Wandering Eyes

Calumet Farm's True Timber will return to stakes competition off back-to-back wins in optional-claiming allowance races when he competes against five others in the $200,000 Bold Ruler Handicap (G3) for 3-year-olds and older Oct. 27 at Belmont Park. View the full article

LEXINGTON, KY – The Fasig-Tipton October Fall Yearlings Sale continued to churn out steady results through its third session in Lexington Wednesday, with a filly by Uncle Mo bringing top price of $350,000 when selling to bloodstock agent Mike Ryan on behalf of Bob Edwards’s e Five Racing. During Wednesday’s session, 244 head sold for $7,990,900. The session average was $32,750 and the median was $12,000. Through three sessions, 723 yearlings have sold for $24,575,900. The cumulative average of $33,992 dipped 3.7% from the same point a year ago, while the median is up 25% at $15,000. The buy-back rate is 22.9%. Through three sessions in 2017, 728 yearlings had grossed $25,698,500. The average was $35,300 and the median was $12,000. The cumulative buy-back rate was 24.2%. “Day three of the October Yearling Sale here at Fasig-Tipton was very similar to the marketplace we’ve seen during the first two days,” said Fasig-Tipton President Boyd Browning, Jr. “There were pretty consistent results, with the average in the $33,000 to $35,000 range for each of the three days. The median was a little bit lower today, but still consistent and, overall for the first three days, it is slightly higher than last year. The buy-back rate is in an acceptable range. I think we’ve seen the market is pretty consistent and similar to what it was last year. There was solid and fair trade and most of the horses are getting sold at reasonable levels. So we are fairly pleased overall.” Wednesday’s session-topping daughter of Uncle Mo was the first purchase of the October sale for Ryan, who continued to see steady demand for quality offerings even as the yearling sales season winds down. “For the good ones, it’s good,” Ryan said of the market. “It’s the same old story. We’re in oversupply. We have more horses than we have end-users and a lot of people have bought already. But they are selling pretty well here. The good ones have sold very well. There is still a demand for the right horse. It’s the same old story. If you’ve got what they want, you’ll get paid.” The final session of the October sale begins Thursday morning at 10 a.m. Uncle Mo Filly to E Five Bob Edwards’s e Five Racing, which just announced the retirement of its Breeders’ Cup-winning filly New Money Honey (Medaglia d’Oro), looked ahead to the next generation with the purchase of an Uncle Mo filly for $350,000 at Fasig-Tipton Wednesday. Bloodstock agent Mike Ryan made the winning bid on hip 933 from the Romans Racing & Sales consignment. Bob Edwards’s e Five Racing, which just announced the retirement of its Breeders’ Cup-winning filly New Money Honey (Medaglia d’Oro), looked ahead to the next generation with the purchase of an Uncle Mo filly for $350,000 at Fasig-Tipton Wednesday. Bloodstock agent Mike Ryan made the winning bid on hip 933 from the Romans Racing & Sales consignment. Ryan compared the yearling to another offspring of Coolmore’s Uncle Mo in GI Kentucky Derby winner Nyquist, whom he had purchased for $230,000 as a yearling at the 2014 Keeneland September sale. “She looked like a female Nyquist,” Ryan said. “She’s tall and elegant with a beautiful long neck and shoulder. The first time I saw her, I wrote Nyquist on the page. She’ll go to Stonestreet and hopefully we’ll see her on NBC a year from now.” The yearling is out of Miss Luann (Unbridled’s Song) and is a half-sister to G3 UAE Oaks winner Nomorerichblondes (Hard Spun) and to stakes winner Sharp Kitty (Kitten’s Joy). Dale Romans purchased Miss Luann for $375,000 on behalf of Marc Holliday’s Blue Devil Racing at the 2007 Fasig-Tipton Saratoga sale and was selling the Uncle Mo for Holliday Wednesday. “We thought she would sell well,” Romans said. “She’s a very nice filly out of a good mare. You just don’t know when you go out to the market. I’m happy with what we got for her. And she’s going to a good home. That’s the best thing. It will help the mare. Teresa [Little] and the team did a great job getting her ready. She looked good.” The filly was the only horse in the Romans Racing & Sales consignment. “It’s a little pressure,” Romans said of the one-horse consignment. “But the way we do this, we do it for fun. If we make money, we’ll sell them. If not, we’ll take them to the races. I try not to bring a horse over here that I wouldn’t race.” Bodemeister Colt Returning to Canada An Ontario-bred colt by Bodemeister will be returning to Canada after being purchased for $300,000 by trainer Catherine Day-Phillips Wednesday at Fasig-Tipton. The yearling is a half-brother to Canadian champion and Queen’s Plate winner Wonder Gadot (Medaglia d’Oro). He was bred and consigned by Anderson Farms. “He is a lovely colt, he’s well-balanced,” Day-Phillips said of hip 859. “I saw him as a foal and really liked him. He has a great hip on him and he is an athletic horse. He comes from a great family. I’m really looking forward to having him in the barn.” Day-Phillips, who purchased the youngster on behalf of a partnership, admitted she missed out on the opportunity to purchase the colt’s illustrious older sister. “Wonder Gadot is tremendous,” Day-Phillips said. “We missed her. We watched her sell. We didn’t want him to leave the country, too.” David Anderson’s Anderson Farms purchased Loving Vindication (Vindication) as 6-year-old for $180,000 at the 2011 Keeneland January sale. Her first foal was stakes winner and graded stakes placed Solemn Tribute (Medaglia d’Oro). Wonder Gadot, who was an $80,000 Keeneland September yearling, sold for $325,000 at last year’s OBS April sale. In addition to the Queen’s Plate, the sophomore filly was also second to Monomoy Girl (Tapizar) in the GI Kentucky Oaks. She was named Canada’s champion 2-year-old in 2017. “He was a tremendous-bodied colt who looks like he’s got a lot of speed,” Anderson said of the yearling. “We pointed him towards this sale because we felt a little bit of extra time would do him some good. He is a May foal and he’s still a big baby. Obviously, the