns to the scene of her 2018 G1 Prix Morny triumph and holds strong claims after missing the break when fourth in the G1 July Cup at Newmarket on July 13. The Gredleys’ homebred was second in the G1 Irish 1000 Guineas at The Curragh on May 26 and this trip could suit ideally. If the ground is not too quick, Phoenix Thoroughbred Limited’s G1 Commonwealth Cup and G1 Phoenix S. hero Advertise (GB) (Showcasing {GB}) has a major chance to add to his top-level successes. Short of a mile, he has been beaten only three times by Calyx (GB) (Kingman {GB}), Too Darn Hot (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) and Ten Sovereigns (Ire) (No Nay Never), with the latter taking his measure in the July Cup. “He’s all set and we’re pretty bullish about his chances,” trainer Martyn Meade said. “We’ve been very happy with him since Newmarket and hopefully this is a bit easier than the July Cup.” At Dusseldorf, the G1 Henkel-Preis der Diana features no British or Irish raiders and sees Darius Racing’s Donjah (Ger) (Teofilo {Ire}) making her seasonal bow having looked a generation leader when taking Krefeld’s G3 Herzog Von Ratibor Rennen over 9 1/2 furlongs in November. She will have to be something special to win this German Oaks without a prep and she has some talent to overcome to do so, including Gestut Ebbesloh’s June 15 Listed Preis Dusseldorf and July 6 G3 Mehl Mulhens Trophy winner Durance (Ger) (Champs Elysees {GB}) and Gestut Rottgen’s June 9 G2 Diana-Trial scorer Akribie (Ger) (Reliable Man {GB}). The post Polydream In Maurice de Gheest Defence appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Making light of a penalty for her success in the G2 Lancashire Oaks, Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum’s highly progressive Enbihaar (Ire) (Redoute’s Choice {Aus}) put her rivals to the sword in Saturday’s G2 Qatar Lillie Langtry S. at Goodwood. Runner-up to Dramatic Queen (Kitten’s Joy) in York’s G3 Bronte Cup over this 14-furlong trip on May 25, the bay had reversed that form in the Haydock feature last time on July 6 and showed how much she had moved forward with this dominant display under Jim Crowley. Settled in rear early, the 7-2 co-favourite moved with ease past all rivals heading to the two-furlong pole and from there she turned it into an exhibition with the smart 3-year-old yardsticks and co-favourites Manuela de Vega (Ire) (Lope de Vega {Ire}) and South Sea Pearl (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) beaten by five lengths and 1 3/4 lengths in second and third. “That was a big performance and she’s only just coming good now,” her rider said. “She is a big filly and just gallops–she’s a real star.” Connections will have to aim at the top now. “I’m a real fan of this filly,” the owner’s racing manager Angus Gold commented. “She was quite hot and fizzy as a 2-year-old, but she has absolutely settled down now and loves her work. She stays surprising well for a Redoute’s Choice and she handles this fast ground. It was a really good performance with a penalty. She’s got a magnificent stride on her and she must be about 16.3hh, but she was light-framed when we bought her and has just really developed. I’m delighted for Sheikh Hamdan, who kept her in training.” Manuela de Vega’s trainer Ralph Beckett said of the runner-up, “I am delighted with her run. The obvious place to go with her would be the [G2] Park Hill S. [at Doncaster on Sept. 12].” Pedigree Notes The lightly-raced Enbihaar, who also took the 12-furlong Listed Daisy Warwick Fillies’ S. on her seasonal bow here on May 4, is a half-sister to Godolphin’s G2 International Topkapi Trophy runner-up Silent Attack (GB) (Dream Ahead) and to the listed-placed King Bolete (Ire) (Cape Cross {Ire}). The dam Chanterelle (Fr) (Trempolino) is a full-sister to the G3 Prix du Calvados scorer Cox Orange, who is in turn the dam of the Listed Masaka S. winner and G1 1000 Guineas third Vista Bella (GB) (Diktat {GB}). Their respective dam Spectacular Joke (Spectacular Bid) landed the Prix Maurice de Gheest when it was a Group 2 before producing the G1 Prix Marcel Boussac heroine Amonita (Anabaa). Chanterelle also has the unraced 2-year-old colt Motamayiz (GB) (Charm Spirit {Ire}). Saturday, Goodwood, Britain QATAR LILLIE LANGTRY S.-G2, £312,000, Goodwood, 8-3, 3yo/up, f, 14fT, 2:58.69, g/f. 1–ENBIHAAR (IRE), 135, f, 4, by Redoute’s Choice (Aus) 1st Dam: Chanterelle (Fr), by Trempolino 2nd Dam: Spectacular Joke, by Spectacular Bid 3rd Dam: No Joke, by Shecky Greene (€500,000 Ylg ’16 ARAUG). O-Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum; B-Haras du Mezeray (IRE); T-John Gosden; J-Jim Crowley. £176,935. Lifetime Record: 7-4-1-1, $357,845. *1/2 to Silent Attack (GB) (Dream Ahead), GSP-Tur, $176,808; and King Bolete (Ire) (Cape Cross {Ire}), SP-Eng. Werk Nick Rating: F. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree. 2–Manuela de Vega (Ire), 121, f, 3, Lope de Vega (Ire)–Roscoff (Ire), by Daylami (Ire). (€100,000 Ylg ’17 GOFOR). O-Waverley Racing; B-Merriebelle Irish Farm Ltd (IRE); T-Ralph Beckett. £67,080. 3–South Sea Pearl (Ire), 121, f, 3, Galileo (Ire)–Cassydora (GB), by Darshaan (GB). (800,000gns Ylg ’17 TATOCT). O-Derrick Smith, Susan Magnier & Michael Tabor; B-Barronstown Stud (IRE); T-Aidan O’Brien. £33,571. Margins: 5, 1 3/4, HF. Odds: 3.50, 3.50, 3.50. Also Ran: Flowering Peach (Ire), Pilaster (GB), Peach Tree (Ire), Dramatic Queen. Click for the Racing Post result or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. Video, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton. The post Enbihaar Dominates The Lillie Langtry appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

