Wandering Eyes

Blue Point once again held off the challenge of Battaash to claim back-to-back successes in the King's Stand Stakes (G1), as the pair filled the same two placings from last season. View the full article

Aidan O'Brien extended his record as the most successful trainer in the Coventry Stakes (G2) when Arizona gave him a ninth victory in the most prestigious 2-year-old race at Royal Ascot June 18. View the full article

Brought in as a substitute for Magna Grecia (Ire) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}) for the G1 St James’s Palace S., Circus Maximus (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) proved gladiatorial in the Ascot rain to provide Aidan O’Brien with an eighth renewal. Settled second early by Ryan Moore, the 10-1 shot who sported blinkers for the first time coming back from a sixth placing in the June 1 G1 Epsom Derby ground his way to the front with two furlongs to race and saw off the 2-1 favourite Phoenix of Spain (Ire) (Lope De Vega {Ire}) and then TDN Rising Star Too Darn Hot (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) to hit the line just ahead of the strong-finishing fellow TDN Rising Star King of Comedy (Ire) (Kingman {GB}). 1–CIRCUS MAXIMUS (IRE), 126, c, 3, by Galileo (Ire) Duntle (Ire) (MGSW & G1SP-Ire, GSW & G1SP-Eng, G1SP-Fr, $458,532), by Danehill Dancer (Ire) 2nd Dam: Lady Angola, by Lord At War (Arg) 3rd Dam: Benguela, by Little Current 1ST GROUP WIN; 1ST GROUP 1 WIN. O-Flaxman Stables Ireland Ltd, Susan Magnier, Michael Tabor & Derrick Smith; B-Flaxman Stables Ireland Ltd (IRE); T-Aidan O’Brien; J-Ryan Moore. £305,525. Lifetime Record: 7-3-0-1, £398,075. The post Galileo’s Circus Maximus Battles to St James’s Palace Glory appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

In another piece of theatre on Royal Ascot’s opening card, the second act of the Blue Point (Ire) (Shamardal) and Battaash (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}) stage play saw the spotlight fall once again on Godolphin’s TDN Rising Star at the end of the G1 King’s Stand S. With Battaash denied an ideal lead into the race after Houtzen (Aus) (I Am Invincible {Aus}) bobbled leaving the stall next to him and kept him removed from the main action up the centre, Blue Point was forced to plough his own furrow without cover near the pace set by Soldier’s Call (GB) (Showcasing {GB}). Jim Crowley had to make a move at halfway to get involved and Shadwell’s 2-1 favourite loomed ominously, but James Doyle was getting a typically generous response from his main adversary. Forging ahead from 150 yards out, which was a touch earlier than he had done 12 months previously, Blue Point had eked out a 1 1/4-length verdict over his foe at the line, with the 3-year-old Soldier’s Call sticking on courageously to be 1 1/2 lengths away in third. “He’s one of the old warriors of the yard and he’s always going to find for you,” an emotional Charlie Appleby said of the 5-2 second favourite, whose repeat win came in the gloom of a rain-hit afternoon. “We had him in the form of his life today and he was electric when James got on him last Wednesday. He said he was the fastest horse he had sat on. He’s been close to us all for a long time and always pulls on your heart strings.” 1–BLUE POINT (IRE), 130, h, 5, by Shamardal 1st Dam: Scarlett Rose (GB), by Royal Applause (GB) 2nd Dam: Billie Blue (GB), by Ballad Rock (Ire) 3rd Dam: Blue Nose (Ire), by Windjammer 1ST GROUP 1 WIN. (110,000gns Wlg ’14 TATFOA; 200,000gns Ylg ’15 TATOCT). O-Godolphin; B-Oak Lodge Bloodstock (IRE); T-Charlie Appleby; J-James Doyle. £283,550. Lifetime Record: 19-10-3-3, £2,991,073. *1/2 to Formosina (Ire) (Footstepsinthesand {GB}), GSW-Ire & GSP-Eng, $185,830. The post It’s Blue Point Again In the King’s Stand appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

DAY two at Royal Ascot and the day a lot of people are really looking forward to, myself included, because the Prince of Wales’s Stakes is the big race of the day. This is going to be a serious race. You have the likes of Crystal Ocean, Magical and Sea Of Class in there, not […] The post Kieren Fallon Royal Ascot Preview – Day 2 appeared first on RaceBets Blog EN. View the full article

Lord Glitters stunned in the opening race of Royal Ascot 2019 when he denied Beat The Bank in a thrilling finish to the prestigious straight mile contest, which had the most dramatic of starts as last year's winner Accidental Agent refused to race. View the full article

