Wandering Eyes

Hall of Fame trainer Steve Asmussen has been sued by the United States Department of Labor for allegedly violating the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 by underpaying over 100 grooms and hotwalkers in New York. View the full article

Originally these “Tip of the Top Hat” awards after the five-day Royal Meeting at Ascot, were entitled DOWN THE STRETCH AWARDS. But since the Ascot homestretch is uphill, I have renamed these presentations as the UP THE STRETCH AWARDS…also known as the “Stretchies.” WALL HORSE AWARD to Nagano Gold (GB) (Sixties Icon {GB}), who might have won the G2 Hawdwicke S. because he was bothered twice by Masar (Ire) (New Approach {Ire}) Saturday. When I was calling races at Fairmount Park and Cahokia Downs way back in the last century, when I would see a horse in real trouble, I would immediately scribble the name on the wall as soon as I shut off the microphone. Yes, the wall was a mess at the end of a season, but I think it showed a profit of horses to watch next time out. Nagano Gold would have been on that wall. He was cut off at the start, lost several lengths, and forced to race far behind in the early going of the mile and a half trip. Then, starting his bid, he was sawed off again by the same horse who bothered him at the start, Masar! The “wall horse” miraculously finished second the Defoe (Ire) (Dalakhani {Ire}) in a brave performance helped by a forced, but magnificent, stop-and-go and stop-and-go ride by Christophe Soumillion. A “wall horse” indeed. THE WIG AWARD. Not one wag in the press box can remember when it started, so that means it was a long long time ago. Certainly before the present monarch. There are 10 ladies and gentlemen, all dressed alike, who actually ride many of the horses in the Royal Procession each day. For some crazy reason, each of these equestrians wear black riding caps, with a blonde wig sewn into the helmet, making it look like all of the riders are blonde and curly, too! I guess it is to give more attention to the folks in the carriages, but it seems a bit foolish in 2019. Then again, it is a part of the show of the unforgetable five-day fantasy and reality of Royal Ascot. BEST PERFORMANCE BY A HORSE goes to Godolphin’s Blue Point (Ire) (Shamardal) who won both the G1 King’s Stand S. and the G1 Diamond Jubilee S. in the space of four days! You won’t see anything like that happen in the colonies. BEST PERFORMANCE BY A TRAINER to the conditioner of the above dual Group 1 performer, plus many other stars. Charlie Appleby, who has climbed the ladder at Godolphin from groom, to traveling lad, to assistant trainer, to trainer. He has won multiple graded events all over the world, including three Breeders’ Cup races over the past two years. Bravo! BEST PERFORMANCE BY A JOCKEY is easy. The most recognizable jockey in England, and perhaps one of the greatest to every ride, Frankie Dettori. At age 48, he replaced Ryan Moore as the top jockey at the meet (it used to be called the Ritz Club Trophy) for 2019. Well done, Frankie. Please stay healthy and come back next year. CREDIT WHERE CREDIT IS DUE AWARD goes to the excellent Frankie Dettori. He is famous here for his “flying dismount” from the saddle following an important stakes victory. But Frankie is the first to admit that he copied his now-famous trademark from Angel Cordero, Jr. Dettori picked it up when he came to ride in the United States about 1980, whilst Cordero was doing that same bit of showmanship at NYRA tracks years before that time. DAD OF THE WEEK following Father’s Day was Shamardal (Giant’s Causway) who, at age 17, made a great impact on the meeting and this country as the sire of many important winners. LUNCH OF THE WEEK in the press box. Spicy Orzo, with red peppers. Who would have thought something so simple was so tasty? ROOKIE AWARD to David Egan, who turned 20 years old Tuesday, won the G3 Albany S. on Daahyeh (GB) (Bated Breath {GB}) while his father, John, was riding at Newmarket. He is the nephew of outstanding rider, Richard Hughes. David won the 2017 Apprentice title here in England, and now has a Royal Ascot winner. THE ME TOO AWARD to underappreciated Haley Turner, who became only the second woman ever to ride a winner at The Royal meeting when she piloted longshot Thanks Be (GB) (Mukhadram {GB}) to capture The Sandringham S. (Handicap) Friday. THE JOHN HENRY AWARD (for old timers) goes again to the 93-year-old monarch of England and #1 Ascot racegoer since 1945. Every racing day she is there. With a nod to the great Tom Durkin, she is “the incomparable, invincible, unbeatable, Queen Elizabeth II.” Congratulations to the 2019 “Stretchie” winners. The post A Letter from Ascot: Up the Stretch Awards appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Sponsored by Alex Nichols Agency 1st-PRX, $45K, Msw, 2yo, 5f, 12:55 p.m. ET DJ Stable’s COLBY (Super Saver), who