Wandering Eyes

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

It will be two years and one week since Pakistan Star’s dramatic debut when Kerm Din’s latest acquisition steps out for the first time and it seems Pakistan Friend shares some of his famous stablemate’s quirkiness. Luckily Pakistan Friend, also an International Sale Griffin, can at least gallop, but the four-year-old’s also has a habit of throwing his head back when hit in the face with kickback, even on turf. Tommy Berry, who rode Pakistan Star to victory in the Group... View the full article

Something changed when Jeral Keith Adams' Remembering Rita arrived at Prairie Meadows in the spring. View the full article

With an opening on the inside in the stretch run of the $250,000 Iowa Derby, Shortleaf Stable's High North moved to the front and held off a late challenge from Mr Freeze to win the 1 1/16-mile test by a half-length under jockey Florent Geroux. View the full article

After meeting with jockeys to address concerns about triple-digit heat, track management at Los Alamitos Race Course decided to cancel the final six races of its July 6 card. View the full article

All maiden and allowance races, as well as some claiming races, at the 2018 Saratoga meet will get a $2,000 across-the-board purse increase. Maiden special weights will now have a purse of $85,000 and first-level allowance optional claimers will carry a $95,000 purse. The 2018 meet will also have a new purse distribution allocation. With the exception of any stakes with awards specifically stated in the condition book, all races going forward will pay out as follows: 55% of the total purse to the winner, 20% to second place, 12% to third, 6% to fourth, 4% to fifth, with the remaining 3% divided among the remaining runners. The new purse distribution will be adjusted from the current breakdown of 60-20-10-5-3% to the top five finishers, respectively, with the remaining 2% divided among the remainder of the field. View the full article

GO AWAY (c, 2, Scat Daddy–Elbow, by Woodman) sat in a good spot early and quickly pounced turning for home to win impressively first out here despite some greenness. Given a 2-1 chance as a member of the final crop of sire sensation Scat Daddy, the dark bay was hard ridden from the gate to grab the rail and sit fourth behind splits of :24.23, :48.37 and 1:12.08. Tipped wide for clear sailing into the lane, he quickly picked off foes and kicked away decisively to score by about five lengths despite lugging in and struggling with his leads. Longshot Mr Zydeco (Risque Remarque) got up late to spice up the exacta. The winner is a half to D’ Funnybone (D’wildcat), MGSW, $686,700; and Dr. Kathy (Polish Numbers), SW & GSP. Sales history: $305,000 yrl ’17 KEESEP. Lifetime Record: 1-1-0-0. O-Andrew Farm, Lewis G Lakin & Jose Singer. B-Lynch Bages LTD (Ky). T-Eddie Kenneally. View the full article

The New York Racing Association, Inc. (NYRA) announced July 6 a $2,000 across-the-board purse increase for all maiden and allowance races, as well as some claiming races, for the 2018 meet at Saratoga Race Course. View the full article

Tom Hamm has been named the Director of Stallion Nominations, handling season sales and bloodstock activity for Three Chimneys Farm. “Tom is a strong addition to the team at Three Chimneys,” said Three Chimneys board member Doug Cauthen. “He knows the business, the players, and the horses, and is an extremely upbeat and positive people person. The business is about having quality stallions and then building relationships – Tom has the ability to make those connections and to help breeders reach their goals. I am confident that he and Rebecca Grabert-Nicholson will make a great team for the Three Chimneys’ customers.” Serving as assistant trained to his brother Tim Hamm for 10 years, he began working for Taylor Made in 2006 as Divisional Yearling Manager and held the position of General Farm Manager there from 2011 to 2017. He most recently served as General Manager of Breeding Operations at Woodford Thoroughbreds. “What an exciting time at Three Chimneys,” Hamm said. “They campaigned Horse of the Year Gun Runner who just finished his first season at stud, and have Will Take Charge and Strong Mandate, who are both off to very strong starts. Add in Palace Malice, a [GI] Met Mile winner by Curlin and a super speedy son of Medaglia d’Oro in Fast Anna, both with yearlings this year, and you’ve got what I see as a very promising group of young stallions I can stand behind. And every successful stallion farm needs a rock solid proven sire like Sky Mesa. I am looking forward to the opportunity ahead.” View the full article

