Wandering Eyes

A hard-charging Desert Encounter made his first foray into North American racing with a bang Oct. 13, overtaking Thundering Blue in the final strides to win the Pattison Canadian International Stakes (G1T) at Woodbine. View the full article

Gary Barber's Lookin to Strike scored his first graded victory Oct. 13, when he chased down the leader three-wide on the outside to win the $125,000 Ontario Derby (G3) over 1 1/8 miles at Woodbine. View the full article

DESERT ENCOUNTER (IRE) (g, 6, Halling–La Chicana {Ire}, by Invincible Spirit {Ire}) came flying late to take the GI Pattison Canadian International S. Saturday at Woodbine. Sent off at 8-1 while receiving Lasix for the first time, the gelding blew the break and was well back early off fractions of :25.67 and :51.12. Bottled up with nowhere to go in the lane, he came charging widest of all to inhale Thundering Blue (Exchange Rate) in the final sixteenth for a decisive victory. A Group 3 winner in England, Desert Encounter checked in sixth in the G1 King George VI & Queen Elizabeth S. at Ascot July 28 and captured the August S. at Windsor Aug. 25. He was third last time in the G3 Legacy Cup S. at Newbury Sept. 22. Lifetime Record: 23-8-4-5. O-Abdulla Al Mansoori; B-Tally-Ho Stud (Ire); T-David Simcock. View the full article

The 3-year-old More Than Ready filly is undefeated at the Lexington track, and put another top-level win on her resume with ease Oct. 13 in the $500,000 Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup Presented by Lane's End (G1T). View the full article

RUSHING FALL (f, 3, More Than Ready–Autumnal, by Forestry) had her coming out party at Keeneland last fall when winning the GIII J.P. Morgan Chase Jessamine S. over a soft course and returned to Lexington a year later to claim her second Grade I victory in Saturday’s Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup. The bay, who was hard sent to the front soon after the break, settled nicely beneath Javier Castellano and clicked off measured fractions of :23.91 and :49.22. Bracing for a challenge from Euro invader Mission Impassible (Ire) in upper stretch, she rebuffed that one’s challenge and kicked home a decisive winner. The final time for nine furlongs was 1:50.42. Rushing Fall won all three of her starts in 2017, capped by a score in the GI Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf in November. After kicking off her 2018 season with a win in Keeneland’s GII Appalachian S., she took a tough beat when a narrowly beaten second behind Toinette (Scat Daddy) in the GIII Edgewood S. at Churchill in May. She rebounded with a convincing win in the GII Lake Placid S. at Saratoga Aug. 18 and prepared for this return to Keeneland at Chad Brown’s Belmont base. Sales History: $320,000 yrl FTSAUG ’16. Lifetime Record: 7-6-1-0, $1,308,000. O-e Five Thoroughbreds. B-Fred W. Hertrich III and John D Fielding (KY). T-Chad C. Brown. View the full article

3.45 Goodwood, Cond, £11,400, 2yo, 9f 11yT George Strawbridge’s MARBURG (GB) (Oasis Dream {GB}), a son of G1 Prix Royal-Oak victress Montare (Ire) (Montjeu {Ire}), is a full-brother dual Group 2 placegetter Travelling Man (GB) and a half-brother to G1 British Champions Fillies & Mares heroine Journey (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}). Opposition to the John Gosden-conditioned newcomer includes C J Murfitt’s fellow firster Palladium (GB) (Champs Elysees {GB}), who is a Martyn Meade-trained half-brother to G1 2000 Guineas and G1 St James’s Palace S.-winning sire Galileo Gold (Ire) (Paco Boy {Ire}); and The Originals’ twice-raced Mister Chiang (GB) (Archipenko), who is a full-brother to G1 British Champions Fillies & Mares victress Madame Chiang (GB), from the Mark Johnston stable. View the full article

CRUEL INTENTION (c, 2, Smiling Tiger–Perfect Feat, by Pleasantly Perfect) was bet down to 1-5 favoritism for his career debut at Santa Anita and did not disappoint, jetting to the front and cruising home to an easy open-length victory, earning ‘TDN Rising Star’ status Saturday afternoon. A $200,000 Barretts April 2-year-old purchase, the colt stopped the clock in a sharp 1:09.72 for six furlongs. The winner is a full to Spiced Perfection, MSW, $385,405. Lifetime Record: 1-1-0-0, $30,000. O-LNJ Foxwoods, Jungle Racing and Nexus Racing Club. B-Premier Thoroughbreds LLC (Cal). T-Bob Baffert. View the full article

