Wandering Eyes

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 son of a Yorkshire Oaks winner. 2.15 Newmarket, Mdn, £8,000, 2yo, 7fT URSA MINOR (IRE) (Sea the Stars {Ire}) bids to build on an encouraging debut second to Saturday’s Listed Pat Eddery S. protagonist Al Dabaran (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) over this track and trip last month. John Gosden saddles Godolphin’s relative of the G1 Irish 2000 Guineas-winning sire Bachelor Duke who meets another in the royal blue in the Saeed bin Suroor-trained Military March (GB) (New Approach {Ire}), a son of the G1 Yorkshire Oaks winner Punctilious (GB) (Danehill). 2.17 Deauville, Debutantes, €27,000, 2yo, c/g, 6fT GANBARU (IRE) (Dark Angel {Ire}) represents Godolphin and Andre Fabre in this first newcomers’ event of the Deauville festival. A half-brother to the G1 Middle Park S. winner Amadeus Wolf (GB), he meets Jean-Louis Bouchard’s Golden Boy (Fr) (Siyouni {Fr}), a Stephane Wattel-trained half-brother to the G1 Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere winner Naaqoos (GB) (Oasis Dream {GB}). The post Observations: July 27, 2019 appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

The unusual arc of New Year’s Day (Street Cry {Ire})’s stud career has given him new life. The sire of Gl Xpressbet Florida Derby winner Maximum Security, disqualified from an apparent victory in the Gl Kentucky Derby, but most recently the winner of the Gl TVG.com Haskell Invitational S. at Monmouth last weekend and one of the leading 3-year-olds of 2019, last stood for $5,000 at Hill ‘n’ Dale in 2018–his fifth season at stud. A $425,000 Keeneland September yearling purchase in 2012 by Ben Glass for Gary and Mary West [disclosure: clients of WTC, Inc.], New Year’s Day won two of three starts at two, including the Gl Breeders’ Cup Juvenile, earning $1,154,000. However, a chip in a hind sesamoid at the end of the year finished his career, and he went to stud at three, standing for $12,500. Because the colt was a Grade l winner at two by a top stallion, an attractive individual (and a smoother and neater model than the typical Street Cry), and later, before the beginning of his third season, a half-brother to graded winner Mohaymen (Tapit), he had a lot to recommend him at the fee his first few years at stud. But reality is that after one season, the commercial marketplace isn’t kind to horses like New Year’s Day. Commercial breeders at every price point tend to flock to the newer horses each year, and horses at the lower end of the stud-fee spectrum are particularly prone to early dismissal. Each subsequent year at stud becomes that much more difficult for attracting mares, and if a horse doesn’t hit with his first crop, breeders will write him off ruthlessly. The Wests had supported New Year’s Day heavily through his first several crops, but they sold him to a Brazilian stud late last year. I was in the Wests’ private room at Keeneland at the November sale when Glass told me he was expecting the Kentucky-based agent for the Brazilians to arrive at any minute that day to finalize the deal. The horse had been represented by his first crop of 3-year-olds and second crop of 2-year-olds in 2018 and had yet to sire a graded stakes winner, and Glass knew his future was bleak in Kentucky and a decision had been made to sell. At the time the sale made sense for the Wests, owners of 2018 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile winner and subsequent Eclipse champion 2-year-old colt Game Winner (Candy Ride {Arg})–who will eventually become a future stallion for them–and had 2017 Eclipse champion 3-year-old colt West Coast (Flatter) entering stud in 2019 at Lane’s End. They also had graded winner American Freedom (Pulpit) at Airdrie to support this season, his second at stud. As often happens after a young stallion gets exported or sold, New Year’s Day got his first graded stakes winner four months later. He was Maximum Security, a homebred for the Wests from his sire’s second crop, and he won the Florida Derby at Gulfstream Mar. 30 and thrust himself into the Derby picture as an undefeated winner of four starts–albeit after debuting in a $16,000 maiden claimer. From there he improbably went on to finish first in the Classic before ultimately coming down for interference. If that and the subsequent legal actions protesting the DQ by the Wests weren’t topsy-turvy enough, the Brazilian syndicate that had purchased New Year’s Day inexpensively started getting significant offers for the horse, and though it was reported as far back as May in the BloodHorse that a Japanese farm had a deal in place to purchase him, the sale was only confirmed as completed this week in a Brazilian publication. Revistahorse.com.br said on Wednesday that the legal work had been completed at the end of June and the sale price was $5 million–a significant return on investment for the Brazilians over a short period of time. The stallion has since been shipped back to the U.S. from Brazil and is in quarantine at Darby Dan Farm, awaiting export to Japan, although the identity of the Japanese buyer hasn’t yet been officially revealed. Several sources, however, have told me that the horse is headed to the Yoshida brothers’ Shadai Stallion Station, which, if true, is a bit of a coup for them. It’s also another chance for the Street Cry horse to show what he’s got– this time in another environment and with an updated resume that lists a very good colt on it. Sometimes that’s all a horse needs to restart his career, and his prospects appear bright in Japan with Sunday Silence-line broodmares awaiting him. Mr. Prospector-line horses like New Year’s Day have been tremendously successful with Sunday Silence-line mares, particularly the Shadai-based King Kamehameha (Jpn) (Kingmambo), and the reverse cross with Sunday Silence-line sires and mares by Machiavellian (sire of Street Cry) or his sons has produced five Group 1 winners so far. Sire Success… No one could have predicted the turn of events that made New Year’s Day a marketable prospect again. In fact, two weeks after Maximum Security won the Florida Derby, the sire’s 4-year-old Bourbon Resolution won the Glll Ben Ali S. at Keeneland, giving the stallion two new graded winners in his first two crops. Had either one appeared last year, the stallion would probably still be at Hill ‘n’ Dale. Such is timing and fate, because New Year’s Day was retired to stud late and the Wests didn’t have ample time or opportunity to select enough appropriate mares for his first year at stud as they did for his second season–from which they got Maximum Security. Omniscient narrators, of course, don’t exist when it comes to the story of sire success or failure. Consider the tale of Sunday Silence (Halo) and Easy Goer (Alydar), rivals and top-class runners. The former was arguably the better racehorse while the latter, who was always expected to defeat Sunday Silence more times than he did, had a significantly better pedigree and was considered by most as the standout stallion prospect of the two. You already know the tale, which could have been spun by an unreliable narrator and beggared belief: Zenya Yoshida took the son of Halo to Shadai in Japan, where Sunday Silence rewrote the history books and established an international reputation, while the celebrated and well-connected son of Alydar went to Claiborne carrying the promise of a future superstar stallion that wasn’t fulfilled. In retrospect, Alydar, an outstanding stallion, never amounted to much as a sire of sires, but Halo, a good stallion, got two principal sons that have carried his line forward. The first was the non-stakes winner Southern Halo, a force in Argentina whose son More Than Ready has been a high-level stallion in both North America and Australia, and the other was Sunday Silence, whose son Deep Impact (Jpn), a Japanese Triple Crown winner, has been every bit as good–and maybe better than–his sire was to this point in their careers. Like his sire, Deep Impact has also established an international reputation from Shadai, and he’s underlined his quality with European Classic successes. Last year, Deep Impact’s Saxon Warrior (Jpn) won the G1 2000 Guineas and Study of Man (Ire) took the G1 Prix du Jockey-Club (French Derby), adding to the 2012 win of Beauty Parlour (GB) in the G1 Poule d’Essai des Pouliches (French 1000 Guineas). Another successful son of Sunday Silence is Heart’s Cry (Jpn), who will be represented by G1 Japan Cup winner Cheval Grand (Jpn) in the G1 King George V and Queen Elizabeth S. at Ascot Saturday against Enable (GB) (Nathaniel {Ire}) and Crystal Ocean (GB) (Sea The Stars {Ire}). Cheval Grand carries three crosses to Halo (3x4x5) and is notably from a Machiavellian mare. Sir Prancealot… Speaking of second chances, Sir Prancealot (Ire) (Tamayuz {GB}), who entered stud in 2013 at Tally-Ho Stud in Ireland for €6,000, is getting another shot to further his career. It was recently announced that he will reverse shuttle from Cornerstone Stud in Australia to Rancho San Miguel in California, an unsual move but one that does make some sense. The TDN carried the notice on Tuesday here. Like New Year’s Day, Sir Prancealot only raced at two, but unlike the Street Cry horse, Sir Prancealot’s first 2-year-olds did enough to earn him the title of champion freshman sire in Great Britain and Ireland, but he was surprisingly dispatched to Australia for good in 2017 when he hit a slow patch. In the interim, he’s had a run of success in U.S. black-type races, particularly with some California-based connections (notably Slam Dunk Racing and trainer Richard Baltas)-Grade ll winners Beau Recall (Ire) and Madame Dancealot (Ire); Grade lll winner Lady Prancealot (Ire); and Listed winner Ginger Nut (Ire). Sir Prancealot is a Mr. Prospector-line sire through Gulch/Nayef/Tamayuz, and Northern Dancer-line mares have been instrumental in his success. His sire has two stakes winners from Nureyev-line Pivotal mares, including a Group 1 winner, and Beau Recall is out of a mare by the Nureyev-line Great Commotion, which suggests that daughters of leading California sire Unusual Heat (Nureyev) will suit the horse well, too. Sid Fernando is president and CEO of Werk Thoroughbred Consultants, Inc., originator of the Werk Nick Rating and eNicks. The post Taking Stock: New Life for New Year’s Day appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

