Wandering Eyes

We address your thoughts, questions and statements regarding Hong Kong racing. Have something to say? Send a tweet to @SCMPRacingPost Still don’t know how Perfect Glory got through there – @mgnuss20 It was a terrific Hong Kong debut from Perfect Glory, but all the attention surrounded the severe interference in the closing stages. On first look, it appeared as though Matthew Poon Ming-fai (Fairy Twins) and Chad Schofield (Perfect Glory) acted like two ends of an accordion and... View the full article

Michael Chang Chun-wai finally found his first winner of the season on Wednesday night and jockey Callan Murray hopes he can keep the momentum rolling for the popular trainer at Sha Tin on Saturday. The pair team up with Mega Red and Enfolding in the final two races and Murray is confident there is a winner among them. “I’d love to ride a winner for him because he’s been really helpful to me,” Murray said of Chang. “He’s been supporting me a lot since I... View the full article

Superstar jockey Joao Moreira has failed in his bid to secure a full-time Japan Racing Association licence. The Magic Man quit Hong Kong at the end of last season to pursue a career in the Land of the Rising Sun, but he has fallen short at the first hurdle. The JRA requires jockeys to pass two tests to earn a full-time licence – firstly a written exam (in English) on racing in Japan and its history and then an oral test (in Japanese). Joao Moreira hits the books as he looks to secure full... View the full article

