Wandering Eyes

While the stopwatch told an impressive tale, it was how dual classic winner Justify had just whipped through the motions that was the real eye-opener during his half-mile breeze in :46 4/5 over the Churchill Downs track May 29. View the full article

As the dust settles on Ireland’s first Classic weekend, we take a look back at the highs, lows and key talking points from some stellar action. There are plenty pointers to be taken for the season from a new Australian sprinter to a pair of surprise Guineas winners. Shock Guineas Winners Romanised sprung a 25/1 shock in the 2000 Guineas for Ken Condon and in process entered Condon into the exclusive “classic winning trainer” club! The Holy Roman Emperor colt came from the back of the field in a strongly run contest to collar long-time leader U S Navy Flag In the final 100 yards. After the race Condon said: “I’m in a bit of shock and it will be a few days before it sinks in. It’s just amazing to win a classic. It’s all I wanted to do when I entered racing.” Romanised starting price would indicate that the colt held very little chance of triumphing over some very well touted rivals but a quick glance in the form book will show a second place finish behind Masar in the Group Three Solario Stakes on his final start last season. This run would have undoubtedly given Ken Condon and his owner Robert Ng high hopes of having a productive three-year-old campaign but did they really harbour hopes of Guineas glory? It would seem the jockey did, during the post-race interview, you could have been forgiven for thinking that Shane “Dusty” Foley had just won the 2000 Guineas on a 6/4 favourite. He was beaming from ear to ear with delight and if you listened you could hear him shout: “I told you he’d win!” A trip to Royal Ascot for the St James Palace Stakes is next on the agenda where a re-match with U S Navy Flag looks on the card. After a surprise winner on Saturday, the 1000 Guineas looked relatively simple, Aidan had two major fancies in the form of Happily and Clemmie. Oh but that would have been far too easy instead, we saw a mini gamble landed on the big imposing filly Alpha Centauri. The Mastercraftsman Filly came fast and late to beat another Aidan O’Brien trained filly Could It Be Love. This success provided Jessica Harrington with a first classic success, while jockey Colm Donoghue who is no stranger to Classic winners was in the saddle. Alpha Centauri was one of last season’s leading two-year-olds, with a neck defeat to Different League in the Albany at Royal Ascot the undoubtedly the highlight. Following a disappointing run on seasonal debut when ground conditions were far from ideal the Niarchos family owned filly really appreciated the quicker underfoot surface at the Curragh to win going away. This gorgeous filly now looks Royal Ascot-bound for a tilt at the Coronation Stakes with Jessica Harrington saying in the aftermath: “The plan is to go to Ascot for the Coronation Stakes and take it from there. She might stay longer but that is the current plan. Let’s hope for good weather and she gets there in one piece.” Battaash breaks a sweat in Temple Stakes At Haydock last season’s runaway Prix De L’Abbaye winner, Battaash was made to work all the way to the line in the Group Two Temple Stakes. Battaash was having his first run since that win at Chantilly and perhaps he was showing this race rustiness by dwelling in the stalls and then hanging left inside the final furlong. These sentiments were ones shared by Charlie Hills, with him commenting afterwards: “He got a bit tired in the last half-furlong, but we’ve left a bit to work on and this was always a prep. It was his first run and he hasn’t even come in his coat yet. Giving 5lb to some very good horses was always going to be hard.” This run looks sure to have put Battaash in good shape prior to a crack at the King’s Stand at Royal Ascot for which he currently favourite. Other performances to note There were three other horses this weekend that really caught the eye. Firstly European racegoers got a first glimpse of the Australian sprinter Merchant Navy. The Fastnet Rock colt was having his first run for Aidan O’Brien in the Group Two Greenlands Stakes at the Curragh having previously won a Group One over 6f in Australia. Merchant Navy was worryingly weak in the market but this worry was ill placed as he disposed of his 8 rivals with a modicum of ease. Royal Ascot was always to the fore of Coolmore’s mind when deciding to move the colt across continents and after his display at the weekend it so no surprise to see him at the fore of the Diamond Jubilee market. Karl Burke had intended on Guineas runner-up Laurens taking up her engagement in the Irish 1000 Guineas but quick ground ruled out plan A. Longchamp proved to be a good plan B with the filly coming out the right side of a photo, picking up her second Group One victory and first of the current campaign. Mark Johnston was understandably disappointed following Elarqam very poor display in the 2000 Guineas, the Sheikh Hamdan Al Maktoum owned three old never really looked comfortable on Saturday fading into sixth place up the straight. However, there was compensation for Johnston in Dusseldorf as Nyaleti justified her 13/8 starting price when claiming the German 1000 Guineas under Joe Fanning. This was the Nyaleti’s second win this season having won a listed race at Goodwood on her penultimate start. Plenty can be taken from this weekend with the key horse going to Royal Ascot being Merchant Navy, the Australian import has big boots to fill following the likes of Black Caviar and Choisir but he looks like a horse to stay on the right side of for the season. The post Racing Rewind – Irish Guineas appeared first on RaceBets Blog EN. View the full article

