Wandering Eyes

Less than a month after breaking her maiden May 2 at Churchill Downs, Judy B. Hicks' homebred filly My Majestic Rose stepped up her game and was rewarded with a victory in the $200,000 Summertime Oaks (G2) May 26 at Santa Anita Park. View the full article

Clearview Park Stud in Timaru have announced they have secured Group One winner Jon Snow ahead of the forthcoming breeding season where he will stand for a fee of $6,000+GST. Aaron Tapper and his partner Lacy Stewart are delighted to welcome the good-looking son of Iffraaj, named after the lead character in the hit-series Game Of Thrones, to Clearview Park Stud. “We’re just so excited to have the King in the North down here,” Tapper quipped. “It’s a real coup for South Island breeder... View the full article

Madakat Stables, ERJ Racing, Elayne Stable, and Bouchey Thoroughbred Ventures' Secret Message came through in the final strides of the $175,000 Nassau Stakes (G2T) May 26 at Woodbine to bring her season record to 2-for-2. View the full article

For Giant Expectations, a 6-year-old son of Frost Giant, the $200,000 Commentator will be his first start at a New York Racing Association track since June 8, 2017 when he captured an allowance race for New York State-breds at Belmont Park. View the full article

COMICAL (f, 2, Into Mischief–Kayce Ace {SP, $151,190}, by Tiznow) turned heads Sunday with a sharp unveiling worthy of ‘TDN Rising Star’-dom. With three consecutive gate works on display, most recently in :48 flat here May 20 (click for XBTV video), the narrow 8-5 second choice came out running. Soon confronted by favored Gold Star Lady (Candy Ride {Arg})–a $300,000 OBSMAR grad–the bay knocked heads with that foe through an opening quarter of :22.71. Those two were in a race of their own heading for home, but it quickly became a one-horse affair as Comical hit another gear and left her rival in the dust to score by about six lengths before galloping out much farther in front. She stopped the clock in :52.32. Comical’s dam is a full-sister to MGISW Colonel John and to Grade I-placed flat runner and steeplechase extraordinaire. She has half-sisters by Candy Ride (Arg) born in 2018 and 2019 and was preceded by two more Candy Rides who brought $550,000 and $500,000, respectively, at auction. Sales history: $100,000 yrl ’18 KEESEP. O-ERJ Racing LLC, Dave Kenney & Westside Racing Stable. B-Susan Casner (KY). T-Doug O’Neill. The post Into Mischief Filly No Joke in ‘Rising Star’ Worthy Unveiling appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Wood Memorial Stakes Presented by NYRA Bets (G1) winner Tacitus breezed over the main track at 8:45 a.m. May 26 at Belmont Park, working in company with Multiplier. View the full article

All Together Stable and Gary Andrew Grant's Bahamian Girl became the first winner for freshman sire Bahamian Squall when she took a 4 1/2-furlong maiden race for 2-year-old fillies May 26 at Gulfstream Park. View the full article

Wood Memorial presented by NYRA Bets (G1) winner Tacitus breezed over the main track at 8:45 a.m. May 26 at Belmont Park, working in company with Multiplier. View the full article

Evangeline Downs hosted its annual celebration of the Louisiana-bred Thoroughbred May 25 with Louisiana Legends Night. There were eight stakes races with purses totaling $550,000, making it the richest night of the entire Thoroughbred season. View the full article

Juddmonte Farms’ multiple graded stakes winner Tacitus (Tapit) breezed five furlongs over the Belmont main track Sunday morning in preparation for the June 8 GI Belmont S. The gray, last seen finishing third in the GI Kentucky Derby, covered the distance in 1:01.16 (3/11) in company with GSW Multiplier (The Factor). “It was very good, very even; I liked the rhythm of it–12, 12, 12, 12. Each furlong was in about 12 seconds and he went out six furlongs in about 1:12, so I thought it was a very steady, solid work,” said trainer Bill Mott. Mott also provided an update on his Kentucky Derby winner Country House (Lookin At Lucky), who was forced to miss the GI Preakness S. with a fever and will be pointed for a summer campaign. “Country House is back on the track at Churchill–he’s jogging, he’s doing fine,” said Mott. “He’s a horse you’d look at for the [July 27 GII] Jim Dandy with the [GI]Travers as the [longer term] goal.” In other Belmont news, Japanese hopeful Master Fencer (Jpn) (Just A Way {Jpn}), sixth in the Derby, jogged at Belmont for the first time early Sunday morning. “Master Fencer had one lap of jogging on the training track, with a jog and light gallop at the main track as his schooling,” said Mitsuoki Numamoto, racing manager for owner/breeder Katsumi Yoshizawa. “The horse was very fresh and energized because of his day off yesterday, and shows no tiredness from shipment. Since the surface is pretty similar to Japan dirt, he seems okay for [racing on] this surface.” Master Fencer is schedule to breeze five furlongs on the Belmont main track Wednesday morning under Julien Leparoux, who’s slated to ride the colt in the Belmont. The post Tacitus Breezes for Belmont appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

