Wandering Eyes

Trainer Jason Servis came into the day with eight wins from his last 10 starters and added to that torrid stretch with Firenze Fire's romp and a graded stakes win by Vision Perfect in the Parx Dash (G3T). 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

Juglall has Done It Again! View the full article

Trainer Jason Servis came into the day with eight wins from his last 10 starters and added to that torrid stretch with Firenze Fire's romp and an earlier graded stakes win by Vision Perfect in the Parx Dash (G3T). View the full article

Cruising to the wire for a smooth, 2 1/4-length win, Daddys Lil Darling was at the top of her game for her Illinois debut, taking home the $100,000 Modesty Handicap (G3T) July 7 at Arlington International Race Course. View the full article

G1 VRC Oaks heroine Pinot (Aus) (Pierro {Aus}) has been sold, Breednet.com.au reported on Saturday. Trained by Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott, the bay is now owned by a Northern Hemisphere-based owner and is unlikely to resume her racing career in Australia. “The owners were approached and received a very good offer,” Bott told breednet.com.au. “Her breeding value going forward is huge. She’s an Oaks winner out of an Oaks winner. I can’t disclose the buyer or the purchase price. It’s unlikely she would race in Australia again.” Bred by K Biggs Enterprises in West Australia and purchased for A$200,000 at the Inglis Easter Yearling Sale on behalf of an ownership group that included Aron Wellman’s Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners as well as Newgate Farm among others, Pinot also won the G3 Ethereal S. last October. The daughter of G1 AJC Oaks victress Dizelle (Aus) (Zabeel {NZ}) sports a record of 6-3-2-0, $565,133. She is a half-sister to SW Dizlago (Aus) (Encosta de Lago {Aus}), MGSP Lucky Lago (Aus) (Encosta de Lago {Aus}) and SP Rock Giselle (Aus) (Fastnet Rock {Aus}). View the full article

As was the case in their first meeting, Catholic Boy snatched victory from the jaws of defeat when he re-rallied along the inside to nip Analyze It in the Belmont Derby Invitational Stakes (G1T). View the full article

The GI Belmont Derby finish gave viewers a sense of deja vu as it was a replay of the GIII Pennine Ridge S. with CATHOLIC BOY (r, More Than Ready–Song of Bernadette, by Bernardini) re-rallying in the dying strides to score the narrowest of victories over ‘TDN Rising Star’ Analyze It (Point of Entry). Sent off at 5-1 with Analyze It favored at 2-1, Catholic Boy pressed the issue from a close second as the chalk clocked an opening quarter in :24.47. Seizing the lead at that point, the ridgling edged clear through a :49.20 half-mile and Analyze It closed in as they hit 3/4 in 1:13.38. The duo went stride-for-stride in the lane just as they did in the June 2 Pennine Ridge with Analyze It sticking his nose in front only to be collared by a determined Catholic Boy in the shadow of the wire. It was the first Grade I victory for trainer Jonathan Thomas, a former jockey and assistant to Todd Pletcher who is also the farm trainer for Bridlewood Farm. The Aidan O’Brien-trained Hunting Horn (Ire) (Camelot {GB}) was the only runner making any attempt to take down the top two in the lane, but never seriously threatened, finishing third. The final time was 1:59.28. Winner of the grassy GIII With Anticipation S. last term, Catholic Boy made an attempt at the GI Kentucky Derby trail after a decisive score in the GII Remsen S. in his first try on dirt in December. Second as the favorite in the GIII Sam F. Davis S. at Tampa, the bay was a non-factor fourth in the GI Florida Derby Mar. 31 prior to his Penning Ridge score last time. Lifetime Record: 8-5-1-0. O-Robert LaPenta & Madaket Stables; B-Fred Hertrich & John Fielding (KY); T-Jonathan Thomas. View the full article

About the only thing trainer Jason Servis hadn't won the last couple of month was a graded stakes contest. With a determined run in the stretch of the $200,000 Parx Dash Stakes (G3T), Vision Perfect took care of that little issue. View the full article

A six-day turnaround and trip across the pond proved no issue for Athena (IRE) in the July 7 $1 million Belmont Oaks Invitational Stakes (G1T) as the Aidan O'Brien-trained filly came with a huge run on the far outside to prevail. View the full article

