Wandering Eyes

Pure Sensation is a two-time winner of the $200,000 Parx Dash Stakes (G3T), and the 8-year-old gelding is aiming to take his title back after finishing third to Mr. Amore Stables' Vision Perfect in last year's five-furlong turf contest. View the full article

Building on industry-leading safety and welfare measures, Del Mar Thoroughbred Club announced July 2 a series of initiatives to enhance safety protocols and procedures as the track prepares to celebrate its 80th season of racing. View the full article

Last year following the completion of the last 2-year-old sale of the season (OBS June), we looked at the potential success of the Freshmen Sires by creating a handicapping event, noting at the time that the Freshmen of 2018 were a very competitive bunch, i.e., many of them were capable of rising to the top five or so of their contemporaries after a few crops had raced. Let’s be clear about this: Our task was to lay odds on how the offspring of those sires were likely to compete over the long term, not to identify the Leading Freshmen Sires of 2018 or Leading Second-Crop Sires of 2019. We eschewed the pedigree-only approach and instead brought to bear some digital video and biomechanical data to assist us in our prognostications and then split the 17 stallions in that group into “races” as what we deemed an unbiased Future Book. How did our projections work out? See the link at the end of this essay. We will say right now that if we considered the 2018 bunch as “competitive,” then the Freshmen of 2019 could be described as an exceptionally competitive group with a depth of quality that might point them out eventually as one of the best to come along in the second decade of the 21st Century. Here are the criteria we used for our handicapping: ∙ There are 33 stallions that qualified based on the more than 900 of their offspring which breezed at the seven major sales this year: OBS in March, April, and June; Fasig-Tipton in Florida, Maryland, and California; and Keeneland in April. ∙ A stallion had to have a minimum of five 2-year-olds that breezed to be considered, but we then narrowed them down further: There are 20 Kentucky sires that had a minimum of 15 that breezed, and those 20 were separated by the stud fee when the horse entered stud. There are six Kentucky stallions that did not have 15 that breezed, and they are in another group. There are five in Florida and two from New York. ∙ The major data used detailed how their offspring compared as individuals to all the other 2-year-olds which breezed. The components of this data are included in DataTrack’s BreezeFigs service which is based on breeze time, stride length, and efficiency of angulation. Since 2006, this product has been utilized at sales by buyers and sellers, as well as being offered every day as a handicapping tool at Daily Racing Form‘s website. ∙ We also took into consideration the results of our stallion projection tests, which were compiled in 2016 when these horses went to stud. These profiles are based on biomechanical measurements and the probabilities of these stallions siring race efficient foals from books of biomechanically balanced mares. We also took into consideration the biomechanical profiles of more than 250 of their offspring taken at the 2019 2-year-old and the 2018 yearling sales. The 26 Kentucky stallions are separated into four groups, three based on a minimum of 15 horses that breezed and one for those with fewer than 15. They are listed below in Future Book order with a comment or two along the way. Group 1 (Minimum 15 breezed, Stud Fee = $20,000 Plus, Kentucky) 2-to-1 American Pharoah (Pioneerof the Nile) 3-to-1 Constitution (Tapit) 3-to-1 Liam’s Map (Unbridled’s Song) 7-to-2 Carpe Diem (Giant’s Causeway) 8-to-1 Honor Code (A.P. Indy) 8-to-1 Tonalist (Tapit) 10-to-1 Palace Malice (Curlin) Comment: Yes, yes, yes, we know everyone thinks American Pharoah could walk on the Nile if asked, but the data does back him up as a potential major sire, and his sire also had Cairo Prince at the top of this group last year, which has worked out. Constitution emerged as a potential surprise last July and strengthened that impression when his kids started to breeze. Liam’s Map does not get a “type,” but what he does get is a wide cross section of potential aptitudes and many of them look strong. Carpe Diem, on the other hand, does get a type, and they are very much like Giant’s Causeway, whose Fed Biz got a type last year which were quite different but successful. Honor Code’s way of running and his uniform stamp of his yearlings indicated that they might not be the stars at the breeze shows, but they did well enough to indicate he will be up there eventually. Tonalist and Palace Malice are likely to move up as their runners mature, patience required. Group 2 (Minimum 15 Breezed, Stud Fee = $10,000 to $19,999 Kentucky) 6-to-5 Competitive Edge (Super Saver) 2-to-1 Daredevil (More Than Ready) 9-to-2 Summer Front (War Front) 6-to-1 Bayern (Offlee Wild) 6-to-1 Lea (First Samurai) 8-to-1 Wicked Strong (Hard Spun) 10-to-1 Mr. Speaker (Pulpit) Comment: Last year we thought Goldencents would get lots of early winners, which he did, and Competitive Edge is likely to succeed him in that category–and the “Edge’s” runners and their data indicate he might rack up blacktype early, as well. Daredevil kept sending out speedy types, and they are likely to win lots of races with that speed. The Summer Fronts may like the turf, but many will be just as likely to like the dirt, especially at a mile or more. Bayern had lots of admirers, and they will help him kick lots of goals. Lea has a decent chance to continue the Giant’s Causeway line–versatile types with good data flashes at several sales. Wicked Strong and Mr. Speaker were very popular and are likely to hit some highs but will be surrounded by a very strong group. Group 3 (Minimum 15 Breezed, Stud Fee = $5,000 to $9,999 Kentucky) 2-to-1 Commissioner (A.P. Indy) 2-to-1 Race Day (Tapit) 9-to-2 Secret Circle (Eddington) 6-to-1 Fast Anna (Medaglia d’Oro) 8-to-1 Tapiture (Tapit) 8-to-1 Palace (City Zip) Comment: Commissioner surprised a lot of people last year with his consistent stamp, and they showed they were for real when they breezed–could be a breakout sire. Race Day’s offspring showed a lot of versatility and quality. Secret Circle is one of those “who’s he?” guys, but he’s another from the Unbridled line that should not be overlooked. Fast Anna is already getting fast runners just like he got fast breezers, living up to half his name at least. Tapiture and Palace are likely to get a few quality runners, but they are likely to be late bloomers. Group 4 (Fewer Than 15 Breezed, All Stud Fees, Kentucky) 5-to-2 Jack Milton (War Front) 3-to-1 Sky Kingdom (Empire Maker) 6-to-1 Danza (Street Boss) 10-to-1 Karakontie (Jpn) (Bernstein) 10-to-1 Conveyance (Indian Charlie) 15-to-1 Normandy Invasion (Tapit) Comment: This bunch is really at a disadvantage because of their relatively small representation at the sales, but each of them has a chance to shine if things break right. All are likely to be represented by a cross section of aptitudes. Note: Normandy Invasion’s first crop was conceived in New York; thus, he could benefit by having a