Wandering Eyes

WAR OF WILL (c, 3, War Front–Visions of Clarity {Ire}, by Sadler’s Wells), among the runners most impacted by Maximum Security (New Year’s Day) shifting out heading for home in the GI Kentucky Derby, enjoyed a perfect ground-saving trip this time to take the GI Preakness S. in 1:54.34. He bested late-running longshot Everfast (Take Charge Indy) by about 1 1/4 lengths, with Brad Cox trainees Owendale (Into Mischief) and Warrior’s Charge (Munnings) running well for third and fourth, respectively. War of Will, an impressive winner of the GIII Lecomte S. and GII Risen Star S. at Fair Grounds earlier this year before failing to fire his best shot after an awkward beginning at odds-on in the GII Louisiana Derby. He crossed the wire eighth, and was moved up to seventh, in the much-talked-about Kentucky Derby. This was his trainer Mark Casse’s first American Classic victory. Maiden Bodexpress (Bodemeister) dropped pilot John Velazquez at the start and chased the field riderless, but both he and Velazquez appeared to escape the incident without serious injury. Sales history: $175,000 yrl ’17 KEESEP; €250,000 2yo ’18 ARQMAY. Lifetime Record: 10-4-1-1. O-Gary Barber. B-Flaxman Holdings Limited (Ky). T-Mark Casse. The post War Front’s War of Will Gives Casse First American Classic appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

The 2019 racing season could not have started any better for multiple grade 1 winner Catholic Boy, who scored by a half-length in the $250,000 Dixie Stakes (G2T) May 18 at Pimlico Race Course. View the full article

Calumet Farm's Lexitonian rallied with gusto while splitting horses in the stretch under jockey Jose Ortiz and prevailed in the final strides to take the $200,000 Chick Lang Stakes (G3) by a head over Gladiator King. View the full article

Jockey Emma-Jayne Wilson worked out a perfect pocket trip aboard Power Gal to take the $125,000 Selene Stakes (G3) for 3-year-old fillies in a mild upset May 18 at Woodbine Racetrack. View the full article

1.35 Naas, Mdn, €15,000, 3yo, f, 8fT KISS FOR A JEWEL (IRE) (Kingman {GB}) has it all, pedigree-wise, being by the sire of the moment out of the G2 British Champions Fillies & Mares Turf winner Sapphire (Ire) (Medicean {GB}). Moyglare Stud’s homebred has smart form too, having finished runner-up in an extended mile maiden at the Galway track so close to trainer Dermot Weld’s heart, and expectations will be high as she takes on Khalid Abdullah’s Kaftan (GB) (Dansili {GB}), a Ger Lyons trainee whose dam is a sister to the classy middle-distance performer Day Flight (GB) (Sadler’s Wells) and half to the former ‘TDN Rising Star’ and G3 Prestige S. winner Sense of Pride (GB) also by Dansili. 2.05 Naas, Cond, €40,000, 2yo, 5fT PISTOLETTO (War Front) earned ‘TDN Rising Star’ status with a 5 1/2-length debut win at Tipperary last month and is looking at a possible Royal Ascot date. Ballydoyle’s full-brother to the dual GI Rodeo Drive S. heroine Avenge faces three in this “Coolmore Gustav Klimt Race”. The post Observations: May 19, 2018 appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

After running fifth in the Columbia Stakes at Tampa Bay Downs last out, Calumet Farm homebred English Bee made a triumphant return to the turf in the $100,000 James W. Murphy Stakes May 18 at Pimlico Race Course. View the full article

Country House might not have been at Pimlico Race Course on Preakness Stakes Day, but his half sister Mitchell Road did the family proud May 18 when she drew off to win the $150,000 Gallorette Stakes (G3T). View the full article

MITCHELL ROAD (f, 4, English Channel–Quake Lake, by War Chant), a half-sister to none other than GI Kentucky Derby winner Country House (Lookin At Lucky), represented the family well on this GI Preakness S. card, taking her foes from start to finish to score by about 2 1/2 lengths. Thewayiam (Fr) (Thewayyouare) was second and Viva Vegas (The Factor) was third. Mitchell Road, who stopped the clock in 1:41.21, rode a three-race win streak into Saturday’s graded debut. She was last seen annexing the Albert M. Stall Memorial S. at Fair Grounds Feb. 16 over GII Churchill Downs Distaff Turf Mile heroine Beau Recall (Ire) (Sir Prancealot {Ire}). Lifetime Record: 7-5-2-0. O-Mrs. J. V. Shields, Jr. & E. J. M. McFadden, Jr. B-J. V. Shields, Jr. T-William I Mott. The post English Channel Half Sis to Derby Winner Makes the Grade on Preakness Day appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

