Wandering Eyes

I voted for Accelerate No. 1 in the NTRA poll, but that’s only because, in that poll, I tend to move horses that are not active down the list. You’re going to see campaigns like Accelerate had again. Over the last 15, 20 years, we have seen horses that have had similar campaigns. I don’t know when, or if, we’ll ever see anything again like what Justify did. Look at all he accomplished over a 112-day period. I know that everybody is knocking the 3-year-old crop, but at beginning of year people were saying it was one of the better crops we’ve seen in a long time. It seems to be the theme every year, people knocking the 3-year-old crop. Accelerate came around in the wrong year. Just one loss for Justify probably would have switched my vote to Accelerate. Even losing the Santa Anita Derby might have swayed me. I am big on the fact he was undefeated. Hazleton is an Eclipse Award voter View the full article

VAUVILLE, France—Nowhere in Europe is the stallion business expanding more quickly than in France and for 2019, just as for this year, there will be more than 30 stallions retiring to stud across the country. Among the best credentialed of the new intake is Haras du Quesnay’s Recoletos (Fr) (Whipper), who retires on the back of a season in which he won the G1 Prix Moulin de Longchamp and G1 Prix d’Ispahan as well as finishing runner-up to Alpha Centauri (Ire) (Mastercraftsman {Ire}) in the G1 Prix Jacques le Marois. Quesnay is currently enjoying a dream opening run to the stallion career of Anodin (Ire), the leading first-season sire in France for 2018. The Wertheimer-bred brother to Goldikova (Ire) has strong ties to the stud, not just through his trainer Freddy Head but also his late sire Anabaa, and the links run deep with Recoletos, too. His dam, Highphar (Fr), an unraced daughter of another Quesnay stalwart Highest Honor, was born and raised at the Normandy farm for Spanish breeder Dario Hinojosa. “It’s really exciting to see the blood of Highest Honor coming back on the farm, like the blood of Anabaa coming back with Anodin,” says Vincent Rimaud, manager of Haras du Quesnay. “These things have worked before and we should all keep in mind that it’s long-term work, that these lines should not be abandoned, and that they are going to be, I think, very useful with all the bloodlines we have around.” A tall, elegant horse with scope, Recoletos demonstrated enough pace to appeal to the desires of an increasingly commercial marketplace, developing into a top-class miler at four having done most of his winning over farther as a 3-year-old. His one brief appearance at the back end of his juvenile season was enough to give him the racecourse experience to burst onto the scene the following spring. Winning his maiden first time out that year in March over 1m3f, he landed his hat-trick of victories when winning the G2 Prix Greffulhe by two and a half lengths from the subsequent dual Group 1 winner Waldgeist (GB) (Galileo {Ire}). The pair would meet again on their next start when running second and third behind Brametot (Ire) (Rajsaman {Fr}) in the G1 Prix du Jockey Club. Rimaud continues, “Recoletos is a very exciting new prospect for us. It’s really great to stand a double Group 1 winner this year in France. He’s also placed in the Le Marois, second to the great Alpha Centauri, and he was third in the Jockey Club. He won some races that are, to me, but I think also to many people, the races to make stallions. The Moulin at Longchamp over a mile is a great race to win, and the Jacques Le Marois, even being second. Anodin was second in that race at four years old also, and he’s doing very well for us.” He adds, “Pedigree-wise, he’s by what I think is an extraordinary stallion, Whipper, who won Group 1s at two, and three, and four, all in Deauville, and his lines are very interesting. The blood he’s carrying, with Mr Prospector, and Kenmare on the mother’s side, I think, is going to suit many, many mares around, and not only in France. Everyone from Europe should come and see this horse.” With the Arqana Breeding Stock Sale still in full swing in Deauville just a few minutes’ drive from Quesnay, Rimaud is hopeful that international breeders in town for the sale will take the chance to see Recoletos in the flesh. “Hopefully he will attract both sides of the market; commercial breeders and breeders that want to race,” he says. “I think the important thing is that he would suit some mares that are commercial, and the breeders should really pay attention to this. I’m really looking forward to seeing, at the end of this week, who is really interested in the horse.” For owner-breeder Dario Hinojosa, Recoletos may have been the highlight but he was only one of two Group winners for his dam last year. His 3-year-old half-sister Castellar (Fr) (American Post {GB}), also trained by Spanish ex-pat Carlos Laffon-Parias, won three races, including the G3 Prix Cleopatre and G2 Prix de la Nonette. And for next season, it will be worth following the progress of Recoletos’s unraced full-sister Villalar (Fr). “I’m not going to say the best is yet to come because you never know, but Carlos is very happy with the 2-year old,” Rimaud says. “So we’re going to hear a lot, hopefully, in the future with the progeny [of this family].” View the full article

The message for any prospective visitors is clear – you have to bring your best to Sha Tin if you want to win at the Longines Hong Kong International Races. On a landmark day, the internationals were cast aside as the home team swept the four Group Ones for the first time. Fittingly, the loudspeaker belted out Queen’s We Are The Champions after Hong Kong completed the set as 86,501 (mostly) parochial fans swayed along to the melody. There were two stand-out stars as Zac Purton and... View the full article