good number there and gain some notoriety therefrom. Group 5 (Florida) 5-to-2 Amira’s Prince (Ire) (Teofilo {Ire}) 5-to-2 Khozan (Distorted Humor) 3-to-1 Chitu (Henny Hughes) 3-to-1 The Big Beast (Yes It’s True) 5-to-1 Fury Kapkori (Tiznow) Comment: If this crowd was in Kentucky and at any stud fee level, the odds we have given them here would apply to those other groups–this is a very, very strong group of Freshmen, and they are already making noise on the charts. Pay attention. Group 6 (New York) 6-to-5 Golden Ticket (Speightstown) 6-to-5 Majestic City (City Zip) Comment: These two are likely to get runners that will raise eyebrows, in a positive sense. There you go. How did we do last year? If you’d bet on Goldencents, you would be collecting big time, but otherwise we were pretty much on the mark; see the link below. And then, place your bets! Click to read the 2018 article: Future Book For a Contentious Bunch. Bob Fierro is a partner with Jay Kilgore and Frank Mitchell in DataTrack International, biomechanical consultants and developers of BreezeFigs. He can be reached at bbfq@earthlink.net. The post Body and Soul: Future Book for a Quality Group appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Which 2-year-old race, in its last two editions, has yielded not only a Preakness winner and a Travers 1-2, but also consecutive winners of the Epsom Derby? On the face of it, the fact that both Anthony Van Dyck (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) and Masar (Ire) (New Approach {Ire}) failed to disclose their full potential might suggest that the GI Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf wasn’t really an ideal test. Scuttling round those bends at Churchill and Del Mar, neither had the necessary zip: Masar was delayed in his run before finishing well for sixth, while Anthony Van Dyck could never get involved in ninth. But who can say what incidental benefits they derived from the experience? Albeit the Europeans were gratified by the introduction of these races to the Breeders’ Cup series–in 2007 for colts, the following year for fillies–the most powerful stables proved reluctant to send their very best youngsters on such a long trip at the end of the year, with their domestic Classics looming early on the spring horizon. Instead, given the perceived vulnerability of the indigenous turf horses, the race was treated as an opportunity to give Grade I stud profile to animals that might struggle to break out of the second tier in Europe. In the event, however, several returned home having palpably learned valuable lessons. Lancaster Bomber (War Front) had been serving as pacemaker for the champion juvenile in Europe before he was sent to Santa Anita in 2016, having held out for second at 66-1 when favoured by the rail in the G1 Dewhurst S. He was given a different view of his vocation at the Breeders’ Cup, finishing strongly from off the pace for second. The following year Lancaster Bomber was runner-up, beaten around a length, in both the G1 St James’s Palace S. and the GI Breeders’ Cup Mile, and looked better than ever as a 4-year-old, winning the G1 Tattersalls Gold Cup, when unfortunately retired. As such, his career helped to correct European misapprehensions both about his sire–whose best stock, over there, had hitherto majored in precocity–and about extending a young horse’s first campaign to the Breeders’ Cup. In 2017, his trainer sent over another American-bred colt, Mendelssohn (Scat Daddy), who had similarly appeared to surpass expectations on his latest start as 50-1 runner-up in the G1 Dewhurst S. The field he beat at Del Mar included not just Masar, but also: Catholic Boy (More Than Ready), who would beat Mendelssohn into second when switched to dirt in the GI Travers the following summer; My Boy Jack (Creative Cause), subsequently fifth in the Kentucky Derby; Flameaway (Scat Daddy), another to do well on the main track at three, a Grade III winner and second in three Grade IIs; Sands of Mali (Fr) (Panis), who confirmed himself one of Europe’s fastest in winning the G1 Qipco British Champions Sprint; and James Garfield (Ire) (Exceed And Excel {Aus}), who also did well back in Europe, a G2 winner and beaten half a length in Group 1 company. Mendelssohn himself, of course, won the G2 UAE Derby by half the track and would surely have added a Grade I on dirt in the U.S. had he been ridden somewhat less manically. Aidan O’Brien, trainer of Lancaster Bomber and Mendelssohn, has achieved similar dividends with fillies. Take Alice Springs (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), beaten in all four Group starts before trying her luck at Keeneland in 2015. Though failing by under a length to overcome a slow start that day, she proceeded to win three Group 1s as a sophomore. But whatever Anthony Van Dyck and Masar learned in the Juvenile Turf–how to roll up their sleeves and look after themselves, at close quarters; how to handle twists and turns–what is really interesting is the transferability of the kind of seasoning this kind of test provides. For the examples of Mendelssohn and Catholic Boy have been surpassed, this time round, by the graduation of War of Will (War Front), fifth at Churchill last fall, to win the GI Preakness. This doesn’t only remind me, yet again, how people are far too prescriptive in dividing turf and dirt horses, typically not even according to a horse’s stride or style but on the self-fulfilling basis that his sire-line has a given reputation. (Perhaps the clumsiest example, this, of the pernicious tendency in this business to reduce a living, breathing animal to systems or formulae.) It also offers food for thought, when you compare the notoriously weak record of the GI Breeders’ Cup Juvenile as a Classic signpost. While proposing no kind of agenda, regarding our ever more urgent vigilance over surfaces and welfare, perhaps we should be a little more receptive to the possibility that certain adolescent horses might lay more sustainable foundations for a dirt career by learning their trade on turf. While the Derbys at Epsom and Churchill plainly showcase different strengths, they nonetheless share a common base. Not just in terms of sheer class, and the ability to carry speed, but also in the physical and mental equilibrium to cope with an unusually hectic racing environment–whether the traffic chaos of one, or the bewildering track layout of the other. So if the turf race tends to be more of a crapshoot, with horses weaving for a run as they go up the gears, then perhaps that will sometimes do a developing horse more good than putting his whole system under merciless strain from a long way out, as might more typically happen in the dirt championship. That won’t be true of every horse, naturally. And obviously these races are meeting their brief primarily in producing champions like Lady Eli (Divine Park) and Rushing Fall (More Than Ready). But their impact on some far more venerable events, over the past couple of years, suggests that this relatively new option for a Classic prospect is maturing into a rather broader platform than anyone might have envisaged. The post This Side Up: Classic Winners Share Unexpected Springboard appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

