Wandering Eyes

Smooth Daddy (Scat Daddy-Prairie Maiden, by Badger Land), winner of last year’s GIII Fort Marcy S. at Belmont Park and placed at the graded level four more times, will stand in Ireland with Compas Stallions in 2019 for a fee of €5,000 Micheal Orlandi of Compas Stallions said, “We are really excited to be standing this good-looking son of Scat Daddy. He has an exceptional walk and stands a solid 16.1hh. He has been retired to stud to offer commercial breeders access to the Scat Daddy sire line.” Smooth Daddy is from the family of Irish high-weighted mare Catch The Blues (Ire) (Bluebird) and G1 Keeneland Phoenix S. winner Sioux Nation (Scat Daddy), who retires to Coolmore for 2019. View the full article

The ITV racing team is bringing viewers action from Ascot and Haydock on Saturday, where the Betfair Chase takes centre stage at the Lancashire course. The jumps season is in full swing now following some much-wanted rain. There are some very big names making their seasonal debuts and it’s a day to really savour. I have taken a look at some of the key races taking place this weekend and it looks like it could be a “fav” feast in the feature races. 1965 Chase This looks like an ideal opportunity for Politologue to open his account for the season. Paul Nicholls’ grey was a dual Grade 1 winner last season which included the Tingle Creek and Melling Chase. Bear in mind that he is still only a seven year old and these performances were all the more impressive. There could still be some improvement to come from him and there looks to be nothing in the field that could mount a serious challenge. Gary Moore landed a big prize at Cheltenham last week with Baron Alco and runs Benatar in this and he could prove the biggest threat to the favourite. The lightly raced son of Beneficial was a Grade 2 winner last season and also finished third behind Shattered Love in the JLT at Cheltenham. Benatar ran disappointingly on seasonal debut at Newton Abbott but he looked in need of the run that day and should Politologue run below par, he could pick up the pieces. Charbel beat the aforementioned Baron Alco back in October and that form received a timely boost last weekend. He finished nearly six lengths behind Politologue in last season’s Tingle Creek and if he can make match fitness count then perhaps he can turn the tables. The field is made up by Gold Present, Hammersly Lake and Sizing Granite. Selection: Politologue Stayers’ Handicap Hurdle First Assignment was one of the most impressive winners at the Cheltenham November meeting last week and he gets in here off just the mandatory five-pound penalty. Ian Willams’ charge is on a real upward curve and should prove very difficult to beat here if he’s none to worse for his recent exertions. Paisley Park was Grade 2 placed last season and began the current campaign in great fashion when landing a handicap at Aintree in October. Emma Lavelle’s six-year-old now races off a seven pound higher mark and has to give the favourite twelve pounds, which may prove too hard. Paul Nicholls’ runs Captain Cattistock in this and he ran with real credit in the Silver Trophy when finishing sixth behind Garo De Juilley. This was improved form on what he showed last season and considering he’s only five, he may be worth following for the season ahead. Folsom Blue is the sole Irish-raider and he’s proved a very shrewd acquisition for current connections, with the highlight coming in the Irish Grand National when he finished a fine fourth in behind General Principle. It’s worrying that he’s only won once on seasonal debut and I think there will be bigger targets later in the season. Selection: First Assignment If The Cap FitsAscot Hurdle This looks like a match race between We Have A Dream and If The Cap Fits. The pair have already met this season in the Elite Hurdle at Wincanton where If The Cap Fits proved seven lengths too good for We Have A Dream. They both came up short behind the improving Verdana Blue. We Have A Dream was unbeaten since moving to Seven Barrows prior to the Elite Hurdle, having won four on the bounce last season with the highlight coming at Chepstow when emerging victoriously in the Grade 1 Future Champions Juvinelle hurdle. It will be intriguing to see if he can bridge the gap with his rival but I find it hard to see why he would. If The Cap Fits had an immaculate start to life over hurdles with victories at Exter, Bangor and finally Kempton, on his only three runs last season. He wasn’t ever asked a serious question on any of these starts and was one of the talking horses last season. However, injury ruled him out for the remainder of the season and there were lots of positives to be taken from his season return. I think he’s one of the most exciting hurdlers in training and is my idea of the winner. Old Guard should prove best of the rest and has already run three fine races this season. I think he’ll again give his running but will come up short. Selection: If The Cap Fits Betfair Chase It’s disappointing that only five go to post in this Grade 1 contest but the five that do face the starter are the creme de la creme of national hunt racing. All of the field will have the Cheltenham Gold Cup as their main seasonal target. Native River won British racing’s blue riband event last season and makes his seasonal debut on Saturday. Colin Tizzard’s front-running gelding runs with his heart on his sleeve and although he only graced the track twice last season, he won on both occasions. The Tizzard stable is running at a 25% strike rate at the moment and if he shows up in the same form as last season he will be hard to contain. Nicky Henderson’s Might Bite was sent off favourite in the Gold Cup last season and although he came up short behind Native River, he regained the winning thread when demolishing a field which included Bristol De Mai(re-opposes) in the Aintree Bowl. The imposing son of Scorpion could improve again for a summers grass and looks a force to be reckoned with. Many eyes will be Thistlecrack who’s exuberant style of racing makes his an exciting watch every time he runs. Unfortunately, his racecourse forays have been limited in recent seasons due to injuries. The now ten-year-old won the World Hurdle back in 2016 and looked to have the chasing world at his feet when impressively landing the King George on Boxing Day of the same year. Following another injury, it has to be said, Thistlecrack didn’t seem to be the same horse last season and came up short on both starts. It will be interesting to see how he fares on Saturday and a watching brief is advised. The final runner is the Paul Nicholls’ trained Clan Des Obeaux, who needs to improve to feature. Selection: Might Bite The post Saturday Preview – Who’ll Take The Biggest Bite In The Betfair Chase? appeared first on RaceBets Blog EN. View the full article

