Wandering Eyes

This weekend, Ascot welcomes one of British flat racing’s finest flat spectacles, with a firework display of Group 1 racing, courtesy of the Qipco-sponsored King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes. The £1.25 million Group 1 showpiece takes place over one mile and four furlongs and is open to horses three years of age and over. In its 67th year, the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes is one of Britain’s most prestigious open age flat races with an illustrious list of former winners to its name such as Shergar taking the title in 1981. The expected going is good to firm in places and 8 horses look set to go to post. Newmarket-based trainer Sir Michael Stoute has an excellent record in the King George with horses such as Conduit (2009) and Harbinger (2010) to name his more recent winners of the race. The English trainer holds a strong hand with two runners going to post in this year’s renewal. Poet’s Word a five-year-old son of Poet’s Voice, will once again be ridden by James Doyle, who also steered him to victory at Ascot last month in the Prince of Wales Stakes when beating the John Gosden-trained Cracksman by two and a quarter lengths, who he will again go head to head with on Saturday. However, it is the Sir Evelyn De Rothschild owned Sea The Stars colt, Crystal Ocean who may be Stoute’s golden ticket to regaining the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes. William Buick has picked up the spare ride due to Ryan Moore having Ballydoyle riding commitments, as Moore had previously partnered the Sir Michael Stoute trained four-year-old to victory in each of his three starts this season. Crystal Ocean could be the horse Sir Michael Stoute needs to continue his winning ways at the Ascot track, as he is bidding for a record-breaking sixth victory in the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes. Aidan O’Brien has had recent success in the King George as Ryan Moore steered O’Brien’s Highland Reel to victory in the race two years ago. Previous to this, O’Brien won the race back in 2007 with Dylan Thomas as Johnny Murtagh did the steering and Duke Of Marmalade in 2008 with Johnny Murtagh also aboard. The Ballydoyle trainer will be represented by two runners in the feature with Rostropovich and Hydrangea. Rostropovich is a son of Frankel who has run well this year without getting his head in front at the highest level. His previous run witnessed him put in an improved display by finishing second to Latrobe in the Irish Derby at the Curragh last month. He could be one to watch in the race as he is clearly improving at a rate of knots. Last year’s race was one to remember as Frankie Dettori steered the John Gosden-trained, Enable to a four and a half-length victory over Ulysses. Unfortunately for five-time King George winning jockey, Frankie Dettori, he will not be returning to the saddle at Ascot this week due to the verdict of his appeal to reduce his current 10-day careless riding ban which after appealing, was only reduced to a six-day ban. The John Gosden-trained Cracksman looks likely to start favourite following a somewhat surprise declaration on Thursday. The son of Frankel has some top-class form to his name but has been quite laboured in his most recent starts including when finishing runner-up to Poet’s Word at Prince Of Wales’s Stakes. Hopefully, Gosden has managed to focus Cracksman attention and if so he will take all the beating. Coronet is another John Gosden-trained inmate set to go to post in the King George. The Denford Stud-owned four-year-old filly has run very well on both starts this season including when most recently finishing second to Waldgeist in the Group 1 Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud. Selection: Crystal Ocean Ascot also plays host to the Gigaset International Stakes Handicap which takes place at 3.00pm. This hugely valuable and competitive handicap has a prize fund of £150,000 which will inevitably attract some of the best seven-furlong horses and best sprint trainers from the U.K. eager to take home the pot of gold. If one was to look at previous winners in the last ten years, Mark Johnston has won the race three times in the last ten years, all with four-year-olds. This year Johnston has to rely on the smart Cardsharp, who will have the assistance of the talented James Doyle. The North Yorkshire based trainer will need to get some improvement from the son of Lonhro but he does have a track record of doing just that. Last year’s winner Stamp Hill was guided by jockey Paul Hanagan to do all the running to take the title for Richard Fahey at an amazing price of 50/1. Last year’s spectacle proved it is a very open race and there is hope for every outsider. Fahey has entered the Godolphin-owned Brian The Snail in this year’s and although the name may be off-putting, at a general price of 25/1 he may be one to consider. The four-year-old gelding had a wind operation completed only last January so it may prove worthwhile to side with him at Ascot on Saturday. The Richard Hannon-trained Oh This Is Us won the Corbettsports City Plate Stakes at Chester on July 14th last and put up an impressive display in doing so. The five-year-old son of Acclamation will have to burden top weight if he’s to win the race and even though he is in good from this may prove too tough. Roger Fell landed a punt when Burnt Sugar landed the Bunbury Cup in somewhat snug fashion two weeks ago. He is now aiming to land back to back competitive handicaps and he must have a live chance of doing so. Selection: Burnt Sugar The Dash handicap at York looks like another typically competitive Saturday handicap that will take a doctorate to pick the winner. That been said there is definite hope for punters as four of the last 5 winners have returned as the favourite. David O’Meara looks to hold leading claims for this year’s renewal with the recent Scurry winner Intisaab. This looks like a strong piece of form, but he will have to carry to weight if he is to get his head in front. Last year’s winning trainer Tim Easterby is set to be represented by Golden Apollo, the previous course and distance winner has yet to get his head in front this season, but it would seem connections have had this race in mind and he looks sure to run a big race. Tommy Taylor is a horse that’ll be familiar to most Saturday racing enthusiasts, Kevin Ryan’s smart four-year-old was a listed winner over course and distance last season and even though he hasn’t quite hit top gear this season, he’s down to a nice mark and with minimal improvement he will take all the beating. Of those on the lower weights, I think Boy In The Bar may surprise a few people back down to a low handicap mark. Ian Willian’s inmate was a beaten favourite when last seen but for those who keep the faith, they may be rewarded at handsome odds. Selection: Golden Apollo The Group 2 York Stakes is an intriguing contest, where a lot of horses are on redemption missions. None more so than Irish 2000 Guineas flop Elarqam who was sent off as a hot favourite for the Curragh feature following a credible run in the English equivalent, but he ultimately finished a disappointing sixth. Forest Ranger was one of the “buzz” horses leading up the Coral-Eclipse following two impressive group performances, but the son of Lawman proved a bitter disappointment when trailing in last of the seven runners. The South African bred Smart Call had a very tall reputation when joining Sir Michael Stoute on the back of two Group 1 victories in April 2017. It has taken the daughter of Ideal World nine starts to get her head in front on British soil. That win came last time out in a Group 3 on the all-weather at Newcastle. Richard Kingscote will be hoping this confidence-boosting victory will spurn Smart Call on to land back to back wins. Others to note include Euginio, Fabricate and Thundering Blue. Selection: Smart Call RaceBets have some fantastic offers this weekend, make sure to check them out here The post Weekend Preview – Can Cracksman Claim The King George? appeared first on RaceBets Blog EN. View the full article

