Wandering Eyes

R.I.P. John Dunlop. My thoughts and prayers are with Sue and the family. I owe a lot to this wonderful man. In 1983, Sheikh Mohammed wanted to send his first horse to the United States to race. He asked Mr. Dunlop who he should send the filly, Daha, to and Mr. Dunlop recommended me. That was the start of a long relationship with Sheikh Mohammed and a boost to my career as someone as grand as John Dunlop had recommended me. He also sent me horses owned by Sir Gordon White, Selim Zilkha and Simon Frazier. I read a comment in the TDN about how he had no boundaries when it came to the horse business. In 1985, I went to a yearling sale at the La Zarzuela race track in Madrid. I remember thinking that I had been to race tracks all over the world and I always ran into someone that I knew but there was no way that would happen this time. I sat down for the sale and right in front of me were Mr. and Mrs. Dunlop. John Dunlop was a class act and will be sorely missed. –John Fulton View the full article

Grade 1-placed He's Had Enough was represented by his first winner July 8 when Garbar Boy edged his opponents to score a half-length win in a 7 1/2- maiden claiming race over the Gulfstream Park turf. View the full article

John Gosden trainees Roaring Lion (Kitten’s Joy), who won the G1 Coral-Eclipse S. at Sandown on Saturday for Qatar Racing, and Juddmonte’s champion and G1 Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe heroine Enable (GB) (Nathaniel {Ire}), out with a knee issue since early May, could meet in the G1 Juddmonte International at York on Aug. 22. “If the owners want to do so, I’d have no qualms about that at all,” Gosden told Racing UK‘s Luck On Sunday programme. “I hope we get into that position. It would be exciting if we did. The plan is to get Enable back hopefully for York. She’s training fine at the moment and we’ll be looking at the Juddmonte International or the [G1] Yorkshire Oaks [on Aug. 23]–one of the two. She’s cantering and I’m very happy with her. I’ll start building her up into half-speeds soon. The ability is still there and mentally she just loves training. We just don’t want a recurrence of what put us on the back-burner in the spring.” As for Roaring Lion, Gosden reports him to have taken the Sandown race in his stride, having beaten the Aidan O’Brien-trained Saxon Warrior (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) in a thrilling finish. “He’s in good order this morning,” he said. “He’s improving. His last three races have been great and Oisin [Murphy] rode him perfectly. It was never the plan to be three wide and virtually back in last early on, but if you drop to the rail at Sandown it’s the easiest place to get boxed in and that wouldn’t have been very funny.” G1 Prince of Wales’s S. favourite and runner-up Cracksman (GB) (Frankel {GB}) has excited Royal Ascot well after losing to Poet’s Word (Ire) (Poet’s Voice {GB}). Said Gosden, “He got distracted by the girls [fillies] walking back from the [G2 Duke of]Cambridge [S.], so he wasn’t focused. He’s been in great form at home since and we’ll just work our way back again. He’s freshened up amazingly since Ascot. He did run a very fast time figure and the winner is a super horse and handled the conditions better than us, but I do have to say our boy didn’t exactly show up for the fight.” “It would be great if we could get them both [Cracksman and Enable] to the Arc,” Gosden continued. “Everything that we do will be to get them to the Arc and I think they are both best on good ground, good to soft ground. It suits them both perfectly. That would be beyond exciting.” View the full article

