Wandering Eyes

3rd-NOT, £7,000, Mdn, 4-21, 3yo, 10f 50yT, 2:13.67, g/s. DEPARTMENT OF WAR (IRE) (c, 3, Declaration of War–Danetime Out {Ire}, by Danetime {Ire}), a 290,000gns TATOCT yearling, travelled sweetly behind the leading trio throughout the initial stages. Wound up on the outer by Sean Levey, the 7-1 shot had the measure of Jamih (GB) (Intello {Ger}) with a furlong to race and stretched out in taking fashion to score by 2 1/4 lengths. The winner is a half-brother to two former Hannon luminaries in Toormore (Ire) (Arakan), Hwt. 2yo Colt-Eur, Eng & Ire, G1SW-Ire, MGSW & MG1SP-Eng, GSW-Tur, G1SP-Fr, $1,604,204, and Estidhkaar (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}), MGSW-Eng, $242,419. The former was a real flagbearer for the stable, winning the G1 Goffs Vincent O’Brien National S. and G2 Vintage S. at two to earn topdog status in Europe before adding the G2 Lennox S. and G2 Sandown Mile to his tally and finishing second in the G1 Lockinge S. Estidhkaar was injured in his prime after taking the G2 Superlative S. and G2 Champagne S. also as a 2-year-old and it is no surprise that the dam was sent back to his sire Dark Angel with a yearling colt as a the result. Lifetime Record: 1-1-0-0, $6,339. Video, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton. O-Derrick Smith, Susan Magnier, Michael Tabor & Markus Jooste; B-BEC Bloodstock (IRE); T-Richard Hannon. View the full article

Group 2 winner Seabrook (NZ) (Hinchinbrook {Aus}) was the chief beneficiary from a canny Damien Oliver ride, and earned her first top-flight tally in the G1 Champagne S. at Royal Randwick on Saturday. The 8-1 shot was last of all through the early going, as frontrunner Encryption (Aus) (Lonhro {Aus}) was lightly pressed by Seberate (Aus) (Sebring {Aus}) and Bondi (Aus) (Snitzel {Aus}). She began to creep up the inside at the 600m mark and was within striking distance of the vanguard a quarter-mile from the line, but her charge was temporarily halted 1 1/2 furlongs from home. Oliver didn’t panic however, and sent the dark bay through a gap a little later in the straight, where Seabrook promptly sidled up to new leader Bondi, who had bested Encryption 100 metres out, before surging clear to win by a half-length. G1 Sires’ Produce S. winner El Dorado Dreaming (Aus) (Ilovethiscity {Aus}) proved her previous tally was no fluke, arriving with a furious late surge, 3/4 of a length back in third. “She’s done a good job because she should have been up for the Blue Diamond, but she’s thrived in Sydney,” said trainer Mick Price to Racing.com. “It’s been good weather. She’s a good, sound filly, a good, clean-winded filly. She’s a [G1] Thousand Guineas filly, so she’ll go straight to the paddock.” Fourth at Moonee Valley on debut on Oct. 28, Seabrook resurfaced after a spell to complete the trifecta in the G2 Blue Diamond Prelude (Fillies) at Caulfield on Feb. 10, behind Enbihaar (Aus) (Magnus {Aus}) and Oohood (Aus) (I Am Invincible {Aus}). She broke her maiden in the 1200-metre G2 Sweet Embrace S. at Randwick on Mar. 3, and was a solid fifth to the aforementioned pair in the G1 Golden Slipper at Rosehill on Mar. 24. Completely blowing the start of the Apr. 7 G1 Sires’ Produce back at Randwick, she finished ninth last time. Pedigree Notes… One of 14 black-type winners for her sire, Seabrook is the second at the Group 1 level, after G1 Caulfield Guineas and G1 JJ Atkins S. hero Press Statement (Aus). The unraced Midnight Revels (NZ), a half-sister to Group 2 heroine My Emotion (NZ) (Savabeel {NZ}), foaled colts by Proisir (Aus) in 2016 and 2017. G1 Coolmore Classic victress Aloha (Aus) (Encosta de Lago {Aus}) is under the listed-winning third dam Tennessee Midnight (Aus) (Danehill), herself a half-sister to MG1SW Malaguerra (Aus) (Magnus {Aus}). Click for the free Arion.co.nz catalogue-style pedigree. Saturday, Randwick, Australia CHAMPAGNE S.-G1, A$505,000 (US$387,324/£276,680/€315,037), ATC, 4-21, 2yo, Open Set Weight, 1600mT, 1:34.47, gd. 1–SEABROOK (NZ) , 54.5, f, 2, by Hinchinbrook 1st Dam: Midnight Revels (NZ), by Don Eduardo (NZ) 2nd Dam: Midnight Rock, by Rory’s Jester 3rd Dam: Tennessee Midnight, by Danehill (USA) 1ST GROUP 1 WIN. (A$85,000 Ylg 2017 WI Melbourne Premier Yearling Sale). O-Blueblood Thoroughbreds Syndicate, B B T Midnight Revels Syndicate, Mrs L Lewis, H A Hassan, A S Price, Mrs B J Hardeman, J A Busa, S Boudaher, D J Schultz, J D McCartney, I F Grim; B-WE Jeffries Ltd, (NZ); T-M G Price; J-D Oliver; A$292,000. Lifetime Record: 6-2-0-1, A$556,300. Werk Nick Rating: A+++. *Triple Plus*. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree. 2–Bondi, 56.5, c, 2, Snitzel–Bondi Blonde, by Red Ransom (USA). (A$400,000 Ylg ’17 MMLJAN). O-Newgate S F (Mg G D Murphy), China Horse Club Racing Pty Ltd (Mg A K Teo), Horse Ventures (Mg M B Sandblom), Winstar Farm Llc (Mg J Mullikin) & Strawberry Hill Stud (Mg J D Singlet; B-Strawberry Hill Stud (NSW); T-P & P Snowden; J-M Zahra; A$94,000. 3–El Dorado Dreaming, 54.5, f, 2, Ilovethiscity–Solanas (NZ), by Zabeel (NZ). O-Ms Y E Pearce; B-Ms Y Pearce (NSW); T-Benjamin Smith; J-J R Collett; A$49,500. Margins: HF, 3/4, HF. Odds: 8.00, 6.50, 6.50. Also Ran: Guerrier, Outrageous, Encryption, Irukandji, Not a Single Cent, Long Leaf, Seberate, Akkadian, Ragged Rascal, Blazing Issue. Click for the Racing Post chart. Racing NSW Video. View the full article

