Wandering Eyes

Firdaus suspended for two days View the full article

Merriebelle Stable's Blue Prize stole the show in the final moments of Aqueduct Racetrack's Top Flight Invitational Stakes April 15, taking the lead in the final strides to score over frontrunning Frost Wise by a neck. View the full article

A new restaurant in Lexington is combining good food and an admirable mission to make a difference in people’s lives. DV8 Kitchen, which opened its doors in August this past year, offers inspired and mouth-watering breakfast and lunch offerings, many of which are crafted using their scratch-made breads and biscuits and locally-sourced ingredients. What sets this restaurant spot apart from the rest, however, is its commitment to the community. One out of every three employees at DV8 Kitchen is a second chance employee who is in a treatment program for substance abuse and working hard to chart a new course for their life. The idea behind this unique approach is the brainchild of Rob and Diane Perez, who wanted to create a way to help people who were committed to changing their lives, but lacking the helping hand to do so. “It’s really the brainchild of my wife, Diane,” said Rob Perez, who, along with his wife, owns Saul Good, a popular Lexington restaurant with three locations around the city. “She had the vision of a restaurant helping people in the early stages of recovery due to our own life experiences.” Perez says they chose a breakfast and bakery concept to employ the most people. The couple works with several transitional housing programs in Lexington to identify and hire some of their staff. “We provide them with a job that pays them 20% more than market rate, but we also provide them a community of support with others who have been where they are in their recovery,” said Perez. “We’re not only sensitive to the needs of someone going through recovery, but we run the restaurant in a way that’s more accountable for someone going through recovery.” The concept is working. DV8 has been garnering rave reviews from Lexington locals for both their food and their service. Some of DV8’s featured offerings include their huevos rancheros sandwich, orange marmalade chicken sandwich and their all-day breakfast burger. They have quickly garnered a following around town for their cinnamon rolls as well, which come in three varieties: classic with cream cheese frosting, caramel with pecans and milk chocolate with frosting. Perez says that by operating with a high level of accountability, DV8 is able to offer a higher caliber of product and a higher level of service, which is important not only to his customers, but to his staff. He and his wife have seen how the standards set and maintained in their restaurant transfer to other aspects of their second chance employees’ lives. “Second chance employees at DV8 make more than they could elsewhere because they are held to higher standards,” said Perez. “They learn to take pride in their work and we soon see that trickle down into other aspects of their lives, like being a more accountable spouse or parent.” Jarrod Thornton, one of the restaurant’s second chance employees who completed a substance abuse treatment program, says his career at DV8 is an integral part of his continued sobriety. “There’s a fine line between someone’s work life and personal life, and there’s usually a lot of overflow between the two,” said Thornton. “Second chance employment helps us bridge the gap between our work lives and our personal lives and helps to keep us accountable. All of our cards are on the table there and Rob holds us to a high standard, and we then hold ourselves to that standard in our personal lives and in our sobriety. We have a sense of pride in our work, and that really helps me in my recovery.” DV8 Kitchen is located just minutes from Keeneland at 867 S. Broadway #140, Lexington, KY 40504. View the full article

Standout first-season sire Spirit of Boom (Aus) (Sequalo {Aus}) will stay at the McAlpine family’s Eureka Stud in Queensland and will command a A$55,000 fee for the 2018 breeding season, ANZ Bloodstock News reported early on Monday. The dual Group 1 winner stood for A$11,000 last year, but has already sired four stakes winners among his 11 winners from just 35 runners to date. “Breeders can breed to him with confidence in that he throws you a good type and he works with the Danehill bloodline,” Harry McAlpine told ANZ on Sunday. “We have a lot of big agents and big-name breeders tell us you stand at whatever price, we are coming with as many mares as you will take.” His filly Kinky Boom (Aus) won the lucrative Listed Inglis 2yo Premier this eason, while Jonker (Aus) lifted the Wyong Magic Millions 2YO Classic. Both listed winners Outback Barbie (Aus) and EF Troop (Aus) have been placed at the Group 2 level, in the G2 Percy Sykes S. and the G2 Todman S., respectively. Through Sunday, Spirit of Boom’s runners have amassed $1,165,082 in earnings and he leads the first-season sire list by winners. Only Zoustar (Aus) is ahead of him in the earnings race. View the full article