A filly by Uncle Mo out of the Group 1 winner and stakes producer Stormy Kiss (Arg) (Bernstein) (lot 11) earned top honours during the first of four sessions of the Copa Bullrich sale at Palermo Racecourse in Argentina on May 14 when selling for $95,000. The bay filly is a half-sister to the GIII Hawthorne Gold Cup second Futile (Broken Vow), and was bred by Nicolas Ojea Quintana’s Haras El Chanar. The sale’s top-priced colt was the very first lot through the ring (lot 1), an Equal Stripes (Arg) three-quarter-brother to Uruguayan champion and American Horse of the Year Invasor (Arg) (Candy Stripes {Arg}). He fetched $90,000 from trainer Guillermo Frenkel Santillan. Also proving popular was lot 2, a full-brother to the seven-time Group 1 winner and now Classic-producing Malpensa (Arg) (Orpen), the dam of Japan’s G1 Kikuka Sho and G1 Arima Kinen winner Satono Diamond (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}). He brought $65,000 from Stud Montiel. Day two of the sale on May 16 was conducted at Haras La Pasion, with a top price of $30,000 realised for lot 45, a filly by Hurricane Cat. The Copa Bullrich sale continues at Haras La Pasion on June 4 and 6, and June 4 will feature 41 yearlings, mostly colts, all by Mastercraftsman (Ire) and offered by Haras Firmamento. The post Uncle Mo Filly Tops Copa Bullrich appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Since my first visit to Summer Wind Farm last year, the Georgetown nursery has become a regular stop on my frequent trips to Kentucky. The gorgeous property with field after field full of regally bred Thoroughbreds is a horse lover’s paradise. A trip to Summer Wind is like a trip to Oz for a lifelong equestrian like myself, but the icing on the cake is the farm’s owner, Jane Lyon. On this visit, she is well dressed, as always, with part of her hair sweeping across her face and the rest pulled back in a beautiful barrette. Her blue eyes sparkle as she greets me with her million-dollar smile and a warm hug. “Hi sweet girl! How are you?” Lyon asks, her accent giving away her Little Rock, Arkansas, roots. Lyon is as kind, caring and generous as they come and that extends to both humans and animals alike. Any horse born on Summer Wind can always return home and the farm is filled with rescue dogs and cats. Though she splits her time between Arkansas and Kentucky, each of Lyon’s horses know her well and are quick to greet her in search of the carrots she always has handy. But make no mistake, Lyon is as sharp, determined and diligent as she is sweet. She is a woman who knows what she wants, has great taste and very good instincts, which can be seen in the star-studded broodmare band that she has assembled. With the help of her late husband Frank Lyon, the lifelong horse lover has spent decades pursuing her dream of raising quality horses in the Bluegrass and that dream has reached new heights recently. Over the past two years, Summer Wind has been responsible for the likes of champion Game Winner, multiple Grade I stakes winners McKinzie and Moonshine Memories, Japanese Group 1 stakes winner Mozu Ascot and Grade I stakes winner Chasing Yesterday. The farm also had a banner sales season last term and is preparing a group of yearlings for market this year that are sure to turn heads. Click here to read the full feature. {"id":3,"instanceName":"Articles No Playlist","videos":[{"videoType":"HTML5","title":"Jane Lyon & her Triple Crown Mares","description":"","info":"","thumbImg":"","mp4":"https://player.vimeo.com/external/336486034.sd.mp4?s=6e8439892c2dab84d0d18ff441fc6c9d594e169e&profile_id=165","enable_mp4_download":"no","prerollAD":"yes","prerollGotoLink":"prerollGotoLink","preroll_mp4_title":"preroll_mp4_title","preroll_mp4":"https://player.vimeo.com/external/334504279.sd.mp4?s=fae66aaac73739ff2440603d55af2d92a777b8bb&profile_id=165","prerollSkipTimer":"5","midrollAD":"no","midrollAD_displayTime":"midrollAD_displayTime","midrollGotoLink":"midrollGotoLink","midroll_mp4":"midroll_mp4","midrollSkipTimer":"midrollSkipTimer","postrollAD":"no","postrollGotoLink":"postrollGotoLink","postroll_mp4":"postroll_mp4","postrollSkipTimer":"postrollSkipTimer","popupAdShow":"no","popupImg":"popupImg","popupAdStartTime":"popupAdStartTime","popupAdEndTime":"popupAdEndTime","popupAdGoToLink":"popupAdGoToLink"}],"instanceTheme":"light","playerLayout":"fitToContainer","videoPlayerWidth":720,"videoPlayerHeight":405,"videoRatio":1.7777777777778,"videoRatioStretch":true,"videoPlayerShadow":"effect1","colorAccent":"#000000","posterImg":"","posterImgOnVideoFinish":"","logoShow":"No","logoPath":"","logoPosition":"bottom-right","logoClickable":"No","logoGoToLink":"","allowSkipAd":true,"advertisementTitle":"Ad","skipAdvertisementText":"Skip Ad","skipAdText":"You can skip