Wandering Eyes

We have teamed up with the tipping experts Picks From The Paddock to give you their best bet of the day plus one for each race in the UK and Ireland! Best Bet Of The Day 20:40 Kempton Insurgence has won three from five on an all-weather surface, all over seven furlongs with one coming here at Kempton. He was given too much to do when only sixth on return from a two-month break last time out but has been dropped 2lbs for that effort and looked progressive prior to that so this looks a good opportunity to get back to winning ways. Desert Frost has done all his winning on turf and over a shorter trip than he encounters here, but is afforded respect given the recent form of both trainer and jockey, while Keyser Soze, Fennaan and Parnassian have all bring course and distance form to the table and add an extra level of intrigue. A final mention goes to Spare Parts who is three from three over course and distance. All came in lower grades than today and he returns from a six month break so there is a chance he could just need this to build fitness for a winter campaign, but nevertheless cannot be discounted. INSURGENCE (WIN) Windsor 13:40 – Who Told Jo Jo (WIN) 14:10 – Rocket Action (WIN) 14:40 – Deeds Not Words (WIN) 15:10 – Turnpike Trip (WIN) 15:40 – Fresh Terms (WIN) 16:10 – Caiya (WIN) 16:40 – Pacific Salt (WIN) 17:10 – Betsalottie (WIN) Pontefract 14:00 – Firewater (WIN) 14:30 – Shallow Hal (WIN) 15:00 – Deja (WIN) 15:30 – Three Comets (WIN) 16:00 – Happy Hollow (WIN) 16:30 – Lady Annalee (WIN) 17:00 – So Near So Farhh (WIN) 17:30 – Arcavallo (WIN) Kempton 17:40 – Broughton Excels (WIN) 18:10 – London Eye (WIN) 18:40 – Pennywhistle (WIN) 19:10 – Lady Lawyer (WIN) 19:40 – Abuja (WIN) 20:10 – Guardsman (WIN) 20:40 – Insurgence (WIN) 21:10 – Brother In Arms (WIN) Plumpton 14:20 – Jumping Jack (WIN) 14:50 – King Cnut (WIN) 15:20 – Kristal Hart (WIN) 15:50 – Knocknanuss (WIN) 16:20 – Bugsie Malone (WIN) 16:50 – River Of Intrigue (WIN) 17:20 – Mount Vesuvius (WIN) The post Picks From The Paddock Best Bets – Monday 22nd October appeared first on RaceBets Blog EN. View the full article

With the fall light waning over Keeneland and the crowd fighting to stave off the chill, nine fillies and mares loaded into the gate over a firm turf to contest the $125,000 Rood and Riddle Dowagers Stakes (G3T) on Oct. 21. View the full article

Next Shares worked five furlongs over a turf course rated good Oct. 21 in 1:04 2/5. The work was the first for the 5-year-old son of Archarcharch since his victory in the $1 million Shadwell Turf Mile (G1T) Oct. 6 at Keeneland. View the full article

Horses' test results October 20, 22 View the full article

Solidify was the stakes star of Woodbine's second annual Grey Day Oct. 21, as the 2-year-old Tapizar colt circled the $125,000 Grey Stakes (G3) field to win the featured event contested over 1 1/16 miles on the main track. View the full article

I saw Rick at Keeneland September where a mutual friend who did not know of our long-standing friendship asked me, “Do you know Rick Violette?” I looked at him and as I replied, “Oh, you mean do I know ‘Rick-Get-That-Filly-Out-of-My-Barn Violette’?” He roared and everyone else looked at us not knowing that in the 1990s I’d asked him to train what turned out to be a pretty obstinate filly, whom he finally persuaded our syndicate was wasting our training bills. Shortly after that he came to the fore with his dedicated leadership in settling the desperate workers compensation problems, then upending, reforming and solidifying the New York Thoroughbred Horsemen’s Association. All through his various tenures I was continually impressed by his sharp mind, creative solutions, stiff backbone, and in the end gracious manner and true friendship. To say nothing about his vaunted abilities as a horse trainer. I was shocked to read of his passing, as are thousands of those who knew of, and benefitted from, his efforts. Bless you, Richard, for what you did and who you were. View the full article

Rymska rolled past stablemate New Money Honey to score a 2 1/2-length victory in the Oct. 21 Athenia Stakes (G3T) at Belmont Park. The French-bred daughter of Le Havre covers the 1 1/16 miles in 1:41.59. View the full article

With the fall light waning over Keeneland and the crowds fighting to stave off the chill, nine fillies and mares loaded into the gate over a firm turf to contest the $125,000 Rood and Riddle Dowagers Stakes (G3T) on Oct. 21. View the full article

