Wandering Eyes

My family and I are invested financially and emotionally in the future health of the horse racing business. I’m proud of what we’ve accomplished at Stonestreet. We’ve built a top-notch Thoroughbred business, with the same tenets that helped build a top-notch global wine business. Whether it’s wines that outperform their competition or horses running in the best stakes races in the world, I’ve learned how to market complex, high-quality products in a competitive and increasingly crowded market. To win in the long-term, we must demonstrate to both existing and future racing fans that our industry acts with integrity and elevated standards of care to protect the health of our athletes. The morass of conflicting state medication thresholds and rules is too confusing and slow to change. We must achieve comprehensive reform that is meaningful both to horse owners and the general public. We would benefit significantly and immediately if we standardized best practices across our industry in medication, regulation, and testing. We must make ourselves easy to identify as well organized and responsibly self-governed. We should pool resources and add centralized promotion, crisis management and public relations efforts to our endeavors. As a businessperson, I know that change is constant, and it comes at us with ever-increasing speed. I admit that I am not a patient person, but I know that our industry does not have the luxury of time to waste. A robust future is available to us in an increasingly global business environment, but we must foster consumer confidence. Though we’ve made tremendous strides, we need to chart a course that drives creative thinking and innovation. As we navigate an increasingly competitive business landscape, it is imperative that we capitalize on the opportunity to change. Let’s successfully compete for today’s entertainment and wagering dollar. Whether it is the sport of kings or crafting the nectar of the Gods, an industry cannot survive, let alone thrive, if it stands still. Some may say that the horse industry does not need more regulation. I say that we need to replace the patchwork of conflicting medication regulations and standards with a single comprehensive scheme that will enhance public trust of racing. A centralized and undeviating program with shared standards will afford us economies of scale, efficiencies, promotional opportunities, and strength when facing common obstacles. Opportunities are easier to realize when we work together. Let’s set the stage for us to communicate to the public the story of how American legends are created on the racetrack with integrity and authenticity. We have a great deal to celebrate about the sport of racing, but we must build a strong, unified voice. We must craft our narrative and rebuild the foundation of integrity to establish trust with audiences old and new. The age we live in is not the age we leave behind. Each day we wait is opportunity wasted. We are blessed to work with the most majestic and athletic creatures on earth, driven by their singular passion–winning. Our equine community is fueled by that same competitive spirit. As an industry, we have much to be proud of and a future that should be robust and promising. I believe that adopting national standards and national best practices is essential to elevating perception and marketing efforts across the industry. I spoke many of these words at the 2017 Jockey Club Round Table. Two years later, we find ourselves facing a crisis and our foremost concern is whether our beloved industry will have any place in America’s sporting landscape. When other countries promote their racing programs in American publications with the tagline “Race where racing still matters” I imagine we all agree that we must be more successful educating the public and promoting our sport. If we start with a topic which we all agree upon, perhaps it will pave the way for further collaborations. The organization which placed that advert in the Apr. 15 Thoroughbred Daily News was AusHorse, which is partly funded by a percentage of bloodstock sales in Australia. I sold nearly $20,000,000 of yearlings in 2018 and would be happy if a portion of that were used nationally to promote Thoroughbred racing in North America, and the American Thoroughbred across the globe, by a centralized promotion and public relations entity. I call on breeders, owners, trainers, consignors, sales companies, race tracks, ADW’s, and every business that plies their trade in Thoroughbred racing to join me. Together, let’s build a formidable future for the remarkable Thoroughbreds that we all love. If you are interested in collaboration, contact info@stonestreetfarms.com. View the full article

There is nothing better than a “buzz” horse at Newmarket’s Craven meeting and that monicker falls firmly on Godolphin’s Zakouski (GB) (Shamardal) in the feature Group 3 contest after which the fixture is named on Wednesday. That he is favoured over fellow Godolphin runner and the G1 Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere hero Royal Marine (Ire) (Raven’s Pass), having won one race, is as telling as it is ridiculous. The sole racecourse evidence of his prowess came in a two-length defeat of Headman (GB) (Kingman {GB}) in receipt of seven pounds in a seven-furlong novice contest at Kempton in November, but it is what he has been achieving at home that has put him in this position. “He’s done all the right things and has pleased us with what we’ve seen at home, but he’s favourite and we all know what that momentum is like at this time of year,” Appleby said at Newmarket on Tuesday. “Saeed’s horse brings a good level to the race and is the one we all have to beat. We think Zakouski is a nice horse who has developed well from two to three and it was a good performance at Kempton. I’m not going to get away from it, I like him and am expecting a big show. We’ll all find out where we are tomorrow. I think a mile is going to be his maximum and the nice thing is he switches off well, but he does show a lot of pace at home.” Royal Marine comes via a try on Meydan’s dirt as Masar (Ire) (New Approach {Ire}) did 12 months ago and his distant fourth in the Jan. 10 UAE 2000 Guineas Trial means next to nothing in this context. It is a world away from his defeat of the subsequent group winners Broome (Ire) (Australia {GB}) and Shaman (Ire) (Shamardal) in the Lagardere and that was no surprise given how impressive he had been on the previous occasion in a seven-furlong Doncaster maiden. Bin Suroor is keen to have him back on grass. “He is doing good and has been working well. He wintered in Dubai and was working well on the all-weather and the Tapeta, but he didn’t handle the dirt,” he explained. “We thought it was worth testing him, but you could tell from his action he didn’t like it. We hope he’ll have a good season back in Europe on the turf. Any rain would be good for him, because his two wins last year were on easy ground. He is in good form and is a tough horse.” Outside of the Godolphin challenge, there is at least one other genuinely exciting prospect in Abdulla Al Khalifa’s Skardu (GB) (Shamardal) who was 33-1 but a thoroughly convincing winner of his sole start over seven furlongs here in September. “Skardu has done well over the winter–I am very happy with him,” trainer William Haggas commented. “All he has done so far is win a maiden, which I wasn’t expecting because he ain’t that flash at home, but he won easily in a good time against a good field. He will come on for what he does on Wednesday, because it’s not his Derby at all–it’s a trial for a better race. He’s entered in the 2000 Guineas, although that’s not to say that he’s a definite runner–we will be much wiser about that after the Craven.” Elsewhere on the card, which includes the much-cherished Wood Ditton S. for unraced 3-year-olds which has long been a staple of the meeting and which has drawn four runners from Shadwell, there is the G3 the Connaught Access Flooring Abernant S. Looking to defend his title from the last two years in the six-furlong sprint is Angie Bailey’s Brando (GB) (Pivotal {GB}), but Godolphin’s lightly-raced Dreamfield (GB) (Oasis Dream {GB}) might have a say in matters. The 10-furlong novice race on the card for 3-year-olds who have not run more than once replaces the old “Museum Maiden” won by Commander In Chief in 1993. Along with the Feilden, it gives the Derby prospects a chance to show up and speaking of Epsom it features Godolphin’s Jalmoud (GB) (New Approach {Ire}), a Charlie Appleby-trained son of the Oaks heroine Dancing Rain (Ire) (Danehill Dancer {Ire}). View the full article

