Wandering Eyes

Juddmonte’s Obligate (GB) (Frankel {GB}), who led throughout when securing a Nov. 9 newcomers’ heat going 7 1/2 furlongs at Saint-Cloud, mirrored those tactics to earn a first stakes rosette with a 3 1/2-length triumph in Chantilly’s May 6 Listed Prix des Lilas on seasonal return last time and didn’t waiver from her tried and tested method to deny familiar rival Pure Zen (Fr) (Zoffany {Ire}) in Sunday’s G2 Prix de Sandringham back over the same one-mile trip at Chantilly. Sharply away from the outside stall to set a solid pace two lengths clear on the front end until turning for home, the 9-10 favourite was allowed a breather in the straight before stirring into action when threatened by closest pursuer Pure Zen with 300 metres remaining and kept on resolutely under a late drive to bravely hold that persistent challenger by a head in race-record time. “She’s a very talented filly, but is not easy to train as she has a tendency to be quite keen,” explained trainer Pascal Bary. “She shows it going to post and again in her races, but she makes good use of her early speed and big stride. Besides having class, she has a huge heart and gives everything she has in every race. That was a hard race for her so we’ll see how she comes out of it before making any plans. I think she has the speed for seven furlongs so the [July 7 G1] Prix Jean Prat [at Deauville] could be a possibility for her next race.” Obligate is the first foal produced by the unraced Responsible (GB) (Oasis Dream {GB}) and the homebred bay is a full-sister to the hitherto unraced 2-year-old colt Indigo Lake (GB) and a yearling filly. Her dam, a daughter of Listed Prix des Sablonnets victress and storied blue hen Hasili (Ire) (Kahyasi {Ire}), is kin to top-level performers Intercontinental (GB) (Danehill), Heat Haze (GB) (Green Desert), Deluxe (Storm Cat), Cacique (Ire) (Danehill), Champs Elysees (GB) (Danehill), Dansili (GB) (Danehill) and Banks Hill (GB) (Danehill). The latter is the dam of G1 Prix Jean Romanet heroine Romantica (GB) (Galileo {Ire}) and MSW sire Ideal World (Kingmambo) while Heat Haze (GB) produced G3 Glorious S. winner Mirage Dancer (GB) (Frankel {GB}), GI Maker’s Mile S. third Forge (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) and Listed Michael Seely Memorial Fillies’ S. runner-up Radiator (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}). Sunday, Chantilly, France PRIX DE SANDRINGHAM-G2, €130,000, Chantilly, 6-2, 3yo, f, 8fT, 1:34.59 (NSR), gd. 1–OBLIGATE (GB), 123, f, 3, by Frankel (GB) 1st Dam: Responsible (GB), by Oasis Dream (GB) 2nd Dam: Hasili (Ire), by Kahyasi (Ire) 3rd Dam: Kerali (GB), by High Line (GB) 1ST GROUP WIN. O-Khalid Abdullah; B-Juddmonte Farms Ltd (GB); T-Pascal Bary; J-Pierre-Charles Boudot. €74,100. Lifetime Record: 3-3-0-0, €115,100. Werk Nick Rating: A++. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree. 2–Pure Zen (Fr), 123, f, 3, Zoffany (Ire)–Dolce Attesa (GB), by Dr Fong. O/B-Scuderia Micolo SNC (FR); T-Gianluca Bietolini. €28,600. 3–Glance (GB), 123, f, 3, Dansili (GB)–Look So (GB), by Efisio (GB). O-J H Richmond-Watson; B-Lawn Stud (GB); T-Ralph Beckett. €13,650. Margins: HD, 1 1/4, NK. Odds: 0.90, 14.00, 19.00. Also Ran: Hidden Message, Matematica (Ger), Olympe (Fr), Rocques (Fr). Click for the Racing Post result or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. Video, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton. The post Frankel Filly Stays Perfect in the Sandringham appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

