Wandering Eyes

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. Thursday’s Insights features MG1SW Sajjhaa (GB) (King’s Best). 5.15 Chelmsford, Cond, £7,400, 2yo, 8f (AWT) Sheikh Ahmed Al Maktoum’s NABBEYL (IRE) (New Approach {Ire}), a son of G1 Jebel Hatta and G1 Dubai Duty Free heroine Sajjhaa (GB) (King’s Best), gets a second chance to shed maiden status and returns off an Oct. 26 debut fifth at Doncaster. Rivals to the Roger Varian trainee includes Sheikh Mohammed bin Khalifa Al Maktoum’s hitherto untested Dubai Warrior (GB) (Dansili {GB}), who is a John Gosden-trained full-brother to this term’s G3 Diamond S. victor Mootasadir (GB) out of South Africa’s G1 Golden Slipper heroine Mahbooba (Aus) (Galileo {Ire}), and Never Say Die Partnership’s fellow newcomer Battle of Pembroke (Declaration of War), who is a son of G3 Blue Wind S. victress Beauty O’ Gwaun (Ire) (Rainbow Quest), from the David Simcock stable. View the full article

Multiple grade 1 winner Bolt d'Oro has been retired and will stand the 2019 season for an advertised fee of $25,000, Spendthrift Farm general manager Ned Toffey said Nov. 7. View the full article

In the aftermath of Election Day, the gambling landscape shifted significantly overnight in three states. But the results are mixed in terms of how the measures will affect Thoroughbred horse racing. In Arkansas, Oaklawn Park won the right to add full casino gaming and sports betting to its existing wagering menu of pari-mutuels and electronic gaming. The vote percentage was 54-46. In Idaho, historical horse racing (HHR) video gaming at tracks was defeated by a 53-47 margin, putting the state’s already tenuous Thoroughbred future in even more of an endangered flux. Florida voters banned greyhound racing by a 69-31 margin, with a 2020 sunset date but a provision to keep other forms of gaming at those tracks. A separate Florida measure that passed by a 71-29 margin mandates that any future changes to casino gambling have to be approved through statewide citizen-initiated ballot measures, and not the Legislature. All tallies in this story cited are listed in rounded percentages, and are according to results posted as of 2 p.m. Wednesday on Ballotpedia.com. Arkansas In Arkansas, the passage of Issue 4 amended the Arkansas Constitution to grant four casino licenses in specified locations. Oaklawn in Hot Springs and the Southland greyhound/gaming venue in West Memphis were granted “automatic licenses” for expansions “at or adjacent to” their existing operations. Both tracks already offer electronic games of skill under a 2005 state law. Additionally, one casino license will be up for bid in both Pope County and Jefferson County. As part of the Arkansas measure, “casino gaming shall also be defined to include accepting wagers on sporting events.” The ballot initiative also included a tax revenue distribution plan that mandates “17.5% to the Arkansas Racing Commission for deposit into the Arkansas Racing Commission Purse and Awards Fund to be used only for purses for live horse racing and greyhound racing by Oaklawn and Southland.” Idaho The defeated Proposition 1 was designed to once again legalize HHR video terminals at tracks in Idaho, where seven fairs circuit tracks raced short meets in 2018. The measure would have granted HHR gaming rights to any track that cards eight calendar dates annually, and passage would almost certainly have meant the re-opening of Les Bois Park, formerly Idaho’s only commercial track. Idaho had briefly legalized HHR in 2013 but the law was repealed in 2015. When the state pulled the plug on HHR, Les Bois, which was one of three locations that had the machines, shut down. Les Bois spent heavily to support Proposition 1, and reportedly had several hundred HHR machines still on the property ready to resume operation, along with live racing. Florida Florida’s two approved ballot measures might end up raising more questions than they answered in an already confusing state for gambling. The Amendment 13 ban on dog racing actually had the support of some of the state’s 11 greyhound track operators, who saw it as a de facto way of attaining “decoupling” from less-profitable pari-mutuels while retaining lucrative gaming rights. Some “What happens next?” scenarios could include horse tracks angling for similar decoupling rights based on this precedent. And with greyhound racing mandated to end, animal rights activists might now more closely focus on horse racing. Carey Theil, the executive director of GREY2K USA, one of the leading backers of the ban, told the Orlando Sentinel that the vote appears to mean the greyhound industry will likely be “swept away in the night” and that “the historical consequences of this are incredibly significant.” Amendment 3, which took control of future casino gambling decisions out of the hands of the Legislature, was proposed by Voters in Charge, a political committee largely financed by the tourism-centric Walt Disney Co. and the Seminole Tribe, which operates existing gaming facilities. According to published reports, that committee spent more than $31 million on the effort to transfer future casino decisions to voters. According to a post-vote analysis in the Tampa Bay Times, “While the amendment, in theory, gives voters the power to expand gambling, it could actually make the process more difficult. Changing anything by voter decision is a long process, and would therefore keep competition low for the Seminole Tribe and ensure a more ‘family friendly’ tourism environment here, to Disney’s benefit.” The Miami Herald recapped the vote this way: “Opponents to the amendment—like NFL teams, online betting sites like FanDuel and DraftKings and dog and horse tracks—have argued that it is unclear what affect the initiative would have on previously authorized gambling sites across the state.” United States Congress Two U.S. Representatives in positions to have an impact on Thoroughbred racing both won re-election bids Nov. 6. Andy Barr (R-KY) and Paul Tonko (D-NY) are co-chairs of the Congressional Horse Caucus. They are also co-sponsors of HR 2651, the Horseracing Integrity Act of 2017, which was first introduced in a different form in 2015. Its revised version has not had any legislative action since a June 22 subcommittee hearing. Barr won by a 51-48 margin. Tonko’s winning margin was 68-32. Lexington Mayor Linda Gorton bested Ronnie Bastin by a 63-37 margin in the Lexington, Kentucky, mayoral race. In a profile published the week prior to the election, Gorton told TDN that “I have a long history of working with the equine industry here. I know many of the horse farm owners and managers. I understand their concerns…. That’s important for me, to have people understand that I have worked with this industry for many, many years, and have great experience in doing that.” View the full article

Charles Fipke’s homebred Seeking the Soul (Perfect Soul {Ire}), runner-up in last weekend’s GI Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile, is being aimed for a title defense in the upcoming GI Clark H. at Churchill Downs Nov. 23. “There’s a title out there to defend,” trainer Dallas Stewart said. “He bounced out of the Dirt Mile in great shape and we’re definitely going to point towards the Clark. I just wish he would’ve had his shot to try the Classic. I think he would have been right up there with those horses going 1 1/4 miles.” A six-time winner, Seeking the Soul captured the GIII Ack Ack S. at Churchill in his previous trip to the post Sept. 29. “One thing we know for sure is this horse loves it here at Churchill Downs,” Stewart said. “He’s run some of his best races over this surface.” View the full article

Just days removed from scoring a landmark win for Godolphin in the G1 Melbourne Cup with Cross Counter (Ire) (Teofilo {Ire}), trainer Charlie Appleby was looking ahead and, unsurprisingly, still aiming high. “My ambitions are to carry on and to try to be successful and do the best we can for Godolphin and his Highness Sheikh Mohammed and having international winners,” said Appleby, who also gave the Ruler of Dubai his first Epsom Derby winner in his Godolphin silks this year with Masar (GB) (New Approach {Ire}). Both Masar and Cross Counter are homebreds. “Every time we do that I feel that’s a sense of achievement.” “To do that you have to have the momentum going,” he said. “On Jan. 1 we start at zero again. We’ve got to build away. We’ve given ourselves a bit of a path to maintain, let alone go above.” Appleby said the races high on his wish list include the GI Kentucky Derby and G1 Dubai World Cup. “The Kentucky Derby is of course on everybody’s lips. It’s not been done [by Godolphin] and to win a Dubai World Cup for myself would be great,” he said. “Saeed [bin Suroor] has won plenty [eight] and I would like to get involved if I can.” “The Dubai World Cup and a Kentucky Derby would be high on the agenda and I imagine for His Highness Sheikh Mohamed’s point of view he’d like to win the Kentucky Derby as well.” “As an Englishman our pinnacle is the Derby. It had never been won in Godolphin blue colours. That is always going to go down as the most memorable day of my career, but to come here [Australia] and do what we’ve done and see what it means to everybody and to Sheikh Mohammed is great. We’ve tried for over 20 years to win in this race and to do it is a huge sense of achievement, but most importantly it shows the passion and the drive His Highness and Godolphin have.” View the full article

Lope de Vega (Ire) (Shamardal), who has been enjoying a great year as a sire with such standouts as GI Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf heroine and ‘TDN Rising Star’ Newspaperofrecord (Ire) among his seven stakes winners and the Classic-bound colt Phoenix of Spain (Ire), will stand for €80,000 at Ballylinch Stud in 2019. He commanded a €60,000 fee in 2018. French highweight and G1 Prix du Jockey Club hero New Bay (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) sees his first yearlings in 2019, and he will hold court for €15,000. A stallion with his first runners in 2019 is fellow French highweight and G1 Poule d’Essai des Poulains victor Make Believe (GB) (Makfi {GB}) at €12,000. Irish highweight and MG1SW Fascinating Rock (Ire) (Fastnet Rock {Aus}) at €7,500 and Beat Hollow (GB) (Sadler’s Wells) at €5,000 round out the Irish roster. Standing at Haras de Grandcamp in France are veteran sires Lawman (Fr) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}), who has sired four GSWs in 2018 and is standing his first season across the Channel at €15,000, and Dream Ahead (Diktat {GB}), with a trio of Group 1 performers, at €12,000. View the full article

