Wandering Eyes

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

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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

The Queen Anne Stakes opens proceedings at the Royal meeting and Mustashry bids to follow up having quickened well to win the Lockinge when last seen. Sir Michael Stoute’s charge has improved again this season and should confirm the Lockinge form with Laurens. It’ll be intriguing to see how the classy Barney Roy fares here […] The post Royal Ascot Preview – Day 1 appeared first on RaceBets Blog EN. View the full article

The day before the Royal Meeting at Ascot begins, it is all about the humans who will be working over the prestigious five-day spectacle. Some in top hat and tails, some in jockey silks. Many have pointed their skills, their horses, their hats and their bankrolls to this week in June. As for the jockey ranks, my humble feeling is that William Buick is the best rider in the world today. He has been a major winner at this meeting, as well as at Arlington, Belmont Park and Breeders’ Cup events. He was injured one month ago at Ascot, when Sir Busker (Ire) (Sir Prancealot {Ire}) unseated him in the parade to the post. He is suffering post head-injury syndrome. Tough with no date to return, since he had G1 Epsom Derby winner Masar (Ire) (New Approach {Ire}) and G1 Melbourne Cup champ Cross Counter (GB) (Teofilo {Ire}) as his intended mounts. This subtraction of Buick is an addition for James Doyle, but even with those added Buick mounts, I don’t think he can win more Royal Ascot races than Ryan Moore, since Moore is the go-to rider for Aidan O’Brien. And neither do the bookies. Moore and O’Brien as so favored that the price is 11-10 that they both will win jockey and trainer titles though this Saturday evening. To bet the ebullient Italian, Frankie Dettori, or the aforementioned Doyle, is like betting that Bill de Blasio will be the Dem’s candidate in 2020. Fugetaboutit! Trainer John Gosden learned a lot about training winners on the turf at Santa Anita from his boss, Charlie Whittingham, from 1977 to 1987. Since then he has been outstanding at conditioning winners in his native England. Since you did not blow any GBPounds on the jockey or trainer championship, may I suggest a punt in the G1 St. James’s Palace S. on Tuesday? Too Darn Hot (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) is not just a hunch play, since that is the opening number of Act II of the current Broadway revival Kiss Me, Kate. The 3-year-old, who is owned by composer Andrew Lloyd Webber, took the G1 Dewhurst S. and Frankie Dettori will ride. Like the guy from Farmers Insurance says, “They know a thing or two, because they saw a thing or two.” The wildest (and worst odds) play of any day is what color hat Queen Elizabeth will wear in the Royal procession each day. Every bookie at the track and every wagering operation takes the bet. My expert on this wager is none other than Elinor Penna, whose late husband, Angel Penna, Sr., won more than 250 graded stakes on three continents. I defer to my tout on this…Elinor writes, “I will be watching Ascot all week, think QE2 will be wearing rose on Opening Day.” At your own risk…fugetaboutit! Editor’s note: Dave Johnson is a racecaller and sportscaster (famous for his signature `And down the stretch they come!’) who is attending his 25th consecutive Royal Ascot meeting this year. He is writing a daily Ascot report for the TDN from an American’s perspective. The post Letter from Ascot: Fugetaboutit! appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Three days from the Northern Hemisphere’s summer solstice, Ascot’s Greencoats will usher in the viewing public and professionals alike ahead of the arrival of the Royals and their Windsor Greys through those golden gates we all keep in our mind’s eye. It is Royal Ascot once again and now more than ever this is the week that matters throughout Europe and beyond. According to the weather forecasters, the Berkshire stretch of land could be directly in the eye of a predicted thunderstorm on Tuesday afternoon and so there could be some meteorological drama alongside the metaphorical blood and thunder on the turf. Now that the going is inching towards good-to-firm, at least on the free-draining straight course, the reality of record times is not as far away as seemed possible at the weekend particularly with a kind cushion under the drying surface. Tuesday sees the fastest race of the meeting take place, with none quicker at full pelt than Shadwell’s extraordinary Battaash (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}) who comes back to the G1 King’s Stand S. with a more tangible