Wandering Eyes

The Kentucky Equine Education Project, Kentucky’s equine economic advocate, announced Thursday that it will kick off its Equine Workforce Talent Pipeline project with an informational breakfast Sept. 14 at Keeneland. Following the kickoff, the Kentucky Chamber Workforce Center will hold meetings throughout the two-year project to develop strategies to improve Kentucky’s workforce issues across six different industry areas, including the horse industry. Recognizing that the horse industry is a unique and critical part of Kentucky’s economy, with an economic impact of nearly $4 billion annually and responsible for more than 80,000 jobs, KEEP, the Kentucky Chamber of Commerce and Keeneland have embarked on this partnership to address the job needs within the industry across the state. Kentucky Horse Council, University of Kentucky and University of Louisville Equine Industry Program are also providing support for the program. View the full article

After notching a grade 2 victory in her previous start, Santa Monica will look for further graded stakes success Sept. 1 in the $250,000 Glens Falls Stakes (G2T) on the Saratoga Race Course inner turf. View the full article

In this continuing series, Alan Carasso takes a look ahead at US-bred and/or conceived runners entered for the upcoming weekend at the tracks on the Japan Racing Association circuit, with a focus on pedigree and/or performance in the sales ring. Here are the horses of interest for this weekend running at Niigata and Kokura Racecourses: Sunday, September 1, 2018 5th-NII, ¥13,400,000 ($121k), Newcomers, 2yo, 1800mT JASPER JACK (c, 2, Declaration of War–Crescent Moon, by Seeking the Gold) cost $175K as a Keeneland September yearling and is out of an unplaced daughter of US GSW and European SW Wandering Star (Red Ransom), the dam of G1SW War Command (War Front), GSW Naval Officer (War Front) and the dam of SW & GSP War Officer (Grand Slam) and SW Doo Lang (Pulpit). A yearling half-sister by The Factor is cataloged as lot 1020 to Book 2 of the upcoming Tattersalls October sale. B-Camas Park Stud (KY) 10th-KOK, ¥28,600,000 ($257k), Allowance, 3yo/up, 1700m SOUL SABER (c, 3, Street Sense–Cornelia {Jpn}, by Forty Niner) is out of a full-sister to GSW & MGISP Sunday Break (Jpn) who is also a half to champion 3-year-old filly Phalaenopsis (Jpn) (Brian’s Time) and to 2013 G1 Tokyo Yushun hero and champion Kizuna (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}). Raced by North Hills, who also campaigned Sunday Break, Soul Saber was last seen winning over 1400m at Kyoto in May. B-Dr Stephen G Jackson & Debbie Jackson (KY) 12th-NII, ¥19,950,000 ($179k), Allowance, 3yo/up, 1000mT SEIUN AKAMAI (f, 3, Animal Kingdom–Yachats, by Forest Camp), a half-sister to GSP La Song (Unbridled’s Song), was on the board in three of her first seven trips to the races, but broke through with a narrow success going 1200m at this track July 28 (see below, gate 16). A $100K KEESEP yearling turned $220K OBS April juvenile, the chestnut is out of a stakes-placed half-sister to MSW Your Bluffing (Pine Bluff) and MGSP Nacho Friend (Friends Lake). The deeper female family includes 2011 GI Hopeful S. winner Currency Swap (High Cotton). B-Pollock Farms, T & C Kentucky Inc & Arthur Maberry (KY) View the full article

After notching a grade 2 victory in her previous start, Santa Monica (GB) will look for further graded stakes success Sept. 1 in the $250,000 Glens Falls Stakes (G2T) on the Saratoga Race Course inner turf. View the full article

