Wandering Eyes

Sunday’s G1 Prix Royal-Oak produced an unsatisfactory outcome, as while no racing fan would begrudge the journeyman stayer Holdthasigreen (Fr) (Hold That Tiger) his moment in the spotlight there was an incident after the first six furlongs that almost certainly affected the outcome. As the field crossed Chantilly’s all-weather track, Flag of Honour (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) tried to run out and took the favourite Brundtland (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) with him with the pair losing several lengths. Shortly after, the 6-1 shot Holdthasigreen took over the lead and despite the efforts of Brundtland in the straight was always in control and had a 3/4-of-a-length advantage at the line over Called To The Bar (Ire) (Henrythenavigator), with Morgan Le Faye (GB) (Shamardal) finishing strongly to be a further short neck behind in third. Brundtland was only another short neck away in fourth, a head in front of Flag of Honour in fifth lending some doubt as to the reliability of the result as a strict measure of the merit of the main protagonists. HOLDTHASIGREEN (FR), g, 6, by Hold That Tiger—Greentathir (Fr), by Muhtathir (GB). 1ST GROUP 1 WIN. O/B-Jean Gilbert & Claude Le Lay (FR); T-Bruno Audouin; J-Tony Piccone. €199,990. Lifetime Record: 27-12-4-4, €690,625. Video, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton. View the full article

Jack Wong Ho-nam had his best day as a senior jockey at Happy Valley on Sunday and the 25-year-old hopes a mixture of success and hard work can help him increase his “selling point”. Wong landed a double with victories aboard Starlit Knight and Almababy, with Starlit Knight’s success seeing Wong post his first winner since the opening day of the season and only his third since graduating from his apprenticeship in June. Wong said he has found himself in no-man’s-land to... View the full article

Legendary jockey Douglas Whyte has further marked himself as the most successful rider Hong Kong has seen, notching up his 1,800th winner on Sunday – with no plans of stopping any time soon. The 46-year-old, who experienced his first stint in Hong Kong during the 1996-97 season, brushed aside retirement rumours, with his passion for horses and winning burning as strongly as when he first arrived. “I’ve been here a long time but I think any jockey that achieves that many... View the full article

On a perfect Hong Kong afternoon, many were left wondering why there aren’t more Happy Valley day meetings. The once-a-season occasion is a great change of pace from Sha Tin, with a different atmosphere to a typical Wednesday night (no band for starters), and it is relished by most people involved. Racing in the heart of town on a beautiful sunny Sunday afternoon – who wouldn’t want more of that? There is a simple explanation for it though. “Field sizes is the key issue... View the full article

The full-brother of dual Group One-winning sprinter Slade Power secured his maiden victory at Happy Valley on Sunday. The Richard Gibson-trained Nordic Warrior (by Dutch Art out of Girl Power), was bought by the Jockey Club for €450,000 (HK3.94 million) at the Arqana Deauville Yearling Sale in 2016 before being sold again at the Hong Kong International Sale for HK$6 million. Slade Power won the Diamond Jubilee Stakes at Royal Ascot and the July Cup at Newmarket in 2014. The three-year-old... View the full article

After an illness knocked her out of consideration for the Del Mar Oaks Presented by The Jockey Club (G1T), Toinette made an impressive, victorious return to the races Oct. 27 in the $100,000 Autumn Miss Stakes (G3T) at Santa Anita Park. View the full article

Keeneland concluded its 2018 Fall Meet Saturday with a record all-sources wagering over $144 million. All-sources wagering on live racing at Keeneland (not including whole-card simulcasting at Keeneland) totaled $144,309,944 for the 17-day Fall Meet, which ran Oct. 5-27. The figure surpassed the previous record of $139,660,204 set during the 17-day 2013 Fall Meet. The total increased 18.57 percent from the $121,712,702 posted for last year’s 17-day Fall Meet. Average daily all-sources wagering of $8,488,820 rose 18.57 percent from $7,159,571 in 2017. “The quality of Keeneland’s racing program is reflected in the record wagering we experienced this Fall,” Keeneland President and CEO Bill Thomason said. “Full, competitive race fields representing the nation’s top owners, trainers and jockeys attracted the support of fans across the country. We thank the Central Kentucky community, our horsemen and corporate partners for a very gratifying racing season.” Keeneland set Fall Meet wagering records for single-day all-sources handle and Pick Four and Pick Five pools on Fall Stars Oct. 6. Total all-sources handle of $17,122,465 surpassed the previous Fall Meet single-day record of $15,926,396 set Oct. 8, 2016. Additionally, Keeneland set Fall Meet wagering records for the Pick Four and Pick Five, both recorded Oct. 8, 2016. The All-Stakes Pick Four handle of $737,408 broke the previous record of $479,166. Wagering on the All-Stakes Pick Five totaled $619,106 to best the former record of $496,723. On-track attendance and wagering fell 10.63 percent to 241,806 from last fall’s near-record 270,555. Average daily attendance was 14,224 versus 15,915 in 2017. On-track wagering totaled $16,419,870, a decrease of 6.69 percent from last year’s $17,597,035. Average daily on-track handle was $965,874 compared to last fall’s $1,035,120. Ken and Sarah Ramsey won their 21st leading owner title at Keeneland with six wins during the Fall Meet. Eclipse Award winners, the Ramseys are the all-time leading owners at Keeneland by number of races won and meet titles won. Seven-time Eclipse Award winner Todd Pletcher closed the meet with nine wins to claim his fifth leading trainer title at Keeneland. Mike Maker was second with eight victories. Eclipse Award-winning jockeys finished 1-2 in the rider standings. Tyler Gaffalione recorded 15 wins during his first full meet of riding at Keeneland to earn leading rider honors. Finishing second with 12 victories was Julien Leparoux. View the full article

