Wandering Eyes

When Knicks Go (Paynter) won the GI Claiborne Breeders’ Futurity Saturday at Keneeland, it came as major shock to anyone following the race in the U.S. The 2-year-old was the longest shot on the board at 77-1 and was coming off a distant third-place finish in the Arlington Washington Futurity. In Korea, they didn’t exactly see it that way. The colt is owned by the Korean Racing Authority, which controls racing in that country. Trying to improve breeding and racing and in Korea, they have acquired dozens of stallions from the U.S. and have set up their own stable in America. It consists of 10 horses. Their approach is to be aggressive and never count their horses out, no matter what they might look like on paper. “We’re definitely going to the [GI] Breeders’ Cup Juvenile,” winning trainer Ben Colebrook said. “The KRA is pretty aggressive in their placement of horses. If we were first, second or third in this race, they wanted to go to the Breeders’ Cup, because it is a big deal for them to have horses participate on the international stage. If a horse has a shot to be in a big race, they want to be in it. They proved to be right Saturday.” For the KRA, the first step was to go after stallions in the U.S. They weren’t looking for superstars, but quality horses that performed well in the biggest U.S. races. The No. 1 stallion in Korea is Menifee, winner of the GI Haskell Invitational and the GI Blue Grass in 1999. Other stallions who have done well in Korea include Take Charge Indy, Hansen and Tiz Wonderful. Step two was to buy and race in the U.S., with the hope that they could find horses on their own who would go on to become stallions. They’ve shown no interest in buying expensive horses, but have done well shopping in the middle market. One of their first purchases was J.S. Choice (Congrats), bought for $75,000 at the 2015 Keeneland September Sale. He finished second in the GIII Pilgrim S. and then was unplaced in the GI Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf. They did even better with Mr. Crow (Tapizar), a $150,000 purchase at the 2016 OBS March 2-Year-Old Sale. He ran second in this year’s GI Vosburgh S., beaten 1 1/4 lengths by possible GI Breeders’ Cup Sprint favorite Imperial Hint (Imperialism). Knicks Go, an $87,000 2017 Keeneland September purchase, was the first U.S. stakes winner for the KRA. “Yes, this a major breakthrough for us,” said Jun Park, who represents the KRA in the U.S. and acts as a liaison with Colebrook, who is their only trainer here. “They want to see that this experiment will work. They had some theories, but didn’t know how it would work out. They are pleasantly surprised how quickly we have had a big success. We now have a Grade I winner, and have been doing this only three years.” The KRA is not flying by the seat of its pants when it comes to the U.S. sales. Anything but. Park said the authority has taken a very scientific approach when it comes to its search for horses, one that includes nicking patterns and genetic testing. The name Knicks Go has nothing to do with the New York basketball team. Rather “Knicks” is the name of the nicking program the Koreans use. “We have our own genetic nicking program,” Park explained. “That’s the main reason we are doing this. They have their own genetic program to identify good race horses and also good potential stallion prospects. It’s all done with scientific data. With Knicks, we got a hair sample and sent it to a company to analyze the whole genome. They look at the map of the genes and will identify which ones have the highest potential.” As far at the Breeders’ Futurity goes, it’s not hard to argue that Knicks Go just got lucky. Jockey Albin Jimenez sensed there was little pace in the race and got to the front and nursed his horse along on the lead through fractions of :47 2/5 and 1:12 3/5. Not only did they not catch him, he pulled away in the stretch for a decisive 5 1/2-length win. Nonetheless, he goes down in the record books as a Grade I winner. “He was at home running over a track he really loves,” Colebrook said. “He has always trained like a good horse and we hadn’t lost any confidence in him. He was untested at two turns, and I thought maybe he would like two turns because of the way he trains. He has a high cruising speed and that is another attribute that serves him well.” Now that Knicks Go is a Grade I winner, it would seem that he is a perfect candidate to return to Korea some day to stand at stud. But Park said that isn’t necessarily the plan. If they continue to develop quality horses in the U.S., the KRA will stand some here and may even open its own farm in Kentucky some day. That way they can have access to better mares and have a better foundation to produce horses that can contribute to the quality of racing in Korea. “As you know, they have brought many stallions into Korea from the U.S.,” Park said. “They like to experiment, to identify potential stallion prospects. That’s why they started buying at the U.S. sales. They won’t necessarily go to Korea. If they have a good race record, have a Grade I win, and if there is some demand in the United States, they plan to stand stallions in the U.S.” View the full article

Gavin Cromwell is eyeing a trip to the Breeders’ Cup for Princess Yaiza (Ire) (Casamento {Ire}) following her big-race victory in France. The 3-year-old has run some tremendous races in defeat this term, perhaps most notably when third behind Sunday’s Arc runner-up Sea Of Class (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) in a listed race at Newbury in June. After being touched off in a listed event at Galway on her penultimate start, Princess Yaiza was stepped up to Group 2 level for the Qatar Prix de Royallieu at ParisLongchamp on Saturday and claimed a determined success in the hands of Andrea Atzeni. Her trainer Cromwell said, “It was a big ask, running her in a Group 2, so it was great to see her go and win. It definitely won’t be her last run of the year. She has an entry in the Italian Oaks, so there’s a small possibility she’ll go there, but I’d say it’s more likely she’ll go to the Breeders’ Cup. The Filly & Mare Turf is a 1 3/8 miles this year, which will suit her. We’re looking into it. Her owner is American and is keen to go.” View the full article

