Wandering Eyes

The results had not been pretty for Chiefswood Stable's homebred Tiz a Slam leading up to the $125,000 Dominion Day Stakes at Woodbine. View the full article

Tyler Gaffalione clinched his sixth riding title at Gulfstream Park on the June 30 Summit of Speed program, the final card of the spring meet. View the full article

Horses' test results June 30 View the full article

CK Ng and Woodworth suspended View the full article

In a nail-biting, three-horse dash to the wire, Gary Barber and Windways Farm's Safe to Say edged out her competition to win the $225,000 Bison City Stakes July 1 over the Woodbine Tapeta and claim the second leg of the Canadian Triple Tiara. View the full article

Wonder Gadot fulfilled a lifelong dream for Anderson June 30 at Woodbine when she became the first winner of the Canadian classic bred by Anderson Farms—the iconic operation founded by Anderson's father, late Canadian Hall of Famer Robert Anderson. View the full article

The Mission (Aus) (Choisir {Aus}–My Amelia {Aus}, by Redoute’s Choice {Aus}), winner of the G1 Champagne S. at Randwick in 2017, has been retired to Aquis Farm in Queensland where he will stand for A$13,200 (inc. GST) in 2018. Also successful in the G3 Schweppervescence T. L. Baillieu H., the Paul Perry trainee goes to stud with two wins in 19 stars and $390,832 in earnings. Bred by Mr. R. Pegum in New South Wales and a A$32,500 graduate of the 2015 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale, the rising 4-year-old is out of a winning daughter of 2005 G1 Champagne S. heroine Carry On Cutie (More Than Ready). As an added incentive to breeders, Aquis has launched the A$1-million Breeder Bonus Challenge, a scheme where breeders are rewarded a bonus–90% of A$1-million–if a 2018 foal they bred by The Mission wins a Australian Group 1 race as a juvenile, the A$2-million Magic Millions 2YO Classic at Aquis Farm or the A$2-million Inglis 2YO Millennium at Warwick Farm. The Bonus Challenge also offers monetary rewards for juvenile Group 2 (A$500,000), Group 3 (A$300,000) or listed (A$250,000) victories among others from The Mission’s 2018 conceived crop. The other 10% of each bonus will be donated to Australian Thoroughbred or farming charities nominated by Aquis. “At Aquis we are grateful to be part of a thriving industry that is in a position to give generously to those in need, whether that be improving services within our local community, supporting our farmers in times of drought, helping to improve support networks for stud and stable staff, or ensuring that our much-loved racehorses are given the opportunity to be re-trained and re-homed once they retire from racing,” said Aquis CEO Shane McGrath, who raced the colt as part of an ownership group. For more information on The Mission or the A$1-million Breeder Bonus Challenge, go to www.aquisfarm.com. View the full article

Wonder Gadot fulfilled a lifelong dream for Anderson June 30 at Woodbine when she became the first winner of the Canadian classic bred by Anderson Farms—the iconic operation founded by Anderson's father, late Canadian Hall of Famer Robert Anderson. View the full article

Anderson watched Wonder Gadot fulfill a lifelong dream June 30 at Woodbine when she became the first winner of the Canadian classic bred by Anderson Farms—the iconic operation founded by Anderson's father, late Canadian Hall of Famer Robert Anderson. View the full article

