Wandering Eyes

Carded as the 10th race at Belmont Park June 7, the sixth renewal of the Belmont Gold Cup (G2T) will bring together an international field of nine who will travel a marathon two-mile, three-turn distance over the track's Widener Turf Course. View the full article

Calumet Farm’s Everfast (Take Charge Indy), a fast-finishing longshot second in the GI Preakness S., completed serious preparations for a start in Saturday’s GI Belmont S. when working five furlongs in 1:01 flat (7/16) Monday morning at Churchill Downs. The Dale Romans trainee clocked splits of :12.80, :24.40 and :48.60 seconds before galloping out six furlongs in 1:13.60 and seven panels in 1:28 flat under exercise rider Faustino Aguilar. The colt previously worked a half-mile in :50 1/5 (23/35) just five days prior at Churchill. “Everfast worked great today,” Romans said. “It’s a mile and a half race, so we crammed two works back to back to make sure he is plenty fit. The way he worked out there this morning, he looked great. He went even early and finished fast and didn’t want to pull up, which might be key going into the Belmont.” Elsewhere, Michael and Jeff Fazio’s Joevia (Shanghai Bobby) was confirmed as a Belmont starter by trainer Gregory Sacco. Demoted to 11th after interfering with horses on the first turn of the GII Wood Memorial S., the dark bay rebounded to capture the Long Branch S. May 12 at Monmouth. Jose Lezcano will ride. Tax (Arch), 14th in the GI Kentucky Derby last out, is also slated to start in the Belmont, according to trainer Danny Gargan. The gelding drilled four furlongs in :49 flat (33/68) Saturday at Big Sandy. Irad Ortiz, Jr. will have the call. The post Belmont Buzz: Everfast Works; Joevia, Tax Confirmed appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Four newcomers to the 2019 MATCH Series were winners of their respective divisions when Hollywood Casino at Penn National Race Course hosted the second round of the series June 1. View the full article

Chad Brown has trained two of the last three New York Stakes (G2T) winners at Belmont Park, and June 7 he'll send out Homerique and Competitionofideas for a chance at back-to-back scores in the $600,000, 1 1/4-mile turf feature. View the full article

The National Thoroughbred Racing Association's poll leaders War of Will and Bricks and Mortar are expected to make their next starts June 8 at Belmont Park. View the full article

After finishing off the board in his first start outside Southern California to close his 2018 season, Catalina Cruiser will give the road another try in a scheduled seasonal debut June 7 in the $250,000 True North Stakes (G2) at Belmont Park. View the full article

4th-DEL, $34k, 3yo/up, f/m, 1m70yT, 2:36 EST Following three successive five-furlong bullet breezes over the Fair Hill Tapeta, the Arnold Delacour trainee CAMBELIZA (Curlin) is primed for her debut effort in the 4th race at Delaware Wednesday afternoon. The most notable of these works was a five-panel blowout in 1:00 3/5 (1/7) May 13. Owned and bred by Runnymede Farm and Catesby W Clay, the bay filly is a half-sister to GI winner and two-time Breeders’ Cup contender Jaycito (Victory Gallop). Cambeliza is produced from the multiple-staked placed and $274,014 earner Night Edition (Ascot Knight). TJCIS PPS The post June 4 Insights: Speedy Curlin Filly Makes Debut on Delaware Turf appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Two days after Tax, an Arch gelding, suffered a minor foot bruise following a workout, trainer Danny Gargan was delighted with what he was seeing on the morning of June 3 as Tax walked the shed row. View the full article