For Glen Kozak and his track maintenance crew, it was a perfect storm. View the full article

PRINCE OF THIEVES (c, 2, Into Mischief–Dais, by Divine Park) broke slow, but finished fast to score on debut at Ellis Park Friday. Breezing a best-of-19 half-mile in :48 1/5 on the local main track July 13, he was given a 2-1 chance while carrying the same black and white silks as GI Belmont S. victor Sir Winston (Awesome Again). Off a step slow from his rail draw, the bay ran second last off a swift first quarter in :22.05. Charging up four wide in the lane, Prince of Thieves was countered by Two Dot (Soldat), who was making rapid progress in the stretch, weaving between horses to take the inside path. But, Prince of Thieves proved to be going best of the two and powered clear in the lane to win by a length in 1:04.35. Lifetime Record: 1-1-0-0. O/B-Tracy Farmer (KY); T-Mark Casse. The post Into Mischief Firster Scores at Ellis appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

On the eve of the GII Jim Dandy S., the local prep for the GI Runhappy Travers S., the New York Racing Association (NYRA) began the official countdown to the 150th running of the $1.25 million race by announcing a series of community events leading up to the “Midsummer Derby.” Among the notable names on hand to announce the celebrations were Saratoga Springs’s mayor Meg Kelly, Hall of Fame jockey Javier Castellano, officials from NYRA, and local business leaders. “Travers Day is always a highlight of the summer racing season and this year will be even more memorable as we mark the 150th anniversary of this historic race,” said NYRA CEO and President David O’Rourke. “We are excited to partner with the city and community to extend our celebration beyond the track gates and into downtown.” Nearly two dozen Travers 150 pole banners will be hung along Broadway in Saratoga Springs’s downtown district beginning July 30. A meet and greet autograph session with the meet’s leading riders will take place Aug. 20. There will be live entertainment downtown coinciding with the post-position draw, also on Aug. 20. A window-decorating contest with a racing theme will be held for local businesses, while fans will have the opportunity to win Clubhouse reserved seats by completing forms available at each merchant participating in the contest. The Travers will be run Saturday, Aug. 24. For more information, visit NYRA.com. The post NYRA Announces Local Travers Countdown Celebrations appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

SportBLX, a financial technology company with an online platform that enables fans and investors to purchase shares in unique sports assets, has partnered with trainer Kenny McPeek’s new Magdalena Racing Corp. The new corporation will purchase yearlings and other bloodstock with the purpose of creating shareholder value. After completing its offering, Magdalena Racing will seek to profit from the racehorse portfolio for shareholders, who will be given access to unique content and information. “Our goals are to revolutionize fan engagement and the investing landscape,” said George E. Hall, SportBLX’s executive chairman, as well as owner of 2011 GI Belmont S. winner Ruler on Ice (Roman Ruler). “We are delighted to partner with [McPeek] to make a big push in Thoroughbred racing and provide the excitement of racehorse ownership to new investors.” SportBLX will offer information sessions at Saratoga July 27, Aug. 2, and Aug. 3. In addition to horse racing, future SportBLX new offerings will include basketball, baseball, soccer, and golf. “I look forward to applying our time-tested methods for acquiring, developing, and training yearlings,” said McPeek, “and I am excited to take the next step in my career and advance the industry with innovation using financial technology.” For more information, visit sportblx.com/magdalena/. The post SportBLX Partners with McPeek’s Magdalena in New Venture appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Saudi sports officials are set to announce a new international race, designed to be the world's richest, at an event Aug. 7 press conference at Fasig-Tipton in Saratoga Springs, N.Y. View the full article

Both of grade 1 races on the calendar are six-furlong sprints: the Alfred G. Vanderbilt Handicap (G1) at the Spa, and Bing Crosby (G1) at Del Mar, part of the Breeders' Cup Challenge Series and offers the winner a fees-paid berth to the Sprint (G1). View the full article

In-form jockey Benny Woodworth got onto the scoresheet thanks to a pick-up ride on Friday night. After Singapore Derby-winning jockey Joseph Azzopardi was stood down halfway through proceedings, the Malaysian rider got the call-up for both of the young Australian jockey’s remaining two rides – Qiji Commander and Safeer (NZ) (Savabeel). While the Donna Logan-trained Qiji Commander, a last-start all-the-way winner, faltered badly after trying to beat a wide alley to go forward again in the $50... View the full article

