Wandering Eyes

The latest renewal of the Hokkaido Training Sale saw an increase in the clearance rate from the previous year, with 69.2% of the 234 lots offered selling on May 22 at Sapporo Racecourse. While the gross and average saw an overall decline from the previous year, the sale continued to post higher numbers than before the so-called Maurice (Jpn) bump, which took place between 2016 and 2017, and it has now settled back into a more maintainable level of gradual market growth. Groups from Singapore, Malaysia, Korea, and Hong Kong all turned out for the sale, continuing the boom of international attention that the Hokkaido sales have been enjoying over the past couple of years. Epiphaneia (Jpn) and Fenomeno (Jpn), two freshman sires set to start debuting in June, were represented by the most lots at the sale and were eagerly snapped up by customers. Seven of the eight by Fenomeno (Jpn) were sold with the highest lot being 98, a filly out of Carlea (USA), that was purchased by Northern Farm for ¥12,960,000 (USD$118,583). All six of the Epiphaneia (Jpn) lots sold with the top lot being 66, a colt out of a Dance in the Dark (Jpn) mare that was bought by Tetsuhide Kunimoto for ¥21,600,000 (USD$197,639). The top five stallions with the best averages for the day were Reach the Crown (Jpn), Transcend (Jpn), Screen Hero (Jpn), French Deputy and South Vigorous (Jpn). Promising young sire Just a Way (Jpn) had only two in the sale but managed an average of ¥13,500,000 (USD$123,524) for the day. The highest-priced colt and overall sale topper was lot 245 by Reach the Crown (Jpn), which went to Northern Farm for ¥36,720,000 (USD$335,986). The second-highest priced colt was lot 127, a Screen Hero (Jpn) colt that Normandy Farm went up to ¥24,300,000 (USD$222,344) to obtain. The highest-priced filly of the day was lot 151, a Sinister Minister who was sold to Koichi Takeshita for ¥14,580,000 (USD$133,406). The post Hokkaido Training Sale Maintains Positive Results appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Having played second fiddle to both Too Darn Hot (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) and Magna Grecia (Ire) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}) at two, Tony Wechsler and Ann Plummer’s Phoenix of Spain (Ire) (Lope de Vega {Ire}) arrived at The Curragh a fresh horse on Saturday to put them and all others in their shade in the G1 Tattersalls Irish 2000 Guineas. Imposing in stature, it may be that the G3 Acomb S. winner and G2 Champagne S. and G1 Vertem Futurity Trophy runner-up needed his collective experience at two and he reappeared a monster whose considerable presence marked this race at every stage. Always happy on the front end, the 16-1 chance had all bar the 6-4 joint-favourite Too Darn Hot in trouble inside the last two furlongs and he quickly put that rival in the red as he stormed to an emphatic three-length success. The champion juvenile was a half length in front of Decrypt (GB) (Dark Angel {Ire}) at the line, with the other joint-favourite Magna Grecia disappointing in fifth. 1–PHOENIX OF SPAIN (IRE), 126, c, 3, by Lope de Vega (Ire) 1st Dam: Lucky Clio (Ire), by Key of Luck 2nd Dam: Special Lady (Fr), by Kaldoun (Fr) 3rd Dam: Macedoine (Fr), by King of Macedon (Ire) 1ST GROUP 1 WIN. (78,000gns Wlg ’16 TATFOA; 220,000gns Ylg ’17 TATOCT). O-Tony Wechsler & Ann Plummer; B-Mrs Cherry Faeste (IRE); T-Charles Hills; J-Jamie Spencer. *1/2 to Central Square (Ire) (Azamour {Ire}), GSP-Ire; Kingsdesire (Ire) (King’s Best), GSP-Eng; and Lucky Beggar (Ire) (Verglas {Ire}), MSP-Eng, $185,021. The post Lope de Vega’s Phoenix of Spain Dominates the Irish 2000 Guineas appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Emirates Park’s Mehdaayih (GB) (Frankel {GB}), the 4 1/2-length winner of the Listed Cheshire Oaks on May 8, has been supplemented to Friday’s G1 Investec Oaks at a cost of £30,000. the John Gosden-trained bay was winning her third straight at Chester last time, and has been worse than second just once in five outings. She is the 9-4 favourite for the Oaks from the Listed Salsabil S. winner Pink Dogwood (Ire) (Camelot {GB}), the 3-1 second choice. Mehdaayih’s John Gosden stablemate Anapurna (GB) (Frankel {GB}) is the 7-1 third choice. The post Mehdaayih Added To Oaks appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