A year ago, Sam Ross and Mike Hall watched Shang Shang Shang (Shanghai Bobby) carry the colors of their Breeze Easy to victory in the G2 Norfolk S. at Royal Ascot. The two men were so impressed by the experience, they decided to try for a return trip to the prestigious race meet. In pursuit of that goal, they purchased a pair of fillies at the OBS March Sale. Both juveniles won impressively first time out for trainer Wesley Ward, both were tabbed ‘TDN Rising Stars’ and both are on track for Royal Ascot. They will be joined by Breeze Easy’s Imprimis (Broken Vow), who is trained by Joe Orseno. “That is kind of what drove the whole deal and why we bought the couple of fillies,” Hall said. “We decided we wanted to go back and that was our goal–to get back again. And it looks like that’s where we are headed.” Of the meeting’s appeal, Hall said, “I don’t know how to explain it. The people were super nice and everything was precise and perfectly done. We just had a great experience there really.” Breeze Easy purchased Anna’s Fast (Fast Anna) for $470,000 at the OBS March sale following her :9 4/5 work. She was tabbed a ‘TDN Rising Star’ after a 5 1/2-length debut win at Keeneland Apr. 24. Also at the March sale, the operation purchased a daughter of Karakontie (Jpn) for $365,000 following her :9 4/5 work. Now named Karak, the filly punched her ticket to Royal Ascot with a three-length debut win at Belmont Saturday. “We weren’t 100% sure, because we hadn’t done that much with her up to this point,” Hall said of Karak’s first racetrack appearance. “But we were hoping she would perform like that.” Breeze Easy purchased Shang Shang Shang for $200,000 at the 2018 OBS March sale, so it was an easy decision to return to the auction this year, according to Hall. “We were lucky and we bought Shang Shang Shang at that same sale a year ago and it worked out well for us,” Hall said. “So we picked these two fillies. They both checked the boxes for everything we were looking for. They had good breezes, good genetics and good heart scans and great conformation. So we were happy to get them.” Both fillies became the first winners for their first-crop sires, but Hall said, “It’s just a coincidence. They just both had really great works and we just fell in love with both of their conformation. There was no science to it other than that. I think it’s great that they are both first-crop sires and hopefully they will help promote those horses.” With Karak’s victory Saturday, all is set for Breeze Easy’s return assault on Royal Ascot. Imprimis, coming off a win in the Apr. 6 GII Shakertown S., worked five furlongs in :59.31 over the turf at Gulfstream Sunday. Anna’s Fast also worked Sunday, going four furlongs in :49.00 over the turf at Keeneland. “Imprimis had a nice work and Anna’s Fast had a nice work this morning, too,” Hall said. “So we’re all set.” While Hall said his requisite top hat is packed for the trip, he admitted the fashion accessory wasn’t his favorite part of the Royal Ascot fanfare. “I’m not going to lie, they are not real comfortable,” he said with a laugh. “But that’s part of it, I guess. I’d rather wear a cowboy hat than a top hat, but I’ll do what I have to do. Wesley knows the ropes there and we are proud to be a part of his team. We also have Joe Orseno going with Imprimis and he is looking forward to the trip.” Hall concluded, “We enjoy racing and we love Ascot.” Meanwhile, Shang Shang Shang, scratched the morning of the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint when the turf came up soft last November, has been absent since winning the Norfolk. The 3-year-old filly has been working regularly in Kentucky, most recently going five furlongs in 1:00.80 over the Churchill turf May 21. She is expected to return to the races in the June 15 Honey Bee S. at Monmouth Park. 1st-Belmont, $96,500, Msw, 5-25, 2yo, 5fT, :57.38, fm. KARAK, f, 2, by Karakontie (Jpn) 1st Dam: Down The Well (Ire), by Mujadil 2nd Dam: Batchelor’s Button, by Kenmare (Fr) 3rd Dam: Boutonniere, by Sir Gaylord $22,000 Wlg ’17 KEENOV; $30,000 RNA Ylg ’18 KEESEP; $365,000 2yo ’19 OBSMAR. Lifetime Record: 1-1-0-0, $50,000. O-Breeze Easy, LLC; B-Parrish Hill Farm, Amanda Roach Cole & Karakontie Syndicate (KY); T-Wesley A. Ward. *1/2 to Aqua Frio (Uncle Mo), SW, $191,007. Click for the Equibase.com chart or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. VIDEO, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton. The post Karak Adds Her Name to Breeze Easy Royal Ascot Contingent appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Hermosa completed a classic double as she made all for an impressive four-length success in the Tattersalls Irish One Thousand Guineas (G1) for Aidan O'Brien and Ryan Moore. View the full article

With the $1.5 million Belmont Stakes (G1) two weekends away, 8-10 horses are currently lined up to contest the final leg of the Triple Crown at Belmont Park June 8. View the full article

