Wandering Eyes

Over the past several years, Mill Ridge has been known as primarily a high-end nursery, raising foals for a long-standing and devoted clientele. But in 2019, they will return to the business of standing stallions, having brought home the four-time Grade I stakes winner and ‘TDN Rising Star’ Oscar Performance (Kitten’s Joy), who was raised at the farm. Mill Ridge has announced a fee of $20,000 for their new stallion, and we caught up with Headley Bell during the Keeneland November sales to see how the big bay was settling in. TDN: He was very much the top of his generation and his division on the racetrack. What appealed to you about his prospects as a stallion? HB: his body of work is that he won the Breeders’ Cup at two, then at three, he won the only two Grade Is that were on offer, the Belmont Derby and the Secretariat at Arlington Park. And then this year, he broke Elusive Quality’s 20-year track record for the mile in the Poker and came back and won the GI Woodbine Mile. He’s out of a Theatrical (Ire) mare. A wonderful mare called Devine Actress. She’s a beauty and for me, he represents a blend of of her sire, Theatrical, a son of Nureyev, and the blend of Kitten’s Joy. As you can see, he just has elegance about him. So, when we speak of the attributes of Oscar, that’s what I think is as appealing as his race record. The inbreeding to the stallions that he has is really significant. So, for me, we have the entire package of a horse who could perform for three years at the top level, and a very handsome horse at an affordable price. TDN: And at what point during his career did you think that it might be possible for him to come back here and stand at stud. How did that come about? HB: He was raised here. The Amermans have been wonderful friends and supporters of Mill Ridge for some time, and particularly of mom. They’re really very fond of mom. When he won the Breeders’ Cup and was a ‘TDN Rising Star’ in his second start, and he demonstrated he was a true racehorse, we naturally supported them. Thankfully, we have a quite a record for having good horses here, i.e. Gone West and Diesis. So they’ve been supportive of all of it, they really allowed us to navigate the whole situation with their assistance. We offered 15 shares in July and they sold in 10 days. We’re going to offer another 10 shares now that he’s retired from racing. But, they’ve been supportive and that’s truly a gift, because in today’s world it’s so competitive. {"id":3,"instanceName":"Articles No Playlist","videos":[{"videoType":"HTML5","title":"Headley Bell on Oscar Performance","description":"","info":"","thumbImg":"","mp4":"https://player.vimeo.com/external/301048719.sd.mp4?s=de96aa0de2e5bac25126d2ae33011913c17f9491&profile_id=165","enable_mp4_download":"no","prerollAD":"yes","prerollGotoLink":"prerollGotoLink","preroll_mp4_title":"preroll_mp4_title","preroll_mp4":"https://player.vimeo.com/external/279914219.sd.mp4?s=8d2dfefc9b804ab07dc00dbbe6ed6f4837cb6d1e&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\/"} TDN: You mentioned you’ve been discerning with the stallions you’ve had, like Diesis and Gone West. Do you think that influences breeders to put that trust in you? HB: I hope so. We are specific in really everything that we do, to the best of our abilities. We want to have a stallion here who’s going to contribute to the breed. Gone West contributed to the breed, and Diesis is contributing to the breed, and we sincerely think this horse will contribute to the breed. He has every opportunity to make a difference. TDN: How many mares would you expect him to cover next year? HB: We’re going to limit him. Our syndicate has been really appealing. We have taken the best of everybody. We’re going to limit him to 140ish mares throughout time. We’re not going to do Southern Hemisphere–nothing against it, but we’re not going to do that. On the syndicate we have, the shares have a bonus for the first four years that they use their season. So it’s very appealing, everything about it is appealing, and it’s an affordable kind of a price. So we think the entire package is appealing. Of course, we would. We’re offering it. TDN: Are you able to talk about some of the breeders who are in the syndicate? HB: We offered the horse in July and had a great response. The people that we have are leading breeders such as George Strawbridge, Craig Bernick, Tolie Otto-Jamm Ltd, Lynn Schiff, Mill Ridge, Dixiana, Everett Dobson, Rich Santulli, LNJ, Lauren & Rene Woolcott, Tanya & John Gunther, Barry Goldstein, Mike Ryan, Orpendale, Spider Duignan, Larry Goichman and David Block-Team Block. It’s a great group of people who are participating. TDN: What’s it like to be in the stallion business again? For a long time you were a just a premier boarding facility. HB: It’s so exciting and it invigorates you. This is all we do, we don’t have outside revenue or outside businesses. This is our business, so we have to make a business of it. So we have to be discerning, again, on everything that we do. We feel that this is a horse who really will make a difference, so we’re very excited for that. It’s really great. View the full article