The Goffs Sportsman’s Sale has been extended to two days in 2019 and will take place Oct. 3-4 immediately following the two-day Orby Sale, which is scheduled for Oct. 1-2. Due to its close proximity to the well-established Orby sale, the Sportsman’s session will benefit from its close association to Orby and potential purchasers will have the opportunity to inspect the Sportsman’s yearlings whilst Orby is taking place. “The Goffs Team, including our network of international agents and our friends at Irish Thoroughbred Marketing, will travel the globe between now and the end of September to deliver the largest possible group of buyers for every yearling catalogued by Goffs,” Goffs Group Chief Executive Henry Beeby commented. “Last year, we welcomed our most diverse international group of purchasers to the Goffs yearling sales and we have already confirmed an unparalleled number of overseas buyers and have many more promotional trips planned between now and the sale. The extension of the Sportsman’s means that we can accommodate a higher number of yearlings that meet the strict criteria we set out for this sale, resulting in a simply unmissable week of yearling sales in Ireland at Goffs. We will have a specific marketing campaign for the Sportsman’s Sale alongside the Orby, and vendors can rest assured that we will work tirelessly to deliver the best result for every yearling entrusted to us.” For more information, click here. The post Goffs Extends Sportsman’s Sale to Two Days appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Dr. Mary Scollay has been named executive director and chief operating officer of the Racing Medication and Testing Consortium (RMTC), effective Aug. 5. Scollay will be charged with the advancement of drug testing standards, promotion of RMTC-recommended rules and penalties for prohibited substances and therapeutic medications, monitoring of emerging threats to the integrity of racing and the health and welfare of racehorses, and administrative oversight of RMTC-funded research projects and educational programs. “We are very pleased to have Dr. Scollay on board,” said RMTC chair Alex Waldrop. “She has been working with the RMTC for years now, and that will enable her to hit the ground running in this new capacity, at a pivotal time for the RMTC and the entire horse racing industry.” Scollay most recently held the position of equine medical director for the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission and adjunct faculty member at the University of Kentucky. Prior to that, Scollay spent numerous years as the Senior Association Veterinarian for Calder Race Course and Gulfstream Park, as well as an adjunct faculty member for Miami Dade College’s Department of Veterinary Technology. Scollay has represented the Kentucky Equine Drug Research Council on the RMTC board of directors and Scientific Advisory Committee (SAC) since 2013. She also participated on the Horseracing Testing Laboratories Committee and chaired the SAC Communications Committee, where she assisted in the development of educational materials on test barn chain of custody and procedures, responsibly managing your horse’s environment, the 95/95 tolerance interval, and threshold and withdrawal guidelines for controlled therapeutic substances. The RMTC, which consists of 23 racing industry stakeholders and organizations that represent Thoroughbred, Standardbred, American Quarter Horse and Arabian racing, works to develop and promote uniform rules, policies and testing standards at the national level; coordinate research and educational programs that seek to ensure the integrity of racing and the health and welfare of racehorses and participants; and protect the interests of the racing public. The post Scollay Named RMTC Executive Director appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Longtime horseman Scott Kintz has opened Six K’s Training & Sales, a full-service operation offering breaking, training, lay-up, rehab, sales prep, 2-year-old sales consignments, as well as consultation in buying, selling and breeding Thoroughbreds. Kintz had been serving as farm manager for Mandy Pope’s Whisper Hill Farm. “I am grateful for the time I spent working alongside Mandy Pope in my role as Whisper Hill’s Farm manager,” said Kintz. “Mandy is a wonderful person and a blessing to our industry. I look forward to continuing a good working relationship with her in the future.” The third-generation horseman spent five years as general manager at Woodford Thoroughbreds in Reddick, Florida and was farm manager at Taylor Made Farm for 11 years. “Scott was a great part of our team at Taylor Made,” said Frank Taylor. “His horsemanship and integrity are top notch.” Of his new endeavor, Kintz added, “A lifetime of experience with top-notch professionals and a passion for the industry has led me to this decision. We are very excited about this new venture and the opportunity to help clients reach their goals and succeed at the highest level.” The post Kintz to Open Six K’s Training & Sales appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Trainer Andrew Balding said he could test the staying powers of his G2 Queen’s Vase S. winner Dashing Willoughby (Ire) (Nathaniel {Ire}) in the two-mile G1 Goodwood Cup on July 30. The 3-year-old, who won at Royal Ascot over two furlongs shorter, also has an entry in the G2 Princess of Wales’s S. over 1 1/2 miles at Newmarket on July 11. “I’m sure he would stay two miles, and the 3-year-olds get a healthy weight-for-age allowance, which makes the Goodwood Cup quite attractive,” said Balding. “You are taking on the best stayers, but given the prize money, I would think that is the most likely option. He certainly handles ground with ease in it well, but I would think over two miles quicker ground wouldn’t be a problem.” Balding also noted that Beat The Bank (GB) (Paco Boy {Ire}), second in the G1 Queen Anne S. at Royal Ascot, will attempt to defend his title in the G2 Summer Mile next Saturday. “Beat The Bank will probably go back for the Summer Mile, then on to the Sussex S. He seems in good form,” the trainer said. “He won the Summer Mile last year–so he will have to carry a penalty–but as long as he is in good form, that is where we will go. He has run well in the Sussex S. before, so it seems silly not to go back there afterwards. There are lots of options over a mile and a quarter for him after that.” The post Goodwood Cup Option For Willoughby appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