mare has been a 100% producer and Wonder Gadot needs no explanation. We are thrilled he is going to a great home and he’ll be going back to Canada.” Loving Vindication’s 2-year-old filly by Hard Spun sold for $400,000 at last year’s Keeneland September sale and the mare produced a filly by Nyquist this year. She was bred back to Curlin. Goldencents Colt Shocks Roberts Oklahoma horseman Rusty Roberts readily admitted he was shocked when the Goldencents yearling (hip 974) he bred sold for $265,000 to SBM, agent during Wednesday’s third session of the Fasig-Tipton October sale. “The stars were aligned and we are beyond thrilled with the result,” Roberts said after watching the colt go through the ring at Newtown Paddocks. “If I sell a horse for $50,000, I think I’ve had a really good sale. Every few years, we get a six-figure horse, but it’s not very often.” He added, “I am a middle market, meat and potatoes kind of guy. I don’t pay very high stud fees; $15,000-$20,000 is a large stud fee for me. To get a good mare, I usually have to buy a mare with a little age on her and maybe get lucky every now and again and get a mare that is carrying a foal who is by a reputable sire.” Roberts purchased the then-15-year-old mare Ms North Carolina (Honour and Glory), in foal to Eskendereya, for $15,000 at the 2014 Keeneland November sale. The mare had already produced graded stakes winner Off Duty (Yes It’s True) and she was about to be represented by the promising Shaken Not Stirred (Eskendereya). “She is gorgeous and she had produced a graded stakes winner of almost a half-million dollars,” Roberts said of Ms North Carolina’s appeal. “And then Shaken Not Stirred came along and he broke his maiden so impressively. It looked like he was going to be a major stakes horse, but he got injured and unfortunately only had three races. But the mare has the potential to throw any of kind of a racehorse.” Of the mare’s 2014 price tag, Roberts admitted, “Absolutely, I was surprised to get her for that. I thought maybe somebody had made a mistake and left a zero off. But I find mares like that at almost every sale. Last year, I bought two graded stakes mares off of Claiborne, one in foal to Lea and one in foal to First Samurai and they were both $10,000 or $15,000 mares.” Hip 974 was consigned to Wednesday’s sale by Bill Murphy, who partnered with Roberts on the foal. “The mare was open, she had missed the year before, and Billy had a season himself to Goldencents,” Roberts said. “I just said, ‘Look, this mare is open, let’s partner on one.’ So Billy actually took the mare and bred her.” Ms North Carolina has a weanling by Mshawish who will go through the sales ring at the Keeneland November sales ring as hip 2169 and she was bred back to American Lion last spring. Roberts splits his broodmare band between Kentucky and Oklahoma. “I have about 15 mares right now,” he said. “I keep about 10 in Oklahoma and five here in Kentucky with Ralph Kinder at Alliance Bloodstock. He boards my mares out here and helps me with my yearlings and my matings and weanlings and things. Every horse I breed is with the intention of keeping and running, but I also have an option, if we get a fair price, to sell. If I don’t, I keep to race.” Doctors Seize the Day at Fasig-Tipton A group of New York medical doctors added a filly from the first crop of Grade I winner Carpe Diem to its fledgling racing stable when trainer Wesley Ward, bidding alongside bloodstock agent Ben McElroy, purchased hip 813 for $230,000 Wednesday at Fasig-Tipton. The yearling was consigned by Denali Stud on behalf of Stonestreet Thoroughbred Holdings. “She is a beautiful filly,” Ward said. “Ben McElroy took me over to see her. She’s a beautiful physical individual, so hopefully she can run as fast as she looks.” Hip 813 is out of Le Relais (Coronado’s Quest) and is a half-sister to multiple graded stakes winner Soldat (War Front). Stonestreet purchased the mare for $800,000 at the 2011 Keeneland November sale. “She was raised fantastically at Stonestreet by Robert Turner, who does a great job for Barbara [Banke],” Ward said of the yearling. “I’ve been really lucky with Barbara and the ones she raises, so hopefully the luck continues.” Ward trained multiple Group 1 winner Lady Aurelia (Scat Daddy), who was bred and co-owned by Banke’s Stonestreet Stables, and the conditioner said the operation may also be a part of this new acquisition. “She is for a group of doctors over in New York who bought into a purchase I had at Keeneland,” Ward said of his new clients. “I am going to try to get [Stonestreet’s] Lesley Howard and we’d hopefully have Barbara stay in as well, but if she doesn’t, we understand as well. They are brand new owners, fantastic people.” Affe A New Face at Fasig There’s a new face at Fasig-Tipton’s October Sales this year; successful Italian trainer Agostino Affe is making his first visit to Lexington to bring back horses to join his 35-strong string at Rome’s Capannelle Racecourse. Affe, who has bought six to eight horses per year in recent years at OBS to take home to Italy, is attending this year’s Fasig-Tipton sale with Florida-based bloodstock agent Paolo Romanelli. “I came to this sale for a new experience,” said Affe, who has so far picked up just one yearling, hip 706, a Data Link colt from the Denali Sales consignment on Tuesday. “This is my first time in Kentucky,” said Affe. “I’m looking for something a little different pedigree-wise to bring back to Rome. I like the quality of the horses here, and the prices are good. Some of the prices are too high for my budget, but I came here with the intention of buying three horses for around $20,000 each.” Affe said he’s looking for early, precocious types who could win early in the season in Rome. “I’m looking for a good athlete, not really tall or big, a medium-sized, robust horse to run soon, in May,” said the 41-year-old Sicilian native, who was one of the leading trainers in Italy last year. Affe said that about 80% of the American horses he had imported had gone on to be winners. “He is an up-and-coming trainer who has a very good eye for not-so-obvious yearlings that don’t cost a lot of money who go on to become good horses,” said Romanelli. View the full article