It didn’t take long for the action to heat up during the opening session of the Tattersalls Craven Breeze-Up sale on Tuesday, with the fifth juvenile through the ring, a Kingman (GB) filly from Tally-Ho Stud, fetching 850,000gns from Anthony Stroud. The half-sister to the dual Group 2-placed 2-year-old Raucous (GB) (Dream Ahead) had been a 92,000gns purchase just four months ago at Tattersalls December. View the full article

Recent misstatements and misquotes in the press and in social media have led to some confusion about what we know about racing surfaces. While the development of an optimal racing surface remains elusive, the last 20 years has seen considerable progress in our understanding. On the topic of racing surfaces we have during this time published 14 studies in refereed journals, advised two PhD dissertations and four Master’s theses and, whenever possible, put these ideas into practice. The challenge remains; the inconsistency of racing surfaces in a range of climates and weather must be reduced. This somewhat eclectic mixture of an engineer and an equine orthopaedic surgeon first got together at Colorado State University (CSU) in 1998. We started with the biological question of cyclic trauma and bone microdamage leading to fracture (characterized by Chris Kawcak in his PhD work at CSU) and then started on the best engineering approach. Our first study examined the possible effects of different dirt racetrack surfaces by using dynamic modeling of the horse and track to quantify the vertical loading of the lower limb, which was published in 2000. With the support of AQHA Racing, we then developed a biomechanical test machine to replicate the loads and speeds of a Thoroughbred forelimb at the gallop, this machine was used to evaluate hoof track interface in racehorses as well as the effects of track maintenance on mechanical properties at Hollywood Park, Santa Anita and Del Mar. Like many studies, this effort raised more questions than it answered. However, we quickly moved from understanding to trying to reduce the inconsistency we observed. Our first attempt at reducing variation took the form of developing a way to inspect the track base. With support from the Southern California Equine Foundation, we pioneered the use of ground penetrating radar to inspect the base of the racetrack. The next challenge was the inconsistency of the track composition. At that time, different material testing labs were used throughout the industry with inconsistent test methods. The first material testing laboratory in the world focused on racetrack materials was established with leadership from Dan Fick at The Jockey Club. With funding from an industry consortium, we co-founded the non-profit Racing Surfaces Testing Laboratory. Progress continued as a part of The Safety from Start to Finish initiative from Churchill Downs. This support allowed us to develop the first standard test protocol for racing surfaces which combined material testing, base inspection and biomechanical testing of the surfaces. More recently, the New York Governor’s Task Force emphasized the need for electronic records and consistency of daily testing. Throughout this work, one theme was repeated; consistency of racing surfaces needs to improve. From a pragmatic perspective, each source of variation in the surfaces was systematically addressed. Borrowing the language of American manufacturing, we were addressing our process variation to move toward a six-sigma process. It is impossible to eliminate defects; in manufacturing a six sigma process reduces defects to a statistical chance of one defect in 3.4 million parts. In manufacturing, a six-sigma process means that most workers and consumers will never encounter a defective part. We need to make sure the same is true of a catastrophic injury. When lives are at risk on an airplane, or from a horse racing surface, risk minimization must be central. The death of a race horse from a catastrophic injury is far too common with 1.6 horses per 1,000 starts on all surfaces. Catastrophic injuries are difficult to study because of the uncertainty of their occurrence and multiple causes. Therefore it is critical that every veterinary check and every piece of maintenance equipment is perfect every day. The injury of a horse or rider is a failure of multiple systems, including pre-race exams, the inability to recognize early microdamage, medication rules and preparation of the racing surface. In other words, either the nearly perfect horse on an imperfect surface or an imperfect horse on the nearly perfect surface provides opportunity for catastrophic injury. How do we improve this one part of the multi-factorial equation and obtain a nearly perfect, or six sigma perfect, surface? With over two decades of work with racing surfaces, the single most significant variable on a dirt or turf racing surface is moisture content. To provide an optimal footing, the moisture content of the surface must be consistent. Like walking on a beach, the wet areas near the water result in deeper footprints as do the drier areas away from the water. Synthetic surfaces dramatically reduce the effect of water. The wax coating not only assists in the movement of water through the surface, but also reduces the role of water in friction between the grain particles. The effect is undeniable. In the annual results from the Equine Injury Database maintained by The Jockey Club, synthetic surfaces reduce overall injury rates from 2.0/1,000 starts on dirt to 1.2/1,000 starts on synthetic. The most comprehensive academic paper on the Equine Injury Database controlled for all other known variables found the same result; synthetic surfaces are safer. For the 380,000 