Wandering Eyes

If the buzz seems a bit lessened from the fever that tracked American Pharoah's Triple Crown quest, it's not because Justify hasn't done his part to provide a compelling enough storyline. View the full article

Alpha Delta Stables' homebred multiple graded-stakes winner Lewis Bay enjoyed a patient, stalking trip under jockey Irad Ortiz Jr. to win the $250,000 Bed o' Roses Invitational Stakes (G3) by 5 1/2 lengths June 8 at Belmont Park. View the full article

The start-up date for sports betting at Monmouth Park has been pushed back again as New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy has yet to sign a bill that set forth the rules regulations that need to be put in place before the new form of wagering can go forward. Monmouth had originally hoped to open up its sports book on Memorial Day and later set Friday as its goal for opening day. That date looked feasible after the state’s legislature passed the bill Thursday, meaning all it needed was Murphy’s signature. Since Murphy has always been a proponent of sports betting in the state, it is not clear why he won’t give Monmouth the green light. He has said that he would like a chance to review the legislation. “We’re not going to sit on it, but we just got it,” Murphy said during a press conference Friday. “We’re going to have sports betting sooner (rather) than later in New Jersey and I’m really excited about that. I’m not going to change my stripes just because it’s a big weekend. We’ve got to make sure we do what we do right.” But Murphy’s delay has cost Monmouth what likely would have been a huge opening weekend for sports betting. Game 4 of the NBA finals was to be played Friday night, the Mets and Yankees square off over the weekend in baseball and the Belmont Stakes means there will be a huge crowd Saturday at Monmouth. “I’m trying to get open as soon as I can,” Dennis Drazin, who heads the Monmouth management team told the Asbury Park Press. “But at the end of the day I have a responsibility to Monmouth Park and the state and the local community. If I do something that causes Monmouth Park to get delayed in opening, then that doesn’t help anybody, so I have to respect the process.” With the New Jersey Thoroughbred Horsemen’s Association, which leases Monmouth, among the groups that led the fight to strike down laws that made sports betting illegal outside of Nevada, Monmouth was the odds-on favorite to become the first U.S. racetrack to open a legal sports book. Instead, Delaware’s three racetracks–Delaware Park and the harness tracks Dover Downs and Harrington Raceway–had their sports wagering operations up and running on Tuesday. It remains unclear when Murphy will act. He has 45 days to either sign or veto the bill. View the full article

Alpha Delta Stable's homebred multiple graded-stakes winner Lewis Bay enjoyed a patient stalking trip under jockey Irad Ortiz, Jr. to win the $250,000 Bed o' Roses Invitational Stakes (G3) by 5 1/2 lengths June 8 at Belmont Park. View the full article

If the buzz seems a bit lessened from the fever that tracked American Pharoah's Triple Crown quest, it is not because Justify hasn't done his part to provide a compelling enough storyline. View the full article

Nearly 1100 days have past since American Pharoah (Pioneerof the Nile) led every step of the way to end a streak of 37 years of near misses (and not-so-near misses) to become racing’s first Triple Crown winner since Affirmed. That was 1978 and was the third sweep of the series in six years, following on from Secretariat in 1973 and Seattle Slew in 1977. Should ‘TDN Rising Star’ Justify (Scat Daddy) succeed in Saturday’s 150th running of the GI Belmont S. to become the 13th to accomplish the feat–and first undefeated Triple Crown winner since Seattle Slew–you can count American Pharoah’s owner and breeder Ahmed Zayat among those that will be rooting him home, even if that notion is counter-intuitive to some. “It’s funny. You’re posing this question as if the fact that you have been blessed and chosen to be one of 12 [Triple Crown winners] before exclusively means that you would be rooting against somebody else,” Zayat said with a laugh. “I love horses and I want to see stars, I want to see special stars.” He added, “Winning the Belmont is incredible on its own. winning the Kentucky Derby or any of these elite races or any Classic is an unbelievable privilege for any owner, let alone if you’re able to put it together and win a Triple Crown. It’s something where if I care about the sport–which I do–and about stars, you want to see it happen more often than not.” Given the futility over the course of the previous four decades and within the context of gut-wrenching losses by Silver Charm, Real Quiet and Smarty Jones with the Triple Crown literally yards away, the horse racing universe was mobilized in near unanimous support of American Pharoah. And the colt did not let his worldwide fan base down, galloping his rivals into the ground to become ‘the one.’ But Zayat eschews the notion that there is less buzz or electricity surrounding this Triple Crown attempt. “I think people are really overthinking this,” he commented. “I don’t see any less buzz about it. I think the media are excited about it, people who follow racing are excited and so is the general public–just look at the ratings NBC got for the Preakness. Therefore I don’t think that trying to pass this off as not as exciting as Pharoah is legitimate. Just because you waited 37 years and now it’s happening again after just three years, I don’t really buy that, I don’t feel it. He continued, “We owned and bred American Pharoah and honestly, people loved his persona, even before he won the Triple Crown. If anything, maybe that is what’s missing–getting to know the athlete the way they got to know American Pharoah. I do believe it might be a bit different because we were only six, my family and I, who were the direct owners of American Pharoah. If you look at the ownership of Justify, it’s much broader. Maybe because there is no one face to the horse, but it was never about the Zayats or the Bafferts, it was always about American Pharoah. For those reasons, maybe the vibes are different. I don’t really buy it, but I don’t know.” Nor does Zayat believe that another Triple Crown in relatively rapid succession would in any way diminish or otherwise tarnish what his colt achieved three years ago. “Honestly, what I think American Pharoah did was restore hope,” he offered. “We had lost hope, it had been 37 years that people had been chasing the dream and then the dream became reality. I think that resonated with people. It becomes something of ‘America’s’ horse and I think having another one like that would be good–good for the fans, good for the sport, good for everyone. For me, actually, I thought it would be hard for me to have another Triple Crown winner, but it makes me believe that I can do it again myself! It keeps the dream alive and well.” If there is a shred of jealousy in Zayat, it isn’t readily apparent. “I am absolutely elated for Justify to get this done, just as a fan and as a member of this industry,” he said. “But also for selfish reasons. WinStar is a farm that has been very good to me and is very dear and close to my heart. Bob [Baffert] has been my trainer since day one, he has won me 21 Grade Is and a Triple Crown, I love him and I love his family, so I am really rooting for these great connections and from the bottom of my heart, I really want to see it happen.” View the full article

