Wandering Eyes

People who are unfamiliar with the equine biomechanical process (which started in the late 1940s in the Quarter Horse industry) often approach us and right off the bat ask: “Just what is it that you do?” The quick and simple answer sometimes gets the point across quickly, to wit: “We take numerous measurements of a Thoroughbred’s body and an ultra-sound scan of its heart, compute the numbers and tell you what kind of automobile you have and if the engine is compatible with that car.” Occasionally the look we get is akin to “Uh, duh?”–though we note anecdotally that women seem to get it quicker. We go on to explain that you wouldn’t want a Maserati with either a Honda Civic or Ford Explorer engine–one wouldn’t get you up to 90 without blowing a gasket and the other wouldn’t get you to 90 for a few minutes. Nor would you want a Volvo sedan with either a Maserati or Dodge Ram engine–one might blow right through your dashboard if you floored it, the other might carry you into orbit. We also explain that our findings are more in keeping with the language of the racetrack: We can project a horse’s biomechanical functionality as a racehorse as early as 15 months. We might find the horse’s power through its quarters and ilium-femur-tibia combination plus the relationship of its various body lengths and square body set should set the horse up as a two-turn cruiser with a good finishing kick. On the other hand, the horse might be lower to the ground at the elbow than the flank, have short front legs and a whopping set of quarters, which would indicate it would be best as a downhill sprinter-miler that should be taken in hand and saved for the drive to build momentum from those mechanics. The cardio scan would give an indication of how far each might be able to go. Sometimes we throw in a curve: “This horse will likely be better on the turf.” To which some would ask if the horse had big feet–you know, a “grass foot.” While we always look at the feet, we don’t measure them, nor does the size fit anywhere into our projections. What does figure are certain components and how they relate to other components that might give a horse an advantage on the weeds. To explain this further we have asked three of our clients for permission to use as examples colts that they bred which were analyzed biomechanically as yearlings. Two are still racing, one is long gone, but what we will present below is exactly what was written in the reports presented to them after each was analyzed. In addition, we have not discussed these horses with their respective trainers to determine what they thought of them or any issues which they had along the way. All we are doing is showing how sometimes things work out the way it was projected. Mango M. (2015, Tale of the Cat-Awesome Bull, by Holy Bull) Bred by Vivien Malloy’s Edition Farm in New York, this colt was sold at the Fasig-Tipton Saratoga New York-Bred Sale for $160,000 and pinhooked at that sales company’s Gulfstream Park 2-year-old sale for $240,000. This is a very nicely balanced and very powerful colt with several excellent properties and one or two that might help him show better as a turf horse. He has great power through his quarters and gaskins, and very good quickening ability through his rear triangles. However, he is a bit off the ground at the elbow and flank, and somewhat shorter in his front legs than his rear leg, which may cause a bit of pinwheeling. His humerus is long, however, and this could help his reach. His back length is also asynchronous in two respects, but not severely so. This combination is likely to reduce his extension, which can waste energy especially if pushed too soon in races beyond six furlongs. His Cardio Score, however, could provide the energy needed to be effective, especially if he likes turf, which is what his biomechanical profile suggests might be best. Mango M. ran three times as a 2-year-old, all on the dirt, showing little, then