Wandering Eyes

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. Monday’s Insights features a son of MG1SW We Can Say It Now (Aus) (Starcraft {NZ}). 3.20, Saint-Cloud, Debutantes, €25,000, 3yo, c/g, 10 1/2fT AIR FROST (GB) (Iffraaj {GB}) is a half-brother to last year’s G1 Prix Royal-Oak winner Ice Breeze (GB) (Nayef) and his MGSW full-brother Snow Sky (GB) who debuts for David Smaga. Juddmonte’s homebred encounters Paul Makin’s Captain Kangaroo (Ire) (Mastercraftsman {Ire}), a son of his MG1SW We Can Say it Now (Aus) (Starcraft {NZ}). 5.55 Tipperary, Mdn, €12,000, 3yo/up, 7f 40yT MAYAADEEN (IRE) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}) kicks off his racing career for Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum in a soft encounter, having cost the operation €750,000 at the Goffs Orby Sale. Dermot Weld saddles the full-brother to Highclere Stud’s resident sire Cable Bay (Ire), who captured the G2 Challenge S. and was second in the G1 Dewhurst S., against five rivals here. View the full article

Hazapour landed trainer Dermot Weld a ninth Derrinstown Stud Derby Trial Stakes (G3) at Leopardstown May 13, coming home three-quarters of a length and a neck in front of Coolmore pair Delano Roosevelt and The Pentagon. View the full article

Greg Hall and SAYJAY Racing’s Blended Citizen (Proud Citizen), winner of Saturday’s GIII Peter Pan S. at Belmont, will remain stabled at Big Sandy as he prepares for a start in the GI Belmont S. June 9, trainer Doug O’Neill said Sunday. “Our plan is to stay right where we are there,” said O’Neill. “[Trainer] Ralph Nicks and his crew have offered to help us as well as we approach the Belmont.” Saturday’s victory was the second success at a graded stakes level for the son of Proud Citizen, who previously annexed the GIII Jeff Ruby Steaks S. over the synthetic track at Turfway Park Mar. 17. Juddmonte Farms’s Hofburg (Tapit) is also considered possible for the Belmont on the heels of his seventh-place effort in the GI Kentucky Derby. The homebred colt settled in at Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott’s Saratoga base this week. “He’s going to stay and train up there and we’ll think about the Belmont,” said Mott. “He’s doing really good.” View the full article

RUGBYMAN (c, 3, Tapit—Zaftig {GISW, $408,700}, by Gone West) might still have some growing up to do, but there’s no questioning his talent and promise after a Sunday romp at Belmont worthy of the ‘TDN Rising Star’ distinction. A late-on-the-scene third first up going seven furlongs at Keeneland Apr. 13, the regally bred grey was backed down to 6-5 with an additional furlong to work with. Falling out of the gate, the hulking colt tugged Jose Ortiz through rivals all the way up to second. He pressed $520,000 firster Dominant Strategy (Bernardini) through splits of :22.92 and :46.14, and was scrubbed on to come to even terms with the pacesetter leaving the bend. In front past the quarter pole, he required a bit of extra attention from Ortiz to maintain a straight path in upper stretch, but once he had figured it out he was wrapped up and allowed to canter home some 12 lengths clear. Dominant Strategy held on for second. The winner follows in the hoofsteps of his dam, who was named a ‘TDN Rising Star‘ herself for a second-out romp before eventually annexing the 2008 GI Acorn S. with a gaudy 113 Beyer Speed Figure. Zaftig is out of GISW Zoftig (Cozzene), and a half to fellow Grade I winner Zo Impressive (Hard Spun). Zo Impressive in turn is the dam ofgraded stakes-winning ‘Rising Star‘ Souper Tapit (Tapit). The Wertheimers paid $1.4 million for Zaftig in foal to Candy Ride (Arg) at the 2011 Fasig-Tipton November sale. She has a2-year-old colt named Spinoff (Hard Spun) with three recent breezes at Palm Beach Downs, and a yearling filly named Lasy W (War Front). She was most recently barren to Ghostzapper. Lifetime Record: 2-1-0-1. O/B-Wertheimer et Frere (Ky). T-Graham Motion. View the full article

Jour Polaire rallied to the lead in the final strides of the May 13 Victoria Mile (G1) at Toyko Racecourse and just held off the favorite, Lys Gracieux, by a nose at the wire. View the full article

The Retirement Assistance and Care for Equines (R.A.C.E.) Fund will launch its 2018 fund drive with an online auction on eBay starting May 25 at 8:00 p.m. EST and ending on June 1 to help raise funds for racehorse retirement and rescue. Featured items on auction include halters of Candy Ride, Funny Cide, Smarty Jones, Animal Kingdom, More Than Ready, Serena’s Song, Groupie Doll, Justin Phillip and Tamarkuz; horseshoes worn by War Front, Tapizar, Birdstone, Shackleford, Dialed In and Believe You Can; a California Chrome replica saddlecloth from Taylor Made; and a Secretariat bobblehead. Other items to be auctioned include farm tours donated by Three Chimneys and Darby Dan Farm and photos of Arrogate (Unbridled’s Song) autographed by Hall of Famers Mike Smith and Bob Baffert donated by Juddmonte Farms, and a picture of Gun Runner (Candy Ride {Arg}) signed by jockey Florent Geroux donated by Gallery of Champions. All proceeds raised will be used to help Thoroughbred racehorses in need of retirement and rescue from slaughter. More info about R.A.C.E. can be found here. View the full article

Entourage Stable's Pink Lloyd continued his win streak, adding his 10th consecutive stakes victory in a repeat performance of the $100,000 New Providence Stakes at Woodbine May 13. View the full article

