Wandering Eyes

Mortgage lender Quicken Loans and Churchill Downs have teamed up to launch the “Rocket Mortgage Homestretch Sweepstakes.” The sweepstakes will give 20 entrants a chance to win a VIP trip to sit near the finish line of the 2019 GI Kentucky Derby and one fan walk away from the event with $250,000 to put toward paying off their mortgage or buying a new home. “Much like Rocket Mortgage, the Kentucky Derby is symbolized by speed and power. That is why Rocket Mortgage by Quicken Loans is the perfect fit for the most exciting two minutes in sports,” said Jay Farner, CEO of Quicken Loans. “We are a company that has made a name for itself by being bold, innovative and the first to do things–from the Quicken Loans Carrier Classic to the Billion Dollar Bracket–partnering with Churchill Downs and the Kentucky Derby is the next step.” To enter, visit homestretchsweepstakes.com. The entry period is Mar. 18 through 11:59 PM ET Apr. 7. View the full article

In the wake of the death of 22 Thoroughbreds at Santa Anita, Belinda Stronach and The Stronach Group have taken the bold action to ban race day Lasix, including more stringent regulations on pain killers and more transparency in veterinary records. I believe these reforms, implemented correctly, will substantially enhance the sport’s integrity, and by this extension the very future of horse racing. For the past 50 years, as an owner, breeder, administrator and operator, the use of Lasix has been one of the most controversial and complex topics that has faced the sport of Thoroughbred racing. These reforms have been proposed before and are under attack again today. In the history of racing, many advocates of reform have been laid to rest in a veritable “Flanders Fields” of heroes. First, there was the great Dinny Phipps. When Mr. Phipps took over The Jockey Club in 1982, he made restoring and preserving the integrity of racing his top priority. He advocated the banning of Lasix and all race day medications. Under Dinny’s strong ride, The Jockey Club was a vocal leader on all of these issues advancing uniformity in drug medication which have sadly remained without resolution amongst state racing jurisdictions for decades. A second hero was former Chairman of the New York Racing and Wagering Board, Richard Corbisiero. For part of the 1980s and ’90s, New York, under Corbisiero’s leadership, was one of the few states that prohibited the use of Lasix. The use of Lasix would be thrust into the spotlight, when horses who raced in the Kentucky Derby and Preakness went to the Belmont Stakes. The great Alysheba had Lasix as he won the first two legs of the 1987 Triple Crown but couldn’t use it in the Belmont Stakes and lost. That hero fell when NYRA started losing money from handle as its field sizes dwindled badly and race day Lasix was reinstated in New York. Most recently, the “Horse Racing Integrity Act.” Sponsored by representatives Paul Tonko and Andy Barr, co-chairs of the Congressional Horse Caucus, reintroduced H.R. 1754: the “Horseracing Integrity Act,” would establish a uniform national medication program, bringing the United States in line with international standards. The bill is championed by The Jockey Club and many other fine advocates. For four years this bill has been stalled in Congress, longing to be passed. Most say its chances of passage this year are slim. Why? Now along comes the new chair of The Stronach Group, Belinda Stronach, relative newcomer to the everyday ins and outs of the complex issues of racing, who courageously makes the decision–after the horrible deaths of 22 Thoroughbreds at Santa Anita–to ban all race day medications at the track, including one of the most controversial parts of the proposed “Horse Racing Integrity Act”–to ban race day Lasix–a courageous act which has set the grounds for great concern amongst many Thoroughbred owners and trainers in America. Let’s hope this bold act, which some have falsely criticized as nothing more than a gratuitous gesture to save face for track after the breakdowns at Santa Anita, will win the day and set an example! Belinda has the power as an operator of many prime American racetracks to make this happen. For this initiative to succeed, Ms. Stronach must stick to her guns and initiate these reforms at all Stronach racetracks with common sense guidance. This will be the telling test for the end of the Lasix era in race day medication. I commend Belinda Stronach–following in the footsteps of her father, Frank–and The Stronach Group for its courage and hope through their leadership that all race day medication, including Lasix, will be eliminated once and for all and level the playing field. Please don’t let Belinda be laid to rest with our past heroes in Flanders Fields. Nota bene all racetrack operators: “The torch; be yours to hold it high. If ye break faith with us who die. We shall not sleep, though poppies grow. In Flanders fields.” View the full article

Serengeti Empress, a free-wheeling daughter of Alternation and an easy winner of the Feb. 16 Rachel Alexandra Stakes (G2), is the one to catch in the March 23 TwinSpires.com Fair Grounds Oaks (G2) in New Orleans. View the full article

Egyptian Storm (Pioneerof the Nile–Stage Magic, by Ghostzapper), a half-sister to Triple Crown winner Justify (Scat Daddy), has been retired from racing. The 3-year-old filly will visit Quality Road and owners Robert S. Evans and West Point Thoroughbreds expect to offer her at public auction at one of the Kentucky breeding stock sales in November. Egyptian Storm finished fifth over the Tampa Bay Downs turf Feb. 20 in her lone start. She came out of the race with a splint injury that would have sidelined her until summer. Evans and West Point purchased the filly for $230,000 at the 2017 Keeneland September sale, four months before Justify made his career debut. She is also a half-sister to graded stakes winner The Lieutenant (Street Sense). Street Magic’s now 2-year-old One More City (Will Take Charge) RNA’d for $1.75 million at last year’s Keeneland September sale. The mare produced a colt by Pioneerof the Nile in 2018 and was bred back to Quality Road. View the full article

