Wandering Eyes

Just 20 days after breaking her maiden, the 2-year-old Orb filly came charging to win the $350,000 Spinaway Stakes (G1) at Saratoga Race Course. View the full article

Lee Pokoik’s Sippican Harbor (f, 2, Orb–Blossomed, by Deputy Minister) dashed to the lead with a dramatic late move down the center of the track to win the GI Spinaway S. Saturday at Saratoga. The 16-1 shot raced near the back of the pack early, and was last leaving the backstretch after a half in :45.97. She came widest of all into the stretch and closed powerfully to best Restless Rider (Distorted Humor) by an expanding 1 1/2 lengths. Cassie’s Dreamer (Flatter) was third. Favored Chasing Yesterday (Tapit), also well back early, made a mild middle move but flattened and finished eighth. The time for the seven furlongs was 1:23.72. Sippican Harbor, a $260,000 Fasig-Tipton Saratoga graduate who RNA’d for $110,000 at OBS March, was a troubled fifth while making her debut over the turf July 22. The bay filly romped home by 17 lengths in an off-the-turfer at the Spa Aug. 12. A half-sister to graded stakes placed Bodacious Babe (Mineshaft), she is the first Grade I winner for her GI Kentucky Derby winning sire. O-Lee Pokoik; B-Justin & Kalvert Spaeth & Equine Equity Pty (Ky); T-Gary Contessa. View the full article

6th-SAR, $85K, Msw, 2yo, f, 1 1/16mT, 3:17 p.m. ET Stronach homebred BAMBALINA (Bernardini) makes her career bow in this spot for trainer Jimmy Jerkens. Out of champion grass mare Perfect Sting (Red Ransom), she is a half-sister to GSW Smart Sting (Smart Strike). Three Chimneys Farm homebred Princesa Carolina (Tapit) makes her second start here, but first on grass after finishing a well-beaten fifth in a seven-panel off-the-turf affair at the Spa Aug. 12. A daughter of MGISW turf horse Pure Clan (Pure Prize), the gray hails from the family of GISW sprinter Finleysluckycharm (Twirling Candy) and MGSW Greater Good (Intidab). TJCIS PPs —@CDeBernardisTDN View the full article

Chad Brown bested his own record for wins by a trainer in a single Saratoga Race Course meet when Klaravich Stables' Spirit Animal captured the sixth race Sept. 1 for his 41st victory. View the full article

Treasure Beach, winner of the 2011 Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby (G1) and Secretariat Stakes (G1T), was represented by his first black-type stakes winner Sept. 1 when Decorated Ace won the $78,000 Sorority Stakes at Monmouth Park. 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 a half-sister to a former standout sprinter. 1.20 ParisLongchamp, Debutantes, €27,000, 2yo, c/g, 8fT STARMANIAC (GB) (Sea the Stars {Ire}) is the latest progeny out of the G1 Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud winner Plumania (GB) (Anabaa {GB}) whose 4-year-old son Plumatic (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) recently took the G3 Sovereign S. Carlos Laffon-Parias saddles the April-foaled bay against two Godolphin runners for Andre Fabre with Mickael Barzalona on Syrtis (GB) (Frankel {GB}), a €350,000 ARQAUG purchase whose dam Sabratah (GB) (Oasis Dream {GB}) was a useful performer in listed and Group 3 company. 1.50 ParisLongchamp, Debutantes, €27,000, 2yo, f, 8fT KOUBALIBRE (IRE) (Galileo {Ire}) is a half-sister to the 2014 G1 Cheveley Park S. heroine Tiggy Wiggy (Ire) (Kodiac {GB}) who debuts for Riviera Equine and Freddy Head. Among her rivals are two Wertheimer newcomers including the Andre Fabre-trained Romanciere (Ire) (Dansili {GB}), a half-sister to the G1 Prix Vermeille winner Left Hand (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}). View the full article

