Wandering Eyes

Track conditions and course scratchings May 12 View the full article

Early scratchings May 12 View the full article

Scorpiancer had to battle for every inch of his one-length score over a game Surprising Soul in the National Steeplechase Association's richest spring race. View the full article

Mr Amore Stable's homebred Firenze Fire improved his Belmont Park record May 11 when he rolled home a clear winner in the six-furlong, $150,000 Runhappy Stakes to kick off his 4-year-old campaign. View the full article

After finishing just a half-length behind Queen Blossom in last year's renewal of the $100,000 Santa Barbara Stakes (G3T) at Santa Anita Park, Causeforcommotion returned to the downhill turf course May 11 looking to score. View the full article

Making her first start on North American turf for owner Peter Brant and trainer Chad Brown, Homerique put in a late-running effort down the center of the Belmont Park inner turf to take the May 11 $200,000 Beaugay Stakes (G3T) by a half-length. View the full article

A late rally took Channel Maker straight to victory May 11 in the $700,000 Man o' War Stakes (G1T) at Belmont Park. View the full article

CHANNEL MAKER (g, 5, English Channel–In Return, by Horse Chestnut {SAf}) romped in the GI Joe Hirsch Turf Classic the last time he stepped foot on the local lawn back in September, and he returned to winning ways in Saturday’s GI Man o’ War S. The 6-1 shot sat third early as Hunting Horn (Ire) (Camelot {GB})–one of two Aidan O’Brien invaders–zipped out to take a clear lead. Hunting Horn seemed like he might just forget to stop as he headed for home still with a significant advantage, but he grew leg weary by midstretch and the cavalry charge started to bear down on him. Channel Maker was the first to collar him, and he kept on to the wire, holding off a flourish from Arklow (Arch) by about 3/4 of a length. Magic Wand (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), the other O’Brien runner, wasn’t far back in third, while Hunting Horn rounded out the super. The winner was last seen finishing fourth in Gulfstream’s GII Mac Diarmida S. Mar. 2. Sales history: $57,000 RNA yrl ’15 KEESEP. Lifetime Record: 24-5-4-3. O-Wachtel Stable, Gary Barber, R. A. Hill Stable & Reeves Thoroughbred Racing. B-Tall Oaks Farm (ON). T-William I Mott. The post Channel Maker Gets Another Belmont Grade I in Man o’ War appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Making her first start on North American turf for owner Peter Brant and trainer Chad Brown, Homerique put in a late-running effort down the center of the Belmont Park inner turf to take the May 11 $200,000 Beaugay Stakes (G3T) by a half-length. View the full article

HOMERIQUE (f, 4, Exchange Rate–Chiquita Picosa, by Congaree) flew home despite absolutely no pace in front of her to defeat stablemate and GI American Oaks heroine Competitionofideas (Speightstown) in a very promising Stateside debut Saturday. Front-running Chipolata (Fr) (Muhtathir {GB}) held third after crawling through six panels in 1:16.92. The winner stopped the clock for 1 1/16 miles in 1:44.76. Homerique, the 4-5 favorite, was a narrow third in last June’s G1 Prix de Diane for conditioner Francis-Henri Graffard before taking the G3 Prix de Psyche in July. Seventh in the G1 Prix du Moulin in September, she was last seen finishing a close third in the G1 Prix de l’Opera in October. Sales history: $34,000 wnlg ’15 KEENOV; $28,000 RNA yrl ’16 TATOCT; $81,500 2yo ’17 ARQMAY. Lifetime Record: 7-3-1-2. O-Peter M Brant. B-Nicky & Francois Drion (Ky). T-Chad C Brown. The post Exchange Rate Filly Impresses in U.S. Debut, Tops Brown 1-2 in Beaugay appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

After grabbing a quarter en route to a fifth-place in the March 2 Xpressbet Fountain of Youth Stakes (G2), Global Campaign reappeared right as rain with a 1 1/4-length victory in the $300,000 Peter Pan Stakes (G3) May 11 at Belmont Park. View the full article

After grabbing a quarter en route to a fifth-place in the March 2 Xpressbet Fountain of Youth Stakes (G2), Global Campaign reappeared right as rain with a solid performance in the $300,000 Peter Pan Stakes (G3) May 11 at Belmont Park. View the full article

