Wandering Eyes

St. Joe Bay got on the right side of a photo finish for the first time in a long time Dec. 14 at Los Alamitos Race Course. View the full article

With the Longines Hong Kong International Races now firmly in the rear-view, much of the focus for the next three months of the racing season will turn to the 4-Year-Old Classic series. Four gallopers, imported from various parts of the racing world, will try to stake their claims to those races when they go postward in Sunday’s Lukfook Jewellery H., a Class 2 event for horses rated 105-80 over 1400 metres. The gold-and-red silks of owner Pan Sutong were carried by Akeed Mofeed (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) to success in the 2013 Hong Kong Derby, a race in which Mr Pan’s late Gold-Fun (Ire) (Le Vie dei Colori {GB}) was a very good third. The Richard Gibson-trained Gold Chest (War Front) was perfect in two European appearances for trainer Jane Chapple-Hyam when raced as Naval Intelligence, winning a Newmarket maiden at first asking in late July before belying odds of 33-1 to scoop the Listed Sir Henry Cecil S. a fortnight later. The full-brother to US Grade I winner Fog of War just missed in a Dec. 4 barrier trial over the Sha Tin all-weather (video) and has the full confidence of jockey Alexis Badel. “He’s a talented horse and he’s a lovely ride,” the Frenchman said. “He doesn’t do too much in the morning so I cannot wait to see how he runs at Sha Tin on Sunday. The trial was good and I’m sure he’s better on the turf, he looks like he will enjoy good going.” Just behind Gold Crest in that trial was Furore (NZ) (Pierro {Aus}), who won his first four outings in Australia for Kris Lees and was promoted to third in the G1 Rosehill Guineas. The half-brother to former Hong Kong sprint standout Blizzard (Aus) (Starcraft {NZ}), is trained by Frankie Lor. The second-season conditioner, who saddled two winners at last week’s international meeting, also sends out Heavenly Thought (Aus) (So You Think {NZ}), winner for trainer Darren Weir of the G3 Grand Prix S. at Doomben last May ahead of a runner-up effort to now-stablemate Dark Dream (Aus) (All American {Aus}) in the G1 Queensland Derby the following month. The latter made a favourable impression in his Hong Kong bow Dec. 9, finishing a close third in a Class 2 over 1600m. King of Hearts (Ire) (Society Rock {Ire}) won five from seven in Europe for trainer William Haggas as Society Power, capping that portion of his career with a runner-up effort to future GI Breeders’ Cup Mile hero Expert Eye (GB) (Acclamation {GB}) in the G3 Jersey S. at Royal Ascot in June. Now trained by Tony Cruz, the bay was fifth in a Nov. 30 trial in which G1 Longines Hong Kong Sprint 1-2 finishers Mr Stunning (Aus) (Exceed and Excel {Aus}) and D B Pin (NZ) (Darci Brahma {NZ}) were third and second, respectively. “He comes here with a bit of form and I think there’s something to work on,” his jockey Karis Teetan commented. “He has that quality and he’s definitely going to improve.” Post time for the ninth race on the Sunday program is 4:40 p.m. local time (8:30 a.m. GMT). Click here for the HKJC form guide. View the full article

Longtime Thoroughbred owner Lawrence E. Crovo died Nov. 2 in Palm Beach, Florida, the TDN has learned. He was 76 years old. A native of Boston, Massachusetts, Crovo originally trained and later owned horses in partnership with close friends William M. Allen, the owner of Wild Again, and Bert Sonnier. Crovo also owned Dunhill Stud (now Signature Stallions, in Ocala, FL) with partners Bill Allen, Bob Candow and Bert Sonnier. He is survived by his wife Dianne, children Charles Crovo and M. Delacy Crovo, and numerous grandchildren. View the full article

With synchronized watches in place, even Batman and Robin would be proud of the efforts by a number of night tracks to coordinate their post times, avoid racing on top of one another, and prevent extended periods of inaction. View the full article