The Irish Derby was certainly a strange race to watch. From about the four-furlong marker I just had a sense that the leaders were gone. The chasing pack allowed the pacemakers plenty of rope but, that said, if you were Ryan Moore or Chris Hayes on the main two fancies, it would have been very difficult to pull out at the five- or six-furlong marker and decide that you were going to chase a 33-1 shot and a so-called pacemaker. It’s a very tough call. The jockeys were criticised for not following but I think we have to give Sovereign (Ire) plenty of credit. He has every right to be a Derby winner on pedigree. Of course he’s by Galileo (Ire) and if you look back you’ll find the Oaks winner Balanchine (Storm Bird {Can}) there in his pedigree which is laden with stamina and class. This horse is probably only finding himself now as he’s going up in trip. Sovereign never really got a chance at Epsom. He went along at a proper pace but they never let up on him so he never got the chance to show what ability he may have had. He certainly did at the Curragh, however, and the Curragh lends itself to that. It’s much more of a galloping track than Epsom and I think the horse got into a beautiful rhythm and was given an excellent ride by Padraig Beggy. Padraig is a very good rider—he’s had his ups and downs throughout his career—but since he came back to Ireland from Australia he has been a valued member of staff at Ballydoyle. His judgement of pace is excellent and that was evident on a horse who looks to be improving with every day that goes by. Of course it’s hindsight that tells us that and I can fully understand the other jockeys, in the heat of the battle, not chasing the leader at halfway through the race. Unfortunately they got it wrong and that was the story of the race. What people perhaps don’t realise is that the Curragh is a much stiffer test than Epsom. On the Derby track, which is only used twice a year, you’re on the turn a lot of the time. If you’re on a good horse getting a reasonably easy lead and you’re slowly getting away from the field, then at the top of the hill you can give your horse a squeeze and freewheel down off the hill into the straight. That’s what can happen at the Curragh and when it does it can be near impossible to peg the leader back, as we saw on Saturday. Derby Needs A Boost I think the Irish racing authorities and the Curragh itself need to look at the Derby. John Magnier and Ballydoyle support the race well and, yes, they monopolise it but that’s because they have the best horses. This year, Dermot Weld, Kevin Prendergast and Jim Bolger also supported the race but there seems to be a lack of good middle-distance horses in Ireland outside Ballydoyle. Then there was no representation from England, and personally I would love to see it go back to the years of when the likes of Andre Fabre and Alain de Royer Dupre came from France to support the race. It’s been 20 years since we had Pascal Bary win it with Dream Well (Fr) and then John Hammond with Montjeu (Ire). I was lucky enough to win it twice and it’s such a great race but it’s in danger of not holding on to that status as it should. Dermot Weld commented to me over the weekend that as it’s so expensive to fly horses around the world maybe the Curragh should put on a plane to bring horses from England or France to Ireland and encourage more people to run. Certainly something has to be done to give the race a boost. Sizzling Siskin Ger Lyons and Colin Keane had a fantastic weekend and Siskin (First Defence) looks like he could be a really big horse for them. I thought he was mightily impressive in the Railway Stakes. I was keen to take him on with Monarch Of Egypt (American Pharoah), who I thought was a very good horse when he won his maiden at Naas. Monarch Of Egypt had a little hold-up and missed Ascot and I thought there was a lot to take from his run in second. He’s clearly a very good colt but I take nothing away from Siskin, who will now go to the Phoenix Stakes as a very strong contender. He’s by far the best 2-year-old that I’ve seen out so far. I have been very pleased to see Prince Khalid Abdullah support Ger Lyons with some decent horses. The prince has been a great supporter of Dermot Weld and I was very fortunate to ride plenty of good horses for Juddmonte over the years. He’s been fantastic for racing and it’s lovely to see him sending that calibre of horse to Ireland. Eagle Takes Flight I have also been really pleased to see my old friend Free Eagle (Ire) starting to get some nice winners from his first crop. The reports are quite positive on him and I think there will be some nice horses to come out later in the year. He was always going to be that type of sire that has more horses running in the second half of the year rather than early, precocious types, but he has three winners on the board already from not many runners, and let’s hope we see some quality horses emerging as the season goes on. On his day, Free Eagle was as good a horse as I’ve ever sat on. A mile and a quarter was his ideal distance but he had a lot of pace, a really good turn of foot. Unfortunately he had a few injuries through his racing career which held him back from opportunities. He got an injury when he was being prepared for the Derby, though hindsight would probably tell us now that he maybe wouldn’t have stayed a mile and a half, but we thought going into the race he had a huge chance. He was brilliant when he won the Prince of Wales’s Stakes and I’m not surprised that he is starting to succeed as a sire as he has all the right credentials. Kildare’s Got Talent When I was a kid and first started going racing, Kildare used to be absolutely jammed with the festival in the town connected to the Derby meeting. That has died out over the last number of years but the town has put a committee together, which included Orla Murtagh, to try to rejuvenate the festival. They put a huge amount of work into it this year and it was a very big success. One of the highlights had to be the lip sync competition featuring teams of jockeys, trainers, stable staff and one from the sponsor, Paddy Power. The place was full to watch them in action and it was a huge amount of fun. Orla wrangled me into being a judge and needless to say the ultimate showman came to the fore in Johnny Murtagh. We all know Johnny loves the camera and the limelight, and he was in his element on Saturday night. I was also quite taken aback by the ‘fab four’ of Shane Foley, Ronan Whelan, Colin Keane and Gary Carroll. The jockeys mimed to a medley of Queen songs and they looked very comfortable in themselves. Ronan certainly took the role of Freddie Mercury very seriously. The best thing about it was seeing Kildare town absolutely buzzing again after the Derby. The post The Pat Smullen Column: Derby Dilemma appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Prairie Meadows will spotlight 3-year-olds July 5 when 12 colts and geldings line up for the $250,000 Iowa Derby and Longines Kentucky Oaks (G1) third Lady Apple faces six other fillies in the $200,000 Iowa Oaks. Both races are 1 1/16 miles. 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 a half-sister to James Garfield. 12.55 Deauville, Mdn, €27,000, unraced 2yo, f, 7fT Ballymore Thoroughbred’s MISS LARA (IRE) (Galileo {Ire}) is the first foal produced by G1 1000 Guineas heroine Miss France (Ire) (Dansili {GB}) and the homebred bay faces 11 in this debut for the Andre Fabre stable. Opponents include the Jean-Claude Rouget trainee Vienne (Ire) (Showcasing {GB}), who is out of a half-sister to stakes-winning G1 Poule d’Essai des Pouliches third Wild Wind (Ger) (Danehill Dancer {Ire}). 4.30 Thirsk, Cond, £7,500, 3yo/up, 7f 218yT Bill and Tim Gredley’s EVA MARIA (GB) (Sea the Stars {Ire}), who drew a top bid of 260,000gns when failing to sell at Tattersalls’ 2017 October Book 1 sale, is a Richard Fahey-trained half-sister to G1 Prix Maurice de Gheest runner-up and MGSW sire James Garfield (Ire) (Exceed and Excel {Aus}). Her seven rivals feature Sheikh Juma Dalmook Al Maktoum’s once-raced Ghaziyah (GB) (Galileo {Ire}), who is a 280,000gns Tattersalls October Book 1 yearling out of a half to MG1SW sire Aussie Rules (Danehill). 6.20 Kempton, Cond, £6,000, 2yo, f, 7f (AWT) Khalid Abdullah’s hitherto unraced CRESSIDA (GB) (Dansili {GB}) is a homebred full-sister to GI Flower Bowl S. third Grand Jete (GB). The John Gosden representative’s opposition includes stablemate Wasaayef (Ire) (Kingman {GB}), who is a 580,000gns Tattersalls October Book 1 yearling produced by a winning half-sister to G1 Irish 1000 Guineas heroine Nightime (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}); and the Archie Watson-trained Dramatista (Ire) (Lope de Vega {Ire}), who is a daughter of G1 Premio Lydia Tesio victress Aoife Alainn (Ire) (Dr Fong). The post Observations: July 3, 2019 appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Keith Yeung Ming-lun was less than impressed when he lost the ride on Perfect Match after winning on the three-year-old and the jockey hopes he can avoid further disappointment when he reunites with gelding at Happy Valley on Wednesday.Perfect Match meets another horse Yeung has had success with in Not Usual Talent in the Class Two Hoi Ha Handicap (1,650m), with the 31-year-old winning twice in six rides aboard the latter.“I always take whatever I can get, I don’t really pick my rides, whoever… View the full article