Joao Moreira shocked the racing world when he announced last summer that he would not be seeking renewal of his licence with the Hong Kong Jockey Club and would instead initiate the process of becoming a full-time jockey in Japan. While he was wildly successful during a series of short-term contracts, he failed the first part of the jockeys’ exam and a rumour spread quickly that he would become the retained rider to the powerhouse John Size yard. With that partnership officially green-lighted earlier in the week, it bore its first fruit Sunday afternoon when Hot King Prawn (Aus) (Denman {Aus}) held off a late surge by former stablemate Mr Stunning (Aus) (Exceed and Excel {Aus}) to land the G2 BOCHK Wealth Management Jockey Club Sprint at Sha Tin. In receipt of five pounds from Mr Stunning under the conditions of the race, Hot King Prawn was hustled along by Moreira to take up the running not long after the break, and when Zac Purton asked for a bit of speed from Ivictory (Aus) (Mossman {Aus}), that consigned Mr Stunning to a three-wide trip while punching the breeze. The pace was not at all taxing–the first 800m were clocked in :46.27–and Hot King Prawn kicked in the straight, pinched a bit of a break and just managed to hold off Mr Stunning, who kept on well despite covering the extra ground. The winner’s stable companion Beat the Clock (Aus) (Hinchinbrook {Aus}) turned in an excellent effort in third while first-up since a third to Ivictory in the G1 Chairman’s Sprint Prize last April. The latter finished tailed off for a second straight start, casting some doubt on his participation in the G1 Longines Hong Kong Sprint. “It’s such a pleasure to be back riding a horse like this for John,” said Moreira, who rode the final three winners on the program. “He was so fast out of the gate and when I asked him to go in the straight I was always confident that he could hold on.” New Tactics No Problem for Beauty Generation… In the BOCHK WM Jockey Club Mile, it was business as usual for the world’s top-rated miler Beauty Generation (NZ) (Road to Rock {Aus}), even if the race didn’t go entirely to script. Typically dictation from or near the head of affairs, the 6-year-old was eased back into third-last as the comebacking The Golden Age (Fr) (My Risk {Fr}) set a solid pace in advance of Thewizardofoz (Aus) (Redoute’s Choice {Aus}) and Pingwu Spark (NZ) (Mastecraftsman {Ire}). But in a move more likely to be seen in a 2200m race at Happy Valley, Zac Purton set Beauty Generation alight with five furlongs to travel and by the time they hit the halfway point, the duo was right alongside The Golden Age. Beauty Generation claimed that one with ease at the 400m and, despite drifting out past the center of the track, proved a very handy winner. Southern Legend (Aus) (Not a Single Doubt {Aus}) narrowly outfinished the evergreen Beauty Only (Ire) (Holy Roman Emperor {Ire}) for second. The final time smashed the previous track record held for the last 10 years by three-time G1 Hong Kong Mile winner Good Ba Ba (Lear Fan). Winning trainer John Moore was effusive in his praise for the reigning Horse of the Year, comparing him to another of Hong Kong’s best. “He was like Able Friend. He reminded me of Able Friend, making the big run and scooting clear from the turn,” said Moore. “He’s proved he’s a champion. He had to make two runs out there after it was like the charge of the Light Brigade early and people around the world now will stand up and take notice that there is a very good miler here in Hong Kong.” WATCH: Beauty