ELMONT, N.Y.–Twenty years ago in the 1998 GI Belmont S., Bob Baffert was in a similar position to present day, coming to Elmont with a Triple Crown on the line with Real Quiet, just one year after making his first attempt at racing’s most coveted prize with Silver Charm. The Hall of Famer would be denied yet again by a heart breaking nose that belonged to Victory Gallop. The trainer of that spoiler, ironically enough, was Elliott Walden, who has since hung up his stopwatch and binoculars in exchange for a job as CEO of WinStar, the part-owner of Baffert’s 2018 Triple Crown contender Justify (Scat Daddy). “It is funny, I have wondered this week if fate will come back to haunt us with that,” Walden said just after watching Justify get his post-gallop bath. “We were spoilers then and I hope nobody spoils it for us now. With Victory Gallop, I didn’t think I could beat Real Quiet, but we did and we beat him a nose. That is probably the closest in history. We will see what happens Saturday. I can’t wait.” Real Quiet bested Victory Gallop by a half-length at odds of 8-1 in that year’s GI Kentucky Derby. Winner of that term’s GII Rebel S. and GI Arkansas Derby, Victory Gallop was let go at 14-1 on the First Saturday in May and finished 2 1/4 lengths clear of the Baffert-trained favorite Indian Charlie. Two weeks later at Pimlico, it was Victory Gallop who went off as a slight favorite over Real Quiet, but the Baffert runner came out on top once again, crossing the line 2 1/4 lengths clear of his rival. With the stage set for another showdown in New York, the betting public finally got behind Baffert’s champion, but this time Victory Gallop turned the tables on Real Quiet, sticking out his nose on the line for a narrow success to extend the Triple Crown drought. “It was a thrill,” said Walden, who called the victory the highlight of his training career. “Back then, I felt great for the horse. I think anyone with a horse in the race would feel the same way. It wasn’t about spoiling the Triple Crown. It was about feeling good for winning for your connections and winning for the horse, not about being the spoiler.” It took Baffert two more tries and another 17 years, but he did finally end the Triple Crown drought in 2015 with American Pharoah (Pioneerof the Nile). The conditioner has been calm, cool, collected and optimistic about his chances to do it again this year with Justify and, while he is not focusing on the times he failed to get it done, he did take a moment to reflect on that Belmont 20 years ago. “It’s so long ago that I don’t think about it,” Baffert said. “Elliott has always been a gracious winner. He did a masterful job with Victory Gallop. It is pretty amazing that we ended up on same team.” When asked how he feels this time around being on the owner side rather than the trainer side, Walden said, “I am pretty relaxed about it because I have a belief that what will be, will be. That may change five minutes before the race, but right now I am relaxed about it.” View the full article

The Hong Kong Jockey Club, in its annual renewals, has granted temporary riding licenses to four jockeys, including South African phenom Callan Murray, as it seeks to fill voids left by several top riders, including the popular Joao Moreira. View the full article