Maia looking for another lap of honour on Circuit View the full article

Bold Thruster raring to go - EW Barker in his sights View the full article

Duric to ride Countofmontecristo in QEII Cup View the full article

Early scratching October 12 View the full article

RaceBets rock up to York on Friday and are sponsoring two races, both of which will be covered by the ITV4 racing team. The first of these is the RaceBets Money Back Handicap at 2:40pm, which is a 1-mile handicap and this is followed by the RaceBets Handicap which is a 1 mile 6 furlongs for three-year-olds at 3:50 pm. There is also a fantastic card at Newmarket, where there are four Group races, chief among them is the Group 1 Fillies’ Mile and the ultra-competitive Old Rowley Mile handicap. The RaceBets Money Back Handicap 2nd 3rd 4th is the first race to show by the ITV racing team at York on Friday and it has a predictably tough look to it. Roger Varian’s ultra-consistent UAE Prince heads the market after finishing a luckless fifth in the Cambridgeshire and if he turns up in anything like that form then he’ll prove tough to beat. Ian Jardine has done well since getting his hands on Alemarataayoum from Ed Dunlop earlier this year and after a narrow victory at Haydock just under two weeks ago, he will be looking to capitalise on the geldings rich vein of form. He looks versatile trip wise but is probably best over a mile and if he continues t progress then he’ll give UAE Prince most to think about. Chatez has only had two runs on the flat in the last three years and after what one can only assume was an injury-laden period, Alan King’s gelding showed that he retained plenty of ability on his first run of the season behind Warrif in decent Ayr handicap last month. Given normal improvement and the likelihood that he will appreciate the better going, the seven-year-old looks the each-way bet of the race. Get Knotted last three victories have come at York which will entice many punters to row in behind the Michael Dods-trained gelding but these have all come over seven furlongs and with some battle-hardened milers in the field, he looks vulnerable for win purposes. Others worth considering include Great Order and Yuften. Selection: UAE Prince The RaceBets Handicap sees thirteen horses go to post for a 1-mile six-furlong contest. On breeding, one horse stands head and shoulders above the rest and that’s Surya, who is by Frankel out of Sariska. John Gosden’s charge took four runs to win a race but hasn’t looked back since and looks like a filly that will keep on improving to tackle black type company is the not too distant future. Nicky Mackay retains the partnership that has proved fruitful thus far. Canford Heights flies the flag for the William Haggas yard in this and looks very much a leading contender having won his last two races in very impressive fashion. The son of Canford Cliffs relishes these longer trips and may well be the last to cry enough. Almoghared was slightly disappointing when going off well fancied in the JLT Handicap at Newbury in July but my initial impression that day was that the didn’t stay the marathon trip. He showed much more over shorter behind Kew Gardens in the Group 2 Queen’s Vase at the Royal meeting. This piece of form is the best on offer and couple this with the fact that he comes into this as a fresh horse and he’s my idea of the winner. Other of note include Elegiac and Proschema. Selection: Almoghared Pocket Dynamo (Centre)The Group 3 Cornwallis Stakes is the opener at Newmarket and it’s for the two-year-olds over five furlongs. True Mason heads the market for the curtain raiser on Friday and the son of Mayson is justifiably to the fore of market having shown a very consistent level of form all season, including a third-place finish in the Group 1 Prix Morny at Deauville. There may be something lurking in the field with more potential but True Mason undoubtedly brings the best form into the race. Robert Cowell knows how to handle a quality speedster and he looks to have another nice type on his hands in the lightly raced Pocket Dynamo. The American bred son of Dialed In ran a commendable race to finish runner-up to Shang Shang Shang in the Norfolk Stakes at Royal Ascot and if he can put a slightly disappointing run in the Prix Robert Pain behind him, then he must go close. The Aidan O’Brien pair of Fantasy and Sergi Prokofiev will have their followers but on the balance of form, they both need to find some improvement to challenge for the top spot. Selection: Pocket Dynamo The Group 3 Oh So Sharp Stakes is for two-year-old fillies over seven furlongs and proves as a good guide for trainers considering classic campaigns with their leading juveniles. been won by some very classy fillies in recent times It’s the once-raced unbeaten pair of Frosty and Hidden Message that head the market. Frosty is the sole Ballydoyle representative and this full sister to the multiple Group 1 winning Winter was a snug winner of a Dundalk maiden last month. In truth, it probably wasn’t the strongest maiden but if she even inherited half the talent as her sister then she should be collecting this Group 3 prize. The William Haggas trained Hidden Message wore a hood when winning on debut which puts a small question mark over her temperament but that being said she produced a blistering turn of foot to stretch away from her rivals in a Yarmouth novice contest. This race is obviously a big jump in class but it’s the same for the majority of the field and she holds more potential than most. Another to consider is the Ralph Beckett trained Glance who was comprehensively beaten on debut but showed the benefit of that run to stylishly land a Goodwood novice event. Beckett is a master trainer when it comes to fillies and if she progresses half as much from her second run as she did after her debut perhaps she can trouble the principals. Selection: Frosty The Group 2 Challenge Stakes sees Limato try and string three winning runs together, Henry Candy’s leading light had been very disappointing earlier in the season and has appreciated a drop down in grade in recent starts. If in his prime the Group One winning son of Tagula would be a shoe-in for victory but he must prove that he retains the ability in this tougher contest. D’bai represents the Godolphin operation and Charlie Appleby’s globetrotting son of Dubawi must hold leading claims on the back of a creditable runner-up in a Group 2 at Doncaster last month. Although the four-year-old has never won a race beyond Group 3 level, they may still be some improvement forthcoming. Mankib represents the potent combination of William Haggas and Jim Crowley. Since transferring from Freddy Head at the beginning of the season, he has won three of his five starts on British soil and even though this represents a step up in class, a big run loos on the cards. Many punters will just back Oisin Murphy blind due to recent high profile success and the Irish jockey has a plum ride in this Group 2 aboard the Andrew Balding-trained Dancing Star. The pair proved the perfect combination when landing the Group 3 Spectre Stakes when last seen and in the contest of this race, he must enter calculations. Selection: Dancing Star The Fillies’ Mile is the feature race at Newmarket and it’s for the two-year-old fillies over the one-mile distance. The race has been won by some great fillies in recent times including Minding (2015) and Laurens last season. Antonia De Vega was an impressive winner of a hot Newmarket maiden in July beating Zagitova. The Ralph Beckett trained colt supplemented this with another smooth victory in the Group 3 Prestige Stakes at Goodwood in August. The son of Lope De Vega looks to have a great opportunity of making it three wins on the bounce in this Group 1 event. Pretty Pollyanna makes a quick reappearance after racing too freely in the early stages of the Cheveley Park Stakes and fading late on behind Fairyland. Prior to this disappointment, Michael Bell’s stable star won the Prix Morny and if she employs more positive tactics then she can get her head back in front. The “Arc” winning combination of Dettori and Gosden team up again with the unbeaten Shambolic in an attempt to land back to back high profile Group 1’s. The daughter of Shamardal has won both starts at Newmarket and Ascot which entitles her to a live chance in this contest. Selection: Pretty Pollyanna Eleven go to post in the Old Rowley Mile Handicap at Newmarket where the market is headed by the Sir Michael Stoute trained Baritone. The improving son of Camelot will have the assistance of David Egan in the saddle. He showed the benefit of being gelded when routing a Pontefract maiden field by an eye-watering eight lengths. This obviously isn’t the strongest for but given his connections and breeding, he looks like a horse to follow. Another real improver is the Aidan O’Brien trained Astronomer who since finishing fourth on debut has won all four starts including a Premier handicap at Listowel. Although he has to give away a lot of weight Astronomer looks better than a handicapper and this may be the last time we see him contesting one. Rock Eagle is the least experienced horse in the line-up having only graced the track on four occasions, two of which resulted in victories. Ralph Beckett’s inmate ran very well when stepped up in class to finish fourth behind Communique in a handicap at Goodwood. A reproduction of that run would give him hope of being competitive. Others to consider include Breath Caught, Berkshire Royal and Jack Regan. Selection: Astronomer The post Friday Preview – Pretty Pollyanna Looking For Perfection In Fillies’ Mile appeared first on RaceBets Blog EN. View the full article

As the only filly in a field of 11 slated for the $250,000 Nearctic Stakes (G2T) Oct. 13 at Woodbine, Heider Family Stables' Lady Alexandra will have her work cut out for her. View the full article

Concrete Rose put every foot right in running her competition off their feet during a three-length triumph in the Jessamine Stakes (G2T), a "Win and You're In" qualifier for the Nov. 2 Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf (G1T) at Churchill Downs. View the full article