LEXINGTON, KY – The Fasig-Tipton October Fall Yearlings Sale will attempt to build on its record-setting 2017 renewal when it opens for a four-day run at the company’s Newtown Paddocks Monday in Lexington. A total of 1,464 yearlings have been catalogued for the auction, with bidding scheduled to begin daily at 10 a.m. through Thursday. A broad cross-section of shoppers were out at the sales barn on a chilly, but sun-dappled day in Lexington Sunday. “We’ve had good steady traffic here at the barns the last two days,” said Gainesway’s Michael Hernon. “It’s been a good mix of bloodstock agents, trainers and a blend of pinhookers looking for that sharp early horse to breeze at the 2-year-old sales.” The October sale draws the curtain on the yearling sales season, which opened three months ago in Lexington with a strong renewal of the Fasig-Tipton July Sale and continued on with records falling at the Fasig-Tipton Saratoga sales and Keeneland September sale. “The yearling season was good,” said Paramount Sales’ Pat Castello. “Saratoga was very good and September was exceptional. I think it’s all flowed along and there are a lot of people here who haven’t filled their orders. So I think it will carry on this week.” A total of 981 yearlings sold at last year’s October sale for a sales-record gross of $35,812,900. The average of $36,507 was also a highwater mark for the sale. “The October Sale has evolved into a major sale now,” Costello said. “Some of our clients are holding their horses specifically for this sale, so it’s become a very important part of the calendar.” Hernon agreed the October sale, which will be held over four days for the second straight year, has become more of a targeted destination for sellers. “I think the October sale has become more significant and it’s attracting a better level of pedigree,” he said. “We’ve had a few clients, including ourselves, more willing to place a horse directly into this sale, horses who might be later foals who might need a bit more time for development.” A colt by Medaglia d’Oro topped the 2017 sale when bringing a final bid of $700,000 from trainer Mark Casse. The sale topper was one of 35 yearlings to sell for $200,000 or over in 2017, up from 17 in 2016. “I think October is always one of the fairest places to sell,” said Chris Baccari, who consigned last year’s sale topper. “Whether you are buying or selling, there is value. And if you have a nice horse, I think you can get rewarded.” Recent October graduates who have won graded stakes this year include GIII Ohio Derby winner Core Beliefs (Quality Road), who sold for $45,000 in 2016 before reselling for $350,000 at last year’s Barretts March sale; G3 UAE Oaks winner Rayya (Tiz Wonderful); GIII Bourbonette Oaks winner Go Noni Go (Get Stormy); GIII Hurricane Bertie S. winner Jordan’s Henny (Henny Hughes); GIII Selene S. winner Miss Mo Mentum (Uncle Mo); GIII Marine S. winner O’Kratos (Paddy o’Prado); and GIII Kent S. winner Golden Brown (Offlee Wild). “I think the October sale is getting stronger all the time,” Baccari said. “There are great horses coming out of it, so that’s what makes it good.” Of his expectations for the market this week in Lexington, Hernon said, “I think the demand will be polarized, with quality being in vogue and in demand, but I think there will be good prices here for the upper end of the market. And there will be some value found. With the some 1500 catalogued here, I guarantee there will be a good spread of graded stakes winners coming out of this book.” View the full article

The Ocala Jockey Club International Three-Day Event organizers and the Florida Thoroughbred Breeders’ & Owners’ Association have created a new award designed to highlight the success of retired racehorses in second careers. The $1,000 award will go to the top-placed Florida-connected horse and rider competing in the Three Day Event at Ocala Jockey Club Nov. 15-18. “The FTBOA believes the care and support of retired Thoroughbreds is a common sense responsibility shared by all who participate in the racing and breeding industry,” said FTBOA CEO Lonny Powell. “This high profile, award winning event is among several that support and promote the versatility and marketability of retired thoroughbreds. Kicked off in 2016, the event provided $15,000 in prize funds to participating Thoroughbreds, to promote the transition of off-track Thoroughbreds to second careers. The FTBOA was involved from the inception. View the full article