G1SW Aclaim (Ire) (Acclamation {GB}–Aris {Ire}, by Danroad {Aus}), who is standing his second season at the National Stud, will shuttle to Aquis Farm in Queensland for the Southern Hemisphere breeding season after a partnership deal was struck with Phoenix Thoroughbreds, according to published reports. The G1 Prix de la Foret hero will stand for A$13,750 (including GST). Trained by Martyn Meade and raced by Canning Downs and Partner, he also saluted in the G2 Challenge S. and G2 Park S. and was second in the G1 Prix Maurice de Gheest. The son of the SP Aris (Ire) (Danroad {Aus}), herself a half-sister to MG1SW Again (Ire) (Danehill Dancer {Ire}), retired with seven wins in 15 starts and earnings of $595,666. Phoenix Thoroughbreds purchased a 50% stake in Aclaim in November of 2017 and his first foals are arriving now. View the full article

International Federation of Horseracing Authorities (IFHA) chairman Louis Romanet issued the following statement in response to recent race-day medication reforms in California: The International Federation of Horseracing Authorities (IFHA), composed of racing authorities and race organizers from all major racing jurisdictions across more than 50 countries, has as its core missions to protect the safety of horses and riders and to ensure the integrity of our sport. An unwavering anti-doping policy in both training and during competition is of the utmost importance to safeguarding the welfare of racehorses and the fairness of racing. I am in complete support of the actions and decisions made by The Stronach Group to bring its medication policies in line with international standards, notably those outlined in Article 6 of the IFHA’s International Agreement on Breeding, Racing, and Wagering (IABRW). Article 6 of the IABRW, drafted with input by racing regulators, veterinarians, chemists, and administrators from around the world, has served as the basis for medication regulation, enforcement, and testing for racing authorities such as the British Horseracing Authority, France Galop, the Hong Kong Jockey Club, the Irish Horseracing Regulatory Board, Japan Racing Association, Racing Australia, among others. I am calling on other jurisdictions and race organizers in the United States to adopt stringent medication principles in accord with Article 6 of the IABRW. This adoption, in addition to the implementation of the guidelines outlined in the recently introduced Horseracing Integrity Act of 2019, will apply internationally accepted measures that protect horses, jockeys, and all stakeholders of our great sport. View the full article

A yearling filly by Soft Falling Rain (SAf) (National Assembly) took top honours at the Bloodstock South Africa Cape Yearling Sale on Monday. It was the second consecutive year a yearling of the late South African and UAE champion topped the sale, with colt Tree Of Wisdom (SAf) bringing R200,000 in 2018. Consigned by Wilgerbosdrift, lot 167 is out of the winning Susanna (SAf) (Tiger Ridge) and caught the eye of Puller Racing Stables for R360,000 (US$24,930). The Grade 3-placed second dam London Niece (SAf) (Northern Guest) is a half-sister to SW and G1 SA Fillies Guineas third Secret Heart (SAf) (Fort Wood), Equus Champion 3-year-old filly Promisefrommyheart (SAf) (Elliodor {Fr}), and G1SW Covenant (SAf) (Western Winter). The most expensive colt was also consigned by Wilgerbosdrift as lot 95, and hammered at R280,000 on the bid of Suzette Viljoen. The son of Legislate (SAf) (Dynasty {SAf})’s dam Londalozi (SAf) (Trippi) is a half-sister to SP Barberton Daisy (SAf) (Western Winter) and a full to MGSP Shingwedzi (SAf). This is also the family of French highweight 3-year-old filly Bright Sky (Ire) (Wolfhound), who struck twice at Group 1 level including the G1 Prix de Diane. Overall, the sale grossed R9,275,000 (US$642,300) for 144 sold from 169 offered (85%). The average rose by 10.2% to R64,410 and the median remained steady at R50,000. “Today delivered a solid regional sale with an approximate 10% increase in average and a R5 million increase in aggregate to boost breeders’ cash flow,” said Bloodstock South Africa’s Gary Grant. “The sale offered great value for buyers, especially in view of the R60,000 added stakes bonus for all juvenile winners. BSA are well satisfied with the result and look forward to building the sale further in 2020.” For complete results on the Cape Yearling Sale, go to www.bsa.co.za. View the full article

