Wandering Eyes

Following three Grade 1 victories last term, Tom George has high hopes for this campaign, particularly given those victories came with novice hurdlers who are likely to be around for a few years. Recent wins for The Worlds End, Seddon and The Big Bite underline that promise and signal the trainer’s fine form, while stable stalwart God’s Own showed he is still a force to be reckoned with in Tuesday’s Haldon Gold Cup, providing George with one of the proudest moments of his career. Stable profile Yard Down Farm Where Slad, Gloucestershire Started training 1993 Horses in yard 80 Members of staff 20 Assistant trainers John Cullinan, Ciaran McKee Travelling head person Sarah Peacock Jockeys Adrian Heskin, Noel Fehily, Ciaran Gethings, Jonathan Burke, Paddy Brennan Conditional Nathan Howe Amateur Noel George Secretary Lauren Thompson Stable sponsor Tom George Racing Website tomgeorgeracing.co.uk Twitter @TomGeorgeRacing WINNERS IN BRITAIN 2017-18 47 2016-17 71 2015-16 38 2014-15 36 PROFIT/LOSS TO A £1 STAKE 2017-18 -135.81 2016-17 +49.84 2015-16 -30.06 2014-15 -48.05 TOTAL PRIZE-MONEY 2017-18 £964,237 HORSES Activial Pedigree: eight-year-old gelding Lord Du Sud (sire) – Kissmirial (dam) Owner: RS Brookhouse Form figures: U5/0-832 Racing Post Rating 154 chase; official rating 145 chase Made his debut for us at Stratford last week and I was delighted with his second. The track was a bit sharp, but he stayed on nicely. He’s in the BetVictor and will stay further, but I don’t know what route we’ll go. Either way, that was a good start. Air Navigator 7g Yeats – Lox Lane Lady Cobham & Doone Hulse 21U453- RPR 117h OR 117h Dual bumper winner whose jumping let him down over hurdles. He’s enormous, though, and fences will see him in a better light. He wants 2m4f on softish ground. Baby King 9g Ivan Denisovich – Burn Baby Burn About Two Weeks 1825P1- RPR 142c OR 136c Loves a flat track and 2m on good to soft, he won a nice race at Aintree last year and he’ll be heading back to that sort of track for Saturday handicaps. Battle Of Shiloh 9g Shantou – Realt Na Ruise Paul & Clare Rooney 11F0/3P- RPR 143c OR 137c Won four in a row two years ago, but suffered aches and pains since. Back now and qualified for veterans’ races, which opens up a new avenue. Black Op 7g Sandmason – Afar Story RS Brookhouse 9/41221- RPR 155h OR 152h Put it up to Samcro in the Ballymore before really knuckling down at Aintree in the Mersey Novices’ Hurdle, when he wouldn’t have been in the same form as he was at Cheltenham. He schooled over fences at the end of last season and loved that, so should come into his own as a chaser. He’s ready to go as soon as the ground comes and is versatile. He’s got speed and will get 3m, but will probably start at 2m4f. He’s a Grade 1 novice hurdle winner not far behind Samcro; you’re not going to get much better. Could go to Exeter on Wednesday if the ground is suitable. BLACK OP Ridden by Noel Fehily wins at the Grand National Meeting at Aintree 14/4/18 Photograph by Grossick Racing Photography 0771 046 1723Boyhood 7g Oscar – Glen Dubh H Stephen Smith & The Gabbertas Family 214/141- RPR 143h OR 143h Progressed well last season, but suffered a problem after winning at Cheltenham on New Year’s Day. He’s a lofty mark over hurdles, but we could go for a Pertemps qualifier and can go chasing. Dark horse Bun Doran 7g Shantou – Village Queen Crossed Fingers Partnership 63/2335- RPR 146c OR 138c Has promised to win a big race and there’s no reason he won’t. He’s still maturing and a strongly run 2m on good to soft would be ideal. I’m sure there’s a good day in him. BUN DORAN Ridden by Paddy Brennan wins at CHELTENHAM 16/11/18 Photograph by Grossick Racing Photography 0771 046 1723Casa Tall 4g No Risk At All – Gribouille Parcs Racing Ventures, Sharon, Dermot & David 631104- RPR 116h OR 130h A French import, he ran respectably in the Fred Winter, which was a baptism of fire, and was probably in front a bit long at Perth next time out. He goes chasing and is a very good jumper, who’ll get the useful four-year-old allowance. Champagne City 5g Tobougg – City Of Angels RS Brookhouse 733-414 RPR 134h OR 134h Won at Newton Abbot in the summer, but didn’t like the fast ground at Market Rasen last time. Prefers a bit of cut and he’ll go for nice 2m handicap hurdles from the middle of November. Clondaw Castle 6g Oscar – Lohort Castle J French, D McDermott, S Nelson, T Syder 18/1317- RPR 135h OR 132h A dual hurdle winner last term, he was being readied for big handicaps in the spring, but had a setback. However, he’s had a nice summer and will go chasing. He’ll be exciting. Come On Teddy 4g Fame And Glory – Theatre View NT Griffith & HM Haddock 2- RPR 103b OR – New to us, he was a solid second in his only bumper at Exeter last season and has schooled well over hurdles. He’s a tough, hardy stayer. Cruiseaweigh 7g Oscar – Triptoshan Simon W Clarke 2/1P73/ RPR 119h OR 121 Potentially one of the best I’ve got, but he’s been a nightmare. He beat Elgin in an Aintree bumper and had the world at his feet, but we’ve had setbacks since. Very talented and just needs a clear run. Darling Du Large 5m Kapgarde – Dissidente Simon W Clarke 20- RPR 106b OR – Second before finishing in midfield in the Aintree Grade 2 bumper for mares. She ought to win a bumper and has been keen, but has grown up and has ability. Doctor Dex 5g Oscar – Larnalee Crossed Finger Partnership 252-2 RPR 111b OR – Amazing he hasn’t won and I’ve never run a horse in a bumper four times, but he’s been babyish although he is talented. I think he bumped into one again at Chepstow last week and his form’s solid. He’s a good jumper and will come into his own over hurdles. Double Shuffle 8g Milan – Fiddlers Bar Crossed Fingers Partnership 22274-F RPR 170c OR 162c Was a bit sore after his Charlie Hall fall, but is fine. It was uncharacteristic as he’s never fallen and probably won’t again; it was just a shame it happened in a big race, but he’ll fight another day. The King George, which he was a fine second in last year, will be on the agenda as he loves Kempton and on his day he’s a very good horse. Espoir De Teillee 6g Martaline – Belle De Lyphard RS Brookhouse 61/1- RPR 130h OR – New to us, he won his only hurdle by a furlong at Catterick, so might have to go for an introductory hurdle at Ascot at the end of November. He’s an impressive looker. Fanfan Du Seuil 3g Racinger – Nina Du Seuil Crossed Fingers Partnership 1-F RPR 119h OR – Won a hurdle in France, but fell at Chepstow last month when he had plenty left. Greener than we thought, he’s a horse for the future, but will make his mark in juveniles. He’s schooled well since and prefers nicer ground. Faro De Kerser 3g Ungaro – Nuit De Kerser 1 The Twenty One Club RPR – OR – Impressive in his sole hurdle start in France. He’s quite immature so we’ll give him time. Fontley House 6g Getaway – Down Town Cork Colin Perry, Alan Waller & John Lawson 3-8 RPR 116b OR – A staying-on third in a bumper at Punchestown over 2m2f before joining us, he found 2m at Chepstow too sharp last time. He’s a dour stayer for novice hurdles. Forgot To Ask 6g Ask – Lady Transcend Miss Julie Hoskins 9544-31 RPR 118h OR 120h Won a maiden hurdle in May, but is a chaser, so more than likely will go over fences and will improve over 2m4f. God’s Own 10g Oscar – Dantes Term Crossed Fingers Partnership 3/6333-1 RPR 170c OR 156c An old favourite who has won three Grade 1s, but last season was a nightmare because of the testing ground; his third in the Champion Chase was testament to him. He’s in great form, so enthusiastic and he behaves like a four-year-old. He loves life and I don’t think I’ve been prouder on a racecourse than I was on Tuesday when he landed the Haldon Gold Cup four years after winning it for the first time. If the ground was okay, the Peterborough Chase might be next. God’s Own (Paddy Brennan) after the Haldon Gold Cup Exeter 6.11.18 Pic: Edward WhitakerGood Man Jim 5g Martaline – Precious Lucy RS Brookhouse 0- RPR 74b OR – Came over from Ireland with a big reputation, but his bumper run at Warwick was too bad to be true. Since then he’s worked well and looks good and we should see him in a better light in a 2m maiden hurdle. Kk Lexion 7g Flemensfirth – Kiloradante Perry, Lawson, Waller, Rea, McDermott 3830-45 RPR 135h OR 126h Competitive last term, he was a solid fifth over fences at Stratford and, while he’s not over-big, there could be a decent handicap in him in a nice midweek race. Miss Night Owl 8m Midnight Legend – Moyliscar Capt & Mrs John George 1/174-32 RPR 119c OR 125c A bumper and hurdle winner, she likes 2m, rattling along at the front, but it takes a lot out of her so we don’t see her often. We’ll aim for black type and there’s a race at Bangor coming up. If I could sum up last season in one word . . . Wet. Net De Treve 5g Network – Dame De Treve O’Donohoe, Cavanagh, Robinson, Nelson 3-517 RPR 118h OR – He won a maiden hurdle at Uttoxeter recently but then went to Cheltenham and was at sea with everything. I think we can put a line through that and build him back up at a smaller track. Better ground suits. Otter Moon 6g Midnight Legend – Highland Dawn Somerset Racing 331-836 RPR 113c OR 125c Won a reasonable handicap hurdle at Market Rasen in the spring and is a stuffy horse who normally needs a run or two. Wouldn’t want conditions too soft and I was pleased with him at Chepstow on Wednesday on his second start over fences in a competitive affair. Rocklander 9g Oscar – Rua Lass D O’Donohoe, J Cavanagh, S Nelson U13F-P5 RPR 149c OR 142c Won twice over fences last season before finishing third in the novice handicap chase at the festival. He’s a gross horse who needs a run to put him right. He’s entered in the Badger Ales as I don’t think he’s got the speed for 2m4f in those top handicaps. He’s in the Ladbrokes Trophy too. Seddon 5g Stowaway – Andreas Benefit McNeill Family 10-1 RPR 127h OR – Backed up his bumper form by winning at Stratford last week and an introductory hurdle at Ascot this month could be a nice stepping stone. I think he’ll step up in grade sooner rather than later because a strong gallop will suit him. He’s a fast horse and looks a good one. SEDDON Ridden by A. P. Heskin wins at Musselburgh 4/1/18 Photograph by Grossick Racing Photography 0771 046 1723Singlefarmpayment 8g Milan – Crevamoy NT Griffith & HM Haddock 2F5P52- RPR 152c OR 146c A credit to us, he seems to bump into one at Cheltenham, but he loves the track and I think we’ll keep going back there and start at the BetVictor meeting. I’m sure one day all the cards will fall his way. Stamp Your Feet 6g Galileo – Nausicaa JP McManus P124P-0 RPR 138h OR 132h Stacked up a bit of prize-money at the lesser tracks over hurdles and goes chasing. He’s not very big and is a son of Galileo, so it’s not the obvious route, but he loves jumping and wouldn’t want deep ground. Stop The World 5g Oscar – Coolsilver McNeill Family 43- RPR 109b OR – He had some good form in bumpers and wants 2m4f over hurdles, but not heavy ground. He’s not far off. Sumkindofking 7g King’s Theatre – Shannon Rose DW Fox 231513 RPR 133c OR 131c Tiny, but he’s had a good time winning at Market Rasen and Ludlow and there’s no reason he can’t improve, especially over 3m. There’s a nice handicap in him and he’s entered in the Badger Ales. Star quality Summerville Boy 6g Sandmason – Suny House RS Brookhouse 122311- RPR 156h OR 156h The Fighting Fifth is the plan for our Supreme winner, who also landed the Tolworth, and he looks to have improved physically. He’s been schooling well and is a very sharp, alert horse. He’s a good jumper and I’d run him in a novice chase tomorrow, but he does spot things going on around him. If he sees something fall he’ll look at that, but that’s just babyness and I think he’s grown up. Newcastle won’t be an easy start – he was beaten at Stratford first time out last year – but he’s progressed enormously. He’s a very fast horse, who stays well and can cope with most things. SUMMERVILLE BOY Ridden by Noel Fehily wins at CHELTENHAM 13/3/18 Photograph by Grossick Racing Photography 0771 046 1723The Big Bite 5g Scorpion – Thanks Noel N T Griffith & H M Haddock 1/10-1 RPR 128b OR – Won twice before a respectable effort in the Champion Bumper, he did everything he needed when winning over hurdles at Chepstow on Wednesday. Wouldn’t want ground any softer than it was and he’ll learn a lot. I’d like to think he’ll be featuring among the better novice hurdlers on the bigger days. The Worlds End 7g Stowaway – Bright Sprite McNeill Family 84474-1 RPR 151c OR – Last season was a nightmare, but I thought he ran with credit on ground he hated. He had only five races to run in, having won a Grade 1 novice hurdle the year before. He will go on soft, but doesn’t want heavy. We saw him over fences at Chepstow last week and he jumped well, looked very safe and had scope when he needed to. We haven’t firmed up his next target, but he’s a true, classy stayer and there’s no reason why he can’t reach the top over fences. THE WORLDS END (A.P. Heskin) Wins The Grade 1 Doom Bar Sefton Novices’ Hurdle at Aintree 7/4/17 Grossick PhotographyWild West Wind 9g Westerner – Mhuire Na Gale Simon W Clarke 3/1FRUP- RPR 149c OR 142c He was running a big race in the Welsh National, having won its trial, but had a bad fall. It looked like he’d win Haydock’s Grand National Trial, but he pulled himself up and there was nothing wrong with him – we never got to the bottom of it. He’s had a nice summer and will be out in the mud in Welsh Nationals etc. UNRACED HORSES I’ve got some promising youngsters and they include Enemy Coast Ahead, who shows the right signs, while Easy Wood is lovely and has had time to mature. He’ll also go for a bumper soon, while Now Look At Me is another nice type who has grown and works well. Zoutoise is a three-year-old half-sister to Whisper who should do well in juvenile bumpers. The post Tom George Stable Tour appeared first on RaceBets Blog EN. View the full article

