Wandering Eyes

My vote will be for Justify. Winning the Triple Crown is a tremendous accomplishment. Some people forget the way it started off for him and how difficult it was for him to win the Derby I don’t care what the final numbers say, but when you run that kind of initial pace and are able to keep on, that really says something about the greatness of the horse. Bob Baffert was quoted as saying at the head of the stretch, ‘Show me how great you are.’ It was a tremendous effort and, then after that effort, he went on and took Good Magic’s best shot in the Preakness. Good Magic is a horse I have tremendous respect for. Then he went on and won at a mile-and-a-half. Add all that together, it was a great accomplishment. It’s a shame that Accelerate had to come along in the same year. Johnsen is an Eclipse Award voter View the full article

Santa Anita will host a beer and cider festival on opening day Dec. 26. There will be gourmet food trucks, beer or cider tastings, a $5 wagering voucher, Club House admission, a racing program and access to Trackside and Grandstand seating area. This online package is available for $19 if purchased by Dec. 14. All fans will receive Santa Anita’s traditional calendar, free with paid admission. Additionally, the first 4,000 kids age 12 and under and accompanied by an adult, will receive a stuffed toy horse, courtesy of Mathis Brothers Furniture. View the full article

In the first of what will be his final series of workouts before concluding his career in the $9 million Pegasus World Cup Invitational Stakes (G1) at Gulfstream Park Jan. 26, Accelerate covered four furlongs in :49 in at Santa Anita Park Dec. 8. View the full article