Generation dominates in the Jockey Club Mile Eagle Way Capitalizes in Jockey Club Cup… The Moore barn was responsible for the day’s biggest surprise when Eagle Way (Aus) (More Than Ready) took advantage of another swiftly run affair and ran them all down to win the G2 BOCHK Jockey Club Cup over the metric mile and a quarter. The Archipenko full-brothers Time Warp (GB) and Glorious Forever (GB) took it to one another tooth and nail for the opening 600 metres, with the longer-winded Eagle Way logically well off them from the latter third of the field. Pakistan Star (Ger) (Shamardal) looked to travel sweetly and the race looked to be his for the taking as Karis Teetan peeled him to the outside of the weakening pacesetters off the home corner. That rally was short-lived, however, and Exultant (Ire) (Teofilo {Ire}) shot through to lead three off the rails at the 200m, but Eagle Way had all the answers and raced over the top of them to score. Eagle Way’s final time of 1:59.30 was also a new course record. The original plan was to march on to the G1 Longines Hong Kong Vase (2400m), but Moore admitted he’d need to have a rethink about Eagle Way’s December destination. “We haven’t decided whether we run in the Vase or the Cup,” Moore revealed. “We’ll put in a supplementary entry for the Cup before deadline tomorrow and I’ll talk it over with the owner, Mr. Siu, whether we run. I’m hearing that the Cup might be an option worth considering.” The immediate future for Pakistan Star is less clear. Teetan reported to stewards that his mount “refused to stretch out over the latter stages of the race” and with that in mind, should he press on to International day, he will be forced to trial to the satisfaction of the stewards and submit to a veterinary exam. Sunday, Sha Tin, Hong Kong BOCHK WEALTH MANAGEMENT JOCKEY CLUB MILE-G2, HK$4,250,000 (£425,840/€479,433/A$745,836/US$542,753), 3yo/up, 1600mT, 1:32.64 (NCR), gd. 1–BEAUTY GENERATION (NZ), 128, g, 6, by Road to Rock (Aus) 1st Dam: Stylish Bel (NZ), by Bel Esprit (Aus) 2nd Dam: Stylish Victory (Aus), by Durham Ranger 3rd Dam: Romantic Peace (Aus), by Mikado (Aus) (NZ$60,000 Ylg ’14 NZBSEL). O-Patrick Kwok Ho Chuen; B-Nearco Stud Ltd; T-John Moore; J-Zac Purton; HK$2,422,500. Lifetime Record: Horse of the Year & Ch. Miler & MG1SW-HK, G1SP-Aus, 25-12-3-4, HK$48,628,220. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree. Werk Nick Rating: A+++ *Triple Plus*. 2–Southern Legend (Aus), 124, g, 6, Not a Single Doubt (Aus)–Donna’s Appeal (Aus), by Carnegie (Ire). (A$280,000 Ylg ’14 INGEAS). O-Boniface Ho Ka Kui; B-Corumbene Stud (NSW); T-Caspar Fownes; J-Douglas Whyte; HK$935,000. 3–Beauty Only (Ire), 123, g, 7, Holy Roman Emperor (Ire)–Goldendale (Ire), by Ali-Royal (Ire). (€72,000 Ylg ’12 SGASEP). O-Eleanor Kwok Law Kwai Chun & Patrick Kwok Ho Chuen; B-Massimo Parri; T-Tony Cruz; J-Neil Callan; HK$488,750. Margins: 3, NO, 2 3/4. Odds: 1-2, 13-1, 9-1. Also Ran: Singapore Sling (SAf), Seasons Bloom (Aus), Pingwu Spark (NZ), Thewizardofoz (Aus), The Golden Age (Fr). Click for the HKJC.com chart, PPs and sectional timing. VIDEO. Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. Beauty Generation is one of two foals from his dam to make the races and is kin to a yearling filly by Tavistock (NZ). Stylish Bel was most recently covered by Tavistock’s G1 Rosehill Guineas and G1 VRC Derby winner Tarzino (NZ), who stands at Westbury Stud. Sunday, Sha Tin, Hong Kong BOCHK JOCKEY CLUB CUP-G2, HK$4,250,000 (£425,840/€479,433/A$745,836/US$542,753), 3yo/up, 2000mT, 1:59.30 (NCR), gd. 1–EAGLE WAY (AUS), 123, g, 6, by More Than Ready 1st Dam: Wedgetail Eagle (Aus), by Lure 2nd Dam: La Favorita, by Seattle Dancer 3rd Dam: Golden Rhyme (Ire), by Dom Racine (Fr) (A$200,000 Ylg ’14 INGEAS). O-Siu Pak Kwan; B-Segenhoe Thoroughbreds Australia Pty Ltd (NSW); T-John Moore; J-Silvestre de Sousa; HK$2,422,500. Lifetime Record: G1SW-Aus, 34-8-4-5, HK$18,323,410. *1/2 to Soaressa (Aus) (Twining), SW-Aus, A$204,480; Impressive Eagle (Aus) (Rubiton {Aus}), MSW & G1SP-Aus, A$305,675; and Assertive Eagle (Aus) (Danewin {Aus}), SW & MGSP-Aus, A$271,750. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree. Werk Nick Rating: A+++ *Triple Plus*. 2–Exultant (Ire), 123, g, 4, Teofilo (Ire)–Contrary (Ire), by Mark of Esteem (Ire). O-Eddie Wong Ming Chak & Wong Leung Sau Hing; B-; T-Tony Cruz; J-Vincent Ho; HK$935,000. 3–Werther (NZ), 123, g, 7, Tavistock (NZ)–Bagalollies (Aus), by Zabeel (NZ). O-Johnson Chen; B-C D Allison, C V & J A Barnao, A R Campbell, T G Heptinstall, T M Pivac & D R Platt; T-John Moore; J-Douglas Whyte; HK$488,750. Margins: 1, 2 1/4, 1 1/4. Odds: 12-1, 16-5, 53-10. Also Ran: Gold Mount (GB), Horse of Fortune (SAf), Glorious Forever (GB), Ruthven (Aus), Pakistan Star (Ger), Time Warp (GB). Click for the HKJC.com chart, PPs and sectional timing. VIDEO. Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. Eagle Way is one of nine winners from 11 to race from his dam, a daughter of the imported La Favorita, whose full-brother Seattle Rhyme won the 1991 G1 Racing Post Trophy in England and was third to Rodrigo de Triano in the 1992 G1 Juddmonte International S. Wedgetail Eagle is the dam of a Choisir (Aus) half-brother to Eagle Way that fetched A$130,000 at this year’s Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale and she foaled a full-sister to Eagle Way in 2017. She missed to More Than Ready for 2018 and was most recently bred to Pride of Dubai (Aus). Sunday, Sha Tin, Hong Kong BOCHK WEALTH MANAGEMENT JOCKEY CLUB SPRINT-G2, HK$4,250,000 (£425,840/€479,433/A$745,836/US$542,753), 3yo/up, 1200mT, 1:08.59, gd. 1–HOT KING PRAWN (AUS), 123, g, 4, by Denman (Aus) 1st Dam: De Chorus (Aus), by Unbridled’s Song 2nd Dam: Val de Grace (Aus), by Centaine (Aus) 3rd Dam: Renasans (NZ), by Ashabit (GB) (A$90,000 Ylg ’16 INGFEB). O-Lau Sak Hong; B-Torryburn Stud (NSW); T-John Size; J-Joao Moreira; HK$2,422,500. Lifetime Record: 10-9-1-0, HJ$12,805,300. *1/2 to Siren’s Fury (Aus) (Myboycharlie {Ire}), GSW-Aus, A$383,775. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree. Werk Nick Rating: C. 2–Mr Stunning (Aus), 128, g, 5, Exceed and Excel (Aus)–With Fervour, by Dayjur. (A$110,000 Wlg ’14 INGGSW; NZ$250,000 Ylg ’15 NZBPRE). O-Maurice Koo Win Chong; B-Makybe Racing & Breeding (Vic); T-Frankie Lor; J-Karis Teetan; HK$935,000. 3–Beat The Clock (Aus), 123, g, 5, Hinchinbrook (Aus)–Flion Fenena (Aus), by Lion Hunter (Aus). (A$70,000 Ylg ’15 INGMAR; NZ$200,000 2yo ’15 NZBRTR). O-Merrick Chung Wai Lik; B-Miss J Henderson (NSW); T-John Size; J-Silvestre de Sousa; HK$488,750. Margins: HF, 1 1/4, NK. Odds: 7-5, 19-5, 27-5. Also Ran: Winner’s Way (Aus), Fifty Fifty (NZ), Born In China (GB), Ivictory (Aus), Premiere (NZ), D B Pin (NZ). Click for the HKJC.com chart, PPs and sectional timing. VIDEO. Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. For more information on Hot King Prawn–whose Capitalist (Aus) half-brother was foaled Nov. 3–as well as his family and his breeder, read “Torryburn-breds on a tear in Hong Kong” from the TDNAusNZ edition of Oct. 17, 2018. View the full article