The first juvenile contest of the year occurred at Saint-Cloud on Mar. 17 and more are on the horizon, signaling that the ‘flat season’ is getting back into gear. Perhaps the greatest sign that spring is well and truly upon us, however, are the imminent breeze-up sales, and with the February breeding stock sales effectively counting as an extension of the November and December sales, the breeze-ups will provide an early look at what the bloodstock market looks like in 2019. Not that we should expect any great revelations; the breeze-ups will serve as a reaction to what happened in the market overall last year, as we learned all too well 12 months ago. The complete bottoming out of the middle and lower markets in 2018 was the result of the supply of horses-a response to general overproduction–far exceeding demand. After a few years of thriving business, most of the breeze-up sales increased their catalogue sizes in 2018. The sales companies learned the hard way that there was simply no market for a significant slice of the horses, and clearance rates plunged. But, the beauty of trying something is that we can learn from it, and the three breeze-up catalogues that have thus far been released-Tattersalls Ireland Ascot, Goffs UK and Tattersalls Craven-have numbers back in line with 2017 figures. Bonus incentives have also been added for both Ascot and Craven. The 2019 breeze-up season begins like it did last year, with the Tattersalls Ireland Ascot sale on Apr. 3. Richard Pugh, Tattersalls Ireland’s director of horses in training sales, admitted that the jump from 99 catalogued to 146 last year was a major contributor to the fact that just half the horses through the ring were sold, but he pointed out that it was a perfect storm of unfortunate events that led to the dismal trade. “Trade wasn’t exceptional in any event, but running alongside that we were, as luck would have it, in the middle of Easter week,” Pugh said. “There was another breeze-up sale [Goffs UK] two working days after our sale, and there was weather the likes of which Noah would have had to build an Ark for. The size of our catalogue had grown and as we know now demand hadn’t grown with it. “As we left last year we were aware of a number of factors we could implement to ensure it wouldn’t happen a second time,” he added. “Some of them were within our control and some weren’t; I said to our team with regards to the weather it might be as bad, but it absolutely couldn’t be worse.” In a new incentive, the 90 juveniles catalogued for Ascot next week are in line to take home a £100,000 bonus should they be able to win at Royal Ascot in roughly 75 days after their turn in the ring. “We brought in the bonus to remind people that the focus of Ascot is precociousness,” Pugh said. “If you really want a meaningful, fair and realistic amount of time for a new trainer to manage the new 2-year-old they’ve just bought, 76 days [to Royal Ascot] is in that bracket. I do believe the bonus has focused the vendors’ minds, and our inspectors tell us it has. A Royal Ascot winner is nice, but £100,000 is a very nice addition.” Having readjusted the factors under the firm’s control, Pugh said he is “surprisingly hopeful” heading into the breeze-up season. “Being first, I suppose you’re always waiting to see what the market is going to react to,” he said. “I do think this year though as a percentage cut of the catalogue we might be the biggest. We really have been quite serious about making sure we get back to where Ascot sits well. The numbers are enough to bring people to the venue, but not too many that vendors should feel that we’ve oversupplied it. We have a good date-we’re not compromised by any significant dates on the calendar. We’re the earliest breeze-up by a couple weeks and we get first crack at it with a nice number. “There are an awful lot of things in our favour this year. I’m surprisingly hopeful from where I was last year; we were all a little downbeat about breeze-ups but I’m very hopeful we can have a nice sale and keep consolidation the focus at Ascot.” It seems that consolidation has also been a focus among vendors. “The consignors have bought fewer [yearlings] in general-not all, but in general, us included,” said John Cullinan of Horse Park Stud. “We’ve dropped from 24 or 25 down to 16 or so, so we’re going to fewer sales and we have fewer of them. “So far the catalogues I’ve seen, there’s been a tightening up of numbers taken in by the sales companies. That tightening up needed to happen; I hope it has the desired effect when we get to the sales.” Con Marnane, who operates under Bansha House Stables, is in the same boat. “We’re down a little bit on numbers but we’ve gone up on quality. We didn’t buy horses just for the sake of buying horses; we bought horses that we thought were going to be good, tough, hardy racehorses. That was in our heads the whole time. I’m really delighted I did that, because when you get up in the morning now and go down to the yard, there’s a bounce in your step. You really enjoy those good horses.” Cullinan said it was a clash of numerous factors that resulted in last season’s tricky breeze-up market. “A couple of things came together,” he said. “I don’t think it was specifically a breeze-up thing; I think it was more in relation to the economy and outside factors. The first sales of the year were the breeze-ups, and the negativity that was about in the spring last year kind of carried through to the autumn.” Cullinan noted that the very nature of the breeze-ups is much more selective. “Breeze-up sales are a niche market; people don’t keep their yards empty all winter to stock them up with breezers; they’re a way of topping up,” he said. “The bulk of your intake of 2-year-olds for the coming season would be bought as yearlings and they’d be topped up with breezers. Brexit left a lot of uncertainty as well, so there were a lot of things happening at the same time. “Another factor was the big increase in numbers at the sales. There were 1,200 horses offered. It could never really absorb those kinds of numbers. Clearance rates were very tough. We were working at 50% to 60% more or less through the season, and Goresbridge raised it to well over 80%. That brought up the average but that didn’t fully reflect how it felt on the ground; it was tough going.” Osarus stages a single-session breeze-up sale on Apr. 11, after which comes Tattersalls’s Craven sale on Apr. 16 and 17. While not nearly as dramatically as at Ascot, numbers are down for Craven, too-the catalogue has dipped to 147 from 172, bringing it back into line with numbers from 