Wandering Eyes

In her second start at Belmont Park, William and Corinne Heiligbrodt's Atchata overcame a stumble at the start to score by 1 1/2 lengths in a June 15 maiden special weight on the turf to become the first winner for freshman sire Apriority. View the full article

Olin Gentry, managing partner of Gaines-Gentry Thoroughbreds, collapsed in the barn area while attending the OBS June Sale Friday in Ocala. Gentry was taken by ambulance to North Florida Medical Center where he was undergoing tests Friday afternoon, according to consignor Ciaran Dunne. Gentry purchased a pair of juveniles by Uncle Mo during the three-day auction. View the full article

As undefeated ‘TDN Rising Star’ Justify (Scat Daddy) came charging down the stretch in front in the GI Belmont S. June 9 with a Triple Crown on the line, his two principal owners were thinking completely different things. “That straight at Belmont seemed a mile long, but to see our bright silks continuing to lead the field was an experience like nothing else,” said China Horse Club founder and chairman Teo Ah Khing. “The energy of the entire crowd and the understanding we were achieving something truly unique and historic, coupled with the joy of my family, friends, CHC members and our co-owners brought us so much joy. It is a once in a lifetime experience.” Meanwhile, WinStar Farm’s CEO Elliott Walden had a bit different focus. “I was looking at the race from a ‘can he get beat,’ ‘is he going to get beat angle,'” Walden said. “So, I focused in on Gronkowski (Lonhro {Aus}) making the move that he did and thought, because he was getting a clean run up the fence, he might be able to get there and challenge Justify. But, when Mike [Smith] was still a couple of lengths clear at the quarter-pole and looked like he hadn’t asked [Justify] yet, I started to feel pretty good. It looked like all the horses behind him had made their run at him and flattened out. It felt really good from the eighth pole to the wire. I was starting to think, ‘Wow, maybe he can be a Triple Crown winner.'” That thought became a reality just a few seconds later when Justify crossed the wire 1 3/4 lengths clear of Gronkowski to become the 13th Triple Crown winner and take his record to a perfect six-for-six. The fact only 13 horses in history have managed to capture the elusive Triple Crown proves it takes a very special animal to complete the feat. Justify showed he was a standout from the start when his connections purchased him for $500,000 at the Keeneland September sale. “He always had this presence about him and he had tremendous balance,” Walden said. “Justify was a horse that everybody liked. [China Horse Club’s] Michael Wallace and Mick Flanagan really liked him, [SF’s] Tom Ryan and Henry Fields liked him, and David [Hanley] and I liked him. He was pretty obvious to us as a group.” Teo added, “He had great balance, great leverage. He had a good solid frame that just needed some time, but he was so light on his feet, with an ease of movement and extension that carried that frame so effortlessly. From our teams view, he was the best yearling in Book 1.” Justify flashed his talent in his early training at WinStar and the team originally pegged him as an early type, but those plans were stalled by an injury, which prevented him from racing as a juvenile. “He pulled a muscle up high and kind of strained a ligament in front of his hock, so he needed 60 days,” Walden said. “That was in April, so May and June he had off and in July he came back. He trained through July and August at the farm and then we sent him to Rodolphe [Brisset] around the middle of September to get experience at Keeneland and then he went out to Bob [Baffert] with the Breeders’ Cup horses.” Justify initially went to Baffert’s assistant Mike Marlow at Los Alamitos, where he continued to impress those working with him. “I went to the Magic Millions sale and stopped at Santa Anita and I said, ‘Bob you need to get this horse over here. He is a big, nice horse,'” Walden said. “So, I think, at that point, I’m not going to say I knew he was a Triple Crown winner, but I knew he was a nice horse. We liked him. That was early January.” Baffert brought Justify to his Santa Anita base shortly after that and when