Wandering Eyes

Track conditions and course scratchings October 7 View the full article

Tiz Breathtaking, rallying from last place in the field of seven, got the bob on the outside under jockey Eurico Rosa da Silva to capture the 1 1/16-mile Mazarine Stakes (G3) by a head Oct. 6 at Woodbine. View the full article

It would be remiss to allow all these “turfistes” to fly into Paris for the weekend, from all round the world, and then leave them nowhere to spend their money besides the Rue de Rivoli. Arqana obligingly fills that void with its Arc Sale—a pioneering auction in its time, and one that lit the path for other sales houses and jurisdictions to emulate France-Galop by, for instance, permitting 11th hour re-registration even of horses running the next day. If the concept is opportunist, so is the market. These horses are literally moving targets, sometimes exposing both vendors and prospectors to wild fluctuations in value. This time, in fact, we not only saw horses sold on the eve of Group 1 appointments at Longchamp, just across the Bois de Boulogne, but also one that had actually won there barely three hours previously. Year-on-year comparisons at sales of this type are virtually pointless: a small catalogue of horses offered as a roll of the dice, with one or two knockout sales liable to skew all numbers, tells you zilch about the broader state of the market. Anecdotally, there was some scepticism about the relative strength of this catalogue, and that was reflected—for the little it may be worth—in reduced indices from last year. But the clearance actually improved, 24 sold of 37 offered (64.9%) compared with 25 of 44 (56.8%) at Chantilly last year. Total business of €4,318,000 dipped from €5,978,500 for an average of €179,917 (from €239,140) and median of €122,500 (from €180,000). One of the best advertisements for this sale is Elusive Wave (Ire) (Elusive City), who was acquired for Martin Schwartz here in 2008 for €660,000 on the eve of her second place in the G1 Prix Marcel Boussac—and who proceeded to Classic success the following spring in the G1 Poule d’Essai des Pouliches. Michael Zerolo of Oceanic Bloodstock was responsible for that transaction and applied the same principles in spending a total of €790,000 on two fillies with Group 1 entries on today’s card. First was lot 4, Lily’s Candle (Fr) (Style Vendome {Fr}), a listed winner at Vichy in the summer for Fabrice Vermeulen and since beaten only a length when fourth in group company at Longchamp. She will carry Schwartz’s colours in the Boussac today after changing hands for €390,000—a fairly spectacular dividend on the €15,000 docket signed by Bertrand Bourez at the same house’s October Yearling Sale in Deauville last year. Zerolo also paid €400,000 on behalf of Schwartz for Night Of England (GB) (Lord Of England {Ger}) [lot 18], who has already been Classic-placed and holds an entry in the G1 Prix de l’Opera today. She, too, has transformed her value since being picked out as a foal by Sepp Hellmich and Wolfgang Lau for just 12,000gns at the Tattersalls December Sale of 2016. Credit, in this instance, goes to Henk Grewe, her young trainer, who saddled her to finish second in the G1 Henkel-Preis der Diana (German Oaks). “Does Martin Schwartz like this sale?” repeated Zerolo. “Martin Schwartz likes action, that’s what he likes. It’s the same formula: it’s worked most of the time. Lily’s Candle is a nice filly, with good form, and though she’ll obviously be an outsider tomorrow we’ll take our chances.” He was not yet able to confirm that Night Of England would line up today, leaving Grewe on tenterhooks. “I hope she runs, of course, but whatever happens I think she will keep improving,” he said. “The whole family has got better with maturity. She is also a beautiful mare, physically. She wasn’t perfect in front when she was young, which is why the owner was able to get her so cheaply.” Whatever fresh excitements await Schwartz today, the top price of the session was paid for a team who already