Wandering Eyes

G1 QIPCO 2000 Guineas fourth Madhmoon (Ire) (Dawn Approach {Ire}), a winner of the G2 KPMG Champions Juvenile S. at Leopardstown last fall after winning his debut there in August, is pointing toward the June 1 G1 Investec Derby, Racing Post reported on Wednesday. The Shadwell runner reported home a half-length second in his 3-year-old bow, the Listed Ballylinch Stud “Red Rocks” 2000 Guineas Trial S. at Leopardstown on Apr. 6. “The Derby rather than the [G1] Irish 2000 Guineas is the plan unless there is a change of heart in the next week or so,” trainer Kevin Prendergast told Racing Post. The post Madhmoon Will Press on to Derby appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Pimlico will open Thursday for a 12-day meet highlighted by the GI Preakness S. May 18. There will be eight other stakes held Preakness day. Racing will be conducted at Pimlico Thursday to Sunday with the exception of Sunday, May 19 and the meet concludes on Memorial Day, May 27. “We’re excited about returning to Pimlico and the quality racing we’re expecting over the next month,” said Maryland Jockey Club President and General Manager Sal Sinatra. “The turf course is in pristine condition, so we’re expecting great turf racing with competitive fields. Obviously, Preakness Week is very special and we’re looking forward to watching many of the top horses compete here as well as all the events throughout the city that are associated with Preakness.” The Maryland Jockey Club is once again offering bonus money totaling $100,000 to trainers who run a minimum of five horses in the 16 stakes races, nine graded, worth $3.8 million in purses during Preakness weekend. The trainer with the most points will receive $50,000, second $25,000, third $12,000, fourth $7,000, fifth $4,000 and sixth $2,000. Points are accumulated for finishing first (10 points), second (seven), third (five), fourth (three) and having a starter (one). There will also be bonus money totaling $50,000 for trainers with the most points in non-stakes races during Preakness weekend. The points are accumulated in similar fashion with $25,000 going to the leader, $10,000 to second, $7,500 to third, $2,500 to fourth and $1,000 to fifth. The post Pimlico Opens Thursday appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

When two fillies consigned by Philip Prevost-Baratte on behalf of Brookdale Farm go through the ring at the Arqana Breeze Up Sale later this week, buyers might want to give both a second look. Brookdale’s pinhooking operation is riding a hot hand and jumping on board might not be the worst idea. Last Friday, Serengeti Empress (Alternation) won the GI Kentucky Oaks. She was bought by Dixon Enterprises, a group led by Brookdale’s Fred Seitz, Jr., as a weanling for $25,000 at Keeneland November and resold at the 2017 Keeneland September sale as a yearling for $70,000. The buyer was Joel Politi, who gave the filly to Tom Amoss to train. Three days later, another product of the Brookdale operation, showed that she is a filly to keep an eye on as Proud Mandate (Strong Mandate) romped in an allowance race at Parx to remain unbeaten in two career starts. “We’ve always been doing it a little bit, but we’ve been pinhhooking quite a bit more for the last five or six years,” said Seitz, Jr. “We’ve done foals to yearlings and quite a bit of yearlings to 2 year-old sales. This year we probably have five to seven 2 year-olds and probably 10 yearlings.” Brookdale paid just $25,000 for Serengeti Empress and $62,000 for Proud Mandate, who they also purchased at the Keeneland November 2016 Breeding Stock Sale. Seitz will pay more for a horse and said he’s gone up to $200,000, but much prefers to find horses that sell for $100,000 or less. “It just the level of risk involved,” Seitz said when asked to explain why he doesn’t buy more expensive horses. “We are horsemen, we do it every day and we know what can happen. So quickly you can get a phone call that your investment has become a ruined investment.” Brookdale will buy colts, but Seitz believes that fillies present better opportunities. “We do buy colts, but colts seem to cost more money,” Seitz said. “I think you’re more likely to get a filly at a value price. It always seems that way, that you can get a better physical at a modest price buying a filly.” Serengeti Empress was raised at Brookdale, which is in Versailles, Kentucky. The team there thought early on that she had potential. “The reason we bought her in the first place was based purely on the physical,” Seitz said. “She seemed to have a lot of potential. She was good enough mover and I thought, with the way she looked and the potential we thought she had, she could blossom into something really nice. That’s what happened as a yearling, she really blossomed. I talked to a few friends of mine leading up to the [yearling] sale and at the sale, saying I really like the way she looks, the way she’s moving. But to be quite honest, if I had known she’d be a Kentucky Oaks winner she would have been standing in the winner’s circle in the Brookdale silks.” Seitz didn’t keep her, but he’s still proud that Brookdale was part of the process that delivered a Kentucky Oaks win, and he said he is overjoyed for the connections. “It is absolutely a huge sense of pride for us and I’m excited for the people who bought her from us,” he said. “From what I know of the connections, they seem like great people and seem very deserving of this. I’m always happy for people that buy a horse off us that goes on to have any sort of success, whether they resell it for more money or go on to win a big race.” Proud Mandate has a long way to go before she merits comparison with Serengeti Empress. She broke her maiden by 4 1/2 lengths in her debut last August at Monmouth, but then went on the shelf until reappearing Tuesday at Parx. Ridden by Daniel Centeno and trained by Keith Nations, she won her comeback, a 6 1/2-furlong allowance race, by 1 3/4 lengths. “I heard all along that she is talented,” Seitz said. “She had a couple of issues along the way and had a long layoff. But to be two- for-two just shows she’s a very gutsy, mentally tough type of filly to have overcome a problem. I have heard they like her quite a bit. She sure looked good in that race Tuesday.” At Arqana, Brookdale will sell Hip No. 2, a filly by The Factor. She cost $40,000 at Keeneland September. Brookdale will also sell Hip No. 49, a filly by Kitten’s Joy. She cost $85,000, also at Keeneland September. Might one go on to be a Group 1 winner? The odds are against it. But, this is a sport for dreamers and Brookdale, and everyone else involved with Serengeti Empress, proved that when smart people are involved anything can happen in horse racing. The post Brookdale’s Pinhooking Operation Has a Big Week appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Trainer Simon Crisford is planning to lease Gainsborough Stables in Newmarket from Darley, the first time in more than decade it will be an active training yard, Racing Post reported on Wednesday. The 99-box yard was used as a pre-training enterprise by Darley after trainer Ed Dunlop left in 2009. Gainsborough will also be the third training location at Headquarters for Dunlop, who began at Carlburg Stables, before leasing his current yard, Kremlin House. “I’m planning to move across Newmarket to Racecourse Side in the coming weeks, where I will be leasing Gainsborough Stables from Darley,” Crisford told Racing Post. “I would like to thank Gay Jarvis for allowing us to rent Kremlin House when we needed somewhere after Carlburg. We’ve had a wonderful time at the historic and beautiful yard and had lots of success. “Gainsborough Stables had become surplus to requirements for the Darley pre-training organisation and this is a great opportunity for my horses, my owners and staff. I’m very excited about moving over there and to my mind the grass gallops on Racecourse Side are the best in the world. We’re very familiar with the facilities over there as we’ve been using them for the past two seasons and we’re looking forward to the next chapter.” The post Crisford to Lease Gainsborough Stables appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

