Wandering Eyes

A month is a very long time in horse racing and that was roughly what it took for Too Darn Hot (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) to move from the central brain of the sport’s followers after he was sidetracked from the G1 2000 Guineas. Now that Magna Grecia (Ire) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}), who was widely held as the inferior of the two in 2018 despite his meritorious achievements, has inherited his space it is up to the colt who is the product of the Lloyd-Webbers’ perfect breeding storm to carry out some dethroning. That has to happen on the merciless open plain of The Curragh which has served Ballydoyle so well down the years, almost the “home soil” of the Co. Tipperary outfit so often do they occupy the prime positions in the contests that matter. John Gosden seems to grow in stature with each passing week in a Newmarket now absent of the charisma of its late king, Sir Henry Cecil. Almost the Warren Place of the heyday 1980s, Clarehaven Stables is a rival of Ballydoyle as much as that yard was in the days of Dr Vincent O’Brien and last season Too Darn Hot looked one who could take it to another dimension. His defeat in York’s G2 Dante S. appears down to a combination of lack of peak fitness at a trip that is his maximum against a colt in Telecaster (GB) (New Approach {Ire}) who is certain to take high rank this term, so in many ways the homebred’s aura is undiminished. Therefore it is not without an element of risk that Gosden pitches the ‘TDN Rising Star’ into the G1 Tattersalls Irish 2000 Guineas nine days later, but those who study the trainer’s customary methodology know that no gamble is taken lightly. “I’m in complete trepidation about the whole idea of running there, but it was my idea,” he said. “I think we are being very sporting. You could easily just wrap him up in cotton wool and go to Ascot, but he’s a racehorse just full of joy and energy who wants to race, so we’ll let him and if he bounces, I’ll take the blame. “It’s not a normal way you approach a Classic, by running over an extended mile and a quarter, finishing second, having done nothing since the previous October but I don’t have time on my side,” Gosden continued. “He was giving me the signals to run and I wouldn’t have done so if he was giving me any others. It’s a Classic, it’s a lovely track and I think the mile at The Curragh will suit him. I wasn’t disappointed after York–I got there in a hurry and paid the price, but I didn’t want to be cowardly and just back off.” Gosden also revealed that the prospect of winning a Classic was also a prompting factor. “I suppose that is probably part of it, too–that it is the last chance to get a Classic, because through no fault of his own he couldn’t run in the English one so we will have a go at this one. Let’s hope I’m not asking him too difficult a question. It looks a very smart Irish 2000 Guineas, but we are looking forward to running in it. I just hope we get a clean race and may the best horse win.” There was no Too Darn Hot equivalent in attendance when the likes of Rock of Gibraltar (Ire), Gleneagles (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) and Churchill (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) doubled up here for Aidan O’Brien after Newmarket. It may be that Magna Grecia will have to be in the Henrythenavigator mold to see off the Gosden runner, as that former top miler did to the high-class New Approach (Ire) in 2008. At present, with some solid but unspectacular juvenile form behind him and a Guineas triumph gained under some controversy due to talk of pace and draw bias, he still has a point to prove in this company. While it could be argued he effectively beat only two rivals in an unusual renewal of the Newmarket Classic three weeks ago, one of which set off too fast and burned out, the general feeling is that he is still an improving colt. “He seems to be in good form since Newmarket,” O’Brien said. “He handles the ground–it was fast in Newmarket. It’s a good, competitive race.” That may also apply to Abdulla Al Khalifa’s homebred Skardu (GB) (Shamardal), who finished best of the group racing up the centre when third in the Guineas having won the course-and-distance G3 Craven S. on Apr. 17. To all intents and purposes, the William Haggas trainee is still of a mind that he has yet to be beaten in a fair race and he is dangerously unexposed. “It is a rematch and a lot has been made of the Guineas at Newmarket, but I still think that the best horse won on the day there,” Haggas said. “I do believe that Magna Grecia was in an advantageous part of the track, but I do think he would have won wherever he’d have been that day. Skardu is in very good form and now I just hope he takes the journey well and the ground stays dry. We had good days at The Curragh last year and it would be nice to continue this season.” Runner-up to Too Darn Hot in the G2 Champagne S. and to Magna Grecia in the G1 Vertem Futurity Trophy at Doncaster, Tony Wechsler and Ann Plummer’s Phoenix of Spain (Ire) (Lope de Vega {Ire}) faces the unenviable task of re-engaging without a prep and this may be more of a case of getting him back underway than meeting elevated expectations. “We feel that The Curragh is going to suit him very much and the trip will suit him,” trainer Charlie Hills commented. “I think he has got a very good each-way chance in the race. His form looks rock solid and that is always encouraging to see.” Other domestically-trained hopes on the fringes include Paddy Twomey’s Decrypt (GB), who took a seven-furlong conditions race at Cork on Apr. 20, and His Highness The Aga Khan’s unbeaten Shelir (Ire), who captured the Listed Tetrarch S. also over seven here on May 6. Both by Dark Angel (Ire), they are part of that remarkable sire’s new generation of horses bred to get further than sprint distances. Twomey said of the former, “Decrypt beat some smart winners at Cork last month. He travelled through the race well and quickened away and did it within himself. It was a nice comeback for him and the logical next step for him is up in class.” It is notable that Dermot Weld is happy to chance Shelir despite his inexperience and said, “He is a straightforward colt; he is a good-actioned horse,” he explained. “He has had no hold-ups, so we are all set and looking forward to running him in the Guineas at the weekend.” Friday’s draw for Sunday’s G1 Tattersalls Irish 1000 Guineas saw the other double-seeker Hermosa (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) in stall two with Ryan Moore booked, having deserted his ride in the Newmarket Classic, Just Wonderful (Dansili {GB}). Just nine fillies line up, but it is an intriguing cast including the G1 Poule d’Essai des Pouliches third East (Ire) (Frankel {GB}) and the G1 Prix Morny heroine Pretty Pollyanna (GB) (Oasis Dream {GB}). Away from the Classic action on a busy Saturday, Haydock hosts the G2 Sandy Lane and G2 Temple S. which have become as much Royal Ascot sprint trials as leading races in their own