2015 through 2017. Tattersalls Marketing Director Jimmy George said the firm’s Guineas breeze-up sale, which takes place early May on the eve of the G1 2000 Guineas meeting, would likely see a cut as well. Tattersalls also introduces a bonus for Craven-sold horses: for a £1,000 entry fee, Craven graduates are eligible to win a £15,000 bonus should they win a class two, three or four 2-year-old maiden or novice race in Britain or an open 2-year-old maiden in Ireland. The qualifying races, of which there will be around 300, begin just four weeks after the Craven sale. The bonus is modeled after Tattersalls’s £25,000 October Book 1 bonus, which George said has stimulated plenty of interest in that sale. “In the Craven breeze-up sale there are 147 2-year-olds that could win £20,000-plus [bonus and prize-money] if they win their maiden, and if they’re Plus 10 bonus eligible, that’s another £10,000,” he said. “And there are six lots in the sale that are Book 1 bonus eligible as well, so they get a minimum of £40,000 [both Tattersalls bonuses] plus their prize-money if they win a qualifying maiden. There is a reason that strikes a chord with connections, because that more than pays a year’s training fees.” It is a tall task to raise significantly the middle and lower markets at sales without healthy purses for owners to compete for, and George concurred, “Prize-money is so, so important to the overall health of the sport. I don’t think that can be overstated. Recent events in Britain in particular with the horsemen’s response to the cuts in prize-money levels of the Arena racecourses have made it very apparent that prize-money levels in this country are arousing strong feelings, and perfectly justifiably so. We’re not saying for a moment that introducing schemes like the October Book 1 bonus or the Craven breeze-up scheme are going to change the face of British racing, but they are our best response to try to address this particular issue and to try to encourage people to think that owning a racehorse remains a great way to enjoy their leisure money.” Goffs UK’s breeze-up sale moves to a slightly later slot on this year’s calendar on Apr. 25. While last year’s figures represented an improvement from Ascot’s sale four days earlier-a 76% clearance rate as opposed to 50%-they were still a far cry from 2017, when 90% had cleared. Goffs UK Managing Director Tony Williams, however, said he is “really optimistic” about this year’s sale; the company has zeroed in on quality and brought the catalogue back down to 160 from 207. “Undoubtedly, the breeze market everywhere last year was very sticky,” Williams said. “There was a lot more in respect to numbers offered everywhere; each sale was bombarded with entries. This year, I know with Goffs UK we’ve consciously gone out and tightened up the numbers. Make no mistake, there was an industry push for that. We tried-and I know we have achieved-to strengthen the catalogue in respect of the sire profile, the physicals and of course pedigree. I feel that we’ve lifted our entire catalogue. “Our vendors were really conscious of the need for quality and I’d say across the board rather than vendors concentrating on numbers, they’ve probably gone a little further up the ladder with respect to what they were buying and that shows in the quality of our catalogue. We’re really optimistic about this sale this year, for all the right reasons.” A few years ago Goffs UK began nominating all its 2-year-olds to the Scandinavian Classics, something Williams said has helped the middle market. “We have a good buying base out of Scandinavia, and that’s another incentive we put in a couple years ago, entering the entire catalogue in the Scandinavian Classic series,” he said. “That’s certainly helped strengthen the middle market and we’re really pleased with how that’s working.” Also fueling confidence ahead of the breeze-up season could be the performance of graduates on the racecourse. Over 50% of breeze-up graduates from the last two years are winners, and over 30% of those are 2-year-old winners. And while Group 1-winning 2-year-olds like The Wow Signal (Ire) (Starspangledbanner {Aus}) and La Pelosa (Ire) (Dandy Man {Ire}) are generally the breeze-up poster children, the 2-year-old sales have proven equally adept at turning out top-class 3-year-olds and older horses like G1 Gold Cup winner Trip To Paris (GB) (Champs Elysees {GB}), G1 Prix du Jockey Club winner The Grey Gatsby (Ire) (Mastercraftsman {Ire}) and last year’s G1 Poule d’Essai des Pouliches winner Teppal (Fr) (Camacho {GB}). Arqana breeze-up graduate War Of Will (War Front) is one of the favourites for the GI Kentucky Derby, while Divine Image (Scat Daddy), who sold during the same session as War Of Will, won the G3 UAE Oaks last month and could have more Classics in her sights in either Europe or America. In 2015, Cullinan founded the Breeze-Up Consignors Association with fellow consignors Brendan Holland and Willie Browne as a means to raise awareness about the exploits of juvenile sale graduates and to quash some of the negative press about the sales. “We felt a few years ago that there were some misconceptions and a bit of negativity about breeze-up horses that needed addressing, and also that the success of breeze-up horses wasn’t recognized,” Cullinan said. “So we set about trying to allay some of those perceptions. “The first thing we did was get some statistical research done and it proved to us what we always felt, that breeze-up purchases measure favourably with the general population. The strike rate, consistency, soundness and ability held up well and in some cases surpassed [the general population]. The average cost of a breezer tends to be less than the premier yearlings, which wasn’t necessarily recognised by the buying public. “It [the association] was just a self-help scheme and we believe it has had an impact,” Cullinan added. “It was hard to believe it when the sales were on last year, but certainly the feedback from the trainers and agents is that it has helped them explain to potential racehorse owners that it’s as good a way of buying a racehorse as any. We feel that we add value to the yearling; we reveal more in terms of ability, soundness, action, wind. It is our way of adding value to the product but in doing so we’re exposing the bad ones unfortunately too. You have to take the good with the bad.” Those that make the breeze-ups happen seem to have done just that, expressed resilience and taken the good with the bad, and there is an overriding sense of hopeful optimism heading into the 2019 season. View the full article