I wanted to run more horses this weekend but the weather is still proving quite frustrating. Hopefully next weekend we can turn a corner and get some of the horses that have been waiting for softer out. On Saturday we go to Haydock and Huntingdon, then on Sunday, it’s off to Uttoxeter with one runner. Saturday Beach Break Track: Huntingdon – 1:40 Jockey: Abbie McCain He’s been running well all year and the ground at Huntingdon is still on the good side which is fine for him. Abbie rides him and he’s a solid little horse, I do feel that he’s a better horse going left-handed but we are just going to take our chance and hope he continues to run well. Chti Balko Track: Haydock – 1:50 Jockey: Brian Hughes We have been aiming for this race for some time but in the hope that we would have our normal Haydock ground. I think he copes with the better ground but he is more effective on deeper ground. He’s handicapped on deep ground and even though he ran very well on seasonal debut, he may find things happening too quick for him tomorrow. Black Key Track: Haydock – 12:10 Jockey: Brian Hughes He’s not a horse we picked up at the sales from the Henry De Bromhead yard and in truth, I don’t know that much about him. He won two of his last three starts in Ireland and it was difficult to find a starting point for him with his current mark, so we said we’d take our chance in this Listed contest. He seems healthy and we have to get started somewhere, I wouldn’t think he’s up to winning off his current mark but hopefully, he proves me wrong. Sunday Whiteoak Stroller Track: Uttoxeter – 1:40 Jockey: Brian Hughes She is a well-bred daughter of Shirocco, who is definitely stronger this year. I think she will need further in time and could be more of a staying hurdler down the line but this looks like a place to start her season and we are hoping for a good run. Best Chance: Chti Balko The post Donald McCain Blog appeared first on RaceBets Blog EN. View the full article

