Wandering Eyes

NYRA CEO & President Chris Kay regarding dual Classic winner Justify (Scat Daddy) and the GI Belmont S.: “On June 9, Justify will seek to become only the 13th winner of the most elusive prize in sports-the Triple Crown. Congratulations to Justify and his connections for what they have already accomplished, and we look forward to welcoming them to Belmont Park for the 150th running of the Belmont S. Saturday, June 9. The Belmont Stakes Racing Festival has quickly grown into a true ‘must-see’ event featuring world-class racing and entertainment alongside premium hospitality options. Belmont Stakes day is now firmly positioned as one of the biggest days of racing in North America with 10 stakes and six Grade I races including the [GI] Runhappy Met Mile, the [GI] Woodford Reserve Manhattan, the [GII] Woody Stephens presented by Mohegan Sun and the [GI] Longines Just a Game. Adding a Triple Crown possibility to our mix of world-class racing and entertainment transforms the Belmont Stakes Racing Festival, and the 150th Belmont S., into a can’t miss experience. We encourage our fans to purchase their tickets today to witness history Saturday, June 9.” View the full article

JUSTIFY (c, 3, Scat Daddy–Stage Magic, by Ghostzapper) survived a race-long duel with champion Good Magic (Curlin) and had just enough left in the tank to hold off late surges from Bravazo (Awesome Again) and Tenfold (Curlin) to capture the GI Preakness S. at a fog-laced Pimlico Racecourse Saturday. The undefeated chestnut ‘TDN Rising Star’ ran his record to a perfect five-for-five on the heels of his win in the GI Kentucky Derby May 5 and is expected to bid to become racing’s 13th Triple Crown winner in the June 9 GI Belmont S. Justify’s win added to his remarkable rise to the top of the game, which kicked off with a maiden win at Santa Anita Feb. 18 and continued with an easy allowance score in Arcadia Mar. 11. He then captured the GI Santa Anita Derby Apr. 7 in wire-to-wire fashion, setting him up for his winning run beneath the Twin Spires. Embroiled in a duel with Good Magic to his inside through a reasonable half-mile in :47.19, the pair remained head and head spinning into the stretch, with Justify gradually edging in front once straightened out for the drive. He was all out to the wire, and Bravazo surged past Tenfold to secure the place spot while significantly closing down the gap on the winner late to come up a half-length short. Good Magic was a close fourth. The final time was 1:55.93. Sales History: $500,000 yrl KEESEP ’16. Lifetime Record: MGISW, 5-5-0-0, $2,998,000. O-WinStar Farm, China Horse Club, Starlight Racing and Head of Plains Partners. B-John D Gunther (KY). T-Bob Baffert. View the full article

In an intense, white fog at Pimlico Race Course, Justify and Good Magic—the top two finishers in the Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve (G1)—dueled for the second prize in the Triple Crown. View the full article

Vettori Kin (BRZ) rallied past stablemate Harlan Strong (ARG) in the final furlong to win the $100,000 Louisville Handicap (G3T) by a widening 2 1/2 lengths May 19 at Churchill Downs. View the full article

Mitole earned his fourth career victory in what has become his trademark blowout fashion, when he headed every point of call of his 6 1/4-length cakewalk in the $200,000 Chick Lang Stakes May 19 at Pimlico Race Course. View the full article

AX MAN (c, 3, Misremembered–Shameful, by Flying Chevron) captured his first stakes win in a foggy renewal of the restricted Sir Barton S. at Pimlico Saturday. A dominant first-out graduate going six furlongs at Santa Anita on New Year’s Day, the bay was a head-scratching fourth as the prohibitive favorite in the GII San Vicente S. at Santa Anita Feb. 10 before recently stretching out to two turns with a runaway 8 1/2-length victory in a one-mile optional claimer in Arcadia Apr. 8. Sent to the front from the outset as the 3-5 choice, he rattled off a half-mile in :46.96 with Title Ready (More Than Ready) applying pressure to his outside. Ax Man shook free from that rival on the far turn and drew off in the stretch to score by six lengths over Title Ready, who held second. The final time for 1 1/16 miles was 1:42.53. The winner, the third black type winner for his sire, is a half-brother to champion Indian Blessing. Lifetime Record: SW, 4-3-0-0, $138,000. O/B-Patti and Hal Earnhardt. T-Bob Baffert. View the full article