WHEN A NOBLE CAUSE COMPETES WITH HARSH REALITY How important was Sid Fernando’s TDN article of last Friday on the subject of Lasix? Let’s be honest. In recent times, we have seen a variance of political correctness within our beloved industry, similar to that which has overtaken culture and society at large today. And in both cases, both sides are motivated by a genuine concern for its subject. When it comes to the men and women of the horse industry, that concern is for their horses. What concerns me is that much like what’s happened in America, one side of the debate on Lasix has become more and more reticent to speak up. In light of this, I was grateful to read Sid’s column on the subject. In the past year I have spoken to several knowledgeable horsemen and horsewomen who believe that Lasix is a blessing to our racehorses for many of the reasons that were articulated in Sid’s article. But each one of them expressed a reluctance to share that position for reasons of political correctness. Like it or not, our thoroughbred racehorses bleed. They have bled. They will continue to bleed. As a horseman, I believe this option of treatment is the kindest and most effective way to go…the alternatives being horses bleeding profusely whether in training or in the afternoon, or “old-school” practices that horsemen and horsewomen would be left with if Lasix were taken out of the equation, or expensive alternatives only a few would be able to employ for reasons of cost. There is no doubt that the men and women pushing for abolishing current Lasix parameters love their horses. But no more than those who understand this treatment to the fullest and advocate for it. And there is another side of this debate, and that is the horsemen and horsewomen themselves that would be significantly hurt by this change. Most of them are “bread-and-butter” folks that love racing, love their horses, and sustain the industry below the top. Their voices aren’t as loud in most cases. But they are horse trainers and horse owners who are often more in touch with the realities of this debate than anyone. Lastly, I have two thoughts to add. First, let the opinions of the veterinarians and the horsemen on the front line carry significant weight in this discussion. And second, why don’t we spend our hard-earned energy, time, and money developing a better treatment for this malady in our horses, instead of doing away with the only known way to humanely help them before we have solutions? Finally, we have a lot of issues to solve outside of this one that, in my opinion, are far more pressing to our industry in this very fragile time. Ben Walden Walden Bloodstock The post Letter to the Editor: Ben Walden appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

More than 170 riders from across the Mid-Atlantic region, ranging in age from two to 80, took part in the sixth annual Canter for the Cause at Pimlico Race Course Sunday to raise awareness and funds for the Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance. Sponsored by the Maryland Jockey Club and The Equiery, Canter for the Cause offered participants the unique opportunity to walk, jog, canter or trot their horses over the Pimlico main track. Riders were also able to walk their horses through the starting gate and have their pictures taken in the Pimlico winner’s circle. Georganne Hale, Vice President of Racing Development for the Maryland Jockey Club was pleased with both the turnout and the level of enthusiasm shown by all Canter for the Cause participants. “We had 12-hand ponies up to 18-hand horses. We had ex-jockeys, children and businessmen and women riding. We had all breeds of horses. It was such a great variety of people and animals,” Hale said. “It was a great event, the weather was perfect, and riders were grinning and smiling when they pulled up. It was great to see so many horse owners excited to ride on the historic Pimlico racetrack. This event was on so many riders’ bucket list. I want to thank everyone who helped make this a successful event.” The post More Than 170 Riders ‘Canter for the Cause’ at Pimlico appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Neptune's Storm captured back-to-back stakes wins at Santa Anita Park June 2 when he held off the competition to win the $150,000 Cinema Stakes for 3-year-olds going 1 1/8 miles on the turf. View the full article

