Wandering Eyes

Brilliant classic winner Sea of Class, the general 7-2 second favorite for the Oct. 7 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe (G1) at ParisLongchamp, has been supplemented for the showpiece contest after the most recent entry stage Oct. 3. View the full article

Whoever comes out victorious in Saturday’s GI Shadwell Turf Mile at Keeneland and punches their ticket to the GI Breeders’ Cup Mile in the Win and You’re In event will have thoroughly earned it, as 14 horses, with hardly a hopeless longshot among them, clash in one of the deepest Grade I’s of the year. Last year’s runner-up is back to contest the million-dollar event in Terry Hamilton’s stalwart Heart to Heart (English Channel). Run down by a half-length in the 2017 renewal, the bay was off the board in his next two outings before bouncing back with tallies in the GI Gulfstream Park Turf S. and GI Maker’s 46 Mile at this oval. Edged out by a neck in the GI Shoemaker Mile after that, the Brian Lynch trainee will have to bounce back from a dull sixth in the GI Fourstardave H. last out Aug. 11 at Saratoga. His conqueror that day is looking to rebound from a disappointing try of his own. Barry K. Schwartz’s Voodoo Song (English Channel), who scored a remarkable four victories last summer at Saratoga culminating in the GIII Saranac S., won just once in his next five starts before annexing the Forbidden Apple S. July 14 at Belmont. Digging in gamely to earn his defining triumph in the Fourstardave, he retreated to finish fifth at 3-5 last out in the GII Bernard Baruch H., his first defeat at the Spa. Pulling off the upset that day and representing the home team in here, Shadwell Stable’s Qurbaan (Speightstown) looms a danger. A two-time stakes winner in France, the chestnut jumped forward when treated with Lasix with the first time to gut out a three-way photo at 13-1 in the Baruch. Mike Smith picks up the riding assignment for trainer Kiaran McLaughlin. Shadwell also will be represented by Almanaar (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}). Winner of the GI Gulfstream Park Turf H. last February, the chestnut was laid up for nearly 16 months before returning with a good-looking optional claiming score June 8 at Belmont. He followed that up by running a half-length second to stablemate Robert Bruce (Chi) (Fast Company {Ire}) in the GI Arlington Million last out. William Lawrence’s ‘TDN Rising Star’ Analyze It (Point of Entry) hopes to get back on track as the field’s lone 3-year-old. Dominating his first three starts by a combined 15 3/4 lengths, including an easily local score in the GIII Kentucky Utilities Transylvania S. Apr. 6, the bay has suffered three straight heartbreaking defeats, twice at the hands of GI Runhappy Travers S. hero Catholic Boy (More Than Ready) in the GIII Pennine Ridge S. and GI Belmont Derby and once by 38-1 upsetter Carrick (Giant’s Causeway) in the GI Secretariat S. last out. Wesley Ward’s Bound for Nowhere (The Factor) may have the highest ceiling of all, but will have to overcome the daunting 14-hole to prevail. Two-for-two over the local surface, including a four-length success in the GII Shakertown S., the bay ran a big third at 16-1 in the G1 Diamond Jubilee S. June 23 at Ascot and returned with a score in the Tourist Mile S. when last seen Sept. 1 at Kentucky Downs. View the full article

The site of Synchrony's first career victory has a chance to become the place where he kicks his way out of the shadows. The 5-year-old takes on grade 1 company for the second time in the $1 million Shadwell Turf Mile (G1T) at Keeneland Oct. 6. View the full article

