Wandering Eyes

Quietly progressive, Weltstar (Ger) (Soldier Hollow {GB}) took another incremental step forward at Cologne on Sunday when winning the G2 Oppenheim Union Rennen. In doing so, the homebred will give the Gestut Rottgen-Markus Klug axis a chance to emulate last year’s G1 Deutsches Derby-winning half-brother Windstoss (Ger) (Shirocco {Ger}) in the July 8 Hamburg Classic. Runner-up in the G3 Dr Busch Memorial over 8 1/2 furlongs at Krefeld Apr. 22 and fourth in the G2 Mehl-Mulhens-Rennen, or German 2000 Guineas, at this venue May 21, the bay was moving markedly up in trip here but was confidently backed into 5-2 favouritism with all the pedigree pointers suggesting it was what he needed. Settled in rear early by a confident Adrie de Vries, he crept into contention exiting the back straight and came wide to towards the stand’s side where Destino (Ger) (Soldier Hollow {GB}) had given the slip. In the end, it was his stamina which won the day as his momentum took him past that game stablemate 100 metres from the line en route to a 3/4-of-a-length success. Windstoss, who has subsequently won the G1 Preis von Europa and finished third to Cracksman (GB) (Frankel {GB}) in the G1 Coronation Cup, was providing Rottgen with a first Deutsches Derby victory in 2017 and it would be some tale if Weltstar can follow up 12 months on after winning this premier trial. Remarkably, he is only the second foal out of Wellenspiel (Ger) (Sternkonig {Ire}) after Windstoss, with his family also containing Well Known (Ger) (Konigsstuhl {Ger}) who was runner-up in both the G2 German 1000 Guineas and G1 Preis der Diana. Her five black-type performers are headed by the G1 Preis von Europa hero Well Made (Ger) (Mondrian {Ger}), while this dynasty also features the G3 Preis der Winterkonigin winner Well Spoken (Ger), also by Soldier Hollow. Wellenspiel has an as-yet unraced 2-year-old colt by Reliable Man (GB) named Walerian (GB), a yearling colt by Kamsin (Ger) named Worrick (Ger) and a filly foal by Protectionist (Ger). Sunday, Cologne, Germany 183RD OPPENHEIM-UNION-RENNEN-G2, €70,000, Cologne, 6-17, 3yo, 11fT, 2:19.42, gd. 1–WELTSTAR (GER), 128, c, 3, by Soldier Hollow (GB) 1st Dam: Wellenspiel (Ger), by Sternkonig (Ire) 2nd Dam: Well Known (Ger), by Konigsstuhl (Ger) 3rd Dam: Well Proved (Ger), by Prince Ippi (Ger) 1ST BLACK-TYPE WIN; 1ST GROUP WIN. (€40,000 Ylg ’16 BBAGS). O/B-Gestut Rottgen (GER); T-Markus Klug; J-Adrie de Vries. €40,000. Lifetime Record: 5-2-1-0, €65,000. *1/2 to Windstoss (Ger) (Shirocco {Ger}), Hwt. 3yo-Ger at 11-14f, MG1SW-Ger & G1SP-Eng, $688,724. Werk Nick Rating: A+++ *Triple Plus*. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree. 2–Destino (Ger), 128, c, 3, Soldier Hollow (GB)–Divya (Ger), by Platini (Ger). O/B-Gestut Park Wiedingen (GER); T-Markus Klug. €15,500. 3–Salve Del Rio (Ire), 128, c, 3, Rio de la Plata–Salve Aurora (Ger), by King’s Best. O/B-Gestut Hony-Hof (IRE); T-Jean-Pierre Carvalho. €8,000. Margins: 3/4, 1 3/4, 2. Odds: 2.50, 28.50, 6.80. Also Ran: Jimmu (Ger), Valajani (Ger), Ecco (GB), Aldenham (Ger), Klungel (Ger), Sweet Man (GB), Emerald Master (Ger), Ballydoyle (Ger), Magic Pivotal (Fr). DNF: Puccini (Ger). Click for the Racing Post result or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. View the full article