A colt by Kantharos (Hip 516) will carry the same gold and burgundy colors as his sire after topping Wednesday’s session of the OBS October sale on a final bid of $190,000 from Stonestreet Stables during the first of two open sessions. Bred in Florida by Elizabeth LaPierre and Jennifer Given, Hip 516 is out of Golden Trumpet (Formal Gold). He hails from the family of graded winners Strike Softly and Golden Sabre. The yearling was consigned by Francis and Barbara Vanlangendonck’s Summerfield Sales. The second-highest price of the day was a $100,000 colt by Kitten’s Joy (Hip 311) from the Woodford Thoroughbreds consignment. Bred by Ken and Sarah Ramsey, the son of Thebignbadestbunny (Smart Strike) went to Ann Maher-Springman, acting on behalf of Rashed Tousef Bouresly. A total of 143 yearlings sold during Wednesday’s session for a gross of $1,967,300. The median was $7,000 and the average was $13,757. A total of 55 youngsters were led from the ring unsold for an RNA rate of 27.7%. There was only one open session last year, so statistics could not be compared. The final session of the three-day auction will begin Thursday at 12 p.m. View the full article

As the regular rider of Santa Monica, Jose Ortiz has been impressed with her ability, but the reigning Eclipse Award-winning jockey believes the daughter of Mastercraftsman delivered her best run to date at Woodbine. View the full article

As the regular rider of Santa Monica, Jose Ortiz has been impressed with her ability but the reigning Eclipse Award-winning jockey believes the daughter of Mastercraftsman delivered her best run to date at Woodbine. View the full article

WinStar Farm has promoted Liam O’Rourke as its new Director of Stallion Sales, and has hired Chris Knehr to join its Stallion Season Sales team. “I am really excited about our Bloodstock Team,” said Elliott Walden, president and CEO of WinStar Farm. “Liam deserves the opportunity, and as our clients have gotten to know him, they have appreciated his professionalism and knowledge. Chris is a key hire because of his commercial background and his knowledge of regional markets.” O’Rourke, originally from Toronto, Ontario, developed a keen interest in racing from an early age and began working at Woodbine racetrack while in high school. After completing the Irish National Stud Course in 2008, O’Rourke spent four years in season sales for Adena Springs and held the position of Stallion Services Manager at Millennium Farms prior to joining the WinStar Bloodstock Team in 2016. “WinStar Farm is an innovative and dynamic organization that strives to serve its customers with the highest standard of horsemanship and world-class service,” O’Rourke said. “I am excited to grow and be part of a great team at WinStar. I look forward to this opportunity and sharing future success with our shareholders and customers.” Knehr, originally from New Jersey, pursued his business degree at Virginia Tech. Upon graduation, he completed an internship at Overbook Farm during the breeding season. Knehr returned to Overbrook Farm following graduate school to pursue his passion in the Thoroughbred industry, working as the farm’s Assistant Stallion Manager. He transitioned into sales, working for several consignors, and gaining experience in sales prep, private/public sales, market analysis, and mating recommendations, which ultimately led in 2010 to his own consignment and bloodstock agency, Catalyst Bloodstock. Knehr is a supporter of the Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance and the Retired Racehorse Project and he resides on a small farm in Midway, Ky., with his wife, Erin, and daughters. “I am very excited to be joining the WinStar team,” Knehr said. “I look forward to utilizing my previous experiences in order to contribute to the continued successes at WinStar Farm.” View the full article

CONCRETE ROSE (f, 2, Twirling Candy–Solerina, by Powerscourt {GB}), stretching out off of an impressive debut win at Saratoga, had no issue with two turns and blew her competition away in the GII JPMorgan Chase Jessamine S. Wednesday at Keeneland. The victory in the ‘Win and You’re In’ qualifier sealed a spot in the starting gate for the GI Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf. Finishing furiously to score going away at 12-1 in her 5 1/2-furlong unveiling Aug. 20 at the Spa, the dark bay was made the 13-5 second choice in this stakes debut and broke best of all to take an early lead before deferring to sit in the pocket. Tracking from fourth through splits of :23.34 and :48.04, Concrete Rose was patiently handled as rivals stacked up in front of her on the far turn, angled four deep at the head of the lane and soon swept to the lead with a powerful turn of foot to score by three lengths in 1:44.09. Pakhet (Cairo Prince) completed the exacta. Sales History: $19,000 RNA Wlg ’16 KEENOV; $20,000 Ylg ’17 KEESEP; $61,000 2yo ’18 EASMAY. Lifetime Record: 2-2-0-0, $166,750. O-Ashbrook Farm & BBN Racing LLC; B-Ron Patterson (KY); T-George R. Arnold II. View the full article

Rushing Fall may not be running out of her stall in the Oct. 13 Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup Stakes (G1T), but the Keeneland course has basically doubled as her home turf during her still burgeoning career. View the full article

