Wandering Eyes

One of the genuine front-runners leading up to the June 2 G1 Epsom Derby, Bernard Kantor’s Young Rascal (Fr) (Intello {Ger}) proved one of those colts for whom the occasion was all too much but there was cheer at Newbury on Saturday as he staged a successful return in the G3 Dubai Duty Free Legacy Cup. Racing with enthusiasm tracking Mirage Dancer (GB) (Frankel {GB}) in second throughout the early stages, the May 9 G3 Chester Vase winner was alongside that rival and looking the better passing the two-furlong pole. Shortly after, last year’s winner Desert Encounter (Ire) (Halling) joined in and looked to have the measure of both but as he floundered late it was Young Rascal who prevailed in a bobber with Mirage Dancer by a short head, with a half length back to Desert Encounter. “He loved the ground, you could see by his action, and he looked happy,” trainer William Haggas said of the 5-2 second favourite. “He ran in the Derby like his legs were tied together from flag-fall and it knocked the stuffing out of him. I thought he would stay, as he just keeps galloping.” Young Rascal, who had won his maiden over this course and distance Apr. 21 before beating Dee Ex Bee (GB) (Farhh {GB}) and Hunting Horn (Ire) (Camelot {GB}) at Chester and flopping when a distant seventh in the blue riband, is to be kept away from group 1 action for the immediate future according to his trainer. “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,” Haggas added. “This is the first time he has been in a race where he could run on soft ground. For me the right race is the [G2 Prix] Chaudenay [at ParisLongchamp Oct. 6] over a mile-seven, but it’s only two weeks away. If it came up soft in Paris we would be very tempted to go. He is not in yet, but there is a supplementary on September 28. I think we will put him in. He is not in the Long Distance Cup [on Champions Day], I think that is a tough race for a three-year-old, but we could maybe go for the [G2 Prix du] Conseil de Paris [at ParisLongchamp Oct. 21].” The winner is out of the multiple listed scorer and multiple group-placed Rock My Soul (Ire) (Clodovil {Ire}) whose best effort was probably when third in the 2011 G3 Prix Allez France. A half-sister to last year’s G3 Preis der Winterkonigin-winning juvenile highweight Rock My Love (Ger) (Holy Roman Emperor {Ire}), her family also features the G1 Bayerisches Zuchtrennen and G2 German 2000 Guineas hero Turfkonig (Ger), the G2 German 1000 Guineas winner and G1 Prix de Diane third Tryphosa (Ire) (Be My Guest) and the G1 Premio Lydia Tesio heroine Turfrose (Ger) (Big Shuffle). The latter is in turn the dam of the G2 Hansin Cup and G2 Spring S. scorer Rosa Gigantea (Jpn) (Fuji Kiseki {Jpn}), while her full-sister Turfaue (Ger) produced the G1 Preis der Diana heroine Turfdonna (Ger) (Doyen {Ire}). Rock My Soul has a 2-year-old daughter of Motivator (GB) named Tilda (Ire) and a yearling colt by Camelot (GB). The latter caused a splash at the Arqana Deauville August Yearlings Sale last month when selling to M V Magnier for €560,000. Saturday, Newbury, Britain DUBAI DUTY FREE LEGACY CUP S.-G3, £60,000, Newbury, 9-22, 3yo/up, 11fT, 2:25.98, sf. 1–YOUNG RASCAL (FR), 126, c, 3, by Intello (Ger) 1st Dam: Rock My Soul (Ire) (MSW-Ger, GSP-Fr, $144,166}, by Clodovil (Ire) 2nd Dam: Rondinay (Fr), by Cadeaux Genereux (GB) 3rd Dam: Topline (Ger), by Acatenango (Ger) (€215,000 Ylg ’16 ARAUG). O-Mr Bernard Kantor; B-S.A.S. Ecurie Peregrine (FR); T-William Haggas; J-Jim Crowley. £34,026. Lifetime Record: 5-3-1-0, $136,178. Werk Nick Rating: A+++ *Triple Plus*. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree. 2–Mirage Dancer (GB), 132, c, 4, Frankel (GB)–Heat Haze (GB), by Green Desert. O-Khalid Abdullah; B-Juddmonte Farms Ltd (GB); T-Sir Michael Stoute. £12,900. 3–Desert Encounter (Ire), 129, g, 6, Halling–La Chicana (Ire), by Invincible Spirit (Ire). (32,000gns Ylg ’13 TAOCT). O-Abdulla Al Mansoori; B-Tally Ho Stud (IRE); T-David Simcock. £6,456. Margins: NO, HF, 3 3/4. Odds: 2.50, 2.00, 4.00. Also Ran: Desert Skyline (Ire), Euginio (Ire), Wingingit (Ire), Extra Elusive (GB). Click for the Racing Post result or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. Video, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton. View the full article