Gregory Benoist gained from the misfortune of fellow rider Theo Bachelot, who was hospitalised after a tumble at Lyon-Parilly on Thursday, and enjoyed an armchair ride aboard Jean-Louis Bouchard and Isabelle Corbani’s City Light (Fr) (Siyouni {Fr}) as the 4-year-old bay exhibited potent acceleration and stamped his authority on France’s sprinting legion with an emphatic success tackling ParisLongchamp’s straight five panels in Sunday’s G3 Prix de Saint-Georges. City Light knocked at the door with runner-up efforts in last term’s G3 Prix Texanita, Listed Prix Marchand d’Or and Listed Prix Luthier, and opened this semester with uplifting scores on the Chantilly Polytrack Mar. 6 and in Lingfield’s Mar. 30 All-Weather Sprint Championship last time. Acting as the whipper-in before cruising into contention at halfway in this turf return, he unleashed an explosive burst to assume control with 100 metres remaining and quickly opened up to claim a belated first black-type rosette in impressive fashion. “He’s always been a good horse, but just lacked that bit of sparkle as a 3-year-old which takes you from good to very good,” explained trainer Stephane Wattel. “He changed physically over the winter, he has strengthened up a lot and is a different horse now. Winning races has also boosted his confidence and that makes a big difference. He has a fantastic turn of foot which is unusual for a five-furlong horse.” Setting forth an agenda for the winner, Wattel revealed Royal Ascot as the main focus and the manner of victory suggests the Deauville-based conditioner very much has a live contender in his care. “He’s entered in the [June 23 G1] Diamond Jubilee S. at Royal Ascot and that is the target. We’ll take our time before deciding whether, or not, he runs in the [June 3 G2] Prix du Gros-Chene [at Chantilly] beforehand.” Reflecting on Bachelot’s recent accident, Wattel also added, “Our thoughts are with Theo, who couldn’t be aboard today and is recovering from his fall at Lyon-Parilly on Thursday.” City Light may cross swords once more with the admirably consistent runner-up Gold Vibe (Ire) (Dream Ahead), who will likely point to Chantilly, according to trainer Pascal Bary. “He has performed very well again and is more often second than not, but he never runs a bad race. The Prix du Gros-Chene is probably next on the list.” City Light, kin to a 2-year-old colt by Authorized (Ire), is one of four winners from as many runners and is the leading representative for Light Saber (Fr) (Kendor {Fr}), herself a dual-winning daughter of GI Budweiser International and G2 Prix d’Astarte heroine Leariva (Irish River {Fr}). Leariva, a daughter of MGSW G1 Prix Vermeille runner-up Leandra (Fr) (Luthier {Fr}), is also the dam of MGSP Listed Prix du Ranelagh and Listed Prix Jacques de Bremond winner Athanor (Fr) (Ashkalani {Ire}) and of Largesse (Fr) (Saumarez {GB}), who in turn produced Listed Prix La Camargo victress Grandes Illusions (Fr) (Kendor {Fr}) and Listed Prix des Lilas third Highest Height (Fr) (Highest Honor {Fr}). Sunday, Longchamp, France PRIX DE SAINT-GEORGES-G3, €80,000, LCP, 5-13, 3yo/up, 5fT, :56.24, gd. 1–CITY LIGHT (FR), 126, c, 4, by Siyouni (Fr) 1st Dam: Light Saber (Fr), by Kendor (Fr) 2nd Dam: Leariva, by Irish River (Fr) 3rd Dam: Leandra (Fr), by Luthier (Fr) 1ST BLACK-TYPE WIN; 1ST GROUP WIN. (€55,000 Ylg ’15 AROCT). O-Ecurie Jean-Louis Bouchard & Mme Isabelle Corbani; B-Jedburgh Stud & Mme Isabelle Corbani (FR); T-Stephane Wattel; J-Gregory Benoist. €40,000. Lifetime Record: 13-4-5-0, €252,397. Werk Nick Rating: B. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree. 2–Gold Vibe (Ire), 128, g, 5, Dream Ahead–Whisper Dance, by Diktat (GB). (€58,000 Wlg ’13 GOFNOV; 300,000gns Ylg ’14 TAOCT). O-Sutong Pan; B-Stonecross Stud (IRE); T-Pascal Bary. €16,000. 3–Son Cesio (Fr), 134, h, 7, Zafeen (Fr)–Slitana (Fr), by Dansili (GB). O/B-Yves Borotra (FR); T-Henri-Alex Pantall. €12,000. Margins: 1HF, NK, HF. Odds: 2.80, 6.90, 9.00. Also Ran: Muthmir (Ire), Signs of Blessing (Ire), Moon Trouble (Ire), Bakoel Koffie (Ire), Mirza (GB). Scratched: Just Glamorous (Ire). Click for the Racing Post result or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. Video, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton. View the full article