The George Scott-trained James Garfield (IRE) bested six rival colts and geldings to land Saturday's £60,000 Al Basti Equiworld Supporting Greatwood Greenham Stakes (G3) at Newbury. View the full article

Krefeld host their G3 Dr Busch Memorial on Sunday, with Gestut Rottgen’s Weltstar (Ger) (Soldier Hollow {GB}) looking to bounce back from a disappointing effort when fourth in the G3 Herzog von Ratibor-Rennen in November. Previously, the homebred had impressed when scoring on debut at Bremen in October and warrants another chance to live up to his potential. Similarly, Australian Bloodstock Stable’s Wild Max (Ger) (Maxios {GB}) created a deep impression when scoring by seven lengths on debut at Dortmund in September and was favourite when only third in the G3 Preis des Winterfavoriten at Cologne the following month. View the full article

Firmly a popular horse in Britain and his native Ireland, Order of St George (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) is at Navan on Sunday to begin his annual pilgrimage towards Royal Ascot in the G3 Vintage Crop S. Faced with only the Listed Fred Archer S. winner Lord Yeats (GB) (Yeats {Ire}) and Godolphin’s Clongowes (Ire) (New Approach {Ire}) who is as yet untried in this company, the dual G1 Irish St Leger and 2016 G1 Gold Cup hero should have a strightforward task if he is straight enough fitness-wise. “He’s in good form. He’s just ready to start back and we’re happy with him,” Aidan O’Brien said. “We’re hoping he runs a nice race.” View the full article

With trainer Chad Brown watching from the Keeneland boxes, Good Magic gave the two-time Eclipse Award winner reason to stay loose and happy as the chestnut colt cruised through a four-furlong work in :48 flat April 21. View the full article

A pair of classy chestnuts trained by Bob Baffert put in important workouts at Santa Anita Park April 21 to prepare for their trip to Churchill Downs in May. View the full article

The first day of the special training time at Churchill Downs reserved for entrants in its two biggest races was busy April 21 with several turning in workouts for the Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve (G1) or Longines Kentucky Oaks (G1). View the full article