We'll cut right to the chase, since Justify's bid to become racing's 13th Triple Crown winner - and just the second in the last 39 years - is the last of 10 stakes to be run at Belmont Park this Saturday, June 9. View the full article

Observations on the European Racing Scene turns the spotlight on the best European races of the day, highlighting well-pedigreed horses early in their careers, horses of note returning to action and young runners that achieved notable results in the sales ring. Saturday’s Insights features a son of GSW & G1SP Helleborine (GB) (Observatory). 2.00 Newmarket, Cond, £8,000, 2yo, 6fT CALYX (GB) (Kingman {GB}) is a son of the 2010 G3 Prix d’Aumale winner and G1 Prix Marcel Boussac runner-up Helleborine (GB) (Observatory), herself a full-sister to the G1 Haydock Sprint Cup heroine African Rose (GB). John Gosden saddles the April-foaled bay, who faces Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum’s Khaadem (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}), a Charlie Hills-trained full-brother to the MGSP Log Out Island (Ire) who cost 750,000gns at Tattersalls October. 2.10 Curragh, €17,500, Mdn, 2yo, 6fT ALL THE KING’S MEN (IRE) (No Nay Never) was a €400,000 Arqana Deauville August purchase by Coolmore whose dam Chaibia (Ire) (Peintre Celebre) won the 2006 G3 Prix de Psyche. He is Ballydoyle’s second string behind the well-regarded Cardini (Magician {Ire}), who was eighth on debut over course and distance two weeks ago. 4.15 Newmarket, Cond, £6,000, 3yo/up, f/m, 7fT AIM OF ARTEMIS (IRE) (Leroidesanimaux {Brz}) was a 1-million gns purchase by Godolphin as part of the Ballymacoll Stud dispersal at Tattersalls December and she kicks off her season for the John Gosden stable. Off the mark at Leicester in September, the half-sister to the smart Abingdon (Street Cry {Ire}) related to Islington (Ire) (Sadler’s Wells) et al faces nine rivals. View the full article

RAGING BULL (FR) (c, 3, Dark Angel {Ire}–Rosa Bonheur, by Mr. Greeley)earned a solid 87 Beyer Speed Figure for a first-up success over several next-out graduates at Keeneland Apr. 19, and was 6-5 to clear his next condition against a lightly raced bunch. Away towards the back behind a swift :22.94 opening quarter set by Morrison (The Factor), the bay started to rev up out wide behind a more sensible :47.15 half. Slingshotting widest into the lane, Raging Bull picked off foes in hand and blew past Morrison to get the job done by a length in 1:33.31 while providing trainer Chad Brown with his third win on the card and the hot-riding Joel Rosario his second. According to Trakus data, Raging Bull covered 35 ft. more than the runner-up and came home in a snappy :22.19. A €90,000 Goffs Orby yearling, he is a grandson of MGSW and Italian highweight Rolly Polly (Ire) (Mukaddamah). Lifetime Record: 2-2-0-0. O-Peter M Brant. B-Dayton Investments Limited (Fr). T-Chad C Brown. View the full article

When Bob Baffert and Mike Smith team to try to complete the Triple Crown June 9 with Justify at Belmont Park, the two will carry momentum that dates back to 2016--especially in top, pressure-packed races. View the full article

Our Braintrust is flawless in two starts, graduating from a maiden victory at Laurel Park to score in the Tremont Stakes at Belmont Park. View the full article

OUR BRAINTRUST (c, 2, Freud–Caller Trust, by Trust N Luck), dismissed at 10-1 off a 3/4-length score first-up at Laurel May 3, parlayed a rail-skimming trip into a last-second score in Belmont’s Tremont S. Friday. Tucked in behind splits of :22.38 and :45.73 under Javier Castellano, the $25,000 Fasig-Tipton Midlantic yearling purchase was one of several bearing down on speedy filly Mae Never No (Ire) (No Nay Never), and snuck through along the inside late to post a half-length upset over Sombeyay (Into Mischief) in 1:04.41. Mae Never No settled for third. Sales history: $27,000 RNA yrl ’16 FTKJUL. Lifetime Record: 2-2-0-0. O-Cathal A Lynch & Stanton J Smith, Jr. B-Barak Farm (MD). T-Cathal Lynch. View the full article