Lily’s Candle (Fr) (Style Vendome {Fr}) has been a frequent visitor to Arqana sales rings, with her value improving substantially each time. On Saturday, the 2-year-old filly’s pricetag grew to €1.1-million during the opening session of the Arqana December Breeding Stock Sale in Deauville. Emmanuel De Seroux signed the ticket on behalf of Katsumi Yoshida. For the sale’s premier day, the session saw 151 sold from 194 offered (clearance rate 78%) for a total of €22,743,000. The average of €150,616 was up 22% on last year, while the median dipped 6.7% to €70,000. Lily’s Candle (lot 160) first visited this ring during last year’s October Yearling Sale, when she was sold for €15,000. She broke her maiden at second asking in July before adding the Listed Prix des Jouvenceaux et des Jouvencelles at Vichy three weeks later, and was fourth in the G3 Prix de la Rochette the following month. Martin Schwartz scooped up the filly through Oceanic Bloodstock at Arqana’s Arc Sale at Saint-Cloud on Oct. 6 for €390,000, and less than 24 hours later she became a Group 1 winner in the Prix Marcel Boussac on the G1 Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe card at ParisLongchamp. A bid at the GI Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf the next month didn’t quite pan out, with Lily’s Candle beating just two home, but she was nonetheless a star at Arqana on Saturday. De Seroux said it was likely Lily’s Candle would race on at three. He also noted it is a family that Yoshida is very familiar with: he bought the listed-winning Liliside (Fr) (American Post {GB}), who appears under the second dam, and she produced for him Lys Gracieux (Jpn) (Heart’s Cry {Jpn}), the winner of the G1 Queen Elizabeth II Cup at Kyoto on Nov. 11 who lines up in Sunday’s G1 Hong Kong Vase. Also under the second dam is the G1 Criterium de Saint-Cloud winner Robin Of Navan (Fr) (American Post {GB}). “She won the Marcel Boussac, the best 2-year-old filly race in France,” de Seroux said. “She’s a Group 1 winner and the champion 2-year-old filly in France. She’s from a family that has been very successful for Katsumi, and it’s a family that he knows very well and is very attracted to, and she will be the perfect outcross.” Another group-winning 2-year-old filly to greatly improve on her yearling price was Noblesse Oblige (Ity) (Myboycharlie {Ire}) (Lot 180). The G3 Premio Dormello winner was a €15,000 yearling at Italy’s SGA yearling sale and sold on Saturday to Oceanic Bloodstock for €520,000. Dubawi Filly Judged Best… Two seven-figure sales in barely four months represents pretty good going for Just The Judge (Ire) (Lawman {Fr}), who will soon be in danger of recouping commercially the 4,500,000gns she cost a partnership of Qatar Racing and the China Horse Club at Tattersalls four years ago. The 8-year-old’s yearling colt by Dubawi topped the August Sale here when signed for at €1.4 million by John O’Connor, and this time her filly foal by the same sire—likewise consigned by La Motteraye—raised €1 million from Anthony Stroud on behalf of Godolphin. “We’re very lucky to get her,” Stroud said. “She has everything: a wonderful sire, obviously, and she’s out of an amazing mare too. She’ll go to Ireland now and eventually will join one of the Godolphin trainers.” Asked how lot 175 compared with her brother, Stroud said: “If you gave me the choice I’d go for this one but then the colt was bought by a very good judge in John O’Connor [of Ballylinch], so we wish him all the very best. If he can do well, it’ll help us too in the long term.” Just The Judge won the G1 Irish 1,000 Guineas and the GI E.P. Taylor S., besides being placed a further five times at the highest level. Her full-brother was sold to Stephen Hillen and Kevin Ryan for 290,000gns in Book 1 of the Tattersalls October Sale. Haras de Colleville, home to rags to riches French sire Kendargent (Fr), is offering a reduction of its stock at Arqana this weekend and among that draft was a gem in the form of lot 138, a Frankel (GB) colt foal out of Kendargent’s stakes-winning daughter Restiana (Fr). Jamie Railton prevailed for the February-born bay at €320,000, and he will be syndicated and pinhooked next year. “I think the horse will be an improver,” Railton said. “We’re very positive about him and we’ll syndicate him and go from there. He’s a very sweet horse with a great action, and we’re very excited about him. I thought he was going to be around €300,000, and I made sure I was on the right end of it. I was at my limit.” Siyouni foals proved popular on the day, bringing prices like €190,000, €180,000 and €160,000. Foals by Sea The Stars (Ire) and No Nay Never each made €160,000. Haras du Quesnay’s American Pharoah filly was bought back at €145,000. Peace Fulfills Promise Ronald Rauscher had identified Peace In Motion (Hat Trick {Jpn}) as the pick of his consignment and the 4-year-old did not let him down, drawing a bid of €860,000 from Bertrand Le Metayer as lot 163. Trained for breeder Dr Christoph Berglar by Waldemar Hickst, Peace In Motion finished runner-up at Group 2 level in the German 1,000 Guineas last year, and has added one group and two listed wins to her CV this time round. That gives her a very similar record to that compiled by her dam and, critically, she complements it with a fine physique. “She’s just one of those good old-fashioned mares,” Le Metayer explained. “Full of quality, vetted very clean, always in the money whenever she runs. It’s a young family and she’ll be very easy to cross, too, though we are still working on where to send her with the owners—it’s a professional project for a group of French investors, we bought one at Tattersalls last week too.” Peace In Motion’s dam is herself only 13 and, exported to the U.S., has delivered a couple of half-brothers with potential to upgrade the family tree: she has an Air Force Blue (War Front) weanling and a Union Rags (Dixie Union) yearling. Ecurie des Monceaux is a perennial leading seller at Arqana’s sales, and of course having top-class stock to sell requires the periodic addition of fresh, high-quality blood. Monceaux was the name in the buyers’ column for the 7-year-old Montjeu (Ire) mare Knyazhna (Ire) (Lot 179) for €700,000, and for her Henri Bozo’s nursery partnered with American breeder Gary Chervenell. The Washington-based Chervenell chiefly breeds to sell, and enjoyed a good score in this ring back in October when a Camelot (GB) colt he bred was the highest-priced colt of the October Yearling Sale at €280,000. Chervenell has a handful of mares in Kentucky and, after Saturday’s sale, his mare count in Europe tripled. “Before tonight I only had one mare here, and now I have parts of two others, so that’s very good,” Chervenell said. “They all have bright futures ahead, I believe. I’m going to be shipping one more mare over here in the spring, as soon as she’s in foal.” The other mare Chervenell left Arqana with a piece of on Saturday was the 3-year-old filly Pretty Spirit (GB) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}), who was placed this year herself but could enjoy some big updates next year if her 2-year-old half-brother Persian King (GB) (Kingman {GB}) fulfills the promise he has shown at three. Pretty Spirit was bought for €150,000. Galileo Daughters In Vogue With Galileo’s profile as a broodmare sire rising seemingly by the day, his daughters are becoming increasingly sought after at auction. Add to that a world-class female family and apparent racetrack ability, and you have a recipe for a big result in the ring. That proved to be the case on Saturday for Nicolas Clement’s Solage (GB) (Galileo {Ire}) (Lot 148), who realized €1-million from the partnership of Meridian International and Ballylinch Stud. The 2-year-old had been a €700,000 purchase in this ring last year at the Arqana August yearling sale by Markus Jooste, and she is a three-quarter sister to the Group 3-placed Normandy Eagle (GB) (New Approach {Ire}). Their third dam is Featherquest (Rainbow Quest), the dam of G1 Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud winner Plumania (Anabaa) and the second dam of G1 Prix Vermeille winner Left Hand (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}). Appearing under the third dam are Group 1 winners in Europe, Japan and Australia: Groom Dancer, Kinshasa No Kiseki (Jpn), Absolutely (Aus) and Abbey Marie (Aus). Solage was second on her lone start at ParisLongchamp on Oct. 18, and Ballylinch’s John O’Connor said she will race on next year before entering the breeding program of an existing partnership that has been buying mares together for the past few years. Meridian International’s Ghislain Bozo added, “She was a €700,000 yearling. We know she can race on and we think she’s at least listed-level quality. So she has a bit of residual value plus a bit of premiums, and it’s tough to get Galileo mares.” Bozo had a short time earlier signed for Haras de Saint’s Pair’s Fangs (Kitten’s Joy) for €510,000. Lot 143 is an unraced full-sister to three stakes winners, including the GI Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup winner Kitten’s Dumplings, and she was sold in foal to Kodiac. Galileo didn’t exactly set the Southern Hemisphere alight as a sire in his brief shuttling career, but Coolmore’s champion is turning heads now as a broodmare sire Down Under. His daughters have produced six Group 1 winners in Australia and New Zealand, which include this year alone the G1 Caulfield Guineas winner The Autumn Sun (Aus) (Redoute’s Choice {Aus}) and the G1 Australian Oaks winner Unforgotten (Aus) (Fastnet Rock {Aus}). Three of those six Group 1 winners are, like