Wandering Eyes

The first session of Fasig-Tipton's December Digital Sale–with more than 670 horses catalogued–closed Tuesday, topped by 2023 Sovereign Award winner Millie Girl (Hard Spun). Consigned by Taylor Made Sales Agency as hip 11, Canada's reigning champion older main track female sold for $450,000 to John Stewart's Resolute Bloodstock. The multiple graded stakes winner was sold from her base at Woodbine, where she has been trained by Catherine Day Phillips. “We are really excited about purchasing Canadian champion Millie Girl,” said Stewart. “She fits right into our breeding program. We will evaluate her future racing career, but we purchased her to eventually breed. It's exciting to have a sale like this on the digital platform this time of year with so many horses over two days.” Overall, Tuesday's first session yielded 187 horses sold for $4,423,500, or an average of $23,655 with a clearance rate of 76%. The session featured horses of racing age, racing/broodmare prospects, broodmare prospects, yearlings, and weanlings. “We could not be more pleased with the first session of our December Digital Sale,” said Fasig-Tipton's Director of Digital Sales Leif Aaron. “With more than $4.4 million in sales and a 76% clearance rate, bidding was strong from start to finish.” The December Digital Sale will continue Wednesday with hips 306-670 and will include a late supplement to the catalogue in Cruz Ramirez (Good Magic) (hip 346). The 2-year-old racing/broodmare prospect won her debut at Laurel on Sunday. Bidding will close Wednesday beginning at 12 p.m. ET. “Tomorrow's session offers a high concentration of quality broodmares that fit a wide variety of breeding programs,” said Aaron. “There's still plenty of time for buyers to work through the catalogue and get involved in the action.” Full results of Tuesday's session, as well as Wednesday's offerings, are available here. The post First Day of Fasig-Tipton’s December Digital Sale ‘Strong from Start to Finish’ appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Militarize. (Photo by George Sal/Racing Photos) Three-time Group 1 winner Militarize has returned to training after fertility issues prematurely ended his stud career. The now-gelded winner of the Group 1 Golden Rose (1400m), Group 1 Champagne Stakes (1600m), and Group 1 Sires’ Produce (1400m) was standing at Newgate Stud Farm for a fee of $38,500 but only managed to get a handful of mares in foal during his first season. “Just a small handful (of mares in foal), so you never know, maybe they will be racing him in a few years’ time,” Newgate managing director Henry Field told Racing.com. Militarize will return to Chris Waller’s stable in a few weeks to target a comeback in the autumn. “He’s thriving and has settled into pre-training really well, and he is going to Chris Waller in a few weeks’ time to target the back end of autumn and into the winter,” Field added. “We are excited – he retired sound and clean winded, so he’s got a bright future. “The good thing with the Dundeel sire line is they get better as they get older, so hopefully, he will have plenty of racing left in him.” Horse racing news View the full article

Chorlton Lane. (Photo by George Sal/Racing Photos) Ciaron Maher has bolstered his chances for The Supernova at Pakenham on December 21, with the Moonee Valley Racing Club confirming that Chorlton Lane will race in its slot in Southside Racing’s $1 million event. Having already secured a place for Nadal, the winner of The Meteorite (1200m), in his own slot, Maher will now have two contenders in the inaugural 1400-metre race. Chorlton Lane, a five-year-old son of Mehmas, has an impressive record over 1400 metres, with victories in three states, the latest being a win in the $200,000 Canberra Community Chest (1400m) on November 24. “Chorlton Lane heads to Pakenham in terrific form,” said MVRC head of racing, Charlotte Mills. “It’s exciting to partner with the Ciaron Maher stable, and a win would be a fantastic result for his large ownership group. “The first leg of Southside Racing’s slot series, The Meteorite, was a resounding success, and we are looking forward to The Supernova on Cup Day at Pakenham.” Horse racing news View the full article

9th-TAM, $53K, Msw, f, 3yo/up, 7f, 4:30p.m. China Horse Club sends out the late-starting INTO AMORE (Into Mischief), a homebred daughter of GI Alabama winner Embellish the Lace (Super Saver). Trained by Todd Pletcher, the 3-year-old filly has been posting steady works at the Hall of Famer's Palm Beach Downs base in South Florida. The half-sister to GI Travers winner Afleet Express (Afleet Alex), herself a $2.4 million Fasig-Tipton November purchase in 2016, is responsible for a pair of $1.25 million Keeneland September yearlings–Tap the Faith (Tapit) in 2020 and Pumpkin Scone (Into Mischief) sold in 2021. The 12-year-old's daughter by Quality Road brought $500,000 at Keeneland this past September. Pletcher also saddles firster Annulled (Tapit)–a $200,000 Fasig-Tipton Midlantic buy–for Eclipse Thoroughbreds and Gainesway Stable. A full sibling to SW and GSP My Miss Tapit and GSP Rattataptap, the grey is out of Grade III scorer Sindy With an S. TJCIS PPs The post Wednesday’s Insights: CHC Debuts Into Mischief Filly at Tampa appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

A colt foal by Walk In The Park (Ire) (lot 378) set a new foal record during the second day of the Goffs December NH Foal Sale when selling for €160,000 to Nicky Bertran de Balanda as NBB Racing. The colt is out of the winning jumper Holy Virgin (Fr) (Saint Des Saints {Fr}), herself a half-sister to Grade 1 chase winner Top Notch (Fr) (Poliglote {GB}) and the G2 Prix de Malleret heroine Never Forget (Fr) (Westerner {GB}). “He's very nice, the one I liked most in the sale,” said Bertran de Balanda. “He's by a good sire and out of a good mare. She was a winner in Auteuil, she's by a great sire in Saint Des Saints and she came from a very good French breeder in Benoit Gabeur. “He's just a very good individual, really athletic with a lovely walk. I'm not surprised I had to battle against some very good judges to get him. Let's hope he's fast now. “He's been bought for Sofiane Benaroussi, so will race in France. Sofiane is building a great team of young National Hunt horses, I hope it works out well. Trade here at Goffs is generally realistic, but very strong for the right ones.” Two other individuals made €70,000 or more, with a son of No Risk At All (Fr) (lot 335) bringing €92,000 from Tally-Ho Stud. He was part of the Clonbonny Stud draft and out of the Kapgarde (Fr) mare Gardiala (Fr), herself placed in a Grade 3 chase. The other was lot 362, a son of Blue Bresil (Fr), who made €70,000 on the bid of Oaks Farm. Longrove Stud consigned the brown relative of Grade 2-placed Good And Clever (Ire) (Soldier Of Fortune {Ire}). At the end of the day's trade, the turnover was €2,816,000 with an average of €17,600 and the median at €12,000. The post New Foal Record Set During Second Session Of Goffs December NH Sale appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

High injury rates in racing greyhounds sees a proposed ban on the sport introduced by the New Zealand government on Tuesday, Reuters reported. “While fewer dogs are dying, injury rates, while down slightly, have plateaued and remain unacceptably high,” Minister for Racing Winston Peters said in a statement. The plan is for the sport to be ended gradually over a 20-month period. An advisory committee has been appointed to re-home an estimated 2,900 racing dogs, according to Peters. A bill was introduced by the government, with the support of the opposition Labour party, to prevent the unnecessary killing of racing dogs. Further legislation is on the table next year to make changes to the existing laws to outlaw greyhound racing. “We are extremely disappointed that the government has not recognised the work the industry has done to address areas of concern–to the extent that it now leads the wider racing industry with its commitment to animal welfare,” said Greyhound Racing New Zealand chairman Sean Hannan in a statement. “We are extremely concerned for the future of the industry's greyhounds, which may no longer be a breed seen in New Zealand.” There are currently only five countries where greyhound racing is still allowed: the U.S., Australia, Britain, Ireland and New Zealand. However, greyhound racing is only 8.5% of the NZ$1.3 billion (€716,323,174) racing industry with just over 1,000 full-time jobs. The post New Zealand Government Plans Greyhound Racing Ban By 2026 appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