As a means of getting NYRA management to focus on several beefs they have, including the scale of weights, Belmont jockeys demanded a meeting with NYRA executives Martin Panza and Chris Kay before they were willing to go out and ride in the first race Saturday. The result was a 37-minute delay before the first race was run. The last race, the GI Man o’ War S., did not go off until 7:22. This might not have been the best way to handle things. Bettors and horsemen were put through an agonizingly long delay before the races started and NYRA might have been more open-minded and sympathetic if the jockeys had tried to have their problems addressed through more diplomatic methods. Then again, maybe the jockeys felt this was the only way they would be heard. “The guys were all here, we needed to have a conversation with them, we called them before the races and the conversation went much longer than we anticipated,” Jockey’s Guild Chairman and NYRA regular John Velazquez told the Daily Racing Form. “There are lot of issues involved. We don’t have a contract. Obviously, with not having the contract and those issues not being resolved, they need to be addressed. It was never a thought of not riding. We’re here to ride, we want to make sure things get done.” Nothing is more important than the safety of jockeys and NYRA management certainly seems to agree. They’re not the bad guys here and based on the DRF report it appears that the meeting was a productive one that will move things forward. Likely, things will happen, but not over night. But there’s one thing the powers that be can’t do fast enough, and that’s raise the scale of weights. The NYRA jockeys want the minimum scale of weights to be raised to 118 pounds. I can’t see why anyone would have a problem with that. Racing’s scale of weights is something out of a long gone era when human being were simply smaller than they are now. To ask grown, adult men–or women–to weigh 109, 110 pounds in order to pursue their profession is no longer realistic. Nor is it good for the jockeys, many of whom resort to unhealthy practices, like bulemia, in order to stay so light. That number, 118 pounds, sounds more than reasonable and adding a few pounds to what horses are asked to carry can’t possibly be that big of a deal. This should be done now. Taylor Made, Harness Racing Powerhouse? On Oct. 7, Duncan, Mark, Ben and the entire Taylor clan is likely to spend the day at the racetrack in Lexington. Just not at that racetrack. That’s the day of the Allerage Pace at the Red Mile, just a few miles down the road from Keeneland and, as long as their new acquisition stays healthy, the Taylor Made team will likely be there for a race that will go a long way toward deciding what their return on investment will be with a horse named Lazarus. Taylor Made, which actually started in the harness racing game, decided recently to jump back into that sport with both feet when buying into Lazarus, a superstar in New Zealand. The idea is to show him off this summer and fall in the States and then set him up as a shuttle stallion, going back and forth between the U.S. and Australia and New Zealand. Lazarus is a pacer by the American-based sire Bettor’s Delight. A New Zealand newspaper estimated that the purchase price was $2.8 million. Here’s him winning the 2017 Victoria Cup. The reason the Red Mile races are so important is that Lexington harness track is considered the fastest in the sport and that’s where horses go to set world records. In the 2016 Allerage, Always B Miki paced the fastest mile in history, 1:46. The new Lazarus team has said it is out to beat that mark, which would do wonders for his stud value. Keeneland will also be racing Oct. 7. Yet, last week’s news was met with a heathy does of skepticism by the harness racing media. The headline in a Harness Racing Update story read “Hold off on the ‘Lazarus is the second coming’ expectations in the U.S.” The sub-head read: “Recent Down Under stars have not delivered on unrealistic projections.” Others have weighed in with the same doubts. Some of the early “Down Under” Standardbreds sent to the U.S. turned out to be sensational, most notably Cardigan Bay, who was the two-time aged pacer of the year in the U.S. in the sixties. But lately, several have not panned out. Most notable on that list is Auckland Reactor. He arrived here with a reputation not unlike the one Lazarus has and he raced in the U.S. three times in 2010, never hit the board and earned $2,560. Taylor Made took a gamble and Taylor Made doesn’t often lose. This one will be fun to watch. Chad Brown on Two Week’s Rest…Really? Chad Brown did the most un-Chad Brown thing when deciding Sunday that he would bring Good Magic (Curlin) back for the GI Preakness S. Brown epitomizes the typical modern trainer who rarely brings a horse back on short rest and prefers five or six weeks between races. But the few times Brown has run a horse right back he has done perfectly fine. According to Brisnet.com stats, since 2012, Brown has run 132 horses on three week’s rest or less. (Brisnet does not list how many horses he has raced on two week’s rest or less). He has won with 34 of those horse, or 25.7%. To give you an idea on how much he values giving a horse time between races, Brown has made 2,074 starts since 2012 where the horse has had between 31 to 90 days off. Baffert versus Ben Jones Following Bob Baffert’s win in the GI Kentucky Derby with Justify (Scat Daddy), there was reason to debate last week whether or not he is the greatest “Kentucky Derby” trainer ever. Baffert now has five Derby wins, one less than Ben Jones. Baffert is 65 and should have many good years left in him. If he stays healthy, he will have an excellent chance of surpassing Jones’s record and becoming the winningest trainer in Derby history. That would be quite an accomplishment, but never underestimate what a great Derby trainer Jones was. Yes, it was a different era and, yes, he was the trainer for Calumet Farm, which was during its heyday the greatest racing stable in American racing history. But Jones won his six Derbies with 11 total starters. Baffert, with five wins, has started 29 horses in the race. Jones won his last Derby in 1952 at age 69, four years older than Baffert is now. Gulfstream’s Handle Continues to Climb The Championship Meet at Gulftream is over, which always used to mean racing would switch across town to Calder and the handle on South Florida racing would plummet. That’s no longer happening. Gulfstream’s betting numbers in April and May will never match what they are in January, February and March, but Gulfstream has somehow become a year-round force when it comes to wagering. Last week, Gulfstream announced that its handle was up 35% during the first months of its spring meet. It’s not just that Gulfstream’s handle is up, it is that they are crushing tracks you would never expect them to crush. At this time of year, they have settled in as the third most wagered on signal in the country, behind only New York and their sister track Santa Anita. On Saturday, Gulfstream handled $9,167,626 for 12 races. Belmont’s handle for an 11-race card was $15,642,446. Santa Anita handled $11,969,178 on nine races. It’s not that the overall betting market is growing. It’s that Gulfstream is stealing bettors from other tracks. With a Saturday handle of $5,567,834 for 11 races, Churchill Downs handled $3.6 million less than Gulfstream did. That’s a number that was once inconceivable. Why is the Man o’War Run on the Turf? There are too many stakes races with names that just don’t fit, e.g. the Man o’ War. Why name a stakes on the grass after a horse who never ran on the grass? I get it. It’s not that big of a deal, but why not get it right? I would like to see than Man o’ War changed to the Mack Miller Stakes. With four wins, Miller has won the race more times than any other trainer, and was one of the most respected gentlemen ever to train race horses. He deserves to have a major race named after him. Obviously, there should still be a Man o’ War Stakes, just not this Man o’War Stakes. Man o’ War won several Grade I New York races where the names can’t be changed, a list that includes the Belmont, the Travers and the Jockey Club Gold Cup. Then there’s the Hopeful, which he won in 1919. How about this: for the 100th anniversary of his win in the Hopeful, the name of the race will be changed next year to the Man o’War and the Man o’War becomes the Mack Miller. View the full article

CAPTURE YOUR DREAM (f, 2, Uncaptured-Morethanamiracle, by Line in the Sand) was backed down to 9-5 into the teeth of a 4-5 Todd Pletcher trainee and despite her own trainer’s low profile, and the Kathy Machesky homebred came out running to post a promising first score. Straight to the front and immediately clear, the pint-sized bay doled out an opening quarter in :21.70 before leaving her closest pursuer in the dust turning for home. From there she poured it on, running up the score to about eight lengths in :52.08. The aforementioned Pletcher representative Makealittlemischief (Into Mischief) rallied for second. Capture Your Dream becomes the second winner for her well-regarded Florida-based freshman sire Uncaptured (Lion Heart). Uncaptured’s juveniles have been well-received for a regional stallion at this year’s sales-he boasts a $126,894 2-year-old average with a top seller (also a filly) of $350,000. For more, read Uncaptured the Latest Buzz Horse for Ocala Stud. Lifetime Record: 1-1-0-0. O/B-Kathy Machesky (FL). T-Anna Varsi. View the full article