Jockey Javier Castellano hit the 5,000 career win mark on Saturday at Belmont Park. Considering his 21-year career has been an upward arc of accomplishment, the milestone numbers are probably starting to blur for the 41-year-old native of Venezuela who comes from a family of race riders and is widely considered a solid citizen of the sport. The four-time Eclipse Award winner for Outstanding Jockey and record-setter for earnings in a year ($28.1 million in 2015) has now exceeded $20 million in purses for seven consecutive years. When Castellano was voted into the National Museum of Racing Hall of Fame in 2017, the prevailing sentiment was that another plaque might someday be needed to properly list all his future accomplishments. Like most riders though, Castellano’s first career victory came under rather ordinary circumstances in a nondescript race: On July 31, 1997, in the irons for just his second United States mount, Castellano guided maiden-claimer Phone Man (Caller I.D.) to a stalking half-length win in the third race at Calder Race Course. Yet the chart of that race reveals a historical oddity you wouldn’t expect to see in a ho-hum Thursday race at Calder in the middle of summer: That seven-horse field with a $6,300 purse for bottom-level maidens featured three future Hall-of-Fame jockeys. The other two? Veteran Randy Romero, who at the time was winding down a 26-year career prior to a 2010 Hall of Fame induction, and up-and-coming Ramon Dominguez, then in his second year of riding before blasting off on his own spree of dominance that culminated with a 2016 Hall of Fame induction. Both Romero and Dominguez paid hefty physical tolls that too often are the hallmarks of their profession. Romero suffered burns over two-thirds of his body in a jockeys’ room sauna fire in 1983, but was able to return to top form as the Breeders’ Cup-winning jockey aboard both Go for Wand and Personal Ensign, eventually ending his career in 1999 with 4,294 wins. Ill health effects from a lifetime of having to purge weight have followed him into retirement though, and Romero has endured severe kidney and liver complications for decades. He has been outspoken about raising the minimum weight requirements for jockeys. Dominguez, a winner of 4,985 career races, three consecutive Eclipse Awards for Outstanding Jockey, and a total of 20 individual meet riding titles at New York Racing Association tracks, had his career ut short in its prime when he suffered a traumatic brain injury in an Aqueduct Racetrack spill in January 2013. Since announcing his retirement later that year, Dominguez has also been an impassioned advocate on behalf of greater safety for jockeys. Running into retirement… Although his career on horseback is over, Dominguez continues to make headlines winning races. He was profiled in the September issue of Runner’s World for his successful transition to road racing. As a jockey, Dominguez ran to maintain weight, but said he didn’t particularly like it. “After my retirement, I was just able to enjoy it,” Dominguez told Runner’s World, noting that he now looks forward to training 25 miles a week with a running club. “And then I got to a point where I felt like I was fit enough to take a look into [road] racing, because racing is one of the things you miss when you’re a retired professional athlete. So I felt that this could, in some way, bring back that competitive element.” According to Runner’s World, Dominguez won the first 5K he entered with a time of 19:15. He also recently completed the Run for the Horses 5K charity race to benefit Thoroughbreds in Saratoga Springs in an impressive 18:38. “In both running and horse racing, you prepare physically up to a point that’s the optimal level for you, but then the biggest obstacle to overcome is really yourself,” Dominguez said in the article. “You’re like, ‘I don’t know if I can do this,’ and your mind starts playing tricks on you. Having been an athlete for almost 20 years, it’s definitely a big advantage in this learning curve I’m going through [with running] because some of the things I’m experiencing, I’ve already been through even if it is in a different sport.” Spectacular crash, Safe Outcome The fence-crashing stretch run of Friday’s GIII Pin Oak Valley View S. at Keeneland Race Course is an example of a horse losing her chance to win due to a bizarre happenstance. But it also represents a potential tragedy averted because Keeneland two years ago invested in a flexible inner turf rail that is designed to absorb impact when hit by a horse and/or jockey. ‘TDN Rising Star’ Daddy Is a Legend (Scat Daddy) slipped through a tight gap on the inside in the final furlong of Friday’s feature and appeared to have every chance to win the race when she ducked to the left and careened through the inner rail into the infield as the fence supports popped out and the horizontal sections of the rail collapsed inward in domino fashion. Daddy Is a Legend did not fall and jockey Manny Franco was able to pull her up in the infield adjacent to the stretch. The filly was walked off the course, and on Saturday trainer George Weaver reported she “just had a couple of scratches, but nothing major. It will take a couple of days to see if anything shows up.” In 2016, Keeneland installed the Mawsafe rail, a lightweight system from Australia. One safety feature is a horizontal PVC rail that springs and bends. This offers stability while the uprights planted in the ground are meant to “kick out” on impact. The Mawsafe rail also allows Keeneland to change the running lanes on the turf course by positioning the rail at zero, 10, 15 and 20 feet from the inside to reduce wear and tear on the turf course. “It’s why we do what we do,” Keeneland president and chief executive Bill Thomason said. “Seeing the Mawsafe rail perform as it was intended to ensure the safety of Daddy Is a Legend and her jockey [Friday] was extremely rewarding.” Weaver said that pending no adverse after-effects from the incident, Daddy Is a Legend could go next in the GI Matriarch S. at Del Mar Dec. 2. Another option is to give the filly the rest of the year off to prepare for a 4-year-old campaign. Reward Raised, Shooting Remains Unsolved The rifle shooting of a weanling colt in the overnight hours of Sep. 27-28 while turned out in a Springhouse Farm paddock in Kentucky’s Jessamine County is entering its fourth week as an unsolved crime with no clear leads, the investigator handling the case told TDN. The weanling had to be euthanized because of spinal injuries when it was found the next morning unable to stand. About a dozen other horses had also been turned out in the same paddock, and numerous shell casings were found on the roadway about 120 yards from the stricken colt. “The [original $12,500] reward has gone up [to $23,500],” Jessamine County Sheriff’s Office lieutenant Anthony Purcell said in a phone interview. “Unfortunately, nobody’s come forward. I will say that we have recovered the round from the animal, so right now that’s all been sent over to the state laboratories. There’s nothing new to report, and I’m afraid if we don’t get some kind of a break on it I don’t know that this one’s going to get solved, unfortunately.” Anyone with information is asked to call the sheriff’s office at (859) 885-4139. View the full article

Grade I winner Poseidon’s Warrior (Speightstown), sire of GISW Firenze Fire, will relocate from Pleasant Acres Farm in Ocala, Florida to join the stallion roster at John Phillips’s Darby Dan Farm in 2019, it was announced Sunday. The stallion will be offered as part of Darby Dan’s “Share the Upside” program and will stand for a fee of $6,500 in 2019. “There’s a lot to like about Poseidon’s Warrior, and we are excited to add him to our roster,” said Ryan Norton, stallion director at Darby Dan Farm. “He has a stallion’s pedigree and hails from a strong female family. He was exceptionally fast, running six triple-digit Beyer Speed Figures, he is a proven Grade I winner, and is already making a name for himself as a sire. He represents a great opportunity for breeders through our Share the Upside program, and we invite people to come out and see him. We are confident breeders are really going to like him.” Poseidon’s Warrior won five stakes for Swilcan Stable and trainer Butch Reid, including the GI Alfred G. Vanderbilt H., and notched an overall record of 7-2-4 from 21 starts with earnings of $701,147. He became Florida’s leading freshman sire of 2017, spearheaded by the success of Firenze Fire, who won last year’s Champagne and GIII Sanford S. The Jason Servis trainee maintained his sharp form in 2018, capturing the GIII Dwyer S. and GIII Gallant Bob S. Poseidon’s Warrior is available for immediate inspection. For more information, contact Norton at 859-254-0424 or via email at ryan@darbydan.com. View the full article

