Wandering Eyes

Gas Station Sushi (Into Mischief) bided her time and stormed home late to remain unbeaten in the GIII Beaumont S at Keeneland Sunday. She lived up to the hype in her debut, romping home by 3 1/2-lengths when favored at Del Mar Aug. 6. Riley Racing Stables bought into the filly after that score. The slight 2-1 favorite broke in mid pack and was tucked in behind the leaders through a :22.50 first quarter. She saved all the ground while still in hand around the far turn before shifting out four wide entering the stretch. The bay rallied down the center of the track, took command inside the sixteenth pole and held on for the length score. Gas Station Sushi was a $90,000 yearling purchase at Keeneland September before breezing a furlong in :10 flat and selling for $240,000 at OBS March. She hails from the same family as GISW Taste of Paradise (Conquistador Cielo). Lifetime Record: 2-2-0-0. O-Riley Racing Stables LLC & Megan J. & Jason Tackitt. B-Spendthrift Farm Llc (KY). T-Richard Baltas. View the full article

So an undefeated colt roared to an impressive open-length victory in a difficult graded stakes test over the weekend, running his ‘TDN Rising Star’ record to three-for-three and establishing a commandeering spot atop the divisional totem pole. You know who I’m talking about, right? Not so fast before you leap to the obvious horse. This week only, that’s a multiple choice question with three possible correct answers. Despite the headline-snaring dismantling of the GI Santa Anita Derby orchestrated by new GI Kentucky Derby favorite Justify (Scat Daddy) on Saturday, he’s not the only up-and-coming ‘Rising Star’ who fits that description. Thanks to a bevy of solid Triple Crown prep undercard action from coast to coast, racing enthusiasts were also treated to satisfying thrashings by Army Mule (Friesan Fire) in the GI Carter H. and Analyze It (Point of Entry) in the GIII Transylvania S. at Keeneland. Their dominant victories both represented stylish unveilings off seasonal layoffs that resonated with raw power and a left a hint that each has plenty left in reserve as the lucrative spring stakes schedule unfolds. Like Justify, each of those colts is now three-for-three and has firmly wrested control of his respective division: Army Mule now rates as the come-and-get-me kingpin of the older male middle-distance tier, while Analyze It has a stronghold as far as sophomore turfers are concerned. And when you attempt to assess each colt’s prowess in terms of cumulative margins of victory, the numbers are even more eye-opening: Army Mule has won his three races by a combined 22 1/4 lengths; Justify by 18 3/4; Analyze It by 15 3/4. Justify got plenty of well-deserved ink over the weekend (here and here), and I’ll scrutinize his performance further in the forthcoming TDN Derby Top 20 rankings published Monday afternoon. So let’s instead focus on Army Mule and Analyze It, who in almost any other week would have been the headline-grabbers themselves. 4-year-old Army Mule was attempting to leap the chasm from an entry-level Gulfstream Park allowance victory to Grade I company off a 66-day layoff on Saturday at Aqueduct, but the bettors had no problem installing the Todd Pletcher trainee as the 2-1 second favorite in the 11-horse field. He broke midpack and settled comfortably toward the inside, then made incremental, almost metronomic, progress while whittling down the pacemakers’ margins behind lively splits of :22.09 and :44.93. Five-sixteenths out, the in-hand Army Mule willingly rated on hold for a brief beat as jockey Joe Bravo picked their path, and once committed to an inside bid along the fence the colt charged through with gusto and kicked on enthusiastically when prompted for another gear. Army Mule was not asked for a full extension in the run to the wire despite the apparent pouring-it-on gap back to favorite Awesome Slew (Awesome Again) and the rest of the field, and his 1:20.94 clocking for seven furlongs (.90 off Artax’s track record set in the 1999 version of the Carter H.) translated to a lofty 114 Beyer Speed Figure. Pletcher mentioned the one-turn mile Grade I Metropolitan H. on the Belmont Stakes Day undercard as a likely next race for Army Mule, who broke his maiden at Belmont Park last Apr. 30. Analyze It, too, was also a Belmont Park maiden-breaker last year. He debuted on the turf as a juvenile Oct. 28 when let go at an amazing 13-1 in the betting for his 6 1/4-length sizzler of a wire job, and his mile score signaled something special because the clocking came back nearly a full second faster than the running of the Awad S. for slightly more seasoned 2-year-old males five races later on that card. His debut came too late in the season to attempt the GI Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf, but trainer Chad Brown shipped Analyze It to Del Mar for the Nov. 26 GIII Cecil B. DeMille S., where he got pounded to 1-2 favoritism and completely dominated a group of 10 other turf milers. The robustness of that bunch was an open question at the time because the better juvenile turfers had all competed in the Breeders’ Cup three weeks previously, so Analyze It entered a winter freshening without anyone knowing where he really stood against the best in the American grass division for his age group. Friday’s Transylvania at Keeneland went a long way to asserting where Analyze It now rates in the pecking order. The outside post in a field of 11 going 1 1/16 miles for the first time? No problem. The yielding course condition? Again, not an issue. Concerns that Analyze It wouldn’t be able to attain his preferred spot on the lead were also brushed aside when the colt broke with interest but reacted responsively to being asked to rate by jockey Jose Ortiz. And yes, Analyze It (and every other horse in the race) did have the benefit of a 117-1, soon-to-fade-to-last pacemaker gapping out by his lonesome on the lead to set the race up for a closing kick. But the internal fractions were hardly fast (1:15.21 for six furlongs), and Analyze It lost a decent amount of ground while three wide on both turns before relishing being roused and tourquing into an impressive overdrive that whet the appetite for the type of determined run he might produce in a subsequent start when he’s more tightly wound and the distances stretch longer. Brown has the July 7 GI Belmont Derby Invitational at 10 furlongs sized up as the long-range target for Analyze It. View the full article

