Wandering Eyes

Saratoga War Horse (SWH) recently celebrated 1000 participants in its healing program using off-track Thoroughbreds to help veterans with post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Late last year, SWH began having regular programs in New York at the Rerun Thoroughbred Adoption farm in East Greenbush. Now operating in three states, New York, Maryland and South Carolina, under the guidance of Executive Director Allison Cherkosly, SWH is aiming to serve the next 1000 veterans in three years time. I caught up with Cherkosly just after her one year anniversary on the job and as she plans for a busy Saratoga racing season. DP: What is your background and how did you come to this position at SWH? AC: I am an army veteran. I served in Afghanistan from 2009-2010. I was also a competitive equestrian and I was trained in the Monty Roberts method of horsemanship. I just happened to meet some of the board of directors of SWH at a time when they were looking for an executive director. When they heard my background and I learned more about the program, it was synergy. It ended up being a perfect partnership. I married my two passions: veterans and animals. DP: Did you go through the program yourself? AC: After I started the job, I did go through both the South Carolina program and the New York program. DP: Looking back on your first full year, what do you feel you been able to bring to the program? AC: I am most proud of how I have poised SWH for the near and long-term future. In that, I mean the organization going from a smaller more localized charity to a larger nationwide organization. It is my goal that when people hear the term post traumatic distress, they will automatically say: “Go to Saratoga War Horse.” In order to accomplish that, I have addressed every aspect of the organization from fundraising, to financial, to our infrastructure. My work has been geared towards preparing for the future while still providing great programming. We have focused heavily on the staff and making sure that we have the best possible people to provide the program and grow the organization. Being a veteran myself, I knew the kind of changes that were necessary. DP: Can you give me a specific instance? AC: We want to always be sure that we are putting the veterans first. To accomplish this, we didn’t change the program itself, but rather the accessibility. As of the end of this week, we will have served all 50 states. That is a huge accomplishment because many of the vets are coming from places where there are no resources to serve veterans. It is truly a team effort. I am sandwiched between a fabulous board and amazing staff. Everyone is singularly focused on the mission and serving the most veterans in the best way. DP: On the website, there are many upcoming classes listed. Is that a new phenomenon? AC: The new phenomenon is that every class is full. However, that does not mean that veterans are waiting. We open up new classes wherever possible to meet the demand which is overwhelming. DP: What constitutes a full class and how many horses do you use? AC: Ninety-nine percent of the time, six is a full class. If we must, we can go to seven. Five works but six is optimal. We use anywhere from four to six horses per class. You can use the same horse more than once because the connections are all completely different. All horses are retired Thoroughbred racehorses. DP: How does working with off-track Thoroughbreds contribute to the process? AC: Other breeds of horses may be calm, more willing to stand and be rubbed on and nuzzle. They may be faster and easier at creating a bond. But just bonding is not what we are looking to accomplish at SWH. We are looking for the chemical reaction that happens with the connection between the veteran and the horse in the round pen. The Thoroughbred acts as the catalyst. The similarities between the veterans and racehorses are also important. Thoroughbreds, like veterans, are trained intensely for a single result. Thoroughbreds are trained to go fast and win. Men and women in the military are trained to complete their mission. They both enter their training at a young age and retire young and both have a full of life yet to live. They are both dealing with the after-effects of their careers and they can help each other through the transition and the changes that they are feeling. DP: Describe how the program unfolds for a veteran in attendance. AC: All expenses are covered by SWH. We take care of everything and that is an important part of the experience to help the veterans feel secure. On day one, we gather up the participants and transport them to the hotel. We introduce everyone and have a group dinner. Everything is geared towards creating a safe, comfortable and confidential environment. On day two, there is a farm tour and then a two-part interactive classroom session. The first part is about equine communication, horses in general, and about the herd environment. They watch videos and learn to identify the leaders in the herd and the interactions between horses. Then, in the second part, the veterans are taught about the round pen and learn about what they will be doing in the round pen with their horse. After lunch, they learn, without horses, how to use a rope effectively and they practice their rope skills. We do a simulation of the round pen experience with a person playing the part of the horse. We teach them about all the different possible scenarios that they could face in the round pen. For instance, they learn how the horse will move away if they stand perpendicular to the horse and how to use their body to get the desired result. DP: Can you explain how the connection with the horse in the round pen happens? AC: The situation of being in the round pen with the horse is one that will trigger the anxiety and stress responses associated with PTSD. Unless the veteran can take down their energy level and make it through the situation with the tools we give them, they won’t connect with the horse. The veteran wants to make the horse willingly come over to him or her and connect. The horses are not trained to make the connection automatically. They only react. So the veteran needs to learn how to control their energy and the flood of reactions coming from their brain and body and focus on not being a predator. It can take anywhere from three to 30 minutes. DP: Does the connection in the round pen help veterans to manage their PTSD? AC: What happens in the round pen is as much physiological as it is emotional. You have to get in the mind set of a veteran who comes to us. Imagine a scenario when you are driving your car and the car in front of you suddenly stops. In that one or two seconds before avoiding an accident, there are slew of physiological reactions such as having your heart rate spike, loss of breath, a pit in your stomach, and an adrenaline rush of because of survival mode. For people without PTSD, if you wait a bit, the symptoms go away. Vets with PTSD are in almost constant survival mode. It’s devastating. They are existing in a constant series of those one second before you crash increments of hyper-vigilance and hyper arousal so that they can’t focus on normal life and family matters. While the connection can take three minutes or 30 minutes, the result triggers a chemical relaxation response. That is why it is often so emotional. For the first time in a long time the veteran knows what it’s like to not be living in those one second increments. It doesn’t mean that their life is perfect all of sudden but they experience the tools to learn to help themselves. DP: In the next article, we will be speaking with some of the vets who have gone through the program. For today, let’s finish up with your upcoming fundraising campaign and gala in Saratoga. Give us an overview. AC: Last year we celebrated the milestone of serving the first 1000 veterans in the organization’s first six years of existence. My single focus is on serving the next 1000 veterans with the same quality and impactful program in half the time. There are 500,000 veterans in this country with some sort of PTSD. The campaign will be called One Thousand More. It will include an endowment campaign to insure that we be here for the next batch of veterans needing our help. Our gala this year, honoring Cot Campbell, is themed Celebrating a Visionary: Cot Campbell. It will be held on Monday, Aug. 12 at the Hall of Springs in Saratoga. Cot and Anne have been our biggest supporters and brought SWH to the people in Thoroughbred racing who support us. For that, we are forever grateful. In addition, Cot was a WWII navy vet. He, more than anyone, understood the connection between veterans and off-track Thoroughbreds. DP: Can we expect anything new and different at the event? AC: The event will be unique this year. With the help of some really key partners, guests will be invited to experience an immersive 3-D interactive exhibit in which they will travel with a veteran from enlistment through training, service and deployment to the time when they come home. Guests will also follow a racehorse through training, racing and retirement. The SWH program occurs at the intersection of the two lives as they are transitioning to a new chapter. At the end, we think guests will say: “I know now what SWH does. I feel emotionally connected to it and I want to support it.” DP: How can people support the event? AC: People can support the event by sponsoring and by attending the event. It will be a big event. About 60% of the tickets are sold and the invitations have not yet gone out. The amount of support coming in to honor Cot and Anne is amazing. The event will highlight Cot’s remarkable life, service and career. To learn more about the event, go to https://www.saratogawarhorse.org/2019-gala. To learn more about Saratoga War Horse or to reach Allison Cherkosly, go to www.saratogawarhorse.org or email her at Allison@saratogawarhorse.org. Diana Pikulski is the editor of the Thoroughbred Adoption Network. The post On Aftercare: Saratoga War Horse, Part 1 appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