Aidan O’Brien matched jockey Sir Gordon Richards’ record haul and extended his own trainers’ record, as 15-8 favourite Arizona (Ire) (No Nay Never) pounced wide and late to secure a ninth edition for the trainer in Tuesday’s G2 Coventry S. at Royal Ascot. The bay was tenderly handled in defeat over six furlongs at The Curragh in his May 6 debut and obliterated the opposition when streaking to an eight-length score back over the same course and distance in his only other start last time May 26. Racing off the pace in the far-side group of nine from the outset, he was scrubbed along approaching the final quarter mile and kept on relentlessly under a final-furlong drive to outpoint 4-1 market rival Threat (Ire) (Footstepsinthesand {GB}) by a half-length in the dying strides with 6-1 chance Guildsman (Fr) (Wootton Bassett {GB}) a neck further back in third. ARIZONA (IRE), c, 2, No Nay Never–Lady Ederle, by English Channel. (65,000gns Wlg ’17 TATFOA; €260,000 Ylg ’18 ARAUG. Lifetime Record: 3-2-1-0, £99,433. O-Susan Magnier, Michael Tabor & Derrick Smith; B-Stephen Sullivan (Ire); T-Aidan O’Brien. The post No Nay Never’s Arizona Pounces For Coventry Glory appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Tuesday’s G1 Queen Anne S. will always be recalled with a sizeable footnote as last year’s winner Accidental Agent (GB) (Delegator {GB}) planted himself in the stalls and refused to race a yard of the Royal Ascot opener. In a twist of fate that may not have been coincidental, it was the runner-up in 2018 Lord Glitters (Fr) (Whipper) who ultimately prevailed in his absence from combat to provide owners Geoff and Sandra Turnbull, trainer David O’Meara and jockey Danny Tudhope with another red-letter day. In a pulsating tussle between three longshots, the 14-1 chance Lord Glitters crept into contention from rear and in the last 75 yards headed off Beat the Bank (GB) (Paco Boy {Ire}) and One Master (GB) (Fastnet Rock {Aus}), both of whom traded at 20-1. At the line, he was a neck to the good over the former, with One Master looking a non-stayer as she faded from surefire winner inside the final furlong to third, a further 3/4 of a length behind. “He deserves to win a big one like this and when things fall right he’s a super horse,” Tudhope said of the journeyman grey who recorded a highly respectable time despite talk of the recent rain slowing the surface. “David said to ride him cold and be brave and if there’s one track you can do that at it’s here as it’s a long way in the last furlong.” Godolphin’s 5-1 favourite Barney Roy (GB) (Excelebration {Ire}) was eighth after failing to land a blow. LORD GLITTERS (FR), 126, g, 6, Whipper–Lady Glitters (Fr), by Homme de Loi (Ire). O-Geoff & Sandra Turnbull; B-SCA Elevage de Tourgeville & Mme Hilary Erculiani (FR); T-David O’Meara; J-Daniel Tudhope. £340,260. Lifetime Record: 22-7-8-2, £1,442,266. The post Lord Glitters Prevails In Dramatic Queen Anne appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

High Chaparral’s dual Group One winning son, Ace High, has been retired to Rich Hill Stud, near Matamata, where he will stand for a fee of $10,000+GST for the forthcoming breeding season. Prepared by David Payne, Ace High was a winner at two and dominated as a spring three-year-old, winning the Gr.3 Gloaming Stakes (1800m) before successive Group One victories in the Spring Champion Stakes (2000m) and VRC Derby (2500m). As an autumn three-year-old he was a close-up fourth in the Gr.1 Randwick ... View the full article