Alex Campbell Jr.'s homebred Ultra Brat unquestionably got a hold of the tiring, boggy turf course May 19 in the $150,000 Gallorette Stakes (G3T). The others? Not so much. View the full article

Hat Creek Racing's Abyssinian made it a one-horse race to become the first winner for her sire, Cairo Prince, in a Belmont Park $100,000 maiden special weight for 2-year-old fillies May 19. 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. Sunday’s Insights features a half-sister to Danedream (Ger) (Lomitas {GB}). 2.05 Naas, Mdn, €16,500, 3yo/up, f/m, 8fT SCRIOBH NUA (IRE) (New Approach {Ire}) is a half-sister to three other notable Jim Bolger homebreds by Galileo (Ire) in Gile Na Greine (Ire), Scintillula (Ire) and Cuis Ghaire (Ire) who debuts in a warm contest. She has a decent level to aim at, with Ballydoyle’s Broadway (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), a half-sister to the ground-breaking Danedream (Ger) (Lomitas {GB}) and full-sibling of the stable’s G3 Chester Vase winner Venice Beach (Ire), having been an eye-catching third in the G3 Athasi S. View the full article

SWITZERLAND (c, 4, Speightstown–Czechers, by Indian Charlie) took eight starts to break his maiden, but hasn’t looked back since then, winning four starts in a row, culminating with a graded stakes success in Saturday’s GIII Maryland Sprint S. in the slop at Pimlico. Switzerland pressed the pace from the outside through a quarter-mile in :22.43, moved to gain control on the turn and braced for a challenge from Long Haul Bay (Quality Road) spinning into the foggy stretch. He had plenty left in reserve and drew clear to a three-length score over that rival, stopping the clock in 1:09.43. Switzerland graduated from the maiden ranks in his final start for Chad Brown in February and recently added a pair of six-furlong allowance wins for Steve Asmussen at Oaklawn Park Mar. 30 and Apr. 14. Sales History: $500,000 2yo EASMAY ’16; $175,000 yrl KEESEP ’15; $170,000 wlg KEENOV ’14. Lifetime Record: GSW, 11-4-2-3, $273,380. O-Woodford Racing. B-Branch Family Trust (KY). T-Steven Asmussen. View the full article

The connections of Fire Away were looking forward to running in the $250,000 Dixie Stakes (G3T) May 19 at Pimlico Race Course even before champion male turf horse World Approval scratched in rainy Baltimore. View the full article

Mitole earned his fourth career victory in what has become his trademark blowout fashion when he headed every point of call of his 6 1/4-length cakewalk in the $200,000 Chick Lang Stakes May 19 at Pimlico Race Course. View the full article

MITOLE (c, 3, Eskendereya–Indian Miss, by Indian Charlie)‘s best efforts have been dominant and Saturday’s Chick Lang S. at Pimlico was no exception as the bay romped home a clear winner in a sharp 1:09.29 in the slop at Pimlico. Sent to the front as the 1-2 chalk, he dueled inside a pair of rivals through a quarter-mile in :21.67 and gradually shook lose entering the lane. Never threatened from there, Mitole coasted home well in front, with Still Having Fun (Old Fashioned) rallying behind him to complete the exacta. Mitole graduated at third asking at Oaklawn in February and ran second in that venue’s Gazebo S. later that month before bouncing back to capture a first-level allowance Mar. 17. He made one more start in Hot Springs, easily winning the Bachelor S. Apr. 12. Sales History: $20,000 yrl KEESEP ’16; $140,000 2yo OBSAPR ’17. Lifetime Record: MSW, 7-4-2-1, $348,710. O-L. William and Corinne Heiligbrodt. B-Edward A Cox Jr (KY). T-Steven Asmussen. View the full article

