Wandering Eyes

S John’s suspension reduced to two months on appeal View the full article

Khoo trying different strokes with Paint View the full article

The Chosen One will end his Australian campaign on Saturday, while stablemate Bobby Dee will be endeavouring to secure a trip across the Tasman when he competes at Ellerslie the same day. Both three-year-olds from Murray Baker and Andrew Forsman’s stable competed in the Gr.1 New Zealand Derby (2400m) at Ellerslie last month with Bobby Dee doing the better of the pair when sixth, three and a quarter lengths from the upset winner Crown Prosecutor, while The Chosen One was a further two and a hal... View the full article

Cambridge trainers Roger James and Robert Wellwood were ecstatic with Rondinella’s Gr.1 Sydney Cup (3200m) fourth-placing at Randwick on Saturday and they are now eyeing spring spoils with their mare, with a potential Gr.1 Cox Plate (2040m) tilt on the cards. “I was proud of her (in the Sydney Cup),” James said. “At the beginning of the preparation she was a one-win horse. “In her last three runs she has run third behind Melody Belle and Danzdanzdance on a bog at Auckland at Group One... View the full article

The first of six sessions of under-tack previews for next week’s OBS April sale took place Monday in Central Florida with the first of 203 catalogued juveniles battling a persistent headwind throughout the day. Three fillies shared the day’s fastest quarter-mile breeze time of :21 flat. A bay filly by Twirling Candy (hip 109) recorded the :21 flat time for de Meric Sales. The youngster is out of Henley (Corinthian), a half-sister to multiple graded stakes winner Mr. Commons (Artie Schiller). Envision Equine sent out hip 115 to work in :21 flat. The bay filly is from the first crop of Grade I placed Fast Anna and is out of graded placed Hermione’s Magic (Forest Wildcat). Completing the trio of :21 flat works was hip 167. Consigned by Wavertree Stables, the chestnut filly is from the first crop of Grade I winner Danza and is out of multiple stakes placed Irish Ridge (Cactus Ridge). Four juveniles shared the day’s fastest furlong time of :10 flat. Hip 6 is a daughter of Shanghai Bobby out of stakes winner Fast Resource (Bob and John). The :10 flat worker is consigned by Hartley/DeRenzo Thoroughbreds LLC, agent. Hartley DeRenzo also sent out hip 129, a filly from the first crop of Grade I winner Daredevil, to work in :10 flat. Out of Holy Blitz (Holy Bull), the juvenile is a half-sister to sprint champion Judy the Beauty (Ghostzapper). From the Off the Hook consignment, hip 31 also worked in :10 flat. By Tapizar, the dark bay colt is out of the unraced Franchesca (Henrythenavigator), a half-sister to stakes winner Abbey Bridge (Irish River {Fr}). Hip 198 completed the list of :10 flat workers. Consigned by Whitman Sales, the bay colt is a son of Bodemeister out of Just Fabulous (Include). He is a half-brother to graded placed Midnight on Oconee (Midnight Lute). The under-tack show continues Tuesday at 8 a.m. with hips 204 through 406 scheduled to breeze. The April sale will be held next Tuesday through Friday with sessions beginning daily at 10:30 a.m. View the full article

During just three years of operation, Phoenix Thoroughbreds has already amassed a remarkable record of success on the racetrack and recently become active in the commercial breeding venue with its first group of homebred yearlings selling in Australia. Now the Thoroughbred investment fund, launched by Dubai-based businessman Amer Abdulaziz in 2017, is in the midst of its first season of pinhooking 2-year-olds in the U.S. Active sellers at the Ocala Breeders’ Sales Company’s March Sale and the Fasig-Tipton Gulfstream Sale, Phoenix will offer, alone or in partnership, a handful of juveniles at next week’s OBS April Sale. “As an investment fund, I felt like it was important to show different activity throughout a calendar year,” Phoenix vice president Tom Ludt explained of the operation’s expansion into pinhooking. “So we bought some horses with the intention that they would be pinhooked. I just thought it would be a smart play for the group, as we develop more and more investors, to have something going on in all aspects of the game.” Observers might be curious about the fund’s business plan, but Ludt said the pinhooking prospects are at auction to sell. “We buy to race, we bought some weanlings to pinhook and we breed to sell,” Ludt said. “We’re in every aspect of the game and this [pinhooking juveniles] was just the next step. I’m a little nervous because I’m sure people are going to say, ‘Why are they selling?’ But it’s just part of an investment program. We think these are horses that we bought that can be sold at a profit and it will help the overall investment fund.” The Phoenix team purchased 11 pinhooking prospects last fall, but Ludt said he didn’t go into the yearling sales with a specific number of individuals in mind. “One of the good things about being a large investment fund, it’s not traditionally a set number of horses or a set dollar amount,” Ludt explained. “At this point, I’ve been given the luxury of having the freedom to pick and choose and do what’s best. I probably bid on 25 horses to pinhook and got 11. I could have bought some more, but when you’re pinhooking, to me–and I don’t have the experience that some of these guys do in Ocala–there is just a price point that I didn’t want to gamble and get too high. Then you are almost forcing yourself to potentially buy it back to race and that goes against what our business plan was.” After selecting the horses and the horsemen to handle them, Ludt has taken a more hands-off approach in the run-up to the sales. “I put the horses with Eddie Woods, Niall Brennan and Ciaran Dunne,” Ludt said. “Obviously, very seasoned, experienced guys that do this. I picked who I thought were really good guys who do this for a living and, once the horses are in their hands, all I am is a coach. I let them do all the work.” Among Phoenix’s early-season successes at the 2-year-old auctions, the operation sold a colt by Constitution (hip 174) through Eddie Woods’s consignment at the Gulfstream sale for $600,000. The youngster was purchased by Phoenix for $200,000 at last year’s Keeneland September sale. Phoenix was the name on the tickets last fall for a pair of yearlings who will head through the ring at the OBS April sale next week. Hip 225 is a daughter of Lemon Drop Kid out of Knysna (Maria’s Mon), a half-sister to graded stakes winner Seaspeak (Mizzen Mast). Consigned by Dunne’s Wavertree Stables, the bay was a $250,000 Keeneland September yearling purchase. Hip 1017 is a filly by Into Mischief out of multiple stakes winner Callmethesqueeze (Awesome Again). Consigned by Niall Brennan, the youngster was also purchased for $250,000 at Keeneland September. With a few home run horses mixed in with less profitable transactions, Ludt stressed the importance of maintaining a big-picture focus in determining the success of the new pinhooking arm of the Phoenix operation. “When I broached this idea with Amer, I told him, ‘I don’t want you to judge me per horse. Judge me on the crop.’ We are a fund, so I have to let horses go. And if it’s at a loss, it’s at a loss. You have to be careful you don’t get caught looking at things individually versus the business model. That’s the hard part about the whole pinhooking deal. If you paid $100,000 and the market saying it is worth $70,000 now, as much as your ego is hurt, you’ve got to let them go or you’re going to get stuck with them. We have a couple going to the Timonium sale and after that I’ll be able to evaluate if this was a successful venture.” Phoenix has campaigned horses in partnership and that approach has carried over to the pinhooking arena. “We are a fund, it’s good to play in a very diversified portfolio and it’s fine to play as a partner,” Ludt said. “We race some horses in partnership and it’s no different in pinhooking. Obviously, if Ciaran liked a horse, and we were going to bid on it, let’s go together and let him run the show. And that’s what we did. We did the same thing with Niall on a couple.” Ludt has wracked up the frequent flyer miles this spring, with trips between Dubai, Australia and his California base as Phoenix continues to find success across the globe. The stable was represented by G1 Dubai World Cup runner-up Gronkowski (Lonhro {Aus}) at Meydan in March and Loving Gaby (Aus) (I Am Invincible {Aus}) was recently second in the G1 Inglis Sires S. in Australia. The Phoenix colors will make a second straight appearance in the American Classics after Lady Apple (Curlin), owned in partnership with KatieRich Stables, earned a spot in the GI Kentucky Oaks with a win in the GIII Fantasy S. at Oaklawn Park last Friday. That sets the operation up for a busy Oaks/Derby weekend at Churchill Downs, with Captain Von Trapp (Trappe Shot) expected to start in the GIII Pat Day Mile, Dream Tree (Uncle Mo) in the GI Humana Distaff and Lyrical Lady (More Than Ready) in the GII Eight Belles S. “We couldn’t be happier,” Ludt said. “The success we are having is just unbelievable. We are getting ready to get on a roll again in Europe as it fires up. We have an incredible crop of 2-year-olds in the Northern Hemisphere and we obviously have some great horses currently running. Obviously you always hope for the best, but this is a game that is tough and we are hitting on all cylinders right now and doing really well, so we couldn’t be more thankful.” View the full article

With a recent engineering study finding the northern grandstand section at Pimlico Race Course unsafe, Maryland Jockey Club owner The Stronach Group said the section will not be open for this year's Preakness Stakes Weekend. View the full article

Saying a recent engineering study had found the northern grandstand section at Pimlico Race Course unsafe, Maryland Jockey Club owner The Stronach Group said the section will not be open for this year's Preakness Stakes Weekend. View the full article

Merriebelle Stable's Blue Prize will make her 6-year-old debut in the $100,000 Hilliard Lyons- Baird Doubledogdare Stakes (G3) April 19 at Keeneland against eight older fillies and mares in the 1 1/16-mile feature. View the full article