On Louisiana Champions Day, fans at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots will have the opportunity to honor this year's winner of the Kentucky Derby (G1), Mystik Dan, who will be paraded in the Fair Grounds paddock during Race 3.View the full article

By Jonny Turner Wednesday’s racing at Oamaru could make or break Carter Dalgety’s national junior drivers premiership hopes. The midweek meeting is at the beginning of an impressive line-up of drives Dalgety has over the coming five days. Dalgety (52) heads to Oamaru eight wins behind premiership leader Sam Thornley (60)who has a five-win lead over Wilson House (55), though this week Thornley is away at the Australasian Young Drivers Championships. While Dalgety knows catching to two talented drivers in front of him is a huge ask, he knows it is not impossible. “We won’t be giving up that’s for sure, we will be giving it a good go.” “If I am ever going to make up a bit of ground on Sam it will be this week because I have got quite a few nice drives.” “With Sam being away hopefully the gap can close, but then Wilson is probably going to get a few at Manawatu (on Thursday).” “Hopefully we can give it a bit of a nudge, to be away for three months and be this close is pretty good.” “The premiership was always in the back of my mind, but with the people I met and the experiences I had in America I wouldn’t trade it for anything.” Dalgety will don colours punters are more used to seeing Thornley in on Wednesday, linking up with two key chances for trainer Bruce Negus. In Race 10 (8.07pm) in the Next Oamaru HRC Meeting 5th March Mobile Pace, Mouton Cadet looks a big winning hope on the back of his strong third at Wingatui on Sunday. “I thought his third at Wingatui was great and before that he didn’t disgrace himself behind Better Eclipse,” Dalgety said. “He gets to draw inside the better chances and hopefully he can take advantage of it.” Negus and Dalgety also combine with Dancing Glenis in Race 6 (6.00pm), the Stephen Heffernan at Property Brokers Handicap Trot. “She won nicely enough at Orari and this race doesn’t look any harder.” “If she can get away well enough she would have to be a good show.” Dalgety gets an opportunity behind star triallist Seacracka at Oamaru on Wednesday in Race 7, the David Ovens Building Mobile Pace (6.35pm). The Jonny Cox trained filly ran sizzling splits in a recent hit out at Ashburton. “Her trial was very good, she’s been off the scene but her last run was behind Millwood Nike.” “Even from the bad draw (8), she looks a very good chance.” The Mark Jones trained Bullit Train looks another great pickup drive for Dalgety in Race 9 (7.33pm), the Placemakers Handicap Trot. Dalgety reunites with Ebury Street who he rates a nice winning hope for trainer Tom Bamford in Race 8 (7.08pm), the David Heffernan PGG Wrightson Real Estate Pace. “She loves a stand and this looks like quite a suitable race, I think she can go close.” The junior driver also links up with Jay R Tolkien (Race 2, 3.40pm) and Meandad (Race 4, 4.50pm) at Oamaru. View the full article

Canheroc will contest Saturday’s Group 3 Waikato Cup (2400m) at Te Rapa. Photo: Peter Rubery (Race Images Palmerston North) Group Three performer Canheroc has just one Cup to his name, but trainer Chris Wood is keen to double that haul when they head to Te Rapa on Saturday to tackle the Group 3 Waikato Cup (2400m). The seven-year-old son of El Roca was victorious in the Listed Marton Cup (2200m) in January before running third in the Group 3 Wellington Cup (3200m) later that month, and he added another Cup placing to his name when third in the Group 3 New Zealand Cup (3200m) at Riccarton last month. Wood was pleased with his charge’s run and said he is in good order and in a fresh state heading into Saturday’s contest. “He came back from Christchurch and had an easy week, and he has been back into his work again,” Wood said. “He has had a few gallops and he has pleased me, he is happy. “He is going to have fresh legs for Saturday after about a month since he has raced, but I have done plenty of work with him and I am happy with where he is.” Canheroc’s main aim of the summer is next month’s Group 3 Wellington Cup (3200m) at Trentham, and he is hoping Saturday’s run can put him on the right path for the staying feature. “It (Waikato Cup) doesn’t look super strong on paper, but any race is hard to win in New Zealand now, there aren’t as many horses going offshore anymore now that the stakes money is good,” he said. “There are a few Open Handicaps coming up in the next few weeks and the horses can’t be everywhere. He will have the run here, another in a couple of weeks just after Christmas at Wellington, and then we will look at the Wellington Cup, everything going right. “He didn’t have much luck this year, and we are hoping things go better next year.” Horse racing news View the full article

Matamata trainer Cody Cole. Photo: Peter Rubery (Race Images Palmerston North) Ancroft Stud have not been short of top-quality fillies in recent years, and on Friday at Tauranga, Matamata trainer Cody Cole will kick off the career of another future prospect in Luna Star. Luna Star will be Cole’s first representative for the Philip and Catherine Brown-owned operation, with their colours made prominent with superstar mares Levante and Legarto, who have accumulated seven Group One victories collectively in the care of Ken and Bev Kelso. Passed in as a yearling at Karaka, Luna Star made her way to Cole’s stable, an idea that was sparked after he prepared another Ancroft youngster to sell on. “I actually had a horse for them that we sold, and instead of the commission, I asked if they would give me a filly to train at some stage if they find the right one,” Cole said. “The first one didn’t make it to the races, she just had a few too many issues, but this was the replacement. I’m very grateful to get her, she’s out of a good, proven mare and by Almanzor. She’s got a nice pedigree and is a beautiful type. “She’s probably just taken a wee while to mature up physically and we’re not going to see the best of her until next season, but if she can run a nice race for her first start, she’ll take good improvement out of the experience. “She’s got a future, it’s just whether we’ll have to wait a bit longer to see it.” Luna Star will take her place on debut in the Duncan Dental Maiden (1200m), which will also feature her Cambridge Stud-owned stablemate Power Of Three. After starting her career in Victoria, the Yes Yes Yes filly made a positive start for Cole at Rotorua, finishing third to promising type Adelante. “It was a super kick-off point, she didn’t have much form on the board in Australia, but I think that was maturity more than anything,” he said. “Now that she’s had a bit of time and coping with her training, as they did have issues keeping weight on her over there, she looks like a winner waiting to happen. “She was vulnerable fitness-wise there and the surface was probably a bit firmer than what she wanted, but she’s come through it well and worked well this morning (Tuesday). “She’s an improver off her first run and if she can a bit of luck from the gate, she can feature in the finish.” Horse racing news View the full article