Coolmore’s Derby winner Australia (GB) (Galileo {Ire}) had his first European runner on Saturday, Godolphin’s 370,000gns yearling purchase Beyond Reason (Ire) who finished second at Newmarket, but the sire actually recorded his first winner on the same day in Russia, with the well-bred Australian Prince winning over six furlongs at Krasnodar Hippodrome. A homebred for Progress Stud Farm, Australian Prince represents the same Galileo over Pivotal cross of Saturday’s G1 Lockinge S. winner Rhododendron (Ire), being out of Mail Princess (GB) (Pivotal {GB}), a Russian-raced daughter of G1 Moyglare Stud S. winner Mail The Desert (Ire) (Desert Prince {Ire}). Mail Princess has produced three foals in Ireland: before Australian Prince there was Highprin (Ire), a filly by High Chaparral (Ire), and a 2015 unnamed colt by Invincible Spirit (Ire). View the full article

Winchell Thoroughbreds' homebred Tap Daddy went gate-to-wire for a commanding 6 1/2-length victory in the off-the-turf James W. Murphy Stakes on the Preakness Stakes (G1) undercard May 19 at Pimlico Race Course. View the full article

TIMONIUM, MD – Mucho Macho Man (Macho Uno), winner of the 2013 GI Breeders’ Cup Classic, is represented by his first crop of 2-year-olds this year and the 10-year-old stallion is enjoying quick success on the racetrack and in the juvenile sales arena. He was represented at the OBS March sale by a $575,000 colt (hip 282) and his highest-priced filly to date, Mucho Amor (hip 549), who sold for $260,000 at that same auction, was a first-out winner at Keeneland in April. He could be poised for another big result in Timonium next week after his son (hip 278) turned in the fastest quarter-mile breeze (:21 1/5) so far at the under-tack preview of the Fasig-Tipton Midlantic 2-Year-Olds in Training Sale. The early success is no surprise to Dean Reeves, who with his wife Patti, campaigned Mucho Macho Man to wins in the GI Awesome Again S. and GII Suburban H., in addition to his Breeders’ Cup victory and a third-place finish in the 2011 GI Kentucky Derby. “It wasn’t a total surprise to see his first starter win because he won as a 2-year-old himself and ran a lot of races, but it was very encouraging to see that,” Reeves said. “We’ve been really impressed. I think you’ve seen it in the March sale, the numbers that people are getting for his offspring. And then for them to turn right around and win first out at Keeneland, which is not an easy thing to do. Tthen to turn around at this Timonium sale and have the bullet work for a Mucho Macho Man colt. They are just impressing everywhere.” Reeves has been actively supporting Mucho Macho Man and will be offering a pair of pinhooking prospects by the stallion, who stands at Adena Springs for $10,000, at the Midlantic sale. Through the Top Line Sales consignment, Reeves will offer a filly (hip 14) and a colt (hip 133) during Monday’s first session of the two-day sale. “I wanted to pinhook a couple of the Mucho Macho Mans to get them out in the marketplace,” Reeves said. “So those two we earmarked to do that with and we’ve followed suit. With his first crop of runners, my goal was to spread the horses out, get them to different trainers, different areas of the country, racing at different locations, so we could spread them out and hopefully get to see the offspring and hopefully they are successful and it helps our stallion.” Hip 14 is the first foal out of the unraced Wabanaki (Indian Charlie), a half-sister to stakes winner Held Accountable (Exchange Rate) and to graded stakes placed In Harm’s Way, and from the family of champion Wavering Girl. The filly, who worked a furlong in :11 1/5 at the under-tack preview, was a $50,000 purchase at last year’s Fasig-Tipton New York-Bred Yearling Sale. “I thought she had a real nice body on her, as young as she was then,” Reeves said of the late March foal. “I thought she had a good walk, which is what he is putting into all his foals. She was also a New York-bred, so I thought when we came back around [to resell], we had spotted this sale and it would put a Mucho Macho Man in the middle part of the country for somebody who wanted a New York-bred. So for me, it isn’t where I race a lot–I’m more in Florida–but still, we thought she would have regional appeal and we’d be able to get one of the foals into this sale.” Hip 133 is a son of Carolina Sunrise (Awesome Again) and a half-brother to Grade I placed Reveron (Songandaprayer). His second dam is multiple graded stakes winner Stylish Star (Our Native). The colt, who worked a quarter in :23 flat, was purchased for $55,000 as a Fasig-Tipton November weanling. “We bought him as a weanling and there again we were supporting the stallion early by buying some of his weanlings,” Reeves said. “He has matured right along and he is continuing to grow. If you watch his work, he had a good stride and good movement and I think he’ll get better and better.” Dean and Patti Reeves’s Reeves Thoroughbred Racing was formed in 2009 and the couple could hardly have imagined going to the Kentucky Derby just two years later and ending up in the winner’s circle at the Breeders’ Cup a further two years along. Reeves is clearly enjoying watching his stable star’s successful start at stud. “I can’t tell you how exciting it is,” Reeves said. “It’s exciting to see other people’s reaction–when you’re around the track and you overhear someone say, ‘That is one beautiful Mucho Macho Man colt.’ I do take a lot of pride in that. It’s nice to see the marketplace starting to recognize his foals. This was a great racehorse. He raced early and he raced until he was six and he came to run every time he was there. That’s what his offspring are going to look like and do, I think. It’s very exciting to see him start to be successful.” View the full article

