Wandering Eyes

Anne Cowley’s Tip Two Win (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}), who outran odds of 50-1 to finish second to Saxon Warrior (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) in Saturday’s G1 2000 Guineas, is more likely for the G1 St James’s Palace S. at Royal Ascot than the G1 Irish 2000 Guineas. “He’s great, he’s come out of the race well,” said trainer Roger Teal. “It looks like Ascot for us next. I think we’ll end up going there for the next run. I’ve had a chat with the owner.” Sunday’s G1 1000 Guineas runner-up Laurens (Fr) (Siyouni {Fr}) also looks likely to swerve the Curragh Guineas, with trainer Karl Burke favouring a bid for the G1 Prix de Diane on June 17. “She came back absolutely fine, there are no issues at all and everything is A1,” said Burke. “I would think we’re going to wait for the French Oaks. She is still in the Irish Guineas, but after watching the replay of her run at Newmarket it looks like she’s crying out for the step up in trip.” View the full article

Godolphin’s G1 St James’s Palace S. winner Barney Roy (GB) (Excelebration {Ire}) has been removed from the Darley stallion roster at Dalham Hall Stud after proving subfertile. The news was first reported by Racing Post and confirmed by TDN. Sam Bullard, Darley’s director of stallions, told Racing Post, “Whilst Barney Roy’s news was disappointing, we have worked hard with our clients to ensure they are happy with plans for their mares this year. We wish all of our breeders success with their mating plans in 2018.” Barney Roy, who was a nose second to Ulysses (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) in the G1 Coral-Eclipse following his Royal Ascot score for trainer Richard Hannon, was third behind that same rival in the G1 Juddmonte International but beat just one home in the G1 Champion S. over the soft going at Ascot in October. Barney Roy was initially expected to race on this year, but was rerouted to Dalham Hall after picking up an injury. His advertised fee was £10,000. View the full article

Champion sire Flying Spur (Aus) (Danehill-Rolls, by Mr. Prospector) has died aged 25 at Arrowfield Stud. The 1995 G1 Golden Slipper winner had been pensioned since 2012. Bred by Arrowfield and raced by them in partnership and trained by Lee Freedman, Flying Spur finished second in the G1 Blue Diamond S. and third in the G1 VRC Sires’ Produce S. before winning the Golden Slipper over Octagonal (NZ) (Zabeel {NZ}). He would go on to add the G1 Australian Guineas in the autumn of his 3-year-old campaign, and he closed out his career with a win over older horses in the G1 All Aged S. Flying Spur played a pivotal role in his sire, Danehill, winning his first of nine Australian champion sire titles that year. Arrowfield’s John Messara had pioneered the shuttling of Danehill to Australia in 1989. Flying Spur got off to a flying start at stud, earning the champion first season sires’ title in 1999/2000, and in 2007 he was champion sire and champion 2-year-old sire. He was also New Zealand’s champion 2-year-old sire in 2001. Flying Spur has left 99 stakes winners, 13 of those Group 1 winners including Randwick Guineas, Champagne S. and George Main S. scorer Mentality (Aus) and Forensics (Aus), who emulated her sire with a win in the Golden Slipper. His most recent Group 1 winner was last year’s G1 Caulfield Cup upsetter Boom Time (Aus), and his sons at stud include Group 1 winners Casino Prince (Aus) and Magnus (Aus). The former has left the four-time Group 1 winner and young sire All Too Hard (Aus). Flying Spur has also made a mark as a broodmare sire, his daughters having left thus far 76 stakes winners and seven Group 1 winners including the G1 Golden Slipper winner and leading sire Sebring (Aus), the Classic-winning four-time Group 1 winner Preferment (NZ) and the G1 Coolmore Stud S. winner Headway (Aus). View the full article

