Wandering Eyes

The short answer is: not Justify. While the whole racing world is hypnotized by the Triple Crown, if you look at his three performances, the speed figures he earned in each of the races would not have been good enough to win any of those races in even an average year. Just as was the case with American Pharoah, had he had a full season and gotten a chance to run against older horses and prove himself, I wouldn’t have been surprised if he turned out to be another American Pharoah. But he didn’t do it and never had a chance to step out of the 3-year-old ranks. I think that 10 years from now we’re going to look back on the Triple Crown and say that winning it is not that extraordinary. We had a long period where there was just one photo finish after another that beat worthy horses. To me, winning the Breeders Cup Classic and other Grade I’s against older horses is what makes you a great horse. I’ll vote for Accelerate. Figure-wise, I was disappointed by the way he ended his year. He sort of won by default. His Breeders’ Cup Classic was weak. But he has run figures of 115, 111, 110 during the course of the year. Justify’s three figures in the Triple Crown races were 103, 97, 101. Justify had an ambitious campaign. He won the races he had to win. He was no Arrogate, but he certainly had what I would call a respectable Horse of the Year campaign. Beyer is an Eclipse Award voter View the full article

The first speaker at the University of Arizona's Global Symposium on Racing focused on two main themes that will continue on through the two-day event: sports wagering and integrity. View the full article

In a press release Monday, Santa Anita announced substantial purse increases due to “increased handle over the last year” for all overnight races at its upcoming winter meet, as compared to its recently-wrapped fall meet. While purse increases will be seen across the board, the biggest cash injections–as much as 11%–will be aimed towards claiming races, “which are the bread and butter of the racing program,” said Elizabeth Morey, director of Racing and Northern California Operations for Thoroughbred Owners of California (TOC). In addition, the purse distribution in races run for $30,000 or lower will be adjusted so that the first five home will receive a 55, 20, 12, 8 and 5% cut respectively. For races above that threshold, the distribution model remains 60, 20, 12, 6, and 2%. The threshold from running in first condition allowances has also been expanded from non-winners of $10,000 other than maiden, claiming or starter, to $15,000 “other than.” Perhaps most eye-catchingly, come Dec. 26, horses that win first condition allowance races at Golden Gate Fields will be eligible to run again at the same level at Santa Anita. If a horse wins first-condition allowance races at both Golden Gate and Santa Anita, they’re subsequently ineligible for a “two other than” condition race. Asked whether the changes concerning first-condition allowance races will impact field sizes in certain races at Golden Gate–the change is described as an “incentive” for Bay Area horsemen to ship south–Bill Patterson, Northern California manager of the California Thoroughbred Trainers, told TDN that it “could” have an impact. “It’s probably going to help the first condition down there,” he said, meaning Santa Anita. “But I don’t think every trainer that wins a first-condition up here will automatically say, ‘I’m headed south now.'” At the same time, “maybe it’ll help field sizes up here in the first condition,” he said. “If a trainer doesn’t want to run a horse for a claim that’s been running 4th or 5th down [south], they might say, ‘We’re somewhat competitive in the races down here but we can’t seem to crack it, so let’s go to Golden Gate and run in the first condition up there, and we’re still eligible for the first condition back here.’ “A lot of the time, when they change conditions, usually everybody goes into a panic, and then it turns out to be not as bad as you’d thought it would be,” Patterson added. “It could work both ways. You’ll just have to run some races and see how it goes.” Morey explained that the Bay Area facility has seen handle and purses increases this year, and as such, “We think this new policy makes Golden Gate a more attractive place to race with more opportunities for horses based there. We expect it will benefit both circuits.” According to Santa Anita Racing Director Dan Eidson, the changes made to the purse distribution model in races run for $30,000 or less is designed to level the playing field between large and small stables. “Either on the East Coast or the West Coast, as you know, there are those trainers that pretty much dominate the purse earnings,” Eidson said. “What this does is give the people with the smaller stables, and their owners, the chance to earn a few dollars [more]. It’s quite significant. When you take 5% from the winner and spread it out to fourth and fifth, if you finish fourth a couple times, you might just pay your training bill for the month.” The issue of so called “super trainers” is one getting increasing attention. For a long time, the 20/80 model–that the top 20% of trainers won 80% of the prize money–was believed to be the rule in California. According to stats calculated using Daily Racing Form data, the top 20% of trainers in California won nearly 84% of the available purses in 2016–a ratio that has remained fairly consistent between 2007 and 2016. “If I had my way, I would go the whole nine yards. I would do what New York is doing,” Eidson said, meaning that he would expand the new distribution model to cover all, or nearly all, races at Santa Anita. This summer, for example, the New York Racing Association announced that all purses at Saratoga–with the exception of certain stakes with awards already stated–would be distributed the following way: 55, 20, 12, 6, and 4%, with the remaining 3% divided among the remaining runners. That structure has continued through the Belmont and Aqueduct meets. Nor is this kind of model foreign to California. At Golden Gate, the purses in races run for $10,000 or less are currently distributed 55, 20, 15, 7.5, and 2.5%. “We had an agreement with the TOC,” Eidson added. “This is a starting point, and we’ll see how it works, and if it does, it’s something to look at in the future.” Morey said that it’s “a little premature to say” whether the distribution model will be expanded. “Everything that’s being done for this meet has been a collaboration between the track and the TOC, and I think we’re all looking to try new things to keep California very competitive,” she added. As to the changes in first-condition allowances, expanding from non-winners of $10,000 other than maiden, claiming or starter, to $15,000 other than, Eidson said that it’s an “incentive” to bring horses to California that have already run and won elsewhere. “People are buying more and more horses from places like Europe and South America, and sometimes they win these allowance races back home worth $11,000 or $12,000 to the winner, and they come here, then find themselves running in ‘two-other-thans’ right off the bat,” he said. “You get a chance to see where your horse really belongs.” Eidson is the interim racing secretary at Santa Anita while the Stronach Group hunts for a replacement to former racing secretary Rick Hammerle, fired from his position just last week. Asked about his hopes for success with the stated changes to the imminent winter meet, Eidson said that The Stronach Group is “always willing” to try something new. “And if it doesn’t[work], we’ll try something else.” View the full article

