Wandering Eyes

DEAUVILLE, France–The 2018 European breeding stock sales season comes to a close this weekend in Deauville with four days of selling at the Arqana December Breeding Stock Sale. While the seaside town and all its Christmas cheer is an attraction in itself, savvy shoppers will be well aware there are still plenty of gifts of the equine variety up for grabs. While inspections at the Deauville sales grounds were blighted on Friday by periods of heavy rain and wind, buyers from all corners of the globe were still out inspecting mares, fillies and foals, giving reason to believe that the strong international participation witnessed at both Goffs and Tattersalls in recent weeks will continue at the final sale of the year. And such participation would certainly be merited; the Arqana December Breeding Stock Sale has been advertised on a global scale this year, with mares purchased from the sale having produced top-class winners all across Europe, in the U.S., Australia, Japan and South Africa. Fierement (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}), who in October became a Classic winner in Japan’s G1 Kikuka Sho, is out of a mare bought by Katsumi Yoshida for €750,000 in 2018. On the other end of the scale, Australian agent Sheamus Mills purchased Suspicieuse (Fr) (Elusive City), the dam of exciting Australian 2-year-old Dubious (Aus) (Not A Single Doubt {Aus}), for €55,000 in 2013. Other progeny of mares purchased at Arqana in recent years to win major stakes in 2018 include Nyaleti (Ire) (Arch) and Well Timed (Ger) (Holy Roman Emperor {Ire}), winners of the G2 German 1000 Guineas and G1 German Oaks; G2 Prix Maurice de Nieuil winner and G1 Melbourne Cup runner-up Marmelo (GB) (Duke of Marmalade {Ire}); G1 Grosser Preis von Bayern winner Iquitos (Ger) (Adlerflug {Ger}); G3 Prix de Saint Georges winner City Light (Fr) (Siyouni {Fr}); G3 Prix de la Rochette winner The Black Album (Fr) (Wootton Bassett {GB}) and G3 Prix de Royaumont winner Pollara (Ire) (Camelot {GB}). They join a list that includes Group 1 winners like La Cressonniere, Vadamos, Suedois, Danedream, Almanzor, Brametot, Capri, Signs of Blessing and Toronado, whose dams were all purchased at Arqana December. Pollara’s dam, Brooklyn’s Storm (Storm Cat), was bought for €70,000 in 2011 and, on the back of Pollara’s Group 3 win earlier this year, the mare’s Galileo filly foal sold for 1-million gns. In fact, each of the mare’s four yearlings to go through the ring since her purchase has reached six figures. A Raving Beauty (Ger) (Mastercraftsman {Ire}) was bought privately by Michael Dubb, Madaket Stables and Bethlehem Stables from the Monceaux consignment at last year’s sale for €230,000, and less than a year later after adding the GI First Lady S. to her resume she was bought by Haruya Yoshida for $2-million at Fasig-Tipton November last month. Another Arqana December graduate to perform well of late for the same Chad Brown stable is Rymska (Fr) (Le Havre {Ire}), who was a €35,000 foal in 2014 and sold privately to American interests after winning a listed stake in France. She won four straight races in the U.S. including the Oct. 21 GIII Athenia S. at Belmont-not bad for a €35,000 foal out of a mare that had cost €10,000 carrying her at the same sale the year before. Arqana released a fine catalogue for the December Breeding Stock Sale in early November, and its quality has since been bolstered by the addition of several well-qualified wildcards. Those include Lily’s Candle (Fr) (Style Vendome {Fr}) (lot 160), who returns to the ring where she was scooped up for €15,000 as a foal a year ago. In the interim, she visited Arqana’s Arc Sale in October after winning a listed race at Vichy and was bought by Oceanic Bloodstock for €390,000, and she boosted her value even further a day later when winning ParisLongchamp’s G1 Prix Marcel Boussac. Team Valor’s G3 Prix Miesque winner Devant (Fr) (Showcasing {GB}) has been supplemented as lot 170, as has Noblesse Oblige (Ity) (Myboycharlie {Ire}) (lot 180), the G3 Premio Dormello winner and one of Italy’s top juveniles whose dam was bought for €4,500 carrying her at the Arqana December sale three years ago. The other wildcards include the multiple group-placed 4-year-old Diana Storm (Ger) (Soldier Hollow {GB}) (lot 150), a full-sister to German champion and Group 1 winner Dschingis Secret (Ger); and the Group 3-placed Moonlight In Paris (Fr) (Literato {Fr}) (lot 120), in foal to Siyouni (Fr). Just last week, Issam Fares-the owner of Fares Farm in Kentucky and the breeder of the likes of Da Hoss and Curlin-announced that he will disperse his stock at Arqana’s December and February Sales, and four of his young mares have been supplemented to the December sale: the G3 Prix Vanteaux winner Zghorta Dance (Fr) (Le Havre) in foal to Muhaarar (GB) (lot 140); G2 Prix de Pomone winner Baino Hope (Fr) (Jeremy) in foal to Kingman (GB) (lot 190) and her winning half-sister Roman Ridge (Fr) (Holy Roman Emperor {Ire}) in foal to Wootton Bassett (GB) (lot 110); and listed winner Wedge Trust (Ire) (Zamindar {Fr}) in foal to Gleneagles (Ire). These late entries bolster a catalogue that includes the typically intriguing consignments of the likes of Wertheimer et Frere and the Aga Khan Studs. The former includes Tiberias (Fr) (Galileo {Ire}), a winning half-sister to dual Group 1 winner Silasol (Fr) (Monsun {Ger}) from the family of G1 Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe winner Solemia and Classic winner The Gurkha (lot 50); Desertiste (GB) (Green Desert), a stakes-producing half-sister to