If experience teaches us anything, it is that a hard-and-fast approach to Thoroughbred breeding is going to lead to missed opportunities. Two widespread prejudices (which are arguably more prevalent in Britain and Ireland) are a dislike of late foals and a reluctance to use veteran stallions. The wisdom of these biases has been tested by the June classics on both sides of the Atlantic. The Investec Derby fell to Anthony Van Dyck, a colt born as late as May 19. This son of the now 21-year-old Galileo is the third fairly recent late-foaled Group 1 winner for his sire, following the May 25-born Forever Together, winner of last year’s Investec Oaks, and the May 18-born Magical, winner of the British Champions Fillies & Mares S. and the Tattersalls Gold Cup. The clear message is that a late foal by the world’s best stallion is much better than no foal at all. Of course, the first three finishers in the Kentucky Derby–Maximum Security, Country House and Code of Honor– were respectively born on the 14th, the 8th and the 23rd of May. Now we have seen the GI Belmont S. fall to Sir Winston, whose sire Awesome Again is a veteran of 25 and was therefore 21 when Sir Winston was conceived. Over in Europe, the evergreen Pivotal–still active at the age of 26–was recently represented by his second winner in five years of the G1 Prix Saint-Alary, this time with Siyarafina, a filly conceived when he was 22. Another quirky aspect of last week’s graded stakes was that the GII New York S., acted as a reminder that some stallions are much more effective at siring high-class runners of one particular gender. For Exchange Rate, sire of the classy French import Homerique, it has been his daughters which have proved especially effective at the highest level. Of his six Northern Hemisphere GI/G1 winners, five have been fillies, the single exception being the fast English-trained colt Reckless Abandon, who proved largely infertile after his retirement to stud. The way Homerique is shaping in her new base, she looks very likely to become female Grade I winner number six. At present she is one of three fillies among her sire’s five Grade II winners. To get back to Sir Winston and Awesome Again (whose son Ghostzapper also enjoyed GI success at Belmont via the exciting Acorn S. winner ‘TDN Rising Star’ Guarana), Sir Winston is his 14th Grade I winner from a stallion career which now stretches to 17 crops aged three or over. Disparagers of old stallions would no doubt quickly point out that none of the previous 13 GI winners was born later than 2010. I could add that as many as nine of Awesome Again’s Grade I winners were members of his first four crops, sired at fees of $50,000. This represented a magnificent performance, with the 1998 Breeders’ Cup Classic winner achieving a stunning 3.2% GI winners among the 281 named foals in these first four crops. Anyone would have been forgiven for wondering what Awesome Again might achieve after these terrific early results forced his fee up to $125,000 and then $150,000. However, the five years spent at these lofty fees reminded us of the unpredictability of the bloodstock world. They produced 391 named foals but only three of them–Game On Dude, Oxbow and Paynter–became GI winners, which is only 0.76%. This comparatively lean spell sent Awesome Again’s fee crashing to $50,000 before it revived to $75,000. While there has been a five-year hiatus without the emergence of any GI winners, only his 2014 crop, numbering 57, has failed to produce at least one graded winner. There were three Grade II winners in Awesome Again’s 2011 crop, a Grade III winner in the crop of 2012, and GII and GIII winners among his six black-type winners from the 70 foals in his 2013 crop. His 2015 crop showed that Triple Crown potential was still there, with Bravazo running Justify to half a length in the GI Preakness S., and now the 2016 crop has produced Sir Winston and Always Shopping, winner of the GII Gazelle S. in April. As the saying goes, there’s life in the old dog yet and it will be interesting to see how the Adena Springs veteran fares with his next few crops–he has over 50 juveniles this year, as well as a similar number of yearlings. He covered 48 mares last year at the age of 24. It could just be coincidence, but Awesome Again’s sire Deputy Minister had a similar record to Awesome Again. After siring a lengthy list of GI winners, including four in his 1994 crop, Deputy Minister became champion sire at the ages of 18 and 19 in 1997 and 1998. However, his nine crops foaled after 1995 enjoyed only sporadic success. Three produced a GI winner, the last two being the Sword Dancer H. winner Go Deputy and the Personal Ensign S. winner Miss Shop (conceived when he was 24). I believe one contributory factor in the decline in Deputy Minister’s results was that he came into competition with a growing number of his own stallion sons, which were not only younger, but cheaper. Perhaps the same has happened to Awesome Again, who has been in direct competition with Ghostzapper at Adena Springs. Ghostzapper now has 10 GI winners (seven of them fillies). There was always a good chance that Sir Winston would prove suited by the mile and a half of the Belmont S. Awesome Again won several times over a mile and a quarter and he had previously come close to siring a winner of the Belmont, when Paynter was caught in the final strides by Union Rags in 2012. There is also stamina in the bottom half of Sir Winston’s pedigree, with both his dam, the Grade III winner La Gran Bailadora, and second dam, the Grade III-placed Affirmed Dancer, being daughters of Belmont S. winners (they are respectively daughters of Afleet Alex and Affirmed). Sir Winston’s first three dams were all black-type winners, his third dam being the Canadian champion Woolloomooloo, who enjoyed stakes success at up to a mile and an eighth. That adds up to a quality background for a colt who RNA’d at only $50,000 as a yearling. The post Pedigree Insights: Ageing Awesome Again Remains a Force appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