Dark Vision (Ire) (Dream Ahead) will not run again this season following his disappointing display in the G2 Champagne S. at Doncaster last month. The son of Dream Ahead was bought by Godolphin after extending his unbeaten record to three in the G2 Vintage S. at Glorious Goodwood. Mark Johnston’s charge was rated the biggest threat to G1 2000 Guineas favourite Too Darn Hot (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) on his latest appearance on Town Moor, but never seemed to be going at any stage and trailed home last of the six runners. Johnston later revealed Dark Vision would be sent for a bone scan at the Newmarket Equine Hospital as he feared his may have fractured his pelvis. However, Charlie Johnston, assistant to his father, said, “Nothing really came out of the scan. There’s no serious injury anyway. We’re going to give him a break now. He’s finished for the year. We’ll have to speak to the owners about what we do with him next spring. Whether we give him a prep run somewhere or go straight to one of the Classics, we’ll see.” View the full article

Watership Down’s much-anticipated Dubawi (Ire) colt out of Dar Re Mi (GB) (Singspiel {Ire}) (Lot 325) has moved to the top of the leaderboard at Book 1 of the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale after being purchased by David Redvers on behalf of Qatar Racing for 3.5-million gns on Wednesday evening. The bay is a full-brother to stakes winners Too Darn Hot (GB), So Mi Dar (GB) and Lah Ti Dar (GB). View the full article

Discreet Lover, upstart winner of the Sept. 29 Jockey Club Gold Cup (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

After notching his 400th Hong Kong winner, David Ferraris launched an impassioned plea for owners to get behind the trainers based at the Olympic stables. Ferraris slammed the rumours and innuendo surrounding the facilities shared by himself, Michael Freedman and Michael Chang Chun-wai, saying they just need more support. “This bad rap the Olympic stables have been getting is a load of bulls**t,” Ferraris said. “If someone says it is no good they all believe it – a lot... View the full article

G1SW Lancaster Bomber (War Front-Sun Shower {Ire}, by Indian Ridge {Ire}) has been retired and will stand at the National Stud in Newmarket in 2019. The Aidan O’Brien trainee’s stallion career will be managed by the Avenue Bloodstock team of John Ferguson, Mark McStay and Amy Lanigan. Lifetime breeding rights will be sold and the G1 Tattersalls Gold Cup hero will command a fee of £8,500, Oct. 1, SLF. Bred by the Sun Shower Syndicate in Kentucky, the bay was off the mark at second asking at Leopardstown at two and ended his season with back-to-back Group 1 seconds in the Dubai Dewhurst S. and Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf. At three, Lancaster Bomber played the bridesmaid in the G1 St. James’s Palace S. at Royal Ascot, in Woodbine’s GI Ricoh Woodbine Mile S. last September and in the 2017 GI Breeders’ Cup Mile at Del Mar from a nine-start campaign. Third in the G1 Al Shaqab Lockinge S. second up at Newbury in May, he landed the Tattersalls Gold Cup at The Curragh and retires with earnings of $1,422,743 and a mark of 18-2-5-1. “Lancaster Bomber has always been held in very high regard by Aidan and the team at Ballydoyle,” said MV Magnier of Coolmore. “We have placed a lot of faith in his sire War Front, and thankfully it is being rewarded. We have retained some breeding rights in Lancaster Bomber and feel that his retirement to the National Stud in Newmarket affords him an excellent opportunity to make an impact as a stallion.” Out of the placed Sun Shower, Lancaster Bomber is a half-brother to three-time Group 1 winner and French highweight Excelebration (Ire) (Exceed And Excel {Aus}), to MGSW Mull of Killough (Ire) (Mull of Kintyre) and to Shivalik Showers (Ind) (Dancing Forever), a MSW in India. His third dam G1 Irish 1000 Guineas heroine Sarah Siddons (Fr) (Le Levanstell {GB}) foaled G1 Irish Oaks victress Princess Pati (Ire) (Top Ville {Ire}), as well as the great granddam of G1 Irish St. Leger winner Wicklow Brave (GB) (Beat Hollow {GB}). View the full article