Owendale (Into Mischief), Signalman (General Quarters) and Warrior’s Charge (Munnings) topped Saturday morning’s work tab at Churchill Downs as the trio prepare for the second jewel in the Triple Crown May 18. Rupp Racing’s Owendale, who was the first Preakness contender to breeze at 5:30 a.m. Saturday, negotiated five furlongs in a bullet :59.20–the fastest of 31 at the distance. Trained by Brad Cox, Keeneland’s GIII Lexington S. winner completed fractions of :12.40, :24 and :46.80 (video), galloping out six furlongs in 1:12.20, according to Churchill Downs clocker John Nichols. Shortly afterward, Owendale’s stablemate, Ten Strike Racing and Madaket Stables’ Warrior’s Charge, worked five furlongs in 1:00.80, with internal fractions of :12.60, :24.60 and :48.60 before a six-furlong gallop out in 1:13.20, according to Nichols. Warrior’s Charge would have to be supplemented for $150,000 to contest the Preakness. “The track was really good this morning,” said Cox. “I think both horses ready to roll. Owendale has been doing phenomenal following the Lexington. He has that built in foundation from the race that will suit him well in the Preakness. As for Warrior’s Charge, winner of an Oaklawn allowance Apr. 12, he added, “Warrior’s Charge should be able to handle the extra distance and is showing us he’s on an upward trend. That’s why we decided to supplement him. He didn’t run in any of the Derby preps, so he had some time to develop and grow into himself.” Later in the morning at Churchill, Tommie Lewis, Steve Crabtree, Dean Demaree, David Bernsen, Jim Chambers and Magdalena Racing’s Signalman–with Brian Hernandez Jr. aboard–breezed a half-mile in :47.60 (video), while in company with Indian Counselor (Payntor), who negotiated the distance in :48. “He hadn’t run in six weeks, so we needed a nice [work] in company,” explained trainer Kenny McPeek. “He’s going to be running a mile and three-sixteenths with six weeks between races. It was a nice maintenance breeze. [Indian Counselor] is a good, solid horse, too. He stalked off the side of him and finished up good. Nice work.” Hernandez Jr., who will ride Signalman next Saturday, added, “He went along like we wanted him to and finished up well and went on and galloped out.” Peter Redekop B.C. Ltd.’s Anothertwistafate (Scat Daddy) breezed six furlongs in a bullet 1:14.20 Saturday at Golden Gate Fields. Wright said the colt galloped out a mile in 1:40. The move was his final breeze ahead of Saturday’s Preakness. Accompanied by jockey Juan Hernandez, Anothertwistafate was recording his second breeze over the Albany, California oval’s synthetic surface since finishing second behind Owendale in the Lexington S. last month. “It was a good work for us,” affirmed trainer Blaine Wright. “We broke him off behind horses, let him just cruise up to them at the quarter pole. He outworked them very easy and galloped out nice and strong. We’re right where we want to be, I hope.” Anothertwistafate, who earned an automatic berth in the Preakness with his win in the Feb. 16 El Camino Real Derby at Golden Gate, finished second by a neck in the GIII Sunland Derby Mar. 24 before running in the Lexington. “He’s the type of horse that when you work him a half [mile] he works six furlongs,” Wright explained. “He always gets a lot out of his breezes and gallops. He’s a big, long-striding horse. This will be five weeks between races, so I sent him out going a mile. We got a pretty good, stout work into him. Now all we have to do, hopefully, is travel.” Jockey Jose Ortiz will ride Anothertwistafate in the Preakness. The dark bay, who will ship to Pimlico Tuesday, will be the first Triple Crown starter for Wright, 44, a leading trainer at Emerald Downs in his home state of Washington. Wright maintains a year-round stable at Golden Gate Fields. The post Owendale, Signalman Top Preakness Workers appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

A ‘TDN Rising Star‘ won the GIII Peter Pan S. Saturday at Belmont, but not the one most expected. GLOBAL CAMPAIGN (c, 3, Curlin–Globe Trot, by A.P. Indy), given a 2-1 chance, stalked the pace, took over after six panels in 1:10.16 and kept finding to hold off late-charging Sir Winston (Awesome Again) by about a length in 1:46.71. Intrepid Heart, even-money off of back-to-back wins to kick of his career, broke in a tangle and never really found his stride, settling for a well-beaten third. The winner took a pair of starts at Gulfstream, but had been off since chasing a hot pace into fifth in the GII Xpressbet Fountain of Youth S. Mar. 2. Sales history: $250,000 yrl ’17 KEESEP. Lifetime Record: 4-3-0-0. O-Sagamore Farm LLC & WinStar Farm LLC. B-WinStar Farm LLC (Ky). T-Stanley Hough. The post Curlin Colt Stalks and Pounces to Peter Pan Score appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Ron Paolucci Racing's Heavenhasmynikki led every step of the $200,000 Vagrancy Handicap (G3) May 11 at Belmont Park to breakthrough for her first stakes graded victory. View the full article