Inns Of Court (Ire) and Kessaar (Ire) will each stand for €6,000 in Italy next year, Renew Italian Breeding announced on Tuesday. The former, whose eldest foals will be 4-year-olds next year, will stand at Razza dell'Orso near Perugia. The son of Invincible Spirit has 88 winners from 188 runners with three of them winnings stakes, including the G3 Prestige Stakes heroine Anshoda (Ire). Kodiac (GB)'s Kessaar is a year ahead of Inns Of Court on the sire front, and was a resident of Scuderia Melissa Cipriani in 2024. Of his 108 runners, 56 are winners, among them G3 Premio Parioli hero Melfi (Ire). He is on the move to Alessandro Antonini near Rome. The post Inns Of Court And Kessaar To Each Stand For €6,000 In Italy appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Francis Lui has won 951 races in Hong Kong. Photo: HKJC Francis Lui went a long way to boosting his trainers’ championship defence with a four-timer at Sha Tin on Sunday and the affable horseman takes a team of three to Happy Valley on Wednesday night as he aims to keep the ball rolling. Lui’s quartet sees him reach 16 wins from 144 runners across 27 of the 88 scheduled race meetings this term, with only five handlers currently ahead of him: Pierre Ng (23 wins), David Hayes (20), Mark Newnham (20), Danny Shum (19) and Caspar Fownes (18). The 65-year-old – crowned Hong Kong Champion Trainer (2023/24) – won the first three races at Sha Tin with Happy Park, Packing Angel and Divano before star talent Packing Hermod posted a fourth win at only his fifth start in the last race. “I’m very happy. Happy to win for the owners on Sunday,” Lui said. “He (Packing Hermod) has potential. We’re planning for the Four-Year-Old Classic Series with him.” Sired by Rubick, Packing Hermod sits on a career-high mark of 93 after winning his first race in Class 2 last weekend. The HK$52 million Four-Year-Old Classic Series comprises the HK$13 million Hong Kong Classic Mile (1600m), HK$13 million Hong Kong Classic Cup (1800m) and HK$26 million BMW Hong Kong Derby (2000m). “I think I will give him one more race – there is a Class 2 over 1400 metres in the middle of January before the Classic Mile (on 31 January, 2025). He keeps improving,” Lui said. Leading the handler’s trio at the city circuit is Hameron, who features in the HK$2.05 million Class 3 Sea Eagle Handicap (1650m) under Vincent Ho in barrier five, seeking a third win. “He looks like he has improved a little bit. He’s not a big horse, he’s a little horse, and he always has a big weight,” Lui said. Do Your Part features for Lui in the HK$1.86 million Class 3 Nightjar Handicap (1000m), while Brave Joy debuts in the HK$1.17 million Class 4 Albatross Handicap (1200m). The midweek programme includes the HK$1.17 million Class 4 Hong Kong Golf Club Centenary Cup Handicap (1800m) where Kingly Demeanor rises in grade chasing a hat-trick. Jockey Keith Yeung said: “He’s really good and he’s improved a lot this season. Seems he is a very easy horse to ride, just go forward and he will not stop. After (trainer) Tony (Cruz) took the hood off him he has been doing great ever since then.” The 42-rater – bought out of the Hong Kong International Sale – breaks from gate four against 11 rivals. He steps back in trip from 2200m last start where he scored by a head. “I thought that the outside (horse) was going to catch me at the 200 (metre mark) but as he heard the other horse come, he just kicked again – he has a great heart,” Yeung said. Yeung takes six rides at Happy Valley as he aims to build on a productive start to the 2024/25 racing season with eight wins under his belt. “It seems like he (Kingly Demeanor) enjoys being out in front and he loves the challenge. He always gives his best,” Yeung said. “It’s always great when you have put so much effort into your training, study and preparation, and to be repaid in a good way. I’m always grateful for the people who support me and give me advice.” Karis Teetan takes eight rides at Happy Valley, including Sturdy Ruby for trainer Manfred Man in the HK$1.17 million Class 4 Mesia Handicap (1650m). “It’s nice to get back on him. It seems like he’s ran pretty well this season,” Teetan said. “The draw gives him a chance. He’s always shown that he is a horse that was always going to get better. I think this season has shown that he’s taken a step forward.” Horse racing news View the full article

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Godolphin homebred Maycocks Bay (Speightstown), forced to scratch from the GIII Southwest Stakes as the morning-line favorite in February, returned from 11 months on the sidelines to win a 1 1/16-mile allowance at Fair Grounds Saturday. “We're delighted to have him back,” trainer Mike Stidham said. “He had been training so well coming up to this that anything short of that would have been a disappointment. Hopefully he comes out of it well and we can start looking for some bigger and better things.” In his first race since a 10-length win at Fair Grounds in January, Maycocks Bay sat just off the lead for most of the race before kicking clear to win by 1 1/2 lengths. “We didn't really want to jump out on the lead and do what he did before the layoff,” Stidham said. “We were hoping to get him to relax just off a horse. It worked out perfectly.” Maycocks Bay was forced out of the Southwest after spiking a fever earlier in the year. “He had shipped to Oaklawn for the Southwest, but once he got there, he had a 104 degree temperature,” Stidham said. “We scanned his lungs and found out he had pneumonia. He went to the farm and it lingered, and it took way longer than we expected. It's been his lungs [that kept him away]–he's always been very sound.” The post Maycocks Bay Returns a Winner at Fair Grounds appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

The curtain came down on this year's Arqana Breeding Stock Sale on Tuesday where the demand for fillies-in-training, broodmares and foals in particular brought strong trade to Deauville over the course of the four-day sale. Prix de Diane heroine Sparkling Plenty led the way overall, having been sold on Saturday for €5 million to Michel Zerolo of Oceanic Bloodstock alongside Coolmore's MV Magnier on behalf of “a new partnership”. All told, five fillies or mares cleared seven figures at a sale where all of the key metrics were on the rise. Of the 866 that were offered, 782 were sold at a clearance rate of 82% while the average climbed a massive 21% to €85 769. Meanwhile, the median climbed by €6,000 to €26,000 while the aggregate was up by 17% to €55,149,500. The concluding session on Tuesday was headed by 15-year-old stallion Dabirsim, who was knocked down to Dr Khaled Salami, signing as KGS, at €160,000. A statement released by Arqana President Olivier Delloye and CEO Freddy Powell on Tuesday read, “The Vente d'Élevage has become an unmissable event for the biggest buyers across the world, whom we have had the pleasure of welcoming over the last few days. “In the space of just a few years, Arqana has succeeded in creating a first class platform for fillies in and out of training as well as mares. We saw very good prices on Saturday for fillies that will run on, notably to continue their careers in Australia and the United States, such as the four fillies that made over €1 million, Sparkling Plenty, Classic Flower, Excellent Truth and Spanish “Eyes among others. The broodmares also sold very well, including Tres Magnifique, the dam of Tamfana, that sold for €1,400.000, and Strawberry Lace, the dam of Unquestionable, the dam of Unquestionable that was knocked down for €900.000.” It added, “Following on from the October Yearling Sale and the British and Irish markets, demand was also very strong for foals. In total, 19 foals made more than €100,000, double last year's number, with an average that was up 40% and a median that doubled at €29,000. “We wish every success to our buyers, on the racecourse firstly as a lot of their purchases will race on, and also as well as future broodmares. We would also like to warmly thank our vendors for their confidence in us. “Finally, many thanks to the Arqana teams and the studs that worked in weather conditions that were not always ideal, and that did a remarkable job.” The post Dabirsim Heads Final Session Of Arqana Breeding Stock Sale At 160k appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Total prize-money at The Jockey Club's 15 racecourses next year is expected to remain at the same level as in 2024, subject to trading performance remaining on plan through its key first quarter of the year, The Jockey Club announced on Tuesday. Overall total prize-money is anticipated to be £58.1 million across the 319 fixtures staged by TJC in 2025, with £30.6 million coming from executive contribution. As a result, an average prize-money of more than £182,000 per fixture would be offered next year, up from £175,000 in 2024. Values for specific races and fixtures will be confirmed in due course. The Jockey Club will also continue its ongoing commitment to share financial information with the Thoroughbred Group with transparency on everything from the organisation's business performance to revenues and investment plans. Nevin Truesdale, chief executive of The Jockey Club, said, “Prize-money is our single biggest investment each year and we have worked hard to sustain these levels in 2025. “There is no doubt that the ongoing economic environment continues to bring uncertainty to our income streams and the Government's October Budget will have a significant and material impact on us too. However, we have prioritised prize-money as part of our own budgeting process for next year, while also recognising that in such a turbulent economic climate it is vital to review our financial performance and investments throughout 2025.” The post 2025 Prize-Money Projected To Remain At 2024 Levels Per The Jockey Club appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Mystik Dan (Goldencents) will be paraded in the Fair Grounds paddock Saturday. Four G Racing, Lance Gasaway, Daniel Hamby, III, and Valley View Farm's GI Kentucky Derby winner will join the field for the $150,000 Louisiana Champions Day Classic during the walkover to the paddock and will remain there throughout the race, between approximately 1:25 p.m. and 1:45 p.m. CT. Mystik Dan is expected to winter at Fair Grounds as trainer Ken McPeek plans out his 4-year-old campaign. The post Mystik Dan to Parade at Fair Grounds Saturday appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

