Wandering Eyes

CK Ng 'hungry' as he returns to saddle on Friday View the full article

I’m one of those bunny hugger people. I love animals and I am troubled by many things that go on in the sport of racing when it comes to the treatment of our equine athletes. I don’t like all the drugs and I hate that so many horses end up in the slaughterhouse. I believe, and have written numerous times, that whipping should be banned immediately. Nothing is more sickening than watching a horse break down on the track. Yes, the sport is doing better when it comes to animal welfare issues, but it has a long way to go. That’s why racing needs a watchdog to hold its feet to the fire and to make sure that nobody ever accepts that the problems are unsolvable and that fatalities are “just a part of the game.” But we don’t have that. We have PETA. Effective watchdog groups are manned by reasonable, well-meaning people. At least when it comes to horse racing, PETA continues to behave like an organization that is way too far out there, way too ignorant and completely unreasonable. These people are radicals. And no one wants to hear from radicals, no one respects these kinds of people, no one listens to these kinds of people. It’s not just that they accomplish nothing. It’s worse than that. Since PETA is the most prominent and influential animal rights organization in the U.S., they are in a position to do a lot of good things to make this sport safer for the equine athletes and for there to be more avenues to humane retirements. But that’s not what is happening. Say so many stupid things and people just turn you off. When people turn you off, you can’t get anything done. When you can’t get anything done there cannot be a sane and productive debate on the issues. In its apparent efforts to make horse racing better and safer, PETA is doing more harm than good, and I’m sick of it. With all the rhetoric, all the bombast, all the misinformation and half-truths that they keep spitting out, they just make it harder on the people who actually know what’s going on and understand that there is a right way and a wrong way to make a difference. People lump other equine welfare advocates in with PETA and fail to differentiate between those who have productive things to say and PETA’s radical agenda. That’s why PETA needs to change its act dramatically and if it is not capable of doing that, they need to go away. PETA was at it again yesterday, issuing a press release concerning rumors that Justify (Scat Daddy) was injured following his win in the GI Kentucky Derby. Those rumors arose after videos showing the horse parading in front of reporters Sunday morning led some to speculate there was something wrong with a hind leg. PETA Senior Vice President Kathy Guillermo issued the following statement: “PETA is calling on the stewards at Churchill Downs to order an immediate and independent veterinary examination of Justify and to review all his veterinary records and medications for the last year. He appeared to be avoiding putting weight on his left hind leg at a news conference yesterday–a condition dismissed by trainer Bob Baffert as “scratches” brought on by the muddy track at the Kentucky Derby. However, this skin condition typically leads to lameness only when it’s chronic. PETA wants to know: Has Justify been suffering from a chronic ailment that has led to lameness, or is he injured? If he’s injured, he must not be allowed to race in the Preakness–and PETA is not confident that Mr. Baffert will reveal the horse’s true condition.” Please. Baffert’s explanation concerning the problems with the leg was a perfectly reasonable one. He told the Paulick Report that Justify had what horsemen call “mud fever” and described it as something along the lines of chapped lips, an irritation caused by constant wetting and over drying of the skin. He said the horse was absolutely fine and that he would not miss a single day of training. There’s no reason to believe that he is lying, but PETA insinuated that he might be. And this is exactly where they always shoot themselves in the foot, making outlandish claims when then they clearly don’t understand the sport. Justify is worth an unfathomable amount of money. Does PETA really believe that Baffert and his owners would take the risk of racing an injured horse in the GI Preakness S.? Or in any race? And if the horse were actually hurt, do they really think Baffert is so stupid that he would have shown off an injured horse to the media? For the rest of his life, Justify will be better protected than the Crown Jewels. If there is one hair out of place, he’s not running in the Preakness. That’s why it’s so ridiculous to insinuate that Justify might be put in harm’s way 11 days from now. This is the same group that went after jockey Gabriel Saez with an outlandish accusation, blaming him for the breakdown of Eight Belles in the 2008 Derby. Then, of course, there was the covert operation it waged against trainer Steve Asmussen. PETA wanted you to believe that it had blown the lid off of what goes on behind closed doors in racing. But once the hysteria settled down, reasonable people understood that they came up with nothing. That is unless you consider the fact that Asmussen’s assistant trainer Scott Blasi has a potty mouth to be a major scandal. PETA is right about one thing, that horse racing can do a lot better job than it does when it comes to animal welfare issues. But putting out hysterical press releases about non-issues such as Justify’s appearance on the day after the Derby is not the answer. Please, just stop. View the full article

In the early morning hours of last Friday, Michael Hernon was busy welcoming the latest foal out of his mare Winning Call (Deputy Minister), dam of GI Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile winner and Gainesway stallion Tapizar (Tapit), in Lexington. Later that afternoon, Hernon watched as Tapizar’s daughter Monomoy Girl, a filly he co-bred with Brendan and Olive Gallagher, earned a determined victory in the GI Kentucky Oaks at Churchill Downs. The day was a success for the Irishman not just personally, but also professionally as he looks to develop the career of the emerging young stallion Tapizar in his role as Gainesway’s Director of Sales. Hernon purchased Winning Call privately after the mare RNA’d for $200,000 as part of the Gainesway consignment at the 2011 Keeneland November sale. The farm was selling the mare on behalf of Ron Winchell. “I was disappointed she didn’t sell through the auction,” Hernon said. “This was a mare I had confidence in and I really liked her. I went back through the cards and I tried everyone who looked at her and I wasn’t getting everywhere. I got up to the top of the hill at barn 47 and I had an epiphany and I said, ‘You know what you’re doing.’ So I put together a group of partners and we bought her.” Tapizar would go on to win the GI Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile in Winchell’s colors the following year. His 20-year-old mare produced a colt by GI Kentucky Derby winner Orb last week. “On Oaks morning at 6:20, Winning Call, who is a lovely, kind mare, laid down and she had an easy foaling and she produced a good healthy foal,” Hernon said. “I’d call him medium-sized plus and he nursed very well. I was delighted. When you get a mare at that kind of age, you’re never sure how things will go, but you keep your fingers crossed.” If all continues to go well with Winning Call, plans call for the mare to be bred back to another Gainesway son of Tapit, Anchor Down. That 7-year-old stallion, also bred by Gainesway and purchased back for stud duties, won the 2016 GII Kelso H. and GIII Westchester S. Of Anchor Down, Hernon said, “He has tremendous libido and fertility, like his sire Tapit, and he is producing most impressive first-crop foals.” Asked if he thought Winning Call’s Oaks-morning foaling was a good portent for the main event, Hernon said, “It did strike me. We thought she could have foaled any of the previous five or six days. Was it an omen? Maybe. But it was an exciting start to the day.” Once that business was taken care of, Hernon headed across state to Louisville to watch morning-line favorite Monomoy Girl go postward in the Oaks. It was a role he was familiar with, having bred Zazu (Tapit), third in the 2011 Oaks. Hernon and the Gallaghers teamed to buy Monomoy Girl’s dam Drumette (Henny Hughes) with the future Oaks winner in utero for $75,000 at the 2014 Keeneland November sale. At that same auction the previous year, Hernon purchased the mare Ladyflickerflacker (Forestry), also in foal to Tapizar, for $65,000. That in utero foal, now named Hollywood Handsome, was second in this year’s GII New Orleans H. “I came across both mares in similar fashion,” Hernon recalled of the two acquisitions. “I was in the back walking ring coming out when I saw Ladyflickerflacker and I quite liked her foal, who was a Trappe Shot filly. I felt like, if she gets a nice foal by Trappe Shot, why wouldn’t she get a nice foal by Tapizar? Jody Huckabee of Elm Tree was selling her and he recommended the mare to me. It was a quick look; it was somewhat of a gut feeling. She sold before the foal and I gave $65,000 for her and David Ingordo gave $75,000 for the baby. So I thought that has to be ok.” Hollywood Handsome sold to Mark Stanley for $200,000 at the 2015 Fasig-Tipton Kentucky Fall Yearling Sale. Ladyflickerflacker has a yearling filly by Tapizar slated to sell at Saratoga this summer. “I decided to access the New York program as an experiment,” Hernon said. “I sent Ladyflickerflacker up there along with another mare named Mattie Camp (Forest Camp), who is a graded stakes producer that I own with Dr. David Richardson. Ladyflickerflacker’s filly is a registered New York-bred filly who is pointed towards the Fasig-Tipton Preferred sale; she was inspected by Dennis Lynch and Evan Ferraro the other day and they were quite keen on her. And since the Oaks win, I’m contemplating offering the other New York-bred filly by Tapizar out of Mattie Camp, at the main sale at Saratoga. I think she is a very attractive chestnut filly and an earlier type and Fasig-Tipton will look at her later in the week. I think she might be one of the only Tapizar progeny in the main sale at Saratoga.” Drumette, meanwhile, foaled a Shackleford colt this year and her yearling colt by Tapizar sold for $175,000 at last year’s Fasig-Tipton October sale. She will be bred back to Claiborne’s Grade I winner Mastery and could reappear in the sales ring this fall. “I think it’s likely that Drumette could find her way into the November sales, but she obviously has to have a successful cover and get in foal,” Hernon said. “It’s certainly possible that she could be in the November sales. That is something that I’ll discuss with my partners, Brendan and Olive Gallagher.” Tapizar, who won the 2011 GIII Sham S. and 2012 GII San Fernando S., concluded his racing career with a dominant victory in the Breeders’ Cup before retiring to Antony Beck’s Gainesway to stand alongside his super sire Tapit in 2013. From three crops to race, the stallion has, in addition to his Oaks winner, sired three stakes winners and five graded stakes placed runners. Standing for $12,500, his 2-year-olds were popular at the juveniles sales this spring with nine sold for an average of $86,891 and a median of $90,027. “I like them,” Hernon said of the Tapizars. “They take a little bit of time to come around, but don’t forget Tapizar himself did his best running as a 4-year-old. I see a correlation with his stock proving their best races are coming as they mature, as did Tapizar. He is out of a mare by a leading broodmare sire in Deputy Minister. And is from a top Winchell family that has been developed over the years. There is real good blood behind there. I think you’re going to see more results at a higher level.” In Tapizar’s first Classic winner, Hernon sees echoes of his sire Tapit, who was represented by 2014 GI Kentucky Oaks winner Untapable. “Monomoy Girl is a marquee racehorse and a breakthrough for Tapizar,” Hernon said. “This is a Kentucky Oaks winner in just his second crop and Tapit produced an Oaks winner in the form of Untapable.” Hernon continued, “This mating of Tapizar on the Northern Dancer line is successful with Monomoy Girl being out of a Henny Hughes mare. This is the same cross that produced a pivotal horse in Tapit’s development, in [GI Breeders’ Cup Juvenile winner] Hansen, who is out of the Sir Cat mare Stormy Sunday. And you have Tell a Kelly on the West Coast who won the GI Del Mar Debutante and the you have the very high-caliber filly Careless Jewel, who was foaled and raised here at Gainesway and won the GI Alabama S. She was out of a Hennessy mare.” Even as Tapizar is celebrated for the first Classic winner of his young stallion career, the true star of the Gainesway stallion roster remains his 17-year-old sire Tapit. “We keep Tapit right at 120 mares per book and people can get these high-quality mares to him in a timely fashion,” Hernon said. “Then if they choose to sell commercially on the way out, the market has a good representation, but it’s not flooded with the product.” He continued, “Tapit can change a mare’s life. And [Tapizar’s success] is a big endorsement of Tapit himself, to have a son of this level come through and produce a champion-elect 3-year-old filly like this. What greater endorsement of Tapit other than to have his sons emerge as being top stallions in their own right.” View the full article

