Wandering Eyes

Repole Stable and St. Elias Stable's Vino Rosso closed late to take the $500,000 Gold Cup at Santa Anita Stakes (G1) May 27 at Santa Anita Park, besting grade 1 winner Gift Box at the wire in a final time of 2:03. View the full article

Golden Pegasus Racing's Bolo pulled a 30-1 shocker in the $500,000 Shoemaker Mile Stakes (G1) May 27 at Santa Anita Park. It was the second start off a layoff that lasted nearly two years. View the full article

A funeral Mass will be held Saturday for longtime horseman J.J. Crupi, who passed away last Thursday. Visitation will be held Friday from 6-8 p.m. at Blessed Trinity Catholic Church in Ocala. The funeral Mass will be held at the church Saturday at 9:30 a.m. Interment at Good Shepherd Memorial Gardens in Ocala will immediately follow Mass. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to The Ocala Farm Ministry, 489 NW 110th Avenue, Ocala FL 34482, or to the Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance (TAA), 821 Corporate Drive Lexington, KY 40503. The post Funeral for J.J. Crupi Saturday appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Jerold Zaro's homebred Blindwillie McTell, also trained by Rice, kept his consistent record intact when he cruised home to win the $125,000 Mike Lee Stakes. It was the third stakes victory against fellow New York-breds in his five race career. View the full article

Repole Stable and St. Elias Stable's Vino Rosso closed late to take the $500,000 Gold Cup at Santa Anita Stakes (G1) May 27 at Santa Anita Park, besting grade 1 winner Gift Box at the wire in a final time of 2:03. View the full article

East Coast based Vino Rosso (Curlin-Mythical Bride, by Street cry {Ire}) capitalized on a trans-continental trek, besting favored Gift Box (Twirling Candy) in Monday’s GI Gold Cup at Santa Anita. Sent off at 4-1, last year’s GII Wood Memorial victor settled just behind pacesetter Blitzkrieg (War Front), who carved out initial fractions of :22.97 and :46.37. Approaching the quarter pole, the leader began his retreat while Gift Box moved to the fore, but Vino Rosso was in close pursuit. In the stretch, Vino Rosso carried the most momentum, passing Gift Box and remaining 3/4 of a length clear at the wire. Gift Box held for second, while closer Lone Sailor (Majestic Warrior) rounded out the trifecta. Final time for the 10-furlong test was 2:03.00. In his two prior starts this term, Vino Rosso won the Stymie S. Mar. 9 before finishing fourth in the GI Carter at Aqueduct Apr. 6. Lifetime Record:12-5-0-2, 1,253,125. O-Repole Stable & St Elias Stable; B-John Gunther; Todd Pletcher. The post Vino Rosso flows in Gold Cup appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Lim's Cruiser is going to Royal Ascot View the full article

Clark to make most of three weeks at new 'jungle' View the full article

Updates on stewards' follow-ups to Saturday meeting View the full article

Debt Collector farewells Kranji, may return to racing in Australia View the full article

Horse's test result May 27 View the full article

With a perfectly-timed run that sent her sailing past the wire in the May 27 $500,000 Gamely Stakes (G1T), Vasilika cemented her title as reigning queen of the Santa Anita Park turf and picked up her fourth graded stakes win of the season. View the full article