Carrol Castille's Elusive Quality filly, named for trainer Steve Asmussen's wife, wins the July 5 Iowa Oaks (G3). View the full article

The eagerly awaited Investec Derby (G1) rematch will be without the horse who won the Derby after Godolphin were dramatically forced to scratch Epsom hero Masar from the Coral-Eclipse (G1) the evening of July 6. View the full article

2.15 Naas, Mdn, €17,500, 2yo, 7fT ANTILLES (War Front) is a son of the 2011 G1 Epsom Oaks runner-up Wonder of Wonders (Kingmambo) who was also third in the Irish equivalent. Aidan O’Brien introduces the descendant of the great Urban Sea (Miswaki) as well as Harpo Marx (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), a son of the 2012 G1 Coolmore Stud S. heroine Nechita (Aus) (Fastnet Rock {Aus}). 4.30 Clairefontaine, Cond, €26,000, 2yo, f, 7fT SPIRIT OF BRITTANY (FR) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}) earned ‘TDN Rising Star’ status on debut for Al Shaqab Racing and Jean-Claude Rouget at Saint-Cloud in May and now has to defy a 3 1/2-kilo penalty as a result. The relative of the G1 Lockinge S.-winning sire Keltos (Fr) (Kendor {Fr}) is re-opposed by the Niarchos homebred Path of Totality (War Front), an Andre Fabre-trained half-sister to the smart Liquid Amber (Kitten’s Joy) who was over four-lengths fourth to her rival on her racecourse bow. View the full article

