Wandering Eyes

A trip to the winner's circle has been long overdue for grade 1 winner Union Strike, who finally broke her five-race losing streak Sept. 23 in the $300,000 Gallant Bloom Stakes (G2) over 6 1/2 furlongs at Belmont Park. View the full article

The Keeneland September Yearling Sale proved more than able to live up to its record-setting 2017 edition, concluding Sunday in Lexington with a record average and the fourth-highest gross in sale history. “We were optimistic that it was going to be a terrific sale,” Keeneland’s Vice President of Racing and Sales Bob Elliston said Sunday. “But to be $70-million plus over the gross of last year and to have 27 millionaires, versus 13 last year, and to see the strength of the market carrying on through Book 5, quite honestly, exceeded our expectations.” Through 13 sessions, Keeneland sold 2,916 horses for a total of $377,140,400. The average was $129,335, up 7.3% from its 2017 record of $120,487. The median was $50,000–down 12.3% from last year’s record mark of $57,000. The 2018 gross sales exceeded last year’s 12-day auction total of $307,845,400 on the seventh day of selling and final receipts of $377,130,400 rose 22.51% over last year. It was sale’s highest gross since the 14-day September Sale in 2005 when 3,545 yearlings sold for $384,349,900. This year 2,916 horses sold, compared to 2,555 in 2017. For the third straight year, Coolmore’s M.V. Magnier made the highest bid of the September sale. Magnier went to $2.4 million to acquire a colt by War Front (hip 458) from the Hill ‘n’ Dale Sales Agency consignment. The yearling was one of three to break the $2-million plateau during the auction. Godolphin–the sale’s leading buyer by gross–purchased a colt from the first crop of Triple Crown winner American Pharoah (hip 91) for $2.2 million from the Woods Edge Farm consignment and Phoenix Thoroughbreds purchased a son of Medaglia d’Oro (hip 899) for $2.1 million from the Taylor Made Sales Agency consignment. “I thought it was a really good sale,” said Duncan Taylor of Taylor Made Sales Agency, which was the auction’s leading consignor. “I thought there was a lot of participation from a lot of people and then you had Sheikh Mohammed [of Godolphin] get back in stronger than he has been, so that just added more heat to the bidding. It’s still a tough game if you’re breeding horses for the market because, if you breed 10 horses and you breed three or four of them people really want, you’re lucky. But it’s still a good market. It picked up some even from last year.” Bidding was fast and furious throughout the four Book 1 sessions of the auction’s first week, setting up strong competition throughout the auction. “Most of the buyers told us they were struggling to get orders filled up front, that prices that they had expected horses to bring were being blown out of the water,” Elliston said. “While there was great trade up there with that audience, it just pushed people back further into Book 2. And Book 2 was outstanding, pushing them into three and so on. We were looking at 30 to 35% increase in the average for every single session even in the middle market.” A strong group of international buyers helped drive the competition throughout the 13-day sale, with buyers from across North America and more than 20 foreign countries representing Europe, the Middle East, Asia, South America and Central America. “Week one sets the table and then the second week follows,” Keeneland’s Director of Sales Operations Geoffrey Russell said. “We are able to recruit buyers from South America, Korea and Russia to buy in Books 3 through 6. They like the American-bred speed dirt horse and know they are going to get good quality when they come here regardless of the price.” The buy-back rate, which was as low as 20.8% for the second session, concluded at 23.7%–another sign of the sale’s success, according to Elliston. “You want to get trade done,” he said. “You want a good strong average, but you don’t want to take 35% of your horses back either. When we were seeing 18%, 19%, 20% buy-back rate versus 25% and 26% in prior years, that was also rewarding because these horses were fetching good prices and so many of them were finding good homes.” Gatewood Bell’s Cromwell Bloodstock was active throughout the sale, buying yearlings from every price range starting at $10,000 and going up to $625,000. “Like everyone [will say], the obvious ones you had to pay for,” Bell said. “We got outbid on a lot more than we bought, but we were very pleased with what we got. It was a really good group to be able to select from. That was the beauty of it. You had so many people with a lot of money and all these [horses] are finding new homes. There was something for everybody.” 10 years On The 2018 Keeneland September Sale marked 10 years since the bottom fell out of the Thoroughbred market with the world-wide economic crash of 2008. “We had the fourth highest grossing sale in history and the three previous were in ’05, ’06, ’07, right before the crash,” Elliston said. “So I think we’ve made a lot of gains back [since 2008]. There is a lot of optimism in the breeding industry right now. Elliston continued, “There is some enthusiasm at the racetrack on big race days, purses are growing and so, while not everything is perfect, there are reasons to be optimistic and hopefully that this will continue. The economy drives a great deal of it. We all probably wonder when this economy is due for a slow down–it’s been 10 years since it hit bottom. That may temper our optimism because you’ve got to believe that some of the fire is going to come out of the economy, but right now it looks pretty positive.” Taylor Made Sales Agency recorded its highest grossing sale since 