Unfortunately, the Coral-Eclipse lost some of its allure as pre-race favourite Masar was an eleventh-hour absentee due to a swollen leg following his last piece of work. Even though we were deprived of seeing the Derby winner strut his stuff, Sandown’s showpiece was a real thriller. John Gosden’s Roaring Lion was sent off as the hot favourite in the absence of Masar with many punters supporting both Gosden’s Lion as much as the three lions in the World Cup. Aidan O’Brien had other ideas, however, as he pitched 2000 Guineas winner Saxon Warrior at the race only seven days on from the Irish Derby. In the race itself, Hawkbill set the early fractions under William Buick as the leading fancies stalked the leader. Oisin Murphy got shuffled back on Roaring Lion as the field started turning for home but the Irish native kept a cool head to gradually bring the lion roaring past all his rivals to give Murphy a first domestic Group 1 victory. Roaring Lion did show he’s usually wayward tendency to hang in the closing stages which meant that he had to survive a 15-minute stewards enquiry as Donnacadh O’Brien pleaded his case to get the result amended. Gosden said afterwards: “He rode him beautifully and very coolly. He got too far back, he knew that, and he didn’t hurry to get back. It was a very good ride and I’m thrilled”. It was a red letter day in the training career of Julie Camacho as Judicial gave her a first Group success in the Coral Charge at Sandown. The consistent six-year-old seems to just keep improving and is definitely one to follow for the rest of the season. Haydock played host to the Lancashire Oaks and Old Newton Cup on Saturday where for the third time in six years Mark Johnston trained the winner of the Old Newton Cup. Rainbow Rebel got up on the line under Joe Fanning to beat Crowned Eagle by a neck margin. Everybody knows that Mark Johnston isn’t afraid to run his horses often and this was incredibly Rainbow Rebel’s fourteenth run of the year. Andrew Balding claimed the accolades in the Lancashire Oaks where Horseplay proved too good for Luca Cumani’s God Given. Having always raced prominently under David Probert, Horseplay made her challenge inside the final furlong and stayed on well to beat God Given by a short head. Probert waxed lyrical afterwards saying: “She’s a very solid filly, she won the Pretty Polly in impressive style last year and was quite an exciting prospect. She’s shown what talent she’s got today”. There was some very exciting racing from the States on Saturday night, where Aidan O’Brien sent a battalion of runners to Belmont along with the much revered Ryan Moore. It was a mixed day for O’Brien as Athena won the Belmont Oaks cosily but Mendelssohn was a disappointing third in the Grade 3 Dwyer Stakes. Athena’s two and a half-length victory in the Belmont Oaks was all the more astonishing considering she ran in the Pretty Polly at the Curragh only six days previously. In fact, this was Athena’s third run in three different countries in 16 days, which is incredible. Ryan Moore said: “She’s taken her racing very well. I rode her before the start of the year and all she’s done is improve tremendously”. Mendelssohn once again ran poorly on American soil in the Dwyer Stakes where he was comprehensively beaten by runaway winner Firenze Fire. The Breeders’ Cup has been the long-term target for the 18 length winner of the UAE Derby but these plans may have to be shelved if he doesn’t improve. Markus King trained Welstar to emerge triumphant in the German Derby at Hamburg on Sunday under a strong Andre De Vries ride. Welstar confirmed superiority over Destino, as the pair had previously clashed in a Group 2 at Cologne. This was a great result for stallion Soldier Hollow as the sired both the winner and runner-up. The post Weekend Review – Roaring Lion Wins Coral-Eclipse & More appeared first on RaceBets Blog EN. View the full article

Commonwealth Cup (G1) runner-up Sands Of Mali is ready to take on the best of the sprinting division in the July 14 Darley July Cup, according to trainer Richard Fahey. View the full article

Juddmonte’s Calyx (GB) (Kingman {GB}) is on course to test his mettle at Group 1 level in the G1 Darley Prix Morny at Deauville next month. Trainer John Gosden reports the ‘TDN Rising Star’ to be thriving since his victory in the G2 Coventry S. at Royal Ascot. “He’s letting down nicely, filling out to a stronger horse now and I’m hoping to go Aug. 19 for the Prix Morny at Deauville,” Gosden told Racing UK‘s Luck On Sunday programme. “He was very impressive when he won first time [at Newmarket.] I think you’ve got to hand it to him at Ascot, being left in front with that big crowd screaming when he was out on his own with no-one to race with. He has very quickly clocked into racing.” Gosden is also pleased with the development of fellow ‘Rising Star’ King Of Comedy (Ire) (Kingman {GB}), who races in the colours of breeder Lady Bamford. The colt won his debut over seven furlongs at Sandown on July 6 and is pointing toward the G3 Solario S. in September, a race his sire won in 2013. “He’s started at seven furlongs,” said Gosden. “He’s like his dad. He was in a bit of a muddle, he changed his legs and was very green. He hadn’t seen the grass for seven weeks and it was the first time he’d been asked to stretch. Adam Kirby was impressed. He said he quickened to get there and quickened again. He’s in great order from the race. I think it would be lovely if he went to a novice, had that experience, then the Solario on Sept. 1.” View the full article