German highweight sophomore colt Karpino (Ger) (Cape Cross {Ire}–Kahara {GB}, by Sadler’s Wells), died at Glenview Stud in Ireland at the end of March, Rathbarry and Glenview Studs announced via Twitter on Sunday morning. The 6-year-old was highweight in Germany at three and succumbed to an aggressive malignant tumour, after covering a few mares in his first season at stud. The Qatar Racing colourbearer was bred by Gestut Fahrhof in Germany out of the SP Kahara, a full-sister to English/Irish highweight and G1 St. Leger victor Milan (GB). A winner of three of his four starts for trainer Andreas Wohler, among them the G3 Rennen Dr. Busch Memorial and the G2 Mehl-Mulhens-Rennan (German 2000 Guineas), Karpino stood for a private fee. View the full article

Champion Good Magic joined his caretakers in being in good order April 8, one day after his vindicating, 1 1/2-length victory in the $1 million Toyota Blue Grass Stakes (G2) at Keeneland. View the full article

Undefeated ‘TDN Rising Star’ Justify (Scat Daddy) and Bolt d’Oro (Medaglia d’Oro) emerged from their respective 1-2 finish in Saturday’s GI Santa Anita Derby in fine condition and will be pointed toward a rematch in the GI Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs May 5, their connections said Sunday morning. “He looks good,” Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert said of Justify after his wire-to-wire tally, in which he crossed the wire three lengths clear of Bolt d’Oro. “The track was really deep and loose yesterday and I was worried about that because he could have gotten really tired, but he acted like he wasn’t, and he handled it well. He’s still learning how to run, still a little green. He was out there [on the lead] by himself, looking at everything, taking it all in, but I like the way he responded when Bolt made that run at him [in mid-stretch]. Those two beat the rest of that field by a wide margin, so they’re serious horses. Justify and Bolt are the two best horses, and you have to give credit to Bolt. He doesn’t quit. He’s right there every time.” Two-time Grade I winner Bolt d’Oro also came out of the race well, aside from a minor cut, and will head to Churchill Downs for a rematch with Justify in the Run for the Roses, trainer Mick Ruis confirmed. “After the race, there was a little blood by his front quarter on the right side,” owner/trainer Mick Ruis said. “We washed it off and checked it out. It was like getting a splinter. No flesh came off, nothing like that. It just opened up a bit and in three days you won’t even know it’s there.” Midnight Bisou (Midnight Lute) also punched her ticket to Churchill Downs with a late-running win in the GI Santa Anita Oaks. The filly was doing well Sunday morning, co-owner Jeff Bloom reported. “She’s bright-eyed, cheery, happy and ate up all her food, so we’re happy,” said Bloom. “It’s on to Kentucky. The flight is booked. Actually, the flight’s been booked, but now it’s really booked.” View the full article