air of positivity surrounding him than 12 months ago. Starting a huge day in the life of Charlie Hills, he is drawn wide away from last year’s conqueror Blue Point (Ire) (Shamardal) who arguably sits at the head of Godolphin’s formidable hand at the meeting. The high-class mare Mabs Cross (GB) (Dutch Art {GB}), Breeze Easy’s Imprimis (Broken Vow) and Ballydoyle’s 3-year-old Sergei Prokofiev (Scat Daddy) race in between the pair of sprinting impresarios. Charlie Hills is facing the occasion with a degree of nervous excitement. “Days don’t come much bigger than Tuesday 18th of June for our yard,” he said. “In the space of 40 minutes, we will see Battaash, Equilateral and Phoenix of Spain run in the two big races of the day. All the horses appear to be in great form at home and those closest to each horse are very happy. They should all act on the ground, however, we hope the forecast thunder storms don’t materialise too early in the afternoon. Bob, who looks after Battaash, has quite a big hoodoo to overcome as he has never led up a winner at Ascot–and he has taken some seriously good horses over the years including Battaash’s sire Dark Angel. We really hope that tomorrow is the day he breaks it.” TDN Rising Star Sergei Prokofiev makes up another intimidating massing force from Ballydoyle, who were off-kilter at last year’s meeting with the virus infiltrating the customary smooth workings. The acquired 2017 G3 Jersey S. winner Le Brivido (Fr) (Siyouni {Fr}) kicks off the latest renewal for Aidan O’Brien in the G1 Queen Anne S.–one of the four Breeders’ Cup Challenge Series “Win and You’re In” races this week–before Arizona (Ire) (No Nay Never) bids to add his name to the expanding tome of Royal winners for the Rosegreen outfit in the G2 Coventry S. In many ways, the Coventry is the fascinating race of day one with so much at stake in bloodstock terms particularly where first-season sires are concerned. There are three represented in this year’s edition, with Arizona’s stablemate Royal Lytham (Fr) (Gleneagles {Ire}) the most fascinating of them based on his debut win at Navan 10 days previously. O’Brien, who holds the record of eight winners of the Coventry, never gives too much away in his pre-race interviews and the support for Susan Magnier’s eight-length Curragh maiden winner could be the best guide as to expectations of the stable’s number one juvenile this week. This is a big Royal Ascot for No Nay Never, with Scat Daddy’s reliable production of stand-out juveniles now a thing of the past. “I’ve been very happy with him since his last run and he is a very straightforward colt,” the Ballydoyle handler said. “With the amount of improvement he showed from his first start to his second, you’d have to hope he can improve again.” Cheveley Park Stud’s tally of Royal 2-year-old winners stands at three and it is a long time since the last, Iceman (GB) (Polar Falcon), who took this race in 2004. Their TDN Rising Star Threat (Ire) (Footstepsinthesand {GB}) oozed quality when winning on debut at Newmarket May 5 over a five-furlong trip that has to be the bare minimum based on his pedigree as a grandson of Shiva (Jpn) (Hector Protector) and he is one of those that could be a 2000 Guineas colt. “I wasn’t really sure what we were taking on and there weren’t many runners in the race, but his homework has been exceptional and I think he might just be one of the best 2-year-olds we’ve had here for a while,” trainer Richard Hannon said. “I’m very hopeful–I love the horse and I think he is probably our best chance of the week.” Dubawi (Ire) is truly one of the supersires at this meeting and his impressive statistics suggest that his TDN Rising Star Too Darn Hot (GB) will be hard to hold back in the feature G1 St James’s Palace S. Representing another strong Royal Ascot combination in John Gosden and Frankie Dettori, the Lloyd-Webbers’ darling comes into his rematch with his G1 Irish 2000 Guineas conqueror Phoenix of Spain (Ire) (Lope De Vega {Ire}) on more of an even keel than he did in the May 25 Curragh Classic. There is a realistic suggestion that there was a pace bias operating that day and Tony Wechsler and Ann Plummer’s imposing grey has a high draw to overcome as Jamie Spencer ponders a tactical quandary. Charlie Hills said of Phoenix of Spain, “We’ve been pretty pleased with him since Ireland. We haven’t done a lot with him, in truth, but he seems well in himself and is eating well and we’ve had no problems, so we’ll see what he can do. I think he’s well enough drawn in stall seven and I don’t think the ground should be a problem. He seems fresh and he deserves to be there.” Frankie Dettori is looking forward to getting back on Too Darn Hot and