SARATOGA SPRINGS, NY–Barclay Tagg hasn’t done much claiming since back he was just getting his career off the ground in the 1970s, but the Classic-winning conditioner dropped the right slip earlier this meet when he picked up Cassies Dreamer (Flatter) for $50,000 on behalf of Rusty Jones’s Turf Stable Racing and Hayward Pressman. An $85,000 OBS June acquisition off a :10 1/5 breeze, the juvenile filly debuted for Loooch Racing Stables and trainer Anthony Quaratolo in the Saratoga mud Aug. 3, scoring by 2 1/4 lengths before heading back to Tagg’s barn. After scratching as a main-track-only entrant from Thursday’s P.G. Johnson S., the dark bay will contest Saturday’s GI Spinaway S. “Carl Domino used to train for these owners, but he’s kind of retired now, so he asked me if I would take them and I said certainly,” Tagg said. “They wanted to claim a horse, and I said, ‘I don’t like to claim, I haven’t really claimed in about 30 years, but if it looks like something promising I’ll do as long as it isn’t a personal friend of mine or something like that.’ We were very pleasantly surprised. She seems like a lovely horse.” When asked what about the filly caught their eye, Tagg said, “I didn’t do much scouting–I didn’t have time for a lot of scouting, but the last thing we wanted to do was watch her walk down that chute surrounded by people and see how she reacted to that and what she looked like. We were happy with that. She looked like a big, strapping, good-looking filly, so we went ahead and dropped the slip and that’s about all there is to it.” While Tagg says he wishes Cassies Dreamer had kept her condition on debut so she could’ve won right back in maiden company, he is pleased with what he’s seen. Another promising juvenile filly in the Tagg barn is Brucia La Terra (El Padrino), who defeated some much pricier foes to don cap and gown first out by 3 3/4 lengths in a rained-off maiden special weight Aug. 12. Tagg will run her back at Belmont in a spot still yet to be determined. “She’s doing well; I like her,” he said. “I think we got lucky there. We bought her for $20,000 at Timonium [at last year’s Fasig-Tipton October Midlantic Fall Yearlings] sale. She’s developing very nicely.” It’s been a very productive Saratoga meet overall for the NYRA fixture. He took the restricted Alydar S. Aug. 5 with Realm (Haynesfield), who he co-owns, and also annexed a lucrative turf allowance with Im the Captain Now (Trappe Shot) the same day. It could’ve been an even better meet for Tagg, however, as Verve’s Tale (Tale of Ekati) finished third beaten only a neck in the GIII Shuvee S. July 29 and Dr. Edgar (Lookin At Lucky) was disqualified from first to second in an extremely controversial decision Aug. 26. Stakes winner and Grade I-placed Highland Sky (Sky Mesa) endured a tough trip in the Aug. 25 GI Sword Dancer S. in which he found himself bottled up behind horses until it was too late. “He just got trapped the whole way,” Tagg said. “He’s definitely a come-from-behind horse and he’s got a great, big lopey gallop. He needs to get out and get free. He just couldn’t do it. I watched the replay over and over and over and the head on and he was just stuck there and when he finally got out it was too late.” Tagg will likely give Highland Sky another Grade I chance in the Joe Hirsch Turf Classic S. back downstate Sept. 29. View the full article

The University of Kentucky’s College of Agriculture is seeking applicants to become the new Horse Unit Manager at Maine Chance Farm in Lexington, it was announced Thursday. The position has responsibility for the daily management of the horses and facilities at the university’s Horse Unit, including health care and dietary management, overseeing specific aspects of the program such as breeding and foal care, guiding data collection and management with students, delivering lectures and teaching lab sections as well as various other educational initiatives. The position will require the Horse Unit Manager to work evenings, weekends and holidays as necessary. Applications can be filled out here, using the registration number RE15176. View the full article