Albaugh Family Stables’ Grade I winner Free Drop Billy (Union Rags) has been confirmed for a start in the GI Belmont S., co-owner Jason Loutsch told the NYRA notes team Tuesday. Winner of the GI Claiborne Breeders’ Futurity last fall, the Dale Romans trainee most recently finished 16th in the GI Kentucky Derby and worked five furlongs in :59 3/5 (2/25) Monday at his Churchill Downs base. “I guess our main thing coming out of the Kentucky Derby was, obviously, we were really disappointed,” Loutsch said. “We feel he’s a better horse than that, and we’re going to cross that one off. We wanted to see how he bounced back after that race, and yesterday he showed us he has a lot of energy and is a happy horse. He galloped out really strong, and Dale’s been really happy with his training. This is a huge race, a big stage, and this is what we’re in the game for: to run in big races. This is a great opportunity. We know it’s going to be a very tough challenge. But if we can get a piece of it, even hitting the board is a huge accomplishment, and we’re excited for the opportunity.” Loutsch made the decision in conjunction with his father-in-law and co-owner Dennis Albaugh in part because they believe that Free Drop Billy’s breeding suggests he’ll appreciate the 1 1/2 miles of the “Test of the Champion.” “His dad was a Belmont winner, and he’s out of a Giant’s Causeway mare,” Loutsch said. “He’s bred to go the distance. We just hope he runs to his breeding.” View the full article

Add the connections of grade 1 winner Free Drop Billy to the list of those hoping to pull off a shocker at Belmont Park June 9. View the full article