right. In the former, ‘TDN Rising Star’ Calyx (GB) (Kingman {GB}) warms up for a G1 Commonwealth Cup bid with just three rivals prepared to take aim. Juddmonte’s star of an incredible crop by their sire in the ascendant only has to reproduce his G2 Coventry S. and G3 Pavilion S. efforts to comfortably account for Jaber Abdullah’s G2 Criterium de Maisons-Laffitte scorer Hello Youmzain (Fr) (Kodiac {GB}), who reverts to sprinting after finishing fourth in the G3 Greenham S. over seven furlongs on Apr. 13. John Gosden has a big day on Saturday and said of Calyx, “We always wanted to go there. It is an awful long time from the Pavilion to the Commonwealth. It is nicely set in the programme. He is in good form and I hope the ground is not too fast for him. He needs to race–he has only run three times in his whole career, so the more experience of racing he gets, the better.” In the Temple, last year’s winner Battaash (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}) squares up to the penalised G1 Prix de l’Abbaye heroine Mabs Cross (GB) (Dutch Art {GB}) and Kachy (GB) (Kyllachy {GB}) who seems to be still progressing. Life is never dull with the mercurial Battaash around and trainer Charlie Hills believes Shadwell’s 5-year-old to be in a good place at present. “He seems a happy horse,” he said after reporting that the 2017 Abbaye winner had undergone minor wind surgery. “It looks like there will be some pace on and we like to be up there as well.” Mabs Cross has already defied an extra burden in Newmarket’s G3 Palace House S. on May 4 and trainer Michael Dods is happy to raise the bar with her again. “The penalty makes life difficult, giving weight to the likes of Battaash, but she’s well,” he commented. “It’s a small field and it looks like they’ll go pretty quick with Battaash, Kachy and Caspian Prince too.” Sprinters also get their turn at The Curragh on Saturday, with the G2 Weatherbys Ireland Greenlands S. featuring the improving Urban Beat (Ire) (Red Jazz) who beat the subsequent listed winner Soffia (GB) (Kyllachy {GB}) in the Listed Woodlands S. at Naas on Apr. 29. The card also has the G2 Lanwades Stud S. in which Lael Stable’s G1 Prix de la Foret heroine One Master (GB) (Fastnet Rock {Aus}) tries to give three pounds away, including to last year’s G1 Queen Elizabeth II S. runner-up I Can Fly (GB) (Fastnet Rock {Aus}). William Haggas said of One Master, “She is a lovely filly. I was going to run her in the Lockinge, but then had a change of heart and thought I’d race against fillies. She’s in good form, I just hope she’s not too fresh.” York stages a fascinating staying contest for fillies and mares, with the G3 Bronte Cup contested by a potential improver in that category in Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum’s Listed Daisy Warwick Fillies’ S. winner Enbihaar (Ire) (Redoute’s Choice {Aus}), while at Goodwood Khalid Abdullah’s son of Heat Haze (GB) (Green Desert), Mirage Dancer (GB) (Frankel {GB}), bids for back-to-back renewals of the Listed Tapster S. Also successful in the G3 Glorious S. here in August, he was last in the G1 Hong Kong Vase but at five could be the latest Sir Michael Stoute performer to fully bloom. “It is great to see him back, as he had a pretty horrible time in Hong Kong what with the trip and everything,” racing manager Teddy Grimthorpe said. “He just got back and had a temperature. He took a while to get right and needed a good break, so they have done tremendously well to bring him back. This was the race he won last year, so that sets quite a nice precedent. I think the main thing is we are looking for him to get back on track and have a nice run. It is somewhere he knows and it is a track he handles, so that is always a good starting point.” Shadwell’s ‘TDN Rising Star’ Elarqam (GB) (Frankel {GB}) is also in action on the Sussex Downs attempting to claw his way back to where the Mark Johnston stable always thought he would be. The son of Attraction (GB) (Efisio {GB}) appears in the Listed Festival S. against Thundering Blue (Exchange Rate), who beat him into third in the G2 York S. in August. “He has been very frustrating, but his problems have been well documented,” Shadwell’s racing manager Angus Gold said of Elarqam. “He has always looked a rather heavy sort of horse, but I saw him last week and for the first time in a very long time I thought he looked much better. He looked a more athletic horse and I think a mile and a quarter is the way to go with him. I’m not sure he wants fast ground down a hill, so that would be my only caveat, but he is in good shape and we need to get on with him.” The post Take Too For Juvenile Champion appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Freshman sire Cappella Sansevero (GB) (Showcasing {GB}) had yet to hit the target with any of his 60-strong initial crop, but the Bridge House Stud resident got off the mark in sensational style when Sheikh Mohammed Obaid Al Maktoum’s 140,000gns Tattersalls’ October Book 1 purchase Pierre Lapin (Ire) bounded to ‘TDN Rising Stardom’ in Friday’s British Stallion Studs EBF Novice S. at Haydock. The even-money pick was steadied within range of the front rank and overcame an awkward moment crossing an early path in this debut. Making notable headway under cover once past halfway, he was squeezed for room approaching the quarter-mile marker and stamped his authority on the six-furlong contest once quickening to the fore with 150 yards remaining, powering clear unhindered in the closing stages to outclass Visible Charm (Ire) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}) by a hugely impressive 3 1/2 lengths. Pierre Lapin becomes the third scorer for Beatrix Potter (Ire) (Cadeaux Genereux {GB}) and the bay is kin to G1 July Cup and G1 Sprint Cup hero Harry Angel (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}) and a yearling filly by Dark Angel (Ire). Beatrix Potter is out of the stakes-placed Great Joy (Ire) (Grand Lodge) and thus a half to dual G1 Champions Mile-winning sire Xtension (Ire) (Xaar {GB}) and Listed Prix de Bonneval second A Huge Dream (Ire) (Refuse To Bend {Ire}), who in turn produced last term’s Listed Lansdown Fillies’ S. and Listed Polonia S. victress Mrs Gallagher (GB) (Oasis Dream {GB}). Beatrix Potter shares her unraced second dam Cheese Soup (Spectacular Bid) with G1 National S. runner-up and stakes-winning sire Wathab (Ire) (Cadeaux Genereux {GB}). 2nd-Haydock, £10,000, Cond, 5-24, 2yo, 6fT, 1:14.01, g/f. PIERRE LAPIN (IRE), c, 2, by Cappella Sansevero (GB) 1st Dam: Beatrix Potter (Ire), by Cadeaux Genereux (GB) 2nd Dam: Great Joy (Ire), by Grand Lodge 3rd Dam: Cheese Soup, by Spectacular Bid 1ST-TIME STARTER. Lifetime Record: 1-1-0-0, $8,188. O-Sheikh Mohammed Obaid Al Maktoum; B-CBS Bloodstock (IRE); T-Roger Varian. Click for the Racing Post result or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. Video, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton. The post Cappella Sansevero’s First Winner a Rising Star at Haydock appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

