Wandering Eyes

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

The New York Racing Association (NYRA) canceled its Oct 27 Belmont Park card because of dangerously high winds associated with a strong coastal storm forecast to impact Long Island and the New York metropolitan area throughout the day. View the full article

JUST what is left for wonder mare Winx to conquer? View the full article

Joao Moreira is set for a tilt at arguably Japan’s most prestigious race, with the Magic Man partnering Sungrazer in the Group One Tenno Sho Autumn (2,000m) at Tokyo Racecourse on Sunday. The Brazilian, who is in the process of finalising his return to Hong Kong to ride as John Size’s stable jockey, has been in scintillating form since moving to Japan in July, riding over 50 winners at a strike rate of close to 40 per cent. He has a live chance in Sungrazer, who is firmly in the... View the full article

The Group 1 Prix Royal Oak is the feature race at Chantilly on Sunday where nine runners will do battle. The standout performer in the field is the Aidan O’Brien trained Flag Of Honour who has already won a Group 1 this season when taking the Irish St Leger. The supremely bred son of Galileo has shown marked improvement since being stepped up in distance and ran respectably when finishing fourth behind top stayer Stradivarius in the Long Distance Cup at Ascot on Champions Day. British raider Brundtland may prove the biggest threat to Aidan O’Brien’s stayer, who is a bit of an unknown quantity having only run four times. Charlie Appleby’s colt has won on each of these occasions and has progressed quickly through the grades, with his last two victories being in Group 2 events at Longchamp. Brundtland claimed a notable scalp when beating Hunting Horn in the first of these Group Two’s victories. Given how he stayed on when last seen in action, the 1 Mile 7 furlongs trip of the Prix Royal Oak looks sure to suit and a first Group 1 may lie in wait for this exciting stayer. Holdthasigreen has form figures of 1122 on his last four starts which highlights how consistent the son of Hold That Tiger has been this season. The final run came over the extreme 2 Mile 4-furlong distance in the Group 1 Prix Du Cardan at Longchamp behind Call The Wind. A reproduction of this run would give him a live chance but I feel others may hold better chances. Max Dynamite was well behind Holdthasigreen in the Prix Du Cardan but prior to that, he emerged on the wrong side of a thriller with his stablemate Thomas Hobson in the Doncaster Cup. Again you’d like to think there are more progressive horses in the race but he does have an outside chance given his obvious class. The final member of the raiding party is the Andrew Balding-trained Horseplay, who has only been out of the first two once this season and that came in a strong looking renewal of the Group 1 Yorkshire Oaks. She won the Group 2 Lancashire Oaks earlier in the season and was last seen losing out to God Given by a neck in the Park Hill Stakes. This is strong looking form but I think she will struggle now taking on the opposite sex for the first time. Selection: Brundtland The post Prix Royal Oak Preview appeared first on RaceBets Blog EN. View the full article