ATHENA (IRE) (f, 3, Camelot {GB}–Cherry Hinton {GB}, by Green Desert) proved Aidan O’Brien can never be counted out, even at 10-1, with a decisive score in the GI Belmont Oaks. Biding her time in third last, the bay, who received Lasix for the first time here, ran off the hedge as La Signare (Fr) (Siyouni {Fr}) registered opening splits of :23.88 and :48.26. Closing in a bit approaching the far turn, Athena was way out in the center of the track as most of the field lined up across the lane and charged clear to win as she pleased by 2 3/4 lengths. MGSW Thewayiam (Fr) (Thewayyouare) completed the exacta and Chipolata (Fr) (Muhtathir {GB}), who was making her U.S. debut for Christophe Clement, got up for third. The final time was 1:58.71. Athena took six tries to break her maiden, finally doing so at Fairyhouse May 31 and has been on a running spree since, finishing fourth in the G2 Ribblesdale S. at Royal Ascot June 21 and third in the G1 Pretty Polly S. at the Curragh just six days ago. Lifetime Record: 10-2-2-1. O-Tabor, Magnier & Smith; B-Roncon & Chelston (Ire); T-Aidan O’Brien. View the full article

FIRENZE FIRE (c, 3, Poseidon’s Warrior–My Every Wish, by Langfuhr) relished the cut back to a one-turn mile after an 11th-place finish in the GI Kentucky Derby May 5, romping by daylight in the GIII Dwyer S. at Belmont Saturday. Bet down to 5-2 from a 6-1 morning-line, the bay tracked from off the rail in fifth as heavily favored G2 UAE Derby romped Mendelssohn (Scat Daddy) and Noble Indy (Take Charge Indy) traded blows through opening splits of :23.53 and :45.98. Sweeping up the outside turning for home, Firenze Fire powered clear in the lane to win for fun in 1:33.74. Seven Trumpets (Morning Line) got up for second over Mendelssohn. Winner of the GI Champagne S. going a one-turn mile here last term, Poseidon’s Warrior kicked off this term with a win in a muddy renewal of the Jerome S. Jan. 13 and was second in the GIII Withers S. a month later. Fourth in the GIII Gotham S. Mar. 10, he filled the same spot in the GII Wood Memorial S. Apr. 7 prior to splitting the field in the Run for the Roses. Lifetime Record: 11-5-1-0. O/B-Mr Amore Stable (FL); T-Jason Servis. View the full article