With the major European yearling sales having been and gone, Amy Lynam caught up with seven bloodstock agents to get their highlights of the past few months. Having bought at all levels of the market in multiple countries, they take a moment to reflect on the yearling action before looking ahead to the foal and breeding stock sales. What was your favourite yearling that you purchased this year? Eamon Reilly (BBA Ireland): A Camelot (GB) filly I bought at the Goffs Orby Sale for Gerrardstown House Stud (lot 277). She was a beautiful filly; very correct and a good walker. Her dam is a half-sister to Distant Music (Distant View), so it’s a lovely Juddmonte family. Geoffrey Howson (Howson & Houldsworth Bloodstock): The Brazen Beau (AUS) filly out of Royal Blush (GB) (Royal Applause {GB}), whom we bought for £100,000 at the Doncaster Premier Yearling Sale (lot 203). Now brilliantly named Spurofthemoment (GB), she is a half-sister to group performer A Momentofmadness (GB) (Elnadim), whom we also bought as a yearling, and is now the winner of eight races, including the Portland Handicap. This filly reminded us of her half-brother at the same age. She was bought on behalf of lovely clients, was out of a mare that I had originally bought for her breeder, the underbidder was one of the shrewdest in the game and my mobile went dead during a vital stage of the bidding. All she has to do now is win races. Grant Pritchard-Gordon (Badgers Bloodstock): Our favourite yearling of the year was lot 308 at Tattersalls; a Kodiac (GB) colt out of Coolnagree (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}) from Lodge Park Stud. We were lucky enough to be able to buy him, but had to pay our largest outlay of the year of 525,000gns. Kodiac is emerging as a great stallion over all distances and this colt is closely related to the excellent Hong Kong galloper Lucky Nine (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}). Kevin Ross: The Acclamation (GB) colt I bought from Rathbarry Stud at Tattersalls Ireland. He was a forward type, with a great walk and lovely attitude. Laurent Benoit (Broadhurst Agency): The Wootton Bassett (GB) colt out of Hasturianita (IRE) (Dubawi), which I bought at the Arqana August Yearling Sale for €130,000 (lot 310). He was a well-balanced individual, with good length and size–the only thing wrong was that he was a bit too expensive. I like the sire very much; I think he did particularly well with the quality of mares he covered at the beginning of his stallion career. Peter Doyle (Peter & Ross Doyle Bloodstock): The Kodiac filly out of Dhuma (GB) (Falco), who we bought for 120,000gns at Tattersalls Book 1. She’s gone to Richard Hannon and reminded us a lot of Tiggy Wiggy (Ire). She was typical of Kodiac; sharp, strong and a good walker. Shawn Dugan: Can we revisit this question next year? [laughs] The thing is, you can spend a lot of money on a gorgeous yearling, but then they may not have the heart, but then an average-looking yearling can blossom into a phenomenal racehorse. It happens time and time again. We’re trying to buy an athlete, so we look for black-type in the first or second dam. Next, you have to hope that they come at a reasonable market value, and finally, you have to be the last man standing. Thankfully, we were able to buy a number of yearlings that fit this criteria this year. What was the yearling that got away (purchased by someone else)? ER: The top lot at Tattersalls Ireland. A Kodiac own-brother to Adaay (Ire), he was a very attractive colt and looked precocious, despite his late-April birthday. GH: Lot 33 in Tattersalls Book 1–a chestnut colt by Lope de Vega (IRE) out of Peut Etre (IRE) (Whipper). Other than his colour, he was a ringer for Phoenix of Spain (Ire)–our best yearling buy of 2017. He fetched 550,000gns from Stroud Coleman. GPG: I think that the team were most upset to miss out on lot 463 at Tattersalls; the Wootton Bassett colt from Rathbarry Stud that eventually went to Godolphin via Stroud Coleman. KR: The Camelot colt (lot 232) from Ballybin Stud at the Goffs Orby Sale. He was a lovely individual and, of course, Camelot is doing very well. He unfortunately made too much for us. One I think was very well-bought was a Dream Ahead colt (lot 76) out of a Galileo (Ire) mare bought by Patrick Cooper at Tattersalls Ireland. LB: My pick of the Arqana August Yearling Sale was the Lope De Vega (Ire) colt out of Black Dahlia (GB) (Dansili {GB}), who MV Magnier bought for €900,000 (lot 94). Bred by SF Bloodstock and offered by Ecurie de Monceaux, he was a stunning individual and out of a black-type mare, whose 2-year-old has done very well for Mark Johnston. PD: It would be dangerous to name one–I don’t like to tempt fate. SD: We got completely blown out of the water on quite a few, as always; you need deep pockets for the special horses. A few spring to mind, though. We weren’t even underbidder on the No Nay Never filly (lot 100) who sold to MV Magnier for €700,000 at Goffs–she was a rockstar, and unfortunately, we weren’t the only ones who fell in love with the gorgeous Camelot filly (lot 295) Godolphin bought there for €500,000. We knew we were in deep yoghurt with the Dubawi filly (lot 389) from Newsells Park Stud at Tattersalls Book 1, so we just watched her sell. What progeny of the new stallions impressed you? ER: I bought a couple of fillies by Make Believe (GB) that I really liked; they were attractive types and he, himself, was a very good racehorse. I saw some cracking colts by Free Eagle (Ire); nice, correct individuals, though they might need a bit of time. GH: Muhaarar (GB) would be my tip for leading first-season sire next year. The Brazen Beau horses, in addition to the aforementioned yearling purchase, looked like early 2-year-old types. The Gleneagles (Ire) colts sold by Newsells Park at Doncaster and Whatton Manor at Tattersalls Book 2 were lovely, as was Rathbarry’s Golden Horn (GB) colt at Book 1. Anjaal (GB) could prove similar to his stud-mate, Bungle Inthejungle (GB). GPG: The Hong Kong Jockey Club team did not buy any progeny of first-season sires, but the progeny of Free Eagle regularly caught the eye, while there were some very good-looking progeny of Gleneagles. The year of the eagle? KR: The Night Of Thunder (Ire) yearlings were very strong, correct horses and good walkers. We didn’t buy any but did bid on one- the relation to Prince Bishop (IRE) (Dubawi) at Tattersalls Ireland. LB: I liked the stock of Gleneagles–he has stamped them well as racey, well-balanced horses with a nice quality about them. The yearlings by Night Of Thunder were powerful types and I like that he, himself, is by Dubawi and out of a Galileo mare. I bought a very nice colt by Gleneagles, but given that I have a small number of yearlings to buy, I tend to stick with proven sires- they would make up about 85% of my purchases. I do like looking at their first crop, though, as it helps with planning matings. PD: We saw some very nice stock by Gleneagles; they were good walkers with a nice outlook. We bought a lovely colt by him at Baden-Baden, which is heading to Wido Neuroth in Norway, and a nice filly at Goffs for Thurloe Thoughbreds, who have been clients of ours for over 25 years. I hope they are as fast as he was. SD: The yearlings by Gleneagles stood out; they were athletic types with a lot of presence. Those by Muhaarar were also very athletic and sold well, while we also liked the Gutaifan (Ire) yearlings–we bought a very good-looking filly by him from Baroda & Colbinstown Studs at Tattersalls. Which stallions do you consider to be under appreciated? ER: I think Mastercraftsman (Ire) has been under-rated, though Alpha Centauri (Ire) showed us what he is capable of this season. Dawn Approach (Ire) may now be underestimated, looking at Kevin Prendergast’s exciting 2-year-old, Madhmoon (Ire). He was such a talented racehorse that I still believe he is capable of siring some good horses. GH: Oasis Dream (GB), Holy Roman Emperor (Ire), Tamayuz (GB) and, from personal experience, Zoffany (Ire). GPG: We are amazed how sometimes yearling prices do not reflect racecourse success. Camelot has had an outstanding year on the racecourse and also produced some very athletic yearlings-as our team are focused on buying sprinters, we were not in a position to buy any. However, we consider that the market has very much under-appreciated Camelot, who is a very exciting new stallion for the future. KR: Champs Elysees (GB) may now be aimed at the National Hunt market, but he’s still able to get some very good horses on the flat. He sired a Guineas and Cesarewitch winner this season. LB: Zoffany had a flying start to his stallion career, siring Royal Ascot winners in his first crop. He now has bigger crops from better mares on the way and I think the best is yet to come. I’m a big fan of Dansili (GB) and I think Zoffany could be one of the leading sires in Europe in the next few years. PD: We’ve been very luck with Footstepsinthesand (GB) over the years, the best of our buys probably being Larchmont Lad (Ire). He won a Group 3 for Hannon before being sold to Cheveley Park Stud, for whom he won a Group 2 this year. He always has lovely yearlings, which tend to be very athletic and racy. SD: Under-rated is a very relative term, but if you look at a stallion’s covering fee and see that he’s producing winners at the highest level, there’s a few who stand out. Nathaniel (GB) stood for £20,000 in 2018 and he sired Enable–one of the best mares we’ve seen in Europe in a long time, plus she’s a stunning individual to boot. Camelot has come through this year and I assume his 2018 fee of €30,000 will rise next season. Nicolas Clement’s 2-year-old filly, Wondermont (Ire), who won the G1 Criterium de Saint-Cloud, was bought for just €60,000. Camelot’s success makes sense, given that he was a brilliant racehorse and beautiful individual. View the full article

A smaller catalogue and increases across most key categories were hallmarks of Wednesday’s single-session Goffs Autumn Horses in Training Sale. Dual listed hero Twilight Payment (Ire) (Teofilo {Ire}) (lot 690), who has been knocking on the door of a group win with seconds in both the Aug. 25 G3 Comer Group International Irish St Leger Trial and in the G3 Loughbrown S. in September, hammered at €200,000 to Kerr & Co Ltd, agent. Consigned by Glebe House Stables, the 5-year-old gelding is a half-brother to G2 Debutante S. bridesmaid Bandiuc Eile (Ire) (New Approach {Ire}), while his dam is a half-sister to star MGSW Banimpire (Ire) (Holy Roman Emperor {Ire}). Second on the board was lot 671, the 3-year-old filly Mazzuri (Ire) (Raven’s Pass) from Rathbride Stables. The listed-placed daughter of SP Essexford (Ire) (Spinning World) attracted a winning bid of €120,000 from Peter and Ross Doyle and A Perrett after the sale proper. Young sire and European champion sprinter Muhaarar (GB) (Oasis Dream {GB}) is nestled under the third dam. Admirality (GB) (Mount Nelson {GB}) (lot 703) sat third on the leaderboard after being snapped up for €80,000 on the bid of Colm Sharkey, agent and Roger Fell. The 4-year-old gelding hailed from the Fox Covert Stables’ draft and is a winner at the handicap level this year. Overall, the clearance rate rose steeply to 85% after 79 of the 93 lots offered found new homes, an increase of 9% on 2017. The gross inched upward to €1,466,100, and the average rose 11% to €18,558. The biggest increase was the median category which registered at €9,000 (+50%). “Today’s Horses in Training Sale has demonstrated yet again that we can and consistently do deliver the best prices for that category,” said Goffs Group Chief Executive Henry Beeby. “Indeed this is a sector of the market in which we think we have so much more to offer but lack the numbers to attract a bigger group of buyers. That said, we have sold horses to the Gulf Region and across Europe today which will only serve to inspire us to redouble our efforts to grow the catalogue in 2019, following a sale that has returned growth in every statistic. For now, we extend our thanks to each vendor and every purchaser, and wish them luck with their latest Goffs graduates.” View the full article

