Wandering Eyes

Facing contrasting ground conditions to the testing surface he encountered when winning the G3 Prix Sigy at Chantilly Apr. 13, Sands of Mali (Fr) (Panis) pulled another trick out of his bag to deny Invincible Army (Ire) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}) in a pulsating head-bobber in Saturday’s G2 Armstrong Aggregates Sandy Lane S. at Haydock. Sent off the 10-3 second favourite, the bay led from the outset as he had in York’s G2 Gimcrack S. in August and it was only the 5-2 favourite Invincible Army who could make a fist of it but at the line there was a nose–or more like a few pixels–between them. “He’s so tough and genuine–all he wants to do is please,” jockey Paul Hanagan said. “It is a lot quicker ground than in France and he just struggled to get into a rhythm as he’s a big horse who hits it quite hard. To win the Gimcrack like he did, he had to be something special and he just grinds it out and does it the hard way.” View the full article

Hong Kong resumed its domination of Singapore’s international races with Southern Legend and Horse Of Fortune running the quinella in the revamped Group One Kranji Mile on Saturday night. Historically, the Lion City has been a happy hunting ground for the Sha Tin raiders – winning the last three runnings of the KrisFlyer International Sprint and Singapore Airlines International Cup before those contests were abandoned in 2015. But with the reintroduction of international racing... View the full article

A 925,000gns TATOCT purchase, Fairyland had earned TDN Rising Star status on debut at Naas May 7 and fully justified that by leading home an Aidan O’Brien-trained one-two-three to give her stable an 11th renewal. Sent off the 4-1 second favourite with all the focus on her stablemate Van Beethoven (Scat Daddy), she broke smartly for Seamie Heffernan and raced just behind Land Force (Ire) (No Nay Never) before taking over travelling much the best passing two out. Striding clear as the 4-6 favourite Van Beethoven struggled to match her pace, she hit the line with 2 1/4 lengths and a neck to spare over that pair of colts. “We’ve not had many Kodiacs, but the boys loved her at the sales,” her rider said. “We were always aware that the Kodiacs were all speed and might not stay, but the lads have done a great job relaxing her at home and she got has got very relaxed. She has class and is so straightforward, so she could be nice.” FAIRYLAND (IRE), 124, f, 2, by Kodiac (GB) 1st Dam: Queenofthefairies (GB), by Pivotal (GB) 2nd Dam: Land of Dreams (GB), by Cadeaux Genereux (GB) 3rd Dam: Sahara Star (GB), by Green Desert (925,000gns Ylg ’17 TATOCT). O-Evie Stockwell, Michael Tabor & Derrick Smith; B-Tally-Ho Stud (IRE); T-Aidan O’Brien; J-Seamus Heffernan. €35,400. Lifetime Record: 2-2-0-0, €47,104. View the full article