The top three finishers from the Apr. 14 G1 Satsuki Sho (Japanese 2000 Guineas) return to do battle in Sunday’s G1 Tokyo Yushun (Japanese Derby), and while the winner of that first colts’ Classic, Saturnalia (Jpn) (Lord Kanaloa {Jpn}) is an ominous favourite touting an unbeaten record, he is far from a lock. The dark bay scaped home by just a head at Nakayama while hanging slightly in the closing stages, and appears to have scared off no one with a full field lining up here. The Satsuki Sho was, however, Saturnalia’s first start since winning the G1 Hopeful S. in December over the same trip, and his pedigree suggests the added two furlongs should suit: he is out of the G1 Yushun Himba (Japanese Oaks) winner Cesario (Jpn) (Special Week {Jpn}), who has already produced the G1 Japan Cup and G1 Kikuka Sho (Japanese St Leger) winner Epiphaneia (Jpn) (Symboli Kris S). Assistant trainer Yasuyuki Tsujino said, “He did lean a bit in the closing stages last time, but there are still things to work on with him. It’s no easy thing to win a Classic race, but he showed he has the ability and power to do so.” The Satsuki Sho runner-up Velox (Jpn) (Just a Way {Jpn}) made an excellent account of himself while jumping into Group 1 company for the first time, and being out of a Monsun (Ger) mare should help ensure he enjoys the added distance. His trainer Mitsumasa Nakauchida has won the Derby four times, including last year with Wagnerian (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}). “He ran a strong race last time and was slightly hampered on the run to the line,” said assistant trainer Teruhiko Saruhashi. “Since his last run, he’s been at the stable, and we’ve been able to work him strongly, so I think he’s going to come on for this.” The Satsuki Sho third Danon Kingly (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) lost his unbeaten record last time, but he was not disgraced being a head and a nose behind Saturnalia and Velox, and he returns to the course over which he has two wins, including the G3 Kyodo News Hai on Feb. 10. Lion Lion (Jpn) (Rulership {Jpn}) bypassed the Satsuki Sho and took the route of a Derby prep into this, the G2 Tokyo Hai Aoba Sho, which he won on Apr. 27 over the Derby course and distance. The post Classic Rematch in Tokyo Yushun appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