he watched the hulking chestnut breeze, he saw that everyone was right about the colt being a special animal. “The first time Bob breezed him, he rung Michael Wallace and told him we have a special horse on our hands, and just before his debut, we were told he could be exceptional,” Teo said. Justify lived up to the hype with a ‘TDN Rising Star’-worthy debut, followed by a dazzling allowance win and impressive victory in the GI Santa Anita Derby. The sophomore was sent off as the favorite in the GI Kentucky Derby and ran to the money with another eye-catching score over a muddy track. “The Kentucky Derby victory was an amazing feeling,” Teo said, “It’s the biggest race on the American calendar. People dream of winning such a Classic. To see the crowd’s reaction to our own Derby winner was a very humbling experience. We were confident, as we knew we had a special horse, but the Derby is so hard to win with such a big field, the weather, etc., so to claim victory was an amazing experience.” The Derby weather conditions followed Justify to Pimlico, where he was pushed by champion Good Magic (Curlin) every step of the way in the GI Preakness S. and emerged from the fog a narrow winner over a rallying Bravazo (Awesome Again). While many fans began to doubt the seemingly unbeatable colt’s ability to get a mile and a half at Belmont after the Preakness, his connections did not. “I felt like all the talk about the Preakness not being a good race was not true or fair,” Walden said. “From my eye, I saw three things I really liked. One was Mike Smith wrapped up on him the last 150 yards and held something in reserve. Two, Bravazo didn’t gallop out in front of him. When Bravazo engaged him in the turn, Justify galloped on. Three, the fact he went head and head with the 2-year-old champion Good Magic for nearly a mile and still held off those horses, to me, was the test of a champion. I thought he was moving forward, not backward.” Justify proved Walden right and silenced the doubters on a sunny June day over a fast track at Belmont, taking the field wire-to-wire to claim a historic victory, becoming just the second undefeated Triple Crown winner after Seattle Slew. “It wasn’t really until the Belmont, that he really caught up to the rest of his crop as far as maturity, race savvy-ness and experience,” Walden said. “I think he is a horse that belongs in the conversation with horses like Seattle Slew.” The Triple Crown is the ultimate dream of everyone involved in racing and WinStar and the China Horse Club are no exception. While WinStar is a stalwart in this business, the China Horse Club is relatively new, established just five years ago. Though they have enjoyed great success worldwide, the Triple Crown win had increased meaning. “A Triple Crown represents the possibilities that CHC offers,” Teo said. “We have always said we want to offer CHC members the opportunity of a lifetime and that we intend to compete at the highest of levels. Justify represents our company, our people and the ability to do great things. His victory was widely celebrated throughout China and has gained so much attention, which will help to grow the sport in a positive way.” While the WinStar team is also reveling in their Triple Crown win, they continue to put one foot in front of the other. “The great thing about Mr. Troutt, and everybody here at WinStar, is we get up and go to work the next day,” Walden said. “It is not like we can stand back and rest on our laurels. Everybody is working hard. It’s a great accomplishment, but at the end of the day, we are continuing to move forward.” Immediately after the Belmont, racing fans and analysts alike began to speculate as to whether or not Justify, who is now one of the world’s most valuable racehorses, would be retired after his historic achievement. Walden said the owners are looking forward to the popular chestnut’s next race as much as everyone else. “We will give it a couple of weeks before we really talk about [where he will race next], but as long as the horse is healthy, there will be [a next race],” Walden said. “He came out of it in great shape. Bob took some precautionary x-rays to make sure he came through all this fine and everything looked good.” View the full article