Tim Naylor, who joined the British Horseracing Authority permanently as Head of Regulation in March of 2017, has been appointed as the new Director of Integrity and Regulation, the BHA announced on Wednesday. Naylor will be responsible for managing the BHA’s integrity, disciplinary and compliance functions with oversight of licensing, monitoring and investigation as well as the case management of matters which go before the independent Judicial Panel. Previously a barrister at QEB Hollis Whiteman Chambers in London, Naylor was instructed by the BHA on a number of Disciplinary Panel and Licensing Committee cases from 2013 onwards. “I’m thrilled to be taking up my new role as Director of Integrity and Regulation and am looking forward to ensuring that British Horseracing is seen as an international leader in racing integrity and ensuring the highest standards of regulation in order to build confidence within the sport,” said Naylor, who, reports to Chief Regulatory Officer Brant Dunshea and is part of the BHA Executive Team. “Tim was appointed after a competitive application process which drew in some highly qualified individuals with a wide range of experience,” said Dunshea. “Given his extensive legal career and knowledge of the BHA’s regulatory and investigative functions, he was an ideal candidate and I look forward to continuing to work with him in the future.” View the full article

Weekend Hideaway (Speightstown–Apocalyptical, by Wiseman’s Ferry), a winner of stakes races in seven consecutive years in New York, has been retired from racing and will stand his first season at stud in 2019 under the management of Irish Hill & Dutchess Views Stallions LLC in Saratoga Springs, NY. Campaigned by Michael Hoffman’s Red and Black Stable and trained by Phil Serpe, Weekend Hideaway won a total of nine stakes races, perhaps highlighted by a dominant score in the 2015 Sunshine Millions Sprint S. at Gulfstream Park. He subsequently earned a Grade I placing when third in the 2016 GI Vosburgh S. at Belmont. Weekend Hideaway retires with a record of 13-7-10 from 49 starts and career earnings of $1,144,922. “The recent great news that the New York Stallion Stakes Series purse values have doubled for New York-based sire’s progeny makes a precocious sire like Weekend Hideaway especially attractive,” said Michael Lischin from Irish Hill and Dutchess Views Stallions. “His 2-year-olds will be eligible for purses of up to $500,000 per race and millions of dollars of enriched restricted purses thereafter.” As part of the Irish Hill and Dutchess Views Stallions roster, Weekend Hideaway will stand at Irish Hill Century Farm in Stillwater. For more information on Weekend Hideaway, contact Rick Burke or Michael Lischin via email at info@IHDVstallions.com. View the full article

It remains uncertain whether or not Pimlico will eventually be rebuilt or closed with the GI Preakness S. moved to Laurel Park, but in either case there will no longer be any stalls or training at the Baltimore track once its fate is decided. For that reason, The Stronach Group is going ahead with plans to re-open Bowie Race Track as a training center and possibly a place that would hold a short meet each year. Pimlico’s future rests in the hands of the Maryland Stadium Authority, which is studying the feasability of rebuilding the racetrack, which would keep the Preakness in Baltimore. With The Stronach Group having put so many resources into refurbishing Laurel, it has told the Stadium Authority that it believes the only feasible way to keep Pimlico open would be for government to spend the money to modernize the racetrack. If that were to happen, however, the barn areas would be closed and the land put to other use. For that reason, The Stronach Group knows that it will eventually need a place to house as many as 1,500 horses and has picked defunct Bowie as the place to do so. “We’re going to bring Bowie back as a training center and as a world class training center,” said Stronach Group COO Tim Ritvo. “It will be something like we have with Palm Meadows. Bowie works for our overall plans. Bowie works a lot better than Pimlico when it comes to shipping over to Laurel and, even if Pimlico is to be rebuilt, stabling would not be available. We’d only have ship-in barns. If they revitalize the entire Pimlico area, year-round training has never even been discussed.” Bowie has never had a turf course, but Ritvo said it’s likely one will be built there. Then known as Prince George’s Park, Bowie opened in 1914. It began racing during the winters in the 1950s-something unheard of for a track in the Northeast. The only game in town in the winter, it attracted fans not only from Washington and Baltimore, but from as far away as Philadelphia and New York. The track stopped racing in 1985 and the grandstand was soon thereafter torn down. But in remained open as a training center until 2015. Should Pimlico stay open, there wouldn’t appear to be any need to race at Bowie. But if Pimlico closes, year-round racing at Laurel may prove to be unfeasible. Much like Gulfstream Park West is now used to give Gulfstream, and particularly its turf course, some needed time off, Bowie could do the same for Laurel. “Everything is on the table,” Ritvo said. “There could be a chance we would race there. Will you see a new grandstand put up there? Probably not. Could you see a two or three-week fair meet to break things up a little? Sure. Rather than run at Laurel year-round, and depending on what happens with Pimlico, I could see a summer festival meet there, especially if we build a grass course.” Ritvo said Bowie could re-open with only minimal work needed, but didn’t rule out a total rebuild, which would include erecting new barns. He said The Stronach Group is so committed to the future of Maryland racing that costs will not be an object when it comes to making Bowie among the top training centers in the U.S. “What we’re doing in Maryland, continuing to improve Laurel with an eye on hosting a Breeders’ Cup, re-opening Bowie–we’re all in,” Ritvo said. “The pari-mutuel handle in Maryland has doubled in the last four years from $300 million to $600 million. Obviously, Maryland was a great place to race 25-30 years ago. It got hurt when all the surrounding areas got slots and it took forever to get casino money for the Maryland tracks. But now that they got it done, they got it done right. When it’s all said and done, I think Maryland will be the pillar of the Mid-Atlantic racing states.” View the full article