There are horses that are just solid group 1 material through and through and John Dance’s Laurens (Fr) (Siyouni {Fr}) proved the epitome of that yet again on Sunday when producing her usual level best to garner glory in an exciting renewal of Chantilly’s G1 Prix de Diane Longines. Always prominent under P J McDonald, the 15-2 shot took up the baton two furlongs from home and those “come and get me” tactics which had served her so well in her previous top-flight wins in the G1 Fillies Mile and G1 Prix Saint-Alary paid handsome dividends on one of the biggest stages of European racing. A blanket of rivals tried their hardest to match her relentless mighty stride and failed and it was only the notoriously slow-burning Musis Amica (Ire) (Dawn Approach {Ire}) who could have managed it had her run not taken so long to come. At the line, Karl Burke’s jewel of the North England base of Middleham had a neck to spare over that Godolphin filly, who nosed out Homerique (Exchange Rate) and there was no more than a half length separating the first five home. Sunday, Chantilly, France PRIX DE DIANE LONGINES-G1, €1,000,000, Chantilly, 6-17, 3yo, f, 10 1/2fT, 2:06.11, g/s. 1–LAURENS (FR), 126, f, 3, by Siyouni (Fr) 1st Dam: Recambe (Ire), by Cape Cross (Ire) 2nd Dam: Razana (Ire), by Kahyasi (Ire) 3rd Dam: Raysiya (Ire), by Cure the Blues (£220,000 Ylg ’16 GOUKPR). O-John Dance; B-Bloodstock Agency Ltd (FR); T-Karl Burke; J-PJ McDonald. €571,400. Lifetime Record: G1SW-Eng, 7-5-2-0, €1,288,573. Werk Nick Rating: A. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree. 2–Musis Amica (Ire), 126, f, 3, Dawn Approach (Ire)–White Star (Ire), by Darshaan (GB). O-Godolphin SNC; B-Godolphin (IRE); T-Andre Fabre. €228,600. 3–Homerique, 126, f, 3, Exchange Rate–Chiquita Picosa, by Congaree. ($34,000 RNA Wlg ’15 KEENOV; 22,000gns RNA Ylg ’16 TATOCT; €75,000 2yo ’17 ARQMAY). O-Ecurie de Montlahuc; B-Nicolas & Francois Drion (KY); T-Francis-Henri Graffard. €114,300. Margins: NK, NO, HD. Odds: 7.60, 8.50, 12.00. Also Ran: Happily (Ire), With You (GB), Lady Athena (Fr), Shahnaza (Fr), Soustraction (Ire), Barkaa (Fr), Castellar (Fr), Amazing Lips (Ire), Luminate (Ire), Assonance (Fr). Click for the Racing Post result or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. Video, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton. View the full article

Since their acquisition of the now-deceased Torrestrella (Ire) (Orpen), the 2004 G1 Poule d’Essai des Pouliches heroine had promised to provide Shadwell with a genuine gemstone and the time could be now as her final offering Wusool (Speightstown) dominated Sunday’s G3 Prix Paul de Moussac Longines at Chantilly. Beaten only once in his career so far by the exciting Fabre trainee Mer et Nuages (Fr) (Lope de Vega {Ire}), the 3-1 second favourite travelled easily behind the aggressively-ridden Glendevon (Scat Daddy) and after taking over 300 metres from the line readily asserted for a comfortable 3 1/2-length success over the G3 Prix Djebel runner-up Magic Bibou (Fr) (Panis), with the 11-10 favourite Wind Chimes (GB) (Mastercraftsman {Ire}) only making laboured progress into third, a half length away. Sunday, Chantilly, France PRIX PAUL DE MOUSSAC LONGINES-G3, €80,000, Chantilly, 6-17, 3yo, 8fT, 1:35.35, g/s. 1–WUSOOL, 123, c, 3, by Speightstown 1st Dam: Torrestrella (Ire) (G1SW-Fr, $293,919), by Orpen 2nd Dam: Sea Ring (Fr), by Bering (GB) 3rd Dam: Blue River (Fr), by Riverman 1ST BLACK-TYPE WIN; 1ST GROUP WIN. O-Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum; B-Shadwell Farm LLC (KY); T-Francois Rohaut; J-Francois-Xavier Bertras. €40,000. Lifetime Record: 5-4-1-0, €89,150. *Full to Farmah, Hwt. 3yo-Ity at 5-7, GSW-Ity & SW-Fr, $158,256; and 1/2 to Intilaaq (Dynaformer), GSW-Eng. Werk Nick Rating: B. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree. 2–Magic Bibou (Fr), 123, c, 3, Panis–Hidden Magic (Fr), by Bering (GB). O-Gemini Stud, Mlle Sandra de Montzey & Bruno de Montzey; B-Sebastien Joucla, Stephane Joucla, Romuald Joucla & Eric Dupont (FR); T-Bruno de Montzey. €16,000. 3–Wind Chimes (GB), 121, f, 3, Mastercraftsman (Ire)–Militante (Ire), by Johannesburg. (€130,000 Ylg ’16 ARAUG). O-Derrick Smith, Susan Magnier & Michael Tabor; B-Ecurie des Monceaux (GB); T-Andre Fabre. €12,000. Margins: 3HF, HF, NO. Odds: 3.20, 7.10, 1.10. Also Ran: Glendevon, Infernal Majesty (Fr), Merisi, Deemster (Ire). Click for the Racing Post result or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. Video, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton. View the full article