Twelve of the most memorable events on and off the racetrack are up for the 2018 NTRA Moment of the Year, voting for which can be conducted here. The winning selection will be announced during the Eclipse Award ceremonies to be held Thursday, Jan. 24, 2019, at Gulfstream Park. Fans are permitted to vote for more than one moment, but there is a limit of one vote per moment for each registered email or Twitter account. Subsequent votes will be disallowed. The deadline for voting is Jan. 16, 2019, at 11:59 p.m. ET. View the full article

Horse Racing Ireland (HRI)’s budget for 2019, approved at its Board meeting Monday, Dec. 10, prioritises racecourse capital development, prizemoney, integrity and equine welfare, industry training and education, broadening the interest of the sport, and point-to-points. Prizemoney will rise by €2.9 million, to a figure of €66.1 million, with the additional commitment spread across some of Ireland’s big racing festivals as well as increases to feature races at 20 of Ireland’s Grade 2 and Grade 3 racetracks. The opening of the redeveloped Curragh Racecourse will see prizemoney increases for some of its feature races in 2019. Equine welfare and employee development are two priorities in the budget, with new lifetime traceability for Thoroughbreds to be introduced for the 2019 foal crop. Next year, HRI will be working closely with Government and with industry stakeholders to advance the development of a state-of-the-art Irish Equine Centre in Johnstown, County Kildare. An industry-wide graduate programme is among the measures funded to assist those seeking to work in the industry and those seeking employees. 2019 will also see Irish racing embark on a television advertising campaign for the first time in over a decade. Brian Kavanagh, Chief Executive of Horse Racing Ireland, said: “While there is much to look forward to for Irish racing in 2019, there are headwinds also, not least with Brexit. In 2019, HRI will therefore invest in areas which will deliver sustainable growth for the industry. The completion of the Curragh redevelopment will give Irish flat racing the flagship it deserves and the new facilities will bear favourable comparison with other international racecourses. The challenge of Brexit is substantial and the United Kingdom’s departure from the European Union in March will leave Ireland more isolated. It is important therefore to ensure that Irish prizemoney is competitive internationally and increases have been spread throughout the country.” View the full article

5th-TAM, $27.5K, Msw, 2yo, 6f, 2:22 p.m. ET Starlight Racing and Spendthrift Farm teamed up to acquire RANGER UP (First Samurai) for $575,000 at Keeneland September and he debuts in this spot for Todd Pletcher. The gelding is a half-brother to undefeated ‘TDN Rising Star’ and GISW Mastery (Candy Ride {Arg}), who retired to Claiborne Farm last term. The chestnut is also a half to SW Clear Sailing (Empire Maker) and their dam is a half to GSW & GISP sire Jump Start (A. P. Indy). Eoin Harty unveils Godolphin firster Cave Run (Street Sense), whose second dam is GISW Sugar Shake (Awesome Again). TJCIS PPs. —@CDeBernardisTDN View the full article

The New York Racing Association will know within a week whether it will be granted access to a state agency's bonding services and construction expertise to help it borrow to finance its big, future renovation program at Belmont Park. View the full article

Ontario Racing announced Dec. 14 a reallocation of the Horse Improvement Program purses between the Thoroughbred and Standardbred racing, commencing in April of 2019. View the full article

City of Light (Quality Road), a dominating winner of the GI Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile at Churchill Downs Nov. 3, will make his next start in the $9-million GI Pegasus World Cup Invitational Jan. 26 at Gulfstream Park. “We’re very pleased with the way the horse came out of the Breeders’ Cup,” trainer Michael McCarthy said. “He’s had a couple of nice works so far. We couldn’t be happier with the way he’s training, and we’re looking forward to taking part in the Pegasus.” City of Light defeated Horse of the Year candidate Accelerate (Lookin At Lucky) by a neck in the GII Oaklawn H. in April, his last attempt at the Pegasus distance of 1 1/8 miles. “I think it’s well within him to get the mile and an eighth,” McCarthy said. “Gulfstream is a speed-favoring racetrack and he has plenty of that. He’s rateable, so hopefully we get a nice racetrack and everybody shows up doing the best they can on the day.” View the full article