this ad in","playBtnTooltipTxt":"Play","pauseBtnTooltipTxt":"Pause","rewindBtnTooltipTxt":"Rewind","downloadVideoBtnTooltipTxt":"Download video","qualityBtnOpenedTooltipTxt":"Close settings","qualityBtnClosedTooltipTxt":"Settings","muteBtnTooltipTxt":"Mute","unmuteBtnTooltipTxt":"Unmute","fullscreenBtnTooltipTxt":"Fullscreen","exitFullscreenBtnTooltipTxt":"Exit fullscreen","infoBtnTooltipTxt":"Show info","embedBtnTooltipTxt":"Embed","shareBtnTooltipTxt":"Share","volumeTooltipTxt":"Volume","playlistBtnClosedTooltipTxt":"Show playlist","playlistBtnOpenedTooltipTxt":"Hide playlist","facebookBtnTooltipTxt":"Share on Facebook","twitterBtnTooltipTxt":"Share on Twitter","googlePlusBtnTooltipTxt":"Share on Google+","lastBtnTooltipTxt":"Go to last video","firstBtnTooltipTxt":"Go to first video","nextBtnTooltipTxt":"Play next video","previousBtnTooltipTxt":"Play previous video","shuffleBtnOnTooltipTxt":"Shuffle on","shuffleBtnOffTooltipTxt":"Shuffle off","nowPlayingTooltipTxt":"NOW PLAYING","embedWindowTitle1":"SHARE THIS PLAYER:","embedWindowTitle2":"EMBED THIS VIDEO IN YOUR SITE:","embedWindowTitle3":"SHARE LINK TO THIS PLAYER:","lightBox":false,"lightBoxAutoplay":false,"lightBoxThumbnail":"","lightBoxThumbnailWidth":400,"lightBoxThumbnailHeight":220,"lightBoxCloseOnOutsideClick":true,"onFinish":"Play next video","autoplay":false,"loadRandomVideoOnStart":"No","shuffle":"No","playlist":"Off","playlistBehaviourOnPageload":"opened (default)","playlistScrollType":"light","preloadSelfHosted":"none","hideVideoSource":true,"showAllControls":true,"rightClickMenu":true,"autohideControls":2,"hideControlsOnMouseOut":"No","nowPlayingText":"Yes","infoShow":"No","shareShow":"No","facebookShow":"No","twitterShow":"No","mailShow":"No","facebookShareName":"","facebookShareLink":"","facebookShareDescription":"","facebookSharePicture":"","twitterText":"","twitterLink":"","twitterHashtags":"","twitterVia":"","googlePlus":"","embedShow":"No","embedCodeSrc":"","embedCodeW":720,"embedCodeH":405,"embedShareLink":"","youtubeControls":"custom controls","youtubeSkin":"dark","youtubeColor":"red","youtubeQuality":"default","youtubeShowRelatedVideos":"Yes","vimeoColor":"00adef","showGlobalPrerollAds":false,"globalPrerollAds":"url1;url2;url3;url4;url5","globalPrerollAdsSkipTimer":5,"globalPrerollAdsGotoLink":"","videoType":"HTML5 (self-hosted)","submit":"Save Changes","rootFolder":"http:\/\/wp.tdn.pmadv.com\/wp-content\/plugins\/Elite-video-player\/"} The post From the TDN Look: At Summer Wind, It’s Always Triple Crown Season appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. 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Omaha Beach (War Front), the would-be favorite in the GI Kentucky Derby who was scratched with an entrapped epiglottis three days before the race, will have his return to California delayed. The son of the immaculately bred Charming (Seeking the Gold) underwent surgery at Rood and Riddle May 3, but is not quite ready to head back to the Richard Mandella barn at Santa Anita. “He’s still at WinStar Farm in Kentucky, but he’s not quite healed up yet,” the Hall of Fame trainer said Saturday morning. “He’ll be on a plane to California but we don’t have a schedule to know when that is. “It shouldn’t be too long, perhaps a week or so. He is healing from the procedure, but it’s just not healed enough yet to ship him right now.” The post ‘Omaha’ Return to California On Hold appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Juddmonte Farms’s Tacitus (Tapit), who rallied from 16th to cross the line fourth before being promoted to third in the GI Kentucky Derby May 4, returned to the worktab Saturday morning as he begins preparations for an appearance in the GI Belmont S. June 9. Under the watchful eye of Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott, the gray son of champion Close Hatches (Unbridled’s Song) breezed a half-mile in :48.57 just after 6 a.m. in the company of 2017 GIII Illinois Derby winner Multiplier (The Factor) over the Belmont main track (XBTV video). He covered the opening quarter-mile in :24.3 and galloped out five panels in 1:01.44 as he edged away from his workmate. “It all went smoothly. It was his first breeze back and exactly what we wanted,” said Mott. “It’s what I expected. They look like a good team together.” The conditioner said that Derby winner and ‘TDN Rising Star’ Country House (Lookin At Lucky) has been tack-walking since returning to Churchill this past Wednesday following an examination at Rood and Riddle in Lexington. “I’ll leave him there for a couple weeks. I want to make sure that he’s healthy before we move him and make sure everything is good as it should be,” said Mott. The post Tacitus Works Towards Belmont appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