BADEN-BADEN, Germany—There are plenty of yearlings by higher-profile stallions selling today at BBAG’s major sale of the year but few which should command as much attention as Gestut Rottgen’s half-brother to the last two G1 Deutsches Derby winners, Windstoss (Ger) (Shirocco {Ger}) and Weltstar (Ger) (Soldier Hollow {GB}). Offered as lot 202 and already named Worrick (Ger), the colt is a son of Kamsin (Ger), the former German champion 3-year-old who stood at Rottgen for his first five years at stud and last season moved to the jumps division of Haras d’Etreham in Normandy. Worrick’s Classic credentials are further enhanced by the fact that Kamsin is also a Deutsches Derby winner, as is his sire Samum (Ger). All three of the yearling’s half-brothers have been offered at the sale in the last three years. Windstoss was bought back at €16,000, while Weltstar fetched €40,000 and the current 2-year-old from wonder mare Wellenspiel (Ger) (Sternkonig {Ger}), Walerian (Ger) (Reliable Man {GB}) was also a buy-back at €110,000. With Samum (Ger) deceased and his son Kamsin exported, a major hope for the future of the Monsun (Ger) male line in Germany is Gestut Fahrhof’s Maxios (GB) and he again has strong representation at his home sale with 18 yearlings to sell. Among them is a well-related filly in Jamie Railton’s draft (lot 179) out of Night Fashion (Ger) (Sholokhov {Ire}), a winning sister to the German champion filly and dual Group 1 winner Night Magic (Ger) and the G3 Grand Prix de Vichy winner Night Wish (Ger). Only Soldier Hollow (GB) outranks Maxios numerically at BBAG. The Gestut Auenquelle resident was responsible for last year’s top lot—a €500,000 brother to Group 1 winner Dschingis Secret (Ger) bred by Soldier Hollow’s owner Helmut von Finck—and with 25 yearlings catalogued today he is likely to play another major part in the sale. Von Finck’s Gestut Park Wiedingen consigns three Soldier Hollow yearlings. The dam of last year’s leader, Divya (Ger) (Platini {Ger}), is not represented as he yearling Soldier Hollow filly has been retained but in lot 199 the stud offers a brother to Germany’s champion 3-year-old of 2016, Wai Key Star (Ger), who added another Group 3 victory to his tally last weekend at Baden-Baden. Gestut Gorlsdorf’s Sea The Moon (Ger) was the freshman darling of last year’s sale and the encouraging start made by his first-crop runners should ensure that the 13 members of his second crop offered today at Baden-Baden are not overlooked. He will have some competition from his own illustrious sire, however, as Sea The Stars (Ire) has three yearlings catalogued, including lot 76, Gestut Etzean’s daughter of the G2 Diana Trial winner Monami (Ger) (Sholokhov {Ire}). Of the freshman stallions represented this season, there are three yearlings by Coolmore’s Gleneagles (Ire), who provided a record-breaking top lot at the Goffs UK Premier Sale earlier this week, while Golden Horn (GB) is represented by lot 197, a Ronald Rauscher-consigned colt out of the listed-placed Ninfea (Ger) (Selkirk), a half-sister to the four-time Group 1 winner Novellist (Ger) (Monsun {Ger}). Brazen Beau (Aus), Free Eagle (Ire), Gutaifan (Ire), Hallowed Crown (Aus), Outstrip (GB), Sidestep (Aus) and Hunter’s Light (Ire) also feature, while Germany’s key first-season hope is Gestut Etzean’s Amaron (GB), a son of Shamardal who was as talented as he was durable. The specialist miler won nine stakes races including the G1 Premio Vittorio di Capua. Seven of Amaron’s eight yearlings for sale hail from Etzean, a farm with a proven track record of producing classy stock, including dual Group 1 winner Night Magic (Ger) (Sholokhov {Ire}). The first of the group into the ring will be lot 14, a colt named Royal Dancer (Ger), the first foal of Royal Princess (Ger), a Lord Of England half-sister to the Etzean-bred GI Beverly D S. winner Royal Highness (Ger) (Monsun {Ger]). In line with most other European yearling sales this year, the numbers have crept up at BBAG, which has catalogued 279 lots, though there were 27 withdrawals at the time of writing. Early plans to spread the sale into a second session on Saturday were scrapped, with BBAG wishing to keep the single-session format which is so popular with visitors. BBAG Manager Klaus Eulenberger said, “We’re very happy to see so many people here from different countries. We would wish to have more German buyers here to help the middle market but it’s great to see so many visitors. It’s really not that different to Newmarket in the buyers we have here.” He continued, “Of course we are known for our stayers but we have precocious horses here in the sale—perhaps not that many but they are here and from last year’s sale we’ve had a number of 2-year-old winners already, not just in Germany but in France, England and Ireland We’re very happy about that, and we had A Raving Beauty (Ger) here as a yearling and she has gone on the win a Grade 1 in America over a mile.” As Eulenberger outlined, a decent number of international agents and trainers were in town for viewings on Thursday, including the Hong Kong Jockey Club team, Godolphin’s Anthony Stroud and David Loder, David Redvers and Peter Molony of Qatar Bloodstock, Nicolas Clement, Mark Johnston, David Marnane, Andrew Balding, Jeremy Brummitt , Alex Elliott, Chantilly’s newest trainer Gavin Hernon, and breeze-up pinhookers Tom Whitehead, Norman Williamson and Con Marnane. With a slightly larger catalogue, selling will begin early at 9.30am. View the full article