HONG KONG–A crowd of 96,388 gathered on a crisp December afternoon Sunday to witness a series of firsts at the Longines Hong Kong International Races. When Glorious Forever (GB) (Archipenko) crossed the line first in the G1 Longines Hong Kong Cup under a head’s-up and tactically perfect ride from Wednesday’s Longines IJC champ Silvestre de Sousa, it marked the first time in the history of the event that horses based in Hong Kong had swept all four races. World’s top-rated miler Beauty Generation (NZ) (Road to Rock {Aus}) and Mr Stunning (Aus) (Exceed and Excel {Aus}) successfully defended their titles in the G1 Mile and G1 Sprint, respectively, but in a particularly strong year for the locally based stayers, it was the narrow victory from Exultant (Ire) (Teofilo {Ire})–just the third in the race by a Hong Kong-based horse–that paved the way. “This is a dream result and it is extremely satisfying to see the depth and quality of Hong Kong horses rising to the fore to win four Group 1 races against top-class overseas challengers,” said Hong Kong Jockey Club Chief Executive Officer Winfried Engelbrecht-Bresges. “It is an amazing achievement and I will stress again that we have only 0.7% of the world’s horse population here in Hong Kong.” This year’s HKIR attracted 24 horses from six overseas jurisdictions, including runners trained by the likes of Andre Fabre, Chris Waller, Sir Michael Stoute and Aidan O’Brien and owned by such global giants as His Highness the Aga Khan, Godolphin, Juddmonte and Coolmore. “If you look at the quality of horses we have seen today, we have to be very satisfied,” Engelbrecht-Bresges said. “We had 21 individual Group 1 winners and seven horses rated 120 or above; Japan sent a very strong team of nine contenders and we are extremely happy that we have again attracted horses from some of the world’s top class trainers.” Second-season conditioner Frankie Lor won not only his first HKIR event with Mr Stunning, but a second with Glorious Forever about two hours later. Karis Teetan (Mr Stunning) and de Sousa (Glorious Forever) added their first HKIR victories to their already impressive CVs. Attendance for Sunday’s races was a little more than 2,000 more than last year, while turnover for the 10-race program was HK$1.605 billion (£161.3 million/€180.2 million/A$285.1 million/US$205.3 million). Commingling turnover was HK$258 million. “This is our highest turnover ever for this day, which is a tremendous result,” Engelbrecht-Bresges said. “And commingling was a record, too, with a figure of HK$258 million being 30% more than last year. That total does not include more than HK$215 million turnover which was bet in Japan on the four international races, and this all shows that there is a great international interest in Hong Kong racing among customers across the globe. He added, “Offering world-class sport is essential to help racing grow and one of the innovations that is coming out of this tremendous commingling turnover is that we will have the World Pool invested here in Hong Kong, which shows the liquidity we have in our pools and the confidence in our technology.” View the full article

More than 86,000 people flocked to Sha Tin on Sunday for the Hong Kong International Races, the culmination of a six-day extravaganza. Right in the middle of the action was reporter Patrick Blennerhassett, taking in the sights, sounds, colourful people and, of course, the hats. See below for the results: View the full article

