Wandering Eyes

Legendary Newmarket-based trainer Luca Cumani saddled his last runner at Wolverhampton on Thursday evening before heading into retirement. The 2-year-old filly Swansdown (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}), carrying the colours of his family’s Fittocks Stud, was a fast-finishing second on her fourth outing as the 6-5 favourite in a nursery handicap. “It’s a shame we didn’t manage to go out on a winner, but it was only a little race and the important thing is that we managed to have a Group 1 winner in our final year [God Given won the Premio Lydia Tesio at Capannelle earlier this month]. This filly finished well. She is bred to appreciate further and I’m sure she’ll step up to a mile and a half next year.” With Cumani’s Bedford House stables due to be sold early next year, Cumani and his wife Sara will move across Newmarket to live and work at Fittocks Stud. Asked if it could take him a while to adjust, Cumani said, “It might do, but I’m lucky that I’ve got another job to go to and something else to focus on. We’re going to Australia in January, so we’ll move after that.” View the full article

6.15 Kempton, Cond, £6,000, 2yo, f, 7f (AWT) Merry Fox Stud Ltd’s GENEVA SPUR (Distorted Humor), a Roger Varian-trained debutante, is a homebred half to G1 Grosser Preis von Berlin victor Second Step (Ire) (Dalakhani {Ire}). Her rivals include Cheveley Park Stud’s hitherto untried Queen’s Sceptre (GB) (Pivotal {GB}), who is a half-sister to GI Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf heroine Queen’s Trust (GB) (Dansili {GB}), from the Sir Michael Stoute stable. View the full article

Talismanic (GB) (Medaglia d’Oro-Magic Mission {GB}, by Machiavellian), Godolphin’s 2017 GI Breeders’ Cup Turf winner, will enter stud at Darley Japan next year, the global breeding operation announced on Thursday. The 5-year-old Talismanic, who also won at Group 2 and 3 level in France for trainer Andre Fabre and was second to Highland Reel (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) in last year’s G1 Hong Kong Vase, was retired from racing last week. Darley Japan President Harry Sweeney noted that Talismanic has Japanese connections in his pedigree; Wind In Her Hair (Ire) (Alzao), the dam of superstar Japanese racehorse and sire Deep Impact (Jpn), appears under the third dam. That branch of the family also includes another leading sire in Black Tide (Jpn). “We are really excited to have Medaglia d’Oro’s best turf son, Talismanic, in Japan,” said Sweeney. “He has a wonderful pedigree, his exceptional sire has sent out numerous winners in a variety of races and his family has produced many big-name horses. He is extremely attractive with a gorgeous body, and we are looking forward to introducing him to our clients in Japan.” View the full article

Lily’s Candle (Fr) (Style Vendome {Fr}), who won the G1 Prix Marcel Boussac less than 24 hours after being bought by Martin Schwartz for €390,000 at the Arqana Arc Sale in October, will make a quick return to the ring at Arqana’s December Sale after being supplemented as a wildcard (lot 160). In her lone subsequent start after the Boussac, Lily’s Candle beat two home in the GI Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies’ Turf. A further Group 1 update on the page has come from Lys Gracieux (Jpn), who appears under the second dam and won the G1 Queen Elizabeth II Cup in Japan. Three further lots were supplemented on Thursday: Diana Storm (Ger) (Soldier Hollow {GB}) (lot 150), a full-sister to German champion and Group 1 winner Dschingis Secret (Ger) who is group-placed herself; Noblesse Oblige (Ity) (Myboycharlie {Ire}) (lot 180), a leading 2-year-old filly in Italy who won this year’s G3 Premio Dormello and is from the immediate family of G3 Jersey S. winner and G1 Poule d’Essai des Poulains second Le Brivido; and the Group 2-placed Moonlight In Paris (Fr) (Literato {Fr}) in foal to Siyouni (Fr) (lot 120). View the full article

Addressing your thoughts, questions and statements about Hong Kong racing. Have something to say? Send a tweet to @SCMPRacingPost Was a perfect day to celebrate my 100th winner in Hong Kong with my beautiful girlfriend, my brother and his girlfriend. Thank you Starlight and all people who made this possible – @umbyrispoli Umberto Rispoli is one of the most popular characters in Hong Kong racing and he is also one of the great success stories – a testament to hard work and... View the full article

