Wandering Eyes

If there were in-running betting, ‘TDN Rising Star‘ Analyze It (Point of Entry) would have been minimum odds inside the final 100 yards in the GIII Pennine Ridge S. and last time in the GI Belmont Derby. But he was caught each time by the Travers-bound Catholic Boy (More Than Ready) and there appears to be no great margin for error as the favorite in Saturday’s Secretariat S. at Arlington, arguably the most interesting of the three Grade Is. Possessed, when needed, of a rare combination of early speed and an outstanding turn of foot, the $190,000 OBS March graduate romped home to defeat Captivating Moon (Malibu Moon) in Keeneland’s GIII Appalachian S. Apr. 6, but elected to sit off Catholic Boy in the Pennine Ridge and the Belmont Derby. It appeared those tactics would prove successful, but he failed to put Catholic Boy away and went down to narrow defeats each time. Hunting Horn (Ire) (Camelot {GB}), sixth in the G1 Prix du Jockey Club June 3, returned to England and turned in one of the more visually impressive scores at Royal Ascot, breezing home to take the newly graded G3 Hampton Court S. by 4 ½ lengths from close range. He couldn’t quite gain on the top two in the Belmont Derby, but certainly wasn’t disgraced in third. Trainer Aidan O’Brien is a four-time winner of the Secretariat. ‘TDN Rising Star‘ Untamed Domain (Animal Kingdom) is an intriguing option, even if his morning-line odds of 5-1 would represent an underlay. Winner nearly in spite of himself of last year’s GII Summer S., the bay closed well to finish runner-up to Mendelssohn (Scat Daddy) in last year’s GI Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf. He has yet to win this season and will need a career effort to win this, but his last when sixth–placed fifth–in the GIII Kent S. is far better than it looks and 10 furlongs over ground that should be fast enough could be exactly what the doctor ordered. Bandua (The Factor) won his first two career starts going this distance and was listed as a GI Belmont S. possibility before connections opted to remain at home. Eighth in the G1 Irish Derby over a mile and a half and fifth as the favorite in the 14-furlong Listed Vinnie Roe S., he drops back to his winning distance for this. Trainer Dermot Weld won the 2008 Secretariat with Winchester (Theatrical {Ire}). View the full article

If the three-pronged Brown entry might have to play second fiddle in the Million, that will most certainly not be the case in Saturday’s GI Beverly D. S., as the conditioner shoots for a fourth straight success in the race and fifth overall since 2011. And a 1-2-3 finish isn’t entirely inconceivable. Peter Brant’s Sistercharlie (Ire) (Myboycharlie {Ire}) looks the pick of the lot as she goes in search of a third Grade I since her transfer to the U.S. Runner-up to the late Senga (Blame) in the 2017 G1 Prix de Diane, she was the meat of a Brown sweep in the GI Belmont Oaks before taking ill and missing a large chunk of time. She nevertheless led home a stable triple in the GI Jenny Wiley S. first-up for nine months, missed by a head to Fourstar Crook (Freud) in an oddly run GII New York S. June 8 and overcame a wide run on the second turn to take Saratoga’s GI Diana S. by a nose July 21. Inflexibility (Scat Daddy) is still in search of a first graded win and was most recently second after leading late in the GII Dance Smartly S. at Woodbine June 30. Thais (Fr) (Rio de la Plata), co-owned by Brant, would do well to hit the board. Euro Charline (GB) (Myboycharlie {Ire}) is the lone sophomore filly to win the Beverly D. and Athena (Ire) (Camelot {Ire}) will be well supported to join her. The well-traveled bay needed seven tries to graduate, but has been on the improve since. Fourth against her peers in the G2 Ribblesdale S. at Royal Ascot June 21, she was third against elders in the G1 Pretty Polly S. at The Curragh July 1 and backed up on six days’ rest to upset the GI Belmont Oaks at 10-1. Daddys Lil Darling (Scat Daddy) merits a chance if she can work out a trip from the inside draw. Last year’s GI American Oaks victress made up the better part of 30 lengths to finish third, beaten 1 1/4 lengths in the New York, but managed to secure a handy position from the 12 hole in the course-and-distance GIII Modesty H. July 7 and was ridden out to take it by 2 1/4 very easy lengths. The waters are clearly much deeper here, but there are worse price plays than her. View the full article

Jack Swain III's multiple graded stakes-placed Lottie will go after her first stakes win in the $200,000 Fasig-Tipton Waya Stakes (G3T) at Saratoga Race Course Aug. 12. View the full article