Brett Prebble is free to ride Lucky Bubbles in next weekend’s Sprinters Stakes at Nakayama despite being outed for 20 meetings for improper riding at Caulfield on Saturday. The former Hong Kong-based jockey was able to defer the suspension until after the Group One in Japan, allowing him to fulfil his commitment to Francis Lui Kin-wai’s gelding. Prebble copped the ban for his ride on Cross Legend in the Listed Jim Moloney Stakes, when he repeatedly bumped Krone out of the way to... View the full article

Grant van Niekerk battled his way to the top of the tree and Chad Schofield heralded his “lucky haircut” as the intriguing early season jockeys’ battle continued on Saturday. Both riders jagged doubles under the relentless Sha Tin sun, with Van Niekerk’s wins on Gorgeous King and Triumphant Jewel enough to see him draw level with Zac Purton on five wins at the top of the jockeys’ championship. Van Niekerk admits he has surprised even himself with his haul of five... View the full article

After copping a “kick in the teeth” last season, Tony Millard has bounced back in strong fashion, continuing his terrific early form as he notched his first treble in four-and-a-half years at Sha Tin on Saturday. Elusive State, Harbour Alert and Gorgeous King all saluted to give the South African his first hat-trick since 26 March, 2014 and take him to five winners for the season to share top spot on the trainers’ table with Tony Cruz and star freshman Jimmy Ting Koon-ho.... View the full article

A phone call from an old friend in Australia inspired a winning change of tact for veteran trainer John Moore with his aptly named gelding Just Not Listening. Moore was quick to heap praise on Queensland trainer Bryan Guy who suggested to run the four-year-old on the Sha Tin all-weather surface after showing promising signs over similar ground in Australia before being bought by Hong Kong interests. Guy prepared the horse at his Gold Coast base after purchasing him as a two-year-old for A$450,... View the full article

AK Lim suspended five days, Moor, Da Silva get two days View the full article

Music to Zahra's ears if he wins at Kranji again View the full article

Domeyer to miss Raffles Cup meeting View the full article

After nearly eight months away, Speedway Stable's Collected is scheduled to be back in the starting gate Sept. 22 against eight challengers in the $150,000 Pa Derby Champion Stakes going 1 1/16 miles at Parx Racing. View the full article

Jockey Perry Ouzts got his first victory in Ohio back in 1973 and won the 7,000th race of his career in the Buckeye State Sept. 21. View the full article