War of Will (War Front) returned to the track Wednesday at Churchill Downs for the first time since being bumped around and tangling legs with Maximum Security (New Year’s Day) in Saturday’s GI Kentucky Derby. He crossed the line eighth, but was promoted to seventh after the disqualification of his aforementioned rival. The flashy bay was scheduled to jog Tuesday, but trainer Mark Casse did away with that plan after he noticed the colt was feeling some discomfort in his right front foot. It was discovered that the shoe had shifted during the race. “After a day or two, it was starting to bother him,” Casse said. “He was a little uncomfortable [Tuesday] morning. So we pulled his shoe off, soaked his foot, put his shoe back on today. And he was 100% and went out to train today.” War of Will jogged a mile Wednesday morning and is being pointed to the GI Preakness S. May 18. “I do a lot of jogging with him anyways,” Casse said. “Obviously, we just missed winning the Preakness two years ago by a head with Classic Empire (Pioneerof the Nile). I never breezed him in between the two races, and I’m not going breeze this one either.” The conditioner continued, “To me, it’s more about getting back your energy level. We don’t have to worry about fitness at this point in time. He’s not going to do a whole lot of anything. He’s going to Baltimore Monday if everything stays like it is today, and everything is perfect and he’s happy and his energy level is good. We’ll do some blood work on him in a day or two.” Live Oak Plantation’s Win Win Win (Hat Trick {Jpn})–who crossed the line 10th in the Run for the Roses, but was promoted to ninth–may join War of Will in the Preakness. He returned to the track at trainer Mike Trombetta’s base at Fair Hill Wednesday morning and his conditioner will make a final decision on the Preakness Friday. “I have the luxury of being close to home for a change,” he said. “I just want to see the horse train for a couple of days and figure there is no reason to make that decision before I see that. It’s only fair to the horse at this point.” He continued, “Today was his first day back on the track for a light jog. It was fine. Everything seems fine. I just want to observe and make sure that I am completely happy before I go in that direction and make that commitment. It was a hard trip and it was a bit of tough circumstances with the race.” Also possible for the Triple Crown’s middle jewel is GI Florida Derby runner-up Bodexpress (Bodemeister), who finished 14th, but was placed 13th and was one of the horses affected by the incident in the lane. The bay also returned to the track at Churchill Wednesday, jogging two miles accompanied by a pony. “He was one of the affected ones,” said Gustavo Delgado, Jr., assistant to his father. “We think he could have hit the board if it wasn’t for that, the way he was developing. The most important thing is that the horse came back in good shape and is doing well.” As for when the final decision will be made on the Preakness, Delgado, Jr., said, “I’ve got to wait for Pops to get here to see his horse. He’ll make the decision. But the owners would like to run.” The post Preakness Updates: War of Will, Win Win Win and Bodexpress appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Chester features more informative fayre on Thursday, when the reigning G1 St Leger title-holder Kew Gardens (Ire) (Galileo Ire}) reappears in the G3 Boodles Diamond Ormonde S. Racing under a seven-pound penalty, the bay, who also captured the G1 Grand Prix de Paris, faces last year’s impressive Chester Cup hero Magic Circle (Ire) (Makfi {GB}) who also took the G3 Henry II S. at Sandown and is own by this venue’s biggest fan Dr. Marwan Koukash. Whether he will be sharp enough on what is effectively a warm-up for the May 31 G1 Coronation Cup on ground easier than he prefers is the poser for fans of Kew Gardens and that weight he gives away could be telling with this being Magic Circle’s chief target. There is also King Power Racing’s Morando (Fr) (Kendargent {Fr}) to consider from the in-form Andrew Balding stable whose first try at 12 furlongs resulted in a career-best when dead-heating with Young Rascal (Fr) (Intello {Ger}) in Newbury’s G3 St Simon S. on good-to-soft in October. After the tour de force of Sir Dragonet (Ire) (Camelot {GB}) here on Wednesday, Ballydoyle’s Derby prospects in the Listed Homeserve Dee S. will be carefully scrutinised with Ryan Moore on Circus Maximus (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}). Like Saturday’s G1 2000 Guineas hero Magna Grecia (Ire) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}), he represents Flaxman Stables and Coolmore but the son of the G1 Matron S. first-past-the-post Duntle (Ire) (Danehill Dancer {Ire}) races in the Niarchos silks. Third behind Persian King (Ire) (Kingman {GB}) and Magna Grecia in the G3 Autumn S. at Newmarket and fourth in the G1 Racing Post Trophy at Doncaster in October, he holds a distinct class edge in this Derby trial won by Aidan O’Brien on five occasions. King Power Racing’s Fox Chairman (Ire) (Kingman {GB}) is totally unexposed after winning by four lengths over a mile on debut at Newbury Apr. 13 and trainer Andrew Balding is on a fact-finding mission. “He won his maiden very well and is a horse we think quite a lot of,” he said. “It’s obviously a big ask to be going to a track like Chester on just his second run, but we like him and we’ll see where we are. He lacks the experience of some of the horses he’s up against, but I hope he’ll run well.” The post Kew Gardens Faces Stern Test in Re-Entry appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Brightening the workman's compensation outlook in New York are some promising recent developments, yet a slow response and some skepticism reflect a bigger problem than the actual rates. View the full article