Observations on the European Racing Scene turns the spotlight on the best European races of the day, highlighting well-pedigreed horses early in their careers, horses of note returning to action and young runners that achieved notable results in the sales ring. Tuesday’s Insights features a daughter of G1 1000 Guineas heroine Ghanaati (Giant’s Causeway). 4.10 Newmarket, Mdn, £8,000, 2yo, f, 5fT CHASING DREAMS (GB) (Starspangledbanner {Aus}) is Godolphin’s first 2-year-old runner in Europe in 2019 and cost 750,000gns as a Tattersalls October yearling. A half-sister to the dual listed scorer Mrs Gallagher (GB) (Oasis Dream {GB}), the Charlie Appleby trainee hails from the family of the Hong Kong celebrity Xtension (Ire) (Xaar {GB}). 4.45 Newmarket, Mdn, £8,000, 2yo, f, 5fT ALANDALOS (GB) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}) bids to build on the promise of her debut fourth over this trip on Lingfield’s Polytrack in December for Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum and Charlie Hills in the second division of this maiden in which Sea of Class (Ire) (Sea the Stars {Ire}) was second 12 months ago. A daughter of the operation’s G1 1000 Guineas and G1 Coronation S. heroine Ghanaati (Giant’s Causeway), the late April-foaled bay is joined by fellow Shadwell representative Tatweej (GB) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}), an unraced Owen Burrows-trained 650,000gns TATOCT relative of the smart Bonfire (GB) (Manduro {Ger}) and Joviality (GB) (Cape Cross {Ire}). View the full article

It’s the start of good mid-week action with Newmarket’s 3-day Craven meeting commencing on Tuesday. The ITV racing team are bringing us four races from flat racing’s HQ and I for one am looking forward to the meeting which should give us a lot of pointers for the rest of the season. Weatherbys TBA Handicap […] The post Newmarket Preview – Tuesday appeared first on RaceBets Blog EN. View the full article

The reign of California-based horses atop the National Thoroughbred Racing Association Top 3-Year-Old Poll continues this week in a new set of hands with Fox Hill Farms' Omaha Beach taking over the No. 1 position from Roadster. View the full article

