Wandering Eyes

It will not take long for the fireworks to start at Saratoga Race Course as the opening Saturday of the 40-day meet may feature a showdown between two of the nation's very best turf females. View the full article

The Kentucky Downs Turf Sprint (G3T) is already America's most lucrative race for sprinters on grass outside of the Breeders' Cup championship races. Now its winner could earn an additional $1 million. View the full article

Dual Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe (G1) winner Enable made a successful return to action in the Coral-Eclipse Stakes (G1) July 6 at Sandown, scoring by three-quarters of a length under Frankie Dettori to extend her winning streak to 10. View the full article

Never out of her comfort zone during Saturday’s G1 Coral-Eclipse, Khalid Abdullah’s Enable (GB) (Nathaniel {Ire}) made light of the drop to 10 furlongs to readily account for old rival Magical (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) by 3/4 of a length. The subject of a significant gamble into 4-6, the dual Arc heroine tracked Hunting Horn (Ire) (Camelot {GB}) until leading approaching the two-furlong pole and comfortably holding the Ballydoyle raider, with Regal Reality (GB) (Intello {Ger}) two lengths away in third. “I’d say she was 85-90% ready,” John Gosden said. “She’s an exceptional athlete.” 1–ENABLE (GB), 130, m, 5, by Nathaniel (Ire) 1st Dam: Concentric (GB) (SW & GSP-Fr, $117,776), by Sadler’s Wells 2nd Dam: Apogee (GB), by Shirley Heights (GB) 3rd Dam: Bourbon Girl, by Ile de Bourbon O-Khalid Abdullah; B-Juddmonte Farms Ltd (GB); T-John Gosden; J-Lanfranco Dettori. £425,325. Lifetime Record: Hwt. 3yo-Eur at 11-14f, Hwt. Older Mare-Eur at 11-14f, MG1SW-Fr, G1SW-Ire & GISW-US, 12-11-0-1, £8,432,351. *1/2 to Contribution (GB) (Champs Elysees {GB}), MGSP-Fr; and Entitle (GB) (Dansili {GB}), GSP-Eng. The post Easy For Enable In the Eclipse appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