For the second year in a row, the Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance has been named the Official Charity Partner of Equestricon. The highlight of the scheduled TAA program at this year’s Equestricon is a TED Talks-style speaker series called Track Talks. The TAA’s Stacie Clark Rogers will serve as a session host to a series of short, inspirational, and motivational speeches delivered by Old Friends Farm’s Michael Blowen, Square Peg Foundation’s Joell Dunlap, former NFL player and OTTB owner Jeff Tow-Arnett, and combat veteran James Stewart. In the interest of advancing education amongst its accredited organizations, the TAA will host a “Beyond the Track” Racehorse Retraining Seminar. The seminar will be led by New Vocations’ Anna Ford, the Retired Racehorse Project’s Jen Roytz, and Kristin Werner Leshney from The Jockey Club Thoroughbred Incentive Program (TIP). “When you look at the depth of experience in racehorse rehoming and retraining that each one of our speakers possesses, this truly is a can’t-miss event for anyone looking to learn more about aftercare,” said Kathryn Sharp, co-founder of Equestricon. “The TAA continues to lead the way in this area and it’s incumbent upon us, as people who are working to advance the sport, to put aftercare out front.” Available to all convention attendees will be the popular “Aftercare Row” which returns to Equestricon for the second consecutive year. Lined by the booths of nearly two-dozen accredited charities from all over North America, Aftercare Row is expected to represent the largest gathering ever of TAA-accredited organizations. View the full article

Monday, Oct. 15 at 11:59 p.m. ET is the last opportunity for horsemen to nominate weanlings of 2018 to the Breeders’ Cup program at the one-time regular nomination fee of $400. The $400 nomination entitles each foal with lifetime eligibility to the Breeders’ Cup World Championships and the Breeders’ Cup Racing Programs. All foals sired by a fully-nominated North American Breeders’ Cup stallion are eligible for nomination to the Breeders’ Cup program in their year of birth at the weanling rate. View the full article

The New York Racing Association, Inc. and Yonkers Raceway at Empire City Casino will partner to offer an all-stakes Thoroughbred/Standardbred Pick 4 Saturday, Oct. 13. The Belmont-Yonkers Pick 4 includes the $1-million Yonkers International Trot and the $250,000 Harry Harvey Invitational from Empire City Casino along with the $200,000 Pebbles S. and $100,000 Floral Park S. from Belmont Park. “NYRA’s continued partnership with Yonkers Raceway results in unique wagering opportunities for New York horseplayers,” said Will Alempijevic, NYRA Director of Business Development. “For the second consecutive year, we’re thrilled to have successfully paired two great stakes races from Belmont with the best and richest day of harness racing in New York.” The Belmont-Yonkers Pick 4, to be hosted by NYRA with a $0.50 minimum wager and 24% takeout, will be available on-track, to members of NYRA Bets and Empire City Bets as well as in simulcast facilities across the country. View the full article

New Vocations is seeking owners and trainers of Breeders’ Cup contenders to pledge a percentage of their Championship earnings to support their mission to rehabilitate, retrain and rehome retired racehorses. This will be the ninth year for the fundraiser which has raised over $480,000 to date. “The need for our services continues to grow each year so we are continually faced with raising additional funds to keep up with that growth,” said Anna Ford, New Vocations Program Director. “I always look forward to this fundraiser as there are no overhead costs so 100% of the proceeds go directly to support our aftercare efforts. We spend a lot of time seeking pledges and then sit back and let the horses put on the show.” All of the Pledge information can be found at www.newvocations.org/breeders-cup-pledge/ or by contacting anna@horseadoption.com. View the full article

Three-time leading sire Tapit will stand for a fee of $225,000 LFSN in 2019, Gainesway announced Wednesday. Tapit’s book will again be limited to 125 mares. Tapit is the sire of 24 Grade 1 winners and seven champions, including Eclipse Award-winning female sprinter Unique Bella. Tapit commanded a $300,000 stud fee in 2018. View the full article