Three European classics in three days provided us with a reminder – not that any were needed – of the brilliance of three different facets of that equine gem – Galileo. The first of the three classics, the Investec Oaks, was won in courageous style by Anapurna (GB), a grand-daughter of Galileo by the mighty Frankel. Frankel follows New Approach and Nathaniel as the third son of Galileo to sire an Oaks winner in the last seven years, his predecessors’ contributions being Talent and the exceptional Enable. Galileo’s stallion sons have also been responsible for winners of the 2,000 Guineas and Derby, the Irish 1,000 Guineas and Irish Derby and the Japanese Oaks. The following day’s Investec Derby was widely reported as being almost totally dominated by Galileo and his male line descendants. All but one of the 13 runners were members of the Galileo male line, with six sons of Galileo, five grandsons and one great-grandson. The one exception, the Camelot colt Sir Dragonet, has Galileo’s sister All Too Beautiful as his second dam. Victory, of course, went to the gallant Anthony Van Dyke (Ire), who follows New Approach, Ruler Of The World and Australia as his fourth winner of the Epsom classic. With a dam by Exceed And Excel, Anthony Van Dyke becomes the ninth G1 winner that Galileo has sired from mares by sons of his great ally Danehill. Needless to say, Galileo owes 12 of his G1 winners, and 46 of his black-type winners, to daughters of Danehill, with the G1 winners featuring the classic winners Frankel, Intello, Golden Lilac, Roderic O’Connor and Cima de Triomphe, as well as such as Teofilo, Noble Mission and Highland Reel. Although his partnership with Danehill mares still has more foals aged three or over than his alliance with mares by Danehill’s sons, the Danehill grand-daughters are rapidly catching up and their nine G1 scorers now include winners of the 1,000 Guineas, Oaks, Derby and St Leger, as well as the 2,000 Guineas equivalents in Ireland and France. We can surely expect to see more good Galileo winners out of mares by Exceed And Excel, especially as Anthony Van Dyke’s dam Believe ‘N’ Succeed produced a filly to the ten-time champion sire on January 11. Galileo’s first three foals out of Exceed And Excel mares also include Mission Impassible, a smart French miler who stretched her stamina to finish second in the GI Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup over an extra furlong at Keeneland. Mission Impassible, like Anthony Van Dyke, is out of a mare who shone over sprint distances, her dam being the G1 Nunthorpe S. winner Margot Did. Anthony Van Dyke’s dam Believe ‘N’ Succeed was sufficiently fast and precocious to win the fillies’ edition of the G3 Blue Diamond Prelude over 5 ½ furlongs, while her brother Kuroshio won the colts’ and geldings’ division of the same race five years later. In siring a Derby winner from such a speedy mare, Galileo has achieved a similar feat to the one where he sired the 2010 Irish Derby winner Cape Blanco from Laurel Delight, a useful sprinter who made 24 of her 25 starts over the minimum trip of five furlongs. There are clearly times when Galileo’s innate stamina will overpower any amount of speed. The last of the weekend’s classics, the Prix du Jockey-Club, highlighted the prowess of Galileo’s broodmare daughters. Victory went to Siyouni’s rapidly-improving son Sottsass, a son of Galileo’s non-winning daughter Starlet’s Sister. This wasn’t the only G1 success of the weekend for a Galileo mare, as another of them, the Newmarket mile-and-a-half winner Skip Along, is the dam of Winning Ways, who landed the Queensland Oaks. Siyouni has now sired a French classic winner in three of his first five crops, thanks to Ervedya, Laurens and now Sottsass. Sottsass’ victory will be welcomed by breeders lucky enough to own a Galileo broodmare (provided they have the funds to access France’s highest-priced stallion). Siyouni, whose