On the eve of being crowned champion trainer for the second time, Justin Snaith added another July victory to his already illustrious resume, as Do It Again (SAf) (Twice Over{GB}) and Anton Marcus dominated the R4.25-million G1 Vodacom Durban July (2200m), leading home stable companions Made To Conquer (SAf) (Dynasty{SAf}) and Elusive Silva (SAf) (Silvano {Ger}). It was a memorable night for Marcus, as he celebrated his fifth July victory, setting a new record in the process. The race was run at a pedestrian pace down the back straight with White River (SAf) (Trippi) and Made To Conquer the reluctant leaders. Corne Orffer on White River desperately tried to restraint the headstrong gelding, while Jeff Lloyd, riding in his final July on Made To Conquer, also attempted to be anywhere but in the lead. Stuck behind horses and with African Night Sky (SAf) (Dynasty {SAf}) pulling hard, Grant van Niekerk decided it was time to be bold and he sent the gelding around the field and into the lead. Turning for home the field fanned out across the narrow track and it was race on. Van Niekerk on African Night Sky clung briefly to the lead, but Lloyd, determined to capture an elusive July victory after 26 attempts, set off for home on the lightly weighted Made To Conquer. Marcus, positioned in about sixth rounding the turn, quietly started moving Do It Again forward as the field straightened out. With four July victories behind his name, Marcus knows exactly what it takes to win the race and with 200m left to go and daylight ahead of him, he sent Do It Again up to contest the lead with Made To Conquer. The battle was brief, as Do It Again, in the yellow silks with blue epaulettes of Bernard Kantor, stuck his head in front and with the gap gradually increasing, Made To Conquer was forced to accept defeat. With both horses well clear of the field, Marcus had plenty of time to salute the crowd as he crossed the line 1 1/4 lengths in front. Elusive Silva and Bernard Fayd’Herbe finished in third, 4 1/4 lengths back, with Majestic Mambo (SAf) (Mambo In Seattle) in fourth a further 1 1/4 lengths back, while African Night Sky could only manage fifth. Smiling from ear to ear, Marcus could not contain his delight and said, “I rode him in trackwork and he just felt amazing. It has been a great team effort. Fortunately I had a trouble-free passage and he was nice and relaxed during the race. When I saw African Night Sky pulling hard, it gave me a lot of confidence and with 200m left to go knew I had the race in the bag.” Bred by Kevin Sommerville and Robin Bruss, Do It Again, is jointly owned by Bernard Kantor, Jack Mitchell and Nick Jonsson after selling for R1.1 million at the Bloodstock South Africa National Yearling Sale in 2016. For Kantor, celebrating his first ever July victory, the moment was extra special as he was instrumental in importing Twice Over to South Africa. “It was a very emotional victory,” said Kantor. “Sir Henry Cecil held him in high regard and for him to produce a July winner in his first crop is immensely exciting.” Part owner Nick Jonsson was also having the day of his life as joint owner of both Do It Again and Made To Conquer. “It was amazing, we were reasonably confident as they were both very well, but you never expect to win a July, never mind running one-two,” said Jonsson. Snaith, winning his third July, pointed out that he had finally managed to win the race outright. “My first win was a dead-heat, my second victory was decided in the boardroom, so I had to make sure that I won this one properly. I guess running one-two-three qualifies,” he quipped. For many, the grooms’ strike at the Summerveld Training Centre on Wednesday was a big headache, for Snaith however it brought about a revelation. “With no staff I had to ride my horses myself and when I worked Do It Again, I just knew.” He did indeed. Off the mark at Kenilworth at first asking last July, Do It Again added a handicap there on Sept. 9, before running third in the G2 Selangor Cup on Nov. 18. Unplaced in the G1 Cape Guineas in mid-December, the gelding was only 1 3/4 lengths short of a Grade 1 win when second in the G1 Investec Cape Derby in January and, after a three-month spell, made his presence felt with a 1 1/4-length victory in the G2 Daisy Guineas at Greyville on May 4. He was fourth in the G1 Daily News 2000 there on June 2. Pedigree Notes… Do It Again is the fourth black-type winner and second Grade 1 winner for his sire, MG1SW and English highweight Twice Over (GB), who raced in the Juddmonte colours for Sir Henry Cecil. He is out of the three-time Grade 3 victress Sweet Virginia (SAf), and is a half-brother to South African SW and Hong Kong dual Group 3 winner Strongman (SAf) (Stronghold {GB}) and South African GSP Vilakazi (SAf) (Visionaire). Under the third dam are MG1SW Mill Hill (SAf) (Royal Perogative {GB}) and South African Champion Older Mare and MG1SW Dancewiththedevil (SAf) (Modus Vivendi {GB}). Saturday, Greyville, South Africa VODACOM DURBAN JULY-G1, R4,250,000, Greyville, 7-7, 3yo/up, 11fT, 2:15.20, gd. 1–DO IT AGAIN (SAF), 119, g, 3, by Twice Over (GB) 1st Dam: Sweet Virginia (SAf), by Casey Tibbs (Ire) 2nd Dam: Millie Bovana (SAf), by Royal Prerogative (GB) 3rd Dam: Modern Millie (SAf), by Oligarchy 1ST GRADE 1 WIN. (R1,100,000 Ylg ’16 BSAAPR). O-N Jonsson, B Kantor & W J C Mitchell; B-Northfields Stud (Pty) Ltd (SAF); T-Justin Snaith; J-Anton Marcus. R2,500,000. Lifetime Record: 8-4-1-1, R3,307,500. *1/2 to Strongman (SAf) (Stronghold {GB}), SW-SAf, MGSW-HK, $1,396,999; and Vilakazi (Saf) (Visionaire), GSP-SAf. Werk Nick Rating: C+. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree. 2–Made To Conquer (SAf), 117, g, 4, Dynasty (Saf)–Festive Occasion (SAf), by Casey Tibbs (Ire). O-E A Braun, C T Crowe & N Jonsson; B-M de Broglio (SAF); T-Justin Snaith. R800,000. 3–Elusive Silva (SAf), 125, g, 5, Silvano (Ger)–Esprit (SAf), by Fort Wood. (R375,000 Ylg ’14 CAPJAN). O-E G Bouwer, E A Braun, P S Loomes, Jonathan Snaith, K P Truter & Mrs Jane Truter; B-Nutfield Stud (SAF); T-Justin Snaith. R400,000. Margins: 1 1/4, 3 3/4, 1 1/4. Odds: 9.00, 7.75, 14.00. Also Ran: Majestic Mambo (SAf), African Night Sky (SAf), Rocket Countdown (SAf), Fiorella (SAf), Tilbury Fort (SAf), Coral Fever (SAf), Liege (SAf), Dark Moon Rising (SAf), Matador Man (SAf), Secret Potion (SAf), Yakeen (Aus), Star Express (SAf), White River (SAf), Gold Standard (SAf), Abashiri (SAf). Scratched: Pack Leader (SAf), Crowd Pleaser (SAf). Click for the Racing Post chart or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. Video. View the full article