Claiborne Farm and Adele Dilschneider’s Mucho (Blame) took the worst of it at the start of his career debut at Belmont June 10 and ran on to finish a credible second behind favored Whiskey Echo (Tiznow). Despite getting off to a better start last time in a six-furlong Saratoga test Aug. 4, the bay was pinched back in the early going, but the setback proved inconsequential as he galloped off to an eye-catching 9 3/4-length victory, earning TDN Rising Star status in the process. Bill Mott, who trained the colt’s first two dams, including stakes winner Limit (Cox’s Ridge), connects at just under 30% when teaming up with Jose Ortiz. “Mucho is doing good,” said Mott. “He was quite impressive. I think he was kind of the buzz horse for a few days around here after winning. People were commenting on how nice he looked. I mean visually he looked impressive.” Nitrous (Tapit), who came up a neck short after a tardy start as the even-money choice at Churchill Downs June 14, lived up to his name with a sharp front-running victory second time out sprinting 5 1/2 furlongs here July 21. Trainer Steve Asmussen, who has been loaded with a slew of top-shelf youngsters thus far this season, enters Saratoga’s closing weekend third based on juvenile purse earnings, behind trainers Todd Pletcher and meet leader Chad Brown. Pletcher is represented by the sole stakes winner in this year’s renewal with Starlight Racing’s Sombeyay (Into Mischief), victorious in the six-furlong GIII Sanford S. July 21. A runaway winner in his career bow at Gulfstream in April, the bay was 3/4 of a length behind first-out winner Our Braintrust (Freud) in Belmont’s June 8 Tremont S. Trainer D. Wayne Lukas, who has saddled a record eight career Hopeful wins, expects improvement from maiden Derby Date (Will Take Charge). Seventh in his debut July 28, the Calumet Farm runner was a much-improved second going seven-eighths two weeks late Aug. 11. “I expect a real big effort, I really do,” said Lukas. “He had two outs; one that I don’t count, one that was very good. He got tired. You look at the replay, he did everything right except he got tired and that’s my fault not the horses’ fault. I do that a lot, run the horses, then I come back and run a little better. He got tired which is correctable, and it will [be corrected]. He won’t be tired.” Derby Date will break from post 8 and will be ridden by Luis Saez, who was aboard for Lukas’s win last year with Sporting Chance (Tiznow). View the full article

Hall of Famer Bob Baffert already has an astounding 13 wins in the GI Del Mar Futurity and looks pretty likely to take home his 14th renewal of the juvenile event Monday with a pair of talented ‘TDN Rising Stars’ signed on in Roadster (Quality Road) and Game Winner (Candy Ride {Arg}). Speedway Stable’s Roadster, a $525,000 KEESEP buy, is the more fancied of the two off a good-looking 4 1/4-length graduation in his six-panel debut at this oval July 29. Gary and Mary West’s Game Winner powered clear to don cap and gown by 5 3/4 lengths in his unveiling over the same track-and-trip as his stablemate Aug. 18. Getting the blinkers off, the $110,000 KEESEP buy fires a best-of-33 five-furlong bullet in :59 3/5 last time over this strip Aug. 29. While many were hoping to see a showdown between Roadster and undefeated ‘TDN Rising Star’ Instagrand (Into Mischief), they will have to wait as the GII Best Pal S. winner will skip this test in favor of the GI American Pharoah S. at Santa Anita Sept. 29. His connections, OXO Equine and Hall of Famer Jerry Hollendorfer, will instead send out another son of Into Mischief, $320,000 FTSAUG purchase Rowayton. The bay ran to the money in his July 21 debut at Del Mar, scoring a 1 3/4-length victory. Also entering off debut wins here at the seaside oval are $420,000 OBSMAR buy Sigalert (Street Sense), who graduated Aug. 4, and Spin Lightning (Hard Spun), a late-running victor Aug. 12. View the full article