ELMONT, NY – With a WPIX 11 helicopter providing on-the-scene aerial television coverage, Belmont Park was buzzing on the morning before unbeaten Triple Crown hopeful Justify (Scat Daddy)’s date with destiny. Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert walked with China Horse Club’s Teo Ah Khing through the sun-splashed backstretch during the track renovation break as the big crowd-by far the largest of the week–began vying for position by the clubhouse turn gap at 8:30 a.m. Just as American Pharoah had signaled in the mornings leading up to his Triple Crown sweep three years ago, Justify also seems to be thriving and getting even stronger throughout the grueling series. The mighty chestnut, favored at 4-5 on the morning-line for the 150th renewal of the GI Belmont S., galloped another 1 3/8 miles beneath Humberto Gomez with fantastic energy as Baffert watched through the binoculars alongside his wife Jill. Justify’s high-powered ownership group was out in full force to watch the ‘TDN Rising Star’s’ final gallop ahead of the Belmont, including WinStar’s Elliott Walden and David Hanley; China Horse Club’s Eden Harrington, Michael Wallace and Mick Flanagan; SF Bloodstock’s Gavin Murphy and Tom Ryan; and Sol Kumin of Head of Plains Partners. Popular sportscaster Mike Tirico, who delivered a live report from Belmont’s paddock during Thursday evening’s Stanley Cup final on NBC, was also spotted taking in the action. “This is what a trainer hopes to see the day before his horse runs,” Baffert said during his daily press briefing. “Coming off the track, he was just full of himself. He seems like he’s still improving. I know he’s going to show up and run his race. He looks no different than American Pharoah did coming in here.” Justify will attempt to become racing’s 13th Triple Crown winner at 6:46 p.m. Saturday. Only Seattle Slew has completed the sweep with an unblemished record. “If he’s truly that great horse we think he is, he can do it,” Baffert concluded. View the full article

4th-Churchill Downs, $49,932, Msw, 6-8, 2yo, f, 5 1/2f, 1:04.78, ft. RESTLESS RIDER (f, 2, Distorted Humor–Silky Serenade, by Unbridled’s Song) was let go at 8-1 off an unassuming worktab, and might have left the backers she did have ripping up their tickets prematurely after she dropped pilot Brian Hernandez, Jr. and fell behind the gate. Apparently no worse for wear, however, the $150,000 KEESEP yearling broke towards the back of the pace before inching forward out into the clear to vie three deep into the turn. She kept on despite some obvious greenness in the stretch, and kicked away late to get the job done by a convincing 2 3/4 lengths. Seranitsa (Dialed In) completed the exacta. The winner’s dam, a half to MGSW juvenile Private Vow (Broken Vow), has a yearling colt by Into Mischief and a foal colt by Kantharos–she sold for $75,000 in foal to the latter at KEENOV ’17. Lifetime Record: 1-1-0-0, $30,600. Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton. O-Fern Circle Stables & Three Chimneys Farm, LLC; B-Stonestreet Thoroughbred Holdings LLC (KY); T-Kenneth G. McPeek. View the full article

2nd-Curragh, €26,000, Cond, 6-8, 2yo, 5fT, 1:00.82, g/f. DOM CARLOS (IRE) (c, 2, Gale Force Ten {GB}–Fancy Feathers {Ire}, by Redback {GB}), who was fifth in the decent six-furlong maiden won by Indigo Balance (Ire) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}) here May 27, put that experience to full use by bouncing out and taking initial control. Beginning to extend his slim advantage from the furlong pole, the 11-1 shot hit the line with four lengths to spare over Evasive Power (Elusive Quality). In doing so, he was becoming the first winner for the Irish National Stud’s G3 Jersey S.-winning first-season sire (by Oasis Dream {GB}). The dam, who also has a yearling colt by Zebedee (GB), is connected to the G3 Lancashire Oaks winner and MG1SP Ela Athena (GB) (Ezzoud {Ire}). Sales history: €34,000 Wlg ’16 GOFNOV; £45,000 Ylg ’17 GOUKPR. Lifetime Record: 3-1-0-0, $19,246. Video, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton. O-Martin O’Sullivan & Annus Mirabilis Syndicate; B-Philip O’Dwyer & P. J. Walsh (IRE); T-Joseph O’Brien. View the full article

The latest addition to the Goffs London Sale, in association with QIPCO, is the winning mare Belle Josephine (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) in foal to French standout sire Siyouni (Fr). Already the dam of dual listed winner Mildenberger (GB) (Teofilo {Ire}) who ran second in the G2 Dante S. in May, she is scheduled to sell along with 21 other lots on the evening of Monday, June 18 at the Kensington Palace Gardens. “She comes from a great broodmare line developed by Meon Valley which works well with Pivotal, and as such, Siyouni should be an exciting cover for her,” said Daniel Creighton, bloodstock advisor to owner John Dance. “She is a particularly good looking mare by Dubawi and a proven broodmare with her exciting son Mildenberger.” Other notable entries announced earlier include Landikusic (Ire), a full-sister to Zoffany (Ire) (Dansili {GB}) in foal to Frankel (GB); Group 1 winner Miss Beatrix (Ire) (Danehill Dancer {Ire}); and listed winners Vintage Brut (GB) (Dick Turpin {Ire}) and Never Back Down (Ire) (Kodiac {GB}). Added Goffs Chief Executive Henry Beeby, “Belle Josephine is an outstanding addition to the breeding stock section of the London Sale catalogue. With just over a week to go until the fifth renewal of the Goffs London Sale, we are delighted with the current list of entries and expect to announce some further wildcards over the coming days. The depth and versatility of the entries, both breeding stock and horses in training means there is something for everyone. All looks set for a great afternoon of sales action as we have gathered a catalogue of true quality and depth which should attract both a domestic and international market.” For a video on the Goffs Londong Sale, click here or for the full catalogue, go to www.goffs.com. View the full article