The loss of Coolmore’s prolific shuttler High Chaparral (Ire) has been keenly felt this season, with the Derby winner having sired four Group 1 winners this racing season: Victoria Derby and Spring Champion S. winner Ace High (Aus), G1 Melbourne Cup winner Rekindling (Ire), G1 Vinery Stud S. winner Hiyaam (Aus), and now Saturday’s G1 Queensland Oaks victress Youngstar (Aus). High Chaparral’s last Australian crop is now two, but his legacy looks secured through his sons like So You Think (NZ)– who has sired seven stakes winners in the past eight weeks, including a Group 3 winner on this card–and Dundeel (NZ), who has a stakes winner among three winners thus far from his first crop. After taking three starts to break through, Youngstar has been on a sharp upward trajectory for trainer Chris Waller. She broke her maiden at Hawkesbury going 1500 metres on Apr. 17, and has-unsurprisingly for her sire-excelled with added distance since. She added a benchmark 68 race going 1885 metres 11 days later, and took the G2 The Roses S. over this track when stepped up to 2000 metres on May 12. It appeared for a few tense moments on the bend as if the favourite wouldn’t appreciate the added furlong on Saturday, already under a vigorous ride by Kerrin McEvoy as they straightened for home, but the dark bay drove down the middle of the soft track and got up just in time to nip Another Dollar (NZ) (Ocean Park {NZ}) on the line. Pedigree Notes… Youngstar’s Irish-bred dam Starspangled (Ire) (Danehill) is a winning daughter of the brilliant mare User Friendly (Slip Anchor), who can count the English and Irish Oaks and St Leger among her five Group 1 wins. Youngstar becomes that mare’s first Group 1-winning descendant, others on the page including the GIII Robert J Frankel S. winner Gender Agenda (Holy Roman Emperor {Ire}) and the G3 Give Thanks S. winner Downtown (Ire) (Danehill). Starspangled is also the dam of the listed-placed Eleven Seconds (Aus) (Encosta de Lago {Aus}). Her 2-year-old son of So You Think, Brilliant Mind (Aus), has been placed this year, and she a yearling filly by Adelaide (Aus) and a colt foal by Dissident (Aus) still to come. Saturday, Doomben, Australia QUEENSLAND OAKS-G1, A$509,361, BRC, 5-26, 3yo, f, Open Set Weight, 2200mT, 2:17.47, Soft. 1–YOUNGSTAR, 56.5, f, 3, by High Chaparral (IRE) 1st Dam: Starspangled (IRE), by Danehill (USA) 2nd Dam: User Friendly (GB), by Slip Anchor (GB) 3rd Dam: Rostova (GB), by Blakeney (GB) 1ST GROUP 1 WIN. (A$200,000 Ylg 2016 WI Melbourne Premier Yearling Sale) O-Unifaith Bloodstock (Mgr: A J Koolman), Archer Racing (Mgr: A A Inglis), Mrs C J Inglis, Mrs J Minahan, G Minahan, R Atra, Mrs C M A Atra, P C Shadbolt, Mrs K J Shadbolt, J K Sheathe; B-Mr J Sheather NSW; T-C J Waller; J-K Mc Evoy; A$314,361. Lifetime Record: 7-4-0-1, A$478,562. *1/2 to Eleven Seconds (Aus) (Encosta de Lago {Aus}), SP-Aus, A$210,925. Werk Nick Rating: A+++ *Triple Plus*. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree. 2–Another Dollar (NZ), 56.5, f, 3, Ocean Park (NZ)–Make a Wish (NZ), by Pins. (A$190,000 Ylg 2016 WI Sydney Easter Yearling Sale) O-C J Waller, F W Cook, Mrs C M Cook, Magic Bloodstock Racing (Mgr: P G Tighe), N A Greenhalgh, Mrs M T Greenhalgh, R Shrimpton, I Bruce, R Smith, P Y W Ng, K H Warriner, B L Mathieso; B-Waikato Stud Ltd, Waikato, NZ; T-C J Waller; J-G Schofield; A$102,500. 3–Sheezdashing, 56.5, f, 3, Myboycharlie (IRE)–Dashing Oberon, by Falbrav (IRE). (A$52,500 Ylg 2016 WI Melbourne VOBIS Gold Yearling Sale) O-D Romanelli, B E Arnhold, Mrs M J Wilson, D M Richards, R W Fenwick, A Darivas, C Drabsch, R J Donazzan, L R Heinze, Mrs J G Grace & L Webb; B-Mr D Romanelli VIC; T-M Ellerton & S Zahra; J-Damien Thornton; A$52,500. Margins: 0.1 len, 0.2 len, 2.9 len. Odds: 2.70, 5.50, 7.00. Also Ran: Coral Coast, Miss Shanti, Terra Sancta (NZ), Play That Song, Aloisia (NZ), She’s Reliable (NZ), Protest, Delaney’s Desire, Tinkermosa (NZ), Highway, Joyfilly Ours (NZ), Impulsive, Savacool (NZ). Click for the Racing Post result. Click for the free Arion.co.nz catalogue-style pedigree. View the full article