The Week in Review, by T.D. Thornton Remember when Memorial Day was a big deal in horse racing? For decades, this was the start-of-summer holiday that the sport “owned.” Traditionally, Memorial Day attendance and handle eclipsed turnouts on Independence Day and Labor Day, and a number of tracks nationwide set all-time records for those metrics on Memorial Day that still stand. The final Monday of May (the holiday used to be May 30 before the feds gave us the three-day weekend in 1971) was known for all sorts of creative on-track giveaways and promotions. And Memorial Day in general always seemed to be a useful barometer to judge the health of the racing industry, because it featured both a long list of top-notch national stakes and solid grass-roots racing at smaller venues. As recently as 1991, 48 North American tracks carded races on Memorial Day. This year there are 26 tracks running, a 46% reduction. The bulk of Thoroughbreds who raced on that 1991 holiday came from mid-1980s foal crops that topped out between 49,000 and 51,000–the largest ever in North America. The horses entered to race this Memorial Day are from 21st century crops in the 22,000-23,000 range–a 55% drop. The number of Memorial Day graded stakes has also slid off the grid. This year there are only four on Monday in all of North America–a $100,000 Grade III at Golden Gate Fields and a decent trio of $500,000 Grade I races at Santa Anita Park. At Belmont Park, where the prestigious GI Metropolitan H. for decades was the Memorial Day fixture, they now run six state-bred stakes races. In 2014, the Met Mile was moved off the holiday to the GI Belmont S. undercard as part of the practice of stacking top stakes races as supporting features on big-race Saturdays. It pains me to write “Met Mile” and “undercard” in the same sentence, because that status doesn’t match the gravitas of the race. Everyone in the racing industry can recall a big race that got them hooked on the sport for good, and the 1990 version of the Met Mile is anchored in my mind as the most defining matchup of heavy hitters I witnessed in the formative years of my budding racetrack degeneracy. The Met Mile is usually an intriguing race because it matches 3-year-olds against older rivals and stretch-out sprinters against proven routers cutting back to a one-turn configuration. But the 1990 nine-horse Met Mile was loaded in terms of horseflesh, and will likely never be matched in terms of depth because it featured a fascinating four-way go of past and future champions: Easy Goer, the toast of New York and juvenile Eclipse Award champ from 1988 who had never run worse than second and had not lost to any horse other than Triple Crown and Breeders’ Cup nemesis Sunday Silence in 19 months. Criminal Type, who would use the Met Mile as a springboard to 1990 Horse of the Year and champion older horse honors. Housebuster, who had won eight straight races (seven stakes) and was on his way to sprint division dominance, including 1990 and 1991 Eclipse Awards in that category. Black Tie Affair, who would emerge as a star in 1991, when he would win both champion older horse and Horse of the Year titles. (To illustrate how much of an outlier he was at the time, his odds in the 1990 Met Mile were 132-1). Housebuster, the only 3-year-old in the field, blitzed straight to the front and led until the final few jumps when Criminal Type surged past for a neck victory. Easy Goer closed late but could do no better than third at 2-5 odds (watch it here). Even though this showdown among four champions happened 29 years ago, some aspects of the race make it seem like a relic from a more distant era: Easy Goer, handicapped at 127 pounds, was spotting Housebuster a gargantuan (by today’s standards) weight spread of 14 pounds, and he gave Criminal Type seven. Easy Goer had raced only 12 days prior, using a $45,000 stakes as a tune-up, a training move you rarely see today. In terms of overall race spacing, it was only the end of May, but Criminal Type was already making his eighth (!) start of the year; Housebuster his seventh. None of the horses raced on Lasix, which was banned in New York. Even the 32,139 attendance seems unfathomably robust. So what does all of this reminiscing have to do with today? It’s not like we’re capable of turning the clock back to rosier times for racing. You don’t even have to go back 29 years to recall when the industry was facing far fewer crises. Remember just six months ago when the biggest brouhaha in the headlines was that Santa Anita was changing announcers? Since then, the sport has endured the California equine fatality emergency, highly charged debates about whip and drug reforms, the messy Stronach clan lawsuits that threaten the family’s portfolio of tracks, the ongoing battle between the Maryland Jockey Club and the City of Baltimore over the future of Pimlico Race Course and the GI Preakness S., and the unprecedented GI Kentucky Derby disqualification and its cumbersome snarl of litigation. All that is a large collective burden to bear, and the year isn’t even half over yet. But here’s hoping that at least one historical constant will remain the same: That A-level, on-track matchups of the game’s top equine stars will act as a balm to help ease the pain and strain, at least temporarily. Even if you think that Gary West’s $20 million head-to-head “match race within a race” challenge to rival horse owners is a kooky idea, you have to admit that at least he’s on the right track about harnessing the attention-grabbing power of an old-fashioned grudge match. Maximum Security (New Year’s Day) versus War of Will (War Front) might not ever carry the cachet of Sunday Silence versus Easy Goer. But thicken the plot by looking forward to the returns of Derby-winner-by-DQ County House (Lookin At Lucky) and Omaha Beach (War Front), who was forced to scratch as the commanding Derby fave two days before the race, and there could be a four-way go later this season that might recall that Memorial Day Met Mile from 1990. The post The Week In Review: Holiday Dawns, Sport Yawns. Will Star Power Fill the Void? appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