HONG KONG–Jockeys Zac Purton and Joao Moreira treated the Hong Kong faithful to a battle for the ages in the 2017-2018 jockeys’ premiership, with Purton just gaining the upper hand after a protracted battle. Moreira, untouchable in his years in Hong Kong, elected not to renew his licence for 2018-2019 in an attempt to permanently join the ranks in Japan, but having failed to pass the first part of the entry exam, decided to return to Hong Kong. Having engaged in some memorable head-to-head tussles in years past, the two put on a show in the final 200 metres of Sunday’s G1 Longines Hong Kong Vase, with Purton extracting just enough stamina from Exultant (Ire) (Teofilo {Ire}) to outstay Japanese filly Lys Gracieux (Jpn) (Heart’s Cry {Ire}). Irish raider Eziyra (Ire) made it a Teofilo 1-3 with a highly creditable effort in third. Crocosmia (Jpn), a daughter of 2001 Vase winner Stay Gold (Jpn), jumped away alertly from gate 1 and set the pace as expected, while Purton allowed Exultant to go forward from the 10 hole to force whatever element of pace there was in the race. ‘TDN Rising Star‘ Pakistan Star (Ger) (Shamardal), a market drifter, settled just ahead of midfield on the fence, while Lys Gracieux found herself at a tactical disadvantage, with only two behind her at the midway stage. Crocosmia rolled along at her own pace down the side in what was emerging as a sit-sprint affair, but Exultant was poised just to her outside and Lys Gracieux was steered to the outside of Rostropovich (Ire) (Frankel {GB}) to deliver her challenge into the lane. The filly, in receipt of a four-pound sex allowance, ranged up outside of Exultant nearing the 200m mark and indeed poked her head in front, but Exultant loves a fight and dug back in along the inside for a narrow victory. “Joao had the momentum,” Purton said. “But my bloke just seemed to be loafing along a little bit and as Joao came to me he actually rolled in and bumped my horse–that seemed to fire him back up and he found his second wind then. “He’s just an out and out stayer and we decided to put him up on the pace today against a quality field and just let him grind it out,” the Australian continued. “He’s the type of horse that if he’s going to get into a fight in the last 200 metres over a distance like this, you’d like to be on his back.” Third to Churchill (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) and Thunder Snow (Ire) (Helmet {Aus}) in the 2016 G1 Irish 2000 Guineas, Exultant was third as the favourite in last year’s BMW Hong Kong Derby (2000m) and stretched out to this distance to win the G3 Queen Mother Memorial Cup H. by a half-dozen lengths last May. Second to Pakistan Star in the G1 Champions & Chater Cup after setting the majority of the pace, the bay was fourth to Time Warp (Archipenko) in the G3 Sa Sa Ladies’ Purse (1800m) Nov. 4 and prepped for this with a runner-up effort to Eagle Way (Aus) (More Than Ready) in the G2 Jockey Club Cup Nov. 18. The win was the first in the Vase for trainer Tony Cruz, giving him a full set of wins at the HKIR. Cruz said he would consider sending Exultant away from Hong Kong in the second half of the season. “The [G1] Sheema Classic in Dubai would be a possibility,” he said. “I’ll have to decide with the owner, but we’ll definitely make some entries overseas and consider those.” Of the foreign visitors, Waldgeist (GB) (Galileo {Ire}) was bothered in upper stretch by Pakistan Star and did well to be fifth, while G1 Melbourne Cup third Prince of Arran (GB) (Shirocco {Ger}) was awkwardly away from the outside and finished a respectable eighth, one spot in back of Rostropovich. Mirage Dancer (GB) (Frankel {GB}) showed no speed from his double-digit gate and never reached contention, finishing last of the 14. Pedigree Notes: A 16th worldwide Group 1 winner for his sire, Exultant is out of a winning half-sister to Irish highweight Caspian Prince (Ire) (Dylan Thomas {Ire}) and to Italian champion Spirit Quartz (Ire) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}). Exultant’s third dam was a full-sister to German highweighted Winter Quarters and was responsible for SW Jonquil (Ire) (Machiavellian). Contrary is the dam of the 3-year-old gelding Irish Agent (Ire) (Mastercraftsman {Ire}) and has no listed subsequent progeny. Sunday, Sha Tin, Hong Kong LONGINES HONG KONG VASE-G1, HK$20,000,000 (£2,004,715/€2,258,375/A$3,498,006/US$2,556,057), Sha Tin, 12-9, 3yo/up, 2400mT, 2:26.56, gd. 1–EXULTANT (IRE), 126, g, 5, by Teofilo (Ire) 1st Dam: Contrary (Ire), by Mark of Esteem (Ire) 2nd Dam: Crystal Gaze (Ire), by Rainbow Quest 3rd Dam: Jumilla, by El Gran Senor *1ST GROUP 1 WIN. O-Eddie Wong Ming Chak & Wong Leung Sau Hing; B-Ballygallon Stud Limited; T-Tony Cruz; J-Zac Purton; HK$11,400,000. Lifetime Record: G1SP-Ire, 18-6-5-2, HK$26,485,150. *Formerly Irishcorrespondent (Ire). Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree. Werk Nick Rating: A+++ *Triple Plus*. 2–Lys Gracieux (Jpn), 122, f, 4, Heart’s Cry (Jpn)–Liliside (Fr), by American Post (GB). O-Carrot Farm; B-Northern Farm; T-Yoshio Yahagi; J-Joao Moreira; HK$4,400,000. 3–Eziyra (Ire), 122, f, 4, Teofilo (Ire)–Eytama (Ire), by Dubai Destination. O-His Highness The Aga Khan; B-His Highness The Aga Khan’s Studs SC; T-Dermot Weld; J-Christophe Lemaire; HK$2,000,000. Margins: NK, 2HF, 3/4. Odds: 9-2, 5-1, 36-1. Also Ran: Eagle Way (Aus), Waldgeist (GB), Pakistan Star (Ger), Rostropovich (Ire), Prince of Arran (GB), Salouen (Ire), Crocosmia (Jpn), Latrobe (Ire), Ruthven (Aus), Red Verdon (GB), Mirage Dancer (GB). Click for the HKJC.com chart, PPs and sectional timing. VIDEO. Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. View the full article

I’ve covered some big events, but it’s tough to compete with some of the staggering numbers that come out of the Longines Hong Kong International Races (HKIR), the culmination of a racing extravaganza spread over two of the city’s most iconic venues. Sunday’s event at Sha Tin racecourse drew 86,501 fans to the mecca of Hong Kong racing with another 9,887 cross betting at Happy Valley. It takes place in December of every year. Fans flock from all over the world, and bets... View the full article