Around 4,000 horseracing fans and horsemen gathered at ParisLongchamp for the Parisian racecourse’s reopening. A total of 917 days had passed since the major rebuilding was initiated to transform the white elephant that had become too big for its daily routine into a more versatile, modular and green site for horse racing in Paris. On Sunday morning, the activity on social media showed a real excitement ahead of the day, as many trainers, owners, breeders, riders and fans were anxious to experience the new ParisLongchamp. A sunny day helped to clear the clouds that could have piled up as the building site was just about ready to welcome the public. The main paddock restaurant isn’t open for business yet–it will be inaugurated on the eve of the Grand Opening on Apr. 29– and the organization in some areas still has room for improvement, especially in the way people move around the new site as they become used to the new surroundings, but generally speaking, it was a position start. People seemed happy to be here on an historic day. Olivier Delloye, France Galop’s managing director, has been pretty much hands-on with the project for the last two years, and he more than anybody could have been worried about the public’s reception, but he seemed authentically relieved on Sunday evening. “Four thousand people was a perfect crowd to check out what was working and what was still to be worked on,” he said. “My feeling is that positive vibes were dominant and although people will need time to adjust, and so will we, for everybody to find one’s whereabouts, it has been a mostly positive day. Many things can and will be made better, but I am pretty happy with the way things went today.” As for the racing at ParisLongchamp, it hasn’t changed that much since the course itself has not been affected. The only major change is the open stretch in the early straight. Fourteen riders tested it on Mar. 27 and they seemed to like it, but Christophe Soumillon didn’t and he doesn’t seem to care much about the new buildings. Even though he won the G2 Prix d’Harcourt aboard Lady Cobham’s Air Pilot (GB) (Zamindar), the Belgian star wasn’t such a happy bunny. ‘Soumi’ plans to travel more to Britain to ride better horses this year, and the lesson we have learned so far this season on the turf is just supporting that idea. Air Pilot had previously won the G3 Prix Exbury in a snowstorm just before the races were cancelled that day, beating Way To Paris (GB) (Champs Elysees {GB}) and Star Victory (Fr) (Tot Ou Tard {Ire}) in the very same order as on Sunday in the Harcourt, which could make one think that the Prix Exbury, run in extreme conditions, was actually an accurate result. Okay, the ground on Sunday at ParisLongchamp was deemed heavy, but it was brand new, lush with fresh grass, and that helped the horses to overcome it. Chilean(GB) (Iffraaj {GB}) , also trained in Britain, won the G3 Prix La Force, while a Cagnes-sur-mer Listed graduate, Barkaa (Fr) (Siyouni {Fr}) more or less ridiculed a field of six rivals, mostly G1 Longines Prix de Diane pretenders. Although he wasn’t spotted at ParisLongchamp on Sunday, John Gosden can sit back and relax. As far as it goes, his Cracksman (GB) (Frankel {GB}) hasn’t much to fear from France in the G1 Prix Ganay. By the look of it, French trainers are happy to let their British and Irish rivals win on French turf, just as long as they let us win on Britain’s all-weather tracks. View the full article

Trainer Todd Pletcher sent out his own graded stakes-winning pick three at Aqueduct Saturday, with a dazzling romp in the GI Carter H. by ‘TDN Rising Star’ Army Mule (Friesan Fire) and a breakthrough victory in the GII Wood Memorial by Vino Rosso (Curlin) sandwiching a rallying score in the GIII Bay Shore S. by National Flag (Speightstown). As of Sunday morning, Pletcher said he had not determined where Vino Rosso will train in the lead up to the Kentucky Derby but is considering taking the colt back to Palm Beach Downs, where he has trained since November. “We’ll make a final decision [Monday],” said Pletcher, who added that Vino Rosso will likely work twice prior to his next start in the Derby. Army Mule, who captured the Carter to remain undefeated in just three career starts, will be pointed to the GI Met Mile at Belmont June 9, according to Pletcher. The Carter also marked the 4-year-old’s stakes debut. “I had the chance to talk to Mr. [Vinnie] Viola [of co-owner St. Elias Stables] and it seems like the Met Mile will be the most likely target,” Pletcher said. Pletcher added that National Flag could make his next appearance in the GIII Pat Day Mile S. at Churchill Downs on the GI Kentucky Derby undercard. Wood Memorial runner-up Enticed (Medaglia d’Oro), meanwhile, is scheduled to return to Palm Meadows in South Florida to continue his preparations for the Derby, trainer Kiaran McLaughlin said Sunday. View the full article

A day after impressive winning performances in both the Santa Anita Derby (G1) and Santa Anita Oaks (G1), the West Coast contingent once again appears to be a top player for the action on the first week of May at Churchill Downs. View the full article

Champion Good Magic joined his caretakers in being in good order April 8, one day after his vindicating, 1 1/2-length victory in the $1 million Toyota Blue Grass Stakes (G2) at Keeneland. View the full article