Pam Blatz-Murff, who served as the Breeders’ Cup Limited’s Senior Vice President of Operations for over 25 years, died July 5 in Dallas, Texas, following a brief battle with cancer. She was 70. Blatz-Murff, who grew up in La Jolla, California, was exposed to horses as a young girl, riding both quarter and western horses while her family raced Thoroughbreds along the California circuit. Following a trip to Lexington, Kentucky, in the early 80s, Blatz-Murff made the move to the blue grass region permanent and took a job with the newly-created Breeders’ Cup. “Pam played a critical role from the beginning of the Breeders’ Cup in helping create the nominations and racing programs that are today pillars of one of the world’s great racing festivals,” according to a statement from the Breeders’ Cup. “Her commitment to the international character of the event was recognized in the conferring of the Derby Award in 2001 which focused on her “care and passion about the horses themselves: about their owners and breeders; about their trainers and lads.” The statement continued, “Most notably, Pam enjoyed the comradery and respect of horsemen both domestically and internationally. We will miss her passion for Thoroughbred racing and her pride in the Breeders’ Cup and extend our deepest sympathies to Pam’s daughter Tiffany and the family.” Among the many initiatives Blatz-Murff played a major role in the expansion of the Breeders’ Cup championship in 2007 from a single-day event featuring seven races to a two-day format comprising 14 races and over $25 million in purses. She was also instrumental in the formation of the Veterinary Inspection Team; the implementation of the Breeders’ Cup Security Protocols and the organization’s relationship with the U.S. Departure of Agriculture. Blatz-Murff also worked tirelessly in conjunction with several equine organizations, including the Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation, where she served as a board member. She was also a member of the Kentucky Horse Park Commission, the Keeneland Association, the Thoroughbred Club of America, the Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association and the California Thoroughbred Breeders Association. “She loved horses in every stage,” said Blatz-Murff’s daughter, Tiffany Wesley. “She poured over breeding pedigrees for weeks to make sure it was the right match for our own mares. She visited the fields with her orange bucket to spoil the mares and foals with sweet feed and carrots. She counted noses as they crossed the finish lines on Breeders’ Cup day and wrote congratulations to friends, colleagues and owners across the world.” Wesley added, “My mom had two loves: her family and horse racing. She loved being a grammie to my two kiddos more than anything she supported the sport into her final days..” The family requested that contributions in Blatz-Murff’s name be made to the T. Boone Pickens Center at Fair Presbyterian Hospice, Dallas, Texas. View the full article

The Jockeys and Jeans fundraiser, held June 23 at Canterbury Park in Shakopee, Minnesota, raised a record $310,000, easily surpassing the previous mark of $254,000 set just last year when the event was held at Parx Racing. The group has now raised better than $1 million for severely and/or permanently disabled jockeys. Thirteen jockeys, including Hall of Famer Edgar Prado, attended the event to honor six permanently disabled jockeys. Prado competed with other riders and six of Canterbury’s past leading riders in the inaugural All Star Jockey Challenge. “Jockeys and Jeans is a true representation of jockeys helping jockeys,” said PDJF Board President Nancy LaSala. “We thank the former jockeys who came together to do something to help raise awareness and funds for the PDJF, as well as the Hall of Fame jockeys who travel across the country and the active riders at each host track. All are there to help the fallen riders. We are so appreciative of the tracks who have hosted the event; Tampa Bay Downs, Indiana Grand, Gulfstream Park, Parx Racing, and Canterbury Park. Without their support this would not have happened.” The Permanently Disabled Jockeys’ Fund (PDJF) makes monthly payments in the amount of $1,000 to some 60 former jockeys who suffered catastrophic injuries on the job, including 40 pari- or quadri-plegics. Most of the others suffered serious brain injuries. Officials at Jockeys and Jeans announced that the 2019 event would take place at Santa Anita and will move to Churchill Downs in 2020. View the full article

Do It Again emerged from behind a dawdling pace to win the Vodacom Durban July (G1) July 7 at Greyville by 1 1/4 lengths over Made To Conquer, giving jockey Anton Marcus his record fifth win in the South African test. View the full article

‘TDN Rising Star’ Mia Mischief (Into Mischief) looks to score her third straight stakes win in Sunday’s GIII Victory Ride S. at Belmont Park. The $300,000 FTFMAR buy romped by 8 1/4 lengths in Oaklawn’s Purple Martin S. Mar. 24 for owners William and Corinne Heiligbrodt, after which Scott Heider and Sol Kumin bought into the filly. She rewarded her new owners with a 1 3/4-length decision in the GII Eight Belles S. on the GI Kentucky Oaks undercard May 4. The morning-line favorite won’t have it easy, however, with several talented stakes fillies set to take her on Sunday. Fellow ‘TDN Rising Star’ Separationofpowers (Candy Ride {Arg}) followed her ultra-impressive debut win at Saratoga July 30 with a third in the GI Spinaway S. Sept. 2 and returned to winning ways in the one-mile GI Frizette S. here Oct. 8. She was last seen finishing a respectable fourth in the GI Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies at Del Mar Nov. 4. Linda Rice and owner Leonard Green have two chances to win here, the strongest shot being the undefeated Sower (Flatter). A dominant debut winner at Laurel Apr. 28, the chestnut captured a sloppy Pimlico optional claimer May 18 and scored a good looking victory in the six-panel Jersey Girl S. here last time June 10. The runner-up from that race Devine Mischief (Into Mischief) and third-place finisher and MGSW Take Charge Paula (Take Charge Indy) also return here. Rice will also be represented by longshot D J’s Favorite (Union Rags), who graduated at second asking in the Pimlico slop May 18 and wired a Laurel allowance last time June 17. Also worth a look is GII Sorrento S. heroine Spectator (Jimmy Creed), who was recently transferred from Phil D’Amato to Michelle Nevin. Kicking off this term with a Santa Anita optional claimer win Mar. 18, the chestnut was second when last seen in the GI Santa Anita Oaks Apr. 7. View the full article