Unforgotten, by Fastnet Rock, and he is the likely first date for Tiberias (Fr) (Galileo {Ire}) (Lot 50) after Dean Hawthorne and Badgers Bloodstock signed for the 3-year-old at €450,000 on Saturday. From the Wertheimer et Frere consignment, the winning Tiberias is a daughter of the American listed winner Stormina (Gulch) and a half-sister to G1 Prix Marcel Boussac and G1 Prix Saint-Alary winner Silasol (Fr) (Monsun {Ger}). The Wertheimers’ G1 Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe winner Solemia (Fr) (Poliglote {Fr}) appears under the third dam, as does Coolmore’s Classic winner and young sire The Gurkha (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}). Hawthorne said he is specifically shopping for Galileo mares free of Danehill blood; not an easy find considering how prolific that cross is. “We’re looking for some Galileo blood that doesn’t have Danehill blood in it to take back to Australia,” Hawthorne said. “Galileo is going very well down there with a variance of sires. We haven’t got much of [Galileo mares] down there; he didn’t spend much time down there himself so we have to come up here to get it, and when we do, we find Danehill is in there somewhere because it’s a magic cross. “Badger [Grant Pritchard-Gordon] has done a lot of pedigree research for us and we know there’s a lot going on in the family-it’s a family that’s going to thicken.” “She’ll go probably to Fastnet Rock in her first year,” he added. “He’s getting on, but that’s a wonderful cross. We have Unforgiven this year who won the Oaks on that cross, and she will need a big physical horse for her first foal. She still has a lot of maturing to do, but give her a year down there in the sunshine and she’ll be away.” Hawthorne and Badgers Bloodstock had secured another Galileo mare free of Danehill earlier in the session: La Motteraye Consignment’s Embroidered Silk (Ire) (Lot 33) for €110,000. The unraced 3-year-old is in foal to Caravaggio. Talvard Can Sleep Easy There are plenty of people in town for this sale who have barely slept for two nights but Pierre Talvard’s insomnia was down to a much less riotous type of Night Music (Ger). For that is the name of the charming grey sold to the master of Haras du Cadran as lot 195, a 5-year-old daughter of Sea The Stars (Ire) out of the Monsun (Ger) mare Night Woman (Ger). “I have been lying awake for the last two days, dreaming of this mare,” said Talvard after securing her for €700,000. “She has perfect conformation and pedigree. Plus she is grey, like The Grey Gatsby (Ire) (Mastercraftsman {Ire}). I have bought her with a couple of longstanding associates, we’ve got four mares today but this one is the star.” It was in this ring six years ago that Cadran presented The Grey Gatsby at the October Sale. He was picked up by Stephen Hillen for just €24,000 before proceeding to win the G1 Prix du Jockey Club. This mare has been trained for Stall Salzburg by Sarah Steinberg to win seven races over three seasons in France, Germany and Italy, including two this year at Group 2 level. She is a half-sister to Night Magic (Ger) (Sholokhov {Ire}), winner of the G1 Preis der Diana and G1 Grosser Preis von Baden in the same colours. New Partner For Shalaa The owners of Shalaa (Ire) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}) are doing their best to ensure continued interest in the young Haras de Bouquetot stallion as his first weanlings proceed towards the track. Here they spent €550,000 on a glamorous new partner for him next year in Zghorta Dance (Fr) (Le Havre {Ire}) (Lot 140), from the dispersal of racing and breeding stock of Issam Fares, the man who bred Curlin (Smart Strike). The G3 Prix Vanteaux winner, also placed at Group 1 level in Italy, is out of a grand-daughter of GI Breeders’ Cup Turf winner Miss Alleged (Alleged). The Haras de Manneville homebred was offered as wildcard, with the bonus of a Muhaarar (GB) (Oasis Dream {GB}) cover. “She’s a beautiful mare,” reasoned Benoit Jeffroy of the 5-year-old. “We really loved her physically, and she’s by a champion sire with a good covering, so really ticked a lot of boxes. We have a bunch of nice mares at home but the idea is that it’s very important to keep freshening the blood. So she’ll stay in France, go to Bouquetot, as a nice mare to go to Shalaa. She was a very good performer on the track and we’re really happy to get her.” Haras de Manneville sold four mares on Saturday as part of the Fares dispersal; the remaining stock will be offered at Arqana’s February sale. In addition to Zghorta Dance, Wedge Trust (Ire) (Zamindar) (Lot 100) brought €115,000, and half-sisters Roman Ridge (Fr) (Holy Roman Emperor {Ire}) (Lot 110) and Baino Hope (Fr) (Jeremy) (Lot 190) brought €55,000 and €280,000, respectively. Tweenhills has the good problem of having three exciting first-season sires to fill up for 2019, and the farm’s Cartier Horse of the Year Roaring Lion (Kitten’s Joy) gained another mare for his first book after David Redvers signed for La Patria (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) (Lot 124) from the Haras de Saint Pair draft for €370,000. The listed-placed daughter of the German Group 3 winner Evil Empire (Ger) (Acatenago {Ger}) and half-sister to the stakes-winning Empire Day (UAE) (Lomitas {GB}) was sold in foal to Kodiac (GB) after producing a Belardo (Ire) colt this year. Redvers, who signed the ticket standing alongside Newsells Park’s Julian Dollar and Paul Hensey, said, “She’s going to go to Roaring Lion this year and we’ll see where we go thereafter, but she is probably the best-looking Dubawi mare I’ve ever seen. She has a nice walk and a lot of quality and a nice covering that should suit her well.” Brummitt Scores Wertheimer Mare Jeremy Brummitt had gone the extra mile to explore the full potential of Desertiste (GB) (Green Desert), taking a detour between the Caen ferry and Arqana on Friday morning to inspect the 12-year-old’s Frankel (GB) (Galileo {Ire}) foal at the nearby farm of her breeders, Wertheimer & Frere. He liked what he saw sufficiently to sign a €355,000 docket for lot 112 on behalf of one of his principal clients, hoping above all that the New Approach (Ire) (Galileo Ire}) foal she is carrying will turn out to be a filly. “That’s why you stretch for one like this, in the hope that she delivers something that can continue the line,” Brummitt said. “It’s obviously a very good page as it stands but there’s plenty going on, we love the last couple of covers and you’d like to think the best days are still ahead.” The Frankel weanling is preceded by a Lope De Vega yearling, also a filly. And Desertiste is already dam of three winners, notably Sasparella (Fr) (Shamardal), who gained Group 3 laurels in the Prix Eclipse. First and foremost, however, she brings her new owners one of the best families in the catalogue. For her dam Occupandiste (Ire) (Kaldoun {Fr}), besides herself being a dual Group 1 winner of the Prix de la Foret and Prix Maurice de Gheest, has also produced three extremely accomplished animals: Mondialiste (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), winner of the GI Arlington Million and GI Woodbine Mile and runner-up in the GI Breeders’ Cup Mile, now at stud in Yorkshire; the dual Group 3-winning sprinter Only Answer (GB) (Green Desert), a full-sister to this mare; and, most significantly, Impressionnante (GB) (Danehill), the Classic runner-up who produced a Classic winner in the top-class Intello (Ger) (Galileo {Ire}). Familiar Family For Brown The Aga Khan draft at Arqana December is always a highly anticipated one. In 2018 alone, Aga Khan mares sold at this sale have produced Group 1 winners Flag of Honour (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) and Capri (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), and Group 3 winners Marie’s Diamond (Ire) (Footstepsinthesand {GB}), Cypress Creek (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) and Geniale (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}). An early highlight was provided on Saturday by the Aga Khan’s Shomaria (Fr) (Exceed and Excel {Aus}) (Lot 38), who was bought by Richard Brown of Blandford Bloodstock for €330,000. The 3-year-old, who was three-times placed, is out of the dual Group 3 winner Shemima (GB) (Dalakhani {Ire}), herself a daughter of the G1 Prix de Diane winner Shemaka (Ire) (Nishapour {Fr}). Brown said it was inside knowledge of the family that encouraged him to take a plunge on behalf of an undisclosed client; he had purchased the filly’s elder half-sister, Shemya (Fr) (Dansili {GB}), at this sale in 2014 for €160,000 for a different client. That one’s second foal, a colt by Kingman (GB), was a 135,000gns foal and, after the sire took off with his first runners this year, was bought by MV Magnier for 1.05-million gns at Tattersalls October. “I know the family and Shemya is putting very good stock down,” Brown said. “The brother [Shendam {Charm Spirit}] ran 100p on debut at Longchamp and looks like potentially a very smart colt. She’s a very well-bred filly and Exceed and Excel is doing well as a broodmare sire. There are potentially a lot of updates to come in the family.” Brown said he would be heading to Shomaria’s seller to inquire about breeding the filly to Siyouni (Fr). “This mare will be bred well as well; I think she’ll suit Siyouni so I’ll have to have chat with Georges Rimaud,” Brown said. “She’s not overly big and she’s got a bit of length to her pasterns, so I think he’d suit perfectly. She’ll stay in France and be covered by Siyouni, hopefully, if Georges says yes, and then she’ll go to England.” View the full article