John Moore insists he has no regrets about not travelling to Japan with Beauty Generation after watching Almond Eye go under in the Yasuda Kinen, but he believes his superstar would have been in the finish.After much deliberation, Moore and connections opted to stay at home with the reigning Hong Kong Horse of the Year instead of taking on the likes of Almond Eye and Danon Premium in Tokyo, so he watched the race with interest on Sunday.Nothing went right for the two big guns – they were… View the full article

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You could be forgiven for thinking there is little left to say about Zac Purton’s dominance but the champion Australian again raised the bar at Sha Tin on Sunday.By collecting his second six-timer in eight days, Purton smashed Joao Moreira’s record for prize money in a season of HK$207,249,727 and raced past his previous personal best win total of 136 with 11 meetings remaining.He now has 140 winners for the term, his mounts have won HK$211,793,265 and while the accolades have been coming thick… View the full article

John Oxley's Moon Colony planted his victory flag June 1, taking the $500,000 Penn Mile (G2T) at Penn National Race Course with a late-running charge down the inside rail. View the full article

John Size’s Champion’s Way capped off a near-perfect debut season with an imposing win in the Group Three Lion Rock Trophy (1,600m) at Sha Tin on Sunday.The son of Hinchinbrook became just the second three-year-old to win the race and marked himself as the early favourite for next season’s Classic Mile in the process after motoring home against a strong field under jockey Joao Moreira.Rapper Dragon went on to sweep all three legs of the four-year-old series after winning the same race in the… View the full article

Sunday’s G1 Yasuda Kinen was meant to be a homecoming party for the G1 Dubai Turf victress Almond Eye (Jpn) (Lord Kanaloa {Jpn}), but in the end the two-for-six record of runners returning from Meydan in this contest showed out, with last year’s Horse of the Year and champion 3-year-old filly flying late to grab third. Instead, it was Indy Champ (Jpn) (Stay Gold {Jpn}) who earned his first Group 1 win while racing at the highest level for the first time. The 4-year-old had won two straight over this trip to wrap up his 3-year-old campaign, which also included a third in the G3 Mainichi Okan, and after notching his first black-type win on seasonal debut in the Feb. 3 G3 Tokyo Shimbun Hai over this course and distance, Indy Champ slipped to fourth when last seen in the Apr. 21 G2 Yomiuri Milers Cup. Sent off the 18-1 fourth choice, Indy Champ found himself a close third shortly after the break, but lost a few lengths as Aerolithe (Jpn) (Kurofune) set out with a hot pace. Almond Eye, meanwhile, was shuffled back from the 14 post at the break and had to settle midpack while racing wide. Indy Champ was briefly boxed in behind runners after turning for home but once in the clear, he rolled down the middle of the track to peg Aerolithe on the line, with Almond Eye flying from further back to grab third while posting the fastest final 300 metres of the race and suggesting that, while she has won three times over a mile, a return to longer trips will suit. Jockey Yuichi Fukunaga said, “He was tuned up well, was in great shape, and had a good draw, so I just tried hard not to miss our break. He tends to get distracted when he’s up front so I kept him off the pace. We were up against fierce competition, but I believed that he had a good chance as long as I didn’t make any mistakes and he certainly responded beautifully to our expectations.” Pedigree Notes Indy Champ is a half-brother to current 3-year-old filly A Will a Way (Jpn) (Just a Way {Jpn}), who was beaten a nose in the G2 Keio Hai Nisai S. last November and most recently came home 10th of 18 in the G1 Oka Sho (Japanese 1000 Guineas). The dam, Will Power, is a half-sister to Real Impact (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}), who won the Yasuda Kinen and Australia’s G1 George Ryder S. and who now shuttles between the two countries where he posted his biggest wins. Will Power is also a half-sister to the G1 Audemars Piguet Queen Elizabeth II Cup winner Neorealism (Jpn) (Neo Universe {Jpn}), and the stakes-winning I’ll Love Again (Jpn) (El Condor Pasa). Sunday, Tokyo, Japan YASUDA KINEN-G1, ¥214,860,000, Tokyo, 6-2, 3yo/up, 1600mT, 1:30.90, fm. 1–INDY CHAMP (JPN), 128, c, 4, by Stay Gold (Jpn) 1st Dam: Will Power (Jpn), by King Kamehameha (Jpn) 2nd Dam: Miller’s Lily (Fr), by Miller’s Mate (GB) 3rd Dam: Lymara (Fr), by Lyphard 1ST GROUP 1 WIN. O-Silk Racing; B-Northern Farm; T-Hidetaka Otonashi; J-Yuichi Fukunaga; ¥113,402,000. Lifetime Record: 10-6-1-1. *1/2 to A Will a Way (Jpn) (Just a Way {Jpn}), GSP-Jpn, $430,037. Werk Nick Rating: A+++ *Triple Plus. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree. 2–Aerolithe (Jpn), 123, m, 5, Kurofune–Asterix (Jpn), by Neo Universe (Jpn). O-Sunday Racing; B-Northern Farm; ¥44,972,000. 3–Almond Eye (Jpn), 123, f, 4, Lord Kanaloa (Jpn)–Fusaichi Pandora (Jpn), by Sunday Silence. O-Silk Racing; B-Northern Farm; ¥28,486,000. Margins: NK, NO, 1HF. Odds: 18.20, 11.50, 0.70. Also Ran: Guanciale (Jpn), Sungrazer (Jpn), Mozu Ascot, Keiai Nautique (Jpn), Stelvio (Jpn), Logi Cry (Aus), Persian Knight (Jpn), Sakura Empereur (Jpn), Lord Quest (Jpn), Smart Odin (Jpn), Fiano Romano (Aus), Entecheiden (Jpn), Danon Premium (Jpn). Click for the JRA chart and video or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. The post Champ Upsets Almond Eye In Yasuda Kinen appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