pedigree combines two of the stallions – Pivotal and Danehill – whose daughters have worked so magnificently with Galileo, has only six foals aged three or over out of Galileo mares. Sottsass is the second of them to become a black-type winner, his predecessor being Maqsad, who started third favourite for the Oaks. Expect Maqsad to return to her Pretty Polly-winning form when she reverts to a mile and a quarter. Sottsass follows La Cressonniere, winner of the Poule d’Essai des Pouliches and Prix de Diane in 2016, as the second French classic winner out of a Galileo mare. Coincidentally, both of them are out of mares which failed to win. Whereas La Cressonniere’s dam Absolute Lady never finished closer than fourth in six starts at the lesser tracks, Sottsass’ dam Starlet’s Sister once finished second on Deauville’s all-weather track. However, both mares are sisters to black-type winners. Absolute Lady is a sister to Paris Winds, who was G2-placed in Ireland before becoming a stakes winner in the U.S., while Starlet’s Sister is a sister to Leo’s Starlight, winner of the G3 Prix Cleopatre over 1 5/16 miles and narrowly beaten in the G2 Prix de Malleret over a mile and a half. They are by no means the only G1 winners out of undistinguished racemares by Galileo, two other good examples being Galileo Gold (2,000 Guineas and St James’s Palace S.) and Barney Roy (St James’s Palace S. and beaten only a nose in the Eclipse S.). Many others, of course, are out of Group-winning daughters of Galileo, recent examples being Magna Grecia, Saxon Warrior and U S Navy Flag, I should add that Starlet’s Sister is shaping up as an exceptional mare, with each of her first three foals – Sistercharlie, My Sister Nat and Sottsass – winning at Group level. It is also noticeable that all three have stayed markedly further than their speedy sires, which provides another insight into the stamina latent in Galileo’s descendants. The number three has featured quite a lot in this article and I could add that Oaks heroine Anapurna was one of three Oaks runners by Frankel, who was also represented by three black-type-winning daughters over the weekend, with Obligate (G2 Prix de Sandringham) and Sun Maiden (Listed Nottinghamshire Oaks) following Anapurna’s example. Although Frankel is unlikely to catch Galileo on the leading sires’ table this year, he is now up to third place, even though he has markedly fewer representatives than the other stallions in the top ten. Whereas Frankel has had 67 runners, Kodiac has had 226, Dark Angel 180, Dandy Man 151, Galileo 105, Invincible Spirit 103, Lope de Vega 103, Shamardal 101, Dubawi 97 and Sea The Stars 85. Even first-rate classic winners can struggle to maintain patronage after the rush to support them in their first season. Galileo’s fee had to be reduced a few times in the wait for him to prove himself and he was available for €40,000 in his third season and €37,500 in his fourth and fifth years, before his first three year olds did so well that his fee shot up to €150,000. Galileo’s exceptional half-brother Sea The Stars wasn’t immune either, with the number of foals in his first five crops fluctuating from 118 in his first crop to 67, 124, 74 and 93 in the next four. Frankel also found years three and four comparatively difficult. His current northern hemisphere three-year-olds number only 86, but among them are Anapurna, Obligate, Mehdaayih, Frankellina, the classic-placed East, the Group-placed Old Glory, Suphala and Syrtis and such promising maiden winners as Logician and Brogue. His fourth crop is even smaller, at 80 foals. However, Frankel’s first crop did so outstandingly well that he has over 160 yearlings, conceived in 2017, and he was again in great demand in 2018, so he won’t be at a numerical disadvantage for long. The post Pedigree Insights: Anapurna And Galileo’s Classic Influence appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

