Wandering Eyes

Belinda Stronach, the chairman and president of The Stronach Group (TSG) and the primary defendant in a bombshell October lawsuit initiated by her father, Frank Stronach, has chosen the week of the racing company’s highest profile race, the GI Pegasus World Cup, to fire back with her own allegations of financial mismanagement by her dad that she claims have cost the family empire some $800 million (CDN). In a statement of defense and counter-suit filed Jan. 21 in the Ontario Superior Court of Justice, Belinda Stronach’s legal team is arguing that “The conflict that underlies this lawsuit is a fundamental disagreement over the proper test to be applied to managing the business and affairs of TSG. Frank Stronach firmly believes that, having been the principal creator of the family wealth, he may direct the business and affairs of TSG as he sees fit. Belinda and other TSG management firmly believe that their obligation is to manage the business and affairs of TSG in a prudent manner that is in the best interests of TSG and its stakeholders.” The 217 pages of court documents obtained by TDN paint a picture of ill-advised “passion projects” initiated by Frank Stronach, the 86-year-old family patriarch, including $55 million for two bronze statues of a 12-story high Pegasus horse. One statue is the signature focal point of Gulfstream Park, while the other is crated up in storage in China and has never been publicly displayed. “While Frank had great success in creating one of the world’s largest automotive suppliers, he has also experienced significant failures in nearly all of his other non-auto parts ventures and his political affairs,” Belinda Stronach’s filing contends. “[Frank’s] lawsuit is an attempt to force TSG to fund Frank’s imprudent, and, in some cases, fanciful schemes to the detriment of TSG and its stakeholders. “Belinda has engaged in no unlawful conduct. To the contrary she has taken steps to rectify the irregular affairs of TSG she inherited from Frank,” the documents allege. “Over time…Frank began to engage in activities, many unauthorized, which placed the business and assets of TSG at considerable risk. These activities escalated to a point where they became a significant distraction for the management of TSG,” the documents allege. TDN will be updating this story through the day on Tuesday. (This story was reported and written collaboratively by Bill Finley, Perry Lefko, and T.D. Thornton) View the full article

Hronis Racing’s reigning GI Breeders’ Cup Classic hero and Horse of the Year candidate Accelerate (Lookin At Lucky) was assigned gate five in a field of 12 and was made the 9-5 morning-line favorite for Saturday’s $9-million GI Pegasus World Cup Invitational at Gulfstream Park. Joel Rosario has the call for John Sadler, who was more than satisfied with the draw. He will try to become the third straight Classic winner swansong victoriously in the Pegasus. “I’m relaxed, we’re settled in,” he told TVG. “I’m very happy to be in the middle, it’s where we wanted to be. We wanted to be outside of City Of Light (Quality Road), we’ll kind of just follow him, I like him being on the inside of us.” City Of Light handed Accelerate his lone defeat of 2018 in a stirring renewal of the GII Oaklawn H., but cut back in distance for the GI Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile, in which he defeated fellow Pegasus entrant Seeking the Soul (Perfect Soul {Ire}) by a convincing 2 1/2 lengths. Javier Castellano has the call for trainer Mike McCarthy. WinStar Farm, who will be represented in the Pegasus Dirt by last year’s course-and-distance GI Florida Derby winner Audible (Into Mischief), will send out Yoshida (Jpn) (Heart’s Cry {Jpn}) in as the 5-2 favorite in the Turf. Winner of the GI Turf Classic on Derby Day last May, he defeated Gunnevera (Dialed In) in the GI Woodward S. and returns to the grass off a very respectable fourth to Accelerate in the Breeders’ Cup Classic. He is one of two Japanese-breds in the race, as the filly Aerolithe (Jpn) (Kurofune), a Group 1 winner over a mile at home, adds a fair bit of intrigue to the race. Last year’s G2 Ribblesdale S. victress Magic Wand (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) invades for Team Ballydoyle off a solid fourth to Eclipse Award candidate Sistercharlie (Ire) (Myboycharlie {Ire}) in the GI Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf Nov. 3. PEGASUS WORLD CUP INVITATIONAL S.-GI, $9,000,000, 3yo/up, 1 1/8m 1 Bravazo (Awesome Again), Lukas, Saez, 12-1 2 Something Awesome (Awesome Again), Corrales, Prado, 20-1 3 City of Light (Quality Road), McCarthy, Castellano, 5-2 4 Seeking the Soul (Perfect Soul {Ire}), Stewart, Velazquez, 12-1 5 Accelerate (Lookin At Lucky), Sadler, Rosario, 9-5 6 Tom’s D’Etat (Smart Strike), Stall Jr., Bridgmohan, 20-1 7 True Timber (Mineshaft), McLaughlin, Bravo, 30-1 8 Gunnevera (Dialed In), Sano, Ortiz Jr., 8-1 9 Kukulcan (Mex) (Point Determined), Gutierrez, Dettori, 30-1 10 Audible (Into Mischief), Pletcher, Prat, 10-1 11 Imperative (Bernardini), Quartarolo, Gaffalione, 30-1 12 Patternrecognition (Adios Charlie), Brown, Ortiz, 10-1 PEGASUS WORLD CUP TURF-GI, $7,000,000, 3yo/up, 1 3/16mT 1 Magic Wand (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), O’Brien, Lordan, 9-2 2 Yoshida (Jpn) (Heart’s Cry {Jpn}), Mott, Ortiz, 5-2 3 Channel Maker (English Channel), Mott, Castellano, 12-1 4 Aerolithe (Jpn) (Kurofune), Kikuzawa, Geroux, 8-1 5 Next Shares (Archarcharch), Baltas, Gaffalione, 15-1 6 Fahan Mura (English Channel), Cerin, Maldonado, 30-1 7 Bricks and Mortar (Giant’s Causeway), Brown, Ortiz Jr., 5-1 8 Delta Prince (Street Cry {Ire}), Jerkens, Dettori, 15-1 9 Catapult (Kitten’s Joy), Sadler, Van Dyke, 7-2 10 Dubby Dubbie (Ice Box), Hess Jr., Panici, 30-1 View the full article