There are two Group 1 contests to feast on this Sunday. In Germany, Munich plays host to the Grosser Dallmayr-Preis where the raiding party will be looking to bring the prize back to the UK. Dubai Turf winner Benbatl represents the Godolphin operation and Saeed Bin Suroor. Following a profitable campaign in Meydan, Benbatl proved to be a disappointing favourite in the Queen Anne at Royal Ascot. The slight drop in class looks sure to suit the son of Dubawi and he has to be the one to beat. The other British runner is Stormy Antarctic who has become a bit of a globetrotter in recent times, with victories in Saint Cloud and Baden-Baden already this season. Ed Walker’s stable star has some very smart form to his name and should Benbatl fail to sparkle, he’ll be there to pick up the pieces. Of the home brigade, last season’s winner Iquitos looks the leading hope to keep the prize in Germany. The consistent son of Alderflug has been a great servant to connections and looks sure to run another big race. Others to note include Va Bank, Colomano and the well-bred Wai Key Star. Selection: Benbatl In France, the Group 1 Prix Rothschild is the feature race at Deauville. This 1-mile contest restricted to fillies and mares has been won by some Queens of the turf over the years, in particular, Goldikova who dominated the race from 2008 to 2011. This year’s contest has a quality field of eleven fillies going to post, with three British fillies forming the raiding party. Chief among these is Marco Botti’s recent Royal Ascot winner Aljazzi who was very impressive when landing the Group 2 Duke of Cambridge Stakes. She will face stiff opposition from the lightly raced With You who’s only two defeats have come at the hands of Laurens in Group 1 contests on her last two starts. Freddy Head’s three year old is open to further improvement and with the weight allowance, she must rate as a danger to all. James Fanshawe’s Tribute Act has had a somewhat frustrating season for connections, she has improved with each run but has so far yet to get her head in front. I have no doubt she will improve again but she has over three lengths to find with Aljazzi on their Royal Ascot meeting. Other to consider include recent Group 2 winner Mission Impassible, Crown Walk and Rosa Imperial. Selection: With You The post Sunday Preview – Grosser Dallmayr-Preis & Prix Rothschild appeared first on RaceBets Blog EN. View the full article