Like the Fred Darling earlier on Saturday’s Newbury card, the G3 Al Basti Equiworld Supporting Greatwood Greenham S. featured a four-horse finish which was only decided in the final half furlong and it was the Gredley family’s James Garfield (Ire) (Exceed and Excel {Aus}) who prevailed. Successful over six furlongs here in the G2 Mill Reef S. in September, he was possibly past his best when 10th in the GI Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf in November and was fresh and keen early in the hands of Frankie Dettori racing behind the clear leader Hey Gaman (GB) (New Approach {Ire}). As that rival veered right in the closing stages, the 3-1 second favourite got to him with over 100 yards remaining and stayed on strongest as the 7-4 favourite Expert Eye (GB) (Acclamation {GB}) earned second 3/4 of a length away, with Hey Gaman a short head back in third. “That was a great performance and he’s a very exciting colt,” Tim Gredley said. “He never got much of a run in the Breeders’ Cup, but had a great winter. I’ll have a chat with the trainer, but it will either be Royal Ascot and back to six furlongs or the [2000] Guineas. Knowing dad [Bill Gredley], it’ll probably be the Guineas.” JAMES GARFIELD (IRE), 126, c, 3, by Exceed and Excel (Aus) 1st Dam: Whazzat (GB) (SW-Eng), by Daylami (Ire) 2nd Dam: Wosaita (GB), by Generous (Ire) 3rd Dam: Eljazzi, by Artaius (£60,000 RNA Ylg ’16 GOUKPR). O-W J & T C O Gredley; B-Stetchworth & Middle Park Studs Ltd (IRE); T-George Scott; J-Lanfranco Dettori. £34,026. Lifetime Record: 8-3-1-2, £119,241. *1/2 to The Shrew (GB) (Dansili {GB}), MSP-Eng. View the full article

A pair for Zac Purton at Sha Tin again trimmed a little off Joao Moreira’s advantage in a jockeys’ championship this season that is leaning dangerously towards being competitive. At Happy Valley midweek, Purton landed a winning treble without reply and on Saturday it was a double to Moreira’s single as talented three-year-olds Handsome Bo Bo and Ugly Warrior took another step up the ladder. Looking a little deeper, Purton’s past four race meetings have yielded 11 wins... View the full article

One of the least experienced fillies in the line-up for Saturday’s G3 Dubai Duty Free S. at Newbury, Dan’s Dream (GB) (Cityscape {GB}) nevertheless came out on top fair and square to earn a supplementary fee for Newmarket’s G1 1000 Guineas May 6. Steadied in rear early by Silvestre De Sousa, the Mar. 30 Bath novice stakes winner who attracted some support at 10-1 made her move towards the stand’s side as the action unfolded inside the final quarter mile. Overhauling Tajaanus (Ire) (Arcano {Ire}) and Dance Diva (GB) (Mayson {GB}) in the last 50 yards, the bay asserted to score by 1 1/4 lengths from the former, with Dance Diva losing out on second by a short head. Trainer Mick Channon, who was winning this Fred Darling, as it is traditionally known, for a fifth time, said, “We always thought a lot of her and I sent a couple of mares to Cityscape as I liked her so much. She’s a little bit of a freak, but I would have thought she’ll go to the Guineas now.” DAN’S DREAM (GB), f, 3, Cityscape (GB)–Royal Ffanci (GB), by Royal Applause (GB). O-Hunscote, Watt, Peckham, Botham & Edwards; B-Hunscote Stud (GB); T-Mick Channon; J-Silvestre de Sousa. £34,026. Lifetime Record: 3-2-0-0, £39,232. View the full article

There are a few proven ways, other than winning, to earn the respect of the rusted-on regulars who fill the coliseum-like parade ring at Sha Tin racecourse. Returning to race on the same day after a fall and riding like an absolute demon, even when well beaten, in every single race, are sure fire ways to become a fan favourite. Italian Alberto Sanna is ticking all of the boxes and Saturday at Sha Tin he showed just how desperate he is in a race by dislocating his own shoulder when drawing the... View the full article

It would be wrong to say Italian jockey Umberto Rispoli will miss Audemars Piguet QE II Cup day next Sunday – he won’t miss it, just won’t be riding after electing to take a suspension instead. “I don’t have rides in the three big races, I didn’t have many others because there are quite a few jockeys flying in and so they will take up some of the rides in the supporting races. It’s not important to me to ride on the big day if all I have is a couple of... View the full article

Victor Wong Chun admits getting his head around the form for Saturday’s meeting was a challenge but out on the track Hong Kong racing’s newest jockey showed enough poise to notch the first double of his fledgling career. Wong doubled his career total after a brace aboard Nice Fandango and Winning Controller took him to four victories from five meetings. “There were so many horses with chances, and then a lot of horses that want to lead with the rail out,” he said of his... View the full article

Stewards found boom three-year-old Harmony Hero pulled up lame after getting buried in the ruck in an anticlimactic Class Two on Saturday. Harmony Hero looked to have little excuse for his ninth as a warm favourite behind the Benno Yung Tin-pang-trained Coby Boy (Keith Yeung Ming-lun) but the Jockey Club vets later found him to be lame in the left front leg. “We got some luck, we got the good draw today after a bad barrier last time but we also had some luck with the favourite failing,... View the full article

David Day, Michael Day, and Mary DiPietro's Evo Campo already has one graded stakes in a marathon turf race on her résumé and will seek a second April 22 at Santa Anita, but this time the 6-year-old mare will have to defeat the opposite sex. View the full article