the dam of G1 Prix du Jockey Club winner Intello (Ger) in foal to New Approach (Ire) (lot 112) and, from the same family, the 5-year-old Gravitee (Fr) (Galileo {Ire}), a full-sister to Intello in foal to Wootton Bassett (lot 159). The Aga Khan’s consignment includes the 5-year-old Talisa (Ire) (Pour Moi {Ire}), a half-sister to Group 1 winner Fidelite (Ire) (In The Wings {GB}) in foal to Shalaa (Ire) (lot 5); and Zerkeriya (Ire) (Soviet Star), a half-sister to Zarkava (Fr) (Zamindar) in foal to Ulysses (GB) (lot 67). Perennial leading Arqana consignor Ecurie des Monceaux supplies a typically strong draft, including Ma Cherie (GB) (Galileo {Ire}), a winning half-sister to GI Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf winner Zagora (Fr) (Green Tune) in foal to Caravaggio (lot 168); Let’s Misbehave (Ire) (Montjeu {Ire}), an unraced three-quarter sister to High Chaparral (Ire) in foal to War Front (lot 188); and Nepali Princess (Ire) (Mr. Greeley), an unraced half-sister to Shalaa (Ire) (lot 139). Ronald Rauscher (featured in Friday’s TDN) brings a draft of 14 from Germany, including triple Group 3 winner Delectation (GB) (Delegator {GB}) (lot 192) and another Group 3 winner in Peace In Motion (Hat Trick {Jpn}) (lot 163). Stall Salzburg offers two black-type fillies including Night Music (Ger) (Sea The Stars {Ire}), a dual Group 2-winning half-sister to German Oaks winner Night Magic (Ger) (Sholokhov) (lot 195). Guy Pariente’s Haras de Colleville offers a reduction sale that includes the well-bred stakes-producer Cherriya (Fr) (Montjeu {Ire}) in foal to Kingman (GB) (lot 185), and G3 Prix Miesque winner Sweety Dream (Fr) (Dream Ahead) in foal to Kendargent (Fr) (lot 218). La Motteraye Consignment offers the largest consignment on quantity with 27 foals, 19 mares and 16 fillies, and the draft is also big on quality, its foals including the Dubawi filly who is the second foal out of Classic winner Just The Judge (Ire) (Lawman {Fr}) (lot 175). The G1 Irish 1000 Guineas winner’s first foal, a full-brother to this filly, topped the most recent Arqana August yearling sale when sold by La Motteraye and bought by Ballylinch Stud for €1.4-million. La Motteraye’s Gwenael Monneraye said that the filly is more forward than her elder half-brother. “They are both nice horses, but the filly may be a bit more sharp than the colt–she’s all quality,” he said. “She’s very much like a Dubawi filly and we are very excited to have her. “She’s a nice filly, she walks well. I saw her in the spring and she developed well through the summer. She’s a beautiful filly; David [Redvers] said she was one of the best-looking foals he had at Tweenhills. Even here she stands out in the draft we have.” The filly is bred by Qatar Racing and China Horse Club, which partnered on the mare at 4.5-million gns at Tattersalls in 2014 when she was offered to dissolve the partnership between Qatar Racing and the Sangster family. “The partnership is a commercial association; they are willing to sell all the progeny of the dam and they thought this year was a good year to sell as a foal, so we’ll see if they’re right,” Monneraye said. He added that his team is very grateful to have the support of the breeders. “We have worked with David Redvers right from the beginning of La Motteraye, and he has always supported us really well,” he said. “We can’t thank him enough for letting us sell such good horses. We’ve been working together since the beginning and it’s always worked well.” Just The Judge’s daughter will face some competition from another well-bred filly: lot 113, who is from the second crop of Triple Crown winner American Pharoah out of the Group 3-placed Desiree Clary (Ger) (Sholokhov {Ger}). The dam was bought by Chantilly Bloodstock carrying this filly at this sale last year for €210,000. Colleville offers lot 138, a Frankel (GB) colt out of the stakes-winning Restiana (Fr) (Kendargent {Fr}), and there are also foals by the likes of Camelot (GB), Gleneagles (Ire), Intello (Ger), No Nay Never, Showcasing (GB), Siyouni (Fr) and Wootton Bassett catalogued. The other breeding stock sales this season have been selective at a possibly unprecedented level, and Arqana President Eric Hoyeau said that while the company is confident the sale’s top-of-the-market mares and foals will reward their sellers, the state of the lower tiers of the market is worrisome. “It is going to be selective; there is no reason to think it will be any different,” he said. “Certainly there is growing interest at the top level and it’s more difficult at the lower level.” Arqana Executive Director Freddy Powell added, “The only difference that we have here compared to the other breeding stock sales [in Europe] is that we’ve segmented each day. So we start with the best and each day is segmented. We’re hopeful that the people who come to buy the first day will buy the second day, and the people that come for the second day will buy the third day. “We just hope things will go the right way, especially in the middle market. We can be quite confident the high end will go well but the rest will be difficult. We saw the last few weeks that only a few foals were making their nomination price and a lot of mares and foals the last few weeks didn’t match the nomination price or just matched it, which is a scary place for breeders.” The sale begins at 11 a.m. on Saturday and Monday, and 10 a.m. on Sunday. Tuesday’s session, which begins at 11 a.m., is reserved for National Hunt stock and is headlined by the Simon Munir and Isaac Souede breeding stock dispersal. View the full article