NBC Sports’ coverage of the 144th Kentucky Derby Saturday saw 15 million viewers tune in across NBC and NBC Sports Digital platforms, the company reported Monday. The audience that watched Justify’s victory marked the sixth consecutive year that Kentucky Derby viewership averaged at least 15 million viewers. Viewership peaked at 17.5 million viewers from 6:45 p.m-7:00 p.m ET as Justify crossed the finish line 2 1/2 lengths ahead of Good Magic, to remain undefeated and break the 136-year old “Curse of Apollo.” The broadcast, which went head-to-head with the NBA playoffs, averaged 14.9 million TV-only viewers with an 8.5 rating/21 share. NBC Sports Digital’s presentation of the Kentucky Derby ranks as the most-streamed Kentucky Derby ever, delivering 11.7 million minutes, up 27% from last year. The stream also delivered a record 337,000 unique visitors. The Average Minute Audience for the Kentucky Derby via the NBC Sports app and NBCSports.com was a record 123,100 viewers. Louisville, the home of the Kentucky Derby, topped the metered markets with a 37.2 rating/62 share. NBC will broadcast the Triple Crown’s second jewel from Baltimore, Md. with Preakness coverage from Friday, May 18 through the race the following day. View the full article

The first session of the two-day New Zealand Bloodstock Karaka May Sale was topped by a weanling son of Group 1 sire Written Tycoon (Aus), who was knocked down to Hallmark Stud for NZ$170,000. Lot 190, consigned by breeder D.J. Myers, the colt, bound for the 2019 Karaka January Sale, is out of the winning Into the Groove (Aus) (Redoute’s Choice {Aus}) and from the same family as MG1SW Divine Madonna (Aus) (Hurricane Sky {Aus}). “That was our last bid,” said Hallmark Stud’s Mark Baker to NZ Racing Desk. “We were staggering, but he is a lovely colt with a wonderful attitude, he never batted an eye lid. The plan is to bring him back here in January as a yearling.” Lot 64, the top-priced yearling and third priciest lot was also Monday’s most expensive filly, from the Curraghmore draft. A daughter of Snitzel (Aus) and MSW and G1 Railway H. third Tip The Wink (NZ) (Stravinsky), she was passed in for A$220,000 at the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale in January, but found a new home yesterday, going to Champion Thoroughbreds for NZ$120,000. “She is quite an athletic filly, not overly big, but Snitzel (Aus) himself is not overly big,” said Jason Abrahams of Champion Thoroughbreds. “There is plenty of attitude to her, she’s out of a Stravinsky mare, so it’s on the same cross as Group 1 winner Russian Revolution (Aus) (Snitzel {Aus}) who is going to stud this year. She should go early, she’s an early foal and we’ll get a breaker in now and see if we can ger her back for the Karaka Million in January.” Overall, 223 weanlings and yearlings were offered on Monday, with 141 (63%) grossing NZ$2,096,250. The average dropped 23% to NZ$14,867, but the median increased to NZ$9,000 (+38%). Four lots made six figures. View the full article