Dragon expects Nimble to find his feet quickly View the full article

Gray hires top guns for Gold Cup trio View the full article

Thruster's first big-race test is now Saas Fee View the full article

HK on radar for Zac, but Barker test first View the full article

Teetan, Williams to ride at Dester Singapore Gold Cup meeting View the full article

SHE’S a living treasure, a sporting legend, the best thing since sliced bread and Black Caviar, and up there with our national pastime of “Flick the Prime Minister” as the most famous thing about Australia just now. View the full article

Should all the preferences hold as expected among the 19 runners pre-entered in the Breeders' Cup Classic (G1), Collected—who ran second to eventual Horse of the Year Gun Runner in last year's edition of the test—would be excluded. View the full article

Funtastic (More Than Ready–Quiet Dance, by Quiet American), who became his sire’s first American Grade I-winning turf horse when wiring the field in this year’s GI United Nations S. at Monmouth Park, will enter stud at Three Chimneys for the 2019 breeding season. He will stand for a fee of $7,500 LFSN. One of 190 worldwide stakes winners and one of 23 top-level winners for his wildly successful dual-hemisphere stallion, Funtastic raced in the colors of Three Chimneys, winning four of his 11 trips to the post while earning $410,711. Funtastic is a son of SW & GSP Quiet Dance, the dam of Horse of the Year Saint Liam (Saint Ballado) and GSW Quiet Giant (Giant’s Causeway), whose son Gun Runner (Candy Ride {Arg}) was named 2017 Horse of the Year following a sensational all-the-way victory in the GI Breeders’ Cup Classic at Del Mar last November. The further female family includes More Than Ready’s Grade I winner Buster’s Ready and GI/G1 winners Rolling Fog (Posse) and Minstrella (The Minstrel). “Ned Evans was an artist at breeding Grade I winners and developing female families,” said Chris Baker, Three Chimneys’ chief operating officer and former farm manager at Evans’s Virginia-based Spring Hill Farm. “This family was his masterpiece. Funtastic will get our full support as Three Chimneys looks to extend this legacy through his offspring. We encourage breeders to come see him.” Board Member Doug Cauthen added, “Funtastic is bred very similarly to Saint Liam (by Saint Ballado by Halo), being by More Than Ready (by Southern Halo, by Halo). When you look at him physically, he looks more like a sprinter/miler than a horse that can get a classic distance. When a breeder looks at the complete picture before them, I believe they will see good value in a horse like him at $7,500.” View the full article

Juddmonte Farms' Hofburg and West Coast invader Prime Attraction headline a field of seven entered for the $200,000 Hagyard Fayette Stakes (G2) Oct. 27, the closing-day feature of Keeneland's 17-day Fall Meet. View the full article

Should all the preferences hold as expected among the 19 runners pre-entered in the Breeders' Cup Classic (G1), Collected—who ran second to eventual Horse of the Year Gun Runner in last year's edition of the test—would be excluded. View the full article

J.V. Shields, Jr. died peacefully in his sleep Oct. 10 in Thomasville, GA, at the age of 80 with his wife of 30 years, Maury, at his side. Shields had a Wall Street career spanning 56 years and with his brother, David, founded Shields & Company in 1982, which merged into Wellington Shields & Co. in 2009. He also served as Trustee of the Boys Club of New York (1990-2018), Director and Vice Chairman of the New York Racing Association (1993-2008), Breeders’ Cup Director (2001-2008), Trustee of the Grayson-Jockey Club Research Foundation and Trustee of the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame. He was a founding member of the National Thoroughbred Racing Association and a member of The Jockey Club. Shields always had a passion for horses. He played polo as a teenager in Long Island, started the first polo team as an undergraduate of Georgetown University and continued to play at Meadowbrook in Long Island, where he met competitive and formidable player H. Allen Jerkens. In 1982, when his polo days concluded, Shields turned his interest to breeding and racing Thoroughbreds, primarily using his old friend, Allen Jerkens, and later his son, Jimmy Jerkens to train for him. In his 36-year racing career, he produced 14 stakes winners, but the one that continued to give him the greatest thrill was his homebred, Wagon Limit, who beat Skip Away to win the Jockey Club Gold Cup in 1998. He loved walking the backstretch scratching noses and always seemed to have a pocket full of carrots. Shields is survived by his beloved wife, Maury, his brother and business partner of 36 years, David, his sister, Helen Guest, as well as 12 nieces and nephews, and nine greatnieces and nephews. Memorials may be made to The Community Foundation of South Georgia Disaster Relief Fund. You may donate by mailing a check to Community Foundation of South Georgia, P.O. Box 2654, Thomasville, GA 31799 or make a donation online at https://www.cfsga.net/donations.htm. View the full article

Before the Hammer is a series presented by Keeneland that spotlights consignors, their stories of success and their featured offerings at the upcoming Keeneland November Breeding Stock Sale. (Nov. 5-16) If presenting a diverse, well-rounded consignment is the name of the game at the upcoming Keeneland November Sale, the folks at Hunter Valley Farm will surely lead their offerings to the ring with the greatest of confidence during the 12-session auction. Hunter Valley, managed by Irish natives Fergus Galvin and Adrian Regan, has a total of 112 horses catalogued throughout the sale, highlighted by a 10-horse Book 1 consignment to be offered Monday, Nov. 5. Scanning through the Hunter Valley consignment, Galvin said he is looking forward to bringing a wide range of prospects through the ring, perhaps none more intriguing than Inventive (Dixie Union) (Hip 96) and her Medaglia d’Oro colt (Hip 95). Inventive, who Hunter Valley secured for $800,000 with Hip 95 in utero at last year’s November Sale, will be offered in foal to standout Lane’s End stallion Quality Road, meaning she is carrying a full-sibling to 2016 GI Del Mar Futurity winner Klimt. The mare is also responsible for graded stakes-placed performer West Coast Chick (Malibu Moon). “Inventive and her Medaglia d’Oro weanling are a very exciting package to offer,” Galvin said. “Obviously, the mare is back in foal, carrying a full-sibling to Klimt, who seems to be very popular in his first year at stud at Darby Dan. And she’s thrown a beautiful colt by ‘Medaglia’ as well, so we’re very excited to put them through.” Galvin did not hesitate when asked what qualities distinguish the Medaglia d’Oro colt as a potential standout. “He’s a very good physical–well-balanced and a great mover,” Galvin said. “He ought to be at the top of most people’s lists at the sale, I would imagine.” Inventive is not Hunter Valley’s only broodmare offered in foal to Quality Road in Book 1. Stakes winner Beauly (GB) (Sea The Stars {Ire}), who finished a close fourth in the 2017 GI Flower Bowl Invitational S., is in foal to the leading fifth-crop sire and will enter the ring as Hip 20. “She was quite a good race filly,” Galvin said of Beauly. “It doesn’t all show on her catalogue page, but she was fourth–only beaten a nose for third–in the Flower Bowl. And she was fourth in two other graded stakes. So she was quite a good racemare, and her pedigree and race record should appeal to quite a few people from different countries, I presume.” Multiple graded stakes-placed distaffer Jemima’s Pearl (Distorted Humor) (Hip 99) and her American Pharoah filly (Hip 98) add more fire power to the Hunter Valley consignment. Galvin said the mare, who is in foal to 2017 Horse of the Year Gun Runner, brings obvious appeal thanks to her pedigree. “She’s a nice mare,” Galvin said. “Distorted Humor doesn’t need much introduction as a broodmare sire. She’s got a foal by American Pharoah by her side, and is in foal to a top racehorse in Gun Runner. She’s another nice package.” Likewise, Galvin did not hide his enthusiasm about the timely updates to the page of Hip 69, a weanling colt by Speightstown who is a full-brother to Qurbaan, who won the Sept. 3 GII Bernard Baruch H. and ran third in Keeneland’s GI Shadwell Turf Mile S. Oct. 6 in his first two starts since being imported from France. Their GISP dam Flip Flop (Fr) (Zieten) is also responsible for the 2-year-old colt Dull Knife (Scat Daddy), who won his debut at Deauville in August and could be poised to make further noise on American shores. “We have the Speightstown full-brother to Qurbaan,” Galvin said. “He’s a really nice colt and he’s obviously had some big updates through the year with Qurbaan, and he’s got a very promising Scat Daddy 2-year-old half-brother who just moved to Todd Pletcher’s barn from France. He’s got a very nice physical and the right updates.” Hip 25, a full-brother to 2015 GI Starlet S. winner Street Fancy from the female family of GI Kentucky Derby winner Fusaichi Pegasus, should catch the eye of plenty of buyers thanks to his physical, according to Galvin. “He’s a lovely colt,” Galvin said. “He’s correct and a good mover.” Galvin said he has a genuine sense of optimism heading into the November sale, partly due to the Breeders’ Cup World Championships luring a diverse, multinational pool of potential buyers to the Bluegrass State in early November–and largely thanks to the momentum of a record-setting September Sale. “It helps having the Breeders’ Cup in your backyard,” Galvin observed. “It’s obviously going to attract people worldwide on the heels of quite a strong September Sale. I think everybody feels pretty good about November.” View the full article