was off from October until June of this year when he came out to finish second in a six furlong state-bred turf maiden special at Belmont, then won his next start at nine furlongs on the weeds at the same track. This is your basic mid-sized SUV-type, like a Honda CRV. Vision Perfect (2012, Pollard’s Vision-Steamy, by Speightstown) Bred in Kentucky and raced for most of his career by Robert Spiegel, he was from the first crop of his sire out of an unraced daughter of GSW Ruff, who was bred and raced by Mr. Spiegel. This is a well-made, somewhat closely-coupled colt with a great deal of power and substantial cardio system. He has the potential to come out early as a 2-year-old and show speed and versatility over a variety of distances as he gets older. There are three things to note in his physical make-up: First, he is quite short in his back, which might cut down on his stride extension somewhat, which could waste energy. Second, however, is that he has a seriously high Cardio Score, one of the highest in the database for a colt of his age regardless of pedigree, which should help in the energy department. Third, his ilium is longer than his femur and tibia, which should help propel him forward quickly when called upon. This factor sometimes causes too much stress on the front end, but he is leggy enough to overcome that. Vision Perfect raced 19 times for Mr. Spiegel at distances from seven to nine furlongs, 18 on the turf, one time in a sloppy off-the-turfer in which he was way back. He broke his maiden at two in his second start, was then second in the GIII Pilgrim S., won two listed stakes on the weeds, and placed in a Grade III at three. He was claimed last year and has become a serious five-furlong turf runner with a Listed and Grade III success so far this year. He’s the ultimate Nissan Altima. Relatively Ready (2006, More Than Ready-Relativa {Arg}, by Parade Marshal) Bred in New York by John T. Behrendt, he represented a popular cross in Argentina (Southern Halo, sire of More Than Ready, on Parade Marshal), where Mr. Behrendt acquired his dam. Relatively Ready has some nice physical properties but several conflicting issues that are likely to reduce his overall efficiency and lower his class level. He is quite long in the back, a little short in the front leg and a bit off the ground in front. Though the latter two factors might cancel each other out, his very long humerus is likely to generate a climbing action, especially since he is very well geared behind for quick starts and sustained speed, which can propel the body upward. Horses like this generally waste a lot of energy early trying to get into a rhythmic stride, but he is blessed with a very decent Cardio Score that should help him overcome some of that problem. Still, his overall efficiency outlook is not that good beyond a mile, and that is likely to be on the turf. Raced by Mr. Behrendt in partnership, Relatively Ready was up the track in an off-the-turf sprint maiden at Belmont, then won at a mile and a sixteenth on the weeds at Saratoga in his second start, then placed third in the GIII Pilgrim S. at Belmont and fifth in the inaugural Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf at Santa Anita. His form subsequently declined and he made 13 more starts at NYRA, one on the dirt where he was unplaced, before being sold to Finger Lakes connections where there is no turf. He won two $7,500 claimers there in 26 additional starts. We’d classify him as a 1970s Jeep Cherokee. It goes without saying that not all the analyses we perform are borne out on the racetrack, but one thing we will admit to is that we have a fairly decent insight into what combination of biomechanics may make a horse more efficient on the turf than some big feet. Bob Fierro is a partner with Jay Kilgore and Frank Mitchell in DataTrack International, biomechanical consultants and developers of BreezeFigs. He can be reached at bbfq@earthlink.net. View the full article