It was great to have a three-timer at Musselburgh during the week and the horses seem to be in very good form. I hope we can keep the ball rolling this weekend with runners at Wetherby and Aintree on Saturday. We head to Kelso on Sunday with 3 runners. Saturday Katachenko Track: Aintree – 12:25 Jockey: Brian Hughes He’s been a bit frustrating, we’ve gone from a hood over two miles to blinkers over two and a half miles. The ground would be plenty soft enough for him but he should have won this race last year, he whipped around at the start and got left, only to hit the front 50 yards before the line and get chinned. I’m not convinced he’ll be in love with this ground but time will tell. Tawseef Track: Aintree – 1:00 Jockey: Abbie McCain We bought him form Colin Bowe in Ireland to have some fun with and after a good season he ended up on a mark of 137 which I think is going to make life tough for him. He had an injury after his last run and the ground will be lovely at Aintree, so we will just get him started. Quids In Track: Wetherby – 1:10 Jockey: Lorcan Murtagh He gave me the impression that he wants three miles, his first couple of runs have been fine but suggest he needs a bit further, so tomorrow we will try it out. The race doesn’t look the strongest which will give him every chance of getting the trip. Federici Track: Aintree – 1:30 Jockey: Brian Hughes He was fourth in the race last year and picked up a knock after running in Cheltenham. Prior to that, he’d been running well all season, he may not be quite up to winning this but Brian will get a good spin off him and that alone will give him a live chance. His work has been good and he likes the fences, so we are looking forward to running him. Raise A Spark Track: Wetherby – 2:50 Jockey: Will Kennedy He’s probably not that well handicapped, but he’s won his three chases so he has to go handicapping. The ground and track should be fine but it’s his highest ever mark which may just catch him out. Artichoke Heart Track: Wetherby – 3:25 Jockey: Lorcan Murtagh She is a tiny filly that myself and Richard Kent bred together, she has taken all her work well but I’d be surprised if she was good enough to win a juvenile bumper. We are looking forward to giving her a run and we will see where we are afterwards. Sunday Armattiekan Track: Kelso – 12:00 Jockey: Brian Hughes He’s been a little bit disappointing, it’s a lesser race than he has been running in but he wouldn’t want too much rain. I quite like him as an individual but he’s got to start showing it on the track. Valleyofmilan Track: Kelso – 2:10 Jockey: Brian Hughes He ran OK at Southwell and we think it is worth taking a chance a nice pot with the horse. He’s got a lovely racing weight and it’s worth a punt. Whiteoak Fleur Track: Kelso – 2:40 Jockey: Brian Hughes She’s a big hardy girl that ran well in some bumpers last year, she was a little disappointing in a good bumper at Aintree at the start of the year but looked like she wanted further. She is fit, she’ll appreciate the trip, she has schooled well and she should run well. Best Chance: Quids In The post Donald McCain Blog appeared first on RaceBets Blog EN. View the full article

The Hong Kong International Races are one of the most prominent events in the Asian Sports calendar and take place at Sha Tin Racecourse. The race meeting welcomes a total of ten races to its race card. Longines is the official sponsor and timekeeper of this year’s races, which take place on the second Sunday in December. The Hong Kong International Races are loaded with excitement as befits the world’s top racehorses and jockeys, the whopping HK84.5 million purse which is at stake, and not to mention the incomparable prestige of winning a coveted Group 1 race. Longines Hong Kong Vase The Longines Hong Kong Vase is the fourth race on the card and kick starts the thrilling Group 1 action. Set to run over one mile and four furlongs, it welcomes a field of fourteen runners with HK 18 million in prize money awarded to its prestigious winner. French trainer Andre Fabre runs Waldgeist who is set to be partnered by Pierre-Charles Boudot and will be a big player in this competitive Group 1. The son of Galileo had an excellent run in the Arc at Longchamp Racecourse in October, which was his second last outing. The four-year-old also put on a good show in the Breeders’ Cup where he finished fifth. William Buick takes the ride on Anthony Cruz-trained Pakistan Star. The five-year-old is another hot contest to go to post and connections of the duel Group 1 winner hope the son of Shamardal will bounce back to his original form and he will be one to keep a close eye on. The Irish are of course represented by the Ballydoyle father and son trainers, Aidan and Joseph O’Brien. Rostropovich is set to represent Aidan O’Brien with Wayne Lordan on board. The son of Frankel was a very respectable second in the Irish Derby at Leopardstown in October. The three-year-old finished fifth in the Melbourne Cup on his last outing but will have his work cut out for him in this challenging one mile and four furlongs contest. Young Irish trainer Joseph O’Brien runs Latrobe off the back of his run in the Group 1 Seppelt Mackinnon Stakes at Flemington Racecourse last month where he finished a respectable second. The three-year-old is set to be partnered by James Mc Donald and connections will be hopeful to see an improvement from his last outing. The son of Camelot won the Irish Derby at the Curragh last summer and the good ground conditions will suit him. Selection: Latrobe Longines Hong Kong Sprint Mr Stunning is a strong contender in this six furlong contest. The six-year-old won this race in 2017 and is set to be partnered by jockey Karis Teetan. The son of Exceed and Excel’s recent efforts in the C&D to finish second to D B Pin and suggests that he will be a major force to be reckoned with as a horse that also has much experience under his girth to include a successful previous form at the Sha Tin track. D B Pin runs under Sam Clipperton for trainer John Size. The six-year-old has been well drawn, and although the son of Darci Brahma disappointed on his seasonal debut he has a good form record prior to his last outing. Certainly D B Pin is one to watch on the betting market. John Size also runs Beat The Clock and Hot King Prawn in this Group 1 contest, both of whom are horses to keep an eye on in terms of the betting market. Selection: D B Pin Beat The Bank – Oisin Murphy win at Newmarket in 2017Hong Kong Mile Worth HK 23 million in prize money, the Hong Kong Mile welcomes a field of fourteen runners set to go to post. The name on the tongues punters and racing fans alike for this one mile contest is the John Moore-trained Beauty Generation. Set to be ridden by Zac Purton the six-year-old has not put a hoof wrong this season, winning on all three starts, with a consistent form last season. With a lot of experience under his girth, the son of Road To Rock will be the one to beat. English trainer Andrew Balding’s Beat The Bank is among entries. Set to be partnered by Oisin Murphy the four-year-old is a duel Group 2 winner this season winning at both Ascot and Goodwood. Connections of the son of Paco Boy will be hopeful that the sounder surface at Sha Tin will also suit him. Fifty Fifty is a name that racing fans became familiar with last season as the son of Thorn Park had a cracking season, scoring four times. The six-year-old has only ever run at Sha Tin Racecourse and although he has not quite come back on his original form since returning to the track this season, connections will be hopeful the Lee Wan Keung and Lee Wong Wai Kuen-owned gelding can bounce back to return to the winners’ enclosure. Selection: Beat The Bank Longines Hong Kong Cup The Hong Kong Cup is worth HK 25 million in prize money and open to horses three years and older. The one mile, and two furlongs challenge is set to welcome a field of nine runners to go to post in this thrilling Group 1. Trainer Hidekazu Asami is set to send off the ante-post favourite for the race, Sungrazer. The four-year-old comes off the back of finishing second in the Newcomers maiden at Toyko last month. This slight step up in trip may suit the son of Deep Impact to allow him to keep punters happy. He is set to be partnered with Joao Moreira. Time Wrap who is trained by English based trainer Anthony Cruz is another strong contender. The five-year-old son of Archipenko is set to be ridden by Zac Purton and will certainly be one to give it a good go, although the Group 1 company could prove too much. Mitsuru Hashida-trained Deirdre is another strong contender and the daughter of Harbinger is set to be ridden by Christophe-Patrice Lemaire. A classy mare, she keeps on improving and has won seven of her nineteen starts. The four-year-old will be one to keep a close eye on. Selection: Deirdre The post Weekend Preview: Hong Kong International Races appeared first on RaceBets Blog EN. View the full article