17:45 Kempton John Gosden looks to enhance his record with the smart looking Jadeerah here in this one. The Hamzan Al Maktoum Frankel colt was a decent second on debut at Newmarket three weeks ago and can land this easily with the expected progress so is the confident selection. Jim Crowley makes the trip to take the ride here tonight and this exciting colt can confirm its early promise by getting his head in front tonight. Roger Varian’s debutant Regal Banner looks the main danger to the selection given the yard’s exemplary record with 2yos this term. Of the rest, Clive Cox’s Regal Ambition is a beautifully bred filly by Pivotal and the market will guide as to her chances. JADEERAH (WIN)-NAP RACEBETS.COM ALTERNATIVE BET OF THE DAY 13:00 Ascot The Ben Pauling trained Kildisart has long been mooted as a chaser in the making for high profile owners Simon Munir and Isaac Souede and today he makes his long-anticipated chasing bow. The stable can easily ready one on debut and having schooled well over fences, the 6yo looks primed to run a big race in the Ascot opener this afternoon having gone well in the past. He is one to follow this season and he may just take all the beating this afternoon. The David Pipe-trained Moon Racer is a high-class animal who made an admirable debut in third behind the impressive Jersey Bean and he will be sharper for that outing and could give the selection most to think about. KILDISART (WIN) Ascot: 13:00 – Kildisart (WIN)* 13:30 – Igor (E/W) 14:05 – Thomas Darby (WIN) 14:40 – Flying Angel (E/W) 15:15 – Battle of Shiloh (E/W) 15:50 – Flying Tiger (WIN) Catterick: 12:15 – Goldencard (WIN) 12:45 – Grow Nasa Grow (E/W) 13:20 – Liva (WIN) 13:50 – Pickamix (E/W) 14:25 – Scented Lily (E/W) 15:00 – Braavos (WIN) 15:35 – Nickelsonthedime (WIN) Ffos Las: 12:35 – Cougar’s Gold (E/W) 13:10 – Al Dancer (WIN) 13:40 – Milanstorm (E/W) 14:15 – Absolute Power (E/W) 14:50 – Penn Lane (E/W) 15:25 – Bubbles Of Gold (WIN) Kempton: 17:15 – Merchant of Venice (E/W) 17:45 – Jadeerah (WIN) – NAP 18:15 – She’s Got You (WIN) 18:45 – Frederickbarbarosa (WIN) 19:15 – Simon’s Smile (E/W) 19:45 – Rampant Lion (E/W) 20:15 – Miss Blondell (WIN) 20:45 – Get Back Get Back (WIN) Dundalk: 17:30 – Ajmera (E/W) 18:00 – Reckless Lad (E/W) 18:30 – Too Precious (WIN) 19:00 – Isotype (E/W) 19:30 – Star Sapphire (E/W) 20:00 – Equitant (WIN) 20:30 – Proud And Elated (WIN) 21:00 – Hey Pretty (E/W) The post Picks From The Paddock Best Bet – Friday 23nd November appeared first on RaceBets Blog EN. View the full article

Lerner, Curatolo suspended View the full article

Jomo beats wide draw for three-in-a-row View the full article

Zaki shows plenty of Bounceback Ability View the full article

Oliver helps himself to some more View the full article

Whistling Win blows them away View the full article

Horses' body weights November 23 View the full article

Track conditions and course scratchings November 23 View the full article

Darrell and Sadie Brommer's 6-year-old homebred mare Prado's Sweet Ride led every step of the way and drew off in deep stretch for a decisive 4 3/4-length win over 3-5 favorite Devine Miss Grey in the $200,000 Falls City Handicap (G2) Nov. 22. View the full article

India Mantuana, a 4-year-old filly claimed for $40,000 in August by trainer Ray Bell, hung on gamely in the final strides under a masterful ride by jockey Tyler Baze to complete a gate-to-wire victory Nov. 22 in the Red Carpet Handicap (G3T). View the full article

In the 41st start of his career, Ara Aprahamian's Life in Shambles earned his first stakes win, using a strong late kick to win the $200,000 Fall Highweight Handicap (G3) Nov. 22 at Aqueduct Racetrack. View the full article

English Affair split horses in late stretch to score a half-length victory over Amboseli in the $100,000 Cardinal Handicap (G3T) for fillies and mares Nov. 22 at Churchill Downs. View the full article

In the 41st start of his career, Ara Aprahamian's Life in Shambles earned his first stakes win, using a strong late kick to win the $200,000 Fall Highweight Handicap (G3) Nov. 22 at Aqueduct Racetrack. View the full article

The biggest horse race in Japan, the Japan Cup takes place on Sunday at Toyko racecourse. This Group 1 contest was first run in 1981 and is an invitation-only event. Even though the race comes at the end of the flat season it generally attracts some leading talent from home and abroad. This very valuable contest has proved elusive for Aidan O’Brien and he relies on Irish Derby winner Capri this year. He has only won once this season when taking a weak Group 3, but his standout piece of form is undoubtedly a fifth-place finish behind Enable in the Arc. If he can reproduce this form then he holds leading claims. Race favourite and leading the home defence is Almond Eye, who became the first horse to complete the three-year-old fillies Triple Crown since Gentildonna back in 2012. She never really looked in danger in any these races and is one of the most exciting horses in Japanese racing since the great Deep Impact. Ther raiding party hasn’t lifted the prize since Alkassed took it in 2005 for Luca Cumani and Frankie Dettori. The second European runner is Thundering Blue, who has shown improved form in recent times, by winning two Group races in his last four starts and he was a fine second in the Canadian International when last seen. Although he’s only won three times, he’s on an upward curve and should be taken very seriously. Cheval Grand bids for back to back victories in the race and although he hasn’t won since he’s still shown a good level of form and must hold leading credentials. Other of note include Suave Richard, Satono Diamond and Kiseki. Selection: Thundering Blue The post Japan Cup Preview appeared first on RaceBets Blog EN. View the full article