It is said that revenge is a dish best served cold. Peter Brant’s revenge mission was delivered under a blisteringly hot Chantilly sun but, for the American owner of Prix du Jockey Club winner Sottsass (Fr) (Siyouni {Fr}), it sure did taste sweet. Two years ago on the same stretch of turf, Brant’s newly acquired Sistercharlie (Ire) (Myboycharlie {Ire}) was hampered in her run just over a furlong from home in the Prix de Diane and ended up finishing a running-on second to Senga (Blame). That filly alone has more than atoned for initial disappointment and was crowned champion turf mare in America last year after four Grade 1 victories. Brant’s belief in the family has been strong, and he bought Sistercharlie’s half-sister, the Group 3 winner My Sister Nat (Fr) (Acclamation {GB}), last season before shipping her to America to join her elder sibling in Chad Brown’s team. While that pair—the first two foals of the 10-year-old Galileo (Ire) mare Starlet’s Sister (Ire)—were in-training purchases by Brant, he has had his agent Michel Zerolo in place at Arqana for the past two Augusts to ensure that he ensnared both Sottsass and his 2-year-old half-brother Radiant Child (Ire) (Charm Spirit {Ire}) as yearlings. The sisters had both initially been inexpensive yearling purchases by Paul Nataf, at €12,000 and €20,000 respectively, but the swiftly rising profile of the family meant that the colts raised sums of €340,000 and €400,000 for their breeder Ecurie des Monceaux, which has also been the dominant consignor at Arqana August for a number of years. Stand by for plenty of interest in the Fastnet Rock (Aus) colt out of one of France’s hottest young mares when he appears in Deauville in two months’ time. “After I purchased Sistercharlie her first run here was in the Prix de Diane and she ran into a lot of trouble but she has won most of her races since then and she has to be one of my favourite horses I’ve ever raced,” said Brant, whose colours were also represented in the Belmont Park winner’s circle over the weekend by G3 Pennine Ridge S. winner Demarchelier (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}), who was bought at Tattersalls as a yearling for 425,000gns. The newsprint magnate is no stranger to European racing. He raced the outstanding nine-time Group 1 winner Triptych (Riverman), having bought her from Alan Clore during her racing career and, though absent in this part of the world on the racing front for a spell, he delivered a strong signal of intent when spending around €7.5 million on the bloodstock of fellow art collector and owner-breeder Guy Wildenstein during the Wildenstein Stables Dispersal at Goffs in November 2016. His purchases then included Poule d’Essai des Poucliches heroine Beauty Parlour (GB) (Deep Impact {Jpn}), and a more recent in-training buy was another winner of the same race, Precieuse (Ire) (Tamayuz {GB}). Brant has now had the pleasure of seeing a French Classic winner in his own silks and in track-record time on a day of wilting heat. Dabbing his brow while stoically retaining the jacket of his pinstripe suit, Brant said, “I keep a number of mares in France with Eric Puerari at Haras des Capucines. Probably about 40% of my broodmares are in Europe. We bought [Sottsass] as a yearling and we are planning to keep him here. I was here for the Arc 50 years ago and it’s a race I’d love to win. If he were to retire to stud he could perhaps go to the Breeders’ Cup before that but I think he’s found a home here.” He continued, “Michel Zerolo and Jean-Claude Rouget picked him out but it didn’t fall on deaf ears as I already had Sistercharlie. Jean-Claude took his time with him and it has paid off. He has two sisters that are really special to me and they are both in the United States. It’s my first European Classic so it’s really special.” For Rouget, who was in hospital after a minor stroke during his fourth Jockey Club win, and for Christophe Soumillon, who has ridden Sottsass in every race bar the Classic but was required for the Aga Khan’s Zarkallani (Ire), the day must have had its frustrations. But it gave another chance for young Cristian Demuro to shine, two years after recording his first pair of Classic wins with the Rouget-trained Brametot (Ire), and it was yet another opportunity for the team at Monceaux to prove that its excellent results in the sales ring are backed up on the track. The stud’s delighted frontman Henri Bozo, who bought Starlet’s Sister for €30,000, said, “This is our eighth Group 1 winner that we have bred since 2010 so it’s great for all the people who trust us and buy horses from us. “[Starlet’s Sister] is an amazing mare and she’s still a very young mare. It wasn’t a stroke of genius buying her: Hubert Guy advised us to buy her—she’s by Galileo with a bit of magic. We’ve used Siyouni a lot and we have a good relationship with the Aga Khan Studs so we are proud and happy to be the first breeder of a Group 1-winning colt by Siyouni.” He added, “The mare has a very nice filly foal by Dubawi and she is back in foal to him. She also has a strong yearling colt who will be sold at Arqana this summer. Peter Brant has all of the progeny of the mare at the moment and it’s great to see a big fan of horseracing investing in France and trusting the French breeders.” A sad loss still winning One of Monceaux’s early Group 1 winners was Chicquita (Ire) (Montjeu {Ire}), bought for owner Paul Makin by Grant-Pritchard-Gordon back in 2009. Makin, who died just over a week ago at the age of 82, sold the Irish Oaks victrix as part of his Paulyn Dispersal in 2013, and she duly topped the Goffs November Sale, setting a new record for a European filly in training when selling to Coolmore for €6 million. The lure of the bloodstock world proved too strong for Makin, however, and he returned to the ring at Goffs three years later, taking on Peter Brant in his pursuit of Beauty Parlour but ultimately having to play the role of