Without a win since November, Soldado (NZ) (Pins) came through a well strung-out field in the $50,000 Class 4 Division 1 race over 1100m to bounce back to the winner’s circle in style on Friday night. With Supersonicsurprise (Simon Kok Wei Hoong) and Qiji Commander (Benny Woodworth) going hell-for-leather upfront, Soldado (John Powell) was able to overcome his outermost alley to tack onto the leading bunch rather comfortably, albeit three wide. Rounding the home turn, Qiji Commander was alread... View the full article

Churchill Downs and Keeneland Race Course on Thursday jointly submitted draft rule language to Kentucky’s Equine Drug Research Council (EDRC) that could pave the way for the state to adopt racehorse medication reforms spearheaded by California earlier this year. Natalie Voss of Paulick Report first broke the story, which listed among its changes a partial Lasix phase-out that would bar the race-day administration of the drug to 2-year-olds beginning in 2020 and the elimination of race-day Lasix in stakes for all ages in 2021. In addition, withdrawal times for non-steroidal anti-inflammatories (NSAIDs) would be pushed back from 24 hours pre-race to 48 hours, and corticosteroid withdrawal times would go from one week to 14 days pre-race. Bisphosonates would be banned. Kentucky is unique in that the EDRC serves as an advisory board to the state’s racing commission regarding the research and testing of equine drugs. Damon Thayer, an EDRC member and the Republican Majority Floor Leader for the Kentucky State Senate, tweeted Thursday that he is in favor of the proposal: “As the longest serving member of the Equine Drug Research Council, I support these proposed changes in concept and look forward to working with [EDRC chairman Stuart Brown II, DVM] & others on the details. My EDRC record is one of reform. Kentucky will lead the way!” The post Kentucky Moves Forward With Medication Reforms appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

In a ruling Friday in the San Diego County Superior Court, permission was given for the name Jerry Hollendorfer to return to the Del Mar program book for the remainder of the current meet. Judge Ronald Frazier upheld a “tentative ruling,” granting Hollendorfer and co-plaintiffs the California Thoroughbred Trainers (CTT) a preliminary injunction on the action taken by the Del Mar Thoroughbred Club, barring the Hall of Fame trainer from stabling and entering horses under his name at the facility. “Now I can feel free to go to Del Mar and participate in the meet down there,” said a subdued Hollendorfer afterwards, outside the court room. “I’m very grateful the judge ruled in our favor.” When asked how soon he might resume training duties at Del Mar, Hollendorfer prevaricated. “I wasn’t taking anything for granted, so, I didn’t make any advance plans, but I’ll be there probably this Sunday,” he said. The day before, the judge found in his “tentative ruling” that Del Mar “is not permitted to arbitrarily deny” Hollendorfer’s stalls, nor to “arbitrarily refuse him” entry to a race at the track. “There is evidence Del Mar TC did indeed arbitrarily deny Mr. Hollendorfer’s stall application without first providing him fair procedure,” the tentative ruling stated. “Accordingly, the court finds there is adequate evidence to conclude Plaintiffs have a reasonable likelihood of prevailing on the merits, as to their claims for declaratory relief and breach of contract.” The decision comes after weeks of uncertainty and unanswered questions. In June, The Stronach Group (TSG) ordered Hollendorfer to remove his horses from Santa Anita and Golden Gate Fields after American Currency became the fourth Hollendorfer-trained horse fatally injured during the six-month Santa Anita meet. During that same period, another two Hollendorfer trainees were catastrophically injured at the organization’s San Francisco facility. Following TSG’s lead, the New York Racing Association (NYRA) and Del Mar subsequently barred Hollendorfer from running horses at their facilities under his name, but opened their doors to his assistants, Don Chatlos now training owner Larry Best’s horses in New York, and Dan Ward assuming the role of trainer for his Southern California string. However, no formal regulatory ruling has been metered out to Hollendorfer in California and New York. Hollendorfer and the CTT filed their complaint earlier this month, at which time CTT legal representative Darrell Vienna suggested they were on the legal back-foot, telling the TDN that “ex parte applications for temporary restraining orders are not easy to obtain.” In a subsequent court filing earlier this week, Del Mar argued against the injunction for a number of reasons, including how the California Horse Racing Board (CHRB) has yet to rule on the similar complaint filed by the plaintiffs, and that the optics of permitting Hollendorfer stalls at the facility would have been a PR headache, calling the trainer “radioactive.” “Unfortunately, despite his lengthy and successful career during the past six months Hollendorfer has accounted for 15% of the horses that have lost their lives in racing and training at two California tracks,” Del Mar’s filing stated. This story will be updated with more information. The post Ruling in Hollendorfer’s Favor Confirmed Friday; Trainer Can Race at Del Mar appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Britain's first lady of racing will appear before her people at Ascot July 27, where the indisputably magnificent Enable headlines a QIPCO King George VI & Queen Elizabeth Stakes (G1) comparable to those of the race's golden era. View the full article

3rd-Ellis, $51,000, Alw, 7-26, (NW2L), 2yo, f, 6 1/2f, 1:17.44, ft. LADY GLAMOUR (f, 2, Discreet Cat–Repeta, by Broken Vow) broke her maiden for a $40,000 tag first time out May 9 at Churchill before finishing a solid third to ‘TDN Rising Star’ Magic Dance (More Than Ready) in the June 29 Debutante S. After that stakes effort, the chestnut RNA’d for $145,000 at the July 8 Fasig-Tipton Horses of Racing Age Sale. Making her third career start, Lady Glamour was content to trail the field early as favored Josie (Race Day) set an opening quarter of :22.56. Under the slightest encouragement from jockey James Graham, she exploded around the turn in an impressive last-to-first move, collaring the leaders with ease and powering down the lane to score by a widening 7 1/4 lengths over Josie. The victress has a yearling half-brother by Mucho Macho Man and a half-sister by Verrazano born this past season. Sales history: $1,000 Ylg ’18 FTKOCT; $145,000 RNA 2yo ’19 FTKHRA. Lifetime Record: SP, 3-2-0-1, $61,765. Click for the Equibase.com chart. O-Inga Demeritte; B-BHMFR, LLC (KY); T-Larry W. Demeritte. The post Discreet Cat Filly Scores Impressively at Ellis appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Jockey Ramon Vazquez was fined $1,000 and suspended two days last week for acting as “the aggressor, assaulting Jockey David Cabrera while his back was turned,” in the Prairie Meadows jockeys room after the running of fifth race on July 19. A Prairie Meadows stewards ruling dated July 26 states that the penalty is the result of a “stipulated agreement” negotiated by Vazquez via his attorney, the horse owner Maggi Moss, and the track stewards on July 20. Vazquez had already served his suspension by sitting out the two days following the assault by the time the ruling was released. As part of a ruling that is considered “final” and “cannot be appealed,” Vazquez “acknowledges the Prairie Meadows Security report…is accurate and factual in information,” and that in addition to the fine and suspension, he will be placed on probation through the end of the race meet. A review of the replay of the race referenced in the ruling does not indicate any obvious incident that led to the altercation. Cabrera’s mount won, while Vazquez’ horse finished fifth, and the two were riding in distinctly separate paths for most of the 5 1/2-furlong sprint. Entering Friday’s racing, Cabrera was the meet’s winningest rider (60 wins), with Vazquez one victory behind (59). The post Blind-Side Assault on Fellow Rider Earns Vazquez $1000 Fine appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Wendell Fong, 3-for-3 with a stakes win at six furlongs, will face the question about how much an additional half-furlong matters in the $200,000 Amsterdam Stakes (G2) at Saratoga Race Course. View the full article