2008, with 300 head grossing $47,317,400. In 2008, the company sold 369 yearlings for $48,502,900. Duncan Taylor thinks a broader buying bench has produced a stronger market a decade after the crash. “I think the market is going to be better because the money is more spread out over more horses,” Taylor said. “It seems like [bidding] was tapering off at the $2.5-million mark now, but there are more of them being sold.” Godolphin Leads All Buyers Sheikh Mohammed was in attendance at the September sale for the first time in nearly a decade and his Godolphin was the auction’s leading buyer, purchasing 27 yearlings for $19,960,000, including three of the seven-figure yearlings. It was the highest amount for a single buying entity at the sale since 2006. In 2017, the operation was the third leading buyer, with 17 purchased for $8,065,000. “We were pleased to welcome Sheikh Mohammed and his wife, Princess Haya, to Keeneland for the first time in a number of years,” Elliston said. “His presence and the participation of his brother, Sheikh Hamdan, and the Coolmore contingent change the atmosphere of the sale. It creates an excitement that reverberates around the sales grounds.” Sheikh Hamdan’s Shadwell Estate Company purchased 19 yearlings for $12,345,000, including three seven-figure offerings. The auction’s 27 million-plus yearlings were purchased by 12 separate buying interests, with 13 purchased by domestic buyers and 14 by international interests. “Sheikh Mohammed loves the auction business, he loves the racing business and the breeding business, so when he is here, it is very rewarding for us,” Elliston said. “But it also gets everybody else excited and enthusiastic about what is going on. Godolphin drove it at the top and it was rewarding, but we had a large number of high-grossing buyers.” Perennial Leader Taylor Made Tops Again Taylor Made Sales Agency was the September sale’s leading consignor for the fourth consecutive time and for the 20th time since 1988, selling 300 horses for $47,317,400. The company sold three seven-figure yearlings, including a $2.1-million son of Medaglia d’Oro. “Our customers continue to support us and we can’t thank them enough,” Duncan Taylor said. “They really provide us with the product. They keep raising good horses that run well, so it just continues to feed each other. We hope that we’re doing a good job and other people are seeing that and we are attracting new customers, too. It’s a real blessing and we feel very privileged that the people choose us to sell their horses. We keep trying to make sure they believe that is the right choice.” Sire Power Uncle Mo was the sale’s leading sire by gross, with 65 yearlings sold for $22,392,000, including three million-dollar horses. Medaglia d’Oro ranked second, represented by 34 yearlings sold for $20,075,000 and five seven-figure offerings. War Front was the sale’s leading sire by average, with 18 sold for an average of $782,500, followed by Tapit with 25 sold for an average of $611,200. The 27 million-dollar yearlings were by 11 different sires: American Pharoah, Curlin, Empire Maker (with his first yearlings since returning to the U.S.), Ghostzapper, Into Mischief, Medaglia d’Oro, Pioneerof the Nile, Quality Road, Tapit, Uncle Mo and War Front. The hype over the first crop of yearlings by American Pharoah continued to live up to billing, with 47 yearlings selling for $19,585,000, for an average of $416,702, and including three million-dollar horses. New Year, New Format For the last few years, Keeneland has been tinkering with the format of its mammoth September sale. In 2017, the sale started out with a super select one-session Book 1 and was followed by three Book 2 sessions. This year, Book 1 was held over four days and Book 2 was two sessions. The format had buyers stretched out covering ground all the way from barn 1 to barn 49 and heavy rains on the Sunday before the sale started forced Keeneland to delay the start time of its four Book 1 sessions by two hours. But, for Elliston, the success of the format was in the sale’s final numbers. “If outcomes are any indication, it’s pretty positive when you’re going to be $70-million plus north of where you were last year,” Elliston said of the new format. “We heard a lot of good things. We’ll always listen to our customers and try to find the right format that fits. But this one certainly worked well. I think some of the stabling issues that we are faced with, it may have been a bit inconvenient for some of the buyers to have to travel all the way from barn 1 to barn 48, but the quality stock was worth it. That’s what they told us. This crop really seemed to be an outstanding crop of horses. So they couldn’t just spend time in one part of the barn area, they had to go see them all and fortunately they did and we had some exceptional trade.” For Duncan Taylor, the longer Book 1 meant watered down quality. “I think it’s good to have consistency,” he said. “I think it’s better for everybody if we concentrate on getting the very highest caliber in Book 1 and the ones that aren’t, have them be part of Book 2. I think we should weed out some of the horses that were in Book 1, instead of forcing them up there.” Court Vision Colt Tops September Finale A colt by Court Vision topped Sunday’s final session of the Keeneland September sale when selling for $70,000 to Ken and Sarah Ramsey. The yearling (hip 4435) is out of Baytree (Forestry) and is a full-brother to graded stakes placed Hammers Vision and a half to stakes-placed First Goal (First Defence). He was consigned by Vinery Sales as agent for Haymarket Farm. During Sunday’s session, 183 yearlings sold for $1,334,200 at an average of $7,291 and a median of $4,000. View the full article