Stuart Janney’s Romantic Moment (Flatter) looks to remain perfect on turf in Saturday’s GIII Regret S. at Churchill Downs. Fourth when unveiled in a main track sprint at Gulfstream on Christmas Eve, the Shug McGaughey pupil was third next out on the dirt in Hallandale a month later. Switched to the sod and extended to nine furlongs, the $425,000 KEESEP buy earned her diploma by a head at Gulfstream Feb. 19 and took her turf record to two-for-two over a yielding Keeneland course Apr. 26. Hinkle Farms homebred Stave (Ghostzapper) also steps up in class off back-to-back victories. Fourth in her first two attempts at Fair Grounds this winter, the Larry Jones pupil graduated by 6 3/4 lengths at Keeneland Apr. 20 and followed suit with a course-and-distance allowance win May 19. Unlike Romantic Moment and Stave, Heavenly Love (Malibu Moon) has plenty of stakes experience and is even a Grade I winner on dirt, taking last year’s Darley Alcibiades S. at Keeneland. Off the board in her next three attempts over the main track, all in stakes company, the bay tried turf for the first time last out in Keeneland’s GII Appalchian S. Apr. 8, where she finished sixth behind ‘TDN Rising Star’ Rushing Fall (More Than Ready). View the full article

It lacked the same electricity that the first eight-figure horse in the history of the Hong Kong International Sale generated when a son of Holy Roman Emperor (Ire) was knocked down for HK$11 million in mid-March, but there was plenty of interest in the 14 ready-to-run gallopers on offer during a smaller June sale held Friday in the parade ring at Sha Tin Racecourse. A French-bred 3-year-old son of Shamardal–responsible over the last few years by Hong Kong Horse of the Year Able Friend (Aus) and more recently the wildly popular and enigmatic Pakistan Star (Ger)–led the proceedings on a bid of HK$2.8 million from the Evergreen Syndicate. Purchased by the Hong Kong Jockey Club for €250,000 at the 2016 Arqana October Yearling Sale, lot 9 was a son of Light And Airy (GB) (Linamix {Fr}), the dam of G3 Athasi S. winner Gossamer Seed (Ire) (Choisir {Aus}). An O’Reilly gelding from the family of Hong Kong Derby winner Fay Fay (NZ) (Falkirk {NZ}) (lot 10) and a son of Aerovelocity (NZ) and Ambitious Dragon (NZ)’s sire Pins (Aus) (lot 14) each fetched final bids of HK$2.5 million. “The Club has only one objective from its sales, which is to give Owners the opportunity to acquire good quality horses. We are pleased that we achieved that tonight,” commented Andrew Harding, Executive Director, Racing, for the HKJC, commented. “This is the first time that we have restricted a sale in this way,” he continued. “We designed the sale specifically as a service to PPG (private purchase griffin) holders and because of that difference we knew that it would have an impact on the prices compared to the March sale. It is important to us to provide those PPG permit holders with an opportunity and that is what we have done here this evening. As with all of our sales, we did not come here to make a profit.” Harding confirmed that the Club will again offer two sales in 2018/2019. View the full article

During a press conference yesterday, it was announced that a selection of WinStar’s Triple Crown trophies, won by Justify (Scat Daddy), will be on display Oct. 30–during this year’s Equestricon convention. In addition to the colt’s owners (WinStar Farm, Starlight Racing, China Horse Club and Sol Kumin’s Head of Plains Partners), trainer Bob Baffert and jockey Mike Smith will also participate in an autograph session. Proceeds from the autograph signing will benefit the Permanently Disabled Jockeys Fund (PDJF). “We’ve truly enjoyed being a part of Equestricon and seeing it achieve its mission of bringing fans into the fold at every level of the sport,” said Elliot Walden, WinStar Farm President/CEO and Racing Manager. “It’s an honor and blessing to be able to share Justify and the ride he’s taken us and all of our partners on. Most importantly, we’ve always been big supporters of the PDJF and this allows us another opportunity to raise funds and awareness about the vital work they do in advocating and caring for our jockeys.” Equestricon, which will serve as the anchor event for the Breeders’ Cup Festival in Louisville this year, begins Oct. 29 at the Kentucky International Convention Center (KICC). In addition to the Justify trophy exhibit, photo opportunity, and autograph signing for the PDJF on the second day of the convention, Equestricon will also feature Breeders’ Cup trophy photo opportunities, along with dozens of leading jockeys, trainers and other major racing personalities who’ll be available during signings, meet-and-greets, workshops and panels. For more information, contact Event Coordinator Dan Montesano at dan.montesano@equestricon.org. View the full article

Chocolate Martini's connections felt shipping west—at a time many from the West recently shipped east—could be a good opportunity for the Broken Vow filly to collect her second grade 2 victory. View the full article

Ax Man (Misremembered) headlines a field of seven slated for Saturday’s GIII Matt Winn S. at Churchill Downs. The Patti and Hal Earnhardt homebred enters off a pair of runaway victories, headed by a front-running 6 3/4-length romp in the slop in Pimlico’s Sir Barton S. on the GI Preakness S. undercard May 19. He is trained by Hall of Famer Bob Baffert. Funny Duck (Distorted Humor) rallied from far back to light up the Churchill Downs tote board at 39-1 in a sloppy renewal of the GIII Pat Day Mile S. on GI Kentucky Derby day May 5. He was seventh behind the speedy GII Fountain of Youth S. winner Promises Fulfilled (Shackleford) in his only other dirt attempt in a Churchill maiden last September. Combatant (Scat Daddy), second in this term’s GIII Southwest S. and third in the GII Rebel S., seeks his first win since his maiden breaker here last October. He was 18th in the GI Kentucky Derby last time. View the full article

Multiple graded stakes winner Gamble's Ghost will look to add another to her resume in the $125,000 Trillium Stakes (G3) going 1 1/16 miles at Woodbine. In a field of 10 fillies and mares for the June 17 stakes, Gamble's Ghost drew the outside post. View the full article