Though he has yet to saddle a winner of the race, trainer Brian Lynch would be well acquainted with what sort of animal it takes to win the GI Arlington Million. The Australian cut his teeth in this country under the tutelage of trainer Bobby Frankel, who–somewhat remarkably–was not represented by a winner of America’s original seven-figure horse race until 2000, when Juddmonte Farms’ Chester House (Mr. Prospector) stormed away to a 3 1/4-length defeat of Manndar (Ire) (Doyoun {Ire}). Juddmonte supplied Frankel’s other Million winner (Beat Hollow {GB}, 2003). Since going out on his own in 2006, Lynch has amassed nearly 600 career victories, including a Queen’s Plate courtesy of Shaman Ghost (Ghostzapper) and seven Grade Is. Two of those top-level tallies were notched by Amerman Racing LLC homebred Oscar Performance (Kitten’s Joy), who starts as the 3-1 favorite for Saturday’s Million, a ‘Win and You’re In’ qualifier for the GI Breeders’ Cup Turf at Churchill Nov. 4. Course-and-distance winner of the 2017 GI Secretariat S., the son of Devine Actress–herself a daughter of 1987 Million third Theatrical (Ire)–was a good third to last year’s Million hero Beach Patrol (Lemon Drop Kid) in the GI Turf Classic Invitational before closing the season with a ninth in the BC Turf. The bay has just one run under his belt this term, a spectacular success in the one-mile GIII Poker S. at Belmont in which he stopped the clock in a record 1:31.23. “He’s got versatility,” Lynch told the Arlington notes team. “He can be on the lead or if there’s more pace he can sit just off it. The Arlington Million is just such a prestigious race and he’s going to be retired [to Mill Ridge] at the end of year so it would be nice to have a win in the race on his resume.” In the Million, Oscar Performance will try to go one better than his sire, who finished runner-up at odds on in 2005 a year after defeating the Frankel-trained Greek Sun (Danzig) in the Secretariat. Chad Brown was winning his second Million 12 months ago and has three chances to become the first trainer to go back-to-back in the 10-furlong test. Robert Bruce (Chi) (Fast Company {Ire}) will likely be the best-backed of the trio off a troubled-trip in the GI Woodford Reserve Manhattan S. in which he lost his momentum in heavy stretch traffic before closing fast once clear to finish sixth, a length behind Spring Quality (Quality Road), who enjoyed clear sailing throughout. The latter has the services of Hall of Famer Edgar Prado and has been specifically set for the Million since the Manhattan. The versatile Money Multiplier (Lookin At Lucky), a latest second to stablemate Funfair (More Than Ready) in the 11-furlong GI United Nations S., and Grade I winner Almanaar (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) are also not without their chances. Euro shippers have won four of the last 10 Millions, and the overseas threesome is led by Deauville (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}). Sent out by two-time Million-winning trainer Aidan O’Brien, the bay rounded out the trifecta in 2016 and 2017 and, like last year, exits a narrow defeat in the G3 Meld S. at Leopardstown. Ryan Moore will be at the controls. Century Dream (Ire) (Cape Cross {Ire}) won the G3 Diomed S. during the Derby/Oaks meeting at Epsom in June and Circus Couture (Ire) (Intikhab) is a Group 3 winner in Italy, but both look up against it from a class perspective on this stage. View the full article

In her first work since a 5 3/4-length score over the boys in the July 24 Prince of Wales S., ‘TDN Rising Star’ Wonder Gadot (Medaglia d’Oro) breezed a half-mile in :48.07 Friday at Saratoga. Working on the main track shortly after 5:30 a.m., the sophomore filly covered the first quarter in :24 1/5 and galloped out five furlongs in 1:01. Her piece of work ranked fifth of 60 by time at the distance. Aiming for the GI Runhappy Travers S. Aug. 25, Wonder Gadot will face colts for the third time after beating them in the first two legs of the Canadian Triple Crown, the Queen’s Plate and the aforementioned Prince of Wales. Campaigned by Gary Barber, Wonder Gadot was a multiple graded winner at two when named Canada’s Champion 2-year-old filly and added a runner-up finish in the GI Kentucky Oaks, as well as placing in three other graded stakes, earlier this term. “She got over [the work] really well,” said trainer Mark Casse. “Her first work back we didn’t want her to do too much. That was as fancy as it gets. I would give it an A-plus.” Casse added, “I am just confident when the dust clears, she is going to be part of the equation.” View the full article

Trainer Todd Pletcher will send a pair of debut winners into their first stakes start Aug. 12, as Meade and Spinoff comprise one-third of a six-horse field of juveniles in the $200,000 Saratoga Special Stakes presented by Miller Lite (G2). 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. Satuday’s Insights features some interesting Ballydoyle maidens 1.15 Cork, Mdn, €16,500, 2yo, f, 8fT ZAGITOVA (IRE) (Galileo {Ire}) bids to build on an encouraging debut second for Ballydoyle at Newmarket’s July meeting. The 1.6million gns TATOCT half-sister to the G1 Prix Maurice de Gheest-winning sire Garswood (GB) (Dutch Art {GB}) is joined by the stable’s debutante At Last (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), a half-sister to the G1 Golden Rose S. and G1 Coolmore Stud S. hero Zoustar (Aus) (Northern Meteor {Aus}). View the full article