The mercurial 2018 season heads to Sandown on Saturday, with the G1 Coral-Eclipse sadly without ‘TDN Rising Star’ and G1 Epsom Derby hero Masar (Ire) (New Approach {Ire}) after he was scratched on Friday evening. In his absence, the race will fail to produce a totally satisfactory answer to the question as to who is the division leader and could yet add a further twist in a seemingly endless labyrinth of surprises this term. After the G1 2000 Guineas-winning performance of ‘TDN Rising Star’ Saxon Warrior (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}), the campaign already looked cut-and-dried but defeats in the G1 English and Irish Derbys mean that Ballydoyle’s beau ideal now is almost cast in the role of underdog. His and Masar’s old adversary Roaring Lion (Kitten’s Joy), who was fifth in the Guineas and third in Epsom’s blue riband, is now the likely favourite. Qatar Racing’s grey is looking for a first win at this level. “I think the Guineas is the best form, so to that extent we’ve got it all to do but we know a mile and a quarter on top of the ground suits us,” trainer John Gosden said. Midweek, Saxon Warrior could be considered a surprise contender for this just a week after a display in the Irish Derby which was in contrast to his dynamic one over a mile at Newmarket. With Masar knocking himself on Friday, that decision now looks inspired and perhaps the “monster” talked about in the spring is only just coming to himself. Many of Aidan O’Brien’s have seemed to be going the right way in the last few days and he must have bounced out of his Curragh effort to even be in this line-up. His trainer is keeping a close eye on his progress towards the race. “Obviously he hasn’t done anything since [the Irish Derby] and we’ll watch him closely all the way up to the race, but he seems to have taken it well,” he explained. “We won’t really know until we run him, but he seems very well.” The last big name to come here so soon after the Irish Derby was Sir Ivor in 1968 and he was only third, but the Saxon Warrior we saw on Guineas day looked one who could specialise in the sphere outside of the norm. According to Charlie Appleby, Masar returned sore after his routine work at Moulton Paddocks on Friday. “Mid-way through the morning, it became clear that he was sore,” he explained. “His off-fore was inflamed and we feel he must have knocked himself at exercise. I have discussed it with His Highness Sheikh Mohammed, who agreed that he should miss the race. It is a blow. But it is the right decision considering what has happened. Masar will remain under veterinary supervision for the time being. Hawkbill will still run for Godolphin in the Eclipse, and Will Buick will switch to him.” No filly has won this since Kooyonga (Ire) (Persian Bold {Ire}), but it is rare for a 3-year-old to try and Happily (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) has already shown she is capable of holding her own against the colts when beating the subsequent G1 Poule d’Essai des Poulains hero Olmedo (Fr) (Declaration of War) and Masar in the G1 Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere staged on soft ground at Chantilly on Arc day. Her runs this term when third in the G1 English and Irish 1000 Guineas and fourth in the G1 Prix de Diane back at Chantilly June 17 suggest she is progressing back to that standard and she is a relative of the millennium Eclipse hero Giant’s Causeway. “Happily is in good form. She had a very good run the last day and we’re looking forward to seeing her run,” O’Brien said. If the antiquated weight-for-age system is correct, then Hawkbill (Kitten’s Joy), Cliffs of Moher (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) and Forest Ranger (Ire) (Lawman {Fr}) have a small chance of winning. If it is incorrect, their prospects are less than slim as it is difficult to imagine any of that trio giving 10 pounds to the best 3-year-old colts around and 13 pounds to one of the leading fillies of that age. One of racing’s biggest issues is how it still relies largely on something devised by Admiral Rous in 1866 when deciding how the older horses should compare with the Classic generation. Cliffs of Moher was favourite last year, while Hawkbill was successful in 2016, but this edition has a deeper feel than either of the previous two whose form is held down by the proximity of the longshots Countermeasure (GB) (American Post {GB}) and Desert Encounter (Ire) (Halling). The idea that a colt of the physical substance of Saxon Warrior should be handed almost a stone in weight from a stablemate that has been found out in group 1 company on seven occasions after his Epsom Derby second is ridiculous. While he was unlucky when fourth here 12 months ago, Cliffs of Moher is looking thoroughly exposed by now and Aidan O’Brien is one of few who still believe that he can produce something in this company. After two runs at Royal Ascot which yielded a non-threatening fourth in the G1 Prince of Wales’s S. and third in the G2 Hardwicke S., it takes a leap of faith to see him playing a major role here. “Cliffs of Moher ran well in Ascot last time and we still think we haven’t seen the best of him yet,” the Ballydoyle handler said. “He’s been in good form since then.” Forest Ranger beat Deauville (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) in Newmarket’s nine-furlong G3 Earl of Sefton S. Apr. 18 before upstaging another of Ballydoyle’s B-list celebrities in War Decree (War Front) in the newly-promoted G2 Huxley S. at Chester May 11. His size is one of his prime assets and the gelded 4-year-old is one of the race’s unknown quantities, but trainer Richard Fahey is under no illusions as to the task he faces here. “He should be a 20-1 shot and that probably reflects his chance, but he goes on any ground and we hope he is an each-way player,” he commented. “Forest Ranger is in excellent form. He needs to step up on what he has achieved during his career so far, but he has won well on both of his starts this year. It’s a big ask, but whatever happens on Saturday, we’ll be finding out a bit more about him.” Play Time… Elsewhere on Saturday, Haydock’s G2 bet365 Lancashire Oaks features a quartet of promising 4-year-old fillies from major yards headed by Cliveden Stud’s Horseplay (GB) (Cape Cross {Ire}). She was runner-up to the subsequent G1 Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud runner-up Coronet (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) in the G2 Middleton S. over an extended 10 furlongs at York May 17 and trainer Andrew Balding is hoping this extra distance will bring out her best. “The York form looks strong and it was a deliberate move to wait for this race,” he said. “The step back up to a mile and a half certainly shouldn’t be a problem and she looked to the handle the quicker ground well at York. She seems in great form and her work has been good, so hopefully she’ll be very competitive.” Quick ground casts a doubt over St Albans Bloodstock’s God Given (GB) (Nathaniel {Ire}), who faces a second outing on such a lively surface after her course-and-distance win in the G3 Pinnacle S. four weeks ago. “She’s in good form, I just hope the ground isn’t too firm,” Luca Cumani said. “She did win on good-to-firm last time, but it looks a tougher race on Saturday. Everything has gone very smoothly since her last run.” View the full article