said, “Hopefully, we will see the old Too Darn Hot and I feel he still has got more to give. We have not seen the real him yet, but he looks well and he came out of the Irish race really well.” Interestingly, Gosden has decided to let Lady Bamford’s TDN Rising Star King of Comedy (Ire) (Kingman {GB}) take his chance alongside Too Darn Hot and the steadily-progressive homebred takes the same route as last year’s hero Without Parole (GB) (Frankel {GB}) having won Sandown’s Listed Heron S. May 23. He is one of two by his sire in the race alongside the well-regarded outsider Bell Rock (GB) and it would be no surprise if he comes to the fore to provide Kingman with another celebrity performer under another of this meeting’s movers-and-shakers in Adam Kirby. It is surprising that Royal Ascot’s winning-most trainer Sir Michael Stoute has just one representative on day one, but the G1 Lockinge S. scorer Mustashry (GB) (Tamayuz {GB}) is some envoy for Freemason Lodge. Not clear favourite for the Queen Anne despite having readily accounted for John Dance’s star mare Laurens (Fr) (Siyouni {Fr}), last year’s winner Accidental Agent (GB) (Delegator {GB}), the 2018 G1 Irish 2000 Guineas hero Romanised (Ire) (Holy Roman Emperor {Ire}) and Le Brivido in that May 18 feature, the reborn supremo miler could be about to stamp some authority on the division. In the closing Listed Wolferton S., last year’s impressive G2 Ribblesdale S. winner and all-round Group 1 performer Magic Wand (Ire) (Galileo {Ire} gets upwards of five pounds from the colts and geldings who include TDN Rising Star Elarqam (GB) (Frankel {GB}). Back on track last time when winning the Listed Festival S. at Goodwood May 25, the colt his trainer once described as the “spitting image” of his dam Attraction (GB) (Efisio {GB}) is the key member of his sire’s first-day representation. One of the day’s dark horses who could upgrade their profile is Ballydoyle’s Van Beethoven (Scat Daddy) in the St James’s Palace. While he is 100-1 coming here with recent uninspiring bare form figures having been fifth in the G1 Poule d’Essai des Poulains and seventh in the Irish Guineas, the G2 Railway S. winner showed a rare kick to be fourth and lead his group home in the Listed Windsor Castle S. at this meeting last year and looks as if he has been steadily building to another big effort. Clerk of the course Chris Stickels gave an update on the ground on Monday. “It’s beautiful ground right now. It’s a drying day today, with bright sunshine and a nice breeze. I can see it drying further before the first race,” he said. “This track drains incredibly well and I’m very pleased with how it’s coped with last week’s rain. The unfortunate thing is we’re forecast a bit of rain on Tuesday afternoon–thunderstorms are forecast. So, no sooner will it dry out, I expect it to go back on the soft side again. The thunderstorms could continue on Tuesday night and into Wednesday. The nature of thunderstorms means they are hit and miss, so we’re not guaranteed a huge amount of rain but it could deliver up to 12 millimetres or half an inch.” The post Stage Set at Royal Ascot appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

The Derby and Royal Ascot are what summer is all about. I loved both of them when I was riding, along with the Breeders’ Cup and the Arc at the end of the year, and I still look forward to the five days at Ascot. I was never one for top hat and tails – […] The post Kieren Fallon Royal Ascot Preview – Day 1 appeared first on RaceBets Blog EN. View the full article

For a brief second or two, as Commes (Fr) narrowed the gap separating her from Channel (Ire), I thought the topic for today’s column was going to be Le Havre’s feat of siring his third Prix de Diane winner from his first six crops. However, with the gallant Channel keeping her luckless challenger at bay, it was the turn of another stallion–Nathaniel (Ire)–to add a third classic to the Oaks and Irish Oaks successes of his brilliant daughter Enable (GB). With a classic winner in two of Nathaniel’s first three crops, the team at Newsells Park Stud can feel justified in raising his fee to a career-high £25,000 for the 2019 season. This increase was no doubt prompted by Enable’s second Arc victory but it also reflects the fact that Nathaniel had been fully booked with 148 mares in 2018. His admirable record also shows the folly of jumping to conclusions about young stallions, especially those which shone over middle distances. Bearing in mind that Nathaniel’s Timeform rating rose from 101p at two to 127 at three (and then to 129 at four), was it fair to expect him to make a big impact with his first 2-year-olds in 2016? Admittedly his results