A total of 364 yearlings have been cataloged for the 2019 Fasig-Tipton Kentucky July Sale to be held Tuesday, July 9, at the Newtown Paddocks in Lexington. The total number cataloged is a 4.2% increase on the 349 youngsters that were included in the 2018 renewal. “July continues to produce superior results for both buyers and sellers, and as result, our numbers and quality have increased again this year,” said Fasig-Tipton President Boyd Browning. “Fifteen of the current 20 leading sires in North America are represented by yearlings in this catalogue, as well as an exciting group of entries by this season’s first-crop yearling sires.” The top-ranked North American yearling sale by percentage of 2-year-old winners from horses sold, the July Sale also continues to be among the leading sale in percentage of Grade I winners, graded stakes winners and stakes winners from horses sold. The July Sale was well-represented during last week’s Belmont Stakes Racing Festival. “The focus of The July Sale has always been precocious, athletic yearlings,” added Browning. “These strong physicals have translated to strong results on the race track. Significant Form (Creative Cause, $75K ’16 FTKJUL) won the GIII Intercontinental S., Maryanorginger (Strong Mandate, $190K ’18 FTKJUL) captured the Astoria S. in her career debut, and Joevia (Shanghai Bobby, $50K ’17 FTKJUL) finished a strong third in the GI Belmont S.” Fasig-Tipton is also accepting nominations for the July Selected Horses of All Ages Sale Monday, July 8. Nominations will be accepted through late June. “The July Selected Horses of Racing Age Sale has quickly developed into North America’s premier horses of racing age sale,” continued Browning. “Graduate success and the sale’s advantageous timing ahead of the lucrative summer race meets have quickly turned this sale into of our most popular auctions. For sellers, this is an especially good venue to offer horses coming off a strong recent performance.” The July Sale catalogue may now be viewed online and will also be available via the Equineline catalogue iPad app. Print catalogues will be available beginning June 12. The post 364 Horses Cataloged for Fasig-Tipton Kentucky July Sale appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Following consecutive weekends of Classics, a quieter Sunday with just two European Group races once again brought the family of former champion German racemare Anna Paola (Ger) (Prince Ippi {Ger}) to the fore. The previous weekend had seen Anna Nerium (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) win the G3 Princess Elizabeth S. at Epsom and eights days later in the country of the family’s origin, Gestut Rottgen’s homebred Akribie (Ger) (Reliable Man {GB}) jumped to the head of the market for the G1 Preis der Diana when posting her third victory in the G2 Diana Trial at Hoppegarten. The first two fillies home in the race were both out of daughters of Haafhd (GB), the winner’s dam being Aussicht (Ger), a grand-daughter of Anna Paola’s half-sister Anstandige (Ger) (Star Appeal (Ire). In Italy, one of the family’s male representatives, Helmet (Aus), out of Anna Paola’s unraced grand-daughter Accessories (GB) (Singspiel {Ire}), supplied the winner of the G3 Premio Carlo Vittadini, the Thomas Hassett-bred Anda Muchacho (Ire). The 5-year-old took his tally of victories to nine from 12 starts and, along with Thunder Snow (Ire), who ran a fine third in the G1 Runhappy Metropolitan H. on Saturday night at Belmont Park on his first run back since winning the Dubai World Cup, he has been a consistent and durable member of Helmet’s first European crop. The stallion, a brother to Group 2 winner Pearls (Aus) and half-brother to dual Group 1 winner Epaulette (Aus) (Commands {Aus}), as well as Group 3 winner Bullbars (Aus) (Elusive Quality), is just about to conclude his first season in Germany at Gestut Fahrhof, where his dam’s excellent family will surely have been appreciated. Anda Muchacho’s win added to a growing list of successes for Shamardal’s daughters. Sold at the Goresbridge breeze-up by Tom Whitehead’s Powerstown Stud to Marco Bozzi for €26,000, he is out of Montefino (Ire) who was herself bought for just 4,500gns from Darley as an unraced 3-year-old. Her grandam Mezzogiorno (GB) (Unfuwain) was third to Lady Carla (GB) in the Oaks in 1996. Shamardal also features as the broodmare sire of G2 Sandy Lane S. winner Hello Youmzain (Fr) (Kodiac {GB}), Irish Derby winner Latrobe (Ire) (Camelot {GB}) and his sister, the Oaks runner-up Pink Dogwood (Ire), as well as G1 Prix Morny winner Pretty Pollyanna (GB) (Oasis Dream {GB}) Moon Continues To Rise In consecutive weekends, two Preis der Diana trials have been won by the offspring of young stallions with German links. The aforementioned Akribie’s sire Reliable Man stood fourb seasons at Gestut Rottgen before being transferred to France last year. Meanwhile Preciosa (Ger), winner of the Kronimus Diana-Trial at Baden-Baden on June 1 is by Sea The Moon (Ger), Gestut Gorlsdorf’s runaway winner of the Desutsches Derby in 2014, who has stood his entire career to date at Lanwades Stud in Newmarket, where he has been kept busy this covering season. The son of Sea The Stars (Ire) is also the sire of current Deutsches Derby favourite, the Gorlsdorf-bred Quest The Moon (Ger), who was the impressive winner of the G3 Prix du Lys for Sarah Steinberg and Stall Salzburg. Another of his runners to have caught the eye in England is Pondus (GB), who runs in the colours of Hubert Strecker and was bred by Kirsten Rausing from Diablarette (GB) (Green Desert), a three-parts sister to German Group 1 winner Lady Jane Digby (GB) (Oasis Dream {GB}). The James Fanshawe-trained 3-year-old, who was bought from October Book 3 for 80,000gns by Stroud Coleman Bloodstock, has won two of his three starts this season and holds an entry for the G2 King Edward VII S. at Royal Ascot. Quinn Hoping For Ascot Beach Party With Royal Ascot fast approaching, those stallion masters with first-crop sires will be hoping for the kind of dream results posted by New Approach (Ire) and Zoffany (Ire), each of whom notched a trio of whom notched a trio of royal meeting winners with their debut crop of runners. Sons of Invincible Spirit (Ire) sit atop the tables for the first-crop and second-crop sires, with Juddmonte’s Kingman (GB) out in front on the latter and Highclere Stud’s Cable Bay (Ire) currently heading the freshman sires’ table with seven winners. His leading juvenile to date, Liberty Beach (GB), was led out unsold from the Tattersalls Ascot Yearling Sale at £16,000 when offered by Mickley Stud, where she was bred. But it’s likely that her owner-breeder Philip Wilkins will field the odd enquiring phone call or two now that the filly out of sprint winner Flirtinaskirt (GB) (Avonbridge {GB}) is unbeaten in her two starts, including Saturday’s Hilary Needler Trophy. Her trainer John Quinn has indicated that she will be given entries for the G2 Queen Mary S., which he won last year with the smart Signora Cabello (GB) (Showcasing {GB}), and the Windsor Castle S. If you’re lucky enough to take a stroll around the paddocks of Richard Kent’s Mickley Stud you’ll come across fields of stores alongside those bred for the Flat and the versatility of the stock raised there was also evident over the weekend by the hurdles victory of Mr Adjudicator in the G2 Prix La Barka at Auteuil. Now trained by Willie Mullins, the 5-year-old was bred by William Harmes in the single season that his sire Camacho (GB) stood at Mickley before returning to Yeomanstown Stud. The gelding has now won four times over hurdles, including the G1 Tattersalls Ireland Spring Juvenile Hurdle, and twice on the Flat. Another of this year’s first-season sires to have made progress in the last week is the Tweenhills resident Hot Streak (Ire). He secured his first winner, the appropriately named Between Hills (Ire), at Listowel on June 2 and that was followed by wins for the Cool Silk Partnership’s Flaming Princess (GB) at Nottingham three days later and Qatar Racing’s Illusionist (GB) at Bath on Friday. Fathers And Sons Through Hermosa (Ire) and Anthony Van Dyck (Ire), champion sire Galileo (Ire) may again be ruling the roost but it has been good to see a variety of stallions represented by European Classic winners so far this season. Frankel (GB) reinforced the Galileo sireline and claimed his first British Classic winner via Anapurna (GB) in the Oaks. Shamardal and his son Lope De Vega (Ire) have one apiece with Castle Lady (Ire) and Phoenix Of Spain (Ire), as do another father-and-son team Invincible Spirit (Ire) and Kingman (GB) through Magna Grecia (Ire) and Persian King (Ire). Siyouni (Fr) has had a breakthrough male Classic winner in Sottsass (Fr) and his sire Pivotal (GB) has featured as broodmare sire of Hermosa. The Danehill line has had a good run in Germany and Italy, with Main Edition (Ire) (Zoffany {Ire}) winning the German 1000 Guineas and Fox Champion (Ire) (Kodiac {GB}) landing the equivalent colts’ Classic, while Fullness Of Life (Ire) (Holy Roman Emperor {Ire}) won the G3 Premio Regina Elena, otherwise known as the Italian 1000 Guineas. Another son of Galileo, Rip Van Winkle (Ire), sired the Botti-bred and -trained G2 Derby Italiano winner Keep On Fly (Ire), giving Duke Of Marmalade (Ire) his second Classic winner as broodmare sire this season after Persian King. Last but not least, another product of the Botti family’s breeding empire, Out Of Time (Ity), became the second winner of an Italian Classic for his dam Calma Apparente (GB) (Rainbow Quest) when taking the G3 Premio Parioli (2000 Guineas) and the first for his sire Sakhee’s Secret (GB), who has stood the last four seasons in Italy. Father And Daughter Not Bad Either Soffia (GB) (Kyllachy{GB}) won her second stakes race in three weeks on Friday when holding off Dan’s Dream (GB) (Cityscape {GB}) by a neck in the G3 Ballyogan S. at the Curragh, once again showing the mastery of her trainer ‘Fast Eddie’ Lynam in the sprint division. However, it is the trainer’s daughter and TDN contributor Amy Lynam who can claim some of the early credit for the filly, having pinhooked her as a foal for 16,000gns from breeder Newsells Park Stud. Lynam said that she was attracted to the filly because of her similarity to her father’s former stable star Sole Power (GB), another Kyllachy speedball. By the time it came to the yearling sales, Lynam senior had clearly also been taken by the filly and bought her with Lady O’Reilly, who already had a strong connection to the filly having bred her dam, the listed-placed Rime A Rien (GB) (Amadeus Wolf {GB}). “She was my first ever pinhook and Lady O’Reilly had actually sold her dam when she was carrying her,” Amy Lynam said. “The family was doing well and at the time and [Rime A Rien’s half-brother] Al Jazi (Ire) had just won a Group 3 at Goodwood, but at the same time Lady O’Reilly had lost the foal out of that mare so she decided to buy Soffia with dad and I’m delighted it has worked out so well.” After an easy few weeks, Soffia may be seen next in the Sapphire S. during the Irish Oaks meeting, with a longer-term aim being a tilt at the G1 Flying Five on Irish Champions Weekend. Lynam really should be drafted in for spotting duties by her partner, the bloodstock agent Matt Houldsworth, who, with Geoffrey Howson, was responsible for buying Irish 2000 Guineas winner Phoenix Of Spain as a yearling. She added, “Of course he had to go and outdo me with a Classic winner!” Amade’s International Appeal We’ve become accustomed to the globetrotting antics of Marco Botti, whose international strikes have included Grade 1 victories in North America with Capla Temptress (Ire) (Lope De Vega {Ire}), Gitano Hernando (GB) (Hernando {FR}), Joshua Tree (Ire) (Montjeu {Ire}) and Euro Charline (GB) (Myboycharlie {Ire}) as well as some near-misses in the Dubai World Cup, Melbourne Cup and Caulfield Cup with Planteur (Ire) (Danehill Dancer {Ire}), Jakkalberry (Ire) (Storming Home {GB}) and Dandino (GB) (Dansili {GB}). Now it looks as if another member of the clan, the trainer’s Chantilly-based cousin Alessandro Botti, will be on the Melbourne Cup trail following the victory of Amade (Ire) (Casamento {Ire}) in the GII Belmont Gold Cup on Saturday. A five-time winner in France, the 5-year-old also struck twice in England over the winter, winning at Kempton and Chelmsford to qualify for the All Weather Championships at Lingfield on Good Friday. That first start for the partnership of OTI Racing with his original owner Laurent Dassault saw him finish a good second to Watersmeet (GB) in the All-Weather Marathon, thus sparking wider international ambitions. A tweet from OTI Racing perfectly summed up the global outlook of the Australian-based syndicate. It read, “Belmont Gold Cup winner Amade epitomises all that is global racing—bred in Ireland, a winner in USA, trained by Italian based in France, ridden by Frenchman based in USA and owned by team from UK, Italy, NZ and Australia.” Amade wasn’t the only winner for OTI over the weekend, which also struck with imports Attorney (Fr) (Makfi {GB}) and Inverloch (Ire) (Fastnet Rock {Aus}), each making their first start in Australia, while Grey Lion (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) was second in the G2 Brisbane Cup. OTI has also recently bought the unbeaten 3-year-old Montabot (Fr) (Le Havre {Ire}), who will remain in training with Pascal Bary in France. Constanzia’s Win A Welcome Boost There will have been no more welcome a victory last week than that posted by Constanzia (GB) (Dandy Man {Ire}), who won on her third start for Jamie Osborne at Chelmsford on Saturday. Less than 12 hours earlier, the 2-year-old filly had been in one of the stables closest to the fire which broke out at the trainer’s Lambourn yard, destroying a bungalow and tack room. Thankfully the fire was thwarted before reaching neighbouring stables and no horses or people were injured in the blaze. The post The Weekly Wrap: The A Team appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