Anthony Chow Wing-kin has been elected the new chairman of the Hong Kong Jockey Club, replacing Simon Ip Sik-on at the club’s annual general meeting on Thursday night. The lawyer, who first joined the board of stewards in 2002 and has been deputy chairman since 2014, has owned horses since 1992 and currently races Stellar Feeling and Fantastic Feeling, while Lester Kwok Chi-hang takes the role of deputy chairman. Ip retires after spending 19 years on the board of stewards, the past four... View the full article

By Daithi Harvey Although Joseph O’Brien has ruled out a G1 Cox Plate bid for his G1 Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby winner Latrobe (Ire) (Camelot {GB}), Saeed Bin Suroor is planning to ensure Winx (Aus) (Street Cry {Ire}) doesn’t have things all her own way as she bids for a fourth straight win in the race. Bin Suroor is aiming Benbatl (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) at the ten furlong contest scheduled for Oct. 27 at Moonee Valley and has reported the colt to have recovered from a rough passage when fifth in last week’s G1 Juddmonte International at York. “Benbatl had two nasty cuts in his hind leg, it looks like he was struck into from behind,” Bin Suroor explained. “It’s not serious and he’s back in training, but he’s going into quarantine in a couple of weeks because he’s going to run in the Cox Plate. I think 10 furlongs is his trip. He was fifth in the Derby and has run well over a mile but he’s best over nine or 10 furlongs,” he added. Benbatl proved that point when winning the G1 Dubai Turf over nine furlongs at Meydan on Dubai World Cup night and again when scoring over ten furlongs in the G1 Grosser Dallmayr Preis – Bayerisches Zuchtrennen in Munich in July. Bin Suroor also gave an update on G1 Dubai World Cup winner Thunder Snow (Ire) (Helmet {Aus}) who had his first start since that success when finishing in rear behind Roaring Lion (Kitten’s Joy) in the Juddmonte last week. “Thunder Snow lost two shoes, one in front and one behind. He’s OK and he’s going to go to America for the Jockey Club Gold Cup at Belmont. That’s on the dirt over 10 furlongs and then he’ll go for the Breeders’ Cup Classic.” View the full article

By Daithi Harvey Just under a year ago Ralph Beckett paid €130,000 for a Lope De Vega (Ire) yearling at the Goffs Orby Sale and the Waverley Racing owned filly, subsequently named Antonia De Vega (Ire) is certainly proving a sound investment. Unbeaten in two starts this summer, the filly from the family of Group 1 winner Al Wukair (Ire) (Dream Ahead) gained a valuable stakes bracket recently when winning the G3 Prestige S. at Goodwood, leaving her trainer to consider a step up to the highest level as the filly’s next assignment. “I think she has come out of race at Goodwood well,” Beckett said. “The May Hill [at Doncaster] is a possibility but we may just sit and wait for the [G1] Fillies’ Mile [at Newmarket Oct. 12]. It was only her second start at Goodwood and she was just getting herself organised really coming down the hill. Once she hit the rising ground she got herself organised and away she went. She wants further than the seven furlongs she has run over so far and that is suggested in her breeding.” Antonia De Vega is the first foal out of Witches Brew (Ire) (Duke Of Marmalade {Ire}) who has a yearling colt by Lawman (Fr) catalogued in Tattersalls Book 2 as lot 847. Antonia De Vega’s win last weekend was a major update for the Ballylinch Stud consigned colt and a prominent showing in the Fillies’ Mile four days before the sale would be an even bigger endorsement. View the full article