The Week in Review, by Bill Finley Run a $16 million horse race and you’d think you wouldn’t have any problem attracting the best horses in the U.S., but that may no longer be the case for the GI Pegasus World Cup. The Saudis, with their infinitely deep pockets, are set to hold a horse race that will rival any in the world, and that could spell trouble for the Pegasus. Several important details were released last week about a multi-million dollar championship racing event that will be launched next year at King Adulaziz Racetrack in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The key elements unveiled were that the centerpiece of the card will be a mile-and-a-quarter dirt race worth between $15 million and $20 million and that the races will likely be held Feb. 23. Including all the races run on the day, up to $29 million could be given away on a card clearly set to rival, if not eclipse, the G1 Dubai World Cup program. Those details were included in a lengthy story that appeared last week in the Arab News. It seems that the Saudis are intent on claiming bragging rights when it comes to holding the richest race in the world, so expect that the purse for the main event will be something north of $16 million. “The big race will be something like $15-$20 million,” Saudi Arabian Equestrian Club Director General and Secretary Saleh Al-Hammadi told the Arab News. “Of course the Pegasus World Cup is $16 million, but people pay $1 million to participate, so it is different.” That may or may not have been a thinly veiled shot at the Pegasus World Cup, but the Saudi racing official does have a point. Running in a race worth $16 million or so in which you don’t have to pay a sizeable entry fee could prove to be more attractive to people than running in a $16 million race where it costs $1 million to gain access to the field. The Arab News suggested that the top horses and their owners will now be in a position to cash in on what could be an historic payday, participating in the $16 million Pegasus, the $15-$20 million Saudi race and the $10 million Dubai World Cup. While that might look good on paper, it’s not practical, at least not if no one budges when it comes to where their races are on the calendar. Should the races be run on what have been their traditional dates, next year’s Pegasus will be Jan. 26, the Saudi race, presumably, Feb. 23 and the Dubai World Cup Mar. 30. That would mean three races in a 63-day period, plus the rigors of shipping from Florida to the Middle East. Even with so much money up for grabs, it’s hard to imagine any trainer willing to put their horse through such a taxing schedule. More likely, anyone eyeing these super rich races will have to make a choice between the Pegasus and the new Saudi race. You can run in the Pegasus, get plenty of rest, then ship to Dubai, cobbling together a feasible schedule. Or you could skip the Pegasus, ship to Saudi Arabia, run there and then make an easy ship over to Dubai. Riyadh and Dubai are only 530 miles apart. Politics could also play a part. Will Arab owners feel compelled to support a race in Saudi Arabia over a race in Florida? It’s worth noting that the inaugural Pegasus World Cup was won by Arrogate (Unbridled’s Song), owned by Juddmonte Farms. Juddmonte is owned by Prince Khalid bin Abdullah, a member of the Saudi royal family. The only race that doesn’t figure to get hurt is the Dubai World Cup. Tim Ritvo, the COO of The Stronach Group, which owns Gulfstream, home of the Pegasus World Cup, thinks his race will be fine. “I haven’t heard much about what they are planning to do in Saudi Arabia, but I’m not that worried about it,” he said. “I know they are talking about a lot of money, but that’s a long way to go, all the way to Saudi Arabia. We are already in a good spot and the Pegasus is a race that perfectly complements those who are also looking at racing in Dubai.” When asked if he were worried if the Saudi race would have an edge over the Pegasus because a $1 million entry fee would not be required, Ritvo said: “Sure, there is a difference between how the two purses are arrived at, but, by the same token, anything you do has to make business sense. No matter how much money you have, to just fund a race like that out of your pocket is not an easy thing to do. At the end of the day, if something doesn’t make business sense, it’s not going to continue.” Ritvo said he would always be open to moving the date of the Pegasus if the race did wind up being hurt by the Saudis, but where would it go? Run it any earlier and you are competing with the Breeders’ Cup. Run it any later and you take away the option of a horse running in the Pegasus and still entering stud duty in the same year. The Stronach Group doesn’t like to lose and the Saudis have unlimited amounts of money and they aren’t putting this race together so that they can get a couple of Grade III winners out of the U.S. This could get very interesting. Bill Nack, the Best There Ever Was By now, you’ve probably heard about the passing of Bill Nack and what a great racing writer he was, but this is one of those rare occasions when the word “great” falls miserably short when describing the talents of an individual. Nack was a genius and he could do with the written word what few others could. By that, I don’t mean horse racing writers, but all writers, be they journalists, novelists, non-fiction writers, screen writers, whatever. It has become clichè to say so-and-so was the Michael Jordan of this or the Babe Ruth of that, but there are those rare individuals who are born with a gift that is rarely bestowed by the gods. When it came to writing, that was Nack. He could do things with a keyboard that we mere mortals who toil writing about this game could never dream of doing. He will, of course, be missed, but you need not shed any tears for this man. He lived to be 77, lived one hell of a life and surely seemed to enjoy every minute of it. He just as easily could have used his talents to write about football or baseball or even politics, but as often as his editors would allow him, he chose to write about horse racing. I don’t think this sport has any idea how lucky it was that Bill Nack’s first love was racing. Oaklawn Extends Meet As has been the case for as long as anyone can remember, Oaklawn closed up Saturday after the conclusion of the GI Arkansas Derby Day card. But that won’t be the case in 2019, as it was announced last week that three weeks would be added on to the end of next year’s meet. With this news, here are two things to watch: How will the extended Oaklawn meet affect Kentucky racing? Horses come from several racing jurisdictions to race at Keeneland and Churchill, but a major feeder for the spring meets at Keeneland and Churchill has been Oaklawn. Now, anyone racing at Oaklawn is likely to stay put for three more weeks. That can’t be a good thing for Kentucky. Will the longer meet mean that Oaklawn will finally rethink its long-standing policy of not having a turf course? Grass racing is exploding in the U.S. and Oaklawn is the only major racetrack in the country without a turf course. For Oaklawn, that’s a much bigger impediment to success than it was, say, 15 years ago. The Cella family has maintained that if they installed a turf course there would be only so much racing they could hold over it as the early months of the meet really aren’t conducive to grass racing. But now that they are set to remain open through the first Saturday in May they may want to rethink that position. Grass racing at Oaklawn from mid-March through early May would likely work just fine and would be a great addition to the meet. View the full article