A bitter and divisive power struggle that has been simmering behind the scenes for years within the Stronach family is about to boil over very publicly in a court of law. Frank Stronach, the 86-year-old Canadian business titan who is renowned within the Thoroughbred industry as a breeder and owner of racehorses and for building North America’s largest conglomerate of racetracks, filed a bombshell lawsuit in a Toronto court Oct. 1 alleging that the daughter he appointed to run his empire, Belinda Stronach, has mismanaged the family’s chief assets and trust funds while forcing her father out of control of the fortune he created. Belinda Stronach, 52, is the chairman and president of The Stronach Group (TSG), which operates, among numerous other holdings, Santa Anita Park, Golden Gate Fields, Gulfstream Park, Laurel Park, Pimlico Race Course and Portland Meadows. According to the lawsuit, she has also been a trustee of three family trusts and a beneficiary of one of them. Alon Ossip, the chief executive of TSG, is named as a co-defendant. His role, according to the lawsuit, involves allegedly conspiring with Belinda Stronach in “a series of covert and unlawful actions…that have been contrary to the best interests of, and to the overwhelming detriment of, other members of the Stronach family.” The 73-page lawsuit, which TDN obtained from the Ontario Superior Court of Justice, lists 39 demands for relief that Frank Stronach is seeking via court trial, including the removal of Belinda Stronach and Ossip from all corporate officer and trustee positions related to the Stronach empire. According to the suit, Frank Stronach is also seeking three separate forms of financial redress: • $250 million (CDN) in compensation to the plaintiffs, family trusts, and TSG entities for “all losses, damages or harm suffered as a result of the Defendants’ unlawful or oppressive conduct.” • $250 million (CDN) in damages “against Belinda and Alon…for breach of fiduciary duty, breach of trust, and unlawful means of conspiracy.” • $20 million (CDN) in “punitive, aggravated, and/or exemplary damages” against Belinda Stronach and Ossip. “At the heart of the proceeding lies a series of unlawful actions undertaken by Belinda, together with Alon and others associated with them, to appropriate Stronach family assets for their own personal benefit,” the suit contends. “Belinda and Alon appropriated control over the business and assets of TSG after having concealed their actions from Frank [and other family members] during the period from at least 2011 to November 2016 when Belinda and Alon took the position, for the first time, that Frank was no longer in control of, and had no role in running, the family empire.” The lawsuit alleges “a complete break-down” of relationships within the Stronach family as a result of the ongoing strife. Frank’s wife, Elfriede, is named as a co-plaintiff. Two of Frank Stronach’s grandchildren, Nicole and Frank Walker, ages 25 and 27, respectively, are also named as co-defendants. They are Belinda Stronach’s children, and both served as trustees of family assets from 2013-17, according to the suit. Phone messages requesting comment from both Belinda Stronach and Ossip that were left with their respective assistants at TSG’s Ontario offices did not yield calls back prior to deadline for this story. The rags-to-riches rise of the Austrian-born Frank Stronach is well known within the racing industry, and he has been honored with numerous awards during his ascendancy from a small-scale Ontario horse owner and breeder to a global Thoroughbred power player. Over the course of six decades, he concurrently enjoyed commercial success as an auto-parts magnate, and several of his early racing holdings were intertwined with that firm, Magna International. As Frank Stronach’s scope and scale of investment within Thoroughbred racing grew, he formed Magna Entertainment Corporation (MEC) in 1999 to keep his racing interests separate from the automotive business. Belinda Stronach came on board with MEC in 2001 as its chief executive, although she briefly stepped away shortly thereafter for a run in Canadian politics. Over the decades, as his wealth grew, Frank Stronach formed various trusts to share the fortune with family members. According to the suit, even though other family members were eventually named as trustees, it was understood that the patriarch would always retain “Super Trustee” status. “All members of the family, including Belinda, understood and agreed that Frank would maintain control of the family business as the creator of the family’s wealth,” the suit contends. By the first decade of the 21st century, MEC began morphing into TSG, which is described in the suit as “a complex network” of 253 Stronach family-owned corporations, trusts, and other entities established in various jurisdictions around the world. By 2013, Frank Stronach assumed the title of TSG’s “founder and honorary chairman,” while Belinda Stronach and Ossip took on greater day-to-day executive powers within the company. Ossip, according to the suit, was paid a $1 million annual salary and was given roughly 5% interest in certain TSG assets. “From virtually the moment this arrangement was entered into, Alon failed to fulfill his most basic obligations as CEO of TSG,” the suit alleges. “Instead, he breached repeatedly his legal equitable and fiduciary duties.” In September 2013 Frank Stronach stepped away from his racing ventures and resigned leadership positions with two family trusts in order to fulfill a lifelong goal of leading a party that would get elected to the Austrian Parliament. His party got voted in, but by January 2014 he resigned from its active leadership and returned to Ontario to re-immerse himself in TSG, assuming that everything was “business as usual.” But according to Frank Stronach’s version of events detailed in the lawsuit, it wasn’t. “Frank later learned that during this period Belinda and Alon seriously neglected the business of TSG and [had] abused their positions of authority,” the suit states. “They did so in order to conceal significant cash flow issues, and to favour their own personal interests at the direct expense of rights and interests of other members of the Stronach family.” In fact, the suit contends, it wasn’t until November 2016 that, “Belinda and Alon informed Frank for the first time that TSG was facing significant liquidity issues. This came as a surprise to Frank and raised red flags about their management of TSG.” The suit then details a litany of alleged power plays initiated by Belinda Stronach and Ossip, including their refusal to let Frank Stronach act on routine business transactions. “Belinda and Alon were confrontational, disrespectful and insubordinate,” the suit alleges. “They demanded that Frank take steps to rein in or terminate all expenditures and investments being made by him on behalf of TSG…. Belinda and Alon also took the position, for the first time, that Frank had no authority to act in the name of any of the businesses owned or operated by TSG…. They asserted that Frank had no signing authority or ability to access corporate funds.” Ossip, according to the suit, also threatened to fire any TSG employees who carried out orders from Frank Stronach. “Alon belittled and embarrassed Frank, and did so with the blessing and encouragement of Belinda,” the suit contends. Eventually, Frank Stronach insisted to his daughter that Ossip be terminated. The suit alleges that Belinda Stronach only paid lip service to her father’s request, telling him that Ossip would be “suspended” and play no further role in TSG business, when in reality, the two allegedly “collaborated covertly” to keep Frank Stronach from figuring out that Ossip was still actively involved. The suit alleges that Frank Stronach then began making repeated requests to see documentation about TSG’s finances, but “for well over a year, Belinda stonewalled and deflected Frank and his advisors.” On Jan. 9, 2017, Frank Stronach reappointed himself to several family trusts, taking over control from his two grandchildren. The next day Belinda Stronach fired back, saying it was not legal for him to do so. And on Jan. 15, 2017, “Belinda once again wrote to Frank, and stated that she would not allow him to ‘take control’ of the family business,” the suit contends. Over course of the next year, according to the suit, Frank Stronach tried to reconcile the family fiasco as best as he could without bringing the entire affair before a court of law. But the suit contends that strategy hasn’t worked, and that Belinda Stronach to this day continues to “dismantle and sell off other [non-racing] assets that form part of the Stronach family empire.” Among Belinda Stronach’s alleged malfeasances, the suit contends, are demands for distributions from the family trusts, the hiring of unqualified friends to fill TSG positions “at exorbitant salaries,” and the submission of bogus TSG reimbursement requests for “hundreds of thousands of dollars in personal expenses…associated with parties, vacations for Belinda and her children, limousine rides and expensive meals, none of which related to legitimate business expenses.” The defendants have 20 days from the date the suit was initiated to file a response with the court. View the full article