Jockeys and Jeans will hold its annual online sale beginning on Starquine.com Wednesday, Jan. 16 at 8:00 p.m. and ending Friday, Jan. 18 at 8:00 p.m. But for the first time, Jockeys and Jeans is asking stallion season owners/syndicates and managers to designate one or more seasons to popular stallions as non-guaranteed, or as is often the case when a non-guaranteed season is already being sold, sell it as private treaty as sellers ordinarily do and donate all or a percentage of that season price to PDJF. The percentage of the season donated as well as the amount donated will only be disclosed if the syndicate or farm allows. The price of the season itself remains between seller and buyer. “We’ve learned that some stallion syndicates are not allowed to offer seasons at auction and others want the sale prices of their stallion seasons kept private,” Jockeys and Jeans President Barry Pearl said. “But, of course we will heavily advertise the farms and stallions who take part, and we will publically thank them. Our fundraising efforts have drawn wide support in the horse racing community and we are convinced season buyers will give those designated stallions extra considerations knowing the season owners are supporting Fallen Jockeys.” View the full article

In this continuing 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 Chukyo and Hanshin Racecourses, the latter of which plays host to the G1 Asahi Hai Futurity and US-bred Aster Pegasus (Giant’s Causeway): Saturday, December 15, 2018 1st-HSN, ¥9,550,000 ($84k), Maiden, 2yo, 1400m DURABLE (JPN) (f, 2, Curlin–Hurricane Flag, by Storm Cat) caught a soft turf course on her July debut at Chukyo and finished seventh of 11 in her lone start to date. The filly’s dam, a half-sister to GSW Animal Spirits (Arch) and to the dam of ‘TDN Rising Star’ Ocho Ocho Ocho (Street Sense), was sold for $530K carrying this foal in utero at the 2015 Fasig-Tipton November sale. Durable’s third dam was the undefeated champion Personal Ensign (Private Account), dam of MGISW My Flag (Easy Goer) and granddam of champion Storm Flag Flying (Storm Cat). B-K I Farm 5th-CKO, ¥13,400,000 ($118k), Newcomers, 2yo, 1800m APOLLO LAS VEGAS (c, 2, Tiznow–Valiant Passion, by Lion Heart), a $60K Keeneland September yearling, is out of a half-sister to SW & GSP It’s Your Nickel (Dialed In) who was third to R Heat Lightning (see below) as the favorite in the 2010 GI Spinaway S. at Saratoga. The February foal’s third dam Nidd (Known Fact) was a Group 3-winning half-sister to GI Breeders’ Cup Classic winner Skywalker. B-Stonestreet Thoroughbred Holdings LLC (KY) Sunday, December 16, 2018 7th-HSN, ¥13,720,000 ($121k), Allowance, 2yo, 1800m FORT WADSWORTH (c, 2, Verrazano–Opulence, by Giant’s Causeway) debuted with a close fourth on turf at this track, then switched to the main track to graduate second time out Sept. 8 (see below, gate 5). The bay is a maternal grandson of GI Belmont S. winner Rags to Riches (A.P. Indy), while GSW & MGISP third dam Better Than Honour (Deputy Minister) is also responsible for fellow Belmont victor Jazil (Seeking the Gold), GSW & G1SP Casino Drive (Mineshaft) and Breeders’ Cup Marathon hero Man of Iron (Giant’s Causeway). This is also the family of GISW Streaming (Smart Strike), SW Treasuring (Smart Strike) and SW Cascading (A.P. Indy). B-Chelston (KY) 11th-HSN, Asahi Hai Futurity-G1, ¥135.5m ($1.2m), 2yo, 1600mT ASTER PEGASUS (c, 2, Giant’s Causeway–R Heat Lightning, by Trippi) is the first foal to race from the aforementioned 2010 Spinaway winner and hit the ground running, with victories in a June 24 newcomers’ test ahead of the G3 Hakodate Nisai S. a month later (see below, gate 6). The $150K KEESEP graduate was most recently a close fifth to the undefeated and re-opposing Fantasist (Jpn) (Lord Kanaloa {Jpn}) in the G2 Keio Hai Nisai S. Nov. 3. B-Stonestreet Thoroughbred Holdings LLC (KY) View the full article