The trip from Duchess County to County Kildare is one Dan Hayden knows well, the sales paddocks of Goffs not far from his childhood home. Eighteen years a stranger in the USA, the bloodstock agent spent this week tapping into the potential of European pedigrees at the Orby Sale, with the long-term goal of his buys following his path West. Amy Lynam spoke to him to find out more. AL: You bought a filly by Make Believe (GB) on Tuesday and another by The Factor on Wednesday. What can you tell us about them? DH: I loved the Make Believe filly (lot 40); she was strong, with a good walk, angles, and mind. The fact that the mare’s 2-year-old has won twice and finished fourth in a Group 2 since the catalogue was printed was also attractive—it’s quite impressive for a mare to achieve that with their first foal. The Factor (lot 314) filly was an impressive individual—big, strong, good-boned, with fantastic movement. She, too, had a bomb-proof temperament. Her sire started a bit slow, but I think he’s coming back with a vengeance now. I think he’ll be a good stallion. I rang [trainer] Brendan Walsh about the 2-year-old half-sister and he really likes her, he thinks she could be a black-type filly. AL: What are your plans for the two yearlings? DH: They will both go straight down to Joseph O’Brien and we will race them in Ireland at two and three. We’ll see how they go, but there’s a possibility that they will head to the States later, as is the case with all the yearlings I buy here. It depends on a number of things; their ability, their ground preference, their particular racing style. We’ll play it by ear and it’s always nice to have the option to move them. AL: Was it the success of European turf horses in the US that inspired this plan? DH: That’s exactly it. First of all, superb horses are bred and raised here in Ireland, and that is proven week in, week out, around the world. Goffs also do a great job in promoting the Orby Sale, and Irish Thoroughbred Marketing also do a brilliant job in getting buyers over. The thing about the Orby is that it’s well selected by Goffs; they have lovely horses here, with beautiful pedigrees, and there’s something to suit every budget, really. You just don’t know if the next champion is lurking around the corner; a good horse can come from anywhere at this sale, at any level. The main angle in what we’re doing is the quality of the Irish Thoroughbred, and the other is Joseph O’Brien—I think he’s a gifted trainer and has one of the best training facilities in Ireland. He’s also a top-class guy; it’s a combination you want to do business with, in my opinion. AL: Is this the first year you’ve come to the Orby with this plan in mind? DH: We started a couple of years ago by buying into a colt here. Named Medal Of Honour (GB) (Lope De Vega {Ire}), he’s won two races for Joseph O’Brien and is about to travel to America to race. He will run in a listed race at Belmont at the end of October. We’ve also done it the other way round. We bought a colt by Treasure Beach (Ire) at the OBS Two-Year-Old Sale and she is in training with Joseph O’Brien. Named Rehoboth Beach, he is out of a speedy Storm Cat-line mare, which I believe works well with his grandsire, Galileo (Ire). AL: Have you bought any horses in training with the same goal? DH: We bought Shalailah (Ire) (Showcasing {GB}) privately last year after she finished second to Happily (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) in the Silver Flash S. She’s now with Chad Brown and will run in about four weeks. She’s training very well. AL: Is there anything you would like Ireland to learn from US racing and bloodstock, and vice versa? DH: X-rays at all sales make things easier for us. The first thing a US investor will ask if they’re involved in the game is how does the horse vet, and X-rays and scopes are what we’re used to. I like it when vendors have X-rays available. I love how over here, with Joseph, the breaking process is very thorough and the riders are very good. The horses coming out of Ireland seem to be very sound, so if you begin their careers here, there’s plenty left in the tank after you bring them to the States. AL: The Irish are known for their skill and affinity with horses; do you think that’s something which stood you in good stead when you made the move Stateside? DH: We love horses and we’re willing to work hard. That will get you a long way in America. View the full article

A full field of 14 2-year-olds, including four exiting the Sept. 3 Hopeful Stakes (G1) at Saratoga Race Course, has been signed up for the Oct. 6 Claiborne Breeders’ Futurity (G1) at Keeneland. The $500,000 event is contested at 1 1/16 miles. View the full article

Fairyland (Ire) (Kodiac {GB})’s victory in the G1 Cheveley Park S. and Jash (Ire) (Kodiac {GB})’s second in the G1 Middle Park S. could quite easily be a watershed moment for their sire Kodiac, the younger three-parts brother of top-class sire Invincible Spirit (Ire) (Cape Cross {Ire}). These two excellent juveniles–plus six other group performers, including G2 Mill Reef S. winner Kessaar (Ire) and G3 Prix Eclipse hero Sporting Chance (GB)–are from his first crop produced from significantly better mares, his fee having risen from €10,000 in 2014 to €25,000 in 2015. And there are three sizeable further crops in the pipeline, all produced at a fee of €45,000. Everyone knows that Kodiac is a good sire, but one that would perhaps only ever reach a certain level because of his comparatively limited mare quality. After all, his eight previous crops have only produced two Group 1 winners, including a previous Cheveley Park heroine in Tiggy Wiggy (Ire). The question now is: will we have a completely differed view of Kodiac in a few years’ time? The son of Danehill has always been commercial with many of his sales yearlings providing an excellent return on a low covering fee. His stallion reputation has been built the hard way. For a start, it was very brave to retire a Group 3-placed 112-rated horse, even if his older brother had made a good start with his first 2-year-olds. Moreover, it has taken Kodiac nine years to attract good numbers of high-class mares. But now that he has, he’ll have to stand a higher degree of scrutiny. So far, Kodiac has sired 5.6% stakes winners to runners, compared to his brother’s 8.7%. Significantly, Kodiac’s rate of success is well in advance of what his mares achieved with other sires. It’s also noteworthy that when he gets a good mare, his percentage of stakes winners goes up to just shy of 10%. So it’s not unreasonable to expect a number closer to his brother’s 12.2% stakes winners from good mares from his future crops. In fact, when Invincible Spirit’s fee rose from €10,000 to €35,000 in year five, the resultant juveniles only included two group performers–Cheveley Park winner Hooray (GB) and Group 2 scorer Zebedee (GB)–so Kodiac has already gone well beyond that with his first crop produced at a significant fee. View the full article

