Wandering Eyes

An attorney representing owners Gary and Mary West has reached out to the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission asking that it declare that their horse (Maximum Security) and Country House (Lookin at Lucky) both be considered winners of he GI Kentucky Derby until the dispute over Maximum Security’s disqualification is resolved in the courts. On May 14, the Wests officially filed their lawsuit in a federal court in Lexington contesting the Derby outcome. The Wests are arguing that the Churchill Downs stewards erred in disqualifying Maximum Security, who crossed the finish line first, but may have interfered with several horses, including eventual GI Preakness winner War of Will (War Front). Though not impacted by the chain of events that took place during the Derby stretch run, Country House crossed the wire second and was moved up due to the disqualification and declared the winner. On Friday, the Wests’s public relations team sent out a press release to inform the media that on May 23, the West’s attorney Barry Stilz filed an affidavit to the Kentucky Racing Commission requesting that it follow its own rules and recognize Maximum Security as the co-winner of the Kentucky Derby pending final adjudication of the lawsuit. On that date, the West’s legal team wrote to Kentucky Horse Racing Commission General Counsel John Forgy stating that under its interpretation of Kentucky Horse Racing rules both horses must–for now–be declared the winner. The attorneys cite a Kentucky Administrative Regulation they claim specifies that since the outcome of the Derby is “in dispute,” that the purse money and the trophy must immediately be returned to the racing association by order of the stewards. They conclude: “Upon final adjudication of the dispute, the person deemed to be entitled to the purse money or trophy shall be entitled to an order of recovery from any person or association holding the same.” The letter concludes with the following: “We hereby demand that (a) the Commission immediately and publicly declare both Maximum Security and Country House to be the winners of the 145th Kentucky Derby until the above action is ‘finally adjudicated’; and (b) that the stewards order that any purse money previously distributed be returned ‘immediately’ to the Commission to be held in escrow until final adjudication of the matter.” A spokesperson for the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission said that it would have no comment on the latest developments. Gary West, on the advice of his lawyers, declined to comment. Stilz declined to answer any questions and referred the TDN to the legal documents that were online and had already been filed. In a separate filing, Dennis Drazin, an attorney who heads the management team that operates Monmouth Park, was officially added to a long list of lawyers representing the Wests. Maximum Security is stabled at Monmouth for trainer Jason Servis. It is not immediately clear what the Wests hope to gain by having Maximum Security declared the temporary co-winner of the Derby. That title would be officially stripped away if they lose their court battle and if they are to succeed in court their horse would indeed be declared the 145th winner of the Kentucky Derby. That he was once determined a “co-winner” would bear no relevance on the court’s verdict or who goes down in history as the official winner of the race. West did confirm that the next major goal for Maximum Security is the July 20 GI Haskell at Monmouth and that a prep in the June 16 Pegasus Stakes at Monmouth is possible. The post Wests Want Maximum Security, Country House Declared Co-Winners of Derby appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Neptune's Storm will try to build on his first stakes win, while undefeated Gregorian Chant (GB) makes his stakes debut June 2 in the $150,000 Cinema Stakes at Santa Anita Park. View the full article

Harrah’s Louisiana Downs has announced a Racing Hall of Fame, designed to honor those who have made a lasting impact in the history of the Bossier City-area racetrack. The first inductees, who will be officially inducted in a ceremony July 13, include John Franks (owner); Frank Brothers and C.W. Walker (trainers); Edward J. DeBartolo, Sr. (contributor); Ronald Ardoin and Larry Snyder (jockeys); and Sunday Silence and Free Spirits Joy (horses). “The history of Harrah’s Louisiana Downs is truly remarkable,” said Eric Halstrom, the vice president of operations. “We wanted to honor the many exceptional racing champions and people who have contributed both to the history of our racetrack and made an impact on the national racing industry.” In addition, the public can vote for additional recipients from June 15-29 at this link. The post New Racing Hall of Fame at Louisiana Downs appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Santa Anita’s graded Monrovia S., run off-the-turf May 26 and won by S Y Sky (Grazen), will not retain the original Grade II status it was carded with and will instead be officially recorded as a Grade III event, the American Graded Stakes Committee (AGSC) announced Friday. The five-furlong race was scheduled for the turf course, but was moved to the main track due to concern over rain in the area. The Monrovia was automatically downgraded to a Grade III event, pending review by the AGSC, who determined the original Grade II credit would not be reinstated. The post Monrovia S. to Remain Grade III appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

The Florida Thoroughbred Breeders’ and Owners’ Association (FTBOA) announced Friday Chief Executive Officer Lonny Powell has been named chair-elect for the 2019-2020 board of directors for the Florida Society of Association Executives (FSAE). Founded in 1959, the FSAE is a Sunshine State resource for information, best practices, and innovations in the association community. At nearly 1,200 members, the FSAE offers opportunities for peer-to-peer networking and professional development education that prepares chief executive officers and staff for their positions. “FTBOA’s engaged membership provides a fantastic opportunity to promote and advocate our industry and Marion County on a state-wide basis to a top tier and influential executives from a myriad of Florida industries outside of our usual horse and agricultural and local sectors,” said Powell. “FSAE membership, like that in the FTBOA, can be a mutually beneficial experience if you put in the work.” Powell represents the sole FSAE board member from Marion County and Central Florida and the only one whose association is agricultural- or gaming-based. Currently serving as a director, treasurer, and Governance chair, Powell will be automatically elevated to chairman of the FSAE in 2021. In 2015, the FSAE honored the FTBOA with its inaugural Association of the Year award, given to a Florida non-profit, trade, and/or service membership association for outstanding service, programs, recognition, and success. The post FTBOA’s Powell Named Chair-Elect of FSAE appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Roger Stein, a successful trainer of both Standarbreds and Thoroughbreds and longtime radio show host in Southern California, passed away the morning of May 31 at his home in Hidden Hills following a