Ronnie Bastin has never directly worked in the racing industry and admits to being a lousy handicapper, but neither of those facts, he says, will stop him from becoming a “cheerleader” for the racing and breeding industries in Kentucky if he is elected mayor of Lexington. Bastin realizes that the major decisions that affect the sport are made at the state level in the halls of the capitol building, but believes the Lexington mayor’s office can influence decisions in Frankfort. He says previous mayors have not done enough for the sport or fully realized how much clout they really have when it comes to helping the industry. “We have a tremendous industry here and it’s the best place in the world to breed horses and we have to do what we can to protect that and make sure the industry thrives,” Bastin said. “We don’t want to look around one day and realize that the same thing that happened to the Standardbred industry in Kentucky back in the eighties has happened to the Thoroughbred industry. We have to realize the treasure we’ve been blessed with and do all we can to make it thrive. I’ve talked to people in the industry and they’ve relayed to me, to my surprise, that there’s never really been a mayor in Lexington that has taken an interest in the economic model of the Thoroughbred industry.” Bastin will face off against Linda Gorton. The Lexington mayoral election is non-partisan, meaning that the candidate’s political affiliations are not listed on the ballot. However, it is well known that Bastin is a Democrat, while Gorton is a Republican. The office opened up when Jim Gray stepped down to launch an unsuccessful bid for the U.S. Senate, losing to Rand Paul. Bastin joined the Lexington Police force in 1984 and was appointed Police Chief in 2008. In 2015, he was appointed Public Safety Commissioner, an office that oversees the corrections department, emergency management, 911, fire, police and security. While Bastin has never worked in racing or with horses, he does have an agricultural background. He grew up on a farm in Barren County, worked as a young corrections officer assigned to the farm at the Blackburn Correctional Facility and studied agriculture, economics and farm management at the University of Kentucky. He said that while in school he mulled the possibility of going into the racing industry with an eye on one day becoming a farm manager. “I think people in racing realize I have a farm background and that I pursued an economics, agricultural, farm management degree in college,” he said. “I really do understand the agriculture industry. I’ve always been interested in the economic model of the equine industry but haven’t been able to have the opportunity to get too close and personal because of the profession I wound up pursuing. During the campaign I’ve been visiting lot of farms and really have come to understand a lot more than I ever knew about the industry.” Bastin believes the Lexington mayor’s office should have enough clout that he can go to Frankfort and be seen and heard by the governor and legislators. There are, obviously, other issues he will get behind in addition to horse racing, but promises that the sport will always be on the front burner when it comes to his dealings with state government. “I think the mayor needs to be one of the biggest cheerleaders and advocates for the industry that there is,” Bastin said. “If there is legislation in Frankfort that can help our industry thrive the mayor needs to be arm in arm in with the Kentucky Thoroughbred Association and others to go to Frankfort and work together for positive results. It just makes sense.” Bastin added that the need for expanded gaming is at the top of his list when it comes to issues he will fight for. He also believes that, over the years, the Lexington mayor’s office has done a poor job forming alliances with county officials in Fayette County and other counties where horse farms are vital to the communities. “Fayette and the surrounding counties have not always come together in a way they need to have an effective voice in Frankfort because we haven’t been unified,” Bastin said. “Im going to develop good working relationships with all the surrounding counties that support the industry. Together, we should have a louder voice in Frankfort.” Lexington tends to vote Democratic, which is why Bastin is the favorite in the race. Bastin said he feels the racing industry is behind him and believes that people put party affiliation aside when voting for local offices. “There are some very large farms and owners and managers that are supporting me,” he said. “This is not a partisan race and people look at the skill sets that someone brings to the table to select their mayor. The mayor of a local community needs a unique skill set. The mayor has more to do with quality of life in a local community than a president, governor or senator does.” When on the stump and speaking before people not involved with the racing industry, Bastin’s primary talking point is about improving the quality of life in Lexington. He says local government has to do a better job dealing with the opioid crisis, which goes hand in hand with his vow to reduce violent crime and homicides in the city. He paints himself as pro-business, fiscally conservative and someone who has the bona fides to cut down on gun violence and other societal problems. That and a pro-racing guy. On Nov. 6, the citizens of Lexington will decide if that’s what they’re looking for in their next mayor. View the full article