NEWMARKET, UK–Watership Down Stud’s Dubawi colt out of the multiple Group 1-winner and budding blue hen mare Dar Re Mi (GB) (Singspiel {Ire}) (lot 325) was widely expected to be the star attraction on the second day of Book 1 of the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale in Newmarket on Wednesday, and the handsome bay made good on that promise, fetching the top price of the sale thus far when knocked down to David Redvers at 3.5-million gns. As could be expected from a physically striking colt from one of the best current families in Europe-and probably the world-the April foal drew an international cast of bidders, with those that put their hands up also including Sheikh Hamdan’s Racing Manager Angus Gold, Jamie McCalmont, and Japanese trainer Mitsu Nakauchida. In the end, Redvers ensured the valuable colt would remain in Europe and, if all goes to plan, one day follow the likes of Roaring Lion, Lightning Spear (GB) and Zoustar (Aus) to Tweenhills. A record single yearling session at Tattersalls, in which the aggregate passed 40-million gns for the first time, was boosted by seven millionaire-plus yearlings. The day one clearance rate of 85% had been encouraging enough but that shot up to an impressive 92% on Wednesday when 129 yearlings sold from the 142 on offer. Accordingly, figures in all other sectors also improved. Turnover of 40,944,000gns represented a rise of 21%, while the median rose from 160,000gns to 190,000gns and the average was up by 7% at 317,395gns. A Stallion In The Making… “We’re all trying to make stallions,” Redvers said after signing the ticket and receiving thanks from Watership Down Stud Manager Simon Marsh. He admitted that the excitement generated by this year’s G1 Coral-Eclipse, G1 Juddmonte International and G1 Irish Champion S. winner and the hugely valuable Roaring Lion had spurred the team at Sheikh Fahad’s Qatar Bloodstock into finding more like him. “That’s the future of our operation, finding these horses that are good enough to be the most commercial and most exciting stallions,” he said. “To have one of the very best-bred Dubawis is very hard to put a value on. You’ve seen horses this week make 600,000gns, 800,000gns, 1-million gns; they’re nice horses, but they’re not the very best. We just have to hope now that he gets to the racecourse and does what his pedigree, genetics and physique suggests he should. These horses don’t come up very often, and if he’s as good as his full-brother he’s a very cheap horse today.” That full-brother is of course ‘TDN Rising Star’ Too Darn Hot, who has greatly enhanced his stock since the catalogue was printed, going unbeaten in three starts including the G3 Solario S. and G2 Champagne S. He could increase his little brother’s value further in just three days’ time after an expected outing in Saturday’s G1 Dewhurst S. After producing the multiple group-placed Le Treville (GB) (Oasis Dream {GB}) in her first season at stud, Dar Re Mi has visited Dubawi exclusively in the following seven seasons bar one tryst with Frankel (GB). De Treville had cost Charlie Gordon-Watson 850,000gns at this sale and that resulting Frankel colt, Erdogan (GB), had been a 750,000gns buy by Al Shaqab, but the remainder of Dar Re Mi’s progeny, until now, had been retained by Watership Down owners Lord and Lady Lloyd Webber. Those were, namely, the fillies So Mi Dar and Lah Ti Dar, both ‘TDN Rising Stars’. Lah Ti Dar has also done her part to enhance the page since it hit the press, having finished second in the G1 St Leger. Too Darn Hot, Lah Ti Dar and So Mi Dar are all trained by John Gosden, as was Dar Re Mi, and as is Roaring Lion. Redvers said, “You can draw your own conclusions as to where he’s likely to be trained.” Dar Re Mi’s progeny just scratches the surface of the riches on the page. The Pretty Polly, Yorkshire Oaks and Dubai Sheema Classic winner is herself a half-sister to Group 1 winners Rewilding (GB) (Tiger Hill {Ire}), Diaghilev (Ire) (Sadler’s Wells) and Darazari (Ire) (Sadler’s Wells). “The mare is quite extraordinary and the stallion is quite extraordinary,” he added. “Sheikh Fahad and his brothers want the very best and they want to compete with the very best. We’ve had a major taste of what its like this year with Roaring Lion, which has been wonderful.” Continuing Allure… The full-brother to Oaks winner Was (Ire) and European yearling sales record-holder Al Namaah (Ire) became the fifth (and sixth in total) Galileo (Ire) yearling in Book 1 to sell for more than 1-million gns on Wednesday afternoon when a repeat of last week’s duels between Coolmore and Phoenix Thoroughbreds ended, this time, with MV Magnier having the final say at 1.3-million gns. The beautifully prepared son of Lodge Park Stud’s Alluring Park (Ire) (Green Desert), whose other stakes winners include another full-sibling, Douglas MacArthur (Ire), and half-brother Janood (Ire) (Medicean {GB}), was also the fifth offspring of the 19-year-old mare to sell for a seven-figure sum at Tattersalls. Breeder Damian Burns of Lodge Park said of lot 217, “We have two yards at home and my brother Jamie had the privilege and the pressure of prepping this colt, so well done to him and to all the team at home, many of whom don’t get to come to the sales.” “The mare had no foal this year but she’s in foal to Dark Angel. We still have her 3-year-old daughter [Park Bloom, also by Galileo] so hopefully we can continue to breed from the family.” It certainly is a family which has enhanced Lodge Park Stud’s reputation as a top-class nursery over the years. The colt’s grandam Park Express (GB) (Ahonoora {GB}), bought by Damian’s grandfather and father Paddy and Seamus Burns as a yearling, went on to be Ireland’s champion filly at two and three, winning the G1 Phoenix Champion S. and