Leofric rewarded his connections' faith Oct. 27 with a hard-fought victory over Prime Attraction in the $200,000 Hagyard Fayette Stakes (G2) at Keeneland. View the full article

With a stunning last-to-first performance over the Woodbine oval, Thor's Rocket blasted to the wire to win the $100,000 Overskate Stakes and take home his first win in two years. View the full article

Cot Campbell, whose Dogwood Stable provided a successful model for making Thoroughbred ownership more attainable and inclusive, died Oct. 27 at his home in Aiken, S. C. He was 91. View the full article

Cot Campbell, founder of Dogwood Stable, passed away Saturday afternoon at his home in Aiken, South Carolina. He was 90. Campbell was a pioneer in racing partnerships and Dogwood runners included Classic winners Palace Malice, winner of the 2013 GI Belmont S., and 1990 GI Preakness S. winner Summer Squall. Campbell was inducted into the Hall of Fame at the National Museum of Racing in August. View the full article

Robert LaPenta’s So Alive (Super Saver) appeared to be struggling with the muddy surface at Keeneland most of the way around, but he came alive late to register a ‘TDN Rising Star’-worthy victory Saturday. A half-brother to GII Wood Memorial S.-winning stablemate Vino Rosso (Curlin), $842,500, the juvenile was hammered down to 3-2 favoritism for this career bow for trainer Todd Pletcher, who has been on fire at the Keeneland fall meet. A bit slow to get going, the bay saved ground near the back of the pack as the runaway leaders zipped through a first quarter in :22.22 and a half in :45.97. The $160,000 KEESEP buy appeared to be spinning his wheels at the top of the stretch, but suddenly kicked it into high gear in the final furlong, weaving between rivals late to get up just in time for a neck success. Tapizars Secret (Tapizar) completed the exacta. Breeder John Gunther bought Mythical Bride for just $42,000 at the 2011 Keeneland November Sale and she has been quite productive for his operation. Her second foal Vino Rosso was a $410,000 yearling and was a contender on this year’s Triple Crown trail. His part owner Mike Repole bought Mythical Bride’s yearling colt by Pioneerof the Nile for $350,000 at KEENOV last term and resold him to Coolmore for $575,000 at this year’s KEESEP sale. The 10-year-old mare produced an Uncle Mo colt Apr. 30 of this year and was bred back to Curlin. Mythical Bride is a half-sister to MSW & GSP Flaming Heart (Touch Gold), who is the dam of MGSW & GISP WinStar sire Commissioner (A.P. Indy) and GSW & GISP Laugh Track (Distorted Humor). 5th-Keeneland, $65,582, Msw, 10-27, 2yo, 6f, 1:11.21, my. SO ALIVE, c, 2, Super Saver 1st Dam: Mythical Bride, by Street Cry (Ire) 2nd Dam: Flaming Heart, by Touch Gold 3rd Dam: Hot Lear, by Lear Fan Lifetime Record: 1-1-0-0, $40,200. Click for the Equibase.com chart, the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree or VIDEO, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton. O-Robert V. LaPenta; B-John D. Gunther (KY); T-Todd Pletcher. View the full article