The word was out about Just Wonderful (Dansili {GB}), whose dam Wading (Ire) (Montjeu {Ire}) had been so impressive when winning Newmarket’s G2 Rockfel S. on what proved to be her last start in 2013 but a late drift to 9-2 second favouritism suggested she would need this introduction every bit as much as her stable’s other juveniles. That she was able to come home on her own on the far side and win on debut despite being notably green suggests she has a bright future. The winning neck margin over the stand’s side’s best Lethal Promise (Ire) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}) sounds far from exciting, but there was over five lengths back to the next filly racing in her group and she can only improve as a relative of Sea the Stars (Ire) and Galileo (Ire) et al. “We thought she was a lovely filly and just let her go a bit last week and she worked really well,” commented trainer Aidan O’Brien, who had introduced Clemmie (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) in this last year. “You’re never sure when they have never been on the grass and she was just ready to come racing, but Ryan was very happy with her. After that, we have to look at Royal Ascot and the [June 22 G3] Albany is the obvious race. She must be natural in herself to do that if the others are anything to go on. She should improve and when Ryan rode her dam at Newmarket all those years ago he always though she was one of the best he ever rode. We couldn’t be happier.” JUST WONDERFUL (f, 2, Dansili {GB}–Wading {Ire} {GSW-Eng}, by Montjeu {Ire}) O-Michael Tabor & Derrick Smith & Mrs John Magnier; B-Orpendale, Chelston & Wynatt (KY); T-Aidan O’Brien; J-Ryan Moore. Video, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton. View the full article

Impending (Aus) (Lonhro {Aus}) is set to join his sire on the Darley roster later this year, but he has more work to do yet on the racetrack before setting off to stud, with a defense of the G1 Stradbroke H. in two weeks’ time a likely target after he collected a second Group 1 in Saturday’s G1 Kingsford Smith Cup. A useful 3-year-old while in the shadow of stablemate Astern (Aus) (Medaglia d’Oro), Impending had come close on a few occasions at the highest level before breaking through over the smart mare In Her Time (Aus) (Time Thief {Aus}) in last June’s Stradbroke. He made just two starts in the spring, including a third in the G1 Darley Classic, before focusing on this circuit that he clearly enjoys. Impending picked up a win in the G2 Victory S. on Apr. 28 before finishing a narrow second to English (Aus) (Encosta de Lago {Aus}) in the G1 Doomben 10,000 two weeks ago. Last turning for home on Saturday, Impending had to find his way through a tight seam under Damian Browne and looked to have plenty to do in midstretch, but he got up just in time to nail Le Romain (Aus) (Hard Spun {Aus}) on the line. Those two were the joint favourites, with the third choice Champagne Cuddles (Aus) (Not A Single Doubt {Aus}) sticking on for third. Pedigree Notes… Impending’s dam Mnemosyne (Aus) (Encosta de Lago {Aus}) was an excellent servant to Woodlands Stud on the racetrack with wins in the G1 Thousand Guineas and G1 Queen of the Turf S., and she is now proving just as prolific as a producer for new owner Godolphin, which purchased the Woodlands stock in 2008. The following year she produced Forget (Aus) (Exceed and Excel {Aus}), a Group 3 winner, and two years later followed the G2 Silver Slipper S. second Memorial (Aus) (Street Cry {Ire}). Impending followed a further two years after that, and the following year she produced the listed-placed filly Epidemic (Aus) (Lonhro {Aus}). Mnemosyne’s last reported foal is a 2016 Sepoy (Aus) foal that died. Saturday, Doomben, Australia KINGSFORD-SMITH CUP-G1, A$709,489, BRC, 5-26, Open WFA, 1350mT, 1:19.51, Soft. 1–IMPENDING, 59.0, h, 4, by Lonhro 1st Dam: Mnemosyne (MG1SW-Aus, A$1,371,975), by Encosta de Lago 2nd Dam: My Juliet, by Canny Lad 3rd Dam: Perfect Draw, by Whiskey Road (USA) O-Godolphin Australia Syndicate (Mgr: Vin Cox); B-Darley NSW; T-James Cummings; J-D J Browne; A$436,489. Lifetime Record: 17-5-2-6, A$2,403,989. *Full to Epidemic (Aus), SP- Aus, A$296,055; 1/2 to Forget (Aus) (Exceed and Excel {Aus}), GSW-Aus, A$415,075; and Memorial (Aus) (Street Cry {Ire}), GSP-Aus, A$337,250. Werk Nick Rating: A+++ *Triple Plus*. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree. 2–Le Romain, 59.0, g, 5, Hard Spun (USA)–Mignard, by Strategic. O-A Carusi, A P Agius, L Nicaj, A Labbozzetta, G Serratore, J Altamura, Miss M Bilusic & Mrs S Livaja; B-Mr A Carusi NSW; T-K A Lees; J-G Schofield; A$143,500. 3–Champagne Cuddles, 55.0, f, 3, Not a Single Doubt–Sky Cuddle, by Snippets. O-Champagne Ladies (Mgr: Mrs M J Hardy); B-Ramsey Pastoral Co Pty Ltd QLD; T-Bjorn Baker; J-C W Brown; A$73,500. Margins: 0.1 len, 1.4 len, 1.7 len. Odds: 3.20, 3.20, 5.00. Also Ran: English, Endless Drama (IRE), Volpe Veloce, Care to Think, Monsieur Gustave, Most Important. Click for the Racing Post result. Click for the free Arion.co.nz catalogue-style pedigree. View the full article