DEAUVILLE, France-Lebanese politician and businessman Issam Fares has gained recognition in the Thoroughbred business globally, most notably as the breeder of American Horse of the Year, Breeders’ Cup Classic and Dubai World Cup winner Curlin (Smart Strike). He has also, however, developed high-class families at his Haras de Manneville in France, and he will offer four mares for sale at Arqana on Saturday as part of a dispersal that will continue at Arqana’s February sale. The 81-year-old Fares, who has been involved in the civil engineering and construction businesses and has owned racehorses for almost 40 years, conducted an 80-horse American dispersal at Keeneland November in 2013 but retains to this day his Fares Farm in Lexington, the birthplace of Curlin. Haras de Manneville was Fares’s first farm, purchased in 1982, and all four of the mares he sells on Saturday were born there: Wedge Trust (Ire) (Zamindar), a listed-winning and Group 3-placed 8-year-old who is offered carrying her fourth foal, by Gleneagles (Ire) (Lot 100); half-sisters Roman Ridge (Fr) (Holy Roman Emperor {Ire}) (Lot 110) in foal to Wootton Bassett (Fr) and Baino Hope (Fr) (Jeremy) (Lot 190) in foal to Kingman (GB); and the Group 3 winner and Group 1-placed Zghorta Dance (Fr) (Le Havre {Ire}), in foal with her first foal to Muhaarar (GB) (Lot 140). Zghorta Dance descends from one of Fares’s best racehorses; her third dam is the GI Breeders’ Cup Turf winner Miss Alleged. “These are four young, top mares,” said Manneville Farm Manager Adrien Rambaud. “We have Zghorta Dance, who was the last top mare on the racetrack for Issam Fares. She won the Prix Vanteaux and ran in the Prix de Diane, and she was second in a Group 1 in Italy, so she’s a top mare.” Baino Hope and Roman Ridge both descend from another of Fares’s foundation mares, the three-time stakes producer Baino Bluff (Be My Guest). “This is a historic family of Manneville,” Rambaud said. “We have about five mares from this top family and she gave us really top representatives on the racetrack. “We also have Wedge Trust, who comes from a top Niarchos family,” he added. “The dam is by Storm Cat and she is by Zamindar, and in foal to Gleneagles. She was a really nice filly and the winner of a listed race in foal with her first foal.” In addition to Curlin and Miss Alleged, Fares is also the breeder of two-time GI Breeders’ Cup Mile winner Da Hoss, and raced Group 1 winner and sire Highest Honor (Fr). He has had success both buying and selling at Arqana, so Rambaud said it was a natural fit to place the dispersal in Deauville. “We’ve had a lot of success with Arqana,” he said. “We’re in France, so we think it’s good to work with the French company for selling our horses. Historically, Mr. Fares has always had a lot of success with Arqana. He has bought a lot of horses through Arqana and he has sold yearlings every year through Arqana. He knows Arqana very well and has had a lot of success with them.” The Fares dispersal will continue at Arqana February with 14 short yearlings by the likes of Anodin, Charm Spirit (Ire), Dabirsim (Fr), as well as fillies out of training. View the full article