After running fifth in the Columbia Stakes at Tampa Bay Downs last out, Calumet Farm homebred English Bee made a triumphant return to the turf in the $100,000 James W. Murphy Stakes May 18 at Pimlico Race Course. View the full article

The connections of New York Central bided their time with the 4-year-old Tapit colt, and were rewarded May 18 when he galloped to a 1 3/4-length score in the $150,000 Clear Span Maryland Sprint Stakes (G3) at Pimlico Race Course. View the full article

Classic action in Europe on Sunday takes place in Cologne and Rome, and the G2 Mehl-Mulhens-Rennen, or German 2000 Guineas, has attracted a strong cast from Britain. G1 2000 Guineas form is represented by Great Scot (GB) (Requinto {Ire}), who was ninth in the May 4 Newmarket feature having finished second in the G3 Greenham S. over seven furlongs at Newbury on Apr. 13. That level could easily be enough, but King Power Racing’s Fox Champion (Ire) (Kodiac {GB}) is intriguing based on his seven-furlong conditions success at Newmarket’s Craven meeting Apr. 18. Echkard Sauren’s homebred G3 Preis des Winterfavoriten winner Noble Moon (Ger) (Sea the Moon {Ger}) needs to rebound from a return fifth in the G3 Dr Busch-Memorial over another half-furlong at Krefeld Apr. 28, while Australian Bloodstock Stable’s G2 Grand Criterium third Revelstoke (GB) (Toronado {Ire}) is coming into this off a confidence boost having captured a conditions event at Mulheim last time May 6. Sunday also sees plenty of stakes action at Capannelle in Rome, where the €704,000 G2 Derby Italiano is anchored by three group races and a pair of listed contests. Among those with intrigue in the main event are Alduino Botti’s Mission Boy (GB) (Paco Boy {Ire}). The bay went unbeaten through four starts at two, culminating with a win in the G2 Gran Criterium in October and also including a pair of listed wins, and after winning the Listed Premio Gardone on his 3-year-old debut he was second by 1 1/4 lengths in the G3 Premio Parioli (Italian 2000 Guineas). The Scuderia Blueberry colourbearer ventures beyond a mile for the first time in this one mile three furlong contest. Call Me Love (GB) (Sea the Stars {Ire}) is one of two fillies in the lineup and she will attempt to become the first female since 1936 to win this Classic. She comes with a big shot, too, with an unbeaten record that includes three wins by a combined 17 lengths. The 82,000gns Tattersalls October Book 1 yearling won the Listed Premio Camporobello last October the same day that Mission Boy won his Group 2, and she was last seen routing a 10-furlong Rome conditions race on Apr. 14. Her pedigree suggests the extra furlong will be well within her reach. Royal Ascot Trials Day at Naas sees pointers galore to the Royal meeting, with Ballydoyle’s ‘TDN Rising Star’ Pistoletto (War Front) looking to back up his impressive Tipperary debut success in the five-furlong Coolmore Gustav Klimt Race before the stable’s duo take on Khalid Abdullah’s Peace Charter (GB) (War Front) in the G3 Coolmore Stud Irish EBF Fillies’ Sprint S. Peace Charter and the re-opposing So Wonderful (War Front) were one-two over this course and distance Apr. 29 and their rematch will be fascinating with the G3 Albany S. in mind. In the G3 Goffs Lacken S., ‘TDN Rising Star’ So Perfect (Scat Daddy) looks to book her ticket to the June 21 G1 Commonwealth Cup after her latest third in the G3 Fred Darling S. at Newbury Apr. 13. Last year’s G1 Phoenix S. runner-up and G1 Cheveley Park S. third was only fourth in the G3 Sprint S. on this card as a juvenile, but that may have been a minor blip. “She had a lovely run in the Fred Darling at Newbury at the start of the season and we are bringing her back to sprinting with a view to possibly heading for the Commonwealth Cup at Royal Ascot,” Aidan O’Brien said. Inverleigh (Ire) (Excelebration {Ire}) beat So Perfect’s stablemate The Irish Rover (Ire) (No Nay Never) in the Listed Committed S. over nearly six at Navan last time Apr. 28 and looks a sprinter on the up. The post Strong British Raid On Cologne’s Guineas; Rome Stages Derby appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Sir