Wandering Eyes

My first experience of watching the Kentucky Derby as an owner (a very small stake) turned out to be…well, dangerous. Now, when I called the race for a number of years I could have sold my TV/VIP credential and bought a mid-sized car. I chose not to and stay employed. My calling position was seven or eight stories above the track, directly on the finish line with totally unencumbered views of the race from within an enclosed glass booth, replete with a security guard to boot. Pretty safe. But for Derby 2017, I was a fan and not cocooned in my commodious compartment. I was a fan of Always Dreaming (Bodemeister) and a part of the ownership stake that West Point Thoroughbreds had in the colt. So, for my first Derby as a civilian in over 25 years, I had a seat near my compatriots in an area facing the paddock. That was fine with me–I had seen the track view so many times over the decades and it was refreshing to check out the paddock scene. And unlike my working days, my ticket included an open bar. Nothing wrong with that. So, the afternoon turns to early evening and “My Old Kentucky Home” time approaches. I had made my way to the paddock to get near the big horse. Maybe snap a selfie. I must admit I had never experienced any thrill like this before. Admittedly…I felt pretty damn cool. Luckily, no one took my pulse rate. I would have been hospitalized immediately. Now, given my status as a minor shareholder, I stayed back a few feet behind the main principles: Vinnie Viola, Anthony Bonomo, Anthony Manganaro and Terry Finley of West Point. But I still managed that selfie. Hey, I was a tourist that day. The horses made their way onto the track. My Old Kentucky Home” wafts above and, sorry, but the song never made me weep. It was always a bad idea to be crying five minutes before you have to call the Derby. And I am not so lachrymose to begin with. Anyway…I take my dry-eyed self to the tunnel that leads from the paddock to the track. I’ll watch the race from there on the big screen infield TV across the track. And, should we win, I could have quick access to the winner’s circle across the track. Post time. 160,000 scream in unison. My heart rate is now at an incalculable rate. I am at my viewing point, standing in the tunnel up against the wall. I catch a glimpse of the tops of the horses as the huge field streaks past us. I redirect my attention to the big TV screen and then all hell breaks loose. People in the tunnel scream, “Get out of the way! Move it! Move!!!” In a flash, the red-coated outrider aloft his horse has a hold of Thunder Snow (Helmet {Aus}) and his blue-silked jockey Christophe Soumillon. People scattering, shrieking, getting the hell out of the way. I had nowhere to go. I was literally up against the wall. And coming toward me is this huge, bug-eyed animal in a panic. Turns out just as the Derby gate had opened, the Dubai-based Thunder Snow, totally unaccustomed to American racing, the muddy track conditions and 160,000 roaring maniacs just went bonkers. He was buck jumping down the track like a rodeo bull. Dangerous situation. The outrider, who did a great job by the way, had to get this very distraught and upset Thoroughbred out of harm’s way. And that way was taking him off the track and through the tunnel into the paddock all while the Derby was in full progress. And here he is scaring me to death. I swear he looked me right in the eye. Now, I must admit I am a bit afraid of horses. I never have gotten close to them because they make me sneeze and I have never felt comfortable in their company. Don’t accuse me of not loving horses. I love them as much as anyone. But I love them from a distance. That distance was now about six inches. The agitated 1,000 pounds of muscle and sinew wheeled his rear end into perfect striking position toward my person. The resulting kick would have made for a most eventful or perhaps final Derby memory for me. I was now pretty much pinned to wall and managed to push his back end away from me and just as I did that…the outrider straightened him out and they raced toward the paddock. Whew! I shake my head trying to compose myself and get my heartrate somewhere below 300 beats a minute. And then I realize…OMG! Always Dreaming. The Derby! I had missed most of the race being part of this commotion. By now the horses are three furlongs from home. I ask the girl next to me, `Where is Always Dreaming?’ He’s in front. OMG. PS: Where are they now? Always Dreaming won the Derby but did not fare well the rest of the year. Turns out he had ulcers. He is fine now and is running on Oaks Day at Churchill Downs in the $400,000 GII Alysheba S. Thunder Snow is back home where he won the $10,000,000 G1 Dubai World Cup and is considered by many to be the best dirt horse in training in the world. View the full article

Off at an ultimately generous even money, MIGHTY SCARLETT (f, 3, Scat Daddy–Thundering Emilia, by Thunder Gulch) made light work of things to graduate at second asking on closing day at Keeneland to become the newest ‘TDN Rising Star’. The chestnut, exiting a runner-up effort on the Tampa Bay Derby undercard Mar. 10, allowed whatever speed there was to clear and was guided down towards the inside to sit fourth with a lap to travel. Allowed to lob along from that position as the pace slackened through the middle stages, she was joined to her outside by her chief market rival Smart Shot (Skipshot) nearing the half-mile marker, but Mighty Scarlett was asked for some run and was alongside pacesetting Dayfa (Tiznow) as they raced around the turn. Held together into the lane by Jose Ortiz, Mighty Scarlett kicked anew into the final furlong and a half and sped away to romp by about five lengths. First-starter Brie’s Lucky Charm (Mastercraftsman {Ire}) ran on nicely to finish a highly promising second, while Smart Shot held for third. The win was the 12th from just 22 starters at the boutique meet for trainer Chad Brown. Lifetime Record: 2-1-1-0. O-Long Lake Stable LLC, Head of Plains Partners, Doheny Racing Stable & Thomas Coleman; B-Teneri Farm Inc & Bernardo Alvarez Calderon (KY); T-Chad Brown. View the full article

The official inauguration of ParisLongchamp racecourse takes place on Sunday despite the fact that the track opened three weeks ago and has already held five meetings. France Galop president Edouard de Rothschild has been pleased with the response to the new facilities so far, both from the horsemen and the racing public, and admits that adjustments have been made in line with feedback received. “Anybody who’s moved into a new house knows that you need time to adjust, even if you have worked alongside the architect to make it the way you felt was right,” he said. “We welcomed all our guests before we have had a chance to chill out, but we watch and listen to our visitors, we have tested everything and we have tried to adjust to the people’s wishes. It is something we are used to at France Galop, since we are a non-profit association. We do have to please as many members as we can. I must say that so far the racing people have been very positive and I am glad they are, because this racecourse is their home as much as it is mine. This is where we need to show the world what we do best. We just cannot fail.” The European turf season has started with the hangover of one of the worst winters of recent times, with soft ground a regular feature, and it looks as though Sunday’s meeting will be held in similarly testing conditions. De Rothschild continued, “We also had to deal with bad weather and it looks like Sunday, of all days, could be rainy. There’s nothing we can do about that. We just need to take our umbrellas along. But since the opening, we have had the opportunity to improve a few things, make sure the public, as well as the owners and trainers move around swiftly, find their way and their spaces easily, have a chance to enjoy the show we put on the course. In the end, of course, we are gathered here for the racing.” In that regard, de Rothschild and his team could hardly have wished for a better opening act than to be welcoming Europe’s top-rated colt, Cracksman (GB) (Frankel {GB}), to tackle the first Group 1 race to be staged at ParisLongchamp, the Prix Ganay. “It’s largely thanks to Anthony Oppenheimer and John Gosden, who have trusted us once again by showing their champion Cracksman to the French crowds,” he added. “He has been a great addition to the field of the Prix Ganay. We couldn’t dream of such a star lining up when we decided to double the race’s prize-money to €600,000. I think that it is a good idea because the Prix Ganay is wonderfully timed, early enough in the season to pull in some of the winter champions and late enough to provide a nice springboard for the main European season, with the Qatar Arc weekend as our climax. With Enable, Cracksman and the Ballydoyle squad still around, and possibly new champions revealed in the next couple of months from all over Europe, we look forward to a great homecoming Arc weekend.” View the full article