If the entirely unconventional rise to stallion stardom of Kendargent (Fr) is anything to go by, Haras de Colleville is an operation to pay close attention to and the Normandy stud reaches out to prospectors at the upcoming Arqana Breeding Stock Sale. With a notable draft of foals and broodmares, Guy Pariente’s Pays d’Auge establishment offers the opportunity to acquire some of the raw material which has raised the farm to a level to compete effectively with its long-established neighbours. Kendargent’s ascent from the most humble beginnings is well-documented, but Colleville is not solely about that phenomenon. Having bred the G1 Poule d’Essai des Poulains hero Style Vendome (Fr) (Anabaa), the runner-up in that Classic Prestige Vendome (Fr) (Orpen) and other Group 1 performers by Kendargent in Restiadargent (Fr), Kendam (Fr), Kenhope (Fr) and Goken (Fr)–the latter of which now stands alongside his sire–Colleville is outperforming for a relatively new set-up. This auction sees the stud, which is a strong supporter of its own trio of stallions Kendargent, Goken and the ex-Wertheimer Galiway (GB), stripping down in a bid for a higher-quality broodmare band. As a result, the 10-year-old black-type producer Cherriya (Fr) (Montjeu {Ire}) is available. Offered as lot 185, she is already the dam of the G3 Prix de la Grotte runner-up Kenriya (Fr) (Kendargent {Fr}) and G2 Diana-Trial third Cheshmeh (Fr) (Kendargent {Fr}) and is in foal to Kingman (GB). Lot 218 is the 3-year-old Sweety Dream (Fr) (Dream Ahead), who was successful in last year’s G3 Prix Miesque and is in foal to Kendargent. A descendant of As You Desire Me (GB), she is connected to the GI Garden City Breeders’ Cup heroine Luas Line (Ire) (Danehill). As expected, Kendargent’s influence is keenly felt throughout most of the consignment and he also has a colt foal offered as lot 304, a son of the listed-winning and dual group-placed Stormyra (Fr) (Stormy River {Fr}), whose own half-sister was Kendargent’s listed scorer Onedargent (Fr). He is responsible for the foal carried by lot 332 Dalawysa (Fr) (Dalakhani {Ire}), a 10-year-old from the superb Aga Khan family of the G1 Prix de Diane heroine Valyra (GB) (Azamour {Ire}) and top-class Val Royal (Fr) (Royal Academy) and Valixir (Ire) (Trempolino), and the 6-year-old Onyx (Fr) (Orpen). Lot 237https://www.arqana.com/lots/breeding_stock_sale/243/74993https://www.arqana.com/lots/breeding_stock_sale/243/74993 is a half-sister to the useful listed winner Meneas (Fr) (American Post {GB}) from the family of the amazing Occupandiste (Ire) (Kaldoun {Fr}). Lot 212 is the 13-year-old Bedford Hope (Ger) (Chato {Fr}), who is carrying a full-sibling to the G3 Prix de la Grotte winner and G1 Coronation S. runner-up Kenhope (Fr), another of the star cast by Kendargent. Lot 138 is a colt foal by Frankel (GB) out of the listed-winning and group-placed Restiana (Fr) (Kendargent {Fr}), whose own full-sister was the aforementioned dual group winner Restiadargent who went so close to upsetting Black Caviar (Aus) (Bel Esprit {Aus}) and Moonlight Cloud (GB) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}) in that epic G1 Diamond Jubilee S. in 2012. Lot 132 is the 13-year-old Damdam Freeze (Fr) (Indian Rocket {GB}), dam of Kendargent’s G1 Prix de la Foret third Kendam and the useful black-type performer Kenfreeze (Fr), also by Kendargent who is in foal to Goken. Lot 515 is the listed-placed Revedargent (Fr) (Kendargent {Fr}), a full-sister to the group-placed Batwan (Fr) and a half to the G2 Prix du Muguet runner-up Matorio (Fr) (Oratorio {Ire}) in foal to Galiway. If Guy Pariente has taught the Thoroughbred industry anything, it is that taking chances based on genuine faith can pay off and over the next few days at Deauville there are abundant opportunities to buy a piece of that dream. View the full article