Barney Roy (GB) (Excelebration {Ire}) could continue to revive his racing career in the G1 Prix d’Ispahan at ParisLongchamp on May 26 before trying to claim a second success at Royal Ascot. The Excelebration gelding–who returned to racing after proving to be infertile at stud–found only one too good on his debut for Charlie Appleby in a listed race at the Berkshire track, where he claimed victory in the 2017 G1 St James’s Palace S., earlier this month. Appleby said, “I felt like Barney ticked a lot of boxes. He showed his enthusiasm and his courage when he got into a battle. Thankfully he has come out of the race well and we will look forward to hopefully a nice summer with him. We are going to make an entry in the d’Ispahan with him, but Ascot in all probability will be his next port of call.” Having been denied a Group 1 hat-trick on her final start of 2018 in the GI Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf, stablemate Wild Illusion (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) looks set to make her comeback in the G1 Juddmonte Pretty Polly S. at The Curragh on June 28. He added, “I will give Wild Illusion an entry in the d’Ispahan, but the Pretty Polly looks a more realistic starting point. Then we can look at the [G1 Prix Jean] Romanet [at Deauville on Aug. 18] afterwards and take the rest of the season from there.” Old Persian (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) could be seen out sooner than expected, with Appleby not ruling out supplementing this year’s G1 Sheema Classic hero for the G1 Investec Coronation Cup at Epsom on May 31. “Old Persian has travelled back from Dubai now,” said Appleby. “He is a horse that I’m far from saying could be supplemented, but he has the profile and if the race [Coronation] was breaking down it could be looked at.” The post Appleby Offers Updates on Older Stars appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Me Tsui Yu-sak is known as “King of the Dirt” in Hong Kong so it was only appropriate he was the star of Wednesday night’s all-weather track meeting, collecting his 500th career winner as part of a double.The 58-year-old is one of the more understated trainers at Sha Tin, but he is also one of the most consistent, with his win total at the end of every season hovering around 40.Tsui is a hard worker and uses the system to his advantage – he has more runners in a season than most – but there are… View the full article

G1SW Mabs Cross (GB) (Dutch Arg {GB}) could take in the G2 Armstrong Aggregates Temple S. ahead of the G1 King’s Stand S. at Royal Ascot. Michael Dods’s star sprinter is among 21 entries for the Group 2 dash over five furlongs at Haydock on May 25, sponsored by her owner David Armstrong. Fourth behind Battaash (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}) on Merseyside last year, Mabs Cross had her finest hour in the G1 Prix de l’Abbaye at Longchamp last October and defied a four-pound penalty when making a successful seasonal reappearance in the Gx Palace House S. at Newmarket on May 4. “Royal Ascot is the priority, but the Temple S. is sponsored by the Armstrong Group,” said Dods. “As long as we feel she is A1, there is every possibility she could go to Haydock. She has come out of Newmarket very well. She is a tough horse and takes her racing very well. We are very pleased with her. Her priorities this year will again be Royal Ascot, York and France, but if she is ready and right, we will look at having a go at the Temple.” The post Mabs Cross Camp Eye Temple Before Ascot appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