Multiple Grade I winner and star stallion Pioneerof the Nile (Empire Maker–Star of Goshen, by Lord At War {Arg}), best known for siring 2015 Triple Crown winner American Pharoah, has died suddenly at the age of 13, WinStar Farm announced. According to the farm, Pioneerof the Nile bred a mare Monday morning and started acting uncomfortable once he was back in his stall. He was en route to the clinic when he died. “We are all extremely saddened by the loss of Pioneerof the Nile,” said WinStar Farm’s Elliott Walden. “He was a superior physical specimen, a Triple Crown Sire, and a unique personality. All of us at WinStar are heartbroken.” Bred and owned by Zayat Stables during his racing career, Pioneerof the Nile won both the GI CashCall Futurity and GI Santa Anita Derby and was runner-up in the 2009 GI Kentucky Derby. He entered stud at Vinery in 2010 and spent three years there before transferring to WinStar in 2013. He was a perennially among the leading sires and was represented by Eclipse 2-Year-Old champion Classic Empire in 2016. View the full article

Addressing your thoughts, questions and statements about Hong Kong racing. Have something to say? Send a tweet to @SCMPRacingPost.Some ride by Hugh Bowman there. Barrier beat Waikuku – @armodanIn the aftermath of the BMW Hong Kong Derby, there was plenty of talk surrounding some of the rides – both good and bad.It’s always easy in hindsight so it’s better to assess the process, rather than the outcome, when it comes to dissecting performances. Of course luck is involved, but that’s the game… View the full article

First-season jockey Grant van Niekerk is attempting to make hay while the sun shines with an unexpected lightweight ride at Happy Valley on Wednesday night.The South African is booked to ride one-time Derby prospect Charity Go in the Class One Happy Valley Vase (1,800m) at 113 pounds and knows the advantages that come with being a featherweight jockey.While Van Niekerk normally rides at 115 pounds, he is able to shed the additional weight if required and believes the ride on the Danny Shum Chap… View the full article

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

Horses' test results March 16 & 18 View the full article

See, Zuriman, Lerner, Murray suspended View the full article

After a weekend of intrigue at Oaklawn Park, where the Triple Crown trail didn't play out as expected, Gary Barber's War of Will is in a unique position ahead of the $1 million TwinSpires.com Louisiana Derby (G2) March 23 at Fair Grounds. View the full article

Pending approval by the California Horse Racing Board for Santa Anita Park to reopen March 29, several stakes have been rescheduled. View the full article

Without Parole and Weekender to compete in Dubai March 30 View the full article

Without Parole and Weekender to compete in Dubai March 30 View the full article

This has been a strange week. What started as enthusiasm when I heard that California was considering taking a more aggressive approach against medication ended with a chaotic situation where nobody really knew what was going on. While I admire the efforts to limit medicating race horses in California, the way it is being handled is quite disturbing, including investigations by the state attorney’s office into the trainers who had horses fatally injured on the track. The affiliation with PETA, an organization who have clearly stated that their ultimate goal is to eliminate horse racing, is equally as troubling. California’s problems are our problems and we all should be extremely concerned. We constantly hurt ourselves as an industry not being well represented by a group spokesperson or, even better, a governing body who can guide us through these difficult situations and bring some kind of national stability to our industry. While it is admirable that we are running for fantastic purses in most jurisdictions, little has changed with regards to the monitoring of horses that are entered to race and the veterinarians who are treating horses throughout the day. The sensitivity of the testing procedures continues to improve, a good thing, but not enough is done to improve the environment where our samples are handled and the stables that we ship our horses into on race day are often in less than desirable condition and by no means a sterile environment. Hopefully this will also be addressed by the powers that be in California and in turn give other jurisdictions an example to follow. If we want to defend ourselves against the critics and justify our sport, we need to shape up and not turn a blind eye to today’s problems because the reins are slipping through our hands. View the full article

Pending approval by the California Horse Racing Board for Santa Anita Park to reopen March 29, several stakes have been rescheduled. View the full article

Group 1 victor Kementari (Aus) (Lonhro {Aus}–Yavanna {Aus}, by Redoute’s Choice {Aus}) will stand at Darley Australia’s Kelvinside Stud in New South Wales for the 2019 Southern Hemisphere breeding season, Darley announced early Monday morning. The Darley homebred and 2018 G1 Randwick Guineas hero (video) will command a fee of A$33,000 (including GST). Originally sent to Godolphin interim trainer Darren Beadman, Kementari broke his maiden at second asking for Beadman at Randwick before James Cummings assumed the role of head trainer for the Godolphin Australia string. From 19 starts to date, the near-black colt has won four times, taking the G2 Hobartville S. and G3 Eskimo Prince S. besides his Randwick Guineas score as a sophomore. He has also been placed at the highest level another five times and was runner-up to Manuel (Aus) (Commands {Aus}) two back in Caulfield’s G1 C. F. Orr S. in early February, good for earnings north of $1.4 million. “The point that can’t be made strongly enough is his dominance as a 3-year-old,” said Darley’s Head of Sales Alastair Pulford. “You need only look at the quality of the horses that finished behind him in the Randwick Guineas to see the sort of horse he is. And he’s by Lonhro, one of the great colonial-bred stallions, who just keeps proving how big an influence he is on the Australian racing and breeding industry. He is also from a mare by Redoute’s Choice, the benchmark for stallions in Australia in recent times. And this horse is as good-a-looking son of Lonhro as there is at stud.” Out of the dual winner Yavanna (Aus), the 4-year-old is a half-brother to SW and G1 Inglis Sires runner-up Telperion (Aus) (Street Cry {Ire}), who also raced in the royal blue of Godolphin. His second dam struck twice at the Group 3 level Down Under and is herself a half-sister to MGSW So Gorgeous (Aus) (Brief Truce) and Group 3 winner Cumbria (Aus) (Lake Coniston {Ire}). So Gorgeous, in turn, has produced G1 Golden Shaheen victor Sterling City (Aus) to the cover of Nadeem {Aus}), as well as G2 Tulloch S. winner Tipungwuti (Aus) (Fusaichi Pegasus). Black-type winner Jewel in the Crown (Aus) (Might Kingdom {Aus}), the fourth dam of Kementari, is a half-sister to G1 Champagne S. victress Euphoria (Aus) (Marauding {NZ}). View the full article