In his debut effort, Albie took a $62,000 maiden special weight race restricted to New York-bred 2-year-olds at Belmont Park Sept. 23 to become the first winner for freshman sire Alpha. View the full article

The GI Pennsylvania Derby win by ‘TDN Rising Star’ McKinzie (Street Sense) was undoubtedly the headline-grabber of the weekend. Prior to being sidelined with an ankle injury in April, the Bob Baffert-trained bay had been perched firmly in the top tier of favorites for the GI Kentucky Derby, and Saturday’s comeback win at Parx generated a preliminary Beyer Speed Figure of 107 and “incredible horse” praise from jockey Mike Smith for being able to score at nine furlongs off a half-year layoff. But with the Breeders’ Cup looming in six weeks, McKinzie’s Pennsylvania Derby performance also raised several significant questions about whether or not we saw a winner who would loom as a serious threat in a race like the GI Classic at Churchill Downs. (The GI Dirt Mile could be another option, as might a later-season race like the GI Clark H. at Churchill Nov. 23.) McKinzie’s final clocking of 1:52.05 was the slowest in the 39-year history of the Pennsylvania Derby. He broke running, rated kindly, then got floated wide on the clubhouse turn as the jockeys in the first flight all avoided a perceived dead rail like the inside paths were strung with barbed wire. He settled for the backstretch run just to the outside of an ideal target: An 81-1 pacemaker loping along at a lethargic tempo (:48.91 for the opening half mile). McKinzie responded to a mild drive and seized the lead on cue three-eights out, and with the other four entrants whose odds were below 10-1 all failing to fire, the 2-1 favorite was never seriously threatened in the run to the wire. Thus, we didn’t get to see a true heat-of-battle stretch test, which is important in assessing where McKinzie belongs in the overall pecking order. In his first four career races, McKinzie didn’t always look comfortable fighting late in the lane. He swished his tail in the stretch runs of his first three races when called upon for more aggression, and in his GII San Felipe S. disqualification he was bearing out while fully extended. Again in the Pennsylvania Derby, McKinzie flicked his tail four times in reaction to Smith’s left-handed stick work. Regardless of which race is chosen next for McKinzie, the only certainty is that it’s bound to be a much tougher spot than his comeback race at Parx. Will he be up to the task? Runner-up Axelrod (Warrior’s Reward) continues to build on his reputation as an overachiever who consistently outruns long odds. He didn’t compete in the Triple Crown races, but since June has racked up two Grade III wins and a pair of seconds in a Grade I and a Grade III stakes–all dirt routes after starting the year sprinting on the turf. Hofburg (Tapit) could emerge as the Pennsylvania Derby participant with the best chance to shrug off a blah performance. His no-kick fourth as the second choice might have been hampered by being too far off a dawdling pace even though he was equipped with blinkers for the first time. He gave up plenty of real estate while parked wide for most of his trip, including a six-path middle move on the far turn that he could not sustain late into the lane. Triple Crown Trivia Heading into the final week of the baseball season, J.D. Martinez of the Boston Red Sox has an outside chance to rally late and win the sport’s Triple Crown (he currently leads in runs batted in and is second in both home runs and batting average). In a historical sense, Martinez is also chasing Justify (Scat Daddy)’s sweep of the Triple Crown races earlier this spring. Can you name the last time that both baseball and horse racing produced Triple Crown winners in the same year? (Answer below.) Insurmountable Odds are No Jackpot Last week’s news that The Stronach Group will be introducing a new bet to link the GI Pegasus World Cup with the just-announced GI Pegasus World Cup Turf Invitational is not surprising. But the mind-numbing mathematical magnitude of what’s being billed as the “Pegasus Pick 24” left some people openly wondering if the announcement was for real. Brace yourself, it’s no joke: According to a Gulfstream Park press release, “The Pegasus Pick 24 will offer up the chance to bet on the exact finish order for both the Pegasus World Cup Invitational and the Pegasus World Cup Turf Invitational, adding another layer to the race-day excitement. A whopping $5 million bonus awaits the lucky fan who hits on the Pegasus Pick 24.” Without taking into consideration the actual past-performance chances of individual horses, there are 479,001,600 possible finish-order combinations in a field of 12. In order to win this wager, you not only have to overcome that 479 million-to-one (theoretical and rounded) proposition in the first leg, but then you must miraculously complete that exact same task in the second Pegasus leg. To calculate the probability of selecting the exact order of finish in a 12-horse field twice on the same ticket, multiply 479 million by itself. This pegs the theoretical chance (again, rounded) of winning the Pegasus Pick 24 at more than 229 quadrillion to one. So scooping the bet’s pari-mutuel pool, plus its $5 million advertised bonus, hardly seems like a “whopping” payday considering the astronomical odds involved. In fact, it’s an absurd underlay for the investment and effort. In an era when pari-mutuel venues should be doing everything they can to return more winnings to bettors so horseplayers don’t get burned by the lack of churn, it’s dismaying to see how strongly the “lottery mentality” has taken hold at the track management and racing commission levels. The tantalizing prospect of betting a little to make a life-changing score is perceived as better/easier to market than the concept of making tangible tweaks to existing wagers so established, grind-it-out customers get more bang for their betting bucks. In a similar vein, on Monday the New York State Gaming Commission (NYSGC) will discuss and possibly vote on allowing “jackpot” or “rainbow” pick six wagers at the state’s Thoroughbred tracks. According to a brief written by NYSGC general counsel Edmund Burns that was included in the informational packet for Monday’s meeting, this type of bet “appeals to bettors by giving a larger prize when there is only one winning wager from a pool.” That “appeal” is debatable. If it passes the preliminary vote, the jackpot concept should be challenged in its public commentary period by diehard traditional pick six players who see more value in sharing six-correct splits and five-correct consolation winnings rather than having that money accrue in a hard-to-claw-back carryover. Past-Post Perceptions Meanwhile, on the left coast, the California Horse Racing Board this Thursday will take up another oft-debated (and very legitimate) horseplayer complaint: Odds fluctuations that occur well after a race has started. “One of the biggest perception challenges facing horse racing in North America is the problem of odds changing significantly after the start of a race,” reads the brief for this agenda item in the CHRB meeting packet. “The odds dropping on a winning horse just before the finish creates suspicion that someone bet on the horse after the start of the race. Although the CHRB has investigated dozens of complaints about late odds changes and determined in every instance that all wagers were legally placed before the start of the race, some bettors remain skeptical.” The CHRB will discuss and possibly vote on a new rule to remedy this, which reads in draft form: “Any association, advance wagering provider, or other entity licensed by the Board to distribute the audiovisual signal of any California race shall post the final odds for that race on all displays within five seconds of the close of wagering.” Trivia Answer The last (and only) year that horse racing and baseball shared Triple Crown winners was 1937, when War Admiral and Joe Medwick of the St. Louis Cardinals both accomplished the feat. View the full article

Undefeated Triple Crown winner and ‘TDN Rising Star’ Justify (Scat Daddy), who settled in at Coolmore America’s Ashford Stud last Monday, will stand for a fee of $150,000 in 2019, it was announced Sunday. Justify will join 2015 Triple Crown winner American Pharoah (Pioneerof the Nile), who will stand for $110,000, and dominant leading fourth-crop sire Uncle Mo (Indian Charlie), whose fee has been set at $125,000, as the headliners on the Ashford roster. A son of the late Scat Daddy, Justify took the sport by storm, capturing each of his six starts in the span of just four months. Having won the GI Santa Anita Derby in April, he delivered as the favorite in the GI Kentucky Derby May 5 and added the GI Preakness S. two weeks later. He became racing’s 13th American Triple Crown winner with an authoritative score in the June 9 GI Belmont S.–his final appearance on the racetrack. Three years prior, it was American Pharoah storming home down the Belmont stretch to become the first Triple Crown winner in 37 years. The bay, who has topped all first-crop sires during the yearling sales season with an average price of $471,598, won a total of eight Grade I races and retired after capturing the GI Breeders’ Cup Classic in 2015. Uncle Mo, meanwhile, continues to make his mark in 2018 as his fourth crop of runners have hit the racetrack. The champion juvenile of 2010 has a total of 13 Black-Type winners this year, headlined by GI Apple Blossom H. winner Unbridled Mo. Also among Uncle Mo’s most successful performers on the racetrack is Grade I winner and ‘TDN Rising Star’ Mo Town, who will enter stud at Ashford in 2019 for a fee of $12,500. Winner of the GII Remsen S. on dirt as a juvenile, Mo Town made a successful transition to turf in his sophomore season in 2017, romping in a Belmont optional claimer before shipping westward to claim the GI Hollywood Derby at Del Mar. “He’s simply awesome,” trainer Anthony Dutrow said of Mo Town’s top achievement in the Hollywood Derby. “He went into the Hollywood Derby fantastic. When I breezed him before, it wan an astonishing workout, and we went out there very confident in Mo Town and he was magnificent.” View the full article