KILL, Ireland—It’s rare in the racing world that everything goes exactly according to plan, but in the case of the sister to Investec Oaks winner Forever Together (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) there was no deviation in the widely-read script which had her billed as the star performer of the Goffs Orby Sale. The Vimal and Gillian Khosla-bred daughter of Galileo and Green Room (Theatrical {Ire}), with the elegance and athleticism to match her top-drawer page, can for now hold the accolade of being the highest-priced yearling in the world this year, and she also holds the record price for a yearling filly at Goffs after selling for €3.2 million. The bidding took a while to build to a level at which such a filly could reasonably be expected to be sold, but once into seven figures, only Amanda Skiffington remained to offer any meaningful competition to MV Magnier and Amer Abdulaziz. Eventually Skiffington’s run petered out to leave auctioneer Henry Beeby pivoting on the rostrum as he took competing bids from the Coolmore team to his right, immediately countered by Phoenix Thoroughbreds on his left. “A look at the front of the catalogue tells you all you need to know about this filly,” said Beeby as she entered the ring. The cover shot showed her sister storming clear for Classic glory at Epsom— the dream for so many major owner-breeders but available only to the few at this level. Still, any potential multi-million-euro purchase will not go unexamined by the buyer, and the filly raised at and consigned by Ballylich Stud clearly bore close scrutiny. “The more complete a package you have the more relaxed you are and I felt pretty relaxed in this particular case as she’s just done everything we wanted her to do,” said Ballylinch Stud’s managing director John O’Connor. “She has the pedigree: by an outstanding sire, from an outstanding dam, and she’s a superb walker and a great individual. Really, she had everything a sales horse should have, and most importantly she has everything a racehorse should have.” It’s not just this year’s Oaks winner who enhances the claims of the sale-topper but also her confusingly named sister, the G1 Fillies’ Mile winner Together Forever (Ire), while half-brother Lord Shanakill (Speightstown) completes the hat-trick of top-level winners for Green Room. O’Connor continued, “All three of her Galileo fillies were raised at Ballylinch. We know the family pretty well now. The Khoslas also have a full-sister foal back at the farm and the mare is now in foal to Sea The Stars (Ire).” Regarding the Orby market in general, he added, “The superior individuals with good pedigrees have been very easy to sell. Everybody who needs to be here to generate a big price has been here.” Dermot Farrington, who signed the sheet on behalf of Phoenix Thoroughbreds, was entitled to feel a little wistful. “The funny thing is that I used to own this mare once upon a time,” he said. “She’s done it time after time. Her first foal was Lord Shanakill and then she’s produced those two fantastic fillies by Galileo. For a mare to breed three horses of that calibre speaks volumes. This filly is very special and everyone else thought so, too. You know when you are going to try to buy a filly like this one that you are going to have to pay.” “Wow” Is The Word Amer Abdulaziz, who heads the investment fund which operates in the name of Phoenix Thoroughbreds, has not been afraid to signal his intent, both in word and deed, to build a world-class breeding operation. His presence, along with Farrington and Tom Ludt, had a significant impact on the success of the Orby Sale, the organisation’s six purchases adding almost €6 million to the turnover of €43,474,000, which was up by 7% on last year’s haul but from 46 fewer horses sold. But he was far from the only major player, with eight different buyers spending at least €1 million, including Godolphin, which bought eight yearlings for just over €3 million. “Wow,” said Goffs group chief executive Henry Beeby in his closing statement. “What an amazing couple of days we have enjoyed at Goffs as the Orby Sale reached unprecedented heights with a trade that was simply extraordinary. To set a new record for a yearling filly at an Irish sale at €3.2 million was the highlight amongst a sale of tremendous highs that saw all the average and median make double-digit gains to buck the trend of the European sales season so far, and all from a stunning clearance rate of 89%. We are indebted to our vendors without whom we are nothing, and I would especially single out Vimal and Gillian Khosla, the breeders of the top lot, who placed their faith in the Goffs service and were rewarded with the highest yearling price in the world so far this year for their gorgeous filly who was so well presented by Ballylinch Stud. In addition we would like to extend our thanks to Ciaran Conroy’s Glenvale Stud and the vendors of the ‘other’ Galileo filly whose price of €2 million was also something quite special.” The tightened catalogue certainly helped in achieving a clearance rate of 89% for the 327 horses sold from 369 offered. The overall average for the Orby was up by 22% to €132,948 and the median was given a similar boost, by 22%, to €80,000. From the second session, the clearance rate was also 89%—with 159 of 179 horses sold—with an average of €121,595, median of €78,000 and aggregate for the day of €19,334,000. Beeby added, “We took the conscious decision to tighten the catalogue numbers to really focus on quality this year and it is clear that our huge array of buyers from home and abroad agreed with that move. Our vendors sent us a stellar selection and we were delighted to welcome so many major buyers to Kildare Paddocks over the last few days. That HH Sheikh Mohammed made his first visit to Goffs for 13 years was a huge vote of confidence in Irish bloodstock and he joined his brother HH Sheikh Hamdan who has been such a great supporter for so many years. Our leading buyers Phoenix Thoroughbreds were a revelation in the sales ring and we hope their bold bidding is rewarded with top-level success on the racecourse in future years. They have been a pleasure to do business with and their enthusiasm is infectious. It would also be remiss of me not to record our ongoing appreciation of MV Magnier and the Coolmore team who remain stalwart supporters of Goffs year in, year out.” Coolmore Youngsters In Demand Coolmore’s Camelot (GB) and No Nay Never lead the second- and first-crop sires’ tables respectively and a representative of each will join the Godolphin string for next year with Anthony Stroud acting on behalf of Sheikh Mohammed, who was not present at Goffs for the second day of the Orby Sale. The agent swooped first for lot 291, a son of No Nay Never pinhooked by Eddie O’Leary for €82,000 and sold on through his Lynn Lodge Stud for €350,000. The colt’s half-brother Istanbul Sultan (Ire) (Zoffany {Ire}), a rare Flat runner for leading jumps owners Isaac Souede and Simon Munir, won last year at two and was the first foal of Far Away Eyes (Ire) (High Chaparral {Ire}), herself out of a sister to former Haras du Quesnay stallion Bellypha (GB) (Lyphard). Four lots later Stroud was back in his position on the balcony on the opposite side of the ring to Shawn Dugan, his main rival for Glenvale Stud’s daughter of Camelot (lot 295) out of the juvenile winner Flawless Beauty (GB) (Excellent Art {Ire}). As Dugan walked away the hammed came down at €500,000 for the filly bred by Rob Speers from a family which has brought the agent and breeder much success in recent years. Speers bought the filly’s grandam, the Gainsborough Stud-bred Desert Classic (GB) (Green Desert) for €24,000 at the Goffs February Sale of 2006. Three years later she produced a High Chaparral (Ire) colt who was subsequently named Wrote (Ire) and won the G1 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf. His dam was sold the following year to Greg Goodman’s Mt Brilliant Farm for 875,000gns when back in foal to High Chapparal. “The family has been very kind to me,” he admitted. “I retained Flawless Beauty as a yearling the year that Wrote won the Breeders’ Cup. She narrowly missed out three times on gaining black type but she was a useful filly and I felt that she would make up into a nice broodmare. The foal sale last year just came too soon for this filly and I’m glad I bought her back. She has turned into a wonderful filly with a good step and everyone loved her. I hope she’s really lucky for Sheikh Mohammed. I’m now into the third generation of this family and I will enjoy following the filly’s progress.” After signing for the filly, Anthony Stroud said, “She was one of Sheikh Mohammed’s picks and she’s by a very good stallion but we probably ended up paying a bit more than we expected. She’s a very nice filly though and will be a lovely broodmare later on.” He added, “The trade so far has seemed pretty strong. It’s great when the owners are actually here. It adds to the atmosphere and generates enthusiasm.” Camelot was also the order of the day for BBA Ireland’s Eamonn Reilly, who went to €480,000 for Frank Fahy of Gerrardstown House Stud for lot 277, a filly from the Juddmonte family of G1 Dewhurst S. winner Distant Music (Distant View) and top-class sprinter African Rose (GB) (Observatory). A daughter of Enharmonic (E Dubai), bought from Juddmonte for 90,000gns in 2014, the filly was bred by Samac and Summerhill Bloodstock and consigned by the Hyde family’s Camas Park Stud. “Pedigree and physique,” were two very good reasons put forward for purchase by new owner Fahy, who added that she would be taken home to his stud to be broken in by his son, former jockey Donal Fahy. Newsells Park Returns To Goffs Newsells Park Stud returned to the Orby Sale after a long absence to sell a Galileo filly (lot 397) through Baroda & Colbinstown Studs for €525,000 to David Redvers. “We have 56 horses back at the farm getting ready for the Tattersalls October Sale so it made sense to consign through someone else as the sales are so close together,” explained Newsells Park Stud manager Julian Dollar. “Peter Molony and Henry Christie [of Goffs] were very keen for us to send her here and we wanted to support the sale with something nice. She’s a good, racy filly and her sister looks quite useful.” The filly is the second foal of the dual Group 3 winner Maureen (Ire) (Holy Roman Emperor {Ire}). The mare’s first foal, also by Galileo and an 800,000gns yearling at Book 1 last year, made her debut for Princess Haya and John Gosden last month to finish second in a novice race. HKJC Double Up The strength of the market over the last two days was the source of much discussion, with a number of potential purchasers finding it tougher to buy the horses on their lists. Mark Richards and Grant Pritchard-Gordon have been in bat for the Hong Kong Jockey Club and signed for two colts during the second session. Richards concurred with the general feeling at the sale, saying, “It’s been very strong and it’s been hard to buy the horses we wanted. Nice horses here are making plenty but we’re delighted with the two we’ve bought today. Croom House Stud’s Exceed And Excel (Aus) colt (lot 352) was one which fell within budget at €360,000, and though by a top sire of sprinters, he is also related to one of the best stayers of recent years, Order Of St George (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), who is a half-brother to the colt’s dam Kitty Love (Kitten’s Joy). Richards added, “They are two very different types of horse, and the Exceed And Excel colt had a bit more scope than you usually expect from the sire, but they are both suitable in their own way.” The second of the team’s purchases—bringing the tally to four throughout the sale—was a Holy Roman Emperor colt (lot 337), consigned by Mark Dwyer’s Oaks Farm Stables. Dwyer will have been delighted with his yearling price of €300,000 as he bought the colt last November for €60,000 from his Italian breeder Allevamento La Nuova Sbarra. The colt’s dam, the Elusive City mare Icebreaking (Ire), was placed in the Italian 1,000 Guineas and is a half-sister to the 12-time winner Kaspersky (Ire) (Footstepsinthesand {GB}) whose has notched four Group wins in Germany and Italy. Alles Gut There’s an increasing number of sons of Dark Angel (Ire) at stud and among them, Gutaifan (Ire), who stands alongside his sire at Yeomanstown Stud, has his first yearlings for sale this autumn. His Orby offerings were crowned by the last of his yearlings in the catalogue, the Thomas Hassett-bred half-sister to G2 Premio Roma winner Anda Muchacho (Ire) (Helmet {Aus}). Consigned by Monksland Stables, she was bought by Alastair Donald for €360,000. Ten of 11 Gutaifan yearlings to pass through the ring over the last two days have sold for an average of €101,900. Action continues today at Goffs with the one-day Sportsman’s Sale from 10am. View the full article