turned in a co-quickest :20 2/5 quarter-mile breeze at OBS March, makes her debut here for John Servis. A $65,000 KEENOV weanling and $100,000 FTKJUL yearling, the chestnut cost $440,000 in Ocala and is out of GSP Macha (Majestic Warrior). Colby prepped for this with a :46.79 local bullet from the gate that was far quicker than the next-fastest of 41 spins at the distance. TJCIS PPs The post Monday’s Racing Insights: OBSMAR Co-Bullet Breezer Debuts at Parx appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Conditions for Royal Ascot went from black rainclouds to an altogether more agreeable sunlit second half, lifting hearts, drying the ground and allowing macs and brollies to be cast aside. The one creature to be completely unmoved by such radically different backdrops was Blue Point (Ire) (Shamardal). Come rain or shine, he stole the show as both a much needed warm-up act and a dazzling star of the finale. Choisir (Aus) (Danehill Dancer {Ire}) was flown halfway around the world to snare the audacious Ascot sprint double, which has been attempted in the meantime but took 16 years to be replicated by Godolphin’s increasingly heroic 5-year-old, who must now be considered the best sprinter anywhere in the world. Not long after Choisir’s epic feat, a young Kate Sigsworth reported for duty in Darley’s nominations department at Dalham Hall Stud. Her elder brother Matthew worked just across the road at Cheveley Park Stud and still does. Along with their regular jobs, which for Kate also involves appearances on Racing TV, the siblings indulge in a spot of pinhooking. At the Tattersalls December Sale of 2014, they selected a Shamardal weanling from Linda and Reddy Coffey’s Oak Lodge & Springfield House Studs, paying 110,000gns for the son of the Royal Applause (GB) mare Scarlett Rose (GB). At Book 1 less than a year later, he was sold through their family’s West Moor Stud for 200,000gns to Kate’s former boss, John Ferguson. It was good business on both sides of the equation. The Sigsworths made a tidy profit for their client and Godolphin has Blue Point, who has been skilfully coaxed by Charlie Appleby to excel at Ascot and Meydan—arguably the two most important stages for the horse’s owner, Sheikh Mohammed—and, perhaps even more importantly, will be one of the most enticing prospects to enter stud next season. “On pedigree before we went to the sales, I’d picked out three Shamardals,” Sigsworth recalled. “One of them was Blue Point and I just loved the way he moved as well as his demeanour. He had quite a big head and a great big backside. At that stage his front end hadn’t really caught up, but what really drew me to him was the way he moved. He was quite a nervy horse when we first got him home but he was always very gentle and kind, and very easy to do.” She added, “It’s given us great pleasure to follow him. Having worked at Darley in nomination sales and shown all those brilliant stallions from the days when I was there, to think that I’ve had even the smallest nugget to do with a stallion who could end up standing at Dalham Hall Stud is unbelievable.” One of the most refreshing aspects of the Blue Point story is that he is still dazzling us on the racecourse at the age of five. This is not a reflection of him being slow to come to hand. He made his winning juvenile debut the week before Royal Ascot three years ago and made six 2-year-old starts in all, winning the Gimcrack S. and finishing second in the Middle Park and the Richmond S., and then third in the Dewhurst. The two horses to which he was runner-up—Mehmas (Ire) and The Last Lion (Ire)—were both bustled off to stud the following year, while Churchill (Ire) and Lancaster Bomber, who finished ahead of him in the Dewhurst, stuck around a little longer. Blue Point went on to appear at three consecutive Royal meetings, twice beating Battaash (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}) in the King’s Stand before pulling off this year’s remarkable follow-up act in the Diamond Jubilee. Furthermore, he landed the G1 Al Quoz Sprint on Dubai’s biggest day earlier this year, having been withdrawn at the start when favourite for that race 12 months earlier after banging his head and suffering a nosebleed. With his restricted book, Shamardal has been pretty much off limits to breeders outside the Darley fold for several seasons now, his fee having been listed as private for the last four years, and his reputation as an elite sire is growing steadily all the while. His son Lope De Vega (Ire) is already widely recognised as a high-calibre stallion in his own right, while Shadwell’s Mukhadram (GB) is making progress with his first two crops on the track and recorded a first Royal Ascot winner of his own, Thanks Be (GB), who also notched notable firsts at the meeting for her owner Emma Capon, jockey Hayley Turner and trainer Charlie Fellowes. Shamardal has long been