Wandering Eyes

The second annual TVG-Permanently Disabled Jockeys Fund telethon to benefit 60 disabled riders will be held Sunday, Apr. 7. It will be televised live on TVG from 12 noon to 7:00 pm (ET) and there will be call centers in California at the TVG studio and at Santa Anita as well as at Keeneland Race Course where donors can call in and may talk to a Hall of Fame inductee, a current rider, or some of our PDJF beneficiaries. Last year’s telethon raised over $220,000 to help those permanently disabled riders who have suffered catastrophic on-track injuries resulting in paralysis and/or traumatic brain injury. View the full article

Four potential hopefuls for the March 30 $1 million Xpressbet.com Florida Derby (G1) at Gulfstream Park turned in their final works in the early morning hours of March 23. View the full article

Moments after the Oaklawn Park track opened for training March 23, multiple stakes winner Whitmore and Canadian champion Wonder Gadot eached breezed a half-mile in preparation for their next starts. View the full article

Four potential hopefuls for the March 30 $1 million Xpressbet.com Florida Derby (G1) at Gulfstream Park turned in their final works in the early morning hours of March 23. View the full article

The redoubtable stayer Sheikhzayedroad (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) was a stalwart of David Simcock’s Newmarket stable, winning 11 of his 49 races. For the last five years he has raced at Meydan on World Cup night but this year Dubai’s biggest race day will go ahead without the horse named after the country’s major thoroughfare as the 10-year-old settles into a life of ‘retirement’ as the stable hack at Trillium Place. The TDN’s Alayna Cullen spoke with trainer David Simcock about the venerable gelding in the latest After the Finish Line. TDN: David, remind us what Skeikhzayedroad achieved in his career. David Simcock: Sheikhzayedroad was first of all a wonderfully consistent horse. He did very well from two to three in the winter. He started off in the maiden at Newmarket, ran promisingly, and then broke his maiden at Hamilton. He had started to show enough to suggest he was going to be quite decent. He had a very successful 4-year-old career. He won a decent handicap off the mark of 82 at Doncaster and he won a Premier H. on Derby day at Epsom, which was a lovely day to have a winner. We then took him Dubai in the January of his 5-year-old career and that’s when things really took off. He won first time out over there. He was placed in a decent stakes race and he suddenly went from being a top-end handicapper to a group horse. At five he won the Fred Archer, which is a listed race. He won the SkyBet at York, which was a Group 2, beating a very good field, over a mile and a quarter. And then he went and won the GI Northern Dancer in Woodbine where we had a group-win double. That was a very special day. From there, he continued to progress and he just became a very consistent, good stayer. TDN: Which of his performances was your personal highlight? DS: My personal highlight was probably later on in his career when we stepped him up to two miles and he won the two-mile race on Champions Day at Ascot. That is a very special day of racing, a lot of prize-money, and it is, as the day says, a Champion’s day and for me, he was Champion two-miler that day. He also loved Dubai, he was very consistent in Dubai, accumulated a lot of prize-money out there. TDN: What was he like to train? DS: He was quite fruity when he started. He was a little keen, a little headstrong, but he became more and more straightforward as time went on. He wasn’t a wonderful workhorse, he would only do what he was asked to do, but I think his biggest attribute was that he stayed sound throughout his career and that’s a wonderful trait in a horse. He enjoyed his racing and from day one to the day he retired, he was a sound horse, which was what we were very keen to finish on. TDN: How is he transitioning into the yard hack? DS: He’s very good. Still goes out in a hood as he’ll jump at traffic but with the hood on he’s not worried at all. He’ll watch the string, no problem at all and is very keen to eat grass. My assistant, Sam, is riding him at the moment, she’s getting the freshness out of him. He’s still a little keen when he has a little canter but generally I think he’s really enjoying it. TDN: I believe your Head Lad Gary has a bit of a special bond with Sheikhzayedroad? DS: Gary has been with me the best part of 12 years. He rode Sheikhzayedroad throughout his racing career and is very fond of him. He’s the first person to see him in the morning, he’s the last person to see him at night and he probably knows his character better than anybody. I know he has a very soft spot for him. TDN: When can we expect to see you riding him on the Heath? DS: I haven’t ridden for quite a while and I would want to see him behaving impeccably before I get on him. I’m pretty sure I’ll be riding him in the summer and I’m looking forward to riding him. He’s got a kind nature, he expresses himself but he’s not going to rear or buck me off, I hope. {"id":3,"instanceName":"Articles No Playlist","videos":[{"videoType":"HTML5","title":"After The Finish Line: Sheikhzayedroad","description":"","info":"","thumbImg":"","mp4":"https://player.vimeo.com/external/325418948.sd.mp4?s=96ee4ea23d9ac967527b4cbfd7318d80642dcfc6&profile_id=165","enable_mp4_download":"no","prerollAD":"yes","prerollGotoLink":"prerollGotoLink","preroll_mp4_title":"preroll_mp4_title","preroll_mp4":"https://player.vimeo.com/external/314514672.sd.mp4?s=a306d293085e5b37b7a8153e8ad79633640c115a&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\/"} View the full article