have ample to stimulate them at Longchamp. Sea Of Class (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}), perceived as the biggest danger to the favourite in the Arc itself, runs in the colours of the Tsui family’s Sunderland Holdings—made famous by that filly’s sire in the 2009 running. And it is a syndicate of the Tsuis’ friends in Hong Kong who will be racing Insandi (Fr) (Anodin {Ire}) after Nicolas de Watrigant of Mandore International paid €470,000 for lot 6. Insandi broke his maiden at Deauville in the summer before outrunning his odds when second in the G3 Prix des Chenes at Longchamp last month. “The winner is favourite for the G1 Prix Lagardere tomorrow, and the third is also running, so we’ll see what the form looks like after that. But whatever happens he looks, physically, like he’s going to be a 3-year-old: he stands beautifully, has a great attitude, and physically a lot of class. He’s been bought for a group of Mrs. Tsui’s friends so is likely to end up in Hong Kong, but initially he’ll stay in Europe.” Christopher Tsui, still every bit as fresh-faced as when Sea The Stars was racing, was keeping an anxious eye on the overnight forecast. “We’re very excited, of course, though we know it will be a difficult race,” he said. “We just hope the sky holds up and that we don’t get the rain they’re talking about. If not, we’d be very hopeful.” Also on hand was Insandi’s breeder Jan Krauze, who had failed to find a buyer for him at €42,000 at the Arqana August Sale last year before the colt’s eventual transfer to M’hammed Karimine. “It feels a little bit sad, if he is to leave France, because it’s obviously nice to be able to watch him,” Krauze said. “But at the same time I feel very proud: his mother [Insala Mala (Ire) (Bahhare)] only produces nice horses, she doesn’t know how to do anything else.” The most striking spectacle of the evening was the arrival, in a condition that reflects splendidly on trainer Carlos Laffon-Parias and his staff, of lot 26: Alignement (GB) (Pivotal {GB}), who had barely had time to be hosed down after winning the G2 Prix Dollar. Obviously his options remain fairly limited as a 5-year-old gelding, but the homebred’s hard-working and accomplished career for the Wertheimer brothers was not lost on a regular shopper here, Jassim Mohammed Gazhali, who duly gave €310,000 to export him back to Qatar. “He was on my list already, a really nice horse, but when he ran like that today he went to the top of it,” said the perennial champion trainer of Qatar. “I come here every year, the sale has brought us a lot of luck, and I hope he will be another suited by racing in my country. The Emir’s Sword will be his target I hope.” Laurels are also due to Amy Murphy, who found Happy Odyssey (Ire) (Camacho {GB}) for just £14,000 as a private sale at the Doncaster breeze-ups and here sold the recent Maisons-Laffitte listed winner, as lot 35, for €300,000 to Michael Donohoe of BBA Ireland on behalf of Zhang Yuesheng’s Yulong Invesments. “She’s a nice individual, with progressive form, and she’s also got a decent pedigree to back her up,” explained Donohoe. “Mr. Zhang has a big broodmare operation in Australia, so that is something to have in mind for down the line. I don’t know yet where she’ll be trained, Amy’s done a good job with her so far and she has her in a Group 3 in a couple of weeks, so we’ll see. Arqana were good enough to sponsor at Mr. Zhang’s private racecourse in China, so I guess this kind of reciprocates that–but he did particularly like this filly.” The same price was paid to dissolve the partnership fortunate enough to have raced dual listed runner-up filly Tresorerie (Fr) (Intello {Ger}) with Christophe Ferland. “We really wanted to keep her,” Antoine Krainc explained, after the 3-year-old filly was sold back to part-owner L’Ecurie Vivaldi as lot 29. “We saw the horse as a baby, we’ve believed in her all the way, and there’s a whole team behind her. You can’t help but become emotionally attached.” View the full article