The field for Wednesday’s G2 Queen Mary S. contains a number of bargain auction buys and pinhooking scores, with a few blueblooded homebreds sprinkled in. AL RAYA (GB) (Siyouni {Fr}-Fig Roll {GB}, by Bahamian Bounty {GB}) Al Raya, a daughter of the listed-winning Fig Roll bred by Ed’s Stud, was bought by Longways Stables from Longview Stud for £95,000 as a Doncaster yearling. She returned to the same venue in April for the Goffs UK breeze-up sale and fetched £450,000 from Stroud Coleman Bloodstock. AMERICAN LADY (IRE) (Starspangedbanner {Aus}-Show Me Off {GB}, by Showcasing {GB}) American Lady is out of an unraced half-sister to G2 Oettingen-Rennen scorer Lovelace (GB) (Royal Applause {GB}). Bred by B&C Equine and Philip and Jane Myerscough, the four-start maiden American Lady was a €59,000 Goffs Sportmans Sale yearling bought by De Burgh Equine and Fozzy Stack from the Baroda & Colbinstown consignment. ANNA’S FAST (Fast Anna-True Will, by Yes It’s True) A 5 1/2-length debut winner at Keeneland, the Amg Equine-bred Anna’s Fast was led out unsold at $17,000 as a Keeneland November foal. She was picked up by De Meric Stables for $32,500 at Fasig-Tipton’s Kentucky July yearling sale, and represented a fine pinhooking score when bought by Breeze Easy for $470,000 at OBS March. APPLECROSS (IRE) (Sir Prancealot {Ire}-Champion Tipster {GB}, by Pursuit of Love {GB}) Unsold at €12,000 as a Goffs November foal, the Thomas Cahalan and Sophie Hayley-bred Applecross found favour with Tally-Ho Stud for €10,500 at the following fall’s Goffs Open Yearling Sale. She turned into a decent pinhook when bringing £60,000 from Alex Elliott at Goffs UK’s breeze-up sale in April. BRAND NEW DAY (IRE) (Epaulette {Aus}-Blue Saphire {GB}, by Acclamation {GB}) Brand New Day was bred by the breeze-up specialist Con Marnane, who enjoyed such a big score at this meeting two years ago with Different League (Fr) (Dabirsim {Fr}), but she never saw a sales ring and carries the black and yellow silks of Con’s wife Theresa. DAUGHTER IN LAW (IRE) (Requinto {Ire}-Shizao {Ire}, by Alzao) Daughter In Law was scooped up by Hamish Macauley Bloodstock for €8,500 as a Goffs November foal. Put through the Goffs Sportsmans yearling sale a year later, she fetched €23,000 from Danny Murphy and Mark Gallagher from the Aughamore Stud draft. Daughter In Law was bred by SH Bloodstock. DIVINE SPIRIT (GB) (Kingman {GB}-Shyrl {GB}, by Acclamation {GB}) This year’s 850,000gns Tattersalls Craven topper Divine Spirit followed up with a ‘TDN Rising Star’-worthy debut at Windsor on May 20, and she now looks to go one better than her dam, who was second in the 2008 Queen Mary. A whopping pinhook for Tally-Ho Stud, she was originally a 92,000gns Tattersalls December foal from the Baroda & Colbinstown Studs consignment. The Godolphin colourbearer was bred by Saleh Al Homaizi and Imad Al Sagar. EMTEN (IRE) (Bungle Inthejungle {GB}-Lucky Leigh {GB}, by Piccolo {GB}) Bred and sold by Rathasker Stud, the debut winner Emten was a £36,000 Tattersalls Ireland Ascot September yearling purchased by Federico Barberini. FINAL SONG (IRE) (Dark Angel {Ire}-Rahiyah, by Rahy) Another ‘TDN Rising Star’ here for Godolphin, Final Song won by five lengths over this course and distance on May 10. The homebred is out of the G2 Rockfel S. second and G1 Poule d’Essai des Pouliches third Rahiyah, and her third dam Golden Opinion (Slew o’Gold) won this meeting’s G1 Coronation S. FLAMING PRINCESS (IRE) (Hot Streak {Ire}-Qatar Princess {Ire}, by Marju {Ire}) Unsold as a Goffs November foal at €24,000, Flaming Princess was bought by Daniel Benson from breeder Linacre Stud for £20,000 at the Tattersalls Ireland Ascot Yearling Sale. She proved a decent pinhook when bought by owners The Cool Silk Partnership and Stroud Coleman Bloodstock for £60,000 at the Tattersalls Ireland Ascot Breeze-Up Sale. FLIPPA THE STRIPPA (IRE) (Outstrip {GB}-Celsius Degre {Ire}, by Verglas {Ire}) Already a stakes winner and the winner of two of her three starts, Flippa The Strippa was a £10,000 Tattersalls Ireland Ascot yearling. GOOD VIBES (GB) (Due Diligence-Satsuma {GB}, by Compton Place {GB}) The winner of a significant prep in the Listed Marygate S. on May 17, Good Vibes was bred by Whitsbury Manor Stud by its first-season sire Due Diligence and sold to Kevin Ross Bloodstock for £35,000 as a Doncaster yearling. ICKWORTH (IRE) (Shamardal-Ishitaki {Arg}, by Interprete {Arg}) Unbeaten in two starts to date, Ickworth is a homebred for Godolphin. She is out of the Argentine champion 2-year-old filly Ishitaki (Arg) (Interprete {Arg}). ISABEAU (IRE) (Cable Bay {Ire}-Semblance {GB}, by Pivotal {GB}) Bred by Mark and Stephanie Hanly, Isabeau was sold by the Hanlys’ Grange Hill Stud for €30,000 as a Goffs Orby yearling. She is owned and trained by Michael O’Callaghan. KEMBLE (IRE) (Kodiac {GB}-Cherrington {Ire}, by Lope de Vega {Ire}) Kemble was knocked