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KILDARE, Ireland — “Today belongs to those from overseas,” proclaimed commentator Jerry Hannon as Beshaayir (GB) crossed the line in front in the G2 Lanwades Stud S., hard on the heels of two other fellow British-trained winners of the day’s group races, including the first of the Irish Classics for 2019. But that was Saturday. Twenty-four hours later, as the official opening of the magnificent new facilities at the Curragh was staged in breezy sunshine, it was a different story altogether. Ireland’s Taoiseach Leo Varadkar arrived to a brass band welcome, highlighting the strong link between the Irish government and one of the country’s most important sectors of industry, encompassing sport, agriculture and tourism alike. It’s a relationship which is undoubtedly the envy of many fellow European nations whose once-proud racing traditions are in danger of being reduced to irrelevance while struggling for political recognition. “The Curragh is the keeper of Ireland’s racing traditions and this place is home to some of our biggest social and sporting occasions,” said Leo Varadkar in his address before the unveiling of the Aga Khan Stand, so named in honour of one of Europe’s biggest owner-breeders whose great investment in the sport in Ireland extends to his multi-million-euro donation to the Turf Club back in 2003 in order to spark plans for a major redevelopment of the country’s premier racecourse. It may have been a long time coming but, like all good things, it was worth the wait. More special for those at the heart of the Irish racing industry would have been the fact that His Highness the Aga Khan made a rare public appearance to attend the Curragh opening while his homebred filly Siyarafina (Fr) was winning the G1 Prix Saint-Alary over at another newly refreshed racecourse, ParisLongchamp. At the Curragh, six different home trainers shared the spoils, though of course the day’s major prizes went the way of that one-man advertisement for Irish excellence, Aidan O’Brien, who unleashed an exciting juvenile prospect for Royal Ascot in Arizona (Ire) and brought Hermosa (Ire) on from her Newmarket triumph to land the Tattersalls Irish 1000 Guineas in front of a number of the country’s leading politicians. As the Taoiseach pointed to the importance of racing’s near-€2 billion contribution to the Irish economy, not to mention almost 30,000 jobs, he paid tribute to those whose work has contributed to a vibrant new racecourse. It might not, in its infancy, please all of the people all of the time, especially those who cut their teeth at the old course, but it should be given the chance to prove that it can take racing in the sport’s heartland into an important new era. He said, “The Curragh has gained much more than just a new stand. This is a complete redevelopment and you now have facilities here to match the best in the world. It has always played an important part in the story of our country. This is a sacred place and truly is Ireland’s ancient east. Today it is an acknowledged centre of excellence in every aspect of the Thoroughbred industry, at the heart of Kildare, Ireland’s Thoroughbred county.” All international sporting venues must welcome victory for foreign challengers to remain truly relevant. Saturday may have belonged to those from overseas, but Sunday was Ireland’s day. The post Irish Racing’s Brave New World appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Whatever it was that startled Maximum Security (New Year’s Day) in the Derby also startled Code of Honor (Noble Mission), said trainer Shug McGaughey, who sat down with the TDN’s Patty Wolfe to give an update on the Derby runner-up. “Johnny (Velasquez) jumped off him said Maximum Security bolted, and he said whatever he saw, Code of Honor saw, too. He said he kind of did like this,” said McGaughey, making a startled motion. “And then he said, `I had a hard time getting him going again.’ I said, `well, what did they see?’ and he said, `I don’t know what they saw, but they saw something.'” McGaughey debunked the theory that it was the photographer off the inside rail, as some people had speculated. “I can tell you one thing: it wasn’t the little red man behind the pole. I can tell you that right now.” McGaughey said that Code of Honor had joined the stable at Belmont and will be pointed towards a summer campaign. “He’s doing excellent. He’s not even the same horse today that he was when he ran in the Derby. So we’re really looking forward to a summer campaign for him. That was what I had in my mind and that was perfect for Mr. Farish. If everything goes perfect, we’re going to start him in the Dwyer on July 6 and then hopefully, we can use the Saratoga races when they come along and see where it takes us from there.” Watch the entire interview below. {"id":3,"instanceName":"Articles No Playlist","videos":[{"videoType":"HTML5","title":"Code of Honor Spooked in Derby, Too","description":"","info":"","thumbImg":"","mp4":"https://player.vimeo.com/external/338466038.sd.mp4?s=c9dfb936d7f328940d337623f40cdea05a3be4b3&profile_id=165","enable_mp4_download":"no","prerollAD":"yes","prerollGotoLink":"prerollGotoLink","preroll_mp4_title":"preroll_mp4_title","preroll_mp4":"https://player.vimeo.com/external/300270047.sd.mp4?s=9704e842c0d121b98b279c15d8d24835ef4929fe&profile_id=165","prerollSkipTimer":"5","midrollAD":"no","midrollAD_displayTime":"midrollAD_displayTime","midrollGotoLink":"midrollGotoLink","midroll_mp4":"midroll_mp4","midrollSkipTimer":"midrollSkipTimer","postrollAD":"no","postrollGotoLink":"postrollGotoLink","postroll_mp4":"postroll_mp4","postrollSkipTimer":"postrollSkipTimer","popupAdShow":"no","popupImg":"popupImg","popupAdStartTime":"popupAdStartTime","popupAdEndTime":"popupAdEndTime","popupAdGoToLink":"popupAdGoToLink"}],"instanceTheme":"light","playerLayout":"fitToContainer","videoPlayerWidth":720,"videoPlayerHeight":405,"videoRatio":1.7777777777778,"videoRatioStretch":true,"videoPlayerShadow":"effect1","colorAccent":"#000000","posterImg":"","posterImgOnVideoFinish":"","logoShow":"No","logoPath":"","logoPosition":"bottom-right","logoClickable":"No","logoGoToLink":"","allowSkipAd":true,"advertisementTitle":"Ad","skipAdvertisementText":"Skip Ad","skipAdText":"You can skip this ad in","playBtnTooltipTxt":"Play","pauseBtnTooltipTxt":"Pause","rewindBtnTooltipTxt":"Rewind","downloadVideoBtnTooltipTxt":"Download video","qualityBtnOpenedTooltipTxt":"Close settings","qualityBtnClosedTooltipTxt":"Settings","muteBtnTooltipTxt":"Mute","unmuteBtnTooltipTxt":"Unmute","fullscreenBtnTooltipTxt":"Fullscreen","exitFullscreenBtnTooltipTxt":"Exit fullscreen","infoBtnTooltipTxt":"Show info","embedBtnTooltipTxt":"Embed","shareBtnTooltipTxt":"Share","volumeTooltipTxt":"Volume","playlistBtnClosedTooltipTxt":"Show playlist","playlistBtnOpenedTooltipTxt":"Hide playlist","facebookBtnTooltipTxt":"Share on Facebook","twitterBtnTooltipTxt":"Share on Twitter","googlePlusBtnTooltipTxt":"Share on Google+","lastBtnTooltipTxt":"Go to last video","firstBtnTooltipTxt":"Go to first video","nextBtnTooltipTxt":"Play next video","previousBtnTooltipTxt":"Play previous video","shuffleBtnOnTooltipTxt":"Shuffle on","shuffleBtnOffTooltipTxt":"Shuffle off","nowPlayingTooltipTxt":"NOW PLAYING","embedWindowTitle1":"SHARE THIS PLAYER:","embedWindowTitle2":"EMBED THIS VIDEO IN YOUR SITE:","embedWindowTitle3":"SHARE LINK TO THIS PLAYER:","lightBox":false,"lightBoxAutoplay":false,"lightBoxThumbnail":"","lightBoxThumbnailWidth":400,"lightBoxThumbnailHeight":220,"lightBoxCloseOnOutsideClick":true,"onFinish":"Play next video","autoplay":false,"loadRandomVideoOnStart":"No","shuffle":"No","playlist":"Off","playlistBehaviourOnPageload":"opened (default)","playlistScrollType":"light","preloadSelfHosted":"none","hideVideoSource":true,"showAllControls":true,"rightClickMenu":true,"autohideControls":2,"hideControlsOnMouseOut":"No","nowPlayingText":"Yes","infoShow":"No","shareShow":"No","facebookShow":"No","twitterShow":"No","mailShow":"No","facebookShareName":"","facebookShareLink":"","facebookShareDescription":"","facebookSharePicture":"","twitterText":"","twitterLink":"","twitterHashtags":"","twitterVia":"","googlePlus":"","embedShow":"No","embedCodeSrc":"","embedCodeW":720,"embedCodeH":405,"embedShareLink":"","youtubeControls":"custom controls","youtubeSkin":"dark","youtubeColor":"red","youtubeQuality":"default","youtubeShowRelatedVideos":"Yes","vimeoColor":"00adef","showGlobalPrerollAds":false,"globalPrerollAds":"url1;url2;url3;url4;url5","globalPrerollAdsSkipTimer":5,"globalPrerollAdsGotoLink":"","videoType":"HTML5 (self-hosted)","submit":"Save Changes","rootFolder":"http:\/\/wp.tdn.pmadv.com\/wp-content\/plugins\/Elite-video-player\/"} The post McGaughey: Code of Honor Spooked in Derby, Too appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. 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Just as Phoenix of Spain (Ire) (Lope de Vega {Ire}) had on Saturday, Hermosa (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) took Sunday’s G1 Tattersalls Irish 1000 Guineas by the scruff of the neck and led at every step to bring up a Guineas double. Sent off the 5-2 favourite, the May 5 G1 1000 Guineas heroine was sent forward with Ryan Moore in unflinching mood accompanied by Martin Schwartz’s Foxtrot Liv (GB) (Foxwedge {Aus}) and the returning Pretty Pollyanna (GB) (Oasis Dream {GB}). Nothing else was able to get into the contest and when Moore asked for extra two out Hermosa was soon beyond recall en route to a four-length success from Pretty Pollyanna, with Foxtrot Liv 1 1/2 lengths away in third. 1–HERMOSA (IRE), 126, f, 3, by Galileo (Ire) 1st Dam: Beauty Is Truth (Ire) (MGSW-Fr, $226,426), by Pivotal (GB) 2nd Dam: Zelding (Ire), by Warning (GB) 3rd Dam: Zelda (Ire), by Caerleon O-Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith & Susan Magnier; B-Beauty Is Truth Syndicate (IRE); T-Aidan O’Brien; J-Ryan Moore. The post Galileo’s Hermosa Completes the Guineas Double In Style appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