1st-Cologne, €5,100, Mdn, 6-10, 2yo, 6 1/2fT, 1:17.35, gd. HAMARON (GER) (c, 2, Amaron {GB}–Hungry Heidi {GB}, by Kheleyf) shared first-runner honours–with eventual runner-up Ancona (Ire) (Amaron {GB})–for his Gestut Etzean-based freshman sire (by Shamardal), but dwelt at the break and was detached from his three opponents under a patient Adrie de Vries from the outset. Shaken up to close soon after turning for home, the 24-5 chance switched outside at the two pole and kept on powerfully for one crack of his rider’s whip in the closing stages to prevail by 1 1/2 lengths. Hamaron, kin to a yearling filly by Isfahan (Ger), is the first foal produced by a winning daughter of Haiti Dancer (GB) (Josr Algarhoud {Ire}), herself a winning half-sister to Listed Garnet S. runner-up Park Charger (GB) (Tirol {Ire}). The latter is, in turn, the dam of G3 Ballycorus S. victrix Rum Charger (Ire) (Spectrum {Ire}), whose own leading performer is MGISW GI Turf Classic Invitational hero Winchester (Theatrcial). Park Charger’s descendants also include G1 Prix de Diane heroine Star of Seville (GB) (Duke of Marmalade {Ire}). Sales history: €14,000 RNA Ylg ’18 BBAGO. Lifetime Record: 1-1-0-0, €3,000. 1ST-TIME STARTER. O/B-Dr Hubertus Diers, et al (GER); T-Henk Grewe. The post Freshman Sire Amaron Off the Mark at Cologne appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Moyglare Stud’s progressive homebred stayer Falcon Eight (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) is still a possible participant at Royal Ascot next week. The lightly raced 4-year-old has an entry in the G1 Ascot Gold Cup but trainer Dermot Weld will play it late with the half-brother to Free Eagle (Ire) (High Chaparral {Ire}), with the colt still viewed as a work in progress by connections. “I don’t think we’ve 100 per cent decided either way on Royal Ascot just yet. We’ve still got a bit of time to decide,” explained Moyglare’s breeding adviser, Fiona Craig. “He’s only had four runs and it does look a very good Gold Cup. You’ve got Stradivarius in there and the Melbourne Cup winner [Cross Counter] and I’ve been very impressed with Mark Johnston’s horse, Dee Ex Bee.” Falcon Eight was unraced as a juvenile but left a big impression in three runs last year. He resumed this year with an eye-catching display when a fast finishing second in the Listed Saval Beg S. at Leopardstown, however his rating of 105 suggests he needs to take another big leap forward to trouble the current leading stayers. “I think we’re keen to go, but is it the right thing for the horse? He’s quite lazy and because of that he’s hard to judge. When he starts galloping he’s pretty good, but going for a Gold Cup would be a big step up and that is why Dermot [Weld] is keen to make a late decision. Dermot has plenty of experience with horses like him and I’m sure he’ll do the right thing by the horse,” Craig added. The post Falcon Eight Still In Gold Cup Mix appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