Former claimer Vasilika (m, 5, Skipshot–La Belle Marquet, by Marquetry) made it four graded wins in a row over the Santa Anita turf with a late-charging victory in the GI Gamely S. in Arcadia Monday. The even-money favorite settled just off the pace as an eager Ahimsa (Animal Kingdom) pulled her way through fractions of :24.37 and :48.52. The longshot pacesetter looked upset-minded as she skipped clear at midstretch, but Vasilika was uncorking her late rally and strode confidently to the lead to win going away by 1 1/2 lengths. Rymska (Fr) (Le Havre {Ire}) just nipped the pacesetter for second. The time for the nine furlongs was 1:48.07. Vasilika has proven to be an absolute win machine since being claimed for $40,000 out of her first start of 2018, capturing 11 of 13 starts, including the GI Rodeo Drive S. last September. Her win streak was snapped with a fourth-place effort in the Dec. 2 GI Matriarch S., but she returned to her winning ways in 2019. She opened the year with a win in the Jan. 21 GIII Megahertz S. and added victories in the Feb. 23 GII Buena Vista S. and Apr. 6 GII Royal Heroine S. Lifetime Record: 32-17-4-3, $1,358,595. O-All Schlaich Stables and Gatto Racing. B-Mikhail Yanakov (Ky). T-Jerry Hollendorfer. The post Vasilika Continues Winning Ways in Gamely appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Sent off the hot 3-5 choice while looking to add some black-type to her resume in Monday’s Hystericalady S. at Monmouth Park, Royal Charlotte (Cairo Prince–Sass and Class, by Harlan’s Holiday) mounted an impressive sweeping move turning for home and rolled home a geared-down three length winner over 5-2 second choice Miss Imperial (Maclean’s Music). Final time for the six-furlong test was 1:09.92. The grey kicked off her career with a four-length score at Gulfstream Mar. 16 before adding a narrow victory last time in a muddy optional claimer at Keeneland Apr. 19. Prior to this, she posted a swift four-furlong move in :48.00, the third fastest of 55 on the day at Monmouth May 19. Lifetime Record: 3-3-0-0, $119,400. O-First Row Partners; B-Rhineshire Farm LLC; T-Chad Brown. The post Royal Charlotte Remains Undefeated in Monmouth’s Hystericalady S. appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Bowl of Soul (3, f, Shakin It Up) allowed her stablemate Raneem (Fed Biz) to lead the way early, but was in full command late en route to a deceptively easy 1 1/2-length score. Sent off the 3-5 choice following a pair of speedy works–four furlongs in :48.2 May 22 and a bullet four-panel move in :48 flat May 15–the dark bay purchase settled in a comfortable second as Raneem raced out to set a crisp opening quarter in :22.65. Closing on her rival approaching the stretch, Bowl of Soul was on even terms turning for home, inched clear in the lane and crossed the wire a controlled 1 1/2 length winner over Raneem. Kamically (Union Rags) was third. Final time for the six-furlong event was 1:10.65. The winner was a $120,000 Fasig-Tipton Kentucky Fall yearling that flourished into a $400,000 OBS April juvenile. Lifetime Record: 1-1-0-0; 39,000. O-Spendthrift Farm LLC; B-Catalyst Bloodstock & Erin Knehr; T-Bob Baffert. The post Debut winner for Shakin It Up at Santa Anita appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Jockey-turned-trainer Frank Barroby has been named the recipient of the 2019 Avelino Gomez Memorial Award for his contributions to Canadian jockeydom and the sport. Barroby competed against Gomez during two seasons at Woodbine. “I thought a lot of Avelino,” Barroby said. “He was kind of a showy guy and just as good a rider as I’ve ever seen. When he was on a horse, and he wanted them to pick it up, you could see them extend themselves.” Barroby, a 75-year-old Saskatchewan native, earned his first win as a jockey at Assiniboia Downs in 1961. He rode the prairie circuit–Calgary, Edmonton, Lethbridge, Saskatoon and Regina–and won riding titles in four provinces, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta and British Columbia. When he rode at Woodbine for two years in the mid-1960s, he was nicknamed “King of the Bullrings.” In 1968, he moved back to Vancouver to ride for top owner Peter Redekop and he was leading rider in his first year at Hastings Park. He retired from riding in 1976 and became a top trainer, earning titles in 1986, 1990 and 1993. In 2010, Barroby was the first B.C.-based trainer to be inducted into the Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame. Currently with 976 wins as a trainer, he maintains a stable of 13. The Avelino Gomez award is presented every year at Woodbine on Woodbine Oaks day (June 8 this year). A life-sized statue of Gomez overlooks the walking ring at Woodbine. The post Frank Barroby Named Avelino Gomez Memorial Award Winner appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Churchill Downs will raise purses 10.7%, effective Thursday, for the second half of its 38-day spring meet. The increase is credited to “robust business from state-of-the-art historical racing machines at Derby City Gaming,” according to a release from the track. The spring meet will run through June 29 and the remaining 183 races will see a $1.1-million increase in overnight races above the meet’s record-setting first condition book. The $65-million Derby City Gaming facility opened last September on nearby Poplar Level Road and features more than 900 historical racing machines, two restaurants, a center bar and multiple entertainment options. “Our investment into Derby City Gaming continues to pay immediate dividends to all owners, trainers and jockeys that participate at Churchill Downs,” said Churchill Downs Racetrack President Kevin Flanery. “The result is an exciting and ultra-competitive Spring Meet racing product for bettors nationwide.” Maiden special weight races at Churchill Downs will now be worth $95,000, which is up $10,000 from the $85,000 maiden races offered after the GI Kentucky Derby in Book 1. By comparison, maiden special weight races offered during the 2018 Spring Meet were $53,000. Allowance races will range from $97,000 to $104,000. They were $87,000 to $94,000 post-Derby in the first condition book and $55,000 to $61,000 during the 2018 Spring Meet. Purses for seven stakes races were also boosted. Saturday’s Aristides S., the June 8 Old Forester Mint Julep S., June 29 Debutante S. and June 20 Bashford Manor S. are now worth $125,000–up from $100,000. A trio of overnight stakes–Saturday’s Mighty Beau S., the June 22 Roxelana S. and June 29 Kelly’s Landing S.–will have their purses raised to $120,000, which includes $45,000 of KTDF money. Total overnight purses for the 38-day, 372-race Spring Meet are now projected to be $33.5 million. The daily average purse distribution, not including stakes money, will be approximately $574,000 per day. That number grows to $882,000 daily when stakes money is included. Last year, total purses paid during the 372-race Spring Meet was $22.2 million, or $585,000 daily. The post Churchill Downs Boosts Purses appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Grade 1 winner Geri was euthanized May 25 at Park Equine Hospital in Versailles, Ky., due to complications from colic. Geri was a retiree at Old Friends, the Thoroughbred retirement farm in Georgetown, Ky., since 2013. The stallion was 27. View the full article

