Wandering Eyes

Gallery Racing’s champion sprinter Runhappy, currently standing at Claiborne Farm, will return in 2019 as title sponsor of the GI Travers S. and GI Metropolitan H., in addition to sponsoring FOX Sports’ year-round national television coverage of NYRA, it was announced Tuesday. Additionally, at Saratoga, Runhappy will be the title sponsor of the GI Hopeful S. The 2019 Belmont Park spring/summer meet will also see the second running of the $150,000 Runhappy S. “Team Runhappy considers it an honor and privilege to sponsor these prestigious and storied races,” said James McIngvale of Gallery Racing. “It is also our pleasure to support the expansion of the outstanding television programming as we continue to extoll the virtues of the living legend, Runhappy.” View the full article

With a broodmare band approaching 20, Craig Bennett’s Merry Fox Stud boards mares at Fittocks Stud in England, Ireland’s Ballylinch Stud and also at Haras du Buff in France. “All the mares are already in situ in the respective countries in which they will be covered this season,” says Bennett’s matings advisor Gary Hadden. “It’s extra important in the year of Brexit but Craig likes to have all the mares in the country where the stallions are so he is not travelling young foals.” Among the jewels of this particular collection are Time Control (GB) (Sadler’s Wells) and Annabelle’s Charm (Ire) (Indian Ridge {Ire}), who provided Merry Fox Stud with something of an annus mirabilis in 2014 when represented by the Group 1 winners Cursory Glance (Distorted Humor) and Charming Thought (GB) (Oasis Dream {GB}), respectively. The Moyglare Stud S. winner Cursory Glance, who had also struck in the G3 Albany S. at Royal Ascot in her breeder’s colours, has joined her mother at stud and is in foal to Frankel (GB), to whom she will return this year. “She is obviously very special to Craig,” says Hadden. “His best day’s racing was winning the Albany with his wife and mother both at the races. She was an exceptional filly and we hope that she can become a foundation mare. It’s no real brainwave going to Frankel—he was brilliant and so was she.” Time Control, whose Dubawi (Ire) yearling filly sold for 700,000gns to Godolphin last year, was rested in 2018 and is booked to visit Sea the Stars (Ire), whom Hadden believes will be a good match physically. “He also has great form over Sadler’s Wells mares,” he says. “We’re following a tried and tested route.” Another member of the family, Cursory Glance’s half-sister Willow View (Lemon Drop Kid) was unraced but has made a good start as a broodmare with her first foal, Digital Age (Ire) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}), winning on debut for Chad Brown in America in January. Bennett has sent a full-sister to the 3-year-old into training with Roger Varian, and the mare is in foal to Siyouni (Fr) with a visit to Frankel on the cards. Annabelle’s Charm, meanwhile, is in foal to Dark Angel (Ire) with a booking to Kingman (GB). “She is quite a big mare so we have to be careful about which stallion we send her to,” Hadden notes. “Of course Kingman is a close relative to Oasis Dream, who is the sire of Charming Thought.” Also booked to Kingman is the maiden Dancing Breeze (Ire) (New Approach {Ire}), a stakes-placed half-sister to the Group 3 winner Future Generation (Ire) (Hurricane Run {Ire}), who is in turn the dam of Godolphin’s multiple group-winning stayer Bruntland (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}). “She is from the family of Cassandra Go (Ire) and we’re trying to give her a good start. Craig has to be commercial; there’s such polarization towards the best stallions but we’re very much trying to produce a racehorse first,” explains Hadden. Posterity (Ire) (Indian Ridge {Ire}), the dam of Dancing Breeze and Future Generation, is also among the Merry Fox broodmare band and, currently in foal to New Approach, she is one of a limited book of mares who will be visiting Cheveley Park Stud’s start veteran Pivotal. “Pivotal mares are so successful and we’d love another daughter of Posterity. Craig is trying to build families and you can give yourself a leg-up by using a well proven broodmare sire,” offers Hadden. Bennett enjoyed many good days at the races with his homebred multiple stakes winner Second Step (Ire) (Dalakhani {Ire}) and has given his full-sister Yellow Band (Ire) every chance at stud. She is in foal to Frankel and will visit Dubawi this season. The operation is heavily backing Siyouni and has four mares booked to him. The quartet is comprised of Passing Parade (GB), a Cape Cross (Ire) half-sister to the top-class sprinter Regal Parade (GB) who is carrying to New Approach. Liffey Dancer (Ire) (Sadler’s Wells), a sister to Listen (Ire), in foal to Distorted Humor, is another booked to travel to Normandy, as is her stakes-placed daughter Pichola Dance (Ire) (Distorted Humor), and the listed winner Alsace Lorraine (Ire) (Giant’s Causeway), whose dam is a half-sister to 1000 Guineas winner Miss France (Ire). “With Passing Parade it’s no major surprise that we’re trying to emulate the cross which produced Laurens (Fr),” says Hadden. “We tried three or four times to buy shares in Siyouni. He suits so many different mares and different lines. From early on both he and Lope De Vega (Ire) have looked special. Their numbers have looked very good and I think Lope De Vega will continue to climb the ladder.” With that in mind, the listed-placed Pecking Order (Ire) (Fastnet Rock {Ire}), who hails from the Aga Khan’s ‘S’ family, is in foal to Lope De Vega and will return to him, while Arkadina (Ire), a Danehill half-sister to the dam of Aclaim (Ire) and from the family of Montjeu (Ire), is another in foal to Lope De Vega. She is booked to visit Derrinstown’s Tamayuz (GB) this season, while her Group 3-winning daughter Guilty Twelve (Giant’s Causeway) is currently in Japan where she is in foal to Deep Impact (Jpn) with a return visit planned. Soofiah (GB) (King’s Best), a full-sister to dual Group 1 winner Sajjhaa (GB), joined the Merry Fox team three years ago when bought from Godolphin. She was sent to Invincible Spirit last year and will now visit Showcasing (GB). “We were attracted to her because she is by King’s Best. We love that Kingmambo blood and we’ve gone for proven stallions with her,” notes Hadden. They have taken the unproven route with Pontenuovo (Fr) (Green Tune), however. The G3 Prix de Cabourg winner was rested last year and is booked to Juddmonte’s newcomer, Expert Eye (GB). Finally, Craig Bennett entered into partnership with Newsells Park Stud last December when buying the G3 Prix Penelope winner Luminate (Ire) (Lawman {Fr}) for 900,000gns at Tattersalls, and she will visit the champion sire Galileo (Ire). View the full article