Long before the media clamour for Bryony Frost and Lizzie Kelly, there were two female members of the National Hunt weighing-room who earned enduring respect and admiration as riders, their actions in the saddle shouting so much louder than mere words. Within 24 hours at the end of April, jump racing fans were denied the pleasure of seeing either of them on a competitive level again as first Katie Walsh retired after a winning ride aboard Antey (Ger) at the Punchestown Festival, followed by her sister-in-law and long-time ally Nina Carberry. Both hail from established Irish racing dynasties—the families intertwined by Carberry’s marriage to Walsh’s brother Ted—and have been inseparable in their spirit of nonchalant derring-do around Grand National and cross-country courses throughout the major jumping nations. That chapter of their lives has simultaneously come to an end and while Carberry while be continuing her role as one of Aidan O’Brien’s key work riders at Ballydoyle, Walsh will devote more of her considerable energy to the business that she has run in tandem with her race-riding commitments for the last eight years. As a breeze-up consignor in the name of Greenhills Farm, Walsh left Newmarket’s Guineas Sale last Friday to head to Deauville for the Arqana Breeze-up, where she is currently administering the finishing touches to a filly by Nathaniel (Ire) filly (lot 99) and a colt by Elusive City (Ire) (lot 110). Following Saturday’s sale she will have six to offer in the seasonal finale at Goresbridge before she turns her mind to the selection of next year’s draft. There’s no denying that breeze-up trade has been tough for many vendors this season, but Walsh enjoyed a decent result at Tattersalls in April when selling the top-priced filly at the Craven Sale. Bought privately by David and Henrietta Egan of Corduff Stud when returned to her vendor at $45,000 during Keeneland’s September Sale, the daughter of More Than Ready thrived under Walsh’s tutelage and duly sold for 500,000gns to Godolphin. “The Craven was brilliant for David and Hen,” says Walsh. “She was the first horse I’ve ever prepped for them so it was a great start, but she was a pleasure to do.” Walsh has had a team of 16 horses to sell this year, a small rise in numbers for her consignment as she has gradually started to take on horses for clients, as well as those she buys in partnership with her father, also called Ted. “The first year I came I couldn’t sell one horse and I remember sitting on a bucket outside the stable door thinking I’m clearly doing something wrong here. I was buying the wrong type of horse and I have one mare still at home that I ended up winning a couple of bumpers and hurdle races on,” says the 33-year-old. “I suppose at the start I didn’t do horses for anyone else as I wanted to get a grasp on it first and make sure I was doing a good enough job myself. This is the biggest bunch of horses we’ve had this year and I’ve had a few horses I’m doing for different people.” Despite a less than auspicious start in her first season, the judgement of Walsh and her father was quickly vindicated in year two when Caspar Netscher (GB) (Dutch Art {GB}), bought from Meon Valley Stud as a yearling for 25,000gns and sold on for 65,000gns, went on to win the G2 Gimcrack S. and G2 Mill Reef S. in his first season for owner Charles Wentworth and trainer Alan McCabe. The colt also won the following year’s G3 Greenham S. and G2 Mehl-Mulhens Rennen (German 2,000 Guineas) and, returned to training after fertility issues cut short his stud career, he collected the GII Nearctic S. at Woodbine as a 5-year-old. “I bought three the next year and Caspar was one of them. He was my saving grace,” recalls Walsh, who still rides some of her horses in their breezes. “He had a lovely pedigree and it’s very hard to buy those types of horses. He breezed well and Tom Malone bought him with Charles and Zorka [Wentworth]. Only a couple of weeks later I was in France at the breeze-ups and he won his maiden. We have him in retirement now at home and he’s such a gent.” Understandably after such a successful introduction, the Wentworths’ association with Walsh has flourished and the couple has a number of horses in training in Ireland with Walsh’s husband Ross O’Sullivan. These include Zorka Wentworth’s Baie Des Iles (Fr), who gave Walsh her final ride in this year’s Grand National, the race in which she achieved the highest placing of any female jockey when she finished third aboard Seabass (Ire), trained by her father. “I’m kind of involved everywhere really between dad and Ross and breezers and riding,” says Walsh, who is based in Kildare, not far from Goffs. “I was trying to give everything 110 per cent and something had to give. It had been on my mind to retire from race-riding for a while but I kind of didn’t know what to do, or when or how was the best time to go. When Ross decided he was going to run the mare [Baie Des Iles] in the National I decided I’d definitely wait around for her. I’d always wanted to ride her in the National for Ross.” There was no fairytale ending in the National but the previous month Walsh had ridden her third winner at the Cheltenham Festival aboard Relegate (Ire), the same day her brother, multiple champion jockey Ruby Walsh, suffered a season-ending fall which resulted in him re-breaking a leg which had only just healed in time for him to ride at Cheltenham. That her final Festival winner, and later final winner, should come for long-term supporter Willie Mullins, was special for Walsh. “I wanted a bit of everything really because it would have been ideal to go out at Punchestown but I wanted to ride Relegate again on the Wednesday so even if I’d ridden a winner on the Tuesday I wouldn’t have gone then. Then to get a spare [ride] for Willie in the hurdle race [on Antey] was brilliant. It was a great way to go, you couldn’t have written it. And then for Nina to get her winner and retire the next day—if it was a film you’d think they’d gone too far.” Retiring fit and well with a shining reputation is something every jump jockey must long for, but embarking on stage two of a career can be as much of a challenge. Walsh, however, is already firmly established in her role as breeze-up consignor, an occupation she shares with a number of former jump jockeys, including Norman Williamson, Roger Marley, Mark Dwyer and Malcolm Bastard. “It’s something that dad used to do with Willie Browne. They are very good pals and he did the breeze-ups for years,” she says. “I always remember breeze-up horses being at home, but they were different times and then we got more horses to train so we stopped doing the sales for a time. “Dad is involved in everything with me and when I’m here [at the sales] he’s at home running the ship. I probably have more time now to put more work into the yearling sales. There’s a lot of walking to be done during those months and a lot of effort, but it’s a really important time for us. Of course everyone is trying to make a few quid but if you do it you have to love it. It’s been a tough year at the breeze-ups this year—a lot of lads and a lot of girls are getting scalded, the buyers just aren’t there.” She continues, “Denise O’Brien is a massive help to me. She’s been doing the sales with me for a long time and I couldn’t do it without her. There’s a great team of people at the sales and I can’t speak for everybody but I love seeing people get a touch, just like I like to see other people riding a winner, especially when they don’t get so much of a chance.” Despite having grown up in racing and having been a sales consignor for the best part of a decade, Walsh still feels she has plenty to learn. She says, “It’s true that with horses you learn something new every day and at the moment the book side of it is my downfall—the pedigrees. I suppose I’ll have more time to work on that now. Some people are very good at the book. I like to try to buy an individual—who doesn’t?—but it’s trying to find a bit of value that’s the hard part and also the most enjoyable part. “Then when is comes to selling, making sure they are in the right sale is so important, it’s like making sure you have your horses is in the right race.” With such a rounded knowledge of all aspects of riding, training and trading, it seems likely that Walsh will continue to get things right more often than not. View the full article

Well Done moved to Baertschiger View the full article

China Horse Club, Head of Plains Partners LLC, Starlight Racing and WinStar Farm’s GI Kentucky Derby hero Justify (Scat Daddy) is no longer showing signs of scratches–a skin condition trainer Bob Baffert said the undefeated colt was dealing with as of Monday–but appears to be recovering from bruising in his heel, according to multiple reports. As first reported by the Louisville Courier-Journal, Justify was examined by the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission Tuesday and found no signs of lameness. He has, however, been showing signs of improvement to treatment for the bruise in his left hind heel, according to the report. “The horse does not have scratches,” KHRC equine medical director Dr. Mary Scollay told the Courier-Journal. “There’s no evidence of skin [disease] on either hind pastern.” Tuesday’s news marks the latest development in a saga that began Sunday after the colt appeared to be sensitive in his left hind leg during a media appearance. As of Monday, Baffert said Justify was expected to walk in the mornings through Wednesday before returning to the track. Justify is being pointed toward a start in the second jewel of the Triple Crown, the May 19 GI Preakness S. View the full article

“Hay, Oats & Spaghetti,” the Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation’s kickoff party for the Saratoga racing season, will celebrate its sixth anniversary in a new location, the Saratoga Automobile Museum, Monday, July 23. The Automobile Museum provides a bigger venue for the growing event that raises funds for the TRF, the world’s oldest and largest and rescue and re-homing organization for former racehorses. Tickets are $100, and include food, beer and wine. Giuseppe and Laurie Grisio, owners of Mama Mia”s and Bravo! Restaurants in Saratoga Springs will cater the event again this year. “This event was first launched at Mama Mia’s six years ago, and each year it has grown” said Hay, Oats & Spaghetti chairperson Suzie O’Cain. “Laurie and Giuseppe have always believed that the horses bring and give so much in racing and to Saratoga every summer. This event is their way of giving back to the horses who they believe deserve the best of care when their racing days are over.” To support the TRF as a sponsor for Hay, Oats & Spaghetti, please contact Chelsea O’Reilly at (518) 226-0028 or chelsea@thoroughbredretirement.org. Tickets may be purchased at trfinc.org. View the full article