down for €100,000 as a foal at Goffs November, with Yeomanstown Stud signing the ticket, but she races as a homebred for Richard Kelvin-Hughes. Kemble is out of an unraced half-sister to Toronado (Ire) (High Chaparral {Ire}), who won this meeting’s G1 Queen Anne S. and is a promising young sire, and she is handled by Toronado’s trainer Richard Hannon. The third dam, the stakes-winning Wedding Gift (Fr) (Always Fair), produced the G1 Racing Post Trophy winner and sire Casamento (Ire) (Shamardal). KIMARI (Munnings-Cozze Up Lady, by Cozzene) Bred by China Horse Club, Kimari is out of the GIII Chicago H. winner Cozze Up Lady. She was bought by Eaton Bloodstock from the Blue Water Sales consignment at Fasig-Tipton Kentucky July for $152,000. LAMBETH WALK (GB) (Charm Spirit {Ire}-Cockney Dancer {GB}, by Cockney Rebel {Ire}) Unbeaten in two starts, Lambeth Walk was bred and sold by The Kathryn Stud for 22,000gns to Performance Genetics as agent during Book 3 of Tattersalls October. She was purchased privately by Qatar Racing and David Howden from Blackbriar Racing after breaking her maiden at Windsor on Apr. 15. LIBERTY BEACH (GB) (Cable Bay {Ire}-Flirtinaskirt {GB}, by Avonbridge {GB}) Liberty Beach was retained by breeder Phillip Wilkins after failing to sell for £16,000 at the Tattersalls Ireland Ascot Yearling Sale. She has thus far rewarded his faith with two wins from two starts. LOVE BRACELET (War Front-Bracelet {Ire}, by Montjeu {Ire}) A homebred for the Coolmore partners, Love Bracelet is out of their G1 Irish Oaks and G2 Ribblesdale S. winner Bracelet, whose own dam is Sea the Stars and Galileo’s sister Cherry Hinton (GB) (Green Desert). MIGHTY SPIRIT (IRE) (Acclamation {GB}-Majestic Alexander {Ire}, by Bushranger {Ire}) Mighty Spirit, a two-start maiden, was bred by Mountarmstrong Stud and sold by them to John and Jess Dance for £42,000 at the Goffs UK Premier Yearling Sale. MULTIPLY BY EIGHT (FR) (Muhaarar {GB}-Baldovina {GB}, by Tale of the Cat) Bred by Chasemore Farm, Multiply By Eight comes from the same family as that nursery’s 2018 Royal Ascot 2-year-old winner Arthur Kitt (GB) (Camelot {GB}) as a half-sister to his dam, the late Ceiling Kitty (GB) (Red Clubs {Ire}), who herself won the Queen Mary. Ceiling Kitty has also left the listed-winning Eartha Kitt (GB) (Pivotal {GB}). Multiply By Eight was acquired privately by King Power Racing. PARTRIDGE (IRE) (Zoffany {Ire}-Lasilia {Ire}, by Acclamation {GB}) Bred by Ashtown Holdings, Partridge, second in two runs to date, was bought by Peter and Ross Doyle for €150,000 at Goffs Orby and races in the silks of Denford Stud. She is out of the listed-placed Lasilia from the family of Group 1-winning full siblings Churchill (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) and Clemmie (Ire) as well as the G1 Nunthorpe S. winner Jwala (GB) (Oasis Dream {GB}). RAFFLE PRIZE (IRE) (Slade Power {Ire}-Summer Fete {Ire}, by Pivotal {GB}) Raffle Prize is out of the G3 Oak Tree S. winner Summer Fete. The last-out Chester maiden winner was bred by Godolphin and races for Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed al Maktoum. SHADN (IRE) (No Nay Never-Amethyst {Ire}, by Sadler’s Wells) The Barronstown Stud-bred Shadn is out of the Leopardstown 1000 Guineas Trial winner and G1 Irish 1000 Guineas second Amethyst, who is a full-sister to the G1 2000 Guineas and G1 National S. winner King of Kings (Ire). Shadn was bought by Hill Farm for €16,000 as a Goffs November foal from Seskin Stud. She was re-offered as a Tattersalls Ireland Ascot September yearling and bought by owner Al Rabban Racing and Jackson-Stops Bloodstock for £42,000. TANGO (IRE) (No Nay Never-Idle Chatter {Ire}, by Galileo {Ire}) Bred by Fastnet Stud, Tango was bought by Charlie Gordon-Watson and MV Magnier for 200,000gns at Tattersalls October Book 2. Her second dam is the Italian stakes-winning Bedside Story (GB) (Mtoto {GB}). THEORY OF TIME (IRE) (Dubawi {Ire}-Betimes {GB}, by New Approach {Ire}) Theory of Time, out of the listed-placed Betimes, races as a homebred for Godolphin and won first-out at Windsor on May 20. TOO SHY SHY (IRE) (Kodiac {GB}-Satwa Ruby {Fr}, by Verglas {Ire}) Too Shy Shy, who was bred by Eimear Mulhern and races for Phil Cunningham, was bought by the team of Bobby O’Ryan and trainer Richard Spencer for £62,000 as a yearling at Doncaster. She is from the family of the G1 Criterium de Saint-Cloud winner and G1 Prix du Jockey Club second Morandi (fr) (Holy Roman Emperor {Ire}). VENTURA FLAME (IRE) (Dandy Man {Ire}-Kramer Drive {Ire}, by Medicean {GB}) Ventura Flame was bred by Emmet Mullins and bought by the team of WH Bloodstock and Middleham Park Racing for €48,000 at the Tattersalls Ireland Goresbridge Breeze-Up Sale less than a month ago. She was second on debut at Carlisle eight days ago. The post Where Did They Come From? appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