Stonestreet Stables and e Five Racing’s champion Good Magic (Curlin), runner-up in the GI Kentucky Derby May 5, has been confirmed for a start in the GI Preakness S. next Saturday, trainer Chad Brown said Sunday. “The horse has just been training very well since the Derby,” Brown said. “He bounced out of the race in great condition and I think he deserves a chance in the race. He’s doing great.” While Brown–like most trainers–does not typically run horses back on two weeks rest, he said the race is tough to pass on give the colt’s current fitness. “I think it’s a great opportunity for the horse,” he said. “I really don’t have anything else planned for him before, say, either the GI Haskell Invitational or the GII Jim Dandy S. anyway. That said, I wouldn’t do it just because he’s going to get a bit of a freshening. He has to be doing well, and he’s doing exceptionally well. He’s doing far better than I expected exiting the Derby. It’s remarkable to see how well the horse is moving and his energy level. He already has his weight back. He just looks great. I’m excited about it.” In order to find the winner’s circle Saturday, Good Magic will need to turn the tables on Derby hero Justify (Scat Daddy), who remained unbeaten with a 2 1/2-length score in the slop beneath the Twin Spires. Justify made a visit to the starting gate and had a routine gallop Sunday morning at Churchill Downs as the Kentucky Derby winner prepares for Saturday’s Preakness. “He stood in the gate, we jogged down the stretch a little ways and then galloped a mile and a half,” said Jimmy Barnes, assistant to trainer Bob Baffert. In other Preakness news: • Cash is King, LC Racing and D.J. Stable’s Diamond King (Quality Road) turned in his final work with a five-furlong breeze Sunday morning at Parx Racing. Frankie Pennington was aboard as the colt wad clocked in 1:01.50 over a sloppy main track in company with 4-year-old gelding Colonel Juan (Colonel John). Diamond King galloped out six furlongs in 1:14.53. “Everything went super, very good. It was exactly what I was looking for,” trainer John Servis said. “I told him I was looking for around 1:01 and then let him gallop out on his own…so it was right on the money.” • WinStar Farm, China Horse Club International and SF Racing’s GII Lambholm South Tampa Bay Derby winner Quip (Distorted Humor), based at Keeneland with trainer Rodolphe Brisset, worked 4 furlongs in :48.20 Sunday at Keeneland. Keeneland’s clocker caught Quip’s final quarter in :23.80 with a five-furlong gallop out in 1:00.60. “It was a usual maintenance work for him,” said Brisset, who was aboard Quip in the work, while the Distorted Humor colt was being bathed. “He went off easy and came home nicely, galloped out strong.” • Back in Louisville, Bravazo (Awesome Again) worked four furlongs in :50.60 in a maintenance breeze for Hall of Famer D. Wayne Lukas. • GMB Racing’s Lone Sailor (Majestic Warrior), eighth in the Kentucky Derby for trainer Tom Amoss, has been confirmed for a start in the Preakness. Irad Ortiz, Jr. will have the mount. View the full article

Olmedo got up to lead close home and gave trainer Jean-Claude Rouget back-to-back wins May 13 in the Emirates Poule d'Essai des Poulains (G1) at ParisLongchamp. View the full article

The G1 The Emirates Poule d’Essai des Pouliches on Sunday was delayed by half an hour when Christophe Soumillon, backed up by his fellow jockeys, reiterated his concern over the state of the track at ParisLongchamp after finishing third on Dice Roll (Fr) (Showcasing {GB}) in the preceding race, the G1 Poule d’Essai des Poulains. The 13 trainers involved in the fillies’ Classic were consulted in the weighing-room as the horses were led back out of the parade ring to the stabling area. Eventually the decision was taken to move the race from the middle track, on which the colts had run, to the outer track. During the Poule d’Essai des Poulains, U S Navy Flag (War Front) stumbled on the bend when leading the field before finishing fifth. The incident led to an emotional outburst from Soumillon who, a week earlier, had given up his rides halfway through the meeting after telling French racing channel Equidia, “The ground is terrible, the track is full of divots.” View the full article

Only a nostril separated Jour Polaire (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) and bridesmaid Lys Gracieux (Jpn) (Heart’s Cry {Jpn}) at the wire of the 1600-metre G1 Victoria Mile at Tokyo on Sunday. In the process, the 5-year-old provided trainer Masato Nishizono his fourth Group 1 victory, and jockey Hideaki Miyuki his seventh. Red Avancer (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) was only a neck back in third in a race contested in a downpour. The first three home earned berths to the 1600-metre G1 Prix Jacques le Marois over a mile at Deauville on Aug. 12, with their registration fees waived and a €20,000 travel allowance provided. Tabbed the eighth choice at 18-1, Jour Polaire broke forwardly, but dropped back through the field to sit eighth for the backstretch run as Kawakita Enka (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) strolled along on the front end. Undeterred by the boggy underfoot conditions, the bay spun seven deep into the home stretch and began to make inroads toward the vanguard a quarter-mile from the wire. The 3-1 favourite Lys Gracieux established a narrow advantage 200 out, but Jour Polaire collared that rival on the line in a bobbing finish. Red Avancer closed well to take third on the outside, a half-length to the good of rails-runner Aerolithe (Jpn) (Kurofune). “I wasn’t worried about the rain and going getting softer because it was perfect for my mare,” said winning hoop Hideaki Miyuki. “I was hoping to race a little more near the pace. She showed a great turn of foot, but it was so close, I couldn’t make out if we were beaten by Lys Gracieux from the outside at the end or not.” Third in this event last year behind Admire Lead (Jpn) (Stay Gold {Jpn}) and Denko Ange (Jpn) (Meisho Samson {Jpn}), Jour Polaire was back in the winner’s circle in Nakayama’s Shufu S. over this distance after a four-month break on Sept. 30. Sixteenth upped to 2200 metres in the G1 Queen Elizabeth II Cup on Nov. 12, she warmed up for this with a fifth in the G2 Sankeisports Hai Hanshin Himba S. at Hanshin on Apr. 7. Pedigree Notes… Jour Polaire is the 35th Group 1 winner for her Shadai Stallion Station-based sire. A half-sister to fellow Japanese Group 1 winner Sadamu Patek (Jpn) (Fuki Kiseki {Jpn) who also ran second in the 2011 G1 Satsuki Sho (Japanese 2000 Guineas), the 5-year-old mare is followed by a winning 3-year-old full-brother, Dark Night Moon (Jpn). Her dam is a half-sister to SW and GI Whitney H. runner-up Catienus (Storm Cat). Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. Sunday, Tokyo, Japan VICTORIA MILE-G1, ¥204,900,000 (US$1,872,860/£1,383,022/€1,567,865), Tokyo, 5-13, 4yo/up, f, 1600mT, 1:32.30, gd. 1–JOUR POLAIRE (JPN), 121, m, 5, Deep Impact (Jpn) 1st Dam: Summer Night City (Jpn), by Helissio (Fr) 2nd Dam: Diamond City, by Mr. Prospector 3rd Dam: Honey’s Flag, by Hoist the Flag 1ST BLACK-TYPE WIN. 1ST GROUP WIN. 1ST GROUP 1 WIN. O-G1 Racing; B-Shiraoi Farm (Jpn); T-Masato Nishizono; J-Hideaki Miyuki; ¥108,780,000. Lifetime Record: 14-6-2-2. *1/2 to Sadamu Patek (Jpn) (Fuji Kiseki {Jpn}), G1SW-Jpn, $4,889,913. Werk Nick Rating: A++. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree. 2–Lys Gracieux (Jpn), 121, f, 4, Heart’s Cry (Jpn) 1st Dam: Liliside (Fr), by American Post (GB) 2nd Dam: Miller’s Lily (Fr), by Miller’s Mate (GB) 3rd Dam: Lymara (Fr), by Lyphard O-Carrot Farm; B-Northern Farm (Jpn); ¥43,080,000. 3–Red Avancer (Jpn), 121, m, 5, Deep Impact (Jpn) 1st Dam: Erimo Pixy (Jpn), by Dancing Brave 2nd Dam: Erimo Shooting (Jpn), by Tesco Boy (GB) 3rd Dam: Depgleef, by Vaguely Noble (Ire) O-Tokyo Horse Racing; B-Northern Farm (Jpn); ¥26,540,000. Margins: NO, NK, HF; Odds: 18.40, 3.30, 11.10. Also Ran: Aerolithe (Jpn), Miss Panthere (Jpn), Let’s Go Donki (Jpn), Soul Stirring (Jpn), Admire Lead (Jpn), One to One (Jpn), Reine Mioru (Jpn), Maids of Honour (Jpn), Denko Ange (Jpn), Rabbit Run, Kawakita Enka (Jpn), Rieno Tesoro, Dea Regalo (Jpn), Eterna Minoru (Jpn), Queen’s Milagro (Jpn). Click for the Racing Post chart. JRA Video. View the full article