Tuning up for their appearance in respective Breeders’ Cup races at Churchill Downs Nov. 3, leading 3-year-old filly Monomoy Girl (Tapizar) and G1 Dubai World Cup winner Thunder Snow (Ire) (Helmet {Aus}) registered dramatically different five-furlong breezes beneath the Twin Spires Saturday morning. Monomoy Girl, the GI Kentucky Oaks winner and leading candidate for the sophomore filly Eclipse Award, came out onto the track at about 7:30 a.m. and earned the bullet for her five-eighths drill that was clocked in 1:00 flat with regular rider Florent Geroux in the irons. It was the fastest of 46 works at the distance and was accomplished in fractions of :24.40 and :36.60 before galloping out six furlongs in 1:13 flat. Also victorious in the GI Ashland S., the GI Acorn S. and GI CCA Oaks, Monomoy Girl crossed the wire first in the GI Cotillion S. in her most recent trip to the races, but was disqualified and placed second for causing interference to Midnight Bisou (Midnight Lute). Monomoy Girl is set to face older rivals for the first time in the GI Breeders’ Cup Distaff. Led out to the track around 9 a.m., GI Breeders’ Cup Classic hopeful Thunder Snow was working for the first time since his game runner-up effort in the GI Jockey Club Gold Cup and lobbed around through an opening four furlongs in :52 2/5 before being finishing his final furlong in a solid :12 1/5 for a composite time of 1:04 3/5 (43/46) (video). He galloped out three-quarters of a mile with good energy in 1:17 1/5 and was up seven furlongs in 1:31 1/5. WATCH: Monomoy Girl drills five furlongs for the Distaff View the full article

Multiple graded stakes winner and multi-millionaire Gunnevera (Dialed In), who figures to be one of the main threats in the $6-million GI Breeders’ Cup Classic Nov. 3 at Churchill Downs, put in a strong work for the upcoming 1 1/4 mile event. Breezing in company with his stakes-placed stablemate, the 3-year-old Cometin (Trappe Shot) at Gulfstream Park West, the 4-year-old covered five furlongs in 1:00.82 with regular race rider Edgard Zayas aboard. The work was the second fastest of 26 at the distance. “He did it very easy,” said trainer Antonio Sano. “I needed the horse to have a more intense work today and get him stronger for the race. I wanted to wake him up a little bit. The work was very good and he is very happy.” Gunnevera’s prior breeze was a more leisurely five-eighths in 1:02. Gunnevera is scheduled to have two more works at Gulfstream Park West before heading to Kentucky to make final preparations for the Classic. After finishing in a dead-heat for fifth in the 2017 Classic with champion Arrogate (Unbridled’s Song), Gunnevera began this year with a third behind reigning Horse of the Year Gun Runner (Candy Ride {Arg}) in the GI Pegasus World Cup Invitational S. He then sustained a foot injury while finishing off the board in the G1 Dubai World Cup and took several months off to recover before coming back to romp in an allowance Aug. 10 at Gulfstream Park. The Margoth colorbearer was last seen finishing second behind Yoshida (Jpn) (Heart’s Cry {Jpn}), who also heads to the Classic, in the Sept. 1 GI Woodward S. WATCH: Gunnevera breezes at Gulfstream West View the full article

After a slower than usual workout last week when sending her out solo, trainer Brad Cox put Monomoy Girl in company Oct. 13 and got the desired result as she registered a bullet five-furlong move in 1:00 at Churchill Downs. View the full article

COPPER TOWN (c, 4, Speightstown–Dynazaper, by Ghostzapper) returned from a year-long layoff to capture a second-level Keeneland allowance test with authority Saturday afternoon. Crowned a ‘TDN Rising Star’ after breaking his maiden impressively at second asking last September, the bay posted a massive 106 Beyer Speed Figure when repeating in a Belmont allowance test traveling 1 1/16 miles a month later. Sidelined since that effort last October, he resurfaced in this spot as the clear 3-5 favorite and, despite breaking a touch slowly, secured a spot tracking the pace four wide behind a quarter-mile in :22.95. Quickening readily while hung wide on the turn, he kicked clear in the lane and scored by open lengths in 1:15.91. Veteran Control Stake (Discreetly Mine) rallied up the rail to complete the exacta. Lifetime Record: 4-3-1-0, $141,780. O-WinStar Farm LLC, China Horse Club International, SF Racing, Head of Plains Partners. B-WinStar Farm (KY). T-Todd Pletcher. View the full article