Here are today’s picks from the experts. 16:05 Doncaster – Vertem Futurity Trophy Stakes With 4 of the last 9 running’s of this illustrious race the prize has gone to an Aidan O’Brien runner and with 2018’s renewal it looks difficult to see past a similar result this time around. Red-hot favourite Magna Grecia deserves his spot at the head of the market after his close 2nd at Newmarket last time out. He showed a tonne of class to finish so close to the French-trained Persian King. This year’s race doesn’t look as stellar as previous runnings but I guess only time will tell. That being said however as John Gosden’s Turgenev certainly ticks all the right boxes. With two wins from three outings he’s certainly improving from race to race and a second in his only defeat behind a subsequent Group 1 winner is far from a black mark to his name and looks the most likely to cause an upset to our selection. A close second behind Too Darn Hot shows that Phoenix Of Spain has a touch of class and deserves his spot in this lineup. Trainer Charlie Hills loves a winner at Doncaster and although I couldn’t see the horse finishing with his head in front is certainly capable of grabbing place money. Of the remaining eight runners the unbeaten Raakib Alhawa and King Ottokar could be anything and would need a huge step up to put their rivals to the sword but despite them having a tonne of questions to answer for those punters looking for each way value they may be worth small stakes. The final Group 1 race of the UK season and the action over at Cheltenham signals the changing of the guard as the National Hunt action takes over and we can sign off in style with yet another Ballydoyle success. MAGNA GRECIA (WIN) – NAP Cheltenham: 14:00 – Braqueur D’Or (E/W) – ITV 14:35 – Gumball (WIN) – ITV 15:10 – Modus (WIN) – ITV 15:45 – Notwhatiam (WIN) – ITV 16:20 – Dinons (WIN) 16:55 – Monbeg Legend (WIN) 17:30 – Northern Bound (E/W) Doncaster: 13:45 – Breath Of Air (WIN) – ITV 14:15 – Beat Le Bon (WIN) 14:55 – Sepal (E/W) 15:25 – Holmeswood (E/W) – ITV 16:05 – Magna Grecia (WIN) – ITV * 16:35 – Squats (E/W) 17:10 – Dubai Acclaim (E/W) Galway: 13:35 – Good Luck Hope (E/W) 14:05 – Whisperinthebreeze (WIN) 14:40 – Mrs Lovett (WIN) 15:15 – Rolling Revenge (WIN) 15:50 – Royal Rondezvous (WIN) 16:25 – Chatham Street Lad (E/W) 17:00 – Show And Go (E/W) 17:35 – Gateway To Europe (WIN) Kelso: 13:50 – Goldencard (WIN) 14:25 – Bocasien Desbois (WIN) 15:00 – Lofgren (WIN) 15:35 – Icefall (E/W) 16:10 – Vengeur De Guye (WIN) 16:40 – Something Brewing (WIN) 17:15 – Captain Mowbray (WIN) Kempton: 17:45 – Magic Pulse (WIN) 18:15 – Intricate (WIN) 18:45 – Temujin (E/W) 19:15 – Lolanta (WIN) 19:45 – Courtside (E/W) 20:15 – Tashaaboh (WIN) 20:45 – Archimento (WIN) Leopardstown: 13:25 – Happen (WIN) 13:55 – The Corporal (WIN) 14:30 – Sunblessed (WIN) 15:05 – Imaging (WIN) 15:40 – Fit For Function (E/W) 16:15 – Masaff (WIN) 16:50 – Causey Arch (E/W) 17:20 – Song Of Namibia (E/W) Newbury: 13:10 – King Power (WIN) 13:40 – Luxor (WIN) 14:20 – Young Rascal (WIN) – ITV 14:50 – House Of Kings (E/W) – ITV 15:20 – Say Nothing (E/W) 15:55 – Zofelle (E/W) 16:30 – Dukhan (E/W) 17:05 – Collodi (WIN) The post Picks From The Paddock Best bet 27th October appeared first on RaceBets Blog EN. View the full article

Jockey Umberto Rispoli is out for redemption at Happy Valley on Sunday after he was beaten by the shortest possible margin last time out on Cheerfuljet. The Italian jockey was livid following the defeat by Saul’s Special two weeks ago after his horse was in front before and after the finishing post, but was beaten on the line in a head-bobbing finish. Rispoli, who is stalled on two wins for the season, looks to have his strongest book of rides for the term at Happy Valley on Sunday with... View the full article

THE connections of Winx have had the last laugh on English racing commentator Matt Chapman after he sledged the mighty mare during the build-up to the Cox Plate. View the full article

The mighty mare Winx created more history at Moonee Valley on Saturday afternoon, winning her fourth consecutive Cox Plate in dominant fashion. It was the Chris Waller-trained seven-year-old’s 29th win on the trot and her 22nd win at Group One level, seeing her leave three-time Cox Plate winner Kingston Town in her wake. The result further confirms Winx will go down as one of the greatest racehorses to ever grace the turf and jockey Hugh Bowman perfectly summed up the feeling at the track... View the full article

YOU could feel it through the TV screen. View the full article

SHE’S done it. View the full article

Karis Teetan is in career-best form as he heads into a week of Hong Kong racing as the number one jockey, with Zac Purton suspended for two meetings. The Mauritian, who is into his sixth season in Hong Kong, admits he made a lot of mistakes early in his time here but has finally found what works for him after watching a number of different jockeys over his time. Teetan has a chance to go atop of the jockeys premiership over the next two meetings, currently sitting just three wins off Purton in... View the full article

Tim Clark booked on Mr Clint in Gold Cup View the full article

Powell, Azhar, AK Lim, CC Wong, Zawari suspended View the full article

Already a dual grade 3 winner this year, Zilli Racing Stables' Code Warrior is among a dozen distaffers set to contest the $125,000 Ontario Fashion Stakes (G3) Oct. 28 at Woodbine. View the full article