All the signs were that the G3 Earl of Sefton S. was top form and Sheikh Mohammed Obaid Al Maktoum’s Zabeel Prince (Ire) (Lope de Vega {Ire}) confirmed that as he capped a stellar weekend for his sire in Sunday’s G1 Prix d’Ispahan at ParisLongchamp. Having beaten the subsequent G2 Huxley S. winner Forest Ranger (Ire) (Lawman {Fr}), the G1 Lockinge S. hero Mustashry (GB) (Tamayuz {GB}) and Listed Festival S. scorer Elarqam (GB) (Frankel {GB}) in that Apr. 18 nine-furlong Newmarket contest, the lightly-raced 6-year-old was only 3-1 to add to that in his biggest test. Racing behind the leading duo early under Andrea Atzeni, he was committed approaching the final furlong and despite being chased hard by Study of Man (Ire) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) held on to score by 3/4 of a length, with Trais Fluors (GB) (Dansili {GB}) close up in third, the same margin away. Sunday, ParisLongchamp, France PRIX D’ISPAHAN-G1, €250,000, ParisLongchamp, 5-26, 4yo/up, 9f 55yT, 1:53.07, g/s. 1–ZABEEL PRINCE (IRE), 126, g, 6, by Lope de Vega (Ire) 1st Dam: Princess Serena, by Unbridled’s Song 2nd Dam: Serena’s Sister, by Rahy 3rd Dam: Imagining, by Northfields 1ST GROUP 1 WIN. (325,000gns Ylg ’14 TATYEA). O-Sheikh Mohammed Obaid Al Maktoum; B-Roundhill Stud (IRE); T-Roger Varian; J-Andrea Atzeni. €142,850. Lifetime Record: GSW-Eng, 10-6-2-0, €261,719. *1/2 to Puissance de Lune (Ire) (Shamardal), MGSW & MG1SP-Aus, $877,536; and Majesty (Ire) (Shamardal), MSP-Aus, $205,736. Werk Nick Rating: A+. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree. 2–Study of Man (Ire), 128, c, 4, Deep Impact (Jpn)–Second Happiness, by Storm Cat. O/B-Flaxman Stables Ireland Ltd (IRE); T-Pascal Bary. €57,150. 3–Trais Fluors (GB), 128, h, 5, Dansili (GB)–Trois Lunes (Fr), by Manduro (Ger). O/B-Haras de Saint Pair (GB); T-Andre Fabre. €28,575. Margins: 3/4, 3/4, SNK. Odds: 3.00, 4.00, 8.20. Also Ran: Intellogent (Ire), Dream Castle (GB), Wild Illusion (GB), Knight to Behold (Ire), With You (GB), Subway Dancer (Ire). Click for the Racing Post result or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. Video, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton. The post Lope de Vega’s Zabeel Prince Wins the Prix d’Ispahan appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