CHITOSE, Japan—When it comes to breeding and racing Thoroughbreds, there’s no doubt that Japan does it properly. When it comes to sales, however, the Japanese do things a little differently. A yearling sale in July is nothing new but a full session of youngsters not yet weaned is a format unseen anywhere else in the bloodstock sales world, but it is one which appears to work very well in Hokkaido. “In Japan, traditionally buyers always preferred to buy their racehorses as foals, though gradually they are coming round a bit more to the yearling market,” said the JRHA’s international representative Naohiro Goda as we ventured out on Saturday morning to view foals at Japan’s two biggest breeding operations. Our first port of call was to Teruya Yoshida’s Shadai Farm, followed by a preview of an even bigger draft from his brother Katsumi’s Northern Farm, situated right next door to the Shadai Stallion Station, which is owned by all three Yoshida brothers—Haruya included—under the Shadai Corporation banner. The JRHA Select Sale gets underway on Monday, with a session of 246 yearlings followed on Tuesday by 225 foals. The yearlings, along with a number of prospective buyers, shipped in to the sales ground at Northern Horse Park on Saturday but the foals, who sell alongside their dams and then return to their breeders at least until they are weaned, only arrive on Tuesday morning. Potential purchasers therefore make tours of the farms around Hokkaido in the days leading up to the sale, and with the Shadai and Northern Farm three-figure drafts dominating the consignors’ list numerically, naturally it is these two studs which have been the busiest this weekend. Selling foals at this stage of the year in the Northern Hemisphere is not the only thing done differently in Japan. Using a system which could be quite usefully adopted elsewhere, the vendors make known their reserves ahead of the sale, while Northern Farm also provides a sheet detailing the weights and measurements (as of July 5) of its yearlings. At Shadai, Teruya Yoshida is present to talk visitors through his band of foals along with his son and the farm’s vice president, Tetsuya. Among those paraded is a filly by Kitasan Black (JPN), a son of Black Tide (JPN), the stallion who is likely always to be defined by his more famous brother Deep Impact (JPN). Among Kitasan Black’s seven Group 1 victories are the Tenno Sho, Japan Cup and Arima Kinen, the latter achieved as his magnificent swansong in the dying days of his 5-year-old season, meaning that at the age of seven he only now his first foals on the ground. It is a situation in the Japanese stallion ranks which, refreshingly, is the norm rather than the exception. The Black Kitasan filly in question (lot 374) is a daughter of the G1 Yushun Himba (Japanese Oaks) winner Erin Court (JPN) (Durandal {JPN}), and to emphasise further the level of support thrown at the elegant Kitasan Black by the Yoshida brothers, later at Northern Farm we see a half-brother to Japanese hall-of-famer Gentildonna (JPN) (Deep Impact {JPN}) alongside his mother, the G1 Cheveley Park S. winner Donna Blini (GB) (Bertolini) (lot 338). Donna Blini’s own achievements, and those of her daughters Gentildonna and Donau Blue (JPN) are such that this year’s Japanese Derby winner Roger Barows (JPN) (Deep Impact {JPN}), a son of Donna Blini’s half-sister Little Book (GB) (Librettist) and a graduate of the 2016 foal sale at ¥78 million ($719,000), is mentioned almost in passing, right at the bottom of the colt’s page. His reserve price of ¥50 million (almost $500,000) means that only serious buyers need apply, but the figure is only half that which has been put on the heads of a couple of colt foals by Deep Impact, lots 358 and 400 each being siblings to Grade 2 winners, respectively Renee’s Titan (Bernstein) and Denim And Ruby (JPN) (Deep Impact {JPN}). The sum of at least ¥100 million will also have to be given for three yearling colts by Deep Impact: half-brothers to Satono Crown (JPN) (Marju {Ire}) and Lightening Pearl (Ire) (Marju {Ire}) (lot 21), and to Best Warrior (JPN) (Majestic Warrior) (lot 123), and a full-brother to champion 3-year-old filly Mikki Queen (JPN) (lot 51). The 17-year-old king of Shadai is currently recuperating after a neck injury cut short his covering season and, available for viewing on Saturday, Deep Impact has no fewer than six of his sons for company in the same complex, including the G1 Dubai Turf winner Real Steel (JPN), a brother to this season’s G1 Yushun Himba winner Loves Only You (JPN), who was herself a ¥160 million ($1.47 million) JRHA Select Yearling Sale graduate in 2017. While Deep Impact, with 29 youngsters in the sale, is in his twilight years, one stallion whose name will not be seen again in the first generation of Select Sale horses after this week is the redoubtable King Kamehameha (JPN). Now 18, the son of Kingmambo was munching quietly in the shade of his paddock on Saturday having been pensioned in 2018, meaning that his six foals to sell on Tuesday are among the last to be offered. They include a colt out of the GI Spinaway S. winner So Many Ways (Sightseeing) (lot 411). King Kamehameha’s son and stud-mate Lord Kanaloa (JPN)—sire of the record-breaking Japan Cup winner Almond Eye (JPN)—has been extra busy in his father’s absence this season and among his foals already on the ground and included in the sale is a filly out of another American Grade 1 winner, Ticker Tape (GB) (Royal Applause {GB}) (lot 409). Meanwhile, another son, the dual Classic winner Duramente (JPN), is represented by his first yearlings in the catalogue, including a colt out of the European champion sprinter Fleeting Spirit (Ire) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}), who sells as lot 364. In its 21-year history the Select Sale has grown from a debut catalogue of 230, which sold for almost ¥5 billion, to last year’s high of 415 sold for just shy of ¥18 billion, at a record clearance rate of 89.4%. Demand has, to an extent, been driven by a healthy international buying bench, but the domestic owners more than hold their own when it comes to having a chance to ensnare one of the best of those to be offered for sale. “We have many foreign buyers coming back for the sale but every year we feel after the sale that the Japanese buyers were stronger most of the time, so I’m not sure how happy the foreign buyers are to go home without a souvenir. The Japanese buyers are stronger than we had expected,” said Teruya Yoshida, who is not just a major breeder and consignor but is also vice chairman of the JRHA. He concurs with Goda’s assertion that buyers’ tastes are evolving. “From last year things started to change,” he continued. “Traditionally, we have always sold our products as babies but people are getting used to buying as yearlings, and now we even have 2-year-old sales, so people are much more free in the way they buy the horses.” As for Japan’s reputation as a cradle for the staying horse, he added, “The most important races are all at a mile and a quarter to two miles, so we prefer staying horses. But we produce many horses every year, so there is always a selection of sprinters and stayers. The Japanese programme is very varied and we have the advantage of experiencing every kind of race here—we have five-furlong races on dirt as well as middle-distance races on turf. Japanese horses are becoming stronger in every category. There has even been one [Master Fencer (JPN)] challenging in the American Classics. Before, we never thought we could compete with American-bred horses on a dirt track but now we have more confidence to compete. Our path is good for older horses so people don’t need to worry about retiring horses too early as long as the horse is sound enough.” Of those coming from overseas to find a young horse from Japan’s enviable collection of internationally purchased bloodlines, Sydney’s top trainers Chris Waller and Gai Waterhouse are both making repeat visits along with Coolmore’s MV Magnier, while Price Bell of Kentucky’s Mill Ridge Farm is on a reconnaissance mission. “We don’t mind where a horse comes from as long as the horse is good,” said Yoshida of his famed and costly global recruiting of some of the best mares off the track. In these days of an increasingly international marketplace, they are words we should all live by. The post Japan’s Growing Confidence In International Market appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