Gatewood Bell enjoyed a fruitful Royal Ascot last year with his Wesley Ward-trained runners for Hat Creek Racing, and the agent is back this year with Chelsea Cloisters (First Samurai), the favourite for the G2 Queen Mary S. The TDN‘s Gary King caught up with Bell to learn more about the filly. GK: Chelsea Cloisters (First Samurai), purchased for $125,000 at Fasig-Tipton July, is currently 9/4 favorite for the G2 Queen Mary S. What impressed you about her as a yearling? GB: Her attitude and athleticism. She was just real laid back and smart and she walked with that purpose like she was going somewhere without any wasted action. Also, her second dam is by Green Forest so that pretty much made her a ‘must have.’ GK: Did you purchase her with ‘Royal Ascot 2-year-old’ in mind? GB: I’m not that smart. I bought her for my racing club and to go to Wesley, though, so that is always the dream. The ingredients were there I guess but he is the key one, along with a lot of luck. GK: Will you have a big team over from Hat Creek Racing? GB: Yeah you’ll definitely know we are in the house. We’ve got a fun crew coming over to experience it all. Some are veterans like Undrafted and a few are first timers like Chelsea Cloisters. No one has had a bad experience there yet. GK: Spanish Pipedream (Scat Daddy) was fourth in the 2014 G2 Queen Mary S., while Sweet Emma Rose (City Zip) finished second in 2013, both owned by the syndicate. Does Chelsea Cloisters remind you of those fillies at all? GB: She’d be more similar to Spanish Pipedream-a very pretty, athletic filly that had that natural talent. She was unlucky and chipped her knee during her Queen Mary and still finished fourth somehow. We never saw how good she could have been. Hopefully Chelsea Cloisters has similar talent and a little more luck–she’ll need both next week. GK: What’s the best thing about having a runner at Royal Ascot? GB: It’s one of the great festivals of international racing and literally has everything to offer. The racing is second to none, the pageantry, the spectacle of it all, the hospitality, the carpark, the history–I could go on and on. It’s a truly special place and sharing that experience with good friends is tough to beat whether you win or lose. GK: And tasting victory with Con Te Partiro (Scat Daddy) in last year’s Listed Sandringham H. must have been extra special? GB: It sure was. A special filly and an extra special ride made for a pretty amazing Wednesday. We sure celebrated like it would never happen again! View the full article

The streaking Backyard Heaven (Tizway) will take center stage in Saturday evening’s GI Stephen Foster H. at Churchill Downs, a ‘Win and You’re In’ for the GI Breeders’ Cup Classic. The Ken and Sarah Ramsey colorbearer earned a gaudy 108 Beyer Speed Figure in a first-level allowance score at Aqueduct Mar. 17, then successfully stretched to two turns with an eye-catching victory in Churchill’s GII Alysheba S. May 4 on the GI Kentucky Oaks undercard. “The future is so bright for this horse,” Ken Ramsey said. “We’re awfully excited to see this horse on such a big stage Saturday night at Churchill Downs. If this horse continues to climb the mountain, we hope to follow the same path Gun Runner did in 2017. I honestly believe he’s the second-most valuable horse I own behind Kitten’s Joy.” Last year’s GI Belmont S. runner-up ‘TDN Rising Star’ Irish War Cry (Curlin) ended a six-race losing streak with a wire-to-wire tally in the GIII Pimlico Special S. May 18. He was 10th in his last trip beneath the Twin Spires in the 2017 GI Kentucky Derby. “It was definitely a relief to see him run well last time out,” trainer Graham Motion said. “We were very pleased of his effort and showed us what type of horse he is. It looks to be a pretty tough race but he’s proven us he belongs.” The popular one-eyed ‘TDN Rising Star’ Patch (Union Rags), third in last year’s Belmont, kicked off his 4-year-old campaign with a come-from-behind allowance win at Belmont May 12. View the full article

Justify will parade in front of the clubhouse and grandstand as he walks over with horses for the third race, which has a 6:56 p.m. post time. Justify will follow the third race entrants. View the full article

Robert Smerdon and Stuart Webb have joined the list of guilty parties in the Aquanita scandal to appeal their penalties. Smerdon, who was the subject of 115 of the total 250 charges in the case across eight persons, was banned for life and fined A$90,000. The former trainer announced his retirement amidst the hearing and did not participate in it. Webb, who was banned four years, also did not participate in the hearing but lodged a plea of not guilty. They have joined fellow trainers Liam Birchley (one year) and Tony Vasil (three years) in appealing their penalties. View the full article