This could well be the biggest weekend of trainer Ed Walker’s career. On Saturday, the impressive Listed winner Royal Intervention contests the Keeneland Princess Margaret Stakes at Ascot with a leading chance, while on Sunday stable flagbearer Stormy Antarctic bids for a breakthrough at Group 1 level in Germany. We spoke to Walker about his weekend runners and also got his thoughts on the King George. Royal Intervention broke her maiden in a Listed race last time. Has she always been a filly you have had high hopes for? We hoped she would win on debut and we could go to Royal Ascot with her. I think it was actually a blessing she didn’t do that and we were able to miss the meeting, as we felt Newmarket would actually be a better stepping stone for her. She couldn’t have been more impressive. We hold her in pretty high regard at home. ROYAL INTERVENTION with G Mosse wins Betway Empress Fillies Stakes at Newmarket 30-6-18.Royal Intervention steps up in grade again on Saturday and is likely to be favourite. How do you think she will get on? I’d have been surprised if she wasn’t favourite, to be fair. She won a Listed race by four-and-a-half lengths going away. People have knocked the strength of her two performances and I think she could have been very competitive if she’d have run in the Albany [at Royal Ascot]. If she runs to the level of her Newmarket performance again it’ll take a very good one to beat her. We’re pretty hopeful about her chances. You run two in the Gigaset International Handicap. Starting with Sabador, how are things with him? Sabador has a great chance. I rushed him back after a really good run in the Victoria Cup as I wanted to try and get him high enough in the handicap to run in the Royal Hunt Cup. In hindsight that was a mistake and ever since then we’ve freshened him up and had this race as his aim. He’s a big price and I fancy him to run a big race. And how about your other runner Ultimate Avenue. Can he step up on his recent form? He’s an exceptionally talented horse and I’ve always fancied him to run and big race, and he’s always let me down! He’s seriously talented and one day he’ll put it all together and win one of these big races. Glorious Lover contests the Pat Eddery Stakes at Ascot. How do you rate his prospects? It was a red-hot race he ran in first time and the form of that has worked out extremely well. I brought him back in trip at Windsor last time and he was nearly caught out. Stepping up to seven furlongs on a stiff track in a better race will really suit him. It’s a big ask and I’d be absolutely delighted if he was in the first three. He’s potentially a smart horse. You have a link with a number of leading owners based in Hong Kong and the Far East. Is it fair to say their influence is growing in Britain and Ireland? Big time. The Hong Kong interest in British racing has grown significantly over the past few years and I think it’s going to continue to do so. In a way it’s a little worrying because if China legalises gambling and racecourses open there then we won’t be able to compete with their spending power and ambition. I’ve got a couple of clients from the Far East who I’ve trained for for a while and they’re great to deal with. They want horses that are able to qualify for Hong Kong and Glorious Lover could be a horse like that if he steps up like we feel he can. On Sunday, Stormy Antarctic contests the Group 1 Grosser Dallmayr Preis at Munich. What has it been like to be associated with such a talented horse? He’s a proper legend in our stable. He’s such a character and such a lovely horse to have around. You always look at trainers who have these flagbearers that come back year after year with a touch of envy, so we’ve been fortunate that he’s done that for us. And do you think he can finally make the breakthrough at the top level this weekend? He’s just shy of top class but he is very good – and he deserves to win a Group 1. He’s won Listed races, Group 3s, Group 2s and been placed in Group 1s. He can do it and hopefully he can do that on Sunday. It looks a really good opportunity for him and we know he’ll be giving his all as he always does. We cannot let you go without getting your opinion on the Qipco King George VI & Queen Elizabeth Stakes. Who do you think will win? One of Sir Michael Stoute’s horses! And, finally, how are things with your impressive Royal Ascot winner Agrotera? She was due to run in the Valiant Stakes at Sandown on Friday and I was a little gutted she didn’t run as it wasn’t the strongest Listed race in the world. We gave her a break after Royal Ascot and probably backed off her a little too much as her last couple of pieces of work weren’t as good as they can be. We’re going to wait for a Listed race at Haydock in the middle of August, and think she’s going to be better next year anyway. The post Ed Walker shares his thoughts on his weekend runners & the King George appeared first on RaceBets Blog EN. View the full article