Evelyn de Rothschild’s Crystal Ocean (GB) (Sea the Stars {Ire}) is proof that reliability and consistency can translate to damning praise, but the ‘TDN Rising Star’ was just admirably honest and genuine again on Saturday as he registered back-to-back renewals of Newbury’s G3 Al Rayyan S., or Aston Park S. Described as still unfurnished by Sir Michael Stoute despite his notable achievements as a 3-year-old, the homebred is now feeding back the rewards for his trainer’s much-discussed patient approach as he nears his most demanding test yet at Royal Ascot. Taking a straightforward course of action in the saddle as he generally does, Ryan Moore stuck close to the early leader and despite being attacked by Raymond Tusk three out coaxed the 2-9 favourite to the front a furlong later en route to another authoritative two-length success from Laraaib (Ire) (Pivotal {GB}). Whether Crystal Ocean possesses the speed to deal with the likes of Enable (GB) (Nathaniel {Ire}) and Sea of Class (Ire) (Sea the Stars {Ire}) in the June 19 G1 Prince of Wales’s. at Royal Ascot remains to be seen, as the 2017 G1 St Leger runner-up has been short of his peak when winning the last two renewals of Sandown’s G3 Gordon Richards S. over that 10-furlong trip. “I’ve seen him be more impressive, but that was a good workmanlike performance and we’re happy with that,” his trainer commented after recording a seventh success in this contest. “My preference at this stage at Royal Ascot is for the Prince of Wales’s. A mile and a quarter is not a problem, the problem will be the opposition.” Pedigree Notes Now a six-times pattern-race winner, Crystal Ocean has three half-siblings in his mold including the GI Canadian International S. hero Hillstar (GB) (Danehill Dancer {Ire}) and the high-class mare Crystal Capella (GB) by Sea the Stars’ sire Cape Cross (Ire). The Listed Radley S.-winning dam Crystal Star (GB) (Mark of Esteem {Ire}), who was also runner-up in the G3 Fred Darling S., is a granddaughter of Krisalya (GB) (Kris {GB}). A half-sister to the G1 Prix d’Ispahan hero Sasuru (GB) (Most Welcome {GB}) and the G2 Challenge S. winner Sally Rous (Ire) (Rousillon), she produced the G1 Poule d’Essai des Pouliches heroine Rose Gypsy (GB) to a mating with Cape Cross’s sire Green Desert. Saturday, Newbury, Britain AL RAYYAN S. (REGISTERED AS THE ASTON PARK S.)-G3, £100,000, Newbury, 5-18, 4yo/up, 12fT, 2:33.78, gd. 1–CRYSTAL OCEAN (GB), 129, h, 5, by Sea the Stars (Ire) 1st Dam: Crystal Star (GB) (SW & GSP-Eng), by Mark of Esteem (Ire) 2nd Dam: Crystal Cavern, by Be My Guest 3rd Dam: Krisalya (GB), by Kris (GB) ‘TDN Rising Star’ O-Sir Evelyn de Rothschild; B-Southcourt Stud (GB); T-Sir Michael Stoute; J-Ryan Moore. £56,710. Lifetime Record: MG1SP-Eng, 14-7-5-2, $1,502,187. *1/2 to Hillstar (GB) (Danehill Dancer {Ire}), Hwt. 3yo-Eng at 11-14f, GISW-Can, MGSW & G1SP-Eng, $1,221,978; Crystal Capella (GB) (Cape Cross {Ire}), Hwt. Older Mare-Eng at 9.5-11f & MGSW-Eng, $550,532; and Crystal Zvezda (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}), SW-Eng. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree. Werk Nick Rating: A++. 2–Laraaib (Ire), 129, h, 5, Pivotal (GB)–Sahool (GB), by Unfuwain. O-Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum; B-Shadwell Estate Company Ltd (IRE); T-Owen Burrows. £21,500. 3–Raymond Tusk (Ire), 131, c, 4, High Chaparral (Ire)–Dancing Shoes (Ire), by Danehill. (€85,000 Ylg ’16 ARAUG). O-Middleham Park Racing XXXI & K Sohi; B-Lynch-Bages & Rhinestone Bloodstock (IRE); T-Richard Hannon. £10,760. Margins: 2, 3, 1. Odds: 0.20, 6.00, 10.00. Also Ran: Pivoine (Ire), Top Tug (Ire), Red Verdon, Count Calabash (Ire). Click for the Racing Post result or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. Video, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton. The post Crystal Ocean Delivers Again appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Red Oak Stable's homebred sophomore King for a Day, by Uncle Mo, won the May 18 Sir Barton Stakes at Pimlico by 2 1/2 lengths as the 2-5 favorite. The Sir Barton was the first stakes on the Preakness Day program. View the full article