HONG KONG — Hong Kong owners are a fickle lot, sometimes making what appear to be dramatic changes, even in the face of success. Such was the case with Mr Stunning (Aus) (Exceed and Excel {Aus}), who never set a foot wrong for trainer John Size, including a victory in last year’s G1 Longines Hong Kong Sprint, but nevertheless was turned over to Frankie Lor, Size’s former assistant who had a unbelievable run in his first year out on his own in 2017-2018. Having his third run this preparation Sunday afternoon at Sha Tin, the 6-year-old stalked the pace of favoured Hot King Prawn (Aus) (Denman {Aus}), wrested command from that one in the stretch and–as he did 12 months back–just held off a late flourish from former stablemate D B Pin (NZ) (Darci Brahma {NZ}) to join the likes of Silent Witness (Aus) (El Moxie) and Lord Kanaloa (Jpn) (King Kamehameha {Jpn}) as back-to-back winners of the Sprint. Sacred Kingdom (Aus) (Encosta de Lago {Aus}) and Aerovelocity (NZ) (Pins {Aus}) were also dual winners. Hot King Prawn, who got just the better of Mr Stunning when in receipt of five pounds in the G2 Jockey Club Sprint three weeks ago, jumped OK, but was rousted along by Joao Moreira as Mr Stunning held a spot underneath before coalescing and allowing the favorite to stride into the lead after a furlong. With Karis Teetan taking a good hold, G1 Chairman’s Sprint Prize hero Ivictory (Aus) (Mossman {Aus}) took up the task of pressing the pace outside Hot King Prawn, allowing Teetan to get some cover behind those two through the middle stages. Ivictory looked to be traveling well into the lane, but was soon running on empty, and Mr Stunning set his sights on the lead at the 300m. Hot King Prawn ran out of gas at the furlong grounds, succumbing to the pace pressure, and Mr Stunning hit the front at the 150m and held sway late. Beat the Clock (Aus) (Hinchinbrook {Aus), third in the Jockey Club Sprint when first-up since his third in the Chairman’s Sprint Prize in late May, ran on well for third. It was also a first Group 1 success in Hong Kong for jockey Karis Teetan. “He had a lovely trip through the race and I’m just so happy,” the Mauritian said. “It’s incredible. I’ve never felt like this. It’s the first time I’ve heard the crowd shouting like this. I just knew when I pressed the button he was going to go. He felt different today, felt so good. The win was the first of two on the day for Lor, in his sophomore season. “I’m very happy,” Lor said, “Karis did a great job out there. It took me a long time to get a trainer’s licence, so I need to try my best to keep going and train more Group 1 winners. I think John (Size) might also be happy because I worked for him and he was a great boss.” Pedigree Notes: With Fervour, who was bought back on a bid of $160,000 out of the Derry Meeting Farm draft at the 1998 Fasig-Tipton Saratoga sale, was winless in her 11 career starts for prominent owner George Strawbridge and was purchased by Australia-based John Foote Bloodstock for 65,000gns in foal to Diktat (GB) at Tattersalls December in 2003. Having produced two minor winners from her first four to race Down Under, she was sold for just A$6,000 in foal to Purrealist (Aus) at the Inglis Easter Broodmare Sale in 2013. Two months later, Mr Stunning fetched A$110,000 as a weanling at the Inglis Great Southern Sale before maturing into an NZ$250,000 NZB Premier Yearling the following January. Barren to Purrealist that year, With Fervour’s final foal is the 4-year-old Mossman filly With Faith (Aus). Sunday, Sha Tin, Hong Kong LONGINES HONG KONG SPRINT-G1, HK$20,000,000 (£2,004,715/€2,258,375/A$3,498,006/US$2,556,057), Sha Tin, 12-9, 3yo/up, 1200mT, 1:08.85, gd. 1–MR STUNNING (AUS), 126, g, 6, by Exceed and Excel (Aus) 1st Dam: With Fervour, by Dayjur 2nd Dam: Fran’s Valentine, by Saros (GB) 3rd Dam: Iza Valentine, by Bicker (A$110,000 Wlg ’13 INGGSW; NZ$250,000 Ylg ’14 NZBPRE). O-Maurice Koo Win Chong; B-Makybe Racing & Breeding (Vic); T-Frankie Lor; J-Karis Teetan; HK$11,400,000. Lifetime Record: 22-11-6-2, HK$45,847,350. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree. Werk Nick Rating: A+++ *Triple Plus*. 2–D B Pin (NZ), 126, g, 6, Darci Brahma (NZ)–Pins ‘N’ Needles (NZ), by Pins (Aus). (NZ$200,000 Ylg ’14 NZBSEL). O-Samuel Wong Yin Shun; B-Mrs K N & W E Calder; T-John Size; J-Sam Clipperton; HK$4,400,000. 3–Beat the Clock (Aus), 126, g, 5, Hinchinbrook (Aus)–Flion Fenena (Aus), by Lion Hunter (Aus). (A$70,000 Ylg ’15 INGMAR; NZ$200,000 2yo ’15 NZBPRE). O-Merrick Chung Wai Lik; B-Miss J Henderson (NSW); T-John Size; J-Ryan Moore; HK$2,000,000. Margins: 3/4, 3/4, HF. Odds: 13-5, 11-1, 69-10. Also Ran: Little Giant (NZ), Born In China (GB), Ivictory (Aus), Lim’s Cruiser (Aus), Fine Needle (Jpn), Hot King Prawn (Aus), Winner’s Way (Aus), Sir Dancealot (Ire). Scratched: Pingwu Spark (NZ). Click for the HKJC.com chart, PPs and sectional timing. VIDEO. Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. View the full article