May Day means different things to different people. Children dancing round a pole on an English village green. A red flag flying on the global equivalent of Labor Day. But it is with the mariner in distress that many Thoroughbred breeders will most identify-because a foal delivered in May is apt to prompt inward recourse to the phonetic signal for the French “m’aidez”. Help me! The best they can apparently hope for is another West Coast (Flatter), unraced at two before pouncing on punchdrunk Triple Crown survivors in the GI Travers; or otherwise maybe another Accelerate (Lookin At Lucky), who did not manage his first Grade I until the age of five but then promptly won another four. Yet that kind of anecdotal paradigm can be grievously misleading. There are late foals and late foals. A horse built like Accelerate might well have profited from time to mature, had he been born one minute past midnight on January 1. All Thoroughbreds should be treated as flesh and blood, not sheets of data. The fact is that as many as four of the 19 sophomores forward enough to contest the Kentucky Derby on Saturday had yet to celebrate their third birthday. Oh, and those four included the first three past the past: poor Maximum Security (New Year’s Day), foaled May 14; Country House (Lookin At Lucky), May 8; and Code Of Honor (Noble Mission {GB}), May 23. Everyone knows the story of a debate between the Windfields brains trust in the late spring of 1960. Should they try to prolong Natalma’s racing career, by giving her surgery on a chipped knee; or rush her into a late cover? The farm’s new stallion was proving very fertile so, according to Joe Thomas, they said: “Oh, what the hell: why don’t we breed her to Nearctic and if she gets in foal, okay; and if she doesn’t, then maybe we’ll try to get her back.” Though it was nearly July before Natalma could get up to Canada, that decision was vindicated on May 27, 1961, by the delivery of the most influential Kentucky Derby winner of the modern era. Northern Dancer, of course, was notoriously a pocket battleship. But that’s the point. Precocity is a physical and mental function of an individual. Of countless elite performers foaled in April or May, some admittedly excelled with maturity. But many were also top-class 2-year-olds, and in eras when that was a matter of toughness as well as class. Horses are campaigned rather differently nowadays but Code Of Honor, for instance, still managed a Grade I podium last year, though a May 23 foal by a horse who himself blossomed only as a 5-year-old. And just look at this. Of the 20th Century’s top 20 American Thoroughbreds, according to an expert panel, the foaling dates were: 1. War Admiral, March 29; 2. Secretariat, March 30; 3. Citation, April 11; 4. Kelso, April 4; 5. Count Fleet, March 24; 6. Dr Fager, April 6; 7. Native Dancer, March 27; 8. Forego, April 30; 9. Seattle Slew, February 15; 10. Spectacular Bid, February 17; 11. Tom Fool, March 31; 12. Affirmed, February 21; 13. War Admiral, May 2; 14. Buckpasser, April 28; 15. Colin [1905, no foaling date to hand]; 16. Damascus, April 14; 17. Round Table, April 6; 18. Cigar, April 18; 19. Bold Ruler, April 6; 20. Swaps, March 1. If you divide the foaling season in mid-March, halfway between January and May, only four of 19 specified dates fell in the first half. It’s not hard to see why this should be. The later the foal, the better the pasture and the more benign the weather. To be fair, appetite for early foals appears to be more extreme in Europe, reflecting an associated and witless addiction to so-called “commercial” dash-a plebeian brand, wholly inferior to the American grail of speed you can actually carry two turns. Yet at one recent Royal Ascot, three of the six juvenile races were won by May foals. If pre-trainers and trainers start with the date on the passport, rather than the animal in front of them, then the presumption that later foals need time can be self-fulfilling. Yet in kicking on with early foals, they are building on foundations laid in sparse grazing and short days. The Kentucky Derby-as we were reminded on Saturday-is the ultimate bareknuckle test of an adolescent horse. And, besides Country House and Northern Dancer, it has been won before their third birthday by Lucky Debonair (May 2); Mine That Bird (May 10); Cannonade (May 12); Spend A Buck (May 15); Thunder Gulch (May 23); and Exterminator (May 30). Mucho Macho Man (Macho Uno) was born as late as June 15 and, as a 17-hand aircraft carrier who only reached his peak at five, had the profile of the big, backward beast unlikely to get sufficient seasoning for the Classics. But he was able to finish second in two Grade IIs as a juvenile, and third in the Kentucky Derby. Equally, Air Force Blue-one of the most accomplished juveniles ever trained by Aidan O’Brien, but a disaster at three-was a May foal. One of the frustrations of observing this business at close quarters is to see massive investment sometimes predicated on the most fatuous grounds. That’s not necessarily the investors’ fault: they are busy people, accustomed at every level of their business to delegating decisions to specialists. But while some plainly benefit from exceptionally perceptive and independent counsel, others find themselves relying on glib, recycled supposition. So while he received the ultimate birthday present five days early, let’s hope that Country House-along with the other May foals he joined in the finish on Saturday-can help the rest of us grow up a little. Otherwise, as with every attempt to reduce the Thoroughbred to a formula, we will soon be sending out distress signals again. The post Better Late Than…Well, Maybe Any Other Time appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Jack Fisher, the National Steeplechase Association's champion trainer for the past seven years, has the $150,000 Calvin Houghland Iroquois (NSA-G1) in his sights and within his grasp. View the full article

As an exercise rider and aspiring jockey, Chel-c Bailey relies on finesse to keep a 1,100-pound Thoroughbred race-ready. Flip the emotion switch and she becomes "Battle Born" Bailey, unbeaten MMA fighter. View the full article

Brightening the workman's compensation outlook in New York are some promising recent developments, yet a slow response and some skepticism reflect a bigger problem than the actual rates. View the full article