Hall of Famer Bob Baffert will be represented by a pair of top contenders in Saturday’s GII Suburban S. at Belmont Park. Popular 7-year-old Hoppertunity (Any Given Saturday) looks to make it a perfect three-for-three in Elmont. The 2016 GI Jockey Club Gold Cup hero was an impressive winner over favored War Story (Northern Afleet) in this year’s GII Brooklyn Invitational last time June 9. Baffert will also saddle Dr. Dorr (Lookin At Lucky), who posted a breakthrough 7 1/4-length victory with a 108 Beyer Speed Figure in Santa Anita’s GII Californian S. Apr. 28. The 3-1 morning-line favorite enters off a second-place finish in the GI Gold Cup at Santa Anita May 26. Last year’s GI Belmont S. winner Tapwrit (Tapit), sidelined after finishing fourth in the GI Travers S. Aug. 26, returned from the shelf with a third-place finish in an optional claimer going 1 1/16 miles here June 3. “The thought process after the Travers last year was that he needed some time off,” trainer Todd Pletcher said. “He shed a frog in that race and it took a while for him to get healed up, so we purposely gave him a little extra time with the idea that we wanted to have a fresh horse for the summer and hopefully the fall. So far, it’s coming together.” View the full article

The 2018 Longines Hong Kong International Races will feature total prize money of HK$93 million (£8.9 million/€10.1 million/A$16 million/US$11.8 million), a 10% rise over 2017 and the anchor of substantial across-the-board increases in purses for the 2018/2019 season. The richest of the four International races is the G1 Longines Hong Kong Cup, which will see its purse rise to HK$28 million, a 12% hike from last year and helping to maintain its status as one of the world’s two richest races over the metric mile and a quarter. The G1 Longines Hong Kong Mile and G1 Longines Hong Kong Sprint remain the most lucrative Group 1 events at their respective distances and will offer respective prize money of HK$25 million (up by HK$2 million) and HK$20 million, an increase of 8.1% from last year. The G1 Longines Hong Kong Vase has seen its purse rise by 11% to HK$20 million. “The Longines Hong Kong International Races rank as one of the world’s greatest racing carnivals,” said Andrew Harding, Executive Director, Racing, at the Hong Kong Jockey Club. “The December flagship is also one of Hong Kong’s most elite and globally recognised major events. It is important that the prize money for these races is at the level consistent with their status at the pinnacle of the sport and their significance to Hong Kong’s international status as a major events host.” There will be no changes to purses for Champions Day in the spring. The G1 QE II Cup will continue to offer HK$24 million, the G1 Champions Mile HK$18 million and the G1 Chairman’s Sprint Prize HK$16 million. Over the course of 88 meetings during the 2018/2019 season, a total of HK$1.22 billion will be offered, representing a 5% increase over the previous season. The increase applies to races at all levels in Hong Kong, notably an 8% bump for Group 3 races to HK$3.25 million and a 6% kick for Group 2 races to HK$4.25 million. “It is very important to the Club that we support owners, who have consistently taken up the challenge of providing Hong Kong with the high-quality racehorses that are the backbone of our world-class racing,” Harding said of the broader purse hikes. “Maintaining high prize money recongises owners’ continuous efforts to purchase some of the best horses in the world, and that is vital for the ongoing strength of Hong Kong racing within a competitive global market.” View the full article

Fasig-Tipton has catalogued 327 entries for its New York-Bred Yearlings Sale, scheduled for Saturday and Sunday, Aug. 11-12. Sessions will begin each evening at 6:30 p.m. in the Humphrey S. Finney Sales Pavilion in Saratoga Springs, New York. “Our consignors have once again supported us with the very best of the New York Bred yearling crop,” said Fasig-Tipton President Boyd Browning. “This year’s catalogue, which is up in numbers, offers more selection while maintaining a high standard of quality.” This year’s catalogue cover features five horses, including Grade I-winning graduates Audible (Into Mischief), Diversify (Bellamy Road), and Mind Your Biscuits (Posse). “Whether your goal is to participate in the lucrative New York-bred racing program, or to win a Grade I race in New York, Florida, or Dubai, this sale and the New York-Bred program offer the type of quality to get you there,” Browning said. The catalogue may now be viewed online and in the Equineline sales catalogue app. Print catalogues will be available by July 11. View the full article