Lava Man is now recovering at San Luis Rey Equine Clinic in Bonsall, Calif., and trainer Doug O'Neill said he and his team are optimistic about his recovery. View the full article

2nd-Haydock, £11,000, Cond, 8-10, 2yo, 7f 212yT, 1:40.66, g/f. BEATBOXER (c, 2, Scat Daddy–Thmoruplathlesupay, by Unbridled’s Song), who scored with some authority on debut at Sandown July 26, was soon in front and in command approaching the final quarter mile. Pushed out to the line, the 1-3 favourite registered a straightforward 3 3/4-length success from Rajinsky (Ire) (Zoffany {Ire}). The dam is a daughter of Miss Fortunate (Deputy Minister), who captured the GIII Turfway Breeders’ Cup S. and was placed in the GII Falls City H. and GII Chilukki S. She has an as-yet unraced 3-year-old filly Madison’s Wild One (Oxbow), a yearling colt by Constitution, a filly foal by California Chrome and has been bred to Frosted and Distorted Humor. Sales history: $650,000 Ylg ’17 KEESEP. Lifetime Record: 2-2-0-0, $15,952. Video, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton. O-H. R. H. Princess Haya of Jordan; B-Ramspring Farm (KY); T-John Gosden. View the full article

The Jockey Club will provide a live video stream for Sunday’s 66th Annual Round Table Conference on Matters Pertaining to Racing from Saratoga Springs, N.Y., on jockeyclub.com. The two-hour conference begins at 10 a.m. EDT. In addition to the live stream on The Jockey Club’s website, the event can be viewed on TVG2 and tvg.com. Updates from the conference will be tweeted from @jockeyclub using #tjcroundtable. View the full article

Off the mark by 3 1/2 lengths over this trip at Roscommon July 9, Christmas responded to positive tactics to open his black-type account and win a third consecutive renewal for Ballydoyle. In front from the outset, the bay was tackled and briefly headed by Highland Fortune a furlong out but rallied gamely to regain the advantage soon after and edge it in the dying strides. The dam, who took the GI Ashland S. and GII Davona Dale S. and was placed in the GI Acorn S., has now produced four black-type performers for this stable headed by this winner’s Listed Leopardstown 2000 Guineas Trial-winning full-brother Black Sea (Ire). With another yearling son of Galileo to follow, she is a daughter of the MGSW Christmas Gift (Green Desert) from the family of the GI Champagne S. and GI Futurity S.-winning sire Grand Slam (Gone West). COOLMORE IVAWOOD S.-Listed, €52,500, Tipperary, 8-10, 2yo, 7f 100yT, 1:36.03, g/f. 1–CHRISTMAS (IRE), 129, c, 2, by Galileo (Ire) 1st Dam: Christmas Kid (GISW-US, $596,877), by Lemon Drop Kid 2nd Dam: Christmas Gift, by Green Desert 3rd Dam: Christmas Bonus, by Key to the Mint 1ST BLACK TYPE WIN. O-Michael Tabor & Derrick Smith & Mrs John Magnier; B-Christmas Kid Syndicate (IRE); T-Aidan O’Brien; J-Donnacha O’Brien. €30,975. Lifetime Record: 4-2-1-0, $50,227. *Full to Black Sea (Ire), SW & GSP-Ire, & 1/2 to Michaelmas (Elusive Quality), GSP-Ire, & Father Christmas (Ire) (Bernardini), GSP-Eng, $138,749. 2–Highland Fortune, 129, c, 2, Declaration of War–Pan Dulce, by Candy Ride (Arg). ($62,000 Ylg ’17 KEESEP). O-Peter K L Chu. €9,975. 3–Wargrave (Ire), 129, c, 2, Galileo (Ire)–Scream Blue Murder (Ire), by Oratorio (Ire). O-Cayton Park Stud & Mrs John Magnier. €4,725. Margins: NK, 1HF, 1 3/4. Odds: 2.50, 2.50, 7.00. Also Ran: Vallambrosa (Ire), Syrena (Ire), Chicago May (Ire), Mona Lisa’s Smile. Click for the Racing Post result. Video, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton. View the full article

Santa Anita’s turf course has been fully renovated and will be race ready for the fall meet opener Sept. 28. Approximately four acres of Bandera-Bermuda Turf was installed through the stretch and into the clubhouse turn. “Due to the fact the turf course performed so well, we were able to run about 70 mores races over it this year, which was obviously well received by our fans and horsemen,” said Santa Anita Vice President of Racing and Racing Secretary, Rick Hammerle. “About 40% of our races are now run on turf. Our customers love it because it tends to attract large, competitive fields and many of our horsemen feel their horses do better on it, enabling them to run more often.” View the full article