Sir Michael Stoute’s renowned prowess with older horses had already been championed on Newbury’s Saturday card by Crystal Ocean (GB) (Sea the Stars {Ire}) in the G3 Aston Park S., but the 6-year-old Mustashry (GB) (Tamayuz {GB}) readily trumped that by becoming the first of his age to win the G1 Al Shaqab Lockinge S. since 2006. Tightened by a comeback third in the nine-furlong G3 Earl of Sefton S. at Newmarket Apr. 18, Shadwell’s homebred was always happy tracking the pace in a perfect stalking position under cover. Ridden before the 5-1 joint-favourite Laurens (Fr) (Siyouni {Fr}) was dead ahead with over two furlongs remaining, the 9-1 shot nevertheless picked up better and swamped her a furlong from home before his staying power kicked in to make a decisive difference. At the line, last year’s G2 Park S. and G2 Joel S. winner had 2 1/2 lengths to spare over the filly, with the G1 Queen Anne S. hero Accidental Agent (GB) (Delegator {GB}) putting in an ideal warm-up for his return to Royal Ascot, a half length away in third. “This horse has improved every season and we thought he’d run a big race today,” jockey Jim Crowley said. “I got a nice tow into it from Laurens and he now feels like a proper horse, having won over seven, a mile and a mile and a quarter. He’s so consistent and very amenable in a race, is never keen and a pleasure to be around.” Related to the stable’s dual G2 Hardwicke S.-winning stalwart Maraahel (Ire) (Alzao), Mustashry was reportedly plagued with splint issues as a youngster and stayed mainly in handicap company until winning York’s G3 Strensall S. over nearly nine furlongs in August 2017. A year later, he had been seen in public on just two subsequent occasions and ran second to Lord Glitters (Fr) (Whipper) in the same race before dropping to seven furlongs to win Doncaster’s Park S. and following up in Newmarket’s Joel over this trip. Audaciously taken to Churchill Downs for the GI Breeders’ Cup Mile, the dark bay was only four lengths away from stablemate Expert Eye (GB) (Acclamation {GB}) when denied an uninterrupted trip in 11th there and performed with credit when returning ring-rusty under a five-pound penalty in the Earl of Sefton. This was the latest feather in the cap of Stoute, who was registering an eighth success in a race in which he already held the record and first won with Scottish Reel (Ire) 33 years before. “We knew he was in very good shape and we’ve never had him better than he is this spring,” he said. “I would think the [June 18] Queen Anne would be the right move, but he’s a versatile horse who has won over a mile and a quarter.” Laurens is one of several in this line-up that will be re-opposing at Royal Ascot and trainer Karl Burke said of her, “I was delighted with her run, she lost her lead but then in the last 50 yards got her second wind and stayed on again, so I’m sure there’s some improvement in her. She will go for the Queen Anne next and it will be fillies’ only after that.” Eve Johnson Houghton said of Accidental Agent, “We’re thrilled. He’s come back to what we know he is and proven himself again. He lost a shoe and took a big blow one and a half out, so we’re looking forward to taking on the winner again in the Queen Anne.” Mustashry’s half-brother Munaaser (GB) (New Approach {Ire}) was initially trained by Stoute and proved a smart handicapper at around this trip, finishing runner-up in the Silver Cambridgeshire H. at Newmarket before posting a second in the G3 Abu Dhabi Championship. The dam is a half-sister to the aforementioned Maraahel, who was placed on six occasions at this level including when losing out by pixels in the 2006 G1 Juddmonte International, and also the G3 Prestige S. third Huja (Ire) (Alzao). The third dam Mathaayl (Shadeed) is a half to the G3 Princess Margaret S. winner Muhbubh (Blushing Groom {Fr}) and a close relative of the Australian champion sire Twig Moss (Fr). Her descendants include the 2015 G2 Prix Robert Papin scorer Gutaifan (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}) and the G1 Premio Jockey Club winner and G1 St Leger runner-up Ventura Storm (Ire) (Zoffany {Ire}). Safwa also has an as-yet unraced 2-year-old filly by Shamardal named Rabaahbah (Ire). Saturday, Newbury, Britain AL SHAQAB LOCKINGE S.-G1, £350,000, Newbury, 5-18, 4yo/up, 8fT, 1:35.80, gd. 1–MUSTASHRY (GB), 126, g, 6, by Tamayuz (GB) 1st Dam: Safwa (Ire), by Green Desert 2nd Dam: Nasanice (Ire), by Nashwan 3rd Dam: Mathaayl, by Shadeed 1ST GROUP 1 WIN. O-Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum; B-Shadwell Estate Company Ltd (GB); T-Sir Michael Stoute; J-Jim Crowley. £198,485. Lifetime Record: 18-8-3-1, $647,210. *1/2 to Munaaser (GB) (New Approach {Ire}), GSP-UAE, $207,580. Werk Nick Rating: A+. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree. 2–Laurens (Fr), 123, f, 4, Siyouni (Fr)–Recambe (Ire), by Cape Cross (Ire). (£220,000 Ylg ’16 GOUKPR). O-John Dance; B-Bloodstock Agency Ltd (FR); T-Karl Burke. £75,250. 3–Accidental Agent (GB), 126, h, 5, Delegator (GB)–Roodle (GB), by Xaar (GB). (8,000gns RNA Ylg ’15 TAOCT). O/B-Mrs R F Johnson Houghton (GB); T-Eve Johnson Houghton. £37,660. Margins: 2HF, HF, 3/4. Odds: 9.00, 5.00, 33.00. Also Ran: Romanised (Ire), Le Brivido (Fr), I Can Fly (GB), Sir Dancealot (Ire), Ostilio (GB), Billesdon Brook (GB), Sharja Bridge (GB), Beat The Bank (GB), Mythical Magic (Ire), Lord Glitters (Fr), Without Parole (GB). Click for the Racing Post result or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. Video, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton. The post Tamayuz’s Mustashry Dominates the Lockinge appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Tacitus, elevated to third in the May 4 Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve (G1), went a half-mile May 18 at Belmont Park in preparation for the June 8 Belmont Stakes Presented by NYRA Bets (G1). View the full article