A summer spent mopping up more major prizes on the Flat, including an Irish Derby with Latrobe and a Group 1 Fillies’ Mile at Newmarket may suggest Joseph O’Brien is switching his attention away from the jumps, but a morning spent taking shelter from the wind at the trainer’s Owning Hill stables leaves you in little doubt that the winter war chest is up to scratch. In his company is a sweet but scruffy little Irish Terrier by the name of Rua, too young to remember miracle horse Edwulf’s spine-tingling success in last season’s Irish Gold Cup, but old enough to keep pace with the busy 25-year-old, who is quick to respond when asked to name some of the jumpers he is most excited about this season. Edwulf is set to represent O’Brien, who finished third in the National Hunt trainers’ championship last season, in all of the big staying chases this term, while the place is abuzz about the prospects of seeing Le Richebourg take on stronger opposition having made a flawless start to his chasing career. Grade 1 novice hurdle winner Tower Bridge is another exciting horse who goes novice chasing alongside Speak Easy and Shady Operator, with O’Brien nominating his hand in that particular sphere as his strongest. “We’ve a lovely bunch of horses to look forward to this season and I’d say we’ve our best bunch of novice chasers that we’ve ever had,” he said. “There’s a lot of talented young horses here. Hopefully we can have another good season. Last season was brilliant but whether we can be third in the trainers’ championship again or not I’m not sure.” All in a day’s work: some of the youngsters schooling at Owning Hill Patrick McCann Stable profile Yard Owning Hill Where Piltown, County Kilkenny Started training 2016 Horses in yard 150 Members of staff 40 Head lad Faisal Hayat Assistant trainers Mark Power Secretaries Mark Hackett and Emma Dunning Travelling Head Girls/Lads Jim O’Brien, Tina Evans, Paddy Doody and Damien Byrne Jockeys Barry Geraghty, Mark Walsh, Jody McGarvey, JJ Slevin, Ryan Treacy and Shane Shortall Amateurs Tom Hamilton and best available Stable sponsor Al Basti Equiworld and Matchbook Website/email joseph@carriganogracing.com Twitter @JosephOBrien2 WINNERS IN IRELAND 2017-18 67 2016-17 38 PROFIT/LOSS TO A €1 STAKE 2017-18 -35.24 2016-17 -118.56 TOTAL PRIZE-MONEY 2017-18 €1,419,319 HORSES Aforementioned Five-year-old gelding Zanzibari (sire) – Parcelle De Sou (dam) Owner: Gigginstown House Stud Form figures: 30- Racing Post Rating: 119h He ran well in a maiden hurdle first time out last December before disappointing in a Punchestown bumper. He goes novice hurdling. Alighted 5g Getaway – Knocksouna Lady Gigginstown House Stud 1- RPR 125b A nice horse. He’s not the easiest horse to train but he’s got a very big engine. I was surprised that he was good enough to win on debut at Leopardstown because of how green he was but he had been working well before the race. We’re looking forward to sending him over hurdles. Air Supremacy 4g Galileo – Crystal Valkyrie JP McManus 115 RPR 129h He was a bit disappointing at Limerick last time. Whether he goes for a handicap or a novice race next, I’m not sure. He’s already done well for himself this term. Listowel Wed 12 September 2018 Air Supremacy ridden by Mark Walsh, winner, at an early stage in The Ballygarry House Hotel Novice Hurdle Photo.carolinenorris.ieArkwrisht 8g Lavirco – Latitude Gigginstown House Stud F4076- OR 137c, RPR 142c He’ll come into consideration for all of those staying handicap chases. He was slightly unlucky when hampered at the last in the Irish Grand National, whether he’d have won if that hadn’t happened we’ll never know, but it was a good run from him. We’re hoping there’s a nice pot in him this season. Assemble 4g Getaway – Annaghbrack Gigginstown House Stud 23- RPR 39b He’s a nice horse who came from Eddie Hales and he should be ready to start off in bumpers in about four to six weeks’ time. Prospect: Ballyneety on his way to the gallops Patrick McCann Ballyneety 5g Milan – Rock Me Gently JP McManus 3- RPR 112b He ran well on his only start for us in a Leopardstown bumper won by Blackbow and he just had a little setback afterwards which is why he didn’t run again last season. He’s another novice hurdler we’re looking forward to. Band Of Outlaws 3c Fast Company – Band Of Colour J Carthy Flat form -30274 It’ll be interesting to see what he can do as a juvenile hurdler. He’s a good consistent horse on the Flat and he handles soft ground well. Champagne Paddy 5g Doyen – Shampooed Pat Tennyson 1P-2 RPR 117b He’s back in full work but is a difficult horse to keep right. He won his bumper well and was second in a winners’ bumper at Limerick back in May. We’ll go jumping hurdles and he’s got a big engine if we can keep the wheels on. Chead Solas 4g Flemensfirth – Lunar Beauty Annus Mirabilis Syndicate 2 RPR 111 Second on his only bumper start for us at Killarney, we’d be hoping he can win one. Choungaya 5g Walk In The Park – Autorite Gigginstown House Stud 73-231 RPR 123h He won nicely at Tipperary last time and is a nice horse who goes to Navan for the Grade 2 For Auction Novice Hurdle and we’re hoping he’ll be a nice horse for the year ahead. Choungaya (left) and Mark Walsh jumps the second last flight with Visioman when winning the 2m colts and geldings maiden hurdle. Tipperary. Photo: Patrick McCann/Racing Post 08.10.2018Early Doors 5g Soldier Of Fortune – Ymlaen JP McManus 12930- OR 142h, RPR 144h Chasing is an option but we’re leaning towards keeping him over hurdles this season. I guess he looks the type of horse who could pick up a nice race over hurdles before we eventually go down the chasing route next season. He might even stay a bit further than 2m4f so we’ll go down the handicap and graded hurdle route and see where it takes us. Edwulf 9g Kayf Tara – Valentines Lady JP McManus /P187- OR 162c, RPR 169c He looks great and I imagine he’ll chart a similar path to last year. It was great to get him back last season and he’s a lovely horse to have around the place. He’ll be ready to start back once we get rain. We’re looking forward to him. Edwulf. Photo: Patrick McCann/Racing Post 24.10.2018Ivanovich Gorbatov 6g Montjeu – Northern Gulch JP McManus 0-0820 OR 140h, RPR 153h We’ll stick to handicap hurdles with him now but he wouldn’t want deep winter ground. The Greatwood Handicap Hurdle at Cheltenham could be an option for him. There’s still a big pot in him somewhere but he needs things to go his way. Jack Dillinger 7g Westerner – Peppardstown Michael O’Flynn & Stanley G Watson 080-92 OR 120h, RPR 131h He was second on his only run for us at Gowran. He’s a nice horse with a big engine but he’s too keen for his own good and has to learn how to relax. I was disappointed to see him run freely the last day but it was still a big run from him. We need to get into his head. Star quality Le Richebourg 5g Network – Fee Magic JP McManus 80-511 OR 140h, RPR 142h, RPR 148c We’ve been delighted with how he’s taken to novice chasing, winning at Listowel before landing a Grade 3 at Tipperary last time in good style, and the Drinmore Novice Chase at Fairyhouse is next up for him. We’re hoping that he’ll handle soft ground better over fences than he did over hurdles, but we’ll see how he gets on in the Drinmore before making any concrete plans. Leopardstown at Christmas is never really deep winter ground so he could go there after Fairyhouse. He’s an exciting horse to have and we’re looking forward to seeing what he can do this season. Tipperary Sun 7 October 2018 Le Richebourg ridden by Barry Geraghty, winner, at an early stage in The Like A Butterfly Novice Steeplechase photo: carolinenorris.ieLone Wolf 5g Gold Well – Luna Lovegood JP McManus 3531- RPR 118b, 121h He ran well in a Listed hurdle at Punchestown before winning his bumper at the festival there last spring. He was very tough in scoring that day so he should stay well and he jumps well, too, so hopefully he’ll make up into a good novice this season. Meticulous 4g Fame And Glory – Refinement Michael Tabor 1 RPR 114b He won nicely on his only run for us in a bumper at Killarney this summer. We’ll probably stick to bumpers this season and I think he’s a nice horse who’ll make a nice novice next year. He could even run on the Flat at some point. Midnight Run 4g Well Chosen – Knockamullen Girl Annus Mirabilis Syndicate 1 RPR 108b A full brother to Carefully Selected, he won well first time out for us at Galway and he may stick to bumpers this season, although hurdling is still an option – we haven’t made a definite decision. He’s a horse with a big engine. Mortal 6g King’s Theatre – Pomme Tiepy Gigginstown House Stud 4F226- OR 127h, RPR 137h He’s got a rating in the high 120s but he’s actually still a maiden and we think he’s quite a nice horse. He goes novice chasing. Oathkeeper 8g Oscar – Lady Lamb JP McManus -32023 OR 120c, RPR 125c He kind of struggles in handicaps as he’s not the biggest in the world but there could be a nice one in him when he gets things right. Paris Texas 5g Kapgarde – Patrice De La Borie JP McManus 232132 OR 117h, RPR 124h A very consistent horse, he’ll jump a fence next year. He is what he is. We might get a bit of improvement out of him when we step him up in trip. Petit Tartare 4g Heliostatic – Nuance Tartare Martin O’Sullivan 7-142 OR 125h, RPR 124h He won very well at Listowel and has run well on his two starts at Galway since where he’s shaped like a horse who’ll do well over a trip. There should be more to come from him when we step him up in distance. Rhinestone 5g Montjeu – Apticanti JP McManus 2129- RPR 140b A horse we’re really looking forward to. He was a classy bumper horse last season and I’ve been happy with how his schooling has gone and I think he should get at least 2m4f over hurdles this season. He’ll be ready to start back as soon as we get a bit of rain. Joseph O’Brien with Rhinestone. Owning. Photo: Patrick McCann/Racing Post 24.10.2018Shady Operator 5g Court Cave – Native Artist JP McManus /2122- OR 133h, RPR 132h He goes novice chasing and he’s a horse we like a lot. He had a slight hold-up in the middle of the campaign last season – nothing too serious – and I was delighted with how he returned from a five-month absence to finish a narrow second at Punchestown. We were expecting him to run well that day but he was up with the pace throughout and it was nice to see him run as well as he did. He’s a fine big horse who looks as though he’ll stay 2m4f-plus and we’re hopeful that he can do well over fences. Slowmotion 6m Soldier Of Fortune – Second Emotion JP McManus 36-46P OR 141c, RPR 145c She’s on a break at the moment but I think there’s still more to come from her and she’ll be aimed at staying handicap chases when she comes back in. Speak Easy 5g Beneficial – For Bill JP McManus /1532- OR 137h, RPR 147h He was unlucky not to win a Graded novice hurdle last season and he goes novice chasing this term. He likes soft ground and will start off once we get plenty of rain. He probably shapes more like a stayer, but we like him. Dark horse The Gunner Murphy 5g Oscar – River Finn JP McManus 12P- RPR 131b He hasn’t had many runs but is one we like a lot. He’s more of a staying type, but I’d have no problem starting him off over two miles on soft ground. He can go up in trip as he goes up in grade and hopefully he has a nice future. Tigris River 7g Montjeu – Hula Angel JP McManus P06-50 OR 143h, RPR 150h He could go chasing, but it’s probably more likely that he’ll stick to hurdles and maybe we’ll try upping him in distance. He’s a bit behind some of the others so we haven’t put as much thought into his next target. We gave him a good break after Galway and I guess it will be at least Christmas time before we see him next. Tigris River and Barry Geraghty winning the Guinness Galway Hurdle. Galway Festival. Photo: Patrick McCann 02.08.2017Tower Bridge 5g High Chaparral – Walkamia JP McManus 04153- OR 143h, RPR 146h A horse who provided me and my cousin JJ [Slevin] with our first Grade 1 win together over the jumps when he won the 2m6f novice hurdle at the Dublin Racing Festival at Leopardstown. We pitched him in at the deep end there because he had a very good run at Leopardstown over Christmas, where even though he was beaten, it was a messy race and Barry [Geraghty] was quite complimentary about him. We’re excited to see what he can do over a fence this season and he’s a stayer. Triplicate 5g Galileo – Devoted To You JP McManus 4-112 RPR 141h He ran well at Tipperary the last day but he probably just wants softer ground. He’ll go for the Royal Bond Novice Hurdle at Fairyhouse and the softer the ground the better for him. We’ll probably step him up in trip after that, and I’d be quite hopeful about him. Race in focus Every horse in the place would have a particular target but if I had to pick one, I guess Le Richebourg would be it, as the Drinmore Novice Chase is his big aim – that’d be the obvious one for me. Uisce Beatha 5g Yeats – Hataana JP McManus 21-2P OR 118h, RPR 117h He won his maiden hurdle at Fairyhouse well and should make a nice staying novice chaser. Us And Them 5g Stowaway – Manorville Burnham Plastering & Dry Lining Limited 1120-4 OR 135h, RPR 141h He made a nice start to his chasing career when fourth at Wexford on Monday. He jumps well and should have plenty to offer over fences. Horse to follow Rhinestone If Rhinestone can scamper away from a horse like Sancta Simona, he simply has to be special and there were 19 lengths between the pair in a Thurles bumper last year. He might not have been man enough for the Champion Bumper at Cheltenham, but expect him to develop into one of Ireland’s leading novice hurdlers this season. He is an imposing individual with so much to offer over hurdles and the 33-1 about him winning the Ballymore makes plenty of appeal, even at this early stage of the season. He looks like he will want further than two miles to be at his best. David Jennings Vieux Morvan 9g Voix Du Nord – Moskoville M L Bloodstock Ltd /52-8BP OR 138c, RPR 143c The Troytown at Navan is the aim. He was a little bit disappointing during the summer, but he’s a horse who wants softer ground. He could even go down the banks route at some stage this season. That could be an option for him as he ran in some of those types of races in France. Vinnie The Hoddie 4g Vinnie Roe – Blackwater Babe Five Guys & A Striker Syndicate 30-316 RPR 127h He won very well at Gowran before disappointing a little at Galway on Sunday. He’s more of a chaser down the line but there could be a bit of fun to be had with him this winter over hurdles. Vinnie The Hoddie and Mark Walsh wins the Connolly’s Red Mills EBF Auction Maiden Hurdle. Gowran Park. Photo: Patrick McCann/Racing Post 06.10.2018Whatchamacallit 5g Presenting – Jamie’s Darling JP McManus 2 RPR 103h He could run in a bumper, but the plan is to go novice hurdling. He ran well on his debut and there should be plenty of fun to be had with him. Wishmoor 8g Winged Love – Presentingatdawn Gigginstown House Stud 32411- OR 132c, RPR 133c He’s new to us and seems to be a good consistent horse and we’d be hoping to win a staying handicap chase with him. Young Turk 7g Poliglote – Jasminette Doree Gigginstown House Stud 23-451 RPR 130c Not the easiest horse to train. He’ll probably go for a rated novice chase next and he looks as though he’ll be a staying handicap chaser. The post Joseph O’Brien Stable Tour appeared first on RaceBets Blog EN. View the full article