The Jockey Club has announced a freeze on prize money for 2025 while warning that trading performance at its 15 tracks could lead to a review.View the full article

Nominations for the eight stakes on Road to the Derby Kickoff Day at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots have been released. The headline races of the Dec. 21 program include the 4th running of the $100,000 Gun Runner and the $100,000 Untapable Stakes.View the full article

Hong Kong's Horse of the Year Romantic Warrior (Ire) (Acclamation {GB}) earned a career high Timeform rating of 129 following his third victory in the G1 Longines Hong Kong Cup on Sunday, Timeform announced on Tuesday. He is rated second only to Australian multiple Group 1 winner Via Sistina (Ire) (Fastnet Rock {Aus}), who carries a mark of 132, among active horses in training. Other horses rated 129 include G1 Dubai World Cup hero Laurel River (Into Mischief), Sunday's G1 Longines Hong Kong Sprint winner Ka Ying Rising (NZ) (Shamexpress {NZ}), G1 International Stakes scorer Calandagan (Ire) (Gleneagles {Ire}), and the retired Hong Kong wunderkind Golden Sixty (Aus) (Medaglia d'Oro). Timeform handicapper Jake Price said, “Romantic Warrior not only became the first horse to win the Hong Kong Cup for the third time, but in doing so he overtook former local hero Golden Sixty in becoming the highest-earning racehorse in history. What's more, the manner of his victory ensured he recorded a career best on Timeform ratings, pushing his previous best figure higher by 2 lb to 129, behind only Via Sistina of horses currently in training. “He had more to spare at the line this time, winning eased down from a couple of last year's Japanese Classic winners, and there was little in the way of hard-luck stories in behind unlike in some of the other international races on the card.” Price added, “It isn't just at home that Romantic Warrior has conquered. He's currently on a seven-race unbeaten run which has also seen him land the 2023 Cox Plate in Australia and the Yasuda Kinen in Japan back in June. In that time he has been a thoroughly consistent horse on the ratings, building a superb rapport with jockey James McDonald. “His connections aren't stopping there and have the world's richest race, the Saudi Cup, next in their sights. That would bring a completely different challenge to Romantic Warrior switching to a dirt surface, but the race itself will be all the richer for his participation.” The post Romantic Warrior’s Timeform Rating Rises To 129 appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

In this series, the TDN takes a look at notable successes of European-based sires in North America. This week's column is highlighted by the victory of Duvet Day at Grade III level beneath the Twin Spires. Duvet Day Breaks Graded Duck In Cardinal Stakes Jane Bacharach, William DeBurgh and Richard Schatz's Duvet Day (Ire) (Starspangledbanner {Aus}) won the GIII Cardinal Stakes at Churchill Downs on Nov. 28 (video). It was the first graded win for the 5-year-old mare and first victory since January of 2023 in the Listed Astra Stakes at Santa Anita. Bred by John Yarr, she was a 47,000gns Tattersalls December weanling buy by Colbinstown Stud, and she was knocked down for £45,000 to BBA Ireland at the 2020 Goffs Orby Sale. De Burgh Equine acquired the mare for $72,000 out of the Keeneland April Horses-of-Racing-Age Sale in 2022. Winless in two Irish starts, the bulk of her American career has been at stakes level. Montjeu (Ire) mare Je T'Adore (Ire) has foaled nine offspring to date, of which Duvet Day is her fifth. Her yearling is a Poet's Word (Ire) colt, while her weanling colt is by Blue Bresil (Fr). GI Gamely Stakes heroine Tuscan Evening (Ire) (Oasis Dream {GB}) is out of G3 Park Hill Stakes second The Faraway Tree (GB) (Suave Dancer), the third dam of Duvet Day. Coolmore Stud's reverse shuttle stallion Starspangledbanner is responsible for 15 winners from 29 runners (52%) in America. Duvet Day's victory brings his total number of stakes winners there to seven, four of them at graded level led by GI American Oaks victress Rhea Moon (Ire) and GI Saratoga Derby hero-turned-Rathbarry sire State Of Rest (Ire). Duvet Day wins the G3 Cardinal Stakes with Flavien Prat aboard for Michael McCarthy! pic.twitter.com/dcDcwZL0E0 — Churchill Downs (@ChurchillDowns) November 28, 2024 Fair Grounds Success For Pisciotta Fourth time was the charm for Cherie DeVaux trainee Pisciotta (GB) (Wootton Bassett {GB}), after she sailed to a 3 3/4-length victory at the Fair Grounds at the end of November (chart). Racing in the colours of Edward Hudson, Jr., Lynne Hudson and David Ingordo, the filly was bred by Faisal Meshrf Al Qahtani. Part of the Barton Stud draft during Book 1 of the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale, the filly was purchased for 180,000gns by DeVaux on behalf of her husband, David Ingordo. With the victory of Pisciotta, her dam Kazeera (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) now boasts a 100% produce record, with her first foal, Love Is Gold (Fr) (Havana Gold {Ire}) successful three times over 1900 metres at Deauville. Kazeera is a full-sister to top-liner Al Kazeem (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}), who won the G1 Prince Of Wales's Stakes, G1 Eclipse Stakes, and G1 Tattersalls Gold Cup. Wootton Bassett's progeny have been thriving left, right, and centre on the world stage, and the story is no different in America. The Coolmore stallion is the sire of 20 winners from 39 runners (51%). His eight stakes winners in that jurisdiction were bolstered by Henri Matisse (Ire) in the 2024 GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf, joining fellow Breeders' Cup Grade I winners Audarya (Fr) and Unquestionable (Fr). Evershed Shines At Tampa Mark Grier's Evershed (Ire) (Churchill {Ire}) found the Tampa Bay grass to her liking when graduating by a length at second asking on Saturday (video). Trained by Arnaud Delacour, she was bred by Lynch Bages and Camas Park Stud. Ben Gowans purchased the April-foaled bay for €340,000 out of the Arqana August Yearling Sale in Deauville from Camas Park, and she was unplaced at first asking at Laurel Park in October. The 12th foal produced by the Darshaan (GB) mare Balankiya (Ire), Evershed is her eighth winner. GI Secretariat Stakes hero Bayrir (Fr) (Medicean {GB}) is a half-brother to Evershed, while her winning half-sister Balankiyla (Fr) (Montjeu {Ire}) is the dam of G3 Prix de Royaumont winner Baiykara (Fr) (Zarak {Fr}). Balankiya's last reported foal, Camelot (GB) filly Good Timing (Ire), was born in 2023. This is the extended family of G1 Prix du Jockey Club-winning sire Bering (GB), while Balankiya is a half-sister to group winners Balakheri (Ire) (Theatrical {Ire}) and Baliyana (Ire) (Dalakhani {Ire}). Coolmore stallion Churchill is credited with eight winners from 19 runners (42%) in the U.S. GII Valley View Stakes heroine Poolside With Slim (Ire) is his best representative there, and of his three other stakes horses, The Foxes (Ire) ran second in the GI Belmont Derby Invitational Stakes. Well done to all connections of August Sale graduate who wins at @TampaBayDownsFL for trainer @delacour_arnaud & owner Mark B. Grier. This 2yo daughter of #Churchill @coolmorestud was sold by @camaspark to @bengowans_. pic.twitter.com/SV38qODPWN — ARQANA (@InfoArqana) December 8, 2024 Cotai Glory Filly Speeds To Gulfstream Win JDT Racing, LLC's Anybody But You (Ire) (Cotai Glory {GB}) won at Gulfstream Park for trainer Brendan Walsh on Sunday (video). Bred by Tally-Ho Stud, the chestnut was consigned to the Goffs Orby Sale by her breeder, where she caught the eye of Ken Condon for €200,000. Out of Fidaaha (Ire) (New Approach {Ire}), Anybody But You is a half-sister to three group winners by Mehmas (Ire), namely Malavath (Ire), who was multiple Group/Grade 1 placed, G3 Horris Hill Stakes winner Knight (Ire), and this year's G1 National Stakes hero Scorthy Champ (Ire), as well as a filly full-sibling to that trio. Fidaaha was covered by Not This Time this past spring. GIII Robert G. Dick Memorial Stakes winner Ceisteach (Ire) (New Approach {Ire}) and multiple group winner and multiple Group 1-placed Steip Amach (Ire) (Vocalised) are half-sisters to Fidaaha. Tally-ho's Cotai Glory has sired eight winners from 12 runners (66%) in the U.S. Fillies Spirit And Glory (Ire) and Sunset Glory (Ire) are both stakes winners there, while the former has also been placed in the GII Yellow Ribbon Stakes, GIII Beaugay Stakes and the GIII Eatontown Stakes. Anybody But You (IRE) and @Tyler_Gaff score in a Maiden Special Weight for @brenpwalsh at #GulfstreamPark! pic.twitter.com/cjUufMyv7S — Jockey Tyler Gaffalione (@TGjockey) December 8, 2024 Repeat Winner: Earhart (Fr) (Siyouni {Fr}) protected her perfect record with an 11-length score at Woodbine for trainer Josie Carroll recently (video). The LNJ Foxwoods runner and 'TDN Rising Star' won at that track in November. “Jot Her Down!” – @WoodbineGeller #8 EARHART (FR) ($2.50) soars down the @WoodbineTB stretch in Race 9 and displays an impressive victory for @jcarrollracing and owner @LNJFoxwoods. pic.twitter.com/NqXOL2VT5k — FanDuel Racing (@FanDuel_Racing) December 7, 2024 The post Making Waves: Red Is The Colour appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