RacingPost NAP 16:05 Newcastle If you’re one for statistics you’ll struggle to see past Sunset Flash in the sixth race on the card at Newcastle. Trainer David Lanigan has a 100% strike rate with runners here at the venue this year and in-form jockey James Doyle also has a 100% strike rate when teaming up with the Newmarket trainer in 2018. An encouraging 4th placed effort on the horses debut is something the young filly can certainly improve upon. Not given the best of rides last time when having too much to do she still showed glimpses of promise none the less. A drop down to seven furlongs seems a positive step and being given a decent draw in stall 4 is also advantageous. Although there’s an obvious threat in the top weight Ticklish who has already claimed a racecourse victory the numbers point towards Lanigan’s charge who seems set to go much better this time around. SUNSET FLASH (WIN) – NAP RACEBETS Alternative Bet 20:30 Wolverhampton Jockey Oisin Murphy seems to possess the Midas touch of late and he climbs aboard former course and distance victor Staffa at Wolverhampton this evening. He’s been pretty poor this season but seemed to turn the corner when finishing a very credible 3rd at Windsor last month. A return to Wolverhampton where the horse is unbeaten is an encouraging change of scenery and although the yard aren’t going great guns of late the horse looks to be back on the right track. The ultra consistent Waneen is likely to be there or thereabouts in the closing stages and fellow course and distance victor Roy’s Legacy could pose a threat if anywhere near his best. Of the remainder Toni’s A Star looks the one who’s got the ability to put our selection to the test if Staffa fails to deliver tonight. STAFFA (WIN) (N/R) Market Rasen: 12:25 – Dandolo Du Gite (WIN) 12:55 – Queen Of The Wind (WIN) 13:25 – Aaron Lad (E/W) 14:00 – Lisdoonvarna Lad (E/W) 14:35 – Sands Cove (WIN) 15:05 – Hope’s Wishes (WIN) 15:40 – Winningseverything (WIN) Thurles: 12:35 – Mrs Lovett (WIN) 13:05 – Alpha Des Obeaux (WIN) 13:35 – Irish Lass (WIN) 14:05 – On The Mill (E/W) 14:40 – Trump Sixteen (E/W) 15:10 – Cailean’s Angel (E/W) 15:45 – Osmotic (WIN) Wincanton: 12:45 – Mr Mulliner (E/W) 13:15 – Zubayr (WIN) 13:45 – Capeland (WIN) 14:15 – Rhythm Is A Dancer (WIN) 14:45 – Hoover Feever (WIN) 15:20 – Asking Questions (WIN) 15:55 – Now Look At Me (WIN) Newcastle: 13:20 – Indianapolis (WIN) 13:55 – Donnachies Girl (WIN) 14:25 – Kirtling (E/W) 14:55 – Jalmoud (WIN) 15:30 – Big Kitten (WIN) 16:05 – Sunset Flash (WIN) – NAP 16:35 – Orion’s Bow (E/W) 17:05 – Haighfield (WIN) Wolverhampton: 17:30 – Swansdown (WIN) 18:00 – Cantiniere (WIN) 18:30 – Finoah (WIN) 19:00 – Hit The Beat (WIN) 19:30 – Moon Song (WIN) 20:00 – Laieth (WIN) 20:30 – Staffa (WIN)* 21:00 – Alexis Carrington (E/W) The post Picks From The Paddock Best Bet – Thursday 22nd November appeared first on RaceBets Blog EN. View the full article

Australian jockey Tye Angland plans on becoming a gun for hire in Hong Kong, hoping his “hit and run” mission on Sunday will act as a launching pad towards next month’s Longines International Races. The 29-year-old spent four seasons in Hong Kong where he rode 139 winners before returning home to Sydney in 2014, but retains a keen interest in racing here. Angland returns for a one-off meeting on Sunday to help cover a jockey shortfall and has shown he still has strong... View the full article