didn’t tally with the enthusiasm which had led to his first yearlings averaging over 114,000gns, off a £20,000 fee. Five domestic winners from 34 runners were all that Nathaniel had to his credit by the end of 2016 and this overshadowed the fact that two of his continental sons had been group-placed in November. Enable’s transformation from all-weather maiden winner to Classic heroine must have been some help during the 2017 breeding season, but Nathaniel’s book fell to 83 mares and consequently he will have fewer yearlings at the sales later this year. Fortunately, that represents only a brief blip in a career which has generally seen him faithfully supported by his shareholders. One interesting aspect of Nathaniel’s classic successes is that Enable is inbred 3 x 2 to Sadler’s Wells and Channel is inbred 3 x 4 to the same great stallion. Breeders took the hint in selecting their 2018 mates for Nathaniel, with several more daughters of Sadler’s Wells being sent to him in the hope of replicating the Enable magic. Plenty of Nathaniel’s other 2018 mares, such as Channel’s second dam Magical Romance (Ire), produce 3 x 3 inbreeding to Sadler’s Wells, so there will be a big enough sample to see whether this is a reliable method of producing smart performers. As it stands, Nathaniel’s black-type performers with two lines of Sadler’s Wells in the first four generations comprise Channel (3 x 4), the Italian Group 3 winner Chasedown (Ire) (3 x 4), Enable (3 x 2) and the G1 Deutsches Derby second Enjoy Vijay (Ger) (3 x 4). These four come from a sample of nearly 30 black-type horses. This sample also divides fairly evenly between the sexes, with the fillies holding a slight lead. However, the fillies play a much more prominent role when it comes to Nathaniel’s 14 black-type winners. Six of his seven group winners are fillies, including all three of his Group 1 winners (the other being that tough filly God Given {GB}). Indeed, fillies account for 11 of the 14 black-type winners, but I could quickly add that six of Nathaniel’s sons have been placed at group level. Altogether 25 of Nathaniel’s offspring have achieved a Racing Post rating of 100+ and as many as 14 of them are colts or geldings, so don’t be tempted to dismiss Nathaniel’s sons. The bias towards his daughters may yet begin to even out, as there is no bias towards fillies in the records of his sire Galileo (Ire) or his broodmare sire Silver Hawk. Nathaniel raced for Lady Rothschild, and his latest Group 1 winner is out of a mare which also carried her colours. However, the story didn’t start well. Having been bought for 4,600,000gns, in foal to Pivotal, on Nov. 28, 2006, Magical Romance produced her Pivotal filly prematurely, on Dec. 21. Magical Romance has since produced a further 11 foals, the latest being her 2019 filly by Nathaniel. She has made return visits to only two of her mates, Dansili and Raven’s Pass. Her first Dansili foal, Dean Swift, won a 10-furlong Goodwood maiden without doing enough to justify a return to his sire. Fortunately, the return visit had already gone ahead, resulting in Channel’s dam Love Magic. This filly won a seven-furlong maiden on the Kempton Polytrack as a 2-year-old and added a couple of seconds at up to a mile and a quarter the following year. However, Love Magic was sold for 170,000gns to Kilcarn Stud at the 2015 December Sales, when carrying her second foal, by Nathaniel. That filly, of course, was Channel, who was sold by Kilcarn for only €18,000 as a yearling, even though Enable had been busily advertising Nathaniel’s potential. Channel obviously made much more appeal when she reappeared at Arqana’s 2018 Breeze Up sale, where she was bought for €70,000. Despite her Breeze-Up background–and despite having 2-year-old winners as her first two dams–Channel wasn’t asked to race at two years. This adds to my belief that it probably isn’t fair to expect the tall, rangy Nathaniel to sire a lot of juvenile winners. Not only did he improve a lot from two to three, but his Irish Oaks-winning younger sister Great Heavens also made great strides between the ages of two and three. As a son of Galileo, it is hardly surprising that Nathaniel has been sent plenty of mares by Danehill and his sons, which have worked exceptionally well with Galileo. Leaving Nathaniel’s current 2-year-olds out of the picture, his most prolific cross has been with Danehill mares, with 16 foals, and the next most prolific allegiances include Dansili (15 foals), Rock of Gibraltar (11) and Danehill Dancer (10). The Danehill partnership has produced the G3 winner Precious Ramotswe and the listed-winning Australian stayer Steel Prince, while Channel is comfortably the best of the contingent out of Dansili mares. It shouldn’t be forgotten that it isn’t essential to send a fast mare to Nathaniel, even though he never won at less than a mile and a quarter. Enable is out of Concentric (GB), who was very useful at around a mile and a quarter, and God Given is out of a mile-and-a-half winner. You will also find the names of such as Medicean (GB), Hernando (Fr), Nashwan and Darshaan (GB) among the broodmare sires of Nathaniel’s highest-rated winners. The post Pedigree Insights: Channel appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