A colt by Pioneerof the Nile out of Mildly Offensive, born Feb. 19 at WinStar Farm, is the first foal to be issued a digital certificate of foal registration, The Jockey Club announced Tuesday. The transition to digital foal certificates from hardcopies begins with the 2018 foal crop and was first announced at the Round Table Conference on Matters Pertaining to Racing Aug. 14, 2016. Breeders, as well as those who act as agents for breeders, who do not have an Interactive Registration account should sign up for one at registry.jockeyclub.com so that they can access their certificates of foal registration. “Overnight mail couriers may not be happy, but the digital foal certificates will save us a lot of money and time since we will no longer have to mail foal papers,” said Lisa Walker, farm secretary at Calumet Farm. View the full article

The catalog for the Ocala Breeders’ Sales Company’s 2018 June Sale of Two-Year-Olds and Horses of Racing Age is now available via the OBS website at obssales.com. The online catalog’s main page contains a link to a sortable master index providing searchable pedigree and consignor information, as well as access to pedigree updates occurring since the catalog was printed. The iPad version of the catalog can be accessed via the equineline Sales Catalog App. The App allows users to download and view the catalog, receive updates and results, record notes and also provides innovative search, sort and rating capability. For more information and downloads, click here. There are 845 two-year-olds and seven older horses cataloged for the three-day sale, with all sessions beginning at 10:00 a.m. Hips 1-300 will sell Wednesday, June 13th; Hips 301-600 will be offered Thursday, June 14th and Hips 601-852 plus supplements will sell Friday, June 15th. Supplemental entries are being accepted until May 23rd. View the full article

Monmouth Park held its annual press luncheon Wednesday, with much of the discussion centering on the prospect of sports betting arriving to the Jersey Shore oval in the near future. Dennis Drazin, CEO of Darby Development LLC, which operates Monmouth on behalf of the New Jersey Thoroughbred Horsemen’s Association, said he was extremely confident–just short of Joe Namath’s 1968 Super Bowl guarantee–that the track would win a pending decision in the Supreme Court that will allow for legalized sports betting in New Jersey. “I’m about as positive as a lawyer can be that we’re going to win this case,” said Drazin, who said he can feel the anticipation of a favorable ruling rise each day on the Monmouth grounds. “People used to talk to me about racing and now they’re talking to me about sports betting.” With much of the discussion centering around sports betting and its future implications, Drazin emphatically argued against the idea that sports leagues deserve an “integrity fee,” which would amount to a revenue share when Monmouth begins accepting bets. According to Drazin, the leagues had ample opportunities to discuss a similar arrangement before it became apparent that they would lose the case in the Supreme Court. “They fought us at every path,” Drazin said. “And now they send lobbyists to Trenton trying to get a piece for themselves.” Drazin acknowledged that any kind of integrity fee would be impractical, but suggested that–if anything–the leagues should be prepared to compensate sports bettors for missed calls by referees. The arrival of sports betting, according to Drazin, would have a domino effect throughout the industry in New Jersey, helping rebuild a foal crop which reached as low as 79 in 2016 and providing raises for workers who have seen their salaries stagnate in the last decade. The next potential date for a Supreme Court opinion on the New Jersey sports betting case is May 14, although the ruling could come as late as June 25. View the full article

Artilio (Archie) Ricciardi, a longtime trainer on the New England circuit and a former board member of the New England affiliate of the Horsemen's Benevolent & Protective Association, passed away May 4 after a long struggle with cancer. He was 87. View the full article

Charles Assimakopoulos, whose blue-and-white Yasou Stable Trust silks symbolized the top class of New England racing for decades, died April 22 in his hometown of Fitchburg, Mass. after battling a long illness. He was 83. View the full article

WinStar Farm, China Horse Club International and SF Racing’s ‘TDN Rising Star’ and GII Tampa Bay Derby winner Quip (Distorted Humor), whose connections passed on a start in the GI Kentucky Derby, is heading to the GI Preakness S. May 19, WinStar president and CEO Elliott Walden confirmed Tuesday. The colt had previously been scheduled to make his next start in the second jewel of the Triple Crown, but uncertainty crept in after his connections won the Derby with fellow ‘Rising Star’ Justify (Scat Daddy). “He deserves the opportunity,” Walden told the Pimlico notes team. “We purposely skipped the Derby pointing for the Preakness. We looked at it at that time and asked the question, if we did win the Derby, would we still run Quip in the Preakness? We all kind of answered, ‘Yes.’ But I wanted to take a fresh look at it after the race and make sure.” Meanwhile, e Five Racing Thoroughbreds’ champion and Derby runner-up Good Magic (Curlin)’s status for the Preakness remains up in the air, with trainer Chad Brown saying “I’m not sure” when asked about his plans. Brown added that there was no pressure to make a quick decision, while e Five’s Bob Edwards said that he would defer to Brown’s expertise. “Chad is one of the best guys in placing horses in spots where you’re going to get in the money or win,” Edwards said. “He wants this horse to win and he’s going to put this horse in the best position to win.” Good Magic was shipped from Louisville to Brown’s barn at Belmont Park Monday and will go back to the track for training Wednesday. Justify had a routine walk day Tuesday at Churchill Downs, which Bob Baffert assistant Jimmy Barnes said would likely be replicated Wednesday. “Justify is going to walk one more day, I believe,” Barnes said of the Derby champ’s expected return to the track for training Thursday. “That’s what Bob said. He may change his mind and go tomorrow. But he said we’re probably going to walk four days.” D. Wayne Lukas will have a two-pronged challenge for Justify in the Preakness with Derby sixth-place runner Bravazo (Awesome Again) and Grade I-winning ‘Rising Star’ Sporting Chance (Tiznow), who was fourth in Saturday’s GIII Pat Day Mile S. Both colts had a walk day Tuesday and will resume training Wednesday at Churchill Downs before vanning to Pimlico Monday. Lukas last captured the Preakness with Oxbow (Awesome Again) in 2013. “They’re doing great,” Lukas said. “They are both bright and were out there on the grass [grazing] full of themselves. Realistically, it’s Justify’s race to lose, just that simple. He’s the best horse. Not always [does] the best horse win in the Kentucky Derby, and this year the best horse won. To go into Baltimore and take him back on is definitely going to be a challenge. I’ll never be afraid, but I’m realistic enough to know he’ll be very difficult to beat. But you can’t mail it in. They run and things happen. We’ve been there before. I mean, Oxbow wasn’t supposed to beat those horses either, and he did.” Other horses under consideration for the Preakness are G M B Racing’s Lone Sailor (Majestic Warrior), who was eighth in the Derby, Cash is King, D.J. Stable and LC Racing’s Diamond King (Quality Road), Winchell Thoroughbreds’ Tenfold (Curlin) and Valene Farm’s Givemeaminit (Star Guitar). View the full article