Ballydoyle’s juveniles of 2018 were hit by the dreaded lurgy during their formative period and consequently there were some unknown quantities among them heading into this season. Step forward Sir Dragonet (Ire) (Camelot {GB}), who earned ‘TDN Rising Star’ status on his debut at Tipperary 13 days ago and justified that in spades in Wednesday’s G3 MBNA Chester Vase. Anchored in a detached last early by Donnacha O’Brien, the 13-2 shot was cajoled forward into the pack as the race increased in intensity inside the final half mile. Looping stablemate Norway (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) on the final bend, the imposing bay was almost given a breather on the outside with the race at his mercy approaching the furlong pole. Kicking clear soon after, the relative of Galileo (Ire) and Sea the Stars (Ire) booked his Epsom Derby ticket with an eight-length success over Norway under hand riding, with Dashing Willoughby (GB) (Nathaniel {Ire}) a further 3/4 of a length away in third. “That was very impressive–I think this is the first time I’ve sat on him,” his rider commented. “They were flat to the boards in front and he was still green, but four out I knew he was going to win. We have a lot of horses at Ballydoyle with great pedigrees and they only learn to sleep at home, so we don’t know what they are until they get on the track.” SIR DRAGONET (IRE), 126, c, 3, by Camelot (GB) 1st Dam: Sparrow (Ire) (GSP-Ire), by Oasis Dream (GB) 2nd Dam: All Too Beautiful (Ire), by Sadler’s Wells 3rd Dam: Urban Sea, by Miswaki 1ST BLACK-TYPE WIN; 1ST GROUP WIN. O-Susan Magnier, Michael Tabor & Derrick Smith; B-Orpendale, Wynatt & Chelston (IRE); T-Aidan O’Brien; J-Donnacha O’Brien. £56,710. Lifetime Record: 2-2-0-0, £63,369. The post Camelot’s Sir Dragonet Routs Chester Vase Opposition appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Piet Ramzan BVsc FRCVS, a partner at Rossdales in Newmarket, offers a veterinary perspective on the recent debate regarding scoping sales yearlings. There has been considerable recent interest in the use of videoendoscopy of the upper airway at public auctions, and in particular expansion of this practice to the U.S. from Europe and Australia, where it has been available for some time. As with many aspects of vettings a broad range of opinions exists, however much of the current commentary would lead the casual observer to conclude that videoendoscopy is just a technological advance that irons out the main problem areas of the scoping process for all stakeholders. Unfortunately, as it is the equine throat we are dealing with, things are not quite so black and white. Given that we have now had quite a lot of experience with sales videoendoscopy in all its manifestations, how should we view the main points in the debate? Convenience Without doubt videoendoscopy can streamline the vetting process for examining vets and consignors alike if a repository system is mandated by the sales company (or is at least well supported by vendors), and if videos are of good quality. That convenience factor is readily lost if videos are held by the consignor on memory sticks instead of in the repository: it is often more expedient to physically scope an animal than to return to a viewing screen or wait for a missing stick. Video Quality A good video recording must allow observation of the throat through a full range of movements from total relaxation to full opening stimulated by swallowing or nasal occlusion. Assessing upper airway function can be complex as many throats go through transient periods of appearing to be reasonably symmetric, and other periods of relative weakness. The chances of arriving at a laryngeal grading that is fair to the horse are improved with longer observation, and appropriate levels of stimulation/occlusion. Although the general standard of videos has been improving over the years, there is still great variability in quality at any given auction; even the nostril used for passing the scope (something that can influence appearance of the larynx) can vary between veterinarians. In some parts of the world (notably Australia) it is not uncommon to be presented with extremely short videos (sometimes less than 10 seconds’ duration). Combined with suboptimal viewing conditions (ie. on a smartphone) it is difficult to imagine that opinions given on the suitability of such horses for purchase could be defended successfully in the event of any subsequent litigation. Although some loose guidelines exist for videoendoscopy standards, there is a great need for industry-wide protocols that set out clear benchmarks for horse identification, recording length, number of stimulated swallows and use of nasal occlusion to induce prolonged laryngeal opening. Variability in Laryngeal Grade The pet hate of consignors is the variation in laryngeal grading that can occur between vets for the same horse, and that a ‘bad’ scope grade from a single vet might get around the sales complex. How can the same horse pass for one vet and fail for another? As it turns out, very easily. Aside from the obvious (technique and human fallibility), a myriad of horse-related factors can be responsible for the appearance of a throat differing between examinations, including level of stimulation, upper airway inflammation, freshness/tiredness of yearling, and use of sedatives. Videoendoscopy can eliminate many of these variables as everyone views the same ‘snapshot in time’ of a throat from a single, controlled recording. Consignors might then go on to presume that by putting a video into the public sphere they will have solved the problem of vets giving differing opinions on a throat to their clients. Unfortunately the inherent subjectivity that comes with human observation of a dynamic structure applies just as much to viewing of videos as it does to physically scoping a horse. Indeed, a couple of scientific studies have looked into variation in grade between different vets when viewing videos of the same horses (‘inter-observer’ variation), as well as variation in grade given by the same vets (‘intra-observer’ variation) when viewing the same videos on two different occasions. In both situations substantial individual subjectivity occurs: average agreement in grade between observers is only around 62-63%, with the ‘borderline’ laryngeal grades that we all agonise over (Havemeyer grade II.2/ Lane grade 3) showing some of the lowest concordance between vets. Based on the current evidence the odds of two different vets agreeing on the grade of one of these ‘borderline’ throats are only marginally better than tossing a coin. One suspects that if these studies were replicated in a Thoroughbred sales setting, agreement between vets would be better (because sales vets are much more closely ‘calibrated’ to each other) but the fact remains that videoendoscopy does not eliminate differences in opinions over individual throats. It is not all bad news, however, as the majority (roughly 80%) of yearlings have throat grades that we consider to represent good function: for these horses it is not at all important whether vets agree on precise grading. It is the smaller (probably around 5-10% of yearlings) group of potentially borderline throats that cause the majority of headaches, as these are the horses that straddle the pass/fail red line. Every potential purchaser has a different perception of the risk posed by such throats: a pinhooker or Hong Kong buyer is likely to be much more risk-averse than someone with a large purchase order for training clients. Some buyers even seek advantage in a competitive marketplace by getting a trusted veterinary opinion on a weak throat that might have scared away others. Hence vets will always have a range of opinions on