The Consignors and Commercial Breeders Association (CBA) has called the off-label usage of bisphosphonates in horses under four years of age `unacceptable’ in a statement issued Saturday morning. The statement read: “The Consignors and Commercial Breeders Association (CBA) and its members are first and foremost concerned about equine health. The recent tragedies in California have led to a full examination of how our industry cares for horses from the moment a foal hits the ground all the way up until an injury occurs. Conclusions have been made that the use of bisphosphonates in horses younger than 4 years old has led to unintended and dangerous side effects that weaken our equine athletes. While it is believed that the rate of usage in foals and yearlings has been limited, the CBA believes any “off label” use of bisphosphonates in young horses is unacceptable.” According to a report by Dan Ross in Friday’s TDN, in 2014, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved the use of two bisphosphonates-Tiludronate (Tildren) and Clodronate (Osphos)-in horses four and older to help control the symptoms associated with navicular syndrome. But many in the industry are concerned about the off-label use of these drugs, especially in young horses, including those being prepared for the sales. That’s because, rather than strengthening bones as intended, misuse of these drugs could make them weaker, more susceptible to fractures. View the full article

For each weekend, NTRA and BloodHorse will provide a one-stop guide to the day's top stakes races in North America and beyond. Races are listed in chronological order (all times Eastern). For more detail, click the race name. View the full article

The Jockey Club’s first official meeting in mainland China will provide the perfect platform for it to expand its racing ambitions in Conghua, according to chief executive Winfried Engelbrecht-Bresges.Although Engelbrecht-Bresges is resigned to the fact gambling in the mainland won’t be an option for a very long time, if ever, he is confident the Conghua experiment has plenty of room for growth.Around 3,500 people were at Conghua Racecourse for Saturday’s five-race card, on which there was no… View the full article

Richard Gibson lived out a dream eight years in the making at Conghua Racecourse on Saturday, training the first winner at the Jockey Club’s HK$3.7 billion mainland facility.Gibson combined with jockey Matthew Chadwick to salute with Nordic Warrior in the Hong Kong Jockey Club Trophy (1,200m), calling it a “big career moment”.“It’s a very big buzz to win the first race here in Conghua,” Gibson said. “When I got the job in Hong Kong I said I wanted to be the first winner in Conghua.Successful… View the full article

Hong Kong Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor has declared Conghua Racecourse the perfect blueprint for cooperation in developing the Greater Bay Area.On course on Saturday as the Hong Kong Jockey Club held the first official race meeting at its HK$3.7 billion facility, Lam lauded the “high-level” dealings between Hong Kong and the mainland.“Working cooperatively, employing our respective strengths, we have created an excellent model for what can be accomplished with the Guangdong-Hong… View the full article

Ricky Yiu Poon-Fai admits his first-starter Voyage Warrior could be the best youngster he has had in a long time but knows too well the pitfalls that can afflict inexperienced horses during their first day at the races.The three-year-old has trialled as well as any unraced horse this season and looks a live chance in the Class Four Pine Tree Hill Handicap (1,000m) on Sunday but will have to replicate that form under race conditions.“He has trialled like a rocket, it is all natural because we… View the full article

Champion Australian mare Winx extended her record-breaking win streak to 32 on Saturday in what is widely expected to be the penultimate race for the world’s top-rated turf horse. View the full article

Winx has done it again. View the full article

Sponsored by Alex Nichols Agency 12th-Fair Grounds, $40k, Msw, 3yo, a1mT, post time: 6:46 pm ET OXBURGER (Tapit), a $900,000 KEESEP yearling, makes his first start here on behalf of Stonestreet Stables LLC, Eric Fein and trainer Steve Asmussen. The grey colt is a half-brother to GISW and ‘TDN Rising Star’ Taris (Flatter), SW and MGSP Theatre Star (War Front) and SW Stoweshoe (Flatter). Dam Comedy (Theatrical {Ire}), herself a daughter of Grade III-winning turfer Don’t Be Silly (Lord At War {Arg}), sold to Stonestreet for $1.5 million carrying Oxburger at the 2015 Keeneland November sale. TJCIS PPs View the full article

Owner Gary West is anything but downcast over the nose loss suffered by his juvenile champion Game Winner in the colt's 3-year-old debut, the March 16 second division of the $750,000 Rebel Stakes (G2) at Oaklawn Park. View the full article