In an Oct. 10 release, the British Horseracing Authority reported that scientific research into equine vision has led to a trial of a new fence and hurdle design to further improve safety in jump racing. View the full article

Arrowfield, which co-bred the son of Redoute's Choice with The Aga Khan, will now manage his racing and stud careers. View the full article

Two leading world organizations, the International Federation of Horseracing Authorities (IFHA) and the International Stud Book Committee (ISBC), are to work together on ways to combat gene doping in Thoroughbreds. View the full article

Whichever Breeders' Cup juvenile race recent Futurity Stakes winner Uncle Benny runs, owner Ara Aprahamian is excited to have his first starter in the World Championships. View the full article

Everest-bound Clements has high hopes for Siam Vipasiri View the full article

A colt by popular young sire Cairo Prince (Pioneerof the Nile) out of a mare who was purchased for just $1,000 fetched a record final bid of $340,000 from leading owner John Oxley to top Tuesday’s select session of the OBS October Sale in Central Florida. Oxley also acquired the 2017 OBS October topper, going to $275,000 for Strike Silver (Violence), who in the 12 months since just missed in the GIII Sanford S. ahead of a worst-to-first victory in the Oct. 7 Indian Summer S. at Keeneland. The previous record of $335,000 was established in 2000. Statistically, the select portion of the sale was largely on par with the results from 2017. A total of 124 horses changed hands for gross receipts of $5,464,000. The average of $44,065 represented a modest 2.2% increase over last year, while the median remained level at $30,000. “It was a sale very similar to last year and very similar to what we’ve seen over the last few years,” said OBS Director of Sales Tod Wojciechowski. Seven unique buying entities accounted for the session’s nine six-figure horses, and Wojciechowski views that variety as a positive step in the right direction. “One of the goals in moving the sale from August to October was to increase that buyer base and that’s something that we’re working on,” he said. “We are starting to see some positive aspects with that.” Similarly, the day’s top nine horses were each by a different sire, including a pair of Florida stallions–in one case a sire that has since been relocated to Kentucky. “We were very happy to have such a nice variety of horses,” said Wojciechowski. “We had the Cairo Prince and an American Pharaoh, but it’s also nice to see a sire like Uncaptured and other more tried-and-true sires like Kitten’s Joy.” The first of two open sessions kicks off Wednesday at noon. For full results visit www.obssales.com. Cairo Prince Colt Makes OBS History… Sales-topping hip 138 was consigned to the October sale by Stuart Morris, agent for the partnership of J. R. and Katie Boyd’s Brick City Thoroughbreds and Stuart and Meg Turlington’s Stoney Lane Farm. The quartet teamed to purchase the colt privately from his breeder Mulholland Springs. “We picked him out of a group of horses,” Boyd said. “He just looked really fast, a big walk, great physical. We loved his hip and his sire. They raise seriously good horses there at Mulholland Springs and they are very easy to work with.” The group, who sold a colt by Lea for $200,000 at Keeneland September, said the Cairo Prince represented their biggest success to date. “He well exceeded our expectations,” Boyd said. “We thought $150,000 or $200,000 max. Chad Johnson from OBS came very hard for this horse. He said this horse would sell very well and he sure was right. Stuart Morris did just an outstanding job with the colt and we thank the Good Lord, OBS and Mulholland Springs!” Boyd is the stepson of Robby Harris and he credited his stepfather and his late mother Mary with being his mentors. Likewise, Turlington attributed his success to the teachings of his father Ed, who passed away three years ago. “We really feel like there were a couple of angels watching over us,” Boyd said. Nothing Upsetting About Minutia… By her own admission, Mulholland Springs’s Martha Jane Mulholland had her eye on a Quiet American mare either side the newly turned 4-year-old filly Minutia (Concord Point) at the 2016 Fasig-Tipton February Sale. To Mulholland’s utter surprise, it took only the upset bid of $1,000 to take home the filly, an earner of just over $9,000 at the races. “I was there to buy a pretty mare and I thought it was just ridiculous that she was selling for that price,” said Mulholland, who bred Tuesday’s topper. “When we got her home, it was hard to figure out which mare cost $80,000 and which cost $1,000, she was that pretty.” There was much to like about the mare’s colt from the outset, Mulholland said. “He was a stunningly beautiful colt, extremely powerful with a really classy head,” she recollected. “And I always thought Cairo Prince would make a good stallion and I have always had a lot of confidence in Brereton Jones,” she added, referring to Cairo Prince’s stallion home at Airdrie Stud. “I’m thrilled for J.R. and his partners and I hope to high heaven he runs well,” she concluded. Uncaptured Accounts For Top Filly… A Summerfield-consigned filly from the second crop of Canadian Horse of the Year Uncaptured (Lion Heart) was hammered down to Barbara Banke’s Stonestreet Stables for $210,000 to lead the session’s fillies. A half-sister to the stakes-winning It’s High Time (Gone Astray), hip 145 is out of a half-sister to GISW Black Seventeen (Is It True) who was bought back on a bid of $7,000 when carrying this foal at the 2017 OBS Winter Mixed Sale. View the full article