With the G1 Commonwealth Cup just a month away now, the Irish sprinting 3-year-olds will enjoy the perfect warm-up in Sunday’s G3 Goffs Lacken S. at Naas. It was 12 months ago that Caravaggio (Scat Daddy) returned with a vengeance to secure short-priced favouritism for that Royal Ascot feature which he duly won and it is Aidan O’Brien again who dominates the latest renewal. Ryan Moore is on the G1 Phoenix S. scorer Sioux Nation (Scat Daddy), who will strip considerably fitter than when fourth on his comeback in Navan’s Listed Committed S. over an extended five furlongs Apr. 22. Behind the re-opposing The Broghie Man (GB) (Cityscape {GB}), Speak In Colours (GB) (Excelebration {Ire}) and stablemate Fleet Review (War Front) there, the bay who needed two runs to really click last term will be moving forwards at a rate of knots now that Ascot’s premier meeting looms large. The Broghie Man’s trainer Adrian Keatley said he also expects improvement from his gelding and said, “We’ve been very happy with the horse since Navan and he has come on a ton since that run,” he said. “Gerald Mosse rode him work on nice ground at The Curragh last week and he was delighted with him after that, so we are happy to take our chance and hopefully we’ll be there or thereabouts. I’d say a lot of people thought that we caught some of the horses off-guard early in the season at Navan on heavy ground, but we feel we have a nice horse that can go on nicer ground so we are looking forward to Sunday.” View the full article

Winchell Thoroughbreds' homebred Tap Daddy went wire-to-wire for a commanding 6 1/2-length victory in the off-the-turf James W. Murphy Stakes on the Preakness Stakes (G1) undercard May 19 at Pimlico Race Course. View the full article