When the going gets tough, the tough get going. Outside of Modesto, CA, Julie Baker, founder of Healing Arenas, is launching a new project for first responders through EAGALA (Equine Assisted Growth and Learning Association). The new program is part of an already ambitious roster of EAGALA programs that Healing Arenas offers veterans, families of veterans anx at-risk youth. Baker also takes the time to retrain Thoroughbreds as police horses and showcases her off-track Thoroughbreds as ambassadors for the racing industry at the state capital in Sacramento. This year, she competed at the Retired Racehorse Project in Lexington, KY and earned 16th place out of 81 entries in the freestyle class. Baker also works full-time as an EMT and is in her 12th　year on the emergency squad. Her go-to EAGALA horse is Florida-bred Viva Pentelicus (Pentelicus). Foaled in 1996, he raced 96 times and earned $347,464. He broke his maiden at Hawthorne running for John Franks and Steve Asmussen and was retired at age nine to the Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation (TRF) from Remington Park after finishing second by a neck. Over a seven-year career, he hit the board 45 times. He has been in Baker’s program since 2012. “He is the best therapy horse we have,” says Baker. “He is all business and doesn’t strive to get the most attention as some horses do. You have to work for it, meaning you have to be honest and genuine in your expressions and that is exactly how horses help people. We are so grateful to the TRF for providing him.” In some ways, Viva Pentelicus’s life is still like that of a racehorse. Every week he gets on a trailer and goes to work at a program. “He does his job. He is a pro and a champ,” said Baker. “When people hear how much money he won, they are amazed because he is a small horse. It adds to his effectiveness in building self-esteem and confidence.” Healing Arenas is located in Stanislaus County, three hours south of the Camp Fire that has claimed at least 81 lives as of this writing. The smoke has blanketed the area. It is not only a health hazard, it is a constant reminder of the devastation happening to fellow Californians just hours away in addition to the traumatic effect it is having on the fire fighters, EMS, law enforcement, the recovery effort as well as other first responders. Baker’s new pilot program will be certified as a continuing education course for first responders and will focus on resilience in your job, with your family and in your life. Baker credits her ability to serve on the ambulance for so many years to her work in EAGALA. “There is still a stigma within this population about asking for help,” Baker said. “The program will be a judgment-free place and the horses will break the ice as participants and the facilitators watch the horses’ behavior with each other in the herd. The work will progress from there. It is exactly what this population needs right now. Like veterans, they need comfort, confidence, and a safe place to explore their own questions of resilience. The horses are completely non-judgmental. There is no stigma here–just a benefit for accepting what you are feeling.” Viva has had a busy year as the Healing Companions’ team　explored other new areas for EAGALA services. The horses are in the middle of a fully funded　pilot program for a local organization that helps survivors of human trafficking where, once again, Viva was the shining star in the program. “There is such a need for this population and　Viva read the participantsperfectly,” Baker said. “He was the epitome of patience and acceptance of everything that these young people were going through.” For more information, contact Julie Baker at www.healingarenas.org or healingarenas@gmail.com. Diana Pikulski is the editor of the　Thoroughbred Adoption Network, a searchable database and information source for those seeking off-track thoroughbreds to adopt. View the full article

It was a nightmarish day for chalk at Zia Park Nov. 21, as a card full of stakes on "Land of Enchantment Day" featured only one winning favorite. View the full article

Owner Aron Wellman and trainer Michael McCarthy didn't have grand plans for Ohio when they put the $50,000 claim in for the Brazilian-bred June. 10 at Santa Anita Park. They just wanted some action for the upcoming Del Mar summer meet. View the full article

Vocal advantage in gate one may speak volumes View the full article

Rodd not making title be-all and end-all View the full article

Early scratching November 23 View the full article

The sky-high odds Knicks Go has provided his backers are about to become a thing of the past as the son of Paynter figures to be the clear favorite Nov. 24 in the $200,000 Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes (G2) at Churchill Downs. View the full article

The Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation will launch its annual holiday online auction Friday. The 10-day auction will begin at 5 p.m. ET., and will conclude Dec. 2 at 5 p.m. ET. The auction will be conducted on eBay at https://www.ebay.com/usr/thoroughbredretirementfoundation. Among the items up for auction is memorabilia featuring legendary horses like Secretariat, Cigar, Seattle Slew, John Henry and Ruffian, and programs from racetracks like Saratoga, Belmont Park, Keeneland, Aqueduct, Delaware Park, Monmouth Park and Del Mar. There are also halters available that were worn by 2000 GI Kentucky Derby winner Fusaichi Pegasus and champion sire Tale of the Cat. For more information, or to donate an auction item, please contact auction organizer, Chelsea O’Reilly chelsea@thoroughbredretirement.org or call the TRF at (518) 226-0028. 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. Thursday’s Insights features a pair of Godolphin colourbearers. 2.55 Newcastle, Mdn, £10,400, 2yo, 10f 42y (AWT) Godolphin’s JALMOUD (GB) (New Approach {Ire}), one of two contenders from the Charlie Appleby nursery, is a homebred son of G1 Epsom Oaks and G1 Preis der Diana heroine Dancing Rain (Ire) (Danehill Dancer {Ire}) and thus a full-brother to last term’s G1 Fillies’ Mile third Magic Lily (Ire). He is joined by stablemate Moonlight Spirit (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}), who is a grandson of G1 1000 Guineas, G1 Epsom Oaks and GI Flower Bowl Invitational victress Kazzia (Ger) (Zinaad {GB}). View the full article

3rd-AQU, $62K, Msw, 2yo, (S), 6fT, 12:50 p.m. ET Linda Rice unveils a full-brother to her GI Fourstardave H. victor Voodoo Song in fellow Barry Schwartz homebred WORTH A SHOT (English Channel). Voodoo Song found his niche when switching to the Rice barn, rattling off four wins on the Saratoga lawn last summer, including the GIII Saranac S., and adding two more black-type scores this term in the Forbidden Apple S. and Fourstardave. The brothers are out of stakes winner Mystic Chant (Unbridled’s Song), a half-sister SW & MGSP Mystic Soul (Bahri), who is the dam of SW & MGSP Encryption (Exchange Rate). TJCIS PPs. 10th-LRL, $40K, Msw, 2yo, 6f, 4:13 p.m. ET Graham Motion unveils a half-brother to juvenile champion and GI Kentucky Derby hero Nyquist (Uncle Mo) in STILL DREAMING (Flatter). The $460,000 KEESEP buy, who also hails from the family of GISW Sahara Sky (Pleasant Tap), enters off a five-panel bullet at Fair Hill in 1:01 flat Nov. 15. TJCIS PPs. —@CDeBernardisTDN View the full article

Godolphin Racing's Lady Montdore will look to build on her strong start since arriving from France when she competes in the $400,000 Long Island Stakes (G3T) for fillies and mares 3-years-old and up Nov. 24 at Aqueduct Racetrack. View the full article

Judge Lanier Racing's Conquest Mo Money—runner-up in the 2017 Arkansas Derby (G1) and Sunland Derby (G3), and a Preakness Stakes (G1) runner in the same year—has been retired from racing and will begin his stud career, trainer Miguel Hernandez said. View the full article

Phoenix Thoroughbreds' Gronkowski will be looking for his first win in North America when he makes his return to racing in the $200,000 Discovery Stakes (G3) Nov. 24 at Aqueduct Racetrack. View the full article

Phoenix Thoroughbred’s Gronkowski (Lonhro {Aus}), purchased after four straight synthetic-track wins, showed his affinity for dirt with a big second in the GI Belmont S. Two dull efforts against top-class company later, the dark bay will dip into Grade III territory against a pair of up-and-coming sophomores while looking for his first graded tally in the Discovery S. Saturday at Aqueduct. Breaking his maiden last November at Chelmsford for Jeremy Noseda, Gronkowski annexed his first three outings as a 3-year-old, culminating with a score in the 32red Burradon S. to punch his ticket to the GI Kentucky Derby. Forced to pass on a Run for the Roses due to an infection, he pointed for the Belmont and came within 1 3/4 lengths of upsetting Justify’s Triple Crown bid at nearly 25-1. He made no impact, however, when eighth in the GI Travers S. next out and only fared mildly better to be sixth against elders in the GI Jockey Club Gold Cup last out Sept. 29 at Belmont. Shortleaf Stable’s Plainsman (Flatter) has come to hand quickly since being transferred from William Van Meter’s outfit to the Brad Cox barn over the summer. Sixth in the GI Arkansas Derby this spring, the $350,000 Keeneland September graduate finished third in a Saratoga allowance in his first start for Cox Sept. 1 before romping by 6 3/4 lengths at Belmont Sept. 27 and doubling up with a half-length success at this oval Nov. 3. Repole Stable and St. Elias Stable teamed up to go to $725,000 for Life’s a Parlay (Uncle Mo) at KEESEP, and, after debuting with a third at 9-5 Jan. 6 at Gulfstream, the bay scored a sharp victory there three weeks later. Shelved for over eight months following that, he returned with an allowance success Oct. 13 at Belmont and will try two turns for the first time here. View the full article