G2 Nassau S. as well as finishing runner-up in the G1 Yorkshire Oaks. Her own exploits on the racecourse were exceeded by her son New Approach (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), the European champion in two seasons with five Group 1 wins to his name, including the Derby. Galileo Fillies In Demand… Cheveley Park Stud has been known to put up a fight in the ring to secure top-end fillies to one day add to its elite broodmare band. Stud manager Chris Richardson, standing alongside owner Patricia Thompson, certainly had to work hard early in the session on Wednesday to see off a determined Simon Crisford for lot 189, Churchtown House Stud’s Galileo (Ire) filly out of G3 Ballychorus S. winner Wannabe Better (Ire) (Duke of Marmalade {Ire}). The hammer eventually fell in Richardson’s favour at 1.2-million gns. “She’s lovely, isn’t she?” said Thompson. “I thought I needed to be a bit daring once in my life.” Thompson turned it over to Richardson to reflect on the filly’s pedigree, which certainly warranted discussion: she is the second foal out of the mare, who is herself a three-quarter sister to G1 Cheveley Park S. winner Wannabe Grand (Ire) (Danehill) as well as two other stakes winners and three other stakes producers. “It’s a fantastic pedigree,” Richardson said. “It’s a wonderful family and that’s the sort of pedigree that we’re looking for at the very top end. He’s a phenomenal sire; you don’t get many opportunities to have a daughter of Galileo.” Richardson pointed out that the filly will have decent shoes to fill with the precedent set by a few of Cheveley Park’s other Galileo mares. “We have Criteria, who is a full-sister to Alice Springs who was just touched off in the Ribblesdale and her sister made €2-million last week [at Goffs Orby], and Allegretto, who won the G1 Prix Royal Oak from that wonderful Kirsten Rausing family,” Richardson said. “Let’s hope she’s better than them.” Nine lots later, it was again a daughter of Galileo in the spotlight when MV Magnier went to 900,000gns to add the John Gunther-bred lot 198 to Coolmore’s ranks. The May foal, consigned by Newsells Park, is out of the stakes-winning Wildwood Flower (Langfuhr), who has already proven her worth as a producer as the dam of GI Florida Derby winner Materiality (Afleet Alex) and GII Gazelle S. winner and GI Kentucky Oaks-second My Miss Sophia (Unbridled’s Song). John and Tanya Gunther had enjoyed another good result during the sale’s opening session on Tuesday when their Galileo colt out of Posset (GB) (Oasis Dream {GB}) was bought by Stroud Coleman Bloodstock for 1.1-million gns. Galileo ended the day with three seven-figure fillies sold. Those also included: Lot 276, Clare Castle Stud’s Galileo filly out of the stakes-producing Brooklyn’s Storm bought by Robert Nataf of Horse France. Nataf did not disclose his client, but said the filly would be trained in Chantilly; and Lot 298, Barronstown Stud’s full-sister to its G1 St Leger and G1 Grand Prix de Paris winner Kew Gardens (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) bought by MV Magnier for 1.2-million gns. Another Sales Queen For Newsells… Newsells Park topped the sale on day one with their Galileo colt out of Shastye (Ire) (Danehill), a mare that has become a perennial sales queen for the operation. Newsells has another mare building a good sales ring reputation of her own, however, in Yummy Mummy (GB) (Montjeu {Ire}), whose Dubawi (Ire) colt (lot 202) was scooped up by Stroud Coleman Bloodstock, with Anthony Stroud standing alongside Sheikh Mohammed, for 1.2-million gns. Yummy Mummy’s first yearling offered for sale was a Danehill Dancer (Ire) filly that made 350,000gns from MV Magnier at this sale in 2013, and she went on to be the Guineas and three-time Group 1-winning Legatissimo (Ire). The year of Legatissimo’s Classic exploits, MV Magnier had to go to 750,000gns for the mare’s Redoute’s Choice (Aus) filly later named Smoulder (GB), and Blandford Bloodstock spent 870,000gns on a Shamardal filly out of Yummy Mummy at this sale two years ago. Yummy Mummy produced another Dubawi colt this year and is back in foal to that sire. Le Havre Filly To Gosden… Le Havre (Ire) had just two yearlings catalogued for Book 1—a colt and a filly—and it was the latter who was one of the leading lights of Wednesday’s session at Tattersalls when sold to John Gosden for 850,000gns. Competition was fierce for the half-sister to dual Group 3 winner Home Of The Brave (Ire) (Starspangledbanner {Aus}), a late scratching for The Everest, to be run at Randwick on Saturday for A$13-million. American agent Shawn Dugan was involved in the skirmishes along with the duo of John Camilleri and Hubie de Burgh, the eventual underbidders, but it was Gosden with the greater reserves, standing alongside Tom Goff of Blandford Bloodstock, who signed for the filly. Harry McCalmont’s Norelands Stud consigned lot 266 on behalf of her owner Bob Scarborough, who listened to the bidding via telephone from Australia. “We’re delighted with that. She’s a beautiful filly and was very well-liked. There were four or five individual bidders on her past the half-million mark,” McCalmont said. Adrian Nicoll, who had been on the phone to Scarborough throughout, added, “We bought the mare privately for Bob last year when she was in foal to Frankel and with this filly at foot. Sadly she lost the foal.” The filly’s dam Blissful Beat (GB) (Beat Hollow {GB}), an unraced half-sister to Group 3 winner Suggestive (GB) (Reprimand {GB}), was bought at the Goffs November Mare Sale for €30,000 by Marc-Antoine Berghgracht on behalf of the Drions’ Ecurie du Grand Chene. Her first foal Home Of The Brave was initially trained in Newmarket and was disqualified after winning the G3 Minstrel S. at two after failing a