The American bloodstock business is today mourning the loss overnight of James ‘J.J.’ Crupi, one of its most accomplished and colorful figures. He was 79. Though Crupi had suffered problems with his health for some time, he remained treasured for his indomitable and ebullient character, as well as his exceptional horsemanship. In his first career, that had qualified him for multiple training titles at Monmouth Park, and since opening Crupi’s New Castle training center outside Ocala in 1995 he had educated a series of Grade I winners, including Kentucky Derby winner Always Dreaming (Bodemeister). Crupi was able to continue in his work to the end, having attended the Fasig-Tipton Mid-Atlantic 2-Year-Old Sale this week before being admitted to hospital. Tom Ventura, OBS president, said: “J.J. was one of a kind and they certainly broke the mould when he was born. He always made things entertaining, and treated everybody the same—whether it was the grooms in his consignment or the wealthiest of people he dealt with.” This story will continue to be updated throughout the day. The post J.J. Crupi Dies appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Only one other trainer – Dermot Weld – has the distinction of saddling Cheltenham Festival winners having also conquered the Melbourne Cup and Irish Derby on the Flat but, Joseph O’Brien can boast all that and more. Less than a year after Rekindling became only the third Irish-trained winner of the race that stops a nation, Latrobe […] The post Joseph O’Brien Stable Tour appeared first on RaceBets Blog EN. View the full article

I was at Goffs during the week where we sold three horses, most notably Liva who’s now joined Barry Keniry where he will probably mix it on the flat and over hurdles. Its All A Lark is heading to the breeding shed and it’ll be nice to see Thyne For Gold go point to pointing. […] The post Donald McCain Blog – Weekend Runners appeared first on RaceBets Blog EN. View the full article

Shortly after War of Will’s victory in the Preakness Stakes, NBC footage made rounds on social media showing the 3-year-old walking back to the stable area extending a hind leg. Mark Casse dispelled concerns by explaining the colt has stringhalt. View the full article