G1 Cheveley Park S. heroine Clemmie (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), currently favoured in the G1 QIPCO 1000 Guineas, and the winning Amedeo Modigliani (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) have both suffered setbacks and could miss those Classic runs, Aidan O’Brien told Racing Post on Sunday. A full-sister to dual Classic hero Churchill (Ire), Clemmie sustained a stone bruise last month. “Clemmie had a hold-up last month and is only back walking,” O’Brien said to Racing Post. “It’s possible the Newmarket Guineas might come too soon for her and we might decide to aim her at the [G1] Irish 1000 with possibly a race before then. Her brother Churchill got a mile but only just, so there are no guarantees she will get the distance. If she doesn’t then we can always drop her in trip. She showed last season she has plenty of speed, winning the [G2] Duchess of Cambridge and the Cheveley Park.” The highly regarded ‘TDN Rising Star’ Amedeo Modigliani has an August Galway win to his credit from two starts, but he drew off by 5 1/2 lengths that day and was behind only fellow Ballydoyle stablemate Saxon Warrior (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) in the wagering for the June 2 G1 Epsom Derby prior to Sunday’s news. “He’s had a setback and is only walking and trotting,” O’Brien said. “We’re going gently with him and won’t be forcing him. He might not be ready for the Classics and most likely it will be the second half of the season for him. He’s a smart colt and we like him.” View the full article

Making his first appearance on the worktab since finishing a clear second in the GI Xpressbet Florida Derby Mar. 31, Juddmonte Farms’ Hofburg (Tapit) breezed a half-mile in :49.02 Sunday morning at Payson Park Training Center in Indiantown, Fla. for trainer Bill Mott. “We gave him plenty of time to recover from [the Florida Derby] and we had been picking it up, picking it up,” Mott told the Gulfstream notes team. “Today was his first breeze and it sounded like it was good. It sounds like he went very well.” The chestnut homebred was fourth in his debut last summer at Saratoga before being shelved for six months and returning with a promising maiden-breaking score despite a wide draw Mar. 3 in Hallandale. He took the overland route again in the Florida Derby while closing from near the back of the pack and couldn’t quite get to the impressive Audible (Into Mischief) while finishing 7 3/4 lengths clear of the remainder. Along with likely favorite Justify (Scat Daddy), Hofburg will be the least experienced runner in Louisville with only three starts to his name. “I understand he’s short on seasoning in comparison to any horse who’s had six or eight starts, but it looks like a few of them are not as hardened or seasoned as they would have been in the ’70s or ’80s,” Mott said. “This horse was very professional down at Gulfstream Park, he’s done everything right, and he takes the dirt well, and that’s a good thing, particularly when you’re not a so-called speed horse. You have to be able to take the kickback and stay in the race, so he seems to be able to do that. He did it well at Gulfstream, which I know is probably half the size of the [Kentucky] Derby, but he still handled it well.” View the full article

Undefeated ‘TDN Rising Star’ Magnum Moon (Malibu Moon), dominant victor of Saturday’s GI Arkansas Derby at Oaklawn, returned to trainer Todd Pletcher’s south Florida base of Palm Beach Downs early Sunday in good order, according to co-owner Robert Low. “He ate every oat last night and showed good energy this morning,” Low told the Oaklawn notes team. “He flew out early.” Made the 4-5 favorite off the strength of an equally impressive tally in the GII Rebel S. Mar. 17 in Hot Springs, the bay tried his hand at setting the pace Saturday and ran away in the stretch despite drifting well out into the track to register a four-length score. It was the fourth win in four tries for the $380,000 Keeneland September graduate, who heads to Churchill Downs as one of two undefeated GI Kentucky Derby hopefuls along with fellow ‘Rising Star’ Justify (Scat Daddy). “It’s very difficult to do what he’s done since Jan. 13, breaking his maiden, to now be four-for-four and win the Rebel and Arkansas Derby and be a Grade I winner in his fourth start,” Pletcher said Saturday night. “It’s a real tribute to the horse’s talent.” Pletcher said the tentative plan for Magnum Moon is to fly to Kentucky Apr. 23 and breeze once at Churchill Downs, likely eight days before the May 5 race. WinStar Farm, China Horse Club International and SF Racing’s ‘Rising Star’ Quip (Distorted Humor) was second in the Arkansas Derby after chasing the winner throughout. That, combined with his victory in the GII Tampa Bay Derby gives the colt more than enough qualifying points to take a shot in Louisville, but WinStar CEO Elliott Walden was noncommittal Saturday about whether or not his charge would be pointed there. “I don’t know,” Walden said. “He was second-best today. He ran hard. Good effort and we’ll see what happens.” Third finisher Solomini (Curlin) will go in the Derby, according to Zayat Stables’ racing and stallion manager Justin Zayat. View the full article