As the founder and honorary chairman of The Stronach Group, Frank Stronach has no equal in this sport when it comes to being a mover, a shaker and a visionary. Stronach doesn’t believe in the status quo and believes that it will take bold action and innovation not only for the sport to move forward, but, perhaps, to remain viable. The industry is clearly starting to appreciate his contributions. Last month, it was announced that Stronach is the latest recipient of Dinny Phipps Award. The award was created by Earle Mack and honors an individual or individuals who have demonstrated dedication to equine health. Some three months earlier, Stronach was awarded an Eclipse Award of Merit for a lifetime of outstanding achievement in service to the Thoroughbred industry. Stronach sat down with the TDN‘s Bill Finley to talk about his vision not only for The Stronach Group racetracks but for the sport itself and why he is so dedicated to the betterment of the game. TDN: With these two recent awards, it is clear that the industry is appreciative of your efforts. That must be gratifying. FS: It is. It is any time you get awards like this. I do what I do because I am heavily involved with horses and love horses. I built a sizeable industrial corporation (an auto parts business) and so when I got into horses, I was looking for an equalizer. With the industrial, you measure things by the thousands of an inch and use high tech formulas. The horses bring us back to nature. The more I got into the horses, the more interesting it got. You have a very big powerful animal and it has no mean streak in it. It would rather run away than fight. I just try to do things that are right for the horse and for horse racing. I used to give a lot of lectures at universities and I’ve always said that success in life can only be measured with the degree of happiness you reach. At the same time, I told them that it’s a lot easier to be happy if you have some money. If you are in your early twenties and you don’t know yourself yet, experiment a bit. Do something that you enjoy. When you enjoy something, you can be good at it if you put in the extra effort. You can be one of the very best. Money is a byproduct of that. For me, the horses are a great equalizer to my industrial activities. TDN: The last five or six years have been good ones for The Stronach Group. Gulfstream’s business has gone through the roof, Laurel has also seen impressive improvements in handle and things appear to be turning a corner at Santa Anita. Is there any one accomplishment you are most proud of? FS: What I am most proud of is what we have accomplished at Gulftream Park. Yes, we did quite a bit of renovation at Santa Anita and also some at Laurel. But Gulfstream was a complete overhaul. I tried to build a facility that I thought would be the most functional facility. Functional but also a place with plenty of aesthetics. I think aesthetics are very important to the customers. I got criticized quite heavily to begin with. Then more and more people came and more and more people enjoyed the excitement. People love to go there now. I wanted to create something where people wold say, ‘Let’s go to Gulfstream Park–the food is good there–let’s watch some races and have some fun.’ TDN: Some of your more successful hires of late have been people who few would have pegged for management roles. In particular, in people like Tim Ritvo, Sal Sinatra, Billy Badgett and P.J. Campo, you have taken people who have spent most of their careers dealing with horses and not the more traditional aspects of the business side of the sport. Yet, these people seem to be doing a very good job. What do they bring to the table that has made them a success in their new roles? FS: When I look for a manager of a racetrack, I think it’s important that the owners and trainers feel good about the person I hire. They have to lay a lot of money out and put a lot of work into what they do. So we were trying to hire people who understood what the owners and trainers need. If you have been a trainer or if you have been connected with the horses you have a good understanding of that. A lot of trainers would say, ‘Gee, if the owners would do XYZ, it would be better.’ The same goes for the owners. We listen to them. We try to make it as pleasant as possible for the owners and the trainers. TDN: More so, perhaps, than at any time in history, so many horses and so many good horses are in the hands of a handful of trainers. Many believe this is a problem. In fact, Santa Anita has written races that are designed to give the smaller trainers an opportunity to win. What is your overview on this matter? FS: I want to stress over and over that the backbone of racing is the small trainer, the small owner. They get up seven days a week between 4:00 and 5:00 in the morning to chase a dream. They want to come up with a stakes horse and thereby change their lives. I want to provide them with a chance to make a better living. In California, we have a problem. About 5% of the owners and trainers win about 70% of all the purse monies. That means a lot of the small trainers can’t make a living. Yet, we have to be careful and there has to be a balance. Most of the wealthier owners have made their money in other businesses. They buy horses to win big stakes. Only a small percentage of the horses that you buy wind up as stakes winners. For those who spend a lot of money on a horse, we obviously have to have stakes races and we have to have opportunities for them to race in spots that are preps for those races. We have to take care of the big and small stables, but we can’t ignore the needs of the smaller trainers with the cheaper horses. Tim Ritvo has done a good job balancing this at Gulfstream Park and we have to do the same in California. TDN: Your racing departments have done an admirable job of creating big fields at your tracks. Sometimes, though, they do so by carding a lot of cheap races, including turf races for cheaper horses. Why has The Stronach Group adopted this formula? FS: The message I want to get across is that racetracks can only do well if they have big fields. People do not want to bet on a four- or five-horse fields. A lot of owners like to run in races with small fields because their chances of winning are greater. But the racetracks have to be viable. If they are viable, they will be there forever. We have seen so many racetracks go out of business because they were not viable. We need to create as much handle as possible and the best way to do that is to produce races with big fields. TDN: This is an industry that many people say is dysfunctional and would be a lot better off if all the parties involved worked together for the good of the sport and not just their individual interests. Do you agree? FS: Yes, the racetrack owners have to communicate a lot more than they do. Believe me, I can make more money in other areas rather than in investing in racetracks and racehorses, but I care about the sport and the horses. If we would work together, if we put our heads together, we can get racing to a higher level. When you look back at the last couple of decades, handle was a lot bigger than it is now. Fifteen years ago, it was about $15 billion, $16 billion. Now it’s down to $10 billion. That’s a huge difference and it doesn’t take into account inflation. That $15 billion is worth more today than it was then. We have too many sources that pull money out of the handle, including the off-shore wagering. We have got to get that money back, the $5 billion or $6 billion that has been lost over the years, for the racetracks to survive. Some years ago, people were saying Stronach might have a monopoly, owning most of the racetracks, we have to be careful of him. I don’t think people think that way anymore. We have to put our heads together and say, “What to do we have to do to change so that racing will stay alive?” One thing we should be looking at is having one online betting platform. With the way it is now, it is too confusing. TDN: It sounds like you are worried about the future of horse racing in this country? FS: I am very worried. The problem is that the land these racetracks sit on is very valuable. The racetrack owners have to be entitled to a fair return. Not a high return, but a fair return. If they lose money they are not going to stay open. That’s the key, the message I want to get across. For me, what I do, is not self-serving. It’s for the love of the horses. Horses are one of the last things left when it comes to our connection with nature. Horses have provided such a great service to mankind. Where would the West be in America if not for horses? For the horse industry to stay alive we have to sit down and really take a look at what we can do. TDN: Yet, wouldn’t you be better off if several racetracks did close? After all, that would mean a lot more handle for the Stronach tracks. FS: Not at all. I’m talking about what do we have to do to make sure that horse racing stays alive, and not just our tracks. It’s not like two restaurants side by side that compete for customers. Belmont is far away from Gulfstream Park. Gulfstream Park is far away from Churchill Downs. We are not talking customers away from one another. We should be finding ways that New York, Santa Anita, Churchill, Gulfstream all do well. The major racing hubs all need to be successful because that is what is best for the overall health of the sport. TDN: Perhaps your boldest initiative to date has been the creation of the GI Pegasus World Cup. There has been a lot tweaking to the format for the race and there have been hints that more major changes could be in store. What can you tell us about the future of this race? FS: It would be great if we would be better connected and get horses for the Pegasus from more parts of world, like Japan and even China. Why does car racing do so well? Car racing has 200,000 people at its events because many people are from Brazil, from Argentina, wherever. Great racing cars come from all over the world. It’s the same for soccer. It is already popular, but it is at its most popular when you have the World Cup. We need to work on that, getting horses from other countries. We want to make it more of a worldwide event. TDN: It would be a lot easier to attract foreign horses for the Pegasus if the race were run on the turf. For a time, there was talk about a Pegasus turf race. Is that something still under consideration? FS: Internally, we talk quite a bit about that. It is absolutely necessary that we do have a turf race. Ideally, we’d like to have a dirt race and a turf race. The turf race could even have a higher purse than the dirt race because it would be more accepted on an international level. We are open to that. Our main aim is, can we do things to improve and make horse racing more exciting? That is our mission. If it is more exciting, more will be bet and then there will be more money for the racetracks. International competition is important. Down the road, I would like to see a World Cup for horse racing. One year it could be in the U.S., one year in Saudi Arabia, one year in Dubai, one year in Ireland, England or France. From time to time, you would hold the event and have it at different locations and have a truly international event. That’s the type of thing we need to bring international attention to our sport. View the full article