When Lancaster Bomber (War Front) won the G1 Tattersalls Gold Cup at The Curragh on the weekend, it was the 4-year-old’s first stakes victory and also his first win since he broke his maiden at Leopardstown just under two years ago. Despite not being a serial winner, the Coolmore colt had racked up just short of €1-million in prizemoney prior to his much-deserved success last Sunday courtesy of some honorable placed efforts in top company, when he was often deployed as a pacemaker for a more illustrious stablemate. Five runner-up slots in Group or Grade 1 races, including at two at the Breeders’ Cup and a more recent third to Rhododendron (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) in the G1 Al Shaqab Lockinge S., serve notice as to the massive talent the colt possesses. Even more interesting is the tale behind his dam Sun Shower (Ire) (Indian Ridge {Ire}) and his half-sister Rainfall Radar (Rebuttal), two horses who have clocked up thousands of airmiles before finding their current respective homes. Bloodstock agent and breeder Hugo Merry is the man who binds the whole story together, and when Lancaster Bomber won last Sunday he became the second Group 1 winner for his dam Sun Shower, who Merry purchased for Indian clients for €10,000 at Goffs in 2008. She was carrying to Strategic Prince (GB) at the time, but had left behind a 2008-born Exceed And Excel (Aus) colt who would later be known as Excelebration (Ire), a regular follower of Frankel (GB) who eventually was rewarded for his class and consistency when winning the G1 Prix Jacques Le Marois and the G1 QEII S. at Ascot before retiring to the Coolmore roster. “I bought Sun Shower in Goffs for Nirmal Singh of Hazara Stud in India,” Merry told the TDN. “She is from a great Ballymacoll family, so we sent her to India and then a couple of years later up pops Excelebration. Obviously she then became quite a valuable commodity, so I bought her back for many multiples of what we paid for her on behalf of the Coolmore partners and she went straight from India to America, where she was bred to War Front. That is how Lancaster Bomber came about.” He continued, “Obviously I have been following Lancaster Bomber since he began racing and it was great to see him finally getting his turn on Sunday. You couldn’t have a more durable, brave horse than him, I would think, and he thoroughly deserved it.” At the time of her purchase by Coolmore, Sun Shower was in foal to the Indian-based stallion Rebuttal (Mr. Greeley), and part of the deal was that Merry and his Indian partners would retain ownership of the foal in utero whenever that was born. “I actually also bought Rebuttal as a breeze-up horse. Brian Meehan trained him and he was just beaten in the [G1] Middle Park S., but he got injured after and was never quite the same again. He turned out to be a very successful stallion in India but died prematurely, unfortunately.” When Sun Shower produced a filly by Rebuttal, Merry and his partners were delighted to have a half-sister to such a prominent, high-class horse in Excelebration, who was about to embark on his first season under the tutelage of Aidan O’Brien, having been previously well-placed by Marco Botti to win the G1 Prix Du Moulin at ParisLongchamp in 2011. Having been conceived in India, the filly, subsequently named Rainfall Radar, was born and raised at Ashford Stud in Kentucky until she was weaned, after which she boarded a plane bound for Merry’s farm, Kilshannig Stud in Cork. When she came of racing age, Rainfall Radar was sent to trainer Joe Murphy in Tipperary and, despite showing ability, she never managed to get her head in front, much to the frustration of her owner. “She was in the frame 11 times from 17 starts and she was desperately unlucky not to win one but that’s life,” Merry said. Regardless of her success or lack thereof on the track, Rainfall Radar was assured of a breeding career given the exploits of her two Group 1-winning siblings, and Merry can count himself lucky again that he did not let the hammer fall in someone else’s favour when he offered her in foal to Gleneagles (Ire) at Tattersalls last year. Merry bought her back on that occasion for 180,000 gns, and since then he has welcomed another female to the family. “She foaled a very attractive filly by Gleneagles this year and she is back in foal to Caravaggio,” he said. While Merry made the decision to buy back Rainfall Radar last year, the story of Sun Shower also highlights the vagaries of Thoroughbred breeding, and how so often in this game one man’s misfortune can lead to another man’s gain. For that reason, one must spare a thought for fellow breeders John Tuthill and Kevin O’Donnell, who both passed Sun Shower through their hands before any of her sons hit the big time. So what now for Rainfall Radar? Merry is a breeder as well as well as a horse trader and has forged a successful career from selling horses around the world. He was also co-owner and co-breeder of G1 Darley Irish Oaks and G1 Longines Prix de l’Opera winner Covert Love (Ire) (Azamour {Ire}), who he sold privately to Katsumi Yoshida’s Northern Farm when she retired from racing. “The team in Goffs have approached us to see if we would offer her in the London Sale, but I haven’t decided yet what to do, it’s still under consideration,” he said. “The fact she has a filly foal means we might retain that and sell the mare at a later date; we have plenty of options.” Whatever Merry decides to do will likely be the wise decision, as he has a lifetime of experience in the bloodstock world. As well as having a number of blue chip international clients for whom he sources horses for, his picturesque Kilshannig Stud outside Fermoy is home to around 45 mares. “We’ve bred a lot of good horses here over the years, obviously Covert Love was very good to us and I’m really enjoying the breeding side of things,” he said. “However, the biggest problem I find is replacing the aging mares or the ones who are no longer good enough. It’s hard to buy the fillies that you’d like to be breeding from.” While a statement like that comes from the breeder within Merry, one gets the impression the trader in him will win out when it comes to deciding the future home of Rainfall Radar. 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. Wednesday’s Insights features the first foal out of GI Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf and G1 Poule d’Essai des Pouliches heroine Flotilla (Fr) (Mizzen Mast). 2.20 Nottingham, Mdn, £6,000, 2yo, f, 5f 8yT HEARTWARMING (GB) (Showcasing {GB}) debuts in the Hot To Trot Racing silks carried to G2 Queen Mary S. glory by her half-sister Heartache (GB) (Kyllachy {GB}) last year and, like that sibling, is trained by Clive Cox. Three of the last four winners of this heat have subsequently contested the Queen Mary and, in keeping with that theme, her rivals include Sir Mark Prescott trainee Klass Action (Ire) (Iffraaj {GB}), who is a daughter of 2013 Queen Mary fifth Alutiq (Ire) (Kodiac {GB}); Kodyanna (Ire) (Kodiac {GB}), who is a Richard Fahey-trained half-sister to last term’s stakes-winning G3 Prix de Cabourg runner-up and Queen Mary seventh Darkanna (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}) out of 2012 G2 Cherry Hinton S. third and Queen Mary fifth Jadanna (Ire) (Mujadil); and Little Kim (GB) (Garswood {GB}), who is a half-sister to last term’s Queen Mary third Out of the Flames (GB) (Showcasing {GB}) out of 2010 Queen Mary ninth Primo Lady (GB) (Lucky Story), from the Karl Burke stable. 3.20 Fontainebleau, Mdn, €25,000, unraced 3yo, f, 11fT SHALLA (GB) (Redoute’s Choice {Aus}) is one of two nominees for His Highness The Aga Khan in this debutantes’ heat and she is out of MG1SP 2009 G1 Prix de l’Opera heroine Shalanaya (Ire) (Lomitas {GB}). The Mikel Delzangles incumbent is joined by Shomaria (Fr) (Exceed and Excel {Aus}), who is a daughter of 2008 G3 Prix de Lutece and 2009 G3 Prix Allez France victress Shemima (GB) (Dalakhani {Ire}), from the Alain de Royer-Dupre stable. 3.20 Fontainebleau, Mdn, €25,000, unraced 3yo, c/g, 11fT OFFSET GUILT (GB) (Galileo {Ire}) is the first foal produced by 2012 GI Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf and 2013 G1 Poule d’Essai des Pouliches heroine Flotilla (Fr) (Mizzen Mast) and debuts for the same Sheikh Mohammed bin Khalifa Al Thani-Mikel Delzangles axis here. Opposition includes Gerard Augustin-Normand’s Boissey (Fr) (Iffraaj {GB}), who is out of MGSP 2001 G1 Criterium de Saint-Cloud fourth Banyu Dewi (Ger) (Poliglote {GB} and thus kin to three black-type performers headed by MGSW 2011 G1 Gold Cup and G1 Prix du Cadran third Brigantin (Cozzene), representing Pia Brandt; and Gestut Ammerland’s Agosto (Ire) (Nathaniel {Ire}), who is an Andre Fabre-trained gelded son of 2011 G1 Preis der Diana-German Oaks third Aigrette Garzette (Ire) (Peintre Celebre). 9.00 Gowran Park, Mdn, €12,000, 3yo/up, f/m, 7fT RAESEEYA (GB) (Dansili {GB}) is the first foal produced by 2012 G1 Durban Golden Slipper victress Rumya (NZ) (Red Ransom) and debuts in the colours of Sheikh Mohammed bin Khalifa Al Maktoum carried to success in that Greyville highlight. The Michael O’Callaghan trainee faces a baker’s dozen including Derrick Smith, Susan Magnier and Michael Tabor’s twice-raced Darkness Falls (War Front), who is an Aidan O’Brien-trained daughter of MG1SP 2012 G1 Epsom Oaks heroine Was (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}); and Khalid Abdullah’s Clique (GB) (Bated Breath {GB}), who is kin to three black-type performers headed by last term’s G3 Winter Derby hero Convey (GB) (Dansili {GB}) and ill-fated G3 Supreme S.-winning sire Stronghold (GB) (Danehill), returning off a Sept. 17 debut fifth to subsequent G3 Athasi S. victress Lightening Quick (GB) (Frankel {GB}) and representing Dermot Weld. 9.10 Ripon, Cond, £6,000, 3yo/up, 10f 190yT Derrick Smith, Susan Magnier, Michael Tabor and Markus Jooste’s DEPARTMENT OF WAR (IRE) (Declaration of War), a Richard Hannon-trained half-brother to G1SW sire Toormore (Ire) (Arakan) and MGSW sire Estidhkaar (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}), returns off a third in Newmarket’s May 19 Listed Fairway S. and is opposed by a cast of seven in this low-key return. It includes Godolphin newcomer Beauvais (Ire) (New Approach {Ire}), who represents Saeed bin Suroor and is a half-brother to MGSW 2012 G2 International Istanbul Trophy victress Local Time (GB) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}); and Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed Al Maktoum’s twice-raced Firlinfeu (GB) (New Approach {Ire}), who is a gelded son of MGSW 2010 G1 Nassau S., G1 Prix Jean Romanet and G1 Premio Lydia Tesio placegetter Antara (Ger) (Platini {Ger}), making his turf debut for the Mark Johnston barn. View the full article