KILDARE, Ireland—Two years ago the Goffs November Sale benefited from the major Wildenstein dispersal and then 12 months ago some well-credentialed mares going under the hammer to dissolve the partnership between the China Horse Club and John Magnier. This time around, a lack of star names, some high-profile withdrawals and resulting shortfall in range of buyers led to a more sobering set of returns. Despite there not being the usual depth of participants, the top transactions of the day still reflected the international draw of the Irish sales, with leading lots scattered among buyers from China, Japan, Spain and France. The clearance rate rallied to 79% as higher-profile mares took to the ring later in the day and 169 of the 215 offered found a new home. The aggregate was less than half that accrued last year at €6,074,900 (-54%) and the average fell in line with that to €35,946 (-47%), while the median dropped by 26% to €20,000. Yuesheng Zhang of Yulong Investments has been a major investor at Goffs in recent years and, though absent this time, purchased the day’s most expensive lady for €350,000 through BBA Ireland’s Michael Donohoe. The 6-year-old She’s Complete (Ire) (Oratorio {Ire}) (962), a former stakes winner in California, was sold carrying her second foal by Sea The Stars (Ire) having produced a Golden Horn (GB) colt in 2017. “Mr Zhang is over in Japan at the moment but we thought that this mare was very nice physically and she was a 2-year-old stakes winner on the turf. Her Golden Horn yearling sold for 200,000gns and has gone to John Gosden. It’s obviously a lovely cover to Sea The Stars, breeding back into the family.” It’s a family which has certainly proved worthwhile to repeat in matings. She’s Complete’s third dam Anatevka (Ger) is also the dam of Allegretta (GB) who, among her other accomplishments, gave birth to Sea The Stars’ dam Urban Sea (Miswaki). Donohoe had earlier signed on Zhang’s behalf for the young Shamardal mare Wassail (GB) (903), sold carrying a foal by the National Stud freshman Aclaim (Ire) for €75,000. Rifa Mustang Returns The Chinese-owned Rifa Mustang Europe was active throughout the session, ending up with two well-credentialed mares to add to a burgeoning broodmare band. These included Lost In Silence (Ire) (Holy Roman Emperor {Ire}) (970), now four, who was a winner at two for Dermot Weld and owner-breeder Moyglare Stud. Sold this time last year for €65,000 to the Irish National Stud, she was then covered by that farm’s flagship stallion Invincible Spirit (Ire) and returned to make a swift profit when knocked down for €220,000. The covering sire has already worked well with the immediate family as Lost In Silence’s Grade 2-winning half-sister Speaking Of Which (Ire) is a daughter of Invincible Spirit. “We’re at the start of building up a broodmare band in Europe,” explained Rifa Mustang’s European representative Peter Hensey, who was working the sale with his Australian counterpart Robert Roulston. The duo also went to €140,000 for 3-year-old filly Moons Of Jupiter (956), a winning daughter of War Front and the 10-time winner Daisy Devine (Kafwain), whose victories include the GI Jenny Wiley S. “She’s a lovely filly with a great pedigree but there are no plans yet regarding her breeding career,” Hensey said. Sinndar’s Sister A First For Spanish Buyer A tussle between French and Spanish interests ensued in the purchase of the Aga Khan mare Simawa (Ire), an Anabaa half-sister to the dual Derby and Arc winner Sinndar (Ire). Bertrand Le Metayer made a pretty determined attempt from the buyers’ pit but sitting across the ring from him was Francisco Bernal, who had bought the previous day’s top-priced Kingman (GB) foal for his unnamed Spanish client and backed that up with making the first broodmare purchase on her behalf. Sold as lot 977 and carrying to the dual Guineas winner Gleneagles (Ire), the 13-year-old fetched €210,000 and will now become a boarder at Haras du Quesnay in Normandy. “My client wants to breed and race in France,” he said. “Until recently she was only involved in sport horses but now she bought four Thoroughbreds and this was the mare she wanted. She may be covered by Motivator next year.” Simawa was herself a winner and listed-placed as a juvenile and has produced the listed winner