G1 Dubai Sheema Classic winner Old Persian (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) will probably skip Royal Ascot this year and will most likely point towards the GI Arlington Million in August. The Godolphin colt won the G2 King Edward VII S. at Ascot last year but his British debut this year proved underwhelming when he finished a well beaten seventh behind Defoe (Ire) (Dalakhani {Ire}) in the G1 Investec Coronation Cup at Epsom ten days ago. “He was entitled to come forward for his run in the Coronation Cup at Epsom, but he did disappoint us the way he shut down in the last furlong,” his trainer Charlie Appleby said on Monday. “He came back out of the race okay – but I just think a more conventional track will suit him, so we might look at the Arlington Million and drop him back to a mile and a quarter on that flat track there. I know he has won around Ascot – and because he was a winner at the meeting last year, you can’t completely rule it out, but I think we will end up missing Ascot,” he added. The post Old Persian Doubtful For Ascot appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

David Menuisier’s stable star Thundering Blue (Exchange Rate) will step back up to Group 1 company on his next start having blown away the cobwebs with two satisfactory runs at a lower level this season. Last time out Clive Washbourn’s 6-year-old finished third to ‘TDN Rising Star‘ Elarqam (GB) (Frankel (GB) in a listed race at Goodwood and despite being beaten six lengths by the winner his trainer was very satisfied with the performance. “I was delighted because I knew Goodwood wasn’t his track, I knew he would come on for the run again, so I thought he ran a really good race despite a big penalty,” said Menuisier. Various options including the G1 Coral Eclipse and the G2 Gran Pemio Di Milaon were mooted for Thundering Blue but it seems a trip to France is now more likely for last season’s G2 York S. winner. “I don’t think he’ll go for the Eclipse, more likely it will be the [G1] Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud on June 30. My thinking is ‘can he realistically win the Eclipse’? Probably not – some might say we won’t win the Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud, either, but I’d like to give it a go and see what happens. It’s very close to Ascot, so some of the big guns will go there – which, while it won’t be an easy race, should give us a decent chance to cause some damage,” Menuisier added. The post France Next For Thundering Blue appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

The latest addition to next week’s Goffs London Sale is the broodmare Simsimah (Ire) (Poet’s Voice {GB}). The unraced 4-year-old is a half-sister to G1 Investec Derby runner up Madhmoon (Ire) (Dawn Approach {Ire}) from the family of G1 Tattersalls Irish 2000 Guineas winner and sire Awtaad (Ire) (Cape Cross {Ire}). Simsimah will be offered by Barton Stud in foal to GI Breeders’ Cup Mile winner Expert Eye (GB) and will have a filly foal by Divine Prophet (Aus) at foot. This pedigree could be in line for some major updates as Madhmoon may well seek compensation for his recent narrow defeat to Anthony Van Dyck (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) in the G1 Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby at The Curragh June 29. Those interested in viewing Simsimah prior to the sale can make an appointment with Barton Stud’s Tom Blaine at +44 7812390877. The post Madhmoon Sister Added To Goffs appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

The Stronach Group, the Thoroughbred Owners of California and California Thoroughbred Trainers have released a joint statement in the wake of the request from the California Horse Racing Board that Santa Anita suspend the final seven days of the meet. The request came following the breakdown of Formal Dude (First Dude), who was euthanized following the running of Saturday’s first race. The track suffered a subsequent fatality, the 29th of the meeting, was the three-year-old filly Truffalino (English Channel) died of a heart attack in the third race Sunday. “We are collectively working on behalf of everyone in the sport–grooms, hot walkers, jockeys, exercise riders, starters, trainers, owners, track managers and every horse wearing a bridle and a saddle–to reform and improve racing every day. After extensive consultation among all partners, Santa Anita Park will stay open through the end of its meet to see these reforms through. Since wide-sweeping reforms have been instituted at Santa Anita, catastrophic injuries have dropped considerably compared to earlier this meet, decreasing by 50 percent in racing and by more than 84 percent in training. To be clear, there are no acceptable losses, and every day we work toward ending all serious injuries. But the reality is that our improvements and changes have been effective. A detailed and serious epidemiological investigation of all track accidents is underway and will continue with the greatest urgency. Track management, owners, trainers and veterinarians, are re-doubling their vigilance and close supervision of both training and racing protocols and will consider all enhancements to the sweeping new protocols already introduced. We have great respect for Governor Newsom and the CHRB, and we look forward to working closely with them as we continue to discuss these issues.” People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals released a statement of its own Sunday. “Either the rules aren’t strong enough or the rules aren’t being followed, but whatever the reason for the deaths of two more horses, Santa Anita needs to listen to the California Horse Racing Board and shut down,” said Kathy Guillermo, PETA’s senior vice president, in a statement. “It should not re-open until full-leg scan equipment is in place, since most pelvis injuries also show lesions in the legs, the dirt track has been replaced with a safer synthetic surface; and the district attorney’s investigation into trainers and veterinarians is complete,” she said. The post Stronach Group, TOC, CTT Release Joint Statement appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