One of these 17 colts was picked up as a foal for just €4,200, while another was a €380,000 yearling. As ever, the backgrounds of the runners in early juvenile contests, even at group level, offer a rich variety of homebreds and sales horses at all levels. Arizona No Nay Never – Lady Ederle (English Channel) Bred by Stephen Sullivan, the impressive Curragh maiden winner was pinhooked by Charles Briere’s Fairway Partners as a foal for 65,000gns and resold at Arqana’s August Sale for €260,000. Coase (Ire) Zoffany (Ire) – Sharnberry (GB) (Shamardal) A Tattersalls October Book 3 yearling, Coase was sold for breeder Andrew Stone of St Albans Bloodstock for 28,000gns through Whatton Manor Stud and was a winner at the end of May on his sole start for Lit Lung Lee and Hugo Palmer. Fort Myers War Front – Marvellous (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) From one of the families of the moment, out of a Classic winner from a family replete with Group 1 winners, including first-season sire Gleneagles. Bred by the Orpendale, Chelston & Wynatt syndicate, Fort Myers was a winner on debut at Dundalk in last April and was beaten a short-head at Newbury on Lockinge day. Golden Horde (GB) Lethal Force (Ire) – Entreat (GB) (Pivotal {GB}) Trainer Clive Cox has a habit of selecting relatively inexpensive yearlings himself and turning them into decent gallopers. He did so with this colt’s sire, and he picked up Golden Horde at Goffs UK’s Premier Sale for £65,000 from Highclere Stud, which consigned him on behalf of breeder CN Farm Ltd. His Cheveley Park Stud-bred dam, out of a half-sister to champion Serena’s Song (Rahy), was bought carrying him at Tattersalls July Sale for 14,000gns. Guildsman (Fr) Wootton Bassett (GB) – Dardiza (Ire) (Street Cry {Ire}) A six-length winner on debut at Goodwood 11 days ago, the Haras de Saint Pair-bred colt was bought by Roger Marley of Church Farm at the Arqana October Sale for €67,000 and then resold at the same venue in May to David Redvers for €125,000. He is closely related to treble Group 1 winner Almanzor (Fr), being by the same sire and out of a half-sister to his dam. King Of Athens War Front – Together Forever (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) Runner-up to Arizona on his debut at the Curragh during Irish Guineas weekend, he is bred on the same cross and by the same team as Fort Myers, and is the first foal of the G1 Moyglare Stud S. winner whose sister Forever Together (Ire) won last year’s Oaks. Kuwait Direction (Ire) Kodiac (GB) – Open Verse (Black Minnaloushe) A maiden after two starts but beaten only a nose at Doncaster on 1 June, Kuwait Direction was sold at the Goffs UK Premier Sale by his breeder Tally-Ho Stud for £120,000. He is a half-brother to G3 Horris Hill S. runner-up Tangled (Ire) (Society Rock {Ire}). Light Angel (Ire) Dark Angel (Ire) – Light Of The Stars (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) Homebred by Gestut Ammerland, he is the first foal of a Group 3-placed half-sister to Lope De Vega (Ire). Light Angel was runner-up on his May 4 debut and won a Newbury maiden a fortnight later. Lord Of The Lodge (Ire) Dandy Man (GB) – Archetypal (Ire) (Cape Cross {Ire}) A winner on his sole start at Ayr, the Mountarmstrong Stud-bred colt was bought as a foal by Joe Foley for just €4,200 and resold through his Ballyhane Stud for €35,000 at Tattersalls Ireland to trainer Karl Burke. His dam is a half-sister to listed winner Viz (Ire) (Darshaan {GB}), herself the dam of G2 Park S. winner Viztoria (Ire) (Oratorio {Ire}). Majestic Sands (Ire) Kodiac (GB) – La Grande Zoa (Ire) (Fantastic Light) Only two but already a veteran of the sales ring. His price tag was highest as a foal, when he was sold for breeders Paul and TJ Monaghan for 100,000gns. He came back to make £77,000 at Goffs UK as a yearling, and then 90,000gns at the Craven Breeze-up, which was an awful lot more than his half-brother, the Ascot Gold Cup winner Trip To Paris (Ire) (Champs Elysees {GB}), fetched as a 2-year-old. Makyon (Ire) Make Believe (GB) – Mise (Ire) (Indian Ridge {Ire}) A six-length winner at Hamilton 12 days ago, this half-brother to G1 