And so the year wheels round to its end, releasing the excitements of 2018 towards their eventual repose in nostalgia–while, at the same time, hauling our ambitions for 2019 from the comfortable realm of dreams into the pitiless daily pressures of works, setbacks and races. This year, out of nowhere, that process yielded a colt of unprecedented accomplishment. But if it is too much to hope for another Justify (Scat Daddy) next time round, then at least the farm whose colours he carried in the GI Kentucky Derby can embrace the new cycle with an enthusiasm more than equal to any regrets they may have about closing the book on the last one. For WinStar–along with China Horse Club and SF Bloodstock, also partners in Justify–already find themselves with two of the leading colts of the next Classic generation. Both are sons of the remarkable City Zip, who is making us mourn his death in nearly the same fashion as the late sire of Justify. There is talk of Royal Ascot for Bulletin, winner of the inaugural Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint; while the success of Improbable in the GI Los Alamitos Futurity S. last weekend consolidated his credentials to bring Justify’s owners back to the Churchill winner’s circle on the first Saturday in May. In volunteering himself to fill a void on the Triple Crown trail, moreover, Improbable also serves as a useful symbol of WinStar’s determination to move on; to keep looking to the future. For rather than follow the Justify whirlwind into his second career, Kenny Troutt and his team calculated that the champion could power something still more enduring. Justify was duly sold to stand at Ashford instead. Not that it was an easy call. “It was extremely difficult to sell Justify,” admits WinStar president and CEO Elliott Walden. “But looking at where we are, in the timeline of our business and from a standpoint of financial resource, Coolmore’s 50 years ahead of us. Kenny is passionate about WinStar being successful on a lot of different fronts. He’s passionate about his contributions to different organizations: the racetrack chaplaincy, the PDJF, aftercare. But he is also a businessman. The number one asset in his portfolio is WinStar Farm, and he has a responsibility to his family and all the employees at WinStar to make it sustainable. “He’s never taken a dime out of the business. Not once in 18 years has he asked for any money back. We have reinvested $56 million in bloodstock over the last three years. Those dollars are put back in the game, and in the pockets of our fellow breeders and racehorse owners. But at the same time he wants it to operate itself, he wants it to grow, he wants us to try and get better bloodstock all the time.” Walden stresses his total faith in Justify’s prospects at stud. “That’s what made it so difficult a decision,” he says. “On one hand he was the kind of horse that could be a tremendous stallion, and I think he will be. In fact we’re breeding 12 mares to him. So we’re all in. On the other hand, the decision allowed us to reinvest. Already since [his sale] we’ve been trying to upgrade our broodmare band, and we’ve put a good group of nice yearlings together.” This way, the whole farm gets a lift. Even the most glamorous individual addition to the stallion roster wouldn’t necessarily change the whole game. As such, it would be wrong to speak of Justify being “cashed in”. Far from trying to make a fast buck, WinStar was actually taking a longer view: play it this way now, and they might not have to sell if ever they are lucky enough to race a prospect like that again. This willingness to see the bigger picture can also be seen in the farm’s response to the recession of 2008. Over the next couple of years, a conscious decision was made to expand the roster from six to 20 (now 22). Deals with Vinery and Pauls Mill respectively