As is usually the case, a diverse and deep field of 2-year-old fillies will contest the GI Darley Alcibiades S. on opening day at Keeneland, as a full complement of 14 line up to try to punch their ticket to the GI Tito’s Handmade Vodka Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies in the Win and You’re In qualifier. Slight morning line favoritism resides with Three Chimneys Farm and Fern Circle Stables’ ‘TDN Rising Star’ Restless Rider (Distorted Humor). A first-out victress June 8 at Churchill, the $150,000 Keeneland September graduate dropped jaws with an 11 1/4-length romp in the Debutante S. there June 30. Moving into top-level company last out, she finished a solid second in the GI Spinaway S. Sept. 1 at Saratoga. John C. Oxley’s Catherinethegreat (Uncaptured) turned some heads of her own with a 10 1/4-length maiden romp June 23 at Gulfstream and she validated that effort with a comprehensive frontrunning success in the GIII Schuylerville S. July 20 at the Spa. Chasing a fast pace in the Spinaway, however, she faded to finish ninth. The gray adds blinkers as she tries to stretch her speed around two turns, and boasts a best-of-113 local bullet half-mile breeze in :47 flat Sept. 29. Also re-opposing from the Spinaway are Magic Stables’ Bella Ciao (Flatter), who finished fourth at over 125-1, and sixth-place runner Reflect (Trappe Shot). Scott and Evan Dilworth’s Lady T N T (Justin Phillip) has done little wrong since a trouble-filled unveiling. Clipping heels after a slow start June 29 at Churchill, she finished seventh, but romped by 5 1/2 lengths Aug. 5 at Saratoga and repeated with a 6 1/2-length score over allowance foes back in Louisville Sept. 20. Rockingham Ranch and David Bernsen’s Boujie Girl (Flashback) beat $80,000 maiden claimers in her career bow July 26 at Del Mar before running third to multiple Grade I-winner Bellafina (Quality Road) in both the GII Sorrento S. and GI Del Mar Debutante. She’s part of a one-two punch for trainer Peter Miller, who also saddles Barretts Debutante S. heroine Kim K (Will Take Charge). Donamire Farm’s undefeated Into Trouble (Into Mischief) gets the acid test. Graduating in a relatively slow debut race Aug. 11 at Ellis, she rallied from last to upset the Arlington-Washington Lassie S. last out Sept. 8. Meadow Dance (Jimmy Creed) merits longshot consideration. Bet like a good thing first out Aug. 19 at Ellis, the dark bay ran to the money with a sharp three-length score. She was well-beaten when third to Into Trouble at Arlington, but could perk back up with a return to conventional dirt here. View the full article