DEAUVILLE, France—Expectations were running high ahead of the Arqana Breeze-up Sale and, for some, hope turned to delight as the auction delivered the first, and what will likely remain the sole, seven-figure breezer of the European season. Despite some blockbuster early prices, the day’s trade had a sticky feel to it during the afternoon but picked up notably in the final hours to deliver a set of figures remarkably on a par with last year. The number of horses sold—113—was exactly the same, the clearance rate improved slightly from 75% to 78% and, as the till receipts were rung through at the close of play, a dip of only €71,000 occurred to bring the final tally to €14,797,000. The average was also fractionally down at €129,531, as well as the median of €75,000. Not for the first time in Deauville it was an American-sired youngster leading the way after Grove Stud’s colt (lot 21) by American Pharoah elicited a bid of €1.1 million from Laurent Benoit on behalf of the Coolmore partners. The powerful colt from a top-drawer family had been bought for what now looks like a bargain price of $275,000 at Keeneland last September. “It felt expensive at the time I signed for him,” said pinhooker Brendan Holland with a grin. “I looked at all the American Pharoahs at Keeneland and I loved their minds, they way they just came out and stood. This is a big colt but he is very light on his feet. To breeze as well as he did for such a big horse—he just did it very easily. When I go to America to buy [yearlings by] these sires I like to have some turf form on the dam’s side.” The damline in question is one of the most prominent trans-Atlantic families of the modern era, that of Juddmonte’s blue hen Hasili (GB) (Kahyasi {Ire}). Her dam Kerali (GB) (High Line {GB}) features as this colt’s third dam and it is Hasili’s half-sister Dissemble (GB) (Ahonoora {GB}) who produced not just the sale-topper’s unraced dam Tare Green (Giant’s Causeway) but also the treble Grade 1 winner and late stallion Leroidesanimaux (Brz) (Candy Stripes). Each of Hasili’s seven stakes-winning offspring started their racing careers in the stable of Andre Fabre before some were transferred to America and Bobby Frankel, and it is therefore apposite that this colt will also be trained in Chantilly by Fabre. Agent Laurent Benoit said, “We had a good order from the Coolmore partners and Andre came here yesterday especially to see this colt and loved him. He is delighted to have his first American Pharoah colt to train from a family he knows so well.” Into The Grove The Grove Stud groove was still running strong late into the session when leading jockey Jamie Spencer placed the winning bid of €700,000 on Holland’s Lope De Vega (Ire) half-brother to mud-loving G1 Sussex S. winner Here Comes When (Ire) (Danehill Dancer {Ire}). By the time it came to signing the sheet, Spencer’s Newmarket ally David Simcock took charge and confirmed that he will train the colt for a new owner to his stable. “We’ve been trying to buy at the last three sales and we’re delighted to have been able to get the one we really wanted,” he said. “Jamie has been integral to the process and we’ve worked closely throughout the sale. It was really important to buy a horse that we both liked. He’s for a new English client so it’s really exciting but the pressure is on now. Seven of the top ten places on the leaderboard were occupied by fillies and they included another Grove Stud offering, lot 17, a Muhaarar (GB) half-sister to G1 Prix Maurice de Gheest winner Signs Of Blessing (Ire) bought for €280,000 by Stuart Boman of Blandford Bloodstock on behalf of Larry Young’s Speriamo Bloodstock. The filly will go into training in Germany with Andreas Wohler. “We bought Clearly (GB) in this ring last December and she ran third in a Group 2 on her Australian debut last week.,” Boman said. ” [Larry] is also in Axana (Ger), who will be favourite for the German Guineas. This filly is all about next year. She is quite tall, but she galloped out strongly and was prepared by the best consignor in my view.” While Mocklershill ended the sale as leading vendor by aggregate with 16 horses sold for a total of €3,441,000, Grove Stud led by average, with eight lots sold for an average of €349,355. “This has been a really lucky sale for me and I’ve sold a stakes horse here for each of the last ten years,” said Brendan Holland. Mocklershill’s Leading Ladies It didn’t take long for the bar to be set high for the day when Mocklershill’s Kingman (GB) filly out of Serena’s Storm (Ire) (Statue Of Liberty) entered the ring as lot 6. As a half-sister to dual Group 1 winner Rizeena (Ire) (Iffraaj {GB}) she already had plenty to recommend her, but the fact that her sire has been represented by a raft of classy winners this season, not to mention the favourite for today’s G1 Poule d’Essai des Poulains in Persian King (Ire), ensured that there was plenty of talk about the grey prior to the sale, and it didn’t prove to be unfounded. Anthony Stroud stepped into the fray to outbid Kerri Radcliffe at €800,000 and made the sole purchase of the day for Godolphin. It was the second lucrative transaction for Mocklershill in a matter of minutes as it followed the sale of lot 3, a Sea The Stars (Ire) filly from the family of Wednesday’s impressive Cheshire Oaks victrix Mehdaayih (GB) (Frankel {GB}), for €520,000. Jake Warren had the final say on this filly on behalf of Simon Scupham and Bermuda Thoroughbred Racing. He said of the sister to G3 Cumberland S. winner Star Storm (GB) (Sea The Stars {Ire}), “Simon Scupham is interested in quality fillies and we bought a fast No Nay Never filly in Newmarket. This filly is more the type who will hopefully develop into a nice 3-year-old. She has a fantastic pedigree and breezed very nicely.” Completing a run of expensive fillies from Mocklershill was Friday’s fastest breezer, the No Nay Never half-sister to G1 Middle Park S. runner-up Jash (Ire) (Kodiac {GB}). Kerri Radcliffe had previously lost out on the Kingman filly but she was successful in securing the daughter of winning Dutch Art (GB) mare Miss Ezeza (GB) for €575,000. “She’s been bought for Peter Leidel and George Bolton, who raced Lady Aurelia,” said the agent of lot 134. “I thought I might have to give more for her. She’ll be going to Joseph O’Brien.” Towards the end of the session, Justin Casse went to €290,000 for another filly from the draft, lot 157, a daughter of Medaglia d’Oro. The late May foal is out of a Fusaichi Pegasus half-sister to GI Travers S. and G1 Cigar Mile winner Stay Thirsty (Bernardini) and to Without You Babe (Lemon Drop Kid), the dam of Tamarkuz (Speightstown) and Without Parole (GB) (Frankel {GB}). Second-season Sires In Demand Another standout filly by No Nay Never was Gaybrook Lodge Stud’s lot 18, a daughter of the dual Italian winner Super Marmelade (Ire) (Duke Of Marmalade {Ire}), bought by Jamie McCalmont for €500,000. Sold for €80,000 as a yearling in the same ring last August, the filly will race for a new German owner and be trained in Britain by Ralph Beckett. “She is for a client who is new to the business and is setting up a long-term breeding operation under the name of Westerberg, said the agent. “Ralph will train her. We love No Nay Never and Ralph is keen on the damsire as his St Leger winner Simple Verse (Ire) was by Duke Of Marmalade. She did a great breeze and vetted well. We were very taken by her.” The leading sire with more than one sold was Kingman by a wide margin, his four juveniles returning an average of €455,500. After the top-priced filly of the day detailed above came lot 84, another triumph for Mick Murphy and Sarah O’Connell of Longways Stables, who bought the half-sister to listed winner Dark Liberty (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}) for €125,000 and resold her to Charlie Gordon-Watson for €650,000. “She is very athletic and I love the stallion, I think he’s going to be one of the best ever,” said the agent who could not name his client. “She will be trained by Andre Fabre who particularly liked her.” Another Kingman juvenile, this one a colt from Con Marnane’s Bansha House Stables, was initially bought back at €300,000 in the ring but was later sold privately for €315,000 to Joseph Burke. Lot 124 is out of the winning Pivotal (GB) mare Lucrece (GB), herself a half-sister to Group 1-winning sprinter Signs Of Blessing (Ire), a son of Kingman’s sire Invincible Spirit (Ire). Burke confirmed that he had bought the colt on behalf of Sheikh Ahmed Al Maktoum. He said, “He will go into training with William Haggas. He’s a beautiful colt who breezed well and has a lovely stride. Kingman crossed with Pivotal mares has already produced three winners from four runners, including one stakes winner, Poetry (GB), which is what we hope this colt will be.” Breezing to America American-based trainers Neil Drysdale and Patrick Biancone will each have a juvenile to train from the sale. Drysdale’s wife Shawn Dugan was standing alongside Paul Shanahan when going to €320,000 on behalf of Coolmore for lot 132, an Exceed And Excel (Aus) filly consigned by Yeomanstown Stud. David O’Callaghan had bought the first foal of Mikandy (Ire) (Arcano {Ire}), a half-sister to stakes winners Dolled Up (Fr) (Whipper) and Zeiting (Fr) (Zieten), at Goffs last November for €145,000. “She is a gorgeous mover with a great balance and we hope she can continue to do as well in proper races, but physically she really was the best filly in the sale to me, and she also has the pedigree,” said Dugan of the filly whose further family includes recent European Group 1 winners Precieuse (Ire) (Tamayuz {GB}) and Eqtidaar (Ire) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}). Frenchman Biancone will be returning Powerstown Stud’s colt by Summer Front to the land of his birth after bidding €240,000 for the second foal of East India (Mizzen Mast) from the family of G1 Breeders’ Cup Classic winner Raven’s Pass (Elusive Quality). The colt by Airdrie Stud’s first-season son of War Front was sold as lot 77 and was previously purchased for $80,000 at Keeneland September Sale. The post Plus Ça Change At Arqana appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Joel Politi’s GI Longines Kentucky Oaks heroine Serengeti Empress (Alternation) could target the GI Acorn S. on the undercard of the June 8 GI Belmont S., according to trainer Tom Amoss. “She’ll just do some light training at Churchill Downs the rest of the month and we’ll look at [the Acorn] as a possible next target,” Amoss said. “It’s been beyond words to describe the emotions of winning the Kentucky Oaks. It’s been a complete team effort to even get to this point.” The post Oaks Winner Targeting Acorn appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