The long prep season is over, and now the racing world locks its focus on the main event, the May 4 GI Kentucky Derby. Please note the rankings below are independent from the “Road to the Derby” points leaderboard Churchill Downs uses to determine starting berths. That list can be accessed here. 1) OMAHA BEACH (c, War Front—Charming, by Seeking the Gold) O-Fox Hill Farms, Inc. B-Charming Syndicate (KY). T-Richard Mandella. Sales History: $625,000 RNA Ylg ’17 KEESEP. Lifetime Record: GISW, 7-3-3-1, $1,121,800. Last Start: 1st, GI Arkansas Derby, OP, Apr. 13 Equineline PPs. KY Derby Points: 137.5. If Omaha Beach goes on to be a major factor in the Triple Crown after his GI Arkansas Derby win, you can point to his bold, aggressive move off the clubhouse turn and onto the backstretch as the moment that signified he’s the real deal. Jockey Mike Smith has been known to attempt this early-stage seize-the-lead move with high-level horses in the past (it doesn’t always work), and even trainer Richard Mandella said after the race his first thought was “Jeez, don’t move too quick,” before he rationalized, “Don’t be second-guessing Mike Smith.” This War Front colt torqued to the front and maintained an energetic tempo with a high cruising speed, and when Smith sensed main rival Improbable (City Zip) ratcheting up the pressure as the far turn loomed, Omaha Beach deftly clicked into a higher gear and seemed to relish the challenge. Off the far turn, the main visual takeaway was that Omaha Beach remained hand-ridden while Improbable was under a full-out drive while not truly slicing into the lead, and when Omaha Beach was set down for the final furlong he responded like a pro and kicked away to the finish–essentially making three well-executed moves over nine furlongs without giving any hint he was scraping bottom, stamina-wise. This colt is clearly thriving at the right time, and he has now purposefully defeated the two horses–Improbable and Game Winner (Candy Ride {Arg})–who have dominated the Derby talk for the last six months. 2) GAME WINNER (c, Candy Ride {Arg}—Indyan Giving, by A.P. Indy) ‘TDN Rising Star’. O-Gary & Mary West. B-Summer Wind Equine (KY). T-Bob Baffert. Sales History: $110,000 Ylg ’17 KEESEP. Lifetime Record: MGISW, 6-4-2-0, $1,846,000. Last Start: 2nd, GI Santa Anita Derby, SA, Apr. 6 Equineline PPs. KY Derby Points: 85. ‘TDN Rising Star’ Game Winner has made it through his two-race prep season in perfunctory fashion, and there shouldn’t be much doubt that Bob Baffert has enough Derby-winning training experience to have this $110,000 KEESEP Candy Ride (Arg) bay peaking right when he wants him to. But to be clear, Game Winner didn’t punch through to any new level of dominance in either the GII Rebel S. (where he had to be scrubbed on vigorously to finish a nose behind Omaha Beach) or the GI Santa Anita Derby (where he finished a half-length behind a longer-priced stablemate). Still, both races yielded enough clues to ascertain that Game Winner willingly fights through adversity. He wasn’t fully conditioned for his “A” effort at Oaklawn, then in the Santa Anita Derby, Game Winner was wide on both turns, led between stretch calls, and galloped out past Roadster (Quality Road) after the wire. All season long I’ve been writing about how difficult it is for a GI Breeders’ Cup Juvenile winner to also win the Derby—only two horses have done it in 34 years. But if Game Winner scores in Louisville, he will be the only Juvenile winner to have won the Derby without winning any race in the interim: Nyquist (2016) won both of his preps, and Street Sense (2007) won off the layoff and then ran second. 3) WAR OF WILL (c, War Front—Visions of Clarity {Ire}, by Sadler’s Wells) O-Gary Barber. B-Flaxman Holdings Limited (KY). T-Mark Casse. Sales History: $175,000 RNA Ylg ’17 KEESEP; €250,000 2yo ’18 ARQMAY. Lifetime Record: MGSW, 8-3-1-1, $501,569. Last Start: 9th, GII Louisiana Derby, Mar. 23 Next Start: GI Kentucky Derby, CD, May 4 Equineline PPs. Caulfield on War of Will. KY Derby Points: 60. War of Will’s formidable three-race win tear from November through February is going to get obscured by his debacle of a GII Louisiana Derby, but I’m taking the mindset that that slip out of the starting gate (he lost his hind action and never recovered) is not indicative of his true ability. From a pari-mutuel standpoint, that ninth-place try will only fatten his price in the Derby, and this €250,000 ARQMAY War Front colt appears poised to resume his upward progression arc. War of Will has displayed numerous in-race traits that will serve him well in a 20-horse melee: He has consistently created his own opportunities by breaking alertly in large fields, settling into a rhythmic stalk mode, relishing the pursuit of frontrunning prey, and responding when cued to quicken with a nice reserve of power that has yet to be fully tapped by jockey Tyler Gaffalione. War of Will bulleted five furlongs from the Keeneland gate in :59.00 Saturday (1/44). “He broke sharp and had running on his mind,” Gaffalione said. “He did everything very easy. [Trainer] Mark [Casse] said he wanted a good five-eighths, so I just let him do his thing. He cruised along and pulled up great and came back happy. He is really proud of himself.” 4) IMPROBABLE (c, City Zip—Rare Event, by A.P. Indy) ‘TDN Rising Star’. O-WinStar Farm LLC, China Horse Club International Ltd. & Starlight Racing. B-St. George Farm LLC & G. Watts Humphrey Jr. (KY). T-Bob Baffert. Sales History: $110,000 Wlg ’16 KEENOV; $200,000 Ylg ’17 KEESEP. Lifetime Record: GISW, 5-3-2-0, $619,520. Last Start: 2nd, GI Arkansas Derby, OP, Apr. 13 Equineline PPs. Caulfield on Improbable. KY Derby Points: 65. ‘TDN Rising Star’ Improbable ran a gallant second in the Arkansas Derby considering he was fractious in both the post parade and the gate, then veered out approaching the clubhouse turn before finally settling back in on the turn. This $200,000 KEESEP City Zip chestnut angled about five paths off the rail onto the backstretch (in search of firmer footing on the sloppy track) and started picking off half the pack under his own power. With a four-wide surge he got within a length of Omaha Beach three-eighths out, but jockey Jose Ortiz was already urging him in earnest 2 1/2 furlongs out and had to resort to stick work at the quarter pole while Omaha Beach was still being hand-encouraged. Improbable zeroed in on the eventual winner with improved focus (no head-cocking like in previous races and works), but could not cut into Omaha Beach’s one-length margin at the wire while 5 3/4 lengths clear of everyone else. Trainer Bob Baffert indicated that the one-race blinker experiment (that was supposed to have sparked better early speed) is over. “I don’t think he needs the blinkers,” Baffert said post-race. “I think they got him a little upset. That’s probably why he acted up in the gate.” Ortiz did a good job of keeping Improbable as calm as he could, but the in-demand jock has ridden Tacitus (Tapit) to three straight wins, and it’s possible Ortiz could vacate the call on Improbable. 5) ROADSTER (c, Quality Road—Ghost Dancing, by Silver Ghost) ‘TDN Rising Star’. O-Speedway Stable LLC. B-Stone Farm (KY). T-Bob Baffert. Sales History: $525,000 Ylg ’17 KEESEP. Lifetime Record: GISW, 4-3-0-1, $706,200. Last Start: 1st, GI Santa Anita Derby, SA, Apr. 6 Equineline PPs. KY Derby Points: 100. ‘TDN Rising Star’ Roadster is certainly picking the right time of year to cycle back into top-notch form. His career arc includes being considered the top Derby prospect within Bob Baffert’s barn at Del Mar last summer, missing several months of training to correct a displaced soft palate, an easy two-turn allowance score in his comeback try, and an off-the-pace, wide-and-driving move to beat stablemate and juvenile champ Game Winner in the Santa Anita Derby. He’s a lighter-bodied horse who gives the appearance of “punching above his weight” against heavier hitters, and this $525,000 KEESEP gray (second-priciest Quality Road sold at auction in 2017) has a distance-loving turf specialist half-brother in GISW Ascend (Candy Ride {Arg}). Roadster’s dam, Ghost Dancing, was more adept over shorter distances (stakes winner sprinting on the turf at Colonial Downs), but sire Quality Road would have been the favorite in the 2010 Kentucky Derby had not a quarter crack sidelined him the week before the race. As of right now, jockey Mike Smith has conflicting calls on both Omaha Beach and Roadster. 6) TACITUS (c, Tapit—Close Hatches, by First Defence) O/B-Juddmonte Farms, Inc. (KY). T-Bill Mott. Lifetime Record: MGSW, 4-3-0-0, $653,000. Last Start: GII Wood Memorial S., AQU, Apr. 6 Equineline PPs. KY Derby Points: 150. Tacitus and Omaha Beach are the only horses ranked within the Top 12 to be riding three-race win streaks into the Kentucky Derby, and it’s hard to argue that this homebred Tapit gray hasn’t shown demonstrable progression in each of those starts over a five-month span. The stamina-centric Tacitus gets style points for admirably fighting for position through the first turn of the GII Wood Memorial, and he had plenty of strength left in reserve to swat away a determined rival in deep stretch over nine furlongs. But how will he adjust to rating from off the pace in a 20-horse field in a race where closers traditionally have to either get lucky by bulling through traffic or by giving up significant real estate? The quality of company lines in his GII Tampa Bay Derby and Wood wins also remains an open question, as the only horses he beat who appear headed to the Derby are Win Win Win (Hat Trick {Jpn}) and Tax (Arch), who figure to be 20-1 and 40-1 shots, respectively. 7) WIN WIN WIN (c, Hat Trick {Jpn}-Miss Smarty Pants, by Smarty Jones) O-Live Oak Plantation. B-Live Oak Stud (FL). T-Michael Trombetta. Lifetime Record: SW & MGSP, 6-3-2-1, $367,300. Last Start: 2nd, GII Blue Grass S., KEE, Apr. 6 Equineline PPs. KY Derby Points: 50. Win Win Win started his 2019 season with a track-record score over seven furlongs at Tampa. He next stretched to 1 1/16 miles in the Tampa Bay Derby and ran third, (beaten only 2 1/2 lengths despite being hooked five wide off the turn), and that effort looked even more promising when the winner, Tacitus, came back to impressively annex the Wood Memorial. This Hat Trick (Jpn)-sired homebred’s subsequent start in the GII Blue Grass S. was also a credible effort, as Win Win Win got bumped offstride at the break, rated comfortably while parked in 13th, encountered moderate traffic on the far turn, then was winging it late with a wide run against the grain of a fairly solid Keeneland speed bias. His paternal grandsire, Sunday Silence, won the 1989 Kentucky Derby. Then 15 years later, his maternal grandsire, Smarty Jones, won the 2004 Derby. Another 15 years have now passed–is the timing (and pedigree) aligning for Win Win Win to keep the streak alive? 8) VEKOMA (c, Candy Ride {Arg}—Mona de Momma, by Speightstown) O-R. A. Hill Stable & Gatsas Stables. B-Alpha Delta Stables, LLC (KY). T-George Weaver. Sales History: $135,000 Ylg ’17 KEESEP. Lifetime Record: MGSW, 4-3-0-1, $788,850. Last Start: 1st, GII Blue Grass S., KEE, Apr. 6 Equineline PPs. KY Derby Points: 110. Will Vekoma be a main pace presence in the Derby? His running style suggests he’s not a needs-the-lead-to-win horse. But approaching two weeks to the race, no one else within the Top 12 is a truly confirmed frontrunner either, so you wonder if this light-framed May 22 foal might be best served in a field of 20 by attempting to secure the top spot straight out of the gate to avoid the first-turn crush that would likely put him at a tactical disadvantage (in his three wins, Vekoma has never been more than a length off the leader at the second call). This $135,000 KEESEP Candy Ride (Arg) colt got nine furlongs successfully in the Blue Grass S., but his shifting and drifting stretch run was assisted by a speed-friendly Keeneland surface that hampered closers. And until he actually proves his stamina over 10 furlongs in the Derby, having a champion sprinter (Speightstown) as his dam-sire is another credible concern that will shadow Vekoma into the starting gate. 9) SIGNALMAN (c, General Quarters–Trip South, by Trippi) O-Tommie M. Lewis, David A. Bernsen, LLC & Magdalena Racing (Sherri McPeek). B-Monticule (KY). T-Kenneth G McPeek. Sales History: $32,000 Ylg ’17 FTKOCT. Lifetime Record: GSW & MGISP, 7-2-2-2, $552,990. Last Start: 3rd, GII Blue Grass S., KEE, Apr. 6 Equineline PPs. KY Derby Points: 38. Despite being ranked within the Top 12 on this list, Signalman is on the outside looking in where it counts–on the Derby qualifying points list (currently 22nd and needs defections to start). Assuming he makes the cut, I keep going back and forth over whether Signalman is a “glass half full” or “glass half empty” type of horse. On the plus side, this $32,000 FTKOCT General Quarters colt has legitimate excuses for both of his 2019 defeats: He lost a shoe when seventh in the GII Fountain of Youth S., then in the Blue Grass S. he was trying hard but couldn’t make up ground behind a frontrunning winner on a speed-favoring surface. On the negative side, Signalman would head into the Derby without having won a sophomore race, and he really hasn’t uncorked an emphatic performance since winning the Nov. 24 GII Kentucky Jockey Club S., which will be nearly six months in the rearview mirror by the time Derby day rolls around. 10) PLUS QUE PARFAIT (r, 3, Point of Entry—Belvedera, by Awesome Again) O-Imperial Racing LLC. B-Calloway Racing LLC (KY). T-Brendan Walsh. Sales History: $24,000 RNA Wlg KEENOV ’16; $135,000 Ylg KEESEP ’17. Lifetime Record: GSW, 7-2-1-2, $1,590,400. Last Start: 1st, G2 UAE Derby, MEY, Mar. 30 Equineline PPs. KY Derby Points: 104. Plus Que Parfait is ranked 4th on the qualifying points list, but trainer Brendan Walsh is taking a wait-and-see approach before committing to a start in the Derby for the G2 UAE Derby winner. “The next week to 10 days will be very important,” he said Friday. “If he is not [100%] we will rethink his [next race].” Currently stabled at Churchill, plans call for an easy half-mile breeze either this Friday or Saturday. “He has the right mentality for the Derby; nothing really bothers him,” Walsh said. “We saw that with the way he handled everything in Dubai,” where this $135,000 KEESEP Point of Entry ridgling unleashed a sustained run through traffic. Plus Que Parfait will have to outrun history if he does start in Louisville: Ten winners of the UAE Derby have gone on to compete in the Kentucky Derby, and the best finish among them was sixth (along with two DNF’s and a 20th-place try). 11) TAX (g, Arch–Toll, by Giant’s Causeway) O-R. A. Hill Stable, Reeves Thoroughbred Racing, Lynch, Hugh and Corms Racing Stable. B-Claiborne Farm and Adele Dilschneider (KY). T-Danny Gargan. Lifetime Record: GSW, 5-2-2-1, $326,300. Last Start: 2nd, GII Wood Memorial S., AQU, Apr. 6 Equineline PPs. KY Derby Points: 52. Tax has the pedigree depth (by Arch out of a Giant’s Causeway mare) to stay the Derby distance, and he’s never been off the board in three graded stakes (two of them over nine furlongs). He doesn’t shy away from in-race engagement (he’s a stalker by trade), and although some handicappers might discount the Classics chances of a gelding who broke his maiden for a $50,000 claiming tag, this could be shaping up as one of those offbeat years when conventional Triple Crown wisdom is best left to theorists. In the Wood Memorial, Tax got first run on the tiring pacemakers and held his own pretty well before submitting to the more physically imposing Tacitus. Tax was second, beaten 1 1/4 lengths, but galloped out on even terms with the favored winner. I’ve got him on my bet list as a potential “bombs away” inclusion for exotics. 12) CODE OF HONOR (c, Noble Mission {GB}—Reunited, by Dixie Union) O/B-W. S. Farish (KY). T-Shug McGaughey. Sales History: $70,000 RNA Ylg ’17 KEESEP. Lifetime Record: GSW & GISP, 4-2-1-0, $384,820. Last Start: 3rd, GI Florida Derby, GP, Mar. 30 Equineline PPs. KY Derby Points: 74. This nimble first-crop Noble Mission (GB) homebred certainly has a stayer’s pedigree to handle the Derby distance. But he’s a light-bodied May 23 foal whose inability to put together solid, back-to-back tries as a sophomore leaves the impression of a horse who does not seize control of race dynamics to make his own breaks. But when he does put it all together and hit his best stride, Code of Honor is a very efficient mover. After a one-paced third behind lone speed in the GI Florida Derby, trainer Shug McGaughey shipped Code of Honor to Keeneland, where he said he hoped “a change in weather will jump start him some.” The colt worked last Friday, breezing a half mile in :49.00 (9/27), galloping out in 1:00.80 for five furlongs. “He looked good,” McGaughey said. “I was pleased with the way he went off and he galloped out well. I will probably have [regular jockey] Johnny [Velazquez] work him [this Friday or Saturday] and then have his final work at Churchill.” Rounding Out the Starting Gate… 13) Cutting Humor (First Samurai): Talk about under the radar. This could conceivably be a $400,000 FTSAUG track-record holder (GIII Sunland Derby) from the barn of a two-time Derby-winning trainer (Todd Pletcher) going off north of 50-1 in the Derby. Exclude from exotics at your own peril. 14 Country House (Lookin At Lucky): Earned a Derby berth based on points with his third-place Arkansas Derby try. But a trip to Louisville is not etched in stone for this ‘TDN Rising Star.’ “He came with a good run. On the middle of the turn, he was creeping up,” said trainer Bill Mott. “I thought he might have started waiting a little bit and then the fourth horse came up on his inside and kind of pushed him along a little bit.” 15) Long Range Toddy (Take Charge Indy): The step up to stiffer Grade I competition resulted in a punchless sixth-place Arkansas Derby try, but he qualifies for a Derby berth via points. A solid foundation of six races at a mile or longer certainly won’t hurt his chances over 10 furlongs. 16) Maximum Security (New Year’s Day): Without much early speed among the probable favorites, this undefeated former $16,000 maiden-claiming frontrunner has the makings of a sacrificial pacemaker who could lead the field past the Twin Spires for the first quarter mile of the race. His “stolen” Florida Derby win is suspect because of the no-pressure fractions he got away with, and that gift-trip win occurred in his only lifetime try around two turns. Different ballgame in the Derby. 17) Spinoff (Hard Spun): Bumped leaving post 10, then hooked four wide on club turn while seeking the lead in Louisiana Derby before getting run down in the long Fair Grounds stretch. Should contribute to what looks like a fuzzy, in-flux Derby pace scenario. 18) By My Standards (Goldencents): Louisiana Derby upsetter has had two easy works with two more planned at Churchill prior to the Derby. “Quite frankly, horses either can get a mile and a quarter or not,” said trainer Bret Calhoun. “It’s a very demanding distance and I don’t want to push him or go overboard with his training. He’s ready and where he needs to be.” 19) Gray Magician (Graydar): Nice late-race rally behind Plus Que Parfait in the UAE Derby earned him enough qualifying points to make the trek to Louisville. But he’s still winless beyond the maiden ranks. 20) Haikal (Daaher): Never off the board from five starts but best races have been pick-up-the-pieces efforts behind cave-in pace scenarios over shorter distances. View the full article