Half-brothers Galileo (Ire) and Sea The Stars (Ire) each enjoyed a group winner Down Under on Saturday, with The Taj Mahal (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) defending his title in the G2 Zipping Classic and Fifty Stars (Ire) taking the G3 Sandown S. The Taj Mahal, a full-brother to Gleneagles (Ire) and therefore out of the young blue hen mare You’resothrilling (Storm Cat), won just once in 18 starts when trained in Ireland by Aidan O’Brien but seems to have found his comfort zone in Australia. He finished fourth in last year’s G1 Melbourne Cup and won this race on his first start for trainer Robert Hickmott before being transferred to Liam Howley upon Hickmott’s resignation as Lloyd Williams’s private trainer. The Taj Mahal won the G3 JRA Cup going a mile at Moonee Valley on Sept. 28. The 4-year-old breathed down the neck of pacesetter Dal Harraild (GB) (Champs Elysees {GB}) throughout and nosed out that brave rival in a photo finish. The 4-year-old Fifty Stars (Ire), whose unraced dam Swizzle Stick (Ire) (Sadler’s Wells) is a half-sister to dual group winner Viztoria (Ire) (Oratorio {Ire}), was earning his first black-type win as the favourite in the 1500 metre Sandown S., and taking his record to six for eight. He was a 110,000gns purchase by agent John Foote from breeder Airlie Stud, also the breeders of this year’s champion 2-year-old filly Skitter Scatter (Scat Daddy), at Tattersalls October Book 2 last year and has raced only Down Under despite the age disadvantage-he is three by Northern Hemisphere standards, but races as a 4-year-old in the Southern Hemisphere. Foote is a regular visitor to Tattersalls October and this year bought six colts for an average of just under 75,000gns, including another Sea The Stars colt. View the full article