starts over the last decade on synthetic surfaces, that difference in injury rates represents 300 fewer horses lost and 300 riders who were not put at risk. However, questions remain with synthetic surfaces: synthetic surfaces become difficult to maintain with age, and trainers continue to question if the careers are genuinely longer for horses who race on synthetic surfaces. It has been speculated that a different pattern of injuries is leading to shorter careers from racing on synthetic surfaces. Research by John Bridge at University of Washington Bothell has looked at the mechanisms of wax degradation in racetracks. This approach has the potential to extend the life of these surfaces to ensure a consistently safe surface over time. Concerns by trainers about the length of racing careers must also be addressed. If the biomechanics of these surfaces lead to a different pattern of career ending injuries, a redesigned synthetic may produce better biomechanics. However, the data is clear: synthetic surfaces are safer. While synthetic surfaces are an obvious solution for a number of locations and racing conditions, unanswered questions and the short life limits their applicability. Turf and dirt racing currently dominate the horse racing industry. Closing the gap in catastrophic injuries from 2.0/1,000 starts on dirt to 1.2/1,000 starts on synthetic or reducing the rate of 1.5/1,000 starts on turf requires a multi-pronged approach. Data from the Equine Injury Database shows a large variation in injury rates between years on both dirt and turf surfaces. In some cases, differences between years results from the small number of starts, but the consistent performance of synthetic surfaces eliminates most explanations. While many risk factors vary between years, the most obvious cause is weather which result in different moisture contents. Moisture variation is a defect for dirt and turf racing surfaces that causes uncertainty. Too wet, too dry or inconsistent moisture content dominates risk for a natural racing surface. Maintenance can address some of the differences, but timing with changes in moisture content is critical. Moisture content and the reduction of moisture variation in the surface is almost certainly the way in which the safety of dirt and turf tracks can rival that of synthetics. While tens of millions of dollars have been spent on synthetic surfaces, best practices such as overhead watering of turf tracks have not been adopted. For dirt tracks, a complete new approach is needed. Technology to produce consistent moisture content must be developed and deployed. Current use of water trucks and sealed tracks are inadequate to provide an appropriate racing surface under any weather conditions. More information is needed to improve decision making regarding watering and for critical maintenance decisions. Moisture variation in the track due to shadows or wind must be better reduced. For a fraction of the cost of a synthetic track surface, advanced water trucks and sensor networks can provide the tools for safer racetracks. Real-time measurements of the track surface can both protect the athletes and contribute data to our understanding of the sport. It is to be recognized that there are other causative factors to injury and these can potentially be mitigated against the risk. A good example that we have been working on at CSU for over 20 years is fluid biomarkers that can identify a horse at risk. Drs. Frisbie and McIlwraith at CSU published a study with equine practitioners in Southern California where we looked prospectively at blood biomarkers to predict injury. In a study published in 2010, we demonstrated a 79% predictability six weeks ahead of an injury that something was awry and further imaging evaluation was indicated. Unfortunately, it was difficult to combine the seven assays into a commercial test that was inexpensive enough to be used routinely, but our vision remains that we will ultimately have a blood panel that can identify a horse at risk and then we could go ahead with more sophisticated imaging to define the damage, and hence, risk. We are currently collaborating with other investigators with expertise in metabolomics and our results so far indicate that we can separate the horse with early damage from the horse without damage and hence risk. Clearly, while surfaces are only a part of a complex equation they must be improved. The idea of six-sigma in manufacturing is the reduction of variation so that we may never see a defective part. The defects in a racing surface must also become so infrequent that fans and owners will be unlikely to experience a track without an optimal surface. Improved certainty in the track surfaces will also reduce the chance that a fan will ever see a catastrophic injury of a horse and the associated risk to a rider. The right technologies should make it possible to reduce, or even eliminate, the gap in safety between synthetic and the other surfaces. Increasing the number of synthetic surfaces and extending the life of current synthetic surfaces will also move racing safety in the right direction. Safe racing must be possible even when the weather is uncertain. No track has been, or will ever be, 100% ready for racing, but uncertainty can be reduced and track defects can be minimized. Mick Peterson, Ph.D. is Executive Director of the Racing Surfaces Testing Laboratory and a Professor of Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering at the University of Kentucky, Wayne McIlwraith, DVM, Ph.D. is an equine orthopedic surgeon and University Distinguished Professor and hold the Barbara Cox Anthony University Chair in Orthopedics at Colorado State University. View the full article