Saudi sports officials are set to announce a new international race, designed to be the world's richest, at an event Aug. 7 press conference at Fasig-Tipton in Saratoga Springs, N.Y. View the full article

John Gosden is bracing himself for a potentially tricky tactical battle with Ballydoyle July 27, with the trainer wary about the threats posed to highweighted Enable by her talented opposition in the King George VI & Queen Elizabeth Stakes (G1). View the full article

Tiz a Slam will attempt to win the $175,000 Nijinsky Stakes (G2T) Sunday at Woodbine for a second straight year. Last season, Tiz a Slam delivered a gate-to-wire victory in the 1 1/2-mile turf test. View the full article

For the second consecutive year, Arqana sponsored a race at Yulong Park Racecourse in China on July 20. Mathieu Legars of the Arqana bloodstock team was on hand and shares some of his views on the development and expansion of the racing and breeding industries in China, principally driven by Zhang Yuesheng. The Arqana Stakes Sprint was won by the Zhang Yueshang-owned Souchez (Aus) (Lonhro {Aus}), a 5-year-old who was purchased at an Australian horses-in-training sale in 2018. Fuan Star won the Le Cheval and FRBC Stakes Long Distance in the colours of Mr Fu. He is one of many yearlings purchased by Yulong in Europe for the purpose of re-selling them to owners at the Yulong Jockey Club. The creation of Yulong Horse Park The Yulong Group is owned by Zhang Yuesheng, a self-made businessman who developed his business in coal mining as well as in the chemical industry, logistics and renewable energies. He has a passion for horses and in 2008 created the subsidiary Yulong Horse Group whose base, Yulong Horse Park, is located in Youyu in the north of Shanxi province, 500 kilometres west of Beijing. Yulong Horse Park covers 400 hectares of land and has no less than 300 employees. Its facilities encompass the Yulong Jockey Club Racecourse with a 1600m sand track, 600 boxes divided into barns of 50, walkers, a swimming pool and indoor rides. The roughly 500 horses in active training are divided among 18 trainers and about 100 owners. The breeding industry comprises 200 mares and five stallions; the mares belong to Zhang Yuesheng and other owners that are members of the Yulong Jockey Club. Part of the races at Yulong Park are reserved for horses born and raised in China. The import of racehorses into China and the commercialisation of them once there is also an important activity of the group. Every year, about 120 horses from the yearling and horses-in-training sales reach China. The vast majority of them come from Ireland and Australia. Inglis and Magic Millions finance races reserved for graduates of their sales. These horses are then sold on site to the members of the Yulong Jockey Club and since May 2018 have been presented at auctions in the brand-new Yulong Horse Park facility. Sales are held twice a year, in May and in the autumn. The Yulong race programme has strengthened since 2017 with a race meeting every Saturday from May to October and from October to January further south in Wuhan. The Yulong Horse park has also been modernised: races have been broadcast live on the Internet beginning this year and young Chinese influencers are invited. They share their day live at the races with their subscribers on their smartphones. Very popular in China, social networks target the youngest population and help democratise horse racing. On the technical side, the Singapore Turf Club helps with the training of stewards, handicappers and the rules of racing, while the most important media group in China, SINA, is also a partner. A sponsorship platform has been set up to help increase the prize money of races, including from the auction houses Inglis, Magic Millions of Australia but also Goffs and Coolmore of Ireland as well as the horse feed manufacturer Red Mills. International development Yulong has been very active in the Australian market for three years. A commercial structure has been developed there with three stud farms, two of which were new in 2018, with a total of 200 mares and a stallion station with their first stallion Grunt (NZ) (O’Reilly {NZ}), winner of two Group 1s in Australia, starting the breeding season in 2019. Yulong also has a strong presence in Ireland with about 30 horses in training spread over six trainers. Zhang Yuesheng also wants to showcase his Yulong brand by having some horses in training in the U.S. and Dubai. Yulong’s first purchases in France were fillies for breeding in Australia, as well as horses in training and 2-year-olds that were exported to China. During the 2018 Arc Sale, Zhang Yuesheng was particularly active when buying three horses including Ancient Spirit (Ire) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}), who had recently finished third in his comeback race in Ireland for Jim Bolger, for €650,000. The objective is now to continue to develop Yulong’s presence and activity, an important first step in penetrating the Chinese market. The post Yuesheng’s Commitment Driving China appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