After watching a Santa Anita Park turf stakes on New Year's Day, 2018, Michael Iavarone got the itch again. View the full article

Leading bloodstock agent and yearling buyer Tom McGreevy will join the Fasig-Tipton yearling inspection team this spring for the company’s 2019 selected yearling sales. McGreevy will continue to serve as the exclusive agent and advisor for client Michael Stinson. “We are delighted to have Tom join our yearling inspection team for 2019,” said Fasig-Tipton President Boyd Browning. “He will bring a new and different perspective to the process as he joins our other highly qualified inspectors to provide guidance to our customers on sales selection and placement.” McGreevy has been a fixture on the sales scene for nearly 35 years. Top horses purchased by McGreevy include champions and Grade 1 winners Battle of Midway, Havre de Grace, Joyful Victory, Midnight Lute, and Songbird, in addition to many other graded stakes winners. “I’m very much looking forward to working with Fasig-Tipton, with whom I’ve had a close working relationship through the years as a buyer,” commented McGreevy. “To be involved in their selection process is a unique opportunity, and I’m most appreciative to Mike Stinson for allowing me to work with Fasig-Tipton this spring. I will continue to work for Mike on an exclusive, year-round basis.” Fasig-Tipton’s 2019 selected yearling sales consist of The July Sale July 9-10; The Saratoga Sale August 5-6; and the New York-Bred Yearlings Sale, scheduled for August 11-12 in Saratoga. View the full article

18:15 Kempton Robert Cowell has a terrific record at Kempton and especially in sprint races, so no surprise to see him have yet another live chance here tonight with Ballistic in this 7f handicap. The horse was beaten less than a length in third behind the Richard Hannon trained Black Medick last time out and […] The post Picks From The Paddock Best Bet – Wednesday 23rd January appeared first on RaceBets Blog EN. View the full article

This year the Hot Springs, Ark. track will intorduce a new schedule, dubbed "Stay Until May." This year, the season will run three additional weeks through Saturday, May 4—Kentucky Derby Day. View the full article