A total of 1,236 horses–including broodmares and broodmare prospects, newly turned yearlings, horses of racing age, stallions and stallion prospects–have been catalogued for the upcoming Keeneland January Horses of All Ages Sale, scheduled to take place in Lexington from Jan. 13-15. “The January sale has opportunities for the new year, whether you are preparing for the breeding season or making plans for your racing stable,” Keeneland Vice President of Sales Tony Lacy said. “Breeders from around the globe will be focusing on the auction, which has a unique timing advantage for sellers of nice fillies. Pinhookers and end-users will compete for the short yearlings on offer, while the selection of horses of racing age will be appealing.” Among the auction's premier offerings are graded-placed racing or broodmare prospects Ain't Broke (Dialed In) (hip 49)–a narrowly beaten second in Sunday's Garland of Roses Stakes– Amidst Waves (Midshipman) (hip 61), Lady Beth (Hard Spun) (hip 264), and Movie Moxy (Street Sense) (hip 319), who was third in last Saturday's GIII Go For Wand Stakes. Also on offer is stakes-winner Sunset Glory (Ire) (Cotai Glory {GB}) (hip 419) and stakes-placed Callie's Grit (Maclean's Music) (hip 112). Broodmares in the January sale catalogue are in foal to sires such as American Pharoah, Army Mule, Authentic, Bolt d'Oro, Constitution, Curlin, Epicenter, Essential Quality, Girvin, Good Magic, Gun Runner, Hard Spun, Into Mischief, Jackie's Warrior, Justify, Life Is Good, Mandaloun, McKinzie, Munnings, Nyquist, Olympiad, Practical Joke, Quality Road, Twirling Candy, War Front, and Yaupon. Yearlings in the catalogue are sons and daughters of such sires as American Pharoah, Authentic, Candy Ride (Arg), Charlatan, Constitution, Curlin, Ghostzapper, Good Magic, Justify, Knicks Go, Maclean's Music, Maxfield, McKinzie, Munnings, Nashville, Nyquist, Omaha Beach, Quality Road, Silver State, Tapit, Twirling Candy, Uncle Mo, Upstart, Vekoma, Volatile, War Front, War of Will, and Yaupon. Each session of the January sale will begin at 10 a.m. ET. The first round of supplements to the sale will be announced Thursday. To view the complete catalogue, click here. The post Keeneland Catalogues 1,236 for January Horses of All Ages Sale appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

For the past two weeks, we have been telling you how some of racing's biggest names fell in love with the sport. Now it's our turn. Here are some of the stories behind the bylines you see every day in the TDN. Stefanie Grimm, Staff Writer For me, racing was a natural continuation born from a love of all things horses and athletics. Growing up as the only horse person in a very much non-horse family, my only exposure to racing was when I joined millions of viewers each year to watch Churchill Downs, Pimlico and Belmont showcase the very best of our sport. I cut photos from the local papers for my scrapbook when Giacomo upset the 2005 Kentucky Derby and doodled roses next to horses in school during math lessons. My basketball career went to the sidelines, replaced with riding lessons and weekend horse shows. I dreamt of race riding while cantering around hunter/jumper courses, wishing I could hike up my stirrups and gallop across a field instead of worrying about wrist and ankle position. I made my college roommate and his family delay their dinner reservation so I could watch American Pharoah complete the Triple Crown sweep in 2015. I wish I could say there was one “ah-ha!” moment that led me here but honestly, horses in all their amazing shapes and forms have been a constant in my life since my grandmother nearly convinced my parents to name me Morgan and it's a continuous blessing to be part of this industry. Don't worry Mom, I'll grow out of my horse phase any day now! The post Hooked on Racing: Stefanie Grimm appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