Sunday’s G1 Prix de Diane Longines at Chantilly features some big names in Laurens (Fr) (Siyouni {Fr}), Happily (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) and With You (GB) (Dansili {GB}), but one flying under the radar with an Australian connection is the unexposed Lady Athena (Fr) (Redoute’s Choice {Aus}). Owned by John Hutchins and trained at La Teste by Yan Durepaire, the bay has just a course-and-distance conditions success to her name having won with enough authority to merit this jump in class May 18. She represents the owner behind the MG1SW Australian Horse of the Year Typhoon Tracy (Aus) (Red Ransom), the operation’s first champion. She was out of the A$1 million purchase Tracy’s Element (Aus) (Last Tycoon {Ire}) and pre-empted the purchase of Element Hill Stud in Queensland, which houses circa 40 broodmares with the owner’s son Josh at the helm. Durepaire said, “I remember seeing her as a yearling when she was boarding with Anna Sundstrom where she was being prepared for the sales. It’s easy to say it now, but she really did catch the eye. Arthur Hoyeau introduced me to Josh Hutchins who bred her in tandem with his parents. Our meeting went well and, when they decided to keep the filly with a view to racing her, they decided to send her to me after visiting the stable.” Another first in Sunday’s main event is provided by Castellar (Fr) (American Post {GB}), with the Spaniard Dario Hinojosa seeing his colours finally carried in the race. She beat the subsequently demoted Luminate (Ire) (Lawman {Fr}) and Amazing Lips (Ire) (Camelot {GB}) in the May 21 G3 Prix Cleopatre over this 10 1/2-furlong trip and could make for a memorable two days for her owner-breeder as Tuesday sees her year-older half-brother Recoletos (Fr) (Whipper) take in Royal Ascot’s G1 Queen Anne. Bred at his Normandy stud at Valseme in the Calvados region, Castellar’s presence in this line-up will be a cause for celebration in itself. “It’s invariably a source of great joy to have a runner in such a race,” Hinojosa commented. “To have a runner in the Prix de Diane, with a filly which I bred, is a great satisfaction. I believe it’s a very open race as all the winners of the prep races have a chance including Castellar.” View the full article

In this continuing series, Alan Carasso takes a look ahead at US-bred and/or conceived runners entered for the upcoming weekend at the tracks on the Japan Racing Association circuit, with a focus on pedigree and/or performance in the sales ring. Here are the horses of interest for this weekend running at Tokyo and Hanshin Racecourses, including a pair of horses that represented the most expensive juvenile sales for their respective sires in 2017: Saturday, June 16, 2018 3rd-Hanshin, ¥9,550,000 ($86k), Maiden, 3yo, 1200m MOZU DADDY (c, 3, Scat Daddy–Batalha, by Smart Strike) was sold for $180K in utero at the 2015 KEEJAN sale, then fetched $300K when offered at KEESEP in the latter half of 2016. The chestnut is the second produce for his stakes-placed dam, a half-sister to MGSW & MGISP Strong Contender (Maria’s Mon). His 2-year-old Super Saver half-sister realized $200K at OBSAPR this spring. B-Mr & Mrs Oliver S Tait (KY) Sunday, June 17, 2018 5th-Hanshin, ¥13,400,000 ($121k), Newcomers, 2yo, 1600mT FORT WADSWORTH (c, 2, Verrazano–Opulence, by Giant’s Causeway), a $110K KEESEP acquisition last fall, becomes the first Japanese runner for his first-crop sire (by More Than Ready). His unraced dam is a daughter of none other than 2007 GI Belmont S. winner Rags To Riches (A.P. Indy), a half-sister to US GSW & Japanese G1SP Casino Drive (Mineshaft), fellow Belmont hero Jazil (Seeking the Gold) and Breeders’ Cup Marathon winner Man of Iron (Giant’s Causeway). Fort Wadsworth is bred 3×2 to the recently departed ‘Iron Horse.’ B-Chelston (KY) 10th-Tokyo, ¥28,600,000 ($259k), Allowance, 3yo/up, 1600m SHIVAJI (c, 3, First Samurai–Indian Bay, by Indian Charlie) was easily the most expensive of his sire’s 12 juveniles to sell in 2017, hammering for $540K at OBSAPR. He has made a good impression, with a record of 4-2-1-1 to date, including a last-out success through the Hanshin slop Apr. 7 (gate 11, see below). Shivaji’s Grade II-winning second dam Buy the Barrel (E Dubai) is responsible for English MGSP Mise En Rose (War Front). B-Hinkle Farms (KY) 11th-Tokyo, Unicorn S.-G3, ¥67,450,000 ($610k), 3yo, 1600m RYONO TESORO (c, 3, Justin Phillip–Town Belle, by Speighstown), a listed winner on turf (gate 4, see below), returns to the dirt, a surface over which he has posted two wins and a second to G3 winner Mr Melody (Scat Daddy) from three runs. As a $300K BARMAR grad, he was the priciest of 17 2-year-olds to sell for his sire in 2017 and counts MGSW turfer Clearly A Queen (Lucky North) as his second dam. Town Belle is a full-sister to SP Nefertiti, dam of GSW & recent GII Woody Stephens S. runner-up Engage (Into Mischief). B-Highland Yard LLC (KY) View the full article