Falmouth S. winner Nahoodh (Ire) (Clodvil {Ire}) was bought at Tattersalls October Book 2 from his breeder Ballylinch Stud for 22,000gns by trainer Mark Johnston, another master of the inexpensive yearling purchase. Maxi Boy (GB) Oasis Dream (GB) – Lavender and Lace (GB) (Barathea {Ire}) A three-parts-brother to the progressive Philippine Cobra (GB) (Showcasing {GB}), Maxi Boy was a 380,000gns Tattersalls October Book 1 purchase by Alex Elliott for Amo Racing from breeder Al-Baha Bloodstock. His dam, a half-sister to Group 1 winners Mandaean (GB) (Manduro {Ger}) and Wavering (Ire) (Refuse To Bend {Ire}), failed to win or place in ten starts and was sold by Darley as a 2-year-old for £2,200, before going back through the ring a year later for £800. Monoski Street Boss – Wipe Out (Hard Spun) The Godolphin homebred is another to have had the benefit of two starts, including his Pontefract victory on May 24. His dam is a half-sister to GI Forego S. victor and young stallion Emcee (Unbridled’s Song) and Meydan Group 2 winner Surfer (Distorted Humor). Ropey Guest (GB) Cable Bay (Ire) – Hadeeya (GB) (Oratorio {Ire}) Bred by Kirtlington Stud and Sarah Hamilton, he has been unplaced in two starts after being sold as a foal for 31,000gns, bought in at £110,000 as a yearling and then bought by Howson & Houldsworth Bloodstock on behalf of John Guest Racing for £55,000 at the Ascot Breeze-up Sale. From a family which traces back to Meon Valley Stud’s Reprocolor (GB), he is out of a half-sister to G2 Superlative S. winner Good Old Boy Lukey (GB) (Selkirk). Royal Lytham (Ire) Gleneagles (Ire) – Gotlandia (FR) (Anabaa) A winner on debut ten days ago, he was bought for €180,000 at Arqana’s August Sale from his breeder Haras du Logis St Germain. His Quesnay-bred dam was a Group 3-placed listed winner in France and is a half-sister to the G1 Fillies’ Mile winner Glorosia (Fr) (Bering {GB}). Threat (Ire) Footstepsinthesand (GB) – Flare Of Firelight (Birdstone) A 100,000gns foal purchase by Capital Bloodstock from Derek Veitch of Ringfort Stud, who bought his dam, the Niarchos-bred daughter of G1 Tattersalls Gold Cup winner Shiva, for 9,000gns as a 3-year-old at the Tattersalls December Sale. This is her second foal and he won on debut at Newmarket during the Guineas meeting. Well Of Wisdom (GB) Oasis Dream (GB) – Alessandria (GB) (Sunday Silence) One of a bunch of early juvenile winners for Charlie Appleby’s stable this spring, breaking his maiden on debut at the Craven meeting, he is a Godolphin homebred half-brother to Avilius (GB) (Pivotal {GB}), a dual Group 1 winner in Australia earlier this year. The post The Coventry Stakes: 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

Being asked to be ambassador for the Longines Irish Champions weekend is really exciting for me and I’m very grateful to Horse Racing Ireland and the Longines Irish Champions Weekend committee for allowing me to do a lot of charitable work over that weekend as well. This was something that I was really conscious that I wanted to do after all the great care I’ve been given in the last 16 months and I’ve spent a lot of time thinking about what I could do to raise funds for the pancreatic cancer charity. When they came and put this suggestion to me it was just a perfect fit to do this and to try to achieve all that I want to achieve. It’s very exciting for me personally: the two things that I’m really passionate about are obviously racing and now to try to raise awareness and funds for the charity. We have a lot of exciting projects that we’re working on to tie in with what is the best weekend of Flat racing in the Irish season and we will announce those in due course. There will be plenty of opportunities for the general public and people within the industry to contribute to the charity and we are working hard to make it fun and exciting and hopefully to add to the excitement of Champions Weekend. My job is to get these projects off the ground and to make sure we have some interesting events to go alongside the great racing we have on the track. I’m really looking forward to a brilliant weekend, and with some hard work from the right people hopefully we can pull it off. Racing people are always very generous when they get behind these sorts of events and those I have spoken to so far have been very positive. I’m going to be annoying a lot of people and calling on them to help and to donate. It’s going to be a good project for me for the next couple of months to get it all up and going and to be given the opportunity to run the charitable events over our best two days of flat racing is a real honour for me. Funds raised will be directed towards pancreatic cancer through Cancer