HONG KONG — Beauty Generation (NZ) (Road to Rock {Aus}), recently recognized as the top-rated miler in the world in the most recent Longines World’s Best Racehorse Rankings, enhanced his already-lofty reputation Sunday at Sha Tin, successfully defending his title in the G1 Longines Hong Kong Mile with a highly impressive three-length defeat of the swan-songing former G1 Dubai Turf victrix Vivlos (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}). Southern Legend (Aus) (Not A Single Doubt {Aus}) ran home well for third. Drawn two from the outside, Beauty Generation was outsprinted early by Nothingilikemore (Aus) (Husson {Arg}), but ultimately overtook that one, only to once again cede the lead, this time to the Chris Waller-trained Comin’ Through (Aus) (Fastnet Rock {Aus}), who speared through to take it up midway down the backstretch. With Zac Purton supremely confident in the saddle and in no hurry whatsoever, Beauty Generation gradually made his way back towards the head of affairs and was in front for good passing the 1000m. Going in an even rhythm on the circle, Beauty Generation broke clear in upper stretch and drifted out towards the middle of the track into the final furlong, but had the race in safe keeping and won as much the best. Beauty Only (Ire) (Holy Roman Emperor {Ire}), ridden by Purton to win the 2016 Mile, missed the break and came home nicely to grab fourth money for the Kwok family. “His best attribute is he has got a very high cruising speed, he’s very comfortable rolling along at that speed and he can kick off it,” said Purton. “For the horses back in the field they’re already struggling to go the pace and when you’ve got to try and reel him in, it’s not an easy thing to do.” Purchased to race in Hong Kong as a Derby prospect, Beauty Generation was third to his ill-fated stablemate Rapper Dragon (Aus) (Street Boss) in the Derby, but has undergone a dramatic transformation as a miler. Winner of last year’s Mile in front-running fashion, he added the G1 Queen’s Silver Jubilee Cup and G1 Champions Mile to earn Horse of the Year honors. Imperious in four previous tries this year, he was exiting a had-to-see-it-to-believe it defeat of Southern Legend in the G2 Jockey Club Mile Nov. 18, where he drifted out late owing to some foot issuess, but nevertheless won with authority. “Obviously he had a little bit of a setback and with the feet issues going into his last run when he ran off the track,” Purton added. “You never want those things going into a Group 1 race so they do play on your mind a little bit. But once I worked him late this week and he felt good in his work, John Moore asked me to come in yesterday morning to give him a canter on the big track. When I got off him I felt pretty relaxed and I slept pretty well last night.” Moore will now consider some overseas targets for Beauty Generation and nominated the Dubai Turf as a future objective, assuming he can convince the horse’s somewhat reluctant ownership. “If we’re going to prove him we’re going to have to do it on the world stage: We’ve done it here; home ground; that’s the advantage; he’s done it easily,” the conditioner commented. But it may not be that straight-forward. “The owner and his father are of the opinion that they don’t come back the same horse when they travel, but I’m trying to convince them that that’s not the case with the way that I travel my horses,” Moore said. “There’s a few little tricks there to make sure. I’ve won the Shaheen and had a few placings over there. I know the venue very well and I believe he could travel. If everything goes to plan, he could win there.” Pedigree Notes: Beauty Generation is one of two foals from his dam to make the races and is kin to a Oct. 13-foaled filly by Tavistock (NZ) that is cataloged as lot 443 during Book 1 of the 2019 NZB Karaka Yearling Sales. Stylish Bel was most recently covered by Tavistock’s G1 Rosehill Guineas and G1 VRC Derby winner Tarzino (NZ), who stands at Westbury Stud. Sunday, Sha Tin, Hong Kong LONGINES HONG KONG MILE-G1, HK$25,000,000 (£2,305,519/€2,597,133/A$4,022,811/US$2,939,445), Sha Tin, 12-9, 3yo/up, 1600mT, 1:33.52, gd. 1–BEAUTY GENERATION (NZ), 126, g, 6, by Road to Rock (Aus) 1st Dam: Stylish Bel (Aus), by Bel Esprit (Aus) 2nd Dam: Stylish Victory (Aus), by Durham Ranger 3rd Dam: Romantic Peace (Aus), by Mikado (Aus) (NZ$60,000 Ylg ’14 NZBSEL). O-Patrick Kwon Ho Chuen; B-Nearco Stud Ltd; T-John Moore; J-Zac Purton; HK$14,250,000. Lifetime Record: Horse of the Year & Ch. Miler-HK, G1SP-Aus, 26-13-3-4, HK$62,878,220. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree. Werk Nick Rating: A+++ *Triple Plus*. 2–Vivlos (Jpn), 122, m, 5, Deep Impact (Jpn)–Halwa Sweet (Jpn), by Machiavellian. O-Kazuhiro Sazaki; B-Northern Farm; T-Y Tomomichi; J-William Buick; HK$5,500,000. 3–Southern Legend (Aus), 126, g, 6, Not A Single Doubt (Aus)–Donna’s Appeal (Aus), by Carnegie (Ire). (A$280,000 Ylg ’14 INGEAS). O-Boniface Ho Ka Kui; B-Corumbene Stud (NSW); T-Caspar Fownes; J-Douglas Whyte; HK$2,500,000. Margins: 3, NK, HF. Odds: 1-2, 57-1, 39-1. Also Ran: Beauty Only (Ire), Persian Knight (Jpn), Nothingilikemore (Aus), Mozu Ascot, One Master (GB), Singapore Sling (SAf), Fifty Fifty (NZ), Beat the Bank (GB), Comin’ Through (Aus), What Else But You (Aus), Inns of Court (Ire). Click for the HKJC.com chart, PPs and sectional timing. VIDEO. Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. View the full article