Confidently ridden by Paco Lopez, champion sprinter Roy H won the Santa Anita Sprint Championship Stakes (G1) for a second year in a row Oct. 6 at the Arcadia, Calif., track. View the full article

Champion ROY H (g, 6, More Than Ready–Elusive Diva, by Elusive Quality) parlayed a win in last year’s GI Santa Anita Sprint Championship into a victory in the GI Breeders’s Cup Sprint and will head to the World Championships again this year after capturing Saturday’s renewal of that event. Tracking from a two-wide third through an opening quarter in :22.45, the even-money favorite ranged up alongside the leaders three wide as the half went up in :45.45. He sailed clear in the lane to win by three lengths in 1:09.09. Distintive B (With Distinction) was second and 3-2 shot Ransom the Moon (Malibu Moon) was third. Winner of the GII Palos Verdes S. in February, Roy H completed an American exacta in Meydan’s G1 Dubai Golden Shaheen Mar. 31 and was second to Ransom the Moon last time in Del Mar’s July 28 GI Bing Crosby S. Lifetime Record: 21-8-5-2. O-Rockingham Ranch & David Bernsen; B-Ramona Bass LLC (KY); T-Peter Miller. View the full article

NEXT SHARES (g, 5, Archarcharch–Two Dot Slew, by Evansville Slew) pulled off a double-digit upset to register his first top-level success in Keeneland’s GI Shadwell Turf Mile Saturday. Dismissed at 23-1, the dark bay saved ground in fifth as speedy Grade I winners Heart to Heart (English Channel) and Voodoo Song (English Channel) duked it out through opening splits of :23.37 and :47.14. Taking closer order on the backstretch as the pacesetters began to fold, Next Shares slipped through on the fence and stormed clear under Tyler Gaffalione for a decisive victory in 1:36.97. Great Wide Open (Ire) (Starspangledbanner {Aus}), an 81-1 shot, got up for second. A three-time winner under the care of Bill Mott for previous owners Brous Stable, Gary Barber and Wachtel Stable, Next Shares was purchased by bloodstock agent David Meah for $190,000 at the Keeneland November Sale last term and was sent to the Richard Baltas barn. Runner-up in the GI Frank Kilroe Mile in March, he was off the board behind Heart to Heart in this venue’s GI Maker’s 46 Mile a month later. Third in the GI Shoemaker Mile May 28, the gelding failed to fire in both the GII Eddie Read S. July 22 and the GII Del Mar Mile H. Aug. 19, but finally returned to the winner’s circle when given a class break last time in the restricted Old Friends S. at Kentucky Downs Sept. 6. Lifetime Record: 20-4-4-2. O-Jules & Michael Iavarone, Jerry McClanahan, Christopher Dunn, William Marasa, Ritchie Roberhsaw and Mark Taylor; B-Buck Pond Farm (KY); T-Richard Baltas. View the full article

The best-laid plans have a way of mocking those who dare to make them. In the case of Golden Mischief, however, they have come together in the exact fashion Juddmonte Farms manager Garrett O'Rourke hashed out nearly a year ago. View the full article

Finding room in the stretch inside under Tyler Gaffalione, Next Shares surged to his first grade 1 win Oct. 6 at Keeneland with a clear victory in the $1 million Shadwell Turf Mile Stakes. View the full article

Ironhorse Racing Stable's Bucchero, winner of last year's Woodford Presented by Keeneland Select (G2T), echoed that score Oct. 6 at Keeneland with a half-length score over Will Call in the 5 1/2-furlong race. View the full article

Confidently ridden by Paco Lopez, champion sprinter Roy H won the Santa Anita Sprint Championship Stakes (G1) for a second year in a row Oct. 6 at the Arcadia, Calif. track. View the full article

Klaravich Stables' Complexity made the leap from maiden winner to grade 1 in hero Oct. 6 when he secured the $500,000 Champagne Stakes (G1) at Belmont Park over a mile. View the full article

‘TDN Rising Star’ COMPLEXITY (c, 2, Maclean’s Music–Goldfield, by Yes It’s True) took the field from gate-to-wire to capture the GI Champagne S. at Belmont and stamp his ticket to next month’s GI Breeders’ Cup Juvenile at Churchill Downs. He earned the ‘TDN Rising Star’ moniker for an impressive front-running graduation going six panels at the Spa Sept. 3 and was favored at 5-2 to repeat here. Jumping out to an early lead, the $375,000 KEESEP buy was well within himself as he ticked off opening splits of :22.51 and :45.31. Showing the way into the lane on a clear lead, the bay cruised home under a hand ride from Jose Ortiz to win in 1:34.63. Code of Honor (Noble Mission {GB}), who fell at the break and trailed the field early, ran huge, rallied five-wide for second. This was the second fastest time for the Champagne since it has been run at the mile with the fastest belonging to champion Uncle Mo. It was the third win on the card for winning trainer Chad Brown and rider Jose Ortiz. Brown and Klaravich Stables, in partnership with William Lawrence, are also responsible for second-crop sire Maclean’s Music’s other top-level scorer, GI Preakness S. upsetter Cloud Computing. Lifetime Record: 2-2-0-0. O-Klaravich Stables; B-Stonestreet Thoroughbred Holdings (KY); T-Chad Brown. View the full article

At odds of 70-1, Knicks Go carried Albin Jimenez to his first grade 1 victory with a frontrunning score over 12 rivals in the 1 1/16-mile Claiborne Breeders' Futurity, a Breeders' Cup Challenge event for the Sentient Jet Breeders' Cup Juvenile (G1). View the full article