Cape Town, SOUTH AFRICA–The ninth edition of the Cape Thoroughbred Sales’s Cape Premier Yearling Sale takes place in the Cape Town Convention Centre on Wednesday with 226 yearlings catalogued over a single session, compared to a two- day affair last year when 236 lots were offered from a catalogue of 254 yearlings. Last year the sale had to do without one of South Africa’s biggest Thoroughbred investors of recent times in Markus Jooste, and his absence was felt by a 28% drop in turnover to R111,475,000 ($8,021,302/£6,221,834/€7,061,649). Last year’s clearance rate held firm at 93%, but the average dipped 27% to R504,411 ($36,295/£28,153/€31,953), with the median coming in at R300,000 ($21,586/,£16,744/€19,004). With 12 months to regroup and take stock of the market, the CTS team has decided a slight restructure of the event was worth a try to attempt to re-establish some positive momentum. “For me, it made sense to stage the sale over one day,” CTS Chief Executive Officer Wehann Smith said. “We’re selling more or less the same number of horses as in the past and I feel we often lost momentum on the second day. We are also trying to accommodate some of our international buyers who may want to go to the Karaka sale in New Zealand. It is encouraging to see so many familiar faces returning to Cape Town for the sale and we are confident the catalogue is of a high enough quality. There are a large number of yearlings by first-season sires, but all the top South African sires are well represented as are several of the leading international stallions,” Smith added. Last year the top price was R4-million when John Freeman signed for a Frankel (GB) colt, and with 12 lots catalogued that are out of Grade 1-winning mares and 14 that are siblings to Grade 1 winners, there is every likelihood that price could be matched or exceeded. Yearlings are catalogued alphabetically beginning with the letter Y, and the first offering into the ring, a filly by Greys Inn out of Young Sensation (SAf) (National Emblem {Saf}) should prove popular. The Klawervlei Stud-consigned filly is a full-sister to South African champion and eight-time Group 1 winner Legal Eagle (SAf), who goes in search of an elusive first win in the G1 Sun Met at Kenilworth on Saturday. It will be interesting to see how the first yearlings by Klawervlei Stud’s Coup De Grace fare today. The son of Tapit was high-class on the track, winning the GII Amsterdam S. at Saratoga and finishing third in the GI King’s Bishop S. at the same track. He is not short of representatives in the sale with 18 catalogued and probably his best bred offering is lot 29. This filly holds the distinction of being out of a champion in G1 Greyville Golden Slipper winner and South African champion 2-year-old Consensual (SAf) (Camden Park), but also being a half-sister to a champion in Just Sensual (SAf) (Dynasty {SAf}). Just Sensual won the G1 Cape Fillies Guineas at Kenilworth in 2016 while the mare’s other two offspring to race have both won. Coup De Grace also has a colt catalogued that is sure to attract interest. Lot 172, a chestnut colt from Riverton Stud, is a half-brother to triple Group 1 winner Captain Of All (SAf) (Captain Al {SAf}), while the dam Serious Side (SAf) (Fard {Ire}) has also produced the stakes performer Intimateconnection (SAf) (Lake Coniston {Ire}). Although his eldest crop in the Northern Hemisphere have just turned four, Camelot (GB) has already proven himself a top-class stallion through Group 1/Grade I winners Latrobe (Ire) and Athena (Ire). Following one withdrawal, the Coolmore stallion now has three yearlings to go through the ring, all from Klawervlei and perhaps the pick of the trio is lot 46. This well-developed filly is the first foal out of the Fastnet Rock (Aus) mare Egyptian Sky (Ire), who in turn is out of Henrythenavigator’s stakes-winning full-sister Queen Cleopatra (Ire) (Kingmambo). The grand-dam has bred two stakes winners while the page traces back to Ireland’s champion 2-year-old filly of the year 2000, Sequoyah (Ire) (Sadler’s Wells). Not many will disagree that Last Winter (SAf) (Western Winter) was the unlucky horse in the 2018 Sun Met, with Dean Kannemeyer’s 5-year-old flashing home from the widest draw to finish second, and a chance to acquire a half-brother to the talented colt presents itself with lot 54. Offered by Black Swan Stud, the colt by Elusive Fort (SAf) is out of Field Flower (SAf) (Silvano {Ger}), who won the G1 Cape Fillies Guineas. Among the first produce on offer in Cape Town from some top-class race mares of recent seasons are lot 57, a filly by Trippi out of Fly By Night (SAf) (Jet Master {SAf}) who won the G1 Mercury Sprint, and lot 91 from Drakenstein Stud, a colt by Dynasty out of MGSW Lanner Falcon (SAf) (Trippi). Lot 137, a Slivano (Ger) colt from Maine Chance Farm, is the first produce of G1 South African Oaks winner Pine Princess (SAf) (Captain Al {SAf}), while lot 173 is a filly by Duke Of Marmalade (Ire) out of G1 South African Fillies Classic winner Siren’s Call (SAf) (Elusive Fort {SAf}). Frankel has two catalogued on Wednesday, both from Klawervlei Stud. The first, lot 69, is a colt out of Hadarama (Ire) (Sinndar {Ire}) from the family of dual Derby winner Harzand (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}), while the second is a filly, lot 100, who is the first foal out of the Dark Angel (Ire) mare Lost In Love (Ire) and hails from the family of Group 1 winning 2-year-old Sudirman (Henrythenavigator). Wednesday offers the last opportunity to buy a yearling at this sale by the late Captain Al (SAf), and among his nine catalogued is lot 129. This filly’s dam Pagan Princess (SAf) (Fort Wood) has already bred two Group 1 winners from just four runners including this yearling’s full-brother William Longsword (SAf). The mare has also produced G1 South African Fillies Sprint winner Real Princess (SAf) (Trippi). American stallion Uncle Mo has two catalogued in the sale including lot 194, a colt from Klawervlei Stud who is a half-brother to GI Hollywood Gold Cup winner Rail Trip (Jump Start), while another first-crop stallion with a well-bred yearling to represent him is Global View. Winner of the GII American Turf S., Global View is by Galileo (Ire) out of the Storm Cat mare Egyptian Queen, and lot 189 from Ascot Stud lacks little on the dam side being out of the 14-time winner Stormy Appeal (SAf) (Kilconnel), who has already produced three stakes winners. View the full article