The once-beaten Almond Eye (Jpn) (Lord Kanaloa {Jpn}) burst past favourite Lucky Lilac (Jpn) (Orfevre {Jpn}) in late stretch to win Hanshin’s G1 Oka Sho, the Japanese 1000 Guineas, in fine style on Sunday. Sent off at 5-2 behind the previously unbeaten 4-5 crowd’s pick Lucky Lilac, she settled last but one as the gates sprung and Cordierite (Jpn) (Daiwa Major {Jpn}) showed the way with Lucky Lilac sitting third. Cordierite was tackled by Tsuzumimon (Jpn) (Strong Return {Jpn}) at the halfway point, with Almond Eye still second last as the field approached the bend. Tsuzumimon went on with it from there, but Lucky Lilac had dead aim in upper stretch, as Almond Eye unleashed a withering finishing burst under Christophe Lemaire. Almond Eye swept past new leader Lucky Lilac and finished 1 3/4 lengths to the good of that rival, who was a half-length in front of fellow Sunday Racing colourbearer Lily Noble (Jpn) (Rulership {Jpn}) in third. “Her response and speed at the stretch was unbelievable and felt great,” said winning hoop Lemaire. “Her strides kept getting bigger and all I had to do was keep her straight. A step up in distance shouldn’t be a problem for this talented filly, who has a great potential to win the Triple [Tiara].” Almond Eye has done little wrong in her young career, completing the exacta at first asking at Niigata in August, before landing a 1600-metre Tokyo affair on Oct. 8. She won the G3 Nikkan Sports Sho Shinzan Kinen at Kyoto going this trip in her 3-year-old bow on Jan. 8, and in the process gave her sire his first black-type and group winner. Pedigree Notes… The sophomore filly, is the first Group 1 victress for her sire, Lord Kanaloa (Jpn), a Japanese Horse of the Year and two-time champion sprinter/miler. The Shadai Stallion Station resident has since been represented by Group 2 winner Stelvio (Jpn), who was second in the G1 Asahi Hai Futurity S. Arrowfield Stud will offer a colt (lot 35) by him out of a Deep Impact (Jpn) daughter of Argentinean champion Potrizaris (Arg) (Potrillazo {Arg}) during the first session of the Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale on Monday. The sixth winner of six foals to race out of the Japanese MSW and Group 1 bridesmaid Fusaichi Pandora (Jpn), Almond Eye is followed by a yearling colt by Rulership (Jpn). Her second dam, the unraced Lotta Lace (Nureyev), is a half-sister to English and Irish champion juveniles El Gran Senor (Northern Dancer) and Try My Best (Northern Dancer) being out of the blue hen Sex Appeal (Buckpasser), who also produced GSW Solar (Halo). Numerous SWs trace to her, including GISWs Bahamian Pirate (Housebuster) and GI United Nations S. victor Chinchon (Ire) (Marju {Ire}). (Click here to read an Alan Carasso feature on Lord Kanaloa {Jpn}) Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. Sunday, Hanshin, Japan OKA SHO (JAPANESE 1000 GUINEAS)-G1, ¥234,790,000 (US$2,196,693/£1,559,074/€1,788,040), Hanshin, 4-8, 3yo, f, 1600mT, 1:33.10, fm. 1–ALMOND EYE (JPN), 121, f, 3, by Lord Kanaloa (Jpn) 1st Dam: Fusaichi Pandora (Jpn) (MSW & G1SP-Jpn, $3,264,457), by Sunday Silence 2nd Dam: Lotta Lace, by Nureyev 3rd Dam: Sex Appeal, by Buckpasser 1ST GROUP 1 WIN. O-Silk Racing; B-Northern Farm (Jpn); T-Sakae Kunieda; J-Christophe Lemaire; ¥129,703,000. Lifetime Record: 4-3-1-0. *1st Group 1 winner for her sire (by King Kamehameha {Jpn}). Werk Nick Rating: A+++. *Triple Plus*. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree. 2–Lucky Lilac (Jpn), 121, f, 3, by Orfevre (Jpn) 1st Dam: Lilacs and Lace, by Flower Alley 2nd Dam: Refinement, by Seattle Slew 3rd Dam: Stella Madrid, by Alydar O-Sunday Racing; B-Northern Farm (Jpn); ¥49,058,000. 3–Lily Noble (Jpn), 121, f, 3, by Rulership (Jpn). 1st Dam: Pure Chaplet (Jpn), by Kurofune 2nd Dam: Baptista (Jpn), by Sunday Silence 3rd Dam: Bebop (Jpn), by Amber Shadai (Jpn) O-Sunday Racing; B-Northern Farm (Jpn); ¥29,529,000. Margins: 1 3/4, HF, 1 3/4; Odds: 2.90, 0.80, 6.40. Also Ran: Tosen Bless (Jpn), Mau Lea (Jpn), Liberty Heights (Jpn), Red Sakuya (Jpn), Scarlet Color (Jpn), Tsuzumimon (Jpn), Primo Scene (Jpn), Encore Plus (Jpn), Finift (Jpn), Dernier Or (Jpn), Harlem Line (Jpn), Red Regnant (Jpn), Cordierite (Jpn), Aonbharr (Jpn). Scratched: Amalfi Coast (Jpn). Click for the Racing Post chart. JRA Video. View the full article