Stable transfers have contributed almost 20 per cent of his winners this season and John Moore is looking to add another to the list at Happy Valley on Wednesday night.Moore will take his latest acquisition Chefano to the races for the first time under his name in the Class Three Pak Sha O Handicap (1,650m) as he looks to add a ninth individual stable-transfer winner to his list for 2018-19.Such has been Moore’s improvement this season, his total of 13 stable-transfer winners would have… View the full article

Shaune Ritchie hasn’t given up faith in Excalibur’s ability to win a feature staying race despite being off the winner’s list for 16 months. “I thought he had an off-season last campaign,” the Cambridge trainer said. “He wasn’t rounding his races off like he can, but he had a tough year before that and horses sometimes have an off-year. “Actually he looked to be coming up huge early on, but he had a stone bruise and it took a long time to get over it and he just wasn’t right. I... View the full article

Gobstopper made an impressive start to his jumping career, winning his maiden hurdle at Te Aroha by 13 lengths last month, and his connections have elected to test his talents across the Tasman. A proven galloper on the flat, Gobstopper won the Gr.3 New Zealand Cup (3200m) in 2017, and trainer Andrew Campbell was pleased with his debut performance over fences, but admitted it wasn’t a particularly enjoyable experience to watch. “I knew he went alright and has the flat ability as well, winnin... View the full article

Brown hopes consultation on 2YOs pays off View the full article

See's appeal dismissed, three-month suspension stands View the full article

Despite fighting the after-effects of a 30-hour travel schedule during his return to New Zealand from the United Kingdom, leading South Island trainer Michael Pitman is still buzzing about his experiences over the past two months. Pitman and the owners of sprinter Enzo’s Lad took on the best the world has to offer with a three race campaign that began in Hong Kong with the Gr.1 Chairman’s Sprint (1200m) and then moved to the famous Royal Ascot carnival in England where they tackled the Gr.1 ... View the full article

The Danny Shum-trained Green Energy, a New Zealand-bred son of Rip Van Winkle, returned from an eight-month injury absence to win Monday’s public holiday feature at Sha Tin, the Class 2 Hong Kong Reunification Cup Handicap (1200m). John Moore’s Thanks Forever and the Frankie Lor-trained Big Party were expected to dominate and were sent off at odds of 3.3 and 1.7 respectively. The hype horses failed to live up to expectations though as the 41/1 outsider stalked the lead, shifted out at the to... View the full article

With stakes wins on both sides of the Tasman, imported European mare Igraine has earned herself a special place in Brent and Cherry Taylor’s broodmare band and hearts. The Trelawney principals are in the midst of a winter escape to Spain, but watched with delight as the Robert Priscott-trained Igraine scored a dominant victory in Saturday’s Listed Caloundra Cup (2400m) in Queensland. “It was a huge thrill to see her do that,” Brent Taylor said. “She’s a mare we’ve always had faith ... View the full article