Lambourn trainer Sylvester Kirk agonisingly missed out on a first Group 1 win when Salouen (Ire) (Canford Cliffs {Ire}) was just edged out by Cracksman (GB) (Frankel {GB}) in the G1 Investec Coronation Cup at Epsom on Derby weekend and the trainer is hoping the colt can gain compensation in a couple of weeks time. “He is jumping out of his skin and I can’t keep a lid on him,” said Kirk. “We are going to go to Saint-Cloud on July 1. There is the Group One Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud there over a mile and a half so that is where we are going next,” he added. The 4-year-old has an entry in the G2 Hardwicke S. at Royal Ascot this week but Kirk intends to give Salouen an extra ten days to recover from his career best performance at Epsom. “We were half-thinking about the Hardwicke but we decided to wait a big longer with him. It was a big performance the other day and he probably needs longer to get over that as it was his best run,” he said. Salouen logged two Group 1 placings as a 2-year-old but went winless in 2017 although he did reach the frame twice in Group 2 events in France behind Eminent (Ire) (Frankel {GB}) and Garlingari (Fr) (Linngari {Ire}) and getting a win on the board is the ultimate goal for Kirk. “He has not won for a long time but that is because he has been dining at the top table for a long time. It would be nice to get his head in front once as he deserves it. Hopefully everything will go right next time.” View the full article

The five-day Inglis Great Southern Sale got underway at Oaklands Junction on Sunday with a day of weanlings and trade was highlighted by the sale of a colt by Fastnet Rock (Aus) for A$300,000. Figures were more or less in line with the corresponding session last year with the clearance rate of 71% again showing distinct signs of selectivity. The 153 weanlings that sold did do for an aggregate of A$4,200,500, an average of A$27,454 and a median of A$12,000. All these figures took a hit on 2017 but Inglis’ Victorian bloodstock manager Simon Vivian was still pleased with the overall results, especially at the top end. “There was strong competition and we saw some fantastic results,” Vivian said. “There were many well sought after horses and it was great to see such a diverse buying bench, with great support from Australian, New Zealand and Chinese buyers. Demand for horses with good conformation and select sale pedigrees was most apparent, as expected, and with over 300 weanlings still to sell we look forward to more excellent sales.” The day’s topper was offered by Rosemont Stud as lot 97 and was purchased by the partnership of Kia-Ora Stud and Bhima Thoroughbreds with the intention of re-offering the predominantly European-pedigreed colt as a yearling next year. “We haven’t got a Fastnet Rock for next year and he was a standout of this sale for us,” Kia-Ora’s Alex Kingston said. “He had a great walk and disposition, he has a beautiful head and I am really excited to be able to sell him. He is a beautiful, well-balanced, mature colt that obviously went through a nice preparation at Rosemont and he looked very well. He was our colt of the sale,” he added. Zoustar (Aus) has been in the news recently over plans to shuttle the son of Northern Meteor (Aus) to Tweenhills Stud in England and the leading first season sire in Australia by earnings was responsible for the second most expensive weanling of the day. Lot 125 was offered by Woodside Park Stud and Waterford Bloodstock had to stretch to A$225,000 to secure the colt who is the fifth produce of the four-time winner Canyonville (NZ) (Black Minnaloushe). Waterford Bloodstock had earlier teamed up with Prima Park Bloodstock to purchase lot 108 a colt by Deep Field (Aus) from Willaroon Thoroughbreds that cost A$140,000. Zoustar was also the sire of the day’s highest priced filly when lot 122 from Springmount sold to L McMaster for A$100,000. The sale continues on Monday from 10a.m. with another day of weanlings. View the full article