Sandown’s G1 Coral-Eclipse on Saturday will sadly be without TDN Rising Star and G1 Epsom Derby hero Masar (Ire) (New Approach {Ire}) after he was scratched on Friday evening. According to Charlie Appleby, Masar returned sore after his routine work at Moulton Paddocks on Friday. “Mid-way through the morning, it became clear that he was sore,” he explained. “His off-fore was inflamed and we feel he must have knocked himself at exercise. I have discussed it with His Highness Sheikh Mohammed, who agreed that he should miss the race. It is a blow. But it is the right decision considering what has happened. Masar will remain under veterinary supervision for the time being. Hawkbill will still run for Godolphin in the Eclipse, and Will Buick will switch to him.” View the full article

The Taste NY series will return to Saratoga for the 2018 meet and will be held over the course of three days each week. Taste NY events provide an opportunity to sample a wide variety of products made exclusively in New York State. The series features an array of New York ciders, wines and spirits for sampling every Thursday of the meet; a selection of New York craft beers on Fridays; and New York foods and handmade items every Sunday of the Saratoga season. “The quality, locally-made wine, beer and food produced in our state directly contribute to New York’s status as a world-class destination. We continue to receive tremendous feedback from our guests about the Taste NY at Saratoga series and are excited to continue the program during the upcoming season,” said NYRA Senior Vice President and Chief Experience Officer Lynn LaRocca. “We look forward to continuing to use the popularity of Saratoga Race Course as a platform to showcase these products in partnership with the New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets.” View the full article

Last year's Great Lady M Stakes (G2) winner was the coming-out party for former claimer Skye Diamonds, and she'll return to Los Alamitos Race Course to defend her title July 7. View the full article

A field of six will line up for Saturday’s GII Belmont Sprint Championship S., a ‘Win and You’re In’ event for the GI Breeders’ Cup Sprint. Limousine Liberal (Successful Appeal), a narrow winner of the GII Churchill Downs S. for the second straight year May 5, is the 9-5 morning-line favorite. He was third, beaten 5 1/4 lengths, in the GI Metropolitan H. on the GI Belmont S. undercard June 9. Whitmore (Pleasantly Perfect), fourth with some trouble in the slop in the aforementioned Churchill Downs , came flying late to finish a strong second, beaten a neck, in the GII True North S. at Belmont June 8. He was impressive in capturing a pair of stakes at Oaklawn Park earlier this term, including the GIII Count Fleet H. “He’s doing very well,” trainer Ron Moquett said. “He came back very happy out of the True North and has been working well here at Churchill. We’re taking things race by race starting Saturday, but we’ll looking forward to it.” View the full article

2nd-Naples, €11,000, Newcomers, 2yo, 1400mT, time: n/a, gd. ERDMANN c, 2, Majesticperfection–Christmas Choir, by Songandaprayer) was sent off the 14-5 second choice and jumped right into the bridle to lead early before easing back into the box seat. Traveling strongly through the middle stages, the bay was held up for a run early in the straight, then showed a sharp turn of foot to strike to the lead one away from the inside with a little less than 400 metres to race before running out a very impressive three-length winner. Erdmann is closely related to Sportscaster (Harlan’s Holiday), GSP, $220,406, and is also kin to a yearling filly by First Samurai and a colt by that Claiborne stallion foaled Mar. 28. Sales history: $27,000 RNA Ylg ’17 FTKJUL; $9,000 RNA Ylg ’17 FTKOCT. Lifetime Record: 1-1-0-0, €4,250. Click for a video replay. O-Sc Dell’Avvocato SRL; B-Jane Wiggins (KY); T-Soc. All. L.G. Di Dio. . View the full article