Grade I winner Geri (Theatrical {Ire}–Garimpeiro, by Mr. Prospector) was euthanized Saturday at Park Equine Hospital in Versailles due to complications from colic. A retiree at Old Friends in Georgetown, Kentucky since 2013, the stallion was 27. He was among nine stallions repatriated from overseas stud duty by Old Friends, a non-profit retirement facility. He arrived back in the U.S. from Italy. Campaigned by owner/breeder Allen Paulson and trainer Bill Mott, Geri won the 1996 GI Oaklawn H., 1997 GII Citation H. and 1996 GIII Creme Fraiche H. He was second in the 1997 GI Breeders’ Cup Mile. On the board in 16 of 19 starts, Geri won nine times and earned $1,707,980. At stud, Geri was represented by the multiple stakes-winning mare Bedanken, Japanese millionaire Lucky Break, and champion steeplechaser Party Airs. He was also the sire of A. P. Slew, another Old Friends retiree. “Geri’s handsome countenance offered an insufficient disguise for his deep-seated toughness,” said Old Friends founder and President Michael Blowen. “He knew who he was. He was even smart enough to tell us when his time had come. We will miss him terribly. Our thanks to Madeleine Paulson for supporting him and other great Paulson Thoroughbreds throughout the years.” The post Geri Dies at 27 appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Effective May 30, Churchill Downs will raise purse offerings 10.7% for the second half of its 38-day Spring Meet thanks to robust business from state-of-the-art historical racing machines at Derby City Gaming. View the full article