An Aug. 8 Mountaineer Park race in which a 4-5 favorite with $26,500 in “bridge jump” show bets is under investigation by the West Virginia Racing Commission (WVRC) after the mare lagged in hand while last for most of the 5 1/2-furlong sprint, then drifted some 10 paths wide off the turn and into the stretch before being encouraged late to finish fifth. “We’re investigating it. I can’t tell you any more than what you’ve seen on the replays at this point. We’re looking into it,” WVRC executive director Joe Moore confirmed via phone on Friday while declining to answer specific questions about the race in question. Utana (Curlin), a 5-year-old West Virginia-bred mare who just last month had been racing on the southern California circuit, won her July 24 Mountaineer debut by 8 1/4 lengths at 3-10 odds for owners Clark Brewster and Barry Ostranger. When the Loren Cox trainee was entered back in a state-bred NW3L allowance Wednesday, second-leading Mountaineer jockey Charle Oliveros had the return call, and when the race went off, his mount was 1-9 in the betting. Utana broke sixth in the field of seven, but that’s not unusual considering she usually closes from off the pace. As she settled back to last without being prompted to engage though, Utana’s odds drifted noticeably upward, to 4-5. At the midway point on the turn, Utana began drifting too, and the head-on replay showed Oliveros remaining mostly still with his upper body as the mare fanned ever wider while still in last place. The Equibase chart summarized Utana’s stretch run as “10 wide in upper stretch [and] showing interest well after the fact.” Mountaineer announcer Peter Berry posted on Twitter after the race that “Oliveros told stewards he worked her four days ago and she got out badly on the turn, as she did tonight.” Utana, however, shows no published workouts since shipping to Mountaineer. The Mountaineer stewards could not be reached for comment on Friday afternoon. TDN could not locate a working phone number for Oliveros. View the full article

On a buying spree, Phoenix Thoroughbreds has privately purchased the 2-year-old filly Honeyfromthesouth (Fed Biz-Brilliant Autumn, by Yes It’s True), who finished second behind ‘TDN Rising Star’ Chasing Yesterday (Tapit) in her debut for trainer David Hofmans at Del Mar July 28. Chasing Yesterday is a highly regarded half-sister to American Pharoah (Pionnerof the Nile). Honeyfromthesouth will join Chasing Yesterday in the barn of Bob Baffert. “In her first race she finished second behind a very good horse,” said Phoenix Thoroughbreds CEO Amer Abdulaziz. “She has a lot of potential and Bob Baffert really likes her as well. On his recommendation, we decided to acquire her.” Honeyfromthesouth, a $150,000 KEESEP yearling, carried the colors of Five Star Racing Stables first out. The news comes just two days after Phoenix announced that it had bought Mia Mento (Ire) (Casamento {Ire}), who won a maiden race in Ireland at Leopardstown July 19. The original plan was to run her in the G1 Keeneland Phoenix S. Sunday at the Curragh, but she was not entered. Instead, Phoenix will be represented by Advertise (GB) (Showcasing {GB}), who is coming off a win in the G2 Arqana July S. at Newmarket. Abdulaziz said Mia Mento may or may not have a start in Europe, but will eventually be shipped to the U.S. and be trained by Graham Motion. The Phoenix business model involves both buying and selling horses, but it has clearly been in a buying mode of late. They bought seven yearlings at the Fasig-Tipton Saratoga Sale, including, a $1.3-million Medaglia d’Oro filly. Out of the mare Dawn Raid (Vindication), she was the second most expensive horse to go through the ring and the most expensive filly. She will be trained by Steve Asmussen. Abdulaziz said his group plans to be even more aggressive at the Keeneland September Sale, where, he says, they will be spending “huge money.” While Phoenix races in Europe and Australia, as well as the U.S., Abdulaziz said that the U.S. will become their biggest market. They have lined up an all-star team of trainers to work for them that consists of Baffert, Asmussen, Motion, Todd Pletcher and Chad Brown. The next big race for Phoenix in the U.S. will be the GI Travers S., where it will be represented by GI Belmont S. runner-up Gronkowski (Lonhro {Aus}). “The horse is doing very well and we think he has a big shot of winning the Travers,” Abdulaziz said. The colt is named after the New England Patriots star tight end Rob Gronkowski, who is also a part-owner. Gronkowski attended the Belmont S., but is going to be a little trickier for him to make the Travers as it takes place during Pats training camp. Nonetheless, he is going to try. “He is an amazing owner and I think our relationship with him is going to grow,” Abdulaziz said of Gronkowski. “We’re trying to get him to Saratoga. It’s in the middle of training camp, but we’re trying to charter a plane so he can come back and forth, watch the race and probably not miss more than two hours or so of camp.” View the full article