As the field loaded into the gate for Saturday’s GIII Dwyer S. at Belmont, the odds on Firenze Fire (Poseidon’s Warrior) were 5-1. That seemed about right. He was 6-1 in the morning line and was last seen running 11th in the GI Kentucky Derby. The gates opened and Firenze Fire was still 5-1. Fifteen seconds later? 5-1. At precisely 19 seconds after the race started, his odds plummeted to 5-2. Trained by Jason Servis, the hottest trainer in America, he won by nine lengths. When it comes to bad optics, it doesn’t get much worse than this. It’s fairly obvious what happened here. At least one of the handful of huge bettors who rely on computer programs to come up with what they believe the actual odds on a horse should be saw Firenze Fire as a huge overlay. It appears they also believed race favorite Mendelssohn (Scat Daddy) was an underlay. He was even-money at the start and went up to 3-2 during the running of the race. Able to bet at the very last second before wagering is closed, the person or persons pumped a huge win bet into the pools. It looks like the wager was in the neighborhood of $40,000 to win. Firenze Fire paid $7.50. If so, they won about $110,000, plus what ever large rebate they receive. Here’s the math: There was $858,275 in the win pool. After the takeout, $720,951 was returned to winning bettors. A total of $190,524 was bet to win on Firenze Fire. In order for his odds to go from 5-1 to 5-2, something in the neighborhood of $40,0000 to $45,000 would have had to have been bet on him to make that drastic a shift in the odds. It is possible that the bettors’ whole strategy revolved around Mendelssohn losing, so they may have made late win bets on one or two other horses. And, they did take a risk. Had Mendelssohn won, they would have lost a healthy amount of money. There is not a track in America that doesn’t love and cater to these computer whales. Racetracks need handle and these players are pumping hundreds of millions of dollars into the pools. They get enormous rebates that aren’t available to the ordinary player. But none of this comes without a cost, and the Dwyer was a perfect example of this. It’s time that the sport starts to take a more serious look at this issue. Nothing illegal happened in the Dwyer and the people who have come up with these computer systems are brilliant. But the sport can’t forget about the other 99.9% of it customers. They have to have complete faith in the betting markets and if they don’t, they are not going to play anymore. While people understand this is pari-mutuel, and not fixed odds betting, they have every right to expect that the price of a horse when they make a wager won’t differ dramatically when the race goes off. This is particularly true of a track like Belmont, where a $200 win bet is not going to do a thing to change a horse’s price. Had Firenze Fire gone down to 9-2, no one would have even noticed. But his price was cut in half. Imagine going to the grocery store and picking up a gallon of milk with a $3 price tag on it. You get to the check out counter and are told the milk now costs $4, that they decided to raise the price in the nine seconds it took you to get there from the dairy counter. Or maybe you bet on the Philadelphia Eagles at -9 points, but 30 seconds before the game starts you are informed the spread is actually -12. As preposterous as both examples seem, they are pretty much what happened to the Average Joe who wagered his $20 to win on Firenze Fire thinking he was going to get 5-1. His profit went from $100 to $55. It’s not rigged, but it makes you feel like it is. Especially when the horse draws off to win by nine lengths. That guy might just have made his last ever bet on a horse race. Could you blame him? The computer players are a secretive bunch and the racetracks and ADWs would prefer it that way. So you won’t get any information on how many there are, how much they bet, what kind of rebates they receive and how much they are winning. But they’re becoming the equivalent of the poker player who wins every pot, wipes out his opposition and is soon sitting at the table by themselves. Their winnings are coming at the expense of the recreational horseplayer and it’s only a matter of time before they drive them away. We recently did a series for the TDN on “super trainers” (click here for part one and part two) and how their dominance is threatening to drive the smaller training outfits out of business. This is no different. These are the “super bettors” and there may just come a time when they have no one to compete against but themselves. One solution is fixed odds betting, which has taken off in Australia and is said to be among the reason racetrack betting is on the rise there. But to go to fixed odds betting would require a seismic change here in the sport, a sport where even the simplest things cannot get accomplished. So get used to it. 5-1 doesn’t mean 5-1 anymore. The odds don’t mean anything, not least until the super bettors have thrown their huge wagers into the pool a half second before the windows close. In the meantime, NYRA owes the public an explanation here. What happened? Who bet what? How does a horse go from 5-1 to 5-2 after a race starts? Transparency never hurts and perhaps the answers will squelch some of the anger this race generated among horseplayers. Soi Phet Becomes a Millionaire The public loves those the old, hard knocking horses that keep getting it done and few fit that bill better than Soi Phet (Tizbud). A 10-year-old gelding who was claimed by Leonard Powell in 2013 for $16,000, he went over the $1 million mark in earnings with his win last week in the Bertrando S. at Los Alamitos. A total of $978,170 of his earnings have come after he was claimed. Still game and determined at his age, he won by nose, and it was his second straight stakes win. He’s won 15 career races, including eight stakes. He’ll head to Del Mar now. You won’t find him in the GI Pacific Classic, but in lesser open stakes or maybe in a Cal-bred race. What a cool horse. The Curse of the 2017 Triple Crown When Tapwrit (Tapit) ran fifth in the GII Suburban Saturday he continued what is becoming a lengthy losing streak from last year’s winners of the Triple Crown races. Always Dreaming has gone 0 for 5 since winning the Kentucky Derby. Cloud Computing (Maclean’s Music) is winless in three starts since his victory in the GI Preakness and Tapwrit is now 0 for 3 since the Belmont. The total for the three is 0 for 11. A Quiet July 4 Many tracks are now creating Super Saturday style cards where they put six or seven of their major stakes on the same program. That’s what Belmont did Saturday with its Stars and Stripes card. They’re great cards and the public is betting on them with gusto. The only problem is that there aren’t enough stakes to go around, and a lot of days that used to be important ones on the calendar no longer include a race of any significance. Take July 4, which used to the day the Suburban was run in New York. The feature at Belmont that day was the $100,000 Manila S. Elsewhere, there wasn’t a single graded stakes run in the country. Perhaps moving the Suburban back to July 4 would add spice to that card while still leaving enough big races for Stars and Stripes Day for that to remain a spectacular card. View the full article