lengthy battle with a variety of illnesses. He was 65 years old. Having secured a harness trainer’s license in 1979 after working a few years as a groom and owner and became an unstoppable force in the code, winning 10% of all harness races in the state from 1979-1984 while racking up 17 straight titles. Among the Thoroughbreds of note conditioned by Stein were Southern Truce, a $16,000 claim who went on to win a pair of Grade Is, including an upset of champion Paseana (Arg) in the 1993 Santa Margarita S. Forty Niner Days gave him his most valuable victory when taking out the $400,000 GII Golden Gate H. Stein was the leading trainer at the Fairplex meeting in 1990. “Roger was always supportive of me from the time I had the bug,'” recalled jockey Aaron Gryder. “He had a good stable back then and I was out every morning. Obviously, the last 10 years he hadn’t been out much because of health issues, but I kept in touch with him and would visit with him from time to time.” Stein is survived by his mother, and two grown children, daughter Shayna and son, Sam, as well as one grandchild. Services will be Sunday, according to Roger’s brother, Rick, 63. Funeral arrangements are pending. The post California Trainer, Radio Host Roger Stein Dies appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Trainer Mark Casse is more than comfortable just having his Preakness Stakes (G1) winner gallop in preparation for the Belmont Stakes Presented by NYRA Bets (G1) June 8 at Belmont Park. View the full article

4th-Indiana Grand, $39,680, Msw, 5-31, 2yo, 5f (off turf), 1:00.27, gd. TWO LAST WORDS (g, 2, Commissioner–My Peg, by Fusaichi Pegasus), dispatched at 2-1 in this debut, vied for the lead through an opening quarter in :23.05. Shaking free of his rival at the top of the stretch, the dark bay drew clear to don cap and gown by 2 1/4 lengths and become the first winner for his freshman sire (by A.P. Indy). Freedomfi (Guilt Trip) was the runner-up. Two Last Words is the first foal out of My Peg, who has since produced a yearling filly by Into Mischief. She visited Super Saver last spring. Lifetime Record: 1-1-0-0, $26,040. Click for the Equibase.com chart. O-Deann Baer; B-Deann & Greg Baer DVM (IN); T-Tim Glyshaw. The post Commissioner Get His First Winner at Indiana appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

The New York Jockey Injury Compensation Fund Friday announced a plan that will further decrease the cost of workers’ compensation insurance for horsemen in New York. Working with the New York Thoroughbred Horsemen’s Association and the New York Racing Association, the NYJICF received approval from the New York Gaming Commission to reduce the initial base payment for all NYRA owners and trainers from $1,250 to $1,000, a 33% drop over the 2018 assessment. In addition, the NYJICF will cover the per-stall fee of $1.60 per day for each trainer’s first 12 stalls from June 1 through Nov. 30, 2019, a savings of $3,513.60. The base payment decrease is retroactive to Jan. 1, 2019. Owners and trainers who have already submitted the payment will receive a $250 refund. The reductions were made possible by legislation that allows the JICF to take up to $2 million from the excess NYRA purse cushion to offset the high cost of workers’ compensation in the state. “We appreciate the support and assistance of Governor Cuomo and the chairs of our Racing and Wagering Committees, Senator Addabbo and Assemblyman Pretlow, in finding additional avenues to reduce the cost of doing business in New York for our horsemen,” NYTHA President Joe Appelbaum said. “New York offers the very best racing in the country. By creating a more business-friendly environment, we can draw more horsemen to our tracks and make our racing product even stronger.” Appelbaum emphasized an ongoing commitment to driving down the cost of workers’ compensation even further. “Using the excess purse cushion to help our horsemen is a short-term strategy,” he said. “For the long-term, we will continue to improve our already enviable safety record and to explore alternate forms of insurance. That is where the biggest savings will be realized.” The post Work Comp Rebates for New York Horsemen appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Bourbon Lane Stable and Lake Star Stable’s Bourbon War (Tapit) has joined the cast for next Saturday’s GI Belmont S. Last seen finishing eighth in the GI Preakness S. May 18, the well-bred son of GISW My Conquestadory (Artie Schiller) breezed four panels Friday at Big Sandy. He was clocked in :48.74 (3/7) without the blinkers he added for the Preakness. “I was happy with him. I thought he did well, looked sharp and galloped out strong,” trainer Mark Hennig said. The GII Xpressbet Fountain of Youth runner-up will be ridden for the first time in the Belmont by three-time race winner and Hall of Famer Mike Smith. Also working for the Belmont Friday was Tracy Farmer homebred Sir Winston (Awesome Again), who was clocked in :50.16 (5/7) over the same track and distance as Bourbon War. “He worked an easy half-mile with a good gallop out,” said Jamie Begg, assistant to conditioner Mark Casse. “He did it the way he likes to do it and he did it the right way. [Rider] Joel [Rosario, who will be aboard in the Belmont,] was very happy with the breeze.” Sir Winston most recently rallied to be second in the GIII Peter Pan S. in Elmont May 11. Casse’s more fancied Belmont runner, Preakness hero War of Will (War Front), is scheduled to arrive in New York Monday. The post Bourbon War Joins Belmont Cast appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Should a federal court examine Kentucky's law that doesn't allow for an appeal of stewards' judgment calls on interference, an industry standard will be under scrutiny. View the full article

In this continuing series, Alan Carasso takes a look ahead at US-bred and/or conceived runners entered for the upcoming weekend at the tracks on the Japan Racing Association circuit, with a focus on pedigree and/or performance in the sales ring. Here are the horses of interest for this weekend running at Hanshin and Toyko Racecourses, the latter of which hosts Horse of the Year Almond Eye (Jpn) (Lord Kanaloa {Jpn}) in the G1 Yasuda Kinen: Saturday, June 1, 2019 2nd-HSN, ¥9,550,000 ($88k), Maiden, 3yo, 1400m MONUMENT KING (c, 3, Creative Cause–Overvalued, by Forest Grove) cuts back and switches to the main track after finishing well down the field in a 2000m turf maiden at Chukyo in January. A $500K purchase out of the 2017 Keeneland September sale, the dark bay was the most expensive of his successful sire’s 30 yearlings to sell that season and his the first produce of a mare who won no fewer than 11 black-type races in Western Canada. B-Brereton C Jones (KY) Sunday, June 2, 2019 5th-TOK, ¥13,400,000 ($124k), Newcomers, 2yo, 1600mT KAKUSHIN (c, 2, Malibu Moon–Switcheroo, by Exchange Rate) cost $190K as a KEENOV weanling in 2017 before being led out unsold on a bid of $170K at KEESEP last year. Produced by a half-sister to GSW & GISP juvenile I Spent It (Super Saver), the colt descends from a third dam whose half-sister She’s Tops (Capote) accounted for two-time graded-winning 2-year-old and multiple Grade I-winning 3-year-old Dixie Union (Dixieland Band). B-Thomas & Renee Scucci, Dividing Ridge Farm & Doug Smith (KY) The post Notable US-Breds in Japan: June 1 & 2, 2019 appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Observations on the European Racing Scene turns the spotlight on the best European races of the day, highlighting well-pedigreed horses early in their careers, horses of note returning to action and young runners that achieved notable results in the sales ring. Today’s Observations features an American Pharoah colt for Godolphin. 