“Unsung Heroes” is a new series in the TDN that features workers who make a positive contribution to the Thoroughbred industry while flying under the radar. Please submit your suggestions with a description of the Unsung Hero’s work to tdnpressbox@gmail.com. Juan Aguayo has been a longtime foreman for Todd Pletcher. He does his best to avoid cameras and interviews but can always be found alongside Todd’s best horses on their biggest day. He has meticulous attention to detail and ensures they are all perfectly turned out. He is also incredibly gentle and has a much needed calming influence on even the toughest colts. Juan is a tremendous asset to the barn and a true horseman. –Anonymous Submission View the full article

Despite its listed status, this is the race in which Enable (GB) (Nathaniel {Ire}) first came to the fore last year and became the second Epsom Oaks winner to use it as a springboard after Light Shift (Kingmambo) in 2007. It is hard to believe now, but Alluringly (Fastnet Rock {Aus}) was even-money to beat Enable 12 months ago, but with Aidan O’Brien successful five times since 2008 it made perfect sense at the time. This year Ballydoyle, who have come to relish Chester’s May meeting as a perfect education for their Epsom hopefuls, have a trio of unknown quantities with Ryan Moore on the least-proven of them in Magic Wand. A €1.4million half-sister to the G1 Irish Oaks heroine Chicquita (Ire) (Montjeu {Ire}), she has the pedigree to leave her relatively modest maiden form behind now that firmer pressure will have been applied at Rosegreen. Interestingly, Enable’s trainer John Gosden has opted to run another Coolmore-owned filly in opposition to the Ballydoyle representatives in Award Winning just 10 days after her maiden win over 10 furlongs at Wetherby. “I was very pleased with Ispolini’s seasonal debut at Sandown and he looks to have come on for that race,” he said. “The step up in trip to a mile and a half will suit him and he should be competitive in the Chester Vase.” One of the hottest renewals in recent times also sees William Haggas throw his hat into the ring with Investec’s Bernard Kantor’s colour-bearer Young Rascal (Fr) (Intello {Ger}), a strong-staying five-length winner of an often-informative 11-furlong Newbury maiden Apr. 21. View the full article

Aidan O'Brien has a formidable record in the race, with a record eight victories including the last five editions. He saddles three this season. View the full article

On May 7, The Chronicle of the Horse, launched its first “Thoroughbred Issue.” The Chronicle, established in 1937, is a weekly magazine read by virtually everyone in the horse show and eventing world. It is the ‘bible’ of American equine lifestyle. For those of us who always rode off-track Thoroughbreds in every discipline, we are thrilled to see them getting the recognition they deserve in real time–not only in historical and reminiscent pieces. As we at the Thoroughbred Adoption Network and many people in the Thoroughbred racing industry work to market off-track Thoroughbreds in second careers, coverage like this is invaluable. “We enjoyed the opportunity to highlight a breed that has long been intertwined with The Chronicle of the Horse and its roots in field sports such as fox hunting and racing/steeplechasing,” noted Beth Rasin, president and editor of The Chronicle. “Thoroughbreds are now seeing a renewed enthusiasm from all kinds of sport horse enthusiasts, and we wanted to highlight some of the people responsible for that resurgence of interest as well as some of the ways in which Thoroughbreds are excelling in FEI and other popular competitive sports.” “We also looked back at horsemen like Dennis Murphy, who rose to great achievements on the backs of Thoroughbreds,” added Rasin. “Whenever we cover a competition, we look for interesting angles, underdogs and human interest, and stories about Thoroughbreds often touch all of those highlights. We never miss the chance to report on a TB who wins a grand prix show jumping class or FEI dressage competition. In our rosters, such as the popular Kentucky Preview issue, we highlight those horses who are OTTBs and Thoroughbreds, and in all of our coverage we strive to communication information about breeds and pedigrees.” To subscribe and read the issue, click here. View the full article

The Galileo factor is particularly prevalent at Chester’s key meeting, with eight successes out of the 13 group races that he has had a representative. In the G3 Centennial Celebration – MBNA Chester Vase S., he was responsible for the first and third last year and in 2007, the one-two in 2016 and 2011 and the winner in 2013 and 2014. They included the future Classic winners Soldier of Fortune (Ire), Treasure Beach (GB), Ruler of the World (Ire) and an Epsom Derby runner-up in US Army Ranger (Ire), so it is clear that Ballydoyle mean business in this traditional trial for the blue riband. Pick of his sons this time appears to be last year’s G3 Eyrefield S. scorer Flag of Honour (Ire), who was a narrow third on his return behind Pharrell (Fr) (Manduro {Ger}) and Tuesday’s G2 Prix Greffulhe third Alhadab (Fr) (Camelot {GB}) on his return in the G3 Prix Noailles over 10 1/2 furlongs at ParisLongchamp Apr. 15, while the seven-furlong Gowran Park maiden scorer Family Tree (GB) adds intrigue as a half-brother to the top sprinter Reckless Abandon (GB) (Exchange Rate) and last year’s Listed Lingfield Derby Trial winner Best Approach (GB) (New Approach {Ire}). Despite the overwhelming evidence for the Galileos, Ryan Moore has instead opted for the stable’s Hunting Horn (Ire) (Camelot {GB}) who is a half-brother to David Livingston (Ire), one of the rare Galileos to disappoint in this when fourth as the 6-4 favourite in 2012. Hunting Horn looked unlucky to be only third in the Apr. 27 G3 Sandown Classic Trial over a mile and a quarter, where the re-opposing Ispolini (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) was 1 1/4 lengths ahead in second. Ispolini’s trainer Charlie Appleby is keen on exposing the latter, a 1.2million gns TATOCT descendant of the magnificent Magnificient Style (Silver Hawk), to more seasoning ahead of the European Derbys. “I was very pleased with Ispolini’s seasonal debut at Sandown and he looks to have come on for that race,” he said. “The step up in trip to a mile and a half will suit him and he should be competitive in the Chester Vase.” One of the hottest renewals in recent times also sees William Haggas throw his hat into the ring with Investec’s Bernard Kantor’s colour-bearer Young Rascal (Fr) (Intello {Ger}), a strong-staying five-length winner of an often-informative 11-furlong Newbury maiden Apr. 21. View the full article