famed for imparting his noble Roman nose to his offspring, but it is clear that looks are not the only thing transmitted through those genes. He’s a stallion whose range increases with each passing season: witness the fact that this year his best performers include not just a crack sprinter, but the Poule d’Essai des Pouliches winner Castle Lady (GB), and Saturday’s thrilling Chesham and Wokingham S. heroes Pinatubo (GB) and Cape Byron (GB), while grandchildren, through sire and damline respectively, include Irish 2000 Guineas winner Phoenix Of Spain (Ire) and Oaks runner-up Pink Dogwood (Ire). A closer look at Blue Point’s pedigree drops several hints as to his durability, including as it does two horses famed for their toughness. His grandsire is the ‘Iron Horse’ himself, Giant’s Causeway, who lit up the summer of 2000 with his winning streak that started at Royal Ascot in the St James’s Palace S. and continued through the Eclipse, Sussex, Juddmonte International and Irish Champion S. A little less celebrated but no less hardy was his dam’s half-brother Tumbleweed Ridge (GB) (Indian Ridge {Ire}). His ten wins from 58 starts included five Group 3 victories in a career spanning eight seasons. Admittedly, he wasn’t top drawer, but his solid constitution was something that we don’t often get a chance to see in colts these days before they are signed up at stud. We’ve seen it in Blue Point, whose achievements add more than a dash of class to a division in which this is sometimes lacking. Darley already has Shamardal’s sons French Navy and Bow Creek at stud in Ireland and France, but the arrival of Blue Point to one of its stallion barns, whenever that may be, will be a day to be celebrated. Breathtaking Performances Royal Ascot was far from just the Shamardal show. Those dependable brothers Galileo (Ire) and Sea The Stars (Ire) played their roles with their usual aplomb. The latter perhaps just had bragging rights with his two Group 1 winners—Crystal Ocean (GB) and the indefatigable Stradivarius (Ire)—but the manner of Japan’s win in the G2 King Edward VII S. suggested that the son of Galileo and Newsells Park Stud’s classy matriarch Shastye (Ire) (Danehill) is surely a Group 1 winner-in-waiting. Galileo’s sons Frankel (GB), Gleneagles (Ire) and Nathaniel (Ire) were also represented by Ascot winners. Frankel’s Baghdad (Fr), bred by Haras de Saint Pair, was winning at Royal Ascot for the second year running for Mark Johnston, while his other winner The Grand Visir (GB) cemented a memorable spell for trainer Ian Williams. The excellent dual-purpose trainer notched a first Royal Ascot winner just days after a Listed victory for his Melbourne Cup hopeful and new signing, Gold Mount (GB) (Excellent Art {GB}), who, under his previous name of Primitivo had won at Royal Ascot three years ago. For freshman Gleneagles it was of course an important breakthrough stakes win in the Windsor Castle S., while Nathaniel’s Dashing Willoughby (GB) provided a first Royal Ascot and group win for his owners Mick and Janice Mariscotti, of whom we will hear more in Tuesday’s TDN, as well as continuing a terrific week for his sire after the G1 Prix de Diane success of the Kilcarn Stud-bred Channel (Ire). Her success also started a memorable week for trainer Francis Graffard and jockey Pierre-Charles Boudot, who claimed the G1 Coronation S. with Watch Me (Fr), an important first Group 1 winner for Haras de Bouquetot’s Olympic Glory (Ire), himself a son of the aforementioned Choisir. One of the most pleasing aspects of the meeting for breeders on more modest budgets was an excellent week for Bated Breath (GB), whose trio of Royal Ascot winners—Biometric (GB), Daahyeh (GB) and Space Traveller (GB)—was followed up by Saturday’s Santa Anita victory of Simply Breathless (GB) in the GIII Wiltshire S. The Highgate Stud-bred 4-year-old had in fact posted her final British win at Ascot for Clive Cox last September, with subsequent GI EP Taylor S. winner Sheikha Reika (GB) (Shamardal) behind her in fourth that day, before she was transferred to Neil Drysdale’s barn in California. Mummy’s Boys All Ascot races are competitive but none offers quite such a spectacle as the 30-runner cavalry charge that is the Royal Hunt Cup. Afaak (GB) (Oasis Dream {GB}) improved on an admirable second last year to nose out Clon Coulis (Ire) (Vale Of York {Ire}) and become a Royal Ascot winner just like his dam, Ghanaati (Giant’s Causeway), a grand-daughter of the Queen’s Height Of Fashion (Fr) (Bustino {GB}) who won the G1 Coronation S. after landing the 1000 Guineas in 2009. South Pacific (GB) (Galileo {Ire}) is another with a strong family link to the Royal meeting as his half-brother Most Improved (Ire) (Lawman {Fr}) won the G1 St James’s Palace S. in 2012 for Brian Meehan, while another, Ectot (Ire) (Hurricane Run {Ire}) was a Group/Grade 1 winner in France and America. Going one better than their late dam Tonnara (Ire) (Linamix {Fr}) when it comes to supplying Royal Ascot winners, however, is Lynnwood Chase (Horse Chestnut) who, coincidentally, was a resident of Richard Gibson’s Chantilly stable at the same time as Gerry Oldham’s homebred Tonnara. Bought as a yearling for Anthony Oppenheimer by Hugo Lascelles for €140,000, Lynnwood Chase had already been represented by the G3 Tercentenary S.