The New York Thoroughbred Horsemen’s Association (NYTHA) has launched the Empire Racing Club, a non-profit organization designed to introduce fans to racehorse ownership. New York’s beloved retired racecaller Tom Durkin will serve as managing partner, and Eclipse Award-winner Todd Pletcher will be the Club trainer. “We are committed to helping grow the sport of horse racing,” said Durkin, who is also a NYTHA Board Member. “We believe that the Empire Racing Club will offer a low-cost entry point to fans and potential new owners, with very little risk.” Proceeds from the Empire Racing Club, a not-for-profit tax-exempt social club, will be used to pay the expenses of the horse and the Club. Any excess funds will be distributed to a 501 (c) (3) non-profit aftercare organization. The Club membership agreement specifically names New York’s TAKE THE LEAD Thoroughbred Retirement Program as the designee. “It was very important to NYTHA that this Racing Club include an aftercare component,” NYTHA Executive Director Andy Belfiore said. “We are very proud of the work that our TAKE THE LEAD Program has done in working with Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance accredited partners to find homes for the horses retiring from the NYRA tracks.” The Club will be limited to 200 members. The cost to join will be $500 for the term, with no further outlay by the participants. “What I think is great about a racing club is that it gives the opportunity for a new owner to come in at a high level and be exposed to the game with someone who can guide them through the learning process,” Pletcher said. “It’s an introductory way without a huge investment that really brings you to the forefront of top racing.” The post Empire Racing Club Launched appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