The pride of New Mexico, GIII Sunland Derby winner Runaway Ghost (Ghostzapper), suffered a hairline fracture to his shin in a workout Saturday and will miss his intended start in the GI Kentucky Derby, Joe Peacock, Jr., son of the colt’s owner, confirmed to TDN Sunday. The Todd Fincher trainee will not require surgery and will be turned out to recuperate. The story was originally reported by Blood-Horse. “Obviously we’re very disappointed,” Peacock said. “We’re very high on the colt. He’s our first baby out of our prized mare [Rose’s Desert] that had a fantastic career and we were very hopeful that he was going to have a legitimate Run for the Roses. Unfortunately that didn’t work. He had a workout yesterday and when he got back and they were cooling him out, thankfully our trainer realized something wasn’t quite right. He had some soreness, we did an x-ray and found a hairline fracture that’s not a big deal, but the right thing to do is to give him some time off. The timing of it is unfortunate, but it’s the right thing to do for ‘Ghost,’ so that’s what we’re doing.” Prior to his Sunland Derby heroics, Runaway Ghost captured the Golden Nugget S. at Golden Gate and the Riley Allison S. at Sunland, and was second in the Mine That Bird Derby. View the full article

The first day of the three-day Inglis Australian Broodmare and Weanling Sale held at Riverside Stables was topped by lot 119, a son of I Am Invincible (Aus), who sold for A$255,000 to Lyndhurst Farm. Day 1 was divided between 146 select weanlings–plus one supplemental lot–and 20 general session weanlings. The clearance rate for the select portion was 92%, with 118 sold from 147 catalogued, grossing A$3,441,300. The average was A$29,164 (+7.1%) and the median was A$17,000 (+13.3%). For the general weanling session, the clearance rate was even higher at 94% for 17 sold, with an aggregate of A$87,000, an average of A$5,118 (-62.9%) and a median of A$4,500 (-43.8%). Evergreen Stud Farm offered five of the top nine foals, including the I Am Invincible topper, who is out of a placed daughter of Group 1 winner Critic (NZ) (Centaine {Aus}). Under the third dam is New Zealand Horse of the Year Ocean Park (NZ) (Thorn Park {Aus}) and G1SW Prince Kaapstad (NZ) (Kaapstad {NZ}). “He is by one of the best sires at the moment and we just loved him when we first saw him,” said Lyndhurst Farm’s Mark Treweek regarding the topper. “I think it has been a really nice market. Some have made good money, but overall there has been a middle range and most people would be pretty happy.” The second highest priced weanling (lot 117), just like lot 119, was consigned by Evergreen Stud Farm on behalf of Hillside Thoroughbreds and brought A$130,000 from Maluka Thoroughbreds Pty. Ltd. A bay son of Hinchinbrook (Aus), the full-brother to MGSW Whispering Brook (Aus), who ran third in the G1 Thousand Guineas, is out of Artful Whisper (Machiavellian). “There’s a lot of confidence around in the market overall and similar to the Easter Yearling Sale, anything that’s quality will sell especially well,” said Evergreen Stud’s Tony Bott. “Both the I Am Invincible and Hinchinbrook colts sold very well. They were both lovely weanlings and had been very popular all week. We talked to the interested people and told them they were going to be sold, theere weren’t going to be silly reserves, we got them on the market early, the buyers had the confidence to bid which always helps and they sold very well.” “All credit really must go to Hillside,” he added. “They were presented to us in lovely condition and we didn’t have to do a lot. The buyers obviously appreciated quality and we saw the end result. It was fantastic.” Three other lots made six figures on Sunday, among them a third Evergreen Stud Farm offering, a son of Written Tycoon (Aus) (lot 65) out of Rossa Mia (Aus) (Testa Rossa {Aus}), herself a half-sister to Group 2 winner Stokehouse (Aus) (Anabaa), who attracted a bid of A$110,000 from Sheamus Mills Bloodstock; a colt by MGSW Rubick (Aus) out of Witchlike (Aus) (Magic Albert {Aus}) (lot 104) from Aquis Farm snapped up by Devcich Bloodstock Ltd. for A$128,000; and Middlebrook Valley Lodge’s Dissident (Aus) colt (lot 90), out of MSW and G1 South Australian Oaks bridesmaid Tingirana (NZ) (Generous {Ire}) who made A$110,000 to N Jones. The dearest filly on the day, by Not A Single Doubt (Aus) and out of G2 SAJC Breeders’ S. victress Freestyle (Aus) (Snippets), hammered at A$75,000 to Redwall Bloodstock. The fifth Evergreen Stud Farm offering, lot 8, is the 11th foal of her dam and is already a half-sister to seven winners from eight foals to make the races, including GSP House of Fun (Aus) (Starcraft {NZ}). Her second dam is dual listed heroine Stella Artois (Aus) (Geiger Counter), a full-sister to SW & GSP Smytzer’s Trish (Aus) and a half-sister to a pair of Group 3 scorers in Snitzel (Aus) fillies Aliyana Tilde (Aus) and Teaspoon (Aus). Rubick led all sires by aggregate, with seven of nine sold for A$292,000, followed by I Am Invincible with his sale-topping colt at A$255,000. The latter also led by average, with Hinchinbrook second in that category at A$95,000 for two of three sold. Deep Field (Aus) (Northern Meteor {Aus}) sported a perfect record, with all three offered changing hands for a total of A$208,000, averaging A$69,333, good for sixth overall and second for sires with two or more weanlings catalogued. “The first year here at Riverside, I think we’ve shown today that selling quality select weanlings on the Sunday after the Australian Easter Yearling Sale works,” said Inglis Managing Director Mark Webster. “We’ve certainly got a platform to work off for future years. There is plenty more quality on offer tomorrow and Tuesday with broodmares and race fillies, so I encourage people to come along and take part or register to bid online. Our Bloodstock team will be available to inspect any lots if clients are unable to attend the sale.” The second day of the Broodmare and Weanling Sale will begin at 10 a.m. local time, when 225 broodmares and race fillies will go under the hammer during the Select Race Fillies & Broodmares session, followed by two supplemental race filles. Click here to view the complete results. View the full article