It was business as usual for perennial champion trainer Aidan O'Brien as Anthony Van Dyck gave him a record-equalling seventh victory in the Gr.1 Investec Derby (2400m) at Epsom on Saturday. Having seen his dreams of completing a clean sweep of British Classics this season ended following the narrow defeat of Pink Dogwood in the Oaks on Friday, the Irish conditioner came out on top a day later in the race he values above all else on the calendar. Victory for the $7.50 chance, one of seven runner... View the full article

Jumps racing returns to Ellerslie on Monday and Te Awamutu trainer Stephen Ralph is one of many who can’t wait for the action to get underway. The Ellerslie track was out of commission during the winter months last year as track renovations were conducted so Monday’s scheduled jumping events will be the first held at the venue since September 2017. Ralph will line-up enigmatic hurdler Hesalljazz in the first of the feature jumps events, the KS Browne Hurdle (3350m) while Thenamesbond will ta... View the full article

The Heavy10 track conditions on offer at Ellerslie on Saturday were made to measure for promising winter galloper Elle Aye Are who registered her fourth career win when successful over 1600m in rating 82 company. The Rip Van Winkle four-year-old was having her fourth run in her current campaign and overcame a talented field to score a convincing two-length victory in the hands of Michael Coleman. It was a heady ride by Coleman who saved every inch of ground against the fence to bring his mount i... View the full article

Hastings-based galloper Hunta Pence signed off his latest campaign on a winning note when he slogged through the Wanganui mud to capture the Steelform Roofing Group Foxton Cup (2040m) at Wanganui on Saturday. The Patrick Campbell-trained six-year-old looked a forlorn winning hope halfway through Saturday’s contest as he was labouring in the testing Heavy11 track conditions, with rider Danielle Hirini struggling to keep him within striking distance of the pacemakers. Angled to the outside and s... View the full article

John Oxley's Moon Colony planted his victory flag June 1, taking the $500,000 Penn Mile (G2T) at Penn National Race Course with a late-running charge down the inside rail. View the full article