absorbed More Than Ready (Southern Halo) and Pioneerof the Nile (Empire Maker), Bellamy Road (Concerto) and Artie Schiller (El Prado {Ire}). “At the same time, we also took our broodmare band from 60 to 150,” Walden elaborates. “We realized that the infrastructure of the farm, at that moment, was not sustainable with so few stallions and mares; that we needed to expand. And what we did is expand quickly, and cheaply. So the last five years we have been improving that bloodstock, and now we want to continue upgrading the next ten years.” The present one, after all, is actually a good market for longer term investment. The elite animals, admittedly, are very expensive; but there is real value available in quality stock for the end-user who is not just seeking a rapid commercial return. And that is just as well, given that it is such a numbers game. “I do think there is power in numbers,” Walden explains. “When you have a mare abort, and you own five mares, it’s a tremendous hit. If you have 150, there are economies of scale, you can take out the real peaks and valleys of the business. Because people get so caught up in thinking you have to have the best, there’s a great opportunity right below that for people to really grow themselves in this business.” Along with the quality, WinStar has sought to improve diversity. Walden speaks of altering “silo” thinking on bloodlines, surfaces and racing disciplines. There have been partnerships with the likes of Newgate in Australia, for instance, notably producing G1 Sires’ S. winner Invader (Aus) (Snitzel {Aus}); while GI Woodward S. winner Yoshida (Jpn) (Heart’s Cry {Jpn}) is the result of a mission to Japan, aimed at repatriating the Halo line. “We got fortunate that we got the right horse,” Walden accepts. “Yoshida was the best horse at the sale. It’s turned out he’s high class on dirt and turf and I think he’s going to have a tremendous year in 2019. The way the business is going, I think it’s very attractive to have a stallion that does both. He was a very good fourth in the Breeders’ Cup Classic, beaten 1 3/4 lengths. And while the winner was the best horse, the way the race was run he was probably second best.” So while certain farms, whether by accident or design, develop a reputation for standing a particular type of stallion, Walden feels that WinStar is now avoiding pigeonholes. “I think we’ve grown, we’ve opened that up,” Walden says. “I would say five years ago we were probably focused on the mile-and-a-quarter dirt horse, but then made a conscious decision to go out and look for different opportunities.” Hence, in fact, the investment in these two blazing youngsters by City Zip. Equally, however, a bullet breezer by Into Mischief out of a Gilded Time mare has proved able to stretch out for third in the Kentucky Derby. Audible returned from a layoff to win over seven furlongs on the Breeders’ Cup undercard and runs in the GIII Harlan’s Holiday S. at Gulfstream Saturday as a reconnaissance for the GI Pegasus World Cup Invitational. “He’s really exciting and we couldn’t be happier, both with the way he ran and the way he came out of the race,” Walden reports. “Going down the backside in the Derby, with Justify going :45, my thoughts were: ‘Well, this is not going to hold up.’ So I started watching Audible, who was mid-pack, and he made a tremendous run to just get beat for second. He’s a very high class horse, arguably the best 3-year-old in the country behind Justify, and the most beautiful Into Mischief you’ve ever seen. He has Gilded Time qualities, too: muscle, balance and scope. And that’s something that excites us from a stallion perspective.” In the meantime, there is already plenty of young blood on the roster–not least in the horse who preceded Justify on the Classic roll of honour. Always Dreaming (Bodemeister) will be standing alongside his