Trade dropped down a gear at Doncaster on Thursday as Goffs UK hosted their single session Silver Yearling Sale and it was a son of Rathasker Stud’s veteran sire Clodovil (Ire) that lead the way when selling to Peter & Ross Doyle for £40,000. The bay colt was offered by the Morrin family’s Pier House Stud on behalf of J.K. Thoroughbreds as lot 616 and his dam Apostrophe (Ire) (Barathea {Ire}) has already produced the stakes winner Verglacial (Ire) (Verglas {Ire}). That sale played a part in producing the day’s aggregate of £1,385,400, a fraction below last year’s total. The average and median of £10,187 and £8,250 also showed a decrease on 2017 while the clearance rate dipped 6 points to 81%. Its been a while since John Fretwell unearthed a high class 2-year-old and the owner will be hoping lot 654 can bring back the glory days of the likes of Temple Meads (GB) (Avonbridge {GB}) and Electric Waves (Ire) (Exceed And Excel {Aus}), and given the way the progeny of this yearling’s sire Dandy Man (Ire) are going he must have every chance. Fretwell paid £39,000 for the Battlefield Stud consigned colt and he had earlier signed for lot 602, a rare son of G Force (Ire) from Tally-Ho Stud that cost £35,000. Soon after the sale topper, the only yearling cataloged by Al Kazeem (GB) over the three days of selling proved popular when selling to Henry Candy for £36,000. Lot 623 was offered by Oakgrove Stud out of Avessia (GB) (Averti {Ire}) who has bred four winners to date. Oakgrove Stud owner John Deer holds the distinction of breeding and owning both the sire and dam of the yearling. The early pace was set by a son of first crop sire Outstrip (GB) who was knocked down to JB Bloodstock for £28,000. Offered by Aughamore Stud, lot 540 was pinhooked by Aughamore and Hamish Macauley for 12,000 gns at Tattersalls last year and is the first foal out of the three time winner Perfect Muse (GB) (Oasis Dream {GB}). Meanwhile Yorkshire man David Easterby paid £30,000 for lot 625 from Trickledown Stud. The son of Harbour Watch (Ire) is out of stakes winner Beldale Memory (Ire) (Camacho {GB}). View the full article