The old patriarch can't have failed to notice all the activity around the Gainesway stallion barn, with four new lads settling in and another relatively recent arrival meanwhile leading a desperate race for the freshman laurels. At nearly 23, in contrast, Tapit's own book is being prudently managed and he was confined to 79 mares last spring. Yet this remains not only the neighborhood boss, but also the most venerable stallion in the land. True, the gray's status as America's most productive stallion is inexorably menaced by Into Mischief, who's about to extend his reign as champion sire to a sixth year. In fact, Into Mischief is now cents away from his latest landmark of $200 million in progeny earnings, closing ever faster on Tapit ($213 million). But while they are now actually tied on 166 stakes winners apiece, Tapit retains a clear lead (from very similar volume, Into Mischief having assembled bigger books through four fewer seasons) in his other ratios: by 32 Grade I winners to 22, for instance; and 105 graded stakes winners to 79. And at Aqueduct last Saturday, Tapit made his seniority tell in another way–making an impact on the two big juvenile races still more profound than that of Munnings, who sired the winners of both. (Fear not, Munnings will receive all due credit from colleague Jill Williams in her Saturday Sires series). For not only are Poster (GII Remsen Stakes) and Muhimma (GII Demoiselle Stakes) both out of Tapit mares; so, too, were the runners-up in both races. (Whose respective sires, Medaglia d'Oro and Uncle Mo, duly came close to following up big scores from the same crop, through Good Cheer and First Resort, at Churchill the previous weekend). Moreover the Remsen third, Tux, precisely transposed the cross that produced the winner: being by Tapit himself out of…a Munnings mare! For good measure, another daughter of Tapit reciprocated on the opposite coast through Tenma (Nyquist) in the GII Starlet Stakes; while yet another came up with Laurel stakes winner Tony Eclipse (Not This Time). The fact that these are all juveniles confirms that Tapit's distaff legacy will only keep growing from here. Even as it is, however, Saturday left him behind just Street Cry (Ire) in the broodmare sires' table, by 2024 earnings, and top by stakes and graded stakes winners (32/15). Despite the debut success at Aqueduct the very next day of another young filly on the same cross, in Juddmonte homebred Ramify, I leave to believers in “systems” the discovery of some golden nick uniting Munnings and Tapit mares. Their most conspicuous success to date is millionaire Bonny South, albeit her biggest win, in the GII Fair Grounds Oaks in 2020, happened to eclipse an odds-on favorite who was also by Munnings out of a Tapit mare. Her name was Finite, and I couldn't think of a better word for the value of the software that so many people expect to unlock Thoroughbreds as reliably as it does their more conventional investments on Wall Street. Of course, the wheels of our game turn slowly and it may be that the 2020 endeavors of Bonny South and Finite encouraged the respective breeders of Poster and Muhimma to send their Tapit mares to Munnings in 2021. Personally, however, I would sooner believe that Saturday's coincidence derived, first and foremost, from the thoughtful matching of physically appropriate specimens. And while Poster and Muhimma share three of their four grandparents, if anything it would generally be the fourth–as gateway to the maternal family, and often to years of patient curation by expert breeders of the past–that would tend to interest me most. Muhimma | Sarah Andrew That is certainly the case with Poster, whose dam Pin Up (sophomore maiden winner in a light career) is a Tapit half-sister to that phenomenal distaff influence Bernardini. Their dam Cara Rafaela had helped to introduce Goncalo Torrealba to the American Turf after he bought her from breeder Mike G. Rutherford for $70,000 at the 1994 Keeneland September Sale. She proved as tough as she was classy, making her first 16 starts (of 24) inside 13 months–including one win and seven placings at Grade I level. In 2002, Torrealba cashed out, selling Cara Rafaela privately to Sheikh Mohammed, carrying the A.P. Indy colt who would become Bernardini. In pondering her son's impact as a broodmare sire, we are inevitably drawn to two factors that set Cara Rafaela apart: her constitution, and the strength of the genetic flavors behind her. Her sire Quiet American has a famously concentrated page, both his own dam and that of his sire Fappiano being by Dr. Fager out of half-sisters, while both parents of her damsire Spectacular Bid were out of To Market mares. Torrealba did some doubling down of his own after retaining Cara Rafaela's first foal, the Grade I-placed Ile de France (Storm Cat), by sending her to Bernardini's sire. A.P. Indy, of course, resembled Storm Cat in being out of a Secretariat mare. That worked a treat, producing dual Grade I winner Love and Pride, who has continued to develop the dynasty at Torrealba's farm. Love and Pride's daughter by the Three Chimneys top gun, Bella Runner (Gun Runner), won the Zia Park Oaks; while it was nice to see the story brought full circle when her Volatile filly made $1.15 million at the 2023 September Sale, from none other than Mike Rutherford. (Cara Rafaela's breeder has named her great-granddaughter Bundle, and she's now working towards a debut at Fair Grounds). Unfortunately for Godolphin, Pin Up herself was culled at Keeneland as recently as January for $130,000. The purchasers, signing as Imagine, chose their moniker well. She was carrying a colt by Nyquist, whose 2025 fee alone is greater than the sum that secured a 12-year-old Tapit half-sister to Bernardini, since exalted as dam of a three-for-three Remsen winner. Imagine! Another Tapit Mare with a Clan Behind Her The Demoiselle third, Liam in the Dust (Liam's Map), also served the Cara Rafaela legacy as yet another graded stakes performer out of a Bernardini mare. As for the winner, Muhimma, it would be no less disrespectful than to Poster if you were to view her primarily as the product of a cross. For she has now extended a seamless chain of graded stakes quality into a fifth generation. Actually Muhimma is another Three Chimneys project, having been sold to Shadwell for $700,000 at the September Sale. Her homebred dam Princesa Carolina had been obliged to settle for serial podiums at graded level on turf, including in the GI Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup, albeit she did break a Kentucky Downs course record in the Dueling Grounds Oaks. But she was out of a dual Grade I winner on the same surface (American Oaks/Flower Bowl Invitational) in Pure Clan (Pure Prize), who had been bought by Torrealba for $4.5 million in 2012. Liam in the Dust | Coady Media Pure Clan's price was underpinned by her genes. She was already a half-sister to GII Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes winner Greater Good (Intidab), while another sibling has since enhanced the page as second dam of Finley'sluckycharm (Twirling Candy). In turn, they're out of a graded stakes-winning daughter of champion sprinter What a Summer (What Luck), the line eventually tapering to the Belair Stud foundation mare Flambette (Fr). So, again, good luck if you want to boil a family like that down to a Tapit mare nicking with Munnings! Some people are too credulously hungry for a formula to disturb from their trance, expensive as they may find it becomes. But the beauty of this business is that we have a proving ground out there to settle all these questions. Turf Page Unlocked by Gun Runner Even though Muhimma had yet to make her debut, the next yearling out of Princesa Carolina proved an even bigger hit at Keeneland this September: her colt by Gun Runner, in bringing $2.2 million from Whisper Hill, represented the second biggest trade of the sale. Unsurprisingly Torrealba appears to have “married” the mare, still only eight, to the Three Chimneys champion. They also have a weanling colt, and Princesa Carolina is again expecting to Gun Runner this time round. But if the value of these foals was principally elevated last Saturday by the mare, in producing an Oaks candidate by another sire, then Gun Runner also maintained his market standing through the blossoming of Locked in the GI Cigar Mile. Locked | Sarah Andrew Of course this horse already figured among Gun Runner's 10 elite scorers, having won the Claiborne Breeders' Futurity last year. But doubtless the “nicking” brigade will be excited that another of that group–and none other than Sierra Leone–also happens to be out of a Malibu Moon mare. But just as it would be eccentric to underplay Sierra Leone's fourth grandparent, when another of her daughters this year produced a second of the three protagonists in the GI Kentucky Derby photo-finish, so we must give some attention to the granddam of Locked. For she introduces some pretty exotic flavors to a dirt miler. Locked was bred by Rosa Colasanti out of her homebred mare Luna Rosa (Malibu Moon), whose track career ended in breaking her maiden at the fifth attempt. Luna Rosa's dam Gabriellina Giof (GB) (Ashkalani {Ire}) began her career in Italy before switching to California, winning a 5.5f stakes and then running second in the GII San Clemente Handicap over a mile. She didn't really build from there, however, and made no more than $75,000 from Federico Barberini as a 10-year-old at the 2008 Keeneland January Sale. Fortunately for her purchaser, the last two foals delivered by Gabriella Giof prior to that transaction both stepped up to the plate. Always a Princess (Leroidesanimaux {Brz}) became a triple Grade II winner on dirt, while Gabby's Golden Gal (Medaglia d'Oro) did better yet, winning the GI Acorn Stakes and GI Santa Monica Handicap. The latter race was then run on synthetic, and the mare's first foal for Colasanti, by Johannesburg, would in time produce a stakes sprinter on turf/synthetic by Noble Mission (GB). Locked certainly has plenty of chlorophyll down his maternal family. Gabriella Giof was one of no fewer than 12 winners in Italy out of a mare who was Group 1-placed there. The next dam had been exported from Peru, and represents one of the oldest families in South America. But who cares about that, if all you need is the same cross as Sierra Leone… No Mystery About Misty Family While Locked has a pretty cosmopolitan pedigree, surely the most significant international page of the weekend lay behind the aforementioned Starlet winner, Tenma. This is yet another case of a mare, like Pin Up and Gabriella Giof, getting an upgrade shortly after being sold. Tenma's dam Amagansett (Tapit) represents one of those culpably rare compounds (credit, for bucking the trend, to her breeders St Elias Stable) of a top dirt stallion with a premier European brand. She's out of a sister to the top-class Coolmore runner/producer Misty For Me (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}). Tenma | Benoit Bought as a Saratoga yearling by Bobby Flay for $875,000 in 2018, Amagansett never made the track and was culled at Fasig-Tipton last November to Kimura Hidenori for $400,000, in foal to Not This Time. Her daughter by Nyquist, with the best possible grounding at Stone Farm, had made $200,000 at the September Sale before proving a lucrative pinhook through Wavertree as a $875,000 OBS Spring juvenile. But even that giddy investment has quickly paid off for Baoma Corporation. Interestingly Amagansett's yearling colt was retained at $325,000 this September, so maybe there's another chapter to be written–especially as he's by Munnings. Perhaps that Munnings-Tapit cross will stand up here, as well. If it does, however, don't expect me to efface Misty For Me's sister from the deal! The post Breeding Digest: A Poster Boy for Tapit’s Daughters appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