Ahead of a quiet midweek meeting at Newmarket, the sun is shining and a hint of a breeze occasionally ruffles the heads of the flowers surrounding the parade ring as one of the world’s most famous jockeys sits serenely by, awaiting his three rides of the evening. Gerald Mosse has experienced the clamour of many a big raceday since his riding career began some 35 years ago. He won the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe for fellow young buck Nicolas Clement aboard Saumarez (GB) back in 1990 and the following year guided Arazi through a faultless quintet of French Group wins before Pat Valenzuela took up the reins for the colt’s now infamous and breathtaking Breeders’ Cup Juvenile romp. The most successful jockey at the international meeting in Hong Kong, the place which has been his home on and off since 1992, Mosse has partnered such iconic names of the global racing circuit as Jim And Tonic (Fr), Sacred Kingdom (Aus) and Red Cadeaux (GB). Having ridden the last named in two of his three runner-up finishes in the Melbourne Cup, the jockey went one better when becoming the first French rider to win Australia’s most famous race, teaming up with his compatriot Alain de Royer-Dupre for a resounding victory on Americain. In short, Mosse knows the buzz like few others. It’s fair to say that the only thing buzzing at the Rowley Mile this peaceful evening is a hopeful bee by the flowerbed but the bucolic scene is very much in keeping with the current demeanour of Newmarket’s newcomer. “I’m a British resident now,” says the winner of 65 Group 1 races. “I live in Newmarket and what could be better than today—beautiful weather on a beautiful racecourse?” Mosse is certainly not an unfamiliar face on Newmarket’s training grounds in the morning. Back in the mid-1990s, during his stint as the Aga Khan’s number one jockey, he could regularly be found on Newmarket Heath and on British tracks riding the owner-breeder’s horses trained by Sir Michael Stoute and Luca Cumani. And indeed only last season he appeared on occasion in Jeremy Noseda’s string during his retainership with the then-fledgling Phoenix Thoroughbred operation for whom he rode Take Me With You to her third-place finish at Royal Ascot in the G3 Albany S. behind Different League (Fr) and Alpha Centauri (Ire). While the foundations of that team continue to shift, Mosse has been signed up by another owner with a growing Thoroughbred portfolio in British racing, Dr Johnny Hon. He says, “I have ridden here in my career but I never had the chance to be based here. Now the opportunity has come up and I’ve grabbed it, and I really appreciate the opportunity given to me by Dr Johnny Hon. He has a number of horses based here and he asked me to help him. He’s based in Hong Kong and that’s where we got to know each other. It’s a big help to be able to communicate with him about his investment and his team here and to try to be part of the team.” That team stretches to around 40 horses, most of whom are named with the ‘Global’ prefix, spread between Ed Dunlop and Gay Kelleway in Newmarket and Ed Walker and Charlie Hills in Lambourn. “I’m riding these horses as a priority but I can ride for other people as well,” Mosse explains. “I’ve been here for long enough that people have given me support over many years and I’m very grateful for that. I have the privilege to ride for William Haggas, Saeed Bin Suroor, John Ryan, Ed Dunlop, Gay Kelleway. It makes me very pleased but to be honest I would like to ride a little bit more because sometimes I feel that I’m missing something. But I’m not greedy, I’m happy with what I have and I can always look forward to the next day.” The peripatetic nature of the lives of all top jockeys is not something which Mosse has completely turned his back on. While his colleagues and compatriots were riding at ParisLongchamp’s controversial Guineas meeting, Mosse travelled to Rome to win the G2 Premio Presidente della Repubblica aboard Royal Julius (Ire), the first time he had ridden for fellow Marseille-born trainer Jerome Reynier. The same partnership looks set to be back in action at Royal Ascot, where the 5-year-old son of Royal Applause (GB) will be one of the outsiders in a competitive field for the G1 Prince Of Wales’s S. “He’s a lovely young trainer and we come from the same place but we don’t know each other well,” says Mosse of Reynier, whose impressive strike-rate from his southern outpost has ensured that he has growing support. “He asked me to go to Rome and I really appreciated that. It was