Diamond Creek Farm’s ADAM BOWDEN The Mad, Dizzy Carousel of CHESTER What’s Going On At THE KENTUCKY CASTLE? Where To Eat At This Year’s PREAKNESS Host a DERBY PARTY View the full article

6th-SAN, £10,000, Cond, 4-27, 3yo, f, 9f 209yT, 2:17.40, g/s. CRYSTAL HOPE (GB) (f, 3, by Nathaniel (Ire) 1st Dam: Crystal Etoile (GB), by Dansili (GB) 2nd Dam: Crystal Star (GB), by Mark of Esteem (Ire) 3rd Dam: Crystal Cavern, by Be My Guest Crystal Hope, who hails from the same family of the card’s G3 Gordon Richards S. winner Crystal Ocean (GB) (Sea the Stars {Ire}), was clueless when sixth on debut over an extended mile at Nottingham in October and little was expected other than further tutelage as she started at 14-1. Settled in mid-division by William Buick throughout the early stages, the homebred was delivered with a strong challenge down the outer to take command with a furlong remaining and surge clear of Give and Take (GB) (Cityscape {GB}) to win by three lengths. The 10-11 favourite Highgarden (GB) (Nathaniel {Ire}), a descendant of the G1SW Rebelline (Ire) (Robellino), held every chance but could only stay on at one pace to be 1 1/4 lengths further away in third. Lifetime Record: 2-1-0-0, $9,002. Video, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton. O-Sir Evelyn De Rothschild; B-Southcourt Stud (GB); T-Sir Michael Stoute. View the full article

Magnum Moon, Audible, Vino Rosso, and Noble Indy each gained the approval of their trainer April 27 after the first three each covered a half-mile in their final tune ups, with Noble Indy going five furlongs. View the full article

Beginning Thursday, May 3, first post time on all Santa Anita Park live racing days, excepting three Triple Crown Saturdays, will be at 12:30 p.m. PT. View the full article

In this ongoing series, Alan Carasso takes a look ahead at US-bred and/or conceived runners entered for the upcoming weekend at the tracks on the Japan Racing Association circuit, with a focus on pedigree and/or performance in the sales ring. Here are the horses of interest for this weekend running at Kyoto Racecourses: Sunday, April 29, 2018 5th-KYO, ¥13,720,000 ($126k), Allowance, 3yo, 1800mT BEST MY WAY (c, 3, Point of Entry–Hug It Out, by Medaglia d’Oro) has placed three times from his five career appearances to date, all on the dirt, highlighted by a maiden victory going this distance at this venue Jan. 21. The bay, who is out of a stakes-placed half-sister to GSW Macho Macho (Macho Uno), tries the grass for the first time and hails from the extended female family of Grade I-winning turf miler Designed For Luck (Rahy). A $15K KEENOV weanling and $39K FTKJUL buyback, Best My Way was a $675K OBSMAR juvenile, the most expensive of 13 sold for his sire in 2017. B-Nursery Place, Donaldson & Broadbent (KY) 10th-KYO, ¥34,200,000 ($314k), Open Class, 3yo, 1400m Once second from four starts on turf to begin his career, JASPER PRINCE (c, 3, Violence–Ambitious Journey, by Bernardini) dropped in class and demolished a field of Sonoda maidens by double digits in his dirt debut Mar. 14 (gate 8). A $60K KEESEP yearling turned $100K OBSMAR breezer, the May 29 foal is a maternal grandson of Sovereign Award-winning turf mare Ambitious Cat (Storm Cat, MGSW & GISP). His third dam includes 1997 GI Kentucky Oaks winner Blushing K. D. (Blushing John). B-Hill ‘n’ Dale Equine Holdings Inc (KY) 12th-KYO, ¥34,620,000 ($317k), Allowance, 4yo/up, 1400m HONEY JADE (f, 4, Harlan’s Holiday–Hard Hat, by Hard Spun) has not finished outside the top two in five appearances on the dirt, including victories at Hanshin last September (gate 5) and a latest defeat of G1 Dubai Golden Shaheen fifth Matera Sky (Speightstown) in a 1200m test at this track Jan. 8. Produced by a half-sister to GISW Albert the Great (Go For Gin), Honey Jade was a $130K FTKJUL yearling and $300K FTFMAR breezer. B-John P Hicks, William D Hart, Dr Jerry Bilinski & John Murdza (NY) View the full article

G1 Poule d’Essai des Pouliches hope Barkaa (Fr) (Siyouni {Fr}) has been bought privately by American owners Peter Brant of White Birch Farm and Joseph Allen, according to Jour de Galop. Barkaa, who previously raced in the colours of Gerard Augustin-Normand, has won three of four starts, including this season’s Listed Prix de Californie on Feb. 11 and G3 Prix Vanteaux, which she won by four lengths on Apr. 8. Jeremy Para, spokesman for trainer Fabrice Vermeulen, told Jour de Galop, “The filly will go directly to the [G1 Poule d’Essai des Pouliches on May 13]. She will then have two possibilities: the [G1] Prix de Diane Longines or the [G1] Coronation S. Barkaa is also engaged in the [G1] Qatar Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe. She will certainly leave France at the end of the season to [go to] the United States.” Peter Brant has been very active as of late buying French-raced fillies. His other recent acquisitions include the French Group 3 winner Sistercharlie (Ire) (Myboycharlie {Ire}), the winner of the GI Jenny Wiley S. two weeks ago at Keeneland; last year’s Pouliches winner Precieuse (Ire) (Tamayuz {GB}); and last year’s G3 Albany S. winner Different League (Fr) (Dabirsim {Fr}), which he partnered with Coolmore to buy at Tattersalls December last year. View the full article