“Look away Mick Appleby, but there has arguably been no finer exponent of the new and improved all-weather programme in the last decade than the Gosden stable, home to a handful of Classic/Group 1 winners who learned the ropes at the likes of Kempton and Newcastle in the depths of winter.” That comment featured in our first installment of Winter Watch, followed by a promise to put that illustrious roll of honour under the spotlight at a later stage when it seemed appropriate. Now, following a week in which John and Thady Gosden sent out three juveniles to make winning debuts, including a new 'TDN Rising Star' at Kempton, perhaps it's worth taking that moment to remember some of those star names for whom the first of many career triumphs was achieved on the all-weather. The subsequent Irish Derby and Dubai Sheema Classic hero Jack Hobbs (GB) was one of the trailblazers from Clarehaven Stables when making a successful debut at Wolverhampton just two days after Christmas in 2014, followed by Persuasive (Ire), who bookended her career with wins in a Kempton maiden in November 2015 and the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes at Ascot in October 2017. It was at Newcastle in November 2016 that a pair of bona fide greats of the sport, Stradivarius (Ire) and Enable (GB), gained their first career victories, just three weeks apart, while Gosforth Park was also the scene of impressive debut wins for a pair of subsequent Group 1 winners at Royal Ascot in Without Parole (GB) and Mostahdaf (Ire). Anapurna (GB) won an Oaks in 2019 and Emily Upjohn (GB) probably should have won one in 2022, their Epsom exploits coming just a matter of months after they'd opened their accounts at Lingfield and Wolverhampton, respectively. The newly-retired Emily Upjohn will be sorely missed in 2025, but the Gosdens still have this year's Prix de l'Opera heroine Friendly Soul (GB) to go to war with. She was a winning newcomer at Kempton in December last year. The big question now is which of next year's three-year-olds can join Friendly Soul in flying the Clarehaven flag at the top level in 2025. This year's G3 Solario Stakes winner Field Of Gold (Ire) looks as likely as any as things stand, but don't rule out the prospect of another Kingman (GB) colt by the name of Bowmark (GB) shaking up the pecking order next spring… Kingman at the Double at Kempton Last week's hat-trick for the Gosden-trained two-year-olds was achieved in the space of a few hours on Wednesday, culminating with the sparkling performance from Bowmark (GB) as he earned 'TDN Rising Star' status with a four-and-a-half-length win in the second division of the one-mile novice at Kempton. The overall time was only marginally faster than that of the first division won by paternal sibling First Principle (GB), but the fact that Bowmark ran the final three furlongs around 1.4 seconds faster than that horse is instructive, confirming the visual impression that this is a colt blessed with a telling change of gear. Bigger and better things surely lie in wait for the Lordship Stud homebred, who is the fourth winner from as many runners out of the Listed Trigo Stakes scorer Bound (Ire), a full-sister to four other Group-race winners by Galileo (Ire), headed by the Derby hero Serpentine (Ire). His second dam is the Oaks runner-up Remember When (Ire) (Danehill Dancer {Ire}) who, in turn, is a half-sister to the six-time Group 1 winner and sire Dylan Thomas (Ire), 1,000 Guineas heroine Homecoming Queen (Ire) (Holy Roman Emperor {Ire}) and unbeaten Cheveley Park Stakes scorer Queen's Logic (Ire) (Grand Lodge). As for Kingman, Bowmark is his 36th 'TDN Rising Star' and fourth of 2024 after the aforementioned Field Of Gold (Ire), Chancellor (GB) and Cosmic Year (GB). The Juddmonte stallion is also up to 26 individual juvenile winners in Europe this year after his Kempton double initiated by the William Haggas-trained First Principle, who is another one to be positive about after his comfortable defeat of Chelmsford scorer Spectacular View (GB) (Pinatubo {Ire}), quickening smartly under mostly hands-and-heels riding to win by a length and a quarter. A homebred from Craig Bennett's Merry Fox Stud, First Principle is out of the Giant's Causeway mare Guilty Twelve, who was a three-race maiden in Britain with Roger Varian, before joining Graham Motion for whom she won the GIII Robert G. Dick Memorial Stakes. Haggas also trained his half-sister, Five Towns (GB) (Lord Kanaloa {Jpn}), who won twice from seven starts for the stable, before she too moved Stateside. She was beaten just a head on her most recent start in the GIII Noble Damsel Stakes. Very nice from Bowmark Doubles for team Gosden & @KShoemark pic.twitter.com/CuF6GOE1aG — Racing TV (@RacingTV) December 4, 2024 A Story of Gosden Fillies Past and Present Kingman also featured as the broodmare sire of Frankel (GB) filly Sand Gazelle (GB), the stylish winner of the seven-furlong fillies' novice which kicked off Wednesday's nine-race card at Kempton, defying odds of 20-1 as she edged ahead close home to land the spoils by a length and a quarter. The second foal out of a winning half-sister to this year's G1 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe heroine Bluestocking (GB) (Camelot {GB}), Sand Gazelle is owned by the Thoroughbred Racing Corporation, having been purchased for 425,000gns at Book 1 of the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale. Perhaps best known for racing top-class talents such as Derby hero Oath (Ire) and the GI Kentucky Derby and GI Preakness Stakes winner War Emblem around the turn of the century, the Thoroughbred Corporation has returned to the fold in recent years with a handful of horses in training with the Gosdens, including the G2 Park Hill Fillies' Stakes third Lmay (Ire) (Frankel {GB}). It remains to be seen whether the team's historic green and white silks can get back to where they once were as a regular sight at the top level, but the hunger is certainly there if their recent big-money buys at the sales are anything to go by, including a Night Of Thunder (Ire) filly who fetched 650,000gns at Book 1. If that filly follows Sand Gazelle into Clarehaven Stables, then she'll be joined by at least two other exciting daughters of Night Of Thunder in Kempton winner Life Is Beautiful (GB), a Winter Watch alumni from week one, and Go Go Boots (GB), who got the ball rolling for the Gosdens on Wednesday when winning the first division of the one-mile fillies' novice at Lingfield. Immediately on the back foot after a slow start, Go Go Boots still had several lengths to make up on the home turn, before picking up really smartly to win by a length and a quarter from the only previous winner in the line-up, Texas Starlight (Fr) (Pinatubo {Ire}). Bought by owner Bobby Flay for €230,000 at the Arqana Breeze-up Sale, having failed to find a buyer when offered by breeders Highclere Stud at Book 1, Go Go Boots is out of the Foxwedge (Aus) mare Hertford Dancer (GB), who gained her first career success for