Silwana (Ire) (Peintre Celebre) and Group 3-placed Summaya (Ire) (Azamour {Ire}). The Aga Khan Studs draft returned a total of €742,000 for 11 fillies and mares sold through the first session. Muirin Makes Early Waves Muirin (Ire) (799), a daughter of Born To Sea (Ire) who was fourth in last year’s G1 Moyglare Stud S., led early trade when sold through Baroda & Colbinstown Studs for €210,000. Laurent Benoit of Broadhurst Agency stood alongside Paul Shanahan while conducting the bidding and had the final say over Paul Hensey of Rifa Mustang Europe. Muirin, bred by Sunderland Holdings and a winner on debut for Eddie Lynam, is a daughter of Group 3-winning sprinter Girouette (Ire) from the Haras du Quesnay family of Villadolide (Fr) (Anabaa). Sunderland Holdings also featured as the buyer of lot 957, Niku (Ire), a 3-year-old High Chaparral (Ire) half-sister to the Group 1 winner and dual Arc-placed Cloth Of Stars (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}), who has recently been retired to Haras du Logis. With a top-class runner by Sea The Stars in the immediate family, the appeal to the stallion’s owner Ling Tsui is obvious, and her representative John Clarke said after signing the ticket at €140,000, “It’s likely she’ll start with Sea The Stars, or she might go to France to visit Born To Sea (Ire).” Cloth Of Stars was far from the only draw on the page. Niku’s dam Strawberry Fledge (Kingmambo) is a full-sister to the Oaks winner Light Shift who has already produced the multiple Group 1 winner and young sire Ulysses (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), while another Group 1-winning half-sister Shiva (Hector Protector) is the dam of listed winner and G2 Prix Corrida runner-up That Which Is Not (Elusive Quality). I’m Yours, Saxon Warrior Among the mares in the first book of this year’s QIPCO 2,000 Guineas hero Saxon Warrior (JPN) (Deep Impact {JPN}) is likely to be the regally-bred listed winner I’m Yours (GB) (980). The 7-year-old daughter of Invincible Spirit (Ire) and champion racemare Rebelline (Ire) (Robellino) was sold by her breeder Moyglare Stud for €210,000 to Katsumi Yoshida of Japan’s Northern Farm. Offered with a cover to Darley freshman Ribchester (Ire), the mare has a 2-year-old Dark Angel (Ire) filly to race for her named Coco Blanco (Ire), as well as a yearling filly by Free Eagle (Ire) and a colt foal by Iffraaj (GB). The next mare in the ring (981), also from Moyglare and a daughter of Invincible Spirit, was Last Jewel (Ire), an unraced half-sister to the dual Group 3 winner Profound Beauty (Ire) (Danehill). Knocked down to Fozzy Stack for €195,000, agent Mick Flanagan signed for the 5-year-old, who is carrying her second foal by Ulysses (Ire). Cottonmouth For O’Connor The 14-time winner and treble Italian Group 1 winner Dylan Mouth (Ire) (Dylan Thomas {Ire}) retires to Yorkshire’s Worsall Grange Stud for 2019 and his accomplished dam Cottonmouth (Ire) (Noverre) (931) took to the ring on Thursday in the Kilmaglish House Stud draft. John O’Connor, a successful breeder in his own right alongside his duties as manager of Ballylinch Stud, went to €120,000 to ensure that the 14-year-old mare, who is carrying to Exceed And Excel (Aus), would join the ranks of his Limefield Stud. A prolific winner herself, with 12 victories to her credit including the G3 Premio EBF Terme di Merano, Cottonmouth has produced five winners, with listed scorers Per Un Dixir (Ire) (Holy Roman Emperor {Ire}) and Henry Mouth (Ire) (Henrythenavigator) adding to Dylan Mouth’s vast black-type haul. “She’s a proven racemare, a proven producer and in foal to a very good stallion, and I like all that about her. She’s not the youngest but she looks very well in herself,” O’Connor said. Another familiar name which appeared on the buyers’ sheet on a number of occasions on Thursday was that of Ana O’Brien, who signed for five fillies and mares including the Niarchos family’s Lustful (GB), a Maxios (GB) grand-daughter of the great Six Perfections (Fr) (Celtic Swing {GB}). Sold as lot 948, the 3-year-old filly is out of an unraced sister to recent G2 Herbert Power S. winner Yucatan (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) and sold for €22,000. The final session of fillies and mares begins at 10am today. View the full article