The famously fickle fans who huddle around the Sha Tin parade win gave Joao Moreira a spontaneous cheer before his first ride back in Hong Kong – but that appreciation turned to condemnation just a handful of races later. Welcome back, Joao. The ever-gracious Brazilian acknowledged the support, bowing and giving the thumbs up – and when the crowd turned he kept his eyes fixed forward to block out the noise and focus on the task at hand. In those moments, Japan – where he has... View the full article

The Longines Hong Kong International Races is just three weeks away and one rival trainer made the trip to Sha Tin to scout out his opposition ahead of the marquee event. British horseman William Haggas spent a large part of Sunday in the mounting yard taking it all in and confirmed his filly One Master would compete in the Hong Kong Mile. The four-year-old filly tasted Group One success in the Prix de la Foret at Longchamp last month before finishing fifth the Breeders’ Cup Mile, a... View the full article

Trainer Tony Cruz has lamented the “crazy” speed used to attack Time Warp on Sunday saying his horse never stood a chance against the onslaught from younger brother Glorious Forever. Cruz was livid post-race after both Pakistan Star and Time Warp tailed off to finish a combined 40 lengths behind the winner, while his other runner Exultant benefited from the stoush to run second by a length in the Group Two BOCHK Jockey Club Cup (2,000m). John Moore’s Eagle Way took full... View the full article

Joao Moreira returned to Sha Tin with a bang on Sunday and quickly quashed speculation he wants to go back to Japan next year after completing his six-month contract as John Size’s stable jockey. The Magic Man landed a treble on his first day riding in Hong Kong since July – including the Group Two BOCHK Wealth Management Jockey Club Sprint (1,200m) aboard Size’s Hot King Prawn – and said he will stay here beyond the expiry of his contract in June. “I have a... View the full article

Hong Kong’s champion horse Beauty Generation had veteran trainer John Moore reminiscing about his legendary galloper Able Friend after he smashed a long-standing track record at Sha Tin on Sunday. It did not go to script for champion jockey Zac Purton in the Group Two BOCHK Wealth Management Jockey Club Mile (1,600m), but cool heads prevailed in the end with the Australian happy to go back on his mount early in the race, allowing the tearaway leaders to set a hot early tempo. Purton then... View the full article

Jumping from a maiden race to a graded stakes is difficult enough, but Michael Lund Petersen's Mucho Gusto didn't get any breaks in the $100,000 Bob Hope Stakes (G3), either. View the full article

Mucho Gusto (c, 2, Mucho Macho Man-Itsagiantcauseway, by Giant’s Causeway), named a ‘TDN Rising Star’ on debut at Los Al Sept. 20, stayed perfect, but had to work for it in Saturday’s GIII Bob Hope S. at Del Mar. The 4-5 favorite was bumped at the start and held a narrow advantage through an opening quarter in :22.36. They were stacked three across the track at the top of the stretch and Mucho Gusto looked to have his work cut out for him, but he battled on gamely after a few cracks of the whip to secure a 1 1/2-length decision. Mucho Gusto becomes the first stakes winner for his freshman sire (by Macho Uno). Savagery (Bellamy Road) was second; Sparky Ville (Candy Ride {Arg}) was third. The final time was 1:23.51. Sales history: $14,000 yrl ’17 KEEJAN; $95,000 yrl ’17 KEESEP; $55,000 RNA 2yo ’18 OBSMAR; $625,000 2yo ’18 FTIMAY. Lifetime Record: 2-2-0-0. O-MIchael L. Petersen; B-Teneri Farm Inc & Bernardo Alvarez Calderon (Ky); T-Bob Baffert. View the full article

Freedman calls Affleck's win one of his greatest thrills View the full article

Aslam shows his tough side on Ironside View the full article

Turf does the trick on I'm Incredible View the full article

Silver Joy gives Marsh 400th win View the full article

Track conditions and course scratchings November 18 View the full article

Horses' body weights November 18 View the full article

No early scratchings November 18 View the full article

Zaki, Shafrizal suspended View the full article

After tracking stablemate Big Changes through leisurely early fractions, Flurry Racing Stables' Mr. Misunderstood fought past his friendly rival and edged clear late to take the River City Handicap (G3T) by half a length. View the full article

In an off-the-turf running of the $200,000 Red Smith Stakes Nov. 17 at Aqueduct Racetrack, Angels of Catalina's Argentina-bred Village King scored his first stakes win on North American soil. View the full article

Texas native and veteran horseman John T.L. Jones Jr. died Nov. 16 surrounded by family at his home in Quanah, Texas. He was 84. View the full article