Last month’s G1 Flying Five S. winner Havana Grey (Ire) (Havana Gold {GB}-Blanc De Chine {Ire}, by Dark Angel {Ire}) will enter stud next year at Whitsbury Manor Stud. Whitsbury Manor Director Ed Harper said of the 3-year-old, “We’ve been following him ever since he won the [G3] Molecomb [S.] as a 2-year-old as he’s such a strong individual with a big sales walk. After his Group 1 and Group 2 wins this summer, it was just a matter of whether we could afford him.” “He’s the fastest horse from the Galileo sire line, and combining that with his dam by Dark Angel, it makes him a very exciting sire to send fast, commercial mares. It is possible he may run once more in the [GI] Breeders Cup Turf Sprint, but we’ll aim to start showing him to breeders in mid-November.” “A select number of lifetime breeding rights will be sold in a similar way to how we have managed Showcasing.” Those previously mentioned stakes wins were Goodwood’s Molecomb, in which Havana Grey last year bested Invincible Army (Ire) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}), and this year’s G2 Sapphire S. Havana Grey also won twice at listed level at two, and was out of the top two just once in eight juvenile starts. He was also second in the G1 Prix Morny. A fee will be announced at a later date. View the full article

Nestled between the Arc meeting, Future Champions Day and Champions Day, Sunday is relatively quiet with the feature contest being Cologne’s G3 Preis des Winterfavoriten for Germany’s leading 2-year-old colts. The current favourite is the unbeaten Django Freeman (Ger) (Campanologist), whose two outings at Munich July 29 and Dusseldorf Sept. 9 have been characterised by a degree of authority but he has the unexposed Noble Moon (Ger) (Sea the Moon {Ger}) to challenge him among others. Eckhard Sauren’s homebred bay beat the re-opposing Sibelius (Ger) (Pastorius {Ger}) in a course-and-distance contest Sept. 23, while Moonlight Man (Ger) (Reliable Man {GB}) also has experience over this track and trip having finished second to the subsequent Listed Zetland S. runner-up I’ll Have Another (Ire) (Dragon Pulse {Ire}) in the Listed Preis des Medienhauses DuMont Rheinland Sept. 22. At Navan, Sunday’s close-up and possibly unlucky G1 Prix de l’Abbaye fifth Lost Treasure (Ire) (War Front) makes a quick reappearance in Navan’s Listed Waterford Testimonial S. over an extended five furlongs and is joined by stablemate St Patrick’s Day (Pioneerof The Nile) who is shortened up once again. View the full article