An Oct. 8 visit to Turfway Park revealed giant tents set up in the parking lot for a sale on Adidas shoes and athletic wear, but there was no visible sign of any physical progress on renovations outlined in February by track management. View the full article

AFTER thousands of outraged Sydneysiders took to the Sydney Opera House to protest over a six-minute light display that has divided the city, Racing NSW says it has learnt some lessons. View the full article

A full field of 14 fillies will vie for the final Breeders’ Cup “Win and You’re In” spot in Wednesday’s GII Jessamine S. at Keeneland, a qualifier for the GI Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf. Chad Brown won last year’s renewal with ‘TDN Rising Star’ Rushing Fall (More Than Ready), who followed suit with a decisive score at the World Championships, and he has once chance to repeat with Fierce Scarlett (Scat Daddy. Fifth on debut sprinting over the Saratoga lawn Aug. 10, the $320,000 OBSAPR proved she just needed more distance when graduated by 4 1/2 lengths going away after a wide journey in a two-turn test over a yielding course at Belmont Sept. 15. Jorge Abreau takes on his former boss with a pair of contenders in Moravia (GB) (Siyouni {Fr}) and Espresso Shot (Mission Impazible). Formerly campaigned in Europe, Moravia broke her maiden at third asking at Leopardstown June 7 and was second in the G3 Silver Flash S. there last time July 26. She receives Lasix for the first time in the U.S. debut. Third in an Aug. 16 grass sprint against fellow Empire-breds at Saratoga, Espresso Shot donned cap and gown next out in a 1 1/16-mile off-the-turfer Sept. 14. The greatest threat to Brown’s morning-line favorite, however, appears to be coming from the Great White North in the form of My Gal Betty (Point of Entry). A debut winner sprinting over the Woodbine synthetic May 20, she crossed the wire first in that venue’s My Dear S. July 7, but was disqualified and placed third for interference. Taking to the grass with aplomb with a 4 1/4-length decision in the Catch a Glimpse S. Aug. 25, the bay missed by just a length when second in the one-mile GI Natalma S. on the Woodbine lawn Sept. 16. View the full article

The Into Mischief filly is expected work next at Churchill Downs the weekend of Oct. 13-14. View the full article

Bound For Nowhere (The Factor), a distant 11th behind Next Shares (Archarcharch) in the GI Shadwell Turf Mile Oct. 7, has been turned out for the rest of the year, the 4-year-old’s owner and trainer Wesley Ward told the TDN Tuesday. A $310,000 Keeneland September graduate, Bound For Nowhere turned in a spectacular performance to defeat recent GII Woodford S. winner Bucchero (Kantharos) in the GII Shakertown S. at the Keeneland spring meeting ahead of an outstanding and very close third to Merchant Navy (Aus) (Fastnet Rock {Aus}) in the G1 Diamond Jubilee S. at Royal Ascot in June. Ward stretched Bound For Nowhere back out to a mile–with both the GI Breeders’ Cup Mile and GI Turf Sprint under consideration–and the colt responded with a smooth victory in the $750,000 Tourist Mile at Kentucky Downs in early September. That set the table for a start in the Shadwell, but little went according to script, Ward said. “It’s a bit of a head-scratcher,” he said. “He’s usually a very calm horse, but [jockey] Julio [Garcia] said he got really hot. The scratch [at the gate of Divisidero {Kitten’s Joy} really got him thinking and it took a long time for him to get in the gate. From there, he had a beautiful trip from the outside, got over and settled, but Julio said at the three-eighths, there was nothing there. He was certainly stressed out and he didn’t like the soft [course]. Ward continued, “We gave him a good once-over at the vet and we didn’t find anything. Things just didn’t work out, but I would hate to go into the Breeders’ Cup off a race like that, so we’re putting up the white flag for the year. I kicked him out into a paddock and we’ll bring him back Jan. 1 and try to have a year in 2019 like we had this year.” Ward also said he was satisfied with the performance of Undrafted (Purim), seventh in the Woodford. The rising 8-year-old gelding is a candidate for a $75,000 allowance going 5 1/2 furlongs over the Keeneland turf Oct. 25, Ward said. View the full article

Trainer Jorge Abreu saddled his first Keeneland winner this spring, and will be gunning for his first stakes victory at the Lexington track Oct. 10 when he sends out two runners in the $200,000 JPMorgan Chase Jessamine (G2T). View the full article

The Into Mischief filly is expected work next at Churchill Downs the weekend of Oct. 13-14. View the full article

THOUSANDS of outraged Sydneysiders have taken to the Sydney Opera House to protest over a six-minute light display that has divided the city. View the full article

MG1SW Hawkbill (Kitten’s Joy-Trensa, by Giant’s Causeway) has been retired, Godolphin announced on Tuesday. Highweighted in England as a 3-year-old, the chestnut struck twice at the highest level in the 2016 G1 Coral-Eclipse S. and G1 Longines Dubai Sheema Classic this March for trainer Charlie Appleby. A winner of 10 of his 24 starts and six group scores, the 5-year-old, who placed an additional five times at Group 1 level in Canada, England (2) and Germany (2), retires with earnings of $4,777,480. “He was a wonderful racehorse, who will be remembered for bringing Moulton Paddocks to the international stage,” said Appleby. “He was an ambassador for Godolphin, who gave everybody connected with him immense pleasure. He was hugely popular in the yard. Now, he is set to enjoy a well-deserved retirement.” Bred by the Helen K. Groves Revokable Trust and purchased for $350,000 out of the 2014 Keeneland September Yearling Sale, the Kentucky-bred is a half-brother to GI Claiborne Breeders’ Futurity S. victor Free Drop Billy (Union Rags). His dam, the GSP Trensa is a half-sister to MGSW Batique (Storm Cat) and produced by GI Ballerina S. victress Serape (Fappiano). View the full article