a dream trip. Royal Ascot will be a different story, we’ll be stepping up big time but the horse has some ability. We don’t know if that’s his level—I cannot expect to beat a champion there but he’s well and in great form at the moment and he’ll give his best. He has a great temperament and is a good traveller so we should be able to travel worldwide. I used to ride Red Cadeaux and he wasn’t a superstar in England but when he went overseas he became a superstar. It was the same story with Jim And Tonic and Americain. So we’ll carry on and see if we can follow the same kind of itinerary with Royal Julius.” Though Mosse has yet to ride at the new ParisLongchamp, he’s been keeping an eye on developments from afar and feels that it was a mistake to return the first two French Classics to the ‘moyenne piste’. In the end, only the colts’ race was run over that course, with the fillies’ contest being switched to the outer track after a jockeys’ protest led by Christophe Soumillon. “I wasn’t very comfortable when I saw that they had put the Guineas over the medium track,” he admits. “I used to ride in the Guineas on the medium track years back and it was trouble. I don’t understand who thought that this would be a good idea. Longchamp is quite big but the medium track is tight and the turn is very slippery. So I’ve seen many accidents there and then after the first Guineas they realised it was trouble. I also don’t think the false [cutaway] rail will work because now all the jockeys will be thinking we have time and we can drop in and then everybody tries to jump in the same hole and it creates more trouble. If you know that the fence is there you have to find your way out, and if you are on a good horse you have plenty of time to catch up.” He will return to Longchamp for the first time on Sunday when riding First Sitting (GB) for Chris Wall in the G3 La Coupe. But it is the curious twists, turns and undulations of a number of Britain’s quirkier tracks that will doubtless be testing every bit of Mosse’s canny as he travels the length and breadth of the country to fulfil his new contract. At the end of May he was reunited with Wall’s stalwart for a third stakes success on the 7-year-old and though that was at the unconventional Goodwood, Mosse will know well Britain’s Grade 1 tracks. Today, however, he finds himself heading north for Yorkshire to take in the tight bends of Beverley for the first time. “I think it’s very brave at this stage of his career,” says Ed Dunlop, who has enjoyed international success with the jockey, notably through the G1 Hong Kong Vase win of Red Cadeaux, and is delighted to be able to call on his experience in Newmarket. “He’s internationally very talented but he’s having to learn fast about all these different tracks here. Having Gerald in town has been very useful for me in the mornings as he has such great experience. I hope he’s enjoying it.” Mosse himself says of his new venture, “The thing that is most difficult for the guys [jockeys] here is that they have to travel a lot. I respect people’s involvement with the horses in Britain—the tradition, the crowds, the owners—everybody makes the effort and racing has really solid support with a strong root. I believe it was probably something missing in my career so far not to be part of it.” Naturally lithe with a healthy tan and a hawk-like look that gives him an air of being constantly on guard, Mosse could quite easily pass for being at least a decade younger than he is. At 51, he has a few years on Frankie Dettori and is now mixing with weighing-room colleagues not even born when he won the Arc. “I believe it’s probably easier to join the team of jockeys here and to be accepted than in other countries,” he says. “Of course when you arrive and are new you have to find your own space but I’ve been here long enough to be able to blend in without too much trouble. I’m one of the older ones and for me it’s a privilege to challenge with the younger ones. As long as everybody can play the game, everybody will enjoy it.” An hour after chatting to TDN, Mosse files out from the weighing-room amid his new colleagues, noticeable at once by the distinctive white gloves of a magician. He is clearly not the only one to believe that he still has a few tricks up his sleeve as he heads into the twilight years of what has been a magical career. “I’ve a few years left to go to the end of my trip so I definitely want to enjoy it as much as I can to the end,” he says. “After that will be another challenge.” View the full article