Peter Brant and Stud Vendaval's Wow Cat will make her North American debut for trainer Chad Brown in the $200,000 Shuvee Stakes (G3) for fillies and mares at 1 1/8 miles at Saratoga Race Course. View the full article

Poon's Enchanted run at Kranji keeps chugging along View the full article

Placais hits the Target with Star Jack View the full article

AK Lim fires up first Kranji win on Spirit Seven View the full article

Foresto finally on top of the tree View the full article

Grand Knight spears forward to first win View the full article

Horses' body weights July 27 View the full article

Track conditions and course scratchings July 27 View the full article

With two wins in as many starts since returning to the races this May, Done Deal's fairy tale journey could continue July 28 when he starts in the $350,000 Alfred G. Vanderbilt Handicap (G1) at Saratoga Race Course. View the full article

Champion Good Magic (Curlin) tops a field of seven as the 6-5 morning-line favorite for Sunday’s $1 million GI betfair.com Haskell Invitational S. at Monmouth Park, a “Win and You’re In” event for the GI Breeders’ Cup Classic at Churchill Downs Nov. 3. The chestnut, who drew post six for Sunday’s event, finished second to eventual Triple Crown winner Justify (Scat Daddy) in the GI Kentucky Derby May 5 and was fourth when last seen in the GI Preakness S. May 19. “He definitely had those two tough races back-to-back and we gave him a little time off. He needed that to recharge his batteries,” said trainer Chad Brown. “We had the Haskell in mind for him right after the Preakness and he’s been training very well for it. Running off a layoff doesn’t bother him.” Bravazo (Awesome Again), the only horse besides Justify to compete in all three Triple Crown races, also returns in this spot. Sixth in both the Derby and the GI Belmont S. June 9, the Calumet Farm homebred was second in the Preakness. He will exit stall five Sunday and is the second choice on the morning-line at 3-1. “This is the next logical spot, a major Grade I race for 3-year-olds, so if you’ve got a horse who is healthy and ready to run this is the spot,” said Hall of Fame trainer D. Wayne Lukas, who won the race with Serena’s Song in 1995. “Not every horse makes it through the whole Triple Crown unscathed. He made all three races. He’s a very tough, nice horse. He’s actually getting better with maturity and I expect a very good effort from him.” The rest of the field is as follows: Lone Sailor (Majestic Warrior), post one, 5-1; Navy Commander (Poseidon’s Warrior), post two, 12-1; Roaming Union (Union Rags), post three, 10-1; Core Beliefs (Quality Road), post four, 4-1; Golden Brown (Offlee Wild), post seven, 15-1. View the full article

Forrest Kaelin, dean of Kentucky horsemen and a fixture at Ellis Park for almost 70 years as jockey and trainer, died Thursday at his Louisville home. He was 83-years-old and spent 63 of those years married to Betty Kaelin. The Louisville native retired May 31 due to failing health. He won 1,600 races, four of which were graded stakes, out of 12,417 starters that earned $17.7 million in a training career that started in 1963. “He was just a legendary horseman around Kentucky,” said trainer Jimmy Baker, a long-time friend who helped oversee the stable after Kaelin shipped north from Tampa Bay Downs in the spring. “Everybody loved him, liked him and respected him.” In addition to his wife, Kaelin is survived by his daughter, two grandchildren and three great grandchildren. Visitation will be 3-7p.m. Monday at Pearson Funeral Home in Louisville. View the full article