A Group One victory aboard Pakistan Star would be the perfect tonic for Tommy Berry after enduring a tough first season in Hong Kong. The Australian had tasted plenty of success at Sha Tin previously in a fly-in, fly-out or short-term capacity and he made the full-time move at the start of the term, becoming the stable rider for John Moore. But things didn’t work out as either had hoped and while there were no hard feelings, they split in early April with Berry switching to a Jockey Club... View the full article

Brett Prebble believes Lucky Bubbles needs to stand up and be counted in Sunday’s Group Three Sha Tin Vase (1,200m). This is the Francis Lui Kin-wai-trained six-year-old’s easiest assignment since winning last year’s Group One Chairman’s Sprint Prize and the Australian jockey expects him to be in the finish. “He should be winning, shouldn’t he? He’s got a good gate, he’s got a bunny who will run along in front – there are plenty of ticks... View the full article

Southern Legend leads Hong Kong 1-2 in Kranji Mile View the full article

Freedman lands Singapore Guineas with Mr Clint View the full article

Lim's Cruiser wins second Lion City Cup View the full article

Badel keeps visiting jockeys' winning run flow with River Golden View the full article

Hyde Park gives Gray a boost and Teetan a delightful double View the full article

Alysha Collett scores first Singapore win aboard Eye Guy View the full article

Auspicious Kranji debut for Sydney jockey Jason Collett View the full article

Teetan catches first Wave early View the full article

Track conditions and course scratchings May 26 View the full article

Horses' body weights May 26 View the full article

9th-Belmont, $75,000, Msw, 5-25, 3yo/up, 1 1/16mT, 1:40.23, fm. ADMISSION OFFICE (c, 3, Point of Entry–Miss Chapin, by Royal Academy) was off at 13-1 despite a nice pedigree and high-profile connections, as the bulk of play went towards fellow Chad Brown trainee Frontier Market (Lemon Drop Kid), who was looking to break through after missing by a neck last out with a solid 88 Beyer Speed Figure. Sluggishly away and in a far-back last early, Admission Office sat back behind swift early splits and started to come alive around the turn for home. Circling up down the center, he took some time to level off, but found his best stride late to inhale his stablemate by a widening half-length under a confident Jose Ortiz ride. According to Trakus data, the winner covered his final quarter in a swift :23.06. He is a half-brother to Coffee Clique (Medaglia d’Oro), GISW, $1,063,988; Royal Fury (Langfuhr), MGSP, $313,377; and Schoolofhardrocks (Rock Hard Ten), SP, $221,330. His dam produced an Animal Kingdom filly last term and another Point of Entry colt earlier this season. Lifetime Record: 1-1-0-0, $45,000. Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton. O-Amerman Racing LLC; B-Jerry Amerman (KY); T-Chad C. Brown. View the full article