1.55 Doncaster, Cond, £7,400, 2yo, 6f 111yT SAQQARA KING (American Pharoah), one of two nominees for the Godolphin-Appleby axis, is the third foal produced by GI Santa Margarita Invitational S. heroine Joyful Victory (Tapit) and he faces nine in this first go. Rivals to the $200,000 Keeneland September yearling include twice-raced stablemate Full Verse (Ire) (Kodiac {GB}), who is a 600,000gns Tattersalls October Book 1 son of G2 Queen Mary S. victress Anthem Alexander (Ire) (Starspangledbanner {Aus}). 3.55 Navan, Mdn, €12,000, 3yo/up, 8fT Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum’s €500,000 Goffs Orby acquisition MUTADARRIB (IRE) (Kodiac {GB}) is out of a half-sister to G3 Prix Miesque victress and G1 Prix Morny runner-up Magic America (High Yield) and debuts for Kevin Prendergast in this fully subscribed event. Opposition features the lone Aidan O’Brien candidate Pacific Ocean (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), who is a son of four-time Australian Group 1 victress Atlantic Jewel (Aus) (Fastnet Rock {Aus}) coming back off a second at Cork in his third start 10 days ago. The post Observations: June 1, 2019 appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Almond Eye (Jpn) (Lord Kanaloa {Jpn}), last year’s unanimous Japanese champion 3-year-old filly and Horse of the Year, makes her much anticipated return after winning the G1 Dubai Turf at Meydan in March in Sunday’s G1 Yasuda Kinen at Tokyo Racecourse. Almond Eye has plenty of experience over the Tokyo course, having broken her maiden there and having won last year’s G1 Yunshun Himba (Japanese Oaks) and G1 Japan Cup over 2400 metres there, but she drops back to a mile for the first time since winning the G1 Oka Sho (Japanese 1000 Guineas) at Hanshin last April. As if she hadn’t achieved enough in her short career to date, Almond Eye will be shooting for another piece of history on Sunday. She will try to become the third horse in history to win six Group 1s back-to-back, joining her own sire, who won this race in 2013, and T.M. Opera O (Jpn) (Opera House {GB}). Six Japanese horses have previously returned from trips to Dubai and headed straight to the Yasuda Kinen and while that strike rate is not great-two of six were successful at Tokyo-trainer Sakae Kunieda said Almond Eye took the Dubai Turf better than any other race in her career and has been in fine shape since. “She has always surpassed expectations and I’m looking forward to this race as well,” Kunieda said. Should Almond Eye prove victorious she would also be the first filly in a decade to win this Tokyo feature, and that also proves true for the only other filly in the lineup, Aerolithe (Jpn) (Kurofune {Jpn}). The 5-year-old was second in this last year to the re-opposing Mozu Ascot (Frankel {GB}) and looks for her first win since the Oct. 7 G2 Mainichi Okan. A trip to Florida for the inaugural GI Pegasus World Cup Turf in January proved unfruitful, but she was a more encouraging fifth when last seen in the G1 Victoria Mile on May 12. Likely to go off second choice to Almond Eye is the 2017 champion 2-year-old Danon Premium (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}). The lone blemish on that colt’s record came when he was sixth in last year’s G1 Tokyo Yushun, and he has since been kept to 1600 metres to a mile. He was last seen winning the G2 Milers Cup at Kyoto on Apr. 21. The post Almond Eye Back In Yasuda Kinen appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

EPSOM, UK—Anapurna (GB) may be named after the base camp on Everest but Mark Weinfeld and his sister Helena Ellingsen yesterday stood at the summit of the mountain every breeder dreams of climbing as they welcomed a homebred winner of the Oaks back to Epsom’s famed winner’s circle. The first British Classic winner for her sire Frankel (GB) is just one element to the background of Frankie Dettori’s fifth winner of the Oaks, but more importantly for the Weinfeld family’s Meon Valley Stud is the culmination of five generations of breeding at the Hampshire nursery which has come agonisingly close to Oaks glory in their own black-and-white silks over the last 40 years. Though they bred the 1996 winner Lady Carla (GB) (Caerleon), the nearest miss with a retained filly came in 2012 with Shirocco Star (GB) (Shirocco {GB}), who was runner-up to Was (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}). She may yet atone for that neck defeat via her son Telecaster (GB) (New Approach {Ire}), the colt overlooked at the sales, entered for the Derby, taken out of the list in the early spring and then supplemented earlier this week after his resolute victory in the Dante S. “This is the fifth generation of this family we’ve had, right back to One In A Million (GB). She’s out of Dash To The Top (GB), who had quite a few Montjeu (Ire) traits but was very talented, and fortunately she seems to have passed that bit on,” said Weinfeld after Dettori had released him from a post-race bear hug. “It really started by accident because we bought One In A Million, who won the Guineas. My father bought three yearling fillies with the idea that they might be good enough to have potential for breeding—the other one was Reprocolor (GB), and we had Odeon (GB) as well. They did a lot better than he thought they would so he started a stud farm, but it all started from those three mares and it has grown from there. We now have 35 mares. We try to keep it to 30 but we never quite manage to.” Whatever level the numbers reach, Anapurna has now guaranteed her place in the paddocks at Meon Valley alongside her mother, who has not been in foal for the last two years. “Another filly we had with John Gosden, a half-sister to Izzi Top (GB) and Jazzi Top (GB), died in a freak accident in her stable this year and Anapurna is the last foal her dam has had, which just goes to show the ups and downs of breeding,” he added. On a day of highs, Anapurna’s trainer John Gosden also alluded to the trials and tribulations experienced by breeders when paying tribute to the bedrocks of the industry. He said, “Breeding horses is the toughest thing and things go wrong all the time. For owner-breeders like Mark and Helena, they produce beautiful horses at their farm, and they have one running tomorrow who people didn’t think was good enough at the sales. For them to breed an Oaks winner, and to go through all the nightmares you go through, it’s a great test of faith. Without these owner-breeders there would be no proper racing. They are in a sense the most important ingredient.” And while owner-breeders rely on the good fillies coming back to the farm to keep the lines going, they will of course have a decent number of colts to contend with each year. When Telecaster, like his dam and grandam before him, failed to reach his reserve at Tattersalls, he returned to Meon Valley and ended