The UK flat racing season is now well underway and it’s time to start looking ahead to the 2018 renewal of the Lockinge Stakes (Sunday 20th May), which is one of Newbury’s biggest contests. Our ante-post market is already live, so let’s take a look at some of the horses that are getting backed to win this prestigious Group 1 encounter. Click Here For Latest Odds! Le Brivido (FR) Age: 4 (Foaled April 3rd, 2014), Sex: Bay Colt, Breeding: Siyouni (FR) – (Dr Fong (USA)), Trainer: A Fabre, Owner: Hrh Prince Faisal Bin Khaled/mrs Magni This French challenger from Andre Fabre’s stable comes over with an excellent record. He won his only race, as a 2-year-old, on the artificial surface at Chantilly. Le Brevido was then mothballed and came back to the same course in April last year – securing victory, on the same surface. Following that run, his next race was at Deauville (the French 2000 Guineas) and he was just beaten a short head by Brametot in a fighting finish. After these promising runs, connections decided to send the colt to Royal Ascot for the Jersey Stakes where he was backed down to 2/1 before the off. He took that contest by a neck, beating Spirit Of Valour from Aidan O’Brien’s stable who was a 66/1 outsider. Le Brivido was not seen at a racecourse, on either side of the Channel, during the rest of 2017 – finally emerging in the Abernant Stakes, in April, where he was beaten by Brando. He was sent-off as the 6/5 favourite in that encounter and connections will have been disappointed with the performance. However, the outing should have done him some good and Le Brivido can be expected to run a big race. Rhododendron (IRE) Age: 4 (Foaled February 11th, 2014), Sex: Bay Filly, Breeding: Galileo (IRE) – Halfway To Heaven (IRE) (Pivotal), Trainer: A P O’Brien, Owner: Mrs John Magnier & Michael Tabor & Derrick Smith She’s a beautifully proportioned filly from Aiden O’Brien’s yard that runs in the Tabor/Magnier colours. The 4-year-old won at Glorious Goodwood, then also in the Dubai Fillies Mile at Newmarket as 2-year-old and started as the warm favourite for the 1000 Guineas at the same course last May. She was very unlucky in not getting a clear run and had to to be switched sharply left, a couple of furlongs out. However, she stuck to her task and took 2nd behind another O’Brien horse – Winter. Rhododendron then went to Epsom for for the Oaks and again was the bridesmaid, when well beaten by Enable, but she finished well clear of the rest of the field. The filly then ran a poor race in Ireland but bounced back to win the Prix De L’Opera at Chantilly, before heading for the USA to run in the Breeders Cup Filly And Mare Turf. She finished a very creditable second behind Wuheida. Most believe she will be better suited by the flat course at Newbury, rather than the undulations of Newmarket. Rhododendron appears to take any going in her stride, having won on good to firm twice – once on soft and once on yielding to soft, O’Brien believes she is in excellent form, she has wintered well and looks ready to prove her class. Beat The Bank Age: 4 (Foaled March 27th, 2014), Sex: Bay Gelding, Breeding: Paco Boy (IRE) – Tiana (Diktat), Trainer: A M Balding, Owner: King Power Racing Co Ltd This Paco Boy-sired gelding had a great campaign, last year, firstly winning a modest race for Darren Bunyan at Dundalk. He then crossed the Irish Sea and joined Andrew Balding’s yard. Under his new trainer he first appeared at Newmarket and won by a neck from Salsabeel. Beat The Bank was then sent to Royal Ascot for the Jersey Stakes, but was well-beaten. His next race saw him stepped-up from 7 furlongs to a mile again (at Newmarket). Victory in the Henry Cecil Stakes was followed by wins in both the Thoroughbred Stakes and the Joel Stakes. His last outing was in the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes where Jim Crowley’s hold-up ride failed to pay dividends and the horse finished 10th of 15. However, Balding feels confident enough for the horse to make seasonal reappearance in the the big race at Newbury. “The likelihood is that Beat The Bank will probably start off in the Lockinge Stakes and we’ll take it from there. He’s an exciting horse, and King Power have some very exciting young horses, as have many of my other owners. We’re quite lucky to have a very nice intake this year.” Limato (IRE) Age: 6 (Foaled February 8th, 2012), Sex: Bay Gelding, Breeding: Tagula (IRE) – Come April (Singspiel (IRE)), Trainer: H Candy, Owner: Mr Paul G Jacobs Henry Candy’s charge finished the season off in style, winning the Challenge Stakes at Newmarket – seeing off Massaat by 3.5 lengths. Limato had previously run 4th in the Lennox Stakes and had every chance of winning but ran out of gas in the final furlong. Prior to that, he was runner-up in the July Cup at Newmarket (a race he won in 2016, when he beat Suedois by a couple of lengths), losing out to Harry Angel. Harry Bentley had him well-placed to challenge, but he was carried right and badly hampered. Limato still ran on well inside the final furlong and missed out by just over a length. Candy must now feel he is stronger and able to step-up to a mile in, top class company. Zabeel Prince (IRE) Age: 5 (Foaled March 7th, 2013), Sex: Chestnut Gelding, Breeding: Lope De Vega (IRE) – Princess Serena (USA) (Unbridled’s Song (USA)), Trainer: R Varian, Owner: Sheikh Mohammed Obaid Al Maktoum This 5-year-old certainly made his presence felt, last term, rattling up a 3-timer in quick succession. His maiden success at Nottingham was at the expense of the favourite Cape To Cuba, who he put firmly in his place when winning by 3 lengths. Zabeel Prince went on from that score at Yarmouth in a handicap, winning easily from London. Then once again in handicap company at York, he picked-up another easy win – beating Bravery by almost 3 lengths. Following these successes, Roger Varian decided to up the stakes and try him in the Balmoral Handicap at Ascot on British Champions Day. The race came only 8 days after his York victory and although he was sent off 4/1 2nd-favourite he was not up to the task, finishing 11th of 20. The race probably came too soon after his previous exertions and he can, perhaps, be excused that poor run. Zabeel Prince made his 2018 reappearance in the Doncaster Mile and absolutely hacked-up – beating Born To Be Alive by 2.5 lengths and putting in a performance that will surely have connections feeling bullish again. “I was pleased with Zabeel Prince at Doncaster and he will improve massively for the run. I think he was fit enough, but only to the level where I thought there would be a good chunk of improvement to come… I’m not going to rush him. I would happily go straight to the Lockinge as he goes well fresh. I think he can have a very good year.” said Varian, after the win. Inns Of Court (IRE) Age: 4 (Foaled April 9th, 2014), Sex: Bay Colt, Breeding: Invincible Spirit (IRE) – Learned Friend (GER) (Seeking The Gold (USA)), Trainer: A Fabre, Owner: Godolphin Inns Of Court has run 7 times altogether in France and has won on 4 occasions, earning over a quarter of a million euros. His first outing was at Saint Cloud and although he raced keenly and was outpaced 2 furlongs out, he made good headway and asserted his superiority close to home and got the better of Degrisement. He then went to Deauville for the French 2000 Guineas and led