The Curragh’s G1 Tattersalls Gold Cup has been under the European Pattern Committee’s scrutiny for a while and despite the obvious merit of Sunday’s winner Magical (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) it remains a matter of conjecture as to whether it deserves its status. The scene turning into the straight said it all, as Ballydoyle’s star filly tracked stablemate Flag of Honour (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) in clear isolation from their three outclassed rivals. Mastering her leadhorse two out, the 2-7 favourite was sent clear by Ryan Moore to record an impressive seven-length success and add to her Apr. 13 G3 Alleged S. and May 6 G2 Mooresbridge S. wins. MAGICAL (IRE), f, 4, by Galileo (Ire) 1st Dam: Halfway To Heaven (Ire) (MG1SW-Eng, G1SW-Ire & G1SP-Fr, $941,139), by Pivotal (GB) 2nd Dam: Cassandra Go (Ire), by Indian Ridge (Ire) 3rd Dam: Rahaam, by Secreto O-Derrick Smith, Susan Magnier & Michael Tabor; B-Orpendale, Chelston & Wynatt (IRE); T-Aidan O’Brien; J-Ryan Moore. The post Easy For Galileo’s Magical In the Tattersalls Gold Cup appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

For whatever reason, the staying animal is something of the black sheep of the family in Hong Kong, less flashy than those who can sprint or run a fast mile and less popular than those that show a propensity for middle distances. Maybe–just maybe–Exultant (Ire) (Teofilo {Ire}) is the one who can break the mould, as the likable and hard-trying 5-year-old became the first horse to take the two Group 1 features at 2400 metres at Sha Tin in a single season–the Longines Hong Kong Vase in December followed by Sunday’s Standard Chartered Champions & Chater Cup. But it wasn’t easy. The gelding–exactly two years removed from a third-place effort to Churchill (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) in the 2017 G1 Irish 2000 Guineas–had to deal with a rain-affected strip and headstrong ways to best the progressive Rise High (Fr) (Myboycharlie {Ire}) and 4-year-old representative Dark Dream (Aus) (All American {Aus}). ‘TDN Rising Star’ and defending champion Pakistan Star (Ger) (Shamardal) came to win the race a furlong out before weakening to fourth. The C & C Cup was the fourth of a half-dozen winners on the day for Zac Purton–fresh off an overseas victory in Saturday’s Kranji Mile in Singapore–who rode Exultant just aggressively enough through the opening 400 metres to secure the one-by-one spot on the back of G1 Longines Hong Kong Cup hero Glorious Forever (GB) (Archipenko), whose older brother Time Warp (GB) led at a leisurely pace. There was no significant change in the plot down the back and Purton, who said Exultant “was gone 600m” out, got busy and steered him out into the clear as the quarter-pole loomed. Pakistan Star, who’d enjoyed the run of the race, got first crack at the full-siblings and looked on his way to a title defence, but Exultant, calling on the same dogged determination he showed in winning the Vase five months ago, dug down deep and got home first. Rise High caboosed the field into the lane and rallied strongly for second just ahead of Derby fourth Dark Dream. “Exultant was all heart today,” said Purton, who closed the day on 132 winners, four shy of his career best with a month and a half to go in the season. “He pulled in the run, which he hasn’t done for quite some time..but his big heart just continued to carry him to the finish line. It was a good, tough, strong effort from a horse that hasn’t let us down, he’s been great all season. That’s credit to the horse and [trainer] Tony [Cruz].” Exultant also won the G1 Citi Hong Kong Gold Cup over 2000m in February and was penciled in for a trip to Japan for the G1 Takarazuka Kinen (2200m) next month. Given the strenuous effort Sunday, connections have aborted those plans, with an eye on the G1 Dubai Sheema Classic next March. “He wasn’t very comfortable on the going, I think he’s better on good to firm,” said Cruz, winning the C & C for the sixth time. “The owners, myself and the jockey, we all decided just now not to go to Japan. It’s a short run in at Hanshin and the going is almost always on a soft track, so with those things in mind, we’ll give him a break. “Next season, maybe the trip is Dubai, that’s the race we have in our calendar if we do decide to travel him.” Rise High’s trainer Caspar Fownes, whose Southern Legend (Aus) (Not A Single Doubt {Aus}) won Saturday’s aforementioned Kranji Mile for the second year on end, said his charge could make the trip to Japan next month. One of 16 top-level winners for his sire, Exultant is out of a half-sister to champions Spirit Quartz (Ire) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}) and Caspian Prince (Ire) (Dylan Thomas {Ire}). Sunday, Sha Tin, Hong Kong STANDARD CHARTERED CHAMPIONS & CHATER CUP-G1, HK$10,000,000 (£1,005,245/€1,139,870/A$1,847,018/US$1,273,989), Sha Tin, 5-26, 3yo/up, 2400mT, 2:26, gd/yl. 1–EXULTANT (IRE), 126, g, 5, by Teofilo (Ire) 1st Dam: Contrary (Ire), by Mark of Esteem (Ire) 2nd Dam: Crystal Gaze (Ire), by Rainbow Quest 3rd Dam: Jumilla, by El Gran Senor O-Eddie Wong Ming Chak & Wong Leung Sau Hing; B-Ballygallon Stud Ltd; T-Tony Cruz; J-Zac Purton; HK$5,700,000. Lifetime Record: G1SP-Ire, 22-9-6-2, HK$44,990,660. Werk Nick Rating: A+++ *Triple Plus*. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree. 2–Rise High (Fr), 126, g, 5, Myboycharlie (Ire)–Lana Girl, by Arch. (€42,000 Ylg ’15 ARQAUG). O-Au-dela Syndicate; B-Mme Marie-Claude Biaudis; T-Caspar Fownes; J-Vincent Ho; HK$2,200,000. 3–Dark Dream (Aus), 126, g, 4, All American (Aus)–Buchanan Girl (Aus), by Lion Hunter. O-Albert Hung Chao Hong; B-Miss J E Healey (NSW); T-Frankie Lor; J-Joao Moreira; HK$1,000,000. Margins: 1 1/4, NK, 1. Odds: 1-2, 43-1, 29-5. Also Ran: Pakistan Star (Ger), Glorious Forever (GB), Mongolian King (NZ), Time Warp (GB), Happy Grin (Jpn), Eagle Way (Aus). Click for the HKJC.com chart, PPs and sectional timing. VIDEO. Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. The post Super Six for Purton as Exultant Makes History in Champions & Chater appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