John Gosden at Wolverhampton in December 2016, before doubling her tally as a three-year-old in the Listed Oaks Trial Fillies' Stakes at Lingfield. Coincidentally, last week's all-weather action also played host to the debut of Ashmolean (GB) (Frankel {GB}), the second foal out of Denford Stud's dual Group 1 winner Coronet (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}), who also won the G2 Ribblesdale Stakes in which stable-mate Hertford Dancer finished third. The only two-year-old from Clarehaven not to hit the target last week, Ashmolean was as green as grass when finishing down the field in the one-mile novice at Newcastle on Tuesday. Nice debut! Expensive purchase Go Go Boots sneaks down the rail to get off the mark for The Gosdens and @ONaillers2010 at @LingfieldPark… pic.twitter.com/EdvcW9unAR — At The Races (@AtTheRaces) December 4, 2024 No Stopping Haggas with 'Superstar' Family William Haggas endured a narrow defeat in that Newcastle novice with Highclere's Merchant (Ire) (Teofilo {Ire})–beaten a short head by a promising newcomer from the James Ferguson stable in Gunship (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire})–but it was a successful week otherwise for the trainer, with four winners from eight runners in Britain, plus a runner-up finish for stable stalwart Dubai Honour (Ire) (Pride Of Dubai {Aus}) in Sunday's G1 Hong Kong Vase at Sha Tin. Kempton winner First Principle belongs to a family that has performed with such credit Stateside that Haggas might eventually have a battle on his hands to keep him at Somerville Lodge, whereas it's impossible to think of a more fitting home for Newcastle scorer Showering (GB) (Showcasing {GB}), who won the second division of the six-furlong novice on Friday to write just the latest chapter in the story of a special family, belonging to Roy and Gretchen Jackson of Lael Stables and trained almost exclusively by Haggas for over two decades. Showering is the sixth foal out of the winning Danehill Dancer (Ire) mare Cloud Line (GB), a daughter of the wonderful Superstar Leo (Ire) (College Chapel {GB}), who died in June this year at the age of 26. At stud she produced 11 winners from 14 runners, all of whom started their careers with Haggas, including Enticing (Ire) (Pivotal {GB}), the dual Group 3 winner who is perhaps best known as the dam of the triple G1 Prix de la Foret winner One Master (GB) (Fastnet Rock {Aus}) for the same connections. In addition to Showering, who won by a length with a bit up his sleeve at Gosforth Park, Haggas also has a member of the fourth generation of this family in training at Somerville Lodge, specifically One Master's first foal, a two-year-old colt by Dubawi (Ire). Here's hoping we get to see him on the track before our Winter Watch run draws to a close. Fingers crossed we might also see Rogue Allegiance (Ire) again before too long after he won the first division of the six-furlong novice at Newcastle in a time over two seconds faster than that clocked by Showering, albeit they crawled in the latter race which perhaps masked the superiority of the Haggas-trained colt. Either way, it was hard to fault the manner in which Rogue Allegiance emphatically dismissed his eight rivals on debut, impressing with how he tanked into contention and then sprinting clear when asked for his effort to win by six lengths in the style of an above-average colt. Bred by Caroline and Stephanie Hanly, the son of Kodiac (GB) was a successful pinhook for the team at Tally-Ho Stud, who bought him for €75,000 at the Goffs November Foal Sale, before he sold to owners The Rogues Gallery for 190,000gns at the Tattersalls Craven Breeze-up Sale. Eye-catching debut! The expensive Rogue Allegiance bolts up at @NewcastleRaces for @omeararacing and @DavidNo45583497… pic.twitter.com/FEVO3fdAYI — At The Races (@AtTheRaces) December 6, 2024 Job Done for Marhaba Ghaiyyath The headstrong Padua (Ire) (Magna Grecia {Ire}) proved a bit of a letdown for our 'Winners In Waiting' when finishing down the field in the Kempton novice won by Bowmark, but at least a bit of the pressure was off by then thanks to Marhaba Ghaiyyath (Ire), who justified similar billing with a no-nonsense success in the one-mile maiden at Lingfield on Tuesday. The official winning margin of a short head suggests the son of Ghaiyyath (Ire) made hard work of opening his account, but he was always holding the challenge of the staying-on Circus Of Rome (GB) (Circus Maximus {Ire}), having gained a decisive advantage when moving to the front on the home turn. True, it wasn't the deepest race of its type–the first two pulled 11 lengths clear of the remainder–but the feeling remains that we've only scratched the surface of Marhaba Ghaiyyath's potential, with a step up to middle-distances promising to suit next year. Three Winners In Waiting Indian Springs (Ire) Too Darn Hot (GB)–Floristry (GB), by Fasliyev Trained by Charlie Appleby, Indian Springs is a three-parts brother to Lazuli (Ire), by Too Darn Hot's sire Dubawi (Ire), who was a talented sprinter for the team at Moulton Paddocks with the G2 Blue Point Sprint featuring among his seven career wins. Indian Springs has clearly been a bit more backwards than his sibling, a dual winner at two, but he too should be winning his fair share of races judged on his debut third in the six-furlong novice at Kempton on Wednesday. Beaten a little over a length at the line, he rattled home from an unpromising position in the style of one who will improve markedly for the experience. Spanish Voice (GB) Lope De Vega (Ire)–Criteria (Ire), by Galileo (Ire) Saeed Suhail's Spanish Voice, who cost 210,000gns at Book 2 of the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale, spent much of this year in the care of Sir Michael Stoute, before joining Andrew Balding upon the retirement of the 10-time champion trainer. He made his debut in the race won by First Principle at Kempton on Wednesday and shaped with plenty of promise in finishing third, sticking to his task well to pass the post only two lengths behind the winner. His dam produced her best effort when third in the G2 Ribblesdale Stakes and this colt should come into his own when tackling middle-distances next year. Noble Horizon (GB) Kingman (GB)–Great Heavens (GB), by Galileo (Ire) Noble Horizon is bred in the purple as a son of the Irish Oaks heroine Great Heavens, a full-sister to Nathaniel (Ire), and he was another one to catch the eye on a Kempton card that is sure to throw up plenty of winners. He had the misfortune of making his debut in the race taken apart by Bowmark, but it was an encouraging start to his career nonetheless as he made steady progress under a hands-and-heels ride to finish fourth (beaten a little over five lengths). Stamina promises to be his strong suit and he's another promising three-year-old prospect for William Haggas to go to war with in 2025. The post Winter Watch: Bowmark Stars in Across-The-Card Treble for Clarehaven appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article