Sunday’s G1 Tattersalls Irish 1000 Guineas runner up Pretty Pollyanna (GB) (Oasis Dream {GB}) will stick to a mile and will target the G1 Coronation S. next at Royal Ascot. Last year’s G1 Darley Prix Morny winner dispelled any doubts about her ability to get a mile well when keeping on well for second on what was her seasonal debut and her performance left trainer Michael Bell looking forward to the season ahead. “It was a very satisfactory run and it was pleasing to see she had trained on. We were pretty sure she had, given how she had been working, and hopefully she’s set for a good year,” said Bell. “Pretty Pollyanna has just come off the ferry, but I’ve spoken to my team and they said she went straight to her manger and we’re all happy with her. She got the mile well and I think she was beaten by a very good filly. I think the route now is almost certainly the Coronation, but obviously we need to get her home and reboot,” he added. The post Coronation Next For Pollyanna appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Another Guineas double was delivered for Aidan O’Brien by the filly who truly lives up to her name. In the paddock before the Tattersalls Irish 1000 Guineas, Hermosa (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) looked to have thrived since her first Classic win at Newmarket and gave her followers little room for doubt with a dominant performance at the Curragh. Nothing came from off the pace in the race, and it was the fillies who challenged her gamely from the off, Pretty Pollyanna (GB) (Oasis Dream {GB}) and Foxtrot Liv (GB) (Foxwedge {Aus}), who claimed the places while doing their level best to peg her back, but Hermosa was imperious in victory and will be a delight to watch as she steps up in trip. In Ireland on Sunday, daughters of Pivotal (GB) shone as matrons in both Group 1 races, helped in no small part by that heady blend with Galileo blood. But while His Highness the Aga Khan was in Ireland to assist Taoiseach Leo Varadkar to open the stand named in honour of his contribution to the redevelopment of the Curragh, over in Paris, his homebred daughter of Pivotal, Siyarifina (Fr), continued her unbeaten progress through the ranks to the top level in just three short leaps with victory in the G1 Saxon Warrior Coolmore Prix Saint-Alary. A tussle with Hermosa in the Prix de Diane beckons. Fillies’ showdown at Ascot There have been plenty of tantalising hints towards the juvenile contests for Royal Ascot over the past few weeks but the race that is gearing up to be the thriller of the royal meeting is the Prince of Wales’s S. We’ve all been looking farther down the line at the Arc as the race of the season, and it usually is, especially in terms of its international pull, but a tantalising prequel could well take place at Ascot in three weeks’ time. Enable (GB) (Nathaniel {Ire}) won’t make Friday’s Investec Coronation Cup and she currently shares top billing for her Ascot target with last year’s Arc runner-up, Sea Of Class (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}). While Magical (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) has sailed through her three races so far this season and is set for a summer break before Irish Champions Weekend and the Arc, her trainer Aidan O’Brien did not rule out a possible Royal Ascot run after her seven-length triumph in Sunday’s G1 Tattersalls Gold Cup. Other 4-year-old fillies in the mix are Veracious (GB) (Frankel {GB}) for the in-form Sir Michael Stoute stable and recent G2 Middleton S. winner Lah Ti Dar (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}). Some international flavour will be provided by trainer Mitsuru Hashida’s globetrotting Deidre (Jpn) (Harbinger{GB}), who is currently looking the picture of contentment on her solo morning strolls around Newmarket. Of course, it won’t be all about the girls: Crystal Ocean (GB) (Sea The Stars {Ire}), Old Persian (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}), Ghaiyyath (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}), Waldgeist (GB) (Galileo {Ire}) and Sunday’s Prix d’Ispahan winner Zabeel Prince (Ire) (Lope De Vega {Ire}) are among those set to offer a robust male challenge. And with the return of last year’s Derby hero Masar (GB) (New Approach {Ire}) providing another potential layer of