A wide-open field of seven, including stakes winners Underpressure, Grande Basin, and Mageez, is entered in the $150,000 Louisiana Champions Day Classic Stakes, featured race on the Dec. 8 Louisiana Champions Day program at Fair Grounds. View the full article

NEWMARKET, UK—It was the family that was always likely to dominate the December Sale and just four days after her weanling Galileo (Ire) filly led the foal sale at 1.7 million gns, Pearling (Storm Cat) trounced allcomers in the mares’ division when selling for 2.4 million gns. The circumstances of the transaction were effectively a repeat performance of last week, with Imad Al Sagar buying out his partner Saleh Al Homaizi for the mare (lot 1918) who has given them their biggest success as breeders through her treble Group 1-winning son and young Irish National Stud sire Decorated Knight (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}). The 12-year-old sister to Giant’s Causeway and You’resothrilling was offered back in foal to Galileo on a June 8 cover and such a rare opportunity to buy a proven mare from a top-drawer family drew interested parties from all corners of the world. Ben Harris of Lordship Stud was involved in earlier rounds of the bidding along with David Hanley of WinStar Farm and New Zealander Dean Hawthorne, who ended up as underbidder. Tony Nerses, acting on Al Sagar’s behalf, ensured that the mare he initially bid 1.3 million gns to buy in the same ring seven years ago would be coming home to the partners’ Blue Diamond Stud. “She is very special to us and has an exceptional pedigree. I could not let her go,” said Al Sagar. “Saleh has some serious business commitments coming up and has needed to reduce his interests, but he is a very good friend. We have had some great times with the horses together, but things change. I am delighted to be taking this mare home.” Strength In Depth Last year’s 6 million-guinea record-breaker Marsha (Ire) (Acclamation {Ire}) was always going to be hard to topple but with the sales grounds brimming with buyers of varying nationalities, and an extremely strong presence from America, Australia and France in particular, the hints had been heavy since the weekend that Tuesday’s traditional show-stopping session would be strong, and thus it proved. There have been cautionary statements regarding the emphatic polarisation of the market throughout the sales year from sales companies, vendors and breeders alike. While the final session of this particular auction will undoubtedly bring Tattersalls’ trading year to a muted close come Thursday, all tales of woe were temporarily banished from the company’s amphitheatre of a sales ring during what is perennially the most frenetic day of business in Newmarket. A clearance rate of 83% was testament to the great demand for blueblooded mares of largely European descent, and those 195 horses to sell brought an aggregate of 42,534,600gns. That represented a 7% decline on last year’s corresponding session but even without a headliner of the calibre of the aforementioned top-class sprinter, seven millionairesses ensured that the day was far from a struggle. Indeed, the median was up by 29% at 110,000gns, through the average dropped by 16% to 218,126gns. Those Who Got Away… During an early evening session in which trade quickened to a relentless pace, Pearling’s 4-year-old daughter Ambrosia (GB) was auctioned two lots after her mother and was one who has slipped the clutches of Blue Diamond Stud. As a daughter of the world-renowned Frankel (GB) and in foal to one of Europe’s most sought-after young sires, Siyouni (Fr), she too had plenty to recommend her to buyers of all prominent racing nations and it came down to a duel between Japan’s KI Farm and America’s WinStar Farm, with the latter holding out longest to buy Decorated Knight’s half-sister at 1.3 million gns. “We tried on the mother and we’re thrilled to get something from the family,” said successful bidder David Hanley. “We said if we missed Pearling we would try on her daughter. It’s one of the most amazing families and she’s a young mare on an early cover with a good future ahead of her.” He added, “It’s a pedigree that works everywhere. You could get a turf horse or a dirt horse. We’ll take her back to WinStar and discuss next year’s mating, but Justify would have to be in the mix.” The G2 Princess Margaret S. winner and Group 1 runner-up Princess Noor (Ire) (1718) was an early-morning offering from the separation of the Blue Diamond Stud stock and the daughter of Holy Roman Emperor (Ire) will join the broodmare band at Barronstown Stud after David Nagle went to 675,000gns to buy the 7-year-old in foal to Decorated Knight. “She is a beauty and was very fast,” he said. “She should suit a lot of the stallions at Coolmore.” Among those Coolmore stallions is of course Decorated Knight’s relation and fellow son of Galileo (Ire), Gleneagles (Ire). Princess Noor’s wasn’t just fast herself but is out of a half-sister to the dam of top-class sprinter Dream Ahead (Diktat [GB}) and also to the dam of this year’s G1 Cheveley Park S. winner Fairyland (Ire) (Kodiac {GB}). There weren’t many offered by Al Homaizi and Al Sagar to sell to outside interests, however. In the name of Blue Diamond Stud Farm UK, Al Sagar has spent 4,673,000gns in order to become the sole owner of 11 mares formerly owned with his partner, including stakes winners Dawn Of Hope (Ire) (1827) at 425,000gns and Shaden (Ire) (Kodiac {GB}) (1752) at 370,000gns. Bound For Lordship Sending fast mares to Galileo (Ire) is now very much in vogue so sending a Galileo mare to a fast stallion makes sense in reverse and there’s no more popular sire of sprinters at the moment than Yeomanstown Stud’s Dark Angel (Ire). That was the recipe for success offered in the sale of lot 1895 and it was one which Trevor Harris of Lordship Stud and his advisor Luke Lillingston tasted just right when they pledged 2.2 million gns for the listed winner Bound (Ire). In her own mating, the members of the breeding syndicate which owns Bound’s dam Remember When (Ire) (Danehill Dancer {Ire}) opted for a repeat mating to the champion sire, and why not when that cross has already produced Bound’s Group-winning siblings Wedding Vow (Ire), Beacon Rock (Ire) and Bye Bye Baby (Ire). Where Galileo has worked in the first generation, Danehill plays a significant role in the second. Only two dams fit the page for the 4-year-old mare as her grandam Lagrion (Diesis) is herself responsible for champion galloper Dylan Thomas (Ire) (Danehill), who counts the Arc and the Irish Derby along his five Group I strikes, as well as the diminutive 1000 Guineas winner Homecoming Queen (Ire) (Holy Roman Emperor {Ire}) and the former European champion 2-year-old filly Queen’s Logic (Ire) (Grand Lodge). In securing Bound for his client, Lillingston had to see off his own partner Lincoln Collins, bidding on the opposite side of the ring. The agent, who also bought the Lordship Stud matriarch Swiss Lake for the Harris family for $500,000 at Keeneland, said, “It’s a long road when you buy a broodmare, waiting to see what they can do, but this mare is very special. I remember saying to Trevor when he bought Swiss Lake, ‘you’ll have to throw the kitchen sink at this’, and he did and got his just reward. This mare is a little more obvious and she’ll be going to Dubawi (Ire).” George Washington’s Frail Legacy His stakes-placed daughter Date With Destiny (Ire) is the one and only conduit for the genetic legacy of the unforgettable George Washington—qualifying her own daughter Beautiful Morning (GB) (Galileo {Ire}) as a genuinely special offering from Newsells Park Stud as lot 1927. The 5-year-old duly attracted strong interest from Northern Farm and still stronger from John O’Connor of Ballylinch, but it was Hugo Lascelles who gained the day at 1.4 million gns. “I can’t say the client but