Mentor: 1. a wise and trusted counselor to teacher 2. an influential senior sponsor or supporter From Greek, Mentos , a character in the Odyssey, who was a loyal friend and advisor to Odysseus entrusted with the care and education of Telemachus (his son). I met my mentor, John T.L. Jones, Jr., in the late 70s. I was at the beginning of my bloodstock career having just left training at the racetrack. R. D. Hubbard told me, “When you go to Lexington, you need to look up Johnny Jones,” who he knew from his Quarter Horse life. Johnny had cut his teeth in the Quarter Horse world, and I met him soon after he migrated to Lexington to take a swing at the big time in Thoroughbreds. Our first meeting took place soon after at Walmac Farm, and the magic of that moment changed my life. There was no way to see it coming, for we could not have appeared to be more different. He was from small town in West Texas; I was from a big city back East. He had cowboy in his veins and had been around horses his whole life; I had watched a western or two, and had been around horses for a few years. He was a devout Christian; I was Jewish. He wore boots; I wore sneakers. But I guess sometimes magic is just magic. Johnny was only 16 years my senior, but It felt like he knew everything I wanted to learn, and he was happy to teach. So over the next two decades he gave me the education of a lifetime, teaching me about life, business, customers, horsemanship, the hard work of dealing with details, and most of all, the stallion business. I thought of him as the Eric Hoffer of the Thoroughbred industry. He invited me into his life, his world, his family, his friends, his thoughts, his dreams, and his fun. With Johnny, there was no shortage of that. But of course the most fun was just being around him. I really fell in love with the stallion business and I’m proud that many of the advances in stallion shareholder rights of today came from him. I came to own parts of a ranch in Texas, (his introduction to Cheryl Asmussen and Blue Bell Ice Cream were the best parts of that adventure), and too many horse deals to even mention. There was also an advertising agency specializing in stallion promotion, with that experience being instrumental in the development of the business of the TDN. I’m always connecting the JTLJ dots. The people who became my friends, business partners, and associates and are important in my life today 40 years later are by and large because of Johnny. His personality was legendary; his respect, unparalleled. His friendships were deep, vast, and plentiful, and they were all made available to me. If you were a friend of Big Johnny, doors opened. Could there have been a successful Matchmaker Sale without John, Vincent, Robert, Roland, Alec, Stavros, and Mike, (they don’t even need last names), all in attendance the first year? They were there because of JTLJ. I shared a breakfast with D. Wayne Lukas at the Breeders’ Cup this year and reminisced about Johnny and I giving him some yearlings to train for a partnership we started right when Wayne made the switch to Thoroughbreds. Wayne (also a Johnny Quarter Horse connection) would prove instrumental in the promotion of the ACRS years later. More JTLJ dots. The connections were worldwide and as far from West Texas as can be imagined. At a dinner at Windsor Castle, I had the pleasure of chatting to The Queen about her visit to Walmac and her admiration for Johnny and for Nureyev. Where would I be, or my children, without his life lessons? There were so many of them, oftentimes when I might not have been the most teachable or wanting to learn, but that didn’t deter Johnny. To this day, I say to my children, “Don’t blame me. Blame Johnny.” Invaluable is all I can say. I’m not sure his oft-repeated “don’t ever give your opinion unless you’re being paid” ever stuck, but it wasn’t for his lack of trying. The Who’s Who of the worldwide horse world just wanted to be in his company. You never knew who might show up for a visit or attend one of the amazing dinner gatherings at his home with Janice, so very special in her own right. I know there are so many others who also count him as their bloodstock mentors and the significant contributions they have made to our industry speaks for themselves. Donato, and John Moynihan, just to name a few. Maybe we should call D. Wayne the Johnny Jones-like mentor of trainers? The kindness I experienced from JTLJ was shared by him to hundreds of others. That’s the kind of man he was. Every day of my life I think upon waking I hope I can just “stay in the buggy.” Thanks, Johnny. You are so appreciated and I will be truly thankful forever. View the full article

After grass racing was suspended this weekend due to jockeys’ concerns about the safety of the course, the management of Woodbine Entertainment made the decision to hold all remaining races on the main Tapeta surface. The 14-day forecast for the Toronto area does not indicate an improvement in the weather conditions, which include unseasonably cold temperatures and snow, leading Woodbine’s executive team to make the call. Live Thoroughbred racing is scheduled to continue through Sunday, December 16. View the full article