The Thoroughbred Owners of California (TOC) and Santa Anita Park will continue to supplement overnight race purses by $5,000 each per race ($10,000 total) for the remainder of the meet at the Arcadia oval, which ends June 23. This is an extension of the agreement that was set to expire June 2. The final two weeks will be funded solely by the purse account. “We are happy to be able to offer our owners this incentive, which we believe will continue the momentum of the past seven weeks,” said Gary Fenton, Chairman of TOC’s Racing Affairs Committee. “We greatly appreciate the generous contribution of The Stronach Group to this innovative program, and we felt it was important to keep it going, especially considering the health of the Santa Anita purse account.” TOC Chairman Nick Alexander added, “In light of the recent events in California racing, we are all trying to do everything we can to keep horses in the state, and this purse enhancement has been an important component of that effort. Our obligation is to the California horse owners, and it is our goal to provide them some relief through these monetary incentives.” The post Santa Anita Purse Supplements to Continue Through End of Meet appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Southern Legend is the toast of Singapore again with another effortless victory in the Kranji Mile, kicking off what is shaping up as a massive weekend for superstar jockey Zac Purton.The Caspar Fownes-trained six-year-old justified his odds-on quote with a dominant display, bouncing back from a flat run in Dubai to claim back-to-back victories in the S$1.5 million (HK$8.5 million) feature.It was a Hong Kong trio of sorts with Southern Legend beating Ricky Yiu Poon-fai’s former galloper… View the full article

RICH SANTULLI: We can all speak about how great a horseman Jimmy Crupi was. He deserves that, but what makes Jimmy a special person was not his ability to pick out a horse, but to help someone in need. Alan Goldberg and I would laugh about his next story, but the story everyone needs to remember Jimmy by is that if you were down, he would do anything to pick you up. The world was a better place because of him. St. Peter is on Jimmy’s third story with most of heaven listening. Rest In Peace. The post Letter to the Editor: Santulli on Crupi appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