Colin and Janice McKenna raced the three-time Group 1-winning mare Jameka (Aus) (Myboycharlie {Aus}) in partnership under their Halo Racing Services, and the Warrnambool-based couple now owns their star mare outright after buying out their partners at A$2.6-million during the opening session of the Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale on Tuesday. That figure was enough for the 5-year-old mare to top the session, which for the first time was devoted exclusively to race fillies and maiden mares and boasted some serious star power. The fact that the session was restricted in such a way makes it difficult to draw comparisons from the same day a year ago, and thus full comparative statistics will be published upon conclusion of the sale on Friday. Nonetheless, 190 fillies and mares were sold on Tuesday for a total of A$31,727,500, at an excellent clearance rate of 85.2%. The average was A$166,987, while comparatively the median of A$51,000 highlighted the fact that there were a handful of breakout horses at the top of the market. “It was a sensational day’s trade,” Magic Millions Managing Director Barry Bowditch said. “With Jameka going in we said she was the star act. She’s a quality mare and for her to make A$2.6-million was a great result for all and I’m thrilled Colin McKenna, who’s had such a great affinity with her, was able to buy the rest of the syndicate out.” “All in all we’re really pleased with the day’s proceedings and hopefully onwards and upwards over the next few days. We have some great offerings [on Wednesday] and Heatherly is expected to be one of the stars–above all that we’re looking for solid trade and we want all the vendors who have supported us to get a win.” McKennas Buy Back Star Mare… Jameka (lot 1606) has proven the ultimate home run mare for her connections, having been bought by trainer and former part-owner Ciaron Maher for what now looks like a total bargain at A$130,000 at Inglis’s Classic yearling sale in 2014. While it took her four starts to break her maiden at two, it didn’t take her long to reach punters’ radars thereafter, as she notched her first win in the G2 VRC Sires’ S. Her first Group 1 win was in the VRC Oaks the following spring, and a year later she added the G1 Caulfield Cup before closing out her career on a high in the G1 The BMW. She was placed at the highest level a further five times. “She’s been very good to us,” Colin McKenna said. “She won nearly A$5-million so I don’t think it [Tuesday’s price] was a big outlay. We expected her to make somewhere between A$2.5- million and A$3-million–that’s what I thought anyway. I’m very happy and the wife really wanted her back.” The McKenna’s also own a share of the G1 Coolmore Stud S. winner Merchant Navy (Aus) (Fastnet Rock {Aus}), who was a winner in his European debut for trainer Aidan O’Brien over the weekend in The Curragh’s G2 Greenlands S., and who will enter stud at Coolmore Australia later this year after a tilt at Royal Ascot. McKenna said Jameka could be bred to him, although a decision had yet to be finalized. “We love these horses and they are our lives and Jameka was a pretty big part of that,” McKenna added. “She won the Caulfield Cup but I think her best win was the BMW at weight-for-age–there aren’t too many mares that can flog the colts and geldings. She will go to a nice stallion and we’ll see what happens from there.” Double Delight For Hawthorne, Freyer… Four years ago, Dean Hawthorne and Jon Freyer teamed up to purchase The Broken Shore (Aus) (Hussonet) at this sale from the Teeley Dispersal for A$1.9-million. As any breeder knows it can sometimes take a lifetime to reap the benefits of such an outlay, but in just four years, The Broken Shore has already proven worthy of her pricetag. The Fastnet Rock (Aus) filly she was carrying at the time of that sale has gone on to be this season’s triple Group 1 winner Shoals (Aus), and that one’s yearling full-brother topped last month’s Inglis Easter yearling sale when fetching A$2.3-million from Shoals’s trainer Anthony Freedman. Hawthorne and Freyer teamed to buy two more seven-figure mares on Tuesday, and they would surely be thrilled with the same fate for them. The first was Segenhoe Stud’s Group 1-winning Abbey Marie (Aus) (Redoute’s Choice {Aus}) (lot 606) for A$1.4-million, and she was followed by Newgate Farm’s Omei Sword (Aus) (High Chaparral {Ire}) (lot 747) for A$1.7-million. Expectations were high for Omei Sword from the very start, the filly having fetched A$675,000 as a yearling, and she went on to capture the G2 Silver Shadow S. at three for owner CC Lai as well as finishing second to Astern (Aus) (Medaglia d’Oro) in the G1 Golden Rose S. Out of the G1 Thousand Guineas winner Irish Lights (Aus) (Fastnet Rock {Aus}), Omei Sword traces back to the excellent producer Fall Aspen, whose influence has been felt all over the world through the likes of daughter Colorado Dancer (Ire) (Shareef Dancer), the dam of Dubai Millennium (GB) (Seeking The Gold), Group 1 winners and sire sons Fort Wood (Sadler’s Wells) and Timber Country (Woodman) and many others. Hawthorne revealed Omei Sword would go to the Northern Hemisphere to be bred. “We thought she would be well sought after and we’d have to stump up to get her,” he said. “She went for a little bit higher than we thought originally but when you’re chasing these big mares you’ve got to pay because everyone wants them.” “She will go straight to stud,” Hawthorne added. “She will go to the Northern Hemisphere and then we’ll sit down and work out her future from there.” Abbey Marie was another offering with a stout pedigree in addition to an excellent race record: the G1 Schweppes Oaks winner is a full-sister to Absolutely (Aus), who won that same race in addition to the G1 Australian Oaks, and their dam, Catshaan (Aus) (Catrail {Aus}), is a half-sister to Japanese Group 1 