In this first installment of the TDN’s newest video series, Associate Editor Christie DeBernardis toured Godolphin’s historic Stonerside Farm near Paris, Kentucky. Purchased by Sheikh Mohammed in 2008 from Bob and Janice McNair, the stunning 2,000-acre facility is home to some of the operation’s top former racemares and producers. On this visit, we checked in with MGISW Wedding Toast (Street Sense) and her Tapit colt, as well as two of the farm’s most well known retirees: Sahara Gold (Seeking Gold) and Ascutney (Lord at War {Arg}). Godolphin purchased Wedding Toast’s dam Golden Sheba (Coronado’s Quest) as a part of package of McNair mares bought with the farm. Out of GISP Mari’s Sheba (Mari’s Book), the chestnut mare was a half-sister to MGISW and multi-millionaire Congaree (Arazi) and SW & GISP Sangaree (Awesome Again). Wedding Toast was the first of Golden Sheba’s foals to make the races and proved to be special early on, earning the ‘TDN Rising Star’ distinction when graduating at second asking at Saratoga in July 2013. The Kiaran McLaughlin pupil’s first graded score came in the GIII Comely S. later that year. In 2015, the bay went on a hot streak, winning Belmont’s GII Ruffian S., GI Ogden Phipps S. and GI Beldame S. and was retired at the end of that stellar season. “Wedding Toast has transitioned very well to her life as a broodmare,” said Stonerside manager Gerry Duffy. “She was a very accomplished mare on the racetrack. She won two Group 1s, both at Belmont.” Wedding Toast produced her first foal, a colt by Dubawi (Ire), in 2017 and did not have a foal the following year. “Dubawi is one of the world’s leading sires and is very much an international sire,” Duffy said. “So, the idea was to take come of our top U.S. mares, send them to Dubawi and see if he could produce with these U.S. mares. Her 2-year-old, who is in training with Charlie Appleby, was a very nice yearling, typical Dubawi, strong-bodied, well-made, medium-sized horse with a really nice, athletic walk.” {"id":3,"instanceName":"Articles No Playlist","videos":[{"videoType":"HTML5","title":"Godolphin's Stonerside Farm","description":"","info":"","thumbImg":"","mp4":"https://player.vimeo.com/external/350152871.sd.mp4?s=6f2657a99b15979cf84bb736a2e9243101d47651&profile_id=165","enable_mp4_download":"no","prerollAD":"yes","prerollGotoLink":"prerollGotoLink","preroll_mp4_title":"preroll_mp4_title","preroll_mp4":"https://player.vimeo.com/external/348675161.sd.mp4?s=253587d32f2adb0786021b8d242dbe6f2f326475&profile_id=164","prerollSkipTimer":"5","midrollAD":"no","midrollAD_displayTime":"midrollAD_displayTime","midrollGotoLink":"midrollGotoLink","midroll_mp4":"midroll_mp4","midrollSkipTimer":"midrollSkipTimer","postrollAD":"no","postrollGotoLink":"postrollGotoLink","postroll_mp4":"postroll_mp4","postrollSkipTimer":"postrollSkipTimer","popupAdShow":"no","popupImg":"popupImg","popupAdStartTime":"popupAdStartTime","popupAdEndTime":"popupAdEndTime","popupAdGoToLink":"popupAdGoToLink"}],"instanceTheme":"light","playerLayout":"fitToContainer","videoPlayerWidth":720,"videoPlayerHeight":405,"videoRatio":1.7777777777778,"videoRatioStretch":true,"videoPlayerShadow":"effect1","colorAccent":"#000000","posterImg":"","posterImgOnVideoFinish":"","logoShow":"No","logoPath":"","logoPosition":"bottom-right","logoClickable":"No","logoGoToLink":"","allowSkipAd":true,"advertisementTitle":"Ad","skipAdvertisementText":"Skip Ad","skipAdText":"You can skip this ad in","playBtnTooltipTxt":"Play","pauseBtnTooltipTxt":"Pause","rewindBtnTooltipTxt":"Rewind","downloadVideoBtnTooltipTxt":"Download video","qualityBtnOpenedTooltipTxt":"Close settings","qualityBtnClosedTooltipTxt":"Settings","muteBtnTooltipTxt":"Mute","unmuteBtnTooltipTxt":"Unmute","fullscreenBtnTooltipTxt":"Fullscreen","exitFullscreenBtnTooltipTxt":"Exit fullscreen","infoBtnTooltipTxt":"Show info","embedBtnTooltipTxt":"Embed","shareBtnTooltipTxt":"Share","volumeTooltipTxt":"Volume","playlistBtnClosedTooltipTxt":"Show playlist","playlistBtnOpenedTooltipTxt":"Hide playlist","facebookBtnTooltipTxt":"Share on Facebook","twitterBtnTooltipTxt":"Share on Twitter","googlePlusBtnTooltipTxt":"Share on Google+","lastBtnTooltipTxt":"Go to last video","firstBtnTooltipTxt":"Go to first video","nextBtnTooltipTxt":"Play next video","previousBtnTooltipTxt":"Play previous video","shuffleBtnOnTooltipTxt":"Shuffle on","shuffleBtnOffTooltipTxt":"Shuffle off","nowPlayingTooltipTxt":"NOW PLAYING","embedWindowTitle1":"SHARE THIS PLAYER:","embedWindowTitle2":"EMBED THIS VIDEO IN YOUR SITE:","embedWindowTitle3":"SHARE LINK TO THIS PLAYER:","lightBox":false,"lightBoxAutoplay":false,"lightBoxThumbnail":"","lightBoxThumbnailWidth":400,"lightBoxThumbnailHeight":220,"lightBoxCloseOnOutsideClick":true,"onFinish":"Play next video","autoplay":false,"loadRandomVideoOnStart":"No","shuffle":"No","playlist":"Off","playlistBehaviourOnPageload":"opened (default)","playlistScrollType":"light","preloadSelfHosted":"none","hideVideoSource":true,"showAllControls":true,"rightClickMenu":true,"autohideControls":2,"hideControlsOnMouseOut":"No","nowPlayingText":"Yes","infoShow":"No","shareShow":"No","facebookShow":"No","twitterShow":"No","mailShow":"No","facebookShareName":"","facebookShareLink":"","facebookShareDescription":"","facebookSharePicture":"","twitterText":"","twitterLink":"","twitterHashtags":"","twitterVia":"","googlePlus":"","embedShow":"No","embedCodeSrc":"","embedCodeW":720,"embedCodeH":405,"embedShareLink":"","youtubeControls":"custom controls","youtubeSkin":"dark","youtubeColor":"red","youtubeQuality":"default","youtubeShowRelatedVideos":"Yes","vimeoColor":"00adef","showGlobalPrerollAds":false,"globalPrerollAds":"url1;url2;url3;url4;url5","globalPrerollAdsSkipTimer":5,"globalPrerollAdsGotoLink":"","videoType":"HTML5 (self-hosted)","submit":"Save Changes","rootFolder":"http:\/\/wp.tdn.pmadv.com\/wp-content\/plugins\/Elite-video-player\/"} Wedding Toast foaled a chestnut Tapit colt Apr. 7 of this year and was bred back to that Gainesway stallion. “We’re absolutely delighted [with the Tapit colt],” Duffy said as we watched Wedding Toast grazing peacefully in her paddock as her rambunctious colt ran and played around her before settling at her side. “There is a bit more scope than his brother, but he’s well-balanced, well put together. He is a smart, intelligent-looking horse. He is very proud.” He continued, “So, we are excited about him. We like him so much, we are sending the mare back to Tapit. If we can get something as good as this guy, we will be in good shape.” When asked what made the team choose Tapit for Wedding Toast, besides the obvious, Duffy said, “She’s a Street Sense mare and has a lot of size and scope. So, physically, I think she is a good fit for him as Tapit tends to get medium-sized horses. She is out of Golden Sheba, who is a Coronado’s Quest mare, and Tapit has had a lot of success with Mr. Prospector line mares, of which she is.” After visiting Wedding Toast, Duffy drove me down the farm’s beautiful winding roads to the section of the property that houses their retirees. At 22-years-old, Sahara Gold looked a picture as she exited the barn, standing regally before me. She stared towards the doors she had just exited and let out a loud whinny in search of her best friend, who was none other than Ascutney. The 25-year-old was brought out to join her paddockmate, who was immediately soothed by her elder’s presence. Sahara Gold, a daughter of GI Breeders’ Cup Sprint victress Desert Stormer (Storm Cat) and $1.45 million KEEJUL RNA, carried the Stonerside colors to victory in the 2000 GII Beaumont S. Her second foal Idaho (A.P. Indy) was purchased by Godolphin for $3.1 million at Keeneland September and they went to $3.4 million for her next foal GSW Sahara Heat (A.P. Indy) at the following year’s renewal of that auction. Godolphin acquired Sahara Gold with the purchase of Stonerside and she produced her best foal right off the bat for her new owners