4th-SAR, $85K, Msw, 2yo, f, 7f, 2:09 p.m. ET Just one day after the GI Woodward S., trainer Ralph Nicks unveils a daughter of one of the race’s most famous winners, Horse of the Year Havre De Grace (Saint Liam), at the Spa in Whisper Hill Farm’s GRACEFUL PRINCESS (Tapit). A two-time Eclipse winner and treble Grade I victress, Havre De Grace was purchased by Mandy Pope’s operation for a record-setting $10 million at the 2012 FTKNOV sale and this is her third foal. This is also the family of MGISW Riskaverse (Dynaformer), the dam of MGSW Say (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}). Second-time starter Dance Club (Candy Ride {Arg}) also has a champion dam in fellow Phipps homebred Storm Flag Flying (Storm Cat), who is also responsible for MGSP Revved Up (Candy Ride {Arg}). The dark bay’s second dam is MGISW My Flag (Easy Goer) and her third dam is undefeated Hall of Famer Personal Ensign (Private Account), who produced GISW full-siblings Miner’s Mark (Mr. Prospector) and Traditionally. The Shug McGaughey pupil checked in third in her 5 1/2-panel unveiling at the Spa Aug. 5 and should improve with added distance. Godolphin homebred FANCY THAT (Street Sense), a daughter of MGSW Sara Louise (Malibu Moon) and full-sister to GSP Sara Street, debuts here for trainer Kiaran McLaughlin. Alex and JoAnn Lieblong’s $450,000 KEESEP buy Wild Moment (Medaglia d’Oro), a daughter of champion juvenile filly She Be Wild (Offlee Wild), gets blinkers on in this second trip to the post after finishing seventh with some trouble in her Aug. 12 unveiling over this strip. TJCIS PPs. 4th-GP, $75K, Msw, 2yo, f, 5 1/2f, 2:15 p.m. ET Gainesway’s blue-blooded CAP DE CREUS (Tapit) get her career underway for Todd Pletcher in this test. Out of Juddmonte’s Grade I-winning turfer Light Jib (GB) (Danehill), the juvenile is a half-sister to GISW Seek Again (Speightstown) and Group 3 winner Treble Jig (Gone West). Her second dam is GSW & MGISP Nashmeel (Blushing Groom {Fr}). TJCIS PPs. 7th-SAR, $85K, Msw, 2yo, f, 7f, 3:51 p.m. ET POSITIVE SPIRIT (Pioneerof the Nile) debuts in this test for co-breeder Mike Ryan and trainer Rodolphe Brisset. Out of GSW & GISP Above Perfection (In Excess {Ire}), the bay is a half-sister to last year’s GI Kentucky Derby and GI Florida Derby hero Always Dreaming (Bodemeister) and GISW Hot Dixie Chick (Dixie Union), who is the dam of MSW & GSP ‘TDN Rising Star’ Union Jackson (Curlin). Chad Brown saddles another well-related firster in Stand For The Flag (Super Saver). The $125,000 KEESEP buy is out of a daughter of MGISW My Flag (Easy Goer), the dam of champion Storm Flag Flying (Storm Cat) and herself a daughter of Hall of Famer Personal Ensign. She is a relative of Dance Club, who runs in the fourth race. Chuck Fipke homebred Champagne Tale (Tale of Ekati) makes her career bow in this spot for Dallas Stewart. Out of a full-sister to GISW Got Lucky (A.P. Indy), the juvenile hails from the family of MGSW & MGISP Daydreaming (A.P. Indy), Grade I winners Super Saver (Maria’s Mon), Imagining (Giant’s Causeway), Bluegrass Cat (Storm Cat) andGirolamo (A.P. Indy) TJCIS PPs. 6th-ELP, $42K, Msw, 2yo, 7f, 4:10 p.m. ET Fox Hill Farms’ BATTLEOFTHEBULGE (Pioneerof the Nile) makes his career bow in this spot for trainer Larry Jones. A half-brother to MSW & MGSP Wind Fire (Distorted Humor), the $600,000 KEESEP buy is out of A.P. Dream (A.P. Indy), who is a daughter of MGISW Dream Supreme (Seeking the Gold) and full-sister to GISW sire Majestic Warrior. Jack Sisterson unveils Calumet Farm’s Speed Effect (Exchange Rate). The $130,000 KEESEP purchase is out of an unraced daughter of SW & GSP Misty Hour (Miswaki), who produced MGSW India (Hennessy), who in turn is the dam of Japanese Group 1 winner Mozu Ascot (Frankel {GB}) and SW ‘TDN Rising Star’ Kareena (Medaglia d’Oro); as well as SW Pilfer (Deputy Minister), who is responsible for MGISW sire To Honor and Serve (Bernardini), GISW Angela Renee (Bernardini) and SW & GISP Elnaawi (Street Sense). This is also the family of MGISW Memories of Silver (Silver Hawk). TJCIS PPs. 10th-DMR, $60K, Msw, 2yo, 1mT, 9:30 p.m. ET Rick Porter’s Fox Hill Farms will be represented by a regally bred first timer Sunday evening in OMAHA BEACH (War Front), a half-brother to champion juvenile filly Take Charge Brandi (Giant’s Causeway). The Richard Mandella pupil is out of Charming (Seeking the Gold), who is a daughter of MGISW and blue hen mare Take Charge Lady (Dehere), making her a half-sister to champion and freshman sire Will Take Charge (Unbridled’s Song) and GISW second-crop sire Take Charge Indy (A.P. Indy). TJCIS PPs. —@CDeBernardisTDN View the full article