To say there has been no sophomore slump for trainer Frankie Lor would be the understatement of the millennium. On the heels of a freshman season that saw him tally 65 winners–breaking the previous record of his mentor and close friend John Size–the homegrown Lor had already ascended to new heights when sending out Mr Stunning (Aus) (Exceed and Excel {Aus}) and Glorious Forever (GB) (Archipenko) to victories in the G1 Longines Hong Kong Sprint and Cup, respectively, back in December. Unlike Size, Lor went without a BMW Hong Kong Derby entrant in his first year out on his own, but the 53-year-old was in with three legitimate chances in Sunday’s 2000-metre domestic centrepiece. It took Size 10 years to get his first Derby (Fay Fay {NZ}, 2012), but Lor, who is assisted by his son Lok, was looking to become the first to sweep the Classic series with different horses, as Furore (NZ) (Pierro {Aus}) bulled his way to victory in the Classic Mile in late January before Mission Tycoon (Aus) (Written Tycoon {Aus}) caused a 91-1 upset in the Classic Cup last month, defeating stable companion Dark Dream (Aus) (All American {Aus}) with Furore a running-on fourth in a paceless renewal. The promoted 2018 G1 Rosehill Guineas third wasn’t done any favours when he was assigned gate 12 at Thursday’s barrier draw, but Hugh Bowman was able to work out a good trip despite the wide alley, and the duo came away late to give his conditioner what figures to be the first of many Derby scores. “I can’t express my feelings,” Lor told the HKJC’s David Morgan. “To have one horse to even run in the Derby–now I’ve won the Derby, so it’s a dream come true!” Bowman’s Ride Good, Furore’s Effort Better… With that effort in the Classic Cup–in which Furore got too far behind and just couldn’t bridge the gap–squarely on his mind and given his double-digit gate, Bowman rode the half-brother to Blizzard (Aus) (Starcraft {NZ}) for a bit of speed, and when Classic Mile/Classic Cup third Ka Ying Star (GB) (Cityscape {GB}) went forward to engage Mission Tycoon, Bowman was able to slot in to the three-back, one out spot, covering Sunny Speed (GB) (Havana Gold {Ire}) as they headed towards the riverside portion of the course. Positions were largely unchanged on the backstretch, bar a middle move made by Zac Purton on Dark Dream, who was trapped out a bit and galloped into a more prominent position approaching the final 800 metres. Still giving Bowman a rocking-chair ride midway on the final turn, Furore enjoyed cover on the back of Dark Dream and was pulled off that one’s heels off the home corner. The pacesetters, each of whom were suspect at the trip, began to tire when the real running started, and while Dark Dream led for a hot second inside the final 300m, Furore had him covered, took command with a minimum of fuss and kicked home a fairly comfortable winner. Favoured Waikuku (Ire) (Harbour Watch {Ire}) settled last but one from gate 14 and had it all to do with three furlongs to travel, but rattled off a final quarter-mile in a slick :22.33 to grab second. Making just his third Hong Kong appearance, Sunny Speed, the last to get a spot in the Derby field, gave jockey Neil Callan a winning feel at the 250m before settling for third on trainer John Moore’s 69th birthday. The last two horses to finish third in the Derby, Beauty Generation (NZ) (Road to Rock {Aus}) and Exultant (Ire) (Teofilo {Ire}) have since become top horses in Hong Kong. “Although Furore drew poorly, I was confident he could do the job if I could get him in the right position,” Bowman, who won his first Derby in 2016 with Werther (NZ) (Tavistock {NZ}), told Morgan. “I had the stablemate [Mission Tycoon], the likely leader, drawn next to me [11]; I thought I could at least go with him to start with and see where we end up. I was able to get a lovely run three pairs back. “I was pleased when Zac pressed on with Dark Dream,” Bowman continued. “It just gave me the option to get on his back, and he was one of the main dangers. He gave me a dream cart into the race and my horse was able to get the job done as he did over the mile two starts ago.” With Champions Day about six weeks down the line, Furore is likely to attempt to follow in the hoofprints of fellow Derby winners Vengeance of Rain (NZ), Viva Pataca (GB), Ambitious Dragon (NZ), Designs On Rome (Ire) and Werther (NZ), who all doubled up in the G1 QE II Cup. He will also be given an entry in the G1 FWD Champions Mile, according to Lor. WATCH: Furore races away with the Hong Kong Derby Strong Form Down Under… An NZ$210,000 purchase out of the 2016 NZB Premier Yearling Sale by Australian Bloodstock/Lees Racing, Furore was victorious at Taree, Cessnock, Gosford and Wyong before crossing the line fourth, but placed third, in the G1 Rosehill Guineas 51 weekends ago. Subsequently sixth when stretched to 2400m for the G1 AJC Derby, he showed improvement in his first two Hong Kong starts and his victory in the Classic Mile was surprising not because he lacked talent, but for the fact that the metric mile seemed well short of his best trip. He simply had too much ground to make up after being ridden ‘negatively’ in the Classic Cup, but turned it around in no uncertain terms Sunday. Pedigree Notes… The seventh New Zealand-bred winner of the Derby in the last 13 years and the fifth graduate of the Karaka sales in that stretch, Furore was conceived in Australia and was exported in utero to New Zealand as explained in this TDNAusNZ story last month. Furore is the half-brother to Blizzard, a Group 3 winner and third in a G1 Longines Hong Kong Sprint as well as the 2016 Classic Mile and Classic Cup, who is now trained in Singapore by Lee Freedman and was victorious in the Fortune Bowl in the Lion City last month. According to Jo McKinnon’s report in Monday’s TDNAusNZ, the Pierro cross over Redoute’s Choice has had a 14% strike rate of stakes winners to runners, including Group 1 winners Levendi and Arcadia Queen from 50 starters. Pierro’s sire Lonhro has also produced Group 1 winner Kementari from a Redoute’s Choice mare. Pierro has 14 yearlings entered at next month’s Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale. Stormy Choice, a half-sister to G1 Brisbane Cup winner Danestorm (Aus) (Danehill) and to the stakes-placed dam of Derby also-ran Mr So and So (Aus) (So You Think {NZ}), was not covered in 2018. Sunday, Sha Tin, Hong Kong BMW HONG KONG DERBY-LR, HK$18,000,000 (£1,728,195/€2,028,789/A$3,247,021/US$2,292,991), Sha Tin, 3-17, NH/SH4yo, 2000mT, 2:01.30, gd. 1–FURORE (NZ), 126, g, 4, by Pierro (Aus) 1st Dam: Stormy Choice (Aus), by Redoute’s Choice (Aus) 2nd Dam: Shalbourne, by Nureyev 3rd Dam: Copperama (Aus), by Comeram (Aus) (NZ$210,000 Ylg ’16 NZBJAN). O-Lee Sheung Chau; B-GSA Bloodstock Pty Ltd; T-Frankie Lor; J-Hugh Bowman; HK$10,260,000. Lifetime Record: G1SP-Aus, 11-6-0-2, HK$18,881,100. *1/2 to Blizzard (Aus) (Starcraft {NZ}), GSW & G1SP-HK, $2,112,501. 2–Waikuku (Ire), 126, g, 4, Harbour Watch (Ire)–London Plane Ire), by Danehill Dancer (Ire). (€33,000 Ylg ’16 TISEP). O-Jocelyn Siu Yang Hin Ting; B-Riversfield Stud; T-John Size; J-Joao Moreira; HK$3,960,000. 3–Sunny Speed (GB), 126, g, 4, Havana Gold (Ire)–Almunia (Ire), by Mujadil. (24,000gns Wlg ’15 TATDEF; 15,000gns RNA Ylg ’16 TATOCT; €70,000 2yo ’17 GORMAY). O-Matthew Wong Leung Pak, Janice Wong Oi Ying, James Wong Cheuk On & Timothy Wong Cheuk Tim; B-Whitwell Bloodstock; T-John Moore; J-Neil Callan; HK$1,800,000. Margins: . Odds: 49-10, 9-10, 86-1. Also Ran: Dark Dream (Aus), Ho Ho Khan (NZ), Tianchi Monster (NZ), Red Warrior (Ire), Harmony Victory (Brz), Helene Leadingstar (Aus), Ka Ying Star (GB), Mission Tycoon (Aus), Enrichment (Aus), Gold Chest, Mr So and So (Aus). Click for the HKJC.com chart, PPs and sectional timing. View the full article