in Better Lucky (Ghostzapper), who went on to win two Grade Is and earn over $1.2 million. She produced a Grade III-placed colt in her first foal Kentucky Wildcat (Tapit), who is 3-years-old. Sahara Gold produced her final foal, the now-2-year-old Desert Legacy (Tapit), in 2017 and has been pensioned since. “We have Sahara Gold and Ascutney, two very important mares to the farm,” Duffy said. “We are very hopeful Sahara Gold’s genes will continue through her daughter, Better Lucky, who is in production. Hopefully she can be a producer of a lot of good ones for many years to come.” While Sahara Gold has the imposing presence of a mare, who knows she is royalty, Ascutney is a bit more humble with a quieter, softer way about her. The dark bay seems more than happy to defer the spotlight to her companion, though she is quite accomplished in her own right. A Grade III winner on turf, Ascutney is a full-sister to MSW & GSP Words of War, who is the dam of MGSW & MGISP E Dubai (Mr. Prospector) and half to GISW No Matter What (Nureyev), who produced European champion Rainbow View (Dynaformer); GSW & MGISP Just As Well (A.P. Indy); and graded winners Utley (Smart Strike), Wissahickon (Tapit) and Winter View (Thunder Gulch). Stonerside purchased Ascutney for $775,000at the 2000 Keeneland January Sale carrying her second foal by Wild Again. That foal was Grade III winner Gigawatt, who earned over $500,000. In 2005, she produced Raven’s Pass (Elusive Quality), who carried the Godolphin blue to a series of victories in Europe, including the G1 QEII S. and captured the 2008 GI Breeders’ Cup Classic before taking up stallion duties in Europe at the operation’s Kildangan Stud. Ascutney had her final foal in 2013 and has been enjoying the retired life in Stonerside’s lush green pastures since. “Ascutney is the dam of Raven’s Pass and he was obviously a Breeders’ Cup champion racehorse,” Duffy said. “John Gosden trained him and he was a very important stallion for us in Ireland. He came through and sired his first Group 1 winner last year in Royal Marine. So, we’re hopeful that he may be a Classic performer this year.” After posing politely for photos, Sahara Gold and Ascutney were led to their vast field of lush Kentucky blue grass to rejoin their herd, which is comprised of other pensioned Godolphin mares. They swarm their compatriots in welcome, each looking bright and happy in their golden years. “We have 15 retirees here,” Duffy said. “Every mare is so important in their own way, aside from the big stars. They’ve served us well, both through their careers on the race track and through the progeny they have produced, so it is our duty to take care of them. They are groomed, fed and live outside most of the time. Our job is just to keep them healthy, keep them sound, keep them happy and ensure that they live out a very happy retirement.” The post TDN Mare Visits: Godolphin’s Stonerside Farm appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. 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It has had some knockers from time to time down the years, but Ascot’s G1 King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Qipco S. is too special a race to become an antiquity and Saturday’s renewal stands tall among some of its real epics. With eight Group 1 victories to her name, Juddmonte’s dignitary Enable (GB) (Nathaniel {Ire}) is the most successful in that sphere to take part in this historic prize since the great Brigadier Gerard (GB) in 1972. While she boasts a different overall profile to that legend of the British turf, she shares his capacity to strike fear and a sense of hopelessness into the opposition due to the metronomic regularity of her triumphs in the world’s great encounters. Already the winner of this in 2017, she could arguably be heading for a treble had she been injury-free last term and there do not appear to be any holes. If the forecast thunderstorms arrive as they did before her first success two years ago, the greater the anxiety for those opposed to what seems an inescapable reality. Very few older horses to have participated since the Brigadier could have lived with her, excepting the likes of Montjeu (Ire) and Harbinger (GB), but she has eight pounds to give away to the G1 Epsom Derby winner Anthony Van Dyck (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) and that changes the horizon. She was almost undone by the younger Sea of Class (Ire) (Sea the Stars {Ire}) in her second G1 Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe, but the Tsuis’ ill-fated celebrity was a serious talent and John Gosden reported that Enable was not at the peak of her powers at ParisLongchamp in October. “In the Arc, she wasn’t at her best and was just coming and although she won this with the [weight-for-age] allowance and that was a big advantage, the way she won she probably could have done it without it,” he said. “She is a lady of regal age now and we are inclined to listen to what she says. It is a fabulous race with such depth to it. It’s good-to-firm summer ground with a great growth of grass on it and there is the threat of some rain tonight. This is a big tough race and is meant to be the meeting of the two generations. You need it to happen and we’re glad it is. She’s in great form and we’re confident of a big run.” Aidan O’Brien has run several 3-year-olds in the King George, but no Derby winner since Galileo (Ire) in 2001. There is a sense that Anthony Van Dyck remains unexposed, despite the emphatic defeat he suffered at the hands of stablemate Sovereign (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) in the G1 Irish Derby at The Curragh four weeks after his blue riband triumph. He has to improve again and Enable has to underperform for him to win, but this stable has proven time and again that anything is possible with continued application. “He is getting weight, but the weight-for-age is there for a reason,” commented Aidan O’Brien, who is understandably not exuding confidence. “I suppose this was always one of the races the lads had pencilled in for him. It was part of the original plan and we didn’t see any reason to change it after The Curragh. He has always been versatile as regards to ground.” Many view ‘TDN Rising Star’ Crystal Ocean (GB) (Sea the Stars {Ire}) as far more likely to cause the upset, but Sir Evelyn de Rothschild’s admirable homebred keeps having to give weight to the mare and it will take an enormous effort to defy a sex allowance of dubious justification in this case. To go one better than 12 months ago, he has to validate the assessment that he has become a better horse than Enable in the World Rankings. In his favour is that he possesses a granite-like temperament and a rare willingness for combat, plus he hails from the Sir Michael Stoute academy which has turned winning monuments of this nature into an art form over the past four decades. Stoute is still two steps ahead of Aidan O’Brien with a record six successes in this and he will have the June 19 G1 Prince of Wales’ S. hero finely-tuned for the rematch. James Doyle, who steered Poet’s Word (Ire) (Poet’s Voice {GB}) past Crystal Ocean in 2018, has the opportunity to make amends. “It’s a big ride to get,” he said. “It was great to win it for Sir Michael Stoute–his record in these races is unbelievable and what a wonderful man he is to ride for. Going through the history of the horses he has trained is phenomenal. He is one of those trainers you get a buzz from when you get a ride for, so winning another King George for him would be fantastic.” “My fellow’s rating is higher, but it’s hard to crib anything Enable has done,” Doyle added. “He looked very good at Ascot and has been good on each start this season, but at Ascot he looked in a rich vein of form and beat a good filly in Magical, who got somewhere in the vicinity of Enable in the Eclipse. It will be interesting.” In any other year, Sheikh Mohammed Obaid Al