Fresh off competing in the Breeders’ Cup, 2019 fees for GI Breeders’ Cup Classic hero Accelerate (Lookin At Lucky), GI Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile star City of Light (Quality Road) and champion West Coast (Flatter) have been announced by Lane’s End Farm Wednesday morning. Trained by John Sadler, five-time Grade I winner Accelerate, who is pointing to next January’s GI Pegasus World Cup Invitational S., will stand for $20,000 LF S&N. He is joined by triple Grade I winner City of Light, who will command $35,000 LF S&N. Rounding out the trio of stars slated for the Kentucky nursery is champion 3-year-old colt West Coast. The son of champion 2-year-old filly Caressing (Honour and Glory) will hold court for $35,000 LF S&N in 2019. “This is a very exciting crop of new stallions,” Lane’s End’s Bill Farish said. “Accelerate offers breeders a chance to breed to a brilliantly fast, sound, Classic distance winning champion elect with five Grade I wins under his belt. West Coast offers a blue-blooded pedigree, outstanding good looks and is a champion 3-year-old that defeated all three Classic winners. City of Light, who is by leading Lane’s End Farm stallion Quality Road, has an unmatched brilliance. We’re looking forward to seeing Accelerate and City of Light face off in the upcoming Pegasus World Cup and for the 2019 breeding season.” More to follow… View the full article

After two months, 44 rides and nine placings, freshman jockey Grant van Niekerk felt a huge wave of relief wash over him as he banished his Happy Valley hoodoo on Wednesday night. The South African has enjoyed a strong start to his Hong Kong career with seven winners – but all of them came at Sha Tin as he struggled with the intricacies of the unique city venue. But Van Niekerk snapped the cold streak in the American Club Challenge Cup (1,200m) as the Ricky Yiu Poon-fai-trained Little... View the full article

There must be something in the air at Sue and Harvey Smith’s Craiglands Farm nearly 1,000 feet up on the edge of Baildon Moor near Bingley. It’s not just the extraordinary pensioners in this windswept expanse of West Yorkshire moorland that keep coming back season after season but also a merry band of staying chasers who have a toughness and resolution instilled in them by what at times can be a harsh environment. Survival of the fittest is the motto in these parts and fit horses are what you get with nearly three miles of all-weather gallop weaving its way through the rugged terrain. The Smiths are patiently waiting for the soft ground many of their troops require and it is hoped some of the younger brigade can fill the void left by the retirement of 12-year-old Cloudy Too – who has been found a “wonderful home to go hunting” – and the injury setback to I Just Know, who looks likely to miss the rest of the season following a fall at Kelso on Saturday. “We have a few horses for the novice chase category and although that might not win you as much money on a Saturday, hopefully they’ll become those types if not this season then the next,” says the trainer. Smith racked up 40 winners and a little more than £600,000 in prize-money last term with Midnight Shadow capping a highly respectable campaign with victory in the Scottish Champion Hurdle. “Hopefully we can have that and a little bit more this time,” Smith adds. Midnight Shadow is being readied for a crack at the Greatwood Hurdle and ambitions of a second Grand National success for the stable rest with lionhearted chaser Vintage Clouds. Stable profile Yard Craiglands Farm Where High Eldwick, Bingley, West Yorkshire Started training 1990 Horses in yard 50 Members of staff 15 Assistant trainer Ryan Clavin Travelling head lad Reece Jarosiewicz Jockeys Danny Cook, Sean Quinlan Conditionals Kane Yeoman, Sam Coltherd Secretary Rachel Swinden Stable sponsor Tuffa Boots WINNERS IN BRITAIN 2017-18 40 2016-17 41 2015-16 44 2014-15 31 PROFIT/LOSS TO A £1 STAKE 2017-18 -70.82 2016-17 -31.52 2015-16 -66.35 2014-15 -134.58 TOTAL PRIZE-MONEY 2017-18 £608,624 HORSES Absolutely Dylan Five-year-old gelding Scorpion (sire) – Cash Customer (dam) Owner: Trevor Hemmings Form figures: 32178-1 Racing Post Ratings: 108c Official rating: – Made a smashing chase debut on his comeback at Sedgefield, jumping his rivals into submission. He’s quirky at home but did his job properly. He won over hurdles last season and then drifted away but has come back a man. We’ll find a novice handicap chase next and you’d think he’ll progress. Black Art 6g Black Sam Bellamy – Art Series Jacqueline And John Conroy 242115- RPR 119h OR 118h Harvey bought him out of Emma Lavelle’s and he’s done smashing for us. He’s not the quickest and I’m not whether he’ll develop into a Saturday horse but he’s a scopey jumper who will keep finding for you. He’ll start out over fences at Sedgefield today. BLACK ART and Sean Quinlan Win at Sedgefield 12/1/18 Photograph by Grossick Racing Photography 0771 046 1723Blakemount 10g Presenting – Smashing Leader Mrs Jacqueline Conroy 256/64-0 RPR 140c OR 123c A fragile horse who only ran twice last season but has been sound this time. His comeback at Carlisle might have looked disappointing but he wants softer ground. He’s in very good order at the moment. Blottos 6g Westerner – Autumn Beauty Trevor Hemmings 211PP-0 RPR 107c OR 120c Won three novice hurdles last term and made his chasing debut at Carlisle over a trip probably a bit short. He needs to get his jumping together and it might take a bit longer to educate him but hopefully we’ll be able to step him up in class in time. If I could sum up last season in one word . . . Good. Cracking Find 7g Robin Des Pres – Crack The Kicker Mrs A Ellis 3116-32 RPR 136c OR 129c A consistent horse who is not overly big but is a fantastic jumper. He ran his heart out at Wetherby last time and hopefully he’ll be one for the better handicaps later on. His breeding suggests he wants good ground and his ideal trip looks to be 2m4f. Delusionofgrandeur 8g Mahler – Olivia Rose Mcgoldrick Racing 3 1353P8- RPR 148c OR 140c Pulled up in the Grand National but that’s not his cup of tea. He likes to bowl along in smaller fields and is at his best on a flat, galloping track. He’s a difficult horse to place due to his rating but is set to start off over 2m3½f at Wetherby on Friday. We might then look at the Anne Duchess of Westminster Chase at Bangor in two weeks. De Vous A Moi 10g Sinndar – Dzinigane Mrs J Morgan 19/7351- RPR 141c OR 132c The old boy has been a great servant, winning races every year. He loves Newcastle – he won there on his last start back in January – so we’ll look to head back there. We’re just waiting on the ground turning for him. Dark horse Hill Sixteen 5g Court Cave – Chasers Chic Trevor Hemmings 1- RPR 90 (ptp) OR – An exciting horse who won a point in Ireland. He’s a lovely model, a big scopey type who is going to be a stayer. We’ll run him first time over hurdles over 2m and he has entries at Wetherby and Carlisle this week, but we just need some rain. Informateur 5g Maresca Sorrento – Isarella Mrs J M Gray & G R Orchard 283-2 RPR 124h OR – We were pleased with his first run back at Hexham when just beaten by a good horse in Simply The Betts. We’ll look for softer ground and find another novice hurdle over a similar two-mile trip. The penny has dropped and we’re looking forward to him. Joke Dancer 5g Authorized – Missy Dancer Mrs Aafke Clarke 215115- RPR 128h OR 128h Had a wind operation and won’t be out before Christmas. He won three times last season and you couldn’t ask for more from a horse that needed his wind doing. A big scopey type who jumps well, he should be a good horse to go novice chasing. JOKE DANCER Ridden by Danny Cook wins at NEWCASTLE 24/2/18 Photograph by Grossick Racing Photography 0771 046 1723Rival to watch Dan Skelton. He goes everywhere in the search of winners and means business whenever he comes up north. Just Georgie 8g Kayf Tara – Just Kate Mrs M B Scholey 2U6132- RPR 124c OR 117c Won only one chase and has been a bit disappointing. He’s a full-brother to useful mare The Govaness, but hasn’t come to the fore quite like he could have done. He has got to have very soft ground. Lough Derg Farmer 6g Presenting – Maryiver Mrs S Smith 1/P47-05 RPR – OR 128c A lovely horse from the sales who showed good form for Nicky Henderson. I spoke to Nicky about him and he’s been A1 to train and jumps particularly well. He made his first start for us over hurdles but we’re switching to fences at Sedgefield today. Lough Legend 4g Watar – Gibboghstown Broadway Racing Club 15 33-4D RPR 111h OR – A big horse who finished third in both his bumpers and returned with a good run over hurdles at Carlisle in a warm novice. He’s a big horse who looks sure to win this season. Midnight Shadow 5g Midnight Legend – Holy Smoke Mrs Aafke Clarke 22U71-2 RPR 141h OR 141h I think he’s very special. He won the Scottish Champion Hurdle having not long come out of novices and we were delighted with his comeback at Wetherby on ground that was possibly a bit fast for him. He’s come out of it very well and his next target is the Greatwood Hurdle at Cheltenham where we’re hoping for some rain. The idea is to keep him over hurdles and see if he can improve again. We’ll see how he fares in the Greatwood and then decide whether to stick to the plan or go chasing as he’s a very good jumper. MIDNIGHT SHADOW Ridden by Danny Cook wins at Ayr 21/4/18 Photograph by Grossick Racing Photography 0771 046 1723Notonebuttwo 11g Dushyantor – Daiquiri Neil Taylor P43-F24 RPR 92c OR 85c An older horse for our conditional Kane to ride – he belongs to his family. He returned with a corking second at Hexham and then finished fourth at Bangor on Tuesday, where Kane said the trip was on the sharp side. Oscar Wilde 4g Oscar – Deep Supreme Formulated Polymer Products Ltd P6-P RPR 72 (ptp) OR – A huge horse for a four-year-old – he’s 17 hands. He has no form in his point-to-points but is coming along lovely. If he can run well over hurdles then he’s going to be a nice prospect for chasing next season. Rare Clouds 4g Cloudings – Rare Vintage Trevor Hemmings Unraced A full-brother to Vintage Clouds bred by Trevor. He’s a feisty type who will bully his way through. We haven’t schooled him yet as he will possibly run in a bumper. He’s only four but we like him a lot. Scorchin 4g Multiplex – Lemon Queen Mrs S Smith Unraced Related to Son Of Flicka – a good horse for Donald McCain – and looks the type to run well in a bumper. We’re very pleased with him and he’ll be ready soon. Sharp Response 7g Oscar – Lambourne Lace Formulated Polymer Products Ltd 7321-41 RPR 140c OR 135c A smart horse who has won over hurdles and fences. Everyone was very pleased with his win at Carlisle last week. Danny said he’s a lot more relaxed this year and he jumped particularly well. We’ll see what the handicapper does before deciding his next target, but he’s one to look forward to. Silva Eclipse 5g Multiplex – Linen Line Mrs S Smith 1228- RPR 124h OR 122h Bred similarly to Stagecoach Pearl and Rattlin, who both did well for us. He’s a stayer who should take to fences but we’ll stick to hurdles for now. He’s in grand order and just wants some rain. Race in focus The Grand National is the target for Vintage Clouds, who narrowly missed the cut last season. We’ve won it once and we’d like to win it again. Straidnahanna 9g Medaaly – Sue’s Song Mrs M B Scholey P/65P1P- RPR 142c OR 135c Pulled up for the third time in the Scottish National and I doubt we’ll go for that again. He’s a sensitive horse who is not suited to big fields. You can take him anywhere but he does love Catterick – he’s unbeaten in four starts there. He’s in good form and will be out soon. Thelongwayaround 5g Fruits Of Love – Brass Neck Mrs J Morgan P12 RPR 93h OR – A new purchase from the Doncaster sales, he’s a lovely, big horse who will be a chaser in time. He won a point-to-point over 3m but we started over 2m at Kelso last Saturday. He acted well on the better ground and jumped pretty good, so we were very pleased with him. Treshnish 5g Gold Away – Didn’t I Tell You D G Pryde & D Van Der Hoeven 13177-5 RPR 125c OR 121c An exciting horse to go over fences with. He was in need of his run at Carlisle last week but performed well and jumped great. He’ll come on an awful lot for it and should improve next time out. He’s a big, bold jumper and we think quite highly of him. Vendor 10g Kendor – Village Rainbow Mrs A Ellis 3230/62/ RPR 136c OR 130c Coming back following an injury after he struck into himself when just beaten by The Dutchman in a novice chase at Wetherby in November 2016. Danny’s keen to continue chasing and he’ll definitely win some races if the old legs stand up. Star quality Vintage Clouds 8g Cloudings – Rare Vintage Trevor Hemmings 124233- RPR 149c OR 143c Missed the Grand National by one spot but it could be a blessing in disguise as I think he’s really ready now to go and contest the big one. A grand jumper who always gives you his very best, he did us proud last season finishing placed in most of the major staying chases. He just gave a cough or two but he’s back into full work now and we’re waiting for some softer ground. Trevor likes to go to the Welsh National so that is a possibility but we need to find a nice race for him beforehand. Hopefully he can win a good staying handicap and go up the weights, and then it will be on to Aintree. VINTAGE CLOUDS with Sue & Harvey Smith at Craiglands Farm Stables , High Eldwick, Bingley 14thOct16 Photograph by Grossick Racing Photography 0771 046 1723Wakanda 9g Westerner – Chanson Indienne M B Scholey & The Late R H Scholey 2521P0- RPR 157c OR 148c A tiny horse with a big heart. Finds life hard as everywhere he goes he has to lug around topweight. A cracking jumper, he likes flat, galloping tracks and won the Sky Bet Chase at Doncaster last term after just being beaten in the Rowland Meyrick at Wetherby. He’ll have a similar campaign and we’re waiting for softer ground. What’s The Scoop 8g Presenting – Dame D’Harvard Mrs S Smith 525/04/3- RPR 119c OR 123c Harvey paid a goodly sum [£32,000] at the sales and he came from Nicky Henderson’s yard. He’s known for trying to run off the course at Sandown but he ran lovely for us back in February. He picked up a little knee injury but is back now. He’s a cracking prospect. The post Sue Smith Stable Tour appeared first on RaceBets Blog EN. View the full article