After a banner day at the races Thursday with two impressive new winners, young sire Mucho Macho Man had a good day at the sales Friday with a $170,000 filly from his second crop topping the single-session Book 5 of Keeneland September. A total of 287 yearlings changed hands Friday for a gross of $5,313,000, an average of $18,512 and a median of $11,000. There were 54 youngsters who failed to meet their reserves for an RNA rate of 15.8%. Friday’s session was the 11th of 13 for the marathon auction, which has sold 2,546 yearlings thus far for $373,577,600. The average currently stands at $146,731 with a median of $70,000. A total of 793 horses were led from the ring unsold for an RNA rate of 23.7%. Friday’s topper (Hip 3745) was purchased by Dean and Patti Reeves’s Reeves Thoroughbred Racing, which campaigned the filly’s GI Breeders’ Cup Classic-winning sire Mucho Macho Man (Macho Uno). The freshman sire was represented by his fourth and fifth winners Thursday when Mucho Gusto was named a ‘TDN Rising Star’ after an ultra-impressive debut at Los Alamitos and Belle Laura powered home to a decisive score on the grass at Churchill Downs. Consigned by Eaton Sales, Hip 3745 is out of the Awesome Again mare Carolina Sunrise and is a half-sister to SW & GISP Reveron (Songandaprayer) and MSP Carolina Mist (Mr. Greeley). The session’s top colt was Hip 3804, a yearling from the first crop of Secret Circle, who brought $140,000 from SBM. Consigned by Select Sales, the dark bay is out of Fantasy Slam (Smoke Glacken). Gainesway was the day’s top consignor with 18 yearlings selling for $567,000. Keeneland September continues through Sunday with sessions beginning at 10a.m. View the full article

Melmich, a 7-year-old son of Wilko, can hit the $1 million mark in earnings with a repeat win in the $125,000 Durham Cup Stakes (G3), one of two stakes slated for Sept. 23 at Woodbine. View the full article

Multiple grade 1 winner Mind Your Biscuits turned in his final breeze in preparation for his expected start in the Sept. 29 Lukas Classic (G3) with a five-furlong work in 1:02 at Churchill Downs Sept. 21. View the full article

Nearly six months after surgery to repair fractures in two sesamoid bones in his right front leg, The Player was released Sept. 20 and arrived at trainer Buff Bradley's farm the following afternoon. View the full article

After nearly eight months away, Speedway Stable's Collected is scheduled to be back in the starting gate Sept. 22 against eight challengers in the $150,000 Pa Derby Champion Stakes going 1 1/16 miles at Parx Racing. View the full article

Santa Anita will offer two new items on its wagering menu–the 20-cent Rainbow Pick Six and The Stronach Five–during the fall meet, which begins Sept. 28. The 20-cent Rainbow Pick Six will be offered daily and The Stronach Five will be available on Fridays with a 12% takeout wager and 50-cent minimum. The Stronach Five will offer fans a quintet of races from four Stronach Group properties: Gulfstream Park, Laurel Park, Santa Anita and Golden Gate Fields. The 20-cent Rainbow Pick Six is paid on a daily basis to those tickets with the highest number of winning horses. Thirty percent of the pool is then carried over to a jackpot pool, less takeout. View the full article

Observations on the European Racing Scene turns the spotlight on the best European races of the day, highlighting well-pedigreed horses early in their careers, horses of note returning to action and young runners that achieved notable results in the sales ring. Today’s Observations features the debut of a Moyglare blueblood. 1.15 Newbury, Cond, £8,550, 2yo, 7fT LONDON EYE (Australia {GB}) is a notable Michael Tabor newcomer from the Sir Michael Stoute stable, being a half-brother to the sire Circular Quay (Thunder Gulch), who famously beat Scat Daddy in the 2006 GI Hopeful S. He takes on 15 in this race won in recent times by the subsequent G1 St Leger hero Kingston Hill (GB) (Mastercraftsman {Ire}) and in which Emaraaty (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) earned ‘TDN Rising Star’ status 12 months ago. 1.35 Gowran Park, Mdn, €16,500, 2yo, f, 8fT MIA MARIA (IRE) (Dansili {GB}) is a Moyglare Stud homebred with significance, being a full-sister to the dual group winner Carla Bianca (Ire) and a half to two other smart types in True Solitaire (Ire) (Oasis Dream {GB}) and Joailliere (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}). Dermot Weld introduces the February-foaled grey, who is also connected to the operation’s high-class Profound Beauty (Ire) (Danehill), Irresistible Jewel (Ire) (Danehill) and Royal Diamond (Ire) (King’s Best) et al against Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith and Susan Magnier’s newcomer The Tooth Fairy (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), a daughter of Red Evie (Ire) (Intikhab) and therefore a full-sister to the Arc heroine Found (Ire) who scored on her debut. 1.40 Chelmsford, Cond, £13,200, 2yo, 7fT GLOBAL HEAT (IRE) (Toronado {Ire}) was his sire’s top-priced horse sold at auction when making 325,000gns at the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale Book 1. Godolphin’s newcomer, a half-brother to the G3 Geoffrey Freer S. winner and G1 Irish St Leger runner-up Agent Murphy (GB) (Cape Cross {Ire}) is introduced by Saeed bin Suroor on the Polytrack. 2.10 Newmarket, Cond, £8,000, 2yo, f, 8fT EVER CHANGING (Tapit) sports the famed George Strawbridge silks on this debut which were given even greater credibility by the illustrious dam Rainbow View (Dynaformer). Fitted with a hood for her debut by John Gosden, the March-foaled grey is the second foal out of the G1 Fillies’ Mile and G1 Matron S. winner. View the full article