A relative of the 2016 G1 Epsom Derby hero Harzand (Ire) (Sea the Stars {Ire}), His Highness The Aga Khan’s Hazapour (Ire) (Shamardal) set up a tilt at the blue riband himself as he upstaged the trio of Ballydoyle colts in Sunday’s G3 Derrinstown Stud Derby Trial S. at Leopardstown. Last seen finishing third in the nine-furlong G3 Eyrefield S. here in October, the chestnut raced in fourth early before striking for home approaching the furlong pole. Staying on as Delano Roosevelt (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) closed on the outer, the 16-1 shot had 3/4 of a length to spare over that rival at the line, with a neck back to the 6-5 favourite The Pentagon (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) in third. Click for the Racing Post result or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. Video, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton. View the full article

With the G1 The Emirates Poule d’Essai des Pouliches switched to ParisLongchamp’s Grande Piste, or outer track, due to concerns about the ground it was all straightforward in the race itself with Sheikh Mohammed bin Khalifa Al Thani’s unbeaten Teppal (Fr) (Camacho {GB}) providing her owner with a second renewal after Flotilla (Fr) (Mizzen Mast) in 2013. Always handy under Olivier Peslier, the 11-1 shot had to angle out for her finishing effort and after hitting the front a furlong from home battled courageously to ward off a blanket of rivals in a finale typical of these Classics. At the line, there was a short neck back to Coeur de Beaute (Fr) (Dabirsim {Fr}) in second, with Wind Chimes (GB) (Mastercraftsman {Ire}) coming from wide and far back to be a head behind in third. Sunday, Longchamp, France THE EMIRATES POULE D’ESSAI DES POULICHES-G1, €500,000, LCP, 5-13, 3yo, f, 8fT, 1:37.97, gd. 1–TEPPAL (FR), 126, f, 3, by Camacho (GB) 1st Dam: Jummana (Fr), by Cadeaux Genereux (GB) 2nd Dam: Forty Belles, by Forty Niner 3rd Dam: Bellarida (Fr), by Bellypha (Ire) 1ST BLACK-TYPE WIN; 1ST GROUP WIN; 1ST GROUP 1 WIN. (€60,000 Ylg ’16 ARAU2; €105,000 2yo ’17 ARQMAY). O-H H Sheikh Mohammed bin Khalifa Al Thani; B-Gestut Zur Kuste AG (FR); T-David Simcock; J-Olivier Peslier. €285,700. Lifetime Record: 3-3-0-0, €293,521. *1/2 to Another Party (Fr) (Pomellato {Ger}), MGSP-Fr, $248,740. Werk Nick Rating: B. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree. 2–Coeur de Beaute (Fr), 126, f, 3, Dabirsim (Fr)–Twilight Tear (GB), by Rock of Gibraltar (Ire). (€30,000 Ylg ’16 OSLATE). O-Ahmed Mouknass & Teruya Yoshida; B-Haras de Grandcamp (FR); T-Mauricio Delcher Sanchez. €114,300. 3–Wind Chimes (GB), 126, f, 3, Mastercraftsman (Ire)–Militante (Ire), by Johannesburg. (€130,000 Ylg ’16 ARAUG). O-Derrick Smith, Susan Magnier & Michael Tabor; B-Ecurie des Monceaux (GB); T-Andre Fabre. €57,150. Margins: SNK, HD, HD. Odds: 12.00, 15.00, 8.90. Also Ran: Capla Temptress (Ire), Barkaa (Fr), Musis Amica (Ire), Ellthea (Ire), Could It Be Love, Red Line (Fr), Sea Prose (Fr), Zonza (Fr), Moisson Precoce (GB), Mission Impassible (Ire), Polydream (Ire). Click for the Racing Post result or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. Video, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton. View the full article