The final Future Wagering Pools for the GI Breeders’ Cup Classic and the GI Longines Breeders’ Cup Turf will open Friday, Oct. 5 at 12 p.m. ET. Accelerate (Lookin At Lucky), the dominant older horse in the Classic division, who won last Saturday’s GI Awesome Again S., has been installed as the 5-2 favorite in the Breeders’ Cup Classic Future Wager #2. Enable (GB) (Nathaniel {Ire}), who is scheduled to defend her G1 Qatar Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe title this Sunday at Longchamp, has been listed as the even-money favorite in the Longines Breeders’ Cup Turf Future Wager. Complete Breeders’ Cup Future Wager information is available at www.BreedersCup.com/Future-Wagers. View the full article

Having already established himself as the clear leader of the 3-year-old sprint division, Robert Baron’s Promises Fulfilled (Shackleford) will take on older rivals for the first time while trying to punch his ticket to the GI TwinSpires Breeders’ Cup Sprint in Friday’s opening-day GII Phoenix S. at Keeneland, a Win and You’re In qualifier for the World Championships. Put on the GI Kentucky Derby trail after a wire-to-wire upset of the GII Xpressbet Fountain of Youth S. Mar. 3 at Gulfstream, the chestnut faded to finish last in the GI Xpressbet Florida Derby and set the pace in Louisville before backing up to 15th. Turned back to sprinting after that, the $37,000 Keeneland September graduate ran huge to be third after setting one of the fastest paces of the year in the GII Woody Stephens S. June 9 at Belmont and truly blossomed up at Saratoga, annexing both the GIII Amsterdam S. and GI H. Allen Jerkens S. Back home in Kentucky with trainer Dale Romans, he tuned for up for this engagement with a five-furlong bullet in :59 3/5 (1/23) Sept. 21 at Churchill. Whitmore (Pleasantly Perfect) already secured his spot in the Breeders’ Cup starting gate with an upset victory in the GI Forego S. Sept. 25 at Saratoga and will look to defend his Phoenix title. Gutting out the win in a three-way photo last year, he made no impact when eighth in the Sprint, but bounced back with a pair of victories in the Hot Springs S. and GIII Count Fleet Sprint H. at Oaklawn to begin this campaign. Winless in his next three, the gelding rebounded with a ground-saving trip to take the Forego. Third that day was Katherine Ball’s Limousine Liberal (Successful Appeal), who has cracked the trifecta in his last dozen outings. Victor of both the GII Churchill Downs S. and GII Belmont Sprint Championship S., he returns to the scene of two narrow misses in the past year, running second by a neck in the GIII Commonwealth S. here Apr. 7 and finishing third by the same margin in Whitmore’s 2017 Phoenix win. View the full article