A total of 262 nominations encompassing 191 different horses from 12 different racing jurisdictions–including a landmark representative from the Czech Republic–have been received by the Hong Kong Jockey Club for the 2018 Longines Hong Kong International Races. Exactly one-third of the horses entered have won a top-level event. The four Group 1 events, to be contested at distances from 1200m to 2400m and worth a record total of HK$93 million (£9.2 million/€10.4 million/A$16.8 million/US$11.9 million), will be staged Sunday, Dec. 9, at Sha Tin Racecourse. Among the entries are three of last year’s winners, each locally based, including defending Longines Hong Kong Cup hero Time Warp (GB) (Archipenko); Horse of the Year Beauty Generation (NZ) (Road to Rock {Aus}), who will look to go back-to-back in the Longines Hong Kong Mile; and Mr Stunning (Aus) (Exceed and Excel {Aus}) shooting for consecutive wins in the G1 Longines Hong Kong Sprint. But given the depth of quality from all over the world, it will prove no easy task. The Japanese can always be counted upon to field a top team for the HKIR and 2018 would appear to be no different. There is no more exciting entrant from the island nation than Almond Eye (Jpn), a daughter of two-time Hong Kong Sprint hero Lord Kanaloa (Jpn), who recently completed a sweep of the fillies’ Triple Crown in the G1 Shuka Sho. The Silk Racing runner was given entries in both the Longines Hong Kong Cup (2000m) and Longines Hong Kong Vase (2400m) and would take some beating in either spot. Godolphin’s last-out G1 Sprinters’ S. victor Fine Needle (Jpn) (Admire Moon {Jpn}) is in line for a second trip to Hong Kong, having run a good fourth to Ivictory (Aus) (Mossman {Aus}) in the G1 Chairman’s Sprint Prize last April. Mozu Ascot (Frankel {GB}), victorious in the G1 Yasuda Kinen in June, could fly the flag in the Longines Hong Kong Mile, while recent G1 Kikuka Sho winner Etario (Jpn) (Stay Gold {Jpn}) could be joined by former Longines Hong Kong Vase by that race’s 2016 winner Satono Crown (Jpn) (Marju {Ire}). There are quiet rumours that the quarantine issues that have halted Australian participation in international racing in Hong Kong are about to be eased, and with that in mind, some 24 horses have been entered across the four races. While Winx (Aus) (Street Cry {Ire}) is not among them, the Australian challenge in the Sprint is formidable on paper, with eight of the nine entrants already winners at the Group 1 level. That list includes Viddora (Aus) (I Am Invincible {Aus}), Vega Magic (Aus) (Lope de Vega {Ire}), The Everest runner-up Trapeze Artist (Aus) (Snitzel {Aus}) and Santa Ana Lane (Aus) (Lope de Vega {Ire}). Highland Reel (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) won the Vase for the second time in three years in 2017, defeating Godolphin’s Talismanic (GB) (Medaglia d’Oro), and Ballydoyle names dot the entries for the HKIR. Highland Reel’s brother Idaho (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) was given an entry in the Vase, while Mendelssohn (Scat Daddy) and Rhododendron (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) could represent the team in the Cup. U S Navy Flag (War Front), the G1 Darley July Cup winner who flopped in unsuitably soft ground in The Everest, could take in the Sprint and Gustav Klimt (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), the G1 St James’s Palace runner-up, has been given the option of a run in the Hong Kong Mile. Trainer Aidan O’Brien’s son Joseph could send out G1 Irish Derby upsetter Latrobe (Ire) (Camelot {Ire}). Staj Bonanza’s Czech Republic-based Subway Dancer (Ire) (Shamardal) covered himself in glory with a third-place effort to Cracksman (GB) (Frankel {GB}) in last Saturday’s G1 QIPCO British Champion S. and could take his place in the field for the Cup. Seven entries were received from American-based runners, including Mind Your Biscuits (Posse), who was nominated to each race bar the Vase. Yoshida (Jpn) (Heart’s Cry {Jpn}) and Voodoo Song (English Channel) were entered for the Mile, while two-time GII Woodford S. winner Bucchero (Kantharos), MGSW Disco Partner (Disco Rico) and top dirt horse Imperial Hint (Imperialism) were handed entries for the Sprint. Others among the 44 local entries include the progressive sprinter Hot King Prawn (Aus) (Denman {Aus}); ‘TDN Rising Star’ and MG1SW Pakistan Star (Ger) (Shamardal); former Horse of the Year Werther (NZ) (Tavistock {NZ}); and the talented John Size-trained sprinters D B Pin (NZ) (Darci Brahma {NZ}) and Beat the Clock (Aus) (Hinchinbrook {Aus}). “Hong Kong in December is a destination that appeals to the world’s great horsemen and that is borne out by the fact that we have entries from 12 jurisdictions, with many of the world’s most prominent trainers and owners looking to end their year on a high at Sha Tin in four career-defining races,” said Andrew Harding, Executive Director, Racing, at the Hong Kong Jockey Club. View the full article

As the breed registry for North American Thoroughbreds, The Jockey Club is responsible for reviewing and approving all Thoroughbred names. Last year, the registry reviewed more than 35,000 names, with about 73% of those getting approved. View the full article

Fasig-Tipton will match all funds raised through this year’s New Vocations Breeders’ Cup Pledge in honor of the late Bill Graves, it was announced Wednesday. The Pledge offers owners and trainers of Breeders’ Cup contenders a chance to give back by committing a percentage of their championship earnings to support New Vocations’ aftercare efforts. To date, the fundraiser has raised nearly $500,000 over the past nine years. The program is hoping that Fasig-Tipton’s generosity will encourage more people join the Pledge. “The Breeders’ Cup attracts the finest horses, trainers and owners from around the world,” Fasig-Tipton President and CEO Boyd Browning said. “Bill Graves had a great appreciation for quality Thoroughbreds and was a staunch advocate for the retraining of Thoroughbreds for second careers. Fasig-Tipton is pleased to join with New Vocations to provide matching funds for 2018 Breeders’ Cup pledges in Bill’s honor.” Anna Ford, Program Director at New Vocations, added, “We were thrilled to have Fasig-Tipton reach out to us with the offer to match the funds raised this year by our annual Breeders’ Cup Pledge. We greatly appreciate their support, and it means a lot to our organization to be able to honor Bill Graves as aftercare was something he was so passionate about. We look forward to honoring Bill’s memory by having his name incorporated with the signage of our indoor arena at our Lexington, Kentucky facility.” All of the Pledge information can be found at www.newvocations.org/breeders-cup-pledge/ or by contacting anna@horseadoption.com. View the full article

Fasig-Tipton announced Oct. 24 that they will be matching all funds raised through this year's New Vocations Breeders' Cup Pledge in honor of the late Bill Graves. View the full article