We’re right in the middle of the trials season, not just for the Classics, but for the new-look Curragh Racecourse, which yesterday had a trial run to test all the facilities. A couple of horses were galloping and all race-day procedures came under scrutiny to make sure everything is in place and working properly before the first meeting of the season. As we count down to the Guineas, there were a number of interesting trials run in Britain and France at the weekend. At Newbury, they looked nice fillies in the G3 Fred Darling, and So Perfect (Scat Daddy) ran a good race, but they all finished on top of each other so you imagine they’ll need to take a step forward and improve from that to win a Guineas. I’m sure David Elsworth is very happy and has left plenty to work on with the winner, Dandhu (GB) (Dandy Man {Ire}). It’s very dangerous to eliminate horses at this time of the year as they can step up from their first run and improve–the good horses do that, and keep on improving all year long. The G3 Greenham S. was a very interesting race and I was impressed with Mohaather (GB) (Showcasing {GB}). He looks to have a pretty good turn of foot, which obviously every good horse possesses. He put the race to bed quickly and then just wandered about a little bit in front but I thought it was a very good performance. On pedigree I suppose you’d have to wonder whether he will stay the mile, but on everything that we’ve seen has been encouraging and he’s obviously a contender going into the Guineas. It’s great to see Marcus Tregoning with a good horse again–people forget very quickly what a good job he did with horses in the past and it’s lovely to see him have a nice horse for Sheikh Hamdan, who has supported him all through his career. If the horse is good enough, Marcus is good enough. At ParisLongchamp, Persian King (Ire) (Kingman {GB}) was another impressive winner of the G3 Prix de Fontainebleau. If Andre Fabre decides to come to Newmarket, the horse has previous form there so he would have to be a big player. Pierre-Charles Boudot couldn’t hide his delight with how the trial went and they seem very confident that the horse is of Group 1 ability, so if they choose to come to Newmarket it will add great strength to the race. Personally, I think they all have to go some to beat Too Darn Hot (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) if he turns up on the day, though it’s not ideal to have had a setback at this time of the year. My other concern is that Too Darn Hot looks the kind of horse who wouldn’t want it too firm at Newmarket. Reading the reports from Ballydoyle, they seem confident that Ten Sovereigns (Ire) (No Nay Never) will get the trip and, if he does, he will be a huge player, too. So the G1 2000 Guineas is shaping up to be a really good race if all the contenders get there. All Out for American It was great to see such a good start for American Pharoah with ‘TDN Rising Star’ Monarch Of Egypt. I was there at Naas and I just loved the horse. What an attitude he showed walking round: another horse got very upset in the preliminaries but Monarch Of Egypt never flinched. He walked out onto the racecourse and the other horse was continuing to be difficult. He ended up walking for a furlong before he cantered to the start which was unbelievable for a 2-year-old first time out. Aidan [O’Brien] has said that the American Pharoah horses seem to have great minds and while he looked a little bit green in the last furlong you’d have to love everything about him. If all the American Pharoahs show the ability and the mind that Monarch Of Egypt showed on Sunday then he’s going to be a pretty good stallion. Curragh Investment Much Appreciated I’ve been working at The Curragh for nearly all my working life and there are great facilities on the training grounds but all the recent improvements have been badly needed. Work has been ongoing in the last six months and will continue to happen over the next six months. There’s a really good nine-furlong sand and fibre gallop which has been renamed the Free Eagle gallop. All trainers seem to be really happy with that having been put in, and there’s a five-and-a-half furlong sand and fibre gallop which is now complete and in use, and I know Johnny Murtagh and John Oxx are very happy with that. It’s been greatly received and there have also been big improvements on the canter down to the Old Vic and Free Eagle gallops as well as the grass gallops. There are also plans to refurbish the Maddenstown gallops on the other side of the motorway. A committee was put together to oversee the work, which included Johnny Murtagh, John Oxx, Dermot Weld, Eddie Harty, Fiona Craig and myself, and Fiona in particular has put a huge amount of work into the project. In the coming months there are plans to upgrade the irrigation system on the racecourse and hopefully we’ll have a badly needed watered grass gallop on The Curragh. The reason it’s been done is to try to have the best facilities with which to attract the best horses to be trained on The Curragh. We want owners to look at it as a centre of excellence for training. There are currently around 700 horses in training and hopefully this will bring new horses to be trained there. The numbers have dropped in recent years and there’s a definite need of more horses. Hopefully this will entice owners to send their horses to be trained on The Curragh as well as attracting young trainers to set up there, which is most important. It’s very exciting. The existing trainers and owners with horses there now have world-class facilities, which is what’s needed for the safety of the horses and the riders, so everyone there has really appreciated the investment that has been made. This investment has come from Eva Bucher Haefner, and how lucky we are to have a lady like her in Ireland. Yes, she has her own horses in training on The Curragh, but this is not just for herself and her own horses, it’s for everybody. This would not have happened without her investment, and it’s a huge gesture to The Curragh, and to Irish racing. Eva has also invested in the new racecourse as well as the training grounds, and her support is quite amazing. View the full article