Wednesday’s G3 Prix Texanita at Maisons-Laffitte offers the chance for the country’s 3-year-old sprinters to begin their journey towards a possible tilt at Royal Ascot’s G1 Commonwealth Cup. Among them is Godolphin’s unexposed Beau Ideal (GB) (Exceed and Excel {Aus}), who nosed out the re-opposing Absolute City (Fr) (Elusive City) in the Listed Criterium de Vitesse over five furlongs on very soft ground at Chantilly in October. The operation’s Lisa-Jane Graffard commented, “Beau Ideal has done very well from two to three. But this is his seasonal comeback and he had little setback, nothing serious, in February so he is likely to need the run. He should like the ground if, as expected, it remains on the fast side.” Alistair (Fr) (Panis) was best of these to have raced in the six-furlong G3 Prix Sigy at Chantilly Apr. 13, having finished a short-neck second to Sands of Mali (Fr) (Panis) there and while the winner is not here, there is another British raider worthy of respect in the ultra-consistent all-weather specialist Corinthia Knight (Ire) (Society Rock {Ire}). He comes here on the back of a four-timer, with the penultimate success coming in the Listed Prix Montenica over 6 1/2 furlongs at Chantilly Mar. 15. View the full article

All eight persons charged in the Aquanita sodium bicarbonate doping scandal have been found guilty by Victoria’s Racing Appeals and Disciplinary Board. The scandal, which came to light in January, saw five trainers and eight stable personnel all under the umbrella of the former Aquanita Racing syndicate charged with over 250 total counts of bicarb doping over a period of seven years. The trainers are Robert Smerdon-with 115 charges alone–Stuart Webb, Tony Vasil, Liam Birchley and Trent Pennuto. Float driver Greg Nelligan appears to have been one of the masterminds of the scheme, organizing the raceday “top ups,” and his wife Denise Nelligan was ultimately the whistle blower to stewards after Nelligan was caught putting a syringe into the mouth of one of Smerdon’s horses at the races last October. Text messages retrieved from Nelligan’s phone between he and some of the named trainers referring to “top ups” also served as evidence. “The Aquanita case represents one of the darkest and longest chapters in the history of Australian turf,” RAD board chair Judge John Bowman said. “There is a litany of brazen attempts to cheat and to obtain an unfair advantage over many years by a well-organised team. This was a long-running, systematic conspiracy to try and obtain an unfair advantage in well over a hundred races over seven years.” The RAD Board will hear submissions on Thursday before revealing penalties. View the full article

1st-CAP, €14,300, Cond, 5-7, 2yo, f, 1200m (AWT), 1:12.60, gd. ISOLE MALDIVE (IRE) (f, 2, War Command–Hairicin {Ire}, by Hurricane Run {Ire}) broke a step slow in this debut but found extra when asked to charge on the outside and score comfortably over Bridge Shanasand (Ire) (Footstepsinthesand {GB}). She is the first winner from an initial crop of 112 foals by War Command (War Front), the first 2-year-old to complete the G2 Coventry S./G1 Dewhurst S. double since Mill Reef (Never Bend) in 1970. The filly’s half-sister Isole Canarie (Ire) (Rip Van Winkle {Ire}) had won the Listed Premio Repubbliche Marinare just four days before for the same connections. Owner Sebastiano Guerrieri, who trains with his wife Melania Cascione, also owned a third winner out of Hairicin (Ire) (Hurricane Run {Ire}), the five-time scorer Isole Eolie (Ire) (Intense Focus). Hairicin failed to reach a racecourse but is a half-sister to the Irish Group 3 scorer Puncher Clynch (Ire) (Azamour {Ire}). Sales history: €16,000 yrl ’17 TATIRE. Lifetime Record: 1-1-0-0 €5,525. VIDEO. O-Sebastiano Guerrieri; B-Leon O’Coileain (Ire); T-Melania Cascione. View the full article

Mongolian Beauty (Aus) (Fastnet Rock {Aus}) (lot 371) took centre stage during the second and final day of the NZB Karaka May Sale, when selling for a sale-topping NZ$180,000 to Andrew Williams Bloodstock for Sir Patrick Hogan. From the Curraghmore consignment on behalf of Brendan and Jo Lindsay, the new proprietors of Cambridge Stud, the two-time winner is out of the Irish MGSP mare Amazing Beauty (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) and is a full-sister to G2 Hawke’s Bay Guineas hero Mongolian Falcon (Aus). Her third dam is champion US juvenile filly Phone Chatter (Phone Trick). She is in foal to Cambridge sire Tavistock (NZ) (Montjeu {Ire}). “I’m pretty passionate about the [Eight Carat {GB}] family,” Sir Patrick Hogan, who sold Cambridge to the Lindsays said. “I’ve had a bit of luck with it, and done well with it, so I’m very happy to be able to buy her back. Depending on whether her foal is a colt, it will likely head back to Karaka at some time.” Overall, the sale grossed NZ$5,333,100 for 345 (74%) sold from 526 catalogued. The average rose to NZ$15,458 (+5.4%) and the median was NZ$8,000 (+60%). “There was strong demand for broodmares, particularly those in foal to freshman sires, which countered the softening of the pinhook market seen on the first day of selling,” NZB’s Sales Manager Danny Rolston commented. View the full article