The Osarus La Teste Breeze-Up Sale catalogue, consisting of 93 lots, is now available. The sale will begin at La Teste Racecourse beginning at 12:30 p.m. local time on Apr. 11, with the breezes scheduled for 2:30 p.m. the previous day. Of the lots on offer, 83 are eligible for owners’ premiums in France and all of the breezes may be viewed live at www.france-sire.com. Individual breeze videos will be posted at www.osarus.com later on. A wide variety of 64 sires are represented, with the highlights including an Epaulette (Aus) half-sister to GISW Folk Opera (Ire) (Singspiel {Ire}) as lot 7; lot 41, a son of Le Havre (Ire) out of the SP Changeable (GB) (Dansili {GB}); a Dansili (GB) colt (lot 45) out of a full-sister to G1SWs Ballydoyle (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) and Misty For Me (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}); a colt by Siyouni (Fr) (lot 25) out of a half-sister to G1SW Morandi (Fr) (Holy Roman Emperor {Ire}); lot 36, a son of Mastercraftsman (Ire) out of Italian Group 3 winner Blessed Luck (Ire) (Rock of Gibraltar {Ire}); and a colt by Dream Ahead out of a Siyouni half-sister to MG1SW Natagora (Fr) (Divine Light {Jpn}) as lot 83. View the full article

8th-TAM, $22K, Msw, 3yo, f, 1 1/16mT, 4:30 p.m. When West Point Thoroughbreds and Robert Evans went to $230,000 for EGYPTIAN STORM (Pioneerof the Nile) at the 2017 Keeneland September sale, her year-older half-brother Justify (Scat Daddy) had yet to step foot on the racetrack. Fast forward to present day and the bay filly, who makes her career bow at Tampa Wednesday just 367 days after her champion half-brother made his debut, is now the sibling of the reigning Horse of the Year, whose historic six-race campaign culminated in a Triple Crown and a pair of Eclipse Awards. In addition to the mighty Justify, who is breeding his first mares this season at Coolmore’s Ashford Stud, the Christophe Clement pupil is also a half to GSW The Lieutenant (Street Sense), who also stands his first season this term at Sequel New York. Gainesway homebred Indigo Gin (Lemon Drop Kid) also makes her debut in this salty maiden. She is out of the Galileo (Ire) mare Lady Bingo (Ire), who is a daughter of GISW Sharp Lisa (Dixieland Band) and a full-sister to Irish Highweight Housesofparliament (Ire) and Group 1 winner Foundry (Ire). Mike Stidham unveils e Five Racing’s $375,000 FTSAUG buy Strange Design (Ghostzapper). Her unraced dam is a daughter of GISW Runup the Colors (A.P. Indy) and a half-sister to MGSW Revolutionary (War Pass). This is also the family of Grade I winners Mineshaft (A.P. Indy), Dickinson (Medaglia d’Oro) and Little Belle (A.P. Indy). Todd Pletcher saddles a first timer from a family he is familiar with in Pep (City Zip). The chestnut is a half-sister to SW & GSP Orbolution (Orb) and their dam is a half to GISW turfer Jack Milton (War Front) and GSW Peace Preserver (War Front), all three of which were trained by Pletcher. TJCIS PPs View the full article