Robert LaPenta, Madaket Stables, Siena Farm and Twin Creeks Racing Stables’s Catholic Boy (More Than Ready) worked five furlongs in 1:02.60 Sunday morning at Churchill Downs in preparation for a start in the GI Breeders’ Cup Classic Nov. 3. “I thought everything went really well,” said trainer Jonathan Thomas. “He broke off kindly from the pony. He started the work slowly but really picked it up from there. It was more of an endurance-building work this morning. He ran two tough races over the summer, so we didn’t really need anything too speedy. This was probably the most major work prior to the Classic and we’ll likely come back with something easy next weekend.” Back at Belmont Park, Eclipse Award-winning trainer Chad Brown sent out a string of Breeders’ Cup contenders to both the main track and inner turf course for workouts Sunday morning. Undefeated ‘TDN Rising Star’ and GIII Miss Grillo S. winner Newspaperofrecord (Ire) (Lope de Vega {Ire}), pointing towards the GI Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf, visited the main track in company with MGSW Significant Form (Creative Cause), as the pair completed four furlongs in 48.78 seconds. “I just went with my gut and decided to keep her on the dirt this morning because she worked terrific on it last week,” said Brown of Newspaperofrecord. “She worked again in company with Significant Form. They were a good match last week and I was very pleased today. She seems to be holding her form well from her win in the Miss Grillo. She’ll come back with a maintenance breeze either Saturday or Sunday next week and then ship to Churchill. She’s fit and ready.” Peter Brant’s Sistercharlie (Ire) (Myboycharlie {Ire}), winner of three Grade I events over the turf in 2018, breezed five furlongs in 1:00.56 on the inner turf course in company with GI Matriarch S.-bound MGSW Uni (GB) (More Than Ready). Considered a leading contender for the GI Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Turf, Sistercharlie was last seen winning the GI Beverly D. S. at Arlington Aug. 11. “I wanted a real solid work,” said Brown. “Sistercharlie is coming off a bit of a layoff now, and I felt we got that today. A minute and change and the work was sharp and solid. She galloped out with plenty of energy.” Almanaar and Analyze It, eighth and fourth respectively in Keeneland’s GI Shadwell Turf Mile Oct. 6, worked in company on the turf Sunday morning completing four furlongs in :49 flat in preparation for the GI Breeders’ Cup Turf Mile. GI Breeders’ Cup Turf-bound GI Arlington Million S. hero Robert Bruce (Chi) (Fast Company {Ire}) worked in company with GSW/GISP 3-year-old Instilled Regard (Arch) over the turf, completing five furlongs in 1:00.77. Grade I-winning female turfers A Raving Beauty (Ger) (Mastercraftsman {Ire}) and Fourstar Crook (Freud) worked four furlongs in 48.77 seconds over the inner turf. View the full article

Making just his fourth career start, Sunday Racing's Fierement edged Etario after a tight stretch battle in the 79th running of the Kikuka Sho (Japanese St. Leger, G1) Oct. 21 at Kyoto Racecourse. View the full article