up being put in training with Hughie Morrison, who had overseen Shirocco Star’s career. Racing for a group of Weinfeld family members and friends under the banner of Castle Down Racing, named after part of the stud, he is now second-favourite to give his breeders the rare opportunity to land two Classics in two days. He in turn is a seventh-generation descendant of Reprocolor, from a family which has spawned the high-class colts-turned-stallions Kayf Tara (GB) and Opera House (GB), though those champion brothers by Sadler’s Wells both raced for Sheikh Mohammed. The offers have come for Telecaster, but for now he remains within the family. “I’ve had some phone calls,” Weinfeld admitted. “Some of the big players spoke to me before York and I said that we wanted to see where the journey would take us and after York nobody has phoned—I think they knew we weren’t going to sell.” And as the owner-breeder prepares to switch his black-and-white spotted shirt that matched Anapurna’s silks and accompanied her victory to his lucky orange-and-black tie sported at York for Telecaster, he is realistic about his chances of a memorable Epsom double. “The pressure is off a bit but I think that would be too much to wish for,” he said. “I think to get two in would really be asking too much. I just hope he runs well.” Whether or not twin peaks are out of reach, Anapurna has put Meon Valley Stud on a deserved mountain high. The post Meon Valley Stud On Mountain High appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

“One swallow does not a summer make, nor one fine day.” And similar circumspection is plainly advisable before deciding that a single migrant across the seas has opened a sunlit future even for one young stallion, never mind the entire business. Nonetheless it is heartening on many levels to see Noble Mission (GB), from his very first crop, get a son into both the GI Kentucky Derby and the Epsom original, which is staged for the 240th time Saturday. Humanitarian is admittedly an outsider, unlikely to emulate Code of Honor, the promoted runner-up at Churchill. But nor is he just a token runner: saddled in the Maktoum cause by John Gosden, and with a nicely progressive profile. So however he fares, let’s acknowledge an authentic achievement not only for Noble Mission but also for William S. Farish, who stands him at Lane’s End and bred both Humanitarian and Code of Honor. Farish, of course, was formerly ambassador to the Court of St James. He may perhaps have some sympathy for the Queen, whose pleasant duties at Epsom will be followed by a state visit from an unpredictable president. But it’s fitting that Farish, restored to civilian life, is still doing his bit for transatlantic harmony through Noble Mission. Because if ever an isolationist wants to see what his world might become, you just have to show him the bloodstock industry over the last generation. To be fair, it is the Europeans who have lately been most parochial in the prescriptive, self-fulfilling perception of bloodlines, as oriented to turf or dirt. And now they have painted themselves into a corner. Yes, the Galileo (Ire) dynasty has earned its hegemony, and absolutely deals in qualities you want to see replicated in the 21st century Thoroughbred. But you certainly couldn’t say that about some of the sires so witlessly pursued by the commercial market over there, who might (and only might) get you a fast and early juvenile but will never produce a Classic winner even at a mile. It’s no good commercial breeders protesting that they have no choice, being unable to compete with the wealthy end-users who can afford Galileo or other elite fees. Because when an affordable son of Galileo like Nathaniel (Ire) comes along, and produces champion Enable (GB) from his first crop, and five other Group winners in 2018, he still can’t get his yearlings even into the top 50 in the European sale averages. You can see the result in today’s Derby field–and, to this extent only, Noble Mission is more symptom than cure. Because of the 13 runners, six are by the ageing patriarch Galileo himself; five are by various sons, and one is by a grandson. That leaves only the overnight sensation Sir Dragonet (Ire), who was unfancied for a Tipperary maiden barely five weeks ago. He is a son of the elegant Camelot (GB) but fear not, his second dam is a full-sister to Galileo! On the face of it, that might appear to support a defeatist position regarding the people who not only stand Galileo, but also employ Aidan O’Brien, who saddles no fewer than seven runners. But who can say what the landscape might look like, if only the hundreds of mares corralled by unproven, plainly bred stallions with a couple of sprint stakes to their name had instead been sent to one who won’t make you a fast buck at the sales, but might just get you a Classic racehorse? As it happens, with their own broodmare band saturated by his blood, it is the owners of Galileo who gave European credibility to their outcross experiments with Scat Daddy and War Front. (In the process, obviously, they have also shaped the profile of those horses in the U.S.) But that only happened a) because they recognised a need; and b) met it imaginatively. And I am convinced that many other American stallions, given the chance, could emulate the European Classic success enjoyed by John Magnier and his original confederates when first importing sons of Northern Dancer. That was typical of the cyclical, mutual regeneration of the gene pool either side of the ocean. And the American dirt horse–an animal I have been scandalized to hear dismissed, by European agents of clients who deserve far more reflective counsel, as a drugged speedball–offers precisely the assets required to crash Galileo’s private party. Because the American ideal is not just speed, but speed you can carry two turns. The critical difference, compared with Europe, is that both commercial breeders and end-users are looking for a horse for the first Saturday in May. And if only we remember that sire-lines are very seldom immutably turf or dirt, then the same horse could prove just as eligible for the first Saturday in June. We’ll leave aside the dubious practice of ascribing to an untested racehorse properties trademarked only to his top line. The fact is that only Coolmore, again, have in recent years shown reliable adventure in trying accomplished European campaigners on dirt at the Breeders’ Cup. (Especially since the synthetic experiment was abandoned; before that, there were plenty of European “turf” horses who showed up the indigenous opposition on dirt.) Coolmore obviously don’t do that purely out of altruism. And most of the time, it’s a bet-to-nothing–as with Galileo himself, who bombed in the Classic. Though he’d had a gruelling season at home, his performance nourished the theory that he represented a sire-line with an inveterate aversion to dirt. (A theory that required you to throw out half the pedigree of Sadler’s Wells: for every Kitten’s Joy, after all, there’s a Medaglia d’Oro.) You’ll never see a turf champion run more like a dirt horse than did Frankel (GB) (Galileo {Ire}) and the failure to test him in the Breeders’ Cup Classic, though pardonable on account of his trainer’s health, squandered an epoch-making opportunity to stem the ongoing