Maureen Merkler will certainly be hoping that lightning strikes twice in the same spot when her Clifton Farm, which bred and sold Cairo Cat to Ken McPeek two years ago, offers the graded stakes winner’s half-sister by Outwork as hip 273 at next Tuesday’s Fasig-Tipton July Selected Yearlings Sale in Lexington. Merkler, who maintains a commercial broodmare band of eight head at her 50-acre Clifton Farm in Stamping Ground, Kentucky, purchased Cairo Cat’s dam La Belle Cat (Tale of the Cat), in foal to Archarcharch, for $22,000 at the 2014 Keeneland November sale. “I wanted a Tale of the Cat. He’s a very good broodmare sire,” Merkler said of the then 5-year-old mare’s appeal. “I saw her and I loved her. She has lots of bone and balance and a beautiful hip on her. She has a pretty head and I loved her eye. I just liked everything about her. I wasn’t crazy about who she was in foal to, but I figured she was a maiden and we could always improve on that. That probably hurt her price a bit, but that was fine by me.” Merkler sent the mare to first-year sire Cairo Cat in 2015. “I am a big fan of Pioneerof the Nile–I remember when he was at Vinery, I loved him at that time,” the New Jersey native said. “So I think it was a no-brainer going to Cairo Prince. I liked him and I had an opportunity to get to the Pioneerof the Nile line with a Tale of the Cat mare. So it was perfect.” The future graded stakes winner distinguised himself early on, according to his breeder. “He was a huge foal,” Merkler said. “He was probably the biggest foal I’ve ever had. But when he started unfolding, I thought, ‘Wow. I have something special here.’ He had lots of leg and bone, everything that you would want.” While Merkler has been represented as breeder of several stakes winners, Cairo Cat became her first graded winner when he captured last year’s GIII Iroquois S. But she admitted she didn’t watch the milestone victory live. “I didn’t watch him,” Merkler said. “Believe it or not, I do not watch any of my horses. I wait for the results and then I watch the replay. I guess I am a little bit supersititious, but also, I just worry. People texted and called me and my phone went off the hook. I knew he was running, but I was just doing my farm chores and then I heard the result. I was quite excited.” La Belle Cat was bred back to 2016 GI Wood Memorial S. winner Outwork in 2017 and the resulting filly heads through the Fasig-Tipton sales ring next week. “She takes more after her sire Outwork,” Merkler said of the yearling. “She has a little more length, but she is a big filly with lots of leg and a lot of depth to her. She is going to be a big girl with a beautiful shoulder and a beautiful hip. And she has an attitude like Cairo Cat had. When I was prepping her, everything I introduced her to, she just took in stride. And she also has a lot of presence. When you bring her out, she just says, ‘Hey, look at me.’ But she’s also very sociable. She’s my social director on the farm. She’s a very athletic-looking filly. It’s hard to fault her.” La Belle Cat produced a filly by another first-crop sire this year in Midnight Storm, and the mare was bred back to Claiborne’s young stallion Mastery. “It is intentional on my part from a commercial standpoint,” Merkler said of using young stallions. “I was active during the crash in 2007 and 2008 when everyone said, ‘We’re going to get away from first-crop sires and we’re going to buy the proven sires.’ That lasted for a little while and then people went to trying the first-year sires who have yet to prove or disprove themselves.” Clifton Farm’s two-horse consignment at the July sale also includes a filly from the first crop of multiple graded stakes winner Anchor Down (hip 85). “It’s a starting point,” Merkler said of the July sale. “Cairo Cat was the first Cairo Prince [yearling] to go through the ring. I was hip six. And now interestingly enough, this is the last Outwork to go through the ring at July. Everyone always says, ‘Who wants to go early?’ But if you have what they are looking for, it doesn’t really matter.” Merkler, who got her first horse when she was just nine, grew up riding hunter/jumpers. She bred show horses and retrained Thoroughbreds off the track before transitioning to breeding racehorses some 30 years ago. “When we moved here to Kentucky in the early ’80s, that’s when I got actively involved,” Merkler said. “We bought a farm out towards Shelby County and I would foal and break yearlings and I would do layups because I was a lot closer to Churchill. I was able to find people who would guide me and it just evolved from there.” Merkler credits Wayne Sweezey with helping with much of her evolution in the sport. “I had an opportunity to work with Wayne Sweezey at Darby Dan and Timber Town,” she said. “We’re good friends and he used to sell my horses. I spent about five years with him at the sales. He taught me a whole lot–we looked at babies and yearlings and we did sales together. And I learned an awful lot from him. So I want to credit him for that because it was a great experience when I was given that opportunity.” While Merkler and her husband purchased Clifton Farm just 13 years ago, the farm has been around since 1842 and it’s clear the breeder is relishing her time at the helm of the historic property. “I just have some 50-some acres,” she explained. “The original farm was 600 and something. We love our farm and we love the history. I just wake up every day because I love what I do. I think I’m lucky because I am able to pursue my passion.” The Fasig-Tipton July Selected Yearlings Sale will be held Tuesday at the company’s Newtown Paddocks, with bidding beginning at 10 a.m. Fasig-Tipton will host its July Horses of Racing Age Sale Monday beginning at 4 p.m. The post Clifton Farm Looks for More F-T July Success appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Ken McPeek’s string of success with graduates of the Fasig-Tipton July Selected Yearling Sale continued in 2018 and 2019, with a pair of the trainer’s 2017 purchases earning graded stakes victories. Cairo Cat (Cairo