The assistant trainer of Deirdre has joked the amended start time of Wednesday’s Group One Prince Of Wales’s Stakes (1,993m) means racing-mad fans in Japan will not have drunk too much sake and will still be awake to watch her run.The globetrotter has made a splash at Royal Ascot before even taking to the racetrack, with organisers doing away with tradition and bringing the race forward 40 minutes to ensure it kicks off before midnight in Japan.“We are always fortunate to be supported by the… View the full article

Late-season two-year-old Pontivy has marked herself as a potential Oaks filly following a strong win over 1600m at Pakenham on Monday. Trained by the Lindsay Park Racing partnership of David and Ben Hayes and Tom Dabernig, Pontivy is a daughter of Tavistock and was having her second career start. Sent out a $2.90 favourite, Pontivy scored a comfortable one-and-a-quarter length victory in the hands of Jye McNeil. “She is a really progressive filly,” stable representative Bruno Rouge-Serret sa... View the full article

The direction of Tommyra’s winter campaign will hinge on his performance at Hastings late this month. A last-start winner of the K.S. Browne Hurdle (3350m) at Ellerslie, Tommyra is being set for the Te Whangai Romneys Hawke’s Bay Hurdle (3100m) at Hastings on Saturday week with trainer Toby Autridge planning to use a rating 72 2100m at Tauranga this weekend to further his preparation for the next jumps assignment. Tommyra, a son of Raise The Flag, has won three of his six hurdle starts and b... View the full article

A gradual approach is being taken in a bid to get stayer Chocante back to racing in the late spring. Chocante, winner of the 2017 Gr.2 Brisbane Cup (2200m) at Doomben and third in the Gr.1 Metropolitan (2400m) in Sydney, has been off the scene for 14 months, his last start when unplaced in the Listed Tails Stakes (1600m) in Brisbane. “He did a tendon and we’ve been giving him every chance to make it back,” trainer Stephen Marsh said. “He’s had a couple of light preps and is due to go ... View the full article

... View the full article

Three-time Group Two winning son of Zabeel, Ocean Emperor, has been retired to Gary and Jenny Hennessy’s Weowna Park ahead of the forthcoming breeding season, where he will stand for a fee of $7,000+GST. Ocean Emperor will be the last Group winning son of Zabeel to retire to stud and boasts a strong pedigree, with his dam the Group One-placed Pins mare Tootsie. A $450,000 yearling purchase at Karaka from the draft of Waikato Stud, Ocean Emperor was raced by his trainer Hennessy in partnership ... View the full article