sire, who arguably did not get sufficient credit for producing a Kentucky Derby winner from his very first crop. “He hits the ground a little lighter than his daddy. Bodemeister‘s out of a Storm Cat mare, and is a little blockier. Always Dreaming is more of a cat, and I think that bodes well for his future. We’re really excited about that athleticism he has. I loved his [GI] Florida Derby on a fast racetrack, and his Kentucky Derby on a sloppy racetrack. And he comes from a very fast, Grade I-placed mare in Above Perfection (In Excess {Ire}), who has produced two Grade I winners [the other is Hot Dixie Chick (Dixie Union)]–as well as Positive Spirit (Pioneerof The Nile), who just won the GII Demoiselle S. by 10 1/2 lengths.” Walden identifies rookie Good Samaritan as particularly good value among the younger stallions. “He just got beat a head in the [GI] Clark H. and won the [GII] Summer S., which is now a Grade I,” he says. “And if he’d won a Grade I he’d be standing for three times the money. As it is, he’s great value at $12,500: a beautiful horse, the last great son of Harlan’s Holiday from a tremendous family, with Outstandingly and Bernstein and Sky Mesa in there, and he was extremely versatile. He was also as hard-knocking a horse as we’ve had in recent times. He broke his maiden and then ran in 14 straight graded races.” A personal favourite among new sires last year was Carpe Diem (Giant’s Causeway) and Walden confirms that his yearlings–73 sold at an average $134,704, fourth in the intake–are going down well. “They just look the part,” he says. “He’s out of an Unbridled’s Song mare and they have that scope, but they have the fast-twitch muscle too. And he was a really good 2-year-old himself. Exaggerator also has foals now, and they’re looking really good too. A young son of Curlin, three-time Grade I winner, good 2-year-old: of course we’re excited. “But we’ve just got a lot of exciting young horses. Constitution (Tapit). Daredevil (More Than Ready), another that was an extremely fast 2-year-old. Commissioner, last son of A.P. Indy. So it could happen from a number of different directions where we could get our next great stallion.” And, if it turns out that WinStar have just allowed one such to go stand somewhere else, then the comfort is that Justify’s sale will in the meantime have sponsored the kind of upgrades to the broodmare band that can help make not just one stallion, but many. Moreover the whole joy of the Triple Crown adventure will never fade away. True, there was one small cloud when unworthy aspersions were muttered about the withdrawal from the Belmont of Audible, who actually had suffered bone bruising and lost zest in training. Walden is still hurt by suggestions that Audible was deliberately removed from Justify’s path as the moment of truth loomed. “With the blessings, there’s always things that you have to deal with,” he says with a shrug. “We always try to do right by our horses and Todd [Pletcher] felt like the horse wasn’t ready to give his best effort. We were very willing to run. I felt that if Justify was supposed to be a Triple Crown winner, he would be a Triple Crown winner–and nothing could stand in his way. “I had some experience in the ’90s with Real Quiet and Victory Gallop, and realized something about Triple Crown winners: they don’t get beat. There’s no excuse, there’s no rabbit, there’s no speed confrontation, there’s no troubled trip. If they’re supposed to be a Triple Crown winner, nothing will stand in their way. That’s why there’s only been 13 of them in the history of horse racing. That’s why it’s special.” That’s also why nobody can sensibly expect a horse in the same colours to emerge, so soon, as any kind of worthy successor to Justify. There is, in fact, only one word to describe the odds against that eventuality. Improbable. View the full article