Julie Coy Martinez has joined Four Star Sales as Director of Sales effective Aug. 1 and Ashley Bradshaw Franz, who previously held that position, has been appointed Director of Bloodstock Services and Client Development. Martinez previously worked at The Jockey Club and Keeneland. “We are all thrilled to welcome Coy to Four Star,” said Four Star Partner Tony Lacy. “We take great pride in consistently striving to provide our clients with a personalized and forward-thinking sales experience. The breadth of industry relationships, experience and knowledge that Coy brings to the job makes her an outstanding addition to our team.” “Since joining Four Star almost three years ago, Ashley has proven to be a talented horsewoman and Director of Sales,” said Kerry Cauthen, Four Star’s Managing Partner. “By adding Coy to our ranks Ashley will be able to direct more of her time towards private bloodstock transactions and continuing to grow our client base. She is a core part of our team, not only for the present, but as we move into the future.” 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. Today’s Observations features a half-sister to a current Godolphin luminary. 1.50 Ascot, Cond, £10,400, 2yo, f, 7fT CERATONIA (GB) (Oasis Dream {GB}) is a half-sister to last year’s G1 Prix Marcel Boussac winner and this year’s G1 Epsom Oaks runner-up Wild Illusion (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) who represents the same Charlie Appleby yard. Fitted with a hood for her debut, the relative of the top-class Royal Highness (Ger) (Monsun {Ger}) meets eight rivals. 2.25 Ascot, Debutantes, £20,000, 2yo, c/g, 6fT ALMANIA (IRE) (Australia {GB}) was a 500,000gns TATOCT graduate who starts for the Saeed Suhail-Sir Michael Stoute combination who could enjoy another big weekend here. Out of the G3 Prestige S. winner Sent From Heaven (Ire) (Footstepsinthesand {GB}), the April-foaled bay is certain to need a stiffer test of stamina than he gets in this Crocker Bulteel Maiden. View the full article