When last they met, the Archipenko full-siblings Glorious Forever (GB) and Time Warp (GB) dueled each other into submission, finishing well down the field in the G2 Jockey Club Cup over the Sha Tin 2000 metres Nov. 18. Prior to Thursday’s barrier draw for the G1 Longines Hong Kong Cup, trainer Frankie Lor more or less guaranteed that there would be no such worries this time around, as he suggested that Glorious Forever would be ridden from off the pace, which was almost definitively going to be set by Time Warp. It was gate 1 for Glorious Forever at the draw, at least opening the door for a revisiting of the game planning, and so it proved, as Longines International Jockeys’ Championship winner Silvestre de Sousa pinged the barriers and led every step of the way for a near carbon copy of last year’s win by Time Warp. Deirdre (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) was along late to spoil what would certainly have been a rare Group 1 quinella for full-siblings. “Everything was in my favour, the draw was perfect for riding a horse who could be one or two in the run. Everything went to the plan,” de Sousa insisted. Well into stride, Glorious Forever was given the positive ride that the masses–by and large–did not see coming and led them at a tempo that was only steady as Zac Purton employed patient tactics atop Time Warp that had never really worked to best effect heretofore, eventually settling his mount in the slipstream of his year-younger brother. “I talked to Silvestre yesterday and said ‘if he jumped good try to take the lead and if Time Warp pushed too hard then he could take the sit behind him’. We drew one and Time Warp seven so that made a difference,” Lor said. Well-rated in the middle portion of the race, Glorious Forever took them along in single-file order–bar Seasons Bloom (Aus) (Captain Sonador {Aus})–and de Sousa did an exemplary job of backing down the pace, with the first 1200m covered in 1:14.62. Still just galloping on the turn, Glorious Forever cut the corner in front, and push came to shove for Purton and Time Warp. Steered off the fence to deliver a challenge, the burly chestnut tried hard to reel in the front-runner, but ultimately it was a vain chase, as Glorious Forever proved a capitalistic winner. Deirdre tracked her favoured compatriot Sungrazer (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) around the turn and into the stretch and ran on gamely while no threat to the winner. Sungrazer lacked a late punch in fourth. “I didn’t want to overdo it in front, but to make sure Time Warp didn’t come around, I had to make sure we were going a true gallop,” de Sousa said. “I won the battle for the first 300 metres and I was going so well at the 800 (metres), I thought to myself they would have to be very good to pick him up; it would have to be one of the Europeans because I didn’t think Time Warp would come again.” The domestic way forward for Glorious Forever would surely include a start in the G1 Hong Kong Gold Cup and a likely rematch with Time Warp, who broke the two-minute barrier in winning that event earlier this year. But Lor would not rule out loftier goals. “I’ll need to talk to the owners first and I’ll need to have a good look at the overseas programmes so it’s a maybe,” Lor said. A winner of two from eight in England for Ed Walker, who saddled Cup entrant Stormy Antarctic (GB) (Stormy Atlantic), Glorious Forever made his Hong Kong debut some five months after Time Warp’s win in last year’s Cup, closing the campaign with a course-and-distance success in Class 2. He added another C2 victory in October and could not reel in the loose-on-the-lead Time Warp in the G3 Sa Sa Ladies’ Purse two weeks ahead of his Jockey Club Cup debacle. Pedigree Notes: Glorious Forever is one of two winner for three to race for his dam, a winning daughter of the stakes-winning Heat of the Night (GB). Third dam Hot Thong (Brz) was a Group 3 winner and Group 1-placed in her native country and was bought back on a bid of 50,000gns when offered by Kirsten Rausing’s Lanwades Stud in foal to Selkirk at the 2002 Tattersalls December sale. Dam of the 2-year-old filly Heatwave (GB) (Leroidesanimaux {Brz}), Here to Eternity foaled a filly by Oasis Dream (GB) this past Apr. 21. Sunday, Sha Tin, Hong Kong LONGINES HONG KONG CUP-G1, HK$28,000,000 (£2,806,306/€3,161,777/A$4,896,849/US$3,578,605), Sha Tin, 12-9, 3yo/up, 2000mT, 2:01.71, gd. 1–GLORIOUS FOREVER (GB), 126, g, 4, by Archipenko 1st Dam: Here to Eternity, by Stormy Atlantic 2nd Dam: Heat of the Night (GB), by Lear Fan 3rd Dam: Hot Thong (Brz), by Jarraar (110,000gns Ylg ’15 TATOCT). O-Michael Kwan Wing Lok; B-Miss K Rausing; T-Frankie Lor; J-Silvestre de Sousa; HK$15,960,000. Lifetime Record: 16-6-4-1, HK$20,768,000. *Full to Time Warp (GB), Ch. Middle Distance Horse & MG1SW-HK, MSW-Fr, $3,959,883. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree. Werk Nick Rating: A+++ *Triple Plus*. 2–Deirdre (Jpn), 122, f, 4, Harbinger (GB)-Reizend (Jpn), by Special Week (Jpn). (¥21,000,000 Ylg ’15 JPNJUL). O-T Morita; B-Northern Farm; T-M Hashida; J-Christophe Lemaire; HK$6,160,000. 3–Time Warp (GB), 126, g, 5, Archipenko-Here to Eternity, by Stormy Atlantic. (€37,000 Ylg ’14 TISEP). O-Martin Siu Kim Sun; B-Miss K Rausing; T-Tony Cruz; J-Zac Purton; HK$2,800,000. Margins: 1, NK, 1 1/4. Odds: 34-5, 9-5, 41-10. Also Ran: Sungrazer (Jpn), Northern Superstar (SAf), Gold Mount (GB), Seasons Bloom (Aus), Stormy Antarctic (GB), Staphanos (Jpn). Click for the HKJC.com chart, PPs and sectional timing. VIDEO. Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. View the full article

It didn’t go their way in the features at the Longines Hong Kong International Races but John Size and Joao Moreira got their new partnership off to a strong start all the same, combining for two winners at Sha Tin on Sunday. Size had to settle for second and third in the Hong Kong Sprint and Moreira came second in the Vase, but their wins with Insayshable and Raging Storm gave fans a taste of what is to come. Sunday was the first day of Moreira’s six-month stint as Size’s... View the full article