Catriona Bissett, who works for Nick Alexander of Kinneston Stables, was crowned Employee of the Year at the 2019 Godolphin Stud and Stable Staff Awards in London on Monday night. The event was hosted by the British Horseracing Authority in conjunction with the Racing Post. Bissett, known as ‘Catch’, was presented with her trophy by Sir Anthony McCoy at an event at the Jumeirah Carlton Tower Hotel in Knightsbridge, in front of a specially-invited audience from across the racing industry. She was given a cheque for £30,000, half of which is to be shared among her colleagues. Bissett also won the Leadership Award for her work as assistant trainer to Alexander at his base in Fife, Scotland. Brough Scott, chairman of the judging panel, said, “The panel’s job was tougher than it has ever been this year with some extraordinary displays of stories of dedication, commitment and hard work among this year’s finalists. However, we had to reach a final decision and Catch is a hugely deserving winner for all the work she has done in developing and mentoring other members of the team at Kinneston.” “For Catch to be named Employee of the Year when our sport employs 6,000 people who work so hard to provide first class care to our horses is a fantastic achievement,” said BHA Chief Executive Nick Rust. “We are grateful to all of the staff who work day in day out to ensure that the horses who take part in British racing are provided with a level of care and quality of life that is virtually unsurpassed by any other domesticated animal. These awards are our opportunity to say thank you to all of them, on behalf of the sport and on behalf of our horses.” Sophy Scott from Mark Johnston’s yard took the David Nicholson Newcomer award, while Stewart Gosnell, who works for Richard Hughes, was successful in the Rider/Groom category and Andrew Snell of Cheveley Park Stud landed the Stud Staff award. John Bottomley was rewarded for his years of service to the sport, most recently with Ollie Pears, with the Dedication to Racing award. Andrea O’Keeffe was also honoured with the Rory MacDonald Community award for her contribution to developing training programmes in place across the racing industry. View the full article

Trainer Steve Asmussen will ship promising 3-year-old Wicked Indeed west for a stakes try in the $100,000 Mine That Bird Derby on Sunday, Feb. 24 at Sunland Park. View the full article

Karis Teetan is in the form of his life and the Mauritian is determined to let the good times roll as he goes into Wednesday’s Happy Valley meeting.Teetan is on target to smash his previous best of 52 winners in a season, having already amassed 50 just past the halfway point of this term.A top-three finish in the jockeys’ championship is all but certain for Teetan, who has had more rides than any other jockey on the table.As tempting as it is, the 28-year-old said he would not set any targets… View the full article

Champion jockey Zac Purton gets a rare opportunity to enter the closed shop of John Size-trained horses at Happy Valley on Wednesday night.Size’s stable jockey Joao Moreira will miss his first meeting since returning to Hong Kong in December after stewards suspended him for a total of six meetings from three different incidents, meaning Purton will ride promising type Champions Way and also Har Har Heart.Champions Way impressed on debut last month, racing greenly but still saluting with a fast… View the full article

Super Steed launched an eye-popping move in the far turn of the $500,000 Southwest Stakes (G3) on his way to a three-quarter-length victory in the 1 1/16-mile test for 3-year-olds at Oaklawn Park. View the full article

Robert LaPenta and Head of Plains Partners' Coal Front held off Copper Bullet to win the $500,000 Razorback Handicap (G3) by a neck on Presidents Day at Oaklawn Park. View the full article

A graded stakes figures to be on the horizon for California-bred Galilean after he toyed with four other state-breds Feb. 18 on his way to an easy victory in the $200,000 California Cup Derby at Santa Anita Park. View the full article

Robert LaPenta and Head of Plains Partners' Coal Front held off Copper Bullet to win the $500,000 Razorback Stakes (G3) by a neck on Presidents Day at Oaklawn Park. View the full article

Cameo Blue Diamond ride for Vorster before permanent Australian move View the full article

Boss to ride for Te Akau in NZ Derby View the full article

Looking smart In The Black View the full article

She's a Julie returned to the winner's circle Feb. 18, speeding away in the stretch of the $200,000 Bayakoa Stakes (G3) at Oaklawn Park. View the full article