Fabrice Chappet must be developing a real love of Deauville's straight mile, after Intellogent and Pierre-Charles Boudot brought the trainer a second career group 1 success in the July 8 Qatar Prix Jean Prat. View the full article

Fabrice Chappet must be developing a real love of Deauville's straight mile, after Intellogent and Pierre-Charles Boudot brought the trainer a second career group 1 success in the July 8 Qatar Prix Jean Prat. View the full article

Saturday’s Stars & Stripes Racing Festival at Belmont Park generated all-sources handle of $24,612,465, the highest such handle figure since NYRA launched the Stars & Stripes Racing Festival in 2014. With attendance of 16,763, Saturday’s on-track handle of $3,182,221 also established a new high for the festival. View the full article

HOKKAIDO, Japan-Last year the Japan Racing Horse Association’s Select Sale of both yearlings and foals celebrated its 20th anniversary and it did so by posting the best set of results so far in its existence. In fact, since 2010 the aggregate at this sale has risen every year with 2017’s record breaking figure of ¥17,327,000,000 ($156,248,269/£118,452,489/€134,030,613/A$211,394,384) almost three times the amount achieved in 2010. Given this trend, allied to the general strength of the Japanese racing industry with its enviable purse structure, it is not surprising that hopes are high that this positive momentum can be maintained when the first session, consisting of yearlings, comes under the hammer at Northern Horse Park today. “At the moment the market for horses is quite hot but the future of Thoroughbred breeding is always uncertain and history shows it is always up and down,” said the JRHA’s acting Chairman Teruya Yoshida. “At the moment there is strong demand for owning racehorses in Japan. There are many new buyers entering the market, a lot of them through racing clubs and syndicates. For the beginner, it is a convenient way to experience being an owner and quite a lot of people end up becoming sole owners after this experience. Japanese horses also continue to prove themselves on the world stage and people have confidence to invest in them. The catalogue is improving each year and this one looks the best one assembled so far.” A very positive point for the future of Japanese racing was made by the JRHA’s international representative Naohiro Goda who said, “We are very fortunate in this country that the younger generation are interested in horse racing. Many people in their 20s and 30s are very knowledgeable about pedigrees and so on and you can see it at racetracks also. It’s not all about gambling. They are fans of the horses and the jockeys and they build up a genuine affinity with the participants.” Strength in numbers… Between them the Yoshida brothers’ Northern Farm and Shadai Farm account for 277 (51%) of the horses catalogued over the two days and a few early offerings that could get Northern Farm off to a good start are lot 13, a colt by King Kamehameha (Jpn) out of Argentinian Group 1 winner Miss Serendipity (Arg) (Not For Sale {Arg}) who confirmed her international ability when winning the GI Gamely S. at Santa Anita in 2014 before adding the GII Yellow Ribbon H. at Del Mar the following year, and lot 21, a Deep Impact (Jpn) colt out of New Zealand champion King’s Rose (NZ) (Redoute’s Choice {Aus}). She won the G1 New Zealand Thousand Guineas and was also a dual Group 2 winner and Group 1 placed in Australia before retiring as a broodmare. Her first produce is the stakes winner Satono Arthur (Jpn) who is a full brother to this colt. Lot 52 from Northern Farm is a colt by Deep Impact out of the prolific racemare Ginger Punch (Awesome Again). She won six Grade Is in America and her breeding record is headed by her daughter Rouge Buck (Jpn) (Manhattan Café {Jpn}), a MGSW in Japan. Others from the farm that should command a premium are: lot 75, a very attractive filly by Deep Impact out of GI Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies S. and GI Gazelle S. winner Awesome Feather (Awesome of Course); lot 92, a colt by Heart’s Cry (Jpn) out of GI Spinaway S. winner So Many Ways (Sightseeing); lot 100, a colt by Deep Impact out of G1 Fillies’ Mile winner Listen (Ire) (Sadler’s Wells) whose progeny have topped this sale on two occasions already; lot 116, a Deep Impact colt out of the brilliant multiple champion and 11-time Grade I winner Azeri (Jade Hunter) whose seven runners to date are all winners, including the Grade II winner Wine Princess (Ghostzapper); lot 175, a handsome Deep Impact colt and another out of a multiple Group 1 winner in the former German star Night Magic (Ger) (Sholokhov {Ire}) and lot 225 a filly by Kizuna (Jpn) out of Ticker Tape (GB) (Royal Applause {GB}) who won twice at the top level in America and is a half-sister to G1SW Brando (GB) (Pivotal {GB}) and the granddam of MGSW War Decree (War Front). Shadai’s lot 40 should be popular; the Daiwa Major (Jpn) colt is out of the GI Spinster S. winner In Lingerie (Empire Maker), while the same farm’s lot 65 has plenty going for him both on paper and as a physical. The Mar. 1 born colt is by Screen Hero (Jpn) out of the stakes placed Sing Like Bird (Jpn) (Symboli Kris S) who has already produced the G2 Flora S. winner and Grade I placed Sing With Joy (Jpn) (Manhattan Café {Jpn}). Lot 104 is bred to be a star and this Deep Impact colt out of GI Gamely S. heroine Dubawi Heights (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}), herself a half-sister to Makfi (GB), was taking his showings in his stride, while lot 161 is also a rare offering being a Deep Impact half-brother to a GI Kentucky Derby winner in Animal Kingdom (Leroidesanimaux {Brz}). Small Draft, Big Impact… At the other end of the scale from a draft numbers point of view is Mishima Farm, who although offering only two yearlings and two foals, their draft is sure to attract interest. Lot 60 represents the first opportunity to purchase a yearling by Golden Horn (GB) at public auction and the filly is out of Pearl Of Africa (Ire) (Jeremy), a dual stakes winning mare when trained in Ireland for Sheikh Fahad Al Thani by Eddie Lynam. Their other yearling is lot 111, a filly by War Front and the first produce of Circling (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) who was GSP in Ireland before achieving full black-type in America. More significantly, since catalogue publication, Circling’s full-sister Easter Lily (Ire) has won the Listed Naas Oaks Trial, her first stakes win and she has an entry in the G1 Darley Irish Oaks at The Curragh July 21. Circling also has her second produce in the foal section on Tuesday, a Deep Impact filly offered as lot 340. The Mishima Farm quartet is completed by another foal whose family have operated with distinction in both Europe and Japan. Lot 415 is a colt by Deep Impact out of G3 Round Tower S winner Lightning Pearl (Ire) (Marju {Ire}). The dam’s only two runners to date have both won, including her 2018 G3 Athasi S. winning daughter Lightning Quick (Ire) (Frankel {GB}), but more appropriately for the sale concerned, the dam is a full-sister to Satono Crown (Jpn), a Group 1 winner in both Japan and Hong Kong. Foals of Interest… A number of the choice foal offerings were mentioned in Sunday’s TDN including lot 348, one of two by Frankel (GB), this one a grey colt out of Snow Pine (GB) (Dalakhani {Ire}) and a half-brother to Japanese MGSW Tower Of London (Jpn) (Raven’s Pass). Lot 401 is a colt by Black Tide (Jpn) out of Sugar Heart (Jpn) (Sakura Bakushin O {Jpn}), which makes him a full-brother to dual Japanese Horse Of The Year and seven time Group 1 winner Kitasan Black (Jpn); lot 404, a colt by King Kamehameha out of G1 Victoria Mile winner Whale Capture (Jpn) (Kurofune) and lot 422, a colt from the first crop of Maurice (Jpn) out of the European champion sprinter Fleeting Spirit (Ire) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}) are all likely to find favour. Finally, lot 506 from Taihei Stud Farm is a colt by Lord Kanaloa out of Bloemfontain (Ire) (Cape Cross {Ire}). The mare’s four winners to date are headed by the graded stakes winners The Miniver Rose (Ire) (High Chaparral {Ire}) and Belle De Crecy (Ire) (Rock of Gibraltar {Ire}). The sale commences in Northern Horse Park at 10 a.m. local time. View the full article

