Wandering Eyes

It used to be that your options around this time of year were limited when you went to sell a broodmare at auction. There was Fasig-Tipton November, Keeneland November and Keeneland January, all industry staples that had been around for decades before anyone had ever heard of the internet or digital horse sales. “I never would have believed it and I hadn't been a proponent of digital sales because I'm old school and I like to go and see and look and poke and prod,” said Hume Wornall, who operates Beech Spring Farm. “But these sales seem to work. People are getting more and more comfortable with these sales.” So when Wornall decided to sell his 11-year-old mare Believe in Bertie (Langfuhr), he picked Fasig-Tipton's December Digital Sale. With 670 horses catalogued, it will be the biggest digital sale ever worldwide. Bidding has begun and will end on Dec. 10th for hips 1-305 and on Dec. 11 for hips 306-670. This sale was a perfect fit for Wornall. The timing was right. On Oct. 26, Believe in Bertie's 3-year-old son Brilliant Berti (Noble Mission {GB}) won the GIII Bryan Station S., driving up his dam's value. Keeneland January wasn't going to work because that sale comes too close to Believe in Bertie's foaling date. She is foal to Goldencents. “Things have changed, the whole game has changed,” Wornall said. “There was a time when I would have bet against this digital deal. Now, it looks like it's going to be the thing to do. I don't expect to make hundreds of thousands of dollars, but I would like a nice return. I am presenting a nice product. Goldencents may not be a big seller but he will give you a horse that shows up on race day and is competitive. With Mystik Dan (who is also by Goldencents) having won the Derby this was the time to try it. All the stars have aligned and I decided I'd take a shot. I wanted to strike while the iron was hot.” Racing might have been slow to give digital sales a chance, but now they have become biggest area of growth within the sales industry. “We've already seen it between this year and last year, just the volume of horses we've sold online, said Fasig-Tipton Director of Digital Sales Leif Aaron. “It's like any other industry, homes, cars, things that in the early 90s you never thought you'd buy on line that you do now. “It's only natural that the horse business got in line. It is even more conducive to breeding stock sales because there is no stress put on the horses. Any time you do something in the horse business that is better for the buyers, better for the horses, better for the sellers, it's going to work.” Aaron believes the numbers will only continue to grow as more and more breeders and consignors realize there is very little downside to selling a horse online, particularly broodmares. Fasig-Tipton will offer 10 digital sales in 2025. “In the October digital sale we had 850 registered bidders,” Aaron said. “That's enough registered bidders to fill the entire pavilion along with people in the back. It would be a similar atmosphere to our November sale, which is wild.” Aaron said that traditional and well-known consignors are starting to sell at digital sales, which is something that can only help. “If you are comparing this to a bricks-and-mortar sale, we have book 1 through book 5 all the way through,” Aaron said. “It's a very similar cast of sellers. This year is the first year that we have had a really strong turnout by the traditional consignor. They are really starting to adapt to these sales. I think the sellers are better represented with the traditional consignors since they know the ins and outs of horse sales. Traditional consignors do a great job selling those horses.” This is not a sale where you will find horses going for seven-figures or ones whose pedigrees jump off the page. Those are the types of horses sold at Fasig-Tipton November. But with 650 horses in this sale, there's probably something for everyone. As of noon ET the high bid on Believe in Bertie was $22,000. The sale topper may be Allez Marie (Unbridled's Song). Though Kentucky-bred, she raced in Brazil where she finished second in a Group 2 race. Back home, she's had eight foals, six winners and two black-type winners. By Friday afternoon, the bidding on her had reached $200,000. She is in foal to Elite Power (Curlin). “Our November sale is always going to be a very important sale,” Aaron said. “It's the best horses in the world. It's an event. It's the Breeders' Cup afterparty. What you're going to see more and more of over the next 10 years will be horses that wouldn't fit in our November catalogue. I think you'll see a lot more of those being sold online. It's already proved to be wildly popular amongst buyers and sellers.” The post Why ‘Old School’ Breeder Will Be Selling at Fasig-Tipton Digital December Sale appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

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Longtime Maryland horseman Rodney Jenkins, who successfully transitioned from a Hall of Fame show career to a Thoroughbred trainer of such horses as millionaire Cordmaker, died the evening of Dec. 5 at the age of 80. View the full article

Richard Papiese, who, along with his wife Karen, owned horses as Midwest Thoroughbreds, the leading owner in North America annually by victories from 2010-15, died Dec. 4. He was 65.View the full article

Wagering on U.S. races was higher, and both available and paid purses saw increases when compared to a year ago in November, while the number of race days and races themselves saw an uptick during the month, according to information released by Equibase on Friday. Total wagering of $921,122,693 on races during the month represented a 1.18% increase over the same period from 2023, while available purses of almost $128 million were up by 3.93%. The figure of over $121 million for paid purses in November was up 3.94%. As for the total number of race days, they went from 263 to 275 (+4.56%) and the number of U.S. races was up from 2,268 in November 2023 to last month's tally of 2,316 (+2.12%). Average field size in November was slightly lower from over a year ago when it was 7.80, and checked in at an average of 7.77 runners, a decrease of .41%. Average daily wagering decreased by 3.23% to $3,349,537 and the average available purse number per race day was down .60% to $465,423 from the figure of $468,234 in 2023. When it comes to the year-to-date figures, through November of 2023 wagering on U.S. races came in at $10.858 billion, while this year the amount is $10.583 billion (-2.54%). Those numbers include worldwide commingled wagering on U.S. races. The post November Economic Indicators, Wagering And Purses Rise appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Ten Sovereigns (Ire) will stand at Turkey's Celikoglu Stud beginning in 2025. The 8-year-old son of No Nay Never was purchased by bloodstock agent Cem Ozbelge on behalf of Turkish owner/breeder Ali Celikoglu. Ozbelge also purchased Broome (Ire) last year. A winner of the G1 Middle Park Stakes at two and the G1 July Cup at three, Ten Sovereigns has sired 81 winners from 177 runners with six stakes winners. The GII Pilgrim Stakes and GIII With Anticipation Stakes hero Zulu Kingdom (Ire) and G3 Cornwallis Stakes hero Inquisitively (GB) (Fast Responder in Hong Kong) are his best runners to date. The stallion is currently in quarantine and will travel to Turkey in mid-December. He covered 72 mares at a fee of €17,500 in 2024. A fee for Ten Sovereigns will be announced later. The post Ten Sovereigns To Stand In Turkey Next Year appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