TH Koh, A'Isisuhairi, WS Chan suspended; Jason Lim, Troy See fined View the full article

Owner Gary West is anything about downcast over the nose loss suffered by his juvenile champion Game Winner in the colt's 3-year-old debut, the March 16 second division of the $750,000 Rebel Stakes (G2) at Oaklawn Park. View the full article

It's that time of the year again. Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve (G1) preps are worth 100 points for the winner and two-time Triple Crown-winning trainer Bob Baffert has a formidable hand for the Triple Crown that he says he "loves." View the full article

The Hong Kong Jockey Club stages its first-ever meeting at its state-of-the-art Conghua Racecourse Saturday, some 200km north of Hong Kong, with five exhibition races set to offer full prize money, but no pari-mutuel wagering. The richest race of the afternoon, the Hong Kong Jockey Club Trophy (1800m), carries prize money of HK$2 million and is restricted to graduates of the Hong Kong International Sale. Having drawn a field of six, it will be contested at the distance of 1200 metres, featuring a chute start that links up with the course proper at the entrance to the turn. The rest of the program consists of one race in Class 3, two in Class 4 and one in Class 5 at 1200, 1800m and 2200m, just over one circuit of the 10-furlong turf oval. The event is being held in collaboration with Conghua District Government and 16 of Hong Kong’s 21 registered trainers will be represented at the meeting. Michael Chang, who famously sent Rich Tapestry (Ire) (Holy Roman Emperor {Ire}) to become the first Hong Kong horse to win in the US, has taken an open-minded approach in sending in two horses for the meeting. “It looks like it is a big track and both my horses are straightforward so I don’t think it will cause them any problems at all,” he told the HKJC’s David Morgan. “All of the planning for taking the horses there has gone smoothly, so it all should be fine.” {"id":3,"instanceName":"Articles No Playlist","videos":[{"videoType":"HTML5","title":"A Tour of Conghua Racecourse","description":"","info":"","thumbImg":"","mp4":"https://player.vimeo.com/external/309373642.sd.mp4?s=c239814e434f5a83f5cdab91b69a5ecafd622167&profile_id=165","enable_mp4_download":"no","prerollAD":"yes","prerollGotoLink":"prerollGotoLink","preroll_mp4_title":"preroll_mp4_title","preroll_mp4":"https://player.vimeo.com/external/321242494.sd.mp4?s=aa87a6d9113e4eb8235022d9adc292f26b904fa6&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\/"} View the full article