Trainer Chad Brown sent out a bevy of workers Sunday morning at Belmont in preparation for their respective upcoming stakes appearances. Heading Brown’s turf contingent and scheduled to start on Belmont’s Stars & Stripes day card July 7, GI Belmont Derby Invitational hopeful Analyze It (Point of Entry) breezed five furlongs in 1:02.76 in company with Grade II winner Projected (GB) (Showcasing {GB}). A dual Grade III winner, Analyze It was second in the June 2 GIII Pennine Ridge S., a prep for the Belmont Derby. “He went great, so he’s on target for the Derby,” said Brown. “I thought he ran into a really good horse in Catholic Boy [More Than Ready] in the Pennine Ridge. He ran very well; our horse had no excuse. He might’ve had a little time between races where I could’ve had him a little better. It’s not an excuse, he had every chance to win, but I believe this horse can move forward now that he has some recent fitness in him. I might’ve given him a little too much to do after the [GIII] Transylvania [S. at Keeneland Apr. 6] heading into that race.” Brown’s leading candidates for this year’s GI Belmont Oaks Invitational, Significant Form (Creative Cause) and Mighty Scarlett (Scat Daddy) worked together five furlongs in 1:00.50. Both fillies exited the GIII Wonder Again S., the prep for the Belmont Oaks. Significant Form finished second behind winner La Signare (Fr) (Siyouni {Fr}), while Mighty Scarlett was third. “They both ran well,” Brown said. “It was a bit disappointing for Significant Form as the favorite. She had every chance to win turning for home and it just wasn’t her day. I’m confident given the way she’s training that she can rebound off that effort.” In regards to the less seasoned Mighty Scarlett, he added, “For it being her first try in a stakes race, I thought Mighty Scarlett ran really well. I think more distance should help her.” Also working for Brown on the turf Sunday: GI Just a Game winner A Raving Beauty (Ger) (Mastercraftsman {Ire}) and GI Jenny Wiley S. victress Sistercharlie (Ire) (Myboycharlie {Ire}) went five furlongs in 1:01.21. Both fillies are being pointed to the GI Diana S. July 21 at Saratoga Race Course. Last term’s GI Gulfstream Park Turf H. winner Almanaar (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) worked in tandem with multiple Group 1 Chilean scorer Robert Bruce (Chi) (Fast Company {Ir}). The pair covered five panels in 1:02.94 in preparation for the GI Arlington Million Aug. 11. Last season’s GI Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf champion Rushing Fall (More Than Ready), scheduled to make her next start in the GIII Lake George S. July 20 at Saratoga, worked with dual graded stakes winner Quidura (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}). The duo completed five furlongs in 1:01. Rounding out Brown’s turf workers Sunday, Precieuse (Candy Ride {Arg}) and graded-stakes winner Uni (GB) (More Than Ready) negotiated four furlongs in :49.21. Also on the Oklahoma training track Sunday, Brown worked GII Swale S. winner Favorable Outcome (Flatter) in preparation for the GII Belmont Sprint Championship on the Stars & Stripes day undercard. The four-year-old breezed four furlongs in :49.03. “He worked good, so we’ll give it a shot,” said Brown. “It’s shaping up to be a tough, tough race but we’ll give it a shot. He seems to be doing well.” View the full article