Omaha Beach (War Front) and Long Range Toddy (Take Charge Indy) emerged from their respective upsets of highly regarded Bob Baffert trainees Game Winner (Candy Ride {Arg}) and Improbable (City Zip) in split divisions of the GII Rebel S. in good order, their connections reported Sunday morning. Omaha Beach is set to return to Southern California Tuesday, trainer Richard Mandella said Sunday. The Fox Hill Farms colorbearer made a bold bid on the far turn and held off a late run by champion Game Winner to claim the second division of the Rebel. Mandella also sent out Extra Hope (Shanghai Bobby) to a fourth-place finish in the first division. “Extra Hope was set to run in the [since-canceled GII] San Felipe out there,” Mandella said. “[He] ran well, too. He had kind of a mixed-up trip. He can do better than that.” The winner of that first division of the Rebel was Long Range Toddy, who re-rallied down the stretch to best heavily favored Improbable and earn his first graded stakes success. “Everything’s good,” Darren Fleming, assistant to Hall of Fame trainer Steve Asmussen, confirmed Sunday morning. Long Range Toddy is expected to make his next start in the GI Arkansas Derby in Hot Springs Apr. 13. Following the conclusion of racing Saturday, Baffert indicated that Improbable is likely to return to Oaklawn for the Arkansas Derby, while Game Winner would remain in California for the Apr. 6 GI Santa Anita Derby. View the full article