The traditional $2 Pick Six and a diverse set of wagers highlight the betting menu on offer for Santa Anita's 90th year, which begins with the Classic Meet on Thursday, Dec. 26, 1/ST Racing & Gaming said in a press release on Friday. Santa Anita made several changes to its wagering menu including raising the minimum bet for the Pick Six and adding what they describe as low-takeout wagers prior to the most recent Santa Anita Autumn Meet. Each will remain in place for both the Classic Meet, which ends Apr. 6, and the Hollywood Meet which runs from Apr. 18 to June 15. If there are no tickets with the half dozen winners necessary for the $2 Pick Six, 70 percent of the pool will then carry over to the next race day with the remainder paid out in consolations. 'The Great RIP' will again offer a $5 minimum late Daily Double, $3 late Pick 3 and $3 All-Turf Pick 3, each of which sports a 15 percent takeout rate. The Late and Early Pick 5 ay 50 cents returns, while the $1 Coast-to-Coast Pick 5 is also back with a 15 percent takeout rate. The Coast-to-Coast Pick 5, which combines races from Santa Anita and Gulfstream Park, is offered every Saturday and Sunday through the end of the Hollywood Meet. Santa Anita also has a $1 Super High 5 on the final race each day. If there are no perfect tickets, 100 percent of the pool will carryover to the following day's Super High 5. The 10-cent superfecta will be offered on all races with a minimum of six runners, along with $1 exactas, and 50-cent Early and Late Pick 4's. The post Santa Anita Wagering Menu Out For Classic And Hollywood Meets appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

The G1 Derby win of City Of Troy (Justify) at Epsom in the spring was voted the World Pool Moment of the Year by the public. A total of 48% votes were received for the moment. The £4,000 prize goes to City Of Troy's groom, David Hickey, who has received–along with three friends–a VIP trip to Hong Kong in 2025. Hickey said, “Winning the £4,000 World Pool Moment of the Day was a huge reward, so to be named Moment of the Year is even more special and I'm now looking forward to a trip to Hong Kong. I think I'll head out there in March for the Derby, so it should be great fun.” Added Hickey of his charge's Blue Riband score, “A fantastic day that I'll never forget. He's the most genuine horse that you could ever have anything to do with. I'm mad about him and it's been a pleasure looking after him.” Said trainer Aidan O'Brien of Hickey, “David is a special fella, always has been. The line of horses he's looked after and led up is incredible; Yeats (Ire), Galileo (Ire), many more, and if course City Of Troy, who we think is the best we've ever had. “David is big, relaxed and has a great understanding of a horse. Things don't upset him, he's very calm and he's unique in the way that he can influence horses. Not only that, he's a leading trainer of greyhounds in our area. He gets up early and trains them before starting his work on the horses, so that tells you something about his work ethic.” In total, there were 24 World Pool Moment of the Day prizes awarded this year, with each winning groom receiving a cheque for £4,000, meaning World Pool has returned a total of £96,000 grooms and racing stables this season. Michael Fitzsimons, executive director, wagering products at the HKJC, said, “We're proud to have highlighted 24 outstanding equine performances this year, not only that but also the tireless work and achievement of grooms that are the unsung heroes of thoroughbred racing. “The Hong Kong Jockey Club takes pride in giving back to the community, so we're delighted to have contributed nearly £100,000 over the course of this year to grooms from South Africa, Great Britain, Ireland, Dubai and Australia in the form of our World Pool Moment of the Day initiative. “Choosing between the four finalists can't have been an easy task, but City Of Troy's Derby win is clearly one that resonated most with many people, and goes down as a very worthy Moment of the Year winner. We now look forward to welcoming David Hickey and friends to Hong Kong next year.” The post Derby Victory Of City Of Troy Named World Pool’s Moment Of The Year appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

The stars will come out as the curtain opens up on the Arqana December Breeding Stock Sale. The first session begins on Saturday at 10 a.m. with 254 mares, fillies and foals catalouged. Among those selling during the opening session, here are three fillies and mares to watch. 1. Sparkling Plenty (FR) (Kingman {GB} – Speralita (Fr), by Frankel {GB}). Selling as lot 200 with Haras de Bouquetot. A filly that needs no introduction, G1 Prix de Diane victress Sparkling Plenty was added to the December Sale as a wildcard entry two weeks ago. Bred and initially campaigned by Jean-Pierre Dubois, the daughter of Kingman was undefeated in both starts at two and this year she claimed the G2 Prix de Sandringham before earning her Classic victory. Sparkling Plenty is a full-sister to G3 Jersey Stakes winner Noble Truth (Fr) and her dam is a half-sister to multiple Group 1 victress Stacelita (Fr) (Monsun {Ger}). Now a successful broodmare in Japan, Stacelita is responsible for dual Grade I winner Soul Stirring (Jpn) (Frankel). The family also includes last year's G1 Prix du Moulin de Longchamp victress Sauterne (Fr) (Kingman). “It's very rare to sell a filly of this caliber,” said Haras de Bouquetot's Benoit Jeffroy. “I think it's the first time the Prix de Diane winner has been sold in training at the Arqana sale and with such a great pedigree. The family is fantastic. Stacelita won the Prix de Diane and now with this filly there are two winners in the family. Out of a Frankel mare, she's a blue blood.” The day after her Prix de Diane victory, Sparkling Plenty was offered at the Goffs London Sale and after being bought back for an eye-watering figure of £8,100,000, a private sale of £5,000,000 was arranged with Al Shaqab Racing taking a 50% ownership share. Since then, Sparkling Plenty placed in the G1 Nassau Stakes and the G1 Prix de l'Opera. When asked what result the Sparkling Plenty connections would consider a 'win' after the filly goes through the ring on Saturday, Jeffroy said, “I don't know. I think we will discuss that maybe later, but she is dissolving a partnership so we will see. She can go into training or she could be a great broodmare so right now the options are open. The people that have been visiting her are for different purposes. Some are to race, some are to breed. I don't know where she will end up but anybody that buys her will have a great asset.” Jeffroy noted that the decision to send Sparkling Plenty to the December Sale was based in part on the vendor's past success at the auction. “It was really a last-minute decision from Sheikh Joaann,” he said. “Last year at Arqana we sold Place du Carrousel (Ire) (Lope de Vega {Ire}). She was the top-priced filly in Europe (selling for €4,025,000), so we have always done well here. Spanish Eyes | Katie Petrunyak 2. Spanish Eyes (Ger) (Zarak {Fr} – Sortilege {Ire}, by Tiger Hill {Ire}). Selling as lot 180 with Ecurie des Monceaux. Spanish Eyes's credentials include an active pedigree and the potential to boost her resume on the racetrack next year at four. This year's G1 Preis der Diana runner-up is a daughter of Sortilege, a Group 1 winner for Gestut Karlshof who went on to also produce stakes winner Sirjan (Zarak) and the dam of Group 2 winner Straight (Zarak). The pedigree also features Group 1 winner Sosie (Ire) (Sea the Stars {Ire}), who claimed the 2024 G1 Grand Prix de Paris, and the promising 2-year-old Santagada (GB) (Soldier Hollow {GB}), a winner on debut this year. Ecurie des Monceaux's Henri Bozo spoke of the quality behind Spanish Eyes's pedigree. “It's all a credit to Holga Faust and his father (Gestut Karlshof founder Bruno Faust) because they have really made this family,” he said. “It's a family that not only is Classic type, but they can produce all different sort of horses. They're now in a few different hands including the Wertheimers, who have been successful with it, so I think it's a rare mare on offer.” After winning on debut going nine furlongs in June, Spanish Eyes made four more starts this year highlighted by her runner-up performance in the German Oaks. “She's a very good-looking filly and she's very tempting for racing and breeding,” Bozo explained. “She's lightly raced and when you see her, you can see there is plenty of race filly left. I can see her improving a good bit from three to four so I'd be very hopeful that she could be lucky for the buyer, either racing or for a long-term breeding plan.” Alianza | Katie Petrunyak 3. Alianza (GB) (Halling (U.S.)- Cercle d'Amour (U.S.), by Storm Cat(U.S.). Selling as lot 179 with Haras de Clairefontaine. The dam of this year's French 2,000 Guineas hero Metropolitan (Fr) (Zarak) will go through the ring on Saturday carrying a foal from the first crop of Erevann. Lincolnshire-based breeder Stuart McPhee (profiled here) landed on the Darley-bred Alianza, who was then a 3-year-old maiden mare, at the 2015 Tattersalls February Sale and purchased her for just 800gns. “I liked the fact that the damsire was Storm Cat,” recalled McPhee. “Godolphin had bought Alianza's dam Cercle d'Amour for over a million dollars. So I was getting her offspring for less than a thousand pounds? That felt like a good bit of business.” Flash forward to 2020 and McPhee sent Alianza to Zarak when the young sire was standing for just €12,000. The resulting foal was Metropolitan. Along with his Guineas score this year, he also placed in G1 St James's Palace Stakes and G1 Prix Jacques le Marois. In 2025, Metropolitan will launch his stud career at Haras d'Etreham. “It has just been like a dream,” McPhee said as he reminisced on the past year. “I still pinch myself some mornings and now of course he's a stallion so that will be a whole new exciting phase. McPhee currently has Alianza's yearling colt by Romanised and a filly by Goken, which he said he will retain. While McPhee admitted that selling Alianza will be bittersweet, he said that he is excited for the 12-year-old mare's future. “I have to sell her now for all sorts of reasons,” he explained. “Obviously, I'm hoping for some nice money from the sale, but I can't afford to insure her any more. I don't feel sad about it because someone else will be able to afford the stallions that she deserves now.” Of the future buyer McPhee noted, “They will be getting genes that have the capability to produce a Classic winner.” The post Three to Watch During Saturday’s Opening Session at Arqana appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