In his first work since a runner-up effort in the Xpressbet Florida Derby (G1), Juddmonte Farms' Hofburg cruised through a half-mile in :49.02 April 15 at Payson Park. View the full article

My Boy Jack walked the shedrow at Keeneland a day after rallying to win the $200,000 Stonestreet Lexington (G3) and earning a spot in the starting gate for the Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve (G1). View the full article

Baldo Hernandez, assistant to Keeneland spring meet leading trainer Chad Brown, reported the stable's three horses who were first across the finish in the $350,000 Coolmore Jenny Wiley (G1) were fine the morning after the April 14 test. View the full article

G1 QIPCO Champion S. victor Cracksman (GB) (Frankel {GB}) and Frankie Dettori will have a racecourse gallop before racing at Newmarket on Tuesday. The John Gosden trainee will be put through his paces over the Rowley Mile accompanied by a stablemate at 12:40 p.m. local time, 70 minutes before racing begins at 1:50 p.m. The 4-year-old is targeting the G1 Prix Ganay at ParisLongchamp for his seasonal reappearance on Apr. 29, but also holds an entry in the x Dunaden Jockey Club S. at Newmarket on May 5. Placed in both the English and Irish Derbys, the 130-rated bay also struck twice at Group 2 level in 2017, taking the G2 Great Voltigeur S. and G2 Qatar Prix Niel. View the full article

In his first work since a runner-up effort in the Xpressbet.com Florida Derby (G1), Juddmonte Farms' Hofburg cruised through a half-mile in :49.02 the morning of April 15 at Payson Park. View the full article

Don’t Tell My Wife Stables and Monomoy Stables’ My Boy Jack (Creative Cause) walked the shedrow Sunday morning at Keeneland, a day after his come-from-behind victory in the GIII Stonestreet Lexington S. that earned him a spot in the Churchill Downs starting gate for the GI Kentucky Derby May 5. “He ate up everything last night and this morning he is very bright and acting like he didn’t even run,” Julie Clark, assistant to trainer Keith Desormeaux, told the Keeneland notes team. “He was a little tired after shipping here Wednesday, but now he is a happy horse.” My Boy Jack picked up 20 points for his victory to give him 52 toward the Derby and put him safely among the top 20 point earners that will make up the field. Clark said My Boy Jack likely would ship Saturday to Louisville, where he will give Desormeaux a Derby starter for the third consecutive year. “We have a filly coming in for the Doubledogdare on Friday,” Clark said. “Even if she didn’t come, I’d like to stay here a few more days and let him chill out.” Stonestreet Stables’ ‘TDN Rising Star’ Telekinesis (Ghostzapper), second by a head to My Boy Jack in his third career start, is doing well the morning after the race, said David Carroll, assistant to trainer Mark Casse. Carroll said Casse and the Stonestreet connections will determine where the son of Ghostzapper will run next. “He ran a super race; we’re very proud of him,” Carroll said. “Beaten by a nice horse who was a lot more seasoned. He cleaned up his feed last night and jogged sound this morning. We’ll try to teach him to relax, and I think the game plan would be to keep him around two turns. It’s just a question of where that race would be.” Greyvitos (Malibu Moon), owned by Triple B Farms, also is doing well after his fourth-place finish in the Stonestreet Lexington. He was grazing outside the stakes barn Sunday morning with groom and exercise rider Fernando Cano. Trainer Adam Kitchingman said by phone that the Malibu Moon colt came out of the race in “excellent shape.” “I’m very happy, he just got extremely tired yesterday,” Kitchingman said. “I’ve got a couple races in mind, but I just want to give him a few more days to make sure everything’s great, and then we’ll make a decision on what we’re going to do.” View the full article