The lack of quality dirt races late in the season has proven beneficial for Michael Chang Chun-wai, with the veteran trainer acquiring all-weather specialist Fight Hero last month.Fight Hero has been with Me Tsui Yu-sak for his entire Hong Kong career but the owners decided to switch the eight-year-old to Chang to ensure he got a run in Wednesday night’s Class Two Butterfly Bay Handicap (1,200m).“Me Tsui had to run his other horse [Ugly Warrior] on Wednesday, he could not run two in the race so… View the full article

Addressing your thoughts, questions and statements about Hong Kong racing. Have something to say? Send a tweet to @SCMPRacingPost.Good Days as Aldo Domeyer gets his second Sha Tin winner - @ATBHorseRacingIt has been a whirlwind six weeks for the South African, who is making the most of his opportunities after getting the late call-up to ride for the last two-and-a-half months of the Hong Kong season.Domeyer hit the ground running with a double from three rides at his first meeting on May 1 and… View the full article

Trackside Radio’s Des Coppins catches up with trainer Harvey Wilson after Bad Boy Brown’s win at Trentham on Saturday.... View the full article

Trackside Radio’s Des Coppins speaks with trainer Kim Clapperton after Lovetokeephim’s win at Trentham on Saturday.... View the full article

Trackside Radio’s Des Coppins catches up with Brendon Hawtin after he trained Simply Optimistic to win at Randwick on Saturday.... View the full article

Marton galloper Italian Lover continued her consistent run of form at Te Rapa on Saturday when winning the Become A Waikato Racing Club Member 2200. It was the fourth win for the daughter of Zed and trainer Fraser Auret has been pleased with her development this season. “She has really progressed well this season,” he said. “She won her maiden race towards the start of the season and although she has had a couple of mini breaks, to be winning a rating 82 race the same season as you ... View the full article

Top gallopers Supera and Princess Kereru are due back in work next month, but already a decision has been made to bypass the first major events for the new season with the pair. While most open-class performers will be aimed at legs of the Hawke’s Bay Triple Crown, beginning with the Gr.1 Tarzino Trophy (1400m) at Hastings on August 31, both Supera and Princess Kereru will be absent. “They’re not going to Hastings,” co-trainer Ken Kelso said. “They’re better having a bit more time an... View the full article

A decision by the owners of Enzo’s Lad has enabled Michael Pitman to experience a lifelong dream in England. As the Canterbury trainer says, he is “living the dream” as he soaks up the atmosphere in the countdown to his first appearance at Royal Ascot next week. Pitman and his wife, Diane, are in Newmarket, England, preparing dual Gr.1 Telegraph Handicap (1200m) winner Enzo’s Lad for the first day of the Royal Ascot meeting next Tuesday. And no matter the result, he has already made hims... View the full article

Matamata trainer Glenn Old is set to pass on his top stayer Bizzwinkle to Ballarat trainer Patrick Payne, but he believes he could have found another potential staying star in his stable. Old produced the easiest of winners at Te Rapa last Saturday when Super Hoof raced away to an eight and a quarter-length maiden win over 1600m in the hands of apprentice Jasmine Fawcett. It was the third start for Super Hoof and Old feels the four-year-old son of Cape Blanco has the ability to work through the... View the full article

Stud Happy Again's George Washington swept down the center of the course to capture the Grande Premio Brasil (G1) June 9 at Hipodromo Gavea and earned an automatic starting position into the $4 million Longines Breeders' Cup Turf (G1T). View the full article

Already a four-time black-type winner, Anne and William Scott's Summer Sunday made the grade in the US$107,792 Hendrie Stakes (G3) June 9 at Woodbine. View the full article

The California Horse Racing Board has asked track officials at Santa Anita Park to suspend racing for the remaining days of the meet, which ends June 23, after the 28th fatality at the track since Dec. 26 occurred June 8. View the full article

The California Horse Racing Board has requested that Santa Anita suspend the final seven days of its current meet, but officials of the track have said they will not do so. The CHRB’s request came following Saturday’s catastrophic breakdown of Formal Dude (First Dude), who was euthanized following the running of the day’s 10th race. It was the 28th equine fatality at the track since the meet opened Dec. 26. The story was first reported by both the Los Angeles Times and the Louisville Courier-Journal. Tim Ritvo, the COO of The Stronach Group did not answer a text from the TDN regarding comment on Santa Anita’s decision to remain open. The meet is scheduled to end June 23. It is not within the CHRB’s power to order a racetrack to immediately close unless the track agrees to its wishes. However, the racing board can take such action after a bureaucratic process that begins with 10-day notification period. It was not immediately clear if the CHRB can, or would, shut down Santa Anita for the remaining three days of the meet following the 10-day notification period. The CHRB sent a statement to the Courier-Journal, which read: “Under current law, The California Horse Racing Board does not have the authority to suspend a race meet or remove race dates from a current race meet without the approval of the race track operator or without holding a public meeting with ten days public notice. “The Chairman, Vice Chairman and the Executive Director recommended to Santa Anita management that they suspend racing for the seven remaining race days but that they allow horses to continue to train during that period. This would provide the industry more time to fully implement announced safety initiatives and perhaps additional ones. “It is our understanding that Santa Anita management, after consultation with certain other industry stakeholders, believes that for a variety of reasons, the future of California racing is best served by continuing to race.” The CHRB did not ask Santa Anita to close down for training, something that would create a crisis for Southern California horsemen because training cannot begin at Del Mar until July 11. Until that time, the San Diego County Fair has full use of the property, According to the Times, Formal Dude died of a pelvis injury. Most equine fatalities happen when horses fracture one of their front legs. But the Times report says that of the five deaths at Santa Anita since May 17, four of them have been either shoulder or pelvis injuries. Also hanging in the balance for Santa Anita is this year’s Breeders’ Cup, scheduled for Nov. 1 and 2. The Breeders’ Cup is in a dicey situation as it could come under intense criticism should it hold the Breeders’ Cup at Santa Anita and there are fatalities. Breeders’ Cup President Craig Fravel told the Courier Journal that the organization is exploring contingency plans and said that the only other track that has been mentioned as an alternate site is Churchill Downs. A Breeders’ Cup Board meeting is scheduled for June 27. “I think it’s fair to say our board will have a full report from management on everything we know about the situation in California as well as injury rates at other racetracks and we’ll have to evaluate that situation and what our options are,” Fravel told the Courier Journal. “That’s really ultimately a board decision, so I have to defer to that process.” On Friday, the Times reported that trainer Michael Pender was suspended 30 days by the CHRB for violating a rule regarding animal welfare. The ruling regarding Pender’s suspension read: “Pender knowingly worked the horse New Karma after a veterinarian examination disclosed an injury. This horse was then shipped to Golden Gate Fields where it was entered into a race on April 6, 2019, but subsequently scratched due to its condition.” Pender is among a handful of trainers who have either been suspended or ruled off the grounds at Santa Anita due to alleged violations regarding the welfare of horses under their care. Among them was trainer William Morey, who was banned from racing at Santa Anita for a medication violation that led to an investigation by the California Horse Racing Board. The post Santa Anita Denies CHRB Request to Close appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