she’s to stay in England, which is good, and I think we’ll probably be looking to race out of her too,” the agent said. “Hopefully she’ll go to Dubawi. In fact Julian Dollar [of Newsells Park] just told me that’s the plan for the dam as well. It is very special, with the George Washington connection, but she was really lovely-looking too, a big scopey Galileo, and of course she’s a Group winner herself.” That was a status she earned by a nose success in the G3 Royal Whip S. for Jessica Harrington at the Curragh this summer, ultimately rendering her 650,000gns tag as a Book 1 yearling here money well spent. Lascelles had also been able to perform a similar service with regard to lot 1805, The Wagon Wheel (Ire) (Acclamation {GB}). Bought in for 75,000gns when presented here as a Book 1 yearling by Longview Stud, this time the same consignor was able to offer the 4-year-old as a dual stakes-placed sprinter for Richard Fahey and gained due reward from Lascelles at 650,000gns. Though operating for different clients, Lascelles was again pleased to say that they are both British-based and likely to be end-users. He envisaged this mare injecting some dash into their operation and hopes that a Siyouni (Fr) covering may help kick-start that process. “She’s fast, and she’s very good looking,” Lascelles said. “It’s a tough, hard-knocking family and an outcross for Northern Dancer-line horses. She’s a really good walking, lovely model who can put some speed into the clients’ stud.” As a daughter of Intikhab, the stakes-placed dam assists the remarkable Acclamation in the outcross cause, while her previous mating with the Rathbarry sire produced an even more accomplished animal in Tabarrak (Ire), a four-time listed winner who ended the current campaign for Richard Hannon Jr with a rating of 110. Coolmore Takes Heart The Coolmore team has hit upon a formula that works exceptionally well with its champion sire in drafting in very fast females and it duly came as no surprise to see Heartache (GB) (Kyllachy {GB}) knocked down to M.V. Magnier as lot 1897 for 1.3 million gns. “She’s a very fast filly,” Magnier said. “Pivotal [line sires] click so well with Galileo, so I’d say that’s where she’ll be headed. She’s a lovely filly and she’s been with a great nursery from day one.” Though disappointing this year, Heartache had gladdened many hearts with her juvenile campaign, when leased by breeders Whitsbury Manor Stud to one of the Hot To Trot syndicates organised by Sam Hoskins and Luke Lillingston. As a result there were scenes of bedlam when she won the Queen Mary at Royal Ascot, before confirming speed to be her forte with another Group 2 success in the Flying Childers S. Restored to Whitsbury Manor, with this sale she put the icing on the cake for a farm that enjoyed a great run with Showcasing (GB) at the foal sale last week. True, there were mixed feelings: cherished contributors to the stud’s rise appear across her page, not least her listed-winning dam who was homebred with Compton Place (GB). “We know the family so well,” said Ed Harper. “She’s the fifth generation back to a mare called Hollow Heart that Dad bought in the 1970s. We’ve raced every daughter since. So it’s a testament to his stockmanship. We have changed our minds about ten times, as to whether to sell or keep her—but at the end of the day a stallion can cover 150 mares a year, and a mare can only be covered once. “As precious as we think she is, we want to drive our company forward so if we have to join the financial dots together by selling her then we just have to do it. We’re having a good time with the stallions at the moment and results like this are going to help push us as we bid to compete with the big boys.” Erdenheim Revival Gathers Pace The revival of the historic Erdenheim Farm in Pennsylvania as a Thoroughbred operation gained significant momentum when James Wigan, seated alongside Florida-based owners Peter and Bonnie McCausland, saw off Northern Farm at 1,200,000gns for Off Limits (Ire) (Mastercraftsman {Ire}). Lot 1871, by the sire of another stellar filly in Alpha Centauri (Ire), was presented by European Sales Management on behalf of Martin Schwartz as the only elite winner to go under the hammer this week. The 6-year-old is already an interesting tale, first sold as a foal at Goffs to Tom King for just €24,000. Entering training with David Wachman, she won a maiden and Listed race before a private sale to Schwartz, who placed her with Chad Brown in the United States. After taking a while to find her feet, she got on a roll last year with two Grade 3 wins at Belmont before crowning her career in the GI Matriarch S. Off Limits is ultimately from the family of dual Grade I winner Awe Inspiring and the top-class miler Zilzal. “Mr McCausland is setting up a bloodstock operation on a very old farm in Pennsylvania,” Wigan said. “There haven’t been [Thoroughbred] horses on the farm for a long time, but it is now being brought back into equine use. These are the first mares going back onto the farm, and this one is the only Grade/Group 1 winner in the catalogue. We liked her as an individual, and she’s from a lovely family with appeal in both America and Europe.” Wigan also signed for lot 1896, the 4-year-old Billesdon Bess (GB) (Dick Turpin {Ire}), a Listed winner for Richard Hannon Jr and a half-sister to the stable’s shock 1,000 Guineas winner Billesdon Brook (GB) (Champs Elysees {GB}). “It’s a very current family, and not just with the Guineas winner,” reasoned Wigan. “There are a lot of fillies, and they’ll all be going to good sires. For instance the Frankel filly foal out of [the dam’s Group 3-winning half-sister] Middle Club (GB) (Fantastic Light) made 700,000gns here last week. You might argue that the sire is not very fashionable, but you could say that of Champs Elysees too, and this is a lovely, big, scopey filly, very correct.” Also among three other Erdenheim purchases so far this week was lot 1887, Listed winner Tilly’s Chilli (Ire) (Excelebration {Ire}), for 400,000gns. The aggregate spend to date is 2,860,000gns. Erdenheim, acquired by the McCauslands in 2009, was founded on the banks of the Wissahickon Creek in 1765 and became home to Leamington, imported from England to become sire of the first American-bred winner of the Derby, Iroquois. For much of the 20th Century it was the property of George D. Widener. Northern Farm gained consolation for their unavailing attempt to land Off Limits when giving 700,000gns for lot 1916, Fadillah (GB) (Monsun {Ger}). The 4-year-old is out of a half-sister to multiple Group 1-winning brothers Schiaparelli (Ger) (Monsun {Ger}) and Samum (Ger), as well as to the unraced dam of the very promising young sire Sea The Moon (Ger). European Sales Management’s select draft of eight fillies and mares sold for a total of 3,660,000gns, led by Off Limits and including Heuristique (Ire) (Shamardal), sold as lot 1878 in foal to Frankel for 675,000gns to Wertheimer & Frere, and Group 3 winner Vue Fantastique (Fr) (Motivator {GB}) (1872), who was bought by John and Jake Warren for 475,000gns. Phoenix Investment Grows Phoenix Thoroughbreds had an interesting afternoon, spending a total of 1,550,000gns on two consecutive lots before failing to find someone to fund anything approaching that level of investment through their offering of dual Group 2 winner Signora Cabello (Ire) (Camacho {GB}) as a wildcard, lot 1908A. Pocketfullofdreams (Fr) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}) went through this same ring in February—as part of a draft of animals co-owned by Markus Jooste—when signed for by Stephen Hillen at 475,000gns. The 4-year-old, twice placed in listed company for Aidan O’Brien last year, returned as lot 1865 in the Baroda & Colbinstown draft with the benefit of a covering by Galileo and moved her price up to 1,000,000gns as the first seven-figure transaction