post-race drug test. He went on to claim two Group 3 wins at three and five, the second in Godolphin’s colours, before being exported to Australia at the end of last year. Ammerland Splits Duties… Dietrich von Boetticher, owner of Germany’s Gestut Ammerland and breeder of Lope De Vega (Ire) and Hurricane Run (Ire), is in Newmarket this week and has been involved on both sides of transactions. Ammerland is co-breeder with Newsells Park of the G1 Grand Prix de Saint Cloud winner and recent Arc fourth Waldgeist (GB) (Galileo {Ire}) and Von Boetticher bought out his partner when purchasing his Kingman (GB) half-brother (lot 185) for 600,000gns through agent Crispin de Moubray. Ammerland also bought Merry Fox Stud’s Dubawi (Ire) half-sister to G1 Middle Park S. winner Charming Thought (GB) (Oasis Dream {GB}) (lot 229) for 400,000gns and later sold, through Ronald Rauscher, lot 279, a sister to the G3 Killavullan S. winner Blue De Vega (Ger) (Lope De Vega {Ire}) for 800,000gns. The filly is a great grand-daughter of Von Boetticher’s champion racemare Brittania (Ger) (Tarim {GB}), who later became the dam of his multiple Group 1 winners Borgia (Ger) (Acatenango {Ger}) and Boreal (Ger) (Java Gold). A Kitten For Dugan… Throughout this fortnight Ted Voute is consigning 12 yearlings by America’s champion sire-elect Kitten’s Joy on behalf of the stallion’s owners Ken and Sarah Ramsey. The filly with the most eye-catching pedigree—lot 295, a sister to G1 Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint winner and Lanwades Stud sire Bobby’s Kitten, and also to multiple graded stakes winner Camelot Kitten—became the most expensive Kitten’s Joy yearling to be sold in Europe when the hammer was brought down in favour of Shawn Dugan at 700,000gns. Angus Gold of Shadwell was also in pursuit, as was underbidder Teddy Grimthorpe. “We knew she was the best we had brought here,” said Voute. “It was good to see Juddmonte involved, I actually thought that Shadwell were going to buy her.” The consignor also offered that the Ramseys sent 10 mares to Newmarket to be covered by Bobby’s Kitten, who will have a selection of his first foals for sale this winter. Strike One For WH Bloodstock… Mimi Wadham and Violet Hesketh of WH Bloodstock had a draft of one this week, a Showcasing colt (lot 316) who was their first Book 1 yearling. The son of Crystal Gal (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), offered on behalf of his breeders Victoria and Anthony Pakenham, is certainly not a horse they will forget in a hurry after he sold for 650,000gns to Phoenix Thoroughbreds, who outbid MV Magnier. “We’re over the moon,” said Victoria Pakenham. “Lucy Wadham trained Crystal Gal so we wanted to give him to Mimi and Violet to do, as we hoped it would give them a good opportunity in their first year consigning. They’ve had such good training and have been planning this for ages and, my God, what a great job they’ve done.” Crystal Gal, a grand-daughter of G1 Irish 1,000 Guineas heroine Classic Park (GB), was bought by the Pakenhams for 150,000gns and later won the Listed Dick Hern Fillies’ S. She is two-for-two with her runners to date, both winning fillies by the Pakenhams’ 2006 Derby winner Sir Percy (GB), including the listed-placed Galmarley (GB). The mare has another filly foal by Sir Percy on the ground and is in foal to Muhaarar (GB). “I was almost in tears even before he went in,” said Mimi Wadham, “and then as the price kept going up it was just amazing. We had such faith in him and it was heartening to see so many good people believe in him like we did.” Phoenix Thoroughbreds, who bought four yearlings through the session, returned quickly to secure lot 323 for 500,000gns. Bred by Jimmy Murphy at Redpender Stud, the Dark Angel colt is a brother to G2 Champagne S. winner and young Tara Stud sire Estidhkaar (Ire) and a half-brother to the former champion 2-year-old Toormore (Ire) (Arakan) from the unraced Danetime (Ire) mare Danetime Out (Ire). Many Happy Returns For Lord Derby… All breeding operations are built on dreams and since Peter Stanley purchased A Huge Dream (Ire) for €280,000 in Deauville five years ago, the 9-year-old Refuse To Bend (Ire) mare has largely lived up to her hopeful name, delivering a stakes winner via her first foal Mrs Gallagher (GB) (Oasis Dream {GB}) and now a 750,000gns sales-ring return courtesy of her third foal, a chestnut filly by Starspangledbanner (Aus) (lot 205). Stanley, who owns New England Stud, bought the mare for a partnership which included his brother Lord Derby—breeder of the outstanding Ouija Board (GB) (Cape Cross {Ire}) and her dual Derby-winning son Australia (GB) (Galileo {Ire})—and Chris and Carol Kilroy. “I completely fell in love with the mare in Deauville and she was the only one I bid on,” said Stanley of the half-sister to dual Group 1-winning miler and young stallion Xtension (Ire) (Xaar {GB}). “I bought her because she is so good-looking and she has a great step. She seems to be passing that on to her offspring, which is a help.” It’s not only A Huge Dream’s first daughter who has improved the page since purchase. The mare’s half-sister Beatrix Potter (Ire) (Cadeaux Genereux {GB}) is now the dam of Godolphin’s top-class sprinter Harry Angel (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}) and it is Godolphin who will race his relative after Simon Crisford outbid Teddy Grimthorpe. Stanley added, “William Jarvis did a great job training Mrs Gallagher to be a stakes winner and she is actually returning to the stud even though we don’t own her.” The transaction, which was the highest price paid for a Starspangledbanner yearling in the Northern Hemisphere, brought extra cheer for Lord Derby, who was celebrating his 56th birthday on Wednesday. View the full article