Phil Hager, who has worked with stallion seasons, bloodstock services and sales recruitment at Crestwood Farm since 2011, has announced he will be launching Taproot Bloodstock, a full-service bloodstock agency based in Lexington, while still maintaining ties to the McLean family operation. “When I first came to Crestwood, it was mostly just selling stallion seasons,” explained Hager. “Then I think they saw I did well picking out horses and I helped with mares and we did some pinhooking and helped buy some graded stakes winners for some of the clients. I’ve built up the bloodstock business enough that I didn’t feel like it was right to spend part of my time on that and part of my time on seasons. I am probably more passionate about building the bloodstock business, so I wanted to devote more time to that.” Hager, a third-generation horseman, grew up on his parents’ Idle Hour Farm in Paris, Kentucky and bred his first stakes winner when he was 17. Prior to joining Crestwood, he served stints with trainer Bill Mott, bloodstock agent David Ingordo, and Chris Cahill DVM CVA, as well as at Gainesway, Fasig-Tipton and Eaton Sales. It was Ingordo who led him to Crestwood eight years ago. “David helped to set me up with Crestwood after he went to Lane’s End,” Hager said. “It was a good fit. My dad knew Crestwood because he bred there. We are very compatible.” Hager added, “The McLeans are very hands-on with the horses, they have sound business minds, and above all they are great influences as people. I am very proud of what we have accomplished as a team over the last eight years, and I am truly pleased to have Crestwood’s blessing as I launch this new venture.” Among the graded stakes winners Hager was part of purchasing for Crestwood clients are Grade III winners Rusty Slipper and Munirah. He was also instrumental in Crestwood landing and selling seasons to stallions like Grade I winners Get Stormy and Texas Red. As he goes out on his own as a bloodstock agent, Hager still plans to work with Crestwood. “I’m still going to be providing services to Crestwood,” he said. “I’m still going to be working with them and I’ll probably still be working out of the office here at Crestwood. So it’s not a total split.” Hager clearly values the relationships he has made and looks forward to seeing his clients in the winner’s circle. “I always tell owners, I take it really seriously,” Hager said. “If the horse does well, it’s great, but I also always get upset if a horse doesn’t pan out for people. I take it personally. You want to do well for your clients. Most of my clients become personal friends. Obviously, you are going to lose a few clients here and there, but most of them have stayed with me or have left and come back. The long-term relationship is something I take pretty seriously.” Crestwood’s Pope McLean, Jr. agreed Hager has built a loyal base of clients. “Phil’s ability and integrity have enabled him to steadily build his bloodstock business–routinely working with some of the biggest operations in our industry–while simultaneously keeping close the interests and confidence of his clients,” he said. Hager is eager to get started at the upcoming Fasig-Tipton July sale. “Hopefully we’ll get some bought in July,” he said. View the full article