Irish trainer Ken Condon has packed a lot into the first half of 2018. In addition to winning a first Classic with Romanised (Ire) (Jeremy) in the G1 Irish 2000 Guineas, Condon traveled a horse, Success Days (Ire) (Jeremy), to Australia for the first time. The TDN‘s Alayna Cullen caught up with Condon to discuss what is ahead for both horses, as well as his string in general. AC: Romanised has always been a very promising horse for you. Was the 2000 Guineas in Ireland always your mission with him? KC: I suppose if I go back a step, his maiden win at first asking was quite impressive. Interestingly with that race, there was a lot of chatter before the race and as time has proven there’s been several stakes winners that have come out of it and about 14 winners. He’s a horse we always liked. He went to Ascot next [for the G2 Coventry S.] as a little bit of a raw horse, a work in progress. He missed the break a little bit but he still ran a very solid race to be beaten just a fraction over two lengths. Then he ran in the [G1] Phoenix [S.] and ran a nice race there. We were a shade disappointed on the day there because we always had that high expectation with him, but that Sandown run was lovely [second to eventual Derby winner Masar in the G2 Solario S.]. He was very good at Sandown in the prelims and during the race, he ran a lovely race behind, as we know now, obviously a top-class horse, with Purser behind, who is a good, solid horse of John Gosden’s. It’s a race that has worked out really well. Traditionally, it’s been a very good; the likes of Kingman have won it in the past, it’s always a very informative 2-year-old race. AC: You’ve had another first experience with traveling to Australia with Success Days (Ire) (Jeremy). How did you find the international travel down under? (Editor’s Note: Success Days finished last of 10 behind Winx in the G1 Queen Elizabeth S. over ground far too fast for his liking) KC: I thought it was a fantastic experience. I’ve said it to anyone that has asked, the Australian Turf Club couldn’t have been more accommodating and welcoming. Really, we got first-class treatment. When we arrived on the Monday–I literally was on the ground for five days–but when we arrived it was 35 degrees and it was the first time since 2006 that they had what they called a fast track. For Success Days, of course, that’s no good. It was just a freakishly warm autumn, a dry autumn and usually they have softer, heavy [going]; it was almost to the point of being cancelled a few times over the years, but that’s the way it was. They looked after us really well. It’s good and fine to mention too the transporters and the vets and all those people, they’re so experienced at that now that international racing is going from strength-to-strength. I couldn’t believe how well Success Days took the trip back. He ran in the [G2] Mooresbridge [S.], and he ran a hell of a race to be second to Cliffs of Moher, 23 days after he ran in Sydney; that’ll tell you its own story. That’s really down to the horse’s constitution and his mental state. No small part either to the transporters, to the veterinary people. He landed in Newmarket, he overnighted there, but they are just very experienced at it and accustomed to it. It just makes it easier from the trainer’s point of view. AC: Having the right horse is key to international travel, but is it something you’d like to do more of with your string? KC: Yeah, sure. We only have a small string and it’s really a case of identifying the correct horse. You might have a Breeders’ Cup or even Australia again; I’d love to go back with something more suitable. Definitely, it would be something that would be on the horizon if we had the right horse. If you have the right horse, it’s no trouble to travel with them, it’s definitely worth doing. AC: You’ve had more exciting news happening recently–you’ve purchased Mr. Hugheses yard, which is on The Curragh grounds. What’s the plan there? What did it offer you that your current yard doesn’t and when are you hoping to be in there? KC: I suppose it offers stability for our own futures. It’s something that was on our mind for a long time and it’s great to be in a position now to carry through on it. It’s a yard with a tremendous tradition and history, obviously for the last 40 years Dessie, and followed by Sandra, have had wonderful success there; countless Cheltenham winners, an Irish National winner Sandra had. It’s just been a yard that’s been very lucky for them over the last four decades. It was built in 1897, I think there have been 11 trainers that have now had very good success through there, three Irish Derby winners and about 18 Classic winners. From a horseman’s point of view, that’s fantastic to have that knowledge. It’s a place that’s played at the highest stakes and had the highest levels over a real, long sustained period of time. That’s great to know. Hopefully, we can continue that on and have success in the future. The plan is now to move the string maybe in the winter time. We won’t move them now. We’ll go in and maybe make a few changes and put our own stamp on it. That’s going to take a little bit of time but we’re very much looking forward to the challenge and delighted to get the opportunity to do it. View the full article

An all-stakes pick five is capped by an absolutely wide-open renewal of the Regret (G3T) for 3-year-old fillies that drew a baker's dozen. View the full article