Sunday Racing’s Fierement (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) prevailed in a fierce duel with Etario (Jpn) (Stay Gold {Jpn}) to take the final Classic of the Japanese season, the G1 Kikuka Sho (Japanese St. Leger) by a nose at Kyoto on Sunday. It was the colt’s first win at the stakes level and first try at 3000 metres. Sent off at 13-1, the seventh pick in the full field of 18, the bay settled one off the fence in the middle of the pack, as Generale Uno (Jpn) (Screen Hero {Jpn}) doled out splits of :50.10 for the first half-mile and 1:15.10 for the initial 1200 metres. Generale Uno still led approaching the third corner, with Fierement gradually finding the outside back in sixth. Kept in closer touch to the vanguard from there, pilot Christophe Lemaire was sitting on a lot of horse as the field fanned out for the final quarter mile charge. Generale Uno (Jpn) (Screen Hero {Jpn}) faded at that point, with Epoca d’Oro (Jpn) (Orfevre {Jpn) challenging up the inside and Etario unveiling a similar move up the middle of the course. Fierement charged up in between that pair and You Can Smile (Jpn) (King Kamehameha {Jpn}) was also launching his bid in behind. Fierement was always holding Etario safe in the rush to the line however, and won by a nose, with 1 1/2 lengths back to You Can Smile in third. Favoured Blast Onepiece (Jpn) (Harbinger {GB}) raced in the middle of the field for most of the race, swung to the outside on the backstretch and, although finishing well, settled for fourth, three-quarters of a length behind. “I had confidence in him as he felt good during training,” said Lemaire, who had booted home Almond Eye (Jpn) (Lord Kanaloa {Jpn}) in the G1 Shuka Sho just seven days ago en route to her Fillies’ Triple Crown triumph. “We briefly met traffic in the straight, but my mount stretched really well with his bursting kick. I congratulated Mirco [Demuro] right after crossing the wire, thinking that we had lost, so it’s unbelievable that we were able to win the race.” The Sunday Racing runner did not debut until Jan. 28 of his 3-year-old year with a win going 1800 metres at Tokyo. He doubled up at that distance switched to Nakayama on Apr. 14, and was second in the G3 Radio Nikkei Sho at Fukushima on July 1 before being shelved. The Kikuka Sho was his first try beyond 1800 metres. Pedigree Notes… Fierement is the 120th black-type winner and 38th Group 1 winner for his Shadai Stallion Station-based sire. Italian highweight Lune d’Or, who won the G1 Premio Lydia Tesio and was placed in the G1 Yorkshire Oaks, produced Last Noodle (Jpn), a winning full-brother to Fierement in 2016. Twice Group 3 placed in France, second dam Luth D’Or (Noir et Or {GB}) is a half-sister to French champion miler Luth Enchantee (Fr) (Be My Guest), who won both the G1 Prix du Moulin de Longchamp and the G1 Prix Jacques Le Marois. Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. Sunday, Kyoto, Japan KIKUKA SHO (JAPANESE ST. LEGER)-G1, ¥267,260,000 (US$/£/€), Kyoto, 10-21, 3yo, c/f, 3000mT, 3:06.10, fm. 1–FIEREMENT (JPN), 126, c, 3, Deep Impact (Jpn) 1st Dam: Lune d’Or (Fr) (Hwt. 3yo-Ity at 9 1/2-11f, G1SW-Ity, MGSW-Fr, G1SP-Eng, $440,124), by Green Tune 2nd Dam: Luth D’Or (Fr), by Noir et Or (GB) 3rd Dam: Viole d’Amour (Fr), by Luthier (Fr) 1ST BLACK-TYPE WIN. 1ST GROUP WIN. 1ST GROUP 1 WIN. O-Sunday Racing; B-Northern Farm (Jpn); T-Takahisa Tezuka; J-Christophe Lemaire; ¥147,482,000. Lifetime Record: 4-3-1-0. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree. Werk Nick Rating: D. 2–Etario (Jpn), 126, c, 3, by Stay Gold (Jpn)–Hot Cha Cha, by Cactus Ridge. (¥87,000,000 yrl ’16 JRHAJUL). O-G Riviere Racing; B-Northern Farm (Jpn); ¥55,852,000. 3–You Can Smile (Jpn), 126, c, 3, by King Kamehameha (Jpn)– Mood Indigo (Jpn), by Dance in the Dark (Jpn). O-Makoto Kaneko Holdings; B-Northern Farm (Jpn); ¥33,926,000. Margins: NO, 1HF, 3/4. Odds: 13.50, 2.60, 30.70. Also Ran: Blast Onepiece (Jpn), Glory Vase (Jpn), Time Flyer (Jpn), Chardonnay Gold (Jpn), Epoca d’Oro (Jpn), Generale Uno (Jpn), Grail (Jpn), Stay Foolish (Jpn), African Gold (Jpn), Grandiose (Jpn), Meisho Tekkon (Jpn), Cosmic Force (Jpn), Aithon (Jpn), Kafuji Vanguard (Jpn), Oken Moon (Jpn). Click for the Racing Post chart. JRA Video. View the full article

Next Shares worked five furlongs over a turf course rated good Sunday morning in 1:04 2/5. The work was the first for the 5-year-old son of Archarcharch since his victory in the $1 million Shadwell Turf Mile (G1T) Oct. 6 at Keeneland. 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) Closing in on three decades of consignments, Denali Stud knows where its Book 1 sweet spot is for the Keeneland November Breeding Stock Sale. And even though market conditions are strong right now, Denali’s Book 1 emphasis remains focused on quality over quantity because buyers continue to be critically discerning before pulling the trigger on top-dollar purchases. “It’s a nice mixture of young, well-covered mares and a handful of nice babies,” Denali’s owner, Craig Bandoroff, said of his Book 1 contingent. “We never come in to Book 1 with 30 of ’em. We’re usually right at this number of 10 to 12, and we try to keep it to our highest quality, knowing that we try to maintain that standard each year.” Craig listed hip 37, Circulation (GB), who’s in foal to Pioneerof the Nile, as a prime example of a top-line prospect that Denali will offer. “Circulation is an Oasis Dream (GB) mare from one of the better Juddmonte families,” Craig said. “She’s a half-sister to [European older-horse champion] Twice Over (GB) (Observatory). There are some amazing horses [in her family] that don’t even make the catalogue page.” Craig’s son Conrad, Denali’s vice president, continued: “Just a phenomenal pedigree. I think what’s exciting about this mare is that it’s such a ‘live’ family, where all of the sisters are being well bred and come from one of the best breeding operations in the world. So she’s certainly an exciting item to bring to market.” Another in-foal offering is hip 101, Juno (Brz) (Setembro Chove {Brz}), who was bred to Animal Kingdom. “Juno was the [2014] champion 2-year-old filly in Brazil, and she was also a graded stakes performer in the States,” Craig said. “I always feel like when these really good South American horses also have solid American form in their record, it really legitimizes what they did in their home country.” Hip 135, Maya Malibu (Malibu Moon), will be consigned as a 3-year-old racing or breeding prospect. “Maya Malibu is a multiple Grade I-placed filly,” Conrad said. “She was second in the [2017 GI] Spinaway S. and she was third in the [GI] Frizette S. She’s out of a Grade I winner [Island Sand, by Tabasco Cat] and is a racing or broodmare prospect, but she’ll make an absolutely great addition to anyone’s broodmare band.” Hip 144, Morea (Indian Charlie), is in foal to Frosted on an early cover. “She’s from another really strong Juddmonte family,” Craig said, noting half-sister Weep No More (Mineshaft), the 2016 GI Ashland S. winner. “And [a catalogue update] is that she’s also a half-sister to 2-year-old Current (Curlin), who just won the [Oct. 7 GIII] Dixiana Bourbon S. That was a ‘Win and You’re In’ race, and we think he’s going to run in the [GI] Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf. We’ll be looking for another big update there.” Hip 172, ‘TDN Rising Star‘ Red Lodge (Midshipman) will be up for auction in foal to Kitten’s Joy. “She set the [five-furlong turf] course record at Belmont Park [in :55.73 in 2016] and is from a really good Darby Dan family. She’s out of a daughter of [MGISW turfer] Memories of Silver (Silver Hawk).” For Denali’s Book 1 weanlings, Craig said “we have four foals, and they’re all legitimate Book 1-type babies.” “Hip 103is an American Pharoah filly,” Craig said. “Hip 168 is an Honor Code colt who’s a half-brother to Ancient Secret (Kantharos), a Grade II stakes winner. Hip 178 is a Speightstown colt. And hip 237 is a Medaglia d’Oro colt out of a half-sister to [multiple Eclipse Award winner and ‘TDN Rising Star’ Songbird (Medaglia d’Oro).” Conrad summed up Denali’s KEENOV consignment expectations. “We’re coming on the back of a benchmark year for yearling sales on both sides of the pond, and I think there’s going to be fantastic momentum going into November,” Conrad said. “The economy continues to be strong, and I feel like there’s going to be competitive bidding and strong demand for well-bred, strong physical weanlings and mares come November. We’re optimistic about it.” View the full article