Darley has a potential successor to the formidable throne of the great Medaglia d’Oro in his young son Astern (Aus), a speedy Group 1 winner who is standing his second season at Jonabell in 2019. With high hopes that this well-pedigreed sprinter will make his mark on American soil, Darley America Sales Manager Darren Fox sat down with the TDN to discuss his prospects. TDN: Can you start by telling us what your thoughts are and what you’ve been hearing from breeders on Astern’s first foals? DF: I’ve been hearing great reports on Astern’s first foals, and that’s certainly been backed up by our visits to our clients’ farms. To summarize, they just have a lot of quality which he has as an individual himself. I would say they’re freshly marked, strong foals-they have great hips and just have a lot of presence and quality. One filly in particular that comes to mind who went to one of our clients who is a leading owner and breeder. They had an Astern filly out of a Grade III-winning Giant’s Causeway mare and she was everything I just described. All the size, all the leg you would want, immense strength through her shoulder, great hip–just an attractive filly. But, the cherry on top was getting to watch her move in the paddock. She was so light on her feet, and just watching her move to her gait, she just floated. She was so light on her feet. TDN: Can you tell us about his first two books? How many mares did he cover last year? DF: In his first year we had a limit of 120 mares, which he was booked full in his first season. You know we are very excited about him being a speedy, precocious son of Medaglia d’Oro, who we can then cross over with two-turn American dirt mares. That’s something that we’re particularly excited about. Obviously, with Medaglia d’Oro we have a really extensive body of work upon which to judge what broodmare sire lines work best with him and his sons…His book is comprised of a high percentage of impact mating. So, we’re very excited that there was no guesswork, and we really could funnel high impact mares to him. Hopefully that will bear out in his first crop. {"id":3,"instanceName":"Articles No Playlist","videos":[{"videoType":"HTML5","title":"Astern at Darley","description":"","info":"","thumbImg":"http://www.thoroughbreddailynews.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/astern.jpg","mp4":"https://player.vimeo.com/external/330524542.sd.mp4?s=62482f02618ae5301728ffd009192ec435351d64&profile_id=165","enable_mp4_download":"no","prerollAD":"yes","prerollGotoLink":"prerollGotoLink","preroll_mp4_title":"preroll_mp4_title","preroll_mp4":"https://player.vimeo.com/external/321996022.sd.mp4?s=593b75752821d36b28392bbcb3267270a1c7f783&profile_id=165","prerollSkipTimer":"5","midrollAD":"no","midrollAD_displayTime":"midrollAD_displayTime","midrollGotoLink":"midrollGotoLink","midroll_mp4":"midroll_mp4","midrollSkipTimer":"midrollSkipTimer","postrollAD":"no","postrollGotoLink":"postrollGotoLink","postroll_mp4":"postroll_mp4","postrollSkipTimer":"postrollSkipTimer","popupAdShow":"no","popupImg":"popupImg","popupAdStartTime":"popupAdStartTime","popupAdEndTime":"popupAdEndTime","popupAdGoToLink":"popupAdGoToLink"}],"instanceTheme":"light","playerLayout":"fitToContainer","videoPlayerWidth":720,"videoPlayerHeight":405,"videoRatio":1.7777777777778,"videoRatioStretch":true,"videoPlayerShadow":"effect1","colorAccent":"#000000","posterImg":"","posterImgOnVideoFinish":"","logoShow":"No","logoPath":"","logoPosition":"bottom-right","logoClickable":"No","logoGoToLink":"","allowSkipAd":true,"advertisementTitle":"Ad","skipAdvertisementText":"Skip Ad","skipAdText":"You can skip this ad in","playBtnTooltipTxt":"Play","pauseBtnTooltipTxt":"Pause","rewindBtnTooltipTxt":"Rewind","downloadVideoBtnTooltipTxt":"Download video","qualityBtnOpenedTooltipTxt":"Close settings","qualityBtnClosedTooltipTxt":"Settings","muteBtnTooltipTxt":"Mute","unmuteBtnTooltipTxt":"Unmute","fullscreenBtnTooltipTxt":"Fullscreen","exitFullscreenBtnTooltipTxt":"Exit fullscreen","infoBtnTooltipTxt":"Show info","embedBtnTooltipTxt":"Embed","shareBtnTooltipTxt":"Share","volumeTooltipTxt":"Volume","playlistBtnClosedTooltipTxt":"Show playlist","playlistBtnOpenedTooltipTxt":"Hide playlist","facebookBtnTooltipTxt":"Share on Facebook","twitterBtnTooltipTxt":"Share on Twitter","googlePlusBtnTooltipTxt":"Share on Google+","lastBtnTooltipTxt":"Go to last video","firstBtnTooltipTxt":"Go to first video","nextBtnTooltipTxt":"Play next video","previousBtnTooltipTxt":"Play previous video","shuffleBtnOnTooltipTxt":"Shuffle on","shuffleBtnOffTooltipTxt":"Shuffle off","nowPlayingTooltipTxt":"NOW PLAYING","embedWindowTitle1":"SHARE THIS PLAYER:","embedWindowTitle2":"EMBED THIS VIDEO IN YOUR SITE:","embedWindowTitle3":"SHARE LINK TO THIS PLAYER:","lightBox":false,"lightBoxAutoplay":false,"lightBoxThumbnail":"","lightBoxThumbnailWidth":400,"lightBoxThumbnailHeight":220,"lightBoxCloseOnOutsideClick":true,"onFinish":"Play next video","autoplay":false,"loadRandomVideoOnStart":"No","shuffle":"No","playlist":"Off","playlistBehaviourOnPageload":"opened (default)","playlistScrollType":"light","preloadSelfHosted":"none","hideVideoSource":true,"showAllControls":true,"rightClickMenu":true,"autohideControls":2,"hideControlsOnMouseOut":"No","nowPlayingText":"Yes","infoShow":"No","shareShow":"No","facebookShow":"No","twitterShow":"No","mailShow":"No","facebookShareName":"","facebookShareLink":"","facebookShareDescription":"","facebookSharePicture":"","twitterText":"","twitterLink":"","twitterHashtags":"","twitterVia":"","googlePlus":"","embedShow":"No","embedCodeSrc":"","embedCodeW":720,"embedCodeH":405,"embedShareLink":"","youtubeControls":"custom controls","youtubeSkin":"dark","youtubeColor":"red","youtubeQuality":"default","youtubeShowRelatedVideos":"Yes","vimeoColor":"00adef","showGlobalPrerollAds":false,"globalPrerollAds":"url1;url2;url3;url4;url5","globalPrerollAdsSkipTimer":5,"globalPrerollAdsGotoLink":"","videoType":"HTML5 (self-hosted)","submit":"Save Changes","rootFolder":"http:\/\/wp.tdn.pmadv.com\/wp-content\/plugins\/Elite-video-player\/"} TDN: In that same light, how important is it for you guys to have a potential heir to Medaglia d’Oro on the roster? DF: Hugely. I cannot understate how important it is. Obviously he is the linchpin of our stallion operation, but he is 20 years old. So, to find his heir and successor is something we are very focused on. Obviously Astern with his looks, female family, and race record-he was a natural face to slot in, and hopefully assume that mantle and carry on the line for us. TDN: Of all his accomplishments on the racetrack, is there anything in particular that stands out to you? DF: He was a very fast and precocious horse. That really sums him up. He won the G2 Silver Slipper, which is a prep for the G1 Golden Slipper, which is obviously the biggest race in Australia, and the richest 2-year-old race in the world. So, it’s a hugely important commercial race for the Australian industry. But, his big win came as a 3-year-old in the seven-furlong G1 Golden Rose. So, it’s the equivalent of our GI H. Allen Jerkens S. He won that in authoritative fashion, and just stamped himself as one of the best sprinters in the country. TDN: Can you describe the physical attributes that stamp him as a potential standout stallion? DF: His jockey declared that he has never ridden a horse that moved like Astern. Let’s not forget this is the high-class jockey, James McDonald, who at 27 years young has 35 Group 1 wins to his credit. So, he’s certainly a high-class jockey who knows what he’s talking about. But, to hear him talk about Astern’s movement, and when you watch his action, such an efficient, fluid, beautiful action. When you watch him at the end of his races, particularly the [2016 G1] Golden Rose, when he was fully extended, he almost has a moment of suspension in between each stride. That just indicates his athleticism and his incredible balance, which I feel are characteristics which will hopefully transfer to the US dirt racing or dirt surface, and hopefully allow him to be effective on both surfaces like his sire. View the full article