Just days before the start of the fall meet at Keeneland, and less than a month until the second-annual Equestricon convention and festival, the two organizations have announced a new collaboration. Fans can expect to see a larger presence from the BETologist program–which educates patrons on all aspects of handicapping and wagering–at both Keeneland this fall and at Equestricon. Keeneland has also been named as the Official Fan Development Partner of Equestricon. “Keeneland’s founding mission is centered upon the perpetuation of the sport of racing,” said Christa Marrillia, Keeneland’s Chief Marketing Officer. “Equestricon provides a unique opportunity to continue this effort as stewards of that mission. It’s our responsibility to not only produce the absolute best racing product, but to engage, invest in and develop the fans who enjoy this wonderful product. We are excited to link arms with Equestricon as the Official Partner of Fan Development.” View the full article

MyRacehorse, an investment platform that allows individuals to purchase micro shares of Thoroughbred racehorses, will pledge $1 to the Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance for each micro share sold in its marketplace. “There was never a doubt that our business would be involved in the aftercare of Thoroughbreds, it is too important to every one of us involved, the only question was how,” MyRacehorse co-founder Michael Behrens said. “After meeting with the team at the TAA and better understanding their role in the aftercare of Thoroughbreds, we knew we found a perfect fit. For every investment made on our racehorse ownership platform we will be making a donation to the TAA and feel extremely confident those dollars will be fully maximized under the TAA’s stewardship.” View the full article

Brilliant classic winner Sea of Class, the general 7-2 second favorite for the Oct. 7 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe (G1) at ParisLongchamp, has been supplemented for the showpiece contest after the most recent entry stage Oct. 3. View the full article

Pretty Pollyanna (GB) (Oasis Dream {GB}) is set to run in the G1 bet365 Fillies’ Mile at Newmarket on Friday week in a bid to atone for her defeat in the G1 Juddmonte Cheveley Park S. this past weekend. Connections of the Michael Bell-trained filly are keen to step the G1 Prix Morny winner up in trip, after she rallied in the closing stages for fourth place in the six-furlong feature won by Fairyland (Ire) (Kodiac {GB}), having taken a keen hold in the early stages. “Subject to her well-being, she will run in the Fillies’ Mile,” said Bell. “She seems fine. We’re just waiting. Obviously the weather will play a part, but that is the intention at the moment.” In addition to her victory in the Prix Morny, the Bill and Tim Gredley-owned daughter of Oasis Dream has also won the G2 Duchess of Cambridge S. this season and is a best-priced 16-1 for next year’s G1 QIPCO 1000 Guineas. View the full article

Dual Oaks heroine Sea Of Class (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) has been added to Sunday’s G1 Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe field at a cost of €120,000. The participation of the G1 Irish and G1 Yorkshire Oaks winner had been strongly mooted since her win at York, but trainer William Haggas had always said the decision would be down to the ground. Traditionally the Arc has taken place on ground with plenty of cut in it, but with a lack of any appreciable rain in Paris of late, the surface looks like being in her favour. Emmanuel Roussel, from the communications department of France Galop, said on Wednesday morning, “It is very difficult to predict what the ground will be like at the weekend so far in advance given the changing weather forecasts. There is a bit of rain forecast on Saturday and Sunday, and there’s a bit of drizzle around today but nothing major. Before Saturday it is set to be windy and chilly, but with no rain. Currently the going is around 3.3 (penetrometer reading), that equates to around good/good to soft and that is what we are aiming for.” He added, “It was watered yesterday [Tuesday], around five millimetres was put on, and it will be watered again but nothing major, we will not try to turn the ground soft. It is difficult when rain is forecast to know how much watering to do, the forecasts change regularly.” If the ground is good to soft that may raise the hopes of Cracksman (GB) (Frankel {GB}) taking on stablemate and last year’s winner Enable (GB) (Nathaniel {Ire}), with both of John Gosden’s big guns still among the 20 possibles for the middle-distance championship. Aidan O’Brien can call on St Leger victors Kew Gardens (Ire) (Galieo {Ire}) and Capri (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), along with Hunting Horn (Ire) (Camelot {GB}), Nelson (Ire) (Frankel {GB}) and Magical (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}). Godolphin’s duo consists of GI Breeders’ Cup Turf hero Talismanic (GB) (Medaglia d’Oro) and G1 Prix Ganay victor Cloth of Stars (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}), with their last out G2 Qatar Prix Foy conqueror and MG1SW Waldgeist (GB) (Galileo {Ire}) also slated to take part. Group 1 winner Study Of Man (Ire) (Deep Impact {Jpn}), Japanese group winner Clincher (Jpn) (Deep Sky {Jpn}), MGSW Defoe (Ire) (Dalakhani {Ire}), MGSP Salouen (Ire) (Canford Cliffs {Ire}), MSW Way To Paris (GB) (Champs Elysees {GB}), G1SPs Louis D’Or (Ire) (Intello {Ger}), Patascoy (Fr) (Wootton Bassett {GB}) and Neufbosc (Fr) (Mastercraftsman {Ire}) and the well-traveled MGSW Tiberian (Fr) (Tiberius Caesar {Fr}) round out the field. View the full article