-winning Lemon Drop Kid brothers Pisco Sour and Cannock Chase, and the mare, who died earlier this year, was given a posthumous tribute by her daughter Star Catcher (GB) (Sea The Stars {Ire}), the first of the family to score at the meeting in the colours of her breeder when winning the G2 Ribblesdale S. Lynnwood Chase died after foaling a colt by another winner of the Tercentenary S., Time Test (GB), and she also has a yearling filly by Frankel at Oppenheimer’s Hascombe & Valiant Studs. The Torch Passes Amid the clamour surrounding Hayley Turner’s win—the first for a female jockey at Royal Ascot for 32 years—it should not be overlooked that it was a special, if not poignant, day for the filly’s owner Emma Capon, who lost her grandmother only last week, and for her husband Simon, whose sister was diagnosed with cancer on the morning of Thanks Be’s win. The Capons, with Emma’s father Tom Wilson, have recently bought Glebe Stud near Newmarket and have set up a new consigning venture, Skyline Thoroughbreds, with former Newsells Park Stud yearling manager Gerry Meehan at the helm. Thanks Be has been entered for the forthcoming July Sale at Tattersalls but it would be no surprise to see her withdrawn after breaking her maiden in such dramatic fashion. Just as longstanding owner-breeder Julia Scott has recently handed over to new owners at Glebe Stud, Luca and Sara Cumani have done the same at Bedford House Stables, where Thanks Be is now trained by Charlie Fellowes. On the same day that that the most recent Royal Ascot winner from the historic yard was registered, it was pleasing to see Luca Cumani’s notable training career, which came to a close earlier this year, acknowledged by his inclusion, with Sara, in the Royal Procession. It’s unlikely to be the last we’ll see of the couple at the course as their breeding operation continues in earnest and was on Thursday represented by five-length Chelmsford winner Kirstenbosch (GB) (Mount Nelson {GB}), who is now unbeaten in two starts for the Cumanis under the tutelage of James Fanshawe. Egans At The Double David Egan must be congratulated for his first Royal Ascot victory in a terrific week for his boss Roger Varian, who saddled Daahyeh to win the G3 Albany S. with Egan aboard, as well as posting a final-day double with Defoe (GB) (Dalakhani {Ire}) and Cape Byron for Sheikh Mohammed Obaid. It would be easy for Egan, who turned 20 last week, to trade on his family ties: with former trainer Sandra Hughes as his mother, jockey John Egan his father, former champion jockey-turned-trainer Richard Hughes as an uncle and the late Dessie Hughes as his grandfather, he won’t find connections hard to come by. But what marks him out as a young jockey to follow closely in the coming years, alongside his obvious talents as a rider, are his cool head and exemplary manners. Youngsters wishing to follow his path should be shown videos of his post-race interviews as an example of how to conduct oneself in the media glare. It perhaps won’t be long before we hear more of the Egan name as Friday was also a memorable day for another member of the family, David’s younger brother Philip, who graduated from Ireland’s Racing Academy and Centre of Education (RACE) that same morning. Watch this space. Casamento’s Classic Strike We started this round-up with one of Shamardal’s sons and we’ll end with another: Casamento (Ire). A resident for one year at Ljungstorps Stud in Sweden after leaving the Darley roster, the strapping chestnut was repatriated this year to stand at the Hickey family’s Sunnyhill Stud alongside Doyen (GB) and Lucky Speed (Ger). It’s a farm better known for its excellent National Hunt record but Casamento is enjoying rather a good season with his Flat runners. On Guineas weekend in Newmarket, his son Communique (Ire) beat subsequent Coronation Cup and Hardwicke S. winner Defoe when landing the G2 Jockey Club S., while a fortnight ago Amade (Ire), trained in France by Italian expat Alessandro Botti, won the GII Belmont Gold Cup and is now being aimed towards the Melbourne Cup. The latest success for Casamento came on Sunday at San Siro, where his daughter Lamaire (Ire) won the G2 Oaks d’Italia for her owner-breeder, Razza Dormello Olgiata, which is owned by the Marchese Nicolo Incisa della Rocchetta, the son of Federico Tesio’s business partner in his famous breeding enterprise. The post The Royal Wrap: Ascot Point To Point appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