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Champion jockey Zac Purton is 12 victories off matching Joao Moreira’s history-making 170-win season so he needs everything to go right in the last 31 races if he is to break it.The Australian takes a full book of rides into Sunday’s 11-race card and is hoping his long and successful association with the Kwok family can bring him one win closer.Frankie Lor Fu-chuen’s Beauty Spark returns for his second start in the Class Three Members’ Care @HKJC 1,400m Handicap after disappointing on debut.The… View the full article

Jockey Vincent Ho Chak-yiu insists he is not a numbers man as he bears down on the best season for a local rider since 2012-13.Ho has racked up 54 winners this term in a career-best effort, but still finds himself three short of Matthew Chadwick’s 2012-13 season, which was the best in 27 years after legendary jockey Tony Cruz rode 67 winners in 1985-86.While he has a chance to put his name among the elite, Ho said he was never one to get carried away with winning totals.“It’s business as usual,… View the full article

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

With a strong performance at Awapuni on Saturday, emerging wet-track performer Herengawe produced a bold audition for next month’s Gr.3 Winning Edge Presentations 122nd Winter Cup (1600m) at Riccarton. A last-start Rating 72 winner, Herengawe was thrown in at the deep end on Saturday and tackled open class for the first time in the Grant Plumbing (1400m). With Lisa Allpress in the saddle, the four-year-old son of Zed sprinted superbly through the mud to go from last to first and beat the fron... View the full article

Miss Mandito has brought up a milestone for Charlotte Littefield at Flemington, giving the trainer her first city winner in the Leilani Series Final (1400m) on Saturday. With Michael Walker aboard, Miss Mandito defeated favourite El Questro ($3.20) by a half neck in Saturday's race for mares, with another length to Something Silver third. "I'm shaking I'm so happy," Littlefield, who has been training for three years, said. "She was absolutely super. "This is what dreams are made of. I don't thin... View the full article