underbidder. It was never dull in the sales ring when Makin was present, and on more than one occasion he rousted dozing members of the press bench to their feet by throwing in an opening bid of seven figures. The Makin colours—carried most notably by Starcraft (NZ) (Soviet Star) to Group 1 success in Australia, New Zealand, France and Britain—flew high once more in a posthumous tribute to the owner with the victory of Winning Ways (Aus) (Declaration Of War) in the G1 Queensland Oaks on Saturday. Her trainer Garry Newham, who had masterminded the Southern Hemisphere part of Starcraft’s career, had been coaxed out of his retirement from the training ranks by Makin after he decided to return to his native Australia from Hong Kong two years ago. Galileo goes mainstream It’s hard enough for racing stories to claim space on the sports pages and bulletins, even on Derby day, when it was pitched against two British teams fighting out the UEFA Champions League final in Madrid, not to mention the rugby premiership final at Twickenham. So it is testament to the extraordinary dominance of Galileo that BBC Radio 5 Live found time within its Derby day broadcast to devote a section to his stud career and his ubiquity in the pedigrees of Saturday’s runners. The TDN was asked to contribute and to be mindful of the fact that for a more general sporting audience, the intricacies of the breeding industry are most likely fairly alien. Great though Galileo is, it’s unlikely that his name will find its way into the wider public consciousness in the same way as that of Lester Piggott, who has had a similarly significant impact on the Derby. The legendary jockey’s nine victories in the race were commemorated with the first of nine statues at racecourses around the country being unveiled by the Queen at Epsom on Saturday. Just as one might imagine Piggott wasn’t the nervous kind when it came to big race days, he was clearly unfazed at greeting Her Majesty on her arrival at Epsom. As the royal entourage swept down the course and the Queen’s car stopped by the winner’s circle, the 83-year-old stood waiting by his bronze likeness, shades on, hands in pockets, cool as ever. Derby winners remembered As we wait, almost certainly in vain now, for another British Triple Crown winner, we are just a year away from the 50th anniversary of the last one, Nijinsky. He was ridden of course by Lester Piggott and trained by Vincent O’Brien, whose tally of six Derby winners was surpassed by his Ballydoyle successor Aidan O’Brien on Saturday. Though Nijinsky went on to sire three Derby winners, his branch of the Northern Dancer sireline now hangs by a thread, unlike that of Sadler’s Wells. It was therefore pleasing to note that Nijinsky’s great grandson Silvano (Ger) was the sire of both Grade 1 winners at Greyville on Saturday, with both Silvano’s Pride (SAf) and Hawwaam (SAf) being out of mares by one of Silvano’s great rivals in the South African sire ranks, Jet Master (SAf). Hawwaam, bred in partnership Wilgerbosdrift and Mauritzfontein, is owned by Sheikh Hamdan Al Maktoum and, in recording his third top-level win this year, will have provided some consolation for the owner who saw two of his homebred colts, Madhmoon (Ire) (Dawn Approach {Ire}) and Motamarris (Ire) (Le Havre {Ire}) run into places in the Classics at Epsom and Chantilly. Hawwaam also highlights the importance of country suffixes for the breeding of Thoroughbreds as he is out of the Grade 3 winner Halfway To Heaven (SAf), not to be confused with Halfway To Heaven (Ire), herself a treble Group 1 winner and now the dam of the previous weekend’s G1 Tattersalls Gold Cup winner Magical (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}). Sheikh Hamdan’s cousin, Sheikh Mohammed Obaid, saw his fine season continue on Friday with the G1 Investec Coronation Cup winner Defoe (Ire), 16 years after the 5-year-old’s sire Dalakhani (Ire) (Darshaan {GB}) won the Prix du Jockey Club. The Weekly Wrap has always had a soft spot for the Aga Khan’s grey stallion, who was retired from stud duties three years ago. Alas, Defoe, as a gelding, cannot continue this branch of the line which was made famous at Epsom by Mill Reef and Shirley Heights (GB). It now largely hinges upon another grey Jockey Club winner, Reliable Man (GB), and Conduit (Ire), who stands at Hugh Suffern’s Tullyraine Stud in the north of Ireland after a stint in Japan. Conduit, incidentally, made his first 3-year-old strike at Epsom on the day New Approach (Ire) won the Derby, landing a heritage handicap before going on to put his stamp on that particular Classic generation with victory in the St Leger. Al Asayl rises again Francis Graffard did a superb for Al Asayl Bloodstock with Bateel (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}), the winner of the G1 Prix Vermeille and a pair of French Group 2 races, and he is now posting a similarly fine effort with another of the operation’s homebreds by the same stallion, The Revenant (GB). Like Bateel, the 4-year-old gelding also started his racing career in Britain, where he won on debut at two, and he has thrived since his move to Chantilly, sailing unbeaten through all bar one of his seven starts. The Revenant’s progression this year is particularly noteworthy: he won the listed Prix Altipan on March 10, followed by the G3 Prix Edmond Blanc three weeks later and then the G2 Badener Meile last Thursday. The Revenant, who is now being freshened up for an autumn campaign, is the second foal of his dam, the dual Group 3 winner Hazel Lavery (Ire) (Excellent Art {GB}), who was bought for €850,000 by Al Asayl when carrying her first foal by Frankel (GB). Her final appearance on the racecourse came when winning the G3 St Simon S., beating Frankel’s brother Noble Mission (GB), who went on to win Group 1 races in Britain, Ireland and France. The post The Weekly Wrap: Not Just A Sister Act appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