Maktoum’s G1 Coronation Cup and G2 Hardwicke S. winner Defoe (Ire) (Dalakhani {Ire}) would be considered a live contender, while ‘TDN Rising Star’ Waldgeist (GB) (Galileo {Ire}) looks to have been building towards this moment throughout his career. Defoe’s rider Andrea Atzeni was far from overawed at the track on Friday. “He’s flying at home and everyone is very happy with him,” he said. “I’m very hopeful and not worried about anything.” Andre Fabre will be hoping the forecast thunderstorms do not deliver the amount of rain that is forecast, as the impressive Apr. 28 G1 Prix Ganay winner Waldgeist did not fire on the soft when 4 1/2 lengths behind Crystal Ocean in third in the Prince of Wales’s. “I think going back to a mile and a half and the faster ground will help him,” he said. “Will it be enough to win? Probably not, but I’m sure he is going to run a good race.” The 2017 G1 Japan Cup hero Cheval Grand (Jpn) (Heart’s Cry {Jpn}) is almost a bit player according to the betting, with his performances when third in the Dec. 23 G1 Arima Kinen and second in the Mar. 30 G1 Dubai Sheema Classic some way beneath what will be required here. Trainer Yasuo Tomomichi is aware of the task in hand. “There will be no problems with his fitness and Cheval Grand has the stamina and power. He is the best horse I have trained, but Enable is very strong, a machine,” he said. “The King George has a long history and is very famous in the racing world. It would be one of the high points of my career to win this race.” Ascot’s card gets underway with a tantalising clash between TDN Rising Stars Summer Romance (GB) (Kingman {GB}) and Ultra Violet (GB) (Gleneagles {Ire}) in the G3 Princess Margaret Keeneland S. Both cut a dash on Newmarket’s July Course, with the former capturing the June 29 Listed Empress Fillies’ S. over this six-furlong trip and the latter winning by eight lengths on her sole start also over the distance on June 28. There was a suggestion that Ultra Violet’s winning margin was in part due to a bias, so the question will be posed here for Sheikh Hamed Dalmook Al Maktoum’s bay. “Our filly is in good form. She wouldn’t blow you away in her work and she did surprise me a bit [on debut],” trainer Ed Vaughan said. “We now know she’s got the ability, she’ll be fitter for the run and the experience should have brought her on, so we’ll see. We’ll know a lot more about where we stand afterwards.” Godolphin’s Summer Romance has the edge over Ultra Violet in terms of experience and trainer Charlie Appleby is hoping his decision to go back to the races so soon is rewarded. “Summer Romance has progressed with each of her runs and was very impressive on her last start,” he said. “She is versatile about the ground, the trip of six furlongs is ideal for her at the moment and stall seven looks good–there are no negatives. She has won on quick ground and slow ground and with the forecast the way it is, we don’t know what conditions we will be encountering, but we are relaxed about it as she has handled both conditions to date. We are hoping to step her up in trip, but she is showing a lot of natural pace so we have no concerns about sticking to six for the moment.” This is far from a two-filly contest, however, with Paul and Clare Rooney’s May 17 Listed Marygate S. winner Good Vibes (GB) (Due Diligence) returning after a subsequent setback. “Unfortunately she missed Ascot, as she wasn’t right as she had a dirty scope,” the Rooneys’ racing manager Jason Maguire explained. “She is back healthy again and this is her first start after a bit of a break, but we are hoping for a big run. [Trainer] Dave Evans said this is probably the best he has trained and Dave knows what he is doing.” A clutch of promising novice winners include Sheikh Rashid Dalmook Al Maktoum’s July 4 Newbury scorer So Sharp (GB) (Bated Breath {GB}) from the Archie Watson stable and Living In the Past (Ire) (Bungle Inthejungle {GB}), who represents the Clipper Logistics-Karl Burke link. He beat the Marygate runner-up Mighty Spirit (Ire) (Acclamation {GB}) over five furlongs at Beverley on July 5 and Frankie Dettori has been booked. “She’s a nice filly and she won nicely at Beverley,” Burke said. “Frankie and Ascot seem to go together quite well, that’s the idea.” Scheduled two minutes after the Princess Margaret is the G3 Prix Six Perfections Sky Sports Racing which is the first pattern race of Deauville’s month-long festival. Among the eight protagonists for the seven-furlong contest is Lady Bamford’s Tropbeau (GB) (Showcasing {GB}), an Andre Fabre trainee who scored by 6 1/2 lengths in a seven-furlong maiden at Clairefontaine on July 6 and the June 11 Nantes debut winner Eversweet (Fr) (Sommerabend {GB}), who has her first start in the Team Valor silks for the John Hammond stable. The following G3 Prix de Psyche features an interesting German raider in the June 1 Listed Kronimus Diana-Trial winner Preciosa (Ger) (Sea the Moon {Ger}), who takes aim at His Highness The Aga Khan’s June 10 Listed Prix Melisande winner and June 30 G2 Prix de Malleret runner-up Edisa (Kitten’s Joy). As the afternoon builds towards the King George, the G2 Sky Bet York S. acts as a strong warm-up with the July 6 G1 Eclipse S. third Regal Reality (GB) (Intello {Ger}) occupying the hot seat. Cheveley Park Stud’s managing director Chris Richardson is hoping that the progressive 4-year-old can continue on the right road. “Obviously we are hoping he’ll behave and won’t be too daunted by the new experience,” he said of the homebred, who has prompted special measures in the preliminaries before his May 23 G3 Brigadier Gerard S. success and the Eclipse at Sandown. “He’s favourite and a hugely talented horse with plenty of character, but in the nicest way possible. “There is no better trainer than Sir Michael and his team to work on a horse like that and this is a nice opportunity, so hopefully he can keep building.” William Haggas is doing his customary prayers for rain for Sheikh Ahmed bin Rashid Al Maktoum’s June 18 Listed Wolferton S. winner Addeybb (Ire) (Pivotal {GB}) and said, “The more rain they get the better his chance. If they don’t get enough rain then he might not even run, so we’ll see what happens. I’m very happy with him and there is a possibility they’ll get some rain.” Third in the Wolferton, ‘TDN Rising Star’ Elarqam (GB) (Frankel {GB}) has since won the Listed Gala S. under a penalty at Sandown on July 5 and Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum’s racing manager Angus Gold is hopeful he can take another step forward. “He ran a very good race at Ascot on ground that would not have suited and appears to have got over a few little immaturity problems that he had,” he commented. “He is going the right way and we hope he can keep it going.” After the main event, Ascot also stages the Listed Wooldridge Group Pat Eddery S. in which Godolphin are represented by another potentially classy juvenile in Al Dabaran (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}). Successful in a seven-furlong Newmarket novice contest on June 29, trainer Charlie Appleby said of the relative of Waldgeist (GB) (Galileo {Ire}), “Al Dabaran pleased us at Newmarket and has come out of the race well, learning plenty. He deserves this step up in class and hopefully his run will determine what type of races to aim at.” Others in the mix include the July 13 G2 Superlative S. third Maxi Boy (GB) (Oasis Dream {GB}) and Subjectivist (GB) (Teofilo {Ire}) who was off the mark by seven lengths at Chelmsford last time on July 5. Click here for the full fields for Saturday’s group stakes action in Europe. The post Enable Seeks Second King George Crown appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Tiz a Slam will attempt to win the $175,000 Nijinsky Stakes (G2T) Sunday at Woodbine for a second straight year. Last season Tiz a Slam delivered a gate-to-wire victory in the 1 1/2-mile turf test. View the full article