SUPER STEED (c, 3, Super Saver–Totally Tucker, by Elusive Quality), completely ignored off a puzzling seventh in the Smarty Jones S. here Jan. 25 and off at 62-1, uncorked a huge move on the turn and kept finding to upend Monday’s GIII Southwest S. at Oaklawn. Sueno (Atreides) came flying to cut it close at the wire, finishing about a length back. Long Range Toddy (Take Charge Indy) rounded out the trifecta. The winner, a ‘TDN Rising Star’, romped by six lengths at Churchill Nov. 24 but was fourth behind Smarty Jones winner and Southwest favorite Gray Attempt in the Sugar Bowl S. sprinting at Fair Grounds Dec. 22. Lifetime Record: 5-2-1-0. O-Mike Pressley & Steed Jackson. B-Mike Pressley (Ky). T-J. Larry Jones. View the full article

A graded stakes try figures to be on the horizon for California-bred Galilean after he toyed with four other state-breds Feb. 18 on his way to an easy victory in the $200,000 California Cup Derby at Santa Anita Park. View the full article

Talented ‘TDN Rising Star’ COAL FRONT (r, 5, Stay Thirsty–Miner’s Secret, by Mineshaft), marooned out in the 14 hole for his first try around two turns, overcame the wide draw and a torrid pace duel to fend off fellow ‘Rising Star’ Copper Bullet (More Than Ready) in Monday’s lucrative GIII Razorback H. Longshot Rated R Superstar (Kodiak Kowboy), who might’ve blown up the tote if he hadn’t gotten stuck behind foes when making a strong bid, settled for third at 70-1. The winner, last seen annexing the GIII Mr. Prospector S. at Gulfstream Dec. 22, stopped the clock in 1:43.45. Sales history: $575,000 2yo ’16 OBSAPR. Lifetime Record: 8-6-0-0. O-Robert V LaPenta & Head of Plains Partners. B-Michael Edward Connelly (Ky). T-Todd A Pletcher. View the full article

In his first race in nearly seven months, Racing Hall of Fame jockey Victor Espinoza put Hronis Racing's Gallantlystreaming in good position early then rallied to a second-place finish in the first race Feb. 18 at Santa Anita Park. View the full article

Deron Pearson’s homebred listed heroine Mia Tesoro (Ire) (Danehill Dancer {Ire}), who ran a career best second in the G2 Balanchine at Meydan on Valentine’s Day, is set to head to the covering sheds trainer Charlie Fellowes announced. A winner of the Listed Nottinghamshire Oaks S. last summer, the 6-year-old is likely to be covered by Australia (GB) (Galileo {Ire}), winner of the G1 English and G1 Irish Derbies and G1Juddmonte International in 2014. Mia Tesoro’s record currently stands at 27-5-4-3, $143,365. “She’s been amazing,” said her trainer Fellowes. “To think she came to the yard rated 57, and there she is running second in a Group 2 in Meydan, is remarkable. We went over to Dubai for that reason, to try to get some group placing. We achieved that–here’s nothing out there for her now. As far as I know, the plan is to bring her home, and she’s probably going to be covered by Australia at Coolmore–and then we’ll see. She could come back into training for a couple of months, or that could have been her last race. We’ll leave that up to the racing manager.” Out of G3 Oh So Sharp S. heroine Souter’s Sister (Ire) (Desert Style {Ire}), Mia Tesoro is from the same family as Group 2 winner Kahir Almaydan (Ire) (Distinctly North), who was third in the G1 Middle Park S. View the full article

The Thoroughbred Owners of California is hosting orientations for new owners at Santa Anita and Golden Gate Fields Feb. 23 at 11 a.m. The orientations, which are open to the public and are geared towards new and prospective owners, will include visits to the offices of CHRB, paymaster, racing, track photographer and CARMA. Visit www.toconline.com for more information. View the full article