She may have missed her first Classic launch mission, but His Highness The Aga Khan’s TDN Rising Star Siyarafina (Fr) (Pivotal {GB}) looked ready for another as she swooped to conquer in ParisLongchamp’s G1 Saxon Warrior Coolmore Prix Saint Alary on Sunday. Unbeaten in two outings over a mile at Saint-Cloud Apr. 4 and here Apr. 22, the 7-10 favourite had quicker conditions to deal with this time but the result was the same as the homebred delivered with a deal of panache. Held up in fifth by Christophe Soumillon, the bay swooped on the pace-setter and eventual third Imperial Charm (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) with a furlong remaining before comfortably holding the outsider Olendon (Fr) (Le Havre {Ire}) by a length. Sunday, ParisLongchamp, France SAXON WARRIOR COOLMORE PRIX SAINT-ALARY-G1, €250,000, ParisLongchamp, 5-26, 3yo, f, 10fT, 2:06.48, g/s. 1–SIYARAFINA (FR), 126, f, 3, by Pivotal (GB) 1st Dam: Siyenica (Fr) (SW & MGSP-Fr, $102,865), by Azamour (Ire) 2nd Dam: Sichilla (Ire), by Danehill 3rd Dam: Slipstream Queen, by Conquistador Cielo 1ST BLACK-TYPE WIN; 1ST GROUP WIN; 1ST GROUP 1 WIN. O-H H The Aga Khan; B-H H The Aga Khan’s Studs SC (FR); T-Alain de Royer-Dupre; J-Christophe Soumillon. €142,850. Lifetime Record: 3-3-0-0, €172,850. Werk Nick Rating: A. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree. 2–Olendon (Fr), 126, f, 3, Le Havre (Ire)–Talema (Fr), by Sunday Break (Jpn). (€65,000 Ylg ’17 ARAUG). O-Gerard Augustin-Normand; B-Franklin Finance SA, Mme Elisabeth Ribard & Sylvain Vidal (FR); T-Pascal Bary. €57,150. 3–Imperial Charm (GB), 126, f, 3, Dubawi (Ire)–Reem Three (GB), by Mark of Esteem (Ire). O/B-Sheikh Mohammed Obaid Al Maktoum (GB); T-Simon Crisford. €28,575. Margins: 1, HF, 1 3/4. Odds: 0.70, 49.00, 10.00. Also Ran: Cala Tarida (GB), Merimbula, Fount (GB), Montviette (Fr), Phoceene (Fr), Morning Dew (Fr), Platane (GB), Idiosa (Ger). Click for the Racing Post result or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. Video, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton. The post Pivotal’s Siyarafina Passes Saint Alary Test 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 a well-bred son of Frankel. 2.25 Saint-Cloud, Debutantes, €27,000, 2yo, c/g, 6fT RESTIANY (GB) (Frankel {GB}) makes his entry to the racing world in the silks of his owner-breeder Guy Pariente and is a notable newcomer as a son of the G2 Criterium de Maisons-Laffitte winner Restiadargent (Fr) (Kendargent {Fr}). She was just a head and a neck away from upsetting the great Black Caviar (Aus) (Bel Esprit {Aus}) in the G1 Diamond Jubilee S. at the 2012 Royal Ascot meeting forever associated with this colt’s immeasurable sire. The post Observations: May 27, 2019 appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