9th-Belmont, $75,000, Msw, 5-25, 3yo/up, 1 1/16mT, 1:40.23, fm. ADMISSION OFFICE (c, 3, Point of Entry–Miss Chapin, by Royal Academy) was off at 13-1 despite a nice pedigree and high-profile connections, as the bulk of play went towards fellow Chad Brown trainee Frontier Market (Lemon Drop Kid), who was looking to break through after missing by a neck last out with a solid 88 Beyer Speed Figure. Sluggishly away and in a far-back last early, Admission Office sat back behind swift early splits and started to come alive around the turn for home. Circling up down the center, he took some time to level off, but found his best stride late to inhale his stablemate by a widening half-length under a confident Jose Ortiz ride. According to Trakus data, the winner covered his final quarter in a swift :23.06. He is a half-brother to Coffee Clique (Medaglia d’Oro), GISW, $1,063,988; Royal Fury (Langfuhr), MGSP, $313,377; and Schoolofhardrocks (Rock Hard Ten), SP, $221,330. His dam produced an Animal Kingdom filly last term and another Point of Entry colt earlier this season. Lifetime Record: 1-1-0-0, $45,000. Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton. O-Amerman Racing LLC; B-Jerry Amerman (KY); T-Chad C. Brown. View the full article

Trainer Wesley Ward sent out a team of Royal Ascot-targeted runners over Keeneland’s turf course Friday morning. Leading the fray was Stonestreet Stables and Peter Leidel’s European champion Lady Aurelia (Scat Daddy), who triumphed in the G2 Queen Mary S. and G1 King’s Stand S. at the Royal meeting in 2016 and 2017, respectively. “I can’t wait to go,” said Ward, who has accounted for nine wins at Royal Ascot. With Julio Garcia aboard, the four-year-old covered five furlongs in 1:00.40 over the firm turf. Working several lengths behind Lady Aurelia was Ken and Sarah Ramsey’s Hemp Hemp Hurray (Artie Schiller), who negotiated the same distance in 1:01. (Click here for video) Preparing to defend her title in the June 10 King’s Stand, Lady Aurelia finished second in her season bow in Keeneland’s Giant’s Causeway S. Apr. 14, while Hemp Hemp Hurray is scheduled to make his next start in either the June 20 G3 Jersey S. or the G1 Commonwealth Cup June 22. Also on Friday’s worktab, Bound for Nowhere (The Factor), winner of the GII Keeneland’s Shakertown S. Apr. 7, completed five panels in 1:00 in company with stablemate Delectation (GB) (Delegator {GB}) (1:00.20). (Click here for video) Accompanied by rider Adam Beschizza in the move, Bound for Nowhere, who finished fourth in last year’s Commonwealth Cup, is expected to run in the June 23 G1 Diamond Jubilee. Other Ward-trained horses that are Ascot-bound: • Hat Creek Racing’s Chelsea Cloisters (First Samurai) (4fT – :48.40) (June 20 G2 Queen Mary S.) • Vivian Day and Kate V. Rose’s Master Merion (Quality Road) (5fT – 1:03.40) (June 20 Royal Hunt Cup) • Breeze Easy’s Shang Shang Shang (Shanghai Bobby) (4fT – :48.40) (June 21 G2 Norfolk S.) • Reiley McDonald’s Athens Queen (Majestic Warrior) (4fT – :48.80) and Marcus Stables’ Stillwater Cove (Quality Road) (4fT – :47.60) (both heading to the June 22 G3 Albany S.) • Wes Welker and Monomoy Stables’ 2015 Diamond Jubilee hero Undrafted (Purim) (5fT – 1:03.40) (June 23 Wokingham S.). Ward’s horses are scheduled to work one more time at Keeneland Friday, June 1 before departing for England on a flight from Indianapolis June 4. 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. Today’s Observations features a Ballydoyle seven-figure yearling purchase. 1.50 Curragh, Mdn, €17,500, 2yo, f, 6fT FANTASY (IRE) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}) makes her debut for Ballydoyle two weeks after her intended introduction on more suitable ground. The daughter of Cassandra Go (Ire) (Indian Ridge {Ire}), a 1.6-million gns TATOCT graduate and half-sister to the MG1SW Irish 1000 Guineas heroine Halfway To Heaven (Ire) (Pivotal {GB}), is passed over by Ryan Moore in favour of Just Wonderful (Dansili {GB}), a daughter of the stable’s impressive G2 Rockfel S. scorer Wading (Ire) (Montjeu {Ire}). 3.10 Goodwood, Mdn, £10,400, 2yo, f, 6fT ZALPA (More Than Ready) debuts for Godolphin and Charlie Appleby over the same course and distance that stablemate Masar (Ire) (New Approach {Ire}) made a successful debut at this time last year. A 500,000gns purchase at the Tattersalls Craven Breeze-up last month, the bay is a half-sister to the GSW Second City (Distorted Humor), whose dam Sis City (Slew City Slew) took the 2005 GI Ashland S. by 10 1/2 lengths. View the full article