In stark contrast to weather patterns plaguing the central and eastern part of the country, Saturday morning in Arcadia, California dawned sunny and warm as several Breeders’ Cup contenders put in their final works ahead of the Championships next weekend. Heading the cast was Classic favorite Accelerate (Lookin At Lucky) (video), who went six furlongs under John Sadler assistant Juan Leyva in 1:12.80. The four-time Grade I winner covered five furlongs in 1:00.80 with a seven furlong gallop out of 1:26.20, according to Santa Anita clockers. Sadler also sent undefeated GI Dirt Mile favorite Catalina Cruiser (Union Rags) (video), who negotiated five furlongs in :59.80; and GI Filly & Mare Sprint contender Selcourt (Tiz Wonderful) (video) the same distance in 1:00.40. Both Catalina Cruiser and Selcourt have recorded back-to-back graded stakes wins heading in next week’s races. All three horses are scheduled to depart for Kentucky today, as is Sadler. “Accelerate’s work was super-duper, but all went really well,” enthused Sadler. “It was a good morning. I’m happy with all of them.” Bob Baffert has another busy day Saturday, highlighted by workouts by Classic contenders Gary and Mary West’s West Coast (Flatter) and Watson/Pegram/Weitman’s McKinzie (Street Sense). West Coast (video) breezed four furlongs in company with unraced juvenile Trojan Magic (Twirling Candy). They were timed in :47.20 and :47.40, respectively. McKinzie , in company with Dabster (Curlin), covered five furlongs in a minute flat while his year-older stablemate completed the task in :59.60. McKinzie was partnered by Joe Talamo, who would ride last year’s GI Pacific Classic winner Collected for Baffert in the 10-furlong test should the colt draw into the field. Drayden Van Dyke worked West Coast. Also working for Baffert Saturday, GI Filly & Mare Sprint favorite Marley’s Freedom (Blame) (video), in tandem with workmate Super Sol (Awesome Again), went four furlongs in a bullet :47 flat. They were the fastest of 53 drills at the distance. Trainer Jerry Hollendorfer sent out Juvenile aspirants GI American Pharoah runner-up Gunmetal Gray (Exchange Rate) and recent maiden scorer Dueling (Violence) at Santa Anita Saturday morning. The duo completed their respective tasks in :48.60 and :49.40. “Both riders were happy,” Hollendorfer said, alluding to Flavien Prat on Gunmetal Gray and Freddie Rodriguez aboard Dueling. “We’re all set to go.” The 2-year-olds are scheduled to ship early today, while Hollendorfer will leave on Monday. Prior to Santa Anita’s first race Friday, Classic longshot Pavel (Creative Cause) worked seven furlongs in 1:26.45 under regular rider Mario Gutierrez. Winner of the June 16 GI Stephen Foster H. at Churchill Downs, the Doug O’Neill trainee recorded fractional times of :24.87, :49.87 and 1:14.37. “He’s got a win over the track, so we’re looking at all the positive aspects,” O’Neill said. “He’s had a little breather since the Pacific Classic [a distant second to Accelerate Aug. 18] and he’s doing well.” Working in company over the muddy Churchill Downs main track, GI Breeders’ Cup Classic contender Axelrod (Warrior’s Reward) and Vibrance (Violence), slated to contest the GI Juvenile Fillies following a runner-up finish in the GI Chandelier Sept. 29, completed their championship preparations with a half-mile move in :48.40 Saturday morning. Internal fractions for the work were :12.20, 24.20, :36.20 and with both going out five furlongs. Dual graded stakes winner Axelrod rounded out six furlongs in 1:14.60; and Vibrance in 1:14.80, according to Churchill Downs Clocker John Nichols. “I just wanted them to stretch their legs,” trainer Michael McCarthy explained. “Conditions were not ideal weather wise but I knew they would do a good job with the track. I was more than pleased with the works.” Runner-up in the GI Pennsylvania Derby Sept. 22, Axelrod was partner by jockey Jose Ortiz in yesterday’s work and will be reunited with Joe Bravo in the Classic. Tommie Lewis, David Bernsen and Magdalena Racing’s GI Breeders’ Futurity runner-up Signalman (General Quarters) completed his GI Breeders’ Cup Juvenile preparations with a four-furlong move in :47.60 Saturday morning at Churchill Downs. Breezing with jockey Brian Hernandez Jr. in the saddle, Signalman began his work one length behind stablemate Math Major (four furlongs in :48) through opening splits of :11.60 and :23, before finishing one length in front on the five-furlong gallop out in 1:01 and completing six furlongs in 1:15. Impact Thoroughbreds and Madaket Stables’ Reflect (Trappe Shot) worked five furlongs in 1:00 over a track rated as sloppy after the first renovation break Saturday morning. Accompanied by Jose Ortiz aboard, Reflect carved out fractions of :12.40, 23.40, 35.40, :47.60 and 1:00 with gallop-out times of 1:13.60 and 1:27.80 for six and seven furlongs. “I liked it; she did it pretty easy,” said Julie Clark, assistant to trainer Keith Desormeaux. “Jose liked her last week too [a half-mile in :48.40 Oct. 20]. He said she does it so easy and feels like there is another gear there.” Ortiz will ride the Oct. 5 GI Alcibiades runner-up for the first time in the GI Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies. Trainer Tom Amoss confirmed Saturday that G M B Racing’s Lone Sailor (Majestic Warrior) would be entered in the GI Breeders’ Cup Classic. Winner of the GIII Oklahoma Derby last time, Lone Sailor was pre-entered in the Classic as well as the GI Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile, but Amoss said the determining factor was the pace setup for the Classic. James Graham, who has ridden Lone Sailor five times including the Oklahoma Derby victory, will have the mount in the Classic. Calumet Farm’s Derby Date (Will Take Charge) worked a half-mile in :48.20 Saturday morning at Churchill Downs. It was the third fastest of 24 at the distance on the day. Previously sitting on among the also eligibles, the D. Wayne Lukas trainee appears likely to enter the GI Juvenile fray following the defection of Trophy Chaser (Twirling Candy), who is now expected to enter in the Street Sense S. Nov. 2. View the full article