La Force has been knocking on the door of a graded stakes victory since last summer, and the German-bred mare pulled off the feat June 1 by upsetting Paradise Woods in the $200,000 Santa Maria Stakes (G2) at Santa Anita Park. View the full article

After two runner-up finishes to start her sophomore campaign, Paul Pompa Jr.'s Regal Glory did one better in the $200,000 Penn Oaks June 1. The Animal Kingdom filly made a four-wide move and passed her rivals with ease on the Penn National turf. View the full article

Sam-Son Farm's El Tormenta out-finished the favorites to earn his first stakes victory in the $146,873 Connaught Cup Stakes (G2T) June 1 contested over the E.P. Taylor Turf Course at Woodbine. View the full article

Making just his second appearance as a 3-year-old and first since a fifth-place effort behind Casa Creed (Jimmy Creed) in the Kitten’s Joy S. at Gulfstream Park in January, John Oxley’s MOON COLONY (c, 3, Uncle Mo–Promenade Girl, by Carson City) was given a perfect turf-saving ride by Julien Leparoux, skimmed the rail into contention three-sixteenths out and reversed form with the late-on-the-scene Casa Creed to cause a 9-1 upset in Saturday’s GII Penn Mile at Penn National. Switched off nicely in the latter half of the field as Real News (The Factor) set a strong gallop in advance of favored A Thread of Blue (Hard Spun) over rain-affected turf labeled yielding, Moon Colony was ridden quietly on the second turn, but jumped into the bridle turning for home and scampered home a clear-cut winner. Casa Creed rallied down the center to complete the exacta, while Real News held nicely for third. A Thread of Blue weakened in the final furlong to finish unplaced. Moon Colony, a $400,000 acquisition out of the 2017 Keeneland September sale, becomes the 50th black-type winner and 25th graded winner for Uncle Mo. Lifetime Record: 7-3-0-0. O-John C Oxley; B-St Elias Stables LLC (KY); T-Mark Casse. The post Uncle Mo’s Moon Colony Too Strong in Penn Mile appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Making her first start on an all-weather track, Coachwhip shot by pacesetting Daddy's Boo turning for home and ran on to win the $100,000 Arlington Matron Stakes (G3) June 1 at Arlington International Racecourse by 3 1/2 lengths. View the full article

Demarchelier improved his record to 3-for-3 as he prevailed in the $200,000 Pennine Ridge Stakes (G3T) at Belmont Park, a race captured by the last two winners of the Belmont Derby Invitational Stakes (G1T). View the full article

King Jack (c, 3, Jimmy Creed–Light Shine, by Tapit) stamped himself as one to watch with a ‘TDN Rising Star’ performance on debut at Santa Anita Saturday. The 5-2 chance broke well and pressed from a three-wide third through an opening quarter in :22.17. The flashy chestnut ranged up with a good-looking three-wide bid on the far turn, took over at the top of the stretch and bounded clear down the lane to graduate by three lengths. Favored Morning Snow (Morning Line) was second. The final time was 1:10.93. Sales history: $100,000 yrl ’17 KEESEP. Lifetime Record: 1-1-0-0. O-Michael C. Stinson; B-Spendthrift Farm (Ky); T-Jerry Hollendorfer. The post Jimmy Creed Colt Earns TDN Rising Star Honors at Santa Anita appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Godolphin homebred Comical Ghost (c, 3, Ghostzapper–Hystericalady, by Distorted Humor) was working bullets at Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert’s Los Alamitos base and was backed accordingly as the 1-2 favorite in his Santa Anita debut Saturday. The dark bay broke sharply and battled in between horses through an opening quarter in :21.93. He began to shake clear approaching the quarter pole, kicked for home in charge and was hand ridden late en route to a promising, two-length tally over Beleth (Medaglia d’Oro), earning the ‘TDN Rising Star’ nod. The final time for six furlongs was 1:10.93. Hystericalady, heroine of the 2007 GI Humana Distaff S., brought $3 million from John Ferguson on behalf of Sheikh Mohammed’s operation at the 2008 KEENOV Sale. Lifetime Record: 1-1-0-0. O/B-Godolphin (Ky); T-Bob Baffert. The post Ghostzapper Colt Runs to the Hype, Tabbed TDN Rising Star appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