The TDN‘s Gary King sat down with Newmarket trainer and TDN columnist Charlie Fellowes for a Q&A session. Fellowes has a burgeoning team at his St Gatien Cottage Stables and has Prince Of Arran entered for this Friday’s Chester Cup GK: What’s the best thing about living and training in Newmarket? CF: The facilities are second to none and the gallops are absolutely incredible. We have a fantastic team of groundsmen who look after everything impeccably and that takes a huge amount of stress out of the trainer’s life. This winter has been one of the worst and yet my horses never missed a day’s training. I also get on with a lot of the trainers in town so socially it is good. That said, there is a small part of me that craves to have my own space and turn-out paddocks, and there are only a few select yards that have that luxury. GK: If you could train anywhere else, where would it be? CF: If I could have any yard in the world I would chose Pegasus Stables, the home of James Fanshawe. I worked there for five years and it is the most beautiful yard around. The Fanshawes have the best of both worlds because it is right on the edge of Newmarket and has plenty of paddock space, while it also has the benefits of all the facilities Newmarket has to offer. I spent a summer working in Chantilly when I was much younger and I loved it there. I was light enough to ride out–who would have thought it!–and there was a heatwave while I was over there. The gallops were pretty special. GK: Who is your favourite racehorse of all time, and why? CF: There will be a recurring theme here, I’m afraid. Society Rock (Ire) (Rock of Gibraltar {Ire}) is my favourite racehorse. He was the toughest colt I have ever come across. He had his issues but he was one of those horses that put 120% into every race and when things fell right, he was very, very good. This might upset a few Aussies but I am adamant that if he hadn’t have reared up when the stalls opened in the Golden Jubilee at Ascot, he would have beaten Black Caviar. He also had bundles of personality and you couldn’t help but love him. I must also give a special mention to a horse I trained called Wet Sail (Henrythenavigator). He was the first decent horse I had and ran at the Breeders’ Cup in 2014. He was nowhere near the level of Society Rock but to my career he was huge. He was another of those horses that had a personality that grabbed you and I adored him. He also provided me with the worst day of my career when one December morning he broke his leg galloping and I had to watch him being put down. It took me a while to get over that. GK: Which race would you like to win above all others? CF: This is a hard question because I find it very hard to differentiate between all the top races globally. As a racehorse trainer I crave to be competing at the top level and whether that is a Guineas, Derby, Arc, Melbourne Cup, Breeders’ Cup, etc., I’m not fussy. They are all incredibly special races, with phenomenal atmospheres and occasions that we all want to be part of. I do have a special place in my heart for Royal Ascot as I think it epitomises everything that is great about British racing. I would take a win at Royal Ascot any day of the week. GK: Do you set specific goals and targets each year? Number of winners, win percentage, etc.? CF: My only goal is to better the year before. That will become more and more difficult but at the moment we have achieved that with both our winners and prize-money tallies. GK: This is a very cliche question, but which three people would you most like to sit down to dinner with (inside racing)? CF: Aidan O’Brien, Sir Michael Stoute and Willie Mullins. Three masters of a trade I hope to be good at! GK: And outside racing? CF: We have a programme in England called ‘Would I Lie To You’ that always makes me laugh. The three comedians that are on it every week are Lee Mach, Rob Brydon and David Mitchell. I think they would make very amusing dinner party guests. GK: What are you most looking forward to for the season ahead? CF: Personally, I am hopeful that my yard has got a big-race winner in it this year. I couldn’t tell you where or when but we have some lovely horses and I am sure it is just around the corner. In a broader sense, at some point this year Cracksman (GB) (Frankel {GB}) and Enable (GB) (Nathaniel {Ire}) are hopefully going to take each other on, and when that does happen it will be one of the biggest match-ups I have seen as they are two special horses. View the full article