Sent off the longest shot on the board at 70-1, KRA Stud Farm’s KNICKS GO (c, 2, Paynter-Kosmo’s Buddy, by Outflanker) was kicked away from the stalls by Albin Jimenez, set a decent pace and proved not for catching to cause a boilover result in Saturday’s GI Claiborne Breeders’ Futurity at Keeneland, earning himself an all-expenses-paid berth in the gate for the GI Breeders’ Cup Classic at Churchill in four weeks’ time. A wire-to-wire graduate going 5 ½ furlongs on Ellis debut July 4, the $87,000 Keeneland September yearling was a well-beaten fifth behind Sombeyay (Into Mischief) in the GIII Sanford S. a little more than two weeks later and was last seen finishing third in the Arlington-Washington Futurity over the Arlington Poly Sept. 8. Adding Lasix for this first two-turn journey, the Maryland-bred seized command of the race early on and galloped along comfortably enough through fractions of :23.67 and :47.59. Sombeyay, prominent for the opening six furlongs, began to lose ground nearing the lane, but Knicks Go just kept on going and remained well clear to the wire. Signalman (General Quarters) was second ahead of the outposted Standard Deviation (Curlin), who made up a stack of ground from the tail after racing very wide on the final turn. Favored Dream Maker (Tapit) was hampered not long after the start and never looked comfortable in the run, finishing next to last. Knicks Go is the first graded winner and first Grade I winner for his sire (by Awesome Again). Lifetime Record: 4-2-0-1. O-KRA Stud Farm; B-Angie Moore (MD); T-Ben Colebrook. View the full article

Michael Dubb, Madaket Stables, and Bethlehem Stables' A Raving Beauty (GER) was back to her winning ways Oct. 6, running gate-to-wire to take the $400,000 First Lady (G1T) Oct. 6 at Keeneland. View the full article

R. S. Evans homebred HAVE AT IT (c, 3, Kitten’s Joy–Akronism, by Not For Love) got up late to spring a mild upset in Belmont’s GII Hill Prince S. Saturday. Pressing from second as Sand Dancer (Eskendereya) clocked an opening quarter in :24.94, the 11-1 shot was joined by Golden Brown (Offlee Wild) and the pair raced in tandem as Sand Dancer shot clear by several lengths after a half in :49.57. Closing in on that pacesetter in the lane, Have At It slipped past on the inside late and kicked clear to win by a length. Graduating at third asking at Keeneland last October, Have At It was off the board next out behind Raging Bull (Fr) (Dark Angel {Ire}) in a Belmont optional claimer in his belated seasonal bow June 8. Winning a nine-panel test in Elmont next out July 5, he was sixth to Raging Bull over a yielding course in Saratoga’s GII Hall of Fame S. Aug. 3 and was a neck second last time in the Spa’s restricted Better Talk Now S. Aug. 27. Lifetime Record: 8-3-2-0. O/B-Robert S. Evans (KY); T-Christophe Clement. View the full article

TIZ BREATHTAKING (f, 2, Tiznow-I’m Breathtaking, by Elusive Quality) dropped out to trail in a paceless renewal of Saturday’s GIII Mazarine S. over the Woodbine Polytrack, but was put out to the center of the track in upper stretch and managed to get her nose down on the wire to just touch off her chief market rival Carnival Colors (GB) (Distorted Humor) and the rail-rallying Cosmic Kitten (Kitten’s Joy). Favored at just over even money and stretching out to a route of ground off a 1 3/4-length success in the 5 1/2-furlong Shady Well S. Aug. 4, Tiz Breathtaking already caboosed the field entering the first turn and was quietly ridden despite the lack of any fractions to close into whatsoever. Spotting Carnival Colors a significant tactical advantage, as the latter raced much closer to the speed from midfield, Tiz Breathtaking was called upon, displayed a quick turn of foot and looked to have the most momentum. Carnival Colors re-rallied inside of Tiz Breathtaking and Cosmic Kitten made good ground at the fence, but the chalk was shoved across the line first in an exciting three-way go. Tiz Breathtaking is the 43rd graded stakes winner for Tiznow and is kin to a yearling colt by Honor Code who fetched $400,000 at this year’s Keeneland September sale. O-Windhaven Farms Inc; B-William D Graham (ON); T-Michael Doyle. View the full article