Hall of Famer Steve Asmussen captured last year’s GII Saratoga Special S. with ‘TDN Rising Star’ Copper Bullet (More Than Ready) and he looks to capture this year with another ‘Rising Star’ son of that WinStar stallion in Sir Truebadour. An impressive debut winner in the slop at Churchill May 17, the dark bay checked in fourth in Belmont’s Tremont S. June 7 and returned to winning ways beneath the Twin Spires in the GIII Bashford Manor S. June 30. Asmussen also saddles another good-looking debut winner in Tight Ten (Tapit), who graduated by 4 1/2 lengths in Louisville June 28. Todd Pletcher also has a pair of chances Sunday in Meade (Street Sense) and Spinoff (Hard Spun). Meade graduated at first asking at Belmont July 7 and Spinoff donned cap and gown in his career bow at Gulfstream June 23. Owner Michael Dubb has been speaking quite highly of Call Paul (Friesan Fire) and the colt gets a chance to live up to the hype here following a decisive debut win at Delaware July 5. View the full article

Impressive Qatar Vintage Stakes (G2) winner Dark Vision, who earned quotes of 16-1 for next year's QIPCO Two Thousand Guineas (G1) after extending his unbeaten record to three, has been purchased by Godolphin. View the full article

In her first workout in preparation for her expected start in the Aug. 25 Travers Stakes (G1) at Saratoga Race Course, Wonder Gadot showed her readiness to take on male rivals once more when she fired a bullet four-furlong breeze Aug. 10. View the full article

Seventeen years ago, Nayef (Gulch) used Haydock’s G3 Rose of Lancaster S. as a launchpad to an autumn campaign that yielded success in the G1 Champion S. and while fellow Shadwell representative Elwazir (GB) (Frankel {GB}) lacks the profile of that luminary he is arguably the most interesting of the protagonists for Saturday’s renewal. Having beaten the subsequent G3 Gordon S. winner Cross Counter (GB) (Teofilo {Ire}) in a 10-furlong novice stakes at Sandown June 7, the flashy chestnut from Meon Valley Stud who cost 500,000gns at Tattersalls October followed up in convincing style in a handicap over that trip at Ascot July 14. Trainer Owen Burrows saddled a similar type in Laraaib (Ire) (Pivotal {GB}) in this 12 months ago but had to settle for third and although he holds Elwazir in the highest regard he is wary of expectations this time. “I’m not sure he deserves to be favourite, but we are looking forward to running him and he has done nothing wrong this season. I’d like to think he is up to this class, but he has still got to go there and do the job. He wants a nice, galloping track and this looks a nice opportunity for him. There is a chance of a shower and if they do get one it would just take the sting out of the ground for him.” Sir Michael Stoute is having one of his best seasons in a long time and along with Mark Johnston he is the joint leading trainer in this with three winners. Stoute’s delegate this time is Ahmad Alotaibi’s Zaaki (GB) (Leroidesanimaux {Brz}), who was a short-head second to Johnston’s hopeful Communique (Ire) (Casamento {Ire}) in a Newmarket handicap over this mile-and-a-quarter trip July 13. Zaaki is 12-pounds better off with that rival this time, but Johnston is hoping Communique has found the required improvement in the interim. “He’s been a revelation this season. Obviously he needs to raise his game, as this will be his first run outside of handicap company and on ratings he’s got a little bit to find, but we hope that he can do,” he said. “The ground shouldn’t make any difference to him.” Royal Ascot Heroine Bids To Bounce Back… At Newmarket, the G3 german-thoroughbred.com Sweet Solera S. takes centre stage with the June 22 G3 Albany S. winner Main Edition (Ire) (Zoffany {Ire}) carrying a penalty as a result of that Royal Ascot success. Saif Ali’s bay was only seventh in the G2 Duchess of Cambridge S. over six furlongs here July 13, but she may have been made too much use of on that occasion. “She was in the process of running below-par before getting badly hampered last time out and she got a bit upset beforehand down at the start that day, so hopefully we have ironed that out since,” Mark Johnston’s son and assistant Charlie said. “If she bounces back to her Ascot form giving weight away shouldn’t be a problem and we feel she will be hard to beat.” Also in the line-up is the Albany runner-up and Duchess of Cambridge fifth La Pelosa (Ire) (Dandy Man {GB}) and the July 26 Listed Star S. runner-up Ajrar (GB) (Nayef), while John Gosden supplies Princess Haya of Jordan’s Pennywhistle (Ire) (Iffraaj {GB}) who scored over this course and distance July 20. View the full article