Observations on the European Racing Scene turns the spotlight on the best European races of the day, highlighting well-pedigreed horses early in their careers, horses of note returning to action and young runners that achieved notable results in the sales ring. Today’s Observations features a half-sister to G1 Irish St Leger fourth Silwana (Ire) (Peintre Celebre). 3.30 Leopardstown, Mdn, €16,000, 3yo, f, 10fT MAGIC WAND (IRE) (Galileo {Ire}), one of three contenders for Aidan O’Brien, is kin to G1 Irish Oaks heroine Chicquita (Ire) (Montjeu {Ire}) and is the mount of Seamus Heffernan backing up a debut seventh going one mile here in her only prior start last October. Her nine rivals feature stablemates Broadway (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), a half-sister to G1 Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe and G1 King George VI & Queen Elizabeth S. victress Danedream (Ger) (Lomitas {Ger}), returning off a first-up fourth tackling six panels at Naas in June; and Athena (Ire) (Camelot {GB}), who is kin to G1 Irish Oaks winner Bracelet (Ire) (Montjeu {Ire}), making her seasonal bow coming off a seventh in last term’s G3 Park S. at Naas. 5.35 Leopardstown, Mdn, €15,000, 3yo, f, 7fT Jackie Bolger’s SCRIOBH NUA (IRE) (New Approach {Ire}) is kin to five black-type performers including MGSW G1 1000 Guineas runner-up Cuis Ghaire (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), G1 1000 Guineas and G1 Coronation S. placegetter Gile Na Greine (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), and GSW G1 Moyglare Stud S. second Scintillula (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}). Opposition to the Jim Bolger-trained newcomer includes His Highness The Aga Khan colourbearers Simiyna (Ire) (Holy Roman Emperor {Ire}), a hitherto untried half-sister to stakes-winning G1 Irish St Leger fourth Silwana (Ire) (Peintre Celebre); and her twice-raced Dermot Weld stablemate Shareva (Ire) (Rip Van Winkle {Ire}), who is a half-sister to dual G2 Blandford S. victress Shamreen (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}). View the full article

Five years have passed since Orfevre (Jpn) (Stay Gold {Jpn}) last graced a racecourse with the Japanese Horse of the Year bowing out on top in the 2013 G1 Arima Kinen, but his first-crop son Epoca d’Oro (Jpn) is already following in his sire’s hoofsteps, with a two-length win in the G1 Satsuki Sho at Nakayama on Sunday. Orfevre saluted in the 2011 edition of the 2000-metre Classic. Away to an alert beginning, the dark bay strode to a clear cut fourth as Aithon (Jpn) (King’s Best), Generale Uno (Jpn) (Screen Hero {Jpn}) and Jun Valerot (Jpn) (New Approach {Ire}) opened up over 10 lengths on the trailing pack. Patiently handled by a calm Keita Tosaki, the Hideaki Fujiwara trainee wasn’t given his cue until 500 metres from the line, as the leading trio began to falter from their front-running exertions. Swooping four deep, the 13-1 seventh choice came calling with a full head of steam as 23-1 Sans Rival (Jpn) (Rulership {Jpn}) also gave chase from the back of the pack in upper stretch. Bursting past Generale Uno, he strode away to win with authority. Sans Rival caught Generale Uno late for second with 1 3/4 lengths between them, while Stelvio (Jpn) was fourth, a neck farther back. Favoured Wagnerian (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) did not muster his usual sharp turn of foot when the real running began and finished seventh in the 16-horse field. “I was able to place him as planned,” said Tosaki, who was winning his seventh JRA Group 1. “He established a good rhythm and responded well rounding the final corner. He’s a smart horse and is developing with each race. His powerful run today shows that he will have no problem handling the extra distance in the [G1] Tokyo Yushun (Japanese Derby).” Third at first asking in a 1800-metre Kyoto newcomer affair on Oct. 9, Epoca d’Oro donned cap and gown cut back to a mile there on Jan. 21 and made it two on the bounce in Kokura’s Asunaro Sho upped to this trip on Feb. 10. He found Stelvio (Jpn) (Lord Kanaloa {Jpn}) too good trying group company, in the G2 Fuji TV Sho Spring S. last out at Nakayama on Mar. 18. Pedigree Notes… Japanese Triple Crown winner and two-time G1 Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe runner-up Orfevre (Jpn) has already been represented by 2017 Japanese champion 2-year-old filly Lucky Lilac (Jpn), who was runner-up in the G1 Oka Sho (Japanese 1000 Guineas) just last Sunday and G3 Sapporo Nisai S. winner Rock This Town (Jpn). Epoca d’Oro is his second top-flight winner and is the fifth runner and third winner from five foals to race for his Japanese multiple stakes-winning dam Daiwa Passion. Under his third dam is GII Del Mar Invitational scorer Daros (GB) (Damister), who was third in the GI Oak Tree Invitational, while fourth dam Cairn Rouge (Ire) (Pitcairn {Ire}) captured the 1980 editions of the G1 Irish 1000 Guineas and G1 Champion S. Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. Sunday, Nakayama, Japan SATSUKI SHO (JAPANESE 2000 GUINEAS)-G1, ¥245,530,000 (US$2,287,725/£1,606,858/€1,854,465), Nakayama, 4-15, 3yo, c/f, 2000mT, 2:00.80, gd. 1–EPOCA D’ORO (JPN), 126, c, 3, Orfevre (Jpn) 1st Dam: Daiwa Passion (Jpn) (MSW-Jpn, $869,344), by Forty Niner 2nd Dam: Sun Rouge (Jpn), by Shady Heights (GB) 3rd Dam: Tikanova, by Northern Dancer 1ST BLACK-TYPE WIN. 1ST GROUP WIN. 1ST GROUP 1 WIN. (¥34,000,000 Wlg ’15 JRHAJUL). O-Hidaka Breeders Union; B-Toru Tagami (Jpn); T-Hideaki Fujiwarae; J-Keita Tosaki; ¥134,871,000. Lifetime Record: 5-3-1-1. *2nd G1SW for his sire (by Stay Gold {Jpn}). Werk Nick Rating: A. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree. 2–Sans Rival (Jpn), 126, c, 3, Rulership (Jpn)–Un Fil Rouge (Jpn), by Agnes Tachyon (Jpn). O-Kyoko Habata; B-Yasuyuki Saito (Jpn); ¥51,106,000. 3–Generale Uno (Jpn), 126, c, 3, Screen Hero (Jpn)–Shanghai Rock (Jpn), by Rock of Gibraltar (Ire). O-G Riviere·Racing; B-Shinsei Farm (Jpn); ¥31,553,000. Margins: 2, 1 3/4, NK; Odds: 13.50, 23.60, 16.80. Also Ran: Stelvio (Jpn), Kitano Commandeur (Jpn), Grail (Jpn), Wagnerian (Jpn), Aithon (Jpn), Gendarme, Time Flyer (Jpn), K T Clever (Jpn), Oken Moon (Jpn), Meiner Fanrong (Jpn), Double Sharp (Jpn), Jun Valerot (Jpn), Three Helios (Jpn). Click for the Racing Post chart. JRA Video. View the full article