winner and sire Kinshasa No Kiseki (Aus) (Fuji Kiseki {Jpn}). “We thought she was the filly of the day,” Hawthorne added of Abbey Marie. “She has so much quality. She has a great pedigree. She’s a good, tough, sound mare. She just oozed class. To get the ones you want you’re going to have to pay for them, especially in this market at the top end.” Hawthorne confirmed that Abbey Marie had been bought for the partnership that races Shoals-Arrowfield and Pinecliff Racing-and he said a decision had not yet been made on whether the 5-year-old Abbey Marie would race on or head to the breeding shed. “We’ve bought some nice mares together over the years and we’re building up quite a nice partnership of broodmares. We’re having a lot of fun with Shoals so let’s hope that continues,” Hawthorne said. Yoshida Gets Silent Sedition… Katsumi Yoshida is another buyer who has enjoyed past success at this sale; he bought Response (Aus) (Charge Forward {Aus}), carrying this season’s G1 Golden Slipper winner Estijaab (Aus) (Snitzel {Aus}), for A$1.5-million here three years ago, and subsequently sold that filly on for A$1.7-million at last year’s Inglis Easter sale. On Tuesday, he added the G1 William Reid S.-winning Silent Sedition (Aus) (War Chant) (lot 784) to his Australian broodmare band for A$1.5-million, and that daughter of Fiorentina (Aus) (Dubai Destination)-a half-sister to the dam of G1 Dubai World Cup winner Monterosso (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire})-proved a massive homerun for her owners, who had purchased her from the Magic Millions Perth Yearling Sale four years ago for just A$45,000. “I’m absolutely happy with it,” said former part-owner Tom Curnow. “She’s been a wonderful horse for us. I must give great credit to Andrew Noblet, the trainer. He’s been sensational in the way he’s looked after her during her entire career.” Yoshida boards his mares in Australia at Arrowfield Stud and has a longstanding, successful joint venture with that nursery, and Arrowfield’s John Messara told Sky Racing, “She had what they look for in a filly. She had the conformation, she had the family and she certainly had the performance. They’ve been collecting these Group 1 mares and this is another one that joins the venture that we have with them. She’ll be staying with us at Arrowfield will be bred, who knows, maybe to Maurice, maybe to Snitzel, we’ll see.” “The market is becoming quite polarized; the top end is very, very strong,” Messara added. “When a mare comes along like this is another country, you don’t get the opportunity to buy her; they’re owned by families who don’t release them, so we’re very lucky to be able to buy them. We’ve got three today, this one for Northern Farm, but we’ve got Abbey Marie and Omei Sword as well; this one is for a separate partnership. We’re thrilled, they’re the mares we wanted to get and we got them all.” Another excellent turnaround was made by the team behind Ocean Embers (Aus) (Beneteau {Aus}) (lot 745). The 5-year-old mare was bought as a yearling for just A$23,000, and now a dual Group 3 winner, she made A$525,000 from Newgate Farm on Tuesday when consigned by Three Bridges Thoroughbreds. Trainer Shea Eden told Racing.com, “It’s fair to say back when we bought her for A$23,000 it was probably the furthest thing from our minds. It was probably what we were hoping to achieve, but to be here today at the Gold Coast and selling for over a half-million dollars, it’s a great result for the owners. She’s a special mare and she’ll always be dear to our hearts. She gave me my first Group 3 win and even the listed [win] on Melbourne Cup day was very special. It’s been a great ride and it’s nice to come up here today and support the team.” Married To Monsoon… Newgate Farm had made a very determined play for descendants of Monsoon Wedding (Aus) (Danehill) at the Teeley dispersal four years ago, and has subsequently done well selling the progeny of those mares. The Scone nursery went to A$950,000 on Tuesday to add another daughter of Monsoon Wedding, the 3-year-old filly Notting Hill (Aus) (Pierro {Aus}) (lot 743). This was not the first time Notting Hill had been a star attraction in this ring: she made A$1.4-million as a yearling in 2014, and has since recorded a pair of wins for Coolmore connections, including just eight days ago at Muswellbrook. Notting Hill is a half-sister to stakes winners Precious Lorraine (Aus) and Lucky Raquie (Aus), both by Encosta de Lago, and three other stakes horses. Monsoon Wedding is a full-sister to Group 1 winners and sires Redoute’s Choice and Platinum Scissors (Aus), and a half to Manhattan Rain (Aus) (Encosta de Lago {Aus}) as well as the dams of Rubick (Aus) (Encosta de Lago {Aus}) and Shoals. Just seven lots before selling Notting Hill, Coolmore Australia had laid out A$875,000 for Rosemont’s G1 Vinery Stud S. winner Montoya’s Secret (Aus) (lot 736), a daughter of its late sire High Chaparral. High Chaparral’s much-missed presence is still being felt Down Under, the Derby winner leaving four Group 1 winners this season, and his son So You Think (NZ) is also currently enjoying a fantastic run as a sire. Among the international buyers on Tuesday was Phoenix Thoroughbreds. The investment fund had already made significant purchases at this year’s Gold Coast Yearling Sale, Easter Yearling Sale and Chairman’s Sale, and on Tuesday Phoenix partnered with Segenhoe Stud, breeder of Merchant Navy, to buy the 4-year-old filly Blazers (Aus) (Fastnet Rock {Aus}) (lot 630) for A$110,000 from Bhima Thoroughbreds. Phoenix also purchased a share in leading sire Sebring for A$290,000. Phoenix is building a strong portfolio of stallion shares Down Under; it owns a quarter of Invader (Aus) (Snitzel {Aus}) with Aquis Farm, and also purchased a share in I Am Invincible (Aus) for A$575,000 at the Inglis Chairman’s Sale. View the full article