Becher Chase This is our first taste of the Grand National fences of the season and is always an enthralling contest. Don Poli tops the weights here and is returning to the track for the first time in two years following a tendon injury. When last seen in competitive action he finished third behind subsequent Gold Cup winner Sizing John and if Gordon has him fit enough he could take the prize back across the Irish Sea. Nigel Twiston-Davies holds a very strong hand in this with Blaklion and Ballyoptic, the former is the choice of his son Sam and must have a big chance. He has a great record over these fences having finished fourth in the National two season ago behind One For Arthur and winning this race last year. He runs off a five pounds higher mark this time around but has had a wind op since that win and looks sure to run well. Ballyoptic was a Grade 1 winner over hurdles and was a fine second in the Scottish National. This will be his first attempt over the National fences and if taking to them, then he will take all the beating. Vieux Lion Rouge won this back in 2016 and now races off only a four pound higher mark. If you also take into consideration that he has had a wind op since his last run, then he could outrun his odds and reward his followers. Selection: Ballyoptic Tingle Creek The Tingle Creek is shaping up to be one of the best races of the season as the reigning Champion Chaser Altior makes his eagerly anticipated seasonal debut. Nick Henderson’s inmate is unbeaten in his last fourteen starts and if he jumps a clear round then a fifteen straight win looks on the cards. Sceau Royal and Saint Calvados have both had the benefit of a winning run this season which connections will be hoping will give them an edge over the favourite Altior. Sceau Royal has only tasted defeat once over fences and was a Grade 1 winner last season. Although he is undoubtedly a talented horse, I can’t see him being up to winning this. Saint Calvados has only had five runs for current connections having made the move from his native France. He was sent off at 11/4 to land last season’s Arkle but trailed in a disappointing fourth of five behind Footpad. Harry Whittington sent him to Ireland on season debut where he won a Grade 3 at Naas. This was an impressive performance and although Footpad fell at the last, he was already well in command at that stage. If he can build on that then a fruitful season lies ahead. Un De Sceaux makes the trip over from Wille Mullins’s yard and this mud loving front-runner won the race back in 2016. He may not be quite as good as he once was but this 22-time winner will put it up to them. Selection: Altior Many Clouds Chase Definitly Red won this race season en-route to finishing a creditable sixth in the Gold Cup behind Native River. He made a winning reappearance in the Grade 2 Charlie Hall at Wetherby most recently and will be put away until the Gold Cup(Insert link) after this. Brian Ellison really believes in this horse and thinks he should get more credit but credit is earned and the truth is he’s never won a Grade 1 race and must improve. Former Grand National winner, One For Arthur makes his eagerly anticipated return following a 609-day break. In fact, Lucinda Russell’s stable star hasn’t been in action since that memorable win. Although everyone is looking forward to seeing him run, a watching brief is best advised. Double Shuffle only made it as far as the first in the Charlie Hall but has some good form to his name including a runner-up finish in the King George last season. There may be further improvement to come from Tom George’s charge and I for one am excited to see him. The field is completed by Acdc who in all reality will need his three rivals to come to grief is he is to win this. Selection: Double Shuffle Henry VIII Novices Chase This race revolves around the popular Lalor, who was responsible for one of the most emotional moments of the season when winning the Grade 1 Top Novices’ Hurdle at Aintree in April for Kayley Woollacott. Lalor was very impressive on his first run over fences when proving seven lengths too good for his closest rival Dynamite Dollars. He is one of the most exciting novice chasers in training and should enhance his already tall reputation. Dynamite Dollars had an excellent start to the season when cosily winning a novice event at Market Rasen. He beat Highway One O One by nine lengths that day and the runner-up franked the form during the week by land a Graduation chase from the smart Dolos. Paul Nicholls’ five-year-old is a nice type and although he was comprehensively beaten by Lalor most recently, he could be one to follow for the season over fences. Pingshou hadn’t been seen for 570 days prior to an encouraging reappearance behind Lalor at Cheltenham last month. Colin Tizzards inmate was a winner of the Grade 1 Top Novices’ Hurdle at Aintree back in 2017. This victory was followed by a third-place finish in another Grade 1 at the Punchestown festival. He looks sure to come on for his reappearance and should finish a lot closer to Lalor Diakali has already proved to be a very shrewd acquisition for the Moore team. This former Willie Mullins inmate was a Grade 1 winner as a four-year-old and has won all three starts since being sent over fences. He may have been slightly fortunate to keep this record intact last time but should still run well in this. Selection: Lalor Grand Sefton Chase This is another race to savour for those who love the national fences. Nigel Twiston-Davies trained Little Josh to take this back in 2012 and is he represented by Crievehill this time around. Highclere racings six-year-old has been very consistent and progressive in recent runs, including a runner-up finish in a decent handicap at Haydock at the end of last season. He kicked off the current campaign with a respectable second behind Jarvet and looks to have a live chance. One of the youngest horses in the field is Catamaran Du Seuil, who hails from the Grand National winning yard of Dr Richard Newland. The French-bred son of Network has reached a new level of form in his last three starts, with a runner-up finish in the Tommy Whittle and two impressive wins both at Wetherby. He is on a real upward curve and may be hard to contain here. Captain Redbeard finished sixth in this contest twelve months ago behind Gas Line Boy off a mark of 137. He was second in the Peter Marsh later that season but only got to the seventh fence in the Grand National. Stuart Colthred’s nine-year-old now races off 144 and although he should run well, he may come up short against some less-exposed rivals. Former Galway Plate winner Shanahan’s Turn may be running off a nice mark here and is from the bang in form stable of Colin Tizzard. He runs off only one-pound higher than when finishing second to Ultragold in the Topham last season. A disappointing run at Cheltenham when last seen has to be forgotten but a return to these fences may spark a revival. Paul Nicholls’ is represented by Warriors Tale, who pulled up in the Grand National after being hampered at the chair when last seen over these fences. Trevor Hemmings who is synonymous with Aintree owned Warrior Tale and he may run well but again, I find it hard to see him winning. Selection: Shanahan’s Turn The post Saturday Preview – Early Christmas Cracker In The Tingle Creek appeared first on RaceBets Blog EN. View the full article

Leading Japanese trainer Yasutoshi Ikee will be doing a rain dance ahead of Sunday’s Group One Longines Hong Kong Mile because he thinks a softer track will suit his stable star Persian Knight. The two-time Japan Racing Association champion trainer is delighted with how the horse is ticking along ahead of the big day. “It was absolutely fabulous work on Thursday, I was very happy with it,” Ikee said through an interpreter. “He raced in the Mile Championship three weeks... View the full article

Irish Derby winner Latrobe adds an intriguing dimension to Sunday’s Longines Hong Kong Vase, as only the second winner of that Irish classic winner to participate on Hong Kong’s feature day. That intrigue spilled over to Friday’s trackwork session, when Latrobe worked a steady 1,200m on the all-weather track. His times may have been unspectacular but the fluency and athleticism of the colt was on display for all to see. The full gallop took 1:23.4, the last 400m in 26.8... View the full article