Trainer Chad Brown said May 13 that Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve (G1) runner-up Good Magic will take on Justify again in the May 19 Preakness Stakes (G1) at Pimlico Race Course. View the full article

Coming into this engagement with older rivals on the back of wins over seven furlongs and this mile at Dundalk Dec. 22 and Mar. 23, Zihba (Ire) (Choisir {Aus}) took it all in his stride to book a possible ticket to the G1 Irish 2000 Guineas at The Curragh in 13 days’s time. Settled fourth early by Chris Hayes, the 5-2 favourite was committed approaching the furlong pole and led soon after en route to a 1 1/2-length success from Pincheck (Ire) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}). Sunday, Leopardstown, Ireland AMETHYST S.-G3, €60,000, LEO, 5-13, 3yo/up, 8fT, 1:42.18, gd. 1–ZIHBA (IRE), 122, c, 3, by Choisir (Aus) 1st Dam: Fancy Vivid (Ire), by Galileo (Ire) 2nd Dam: Starchy (GB), by Cadeaux Genereux (GB) 3rd Dam: Sahara Star (GB), by Green Desert 1ST BLACK-TYPE WIN; 1ST GROUP WIN. (€62,000 Ylg ’16 TIRSEP). O-Britton/Werrett/McGuinness/ReidScott; B-Mark & Caroline Hanly (IRE); T-Fozzy Stack; J-Chris Hayes. €35,400. Lifetime Record: 3-3-0-0, $64,617. Werk Nick Rating: B+. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree. 2–Pincheck (Ire), 135, g, 4, Invincible Spirit (Ire)–Arty Crafty, by Arch. (€370,000 Ylg ’15 GOFORB). O-Jon Kelly; B-Airlie Stud (IRE); T-Jessica Harrington. €12,000. 3–True Valour (Ire), 135, c, 4, Kodiac (GB)–Sutton Veny (Ire), by Acclamation (GB). (19,000gns Wlg ’14 TATFOA; €100,000 2yo ’16 GBMBR). O-Qatar Racing Ltd; B-P O’Rourke (IRE); T-Johnny Murtagh. €6,000. Margins: 1HF, HF, 3/4. Odds: 2.50, 6.00, 3.00. Also Ran: Tennessee Wildcat (Ire), Gordon Lord Byron (Ire), Tribal Beat (Ire), Brendan Brackan (Ire). Click for the Racing Post result or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. Video, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton. View the full article

Leopardstown’s G3 Derrinstown Stud 1,000 Guineas Trial on Sunday was robbed of Magical (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) due to the drying ground, but its competitive nature remained intact and it was Who’s Steph (Ire) (Zoffany {Ire}) who came out on top to reward George Strawbridge’s recent purchase. Having caught the renowned owner-breeder’s eye when successful in the G3 Ballylinch Stud 1000 Guineas Trial over seven furlongs here Apr. 14, the 3-1 joint favourite showed the same battling qualities to become the first since Carribean Sunset (Ire) (Danehill Dancer {Ire}) to complete the double of this track’s two Guineas Trials. Sent up to track the early pace in second by Colin Keane, the grey took over passing the quarter pole and stayed on strongly to secure a length verdict over Ship of Dreams (Ire) (Lope de Vega {Ire}). Click for the Racing Post result or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. Video, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton. View the full article

In a renewal of ParisLongchamp’s G1 The Emirates Poule d’Essai des Poulains affected by a slick surface caused by further rainfall in the capital, with US Navy Flag (War Front) stumbling on the turn after three furlongs, it was Antonio Caro and Gerard Augustin-Normand’s Olmedo (Fr) (Declaration of War) who emerged best with a stirring effort having been looked after by Cristian Demuro on that slippery bend. Sent off the 13-5 second favourite, the TDN Rising Star who was runner-up in the course-and-distance G3 Prix de Fontainebleau Apr. 15 had plenty of ground to make up on the forcefully-ridden Ballydoyle raider and Hey Gaman (GB) (New Approach {Ire}) as they straightened for home. With Dice Roll (Fr) (Showcasing {GB}) joining in up front, Olmedo started to go to work with his long stride and reeled them in inside the final 50 metres for a neck success from Hey Gaman, who nosed out Dice Roll with the Fontainebleau winner Wootton (Fr) (Wootton Bassett {GB}) and US Navy Flag fourth and fifth. “These are the type of races these horses are being prepared for very carefully and I’ve always loved that horse,” trainer Jean-Claude Rouget commented as the jockeys were in discussion with the stewards about the state of the ground, delaying the start of the Pouliches in the process. “He ran a great race on his return and has never run a bad race. I’m definitely convinced that better ground was going to make a difference and he has proved his class. He was in great condition. Mr Caro and Mr Augustin-Normand have an amazing strike-rate at the highest level and I would imagine if all is well we will head to the G1 Prix du Jockey Club [at Chantilly June 3].” Sunday, Longchamp, France THE EMIRATES POULE D’ESSAI DES POULAINS-G1, €600,000, LCP, 5-13, 3yo, c, 8fT, 1:37.72, gd. 1–OLMEDO (FR), 128, c, 3, by Declaration of War 1st Dam: Super Pie, by Pivotal (GB) 2nd Dam: Super Lina (Fr), by Linamix (Fr) 3rd Dam: Supergirl, by Woodman 1ST BLACK-TYPE WIN; 1ST GROUP WIN; 1ST GROUP 1 WIN. (€100,000 Ylg ’16 ARAUG). O-Ecurie Antonio Caro & Gerard Augustin-Normand; B-Dream With Me Stable Inc (FR); T-Jean-Claude Rouget; J-Cristian Demuro. €342,840. Lifetime Record: 5-2-3-0, €468,350. Werk Nick Rating: B. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree. 2–Hey Gaman (GB), 128, c, 3, New Approach (Ire)–Arsaadi (Ire), by Dubawi (Ire). (100,000gns RNA Ylg ’16 TATOCT). O-Sultan Ali; B-Rabbah Bloodstock Ltd (GB); T-James Tate. €137,160. 3–Dice Roll (Fr), 128, c, 3, Showcasing (GB)–Schlague (Fr), by Pulpit. (€130,000 Ylg ’16 AROCT). O-Giacomo Algranti & Haras d’Etreham; B-Gestut Zur Kuste AG (FR); T-Fabrice Chappet. €68,580. Margins: NK, NO, 1 3/4. Odds: 2.60, 32.00, 4.20. Also Ran: Wootton (Fr), U S Navy Flag, Kings Shield, Infernal Majesty (Fr), Il Primo Sole (GB), Magic Bibou (Fr), Francesco Bere (Fr), Louis d’Or (Ire). Click for the Racing Post result or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. Video, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton. View the full article