intrigue, Wednesday’s feature at Royal Ascot must not be missed. More McCartan magic Battaash (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}) completed a memorable day for Charlie Hills with his victory in the G2 Temple S. less than half an hour after Phoenix Of Spain (Ire) (Lope De Vega {Ire}) landed the Irish 2000 Guineas on his seasonal debut. But Battaash also ensured that his breeders Paul and Marie McCartan ended the week on a high after another of their Ballyphilip Stud graduates, Pierre Lapin (Ire) (Cappella Sansevero {GB}), also struck at Haydock in a novice race 24 hours earlier. His three-and-a-half length debut victory earned him not just TDN Rising Star status but also a little slice of history as the first winner for his freshman sire, who stands at Bridge House Stud in Ireland. The well-named Pierre Lapin is out of the Cadeaux Genereux (GB) mare Beatrix Potter (Ire), making him a half-brother to another famous Dark Angel sprinter to have emerged from the Ballyphilip paddocks, Harry Angel (Ire). Beatrix Potter is herself a half-sister to the dual Group 1-winning Hong Kong miler Xtension (Ire) (Xaar {GB}). Pierre Lapin, trained by Roger Varian, sparked a juvenile double at the meeting for owner Sheikh Mohammed Obaid, who was represented later on the card by another first-time-out winner, Rhea (GB) (Siyouni {Fr}), from the Kevin Ryan stable. While Varian has trained for the sheikh for a number of years, Ryan was the recipient of yearlings for the owner for the first time last year and appears to have a decent bunch of 2-year-olds to campaign for him this season, including impressive York maiden winner Repartee (Ire) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}). Princely rewards for Roundhill Just 20 minutes from the McCartans’ Ballyphilip Stud in Co. Limerick is Roundhill Stud, home to the successful breeding operation of Bobby Donworth and Honora Corridan. Plenty of group-winning graduates have emanated from their paddocks over the years and one family—that of Princess Serena—has served them particularly well. An outlay of $150,000 back in 2003 for the 4-year-old daughter of Unbridled’s Song out of a sister to the champion filly Serena’s Song (Rahy) has been handsomely rewarded in the intervening years. Though she lost the Thunder Gulch foal she was carrying at the time of her purchase, her next foal was Serena’s Storm (Ire) (Statue Of Libery), who would go on to produce the dual Group 1 winner Rizeena (Ire) (Iffraaj {GB}), and Group 2 winner Puissance De Lune (Ire) (Shamardal), now a stallion at Swettenham Stud in Australia, was to follow. It is the cross with Shamardal and his son Lope De Vega (Ire) which has proved particularly successful for the mare, highlighted by the victory on Sunday of Princess Serena’s 6-year-old son by the latter, Zabeel Prince (Ire), in the G1 Prix d’Ispahan, bringing up a Group 1 double for Lope De Vega at the weekend after Phoenix Of Spain’s Classic win on Saturday. This also continued a purple patch for Princess Serena’s family after her 3-year-old daughter Queen Power (Ire) (Shamardal) won the listed Haras de Bouquetot Fillies’ Trial for Sir Michael Stoute and King Power Racing the previous weekend. She holds Royal Ascot entries for the Ribblesdale S. and Coronation S., while Zabeel Prince could go for either the Queen Anne S. or the Prince of Wales’s S. “I’ve always said that the strength of Princess Serena is Unbridled’s Song, and you hit that with Storm Cat and you’re away,” said Honora Corridan. “She has given us so much.” She added, “We’ve used Lope De Vega from €15,000 all the way up and I really believe that he’s an elite stallion. The mare produced a very good full-brother to Zabeel Prince this year. We also have a yearling filly by Gleneagles from her.” Meanwhile Serena’s Storm, now 14 and one of three daughters and three grand-daughters of Princess Serena at the farm, has a yearling full-sister to Iffraaj with a Dark Angel (Ire) filly at foot and has been scanned in foal to Dubawi (Ire). Her 2-year-old daughter by Kingman (GB) was recently one of the stars of the show at the Arqana Breeze-up Sale when sold for €800,000 to Godolphin, having been sold as a yearling by her breeder for 300,000gns. Another of Princess Serena’s Shamardal daughters, the Newbury maiden winner Princess De Lune (Ire), is now