Brilliant classic winner Sea Of Class, the general 7-2 second favorite for the Oct. 7 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe (G1) at ParisLongchamp, has been supplemented for the showpiece contest after the most recent entry stage Oct. 3. View the full article

West Coast, the champion 3-year-old male of 2017, will join the Lane's End stallion roster for 2019, it was announced Oct. 3. An advertised fee has not yet been announced. View the full article

Keith Yeung Ming-lun has paid a heartfelt tribute to Almond Lee, crediting the former trainer for turning his life around after the jockey notched his first victory since April. The 30-year-old had endured a 20-meeting winless streak heading into Wednesday night’s card at Happy Valley, but he snapped that when Namjong Plus, one of Lee’s former gallopers, took out the Class Three Kwoon Chung Macau Express Handicap (1,800m). Yeung, whose previous victory came with Top Score on April... View the full article

Brilliant classic winner Sea Of Class (IRE), the general 7-2 second favorite for the Oct. 7 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe (G1) at ParisLongchamp, has been supplemented for the showpiece contest after the most recent entry stage Oct. 3. View the full article

Gary and Mary West’s West Coast (Flatter–Caressing, by Honour and Glory), a two-time Grade I winner and the reigning Eclipse Award-winning 3-year-old male, will retire to stud at William S. Farish’s Lane’s End Farm for the 2019 breeding season. A son of Carl Pollard’s 2000 champion 2-year-old filly Caressing and bred in the name of his CFP Thoroughbreds, West Coast fetched a bid of $425,000 from the Wests’ bloodstock agent Ben Glass at the 2015 Keeneland September sale, a price that ranked as the joint second-highest of 42 yearlings by Flatter to sell that season. A maiden winner at second asking, the athletic bay colt just missed in the GIII Lexington S. in his first try against stakes company, then rattled off five consecutive victories capped by a 3 1/4-length victory in the GI Travers S.–defeating 2017 Classic winners Always Dreaming (Bodemeister), Cloud Computing (Maclean’s Music) and Tapwrit (Tapit)–and a towering 7 1/4-length success in the GI Pennsylvania Derby. He was an outstanding third to future Horse of the Year Gun Runner (Candy Ride {Arg}) in the GI Breeders’ Cup Classic to sew up championship honors. West Coast has kept top-class company in his three runs thus far in 2018, completing the exacta behind Gun Runner in the GI Pegasus World Cup Invitational S. at Gulfstream in January ahead of a second to Thunder Snow (Ire) (Helmet {Aus}) in the G1 Dubai World Cup in March. The latter franked the form of that race with a near-miss in the GI Jockey Club Gold Cup last weekend. West Coast gave an excellent account of himself in his first start in six months, fighting on gamely to be second to likely GI Breeders’ Cup Classic favorite Accelerate (Lookin At Lucky), who is also headed to the Lane’s End stallion barn. His current record stands at 12-6-5-1 and earnings of $5,743,800. “I shipped him four times, east to west and then to Dubai, and he ran a huge race every time,” commented trainer Bob Baffert. “He’s been first or second in all but one start, never off the board, and won at five different tracks. All the while taking on, and beating some of the best horses in the world. The good ones like him, they’re just different.” West Coast is on track for a start in this year’s Classic at Churchill Downs Nov. 3. “After such a game runner-up effort in the Awesome Again coming off the layoff, I am enthusiastic about the upcoming Breeders’ Cup Classic,” said Gary West. “Mary and I are hoping West Coast can prove once again that he’s one of the preeminent Classic horses in the country. We are glad that, upon the conclusion of his racing career, West Coast will stand alongside some of the top stallions in the nation at Lane’s End Farm.” West Coast is a half-brother to the graded-stakes placed Juan and Bina (Indian Charlie) and Gold Hawk (Empire Maker) and to the dam of Japanese GSW Danon Legend (Macho Uno). “West Coast is a Champion out of a Champion. Not only has he proven that he’s an exceptional racehorse, but he descends from the A.P. Indy sireline, out of a champion mare, picked out by a highly respected judge. He’s a very exciting addition to our roster,” said Will Farish. A stud fee will be announced at a later date. View the full article

The Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe (G1) dominates this weekend's action at Longchamp, but plenty of equine quality will be on display in the French capital across both days. Here are six stars who are set to strut their stuff at the Parisian course View the full article

Jockey Club chief executive Winfried Engelbrecht-Bresges is unapologetic after pulling all but two simulcasts from Australia, costing race clubs millions as the quarantine quarrel drags into a second year. Hong Kong punters will only be able to bet on two meetings from Down Under this season – the Melbourne Cup and the Cox Plate – with the Jockey Club still waiting on government approval for the latter. Last season, six race days from Australia were simulcast in Hong Kong and the... View the full article