Last month, the California Horse Racing Board (CHRB) approved for public notice a proposed rule that mandates a continuing education requirement for trainers in the state looking to renew their license. Right now, California trainers can voluntarily complete any number of available online courses. By 2020, however, they and their assistants will have to complete 12 hours of approved continuing education before their licenses are renewed, if the proposed rule is implemented. “We talk about the art of training, but there’s a science to training as well,” said Rick Arthur, CHRB equine medical director, explaining a main thrust behind the new rule: to better disseminate a glut of emerging data behind racehorse health and safety. “What we’re trying to do is match the art and the science to make racing safer.” Nationally, however, the roll-out of trainer continuing education is proving particularly sluggish. Certain professions like veterinarians, physicians, and pharmacists require their members to undergo continuing education–hardly surprising, considering the life and death nature of their work. In some states, even hairstylists and cosmetologists are required to routinely brush up on their working knowledge. But only two states currently mandate the same for trainers. And so, when the fate of horse and human rests so squarely on the decisions trainers routinely make, why has uptake of these programs been so slow? The answer to that is essentially two-fold. There have been regulatory, financial, technical and logistical obstacles, for sure. But the other belongs to an inherent tension within the industry between age-old tradition and new-age progress. “You’re always going to have people who are resistant to it,” said Andy Belfiore, executive director of the New York Thoroughbred Horseman’s Association (NYTHA). Nevertheless, there are ways around this, she argued. In New York, for example, where trainers must complete four hours of continuing education annually, courses have been tailored to fit their practical business needs. “I think once people come and participate and see the information that they can garner from these seminars, they do find it useful,” Belfiore said. The History A concerted push towards continuing trainer education has been underway since the first Welfare and Safety of the Racehorse Summit (WSS) in 2006, organized by the Grayson-Jockey Club Research Foundation and the Jockey Club. Three years later, the Association of Racing Commissioners International (ARCI) created a model rule, requiring at least four hours of continuing education for licensed trainers every calendar year. Then, in 2014, the WSS announced a partnership with the North American Racing Association (NARA) to produce an online program of “Advanced Horsemanship.” Right now, the “Advanced Horsemanship” program links to a number of different courses which anyone, not just trainers, can register for and take. There’s a module on bisphosphonates– controversial drugs used to treat degenerative bone diseases-for example, and another on the myriad risk factors behind racehorse injury. These interactive courses work as a series of slides, and the program monitors and tracks how registered users progress with each module. Once finished, the trainer receives a confirmation email, said Cathy O’Meara, manager of industry initiative for the Jockey Club, explaining how the individual modules work. “The email also goes to the regulator that you choose,” O’Meara said. Very soon, the site will also link to a variety of modules put together by the team at U.C. Davis, headed by Rick Arthur and Susan Stover, professor of anatomy at that university’s School of Veterinary Medicine. The courses are part of a larger series currently available on the U.C. Davis website. Looking specifically at New York, trainers can fulfill their annual quota a variety of ways: courses available through the Advanced Horsemanship program; presentations given by both state equine medical director Scott Palmer and Cornell University; as well as the seminars NYTHA conducts. “We focus a lot of what our courses cover on the business end of training,” said Belfiore about seminars, typically two to three hours long, that trainers have most positively responded to–those on Department of Labor regulations, racehorse aftercare, and workers’ compensation. “The first one we did was a full house,” she said, about a three-hour-plus course on labor regulations. “Nobody left. Everybody stayed for the whole thing.” New York isn’t the first state to mandate continuing education. That honor goes to Indiana, though the state repealed its rule when it came to implementation–as did South Dakota. “I want to be very clear on one point,” wrote Larry Eliason, executive secretary of the state’s racing commission, in an email. “The problem with implementation was that no other state in our area passed the rule. We did not have any problem implementing the rule or conducting the training.” Colorado currently requires four-hours of continuing education annually, but trainers can waive this requirement if courses aren’t available “that meet the approval of the Commission.” The Maryland horseman’s group offers voluntary classes for trainers. Only, while the Washington HBPA and Emerald Downs management previously ran education seminars, they haven’t for the past few years due to a lack of money and manpower. Which raises the question: why should other states follow New York’s lead and make it mandatory? In a presentation Palmer gave at the 2015 Welfare and Safety Summit, he said that it’s not only critical the industry keeps gathering data regarding racehorse and jockey health and safety, “it’s also absolutely critical that we get that information into the hands of people that can use it.” That’s why some of the online courses already available tackle issues central to injury prevention–like the Advanced Horsemanship module on bisphosphonates, which delves into bone remodeling, and the stresses that racehorse skeletons routinely go through. “One thing we can’t deny is that 85 to 90% of all fatal musculoskeletal injuries occur at the site of a pre-existing injury,” Arthur said, adding that “the more dangerous jockey falls” tend to be on horses that suffer catastrophic injury. “So, what we have to figure out is how to identify those horses before that happens,” he said. But some trainers argue that courses should have both a theoretical and practical bent. “I think it’s a good idea to be kept abreast of things like medication reform and withdrawal times,” said trainer Michael McCarthy, who believes that topics on issues like immigration and visa issues would also be of benefit. More broadly, however, he said that it’s important for the process to be transparent–that trainers are made aware of who’s putting together the materials, and how the content is chosen. Jim Cassidy, president of the California Thoroughbred Trainers, agreed that continuing education is a valuable opportunity to shine a spotlight on racehorse safety. “I think it would instill in guys just how careful they’ve got to be about the way they take care of the horses…not that they aren’t now. But you just cannot take any risks.” Still, if and when continuing education is mandated in California, there will be push-back, Cassidy conceded. “There always is, any time there’s something new,” he said, adding that “we’ve got so many rules and regulations to deal with as it is…you should see the paperwork that I have to do every day. It’s crazy.” This view is borne out in the stats. Rick Arthur estimated that the number of trainers in California who have voluntarily undergone continuing education is in “single digits,” though he said there’s currently no way of monitoring the U.C. Davis course completion rate. At the end of last year, New York offered a 45-day extension after “many” trainers had failed to complete the mandated four hours. According to a New York State Gaming Commission spokesperson, the commission “continues to review the completion rates for the first year.” Nevertheless, the HBPA ran a survey in 2013 which found 87% of responders favorable towards continued education. So, are there other reasons to explain resistance from within the industry? A number of trainers I spoke with mentioned the dry nature of the online courses. Alicia Benben, academic coordinator at NARA, said that this issue is very much on their radar. “That’s a problem for all educators–how do I make what I’m teaching interesting and engaging?” said Benben, who acknowledged some of the stigmas attached by trainers to continuing education. “One of the things that people thought at first was, ‘They’re trying to teach me how to train,'” she said. “And that’s not at all the goal. We’re just looking to provide knowledge and information that perhaps wasn’t previously known.” Then there’s the technical and logistical obstacles faced at the regulatory level. The Advanced Horsemanship website wasn’t yet up and running when Indiana tried to implement its continuing education program, which closely resembled the ARCI’s model rule. And so, Indiana designed and ran seminars in the spring and fall for trainers to attend in person. Through fear, however, that Indiana would scare away those trainers unable to attend the seminars–and thus, unable to fulfill their yearly requirement for licensing–the new rule was eventually abandoned, said Joe Gorajec, former executive director of the Indiana Horse Racing Commission. “This is one of the few rules that really needs buy-in from all the states, or almost all the states, to work,” he said. Continuing Education Moving Forward But now, of course, with the Advanced Horsemanship program up and running–which it has been for about four years–the need for each state to develop their own programs and materials has been diminished, said O’Meara. “All the push back from regulators has been, ‘Well, there’s no central resource of information and no way of tracking whether the trainers take it,'” she said. “That’s no longer the case.” And there are other ways to circumvent the problem of a patchwork set of requirements for trainers starting horses in multiple jurisdictions. New York, for example, offers a waiver to trainers who started fewer than 12 horses the prior year. Those responsible for putting together course content all discussed the need to produce materials in Spanish, as well as the need to routinely update and refresh what’s on offer. That’s why the U.C. Davis crew will continue to “add about a half-hour every month,” to the materials already in place, said Arthur, who mentioned future courses on biosecurity and pharmacology. Mirroring Arthur’s words, O’Meara talked about adding content to the Advanced Horsemanship website that could tackle things like small business training, human resources, and immigration. In Belfiore’s eyes, continued education could be extended to owners, too. “Any time you can educate your stakeholders,” she said, “that’s going to make your business stronger.” View the full article