This week’s TDN Top 20 examines the GI Kentucky Derby runners according to finish position. Only several Derby participants are likely to contend the GI Preakness S. The remainder are in regroup/rest mode, while several could be GI Belmont S. candidates. 1) JUSTIFY (c, Scat Daddy–Stage Magic, by Ghostzapper) ‘TDN Rising Star’ O-China Horse Club, Head of Plains Partners LLC, Starlight Racing & WinStar Farm. B- John D. Gunther (KY). T-Bob Baffert. Sales history: $500,000 yrl KEESEP ’16. Lifetime Record: MGISW, 4-4-0-0, $2,098,000. Justify’s emphatic, real-deal Derby victory comes with no excuses or caveats to suggest that it was anything other than a world-class unveiling for a potentially crop-defining phenom. The field of 20? The slop? The demanding 10-furlong distance? The burden of favoritism on such a lightly raced but highly hyped contender? None of these were issues for this undefeated, long-reaching $500,000 KEESEP Scat Daddy colt who toyed with a deeply talented field on Derby day with the precision of a tightly torqued metronome. This ‘TDN Rising Star’ assertively pressured an aggressive pacemaker through fast splits while maintaining the composure of a much older, well-seasoned stakes competitor, enabling Justify to take aim and get first run on the tiring Promises Fulfilled (Shackleford) when, where, and exactly how jockey Mike Smith wanted. Justify was still hand ridden through the far turn while repulsing a two-pronged attack from an all-out Bolt d’Oro (Medaglia d’Oro) and then a relentless Good Magic (Curlin), and when Smith finally set his colt down straightening for home the response was rapid, fluid, and probably did not scrape the bottom of this brawny chestnut’s ample stamina reserve. Beyond a “minor” skin irritation that was causing Justify some superficial discomfort on the morning after the Derby, trainer Bob Baffert said the colt emerged from the race healthy and will plan for an assault on Baltimore, where his commanding presence is likely to scare away most of the Derby rivals who finished in his muddy wake on Saturday. 2) GOOD MAGIC (c, Curlin—Glinda the Good, by Hard Spun) O-e Five Thoroughbreds & Stonestreet Stables. B-Stonestreet Thoroughbred Holdings (KY). T-Chad Brown. Sales History: $1,000,000 yrl KEESEP ’16. Lifetime Record: Ch. 2yo, GISW, 6-2-3-1, $2,255,000. Good Magic ran what would have amounted to a winning Derby in almost any other year. He broke on cue, settled willingly the first time past the stands, and stalked two paths off the rail while just behind the top two pacemakers into the clubhouse turn. This million-dollar KEESEP Curlin colt was surrounded on both sides down the backside, then appeared to back off a beat entering the far turn, but jockey Jose Ortiz was just biding his time to get out and around foes, and Good Magic re-accelerated to motor past a fading Bolt d’Oro while setting his sights on Justify. He loomed as a legit threat to the eventual winner off the turn, but three-sixteenths out he showed his first signs of cracking by wandering slightly to the outside. Good Magic stayed on well, but could then get no closer than two lengths to Justify in the final furlong. Trainer Chad Brown said that minor hesitation on the far turn “probably cost us a couple lengths, but I still can’t imagine a scenario where Justify wouldn’t have still been able to fend us off.” Good Magic is considered possible right now for the Preakness (a race his sire won in 2007). But Brown added that he doesn’t “see a mile and a half for this horse,” so the Belmont is out. 3) AUDIBLE (c, Into Mischief–Blue Devil Bel, by Gilded Time) O-WinStar, China Horse Club, Head of Plains Partners, Starlight Racing. B-Oak Bluff Stables LLC (NY). T-Todd Pletcher. Sales history: $175,000 FTNSAR yrl ’16; $500,000 FTFMAR 2yo ’17. Lifetime Record: MGSW & GISP, 6-4-0-2, $1,082,920. Of all the horses reported to have had a hard time handling the track and sloppy kickback, Audible ran the best. This $500,000 FTFMAR son of Into Mischief was away alertly from the gate but couldn’t maintain an up-front position as jockey Javier Castellano opted to drop him back a few spots in the field in an attempt to get him to settle. He was tenth into the first turn with an inside position, and midway down the backstretch he was the leader of a loosely formed second flight. Audible came off the rail and advanced methodically, hitting another gear three-eighths out, then reclaimed a fence position while momentarily pausing for several strides so he wouldn’t be caught on the heels of the caving Promises Fulfilled. He straightened away with good energy once there were only two horses ahead of him in the lane but could not close the gap. “Javier said he thought he might have been on the best horse if he could have got going earlier,” trainer Todd Pletcher said. The colt is currently uncommitted to a next start. 4) INSTILLED REGARD (c, Arch–Enhancing, by Forestry) O-OXO Equine LLC. B-KatieRich Farms (KY). T-Jerry Hollendorfer. Sales History: $110,000 RNA yrl KEESEP ’16; $1,050,000 2yo OBSMAR ’17. Lifetime Record: GSW & GISP, 8-2-2-1, $394,000. This $1.05 million OBSMAR son of Arch gets the award for outrunning his odds (85-1). This could have been a lost cause from the start when he got forced into the auxiliary gate gap at the break and jockey Drayden Van Dyke had a hard time picking a comfortable back-of-pack spot to settle. Instilled Regard had just three horses beaten into the first turn, then continued on the straightaway far back and covered up. No gaps for attack materialized for most of the backstretch run, then about a half mile out Van Dyke got to work, aggressively seizing small openings, and by the time the field hit the far bend Instilled Regard had built up nice momentum while picking off half the pack. But he was still a good nine lengths off the still-gunning leaders turning for home, and while Van Dyke did opportunistically keep slicing through gaps created by tiring horses in the lane, Instilled Regard was not in the same league as the top three under the wire. But it was a credible effort, and the colt will now get a 30-day freshening at Taylor Made Farm in Kentucky according to assistant trainer Christina Jelm. 5) MY BOY JACK (c, Creative Cause—Gold N Shaft, by Mineshaft) O-Don’t Tell My Wife Stables & Monomoy Stables LLC. B-Brereton C. Jones (KY). T-Keith Desormeaux. Sales History: $14,000 RNA wlg KEENOV ’15; $20,000 yrl KEESEP ’16. Lifetime Record: MGSW, 11-3-3-2, $705,145. My Boy Jack was the most dramatic bet-down of the Derby, from 30-1 on the morning line to 6-1. It was probably a combination of his good mud form, being a closer in a speed-laden race, and all the “casual” money from every bettor in America who has a relative named Jack. This $20,000 KEESEP Creative Cause was next to last for most of the trip but did let loose with a churning bid about a half mile from home. Three-eighths out, jockey Kent Desormeaux said “I had a wall of horses come back into me. He got stopped dry. My argument, in the end, would be that he probably would have been third.” Trainer Keith Desormeaux reported Sunday that “Jack” exited the race with minor front leg cuts and scrapes and that the colt will get a break after three tough races in six weeks. 6) BRAVAZO (c, Awesome Again—Tiz o’ Gold, by Cee’s Tizzy) O/B-Calumet Farm. T-D. Wayne Lukas. Lifetime Record: GSW & GISP, 9-3-1-1, $436,528. Bravazo ran a very credible sixth and handled the Derby slop quite adeptly according to jockey Luis Contreras. At the gate break, this Awesome Again homebred managed to spurt out ahead of the crowding from outside, but he was quickly boxed by horses in front and to both sides and had to ease back a bit. Bravazo got floated out to the five path midway through the first bend, raced at the midpoint of the pack for most of the backstretch run, then uncorked a smart rally into the far turn, again while giving up coveted real estate about five paths off the fence. He kept on plugging away in the lane while not making up ground on superior horses, but never packed it in or appeared discouraged at any point. It’s on to the Preakness for this Calumet color bearer, who could turn out to be an overachieving sort as the spring morphs into summer. 7) HOFBURG (c, Tapit-Soothing Touch, by Touch Gold) O/B-Juddmonte Farms Inc. (KY). T-Bill Mott. Lifetime Record: GISP, 4-1-1-0, $227,950. Hofburg’s seventh in the Derby rates as a much-better-than-it-looks effort, especially factoring in his relative inexperience. He took up a back-of-the-pack position two paths off the rail early and was walled up on the backstretch without displaying any willingness to knife through between horses. This Tapit homebred was nudged along while committed to an inside bid, then got shuffled back at the far turn entrance as rail-running horses backed up in front of him and a flash of closers blew by on his outside. By the time Irad Ortiz Jr. angled him widest for the homestretch run, Hofburg was too far back to make an impact. But there is no questioning his late-race momentum, and it’s worth noting he sailed past every other horse on the gallop-out. A Preakness try is not under consideration, but “naturally, we have to think about the Belmont,” trainer Bill Mott said on Sunday. 8) LONE SAILOR (c, Majestic Warrior-Ambitious, by Mr. Greeley) O-GMB Racing. B-Alexander-Groves-Matz, LLC (KY). T-Thomas Amoss. Sales history: $120,000 yrl KEESEP ’16. Lifetime Record: GISP, 9-1-3-1, $334,237. Lone Sailor was bet down to half of his realistic 50-1 morning line odds, which I can only attribute to bettors giving him generous credit for a blowout win when sprinting in the slop at Saratoga last summer. Jockey James Graham dropped him right down onto the inside rail upon leaving the gate, and he deserves credit for saving ground and edging incrementally closer down the backstretch run before clicking into a faster gear about a half mile out. But when the stalkers and closers moved en masse three-eighths out and the speed stalled near the rail, Lone Sailor’s sweet inside spot became a liability and he quickly went from being momentarily steadied to being shuffled back three or four positions within just a few strides. This colt should be a capable stakes competitor at shorter distances and at a slightly lower class level as the season progresses. 