Stepping out at the San Isidro training center in Buenos Aires, Argentina to the highly unusual (for Northern eyes) sight of horses and work riders flying around the track saddle-less, one could easily be made to believe that they’ve stepped into an entirely different racing world. What I found during a week-long stay in Buenos Aires last month for the inaugural Gran Venta Selecta yearling sale, however, is that, in terms of its challenges, the Argentine racing industry isn’t much different from anywhere else. When it comes to opportunities, I think that we’ll see Argentina become increasingly prominent in the global bloodstock market. Argentina has South America’s largest Thoroughbred industry, with about 7,000 foals produced annually, and is the continent’s most prominent representative on the world stage: recent Grade I winners like Vale Dori (Arg) (Asiatic Boy {Arg}) and Hi Happy (Arg) (Pure Prize) spring to mind, and the country has also supplied to the U.S. Horse of the Year Invasor (Arg) (Candy Stripes), 10-time Grade I winner Paseana (Arg) (Ahmad {Arg}) and unbeaten Grade I winner and leading sire Candy Ride (Arg) (Ride the Rails). Argentine-bred mares have produced Grade I winners like Carina Mia (Malibu Moon) and Salutos Amigos (Salute The Sarge), and in Japan they have been on a particularly hot run as of late, turning out Group 1 winners like 2018 Japanese champion 2-year-old filly Danon Fantasy (Jpn) and 2016 champion 3-year-old colt Satono Diamond (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}). G1 Tokyo Yushun and G2 Prix Niel winner Makahiki (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) has an Argentine-bred second dam. Much of the country’s Thoroughbred business takes place in the province of Buenos Aires, where there are three racetracks: San Isidro, home of the country’s most important race, the G1 Carlos Pellegrini, which is staged over a mile and a half each December; Palermo, which is a 30-minute drive down the highway from San Isidro; and La Plata, which is about an hour outside the city proper. San Isidro and its adjacent training facility are owned by The Jockey Club, and the training center is home to some 2,000 horses, while Palermo stables about 1,800 and La Plata 1,500. Palermo is owned by the government and leased out to a private company and has 4,500 slots in the basement of the racecourse, while La Plata is owned by the province. Racing is held seven days a week, year-round in Buenos Aires with typically 15 or more races on a card. Large fields (it’s common to see up to 16 runners) are the norm. One current challenge facing the Argentine industry surrounds funding. While Palmero has an agreement in place to receive a cut of funding from its slots, San Isidro and La Plata have historically received a stake from the province’s slots program (not at racetracks). What started out as a supplement, however, has now become the lifeblood of prizemoney, and at San Isidro 75% of the purse money now comes from the slots, and 25% from takeout. Not a major problem on the surface, but last year the government made a move to remove the slots contribution to racing entirely, something that would have crippled racing. The industry managed to avert the crisis, for now, but nonetheless the racing fund has decreased over the last two years from 12% to 9%. Especially in an economy that is struggling, it goes to show that just like everywhere else, it is going to be vital for the Argentine industry to prove its importance to the government going forward. Just like in the U.S., the Argentine industry must rise to the challenge of sports betting. As in the U.S. legislation surrounding sports betting is handled by each province, and in late March sports betting was legalized in the province of Buenos Aires. Like in the U.S., insiders of the Argentine racing industry are calling for a modernized betting system to keep pace with other sports, including fixed-odds wagering and online betting platforms for racing. There is no online wagering on racing in Argentina. In the early years of the Argentine Thoroughbred, a lot of stock was imported from Europe. The Argentine Thoroughbred as we know it today, however, has been largely built on American bloodlines, with American-breds-mostly shuttlers-dominating the top of the sire table for the better part of the last 20 years. Those names include Southern Halo, Mutakddim, Pure Prize, Roman Ruler, Harlan’s Holiday, Bernstein and many others. Descendants of Storm Cat have been especially popular. The last two racing seasons, however, the recently deceased Irish-bred Catcher In The Rye (Ire) (Danehill, out of a Darshaan mare) has led the standings, and Argentine-breds Equal Stripes (Arg) and Not For Sale (Arg) (by American-bred Parade Marshal) have also featured prominently. A handful of breeders I spoke with in Argentina said the interest has been shifting back to importing European blood, and indeed the G1 Irish Derby winner Treasure Beach (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) has gotten off to a solid start at stud there, and Kingman (GB)’s half-brother Remote (GB) (Dansili {GB}) has his first runners in Argentina this season. John F Kennedy (Ire) (Galileo {Ire})’s first yearlings have also been well received. I would always be a proponent of diversifying the gene pool, but some of the reasoning I heard for the lean towards Europeans was concerning. Some breeders said they felt the breed was losing the stamina, durability and toughness it was known for, and to revitalize that they felt they needed to go to Europe. As you would have read in the TDN recently, beginning in 2013 South America phased out Lasix in black-type races, and what I heard from some breeders is that the Europeans are durable and tough, and they can do it without Lasix. Those of us in the U.S. know that we also produce durable and tough horses capable of performing Lasix-free, but isn’t this just further proof that perception is reality? Some food for thought for American racing’s stakeholders. But, let’s get back to the purpose of the visit, which was the Gran Venta Selecta yearling sale on Mar. 21. The select sale of 91 yearlings was an initiative between Arqana, local sales company Arg-Sales and leading stud farms Haras Abolengo (breeder of Candy Ride) and Haras Vacacion (breeder of Paseana). The goal is to create an international sale in Argentina and promote overseas investment in the country’s Thoroughbred industry. As previously touched on, Argentina has been in a tough political and economic situation for more than a decade, and thus racing has been low on the priority list for government. The industry is having to prove its worth to hold on to funding, and last year alone two of the country’s major stud farms shut their doors. Abolengo owner Julio Menditeguy said at the time of the sale, “The industry is under pressure. People are getting tired, this is getting very expensive. [Growth] won’t happen if we’re only thinking about the domestic market.” Another factor that has hindered the globalization of the Argentine yearling market is the fact that sales are conducted quite differently than in other major racing nations. Rather than having a few large sales throughout the season, farms band together with one or two others to sell their own stock at smaller sales of 40 to 50 yearlings, with sales held multiple times a week beginning in March and lasting through the winter. Such a format makes it implausible for international visitors to jet in and out to hunt for the best yearlings. Gran Venta Selecta is attempting to establish a slot on the international sales calendar for Argentina to offer its best stock, and Abolengo and Vacacion threw their full weight behind it, offering the best of their crops that otherwise would have been spread over multiple sales, and offering more fillies from their best families than is customary. The top-selling filly brought a record price for an Argentine yearling of 5.6-million pesos (about $140,000), but perhaps the best indicator of where the sale could be headed is the fact that each of the four overseas visitors bought multiple yearlings. None of these buyers were doing business in Argentina for the first time, but in the immediate future they will be one of the most important catalysts to get new investors to Buenos Aires. Emmanuel de Seroux of Narvick International said after signing for a pair of yearlings, “I think this is a very good first experience to show the Argentine yearlings to the world. I think people will be more and more interested to come and they need to, because they can access some fantastic pedigrees at 20% of the price of what they’d have to pay at Keeneland or Newmarket. “You can come to a sale like this and buy half a dozen very well-bred fillies for $50,000 or $60,000 each, and you start a very nice breeding program. If you have one or two good ones out of the five or six it’s fantastic, and the others, due to their pedigrees, they’re still very nice broodmares for the future.” My entire experience in Buenos Aires left me believing that this is a sale that will gain international traction. I could see it heading in the direction of the Cape Sale in South Africa: Cape Thoroughbred Sales used the destination of Cape Town as an anchor to attract visitors in the middle of the Northern Hemisphere winter, threw in some excellent hospitality with racing and farm visits and, on top of that, presented the cream of their country’s yearling crop. Within 10 years, it has developed into a sale that annually draws top buyers from around the world. Buenos Aires has all the ingredients to do the same thing: fantastic hospitality from some of the kindest people I’ve ever met; an incredible cosmopolitan city and farms rich with history and culture. And, most importantly, top-class horses: these yearlings were clearly raised well, with strength and great bone and conformation; as the Arqana team themselves remarked, they would have liked to take some of them to their August sale. Training fees in Argentina are about a quarter of what they are in the U.S., and if one proves good enough to be sold to America, the returns could be huge. Gran Venta Selecta sits comfortably on the calendar between Australia’s Melbourne Premier Sale and the Dubai World Cup, Inglis Easter and The Championships, so next March I would highly recommend a trip down to Argentina. You’ll be guaranteed excellent company, mouth-watering barbecue, empanadas and wine, and, chances are you’ll leave with a yearling or two. View the full article