Lane’s End’s Quality Road (Elusive Quality), who ranks among the nation’s leading general sires in 2018, will see his stud fee raised from $70,000 to $150,000 in 2019, topping the storied farm’s stallion roster for the coming year. On the heels of a wildly successful 2018, topped by Grade I winners Abel Tasman, Bellafina, City of Light, Salty and Spring Quality, Quality Road enters his ninth year at stud in 2019. Bellafina and Abel Tasman have won a pair of Grade Is each, with the former considered a leading contender for the GI Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies after notching three straight graded stakes scores, including the GI Del Mar Debutante Sept. 1 and the GI Chandelier S. Sept. 29. The sire has shown dual-surface prowess, with Spring Quality scoring at the highest level on turf in the GI Manhattan S. In total, Quality Road has sired nine individual Grade I winners from five crops. The Lane’s End roster is complimented by the presence of Candy Ride (Arg) (Ride the Rails), whose fee will remain at $80,000 in 2019. Union Rags (Dixie Union) will be available for $60,000, while the popular Honor Code (A.P. Indy) will stand for $40,000 in his fourth year at stud. 2019 also marks the return of The Factor (War Front), who returns from a stint in Japan to stand for a fee of $15,000. View the full article

NEWMARKET, UK–Newsells Park Stud’s Shastye (Ire) (Danehill) has been a regular headline-maker at Book 1 of the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale since 2013, when her subsequent Group 3 winner Sir Isaac Newton (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) briefly set a record for a European yearling at public auction-which was eclipsed the following day-when bought by MV Magnier for 3.6-million gns. Five years later, Sir Isaac Newton’s full-brother (lot 109) flirted with his elder brother’s pricetag during the first of three Book 1 sessions on Tuesday, but fell just short, with MV Magnier again the successful bidder at 3.4-million gns. The day’s strong clearance rate of 85% came from the sale of 133 of the 157 yearlings offered—14 more than changed hands at the opening session last year. They accrued turnover of 35,505,000gns,which was up by 5%, with the median of 170,000gns being a 15% drop on the high figure of 200,000gns attained on the first day last year, though that eventually settled at 165,000gns for Book 1 as a whole. The average was 266,955gns, again down slightly, by 5%. Galileo Supplies Three Millionaires… The 17-year-old Shastye was a winner at three and four and listed placed, but she has simply outdone herself at stud. Her third foal was the G2 Middleton S. winner and multiple Classic-placed Secret Gesture (GB) (Galileo {Ire}), who was raced by Newsells in partnership with Qatar Racing before being sold to John Ferguson for $3.5-million at Keeneland November in 2016. In the interim, Shastye had enjoyed three blockbuster sales on the back of Secret Gesture’s racetrack success: MV Magnier had bought Sir Isaac Newton for 3.6-million gns in 2013; Charlie Gordon-Watson had spent 800,000gns on the Street Cry (Ire) filly Secret Soul (GB) in 2015; and David Redvers had bought another filly, Secret Gaze (GB) (Galileo {Ire}), for 1.35-million gns at this sale two years ago. After producing three consecutive fillies, Shastye threw another Galileo colt in 2016, and that one was again scooped up by MV Magnier for 1.3-million gns here last year. That is looking like a solid investment with the colt, now named Japan (GB), the winner of two races since the catalogued was printed, including the G2 Beresford S. on Sept. 30. “Shastye has been a great producer and Andreas Jacobs is a great breeder,” Magnier said after fending off a handful of persistent bidders including David Redvers, John O’Connor and Japanese trainer Mitsu Nakauchida, the latter being the eventual underbidder. “We have a very high opinion of this horse. He’s a lovely horse and we’ve had luck with the family.” “It’s the right cross and Galileo is absolutely flying. He’s an exciting horse and we’re very pleased to have got him.” Shastye has visited Galileo exclusively the past four years and is in foal to him again. She is believed to be carrying a colt. “Japan just reinvigorated everything this year and I think they [Coolmore] really like him,” said Newsells Park manager Julian Dollar. “He could be anything next year but his Beresford win just got everything going again. This colt isn’t as pretty as Sir Isaac Newton but he’s bigger and stronger.” “We’re just very lucky to have a mare who has bankrolled the stud year after year. This is great for [yearling manager] Gerry Meehan and his team—they’ve done a sensational job and no horses on the place look better,” Dollar added. “Shastye is back in foal to Galileo again. That’s the easiest mating to do each year—you can’t have too much of a good thing.” The appeal of the colt’s page extends far beyond Shastye’s produce alone. The mare is a daughter of the champion Italian mare Saganeca (Sagace {Fr}), and therefore a half-sister to G1 Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe winner Sagamix (Fr) (Linamix {Fr}) and G1 Criterium de Saint-Cloud victor Sagacity (Fr) (Highest Honor {Fr}), as well as the dam of G1 Prix d’Ispahan winner Sageburg (Ire). Newsells Park had enjoyed another seven-figure result with a Galileo colt early in the day when lot 41, a colt out of an unraced full-sister to Juddmonte’s champion racemare Midday (GB) (Oasis Dream {GB}) offered on behalf of breeders John and Tanya Gunther, was knocked down at 1.1-million gns. Anthony Stroud signed the ticket while standing alongside Sheikh Mohammed, Simon