Jaber Abdullah’s homebred Hello Youmzain (Fr) (Kodiac {GB}) impressed when claiming a four-length maiden score in his Aug. 22 debut before posting a short-head second at Haydock last time Sept. 6 and took a giant stride forward to dominate the latter stages of Saturday’s G2 Criterium de Maisons-Laffitte for a career high. The bay stalked the pace trapped wide in third after an alert break from the outside gate in this third straight try at the six-furlong trip. Looming large soon after passing halfway, the 32-5 chance went to the front at the two pole and kept on strongly under a late drive once claiming the stands’ side rail entering the final eighth to assert by 2 1/2 lengths from fellow British raider Queen of Bermuda (Ire) (Exceed and Excel {Aus}). Graignes (Fr) (Zoffany {Ire}) was the lone domestic contender in the eight-runner field and ran on well in the closing stages to finish a half-length adrift in third. “We came over here in search of softer ground and that’s exactly what we got,” said winning rider Kevin Stott. “Of course, it was a big step up from his latest run at Haydock to a Group 2 race, but he’s a big, strong colt with plenty of quality and it helps that there seems to be fewer runners to face in these French Group races. He’s still a green, and a bit babyish, and he lacks experience which explains the drift to the rail in the closing stages. I really look forward to riding him next year as I think he is very good.” Hello Youmzain is the fourth foal, winner and stakes performer out of the unraced Spasha (GB) (Shamardal) and he is a half-brother to MGSW G1 Deutsches Derby and G1 Grosser Preis von Berlin third Royal Youmzain (Fr) (Youmzain {Ire}), Listed Lansdown Fillies’ S. victress Zuhoor Baynoona (Ire) (Elnadim), Listed Prix Maurice Caillault third Saglawy (Fr) (Youmzain {Ire}) and a colt foal by Dragon Pulse (Ire). Spasha is a half to stakes-winning G2 Hardwicke S. third Persian Majesty (Ire) (Grand Lodge) and a granddaughter of G3 Lancashire Oaks heroine Sandy Island (GB) (Mill Reef), who in turn is kin to G1 Epsom Derby-winning sire Slip Anchor (GB) (Shirley Heights {GB}) and the dam of G2 Hardwicke S. scorer Sandmason (GB) (Grand Lodge). Saturday, Maisons-Laffitte, France CRITERIUM DE MAISONS-LAFFITTE-G2, €190,000, Maisons-Laffitte, 10-13, 2yo, 6fT, 1:10.06, sf. 1–HELLO YOUMZAIN (FR), 128, c, 2, by Kodiac (GB) 1st Dam: Spasha (GB), by Shamardal 2nd Dam: Spa (GB), by Sadler’s Wells 3rd Dam: Sandy Island (GB), by Mill Reef 1ST BLACK-TYPE WIN; 1ST GROUP WIN. O-Jaber Abdullah; B-Rabbah Bloodstock Ltd (FR); T-Kevin Ryan; J-Kevin Stott. €108,300. Lifetime Record: 3-2-1-0, €115,210. *1/2 to Royal Youmzain (Fr) (Youmzain {Ire}), Hwt. 2yo Colt-Ity, MGSW & MG1SP-Ger, GSW-Ity, $361,159; Zuhoor Baynoona (Ire) (Elnadim), SW-Eng; and Saglawy (Fr) (Youmzain {Ire}), SP-Fr, $100,633. Werk Nick Rating: A+. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree. 2–Queen of Bermuda (Ire), 125, f, 2, Exceed and Excel (Aus)–Imperialistic Diva (Ire), by Haafhd (GB). (17,000gns Ylg ’17 TAOCT; 230,000gns 2yo ’18 TATBRE). O-Bermuda Thoroughbred Racing Ltd; B-Rabbah Bloodstock Ltd (IRE); T-William Haggas. €41,800. 3–Graignes (Fr), 128, c, 2, Zoffany (Ire)–Grey Anatomy (GB), by Slickly (Fr). (€40,000 Ylg ’17 AROCT; €90,000 2yo ’18 ARQMAY). O-Gerard Augustin-Normand; B-Ecurie Euroling (FR); T-Yann Barberot. €19,950. Margins: 2HF, HF, NK. Odds: 6.40, 3.90, 6.30. Also Ran: Legends of War, Sporting Chance (GB), Little Kim (GB), Amplify (Ire), Junius Brutus (Fr). Click for the Racing Post result or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. Video, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton. View the full article

Almost definitely sealing juvenile champion status at Newmarket on Saturday, TDN Rising Star Too Darn Hot (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) again showed the dynamism that had marked his Sept. 1 G3 Solario S. and Sept. 15 G2 Champagne S. wins to slap down his rivals in a strong-looking edition of the G1 Darley Dewhurst S. Under restraint from Frankie Dettori after a speedy break, the even-money favourite tracked the Ballydoyle-carved tempo but when asked to put in a major effort running downhill looked temporarily in trouble. Gaining momentum to power out of the “dip”, the Lloyd-Webbers’ homebred sensation surged to an ultimately emphatic 2 3/4-length defeat of Advertise (GB) (Showcasing {GB}), with Anthony Van Dyck (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) 1 1/4 lengths away in third. “They’ve gone a good pace but he was on the metal, so Frankie had to cover him up and he did that beautifully,” commented trainer John Gosden, who was winning this prestige affair for the first time along with the jockey. “The interesting thing was when he was brought out he was not comfortable in the dip and then got balanced and went. That’s his class showing, as seven is sharp enough for him but he overcame it. He’s a great guy and a wonderful character–he’s with you 100 per-cent. It has to be the 2000 Guineas now. It’s a little unusual to go group three, group two and group one, but he’s shown his class and this is a bit of a dream come true for Sarah and Andrew.” Dettori added, “I’ve been trying 30 years to win it and he’s an amazing horse and among the best I’ve ridden. He’s got everything, a good cruising speed and really quickens. He’s got pace and is bred to stay. He’s had three easy races in his life and he was getting knocked about in the middle and ran in snatches, so for a minute I thought I would struggle. Then the turbo kicks in and on he goes–in the end I was able to ease him down.” TOO DARN HOT (GB), c, 2, by Dubawi (Ire) 1st Dam: Dar Re Mi (GB), by Singspiel (Ire) 2nd Dam: Darara (Ire), by Top Ville (Ire) 3rd Dam: Delsy (Fr), by Abdos (Fr) O-Lord Lloyd-Webber; B-Watership Down stud (GB); T-John Gosden; J-Lanfranco Dettori. £283,550. Lifetime Record: 4-4-0-0, £358,966. *Full to So Mi Dar (GB), GSW-Eng & G1SP-Fr, $242,742; Lah Ti Dar (GB), MSW & G1SP-Eng, $306,179; and 1/2 to De Treville (GB) (Oasis Dream {GB}), MGSP-Fr, $114,187. View the full article