Prognosticators attempting to judge the likelihood of passage of the Horseracing Integrity Act (HR 2651) acquired a few more tea leaves to read last week. Potential clues came in the form of a story first published by the Capitol Hill news site Roll Call that described how politicians looking to advance federal bills on sports betting and online poker might try to hitch such legislation to horse racing’s anti-doping bill. The Integrity Act’s sponsor, Rep. Andy Barr (R-KY), told Roll Call he would urge colleagues not to burden his racing-specific bill by lumping it together with potentially derailing amendments just because they share a common gambling theme. “There’s no need to put those issues together if it would draw greater controversy,” Barr said. Other lawmakers might think differently. They could be sizing up the Integrity Act as a logical landing place for add-on betting bills because HR 2651 already has 125 bipartisan co-sponsors and has advanced past the Digital Commerce and Consumer Protection Subcommittee hearing stage. By contrast, even though sports betting has been a hot topic in state legislatures since a May 14 U.S. Supreme Court ruling struck down the federal law barring sports wagering, the idea of a national framework of laws to regulate it has been unable to gain traction on Capitol Hill. The House Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, Homeland Security, and Investigations had intended to hold a hearing last Tuesday on sports betting–but it was canceled without any makeup date being set. In the wake of that cancellation, Gambling.com reported June 27 there could now be a new sense of urgency to trying to piggyback a national sports betting bill onto horse racing’s anti-doping bill because “the most high-profile legislative proposals have come from Sen. Orrin Hatch (R-UT). [But] Hatch, the Senate’s most senior member, is retiring in January 2019. With his departure so goes the most outspoken advocate for sports betting laws.” And on the internet poker front, Rep. Joe Barton (R-TX) told Roll Call right after the anti-doping bill’s hearing that he was “looking at” incorporating a draft proposal to expand online poker into HR 2651. Barton, according to a June 25 story in Online Poker Report, has already gone down swinging with previous versions of the Internet Poker Freedom Act in 2011, 2013 and 2015 that went nowhere after gaining just a cumulative total of 14 co-sponsors between the three bills. So what’s next for the federal bill that would implement a uniform anti-doping and medication control framework upon U.S. horse racing? “I can’t predict that at this point,” House Energy and Commerce chairman Rep. Greg Walden (R-OR) told Roll Call when asked whether the Integrity Act would advance. “There was obviously differing viewpoints on the legislation, which we fully anticipated. Everybody knew that. I think it’s important to air these issues, and then we’ll decide where we go from there.” 3YO filly division runs deep The solidity at the top of the 3-year-old filly division was reinforced on Saturday after open-length wins by ‘TDN Rising Star’ Wonder Gadot (Medaglia d’Oro) in the Queen’s Plate S. at Woodbine Racetrack and Midnight Bisou (Midnight Lute) in the GII Mother Goose S. at Belmont Park. When you factor in the emphatic win by Monomoy Girl (Tapizar) in the GI Acorn S. on the GI Belmont S. undercard three weeks back, that means the 1-2-3 fillies from the GI Kentucky Oaks at Churchill Downs in May have now all posted stakes victories in subsequent or second-back starts. As one of only two fillies in the field, Wonder Gadot added blinkers to beat Canadian-breds after a string of six consecutive short-margin seconds and thirds. She tracked a robust pace in fifth for most of the 10-furlong trip and always looked primed to pounce before jockey John Velazquez cued her to quicken off the far turn. Wonder Gadot responded with a rousing, going-away run, asserting herself 4 3/4 lengths ahead of the competition under the wire. Midnight Bisou simply aired by six lengths in the 1 1/16 miles Mother Goose as the .45-to-1 favorite in a field of four. She adopted the role of a menacing stalker and swatted away the previously undefeated pacemaker Road to Victory (Quality Road) at will before running up the score in hand and well in command. As of this writing though, only two of those three heavy hitters are likely to rematch in the GI Alabama S. at Saratoga Race Course, the division’s premier summer race. Wonder Gadot will take aim at the second leg of the Canadian Triple Crown, the Prince of Wales S. at Fort Erie on July 24, prior to contesting the Alabama, trainer Mark Casse said after Saturday’s race. Midnight Bisou is also scheduled to remain on the East Coast to target an Alabama start. Monomoy Girl will opt for a different series of races. After her Acorn win, her connections indicated a preference for running in the July 22 GI Coaching Club American Oaks at Saratoga, followed by the Sept. 22 GI Cotillion S. at Parx. The Nov. 3 GI Breeders’ Cup Distaff is her ultimate seasonal goal. Light campaign planned for X Y Jet Front-running force X Y Jet (Kantharos) returned to his home court and winning ways on Saturday at Gulfstream Park, ripping straight to the front and never looking back to wire the GIII Smile Sprint S. over six furlongs as the prohibitive 3-5 betting favorite. The speedy gray was making his first start since finishing a head short of a win in the Mar. 31 G1 Dubai Golden Shaheen at Meydan Racecourse. X Y Jet has now racked up a 6-4-1 record from 12 starts at Gulfstream. Trainer Jorge Navarro said after the race that the 6-year-old gelding–who has overcome three surgeries–is likely to target only two more races in 2018. “Nothing’s bugging him right now. Our main focus is to keep him clean. Maybe the [Sep. 15 GIII De Francis Memorial] Dash at Laurel–that’s a maybe. And then the [GI] Breeders’ Cup [Sprint]–just one more race before the Breeders’ Cup.” View the full article

By order of the track stewards, the New York Racing Association canceled its live racing card at Belmont Park July 1 because of extreme heat. View the full article

ARMISTICE DAY (c, 2, Declaration of War–Harmony Lodge {GISW, $851,120}, by Hennessy) rallied from well off the pace and showed a sharp turn of foot in the stretch to take his debut going away Sunday at Woodbine. Bought for $245,000 as a Fasig-Tipton Saratoga yearling, the chestnut showed an above-average local worktab for this debut, including a half-mile from the gate in :48 2/5 (15/63) June 9, but drifted up to 33-5 by post off a 3-1 morning line quote. Away a bit awkwardly from his inside draw, Armistice Day sat third-last early as favored firster Tricky Magician (Magician {Ire}) dueled with longshot The Newfie Express (Victor’s Cry) through a :22.82 quarter. Those two continued to spar into the lane, but Armistice Day quickly appeared on the scene three deep and blew past the leaders an eighth of a mile from home, leveling off nicely from there to score by five lengths in :57.78. The Newfie Express nosed out his pace foe for second. The winner’s dam, who hammered for $1.65 million at the 2000 Fasig-Tipton February sale, captured the GI Ballerina H. in 2003 as one of five graded stakes victories in her career. Selling to Hunter Valley Farm for $280,000 at Fasig-Tipton July in 2014, she is responsible for a yearling American Pharoah colt and foaled a filly by Uncle Mo Apr. 29. Lifetime Record: 1-1-0-0, $37,200. O-Bruce Lunsford & Lansdon Robbins; B-Glenvale Stud (KY); T-Barbara J. Minshall. View the full article