Carrying the silks of her sire, Sea of Class staked her Oaks claims with an authoritative success in this late trial for Epsom. Narrowly denied by the subsequent G3 Musidora S. disappointment Ceilidhs Dream (GB) (Oasis Dream {GB}) in a mile maiden at Newmarket Apr. 18, the chestnut who started as the 9-4 second favourite was anchored in last early travelling with enthusiasm. Moving to Athena (Ire) (Camelot {GB}) and to the lead with a furlong remaining, she readily asserted with a shake of the reins to beat Ballydoyle’s maiden by two lengths as TDN Rising Star Crystal Hope (GB) (Nathaniel {Ire}) could only manage third, five lengths away. Saturday, Newbury, Britain HARAS DE BOUQUETOT FILLIES’ TRIAL S.-Listed, £70,000, Newbury, 5-19, 3yo, f, 10fT, 2:09.33, g/f. 1–SEA OF CLASS (IRE), 126, f, 3, by Sea the Stars (Ire) 1st Dam: Holy Moon (Ire) (SW-Ity, $161,048), by Hernando (Fr) 2nd Dam: Centinela (GB), by Caerleon 3rd Dam: New Generation (Ire), by Young Generation (Ire) 1ST BLACK-TYPE WIN. (170,000gns Ylg ’16 TATDEY). O-Sunderland Holding Inc; B-Razza Del Velino SRL (IRE); T-William Haggas; J-James Doyle. £39,697. Lifetime Record: 2-1-1-0, $56,207. *1/2 to Charity Line (Ire) (Manduro {Ger}), Hwt. 3yo-Ity at 9.5-11f & G1SW-Ity, $454,242; Final Score (Ire) (Dylan Thomas {Ire}), G1SW-Ity, $435,934; Cherry Collect (Ire) (Oratorio {Ire}), Hwt. 3yo-Ity at 9.5-11f, MGSW & G1SP-Ity, $497,183; Wordless (Ire) (Rock of Gibraltar {Ire}), GSW-Ity, $148,264; Back On Board (Ire) (Nathaniel {Ire}), GSP-Ity, $176,250; and Magic Mystery (GB) (Pour Moi {Ire}), SP-Ity. 2–Athena (Ire), 126, f, 3, Camelot (GB)–Cherry Hinton (GB), by Green Desert. O-Derrick Smith, Susan Magnier & Michael Tabor. £15,050. 3–Crystal Hope (GB), 126, f, 3, Nathaniel (Ire)–Crystal Etoile (GB), by Dansili (GB). O-Sir Evelyn de Rothschild. £7,532. Margins: 2, 5, 3/4. Odds: 2.25, 8.00, 2.00. Also Ran: Arcadian Cat, Dance Legend (GB), Stream Song (GB). Scratched: Apple Anni (Ire). Click for the Racing Post result. Video, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton. View the full article

ABYSSINIAN (f, 2, Cairo Prince–Shesakitty, by Tapit) gave her freshman sire (by Pioneerof the Nile) his first winner with a wire-to-wire romp as the 3/5 chalk in the Belmont opener Saturday. Left in to meet the starter after entrymate Romani (Daaher) scratched, the filly jetted straight to the front and cut out a quarter-mile in :22.30 in the clear. Never threatened, she reported home in hand, crossing the wire six lengths clear of Mertz (Ghostzapper). The final time for five furlongs in the slop was :59.44. Sales History: $70,000 yrl KEESEP ’17. Lifetime Record: 1-1-0-0, $60,000. View the full article