Grade I winner Audible (Into Mischief) breezed a half-mile in :48.68 (3/22) Saturday morning at Palm Beach Downs ahead of an expected start in the Dec. 15 GIII Harlan’s Holiday S., which he is using as a prep for the GI Pegasus World Cup Jan. 26 at Gulfstream. The sophomore worked in company with Grade I-winning turf runner Hi Happy (Arg) (Pure Prize) (video). “I think Audible has been training exceptionally well,” trainer Todd Pletcher said. “His breeze this morning was a good, solid half with a strong gallop-out, which is what we were looking for,” Pletcher said. “We really like the way he’s progressed since the Cherokee Run. You can see him physically developing from three to four, and he’s giving us all the right signs at the moment.” Winner of the GI Florida Derby over the same track and trip as the Pegasus in March, Audible was a respectable third behind Triple Crown winner Justify (Scat Daddy) in the GI Kentucky Derby May 5 and was subsequently shelved. The bay returned with a convincing victory in Churchill’s Cherokee Run S. last month. “We just tried to lay out a game plan that would hopefully get us to the Pegasus and decided that the race at Churchill going seven furlongs was a good starting point,” Pletcher said. “I was pleased that he was able to show enough speed to be able to win at seven-eighths. We felt like the spacing and timing of that to the Harlan’s Holiday was good and … the timing from the Harlan’s Holiday to the Pegasus is kind of laid out just like you’d hope it would be if things continue to go as well as they currently are.” Pegasus-bound Gunnevera (Dialed In) also worked Saturday at Gulfstream West, covering four panels in :50.80 (32/38) (video). The chestnut was last seen finishing second to Accelerate (Lookin at Lucky) in the GI Breeders’ Cup Classic Nov. 3. “He worked really good, he did,” said jockey Irad Ortiz, who was aboard for the breeze and will have the call in the Pegasus. “They told me he doesn’t do too much in the morning, but he did good. I don’t know how fast he went, but I thought he went great. He was comfortable and he did everything right; very, very good.” Accelerate was kept in training following his BC Classic victory with an eye on the Pegasus as his career finale. The chestnut was on the worktab at Santa Anita Saturday, breezing a half-mile in :49 flat (24/52) (video). View the full article