After a three-month world tour that included visits to a host of the globe’s best trainers, Douglas Whyte is back in Hong Kong and is confident he is ready to hit the ground running in his new career.The 13-time champion jockey will soon become Sha Tin’s newest trainer and he has left no stone unturned in ensuring he’s as prepared as possible.He’s spent time with the likes of William Haggas, Michael Stoute and Charlie Appleby in the United Kingdom, Mike de Kock in Dubai and David Hayes and… View the full article

Champion jockey Zac Purton left Sha Tin on Saturday battered and bruised but it was his four winners that mattered most to him.Such is the state of play in the Hong Kong jockey ranks at the moment that when Purton rides a swag of winners hardly anyone bats an eyelid, but the Australian is adamant it is not as easy as it may look to punters.Behind the success is hours of preparation and negotiations to get himself on winning chances day in, day out.“It is still a lot of hard work trying to get… View the full article

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A flurry of jockey retirements in the last few months started with Noel Fehily, who announced his intention to step down after victory aboard Eglantine Du Seuil (Fr) at the Cheltenham Festival in March. Nine days later he set the seal on a career spanning 20 years and more than 1,300 winners with one final salute for Harry Fry on his young prospect Get In The Queue (GB), who landed the Goffs UK Spring Sale Bumper at Newbury. And it will be at the Goffs UK Spring Sale next week in which Fehily makes a first appearance in his new guise as vendor when, through Ballincurrig House Stud, his Hagg Hill Farm will offer a homebred daughter of Fame And Glory (GB) and a pinhooked gelding by Muhtathir (GB). From riding such luminaries as Champion Chase hero Special Tiara (GB), Champion Hurdlers Rock On Ruby (Ire) and Buveur d’Air (Fr), and top-class chaser Silviniaco Conti (Fr), Fehily will be aiming both to breed and produce horses of similarly high calibre and will be aided in this quest by his wife Natasha. When the TDN arrives at Hagg Hill Farm in Wiltshire, it’s clear that actual retirement is the farthest thing from Fehily’s mind. A licensed jockey no more, he is still putting his supreme riding skills to good use and is eventually tracked down by Natasha in a vast lunge ring, in which he is breaking in a filly for Harry Fry, the young trainer with whom he forged such a successful partnership. The Fehilys met while both working for Charlie Mann, Noel’s first major job after arriving in Lambourn from Ireland, and Natasha now plays an all-round part in their fledgling venture, from riding, preparing horses for sale and foaling mares. “We have a few for breaking and pre-training, and we’re prepping a few for the sales, just trying to keep busy,” says Fehily with some understatement as he heads in from the busy yard and paddocks surrounding his house for a quick coffee break. To the tasks already being undertaken, it would be no surprise if the Fehilys added sales consigning to their repertoire before too long. “Yeah, we’ll see how it goes,” he says. “I’ve known Michael Moore [of Ballincurrig House Stud] for years. I am just kind of just trying things out at the moment to see how it goes. We have got a bunch of five or six 2-year-olds. Then we’ve got six or seven yearlings, so we will see.” His two offerings at Doncaster should both appeal to potential buyers in different ways. The filly (lot 202) is a daughter of the Irish Derby winner Fame And Glory (GB), whose