Last week in Hokkaido, Japan was the country’s largest yearling sale of the year, the Summer Sale, where over 1300 yearlings were offered. This year the week was broken down into two sales, The Summer Premium with 186 lots, and the Summer Sale with 1216 lots. The Summer Premium Sale was a one-day select sale and the first time the Hidaka Breeders’ Association had held such an event. The Summer Sale was then reduced from the usual five days to four days to make room for the new sale. The first edition of the Summer Premium Sale went off well grossing ¥1,733,832,000 (US$15,538,913/£11,947,983/€13,309,274) with an average of ¥12,040,500 (US$107,909/£82,972/€92,425) for 144 lots sold at a clearance rate of 77.4%. It was the first-crop of Fenomeno (Jpn) that lit up the board with the highest price of the day when lot 106, a colt out of Hiraboku Win (Jpn) sold for ¥32,400,000 (US$290,374/£223,309/€248,706) to Toshiya Miyazaki. The boards lit up again for lot 133, a Rulership (Jpn) colt out of Bewitch Us (Jpn) bought by Shoji Ogihara for ¥31,320,000 (US$280,695/£215,866/€240,416). It proved to be a good day overall for the younger generation of stallions in Japan with Rulership (Jpn), Henny Hughes, Just a Way (Jpn) and Kizuna (Jpn) posting the four highest grosses per individual stallion. Given his ongoing success with his first and second crop, Lord Kanaloa (Jpn) continued to be popular in the ring as well, selling all five of his lots and grossing ¥71,820,000 (US$643,663/£494,937/€551,213) with an average of ¥14,364,000 (US$128,732/£98,987/€110,242). The rest of the week was devoted to the traditional Summer Sale, Japan’s largest yearling sale. Because it was reduced to four days this year it is hard to compare stats with last year, but overall the clearance rate was a solid 69.9%, though down 8.7% from last year’s above average sale clearance. The gross for the four days was ¥4,216,320,000 (US$37,787,417/£29,056,153/€32,363,691), with an average of ¥4,960,376 (US$44,455/£34,183/€38,069). While both were down from last year, the shortening of the sale had an impact on these numbers. The gross for the four days was an increase from the 2016 gross where the sale was five days. The recently departed South Vigorous ruled the sale, selling 23 lots of 26 and grossing ¥208,116,000 (US$1,865,172/£1,434,197/€1,597,242) while averaging ¥9,048,521 (US$81,094/£62,364/€69,475). South Vigorous has been one of the most reliable dirt sires in Japan for nearly two decades, so with his passing this past March, his progeny went beyond their usual popularity at the sales. Hot on his heels, however, was Dunkirk, who grossed ¥154,440,000 (US$1,384,119/£1,064,433/€1,185,802) and averaged ¥7,020,000 (US$62,914) for 22 lots sold. The grey son of Unbridled’s Song was imported to Japan for the 2015 breeding season after a promising first crop in the U.S. His first Japanese crop hit the track this spring and he is currently second on the JRA and NAR comprehensive freshman sire ranking behind Just a Way (Jpn). However, Dunkirk is the leading dirt freshman sire in Japan and his first crop’s success at the races translated directly into his second crop’s performance in the ring last week. All five of the most successful sirelines at the Summer Sale were imports from the U.S. at one point in time. The 2009 GI Forego H. winner Pyro was next grossing ¥144,180,000 (US$1,292,167/£993,832/€1,107,100) and averaged ¥7,209,000 (US$64,608/£49,691/€55,355) with 20 lots sold. The 2008 GII Peter Pan S. winner Casino Drive grossed ¥126,252,000 (US$1,131,493/£870,255/€969,641) and averaged ¥6,012,000 (US$53,880/£41,428/€46,173) over 21 lots. The 2006 GI Bluegrass S. winner Sinister Minister grossed ¥110,916,000 (US$994,049/£764,322/€851,857) and averaged ¥5,837,684 (US$52,318/£40,227/€44,811) with 19 lots sold. The highest priced lot, however, was lot 1167, a Suzuka Causeway (Jpn) colt sold to Toshiya Miyazaki, the same owner who bought the sale topper at the Summer Premium, for ¥33,480,000 (US$300,053/£230,612/€257,003). Suzuka Causeway (Jpn) was imported in utero after dam French Riviera was purchased for $700,000 at the 2003 Keeneland November Sale. The Giant’s Causeway colt went on to win the G2 Keio Hai Spring Cup in 2009 before retiring to stud in 2014. He has only had three small crops to hit the track so far, but of the 15 starters, 12 have been winners. The final yearling sale in Japan for the year is the HBA Autumn Sale Oct. 1 to 3 at the JBBA Sales Pavilion in Shizunai, Hokkaido. View the full article

The Mark Johnston trained Dark Vision (Ire) (Dream Ahead) looks increasingly likely to take up his engagement in the G1 Goffs Vincent O’Brien National S. at The Curragh in two weeks time. The unbeaten winner of the G2 Qatar Vintage S. at Goodwood was subsequently purchased by Godolphin and team Johnston’s first preference is to run at The Curragh rather than take up an entry in the G2 Champagne S. at Doncaster the previous day. “We would like to go to the National Stakes and we certainly think it is the race he warrants going to,” Johnston’s son Charlie said. “It is just a case of getting the green light from his new connections. As far as we are concerned, this horse has won a Group Two and although he has an entry in the Champagne Stakes at Doncaster there is no real desire to go for another one and try and give a penalty away,” he added. Assuming he goes to The Curragh on Irish Champions Weekend it will be six weeks since Dark Vision has run and Johnston reports everything to have gone smoothly since Goodwood. “We knew there was nothing in the immediate future for him after Goodwood so we gave him an easy couple of weeks but he is back cantering now for a while and he is in good order. It was a great sale for the previous owners and he has stayed in the yard so it has worked out perfectly for everyone,” he said. View the full article