Facing a field of eight challengers, Pavel surged forward in deep stretch to win the June 16 Stephen Foster Handicap (G1) and earn an automatic berth to the Breeders' Cup Classic. View the full article

An affinity for Churchill Downs should serve Blue Prize well come November, and it came in handy June 16 as well. View the full article

HUNT VALLEY, Md.–The American Horse Publications’ Equine Media Awards were held Saturday night at the Maryland Ballroom in Delta Hotels Hunt Valley to wrap up a three-day conference dubbed “The Hunt for Excellence.” A total of 64 awards were handed out in a wide variety of equine-related media categories, with TDN taking home top honors in one category and placing in two others. The ceremony started with a video presentation looking back at the past year of the organization, beginning with the conference and awards dinner in Scottsdale, Arizona last June. The auction to benefit the AHP Student Award was featured, as well as the socializing and networking opportunities that AHP events provide. Executive Director Chris Brune, who helmed the event, delivered the introduction and thanked an array of supporters. After she was done, however, a board member stood up and noted that Brune thanked everyone but herself for the six-month process, prompting a standing ovation from all in attendance for her work. Breaking News/Investigative Article in the editorial division kicked off the awards themselves, with Blood-Horse winning for “Horsemen Report Equine Deaths in San Luis Rey Fire”, by Jeremy Balan. Balan also took home the award for single article for reporting on the same tragedy. Reminiscent of January’s Eclipse Awards, which honored the responders to the disaster, showcasing the coverage of the San Luis Rey fire was a theme throughout the night, as the industry’s publications were recognized often for their coverage of a breakthrough national news story from beginning to end, as well as for its aftermath. TDN picked up the award for Publishing Media Equine-Related eNewsletter, finished second in Publishing Media Equine-related Website and took home Honorable Mention in the category of Editorial Design for publications with circulation over 20,000 for Chris McGrath’s TDN Weekend feature on photographer Zuzanna Lupa. In total, 823 entries from 2017 were accepted for the awards, with 75 different AHP members finishing in the top five in one or more categories. The numbers represent an increase of 40 entries and three participants from the previous year. The 2019 AHP conference and awards ceremony will be held at Hotel ABQ in Albuquerque, New Mexico from May 30-June 1, 2018. View the full article