Godolphin’s Space Blues (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) arrived at a dank Nottingham for his late-season debut and lit up proceedings with a stunning performance to earn ‘TDN Rising Star’ status for the in-form Charlie Appleby yard. Positioned in a stalking second after an alert getaway, the 2-1 second favourite made smooth headway on the bridle in the straight to trouble 5-4 pick Private Secretary (GB) (Kingman {GB}) approaching the quarter-mile marker and quickened in impressive fashion once allowed an inch of rein at the eighth pole to easily overpower that rival by 2 1/4 lengths. The homebred chestnut becomes the fourth individual scorer produced by G2 Challenge S. victress Miss Lucifer (Fr) (Noverre) and he is thus a half-brother to MGSW G2 Al Maktoum Challenge and G2 UAE Oaks winner Shuruq (Elusive Quality), a yearling filly by Exceed and Excel (Aus) and a filly foal by Night of Thunder (Ire). Miss Lucifer is out of a winning half-sister to G2 King Edward VII S.-winning sire Amfortas (Ire) (Caerleon) and fellow sires Chevalier (Ire) (Danehill) and Chief Lone Eagle (Giant’s Causeway). She is also kin to G3 Prix de Royaumont victress Legend Maker (Ire) (Sadler’s Wells), herself the dam of G1 1000 Guineas heroine Virginia Waters (Kingmambo), and to the dam of G1 Matron S. victress Chachamaidee (Ire) (Footstepsinthesand {GB}). 3rd-Nottingham, £6,000, Mdn, 11-7, 2yo, 8f 75yT, 1:46.73, sf. SPACE BLUES (IRE), c, 2, by Dubawi (Ire) 1st Dam: Miss Lucifer (Fr) (GSW-Eng, $193,403), by Noverre 2nd Dam: Devil’s Imp (Ire), by Cadeaux Genereux (GB) 3rd Dam: High Spirited (Ire), by Shirley Heights (GB) 1ST-TIME STARTER. Lifetime Record: 1-1-0-0, $5,084. O/B-Godolphin (IRE); T-Charlie Appleby. Click for the Racing Post result or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. Video, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton. View the full article

19:45 Chelmsford Heavenly Holly could only manage fourth over course and distance on debut but should be capable of putting that experience to good use here as she was too far back to have any impact on the front three and was staying on strongly at the finish.With James Doyle taking over in the saddle, who has a 31% winning strike rate when riding for Hugo Palmer, I am hoping for her to be ridden a little closer to the pace before another strong finish to get her over the line in front. Breathtaking Look is the obvious danger having won on debut, however with that victory coming over a shorter trip and on turf, along with the fact that the stable have struggled for winners in recent weeks, there is enough for me to think she may have to settle for a minor role today. Heavenly Holly (WIN) – NAP Racebets 19:15 Chelmsford Areen Heart has a win and two placed efforts to his name since switching to an all-weather surface, the latest of which came when just a neck second in a decent-looking Class 2 contest at Lingfield earlier in the month, so would have to be considered now returning to a Class 4. Los Camachos put in a couple of decent runs here at Chelmsford last month, placing twice under today’s rider. He has only managed one career win to date but is usually thereabouts and could sneak a place again today. Trainer Ian Williams has a decent strike rate at Chelmsford and his runner is Boy In The Bar who won a Class 2 race when last seen, taking his winning tally over course and distance to two from three. This prior course form could make all the difference so he is taken to get the better of his rivals and gain another course and distance victory here today. Boy In The Bar (WIN) Chelmsford 17:15 – Dubai Warrior (WIN) 17:45 – Chitra (WIN) 18:15 – Themaxwecan (WIN) 18:45 – Mount Tahan (E/W) 19:15 – Boy In The Bar (WIN) 19:45 – Heavenly Holly (WIN) 20:15 – Dreamboat Annie (WIN) 20:45 – Wotadoll (WIN) Market Rasen 12:55 – Our Power (WIN) 13:30 – Outofthisworld (WIN) 12:05 – Drinks Interval (WIN) 14:35 – Forgot To Ask (WIN) 15:10 – Follow The Swallow (E/W) 15:40 – Aldrin (WIN) Newbury 12:40 – Majestic Touch (WIN) 13:15 – Mister Fisher (WIN) 13:50 – La Bague Au Roi (WIN) 14:25 – Posh Trish (WIN) 14:55 – Ready And Able (WIN) 15:30 – Silverhow (E/W) 16:00 – Genius (WIN) Sedgefield 13:05 – Millie The Minx (WIN) 13:40 – Kovera (WIN) 14:15 – Ilewin Geez (WIN) 14:45 – Grow Nasa Grow (WIN) 15:20 – Onwiththeparty (WIN) 15:50 – I’m To Blame (WIN) Thurles 12:45 – Streak (E/W) 13:20 – Jaunty Thor (WIN) 13:55 – Miss Chevious Girl (WIN) 14:30 – Chisholm Trail (WIN) 15:00 – Bay Hill (WIN) 15:35 – Moratorium (WIN) 16:10 – Gateway To Europe (WIN) The post Picks From The Paddock Best Bet – Thursday 8th November appeared first on RaceBets Blog EN. View the full article

IF YOU thought the reckless behaviour of revellers attending the Melbourne Cup was left at the track along with empty champagne bottles and tinnies, think again. View the full article