Newmarket’s G3 Lanwades Stud Nell Gwyn S. looked as if it could be a Roger Varian benefit beforehand and that proved the case as Sheikh Mohammed bin Khalifa Al Thani’s Qabala (Scat Daddy) brushed aside stablemate Mot Juste (Distorted Humor) to bring a raw excitement to the time-honoured seven-furlong 1000 Guineas prep. While it is 13 years since Speciosa (Ire) (Danehill Dancer {Ire}) brought up the Nell Gwyn-Guineas double, this performance from the course-and-distance maiden winner who was hammered into 10-3 favouritism strongly suggests it can happen again in 2 1/2 weeks’ time. Slowly away under rookie jockey David Egan and needing niggling in mid-division, the bay warmed into the contest and produced the same powerful surge that she had on debut to overwhelm Robert Barnett’s homebred passing the furlong pole. At the line, there was clear water between them, officially 1 3/4 lengths, with 3/4 of a length back to Angel’s Hideaway (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}) in third. “It was a great performance from Qabala–I was impressed by her,” Varian said. “She looks a miler to me and she was very professional, while Mot Juste also trialled beautifully. They are two nice fillies owned by different people and I see no reason why they would not both line up for the Guineas. In my eyes, they have both passed their trial and we just need to see how they come out of the race.” QABALA, f, 2, Scat Daddy–Entwine, by Empire Maker. ($300,000 Wlg ’16 FTKNOV). O-H H Sheikh Mohammed Bin Khalifa Al Thani; B-Eutrophia Farm (KY); T-Roger Varian; J-David Egan. £34,026. Lifetime Record: 2-2-0-0, £40,495. View the full article

The winners and placegetters from a select series of European 3-year-old races will be offered free entry in the G1 Juddmonte Grand Prix de Paris at ParisLongchamp on July 14 in a promotion coined the Grand Free Pass. Eligible for the Grand Free Pass will be the first three home in the G1 Investec Derby and the G1 Prix du Jockey Club. The winners of the following races are also eligible: the G3 Prix du Lys, G2 Prix Hocquart, G3 Chester Vase, Listed Derby Trial, G2 Dante S. and G2 King Edward VII S. The owners of horses for which the €1,800 entry fee has already been paid up will be refunded. For those not entered, the €15,000 supplementation fee will be waived. The winner of the Grand Prix de Paris will be invited to participate in the G1 Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe back at the same course in October. Edouard de Rothschild, president of France Galop, said, “The Juddmonte Grand Prix de Paris is since the creation of the Longchamp racecourse a symbol of the excellence of our breeding and we hope to make it a privileged destination of the best European yards. This first incentive measure is part of a broader ambition that aims to give the Juddmonte Grand Prix de Paris all the support it deserves.” View the full article