Sunday’s G1 Qatar Prix Jean Prat, which has been switched from Chantilly to Deauville’s straight track for the first time, offers the last chance for the 3-year-old milers to win at this level with ‘TDN Rising Star’ Gustav Klimt (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) sneaking away from the best of his generation in search of a slice of the action. Just a half-length behind Without Parole (GB) (Frankel {GB}) in the G1 St James’s Palace S. at Royal Ascot June 19, Ballydoyle’s hard-working colt has just last year’s G2 Superlative S. to boast of with regards to pattern-race successes but has put in honest efforts in the leading contests in this division and has experience of battle to aid him here. In contrast, the exciting Shadwell homebred Wusool (Speightstown) has yet to show what he can do in this company but the evidence of his demonstrative win in Chantilly’s G3 Prix Paul de Moussac June 17 suggests he is well up to this standard. The star-crossed owner partnership of Antonio Caro and Gerard Augustin-Normand are represented by Olmedo (Fr) (Declaration of War), who looked high-class when scoring by a neck from Hey Gaman (GB) (New Approach {Ire}) in the G1 Poule d’Essai des Poulains at ParisLongchamp May 13 and the opposite when trailing in 13th in the 10 1/2-furlong G1 Prix du Jockey Club at Chantilly June 3. “The horse is fine. The trainer is very pleased with him. I think the ground will be good for him as well,” the owners’ racing manager Sylvain Vidal commented. “He worked very well on Thursday morning. He looks wonderful, so we will see.” In the Jockey Club, Intellogent (Ire) (Intello {Ger}) was less than a length back in fourth having captured the G3 Prix de Guiche over nine furlongs also at Chantilly May 7, while the impressive G2 Mehl-Mulhens-Rennen hero Ancient Spirit (Ger) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}) looks to back up the form of that German 2000 Guineas at Cologne May 21. At Hamburg, the week’s action culminates in the G1 IDEE 149th Deutsches Derby, where favouritism is held by Jaber Abdullah’s May 1 G3 Bavarian Classic and June 3 G3 Ittlingen Derby Trial winner Royal Youmzain (Fr) (Youmzain {Ire}). Twelve months on from Windstoss (Ger) (Shirocco {Ger}) providing a first victory in this affair for Gestut Rottgen, his half-brother Weltstar (Ger) (Soldier Hollow {GB}) looks to double up for the operation on the back of a career-best success in the G2 Oppenheim Union Rennen at Cologne June 17. Fairyhouse’s G3 Irish Stallion Farms EBF Brownstown S. offers a gilt-edged opportunity for Uncle Mo’s half-sister Could It Be Love (War Front) to register a deserved first black-type success after her gallant efforts when second in the G1 Irish 1000 Guineas at The Curragh May 27 and third in the G3 Jersey S. at Royal Ascot June 20. View the full article

MEADE (c, 2, Street Sense–Defy Gravity, by Bandini) proved his 7-2 odds were a gift with a decisive debut graduation to kick off Stars and Stripes day at Belmont Saturday. Stalking from second through a :22.68 opening quarter, the $250,000 FTSAUG buy took control in early stretch and rolled clear for a 2 1/2-length success in 1:11.30. Road Home (Quality Road), a 31-1 shot, closed strongly for second and Meade’s favored stablemate Social Paranoia (Street Boss) was third. Meade is the first foal out of SW dam Defy Gravity, who produced a Super Saver filly in 2017 and an Into Mischief filly in 2018. The 9-year-old mare is a half-sister to GISW Callback (Street Sense) and her yearling half-brother by Street Sense summoned $1 million from Alpha Delta Stables as a weanling at last term’s Fasig-Tipton November sale. The winner’s second dam is Quickest (Forest Wildcat), who is a daughter of Supercharger (A.P. Indy), making her a half-sister to GI Kentucky Derby hero Super Saver (Maria’s Mon); and GSWs Cyrus Alexander (Medaglia d’Oro) and Brethren (Distorted Humor). This is also the family of Grade I winners Imagining (Giant’s Causeway), Girolamo (A.P. Indy) and Bluegrass Cat (Storm Cat). Lifetime Record: 1-1-0-0. O-St Elias Stable & MeB Racing Stable; B-Clearsky Farms (KY); T-Todd Pletcher. View the full article