9) VINO ROSSO (c, Curlin–Mythical Bride, by Street Cry {Ire}) O-Repole Stable & St. Elias Stable. B- John D. Gunther (KY). T-Todd Pletcher. Sales history: $410,000 yrl KEESEP ’16. Lifetime Record: GSW, 6-3-0-1, $620,500. This $410,000 KEESEP Curlin colt never looked comfortable in the back of the pack taking a spray of slop and he could only muster a mild bid after getting parked four, then five wide on both turns. “Vino Rosso just didn’t like the track. Not at all,” trainer Todd Pletcher said Sunday. “We had to flush a lot of dirt and mud out of all their eyes [Saturday] night, but I don’t ever remember flushing more mud out of a horse’s eyes that we did with him. We were still flushing it out [Sunday] morning. The Belmont S. is now the next likely start for this colt “The horse is bred for it and he’ll be going there,” Pletcher said. 10) SOLOMINI (c, Curlin-Surf Song, by Storm Cat) O-Zayat Stables LLC. B-Glenna R. Salyer (KY). T-Bob Baffert. Sales history: $270,000 KEESEP ’16 yrl. Lifetime Record: MGISP, 7-1-3-2, $752,000 Solomini’s last-to-first strategy didn’t pan out in the Derby, but the slop was not an excuse for this $270,000 KEESEP Curlin colt, according to jockey Flavien Prat. “The track didn’t bother him. We stayed on the fence and made a nice run at the end. He ran the way he was supposed to.” Or, as trainer Bob Baffert put it, with a nod to 2009 Derby winner Mine That Bird (Birdstone), “He gave him the Calvin Borel ride: Let him back, put him on the rail, and he beat half of them. We’re thinking he might be a horse for the Belmont.” 11) FIRENZE FIRE (c, Poseidon’s Warrior–My Every Wish, by Langfuhr) O/B-Mr. Amore Stables (FL). T-Jason Servis. Lifetime Record: GISW, 10-4-1-0, $669,100. Firenze Fire overcame the rail post position and a sea of slop to run as hard as he could for as long as he could, and this rates as an admirable effort considering he was up against the grain of things in the Derby pedigree-wise and class-wise. This Poseidon’s Warrior homebred fought for early position and did not at all look intimidated while pocketed through the first turn, and all the way down the backstretch he kept inching up to the aggressive frontrunners through demanding fractions. He finally cracked inside the quarter pole but did not come completely unglued, demonstrating a tenacity that should serve him well deeper into the season, perhaps at a sweet spot of seven or eight furlongs. 12) BOLT D’ORO (c, Medaglia d’Oro—Globe Trot, by A.P. Indy) O-Ruis Racing. B-WinStar Farm (KY). T-Mick Ruis. Sales History: $630,000 yrl FTSAUG ’16. Lifetime Record: MGISW, 7-4-1-1, $1,016,000. Caulfield on Bolt d’Oro. Bolt d’Oro was always in the Derby hunt, but he simply wasn’t strong enough to seal the deal. This $630,000 FTSAUG Medaglia d’Oro colt broke alertly and was probably a touch closer to a hot pace than expected, but that tactic also put him in a nice outside stalking spot while avoiding most of the sloppy kickback. At all times down the backstretch “Bolt” appeared primed to pounce, and he actually looked like a winner three-eighths out when he attempted to follow Justify’s bold bid. But a few strides later, when Good Magic swooped in with his powerful move, Bolt was already being shoved on for run and was briefly ridden with the whip before Victor Espinoza sensed the colt had little left to give, and he switched into “protect” mode for the balance of the stretch run. “I had a great trip. I just didn’t have enough horse to run with them,” Espinoza said. As trainer Mick Ruis summed, “when the real running started, he just didn’t have it.” Bolt will unwind a bit before being pointed toward the Aug. 18 GI Pacific Classic at Del Mar. 13) FLAMEAWAY (c, Scat Daddy—Vulcan Rose, by Fusaichi Pegasus) O-John Oxley; B-Phoenix Rising Farms (ON). T-Mark Casse. Sales history: $150,000 yrl KEEJAN ’16; $400,000 yrl SARAUG ’16. Lifetime Record: MGSW, 10-5-2-0, $704,834. Flameaway broke alertly but was outgunned for the lead. This $400,000 FTSAUG Scat Daddy colt went into stalk mode while ambitiously third down near the inside but offered little response when cued to quicken into the far turn. “He was running well, and [jockey] Jose [Lezcano] said at the half-mile pole he kind of acted funny,” trainer Mark Casse said on Sunday. “And then I watched the replay–he stayed on his left lead until about the eighth pole, and when he switched to his right lead he took a funny step, or I think he may have been just exhausted. But when we got him back [Saturday] night he was fine, so I’m hoping he’ll be OK.” Canadian-bred Flameaway is likely bound for Woodbine, where he could get one prep prior to targeting the June 30 Queen’s Plate S. 14) ENTICED (c, Medaglia d’Oro—It’s Tricky, by Mineshaft) O/B-Godolphin (KY). T-Kiaran McLaughlin. Lifetime Record: MGSW & GISP, 7-3-1-1, $595,680. One of the chief questions about Enticed heading into the Derby centered on whether he’s an aggressively nimble enough horse to make his own breaks and adapt to in-race adversity in a large field. Mud was something he had handled once before, but the slop on Derby day was a different beast unto itself, and this big-striding Medaglia d’Oro homebred never looked in it to win it while getting bumped, brushed, jostled, and eventually fanning five wide into the lane. The GI Travers S. now becomes a logical mid-season goal. 15) PROMISES FULFILLED (c, Shackleford—Marquee Delivery, by Marquetry) O-Robert J. Baron. B-David Jacobs (KY). T-Dale Romans. Sales history: $37,000 yrl KEESEP ’16. Lifetime Record: GSW, 6-3-0-1, $337,280. As the innermost-drawn speed horse in the Derby, Promises Fulfilled shot right to the top and flashed past the Twin Spires in front as expected for the first run past the stands. But the pace was demanding and daunting favorite Justify bore down on him every step of the trip, and this $37,000 KEESEP son of Shackleford retreated without causing too much traffic backup once his dirty work was done. Early gas is the undeniable strong suit for Promises Fulfilled, and he’ll likely be able to hone his frontrunning tactics to a finer point against Grade II or III competition as the 3-year-old season unfolds before seeing if he can regain a foothold against the A-level tier of the sophomore division. 16) FREE DROP BILLY (c, Union Rags—Trensa, by Giant’s Causeway) O-Albaugh Family Stables LLC. B-Helen K. Groves Revokable Trust (KY). T-Dale Romans. Sales history: $200,000 KEESEP yrl ’16. Lifetime Record: GISW, 9-2-3-2, $625,220. Free Drop Billy broke a stutter-step slow but recovered well enough to secure a ground-saving spot into the first turn. This $200,000 KEESEP Union Rags colt emerged ninth on the backstretch run, but the field was so tightly bunched he was only about six lengths off the lead—much closer to a frenetic early pace than expected. He held his position until about a half mile out, but when roused for run offered little response while drifting backwards through the pack. I suspect he’ll find his niche and some confidence moving forward with a dose of class relief. 17) NOBLE INDY (c, Take Charge Indy–Noble Maz, by Storm Boot) O-WinStar Farm LLC & Repole Stable. B-WinStar Farm LLC. T-Todd Pletcher. Sales history: $45,000 RNA yrl KEESEP ’16. Lifetime Record: GSW, 5-3-0-1, $691,600. Caulfield on Noble Indy. It probably wouldn’t be wise to hold ‘TDN Rising Star’ Noble Indy’s 17th-place Derby performance against him when he next resurfaces in the entries. He’s lightly raced, drew into the auxiliary gate, and was simply facing far better, more seasoned rivals coming off a six-week gap. This $45,000 KEESEP Take Charge Indy colt was forwardly placed, and jockey Florent Geroux spent a good part of the first quarter mile of the Derby looking back and to his left to see if and where could drop in to save some ground. With no opening presenting itself, Noble Indy had to settle for a six, then seven-wide bid into the first turn, and he remained a few paths off the rail for the backstretch run while unable to assert himself with any spark before backing off. Geroux said the wet track was not to the colt’s liking; trainer Todd Pletcher added that “Noble Indy got the trip we wanted. He just wasn’t up to it in the end.” 18) COMBATANT (c, Scat Daddy–Border Dispute, by Boundary) O-Winchell Thoroughbreds LLC & Willis Horton Racing LLC. B-Paget Bloodstock. T-Steven Asmussen. Sales history: $320,000 yrl KEESEP ’16. Lifetime Record: MGSP, 8-1-3-1, $388,550. Combatant drew wide in gate 20, and after breaking a step slowly, all of a sudden there was a three-horse gulf to his immediate inside as crowding occurred to his left. Ricardo Santana Jr. coaxed him ahead to narrow that gap, but this $320,000 KEESEP Scat Daddy colt still ended up widest through the stretch the first time before getting hung out in the six path entering the initial turn. He remained widest through the backside journey, and also lost ground through the far turn while never really entering contention. “I tried to get him into the best spot I could breaking from that far out but he never really handled the kickback,” Santana said. 19) MAGNUM MOON (c, Malibu Moon–Dazzling Song, by Unbridled’s Song) ‘TDN Rising Star’ O-Robert E. & Lawana L. Low. B-Ramona S. Bass, LLC (KY). T-Todd Pletcher. Sales history: $380,000 yrl KEESEP ’16. Lifetime Record: GISW, 5-4-0-0, $1,177,800. Caulfield on Magnum Moon. ‘TDN Rising Star’ Magnum Moon’s Derby fate was pretty much sealed after the first furlong. He veered in at the start, was soon blocked and boxed, and had to check back off heels before attempting to settle near the back. This $380,000 KEESEP Malibu Moon colt never gained a launching spot to blast into contention, and was definitively out of the hunt by the time the field hit the half mile pole. “He broke and put his ears back. A couple of jumps after the start, everyone was on top of me and I couldn’t get the spot I wanted,” jockey Luis Saez said. “I didn’t think liked the track either.” As a May 9 foal, he can be expected to mature some prior to embarking upon a campaign for the rest of the season. 20) MENDELSSOHN (c, Scat Daddy—Leslie’s Lady, by Tricky Creek) O-Michael B. Tabor, Mrs. John Magnier & Derrick Smith. B-Clarkland Farm (KY). T-Aiden O’Brien. Sales history: $3,000,000 yrl KEESEP ’16. Lifetime Record: GISW, 8-4-1-0, $1,961,137. Clearly, this was not the Mendelssohn anyone expected. But running last in the Derby is not the end of the world considering the reportedly rough time he had shipping from Europe, the in-race adversity of the Derby itself, and the promise this $3 million KEESEP Scat Daddy colt had flashed in earlier races. “He just got knocked over coming out of the gate and then he got knocked over again going into the first bend, but he’ll be fine,” said trainer Aidan O’Brien. “He was never used to getting that much kickback. It’s a totally different experience, you know, so we’ll be fine. We’ll take him home [to Ireland] and give him a break and come back [for the GI Breeders’ Cup Classic, which will also be run at Churchill Downs].” View the full article