e Five Racing and Stonestreet Stables’s champion Good Magic (Curlin) will remain at Keeneland to train up to the GI Kentucky Derby following his victory in Saturday’s GII Toyota Blue Grass S., trainer Chad Brown said Sunday. Brown said the colt came out of his effort well and would workout at the Lexington oval before ultimately shipping to Louisville. “Right now that’s my plan,” Brown confirmed. “He’ll have his first breeze back here in a couple weeks then [ship] over to Churchill.” With his Blue Grass win, Good Magic rebounded from a somewhat disappointing 2018 debut when third in the GII Fountain of Youth S. at Gulfstream Park Mar. 4. Trainer Mark Casse said Blue Grass runner-up Flameaway (Scat Daddy) also emerged from his effort well and will return to Casse’s Churchill base Monday to resume training for the Kentucky Derby. A Monday return to Churchill Downs was also in the cards for Saturday’s GI Ashland S. heroine Monomoy Girl (Tapizar), who likely stamped herself as the GI Kentucky Oaks favorite with a romping 5 1/2-length score. According to conditioner Brad Cox, the chestnut will van back to Louisville Monday or Tuesday. “Her work is done here and it is time to move on to the next town,” said Cox. “She ran the way we thought she would, with the way she had been training. It all worked out well.” View the full article

1st-KEE, $56,838, Msw, 4-8, 2yo, f, 4 1/2f, :53.03, ft. STILLWATER COVE (f, 2, Quality Road–Celibataire, by Broken Vow) broke quickest from the gate as the heavy 1/5 favorite and sprinted off to a five-length advantage through an opening quarter in :22.17. She still had a four-length cushion passing the eighth pole, but had to hold off a late-charging and very green Giro Kate (Girolamo) in the final strides to score by a nose. Stillwater Cove’s fourth dam was undefeated champion Personal Ensign (Private Account) and she hails from the family of MGISWs My Flag (Easy Goer) and Storm Flag Flying (Storm Cat) as well as MGSW Divine Oath (Broken Vow). She is the first foal out of maiden Celibataire, who is a full-sister to MGSW Interactif. She has recently produced a yearling filly by War Front and visited Union Rags last season. Sales history: $45,000 RNA Ylg ’17 KEESEP. Lifetime Record: 1-1-0-0, $36,000. Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton. O-Marcus Stables, LLC; B-Lofts Hall Stud & Ben Sangster (KY); T-Wesley A. Ward. View the full article

With the G1 Poule d’Essai des Pouliches and G1 1000 Guineas looming large, Deauville’s time-honoured trial, the G3 Prix Imprudence, offers the season’s first vital clues on Monday. Successful by 3 1/2 lengths in this venue’s G3 Prix de Cabourg over six furlongs in July, Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum’s Tantheem (GB) (Teofilo {Ire}) surprisingly beat only one rival home on her only other start when favoured for the G1 Prix Morny over the same course and distance during the August festival and bids to get back on track. Fourth in the Morny but beaten just over a length, Martin Schwartz’s and Alain Jathiere’s Zonza (Fr) (Alex the Winner) is another who has winning pattern-race form at this venue having captured the five-furlong G3 Prix du Bois in July. She was fifth in the G1 Prix Marcel Boussac tackling a mile at Chantilly on Arc day and may be more at home at this seven-furlong trip. There is a lurker in the field, with Al Shaqab’s narrow Mar. 2 debut Polytrack winner Talbah (GB) (Style Vendome {Fr}) trusted by trainer Nicolas Clement to justify his bold decision to pitch her into this grade. View the full article

Unbeaten records are always precious, but France’s joint-second top-rated juvenile of 2017 Sacred Life (Fr) (Siyouni {Fr}) now has to put his on the line as he re-emerges from his winter rest in Monday’s G3 Prix Djebel at Deauville. Ecurie Jean-Louis Bouchard’s bargain €10,000 private buy first advertised his mettle when scoring by five lengths in a 7 1/2-furlong conditions on soft ground here in August and was more dynamic next time when beating the useful Alba Power (Ire) (Fast Company {Ire}) by six in Saint-Cloud’s G3 Prix Thomas Bryon in October. Denied the opportunity to attempt a first top-level success in the protest-stricken G1 Criterium International back at the latter track, the bay who has put Stephane Wattel’s training career in the limelight could add further lustre to the G1 2000 Guineas at Newmarket. Again it is a British challenger who rates a serious threat and Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed Al Maktoum’s Cardsharp (GB) (Lonhro {Aus}) had the class to beat the subsequent champion 2-year-old U S Navy Flag (War Front) in the G2 July S. at Newmarket prior to some fine efforts under resulting penalty. Third and fifth behind that rival in Newmarket’s G1 Middle Park S. and G1 Dewhurst S. during the autumn, he has stamina to prove. That is not an issue for Markus Jooste’s Woodmax (Ger) (Maxios {GB}), who was on the premises with some of Europe’s best when fourth in the G1 Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere at a mile on Chantilly’s Arc card. View the full article