Trainer Darren Weir, who set a new Australian win record for most wins in a season of 449 during the 2016/2017 season, broke that record with import Sixties Groove (Ire) (Sixties Icon {GB}) at Flemington on Saturday. During a stellar day for the trainer, the yard celebrated multiple victories at Flemington (four) as well as Night Falls (Aus) (Redoute’s Choice {Aus}) in race three at Gawler and Leonardo Da Hinchi (Aus) (Hinchinbrook {Aus}) in the third race at Echuca. The last named brought Weir even with last year’s record. View the full article

Do It Again (SAF) emerged from behind a dawdling pace to win the Vodacom Durban July (G1) July 7 at Greyville by 1 1/4 lengths over Made To Conquer (SAF), giving jockey Anton Marcus his record fifth win in the South African test. View the full article

HOKKAIDO, Japan–The JRHA Select Sale of yearlings and foals takes place Monday and Tuesday with a single session dedicated to each age group and for those planning to invest at the sale, particularly in a foal, a rather different approach is required in order to arrive at your shortlist. Unlike in Europe and America, for example, when horses are available at the sales complex for viewing a few days before the sale, the foals, which are for auction on Tuesday, only arrive at the sales complex at Northern Horse Park accompanied by their dams, that morning. The custom is for prospective buyers to inspect foals at their breeders’ farms beforehand, something this correspondent had the pleasure of experiencing on Saturday. Yearlings meanwhile arrived at the sales grounds on Saturday morning allowing buyers almost two full days of final inspections before the action kicks off on Monday at 10 a.m. Pinhooking foals is not a practice that has taken off in Japan, certainly not at this sale and historically it was at the foal stage of a Thoroughbred’s lifecycle that the majority of racehorses that were for sale changed hands. “The way it happens at the sale is buyers pay for 50% of the foal when the hammer drops and the other 50% when the foal is weaned from the mare,” explained JRHA international representative Naohiro Goda. “It is only in the last 20 years or so that the practice of selling horses as yearlings has grown to what it is today.” With around 120 foals in the sale between them, a visit to Northern Farm and Shadai Farm enables would be investors to view half the catalogue in two nearby locations. First stop was Katsumi Yoshida’s Northern Farm and it was great to see so many recognizable former racemares from around the world flourishing in their new careers as broodmares, including former European champion sprinter Fleeting Spirit (Ire) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}) along with her colt foal (lot 422) at foot by first crop sire Maurice (Jpn). Northern Farm also offers one of the two foals by Frankel (GB) in the sale, a colt (lot 348) out of Snow Pine (GB) (Dalakhani {Ire}) who is a half-brother to Japanese stakes winner Tower Of London (Jpn) (Raven’s Pass). Another feature of the sale is the reserve price for each lot is printed and available to buyers and the Frankel colt foal is one of three Northern Farm-bred foals that has the draft’s highest reserve of ¥100,000,000 (US$900,000/£680,000/A$1,200,000/€770,000). The other two being lots 364 and 400, who are both sons of Deep Impact (Jpn). The first mentioned is a half-brother to Seville (Ger) (Galileo {Ire}) who was second in the G1 Irish Derby before winning the G1 Metropolitan H. in Australia, while the other is the second produce out of Ria Antonia (Rockport Harbor), the winner of the GI Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies and a hugely imposing broodmare. A short drive to Shadai Farm followed and among the offerings on view at Teruya Yoshida’s sprawling but beautifully kept property were a colt (lot 306) by Mikki Isle (Jpn) out of Caravaggio’s stakes winning half-sister My Jen (Fusaichi Pegasus) and a colt (lot 442) by Kizuna (Jpn) out of the GSW and G1 Coronation S. runner up Kenhope (Fr) (Kendargent). Noble Stella (Ger) (Monsun {Ger}) was a five-time stakes winner in America and her colt (lot 314) by Heart’s Cry (Jpn) was another to be paraded. With Shadai Stallion Station also being in the vicinity, it provided a great opportunity to see most of the leading stallions in the country including the main attraction, Deep Impact. Coolmore’s decision to tap into the sire’s prowess has already yielded a Classic winner in Saxon Warrior (Jpn) and among the Coolmore mares that were successfully covered this year by the multiple champion are Minding (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) and Winter (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), the winners of 11 Group 1 races between them. As well as being the pre-eminent stallion in Japan, Deep Impact is also prolific and with 40 catalogued, he is the stallion most represented in the sale. Tuesday will be an important day for the trio of Mikki Isle (Jpn), Duramente (Jpn) and Maurice (Jpn), as it will be the first time that their progeny come under the scrutiny of a public auction. Despite his eldest progeny only being yearlings, Kizuna (Jpn) has been tipped by Teruya Yoshida as a potential heir for his sire Deep Impact one day, while Just A Way (Jpn), the world’s top rated horse in 2014, has made a solid start with his first crop of 2-year-olds this year with two winners from eight runners so far. Harbinger (GB) will always be remembered for his stunning romp in the G1 King George VI & Queen Elizabeth S. in 2010 and as well as looking a picture, the 12-year-old enjoyed a highly successful 2017 siring three individual Group 1 winners. Further strength in depth to the Shadai Stallion Station roster is added by proven stalwarts such as Heart’s Cry (Jpn), King Kamehameha (Jpn) and Lord Kanaloa (Jpn), while a fascinating addition to the team this year was Kitasan Black (Jpn), the best son of Deep Impact’s full-brother Black Tide (Jpn), who won seven Group 1s and broke the record for career earnings in Japan. A more detailed preview of the sale will be carried in Monday’s paper while the TDN‘s Alan Carasso profiled some of the progeny of American sires that were purchased in utero in the U.S in 2016/2017 which can be read here. View the full article