Disco Partner will attempt to improve upon his stellar record over the Belmont Park turf when he faces seven opponents, including stablemate Pure Sensation, in the $400,000 Jaipur Invitational (G2T) June 9. View the full article

The mood at Barn 1 June 8, after Justify put in his final bit of work in preparation for the Belmont Stakes presented by NYRA Bets (G1), was noticeably light. View the full article

Shortly after Joao Moreira announced his plans to leave Hong Kong to ride in Japan, the Hong Kong riding ranks lost another member when Tommy Berry revealed he will return to his native Australia at the end of the current season. “There are two things that have led to this decision and the first of those is my family,” Berry told Racing.com. “I’ve got a young family, we’ve got three kids under the age of three-and-a-half and the youngest is only still a baby. It was always going to be a challenge coming back to Hong Kong this season with a young family and to be honest, they haven’t settled in as well as we would have liked. The lifestyle doesn’t really suit at this stage of my life and being back in Sydney will make it much easier for everyone.” Berry had initially set out to Hong Kong as contract stable rider to trainer John Moore, but after the pair had little success together they agreed to break the contract and Berry, who recently won the G1 Champions & Chater Cup on Pakistan Star (Ger) (Shamardal), has since been riding on contract with the Hong Kong Jockey Club. He admitted he hasn’t been riding as much as he would like. “I’m getting seven or eight rides at Sha Tin on a Sunday and maybe three or four during the week at Happy Valley,” Berry said. “That is only about 12 rides a week and I want to be riding more than that. I enjoy working, I like riding four times a week, sometimes more and that can happen back home. I’m only 27 and still like working hard, maybe a little down the track when I’m a bit older this lifestyle may be suitable, but I like the challenge of constant riding.” View the full article

The structure and board of British racing’s new Racing Authority, which will take over Levy distribution from April 2019, has been agreed by the British Horseracing Authority, the Horsemen’s Group and the Racecourse Association. The UK Gambling Commission will collect the Levy and distribution will be carried out by the Racing Authority. Part of its role will include distributing the funds fairly and transparently, consultation with the betting industry and wider stakeholders and growing the racing product. The eight members of the Racing Authority Board are Sir Hugh Robertson (Chairman, independent), Nick Rust (BHA Chief Executive), Richard Wayman (BHA Chief Operating Officer), Julian Richmond-Watson (Chairman, Thoroughbred Breeders’ Association), Charlie Liverton (Chief Executive, Racehorse Owners’ Association), Maggie Carver (Chairman, Racecourse Association) Stephen Atkin (Chief Executive, Racecourse Association), and one additional independent individual yet to be determined. Robertson said, “Today sees a significant step forward for British Racing. I have been very encouraged to see how well the Authority’s new Board is working together to agree spending priorities. We now have an intense period of work ahead of us as a new organisation to prepare for the formal transfer of responsibilities in April 2019, and we look forward to working with the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport; the Horserace Betting Levy Board; the Gambling Commission and stakeholders throughout racing and betting in the coming months.” View the full article