INTREPID HEART (c, 3, Tapit–Flaming Heart, by Touch Gold) caught a ride to Hot Springs from Palm Beach Downs along with trainer Todd Pletcher’s other runners competing in graded stakes later on the card, and he stamped himself as one who could be making an impact in big races like those in the future with a powerful debut romp that garnered the ‘TDN Rising Star’ distinction. Representing the same connections as last year’s local GII Rebel S. and GI Arkansas Derby hero and fellow ‘Rising Star’ Magnum Moon (Malibu Moon), the 4-5 chalk traded jabs early while well clear of the rest of the field through splits of :23.11 and :47.28. He began to leave his pesky pace foe in the dust heading for home, and with nobody from behind doing enough and a short run to the wire, the only question at that point was what the margin of victory. Under confident John Velazquez handling and with big, powerful strides, Intrepid Heart kicked home some eight lengths clear of Speed App (Flatter), stopping the clock in 1:38.08. The fourth-priciest lot at $750,000 at last year’s OBS April sale off a :10 2/5 breeze, Intrepid Heart’s MSW/GSP dam is also responsible for Commissioner (A.P. Indy), MGSW & GISP, $962,237; Laugh Track (Distorted Humor), GSW & GISP, $598,014; and the dam of last year’s GII Wood Memorial S. winner Vino Rosso (Curlin) and his sophomore half-brother and ‘Rising Star’ So Alive (Super Saver), who was recently third from far back in the GIII Sam F. Davis S. Commissioner, Vino Rosso and So Alive are all also Pletcher products. Sales history: $750,000 2yo ’18 OBSAPR. O-Robert & Lawana Low. B-WinStar Farm LLC & Winchell Thoroughbreds LLC (Ky). T-Todd A Pletcher. View the full article

Champion Monomoy Girl (Tapizar) returned to the worktab for the first time since her victory in the Nov. 3 GI Longines Breeders’ Cup Distaff, breezing three furlongs in :37 flat for trainer Brad Cox Sunday morning at Fair Grounds. The workout represented a first step toward a likely return to action in the spring for the speedy chestnut, who won five Grade I races in 2018–including the GI Longines Kentucky Oaks. “It was a good work,” said Liz Crow of BSW Bloodstock, who purchased Monomoy Girl for $100,000 as a Keeneland September yearling in 2016. “She did it pretty much like she was galloping. She has been letting Brad know she wanted to do something. She has a lot of energy and I think she looks better than ever. She’s filled a lot and put on a lot of muscle. Overall, she just looks more mature. It’s hard not to be excited about that.” Crow said the Apr. 14 GI Apple Blossom H. at Oaklawn Park could be considered a “soft target” for a possible 4-year-old debut. She added that races like the GI La Troienne S. at Churchill Downs May 3, the GI Ogden Phipps H. at Belmont June 8 and the GI Personal Ensign S. at Saratoga Aug. 24 could be target races for Monomoy Girl, with the ultimate goal being a repeat win at the World Championships in November. View the full article

Ascot Racecourse has entered into two new international media rights deals with At The Races (ATR) and SIS, respectively, allowing them exclusive rights to show live racing coverage for betting purposes, as well as into licensed betting offices within their territories from Mar. 1, 2019 to Dec. 31, 2021. The deals cover Royal Ascot and all other fixtures held at the racecourse except for British Champions Day. International pari-mutuel betting rights across the world-excluding the UK, Hong Kong, Macau, Singapore, and Australia-were awarded to At The Races, who is also permitted to sell live coverage of the races for pari-mutuel betting within their territories, grant sub-licensees the right to deliver the coverage for use in licensed betting offices and the right to make coverage available online for qualifying users. ATR will also have exclusive rights to license the rights to certain pari-mutuel betting operations which also sell fixed-odds betting rights, including MIPAAFT in Italy, PGE in South Africa and licensed ADWs in the US. International fixed-odds betting rights were awarded to SIS, excluding the UK, Hong Kong, Macau and Singapore, while the company will be able to sell coverage in connection with fixed odds betting within their territories. Ascot will also be represented exclusively by SIS in connection with pari-mutuel betting in Australia. “We have placed these two specialised international betting picture rights contracts with proven experts in their respective fields as part of our strategy to partner with entities that best suit each contract’s individual need,” said Ascot Racecourse Chief Commercial Officer Juliet Slot. “It is fantastic to extend our relationship for delivery to international fixed odds markets with SIS, who we are already working with in the UK market as part of the retail betting distribution, in partnership with RMG and, for Tote markets, to start working again with ATR’s international team. Separately, we also look forward to working with ATR, using their Sport Mediastream platform, for the streaming of our racing content to UK and Ireland bookmakers from March.” Added At The Races Chief Executive Officer Matthew Imi, “We are delighted to be working so closely again with Ascot in distributing their racing to the many important Tote wagering operators around the world. We are also pleased to have been awarded the streaming contract to deliver racing from Ascot to our UK and Ireland bookmaker partners via our Sport Mediastream platform.” “Ascot is world renowned for its Thoroughbred horse racing, and is very popular with bettors internationally, so we are thrilled to be able to supply this to our customers via our 24/7 Live Betting Channels,” said SIS Commercial Director Paul Witten. View the full article