The John Size juggernaut rolled on at Sha Tin on Sunday, with the 10-time champion trainer snaring his 1,200th Hong Kong winner on the back of a treble for the afternoon.The no-fuss veteran allowed himself a brief moment to reflect after becoming only the third trainer to reach the 1,200-win mark after John Moore and Tony Cruz.“It’s a good number to get up to in Hong Kong, it’s not that easy,” he said. “I’ve been very lucky in the time that I’ve been here and I’ve certainly enjoyed some good… View the full article

Longshot Roger Barows (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) made it a Classic double for the JRHA’s Select Sale when scoring a 92-1 upset in Sunday’s G1 Tokyo Yushun (Japanese Derby). The bay was a ¥78-million (£561,313/€636,772) purchase at the JRHA’s 2016 foal sale, while last weekend’s G1 Yushun Himba (Japanese Oaks) winner Loves Only You (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) came out of the following year’s yearling sale. Roger Barows won on debut last August for Katsuhiko Sumii, the trainer of the Derby favourite and G1 Satsuki Sho (Japense 2000 Guineas) winner Saturnalia (Jpn) (Lord Kanaloa {Jpn}) as well as the great mare Vodka (Jpn) (Tanino Gimlet {Jpn}), who beat the boys in great races like the Tokyo Yushun, Yasuda Kinen, Tenno Sho Autumn and Japan Cup. Roger Barows won on seasonal debut at Kyoto in January, and was seventh, beaten three lengths, in the G2 Spring S. in March before running second, beaten a neck, in the G2 Kyoto Shimbun Hai on May 4. Bouncing out of the rail gate, Roger Barows led first time past the wire but was passed on the outside by a keen Lion Lion (Jpn) (Rulership {Jpn}) by the time they hit the bend. While his rival went on by seven lengths down the backstretch, Roger Barows settled in second about five lengths ahead of the main body of the field. Taking aim at the frontrunner as they turned for home, Roger Barows at last got his measure approaching the 300 metre mark. Roger Barows had to pull out all the stops to hold off Danon Kingly (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}), with his unlucky stablemate Saturnalia flying late to grab fourth and post the fastest final three furlongs of any horse but tiring a bit in the last half furlong. “I was hoping for a fast pace, so settling in second behind an early pace was an ideal race for us,” said jockey Suguru Hamanaka. “The colt is a stayer with much stamina so he held on strongly even after the uphill climb and ran persistently all the way to the end. He’s now a Derby horse, so we can count on his future performance.” Pedigree Notes Roger Barows’s dam, the British-placed Little Book (GB) (Librettist), is a half-sister to the G1 Cheveley Park S. winner Donna Blini (GB) (Bertolini), now better known as the dam of the great Gentildonna (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}). Little Book-remarkably in hindsight-had no bids when offered at the 2010 Tattersalls Autumn Horses-in-Training Sale, but she found a new home with Elusive Bloodstock for 7,000gns when offered the following July. It’s amazing what 18 months can do, and by the time Little Book returned to the Tattersalls ring yet again for the 2012 December Mares Sale, not only had her half-sister’s Gentildonna won the Japanese Fillies’ Triple Crown and the G1 Japan Cup, but Donna Blini’s Donau Blue (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) was a dual Group 3 winner and dual Group 1 placed. JS Company picked up Little Book for 230,000gns in foal to Invincible Spirit at Tattersalls December and Roger Barows is her second live foal. Saturday, Tokyo, Japan TOKYO YUSHUN (JAPANESE DERBY)-G1, ¥416,110,000, Tokyo, 5-26, 3yo, c&f, 2400mT, 2:22.60, fm. 1–ROGER BAROWS (JPN), 126, c, 3, by Deep Impact (Jpn) 1st Dam: Little Book (GB), by Librettist 2nd Dam: Cal Norma’s Lady (Ire), by Lyphard’s Special 3rd Dam: June Darling(Ire), by Junius 1ST STAKES WIN. (¥78,000,000 wnlg’16 JRHAJUL) O-Hirotsugu Inokuma; B-Tobino Farm; T-Katsuhiko Sumii; J-Suguru Hamanaka; ¥225,227,000. Lifetime Record: 6-3-2-0. Werk Nick Rating: C+. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree. 2–Danon Kingly (Jpn), 126, c, 3, Deep Impact (Jpn)–My Goodness, by Storm Cat. O-Danox Inc.; B-Mishima Bokujo; ¥87,222,000. 3–Velox (Jpn), 126, c, 3, Just a Way (Jpn)–Selkis (Ger), by Monsun (Ger). (¥48,000,000 yrl ’17 JRHAJUL) O-Makoto Kaneko Holdings; B-Northern Farm; ¥53,611,000. Margins: NK, 2HF, HF. Odds: 92.10, 3.70, 3.30. Also Ran: Saturnalia (Jpn), Nishino Daisy (Jpn), Courageux Guerrier (Jpn), Run for the Roses (Jpn), Red Genial (Jpn), Tagano Diamante (Jpn), Meisho Tengen (Jpn), Meiner Surpass (Jpn), Emeral Fight (Jpn), Naimama (Jpn), Wind (Jpn), Lion Lion (Jpn), Schwarz Riese (Jpn), Satono Lux (Jpn), Admire Justa (Jpn). Click for the JRA chart and video or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. The post Deep Impact Colt Upsets The Yushun appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article