US-bred Mozu Ascot (Frankel {GB}) is aiming for his second top-level triumph in Sunday’s G1 Mile Championship S. at Kyoto. Receiving the services of Christophe Lemaire, the chestnut has not finished worse than second in his past five starts, with runner-up performances in the G3 Hankyu Hai at Hanshin in February, the G2 Yomiuri Milers Cup at Kyoto in April and in the Listed Azuchijo S. sprinting 1400 metres at Kyoto on May 27. Successful in the G1 Yasuda Kinen S. over the reopposing 2017 G1 Mile Cup victress Aerolithe (Jpn) (Kurofune) in June, the 7-2 crowd’s pick found only Lord Quest (Jpn) (Matsurida Gogh {Jpn}) too good in the G2 Mainichi Broadcast Swan S. at Kyoto on Oct. 27. Said trainer Yoshito Yahagi, “I think his loss last time was because it was his first race in a while and he had to carry quite a bit of weight. His condition has really improved since, so hopefully this will show in his run this time.” The mantle of second favourite goes to 5-1 chance Aerolithe, who rebounded from her Yasuda Kinen defeat with a win in the G2 Mainichi Okan over Sunday’s 9-1 shot Stelvio (Jpn) (Lord Kanaloa {Jpn}). “Looking at her on a daily basis, I’ve been able to see her get bigger and progress in a good way,” said trainer Takanori Kikuzawa. “Her footwork has been terrific in training, and she doesn’t need any particular training pattern, nor do I worry about her times. If she jumps well in the race, she’ll be handy, but I don’t think this has to be her only way of racing. A smooth run is the most important.” Persian Knight (Jpn) (Harbinger {GB}) won the 2017 edition of the Mile Championship, and although winless since, has run second in the G1 Osaka Hai on April Fools’ Day as his best finish in four 2018 starts. He was a most recently fifth in Logi Cry (Jpn) (Heart’s Cry {Jpn})’s G3 Fuji S. at Tokyo on Oct. 20. A trio of Group 1 winners are also returning in search of further top-shelf glory-2017 G1 Japanese 2000 Guineas hero Al Ain (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}), who wan fifth last out in the G1 Tenno Sho (Autumn) going 2000 metres on Oct. 28; May’s G1 Victoria Mile heroine Jour Polaire (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}), a fourth-place finisher in the G2 Ireland Trophy Fuchu Himba S. at Tokyo on Oct. 13; and 2018 G1 NKH Mile Cup victor Keiai Nautique (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}). The latter was fifth in the Oct. 7 G2 Mainichi Oakan. View the full article

Godolphin homebred Coliseum (c, 2, Tapit-Game Face, by Menifee) couldn’t have been more impressive on debut at Del Mar Saturday, becoming a no-brainer ‘TDN Rising Star’ for Hall of Famer Bob Baffert. Breaking well from his inside draw, the gray quickly established command through a :22.88 opening quarter. The 1-2 favorite began to let it out a notch entering the far turn, kicked for home in complete command and was never asked for run while striding away to a jaw-dropping win. It was 6 3/4 lengths back to stablemate Figure Eight (Power Broker) in second. The final time for seven furlongs was 1:23.13. The off-shore bookmaker Bovada had Coliseum listed at 20-1 in its latest winterbook wagering for the Kentucky Derby prior to his debut win as reported in Bill Finley’s Week in Review column earlier this week. Lifetime Record: 1-1-0-0. O/B-Godolphin; T-Bob Baffert. View the full article