Belmont Park features an all-graded stakes Pick 5. View the full article

TOP LINE GROWTH (g, 3, Tapizar–Orinoquia, by Whywhywhy) crossed the line second in the Iowa Derby, but was promoted to first after Winning Number (Speightstown) was disqualified for interference following a stewards inquiry and jockey claim of foul. Biding his time in mid-pack as Winning Number clocked a half-mile in :48 flat, the gelding made rapid progress on the backstretch run to sit second turning for home. He kept after the pacesetter in the lane, but could not get to him, coming up two lengths short in 1:43.07. However, after an inquiry and objection, Winning Number was taken down and placed third for interfering with third-place finisher Shang (Shanghai Bobby). Romping by 9 1/2 lengths when unveiled in a $40,000 maiden claimer at Laurel Apr. 22, Top Line Growth was fifth next out in the Sir Barton S. at Pimlico May 18. He returned to winning ways with an eight-length restricted allowance score at Laurel June 8. Lifetime Record: 4-2-0-0. The post Tapizar Colt Promoted to First in Iowa Derby appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

New Zealand-bred gelding Gold Ambition has earned himself a chance in stakes company after confirming his reputation as a horse with a mind of his own at Doomben. Despite coming from well back off a muddling early pace Gold Ambition beat Awake The Stars by a neck in Saturday's Class 6 Handicap (1600m). Trainer Michael Costa said the best way to describe the six-year-old was "weird" and having a mind of his own. "He was on his game today and you could see how well he can finish. We have tried him... View the full article

LADY APPLE (f, 3, Curlin–Miss Mary Apples, by Clever Trick) justified even-money favoritism with a gritty score in the GIII Iowa Oaks Friday evening. Pressing Ulele (Candy Ride {Arg}) from second through opening splits of :23.36 and :47.39, the bay drew on even turns with the pacesetter at the top of the stretch and the stage was set. The pair battled stride-for-stride down the line, both refusing to yield, but Lady Apple pushed past a relentless Ulele in the dying strides for a narrow success in 1:43.33. Lady Apple took a few tries to break her maiden, finally breaking through at fifth asking at Oaklawn Feb. 7, and has been on a roll since. Following suit with an optional claimer score in Hot Springs Mar. 23, she won the GIII Fantasy S. there Apr. 12 and was most recently third in the GI Kentucky Oaks May 3. Lifetime Record: 9-4-2-1. O-Phoenix Thoroughbreds III & KatieRich Farms; B-KatieRich Farms (KY); T-Steve Asmussen. The post Curlin’s Lady Apple Scores in Iowa Oaks appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

The connections of impressive two-year-old debut winners at Te Rapa and Awapuni on Saturday are eyeing bigger things in the new season. London Bound made a spectacular start to her career in the Win the Group 2 Waikato Guineas (1200m) at Te Rapa. After sitting in last place early in the race, she cruised up behind the leaders approaching the home turn for jockey Craig Grylls. London Bound took over effortlessly at the top of the straight and powered clear, winning by seven lengths from the last... View the full article

Te Rapa specialist Sultan Of Swing struck again at the Hamilton track on Saturday, providing a poignant result in the U S Navy Flag Foxbridge Plate 17 Aug (1600m). Winning jockey Taiki Yanagida wore a black armband over the blue, black and green colours of owner-breeder Dominic Li, whose long-time New Zealand racing manager and friend Maryanne Simon lost her father Jim Mead this week. “It’s a tough time for Maryanne, but I’m pleased the horse could deliver for everybody,” trainer Shaune ... View the full article

When Don Chatlos walked out to the racetrack with OXO Equine's Brill for the $139,500 Victory Ride Stakes (G3) at Belmont Park July 5, it was an experience unlike any other in his life as a horseman. View the full article

Thanks to Royal Charlotte, Chad Brown is sitting rather pretty for Saratoga's $500,000 Longines Test Stakes (G1), the seven-furlong showdown for the 3-year-old division's top female sprinters Aug. 3. View the full article