The Breeders’ Cup could be on the agenda for Roaring Lion (Kitten’s Joy), trainer John Gosden revealed at Newmarket’s Open Weekend on Sunday. “I’m very happy with Roaring Lion and we are pointing towards the [G1] Champion S. at Ascot on Oct. 20,” he said. “The Breeders’ Cup comes pretty sharply after Champions Day. If it was heavy he wouldn’t run at Ascot, but if it was good to soft he would run as he has won on it before.” Gosden said the meeting’s showpiece $6-million Breeders’ Cup Classic on dirt would be under consideration. “If he went to the Breeders’ Cup, it could be the mile and a half on turf [the Breeders’ Cup Turf] or we could have a look at the Classic. He is a mile-and-a-quarter horse, so you would consider the Classic as well as the turf.” Gosden also provided an update on his 2017 Horse of the Year Enable (GB) (Nathaniel {Ire}), who made a successful belated 4-year-old debut in the G3 September S. at Kempton earlier this month. “She has been good since the race at Kempton and we are happy with her,” he said. “She has been cantering away. We are just building her up to the Arc and we are happy with her progress and she seems well in herself. Hopefully they will get a bit of rain in Paris as I thought the ground was a bit fast there last week, which is not entirely her scene as she appreciates getting her toe in. She will do a couple of pieces of work between now and then.” Enable could be joined in the Arc by last year’s champion 3-year-old colt Cracksman (GB) (Frankel {GB}), who was scintillating winning last year’s Champion S. but was beaten last-out by Poet’s Word (GB) (Poet’s Voice {GB}) in the G1 Prince of Wales’s S. “Cracksman is building up for the Arc as well,” Gosden said. “If we get the rain there he will be running there, if not we will wait for the Champion S. He worked yesterday and he is coming back. He very much enjoys this type of weather.” View the full article

There was drama at Ayr on Saturday as ante-post gamble Son of Rest and Baron Bolt flashed past the post in unison in the Ayr Gold Cup. After much deliberation from the judge’s a dead heat was the decision, which was a big relief to Chris Hayes (Jockey of Son of Rest) who in his own words said: “I got there too early and he has got me out of trouble!” Fozzy Stack’s four-year-old comes to life with juice in the ground and this race had been the plan for some time, which was a surprise to many considering that he finished runner-up in the Group 1 Flying Five last Saturday. Once word broke that connections intended to turn him out quickly then he’s price plummeted from 33/1 into 5/1 favourite. The son of Pivotal travelled well throughout and as everything else started stopping around him Hayes kicked for glory and shot two lengths clear. Baron Bolt went off in pursuit inside the final furlong and showed a blistering turn of foot in the conditions to join Son of Rest on the line and make it three wins in his last four stats. In the aftermath connections of both horses were clearly delighted, Cole from his stable: “It was a thrilling finish, they are two good horses, but I think it’s a great result for the race, a dead-heat – we’d have settled for that before. “He was a little bit unlucky, but he’s a very nice horse and I think he deserves what he got there.” Stack said: “Son Of Rest had not done much all week at home and we were hoping and praying he was in good shape. ‘It’s a very prestigious race and I believe he is the first Irish winner. It’s great to be a small part of history. ‘He didn’t get a lead long enough and kicked clear. I thought we were beat. The other horse got past us and probably went a neck up but we were getting back at the line.” Snazzy JazzyThe Silver Cup was the consolation race at Ayr and it went the way of Snazzy Jazzy for Clive Cox and Hector Crouch. The son of Red Jazz was a very smart two-year-old last season when winning all three wins including a valuable sales race at the Curragh. This season had not gone quite to plan but a sixth-place finish behind Baron Bolt at Goodwood on his previous start indicated at a revival in form and with suitable underfoot conditions he powered away from his rivals. Al Qahwa ran a super race to finish second a week on from Irish Champions Weekend under crack apprentice Conor McGovern and had he not fluffed the start again then it could have been a very different result. Young RascalWilliam Haggas was putting out all the negative vibes possible about Young Rascal prior to the Group 3 Legacy Cup but performances on the racecourse itself speak louder than words and Jim Crowley’s mount found most inside the final furlong to edge out the well-fancied Mirage Dancer. The well-bred son on Intello had not been seen since finding things happening all too fast for him the Epsom Derby and with these clearly more favourable underfoot conditions, Young Rascal put in a pleasing performance and can progress throughout the remainder of the season. A clearly surprised Haggas explained: “This horse is a strong galloper. He looked different today, he hasn’t been like that at home and maybe it’s racing he wants. This is the first time he has been in a race where he could run on soft ground.” John Gosden has some talented two-year-olds in his care and Kessar put his hand up as one of the more talented in the stable when easily landing the Group 2 Mill Reef Stakes under Frankie Dettori. This win came on the back of another win in a Group 3 at Kempton and Gosden was clear that the next logical step albeit it a big one was to aim him at Group 1 company. A quick reappearance could be on the agenda for Kessar with Gosden suggesting he may run his improving son of Kodiac in the Middle Park Stakes at Newmarket next weekend, for which he is a current 9/1 shot. The Group 3 Trophy Stakes looked like a competitive race on paper but with the deteriorating ground conditions, meant there were four defections come post time including leading fancies El Astronaute and Sioux Nation. One horse that was always likely to appreciate soft ground was Mr Lupton and under Frenchman Gerald Mosse, he eased away from his rivals. David Griffiths stable star Take Cover ran another admirable race by finishing runner-up and after the race, a decision was made to retire the classy eleven-year-old. In 49 starts Take Cover won fifteen times an accumulated over £700,000 in prize money. A clearly proud owner explained afterwards: “He has done us proud. I couldn’t ask him to come back again (next season). David has done an amazing job with him, keeping him going at this age. “He has run well today – it’s not his ground, but he just tries and tries. He comes home safe and sound that is important, too. He has got a plenty of half-brothers and sisters to go into training. He will definitely retire today. Hopefully, I can breed another one like him one day. The post Weekend Review – Dead Heat At Ayr & Cover Takes To The Paddocks appeared first on RaceBets Blog EN. View the full article