On Wednesday, Dec. 4 at the age of 65, the owner of Midwest Thoroughbreds, Richard J. Papiese, passed away after a battle with Multiple System Atrophy (MSA), according to the Elmwood Chapel & Crematory website. The co-owner of Midwest Custom Case, Inc., a store fixture manufacturing company in Monee, Illinois, Papiese started Midwest Thoroughbreds with his wife Karen in 2003. Over the next 18 years across numerous tracks, the stable earned almost $53 million. In 2012, Midwest established a new single-season record which still stands with 542 wins. Top horses included beloved Illinois-breds like The Pizza Man (English Channel), who brilliantly captured the 2015 GI Arlington Million, and Work All Week (City Zip), the 19-1 longshot winner of the GI Breeders' Cup Sprint at Santa Anita in 2014. Both were trained by the late Roger Brueggemann. The Elwood post says, “It is comforting to think of him in a place of peace, surrounded by joy, and reunited with others who have passed. We are sure Rich would want everyone to remember the magic and miracles he brought into everyone's life, even as you mourn.” MSA is a rare and progressive neurological disorder whose symptoms can be similar to Parkinson's disease. Papiese is survived by his wife, Karen (nee Garbarczyk), and his cousin and devoted care giver Justin Shimkus; children: Jeanine (Dan) Zajeski, Frank (Andrea) Opiola, and Alan (Jenn) Opiola; grandchildren: Tayler, Katelyn, Mason, Skylar, Gianna, Noelle, Julia, Josh, Eddie, and Emma; siblings: Cathy (Paul) Levy, Debbie (Bob) Cruz, Sue (Willie) Gutierrez, Lara (Shaun) Fricke, Bill Papiese, the late Paul Papiese, and Mona (Scott) Davis; in laws: Mary Ellen (Gary) Rassel and John (Jackie) Garbarczyk, as well as many nieces and nephews. Arrangements are as follows: Visitation, Thursday, Dec. 12 from 3:00-8:00 p.m. CT., Elmwood Funeral Chapel, 11300 W. 97th Ln., St. John, IN 46373. Funeral Services, Friday, Dec. 13, St. John the Evangelist Church, 10701 Olcott Ave., St. John, IN 46373 with a Mass of Christian Burial scheduled for 10:00 a.m. CT. In lieu of flowers, memorials can be made to Old Friends, New Vocations Racehorse Adoption Program, or your local police, fire and ambulance services. The post Midwest Thoroughbreds Owner Of The Pizza Man and Work All Week Passes Away appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Observations on the European Racing Scene turns the spotlight on the best European races of the day, highlighting well-bred horses early in their careers, horses of note returning to action and young runners that achieved notable results in the sales ring. Saturday's Observations features a relative of Carl Spackler (Ire) (Lope De Vega {Ire}). 17.30 Wolverhampton, Nov, £6,300, 2yo, 9f 104y (AWT) Jaber Abdullah's hitherto unraced ZABEEL RAIN (FR) (Masar {Ire}), a 55,000gns Tattersalls October Book 1 purchase, is a half-sister to four stakes performers headed by GI Jamaica Handicap-winning sire Western Aristocrat (Mr. Greeley) and GII Goldikova Stakes victrix Zindaya (More Than Ready). Zindaya, in turn, is the dam of this year's dual Grade I winner and 'TDN Rising Star' Carl Spackler (Ire) (Lope De Vega {Ire}) and G3 Prix des Reservoirs runner-up and 'TDN Rising Star' Sandtrap (Ire) (Lope De Vega {Ire}). The Charlie Johnston nominee, one of just two fillies in a 12-strong field, encounters Flaxman Stables Ireland's homebred once-raced winner Edge Ofthe Unknown (Quality Road), who is a George Boughey-conditioned grandson of multiple Group 1-winning dual European champion and 'TDN Rising Star' Divine Proportions (Kingmambo); and Ollie Sangster's Kentucky River (Ire) (Camelot {GB}), who is a half-brother to G1 Melbourne Cup and G1 Grosser Preis von Berlin-winning sire Protectionist (Ger) (Monsun {Ger}) coming back off a debut fifth over 10 furlongs at Chelmsford last month. The post Relative Of Carl Spackler In Line For Wolverhampton Debut appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

James McDonald was honored Dec. 6 for winning the Longines World's Best Jockey Award for the second time. View the full article

Remington Park will conclude its 2024 season with an exclamation mark Dec. 13 when it stages the $300,000 Remington Springboard Mile as the closing 12th race on the Friday evening program, the meet's final race.View the full article