Juglall, Azhar, CS Chin, Amirul suspended View the full article

Valadorna followed a career-low finish by posting an all-time best result April 20, when she inched clear in the final stages of the $100,000 Hilliard Lyons Doubledogdare Stakes (G3) at Keeneland to earn her first graded stakes win. View the full article

This year, Take Charge Indy and Poseidon's Warrior have sons that will try to pull a Kentucky Derby (G1) hat trick for second-crop sires. View the full article

Woodbine Racetrack announced a pair of new incentive programs Friday ahead of its opening day card on Saturday. A Ship and Compete Turf Bonus will offer up to an additional $6,000 to the connections of horses who have never before run in the province and compete in turf allowance races (not maidens). Qualifying horses will receive $2,000 after their first start, plus an additional $2,000 per start after two consecutive appearances at Woodbine. The Ontario oval will also offer a Graded Stakes Bonus Program of up to $50,000 for incoming graded stakes winners. Grade II winners in the current year who have never started at Woodbine will receive a $10,000 bonus for winning a graded race at Woodbine. Grade I winners in the current year will receive $20,000 for winning a Grade II and $50,000 for winning a Grade I. “We have developed two new Thoroughbred incentive programs for the 2018 meet that aim to encourage and reward participation in our turf racing and graded stakes,” said Jonathan Zammit, Vice President, Thoroughbred Racing Operations. “Woodbine continues to present a world class racing product and attracting full, competitive fields for our horseplayers remains a priority.” View the full article

Michael Lund Petersen’s Cat Burglar (Unbridled’s Song–Be My Prospect, by Forest Wildcat) has been retired from racing and will stand at Barton Thoroughbreds in California for $2,500 LFSN. Trained by Hall of Famer Bob Baffert, the $410,000 KEENOV buy hit the board in five graded events and retires with a record of 22-6-6-5 and earnings of $538,720. “He has perfect conformation and a great pedigree. Cat Burglar was able to sprint or run a mile and a half with the best company,” said Baffert. View the full article

This year Take Charge Indy and Poseidon's Warrior have sons that will try to pull a Kentucky Derby (G1) hat trick for second-crop sires. View the full article

A New York-bred colt from the first crop of Spendthrift’s Shakin It Up (Midnight Lute) breezed a bullet quarter-mile in :20 3/5 Friday at the fifth session of the OBS April Sale’s under-tack show. Consigned by Hoppel’s Horse and Cattle Co, Hip 936 was purchased by owner and pinhooker Aron Yagoda for $32,000 at the Fasig-Tipton October sale (click here for feature on Yagoda). It was a good day for Shakin It Up, who was also represented by a :20 4/5 breezer in Hip 913, a filly from the consignment of Eddie Woods. She was one of eight juveniles to work in :20 4/5 Friday. The fastest furlong breeze of :9 4/5 was shared by a New-York bred son of Flatter (Hip 824) consigned by his breeder Off the Hook; and a Florida-bred colt by Mark Valeski (Hip 873), who also consigned by his breeder Woodford Thoroughbreds. View the full article

Calumet Farm's graded stakes winner Bravazo breezed six furlongs in 1:15 2/5 April 20 at Churchill Downs in preparation for the Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve (G1) May 5. View the full article

Linda Sasscer Hill, author of the mystery novel Flamingo Road, received the 12th annual Dr. Tony Ryan Book Award on the evening of Apr. 19 at the Ryan family’s Castleton Lyons near Lexington. Sasscer Hill is a former amateur steeplechase jockey who has bred, owned and trained Thoroughbreds in Maryland for more than 30 years. She is a descendent of Maryland Governor Samuel Ogle, who established the historically significant Belair Stud in 1747. Flamingo Road is first in a limited series of novels centered around Thoroughbred Racing Protective Bureau agent Fia McKee. The book includes themes such as equine slaughter and racetrack doping. The second volume of the series, The Dark Side of Town, was released Apr. 17. Lead judge Kay Coyte, formerly of the Washington Post, called Flamingo Road “a can’t-put-it-down book, with snappy dialogue and plenty of twists and turns… Sasscer Hill’s evocative storytelling likely comes from her own racing background. But most impressive was her development of the book’s unsavory characters, the crooks and charlatans, all of whom sparkle with sharp focus and the urgency of today’s crime headlines… It had a great deal of heart and even some comic relief.” Rounding out the 2017 judges were TVG Network host Caton Bredar and last year’s winner, Eliza McGraw. The award was established in 2006 by the late Dr. Ryan, a prominent businessman, sportsman and philanthropist who sough to combine his love of horse racing and literature. The award honors one book-length work of any genre with a racing backdrop each year, and the $10,000 winner’s check is equal to that given for the National Book Award and Pulitzer Prize for Literature prior to 2018. View the full article