Not seen over a mile since finishing an arguably unlucky second in Newmarket’s G1 1000 Guineas last May, Rhododendron (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) had all the required pace to come out on top in Saturday’s G1 Al Shaqab Lockinge S. at Newbury, narrowly denying the veteran Lightning Spear (GB) (Pivotal {GB}) by a short head. Well-supported into 10-3 favouritism, the G1 Fillies’ Mile and G1 Prix de l’Opera heroine had a perfect pace scenario tracking fellow Ballydoyle group 1 performers Deauville (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) and Lancaster Bomber (War Front) who pressed on with urgence on a track hugely favouring those on the speed. Committed approaching the final quarter mile by Ryan Moore, the filly was alone in the centre as Lightning Spear made his bid on the stand’s rail. Typically game and determined on the run to the line, she had her head down where it mattered and the photo revealed it was just the bob of heads which had decided it. “I thought I’d got there, but I wasn’t really sure–it was hard to know,” Moore said. “She’s a group 1 winner at two, three and now four and has had an incredible career. She could have won a lot more at three, so this is well deserved.” RHODODENDRON (IRE), 123, f, 4, by Galileo (Ire) 1st Dam: Halfway To Heaven (Ire) (MG1SW-Eng, G1SW-Ire & G1SP-Fr, $941,139), by Pivotal (GB) 2nd Dam: Cassandra Go (Ire), by Indian Ridge (Ire) 3rd Dam: Rahaam, by Secreto O-Susan Magnier, Michael Tabor & Derrick Smith; B-Orpendale, Chelston & Wynatt (IRE); T-Aidan O’Brien; J-Ryan Moore. £198,485. Lifetime Record: Hwt. 2yo Filly-Ire, G1SW-Fr, GSW & G1SP-Ire & GISP-US, 13-5-4-1, £1,309,796. *Full to Magical (Ire), GSW & G1SP-Ire, $246,117, & to Flying the Flag (Ire), GSW-Ire & GSP-SAf, $195,702. View the full article

Santa Ana Lane (Aus) (Lope de Vega {Ire}) had picked up a first Group 1 win in last spring’s Sir Rupert Clarke S., and he made it number two on Saturday in the G1 Goodwood S. at Morphettville. Towards the back behind a fast pace early, Santa Ana Lane was sent up the inside by Ben Melham. He came with a furious late rally to hit the lead approaching the 50 metre mark and win going away by 1 1/4 lengths. Santa Ana Lane was coming into this third up and had been an unlucky third on May 5 in the G3 DC McKay S. when held up while trying to make his run, and Melham referenced that effort when telling Racenet.com.au, “He put the writing on the wall the other day. He got held up till late. If he was going to come here and produce that turn of foot today, he was always going to be competitive. They just burned him out of the barriers. He was out the back and didn’t go early but I was happy to bide my time and let him travel. I was going to come wide but it would have been a hassle to do so and I would have covered a lot of ground. It opened up down on the inside and I was more than happy to switch back there. He let go with that good turn of foot and he was too good.” Pedigree Notes… Santa Ana Lane is the second foal, and lone winner to date, out of the winning Fastnet Rock mare Fast Fleet (Aus). Her next three foals were all unraced, and still to hit the track is a yearling filly by Toorak Toff (Aus). Santa Ana Lane is one of two Group 1 winners Down Under for his former shuttle sire, in addition to Vega Magic, who was eighth here while attempting to defend his title. Lope de Vega has also been represented this season by Qatar Racing’s imported Endless Drama, the winner of the G2 Apollo S. who is knocking at the door in Group 1 company. Saturday, Morphettville, Australia GOODWOOD S.-G1, A$1,003,120, SAJC, 5-19, 3yo/up, Open Set Weight, 1200mT, 1:09.88, Soft. 1–SANTA ANA LANE, 58.5, g, 5, by Lope de Vega (IRE) 1st Dam: Fast Fleet, by Fastnet Rock 2nd Dam: Fleet Marguerite (USA), by Gulch (USA) 3rd Dam: Far Flying (USA), by Far North (CAN) (A$80,000 Ylg 2014 WI Melbourne Premier Yearling Sale) O-William St (Mgr: M A Ramsden); B-Patinack Farm NSW; T-Anthony Freedman; J-B Melham; A$643,120. Lifetime Record: 26-6-1-5, A$1,280,820. Werk Nick Rating: A+++ *Triple Plus*. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree. 2–Missrock, 52.5, m, 4, Fastnet Rock–Miss Judgement, by Strategic. (A$500,000 Ylg 2015 MM Gold Coast Yearling Sale) O-R H Montague, Mrs S M Delaney, T M Montague, S R Montague, M A Lester, Mrs R K Lowe, P W Lowe, M Sambucco, Mrs J E Butler, R N Butler, P J Butler, A Melideo, Mrs A Athanasakos, P A; B-Cressfield NSW; T-R E Laing; J-Ben Thompson; A$170,000. 3–I’ll Have a Bit, 53.5, f, 3, Smart Missile–Take All of Me, by Jeune (GB). (A$48,000 Ylg 2016 WI Melbourne VOBIS Gold Yearling Sale) O-T H, Mrs V J, G P & A M Martin; B-Mr KW Breese VIC; T-John McArdle; J-Chris Parnham; A$80,000. Margins: 1.3 len, 1.5 len, 2.0 len. Odds: 25.00, 16.00, 50.00. Also Ran: Flamberge, Super Cash, Steel Frost, Handsome Thief (IRE), Vega Magic, Exalted Adam, Voodoo Lad, Overshare, Mica Lil, Viddora, Stellar Collision, Nipperkin, Secret Agenda, Viridine, Lope de Capio, Ferrando (NZ), Thronum. Click for the Racing Post result. Click for the free Arion.co.nz catalogue-style pedigree. View the full article