The Illinois Senate June 2 gave final passage to a massive gaming expansion plan that authorizes full casino operations at the state's three tracks. View the full article

Al Kazeem (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) was a slow burner for trainer Roger Charlton, not winning a group race until he was a 4-year-old, and his highest rated son Aspetar (Fr) is beginning to mirror Al Kazeem’s progress now as he edges his way towards Group 1 company. Roger Charlton’s 4-year-old colt took a big step towards the highest level when winning the G2 Grand Prix de Chantilly on Sunday on what was his eighth career start and it was a performance that has opened up various options for Sheikh Mohammed Bin Khalifa Al Thani’s homebred. “We have a few options for him, but possibly the [G1] Grand Prix De Saint-Cloud back in France in a month could be the best option – with some foreign raids at the end of the year,” the trainer’s son Harry Charlton said on Monday. Connections had concerns over Aspetar’s effectiveness on fast ground before Sunday’s race but his three quarter of a length defeat of Ziyad (GB) (Rock Of Gibraltar {Ire}) dispelled those fears. “What was encouraging yesterday was that he handled the fast ground and has come back sound this morning, which will open up more opportunities for him,” Charlton added. The post Aspetar In Line For French Return appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

2018 was another strong year for the finances of Ascot Racecourse when pre-tax profits for the course reached £6.1m. Increased turnover from admissions, race-day dining and increased sponsorship agreements at Royal Ascot have all yielded positive returns for the track which has subsequently allowed it to reduce the company’s debt to £50.6m and deliver increased prize-money and implement a proactive refurbishment programme. Ascot repaid almost £10m in debt in 2018 while prize-money, excluding British Champions Day, increased by £1.25m from the previous year. “2018 was another year of balanced progress in our overall financial performance, with Royal Ascot performing particularly well,” said Guy Henderson, Ascot’s chief executive. “The business continues to deliver on its policy of balanced sustainable income streams to drive investment in facilities, prize money, customer experience and international engagement, alongside our debt repayment programme.” Henderson continued, “We are grateful to all our partners, sponsors and customers for their continued support. I also wish to thank and pay tribute to our dedicated staff, full time and race-day, for all their efforts in delivering another strong performance all round.” The post Ascot Finances In Good Shape appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Addressing your thoughts, questions and statements about Hong Kong racing. Have something to say? Send a tweet to @SCMPRacingPost.I’m a small player but finding it no fun at all lately with the Joao [Moreira] and Zac [Purton] domination – no value … and the other jockeys must be really frustrated. Dangerous for turnover. Jockey Club needs to bring in a heavy hitter like a [Hugh] Bowman or [James] McDonald to smash the cartel – @claud_ballzThe Jockey Club licensing committee assembles later this… View the full article