5th-KEE, $67K, Msw, 2yo, f, 1 1/16mT, post time: 3:18 p.m. EDT COSMIC CODE (Into Mischief) is the first foal from Touch the Star (Tapit), a half-sister to Juddmonte Farms’ talented turf are Etoile Montante (Miswaki), winner in France of the G1 Prix de la Foret and a Grade II winner and Grade I placed upon her repatriation. Etoile Montante is the dam of MGSW Starformer (Dynaformer). The deeper female family is dotted with class horses campaigned by Juddmonte, including Sightseek and Tates Creek, while it is also the stallion family of Chief’s Crown, Bowman’s Band, Pollard’s Vision, etc. TJCIS PPs 8th-KEE, $69K, Alw (N2L), 3yo/up, 6f, post time: 4:57 p.m. EDT CURATE (Bernardini), a $575K Keeneland September graduate, made the most of his belated racetrack debut, taking an Ellis maiden by 4 1/4 lengths Aug. 25, good for a towering Beyer Speed Figure of 94. Purchased in utero for $525K at KEENOV in 2013, the bay gelding is kin to MGSW & GI Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Sprint runner-up Dust and Diamonds (Vindication), who is in turn the dam of $600K KEENOV weanling Much Better (Pioneerof the Nile), recent runner-up in the Zuma Beach S. at Santa Anita. TJCIS PPs View the full article

Having to work harder than he is accustomed to at Newmarket on Saturday, Ballymore Thoroughbred’s TDN Rising Star Persian King (Ire) (Kingman {GB}) pulled it out nevertheless to take a strong-looking renewal of the G3 Masar Godolphin Autumn S. Successful by five lengths from fellow TDN Rising Star Lone Peak (Fr) (Lope de Vega {Ire}) in a mile conditions event at Chantilly Sept. 15, the 6-5 favourite tracked the honest tempo in third against the rail going best under Pierre-Charles Boudot. Still travelling strongly passing the three-furlong marker, the bay homebred moved around Ballydoyle’s Circus Maximus (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) and to the lead approaching the furlong pole. Pressed all the way to the line by the impressive Sept. 30 Naas seven-furlong maiden scorer Magna Grecia (Ire) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}), he held off that rival to prevail by a neck, with three lengths back to Circus Maximus in third. “The race was perfect for my horse, it was a good pace and he had a long turn of foot,” Boudot said. “He’s good.” PERSIAN KING (IRE), c, 2, by Kingman (GB) 1st Dam: Pretty Please (Ire), by Dylan Thomas (Ire) 2nd Dam: Plante Rare (Ire), by Giant’s Causeway 3rd Dam: Palmeraie, by Lear Fan O-Ballymore Thoroughbred Ltd; B-Dayton Investments Ltd (IRE); T-Andre Fabre; J-Pierre-Charles Boudot. £34,026. Lifetime Record: 4-3-1-0, £70,221. View the full article