Ahead of the Classics, we examine the pedigree and sales history of each contender. In Saturday’s G1 Irish 2000 Guineas, there is a variety of multi-generation homebreds, successful pinhooks and bargain auction buys. DECRYPT (GB) (Dark Angel {Ire}-She’s A Worldie {Ire}, by Kodiac {GB}) Decrypt was a £55,000 Doncaster yearling last August, bought by Town Moor Racing from the West Moor Stud draft. He was scratched from the Tattersalls Craven sale and made his debut five weeks later. He has accumulated two wins and a second from three starts. O/T-P Twomey. B-Equine Origin Ltd. EMARAATY ANA (GB) (Shamardal-Spirit of Dubai {Ire}, by Cape Cross {Ire}) Bred by Rabbah Bloodstock and now campaigned by Sheikh Mohammed’s cousin Sheikh Mohammed Obaid, Emaraaty Ana is out of the listed-winning Spirit of Dubai, who was bought by Rabbah for 85,000gns out of Book 1 in 2007 and was campaigned by Ahmad Al Shaikh. O-Sheikh Mohammed Obaid Al Maktoum. B-Rabbah Bloodstock Limited. T-Kevin Ryan. GLOBE THEATRE (War Front-Was {Ire}, by Galileo {Ire}) One of five in here for his stable, Globe Theatre is a homebred for Coolmore connections. He is the second foal out of the stable’s 2012 G1 Investec Oaks victress Was, who has thus far been exclusively mated with War Front. A maiden from three starts, Globe Theatre is a great grandson of the G1 Champion S. winner Park Express (Ire) (Ahonoora {GB}), and thus from the family of New Approach (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), who was second in the Irish Guineas and won five Group 1s including the G1 Investec Derby. O-Mrs Magnier/Tabor/Smith/Flaxman Stables. B-Orpendale, Chelston & Wynatt. T-A P O’Brien. GUARANTEED (IRE) (Teofilo {Ire}-Gearanai, by Toccet) A homebred for Jim and Jackie Bolger, Guaranteed is out of Gearanai (Toccet), a $40,000 yearling purchase from the 2008 Keeneland January Sale. Gearanai is a granddaughter of the great Phipps mare Dispute, who claims the GI Kentucky Oaks among her four Grade I wins. O-Mrs J S Bolger & Rectory Road Holdings Limited. B/T-J S Bolger. HILLWALKER (GB) (Foxwedge {Aus}-Dance A Daydream {GB}, by Daylami {Ire}) Hillwalker makes his first appearance since breaking his maiden at second asking last June, and as a €3,000 Goffs November Foal a victory here would be a true rags to riches story. He was bought by KSM Bloodstock on that occasion from Olive O’Connor, and was later a €5,000 vendor buyback from the Sherbourne Lodge consignment at the Goffs Sportsmans sale. O-Dream Big Syndicate. B-Miss Sara Furnival. T-Thomas Cleary. I AM SUPERMAN (IRE) (Footstepsinthesand {GB}-Fastnet Lady {Ire}, by Fastnet Rock {Aus}) Danesrath Stables picked up I Am Superman for €20,000 at the Goffs November Foal Sale from Skara Stud and the chestnut proved a decent pinhook, bringing €49,000 from trainer Michael O’Callaghan at the Tattersalls Ireland September Yearling Sale. O/T-Michael O’Callaghan. B-Michael Smith. MAGNA GRECIA (IRE) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}-Cabaret {Ire}, by Galileo {Ire}) The G1 Qipco 2000 Guineas winner Magna Grecia is out of the G3 Silver Flash S. winner Cabaret. He was a 340,000gns Tattersalls December Foal from the Norelands Stud draft. O-D Smith & Mrs J Magnier & M Tabor & Flaxman Stables Ireland. B-Woodnook Farm Pty Ltd. T-A P O’Brien. MOHAWK (IRE) (Galileo {Ire}-Empowering {Ire}, by Encosta de Lago {Aus}) Last year’s G2 Royal Lodge S. winner Mohawk is out of the G3 Leopardstown One Thousand Guineas Trial winner Empowering, who is herself a daughter of the Listed Prix Imprudence winner and G1 Prix Marcel Boussac third Blue Cloud (Ire) (Nashwan). More miling prowess is evident further down the page, with the G1 Queen Elizabeth II S., G1 Sussex S., G1 Prix d’Ispahan and G1 Prix de la Foret winner Bigstone (Ire) (Last Tycoon {Ire}) appearing under the third dam. O-Derrick Smith & Mrs John Magnier & Michael Tabor. B-Whisperview Trading Ltd. T-A P O’Brien. OLD GLORY (IRE) (Frankel {GB}-Belesta {GB}, by Xaar {GB}) Old Glory was the top lot at the 2017 Goffs Orby yearling sale when fetching €1.6-million from Justin Casse for Zayat Stables of American Pharoah fame. The bay was a ‘TDN Rising Star’ on debut last September but looks for a first win since in his first outing since a third in the G3 Killavullan S. in October. Old Glory’s second dam is Bellarida (Fr) (Bellypha {Ire}), whose stock only continues to rise thanks to her G3 Prix de Flore-winning daughter In Clover (GB) (Inchinor {GB}), dam of five stakes winners-including Group 1 winners With You (GB) (Dansili {GB}), We Are (GB) (Dansili {GB}) and Call The Wind (GB) (Frankel {GB})-for George Strawbridge. O-Zayat Stables LLC, Mrs Magnier, M Tabor & D Smith. B-Rockhart Trading Ltd. T-A P O’Brien. PHOENIX OF SPAIN (IRE) (Lope de Vega {Ire}-Lucky Clio {Ire}, by Key of Luck) Last year’s G3 Acomb S. winner Phoenix Of Spain was scooped up by Good Will Bloodstock for 78,000gns as a Tattersalls December Foal and, in the same ring the following October for Book 1, he made 220,000gns when bought by Howson and Houldsworth Bloodstock from the Kilminfoyle House Stud draft. O-Tony Wechsler & Ann Plummer. B-Mrs Cherry Faeste. T-Charles Hills. SHELIR (IRE) (Dark Angel {Ire}-Shelina {Ire}, by Dalakhani {Ire}) Unbeaten in two starts this year for The Aga Khan, Shelir is a grandson of the G1 Prix de Diane winner Shemaka (Ire) (Nishapour {Fr}), and it is also the immediate family of the G1 Grand Prix de Paris winner Shakeel (Fr) (Dalakhani {Ire}). O-H H Aga Khan. B-H H The Aga Khan’s Studs Sc. T-DK Weld. SKARDU (GB) (Shamardal-Diala {Ire}, by Iffraaj {GB}) Another homebred lining up here, Skardu is the first black-type winner under his first three dams but the fourth dam is the multiple French group winner and G1 Moyglare Stud S. and G1 Prix de l’Abbaye-placed Spain Lane (Seeking the Gold), a half-sister to the Grade I-winning sire Marquetry. O-Abdulla Al Khalifa. B-Sheikh Abdulla Bin Isa Al-Khalifa.T-William Haggas. TOO DARN HOT (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}-Dar Re Mi {GB}, by Singspiel {Ire}) Much has been made of Too Darn Hot’s lofty lineage since he stepped out in a debut ‘TDN Rising Star’ performance last August. A son of triple Group 1 winner Dar Re Mi (and a grandson of G1 Prix Vermeille winner Darara), Too Darn Hot is a homebred full-brother to stakes winners Lah Ti Dar (GB) and So Mi Dar (GB), and his 2-year-old full-brother will be one of the most anticipated juveniles of the year, having topped Book 1 last year with a bid of 3.5-million guineas from David Redvers. O-Lord Lloyd-Webber. B-Watership Down Stud. T-John Gosden. VAN BEETHOVEN (Scat Daddy-My Sister Sandy, by Montbrook) Scratched from the 2017 Keeneland September yearling sale, Van Beethoven was acquired privately by the Coolmore partners. The seasoned Canadian-bred, who goes to post for the 12th time on Saturday, is out of My Sister Sandy, a full-sister to the dam of triple Grade I winner Stopchargingmaria (Tale of the Cat). O-Derrick Smith & Mrs John Magnier & Michael Tabor. B-Ballycroy Training Centre. T-A P O’Brien. 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