whether a video as standalone evidence gives them enough information to make a recommendation to their client/s. Many of us consider that videos are greatly inferior to physical scoping for assessing the less-than-perfect throat. Does videoendoscopy always give a fair representation of true upper airway function? A big concern of prospective purchasers in the video debate is whether the videoendoscopy process can be manipulated to be favourable to the vendor in the case of horses with poor/borderline upper airway function. The most obvious issue here is true identification of the animal, but whilever consignor and veterinary codes of ethical conduct hold sway this needn’t trouble anybody too much: if the video is an unbroken/unedited recording of the horse, microchip and passing of the endoscope up the nostril, there is little room for deception. On the broader topic of ‘showing a throat off in the best possible light’, however, there is no question that this can be, and is, done regularly; indeed if you are the consignor’s vet you could take the view that presenting the horse in the most saleable condition is part of your job. While it is fair to say that a paralysed larynx cannot be made to look ‘normal’, there are several tricks of the trade that can permit the borderline/weaker grades (that would normally scare off potential purchasers) to appear satisfactory on a video. These range from simply performing the videoendoscopy post-exercise or with some form of stimulation (eg twitching), recording short clips, to more nuanced refinements such as placement of the scope tip to get a ‘favourable’ field of view, or not permitting the arytenoid cartilage to relax fully (by repeatedly stimulating a swallow reflex). At every major auction, horses which have arrived with videos showing perfectly satisfactory throats are subsequently found after fall of hammer to be returnable under the conditions of sale pertaining to wind, and the only conclusion one can draw is that in most cases these animals had weak throats all along that were not truly represented (by design or otherwise) by their videos. An aspect of this issue that may surprise many consignors is that we regularly encounter videos that show off a horse’s laryngeal function in a poorer light than should be the case. Normal throats can sometimes appear weak at rest or during certain periods of the video, and without the benefit of adequate occlusion of the nostrils it is possible to conclude that ‘without further evidence it is likely that the horse has a weak larynx’. If the examining vet has the time and inclination to go back to the consignor and perform a rescope (and is permitted to do so), often these horses are found to be entirely normal. Clearly the great danger to the consignor is that if vets are too busy or can’t be bothered to rescope (or if the consignor refuses permission), and just report to clients that they suspect a weak throat, that these horses get bypassed by buyers for no reason whatsoever other than a substandard video. A poorly acquired video can undersell a horse just as readily as a shrewdly acquired one can ‘upgrade’ a throat. Does videoendoscopy eliminate the need for physical scoping at the sales? As most horses have straightforward throats, and assuming that the quality of most videos is satisfactory, the use of videoendoscopy can greatly reduce the need for physical scoping at the sales complex. However the inherent variability in appearance of ‘borderline’ throats, lapses in video quality, and the different demands placed on vets by their respective clients make it inevitable that a proportion of horses will need to be physically scoped to allow the most accurate assessment of a throat. Anecdotally our team estimates that somewhere around 1 in every 10 to 15 videos needs a rescope. Is repeated scoping of horses a welfare issue? Consignors sometimes invoke repetitive scoping as a welfare issue (the term ‘inhumane’ has even been used irresponsibly by some) when making the case for videoendoscopy. In my view this needs a strident rebuttal, not least because of the implication that vets (whose entire vocation is the betterment of equine welfare) are actively undertaking procedures that harm horses. The yearling Thoroughbred is generally an incredibly well handled and compliant animal, and the vast majority tolerate endoscopy with no or minimal restraint. More resistance can be encountered palpating testicles than from running an endoscope up a nostril. In the UK it is common practice for endoscopy to be performed without using a nasal twitch, with no evidence that this is unsafe for either horse or handler/vet. Clearly as with blood sampling, shoeing etc a small number of horses are difficult to scope, however they typically make this known on the first or second attempt: it is simply not the case that repeated battles are fought with non-compliant horses at the sales, as consignors and vets would not tolerate the risk to horse or personnel. If a consignor warns that the horse is difficult, accepted practice is to either communicate with the vet who ‘successfully’ scoped the horse previously or undertake a wind test, rather than trying to repeat an unpleasant experience for horse and vet. There is no evidence that repeat scoping causes any harm to horses, and one suspects that the use of this argument actually has more to do with consignors’ general desire to have control over veterinary information about their horses. To conclude, while videoendoscopy is a useful tool, it is not a flawless modality and certainly does not eliminate the problem of vets disagreeing on assessment of laryngeal function. Horses with apparently ‘good’ throats pre-sale continue to fail post-sale wind-tests, and horses with ‘bad’ throats continue to embarrass vets by going on to have notable racing careers. We should all respect the fact that pre-sale endoscopy has inherent flaws and while videoendoscopy offers some advantages of convenience it can also misrepresent the true upper airway function of some horses. Consignors should accept that regardless of the quality of videos that they put up for public view there will always be a proportion of horses that examining vets will wish to rescope, either because of concerns arising from the video recording or because of the specific demands of prospective purchasers: granting permission for these repeat scopes is almost always in their best interest. The post Op/Ed: Video Endoscopy Not All Black and White appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Mehdaayih (GB) (Frankel {GB}) posted an Aug. 2 debut sixth tackling an insufficient seven furlongs at Glorious Goodwood before running second upped to one mile at Doncaster Aug. 18 and closed her juvenile campaign with a breakthrough score at Great Yarmouth Oct. 28. Doubling up in an Apr. 18 Chelmsford City handicap over 10 furlongs on seasonal return last time, she put down a impressive marker for Epsom’s June 1 G1 Oaks–a race for which she needs supplementing–with a daylight score in Wednesday’s Listed Arkle Finance Cheshire Oaks at Chester. Jockey Rab Havlin employed patient tactics and was content to settle off the pace along the rail in seventh for the most part. Angling outside for a clear passage approaching the home turn, Mehdaayih powered to the front approaching the final furlong and surged clear to easily outclass Manuela de Vega (Ire) (Lope de Vega {Ire}) by 4 1/2 lengths. MEHDAAYIH (GB), f, 3, Frankel (GB)–Sayyedati Symphony, by Gone West. O-Emirates Park Pty Ltd; B-Rabbah Bloodstock Ltd (GB); T-John Gosden; J-Robert Havlin. £42,533. Lifetime Record: 5-3-1-0, £53,968. The post Frankel Filly Powers to Cheshire Oaks Triumph appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