Legendary Newmarket-based trainer Luca Cumani saddled his last runner at Wolverhampton on Thursday evening before heading into retirement. The 2-year-old filly Swansdown (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}), carrying the colours of his family’s Fittocks Stud, was a fast-finishing second on her fourth outing as the 6-5 favourite in a nursery handicap. “It’s a shame we didn’t manage to go out on a winner, but it was only a little race and the important thing is that we managed to have a Group 1 winner in our final year [God Given won the Premio Lydia Tesio at Capannelle earlier this month]. This filly finished well. She is bred to appreciate further and I’m sure she’ll step up to a mile and a half next year.” With Cumani’s Bedford House stables due to be sold early next year, Cumani and his wife Sara will move across Newmarket to live and work at Fittocks Stud. Asked if it could take him a while to adjust, Cumani said, “It might do, but I’m lucky that I’ve got another job to go to and something else to focus on. We’re going to Australia in January, so we’ll move after that.” View the full article

6.15 Kempton, Cond, £6,000, 2yo, f, 7f (AWT) Merry Fox Stud Ltd’s GENEVA SPUR (Distorted Humor), a Roger Varian-trained debutante, is a homebred half to G1 Grosser Preis von Berlin victor Second Step (Ire) (Dalakhani {Ire}). Her rivals include Cheveley Park Stud’s hitherto untried Queen’s Sceptre (GB) (Pivotal {GB}), who is a half-sister to GI Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf heroine Queen’s Trust (GB) (Dansili {GB}), from the Sir Michael Stoute stable. View the full article

Talismanic (GB) (Medaglia d’Oro-Magic Mission {GB}, by Machiavellian), Godolphin’s 2017 GI Breeders’ Cup Turf winner, will enter stud at Darley Japan next year, the global breeding operation announced on Thursday. The 5-year-old Talismanic, who also won at Group 2 and 3 level in France for trainer Andre Fabre and was second to Highland Reel (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) in last year’s G1 Hong Kong Vase, was retired from racing last week. Darley Japan President Harry Sweeney noted that Talismanic has Japanese connections in his pedigree; Wind In Her Hair (Ire) (Alzao), the dam of superstar Japanese racehorse and sire Deep Impact (Jpn), appears under the third dam. That branch of the family also includes another leading sire in Black Tide (Jpn). “We are really excited to have Medaglia d’Oro’s best turf son, Talismanic, in Japan,” said Sweeney. “He has a wonderful pedigree, his exceptional sire has sent out numerous winners in a variety of races and his family has produced many big-name horses. He is extremely attractive with a gorgeous body, and we are looking forward to introducing him to our clients in Japan.” View the full article

Lily’s Candle (Fr) (Style Vendome {Fr}), who won the G1 Prix Marcel Boussac less than 24 hours after being bought by Martin Schwartz for €390,000 at the Arqana Arc Sale in October, will make a quick return to the ring at Arqana’s December Sale after being supplemented as a wildcard (lot 160). In her lone subsequent start after the Boussac, Lily’s Candle beat two home in the GI Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies’ Turf. A further Group 1 update on the page has come from Lys Gracieux (Jpn), who appears under the second dam and won the G1 Queen Elizabeth II Cup in Japan. Three further lots were supplemented on Thursday: Diana Storm (Ger) (Soldier Hollow {GB}) (lot 150), a full-sister to German champion and Group 1 winner Dschingis Secret (Ger) who is group-placed herself; Noblesse Oblige (Ity) (Myboycharlie {Ire}) (lot 180), a leading 2-year-old filly in Italy who won this year’s G3 Premio Dormello and is from the immediate family of G3 Jersey S. winner and G1 Poule d’Essai des Poulains second Le Brivido; and the Group 2-placed Moonlight In Paris (Fr) (Literato {Fr}) in foal to Siyouni (Fr) (lot 120). View the full article