2017 G1 Ascot Gold Cup hero Big Orange (GB) (Duke of Marmalade {Ire}), will be on a working holiday to do meet and greets with museum visitors at the Rothschild Yard at Palace House in Newmarket until June, Palace House announced on Monday. The yard is the flagship yard for the charity Retraining of Racehorses (RoR) and is part of the National Heritage Centre for Horseracing & Sporting Art. Retired in February of this year, the Bill and Tim Gredley colourbearer won nine of his 27 starts for trainer Michael Bell. “We are so pleased that Big Orange will continue his retirement at Palace House, having been born and bred at Stetchworth and trained locally by Michael Bell, he really is a Newmarket boy through and through,” said Tim Gredley of the bay, who will return to Stetchworth Park Stud later this summer. “It’s great that he’s going to spend a few months in the heart of the town where visitors to the museum can meet him and importantly see the great work of the RoR.” “It really is such an honour to have Big Orange join the Retraining of Racehorses yard here at Palace House,” said Palace House Director Chris Garibaldi. ” We are incredibly grateful to Bill and Tim Gredley for their long-standing support of Palace House and for their generosity in lending us their much loved racehorse to highlight the wonderful work the RoR does.” View the full article

5th-Royal Windsor, £5,800, Novice, 4-15, 3yo, 10fT, 2:06.87, gd. TELECASTER (GB) (c, 3, New Approach {Ire}–Shirocco Star {GB} {G1SP-Eng, MG1SP-Ire & GSP-Fr, $485,970}, by Shirocco {Ger}), a son of the stable’s G1 Epsom and Irish Oaks runner-up, had caught the eye when runner-up to the useful Bangkok (Ire) (Australia {GB}) in a Doncaster maiden on debut Mar. 30 and tanked his way to the front after the first quarter mile. Always in total command, the 10-11 favourite powered clear under Oisin Murphy to record an emphatic nine-length success from Deal a Dollar (GB) (Frankel {GB}). Trainer Hughie Morrison was letting all know his regard for the G2 Dante S. entry afterwards. “He’s obviously a very nice horse–he proved that at Doncaster against a very good one of Andrew [Balding]’s,” he said. “He’s not his mother’s son for nothing, he’s jig-joggy. We had to canter his mother every day of the year, otherwise she’d do somersaults on the way home. We’ve got a week or two to think about what next. He’s in the Dante, we know he’s good, we worked that out at home and he did what we expected today. The Dante is a very good option, but I’m told there are an awful lot of good horses in Ireland and an awful lot of good horses in Newmarket–and not to mention some good ones at Kingsclere, so we’ll see how we go.” Telecaster is the second foal out Shirocco Star, who aside from her Oaks placings was also third in the G1 Pretty Polly S. and runner-up in the G2 QIPCO British Champions Fillies & Mares S. and G2 Prix de Royallieu. From the family of Ballydoyle’s G3 Tetrarch S. winner and G1 Irish 2000 Guineas runner-up France (GB) (Desert Prince {Ire}), she is also connected to the listed scorer Hippy Hippy Shake (GB) (Danehill Dancer {Ire}) whose daughter Twist ‘n’ Shake (GB) (Kingman {GB}) runs in a maiden at Newmarket’s Craven meeting on Tuesday. Shirocco Star’s 2-year-old colt by Dubawi (Ire) was bought for 1.1million gns by Stroud Coleman Bloodstock at last year’s Tattersalls October Sale and that sizeable investment looks even better now. Sales history: 180,000gns RNA Ylg ’17 TATOCT. Lifetime Record: 2-1-1-0, $6,361. Video, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton. O-Castle Down Racing; B-Meon Valley Stud (GB); T-Hughie Morrison. View the full article

A deal has been struck between Newmarket Racecourse and bet365, which sees Newmarket’s three-day Craven Meeting sponsorship extended another three years, it was announced on Monday. The bet365 Craven Meeting is the first of 39 fixtures held at HQ in 2019 and begins on Tuesday, with the G3 bet365 Craven S., won last year by subsequent G1 Investec Derby hero Masar (Ire) (New Approach {Ire}), on tap for Wednesday’s card. “We are delighted to have agreed an extended deal with bet365 ahead of what is sure to be another fantastic curtain raiser to the 2019 season at the Home of Horseracing,” said Amy Starkey, Regional Director of The Jockey Club, East Region. “bet365 have long been valued supporters of Newmarket Racecourses and we are excited to discover which star names will emerge at bet365 Craven Meetings in the seasons to come.” Added bet365 Head of Racing PR Pat Cooney, “”We are delighted to continue our support of the Craven Meeting for a further three years, maintaining our close relationship with Newmarket Racecourses. Our association with this meeting goes back many years and we are looking forward to welcoming in the new Flat season at the Home of Horseracing.” View the full article

When Country House finished third in the Arkansas Derby (G1), he left Bodexpress at the top of the list of as many as five 3-year-olds who may be re-routed to the Preakness unless there is a rash of defections from the May 4 Kentucky Derby (G1). View the full article