Like many yards around the country, Harry Fry’s team are waiting for rain. Following cancellation of Exeter’s opening card and firm ground at Wincanton in recent weeks, the weather has not made life easy for the Dorset-based team. There are plenty of unraced prospects ready to make their mark on the upcoming season, a prospect Fry is relishing. “There are some lovely unraced four-year-olds who we didn’t get to run in the spring because, ironically, the ground dried out so quickly and now we still can’t find anywhere to run them.” In addition to the younger team, stalwarts such as Unowhatimeanharry and Opening Batsman are back for another campaign, while evergreen The Last Samuri has joined Manor Farm from Kim Bailey’s yard. Despite some of the horses not performing at their best last season, the yard still managed to pick up nearly £800,000 in prize-money and Fry is hopeful of another lucrative campaign. “Some of our horses last year weren’t quite 100 per cent but they’ve had a good break,” Fry said. Stable profile Yard Manor Farm Where Seaborough, Dorset Started training October 2012 Horses in yard 76 Members of staff 19 Assistant trainers Ciara Fry and Michael Legg Yard Manager Rawal Singh Secretary Rachel Brown Jockeys Noel Fehily and Niall Madden Amateurs Kieron Edgar, Mike Legg, Aine O’Connor, Martin McIntyre and Chris Barber Accounts manager Brook Financial Team Stable sponsor Citibet Website harryfryracing.com Twitter @HarryFryRacing1 WINNERS IN BRITAIN 2017-18 53 2016-17 67 2015-16 54 2014-15 36 PROFIT/LOSS TO £1 STAKE 2017-18 -£46.76 2016-17 +£15.04 2015-16 -£20.34 2014-15 -£24.03 TOTAL PRIZE-MONEY 2017-18 £787,617 Rival to watch Anthony Honeyball had a great year last season so we will be egging each other on at the top of the gallops! Race in focus If we could get Harry [Unowhatimeanharry] back to his best it would be great to try and win the Long Walk Hurdle for the second time. If I could sum up last season in one word . . . Frustrating HORSES Acting Lass Seven-year-old gelding King’s Theatre (sire) – Darrens Lass (dam) Owner: Nigel & Barbara Collison Form figures: 24/1119- Racing Post Rating 154 Official rating 149 He thrived over fences and enjoys slower ground. He was slightly late back in over the summer so he won’t be ready until December and there’s a valuable 3m chase at Ascot the weekend before Christmas we could go for. He’s on quite a high mark but hopefully he can progress and seems to be one to catch fresh. Air Horse One 7g Mountain High – Whisky Rose The Dons 43023P- RPR 153 OR 147 He didn’t get any help from the handicapper last year but still ran some great races in defeat, particularly when carrying top weight at Ascot in January. He’s almost too consistent for his own good but he’s had a good summer and will start out over hurdles. American 8g Malinas – Grande Sultane The Jago Family Partnership 111/P29- RPR 161 OR 154 He ran a very good race in the Cotswold Chase and took his chance in the soft-ground Gold Cup. He’s entered in the Ladbrokes Trophy and is one we never let completely down over the summer. He seems to have benefited as he’s much more forward than he was this time last year so he’s ready to go when we get proper rain. He’ll probably get an entry in the Betfair Chase in case it’s similar conditions to last year but the Cotswold will likely be his main target for the season. Harry Fry’s American (Noel Fehily) schools Newbury 21.11.17 Pic: Edward WhitakerBags Groove 7g Oscar – Golden Moment Michael Pescod 8110-21 RPR 145 OR 145 We gave him a run in May over 2m which was too short but he put that experience to good use at Ffos Las where he won well. We’re looking at Wincanton for the Rising Stars and hopefully the track gets a bit of rain beforehand. He likes decent ground but doesn’t want it like a road. He did well over hurdles but we’re hoping he can progress further over fences. Bags Groove (Noel Fehily,left) runs on from the final flight and wins the 2m 5f handicap hurdle from Le Breuil (2nd left) and Who Dares Wins Kempton 13.11.17 Pic: Edward WhitakerBlack Mischief 6g Black Sam Bellamy – Miss Mitch Tom Chadney and Friends 55331-F RPR 135 OR 134 He looked set to win at Market Rasen but took a heavy fall at the last. Thankfully he was fine but we will give him another run over the smaller obstacles first. Bullionaire 5g Gold Well – Dontcallerthat Phil Fry & Charlie Walker 1/2- RPR 118 OR – He won a valuable sales bumper on his debut at Newbury and then went straight for that Listed bumper at Ascot. He did remarkably well to finish second as he was very keen that day. We’ve done loads of work at home getting him to settle and he’s been schooled with novice hurdling in mind this year. Hopefully he can now progress over the obstacles. Captain Drake 5g Getaway – Julika Gary Stevens and Brian and Sandy Lambert 21- RPR 109 OR – He made a winning debut for us in a bumper at Towcester. Having being placed in a Irish point-to-point he’s been entered up and ready to go and we will step him up in trip. He’ll make a lovely chaser in 12 months. Dark horse Caribert 5g Ballingarry – Cardamine Phil Fry & Charlie Walker 121- RPR 124 OR – He’s a galloper and will appreciate the step up in trip to two and a half, although he’s not slow. He won’t be seen until the end of November as he’s a big horse and wants plenty of cut in the ground. Dalila Du Seuil 5m Bachir – Misery Mme Marc Boudot 51/0114- RPR 143 OR – She has got winning form in France, twice at Listed level over hurdles, so she’s got quite a high rating. I hope the handicapper is right because we could have some fun with her. There’s a really good mares’ programme now and we’ll look to go novice chasing with her. Definitelyanoscar 5m Oscar – Bobs Article Jago And Taylor P3/112-F RPR 113 OR – She took a heavy fall at Chepstow but thankfully she and Noel were both fine. She won on her debut for us in the spring in a bumper and she’s one who appreciates better ground so you won’t see her out in the depths of the winter. Hell’s Kitchen 7g Robin Des Champs – Mille Et Une John P McManus 2/3/2U1P- RPR 153 OR 145 He can be too exuberant for his own good sometimes but won nicely at Kempton on Boxing Day in a 2m4½f novices’ handicap chase. He’s ready to get started and hopefully he can develop into a useful second-season chaser. If The Cap Fits 6g Milan – Derravaragh Sayra Paul & Clare Rooney 114/111- RPR 145 OR 147 He was three from three over hurdles last season and then had a setback a couple of weeks before Cheltenham that ruled him out of the spring festivals. He’s come back looking 100 per cent and is entered in the Greatwood Hurdle. It’s a different kettle of fish to what he’s been running in but he won nicely on Boxing Day and we’re hopeful he can develop into a top hurdler this season. If The Cap Fits (Noel Fehily) jumps the final flight and wins the 2m novices hurdle Kempton 26.12.17 Pic: Edward WhitakerJolly’s Cracked It 9g Astarabad – Jolly Harbour Gdm Partnership 596/31/0/ RPR 147 OR 138 He won a Ladbroke Hurdle for us in 2015 and ran in the race the following year. That’s been his only start since as he’s had leg troubles but he’s come back in good form. He’s also entered in the Greatwood but wants slow ground. If we can keep him in one piece then we will have some fun this season. Just A Sting 6g Scorpion – Shanann Lady Nigel & Barbara Collison 1/2338-1 RPR 132 OR 131 He made a pleasing debut over the larger obstacles at Uttoxeter in quite a strong novices’ handicap. We were disappointed not to win over hurdles with him last year but that was down to the ground. He enjoys better ground and will run in another novices’ handicap. At some point during the season he will step up in trip. King Roland 4g Stowaway – Kiltiernan Robin T Lacey – RPR – OR – A winning point-to-pointer in England who we are looking forward to seeing in action. Kylemore Lough 9g Revoque – One Of The Last M J McMahon & Denis Gallagher 54/P32P- RPR 163 OR 151 We feel we’ve got a better handle on him this time round. Two and a half is his distance but he’s in that territory where he’s either top weight in the handicaps or a few pounds off the best in level-weights races. Hopefully he can get his head in front this season. Litterale Ci 5m Soldier Of Fortune – Cigalia John P McManus 931-141 RPR 137 OR 138 She’s built up a great rapport with Aine [O’Connor] and she could head to Wincanton a week on Saturday for a valuable handicap mares’ hurdle. Mantovani 3g High Chaparral – Ripley Qatar Racing – RPR – OR – He had two runs on the Flat and will be ready to go in a couple of weeks. We’ve been pleased with what he’s been showing us. Minella Awards 7g Oscar – Montys Miss Masterton Holdings Limited 11/P7-23 RPR 157 OR 149 He ran a great race at the Galway festival this year where he finished second to the subsequent Cesarewitch winner [Low Sun]. He jumped well on his chasing debut but it’s always this time of year that he just goes off the boil a bit. He needs better ground and enjoys the sun on his back. MINELLA AWARDS Ridden by Sean Bowen wins at Aintree 10/11/18 Photograph by Grossick Racing Photography 0771 046 1723Misterton 7g Sagamix – Mighty Splash Wilkin, Orr, Boileau & Sim P21/129- RPR 144 OR 141 He was just touched off in the Greatwood and will go chasing. He’s versatile and jumps really well so I’m looking forward to seeing him over the larger obstacles. There’s a beginners’ chase at Exeter or Taunton the following day and soft to good ground is no problem for him. Misty Whisky 4f Stowaway – Whisky Rose Distillery Stud – RPR – OR – She’s a half-sister to our own Air Force One. Momella 6m Sholokhov – Missing Link Holt, Clark, Macnabb, Nugent & Robinson 1/11213- RPR 140 OR 142 She arrived in the summer and had some good form for Dan [Skelton] last season, including when finishing third in a Grade 1 behind Black Op at Aintree. She looks a lovely mare and there’s a 3m Listed mares’ hurdle at Kempton in November that we will look to get her started in. We’re sticking to hurdles for the time being but she should definitely make a chaser in time. Olympic Odyssey 3g Camelot – Field Of Hope W J and T C O Gredley – RPR – OR – He is a lovely, big horse by Camelot who has taken to jumping nicely. We don’t often have many juvenile hurdlers so it’s nice to have a couple to go to war with. Alain Barr Opening Batsman 12g Morozov – Jolly Signal The Twelfth Man Partnership 011/443- RPR 151 OR 129 He’s going to run back in handicap company and has been a great servant for the yard. This is almost certainly his last season but he was our first big winner and he’s been given a chance by the handicapper. Hopefully we can find him a nice opportunity to get his head in front again and bow out on a high. Outofthisworld 5m Shantou – Mystic Masie Chasing Gold Racing Club 1/0-U RPR 102 OR – She crumpled on landing on her debut over hurdles at Market Rasen but was none the worse for that. She wasn’t right last year, she only had the one run in a Listed bumper, but won on debut nicely. We’re looking forward to a novice campaign over hurdles. Phoenix Way 5g Stowaway – Arcuate John P McManus form RPR – OR – A nice Stowaway horse who will be starting out over 2m and we will go from there. Samarquand 4g Malinas – Samandara Phil Fry and Charlie Walker 1- RPR 109 OR – Won on his bumper debut at Wincanton in April and is a lovely Malinas gelding. He’s ready to go but we’ve been waiting for somewhere safe to run him. Space Oddity 7g Al Namix – Schoune The Rate Chasers 72U54-4 RPR 144 OR 132 He’s another one who’s a bit exuberant and needs the first run to get the freshness out of him. He had some good form last year, he won first time out over fences last May and ran well behind Benatar at Ascot. Two miles to 2m2f in slow ground is ideal for him. The Last Samuri 10g Flemensfirth – Howaboutthis Paul & Clare Rooney 0/2243P- RPR 163 OR 157 Kim Bailey has done a very good job with him so we’ve got some big shoes to fill. He’ll be ready for the end of November/early December and will be entered in the Becher, and hopefully all roads will lead back to the Grand National. He’s 10 so we’ll try and find a race for him to get his head in front. He’s a good horse who’s been there and done it and we’re learning about him all the time. We’re very happy with what we’ve seen so far. THE LAST SAMURI with D Bass wins Grimthorpe Chase at Doncaster 5-3-16.Star quality Unowhatimeanharry 10g Sir Harry Lewis – Red Nose Lady John P McManus 31/1230- RPR 166 OR 159 He’s come back really well. He started last year with a win at Aintree and he could go back there this time around. Things didn’t quite go to plan there after but some of our horses weren’t quite right and he was definitely one we could never get right. He’s had a good break and has had another small minor wind op. He’s 10 but we couldn’t be more pleased with how he’s going and we could go to Aintree [a week on Saturday] and then on to Newbury, or we could go straight to Newbury for the Long Distance Hurdle. UNOWHATIMEANHARRY (Centre) ridden by Barry Geraghty wins at Aintree 11/11/17 Photograph by Grossick Racing Photography 0771 046 1723Horse to follow Bullionaire Looked extremely useful when winning on debut in a competitive running of the Newbury Goffs bumper in March 2017 and those immediately in behind have proven they are above average (rated 128, 134 and 127). Had a break after that and made his only other appearance when runner-up in a Listed contest at Ascot in December. Has so much ability and could prove to be a Graded horse this year if staying sound. Tom Collins The post Harry Fry Stable Tour appeared first on RaceBets Blog EN. View the full article