Undefeated GI Kentucky Derby and GI Preakness S. hero Justify (Scat Daddy) logged his first official workout since prior to the Derby when breezing a half-mile in a sharp :46.80 Tuesday at Churchill Downs in preparation for his run at the Triple Crown in the June 9 GI Belmont S. (click for video). The move was the fastest of 43 recorded at the distance. With trainer Bob Baffert in attendance, the chestnut breezed at 7:30 a.m. with jockey Martin Garcia aboard through splits of :12, :23.60 and :35.20 before galloping out five furlongs in :59.60 over the fast main track, according to Churchill Downs clocker John Nichols. “He worked really well,” Baffert said. “Martin knows how to breeze the horse so I flew him in from California. He warmed up really nice. I basically didn’t say anything on the radio to Martin after I asked him how he was warming up. He went in a nice groove. We let him gallop out a little further past the five-eighths pole, he took a big breath and turned around to go back to the barn. I’m really happy. It’s what you want to see.” Justify strictly galloped in between his runs in the Derby and Preakness and had done so since winning the middle jewel of the Triple Crown, but Baffert said he knew the colt was ready to do more after watching him train forwardly Monday. “I knew yesterday the way he galloped, he was ready to do something,” Baffert related. “The day before, he didn’t get to do much with the rain and he may not get to do much this week because of [possible] rain as well.” The Hall of Fame conditioner compared Justify’s energy to his last charge to sweep the Derby and Preakness, who Baffert visited Monday. “American Pharoah looked like that,” he said. “That’s what you want to see with another week to go before the Belmont. He looked really good and in great shape. He’s moving forward and held his weight for being a massive horse. I went to see Pharoah yesterday and I was really emotional when I was there. I asked him if it was okay if another horse broke his record and he didn’t seem to have a problem with it.” Baffert added that Justify will have one more breeze in advance of the Belmont, likely next Monday. Also working Tuesday was another Baffert hopeful for the Belmont, Restoring Hope (Giant’s Causeway). The Gary and Mary West-owned chestnut went seven furlongs in 1:26 flat (1/1) with Florent Geroux aboard. Third in the GII Wood Memorial S., Restoring Hope most recently finished 12th in the GIII Pat Day Mile S. on the Derby undercard. “I thought he worked really well,” Baffert said. “He’s a really competitive horse and is honest on the track. We were disappointed with how he ran in the Pat Day Mile, but I don’t think he liked the sloppy track.” View the full article