“Happy New Year” used to be the traditional greeting at Newmarket’s Craven meeting and for aficionados of racing on the level it was apt, even allowing for the excitement of the Cheltenham festival and Grand National that preceded it. Tuesday sees it come around again on racing’s welcome continuous cycle with a storm of some of the world’s finest bloodstock cutting through the vibrant spring air. This year, due to the nature of a late Easter, the Suffolk venue’s first major feast of the season takes place after Newbury and ParisLongchamp’s Classic trials so there is a sense that we are already well underway. Nevertheless, these three days at “HQ” have a unique appeal as the true high-board of the flat and a glance down the honour roll of the Nell Gwyn and Craven S. certainly says so. The former, a Group 3 contest over seven furlongs for the fillies whose connections are set on the 1000 Guineas, graces the opening fixture on Tuesday with it now being 13 years since Speciosa (Ire) (Danehill Dancer {Ire}) won it and the main event. Despite that statistic, it is always a trial of substance, more so for the beaten fillies of late with the Hannon-trained pair of Billesdon Brook (GB) (Champs Elysees {GB}) and Sky Lantern (Ire) (Red Clubs {Ire}) turning around reversals in the 2 1/2-week gap between this and the mile Classic. Roger Varian has a strong contingent this time, with the stable’s G3 Oh So Sharp S. winner Mot Juste (Distorted Humor) carrying the famous silks of Robert Barnett just three days after the owner-breeder’s Star Terms (GB) (Sea the Stars {Ire}) ran a creditable fourth in the Fred Darling. Alongside her is Sheikh Mohammed bin Khalifa Al Thani’s course-and-distance maiden winner Qabala (Scat Daddy) and despite the gulf in experience that exists between the duo their trainer is highly complimentary of both. “Mot Juste has wintered well and strengthened up considerably,” he said. “I am pleased with the way she has been working but, although she is ready for a run, the Nell Gwyn will bring her on and we are treating it as a stepping stone to the rest of the season for her. She has a fast ground action–the ground is quite important to her–so the dry forecast is in her favour. I hope that she is a filly good enough to merit a place in the 1000 Guineas line-up. “Qabala is a filly full of potential and I think that she is a group-race performer of the future. This will tell us a lot about her current level and if she is more of a filly for later in the season.” Racecourse savvy is supplied in abundance by Saif Ali’s Main Edition (Ire) (Zoffany {Ire}), who was out last May and scooped the prizes on offer in the G3 Albany S. at Royal Ascot and the G3 Sweet Solera S. on the July Course here before winding up third behind Just Wonderful (Dansili {GB}) and Saturday’s Fred Darling winner Dandhu (GB) (Dandy Man {Ire}) in the G2 Rockfel S. over this track and trip in September. Charlie Johnston, assistant to father Mark, is in confident mood. “She’s the highest-rated filly in the race and on her Albany and Sweet Solera runs, she’s the one they all have to beat,” he commented. “It looks a decent opportunity for her and hopefully she can give us some confidence that we can come back to Newmarket next month with a realistic each-way chance.” Charlie Appleby’s performance at this meeting 12 months ago was outstanding and his pair of fillies by Dubawi (Ire), Nashirah (GB) and Orchid Star (GB), will provide a guide as to where he stands with his Classic crop. Nashirah has the benefit of a Dubai winter behind her and is obviously considered better than her latest fifth in the Jan. 31 Meydan Classic Trial over this trip, while Orchid Star has been on the all-weather during the cold months. An impressive winner of a mile novice contest on Newcastle’s Tapeta last time Feb. 15, she may have a touch of last year’s winner Soliloquy (GB) about her. “We feel that going back up in trip will probably be on the cards for Orchid Star in time,” Appleby commented. “She has made all on her last two starts and will be ridden forwardly again, especially as she is coming back to seven furlongs.” It is 28 years since the winner of the Listed European Free H. went on to 2000 Guineas glory and while it seems fanciful to suggest that any of this year’s cast of seven can end the drought, there is a promising type in the John Gosden-trained Azano (GB) (Oasis Dream {GB}). Last seen finishing runner-up to Saturday’s impressive G3 Greenham S. winner Mohaather (GB) (Showcasing {GB}) in Newbury’s G3 Horris Hill S. over this seven-furlong trip, Martin and Lee Taylor’s bay gets six pounds from Saeed bin Mohammed Al Qassimi’s G3 Tattersalls S. winner Arctic Sound (GB) (Poet’s Voice {GB}) with the racing weights determined by the horses’ positioning in the World Rankings. Despite having to give weight to all, Arctic Sound carries high hopes into his comeback. “He’s a course-and-distance winner and I’d like to think he’s the one they all have to beat,” Charlie Johnston said of him. Nestled between the Nell Gwyn and European Free is the Listed Feilden S., where Phoenix Thoroughbred’s Kadar (Scat Daddy) will be seen for the second time after missing two group engagements last season due to rain-softened ground. Having beaten ‘TDN Rising Star’ and strong-staying type Waldstern (GB) (Sea the Stars {Ire}) in a mile novice race at Haydock in September, he is moving up to nine furlongs rather than tackling the speedier Classic trials. “We’ll learn a lot about him,” trainer Karl Burke commented. “I’ve said plenty about him in the last year–probably too much–but I think he’s a lovely horse.” Burke has made no secret of the regard in which the €700,000 Arqana May Breeze-Up graduate is held, but said he feels that the Guineas may be on the sharp side. “I hope I’m wrong, but he is just showing that a mile in the top grade might just catch him out for a turn of foot which is why I’m happy to run him over an extra furlong.,” he added. “For me he’s a mile-and-a-quarter-horse plus. If he wins then we have the option of coming back for the Guineas, because he’ll have had a look at the track as well. I was probably over cautious last year–he was a big baby of a horse, but he’s much more mature now.” Kadar’s material will be measured in his performance against Aidan O’Brien’s G1 Futurity Trophy third Western Australia (Ire) (Australia {GB}) and he is race-fit after a return second in Dundalk’s Listed Patton S. Mar. 6. Newmarket’s Craven meeting is not just about the black-type races, however, with abundant promise in evidence in the various maidens and novice races. Last year, Sea of Class (Ire) (Sea the Stars {Ire}) managed to get beaten on her debut in the second division of the mile fillies’ maiden on this card and the next time she tasted defeat was at the hands of Enable (GB) (Nathaniel {Ire}) in the Arc. Even the closing 10-furlong handicap has proved a surprisingly fertile source of classy individuals in recent times, with Papal Bull (GB) (Montjeu {Ire}), Wigmore Hall (Ire) (High Chaparral {Ire}), Main Sequence (Aldebaran) and Old Persian (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) all winning before achieving on a more grandiose scale. Perhaps Papal Bull’s trainer Sir Michael Stoute has high hopes for Saeed Suhail’s Newcastle novice winner Solid Stone (Ire) (Shamardal) in this year’s renewal, with the colt being his only runner on the opening card. In the five-furlong 2-year-old fillies’ maiden, Charlie Appleby unleashes Godolphin’s 750,000gns Tattersalls October purchase Chasing Dreams (GB) (Starspangledbanner {Aus}) as the operation’s first juvenile runner of 2019. View the full article

The Maker’s Mark Secretariat Center (MMSC) is located in the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, Kentucky. Founded in 2004, with major donations from Marylou Whitney, the late Dr. Frank Lyons, and Maker’s Mark, through their Triple Crown commemorative bottle sales, the MMSC gives off-track Thoroughbreds a world stage in the heavily trafficked horse lovers destination. Retraining at MMSC is based on the Horse Centered Reschooling Program, developed by MMSC Director Susanna Thomas. I caught up with Thomas, who just recently announced a new satellite location for MMSC in Illinois. The MMSC is a TAA-accredited organization. DP: What is your background in horses and how has it influenced the mission and work at MMSC? ST: Horses have been my lifelong interest and passion. I grew up a horse crazy little girl in New York and in Europe, and was constantly seeking out ways to be close to and to learn about horses. Because of where I have lived, I have an eclectic background with horses. In addition, I am ceaselessly curious and forever fascinated by the art, philosophy and science of horses and horsemanship. Over the years I have competed in dressage and hunt seat, done extensive groundwork training, foxhunted, driven carriages and I’ve ridden sidesaddle. I taught riding, spent many years writing for horse magazines, worked in many aspects of the racing industry from working with broodmares, breaking yearlings, working at the sales, being a vet tech, night watching, and breeding a few sport horses. Add all of this to my holistic approach to wellness in life–a constant balance of–mind, body, spirit, relationship–and what we get is the Horse Centered Reschooling Program, a training methodology where each of these factors is addressed to give the horse the best chance of success in whatever job it is being asked to do. When I took over the Center in 2008, I wanted to move as many horses as possible but in doing so, I had to stay true to my personal beliefs and make sure that we were fulfilling our duty to the horses in every way. You sometimes feel in the business of racing, the best interest of the horses isn’t or can’t always be the number one priority. The horses have to fit into the racehorse mold–perform or move on. That makes sense at the track, but not so when putting horses up for adoption. The end goal is to make sure that these horses have successful new careers and homes. The best way to achieve that in my opinion, is to make sure that each horse is prepared for a new job, and placed properly. Instead of running horses through the center speedily because that is the foremost need of the industry, we flip the ratio and make each horse’s individual needs the focus first. Taking the time it takes, as expeditiously as possible–we do whatever is necessary to give every horse the best chance to succeed in a new job and to have longevity in a new home. Education matters, right? As Alois Podhajsky, head of the Spanish Riding School always said, “one makes haste slowly with horses.” So we go as fast and as slow as we can and it has really paid off because we have adopters who love our methods and approach, very few mismatches and many, many repeat customers who want an additional MMSC horse in their barn. DP: Let’s talk about MMSC by the numbers. How many stalls do you have at MMSC? Does that determine the number of horses in training at MMSC? How many horses are in the MMSC barn at this time? ST: We have 10 stalls at MMSC, all named for donors who sponsored them, and 10-15 horses on the grounds at a time throughout the year. We try to keep them outdoors as much as possible, although we generally have five or six up at night if they need special attention. Over the year, we will move between 40 and 50 horses through our program. DP: How many staff and volunteers does it take to keep it running? ST: We have four full-time employees who handle the horse care, training, adoptions, marketing, educational outreach, fundraising and office management. We all do barnwork, and groundwork, whatever it takes, and we have a covey of the most wonderful volunteers and amazing interns to help us keep the place up. DP: Are you launching any new initiatives in 2019? ST: I am thrilled about a new program conceived of by our chair, Dorothy Crowell, an international level event rider and Olympian, granddaughter of Leslie Combs, a Thoroughbred aficionada, called the Allstar Program which aims to bring the Thoroughbred back to the highest levels of sport. There are many owners who get into the business of racing because of the love of the horse and seeing it compete. Dorothy’s thought was why does the fun have to stop when the racing days are done? For a cost that is minimal in comparison to racing expenses ($4,000 a year), the owners can support their horse–if it seemingly has the talent–in a competition syndicate and cheer it on, perhaps even to the highest levels of equestrian sport. We have one international level rider already, Jonathan Hollings and his MMSC graduate Ragtime Rebel (Union Rags) who was given to us by Charlie LoPresti. And we have received quite a few calls from upper level riders all over the country who want to join the effort to showcase the Thoroughbred as America’s elite sport-horse. Now, all we need are more owners to join in. DP: The MMSC is located in the much-revered Kentucky Horse Park. Tell us how that affects the day-to-day operations of the MMSC and how has that location helped or hurt your mission? ST: The great thing about being in the Horse Park is that Lexington is not only the Horse Capital of the World, it is the Thoroughbred Horse Capital of the World. That gives us a huge stage from which to shout out the wonders of this amazing breed and the value of our industry. The challenges are that we have a very small campus, so we are limited to the amount of horses that we can take on. We also do tours and get many drop-in visitors which one might call “interruptions” because it does curtail our work routine. I take them not as interruptions at all but, as opportunities to share our passion and knowledge and make new friends for the MMSC and for racing. We are very proud of our location and we want to do anything we can to showcase the Kentucky Horse Park as the amazing facility that it is. We have discussed a variety of ways that the Horse Park and the MMSC can work together for the mutual goal of educating and celebrating the horse-in this case, the Thoroughbred horse. I would welcome the TB industry reaching out to us more and using our stage to broadcast their good works in aftercare. DP: What is unique or special about the training program at MMSC? ST: What is special about the MMSC is our laser-like focus on each horse–what it tells us with its body, its reactions, its actions. Then we make an individualized plan using the deductive skills of Sherlock Holmes and the compassionate tact of Anne Sullivan, Helen Keller’s companion, to search out the mysteries of each horse and to teach it in a way that it can best understand. Every horse receives, not only the dental and farrier care it needs, we also do bodywork, chiropractic adjustments, integrative therapies, proceed through desensitization and trust–building exercises using natural horsemanship, problem solving skills by introducing Tellington-Jones techniques. We start from the ground, lunging, and long-lining, and free jumping. When we ride, we give them a curriculum based on the fundamental principles of dressage, introduce them to cavelletti and small jumping courses, take them trail riding, and even sometimes foxhunting or to horse shows. Finally, we insist that people come ride the horses they are interested in before they can adopt one. We don’t get as many horses adopted this way as those organizations which allow horses to be adopted sight unseen, but we believe it is the best way for the horse, the adopter, and the reputation of the breed. Think about it–if a horse is shipped to a new home and the fit is not right, the adopter could get hurt, the horse could get hurt or confused, and you reinforce the belief that “Thoroughbreds are only fit for racing.” DP: What is the biggest challenge facing your organization in 2019? ST: We have two huge challenges. The first is funding. I am honored that professionals and amateurs alike have called us the “Gold Standard of Thoroughbred Reschooling,” but Gold Standards are pricey to uphold. The racing industry is beleaguered by charities doing good work, but clamoring for the same funds. It is a constant struggle to be able to afford to give these horses what they need. The second challenge is that our campus is really small–17 acres of paddock. This limits the number of horses we can take in. Not only that we don’t have an indoor arena so training is often limited by the weather and the season. If we had more funding, we could solve both of those things, so I guess, the biggest challenge is truly funding. DP: You recently announced a satellite facility. Can you tell us a little about it? ST: It seemed to us that the way to help more horses was to open additional facilities. This was something the board had discussed over the years, but it seemed really challenging to find a way to ensure that our “Gold Standard” would be upheld. Over the last two years, the MMSC has adopted out five horses to the lesson program at a showcase facility in Frankfort, Illinois called the Ranch. As a result we have come to know Rick Bulthuis, owner of the Ranch in Frankfort Illinois and his general manager, Daniele Turner, really well and we realized that they were very much in line with our philosophy. We began talking about a satellite arrangement in the spring of last year and we are super excited to announce that we are open for business now in Illinois. In fact, in the short time since the announcement, we have adopted out two lovely reschooled horses from the MMSC at the Ranch. DP: Is there a horse you have in training today to whom you’d like to introduce us? ST: Yes, War of Ideas. He was a $470,000 sales yearling, who ran a bit, and was felled by a guttural pouch infection that threatened his life. With the support of Dr. Liz Barrett at Hagyard Medical Center, he was nursed back to health at the MMSC and is the RRP Makeover horse of our talented trainer, Kara Toye. He’s a gorgeous, gray masterpiece of a horse–which goes English, or western, has a great jump, and is wonderful field hunter. Please follow him on our social media and come cheer him on at the Makeover! For more information go to www.secretariatcenter.org Diana Pikulski is the editor of the Thoroughbred Adoption Network. View the full article