The Grand National is arguably the most thrilling festival of racing on the planet and while many only associate the event with the big race on Saturday, for racing fans there is an additional 20 races over the three days featuring the very best horses, trainers and jockeys. The Grand Opening Day features no less than seven high quality races, four of those Grade 1, beginning with the Aintree Manifesto Novices and finishing with the Aintree Mares. If you are looking for some opening day tips then check out RaceBets ambassador Luke Harvey’s video preview below as he endeavors to guide you into some winning selections. 100% Deposit Bonus up to £50 50/1 For Sam Twiston-Davies on Blaklion to win the Grand National Grand National Festival Day 1 Schedule 13.40 – Manifesto Novices’ Chase 14.15 – Anniversary 4-Y-O Novices’ Hurdle 14.50 – Betfred Bowl 15.25 – Doom Bar Aintree Hurdle 16.05 – Crabbie’s Fox Hunters Chase 16.40 – Red Rum Chase 17.15 – Mares Standard Open Grand National Bet Now The post Grand National 2018 Day 1 Betting Preview, Tips and Schedule appeared first on RaceBets Blog EN. View the full article

BARKAA (FR), f, 3, Siyouni (Fr)–Dentelle (Fr), by Apeldoorn (Fr). (€66,000 Ylg ’16 ARAUG). O-Gerard Augustin-Normand & Jose Bruneau de la Salle; B-Jean-Pierre Colombu (FR); T-Fabrice Vermeulen; J-Cristian Demuro. €40,000. Lifetime Record: 5-4-0-1, €93,650. *1/2 to My Old Husband (Fr) (Gentlewave {Ire}), Ch. 2yo Colt-Svk, MSW-Fr, SW-Swi & SP-Ity, $216,685; Danse du Soir (Fr) (Nombre Premier {GB}), MSP-Fr, $141,193; and Dumnonia (Fr) (Silver Frost {Ire}), Ch. 2yo Filly-Svk, Ch. 3yo Filly-Svk & SP-Ity. Underestimated in Sunday’s G3 Prix Vanteaux at ParisLongchamp, Gerard Augustin-Normand and Jose Bruneau De La Salle’s Barkaa (Fr) (Siyouni {Fr}) was clear best at the end of this early G1 Prix de Diane trial to reward takers of the 7-1 on offer. Registering a first black-type win in the Listed Prix de la Californie at a mile on Cagnes-Sur-Mer’s Polytrack Feb. 11, the bay raced behind the leading duo early taking a perfect tow. Asked to stretch by Cristian Demuro once straightened for home, she took control passing the quarter pole and powered clear of Soustraction (Ire) (Lope De Vega {Ire}) to record a four-length verdict, with three lengths back to Princesschope (Fr) (Panis) in third. The 2-1 favourite Toujours (Fr) (Galileo {Ire}) never featured and was beaten almost 10 lengths in fifth. View the full article

The Chairman’s Trophy could not have been less like the mile feature races we’ve been seeing all season and that was the key to bringing former Group One star Beauty Only back from the wilderness and from the brink of retirement in a shock result. Not long ago, the Tony Cruz-trained Beauty Only would have been favourite for a race like the designated Champions Mile lead-up but the seven-year-old went out a 36-1 outsider before his old accomplice Neil Callan backed up some positive... View the full article

Beat The Clock didn’t do anything more than live up to the expectations of champion jockey Joao Moreira when he turned over the Hong Kong Sprint winner Mr Stunning in the Group Two Sprint Cup to throw down his own international credentials. Beat The Clock has been one of the many sprint finds for John Size this season, graduating quickly from a Class Two win in November to racing the very best two months later and his brilliant Group Two win on Sunday was the equivalent of tossing his... View the full article

As the usual round of big-race decisions rapidly approach for Joao Moreira, Neil Callan’s win on Beauty Only was a reminder that being without a seat when the music stops isn’t always the worst place to be in this game of musical chairs. Sometimes Hong Kong racing’s jockey merry-go-round just doesn’t matter and for all of the decisions Moreira has to make over the next few days – Beat The Clock or Ivictory in a Group One sprint, or choosing between Pakistan Star,... View the full article

CHILEAN (GB), c, 3, Iffraaj (GB)–Childa (Ire) (SW & GSP-Fr, $106,049), by Duke of Marmalade (Ire). (130,000gns Ylg ’16 TAOCT). O-Manton Estate Racing; B-Ed’s Stud Ltd (GB); T-Martyn Meade; J-Oisin Murphy. €40,000. Lifetime Record: SW-Eng, 5-3-0-0, €75,037. Last seen finishing sixth in a strong renewal of the G1 Racing Post Trophy at Doncaster in October, Chilean took to the newly reopened ParisLongchamp on Sunday to add to his prior black-type success in the Listed Ascendant S. at Haydock in September. Sent off at a generous 5-1 with domestic hopes placed mainly on The Niarchos Family’s exciting Study of Man (Ire) (Deep Impact {Jpn}), the bay raced freely in a close-up second throughout the early stages before being committed by Oisin Murphy at the top of the straight. Asserting inside the last 100 metres as the 8-5 favourite made inroads from behind, the British visitor hit the line with 1 1/4 lengths to spare, with Study of Man 3/4 of a length ahead of the fellow strong finisher Stable Genius (Fr) (Siyouni {Fr}). View the full article