Belle Josephine (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}), the dam of this season’s G2 Dante S. runner-up Mildenberger (GB) (Teofilo {Ire}), will now have her Pivotal (GB) colt foal offered alongside her at the Goffs London Sale on Monday. The pair will be offered as lot 22. Mare and foal could receive a significant update as early as next week, with Mildenberger set to start in the G2 King Edward VI S. at Royal Ascot. The colt foal is closely related to Belle Josephine’s stakes-winning half-sister Marsh Daisy (GB) (Pivotal {GB}), and he is the fifth foal out of the mare, who is offered in foal to Siyouni (Fr). View the full article

British racing’s The Horse Comes First campaign has released a short film to highlight the care received by the country’s racehorses. The film takes a behind-the-scenes look at the facilities of leading trainer William Haggas, which include a solarium, water treadmill, massages and 24/7 veterinary care. David Sykes, Director of Equine Health and Welfare for the British Horseracing Authority, said, “Around the country, thousands of people are thinking about their preparations for Royal Ascot. We wanted to create a film that shows the diligence and meticulousness of the racing industry and how they care for their horses, not just for the big Festivals, but all year round. Thoroughbred horses’ training and lifestyles involve the best possible care. No expense is spared on the highest quality feed, facilities and bedding to ensure they are happy and healthy athletes, but this isn’t something that the average race goer is always aware of.” View the full article

An evenly matched field that includes the top three finishers from both the GIII Doubledogdare S. and the GIII Allaire DuPont Distaff S. is set to line up for the GII Fleur de Lis H. Saturday at Churchill Downs, a “Win and You’re In” event for the GI Breeders’ Cup Distaff. Valadorna (Curlin) led home a ‘TDN Rising Star’ exacta in Keeneland’s Doubledogdare Apr. 20, notching a 3/4-length victory over Apologynotaccepted (Fusaichi Pegasus) with Song of Spring (Spring at Last) another half-length back in third. Only off the board once in 10 starts, Valadorna captured the Tiffany Lass S. at Fair Grounds Dec. 26, but tired to sixth next out in the GIII Houston Ladies Classic Jan. 28 prior to her victory in Lexington. Song of Spring rebounded off her Doubledogdare effort with a win in the DuPont Distaff over a sloppy Pimlico track on the GII Black-Eyed Susan S. undercard. GII Falls City H. winner Blue Prize (Arg) (Pure Prize) came up a half-length short of Song of Spring in the DuPont and GI Apple Blossom H. third Fuhriously Kissed (Langfuhr) completed the trifecta. GI La Troienne S. runner-up Farrell (Malibu Moon) seems to be returning to the form she showed last year at the Fair Grounds when she won the Silverbulletday S., GII Rachel Alexandra S. and GII Fair Grounds Oaks. Capping off 2017 with a win in this venue’s GII Chilukki S. and starting this term with a victory in Oaklawn’s Pippin S. Jan. 18, the dark bay was off the board in the GIII Bayakoa S. a month later and checked in third in the GII Azeri S. in March. She failed to fire again in the Apple Blossom, but showed signs of her sophomore form last time when second to Salty (Quality Road) after setting the early pace in this venue’s La Troienne May 4. View the full article

Zoustar (Aus) (Northern Meteor {Aus}-Zouzou {Aus}, by Redoute’s Choice {Aus}) will shuttle to Tweenhills Stud in Gloucestershire for the 2019 breeding season. The speedy Zoustar, winner of the G1 Coolmore Stud S. and G1 Golden Rose S. in 2013 and Australia’s champion 3-year-old, currently heads that country’s first-season sires table by earnings, his tally of over A$3-million almost double that of closest pursuer Spirit of Boom (Aus). His progeny are headed by the Magic Millions 2YO Classic winner and G1 Golden Slipper-placed Sunlight (Aus), the G2 Sires’ Produce S. winner Lean Mean Machine (Aus), and the Sires’ Produce runner-up and Group 1-placed Zousain (Aus). Zoustar’s yearlings have this year averaged A$185,257, and his yearlings have sold for up to A$1-million. He stands at Widden Stud in New South Wales. Qatar Racing bought into Zoustar during his racing career and have heavily supported the horse in the sales ring. Tweenhills Stud owner and Qatar Racing manager David Redvers said, “The opportunity to stand the sensational champion Zoustar at Tweenhills is the most exciting thing I have been involved with in my career. The buzz surrounding this horse and what he has achieved in Australia is deafening and to be able to stand him alongside Qatar Racing’s other sensational young stallions is an honour and a challenge that my team and I relish.” “From the first moment Sheikh Fahad and I saw Zoustar at Flemington we were convinced that we were witnessing something special and had to be involved. He has that rare mixture of precocity, natural speed, turn of foot, pedigree and physical presence you see in only a very few genuinely top-flight stallions. We were spellbound and have been ‘all-in’ ever since.” “I’m not sure European breeders have ever been offered access to such an exciting Australian stallion at this point in his career and news has been received with tremendous support and enthusiasm from Europe’s leading farms.” View the full article