Last seen finishing sixth in the G1 Vertem Futurity Trophy at Doncaster in October, Qatar Racing’s Kick On (GB) (Charm Spirit {Ire}) returned in rude health to deny Walkinthesand (Ire) (Footstepsinthesand {GB}) in a tussle for the Listed bet365 Feilden S. at Newmarket on Tuesday. Sent straight to the stand’s rail and the lead by Oisin Murphy, the bay was dragged into a battle from some way out by the Hannon runner but refused to buckle and held on by a neck as they pulled 4 1/2 lengths clear of Boerhan (GB) (Sea the Stars {Ire}). Qatar’s David Redvers said, “We didn’t know what to expect and he was a little bit buzzy beforehand, but the hood worked and John [Gosden] was very happy with him. He’s a lovely straightforward horse with lots of natural energy and my hunch is he’ll drop back in trip now.” KICK ON (GB), c, 3, Charm Spirit (Ire)–Marika (GB) (SW-Eng), by Marju (Ire). (80,000gns Wlg ’16 TATFOA; 135,000gns Ylg ’17 TATOCT). O-Qatar Racing Ltd; B-Shutford Stud (GB); T-John Gosden; J-Oisin Murphy. £22,684. Lifetime Record: 4-2-1-0, £33,812. *1/2 to Sabratah (GB) (Oasis Dream {GB}), MSW & GSP-Fr, 165,478; and Raw Impulse (GB) (Makfi {GB}), SW & GSP-NZ, $209,854. View the full article

Third in three Group 2 contests over six furlongs last term, Shine So Bright (GB) (Oasis Dream {GB}) made light work of an extra furlong in Tuesday’s Listed bet365 European Free H. at Newmarket to add more strength to King Power Racing’s hand in 2019. Always comfortable in front with Silvestre De Sousa doing what he does best, the 5-2 second favourite extended into and out of the “dip” to score with authority by 1 3/4 lengths from Space Traveller (GB) (Bated Breath {GB}), with the 2-1 favourite Azano (GB) (Oasis Dream {GB}) 3 1/2 lengths away in third. “He was doing it on his own terms in front and he enjoyed that,” his rider said. “He’s a nice horse and he proved he had a bit of class here. He shows a lot of speed at home, so I had a bit of a doubt in my mind about this seven but he proved he got it well. I have doubts about getting a mile.” SHINE SO BRIGHT (GB), c, 3, Oasis Dream (GB)–Alla Speranza (GB) (GSW-Ire), by Sir Percy (GB). (57,000gns Wlg ’16 TATFOA; €27,000 Ylg ’17 GOFOR; £375,000 2yo ’18 GOFLON). O-King Power Racing Co Ltd; B-Kirsten Rausing (GB); T-Andrew Balding; J-Silvestre de Sousa. £28,355. Lifetime Record: MGSP-Eng, 6-2-0-3, £90,071. View the full article

In the wake of the fire that ravaged Notre Dame on Monday, France Galop and jockey Christophe Soumillon have pledged financial support toward rebuilding efforts. France Galop President Edouard de Rothschild announced that the Easter Sunday headliner at Auteuil, the Prix du President de la Republique-the country’s biggest handicap chase-would be renamed the Prix de Notre Dame de Paris for the day, and all betting proceeds would go to the national fund to rebuild the cathedral. Ten-time champion jockey Christophe Soumillon, who is riding at Newmarket’s Craven meeting this week, announced on Twitter that he has pledged all his winnings for the week to the fund. View the full article

Baroda and Colbinstown Studs, which have been consigning successfully in partnership at European sales since 2011, will part ways. Each will continue to consign separately. A press release stated, “this move is a natural progression in the evolution of their businesses but the friendship between the two remains as strong as ever, and they continue to own broodmares and youngstock together.” David Cox of Baroda Stud said, “I have really enjoyed working with David and his family over the past eight years and we have achieved a lot together during that time. This is a natural and exciting development for Baroda and I am looking forward to growing the brand and extending our client base. The first sale under our own banner will be the Goffs Land Rover Sale in June.” David Myerscough of Colbinstown Stud added, “We both thought that now was a good time to go out on our own. We have been lucky to have had such wonderful support over the years. David and I are great pals and will remain so.” Notable horses sold by Baroda and Colbinstown Studs include Group 1 winners Cloth Of Stars (Ire) (Sea the Stars {Ire}) and Marcel (Ire) (Lawman {Fr}). They handled the Bobby Flay dispersal last year at Tattersalls December, and at that same sale sold the listed-placed Pocketfullofdreams (Fr) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}), in foal to Galileo (Ire), for 1-million gns. Baroda and Colbinstown sold the highest-priced yearling from the first crop of No Nay Never at Tattersalls Book 1 in 2017 for 850,000gns. View the full article