Wet track specialist Rosewood added a tenth victory to her record at Awapuni on Saturday and if conditions suit she will back up in this weekend’s Listed The Ultimate Ford and Mazda Tauranga Classic (1400m). It was the ninth win on a heavy track for the daughter of Redwood and trainer Marilyn Paewai said her mare flourishes in the wet going. “She just handles that wet stuff so well,” Paewai said. “She doesn’t look like she is trying that hard, obviously she is, but she always comes bac... View the full article

Seeking the Soul guaranteed himself a spot in the Breeders' Cup Classic (G1) when he rallied to win the Stephen Foster Stakes (G2) by a neck. The victory also earned him a spot back in the top 10 of the NTRA Top Thoroughbred Poll. View the full article

As great as the sting of Maximum Security's first loss on a racetrack was in the TVG.com Pegasus Stakes at Monmouth Park, the outlook is anything but gloomy for owners Gary and Mary West. View the full article

As much as there was the sting of Maximum Security suffering his first loss on the racetrack in the TVG.com Pegasus Stakes at Monmouth Park, the outlook is anything but gloomy for owners Gary and Mary West. View the full article

While the 3-year-old division still tries to sort itself out, seven colts and geldings are entered for the $500,000 Ohio Derby (G3) June 22 at JACK Thistledown Racino, topped by Global Campaign and Owendale. View the full article

The gaming and Thoroughbred racing operations at Mountaineer Casino, Racetrack and Resort in West Virginia are in the process of being sold to Century Casinos, Inc., a publicly traded Colorado-based gaming firm that also operates two Canadian horse tracks. The deal announced by the firm on Monday is part of a larger $107-million operations acquisition that includes Century’s taking over of two other non-racing gaming properties in Missouri, the Isle Casino Cape Girardeau and Lady Luck Caruthersville. Eldorado Resorts, Inc., is the seller. The actual property of all three gaming operations is being sold separately. Simultaneous with the expected 2020 closing of the transaction, a real estate investment trust, VICI Properties Inc., will acquire the real estate assets of all three properties for approximately $278 million. Century Casinos will then enter into a triple net lease agreement with VICI for those three casino properties. The lease will have an initial annual rent of approximately $25 million and an initial term of 15 years, with four five-year renewal options. The global holdings of Century Casinos include two other North American racetrack entities: The company owns and operates Century Mile Racetrack and Casino in Edmonton, and through a subsidiary it holds a 75% ownership interest in Century Downs Racetrack and Casino in Calgary. The firm also has an operational role in Century Bets! Inc., the pari-mutuel off-track horse betting networks in Alberta. Paul Ryneveld, Century’s managing director for its two Alberta racinos, told TDN via phone on Monday that while “no stone would be unturned” in the firm’s near-term quest to improve the live racing product and its simulcasting distribution, it’s “very, very early to really know what’s going to happen a few years from now.” He added that no aspects of Mountaineer’s racing operation would change until the deal officially closes in early 2020. “If you go back to the late 90’s and early 2000s when Mountaineer was pretty much the only gaming establishment in that region, their purses went up and obviously the racing increased as far as field size and everything,” Ryneveld said. “I remember horsemen complaining that they could not get stalls at Mountaineer. So whether or not we’re able to return to that time [is unclear], because obviously the competitive landscape has increased drastically in that region.” Ryneveld described Century as entirely a gaming company prior to getting involved with Century Mile and Century Downs in recent years. But now, he added, “horse racing is seen as a component of the entertainment offering at our two facilities in Alberta, and that philosophy would be taken to the property there in West Virginia.” Ryneveld said the new operational firm would likely explore “synergies” that could be cultivated between Century Downs, Century Mile and Mountaineer. As an example, Ryneveld said that because the Alberta tracks race exclusively in the summer months, a deal could be worked out to “possibly incentivize [Alberta] horsemen to go race at Mountaineer to have new blood and increase the field size of the product” during the spring and autumn “shoulder seasons” in West Virginia. Asked about the job security for the current operational team at Mountaineer, Ryneveld said “it’s way too preliminary for any of that” discussion. “That operation has obviously been going for many years, and it’s just way too preliminary [to say what will happen],” Ryneveld continued. “My background in the horse racing business goes back 32 years, and I’ve seen it time and time again where an acquisition happens and people aren’t sure whether to be happy about it or to be scared about it. Horsemen in particular don’t like change, so that’s obviously the greatest fear, what’s going to happen. The one thing we’ve shown in Alberta is that racing is a significant component of the operation at both facilities.” The post Mountaineer Park To Be Sold appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Officials at the Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association have announced that the 34th annual TOBA National Awards Dinner, honoring owners and breeders from 21 states and Canada, will be held Saturday, Sept. 7, at Fasig-Tipton in Lexington. Also recognized during the dinner will be the National Owner of the Year, National Owner Finalists, National Breeder of the Year, Small Breeder of the Year, Broodmare of the Year, Racing Partnership of the Year–a new award for 2019, Rood & Riddle Sport Horse of the Year, Claiming Crown Horse of the Year and the recipient of the Robert N. Clay Award. “Celebrating the success of leading Thoroughbred owners and breeders is a great privilege and we are honored to be associated with the well-deserved recognition of their achievements,” said Dan Metzger, president of TOBA. “We are very appreciative of Fasig Tipton’s generosity in hosting the TOBA National Awards Dinner and look forward to what promises to be a memorable evening for our award winners and guests.” Tickets for the National Awards Dinner will go on sale July 29 and will be available online at www.toba.org. For sponsorship opportunities call Meredith Downey at (859) 276-6793. The post TOBA to Host National Awards Dinner appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