of this sale. Her half-sister The Juliet Rose (Fr) (Monsun {Ger}) is a dual Group 2 winner, also placed at Group 1 level, while their dam is a half-sister Group 2 winner Hanami (GB) (Hernando {Fr}). The next animal into the ring, lot 1866 Ballet De La Reine (War Front), also raced for Coolmore interests, winning in France—and at 550,000gns gave her new owners a route into perhaps the very best family in the breed today: her unraced dam is out of a sister to Galileo (Ire) himself. Tom Ludt, vice-president of Phoenix Thoroughbreds, reckons the organisation now has around 15 broodmares based in Europe, but the emphasis is all on quality. “It’s kind of tough to have to do it back to back,” he admitted after the second big-money docket in five minutes had been signed off. “But the first of them is in foal to Galileo, so straight off the bat you’ve saved a stud fee worth a few hundred thousand dollars, and she has everything you’d like to see in a family. And then with the next one we have a third dam that’s just incredible [Urban Sea]. So we’re looking at a couple of first foals and hoping that it’s a filly! As everyone knows, we’re trying to build a top-class broodmare band. We’re trying to play at the top and unfortunately you have to pay at the top.” As for Signora Cabello, Phoenix signed for her at 900,000gns. The investment fund had bought a 75% stake in the filly shortly before her success in the Queen Mary S. at Royal Ascot, after which she proceeded to win the Prix Robert Papin and then to run an excellent second in the G1 Prix Morny. A feather in the cap, then, for Sean Quinn and Richard Knight, who had found her here in Book 3 for just 20,000gns. Quinn’s father John is duly looking forward to welcoming back a filly who only left his yard last weekend. “She is very quick and very tough,” the Malton trainer said. “We will have to discuss a campaign, but I would be thinking of the Commonwealth Cup or the King’s Stand.” Pending a call to an airborne partner, the Phoenix representatives were not yet in a position to clarify the filly’s ownership henceforth. A Jewel For Watership Down There are plenty of American buyers at Park Paddocks this week but one visitor from the U.S. in the role of vendor is Craig Bernick. The Glen Hill Farm owner boards several mares in Ireland and one in England and offered Earring (Dansili {GB}) (1870) through Norelands Stud. The 5-year-old with stakes form on both sides of the Atlantic was sold carrying her first foal by Lope De Vega (Ire) for 925,000gns to Charlie Gordon-Watson on behalf of Lord and Lady Lloyd Webber of Watership Down Stud. “We like the market here and we like turf breeding,” Bernick said. “For a few years now European stock has been really popular in the US and vice versa but we felt that it’s important to sell where they belong. She’s going to a great farm and we’re really happy.” Having started her racing career for the Coolmore partners with Aidan O’Brien, the daughter of Galileo’s Grade 1-winning daughter Together (Ire) switched to the stable of Thomas Proctor to race for a partnership including Heider Family Stables and Hill ‘N’ Dale before ending up in the sole ownership of Glen Hill. Watership Down Stud has had a banner year on the track courtesy of the unbeaten Group 1 winner Too Darn Hot (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) and hasn’t done too badly in the sale ring either. At October Book 1 the farm sold Too Darn Hot’s yearling brother for a sale-topping 3.5 million gns. Stud manager Simon Marsh said, “This is a family we are really pleased to get into. She is out of a young mare, was a good racehorse and is very good looking. She is also bred on a fantastic cross.” New Partners For Luminate Sandwiched between Pearling and her daughter Ambrosia was another of the best offerings in the catalogue in lot 1919, Luminate (Ire) (Lawman {Fr}). Trained by Freddy Head for Highclere, the 3-year-old is a dual Group 3 winner out of a half-sister to GI Breeders’ Cup Turf winner Kalanisi (Ire) (Doyoun {GB}). She was knocked down for 900,000gns to John Warren and Gary Hadden, on behalf of a partnership between Newsells Park Stud and Craig Bennett of Merry Fox Farm. Warren has followed her all the way through, having bought her with son Jake for Highclere as a Goffs Orby yearling for €85,000. “We felt her form was probably a lot better than it read,” Warren said. “In fact she should probably have been a Group 1 winner at two, as she was second-favourite when we had 27 owners going over to France only for the race to be cancelled because of a strike!” Julian Dollar of Newsells Park was thrilled to land Luminate. “I had my heart set on her but with the market so hot I thought we wouldn’t be able to get anywhere near her,” he said. “I absolutely love her, she’s the most beautiful filly here. And I’m delighted as well to be able to do something with Craig, we’ve wanted to for a while but just hadn’t found the right opportunity.” I’m So Fancy Takes Flight Another chapter in the remarkable tale of Rajj (Ire) (Danehill) was completed by the 500,000gns given by Sam Haggas of Avenue Bloodstock, alongside Amanda Skiffington, for his 4-year-old daughter I’m So Fancy (Ire), winner of two listed races and a Group 3 prize for Jessica Harrington in the silks of Mrs James Nicholson this season. Rajj is an unraced son of Danehill standing for Homer Scott at Lisheen Stud in Co Kildare. Scott, who had a couple of Cheltenham Festival winners in his early years as a trainer, had to make the horse’s name with a handful of mares owned by family and friends. He remained at pains to prioritise quality over quantity, but demand would seem sure to rise now. For the success of I’m So Fancy complements that of Insayshable (Ire), who won two races in Scott’s colours last year before being sold to continue his career—and very productively—in Hong Kong. I’m So Fancy, consigned by Baroda & Colbinstown Studs as lot 1838, will likewise spread the word far and wide as she will remain in training for her new owners in the U.S. “She’s going to race over there for Lael Stable,” says Haggas, whose father William has done so well for its owners Roy and Gretchen Jackson. “There’s a very good programme for females of her profile over there, she’s very tough and consistent, so fingers crossed she can keep going.” Hawthorne On Quest For Galileo Blood Dean Hawthorne notched a quickfire double on when signing for consecutive lots Puppetshow (Ire) (Galileo {Ire)) and Wonderland (Ire) (Lope De Vega {Ire}) for 380,000gns and 130,000gns respectively. The New Zealander, acting on behalf of the Australian-based GSA Bloodstock, said of his first purchase of the pair (1832), a winning half-sister to the listed winner and G2 Norfolk S. runner-up Coach House (Ire) (Oasis Dream {GB}), “We were particularly looking for Galileo blood. We bought a Galileo mare here last year and she’s had a lovely foal. The stallion is flying worldwide, including in Australia, and he works very well with the likes of Fastnet Rock (Aus) and other Danehill-line stallions.” The 4-year-old mare is carrying a member of the first crop of Caravaggio on an early cover, making it feasible for the mare to foal in the UK and be exported after weaning in time for the southern hemisphere breeding season. The same is also true of Hawthorne’s second signing, the unraced 3-year-old Wonderland, who is in foal to Kodiac (GB) and was covered the same day as Puppetshow on Feb. 21. The agent continued, “Lope De Vega has had some really good sprinters in Australia but they are hard to find there. She’s a big, strong mare who should work well with Australian stallions.” Wonderland’s Group 2-winning half-sister Manieree (Ire) (Medicean {GB}) is already the sire of stakes winner Drumfad Bay (Ire) (Acclamation {GB}) and is out of a Caerleon half-sister to the Derby winner Oath (Ire) (Fairy King). View the full article