SHANCELOT (c, 3, Shanghai Bobby–True Kiss {SW, $115,418}, by Is It True), a sharp maiden winner back in February at Gulfstream, returned with a frontrunning romp over allowance/optional claiming rivals Sunday at Monmouth. Debuting at over 12-1 Feb. 16 in Hallandale, the $245,000 OBS March buy set a blistering pace and held on late to best subsequent GI Florida Derby runner-up Bodexpress (Bodemeister), earning a 91 Beyer in the process. Back with all the money on at 1-5 here, the dark bay broke on top and quickly cleared, opening up nearly five lengths past a :22.16 quarter. Bowling along through a :44.56 half, the Jorge Navarro trainee never showed any signs of slowing down in the stretch and cruised under the wire 6 1/2 lengths to the good in a salty 1:08.43. Clench (The Factor) was second best. The winner is a half to One True Kiss (Warrior’s Reward), MGSP, $231,459, as well as a juvenile Carpe Diem filly named Sweet Kisses who was runner-up first out June 12 at Belmont for Jeremiah Englehart. His dam, a half to GISW turfer Silver Max (Badge of Silver), has a yearling colt by Runhappy and foaled a Carpe Diem colt Apr. 23. Sales History: $50,000 Ylg ’17 FTSAUG; $245,000 2yo ’18 OBSMAR. Lifetime Record: 2-2-0-0, $54,300. O-Gelfenstein Farm & Al & Michelle Crawford; B-Charles Muth & Patrick Murphy (KY); T-Jorge Navarro. The post Shanghai Bobby Colt Stays Unbeaten in Monmouth Tour de Force appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