Trials Ireland. My oncologist Ray McDermott is very heavily involved in that project and I’m getting a lot of guidance from him. I’m conscious that we want to try to aim our fundraising at an area in which it can make a difference. We saw on Saturday how generous the racing community can be when backing these sorts of charitable events. The 11 riders in the MacMillan Cancer charity race at York raised £640,000, which was a fantastic effort and well done to all of them. I will also be pushing for non-racing people to come racing and to support the charity and hopefully they will see how great an industry we are working in and how much fun a day at the races can be. The Irish Champions weekend was a terrific initiative from the committee who put their minds together to get it off the ground. They have done an excellent job and it has been a real revelation for Irish Flat racing. A championship weekend was much needed to showcase Irish racing on the world stage and I think we have that now. There’s an intelligent bunch of people behind the Champions weekend and they will be aware of the fact that from time to time things need tweaking to try to make it better. The one thing I am confident about is that the people involved will do all they can to continue the success of the weekend and make changes where they feel necessary, and I hope I can contribute to that as well. Over the last couple of years, a really great atmosphere has been created at Leopardstown. I distinctly remember winning the Group 3 on Champion Stakes day at Leopardstown on Free Eagle (Ire) and it’s been a long time since I felt the sort of atmosphere that was there that day on an Irish racecourse. It’s very important to have a great atmosphere to match the great racing and Leopardstown is there now. We now need to focus on getting the Curragh back to where we need to be with full attendances and a similarly good atmosphere. Putting On The Top Hat Today will be the first time I have attended Royal Ascot in a top hat and tails rather than as a jockey and I’m really excited about it. It’s obviously fabulous racing and I’m really looking forward to the international flavour that will be there, both human and equine. It should be an amazing week and I’m looking forward to seeing it from a different angle. English racing is so lucky to have the Queen’s involvement. She’s a huge part of the attraction of Royal Ascot, and not just to that meeting but to racing itself. I’ve been lucky enough to meet the Queen after winning the Gold Cup and also the Derby, and when I met her everybody wanted to know more about the Queen than winning the race. That is the persona that that amazing lady has and I really hope that one of the next generation of her family will develop the same interests in racing that she has. I’ve been very fortunate to ride for her as well, and I was struck by her knowledge of her horses and the form. She’s extremely well versed on racing and it was an honour to have ridden for her and to have met her on the great days we had winning those races. All Power To Paddy There are a couple of horses that I’m really looking forward to seeing in action this week. I think Paddy Twomey has a very good 2-year-old on his hands in Sunday Sovereign (GB) (Equiano {Fr}), who was recently sold to King Power Racing and runs on Thursday in the Norfolk Stakes. He looks very fast and, though we all know that the 2-year-old races are very hard to win, he looks to have a real fighting chance. I’ve also been very taken with Magical (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) this year. I think she’s been extremely well trained by Aidan O’Brien. She’s already won a couple of races including the G1 Tattersalls Gold Cup at the Curragh over Guineas weekend, but she has not been really strenuously tested yet this year. I feel that she’s going into Ascot full of confidence and I think that was a deliberate ploy by Aidan. I’m sure she’s going to play a big hand in what is probably going to be the best race of the week in the Prince of Wales’s Stakes. It’s exciting to see Sea Of Class (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) back again and now that Masar (Ire) (New Approach {Ire}) is going for the Hardwicke it allows James Doyle to renew his association with Sea Of Class, which is very important with for the mare. I think she is a filly that needs knowing and he knows her inside out. I’m sure her connections and William Haggas were relieved when James was available to ride her. It should be a really good race and I just have this feeling that Magical is in a really good place and ready to show her best against the best. 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