For many years, the Prioress was contested as a Grade I at Belmont Park, a steppingstone to the GI Test S. at Saratoga. Nowadays, the race is run as a Grade II as the final leg of a three-race series for the sophomore filly set, but it reads more like a top-level race once dissecting the form. Mia Mischief (Into Mischief) earned ‘TDN Rising Star‘ status with a double-digit romp through the Keeneland slop last October and has done little to invalidate the decision this term, with victories in the Purple Martin S. at Oaklawn, in the GII Eight Belles S. at Churchill and an exceptionally game runner-up effort behind Separationofpowers (Candy Ride {Arg}) in the Aug. 4 Test. Though she won the Eight Belles and was right there in the Test–both at seven-eighths–this more abbreviated distance should work in her favor. Dream Rush (Wild Rush) won both the Prioress and the Test back in 2007 and ‘Rising Star‘ Dream Pauline (Tapit) will try to follow in her talented dam’s hoofprints Sunday afternoon. A half-sister to fellow ‘Rising Stars’ Dreaming of Julia (A.P. Indy) and Atreides (Medaglia d’Oro), the Stonestreet homebred powered home to graduate by a half-dozen lengths in a single racetrack appearance at two and stayed perfect last time with a two-length allowance tally over the course and distance Aug. 2. A pair of Grade I winners from California add to the depth of the Prioress field. Phoenix Thoroughbreds’ Dream Tree (Uncle Mo) carries an unblemished four-for-four mark into the Prioress, her biggest score coming in last year’s Starlet S. around two turns at Los Alamitos. Last seen galloping home in the GII Las Virgenes S. in early February, the bay will be ridden by Mike Smith, who stays in town following Saturday’s big card. ‘Rising Star‘ Moonshine Memories (Malibu Moon) was the beaten favorite in last year’s GI Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies, but prior to that won the GI Del Mar Debutante and GI Chandelier S. She returned to winning ways-albeit narrowly-at Del Mar July 19, but needs to have her running shoes on if she wants to match motors early with Mia Mischief. View the full article

Flavien Prat is breathing down the neck of Drayden Van Dyke in the final two days of the meet at Del Mar, and in the form of River Boyne (Ire) (Dandy Man {Ire}), he’ll have a very good chance to pull back whatever margin there might be on the penultimate day of the stand. The bay colt has won five of his seven starts and finished second in another since switching to the care of Jeff Mullins, his lone off-the-board effort coming when he brushed the gate and got too far back in the May 5 GII American Turf S. at Churchill, a race that was run over testing ground. He exits a rallying 1 1/4-length defeat of Arawak (Uncle Mo) when giving that one four pounds in the GIII LaJolla H. Aug. 5, races at level weights Sunday and figures very tough right back. Andesh (Ire) (Medicean {GB}) steps into grade company for the first time in his career and merits a glance. A maiden winner at Dundalk and never out of the top three in five runs for trainer Mick Halford, the chestnut gave a very good account of himself in a first-level allowance over Sunday’s trip, finishing well to finish fourth, not far from Majestic Eagle (Medaglia d’Oro) and Epical (Uncle Mo). Richard Baltas won the 2016 Derby with the upset-minded Free Rose (Munnings) and will be represented here by the progressive Desert Stone (Ire) (Fastnet Rock {Aus}). The dark bay colt broke his maiden going this distance at Santa Anita May 11 and added a narrow allowance score going a mile June 1. He was a latest fourth to Restrainedvengeance (Hold Me Back) in the July 18 Oceanside S. in which he bobbled at the break and made good ground late. The stretchout to nine panels should suit. East Coast form is represented by Ride A Comet (Candy Ride {Arg}), a half-brother to 2017 GI Belmont S. winner Tapwrit (Tapit) who won Woodbine’s Charlie Barley S. June 30 ahead of a solid third to Raging Bull (Fr) (Dark Angel {Ire}) in the GII Hall of Fame S. at Saratoga Aug. 3. View the full article