It’s a bumper weekend of action on both sides of the Irish Sea, with the Irish 2000 Guineas taking centre stage at the Curragh on Saturday. The ITV racing team are bringing us racing from Haydock, York, Goodwood and the Guineas from the Curragh in an action-packed day. The speedsters are out in force in […] The post Saturday Preview – Can Grecia Land The Guineas Double? appeared first on RaceBets Blog EN. View the full article

Tony Millard finished second in the Kranji Mile last year and knows he has a superior animal this time around, but he needs things to go his way if he’s going to taste success in the S$1.5 million (HK$7.5 million) feature.The honest Horse Of Fortune did well to finish three lengths behind fellow Hong Kong contestant Southern Legend in 2018 and there’s no doubt Singapore Sling is a class above – the former was a dual Group Three winner while the latter took out the 2018 Classic Cup and was… View the full article

Dual stakes-winning mare Kiwi Ida showed her class at Wingatui on Friday when effortlessly taking out the All New Mazda 3 – 1st June (1400m). Under a cool ride by jockey Rahul Beeharry, the John and Karen Parsons-trained four-year-old settled towards the rear of the field where she remained for the majority of the race. Beeharry improved his charge coming around the home turn and the daughter of Squamosa was too good for her rivals, running away to a 2-1/2 length victory over Nowhere Man, with... View the full article

Rave reviews and full fields have been music to the ears of Bryce Mildon, the track manager at Pukekohe Park. The track has been plagued by major drainage issues over the last 15 years and was unable to host its flagship Counties Cup meeting from 2004 to 2007 and again in 2014 and 2015. In less than four years’ time, the transformation has been remarkable. Pukekohe has been widely praised this season for the condition and fairness of its track, and field sizes at recent meetings speak for them... View the full article

He’s an underdog who earned a following taking on the mighty Almond Eye and Happy Grin races in Sunday’s Group One Standard Chartered Champions & Chater Cup (2,400m) on the back of the generosity of his fans.The Junji Tanaka-trained four-year-old finished seventh behind Almond Eye in last year’s Japan Cup but still needed the help of the racing public to make it to Hong Kong, with his loyal supporter base banding together to raise 2 million yen (HK$143,000).“This is not a 100 per cent… View the full article

Anna Miles and Michael Simpson are not afraid to go against the status quo to get results. The husband and wife team set up Pear Tree Farm in Waimate 14 years ago and made the trip north with a homebred weanling for the New Zealand Bloodstock May Sale held at Karaka last week. “It is the first time we have taken a horse up to that sale,” Miles said. “We were told we were the first South Islanders to take a weanling up there, usually the South Islanders go up to pinhook so we did things a b... View the full article

The $150,000 Salvator Mile Stakes (G3) could turn out to be a family affair as the May 25 stakes at Monmouth Park features horses from brothers Jason and John Servis who figure to attract much of the wagering attention in the field of nine. View the full article

New Plymouth trainer Allan Sharrock could be in for a big day at Trentham on Saturday. The Taranaki horseman will take four horses south to the Wellington track and he believes his quartet of runners are all winning chances. Group performing mare Art Deco will kick off proceedings in the Roaring Lion North Island Challenge Stakes (1400m) and Sharrock is hoping his mare can turn the tables on Comeback. The daughter of Road to Rock finished runner-up to the Team Rogerson-trained gelding earlier th... View the full article

