Wandering Eyes

Three Diamonds Farm's Empire of War made his stakes debut a winning one, firing off a powerful stretch kick to capture the the $100,000 Awad Stakes Nov. 4 at Aqueduct Racetrack. View the full article

CLASSIC ● Breeders’ Cup Classic hero Accelerate (Lookin At Lucky) exited the Classic in good form, trainer John Sadler confirmed Sunday morning. “We jogged him up and down the road [outside Churchill Downs’ Barn 43] and he looked very sound and happy,” he said. According to Sadler, the 5-year-old is scheduled to be vanned to Lane’s End Farm and given some down time and shown to prospective breeders as a future resident stallion. Following his freshening, Accelerate will be returned to the trainer’s Southern California barn to be prepared for his final race before going to stud–the $9-million Pegasus World Cup Invitational at Florida’s Gulfstream Park Jan. 26. In regards to all the talk surrounding Sadler garnering his first Breeders’ Cup victory, he said, “You know the John Sadler human-interest story is a good line but this needs to be about the horse. I hope people will zero in on his campaign–five Grade I victories with four at the classic distance of a mile and a quarter and usually carrying high weight. He showed [in the Classic] with horses from around the world, that he was the best horse. He had a great campaign and we’re very proud of that. He’s really a champion.” Trainer Antonio Sano reported that Margoth’s Gunnevera (Dialed In) exited his second-place finish in Saturday’s Classic in good order. The 4-year-old is scheduled to ship back to Sano’s Gulfstream Park West barn Monday morning. “I’m very proud of my horse,” Sano said. “He ran a very good race. We will run him in the Pegasus.” Godolphin’s G1 Dubai World Cup winner and Breeders’ Cup Classic third-place finisher Thunder Snow (Ire) (Helmet {Aus}) is scheduled to return to his winter base in Dubai Thursday to prepare for a Dubai World Cup defense. Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott confirmed Yoshida (Jpn) (Heart’s Cry), “came out well,” of his fourth-place effort in the Classic. Yoshida, a Grade I winner on turf and dirt, will point toward a 5-year-old campaign. Michael McCarthy indicated that 3-year-old Axelrod (Warrior’s Reward), who finished ninth–beaten eight lengths by Accelerate–in the Classic, would likely make one more start before the end of the year. “He has done a lot of traveling this year and been on the road a lot,” said McCarthy. He added that the dual Grade III winner could run in the Dec. 26 GI Malibu at Santa Anita at seven furlongs. DIRT MILE ● Mr. and Mrs. William K. Warren Jr.’s City of Light (Quality Road), front-running winner of Saturday’s GI Dirt Mile, is scheduled to return to trainer Michael McCarthy’s Southern California base early Monday morning. “He came out of the race in good order and ate up [Saturday] night,” McCarthy said before heading to the airport and a flight to California Sunday. “We will see how he comes out of this race and if he acts like he needs a race, the GI Cigar Mile [Dec. 1 at Aqueduct] is an option.” “When I saw he went the last quarter in :22 4/5 and Javier never moved on him, I knew it was his race to lose,” said McCarthy, who was registering his first Breeders’ Cup win. Dallas Stewart was pleased with Charles Fipke’s homebred Seeking the Soul (Perfect Soul {Ire}) runner-up performance in the Dirt Mile. “He’s great today,” Stewart confirmed Sunday. “Hopefully, we can move on to the Pegasus and earn an invite to Dubai.” The trainer offered likely targets for the Grade I winner: the $9-million Pegasus World Cup followed by the $12-million G1 Dubai World Cup. Catalina Cruiser (Union Rags), who was four-for-four heading into Saturday Dirt Mile, disappointed when fading to finish a distant sixth as the favorite. “We’ll get him home to California and give him a full vetting and see what’s going on,” said trainer John Sadler. “That was a disappointing run for him [Saturday], but the plan is to campaign him at five and you’ll see better of him going forward. “We scoped him after the race and he came back clean. Drayden [Van Dyke] said he was in a good position around the turn. but then started to lug out a little bit and didn’t really kick in. At that point, he didn’t force him or beat him up. He’s a lightly-raced horse [five starts], so we’ll check him out and get ready for another day.” MILE ● Trainer John Sadler was upbeat Sunday about the effort put forth by Mile runner up Catapult (Kitten’s Joy). “We’re really proud of him,” he said. “It was a very good second. He handled the yielding turf really well. He’s been a really good horse. He