10th-CD, $85K, Msw, 3yo/up, 6 1/2f, 5:45p.m. Ian Wilkes unveils the latest progeny of champion Bird Town (Cape Town) at Churchill Downs Sunday in ONE MORE DREAM (Graydar). A half-sister to MGISW Birdstone (Grindstone), Bird Town won the GI Kentucky Oaks and GI Acorn S. for earnings over $870,000 and produced MGSW Bird Song (Unbridled’s Song). TJCIS PPs The post May 12 Insights: Son of Bird Town Debuts at Churchill appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Preakness Stakes (G1) contenders Owendale, Signalman, and Warrior's Charge topped Churchill Downs' work tab the morning of May 11 as the trio put in their final preparation for the second jewel in racing's Triple Crown May 18 at Pimlico Race Course. View the full article

Over the next few days, the European turf flat season increases in temperature and before its reigning champion Too Darn Hot (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) re-enters the fray at York the regal presence of Persian King (Ire) (Kingman {GB}) will agitate the thermometer at ParisLongchamp on Sunday. Out on his own in class terms as he lines up for the G1 The Emirates Poule d’Essai des Poulains, Godolphin and Ballymore Thoroughbred Ltd’s ‘TDN Rising Star’ will take Andre Fabre past Francois Boutin’s tally of six winners if he follows the script as it is laid out. The only horse to beat Magna Grecia (Ire) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}), with their G3 Autumn S. tussle still strong in the memory, he cut an improved figure on his emphatic return in this Classic’s premier trial, the course-and-distance G3 Prix de Fontainebleau on Apr. 14. Victory would provide Invincible Spirit (Ire) and his exciting son Kingman with a Guineas double and there are seemingly very few negatives. Fabre sees it that way and said, “Obviously I was very pleased to see Magna Grecia win as he did last week. He’s in good shape. The ground will probably be a bit soft for him, but he will handle it–most Kingman’s handle it quite well. Stall two is good, I can’t have any complaints about that.” Godolphin’s sound investment in Persian King faces its first test and the operation’s Lisa-Jane Graffard commented, “Persian King is in very good form and Andre Fabre has been delighted with his progress. There is a slight question mark about the ground as it will be Persian King’s first run on soft ground, but he is a horse with a lot of class and we hope that he can produce his best.” Fabre also runs Munitions (War Front) and Godolphin’s $550,000 Keeneland September graduate took the other important prep, the G3 Prix Djebel over seven furlongs at Maisons-Laffitte on Apr. 10. Unlike Persian King, his stamina is unproven and he was an unconvincing stayer when hanging on to prevail by a nose from Graignes (Fr) (Zoffany {Ire}) there. “Munitions comes into this race on the back of a narrow victory in a trial and has earned his place in the field,” Lisa-Jane Graffard commented. “He has plenty to prove over this distance and is racing at Longchamp for the first time, but he is in great form at the moment.” This has long been the go-to Classic for dubious stayers due to the fact that it is run around a bend, but the sprint-orientated types who have taken the plunge tend to have failed just as much as they have at Newmarket. Unperturbed by that, there are a few connections again happy to take up the challenge despite obvious stamina doubts and one of the chief ones is Ballydoyle’s Never No More (Ire) (No Nay Never). Like Munitions, he was campaigned over speed trips at two but saw out seven furlongs well when beating Madhmoon (Ire) (Dawn Approach {Ire}) in the Listed 2000 Guineas Trial at Leopardstown on Apr. 6. Roger Varian is pitching Sheikh Mohammed bin Obaid Al Maktoum’s San Donato (Ire) (Lope de Vega {Ire}) back into action straight up in this test, with his last effort coming when successful in the six-furlong Listed Doncaster S. that Night of Thunder (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) won in 2013. By the 2010 Poulains hero, he is out of the speedy Boston Rocker (Ire) (Acclamation {GB}) from a fast family so his ability to stretch to a mile must be taken on trust. Freddy Head’s season has yet to take off and with Anodor (Fr) (Anodin {Ire}) drawn widest of all it is debatable whether there will be any improvement in the yard’s fortunes on Sunday. After his win in the G3 Prix des Chenes over this course and distance in September, he described Jean-Louis Bouchard’s chestnut as the best juvenile he had trained. Praise indeed, but he was only third in the G1 Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere back over the same track and trip on Arc day and the jury is out. “British and Irish trainers often send their horses without a prep for these big early-season races and that strategy frequently seems to work,” Head commented. “French trainers tend to think a prep is necessary, but sometimes that can result in too hard a race. Anodor can perform well fresh and I’m happy with him.” There is a live chance of a Godolphin Classic double on the afternoon, with the Henri-Alex Pantall-trained Castle Lady (Ire) (Shamardal) favoured for the G1 The Emirates Poule d’Essai des Pouliches. Stepping forward from a clear-cut debut win on Chantilly’s Polytrack Mar. 14 to take the G3 Prix de la Grotte over this track and trip a month later, the relative of Raven’s Pass has plenty of progress still to make on pedigree. “Castle Lady is making only her third lifetime start and it is hard to win a Classic not having raced as a 2-year-old, but her trainer has been very pleased with her progress this year,” Lisa-Jane Graffard commented. “She has yet to race on this type of ground, but appears to be