One of the more remarkable characteristics of Hong Kong racing is that for a jurisdiction that is home to roughly 1,200 Thoroughbreds, invariably the torch gets passed and the town is never wanting for world-class athletes. Going back to the turn of the century, gallopers to have captured the imagination of not only those in and around Hong Kong, but also of an increasingly sophisticated worldwide audience have included the likes of Fairy King Prawn (Aus), the legendary Silent Witness (Aus), Good Ba Ba, Vengeance of Rain (NZ), Ambitious Dragon (NZ), California Memory and Able Friend (Aus). Seamlessly taking up the mantle since are the likes of Beauty Generation (NZ), California Spangle (Ire) and last, but in no way least, the only recently retired Golden Sixty (Aus). So it really is an embarrassment of riches for devotees of the Hong Kong racing product, and at this Sunday's Longines Hong Kong International Races meeting at Sha Tin Racecourse, the jurisdiction's current leading light has a chance to make history on a few levels, while another has the opportunity to announce his arrival onto the world stage in Silent Witness-esque fashion. The former is Peter Lau's Romantic Warrior (Ire) (Acclamation {GB}), who took Australasia by storm last season with an unprecedented stretch that saw him win a G1 Cox Plate in Melbourne before ending the season with a score in the G1 Yasuda Kinen in Tokyo. With a victory in Sunday's HK$40-million G1 Longines Hong Kong Cup, the 300,000gns Tattersalls October graduate can surpass Golden Sixty and become the world's richest horse in history, and he would have accomplished the feat in 22 starts, compared to Golden Sixty's thirty-one. He would also become the first three-time winner of the 2000-metre contest. James McDonald gets the leg up from trainer Danny Shum, and no one knows him better. “He's just a perfect racehorse,” the jockey said. “Gate speed, sustained speed, doesn't matter whether it's wet, dry, fast tempo, slow tempo, he's pretty much unflappable over a mile and a quarter. I just really enjoy riding him, he's very self-explanatory. Hopefully he can make it three Hong Kong Cups. It would be really fitting if he could go down as one of the, probably the best, Hong Kong horse to grace this Sha Tin turf. He just keeps racking them up.” Japanese runners have won the Cup four times since 2016 and the country's two Cup runners are not without their claims. Triple Tiara heroine Liberty Island (Jpn) (Duramente {Jpn}) is capable on her best, but must improve on her latest down-the-field finish behind subsequent G1 Japan Cup hero Do Deuce (Jpn) (Heart's Cry {Jpn}) in the G1 Tenno Sho (Autumn) Oct. 27. Tastiera (Jpn) (Satono Crown {Jpn}), whose sire won the 2016 G1 Longines Hong Kong Vase, is the 2023 G1 Tokyo Yushun (Japanese Derby) hero and belied longshot odds to be second first off a six-month absence in the Tenno Sho. Spirit Dancer (GB) (Frankel {GB}), fresh off a defence of his G2 Bahrain International Trophy title, leads the European contingent, while Aidan O'Brien saddles the 3-year-old fillies Content (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) and Wingspan (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}), each exiting unplaced runs at the Breeders' Cup on Nov. 2. Time Is Now For Ka Ying Rising Famed conditioner David Hayes has but one winner from 41 starters at the HKIR, having sent out All Thrills Too (Aus) to win the G1 Longines Hong Kong Sprint back in 2002. In the form of Ka Ying Rising (NZ) (Shamexpress {NZ}), he will saddle the horse that many consider the program's likeliest winner in the same event, albeit over 1200 metres this time. The 4-year-old has never been worse than second in his 10 trips to the post to date, and he enters Sunday's contest on a seven-race winning streak, including a track record-setting defeat of the re-opposing Howdeepisyourlove (Aus) (Deep Field {Aus}) in the local course-and-distance lead-up three weeks ago. To do so, he'll need to overcome gate 11–a barrier which has never tossed up a Sprint winner–but if connections are worried, they sure aren't revealing it. “He doesn't need to be any better than he has been at his last two starts this weekend,” said jockey Zac Purton, a three-time winner of the Sprint and of 11 HKIR races in total. “He has just got to come out reproduce that same performance and hopefully it is a fast-run race where every horse gets their chance. The track is in great order, it's riding very well and the weather this week is perfect, so we are looking forward to it.” Ka Ying Rising | HKJC For his part, Hayes invoked the names of a couple of pretty good horses when thinking about his charge. “He has got a wonderful temperament and he is easy to train and is very sound, a massive stride length and I call it an extra action,” he explained. “When you watch a lot of gallops and race horses, you see very few horses with what I see as the extra action and the extra action I have seen in my career just recently is of course Winx (Aus) and Black Caviar (Aus),” he added, stopping short of suggesting Ka Ying Rising is as good as those legends–at least for the time being. Foreigners in general and Europeans specifically have struggled down the years to land a blow in the Sprint, but the supplemented Starlust (GB) (Zoustar {Aus}) has the inherent quality to be in the mix. After running with credit in Dubai last winter, he was a listed winner at York in July and ran a blinder to be third behind Bradsell (GB) (Tasleet {GB}) in the G1 Nunthorpe Stakes at York in August. He may have struggled with the ground when ninth in the G1 Prix de l'Abbaye Oct. 6, but closed fast off a furious gallop to defy odds of 33-1 in the GI Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint Nov. 2. Each-way players might have a look at Japan's Toshin Macau (Jpn) (Big Arthur {Jpn}), narrow winner of the G2 Centaur Stakes Sept. 8 and a strong-finishing runner-up behind Lugal (Jpn) (Duramente {Jpn}) when last seen in the G1 Sprinters' Stakes at Nakayama three weeks later. Evenly Matched Group For the Mile A year after Golden Sixty (Aus) (Medaglia d'Oro) defied all conventional wisdom to win the G1 Longines Hong Kong Mile for the third time, this year's renewal shapes as a more wide-open affair in the absence of the multiple horse of the year. Galaxy Patch (Aus) (Wandjina {Aus}) had a sensational 4-year-old season, with a runner-up effort in the BMW Hong Kong Derby when ambitiously tried over the 2000 metres before winning twice at group level, including a defeat of Voyage Bubble (Aus) (Deep Field {Aus}) when in receipt of six pounds in the G2 Sha Tin Trophy Handicap Oct. 13. He failed to repeat the dose in the G2 Jockey Club Mile, sitting a no-cover trip en route to a third-place effort to Voyage Bubble and Chancheng Glory (Mor Spirit), but that effort is perhaps best forgiven and if willing to put a pen through it, he rates a live chance. The Golden Sixty draw from last year does no favours, though Vincent Ho has been there and done that. Galaxy Patch | HKJC “This time I think we just have to ride him very quiet and go for a strong finish to try and catch them,” trainer Pierre Ng said. “It's how you preserve him towards the straight. Try to switch him off and he'll give you a very good [final] sectional. His last racing style didn't suit him. We've learnt from that and I've told Vincent from now on we know what we have got to do in the future.” Japan last won the Mile with 3-year-old Admire Mars (Jpn) (Daiwa Major {Jpn}) in 2019, and Jantar Mantar (Jpn) (Palace Malice) will attempt to follow suit. The Shadai homebred, to be ridden by Yuga Kawada, was named champion 2-year-old colt in Japan last term after taking out the G1 Asahi HaiFuturity going a mile, and ran well to place in his first two runs this year, including a close third in the G1 Satsuki Sho (Japanese 2000 Guineas). He relished the cutback to a mile to easily capture the G1 NKH Mile Cup May 5 and has been away since. Soul Rush (Jpn) (Rulership {Jpn}), fourth in last year's race, comes here in arguably better form off a decisive victory in the G1 Mile Championship last month. Lazzat (Fr) (Territories {Ire}) was the on-pace winner of the G1 Prix Maurice de Gheest at Deauville in August and was nabbed close home in the valuable Golden Eagle at Rosehill Nov. 2, while Ramadan (Fr) (Le Havre {Ire}), last-out winner of the G2 Prix Daniel Wildenstein Oct. 5 and since purchased for €1.5 million at the Arqana Arc Sale, has his first run for Yueshehg Zheng's Yulong Investments. Following the Mile, Ramadan will be trained locally by Mark Newnham with an eye on the 4-year-old Classics. Docklands (GB) (Massaat {Ire}) charged home into second behind Charyn (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}) in Royal Ascot's G1 Queen Anne Stakes in June and was unplaced behind Via Sistina (Ire) (Fastnet Rock {Aus}) in the Cox Plate and G1 VRC Champions Stakes over further. Representing Australia is Antino (NZ) (Redwood {NZ}), sensational in taking the G1 Toorak Handicap at Caulfield in October. Luxembourg Bows Out In the Vase An elite-level scorer each season from two years of age to five, Luxembourg (Ire) (Camelot {GB}) makes the final start of his career in Sunday's G1 Longines Hong Kong Vase, the first of the afternoon's main events. Twelve months removed from putting a real scare into Romantic Warrior in the Cup, Luxembourg made all in the G1 Coronation Cup on Derby weekend, but has been sixth and not a real factor in his last three races–the G1 King George VI & Queen Elizabeth Stakes in July, the G1 Irish Champion Stakes in September and in last month's GI Breeders' Cup Turf. “We thought he ran a great race last year,” trainer Aidan O'Brien said. “He's a very high-class horse. Last year he was coming home very well and he was just beaten on the line, it looked as if we'd had run him over a mile and a half it would have suited him. He's been a great horse, big strong and consistent. Obviously, he wasn't always first string but we're looking forward to it, see what happens.” Luxembourg leads Continuous at trackwork | HKJC O'Brien also saddles 2023 G1 St Leger hero Continuous (Jpn) (Heart's Cry {Jpn}), whose long victory since that Classic came in the G3 Royal Whip Stakes at the Curragh in August. “Continuous is probably more forward than he's been all year,” the trainer added. “Things haven't really worked for him yet this year, but he is in good form, very happy with his work. A mile and a half and nice ground should be fine for him.” Without A Fight (Ire) (Teofilo {Ire}), whose sire accounted for 2018 Vase winner Exultant (Ire), was a brilliant winner of the 2023 G1 Melbourne Cup and most recently returned from 367 days away from the races with a useful third in the Champions Stakes. He gets the shortest way around from gate one with Mark Zahra up. “He's certainly tightened up and improved for it as you would expect,” said co-trainer Sam Freedman. “He had a nice trial at home before he got on the flight. He's a well-travelled horse and he's handled the trip very well.” Dubai Honour (Ire) (Pride of Dubai {Aus}) pays a fourth visit to Hong Kong, but tries the 2400 metres for the first time here, having endured a checkered passage when runner-up to Cup entrant The Foxes (Ire) (Churchill {Ire}) in the Listed Churchill Stakes at Newcastle Nov. 16. Prior to that, he defeated Iresine (Fr) (Manduro {Ger}) into fourth in the G1 Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud, and the latter gave a good account of himself when running home to fill the same spot in the G1 British Champion Stakes Oct. 19 at Ascot. Each of trainer Andre Fabre's three wins at the HKIR have come in the Vase, including Junko (GB) (Intello {Ger}) just last year. The yard is represented here by the lightly raced Marquisat (Ire) (Zarak {Fr}), a nose second to Junko in the G2 Grand Prix de Chantilly in June and a good third to King George winner Goliath (Ire) (Adlerflug {Ger}) in the G2 Prix du Conseil de Paris in terrible ground in October. Like Junko, he prepped in the G1 Grosser Preis von Bayern, though he failed to handle the very heavy ground, whereas Junko emerged victorious. Stellenbosch (Jpn) (Epiphaneia {Jpn}) won this year's G1 Oka Sho (Japanese 1000 Guineas), was second in the G1 Yushun Himba in May and third in October's G1 Shuka Sho. Joao Moreira has won the Vase three times on Japanese entrants and has the call from Almond Eye trainer Sakae Kunieda. The post History-Seeking ‘Warrior’, Ka Ying Rising Set To Star at Longines HKIR appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