As the clock ticks ever closer to the start of the October Sale at Tattersalls on Oct. 9, the team at Park Paddocks has been kept busier than usual making some pretty serious updates to a range of yearlings’ pages. “I don’t think I’ve ever known a year like it for updates,” says Marketing Director Jimmy George. “I thought last year’s catalogue was as good a Book 1 as we’d seen since we went to this format, but this compares pretty favourably.” “There is a reason these horses are in Book 1. They are from the best families, but even I can be surprised, at times, by how these top-class families just keep generating, and keep producing winners. Whether it’s a spectacular maiden winner or a listed winner, or even a Group 1 winner since the catalogue has come out.” Indeed, when summarising Book 1, it’s hard to know where to begin and end. For those who enjoy the theatrical drama of big sales-ring moments, make sure you’re in the ring when lot 325 goes through the ring. As his catalogue page goes, being a son of Dubawi, a brother to two stakes winners, out of a multiple Group 1 winner who was herself a half-sister to a Group 1 winner and daughter of a Group 1 winner–well that’s none too shabby. But then there are the updates. Since the catalogue went to press, this son of Dar Re Mi (GB) (Singspiel {Ire}) has had further boosts, meaning he’s now a brother to three stakes winners, with Lah Ti Dar (GB) having recently finished runner-up in the G1 St Leger and Too Darn Hot (GB) establishing himself as the best darn 2-year-old in Europe with a facile victory in the G2 Champagne S. In short, it’s the hottest page in the book as regards active families and it will ensure that Watership Down Stud will have a bigger stream of visitors than ever to its pitch in the Highflyer paddock. When Lah Ti Dar set sail in hot pursuit down the Doncaster straight last weekend, the one horse she couldn’t quite peg back was Kew Gardens (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}). That colt’s full-sister will enter the ring approximately an hour before Lah Ti Dar’s brother and by that stage she might not just be a sister to a Classic winner, but also to an Arc winner, with Kew Gardens looking likely to line up in Paris on the Sunday before the sale starts. The filly will be sold as lot 298 by her breeder, David Nagle of Barronstown Stud, who achieved the extraordinary feat of being responsible for two St Leger winners in the same weekend when Flag Of Honour (Ire), also by Galileo (Ire), won the Irish equivalent the day after Kew Gardens triumphed at Doncaster. The above mentioned are by the two most sought-after sires in Europe, and both Dubawi and Galileo are, unsurprisingly, well represented in Book 1 by the offspring of some pretty swanky mares. Among Dubawi’s tribe of 21, you’ll find yearlings out of Group 1 winners Sky Lantern (Ire) (Red Clubs {Ire}), Voleuse de Coeurs (Ire) (Singspiel {Ire}), Ambivalent (GB) (Authorized {Ire}) and Fallen For You (GB) (Dansili {GB}), the last named having provided the co-top lot of 2016, the subsequent dual Group 3 winner Glorious Journey (GB). Then there’s the half-siblings to Group 1 winners Cursory Glance (Distorted Humor), Beauty Parlour (GB) (Deep Impact {Jpn}), Legatissimo (Ire) (Danehill Dancer {Ire}) and Charming Thought (GB) (Oasis Dream {GB}). Galileo, meanwhile, also has 21 Book 1 yearlings, including brothers to Oaks victrix Was (Ire) and St Leger winner Secret Gesture (GB); a sister to another St Leger winner and Irish Derby winner Capri (Ire); and half-siblings to Golden Horn (GB) (Cape Cross {Ire}), Garswood (GB) (Dutch Art {GB}), Ivawood (Ire) (Zebedee {GB}) and GI Florida Derby winner Materiality (Afleet Alex). Furthermore, Gestut Fahrhof, selling an increasing number of yearlings at Tattersalls this year through sister stud Newsells Park, offers lot 346, a brother to treble Group 1 winner Earl Of Tinsdal (Ger), who is by Galileo’s full-brother Black Sam Bellamy (Ire). But there’s more to Book 1 than just the offspring of those two luminaries. Leading second-crop sire Camelot (GB) has 13 yearlings on offer in the sale at which his Classic-winning son Latrobe (Ire) was bought for 65,000gns. This year’s leading freshman No Nay Never has 10 on offer including a full-sister to his most exciting runner to date, the unbeaten Group 3 winner Ten Sovereigns (Ire), who will be sold as lot 103 by Camas Park Stud. “More than half the horses in the catalogue are by the top 15 to 20 stallions standing in Europe currently,” says George. “And the first-crop sires are exciting this year. It’s always difficult to hone in on a few individuals, but the first-crop yearling sires have arguably one very high-profile young stallion in each category. The sprinter is Muhaarar, the miler is Gleneagles, and the middle-distance horse