A notable chapter in a golden age of British racing has come to a close with the passing of former champion trainer John Dunlop, OBE, a gentleman of absolute integrity and immense kindness whose career spanned both sides of the divide during which the game changed from the localised sport which it was in the post-war era to the international business which it is nowadays. He was 78. Born on July 10, 1939 in Tetbury, Gloucestershire, John Dunlop, son of the local doctor, did his National Service in the Royal Ulster Rifles before deciding to try to forge a career in racing. To this end, he secured a position as pupil with Neville Dent, who trained a small string of unremarkable horses in the New Forest and stood a few stallions at his Hart Hill Stud. This grounding proved invaluable, as Dunlop later recalled, “I looked after two, sometimes three or four, horses, and a premium stallion. I drove the horse box. I travelled the horses and did a bit of everything for two years. This was great fun and I loved it. This, for me, was a very good experience because, as I say, I had to do everything which would not have been the case in a big yard. We journeyed Neville’s stallions all over the place, covering all sorts of extraordinary mares, carthorses, New Forest ponies and the occasional Thoroughbred.” Armed with this thorough grounding, Dunlop secured a position as assistant-cum-secretary to Gordon Smyth, trainer to the Duke and Duchess of Norfolk at Arundel in Sussex. When Smyth moved to Lewes two years later to become a public trainer, Dunlop was appointed to take his place, taking over the license at Castle Stables, Arundel, in 1966. There he remained for the entirety of his 47-year training career. John Dunlop’s first big wins as a trainer came in the 1970 Irish 1000 Guineas with Mr. W. L. Reynolds’ Black Satin and the 1973 Eclipse S. with Sandy Struthers’s Scottish Rifle, both ridden by the stable’s long-time jockey Ron Hutchinson. The following year saw the victory which, even with all of his subsequent Classic triumphs, probably always remained the one dearest to his heart. Bernard, 16th Duke of Norfolk, was not only John Dunlop’s employer but also the man who had enabled him to realise his dream of becoming a trainer. By this stage the Duke was nearing the end of his life. (He died in January 1975, aged 66). He had played many parts in public life, including as Chairman of the MCC, but the position which he cherished the most was as Her Majesty The Queen’s Representative at Ascot. The Gold Cup, therefore, was the race esteemed above all others at Arundel–and in June 1974, only seven months before his owner/breeder’s death, Ragstone, ridden by Ron Hutchinson, gave the Duke and Duchess the victory of which they had dreamed for so long. An era ended with the death of the Duke of Norfolk. Although his racing-mad widow Lavinia continued to breed and race horses (including the 1986 St Leger winner Moon Madness) she did so in an environment which was changing rapidly and utterly. The old-school owner/breeders were becoming marginalised by the tidal wave of overseas investment. The size of strings was increasing exponentially. John Dunlop took the changing of the guard in his stride. In the autumn of 1976, Sheikh Mohammed bought his first few yearlings, choosing John Dunlop as his trainer. His first winner came the following summer, Hatta taking a 2-year-olds’ maiden race at Brighton before following up a month later in the Molecomb S. at Goodwood. As the Sheikh’s involvement mushroomed, so did the strength of the stable at Arundel, particularly as Sheikh Mohammed’s brother Sheikh Hamdan also joined the ranks of the stable’s owners. Within a short period, John Dunlop had gone from being a salaried trainer for the Duke of Norfolk and his friends to commanding the biggest string in England, with as cosmopolitan an ownership base as one could ever see. The New Zealand import Balmerino joined the stable in the summer of 1977 and chased home Alleged in the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe. The following year Shirley Heights, owned and bred by Lord Halifax, won the Derby and Irish Derby. In 1980 Quick As Lightning, owned by the stable’s long-standing American patron Ogden Mills Phipps, won the 1000 Guineas. Furthermore, John Dunlop’s reach was as extensive as his clientele: if there was a big race somewhere in the world, whether that be on continental Europe or in Australasia, John Dunlop would have had a runner in it before most other English trainers were even aware of its existence. And so John Dunlop’s stable rolled from strength to strength, only starting to wind down in the final few years before his retirement in 2012, at which point his tally of winners stood at over 3,000. Sheikh Hamdan was his principal patron in the final decades and was richly rewarded for his staunch support, thanks to the likes of 1994 Derby winner Erhaab and 2000 Derby runner-up Sakhee, 1990 1000 Guineas, Oaks and Irish Derby heroine Salsabil, 1991 1000 Guineas heroine Shadayid, 1998 Dewhurst S. winner Mujahid and the champion milers Marju, Lahib and Bahri. One of the stable’s final stars displayed a longevity nearly on a par with his trainer’s: Neil Jones’s Millenary won the St Leger in 2000 and the Doncaster Cup in 2005, taking his place in a roll call of magnificent middle-distance or staying champions which also included Sir Robin McAlpine’s 1984 Oaks winner Circus Plume and Peter Winfield’s 1997 St Leger winner Silver Patriarch. The many top sprinters trained by John Dunlop included Habibti, Invincible Spirit, Chilibang, Elnadim, Runnett and Lavinia Fontana. John Dunlop gave much of his time to the greater good within racing, including as a Trustee of the British Racing School and on the Board of the National Stud. As fine a trainer as he was, he was at least as fine a human being. Just as Neville Dent had been his mentor, so was he mentor to generations of youngsters keen to make their way in the greatest game of all. One could go anywhere in the world and find a trainer or studmaster who, when asked the question, “Where did you receive your grounding?”, will reply, “With John Dunlop”. John Dunlop leaves his widow Sue and their children Edward and Harry, who have both followed in their father’s footsteps and are now Group 1-winning trainers. We offer the family our deepest condolences. View the full article