Magical (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), a winner of the G2 Debutante S. for Coolmore as a juvenile, will have to pass a late fitness test before being given the green light to run in the June 1 G1 Investec Oaks after suffering a setback. Aidan O’Brien’s filly is the general second favourite for the Epsom Classic on Friday, behind the Charlie Appleby-trained Wild Illusion (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}), but her participation could now be in doubt. “She just gave herself a little bit of a tip on the inside of her joint this morning,” said O’Brien of the G1 Moyglare Stud S. runner-up. “There was a little bit of filling in it this morning but it scanned perfect and we’re going to make a decision about her in the morning. The filling has to be gone out of it in the morning and we’re cooling it at the moment. Hopefully it will be gone and if it is there won’t be a problem.” Magical, who was fourth in the G1 Fillies’ Mile at Newmarket to end her 2-year-old season on Oct. 13, resumed with another fourth-place effort in the G3 Prix de la Grotte across the Channel at ParisLongchamp on Apr. 15. View the full article

There’s a column in the excellent news digest The Week entitled ‘Boring but important’. If that were transferred to a racing publication, it’s where plenty of people might file betting-related stories. Breeders like to think that without breeding there’d be no racing and punters believe the same of gambling. Both parties are right and it’s time for all involved in racing and breeding in Britain to grasp of the implications not just of the recent decision to reduce Fixed Odds Betting Terminal (FOBT) stakes to £2 but also the impending end of the Tote’s exclusivity as the country’s pool-betting operator. Whichever side of the industry we are involved in, it’s impossible to overlook the fact that countries with a tote monopoly also have a racing programme with healthy levels of prize-money, which in turn helps both to retain existing participants and to attract new ones. This cannot be said for the country that prides itself on having created horseracing as we know it. Britain is blessed with decent attendance figures at many racecourses and it can still dine out on the heritage which has racing fans flocking to its prestigious meetings from all corners of the world. But those visitors, if they happen to have a horse in training in, say, France or Australia, shake their heads in disbelief at how those associated with providing the British racing ‘product’ can make a living. Many, increasingly, cannot. Back in 1928, the Tote was established by the British government partly with the aim of improving the Thoroughbred breed and the sport itself through a return from some of the revenue from gambling on horseracing. The betting landscape changed in 1961 with the legalisation of off-course betting. That immediately made it harder for the Tote to compete because while it could still rival the bookmakers on course, the technology did not exist at that stage for it to take bets away from the racecourse and get them into the pool. In 2011 the Tote was sold off to bookmaker Betfred with an exclusive pool betting agreement which is set to expire in July. Important progress has been made by the British Horseracing Authority in recent years to boost racing’s coffers, significantly through the closure of the loophole which allowed offshore betting operators not to contribute to the Levy, but these are small steps when giant strides are needed to keep pace with other racing nations. Many of us involved in the sport will have muttered to ourselves that “something needs to be done” while sitting back and expecting somebody else to come up with a grand plan. That somebody may have just stepped forward. Alex Frost, a 42-year-old former Merrill Lynch trader who became one of that company’s youngest managing directors before his 30th birthday, turned his passion for horseracing first into ownership and then last year solidified his increasing breeding interests by buying Ladyswood Stud from Martyn Meade. He is also on the board of Epsom racecourse and is at the head of a consortium which, as of last week, now owns 25% of the Tote. “I love the sport and I’ve made a huge investment in it but I’m very concerned for its future,” Frost says. “We as an industry have this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to buy the Tote and to re-establish pool betting. If it wasn’t us buying it, it would be one of the big bookmakers buying it.” At a time when Frost could be enjoying the fruits of his labour by watching his foals gambol around Gloucestershire paddocks while pondering next year’s mating plans, he decided instead to combine his financial acumen and that love of the sport in a bid to enhance the future of racing in Britain. He is not alone in this endeavour. As the recent launch of the ‘Together for the Tote‘ campaign highlights, Frost’s Alizeti Capital has behind it a collective of racehorse owners which shares his aim. The individual identities of the powerful group haven’t yet been announced but together they account for around 3,000 racehorses. The Alizeti consortium reached an agreement with Fred Done of Betfred to buy 25% of the Tote in what a transaction seemingly valued at £150 million. It has the option to purchase it in its entirety, which could happen sooner than indicated. “We have an option to buy it out 100% in the third year but it will actually be at our discretion,” Frost explains. “It will effectively be a cooperative which everybody can gain from, including bookmakers and racecourses, while we will be doing everything we can to revitalise the Tote experience.” He adds, “If you are a racing-orientated person you would go with what would effectively be the [National Lottery operator] Camelot of the racing industry. People in Britain don’t have a bet on a lottery based in Yugoslavia but they do have a bet on the National Lottery because they feel it supports the right local causes. We have plenty of things planned for the Tote but primarily is needs to be a much better consumer experience with the ability for people to see where the cash is going.” BHA figures show that owners of horses rated around 70 can expect on average a return of 8p in the pound in Britain. The current £138 million prize-money pot is set to be reduced significantly in future by last week’s FOBT ruling, though there has been a suggestion that this loss could be tempered by extending the levy to bets on global racing. While Frost’s consortium certainly seems to have racing’s best interests at heart, it is not the only one with pool-betting aspirations. Britbet, set to launch in July as the Tote’s exclusive deal ends, represents a partnership of 55 of Britain’s racecourses—the exceptions being Ascot, Bangor, Chester, Chelmsford and Towcester—and is also pushing its allegiance to the sport with its ‘by racing, for racing’ slogan. Clearly, any reduction in the liquidity of the pool market will not be good for either operation or for racing itself. The Racing Post reported last week that Britbet has entered into negotiations with Alizeti and Totepool over a potential collaboration, which was confirmed by Frost. While those talks are ongoing, Frost says of Alizeti, “We feel strongly that we represent breeders, owners and trainers, and we feel it’s very important that everyone should be working together. We’re not trying to be divisive—quite the opposite. “I’ve brought 12 people together to work for two years on this project and they are the best people at what they do—we’ve got two best financial analysts that Merrill Lynch ever had, Michael Rawlinson who was at Barclays, then Freddie Grive, who ran legal counsel at Worldpay, as well as the best marketing people and the best tech people.” Among the stated aims are a 25% reduction in the take-out, which is currently 19.25p from every pound staked, as well as £1 million Jackpots and Scoop6 funds and the development of an app to allow punters to bet directly into the pool. He continues, “We’re promising that we can broaden the spectrum of the Tote and revitalise it, we can match it up with other pools globally and make it much more ambitious in terms of its reach and connectivity around the world.” Frost admits to frustrations along the way in an industry which can be resistant to change. He can draw encouragement, however, from the level of support for the project, with the likes of the Thompson family of Cheveley Park Stud having already voiced their approval. Charlie Liverton, chief executive of the Racehorse Owners Association, can also see its advantages and stated, “The retention of owners in British racing is of paramount importance and critical to ensuring that the number of horses in training increases. Whilst one of the challenges at the moment is sole owners leaving the sport, it is encouraging to see a group of owners and breeders coming together to help build a strong Tote to benefit all of racing, including through an increased contribution to prize-money. [It’s] a huge positive for the industry.” While expressing bemusement at the lack of young people on racecourse boards, Frost is appreciative of the growing momentum to reinvigorate what trainer John Gosden has referred to as “one of British racing’s most cherished brands”. “Thankfully we have massive support, not just from the horsemen, it extends further than that, right through most of the racecourses. We’ve found a lot of the racecourses fantastic to deal with—very commercial and very keen to improve the situation,” he says. “We know that it’s not going to happen overnight. It’s going to take a lot of hard work due to structural issues but the Together for the Tote campaign is exactly that, we’re all about bringing everybody together.” View the full article