retrenchment of prejudices either side of the ocean. As it is, his brother Noble Mission–who himself developed a hard-running style–has been given a chance to break down barriers instead. Now let’s not forget that this is a two-way street. As we were reminded more than once on the Triple Crown trail this spring, horses perceived as turf-bred are as likely to miss their true metier on dirt as the other way round. And I see horses running in Europe every week whose earning capacity could be transformed by a change of surface, or sometimes merely of environment. In their domestic market, however, American horsemen have not matched fine words about turf racing–about a huge expansion in the program, about welfare–with dollars and cents. Their neglect of horses like Kitten’s Joy or English Channel, in the sales ring, is no less reprehensible than the European relegation of Classic stallions to National Hunt farms. So while he remains up against it, you have to hand it to Noble Mission. Himself a late bloomer, he has rocked everyone back on their heels with Code of Honor on the dirt. Remember Farish offered him as a yearling, but bidding stalled at $70,000 for a Saratoga debut winner and Grade I runner-up at two, now placed in the Derby itself. It would be unfair to burden Noble Mission with too much responsibility, especially with a second book limited by colic. He already knows all about turf in the American sales ring, his fee down to $15,000 this year from an opening $25,000. But while even another Derby podium at Epsom would not yet allow us to say Mission accomplished, nobody should think of the broader possibilities he has shown as Mission impossible. The post Another Derby Mission With Noble Possibilities appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Maxim Rate (Exchange Rate) is just a nose short of being perfect and she rematches with some familiar faces Saturday in the GII Honeymoon S. at Santa Anita. A debut winner in Arcadia Feb. 16, she came up a nose short of stablemate Hostess (GB) (Iffraj {GB}) in the course-and-distance GIII Providencia S. Apr. 6 and returned to winning ways in the one-mile GIII Senorita S. May 4, in which Hostess finished fourth. Senorita runner-up Lady Prancealot (Ire) (Sir Prancealot {Ire}) also returns here. Capturing a local optional claimer on seasonal bow Feb. 1, the bay was a close third in the Providencia and was just a half-length short of Maxim Rate in the Senorita. Sold It (The Factor) ran fourth behind Lady Prancealot after setting the pace in that Feb. 1 test and wired the California Oaks on the Golden Gate synthetic last time Apr. 27. The post Maxim Rate Faces Familiar Foes in Honeymoon appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

The Lieutenant (Street Sense–Stage Magic, by Ghostzapper), the Grade II-winning half-brother to Triple Crown winner Justify (Scat Daddy), will shuttle to Boris Schwartzman’s Haras Barlovento in Peru for the 2019 Southern Hemisphere breeding season. The 6-year-old is finishing up his first year at stud at Becky Thomas’s Sequel Stallions New York. “We are so excited for The Lieutenant to have a summer job at a leading stud farm in Peru,” said Becky Thomas. “The team at Haras Barlovento has just been great and they have a superb broodmare band. He will be bred to beautiful mares by leading American sires Smart Strike, Unbridled, Giant’s Causeway, Candy Ride, Freud, Quiet American, Vindication, Stormy Atlantic, Mineshaft, Harlan’s Holiday, Johannesburg, Kitten’s Joy, Exchange Rate, Lookin At Lucky, Forest Wildcat, Dynaformer, Malibu Moon, Forestry, Pure Prize, Broken Vow, Sky Mesa, El Corredor and Grand Slam. “We are grateful to Marette Farrell for giving The Lieutenant another opportunity to prove himself as a sire. Given the success of Street Sense and his incredible family, we are sure The Lieutenant will become a highly sought-after sire.” The post The Lieutenant to Shuttle to Peru appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Overshadowed by stablemate and 11-4 favourite Mehdaayih (GB) (Frankel {GB}) in the lead-up to Friday’s G1 Investec Oaks, the Meon Valley Stud homebred Anapurna (GB) was ultimately the one with the sire’s bragging rights as she provided the Juddmonte giant with a first British Classic. Sent off at 8-1 with Frankie Dettori resuming the partnership with the May 11 Listed Lingfield Oaks Trial winner, she enjoyed a perfect stalking trip against the rail in third from her unfavourable low draw as the early pace proved far from taxing. Getting a split on the inner as Ballydoyle’s Pink Dogwood (Ire) (Camelot {GB}) cut loose out wide under Ryan Moore approaching two out, the bay had a length to make up but that Frankel momentum began to build and she was marginally ahead 100 yards from the line. Frankie put his stick down there with the contest decided and she was a cosy neck margin to the good at the line as Fleeting (Ire) (Zoffany {Ire}) stayed on strongly to be 1 1/4 lengths behind in third. Mehdaayih was only seventh after a troubled passage. “She had a dream trip on the inside where usually they get boxed in, but Frankie was brave and found a gap,” trainer John Gosden said. “She was very brave and is bred by wonderful owner-breeders, so that’s what it’s all about. My other filly had a very rough trip.” 1–ANAPURNA (GB), 126, f, 3, by Frankel (GB) 1st Dam: Dash To The Top (GB) (SW & MG1SP-Eng, $212,678), by Montjeu (Ire) 2nd Dam: Millennium Dash (GB), by Nashwan 3rd Dam: Milligram (GB), by Mill Reef 1ST BLACK-TYPE WIN. O-Helena Springfield Ltd; B-Meon Valley Stud (GB); T-John Gosden; J-Lanfranco Dettori. £297,728. Lifetime Record: 4-3-0-0, £324,164. *1/2 to Dynasty (GB) (Danehill Dancer {Ire}), GSP-Ire; and Very Dashing (GB) (Dansili {GB}), SP-Eng. The post Frankel’s Anapurna Wins The Oaks appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

All 13 colts in Saturday’s Epsom Derby are male line descendants of Sadler’s Wells, and all but one of them are sons, grandsons or great-grandsons of Galileo. Let’s wrap our heads around that. The craziest part may just be that, so dominant have Galileo’s descendants been in the blue riband since his third-crop son New Approach won it in 2007, it doesn’t seem that crazy that he should supply all but one of the runners in Britain’s greatest race. What seems crazier is that it took Galileo three crops to supply that initial winner. And that, given his titanic influence on the race in the 21st century, Sadler’s Wells didn’t throw his first Derby winner–Galileo himself in 2001–until he was 20. He promptly made up for lost time by siring the following year’s winner, High Chaparral, too. In 2005 and 2007, Motivator (GB) and Authorized (Ire), both sons of the Sadler’s Wells sire Montjeu (Ire), recorded five-length wins on the first Saturday in June, and Galileo’s former Coolmore barnmate remarkably added his third and fourth winners in Pour Moi (Ire) and Camelot (GB) in 2011 and 2012. The longshot winner Pour Moi would go on to sire another high-priced winner, Wings of Eagles (Fr), from his second crop in 2017. Meanwhile, Galileo’s first winner, New Approach, came along in 2008, the year before Galileo’s half-brother Sea the Stars (Ire) won. Galileo would follow up Montjeu’s back-to-back winners with the same feat in 2013 and 2014 courtesy of Ruler of the