Addressing your thoughts, questions and statements about Hong Kong racing. Have something to say? Send a tweet to @SCMPRacingPost Was a perfect day to celebrate my 100th winner in Hong Kong with my beautiful girlfriend, my brother and his girlfriend. Thank you Starlight and all people who made this possible – @umbyrispoli Umberto Rispoli is one of the most popular characters in Hong Kong racing and he is also one of the great success stories – a testament to hard work and... View the full article

RacingPost NAP 16:05 Newcastle If you’re one for statistics you’ll struggle to see past Sunset Flash in the sixth race on the card at Newcastle. Trainer David Lanigan has a 100% strike rate with runners here at the venue this year and in-form jockey James Doyle also has a 100% strike rate when teaming up with the Newmarket trainer in 2018. An encouraging 4th placed effort on the horses debut is something the young filly can certainly improve upon. Not given the best of rides last time when having too much to do she still showed glimpses of promise none the less. A drop down to seven furlongs seems a positive step and being given a decent draw in stall 4 is also advantageous. Although there’s an obvious threat in the top weight Ticklish who has already claimed a racecourse victory the numbers point towards Lanigan’s charge who seems set to go much better this time around. SUNSET FLASH (WIN) – NAP RACEBETS Alternative Bet 20:30 Wolverhampton Jockey Oisin Murphy seems to possess the Midas touch of late and he climbs aboard former course and distance victor Staffa at Wolverhampton this evening. He’s been pretty poor this season but seemed to turn the corner when finishing a very credible 3rd at Windsor last month. A return to Wolverhampton where the horse is unbeaten is an encouraging change of scenery and although the yard aren’t going great guns of late the horse looks to be back on the right track. The ultra consistent Waneen is likely to be there or thereabouts in the closing stages and fellow course and distance victor Roy’s Legacy could pose a threat if anywhere near his best. Of the remainder Toni’s A Star looks the one who’s got the ability to put our selection to the test if Staffa fails to deliver tonight. STAFFA (WIN) (N/R) Market Rasen: 12:25 – Dandolo Du Gite (WIN) 12:55 – Queen Of The Wind (WIN) 13:25 – Aaron Lad (E/W) 14:00 – Lisdoonvarna Lad (E/W) 14:35 – Sands Cove (WIN) 15:05 – Hope’s Wishes (WIN) 15:40 – Winningseverything (WIN) Thurles: 12:35 – Mrs Lovett (WIN) 13:05 – Alpha Des Obeaux (WIN) 13:35 – Irish Lass (WIN) 14:05 – On The Mill (E/W) 14:40 – Trump Sixteen (E/W) 15:10 – Cailean’s Angel (E/W) 15:45 – Osmotic (WIN) Wincanton: 12:45 – Mr Mulliner (E/W) 13:15 – Zubayr (WIN) 13:45 – Capeland (WIN) 14:15 – Rhythm Is A Dancer (WIN) 14:45 – Hoover Feever (WIN) 15:20 – Asking Questions (WIN) 15:55 – Now Look At Me (WIN) Newcastle: 13:20 – Indianapolis (WIN) 13:55 – Donnachies Girl (WIN) 14:25 – Kirtling (E/W) 14:55 – Jalmoud (WIN) 15:30 – Big Kitten (WIN) 16:05 – Sunset Flash (WIN) – NAP 16:35 – Orion’s Bow (E/W) 17:05 – Haighfield (WIN) Wolverhampton: 17:30 – Swansdown (WIN) 18:00 – Cantiniere (WIN) 18:30 – Finoah (WIN) 19:00 – Hit The Beat (WIN) 19:30 – Moon Song (WIN) 20:00 – Laieth (WIN) 20:30 – Staffa (WIN)* 21:00 – Alexis Carrington (E/W) The post Picks From The Paddock Best Bet – Thursday 22nd November appeared first on RaceBets Blog EN. View the full article

Australian jockey Tye Angland plans on becoming a gun for hire in Hong Kong, hoping his “hit and run” mission on Sunday will act as a launching pad towards next month’s Longines International Races. The 29-year-old spent four seasons in Hong Kong where he rode 139 winners before returning home to Sydney in 2014, but retains a keen interest in racing here. Angland returns for a one-off meeting on Sunday to help cover a jockey shortfall and has shown he still has strong... View the full article