The first speaker at the University of Arizona's Global Symposium on Racing focused on two main themes that will continue on through the two-day event—sports wagering and integrity. View the full article

Group 2 winner Doha Dream (Fr) (Shamardal-Crystal Reef {GB}, by King’s Best), a homebred for Al Shaqab Racing and a French highweight at 14 furlongs and up at three, has been retired to Haras du Hoguenet for 2019. The Andre Fabre trainee will stand for €2,500. Successful in the G2 Prix Chaudenay at three, as well as in two listed races that year, the son of the placed Crystal Reef was runner-up in the G3 Prix de Reux and G2 Grand Prix de Deauville in 2017. Kept in training this term, he was the bridesmaid in the G3 Prix de Barbeville and retires with a mark of 18-5-5-1 and $354,043 in earnings. Out of a half-sister to French highweights Reefscape (GB) (Linamix {Fr}), a Group 1 winner, and MGSW Coastal Path (GB) (Halling), Doha Dream’s dam is also a half to MGSW and successful jumps sire Martaline (GB) (Linamix {Fr}). “Doha Dream should attract a mixed book thanks to his oustanding maternal pedigree, with Crystal Reef being a half-sister to Martaline in particular,” Haras du Hoguenet manager Anthony Baudouin told Jour de Galop. “He is a good stayer, with his best performances coming over distances between 12 and 15 furlongs, and he is an attractive horse by Shamardal measuring 1.67 metres.” View the full article

Pearling, the beautifully bred dam of the three-time Group 1 winner Decorated Knight, looks likely to remain in the ownership of former part-owner Imad Al Sagar of Blue Diamond Stud after Tony Nerses prevailed for the 12-year-old, in foal to Galileo, at 2.4-million gns at Tattersalls on Tuesday. Blue Diamond Stud has offered a number of its prized horses this sale season, with Sagar buying out Saleh Al Homaizi on some of them. View the full article

Ian Penrose has been engaged as a senior business advisor for Weatherbys, the company announced on Tuesday. Penrose, previously Chief Executive of Arena Leisure (now ARC) for seven years beginning in 1998, was also a Chief Executive at Sportech for 12 years. Besides his Weatherbys appointment, Penrose is a non-executive director of Playtech PLC, non-executive chairman of the National Football Museum and an advisor to the Alizeti Group. “Ian’s experience, knowledge and contacts will prove invaluable to the business and we look forward to him working with our team,” said Weatherbys Chairman Johnny Weatherby. Added Penrose, “”I have known Johnny and the Weatherbys business for many years. I am delighted to be able to work with the team as they prepare for the next stage in the development of an organisation that has been at the heart of racing and breeding for over two centuries.” View the full article