LONG WEEKEND (c, 2, Majesticperfection–Liza Too, by Olmodavor), pounded down to 8-5 in what appeared to be a loaded baby race, avoided trouble when another foe lost his rider and out-finished that loose horse to win well at first asking. A $225,000 OBSAPR acquisition after a speedy-but-easy :20 3/5 breeze, the bay colt showed four local spins–most recently a 1:00 4/5 (4/23) drill from the gate June 12–in preparation for this first go. Away in about third, Long Weekend soon took over and sped clear. Dennis’ Moment (Tiznow), meanwhile, who was highly touted by trainer Dale Romans in a pre-race interview, was squeezed along the fence and lost rider Robby Albarado. Long Weekend wasn’t seriously threatened from there by anyone aside from the loose horse, who kept on running to finish within about a half length of Long Weekend. Official runner-up Samurai Cause (First Samurai) was some six lengths back of the winner, who stopped the clock in :58.48. Long Weekend is out of a stakes-placed half-sister to Grade I-winning sprinters Paulassilverlining (Ghostzapper) and Dads Caps (Discreet Cat). Lifetime Record: 1-1-0-0. O-BCWT Ltd. B-Woodford Thoroughbreds (KY). T-Thomas Amoss. The post Majesticperfection Colt Sharp in Eventful Unveiling appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Evergreen 5-year-old mare Lys Gracieux (Jpn) (Heart’s Cry {Jpn}) collected a second Group 1 win as the only female in Sunday’s G1 Takarazuka Kinen, a “Win and You’re In” qualifier for the GI Longines Breeders’ Cup Turf, under Australian jockey Damian Lane. Lys Gracieux had been runner-up four times at the highest level before she at last broke through in the G1 Queen Elizabeth II Cup in November, and she was subsequently second in the G1 Longines Hong Kong Vase. She was second to the year-younger colt-and the 2017 Japanese champion juvenile-Danon Premium (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) on seasonal debut in the G2 Kinko Sho at Chukyo on Mar. 10, and was sent off at 4-1 for this after checking in third in Sha Tin’s G1 QEII Cup on Apr. 28. Breaking sharply from the extreme outside post 12, Lys Gracieux was about three wide heading into the first bend but had worked her way up to sit a length second behind the favoured Kiseki (Jpn) (Rulership {Jpn}). Shadowing that rival all the way down the backstretch, Lys Gracieux took dead aim on him after turning for home. Despite failing to switch leads she overtook her rival with ease and galloped clear to win by three lengths. Kiseki stayed on to be a game second. The 25-year-old Lane, who was winning his second Japanese Group 1 in addition to last month’s Victoria Mile, said of his tactics, “She broke well and I thought I might as well use that to my advantage. I was very confident turning in that she had plenty left in the tank and I was worried that there were a lot of good horses chasing and I thought that they would challenge but she was just too strong.” Pedigree Notes Lys Gracieux is out of the three-time French listed winner Liliside (Fr) (American Post {GB}), who is herself a full-sister to stakes winner Lily America (Fr). Other sisters have produced the G3 Premio Sergio Cumani winner Ming Zhi Cosmos (Fr) (Duke of Marmalade {Ire}), G1 Criterium de Saint-Cloud winner Robin of Navan (Fr) (American Post {GB}) and last year’s G1 Prix Marcel Boussac winner Lily’s Candle (Fr) (Style Vendome {Fr}). Lily’s Candle is also eventually headed to Japan, having been bought by Katsumi Yoshida for €1.1-million at last year’s Arqana December sale. Sunday, Hanshin, Japan TAKARAZUKA KINEN-G1, ¥289,660,000, Hanshin, 6-23, 3yo/up, 2200mT, 2:10.80, gd. 1–LYS GRACIEUX (JPN), 123, m, 5, by Heart’s Cry (Jpn) 1st Dam: Liliside (Fr) (MSW-Fr, $144,882), by American Post (GB) 2nd Dam: Miller’s Lily (Fr), by Miller’s Mate (GB) 3rd Dam: Lymara (Fr), by Lyphard O-Carrot Farm; B-Northern Farm; T-Yoshito Yahagi; J-Damian Lane; ¥152,562,000. Lifetime Record: Ch. Older Mare-Jpn, 20- 5-8-4. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree. Werk Nick Rating: F. 2–Kiseki (Jpn), 128, h, 5, Rulership (Jpn)–Blitz Finale (Jpn), by Deep Impact (Jpn). O-Tatsue Ishikawa; B-Shimokobe Farm; ¥60,732,000. 3–Suave Richard (Jpn), 128, h, 5, Heart’s Cry (Jpn)–Pirramimma, by Unbridled’s Song. (¥155,000,000 wnlg ’14 JRHAJUL) O-NICKS Inc; B-Northern Farm; ¥38,366,000. Margins: 3, 2, 2. Odds: 4.40, 2.60, 7.80. Also Ran: Al Ain (Jpn), Rey de Oro (Jpn), Noble Mars (Jpn), Stiffelio (Jpn), Clincher (Jpn), Etario (Jpn), Shonan Bach (Jpn), Makahiki (Jpn), Tatsu Gogeki (Jpn). Click for the JRA chart and video or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. The post Second Group 1 For Lys Gracieux appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Paul O’Sullivan’s Chicken Dance is a horse on the rise and the Kiwi trainer is hoping the import stays true to his name.The three-year-old easily put his rivals to the sword in just his third start under jockey Zac Purton in the Class Four Kau To Shan Handicap (1,200m) at Sha Tin on Sunday in what could be a glance into the future.While unusual horse names are pretty common in Hong Kong, Chicken Dance certainly catches the eye.O’Sullivan said it originated from a request from the owner’s… View the full article