LONDON, UK–“It’s entirely different to any other sale we do and we view it in an entirely different way,” said Goffs Chief Executive Officer Henry Beeby as the music played on outside the media tent in Kensington Palace and the invited guests showed no signs of dispersing well after the hammer had fallen for the final time. It’s hard to dispute that assessment. Year-on-year comparisons are largely futile for boutique horses-in-training auctions. While the rose flowed and visitors from all over the world mingled ahead of Britain’s biggest race meeting of the year, 10 of the 23 lots from a deliberately slimmed down catalogue found a new owner, some to race on in new silks this week, others with longer-term plans. All told, the 10 horses of varying ages accrued a tally of £3,150,000 at an average of £315,000 and median of £332,500. “The whole point of the sale is that owners will sell if they get the price they want, if not they will race at Ascot. We’ve done some good business tonight and it’s been great to see so many people here from all over the world,” Beeby said. Leading the way was Mohican Heights (Ire) (lot 10), a once-raced colt by Australia (GB) who was a winner at Leopardstown for Deuce Greathouse on May 17. Mohican Heights will now leave Fozzy Stack’s stable to join David Simcock in Newmarket after being bought for an existing client of the trainer for £520,000, though his participation in Saturday’s Listed Chesham S. is not certain. “We looked at the videos, he’s bred to stay and we’re always on the look out for a nice horse,” Simcock said. “We know the family well as we trained his half-brother Curbyourenthusiasm (Ire), but I’m not sure yet whether he will go for the Chesham.” The new owner of the second-top lot of the evening, Pure Zen (Fr) (Zoffany {Ire}) (lot 23), was also shrouded in mystery after Federico Barberini bid £500,000 for the G2 Prix de Sandringham runner-up but was unable to divulge the identity of his client. Another without an Ascot entry but with a potentially big future ahead of him on the international stage is Le Don De Vie (GB) (Leroidesanimaux {Brz}) (lot 18), who was sold for £460,000 to join the stable of Hughie Morrison, who sent out Marmelo (GB) (Duke Of Marmalade {Ire}) to be second in last year’s Melbourne Cup. “Marmelo needed a friend,” joked the trainer after Matt Houldsworth signed the ticket on behalf of Aziz Kheir, who co-owns Marmelo with his breeders Edward and Christabel Goodwin. Houldsworth continued, “He was a very impressive winner at Epsom and he should progress quietly from here. He’ll go to Hughie for the time being and then out to Australia.” The Dream Ahead filly Forever In Dreams (Ire) (lot 16) was initially bought back at £440,000 but was later marked as a private sale to the Phoenix Thoroughbreds Ladies Syndicate, which had been the underbidder at £330,000. The listed Cecil Frail S. winner is entered in the G1 Commonwealth Cup on Friday. The 3-year-old filly was sold from Bansha House Stables along with lot 8, Real Appeal (Ger) (Sidestep {Aus}), who was bought by Michael Donohoe of BBA Ireland on behalf of Zhang Yuesheng’s Yulong Investments for £265,000. “We bought one horse here last year and he went on to win three races and be stakes-placed,” said Donohoe. “Mr Zhang is busy in Australia compiling his broodmare band but he’s well aware of how well Sidestep is doing, having sired the Golden Slipper winner, and the plan is to run in the Norfolk S. on Thursday.” The post Mohican Heights Tops London Sale appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