European Exports is a series where TDN International Editor Kelsey Riley catches up with people who have left their home countries to make a new life in the racing industry in America. Today, we speak with Romain Malhouitre of Runnymede Farm. KR: Where are you originally from? RM: I am from a city in Normandy, France, called Rouen, it’s on the north side of Normandy, probably 60 miles away from Deauville. It’s a lovely medieval town. KR: When did you come to America, and why did you decide to go there? RM: I came around 15 years ago. I was working in Ireland with Jim Ryan of Milltown Stud; that was my first job in the Thoroughbred business. As a young man, I wanted to travel, so I asked Jim, ‘What should be my next move?’ We had the discussion in October, and he said, ‘Romain, you should go to America. I am going for the sales over there, let me see what kind of jobs are available over there, and I’ll get back to you.’ The O’Callaghan family was starting Woods Edge in Kentucky at the time, so Jim advised me to go with them. I arrived in America on Feb. 6. I don’t remember the year but I remember that it was Feb. 6, and I never came back.” KR: What do you miss about France? RM: I’ve been gone for so long, I’m not 100% sure what I miss about France. I’ve become quite American, but if you reflect a little bit, what I probably miss most is a cliche, but it’s the joie de vivre of French people. People in France have a very good ability to reflect on life, and making sure that life doesn’t go too fast for them. They always reflect on what is right, and what is wrong. {"id":3,"instanceName":"Articles No Playlist","videos":[{"videoType":"HTML5","title":"Romain Malhouitre: European Exports, with Kelsey Riley","description":"","info":"","thumbImg":"","mp4":"https://player.vimeo.com/external/298576702.sd.mp4?s=00ee838fda1721687c50656a207449aa61d923d6&profile_id=165","enable_mp4_download":"no","prerollAD":"yes","prerollGotoLink":"prerollGotoLink","preroll_mp4_title":"preroll_mp4_title","preroll_mp4":"https://player.vimeo.com/external/300270047.sd.mp4?s=9704e842c0d121b98b279c15d8d24835ef4929fe&profile_id=165","prerollSkipTimer":"5","midrollAD":"no","midrollAD_displayTime":"midrollAD_displayTime","midrollGotoLink":"midrollGotoLink","midroll_mp4":"midroll_mp4","midrollSkipTimer":"midrollSkipTimer","postrollAD":"no","postrollGotoLink":"postrollGotoLink","postroll_mp4":"postroll_mp4","postrollSkipTimer":"postrollSkipTimer","popupAdShow":"no","popupImg":"popupImg","popupAdStartTime":"popupAdStartTime","popupAdEndTime":"popupAdEndTime","popupAdGoToLink":"popupAdGoToLink"}],"instanceTheme":"light","playerLayout":"fitToContainer","videoPlayerWidth":720,"videoPlayerHeight":405,"videoRatio":1.7777777777778,"videoRatioStretch":true,"videoPlayerShadow":"effect1","colorAccent":"#000000","posterImg":"","posterImgOnVideoFinish":"","logoShow":"No","logoPath":"","logoPosition":"bottom-right","logoClickable":"No","logoGoToLink":"","allowSkipAd":true,"advertisementTitle":"Ad","skipAdvertisementText":"Skip Ad","skipAdText":"You can skip this ad in","playBtnTooltipTxt":"Play","pauseBtnTooltipTxt":"Pause","rewindBtnTooltipTxt":"Rewind","downloadVideoBtnTooltipTxt":"Download video","qualityBtnOpenedTooltipTxt":"Close settings","qualityBtnClosedTooltipTxt":"Settings","muteBtnTooltipTxt":"Mute","unmuteBtnTooltipTxt":"Unmute","fullscreenBtnTooltipTxt":"Fullscreen","exitFullscreenBtnTooltipTxt":"Exit fullscreen","infoBtnTooltipTxt":"Show info","embedBtnTooltipTxt":"Embed","shareBtnTooltipTxt":"Share","volumeTooltipTxt":"Volume","playlistBtnClosedTooltipTxt":"Show playlist","playlistBtnOpenedTooltipTxt":"Hide playlist","facebookBtnTooltipTxt":"Share on Facebook","twitterBtnTooltipTxt":"Share on Twitter","googlePlusBtnTooltipTxt":"Share on Google+","lastBtnTooltipTxt":"Go to last video","firstBtnTooltipTxt":"Go to first video","nextBtnTooltipTxt":"Play next video","previousBtnTooltipTxt":"Play previous video","shuffleBtnOnTooltipTxt":"Shuffle on","shuffleBtnOffTooltipTxt":"Shuffle off","nowPlayingTooltipTxt":"NOW PLAYING","embedWindowTitle1":"SHARE THIS PLAYER:","embedWindowTitle2":"EMBED THIS VIDEO IN YOUR SITE:","embedWindowTitle3":"SHARE LINK TO THIS PLAYER:","lightBox":false,"lightBoxAutoplay":false,"lightBoxThumbnail":"","lightBoxThumbnailWidth":400,"lightBoxThumbnailHeight":220,"lightBoxCloseOnOutsideClick":true,"onFinish":"Play next video","autoplay":false,"loadRandomVideoOnStart":"No","shuffle":"No","playlist":"Off","playlistBehaviourOnPageload":"opened (default)","playlistScrollType":"light","preloadSelfHosted":"none","hideVideoSource":true,"showAllControls":true,"rightClickMenu":true,"autohideControls":2,"hideControlsOnMouseOut":"No","nowPlayingText":"Yes","infoShow":"No","shareShow":"No","facebookShow":"No","twitterShow":"No","mailShow":"No","facebookShareName":"","facebookShareLink":"","facebookShareDescription":"","facebookSharePicture":"","twitterText":"","twitterLink":"","twitterHashtags":"","twitterVia":"","googlePlus":"","embedShow":"No","embedCodeSrc":"","embedCodeW":720,"embedCodeH":405,"embedShareLink":"","youtubeControls":"custom controls","youtubeSkin":"dark","youtubeColor":"red","youtubeQuality":"default","youtubeShowRelatedVideos":"Yes","vimeoColor":"00adef","showGlobalPrerollAds":false,"globalPrerollAds":"url1;url2;url3;url4;url5","globalPrerollAdsSkipTimer":5,"globalPrerollAdsGotoLink":"","videoType":"HTML5 (self-hosted)","submit":"Save Changes","rootFolder":"http:\/\/wp.tdn.pmadv.com\/wp-content\/plugins\/Elite-video-player\/"} KR: What could American racing learn from French racing? RM: I probably would like to see more handicap racing in America and fewer claiming races. The reason is I truly believe that when a trainer has a handicap horse, and he’s not at risk to lose the horse through claiming races, he could have a better plan long-term plan for the horse. And the horse has to come first; if we could have more handicap races here, I think the care of the horse would be better for it. KR: Vice-versa, what could French racing learn from America? RM: I would love to see French racing open itself to a bigger base of people, having more people on regular days at Longchamp in Paris would be one of the first things they should try to do. KR: Outside of the Thoroughbred industry, what do you enjoy about life in America? RM: I see America as a land of opportunity, and people in America are always ready to give you a chance. If you are a hard-working man, there is always room. The people here are willing to give you as much as you want. And for all of us immigrants from small countries, it’s a great thing to have that ability, to have the trust from the American people to give you the opportunity you may not have at home. View the full article