Six, possible seven depending on weather, evenly matched rivals are scheduled to line up Saturday in a competitive renewal of Saratoga’s GI Fourstardave H. Hard-knocking veteran Heart to Heart　(English Channel) seeks his third top-level success of the season following wins in the Feb. 10 GI Gulfstream Park Turf S. and the Apr. 13 GI Makers 46 Mile. Most recently a neck second in Santa Anita’s GI Shoemaker Mile May 28, he can be expected to be up front from the get go Saturday. ‘TDN Rising Star’ Yoshida (Jpn) (Heart’s Cry {Jpn}) kicked off this term with his first Grade I tally in the nine-panel GI Woodford Reserve Turf Classic over a yielding course at Churchill Downs May 5, which is the type of course condition he may encounter at the Spa given the rainy forecast. He was last seen finishing a respectable fifth when traveling across the pond for Royal Ascot’s G1 Queen Anne S. June 19. The bay has come close to victory twice over this course, finishing a very close second in both the GII Hall of Fame S. and GIII Saranac S. last term. The Linda Rice-trained Voodoo Song (English Channel) is a true horse-for-the-course with a remarkable four straight wins over the Saratoga lawn during last year’s meet, culminating in a win in the Saranac. Entering off a win in Belmont’s one-mile Forbidden Apple S. July 14, the New York-bred’s usual tactic is to outrun his rivals from the start, which could result in a speed duel with Heart to Heart here. The chestnut also does his best running on firm turf and, with all the recent rain, the course may be a bit soft for his liking. Also worth a look in this test are ‘TDN Rising Star’ Delta Prince (Street Cry {Ire}) and MGISW Divisidero (Kitten’s Joy). The former won a course-and-distance optional claimer last summer and was last seen capturing the one-mile GII King Edward S. at Woodbine June 30. Two-time Turf Classic victor Divisidero skipped the GI Arlington Million in favor of this spot and looks to return to his top-level form. The bay finally returned to the winner’s circle last time in the GIII Arlington H. June 16. View the full article

Charlie Appleby’s Jungle Cat (Ire) (Iffraaj {GB}) has been a grand campaigner for Godolphin with the 6-year-old having his finest hour when winning the G1 Al Quoz Sprint on his last outing at Meydan in March. Next on the entire’s agenda is a trip to Australia where his first big target is the G1 Sir Rupert Clarke S. at Caulfield in late September. “He is going to head out to Australia in the first shipment of horses and will go into quarantine later this month,” Appleby said. “He will go for a race out there called the Sir Rupert Clarke. He is in good form and his preparation has gone well. The conditions of the race should suit him as it will be seven furlongs on quick ground.” Despite his group 1 win at Meydan over six furlongs Appleby is in favour of campaigning Jungle Cat over an extra furlong in Australia. “As he is getting older, seven furlongs is more his trip. I don’t think he would have the legs for those young Australian sprinters in the Everest. This has been the long-term plan for him. Dubai has been his big stage for the last couple of seasons and now he has booked his ticket to have a go out in Australia,” he added. View the full article

MGISW millionaire City of Light (Quality Road–Paris Notion, by Dehere) will join his sire Quality Road at Lane’s End Farm upon the conclusion of his racing career, it was announced Friday. “We are thrilled to have the best son by our top young stallion join our roster,” said Lanes End’s Will Farish. “City of Light has a tremendous amount of speed from a fantastic female family and is clearly the best son to date by one of the elite stallions in America, Quality Road.” In his stakes debut, City of Light wired the GI Malibu S. going seven furlongs at Santa Anita and added the GI Triple Bend S. in his next start. The Mr. and Mrs. William K. Warren colorbearer continued his stakes-winning streak with a rallying victory in the G2 Oaklawn H. stretching out to 1 1/8 miles. He earned a career-best 107 Beyer and -3 3/4 Thoro-Graph number for his Oaklawn H. victory. “City of Light is an unbelievable physical,” trainer Michael McCarthy noted. “With the kind of tactical speed that wins races in America. He has all of the attributes of a successful stallion.” City of Light is a son of Lane’s End Farms’ leading fifth-crop sire Quality Road. He has amassed over $29 million in progeny earnings and is currently the hottest stallion in America. Quality Road leads all North American and European sires so far this year with four Grade I winners, thirteen black-type winners, and nine graded winners. “City of Light is a very fast, sound, consistent horse,” Bill Farish explained. “He has continued to run at the highest level against top competition with graded stakes victories ranging from seven furlongs to 1 1/8 miles. His sire and brilliance, coupled with his looks, makes him a very exciting prospect.” The colt was sold by Lane’s End for $710,000 as a yearling at the Keeneland September Sale and bred in Kentucky by Ann Marie Farm. His dam Paris Notion is a 3/4-sibling to GI Test victress Fabulously Fast, both out of Grade I winner Fabulous Notion. This is the family of Grade I-winning millionaires Cacoethes, Subordination and Careless Jewel. City of Light is slated to make his next start in the GI Forego S. at Saratoga Aug. 25. A stud fee will be announced upon retirement. View the full article