briefly at halfway but didn’t stay and finished 6th. Following this defeat he was dropped down in class for a Group 3 at Maisons-Laffitte, where he asserted his authority over the final furlong and was driven out to hold-off the challenge of Attendu. He followed this victory with another at Deauville, winning a shade cosily from African Ride in a Group 3 encounter. The following month he ran at Deauville again and was beaten a short-head, by Al Wukair. In his final race at Chantilly (Prix Du Moulin De Longchamp) he finished 5th in a race won by Ribchester. Inns Of Court had an excellent season in France as a 3 year old and connections will have high-hopes for the 2018 campaign. Suedois (FR) Age: 7 (Foaled May 15th, 2011), Sex: Bay Gelding, Breeding: Le Havre (IRE) – Cup Cake (Singspiel (IRE)), Trainer: D O’Meara, Owner: Mr George Turner & Clipper Logistics This much-traveled 7-year-old gelding takes his place in the Lockinge on the back of a great end to his 2017 season, which saw him win a brace of notable contests. He was originally bred in France and owned by his breeder Mme Elisabeth Vidal, until the beginning of 2016, when he was bought by George Turner as a 5-year-old. In his early career, he was mostly raced on all-weather tracks at Chantilly and Deauville. Suedois moved to David O’Meara’s stables in March 201. During his first season he didn’t make the winners enclosure, however he gained plenty of place money – only losing out to horses of the like of Limato, Quiet Reflection, Twilight Son and Magical Memory. Last season he began sprinting and went down to Tasleet, Gordon Lord Byron and The Tin Man against which he ran 7th in the Diamond Jubilee Stakes at Royal Ascot. O’Meara then moved him up to 7 furlongs and he ran 3rd to Breton Rock at Goodwood and also to Talaayeb at York. The trainer then moved him up to a mile and that was the making of him. He went to Leopardstown and took the Boomerang Stakes, narrowly beating True Valour. The Le Havre-sired gelding then crossed the Atlantic to Keeneland and landed the valuable Shadwell Turf Mile. He finished the season at Del Mar coming 4th in the Breeders’ Cup Mile, but he did not get a clear run that day and can be considered a little unlucky. O’Meara admiringly describes him as a ‘proper street fighter’. Lightning Spear Age: 7 (Foaled April 5th, 2011), Sex: Chestnut Horse, Breeding: Pivotal – Atlantic Destiny (IRE) (Royal Academy (USA)), Trainer: D M Simcock, Owner: Qatar Racing Limited David Simcock’s 7 year old has had 21 races under rules and won 6 of them. Originally trained by Ralph Beckett, he was passed to Olly Stevens before reaching Simcock in April 2016. Under his watchful eye he had 5 runs in his first season, mainly at Ascot and Goodwood where he beat Zonderland in a the Celebration Mile. Lightning Spear started last season, by finishing runner-up in a race that was won by Ribchester. He did not have the pace to genuinely challenge, but kept on well enough. He then went to Royal Ascot for the Queen Anne, but made no impression and it was a similar story in the Eclipse at Sandown. Next up was the Sussex Stakes at Goodwood and he gave a better account of himself, finishing just a length behind Here Comes When with Ribchester finishing 2nd. Lightning Spear then returned to Goodwood to defend his Celebration Mile crown and he inflicted more pain on Zonderland’s connections by doing just that. The victory was by just a nose and came as a huge relief to jockey Oisin Murphy.. “I just about got it right. I made no secret about how tactical the race was going to be. It was impossible to know what was going to happen, but you have to have confidence you have chosen to do the right thing and thankfully I just about got it right. The horse finished his season with a poor run at Chantilly in the Prix Du Moulin De Longchamp and a middling effort in the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes – won by Persuasive. In December he went to Sha Tin and finished 10th of 14 in the Hong Kong Mile. We’ll soon see if the Winter has been kind to him. Librisa Breeze Age: 6 (Foaled February 6th, 2012), Sex: Grey Gelding, Breeding: Mount Nelson – Bruxcalina (FR) (Linamix (FR)), Trainer: D K Ivory, Owner: Mr Tony Bloom The horse has a record of 6 wins from 17 runs and 4 of those wins have come under Dean Ivory, since he took over the training of this grey gelding in February 2016 from Jeremy Noseda. His first run for Ivory was at Wolverhampton on the all-weather, where he was held up, switched right, hung left and then ran on well to lead inside the final furlong and win by a length – beating Capo Rosso. That was in April 2016 and his trainer had seen enough to send him to Ascot for the Royal Hunt Cup, where he ran second to Portage. He came back to Ascot in July to win the International Stakes from Squats and then finished 4th in the City Of York Stakes. Last year he started slowly with mediocre performances at Ascot, Goodwood and Newbury. In October he returned to Ascot and landed the British Champions Sprint Stakes – squeezing through a narrow gap to secure the win. Lightning Spear’s last outing was in the Hong Kong Mile, but he could only manage 10th place. “He’s better over 7 furlongs, though in saying that he has done very well over 6, as he has a huge turn of foot when they go a fast pace. I would think this could be a big year for him.” says Ivory. Lancaster Bomber (USA) Age: 4 (Foaled March 14th, 2014), Sex: Bay Colt, Breeding: War Front (USA) – Sun Shower (IRE) (Indian Ridge), Trainer: A P O’Brien, Owner: Michael Tabor & Derrick Smith & Mrs John Magnier Another of Aidan O’Brien’s 4-year-old colts who has been highly tried in his races but this one has only once visited the winners enclosure and that was at Leopardstown as a 2-year-old in 2016. The War Front colt has run in some amazing races, particularly as a 2 year old when 2nd to Churchill in the Dewhurst at Newmarket. He went to Meydan to start his 3-year-old career and ran 4th in the UAE Derby, where he finished just 2 lengths behind Thunder Snow. After that he went as a pacemaker for Churchill in the 2000 Guineas at Newmarket and that has largely been the story of his career. He was asked to do the same at The Curragh, in the Irish Guineas and in the St James’s Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot where he secured runner-up spot behind Barney Roy with Churchill only 4th. Connections then decided he was worthy of racing in his own right instead of just being a pacemaker but he flopped in the Sussex Stakes at Goodwood and was then sent across the pond to Woodbine where he finished a creditable 2nd. Lancaster Bomber was then brought back to Ascot for the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes (again as a pacemaker for Churchill) but finished well-tailed-off and Persuasive proved to be too good for Churchill on the day. O’Brien put him in the Breeders Cup at Del Mar USA, Sha Tin Hong Kong and Meydan UAE, all without success. Will he ever be more than a water carrier? Betting With RaceBets Join us today and we’ll match your initial deposit with bonus cash, up to a maximum of £50! RaceBets offers markets for action taking place in over 40 countries and you’ll find all of the big upcoming races, in our ante-post section. The post 2018 Newbury Lockinge Stakes Preview appeared first on RaceBets Blog EN. View the full article