There was something John Size-like about Frankie Lor Fu-chuen’s first-up winner Superich and now the first-year trainer is within sight of a Size record after his three-year-old’s soft debut win. Superich caned his rivals in a 1,000m Class Four with something in hand, and winning like many of Size’s progressive Private Purchase Griffins have over the years. The victory was Lor’s 44th of the season, equalling Caspar Fownes’ win total in his rookie campaign, and just... View the full article

The provincial circuit in the Australian state of Queensland is turning into rich territory for finding future Hong Kong horses and the John Moore-trained Solar Patch joined the list after a smart winning debut at Sha Tin. Given a smart ride by Sam Clipperton, Solar Patch didn’t surprise anyone but the punters who took the odds-on about Lean Perfection when he ran out a convincing winner of the Beijing Clubhouse Anniversary Cup, meaning Moore is assembling some very useful three-year-olds... View the full article

After nine years spent abroad, for the most part as a manager of Sheikh Mohammed’s global operations, Olly Tait returned to Australia on a permanent basis exactly a year ago last weekend. It was just over 12 months ago that Tait and his wife, Amber, jumped at the chance to purchase Twin Hills Stud in Cootamundra, a farm that Tait had a hand in running during his time with Darley and that was also nearby to where he grew up in rural New South Wales. With now a year under his belt, Tait has a chance to reflect on the opportunities and challenges of starting a new business in the booming Australian bloodstock industry, and indeed on Saturday he had something to celebrate when Levendi (Aus) (Pierro {Aus}) won the G1 Australian Derby. Twin Hills Stud purchased the dam, Lipari (Aus) (Redoute’s Choice {Aus}), in foal to More Than Ready for A$170,000 at last year’s Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale. “It’s a year to the day [on Saturday] that we took ownership of the farm and it’s gone really well,” Tait summarized. “Overall we are where we thought we’d be, but probably the way we got through the first year, there are elements that have gone better than anticipated and there are elements that have not lived up to my expectations. But, overall we’re in a good spot.” “The strength of the business is the quality of the farm,” Tait said. “It’s on fantastic land and has wonderful facilities. We’re looking after a large number of nice horses for the clients, so that’s been really pleasing. I knew it was a good farm, but you have to get that message across and you have to get people to come with you on that. I think that’s happened. “Building a business from scratch is a challenging thing to do,” he added. “We’re facing the challenges that come with that, but it’s very clear to see the rewards that come with facing those challenges and building a business.” One of those challenges, Tait admitted, was standing stallions. Tait syndicated the locally raced Odyssey Moon (Aus) (Snitzel {Aus}), winner of the Inglis Nursery and second in the G1 Sires’ Produce S. at two before winning a Group 3 and three, and shuttled the GI Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint winner Bobby’s Kitten (Kitten’s Joy) from Lanwades Stud in Newmarket. “We stood two stallions that year and I think that was probably more challenging than we anticipated,” Tait said. “It’s a very competitive stallion market but I firmly believe stallions will always have a place in our business.” Tait said Bobby’s Kitten won’t return to Australia this year. “The number of mares he attracted was disappointing but I’m a great believer in the horse and I’m pleased to have some mares in foal to him myself,” he said. “Ultimately, stallions need to cover enough mares to be competitive.” He noted that shuttle stallions have experienced a decline in popularity in Australia in recent years, but warned against ruling out their use. “There’s no doubt colonial stallions are more popular than shuttle stallions; for instance in Bobby’s Kitten’s case, that’s reflected in his fee,” he said. “He was a Group 1-winning turf sprinter as a 3-year-old beating older horses winning America’s best turf sprint race. If that was his [racing] profile in Australia, he wouldn’t be standing at the fee he was standing at; he’d be a lot higher.” “There’s no doubt shuttle stallions are not as popular as they once were. When I started working for Darley in Australia shuttle stallions stood at a premium and local stallions stood at a relative discount. It’s been completely reversed now. But shuttle stallions have their place. People can be dismissive in saying, ‘you take Danehill out of it, what have shuttle stallions done?’ Well, you can’t take Danehill out of it. You can’t take Street Cry out of it. You can’t take More Than Ready out of it. They’re really good stallions who had a really positive influence on the breed here. There will be shuttle stallions that come here and continue to make it. At the moment the market dictates that it’s more challenging to stand them but people will continue to try and some will make it.” “Good stallions can come from anywhere. Odyssey Moon is a Group 3 winner, Group 1-placed by a very good stallion. I Am Invincible is a Group 3 winner, Group 1-placed, by a very good stallion. There are possibilities.” Tait applies that same cyclical theory to the current focus on breeding sprinters in Australia. While the breed Down Under has become almost completely speed-focused, and successful and recognized for it on an international level, he says there is no reason to think that won’t someday change. “It will evolve,” Tait said. “Sir Tristram and Zabeel