One wouldn’t think a $100,000 Grade III all the way on the west coast would be sufficient to entice European participation, but one would be wrong, at least in this instance, as a trio of pond-jumpers add intrigue to the Jimmy Durante S. for 2-year-old turf fillies Saturday at Del Mar. Slugo Racing’s Italia (Spa) (Pyrus) is a rare Spanish-bred runner to test American soil, breaking from the rail in this 13-horse heat. Dismissed at 35-1 in her debut Sept. 19 at Saint-Cloud in France, the bay finished full of run to get up by a neck for trainer Carlos Laffon-Parias. Transferred to the Mike Puype barn and attracting the services of Mike Smith, she got a feel for the local turf course with a half-mile work around dogs in :49 2/5 (10/15) Nov. 18. Red Barons Barn and Rancho Temescal’s Thriving (GB) (Kodiac {GB}) won two of three to start her career before finishing off the board in her next two outings. Last seen running second by a half-length Sept. 14 at Salisbury in Great Britain, the Jeff Mullins trainee will race around turns for the first time here. Cedars of Lebanon (Ire) (Dandy Man {Ire}) annexed just one of her first seven starts, but reeled off back-to-back allowance wins at Naas in Ireland Sept. 30 and Oct. 21. She adds Lasix for this spot and also took a test drive on the Del Mar lawn when covering three furlongs around dogs in :37 3/5 (1/3) Nov. 18. In addition to the trio of shippers, Pivottina (Fr) (Vision d’Etat {Fr}) and Monette (Fr) (Cockney Rebel {Ire}) each boast just one American outing after showing enough promise in France to make the cross-Atlantic journey. The former showed a strong late punch to be fourth in the GI Natalma S. Sept. 16 at Woodbine, while the latter just missed when second by a head in the GIII Matron S. Oct. 8 at Belmont. Of the local chances, modestly-bred Lakerball (Lakerville) rates a long look. Failing to distinguish herself in three dirt starts, the dark bay pulled off a 33-1 upset of the Surfer Girl S. Oct. 8 at Santa Anita and legitimized that run with a five-length conquest of the Pike Place Dancer S. Oct. 27 at Golden Gate. View the full article

The New York Racing Association has announced increased purses for its upcoming winter meet at Aqueduct Racetrack, which begins Dec. 7. Purses for open maiden allowance races will be increased $8,000 and will now be worth $68,000 and, with a $5,000 increase, New York-bred maiden allowance events will now go for $60,000. First and second level New York-bred allowance categories will see ‘non-winners of one’ purses increased to $64,000 from $57,000, while ‘non-winners of two/$40,000 claiming’ purses are boosted to $67,000 from $59,000 a year ago. Increases have also been announced in certain claiming categories. “These purse increases represent our continued commitment to maintaining quality racing in New York on a year-round basis. The purse money offered at Aqueduct is competitive with, if not stronger than, amounts offered for top-flight racing across the country,” said Martin Panza, NYRA’s Senior Vice President of Racing Operations. “We value and appreciate our local horsemen that continue to support our live racing product into the New Year.” View the full article