stock was just starting to rise in National Hunt circles when he died in February 2017. Moreover, the 3-year-old is the first foal of the Grade 2-winning hurdler Highland Retreat (GB) (Exit To Nowhere), who was ridden by Fehily in five of her seven victories. The French-bred gelding (lot 172) is a son of Haras du Mezeray’s versatile Muhtahir (GB), whose high-class jumpers include Quel Destin (Fr) and Pacha Du Polder (Fr), while 5-year-old Envoi Allen (Fr) won the G1 Weatherbys Champion Bumper for Cheveley Park Stud and Gordon Elliott. Fehily says. “I bought the gelding as a yearling at Arqana and the filly was the first foal we bred here. There are only two Muhtathirs in the book, so hopefully he makes out alright. Luckily, the sire has gone and won the Cheltenham Bumper this year.” The breeding side of the game is one the Fehilys are keen to embrace and they have already assembled a clutch of elite mares, including Miss Country (Fr) (Country Reel), the dam of G1 Ryanair Chase winner Frodon (Fr) (Nickname {Fr}). The 12-year-old mare is owned in partnership with Jared Sullivan and has a yearling by Kapgarde (Fr) as well as a Kayf Tara (GB) colt foal on the ground. “We’ve got six broodmares so hopefully they will produce something decent. They are a nice bunch of mares: Bitofapuzzle (GB), she was a Grade 1 winner, and Highland Retreat was a Grade 2 winner. The dream would be to produce a Gold Cup winner somewhere along the way, just like everyone else,” says Fehily. There’s been no shortage of top-class jump jockeys who have gone on to carve successful second careers as Flat and National Hunt consignors and pinhookers, such as Franny Woods, Mark Dwyer, Norman Williamson and Charlie Swan. While Fehily is tentatively following their example, he is in no rush to reach beyond the jumping division at present, despite an earlier foray into the breeze-up scene. He says, “I wouldn’t mind having a go at buying a foal, or buying something off the Flat as well, but not now. Number one, we haven’t got the time. Two, we are just trying to get what we are doing started out first. I did do a couple breeze-up horses at one stage when I got in injured. I broke my leg one year and bought a couple of yearlings and breezed them. We didn’t really have a clue what we were doing but it was a bit of fun and they all won. But we’ll stick to what we know at the moment, which is the National Hunt side, and we’ll see how that goes.” The post More Fame And Glory For Fehily appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Punters might have been seeing red after the winning streak of odds-on favourite Champion’s Way ended at Sha Tin on Saturday, but trainer John Size certainly wasn’t disappointed.Not only was the 10-time champion trainer taking the positives from his second in the Class Two Sports For All Handicap (1,600m) – it was stablemate Red Warrior who caused the upset at 80-1.Coming into the race, Champion’s Way was all the rage after kicking off his career with five-straight wins, but was facing his… View the full article

Such was the effort Vincent Ho Chak-yiu put into dragging London Hall over the line for his second consecutive victory, he broke his whip.Trainer David Hall said if it was not for Ho’s vigorous riding, the four-year-old may well have not got over the line in the tight three-way photo finish.The win in the Class Four Boosting Innovative Power Handicap (1,800m) kicked off a double for both Ho and Hall, who teamed up one race later to win with Gracious Ryder.“He had to dig deep and Vincent had to… View the full article