So far in 2019, the analysis of France’s provincial season has highlighted the early promise of Etoile (Fr) (Siyouni {Fr}) at Cagnes-sur-Mer and Channel (Ire) (Nathaniel {Ire}) at Lyon-Parilly, with the pair going on to establish themselves among the very best of their generation’s middle-distance fillies. Following her smooth wins in the South during January and February, Etoile–who is now part-owned by Martin Schwartz– was runner-up in the G3 Prix Vanteaux and won the G3 Prix Cleopatre before taking part in the G1 Prix de Diane. In the event, she was slightly unlucky to be only fourth, beaten just under a length by Samuel de Barros’s sole horse in training Channel who gave her owner the ultimate thrill. Fifth in a tight finale to the Chantilly Classic was Cala Tarida (GB) (Garswood {GB}), whose career began at Salon-de-Provence and Marseille-Borely, so it is clear that the country’s smaller tracks are playing an increasingly vital role in the education of some of its most promising horses. At Marseille-Borely on May 4, the venue in the grand Parc Borely next to the sun-blessed Borely beach under the mountains of Les Calanques saw the latest Marnane-Palussiere project take shape in the 2-year-old colt Real Appeal (Ger) (Sidestep {Aus}). Two starts later, he had captured the Listed Prix la Fleche at Maisons-Laffitte before being sold for £265,000 at the Goffs London Sale to Zhang Yuesheng and put into training with Jim Bolger. Initially snapped up in a private sale for just €9,000, Real Appeal is the latest example of the power of getting eyecatching results after a maternelle period in the provinces with precocious juveniles for major investment rewards. Along the way, the Marnanes are picking up decent prize money and owners’ premiums and that is why they currently sit ninth in the owners’ table behind the likes of Godolphin, the Wertheimers, Gerard Augustin-Normand, His Highness the Aga Khan and Al Shaqab Racing. This outstanding example of entrepreneurship has perhaps not been fully appreciated as yet. Back at Marseille-Borely 10 days later, owner-breeder Jean-Claude Seroul’s 4-year-old filly Spirit of Nelson (Ire) (Mount Nelson {GB}) gave a clue in the Prix Raymond Martin as to what she would achieve two starts later when winning Deauville’s Listed Prix de la Pepiniere. Seroul is in the ascendant in France, sitting 11th in the owners’ table as this is written and ahead of Khalid Abdullah. Spirit of Nelson hails from the local stable of the Godolphin Flying Start graduate Jerome Reynier, who trained Royal Julius (Ire) (Royal Applause {GB}) to win last year’s G2 Premio Presidente della Repubblica and finish runner-up in the H H The Amir Trophy at Doha in February. Seroul and Reynier also combined with the upwardly-mobile 4-year-old gelding Skalleti (Fr) (Kendargent {Fr}), who beat Diamond Vendome (Fr) (Style Vendome {Ire}) in the June 22 Grand Prix De Marseille-Vivaux on the all-weather. Jean-Claude Rouget has his stable in amazing form and is consequently on the tail of Andre Fabre in the trainers’ ranks. Claudio Marzocco’s 3-year-old colt Ferblue (Fr) (Motivator {GB}), who had won at Tarbes in April, added to his Pau-based stable’s tally at Bordeaux-le-Bouscat on May 25 and the chestnut has since won again at Deauville. He was warming up for the yard’s Taos (Fr) (Toronado {Ire}), who captured the 163rd edition of Bordeaux’s Derby du Midi. As its name suggests, the 9 1/2-furlong test is a race with prestige in the Gironde, with the former Rouget star and multiple Grade I-winning Grand Couturier (GB) (Grand Lodge) on the honour roll. Showing a fine attitude, Martin Schwartz’s relative of the G1 Prix d’Ispahan-winning sire Never On Sunday (Fr) (Sunday Break {Jpn}) is unexposed at present and while it is early days, he is in the right hands. Nantes in the Loire-Atlantique is renowned for culture, being the base of the world-renowned Les Machines de L’Ile which include a mechanical elephant which takes patrons on a stroll around the block to the weird-and-wonderful carousel creation Le Carrousel des Mondes Marins. The racecourse, the Hippodrome du Petit Port, was set up in 1875 on the land owned by the family of Rene-Theophile-Hyacinthe Laennec, inventor of the stethoscope. On June 11, the seven-furlong debut winner Eversweet (Fr) provided the ex-German and Haras de Saint Arnoult-based first-season sire Sommerabend (GB) with another winner. Orientating