is Golden Horn. There’s a nice symmetry to that.” Along with the young brigade there are plenty of tried and trusted names. The retirement of one of Britain’s elite sires, Dansili (GB), was announced earlier this year but there will still be several of his crops to come and this season’s yearlings include a colt out of the Oaks winner Talent (GB) (New Approach {Ire}) (lot 152), who is offered by his co-breeder Ashbrittle Stud. The consistently eye-catching exploits of Dark Angel (Ire) have ensured that he is a well-represented Book 1 sire and among his 20 to be heading to Tattersalls is Yeomanstown Stud’s full-brother to the G1 Coolmore Nuntorpe S. winner Mecca’s Angel (Ire) and to Group 3-winning sprinter Markaz (Ire). Frankel (GB) has similarly high representation through 25 sons and daughters, including a half-sister to St Leger winner Masked Marvel (GB) (Montjeu {Ire}) from Newsells Park Stud (lot 186) and the first foal of Elite Racing Club’s Group 1 winner Ribbons (GB) (Manduro {Ger}), who is being consigned by Chris Budgett’s Kirtlington Stud as lot 68. Frankel’s fellow Banstead Manor Stud resident Kingman (GB), whose reputation continues to grow during the fledgling days of his stallion career, has a bumper batch of 31 yearlings at Book 1, including Round Hill Stud’s half-sister to the outstanding Rizeena (Ire) (Iffraaj {GB}) (lot 107) and a colt out of Waldlerche (GB) (Monsun {Ger}) (lot 185) whose half-siblings Waldgeist (GB) (Galileo {Ire}) and Waldlied (GB) (New Approach {Ire}) have both won group races this season. Another from the Newsells Park Stud draft who is sure to arouse interest is lot 32, a half-brother to treble Group 1-winning sprinter The Tin Man (GB) (Equiano {Fr}) from the first crop of a stallion who should also impart speed, Muhaarar (GB). Among Muhaarar’s 30 Book 1 yearlings is Mountarmstrong Stud’s colt out of champion racemare Alexander Goldrun (Ire) (Gold Away {Ire}) (lot 214) and a half-sister to Group 2 winner Now Or Never (Ire) (Bushranger {Ire}) from the family of champion sprinter Dream Ahead (lot 58). Of course when one thinks of Book 1, it’s those memorable millionaire moments that live on in the mind, but the sale has a good track record of producing stakes winners that have been bought at more everyday prices. Only last week, Shepherd Market (Ire) won the Listed Prix Coronation for the partners in Windmill Racing and the filly is a rarity for two reasons. Not only is she the first stakes winner from the sole crop of just 18 foals for the subfertile and now gelded Reckless Abandon, but she is also the least expensive yearling to win a Book 1 Bonus, having been bought by Fiona Marner for 22,000gns. “She’s an example of the fact that you can find value and top quality in every sector of Book 1, and I think that’s such a key element of it,” says George. “I think the trainers and the owners are getting the message that if you’re going to spend 50,000gns on a yearling it’s nice if you can win 30 to 40,000 for winning your maiden rather than four to five grand for winning your maiden. That’s a big deal, and I think it’s given more vibrancy to every sector of Book 1 because there is that angle, and prize-money like that is unprecedented in this country and in Ireland.” Clive Cox is the trainer who guided Shepherd Market and her sire Reckless Abandon to success and he is also the trainer of the most recent winner of a bonus, the juvenile Swift And Sure (Ire) (Exceed And Excel {Aus}), who is the 121st horse to claim a Book I Bonus, meaning that the total amount now paid out from this scheme is £3,025,000. The October Sale is not, however, just about Book 1. The second week of the sale sees three days of Book 2 followed immediately by a two-session Book 3 and a final half-day for Book 4 on Saturday, Oct. 20. To add extra incentive for buyers during the second half of the sale, Tattersalls stages the £150,000 Tattersalls October Auction Stakes at Newmarket for juveniles each October, which is open for graduates of Books 3 and 4. George says, “It’s a busy fortnight but there is something for everyone, starting at Book 1 and working your way all the way through to Books 3 and 4. I think it’s fantastic that you can look at the back cover of the three catalogues this year and there’s a Group 1 winner–at least one Group 1 winner–from each of those. There’s Urban Fox (GB), who cost 10,000gns as a Book 3 yearling a couple of years ago. The Book 2 poster boy is Poet’s Word (GB), which is about as good as it gets. Book 1 you’ve got Blue Point (Ire) and Latrobe (Ire). Latrobe is an Irish Derby winner and he cost 65,000gns as a Book 1 yearling. To be able to find Classic winners for that sort of money shows you what a unique sale it is. The Group 1 quality is at every level and that’s crucial.” View the full article