There is tough competition on the Flat in Yorkshire these days, with at least half a dozen trainers from the region jostling for attention against the powerhouses from Newmarket. County Durham, meanwhile, is not recognised as one of the modern hotbeds of the sport yet it can claim a man who has enjoyed as much top-level success in recent times as his any of his colleagues a little farther south. Since taking over Denton Hall following the sudden death of his father Dickie back in 1990, Michael Dods has been learning and building, hitting 30 or 40 winners a season for most of this century. Only in the last four years has this most unassuming of trainers become prominent on the bigger stage, firstly through winning the G1 Nunthorpe S. back-to-back with Mecca’s Angel (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}) before her sprinting successor Mabs Cross (GB) (Dutch Art {GB}) arrived. Her agonising nose defeat to Alpha Delphini (GB) (Captain Gerrard {Ire}) in the Nunthorpe was swiftly followed by a reversal of head-bobs with Gold Vibe (Ire) (Dream Ahead) in the G1 Prix de l’Abbaye, sweeping Dods past the £1-million mark across Europe. “It’s not very often you get a horse of Mecca’s Angel’s calibre and for one to come along again as good within two or three years, for a smallish yard anyway,” he says. “Obviously the downside was the Nunthorpe, when it was so close. You don’t normally get a second chance in a race like that again, but to go and win the Abbaye was very exciting and the horse deserved it.” Dods had taken that loss stoically. “You’ve got to be sporting, that’s the game you’re in, but you’re sort of devastated inside when it’s that close and it took so long for the result. They kept splitting it and splitting it, and couldn’t split them. Ten years ago it would have been a dead-heat, that’s it, let’s be fair. “We knew the Group 1 would come but we knew we only had one race left and whether it was last season or we’d have to wait for another season.” Although that prize at ParisLongchamp enhanced what was already a considerable page for the homebred from David Armstrong’s Highfield Farm in Lancashire, she is not destined for the paddocks just yet. The fast-finishing 5-year-old is due back shortly from the Armstrongs’ base, where she has been overseen by the owner’s daughter, Sophie. “It was always the plan that he’d like to race her this season coming and then decide whether to breed off her himself or let someone else breed off her,” Dods explains. “David’s done very well when you think they’ve got a small breeding operation and he’s now bred two Group 1 winners. He’s raced three with Garswood, but bred Mayson and Mabs Cross. He hasn’t got hundreds of broodmares so it’s unbelievable. “With a horse like this the races pick themselves, let’s be fair. We’ll have a close look abroad in Ireland and France as well but obviously we’d be looking at Haydock [G2 Temple S.], Royal Ascot, York and the Abbaye again and see what else we have to take in.” There could be one difference, with Dods disclosing: “Until the last couple of runs we always felt she would be a better filly over six furlongs but then as she raced last year, she seemed to get faster and it might not be her cup of tea. I’d had her pencilled in for the Summer S. at York last year as an intended run but we sort of shelved the idea and kept her at five. If we were stuck for a race and it fitted in, we might give her a try at six.” The rest of the progeny of Armstrong’s Miss Meggy (GB) (Pivotal {GB}) have not been an unqualified success, with a half-brother by Invincible Spirit {Ire} called Samlesbury (GB) failing to cut the mustard as a juvenile. Dods has been quietly encouraged by the look of the 2-year-old colt by Iffraaj (GB), although he is in the earliest of days. There is another in the yard of whom the 56-year-old can have more immediate hopes in the shape of Intense Romance (Ire) (Intense Focus), who is the