It’s been more than 10 years since I’ve been inside the main office at Walmac, but when I close my eyes and think about it, I can place myself in John T.L. “Big Johnny” Jones Jr.’s office as vividly as if I were standing there right now. His door at the end of the hallway was nearly always open, as was Johnny. You’d smell the cigar before you saw him (but you already knew he was in the office because you could hear him clear across the other end of the building calling out for one of us to go in and see him). His desk was off to the side, so you’d have to poke your head around the end of the corridor before he saw you were there, unless he was expecting you because you’d received one of his “Gotta minute?” phone calls when the shouting didn’t work. The first thing that came into view straight ahead were a pair of Christine Picavet paintings of two of the champions and leading sires Johnny had syndicated and stood at Walmac, Nureyev on the left and Alleged on the right, hanging above his fireplace which, even if it wasn’t lit, seemed to fill the room with warmth. Or maybe it was Johnny who exuded the warmth. He’d be seated, dangerously but unconcernedly leaning too far back in his chair with his cowboy boots nonchalantly kicked up on the oversized desk, beckoning you inside loudly, with a notably Texan drawl. The walls were a mix of wood paneling and dark green and the overhead light, if there even was one, was never on, so despite the many windows, it was somewhat dark. Some of the Western saddles, spurs, and other related memorabilia Johnny collected were scattered around the office, though most of these were kept in his house, upstairs in the wondrous “cowboy room.” There was a gold Eclipse award on the shelf behind where he sat, from when Favorite Trick (sired by Walmac’s Phone Trick and in whom the farm had purchased stud rights in August of his juvenile season) became the first 2-year-old Horse of the Year since Secretariat. Somewhere was a photograph of Bailjumper, one of his prized, long-dead Longhorn bulls. There was too much to take in at any one time, but I always noted two items sharing the narrow wall space between Johnny’s main door and the door to his longtime administrative assistant Connie Martin’s adjoining office. One of them was a handwritten letter from John Gaines thanking Johnny for his not inconsequential role in making the Breeders’ Cup a reality–Johnny had used his charisma to convince his fellow industry leaders to get together and hammer out their differences–and the other was a homemade-looking embroidered square of fabric in a frame. “STAY IN THE BUGGY,” it read, with a buggy stitched into the design. Although he had many sayings, “Stay in the buggy” was Johnny’s go-to phrase, and it defined his attitude to life. He never gave up on himself or other people. Instead, he tried to always find a good side to every situation and every person, which made him a softie, too. Much to the frustration of his accountants, many of his decisions were not made with business in mind, but because someone down on his or her luck had walked into his office and fidgeted in one of the chairs facing his desk, explaining why they couldn’t pay a stud fee they owed or why they needed to breed their mare to a Walmac stallion well beyond their means. He usually wanted to help them, even if there was little chance they would be able to come through on their end of the bargain. They invariably drove their broken-down cars or pickups out of the front gate of Walmac with a foal share or discounted stud fee and payment plan, full of hope. That soft spot of his is also how Johnny gave a start to so many young, green people in the industry in whom he saw something. I was one of them, a kid from Puerto Rico who knew precious little about horses yet wrote a letter asking for a summer job at Walmac. I even offered to pay him for the work experience if he’d take me on. (And though I couldn’t believe it, he paid me.) Others–and I’m sure there are many names I’m missing–who came up under Johnny include Four Star Sales’s Kerry Cauthen, British-based trainer David Lanigan, and bloodstock agents David Ingordo and Donato Lanni. If you asked Johnny what the “T.L.” of John T.L. Jones Jr. stood for, he was likely to answer “Tender Lovin'” or “Tough Luck.” And it was a guarantee that anyone who called the switchboard at Walmac asking for “John” and claiming to be a pal of his had never met him, because nobody who knew him even a little used that more formal name. His cowboy hat and boots weren’t for show; that was him through and through. There was nothing about him that wasn’t genuine. He was always just…Johnny, and whoever you were, he had a way of treating you simply and familiarly, without fancy words or putting on airs. Take his two-sentence speech at the graveside funeral service we held for the distinguished racehorse and sire Alleged, a colt who’d won two Prix de l’Arc de Triomphes and who was widely recognized as one of the all-time greats. Johnny’s words were plain and true: “We’ll kind of miss the old booger.” The handful of us in attendance nodded before he added, “He sure was mean.” Now everyone laughed, because we knew he was right in both respects. Johnny wasn’t the type to sugarcoat anything, not even for a eulogy, but his delivery always came with that Jones charm. At the Keeneland and Fasig-Tipton sales, he would (rather unconventionally) take a seat in a director’s chair to inspect the horses in his Walmac, and later Four Star, consignments, directing the showperson to turn the horse this way or that so he could see all the angles he wanted to see without having to get up, and he spoke to his friends John Magnier of Coolmore and Alec Head of Haras du Quesnay as easily as he did to those guys who’d bred a cheap mare on a foal share to Texas City because they couldn’t afford the thousand-dollar stud fee. And that was the good that was Johnny T.L. Jones. There was no situation that Johnny couldn’t fit into–or get out of, as required. He’d be the last person to say that he led his life perfectly, but he was a lovable rogue, and he could do anything from talk his way out of a speeding ticket to syndicate a $40-million stallion without missing a beat. In a 2006 Q&A I did with Johnny for Trainer magazine, he said: “In a nutshell, I’ve been lucky. But I was paying attention.” And those of us who knew him were lucky that we around to pay attention to him. We’ll take the advice he dispensed so freely and “stay in the buggy” as best we can. View the full article