Champion World Approval (Northern Afleet) looks to return to his winning ways in Saturday’s GII Wise Dan S. at Churchill Downs after finishing a disappointing fifth as the heavy favorite in the GI Frank E. Kilroe Mile at Santa Anita last time Mar. 10. The gray closed out 2017 with a trio of top level successes, culminating in the GI Breeders’ Cup Mile, and was awarded the Eclipse as the year’s top turf male. The homebred kicked off this term with a one-length success in the GIII Tampa Bay S. prior to his head scratching effort in California and was entered in the GII Dixie S. on the GI Preakness S. undercard, but was scratched when heavy rains forced the race off the turf. Hall of Fame John Velazquez, in the irons for the Mark Casse runner’s last three scores, gets back aboard for this one. Divisidero (Kitten’s Joy) is a perfect three-for-three over this course, capturing the 2015 GII American Turf S. and the 2016 and 2017 renewals of the GI Woodford Reserve Turf Classic while under the care of trainer Buff Bradley. Transferred to Kelly Rubley this season, the 6-year-old was also scratched out of the Dixie due to track conditions and ran in the GII Monmouth S. May 26 instead, closing well to finish second, beaten just 3/4 of a length by Money Multiplier (Lookin at Lucky). The speedy Shining Copper (Aragorn {Ire}) is the likely pacesetter in this affair. Winner of the nine-panel GIII River City H. over this course Nov. 23, the chestnut followed up with a head success in the GII Fort Laurderdale S. at Gulfstream Jan. 13, after which he was sent to the Caribbean, where he finished a half-length second to stablemate Sir Dudley Digges (Gio Ponti) in the Barbados Gold Cup Mar. 3. He was last seen fading to ninth after setting the pace in the Turf Classic here May 5. View the full article

Chocolate Martini's connections felt shipping west--at a time many from the West recently shipped east--could be a good opportunity for the Broken Vow filly to collect her second grade 2 victory. View the full article

Purchasing a future Royal Ascot winner would be high on the agenda for any agent, and next week Ed Sackville will see Cosmic Law (Ire) (No Nay Never), a colt he bought from Doncaster for £90,000 for owner John Dance, line up in the G2 Coventry S. at the Royal meeting. The TDN‘s Gary King caught up with Sackville to talk about the horse then and now. GK: What impressed you about Cosmic Law as a yearling? ES: He was just an imposing and impressive individual who came from a great farm. I should make it clear though that it wasn’t just me who he impressed, but also John Dance and Dan Creighton, who I bought him in collaboration with. GK: Any chance of finding out exactly what you wrote on your catalogue page? ES: Attractive. Racey. Good type. Good enough walk. Improver. GK: No Nay Never has made a fast start at stud. You were obviously impressed by his yearlings? ES: Yes, I was impressed by them and ended up buying a few. I must say that although No Nay Never himself was a precocious horse I never expected his 2-year-olds to be as precocious as him, and I definitely think that they will get a lot better, particularly as plenty of them had great size and scope. GK: Cosmic Law is the third-highest rated 2-year-old in Europe (Timeform 105p). That must be extremely satisfying for you and owner John Dance? ES: We aren’t even halfway through the season so I don’t think one can get too carried away. But yes, it is an undoubtedly impressive and deserved figure. Of course I am delighted for John, he has invested a lot into this business and racing needs owners like him, so it is great when they are rewarded. GK: Sergei Prokofiev (Scat Daddy) is currently trading at about 2-1 for Team Ballydoyle. Is he going to be tough to beat? ES: I think anything from Ballydoyle is tough to beat, however, you can’t run scared of one horse. GK: Jackstar (Dark Angel), another £120,000 purchase at Goffs UK Premier, impressed earlier in the year at Newmarket. Do you have an update on him? ES: I know that Tom Dascombe thinks a lot of him but I suspect that he will miss Ascot and give him time. Remember that Tom has an exceptional record at the July meeting with his 2-year-olds. GK: Finally, what’s the best thing about Royal Ascot? Any dos and don’ts for first timers? ES: I think the best thing has to be the sheer quality of the racing; it is consistently exceptional. As for dos, arrive early to try and miss the traffic and as for don’ts, don’t ever let go of your top hat; the minute you put it down in a box or the car park, someone else will take it thinking it’s theirs-they all look the same. View the full article

The second automatic berth into the $6 million Breeders' Cup Classic (G1) is on the line this Saturday evening, June 16, at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Ky., in the $500,000 Stephen Foster Handicap (G1), beginning at 8:30 p.m. ET on NBCSN. View the full article