Most people would be surprised to hear that two talented New York-bred fillies grew up on 80 acres just outside of Camden, South Carolina, but that is the case for both Wonder Gal (Tiz Wonderful) and Quezon (Tiz Wonderful), who were bred and raised at Bill and Jane Moriarty’s Apache Farm. The Moriartys hope to have another talented New York-bred filly in Wonder Gal’s yearling half-sister by Palace Malice, who will be offered as Hip 9 at the upcoming Fasig-Tipton July sale. “Her physical is very good,” Jane Moriarty said of Hip 9. “She has a great pedigree and a really good brain. She is beautiful, so we are hopeful. You never know about the sales, but we think she is going to do well. It seems other people think so, too.” Out of the unraced Dixie Union mare Passe, Hip 9 is a half-sister to Wonder Gal, who was tabbed a ‘TDN Rising Star’ after romping by 14 1/2 lengths in her career bow in the 2014 Lynbrook S. at Belmont (video). She went on to win two more stakes and place in four Grade Is, including a third to future champion Take Charge Brandi (Giant’s Causeway) in the 2014 GI Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies. Passe, a daughter of SW and GSP Gal on the Go (Irgun), is a half-sister to GISW Force the Pass (Speightstown) and MGSW Social Queen (Dynaformer). Hip 9 is from the first crop of 2013 GI Belmont S. and 2014 GI Met Mile winner Palace Malice (Curlin) and Moriarty is quite pleased with the result of her stallion choice. “We thought Palace Malice was a good choice because of Curlin and he is a big-bodied horse like the filly’s mother,” Moriarty said. “We like first-year stallions and the cross was really good. We are very pleased with what we ended up with. She is very correct and a big girl.” The bay filly will be consigned to the sale by Jim Perrone’s Perrone Sales, which is based in North Carolina. Perrone’s consignment consists of a total of four horses, but only one is from Apache Farm. “Jim Perrone came to our open house when we were standing a stallion and that’s how we got to know him,” Moriarty said. “We’ve been with him the whole time we have been doing this and we are very pleased with how things have turned out.” The Moriartys have not been “doing this” all that long. While the couple has been breeding horses since the 1970’s, they got their start in the show horse world, breeding Warmbloods, and only switched over to Thoroughbreds about 10 years ago. “We lived in New York for a long, long time,” Moriarty said. “We’ve been down here [in South Carolina] about 20 years now. We originally started out in the horse business in New York, breeding and raising show horses. We switched to Thoroughbreds around 2008. The bottom dropped out of the market and show horses were not selling well, so we took that opportunity to make a change.” The Moriartys foal their mares in New York and as soon as they are able to travel, the mares and foals are shipped to South Carolina to be raised by Bill and Jane at Apache Farm. “The incentive program [for New York-breds] is fantastic and my son happens to have a farm up there, so it’s a no brainer,” Moriarty said. “My son takes care of the mares for those nine months and I go up and foal them at his farm. As soon as the foals are born, we bring them down here to South Carolina. The mares go to Kentucky with their foals to be bred back and then return to South Carolina. Once the foals are weaned, we ship the mares back to New York within the 90-day period [which is required for the next foal to be a New York-bred].” Apache Farm is a boutique operation with just six mares, but in just a decade in the industry, it has managed to make the most of its stock, producing a pair of talented fillies on the New York circuit. In addition to the aforementioned Wonder Gal, who was named New York’s champion 2-year-old filly in 2014 and earned over $900,000, Apache Farm has produced five-time stakes winner and MGSP Quezon. “Wonder Gal won over $904,000 and ran in the Breeders’ Cup twice, finishing third once,” Moriarty said. “Quezon won [over] $750,000. She was the only foal out of Kalookan Dancer (Olympio), who died of dystocia. It has been very exciting watching them win and how well they have done. Now they are both broodmares. Wonder Gal just had a Pioneerof the Nile colt and, the last I heard, Quezon is being bred to Gun Runner.” It is clear in speaking with Moriarty that the horses she breeds are her pride and joy. She and her husband spend everyday working with the horses on their farm, doing their best to continue their tradition of raising quality horses. “I’ve been in breeding for like 100 years and my sole interest is breeding quality babies that can go on and do what [Quezon and Wonder Gal] have done,” Moriarty said. “That’s my goal. We are trying very hard to continue that goal and it’s pretty hard when you are an itty bitty operation like us.” The Fasig-Tipton July sale gets underway at 4p.m. Monday, July 9 with the Horses of Racing Age Sale and continues Tuesday, July 10 at 10a.m. with the Yearling Sale. View the full article