Carrying on where stablemate Kew Gardens (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) left off 12 months ago, Norway (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) conquered the Listed Godolphin Flying Start Zetland S. at Newmarket on Saturday to keep the Ballydoyle momentum flowing into the autumn. Off the mark by 6 1/2 lengths over a mile at Naas Oct. 2, the chestnut travelled best throughout but was always on heels as Seamie Heffernan waited patiently behind. Switched around rivals and delivered on the lead with 150 yards remaining, the 7-2 shot stayed on powerfully to deny the game I’ll Have Another (Ire) (Dragon Pulse {Ire}) by a length, with Nate The Great (GB) (Nathaniel {Ire}) a neck behind in third. “Our two-year-olds are probably going to finish the season off real strong, as they weren’t as fit as we wanted them to be for the middle part,” Heffernan said of the full-brother to the Derby hero Ruler of the World (Ire) and half to Duke of Marmalade (Ire) (Danehill). “Aidan knows how to make these well-bred horses good.” NORWAY (IRE), c, 2, Galileo (Ire)–Love Me True (GSP-Ire), by Kingmambo. O-Derrick Smith, Susan Magnier & Michael Tabor; B-Southern Bloodstock (IRE); T-Aidan O’Brien; J-Seamus Heffernan. £22,684. Lifetime Record: 4-2-0-1, £30,918. *Full-brother to Ruler of the World (Ire), Hwt. 3yo-Eur at 9-11f, Hwt. 3yo-Eng & Ire at 9 1/2-11f, Hwt. Older Horse-Ire at 11-14f, G1SW-Eng, GSW-Fr, $1,648,640; and Giovanni Canaletto (Ire), G1SP-Ire & GSP-Eng, MSP-HK, $619,556; and 1/2 to Duke of Marmalade (Ire) (Danehill), Ch. Older Horse-Eur, Hwt. Older Horse-Ire at 10 1/2-13f, Hwt. Older Horse-Ire at 9 1/2-10 1/2f, Hwt. Older Horse-Eng at 9 1/2-10 1/2f, Hwt. Older Horse-Eng at 10 1/2-13 1/2f, MG1SW-Eng & G1SW-Ire, G1SW-Fr, $2,777,768; Annus Mirabilis (Ire) (Montjeu {Ire}), GSW-Aus, $409,375; and Countess Lemonade (Storm Cat), GSP-US. View the full article

Red-hot jockey Vincent Ho Chak-yiu capped off his best week in Hong Kong with a bitter taste in his mouth, left to think about what could have been despite riding six winners in two meetings. The local jockey was the talk of the track on Saturday after riding four winners in the space of five races at Sha Tin, bettering his previous best of three in a day. In a sign of Ho’s development as a jockey, he could not help but be disappointed after the last race at Sha Tin on Saturday after... View the full article

Jockey Club chief executive Winfried Engelbrecht-Bresges has a clear message for Joao Moreira – Hong Kong “is not a place you can walk in and out of”. The jungle drums have been beating loudly, suggesting a return to Sha Tin is on the cards for the three-time champion, but Engelbrecht-Bresges declined to say whether he had spoken to the Magic Man or not. However, he made it clear that Moreira, who found out on Thursday he would not receive a full-time licence in Japan, could... View the full article

A Group 1 one-two for Godolphin’s British trainers and an impressive Group 3 score for an Aidan O’Brien trainee were the highlights on a busy day for European shippers Down Under on Saturday. The Saeed bin Suroor-trained Benbatl (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) added to Group 1 wins in Dubai and Germany earlier this year when nosing out Charlie Appleby’s Blair House (GB) (Pivotal {GB}), with 2 1/2 lengths back to third, in the G1 Caulfield S. over 2000 metres. The winner is now in pole position to take on Winx (Aus) (Street Cry {Ire}) in the G1 Cox Plate on Oct. 27. Meanwhile, Aidan O’Brien’s Yucatan (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), who races for the Coolmore partners and Flaxman Stables, with Lloyd Williams recently added to the ownership, has jumped up amongst the favourites for the G1 Melbourne Cup after an eye-popping victory in the G3 Herbert Power S. For more, including race charts and replays, read TDN AusNZ. View the full article

Rejuvenated trainer Tony Millard has lauded his promising batch of up-and-coming horses as the “best” he has ever had following the win of Strathallan on Saturday at Sha Tin. Millard took the lead in the trainers’ premiership with the win in the three-year-old restricted Chung On Handicap (1,000m), which included a string of first starters. Strathallan, who had the advantage of two prior race starts, was able to run down odds-on favourite Big Party and win with jockey Karis... View the full article

Superstar filly Almond Eye is in “marvellous” order as she looks to become the first horse since Gentildonna in 2012 to win the Japanese fillies’ Triple Crown at Kyoto on Sunday. The three-year-old enters the Group One Shuka Sho (2,000m) as hot favourite and trainer Sakae Kunieda says she’s only improved after a break. “Over the summer, she matured physically and mentally and has returned to work looking good,” he said. “She has improved a lot and she... View the full article

Veteran trainer Paul O’Sullivan said his notoriously slow starts might soon be a thing of the past after posting his first winner of the season with Willie Way at Sha Tin on Saturday. While Willie Way was only O’Sullivan’s 18th runner for the term, the New Zealander hopes the new training facility in Conghua will ensure his stable is up and firing earlier in future seasons. “I’m not that good at getting going early. I’m a bit old fashioned, I want to give the... View the full article

REDZEL won the world’s richest turf race for the second straight time in Sydney Saturday, storming to victory ahead of a host of top-rated sprinters to clinch The Everest crown. View the full article