King’s Best (Kingmambo-Allegretta {GB}, by Lombard {Ger}), winner of the G1 2000 Guineas in 2000, has been euthanized at Darley Japan after suffering complications from colic. The farm had announced just two months ago that the 22-year-old had been pensioned from stud duty. Harry Sweeney, President of Darley Japan, said, “King’s Best was a great servant to Darley, standing in Ireland, France, Argentina, and Australia before coming to Japan where he retired earlier this year. He will be missed by everyone here at Darley in Japan.” Trained by Sir Michael Stoute for Saeed Suhail, King’s Best broke his maiden at first asking at two and added the Listed Acomb S. next out. He checked in last of five in the G1 Dewhurst S. to wrap up that campaign but bounced back the following season to beat Giant’s Causeway (Storm Cat) by 3 1/2 lengths in the 2000 Guineas. Sadly he would not get a chance to repeat that effort; he was injured and pulled-up next out in the G1 Irish Derby and never raced again. King’s Best entered stud at Darley’s Kildangan Stud in 2001 and later stood in France for four years at Haras du Logis before three seasons in Japan. His most prolific progeny was the G1 Investec Derby and G1 Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe hero Workforce (GB), while his highest earner was Sajjhaa (GB), the dual Group 1 winner in Dubai. He enjoyed top-level success in Japan as well, supplying the G1 Tokyo Yushun and G1 Tenno Sho Autumn winner Eishin Flash (Jpn). King’s Best has left eight Group 1 winners in total, and those also include Lockinge S. winner Creachadoir (Ire), G1 Irish St Leger victor Royal Diamond (Ire), G1 Sussex S. winner Proclamation (Ire) and G1 Lydia Tesio winner Dubai Surprise (Ire). King’s Best has also enjoyed global success as a broodmare sire. His daughters have produced four Group 1 winners in four countries: G1 Coronation S. winner Ervedya (Fr) (Siyouni {Fr}); G1 Queensland Oaks victress Egg Tart (Aus) (Sebring {Aus}); G1 Grand Prix de Paris winner Mont Ormel (Fr) (Air Chief Marshal {Ire}) and GI Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf winner Queen’s Trust (GB) (Dansili {GB}). View the full article

The Kingsclere trainer on his expanding string for 2019 After his best year in 2018, Andrew Balding hopes to build on the success that has seen his string reach 200 horses for the first time. Balding topped his previous record of 119 winners in Britain in 2014 with 123 winners last year, totalling £2,601,152 in […] The post Andrew Balding Stable Tour appeared first on RaceBets Blog EN. View the full article

The young Fastnet Rock stallion, Highly Recommended, has been relocated to the South Island nursery, Berkley Stud, for the 2019 stud season. Following discussions between Berkley and Cambridge Stud CEO, Henry Plumptre, it was felt that the stallion would get a better opportunity in the region where most of his success has occurred. Highly Recommended was a very successful second season sire in 2017/2018, with the stakes horses Sumstreetsumwhere, Waldorf, Joyfilly, Beneficial, Pipiana and Ki... View the full article

Paul O’Sullivan’s lightly raced Oriental Elite would be long retired if it was not for the Conghua training facility in mainland China, so the New Zealander is looking to make the most of his limited opportunities.The five-year-old has had just nine starts in his short career that has been dogged by consistent joint pain, but has enjoyed life away from Sha Tin recently.Returning to the races for the first time in February after an eight-month lay-off, Oriental Elite showed promise before going… View the full article

Shock Classic Cup winner Derek Leung Ka-chun has snared the ride on Group One Hong Kong Cup champion Glorious Forever in next week’s QE II Cup (2,000m).Leung will again team up with gun trainer Frankie Lor Fu-chuen as the pair plot to bring down the in-form Tony Cruz stayer Exultant and a host of Japanese raiders for the HK$24 million prize.After days of uncertainty, Lor confirmed Leung’s booking, who rode the five-year-old in a barrier trial at Sha Tin on Tuesday morning.Brazilian jockey… View the full article

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Haunui Farm has announced Iffraaj and Belardo will be returning to New Zealand for the 2019 breeding season. Iffraaj is the sire of 68 stakes winners worldwide and is the sire of nine individual Group One winners, including four-time Group One winner Ribchester and three-time Group One winners Turn Me Loose and Gingernuts. He will stand at an unchanged fee of $25,000 + GST and will serve a limited book of mares. Meanwhile, exciting young sire Belardo, whose first foals have created quite the imp... View the full article

Champion New Zealand mare Melody Belle has been the subject of a significant overseas offer to purchase her as a broodmare, but connections of the six-time Group One winner have rejected the offer. “The offer amount was NZ$3.25 million,” Fortuna Syndications Director John Galvin said. However, after consultation between Galvin and syndicate members, the offer was declined. “Clearly this was a very significant offer for our wonderful race mare, presented by a genuine and well regarded Aus... View the full article

Two additional races have been added to the racing calendar at Yulong Jockey Club exclusively for New Zealand Bloodstock graduates, highlighting the growing relationship between China and New Zealand. New Zealand Bloodstock graduates will this year race for total stakes of 1.1 million yuan (NZ$242,000) and Bloodstock advisor Alex Teng, who has played a key role in developing the burgeoning thoroughbred relationship between the two countries, is pleased with the addition of the two races. “The ... View the full article

It has been more than 20 years since Ready Teddy and Blyth Tait set the benchmark of what can be achieved with an off the track thoroughbred. Tait and the chestnut son of Brilliant Invader were at the top of their game in the 1990s winning Olympic Gold at Atlanta in 1996, and after success at the 1998 World Equestrian Games Ready Teddy became the first horse in the world to win eventing gold at both pinnacle events. This year the New Zealand Thoroughbred Breeders’ Association will honour ‘T... View the full article

Updates on stewards' follow-ups to Friday and Sunday meetings View the full article

Amendment to Lerner's suspension dates View the full article

Clements Eyeing off higher goals for Eagle View the full article