Helmet (Aus) (Exceed and Excel {Aus}), sire of this year’s G1 Dubai World Cup winner Thunder Snow (Ire), will relocate from Dalham Hall Stud to Gestut Fahrhof in Germany for the 2019 breeding season, according to Racing Post. Helmet was a dual Group 1 winner Down Under at two and added the G1 Caulfield Guineas at three. Thunder Snow is one of seven stakes winners for his sire, and his lone Group 1 winner. He lines up in next weekend’s GI Breeders’ Cup Classic at Churchill Downs. Helmet’s Anda Muchacho (Ire) won a Group 2 in Italy last weekend. View the full article

The 21-day fall meet of Churchill Downs, which kicks off Sunday, Oct. 28, and continues through Sunday, Nov. 25, will be televised live by TVG. The coverage will begin Sunday at 1 p.m. with the 14th annual Stars of Tomorrow program. In addition to regular coverage, TVG will carry the first two Breeders’ Cup races Saturday, Nov. 3, the GI Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Sprint and the GI Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint, as well as the undercard races on both Breeders’ Cup days, Nov. 2-3. Contracts specify the main coverage of the two championship days must be carried by NBC and NBCSN. “Churchill Downs’ fall meet consistently offers some of the very best racing in the US and we are very excited to showcase this meet for racing fans across the country,” said Kip Levin, CEO of TVG. “The return of the Breeders’ Cup to Churchill Downs this year adds a layer of anticipation to this meet and we look forward to bringing our viewers the first two Breeders’ Cup races on Championship Saturday and the supporting stakes and races on both days of the event.” View the full article

The New York Racing Association, Inc. canceled live racing on Saturday at Belmont Park due to dangerously high winds associated with a strong coastal storm. A further update will be provided regarding the re-scheduling of Saturday’s scheduled stakes, including the GIII Bold Ruler S., the $100,000 English Channel S. and the $100,000 Awad S. View the full article

Axlerod and Vibrance are two of the five contenders trainer Mike McCarthy is set to have at this year's Breeders' Cup World Championships Nov. 2-3. View the full article

With ParisLongchamp shutting up shop earlier than planned, Sunday’s action, which features the G1 Prix Royal-Oak and G1 Criterium International, takes place at Chantilly and there is the customary strong overseas representation. The former features Godolphin’s unbeaten Brundtland (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}), who bids to make it a fourth successful foray to France while the 2-year-old contest is also dominated by foreign interests with Ballydoyle’s Hermosa (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) and the Gosden trainee Kessaar (Ire) (Kodiac {GB}) looking formidable threats. Even if the Sept. 16 G2 Prix Niel and Oct. 6 G2 Prix Chaudenay winner Brundtland fails to deliver, the Royal-Oak could still prove hard for the French to defend with the Sept. 16 G1 Irish St Leger hero Flag of Honour (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) also in attendance. Charlie Appleby said of the former, “Brundtland has done nothing but progress with each race and showed that he is not short of stamina in the Prix Chaudenay. He came out of that race very well and we felt that this was a great opportunity to try and win a Group 1 with him. He gets a 3-year-old weight allowance and should be very competitive.” The home team’s secret weapon in the 15-furlong “French St Leger” could be Fair Salinia Ltd’s Called To The Bar (Ire) (Henrythenavigator), who beat the domestic stalwart Holdthasigreen (Fr) (Hold That Tiger) and Godolphin’s Morgan Le Faye (GB) (Shamardal) in ParisLongchamp’s G3 Prix Gladiateur over another half furlong last time Sept. 9. Godolphin’s Lisa-Jane Graffard said of the latter, “Morgan Le Faye has produced good staying performances in the Prix Gladiateur and the Prix du Cadran, when she got a little tired at the end. This looks like a tough race on the ratings, but she has very serious place claims and any cut in the ground will help.” In the Criterium International, Kessaar looks to extend his influence beyond the six-furlong trip over which he captured the G3 Sirenia S. at Kempton Sept. 8 and Newbury’s G2 Mill Reef S. Sept. 22. If he fails to see out the seventh furlong, the filly Hermosa will be there to capitalise as stamina is no issue for her. Third in The Curragh’s G1 Moyglare Stud S. Sept. 16 and runner-up in the G1 Fillies’ Mile at Newmarket Oct. 12 either side of a win in the G3 Weld Park S. at Naas Sept. 30, she is another of Aidan O’Brien’s that thrives on a busy schedule. Where Hermosa has abundant experience to call upon, Saeed bin Suroor’s Royal Meeting (Ire) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}) has just a sole outing to ward off greenness having taken a Yarmouth maiden over this trip Sept. 19. “Royal Meeting is a nice colt who has done very well since winning on debut at Yarmouth and seven furlongs is the right trip for him at the moment,” his trainer commented. “He could be anything in the future and heads to France in good form.” View the full article