Michael Blowen, founder and president of Old Friends, the Thoroughbred Retirement Facility based in Georgetown, Ky, announced Friday that there has been no official agreement made with Elizabeth Neil or Doug Freeland to open an “Old Friends West” Thoroughbred retirement facility. “I believe an affiliate on the West Coast is an excellent idea,” Blowen said. “California is a huge racing hub, and Thoroughbreds bred and campaigned there deserve a dignified retirement in their home state where their fans are. However, while we have been in very preliminary discussions, no final agreement has been met, and [Thursday’s] press release was premature. At Old Friends, we don’t like to put the cart before the horse–in fact, we don’t like to put anything before the horse!” View the full article

Over two years ago, the tale of Starspangledbanner (Aus) (Choisir {Aus}) was recounted on these pages. His dual-hemisphere racing career saw him become one of the top sprinters on the planet and an unusual complication with his ownership saw a 5% share in him being sold on an Australian bloodstock trading website. The surprise and disappointment of Starspangledbanner’s subfertility in his second career led to him being returned to racing and almost gelded, but then the phenomenal performance of his first small crop brought him back into people’s minds. Then, defying all veterinary logic, his return to fertility gave him a second chance at stud. It was quite a story. Now, the passage of time has led us to the beginning of the next chapter of this tale, with the first of Starspangledbanner’s big crops being just months away from reaching the racecourse. Based on the evidence of Starspangledbanner’s small crops to date, there is understandably a great amount of anticipation and indeed expectation that he can prove to be the real deal. From his first Northern Hemisphere crop of just 33 foals in 2012, Starspangledbanner produced a Group 1 winner in The Wow Signal (Ire), two Group 2 winners in Home Of The Brave (Ire) and Anthem Alexander (Ire), the Group 3 winner Spangled (GB), the listed winners Silver Rainbow (Ire), Meliora (Ire) and Last Gift (Ire), as well as three other stakes performers including the Grade 1-placed Great Wide Open (Ire). All told, that first crop produced 14 runners that achieved RPRs in excess of 95, with five of those reaching in excess of 110. It’s hard not to view this as a sensational performance given the low numbers of foals produced from a €15,000 covering fee. However, his subfertility put paid to his prospects of producing bigger crops in the years that followed, with his efforts in 2012 prior to being returned to training yielding just 11 foals in 2013. That would prove to be his last season covering mares in Ireland until 2016, with small crops of foals from mostly moderate mares in Australia in the meantime. Despite these restricted opportunities, Starspangledbanner still showed what he could do as a sire, with his 2015 crop in Australia producing the listed winner and Group 2-placed performer Thrillster (Aus) as well as the exciting Hong Kong-based sprinter Styling City (Aus), who has won four of his first six starts. Most recently, he was responsible for a 2-year-old filly called Brooklyn Hustle (Aus) who made an eye-catching winning debut at Moonee Valley in Australia last month. It is the crop of foals that Starspangledbanner sired after returning to Ireland in 2016 that is now the focus of attention. While he was still considered a risky proposition as a sire when first arriving back to Ireland, word gradually spread of his encouraging return to fertility and the quantity and quality of his mares increased as the 2016 season progressed. Those exploits resulted in 72 foals that are currently yearlings and have been lighting up the yearling sales in recent months. The 37 yearlings sold at public auction registered an average of over 75,000gns. The highlight amongst them was the half-sister to the smart sprinter Mrs Gallagher who realised 750,000gns at Tattersalls October Book 1. She was bought by Stroud Coleman Bloodstock on behalf of Godolphin. Other highlights came at the Goffs Orby Sale where a colt sold for €300,000 to Ric Wylie Bloodstock and another colt was bought by Form Bloodstock for €180,000. He had five other yearlings that realised at least €100,000. Of his yearlings that didn’t go through the sales ring, pedigrees that catch the eye are a half-sister to the listed winner Salateen (Ire), a half-brother to the listed winner Arya Tara (Ire) that will go into training with Joseph O’Brien and a half-brother to the highly-regarded juvenile trained by Aidan O’Brien called Old Glory (Ire). As interesting as it will be to see Starspangledbanner’s first big crop on the track in 2019, the prospect of his 2018 crop hitting the track in 2020 is arguably even more exciting. As could have been anticipated, with his exploits in 2016 having re-established him as a viable option for breeders, the quality of mares sent to him in 2017 was stronger than he received in 2016. From the returns that have been made to this point, there are at least 72 foals by Starspangledbanner on the ground. Of the 21 of them that went through the sale rings in recent weeks, five of them realised €100,000 or more. Among those that were not offered for sale as foals include a half-sister to the Group 2 winner Endowing (GB) and a half-brother to the Group 2 winner Raven’s Lady (GB). Looking even further ahead, Starspangledbanner has reportedly got a career-high 114 mares scanned in foal in Ireland this year, with 75 of them having either earned black-type, bred a black-type horse or being a sibling to a stakes winner. These include the Group 3 winners Flowers Of Spring (Ire) and Ponty Acclaim (Ire), the dam of the multiple Grade I winner Obviously (Ire) and the dam of the Group 3 winner Hamza (Ire). All of the above suggests that Starspangledbanner’s story should yet have some successful chapters to come. Stories such as this don’t come around very often. If his progeny deliver as hoped on the racecourse in the coming years, it will be one that will rival any that has emerged from the bloodstock world in recent decades. View the full article