Sire lines and female families come and go through time, like political movements, oftentimes changing winds across countries. New environments, and new ideas, can lead to success, survival, revival, or failure. Sometimes there are extended periods of longevity and stability, but inevitable challenges to the status quo can cause tumult and change. To best understand the present, it helps to see the big picture over time. Uncle Mo, for example, has resuscitated in a big way the once-prominent sire line of Caro (Ire) (1967), a G1 French Guineas winner bred and raced by Countess Margit Batthyany. Caro was imported to Spendthrift from France in late 1977 after becoming an immediate and outstanding success with his first European crops. In the U.S., Caro notably sired GI Kentucky Derby-winning filly Winning Colors and the dams of Unbridled’s Song and Maria’s Mon–the sire of two Kentucky Derby winners–among others. Caro’s male line in this country, however, was on a respirator by the time Coolmore’s Uncle Mo came to the rescue with champion Nyquist, a top-class first-crop 2-year-old who would go on to win the Kentucky Derby. Because Uncle Mo has kept the momentum going through subsequent crops, he’s at an elite level right now and will have plenty of opportunity to re-grow the line, with four graded stakes-winning sons already at stud. One European-bred son of Caro, Nebos (Ger) (1976), a high-class German champion and the sire of two German Derby winners, was also bred by Countess Batthyany and was a member of the countess’s renowned “N” family, a line of mares and foals named with the first letter N, bred at her family’s famed Gestut Erlenhof in Germany. Erlenhof’s N family traced back in tail-female to the Italian mare Nella Da Gubbio (1924), who was bred by master horseman Federico Tesio. This is the same family from which he developed breed-shaper Nearco. The alphabetically consistent naming conceit, by the way, was common among Old World breeders as a simple device for distinguishing families, and it’s a useful tool here in examining horses and humans through a historical lens. (Year of birth is provided in parentheses as warranted for chronological significance.) Tesio started the N family with the purchase of the Irish-bred Catnip (1910) as a 5-year-old. She was an unremarkable racehorse, but would go on to become a foundation mare for him, producing Nogara (1928), the dam of Nearco (1935). Nebos, as noted, traced in tail-female to Nella Da Gubbio, whose second dam was Catnip. Nearco sits at the head of this family table as one of the most influential stallions over the last 75 years: he was the sire of Nasrullah, the grandsire of Northern Dancer, and the great-grandsire of Hail to Reason. Caro traces to Nearco through Nasrullah. The N family was initially developed at Gestut Erlenhof by the stud’s previous owner, M.J. Oppenheimer, whose assets were confiscated by the Nazis–Oppenheimer was Jewish–in 1933. At around this time, Countess Batthyany’s father, an industrialist who supported the Nazi effort, purchased the stud at a huge discount from market value. The countess’s younger brother Hans Heinrich Thyssen-Bornemisza, also a patron of racing, eventually took over the stud’s ownership and left it to the countess to run. With the seeds sown by Oppenheimer at Erlenhof, a string of superior racehorses leading up to World War II came for the Thyssen-Bornemiszas, headed by the undefeated and legendary German Derby-winning filly Nereide (Ger) (1933), a daughter of the aforementioned Nella Da Gubbio–the foundation mare at Erlenhof that Oppenheimer had purchased, presumably from Tesio. Spoil of War Nereide produced the undefeated war-time German Derby winner Nordlicht (Ger) (1941), the prize of Erlenhof and the pride of Germany. It’s been rumored but never confirmed that he ceremoniously ran once in Hitler’s colors, perhaps in the Austrian Derby. Nordlicht was by all accounts a standout physical specimen–the equine poster boy for the Third Reich–and in 1945, as the war was raging, he was sent to one of the German national studs, at Altefeld, for protection and to breed. That’s where he was discovered after the war by Col. Fred Hamilton of the US Army Remount Branch, and Hamilton brought the horse to America as a spoil of war. On his Bloodstock in the Bluegrass site, Frank Mitchell wrote an excellent blog post on Nordlicht in 2010 and said: “…Nordlicht was exported to the States and was sold at auction by the Army Remount Service in Virginia for $20,300 to a syndicate that included Christopher Chenery, owner of The Meadow and breeder of champions Hill Prince, Cicada, Riva Ridge, and Secretariat. “Chenery bred the first winner by the German Derby winner, the two-year-old Nordoff, winner at Aqueduct on June 13, 1950. “Despite his outstanding race record in Europe, Nordlicht was a dismal failure at stud in the US.” Mitchell noted that the horse was eventually sold and ended up in Louisiana, where he’s buried at a placed called La Branche Plantation. Despite a new beginning in the U.S. with access to quality mares in Virginia, Nordlicht wasn’t a Caro. His relation Nearco, meanwhile, had ascended to the top ranks of international stallions by this time. But what about other members of the N family from Erlenhof or Countess Batthyany? N Family Success A Hungarian by birth, Countess Margit Batthyany was born in 1911 and died in 1989. Gestut Erlenhof remained in her family until 1994, though it was leased to Hubertus Liebrecht from 1977. (In 1978, Liebrecht had purchased Audley Farm–which bred Bodemeister, among others–in Virgina.) Batthyany’s homebred Nebos was among the last champions for her at Erlenhof. Later she purchased two other stud farms, the historic Haras du Bois-Roussel in France, where Caro began his stud career, and Ballykeen Stud in Ireland. One of the wealthiest women in Europe, the countess was a fixture on the international racing circuit after the war, and she was a successful owner and breeder. Foremost among Countess Batthyany’s many racing accomplishments outside Germany are an Arc win in 1972 with San San, a filly she’d purchased in the U.S. from the Guggenheim dispersal, and the G1 Epsom Oaks in 1967 with Pia, a homebred. After WWll, the N family continued to produce for Erlenhof and others. Its notable post-war representatives, aside from Nebos, include: Niederlander (Ger) (1947) – German Derby; Neckar (Ger) (1948) – German Derby; Naxos (Ger) (1950) – German Oaks; Eldelito (Uru) (1979) – GI winner in Uruguay; Nagoya (Ger) (1996) – Italian Oaks; Island Sands (Ire) (1996) – 2000 Guineas; Next Desert (Ger) (1999) – German Derby; Dunford (SaF) (2000) – GI winner in South Africa; Next Gina (Ger) (2000) – German Oaks; Night Magic (Ger) (2006) – German Oaks; Novellist (Ire) (2009) – Multiple G1 winner in England, France, and Germany; Nymphea (Ire) (2009) – G1 winner in Germany; Nightflower (Ire) (2012) – GI winner in Germany; Nutan (Ire) (2012) – German Derby; Pakistan Star (Ger) (2013) (aka Ninas Shadow) – International GI winner in Hong Kong; Intellogent (Ire) (2015) – GI Prix Jean Prat. Note that many of these classic and G1 winners came after Countess Batthyany’s death in 1989–the family went through a dormant stage from the mid-1950s to the late 1990s–and it’s a legacy that’s current to 2018 with Intellogent and Pakistan Star. Note also that there aren’t any U.S. GI winners on that list. This isn’t a family that’s taken particularly well to the U.S.–Nordlicht established that pattern after the war–but before his death in 1991, Liebrecht introduced a strain of it in the 1980s at Audley with Night Letter (Ger) (1980), a mare bred by Countess Batthyany. Night Letter produced the U.S. GII winner Night Fax (1991), and this female line cultivated by Liebrecht’s heirs at Audley in the U.S. is represented by the current GII Gulfstream Park Oaks winner Coach Rocks (2015), a Calumet-bred 3-year-old filly by Oxbow. Perhaps years after Nordlicht, the climate in this country is finally ready to take advantage of Countess Batthyany’s legacy? Postscript Late last year, Countess Batthyany’s great-nephew, the journalist Sacha Batthyany, published a memoir titled “A Crime in the Family.” It was his attempt to come to terms with the angst of discovering a decade earlier that the Countess had been associated with the murder of 180 Jews in 1945. Yes, you read correctly. These are the bare facts that have been confirmed by Sacha Batthyany, and originally by journalist and author David R.L. Litchfield 10 years earlier: In 1945, the Countess and her husband, a titled Hungarian aristocrat, were hosting a raucous party for Nazi officers at their castle in a Hungarian town close to the Austrian border during the late stages of the war. The Russians were perhaps days or weeks away from entering the town, and the Third Reich was on its last legs. At some point around midnight, the partiers went into the town and they killed 180 Jewish laborers, after first making them dig their own graves. Later, the party returned to the castle and continued where they’d left off. The Count and Countess–along with her two Nazi lovers, both of them prominent in the shooting spree–later relocated to Lugano, Switzerland, to start a new beginning. The lovers were sent away to Argentina and South Africa to start new lives, and the Batthyanys through time were absorbed back into post-war European society, traveling among the major cities, safariing in Africa, and generally leading a life of aristocratic leisure when she wasn’t breeding and racing horses. They were never held accountable for this incident. The story, in fact, was neatly hidden within the folds of history until Litchfield exposed it a decade ago. And even then, there were lingering doubts of its veracity by some until Sacha Batthyany confirmed it in his book. Sid Fernando is president and CEO of Werk Thoroughbred Consultants, Inc., originator of the Werk Nick Rating and eNicks. View the full article