Crisford, David Loder and John Gosden. Stroud outbid Team Coolmore for the colt. The Galileo colt’s full-brother Make My Day (Ire) holds a Derby entry and was bred by the Gunthers, who bought the dam, Posset (GB), in the same ring back in 2014 for 625,000gns. The Canadian breeders have enjoyed an extraordinary year on the racetrack with graduates from their Kentucky-based Glennwood Farm, led by Triple Crown winner Justify (Scat Daddy) and including Without Parole (GB) (Frankel {GB}), who won the G1 St James’s Place S. in their own colours. Julian Dollar said, “He’s a lovely horse and it’s great when both Coolmore and Sheikh Mohammed are interested. The Gunthers are wonderful breeders, I wish they could give me a few tips.” Galileo Filly Generates International Interest… Galileo’s appeal as a broodmare sire has become, unsurprisingly, truly international, and he has the likes of G1 2000 Guineas winner Saxon Warrior (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}), G1 July Cup winner U S Navy Flag (War Front) and top Australian 3-year-old The Autumn Sun (Aus) (Redoute’s Choice {Aus}), winner of this term’s G1 Golden Rose S., to his credit in that realm. Therefore, it likely came as no surprise to those assembled at Park Paddocks yesterday to see a fierce bidding battle between international interests sparked by a Galileo half-sister to G1 Prix Maurice de Gheest winner and young sire Garswood (GB) (Dutch Art {GB}) (lot 28). The January-born filly, who was bred by Lynch Bages, was secured by agent Emmanuel de Seroux on behalf of an undisclosed “international client” for 1.2-million gns after he turned back a sustained challenge from Australian John Camilleri standing alongside agent Hubie de Burgh. Camilleri is best known as the breeder of Winx (Aus) (Street Cry {Ire}) and G1 Golden Slipper winner Vancouver (Aus) (Medaglia d’Oro). De Seroux said the daughter of the unraced Penchant (GB) (Kyllachy {GB}) could be trained in Europe, but no firm plans had been made. “She’s a Galileo filly who is a half-sister to Garswood, she’s a beautiful mover and a beautiful type,” de Seroux said. The filly’s second dam is the listed-winning Irresistible (GB) (Cadeaux Genereux {GB}), who is also the second dam of G2 Summer Mile winner Mutakayyef (GB) (Sea The Stars {Ire}). Dubawi Finds Favour… The morning session started in strong fashion when Sheikh Mohammed’s team gathered in the wings and the first foal of G1 Prix Jean Romanet winner Odeliz (Ire) (Falco {Fr}) (lot 19) was knocked down to Simon Crisford for 600,000gns. The Dubawi (Ire) colt was consigned by Luke Lillingston’s Mount Coote Stud for breeders Michael and Reiko Baum. “He came to us in July and pretty much prepped himself,” said Lillingston. “He was a delight to deal with, I wish they were all that easy.” Odeliz was a vendor buy-back at 950,000gns when offered during the Tattersalls December Sale in 2015 but was subsequently bought privately by the Baums, who own Man O’ War Farm in Lexington. The colt was one of 13 yearlings bought during the session for a total of 6,855,000gns by leading purchaser Stroud Coleman Bloodstock, along with another Dubawi colt from Meon Valley Stud’s dual Oaks runner-up Shirocco Star (GB) (Shirocco {Ger}) (lot 113), who was knocked down at 1.1-million gns. Routinely one of the top vendors during Book 1, Meon Valley was responsible for the co-top lot of 2016, another son of Dubawi out of G1 Prix de l’Opera winner Zee Zee Top (GB) (Zafonic), who was bought for 2.6-million gns by Sheikh Hamdan. Also on the list for Anthony Stroud was the first foal of the listed winner Terror (Ire) (Kodiac {GB}) (lot 157). The son of Galileo was bought for 900,000gns from Peter Stanley of New England Stud, who consigned the colt on behalf of his uncle Christopher Hanbury. Battle of the Sophomores… No Nay Never may be leading Kingman (GB) when it comes to racecourse results, but as members of their second crops go through the ring, the Juddmonte stallion just had the edge at Tattersalls on day one. Leading the way was a spectacular pinhook by Michael Fitzpatrick of Kilminfoyle House Stud, who sold lot 112, a colt out of the Dansili (GB) mare Shemya (Fr), for 1.05-million gns to MV Magnier, having bought him for 135,000gns last December. “I bought him here from Giles Wates of Langton Stud. He was a lovely foal and he’s been very straightforward and the sire has made a great start, which of course really helps. We all get lucky now and again,” said Fitzpatrick, who also sold a No Nay Never filly (lot 67) bought as a foal for 30,000gns to Laurent Benoit of Broadhurst Agency for 130,000gns. “I’d like to wish their new owners the best of luck with them and also to thank my team home, Pamela and Santos,” he added. The Aga Khan-bred Shemya, a daughter of the Group 3 winner Shemima (GB) (Dalakhani {Ire}), won at three in France and was bought the following year for Wates for €160,000 at the Arqana December Sale. Angus Gold was also in the running for a Kingman yearling on behalf of Sheikh Hamdan and went to 580,000gns for lot 100, a beautifully bred filly from Rory and Tess Mahon’s Mountain View Stud. The February-born bay is out of the winning Sea The Stars (Ire) mare Seagull (Ire), whose half-sister Nightime (Ire) holds the distinction of being the first of many Classic winners for Galileo (Ire) and has already bred GI Man O’War S. winner Zhukova (Ire) (Fastnet Rock{Aus}) and dual Group 3 winner Ghaiyyath (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}). Peter Brant of White Birch Farm was another to take home a Kingman, his colt out of four-time winner Smart Step (GB) (Montjeu {Ire}) (lot 121) hailing from the Hascombe & Valiant family of Rebecca Sharp (GB) and being sold by Lofts Hall Stud for 500,000gns. The half-brother to juvenile winner Escamillo (GB) (Bated Breath {GB}) was bred by Hugo Lascelles of Lofts Hall in partnership with Ben Sangster. At the end of the first session, six Kingman yearlings had sold for an average of 510,833gns, making him the third-leading sire of the day on that measure behind only Galileo and Dubawi. With Ten Sovereigns still in the mix to back up his G1 Juddmonte Middle Park S. victory in Saturday’s G1 Darley Dewhurst S., his sire No Nay Never continues to have plenty of friends in the sales ring. Ten Sovereigns’s sister, sold by co-breeder Camas Park Stud as lot 103, understandably attracted plenty of attention and she will eventually join her big brother at Ballydoyle having been bought my MV Magnier for 600,000gns with Justin Casse, Reiley McDonald and Stephen Hillen all in the early running for the daughter of Seeking Solace (GB) (Exceed And Excel {Aus}). Camas Park Stud was also the vendor of lot 22, bred in partnership with Lynn Lodge Stud, whose dam Opera Fan (FR) (Cape Cross {Ire}) has already clicked with the sire in the production of her first foal, the listed winner No Needs Never (Ire). Her yearling filly was bought by Shawn Dugan for 525,000gns. Kerri Radcliffe opted for another filly, a sister to the winner and G1 Keeneland Phoenix S.-placed The Irish Rover (Ire), signing for the Glenvale Stud consignee at 650,000gns. “She’s been bought for Sheila Rosenblum and George Bolton, my two lovely new clients, and she will stay here for the time being to be trained for next year,” said Radcliffe of lot 111. “She’s a very athletic filly by a red-hot sire and there’s a chance she could end up racing in America.” Shadwell Supporting Muhaarar… Shadwell’s champion sprinter Muhaarar (GB) (Oasis Dream {GB}) will be one of the most anticipated first-season sires next year when his first 2-year-olds step out, and Sheikh Hamdan pledged further support to his four-time Group 1 winner when going to 925,000gns on Tuesday for his lot 58 from Tally-Ho Stud. While the filly’s young sire certainly boasts appeal, she is hugely helped by the fact that she is a half-sister to Fairyland (Ire) (Kodiac {GB}), winner of the G2 Lowther S. and G1 Cheveley Park S. since the catalogue was printed. They are also kin to the Irish and Australian group-winning filly Now Or Never (Ire) (Bushranger {Ire}), and the dam, Queenofthefairies (GB) (Pivotal {GB}), is a half-sister to another champion sprinter in Dream Ahead (Diktat {GB}). Fairyland had attracted an identical pricetag at this same sale last year when bought by MV Magnier, and Shadwell Racing Manager Angus Gold admitted Fairyland had been one of his favourite yearlings of 2017. “She’s a sister to a gorgeous filly who had to have been the nicest yearling I saw last year; a beautiful filly and a Group 1 winner,” he said. “She’s out of a very good mare and she’s by a horse that of course we really like. It made sense, although I didn’t think she’d make quite that.” Gold said Shadwell has supported Muhaarar with “about 15 mares each year” since he retired to stud. “We like what we’ve seen and we have some lovely ones at home at the stud,” he said. “We have 13 yearlings [by Muhaarar] on the stud this year. For us, he’s the most exciting horse because, as I said to Sheikh Hamdan when he retired to stud, he’s our chance of getting a Green Desert-type. He has looks, he’s well-bred, fast, very talented and has a great attitude. I like what I’ve seen particularly here; there are some very nice yearlings by him.” Muhaarar ended the session as the day’s leading first-crop sire by average, with six sold for an average of 294,167gns off a £30,000 stud fee. Next came Gleneagles, also with six sold for an average of 229,500gns off a €60,000 fee that has subsequently dropped to €40,000. Golden Horn had seven sell for an average of 205,714gns off a £60,000 fee. Mildmay’s Good Day… Bridget Drew’s Mildmay Bloodstock enjoyed a good day at Tattersalls, notably through the 600,000gns sale of a Kodiac (GB) filly (lot 30), bred in partnership with Ian Brown. “She showed herself off beautifully ever since she arrived and it really helps when they have the temperament that she has,” said Jenny Norris of consignor Norris Bloodstock. “She had lots of vets on her and plenty of interest all through the weekend and it’s great to have such a result for Bridget.” The filly, bought by Alastair Donald, the regular agent for Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha’s King Power Racing, is the first foal of the Kheleyf mare Perfect Blessings (Ire), who raced for Ian Brown and the late John Drew, winning a fillies’ maiden at three and gaining black-type when placed in the Listed Cammidge Trophy back at the same course. The following lot through the ring (lot 31), the Pivotal (GB) half-brother to Drew’s G3 Chartwell Fillies’ S. winner Perfect Tribute (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}), was bought by Robin O’Ryan and Richard Fahey for 110,000gns. Drew’s trio of Book 1 yearlings was completed by a Bated Breath (GB) half-sister to the dual winner and Chesham S. runner-up Nate The Great (GB) (Nathaniel {Ire}) (lot 160), who sold to Rabbah Bloodstock for 140,000gns. The family has been particularly active this season, with the filly’s dam’s half-brother James Garfield (Ire) (Exceed And Excel {Aus}) winning the G3 Greenham S. and being narrowly beaten in the G1 Prix Maurice de Gheest, while Uni (GB) (More Than Ready), a half-sister to grandam Whazzat (GB) (Daylami {Ire}) won the GIII Noble Damsel S. at Saratoga for Chad Brown. View the full article