Leading Irish jockey Oisin Murphy would love nothing more than to fulfil a lifelong ambition of billionaire Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha when he rides Beat The Bank in Sunday’s Longines Hong Kong Mile. Srivaddhanaprabha, the former owner of Leicester City Football Club who died in a helicopter accident outside his beloved team’s stadium in October this year, was also a keen horse owner, with his King Power empire owning hundreds of horses throughout Europe. Murphy, who rode frequently... View the full article

Ed Walker has the sort of profile that makes him an ideal candidate to join the training ranks at Sha Tin – and he can further bolster his CV if Stormy Antarctic can take out the Group One Longines Hong Kong Cup on Sunday. The Jockey Club currently has two vacancies for expatriate trainers and the preference is for a northern hemisphere flavour so someone like Walker should be right in the frame. The Englishman has the right mix of attributes – he is young, talented, personable, has... View the full article

He’s built a name as a first-class trainer in his own right but still you get the feeling Charlie Fellowes is on the ride of his life with Prince Of Arran, who runs in Sunday’s Longines Hong Kong Vase (2,400m). The five-year-old comes to Hong Kong on the back of a superb performance in Melbourne’s spring carnival that included a third in the Melbourne Cup and victory in the Group Three Lexus Stakes, both at Flemington. Fellowes, who is based in Newmarket in the United Kingdom... View the full article

Young lands first treble in Singapore View the full article

Not so Easy, but Big future ahead View the full article

Horses' body weights December 7 View the full article

Track conditions and course scratchings December 7 View the full article

Early scratchings December 7 View the full article

Since the Eclipse Awards were initiated in 1971 the only rule has been that there are no rules. Want to vote for a $12,500 claimer for Horse of the Year? Well, you’d be making a fool out of yourself, but nowhere does it say you can’t do that. For the longest time, there was something almost endearing about a system that was so simple, and, much more often than not, the voters got it right. But this is a far more complicated business than it was 47 years ago and there are some areas and categories that are now crying out for some sort of criteria to help guide the voters. That, and it’s time to add a new category–turf sprint champion. The Eclipse Award for leading owner has became a mess. By most standards, Sol Kumin had the best year among all owners in 2017. According to Liz Crow, Kumin’s bloodstock advisor, Kumin and his various partnerships owned pieces of 26 graded stakes winners and seven Grade I winners. She said both totals were more than double the runner-up in each category. He rarely owns a horse without partners, sometimes multiple partners. Yet, Kumin and the multiple stable names he runs under received 19 votes, 124 fewer than the winner. Juddmonte Farms. How is that possible? It’s because no one knows exactly how partnerships should be handled? What percentage did Kumin own of each horse? What about his partners within his partnerships? And why does he run under so many different stable names? That only further confused voters and likely cost him any chance of winning an Eclipse Award? Kumin had another great year this year, but the same questions that dogged his candidacy last year will likely keep him from winning again. Kumin is in the middle once again of what could be another Eclipse Award controversy. At the time Justify (Scat Daddy) started his career, his owners were WinStar Farm, China Horse Club and SF Racing LLC. Along the way, Kumin’s Head of Plains Partners LLC and Starlight Racing bought in. In the needlessly secretive world of horse racing, we never were told what percentage the two newcomers owned and who owned what when it came to his racing career versus his stud career. If you want to vote for Justify’s owners for an Eclipse Award, should it be only the original three or the five that were there at the end? And if Voter A voted for the WinStar, China Horse Club and SF Racing LLC trio and Voter B voted for all five owners, should those votes count as one and the same? What if someone voted for just Kumin? Should that vote be included with all the other Justify owners? “The growth of partnerships and hidden ownership interests, including the percentage controlled by each individual owner, has made it challenging to present a complete picture to Eclipse Awards voters,” said NTRA Chief Operating Officer Keith Chamblin. “We continue to examine ways to improve the statistical data provided to voters, but there are no easy solutions.” Agreed. There is nothing anywhere close to an easy solution to this dilemma, but someone has to come up with an answer. It’s too late for 2018, but for the following years, I believe a committee needs to be formed to study all possible Eclipse Award candidates in the ownership category, put out a detailed biography of exactly who they owned, how much of each horse they owned and how many graded and Grade I stakes they won. Only the people or stables chosen by the committee will be eligible for the award. Without that sort of information, it’s impossible for a voter to make an educated choice. On this next point, not everyone will agree, but something needs to be done to make sure that the championships of North American racing are won by North American horses. Voters tend to fall in love with one-race wonders who come in from Europe and win a Breeders’ Cup race on the grass. To me, nothing that a horse accomplishes outside of the U.S. or Canada should count one bit toward their Eclipse Award credentials. The G1 Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe is a tremendous, prestigious race, but the last time I checked it is held in Paris, France and not Paris, Kentucky. So why should a horse get credit for winning that race–or any other foreign race–when it comes to deciding the championships of U.S. racing? Let’s make American racing great again. American voters’ love affair with foreign horses is going to be tested this year. There are some people that are so infatuated with Arc-GI Breeders’ Cup Turf winner Enable (GB) (Nathaniel {Ire}) that they are prepared to vote for her for not just the filly and mare grass championship, but for Horse of the Year. In some years, years where no American horse among a particular division did anything to distinguish themselves, you can make a valid case for voting for a European Breeders’ Cup winner. But that’s not the case this year. Sistercharlie (Ire) (Myboycharlie {Ire}) had an outstanding year. Trained by Chad Brown, she won four Grade I races, all of them on U.S. soil. That includes a win in the GI Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf. Who’s the better horse, Sistercharlie or Enable? Most likely, it’s Enable. But that’s not the point. What Sistercharlie accomplished in the U.S. far outweighs what Enable accomplished in the U.S. She should be a slam dunk choice for the Eclipse in her division, yet it would come as no surprise of she were to lose. What’s needed is an adoption of the rule used for Canada’s championships, the Sovereign Awards. Because they don’t want interlopers from the U.S. coming in, winning one big race and stealing a Sovereign Award from a deserving Canadian horse, no horse, age three or older, is eligible for a Canadian championship unless they have run at least three times in Canada. Two-year-olds must have had at least two starts in Canada. The same rules should apply to the Eclipse Awards, though Canadian races should be included. The Eclipse Award committee showed that it is willing to adapt to the times when it distinguished between the male and female turf and dirt championships in 2015. The problem was that turf horses were winning the championships for outstanding older filly and mare or horse. Not only had those awards traditionally been given to dirt horses, but once people started voting for grass horses in those categories there became an imbalance that had to be dealt with. A grass horse was eligible for two championships, the grass championship and the traditional older female or male championship. A dirt horse was restricted to only one Eclipse category. It was an easy fix and reflected a changing time where grass racing has exploded in popularity. With grass racing more important now than ever and with the graded stakes committee having made a grass sprint, the Jaipur S. a Grade I, it’s time to establish a grass sprint Eclipse Award. (I want to thank colleague John Pricci for coming up with this idea. He said he’s fine with me stealing it from him). The committee also upgraded five races to Grade IIs and three of them were turf sprints, the GII Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint, the GII Eddie D. and the GII Twin Sprites Turf Sprint. Turf sprints are no longer an afterthought in American racing and deserve their own championship. When Kumin wins 85% of all the turf sprint stakes run in this country under 43 different stable names, we’ll deal with that problem at an appropriate time. View the full article