Having been freshened following his fourth-place finish in the May 19 Preakness Stakes (G1), Good Magic gets back to some top-level business July 29 when he starts in the $1 million betfair.com Haskell Invitational Stakes (G1) at Monmouth Park. View the full article

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – A new ‘TDN Rising Star’ on opening day, a headliner for the GI Travers S. and the potential return of an unbeaten Grade I winner. There’s certainly plenty to look forward to at the prestigious Saratoga meeting for Amer Abdulaziz’s U.S. division of his fledgling Phoenix Thoroughbreds, overseen by former longtime Vinery Farms President Tom Ludt. “Things are really good,” Ludt said by phone from his Los Angeles base Thursday morning. Lyrical Lady (More Than Ready), a $625,000 OBSMAR graduate (:20 3/5), put on a show in the first salty baby race of the meeting, graduating by 5 3/4 lengths in front-running fashion July 20 (video), good for ‘Rising Star’ honors. The daughter of the graded stakes-placed Unbridled’s Song mare La Song earned a 75 Beyer Speed Figure for Hall of Famer Steve Asmussen. “Obviously, we were very happy,” Ludt said. “It looked like it really could be a great field, but you always find out with these 2-year-olds a little bit later in the year. Steve thought she had a lot of ability and she showed it. We’re excited. She came out of it a little tired, but she should have–she ran her eyeballs out.” There are two upcoming graded races for 2-year-old fillies on the calendar at the Spa-the GII Adirondack S. going 6 1/2 furlongs Aug. 11 and the GI Spinaway S. at seven furlongs Sept. 1. Will we see her back in one of those spots later this meet? “I spoke with Steve the other day and we’ll kind of wait and see,” Ludt replied. “If a soft race comes up, that would be great before taking on the monsters. I like to go through conditions, but I know the bigger plan today is to jump right in there versus the big girls, so we’ll see what happens. We’ll look three, four, five weeks out and see what comes along.” Forced to sit out this weekend’s round of big 3-year-old stakes races, which includes the GII Jim Dandy S., due to a minor issue last month, valiant GI Belmont S. runner-up Gronkowski (Lonhro {Aus}) has his sights set on the ‘Mid-Summer Derby’ Aug. 25. He returned to the worktab with a four-furlong breeze in :48.33 (15/171) at trainer Chad Brown’s Saratoga base July 21. “He unfortunately tweaked an ankle after his first work [following the Belmont June 23], so we backed off just for a couple of weeks,” Ludt said. “I talked to Chad earlier this week and he couldn’t have been more positive. He said the horse is training spectacular. We’re all systems go for the Travers, knock on wood.” The unbeaten sophomore filly Dream Tree (Uncle Mo), meanwhile, last seen running away with Santa Anita’s GII Las Virgenes S. Feb. 4, could make the cross country trip to upstate New York from Hall of Famer Bob Baffert’s Del Mar base. The $750,000 Fasig-Tipton Florida Select 2-Year-Old purchase most recently breezed five furlongs in 1:01.20 (12/44) July 24. The 2017 GI Starlet S. heroine was sidelined after “tweaking an ankle” earlier this spring, per Ludt. “She’s doing phenomenal,” Ludt said. “Bob is usually kind of a little bit low key about horses when they’re coming back, but he’s really pumped. We’re thinking about the [GI Longines] Test [at Saratoga Aug. 4]. It’s probably pushing it to make it there, but she’s coming back great. I’m sure [NYRA’s Senior Vice President of Racing Operations] Martin [Panza] will also have something later in the month for us to look at and we’ll look at what Del Mar’s got, too.” Ludt continued, “She wasn’t ultimately going to be an Oaks-type horse anyway from a distance perspective, so Bob said, ‘Let’s back off.’ We’ll probably race her again next year if everything goes well, too.” Launched in 2017, the high-powered, Dubai-based Thoroughbred racing investment fund competes at the highest levels worldwide, highlighted by a Royal Ascot victory by Signora Cabello (Ire) (Camacho {GB}) in last month’s G2 Queen Mary S. “We have 155 horses worldwide right now, counting mares and everything,” Ludt said. “Europe’s incredible right now–let’s hope we just keep it up. We had a nice maiden winner in Australia last night, too.” View the full article