14:00 Punchestown Min has won on first run of the season for the last three years and despite this looking like a decent little contest he should take all the beating today. He should appreciate the step back up to this trip and can give trainer Willie Mullins his fourth win in this race in the last six years. Balko Des Flos put in a cracking run to beat Un De Sceaux in last seasons’ Ryanair Chase at The Cheltenham Festival and has winning form over course and distance, but was disappointing on seasonal re-appearance at Down Royal Last month so will need to step up on that performance if he is get competitive here, so the bigger danger looks to be Shattered Love who was also a Festival winner in March and had a much more encouraging start to the season when a close second to Snow Falcon just over a month ago. MIN (WIN) – NAP 12:50 Huntingdon Bags Groove was majestic when winning a Grade 2 race here at Wincanton last month, jumping boldly and travelling strongly throughout, beating the highly regarded Secret Investor by almost ten lengths with the remainder a further twenty lengths behind. He has to give weight away to all rivals but is still open to any amount of improvement after just three runs over fences and can bring up his hat-trick here today. Both Red Rising and Now McGinty are potential improvers and worthy of a mention, however the main danger looks to be Thomas Campbell for the in-form Nicky Henderson stable. He got off the mark over fences at the second time of asking and shouldn’t have any stamina issues having won over three miles over the smaller obstacles. Bags Groove (WIN) Huntingdon 12:15 – Midnight Glory (WIN) 12:50 – Bags Groove (WIN) 13:20 – Brewin’upastorm (WIN) 13:55 – Sparkleandshine (WIN) 14:25 – Josses Hill (E/W) 15:00 – Kissesforkatie (WIN) 15:30 – The Boss’s Dream (WIN) Kelso 12:00 – Leostar (WIN) 12:30 – Donna’s Diamond (WIN) 13:05 – West Of The Edge (WIN) 13:35 – Prince Dundee (E/W) 14:10 – Beeves (E/W) 14:40 – Sea Story (WIN) 15:15 – Triangle Rock (WIN) Cork 12:05 – Band Of Outlaws (WIN) 12:40 – Presented Well (WIN) 13:10 – Robin De Carlow (WIN) 13:45 – Great Field (WIN) 14:15 – Forge Meadow (WIN) 14:50 – Chatham Street Lad (E/W) 15:20 – Eight And Bob (WIN) Punchestown 12:20 – Ballyneety (WIN) 12:55 – Tornado Flyer (WIN) 13:25 – Auvergnat (WIN) 14:00 – Min (WIN) 14:30 – Getabird (WIN) 15:05 – Se Mo Laoch (WIN) 15:40 – Cenotice (E/W) The post Picks From The Paddock Best Bet – Sunday 9th December appeared first on RaceBets Blog EN. View the full article