Aidan O’Brien is simply a phenomenon in the world of racing. A record-breaking National Hunt trainer in the initial stages of his career, his abundant talents didn’t go unnoticed and he was appointed as the trainer in the historic Ballydoyle complex in 1996 at the age of just 26. He quickly established himself as a dominant force in Irish racing and since then has broken every record worth breaking and won every race worth winning in Europe and beyond. Most recently, he broke the world record for the number of Group/Grade 1 winners trained in a calendar year with 28 such victories in 2017. As always, O’Brien has an array of stars under his care for the new season, headlined by a strong team of older horses as well as an exciting clutch of Classic prospects. Here, the trainer outlines his thoughts for his stable’s leading lights for the 2019 season. AMEDEO MODIGLIANI (Ire) ‘TDN Rising Star‘ 4 b c Galileo (Ire) – Gooseberry Fool (GB) (Danehill Dancer {Ire}) Made it second-time lucky when winning a maiden at the Galway Festival in impressive style in 2017, but failed to make it to the track in 2018. “He’s a horse we were really looking forward to last season, but a sequence of small setbacks kept him off the track all year. We are thinking of running him in the Devoy S. at Naas this Sunday. He’s ready to start off and hopefully he’ll run a nice race, but I’d expect him to improve a lot on whatever he does. He’s a good-moving horse and I we think he’ll be better on firmer ground than he is likely to get on Sunday. He shows a lot of pace in his work and we aren’t 100% sure if his best trip will end up being a mile and a quarter or a mile. We’ve always liked him and hopefully he’ll show what we’ve seen from him at home on the track this season.” ANTHONY VAN DYCK (Ire) 3 b c Galileo (Ire) – Believe’N’Succeed (Aus) (Exceed And Excel {Aus}) Rated 118, he won the Tyros S. at Leopardstown and the Futurity S. at the Curragh prior to finishing in the frame in both the National S. and the Dewhurst S. at Newmarket. “He is very well and I’m happy with how he did over the winter. We aren’t sure if he’ll start off in the 2000 Guineas or a Derby trial just yet. Seven furlongs was sharp enough for him last season. Other than the maiden he won, he only had one run over a mile at the Breeders’ Cup, but he had a poor draw and it was the end of a long campaign, so I wouldn’t judge him on that run. We always thought he’d stay much further than a mile and even if he starts off in the Guineas, he is likely to end up over longer trips. He has run on soft ground, but I’d imagine good ground or better would be ideal for him.” BROOME (Ire) 3 b c Australia(GB) – Sweepstake (Ire) (Accalamtion {GB}) Rated 112, he won a maiden at the Galway Festival and ran well in defeat in Group company thereafter, most notably finishing a neck second in the Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere. “He’s a lovely laidback horse that we have always thought would get further than a mile. He showed how versatile he can be when making the running when just getting touched off in the Group 1 in France, but I’d say he’ll be better getting a lead off something else with good pace in front of him. He’s by Australia and in general, we love everything about them. They have lovely minds, they are very clear winded and they look like middle-distance horses in the making. Broome fits all of that description and we are looking forward to him. We haven’t decided if he’ll go for the 2000 Guineas or a Derby trial yet.” CAPRI (Ire) 5 gr h Galileo (Ire) – Dialafara (Fr) (Anabaa) Rated 120, he won the Irish Derby and the St Leger in 2017 and failed to win in an injury-interrupted campaign last season. “We are going to go down the Ascot Gold Cup route with him this year and we’ll probably start him off in the Vintage Crop Stakes at Navan at the end of April. Things just didn’t work out for him last year, he didn’t get a clear run of it at all. Even though he won over a mile and a quarter last year and went on to run very well in the Champion Stakes, he showed when winning the St Leger that he stays very well. You’d have to be hopeful that he can make up into a very good stayer.” CHABLIS (Ire) ‘TDN Rising Star‘ 3 b f Galileo (Ire) – Vadawina (Ire) (Unfuwain) A full-sister to The Pentagon (Ire), she made a winning debut in a seven-furlong maiden at Gowran Park in October. “We were delighted with what she did at Gowran Park on her debut. We were surprised that she was able to do what she did considering it was only over seven furlongs. She’s a full-sister to The Pentagon, so we always thought she was a middle-distance filly in the making. I’m not sure yet whether she will start off in a Guineas trial or an Oaks trial, but she will end up over longer trips soon enough I’d imagine.” CIRCUS MAXIMUS (Ire) 3 b c Galileo (Ire) – Duntle (Ire) (Danehill Dancer {Ire}) Rated 110, he won a maiden at Gowran Park in September prior to running well in Group company, most notably when a close fourth in the G1 Vertem Futurity Trophy at Doncaster. “He’s in good form and is doing everything right at the minute. He’s another one that could start off in either a Guineas trial or Derby trial, but we haven’t made a decision yet. He seems to be ground versatile and should certainly stay further than a mile.” CONSTANTINOPLE (Ire) 3 b c Galileo (Ire) – One Moment In Time (Ire) (Danehill) Rated 97, he made it third time lucky when winning a maiden at Thurles by 10 lengths in October. “He’s a lovely, big horse that looks like a middle-distance horse in the making. He’s one that you could see training on as a 4-year-old too. He’ll be one to start off in a Derby trial. He’s a good-moving horse and while he’s handling softer ground at home at the minute, I’d say he’ll always appreciate better ground.” FAIRYLAND (Ire) ‘TDN Rising Star‘ 3 b f Kodiac (GB) – Queenofthefairies (GB) (Pivotal {GB}) Rated 112, she won four of her five starts last season including the G1 Cheveley Park S. “Fairyland is in good form. We are happy with how she did over the winter and the work she has been doing of late. We haven’t decided if she’ll have a trial before it, but the plan is to run her in the 1000 Guineas. She has never run over further than six furlongs, but we’ve always thought she would get further, so we’ll give her a go at a mile in Guineas and see what happens. She has always been a very straightforward and uncomplicated filly.” FLAG OF HONOUR (Ire) 4 b c Galileo (Ire) – Hawala (Ire) (Warning {GB}) Rated 113, he won three Group races last season, mostly notably the Irish St Leger. “He had a very good season last year and he is in good form at home. We know that he stays well, but we might start him off over a mile-and-a-quarter and work our way up from there as we need to.” FLEETING (Ire) 3 b f Zoffany (Ire) – Azafata (Spa) (Motivator {GB}) Rated 106, she won two of her four starts including the G2 May Hill S. at Doncaster in September. “She’s a grand, straightforward filly that looks like she’ll get further than a mile. She might even end up getting further than a mile and a quarter. We’ll make a decision in the next couple of weeks as to where she’ll start off.” GODDESS (Ire) ‘TDN Rising Star‘ 3 b f Camelot (GB) – Cherry Hinton (Ire) (Green Desert) Rated 94, she won a maiden at Leopardstown by 10 lengths in July, but disappointed on her only other start of the season a fortnight later. “Goddess had a setback after her last run that ruled her out for the rest of last season and she had another setback earlier this year. She’s back cantering now, but I don’t think she’ll be back in time for the Classics. We’ll go gently with her.” HERMOSA (Ire) 3 b f Galileo (Ire) – Beauty Is Truth (Ire) (Pivotal {GB}) Rated 110, she won two of her seven starts last season and finished in the frame in three Group 1 races. “Hermosa is in good form and is doing everything right. We are looking at the 1000 Guineas for her at the minute and she’s a filly that we have always thought would stay further than a mile. I think she is ground versatile.” I CAN FLY (Ire) 4 b f Fastnet Rock (Aus) – Madonna Dell’Orto (Ire) (Montjeu {Ire}) Rated 116, she won the Boomerang S. on Irish Champions Weekend prior to finishing second to Roaring Lion in the G1 Queen Elizabeth II S. She made a winning return to action a conditions race at Dundalk in March. “We were delighted with what she did at Dundalk and how she has been at home since. The plan is to run her in the Dubai Turf at Meydan later this month. She has only run further than a mile on one occasion so far, but she ran very well over a mile on soft ground on British Champions Day, so that would give you encouragement that she will get further. She’s out of a Montjeu mare, so you’d hope that she could be one to find some improvement from three to four.” JAPAN (Ire) 3 b c Galileo (Ire) – Shastye (GB) (Medicean {GB}) Rated 108, he won a maiden at Listowel and followed up in the G2 Beresford S. “He is very well at home and is doing everything right. Wayne [Lordan] rode him the first day and while he only finished mid-division, Wayne really liked him. We sent him down to Listowel for a seven-furlong maiden after that and he did well to win as that would be plenty sharp for him. The penny only really dropped with him late on. He came out of that run at Listowel very well, so we decided to let him take his chance in the Beresford Stakes at Naas. Seamie [Heffernan] rode him there and he won quite snugly. He looks one to start in the Derby Trial and the Ballysax Stakes would be an option for him. He looks to be ground versatile and he’s one to look forward to.” JUST WONDERFUL (Ire) ‘TDN Rising Star‘ 3 b f Dansili (GB) – Wading (Ire) (Montjeu {Ire}) Rated 107, she won three of her seven starts last season including the G2 Rockfel S. “We are very happy with her. She’s easy to get ready and is in a good place at the moment. We are looking at the 1000 Guineas for her and we always thought a mile wouldn’t be a problem for her. She’s very honest and we’re looking forward to seeing her out.” KEW GARDENS (Ire) 4 b c Galileo (Ire) – Chelsea Rose (Ire) (Desert King {Ire}) Rated 120, he won the Grand Prix de Paris and the St Leger last year. “We might have a look at aiming him towards the Coronation Cup at Epsom and he might well have a run over a mile and a quarter before that. We know he stays well and he has plenty of options over longer