The under-tack preview of the Ocala Breeders’ Sales Company’s June Sale of 2-Year-Olds in Training concluded with a fifth session in Central Florida Sunday. During a rain-delayed session, another two juveniles tied the week’s fastest furlong time of :9 4/5, while the day’s quickest quarter-mile time was :20 4/5. A day after Come Dancing (Malibu Moon) finished second in the GI Ogden Phipps S., her half-sister by Ghostzapper turned in the week’s co-fastest three-furlong work of :32 3/5. A filly by More Than Ready (hip 1037), supplemented to the June catalogue, worked the co-bullet furlong time of :9 4/5 for the McKathan Bros. consignment. The dark bay filly is out of Italian group winner Omaticaya (Ire) (Bernstein). “I expected her to go fast. She has been fast pretty much all year long,” Kevin McKathan said. “She’s been to several sales, so she goes out and does her job every time.” The filly worked at the OBS March sale, as well as last month’s Fasig-Tipton Midlantic sale, where she went a furlong in :10 1/5, but she was withdrawn from both auctions. “At the end of the day, we just haven’t found the right person for her,” McKathan said. “We’ve been a little bullish on her all year. This is the last sale, so we’ll find somewhere for her to live, I hope.” The youngster was purchased by McKathan Bros. for $125,000 at last year’s Keeneland September sale. “She is a beautiful filly and we’d been chasing a More Than Ready for the last couple of years,” McKathan said. “We loved her and we were able to get her bought. When you look at her, she looks a lot like a More Than Ready. She’s a very fast-looking filly with beautiful lines. She is elegant. I think if someone is looking for a More Than Ready filly, she’ll check all the boxes for them.” For the second day in a row, the breeze show was delayed by weather. “It rained [Saturday] in the early morning and through mid-morning,” McKathan said. “Today it started off nice and by the second break, we went on a delay, so we’ve been fighting the weather since about 8:30 or 9 a.m. and there has been lightning and raining.” McKathan is expecting the demand for horses to stretch into the last juvenile sale of the season. “It seems like everyone is here and anxious to find something,” he said. Harris Training Center sent out a colt from the first crop of Grade I winner Lea (First Samurai) (hip 893) to work the furlong in :9 4/5. Named Unconquered Lea, the chestnut is out of Tanquerray (Good Journey). He was bred in California by Fortuna Ranch Racing and Demetrios Shelie Xanthos. Over the five sessions of the breeze show, 11 horses shared the :9 4/5 furlong bullet time. A gelding from the first crop of graded winner Bahamian Squall (Gone West) (hip 881) turned in the fastest quarter-mile breeze at OBS Sunday, covering the distance in :20 4/5. Consigned by Nice and Easy Thoroughbreds, the dark bay is out of Super Trooper (Posse). He was bred in Florida by Pamela Edel. Three horses shared the week’s bullet quarter-mile time of :20 3/5. A filly by Ghostzapper (hip 914) tied the week’s fastest three-furlong time when covering the distance in :32 3/5 Sunday. The bay filly is consigned by Gayle Woods, as agent for Eric Delvalle. The juvenile is out of graded stakes winner Tizahit (Tiznow) and is a half-sister to graded stakes winner Come Dancing (Malibu Moon), who since the catalogue was printed won the GII Ruffian S. and was second behind Midnight Bisou (Midnight Lute) in Saturday’s GI Ogden Phipps S. “She is a very classy-acting filly and a great mover,” said Woods. “I was very happy with her work–she galloped out like a beast. She galloped out in :44 3/5 and :59 1/5. She has got everything. She vets good, she is a beautiful mover with a huge walk on her and she is very pretty. And with the update, and Ghostzapper is hot, too, I think she’ll be very popular.” Delvalle purchased the filly for $67,000 at last year’s Keeneland September sale. “Eric Antonio Delvalle is a new client,” Woods said. “Crestwood had horses for him and I’ve worked with Crestwood, so they advised him to send the filly to me. Originally, we were going to put her in the April sale, but she is a May baby and I ended up taking her out before the catalogue went to print. I said, ‘I think the filly will benefit with another couple of months and we should wait and go to the June sale to give her all the time to mature.’ And I think it paid off pretty well.” The June Sale will be held Wednesday through Friday, with sessions beginning daily at 10 a.m. CRUPI MEMORIAL MONDAY The Ocala Breeders’ Sales Company will host a celebration of the life of J.J. Crupi at the sales complex Monday, beginning at 4:30 p.m. The longtime Ocala horseman passed away in May. The post OBS Breeze Show Concludes appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Klein Racing's Break Even ran her race record to a perfect five with a frontrunning victory in the Jersey Girl Stakes June 9 at Belmont Park. Already a grade 2 winner, the filly is now being aimed for the seven-furlong Longines Test Stakes (G1). View the full article