This year’s G1 Prix Marcel Boussac winner Lily’s Candle (Fr) (Style Vendome {Fr}) is the leading filly thus far sold at the Arqana December Breeding Stock Sale after earning a winning bid of €1.1-million from Emmanuel De Seroux on behalf of Katsumi Yoshida. The leading foal is the Dubawi (Ire) filly out of Just The Judge (Ire) (Lawman {Fr}), who was bought by Stroud Coleman Bloodstock for €1-million. View the full article

15:00 Sandown – Tingle Creek Chase Seen by many as a trial for the Champion Chase at March’s Cheltenham Festival but that seems ridiculously unfair. This prestigious and illustrious race should be seen as a Grade 1 in its own right. Notorious winners include the likes of Moscow Flyer, Kauto Star, Sire De Grugy, Sprinter Sacre and Flagship Uberalles. The aforementioned list of horses are seen as modern-day greats of National Hunt racing and we’ve seen some illustrious clashes. This year’s renewal looks to be reminiscent of the mighty clashes between Moscow Flyer, Well Chief and Azertyioup and although there are only four runners set to go to post but what a stellar lineup we have. A mouth-watering clash between the reigning champion, the former champion and two young pretenders. The turnout in terms of numbers is a tad disappointing but in regards to the level of class on show I’d go as far as to say it’s one of the classiest renewals in recent years. The standout horse of the moment is Altior who’s unbeaten in his last fourteen starts. Multiple grade one victor he’s vying to be one of the greatest two-mile chasers of all time and if he can demolish this field he’s put a big seal of approval on his claim to the throne. Despite Altior’s immense success it’s not so easy to readily dismiss his trio of rivals. Irish raider Un De Sceaux has only been defeated twice in his last nine starts and of those seven wins, they include this very race back in 2016 and a Grade 1 win at the Cheltenham Festival. One of the flag bearers for top trainer Willie Mullins over the past few years he’s a very formidable horse on his day but the one niggling doubt is that the two mile trip isn’t what he’s looking for these days and a preference for further may well be his undoing. We then look at the new kids on the block in the form of Sceau Royal and Saint Calvados. Unbeaten over today’s course and distance Sceau Royal has the attributes to compete at this level but just how good he is only time will tell. A convincing winner of the Cheltenham Chase on his seasonal return back in November the field was of a decent standard but the level of opposition is a leap ahead. A massive step up needs to be taken for this six-year-old but he’s barely put a foot wrong to date and may be the most likely opponent to the short-priced favourite. Although currently, the outsider in the betting Saint Calvados is far from a backmarker. A four-length success on his most recent run looked promising enough but as with Sceau Royal he’s going to have to be on a huge upward curve to progress enough to come out on top. That isn’t to say it’s impossible but if he did then it would be a minor shock. Analysing the race and looking through the form book you can’t look anywhere other than towards Altior. He’s been there and done it and although the race isn’t run on paper it’s going to be hard to topple Nicky Henderson’s stable star. ALTIOR (WIN) Aintree: 11:55 – Eldorado Allen (WIN) 12:25 – Katachenko (E/W) 13:00 – Jetstream Jack (E/W) 13:30 – Present Man (E/W) – ITV Racing 14:05 – Definitely Red (WIN) – ITV Racing 14:40 – Giving Glances (WIN) – NAP – ITV Racing 15:15 – Warriors Tale (E/W) – ITV Racing Chepstow: 12:20 – Sandhurst Lad (E/W) 12:55 – Trixster (WIN) 13:25 – Dominateur (WIN) 13:55 – Merry Milan (E/W) 14:30 – Another Venture (E/W) 15:05 – Truckers Lodge (WIN) 15:40 – Ballybreen (WIN) Navan: 12:00 – City Hall (WIN) 12:30 – Iamastartoo (WIN) 13:05 – Danse Away (E/W) 13:35 – Or Jaune De Somoza (WIN) 14:10 – Kagney (WIN) 14:45 – Goose Man (WIN) 15:20 – Super Follo (WIN) Sandown: 12:15 – I Can’t Explain (WIN) 12:50 – Papagana (WIN) 13:20 – Another Emotion (WIN) 13:50 – Pingshou (E/W) – ITV Racing 14:25 – Apple’s Shakira (WIN) – ITV Racing 15:00 – Altior (WIN) – ITV Racing 15:35 – Chase The Spud (E/W) – ITV Racing Wetherby: 12:05 – Time To Move On (WIN) 12:40 – Dulce Panem (E/W) 13:10 – Aliandy (WIN) 13:40 – Mon Palois (E/W) 14:15 – Aristo Du Plessis (WIN) 14:50 – Raise A Spark (WIN) 15:25 – Villiersdorp (E/W) Wolverhampton: 17:15 – Arendale (E/W) 17:45 – New King (WIN) 18:15 – Into The Zone (E/W) 18:45 – Deputise (WIN) 19:15 – Monumental Man (E/W) 19:45 – Mount Tahan (E/W) 20:15 – Ramsbury (WIN) 20:45 – La Sioux (E/W) The post Picks From The Paddock Best Bet – Saturday 8th December appeared first on RaceBets Blog EN. View the full article