Who will replace Joao Moreira as John Size’s go-to rider? That’s been one of the recurring questions of the off-season but not even the 10-time champion trainer knows the answer yet. The duo formed a formidable partnership in Hong Kong, combining for exactly 100 winners over the past two seasons (198 in total since their first victory together in November 2013) so the Magic Man’s decision to move to Japan leaves a significant hole. Compounding that, Size’s number two... View the full article

Hong Kong racing’s summer break has disappeared in the blink of the eye but the territory’s top jockeys have not wasted a second, jet-setting around the globe for all manner of reasons. There’s been weddings, engagements, more winners for those that just can’t enough, live sport of a different kind and plenty of rest and relaxation in some of the world’s most exotic locations. Rising Australian star Sam Clipperton’s mind was far from the track when he married... View the full article

Pink Lloyd, Canada's reigning Horse of the Year, provided one of the highlights during Canadian Millions Sales Stakes night Aug. 29 in a Kenora Stakes thriller, as Woodbine hosted six stakes, sponsored by the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation. View the full article

Gary Barber's Creative Instinct got fight from first time starter Mucho Unusual, but ultimately experience prevailed in the $100,000 Generous Portion Stakes Aug. 29 at Del Mar. View the full article

The 2-year-old winners have been so good this summer at Del Mar, it's a common racetrack talking point to discuss which has been the best. During the final weekend of the meeting, much of that gets decided on the racetrack. View the full article

Maximus has arrived in Seoul View the full article

Troy See ready to take on the world in September View the full article

Duric honoured to fly local colours at jockeys' series View the full article

Moonbeam next for Preditor, then Triple Crown View the full article

Kellady thrilled to be back on Mr Dujardin View the full article

Early scratching September 2 View the full article

Opry rallied from last in the stretch before closing strong from the outside in the final furlong for an impressive maiden-breaking effort Aug. 29 in the $150,000 With Anticipation Stakes (G3T) for juveniles at Saratoga Race Course. View the full article

Godstone Farm's freshman sire Well Spelled had his first black-type stakes winner Aug. 29, when his son Well Graced upset a field of seven other 2-year-olds to win the Strike Your Colors Stakes at Delaware Park. View the full article

With the heavy hitters in the handicap division sitting out the Sept. 1 $750,000 Woodward Stakes Presented by NYRA Bets at Saratoga Race Course, Tapwrit has a prime opportunity to both look and act the part of the proven talent he is. View the full article

Opry rallied from last in the stretch before closing strong from the outside in the final furlong for an impressive maiden-breaking effort Aug. 29 in the $150,000 With Anticipation Stakes (G3T) for juveniles at Saratoga Race Course. View the full article