The road to the 2018 G1 Prix du Jockey Club received its first voyagers on Sunday, with Jean-Louis Tepper’s Pharrell (Fr) (Manduro {Ger}) coming out on top in a tight finale with Alhadab (Fr) (Camelot {GB}) and Flag of Honour (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) in the G3 Prix Noailles at ParisLongchamp. Like so many Jean-Claude Rouget runners before him, the chestnut was kept in the provinces at two and entered this first Parisian test on the back of conditions wins over 10 furlongs at Angers in October and November. A generous 17-1 as a result, he tracked the leading trio under Jean-Bernard Eyquem and was the first of the eventual protagonists to strike for home with two furlongs remaining. Chased hard by Ballydoyle’s Flag of Honour to the line, he showed tenacity to ward off that threat as the Fabre representative Alhadab closed on his other side. At the line, he had a head to spare over the latter, with the same margin back to Flag of Honour in third as they put eight lengths between them and Gyllen (Medaglia d’Oro). Rouget has a keen eye for a potentially smart horse and this bargain purchase is just another reminder of that. “I’ve always liked this horse, he very much reminded me of another son of Manduro called Ultra (Ire) who won the G1 Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere for Godolphin and that’s why I bought him as a yearling. I did not even not look at his family,” he explained. “Lately, his home work was not that good but you have to run them and take the races as they come. It was a very nice surprise to see him win so bravely and as I was not expecting that I haven’t mapped out a program for him. We’ll see how he comes out of this to see where he goes next.” The dam, who is a half to the listed-placed Mogadishio (Fr) (American Post {GB}), also has a yearling filly by Dabirsim (Fr). This is the family of the GII Mathis Brothers Mile S. runner-up Perfectly Majestic (Majesticperfection), the GII Buena Vista H. scorer and GI Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup S. runner-up Blue Moon (Fr) (Lomitas {GB}) and the G1SW staying sire Bannaby (Fr) (Dyhim Diamond {Ire}). Sunday, ParisLongchamp, France PRIX NOAILLES-G3, €80,000, LCP, 4-15, 3yo, 10 1/2fT, 2:23.51, hy. 1–PHARRELL (FR), 128, c, 3, by Manduro (Ger) 1st Dam: Censure (Fr), by Kendor (Fr) 2nd Dam: Nebraska (Fr), by Octagonal (NZ) 3rd Dam: Touraille (Fr), by Jim French 1st BLACK-TYPE WIN. (€15,000 Ylg ’16 ARAUG). O-SARL Ecurie J L Tepper; B-Suc. P Camus-Denais & B Camus-Denais (FR); T-Jean-Claude Rouget; J-Jean-Bernard Eyquem. €40,000. Lifetime Record: 6-4-0-2, €83,750. Werk Nick Rating: A+. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree. 2–Alhadab (Fr), 128, c, 3, Camelot (GB)–Grace Lady (Fr), by Muhtathir (GB). O-Al Shaqab Racing; B-Jean-Philippe Dubois (FR); T-Andre Fabre. €16,000. 3–Flag of Honour (Ire), 128, c, 3, Galileo (Ire)–Hawala (Ire), by Warning (GB). O-Susan Magnier & Michael Tabor & Derrick Smith; B-Barronstown Stud (IRE); T-Aidan O’Brien. €12,000. Margins: HD, HD, 8. Odds: 16.80, 8.50, 2.50. Also Ran: Gyllen, Nobokhov (GB), Barade (Fr), Vicopisano (Fr), Young Fire (Fr). Click for the Racing Post result or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. Video, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton. View the full article

In typical John Size fashion, the champion trainer was not committing to any particular path post-race but the Group Three Queen Mother Memorial Cup must surely be beckoning for Prawn Baba after he upstaged the Derby horses on Sunday. Faced with the Derby third and fourth, Exultant (Brett Prebble) and Ruthven (Tommy Berry) and some handy lightweights, Prawn Baba was sent out a double figure chance for the Kowloon Cricket Club Centenary Cup (2,200m) but saw them off to claim just his third... View the full article