From fillies bred in the purple racing for their breeders, to a 6,000-guinea weanling and everything else in between, the Classic dream appears to be alive at all levels of the market in Sunday’s G1 Irish 1000 Guineas. CORAL BEACH (IRE) (Zoffany {Ire}–Abbasharjah {Ger}, by Tiger Hill {Ire}) Bred by Joe Hernon, the G3 Killavullan S. winner was sold for 85,000gns as a foal before returning to Tattersalls October Book 2 where she made 90,000gns. She was highly tried at two and ran 12 times before landing her group win in late October. DEAN STREET DOLL (IRE) (Oasis Dream {GB}–Soho Rose {Ire}, by Hernando {Fr}) Sold privately by Ecurie des Monceaux after failing to sell in the ring at the Arqana August Sale, the Derrinstown Stud 1000 Guineas trial runner-up made €90,000 as a yearling before again not finding a buyer at the breeze-up sale the following May, at which she was bought in at €85,000. EAST (GB) (Frankel {GB}–Vital Statistics {GB}, by Indian Ridge {Ire}) Bred by Mitaab Abdullah from a listed-winning 2-year-old, East topped last year’s Goresebridge Breeze-up when consigned by Katie Walsh’s Greenhills Farm and bought by Stephen Hillen for €315,000. She has lived up to her price and pedigree by winning on debut, followed by victory in the G3 Prix Thomas Byron Jockey Club de Turquie and a runner-up finish to Newspaperofrecord (Ire) (Lope De Vega {Ire}) at the Breeders’ Cup. Her first outing this season saw her finish third in the G1 Poule d’Essai des Pouliches a fortnight ago. FAIRYLAND (IRE) (Kodiac {GB}–Queenofthefairies {GB}, by Pivotal {GB}) Bred by Tally-Ho Stud, the half-sister to Australian Group 2 winner and Irish 1000 Guineas third Now Or Later (Ire) (Bushranger {Ire}) was a 925,000gns October Book 1 yearling and claimed Group 1 honours last year in the Cheveley Park S. FLEETING (IRE) (Zoffany {Ire}–Azafata {Spa}, by Motivator {GB}) Bred by Spaniard Fernando Bermudez, the G2 May Hill S. winner Fleeting was pinhooked as a foal at Arqana by HSV Agency for €50,000 and resold for €100,000 the following August. Her dam won three races in her native Spain at up to 1m6f. FOXTROT LIV (IRE) (Foxwedge {Aus}–Bestfootforward {GB}, by Motivator {GB}) Bought for just 6,000gns as a foal from her breeder Northmore Stud, this daughter of former shuttler Foxwedge was then unsold as a yearling at €11,000 at the Goffs Sportsman’s Sale. Having won a Curragh maiden in the colours of Emma Kennedy, she then changed hands privately and has notched two black-type placings for her new owner Martin Schwartz. HERMOSA (IRE) (Galileo {Ire}–Beauty Is Truth {Ire}, by Pivotal {GB}) Homebred by the Coolmore partners in the Beauty Is Truth Syndicate, Hermosa was already a sister to two Group 1 winners and a daughter of a Group 2 winner before even setting foot on a racecourse, but she further enhanced her own and her dam’s pedigree with Classic success at Newmarket. IRIDESSA (IRE) (Ruler Of The World {Ire}–Senta’s Dream {GB}, by Danehill) Bred by Aidan and Annemarie O’Brien’s Whisperview Trading Ltd, Iridessa first ran in the colours of Chantal Regalado-Gonzalez after winning a maiden on debut and went on to become another Group 1 winner for the successful owner and the first for her young sire. Her unraced dam, a daughter of dual American Grade 1 winner Starine (Fr) (Mendocino), was bought from Newsells Park Stud at the 2013 December Sale for 14,000gns. JUST WONDERFUL (IRE) (Dansili {GB}–Wading, by Montjeu {Ire}) From arguably the most pre-eminent family on the Classic scene of late, Just Wonderful, bred by Orpendale, Chelston and Wynatt, followed her dam in winning the G2 Rockfel S. at Newmarket. Grandam Cherry Hinton (Green Desert) was one of the lesser racecourse performers for Urban Sea but was Group 3-placed and has more than compensated by producing an Irish Oaks winner, Wading’s full-sister Bracelet (Ire). PRETTY POLLYANNA (GB) (Oasis Dream {GB}–Unex Mona Lisa {GB}, by Shamardal) Bill and Tim Gredley’s homebred filly is the third foal and third winner of her unraced dam, who is herself a half-sister to GIII Robert J Frankel S. winner Gender Agenda (GB) (Holy Roman Emperor {Ire}). QABALA (Scat Daddy–Entwine, by Empire Maker) Bred in America by Eutrophia Farm, Qabala made her sole sales appearance as a weanling at Fasig-Tipton’s November Sale, where she was bought by her owner HH Sheikh Mohammed Bin Khalifa Al Thani’s Al Shahania Stud for $300,000-a sound investment for a filly who won her first two starts, including the G3 Nell Gwyn S., before finishing third in the 1000 Guineas. She has the pedigree to back it up, being by one of the most sought-after sires of recent years and, though her dam did not cover herself in glory on the racecourse, Entwine is a daughter of Juddmonte’s GI American Oaks winner Flute (Seattle Slew) and a half-sister to GII Goldikova S. winner Filimbi (Mizzen Mast). The post Where Did They Come From? appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

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Biraz is one horse who seems to know when to rise to the occasion. Last year, shortly after a stable transfer, he scored his first win for trainer Daniel Meagher on Kranji Mile day in a Class 3 race over 1200m. The Per Incanto six-year-old has mixed his form a little since, but he did show a form revival at his last couple, landing a Kranji Stakes C race over 1200m two starts back on March 24.But the Al-Arabiya Stable-owned sprinter was probably waiting for that auspicious May meeting ... View the full article

Consistent galloper Centurion overcame a wide trip to poke his head in front where it mattered the most in the $50,000 Stepitup 2015 Stakes, a Class 4 Division 1 race over 1600m on Saturday. Well ridden by two-time Singapore champion apprentice jockey Wong Chin Chuen, Centurion looked to be travelling within his own steam despite being trapped four deep for most of the way. His backers probably thought his task would be even more arduous when race-leader Lim’s Passion seemed to have ... View the full article

New Zealand trainer Tony Pike's last-minute decision to run The Bostonian in the Group One Kingsford Smith Cup proved a $420,000 bonus when the gelding scored an impressive win. The Bostonian completed the Cup-Doomben 10,000 double when he beat Princess Posh by three quarters of a length with a short neck to Trekking in third. He becomes fifth horse to complete to Kingsford Smith Cup-Doomben 10,000 double although the first to do it in reverse order. After The Bostonian won the Group One Doomben... View the full article