Trophy Chaser (Twirling Candy) romped to a 15 3/4-length victory in a six-furlong Gulfstream Park maiden special weight Aug. 25. The 96 Beyer Speed Figure he earned for that 1:09.50 clocking vaulted him to the top of the list for the highest Beyer rating recorded by a juvenile so far this season. Bet down to 4-5 odds Saturday after running second, beaten a neck, July 15, Trophy Chaser broke smoothly, stalked in second, and always appeared primed to pounce while forcing the issue outside of and about 1 1/2 lengths behind a 14-1 pacemaker. Three-eighths out, jockey Leonel Reyes nudged Trophy Chaser to advance to the lead over the sealed and sloppy surface, and the colt poured it on while sailing three wide off the turn and through the stretch. He widened to an insurmountable winning margin while only having the reins shaken at him and being shown the whip briefly, finishing under his own power and not fully extended. Trophy Chaser is owned by JCA Racing Stale LLC and is trained by Juan Carlos Avila. The colt sold for $35,000 at KEENOV in 2016, RNA’d for $55,000 at KEESEP and was bought by his current owner for $42,000 at OBSMAR. Chance Timm, the director of stallion seasons at Lane’s End, which stands Twirling Candy, said Trophy Chaser’s 96 Beyer caught his eye, and it could be indicative of the stallion’s “speed that carries” trait that is always in demand in the marketplace. “I was super-impressed by that performance,” Timm said. “Any 2-year-old that goes 1:09 and change for six furlongs second time out, it’s certainly worth noting. It looked like the horse galloped out big as well, so it looks like he’s got a big future.” Of Twirling Candy, Timm said “I think he’s exceptional value, and at his point, we hope he’s sitting on a breakout couple of big crops. This crop now is the first crop of bigger and better-bred books off the back of his early 2-year-old sales results. And at $25,000 [stud fee] I think he’s a very solid, proven sire option at that number.” The other juveniles to run a 90+ Beyer so far this season are: •94 = Bellafina (Quality Road) in the Aug. 5 GII Sorrento S. at Del Mar •92 = ‘TDN Rising Star’ Instagrand (Into Mischief) in the Aug. 11 GII Bet Pal S. at Del Mar •91 = ‘TDN Rising Star’ Tale of the Union (Union Rags) in an Aug. 26 MSW at Del Mar •90 = ‘TDN Rising Star’ Mucho (Blame) in an Aug. 4 MSW at Saratoga. View the full article

Bob Baffert said there isn't a race target set for West Coast but indicated he'll get more clarity on the situation when the colt gets up to Santa Anita Park after Del Mar closes for the summer and works six furlongs. View the full article

Opry (c, 2, Declaration of War–That Voodoo Youdo, by Speightstown) came flying late to earn his diploma and black-type badge in one foul swoop in Saratoga’s GII With Anticipation S. Wednesday. The dark bay closed well to be third in a seven-panel off-the-turfer here Aug. 11 and was given a 7-2 chance in this stretch out and switch to the lawn. Breaking a step slow while also taking a hard right, the dark bay was quickly straightened out and positioned along the hedge by Javier Castellano, trailing the field as Joyful Heart (Kitten’s Joy) clocked opening splits of :23.29 and :47.91. Still last with plenty of work to do turning for home, the $180,000 KEESEP buy came alive in the final furlong, unleashing a powerful late rally down the center of the track to win going away in 1:42 flat. Even-money favorite Somelikeithotbrown (Big Brown) was second and the pacesetter held for third. Opry is the seventh maiden to win the With Anticipation and this was the sixth win in this event for Todd Pletcher in its 14 runnings. Opry is the fourth graded stakes winner for second crop sire Declaration of War (War Front) and the fifth black-type victor. Lifetime Record: 2-1-0-1. O-Cheyenne Stables & Gaillardia Racing; B-Crosshaven Bloodstock (KY); T-Todd Pletcher. View the full article

NYRA will offer fans a chance to take a photo with the Triple Crown trophy at Saratoga Sept. 3 from 12:30p.m. to 2 :30p.m. A donation of $10 is suggested to benefit the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve Toys for Tots. “Designed by one of the world’s foremost internationally-renowned sculptors, the magnificent new Triple Crown trophy is both classic and contemporary and was specifically created to celebrate one of the greatest achievements in sports,” said NYRA CEO and President Chris Kay. “NYRA is pleased to support these Marine volunteers, who have given so much to preserve and protect our nation and our freedom, and selflessly donate their time to ensure children have toys during the holiday season. We encourage fans to join us in supporting a great cause while capturing a special memory with the new Triple Crown trophy.” View the full article