Ocala horseman Bert Pilcher figured a clever way to breed a Breeders’ Cup favorite. Take a free mare, a free stallion season, foal an undersized pocket rocket dismissed by many, and turn loose one of the fastest horses we’ve seen in some time. That’s the story of Imperial Hint (Imperialism), who has belied an unfashionable pedigree to become a dual Grade I winner…and the early choice to go one better than his second in last year’s GI Breeders’ Cup Sprint. “This little horse…he’s a dream,” Pilcher said of Imperial Hint, who is owned by Raymond Mamone and trained by Luis Carvajal, Jr. “We went to the Breeders’ Cup with him last year and he ran his heart out, that little son of a gun. He’s a real tough competitor.” Yes he is. Beaten a length by eventual champion Roy H (More Than Ready) in the 2017 Sprint, Imperial Hint has bounced back with a sparkling 2018 campaign. He’s gone four for five on the year, and his last two wins—a first Grade I win in the Alfred G. Vanderbilt S. at Saratoga July 28 and a second in the Vosburgh S. at Belmont Sept. 29—were accomplished with dominant ease. Imperial Hint earned a 108 Beyer in the Vanderbilt, and he surely would have shaded 1:08 in the Vosburgh had he not been taken in hand in the final sixteenth. Imperial Hint’s recent humbling of his rivals leaves Pilcher awestruck. “Really, truly, I’m not going to lie—it freaks me out when I see it because I think, ‘How is he doing that to those kind of horses?'” Pilcher said. And to think Pilcher bred Imperial Hint almost by accident. Ocala Roots… Bert Pilcher is an Ocala hardboot if there every was one. His father was a groom at Ocala Stud and Bert grew up learning the ropes from some of Florida’s best horsemen. The Pilcher family founded Shade Tree Thoroughbreds, a small farm located 20 miles northwest of Ocala, in 1980. “We built the barns, the fences, everything, and we’ve raised horses here for that length of time,” said Pilcher. “It’s been a fun life doing something that you like, because I really enjoy horses. It’s a job, and it takes a lot of time, but there’s a lot of satisfaction in it when you get a good horse.” Pilcher thought he had a horse of a lifetime when he came up with Three Rules (Gone Astray), who in 2016 won his first five races, including three straight Florida Sire Stakes. Three Rules ran sixth in that year’s GI Breeders’ Cup Juvenile at 7-1, and last year was third in the GII Fountain of Youth S. That may not seem like a big deal in the grand scheme of things, but for a blue-collar horseman, Three Rules was a dream come true. Then came Imperial Hint. An early client of Shade Tree’s was Imperial Hint’s owner Raymond Mamone. Back in the mid-oughts, Mamone retired a third-generation homebred filly named Royal Hint (Lahint) to Shade Tree and bred from her a quartet of modest performers. Royal Hint was never an easy mare to get in foal, however, and when she didn’t produce a foal in 2011 or 2012, Mamone gave her to Shade Tree. Around the same time, Pilcher won a free season to the Langfuhr stallion Imperialism, who was standing at nearby Get Away Farm. Imperialism was a long-winded, one-paced sort of runner who finished third in the GI Kentucky Derby in 2004. But if his accomplishments weren’t all that flashy, he had one thing Pilcher was looking for as a cross for his new acquisition: the genes of his grandsire Danzig. “I had always tried to talk Mr. Mamone into breeding her to a Danzig-line horse,” said Pilcher. “Now, this sounds crazy, and don’t ask me why, but every time I would look at that mare, I would think, ‘She needs some Danzig.'” He found it in Imperialism, and the result was a beautifully shaped colt later named Imperial Hint. Beautifully shaped…but small. As Pilcher tells it, people would stop by the farm and comment on the handsome colt before shrugging their shoulders and adding, “But he’s a little guy.” “That’s been his thing his whole life,” said Pilcher. “He was the little guy. When he was a baby, he’d get in the middle of the pack and fight with the rest of them just like it didn’t bother him, his size. He don’t know he’s small. He thinks he’s one of the guys.” Imperial Hint showed some early promise as a 2-year-old, enough that Pilcher initially planned to put him into training himself, but not so much that he didn’t entertain offers. Some people came and looked. They liked the colt. Too small, ultimately, was the verdict. Even Mamone, down one day in search of young runners with his trainer, Luis Carvajal, Jr., initially wasn’t convinced, according to Pilcher. Carvajal, on the other hand, liked what he saw when Imperial Hint breezed past. “Mr. Carvajal really liked him,” said Pilcher. “He said, ‘He’s built and he’s got a good stride on him. We ought to get this horse.'” The price, later estimated to be around $25,000 by Mamone, would be a terrific bargain. To date, Imperial Hint has won 12 of 18 starts and earned $1.4 million. Selling a horse for 1/56th of his current earnings no doubt stings. But Pilcher is genuinely happy for Mamone, who recently celebrated his 85th birthday. “For Mr. Mamone to have Imperial Hint is almost…as good as me having him,” said Pilcher, laughing. “But, it’s as good as anybody I can think of in the world because he’s been a super nice guy and a super client for us for years. For him to have this horse at his age is just super for me. It’s one of those things that you just feel really good about.” And, as it turns out, Pilcher did get a warning before selling Imperial Hint. Gene Corbin, who breaks and trains for Shade Tree, told Pilcher, “Now, I want you to understand before this horse leaves your barn that this is a good horse. I mean, I think this horse can really run, and I don’t want you to be upset with me because I let you sell this horse.” Pilcher replied, “I realize that Mr. Gene. And If I’m selling a good horse, Mr. Mamone is the guy I want to sell it to. He’s been with me for over 30 years. I want him to have some fun.” Corbin had words for Carvajal, too. According to Pilcher, Corbin told the trainer, “Luis, this horse has got two problems. 1) The first time you run him you’re going to get a speeding ticket, and 2) if you don’t win with him, I’m going to take your trainer’s license!” Carvajal’s license was safe: Imperial Hint won first out at Tampa Bay in a romp. Now, Imperial Hint gets his rematch with an in-form Roy H, who is coming off a win in the GI Santa Anita Sprint Championship S. Asked if he would attend the Breeders’ Cup, Pilcher said, “Oh, yeah. I’m going. There ain’t no way, you couldn’t keep me away. I hope that he’ll do it this time. He’s really in good form. Luis has done an unbelievable job with him. I think he will.” View the full article