After making a mockery of the prestigious Lincoln H. at Doncaster Mar. 24, Sheikh Ahmed bin Rashid Al Maktoum’s Addeybb (Ire) (Pivotal {GB}) proved he was too good for handicaps with an emphatic success in Friday’s G2 bet365 Mile at Sandown. Kept apart from the main bunch early by James Doyle, the 6-4 favourite had an ideal lead and when shaken up in the straight earned the advantage approaching the furlong pole en route to a 2 3/4-length success from Stormy Antarctic (GB) (Stormy Atlantic). Friday, Sandown, Britain BET365 MILE-G2, £100,000, SAN, 4-27, 4yo/up, 8fT, 1:45.48, g/s. 1–ADDEYBB (IRE), 127, g, 4, by Pivotal (GB) 1st Dam: Bush Cat, by Kingmambo 2nd Dam: Arbusha, by Danzig 3rd Dam: Lulu Mon Amour, by Tom Rolfe 1ST BLACK-TYPE WIN, 1ST GROUP WIN. (200,000gns Ylg ’15 TAOCT). O-Sheikh Ahmed bin Rashid Al Maktoum; B-Rabbah Bloodstock Ltd (IRE); T-William Haggas; J-James Doyle. £56,710. Lifetime Record: 7-5-0-1, $217,315. *1/2 to Meer Kat (Ire) (Red Ransom), GSP-US. Werk Nick Rating: A. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree. 2–Stormy Antarctic (GB), 127, g, 5, Stormy Atlantic–Bea Remembered (GB), by Doyen (Ire). (68,000gns Wlg ’13 TATFOA; 200,000gns 2yo ’15 TATBRE). O-Pak Kwan Siu; B-East Bloodstock Ltd (GB); T-Ed Walker. £21,500. 3–Aljazzi (GB), 124, m, 5, Shamardal–Nouriya (GB), by Danehill Dancer (Ire). O/B-Saleh Al Homaizi & Imad Al Sagar (GB); T-Marco Botti. £10,760. Margins: 2 3/4, NK, 2. Odds: 1.50, 4.50, 7.00. Also Ran: Robin of Navan (Fr), Here Comes When (Ire), Sovereign Debt (Ire), Khafoo Shememi (Ire), Mr. Owen. Click for the Racing Post result or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. Video, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton. View the full article