Well-respected and influential New York horseman Rick Violette, Jr. passed away Sunday morning after a prolonged battle with cancer, according to numerous reports. Violette, the long-time president of the New York Thoroughbred Horsemen’s Association, was best known as a dedicated advocate for fellow horsemen, workers and industry stakeholders in the Empire State and nationally, but also enjoyed considerable success on the racetrack as trainer of the likes of Read the Footnotes (Smoke Glacken), Dream Rush (Wild Rush), Upstart (Flatter) and, most recently, dual Grade I winner Diversify (Bellamy Road). Violette also served as president as the National Thoroughbred Horsemen’s Association. He began training in 1977 and posted 870 career wins. Diversify was Violette’s latest success story, notching wins in the 2017 GI Jockey Club Gold Cup and 2018 GI Whitney S. This story will be updated. View the full article

Aidan O’Brien issued a clean bill of health for all his Champions Day runners from Ascot on Saturday while also hinting that retirement could be on the cards for this year’s G1 Al Shaqab Lockinge S. winner Rhododendron (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}). The triple Group 1 winner who is out of a Classic winner in Halfway To Heaven (Ire) (Pivotal {GB}) finished fifth behind Cracksman (GB) (Frankel {GB}) in the G1 QIPCO Champion S. Suggesting she may have run her last race her trainer said on Sunday, “Rhododendron might be left alone now as she’s after doing a lot. The lads will talk about it now, but she’s a very important mare and she’s done it at two and three.” Rhododendron and her stable-mate Hydrangea (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) were regulars in the top fillies races over the past three seasons and having won the G1 Prix de l’Opera at Chantilly last year over ten furlongs as a 3-year-old she successfully dropped down to a mile to land the Lockinge at Newbury in May. “She’s a filly that, looking back at it, a mile could have been her best trip, even though she has a lot of good form over a mile and a quarter. She still ran well yesterday,” O’Brien added. The Ballydoyle trainer was successful at Ascot with Rhododendron’s full-sister Magical (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) in the G1 QIPCO British Champions Filly & Mare S. while he was also delighted with the performance of I Can Fly (GB) (Fastnet Rock (Aus}) who finished second to Roaring Lion (Kitten’s Joy) in the G1 Queen Elizabeth II S. “We thought she was a Guineas filly [earlier in the year],” he said of I Can Fly. “She just lost her way in the middle but has been progressing with every run since, massive progressive as we saw, and there could still be even more to come next year,” O’Brien added. View the full article