Undefeated Justify was a unanimous choice in the latest National Thoroughbred Racing Association Top 3-year-old Poll after dominating the May 5 Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve (G1). View the full article

Observations on the European Racing Scene turns the spotlight on the best European races of the day, highlighting well-pedigreed horses early in their careers, horses of note returning to action and young runners that achieved notable results in the sales ring. Tuesday’s Insights features a half-sister to 2013 G1 Prix Marcel Boussac heroine Indonesienne (Ire) (Muhtathir {GB}). 3.45 Saint-Cloud, Debutantes, €25,000, 3yo, c/g, 8fT DEVILISH (GB) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}) represents the Sheikh Abdulla bin Khalifa Al Thani-Freddy Head combination which orchestrated the career of his G1 Prix Jean Prat, G1 Prix du Moulin and G1 Queen Elizabeth II S.-winning full-brother Charm Spirit (Ire). A €650,000 Arqana August graduate, he is one of a clutch of bluebloods awaiting initial assessment along with Godolphin’s Dramatic Device (GB) (Dansili {GB}), an Andre Fabre-trained colt whose dam is a half to the G2 Ribblesdale S. scorer Flying Cloud (Ire) (Storming Home {GB}). 4.15 Saint-Cloud, Debutantes, €25,000, 3yo, f, 8fT FLOWRIDER (Street Cry {Ire}) is another Godolphin notable to enter the fray as an Andre Fabre-trained daughter of the G1 Prix Saint-Alary winner Wavering (Ire) (Refuse To Bend {Ire}). Facing her is the Wertheimers’s Balinaise (GB) (Dansili {GB}), a Carlos Laffon-Parias-trained half-sister to the same connections’s 2013 G1 Prix Marcel Boussac heroine Indonesienne (Ire) (Muhtathir {GB}). View the full article

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In a week of frenzied Classic trial action, Tuesday’s G2 Prix Greffulhe at Saint-Cloud features some potential Epsom or Chantilly candidates with the Niarchos Family hoping that Study of Man (Ire) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) can prove he belongs in either Derby. Runner-up in the nine-furlong G3 Prix La Force on heavy ground at Longchamp Apr. 8, the homebred’s form has received a few knocks of late but he remains a colt of serious potential. In the German raider Alounak (Fr) (Camelot {GB}) he faces a stern challenge, with that rival getting a boost when Royal Youmzain (Fr) (Youmzain {Ire}), who he beat in the Listed Junioren-Preis at Dusseldorf in September, winning the G3 Bavarian Classic. He looked to have improved again when taking the Apr. 8 Listed Derby-Trial over 11 furlongs on his return there and is one of two representing his sire alongside Alhadab (Fr) (Camelot {GB}), who was runner-up in ParisLongchamp’s G3 Prix Noailles over this trip Apr. 15. The latter hails from the Andre Fabre stable responsible for a record 12 winners, with the last three of them going on to run at Epsom including the 2011 blue riband hero Pour Moi (Ire). View the full article

Champion Enable (GB) (Nathaniel {Ire}), who won the G1 Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe at Chantilly last October, will be out of action until at least August after suffering a setback, connections have announced. John Gosden’s brilliant filly enjoyed a fantastic campaign in 2017, winning six of her seven starts including five consecutive Group 1 triumphs. Enable had been pencilled in to make her reappearance in the G1 Coronation Cup at Epsom on June 1. However, she will now miss the first part of the season through injury. “Enable has met with a setback in training,” said Juddmonte’s Racing Manager Teddy Grimthorpe. “Enable has met with a setback in training. She has some filling in her knee which is being fully investigated. The advice that we have is, that given reasonable circumstances, she should be ready to run in August as a preparation for the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe.” View the full article

Trainer Richard Hannon is considering the May 27 G1 Irish 1000 Guineas and the G1 Coronation S. at Royal Ascot on June 22 as possible options for Classic victor Billesdon Brook (GB) (Champs Elysees {GB}). Fourth in the G3 Nell Gwyn S., the chestnut landed the G1 QIPCO 1000 Guineas at Newmarket on Sunday off of odds of 66-1. “The French Guineas was another option, but there is only one English Guineas,” Hannon said on www.richardhannonracing.co.uk. “She was very impressive in the last furlong as she really appreciated that trip. I was thinking that back in the days of Night Of Thunder (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) and Sky Lantern (Ire) (Red Clubs {Ire}), they both got beat in their respective trials and managed to bag a Classic. We will need to come up with a plan now, obviously Ireland and Ascot are very high on the list.” View the full article

Shadwell’s G3 Somerville S. hero and ‘TDN Rising Star’ Elarqam (GB) (Frankel {GB}), who ran fourth in the G1 QIPCO 2000 Guineas at Newmarket on Saturday, will point toward the June 3 G1 QIPCO Prix du Jockey Club. While the [May 26] G1 Irish 2000 Guineas has not been ruled out, Johnston will not consider the G2 Dante S. at York on May 17 as he feels it will come too soon. “I think the jury is out as to where he will go next, it could be the Irish 2000 Guineas or the French Derby,” said trainer Mark Johnston. “I think we will need to look at those two races, but I think the obvious choice is probably the French Derby. It’s a mile and a quarter race that is often won by sharp horses. I couldn’t say which race he would go for as that would be up to connections and Sheikh Hamdan has not really had a say on it yet at all. The only thing we can say is that he won’t run in the Dante as that comes too soon. I think the positive thing we established is that he is a Group 1 horse, no doubt at all. It is Group 1s for the forseeable future. View the full article