Kern/Lillingston Association went to 2.2-million gns at Tattersalls on Tuesday to secure the stakes-winning Bound (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) in foal to Dark Angel (Ire). The 4-year-old is a sibling to three stakes winners and from the family of Dylan Thomas, Queen’s Logic and Homecoming Queen. View the full article

Keeneland has cataloged 1,555 horses, headlined by champion Abel Tasman (Quality Road), for its 61st January Horses of All Ages Sale, to be held Jan. 7-10, it was announced Tuesday. The catalog includes 701 broodmares and broodmare prospects, 597 yearlings, 252 horses of racing age and five stallions. Supplementary entries are being accepted. Abel Tasman is cataloged as a broodmare prospect and will sell Monday, Jan. 7, as Hip 288. The daughter of top stallion Quality Road is a six-time Grade I winner in a career that saw her bank nearly $2.8 million in earnings. The champion 3-year-old filly of 2017 will be offered as part of the Taylor Made Sales Agency consignment for co-owners China Horse Club and Clearsky Farms. “The presence of Abel Tasman adds a great deal of excitement to this year’s January Sale,” Keeneland Vice President of Racing and Sales Bob Elliston said. “This sale traditionally gives breeders–both domestic and foreign–an opportunity to purchase quality broodmares just before the start of breeding season. It also is a notable marketplace for buyers shopping for racing prospects and horses of racing age.” Prominent 2018 graded stakes winners sold as yearlings at the January Sale include MGISWs Catholic Boy (More Than Ready) and Mind Your Biscuits (Posse); Grade II winners Catapult (Kitten’s Joy) and Ms Locust Point (Dialed In); and Grade III winners Code Warrior (Society’s Chairman), Flameaway (Scat Daddy), Limation (Alternation), Mucho Gusto (Mucho Macho Man) and Toinette (Scat Daddy). The January Sale also features mares in foal to 151 different stallions, as well as newly turns yearlings representing 152 unique stallions. Each of the January Sale’s four sessions begins at 10 a.m. ET, with a live stream of the sale available on Keeneland.com. Catalogs are also available online at Keeneland.com. Print catalogs are scheduled to be delivered the week of Dec. 17. 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. Tuesday’s Insights features an expensive KEESEP grad by War Front. 4.30 Kempton, Nov, £6,000, 2yo, 6f (AWT) Godolphin’s MAGIC IMAGE (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) is kin to four black-type performers and a daughter of GSW G1 Preis der Diana-German Oaks runner-up White Rose (Ger) (Platini {Ger}). The Saeed bin Suroor trainee faces nine rivals in this unveiling. 5.45 Newcastle, Cond, £5,800, 2yo, 7f 14y (AWT) Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum’s $1.2m Keeneland September acquisition ALMASHRIQ (War Front) is a son of G1 Fillies’ Mile and GI Garden City S. placegetter Theyskens’ Theory (Bernardini) and represents John Gosden in this first go. His nine opponents include fellow Shadwell colourbearer Mosakhar (GB) (Dawn Approach {Ire}), who is out of a full-sister to G1 Prix Morny-winning sire Arcano (Ire) (Oasis Dream {GB}), debuting for the Roger Varian yard. View the full article

Martin Schwartz’s GI Matriarch S. winner Off Limits (Ire) (Mastercraftsman {Ire}) is the new top lot at the Tattersalls December Mare Sale after bringing 1.2-million gns from LTS as agent for Erdenheim Farm. Also reaching the seven-figure mark a short time earlier was Pocketfullofdreams (Fr) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}), the stakes-placed filly in foal to Galileo bought by Phoenix Thoroughbreds for 1-million gns. View the full article

