Wandering Eyes

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

Horse racing at the highest level is one of the toughest sports in the world, but right now Zac Purton is making it look like child’s play.The superstar jockey matched his personal best of six winners in a meeting at Sha Tin on Sunday, while securing his seventh Group One of the season when he lifted a lionhearted Exultant over the line in the Standard Chartered Champions & Chater Cup.That haul comes after an overnight flight (and minimal sleep) from Singapore, where he won the S$1.5 million … View the full article

Master trainer John Moore has reshaped the landscape for up-and-coming sprinters in Hong Kong with his unheralded Thanks Forever popping the bubble of boom speedster Voyage Warrior.Moore’s three-year-old spent almost 12 months on the sidelines after his debut win last season but returned better than he left, easily taking down the most spruiked horse this season in a 1,000m rout at Sha Tin on Sunday.Coming off just two barrier trials, Thanks Forever travelled up to Voyage Warrior with ease… View the full article

Exultant has solidified his position as the best stayer in Hong Kong with a grinding effort which saw him dig deep to prevail in the Group One Champions & Chater Cup (2,400m) at Sha Tin on Sunday.The five-year-old, who started at a long odds-on quote of $1.5, appeared to be flat-footed with 600m to run but delivered in spades when he found the line to beat home the fast-finishing roughie Rise High ($44).The win has come at a cost, however, with trainer Tony Cruz ruling out a trip to Japan for… View the full article

Little Giant saluted at Group level for the first time at Sha Tin on Sunday and trainer David Hall holds out hope his lightly raced six-year-old can find enough improvement to add a top-level success to his resume next season.Little Giant was honest as ever in winning the Group Three Sha Tin Vase (1,200m) four weeks after finishing three quarters of a length behind Beat The Clock in the Group One Chairman’s Sprint Prize (1,200m).That effort came at his fourth Group One start for the season and… View the full article

Whether it is on the flat or over jumps, jockey John Allen is becoming a regular at winning feature races. A week after claiming the Doomben Cup aboard Kenedna, Allen was in the winner's stall at Sandown on Sunday after riding Chequered Flag in the Australian Hurdle for trainers Ciaron Maher and David Eustace. It was Allen's third win in the race, having scored with Gotta Take Care (2014) and Renew (2017). Before his success in Sunday's Hurdle, Allen rode Eclair Breeze to win on the flat. Cheque... View the full article

In-form New Zealand trainer Tony Pike knows all about Queensland's fickle weather but he is hoping the state's fine patch holds in the lead-up to the Group One Queensland Oaks at Doomben. Pike continued his great winter when The Bostonian completed the Group One Doomben 10,000-Kingsford-Smith double at Eagle Farm on Saturday. The Bostonian will now chase the Group One Sprint treble in the Stradbroke Handicap (1400m) on June 8. Pike believes he will have a strong back-up in the race in Endless Dr... View the full article

Ex-pat kiwi Mark Walker continued his impressive run of form in Singapore on Saturday with a winning double that sees him sitting six wins clear of his nearest rival in the race for the trainers’ premiership. Walker, who won five premierships in New Zealand before moving to Singapore in 2011, topped the trainers’ list in 2015 and 2017 and is looking to make it title number three this season. While delighted with his brace of wins on Saturday, Walker admitted the day was made even more specia... View the full article

On a day where there were several eye-catching performances, it was the victory in the last race on the card at Ellerslie by the lightly-tried Verbalizer that captured most of the attention. Having just his second run in a new campaign, the Tobique five-year-old stormed home from near last in the hands of Troy Harris to register his second career win from just seven starts. Trainer Shane Crawford was keen to see his charge put his best foot forward after overcoming a number of issues that would ... View the full article

Persistence paid off for Air Strike in the $201,053 Triple Bend Stakes (G2) May 25 at Santa Anita Park. View the full article

Progressive mare Inscription will head to the spelling paddock next week after completing an impressive treble of wins for Cambridge trainer Ross McCarroll. The five-year-old Cape Blanco mare showed her customary dogged finishing burst to land the opening event over 1600m at Ellerslie on Saturday, although punters who backed her into favourite at $2.20 did have some concerns when she wasn’t travelling like a winner during the middle stages of the contest. “That’s pretty much her style thes... View the full article

It was a busy morning May 25 at Belmont Park as several contenders for the June 8 Belmont Stakes Presented by NYRA Bets (G1) put in work over the New York track. View the full article