Thanks to Royal Charlotte, Chad Brown is sitting rather pretty for Saratoga's $500,000 Longines Test Stakes (G1), the seven-furlong showdown for the 3-year-old division's top female sprinters Aug. 3. View the full article

ROYAL CHARLOTTE (f, 3, Cairo Prince–Sass and Class by Harlan’s Holiday) kept her undefeated record intact as she rolled home to her first graded stakes score in Belmont’s GIII Victory Ride S. Friday. The Chad Brown pupil tracked a swift early pace of :22.26 and :44.77. Jockey Javier Castellano swung the gray three-wide around the turn and she rallied down the middle of the stretch to catch Cookie Dough in the final sixteenth, drawing away by three lengths in 1.15.82. Sales history: $70,000 RNA ylg ’17 KEESEP. Lifetime Record: 4-4-0-0. O-First Row Partners. B-Rhineshire Farm LLC (KY). T-Chad Brown. The post Cairo Prince Filly Stays Perfect in Victory Ride appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Chris So’s exciting youngster Classic Unicorn will aim to build on his impressive debut win when he takes his place in the Class 3 Members Cup Handicap (1000m) at Sha Tin on Sunday. The three-year-old showed immaturity first time out but his talent shone through as he cruised to a comfortable two and three-quarter length win. “He’s a young horse and even you can tell he’s just a baby, he still has to learn,” So said. “He still needs to learn and in his trial he seemed alright, but w... View the full article

Observations on the European Racing Scene turns the spotlight on the best European races of the day, highlighting well-pedigreed horses early in their careers, horses of note returning to action and young runners that achieved notable results in the sales ring. Today’s Observations features half-sisters to a pair of Group 1 winners. 4.00 Chelmsford, Novice, £9,000, 3yo/up, f/m, 10f (AWT) FLY THE FLAG (GB) (Australia {GB}) is a late starter for Denford Stud and John Gosden, but given that she is a half-sister to Sunday’s G1 Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud heroine Coronet (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) that may not prove a problem. The April-foaled grey is not alone in making a debut, with Godolphin’s Last Look (Ire) (Pivotal {GB}) being unleashed by Saeed bin Suroor who trained her full-brothers, the illustrious Farhh (GB) and smart Racing History (Ire). The post Observations: July 6, 2019 appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Easy Does It had to win Friday’s S$50,000 Class 4 race over 1600m in Singapore to keep his Derby dreams alive – and he rose to the occasion in style. With talented apprentice jockey Simon Kok Wei Hoong in the irons, the son of Super Easy was in a striking position right from the start. Dropped into the box seat, he always had leader Cracking Tottie in his sights before popping up as the main threat when he was peeled off for his run at the corner.He did, however, glance past Shadow Speed twi... View the full article

5th-Ellis, $30,185, Msw, 7-5, 2yo, f, 1mT, 1:35.97, fm. ENVIED (f, 2, American Pharoah–Halljoy {Ire} {GSP}, by Halling) became the fourth winner for her Triple Crown champion freshman sire (by Pioneerof the Nile) when she scored here in a game debut performance. The homebred, overlooked in the large 12-horse field at 8-1, tucked along the rail behind the early pace as the leaders ticked off fractions of :24.11 and :47.48. Around the far turn jockey Corey Lanerie set the bay into drive and she closed relentlessly down the lane, prevailing by a neck over favored Swanage (English Channel). The victress is a half-sister to a yearling filly by Verrazano and filly by Connect born this past season. All four of American Pharoah’s winners have won on turf, including Maven, who broke his maiden first time out on the Aqueduct dirt before annexing the G3 Prix du Bois in France. Sales history: $335,000 RNA Ylg ’18 KEESEP. Lifetime Record: 1-1-0-0, $15,600. Click for the Equibase.com chart. O/B-HnR Nothhaft Horseracing LLC (KY); T-Ben Colebrook. The post Another Turf Winner for American Pharoah at Ellis appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article