G1 QIPCO 2000 Guineas contenders Phoenix Of Spain (Ire) (Lope de Vega {Ire}) and Advertise (GB) (Showcasing {GB}) will both work publically on Newmarket’s Rowley Mile Racecourse in advance of racing on the first day of the three-day Craven Meeting on Tuesday. GSW Phoenix Of Spain, who won the G3 Acomb S. and ran second in the G1 Vertem Futurity S. in October for trainer Charlie Hills, will work over seven furlongs in company with a lead horse at 11:55 a.m. local time. G1 Phoenix S. victor and Phoenix Thoroughbred-owned Advertise is slated to work at 12:15 p.m. over six panels with a lead horse for trainer Martyn Meade. The first day of the Craven Meeting will feature eight races, with the first race going off at 1:15 p.m. View the full article

Arkansas Derby (G1) runner-up Improbable, along with third-place finisher Country House and sixth-place finisher Long Range Toddy, arrived at Churchill Downs the morning of April 15 following a flight from Oaklawn Park. View the full article

Terry Hamilton's multiple graded stakes winner Heart to Heart has been retired said trainer Brian Lynch April 15. The 8-year-old son of English Channel leaves racing with a 15-6-4 record from 41 starts and earnings of $2,035,090. View the full article

Apologies for the tardy start of this weekly digest. It’s certainly not a case of taking the Newmarket resident’s view that the Flat only really begins today with the start of the Craven meeting, more that family matters rendered this correspondent a non-runner in the first fortnight of the season. Fortunately we have had the excellent Pat Smullen to give us his take on the racing scene, and his much-enjoyed weekly column will be back tomorrow. Even ahead of today’s racing action, Newmarket’s Rowley Mile has already been the scene of plenty of activity this week, with around 120 breezers having been put under the spotlight yesterday morning ahead of the Tattersalls Craven Breeze-up Sale, which starts its two-day run later today. The 2-year-old sales are not universally loved but a good reminder that such auctions can offer more than just blink-and-you’ll-miss-’em juveniles was served by the admirable Stormy Antarctic (GB) (Stormy Atlantic) on Sunday. Now six, the Ed Walker-trained gelding added the G3 Kalkmann Frujahrs-Meile at Dusseldorf to his record on his 2019 debut, extending his tally to seven wins and 11 places from 26 starts. Those victories, spread between Britain, France and Germany, include the G3 Craven S. of 2016—run, appropriately enough, during a sudden lightning storm—a year after he had been sold at the eponymous breeze-up sale by Grove Stud for 200,000gns. He was also beaten just a head by Johannes Vermeer (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) while aiming for Group 1 success at two in the Criterium International. When interviewed for the TDN last summer, Walker said, “Stormy has kind of saved our bacon every year. He’s been a flag-bearer and a star.” He is unlikely to have revised his opinion of his stable favourite and the trainer deserves equal plaudits for keeping Stormy Antarctic in such good shape both physically and mentally. The Wonder of Winx While we are on the subject of longevity, the above statement of course applies to Chris Waller in his handling of Winx (Aus) (Street Cry {Ire}). There’s little left to say about Australia’s darling that hasn’t already been said, but alongside her legion of fans there are those who will continue to feel that her connections’ reluctance to travel beyond her home country means that we’ll never know how good she really was. That debate is largely irrelevant, however. The true wonder of Winx is her extraordinary retention of form, soundness and will to win. In every racing stable in every jurisdiction there will be horses whose trainers feel that they’ve never really shown their true potential because they’ve been difficult to keep sound, or that they didn’t really have the heart for the job. In truth, those two things usually go hand in hand. A sound horse, free of aches and pains, is usually a happy horse, prepared to go out there and run as it was bred to do. For those knocking Winx, it’s worth remembering that during her 33-race winning streak which lasted just shy of four years, an American Triple Crown winner has come and gone in just six—albeit brilliant, unbeaten—starts, not to mention countless other horses now being feted at stud whose race records don’t amount to a hill of beans in comparison to that of the great mare. Thanx, Winx. Turgeon, too The award for longstanding services to racing must however go to Turgeon (Caro {GB}). There can be few, if any, stallions with a new crop of foals on the ground at the age of 33. That was the remarkable benchmark reached by the Haras du Mesnil stallion, who died last week. He will be missed terribly by Henri and Antonia Devin, who stood him for the entirety for his stud career, which began in 1994. In the week before the Cheltenham Festival, at which the Mesnil team was represented by the Close Brothers Novices’ Chase winner A Plus Tard (Fr) (Kapgarde {Fr}) and G1 Queen Mother Champion Chase runner-up Politologue (Fr) (Poliglote {GB}), Antonia Devin was celebrating the arrival of a good filly foal by Turgeon but admitted that the stallion would for the first time not be covering this season. Turgeon himself posted a new Festival winner this year in the form of Siruh Du Lac (Fr), while he features as broodmare sire not just of Politologue but also one of the stars of the season, La Bague Au Roi (Fr), a daughter of his Mesnil stud mate Doctor Dino (Fr). A stayer in every sense of the word, Turgeon met his end peacefully in the place that had been his home for a quarter of a century, but his name will be remembered for many years to come. More Power To The Champion Silvestre de Sousa claimed his second jockeys’ championship last year on the same day he met King Power Racing’s Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha to discuss a retainer for the owner’s horses this season. A week later, Srivaddhanaprabha, a major investor in racehorses in recent years, was killed in a helicopter crash while leaving the ground of his Leicester City Football Club. His family’s decision to continue racing the team of horses which had been assembled for him by Alastair Donald has been rewarded so far this season with a terrific strike-rate for King Power Racing and de Sousa, and, with a number of Classic prospects under their ownership, it will be hoped that greater success is yet to come. On Saturday, Fox Chairman (Ire), a Kingman (GB) half-brother to Group 1 winner La Collina (Ire), was the impressive four-length winner of a Newbury maiden, following up the previous day’s success at the same track, and also for trainer Andrew Balding, of Happy Power (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}). The same team also has today’s European Free H. runner Shine So Bright (GB) (Oasis Dream {GB}), who holds a 2000 Guineas entry, as well as the portentously named King Power (GB), a Frankel (GB) half-sister to Oaks winner Talent (GB) (New Approach {GB}), who is entered for that same Classic. On Saturday morning, de Sousa was spotted in Sir Michael Stoute’s string aboard last season’s maiden winner Queen Power (Ire) (Shamardal), the sister to Australian Group 2 winner Puissance De Lune (Ire). She too has potential Classic engagements. Fine and Dandy A good run last season for Ballyhane Stud’s Dandy Man (Ire) shows no sign of abating. In consecutive weekends he has been represented by Classic trial winners Lady Kaya (Ire) and Dandhu (GB), while Godolphin’s La Pelosa (Ire), a graduate of last year’s Tattersalls Craven Breeze-up Sale from the Tally-Ho Stud draft and subsequent winner of the GI Natalma S. at Woodbine, has entries in the Irish and French Guineas. Chatez (Ire) gilded the lily at Newbury on Saturday, winning the valuable Spring Cup after Dandhu had triumphed in the G3 Fred Darling S. for the redoubtable veterans David Elsworth and Gerald Mosse. These results have combined to leave Dandy Man out in front in the British and Irish sires’ table at this early stage of the season, ahead of Dark Angel (Ire) and Kodiac (GB). Five of his offspring are catalogued to sell at Tattersalls this week. Success no Accident As the G1 Queen Anne S. winner Accidental Agent (GB) (Delegator {GB}) nears his seasonal return, perhaps in the G1 Al Shaqab Lockinge S., his owner-breeder Gaie Johnson Houghton will have been buoyed by more success for the family via G3 Greenham S. winner Mohaather (GB). The son of Showcasing (GB) is a half-brother to Accidental Agent’s dam Roodle (GB) (Xaar {GB}) and was the final foal of his listed-placed dam Roodeye (GB) (Inchinor {GB}) and was sold to Shadwell as a yearling for 110,000gns. Two of his three victories have come at Group 3 level at Newbury and he is now around 12/1 for the 2000 Guineas to give trainer Marcus Tregoning a second Classic after the Derby victory of Sir Percy (GB) in 2006. Five generations of this particular equine family, which descends from the foundation mare Sirnelta (GB), have raced for the Johnson Houghtons. The breeder’s daughter Eve trains not just Accidental Agent but also his half-sisters, Madame Tantzy (GB) (Champs Elysees {GB}) and Roodica (GB) (Due Diligence). The 3-year-old Madame Tantzy made her debut at Newbury on the same day that Mohaather won the G3 Horris Hill S. last October. Though she was down the field when again appearing on the same card as her relation on Saturday in the G3 Fred Darling S., she became a winner last month at Kempton. The siblings’ dam, one of two mares owned by Johnson Houghton, is booked to be covered by Showcasing this season. View the full article