trips if we think that’s what he wants to do.” LE BRIVIDO (Fr) 5 b h Siyouni (Fr) – La Bugatty (Ire) (Dr Fong) Rated 120, he won the G3 Jersey S. at Royal Ascot for Andre Fabre in 2017, but only got to the track once last season and was switched to O’Brien at the back end of last year. “He’s been in Ballydoyle since before Christmas and everything has been going well with him so far. We are thinking about starting him off in the Gladness Stakes at Naas in mid-April. He shows enough pace at home to suggest he’ll be fine over six or seven furlongs, but he has run well over a mile too. We’ll be guided by what he shows at Naas as to which way to go with him in terms of trip.” LOST TREASURE (Ire) 4 b c War Front – Wading (Ire) (Montjeu {Ire}) Rated 112, he won three of his eight starts last season as well as finishing a close fifth in the Prix de l’Abbaye at Longchamp. “The plan is to run him in the Al Quoz Sprint at Meydan Mar. 30. He’s a horse with loads of ability. He likes fast ground and to be produced late in his races, as he doesn’t do much when he hits the front.” MAGICAL (Ire) 4 b f Galileo (Ire) – Halfway To Heaven (Ire) (Pivotal {GB}) Rated 115, she won the British Champions Fillies & Mares S. prior to finishing second to Enable in the GI Breeders’ Cup Turf at Churchill Downs. “We are thinking of starting her off fairly early, with her first big target likely to be the Tattersalls Gold Cup at the Curragh in May. We didn’t get a clear run with her last year. We thought she was made for the Oaks, but she had a little setback that ruled her out of it. Considering the preparation she had, she did really well at the back end of the season and we were delighted with her three runs when she stepped up to a mile-and-a-half. She is ground versatile.” MAGIC WAND (Ire) 4 b f Galileo (Ire) – Prudenzia (Ire) (Dansili {GB}) Rated 113, she won the Ribblesdale S. at Royal Ascot and finished second in two Group 1 races last year. She was also runner-up in the GI Pegasus World Cup Turf Invitational S. at Gulfstream Park in January. “We are aiming her at the Sheema Classic at Meydan. We think she gets a mile and a half and likes good ground. She is a big mare and there might be some more improvement in her.” MAGNA GRECIA (Ire) 3 b c Invincible Spirit (Ire) – Cabaret (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) Rated 113, he has won two of his three starts including the G1 Vertem Futurity Trophy. “We are looking towards the 2000 Guineas with him. I’m not sure whether he’ll run in the trial for it yet. He’s a lovely, uncomplicated horse to train. He has done well physically over the winter and he looks good and powerful. It probably all happened a bit quick for him last season, as it was the end of September by the time he made his debut. We brought him over to Newmarket a fortnight after his maiden as we thought that if he was going to be a Group 1 horse, he needed another run for experience. He ran very well there and came out of it well enough to encourage us to go on to Doncaster a fortnight later. While he won there, he was still babyish and you’d hope he’d improve from that again. He’s by Invincible Spirit and while he got a mile well at Doncaster, you couldn’t be too bullish as to how far he’ll stay. He’s a horse you’d be excited about.” MOHAWK (Ire) 3 b c Galileo (Ire) – Empowering (Ire) (Encosta De Lago {Aus}) Rated 109, he won the G2 Royal Lodge S. at Newmarket prior to disappointing in the Dewhurst S. “He is in good form and is doing everything right. We’ll look to start him back in a Derby trial. He’s an honest, uncomplicated, solid horse that likes good ground. He was a bit below himself in the Dewhurst, but it was the end of the long season for him and maybe we shouldn’t have run him in it. I’d expect him to leave that form well behind him this season.” MOUNT EVEREST (Ire) 3 b c Galileo (Ire) – Six Perfections (Fr) (Celtic Swing {GB}) Rated 107, he won a maiden at the Curragh prior to finishing a short-head second in the Beresford S. “We’re very happy with what he’s been doing this spring. He progressed with every run last season and he’s one we’re looking forward to. There’s a chance he might start off over a mile, but I’d expect him to be stepped up to a mile and a quarter fairly soon. He’d have a chance of staying a mile and a half.” NORWAY (Ire) 3 ch c Galileo (Ire) – Love Me True (Kingmambo) Rated 104, he won a maiden at Naas and the Zetland Stakes at Newmarket. “He has done well in physical terms over the winter. He’s a fine, big horse with plenty of scope. We were happy with how he progressed last season. I wouldn’t judge him too harshly on his run at Saint-Cloud, as the ground was bad there and it was the end of a long year for him. We think he’s better than that run. I’d expect him to start off in a Derby trial and you’d hope that he’ll stay a mile and a half.” OLD GLORY (Ire) ‘TDN Rising Star‘ 3 b c Frankel (GB) – Belesta (GB) (Xaar {GB}) Rated 103, he won a maiden at Naas and went on to finish in the frame in two stakes races. “He looks one that will be stepped up in trip and will probably start off in a Derby trial. He made a lovely start when winning at Naas and we wanted to find out if he could be effective at seven furlongs at a higher level, so we ran him in two stakes races at that trip and he ran well without winning. I think he’ll progress over longer trips this season.” PINK DOGWOOD (Ire) 3 br f Camelot (GB) – Question Times (GB) (Shamardal) Rated 104, she won a maiden at Gowran Park prior to finish a close fifth in the Prix Marcel Boussac at Longchamp. “She’s a filly we’ve always liked. She ran very well in the Prix Marcel Boussac when making the running. We think she stays well, which is why she ended up making the running that day, but I think she’ll be better when getting a lead. We don’t think she’ll have any problem stepping up in trip this year. She’s done well over the winter and is doing everything right at home. We aren’t sure where she’ll start off yet, but a mile and a quarter and maybe further should suit her.” SECRET THOUGHTS 3 b f War Front – Chicquita (Ire) (Montjeu {Ire}) Rated 95, she won a maiden at Naas prior to finishing third in the G3 Silver Flash S. in July. “She’s a grand filly. She had a setback last season which is why she didn’t run again after the Silver Flash, but she’s been good this spring and is on track. She’s a good traveller with plenty of ability and she might go to a Guineas trial.” SERGEI PROKOFIEV ‘TDN Rising Star‘ 3 bb c Scat Daddy – Orchard Beach (Can) (Tapit) Rated 112, he won three of his eight starts last season including the G3 Cornwallis S. in October. “He’s a very fast horse. Five furlongs suits him really well, but he might be ok at six furlongs this year. He is unusually quick, very naturally fast. You don’t have to try to make him fast, he just is. He’ll run in 3-year-old sprints.” SO PERFECT ‘TDN Rising Star‘ 3 bb f Scat Daddy – Hopeoverexperience (Songanadaprayer) Rated 110, she won the G3 Grangecon S. at the Curragh in July and went on to finish second in two Group 1 races. “She’s a big, powerful filly that has done very well over the winter. She has a lot of speed and you couldn’t be sure about how far she’ll stay. We haven’t decided which route to go down with her yet, but we might see can we stretch her to seven furlongs and maybe a mile. She has plenty of speed for sprinting either way.” SOUTHERN FRANCE (Ire) 4 b c Galileo (Ire) – Alta Anna (Fr) (Anabaa) Rated 107, he won a Listed race at Naas in May and went on to finish third in the St Leger at Doncaster. “He’s a grand, big horse. He was a big baby last year. He has done very well in physical terms over the winter and has a good chance of staying two miles or even further this year. We’ll go gentle with him and he might be one to start off over a mile and three-quarters.” SYDNEY OPERA HOUSE (GB) 3 ch c Australia (GB) – Sitara (GB) (Salse) Rated 106, he won a maiden at the Curragh in September and was just touched off by a neck in the Criterium de Saint-Cloud the following month. “He ran a very good race in a Group 1 at Saint-Cloud in his last start of the year. He’s a lovely straightforward horse with a very good mind. He’s very uncomplicated and should have no problem getting middle distances. I’m very happy with him.” TEN SOVEREIGNS (Ire) ‘TDN Rising Star‘ 3 b c No Nay Never – Seeking Solace (GB) (Exceed and Excel {Aus}) Rated 120, he is unbeaten in three starts including the G1 Middle Park S. “We are very happy with him. He’s a lovely uncomplicated horse that is doing everything right. We have our eye on the 2000 Guineas with him and he hasn’t shown us anything to suggest he won’t stay a mile yet. He has the option of having a trial before the Guineas, but going straight there with him is an option, too. Looking back on last season with him, he didn’t debut until late August and he ended up packing his three starts into a five-week period which was a tough ask of him. He won his first two races through raw ability, so it was understandable that when he stepped up into a Group 1 that he looked a little bit green in the Middle Park. That race will really stand to him and he learned a lot from it. He’s a horse that you’d have to be very excited about.” WESTERN AUSTRALIA (Ire) 3 ch c Australia (GB) – What A Treasure (Ire) (Cadeaux Genereux {GB}) Rated 110, he won a maiden at Gowran Park in September and went on to finish a close third in the G1 Vertem Futurity Trophy. He was second in a Listed race at Dundalk on his seasonal reappearance. “He’s a lovely uncomplicated horse. He’s a middle-distance horse. We started him off over a mile at Dundalk and he was a little bit unlucky not to win. We haven’t decided where he will go next, but I expect he will end up over a mile-and-a-quarter in the near future.” ZAGITOVA (Ire) 3 ch f Galileo (Ire) – Penchant (GB) (Kyllachy {GB}) Rated 104, she won a maiden at Cork and went on to run well without winning in group company. “She is a big, uncomplicated filly that could start off in a Guineas trial. For much of last season we thought she was better than she was showing on the track and she might just have been a bit weak. We were particularly disappointed with her in the Fillies’ Mile and that might have just been a case of a long season telling on her. I think we’ll learn more about her this season and I’d be very hopeful she can show improvement.” View the full article