Caspar Fownes thinks Rise High will be “the next big thing for Hong Kong racing” after showing his class in the Group Three Premier Plate (1,800m) at Sha Tin on Sunday.After running on strongly to finish second in the Group One Standard Chartered Champions & Chater Cup last month, the trainer’s faith in the five-year-old was further justified by carrying the top weight of 133 pounds to victory in the last feature of the season.Fownes has long been bullish about Rise High but he is now putting… View the full article

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Ex-pat Kiwi jockey Jason Collett put some narrow defeats at the highest level well behind him on Saturday when he captured his first Group One victory in the saddle when successful on the Chris Waller-trained Invincibella in the Tattersall’s Tiara (1400m) at Eagle Farm. “It feels pretty good this morning,” Collett said on Sunday as he began the long trek back to Sydney from Brisbane. “We didn’t celebrate too much as I knew I had a long drive back today but it feels pretty good to final... View the full article

South African jockey Grant van Niekerk hopes his victory aboard Flying Thunder in the Group Three Premier Cup (1,400m) and his biggest day at the races in Hong Kong will pave the way for even greater success next season.It was Van Niekerk’s first win at Group level in Hong Kong and he also saluted on the Caspar Fownes-trained Nice Fandango and John Moore’s Earth Trilogy to secure his first treble, giving him a confidence boost he intends to put to good use.“It’s very nice to get a Group winner… View the full article