‘TDN Rising Star’ Demarchelier (GB) (c, 3, Dubawi {Ire}–Loveisallyouneed {Ire}), by Sadler’s Wells), unbeaten in his first two starts, including a Keeneland allowance Apr. 12, made the grade in Saturday’s GIII Pennine Ridge S. at Belmont Park. Under a snug hold while saving ground in sixth, the 5-1 shot began to hit the gas while widest of all into the stretch and came with a smart rally down the lane to outkick Seismic Wave (Tapit) home by a half length. Social Paranoia (Street Boss) was third. The final time was 1:48.20. Sales history: 425,000gns yrl ’17 TATOCT. Lifetime Record: 3-3-0-0. O-Peter M. Brant; B-Newsells Park Stud (GB); T-Chad Brown. The post Dubawi Colt Stays Perfect in Belmont’s Pennine Ridge appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Trainer Todd Pletcher said he was pleased with the final breezes from his $1.5 million Belmont Stakes Presented by NYRA Bets (G1) contenders, Spinoff and Intrepid Heart, the morning of June 1. View the full article

They have won it many times in the past, but for Aidan O'Brien and the Coolmore empire he serves, there is nothing remotely so important as the Investec Derby (G1), which they conquered again June 1. View the full article

Los Alamitos has altered the schedule for their summer Thoroughbred meet, cutting it down to 10 days instead of the original 12. The meet will now start Saturday, June 29 instead of Thursday, June 27. Racing will be conducted Thursday through Sunday with post time at 1 p.m. and the meet concludes Jul 14. The post Los Al Alters Summer Meet appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Todd Pletcher’s GI Belmont S. duo Spinoff (Hard Spun) and ‘TDN Rising Star’ Intrepid Heart (Tapit) put in their final breezes for the Triple Crown’s final leg Saturday on the Belmont main track. Spinoff worked in company with recent maiden winner Principled (Medaglia d’Oro), covering five furlongs in 1:02.16 (20/28) (video). “I thought he went well,” Pletcher said. “He seemed very relaxed and got into a good comfortable rhythm. He stayed steady all the way around and put in a nice seven-eighths gallop out. He had a really strong workout last week, so we didn’t have to do quite as much today. He seemed happy and moving well.” With John Velazquez aboard and blinkers on, Intrepid Heart breezed five panels in 1:00.92 (9/28) (video) in company with GSP Outshine (Malibu Moon). “I thought he [Intrepid Heart] had another good work and strong gallop out,” Pletcher said. “I had him finish a mile in 1:38 and change. I think we got a solid work out of him. He seemed to be happy and moving well. He worked on the outside last time, so I just wanted to work him again with the blinkers on and have him on the inside this time and thought it went smoothly.” Pletcher also worked recent G2 Godolphin Mile victor and ‘TDN Rising Star’ Coal Front (Stay Thirsty), who is scheduled to run in a very salty renewal of the GI Met Mile H. on Belmont day June 8. The bay went a half-mile in :50.02 (57/68) with jockey Jose Ortiz in the irons. “Very solid work,” Pletcher said. “Consistent with what he’s been doing. He got into a nice rhythm. We’re happy with how he’s been doing since Dubai.” Graded stakes winner Tax (Arch) was also on the worktab Saturday in Elmont, but his Belmont status is still undetermined. The gelding covered four furlongs in :49.03 on the Belmont main track in company with stablemate Blurred Line (Girolamo) (33/68) (video). Trainer Danny Gargan said the decision on whether the dark bay will run in the Belmont or not was forthcoming. The post Pletcher Duo Put in Final Belmont Breezes appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article