International Jockeys’ Championship winner Silvestre de Sousa is hoping to strike while the iron is hot on Sunday to cap what could be a huge week for the Brazilian. De Sousa is the in-form rider in Hong Kong at the moment, riding four winners and three placings in his past 16 starts and rising above the world’s best on Wednesday night. Currently riding on a four-month contract in Hong Kong, De Sousa has managed to secure a swag of eight rides for the Longines Hong Kong... View the full article

It was an early-morning drug testing operation at the Sha Tin stables that introduced me to the integrity that Hong Kong racing needs to thrive. For many in Hong Kong, the stringent testing regimes may seem second nature, but as an outsider looking in, the lengths the Jockey Club goes to in order to protect its product never ceases to amaze me. As part of my role on CNN International’s Winning Post show, we attended Sha Tin’s (remarkable multi-storey) stables at 3:45am in the... View the full article

Hong Kong’s champion jockey Zac Purton was taught to ride horses on an Australian beach as a wiry 14-year-old looking for a way out of school. Purton’s former master Trevor Hardy took the then country boy under his wing, with his special talents quickly bubbling to the surface despite having never ridden a horse before stepping foot in his stables. In Hong Kong to watch his former apprentice – who is poised to win the Group One Longines Hong Kong Mile on champion horse Beauty... View the full article

The Hong Kong jockey’s merry-go-round goes into overdrive at this time of year and Karis Teetan is one rider who knows it all to well, but it will matter little if Mr Stunning can salute in Sunday’s Longines Hong Kong Sprint. Teetan lost the ride on Pakistan Star for the Vase after riding him for his past three starts and also partnered Mr Stunning early in his career before getting the boot for Joao Moreira, but things could come the sweetest of full circles for the Mauritian this... View the full article

He is a stalwart of Hong Kong racing and for Ronald Arculli, it seems winning and losing pales in insignificance compared to the sheer enjoyment he takes out of his involvement in the sport. Arculli has a long and storied history in Hong Kong racing, serving as the Hong Kong Jockey Club’s chairman from 2002-2006 and owning “over 100 horses”. He will again be front and centre on the territory’s biggest day when his horse Red Verdon runs in Sunday’s Longines Hong... View the full article

Lim's Cruiser chilling on D-Day minus one View the full article

Horses' test results December 8 View the full article

TH Koh suspended for two days View the full article

A year after the devastating fire that killed 46 horses at San Luis Rey Training Center, the horrifying memories are still fresh. View the full article