LEXINGTON, KY–Strong trade continued at the Keeneland November Sale Tuesday with Marquee Miss (Cowboy Cal) topping the first of two Book 2 sessions when selling to WinStar Farm for $750,000. A total of 223 horses grossed $34,942,000 for an average of $156,691 and a median of $125,000. A total of 79 horses failed to meet their reserves for a buyback rate of 26.16%. Through the first two sessions, 343 horses have realized $91,371,000 with an average of $266,388 and a median of $180,000. Overall, 129 horses have left the ring unsold for an RNA rate of 27.33%. “I thought the bidding today was very strong and consistent,” said Keeneland’s Director of Sales Operations Geoffrey Russell. “It was domestic at the top end, but we still had a fair share of international buyers, Japan and Australia probably to the fore front. I thought the foals were very good, especially because we had a lot of end users at the top, so overall it was a good day at the office.” A trio of weanlings sold for over $500,000, topped by Hip 413, a colt from the first crop of champion Nyquist, who summoned $600,000 from Larry Best. “The weanling market has been very strong for the last couple of years,” Russell said. “Our breeders are pretty savvy and know they need to bring a good quality foal here. The ones that are here have already ticked one of the boxes so it gives the buyers confidence to go on.” WinStar’s Elliott Walden also commented on the strength of the weanling sales and the market as a whole. “I think good horses bring a lot of money and other horses are a bit tricky,” said Walden, who signed the ticket on the sales topper. “It is what we’ve seen through the yearling sales and it is no different here. Weanling trade appears very strong. I saw a lot of trainers looking at weanlings, like Todd Pletcher and Chad Brown, which is very unusual. So, it is very competitive.” The November sale continues with a second day of book two selling Wednesday at 10 a.m. For full results and catalogues, visit www.keeneland.com. Marquee Miss ‘Fulfills’ Her ‘Promise’ Owner Joe Ragsdale had high hopes for his mare Marquee Miss (Cowboy Cal), a half-sister to Grade I-winning sprinter Promises Fulfilled (Shackleford), at Keeneland November Tuesday and she more than lived up to them, selling to WinStar Farm for $750,000. “It was a little bit higher than what we expected, so we were very pleased,” Ragsdale said. “We had high expectations for her, but not quite this high.” WinStar’s Elliott Walden expressed a similar opinion, “It was a little more [than we expected to pay], but she was the one we wanted today.” Out of MGSP Marquee Delivery (Marquetry), Marquee Miss is a half-sister to Promises Fulfilled, winner of the four graded events this year, topped by the GI H. Allen Jerkens Memorial S. at Saratoga. She is also a full-sibling to MSP Marquee Cal Gal. “She’s a beautiful mare,” said Walden, who does not have a stallion in mind for Hip 475 yet. “I love Promises Fulfilled and have a lot of respect for him, so I thought she was a nice fit for the broodmare band. She is full of quality and balance.” Purchased by Ragsdale for just $20,000 at the OBS June Sale, Marquee Miss won five stakes and was graded stakes placed in her career for trainer Ingrid Mason. She retires with a record of 34-6-4-3 and earnings of $373,516. “She was five and she had a nice career,” said Ragsdale, who operates Cherokee Measurement and Control in Tulsa. “She was very sound and did a good job for us. In tandem with the fact her little brother was doing so well, the timing was right to put her in the sales ring.” Ragsdale runs a small operation with just seven horses in training and four broodmares, but he has had a few homeruns in just six years in the business. In addition to his score with Marquee Miss, he also campaigned MGSW Sarah Sis (Sharp Humor), who was also a $20,000 OBS June purchase and earned north of $900,000 on the racetrack. After she RNA’d for $1.2 million at the 2015 Fasig-Tipton November sale, Ragsdale raced her another year and returned her to Newtown Paddocks in 2016, selling her for $750,000. When asked if he ever considered keeping his more accomplished mares for his own broodmare band, Ragsdale said, “We are just not quite there in our operation yet. We are trying to get to the point where we can keep one of these wonderful animals, who have raced so well for us.” —@CDeBernardisTDN Nyquist Colt to Best Larry Best, who purchased three weanlings at Fasig-Tipton Sunday, went to $600,000 to secure a colt from the first crop of GI Kentucky Derby winner Nyquist during Tuesday’s second session of the Keeneland November sale. The weanling (hip 413) is out of Holy Place (Pulpit), a half-sister to champion Lady Eli (Divine Park), who topped Monday’s session of the auction when selling for $4.2 million, and to multiple graded stakes winner Bizzy Caroline (Afleet Alex). “This is just a bet on good breeding,” Best said of the purchase. “I love Lady Eli and I love Uncle Mo, and therefore [his son] Nyquist. [The weanling] had good conformation and had the right size for his foaling date. He was worth a bet.” Later in Tuesday’s session, Best went to $525,000 for a colt by Quality Road (hip 610) from the Bedouin Bloodstock consignment. The weanling is out of Tanasi (High Cotton), a half-sister to the dam of Grade I winners Paulassilverlining (Ghostzapper) and Dads Caps (Discreet Cat). “The page is attractive,” Best said of the weanling. “He is a little bit on the small side, but I convinced myself he would mature. I’m hoping to race him.” Hip 610 was bred by SF Bloodstock, which purchased Tanasi with the colt in utero for $110,000 at last year’s Keeneland November sale. Best burst onto the sales scene three years ago and has quickly become a major player at the top of the market and at the races. On the racetrack, he has been represented by graded stakes winners Instilled Regard (Arch) and Instagrand (Into Mischief)–both expensive 2-year-old purchases. He has also had success with yearling purchases like multiple Grade I placed Rowayton (Into Mischief) and ‘TDN Rising Star’ Brill (Medaglia d’Oro). With his purchases this week in Lexington, Best seems to be stepping up his participation in the weanling market. His three acquisitions at Fasig-Tipton included a $600,000 son of Pioneerof the Nile (hip 109); a $500,000 daughter of Medaglia d’Oro (hip 28); and a $450,000 colt by Quality Road (hip 22). Of his increased involvment in the weanling market, Best said, “I bought a couple weanlings last year, but with the prices of yearlings, I feel if you go down the food chain a little bit, you take a little more risk, but you pay less.” Best paused for a beat before adding with a wide grin, “I don’t know if any of this will work out.” Hip 413 was consigned by Lane’s End on behalf of breeders Tony Holmes and Dr. and Mrs. Walter Zent. “I thought he would do well because he was such a nice type and a nice mover,” said Holmes. “I am happy, especially for Dr. Zent who I’ve partnered with forever. So it’s just a nice feeling, financially and personally.” Holmes and Zent purchased Holy Place in foal to City Zip for $65,000 at the 2015 Keeneland November sale, a relative bargain considering Lady Eli’s resume already included a pair of Grade I victories. “She had been in Louisiana, I think, and she’d gotten off to a bad start at stud,” Holmes said of the mare. “That put a lot of people off, but I thought that wouldn’t bother me when I saw the catalogue page. And I think Lady Eli was even on the page then. So her early progeny record, even though she was still young, put people off. Normally, I wouldn’t have been able to buy her.” Of the decision to breed to Nyquist during his first season at stud, Holmes said, “I thought Nyquist [standing] at $40,000 was very good value, for what he did and commercially. I think I got three mares in foal to him. Finding horses in that price range for that value, it’s tough. In the longer run, we try to breed younger mares to the proven ones. And with this mare, we threw that equation out the window and said, ‘Let’s hopefully get lucky at $40,000.’ And we did.” Holy Place’s yearling colt by Carpe Diem sold for $170,000 at this year’s Keeneland September sale. “I thought because he was so nice, we would see if we could hopefully try and make him bring a yearling price,” Holmes said of the decision to send the Nyquist colt through the ring at November. Holy Place was bred back to Nyquist last spring. Holmes was still waiting to share congratulations with his partner an hour or so after the weanling had sold. “I haven’t even seen Dr. Zent since he sold,” Holmes said. “He might have beat me to the bar,” he added with a laugh. @JessMartiniTDN Remembered to Hinkle Farms Remembered (Sky Mesa), dam of Grade I winner Bowies Hero (Artie Schiller), will be joining the broodmare band at Hinkle Farms after selling for $550,000 Tuesday at Keeneland. “She’s a lovely mare and a proven producer,” said Tom Hinkle after signing the ticket on the mare out back. “She produced a Grade I stakes winner and she is only turning nine. She’s in foal to Gun Runner, so if she has a nice foal, maybe we’ll get lucky.” The 8-year-old mare (hip 539) is out of Sister Girl (Conquistador Cielo) and she is a half-sister to graded stakes winner Mint Lane (Maria’s Mon) and Grade I placed Sister Girl Blues (Hold for Gold)–dam of GI Kentucky Derby runner-up Firing Line (Line of David), as well as to So Sharp (Saint Liam)–the dam of GI Cigar Mile H. winner and new Three Chimneys stallion Sharp Azteca (Freud). The Hinkle family purchased So Sharp, in foal to Lea, for $230,000 at the 2016 Keeneland November sale. “We have some of the family already,” Hinkle said. “We own the dam of Sharp Azteca, so we like the family.” Hinkle Farms’ strong showing at this year’s Keeneland September sale included the $1.75-million sale of a War Front half-sister to Derby winner Nyquist (hip 389). “We did have a good September sale and we’re always trying to improve the quality of our broodmare band,” Hinkle said. The unraced Remembered was bred and consigned to Tuesday’s sale by Pope McLean’s Crestwood Farm. “We have the half-sister [Street Flirt (Street Boss)], who is a couple of years younger, so we had something to back it up with,” Pope McLean, Sr. said of the decision to sell Remembered. “We thought it was time to move her on and we wish them the best of luck. We thought she would bring that or maybe even a little more, but she was a nice mare and right off the bat had a Grade I winner, so you can’t ask for any more than that.” Of the mare’s placement in Book 2, McLean said, “We thought she could have been overlooked a little in Book 1. I think it was a good sale; they got a good buy and we did fine, too.” @JessMartiniTDN Shared Account Joins Sam-Son Farm Broodmare Band Shared Account (Pleasantly Perfect), winner of the 2010 GI Breeders’ Cup F/M Turf, is headed to Canada after being purchased by James Wigan, acting on behalf of Sam-Son Farm, for $550,000 Tuesday. Hip 560 is currently in foal to Mastery. “She’s been a good racemare,” said Wigan, who also purchased Theatric (Bernardini) (Hip 614) for Sam-Son for $310,000. “She has a little bit of age on her, but she has already produced a stakes winner. We loved her as an individual and she has a great pedigree.” Out of