Only fourth in the G2 Duke of Cambridge S. over a mile at Royal Ascot 11 days previously, Barnane Stud’s Urban Fox (GB) (Foxwedge {Aus}) took a leap forward on her first try over 10 furlongs when upsetting the G1 Epsom Oaks heroine Forever Together (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) in Sunday’s G1 Juddmonte Pretty Polly S. at The Curragh. Always travelling strongly in third under Danny Tudhope, the 9-1 shot was moving much more sweetly than that 4-6 favourite with a half mile to race and when committed at the top of the straight soon had her measure en route to a 3 1/4-length success, with 2 1/4 lengths back to Athena (Ire) (Camelot {GB}) in third. URBAN FOX (GB), f, 4, Foxwedge (Aus)–Lomapamar (GB), by Nashwan. (10,000gns Ylg ’15 TAOCT; 425,000gns HRA ’17 TATDEC). Lifetime Record: 18-5-1-3, €328,965. O-Barnane Stud Ltd; B-Mascalls Stud (GB); T-William Haggas; J-Daniel Tudhope. Video, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton. View the full article

WALDLIED (GB), f, 3, New Approach (Ire)–Waldlerche (GB) (GSW-Fr & SP-Ger), by Monsun (Ger) Lifetime Record: 4-2-1-0, €105,100. O/B-Newsells Park Stud & Gestut Ammerland (GB); T-Andre Fabre; J-Pierre-Charles Boudot. Video, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton. The last time her half-brother Waldgeist (GB) (Galileo {Ire}) was winning in the June 3 G2 Grand Prix de Chantilly, Waldlied (GB) (New Approach {Ire}) was unable to provide a family double due to no fault of her own when an unlucky second in the G3 Prix de Royaumont. This time, Pierre-Charles Boudot was keen to exploit her greatest asset which is her stride and the 6-5 favourite was not for catching as soon as she bowled into the lead after the opening three furlongs. Only Fuse (Fr) (Teofilo {Ire}) offered any kind of fight in the straight, but Newsells Park Stud and Gestut Ammerland’s homebred was far too strong and hit the line with 2 1/2 lengths to spare over that Wertheimer representative, with Give and Take (GB) (Cityscape {GB}) six lengths away in third. “She is a classy filly with great pace and a fantastic stride,” trainer Andre Fabre said. “She has been green on occasion, but that’s only because of her lack of experience. We will target the [G1 Prix] Vermeille [at ParisLongchamp Sept. 16], but for more experience she will head to the [Aug. 18 G2 Prix de la] Nonette [at Deauville] first.” View the full article

So Perfect (Scat Daddy), who earned ‘TDN Rising Star’ status in her Apr. 22 unveiling going five furlongs at Navan, slipped down to fourth when upped to six panels in the May 20 Listed Naas Fillies’ Sprint and lined up for Sunday’s G3 Grangecon S. at The Curragh bouncing back off a close-up fourth returned to five in the June 20 G2 Queen Mary S. at Royal Ascot. Steadied under cover in a share of fourth through halfway, the 6-4 favourite was rowed along approaching the two pole and kept on resolutely under a final-furlong drive to deny Skitter Scatter (Scat Daddy) by a half length in the shadows of the post, with Cava (Ire) (Accalamation {GB}) the same margin back in third. “She had a lovely run at [Royal] Ascot and just got drawn a little bit out by herself there, but that was lovely and she was able to get a little bit of cover today,” explained trainer Aidan O’Brien. “She’s not there yet and there is plenty more to come from her, and Ryan [Moore] was delighted with her. She is a big, strong filly and might go to the [July 13 G2] Cherry Hinton [S. at Newmarket]. I think she’ll stay further and, as a Scat Daddy, I’d say she’d like fast ground.” SO PERFECT, 126, f, 2, by Scat Daddy 1st Dam: Hopeoverexperience, by Songandaprayer 2nd Dam: Tom’s Cat, by Storm Cat 3rd Dam: Shouldnt Say Never, by Meadowlake ($400,000 Ylg 17 KEESEP). O-Derrick Smith, Susan Magnier & Michael Tabor; B-Machmer Hall (KY); T-Aidan O’Brien; J-Ryan Moore. €38,350. Lifetime Record: 4-2-0-0, €58,721. View the full article