Comin’ Through (Aus) (Fastnet Rock {Aus}) became the second Group 1 winner for his dam Mica’s Pride (Aus) (Bite The Bullet), joining the former Australia Horse of the Year Criterion (NZ) (Sebring {Aus}), when he nipped his Chris Waller stablemate Egg Tart (Aus) (Sebring {Aus}) in Saturday’s G1 Doomben Cup. The 4-year-old gelding flew the flag on a great day for Fastnet Rock, who was the broodmare sire of the winner of Australia’s other Group 1 race on Saturday, Santa Ana Lane (Aus) (Lope de Vega {Aus}) in the Goodwood S., as well as being the sire of the second there, Missrock (Aus). Comin’ Through had been threatening to do just as his name suggests throughout this prep, knocking on the door on multiple occasions in Group 1 company. Third behind Endless Drama (Ire) (Lope de Vega {Ire}) and Global Glamour (Aus) (Star Witness {Aus}) in the G2 Apollo S. to start the campaign, he picked up a win in the G2 Ajax S. before running second in the G1 Doncaster H. Wheeling back a week later, he was fifth behind Winx (Aus) (Street Cry {Ire}) in the G1 Queen Elizabeth S., but perhaps lost the confidence of some punters when just sixth in the G2 Hollindale S. at the Gold Coast on May 5. Comin’ Through didn’t make his breakthrough win easy on himself or his rider in the end, coming six wide off the bend and trying to lug in on Egg Tart through the stretch. He found the lead inside the final furlong, however, and hit the wire a neck in front. Pedigree Notes… Comin’ Through is the 35th Group 1 winner for Fastnet Rock, but due credit must also be given to his Group 3-winning dam Mica’s Pride, who has produced four stakes winners. In addition to Criterion and Comin’ Through there are the fillies Silently (Aus) (Anabaa) and Varenna Miss (Aus) (Redoute’s Choice {Aus}). The former took the Listed James HB Carr S., while the latter is a dual group winner who was fourth in both the BTC Cup and Oakleigh Plate. Comin’ Through, being a gelding, will not follow Criterion into the breeding shed, and neither will the mare’s next produce, Follow On (Aus), a gelded 3-year-old son of Pierro (Aus), but she has a 2-year-old colt full-brother to Comin’ Through to follow, and last year produced a full-sister to Criterion. Saturday, Doomben, Australia DOOMBEN CUP-G1, A$660,121, BRC, 5-19, Open WFA, 2000mT, 2:01.43, Good. 1–COMIN’ THROUGH, 59.0, g, 4, by Fastnet Rock 1st Dam: Mica’s Pride (GSW-Aus, A$121,350), by Bite the Bullet (USA) 2nd Dam: Gainesville (CAN), by Afleet (CAN) 3rd Dam: Adarling (USA), by Alleged (USA) 1ST GROUP 1 WIN. O/B-Go Bloodstock (Mgr: Sir O G Glenn); T-C J Waller; J-M J Walker; A$406,621. Lifetime Record: 17-6-2-3, A$1,675,171. *1/2 to Silently (Aus) (Anabaa), SW- Aus, A$167,650; Varenna Miss (Aus) (Redoute’s Choice {Aus}), GSW-Aus, A$365,100; and Criterion (NZ) (Sebring {Aus}), MG1SW-Aus & MG1SP-HK, $6,058,476. Werk Nick Rating: A++. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree. 2–Egg Tart, 57.0, m, 4, Sebring–Mrs Windsor, by King’s Best (USA). (A$40,000 Ylg 2015 WI Sydney Easter Yearling Sale) O-Hermitage Syndicate (Mgr: O A Koolman); B-Mrs J Brown QLD; T-C J Waller; J-L G Innes; A$133,250. 3–Ambitious (JPN), 59.0, h, 6, Deep Impact (JPN)–Carnival Song (JPN), by El Condor Pasa (USA). O-A Kheir, P Mehrten, J A O’Neill, V Kheir, B D Nettlefold, S A Lewin, F Hachem & Carty Racing (Mgr: B C Carty); B-Hideko Kondo; T-Anthony Freedman; J-Craig Williams; A$68,250. Margins: 0.2 len, 1.5 len, 1.8 len. Odds: 8.00, 14.00, 8.50. Also Ran: Abbey Marie, Oregon’s Day, Life Less Ordinary (IRE), Satono Rasen (JPN), Tom Melbourne (IRE), Tradesman, Man of His Word, Violate. Click for the Racing Post result. Click for the free Arion.co.nz catalogue-style pedigree. View the full article