TDN: Favourite racing moment of the year? MLF: Mab’s Cross (GB) (Dutch Art {GB}) winning the G1 Prix de L’Abbaye. The Armstrongs are fantastic contributors to the sport and it was a well-deserved Group 1 win after her near miss in the Nunthorpe S. TDN: A horse that really stood out for you in 2018? MLF: Sea Of Class (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}), from a ‘who horse’ in April to winning the G1 Irish and G1 Yorkshire Oaks, then almost beating the great Enable (GB) (Nathaniel {Ire}) in the G1 Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe. TDN: An outstanding achievement by a breeder, owner or trainer? MLF: Skitter Scatter (Scat Daddy), starting out in a March Dundalk maiden to finish winning the G1 Moyglare at The Curragh in September; an outstanding breeder, owner and trainer achievement. TDN: Big hope for 2019? MLF: Iridessa (Ire) to win the G1 Oaks, we are fans of her sire, Ruler of the World (Ire). TDN: Your new year’s resolution? MLF: To breed a horse as good as any of those listed above. View the full article

14:30 Cheltenham – Albert Bartlett Novices Hurdle The highlight of Saturday’s racecard comes by way of the Albert Bartlett Novices Hurdle, also known as the Bristol Novices Hurdle, a Grade 2 race contested over three miles. In recent years it has been won by some high-class hurdlers such as Blaklion, Unowhatimeanharry and Wholestone and last season’s […] The post Picks From The Paddock Best Bet – Saturday 15th December appeared first on RaceBets Blog EN. View the full article

The New York Racing Association will know in within a week if it will be granted access to a state agency's bonding services and construction expertise to help it borrow to finance its big, future renovation program at Belmont Park. View the full article

Cheltenham Caspian Caviar Gold Cup Frodon carries top weight here and seems to have improved since a win-op, to win the Old Roan Chase and then finished runner-up to Baron Alco at Cheltenham. He’s a very classy individual but it’ll tough under a welter burden of 11-12. Baron Alco is one of the most consistent horses in […] The post Saturday Preview – Henderson Rather Likely To Be Lifting Caviar At Cheltenham appeared first on RaceBets Blog EN. View the full article

We are still trying to get runs in the horses and a few of my runners this weekend are having their season debuts. We have 2 runners at Doncaster on Saturday and then it’ll be a busy Sunday with 6 runners between Southwell and Carlisle. I’m looking forward to finding out more about lots of […] The post Donald McCain Blog – Weekend Runners appeared first on RaceBets Blog EN. View the full article

Racing Post Nap 20:15 Kempton George Baker’s yard knows the winner’s enclosure well at Kempton and they look to have another nailed on chance this evening. The Lamplighter beat a subsequent winner over course and distance last month in impressive fashion despite the rider dropping the reins within the final furlong. The length and a […] The post Picks From The Paddock Best Bet – Friday 14th December appeared first on RaceBets Blog EN. View the full article

The Longines Hong Kong International Races photobomber has been found, with 37-year-old Australian Kelly Doobs owning up to what he calls “a little bit of Aussie fun humour”. Doobs came forward as the mystery man who was photographed with Longines Hong Kong Cup winner Glorious Forever on the track at Sha Tin last Sunday, sending a video that shows him high-fiving members of Frankie Lor Fu-chuen’s stables. “I was actually on Glorious Forever on the punt and I celebrated... View the full article

Want to understand the proposed future of Pimlico? One place to look would be to a race even older than the Preakness at a venue far more ancient than even Old Hilltop: Il Palio, the twice-yearly horse race around the Piazzo del Campo. View the full article

Canterbury Park's 2019 Thoroughbred and Quarter Horse race meet was approved Dec. 13 by the Minnesota Racing Commission and will include 66 race dates, running May 3 through Sept. 14. View the full article

The California Horse Racing Board took a step toward a policy of out-of-competition testing with teeth during its monthly meeting Dec. 13 at Los Alamitos Race Course. View the full article