in foal to Kingman having produced an Oasis Dream (GB) filly this year. “What made Sunday even better is that Tim was there to see Zabeel Prince win and even helped to saddle him and later collected the breeder’s prize on the podium,” said Corridan of her son Tim Donworth, who is currently assistant trainer to Nicolas Clement in Chantilly. A Stoute defence Charles Hills is flying high with a 25% winning strike-rate over the last fortnight, his Classic victor Phoenix Of Spain (Ire) (Lope De Vega {Ire}) being backed up by dependable 5-year-old sprinter Battaash and exciting youngster Flippa The Strippa (Ire), who provided Outstrip (GB) with a first black-type winner in the listed National S. on Thursday. But keeping his younger counterparts firmly in their place with a red-hot streak of late is Sir Michael Stoute. Since Mustrashry (GB) (Tamayuz {GB}) became the trainer’s sixth winner of the G1 Lockinge S. a little over a week ago, another seven of his 10 stable-mates to have headed to the races have returned winners, including G3 Brigadier Gerard S. victor Regal Reality (GB) (Intello {Ger}), and a trio of listed winners in Queen Power (Ire) (Shamardal), Dream Of Dreams (Ire) (Dream Ahead) and Mirage Dancer (GB) (Frankel {GB}). A tip of the cap should also go to Michael Bell, who pulled off a remarkable five-timer the Monday before last, with his sixth runner of the day being beaten only a short-head for second. The trainer also went close to emulating Hills’s feat of winning a Classic with a horse making a seasonal debut when last season’s champion 2-year-old filly Pretty Pollyanna returned in fine style to finish second to Hermosa in the Irish 1,000 Guineas. She will head next to Ascot for either the Coronation S. or the Commonwealth Cup. Shout out for Wave War Front’s major winners out of Galileo (Ire) mares include Roly Poly, U S Navy Flag and Fog Of War, while daughters of Galileo’s sire Sadler’s Wells have been responsible for War Front’s Group/Grade 1-winning offspring War Of Will, Brave Anna and her brother Hit It A Bomb, as well as recent G3 Juvenile Sprint S. winner Etoile. It would be no surprise to see Saturday’s maiden winner Silent Wave (GB) end up with black type before too long. The War Front juvenile was bought in utero by Godolphin when John Ferguson bid $3.5 million at Keeneland for her dam, Secret Gesture (Galileo {Ire}), who won the G2 Middleton S. and was runner-up in the Oaks among her list of decent performances for Qatar Racing and breeder Newsells Park Stud. Despite signs of greenness, the Charlie Appleby-trained Silent Wave looked impressive on her early debut, drawing away from her four rivals to win by almost three lengths and give her mother the perfect start as a broodmare. Swedish delight in Paris The final qualifying leg for the Weatherbys Hamilton Stayers’ Million was run on Sunday with the three-length winner of the G2 Prix Vicomtesse Vigier, Called To The Bar (Ire) (Henrythenavigator), completing a double on the day at ParisLongchamp for his Swedish breeders Sven and Carina Hanson of Fair Salinia and their compatriot, trainer Pia Brandt. Earlier on the card, Astonished (Fr), a 3-year-old daughter of the Hansons’ homebred stallion Reliable Man (GB) (Dalakhani {Ire}) won her maiden in determined fashion under Maxime Guyon. Called To The Bar will now be called to Ascot for the Gold Cup where he will have to take on last year’s winner Stradivarius (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) and Melbourne Cup hero Cross Counter (Ire) (Teofilo {Ire}) among an increasingly strong bunch of stayers in training. Another of Sunday’s group winners at ParisLongchamp, Quest The Moon (Ger), will next be asked to try to emulate his sire Sea The Moon (Ger) in the G1 Deutsches Derby on July 7 after his last-to-first victory in the G3 Prix du Lys. His Lanwades-based father was one of the most eye-catching winners of the German Classic in recent years when coming across to the stands’ rail to win by 11 lengths for his owner-breeder Gestut Gorlsdorf in 2014. “If he wins the German Derby, we can dream about the Arc. He’s a horse who keeps getting better,” said trainer Sarah Steinberg of Quest The Moon, who is now favourite for his home Derby. The post The Weekly Wrap: A Pivotal Moment appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