Musis Amica (Ire) (Dawn Approach {Ire}) was straight on the case, registering a Nov. 10 debutantes’ heat over 7 1/2 furlongs at Saint-Cloud in her only prior start, and punched her ticket to the May 13 G1 Poule d’Essai des Pouliches with a late flourish in this black-type bow. Steadied off the pace in fifth for much of this renewal, she was scrubbed along passing the two pole and, despite appearing held approaching the final eight, quickened impressively in the closing stages to claim a personal best in decisive fashion. “Andre [Fabre] told us she was our filly for the Poule d’Essai des Pouliches, but it looked a strong race on paper beforehand so it is a pleasant surprise,” admitted Godolphin’s Lisa-Jane Graffard. “We thought she might lack for experience in this first start of the season which, of course, is only the second outing of her career. She has a lovely action, she quickened well and can improve physically because she is a big filly. She’s not quite there yet, but we’re still very hopeful of a good run back here next month.” Musis Amica, who is also entered in the May 27 G1 Prix Saint-Alary and June 17 G1 Prix de Diane, is a daughter of G2 Prix de Malleret and G3 Prix de Royaumont placegetter White Star (Ire) (Darshaan {GB}), and is thus a half to G2 Prix Eugene Adam hero Harland (GB) (Halling) and a 2-year-old colt by Raven’s Pass. Her second dam is GI Kentucky Oaks, GI Delaware Oaks and GI Alabama S. heroine White Star Line (Northern Dancer), who produced G2 Prix de Pomone victress Whitehaven (GB) (Top Ville {Ire}), herself the dam of dual stakes winner Copeland (GB) (Generous {Ire}) and the granddam of G2 Blue Diamond Prelude victress Samara Dancer (NZ) (Hinchinbrook {Aus}) and G3 Caulfield Guineas Prelude winner Eclair Big Bang (NZ) (Savabeel {Aus}). Musis Amica shares her granddam with G1 Moyglare Stud S.-winning European highweight Preseli (Ire) (Caerleon) and G1 Oaks d’Italia heroine Valley of Gold (Fr) (Shirley Heights {GB}). Sunday, Longchamp, France PRIX DE LA GROTTE-G3, €80,000, LCP, 4-15, 3yo, f, 8fT, 1:46.85, hy. 1–MUSIS AMICA (IRE), 126, f, 3, by Dawn Approach (Ire) 1st Dam: White Star (Ire) (MGSP-Fr), by Darshaan (GB) 2nd Dam: White Star Line, by Northern Dancer 3rd Dam: Fast Line, by Mr. Busher 1ST BLACK-TYPE WIN. O-Godolphin SNC; B-Godolphin (IRE); T-Andre Fabre; J-Mickael Barzalona. €40,000. Lifetime Record: 2-2-0-0, €53,500. Werk Nick Rating: A+. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree. 2–Sea Prose (Fr), 126, f, 3, Lope de Vega (Ire)–Calasetta (Ire), by Montjeu (Ire). O-Roy Racing Ltd; B-Ecurie La Boetie (FR); T-Freddy Head. €16,000. 3–Latita (Fr), 126, f, 3, Silver Frost (Ire)–Amazing Story (Fr), by Cricket Ball. (€5,000 Ylg ’16 ARQNOV). O-Pierre Van Belle, Jean-Claude Rouget & Jose Bruneau de la Salle; B-Jedburgh Stud & Thierry de la Heronniere (FR); T-Fabrice Vermeulen. €12,000. Margins: 1HF, HF, HF. Odds: 10.00, 14.00, 4.10. Also Ran: Magical (Ire), Wind Chimes (GB), Mission Impassible (Ire), Sweety Dream (Fr), Armoricaine (GB). Click for the Racing Post result or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. Video, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton. View the full article

The dreary weather at Sha Tin on Sunday probably had some fans daydreaming of a sunny beach on Hainan but the reality of horse racing in the province remains a dream of its own for now. The mere mention of the words “horse racing” and “China” can be enough to send racing reporters the world over into a frenzy but it was the mainstream media who didn’t miss the chance to jump on an announcement on Saturday. The state-run Xinhua news agency issued a story stating... View the full article

Paul O’Sullivan has kept star prospect Win Beauty Win wrapped in cotton wool so far and won’t start rushing now after the classy three-year-old jumped to the brink of Class Two with another authoritative victory on Sunday. Win Beauty Win hadn’t been seen at the races since a dominant Griffin Trophy performance in December and made light work of his return against Class Three field that contained a clearly talented rival. That rival was the John Size-trained New Zealand import... View the full article

When griffin racing was a larger part of the season than it has become in recent years, trainer John Moore carried an almost Harry Potter-esque nickname in the racing press, “The Griffin Master”, and he again showed why when he worked his wizardry for a rousing debut by Styling City on Sunday. In the Ling family colours which have been carried to high level success by the likes of Charming City, Sterling City and Leading City, Styling City was able to replicate a winning debut by... View the full article

One opinion was that “he’s not human” after Umberto Rispoli won on the Michael Freedman-trained Fiama at Sha Tin just 23 days after breaking his collarbone in three places following a nasty fall in a barrier trial. He immediately vowed that he would be back in record time and asked trainers not to give his rides to other jockeys. It seemed a bold call at the time but Rispoli resumed last week and Fiama was only his 13th ride back from the injury, successfully resuming an... View the full article