World (Ire) and Australia (GB), the latter of which is the sire of two of Saturday’s runners from his first crop. After a short hiatus in 2015 and 2016-when the winners were by Cape Cross (Ire) and his son Sea the Stars-Montjeu was back in the fray in 2017 courtesy of his grandson Wings of Eagles, and Galileo last year with New Approach’s Masar (GB). For all his success, it’s a bit surprising that Galileo hasn’t yet achieved a Derby trifecta, although he came close in 2013 with New Approach’s Libertarian (Ire) splitting Ruler of the World and Galileo Rock (Ire). He has plenty of ammunition to shoot with on Saturday, however, with six of the 13 runners. Five of those (Anthony Van Dyck, Circus Maximus, Japan, Line of Duty, and Sovereign) are from Danehill-line mares-that magical cross that has left the likes of Frankel (GB), Highland Reel (Ire), Minding (Ire), Teofilo (Ire) and Intello (Ger)-while Norway (Ire) is out of a daughter of Kingmambo, so bred similarly to Camelot. Australia has a pair of live chances for a first-crop Derby winner in Broome (Ire) and Bangkok (Ire). New Approach’s champion 2-year-old and Guineas-winning son Dawn Approach (Ire) is the sire of Madhmoon (Ire), who is an interesting contender at 11-1 after showing plenty of quality at two and running a respectable race to be fourth in the Guineas. Dawn Approach was favourite for the 2013 Derby, but the experiment to test whether he could stay proved inconclusive after his lost his cool at the start and pulled Kevin Manning through the entire race and was virtually eased late on to finish last. New Approach has a shot to land his second Derby as a sire with Telecaster (GB), the G1 Dante S. winner who was supplemented for the Derby. When talking descendants of Galileo, one name that is missing is that of his best son Frankel (GB). And while that unbeaten superstar is not represented in the blue riband, he made amends on Friday when Anapurna (GB)-one of his three representatives–took out the Oaks to become his first British Classic winner. Frankel’s full-brother Noble Mission (GB) deputizes in the Derby with first-crop son Humanitarian, who was bought by Godolphin at Keeneland September for $200,000 and races in the silks of Sheikh Mohammed’s young son Sheikh Zayed. Also stirring memories of Frankel (GB) is Nathaniel (Ire), who bookended his racing career with second-place finishes behind the great horse and who is the sire of Derby longshot Hiroshima (GB). They could all be usurped, however, by the lone runner not from the Galileo line in the favourite, Sir Dragonet (Ire), a son of the 2012 Derby winner Camelot, by Montjeu. However, run Sir Dragonet’s pedigree and who will you find? Galileo. The G3 Chester Vase winner’s second dam, All Too Beautiful (Ire), is Galileo’s full-sister. Which reminds us, if we really needed it, of the homage that must be paid to their iconic matriarch Urban Sea (Miswaki). The 1993 G1 Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe winner’s profound influence on this race since the turn of the century has been solidified not only by Galileo but also Sea The Stars, sire of the 2016 Derby winner Harzand from his third crop. Urban Sea featured on both the top and bottom of the pedigree of last year’s winner Masar, who was inbred 3×4 to her. They say nothing is certain in racing, but this Saturday something is: yet another Derby will go the way of the Sadler’s Wells sireline. The post Galileo’s Derby Monopoly appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Tesio’s Derby is the toughest of its kind in Europe, coming second only to the Kentucky equivalent in terms of demands made on still-developing Thoroughbred bodies and minds. At Louisville in May 2018, Justify (Scat Daddy) broke most of the rules and “Apollo’s curse” as a Derby hero without a single juvenile run behind him. That had already been achieved here in the modern era when Morston (Fr) took the blue riband on the back of a sole 3-year-old outing at Lingfield in 1973 and since then there have been two more to make light of the jolting trajectory from unknown to immortal in the space of a few weeks. They were Commander In Chief (GB), who came from nowhere to comprehensively eclipse the fellow Henry Cecil-trained Tenby (GB) here in 1993, and Ruler of the World (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), who conquered the 2013 edition just eight weeks after his debut appearance. If winning the Derby without having raced as a 2-year-old is an every-20-year phemonenon, Saturday’s G1 Investec Derby favourite Sir Dragonet (Ire) (Camelot {GB}) is in trouble but like Justify he does not appear a horse who respects guidelines. The ‘TDN Rising Star’ has arguably done a lot more than Ruler of the World already, with his eight-length defeat of solid stablemate Norway (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) in the May 8 G3 Chester Vase a souped-up version of the 2013 blue riband hero’s defeat of three rivals in that trial. Only introduced to the world at Tipperary on Apr. 25, the colt his stable hardly knew about also gets a significant leg up from his impeccable pedigree. If Tesio could design the ideal bloodlines for pointing to his famous winning post, Sir Dragonet’s would be it. His dam’s half-sister Wonder of Wonders (Kingmambo) had similarly low exposure when second in the 2011 Oaks and her dam All Too Beautiful (Ire) (Sadler’s Wells) took on Ouija Board (GB) (Cape Cross {Ire}) on only her third start in 2004. The latter’s dam Urban Sea (Miswaki) is the font of all matters Derby-related, as she proved again 12 months ago when her descendant Masar (Ire) (New Approach {Ire}) arrived at Epsom to upstage all pretenders. “He was always a very easy horse at home and does what is asked of him,” Aidan O’Brien said of the colt who has taken everybody by surprise. “He was kind of a reserved type of horse who didn’t run last year, so we just minded him. The reason he ran first time at Tipperary was just in case there was something special in there. Sir Dragonet’s work has been lovely since he last ran and he shows he gets a mile and a half well.” At the other end of the experience spectrum is Anthony Van Dyck (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), a gold-standard second or even third string for Ballydoyle who underwent rigorous examination throughout his formative campaign which took in visits to England and the United States. Like Masar, he took part in the GI Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf and that remains his sole disappointing effort after wins in the G3 Tyros S. and G2 Futurity S. and placings in the G1 Vincent O’Brien National S. and G1 Dewhurst S. His straightforward success in the May 11 Listed Lingfield Derby Trial over an extended 11-furlong trip came on the back of a hold-up, so can be upgraded significantly. Bar a couple of exceptions, that prep has suffered after it was used by connections of the ultra-impressive 1985 Derby winner Slip Anchor (GB), but the half-brother to the high-class sprinter Bounding (Aus) (Lonhro {Aus}) could be the one to put it back on the map. Donnacha O’Brien’s record in English Classics is an impressive three wins from his last six rides and his partnering of the Apr. 6 G3 Ballysax S. and May 12 G3 Derrinstown Stud Derby Trial winner Broome (Ire) (Australia {GB}) is a positive. On racing style, he looks most likely to stay the trip and being by a Derby winner who was himself out of an Oaks winner he is tailor-made for these contours. “Broome has had two runs and we have been very happy with him. Ryan was very happy with him the first day and Donnacha was very happy the second day and everything has gone well since then,” the master of Ballydoyle said. “Anthony Van Dyck is a horse we always thought would get middle distances well. We kept him short enough last year as we didn’t have any other 2-year-olds really ready to go into battle. We were very interested in watching him run at Lingfield and Ryan was very happy with him and that he got the trip well.” Like Sir Dragonet, Castle Down Racing’s Telecaster (GB) (New Approach {Ire}) was also unable to make the track at two before charting rapid progress through the spring and early summer. Second to Bangkok (Ire) (Australia {GB}) on debut when notably green at Doncaster on Mar. 30, the Meon Valley homebred went one better by nine lengths at Windsor on Apr. 15 before winning the G2 Dante S. at York on May 16 in the manner of a colt with unusual prowess. Another by a sire successful in this highlight, he is Britain’s headline act. Telecaster’s already much-respected trainer Hughie Morrison is on the verge of a sensational highlight of his training career and said, “As much as we’ve always liked him, we never got stuck into him at home. Oisin [Murphy] made sure he did learn plenty at Windsor and that paid dividends at York, but we’ve had three races in a short space of time and that is hard on a horse. He’s come a long way very quickly and giving a 3-year-old three runs before Ascot is unusual. As for the track, we won’t know until we try. He handled Windsor and that can be a challenge. He’s bred to stay this far and hopefully he’s got more improvement in him.” King Power Racing’s Bangkok is the second Derby representative of his sire alongside Broome and hails from one of the stables that has carried all before them so far in 2019 in Andrew Balding’s Kingsclere. While he has to improve on the bare form of his success in the Apr. 26 G3 Sandown Classic Trial, he is a colt with a willing attitude and a likely stayer at a mile and a half. “It has always been a difficult race to win and it is not getting any easier,” his trainer said. “If everything goes well in the prelims and we can get a half-decent position in the first half of the race, I’m sure we will be there or thereabouts. On his home work, he is the best I’ve trained–he has got to put that together on the track, but in terms of raw ability he is up there with the best I’ve had of any age.” Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum’s Madhmoon (Ire) (Dawn Approach {Ire}) is by one who actually disappointed in this race when running far too free in the 2013 edition and he bids to live up to the old “fourth in the Guineas, first in the Derby” adage. While he was staying on in the style of the 1991 Epsom hero Generous (Ire) when filling that position in the May 4 Newmarket Classic, he is no certainty to get this trip on pedigree. “My dad had seven placed horses in it, he never won it but he won every other programmed race in England and Ireland,” his 86-year-old trainer Kevin Prendergast commented. “If we get the trip, we have every chance. There were a couple of impressive horses at Chester, but the ground was very soft. We’ve beaten Broome 2 1/2 lengths in a Group 2 at Leopardstown and he is nearly favourite now.” John Gosden’s sole representative is Sheikh Zayed bin Mohammed Racing’s Humanitarian (Noble Mission {GB}), who needs to up his game after novice wins over a mile at Lingfield in November and at Salisbury on May 16 but his profile is not unlike the 2000 Guineas runner-up King of Change (GB) (Farhh {GB}). “He went and won nicely at Salisbury last week,” Gosden said at the ‘Breakfast With the Stars’ day here. “You have to be bold sometimes.” Also at Epsom, the G3 Princess Elizabeth S. features Cheveley Park Stud’s ‘TDN Rising Star’ Veracious (GB) (Frankel {GB}), who carries a penalty for her success in the G3 Atalanta S. at Sandown in September. Third in the G1 Coronation S. at Royal Ascot and G1 Nassau S. at Goodwood last term, the homebred has to rebound from a return fourth when the re-opposing Nyaleti (Ire) (Arch) was second in the G2 Dahlia S. at Newmarket on May 5. “I think we were all a bit disappointed with her last run,” the stud’s managing director Chris Richardson said. “I don’t know if she didn’t like the ground, as it was pretty uneven on the day because of the all the rain they had. We’ll put a line through it and move on. Sir Michael is very happy with her and we know she’s a good filly. Hopefully she’ll take to Epsom and we can decide from there whether we go to Royal Ascot.” The King Power connections warm up for Bangkok’s Derby tilt with the 3-year-old Bye Bye Hong Kong (Street Sense) in the G3 Investec Diomed S. Successful in the May 13 Listed Royal Windsor S., he is reported in peak condition by Andrew Balding. “He’s taking on older horses again, but I would like to think he’ll like the track and hopefully he’ll run a big race.” He meets Ahmad Alotaibi’s May 1 Listed Paradise S. winner Zaaki (GB) (Leroidesanimaux {Brz}), whose form has subsequently been boosted by the runner-up Barney Roy (GB) (Excelebration {Aus}). The post Dragonet Out To Buck Derby History appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Without a win since last May’s G2 Jockey Club S. at Newmarket, Sheikh Mohammed Obaid Al Maktoum’s now-gelded Defoe (Ire) (Dalakhani {Ire}) sprang from the clouds to register a career-defining success in Friday’s G1 Investec Coronation Cup at Epsom. Settled in last early by Andrea Atzeni alongside Kew Gardens (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), the 11-1 shot enjoyed a rail run approaching the straight but needed room on the inner as that Ballydoyle representative struck the front looking to have it won two out. Getting a split in time, the grey swamped Kew Gardens 100 yards from the line before asserting for a half-length success, with five lengths back to last year’s runner-up Salouen (Ire) (Canford Cliffs {Ire}) in third. 1–DEFOE (IRE), 126, g, 5, by Dalakhani (Ire) 1st Dam: Dulkashe (Ire), by Pivotal (GB) 2nd Dam: Saik, by Riverman 3rd Dam: Close Comfort, by Far North O-Sheikh Mohammed Obaid Al Maktoum; B-Darley (IRE); T-Roger Varian; J-Andrea Atzeni. The post Dalakhani’s Defoe Prevails In Cup Thriller appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