Regaining the thread from a stellar 2018 season, Godolphin dominated Europe’s traditional first Pattern race of the year as the revived Soleil Marin (Ire) (Kendargent {Fr}) led home a one-two for the operation in Sunday’s G3 Prix Exbury at Saint-Cloud. Settled in mid-division throughout the early stages by Pierre-Charles Boudot, the 19-2 shot was left behind initially by Magny Cours (Medaglia d’Oro) deep into the straight but found his rhythm to wear down his unexposed stablemate in the last 100 metres. At the line, there was a 1 1/4-length margin between the Fabre duo, with last year’s winner Air Pilot (GB) (Zamindar) three lengths back in third. Godolphin’s Lisa-Jane Graffard explained, “This is a really good result. Soleil Marin had been gelded and he’s bounced back very nicely. We always knew he had quality, that is why he was bought privately as a 3-year-old and now he is back. The runner-up is a horse we’ve always liked, but he lacks inexperience as he had some health issues last year. He is definitely improving and ought also to have a nice season.” Soleil Marin, homebred by the Fabres, was a smart 3-year-old in 2017 when winning the Listed Prix Francois Mathet here and the G3 Prix Noailles at Chantilly. Losing his way after, he showed glimpses of a comeback last autumn when collecting a 9 1/2-furlong conditions race on Chantilly’s Polytrack and finishing third in the Listed Prix du Grand Camp over a mile and a half. Fittened for this with a return third behind another stablemate Trais Fluors (GB) (Dansili {GB}) and last year’s G1 Prix du Cadran scorer Call the Wind (GB) (Frankel {GB}) in the Prix Darshaan conditions race back on Chantilly’s Polytrack Mar. 5, he was adding further kudos, if any was needed, to the Wertheimers’ breeding operation on a day when their Shaman (Ire) (Shamardal) was taking the Listed Prix Omnium II. Pedigree Notes The dam Sousmarine (Ire) (Montjeu {Ire}), who was purchased out of the Wertheimer ranks at the 2011 Arqana December Sale for €150,000, is a daughter of the G2 Prix de Malleret runner-up Underwater (Theatrical {Ire}). The family features Legerete (Rahy), winner of the Malleret and third in the G1 Prix Marcel Boussac and G1 Prix de l’Opera, the G1 Poule d’Essai des Poulains-winning sire Falco (Pivotal {GB}) and this stable’s G1 Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud heroine Plumania (GB) (Anabaa). Also connected to the leading sire Groom Dancer, Sousmarine has a 2-year-old colt Sous Les Nuages (Ire) (Holy Roman Emperor {Ire}). Sunday, Saint-Cloud, France PRIX EXBURY-G3, €80,000, Saint-Cloud, 3-17, 4yo/up, 10fT, 2:17.29, vhy. 1–SOLEIL MARIN (IRE), 126, g, 5, by Kendargent (Fr) 1st Dam: Sousmarine (Ire), by Montjeu (Ire) 2nd Dam: Underwater, by Theatrical (Ire) 3rd Dam: Sea Hill, by Seattle Slew O-Godolphin SNC; B-Ecurie Peregrine SAS (IRE); T-Andre Fabre; J-Pierre-Charles Boudot. €40,000. Lifetime Record: 21-6-1-2, €206,220. Werk Nick Rating: A++. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree. 2–Magny Cours, 126, c, 4, Medaglia d’Oro–Indy Five Hundred, by A.P. Indy. O-Godolphin SNC; B-Godolphin (KY); T-Andre Fabre. €16,000. 3–Air Pilot (GB), 126, g, 10, Zamindar–Countess Sybil (Ire), by Dr Devious (Ire). O/B-Lady Cobham (GB); T-Ralph Beckett. €12,000. Margins: 1 1/4, 3, 1. Odds: 9.50, 5.10, 2.30. Also Ran: Sacred Life (Fr), Way To Paris (GB), King Platin (Fr), Ficelle Du Houley (Fr), Dolphin Vista (Ire), Tosen Gift (Ire). Click for the Racing Post result or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. Video, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton. View the full article

The Santa Anita racing office has released the stake schedule for the first weekend racing is expected to resume at the track, beginning Friday, Mar. 29. The current condition book stays in effect, said Santa Anita racing secretary, Steve Lym, who added that it will be supplemented with extras–races that had been called off between Mar. 22 to Mar. 24. The stakes schedule is as follows: Friday, Mar. 29 GII San Luis Rey S. Saturday Mar. 30 GI Beholder Mile GI Frank E. Kilroe Mile GII Santa Ana S. GII San Carlos S. GIII San Simeon S. Sunday Mar. 31 Irish O’Brien S. Sensational Star S. Santana Mile View the full article