When next they meet in the final course-and-distance preps for the Longines Hong Kong International Races in a months’ time, it will be at set weights (with penalties). But for now, Hong Kong’s top gallopers continued their preparations towards December’s main events under handicap conditions in Sunday’s G2 Sha Tin Trophy (1600mT) and the G2 Premier Bowl (1200mT). Hong Kong’s reigning Horse of the Year Beauty Generation (NZ) (Road to Rock {Aus}) was a warm item to continue his winning ways in the Sha Tin Trophy, but as the top-rated horse locally, was asked to carry 133 pounds while giving weight to some pretty serious horses, including ‘TDN Rising Star’ and MG1SW Pakistan Star (Ger) (Shamardal), former Horse of the Year Werther (NZ) (Tavistock {NZ}) and the up-and-coming Singapore Sling (SAf) (Philanthropist). Forced to deal with that impost and pressed through the opening 1200 metres by last year’s G1 Longines Hong Kong Cup winner Time Warp (GB) (Archipenko), Beauty Generation turned in another brilliant performance from the front, swatting away his longer-winded rival in upper stretch and holding a late surge from Singapore Sling. Eagle Way (Aus), who wants much further than Sunday’s mile trip, ran a cracking race in third ahead of Pakistan Star, who sat handy and stayed on admirably for fourth. “The fact that he conceded more weight here means that I feel there was more merit in the win today,” said jockey Zac Purton. “He just needs to hold his form through to December now.” In the Premier Bowl, the punters hammered Ivictory (Aus) (Mossman {Aus}) into even-money favouritism while much better at the weights with Hot King Prawn (Aus) (Denman {Aus}), who got the better of his stablemate in the G3 National Day Cup H. up the 1000m straight course Oct. 1. But the chalk blew up in the last furlong and the progressive Hot King Prawn ran his record to 8-from-9 with a front-running success. Fifty Fifty (NZ) (Thorn Park {Aus}) sliced through late to be second ahead of Mr Stunning (Aus) (Exceed and Excel {Aus}), who was having his first run for Frankie Lor, having been transferred from Lor’s former mentor, John Size. “We got across the field within a hundred metres and from then on it was pretty much all over,” said jockey Sam Clipperton, posting just his second victory of the season. “I was able to throw the brakes on and because I got those cheap sectionals mid race it was always going to be very hard for them to run us down.” Ivictory was poised throughout just off the flank of the eventual winner, but ran out of gas with a furlong to race and dropped out to last. “He travelled pretty comfortably and got a nice run outside the winner,” Zac Purton said. “But when I asked him there was nothing there.” Pedigree Notes: Beauty Generation is one of two foals from his dam to make the races and is kin to a yearling filly by Tavistock (NZ). Stylish Bel was most recently covered by Tavistock’s G1 Rosehill Guineas and G1 VRC Derby winner Tarzino (NZ), who stands at Westbury Stud. For more information on Hot King Prawn, his family and his breeder, read “Torryburn-breds on a tear in Hong Kong“ from the TDNAusNZ edition of Oct. 17, 2018. Sunday, Sha Tin, Hong Kong ORIENTAL WATCH SHA TIN TROPHY H.-G2, HK$4,250,000 (£415,707/€471,517/A$760,312/US$542,037), Sha Tin, 10-21, 3yo/up, 1600mT, 1:33.07, gd. 1–BEAUTY GENERATION (NZ), 133, g, 6, by Road to Rock (Aus) 1st Dam: Stylish Bel (Aus), by Bel Esprit (Aus) 2nd Dam: Stylish Victory (Aus), by Durham Ranger 3rd Dam: Romantic Peace (Aus), by Mikado (Aus) (NZ$60,000 Ylg ’14 NZBSEL). O-Patrick Kwok Ho Chuen; B-Nearco Stud Ltd; T-John Moore; J-Zac Purton; HK$2,422,500. Lifetime Record: Horse of the Year, Ch. Miler & MG1SW-HK, G1SP-Aus, 24-11-3-4, HK$46,205,720. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree. Werk Nick Rating: A+++ *Triple Plus*. 2–Singapore Sling (SAf), 117, g, 5, Philanthropist–Sing Dixie Sing (SAf), by Western Winter. (R225,000 Ylg ’15 CAPJAN). O-Nikki Ng Mien Hua; B-; T-Tony Millard; HK$935,000. 3–Eagle Way (Aus), 119, g, 6, More Than Ready–Wedgetail Eagle (Aus), by Lure. (A$200,000 Ylg ’14 INGEAS). O-Siu Pak Kwan; B-Segenhoe Thoroughbreds Australia Pty Ltd (NSW); T-John Moore; HK$488,750. Margins: HF, 1 3/4, 1. Odds: 11-10, 32-5, 210-1. Also Ran: Pakistan Star (Ger), Exultant (Ire), Nothingilikemore (Aus), Werther (NZ), Seasons Bloom (Aus), Beauty Only (Ire), Rise High (Fr), Nassa (SAf), Dinozzo (Ire), Thewizardofoz (Aus), Time Warp (GB). Click for the HKJC.com chart, PPs and sectional timing and VIDEO. Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. Sunday, Sha Tin, Hong Kong PREMIER BOWL H.-G2, HK$4,250,000 (£415,707/€471,517/A$760,312/US$542,037), Sha Tin, 10-21, 3yo/up, 1200mT, 1:08.23, gd. 1–HOT KING PRAWN (AUS), 122, g, 4, by Denman (Aus) 1st Dam: De Chorus (Aus), by Unbridled’s Song 2nd Dam: Val de Grace (Aus), by Centaine (Aus) 3rd Dam: Renasans (Aus), by Ashabit (Aus) (A$90,000 Ylg ’16 INGCLS). O-Lau Sak Hong; B-Torryburn Stud (NSW); T-John Size; J-Sam Clipperton; HK$2,422,500. Lifetime Record: 9-8-1-0, HK$10,382,800. *1/2 to Siren’s Fury (Aus) (Myboycharlie {Ire}), GSW-Aus, A$383,775. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree. Werk Nick Rating: C. 2–Fifty Fifty (NZ), 128, g, 6, Thorn Park (Aus)–Udiditagain (NZ), by D’Cash (Aus). (NZ$75,000 Ylg ’14 NZBSEL). O-Lee Wan Keung & Lee Wong Wai Kuen; B-; T-Peter Ho; HK$935,000. 3–Mr Stunning (Aus), 133, g, 6, Exceed and Excel (Aus)–With Fervour, by Dayjur. (A$110,000 Wlg ’13 INGGSW; NZ$250,000 Ylg ’14 NZBPRE). O-Maurice Koo Win Chong; B-Makybe Breeding & Racing (Vic); T-Frankie Lor; HK$488,750. Margins: 1 1/4, NO, 1 1/4. Odds: 33-10, 12-1, 67-10. Also Ran: Born In China (GB), Winner’s Way (Aus), Not Listenin’tome (Aus), Jumbo Luck (Aus), California Whip, Pingwu Spark (NZ), Ivictory (Aus). Click for the HKJC.com chart, PPs and sectional timing and VIDEO. Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. View the full article