Trainer Bob Baffert has won the Del Mar Futurity (G1) a record 13 times, and No. 14 may be around the corner after an unexpected defection. View the full article

On paper, Voodoo Song (English Channel) appears to tower over his opponents in Monday’s turf feature, Saratoga’s GII Bernard Baruch H. A winner of half his starts in 2017, including the nine-furlong GIII Saranac over the Saratoga turf, the Barry Schwartz runner has visited the winner’s circle in three of five starts this term, including his two most recent–Belmont’s one-mile Forbidden Apple S. July 14 and the Spa’s GI Fourstardave H. Aug. 11. Drawing the rail while trying to record his sixth win over the Saratoga turf, the Linda Rice trainee looks to use his trademark speed to dominate in a race seemingly devoid of any other sources of early foot. Stuart Janney III and Phipps Stable’s Inspector Lynley (Lemon Drop Kid), victorious in last season’s GIII Tampa Bay S., was winless in five subsequent starts, however, did manage to hit the board in three of them, including close-up seconds in a Belmont optional claimer over a mile May 11 followed by the 8 1/2-furlong GII Wise Dan S. at Churchill Downs June 16. Employing his standard off-the-pace tactics in the Aug. 11 Lure S., the five-year-old came home a 3/4-length winner over the encumbered Chad Brown representative Projected (GB) (Showcasing {GB}), who takes another crack at him here. On the board in all four starts this term, Juddmonte’s Projected hasn’t visited the winner’s circle since last year’s GII Baltimore/Washington International Turf Cup. Javier Castellano, who was aboard last time, returns for the Baruch. View the full article

Godolphin’s season of seasons could be due another highlight on Sunday, with the 146th renewal of the G1 Longines Grosser Preis Von Baden the showcase event across Europe. Saeed bin Suroor looks to have solid claims of providing the operation with another top-level contest with Best Solution (Ire) (Kodiac {GB}), who has already annexed one in this country when delivered late in the G1 Grosser Preis von Berlin at Hoppegarten Aug. 12. Prior to that effort, the 4-year-old had mastered the subsequent G3 Glorious S. winner Mirage Dancer (GB) (Frankel {GB}) and the Ebor hero Muntahaa (Ire) (Dansili {GB}) in Newmarket’s G2 Princess of Wales’s S. also at this 12-furlong trip July 12. “It will be an interesting race, as there are two nice horses from Germany in the contest, but Best Solution did a nice piece of work recently and he is ready for this,” his trainer said. “He is set to go into quarantine on Thursday, Sept. 13, for his trip to Australia [for the G1 Caulfield Cup].” Best Solution was only fifth here last year behind Guignol (Ger) (Cape Cross {Ire}), with the runner-up Iquitos (Ger) (Adlerflug {Ger}) and fourth Windstoss (Ger) (Shirocco {Ger}) set to renew rivalry. Iquitos, who had previously beaten Best Solution in the G1 Grosser Dallmayr-Preis at Munich last July, won this in 2016 and has a love of this particular circuit. Sheikh Mohammed Obaid Al Maktoum’s Defoe (Ire) (Dalakhani {Ire}) enjoyed a fruitful spring when annexing Newbury’s G3 John Porter S. Apr. 21 and the May 5 G2 Jockey Club S. at Newmarket before finding 10 1/2 furlongs too sharp when third in the G1 Tattersalls Gold Cup at The Curragh May 27. ParisLongchamp stages the G3 Prix la Rochette, the prep for the upcoming G1 Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere, with Khalid Abdullah’s Delaware (GB) (Frankel {GB}) the chosen one from Andre Fabre’s legion. Successful in a six-furlong maiden at Deauville at the end of July, the bay meets the impressive July 27 Chantilly conditions scorer Ecolo (Fr) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}), who represents the Wertheimer-Carlos Laffon-Parias connection and Ecurie Normandy Spirit’s Aug. 4 Listed Prix des Jouvenceaux et des Jouvencelles-winning filly Lily’s Candle (Fr) (Style Vendome {Fr}). In the Listed Prix de Liancourt, His Highness Shahnaza (Fr) (Azamour {Ire}) reappears for the first time after finishing seventh but beaten only around two lengths as the favourite for the G1 Prix de Diane at Chantilly June 17. At Baden-Baden, the G3 Wackenhut Mercedes-Benz-Preis Zukunftsrennen features Stall Dipoli’s unbeaten Man On the Moon (Ger) (Sea the Moon {Ger}) and Stall Turffighter’s fellow Cologne winner Peace of Paris (Ger) (Helmet {Aus}) both from the Markus Klug stable. View the full article