A little more than an hour south and east of Philadelphia sits Roy and Gretchen Jackson’s Lael Stables, a 190-acre property in Pennsylvania horse country. But despite the success the couple has experience in the United States with horses like the ill-fated Barbaro (Dynaformer), Showing Up (Strategic Mission) and other Grade I winners Check the Label (Stormin Fever) and Precious Kitten (Catienus), a good many followers of American Thoroughbred racing may not be aware that the Jacksons have, over the years, maintained a European-based breeding operation, smaller in scale, but no less formidable. “We’ve always admired the British and Irish racing and how much it interests the public. We love racing on turf,” Jackson told TDN European Editor Emma Berry in an interview for TDN Europe/International edition in 2016. The Lael racing and breeding program will be on full display this weekend when their homebred 4-year-old filly One Master (GB) (Fastnet Rock {Aus}) looks to continue her over-achieving ways against the likes of world top-rated miler Beauty Generation (NZ) (Road to Rock {Aus}) in the G1 Longines Hong Kong Mile at Sha Tin Racecourse. The story of One Master begins with her granddam, the sensational sprinter Superstar Leo (Ire) (College Chapel {GB}), bred by Lester Piggott and trained by the legendary rider’s son-in-law William Haggas. Superstar Leo, who sold for the equivalent of just over $5,600 at the 1999 Tattersalls October sale, was a quick study at the races, winning three times from four trips to the races in the space of 31 days in early 2000, capped by a 1 1/4-length success over the boys in Royal Ascot’s Norfolk, then a Group 3 test. “My wife just happened to see Superstar Leo run one day and thought she ran a great race and inquired into whether she might be for sale. That’s how we got started with the family,” Roy Jackson explained. Bloodstock agent Amanda Skiffington helped arrange for the purchase of Superstar Leo, the Jacksons’ first in Europe, and it could scarcely have worked out more gloriously. Still trained by Haggas, she won the Weatherbys Super Sprint in her first run in the Lael colors and validated 2-1 favoritism in the G2 Flying Childers S. after finishing runner-up in the G1 Phoenix S. Facing elders in the 2000 G1 Prix de l’Abbaye, she covered herself in glory by finishing second, clinching honors as the champion 2-year-old filly in Europe, England and France. Superstar Leo’s second and best foal to date was Enticing (Ire) (Pivotal {GB}), who won a pair of Group 3 events for the Jacksons and Haggas before retiring to stud in 2009. Enticing was tried with a variety of Danzig-line stallions in her first three years at stud, producing two minor winners, and the decision was made to send her to Fastnet Rock in the spring of 2013. “We all put our heads together–Amanda and Peter Stanley gave us some advise and we just thought it would be a decent match and we thought we’d give it a try,” Jackson said of the decision to breed to the Coolmore stallion. “She was a nice match on pedigree and it was a good match physically. We wanted to try to put a little bit of distance to her.” Superstar Leo is also the dam of the Jacksons’ SW & GSP Sentaril (GB) (Danehill Dancer {Ire}) and is still going strong, having produced a colt by Zoffany (Ire) in 2017 and a colt by the almighty Frankel (GB) this past February. A listed winner at three, One Master took some time to find her best form this year, but parlayed a narrow victory in the G3 Fairy Bridge S. at Tipperary in late August into a short-head defeat of Godolphin’s fellow Hong Kong Mile aspirant Inns of Court (Ire) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}) at 47-1 in the G1 Prix de la Foret on the Arc de Triomphe undercard at ParisLongchamp Oct. 7. Allowed to take her chance in the GI Breeders’ Cup Mile at Churchill Downs Nov. 3, One Master drew the inside gate and was trapped down on what was likely the worst part of the soggy course before rallying stoutly late to be fifth, beaten under a length by Expert Eye (GB) (Acclamation {GB}) after getting onto the better ground. WATCH: One Master up in the final jump in the Foret “I thought it was a very good effort,” said Jackson, who nearly won the GI Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Sprint earlier on the program with Chalon (Dialed In). “We didn’t get any help at all from the post position and when she got to running, she came on really well. It was a bit of an experiment to see how she would do at the mile distance. Her jockey didn’t think it was problem for her and that she did fine. She seemed to handle it very well.” But by no means do the waters get any shallower this coming weekend. In addition to Beauty Generation, who is looking to go back-to-back in the Mile, the competition also includes a pair of 1600-meter specialists from Japan–Mozu Ascot (Frankel {GB}), this year’s G1 Yasuda Kinen winner; and Persian Knight (Jpn) (Harbinger {GB}), who annexed the 2017 G1 Mile Championship and fell just short of successfully defending his title in that event Nov. 18. How One Master will run is an open question, but Jackson knows one thing for sure. “You can’t win if you don’t play,” he laughed. Still, he isn’t underestimating the task at hand. “It seems no matter where you go, you’re always going to run into a couple of really tough ones,” he added. “She’s had a really, really hard season this year, but everyone thought we may as well give it a go. We honestly didn’t think she would do as well there in France as she did, so you just don’t know. We just thought it was an opportunity to give her a chance.” The Jacksons are scheduled to depart the East Coast Wednesday, and win, lose or draw, the couple are appreciative of the opportunity to participate. “We are really looking forward to the trip, it’s a great experience to have one good enough to run there,” Roy Jackson said. “Let’s hope she can do well.” View the full article

HONG KONG — As nightfall descends upon Hong Kong Island Wednesday evening, a dozen of the finest jockeys representing seven racing jurisdictions will battle one another for the winner’s share of HK$800,000 in the Longines International Jockeys’ Championship at picturesque Happy Valley Racecourse. It was a magical season for the locally based Zac Purton in 2017-2018, which included a defeat of Silvestre de Sousa for his first success in the IJC before adding a front-running victory aboard Time Warp (GB) (Archipenko) in the G1 Longines Hong Kong Cup. For good measure, Purton refused to let the record-setting Joao Moreira out of his sights in the local jockeys’ premiership and proved too tough in the finish by a count of 136 to 134. Representing Australia, Bowman scarcely needs an introduction. The regular rider for the irrepressible Winx (Aus) (Street Cry {Ire}), last year’s Longines World’s Best Jockey recipient is a four-time champion in Sydney and is no stranger the Sha Tin winner’s enclosure, having most notably struck a partnership with Werther (NZ) (Tavistock {NZ}). Bowman has been aboard for victories in the G1 QE II Cup and G1 Champions and Chater Cup in addition to the Hong Kong Derby and gets back aboard Werther for Sunday’s Cup. Bowman, who won the 2016 IJC, is winless in 14 rides at the HKIR. Two-time IJC hero Ryan Moore continues his jet-setting ways this week in Hong Kong, having recently ridden in Australia, the U.S. (twice) and Japan in the last few weeks. Moore, 35, is the winner of 119 Grade/Group 1 races in 11 different countries and has posted victories in the HKIR in each of the last three years (Maurice {Jpn}, Highland Reel {Ire}, 2015; Maurice, 2016; Highland Reel, 2017). America’s Javier Castellano will make his second appearance in the IJC, having finished well down the field in 2006. The 41-year-old native of Venezuela recently surpassed the 5,000 mark in career victories and took his Breeders’ Cup tally to 10 with scores in the Juvenile Turf Sprint and in the GI Dirt Mile. Castellano is looking forward to the challenge. “I’ve never seen such passionate fans and it was an amazing experience,” he said Tuesday, referring to his first try at the IJC. “This time I have some good draws and hopefully I can have a bit of luck.” Japan’s legendary Yutaka Take and Japanese-based Frenchman Christophe Lemaire each have one IJC success to their credit, dead-heating for the win in 2004 and 2009, respectively. An 18-time champion on the JRA circuit, Take won the 2015 Cup astride A Shin Hikari (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}). Lemaire arrives in Hong Kong in top form, having piloted Japanese Filly Triple Crown winner Almond Eye (Jpn) (Lord Kanaloa {Jpn}) to a soft tally in the G1 Japan Cup Nov. 25. Last year’s champion JRA jockey, Lemaire is well on his way to a successful defence of that title this season, as he currently sits on 200 winners for 2018, some 57 clear of second-placed　Mirco Demuro as of Dec. 1. The rest of the field includes: Mickael Barzalona (France); Colin Keane (Ireland), making his IJC debut; and Karis Teetan, Vincent Ho and Matthew Poon (Hong Kong). View the full article