Even without Masar (Ire) (New Approach {Ire}), Saturday’s G1 Coral-Eclipse at Sandown threw up a barnstormer as Qatar Racing’s Roaring Lion (Kitten’s Joy) edged out old rival Saxon Warrior (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) to prevail by a neck and survive a subsequent lengthy stewards’ inquiry. Freshened up after a busy period which culminated in a third placing in the June 2 G1 Epsom Derby, the 7-4 favourite was held up early by Oisin Murphy as Hawkbill (Kitten’s Joy) cut out the running. Delivered alongside Saxon Warrior two out, the grey gained a slight advantage soon after and despite veering right into the runner-up late on seemed to have command at the time. Cliffs of Moher (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) was 2 1/2 lengths behind in third. “I thought he was always holding him,” winning trainer John Gosden said of the closely-scrutinised finish. “He’s run a great race and was wider than we wanted, but Oisin timed his run beautifully. I can’t believe how well they galloped out past the line and they’d only just arrived in the winner’s enclosure when they said ‘horses away’. This is his trip, we’ve always thought so and the problem with the Champion Stakes is it might be too soft then. He could get a mile and a half around three turns, so America could be the plan if it is soft over here then. I think he should stay in training in four, but that’s entirely up to the owners.” ROARING LION, 123, c, 3, by Kitten’s Joy 1st Dam: Vionnet (GISP-US, $175,140), by Street Sense 2nd Dam: Cambiocorsa, by Avenue of Flags 3rd Dam: Ultrafleet, by Afleet ($160,000 Ylg ’16 KEESEP). O-Qatar Racing Ltd; B-Ran Jan Racing Inc (KY); T-John Gosden; J-Oisin Murphy. £448,363. Lifetime Record: 9-5-1-2, £835,081. View the full article

Glorious Forever showed his enormous potential when he cruised away for a four-length victory last start and gets a chance to string together back-to-back wins in the Class Two Hoi Ha Handicap (2,000m) at Sha Tin on Sunday. While the margin was convincing enough, it could have been even greater as Zac Purton never pulled the whip and was very soft on him in the final 100m. The front-running win sparked comparisons to his full-brother Time Warp, who was a dual Group One winner over 2,000m this... View the full article