The sixth renewal of the Fasig-Tipton July Selected Horses of Racing Age Sale will take place in Lexington Monday with bidding set to begin at 4p.m. The catalogue has grown from the initial 152 entries to 173 with 21 supplemental entries, with the most recent coming Thursday when Taylor Made added recent 3-year-old stakes winner Alter Moon (Alternation) (hip 574). “I think the catalogue is stronger this year,” Fasig-Tipton President Boyd Browning said. “This sale continues to attract attention. The success of graduates on the racetrack has been very strong. Consignors have had good luck selling horses at the Horses of Racing Age Sale. I think the sale continues to grow in popularity among both buyers and sellers, and certainly the quality has taken a notch up this year across the board.” Graduates of this sale include late Grade I winner Bullard’s Alley (Flower Alley) and GSW & MGISP Ivy Bell (Archarcharch). There are a plethora of graded/listed stakes winners on offer this year, such as GI Man o’ War S. victor Wake Forest (Ger) (Sir Percy {GB}) (hip 566); GIII Dixie S. victor Fire Away (War Front) (hip 443), who is one of six blue-blooded Phipps homebreds on offer; GSW and ‘TDN Rising Star’ Kentuckian (Tiznow) (hip 553), a half-brother to Maclean’s Music (Distorted Humor); 2017 GIII Southwest S. winner One Liner (Into Mischief) (hip 492); MSW Lirica (Kantharos) (hip 469), etc. “Sellers continue to have confidence in the sale and they are willing to put a nice horse in the sale because there is tremendous interest in our game right now for quality racing prospects, whether they are 2-year-olds, 3-year-olds or older horses,” Browning said. “There are a lot of people who want action and are willing to pay for that action. And we have a lot of horses that will meet their appetite.” A total of 84 horses changed hands at the 2017 HORA Sale for a gross of $8,083,000, an average of $96,226 and a median of $56,000. Last year’s auction was topped by GSW Distinta (Summer Bird), who sold to Taylor Made’s Medallion Racing for $600,000. Taylor Made also consigned the mare. “We targeted this sale when it was first launched and we have been lucky enough to top it in three of the last five years,” Taylor Made’s Mark Taylor said. “We try to bring quality to this sale and target those high-end buyers who are looking for a really exciting horse to campaign through the end of the year. [GI Breeders’ Cup F/M Sprint winner] Wavell Avenue (Harlington) was one of the ones who got that done and took her owners to the Breeders’ Cup.” Taylor said the timing of the sale is a major part of its appeal for both buyers and sellers as it falls just before the start of yearling sale season, as well as the Saratoga and Del Mar summer meets. “I think it is a great concept because it is at a midway point in the year when some stables are looking to the future and want to reload on yearlings,” Taylor said. “If they can sell a horse and take some money off the table, they can go reinvest it, so I think the position on the calendar works out really well. I think there is a strong demand for racehorses right now and I expect the sale to be really good.” Browning expressed similar sentiments, saying, “It’s a natural fit and it really works from the market’s perspective. It has found a niche and we look forward to the continued growth and development and I think it will be a very fun sale Monday.” The Horses of Racing Age Sale Monday afternoon will be followed by the Fasig-Tipton July Yearlings Sale Tuesday starting at 10a.m. View the full article