International racing returns to Singapore for the first time in over three years Saturday when the Singapore Turf Club plays host to the S$1.5-million Kranji Mile, the S$1-million Lion City Cup (1200mT) and the S$1-million Singapore Guineas (1600mT). Hong Kong-based horses routinely shipped into Singapore during the days of the G1 Singapore Airlines International Cup and G1 KrisFlyer Sprint and won the last six renewals of those now-cancelled races combined. Lucky Nine (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) won the KrisFlyer back-to-back in 2015 and 2016 for trainer Caspar Fownes, who also annexed the 2010 edition with Green Birdie (NZ) (Catbird {NZ}). The conditioner is back in familiar environs this weekend with Southern Legend (Aus) (Not a Single Doubt {Aus}), who figures one of the favourites for the Mile. The 5-year-old, winner of five from 11 in Hong Kong, made all in defeating the likes of Pingwu Spark (NZ) (Mastercraftsman {Ire}) and ‘TDN Rising Star’ and subsequent Group 1 winner Pakistan Star (Ger) (Shamardal) in a Class 1 over a mile in March (see below) and exits a solid third to Hong Kong Horse of the Year candidate Beauty Generation (NZ) (Road to Rock {Aus}) in the G1 Champions Mile Apr. 29. He has pole position in gate one with Zac Purton at the controls. “Absolutely, he could lead,” the trainer told HKJC’s David Morgan when prompted for race tactics. “I’m not worried about that at all, he’s a fit horse. You’d be happy with barrier one almost any time–we’re making our own luck now.” WATCH: Southern Legend winning a Class 1 in HK in March The capable Horse of Fortune (SAf) (Stronghold {GB}) also ships in for Tony Millard, while former Hong Kong galloper Circuit Land (Mizzen Mast)–now based in Singapore–earned his way into the Kranji Mile with a win over local Horse of the Year Infantry (NZ) (Tavistock {NZ}) in stakes company last time out. The Mile also marks the local debut of four-time Group 1 winner Volkstok’n’barrell (NZ) (Tavistock {NZ}), whose trainer Donna Logan recently opened her Kranji stables. Unraced since a third in the G1 Zabeel Classic (2000m) at Ellerslie on Boxing Day, he trialled well for this (video), but Craig Grylls will have to work out a trip from gate 11. In the day’s other features, the consistent Be Bee (NZ) (Showcasing {GB}), last year’s champion 2-year-old, should give a good account of himself in the Guineas, while last year’s top 3-year-old Countofmontecristo (NZ) (Echoes of Heaven {Aus}) will try to snap a four-race losing streak in the Lion City. Officials at the Singapore Turf Club abruptly announced the cancellation of the jurisdictions two international Group 1s–the Singapore Airlines International Cup and KrisFlyer Sprint–in 2015. Saturday’s races are a first step toward the official reintroduction of international racing in Singapore in 2019, when the Mile will carry prize money of S$3 million and the Lion City S$1.35 million. View the full article

Grade 1 winner Audible, third in the Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve (G1), will not contest the June 9 Belmont Stakes, his connections confirmed May 25. View the full article

Juddmonte Farms' homebred Hofburg continued to tune up for an expected run in the June 9 Belmont Stakes (G1), putting in a six-furlong breeze at Saratoga Race Course the morning of May 25. View the full article