The Hawkins family’s Wentwood Grange enjoyed a winning double at Royal Randwick on Saturday. Early in the day the Matthew Dunn-trained Lifesaver (NZ) (Helmet) held on to win the TAB Highway Handicap (1000m) to take his career wins to four from fourteen. Lifesaver hadn’t been seen at the races since December and the win impressed jockey Joshua Parr. “He’s a little beauty, a good fresh horse.” The five-year-old was bred by Wentwood’s Llanhennock Trust. Later in the day Kolding (NZ) (O... View the full article

Champion trainer John Size is convinced his talented sprinter Full Of Beauty is ready for Group-level racing ahead of his first foray into such company on Sunday.The four-year-old has taken all before him in his seven-start career, racking up five wins and two second placings as he raced through the grades this season.Renowned for his cautious approach, Size rarely pushes his horses beyond what they are capable of, but he believes Full Of Beauty has what it takes to step-up in the Group Three… View the full article

Nobu confirmed his status as the horse to beat in the Queensland Derby next month and showed his fighting qualities to make it back-to-back wins at Randwick on Saturday. Chris Waller’s progressive stayer knuckled down late to edge out Derby rival Carif by a nose in the Mizuno Benchmark 74 Handicap (2000m), with Think It Over 2-3/4 lengths back in third. “He’s really turned into a professional,” Waller’s racing manager Charlie Duckworth said. “He had to d... View the full article

Trainer Brian Smith faces an an anxious couple of weeks hoping Lord Mayor's Cup winner Order Again can gain a Stradbroke Handicap start. Order Again won the Group Three Lord Mayor's Cup (1600m) by three quarters of a length to notch his fourth success at Eagle Farm, cementing his reputation as a track specialist. Perennial placegetter Tom Melbourne, the $2.80 favourite, made a brave bid for an all-the-way win with Le Juge a length away third. Smith is hoping Order Again's win will improve his ha... View the full article

Top stayer Exultant will attempt to go where only the best stayers in Hong Kong have gone by winning three Group One’s in a single season on Sunday.The Tony Cruz-trained five-year-old has slipped under the radar this season with champion miler Beauty Generation rightfully stealing the headlines but he has the opportunity to put his name up in lights in the Group One Champions & Chater Cup (2,400m).There is also a potential overseas trip to Japan for the Takarazuka Kinen (2,200m) next month… View the full article

The Murray Baker and Andrew Forsman stable were expected to play a prominent role in Saturday’s Listed Piazza D’Oro Auckland Futurity Stakes (1400m) at Ellerslie, with five runners down to contest the two-year-old feature. Whilst the pair ultimately provided the quinella in the event it was the little-fancied Rhaegar who upset the applecart when he downed well-favoured stablemate Long Jack at odds of better than $30 on the tote. Having finished well back in his first two raceday starts, Rhae... View the full article

Underrated galloper Deerfield provided Chrissy Bambry with the biggest victory of her fledgling training career with a slick all-the-way victory in the Hanley Formula Autumn Sprint Championship Final (1200m) at Trentham. Bambry, who only commenced training in her own right this season after spending time in partnership with her father Tony, took over the preparation of Deerfield after the five-year-old spent his early years in the care of Alex Oliveira at Cambridge. The Falkirk gelding opened hi... View the full article

Colonial Downs officials today announced that veteran race caller Jason Beem will be the official track announcer for the 2019 Colonial Downs meeting, Aug. 8-Sept. 7. View the full article

The New York Racing Association has announced Javier Castellano as the 2019 recipient of the Mike Venezia Award, the prestigious honor awarded to jockeys who exemplify extraordinary sportsmanship and citizenship. View the full article

The winning roll for impressive four-year-old Comeback continued at Trentham on Saturday when he made it five wins in a row with a gritty performance to take out the Roaring Lion North Island Challenge Stakes (1400m). Prepared at Tuhikaramea by Graeme, Debbie and Bailey Rogerson, the Makfi gelding won his first race back in May 2018 and has now saluted the judge on a further seven occasions in his 22-start career. Raced by Westbury Stud boss Gerry Harvey, under his NZ Thoroughbred Holdings Ltd b... View the full article

Each Saturday NTRA and BloodHorse provide a one-stop guide to the day's graded stakes races. Races are listed in chronological order (all times Eastern). For full preview, click race link. View the full article

Southern Legend runs rivals ragged at second Kranji Mile win View the full article

A Knight to remember for Clements, Duric in Guineas View the full article

Baertschiger claims first Group 1 win with Aramco in Lion City Cup View the full article