A year after his half-brother Windstoss (Ger) (Shirocco {Ger}) captured a third G1 Deutsches Derby for Gestut Rottgen and first since Uomo (Ger) in 1959, Weltstar (Ger) (Soldier Hollow {GB}) provided a fairytale follow-up after a tussle with fellow Markus Klug trainee Destino (Ger) (Soldier Hollow {GB}). Last seen winning this Classic’s premier trial, the G2 Oppenheim Union Rennen at Cologne June 17, the bay was settled sixth on the rail early by Adrie de Vries. Brought towards the stand’s side to tackle his stablemate, the 11-5 second favourite gained a slight edge 150 metres from home and asserted to prevail by a neck, with the 19-10 favourite Royal Youmzain (Fr) (Youmzain {Ire}) 1 1/2 lengths away in third. Successful by 5 1/2 lengths on debut at Bremen in October, the rest of Weltstar’s campaign leading to the Oppenheim Union Rennen was a tale of mixed fortunes, with well-beaten fourth placings in the G3 Herzog von Ratibor-Rennen at Krefeld in November and in Cologne’s G2 Mehl-Mulhens-Rennen May 21 either side of a return second in the G3 Dr Busch Memorial also at Krefeld Apr. 22. Showing that middle distances were what he had needed all along when outstaying Destino by 3/4 of a length in the 11-furlong main Cologne trial, the homebred saw out this mile and a half emphatically to provide his trainer Markus Klug with a third renewal since 2014. Weltstar is the second foal out of Wellenspiel (Ger) (Sternkoenig {Ire}), whose first was the aforementioned Windstoss. In achieving this remarkable feat, she becomes only the sixth broodmare in German history to produce two Derby winners and only the second to do so in consecutive years after Laurea (Ire) (Sharpman {Ire}) as the dam of Lando (Ger) (Acatenango {Ger}) in 1993 and Laroche (Ger) (Nebos {Ger}) in 1994. The second dam is the Listed Preis der Winterkonigin winner Well Known (Ger) (Konigsstuhl {Ger}), who was also runner-up in both the German fillies’ Classics and who has five black-type performers to her credit headed by the G1 Preis von Europa hero Well Made (Ger) (Mondrian {Ger}). Her dam Well Proved (Ger) (Prince Ippi {Ger}) landed the G3 German 1000 Guineas before throwing the G3 Prix de Psyche scorer Welluna (Ger) (Lagunas}), who in turn produced the G3 Preis der Winterkonigin scorer Well Spoken (Ger) to a mating with Weltstar’s sire Soldier Hollow. Wellenspiel’s as-yet unraced 2-year-old colt by Reliable Man (GB) is named Walerian (GB), while she also has a yearling colt by Kamsin (Ger) named Worrick (Ger) and a filly foal by Protectionist (Ger). Sunday, Hamburg, Germany IDEE 149TH DEUTSCHES DERBY-G1, €650,000, Hamburg, 7-8, 3yo, c/f, 12fT, 2:32.44, gd. 1–WELTSTAR (GER), 128, c, 3, by Soldier Hollow (GB) 1st Dam: Wellenspiel (Ger), by Sternkonig (Ire) 2nd Dam: Well Known (Ger), by Konigsstuhl (Ger) 3rd Dam: Well Proved (Ger), by Prince Ippi (Ger) 1ST GROUP 1 WIN. (€40,000 Ylg ’16 BBAGS). O/B-Gestut Rottgen (GER); T-Markus Klug; J-Adrie de Vries. €390,000. Lifetime Record: 6-3-1-0, €455,000. *1/2 to Windstoss (Ger) (Shirocco {Ger}), Hwt. 3yo-Ger at 11-14f, MG1SW-Ger & G1SP-Eng, $688,724. Werk Nick Rating: A+++ *Triple Plus*. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree. 2–Destino (Ger), 128, c, 3, Soldier Hollow (GB)–Divya (Ger), by Platini (Ger). O/B-Gestut Park Wiedingen (GER); T-Markus Klug. €130,000. 3–Royal Youmzain (Fr), 128, c, 3, Youmzain (Ire)–Spasha (GB), by Shamardal. O-Jaber Abdullah; B-Rabbah Bloodstock Ltd (FR); T-Andreas Wohler. €78,000. Margins: NK, 1HF, 1. Odds: 2.20, 6.50, 1.90. Also Ran: Salve Del Rio (Ire), Aldenham (Ger), Sweet Man (GB), Jimmu (Ger), Emerald Master (Ger), Guiri (Ger), Star Max (Ger), Zargun (Ger), Ecco (GB), Capone (Ger). Scratched: Chimney Rock (Ire). Click for the Racing Post result or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. View the full article