Thunder Snow, Godolphin's Dubai World Cup Sponsored by Emirates Airline (G1) winner, has settled into the Belmont Park quarantine barn for his bid in the Sept. 29 Jockey Club Gold Cup (G1). View the full article

The 3-year-old son of Poseidon's Warrior turns back to six furlongs after a third-place finish going seven furlongs in the Aug. 25 H. Allen Jerkens Stakes Presented by Runhappy (G1) at Saratoga Race Course. View the full article

Woodbine was forced to cancel the final five races of its nine-race card Sept. 21 because of high winds. View the full article

Team Valor International has acquired recent G3 Prix La Rochette winner The Black Album (Fr) (Wootton Bassett {GB}) and will point him to the GI Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf Nov. 2. It was the juvenile’s third win in four starts. “This colt is just the right size for American racing, with tremendous athleticism,” Team Valor CEO Barry Irwin said. “He has the ability to lay handy, pounce instantly when asked and moxie to hold off all challengers the length of the stretch. What’s so darn exciting about this guy is that he has top form already. In fact in all the years we’ve been doing this, we have never bought a European colt that was so highly ranked or accomplished as a juvenile.” The Black Album will be considered for one final race in France, the G3 Prix Thomas Bryon Oct. 4 at Saint-Cloud, but it is possible that he will train straight up to the Breeders’ Cup. His current trainer Jane Soubagne will saddle The Black Album for the Breeders’ Cup and then turn the colt over to Kentucky-based trainer Rodolphe Brisset. View the full article

Shirley Day Smith, who spent more than 60 years as the administrative assistant in the press office for the New York Racing Association and its predecessors, died Sept. 20 after a brief illness at South Nassau Communities Hospital in Oceanside, NY. She was 99-years-old. Smith had retired from NYRA in the mid-1990’s. “Shirley was loved by everybody,” former NYRA publicity director Glen Mathes said. “And I’d venture to say she helped more people than anyone in the history of horse racing. That was certainly true when it came to members of the media. She was a great worker and an even better person.” Smith, who lived in Lido Beach, NY, was a popular figure among media from throughout the country. She was honored as a Kentucky Colonel and she was a recipient of the National Turf Writers Association’s Joe Palmer Award for meritorious service to racing. The New York Press Photographers Association presented her with a “Good Gal Award” in 1987 for cooperation and assistance to the media. A funeral is planned for Monday, Sept. 24 at Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal Church in Point Lookout, NY, with the burial afterward at the Woodlawn Cemetery in the Bronx. View the full article

The 3-year-old son of Poseidon's Warrior turns back to six furlongs after a third-place finish going seven furlongs in the Aug. 25 H. Allen Jerkens Memorial Stakes (G1) at Saratoga Race Course. View the full article

Multiple grade 1 winner Mind Your Biscuits turned in his final breeze in preparation for his expected start in the Sept. 29 Lukas Classic (G3), with a five-furlongs work in 1:02 at Churchill Downs Sept. 21. View the full article

After nearly eight months away, Speedway Stable's Collected is scheduled to be back in the starting gate Sept. 22 against eight challengers in the $150,000 Pa Derby Champion Stakes going 1 1/16-miles at Parx Racing. View the full article