The two-day Goffs UK Autumn Sale began on Wednesday in Doncaster with the yearling session, and shoppers will no doubt be hoping their purchases materialize into Mabs Cross (GB) (Dutch Art {GB}), this year’s G1 Prix de l’Abbaye winner who was picked up for just £3,000-which was, incidentally, Wednesday’s median–at this sale three years ago. Sellers, in the meantime, largely suffered on Wednesday, with less than half (46%) of the offered youngsters finding new homes. The day’s top lot-a £50,000 colt by first-crop sire Sidestep (Aus)-was also the day’s breakout horse and dragged the average up 23% to £5,198, while the median dipped 6%. The total accrued for 66 sold was £343,100. The session-topping lot 147 was picked up by Tony Carroll from the Worsall Grange consignment. He is out of Cheap N Chic (GB) (Primo Valentino) and is a half-brother to two winners. The sire, who stands at Haras du Logis, is a son of Exceed and Excel (Aus) who won Australia’s G2 Pago Pago S. at two and was second in the G1 Golden Slipper. He also won the G2 Royal Sovereign S. at three over Group 1 winner Bounding (Aus) (Lonhro {Aus}). Worsall Grange also sold the day’s second-highest priced lot, a filly by Finjaan (GB) (lot 104) who was signed for by Liberty for £35,000. The Goffs UK Autumn Sale concludes on Thursday with the horses-in-training and point-to-point session. View the full article

Observations on the European Racing Scene turns the spotlight on the best European races of the day, highlighting well-pedigreed horses early in their careers, horses of note returning to action and young runners that achieved notable results in the sales ring. Thursday’s Insights features a daughter of champion Zagora (Fr) (Green Tune). 2.05 Deauville, Mdn, €27,000, unraced 2yo, f, 8fT Al Shaqab Racing’s TUNED (GB) (Toronado {Ire}) is a daughter of former Jean-Claude Rouget stable incumbent and subsequent US champion Zagora (Fr) (Green Tune), who registered victories in the GI Diana S. and GI Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf, and the homebred chestnut faces 15 rivals in this debutantes’ heat. They include stablemate Sadiqa (Fr) (Poet’s Voice {GB}), who is an Aga Khan homebred half-sister to G1 Prix Saint-Alary heroine Sagawara (GB) (Shamardal). View the full article

DEAUVILLE, France—The later start time for the concluding session of Part 1 of Arqana’s October Sale proved to be of benefit to the breeder of the first lot through the ring on Wednesday after her 2-year-old sister Nova Sol (Ger) (Soldier Hollow {GB}) delivered a black-type update with a placed finish in the G3 Prix des Reservoirs two hours before trade gut underway. John Hammond struck early, effectively allowing lot 229 to make all when leading the second day, ensuring that the neat bay filly from the Haras de Saint Arnoult draft would end up at his Chantilly stable. The trainer bid to €140,000 for the daughter of the juvenile winner Neckara (Ger) (Shirocco {Ger}), herself out of another mare with decent 2-year-old form, the G3 Preis der Winterkonigen winner Narooma (Ger) (Silver Hawk). “She’s slightly on the small side but she’s the most lovely walker and in time she should get every yard of a mile and a half,” said Hammond. “She’s the mare’s third foal and the first two are both winners—her full-sister has just finished third in a Group 3 across the road.” As well as Nova Sol, Gestut Auenquelle’s diminutive Soldier Hollow has also worked well with the previous generation of the family. Neckara’s half-sister Nymeria (Ger) is also by Germany’s leading sire and was a listed winner in her home country with multiple Group placings including the German 1,000 Guineas and the G2 Badener Meile. The siblings were bred by Soldier Hollow’s owner Helmut von Finck at his Gestut Park Wiedingen. Consignor Larissa Kneip, who offered the yearling filly on behalf of her breeder Bernd Dietel, will soon take charge of a son of a Soldier Hollow at her Haras de Saint Arnoult The G1 Grosser Preis von Berlin winner Dschingis Secret (Ger), who is owned by Dietel in partnership with Horst Pudwill, retires to stud with six Group victories to his credit. The 5-year-old last year led home two classy Godolphin colts when beating Hawkbill (Kitten’s Joy) to secure his top-level win and followed up by beating Cloth Of Stars (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) in the G2 Prix Foy. He will stand his first season at a fee of €4,000. “Bernd Dietel is based in Switzerland but is investing heavily in French racing and breeding,” Kneip explained. “He has horses in training here and boards mares with me. He will have between 15 to 20 to support his stallion next year and the dam of this filly will also be visiting Dschingis Secret.” Trade was notably quieter than the first day of the sale and the comparative figures reflected shortfalls on those recorded last year. The clearance rate, though down two points, remained respectable at 78.5% for 91 yearlings sold through the afternoon. This was the same number to change hands in the corresponding 2017 session, but at a reduced average of €33,198 (-7%), while the median dipped from €27,000 to €25,000. Aggregate for the day was also down by 7% at €3,021,000. Rolling The Dice Again Amanda Skiffington’s foray to the October Sale two years ago resulted in the €130,000 purchase of Dice Roll (Fr). Trained by Fabrice Chappet, the son of Showcasing (GB) went on to win the inaugural Criterium de la Vente de Yearlings d’Octobre on Arc weekend last year before being beaten just a neck for third in the G1 Poule d’Essai des Poulains. Agent and trainer teamed up again—Chappet signing on behalf of the absent Skiffington—for a Camacho (GB) filly from the draft of Julie Mestrallet’s Haras de l’Aumonerie. The German-bred daughter of the Kheleyf mare Song Of Time (Ire) (lot 304) was also sold for €130,000, a fairly hefty rise from when she went through the same ring last December for €12,000, bought by Nicola Kent of Ireland’s Ballyhampshire Stud. Chappet later added lot 311 to the list of purchases for the agent at €85,000. The Intello (Ger) colt is the second foal of dual winner Stumpy (GB) (Lawman {Fr}) and is a half-brother to winning hurdler Coeur Rouge (GB) (Nathaniel {Ire}). Another buying outfit to regroup after a previously successful Arqana purchase was that of trainer Francis Graffard, owner Steeve Burggraf who races his horses under the name of Ecurie di Montalhuc, and agent Laurent Benoit. The trio involved in this year’s G3 Prix de Psyche and G1 Prix de Diane-placed Homerique (Exchange Rate) secured another filly (lot 268), a first-crop daughter of Golden Horn (GB) sold by Haras d’Etreham for €120,000. Benoit said, “We are trying something a bit new by putting our faith in a first-season sire. She is a beautiful filly from a top-class family and Dansili is a very good broodmare sire. She probably won’t be a 2-year-old but that doesn’t worry us.” The Dansili (GB) mare in question is the 9-year-old Rose Et Noire (Ire), who is already the dam of two winners and is a half-sister to the dual Group 2 winner Free Port Lux (GB) (Oasis Dream {GB}). The mare’s dam Royal Highness was successful on both sides of the Atlantic, winning the GI Beverley D S. and the G2 Prix de Malleret. The family also includes Godolphin’s treble Group 1 winner Wild Illusion (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}). Siyouni (Fr), whose October Sale average is currently at €102,867 for 15 yearlings sold, provided the one other six-figure lot of the session, a colt out of a sister to Edouard de Rothschild’s four-time Group 1 winner Meandre (Fr) (Slickly {Fr}) (lot 238). Paul Nataf signed the ticket at €120,000 on behalf of an undisclosed owner-breeder. “She will stay in training in France and the plan is to breed from her eventually. The client bought four yearlings at the August Sale and we have been actively looking for a farm to buy in the area,” said the agent. Two more full sessions of yearlings are set to be staged in Deauville with the penulatimte day’s action commencing at 11am today. View the full article