The great Hasili added another jewel to her crown on Sunday when Champs Elysees became her second son to sire a winner of the G1 1000 Guineas. But whereas Dansili’s daughter Miss France was among the leading fancies for the 2014 edition, virtually no-one considered Champs Elysees’s admirably tough daughter Billesdon Brook, who became the longest-priced winner of the first fillies’ Classic. Perhaps one reason why people were so dismissive of Billesdon Brook’s chances is that Champs Elysees is now plying his trade primarily as a sire of jumpers, having been transferred from Banstead Manor Stud to Coolmore’s National Hunt division after he attracted only 54 mares during the 2016 season. He found himself somewhat busier at Castlehyde Stud, covering around 240 mares at a fee of €6,500 in 2017. No doubt he is busy again this year, as Billesdon Brook is his third group winner of the year on the flat, following the Grade III success in the U.S. of his daughter Elyseas’s World and the G1 Australian Cup victory of his ex-French son Harlem. There was quite a lot of controversy following Champs Elysees’s sale as a jumping sire, largely because it seemed to summarise the widespread prejudice against stallions–no matter how talented–whose progeny generally need a bit of time and distance. The truth is that Champs Elysses’s long-term prospects hadn’t been helped by his fluctuating popularity since his return to England from a two-year spell on North America tracks which yielded three Grade I victories over a mile and a half. Helped by the Group 1 sire successes of his brothers Dansili and Cacique, he was popular enough in his early years at Banstead Manor, attracting 105 mares in 2010, 86 in 2011 and 112 mares in 2012. Then, in that difficult fourth season, his book fell to only 49 in 2013. A promising start in 2013 saw him inundated with 155 mares at a fee of only £5,000 in 2014–one of them being Billesdon Brook’s dam Coplow. Even though his fee was doubled to £10,000 in 2015, Champs Elysees again covered more than 100 mares–105 to be exact–but then came that book of only 54 mares. When demand for a stallion’s services fluctuates to that extent, ranging from 49 and 54 mares to 155, it becomes very hard to avoid further peaks and troughs in the future. Juddmonte was also in the difficult position of finding it harder to support Champs Elysees. The broodmare band, which was steadily being reduced, featured numerous descendants of Hasili, including plenty of daughters of Dansili. There were also Dansili and his fast son Bated Breath to support, and it was important that some different bloodlines were introduced. By the time he was sold, Champs Elysees had produced around 80 foals for Juddmonte. Four of them–a respectable 5%–were to become group/graded winners, but the only one to do so in the Juddmonte colours was Suffused, a triple Grade III winner in the USA who was unlucky not to become a Grade I winner in the 2016 E.P. Taylor S. (she was beaten a nose after being short of room). The other three proved to be very durable performers after being sold. Harlem’s victory in the G1 Australian Cup as a 6-year-old justified his price of 520,000gns. Distain became a Group 3 winner in Italy as a 5-year-old after being sold for 68,000gns, and Renown became a Grade III winner at Keeneland as a 5-year-old after being sold for 40,000gns. Juddmonte could also claim some of the credit for Champs Elysees’s smart daughter Jack Naylor, as this second in the G1 Irish Oaks was sold in utero. There are four daughters of Champs Elysees in the Juddmonte broodmare band and they could have an important role to play. Suffused is now in foal to Kingman, while Contribution, a group-placed half-sister to Enable, is in foal to Dubawi, having produced a colt to Lope de Vega. Colourful, a half-sister to the dam of Frankel, is visiting Australia, after producing a Nathaniel filly, and Spice Trail, a winning half-sister to Prix du Jockey-Club winner New Bay, is visiting Lope de Vega, after producing her first foal to Gleneagles. Needless to say, Champs Elysees has also produced smart winners for other breeders, the best being the Gold Cup winner Trip To Paris and Billesdon Brook. Both of these Group 1 winners demonstrated that Champs Elysees can sire 2-year-old winners, even though he failed to win at that age. Billesdon Brook won three times last year, including in the G3 Prestige S. It will be interesting to see whether Getchagetchagetcha, a Champs Elysees colt who won over five furlongs at Ascot last week, can prove similarly progressive. Billesdon Brook’s pedigree pays tribute to Bob McCreery, the very astute breeder who died in February last year at the age of 86. His Stowell Hill operation in Somerset produced the classic winners High Top (2000 Guineas) and Old Vic (an impressive winner of the Prix du Jockey-Club and Irish Derby). These two were linked, as Old Vic was produced by Cockade, a sister to High Top. No doubt it was this family link which attracted McCreery to Anna Oleanda, when this daughter of Old Vic came up as Lot 1719 at the 2005 December Sales. He bought the then-7-year-old for 45,000gns, which wasn’t a big price to pay for a mare from an outstanding German family. Anna Oleanda’s dam was the German champion Anna Paola, which made her a half-sister to several successful broodmares. Anna Oleanda is also a sister to Anno Luce, a German Group 3 winner who also won a listed race in England. McCreery’s investment paid rich dividends. He was responsible for the matings which produced Anna Oleanda’s last seven foals and six of them won. It is a lesson in the quirks of thoroughbred breeding that the only non-winner was Billesdon Brook’s dam Coplow, a Manduro filly who came closest to success when beaten half a length in a 10-furlong maiden at Newbury. McCreery first sent Anna Oleanda to Fantastic Light to produce Middle Club, a filly who carried his colours to victory in two of her four juvenile starts, including the G3 Prix d’Aumale at Chantilly. Middle Club went on to finish a close second in the G3 Prix Penelope and G2 Oaks d’Italia. Middle Club’s efforts earned Anna Oleanda a chance to visit Dubawi and she eventually produced two sons and a daughter to him. The first, Piping Rock, looked a fine prospect when he won his three starts as a 2-year-old, including the G3 Horris Hill S., but he died of colic after being sold to Godolphin. The last of the three, Anna Nerium, also became a Group 3 winner at two, in the Dick Poole S., and was also successful in the Free H. before finishing a respectable seventh behind Billesdon Brook in the 1000 Guineas. Anna Oleanda is now dead, but several of her daughters already have winners to their name, with Coplow doing best. In addition to Billesdon Brook, she has produced the 10-furlong listed winner Billesdon Bess, who has the distinction of being the only black-type winner so far by Dick Turpin. Coplow’s connections reaped the rewards from these half-sisters’ efforts when World’s Fair, her yearling filly by Showcasing, was sold to John Gosden for 380,000gns last October. Incidentally, Billesdon Belle and Billesdon Brook are two of the three black-type winners produced so far by Manduro mares. Coincidentally, the other is Trais Fluor, a Group 1-placed miler by Champs Elysees’s brother Dansili. Bearing in mind that Champs Elysees thrived over a mile and a half and that Coplow was tried at up to 1 5/8 miles, Billesdon Brook has done very well to shine over seven furlongs and a mile. A couple of extra furlongs shouldn’t bother her. View the full article

This time last year, TDN Rising Star Cliffs of Moher (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) was earning a place in the line-up for the G1 Epsom Derby by winning Chester’s Listed Dee S. over this 10-furlong trip and it looked for a while in that Classic as if he had it in the bag only to lose out to Wings of Eagles (Fr) (Pour Moi {Ire}). Blighted thereafter by ill fortune and softer ground than was ideal, the bay still showed up well when repeatedly denied a clear run when less than three-lengths sixth in Leopardstown’s G1 Irish Champion S. in September. Re-introduced on testing ground when last of five in the course-and-distance G3 Alleged S. Apr. 13, he came forward in a major way here as the Ballydoyle stable’s runners tend to en route to grander schemes. Anchored in last early more than 10 lengths off the strong tempo carved out by the veteran Success Days (Ire) (Jeremy) and Yucatan (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), Cliffs of Moher was angled out with two furlong to race and delivered with a flourish down the outer to overwhelm that pair in the final 100 yards for a 1 3/4-length success. On a day when the picture for the June 1 G1 Coronation Cup became much less clearer due to the injury announcements regarding Enable (GB) (Nathaniel {Ire}) and Capri (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), Aidan O’Brien is looking at a possible return to the course and distance of the Epsom Derby for the winner. “He relaxed lovely and came home well,” he said. “He has an option of either the Coronation Cup or the [G1] Tattersalls Gold Cup [at The Curragh May 27]. He’s a good horse and was just beaten in an Epsom Derby.” Cliffs of Moher, who earned TDN Rising Star status at this track and is plainly suited to this venue, this trip and will benefit from faster ground, is the first foal out of Wave (Ire) (Dansili {GB}) who was a quick filly who scored over five furlongs at Dundalk for this stable. Her dam is the G3 Derrinstown Stud 1000 Guineas Trial S. scorer and G1 Prix de Diane and G1 Irish 1000 Guineas third Queen Cleopatra (Ire) (Kingmambo), whose two pattern-race performers were the G3 Bendigo Cup and G3 Queen Elizabeth S. winner Francis of Assisi (Ire) (Danehill Dancer {Ire}) and his sister Look At Me (Ire) who was third in the G2 Blandford S. The third dam is Sequoyah (Ire), one of the fast Sadler’s Wells’s who captured the G1 Moyglare Stud S. and is a sister to fellow juvenile group 1 winner Listen (Ire). She produced the crack miler and dual Guineas hero Henrythenavigator (Kingmambo) connected to another Irish Guinea hero in Magician (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}). Wave has three more Galileos to come, an as-yet unraced 3-year-old filly named A Long Time Ago (Ire), a 2-year-old colt and a yearling filly. Monday, Naas, Ireland COOLMORE CAMELOT IRISH EBF MOORESBRIDGE S.-G2, €130,000, NAA, 5-7, 4yo/up, 10fT, 2:12.54, g/y. 1–CLIFFS OF MOHER (IRE), 129, c, 4, by Galileo (Ire) 1st Dam: Wave (Ire), by Dansili (GB) 2nd Dam: Queen Cleopatra (Ire), by Kingmambo 3rd Dam: Sequoyah (Ire), by Sadler’s Wells 1ST GRADED STAKES WIN. O-Susan Magnier; B-Wave Syndicate (IRE); T-Aidan O’Brien; J-Ryan Moore. €76,700. Lifetime Record: SW & G1SP-Eng, 11-3-1-0, $768,160. Werk Nick Rating: A+++ *Triple Plus*. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree. 2–Success Days (Ire), 129, h, 6, Jeremy–Malaica (Fr), by Roi Gironde (Ire). O-Robert Ng; B-Robert Ng & Dermot Farrington (IRE); T-Ken Condon. €24,700. 3–Yucatan (Ire), 129, c, 4, Galileo (Ire)–Six Perfections (Fr), by Celtic Swing (GB). O-Flaxman Stables Ireland Ltd, Susan Magnier, Michael Tabor & Derrick Smith; B-Niarchos Family (IRE); T-Aidan O’Brien. €11,700. Margins: 1 3/4, HD, NO. Odds: 1.60, 8.00, 4.00. Also Ran: Mustajeer (GB), Beautiful Morning (GB), Turret Rocks (Ire), Renneti (Fr). Click for the Racing Post result or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. Video, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton. View the full article