4.10 Kempton, Novice, £9,000, 2yo, f, 7f (AWT) MARY SOMERVILLE (GB) (Galileo {Ire}) was an 800,000gns TATOCT graduate who debuts for Princess Haya of Jordan and John Gosden in this Polytrack affair. The chestnut, who is the first foal out of the G3 Princess Margaret S. and G3 Fred Darling S. winner Maureen (Ire) (Holy Roman Emperor {Ire}), faces 10. 7.00 Newcastle, Novice, £6,000, 2yo, 8f 5y (AWT) TURGENEV (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) bids to build on a promising debut second for Princess Haya of Jordan and John Gosden at Doncaster 10 days previously. The first foal out of Godolphin’s triple group winner Tasaday (Nayef), he may have run into a smart rival there in Royal Marine (Ire) (Raven’s Pass) and should find this task relatively simple. View the full article

Wagnerian (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) and Rey de Oro (Jpn) (King Kamehameha {Jpn}), the last two winners of the G1 Tokyo Yushun (Japanese Derby), both made successful returns to the races in Japan on Sunday. This year’s winner, Wagnerian, was making his first start since that May 27 career high in Hanshin’s G2 Kobe Shinbun Hai, a prep for the Japanese St Leger. Traveling midpack as the field spread out down the backstretch, the bay began to gradually make up ground on the outside of runners rounding the last bend. Six-wide and still with about five lengths to make up at the top of the stretch, Wagnerian was under a drive through the stretch but got up in the dying strides to win with a degree of coziness by a half-length. Last year’s Yushun winner Rey de Oro was the even-money favourite to make a successful return off a fourth in the G1 Dubai Sheema Classic in March in Nakayama’s G2 Sankei Sho All Comers S., and he obliged by a neck over last year’s G1 Satsuki Sho (2000 Guineas) winner Al Ain (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}). Racing near the rear of the pack and well off the rail around the first bend, Rey de Oro began to wind up rounding the final turn. Kicking into high gear upon straightening, he ran down a game Al Ain inside the final furlong to prevail by a neck. Sunday, Nakayama, Japan SANKEI SHO ALL COMERS-G2, ¥128,920,000, Nakayama, 9-23, 3yo/up, 2200mT, 2:11.20, fm. 1–REY DE ORO (JPN), 126, c, 4 by King Kamehameha (Jpn) 1st Dam: La Dorada (Jpn), by Symboli Kris S. 2nd Dam: Lady Blond, by Seeking the Gold 3rd Dam: Wind in Her Hair (Ire), by Alzao O-Carrot Farm; B-Northern Farm; T-Kazuzo Fujisawa; J-Christophe Lemaire; ¥67,854,000. Lifetime Record: G1SW- Jpn, 10-6-1-1. *Full to Leyenda (Jpn), GSP-Jpn, $492,264; ½ to Tizona (Jpn) (Daiwa Major {Jpn}), SW-Jpn, $595,985. Werk Nick Rating: C. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree. 2–Al Ain (Jpn), 126, c, 4, Deep Impact (Jpn)–Dubai Majesty, by Essence of Dubai. O-Sunday Racing; B-Northern Farm; ¥27,244,000 3–Danburite (Jpn), 126, c, 4, Rulership (Jpn)–Tanzanite (Jpn), by Sunday Silence. O-Sunday Racing; B-Northern Farm; ¥17,122,000. Margins: NK, 3, NK. Odds: 1.00, 4.00, 2.80. Click for the JRA chart and video or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. Sunday, Hanshin, Japan KOBE SHIMBUN HAI-G2, ¥104,520,000, Hanshin, 9-23, 3yo, c/f, 2400mT, 2:25.60, fm. 1–WAGNERIAN (JPN), 123, c, 3, by Deep Impact (Jpn) 1st Dam: Miss Encore (Jpn), by King Kamehameha (Jpn) 2nd Dam: Broad Appeal, by Broad Brush 3rd Dam: Valid Allure, by Valid Appeal O-Makoto Kaneko Holdings; B-Northern Farm; T-Yasuo Tomomichi; J-Kota Fujioka; ¥54,714,000. Lifetime Record: G1SW-Jpn, 7-5-1-0. *Full to Tenderly Voice (Jpn), SW & GSP- Jpn, $393,219. Werk Nick Rating: A+++ *Triple Plus*. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree. 2–Etario (Jpn), 123, c, 3, Stay Gold (Jpn)–Hot Cha Cha, by Cactus Ridge. (¥87,000,000 yrl ’16 JRHAJUL) O-G Riviere Racing; B-Northern Farm; ¥22,204,000. 3–Meisho Tekkon (Jpn), 123, c, 3, Manhattan Cafe (Jpn)–A Shin Velocity, by Lemon Drop Kid. O-Yoshio Matsumoto; B-Shimoyashiki Farm; ¥14,102,000. Margins: HF, HD, 2HF. Odds: 1.70, 3.60, 15.70. Click for the JRA chart and video or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. View the full article

by Alan Carasso Debt Collector (NZ) (Thorn Park {Aus}), a multiple champion and Singapore’s Horse of the Year two seasons ago, recaptured some of his old glory Sunday afternoon, passing all 12 of his rivals in the final 400 metres to snatch victory on the line from the Hugh Bowman-ridden Circuit Land (Mizzen Mast) in the S$1-million Raffles Cup. Singapore Derby hero Jupiter Gold (Congrats) plugged on late to finish a gallant third. Drawn three from the outside, Debt Collector was void of early speed, but Countofmontecristo (NZ) (Echoes of Heaven {Aus}), blinkered for the first time, was not, and he galloped them along at a good tempo. Bowman saved all the ground on second favourite Circuit Land and Jupiter Gold settled slightly better than mid-division, but Debt Collector was switched off at the tail, as is his custom. Countofmontecristo had them really stretched out, but was going great guns and pinched what looked to be a winning margin entering the final quarter mile. Circuit Land took full advantage of his soft trip to go on the attack and was always getting to the pacesetter, but Debt Collector, despite never looking particularly likely-especially after lugging in towards Jupiter Gold inside the 200m-attacked the line and got home first. Debt Collector was racing second-up from a five-month spell at Newhaven Park in New South Wales and was well-bet to improve for his comebacking second to Preditor (NZ) (Savabeel {Aus}) in the 1400-metre Jumbo Jet Trophy Aug. 12. “This is amazing. It was a phenomenal win,” trainer Cliff Brown said. “Of course, I was concerned when he was so far back. We always have doubts, especially with the way this horse runs, but he was just fantastic in the straight. It’s been a funny old week as Michael had always been very confident, he said ‘we’ll just win’, but I wasn’t so sure as I’m such a pessimist. The horse went back to Australia, and we weren’t sure if it would pay off. The boys and girls at the stable have done an amazing job with him. I’ll just savour that moment. I will open that bottle of red with my wife tonight.” The Raffles Cup is the first leg of the older horse Triple Crown series, which continues with the Queen Elizabeth II Cup (1800m) Oct. 21 and the Dester Singapore Gold Cup (2000m) Nov. 11. Debt Collector is kin to a 3-year-old filly by Shamexpress (NZ) and a yearling colt by Zacinto (GB). Prompt Payment was most recently served by Windsor Park stallion Turn Me Loose (NZ) (Iffraaj {GB}). Sunday’s Results: RAFFLES CUP (1ST LEG SINGAPORE TRIPLE CROWN SERIES), S$1,000,000 (£560,367/€623,838/A$1,004,950/ US$731,763), Kranji, 9-23, 3yo/up, 1600mT, 1:33.47, gd. 1–DEBT COLLECTOR (NZ), 128, g, 6, Thorn Park (Aus)–Prompt Payment (Ire) (MSP-Eng), by In the Wings (GB). (NZ$30,000 Ylg ’14 NZBSEL; NZ$120,000 2yo ’14 NZBRTR). O-Barree Stable; B-Windsor Park Stud Ltd; T-Cliff Brown; J-Michael Rodd; S$595,000. Lifetime Record: Horse of the Year, Ch. Miler & Ch. 3yo-Sin, 20-9-2-2, S$2,239,816. 2–Circuit Land, 128, g, 7, Mizzen Mast–Storm Dove, by Storm Bird. (80,000gns HIT ’14 TATHIT). O-Ngo Tai Tak. S$212,500. 3–Jupiter Gold (Aus), 128, g, 5, Congrats–Contented (Aus), by More Than Ready. (A$130,000 Ylg ’15 MMGCYS). O-Jupiter Gold Stable. S$107,500. Margins: HD, HF, HD. Odds: 1.20, 3.60, 6.00. Click for the Singapore Turf Club chart. VIDEO. View the full article