This year’s G2 Ribblesdale S. winner and dual Group 1 runner-up Magic Wand (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), who was a €1.4-million yearling and is a 3/4 sister to champion Chicquita (Ire) (Montjeu {Ire}), is one of 477 fillies and mares-and a few high profile offerings with Coolmore/Mayfair Speculators connections-set to be offered at the Goffs November Breeding Stock Sale on Nov. 22 and 23. The 3-year-old Magic Wand is catalogued as lot 966 through The Castlebridge Consignment, and is offered alongside the stakes-placed Hence (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) (lot 965), a 3-year-old full-sister to Alice Springs (Ire) and the filly that made €2-million at this year’s Goffs Orby sale. Hence was herself a 2.1-million gns yearling and, like Magic Wand, signed for by MV Magnier and Mayfair Speculators. Hazariya (Ire) (Xaar {GB}), the 16-year-old dam of dual Derby winner Harzand (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) and three other stakes winners, was bought by MV Magnier and Mayfair Speculators at this sale two years ago just months after her best son’s Classic victories, and she is offered again as lot 963. Castlebridge also offers South African champion 2-year-old filly Cloth of Cloud (SAf) (Captain Al {SAf}) carrying her first foal, by Galileo (Ire) (lot 964). Cloth Of Cloud was raced by Mrs Paul Shanahan and Markus Jooste. The Aga Khan Studs sold Hazariya for €480,000 at this sale in 2014, and that ever-popular draft this year includes the likes of Simawa (Ire) (Anabaa) (lot 977), a stakes-placed half-sister to Sinndar (Ire) in foal to Gleneagles (Ire). Another typically popular consignment, that of Jim Bolger’s Redmondstown Stud, this year includes numerous stakes producers, like Something Graceful (GB) (Galileo {Ire}) (lot 992), the dam of this year’s listed winner and Group 3-placed Sometimesadiamond (Ire) (Vocalised). Something Graceful is in foal to Dawn Approach (Ire). “We are delighted to have such outstanding mares among this year’s catalogue, which will follow three days of world-class foals,” said Goffs Group Chief Executive Henry Beeby. “The Goffs November Breeding Stock Sale is renowned as a source of Group 1 producers and the international success of its graduates year- after-year is a great advertisement for Irish bloodstock and for Goffs.” View the full article

Trainer John Sadler may not have had a great look at his Breeders' Cup Classic (G1) favorite Oct. 27 at Santa Anita Park, but he saw enough. View the full article