Newtown Anner Stud’s Beckford (GB) (Bated Breath {GB}) may have stayed in the U.S. last year after his respectable fifth in the GI Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf, but connections of the 3-year-old still have international ambitions, and he could be set for a trip to Royal Ascot for the G1 Commonwealth Cup on June 22. Beckford makes his 3-year-old debut-and his first start since finishing 2 1/4 lengths adrift of GI Kentucky Derby entrant Mendelssohn (Scat Daddy) at the Breeders’ Cup-on Saturday in the opening night feature at Churchill Downs, the $100,000 William Walker S. over five furlongs on the turf, for which he is a morning line 3-1. Beckford also makes his first appearance for Irish-born trainer Brendan Walsh, who is enjoying a growing profile in the U.S. Walsh is taking the colt’s preparation one step at a time, however, and said he wants to get past Saturday’s test before making any further commitments. “We’ll take it one step at a time, but we’ve nominated him for Royal Ascot to have that option there,” Walsh said. “If things were to go really well it would be a consideration for sure, but we’ll see how tomorrow goes first and go from there.” Beckford, who was purchased privately by Newtown Anner Stud from Nick Bradley Racing after winning on debut at The Curragh last May, was previously trained in Ireland and through the Breeders’ Cup by Gordon Elliott. Beckford built on that first-out promise to win the G2 Railway S. at The Curragh and then had a busy and productive six weeks, finishing second in the G1 Keeneland Phoenix S. and the G1 Goffs Vincent O’Brien National S. and fifth behind U S Navy Flag in the G1 Middle Park S. He sat last early in the Breeders’ Cup before coming up the rail to be narrowly beaten by Mendelssohn (video). Walsh said Beckford has wintered well and taken the transatlantic adjustment in stride. “He’s a grand horse,” the trainer said. “He’s very straightforward, just a nice horse to be around. He seems like he’s taken to everything here like a duck to water. He’s done well so we’re hoping for a good run tomorrow night.” The William Walker will be Beckford’s first try over five furlongs, both wins last year having come over six. The Commonwealth Cup is over six furlongs. “He’d run three-quarters in Ireland last year but it’s his first time going five eighths, so I think we’ll see what happens tomorrow then look at Ascot and the timing between everything and adjust from there if we need to make adjustments,” Walsh said. “Everything is hanging on tomorrow night so we’ll see how that goes first.” Having worked for Godolphin for five years prior to taking out his license, Walsh is no stranger to traveling horses, but a trip to Royal Ascot with Beckford would be a first international journey under his own name. “If this materialized it would be lovely to bring a horse back there, having spent a lot of time in England working and of course Ascot is great, so it would be great to have one suitable to bring there,” Walsh said. View the full article

Gestut Ammerland’s homebred Sevenna Star (Ire) (Redoute’s Choice {Aus}) had opened his account by 14 lengths at Windsor Apr. 16, but he had to work a lot harder to justify 15-8 favouritism in Friday’s G3 bet365 Classic Trial at Sandown. In third early behind Chilean (GB) (Iffraaj {GB}) and Ispolini (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}), he got to that pairing in the final 50 yards and upstaged the latter by a short head at the line to provide trainer John Gosden with a ninth edition of this Derby prep. Friday, Sandown, Britain BET365 CLASSIC TRIAL-G3, £70,000, SAN, 4-27, 3yo, 9f 209yT, 2:14.13, g/s. 1–SEVENNA STAR (IRE), 127, c, 3, by Redoute’s Choice (Aus) 1st Dam: Sevenna (Fr) (GSW-Eng), by Galileo (Ire) 2nd Dam: Silvassa (Ire), by Darshaan (GB) 3rd Dam: Slenderella (Ger), by Alpenkonig (Ger) 1ST BLACK-TYPE WIN, 1ST GROUP WIN. O-Gestut Ammerland; B-Ammerland Verwaltung GmbH & Co KG (IRE); T-John Gosden; J-Lanfranco Dettori. £39,697. Lifetime Record: 4-2-1-1, $63,411. *1/2 to Savanne (Ire) (Rock of Gibraltar {Ire}), GSW-Fr, $139,572; Sassella (Ire) (Lope de Vega {Ire}), SW-Fr; and Samurai (Ire) (Shamardal), SW-Swi. Werk Nick Rating: C+. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree. 2–Ispolini (GB), 127, c, 3, Dubawi (Ire)–Giants Play, by Giant’s Causeway. (1,200,000gns Ylg ’16 TATOCT). O-Godolphin; B-Newsells Park Stud (GB); T-Charlie Appleby. £15,050. 3–Hunting Horn (Ire), 127, c, 3, Camelot (GB)–Mora Bai (Ire), by Indian Ridge (Ire). O-Susan Magnier, Michael Tabor & Derrick Smith; B-Lynch-Bages & Rhinestone Bloodstock (IRE); T-Aidan O’Brien. £7,532. Margins: NO, 1 1/4, HF. Odds: 1.85, 4.50, 7.00. Also Ran: Chilean (GB), Sovereign Duke (Ger), Wafy (Ire), Come On Tier (Fr). Scratched: Jetstream (Ire), Stephensons Rocket (Ire). Click for the Racing Post result or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. Video, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton. View the full article