by Alan Carasso One year after finishing a very close third, Lord Kanaloa (Jpn) (King Kamehameha {Jpn}) made the 2013 G1 Takamatsunomiya Kinen the third top-level victory of his standout career. He retired as one of the best sprinters in the history of the Japanese turf and seems to have transferred his considerable ability to his offspring, including Horse of the Year Almond Aye (Jpn), who returns to action in next Saturday’s G1 Dubai Turf at Meydan. Sunday afternoon at Chukyo Racecourse, Danox Ltd.s Danon Smash (Jpn), one of five black-type winners from his sire’s first crop to the races, will try to follow in his hoofprints as the likely favourite in the 1200-metre event. Produced by a Hard Spun half-sister to one-time GI Breeders’ Cup Mile hero War Chant (Danzig), Danon Smash has won three from his last four, including the Jan. 27 G3 Silk Road S., a race also won by Lord Kanaloa prior to his defeat here in 2012. “He hasn’t done well racing to the left before, but in the condition he is now, I think the results will be different,” his trainer Takayuki Yasuda said earlier in the week. “To be honest, I am a bit worried about the course, but again, I think he can handle it.” Indeed, Danon Smash has made one appearance at Chukyo, when finishing a well-beaten seventh to Mr Melody (Scat Daddy) in the G3 Falcon S. over 1400 metres last March. The latter cuts back a bit in distance off a pair off efforts over seven furlongs, including a close second in the G2 Hanshin Cup last December ahead of a troubled seventh from the 16 hole in the G3 Hankyu Hai Feb. 24. He is neatly drawn in gate three this time. “It looks like the last race has sharpened him up,” commented Nobuyuki Tashiro, assistant to trainer Hideaki Fujiwara. “His balance has improved and he has matured as well. He has won a graded stakes race at Chukyo before, so the change to a lefthanded track is a plus.” Fellow American-bred Mozu Superflare (Speightstown) enters her first foray into Group 1 company in flying–and very fast-form. Winner of six of her 14 career trips to the post, she dropped a narrow decision to Daimei Fuji (Jpn) (Agnes Digital) in a listed race in December, but has since defeated Nac Venus (Jpn) (Daiwa Major {Jpn}) in two straight, including the G3 Ocean S. Mar. 2 in which she covered 1200m in 1:07.1. The field also includes Seiun Kosei (Jpn) (Admire Moon {Jpn}), winner of this in 2017; Let’s Go Donki (Jpn) (King Kamehameha {Jpn}), runner-up in each of the last two years; and 11-year-old Snow Dragon (Jpn) (Admire Cozzene {Jpn}), third in the 2014 renewal before winning that year’s G1 Sprinters’ S. He makes the 61st start of his career Sunday. View the full article