Sponsored by Alex Nichols Agency 2nd-SAR, $90,000, Msw, 3yo, f, 6f, post time: 1:36 p.m. ET Castleton Lyons’ homebred LEXINTONIA (Malibu Moon) makes her debut for trainer Christophe Clement. The bay filly is the first foal out of graded placed Antonia Autumn (Bernstein), a full-sister to champion Gio Ponti and a half to Grade I placed Bon Jovi Girl (Malibu Moon). Trainer Ralph Nicks sends out Whisper Hill Farm’s Doll Collection (Tapit), a daughter of champion Groupie Doll (Bowman’s Band). The gray filly, who worked three furlongs in :36.89 at Saratoga July 20, will be making her fourth trip to the post and was most recently second going one mile at Churchill June 15. TJCIS PPs 4th-SAR, $90,000, Msw, 2yo, 5 1/2f, post time: 2:45 p.m. ET Trainer Bill Mott saddles ACRE (Blame) for Claiborne Farm and Adele Dilschneider. Out of Greenery (Galileo {Ire}), the homebred juvenile is a half-brother to Grade I winner Lea (First Samurai) and to graded placed Heath (Pulpit). He worked four furlongs in :48.77 (6/13) at Saratoga July 18. The promising Kowalski (Will Take Charge) makes his second trip to the post for trainer D. Wayne Lukas and owner Peter Brant. The bay was a late-closing third in his six-furlong debut at Churchill Downs June 28. TJCIS PPs 7th-SAR, $90,000, Msw, 2yo, 1 1/16mT, post time: 4:32 p.m. ET HRH Prince Sultan Bin Mishal Al Saud was on a major buying spree throughout the juvenile sales this past spring and gets his first starters here with a pair of entrants with trainer Bill Mott. SUL MOON (Malibu Moon) sold for $220,000 after working a quarter in :20 4/5 at OBS March and main-track-only entrant Ghost of the Mambo (Ghostzapper) was purchased for $300,000 after working a quarter in :21 3/5 at that same sale. The two juveniles worked four furlongs in company at Saratoga July 18, with Ghost of the Mambo credited with a :48.44 (4/13) drill and Sul Moon a :49.09 (7/13). Michael Tabor’s Eagerly (American Pharoah), a half to multiple graded placed Thrilled (Uncle Mo), makes his first trip to the post for trainer Todd Pletcher. He worked five furlongs over the lawn at Saratoga July 21 in 1:02.45 (10/22). TJCIS PPs 1st-DMR, $61,000, Msw, 2yo, 6f, post time: 5:00 p.m. ET Rockingham Ranch and David Bernsen’s WRECKING CREW (Sky Kingdom) makes his debut for trainer Peter Miller. The dark bay colt sold for $875,000 after working a furlong in a bullet :9 4/5 at the Fasig-Tipton Gulfstream sale. He is from the first crop of Sky Kingdom (Empire Maker), who won the 2013 and 2015 GIII Tokyo City Cup S. “He’s doing very well,” Miller said ahead of Wrecking Crew’s debut. “He acts very classy and we think he’s a very nice colt.” Miller also saddles Rockingham Ranch’s Billy Batts (City Zip), who makes his first main-track appearance following three turf outings in Kentucky. He was most recently second stretched out to a mile at Ellis Park July 6. Keith Desormeaux saddles Silverton Hill’s firster Fredericktown (Constitution). The $200,000 KEESEP yearling, out of graded placed Burg Berg (Johannesburg), is a half-brother to graded winner Lombo (Graydar) and multiple graded placed Gray Magician (Graydar). He worked five furlongs in company in 1:02.40 (37/66) at Del Mar. TJCIS PPs The post Saturday’s Insights: Pricey Sky Kingdom Colt Debuts at Del Mar; Saudi Prince Opens Account at Spa appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Mare Of The Moment is a TDN feature that looks to highlight the success of a broodmare and give her and her owner recognition for those achievements. In association with the Irish National Stud the mare will receive a personalised headcollar. This month Scarlett Rose (GB) (Royal Applause {GB}) is the recipient of Mare Of The Moment. There is a point in the year when mare owners start thinking about their stallion nominations for the following season. Hours can be spent debating the merits of one match over another and sometimes the process can rage on into the season. But for Linda and Reddy Coffey the mating plan for Scarlett Rose for her 2013 cover appeared to be somewhat of an easy decision. On a previous cover with a son of Giant’s Causeway Scarlett Rose produced Formosina (Ire) (Footstepsinthesand {GB}), a Group 2-winning 2-year-old. It is unlikely they suspected they would make history with their 2014 son of Shamardal, but fast forward to 2019 and history is just what was made. Blue Point (Ire) has been a flagbearer for the Coffeys’ Oaklodge and Springfield House Stud since he was sold as a foal as part of their Tattersalls December Foal Sale draft, adding to the stud’s already successful portfolio of graduates. He made just over double his sire’s covering fee for the year he was conceived (110,000gns) and upon being re-offered as a yearling and subsequently selling to Godolphin for 200,000gns, he entered training with Charlie Appleby where the wheels for an illustrious race career were set in motion. A starter in 20 races from the ages of two to five and a ‘TDN Rising Star’, Blue Point was only out of the frame on three of those occasions. His 11 wins include four Group 1s, of which he recently completed the Royal Ascot double of the King’s Stand S. and the Diamond Jubilee S.–a feat that hasn’t been achieved for 16 years. He is the prime example of what breeders should be aiming to breed when they are mating their mares: a strong, tough, sound horse who tries. His career has eluded to his easy temperament but further proof of a kind nature was shown on his last day at Appleby’s Moulton Paddocks when the trainer’s children were pictured surrounding Blue Point. Although she has already blossomed as a broodmare it is fair to say that Scarlett Rose is now in full bloom and deserving of all praise. Future buds of success could include her Night Of Thunder (Ire) 2-year-old, named Desert Destination, who is in training with Saeed Bin Suroor as well as an Invincible Spirit (Ire) yearling filly set to appear in the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale, Book 1. She is back in-foal to Frankel (GB) and is sure to be remembered as her history-making son enters his next career alongside his sire at Kildangan Stud for the 2020 season. The post Mare of the Moment: Scarlett Rose appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article