China Horse Club, Head of Plains Partners, Starlight Racing, and WinStar Farm's Justify put in his final timed work for the Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve (G1) at his Santa Anita Park home base April 27. View the full article

The Goffs Punchestown Sale, staged Thursday evening after racing at the Punchestown Festival, returned a record top price and a record average. The boutique sale was headed by the maiden winner Lecale’s Article (Ire) (Malinas {Ger}) (lot 12), who was bought by David Minton of Highflyer Bloodstock for €320,000 from Patrick Turley’s Kingsfield Stud. Fourteen of the 18 horses offered on the night were sold for an aggregate of €1,752,000 (up 4%), an average of €125,143 (up 11%) and a median of €110,000 (up 10%). Goffs Chief Executive Henry Beeby said, “The eighth Goffs Punchestown Sale proved to be the most successful so far with a record top price of €320,000 and a record average. We felt confident of a strong sale as the stables have never been as busy and vendors provided us with a catalogue of unprecedented quality.” View the full article

Last seen finishing second in the G1 St Leger at Doncaster in September, Sir Evelyn De Rothschild’s Crystal Ocean (GB) (Sea the Stars {Ire}) was even-money to provide Sir Michael Stoute with a ninth renewal of Sandown’s G3 bet365 Gordon Richards S. and duly delivered after a duel with Fabricate (GB) (Makfi {GB}). Settled second initially by Ryan Moore, the homebred was headed approaching two out and had to dig to get the better of that rival but managed it in the last half furlong en route to a short-head success. Friday, Sandown, Britain BET365 GORDON RICHARDS S.-G3, £70,000, SAN, 4-27, 4yo/up, 9f 209yT, 2:11.48, g/s. 1–CRYSTAL OCEAN (GB), 126, c, 4, by Sea The Stars (Ire) 1st Dam: Crystal Star (GB) (SW & GSP-Eng), by Mark of Esteem (Ire) 2nd Dam: Crystal Cavern, by Be My Guest 3rd Dam: Krisalya (GB), by Kris (GB) O-Sir Evelyn de Rothschild; B-Southcourt Stud (GB); T-Sir Michael Stoute; J-Ryan Moore. £39,697. Lifetime Record: G1SP-Eng, 7-3-2-2, $396,509. *1/2 to Hillstar (GB) (Danehill Dancer {Ire}), Hwt. 3yo-Eng at 11-14f, GISW-Can, MGSW & G1SP-Eng, $1,221,978; Crystal Capella (GB) (Cape Cross {Ire}), Hwt. Older Mare-Eng at 9.5-11f & MGSW-Eng, $550,532; and Crystal Zvezda (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}), SW-Eng. Werk Nick Rating: A++. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree. 2–Fabricate (GB), 126, g, 6, Makfi (GB)–Flight of Fancy (GB), by Sadler’s Wells. O/B-The Queen (GB); T-Michael Bell. £15,050. 3–Morando (Fr), 126, g, 5, Kendargent (Fr)–Moranda (Fr), by Indian Rocket (GB). (€230,000 Ylg ’14 ARAUG; 290,000gns 4yo ’17 TATAHI). O-King Power Racing Co Ltd; B-Guy Pariente Holding (FR); T-Andrew Balding. £7,532. Margins: NO, 1 1/4, 3/4. Odds: 1.00, 4.00, 7.00. Also Ran: Almodovar (Ire), What About Carlo (Fr), First Sitting (GB). Scratched: Spark Plug (Ire). Click for the Racing Post result or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. Video, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton. View the full article

Saturday will be action-packed and Nicky Henderson’s Top Notch takes on the likes of Double Shuffle and O O Seven, in the Grade 2 Oaksey Chase (Sandown 2:25pm). Then we’ll get to see the magnificent Altior competing on the track, in the Grade 1 Celebration Chase (Sandown 3:00pm). RaceBets’ brand ambassador, Sam Twiston-Davies, had no luck in the Grand National. Blaklion fell at the first fence, but the pair can bounce back by winning the Grade 3 Gold Cup Handicap Chase (Sandown 3:35pm). Wholestone represents his father Nigel’s yard, in the Grade 2 Select Hurdle (Sandown 4:05pm). The Listed King Richard III Stakes (2:45pm) is the feature contest at Leicester and this is usually a terrific race. Kimberella, Jallota and Roger Varian’s Emmaus are among this year’s runners. Meetings are also being held at Haydock, Ripon, Doncaster and Wolverhampton. There are 3 Grade 1 encounters at Punchestown, while the big races at Sha Tin (Hong Kong) include the Champions Mile, the Chairman’s Sprint Prize and the QEII Cup. There’s also the Group 1 Prix Ganay, at Longchamp (France). Good luck with your bets! View All Race-Cards Now! The post Saturday Big Race Preview – Altior To The Fore! appeared first on RaceBets Blog EN. View the full article

Disqualified Australian jockey Nash Rawiller has been released from custody in Hong Kong but it is yet to be announced whether he will face charges from the Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC). Rawiller was photographed on Friday by local press leaving ICAC headquarters in North Point at around 2.30pm, nearly 48 hours after he was detained at Hong Kong International Airport. The Hong Kong Jockey Club banned Rawiller for 15 months on Wednesday after finding the 43-year-old guilty of... View the full article

Champions Day looms as the first true test of the 2018 BMW Hong Kong Derby form and Chad Schofield is backing the tactical versatility of this year’s runner-up Singapore Sling to come to the fore in the HK$18 million Champions Mile. Singapore Sling was arguably the most consistent horse of this year’s four-year-old series; after a second to Nothingilikemore in the Classic Mile, he won the Classic Cup before finishing second to a rampant Ping Hai Star in the Derby. Ping Hai Star... View the full article

Plenty of Europeans have tried and failed to wrest superiority off the local sprinters at Sha Tin, so what makes Blue Point so different to the long list of visitors that have left here outpaced, overmatched and with their tails between their legs? It could just be a matter of timing, suggested Charlie Appleby, who brings Godolphin’s up-and-coming Blue Point to Sha Tin for Sunday’s Chairman’s Sprint Prize. “I think the difference is that we are dealing with a horse that... View the full article