The careers of Triple Crown winners American Pharoah (Pioneerof the Nile) and Justify (Scat Daddy) will be inexorably linked due to their proximity in history and their shared trainer. Likewise, the celebrations for each respective horse at Churchill Downs following their Classic sweeps reflected the public personas each have established. American Pharoah’s celebration was a release, allowing fans who had waited nearly four decades to heap praise on a horse that soaked in every camera lense pointed his way. Justify’s parade on Saturday evening was, like the horse, more reserved and focused. The pressure was off. Fans packed three-to-four-deep around the Churchill Downs paddock between the second and third races under the beating sun of a 95-degree day in Louisville, Kentucky. The group showed enthusiasm in anticipation for Justify’s arrival, but it was hard to find revelers who threw themselves into the event enough to display their enthusiasm visually. Just one sign was visible around the walking ring, belonging to Shaun Basch, who drove seven hours from Muskegon, Michigan to attend the event. She did the same for American Pharoah three years earlier. “The only artistic skills I have are drawing and painting horses, so I come here bearing a sign every time,” Basch, 29, said. “Being able to be here and see this animal that’s done so much for the industry already just by winning the Triple Crown and breaking Apollo’s curse, it’s just amazing. I didn’t think we’d have one Triple Crown winner in my lifetime, let alone two, so I’m a happy girl.” Though they lacked the elaborate aqua and yellow garb and Egyptian-themed costumes of American Pharoah, striking up a conversation with one Justify fan revealed many more within earshot, happy to explain what the horse and his accomplishments meant to them. The appreciation was still there among the public, even if they didn’t wear it on their sleeves. It would be too much of a dive into hyperbole to say Justify entered the paddock with the air of a newly-coronated king looking over his subjects, but it was hard to ignore the fact that the colt shared the walking ring with a field of 3-year-old maidens, all of which will likely spend the rest of the year chasing in vain as Justify occupies the top spot in their division. Still, the swagger was apparent in the hulking chestnut colt as he settled calmly in the number 14 stall and waited for the maidens to clear the way. “He’s like Muhammad Ali, man,” said trainer Bob Baffert. “He’s ready to rumble again. I’ve never seen a horse that is just so tough, and he never lost any weight. He came in there like he was going to run. He was waiting for me to put the saddle on.” Once he had the walking ring to himself, groom Eduardo “Lalo” Luna took the Classic winner around the ring. The crowd kept their whoops and applause at a respectful level during his first laps, and politely thanked Luna with each stop for a photo opportunity. The horse occasionally looked out at the crowd with a curious eye when he paused, but Baffert’s description of a horse that looked ready to race was apt. His focus was often forward, or on the man at the other end of the shank, holding his composure professionally. The crowd picked up its cheers when Baffert took over the lead from Luna. It’s been a whirlwind week for the trainer, who said the feeling of reaching the sport’s highest North American peak twice had not yet fully sunk in. Part of the reason was travel, and part of it was staying focused on business. “I’ve been flying,” the trainer said. “It’s going to be really nice to finally get home and be able to just sit back, relax. This is where we start getting our 2-year-olds in for next year, and I’m thinking, ‘Alright, who’s going to step up?'” Noticeably absent from the walking ring parade was jockey Mike Smith, though he had the acceptable excuse of having a mount in the third race. The jockey changed quickly into WinStar Farm’s silks to meet the horse and connections in the winner’s circle. “It feels so good, I just want to do it all over again,” Smith said about his Triple Crown triumph. “It’s like having a wonderful meal, you just want seconds.” For all the colt has accomplished over the past 118 days, the regular winner’s enclosure at Churchill was one place his hooves had yet to tread until Saturday evening. The crush of humanity that surrounded the area made Justify a bit antsy, but he stood well for a handful of photos before walking one more time in front of the grandstand as the applause followed him back to the barn. Starlight Racing owns a 15% stake in Justify, but their members made up the vast majority of the population in the winner’s circle photo. “That makes it all cool,” said Starlight managing partner Jack Wolf. “We originally set this thing up to spread the risk, but we never figured that we’d have the opportunity of having these people participate in a horse of this stature. It is very rewarding.” When the horse was sent back to the barn, the focus turned to the human element, awarding the GI Kentucky Derby trophies to the winning connections, while the new Triple Crown trophy cast a long shadow next to them. The big, gold version of the Derby trophy went to Kenny Troutt, owner of WinStar Farm and the majority owner of Justify. The operation has seen plenty of success at Churchill Downs over the years, taking races as lofty as the Kentucky Derby and Breeders’ Cup Classic over the oval, but WinStar president and CEO Elliott Walden recognized the historic value of the moment he was in. “It’s just unbelievable to see all the fans come out,” Walden said. “The thing about a horse that wins the Triple Crown, it’s not our horse anymore, it’s America’s horse. It’s great that Bob is good enough to share him with the public here.” View the full article

After a three-race losing skid to start his 4-year-old season, Staton Flurry's dark bay runner got his sea legs back under him and notched his biggest win to date in the June 16 $200,000 Wise Dan Stakes (G2). View the full article