RaceBets Bet Of The Day: 13:50 Aintree Beat That won his first two this season before coming up short at Chepstow a couple of weeks back when fourth behind the re-opposing Exitas. The result doesn’t tell the full story as he was just making his way into contention when almost unseating his rider five from home and he benefits from a 7lbs swing in the weights for today’s race so should be able to reverse the form with Exitas and get back to winning ways. Buywise represents an in-form stable but may prefer more cut in the ground while Double Ross is yet to make his presence felt in six prior runs at the course so the danger could come from Ballybroker Breeze who won over course and distance in the summer and has a decent record when fresh. Beat That (WIN) Aintree 12:40 – Aye Aye Charlie (WIN) 13:15 – Settimo (WIN) 13:50 – Beat That (WIN)* 14:25 – Haul Away (WIN) 15:00 – Cloudy Dream (WIN) 16:35– Polydora (E/W) 17:10 – Legends Gold (WIN) Wincanton 13:00 – Arty Campbell (WIN) 13:35 – Pontresina (WIN) 14:10 – Darling Maltaix (WIN) 14:45 – Mighty Leader (WIN) 15:20 – Rhythm Is A Dancer (WIN) 15:55– Cheeky Rascal (WIN) 16:30 – Magical Thomas (WIN) Galway 12:35 – Getaway Katie Mai (WIN) 13:05 – Blow By Blow (WIN) 13:40 – Surf Instructor (WIN) 14:15 – Se Mo Laoch (WIN) 14:50 – Dorrells Pierji (WIN) 15:25 – Auvergnat (WIN) 16:00 – Jaime Sommers (E/W) 16:35 – Cotton End (WIN) Wexford 12:20 – Barwell (WIN) 12:50 – Chambord Du Lys (WIN) 13:25 – Reaver (WIN) 14:00 – Eight And Bob (WIN) 14:35 – Lady Of The Sea (E/W) 15:10 – Celebrity Status (WIN) 15:45 – Conduct Yourself (E/W) 16:20 – Miss Chevious Girl (WIN) The post Picks From The Paddock Best bet 28th October appeared first on RaceBets Blog EN. View the full article

Bearing the mantle of leadership from Ballydoyle’s legions for Saturday’s G1 Vertem Futurity Trophy S., Smith, Magnier, Tabor and Flaxman Stables’ Magna Grecia (Ire) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}) had to go from boy to man in less than two minutes and roll up his sleeves to prevail in Doncaster’s straight-mile test of juvenile staying power. Second to TDN Rising Star Persian King (Ire) (Kingman {GB}) in Newmarket’s G3 Autumn S. over this mile trip Oct. 13, the 2-1 favourite raced in fifth early under Donnacha O’Brien with the stable setting a fierce pace with Western Australia (Ire) (Australia {GB}) towing Circus Maximus (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}). Needing niggling along and looking for a spell to be in trouble off that demanding tempo, the imposing bay entered contention inside the final quarter mile and there were five in line with little between them approaching the half-furlong marker. They included all three from Ballydoyle and the G3 Acomb S. winner and G2 Champagne S. runner-up Phoenix of Spain (Ire) (Lope De Vega {Ire}), as well as the Listed Ascendant S. scorer Great Scot (GB) (Requinto {Ire}), but it was Magna Grecia who had the strongest final input to beat Phoenix of Spain by a head. Western Australia stuck on to be 3/4 of a length away in third, despite having raced on the edge throughout, with Circus Maximus and Great Scot just a short head and a neck further behind. The winner, who provided a ninth renewal for Aidan O’Brien, had to survive a stewards’ inquiry as he caused interference to the runner-up late on. “He’s still a little bit green and babyish, but he’s coming forward lovely and would have learnt a lot today,” Aidan said. “He had to fight to the line and is a lovely horse who is a miler. That’s what we think–that will be his thing and he might not get a lot further.” MAGNA GRECIA (IRE), c, 2, Invincible Spirit (Ire)–Cabaret (Ire) (GSW-Ire), by Galileo (Ire). (340,000gns Wlg ’16 TATFOA). O-Derrick Smith, Susan Magnier, Michael Tabor & Flaxman Stables (Ireland) Ltd; B-Wood Nook Farm Pty Ltd (IRE); T-Aidan O’Brien. Video, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton. View the full article