The latest and possibly the best off the top-class production line of Dar Re Mi (GB) (Singspiel {Ire}), TDN Rising Star Too Darn Hot (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) enhanced his reputation when stamping his authority on Sandown’s G3 188bet Solario S. Powerful from the outset when a seven-length winner over a mile here Aug. 9, the bay was keen early under restraint in third as the unbeaten Listed Chesham S. winner Arthur Kitt (GB) (Camelot {GB}) took up the running. Shaken up straightening for home, he was able to get to the leader with 1 1/2 furlongs remaining and was clear soon after en route to a four-length success. “He’s a little bit funny and tender in his mouth–he was the same last time–so I wanted to teach him a bit,” Frankie Dettori said. “I could have led if I’d wanted to, but I was happy to give myself the options as he is a very raw horse so I got a nice outside spot. He was green between three and 1 1/2 out, but I always felt I was going to win and it felt like the penny didn’t drop straightaway. I wanted to make him a racehorse and when I said ‘come on’ he changed lead, got into top gear and put the race to bed. I kept it up all the way to the line, as I suspect a group 1 is next and I wanted to give him as much experience as I could. He’s quite a neat and compact horse and I’ve ridden most of the family and they’ve got a tendency like most Dubawis to have most of the power in front. He has a very good mind and is bred in the purple, so there are all sorts of options and the world is his oyster. We’ll take it one step at a time, but he’s got some talent.” View the full article

Putting himself into an elite category when scoring by seven lengths on debut over six furlongs at The Curragh last Saturday, TDN Rising Star Ten Sovereigns (Ire) (No Nay Never) dominated the G3 John Sisk & Son Round Tower S. over the same course and distance to book his ticket to the G1 Middle Park S. at Newmarket Sept. 29. Always comfortable tracking stablemate Fantasy (Ire) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}), the 1-3 favourite moved to the front under Donnacha O’Brien with two furlongs remaining and drew away under hands and heels to score by 3 3/4 lengths from Bruce Wayne (Ire) (Slade Power {Ire}), with two lengths back to Fantasy in third. View the full article

A new era in Hong Kong racing begins at Sha Tin on Sunday, it is just a matter of how you want to define it. Since the last meeting of 2017-18, two events have dramatically changed the landscape – the opening of Conghua Racecourse and the departure of Joao Moreira. From a big picture perspective, the opening of Conghua is a game-changer, increasing Hong Kong’s horse capacity by about 50 per cent while providing trainers with new options and allowing the equine athletes to escape the... View the full article