same age as Mabs Cross and became a dual listed winner at sprint distances at Ayr and Ascot in the autumn. “For some reason she took forever to come to hand; she wasn’t thriving or showing me a lot,” he recalls. “I remember seeing a bit of work one day in the middle of the season at home–she just started to show a little bit of sparkle. “She went to Carlisle and finished second to another of my horses, and never looked back after that. She improved tremendously in her last three runs last year, with no way of knowing where that would end. Especially if she got the conditions she wants, proper soft ground, and she’s exciting to look forward to again this year. You’d have to look at the penalty structure in the listed races and you could see her being very competitive in a Group 3.” Denton Hall, in secluded countryside just outside Darlington, is on the land that two earlier generations have farmed, and the family business still includes arable and sheep, along with fattening beef cattle. His wife, Carole, is an integral part of the racing operation and daughters Chloe and Sophie have both ridden as amateur riders as well alongside professional careers. A bespectacled, reassuring figure, Dods seems the sort of character to engender loyalty in his stable. In a sport where many are after a fast buck, it is even more heartening to hear him espouse that virtue himself. “There are odd people who were here when my father was training. He had a permit and had just got his licence for one year but within the first two or three years we started training, there are owners that were here then and are here now,” he says. “We’ve been lucky that by having those good horses, we’ve attracted owners who can maybe buy a better quality horse–we’ve had a couple from Paul and Clare Rooney and others have sort of noticed. “We don’t mind around 80, 85, but I don’t really want any more than that. We have turned away horses this year, to be honest, we couldn’t fit them in. But I’ve had very loyal owners and when you’ve got the likes of Geoff and Sandra Turnbull and David Armstrong, they’ve got breeding operations and you’ve got to look after them because they’ve been here a long time, rather than take new owners that have never been in the yard. They got us there, and we’ll never forget that either.” Dods is too modest to make any self-congratulatory explanation of how any improvements have been made, but it is clear that there has been some refinement to the regime. “You’ve got to keep learning, mind,” he says. “I think nowadays that some of these horses don’t need as much work as everyone thinks, especially the sprinters. The days when you’d gallop them hard; I don’t know whether those horses last as long. We would have them very fit, the gallops are on a hill, but they tend to last and enjoy their racing. We like to see horses still racing here at 10, 11, 12 if possible. It’s not quite the graft of maybe 10-15 years ago.” Careers can also be sustained by gentle starts with Mabs Cross, who was a little small and backward to make her debut before she was three, a case in point. “Last year we had three that hadn’t raced that came out after mid-October, and all three won as well, even up to couple weeks ago,” Dods says. “That’s sometimes difficult because people like to see them on the racecourse, but if they’re not ready, they’ve got to wait. And some of the late maturing horses, like the Archipenkos, Sea The Moons, the distance horses, there’s no point trying to run them in May, is there, if they don’t want to be running until September. “We’re lucky the owners understand that. David Armstrong is a prime example. If we think one’s no good, he’s gone, but if a horse needs time he’ll give it as much as it needs.” With a promising bunch of 3-year-olds and another fine season in the offing, it is those owners with the foresight to give Michael Dods their time who should be reaping the rewards. View the full article