NEWMARKET, UK–With the breeze-up calendar this year lurching straight from the blue-collar to the blueblood, it’s not easy to read the barometer. Will the Tattersalls Craven Sale take its cue from the uplifting spring sunshine that favoured the youngsters who exhibited their wares on the Rowley Mile yesterday; or from the residue of winter that laced the icy headwind into which they galloped? Last year, consignors arrived in Newmarket reeling. They had endured a particularly dispiriting start at Ascot, where only half those into the ring managed to find a new home, and found little respite in the intermediate market at Doncaster. This time round, however, the latter sale has been pushed back to later in the month. And it would be rash to treat a sale as different in emphasis as the one staged at Ascot a couple of weeks ago as any kind of signpost, for better or worse, to the likely trade when the first of two evening sessions is staged after racing concludes up the road on Tuesday. Nonetheless consignors enter the fray with guarded optimism, recognising that there were lessons to be learned last year, and hoping that a new bonus scheme will help their cause. There was a consensus last year that the sector had become bloated, partly thanks to those opportunists–emboldened by the headline coups of those specialists whose expertise had driven a boom in the market–who “dumped” unsold yearlings on the breeze-ups. Even this sale expanded its catalogue, from 152 to 172, but has been trimmed back to 147 before withdrawals this time. John Cullinan of Horse Park Stud, who has earned so many plaudits for his work heading the Breeze-Up Consignors’ Association, knows that it can be tough for yearling vendors just to write off a hit–for the very good reason that he is also one himself. “But people were losing sight of the fact that this is a specialist sector,” he said. “Just because a yearling is unsold doesn’t necessarily mean it will be suitable for the breeze-ups. When we make those decisions, as yearling vendors, it’s based on the horse. “Remember the breeze-ups were never a mainstream activity. The breeze-ups were a way for trainers to top up their 2-year-old stock for the current season, typically adding a couple more provided what they already had at home was paid for. The sector was never capable of absorbing the kind of numbers that ended up in the system last year.” Tattersalls have certainly done their bit, introducing a £15,000 bonus scheme modelled on the success of its £25,000 Book I incentive at the October Sale. Ascot, likewise, had come up with a new carrot, in a £100,000 bonus for any graduate that proceeds to win at the Royal meeting. So while the postponement of the Doncaster sale removes a wider base for judging the market’s morale, Cullinan feels the signs are positive. “There has been a correction, both on the sales companies’ side and the consignors’ side,” he said. “Numbers have been tightened up, which needed to happen. Ascot cut back considerably, because they had too many last year when the clearance rate was very poor. I think they’ve cleverly created an identity for that sale, as a place to find your early 2-year-old; coupled with the bonus, which was a good marketing ploy, the clearance rate was much better.” Admittedly the increased traffic at Ascot made it hard for the median to recover. But this sale is a whole different ball game, with many lots pinhooked for sums far greater than that given for the top lot at Ascot. There will be plenty of interest, for instance, in the American Pharoah colt consigned by jockey John Egan and his Alliance Bloodstock team as lot 29–not least after an impressive success by the Triple Crown winner’s first runner in Ireland last week. This half-brother to Group 3 winner and G2 Queen Mary S. runner-up Shumoos (Distorted Humor) was bought for $375,000 at Keeneland last September and Egan will be hoping for another exciting day, having pinhooked $270,000 yearling Global Prospector (Scat Daddy)–a striking debut scorer at Wolverhampton last month–through Mocklershill when he realised 800,000gns here last year. But the poster girl for the 2018 sale, adorning the back of the catalogue, is La Pelosa (Ire) (Dandy Man {Ire}), who was sold to Godolphin by Tally-Ho Stud for 280,000gns and proceeded to win the GI Natalma S. at Woodbine five months later. As one consignor put it, you seldom get any pleasant surprises from a breeze. The most you can hope is that they do themselves justice according to what you have seen at home, and that you get no reaction–in the shins or elsewhere–to what were pretty firm conditions yesterday for those adolescent limbs. Needless to say, the timing spreadsheets will have their usual impact at the top of the market–whatever agents might claim about treating the clock as just one among umpteen factors–but at least disaster was averted when Norman Williamson’s Invincible Spirit (Ire) colt (lot 122) was unable to stretch out because of a broken rein. The Oak Tree Farm consignor was relieved that the colt showed such a sensible disposition that he was able to regroup, after an hour’s rest, and show what he could do. “And he breezed well,” Williamson said. “I’m very hopeful: I have four nice colts by the right sires. That Invincible Spirit is the only one in the sale, and the same goes for a beautiful horse by Farrh (GB) [lot 41]. And we’ve a very quick, sharp 2-year-old by Dark Angel (Ire) [lot 127], who breezed very well, and a Kodiac (GB) with a very good pedigree [lot 117, out of a group-winning sister to Classic scorer King Of Kings (Ire) (Sadler’s Wells)]. All ours did what we thought they would, and they all moved well, which is a big help. They’re in good shape, so fingers crossed. “The whole sector has tightened up a bit on last year and, while it’s hard to read [this sale] after Ascot, it looked like there was trade there: plenty of horses being sold for £20,000-£30,000. But here will tell a lot about the future. There are well-bred horses that cost a bit of money, and the standard looked good out there. It was quite quick ground, but there’d be no excuses on it for Flat horses; and while there was the headwind it didn’t inconvenience anyone, because it was the same all the way through.” Cullinan, for his part, was largely happy enough with his team–as usual presented in partnership with Roger Marley of Church Farm. “It was the usual mixed bag,” he said. “We do have one very smart horse there, lot 80, a naturally quick 2-year-old by Tagula (Ire). But he changed his legs half a dozen times in the Dip. So he didn’t breeze quite as well as we would have liked, but our opinion of the horse hasn’t changed. We’ve two Kodiac colts who aren’t five-furlong horses, they’re seven-furlong horses, but a nice horse is a nice horse and we think they’re racehorses [Lots 45 & 108]. Like the Tagula, the Dandy Man [lot 133] is also ready to rock, so hopefully there will be punters out there for them. And we’ve a filly, another Kodiac, who again won’t be a Queen Mary filly [lot 54] but she’ll win her races and has a residual value with a good book and a good physical, so hopefully she’ll have her admirers.” His faith in the Tagula colt typifies the scenario in which a bond of trust between consignors and past clients can be worth even more in this sector than is the case with yearlings or foals. “Yes, vendor input can be much more influential because, by and large, we know what we have,” Cullinan said. “From seeing them on a daily basis, we know which horses are going to be trainable. All we hope is that they show on the day what we think they can do. They never find an extra leg here!” And that takes us back to his original point. This is a highly specialised business, and you can’t chuck just any yearling into the process. “Breeze-up consignors know what might work and what won’t,” Cullinan said. “But it’s tricky. We’ve a lot of risks involved. Between us we have spent £90-million over the last four years and, typically, this sale here and the one at Arqana would have about £6-7 million apiece [of stock] coming in. So there’s a lot at stake. Thankfully, we’ve very good people at it and the results on the track have been very, very good. “So we just hope people recognise the way we’re adding huge value to the raw material that is your yearling. We show soundness, ability, you can listen to their wind, see their action. But in doing so we’re also exposing the ordinary beasts. So we’re taking 20% of the yearling market, sorting out the good ones and culling the bad ones. That makes it a very valuable selection process for our customers.” View the full article