Vibrance aims to throw a splash of gravy on what has already been a career season for trainer Mike McCarthy when she faces five challengers in the $300,000 Starlet Stakes (G1) at Los Alamitos Race Course Dec. 8. View the full article

Vibrance aims to throw a splash of gravy on what has already been a career season for trainer Mike McCarthy when she faces just five other challengers in the $300,000 Starlet Stakes (G1) at Los Alamitos Race Course Dec. 8. View the full article

The Series, a new addition to the flat racing calendar that will see branded teams compete in 48 races across eight racecourses in England, Ireland and Scotland, was launched by Championship Horse Racing on Thursday. Scheduled to be held on eight consecutive Thursday evening from July 25-Sept. 12, The Series will take place at Ayr, Epsom Downs, Goodwood, Haydock Park, Leopardstown, Newbury, Newmarket July Course and Sandown Park. Races will be worth over £100,000 each, and will be in addition to the British Racing Fixture List, requiring approval of the British Horseracing Association. Each team will have a racing manager, four jockeys and a squad of 30 horses. Jeremy Wray, Chief Executive of CHR, said, “Agreeing the likely racecourse schedule is a key milestone for CHR. Over the next few months we’ll be announcing the teams and the media partners who will broadcast The Series across the world. They are great locations and have superb facilities for summer evening racing that promises fans something they’ve never experienced before. Fans will be encouraged to engage with the teams and our aim is to help tell the stories about the10s of thousands of people involved in the sport.” View the full article

New York owners and breeders Barry and Sheryl Schwartz have joined WHOA and expressed their support for the Horseracing Integrity Act. “Sheryl and I would like very much to join WHOA,” Schwartz said. “We have been in racing for more than 40 years now and never in that time has the need been greater for a regulatory bill to be put into effect.The general public is as skeptical as ever about drugs being used in racing and in many cases they are correct. When I was Chairman of New York Racing Association, I tried very hard to take back the penalty phase of dealing with violators. I was continually rebuffed by the state legislators. I believe if violations and penalties come under federal jurisdiction, we will take a major step in driving that element out of our industry. This is too great a game to be tarnished by a few bad apples.” View the full article

Shades Of Night (General Quarters–Whitepark Bay, by Giant’s Causeway) has joined Stonewall’s Prestige Stallions for the 2019 season for $1,000 live foal guaranteed. The 4-year-old won one of his seven starts for earnings of $41,910. View the full article

Fans can have breakfast with Santa, get a free 2019 Maryland Jockey Club calendar and have a chance to choose from gifts valued at more than $10,000 Dec. 8 at Laurel Park. From 9:30 a.m. to noon, a breakfast buffet will be served in the sports bar and Santa will be there to take pictures. Lucky fans in attendance will be selected throughout the day to choose a wrapped package from under Laurel’s Giving Tree, which will have gifts including flat screen TVs, iPads, game systems and more. All fans at Laurel will receive a 2019 calendar, courtesy of the MJC. View the full article

Jockeys Joe Bravo, Kerwin Clark, Joe Davila, Jr., Julien Leparoux and Scott Stevens are the finalists for Santa Anita’s George Woolf Memorial Jockey Award. The winner will be announced in late February. The Woolf award can only be won once and recognizes riders whose careers and personal character earn esteem for the individual and Thoroughbred racing. The ballot for voting will be distributed to jockeys across the country. View the full article

Grade 1 winner Glorious Empire is expected to make his first start since a last-place finish in the Longines Breeders' Cup Turf (G1T) in the $200,000 Fort Lauderdale Stakes (G2T) Dec. 15 at Gulfstream Park. View the full article