Brazilian jockey Silvestre de Sousa capped off his perfect week with a flawless wire-to-wire victory on unproven Glorious Forever in the Longines Hong Kong Cup (2,000m) on Sunday. Following in his full brother’s footsteps, the Frankie Lor Fu-chuen-trained four-year-old kept his opposition at bay after managing to stack up the field with a series of easy sectional times. Ironically, it was full brother Time Warp that he kept out when De Sousa charged to the front from barrier one, forcing... View the full article

SILVESTRE DE SOUSA (Glorious Forever) “Everything was in my favour, the draw was perfect for riding a horse who could be one or two in the run. Everything went to the plan. I didn’t want to overdo it in front but to make sure Time Warp didn’t come around, I had to make sure we were going a true gallop. I won the battle for the first 300 metres and I was going so well at the 800, I thought to myself they would have to be very good to pick him up – it would have to be one... View the full article

ZAC PURTON (Beauty Generation) “That’s what we all hoped we’d see today I’m just happy for the horse that he’s come out and produced it on a big stage. He has shown everyone how brutally good he can be. Obviously he had a little bit of a setback and with the feet issues going into his last run when he ran off the track. You never want those things going into a Group One race so they do play on your mind a little bit. But once I worked him late this week and he felt... View the full article

There is now no doubt, Beauty Generation is one of the best horses on the planet. With the eyes of the world watching, John Moore’s superstar produced the performance of the day, running his Longines Hong Kong Mile rivals ragged to cement his status as the territory’s finest – and the trainer is hoping he can now showcase him across the globe. Beauty Generation jumped a $1.5 favourite, but carrying the weight of expectation proved not to be an issue, with top jockey Zac Purton... View the full article

KARIS TEETAN (Mr Stunning) “He had a lovely trip and I’m just so happy. It’s incredible. I’ve never felt like this. It’s the first time I’ve heard the crowd shouting like this. I just knew when I pressed the button he was going to go.” HKIR: Karis Teetan and Frankie Lor break through at Group One level as Mr Stunning lands back-to-back Sprints SAM CLIPPERTON (D B Pin) “I just needed that luck and unfortunately the luck enabled Karis to get a neck... View the full article

ZAC PURTON (Exultant) “I thought at that point he (Joao Moreira) had the better of me, he had the momentum. But my bloke just seemed to be loafing along a little bit and as Joao came to me he actually rolled in and bumped my horse. That seemed to fire him back up and he found his second wind then.” HKIR: Zac Purton pulls Exultant off canvas to deliver first Hong Kong Vase for legendary Tony Cruz JOAO MOREIRA (Lys Gracieux) “There is no doubt that her performance was... View the full article

The Longines Hong Kong Sprint delivered the same one-two finish as a year ago, but that was where the similarities ended with Mr Stunning’s win giving Karis Teetan and Frankie Lor Fu-chuen the Group One success they so craved. After acquiring Mr Stunning from his old boss John Size ahead of this season, Lor watched on as his stable star held off Size’s D B Pin for the second year running to hand the trainer the biggest moment of his career. And the result was of no less significance... View the full article

Champion jockey Zac Purton franked his title as Hong Kong’s best jockey when he pulled the Tony Cruz-trained Exultant off the canvas to win the Longines Hong Kong Vase (2,400m) on Sunday. Purton looked all but certain to face defeat 150m from the winning post when crowd favourite Joao Moreira loomed up on Japanese raider Lys Gracieux, but Purton was able to get Exultant going again to win the HK$20 million race. The win was Purton’s second Hong Kong Vase and Tony Cruz’s first... View the full article

With rain clouds looming over Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots, a sloppy track and the threat of continued rain did nothing to deter Underpressure, who claimed the Dec. 8 $150,000 Louisiana Champions Day Classic Stakes. View the full article

The inaugural “Tampa Bay Owners Club” contest resulted in 90 fans correctly picking War Bridle (Shakin It Up), the 16-1 winner of race 7 at Tampa Bay Downs, a starter optional claimer. The 90 winners are now part of a fantasy syndicate, who will receive free admission, a program, a mutuel voucher, and concession discounts every time War Bridle runs this season at the Florida track. The “owners” may also visit the paddock each time the 2-year-old gelding is entered and can participate in the winner’s circle festivities if he wins. “We are delighted by the response from our fans, many of whom have expressed interest previously in learning about Thoroughbred ownership,” said Margo Flynn, the track’s Vice President of Marketing & Publicity. “We hope this will inspire them to look further into owning a racehorse for real as they learn more about the potential rewards of becoming involved.” Trained by Joan Scott, War Bridle was ridden by Jesus Castanon and is owned by David Davila’s Backstretch Farms, Inc. Approximately 1,000 entries were submitted for the contest. View the full article

Mexico's Triple Crown champion Kukulkan remained unbeaten in 14 career starts when he threw down a 10 1/4-length triumph in the $300,000 Caribbean Classic Stakes at Gulfstream Park Dec. 8. View the full article