While this year’s G1 Investec Derby lineup is largely comprised of homebreds or private acquisitions, there are also some auction buys in here on both ends of the scale: the least expensive was 28,000gns, and the most expensive 1.3-million gns. ANTHONY VAN DYCK (IRE) (Galileo {Ire}-Believe’N’Succeed {Aus}, by Exceed and Excel {Aus}) The last-out Listed Lingfield Derby Trial S. winner Anthony Van Dyck is the first Northern Hemisphere foal out of the G3 Blue Diamond Prelude winner Believe’n’Succeed, who was bought by Coolmore at the 2014 Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale for A$1.1-million after producing the New Zealand champion sprinter and Group 1 winner Bounding (Aus) (Lonhro {Aus}), who was bought by Stonestreet at that same sale two years later for A$1.6-million and exported to America. Believe’n’Succeed is a full-sister to Kuroshio (Aus), who has done well as a young sire with limited opportunities from shuttling to Britain. B-Orpendale, Chelston & Wynatt. BANGKOK (IRE) (Australia {GB}-Tanaghum {GB}, by Darshaan {GB}) A 500,000gns Book 1 yearling, Bangkok is from the first yearling sales intake of King Power Racing. He is out of the listed-placed Tanaghum and a 3/4-brother to two other stakes winners as well as a half-brother to the dam of four-time Group 1-winning miler Ribchester (Ire) (Iffraaj {GB}). His second dam is the G1 Irish 1000 Guineas winner Mehthaaf (Nureyev), while he traces back to the excellent producer Fall Aspen. B-Barronstown Stud. BROOME (IRE) (Australia-Sweepstakes {Ire}, by Acclamation {GB}) A €120,000 vendor buyback by Croome House Stud at Goffs Orby in 2017, Broome was bought by MV Magnier for 150,000gns two months later at the Tattersalls December Yearling Sale. His dam was a listed winner over five furlongs at Sandown and Grade III-placed going a mile in the U.S., and he is from the family of Zoffany (Ire). B-Epona Bloodstock Ltd. CIRCUS MAXIMUS (IRE) (Galileo {Ire}-Duntle {Ire}, by Danehill Dancer {Ire}) Bred by co-owner Flaxman Stables, Circus Maximus is the first and only reported foal to date out of the Niarchos Family’s G2 Duke of Cambridge S. winner and multiple Group 1-placed Duntle. Duntle was bred by Sonia Rogers and raced by her until breaking her maiden by 18 lengths at second asking, after which she was bought privately by the Niarchos Family. B-Flaxman Stables Ireland Ltd. HIROSHIMA (GB) (Nathaniel {Ire}-Lisiere {Ire}, by Excellent Art {GB}) Hiroshima, a 250-1 shot for the blue riband after beating just two home in Anthony Van Dyck’s Lingfield Derby Trial, was a 28,000gns purchase by trainer John Ryan at Book 2 for koi carp trader Graham Smith-Bernal. His dam is a half-sister to the G1 Keeneland Phoenix S. winner Dick Whittington (Ire) (Rip Van Winkle {Ire}). B-Mrs P A Cave. HUMANITARIAN (Noble Mission {GB}-Sharbat, by Dynaformer) A $200,000 Keeneland September yearling purchase by Godolphin from breeder Will Farish’s Lane’s End Farm, Humanitarian races in the colours of Sheikh Mohammed’s young son Sheikh Zayed. He is out of the U.S. listed-placed Sharbat, a half-sister to the G2 Lancashire Oaks and G3 Prix Minerve winner Pomology (Arch). B-W S Farish. JAPAN (GB) (Galileo {Ire}-Shastye {Ire}, by Danehill) A 1.3-million gns Book 1 purchase by the Coolmore partners, Japan was the latest in the procession of millionaires out of his dam to pass through the Tattersalls October ring. Shastye, the dam of G2 Middleton S. winner and G1 Oaks second Secret Gesture (GB) (Galileo {Ire}) and two other stakes winners in addition to the G2 Beresford S. winner Japan, has had her sales yearlings gross an incredible $16.6-million. Those have also included the 3.6-million gns Sir Isaac Newton (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) and last year’s 3.4-million gns Galileo colt, both also bought by MV Magnier. Secret Gesture was bought by Godolphin in foal to War Front for $3.5-million at Keeneland November in 2016 and that resultant foal, Silent Wave (GB), won her first start at Goodwood on May 25. B-Newsells Park Stud. LINE OF DUTY (IRE) (Galileo {Ire}-Jacqueline Quest {Ire}, by Rock of Gibraltar {Ire}) The GI Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf winner Line of Duty was bought by Godolphin from the New England Stud consignment for 400,000gns at Book 1. He is out Jacqueline Quest, who crossed the line first in the 2010 G1 1000 Guineas but was demoted to second for interference. Jacqueline Quest visited Galileo for her first four seasons and now has a 2-year-old Dubawi (Ire) filly named Onassis (Ire), a yearling colt by Galileo and a colt foal by Dubawi. B-Triermore Stud. MADHMOON (IRE) (Dawn Approach {Ire}-Aaraas {GB}, by Haafhd {GB}) The G2 KPMG Champions Juvenile S. winner Madhmoon is a homebred for Sheikh Hamdan. He is out of the G3 Blue Wind S. second Aaraas, who is a half-sister to the dam of another recent Shadwell luminary, the G1 Irish 2000 Guineas winner Awtaad (Ire) (Cape Cross {Ire}). B-Shadwell Estate Company Limited. NORWAY (IRE) (Galileo {Ire}-Love Me True, by Kingmambo) Last year’s Listed Zetland S. winner Norway is a full-brother to his owners’ 2013 Derby winner Ruler of the World. Remarkably, that young sire wouldn’t qualify as the most accomplished produce of Love Me True: that honour falls to Duke of Marmalade (Ire), the G1 King George VI and Queen Elizabeth S., G1 Prince of Wales’s S. and total five-time Group 1 winner. Norway is a great grandson of the legendary American producer Lassie Dear, whose legacy includes Weekend Surprise, the dam of A.P. Indy and Summer Squall as well as the champion, Classic winner, five-time Grade I winner and excellent sire Lemon Drop Kid. B-Southern Bloodstock. SIR DRAGONET (IRE) (Camelot {GB}-Sparrow {Ire}, by Oasis Dream {GB}) Derby favourite Sir Dragonet was bred by the Coolmore partners and is out of a Group 3-placed daughter of All Too Beautiful (Ire) (Sadler’s Wells), the G3 Middleton S. winner and a full-sister to Galileo (Ire) and a half to Sea The Stars (Ire). This is also the family of last year’s Derby winner Masar (Ire) (New Approach {Ire}) as well as the 2018 G2 Rockfel S. winner Just Wonderful (Dansili {GB}) and many, many other standouts. B-Orpendale, Wynatt & Chelston. SOVEREIGN (IRE) (Galileo {Ire}-Devoted To You {Ire}, by Danehill Dancer {Ire}) The maiden winner Sovereign, placed behind Broome in both of that one’s Group 3 wins this year, is out of the dual group-placed Devoted To You, whose dam Alleged Devotion (Alleged) is a half-sister to the G1 Irish Derby and Irish Oaks winner Balanchine (Storm Bird). Balanchine’s high-class dam Morning Devotion also features in the pedigrees of the G1 Prix de Diane winner West Wind (GB) (Machiavellian) and the dual G1 Dubai World Cup winner Thunder Snow (Ire) (Helmet {Aus}). B-Barronstown Stud. TELECASTER (GB) (New Approach {Ire}-Shirocco Star {GB}, by Shirocco {Ger}) The supplemented G2 Dante S. winner Telecaster was offered by breeder Meon Valley Stud at Book 1 in 2017, and it is now looking like a very wise decision that they bought him back for 180,000gns. Telecaster certainly has it in his genes to excel over this course and distance; his sire won the 2008 blue riband while his dam was second in both the Investec Oaks and the Irish Oaks, as well as the G2 British Champions Fillies and Mares S. and the G2 Prix Royallieu. B-Meon Valley Stud. The post Where Did They Come From? appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

The New York State Senate is poised to enact legislation to enter the Mid-Atlantic Interstate Equine Drug Testing Compact, an effort to try to streamline model rule-making across the participating states. View the full article

It’s Derby day at Epsom where Aidan O’Brien runs seven horses in a bid to win his sixth Derby. The ITV racing team are bringing us five live races from Epsom Downs where Hathiq has been all the rage in the Dash and Veracious bids to put a disappointing run behind her in the Queen […] The post Epsom Derby Day 2019 Preview – Can Aidans Arsi appeared first on RaceBets Blog EN. View the full article