In a challenge to Melbourne spring racing, Sydney will host an expanded Everest carnival over six weeks with a race worth at least $1 million every week. The $14 million Everest (1200m) on October 19 is the centrepiece with new races in the weeks either side of the world's richest turf sprint and others with increased stakes. Sydney's spring used to traditionally wind down with Epsom Handicap day which is now the beginning of a six-week extravaganza followed by rich stand-alone provincial meetin... View the full article

When you are talking dry spells in Hong Kong racing, Frankie Lor Fu-chuen is not a name that typically springs to mind but the prolific second-season trainer admits he hasn’t exactly been flying in recent weeks.After 35 winners from January to April, Lor saluted only four times in May before landing a single victory at Sha Tin on the weekend, seeing him slip 12 behind John Size in the trainers’ championship after being within seven only a couple of weeks ago.He hopes to get the ball rolling… View the full article

The familiar combination of trainer Raymond Connors and jockey Isaac Lupton combined once again to take out a feature jumping event at Ellerslie when Max stormed to victory in the McGregor Grant Steeplechase (4150m). The Connors-Lupton partnership has proved nigh on unbeatable at Ellerslie over the years, combining to secure three Great Northern Steeplechases (6400m) and two Pakuranga Hunt Cups (4900m) with fabulous jumper Hypnotize along with another Great Northern Steeplechase courtesy of Wise... View the full article

The Toby Autridge-trained Tommyra produced an impeccable display of hurdling to take out the first of the day’s prestige jumping features at Ellerslie, the KS Browne Hurdle (3350m). The Raise The Flag seven-year-old had looked the big improver for Monday’s contest after his gritty run for third in the Waikato Hurdles (3200m) last month. Regular rider Shaun Phelan stuck with the ship and produced an inch perfect effort to guide his charge home after he jumped fluently throughout. Settled back... View the full article

Exciting prospect Shoshone delivered the first win for her sire, the Waikato Stud-based Sacred Falls, in fine fashion when she led all the way over 1200m at Ellerslie on Monday. The Ken and Bev Kelso-trained two-year-old had been earmarked as one to watch after several impressive trial efforts including a runner-up finish to subsequent Listed Auckland Futurity Stakes (1400m) winner Rhaegar. Sent out a warm favourite in the NZB Insurance Pearl Series sponsored contest, Shoshone jumped smartly to ... View the full article

Horse's test result June 3 View the full article

Jockey and apprentice jockey licences for remaining 2019 Singapore racing season View the full article

The TDN took home several honors in Saturday night’s American Horse Publication’s Equine Media Awards. Dan Ross won first prize in the News Reporting Related Feature Single Article with his “Bellocq Embracing Calmer Waters in New Recovery Phase,” which appeared in the August 19 TDN, telling the story of the San Luis Rey fire survivor Martine Bellocq. Diana Pikulski’s series, On Aftercare, took home third-place in the Equine Related Editorial Series. Patty Wolfe and Emma Berry’s recap of the Palio took home second place in the Publishing Media Equine Related Video category, while Bill Finley’s TDN Podcast with John Gosden was third in the Podcast category. The TDN Weekend design took home third place in the Publication Cover Page category, an award which went to Justin Fowler, designer; and Fowler also brought home an honorable mention for design of Kelsey Riley’s story on the Mongolian Derby, the Wild Wild Steppe. The post TDN Wins Six Awards at the AHP appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article