a versatile and straightforward filly and we are hopeful that it won’t be an inconvenience. She has done absolutely nothing wrong so far and is the top-rated filly in the field.” Unlike the colts’ version, this Classic is winnable from a wide draw with three fillies since 2010 successful from double-figure stalls. East (GB) (Frankel {GB}), who is widest of all here, beat the colts in the G3 Prix Thomas Bryon at Saint-Cloud in October before putting up an impressive effort to be second to Newspaperofrecord (Ire) (Lope de Vega {Ire}) when drawn 14 for the GI Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf. She had the likes of Just Wonderful (Dansili {GB}), The Mackem Bullet (Ire) (Society Rock {Ire}) and Lily’s Candle (Fr) (Style Vendome {Fr}) behind on that occasion and trainer Kevin Ryan is in bullish mood. “She is in great form and everything has gone to plan,” he said. “There has been a lot of rain in Paris, but we know she handles soft ground.” East’s overseas experience will stand her in fine stead for this examination. “She was unbelievable in America. She got there and hardly lost any weight, then she put weight on over the five or six days she was there,” Ryan explained. “She has got a great constitution. She has grown and has got stronger. She is just a pleasure to train and we have had a lovely run into the race with her, so I’m very happy with her. There was no need to run her in a trial as she is a very easy filly to train. She has been away from home and had a racecourse gallop, so there are no excuses there.” Another with top-level form at two is the Wertheimers’ still-unexposed Matematica (Ger) (Rock of Gibraltar {Ire}), who was denied by a short neck by Lily’s Candle when runner-up in the G1 Prix Marcel Boussac over this course and distance on Arc day. Due to her winless record as a juvenile, trainer Carlos Laffon-Parias had the luxury of picking a confidence-boosting maiden for her prep and the homebred duly sauntered to a three-length success over a mile at Chantilly on Apr. 8. “It was only her second start in the Boussac–she got to the front and didn’t know what was happening. Only inexperience got her beat,” her trainer said. Having beaten Lady Bamford’s Suphala (Fr) (Frankel {GB}) in the G3 Prix Imprudence over seven furlongs at Maisons-Laffitte on Apr. 10, Alexander Tamagni-Bodmer and Regula Vannod’s Watch Me (Fr) (Olympic Glory {Ire}) has obvious claims. Also successful in the Listed Criterium du Languedoc at this trip on heavy ground in November, the descendant of the G1 Prix Vermeille winner Sharaya (Youth) may be under-estimated. At Leopardstown, Broome (Ire) (Australia {GB}) is charged with maintaining his stable’s 100% record in Britain and Ireland’s established preps for the blue riband in the G3 Derrinstown Stud Derby Trial S. at Leopardstown. Looking a different proposition to the lethargic if talented figure he generally cut as a 2-year-old when winning the G3 Ballysax S. by eight lengths over this course and distance on Apr. 6, he bids to provide Ballydoyle with a dozen successes in this Derby pointer which surprisingly has not been won by a subsequent Epsom hero since High Chaparral (Ire) in 2002. “The plan at the start of the season was always for Broome to go to Leopardstown for the Ballysax S. and then back for the Derrinstown S.,” Aidan O’Brien said. “We’ve been very happy with him since the Ballysax. Broome has always been a lovely, laid-back horse and he seems to be in good form since his last run so we’re looking forward to running him again at Leopardstown on Sunday. He has done everything right. We’ve always liked him a lot, he was just beaten in a Group 1 last year and he was only a baby.” Joseph O’Brien takes on Senior with Lloyd Williams’s Apr. 6 course mile maiden winner Buckhurst (Ire) (Australia {GB}) and he said of him, “We want to give him every chance of being an English Derby horse, so he’ll go to the Derrinstown and we’ll take it from there with him but he’s in good form at home.” Dermot Weld upset the Ballydoyle bandwagon with Hazapour (Ire) (Shamardal)–who runs in the card’s G3 Comer Group International Amethyst S.–in 2018 and puts forward Shadwell’s Rakan (GB) (Sea the Stars {Ire}), a son of their high-class G3 Blue Wind S. winner and G1 Epsom Oaks runner-up Tarfasha (Ire) (Teofilo {Ire}) who also opened his account over a mile here when last seen in October. In the card’s G3 Derrinstown Stud 1000 Guineas Trial, there is an unexposed member of His Highness The Aga Khan’s ever-feared and respected distaff cast in the Mick Halford-trained Tipperary maiden winner Hamariyna (Ire) (Sea the Moon {Ger}). The runner-up in that Apr. 25 nine-furlong contest has gone on to score and there was real promise in the way the homebred relative of Harzand (Ire) (Sea the Stars {Ire}) saw out her race. “It is a big step up from a maiden to Group 3 class, but she is a filly we like a lot and Sunday should mark our card for the rest of the year,” Halford said. “She is a filly that will probably stay further, but deserves her chance at this level over a mile.” Others under the radar at present include the Fozzy Stack-trained Apr. 7 Cork maiden scorer Lady Wannabe (Ire) (Camelot {GB}) and Dean Street Doll (Ire) (Oasis Dream {GB}) who hails from Richard O’Brien’s small Ballingarry yard. “It’s a big step up from her maiden win, but it fits in nicely–15 days after she has won and it will be interesting for all of us to see if she’s capable of coping with that,” he said of the Apr. 27 Limerick maiden winner. “We’ll see what Sunday brings. We’re taking that step with trepidation more than anything else.” The post The King In His Counting House appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