Armando Rivera, 58, a paraplegic since a northern California racing accident at 18, will race his wheelchair in the March 30 “Run The Bluegrass” half-marathon in the area surrounding Keeneland. Keeneland will be sponsoring Rivera who has competed in over 40 such races around the country. Rivera’s racing attire includes a shirt or cap with a Permanently Disabled Jockeys Fund logo and often uses the monthly stipend he receives from the PDJF to pay his racing entrance fees. “I’m on a mission,” he said. “Racing gives me a challenge and I have to keep pushing. I’m racing to raise awareness for my fellow injured jockeys and that’s important to me.” Rivera was one of the six catastrophically-injured jockeys honored at last summer’s Jockeys and Jeans Event at Canterbury Park and will attend the group’s PDJF fundraiser at Santa Anita June 22. “At the event last summer we all noted Armando had biceps bigger than most jockeys’ thighs,” said Barry Pearl, the group’s president. “He is a shining example of the overcoming spirit inherent in all the jockeys who suffered catastrophic injuries. We thank Keeneland and their President and CEO Bill Thomason for making this possible and we hope a lot of folks come out to cheer for him. But in Armando’s case, no matter where he finishes, he’s still a winner.” View the full article

Let's look at the Fair Grounds Pick 4 sequence that wraps with the TwinSpires.com Louisiana Derby (G2). View the full article