DEAUVILLE, France–Moa Sundström is no stranger to sales ring successes–especially at Arqana–but the youngster admits to feeling the pressure ahead of launching her debut foal consignment at the December Breeding Stock Sale here on Saturday. A daughter of Anna, whose Coulonces Sales has enjoyed many memorable sales at Arqana, Moa will offer six foals under the banner of her own Prime Progeny this weekend. The six-pronged consignment features filly foals by Too Darn Hot (GB) and Sioux Nation as well as a Sea The Stars (Ire) colt and the 23-year-old is hoping the appetite for well-bred and good-looking foals that was so evident at Goffs and Tattersalls over the past fortnight will continue here in France. She said, “I'm so nervous-it's all so new. I should think it is the same [as consigning under Coulonces] but it is so different when you go out and do it by yourself. I have my mother's full support and she has my back on everything. It's really nerve-wracking, but in a good way.” You don't become one of the biggest consignors in Europe by not thinking on your feet. The Sundströms say that they have spotted an opening in the market for foals in France and this sale will test the theory. Moa explained, “Many clients, be that English, Irish, French, America or whatever, have expressed a wish for more quality foals to be sold at the sales here in France. I travel quite a lot with my mother, going around all of the sales, and we love buying mares, pinhooking and all of that. It was so obvious to us that here in France, we were missing something, and that something is a foal consignment. We just said, 'why not do it?' This is fun and I know that I can do it so I am really looking forward to it. Something I love deeply is going to look at foals and getting involved in the pinhooking of foals. I see what the buyers need. I am young so I feel, 'why can I not bring something to the table', so that's how I decided to launch my own foal consignment.” So what do the buyers want? “Quality,” she responds. “We need more quality. We need availability in France. We need a foal consignment where people abroad can look on and say, 'I can sell my foal in France because I know it's so exquisite.' If you have a nice foal here in France, you will sell without any problem.” Although the Sundströms are renowned breeders, the Prime Progeny consignment features just one homebred. The majority of the foals offered under the hammer over the next few days belong to outside clients with Moa bidding to prove that she is just a chip off the old block when it comes to securing big results in the ring. “We breed a lot but we actually only have one homebred here-the Naval Crown colt [lot 356]. He's the only French-bred Naval Crown colt in the sale and was bred by my grandparents and my mum. He's a gorgeous individual and I'm very proud to be presenting him here.” She added, “The Too Darn Hot [99] is absolutely amazing. From a buyer's perspective, if somebody pulled out a foal like her to me, my jaw would just drop. I adore her.” Of course, it makes it a little easier to branch out into something so daring when you've had a bit of luck previously. This sale ground has been a lucky place for Coulounces in recent times, most notably at the August Sale when the mother-and-daughter team secured €420,000 for a Victor Ludorum (GB) yearling out of a mare [Lilienbloom (Ire) (Mastercraftsman {Ire})] that they sourced for just €12,000. “That was amazing,” she recalls. “We bought a mare for €12,000 and sold her first yearling by Victor Ludorum for €420,000, which was insane. We have had a lot of luck at Arqana. It was a fairly obvious choice for me to have my first consignment at Arqana as we are based just an hour away so this is my home and this is where my future is. Everything that I am going to work for is for the future of our farm here. The fact that we have been lucky here before is also important.” There couldn't be a better time to sell a foal in Europe. Records were broken at Goffs and Tattersalls over the past few weeks where trade reached new heights. The hope is that the demand continues when the four-day December Breeding Stock Sale gets underway at 10am on Saturday. She concluded, “The aim is simple. We just want to start off with getting every single horse sold and by making my clients happy and proud. That would be a success. The market has been crazy for foals-both at Goffs and at Tattersalls-and I hope it will be strong at Arqana. I have heard a lot of good things so fingers crossed. Arqana has been amazing in helping me get set up. They have been my biggest supporters.” The post ‘It’s Nerve-Wracking, But In A Good Way’ – Moa Out To Make A Mark At Arqana appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Strangely enough, the beginnings of my horse racing journey are tied to a racing-related contest put on by one of the local grocery chains in suburban Chicago in the 1970s where you'd watch a short clip at 6:57 p.m. and try to match your ticket for a can of Spam or something of the like. A few years later, a neighbor three doors down (kryptonite?) campaigned a mare called Diablo Morn with trainer Jerry McGrath, no great shakes (she finished her career 2-32, I just looked), but it gave me access to a horse owner, and another neighbor was an avid (problem?) gambler who'd place show parlays for his stepson and me in our early teens. Really, it was an electric experience. When the ground came up easy for the 1983 Arlington Million (I lived a few furlongs from the track), I had to have a couple (literally) of bucks on Tolomeo. I wasn't wise enough to cash the exacta over John Henry. I kind of got away from the game during my college years–did make the occasional trip to the Champaign OTB right by the Schnucks grocery store–but it wasn't until the mid-90s, after some personal turmoil that I really found racing. I hooked up with a group of guys, three at least 20 years my senior and one closer to my age, and we would congregate on the Arlington apron every Saturday morning to watch the horses run around in circles. I think Meafara was still in training then, all the good Irish Acres horses for Noel Hickey, etc. The coffee was really bad, but the company wasn't. Watched Mariah's Storm beat Serena's Song at Turfway Park. Then there was July 11, 1996. Cigar. Packed grandstand. Magical moment. That summer, the dean of Chicago turf writers Dave Feldman recommended a bet–a big one–on Wekiva Springs in the Suburban, I think. Paid four bucks. Remember watching Serena getting run down by Mahogany Hall in the '96 Whitney after looking home free. My dad passed away in early 1998 and I was set to make a move to this part of the country minus a job when out of the blue the phone rang from the strange area code 908. May as well have been Timbuktu, but it was Coastal Jersey and some woman called Sue Finley was asking if they could fly me out for an interview. Um, what's happening here? Watched Coronado's Quest win that year's Haskell with Shug in the TDN box. German major notwithstanding (I'm not kidding), she and Barry Weisbord hired me four weeks later, God only knows why. Twenty-six years later I'm still getting paid to do this. Whoda thunk it? The post How I Got Hooked On Racing: Senior Contributing Editor Alan Carasso appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