Some sports stars wear their fame and legend like a second skin, familiar and comfortable–one gifted to them by a kind of divine birth-right. Tom Brady’s five Super Bowl rings. Serena Williams’ 23 Grand Slams. The trophies on the shelf speak not so much of human sweat and toil as of some rare and anointed stuff of the soul to which only they are privy. Other successful athletes, however, must routinely deliver their pound of flesh to receive the accolades due them. Week in, week out, home runs are whacked out the park and three-pointers are dunked like clockwork. Next day, however, the headlines arrive with grudging praise. Job well done–but what if LeBron had been playing? It would be fair to say that recent GI Pacific Classic S. winner Accelerate (Lookin At Lucky) has long been relegated to the latter bunch–a horse who has strung together this year a remarkable series of knock-out performances, but who still is all too readily dismissed when talk turns to the nation’s quickest and best. “Probably a bit of a West Coast bias,” explained Accelerate’s trainer, John Sadler, when I asked him why this is the case. “These California horses go everywhere and win. And if you look at the line for the [Breeders’ Cup] Classic which they’ve just put out in Vegas this past week, who’s the favorite?” “Accelerate?” “There you go,” Sadler replied, reclining in his chair, a look of professorial satisfaction crossing his face. “The people who know, they know.” Right now, Sadler is putting what he knows to devastating effect. He’s been saddling runners at Del Mar since before Ronald Reagan was elected president. Over the years, he’s put enough wins on the board to take third place on the all-time trainer list at Del Mar, behind Bob Baffert and Mike Mitchell. But Sadler–whose current hot streak makes King Midas look like Mr. Bean–regards this as his best summer yet in terms of the “type of races we’ve won.” The GII Eddie Read S. The GII Del Mar Mile H. The GIII Torrey Pines S. The GII San Diego H. On and on and on. If Sadler switched carrots for tennis balls, he’d probably train the favorite for the U.S. Open right now. Earlier this month, Sadler finally ticked off his bucket list the GI Pacific Classic, a race in which he’s been cruelly denied before with the likes of Twirling Candy (head second to Acclamation in 2011), and Kettle Corn (more roundly beaten by Game on Dude in 2013). “I really wanted to get that race,” said Sadler. “I like to win all the big races on our circuit. I don’t think there’s a big race in California that I haven’t won. [The Pacific Classic] is another iconic race in California, and to get it under your belt is great.” While last year, Lane’s End-bound Accelerate was easily eclipsed in the Pacific Classic, this year he dominated, pouring on the lighter fluid around the home turn before scorching home 12 1/2 lengths clear of the rest. “By every metric he was the best horse in the race,” stressed Sadler. “If you looked at the Beyers, weight, distance, we were expecting to win, but we weren’t expecting to win by that much. Joe Harper says that’s the largest win margin in Pacific Classic history.” Yeah, Accelerate might have been expected to win, but there’s no doubt the horse who has this year reigned California king supreme is bigger and better than 12 months ago. “I’d say he’s improved one to two seconds,” said Sadler. There were glimpses of this brilliance before. In last year’s San Diego, he picked his opposition apart with ruthless efficiency. So, has Sadler done anything different this year to last? “He’s kind of a late foal, and he’s just improved with age,” Sadler replied. “A lot of horses don’t improve from four to five, but he has. He’s just a very strong, mature horse at five. And he just continues to thrive.” That said, the Sadler teams has also worked with Accelerate in the gates. “He got to where he wasn’t breaking well. Now, he’s breaking much better. We do a lot of schooling. It’s not that he’s a bad horse in the gate it’s more that he just doesn’t get the gate all the time.” The GI Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile last year can be seen as a turning point in Accelerate’s career. Well fancied for the race, Accelerate beat one home, only for a quarter crack to emerge as the culprit. “Once we got his foot right, he’s just had a great year,” said Sadler. This “great year” has included wins in the GI Santa Anita H. “Loved that,” he said. “He got a muddy track and showed that he can handle the off-track really well, in case we get the off-track in [the GI Breeders’ Cup Classic at Churchill Downs].” Add to that a win in the GI Gold Cup at Santa Anita. “Victor [Espinoza] rode a beautiful race in the Gold Cup,” said Sadler. “He broke, put him out there a little bit, and that put the other horses on the bit. Then, Victor eased him back. That’s what I’m talking about, about [Accelerate] being dynamic. It’s what makes him so effective at that distance. He can lead if he wants, but he doesn’t pull when he’s in front. Doesn’t use his energy.” Accelerate is only one of three horses to have captured the Big Cap/Gold Cup/Pacific Classic trifecta–an achievement not lost on Kosta Hronis who, with brother Pete, owns Accelerate under their Hronis Racing banner. “Being California horse owners and being from California and being a fan of the tracks here, to win that California Triple Crown–wow,” he said. “We’re still riding high on that wave, and I don’t think we’ve come down yet.” Riding high? Hronis Racing is surfing the crest right now. Accelerate is without doubt the stable’s headline act, but the exciting Catalina Cruiser (Union Rags) is a worthy and starry-eyed understudy, the unbeaten 4-year-old having recently pulverized the field in the GII Pat O’Brien S. “He just took time to mature,” explained Hronis, about their kids glove approach with the massive chestnut (according to Sadler, Catalina Cruiser weighed in after his first race this year a titan-like 1260 lbs). The two aren’t scheduled to lock horns any time soon–Catalina Cruiser’s Breeders’ Cup assignment will be the Dirt Mile. According to Sadler, he’ll go there without a prep. Sadler and Hronis both floated, however, a possible clash in the GI Pegasus World Cup, next January at Gulfstream Park. “I guess it could happen if the two horses are in a condition to run and they’re both ready to go,” Hronis said. “Whether we run one or the other or both, I guess that’ll be a decision we make in January.” Before then, Sadler has his sights set on the Breeders’ Cup. The improving Catapult (Kitten’s Joy) could go for the GI Breeders’ Cup Mile. Selcourt (Tiz Wonderful), unbeaten in all three sprint starts this year, is being pointed towards the GI Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Sprint. It’s no wonder, then, that Sadler describes his 2018 Breeders’ Cup squad as “our strongest team so far.” And the augurs look good that Sadler will finally land a first Breeders’ Cup win. Does this glaring hole in his resume irk him? “A lot of years we’ve had the best horses in California,” Sadler explained. “But, you know, we couldn’t beat Goldikova (Ire) in the Breeders’ Cup. You’re in with the best of the best, so, if you run second or third, you really shouldn’t be too hard on yourself. There were just some better than us.” Which leads to an assumption about the Sadler horses–that they’re lethal in California, but vulnerable when shipped out of state. “We’ve won in Dubai. We’ve won everywhere,” said Sadler, about that assessment. “We don’t ship that much because if there’s a good race in California, we prefer to stay home. The way my barn’s going right now, I’m sure we’re going to be doing more shipping in the future.” Accelerate, however, will be staying home for his next assignment, the GI Awesome Again S. Should Accelerate win that and then the Classic, Sadler plays coy about the possibility of Horse of the Year honors. “I have bias, let’s leave it at that,” he laughed. But there’s no hiding his sense of satisfaction in developing a horse who embodies the same tough, grizzled qualities of former tough, grizzled California handicappers of yore. “We call him the Baffert beater,” said Sadler, about the battalion of Baffert runners Accelerate has put to the sword this year, while betraying the friendly rivalry, “that’s the way to describe it,” that he enjoys with his training nemesis. But step back a moment, and there’s much more to Sadler’s observation–something intrinsic to both men. For Baffert is a magnetic media presence whose spotlight extends to the horses in his care. Just look at the star wattage of American Pharoah, Arrogate and Justify. Sadler, on the other hand, is a behind the scenes kind of guy, and as such, his horses aren’t put on the promotional trail either. This means they’re asked to generate their own headlines. This means they’re asked to routinely deliver that pound of flesh to receive the accolades due them. “I don’t do a lot of promotion, per se,” Sadler admitted. “We like to let the horses do the talking.” What Accelerate has achieved this year speaks volumes. View the full article