The Kilkenny-based Pipe View Stud has been selling foals at Goffs for a number of years now and the farm, owned by Michael Phelan, returns to Kildare Paddocks with a draft of 15 foals to offer this week. The consignment includes foals by a mix of new and established sires, and the TDN’s Daithi Harvey got the lowdown from Phelan about the history of the farm and what his hopes are for his consignment in Part I of the Goffs November Foal Sale. TDN: Pipe View Stud has been a regular vendor at the foal sale at Goffs for a long time now. Can you tell us a bit about the farm and the activities you focus on? MP: Pipe View Stud is our own private farm that I run with my wife Brigid. We keep a mix of horses for both flat and National Hunt, but the emphasis is on the flat side of things. We keep around 25 mares on average and we’ve been selling at Goffs for around 20 years at this stage. We try and sell the stock as foals if we can, but we have no problem carrying them to the yearling stage also, or even putting the odd one in training. TDN: You offer foals at Goffs by both established and first-crop stallions. Do you tend to focus on a number of newly retired stallions for some of your mares each year? MP: We try and focus on a sire that would suit each mare, either by conformation or by pedigree. Obviously we would love to use more established sires than we do but those stallions are often too expensive for certain mares so we generally mix it up between the two. We would strive to get to the point where we could use established sires as the norm. TDN: Ballylinch stallion New Bay (GB) got off to a good start in the sales ring when one of his first foals offered to the market topped the recent Flat Foal Sale at Tattersalls Ireland. What can you tell us about the two colts by the sire you offer this week? MP: They are two nice foals. The colt out of Stella Del Mattino (Golden Gear) (lot 323) should be popular. The mare has already bred a very good horse called Buckstay (Ire) (Lawman {Fr}) and although he never got black-type he was rated 110 at one stage. The other colt, lot 548, is also a nice sort. His half-brother by Free Eagle (Ire) made 60,000gns as a yearling at Tattersalls last month and the mare is back in foal to Lope De Vega (Ire). We’ve been dealing with Ballylinch Stud for a long time now and they have built up a great roster of stallions. We actually bred Lawman’s first-ever winner and we sold Lope De Vega’s first foal that was sold at auction. TDN: Showcasing (GB) has established himself as a top-class sire the hard way. You must be pleased to be offering two colt foals while the stallion is doing so well? MP: We’re delighted to be offering them (lots 299 and 554) and the stallion has had another fantastic year. We do quite a bit of business with Whitsbury Manor Stud; we’ve bred to nearly all their stallions in the past and have mares back in foal to Showcasing this year. We also have two foals by Adaay (Ire), a filly, lot 146 and a colt, lot 278. We like the colt a lot and judging by what we’ve seen from his first crop so far Adaay looks to be stamping his stock well. TDN: Lope De Vega (Ire) embarks covering in 2019 at a career-high fee of €80,000. With the stallion represented recently by a superstar filly in Newspaperofrecord (Ire), you must have high hopes for your filly foal? (lot 718). MP: We do indeed. She is a very nice filly, plenty of scope with a great walk and the page is quite lively at the moment. A Kodiac (GB) filly out of the dam’s half-sister Need You Now (Ire) (Kheleyf) made 300,000gns as a yearling at Tattersalls last month. TDN: The mare Iamfine (Ire) (Whipper) has been a good earner for you at Goffs with her Zoffany (Ire) colt making €150,000 in 2015. You return with a full-brother (lot 722) to that colt, who is now called Mushtaq (Ire) and a three-time winner for Al Shaqab Racing. What are your thoughts on him? MP: He is a good sort and the full-brother has been retained by Richard Hannon after being entered in the HIT sales so he obviously thinks there is further progress in him. The mare has been a great servant to us and we hope that continues this week. TDN: Gleneagles (Ire) is a stallion whose yearlings were very popular in the sales in the autumn. Your colt by him (lot 560) is only the dam Purple Sage’s second foal as a 12-year-old. What can you tell us about the foal and his dam’s history? MP: The mare was out in Dubai where she was stakes-placed but she was out of the system for a while and when she came back to England we bought her privately. We covered her first with Make Believe (Fr) and that colt made €55,000 as a foal and she then had this colt by Gleneagles. She’s a Danehill Dancer (Ire) mare with a proper page so she has every chance of making up for lost time. TDN: You also offer stock by Dawn Approach (Ire), Belardo (Ire), Fascinating Rock (Ire), Mehmas (Ire), Elzaam (Aus) and the ever- reliable Kodiac (GB). What can you tell us about some of those? MP: We have a lovely Elzaam colt (lot 418). He is a low-priced sire but he gets great-looking stock and you’d have to hope that they could do well on the track in time. We have a very nice filly by Belardo (Ire). She is lot 750 and I think she is an outstanding filly. She is out of Ludynosa, a Cadeaux Genereux mare who has already bred two black-type horses and we really like her. The Dawn Approach filly (lot 620) has a lovely page. She is out of a full-sister to Observatory and the dam has already produced a stakes winner in Mount Logan (Ire). That horse is by New Approach (Ire) so that is why we tried her with Dawn Approach. She is a nice filly, the sire has a top juvenile (Madhmoon {Ire}) to work for him next year so that should help and she has the pedigree to make a broodmare in the future. The Kodiac (lot 766) is out of a well-bred Manduro (Ger) mare and it’s hard to go too far wrong with a Kodiac. TDN: You had a good sale at Goffs in 2015 when you sold three six-figure foals. How hopeful are you of matching or bettering that score this week? MP: Looking at the stock we have going to Goffs I am happy that we have some very nice foals on offer but a lot will depend on how trade fares out. That will be the determining factor in how we get on, so I hope it works out. We’ve only entered the best foals we have so hopefully that will count for something. View the full article

The worth of any sale should be measured by its ability to turn out winners at the highest level, and with graduates of its November Foal and Mare Sales having featured in British and Irish Classics in 2018, Goffs certainly meets that standard and thus heads into the 2018 renewal of its November sale Nov. 19 to 24 with plenty of momentum behind it. First it was Latrobe (Ire) (Camelot {GB}), a €88,000 foal purchase here three years ago, who became a first Classic winner for Joseph O’Brien when taking the G1 Irish Derby. Across the pond, €52,000 foal La Pelosa (Ire) (Dandy Man {Ire}) won the GI Natalma S. for Godolphin, and Glorious Empire (Ire) (Holy Roman Emperor {Ire}), in hindsight a bargain at €20,000, won the GI Sword Dancer S. La Pelosa and Glorious Empire were both successful pinhooks for their foal buyers before going on to win at the highest level, again highlighting the diamonds that can be prospected by shrewd shoppers at this sale. A few of the big pinhooking successes from the 2017 Goffs November Foal Sale to this year’s Goffs Orby Yearling Sale included a €52,000 foal sold for €700,000, a €60,000 foal pinhooked for €300,000 and a €82,000 foal re-sold for €350,000. Before they sort out their true worth on the racetrack, it is the highest-priced horses that make the headlines, and the Goffs November Foal Sale last year was led by the progeny of Galileo: a filly foal made €1.1-million and a colt sold for €625,000. There are four Galileo foals catalogued this year: lot 709, a three-quarter sister to dual Derby winner Harzand (Ire); lot 637, a half-brother to standout young Australian sire Zoustar (Aus) (Northern Meteor {Aus}), who shuttles to Britain next year; lot 570, the first foal of an unraced daughter of champion Banks Hill (GB) (Danehill); and lot 680, a half-brother to G2 Lowther S. and G3 Princess Margaret S. winner Besharah (Ire) (Kodiac {GB}). Galileo’s best son Frankel (GB) and half-brother Sea The Stars (Ire) are also well represented. Frankel has three catalogued: lot 655, a half-brother to GI Secretariat S. winner Bayrir (Fr) (Medicean {GB}); lot 647, a half-brother to three stakes winners including G2 Beresford S. winner Curtain Call (Fr) (Sadler’s Wells); and lot 604, a filly who is the first foal out of Group 3 winner Stormfly (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}). Sea The Stars, who had the third-highest priced foal last year at €460,000 as well as a €330,000 colt who sold for 1.1-million gns this October, has 17, including a colt who is the second foal of the G2 Prix Daniel Wildenstein winner Pollyana (Ire) (Whipper) (lot 557). Invincible Spirit closed out the flat season with a Group 1 2-year-old double late last month, and he has three up for sale including lot 567, a half-brother to the G3 Prix Penelope third Rythmique (Ire) out of a half-sister to G1 Irish Oaks winner Vintage Tipple (Ire) (Entrepreneur {GB}), and lot 583, the second foal of the stakes-placed Sagami (Street Cry {Ire}). “We are delighted with the foal catalogue and think our Part 1 section is the measure of any, headed by the four Galileo foals and backed up by so many beautifully bred foals from some of the best families in the Stud Book,” said Goffs Group Chief Executive Henry Beeby. “Overall, the sire profile is simply mouth-watering headed by the likes of Dark Angel, Frankel, Invincible Spirit, Kingman, Kodiac, Lope De Vega, Muhaarar, Nathaniel, No Nay Never, Oasis Dream, Sea The Stars, Siyouni, Teofilo and so many other desirable names. “The racecourse is the ultimate goal, though, and Goffs November Foals deliver in some style with world-class winners in every crop,” Beeby added. “This year they are headed by a trio of Group 1 horses–Irish Derby winner Latrobe graces the front cover of the catalogue whilst the back is shared by La Pelosa, shown winning the GI Natalma S. at Woodbine, alongside Glorious Empire, winner of the GI Sword Dancer S. at Saratoga.” Last year, Goffs introduced a new format of splitting its foal sale into two parts, book-ending the two-day mares sale, to allow shoppers more time to inspect foals: Part I took place over three days at the start of the week while Part II wrapped up proceedings over two days at the end of the week. That format was deemed a success, with combined foal sale figures well up on last year (average €37,134, +29% and median €20,000, +33%, and the clearance rate up 10% to 77%). The same format is used this year, albeit with Part II of the foal sale down to one day. November Mare Graduates Blossoming Classic success in 2018 wasn’t reserved for just the Goffs November Foal Sale: Chelsea Rose (Ire) (Desert King {Ire} topped the 2012 Goffs November Mares Sale at €450,000, and her second foal to be produced after that transaction, Kew Gardens (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), won this year’s G1 St Leger, G1 Grand Prix de Paris and G2 Queen’s Vase. Numbers are down by about 100 for this year’s mare sale, which Beeby said could be the result of some breeders opting to retain more mares off a strong yearling sale season, and he noted that while there isn’t an obvious standout among the catalogue of 447, there is plenty of quality from the usual faithful vendors. “There isn’t anything that really stands out like a Chicquita or a Beauty Parlor that we’ve had in the past, but there are some very nice pedigrees in there and we’re very pleased with what we’ve got,” he said. “It’s slightly smaller than last year. I think when the market is stronger sometimes people hold on to their mares longer than they usually do. The elite yearling market has been so strong so I think that’s resulted in a smaller catalogue, because some of the mares aren’t for sale, but we’re very happy with the catalogue we’ve got and we think there will be quality and value.” Some of the more eye-catching lots should include She’s Complete (Ire) (Oratorio {Ire}) (lot 962), a listed winner on the turf at Santa Anita who is carrying her second foal, by Sea The Stars (Ire), and South African champion 2-year-old filly Cloth Of Cloud (SAf) (Al Mufti) (lot 964), in foal to Galileo (Ire). From the ever-popular Aga Khan draft there is the likes of Baliyana (Ire) (Dalakhani {Ire}) (lot 973), a stakes-winning and producing mare in foal to Kodiac (GB); Simawa (Ire) (Anabaa) (lot 977), a stakes-producing half-sister to Sinndar (Ire) in foal to Gleneagles (Ire); and Eneza (Ire) (Holy Roman Emperor {Ire}) (lot 1013), a maiden half-sister to this year’s G2 Blandford S. and G3 Park S. winner Eziyra (Ire) (Teofilo {Ire}). Jim Bolger’s Redmondstown Stud and Glebe House Stables offer a handful of good prospects between them: Something Graceful (GB) (Galileo {Ire}) (lot 992), the dam of 2018 stakes winner Sometimesadiamond (Ire) (Vocalised) in foal to Dawn Approach; Marina Of Venice (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) (lot 993), the dam of two stakes horses including listed winner Vociferous Marina (Ire) (Vocalised) in foal to Fastnet Rock (Aus); Dawn Of A New Era (Ire) (New Approach {Ire}) (lot 994), a full-sister to Dawn Approach in foal to Belardo (Ire); and Pleisiur (Ire) (Vocalised) (lot 996), a half-sister to the dual Group 1 winner Pleascach (Ire) in foal to that one’s sire, Teofilo (Ire). “This is a sale with a superb record as shown on the front cover of the 2018 catalogue which depicts Kew Gardens winning the G1 William Hill St Leger at Doncaster,” said Beeby. “Kew Gardens is out of Chelsea Rose who topped the 2012 version of this sale at €450,000, so graphically illustrating the quality provided every year. Kew Gardens is no flash in the pan when it comes to showcasing our November Breeding Stock Sale though, as his victory follows Harzand’s stunning Epsom Derby triumph for HH The Aga Khan and Dermot Weld. Harzand’s dam, Hazariya was another Goffs November sale-topper when realising €480,000. “These are just two examples of what is on offer and this year’s catalogue features drafts from such leading nurseries as HH The Aga Khan Studs, Ballylinch Stud, Baroda & Colbinstown, Castlebridge, Derrinstown Stud, Godolphin, Jockey Hall Stud, Kiltinan Castle Stud, Moyglare Stud, Norelands Stud, Redmondstown Stud, and so many others who make a habit of breeding the best.” View the full article