In response to the TDN series 'How I Got Hooked on Horse Racing,' we received the following letter from a former Thoroughbred owner who offers his own anecdotes about Hall of Fame trainer D. Wayne Lukas. Hi Christina! I enjoyed your professional profile in the Thoroughbred Dailey News today. Your history with D. Wayne Lukas hit a cord with me. I am a retired businessman, University of Wisconsin-Madison grad, and long-ago owner of a horse trained by D. Wayne Lukas. In 1986, I had a horse named Hurdy Gurdy Man that had shown promise when racing in Pennsylvania. He was recovering from a saucer fracture when I decided he might do well under D. Wayne's care. I called his listed phone number and D. Wayne answered the phone quickly. After a brief sharing UW and cheesehead history, I asked him if he would take Hurdy Gurdy Man as a project. He didn't hesitate in saying yes. Over the next 13 months Hurdy Gurdy Man compiled a record of 5-3-1 in 13 starts. It was great fun for my family and partners. Jeff Lukas and Kiaran McLaughlin were D. Wayne's primary assistant trainers. We let the Lukas stable make all the decisions. D. Wayne was the number one trainer in the country, but we always felt important to D. Wayne and his staff Fast forward to 1998. My younger brother was suffering from cancer and we thought he was on the verge of dying. He was a high school math teacher that enjoyed Thoroughbred racing dating to our days driving to Arlington Park from Madison in the '60s. He was never able to enjoy racing as an owner or participant in a big racing event. So, I asked him if he would join me at Churchill Downs for the Breeders' Cup if I could get us on the backstretch for the event. He said 'yes' and I called the phone number I had on record for D. Wayne. To my surprise, D. Wayne answered on the second ring. I apologized for not offering him a race prospect, but he kindly listened to my request to get my brother and me on the backside for the Breeders' Cup: nothing more. He said he would talk with his wife and she would get back to me. Several days later his wife called me and told me I was on a list that would be honored at the back gate. Sure enough, early on Breeders' Cup Saturday we were waived through the gate and on to the Lukas barn. Even though it was early, the activity of the day was in overdrive so it was no surprise that D. Wayne was entertaining the press trackside and the barn asked us to stay as his return was imminent. Soon D. Wayne's cowboy hat was visible within a tsunami of press that stopped well short of the Lukas barn. D. Wayne greeted us warmly as if I knew him well and as if I had recently been in his world. It was over a decade since he had Hurdy Gurdy Man and I was truly a very small owner in his business history. I was totally impressed and thanked him profusely for get us on the backside. We were prepared to leave when D. Wayne casually asked if we had plans for the day and we told him we were planning on mingling with the masses on the frontside when racing started. He walked into his barn office and grabbed an envelope with my name on it tacked to the cork board. “Here, there are reserved seats for you both including paddock passes for all the races today. Enjoy!” My brother and I were BLOWN away! We had a fabulous day…a day neither of us will forget. Benjamin Franklin said, “if you want something done, ask a busy person.” Add the words “with class” when done by D. Wayne Lukas! By the way, my brother is alive, with a good attitude, despite now having dialysis from the ravages of cancer and related treatments. An aside: I met a woman this summer who grew up in Antigo, Wisconsin. I mentioned D. Wayne Lukas, Clyde Rice [trainer and father of Linda Rice] and potatoes! She added that D. Wayne's mother was a “class act who was warm and generous.” How's that for a pedigree? Regards, Scott Jamison The post Letter To The Editor: Hooked On The Coach’s Kindness appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