“Oh, you thought Pakistan Star was crazy? Hold my beer.” It was as if Al Ain had heard about the reputation of Hong Kong racing’s resident racetrack rascal and Audemars Piguet QE II Cup rival Pakistan Star and tried to upstage him on Thursday at Sha Tin. Pakistan Star may have attracted worldwide racing fame with his stop-start act, but nobody does crazy racehorses better than the Japanese and Al Ain may just have sent his handler Shin Otose and trackwork rider Yuki Iwasaki... View the full article

OCALA, Fl – The Ocala Breeders’ Sales Company’s April Spring Sale of 2-Year-Olds marched through its third of four sessions Thursday in Central Florida, with figures ahead of last year’s record-setting auction. Through three sessions, OBS has sold 533 horses for a total of $51,550,500. The cumulative average is $96,718–up 8.1% from the same point a year ago–and the median is up 22.2% to $55,000. Thursday’s session, which saw 175 juveniles gross $16,047,500 for an average of $91,700 and a median of $55,000, was topped by a colt by War Front (hip 888) who sold for $725,000 to Emmanuel de Seroux’s Narvick International on behalf of Japanese owner Katsumi Yoshida. The colt was consigned by Niall Brennan, who continues to lead all consignors at the auction with 23 sold for a total of $5,187,000. Last year’s sale produced three seven-figure transactions, including the $2.45-million topper, and while this year’s renewal has lacked that breakout horse, 19 juveniles have sold for $400,000 or over, up from 14 a year ago. Bloodstock agent Mike Ryan, who purchased two of the top five lots Thursday, leads all buyers having purchased eight juveniles for $1,882,000. “The market is selectively strong,” Ryan said Thursday. “If you see something you like, you are going to have go 35% higher to get it. If you think it is worth $300,000, you better prepare to pay $400,000. Everybody wants the same horse. People are very thorough in their preparation. They know what they want and they will pay you well for the good ones.” Phoenix Thoroughbreds has purchased three horses so far at the four-day sale, including a $625,000 Giant’s Causeway colt (hip 726) from Off the Hook, LLC. The operation’s Tom Ludt agreed competition was stiff for the top offerings. “For the good horses that stand out, you are butting heads with the same people,” Ludt said. “They are going for more than you want to pay for, but if you want a good horse, you have to stretch a little bit.” Off the Hook’s Joe Appelbaum said activity has been building throughout the week in Ocala. “After the first day, it has really picked up,” Appelbaum said. “Day two we saw the median up, which gave me hope. It’s been hard to sell middle-market horses, but there seems to be a bit of a market here for them.” The OBS April sale concludes Friday with a session beginning at 10:30 a.m. War Front Colt Heading to Japan Emmanuel de Seroux of Narvick International made his second major purchase of the OBS April sale, going to $725,000 to secure a colt by War Front on behalf of Katsumi Yoshida during Thursday’s third session of the OBS April sale. De Seroux, who did his bidding out back alongside Japanese agent Riki Takahashi, purchased a colt by Speightstown for $700,000 during Wednesday’s session of the four-day auction. “We have been trying for a while to get a good War Front colt and they are not so easy to get,” de Seroux said after signing the ticket on hip 888. “He is a very nice type, he breezed very well and he galloped out very well. And he has a turf pedigree which is a plus for Japan. He is everything we were looking for.” The bay colt is out of multiple graded stakes winner River Belle (GB) (Lahib) and is a half to graded winner Strathnaver (GB) (Oasis Dream {GB}). Bred by Lofts Hall Stud, he RNA’d for $275,000 at last year’s Keeneland September sale. De Seroux said part of the attraction of Wednesday’s Speightstown colt (hip 403), a half-brother to juvenile champion Good Magic, was his potential as a stallion. The same logic applied to Thursday’s purchase. “He looks like a stallion prospect, he’s a beautiful type,” de Seroux said. “He’s by War Front and from a great female line. So he has a stallion pedigree if he is any good.” The colt’s $725,000 price, highest on the day and third highest of the sale so far, was no surprise to de Seroux. “We thought a lot of people would be looking at him,” he said. “He was one of the top horses in the sale and he has one of the best pedigrees. So for a horse of that class, unfortunately you have to spend some money. We thought he was good value.” The juvenile, who worked a quarter in :21 1/5, will head to Yoshida’s Northern Farm before being assigned a trainer. Candy Ride Filly for Drown Bloodstock agent Mike Ryan continued a busy few days of buying in Ocala, signing the ticket at $650,000 to acquire a filly by Candy Ride (Arg) on behalf of Minnesota owner Jeff Drown early in Thursday’s third session of the OBS April sale. “He wants to increase the quality of his racing stable and his mares,” Ryan said of Drown, who is CEO of Lyon Contracting, Inc. “We knew we were going to have to stretch on her.” Consigned by RiceHorse Stable, the chestnut filly (hip 669) is out of multiple stakes placed Minesave (Mineshaft), a daughter of graded stakes placed Jaramar Rain (Thunder Gulch) and a half-sister to multiple graded stakes placed Imperial Council (Empire Maker). She worked a quarter during last week’s under tack preview in :21 1/5. “She was exceptional,” Ryan said of the filly. “I saw her the week before the breeze show here when I did some looking around the barns. She knocked me out then. I was hoping that she might breeze a little slow–no disrespect to the consignor or the owners–but I knew when she breezed as well as she did that this was going to be a battle. She is a filly that looks like she’ll run this summer in Saratoga. She is bred to get two turns and she is an exceptional filly. You don’t get many like this.” The filly, who is expected to be trained by Chad Brown, was bred by WinStar Farm and was purchased by Rickey Kanter’s Stallionaire Enterprises for $270,000 at last year’s Keeneland September Yearling Sale. “Obviously, she was an expensive as a yearling,” Ryan said. “Great credit to those people. They bought an outstanding filly and she showed it out here. There was a lot of action on her.” Drown, who has a small broodmare band based in Kentucky, campaigns ‘TDN Rising Star’ Summer Revolution (Summer Bird). “He has some quality mares and he loves the game, his family loves it, his parents love it,” Ryan said. “He wants to do it right. And he wants to be a presence in New York. He’s been in the game a while, but now he has ratcheted up what he wants to do. He said, ‘Find me something really good, something we think is New York stakes quality, a Saturday afternoon horse, hopefully.’ That Malibu Moon filly yesterday made $700,000 and I thought it was a flip of a coin which one you were going to go for because they were both exceptional fillies.” Phoenix Strikes for Giant’s Causeway Colt Phoenix Thoroughbreds made plenty of headlines at sales around the world last term, scooping up many high-priced horses of all ages, including last year’s OBS March topper. Amer Abdulaziz’s operation had been quiet through the first two sessions of the OBS April sale, but they made their presence know Thursday, going to $625,000 for a colt by the late Giant’s Causeway. “He’s a Giant’s Causeway. He’s got all that Classic distance to him,” said Tom Ludt, who is Head of U.S. operations for Phoenix. “We think he is going to be a nice two-turn horse. We are looking for some good colts He may not be early, but he may be really good long and we thought he fit the profile.” Ludt added, “He will stay in the States. We will decide in the next month who he will go to. We are spreading horses around a little bit. We haven’t made that decision yet.” Ludt was seated alongside Abdulaziz and bloodstock agent Dennis O’Neill when he signed the ticket on Hip 726. O’Neill has picked out a plethora of talented runners over the years, including GI Kentucky Derby winners I’ll Have Another (Flower Alley) and Nyquist (Uncle Mo). “Dennis has a good eye,” Ludt said. “He has done a good job for people and he is a friend of mine, so he has been offering advice to us.” Phoenix Thoroughbreds bought two horses during Thursday’s session, a $290,000 Trappe Shot colt (Hip 529) and a $55,000 Cairo Prince colt (Hip 647). “We’ve been bidding, but it’s been hard to buy,” Ludt said. “We’ve been butting heads with the same people and have been underbidders on some expensive ones.” Bred by CESA Farm, Hip 726 is out of the Mineshaft mare My Special Secret, who is a half-sister to GSW Ask Me No Secrets (Seattle Slew). The bay breezed in :10 2/5 for Joe Appelbaum’s Off the Hook LLC. “[The breeder] Haras Los Samanes is a longtime client and friend of ours,” Appelbaum said. “We sold the sister [Secret Quality (Elusive Quallity)] of this horse to West Point [for $155,000] a year ago. I see she is training for Christophe Clement right now, so hopefully she is ready to go soon. His pedigree and body type wouldn’t suggest that he would be a fast breeze horse, but as you can see, everyone respected what he did on the track. There is potential for him going two turns.” The great Giant’s Causeway passed away Apr. 16 at age 21 after a brief illness. “He has been an amazing sire for the last almost 20 years,” Appelbaum said. “There are not many left now. We have had some good ones and we have a good spot in our heart for Giant’s Causeway.” Just nine hips later, Appelbaum’s operation had another good sale when a Take Charge Indy colt, purchased by G S Inversiomes Hipicas for just $17,000 at KEESEP, sold for $270,000 to bloodstock agent Liz Crow. Hip 735, who breezed in :10 flat, is out of GISW Nany’s Sweep (End Sweep), who also produced GSW She’s Indy Money (A.P. Indy). “They bought the horse very properly,” Appelbaum said. “Take Charge Indy is really ramping up. That horse has come along too. We were thrilled with him on the farm. He put in a good breeze and he was really a physical character.” Appelbaum continued, “For the last six to eight weeks, we’ve known he’s a good horse and expected him to do well.” Overall through the first three sessions, Off the Hook LLC has sold a total of 21 horses for a gross of $3.045 million. —@CDeBernardisTDN Mateo Scores With Arch Colt Lifelong horsewoman Elizabeth Mateo enjoyed one of her best pinhooking scores Thursday when an Arch colt she purchased for just $60,000 at Keeneland September sold for $410,000 to bloodstock agent Mike Ryan, who was acting on behalf of Marc Keller. “I’ve always had a horses,” said Mateo. “I even had a horse with me in college. I can’t be keeping them all so I started pinhooking a few a year.” As for what attracted her to Hip 651, the Alpharetta, Georgia, resident said, “This colt has a classic pedigree. He’s gorgeous and well put together.” Mateo and Robert Meier, who signed the ticket at KEESEP on her behalf, were among the first to congratulate Ryan on his purchase, as was underbidder Rick Violette. Ryan indicated that the colt would go to New York and join the barn of Bobby Ribaudo. “I’ve been a big fan of Arch for a long time,” Ryan said. “We were underbidders on [$1.05 million OBSMAR buy and GIII Lecomte S. winner] Instilled Regard (Arch) here last year. He was a special colt. A good horseman bought him in the beginning and bought him well and $60,000. He’s a special colt. He’s a very noble horse, very stoic, just a really good horse.” Consigned by Tom McCrocklin, the :22 1/5 breezer is out of SW and GSP Mega Dream (Medaglia d’Oro) and hails from the family of champion grass horse Tight Spot. Hip 651 was bred by Nancy Polk’s Normandy Farm, which has also produced the likes of Grade I winner Daddy’s Lil Darling (Scat Daddy) and SW & GSP Sunny Skies (Animal Kingdom). —@CDeBernardisTDN Spendthrift Shows Support for Young Stallion Spendthrift Farm went to $650,000 at the end of Wednesday’s session to acquire a filly by their red hot stallion Into Mischief and B. Wayne Hughes’s operation engaged in another intense round of bidding late in Thursday’s session to support one of their newer stallions, going to $400,000 for a filly from the first crop of Shakin It Up (Midnight Lute). Hip 913 breezed in a bullet :20 3/5 for consignor Eddie Woods. “That is pretty close to where we thought we would be [price wise],” Spendthrift General Manager Ned Toffey said after signing the ticket while seated alongside Hughes. “Our thought was just that we need to buy this filly. She was as nice as any horse I saw here, so we were thrilled to get her. She had a very good breeze and absolutely looks the part. It is hard to build one better than this.” Catalyst Bloodstock, who bred the juvenile in partnership with Erin Knehr, bought Hip 913’s dam Rupert’s Promise (Capote) with the filly in utero fore $2,500 at the 2015 Keeneland November sale. Woods’s clients the Moss Group purchased the dark bay, who hails from the family of GISW sire Roman Ruler, for $120,000 at the Fasig-Tipton October sale. “I thought she even had a chance to bring more,” Woods said. “People are respecting the stallion, but I think they are a little afraid because it is the first crop. That is still plenty of money to pay for a horse. Her physical and her work are fantastic. If she had been a Malibu Moon, she would have brought $700,000 or $800,000. She still sold very well and the owner of the stallion bought her.” Shakin It Up, campaigned by breeder Mike Pegram in partnership with Dennis Cardoza, won the 2013 GI Malibu S. and a pair of Grade II events for Hall of Famer Bob Baffert. He retired to Spendthrift after finishing fourth in the 2014 GI Met Mile. “We’ve been really impressed with how he’s stamping them,” Toffey said. “They’ve been really consistent, breezing well and showing tremendous ability.” Woods added, “I only have two and we will be looking for more.” —@CDeBernardisTDN View the full article

Logan wins first race in Singapore with Green Star View the full article

Night to remember for Circuit Land, Freedman, Maia View the full article

Distinctive Darci scores thriller in Merlion Trophy View the full article