Luck Favours (Aus) (Starspangledbanner {Aus}), a Northern Hemisphere-bred juvenile filly, won her May 28 800-metre barrier trial at Werribee, and remains on course for a trip to Royal Ascot, Racing.com reported. Bred and owned by Anthony Mithen’s Rosemont Stud, the bay drew off to win by 3 1/2 lengths, and, all being well in the interim, will travel to England on June 6 with an eye toward the June 20 G2 Queen Mary S. “She trialled at Cranbourne last week [ran third] and showed talent, but left us scratching our heads a bit on a couple of fronts whether or not she was educated enough and had the brains to cope with it all,” said Mithen. We fiddled around with her and put blinkers on and worked her in blinkers since and it just seemed to clearly get her focused.” Added Mithen of the 2-year-old, who was trialling for the third time, “I think she’s just a natural-born runner. We did want to make sure of it and this morning she’s shown us and everyone that maybe there will be another horse that we can barrack for at Royal Ascot.” View the full article

Add the connections of grade 1 winner Free Drop Billy to the list of those hoping to pull off a racing-world shocker at Belmont Park June 9. View the full article

While the stopwatch told an impressive tale, it was how dual classic winner Justify had just whipped through the motions that was the real eye opener during his half-mile breeze in :46 4/5 over the Churchill Downs track May 29. View the full article

Almababy’s only victory of the season came in January but he finds virtually identical circumstances in Wednesday night’s Class Three Cafeteria Handicap (1,200m) at Sha Tin so he looks well-placed to repeat the dose. This is basically a carbon copy of the race the Me Tsui Yu-sak-trained seven-year-old prevailed in – an extended ratings band Class Three (85-60), the same distance, the same track, while he has the same rating (84) and the same weight (132 pounds). There are two... View the full article

Almababy’s only victory of the season came in January but he finds virtually identical circumstances in Wednesday night’s Class Three Cafeteria Handicap (1,200m) at Sha Tin so he looks well-placed to repeat the dose. This is basically a carbon copy of the race the Me Tsui Yu-sak-trained seven-year-old prevailed in – an extended ratings band Class Three (85-60), the same distance, the same track, while he has the same rating (84) and the same weight (132 pounds). There are two... View the full article

Joao Moreira is pessimistic about his chances of defending the Hong Kong jockeys’ championship, despite holding a two-win advantage over Zac Purton with 13 meetings remaining. Moreira, who has won the past three titles, sits on 111 winners for the season but has seen his lead dwindle away in the last few weeks while the Australian has built momentum. The Magic Man is also set to miss the meetings on June 6 and 10 through suspension so he thinks the writing is on the wall. “I don... View the full article

Erupting from between dueling leaders with a burst of speed, Mr. and Mrs. William K. Warren Jr.'s The Lieutenant pulled off a come-from-behind victory in the May 28 $100,000 All American Stakes (G3) at Golden Gate Fields. View the full article

The 5-year-old daughter of Equiano remains undefeated this year and became Team Valor International's 300th syndicated black-type winner. View the full article

Lauren and Ralph Evans' Diversify, the 2-1 favorite, held off the late charge of Pat On the Back to win the $200,000 Commentator Stakes for New York-breds. Owner Michael Dubb wons three of the six stakes on the Big Apple Showcase program. View the full article

Half sisters Midnight Disguise, Holiday Disguise scored on Big Apple Showcase Day. Analyze the Odds won the Mike Lee Stakes at 20-1. View the full article

Erupting from between dueling leaders with a burst of speed, Mr. and Mrs. William K. Warren Jr.'s The Lieutenant pulled off a come-from-behind victory in the May 28 $100,000 All American Stakes (G3) at Golden Gate Fields. View the full article

Michael House's Hunt (IRE) came flying to nail favored Heart to Heart in the shadow of the wire May 28 in the $400,000 Shoemaker Mile (G1T) at Santa Anita Park. View the full article

HUNT (IRE) (g, 6, Dark Angel {Ire}–Mansiya {GB}, by Vettori {Ire}) posted a new career top Monday, rallying past the ultra-game favorite, Heart to Heart (English Channel), in the GI Shoemaker Mile S. at Santa Anita. Hunt settled off the pace in fifth in the early stages as rail-drawn Om (Munnings) jetted away from the gate and took the early initiative. Om led past a half-mile in :46.66 with Heart to Heart applying pressure entering the far turn. The favorite took control turning for home, but was quickly confronted by Hunt, who skimmed the rail before shifting out to gradually wear Heart to Heart down. The final time for a mile on the lawn was 1:34.07. Hunt did his best work going longer in 2017, adding wins in the GII Eddie Read S. and the GII Del Mar H. to his resume during the Del Mar summer meet and returning to that venue to annex the GII Seabiscuit H. Nov. 26. The gray, originally imported from Ireland in the summer of 2015, was making his first start since the Seabiscuit Monday. Lifetime Record: GISW, 27-9-5-3, $908,764. Sales History: $30,790 RNA wlg GOFNOV ’12; $106,517 2yo GBMBR ’14. O-Michael House. B-Michael O’Callaghan (Ire). T-Philip D’Amato. View the full article

Lauren and Ralph Evans' Diversify, the 2-1 favorite, holds off the late charge of Pat On the Back to win the $200,000 Commentator Stakes for New York-breds. Owner Michael Dubb wins three of the six stakes on the Big Apple Showcase program. View the full article

Half sisters Midnight Disguise, Holiday Disguise score on Big Apple Showcase Day. Analyze the Odds wins the Mike Lee Stakes at 20-1. View the full article