Total handle on the Clasico Internacional del Caribe program at Gulfstream Park Saturday was $9.617 million, increasing from last year’s $8.822 million. The five stakes series was worth more than $700,000 in purses as part of the Clasico Internacional del Caribe, Latin America and the Caribbean’s premier Thoroughbred event hosted by Gulfstream for the second consecutive year. Saturday’s Clasico was highlighted by undefeated Kukulkan (Mex) (Point Determined), who won the $300,000 Clasico del Caribe (Caribbean Classic) and Jala Jala (Mex) (Point Determined), last year’s Clasico winner, becoming the first filly to also win the $100,000 Copa Confraternidad (Confraternity Carribean Cup). Trainer Fausto Gutierrez and Irad Ortiz Jr. partnered on both wins. “Once again, the atmosphere surrounding Clasico was incredible,” said Gulfstream General Manager Bill Badgett. “There was such a great energy surrounding the races and the entertainment. We witnessed great performances on the track and saw what incredible and passionate fans this sport has around the world. We look forward to seeing our friends again from the Confederation of Caribbean Racetracks.” Triple Threat… Mexico’s Triple Crown champion Kukulkan extended his career undefeated streak to 14 in a row Saturday with a 10 ¼-length triumph in the Carribean Classic, providing jockey Irad Ortiz Jr. with his third winner in the five-race Clasico Internacional del Caribe series. Ortiz, who also rode three winners during last year’s event, repeated the feat with victories aboard Kukulkan and Jala Jala, in addition to Puerto Rico’s Mishegas (Include), who took the Copa Invitacional (Invitational Cup). The 5-year-old gelding is trained by Jose Velez. “It’s great. I’m so happy to represent my country and Mexico too,” said Ortiz, a Puerto Rico native who is among the top candidates for this Year’s Eclipse Award as North America’s outstanding jockey. “It’s a pleasure to ride these kind of horses.” Trainer Fausto Gutierrez, who also enjoyed a banner day with winners Kukulkan and Jala Jala. Of the former, he said, “This is like a dream because [Kukulkan] has a lot of quality. We spoke a few days ago about the capacity he has. This horse has a lot of stamina and he won very easy today. He ran not in his normal style or as he has before. Irad took him and relaxed and relaxed and when he decided to go, the horse went easily. He’s a very professional horse, his attitude in the paddock and with everyone in the stands. He’s a real racehorse. To make history and win two back to back with these horses is a dream.” Kukulkan had notched five Group 1 victories, including all three legs of the Mexico Triple Crown, at Hipodromo de Las Americas in Mexico City. Cuadra San Jorge’s homebred colt won his last four races by 38 ½ lengths prior to winning Saturday’s Clasico. Mexican star filly Jala Jala made history Saturday at Gulfstream Park, saving ground early before drawing off to an impressive 4 ¾-length triumph in the Copa Confraternidad. The victory, coupled with her nine-length romp in the Clasico del Caribe last December, made Cuadra San Jorge’s Jala Jala the first filly ever to sweep the Clasico Internacional del Caribe’s premier races for 3-year-olds and older horses, beating males on both occasions. “I think this is amazing, because she is the first filly to win these two races and especially in the form she won in,” explained Gutierrez. “She won very clear and made history in this race.” Other Clasico winners on the card; Brigantia (Pan) (Concerto) bested Mexican filly Triple Crown winner Kutzamala (Mex) (Point Determined) in the Copa Dama del Caribe (Lady Carribean Cup) for 3-year-old fillies; and Big Boris One (Ven) (Jupiter Pluvius) remained undefeated with three-quarter length score over Magno (Mex) (More Than Regal) in the Copa Velocidad del Caribe (Carribean Cup Speed). View the full article

Trainer Bob Baffert and jockey Drayden Van Dyke completed a sweep of the grade 1 races at Los Alamitos Race Course Dec. 8 with Chasing Yesterday's head victory over longshot Enaya Alrabb in the $300,000 Starlet Stakes (G1). View the full article

‘TDN Rising Star’ CHASING YESTERDAY (f, 2, Tapit-Littleprincessemma, by Yankee Gentleman), a half-sister to Triple Crown winner American Pharoah (Pioneerof the Nile) had to work for it, but her determination paid off with a gutsy score in the GI Starlet S. at Los Alamitos Saturday. Away well from the outside post in this six-horse affair, the favorite was three-wide rounding the first turn as stablemate and fellow ‘Rising Star’ Mother Mother (Pioneerof the Nile) strode up to dictate terms with Sold It (The Factor) and Enaya Alrabb (Uncle Mo) stacked up beside her. Chasing Yesterday settled in a joint fourth, tracking the top three through opening splits of :23.25 and :47.07. Backing off a bit to caboose the sextet, the chestnut re-asserted herself on the backstretch run and ranged up alongside the top three to make it four across the track exiting the bend. Sold It threw in the towel and Mother Mother desperately fought to stay with Chasing Yesterday and Enaya Alrabb, but did not have enough left in the tank, leaving those rivals to battle it out. It was a nail-biting duel to the wire with Enaya Alrabb hanging tough with her more seasoned rival, but in the end Chasing Yesterday proved far too classy for the recent maiden winner, forging clear in the final strides for a narrow victory. It was the first Grade I success for both the filly and her owner Jane Lyon of Summer Wind Farm, who is the breeder of four top-level scorers in Moonshine Memories (Malibu Moon), McKinzie (Street Sense), undefeated Game Winner (Candy Ride {Arg}) and Mozu Ascot (Frankel {GB}). An ultra-impressive debut winner at Del Mar July 28, Chasing Yesterday was a disappointing seventh after encountering some trouble in Saratoga’s GI Spinaway S. Sept. 1. She returned to California in good form, rattling off wins in the Anoakia S. at Santa Anita Oct. 14 and the Desi Arnaz S. back at Del Mar last time Nov. 12. Lifetime Record: 5-4-0-0. O/B-Summer Wind Equine (KY); T-Bob Baffert. View the full article