Elite Invincible returns from minor hiccup next Friday View the full article

Placais keen to make the Now count View the full article

TIMONIUM, MD. – Fasig Tipton’s Midlantic Fall Yearlings Sale wrapped up its two-day run Tuesday with a total of 338 yearlings selling for a total of $7,318,700 over two sessions. An Into Mischief filly (Hip 399) from the Candyland consignment topped the session and the sale, hammering for $210,000 to Three Diamonds Farm. “It was a good sale, no different than what we’ve seen throughout the other yearling sales,” said Fasig-Tipton Midlantic Sales Director Paget Bennett. “The quality was well. The RNA rate improved, so that was huge–we got horses sold. So that was great to see. Overall, I’m pleased with it.” In total, the sale’s average dipped 14% from $25,177 in 2017 to $21,653 in 2018, while the median rose from $14,000 to $15,000. The auction posted a vastly improved RNA rate of 21.76%, compared to 29.10% in 2017. Tuesday’s second session saw a total of 235 lots sell for a total of $4,934,000 with an average of $20,996 and a median of $15,000. A total of 68 horses failed to meet their reserves for an RNA rate of 22.4%. “We had a man who bought 31 horses,” Bennett said. “We have people who have had success as both buyers and sellers. It’s nice to see that support from the usual buyers, as well as new buyers to the sale.” Three Diamonds Goes Back to Into Mischief Three Diamonds Farm went to $150,000 to secure three-time stakes winner and twice graded stakes-placed Maryland-bred I’m Betty G (Into Mischief) at Fasig-Tipton’s 2016 Midlantic 2-Year-Olds In Training Sale, and owner Kirk Wycoff landed another daughter of Into Mischief when he placed the winning bid on Hip 399 in Timonium Tuesday. The bay filly is the first foal out of the unraced Hard Spun mare Spin the Bottle, herself a half-sister to GSP Nathan’s HQ (Yonaguska). “She’s a big filly with a big shoulder by one of the best sires in the world,” said Wycoff, who was in transit back to Philadelphia after bidding over the phone. “It looks like she’ll have a lot of improve in her once she starts training. She’s got a beautiful walk, a beautiful body. I’ve seen her three or four times before.” Wycoff added that he is optimistic that the Into Mischief–Hard Spun cross will yield stamina, allowing her to excel at route distances. Having secured three six-figure fillies at Keeneland September, Wycoff said Three Diamonds is aiming to race fillies with an eye towards developing their broodmare band in the future. “She’ll definitely race,” Wycoff continued. “She’ll go to Ocala and get ready for that.” Hip 399 is also from the deep family of sire Concord Point and GISW Off the Tracks (Curlin). Three Diamonds also added a Bustin Stones filly (Hip 25) for $30,000 and a Weigelia filly (Hip 126) for $23,000 during Monday night’s opening session. Pair Jumps In Barry Berkelhammer and Cary Frommer waited patiently until the second session of the Midlantic Sale’s two-day run to make their mark, but the pair wasted no time getting involved Tuesday morning, placing the $160,000 winning bid on Hip 183, a daughter of Cairo Prince out of the Henny Hughes mare Graceontour. The pair, who have operated a massively successful pinhooking partnership in recent years, said they had their eyes on the filly since she was ultimately secured for $110,000 by Andrew Motion’s Old Chapel Farm at the Keeneland January Sale. “She was just a lovely filly and Andrew Motion takes great care of a horse–he always presents them very well,” Berkelhammer said. “We liked her before, but we just weren’t smart enough to buy her. We decided to buy her now.” Berkelhammer said the filly, whose dam is a half-sister to MGSW & GISP Feline Story (Tale of the Cat), will go to Florida to be prepared for the spring 2-year-old sales. “We were buying the physical,” Berkelhammer said. “Cairo Prince is getting on a roll, and hopefully he’ll have some horses on the Derby trail.” Frommer signed the ticket on five acquisitions in total Tuesday, including Hip 161, a Malibu Moon colt out of the stakes-winning mare Five Star Dream (Two Punch), for $65,000. Ghostzapper Filly Sells Well Close to Home Sagamore Farm is situated some 15 minutes to the Northwest from the Timonium sales grounds by car, and Hip 294 made the short journey down the road Tuesday to sell for $150,000 to Florida horseman Thomas Fackler, owner of Best A Luck Farm. Speaking shortly after the hammer dropped, Sagamore Farm president Hunter Rankin said the final price was in the range he projected. “We really liked her, and she was right in that $100,000 to $200,000 range we expected,” Rankin said. “She’s by the right sire, and she’s a quality-looking individual.” With the breeding and racing industries in Maryland continuing to thrive, Rankin said buying and selling Maryland-breds is a significant part of Sagamore’s vision. As such, he hopes to see the scope of the Midlantic Sale continue to grow in coming years. “It’s a big part of what we do, obviously,” Rankin said. “It has been for a number of years, and we want to keep that going. We actually bought a couple of Maryland-breds last year, and we’re looking to keep that going. The incentive program and the breeders programs help.” Hip 294 is the second foal out of Naive Enough (Street Sense), a full-sister to SW & GISP Light the City. View the full article