The Goresbridge Breeze Up Sale, Ireland’s only sale of its type, is set to benefit from a major link up with the news that Tattersalls Ireland have joined forces with Goresbridge to stage the sale next year. The auction will move to Tattersalls Ireland’s sales complex and horses will breeze across the road at Fairyhouse Racecourse. The sale has thrived since its inception ten years ago under the guidance of Goresbridge boss Martin Donohoe with the latest renewal in May posting a record aggregate of just over €5-million. It has been the source of a number of Group 1 winners including Fiesolana (Ire) (Aussie Rules), Music Show (Ire) (Noverre) and Hunt (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}) and the collaboration announced on Friday should allow the sale to strengthen further with the combined promotional and operational expertise of both companies, aided by the international efforts of Irish Thoroughbred Marketing. Commenting on the alliance Tattersalls Ireland CEO Matt Mitchell said, “We are delighted to announce this new partnership with Goresbridge. The enormous strides that Goresbridge has made in establishing their Breeze Up as a major player on the European Breeze Up circuit is a testament to Martin and Mary Francis Donohoe and their team. We look forward to working with the Goresbridge team and to building on their success in establishing the fixture as one of Ireland’s most international bloodstock sales. This will commence with inspections in January 2019 and it would be our intention to catalogue around 225 horses for the 2019 renewal.” Martin Donohoe has earned a lot of respect in bringing the sale to such heights from humble beginnings and he said, “Joining forces with Tattersalls Ireland will give us an opportunity to build on the huge progress we’ve made with Ireland’s only Breeze Up Sale. The sale we believe has not yet achieved its maximum potential and with the enhanced resources of both companies that potential can absolutely be achieved. I am confident that together with Tattersalls Ireland we can augment the customer experience significantly for both vendors and purchasers and continue to develop the sale as one of the premier fixtures in the European sales calendar.” ITM has worked closely with the Goresbridge team in attracting overseas buyers to the sale since the beginning and that work will continue as its CEO Charles O’Neill added, “We have enjoyed working with the Goresbridge team in the promotion of their Breeze Up Sale and we share their pride in having seen it emerge as a sale of real significance. The new partnership between Tattersalls Ireland and Goresbridge Horse Sales can take the sale to new heights and we look forward to working with them all to achieve further success.” View the full article