her way around the tight, tricky, tree-shaded left-handed circuit to win with something in hand for the Larissa Kneip stable, the bay caught the attention of Team Valor who made another potentially lucrative half-share investment. Now with John Hammond in Chantilly, she ran a fair race in Saturday’s G3 Prix Six Perfections at Deauville under Tristan Baron. Two days later at the Hippodrome de La Touche Craon between Rennes and Angers, the Prix de L’Avenir witnessed a taking debut from the Rouget-trained 2-year-old filly Baga (Fr) (No Nay Never). The subject of a ridiculous wide trip, Bernard Weill, Daniel-Yves Treves and Laurent Dassault’s bay made light of that under Coralie Pacaut to score by five lengths before heading to ParisLongchamp to double her tally the following month. Under Rouget’s assistance, Pacaut is 12th in the riders’ championship with 39 winners, nine clear of her younger female rival and rising star Marie Waldhauser. Waldhauser, the 19-year-old Jura-born rider who is helping to augment the current surge of France’s female jockey scene, is based with Maxime Cesandri and spoke about her driving ambition in an interview with Paris Turf. “I don’t like losing and I’m an adrenaline junkie,” she declared. “I get it from racing. He [Cesandri] doesn’t congratulate me every time I improve and doesn’t hesitate to expose my mistakes,” she said. “He analyses the races with me and that’s a big plus. Thanks to him, I’m learning every day. The aim is to win in the right way and prove that even without the [weight] allowance, women are competitive.” Following the La Fete National celebrations of July 14, it was time for Vichy to stage its traditional five-day Grande Semaine festival by the Allier River. Having enjoyed the honour of staging the country’s first evening flat meeting in 1992, the right-handed circuit has a history of innovation and enterprise and an atmosphere all of its own during this week. Situated near the magnificent opera house, the once-titled “Club Med of racing” got underway with the Listed Prix Madame Jean Couturie for 3-year-old fillies over 10 furlongs. It was won by Al Shira’aa Farms’ unexposed and progressive Mutamakina (GB) (Nathaniel {Ire}), a Carlos Laffon-Parias-trained descendant of the brilliant Ridgewood Pearl (GB) (Indian Ridge {Ire}), who being by that sire could be looking at a fruitful autumn. The middle of the five days featured the evening meeting under atmospheric floodlight and the feature G3 Grand Prix de Vichy, where Christophe Soumillon made all unchallenged on the Grand Prix de Marseille-Vivaux runner-up Diamond Vendome for the Christophe Escuder stable. Escuder may not be a household name in Britain and Ireland, but he is seventh in the French trainer’s title and battling it out with closely-matched contemporaries Francis-Henri Graffard, Fabrice Vermeulen and Frederic Rossi. The following day’s Listed Prix du Haras De Bouquetot Jacques Bouchara, named in honour of the track’s former president who turned around its fortunes in the nineties, was taken by Prime Equestrian’s Lady Galore (Ire) (Raven’s Pass), while the festival closed with the Listed Prix Jacques de Bremond success of the aforementioned Skalleti. The post French Provincial Diary appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Godolphin’s globe-trotting $16.5-million earner and two-time G1 Dubai World Cup hero Thunder Snow (Ire) (Helmet {Aus}) will be forced to miss Saturday’s GI Whitney H. at Saratoga. “We took him to the track this morning and he came back to the barn and coughed a few times,” said trainer Saeed bin Suroor. “We took his temperature and he’s running a little bit of a fever. In the best interests of the horse, we will be passing on the Whitney today.” The post Fever Knocks Thunder Snow Out of Whitney 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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I Boogi taught jockey Damian Lane a valuable lesson as the gelding embarked on his racing career at Werribee. Lane told then trainer Russell Cameron he thought the gelding was unbeatable at his debut in January 2016. However the gelding went up in the air as the gates opened before flashing home to run second. "I came back in after that race and said I'll never declare a horse again," Lane said. Lane was reunited with I Boogi in Saturday's Jockey Celebration Day Handicap giving the jockey his fi... View the full article