Anything other than a clear-cut success in Saturday’s G3 Al Rayyan S., or Aston Park S. as it is registered, would have been a disappointment for TDN Rising Star Crystal Ocean (GB) (Sea the Stars {Ire}) and he duly delivered with a commanding six-length defeat of Second Step (Ire) (Dalakhani {Ire}). Tackling the fastest turf he has encountered so far at a sun-baked Newbury, last year’s G1 St Leger runner-up tracked the early pace under Ryan Moore before being asked to take over approaching the final two furlongs. Staying on strongly to the line, the 2-5 favourite looked all over a specialist at this distance and his jockey confirmed that impression. “A mile and a half is his trip,” he said. “He did nothing but improve last year and did what he was entitled to do. He’s just a nice progressive horse who will continue to do better. He’s a good mover and is very straightforward, so ground is not really an issue.” CRYSTAL OCEAN (GB), 129, c, 4, by Sea the Stars (Ire) 1st Dam: Crystal Star (GB) (SW & GSP-Eng), by Mark of Esteem (Ire) 2nd Dam: Crystal Cavern, by Be My Guest 3rd Dam: Krisalya (GB), by Kris (GB) O-Sir Evelyn de Rothschild; B-Southcourt Stud (GB); T-Sir Michael Stoute; J-Ryan Moore. £56,710. Lifetime Record: G1SP-Eng, 9-5-2-2, £409,273. *1/2 to Hillstar (GB) (Danehill Dancer {Ire}), Hwt. 3yo-Eng at 11-14f, GISW-Can, MGSW & G1SP-Eng, $1,221,978; Crystal Capella (GB) (Cape Cross {Ire}), Hwt. Older Mare-Eng at 9.5-11f & MGSW-Eng, $550,532; and Crystal Zvezda (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}), SW-Eng. View the full article

The progressive Solar Patch has looked terrific in his first two Hong Kong starts and can continue his good form in the Class Three Racing Club 10th Anniversary Cup (1,400m) at Sha Tin on Sunday. The John Moore-trained three-year-old saluted on debut, beating subsequent winner Wishful Thinker before finishing second to the highly rated Mission Tycoon last time out. So the form around Solar Patch stacks up and while both of those runs were over 1,200m, he won over 1,350m in Australia so the step... View the full article