Tony Pike and his horses are revelling in the Queensland sun this winter. The Cambridge trainer has already sent out three winners from a select team he has brought to the Sunshine State, including The Bostonian, who was a surprise winner of the Gr.1 Doomben 10,000 (1200m). Pike subsequently intended to give The Bostonian four weeks’ between runs and target the Gr.1 Stradbroke Handicap (1400m) fresh. But a sparkling gallop on Tuesday has seen those plans change and the son of Jimmy Choux will ... View the full article

Brown has four-year-old foursome battle-ready View the full article

Purton hopeful on Legend, more confident on Cruiser View the full article

Pimlico Race Course will once again serve as host for the annual Canter for the Cause, sponsored by the Maryland Jockey Club and The Equiery, to benefit the Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance Sunday, June 2. In Canter for the Cause, participants have the opportunity to walk, jog, canter or trot their horses over the Pimlico main track. Canter for the Cause runs from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. with a cost of $50 per trip. For more information, click here. The post Canter for the Cause Returns to Pimlico June 2 appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

The Grech & Parkin dispersal added more than a sprinkle of stardust to the final day of the Goff UK Spring HIT/P2P Sale accounting for seven of the top 10 lots and a new record price for a National Hunt horse in training of £620,000. That sum, which was also the highest ever for a horse at Doncaster, was paid for the 5-year-old winning point-to-pointer Interconnected (Fr) (Network (Ger}) (lot 716), who will race for Darren Yates from the stable of Philip Kirby. “It’s a historic day for the sales at Doncaster,” said Goffs Group Chief Executive Henry Beeby. “The company has been going since 1962 and I’ve been working here since 1978 as a bid-spotter. I’ve seen some big days, some wonderful days, but that was just extraordinary.” Darren Yates was in the news earlier this spring at the Goffs Aintree Sale when buying Grade 1-winning chaser Don Poli (Ire) (Poliglote {GB}) for £170,000 on the eve of the Grand National, but this was a big leap in commitment to the jump racing ranks in a week in which treble Grand National-winning owner Michael O’Leary of Gigginstown House Stud announced his intention to wind down his operation over the coming years, and, indeed, when another major partnership, Grech & Parkin, is bowing out for the time being. Yates said, “I’m very happy with the horse. I didn’t expect him to make that, but he’s the one we really wanted. For me he’s got Gold Cup written all over him.” From the same dispersal, David Minton of Highflyer Bloodstock went to £235,000 to secure the top-priced mare of the sale, lot 709, Lust For Glory (Ire) (Getaway {Ger}). The 6-year-old has won two bumpers and two hurdle races for Nicky Henderson. Henry de Bromhead’s string of young National Hunt mares includes the exciting Honeysuckle (GB) (Sulamani {Ire}) and Sinoria (Ire) (Oscar {Ire}) and the Irish trainer will also take charge of recent listed mares’ chase winner Kupatana (Ire) (Westerner {GB}) after Peter Molony of Rathmore Stud bought lot 708 for £210,000. At the conclusion of the two-day horses-in-training sale, which followed a day of stores, the team at Goffs UK was delighted with a strong set of results. Goffs UK Managing Director Tony Williams said, “Today has been an historic day for Goffs UK and it’s wonderful we have been able to achieve our highest price in the company’s history, and the highest-ever price for a National Hunt horse at public auction. “Yesterday’s point-to-point session was a great success and continued what has been a fantastic year for Goffs NH sales. We are in debt to our vendors, and in particular Mike Grech and Stuart Parkin, who have supported us with some outstanding horses which has led to the sale grounds being among the busiest they have ever been for the last three days. “We would like to wish our buyers all the very best with their stores, pointers and horses-in-training. We have a lot to look forward to as these horses hit the track and, of course, the Doncaster August Sale which will offer the remaining 10 horses in the Grech & Parkin Dispersal.” At the fall of hammer for the two-day sale, 85% of the horses in training offered sold for an average of £22,700 (+13%) and median of £10,000 (-17%). The aggregate was boosted by 45% to £9,143,400. The post Record-Breaking Day at Goffs UK appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Following the Lasix dosage reduction protocol that was approved for Santa Anita Park in March, the California Horse Racing Board (CHRB) on Thursday voted to approve similar agreements to allow racing secretaries at four other tracks to also establish conditions that will lower the allowable maximum race-day dosage of the drug from 500 mg to 250 mg. Los Alamitos Race Course, the Del Mar Thoroughbred Club (DMTC), the California Exposition and State Fair, and the Alameda County Fair all petitioned for that change to take effect for their upcoming race meets. In order to make that change happen, the Thoroughbred Owners of California (TOC) entered into Lasix-reduction agreements with all four of those venues to satisfy the required horsemen’s group approval as per CHRB Rule 1581, and the California Authority of Racing Fairs similarly gave its permission for the two fairs venues. “This is substantially the same agreement