What was once a surprise–that an American trainer could come to the prestigious Royal Ascot meet and win a race–has now become a norm. The primary reason, of course, is Wesley Ward. In 2009, he became the first U.S. trainer to win a race at Royal Ascot when he won the Listed Windsor Castle S. with Strike the Tiger (Tiger Ridge). Some 10 years and nine additional Ascot winners later, he will return this year with a contingent he says is a “very, very strong group.” The 2019 edition of Royal Ascot kicks off Tuesday morning with the traditional opening race, the G1 Queen Anne S. at 9:30 a.m. Eastern time. “I think that as long as we don’t get a substantial amount of rain, I am going to go in confident when it comes to all our starters,” he said. “We have one outsider in Joker on Jack (Declaration of War) in the [Listed] Chesham S., but he had some excuses in his last race (when seventh in a conditions race at Newbury May 18) and he was quick enough to have won at Keeneland. Based on the success I’ve had the last 10 years here, I think they all have very good chances.” Ward has entered nine horses and will take part in six races. As is customary with his Royal Ascot runners, eight of his nine starters are 2-year-olds. Only one other U.S.-based horse will run at the meet, the Joe Orseno-trained Imprimis (Broken Vow), who will start in Tuesday’s G1 King’s Stand S. Though he has no representative this year, Ward sent out Lady Aurelia (Scat Daddy) to a slashing victory in the 2017 King’s Stand. While Ward clearly likes all his horses, he couldn’t contain his enthusiasm for Maven (American Pharoah), who will start in Thursday’s G2 Norfolk S. While most of Ward’s early-season 2- year-olds not only win, they win by open lengths, Maven, however, managed to win by only a half-length when capturing his lone start, an Apr. 19 maiden at Aqueduct. The trainer warned bettors/punters not to let the relatively small margin of victory fool them. “The one who worked the best of all among the 2-year-olds I brought here was Maven,” he said. “He worked lights out last Thursday at Kempton. He has kind of been growing into himself. He’s a May 24 foal and he’s really gone through a growing spurt. In his one race, he showed eye-opening speed from gate and I really think this is a colt on the improve. With every work, week to week, he improves. Ward bred Maven and was also the trainer and co-owner of his dam Richies Party Girl (Any Given Saturday). She was a three-time stakes winner, all of them coming in grass sprints. “He’s really emulating his mother,” Ward said. Maven was entered for Monday’s Goffs London Sale, but he was bought back on a bid of £725,000 and will race in Richard Ravin’s colors in the Norfolk. Ward said he’s also very confident in the chances of the lone older horse he will start, the 5-year-old Bound For Nowhere (The Factor), who will run in Saturday’s GI Diamond Jubilee Stakes. Owned and bred by Ward, he missed by just three quarters of a length, finishing third to Merchant Navy (Aus) (Fastnet Rock {Aus}), in the same race last year when dismissed at 16-1. He also tried Royal Ascot in 2017, but had to settle for fourth in the G1 Commonwealth Cup. Ward used the Apr. 6 GII Shakertown S. at Keeneland as a prep and Bound For Nowhere, where he missed by just a neck, losing to fellow Royal Ascot starter Imprimis. “I really like Bound for Nowhere,” he said. “He’s a beautiful, physical specimen. He’s a big giant of a beauty. He’s got a confident temperament to him, but, at the same time, is almost cocky. He’s easy on himself and is very sound. I’m really excited about this horse.” Ward may also prove hard to beat in what will be the first race at the meet in which he will compete, Wednesday’s G2 Queen Mary S. for 2-year-old fillies. In a field that drew 28 entrants, he has ‘TDN Rising Stars’ Anna’s Fast (Fast Anna) and Kimari (Munnings), who were two of his more impressive juvenile winners thus far in the U.S. Anna’s Fast won her maiden at Keeneland by 5 1/2 lengths Apr. 24. A day later, Kimari romped by 15 lengths in her debut at Keeneland despite breaking slowly. Making her performance all the more impressive, she defeated males. Ward’s Royal Ascot runners have come with a number of different jockeys over the years, some European, some U.S.-based. This year he is using only U.S. riders and dealt the best hand of any to 24-year-old Tyler Gaffalione. Some may see that as a bit of a risky move, as Gaffalione has never ridden a horse in Europe. But in Ward, also once a young jockey sensation and like Gaffalione an Eclipse Award-winning apprentice, he has a huge fan. “I am very impressed with this kid,” said Ward. “He has youthful enthusiasm and, from what I’ve seen, he is a student of the game. He’s really going to be huge star in the coming years. He studies, he’s very articulate when he speaks and he’s a wonderful kid. I have two sons ad I hope they both grow up to be the gentlemen he is.” The post Ward Confident He’ll Have Another Successful Royal Ascot appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article