Prince), purchased from Maureen Merkler’s Clifton Farm for $130,000 in 2017, won last year’s GIII Iroquois S., and Harvey Wallbanger (Congrats), a $50,000 acquisition, was victorious in this year’s GII Fasig-Tipton Holy Bull S. “For decades, Fasig-Tipton has done a really good job bringing athletes to this auction,” McPeek said of the July sale. “It’s not necessarily a hot pedigree sale, but it’s a great place to find runners.” Among McPeek’s most successful July purchases was multiple Grade I winner Take Charge Lady (Dehere). Acquired for $175,000 in 2000, the bay mare won the 2002 GI Ashland S. and 2002 and 2003 editions of the GI Overbrook Spinster S. and earned over $2.4 million on the racetrack. Sold for $4.2 million at the 2004 Keeneland November sale, Take Charge Lady (Giant’s Causeway) has produced champion Will Take Charge (Unbridled’s Song) and Grade I winner Take Charge Indy (A.P. Indy), as well as the dam of champion Take Charge Brandi and this year’s GI Arkansas Derby winner Omaha Beach (War Front). “More than anything, the [July] focus is on physicals,” McPeek continued. “And that’s really been my niche anyway. The sale probably leans more to the physical and the conformation than it does to the pedigree. And a lot of those horses make their own pedigree when they make the racetrack.” The new sire showcase used to be a staple of the July sale and, while the freshman class no longer has its own section, first-crop sires remain a draw of the July sale. “I tend to look at the young stallions really closely,” McPeek said. The veteran horseman struck for one of those yearlings by a first-crop sire in 2017 and was one of the first on the Cairo Prince bandwagon with a yearling out of La Belle Cat (Tale of the Cat). “Cairo Cat went through the ring really early at that sale,” McPeek recalled. “I think he was the first Cairo Prince to sell at auction. He was just a big, handsome colt and obviously was a very good 2-year-old.” Off since his Iroquois win last September, Cairo Cat is on his way back to the races with a pair of three-furlong works at Churchill in June. “He’s getting ready to run again,” McPeek said of the sophomore. “He may very well surface in the [July 26] Curlin S. at Saratoga. I think that’s a good first start for him if everything goes right.” The 2019 July sale will boast a strong bench of first-crop sires, with 25 stallions represented by their first yearlings at auction in the catalogue this year: Air Force Blue, Ami’s Holiday, Anchor Down, Brody’s Cause, California Chrome, Cinco Charlie, Exaggerator, Firing Line, Frosted, Hit It a Bomb, Jess’s Dream, Laoban, Mosler, Mshawish, Not This Time, Nyquist, Outwork, Runhappy, Social Inclusion, Speightster, Tamarkuz, Texas Red, Tourist, Upstart and Vancouver (Aus). One of the yearlings from Outwork’s first crop, a daughter of La Belle Cat (Tale of the Cat), is a half-sister to Cairo Cat. Despite the connection to his graded stakes winner, McPeek was pragmatic about the offering. “I always look, but I do believe that it’s hard for lightning to strike twice in the same spot,” McPeek said. The Fasig-Tipton July Selected Yearlings Sale will be held Tuesday at the company’s Newtown Paddocks, with bidding beginning at 10 a.m. Fasig-Tipton will host its July Horses of Racing Age Sale Monday beginning at 4 p.m. The post F-T July Has McPeek Ready to Restock appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Amanda Prior has assumed the role General Manager of Great British Racing International (GBRI) following the departure of James Oldring June 28. Prior, who hails from Overbury Stud in Gloucestershire, has led GBRI’s client and service development since 2015, when she graduated from the Darley Flying Start. The 30-year-old will remain in charge of the client-facing side of the business, all the while overseeing its overall development as service provider for the British racing and breeding industry. She is married to head of Tattersalls Ascot and Cheltenham, Matt Prior. “We are delighted to appoint Amanda as General Manager of GBRI,” said Rod Street, CEO of Great British Racing. “Her industry knowledge and network are second to none and GBRI will be in capable hands.” Prior added, “It is a great privilege and responsibility to step up to General Manager of GBRI in the wake of my fifth Royal Ascot with the team. The organisation has gone to strength to strength under James’ direction, and I look forward to growing our reach, presence and influence further in years to come.” The post Prior Named GM of GBRI appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Rider Frankie Dettori told Sky Sports Radio he is “very pleased” with Enable (GB) (Nathaniel {Ire}) ahead of the 5-year-old mare’s seasonal debut in Saturday’s G1 Coral-Eclipse at Sandown. Khalid Abdullah’s Enable, already the winner of two G1 Prix de l’Arc de Triomphes, three Oaks’ and a GI Breeders’ Cup Turf, has a third Arc in October as the main aim for her season. “She’s well, I’m very pleased with her,” Dettori said. “I’ve been riding her for the last month and she’s really come on, she’s ready for the run.” Enable’s opposition could include a pair of Royal Ascot winners in G1 St James’s Palace scorer Circus Maximus (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) and Wolferton S. victor Addeybb (Ire) (Pivotal {GB}). The likes of Magical (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) and Mustashry (GB) (Tamayuz {GB}) have also been left in. Gosden told Racing Post, “She’s in good form. She worked under Frankie [Dettori] yesterday morning on the round gallop and I was very happy with it. The plan is to go for the Eclipse and we couldn’t be happier with her. “It’s her first run back and you know the main target is on the first Sunday in October. We’ll try and build to that but we’re happy with her. She’s showing her enjoyment in training and her eagerness. Her exuberant nature is back and she has slimmed down a bit. I couldn’t [have been] more happy with her work on Saturday.” The post Enable Set For Sandown Return appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