Dropping back in trip after finishing fourth in the G1 Prix du Jockey Club at Chantilly June 3, Fiona Carmichael’s Intellogent (Ire) (Intello {Ger}) proved he had the speed for a mile when springing an upset in Sunday’s G1 Qatar Prix Jean Prat at Deauville. Sent off at 10-1, the chestnut raced near the pace under Pierre-Charles Boudot and when sent to the front passing the furlong pole stayed on to score by a short neck from TDN Rising Star Cascadian (GB) (New Approach {Ire}), with another TDN Rising Star Gustav Klimt (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) a length back in third. “The Prix du Jockey Club was just a shade too far for him–maybe 100 yards too far, but he’d taken it very well and looked in very good form today,” trainer Fabrice Chapet said. “It’s nice to have him as a group 1 winner, he had only run once last year at two so I got him going early this year as he needed the experience. He always runs a good race and has done nothing wrong–this was his first race on a straight course, so it bodes well and the logical next step in the [Aug. 12 G1 Prix] Jacques le Marois here.” Sunday, Deauville, France QATAR PRIX JEAN PRAT-G1, €400,000, Deauville, 7-8, 3yo, c/f, 8fT, 1:35.83, gd. 1–INTELLOGENT (IRE), 128, c, 3, by Intello (Ger) 1st Dam: Nuit Polaire (Ire), by Kheleyf 2nd Dam: Night Teeny (GB), by Platini (Ger) 3rd Dam: Nightrockette (Ger), by Rocket (GB) 1ST GROUP 1 WIN. (€320,000 Ylg ’16 ARAUG). O-Fiona Jean Carmichael; B-Ecurie des Monceaux (IRE); T-Fabrice Chappet; J-Pierre-Charles Boudot. €228,560. Lifetime Record: 6-3-1-1, €383,610. *1/2 to Lightupthenight (GB) (Dutch Art {GB}), SP-Fr. Werk Nick Rating: A++. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree. 2–Cascadian (GB), 128, c, 3, New Approach (Ire)–Falls of Lora (Ire), by Street Cry (Ire). O-Godolphin SNC; B-Godolphin (GB); T-Andre Fabre. €91,440. 3–Gustav Klimt (Ire), 128, c, 3, Galileo (Ire)–Massarra (GB), by Danehill. O-Susan Magnier, Michael Tabor & Derrick Smith; B-Orpendale, Chelston & Wynatt (IRE); T-Aidan O’Brien. €45,720. Margins: SNK, 1, 1 1/4. Odds: 10.10, 6.00, 3.10. Also Ran: Wusool, Hey Gaman (GB), Ancient Spirit (Ger), Olmedo (Fr). Click for the Racing Post result or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. Video, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton. View the full article

Like heavyweight fighters, superstar jockeys Zac Purton and Joao Moreira traded blows in an enthralling battle at Sha Tin on Sunday but after each collected an astonishing four wins, the status quo remains with just two meetings left in the season. Punters from around the globe were left mesmerised by the contest as two of the best at their craft went toe-to-toe – it was like the other 20 jockeys at the meeting weren’t even there – as they claimed the first seven events on the... View the full article

Jockeys have won more races in Hong Kong, but not many had more fun doing it than Olivier Doleuze and even fewer endeared themselves to the city’s racing fans as much as the flamboyant Frenchman. With his immaculate dress sense and relaxed, cheerful demeanour, Doleuze was a hit off the track, but on the track he was an athletic whirlwind with a knack of finding a top horse at the right time. Yet despite the natural flair, after 17 seasons and 571 wins, peppered with famous Group race... View the full article

Pakistan Star now has a friend and he has more in common with his owner-mate than quirky characteristics – Pakistan Friend is now also a debut winner. Two years and one week after Pakistan Star took the internet by storm with his show-stopping come-from-last display, Pakistan Friend also swooped from the tail on debut at Sha Tin. “Don’t touch him, Kerm is hot,” joked trainer Tony Cruz after the race, referring to owner Kerm Din, who bought both horses from the Jockey... View the full article

Time Warp might already have two Group Ones to his name, but his younger brother Glorious Forever claimed some family bragging rights after smashing his 2,000m track record at Sha Tin on Sunday. Frankie Lor Fu-chuen’s rising star clocked an astonishing 1:59.53 in the Class Two Hoi Ha Handicap, eclipsing the previous best by 0.44 of a second, which Time Warp set in the Group One Citi Hong Kong Gold Cup in February. The most impressive part of the win was the way he went about it, with Zac... View the full article

After taking up the rear of the five-horse field early in the $200,000 Great Lady M Stakes (G2), Marley's Freedom was loaded for the stretch under jockey Drayden Van Dyke. View the full article

With a gate-to-wire stunner that wowed the New York crowd, Diversify left his competition in the dust in the $700,000 Suburban Stakes (G2) July 7 at Belmont Park and won by 6 1/2 lengths. View the full article

With a gate-to-wire stunner that wowed the New York crowd, Diversify left his competition in the dust in the $700,000 Suburban Stakes (G2) July 7 at Belmont Park and won by 6 1/2-lengths. View the full article

Real Story jumped right to the lead in the American Derby (G3T) July 7 at Arlington International Racecourse, maintained a daylight lead throughout, and held on to win by 1 3/4 lengths over Captivating Moon. View the full article

Sandra Sexton and Brandi Nicholson's Red Ruby continued her roll in the Mid-Atlantic region with a dominant victory in the $300,000 Delaware Oaks (G3) July 7 at Delaware Park. View the full article

Multiple grade 1 winner Divisidero, a late-running seventh in the 2017 Arlington Million XXXV Stakes (G1T), may have a shot at redemption after winning the local prep for this year's renewal, the Arlington Handicap (G3T) July 7. View the full article