G2 Hungerford S. winner Massaat (Ire) (Teofilo {Ire}-Madany {Ire}, by Acclamation {GB}) has been purchased by Richard Kent to stand at his Mickley Stud in Shropshire. The 5-year-old was trained by Owen Burrows for Sheikh Hamdan Al Maktoum and was one of the leading 3-year-olds of his generation when the highlight of that 2016 season was a runner up position to Galileo Gold (GB) (Paco Boy {Ire}) in the G1 QIPCO 2000 Guineas. He was also runner up to Air Force Blue (War Front) in the G1 Dubai Dewhurst S. as a juvenile the previous year. Massaat was lightly raced during his career and after a year on the sidelines he reappeared in August last year to post an impressive comeback win in the Hungerford S. at Newbury beating subsequent Group 1 winner Librisa Breeze (GB) (Mount Nelson {GB}). He then finished third to Ribchester (Ire) (Iffraaj {GB}) in the G1 Qatar Prix du Moulin before rounding out his career with a second to Limato (Ire) (Tagula {Ire}) in the G2 Challenge S. at Newmarket. Massaat’s pedigree received a boost this year when his half-brother Eqtidaar (Ire) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}) won the G1 Commonwealth Cup at Royal Ascot and paying tribute to his former stable-star on Twitter, Owen Burrows said, “Absolute star for me so early in my training career. Such an honest horse who gave me some great days racing. The Hungerford at Newbury is a day I’ll never forget. Thanks Massaat old boy, I’m sure you’ll be a great success at stud.” Massaat retires with a race record of 9-2-4-1 and prize-money of £377,451. View the full article

Pin Oak Stable's Synchrony is slated to carry the high weight of 123 pounds into the $100,000 Red Bank Stakes (G3T), going one mile against a field of seven other older turf runners Sept. 1 at Monmouth Park View the full article

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