Improving upon triumphs in May’s G3 Prix d’Hedouville at ParisLongchamp and last month’s G2 Grand Prix de Chantilly, ‘TDN Rising Star’ and 2016 G1 Criterium de Saint-Cloud hero Waldgeist (GB) (Galileo {Ire}) was back atop the highest podium with a narrow victory in a pulsating renewal of Sunday’s G1 Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud. The win also provided trainer Andre Fabre with a record-equalling eighth success, matching the haul of French icon Francois Mathet. The chestnut lobbed along in third as Oriental Eagle (Ger) (Campanologist) led the six-strong field in single file at a comfortable pace. Stoked up approaching the final quarter mile, he kept on strongly taking a brave route between rivals in the closing stages to deny ‘TDN Rising Star’ Coronet (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) by a nose in a thrilling bobber, with G1 Coronation Cup runner-up Salouen (Ire) (Canford Cliffs {Ire}) enhancing his portfolio 1 1/4 lengths adrift in third. Sunday, Saint-Cloud, France GRAND PRIX DE SAINT-CLOUD-G1, €400,000, Saint-Cloud, 7-1, 4yo/up, 12fT, 2:30.14, g/s. 1–WALDGEIST (GB), 128, c, 4, by Galileo (Ire) 1st Dam: Waldlerche (GB) (GSW-Fr & SP-Ger), by Monsun (Ger) 2nd Dam: Waldmark (Ger), by Mark of Esteem (Ire) 3rd Dam: Wurftaube (Ger), by Acatenango (Ger) O-Gestut Ammerland & Newsells Park Stud; B-Waldlerche Partnership (GB); T-Andre Fabre; J-Pierre-Charles Boudot. €228,560. Lifetime Record: GSP-Eng, 12-5-3-2, €969,127. *1/2 to Waldlied (GB) (New Approach {Ire}), GSP-Fr. Werk Nick Rating: B+. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree. 2–Coronet (GB), 125, f, 4, Dubawi (Ire)–Approach (GB), by Darshaan (GB). O/B-Denford Stud Ltd (GB); T-John Gosden. €91,440. 3–Salouen (Ire), 128, c, 4, Canford Cliffs (Ire)–Gali Gal (Ire), by Galileo (Ire). (€85,000 Ylg ’15 GOFSPT). O-Hiran Balasuriya; B-Silvercon Edgerodge Ltd (IRE); T-Sylvester Kirk. €45,720. Margins: NO, 1 1/4, 3/4. Odds: 0.80, 4.30, 5.30. Also Ran: Cloth of Stars (Ire), Iquitos (Ger), Oriental Eagle (Ger). Scratched: Guignol (Ger), Bateel (Ire). Click for the Racing Post result or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. Video, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton. View the full article