5th-Ascot, £12,000, Novice, 5-11, 2yo, 5fT, 1:02.67, g/s. EXPRESSIONIST (IRE) (c, 2, Night of Thunder {Ire}–Permission Slip {Ire} {SP-Fr}, by Authorized {Ire}), sent off the 5-2 favourite, travelled easily behind the leading duo throughout the early stages. Pushed to the front approaching the furlong pole, the chestnut was soon beyond recall and hit the line with a snug 3/4-of-a-length advantage over Clan Royale (GB) (Siyouni {Fr}}). In doing so, Expressionist becomes the first winner for his G1 2000 Guineas and G1 Lockinge S.-winning sire (by Dubawi {Ire}) who stands at Dalham Hall Stud at a fee of £15,000. He is the first runner for the dam, who was listed-placed at a mile and a quarter for this operation before being sold for €80,000 at the 2017 Goffs February Sale. From the family of the European champion 2-year-old filly Bint Allayl (GB) (Green Desert) and G3 Jersey S.-winning sire Kheleyf (Green Desert), she also has a yearling colt by Australia (GB). Sales history: €65,000 Ylg ’18 GOFOR; 300,000gns 2yo ’19 TATBRE. Lifetime Record: 1-1-0-0, $10,092. Video, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton. O-Godolphin; B-Clarecastle Stud Ltd (IRE); T-Charlie Appleby. The post Night of Thunder Off the Mark At Ascot appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

If Macau-based jockey Peter Ho Wah-lun left Sha Tin on cloud nine 12 months ago after booting home his first winner in Hong Kong thanks to his brother-in-law Frankie Lor Fu-chuen, he is at the other end of the spectrum a year on.Star trainer Lor entrusted Ho with three rides on Saturday including that of raging favourite Little Wise Man in the Class Four Macau-Taipa Bridge Handicap (1,200m), but the jockey left punters seething after interfering with a number of runners when he looked set to… View the full article