A RAVING BEAUTY (GER) (m, 5, Mastercraftsman {Ire}–Anabasis {Ger}, by High Chaparral {Ire}) returned to winning ways with a front-running score in Keeneland’s GI First Lady S., a Breeders’ Cup Win and You’re In” event. Seizing the early advantage, the gray was pressed along by ‘TDN Rising Star’ Valadorna (Curlin) through early fractions of :24.40 and :49.11 with stablemate Quidura (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) and 3-year-old European invader Crown Walk (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) in tow. Bowling along on the lead, A Raving Beauty began to draw clear in the lane, but Dona Bruja (Storm Embrujado {Arg}) was just getting started and came flying after the leader in late stretch. However, she could not quite get there in time and A Raving Beauty held steady for a narrow victory in 1:37.78. A three time winner in Europe under previous trainer Andreas Suborics, A Raving Beauty captured her first two American starts for Chad Brown in Belmont’s GIII Beaugay S. May 12 and GI Just a Game S. June 9. Third in Saratoga’s GI Diana S. July 21, she was fourth last time in that venue’s GII Ballston Spa S. Aug. 25. Lifetime Record: 22-6-3-3. O-Michael Dubb, Madaket Stables & Bethlehem Stables; B-Gestut Karlshof (Ger); T-Chad Brown. View the full article

WOW CAT (CHI) (f, 4, Lookin at Lucky–Winter Cat {Chi}, by Cat Thief), already a four-time winner at the highest level in her native Chile, captured her first American Grade I in style with a decisive score in Belmont’s GI Beldame S. Saturday. Favored at 6-5, the bay ran off the rail in fourth as MGSW Farrell (Malibu Moon) dueled Come Dancing (Malibu Moon) through opening splits of :23.59 and :46.88. Ranging up outside the top two on the backstretch run as Farrell threw in the towel, Wow Cat stuck her head in front turning for home and rolled clear in the lane to win as she pleased in 1:47.75. Divine Miss Grey (Divine Park) got up for second and Verve’s Tale (Tale of Ekati) was third. Wow Cat was a neck second, splitting Farrell and Verve’s Tale, as the heavy favorite in her U.S. debut in Saratoga’s GIII Shuvee S. July 29. She was a well-beaten third last time in that venue’s prestigious GI Personal Ensign S. Aug. 25, finishing 10 lengths behind the dynamic duo of champion Abel Tasman (Quality Road) and MGISW ‘TDN Rising Star’ Elate (Medaglia d’Oro). Lifetime Record: 11-9-1-1. O-Peter Brant & Stud Vendaval Inc.; B-Haras Paso Nevado (Chi); T-Chad Brown. View the full article

A two-time group 1 winner in Chile, Wow Cat (CHI) scored an easy victory in the $400,000 Beldame Invitational Stakes (G1) Oct. 6 at Belmont Park to earn her first North American grade 1 win. View the full article

Ironhorse Racing Stable's Bucchero, winner of last year's Woodford Presented by Keeneland Select (G2T), echoed that score Oct. 6 at Keeneland with a half-length score over Will Call in the 5 1/2-furlong race. View the full article

Patricia Generazio is still the only owner-breeder to win the $150,000 Belmont Turf Sprint Invitational after her homebred Disco Partner rolled to a clear victory in the six-furlong test Oct. 6 at Belmont Park. View the full article

Mind Control (Stay Thirsty), last month’s GI Hopeful S. winner, was forced to scratch from Saturday’s GI Claiborne Breeders’ Futurity due to a fever. “We came in yesterday at five in the morning and his temperature was 102, and it stayed that way until four in the afternoon and we treated him,” said Rick Sacco, brother of trainer Greg Sacco, Saturday morning. “By 6:00, he was fine.” Mind Control was the 7-2 morning-line favorite for the Breeders’ Futurity, which would have been his first two-turn test. “He’s perfect this morning,” Sacco said. “We did bloodwork on him again this morning and if it comes back perfect he will be on a 6:00 a.m. Tex Sutton flight back to Monmouth [Sunday] and train up to the Breeders’ Cup.” View the full article

MGSW millionaire Neck ‘n Neck (Flower Alley–Bootery, by Storm Boot) will take up stud duties next season at Indiana’s Breakaway Farm, where he will command a $2,000 fee. Currently nine, the dark bay racked up a $1,174,354 bankroll from a record of 45-6-10-9. He annexed the GIII Matt Winn S. GII Indiana Derby and GIII Ack Ack H. at three, and added the GIII Greenwood Cup S. over 12 panels in 2015. View the full article

Frankel filly took the Prix Thomas Bryon (G3) last out at Saint-Cloud View the full article