that we reached with the Stronach Group…with one exception: that this does not address, for now, post-2019 Lasix [usage]. This is for this particular race meet agreement, and we support it,” said Greg Avioli, president and chief executive officer for the TOC, when speaking during the agenda item pertaining to Los Alamitos. “Our medication reforms are going to match exactly what’s currently in place at Santa Anita,” said Tom Robbins, DMTC’s executive vice president for racing and industry relations. Each of the four Lasix-related measures passed by unanimous voice vote. Del Mar’s summer meet dates request also gained CHRB approval on Thursday, and track executives outlined several items of interest to horsemen. “Regarding training, as we started a couple of years ago, we’re going to continue with ‘workers only’ for the first 10 minutes after the first two renovation breaks. We’re also going to continue with our program of keeping our numbers down to a manageable number of horses stabled at Del Mar,” said Robbins. “For the first time ever, on [GI] Pacific Classic Day, we’re going to offer five stakes races,” said David Jerkens, the DMTC racing secretary, adding that “we’re happy to report a purse increase across the board at all levels for the upcoming summer meet.” Although the actionable agenda items unfolded swiftly and with little drama, just like at the previous CHRB meeting in April, the earlier public commentary part of the meeting was once again dominated by anti-racing activists who spoke out against the sport and/or called for an outright ban on horse racing. On several occasions during 72 sometimes-volatile minutes of public comments, Winner had to impose order upon anti-racing speakers by asking them to refrain from personal attacks on individual CHRB commissioners. Winner also had to verbally warn jockey Norberto Arroyo Jr. after the journeyman California rider used a portion of his allotted three minutes of commentary to make disparaging remarks about women, including one sexism-charged statement likening the anti-racing protesters to female Thoroughbreds that he rides in races. “Fillies, they liked to be loved, they like to be talked to very sweet. I’m sure you like that, right you women?” Arroyo asked sarcastically, drawing audible gasps from the audience. “Because all I see here is a bunch of single women criticizing what we do here.” Later in the meeting, just prior to adjournment, Winner announced there would be a policy change for future CHRB meetings aimed at keeping public commentary more concise and civil. “Going forward, the public comment period will be held as the last item on the agenda [instead of the fourth], and the reason is so that people can have the opportunity to hear what has happened during the course of the meeting, so that when they make their public comments they can tale that into consideration,” Winner said. “This is what’s done at most legislative hearings and other boards, and we think it’s appropriate to do it here.” The post CHRB Extends Lasix Reduction to Other Tracks appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Catalina Cruiser (Union Rags), off since a disappointing sixth-place finish as the 4-5 favorite in the GI Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile at Churchill Downs, is slated to make his 5-year-old debut in the GII True North S. June 7 as part of the GI Belmont S. Racing Festival. Owned by Hronis Racing and trained by John Sadler, Catalina Cruiser won his first four career starts in ultra-impressive fashion, including the GII Pat O’Brien S. last summer at Del Mar. “He’s coming back really well,” Sadler said. “There’s nothing for him at Santa Anita that fits in the schedule and he had a great work last week. He’s probably one of the best looking horses in training right now, so hopefully we go over there and make a good showing.” The post Catalina Cruiser to Return in True North appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Ellis Park will offer the highest purses in the track’s 97-year history at its 2019 summer race meet, including a record nine stakes that could be worth at least $100,000 each. Purse money and supplements for Kentucky-bred horses are projected to average $330,000 a day at the 29-date meet that runs June 30 through Labor Day. With the KTDF bump, the GIII Groupie Doll S. for fillies and mares Aug. 11 will be worth $125,000. Five turf stakes will be held Aug. 4 on the second annual Kentucky Downs Preview Day, largely funded with purse money transferred from Kentucky Downs to Ellis Park in an agreement with the Kentucky division of the Horsemen’s Benevolent and Protective Association. “We have made purse increases across the board, including our maiden races going up from $42,000 to $50,000 for Kentucky-breds, which are the vast majority of our horses,” said racing secretary Dan Bork. “We understand that to keep horse owners in the game, they have to have at least a shot to make money or break even, whether they have stakes horses or those racing at the bottom level. Kentucky horse racing is back on an upward trajectory, and Ellis Park is an important cog.” The post Ellis Park Offering Record Purses at 2019 Summer Meet appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

The California Horse Racing Board approved its support of SB 469, a bill that would allow the CHRB to immediately suspend a license to conduct a race meeting if needed to protect equine health and welfare, at its May 23 meeting at Santa Anita Park. View the full article