Making the trip down from his Seoul base to try Busan for the first time in his burgeoning career, last year’s champion 3-year-old Cheongdam Dokki (To Honor and Serve) was not able to control Sunday’s Mayor’s Cup from the front, as is his custom, but in the end, his class shone through as he continued on a track likely to culminate in the W1-million Keeneland Korea Cup in early September. Drawn gate 13, with 2016 Horse of the Year Triple Nine (Kor) (Ecton Park) two stalls to his inside, Cheongdam Dokki jumped well enough, but was beaten for speed by King of Ace (Malibu Moon) and was forced to do the chasing instead of being the hunted. But the gelding settled kindly through the middle stages and finished well, repelling a stretch challenge from Cheonji Storm (Kor) (Admire Don {Jpn}) for a first black-type success. Cheongdam Dokki is out of a half-sister to MGISW Stop Traffic (Cure the Blues), dam of ‘TDN Rising Star’ and current Spendthrift stallion Cross Traffic (Unbridled’s Song), MSW Thirteen Arrows (Indian Charlie) and SW Exodus (Medaglia d’Oro). Cheongdam Dokki is the last listed produce for his dam. Click for a video replay. Sunday’s Results: BUSAN MAYOR’S CUP, KRW500,000,000 (£339,903/€383,929/US$448,869), Busan, 7-1, 3yo/up, 1800m, 1:52.2, sy. 1–CHEONGDAM DOKKI, 126, g, 4, To Honor and Serve–Elusive Gold, by Strike the Gold. *1ST BLACK-TYPE WIN. ($20,000 Ylg ’15 KEESEP). O-Kimbyeongjin; B-Blue Heaven Farm LLC (KY); T-Park Jong Kon; J-Lim Gi Won; KRW285,000,000. Lifetime Record: Ch. 3yo Colt-Kor, 16-11-3-0, KRW1,337,900,000. *1/2 to Gouldings Green (Charismatic), MGSW, $682,493; Baby Bird (Cape Town), MSP, $222,804; and Filare l’Oro (Hard Spun), SW & GSP, $185,100. 2–Cheonji Storm (Kor), 126, h, 5, Admire Don (Jpn)–Great Thought, by Empire Maker. O-Cho Chang Seok. KRW105,000,000. 3–Triple Nine (Kor), 126, h, 6, Ecton Park–A Little Poke, by Pleasant Tap. O-Choi Byeong-Bu. KRW65,000,000. Margins: 3, 1HF, 4. Odds: 0.40, 17.50, 4.50. Also Ran: I’m Your Father, Buhwarui Banseok, Saengil Gippeum, King of Ace, Dongbang Daero, Champ Line (Kor), Iron Train, World Number One, Cheonjeok, Winner Red. View the full article

Joao Moreira reduced Zac Purton’s championship lead to three, but it was Benno Yung Tin-pang’s smart three-year-old Cruising who stole the show at Sha Tin on Sunday. It was a relatively ho-hum affair in what has been an enthralling race for the title, but neither jockey was able to really stamp their authority on the 10-race card, the Magic Man coming away with a two-one advantage. Instead, the performance of the day came from Cruising, who roared away to take out the Class Three... View the full article

Joao Moreira reduced Zac Purton’s championship lead to three, but it was Benno Yung Tin-pang’s smart three-year-old Cruising who stole the show at Sha Tin on Sunday. It was a relatively ho-hum affair in what has been an enthralling race for the title, but neither jockey was able to really stamp their authority on the 10-race card, the Magic Man coming away with a two-one advantage. Instead, the performance of the day came from Cruising, who roared away to take out the Class Three... View the full article

Frankie Lor Fu-chuen already had the record for most wins by a first-season trainer but is showing no signs of slacking off and is already planning to smash any suggestion of “second-year syndrome” with the help of shock stable transfer Mr Stunning. Given Lor has already exceeded expectations in his rookie campaign nobody would be surprised if he eased off, stockpiling some winners for next term, but the 52-year-old said there is still plenty left to be gained over the final four... View the full article

Frankie Lor Fu-chuen already had the record for most wins by a first-season trainer but is showing no signs of slacking off and is already planning to smash any suggestion of “second-year syndrome” with the help of shock stable transfer Mr Stunning. Given Lor has already exceeded expectations in his rookie campaign nobody would be surprised if he eased off, stockpiling some winners for next term, but the 52-year-old said there is still plenty left to be gained over the final four... View the full article

The weather gods were on Derek Cruz’s side when a torrential downpour helped Elusive State score at Sha Tin on Sunday, but the embattled trainer admits he will need more heavenly assistance to retain his licence for next season. A storm that arrived moments after race four turned the all-weather track to slop but it suited track specialist Elusive State just fine as the four-year-old bolted clear under an aggressive ride from Joao Moreira. The 63-year-old Cruz is in the “all or... View the full article

The weather gods were on Derek Cruz’s side when a torrential downpour helped Elusive State score at Sha Tin on Sunday, but the embattled trainer admits he will need more heavenly assistance to retain his licence for next season. A storm that arrived moments after race four turned the all-weather track to slop but it suited track specialist Elusive State just fine as the four-year-old bolted clear under an aggressive ride from Joao Moreira. The 63-year-old Cruz is in the “all or... View the full article