In this ongoing series, Tom Frary highlights recent notable performances at France’s provincial racecourses. France’s provinces have turned a corner now that spring has enveloped the country, putting the grind of winter behind everybody and firmly out of mind. In the South, the average temperature in March is in the mid-teens and it was warming up near the Camargue as Nimes staged a card on Mar. 17 which may have featured a future mover and shaker. Not far from the city’s Roman temple known as the Maison Carree and its ampitheatre, the L’Hippodrome des Courbiers hosted an assortment of locals to watch Martin Schwartz’s 3-year-old filly Olympic Games (Fr) (Olympic Glory {Ire}) in a hurry to get her head in front at the first attempt. Scooting around the right-handed circuit showing a fluent stride hugging the rail, the bay may be one of the best to emerge from the palm tree-adorned “Rome of France” famed for its place at the forefront of the denim revolution and a favourite of Hemingway’s. On April 24, she went to nearby Marseille-Borely and after being held up in rear this time won a competitive race for its type with authority, finishing under a hold from Marion Lanave, another female jockey given sacred opportunities by Jean-Claude Rouget. Interestingly, four days later Lanave was handed a further chance to shine by Rouget in the small Midi-Pyrenees course of Auch, this time on one of His Highness The Aga Khan’s homebreds. While it was a minor contest with a flag start at one of France’s most modest venues–there is no running rail for what constituted the home straight this time–won by the moderate performer Kineta (Fr) (Siyouni {Fr}), there was more than a touch of finesse in her all-the-way success and it is clear that Rouget is unsurprisingly a keen spotter of riding talent. At the end of March, the right-handed test of Mont-de-Marsan presented the ideal stage for Alain Jathiere’s homebred 3-year-old filly Volksha (Fr). Yet another winner for France’s stallion on the rise Le Havre (Ire), she proved in a different class to her rivals before heading east to Toulouse to capture the Listed Prix Caravelle on Apr. 23. She has already outdone her well-connected dam Balashkova (Fr) (Montjeu {Ire})–from the immediate family of Ballydoyle’s G1 Criterium de Saint-Cloud winner Recital (Fr) also by Montjeu–who ended up with Chad Brown, and who is to say that the States does not also beckon for this representative of the Simone Brogi yard? Brogi, one of the new enterprising brigade of Italian-born handlers making their trade in France, was another who benefitted from a Rouget apprenticeship and this is a first black-type success for the fledgling trainer who, according to his old boss, is a great cook. Of the juveniles, Haras de Colleville’s freshman sire Galiway (GB) was off the mark via his daughter Galiciana (Fr) at Bordeaux-le-Bouscat on Mar. 29. Fittingly, she carried Guy Pariente’s silks with the owner-breeder ever keen to support his own stallions which was also demonstrated at La Teste de Buch Apr. 12 as his homebred 2-year-old filly Show Kena (Fr) became the latest winner for his star sire Kendargent (Fr). La Teste sits near the Cote d’Argent’s freakish and imposing Dune du Pyla and picturesque town of Arcachon and is overlooked by the Landes forest, lending it a large dose of atmosphere. At the similarly picturesque Lyon-Parilly on Apr. 4, the deadly Con and Theresa Marnane-Matthieu Palussiere axis struck with the first winner for another first-season sire. This time it was the colt Ask Me Not (Ire) by Rathasker Stud’s Anjaal (GB) who beat the subsequent winner Love Vega (Ire) (Lope de Vega {Ire}) under another up-and-comer in Clement Lecoeuvre. “Lyon is a fair, top-class track and a particular favourite, no doubt,” Palussiere says. “I also like La Teste, Marseille-Borely even with its bend, and the lesser tracks like Le Lion d’Angers, Bordeaux-le-Bouscat and then there is Dieppe and St Malo. We go everywhere. It is sometimes possibly the easier option to go to those type of tracks and being a little yard we have no option. Clement is an experienced jockey and a good one, very reliable and strong with a good head on his shoulders.” Situated near the famous Catholic site of Lourdes, Tarbes sits north of the Pyrenees National Park with its Napoleonic stud farm, Les Haras, its central draw. Its beautiful right-handed nine-furlong circuit is the oldest track in France that still operates, having been founded in the early 19th century and is a bit like England’s Chester in reverse. Close to Pau, it is understandably a favourite of Rouget and he sent a potentially smart 3-year-old filly there on Apr. 8 in His Highness The Aga Khan’s Shafia (Fr) (Le Havre {Ire}). Soon in front, she tanked along with Jean-Bernard Eyquem just a passenger as the debutante navigated around the gold course and was always in control in hand as she disposed of her rivals. Her family features the G1 Irish Oaks and G1 Prix Vermeille heroine Shawanda (Ire) (Sinndar {Ire}) and she could run at Chateaubriant on May 6. At Tarbes again on Apr. 21, another Aga Khan-Rouget filly of the Classic generation in Semariya (Fr) (Archipenko) kicked off a stable treble alongside Claudio Marzocco’s colt Ferblue (Fr) (Motivator {GB}) and Coolmore’s filly Visage (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}). The latter is a daughter of the G1 Irish 1000 Guineas and G1 Irish Oaks third Just Pretending (Giant’s Causeway) and her all-the-way 5 1/2-length defeat of fellow Rouget-trained Silver Seam (Fr) (Dark Angel {Ire}) over 11 1/2 furlongs offered abundant hope that she could be a name we are repeating later on in the season. Her impressive display came two days before Compiegne–which is not strictly a provincial track even though it does not enjoy the same status as its Parisian neighbours–staged a ‘TDN Rising Star’ performance from another Michael Tabor colour-bearer in Ballet Russe (Ire) (Camelot {GB}). Bordeaux-le-Bouscat in the Gironde was opened in 1836 and has subsequently undergone many changes of ownership, but its position in the French racing calendar is a relatively important one. Its Apr. 7 card saw yet another Rouget 3-year-old filly shine in Haras Voltaire’s newcomer Alzire (Fr) (Shamardal) who handled her first experience at the right-handed venue with a degree of comfort. She is a €400,000 Arqana August Yearling Sale graduate who has a stellar pedigree, being a granddaughter of Ballydoyle’s champion Peeping Fawn (Danehill) whose September (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) made such an impact for that stable two years ago. Descended from Blush With Pride, she is one of the burgeoning crew racing in the colours of Thierry Gillier, founder of the Parisian fashion label Zadig & Voltaire. Back there 22 days later, Gerard Augustin-Normand’s 3-year-old gelding Morsan (Fr) (Rajsaman {Fr}) backed up the powerful impression he had made on debut at Mont-de-Marsan when outclassing his rivals over six furlongs. The bay homebred from the family of blue hen Coup de Folie (Halo) is one of those who has pushed trainer Didier Guillemin into ninth in the trainers’ table with 29 successes from 43 individual runners. Back at Lyon-Parilly on Apr. 27 there was another glimpse of promise from the 3-year-old filly Channel (Ire) (Nathaniel {Ire}), a Francis-Henri Graffard trainee who had run into the Coolmore-Fabre project Secret Walk (Ire) (Dansili {GB}) on debut at Saint-Cloud the previous month. The way the product of the famous Kilcarn Stud nursery went through the 11-furlong race under hand riding suggests she may be one of the many stakes performers to emerge from the provinces in 2019. The post French Provincial Diary appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Chantilly racecourse is hosting a free race day on Saturday, June 29 with the highlight being a pair of Group 3 contests, the Prix Chloe and Prix du Bois. The twilight fixture gets underway at 4pm with family entertainment throughout the eight-race meeting, which will be followed by live music in the parade ring. A tour of Chantilly’s historic training grounds on the Saturday morning can be arranged on request via Lizzy Sainty on lizzysainty@gmail.com. France’s racing action moves to Paris the following day for the G1 Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud. The post Chantilly’s party night appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Asgard Massif may cost any potential new owner a few extra dollars after an impressive all-the-way win at Sandown on Wednesday. Trainer John Sadler revealed Asgard Massif is on the market as Singapore-based surgeon Dr Tan Kai Chah reduces his worldwide thoroughbred numbers. Asgard Massif, who was sold out of Curraghmore's Ready To Run draft in 2017, is a son of Jolie's Shinju who won the Singapore Triple Crown, including the Singapore Derby, for Dr Tan in 2009 before travelling to Australia for ... View the full article