Central Districts raider Dez took out Saturday’s Gr.3 Winning Edge Presentations 122nd Winter Cup (1600m) at Riccarton courtesy of a peach of a ride from master jockey Chris Johnson. The lightly raced eight-year old, who was having just his seventeenth career start, lifted in the final 100m under the urgings of Johnson to nail fellow North Islander Rosewood right on the post to claim the victory. The Simon Wilson-trained and part-owned Zed gelding, who had finished an unlucky third in the race... View the full article

Evergreen sprinter Irish Excuse gave his rivals weight and a beating as he proved too tough in the closing stages of the Dyer Decorating Premier Sprint (1200m) at Riccarton on Saturday. The Ellis Winsloe-trained nine-year-old relished the testing Heavy11 track conditions as he out-finished race favourite Tabard in the final stages to score by a neat length with local runner Dynamic charging home into third. Winsloe resisted the temptation to utilise an apprentice rider to provide some weight rel... View the full article

The training triumvirate of Graeme, Debbie and Bailey Rogerson kicked the new racing season off in style at Te Rapa on Saturday when they dominated the early proceedings at the meeting. The trio provided the quinella in the third race on the programme when accomplished mare Malambo proved too speedy for stablemate Comeback as she led all the way in the open 1200m sprint feature. That was just thirty minutes after promising filly Roc Cha headed home a quartet of Rogerson runners in the three-year... View the full article

Roger Ramey, a longtime member of the Charles Town community, employee of Hollywood Casino at Charles Town Races, and advocate for both gaming and racing in Jefferson County, W.Va. died in Winchester, Va. early morning Aug. 1. Ramey was 85. View the full article

Bencoolen (NZ) (Swiss Ace) finally franked the potential he has always shown with a convincing first win in the $20,000 Open Maiden race over 1200m on Friday night. Given a confident ride by champion jockey Vlad Duric, Bencoolen was quick out of his barrier one, but was just as quickly eased out of the speed battle when a trio made up of Lim’s Sphere, Agni and Air Combat rushed past him. Duric waited for the top of the straight to stoke the four-year-old up, who darted to t... View the full article

Each Saturday NTRA and BloodHorse provide a one-stop guide to the day's graded stakes races. Races are listed in chronological order (all times Eastern). Click on links for full preview. View the full article

Scoring his second stakes victory Aug. 2, GMB Racing's Tom's d'Etat laid just off a fast pace, made a two-wide move coming around the far turn, and glided home in the $100,000 Alydar Stakes in hand under jockey Joel Rosario at Saratoga. View the full article