Jim Bolger’s G1 Goffs Vincent O’Brien National S. winner Verbal Dexterity (Ire) (Vocalised) will not be making his seasonal reappearance anytime soon with his owner/breeder/trainer having ruled the colt out of the G1 Tattersalls Irish 2000 Guineas. “It will be a while before you see him,” Bolger said. “He’s fine, but having missed the time he’s going to miss the Curragh as well, so after that there is no hurry. His big day is the Irish Champion Stakes at Leopardstown [in September] and if there is a run in between, that will be fine,” he added. Verbal Dexterity beat recent American sprint winner Beckford (GB) (Bated Breath {GB}) in the National S. at The Curragh last year before finishing fourth to Saxon Warrior (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) in the G1 Racing Post Trophy last October at Doncaster. View the full article

New Zealand’s Te Akau Racing will soon rely on Jamie Richards to lead their training operation with the news that former senior training partner Stephen Autridge is planning to step down from his role. Autridge has lead the team to significant success over the past few years, including with multiple Group 1 and Classic winner Gingernuts (NZ) (Iffraaj {GB}) and has decided to alter his work life balance more towards spending time with his family. “Together Stephen Autridge and Jamie Richards have been a potent partnership,” Te Akau boss David Ellis told Racing And Sports on Sunday. “In three years, they have won a premiership, been named champion trainers and have recorded 42 group and listed race successes together, including 13 at Group One level. Stephen is as good a horseman as you will ever meet, and it’s been a very successful and happy association. We will miss him and [wife] Lynley greatly but naturally we respect their desire to take life a little easier,” Ellis added. In a training career spanning over 25 years in both Australia and New Zealand, Stephen Autridge has trained close to 1,000 winners and his association with Te Akau traces back to 1987 when he first joined the stud. “This is a natural progression and a very positive one to my mind. For us it is time to step back from leading a major stable. We want to spend more time enjoying our family and our leisure time,” Autridge said. Jamie Richards joined Te Akau Racing in 2014 as racing manager and became part of the training partnership with Stephen Autridge a year later. The 28-year-old will take over the baton on August 1 and he commented, “I would like to thank Steve Autridge. As he was to Mark Walker, he has been a great mentor to me throughout our partnership. I have learnt a lot from him and am hugely grateful for that guidance. We have had a great three seasons together and while I am sad to see our partnership end, I am also incredibly excited about the future. To lead the Te Akau NZ operation is a once in a lifetime opportunity. It’s a dream come true and I can’t wait for the new season.” View the full article

Inglis held the first session of the two day HTBA Scone Yearling Sale on Sunday and trade was highlighted by a trio of six-figure lots. These transactions were among 159 lots sold and they helped boost receipts for the day to A$2,639,500 which was a significant drop of just over A$800,000 on last year’s aggregate. As a result the other figures also took a hit with the average for the session coming in at A$16,601 (-15%), the median was A$10,000 (-33%) and the clearance rate settled at 82%, down from 92% last year. Despite failing to keep pace with the 2017 figures Inglis’ general manager of bloodstock Jonathan D’Arcy was satisfied with the day’s proceedings and commented, “The top end of the market was very good and to sell three horses for A$100,000 or more was a great result for our vendors. Throughout the year we’ve seen the market being selective in the middle-to-lower end and that was similar today. The well-presented yearlings with commercial pedigrees exceeded their reserves on many occasions and the clearance rate of 82% was a fair indication that the majority of breeders were prepared to meet the market.” Topping the day when selling for A$110,000 to J Stitt was lot 20, a filly by Wandjina (Aus) offered by Southern Cross Breeders. The chestnut is the second living produce out of the well related winning mare Galleries (Aus) (Royal Academy) and her vendor Senga Bissett was not surprised she sold so well. “We knew she was a nice filly and we knew she would sell well but we didn’t genuinely believe she would sell as well as she did. She was popular at inspections but she behaved beautifully all the way along and has such a beautiful temperament,” Bissett said. Southern Cross Breeders not only enjoyed a 100% clearance rate with their offerings but they also ended up leading vendor by aggregate and by average (for three or more sold) and Bissett was naturally thrilled with results. “We had four lovely strong fillies with no issues who we hoped would be popular and sell well but they did all exceed our expectations,” she said. “My staff did an excellent job and worked really hard to make sure each of the yearlings were presented really well,” Bissett added. It took a while for the six figure barrier to be broken again when lot 171, a colt by Deep Field (Aus) out of the stakes winner Bouzy Rouge (Aus) (Snitzel {Aus}) sold to D Head for A$100,000 and that figure was bested just two lots later when Waltrin Pty Ltd bid A$105,000 for lot 173. This was for a filly by Nicconi (Aus) out of the three time winner Brookton Flare (Aus) (Strada {Aus}) and offered by Holbrook Thoroughbreds. The sale continues on Monday from 11a.m. with a further 90 lots in the HTBA Scone Yearling Sale, followed by the Scone Weanling & Thoroughbred Sale, for which 62 lots have been catalogued. View the full article

Winchell Thoroughbreds' homebred Tenfold officially joined the Preakness Stakes (G1) fray, according to his connections, and galloped 1 1/2 miles May 12 at Churchill Downs. View the full article