Trainer Tony Cruz has declared it is lead or bust for his talented galloper Time Warp ahead of a rematch with full brother Glorious Forever on Sunday. Time Warp got the better of his younger brother Glorious Forever in a return to form last time around in the Group Three Ladies’ Purse Handicap (1,800m) despite giving up a 17-pound weight advantage, but is unlikely to be afforded the same luxuries while leading this time. After finishing dead last in his previous three starts, Time Warp... View the full article

Champion trainer John Size may hold all of the aces for Sunday’s Group Two Jockey Club Sprint, but it is his former prodigy Frankie Lor Fu-chuen who has the joker in the pack. It is Lor’s speed machine Mr Stunning, perhaps Hong Kong’s most proven Group-level sprinter, who is the greatest danger to the five-strong army of Size gallopers after a sizzling barrier trial last week. Ironically, Mr Stunning only made his way to Lor’s yard from Size’s stable late last... View the full article

The Morgiana Hurdle is the first Grade 1 to be run over hurdles in Ireland this season and it normally attracts the elite of the two-mile division. Some absolute heroes appear on the roll of honour, including Moscow Flyer (2000), Hardy Eustace(2008) and Hurricane Fly (2012-2014). Samcro tops the market, with Gordon keen on aiming him down the Champion Hurdle route with one of his stable stars. There had been much talk over the summer as to where last season’s Ballymore winner would go but these questions were answered when Samcro lined up in the WKD Hurdle at Down Royal where he suffered a shock defeat at the hands of Bedrock. Samcro looked laboured when Jack Kennedy pressed the button at the back of the second last which would leave him with plenty to find if he wanted to be a genuine Champion Hurdle horse. Gordon said after the defeat that none of his horses have been away for work so he expects them all to improve for there first run. That runner-up finish would be good enough to give him a big chance and if he finds the expected improvement then Samcro should be winning this. Willie Mullins has won the last seven renewals of this and is well represented by Faugheen; who is a fan favourite amongst national hunt purists. The son of Germany took this twelve months ago and has been the subject of an ante-post gamble in recent days. Faugheen’s season fell apart in no uncertain fashion when he pulled up and finished runner-up in a brace of Grade 1’s. Willie stepped him up in distance at the Punchestown festival and it worked the oracle, with him finishing 13 lengths clear of Stayers’ hurdle winner Penhill in a fascinating contest. Many had expected Faugheen to stay over longer trips but he must be working well in Closutton to earn a crack at a hat-trick of victories in the race. Supasundae was last seasons Champion Hurdle winner and was one of the most consistent horses in training, with placings in Garde 1’s in each of his starts. Jessica Harrington’s inmate doesn’t have a great record when fresh and will undoubtedly come on for the run. I think a watching brief is the best advice when it comes to him. The field is completed by Tombstone, Wicklow Brave and Sharjah. Selection: Faugheen The post Morgiana Hurdle Preview appeared first on RaceBets Blog EN. View the full article

Karis Teetan has brushed aside suggestions he’s not the right jockey for Pakistan Star and thrown his support behind the enigmatic gelding despite a last-start hiccup. Teetan is confident the 2,000m of the Group Two BOCHK Jockey Club Cup will bring the best out of the two-time Group One winner after he again had issues coming down the 1,800m chute last time out in the Sa Sa Ladies’ Purse. The Mauritian managed to keep Pakistan Star moving on that occasion to avoid a repeat of the... View the full article

Joao Moreira will make a stunning full-time return to Hong Kong next month after the Jockey Club gave him the green light to rejoin the ranks as John Size’s stable rider. The licensing committee confirmed the new arrangement on Saturday morning, which will see the Magic Man back in action from December 9 and continue through until June 9. While the six-month period which Size applied for was granted – it is expected Moreira will be able to secure a Jockey Club-retained licence after... View the full article

Although he has been successful in all kinds of divisions, in recent years the 52-year-old trainer has excelled in grass sprints, not only on a daily basis at Santa Anita Park and Del Mar, but at the highest level on the planet. View the full article

John T.L. “Big Johnny” Jones, Jr., who parlayed humble cowboy origins as a Quarter Horse trainer into a high-profile bloodstock career as the owner of Walmac Stud International, died Friday at his home in Quanah, Texas. He was 84, and the cause of death was congestive heart failure. His son, John Jones, III, confirmed the death to TDN, adding that his father passed in the town where he was born and in the company of family members. As a Texan whose personality and presence often seemed to be as large as the Lone Star State itself, Jones first began leasing farmland in Lexington, Kentucky, in the 1960s. Under his direction, the Walmac operation grew to 248 lush, rolling acres on Paris Pike in Fayette County, and his venture subsequently gained prominence during a decades-long run as the home of stallions Nureyev, Miswaki, and Alleged. Jones was a member of the Texas Horse Racing Hall of Fame, and was formerly on the boards of both the Breeders’ Cup and Keeneland Association. He had served a stint as the vice-chairman for the Kentucky Racing Commission, and was a director of both the Association of State Racing Commissioners and the Kentucky Thoroughbred Association. He was also a founding partner of Four Star Sales, a Lexington-based consignment company. When asked how he thought his father would like to be remembered, John Jones, III gave a long, thoughtful pause and said, “Man, that’s like trying to condense a book into one sentence.” Then he added: “He had an extraordinary amount of empathy and understanding for his fellow man, always. That was his greatest strength, and it carried him a long way. He had a real open heart to any guy on the street, rich or poor. He had a big personality, and was very accepting of all kinds of different people. I think he realized that was his greatest asset, and I think that’s how he’d like to be remembered. At the end of the day, personality and emotions are what drive the horse business. And because of his personable nature, my dad fit into that climate very well.” Born July 7, 1934, John Jones, Jr., credited his father with getting him interested in horses. Even though his dad was a businessman, the family kept a ranch on their north Texas land near the Oklahoma border. Jones graduated from Abilene Christian University, and when his father died in 1958, he decided to immerse himself in the family’s Quarter Horse business, devoting all of this time to caring for a stable that had grown to about 30 head. Jones himself explained what happened next in a profile published 12 years ago in Trainer Magazine: “I ended up joint venturing a deal on my farm in 1965 and when my partner got into a financial bind that carried me with him, I lost everything I had. When you wake up one day with four children and no money, you’d better get your ass to work. I went to the track and started training for Walter Merrick in 1966.” Merrick, who was a legendary horseman in his own right, provided Jones with a stable that grew from competing in bush-track match races to winning high-profile Quarter Horse races like the Kansas Futurity in 1967. Jones transitioned to Thoroughbreds for another client in the 1970s and was based at River Dowsn in Ohio, where his blacksmith was the father of an up-and-coming apprentice named Steve Cauthen. Jones left training when he “figured out if I was ever going to be a factor in the industry it was going to be through stallions,” he told Trainer Magazine. Once Jones firmly established Walmac in 1976 it grew to lofty status over the next several decades, dovetailing with the overall rise of the North American bloodstock sector during that time frame. When John Gaines dreamt up the concept of the Breeders’ Cup and presented his idea to industry leaders in the early 1980s, he credited Jones as the person who got everybody to work together after they’d hit a standstill. “I suspected that the game was going to get global in the early ’70s with global transportation and ease of getting horses over here,” Jones told Trainer Magazine. “I thought that [the Breeders’ Cup] would put the spotlight on a special day, at least have another venue that the public could attach itself to rather than just the [GI] Kentucky Derby, [GI] Preakness and [GI] Belmont.” Ensuring that his legacy would straddle both international Thoroughbred racing and American-based Quarter Horse racing, Jones later became the only person ever to breed a G1 2000 Guineas winner (King of Kings, co-bred with Ron Con Ltd.) and an All American Futurity winner (Ochoa, who became Quarter Horse racing’s all-time earnings leader). In 2004, Jones sold Walmac to his son, John Jones, III, and another business partner. The family patriarch remained involved as Walmac’s director emeritus though, and even returned to training for a short stint. Just last week, the historic Walmac farm was sold at auction for $4.8 million. The sale did not include the assets of the breeding operation, which will shift to a smaller farm near the Fayette/Bourbon County Line. Jones was predeceased by his first wife, Janice, in 2003. He married Brenda Kinsolving in 2007. He is survived by sons (and their spouses) John III (Mia), Hutton (Paula), Levi (Paula), and a daughter, Julie (Guy); eight grandchildren, two great-grandchildren; three stepchildren, and seven step-grandchildren. Funeral arrangements are pending. View the full article