the Smart Strike mare Silk N’ Sapphire, Shared Account is a half-sister to SW & MGSP Colonial Flag (Pleasant Tap) and GSP Mark of Success (Mt. Livermore). Sagamore Farm purchased the mare for $170,000 as a KEESEP yearling and she went on to win six of 18 races, three of which were graded stakes, and earn over $1.6 million. The 12-year-old mare has already produced a stakes winner in Riley’s Choice (Distorted Humor). “We haven’t thought about [a stallion yet],” said Sam-Son Farm Broodmare and Stallion Manager Dave Whitford. “We have just been working so hard at getting mares here. We didn’t know what we were going to get, so we are just happy to get her. Hopefully she can get us some runners at the track. We would love to get a stakes winner out of her. She is a gorgeous mare. We love her.” Shared Account was consigned by Upson Downs Farm on Sagamore’s behalf. “It is hard to sell a Breeders’ Cup winner, but she went to a great place,” said Upson Down’s Alex Rankin. “I think she was well sold and well bought. We were pleased. There was a limit to what we would sell her for. She has that value for us. They would love to have the Mastery foal and go on with it.” —@CDeBernardisTDN Into Mischief Colt Destined for Resale A colt by Into Mischief will likely reappear at the yearling sales next season after he was purchased for $500,000 by pinhooker Gerry Dilger. “He is by a great sire, all of the above, he was all there,” Dilger said of the weanling’s appeal. Hip 499 is out of the unraced Nest Egg (Eskendereya), a half-sister to graded stakes winner Final Round (Storm Cat). Consigned by St. George Sales, the weanling was bred by Dell Ridge Farm. Dell Ridge purchased Nest Egg, in foal to Curlin, for $200,000 at the 2015 Keeneland November sale. The mare’s colt by More Than Ready sold for $210,000 at this year’s Keeneland September sale. Asked about paying $500,000 for a pinhooking prospect, Dilger said, “You look at the foals selling Monday and Tuesday here, they were outstanding, the prices that they were given for these foals and the pedigrees. So I guess we all have to step up a bit further this year. It’s been unbelievably competitive here this week.”@JessMartiniTDN Thai Buy a Hit for Team Valor Following the exploits of dual champion Songbird (Medaglia d’Oro) two years ago, Team Valor International’s Barry Irwin struck to secure the filly’s half-sister Wide Range (Mineshaft) and repatriated the then 11-year-old mare from Thailand. Her first foal born since she returned to the U.S., a colt by Medaglia d’Oro (hip 237), went through the ring at Keeneland Monday and sold for $470,000 to Clear Ridge Stables. “I’ve tried to do a couple of traditional investments in the last couple of years and Wide Range was one of those,” Irwin said. “It wasn’t that difficult to find her. The guy who had her was a regular buyer at Keeneland and he bought well-bred horses as cheaply as possible. So finding her wasn’t the tough part. But there were so many hoops to jump through to get her here. The route of travel for this horse was something crazy. The dam had to go from Thailand to South Korea and then some other interim place, then Alaska and Chicago. It was unbelievable, but it turned out to be worth it.” Wide Range, who is already the dam of graded stakes winner Mico Margarita (Run Away and Hide), is currently in foal to Violence. Even as he enjoyed Monday’s sales ring success, Irwin was focused on a new dimension he has added to his Team Valor operation. “We buy horses, syndicate them and it’s a vehicle for people to have some entertainment, to enjoy themselves,” Irwin explained of the traditional Team Valor partnerships which have included 2011 GI Kentucky Derby winner Animal Kingdom (Leroidesanimaux {Brz}). “We don’t do it telling people that this is an investment or a financial opportunity. However, going forward, we are going to have a division of our company that does try to do things on a for-profit basis.” Irwin and Team Valor executive team member Jessica Berry got the new investment-minded division of Team Valor started last month at the Arqana October Yearling Sale. “A couple of weeks ago, I went to the Arqana sale and I bought five yearlings,” Irwin said. “They are all fillies and I’ve given them to trainers in the South of France with the idea of racing them, winning a race and then selling them.” The most expensive of the five Arqana purchases was a daughter of Siyouni (Fr) (hip 5) acquired for €95,000. The group also included a pair of daughters of Dabirsim (Fr) and fillies by War Command and Camelot (GB). The decision to purchase yearlings with an eye towards re-selling was made after a competitive season trying to buy 2-year-olds, according to Irwin. “I am in the market every day of the racing season,” Irwin said. “I was only able to buy one filly in Europe this entire year as a 2-year-old, Devant (Fr) (Showcasing {GB}). She worked out well. She won the G3 Prix Miesque and she got beaten a nose in the G3 Six Perfections. But she was the only one I was able to buy. And all of the other ones were bought at that Arqana October sale for about $20,000 and $80,000. I figured, ‘What the hell? I’m just going to go to that sale, find some I like myself, race them and try to sell them.'” The five yearlings are a test run for Team Valor and it could expand in the years ahead. “I want to try this one first and see how it goes next year,” Irwin said. “Then, if it goes well, we will branch out into a few different sales.” Irwin concluded, “I want people to know that we are continuing to do the partnerships, but we have had a change of direction and we are also going to do things on a for-profit basis. So if anybody sees one of my horses and it interests them, I don’t want them to say, ‘It’s Team Valor, they’ll never sell it.’ I want them to look at me as a guy who will sell a good horse.” @JessMartiniTDN Keene Investment The first consignment in the name of Ann Bakhaus’s Keene Ridge Racing got off to a rousing start at Keeneland Tuesday with the sale of the mare Theatric (Bernardini) and her weanling filly by Street Sense. The 5-year-old mare, in foal to Distorted Humor, sold for $310,000 to Sam-Son Farm, while her weanling followed her into the ring and sold for $150,000 to Jamie B. Bloodstock. The mare, with the Street Sense filly in utero, was purchased by bloodstock agent Charlie Boden on behalf of Bakhaus for $180,000 at last year’s Keeneland November sale. Theatric is a daughter of champion Ashado (Saint Ballado) and a half-sister to stakes winner Westwood (Bernardini). “I knew the mare a little bit from when I was at Godolphin,” Boden, who previously served as head of sales for Sheikh Mohammed’s operation, said of Theatric’s appeal last November. “Ashado was bought in the year I started there, I think. Ashado had been disappointing and this was one of the first ones out of Ashado who they thought could run a little bit. I think she ended up being disappointing, too, but I think she had some ability. And knowing that, I thought that she would be a good risk of a mare to buy.” Boden continued, “Ann wanted to buy something and sell it back. We thought if the mare has a nice enough foal, we’ll definitely sell the foal right back. And we might take a chance to sell the mare and if we made money, great, and if we not we’d be happy to keep the mare. With a good effort of a first foal, we’d love to have another shot with the mare if she didn’t bring enough money. But she sold very well. She was well-protected, I’ll say. She sold well passed the reserve, but she was protected. So we weren’t going to give the mare away.” Bakhaus runs her family’s Kentucky Eagle, a beverage distributing company. One of the first horses she and Boden teamed up to buy was a maiden mare named Belva (Theatrical {Ire}). “Belva was one of the first mares Ann bought some years ago,” Boden said. “We bought her as a maiden off of Allen Paulson and bred her to Smart Strike. We sold English Channel as a yearling for $50,000 to J. J. Pletcher. He was a nasty little guy that they were glad to get rid of because he was mean and tough. What they didn’t realize was that was going to translate into one of the toughest little turf horses we’ve seen in a long time.” That tough little turf horse was champion English Channel. Of Bakhaus’s decision to consign under the Keene Ridge banner, Boden said, “Ann is willing and game and she thought that adding a personal touch to selling her horses could add some value.” Boden was also quick to give credit for the consignment’s success to Bakhaus’s longtime farm manager, Charlie McKinlay. “Charlie McKinlay has raised all the horses she has had there since she started,” Boden said. “He has been there 20 some years and does a great job. He is a really good horseman. He participates in the selection process along me.” In addition to her sales success, Bakhaus has enjoyed success on the racetrack this year with her homebred Nice Not Nice (Twirling Candy). The filly was third in the recent GIII Fayette S. and second in the GIII Ack Ack S. “She brought guys from Sierra Nevada brewing company–they were passionate about the game and love gambling–they bought a piece of a horse and it turns out to be this horse and he can run a little bit and they’ve had a lot of fun with him. She spreads it around. She is great for the game. She’s enthusiastic about it all. She likes the sales aspects, likes the racing.” @JessMartiniTDN Sequel & Stonestreet Continue to Support Union Jackson Becky Thomas’s Sequel New York and Barbara Banke’s Stonestreet Stables continued their support of young stallion Union Jackson (Curlin) at Keeneland Tuesday, purchasing Alpha Kitten (Tale of the Cat) for $57,000. Banke bred and raced MSW & GSP Union Jackson, a son of her Grade I winner Hot Dixie Chick (Dixie Union). The 5-year-old bred just under 80 mares in his first book and his first foals will hit the ground this spring. “It is the second part of our venture we started last year,” said Thomas. “We stand Union Jackson in partnership with Stonestreet. We supported the stallion last year and we are going to support the stallion this year. In New York, you must support your stallions and we want to be the leaders with that stallion. We love that stallion and Barbara loves that stallion.” Graded stakes winner Alpha Kitten is currently in foal to Lord Nelson. Hip 257 is out of a half-sister to Grade I winner Marylebone (Unbridled’s Song). “We want mares that look fast, an athletic mare,” Thomas said. “[Alpha Kitten] is a Grade II winner. We look for mares that should produce early speed. He himself was a very fast horse. He was a ‘TDN Rising Star,’ [his sire] Curlin was a ‘TDN Rising Star,’ as well as his mother.” She continued, “This is phase two. We want to show New York breeders they need to get on our band wagon because we are supporting this horse once again.” Thomas does not have an exact number of mares in mind, but said they would purchase several. As for the plans for the resulting foals, the horsewoman said, “We want to see what the babies look like, maybe adjust what we are doing a little bit. Barbara is very excited about this horse and when you are on a team such as Stonestreet, I’m going to be all in myself.” ––@CDeBernardisTDN View the full article

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