American-trained May Day Ready looms over a less-experienced field of locals in the Hanshin Juvenile Fillies (G1) Dec. 8 at Kyoto Racecourse.View the full article

In this continuing series, Alan Carasso takes a look ahead at US-bred and/or conceived runners entered for the upcoming weekend at the tracks on the Japan Racing Association circuit, with a focus on pedigree and/or performance in the sales ring. Here are the horses of interest for this Saturday running at Chukyo and Kyoto Racecourses: Saturday, December 7, 2024 5th-CKO, ¥13,720,000 ($91k), Newcomers, 2yo, 1400m RAINBOW LUCKY (JPN) (f, 2, Quality Road–Wholehearted, by Awesome Again) is the first foal from her stakes-winning dam and was acquired by Yushun Company in utero for $375,000 at the 2021 Keeneland November Sale. The filly's granddam is My Baby Baby (Bernstein), another bargain-basement purchase ($50,000 ylg '06 FTKOCT) for trainer Ken McPeek who would go on to win the GIII Early Times Mint Julep Stakes en route to bankrolling over $509,000. B-Suzaki Bokujo LA LA AVRIL (c, 2, Collected–She Is Bedazzling, by Medaglia d'Oro), a half-brother to 2023 GIII Chick Lang Stakes winner Ryvit (Competitive Edge), fetched $325,000 at last year's Keeneland September Sale, the priciest of 39 yearlings by his Airdrie-based sire reported as sold (52 ring) in 2023. The treble graded-placed second dam Melissa Jo (Fusaichi Pegasus) produced Joedini (Bernardini) and GSW High Dollar Woman (Super Saver). B-Curt Leake (KY) 6th-KYO, ¥13,720,000 ($91k), Newcomers, 2yo, 1800m ROSSINIANA (c, 2, Not This Time–Dos Vinos, by Twirling Candy) breezed an eighth of a mile in :10 flat during this year's OBS March Sale and was knocked down to Katsumi Yoshida for $850,000, the second-dearest of his boom sire's 19 juveniles (20 ring) that sold this term. A Jan. 24 foal, the dark bay is the first to race out of a half-sister to SW China Grove (City Zip), herself the dam of the Grade III-placed Beach Walkn (Cross Traffic). B-Tom Durant (KY) ゼッケン1502番 #ロッシニアーナ （牡・木村） 父 Not This Time 母 Dos Vinos ※撮影日は9月5日（金子）#勝馬#美浦トレセン#ブック2歳馬情報 pic.twitter.com/nzro5pEO0Z — 勝馬 競馬専門紙インターネット競馬新聞 (@kachiuma_online) September 6, 2024 MEISHO AINA (c, 2, Game Winner–Lilacs and Lilies, by Bodemeister) did not make any headlines at public auction after being RNAd for $45,000 at Keeneland September last fall, but there is pedigree appeal for this jurisdiction. The bay colt's dam is out of Refinement (Seattle Slew), whose GI Central Bank Ashland Stakes-winning daughter Lilacs and Lace (Flower Alley) produced Lucky Lilac (Jpn) (Orfevre {Jpn}), named the champion 2-year-old filly in Japan after taking out the 2017 G1 Hanshin Juvenile Fillies before adding three more top-level triumphs. The colt's third dam, four-time Grade I winner Stella Madrid (Alydar), was the dam of champion Diamond Biko (Jpn) (Sunday Silence). B-Judy Hicks & Kathryn Nikkel (KY) The post Expensive Not This Time Colt Gets Going at Kyoto appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

By Dave Di Somma, Harness News Desk Rakero Rocket has produced a huge upset at Addington with victory in tonight’s first ever Group 1 The Christian Cullen at Addington Raceway. It was an emotional win for trainer Tom Bamford who was in shock post race. “I’m shaking, I don’t know what is going on.” Rakero Rocket charged out from the mobile to head hot favourite Don’t Stop Dreaming. Meanwhile arch rival Merlin was taken to the rear of the field from his wide draw. Don’t Stop Dreaming and driver Blair Orange then went round Rakero Rocket to take the lead. Heading into the passing lane Gavin Smith was in the perfect position and Rakero Rocket overhauled the pace-maker to give Bamford the biggest moment of his young training career. “I was going nuts,” Bamford said of the final stages of the $200,000 Group 1. An enquiry was held after the finish after Don’t Stop Dreaming suffered a flat tyre but it was dismissed. Rakero Rocket paid $20 for the win, ahead of a late charging Charlie Brown with Merlin and Don’t Stop Dreaming third and fourth. It was his seventh win in just 14 starts. Before the race the now 30-year-old Christian Cullen lead the field out, the champ getting a great reception from the Addington crowd. Earlier, the trotting superstar that is Keayang Zahara waltzed away with the Garrards New Zealand Trotting Derby. The Victorian three-year-old, backed into $1.05, dispatched the field with ease, winning by nine lengths and extending her unbeaten run to 14 from 14. “Absolute freak” was the term used by commentator Matt Cross while Trackside presenter Greg O’Connor said she was “crazy good”. No-one would argue with either description. Driver Jason Lee was patient off the gate and settled two and then three back the running line before rolling to the lead with a lap to go. From there the race was as good as over. Keayang Zahara gave no one else a chance as she cleared out with ease. It was her third New Zealand win this campaign, following on from The Ascent slot race and last week’s New Zealand Oaks. It was as impressive a victory as you can get. Empire City was good in finishing second, ahead of Father Patrick who was the early leader. Post race Jason Lee said “she’s a rocket and she had plenty in reserve.” “I’m lucky to sit behind her.” “We always knew she was good, just not this good.” In the open class trot Oscar Bonavena had his third win a row when taking out the Braxton Farriers Group 3 Worthy Queen. The reigning Trotter of the Year was aggressively driven by Blair Orange to lead with a lap to go and while arch rival Muscle Mountain tried to get close Oscar Bonavena was just too good in the end, wining by more than three lengths. Oscar Bonavena paid $2.20 for the win, his 29th in 74 starts. What a $300,000 Garrards New Zealand Pacing Derby it was for Hayden Cullen at Addington tonight. The West Melton-based trainer prepared We Walk by Faith to win at big odds and stable-mate Harrison John also held on for third, after going to the front. In between the pair was Vessem, paying $14.90 for the place. The time honoured feature was all action with Harrison John going to the lead for visiting Australian driver Cameron Hart. At one stage he bobbled briefly but still stayed in front. Favourite Chase A Dream was well back early then improved three wide but was not a factor at the business end as We Walk By Faith got the cushy trip three back before exploding home for Craig Ferguson, as he claimed his third Group 1 win. Vessem produced a great finishing burst to grab second, with Harrison John holding on to fill the minors – the trifecta paying $19,305. View the full article