Fans won't need to wait long to see something new at this year's Breeders' Cup as the inaugural edition of the $1 million Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint will get this year's World Championships started Friday, Nov. 2, at Churchill Downs. View the full article

If once again lamentably timid regarding the other dirt races, a record European entry for the 35th Breeders’ Cup more than redresses that lack of adventure with a genuinely audacious challenge for the Classic itself. For if dual Arc winner Enable (GB) (Nathaniel {Ire}) bears the standard in the turf programme-which has, as usual, attracted a formidable raiding party–then confirmation that her stablemate Roaring Lion (Kitten’s Joy) will target the Classic represents a gamble in the very best sporting traditions. With only a fortnight to absorb a gruelling race in unsuitable ground at Ascot last Saturday, Roaring Lion will be trying to raise the bar still higher after a season in which he has, in fairness, appeared to thrive on a schedule that has relentlessly pitched him against top-class horses at least once a month since April. On publication of the pre-entries yesterday John Gosden, his trainer, rightly applauded the sporting instincts of his owners Qatar Racing. But they can comfort themselves that, in the end, they are more or less staking a bet to nothing. If Roaring Lion happens to struggle with such a demanding change of environment, after such a demanding season, then it will not take a cent off the value he has established as the premier European colt of his generation. Success, on the other hand, would open up a whole new market for his next career at Tweenhills Stud. “We’re entering unknown waters, and he’s not exactly bred for it,” admitted Gosden. “It’s a massive challenge, and it’s extremely game and sporting of the owners to be coming. But a lot of good horses have tried it over the years–you think of Galileo (Sadler’s Wells) and others–and when it hasn’t worked out I think people tend to admire the boldness of trying and to discard the result.” “We’re all perfectly aware that breezing on the dirt is one thing, and racing on it quite another. I’ve found, over the years, that the problem is not so much the surface as the kickback. Training in America, I worked turf horses 36-and-change on the dirt and would then find that in the race they couldn’t get round [a mile] in 1:41. And that’s because they’re not seasoned. When they find all this dirt coming back in their faces, they start climbing, their breathing gets interrupted.” Roaring Lion does hold a second entry for the Turf but Gosden, while indicating that a sloppy track might alter thinking, was clear that while the horse’s ability to handle the surface was unproven, his preferred distance range was firmly established. Gosden, of course, is the only European trainer to have saddled the Classic winner since the 133-1 shocker Arcangues (Sagace {Fr}) in 1993. But while Raven’s Pass (Elusive Quality), like Roaring Lion, graduated from a heavy campaign leading up to the G1 Queen Elizabeth II S., there have been two huge changes in the landscape since 2008. One is that the inauguration of Qipco Champions’ Day has required the QEII to be shifted much closer to the Breeders’ Cup; the other is that Raven’s Pass was exploiting a brief synthetics window at Santa Anita. A nettle was grasped in renouncing that experiment. By this stage, however, it must be doubted whether even the difficult questions they are asking of their own champion might yet prompt the Champions’ Day sponsors to revisit its place in the calendar. As it is, they must be applauded for rolling the dice. “Obviously the horse has had a tough, long year, and I thought he was incredibly brave the other day when at no stage on the bridle,” Gosden said. “He’s been good since Saturday, and playful at home, albeit he’s probably not expecting to get on a plane. But he is tough enough for it. We know this horse has a fantastic constitution, and he’s got bigger and stronger through the season from training and racing hard.” If Roaring Lion is fairly candidly tackling the race on a wing and a prayer, there could be no greater contrast in the preparation of Mendelssohn (Scat Daddy), who has been given such a purposeful grounding in dirt racing. His trainer Aidan O’Brien has twice come agonisingly close to winning the Classic, having saddled Giant’s Causeway (Storm Cat) in that epic duel with Tiznow (Cee’s Tizzy) over this track in 2000, and Declaration Of War (War Front) to share a three-way photo at Santa Anita in 2013. The other transatlantic raider is Thunder Snow (Ire) (Helmet {Aus}), who likewise warmed up in the G1 Jockey Club Gold Cup. He has since been training up to the race at Churchill, where his trainer Saeed Bin Suroor saddled Swain (Ire) (Nashwan) to that valiant and dramatic near-miss in the 1998 running. Many of those European horses to have actually tried dirt at the Breeders’ Cup have excelled despite copper-bottomed turf pedigrees and, while Roaring Lion is by a celebrated turf influence, there are no rules about these things. Kitten’s Joy’s own sire El Prado (Sadler’s Wells) was always viewed as a turf stallion, but his son Medaglia d’Oro has certainly become a master of all trades. Ready Enable Regardless, the rest of the European challenge is unsurprisingly spread across the grass races. Thanks partly to the promotion from the undercard of a Juvenile Turf Sprint, there are a record 49 individual European entries (including three double entries), comprising 25 from Britain, 22 from Ireland and five from France. And it is again the British champion trainer who leads the way, with Enable potentially able to make a virtue, in the Turf, of her late start to the campaign–not to mention her interrupted Arc preparation. “The filly comes to the race relatively fresh,” Gosden said. “She was a little quiet for a bit after the Arc, but you don’t normally win that race 85% fit. I think I’ve got her fit now, anyway! She breezed this morning under Frankie [Dettori], and seems in good order. But when you are shipping that far, you can never be too confident. It’s the end of the year, she’s a filly, and until you’ve seen how she’s travelled, seen her blood counts and everything, and how she’s settled, you can’t be taking anything for granted.” Arc winners have found the Breeders’ Cup tough going over the years, albeit Sakhee (Bahri) showed the rewards available for risking the dirt when–though out of a Ribblesdale winner by Sadler’s Wells–getting within a nose of stopping Tiznow’s follow-up in 2001, 20 days after winning in Paris. But Gosden saw little reason to be discouraged by the narrow defeat of Golden Horn (GB) (Cape Cross {Ire}) by Found (Ire) (Galileo {Ire})–whose name, after all, would be next inscribed on the Arc trophy–in this same race three years ago. “Golden Horn was beaten for one reason and one reason only,” he said. “They had an inch and a half of rain, the track was very deep and loose, and he just spun his wheels. But the [sharp] track should be fine for Enable, she handled the turns at Chester particularly well on her second start as a 3-year-old, and she got round Epsom okay too.” Enable is odds-on at 4-6 with bookmakers Coral, who also have European horses at the head of their betting on the Mile, with Polydream (Ire) (Oasis Dream {GB}) at 5-2; the Juvenile Turf, with Anthony Van Dyck (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) at the same odds; the Juvenile Turf Sprint, with Soldier’s Call (GB) (Showcasing {GB}) just shading Sergei Prokofiev (Scat Daddy) at 3-1 and 100-30 respectively; and the Filly and Mare Turf, with Wild Illusion (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) at 9-4. British Horseracing Authority handicapper Dominic Gardiner-Hill, who had the previous day participated in an eight-hour teleconference to establish rankings for oversubscribed races, named the latter as Europe’s best prospect of the two days after her success in the G1 Prix de l’Opera. “She has improve a little bit all through the season and her last couple of runs have probably been her best yet,” he said. “I’m not sure the American defence is that hot in this race and I’ll be disappointed if she gets beaten. Enable should win, and if she doesn’t I suspect another of the Europeans will. She’s rated 128, and gets the fillies’ allowance, with Crystal Ocean (GB) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) next on 126. We have a strong hand in the Mile, too, with Expert Eye (GB) (Acclamation {GB}) possibly our best chance. Overall I’d say we have a cracking chance of coming away with a good number of the turf races in our pocket.” Plenty of Chances For Ballydoyle As ever, O’Brien matches quality and quantity in the team he is preparing at Ballydoyle. These include Magical (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), like Roaring Lion obliged to soak up a generous effort at Ascot only last Saturday. She has had a rather lighter season, and her trainer said he feels she is only just coming into her own after stepping up in trip and has duly made the Turf her first preference, ahead of the Filly and Mare Turf (where Magic Wand (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) and Athena (Ire) (Camelot {GB}) are slated to represent the stable). “Wayne Lordan was delighted with her when she tried the mile and a half the first time in the Arc, and when she won at Ascot it was only her second run at the distance,” O’Brien said. “We were training for the Oaks but had a little setback, but as she comes into the autumn a fresh filly it might all have been a blessing in disguise.” Also granted a dual entry is So Perfect (Scat Daddy), with a first preference for the Juvenile Turf Sprint but an option in the Juvenile Fillies’ Turf. “She’s a fast filly, but we haven’t decided yet,” O’Brien explained. “We could still give her chance at a mile to find out about her for next year.” Just Wonderful (Dansili {GB}) is definitely targeting the longer race after emulating her dam Wading (Ire) (Montjeu {Ire}) to win in the G2 Rockfel S. “She’s a lovely, slick filly who likes to follow the pace and quicken,” O’Brien said. “She’s a classy, very well- bred filly we’ve always loved.” On track for the shorter race, conversely, is Sergei Prokofiev–who confirmed speed to be his forte with a last-to-first dash in the G3 Cornwallis S. at Newmarket. “He got very quick as the year went on,” O’Brien reflected. “Sometimes those fast horses will stretch out but he just got quicker and quicker. He found it hard to go a stride slower over six furlongs, but settled lovely and quickened very well back over five last time–which is not an easy thing to do at Newmarket. A fast pace will suit him very well, he relaxes when they go quick.” Anthony Van Dyck earned his place in Coral’s list with Group 1 podiums in the National S. and Dewhurst S. “He has a lovely mind,” said O’Brien. “We’re looking forward to him next year. We also have Broome (Ire) (Australia {GB}) in the race and we’ll probably only run one. Horses can come and go at this time of year so we’ll be watching them very carefully; they have to pass all their tests, their bloods and scopes. Broome has had a tough enough season and has travelled a good bit, but he’s a solid horse. We’ll take it day-by-day and see.” Lost Treasure (Ire) (War Front) is having a busy autumn but was only beaten a length when flying late into fifth in the G1 Prix de l’Abbaye and is an intriguing outsider for the Turf Sprint. “He’s a very smart colt with a lot of speed,” reasoned O’Brien. “He just doesn’t want to be in front too long. He’s just one of those horses that things need to fall right, but they could do in a race like that.” Gustav Klimt (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) has shown the speed to be Group 1-placed over six furlongs, but steps back up in trip for the Mile alongside two female stablemates. “He travels and quickens well so we think he’ll love racing round a bend,” O’Brien said. “Happily (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) is coming all the time, we just felt we never really got her there yet, and there might be a bit more to come from her. Fast ground and a flat mile will suit her well. And it was obviously a great run from I Can Fly (GB) (Fastnet Rock {Aus}) at Ascot on Saturday, and all ground seems to come to her alike.” She got within a neck of Roaring Lion, of course, and Mendelssohn will be next on his case in the Classic. “After the Kentucky Derby he had a little time and then he started his preps,” O’Brien said. “We think he’s progressed with every run and Ryan [Moore] was very happy with him the last day.” The whole stable, remember, had a troubled spell in midsummer. “But they’re running well lately,” O’Brien said. “We’re very happy with them. These horses have most of their serious work done now, and they’re due to fly on Monday afternoon.” That’s the wing sorted, then. Next–and this is true whether, in Gosden’s words, “you’ve planned from summer onwards” or just say, as with Roaring Lion, “let’s take a look at this at the end of the year”–comes the prayer. View the full article

While this year's Triple Crown winner Justify retired before this year's Breeders' Cup, pre-entries announced Oct. 24 for the World Championships Nov. 2 and 3 at Churchill Downs still include plenty of star power. View the full article