Belmont Stakes Preview The Belmont Stakes is the final leg of the much coveted but seldom won Triple Crown. This year marks the 150th Belmont Stakes and the big question is, can Justify win the Triple Crown? The Triple Crown itself starts with the Kentucky Derby, where Justify lived up to all the hype with a comfortable two and a half-length victory on just his fourth career start. Amazingly Justify didn’t run as a two-year-old and only first stepped foot on a racetrack in mid-February. This victory in the Kentucky Derby confirmed that Bob Baffert had a special animal in his barn. Just two weeks later and the son of Scat Daddy was lining up as a hot favourite for the Preakness Stakes, it may not have been plain sailing but the chestnut colt fought hard to get the verdict by half a length. All eyes will be on Justify and his jockey Mike Smith on Saturday, as he tries to become the 13th horse to complete the Holy Grail “Triple Crown” and if successful at Belmont Park, he will become the first Triple Crown not to have raced as a two-year-old. Some previous Triple Crown winners include War Admiral (Seabiscuit’s old advisory), Secretariat, Seattle Slew and in more recent times American Pharoah. “Big-Money Mike,” thinks that Justify will add his name to this illustrious list saying that: “To go for a Triple Crown is incredible, and so tough to pull off, but this is the kind of horse that’s got the required talent. He’s got the ability, there’s no doubting that…He’s by far the best three-year-old I’ve been involved with.” It seems quite hard to oppose Justify and every racing fan will be cheering him home on Saturday but is there viable contenders to take the crown away? Todd Pletcher who famously trained Rags To Riches to win the Belmont in 2007, saddles two runners in the form of Vino Rosso and Noble Indy. Even with Justify having to break from the dreaded stall 1 Pletcher said: “I think, like all of us, we need Justify to wake up on the wrong side of the bed to have a chance,” In reality, it looks like only two things could stand in the way of Justify entering the record books as the 13th Triple Crown winner…they are fatigue and Hofburg. The Triple Crown has only been won 12 times for good reason, it’s very demanding for a three year old to run over three different distances at three tracks in a space of five weeks. It would seem on the face of it that Justify has all the attributes needed to win but we won’t truly know until Saturday. Bill Mott saddles Hofburg in the Belmont Stakes and I believe that the son of Tapit is the biggest danger to Justify. Hofburg has only won two races from five starts but he seems to be crying out for the step up in distance. Following a creditable second behind Audible in the Florida Derby, he went to Churchill Downs with leading claims, however, the Juddmonte owned colt had a rough trip to finish a never nearer seventh behind Justify. Hofburg comes into the race as a fresh horse having skipped the Preakness and I think he will be victorious come Saturday. RaceBets have a fantastic offer in the Belmont Stakes if your selection finishes second behind Justify then you’ll get your money back as a free bet. Money back if your selection finishes 2nd to Justify in the Belmont Stakes! On the domestic front, this weekend gives us a chance to grab our breath following consecutive weeks of top-class action. Haydock plays host to a brace of Group Threes on Saturday, while Musselburgh features the Scottish Sprint Cup handicap where Line of reason bids to win back to back renewals. Scottish Sprint Cup Musselburgh racecourse has been hosting races since 1816 and the Scottish Sprint Cup is one of the courses flagship races. It’s run over the minimum trip of five furlongs and attracts some top speedsters with the last two renewals going the way of Hoofalong and Line of Reason. Some of the leading contenders for this year include: El Astronaute far sideEl Astronaute Approve ex Drumcliffe Dancer Trainer: J J Quinn Owner: Mr Ross Harmon Racing John Quinn’s El Astronaute has been an absolute revelation this season with 4 placed efforts in as many runs and going up six pounds in the process. A head defeat at the hands of Mr Lupton at York was a career-best when last seen. The only concern would be that this run was only two weeks ago, and this run will be his fifth within six weeks. If showing no ill effects for these excursions El Astronaute is the one to beat. Move in Time Monsieur Bond ex Tibesti Trainer: P Midgley Owner: A Turton, J Blackburn & R Bond Paul Midgley’s veteran had been steadily slipping down the handicap until capitalising most recently at Newmarket off a mark of 83. In his pomp Move In Time held a rating of 113 following a third-place finish in the Group Two King George Stakes at Goodwood. This first win since 2015 resulted in a seven-pound rise for the son of Monsieur Bond and with this confidence boosting run behind him Move In Time has very strong claims of getting back to back wins. The only slight reservation is that he finished last in the races in 2017 behind stablemate Line of Reason. Line of Reason Kheleyf ex Miss Party Line Trainer: P Midgley Owner: Taylor’s Bloodstock Ltd Line Of Reason bids to retain the race off a mark seven pounds lower than last season. The much-raced eight-year-old is being reunited with Joe Fanning and having finished less than four lengths behind race favourite El Astronaute on his previous start, Paul Midgely’s stable star looks the one. Others to note include Dark Shot, Soie D’leau and Orion’s Bow. Selection: Line Of Reason Outsider: Orions Bow Luca Cumani trainer of God GivenPinnacle Stakes This 1 Mile 4 Furlong Group Three contest is fascinating with six of the seven horses being four-year-olds. The only exception to this is the improving German raider Fosun from the Markus Klug yard and SDS in the saddle. The Soldier Hollow mare most recently won a listed race at Hannover and will pose punters problems. God Given looks to provide Luca Cumani with a welcome winner and it would be no surprise if this lightly raced yet highly tried filly obliged in the hands of Jamie Spencer. A midfield finish in the Group One Prix Vermeille at Chantilly last year is the standout piece of form in the field. If the daughter of Nathaniel can handle the much quicker underfoot conditions then she will prove very tough to beat. The most progressive filly in the race is Roger Charlton’s Cribbs Causeway who went from a mark of 62 to 95 last season, winning five times in the process. A third-place finish in a Group Three at York on seasonal debut suggests that the progression may not have stopped and she will give God Given plenty to think about. Selection: God Given Outsider: Fosun The other Group Three contest at Haydock on Saturday is the John Of Gaunt Stakes run over seven furlongs. There are some very smart horses lining set to face the starter including triple listed winner Tabarrak, Emmaus who has only been beaten once in four career starts and the consistently smart D’bai. However, none of the aforementioned horses has the class of Dutch Connection, particularly over seven furlongs. Put simply Dutch Connection has run three times at Group Three level all over seven furlongs and the result?…. Three wins! In fact, over he’s specialist trip Dutch Connection has only been beaten three times including finishing in arrears of Gleneagles and Toormore. This is very strong from in the context of this race and following a seasonal pipe opener in the Lockinge, Dutch Connection really should be collecting the prize. Selection: Dutch Connection Outsider: Larchmont Lad Don’t Forget to check out all of RaceBets offers here The post Will he “Justify” the hype? Belmont Stakes & UK Preview appeared first on RaceBets Blog EN. View the full article

Zac Purton is fighting a fierce on-track battle with Joao Moreira for the 2017-18 jockeys’ championship but he still led the way in paying tribute to his departing arch-rival and said the Brazilian had helped him become a better rider. Moreira stunned Hong Kong racing late on Thursday when he withdrew his application for a Jockey Club license and announced he would leave for Japan at season’s end in attempt to become the Japan Racing Association’s third full-time foreign... View the full article