No targets but big team will be aiming to build on success of best-ever season The lowdown on the wealth of talent at Habton Grange Tim Easterby is not the sort to blow his own trumpet, which is just as well as many a trainer would have deafened the neighbours if they’d had a year like […] The post Tim Easterby Stable Tour appeared first on RaceBets Blog EN. View the full article

As expected the Aidan O’Brien trained Sir Dragonet (Ire) (Camelot {GB}) features among 15 confirmations for Saturday’s G1 Investec Epsom Derby. Hughie Morrison has also supplemented his G2 Dante S. winner Telecaster (GB) (New Approach {Ire}) having originally shown an inclination to wait for the G1 Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby. “He’s had no issues since he ran and Oisin [Murphy] was very happy with him this morning,” Morrison told Sky Sports Racing on Monday. “We were looking for negatives over this short time span since York and there were none so we are going for it,” he added. Ballydoyle are responsible for over half the field with 8 of the 15 potential runners including the second and fourth favourites Broome (Ire) (Australia {GB}) and Anthony Van Dyke (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) while Ireland will also be represented by the Kevin Prendergast trained Madhmoon (Ire) (Dawn Approach {Ire}). The Andrew Balding trained Bangkok (Ire) (Australia {GB}) and Roger Varian’s Surfman (GB) (Kingman {GB}) appear to be the main home defense charged with keeping the O’Brien juggernaut at bay. A Ballydoyle win on Saturday would be a seventh Epsom Derby for Aidan O’Brien which would elevate him to the position of joint most successful Derby trainer in history alongside Robert Robson, John Porter and Fred Darling. The post Fifteen Colts Go Forward For Epsom appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Trainer Michael Dods was taking plenty of positives out of the performance of his stable star Mabs Cross (GB) (Dutch Art {GB}) who finished third in the G2 Temple S. at Haydock on Saturday. Despite being blown away by the brilliant winner Battaash (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}) Dods has reasons to believe that his filly can close the gap when the pair meet again in the G1 King’s Stand S. at Royal Ascot. “On his day Battaash is nigh unbeatable. I’ve seen nothing to beat him on his day, but he doesn’t always have his day. I was very impressed with the winner, but we still ran well and we’ll have the rematch at Ascot when we’ll be 5lb better off on a stiffer track. A bit of juice [in the ground] would help us too- which we should get, with it being the first day of the meeting,” Dods said. Mabs Cross had to shoulder a group 1 penalty on Saturday due to her win in the G1 Qatar Prix de l’Abbaye last year and having made a successful seasonal reappearance in the G3 Zoustar Palace House S. at Newmarket, Dods feels Haydock over five furlongs may not play to her strengths. “At Ascot and Newmarket there’s a hill, and she finishes strong, so it suits her – she just struggles to tag on at Haydock. Paul [Mulrennan] said at one point he looked over and Jim Crowley took a pull but he was going flat out. We discussed after the race trying her over six furlongs. But she’s doing so well at five it’s hard to alter anything. I think we’ll try her over six at some stage,” he added. Haydock also provided one of the shocks of the season so far when Calyx (GB) (Kingman {GB}) got beaten in the G2 Sandy Lane S. Despite his three length defeat to Hello Youmzain (Fr) (Kodiac {GB}) connections hope the ‘TDN Rising Star‘ remains on course for Royal Ascot to tackle the G1 Commonwealth Cup. “It was obviously not the run we expected from Calyx, but he seems fine this morning and yesterday,” Teddy Grimthorpe, Khalid Abdullah’s racing manager told the Racing Post. “We’ll keep an eye on him for the foreseeable future, but we would still be looking at Ascot. We’ll have to see, something may turn up, but nothing has come to light at the moment.” The post Dods Eyes Battaash Rematch appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article