Sam Houston Race Park will kick off its 2019 live racing season on Friday, January 25. The 32-day Thoroughbred meet will continue through Saturday, March 30. View the full article

Discreet Lover, upstart winner of the Sept. 29 Jockey Club Gold Cup Stakes (G1) at Belmont Park, put in his first workout since being placed on the vet's list in the wake of that victory, breezing four furlongs in :48.63 at Parx Racing Oct. 10. View the full article

Before the Hammer is a series presented by Keeneland that spotlights consignors, their stories of success and their featured offerings at the upcoming Keeneland November Breeding Stock Sale from Nov. 5 to 16. John G. Sikura, the president of Hill ‘n’ Dale Sales, is content to be a man of few words regarding his 103-horse consignment at the Keeneland November Breeding Stock Sale. With standouts like in-foal champion Lady Eli (Divine Park), who sells as hip 111, and weanling half-sisters to 2016 Longines World’s Best Racehorse Arrogate (Unbridled’s Song) and 2015 older male Eclipse Award winner Honor Code (A.P. Indy) among Hill ‘n’ Dale’s 19 Book 1 prospects, you can see why Sikura would prefer to let the horses do the talking for him. “Certainly Lady Eli is a classic and unique offering,” Sikura said. “She’s the headliner of our consignment at Keeneland. She’s a household name, a champion, and a mare of immense class.” Lady Eli’s story will always be emotionally compelling considering she started her career 6-for-6 with wins in the 2014 GI Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf and the 2015 GI Belmont Oaks before stepping on a nail and was away from racing for over a year in 2015-16 before regaining top form with three additional Grade I wins in 2016-17. The adversity-overcoming turf distance specialist was never worse than second in her career until a trip-troubled 2017 GI Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Turf, when she was banged around and stepped on from behind while battling into the first turn, contributing to a seventh-place finish in what was to be her lifetime finale. After that race, it was revealed she lost a hind shoe and suffered significant lacerations and puncture wounds to both hind legs. “She’s international in scope and in foal to War Front,’ Sikura said. “He led the September sale in yearling average, and he’s a fantastic, internationally respected sire. Lady Eli is very special, and we’re honored to present her.” Hill ‘n’ Dale traditionally has a strong weanling presence at Keeneland November and 2018 will be no different, with 14 of them placed in Book 1. “We sell a half sister to Arrogate (hip 28),” Sikura said. “She’s sired by Tapit–a supremely unique offering. We also sell a Curlin filly, a half to champion Honor Code-(Hip 188) another unique offering.” Arrogate finished third in his 2016 debut, then the racing world ran out of superlatives trying to describe his upward career arc as he ripped through seven consecutive wins, including a track-record victory in the GI Travers S. followed by sizzling scores in the GI Breeders’ Cup Classic, GI Pegasus World Cup, and GI Dubai World Cup. Honor Code was off the board only once while winning six of 11 lifetime starts, capturing graded races at ages two and four. His Grade I wins were the Metropolitan H. and Whitney S., both in 2015. That same year, a War Front-sired weanling half-brother to Honor Code that Hill ‘n’ Dale consigned to Keeneland November sold for $2.6 million. Overall, Sikura said, “We have a very strong consignment. We sell mares by Galileo. Multiple mares in foal to Curlin. Group 1 quality fillies. A great array of weanlings by War Front, Curlin and others. So I’m very happy about our consignment and I think it’s a special group of horses.” When asked to gauge the temperature of the current marketplace, Sikura said the heat of the economy in general is being reflected in the results of recent auctions. “We’re dealing–at least for the moment–with a North American economy that’s very robust,” Sikura said. “The tax changes have been very beneficial to our industry. I think that’s helping to drive money into the marketplace, and because of depreciation and tax advantages, it can’t be overstated how significant those law changes have been. When you’re in a speculative, high-risk business and essentially you’re protected with tax law changes that enable you to write off expenses and losses, it makes the venture [less risky], and that’s something that everybody is looking to do.” Sikura continued: “The September sale was up double digits. Buyers have a high threshold of scrutiny for the physical horse. Does the horse vet? Does it meet all of the checklists? And if they do, there’s plenty of money-more money in this market here than there has been in several of the past [years]. Sikura summed up: “Multiple buyers target a few horses, and if you’re fortunate enough to have one of those, you’re rewarded. We feel that we have several of those kinds of individuals this year-by the right sire, out of the right mare, and they look the part and meet that very stringent marketplace criteria.” View the full article