The favorite for the $300,000 Bing Crosby Stakes (G1), 2017 champion sprinter Roy H, will carry a little more weight for his connections for a variety of reasons. View the full article

The newest inductees into the Maryland Thoroughbred Hall of Fame are European champion El Gran Senor and Caesar’s Wish. A celebration to honor the new inductees will be held at Laurel Park Aug. 25. Bred in Maryland, El Gran Senor was a champion in both England and Ireland at age two in 1983, winning prestigious races such as the G1 Irish Derby and G1 English Two Thousand Guineas. A two-time MD-bred champion, Caesar’s Wish won nine stakes, including the GI Mother Goose S., but suffered a tragic death in the GI Alabama S. after collapsing on the far turn from a heart attack. View the full article

The Thoroughbred Club of America has selected Josephine Abercrombie, owner of Pin Oak, as their 2018 Honor Guest at their 87th Testimonial Dinner at Keeneland Sept. 28. “The Thoroughbred Club of America is excited to name Josephine Abercrombie as our 2018 Honor Guest,” said TCA President W. Gray Lyster. “Her accomplishments as an Owner, Breeder, Farm Operator, as well as her lifetime support for the entire industry, make her an obvious selection as the Thoroughbred Club of America’s Honor Guest.” View the full article

One racing fan will have the opportunity to win a free trip for two to Miami for the 2019 Eclipse Awards in Jan. 24, including airfare and two nights at the Turnberry Isle thanks to EquiLottery through the NTRA’s #JustifyandI selfie promotion. To enter, tweet a selfie with Justify using the hashtag #JustifyandI and tag the NTRA or post the image on the NTRA’s Facebook page. All of the photos will be shown in a video montage at the awards. The winning selfie will be selected by a panel of judges based on factors such as composition, originality, etc. The winning prize will include backstage passes to the Eclipse awards and a tour of the Gulfstream backside, as well as passes for live racing Jan. 24-25. View the full article

Saratoga will be one of several tracks across the country hosting the Permanently Disables Jockeys’ Fund Day Across America July 28. The day’s events include a meet and greet with top riders on the Jockey Silks Room Porch from 11:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. and fans will have the opportunity to play arcade games against the jockeys from 1-3 p.m. View the full article

Jim Dunleavy of the Daily Racing Form won the 2018 Bill Handleman Memorial Award for outstanding coverage of last year’s GI Haskell S. “Jim is the consummate professional and his coverage of the 2017 Haskell Invitational certainly reflected that professionalism,” said John Heims, Monmouth Park’s Director of Racing/Racing Secretary. “He was able to capture all of the elements of last year’s exciting three-horse finish in one of the most memorable Haskell’s ever run.” View the full article