Henry Ford once said: “My best friend is the one who brings out the best in me.” For Andrew Byrd, an 11-year-old from Port St Lucie, FL, his first best friend was a horse named Bridger who came into his life two years ago. Andrew rode Bridger every week at Holly Creek STAR Hippotherapy Center. They rode at a walk and Andrew told Bridger all of his dreams and secrets. When Andrew’s parents had to tell him of Bridger’s sudden death, they knew he would be devastated. Andrew, who is extremely kind and empathetic, suffers from Asperger’s Syndrome. “He cried for Bridger every day for weeks,” says Georgia Byrd, Andrew’s adopted mother. “It wasn’t getting better. We didn’t know what to do because we never thought we would find another horse like Bridger who would be so kind and patient with Andrew.” His sadness did not abate. After a few weeks, Andrew’s therapist had an idea. She brought the family to meet Katie Schmit at Florida TRAC. Schmit knew they were looking for a hippotherapy horse that would spend most of his time walking or just being a buddy. She brought out Kitty Litter, a Florida-bred of 2004 by Catienus who ran 65 times in his five-year career and earned $51,628. Andrew rode Kitty and they immediately connected. Georgia Byrd recalls: “After their ride, Andy came over to me and said, ‘I like him. And, I think he likes me.'” The Byrds made the decision to adopt Kitty Litter on the spot. “I felt Kitty Litter would be a good choice for Georgia’s family as he is so calm, self-assured and nonchalant,” recalls Schmit. “We saw, over the years, that the more time and attention we gave Kitty Litter, the more he tuned into us, listened and tried to please. So, I felt he would thrive in this special role.” “He is kind and tries incredibly hard to do what is asked of him,” Schmit added. “There isn’t a mean or argumentative bone in his body.” Kitty Litter has been renamed Panda Bear by Andrew, who is known by his family as Panda Boy. The entire family showers kindness, carrots and apples on Panda Bear, and all of the horses at the farm. Andrew’s sister Faith is also learning-disabled and has her own horse, an Arab named Gizmo. “We thank God every day for Florida TRAC for giving Andy his best friend, Panda Bear,” said Georgia Byrd. “The kids can be having a really rough day but the horses change everything,” explained their father Barry Byrd. “The kids become calm and content in their work. They love to be with their horses, groom them and generally care for them as well as ride.” Andrew and his sister brush and tack their horses with help from their parents, who watch over the activities. Then, the siblings ride their horses all over the property which is entirely fenced in. Panda patiently ambles with Andrew and never offers to break from a walk. While Andrew still fondly remembers Bridger, he says about his new horse Panda Bear: “He is my best buddy.” Florida TRAC has adopted out hundreds of horses. Matches like Kitty Litter and Andrew Byrd are special because of the uniqueness of their bond. “While we have placed several wonderful OTTBs as companions and therapy horses, as well as into upper level show barns, the majority of our horses are adopted by amateur pleasure riders, many of whom show at various levels in a wide variety of disciplines,” explained Schmit. “That’s the beauty of the OTTB; there isn’t much they aren’t good at.” On making this match, Schmit says: “It’s the best feeling in the world. It’s a life-changing win for Andrew, and for Panda Bear, too. There is nothing more gratifying than seeing these horses find their purpose, as they thrive on having one as well as being appreciated and loved. Andrew deserved a very special horse and I am so happy Panda Bear found the special spot!” “I know how much the horses I have had in my life have affected me,” added Schmit. “Seeing the team make a match like the one between Andrew and Panda feels like just a bit of my debt getting paid back for the happiness these animals have brought me in my life.” For more information about Florida TRAC, go to www.fltrac.org. Diana Pikulski is the editor of the Thoroughbred Adoption Network, a searchable online database of adoptable off-track Thoroughbreds. View the full article

Multiple graded stakes champ and fan favorite Melmich seeks his second Valedictory crown, while stablemate Pumpkin Rumble goes after his third straight score on the season, both sent out by trainer Kevin Attard. View the full article

LAKE LOCAL (f, 2, Street Boss–White Waves, by Any Given Saturday), unveiled at 3-1 here, hustled up to press fellow firster Gun Club (Trappe Shot) from second through early fractions of :21.92 and :46.47. The pair battled down the lane with Lake Local forging past her rival late and extending clear to win by 2 3/4 lengths in 1:05.61. Lifetime Record: 1-1-0-0. O/B-Godolphin (KY); T-Michael Stidham. View the full article

The New York Racing Association has announced the track announcer schedule for the 2018-19 winter and spring meets at Aqueduct Racetrack. View the full article

After winning the first 13 races of his career in Mexico and sweeping that country's Triple Crown, Kukulkan will take on the top horses from his region in the $300,000 Caribbean Classic Stakes Dec. 8 at Gulfstream Park. View the full article

In 2017, Irad Ortiz Jr. was a frequent visitor to the Clasico Internacional del Caribe winner's circle, capturing three of the five stakes in the event held at Gulfstream Park for the first time. View the full article

Odanis Acuna, a veteran exercise rider for trainer Kenny McPeek, died last month during a training accident at Churchill Downs. He was 42. On behalf of his wife and children, the McPeek Racing Family has been raising money through a GoFundMe page-currently up to more than $123,000–to ease the financial burden during this very difficult time. Click here to donate. View the full article

Seeking the Soul (Perfect Soul {Ire}), winner of last term’s GI Clark H. and runner-up in the GI Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile Nov. 3, is targeting the $9-million GI Pegasus World Cup Invitational Jan. 26 at Gulfstream Park. “I’m looking forward to it,” trainer Dallas Stewart said. “The horse is doing great.” The Charles E. Fipke homebred, third as the favorite while attempting to defend his title in the Clark Nov. 2, returned to the worktab with a four-furlong breeze in :51.00 (88/115) at Fair Grounds Nov. 23. “He was second in the Breeders’ Cup to a very nice horse, and he’s competed well all year,” Stewart said. “He just had one bad race up at Saratoga for some reason, but a lot of horses get off form up there. The horse has had a really good year. He didn’t do so well in the Clark, but he didn’t do bad. He came out of it good.” Calumet Farm’s True Timber (Mineshaft), a strong second in the GI Cigar Mile H. Dec. 1, is also Pegasus bound. He is the second horse owned by Calumet Farm targeting the Pegasus following the announcement by Hall of Fame trainer D. Wayne Lukas that Bravazo (Awesome Again) would be heading in that direction, too. “He ran a huge race in the Cigar Mile and he galloped out really strong, so we talked it over with the owners and decided to point for the Pegasus,” trainer Kiaran McLaughlin said. “It’s a big event and hopefully we get in there and run good and everything works out and we enjoy the day.” View the full article