Love it or loathe it, the Shergar Cup takes centre-stage this Saturday at Ascot where some of the World’s best riders do battle in a bid to lift the Shergar Cup. This unique team competition first took place in 1999 with just two teams but has evolved in recent times. It’s now a four-team competition which is broken down into Great Britain & Ireland, Europe, Rest of World and the “Girls” team. Each race will have a maximum of ten runners and two reserves and the first of six races kicks off at 1.05 pm. There are three jockeys in each team and each jockey rides in five of the six races on the day. The scoring system starts with fifteen points for a winner down to three points for the fifth-place runner. Teams: Great Britain & Ireland Fran Berry Adam Kirby Pat Cosgrave Rest of the World Joao Moreira Yutaka Take Corey Brown Europe Andrasch Starke Per-Andres Graberg Gerald Mosse Girls Hayley Turner Hollie Doyle Josephine Gordon The 2017 contest was won by Great Britain & Ireland with 86 points and captain Fran Berry who previously won the silver saddle will be hoping he can repeat this. The schedule for the Shergar Cup is as follows: 1:05 Shergar Cup Dash (Handicap) 5f 1:40 Shergar Cup Stayers (Handicap) 2m 2:15 Shergar Cup Challenge (Handicap) 1m4f 2:50 Shergar Cup Mile (Handicap) 1m 3:25 Shergar Cup Classic (Handicap 1m4f 4:00 Shergar Cup Sprint (Handicap) 6f This unique event can be a slightly difficult betting proposition as some jockey are having their first rides in the UK and most will be riding their respective mounts for the first time. I’d advise to pick your team, sit back and enjoy the day! The Group 3 Rose Of Lancaster Stakes is the pick of a quality card at Haydock on Saturday. Unfortunately for each way backers, the race has the dreaded seven runners declared but among them, there are some nice looking types. The ever-patient Owen Burrows runs the very lightly raced Elwazir who looks set to go off favourite to land his first group success. The son of Frankel ran well without winning as a two-year-old but has won both starts as a three-year-old in taking fashion and will be very hard to beat. Sir Michael Stoute will be hoping his improving three-year-old Zaaki can land a second season victory and deny Elwazir. David Probert’s mount ran well at Royal Ascot two starts back and was just touched off by Communique who re-opposes in a valuable handicap at Newmarket most recently. Zaaki was giving Mark Johnston’s colt twelve pounds that day and I’d fancy him to reverse the placings this time around. Others to consider are Brorocco and Fajjaj. Selection: Elwazir RashdanSome of flat and jump racings leading lady riders are competing for the Ladies’ Trophy Handicap at Haydock, where from the bottom of the handicap Hugo Palmer’s Rashdan who has won two of his last three starts including on handicap debut last time out. The three-year-old looks to be on the upward curve and Georgia Cox is a positive jockey booking. The father and daughter team of Paul and Megan Nicholls team up with the favourite Birds Of Prey who has run well on both starts for the yard without troubling the judge. The son of Sir Prancealot was a two-time winner in Ireland for John Oxx last season and holds leading claims in this contest. Others to note include Play it Cool who is returning from an absence, Appointed and Atkinson Grimshaw. Selection: Rashdan The Dick Hern Stakes is a listed race for fillies and mares and Ed Walker’s Agrotera will be all the rage here having cosily won the Sandringham Stakes on her latest start. The daughter of Mastercraftsman has only graced the racecourse on four occasions and looks like a very nice prospect going forward. If she continues to progress or even turns up in the same form as when she won at Ascot then she should collect this prize and her first bit of black type. Roger Varian will be hoping that he’s reasonably new acquisition Narella can recapture some her two-year-old form which included a Group 3 victory at Baden-Baden. The ex-German trained filly then finished last in the Group 1 Prix Marcel Boussac behind Wild Illusion and that form doesn’t look too bad in the context of this race. She finished in the rear on her first British start in a Sandown Listed event last month but given normal improvement from her seasonal bow, she may just give the favourite the most to worry about. Last season German 1000 winner Unforgettable Filly has arguably got the best form on offer having already won that Group 2 contest and winning a listed event at Musselburgh last season. However, Hugo Palmer’s charge hasn’t shown the same form this year in three starts and will have to show some improved form to add to these successes. Others of note include La Figlia, Lincoln Rocks and the William Haggas trained Dynamic. Selection: Argrotera Newmarket also plays host to the Group 3 Sweet Solera Stakes where Mark Johnston’s Main Edition bids to bounce back from a disappointing run in the Duchess of Cambridge Stakes having won the Albany previously. The filly that finished runner-up in the Albany was Charlie Appleby’s La Pelosa who herself has run slightly below expectations in her two runs since the Royal meeting. This may leave the door open for one of the less exposed and bigger priced fillies in the field, principally John Gosden’s Pennywhistle who improved from debut to take a Newmarket novice event last month. Obviously, this represents a huge jump in class for the daughter of Iffraaj but with Frankie in the plate I expect her to run a big race. Richard Hannon’s Ajrar is the other obvious one of interest having taken her maiden in impressive fashion on debut and following this up with a staying on second in a listed event at Sandown. The only worry is she may get outpaced but is sure to be staying on at the finish. Selection: Pennywhistle The post Weekend Preview – Shergar Cup & All The Group Action appeared first on RaceBets Blog EN. View the full article

Dark Vision (Ire) (Dream Ahead), the impressive winner of the G2 Qatar Vintage S. at Goodwood recently will be running for a different owner on his next start having been purchased by Sheikh Mohammed. Mark Johnston will continue to train the colt who is a possibility for the G1 Goffs Vincent O’Brien National S. at The Curragh next month. “Obviously I’m delighted that he stays with us. He was vetted yesterday and we are currently waiting on some blood tests but this is just routine,” Johnston said on Friday. Johnston made the decision recently to supplement the unbeaten three time winner for the National S. but he will not make a firm decision on a future target until a discussion with the horse’s new owner. “I haven’t decided where he runs next, he’s got all the options and I will have a chat with Godolphin first,” he added. The sale represents a significant windfall for Dark Vision’s previous owners, the Kingsley Park 10, as the juvenile was purchased by Johnston for only 15,000 gns as a yearling in Tattersalls last year. His half-brother by Lope De Vega (Ire) is catalogued in Arqana next week as lot 94 and the colt, offered by Ecurie des Monceaux, is likely to command a significantly higher price than his elder sibling did as a yearling. View the full article

Chris Waller’s G1 Doomben Cup winner Comin’ Through (Aus) (Fastnet Rock {Aus}) is nearing a return to competitive action after a spell. The 5-year-old beat stable-mate Egg Tart (Aus) (Sebring {Aus}) by a head in the ten furlong contest at Doomben last May, his first top level win and his trainer is hoping he can add to that tally this season, either at home or broad. “Comin’ Through has come back a treat,” Waller announced on his Twitter feed on Friday. “After trialling well earlier in the week, he will have one more trial and look to resume first up in the [G2] Tramway Stakes [at Randwick Sept 1] before tackling some bigger Group 1 targets. Connections also keen to look towards Japan at some stage,” the trainer added. The Tramway S. is also the plan for the aforementioned Egg Tart before the dual group 1 winning mare tackles the G1 Caulfield Cup. View the full article