Prominent Hong Kong owner Boniface Ho Ka-Kui has bought a slot in the world’s richest turf race, The Everest, for his boom three-year-old Classique Legend.Ho, who owns the likes of Southern Legend and Sichuan Dar in Hong Kong, purchased the spot in the A$14 million (HK$77.1 million) sprint off GPI Racing with his Australian-based racing manager Carmel Size.Ho is believed to have paid upwards of A$600,000 (HK$3.3 million) for the slot in The Everest, which will be run at Royal Randwick in… View the full article

Karaka trainer Lance Noble scored the perfect result at Matamata on Tuesday, taking two horses south for the Waikato club’s meeting and recording victories with both. Two-year-old Savabeel filly Avadane cleared maiden company when taking out the J P Wills Bloodstock 1200. She jumped well from barrier three and took the trail behind early leaders Divine Dive and Qiji Melody. Jockey Leith Innes bided his time before unleashing his charge down the straight where Avadane took the lead at the 150m ... View the full article

Prominent jumps jockey Shaun Fannin has no doubt Duffers Creek could be the horse to provide him with further highlights. The 23-year-old was New Zealand’s champion jumps jockey three seasons ago when his association with trainer Kevin Myers resulted in the pair dominating the scene and Fannin going from registering nine jumps wins the previous season to an incredible 25 wins, nine more than his closest rival on the table. Fannin went on to 11 jumps wins two seasons ago and finish third on the... View the full article

Wexford stables have a strong chance of taking home the silverware at Arawa Park on Saturday where Giovanno Canaletto and Sleeping Beauty will represent the Matamata barn in the two feature races. Group One performer Giovanni Canaletto will contest the Gr.3 Rotorua Cup (2200m) and his connections are hoping the regally-bred son of Galileo can replicate his form from February where he finished third in the Listed Kaimai Stakes (2000m) at Matamata. The Lance O’Sullivan and Andrew Scott-trained s... View the full article

War of Will (War Front)’s owner Gary Barber issued a press release Tuesday night in response to what he says are claims Gary West made on Fox News accusing War of Will of causing the interference in Saturday’s Kentucky Derby that led to Maximum Security (New Year’s Day)’s disqualification. West repeated those claims to the Blood-Horse Tuesday, which quoted him as saying, “(War of Will) did things to us that could have endangered the entire field. Everybody is saying we endangered all these people, which is bullshit. My reputation is worth something and so is the reputation of (jockey) Luis Saez and the horse and (trainer) Jason Servis. This is beyond winning the Kentucky Derby. It is a reputational matter. It would be that way to anyone.” West made his claims after watching a video posted by Horse Racing Nation with graphics making the case that the interference was caused by War of Will and not Maximum Security. In response, Barber issued the following statement: “It has recently been brought to my attention that Mr. Gary West stated on Fox News that my horse War of Will caused the infraction in the Derby. I categorically deny this false accusation. The video evidence irrefutably shows that his horse, Maximum Security, caused a major infraction that almost led to a catastrophe and in doing so, denied my horse and others of a better placing. “The facts are Maximum Security is a great horse that crossed the line first in the Derby, but unfortunately committed a major infraction that denied him a Derby victory. I empathize with Mr. West on this fact and feel the pain of losing out, but Mr. West’s horse, and not mine nor my jockey Tyler Gaffalione, denied him the Derby victory and it is wrong for him to deflect blame anywhere else. “I am very disappointed that War of Will was deprived of the opportunity to show his best because of Maximum Security, but I painfully accepted that as part of horse racing. Thankfully, I am glad both War of Will and Maximum Security survived the day unscathed and will be good to race another day!” The post Gary Barber Answers West’s War of Will Claim appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article