Third in the G1 Coronation S. at Royal Ascot and the G1 Nassau S. at Goodwood Aug. 2, TDN Rising Star Veracious (GB) (Frankel {GB}) was able to enjoy an easier task in Sandown’s G3 188Bet Atalanta S. Sent off the 10-11 favourite, the Cheveley Park Stud homebred was keen early in the hands of Ryan Moore tracking Awesometank (GB) (Intense Focus). Taking over with two furlongs remaining, she asserted for a 1 1/4-length success. “She’s a real nice filly who had run two very good races in group 1s and a stronger pace would have suited her, but she can only win,” her rider commented. “She did that with a bit left in the tank in the end and is a very honest filly who wouldn’t do a whole lot when she gets to the front.” View the full article

Third in the G3 Anglesey S. over an extended six furlongs at The Curragh July 21, TDN Rising Star Just Wonderful (Dansili {GB}) was much more at home in the G3 Flame of Tara Irish EBF S. over a mile at the same venue and duly opened her black-type account with a smooth display. Switched off towards the rear early by Donnacha O’Brien, the 7-4 favourite was delivered to cut down stablemate Peach Tree (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) 200 yards from the finish and readily assert for a 1 1/2-length success, with fellow Ballydoyle representative Fleeting (Ire) (Zoffany {Ire}) making a stable one-two-three the same margin away. View the full article

Umberto Rispoli believes two-time Brazilian Group One winner Harmony Victory can make the grade in Hong Kong, but expects him to take plenty of improvement from his debut on Sunday. The son of Public Purse won four of his five starts (finishing second in the other) in his native country when racing as Cash Do Jaguarete, taking out the Grande Premio Joao Adhemar de Almeida Prado (1,600m) and the Grande Premio Jockey Club de Sao Paulo (2,000m), each by over six lengths. It has been almost 12... View the full article

Frankie Lor Fu-chuen trained a winner with his first runner 12 months ago but Jimmy Ting Koon-ho is not fussed whether he emulates him or not when he begins his debut season at Sha Tin on Sunday. The 45-year-old, who worked under Danny Shum Chap-shing last term, has four runners on the opening day but is more focused on embracing a “special” season rather than sitting on edge in anticipation of his first winner. “It doesn’t matter too much, I’m just keen to let it... View the full article

Caspar Fownes expects a couple of horses to be too slick for Southern Legend in Sunday’s Class One HKSAR Chief Executive’s Cup (1,200m) with his focus firmly on the Hong Kong International Races in December. Southern Legend came along in leaps and bounds last season and was somewhat of a giant killer as he inflicted defeats on Nothingilikemore and Pakistan Star while increasing his rating by 30 points to 123. He did that by coming third in the Group One Champions Mile while he also... View the full article

CC Wong (three days), Placais, Kellady, Nuh (two days) suspended View the full article

A race restricted to the progeny of a single farm's stallions is ineligible for black type, according to international standards. Without black-type status, Spendthrift Farm owner B. Wayne Hughes said the race cannot grow. View the full article

5th-DMR, $60K, Msw, 2yo, 6 1/2f, post time: 7:05 p.m. ET Bob Baffert-trained MUCH BETTER (Pioneerof the Nile) went through the 2016 KEENOV ring as a weanling for $600,000, but makes his debut for breeder Three Chimneys Farm. Dam Dust and Diamonds (Vindication), a MGSW who also was second in the 2012 GI Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Sprint, banked $496,260. This colt has been training sharply with a bullet work Aug. 25. TJCIS PPs 9th-DMR, $60K, Msw, 2yo, 6 1/2f, post time: 9:05 p.m. ET It’s hard to find better credentials than those sported by Summer Wind Equine homebred MAGIC ON TAP (Tapit), as his first three dams are all GSW who each went on to produce graded stakes horses. Out of GI Humana Distaff S. winner Aubby K (Street Sense), this colt will be unveiled by trainer Bob Baffert, who already has ‘TDN Rising Star’ Chasing Yesterday (Tapit) for this owner. This colt’s full brother ‘TDN Rising Star’ Principe Guilherme was a multiple winner last year at two and is GSP this year. TJCIS PPs View the full article