Javier Castellano has won over 5,000 races, collected 108 Group Ones, his mounts have won close to US$320 million in prize money and he is already in the Hall of Fame, but the USA-based superstar was as excited as kid in a candy store at the prospect of competing in Wednesday night’s Longines International Jockeys’ Championship at Happy Valley. After a lifetime in the saddle, you could excuse most 41-year-old jockeys for being slighty grizzled, but Castellano was bouncing around and... View the full article

Brilliant Japanese staying mare Crocosmia took no prisoners at Sha Tin on Tuesday morning, setting a high early benchmark for the week ahead with a momentous turf gallop that would have been worthy of the highest-rated gallopers at the meeting. Crocosmia, a bold front-runner in her homeland, showed all her renowned speed to zip through an 800m gallop in 49 seconds, but that useful overall time only serves to mask the majesty of the work. The true merit of this piece was to be found in the finer... View the full article

Zac Purton may be Hong Kong’s champion jockey, but he is far from the punter’s pal with his rides returning more than 10 per cent losses across this season. It is first-season jockey Grant van Niekerk who has the best return on investment, with his rides returning an 18 per cent profit. In simple terms, if you were to have a HK$10 win bet on every one of Van Niekerk’s rides this season, it would have returned HK$1,612 from an outlay of HK$1,370. Chad Schofield has also... View the full article

He’s a man of little fuss who prefers to shy away from the spotlight but Vincent Ho Chak-yiu says he’s ready to step out of the shadows and open a “new chapter” for Hong Kong riders in Wednesday’s International Jockeys’ Challenge. No Hong Kong-raised jockey has ever won the IJC but Ho knows he is a chance to change that while the “whole world is watching”. “My horses are pretty good and I have got the draw, for sure I think I have a chance... View the full article

Joao Moreira is confident he can begin his new Sha Tin stint with a bang on Sunday, talking up the chances of a pair of Japanese raiders ahead of the Longines Hong Kong International Races. Moreira, who begins a six-month contract as Size’s stable jockey on Sunday, rode four horses for the 10-time champion trainer during a flying trip to Hong Kong for Tuesday morning’s barrier trials. He will return to Japan to ride in Hanshin on Saturday before flying back to Hong Kong on Saturday... View the full article

Singapore trainer Stephen Gray says sprinting sensation Lim’s Cruiser is the best horse the city state has seen since Rocket Man wowed punters eight years ago. His speedster will be the pride of the Lion City when he lines up in the Group One Longines Hong Kong Sprint (1,200m) on Sunday. Win, lose or draw, Gray says he will be proud of his achievements. Gray had never had a horse fast enough to race in the Hong Kong International Races but has been to the event more times than many who... View the full article

Mr. and Mrs. William K. Warren, Jr.’s The Lieutenant (Street Sense–Stage Magic, by Ghostzapper), a graded stakes-winning half-brother to unbeaten 2018 Triple Crown winner Justify (Scat Daddy), has been retired from racing and will stand the 2019 season at Sequel New York, it was announced Monday. The 5-year-old son of the GSP mare Stage Magic captured the GIII All American S. at Golden Gate May 28 and finished second and third, respectively, in the July 7 GII Suburban S. and the Apr. 28 GII Californian S. “He’s a Grade III winner, but he also ran second in the Suburban and beat Discreet Lover (Repent), Hoppertunity (Any Given Saturday) and Tapwrit (Tapit)–a bunch of really nice horses,” said Becky Thomas, owner of Sequel New York. Bred in Kentucky by John Gunther and ultimately purchased for $185,000 by trainer Mike McCarthy as an OBS March 2-year-old in training, The Lieutenant retires with an overall record of 4-2-1 and earnings of $345,882 from 15 starts. Throughout his career, he also was a regular workmate of McCarthy’s GI Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile winner City of Light (Quality Road). “Before Justify became a Triple Crown champion, I thought his older brother, The Lieutenant, could have been any kind,” McCarthy said. “His looks, mechanics and desire to train reminded me of some of the most talented horses I had ever been around, before an unfortunate injury after the [GII] Suburban H. ultimately curtailed his career. I’ll miss watching him train in lockstep with City of Light. I was sure he was geared up to make some noise in the fall schedule’s biggest races. I have no doubt that his looks, heart and strong female family will be a bonus to the New York breeders for years to come.” The Lieutenant joins a Sequel stallion roster that also includes Freud (Storm Cat), a full-brother to legendary racehorse and sire Giant’s Causeway. “We’ve been very fortunate to have horses that carry a lot of pedigree and bring a lot of breeder support,” Thomas said. “It’s a very unique opportunity to stand a half-brother to an undefeated Triple Crown winner.” View the full article

In addition to higher purses, horsemen will also find increased benefits for those running in races with purse levels of $30,000 or lower. Other changes, designed to increase field size, come in the first condition allowance category. View the full article

Jimmy Vargas has been named executive vice president of The Stronach Group’s newly created entertainment division. According to a release from the company, Vargas “will curate unique and engaging experiences across all of The Stronach Group facilities” as the company attempts to “modernize the sport of Thoroughbred horse racing by exciting and energizing the next generation of fans.” Vargas, who joined The Stronach Group in the spring of 2018, has produced the InfieldFest featuring Post Malone, Odesza, 21 Savage and Frank Walker at the legendary Preakness S., as well as the inaugural Clubhouse Festival featuring Steve Aoki & Tyga at the Jim McKay Maryland Million at Laurel Park. Vargas is currently working on entertainment experiences at the Jan. 26 GI Pegasus World Cup Invitational at Gulfstream Park. Prior to joining The Stronach Group, Vargas was Vice President of Sales and Marketing for MMG Entertainment & Hospitality. View the full article

The California Retirement Management Account will host its annual Thoroughbred Classic Saturday and Sunday at the Los Angeles Equestrian Center in Burbank. Held annually since 2011, the event raises awareness to help CARMA rehabilitate and place retired Thoroughbreds. This year’s Thoroughbreds-only show will include two horses who survived the devastating fires which engulfed San Luis Rey Downs a year ago and will again feature a jumping competition for racetrack trainers and jockeys. Admission is free and all attendees will be treated to a hosted barbeque dinner and no-host bar (21 and over) both Saturday and Sunday. For additional information, contact CARMA Project Manager Natalie Rietkerk at (626) 574-6654. View the full article