Allen Racing and Bloom Racing Stable’s Midnight Bisou (Midnight Lute), who shipped east for a third-place effort in Friday’s GI Kentucky Oaks, will remain on the East Coast and join trainer Steve Asmussen’s barn, co-owner Jeff Bloom said Monday, confirming a story which was first reported in Daily Racing Form. “Looking at the rest of the year, we realized all of the important races for 3-year-old fillies are on the East Coast,” Bloom said. “We really didn’t have too many options out west. And since she was already back that way and the fact that the end of the year finishes with the Breeders’ Cup at Churchill Downs, it just made so much sense to do that for the filly.” The Southern California-based Bill Spawr trained the filly to wins in the GII Santa Ynez S., GIII Santa Ysabel S. and GI Santa Anita Oaks, before saddling her to her third-place finish as the favorite in the Kentucky Oaks. “Bill and his team did a fabulous job getting us to this point,” Bloom said. “It was purely a business decision to afford the filly as many options as possible to enhance the rest of the year.” Asmussen already trains Bloom Racing’s multiple graded stakes placed Snapper Sinclair (City Zip), as well as multiple stakes-placed Sal the Turtle (Caleb’s Posse). “We already have a really good working relationship with Steve and his crew, so it was an obvious place to leave her,” Bloom said. Bloom said connections are keeping all options open for Midnight Bisou’s next start. “The [June 9 GI] Acorn S. is one of many options,” he said. “We are going to take a few days to let the filly settle and give Steve an opportunity to gauge things before we make any kind of firm plans. So anything is open right now. But she did come out of the Oaks in excellent shape.” View the full article

Two days after capturing the GI Kentucky Derby with undefeated ‘TDN Rising Star’ Justify (Scat Daddy), Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert said the colt developed minor irritation on his left hind leg Sunday and already showed significant improvement as of Monday morning during an appearance on Steve Byk’s “At the Races” radio program. Baffert told Byk that a skin condition on the leg became agitated when walking on uneven gravel outside his barn at Churchill Downs during an appearance in front of the media. “He stepped on one of those [gravel] things, and when he turned on it, you could tell he flinched,” Baffert told Byk. “[Monday], he’s so much better. He’s walking great on it now.” A number of video clips emerged on social media outlets throughout the day showing Justify apparently favoring his other leg while walking on the gravel–something Baffert downplayed as an isolated incident. “It’s a hind foot,” Baffert said. “Today, he looked normal. He came out and was fine…It’s one of those things that we’re not worried about.” With the condition likely arising from his run over a sloppy/sealed track in the Derby, Baffert said he expects to walk Justify for four days before resuming training ahead of the GI Preakness S. May 19. The five-time Derby-winning trainer added that he was very pleased with Justify’s energy level in the days following his victory. View the full article

Triple Group 1 winner Shoals (Aus) (Fastnet Rock {Aus}) will stay in Australia with an eye toward competing in the second edition of the A$13-million The Everest on Oct. 13, Racing.com reported. Part-owners Jonathan Munz and John Messara opted to table a trip to England to compete at Royal Ascot and instead, will have their filly go up against males after beating her own sex in the G1 Myer Classic last November, the G1 Surround S. on Mar. 3, and the May 5 G1 Ubet Classic Sangster S. However, connections did not rule out a Royal Ascot sojourn for the Anthony Freedman trainee in 2019. View the full article

Redzel (Aus) (Snitzel {Aus}), successful in the inaugural 1200-metre The Everest at Royal Randwick last October, will defend his title in the A$13-million event representing Yulong Investments. In 2017, the dual Group 1 winner represented James Harron Bloodstock. The Triple Crown Syndications colourbearer is the third horse in possession of an Everest slot after In Her Time (Aus) (Time Thief {Aus}) and Trapeze Artist (Aus) (Snitzel {Aus}). The Peter and Paul Snowden trainee is eyeing a start in Saturday’s G1 Doomben 10,000. “Redzel obviously won it last year, but he is so adaptable in all conditions,” Yulong Chief Operating Officer Sam Fairgray told Racing NSW. “It’s exciting to have a good, tough, honest horse. He creates his own luck and that’s a great asset to have. Mr. [Yuesheng] Zhang [of Yulong Investments] also has horses in work with the Snowdens and as far as a trainer who can target a race and get it spot on, their record with that is fantastic.” “We’ve got the proven formula that worked last year and we’ll follow a similar path,” Triple Crown Syndications Director Michael Ward told Racenet.com.au. “We’ve got the right horse at the right time and we feeel blessed to have him. We look forward to trying to climb Everest again with Yulong.” View the full article

1st-NAA, €19,000, Mdn, 5-7, 2yo, f, 6fT, 1:15.30, gd/yl. FAIRYLAND (IRE), f, 2, by Kodiac (GB) 1st Dam: Queenofthefairies (GB), by Pivotal (GB) 2nd Dam: Land of Dreams (GB), by Cadeaux Genereux (GB) 3rd Dam: Sahara Star (GB), by Green Desert Fairyland was hammered down for a whopping 925,000gns at Book 1 of last year’s Tattersalls October sale and chipped away at that lofty price tag by winning this unveiling, racing in the famed Stockwell silks, with a degree of panache. Recovering from a near stumble exiting the gates to race on the front end after the initial strides, the 7-2 chance was nudged along passing the quarter-mile marker and kept on strongly for two flicks of Ryan Moore’s persuader to account for Mintd (Ire) (Olympic Glory {Ire}) by an impressive 1 3/4 lengths. “She is a lovely, straightforward filly at home and I couldn’t be happier,” said trainer Aidan O’Brien. “She hadn’t been away and wasn’t on grass before, but some are very quick learners and some of them take a run. Ryan [Moore] was delighted with her and she’ll have another run before the [June 20 G2] Queen Mary [S. at Royal Ascot].” She becomes the third winner from as many runners produced by Queenofthefairies (GB) (Pivotal {GB}) and the bay is a half-sister to MGSW G1 Irish 1000 Guineas third Now Or Never (Ire) (Bushranger {Ire}) and a yearling filly by Muhaarar (GB). Queenofthefairies is an unraced daughter of G2 Flying Childers S. and G3 King George S. victress Land of Dreams (GB) (Cadeaux Genereux {GB}), herself the leading performer for G3 Molecomb S. winner Sahara Star (GB) (Green Desert), and is thus a half-sister to dual European champion and MG1SW sire Dream Ahead (Diktat {GB}) and stakes-winning G3 Arc Trial runner-up Into The Dark (GB) (Rainbow Quest). Lifetime Record: 1-1-0-0, $14,003. 1ST-TIME STARTER. O-Derrick Smith, Susan Magnier & Michael Tabor; B-Tally-Ho Stud (IRE); T-Aidan O’Brien. Click for the Racing Post result or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. Video, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton. View the full article

Intellogent (Ire) (Intello {Ger})’s three prior starts had been when “soft” appeared in the going description, and he stepped forward tackling sounder surface to punch his ticket to the G1 Prix du Jockey Club back here June 3. The bay posted an Oct. 25 debut tally going one mile in a Saint-Cloud firsters’ test, running second in Fontainebleau’s Mar. 22 Listed Prix Omnium II on seasonal bow and went postward for this first trip beyond one mile returning off an Apr. 19 conditions third at Longchamp. Recovering from a tentative start to race off the pace along the fence in sixth, he was angled outside approaching the two pole and kept on relentlessly under a drive once delivering his challenge at the eighth pole to claim a career high in game fashion. “He has always shown quality, but has needed time to mature,” explained winning trainer Fabrice Chappet. “His two runs this year have done him the world of good and today he proved he can go on any ground and has the heart for a fight. I don’t think an extra 300 metres here will be a problem for him and he has booked his ticket to the [June 3 G1] Prix du Jockey Club.” Intellogent, who is also engaged in the July 14 G1 Juddmonte Grand Prix de Paris, is the leading performer out of Nuit Polaire (Ire) (Kheleyf) and is a half-brother to Listed Prix Amandine third Lightupthenight (GB) (Dutch Art {GB}). He is also kin to the year-younger colt Light Heart (Ire) (Excelebration {Ire}) and a yearling filly by Gleneagles (Ire). Nuit Polaire is a winning half-sister to three black-type performers including G3 Fahrhofer Stutenpreis runner-up Neele (Ire) (Peintre Celebre)–who produced four stakes winners including G1 Deutsches Derby hero Nutan (Ire) (Duke of Marmalade {Ire}) and G1 Grosser Preis von Berlin victress Nymphea (Ire) (Dylan Thomas {Ire})–and G2 Oaks d’Italia victress Night of Magic (Ire), who in turn is the dam of dual G1 Preis von Europa heroine Nightflower (Ire) (Dylan Thomas {Ire}). Monday, Chantilly, France PRIX DE GUICHE-G3, €80,000, CHY, 5-7, 3yo, c/g, 9fT, 1:50.70, gd. 1–INTELLOGENT (IRE), 128, c, 3, by Intello (Ger) 1st Dam: Nuit Polaire (Ire), by Kheleyf 2nd Dam: Night Teeny (GB), by Platini (Ger) 3rd Dam: Nightrockette (Ger), by Rocket (GB) 1ST BLACK-TYPE WIN; 1ST GROUP WIN. (€320,000 Ylg ’16 ARAUG). O-Fiona Jean Carmichael; B-Ecurie des Monceaux (IRE); T-Fabrice Chappet; J-Pierre-Charles Boudot. €40,000. Lifetime Record: 4-2-1-1, €69,400. Werk Nick Rating: A. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree. 2–Patascoy (Fr), 128, c, 3, Wootton Bassett (GB)–Noble World (Ger), by Winged Love (Ire). (€40,000 Ylg ’16 ARAU2). O-Roberto Cocheteux Tierno; B-Mme Barbara Moser (FR); T-Xavier Thomas-Demeaulte. €16,000. 3–Glorious Journey (GB), 128, c, 3, Dubawi (Ire)–Fallen For You (GB), by Dansili (GB). (2,600,000gns Ylg ’16 TATOCT). O-HH Sheikha Al Jalila Racing; B-Normandie Stud Ltd (GB); T-Charlie Appleby. €12,000. Margins: HD, HF, 5. Odds: 6.30, 9.00, 1.90. Also Ran: Efraan (Fr), Zucchini (GB), Alternative Fact (GB), Julian Rock (Fr). Click for the Racing Post result or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. Video, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton. View the full article