In the story of Coolmore’s emergence as arguably the world’s most important stallion station, Kilsheelan Stud would barely merit a footnote. For a while this satellite stud was used to house a few of Coolmore’s National Hunt stallions, such as Executive Perk and Carlingford Castle, as well as some inexpensive speed sires, such as College Chapel and Distinctly North. However, that footnote became essential at the end of 1997, when Danehill Dancer returned from his first season in Australia to make his Irish debut at Kilsheelan. Danehill Dancer’s services were priced at only IR4,000gns. This made him comfortably the cheapest of the four Group 1 winners which were added to the Coolmore roster for the 1998 season, the others being the Sussex S. winner Ali-Royal, who was priced at 6,000gns, and the the 2,000 Guineas winner Entrepreneur and the Irish 2,000 Guineas and Irish Derby winner Desert King, both of whom retired at 17,500gns. The level of Danehill Dancer’s fee, and his location, suggested that expectations were not especially high, which might have been a reflection of the second half of his racing career. He had failed to finish closer than third in any of his final six appearances and his last two outings saw him finish last of 11 in the 1996 Haydock Park Sprint Cup and seventh of 10 in the 1997 Duke of York S. Retirement and a first trip to Australia soon followed. Of course, there was another side to his story. His first five appearances had yielded four victories and a second. He had landed the G1 Phoenix S. on only his second appearance and then followed up with another Group 1 success in the National S. He had also made a bright start to his second season, winning the G3 Greenham S. to earn a shot at the 2,000 Guineas, in which he gave the impression that a mile was a step too far. Fortunately, Danehill Dancer immediately dispelled any doubts about his potential as a stallion, in much the same way that his own sire, Danehill, had done, and he was soon switched to the main stud farm. Only Danehill’s 2-year-olds won more races in 2001 than the British and Irish members of Danehill Dancer’s first crop and by 2006 Danehill Dancer had emulated Danehill by becoming the leading sire of 2-year-olds. He was to top the table again in 2008 and 2009. With his success being by no means restricted to his juveniles, Danehill Dancer also took the title of champion sire in 2009, having been runner-up to Galileo in 2008. To round off his accomplishments, Danehill Dancer also defeated Danehill to become the champion sire of broodmares in 2016 and he is again doing tremendously well in this role, to the extent that he now ranks second to Pivotal, one place above Galileo. An odd aspect to Danehill Dancer’s career as a broodmare sire was that, at one stage, his daughters had produced northern hemisphere Group 1 winners to only one sire–Galileo. That changed when Dubawi’s daughter Kitesurf triumphed in last year’s Prix Vermeille, but it has been more of the same this year. Firstly we saw the G1 St James’s Palace S. fall to Circus Maximus and then we had the shock of Sovereign proving impossible to catch in the G1 Irish Derby. Sovereign ranks as the third Classic winner produced by the Galileo-Danehill Dancer nick, following the magnificent Minding, who numbered the 1,000 Guineas and Oaks among her seven Group 1 successes, and The Gurkha, who landed the Poule d’Essai des Poulains. The other Group 1 winner from this cross was that tough and talented filly Alice Springs, who landed the Falmouth, Matron and Sun Chariot S. during a busy campaign in 2016. (Incidentally, Alice Springs’ first foal is a 2019 filly by Dubawi.) Breeders didn’t lack motivation for sending Danehill Dancer’s daughters to Galileo. With the Group 1 winners Teofilo, Cima de Triomphe, Frankel, Golden Lilac and Roderic O’Connor among the early representatives of Galileo’s association with Danehill, there was every incentive to try the multiple champion sire with Danehill’s grand-daughters, especially those by Danehill Dancer. Galileo’s partnership with Danehill’s daughters has continued to flourish to the extent that there are now more than 60 black-type earners among its 303 foals of racing age. No fewer than 49 of them have become black-type winners, for a terrific 16 per cent. To be honest, I didn’t expect Danehill Dancer’s daughters to match up to those of Danehill. While Danehill Dancer was clearly a highly accomplished stallion, and a versatile one too, he made much less impact than his sire in his 13 visits to Australia and Danehill also notched up more sires’ championships in Europe. However, with quite a few of Danehill Dancer’s daughters having access to the world’s most brilliant stallion, they too have achieved some remarkable figures. From 107 foals of racing age, they have produced 19 black-type winners, which represents 18 per cent, compared to Danehill’s 16. Their 14 Group winners represent 13 percent, compared to the 11 percent Galileo has achieved with Danehill mares. Both figures compare well with Galileo’s worldwide figure of around 7 percent group winners to foals. It is worth looking at the racing records of the Danehill Dancer mares responsible for group winners by Galileo. Oddly, the one with the best record is Remember When, who never won a race despite being good enough to finish fourth in the Irish 1,000 Guineas and second to Snow Fairy in the Oaks. All seven of Remember When’s foals are by Galileo and all four of her runners are black-type winners, namely the Group 2 winner Wedding Vow (second in the G1 Nassau S.), the Group 3 winners Beacon Rock and Bye Bye Baby (who was third in the Oaks) and the listed winner Bound, who was sold for 2,200,000gns last December. Most of the other group winners bred this way are also out of mares which were well above average. Minding and her Group 3-winning sister Kissed By Angels are out of the Group 1-winning Lillie Langtry, whereas Circus Maximus’ dam Duntle was demoted to second after her win at Group 1 level. The Group 2 winner Memory is the dam of Group 2 winner Call To Mind and Group 3 winner Recorder, and The Gurkha’s dam Chintz was a Group 3 winner. Alice Springs’ dam Aleagueoftheirown was second at Listed level, as was Longing To Dance, the dam of Group 3 winner Be My Gal. That leaves the Group 3-winning Quest For Peace, who is out of a minor winner, and the Group 3 winner Rain Goddess, who is the only other one of the 14 to have a non-winning dam. Even she has the Classic-winning Virginia Waters as her second dam. Sovereign’s dam Devoted To You was also well above average, as she showed when second to Lillie Langtry in the G2 Debutante S. at two and when she was beaten only a head in the G3 Park Express S. on her reappearance at three. She also put up a couple of respectable efforts at around a mile and a quarter. Coincidentally, Sovereign’s unraced second dam Alleged Devotion was a half-sister to Balanchine, the Oaks winner who defeated the colts in the Irish Derby. This excellent family also produced the Prix de Diane winner West Wind, whose half-sister Eastern Joy is the dam of the high-class Thunder Snow. The post Pedigree Insights: Sovereign appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article