Baden-Baden hosted the G3 Ittlingen Preis der Winterkonigin on Sunday and it was the unbeaten Whispering Angel (Ger) (Soldier Hollow {GB}) who wore the crown after upstaging stablemate Akribie (Ger) (Reliable Man {GB}) for a Markus Klug one-two. Off the mark at the first attempt when making all by 10 lengths at Hannover Sept. 16, Gestut Park Wiedingen’s homebred was held up in rear this time with Martin Seidl keen to restrain the tractable bay. Creeping into contention approaching the final turn, the 18-5 second favourite veered left inside the final furlong but was able to collar Gestut Rottgen’s Listed Winterkonigen-Trial winner Akribie in the last 75 metres and prevail by a half length. Whispering Angel is the first foal out of Wamika (Ger) (Shirocco {Ger}), a half-sister to the triple group-winning 10-furlong performer Wai Key Star (Ger) also by Soldier Hollow and to the G3 Bavarian Classic runner-up Wheredreamsare (GB) (Monsun {Ger}). The listed-winning third dam Waky Na (Ire) (Ahonoora {GB}), who was responsible for the G1 Premio Vittorio di Capua hero Waky Nao (GB) (Alzao), is a daughter of the Listed Firth of Clyde S. scorer Myra’s Best (Ire) (Pampapaul {Ire}). She in turn is a half to the legendary G1 Phoenix Champion S. heroine Park Express (Ire), whose multiple group 1-winning Epsom Derby hero and leading sire New Approach (Ire) needs no introduction. Wamika also has a yearling full-sister and a colt full-brother to Whispering Angel. Sunday, Baden-Baden, Germany ITTLINGEN – PREIS DER WINTERKONIGIN-G3, €105,000, Baden-Baden, 10-20, 2yo, f, 8fT, 1:39.84, gd. 1–WHISPERING ANGEL (GER), 128, f, 2, by Soldier Hollow (GB) 1st Dam: Wamika (Ger), by Shirocco (Ger) 2nd Dam: Wakytara (Ger), by Danehill 3rd Dam: Waky Na (Ire), by Ahonoora (GB) 1ST BLACK-TYPE WIN; 1ST GROUP WIN. O/B-Gestut Park Wiedingen (GER); T-Markus Klug; J-Martin Seidl. €60,000. Lifetime Record: 2-2-0-0, €63,000. Werk Nick Rating: A+++ *Triple Plus*. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree. 2–Akribie (Ger), 128, f, 2, Reliable Man (GB)–Aussicht (Ger), by Haafhd (GB). O/B-Gestut Rottgen (GER); T-Markus Klug. €23,000. 3–Ivanka (Ger), 128, f, 2, Dabirsim (Fr)–Irresistable (Ger), by Monsun (Ger). O-Rennstall Gestut Hachtsee; B-Gestut Hachtsee (GER); T-Andreas Wohler. €11,000. Margins: HF, 1HF, NK. Odds: 3.60, 4.70, 9.20. Also Ran: Wish you Well (Ger), Sharoka (Ire), Peace of Paris (Ger), Apadanah (Ger), Best On Stage (Ger), Contessa (Ger), Gold (Ger), Sweet Gold (Ger), Wyomia Jasmin (Fr), Angel for All (Fr). Scratched: Waldblumchen (Ger). Click for the Racing Post result or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. View the full article

John Moore does not think Beauty Generation’s dominance will scare off any prospective overseas challengers from making the trip to December’s Longines Hong Kong International Races. The reigning Horse of the Year has been sublime in his two runs back this campaign – winning both the Group Three Celebration Cup and Group Two Oriental Watch Sha Tin Trophy – while giving weight to all of rivals. Zac Purton, who is one of three jockeys to win all of the four HKIR features,... View the full article

Matthew Poon Ming-fai is just one win away from outriding his apprenticeship after recording a treble at Sha Tin on Sunday. The talented 23-year-old enjoyed a terrific day in the saddle, guiding home Ho Ho Feel, Cheerful Boy and Citron Spirit to split the Jockey Challenge with Zac Purton to take him to 69 winners for his Hong Kong career. “I’ve never had a treble at Sha Tin before so I can’t complain with that,” Poon said afterwards. “I’ve got seven rides at... View the full article

Australian jockey Sam Clipperton capped off one of his most turbulent weeks in Hong Kong with his sweetest success yet, winning the Group Two Premier Bowl aboard rising star Hot King Prawn. The 24-year-old, who had ridden just one winner for the season before the dominant victory, paid credit to “loyal supporter” John Size, who has continued to give him rides when many others have looked elsewhere. Before the Premier Bowl, Size had given Clipperton 86 rides for just two winners (and... View the full article

Beauty Generation again left trainer John Moore and the masses in awe on Sunday, dismantling a strong field to take out the Group Two Oriental Watch Sha Tin Trophy (1,600m) for the second year running. As he did when winning on National Day three weeks ago, Zac Purton was able to dictate the race from near the front on Beauty Generation and Moore was effusive with his praise for the six-year-old. “What he’s done, carrying the top weight and still being able to run near a track... View the full article