The New York Racing Association will hold a special drawing for the general public interested in purchasing a reserved table in the Fourstardave Sports Bar or the Miller Lite Picnic Paddock for the 150th GI Travers S. at Saratoga Aug. 24. Half of the reserved table seating inventory in the Fourstardave Sports Bar and Miller Lite Picnic Paddock will be assigned via the drawing. Guests interested in the opportunity to purchase a reserved table in either location can enter the drawing at www.NYRA.com/TraversTables beginning Monday, March 25 at 10 a.m. The drawing will conclude Friday, April 12. Additionally, reserved tables will be available through a reserved table flex plan starting Apr. 11 at 10 a.m. by calling 844-NYRA-TIX. The flex plan provides fans with the convenience of securing a reserved table on seven days of their choice during the 2019 season, including Travers Day. Personal coolers and outside food and beverage are not permitted in the Fourstardave Sports Bar; on-track food and beverage is allowed. The Miller Lite Picnic Paddock is the section of the backyard, located adjacent to the paddock, where guests may reserve picnic tables. Personal coolers are allowed in the reserved picnic area; coolers may contain plastic bottles or cans and are subject to search by NYRA security. Additional chairs, tents and umbrellas are prohibited. For a full list of restricted items, visit NYRA.com/Saratoga. View the full article

New York’s trainers have a new option for securing workers’ compensation insurance for their employees, excluding exercise riders. Insurance Office of America (IOA) has been approved to offer work comp policies to horsemen, effective immediately. “Anything that drives competition in the marketplace is good for the consumer,” NYTHA President Joe Appelbaum said. “This development builds upon the 14% reduction in costs that were announced last fall, and the decrease in the base rate for the Jockey Injury Compensation Fund.” IOA will offer all the same amenities and protections currently available to stable employees, including “All State Endorsements” for those that need coverage in multiple states. “Workers’ compensation has been a long and winding road in New York. With this opportunity, IOA offers New York horsemen a chance to reduce their expenses with concern to their stable staff,” said Martin Panza, NYRA’s Senior Vice President of Racing Operations. “NYRA will continue to work with NYTHA and our horsemen in ways to further reduce the cost of doing business in New York.” View the full article