After yesterdays great tipping which yielded 8 winners across the 3 meetings including winners at 7/1 and 5/1, Picks From The Paddock will be hoping their strong form continues today where they have a tip for every race alongside their best bet and next best bets of the day. Bet of the Day 18:15 Newcastle […] The post Picks From The Paddock Best Bet – Tuesday 22nd January appeared first on RaceBets Blog EN. View the full article

Matthew Chadwick has an affinity with Happy Valley – two thirds of his winners have come at the city track this season – and he is hoping to keep that rolling with a solid book of seven rides on Wednesday night. Chadwick feels the Valley gives those jockeys who ride horses down in the market more of a chance of snaring a victory and he relishes his opportunities there. The 28-year-old certainly boasts a better strike rate at Happy Valley this season with eight of his 12 winners... View the full article

While all the focus has rightfully been on Douglas Whyte’s switch from the saddle to the trainers’ tower, the Jockey Club also refreshed the riding ranks by granting short-term licences to Australian Regan Bayliss and Irishman Martin Harley. The licensing committee announced the moves on Tuesday morning, the two fresh faces replacing Sam Clipperton, who is heading home to Sydney, and South African Callan Murray, who will take his talents to Singapore. Alberto Sanna and Grant van... View the full article

Australian jockey Sam Clipperton will return home to Sydney after agreeing to end his contract with the Hong Kong Jockey Club earlier than expected. The 25-year-old will finish riding in Hong Kong next Wednesday, January 30 before riding in Sydney that weekend. Clipperton has had 62 winners in his Hong Kong career, spanning over two-and-a-half years which included success at Group Two and Group Three level along with four Group One runners-up. After 40 winners in his first season in Hong Kong,... View the full article

Douglas Whyte, an icon of Hong Kong racing, is retiring. The 13-time champion jockey will switch from a career in the saddle to the trainers’ tower after the Jockey Club licensing committee gave him a licence for the 2019-20 season. Whyte said it was not a hard decision. “I’m overwhelmed to say the least, I didn’t think it would happen this quickly,” he said. “It’s always been a goal of mine to train in Hong Kong and I was hopeful I would be afforded... View the full article

In an emotional win for her connections, Vasilika took command of the $100,000 Megahertz Stakes (G3T) and scored by 1 1/2 widening lengths in the one-mile turf test for fillies and mares Jan. 21 at Santa Anita Park. View the full article

Old team Boss and Count reinvigorated View the full article

Walker sweats over higher weights as new champ returns View the full article

Callan Murray to ride in Singapore View the full article

Child's Play: Review of weekend's eye-catchers View the full article

Some facts and figures surrounding this year's Eclipse Awards set for Jan. 24 at Gulfstream Park. View the full article

Hall of Fame trainer D. Wayne Lukas will sign copies of a book about his life and career–‘Sermon on the Mount’–at Gulfstream Park Friday, the eve of this year’s GI Pegasus World Cup Invitational. In the $9-million event, the 83-year-old will be represented by Calumet Farm’s Grade 1-placed millionaire Bravazo (Awesome Again), winner of the GII Risen Star S. and runner-up in both the GI Preakness S. and GI Clark last season. Lukas will be available beginning at 2 p.m. in the breezeway to sign the 200-page collection of quotes, pictures and short stories, chronicling the life of the legendary horseman. Written and compiled by Lukas and Christina Bossinakis, the foreword was penned by NFL Hall of Fame coach and longtime Thoroughbred owner Bill Parcells. Copies of the book will be available for sale for $40 each. Lukas, who has won 4,808 races and over $279 million in purses through his career to date, is responsible for 26 Eclipse Award champions; 14 Triple Crown victories and 20 Breeders’ Cup wins. View the full article

The day before sending out Grade 1-placed millionaire Bravazo in the $9 million Pegasus World Cup Invitational (G1), Hall of Fame trainer D. Wayne Lukas will sign copies of a book about his life and career Jan. 25 at Gulfstream Park. View the full article

Seeking the Soul figures to be a price at the betting windows when the grade 1-winning 6-year-old horse competes in Gulfstream Park's $9 million Pegasus World Cup Invitational (G1). View the full article

Forge (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}–Heat Haze {GB}, by Green Desert) was purchased by Heritage Stud and will stand the upcoming South American breeding season at Haras Carampangue in Argentina. Bred and campaigned by Juddmonte Farms, the son of MGISW Heat Haze (GB) (Green Desert) was a three-time winner. He was twice Group 3-placed in Europe for Sir Michael Stoute, and hit the board in four more graded events Stateside for trainer Bill Mott, including a close second to champion World Approval (Northern Afleet) in the 2018 GIII Tampa Bay S.; a third finish behind Heart to Heart (English Channel); and most recently a nose second in Saratoga’s GII Bernard Baruch H. By top international sire Dubawi, Forge’s dam is one of five highest-level winners out of the legendary Hasili (Ire) (Kahyasi {Ire}). She is also responsible for 2018 Group 3 winner Mirage Dancer (GB) (Frankel {GB}). The deal was brokered by Perhaps Bloodstock and Forge will be shipped from the United States to Argentina in February. Haras Don Arcángel and Haras Las Raíces will also support Forge in his first season at stud. View the full article

The Akindale Thoroughbred Rescue in Pawling, N.Y. announced Jan. 21 that grade 1 winner Evening Attire had died at the age of 21. View the full article

John Hayes is chairman of Ontario Racing, a group founded in December 2017 that aims to represent all the sport's players in the province to present a unified voice in marketing the sport and lobbying lawmakers. View the full article