What a race in which to hope for a breakthrough-this white-knuckle stampede, round and round the roulette wheel of the Roodee. But if Cayirli (Fr) (Medicean {GB}) will need luck in the 188Bet Chester Cup on Friday, then his trainer has certainly earned it. Not just because Seamus Durack’s talents have, hitherto, seldom been matched by opportunity. Nor because his career as a jump jockey was effectively ended by such a dreadful fall, his femur broken in three and his hip dislocated. There are plenty of others around, after all, with similar complaints; plenty of others dismayed to see owners herd so unimaginatively round the same, few fashionable yards. But this is a horseman-reflective, acute, inquisitive-of unusual resources. And now, moreover, he has matched need with nerve. This spring the Irishman took a step back, and recognised three things. One was that a stable as small as the one he has been operating in Upper Lambourn for the past five years could ill afford the dilution of its precious successes by such an even split between Flat and jump horses. Another was that preserving a suitable standard would reduce even the numbers he had to maybe a dozen or so. And the other was that the place to do something about the situation, and quickly, was the breeze-ups. At Ascot, Doncaster and the Craven, Durack assembled no fewer than eight new recruits to The Croft. A sluggish market has been partly blamed on a lack of trainers with orders. But Durack didn’t have the orders, either. He just had belief, and bottle. “Sometimes you have to take calculated risks,” he says. “I wouldn’t necessarily have anyone to move these horses onto, straightaway, but otherwise you won’t have anything at all. So I suppose you have to be prepared for things to go against you as well. Which is grand, I’m not complaining, that’s the nature of the game.” “We’ve been doing well with the type of horses we’ve had, but had got too static. Last year we had a few that had reached a plateau. We bought a few nice older horses at the end of the year, but had no 2-year-olds. So I just wanted to be a bit aggressive and start pushing things forward. It’s hard to find clients, but I know that these horses were all well bought.” “The ground has been very loose at some of the sales, and a lot of the horses didn’t handle it. People have been relying more and more on times and stride length, they’re even adjusting for some vendors breezing quicker or slower than others. But I don’t know if they have often come across this type of ground and the effect it can have, especially on more backward horses.” Even in a market of inflated catalogues and depressed demand, Durack still had to look for an angle. At the Craven Sale, for instance, he cut a deal for a Dutch Art (GB) (Medicean {GB}) colt bought in by Oak Tree Farm for 50,000gns. His dam is out of a half-sister to three Group/Grade 1 winners in Eagle Mountain (GB) (Rock Of Gibraltar {Ire}), Dank (GB)(Dansili {GB}) and Sulk (Ire) (Selkirk). “I think he’d have made 200 grand, plus, if his X-rays had been clean,” Durack said. “He breezed very fast, finished really strong, the times and data were really good and Norman [Williamson] had told me how nice he was. The X-rays of his knees weren’t great, but I think a lot of horses with worse X-rays are running around as 4- and 5-year-olds. He’s very sound and I’m going to crack on with him. He could be a Royal Ascot horse, I think he’s tremendous value.” At the same sale Durack picked up a strapping Exceed And Excel (Aus) (Danehill) colt from a top-class Aga Khan family for 75,000gns, while the three he bought at Ascot and one at Doncaster were supplemented by a couple of unsold lots entrusted to his care with a brief to draw out their value. And that, despite the limited chances he has had, is demonstrably something Durack is equipped to do. Take his very first winner, Qaraaba (GB) (Shamardal), a Shadwell cast-off who had been able to win a maiden at two for John Dunlop but had then disappeared until the July Sale at Tattersalls. “She obviously had issues,” the 42-year-old recalls. “She was a massive unit, a typical Shamardal, and they said she was hanging, she was running off the gallops, she was tying up. It was nearly a year before we ironed out her problems and got her to win.” She did so, in a Sandown handicap, off 73. By the time Peter Deal sold her to join Simon Callaghan in California, she was rated 102 and had been beaten barely a length in the Wolferton at Royal Ascot. In four starts leading up to that race, she had been beaten only by a subsequent group winner running off 85. “Unfortunately at Ascot she was drawn widest, was very keen and dropped in last,” Durack says. “That didn’t really suit the track, and she ended up not quite getting there. But Peter sold her very well, to Lady Bamford and Michael Tabor, and she did win a Grade III for Simon before getting injured.” Nor was that a flash in the pan. The Rectifier (Langfuhr) was a 6-year-old rated 88 when Durack restored him to form, winning four races in a year on his way up to 106. Then there was the painful case of Litigant (GB) (Sinndar {Ire}), found at Doncaster in January 2013 for just £18,500. It was 18 months since his last start for Andre Fabre, and he was reputed to have a back problem; he was “gobby,” wouldn’t accept the bit. Durack discovered that the horse had a blind wolf tooth, and also fired his palate. After flying into second on his debut for the yard, Litigant won his next three races including the All-Weather Championship Marathon. Here was the horse to put his trainer on the map. But Litigant got a leg; and, during his absence, his owner moved his horses on. (Among them was one who had joined Durack with a career record of 0-15 and a rating of 65, only to reel off three wins in a row before running fourth in the November Handicap off 88.) Litigant resurfaced for Joe Tuite and promptly won the Ebor. Unbowed, last year Durack received a steeplechaser from Ireland palpably on the downgrade: 2 1/2 years without a win, and tailed off in blinkers on his last start. He won his second, third and fourth starts for Durack, advancing his rating from 102 to 129 in the process. And now there is Cayirli, a roll of the dice-at €80,000 in Arqana’s Autumn Sale in 2015-on an Aga Khan horse who had been plying his trade at 10 furlongs for Jean-Claude Rouget. “He’s out of a Montjeu mare,” Durack says. “I’d looked at the videos and he was getting tapped for toe before staying on, dropped in too far a couple of times as well. I was sure one of the jump lads would be in for him, but they were going for the bigger horses; he has grown quite a bit since coming here.” Durack targeted the Ascot S., but the horse missed the cut so was chanced in the Queen Alexandra instead. Making only his fourth start for the yard, and dismissed at 40-1, he finished second of 18. Since then, Cayirli developed a problem tying up. But Durack has changed his diet and put him on a herbal mix. After a 537-day absence, the forgotten 6-year-old reappeared in the Queen’s Prize at Kempton last month. He started at 50-1, was always travelling strongly, and bolted up. A perfectly reasonable 5lbs hike guarantees him a start at Chester. “Faye Bramley used to ride Litigant a lot, and she says he’s as good,” Durack says. “What he has now, that he didn’t have before, is a gear. Obviously stayers improve with time. That massive run at Ascot maybe knocked him for the rest of the year. But he’s a lot stronger now.” Even the fact that few of around 450 winners Durack rode as a jockey were of elite calibre arguably represents an ideal grounding. Very often it is the journeymen, not the champion jockeys, who prove best equipped for the day-to-day problems of the horse in training. But few insiders to the sport, of any rank, have shared Durack’s determination to ask each question afresh; to learn for himself, rather than as someone else’s assistant. As such, perhaps the key to what sets him apart is that little, throwaway detail in Cayirili’s story, about tracking down a herbal treatment. “I’ve done it all methodically, really educated myself through the whole field,” Durack stresses. “If I don’t know something, I’ll research it until I know it inside out. I’ve done it for myself, first hand. If I do something, it’s not because I’m following somebody else but because I have seen all the effects or drawbacks of all different types of exercise. It probably took me more time that way, but it’s been a really interesting learning curve.” “If you can do it by trial and error, and approach it scientifically, I think in the long run it’s probably the best way to learn. I suppose it’s a bit similar to the way Martin Pipe figured it out for himself. Obviously I wouldn’t even remotely compare myself to him. But he just went through that process of figuring it out when he didn’t have any experience.” Durack, in contrast, is a lifelong horseman. So, for all his natural modesty, he has a persuasive conviction. “My horses get a good base of fitness and strength, and then they start doing shorter, faster work,” he explains. “I’m surprised how little you get away with jumpers, especially, to keep them fresh and hold their form. A lot of jump horses you see at the races get very lean and over-trained. We’ve had horses that looked like hat-racks before and given them a break, fed them and built them up into our regime-and then they’re eating away and they’re fresh.” “I can definitely train. It takes time to get a good team, the way we have now. There’s no corners cut, and we try and communicate well with the owners. But it’s the same as riding: you can just be tipping away and then when you get a bit of success, the whole thing can snowball.” View the full article