Keeneland’s 12-session November Breeding Stock Sale concluded Friday with dips in gross, average and median compared to last year. A total of 2,538 head changed hands for gross receipts of $188,508,300. The 2017 November sale, which featured a catalog that was 8.8% smaller and 2,424 recorded transactions, grossed $202,021,700. This year’s average was $74,274 (down 10.9% from $83,342) and median was $25,000 (down 18% from $30,500). The 2018 RNA rate was 26.5% compared to 24.7% last year. Eight horses met or exceeded the $1-million mark–18 reached that mark 12 months ago. “I think it was a solid sale–it was down a little in terms of gross, off a little in the average because we had a few less in Book 1 with our new format and I think that kind of explains some of the small declines comparatively to last year,” Keeneland Vice President of Racing and Sales Bob Elliston said. “But if you had a quality mare or weanling, there was tons of demand out there. It demonstrates the continuation of a strong market for American-bred horses.” The 2018 November sale featured a one-day, super-select Book 1 compared to a three-day Book 1 last year. The 2018 catalog was comprised of 4,513 offerings–it was 4,147 in 2017. “In terms of total number of offerings, we did have more offerings in the catalog [compared to last year] and most of them were in the back end,” Elliston said. “So, when you have more in the second week and particularly the latter half of the second week, that’s going to drive your average and gross down… If you look session by session, we track very much like the 2017 sale.” The sale topper was MGISW Lady Eli (Divine Park) (hip 111), who was purchased by John Sikura’s Hill ‘n’ Dale during last Monday’s opening session for $4.2 million. Hill ‘n’ Dale consigned the gutsy champion, in foal to War Front, on behalf of Sheep Pond Partners. The top weanling was a Tapit filly (hip 116A) out of champion female sprinter La Verdad (Yes It’s True)–she went for $800,000 to Whisper Hill Farm and Three Chimneys Farm and was bought out of the Eaton Sales consignment. Horses of racing age have become a major focus of the November sale during its second week, and this year’s priciest male racing prospect was Federal Case (Gemologist) (hip 3495), who was sold by WinStar Racing to agent Jacob West on behalf of Robert and Lawana Low for $650,000. The juvenile colt was a debut winner at Keeneland Oct. 19. “It was remarkable,” said consignor James Keogh of Grovendale, who handled the WinStar Racing consignment, about the interest in horses of racing age. “Every racehorse that we came up here with–whether we sold it for $7,500 or $650,000–there were three people there to buy every single one of those horses. That’s not always what you also see at yearling sales.” For the 23rd time in the last 32 years, Taylor Made Sales Agency was the November sale’s top consignor, selling 258 horses for $23,958,400. Agent Steve Young was the leading buyer by gross, making six purchases for $4,985,000, including $4-million second topper My Miss Sophia (Unbridled’s Song) (hip 147). “The horses that we bought, I thought were very, very good horses and they brought about what I thought they would bring,” Young said. “Obviously, when you have a horse like My Miss Sophia, she is a priceless commodity in that what she brings, like what all horses bring, is dependent on the underbidder. But I thought she was a tremendous mare. I thought the other mares that we bought were mares of, hopefully, hidden quality, but they brought what I thought they would bring, too. It is like any other sale, if you lead a horse up there that has credentials, there will be people that fight to buy them.” Elliston noted that there were 43 individual buyers who spent $1 million or more at November. Foreign entities were also active, with at least 23 different countries represented, and particularly strong interest from Japan and Australia. Friday’s topper was 8-year-old mare Carnival Kitten (Kitten’s Joy) (hip 4255), who sold in foal to Red Rocks (Ire) for $45,000. The dam of this year’s two-time stakes-winning sophomore and GIII Pennine Ridge S. third Channel Cat (English Channel) was picked up by Nursery Place out of the Select Sales draft. “Overall, I’m very pleased,” said Andrew Cary of Select Sales when asked about the market as a whole. “There’s always a little bit of uncertainty in election years and stuff like that but, generally, overall the economy is good and when the Breeders’ Cup is in town it’s always a great boost. I think it was more of what we’ve been seeing–quality horses are selling very well and there’s tons of demand for them. Horses who miss the mark a little bit are a lot harder to move, but if you have what they want there’s definitely an appetite for those offerings.” The top weanling of the session was hip 4422, a Mizzen Mast filly consigned by Shawhan Place LLC, Agent X and purchased by Erin Lundy for $25,000. The grey was a $9,000 Keeneland January in utero purchase by Robert Francis. The continued trend of demand and competition at the top of the market and increased weakness for perceived lesser-quality offerings continued on at November, with a significantly higher number of offerings failing to receive a bid at this sale compared to in years past. “If you start off and you don’t have either the right covering sire or sire of a weanling, that makes the degree of difficulty that much harder,” Cary said. “If you’re already starting off with a bit of a hurdle to clear, it makes it that much more difficult even getting people to come look at your horse if they don’t pass the pedigree test. When there are a lot of young stallions or unproven horses or unexposed horses who don’t have a ton of commercial appeal, it doesn’t mean they’re not going to be good racehorses, but there’s a big gap between the commercial market and the racehorse market. That definitely gets exposed when there are a lot of offerings and not a ton of demand for them.” Keeneland’s next auction will be the January Horses of All Ages Sale, scheduled for Jan. 7-10. For more information, visit www.keeneland.com. View the full article

Sunday marks the third and final day of the November Cheltenham meeting and the track is set to host a total of a six-race card. ITV Racing are televising four of the races which are set to round off a thrilling weekend of racing at the Gloucestershire located track. Racing Post Arkle Trophy Trial Novices’ Chase The first race set to be televised is the Racing Post Arkle Trophy Trial Novices’ Chase (registered as the November Novices’ Chase) (Grade 2) and is set to air at 1.50pm. Open to horses four years and older, just six go to post in the two-mile contest. Nicky Henderson is responsible for any entries over the three days of racing and runs Claimantakinforgan. The six-year-old is set to be steered by Jeremiah McGrath and his current form suggests he will be a big threat. Although only his last outing was his chasing debut he put on a good performance to win the two-mile Beginners’ Chase at Uttoxeter. The son of Great Pretender is the ante-post favourite and one to watch. Philp Hobbs-trained Defu Du Seuil is another strong entry. Set to be ridden by Barry Geraghty, the five-year-old runs in the colours of renowned Irish owner, J.P Mc Manus. Two seasons back he was he was a top juvenile hurdler and connections will be hopeful he can return to this form on Sunday. Others names to note are Colin Tizzard’s Pingshou and Richard Johnson’s Lalor. Selection: Defu Du Seuil Shloer Chase The (Old) Shloer Chase (Registered As The Cheltenham Chase) is the second race to air on ITV Racing and it welcomes a field of six runners to the field. Open to horses four years and older the going is set to be good. Sceau Royal who is trained by Alan King holds the spot in the ante-post favourite position in the two-mile contest and he is set to be ridden by Daryl Jacob. The six-year-old latest form is 12111 however he has not been on the track since last January where he won at Doncaster. Connections of the son of Doctor Dino will be hopeful he can keep return to this form when returning to the track. Nicky Henderson runs Brain Power in this two-mile contest and he is to be partnered with Aidan Coleman. The seven-year-old son of Kalanisi is returning to the track post a wind operation which will make for interesting viewing as he has not been seen on the track since last April, where he fell at Aintree. Others to keep a close eye on are Paul Nicholls-trained Le Prezien who is set to be ridden by Barry Geraghty and Sizing Granite who is trained by Colin Tizzard is certainly one to watch on the betting market and is set to be ridden by Richard Johnson. Selection: Sceau Royal Unibet Greatwood Handicap Hurdle The Unibet Greatwood Handicap Hurdle is run over a two and a half mile track and welcomes a large field of twenty runners going to post, with the going set to be good. Nicky Henderson holds two entries on the field, with Verdana Blue being the ante-post favourite, who is set to be ridden by Jeremiah McGrath. The six-year-old is clearly in top form but the question remains has she done enough running to win? The daughter of Getaway stormed home earlier this month to win the Unibet Elite Hurdle with ease at Wincanton and connections will be eager that the six-year-old continues to perform. Henderson’s other entry is five-year-old Charli Parcs who will be ridden by Barry Geraghty. The five-year-old comes off the back of finishing fourth in the Scottish Champion Hurdle last April. He will be one to watch on the betting market each way if he returns in similar form. Warren Greatex’s Western Ryder proved himself as a smart novice last season however the six-year-old will have to prove himself yet again as he returns to the track for the first time since last April. Others to keep an eye on include Evan Williams-trained Silver Streak set to be partnered by Adam Wedge and Nube Negra who is trained by Dan Skelton. Selection: Verdana Blue Sky Bet Supreme Trial Novices’ Hurdle The Sky Bet Supreme Trial Novices’ Hurdle is set to air at 3.30pm and six runners go to post in this two and a half mile furlong contest. Olly Murphy’s Itchy Feet (excuse the name on the pun!) is expected to put on a show as he is partnered with jockey Gavin Sheehan. Although perhaps the four-year-older old is lacking in experience in terms of the number of runs he has had on the track, the son of Cima De Triomphe won on his last outing in a gamely manner to win the Listed Novice Hurdle at Kempton. Tom George runs Seddon, who since returning to the track at the start of the month, since his last run in March, the five-year-old, put on a brave performance to win the two and a half mile furlong at Stratford among a field of ten runners. Others to note among entries are Dan Skelton’s Anytime Will Do who is set to be ridden by Harry Skelton and Colin Tizzard’s four-year-old Elixir De Nutz who is set to be partnered by Harry Cobden. Selection: Seddon The post Cheltenham Sunday – Preview appeared first on RaceBets Blog EN. View the full article