dominated Australian staying races. That’s been taken over by European horses, but who is to say some locally bred horses won’t be in vogue in 20 years’ time? You look at Pierro, who is from the Zabeel sireline, and he’s had the Derby winner and the Oaks winner in his first crop. Who knows. He might be the influence on stamina. I don’t think we need to beat ourselves up about it [breeding fewer horses with stamina]. People will always find a way to try to have the best horses, and if people are willing to invest large sums of money on horses in Europe to win those races, the best of luck to them.” Tait’s international experience and reputation should stand him in good stead with Twin Hills, but he is respectful of the challenge of gaining market share in a competitive industry. “The one thing I probably underestimated was starting a business on Apr. 7 of last year and getting ourselves into the market,” he said. “You have to build a brand, and a brand takes a long time to build. The time it will take to build that brand is not a short period of time.” The Australian racing and bloodstock industries are largely considered the envy of other global racing jurisdictions, and Tait pointed to a strong purse structure, a good culture for ownership and public enthusiasm for racing as reasons for the current optimistic outlook. “The general state of the economy is always the most influential driver of the Thoroughbred industry, and the Australian economy is going well, as is the world economy,” he said. “At a more micro level, the development of racing, particularly in New South Wales, and the increased returns to participants that have come into place the last five to 10 years have been hugely positive. If you have a horse that wins in Sydney on a Saturday you’re winning a meaningful amount of money relative to the costs. When you’re winning A$100,000 minimum for a Saturday race, that’s a multiple of what it costs to have a horse in training for a year. In the comparable jurisdictions, that equation is not as good.” “I think there is a broader interest in racing [in Australia] than there are in other places and that then manifests itself in wagering, ownership, and then the breadth of ownership because of the culture of syndication. That makes for a very healthy industry. What we don’t have is the mega-wealth that you get in Europe and America. Luckily, some of that wealth finds its way to Australia by way of overseas investors that are interested in the business here, but we don’t have that depth of wealth that exists in America and Europe, and that’s an advantage they have there.” Tait said that while there are opportunities to take elements of the industries in other jurisdictions and try to implement them elsewhere, it is important to recognize that for the most part these involve deeply ingrained cultures, and change isn’t likely to be easy or immediate. “You can always take the best ideas, but it takes time to implement things,” he said. “You have to have the right people leading it and you have to have people with a willingness to change, which doesn’t come easy; people don’t like change. There are things we could do better in Australia, there are things that could be done better in America or Europe or wherever, but the people who are influential are doing the best job they can. I use the term ‘a culture of syndication’; a culture by definition takes a long time to develop. So to say we want to emulate in Europe and America what happens in Australia with regards to syndicates, that’s not an easy thing to achieve in a short period of time.” “I felt living in America at times that people within the industry would talk the industry down, which I found frustrating,” he said. “You look at the Kentucky Derby, and there is no other race in the world where you have a combination of the race for the industry and the race for the public. The Golden Slipper is the most important race for the industry here, but the Melbourne Cup is the most important race for the public. The Kentucky Derby is an incredible event, and if you have a sporting event that you can get 170,000 people to, which they do at the Kentucky Derby, things are going quite well.” Twin Hills Stud will debut as a consignor at Thursday’s Chairman’s Sale, selling the well-related Shantha’s Girl (Aus) (Redoute’s Choice {Aus}) in foal to American Pharoah, and Tait said selling at public auction will be part of the business plan going forward. “We’re only selling a small number of horses at the sales this year, and we’ll have yearlings next year,” he said. “We have some nice yearlings on the farm that we’re looking forward to offering. Like anyone in the business we’re trying to build up a good clientele who enjoy working with us to try and achieve what their goals are, so if people are wanting to sell commercially we’re delighted to do that for them.” “Australia is in many ways the envy of the world in terms of the way the business operates and there are so many different factors that go into that,” Tait said. “But I think it’s important we’re not too self congratulatory and don’t rest on our laurels and continue to promote what we do and continue to make sure we are a really effective industry.” View the full article

Reigning juvenile male champion Good Magic took home the $1 million Toyota Blue Grass Stakes (G2) at Keeneland April 7 and added 100 points to his Road to the Kentucky Derby total. View the full article

In an unusual running of the $200,000 Royal Heroine Stakes (G2T) April 7, which saw favorite Enola Gray break slow, and a back-and-forth exchange of leaders, Beau Recall flew home from off the pace to score her first graded stakes victory. View the full article