‘TDN Rising Star’ Pavel (c, 4, Creative Cause–Mons Venus, by Maria’s Mon), a last out fourth in the GI Gold Cup at Santa Anita May 26, put on a show in Saturday evening’s GI Stephen Foster H. at Churchill Downs, a ‘Win and You’re In’ for the GI Breeders’ Cup Classic. The Reddam Racing colorbearer, off at 6-1, sat a good trip in fourth through fractions of :23.58 and :47.25. Loaded for bear on the far turn, he unleashed a three-wide blitz and exploded down the lane to score by 3 3/4 lengths. Honorable Duty (Distorted Humor) was second; Matrooh (Distorted Humor) was third. Backyard Heaven (Tizway), sent off as the 4-5 favorite, tired to finish sixth. The final time for 1 1/8 miles was 1:49.21. Pavel won last year’s GIII Smarty Jones S. and was also third in the GI Jockey Club Gold Cup. Sales history: $90,000 wnlg ’14 KEENOV; $80,000 yrl ’15 KEESEP. Lifetime Record: 10-3-0-1. O-Reddam Racing LLC; B-Brereton C. Jones & WinStar Farm LLC (Ky); T-Doug O’Neill. View the full article

With a tremendous kick that propelled him to the front of the pack, Tom Conway's King Zachary blew away the competition as he powered home in the stretch to win the $100,000 Matt Win Stakes (G3) June 16 at Churchill Downs. View the full article

On a night full of upsets at Churchill Downs, Reddam Racing's Pavel provided the exclamation point June 16 in the $500,000 Stephen Foster Handicap (G1). View the full article

The Tapit stallion Moro Tap was represented by his first winner June 15 when Stephen Baker's homebred Ruby Does Sparkle got up by a head in a five-furlong maiden special weight at Lone Star Park. View the full article

King Zachary (c, 3, Curlin–On My Way, by Giant’s Causeway), an optional claiming winner late on the GI Kentucky Derby card, broke through for an impressive tally in Saturday evening’s GIII Matt Winn S. at Churchill Downs. The 12-1 chance showed speed from the inside to race in a close third. Guided out three-wide on the far turn, the chestnut hit the gas with a flashy move and took off nicely from there to win by four lengths. Tiz Mischief (Into Mischief) completed the Dale Romans-trained exacta. Heavily favored Ax Man (Misremembered), a runaway winner of the Sir Barton S., was a distant third. King Zachary was a disappointing sixth in his prior stakes attempt in the GII Wood Memorial S. Apr. 7. The final time for 1 1/16 miles was 1:42.86. Sales history: $550,000 yrl ’16 KEESEP. Lifetime Record: 6-3-0-2. O-Thomas F. Conway; B-Waymore LLC (Ky); T-Dale Romans. View the full article

A lot was supposed to be working against Paul and Karen Eggert's homebred Ollie's Candy in the $200,000 Summertime Oaks (G2) June 16 at Santa Anita Park. View the full article

Special King rules for third time View the full article

Brown Strikes one from one View the full article

Alamak earns break after smart maiden win View the full article

Burkaan delivers second win for Logan View the full article

Horses' body weights June 17 View the full article

Track conditions and course scratchings June 17 View the full article

Early scratchings June 17 View the full article

Ollie’s Candy (f, 3, Candy Ride {Arg}–Afternoon Stroll, by Stroll), perfect in two attempts sprinting over the Golden Gate synthetic this spring, handled the switch to dirt and two turns in style with a career-high tally in Santa Anita’s GII Summertime Oaks. The 7-2 chance, drawn widest of all in post six, tracked Thirteen Squared (Liaison) from second through fractions of :23.69 and :47.96. Under a ride on the far turn, Ollie’s Candy challenged for command at the top of the stretch and fought her way past the game pacesetter to win by a neck. Chocolate Martini (Broken Vow) was third. The final time for 1 1/16 miles was 1:44.72. Sales history: $45,000 RNA yrl ’16 KEESEP. Lifetime Record: 3-3-0-0. O/B-Paul & Karen Eggert (Ky); T-William E. Morey. View the full article

With a short field and a challenger who figured to have a clear lead in the $100,000 Rainbow Stakes June 16 at Santa Anita Park, jockey Flavien Prat had his hands full with heavy favorite River Boyne. View the full article