It’s hard to remember a more pleasurable Guineas weekend than the one we’ve just enjoyed in Newmarket. Not only did the sun beat down throughout, in stark contrast to the soggy scenes beamed across the Atlantic from Churchill Downs, but both British Classics provided very satisfying results in different ways. That the Kentucky Derby winner will go on to attempt the Triple Crown is usually a foregone conclusion, but the same can rarely be said of a 2,000 Guineas winner these days. The victory of the strapping Saxon Warrior (JPN) (Deep Impact {JPN}) delivers the tantalising prospect of a Triple Crown challenge in England by the operation that has done most to keep the Derby going in recent years and routinely supports the good old St Leger while so many eschew it as an unfashionable option. After the narrow defeat of Camelot (GB) in 2012, let’s hope we will witness the first Triple Crown winner in this part of the world for almost half a century. As evens-favourite for the Investec Derby on June 2, Saxon Warrior—from the family of fellow Epsom Classic winners Dancing Rain (Ire) and Dr Devious (Ire)—is no betting proposition but he is a thrilling prospect, particularly as he still looks as though he has plenty of physical improvement to come. A New Champ For Champs In rather different circumstances, Billesdon Brook (GB) enhanced the golden glow at the Rowley Mile on Sunday with her 66-1 romp in the 1,000 Guineas. Racing partnerships are very much in vogue but the Pall Mall Partners and Partners, which own the filly, bears little resemblance to the link-ups between several powerful operations involved in both the Kentucky Oaks and Derby winners. The 20-strong group of friends of breeder Jeanette McCreery and her husband Bob, who died just as Billesdon Brook and fellow Guineas runner and Stowell Hill graduate Anna Nerium (GB) were about to turn two, also had the excitement of watching her year-older half-sister Billesdon Bess (GB) race earlier on the card in the G2 Dahlia S., in which she finished sixth. The pair had each won their first stakes race last year within ten days of each other. “It’s nothing to do with me, it’s all my husband,” said McCreery as she was engulfed by well-wishers in the winner’s enclosure. “It’s amazing to come here today with three homebred fillies—two half-sisters and an aunt. We’ve had a lot of fun and we’re all friends—no-one is fighting! There are 20 of us in the group, they haven’t had to put much in but they’ve had a lot out of it. We meet up and watch the horses work and it’s been terrific. Until Anna Nerium ran so well at the Craven meeting, I thought this was the winner but I was told the other one was stronger. I was so busy watching Anna Nerium that I didn’t even really notice what Billesdon Brook was doing.” The winner of the G3 Nell Gwyn S. three weeks ago, Anna Nerium races in McCreery’s own silks and finished seventh of the 15 runners. While Anna Nerium is by Dubawi, the sire by which the Billesdons’ dam Coplow (GB) (Manduro {GB}) was covered earlier this season, Bob McCreery was never afraid to use less fashionable stallions, as is indicated by the Guineas heroine being by Champs Elysees (GB) and her half-sister by Dick Turpin (Ire). With the recent pensioning of Dansili (GB), who follows his brother Cacique (GB) into retirement at Banstead Manor Stud, it is rather a shame that their other brother left the Juddmonte ranks for Coolmore’s National Hunt division at Castle Hyde Stud in 2017. There was some muttering on Sunday about a ‘jumps stallion’ siring the 1,000 Guineas winner but Champs Elysees is still the same horse he was when he sired the Listed-winning juvenile Avenue Gabriel (GB) in his first crop, not to mention umpteen other good Flat horses. Where a horse stands makes no difference to his genetic composition, and while Champs Elysees will doubtless get some good jumpers in time, he hasn’t made a bad fist of things so far this year on the level, as Andrew Caufield illustrates in his detailed look at Billesdon Brook’s family in today’s Pedigree Insights. Let’s hope that some Flat breeders have kept faith with him among the many who sent mares to him since his move to Ireland. More International Glory For Pococks On a weekend heavily supported by his owners, Havana Gold (Ire) was well represented by his first crop at Newmarket with Raid (GB) and Headway (GB) in the QIPCO 2,000 Guineas, Worship (GB) in the fillies’ version, and Havana Grey (GB) making a reappearance in the G3 Longholes Palace House S. Though none of that quartet ended up in the placings, the Simon Callaghan-trained Treasuring (GB), who runs in the Qatar Racing silks, added the GIII Senorita Stakes at Santa Anita to her list of victories following success in the G3 Curragh S. last year for Ger Lyons. The American stakes win is another international strike for Somerset breeders Robert and Nick Pocock, who bred and raised the Melbourne Cup winner Rekindling (GB) at their Stringston Farm. The Pococks also bred Treasuring’s dam You Look So Good (GB) (Excellent Art {GB}) and, after selling her to Roger Varian as a yearling for 125,000gns, bought her back at the end of her 3-year-old season for 18,000gns after she had won a seven-furlong maiden. That looks to have been a shrewd move as Treasuring, bought by David Redvers for 32,000gns, is her first foal. May Day Master May Day transpired to be a red-letter day for Haras du Logis resident Masterstroke (Monsun {Ger}), who sired his first two winners in France within 70 minutes of each other. The G2 Grand Prix de Deauville winner out of Urban Sea’s daughter Melikah (Ire) (Lammtarra), and thus a half-brother to last week’s Great Metropolitan H. winner Royal Line (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}), is not only therefore related to Galileo (Ire) and Sea The Stars (Ire) but also to 2,000 Guineas third Masar (GB) (New Approach {GB}), who is out of Melikah’s grand-daughter Khawlah (Ire) (Cape Cross {Ire}). On his retirement to Darley’s French wing in 2014, Masterstroke aroused the interest of jumps breeders in France and beyond, largely thanks to the increasing success of his sire Monsun in this field, but his dual-purpose appeal is exemplified by the fact that his two first-crop winners came under each code—Donna Leon (Fr) on the Flat at Wissembourg over 2,100m and Gin Tonik (FR) in a two-mile hurdle race at Tours. Roux Has A Taste For Racing Jockey Club Racecourses have raised the stakes when it comes to on-course catering. Newmarket’s Champions Gallery became temporarily known during Guineas weekend as ‘Chez Roux’ and enjoyed the presence, not to mention the culinary skills, of Albert Roux, his son Michel Jr and grand-daughter Emily. Albert, founder of the treble Michelin-starred Le Gavroche, is no stranger to racing circles. His first job as an 18-year-old was for the Astors at Cliveden before he became the private chef for eight years to former jockey and royal trainer Peter Cazalet, whose most infamous charge was the Queen Mother’s steeplechaser Devon Loch. Chez Roux also featured at the Cheltenham Festival and moves next to Epsom for the Investec Derby meeting. View the full article

The Richard Gibson-trained Victory Power caught the eye on debut and gets the chance to notch his maiden victory in the Class Four Kam Tin River Handicap (1,200m) at Happy Valley on Wednesday night. After dropping back from a wide barrier at his first race start three weeks ago, jockey Matthew Chadwick stuck to the rail on the three-year-old and he attacked the line to get himself into a photo for third. A better draw this time around should see him settle a bit closer in transit, while he will... View the full article

The next generation of talent was on show at Sha Tin on Sunday with four three-year-olds saluting and all of them are worth following, but Happy Sebring is the one who can provide a quick return. Having his second start, the Francis Lui Kin-wai-trained gelding relished the addition of blinkers and the step up to 1,400m in the Class Four Wong Handicap, but after settling midfield on the rail, Douglas Whyte was left with a lapful of horse and nowhere to go as they entered the straight. The South... View the full article

Trainer Richard Hannon's Billesdon Brook was the shock winner of the QIPCO One Thousand Guineas (G1) at Newmarket May 6, coming home 1 3/4 lengths clear of 14 rival 3-year-old fillies and returning the biggest price in the race's history. View the full article