The Kentucky Horse Racing Commission voted in a majority decision Nov. 16 to award a license for a new Standardbred track to the WKY Development applicant consisting of Churchill Downs Inc. and minority partner Keeneland. View the full article

Observations on the European Racing Scene turns the spotlight on the best European races of the day, highlighting well-pedigreed horses early in their careers, horses of note returning to action and young runners that achieved notable results in the sales ring. Today’s Observations features a handful of well-bred 2-year-olds at Wolverhampton. 6.15 Wolverhampton, Cond, £6,400, 2yo, 9f 104y (AWT) Roisin Henry’s WAR TIGER (War Front) is a son of G1 Moyglare Stud S. heroine Quarter Moon (Ire) (Sadler’s Wells) and thus a half-brother to four stakes performers headed by G1 Pretty Polly S. victress Diamondsandrubies (Ire) (Fastnet Rock {Aus}). The Richard Fahey trainee’s eight rivals include George Strawbridge’s Ever Changing (Tapit), a daughter of G1 Fillies’ Mile and G1 Matron S. victress Rainbow View (Dynaformer), representing John Gosden; Ali Abdulla Saeed’s King of Change (GB) (Farhh {GB}), who is a Richard Hannon-trained half-brother to last month’s G1 Queen Elizabeth II S. placegetter Century Dream (Ire) (Cape Cross {Ire}); and Will Farish’s Numero Uno (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}), who is a half-brother to GIII Matchmaker S. victress Casual Smile (GB) (Sea the Stars {Ire}) out of G1 Epsom Oaks heroine Casual Look (Red Ransom), from the Martyn Meade stable. 6.45 Wolverhampton, Cond, £6,400, 2yo, 9f 104y (AWT) Merry Fox Stud Ltd’s BLOWING DIXIE (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) is a half-brother to G1 Moyglare Stud S. victress Cursory Glance (Distorted Humor) and debuts up for Roger Charlton here. His rivals include OTI Racing’s fellow newcomer Achaeus (Ger) (Tertullian), who is an Ed Dunlop-trained sibling of MG1SW G1 Melbourne Cup hero Almandin (Ger) (Monsun {Ger}). View the full article

7th-Wolverhampton, £5,800, Cond, 11-16, 2yo, 8f 142y (AWT), 1:50.26, st. GREAT BEAR (GB) (c, 2, Dansili {GB}–Great Heavens {GB} {Hwt. 3yo Filly-Eng at 11-14f, G1SW-Ire & GSW-Eng, $410,037}, by Galileo {Ire}) was well away from an outer gate to stalk the pace in second for most of this debut. Rowed along and momentarily caught for toe rounding the home turn, the 7-2 third choice was angled into an opening along the inside fence approaching the final eighth and kept on relentlessly under whipless cajoling in the closing stages to deny Copal (GB) (Dark Angel {Ire}) by a half length. Half-brother to the yearling filly Sun Bear (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) and the filly foal Thunder Drum (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}), the homebred bay is the third foal and winner produced by G1 Irish Oaks heroine Great Heavens (GB) (Galileo {Ire}), herself a full-sister to MG1SW sire Nathaniel (Ire) and one of eight black-type winners out of storied blue hen Magnificient Style (Silver Hawk). Lifetime Record: 1-1-0-0, $4,793. Video, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton. 1ST-TIME STARTER. O-Lady Rothschild; B-Kincorth Investments Inc (GB); T-Roger Charlton. View the full article

WKY Development LLC–a joint venture between Churchill Downs Incorporated (CDI) and Keeneland Association Inc.–was awarded a racing license by the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission (KHRC) during a Friday meeting. Under the terms of the license, WKY Development will be permitted to conduct 12 live Standardbred racing dates beginning in October 2019 at its proposed racing venue to be constructed in Oak Grove in Christian County, Kentucky. In addition to harness racing, the facility is expected to include a historical racing machine area with up to 1,500 machines, a 125-room hotel and event center, a 1,200-seat grandstand, a 3,000-seat outdoor amphitheater and an equestrian center with both indoor and outdoor arenas. According to WKY, the proposed facility represents a $150-million economic development project for Christian County and will create nearly 400 direct full and part-time jobs in addition to an estimated 800 construction jobs. WKY Development, owned 95% by CDI and 5% by Keeneland, launched with the stated goal of growing the horse racing industry in Kentucky and reinvigorating the Standardbred sector by creating new racing opportunities in the state. View the full article

The Racing Medication and Testing Consortium will auction halters of famous broodmares, racing and stallion stars on its eBay page Nov. 23 to Nov. 30. All proceeds from the auction will go toward the RMTC’s grant program to fund critical tactical research into the detection and identification of illicit substances. Halters on offer were worn by the likes of Triple Crown winners American Pharoah (Pioneerof the Nile) and Justify (Scat Daddy), Abel Tasman (Quality Road), Accelerate (Lookin at Lucky), Game Winner (Candy Ride {Arg}), Monomoy Girl (Tapizar), Havre de Grace (Saint Liam), Lady Eli (Divine Park), Songbird (Medaglia d’Oro) and more. View the full article

Just as it had last year, the clearance rate wound up at 91% during a strong evening’s trade at the Tattersalls Cheltenham November Sale on Friday. The median was up 8% at £65,000, the average was £77,375, and the aggregate £3,095,000. There were a pair of joint top lots at £190,000: The Denis Murphy-trained Grey Getaway (Ire) (Getaway {Ger}) (lot 39), who was bought by Paul Nicholls, and Muckamore (Ger) (Sholokhov {Ire}) (lot 46), purchased by Nicholls and Tom Malone. Tattersalls Cheltenham Director of Horses in Training Sales Richard Pugh said, “Tonight’s sale showed that the ferocious demand for form horses and proven point to pointers continues. 12 horses surpassed £100,000, with 40 of the 44 lots offered exchanging hands and contributing to the strong clearance rate of 91% and a rise in the median of 8%.” View the full article

In an effort to thank the men and women battling the recent California wildfires, Santa Anita Park, The Odd Market, Ice America, Amuse Matte Holiday Photography, and the Stronach Group will provide first responders and their families’ free admission, an ice skating session with skate rentals included, and a picture and print with Santa Claus during opening weekend of the 2018 Winterfest. Beginning Friday, Nov. 23 through Sunday, Nov. 25, vouchers will be given to any police officer, firefighter, paramedic or EMT showing a valid form of identification at the registration tent. Limit of four admission and skate sessions per responder, and one photograph with Santa. If interested, please send RSVP here and be sure to bring identification along. View the full article

Bolstered by Breeders’ Cup Challenge victories from Alizee (Aus) (Sepoy {Aus}), Fine Needle (Jpn) (Admire Moon {Jpn}), Royal Marine (Ire) (Raven’s Pass) and Wild Illusion (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}), Godolphin has won the John Deere Award as the outstanding breeder of the 2018 Breeders’ Cup Challenge Series and the Breeders’ Cup World Championships. They will be awarded a John Deere TS Gator Utility Vechicle. The John Deere Award, presented by Breeders’ Cup Limited and NTRA Advantage, emphasizes the contributions of breeders to the Breeders’ Cup program. The winner is determined by the breeder who received the highest number of first-place finishes in the international Breeders’ Cup Challenge Series of 85 stakes races in 12 countries, and in the 14 Breeders’ Cup World Championships races. Each Grade/Group 1 wins was worth 10 points; Grade/Group 2 wins were worth six points; Grade/Group 3 wins were worth four points, and ungraded wins were worth two points. Godolphin-bred runners earned 40 points by winning four Group 1 races. “The Breeders’ Cup continues to be an important focus for HH Sheikh Mohammed and Team Godolphin worldwide,” said Dan Pride, Chief Operating Officer for Godolphin USA. “We are thrilled to be recognized with the John Deere Award with four winners globally.” Three breeders–Mike Abraham, Stonestreet Thoroughbred Holdings LLC and Summer Wind Equine–tied for second place in the competition, each earning 30 points. View the full article

Poor air quality forced Golden Gate Fields to cancel its live racing Nov. 16 and could threaten racing through the weekend if the air quality doesn't improve. View the full article

Talismanic (GB) (Medaglia d’Oro), winner of last year’s GI Breeders’ Cup Turf for Godolphin, has been retired from racing at age five, with stud plans to be announced at a later time. A homebred, Talismanic was a winner at two and a dual listed winner at three in addition to finishing fourth behind Almanzor (Fr) (Wootton Bassett {GB}) in the G1 Prix du Jockey Club. He hit his best stride at four, winning the Listed Prix Lord Seymour and the G2 Prix Maurice de Nieuil, and finishing third in the G2 Prix Foy, before his career-best win at the Breeders’ Cup at Del Mar. He proved that was no fluke when a gallant second to Highland Reel (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) in the G1 Hong Kong Vase next out, and he added this year’s G3 Prix Gontaut-Biron Hong Kong Jockey Club. He retires having earned over £2.5-million. Trainer Andre Fabre said, “Talismanic was a wonderful horse to train–he showed a great attitude at home and at the races, he was extremely sound, and he performed at a high level at three, four and five. His win in the Breeders’ Cup Turf epitomised what we are looking for in the modern racehorse– soundness of body, soundness of mind and an adaptability to different tracks and conditions at the highest level.” View the full article