As everyone expected, the trotting superstar that is Keayang Zahara has waltzed away with the Garrards New Zealand Trotting Derby at Addington tonight. The Victorian three-year-old, backed into $1.05, dispatched the field with ease, winning by nine lengths and extending her unbeaten run to 14 from 14. “Absolute freak” was the term used by commentator Matt Cross while Trackside presenter Greg O’Connor said she was “crazy good”. No-one would argue with either description. Driver Jason Lee was patient off the gate and settled two and then three back the running line before rolling to the lead with a lap to go. From there the race was as good as over. Keayang Zahara gave no one else a chance as she cleared out with ease. It was her third New Zealand win this campaign, following on from The Ascent slot race and last week’s New Zealand Oaks. It was as impressive a victory as you can get. Empire City was good in finishing second, ahead of Father Time who was the early leader. Post race Jason Lee said “she’s a rocket and she had plenty in reserve.” “I’m lucky to sit behind her.” “We always knew she was good, just not this good.” View the full article

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After a quarter century at the helm of the French division of the Aga Khan Studs, Georges Rimaud will step down from that role at the end of December, making this Deauville December Sale his last. Rimaud leaves the stud stronger than ever, with four homebred sons standing at the farm, including the best sire in France, Siyouni (Fr), the best young sire in France in Zarak (Fr), and two promising newcomers, Vadeni (Fr) and Erevann (Fr). We surprised Rimaud as he was having lunch in the stud's traditional marquee on the Arqana grounds, asking him to talk about his life at the stud and what comes next for him. For Rimaud, it has always been all about the horses, and he was surprised that anyone would want to read about such things. But after some arm-twisting, we persuaded him to relent…reluctantly. SF: Nobody in racing really retires, do they? GR: It seems so, because I've rarely seen so much attention to something fairly random. SF: That must tell you something then about the regard that people have for you. GR: Well, obviously you read kind words and it is great to hear them, but one thing I learned is to be very humble in this industry, and towards the horses and the people in it. This exercise is obviously not quite something I would be very used to anyway. We do it only once in one lifetime, so I suppose it's okay. But it is embarrassing. You just get on with your job, and you try to do the best you can every day. SF: Do you plan to actually retire? GR: Retire is a word with many definitions, I suppose. I'm retiring from my job as the manager of the Aga Khan Studs in France, because that happens when you reach this age in this country. You can opt to stay, but as you all know, I have some mobility issues and to be honest, with my work I need to be out there, which I can't do as well as I have, so, in view of my age, I think it's time that I do something else. But it's not to say that I'm just going to get away onto an island and just not be around to annoy a few people any more. SF: What will you do? Describe your future life to me. GR: I don't quite know, really. I have other interests than just horses, strangely enough. Some people in this industry have no other interests than horses. I like reading. I like politics. I have several centers of interests. I also have to take care of myself, so I will be doing some things like moving house and will do some work in it and things like that. As you grow older, you have grandchildren to mind and I'll maybe travel a bit. I will do some of these things that people do when they retire. SF: If you're going to travel, what will your first trip be? GR: I am going to go to America to travel a little bit there and see some friends that I haven't seen for a long time now. SF: What will you miss the most about the job? GR: The horses. Simply the way of life with the horses. I think that is what drives everybody in this industry, at least everybody with the job that I have. SF: What will you not miss about having a daily job? GR: Truly, I really enjoyed every bit of it. I've been very lucky to do a job, or have an occupation, actually, a life for which I'm being paid for. But, actually, the thing that I will not miss is having to call or inform my superiors or people of bad news. God knows we have enough bad news in breeding horses, and that is one thing that I really did not enjoy. SF: What will you leave behind that you're really proud of? GR: I don't know if I'm proud of anything specific. I think maybe I should be satisfied. It looks like people tell me I should be satisfied with what has been done by this organization, the Aga Khan Studs. In the past few years, it appears that we've experienced a certain amount of success. I'm really proud, if that's the word you want to use, to be part of it, to have been part of it, to have worked for His Highness the Aga Khan, his daughter, Princess Zahra, and to have been able to work with these people who have high standards, and apparently to have done a satisfying job. It has been very enjoyable. SF: In your 24 years here, what has been the best change you've seen in the French breeding industry? GR: I think the thing that has changed in the recent years has been the importance of stallions in France. We have been lucky at the Aga Khan Studs to have provided some good stallions for the French breeders and European breeders. I think stallions that have marked the European book of racing, breeding and racing, to have them stand in France at a high value I think has been a change, a very good change. It needs to be continued. It's not easy. Some people are investing in stud farms and stallions to stand them in France, which is rather encouraging, especially in those years where you could wonder what's going to happen, but people are quite resilient and making good efforts to keep the stallions. That's the major change I think that I can see in the last 20 years. SF: That's not true anywhere more than at the Aga Khan Studs, though, isn't it? You're leaving with the best stallion in France, the best young stallion in France, and two very promising newcomers. GR: We do have some lovely horses. We were very fortunate to be able to breed those horses ourselves. They were bred on the farm, which is something to be very satisfied with. If we've helped the French breeders in general, then that's great. I think that has been one of the objectives of His Highness. It has been great to have these horses and for the French breeders to be able to have them, to use them, and to improve their stock. This was the great thing about working for this organization, and the people following me in this job believe that there's the means. I'm not talking just about financial means, but the envy of doing the utmost to succeed in whatever project is in place, whether it's racing, whether it's breeding, or standing stallions. We try to do everything so we can do it well. Everything is given to us as employees to do these things. Obviously it has helped me and the team to be able to have experienced a certain amount of success. SF: You are still chairman of the board at Arqana, so you can continue to work toward those same goals, can't you? GR: Yes. Staying with Arqana is obviously very satisfying for the moment. I think it's important to not just leave everything. It is great that I was there at the outset of it with His Highness and all the participants in the company, and it's great to be able to continue. The team here has been wonderful in making this company progress. There are challenging years coming ahead of us, I suppose. There have always been challenges, and you think the next challenge is going to be even worse than the past one. But there's a very good team in place. May it go on for a good bit longer. SF: Are you at all conscious as you sit here that this is your last sale? Does it feel a little melancholy, as in `this is the last time I'll be doing this?' GR: No, no. I'm not really that conscious of it. But I'll probably come in here (next year) and give some orders and people here will be saying, `What's this old man saying?' I'm not melancholy about it because, as I heard once in Kentucky, `if the devil don't bother me too much' I will still be here next year, and maybe they will let me come into this room and have a cup of coffee. Time goes on and things change. I think the team in place has loads of energy and knowledge and young minds, new ideas. You can feel it after so many years, your ideas are there and you have your ways of doing things, but there are just so many new ideas coming in. And Pierre Gasnier is coming in. He's been here with me for two years, and I'm not sure he's learned a whole lot from me because he had a lot of knowledge himself coming in. But he's adapting his ways into our own ways, and I think it's working terribly well. It's great to see that it can be done without you. You have a sense of having left something to work with in reasonably good shape. I think there's good years ahead. SF: Last question: we haven't seen you in anything but a green coat for 20 years. Will you go out and buy a coat that's not green? GR: Funny enough, I've gotten used to wearing this. I might go ahead and keep this for a while and try to support the colors. The post `It’s Been a Great Time:’ Georges Rimaud on his Pending Retirement appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

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