It has been a long time since Marcus Tregoning has enjoyed success in a prestige race with a Shadwell representative, but Mohaather (GB) (Showcasing {GB}) ended the wait as he registered a 33-1 upset in Saturday’s G3 Horris Hill S. at Newbury. Largely ignored coming off a narrow success in a six-furlong novice contest at Nottingham Oct. 10, the relative of this year’s G1 Queen Anne S. hero Accidental Agent (GB) (Delegator {GB}) was tucked in behind all rivals from his outside draw by Martin Dwyer as Azano (GB) (Oasis Dream {GB}) set out his stall in front. Creeping closer from halfway, the bay reeled in the long-time leader with 150 yards remaining and was pushed out to record an ultimately comfortable 1 1/2-length success, with five lengths back to Almufti (GB) (Toronado {Ire}) in third. Saturday, Newbury, Britain MOLSON COORS S. (HORRIS HILL S.)-G3, £40,000, Newbury, 10-27, 2yo, c/g, 7fT, 1:27.56, g/s. 1–MOHAATHER (GB), 126, c, 2, by Showcasing (GB) 1st Dam: Roodeye (GB) (SP-Eng), by Inchinor (GB) 2nd Dam: Roo (GB), by Rudimentary 3rd Dam: Shall We Run (GB), by Hotfoot (GB) 1ST BLACK-TYPE WIN; 1ST GROUP WIN. (110,000gns Ylg ’17 TAOCT). O-Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum; B-Mrs R F Johnson Houghton (GB); T-Marcus Tregoning; J-Martin Dwyer. £22,684. Lifetime Record: 3-2-1-0, $36,753. *Full to Prize Exhibit, MGSW & GISP-US, GSP-Eng, $697,375. Werk Nick Rating: A+++ *Triple Plus*. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree. 2–Azano (GB), 126, c, 2, Oasis Dream (GB)–Azanara (Ire), by Hurricane Run (Ire). O-M J & L A Taylor; B-Elysian Bloodstock Ltd (GB); T-John Gosden. £8,600. 3–Almufti (GB), 126, c, 2, Toronado (Ire)–Green Tern (Ity), by Miswaki Tern. (62,000gns Wlg ’16 TATFOA; 120,000gns Ylg ’17 TATOCT). O-Al Shaqab Racing; B-Brookside Stud & Highclere Stud (GB); T-Hugo Palmer. £4,304. Margins: 1HF, 5, NK. Odds: 33.00, 7.00, 9.00. Also Ran: Fanaar (Ire), Dirty Rascal (Ire), Chairmanoftheboard (Ire), Athmad (Ire), You Never Can Tell (Ire). Scratched: Cool Reflection (Ire), House of Kings (Ire), Victory Command (Ire). Click for the Racing Post result or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. Video, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton. View the full article

Following up a two-length Aug. 26 debut score at the provincial venue Evreux Aug. 26, Wonderment (Ire) (Camelot {GB}) hit the board in Chantilly’s Oct. 1 G3 Prix de Conde in her only other start and swooped late to secure a career best in Saturday’s G1 Criterium de Saint-Cloud. Steadied in rear until turning for home, the 13-1 chance made headway under pressure in the straight to go fourth entering the final furlong and kept on strongly under an animated Stephane Pasquier to deny Sydney Opera House (GB) (Australia {GB} and Fox Tal (GB) (Sea the Stars {Ire}) by a neck and 3/4-of-a-length, respectively, in the dying strides. “She’s been a progressive filly, who won well first time out, but it was impossible to make up ground from behind in a slowly run Prix de Conde last time,” explained trainer Nicolas Clement after securing his first renewal of the 10-furlong contest. “It was a completely different affair today as there was a good pace up front, which was favourable for the late closers, and she benefitted from a very good ride by Stephane Pasquier. She was a good buy at Deauville for an American client and I hope this is the beginning of a fairytale story. We hope it continues next year after she enjoys a good winter.” Saturday, Saint-Cloud, France CRITERIUM DE SAINT-CLOUD-G1, €250,000, Saint-Cloud, 10-27, 2yo, c/f, 10fT, 2:10.91, gd. 1–WONDERMENT (IRE), 122, f, 2, by Camelot (GB) 1st Dam: Wiwilia (GB), by Konigstiger (Ger) 2nd Dam: Wurfspiel (Ger), by Lomitas (GB) 3rd Dam: Wurfbahn (Ger), by Frontal (Fr) 1ST BLACK-TYPE WIN; 1ST GROUP WIN; 1ST GROUP 1 WIN. (€60,000 Ylg ’17 AROCT). O-Mme Stella Thayer; B-Manfred Wurtenberger & Reinhard Stockli (IRE); T-Nicolas Clement; J-Stephane Pasquier. €142,850. Lifetime Record: 3-2-0-1, €161,850. Werk Nick Rating: A+. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree. 2–Sydney Opera House (GB), 126, c, 2, Australia (GB)–Sitara (GB), by Salse. (165,000gns Wlg ’16 TATFOA; 525,000gns Ylg ’17 TATOCT). O-Susan Magnier, Michael Tabor & Derrick Smith; B-The Pocock Family (GB); T-Aidan O’Brien. €57,150. 3–Fox Tal (GB), 126, c, 2, Sea the Stars (Ire)–Maskunah (Ire), by Sadler’s Wells. (475,000gns Ylg ’17 TATOCT). O-King Power Racing Company Ltd; B-Rabbah Bloodstock Ltd (GB); T-Andrew Balding. €28,575. Margins: NK, 3/4, 3. Odds: 12.90, 8.50, 33.00. Also Ran: Norway (Ire), Alabaa (GB), Shoot For Gold (GB), Shambolic (Ire), Anecdotic, El Ingrato (Fr). Scratched: Nate the Great (GB). Click for the Racing Post result or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. Video, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton. View the full article