The $300,000 Charles Town Oaks (G3) went to the home team Sept. 22, as West Virginia-bred and West Virginia-trained Late Night Pow Wow found just enough to edge 42-1 longshot Chauncey by a neck at the wire. View the full article

West Point Thoroughbreds, Denise Barker, and William Sandbrook's Galilean very much looked like a first-time starter in the Los Alamitos Race Course stretch Sept. 22, but despite some greenness, the Uncle Mo colt's talent prevailed. View the full article

Debt Collector flies home in nick of time in Raffles Cup View the full article

All hail King Louis in El Dorado Classic View the full article

Aramco books Garden City ticket after brilliant win View the full article

Be Bee back with stinging first-up win View the full article

Richebourg lands the riches back-to-back View the full article

Track conditions and course scratchings September 23 View the full article

Horses' body weights September 23 View the full article

McKinzie provided a suitable reminder in the $1 million Pennsylvania Derby (G1) Sept. 22 as to why he began the year atop trainer Bob Baffert's list of 3-year-old contenders. View the full article

In his first stakes start Klaravich Stables and William Lawrence's Patternrecognition looked like a seasoned pro. View the full article

GALILEAN (c, 2, Uncle Mo–Fresia, by El Prado {Ire}), the $600,000 topper at April’s Barretts Spring Sale of Two-Year-Olds in Training off a :21 1/5 quarter-mile breeze, began to repay that investment with a hard-fought debut victory in Saturday’s Barretts Juvenile S. Backed down to 4-5 favoritism, the bay was banged at the start, but quickly recovered to chase the pace through splits of :21.65 and :44.86. Clear in midstretch despite traveling on his wrong lead, the chalk cut it close late, but found the line a neck to the good of Seven Scents (Goldencents) in 1:15.28. A $60,000 Barretts Select yearling, Galilean was also a $35,000 KEENOV ’15 in utero purchase. His dam is a half to MGSW His Race to Win (Stormy Atlantic), and hails from the same important Sam-Son family as Dance Smartly, Smart Strike, et al–as well as Saturday’s Woodbine maiden breaker Malibu Dawn (Malibu Moon). The 44th stakes winner for his sire after Monkeys Uncle’s impressive score in the Selima S. earlier in the day, he has a foal half-brother by Harbor the Gold. Lifetime Record: 1-1-0-0. O-West Point Thoroughbreds, Denise Barker & William Sandbrook. B-Bar C Racing Stables, Inc. (CA). T-Jerry Hollendorfer. View the full article

Woodford Racing's Switzerland left no room for error when he outpaced his competition to win the $250,000 Frank J. De Francis Memorial Dash (G3) Sept. 22 at Laurel Park. View the full article

A debut winner at odds-on going two turns on the Delaware turf Aug. 30, Monkeys Uncle found herself much further back early in this shorter affair, but the result was the same. Dropped back to second last from her high draw, the Jackson colorbearer still had a ton to do midway along the bend. She came alive while well out into the course, and gobbled up foes with an impressive turn of foot to reach contention as they straightened. Taking over in midstretch, she idled a bit in the late stages, but had enough left in the tank to fend off Shoobiedoobydoo’s late advances. “[Trainer] Arnaud [Delacour] told me six furlongs would probably be a little short, but we had to try it, so I just wanted to break and settle her down and try to make one run,” winning rider Daniel Centeno said. “I tried to save a little ground on the last turn, but it’s really soft and the ground was giving out, so I moved outside and she saw the clear. I moved a little early and a little wide but she held it all the way to the wire. She was a little more focused today. She’s a really smart filly and she really tried.” The winner, who covered an eighth at OBS March in :10 2/5, is a granddaughter of MGISW Lazy Slusan (Slewvescent). Her dam’s yearling filly by Verrazano was purchased for just $10,000 by Crystal and Marcus Ryan’s Mason Springs earlier this week. Humor Section, a half to GISW Last Full Measure (Empire Maker), produced a Shanghai Bobby filly this season before being bred back to Bernardini. SELIMA S., $100,000, Laurel, 9-22, 2yo, f, 6fT, 1:16.11, yl. 1–MONKEYS UNCLE, 120, f, 2, by Uncle Mo 1st Dam: Humor Section, by After Market 2nd Dam: Lazy Slusan, by Slewvescent 3rd Dam: Three Flights Up, by Topsider ($180,000 Ylg ’17 FTKJUL; $300,000 2yo ’18 OBSMAR). 1ST BLACK-TYPE WIN. O-Lael Stables; B-Parrish Hill Farm & Ashford Stud (KY); T-Arnaud Delacour; J-Daniel Centeno. $60,000. Lifetime Record: 2-2-0-0, $80,400. 2–Shoobiedoobydoo, 120, f, 2, Dialed In–Honorville, by Petionville. ($15,000 Wlg ’16 KEENOV). O-James Morrissey, III; B-Pope McLean, Pope McLean Jr. & Marc McLean (KY); T-John C. Servis. $20,000. 3–Helen, 120, f, 2, Gio Ponti–Un Bel Di, by Rahy. O/B-Pia M Kirkham (KY); T-Claudio A. Gonzalez. $10,000. Margins: HF, HF, 3. Odds: 8.20, 16.40, 8.60. Also Ran: Surge of Pride, Creedibility, Margie Is Livid, Elsa, Jazzy J, Just a Whim, Little Miss Raelyn, Andarta. Scratched: Questionoftheday. Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton. View the full article