The vibes were weak for Anthony Van Dyck (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) ahead of Saturday’s Listed Racebets Derby Trial S. at Lingfield, but the class act of the field was not privy to them and duly forwarded obvious Derby claims with a fluent success. One of last year’s leading juveniles courtesy of wins in the G2 Futurity S. and G3 Tyros S. and placings in the G1 Vincent O’Brien National S. and G1 Dewhurst S., the generously-priced 2-1 favourite raced in fifth initially in an easy rhythm on the rail off the solid pace set by Severance (GB) (Nathaniel {Ire}). Swinging downhill and cornering like a natural, he was pushed past Pablo Escobarr (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) and to the front approaching the furlong marker and stayed on strongly despite drifting to the stand’s rail to beat that rival by 2 1/4 lengths. In doing so, he continued the 100% record of Aidan O’Brien in Britain’s Derby trials and Ryan Moore was impressed. “I was very happy with him–it was very smooth and he travelled beautifully the whole way round,” he said. “He took that very comfortably and for me, he needed the run today as he had a little bit of a blow two out. He’s always had a marvellous attitude and we always felt he would stay a bit further. I think he’ll definitely improve for the run, so there is a lot to sort through and the trials aren’t over yet.” Saturday, Lingfield, Britain RACEBETS DERBY TRIAL S.-Listed, £60,000, Lingfield, 5-11, 3yo, c/g, 11f 133yT, 2:31.27, sf. 1–ANTHONY VAN DYCK (IRE), 126, c, 3, by Galileo (Ire) 1st Dam: Believe’N’Succeed (Aus) (GSW-Aus, $157,067), by Exceed and Excel (Aus) 2nd Dam: Arctic Drift, by Gone West 3rd Dam: November Snow, by Storm Cat O-Susan Magnier, Michael Tabor & Derrick Smith; B-Orpendale, Chelston & Wynatt (IRE); T-Aidan O’Brien; J-Ryan Moore. £34,026. Lifetime Record: MGSW & G1SP-Ire, G1SP-Eng, 8-4-1-1, $333,683. *1/2 to Bounding (Aus) (Lonhro {Aus}), Ch. Sprinter-NZ, G1SW-NZ & GSW-Aus, $578,367. 2–Pablo Escobarr (Ire), 126, c, 3, Galileo (Ire)–Bewitched (Ire), by Dansili (GB). (€200,000 Ylg ’17 ARAUG). O-Hussain Alabbas Lootah. £12,900. 3–Nate The Great (GB), 126, c, 3, Nathaniel (Ire)–Theladyinquestion (GB), by Dubawi (Ire). (30,000gns RNA Ylg ’17 TAOCT). O-Mildmay Racing & D H Caslon. £6,456. Margins: 2 1/4, 1 3/4, 1 1/4. Odds: 2.00, 6.00, 16.00. Also Ran: Cap Francais (GB), Ranch Hand (GB), Eagles By Day (Ire), Severance (GB), Hiroshima (GB), Themaxwecan (Ire), Three Comets (Ger). Click for the Racing Post result. Video, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton. The post Galileo’s Anthony Van Dyck To the Fore In Lingfield’s Derby Trial appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Ramruma (Diesis {GB}) was the last filly to complete the Listed Lingfield Oaks Trial-G1 Epsom Oaks double in 1999, but Meon Valley Stud’s homebred Anapurna (GB) (Frankel {GB}) was a demonstrative enough winner of this year’s renewal to suggest a repeat 20 years on is not outlandish. Tracking the pace-setting Cape Islay (Fr) (Cape Cross {Ire}) throughout, the notably green homebred who was having her first start on turf having won by five lengths in a 10-furlong Polytrack novice contest here Jan. 30 took over approaching the last two furlongs. Pushed out to go clear by Frankie Dettori, the descendant of the owner-breeders’ star mare Milligram (GB) (Mill Reef) was eased late en route to a six-length dimissal of Tauteke (GB) (Sea the Stars {Ire}) as the 7-4 favourite. Dettori said, “She showed as good mind, although she was green at times. She handled the bend well and put the race to bed very quickly.” John Gosden, who also has Wednesday’s Listed Cheshire Oaks scorer Mehdaayih (GB) (Frankel {GB}), was looking at the May 31 Epsom Classic with the winner. “We’re thrilled with her, as she is inexperienced and hadn’t even worked on turf before this. I liked the way she changed her legs coming down the hill and it was a really good trial effort. We’ll see how she is over the next few days and if she takes it well she is in the Oaks. We’ve got some lovely fillies and they all deserve to take their chance, as there is only one Oaks.” ANAPURNA (GB), f, 3, Frankel (GB)–Dash to the Top (GB) (SW & MG1SP-Eng, $212,678(, by Montjeu (Ire). O-Helena Springfield Ltd; B-Meon Valley Stud (GB); T-John Gosden; J-Lanfranco Dettori. £22,684. Lifetime Record: 3-2-0-0, £26,436. The post Anapurna Another Exciting Frankel and Gosden Prospect For the Oaks appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article