Whether the market can maintain its breathless bull run in 2019 looks like becoming the $1-billion question so far as trade in transatlantic yearlings is concerned. Figures provided by The Jockey Club show an arc in aggregate sales across North America and Europe this year–up $66,763,974 to $942,688,570, a climb of 7.6%–steep enough, if maintained, to break 10 figures next year. Measured on such a scale, of course, the market bears little coherent analysis. These tables embrace every yearling sold from the 3,500,000gns son of Dubawi (Ire) who topped the bill at Tattersalls in October to the $8,000 gelding by Gold Aly–a son of Medaglia d’Oro and, according to the catalogue, sire of four crops of racing age, 11 foals, nine starters and five winners (55.5%: pretty good going, dude)–who was the last yearling to change hands at a sale in Arizona last week. The behaviour of individual tranches of the market is far more legible in year-on-year comparison of particular sales. But the headline growth is largely attributable to the top end of the American market, where three summer sales staged by Fasig-Tipton (July in Lexington, and the Select/New York-bred auctions in Saratoga in August) plus Keeneland’s September marathon between them achieved $85,027,900 growth this year. That fully accounted for a $79,551,813 gain in the overall North American market, itself representing a remarkable 17.4% on the 2017 gross. Granted a $12,787,840 drop in European transactions, a 3.1% decline on 2017, the top end of the American market also carried the gain in intercontinental figures. Any European trends that might be perceived across the past five years, however, need to be treated with extreme caution. On the face of it, the European market is worth less now than in 2014, and likewise the average. But currency conversion makes comparisons hopelessly skewed, sterling (and guineas!) having been holed beneath the waterline following the Brexit referendum of 2016. As noted here in a review of Tattersalls Book 1, while turnover this time was 34.3% higher than in 2014, conversion at the prevailing rate of exchange made the average lot worth $393,893 five years ago and $376,564 in 2018. Judged purely by its domestic ledgers, however, the premier Tattersalls catalogue amply complemented the boom continuing in equivalent auctions across the water, namely the Saratoga Select Sale and Keeneland’s elite sessions. With Goffs Orby and Arqana August only nudging turnover up and down, respectively, the dip in the overall European market instead traces to its lesser sales, many of which recorded diminished indices. This partly reflected the burning of so many fingers at the breeze-up sales this spring. John Boyce has demonstrated how–in persuasive contrast with the purely anecdotal and chronic complaints of vendors–post-recession growth in the European market, by average, has actually been sustained through the deciles. But today’s figures, showing increased catalogues and reduced clearance, do give some substance to the notion that the market cannot support such huge books recklessly assembled for unproven sires of ostensibly “commercial” profile–measurable, notably, in Ireland’s foal crop, which reached 9,689 in 2017 from 7,546 in 2012. In 2018, 6,890 European yearlings were viewed as commercial commodities–i.e. entered for a sale–compared with 6,062 in 2014. That is an increase of 13.7%. But while the rate of scratchings remained virtually the same, the clearance rate shrank from 83.54% to 78.48%. That translates to 1,350 unwanted yearlings, up a whopping 48.8% from 907 in 2014. The clearance rate at American sales is historically weaker than in Europe, but this year’s figure of 74.93% is the best in the last four years. The number of yearlings entering the commercial mill has increased by 9.3% since 2014, not quite as steep a rise as in Europe but from a relatively stagnant foal crop. Catalogue scratchings are also consistently higher than in Europe, but this is evidently becoming a much more serious issue–reflecting, perhaps, the ever greater power wielded by the sales vet. In 2018, withdrawals from North American yearling sales rose for the third time in four years (the one exception distinctly marginal). In 2014, 13.04% of hips failed to make the ring; this year, defections were up to 15.63%. There are, of course, 101 different reasons for a horse failing to make the ring, but something is definitely going on when you get close to one-in-six dropping out, just five years after the ratio was closer to one-in-eight. (Strictly: one in 6.4, from one in 7.7). I guess the nature of both beasts is that a vet will always cover his or her back, when so many things can go wrong even with a perfectly sound Thoroughbred. Time after time, however, you see people shrug their shoulders in the winner’s circle after a big race and explain that they were only able to afford the horse because nobody else would take a chance on his X-rays. Remember that the latest champion 2-year-old of Europe, where vets tend to be rather more indulgent, was never even offered for auction–as would normally have been his breeders’ policy–because a perceived issue would probably not have got him past a sales vet. And yet his younger brother was the most costly yearling sold in the world this year. So good luck trying to figure out where we stand with the 13,842 contemporaries, either side of the ocean, who changed hands for less. View the full article

The sky-high odds Knicks Go has provided his backers are about to become a thing of the past as the Maryland-bred figures to be the clear favorite against 13 others in the $200,000 Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes (G2) Nov. 24. View the full article