Speed-machine Voyage Warrior bounced back into the winner’s circle and trainer Ricky Yiu Poon-fai hopes it will act as a springboard to bigger and better things next season.The boom three-year-old had his colours lowered by John Moore’s Thanks Forever last start, but there were no such issues on Sunday, easily putting his rivals away in the Class Three Ma On Shan Handicap (1,000m) at Sha Tin.With regular rider Karis Teetan suspended, champion jockey Zac Purton took the reins in what represented… View the full article

New Zealand has been well-represented in the four-carriage Royal Procession on the final day of Royal Ascot with Rosehill-based trainer Chris Waller enjoying a memorable 24 hours. On Saturday, the former Foxton horseman landed the Gr.1 Tattersall’s Tiara (1400m) at Eagle Farm with Invincibella to provide him with a record-breaking 18th Group One win for the season. Waller eclipsed the previous record of 17 set by legendary trainer Tommy Smith in 1979-80 but had a good reason for not bein... View the full article

Rangiora trainer Nick Wigley was holding his breath just moments before the start of Saturday’s two-year-old contest at Riccarton as smart filly Intimidate put on a petulant display behind the starting gates. The Charm Spirit filly held up the start of the 1000m event before finally entering her stall under the urgings of the Riccarton barrier staff. Safely loaded away Intimidate then proceeded to give her race rivals a galloping lesson as she led all the way in the hands of rider Tina Comigna... View the full article

Former New Zealand Cup winner Gobstopper revealed a new string to his bow when he made a successful debut over fences at Te Aroha on Sunday. The Andrew Campbell-trained galloper had carved out a handy career on the flat with his Group Three victory in the 2018 New Zealand Cup (3200m) the major highlight of his six wins before Sunday’s contest. Some indifferent form since that New Zealand Cup triumph saw Campbell trial Gobstopper over fences to sharpen him up but he was reluctant to commit to a... View the full article

A few days of rain and a slightly softer turf proved to be the perfect combination for Cloros Bloodstock's Simply Breathless, who picked up her first graded score in the $101,755 Wilshire Stakes (G3T) June 22 at Santa Anita Park. View the full article

Daughter of Dansili returned to winning ways June 22 at Belmont Park. View the full article

Sean Shay and Michael Ryan's Hunter O'Riley rallied widest in the stretch and prevailed in the final strides over Michael Hui's Zulu Alpha in the 66th running of the $310,000 United Nations Stakes (G1T) at Monmouth Park June 22. View the full article

A jockey's instinct proved a winning one June 22 at Monmouth Park, as Jose Lezcano changed up his riding tactics on Monongahela to take the $150,000 Philip H. Iselin Stakes (G3). View the full article

Sean Shay and Michael Ryan's Hunter O'Riley rallied widest in the stretch and prevailed in the final strides over Michael Hui's Zulu Alpha in the 66th running of the $310,000 United Nations Stakes (G1T) at Monmouth Park June 22. View the full article

Mia Mischief, winner of the Humana Distaff Stakes (G1) on Kentucky Derby Day, ran shoulder-to-shoulder with swift pace-setter Covfefe and put away the 2-5 favorite to win the $120,100 Roxelana Overnight Stakes at Churchill Downs June 22. View the full article

Sean Shay and Michael J. Ryan's Hunter O'Riley rallied widest in the stretch and prevailed in the final strides over Michael Hui's Zulu Alpha in the 66th running of the $310,000 United Nations Stakes (G1T) at Monmouth Park June 22. View the full article

Rupp Racing's Owendale went off as the 3-5 favorite in the $500,000 Ohio Derby (G3) June 22 at JACK Thistledown Racino, but the Into Mischief colt was stuck behind a wall of horses in the second turn after racing in last. View the full article

Hall of Fame trainer Jerry Hollendorfer has been ruled off from facilities owned by The Stronach Group, which released a brief statement June 22 in the wake of another equine fatality at Santa Anita Park. View the full article