won two nice stakes at Del Mar and he got beat by Sir Michael Stoute [winner, Expert Eye] so that puts him in good company. He’ll probably run next in the [inaugural] $7-million Pegasus Turf [at Gulfstream Park Jan. 26].” DISTAFF ● Trainer Brad Cox reported that his star filly, Monomoy Girl (Tapizar), who appears to have tied up a sophomore filly championship after recording her fifth Grade I victory of the season in Saturday’s Distaff, came out of the race in fine fettle and would be given a few days to “relax and chill” before any future plans are made. Cox indicated she would race again at four with the ultimate goal being a return trip to the Breeders’ Cup at Santa Anita. “I was confident going in just by the way she was training,” Cox said. “And, for the most part, the race was uneventful. She can sometimes make the ending interesting with her antics, but she was doing it the right way. She was sitting off another filly, which I liked and, when they slowed it down the backside, I thought, ‘she can handle this.’ She was just cruising around the turn and I could see other horses were coming under a ride. At the three-eighths pole, I was mainly watching her, but I kept glancing back and I could see that [2017 Kentucky Oaks winner] Abel Tasman was backing out of it. When they straightened up, I had never seen my filly turn for home that loaded and I was like ‘Wow.’ [Jockey] Florent [Geroux] never hit her. When they got to the eighth pole, I kept thinking ‘stay straight, you’ve got this.’ It was a big effort. I can’t say enough about the filly and what she’s accomplished this year.” Trainer Ignacio Correas IV said Blue Prize (Arg) (Pure Prize) came out of her fourth-place effort in good shape. “She broke a touch late, but I don’t think that made any difference,” he opined. “I think she tried to win the race and that cost her the second [as she tired a bit in deep stretch]. I’m very happy with the race, and very proud of the way she ran.” As for future plans for Blue Prize, nothing has been confirmed. “I don’t know if she’s going to race or if they [owner Merriebelle Stables LLC] are going to retire her. She’s going to rest, I assume that. She’s only five–and she’s going to be five until the middle of next year being a Southern Hemisphere-born horse. Usually these Argentinian horses do better at six than five. She’s still young.” Plans for Gary Barber’s Wonder Gadot (Medaglia d’Oro), ninth in Saturday’s Distaff after setting the pace, remain up in the air, according to trainer Mark Casse. “She felt great this morning and came out of the race really well,” confirmed assistant trainer Nick Tomlinson. “She has taken me places I never thought I would go. We could never be disappointed in her. There are not a lot of horses that can do what she has done. She has danced every dance and run with the best of the best. We will wait and see what we do from here.” SPRINT & TURF SPRINT ● Trainer Peter Miller, beaming the day after a pair of his charges–Stormy Liberal (Stormy Atlantic) and Roy H (More Than Ready)–successfully defended their Breeders’ Cup titles in the Turf Sprint and Sprint, respectively. Stormy Liberal and Roy H, who are both fully or partially owned by Rockingham Ranch, are possible to return to Dubai for the $2-million G1 Al Quoz Sprint and $2.5-million G1 Dubai Golden Shaheen, respectively. Stormy Liberal was second in the Al Quoz Sprint in March and Roy H was third in the Dubai Golden Shaheen. “We’re all good,” Miller confirmed. The Sprint runner-up Whitmore (Pleasantly Perfect) came out of the Sprint well and will remain in training with the ultimate goal of making it back to the Sprint for a third try in 2019. “We’re very proud of him,” said trainer Ron Moquett. “Of course, we wanted him to win, but he did a very good job [Saturday]. I think if you run the race another three or four times, with those good horses, you’d get a different result each time. [Saturday] was just Roy H’s day. Hopefully. we’ll get another chance to hook back up with him.” Moquett added, “We’ll take him back to Hot Springs for the sprint series at Oaklawn next spring and hope to get back to the Breeders’ Cup.” EURO REPORT ● All the European horses that contended this year’s Breeders’ Cup at Churchill Downs were reported to be in good health after their exertions Saturday. Ballydoyle was the first to leave Churchill Downs; the team was scheduled to depart for Chicago Sunday morning before heading overseas later that evening. All the horses will be returning to Ireland with the exception of Mile sixth-place finisher Clemmie (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), who will remain in America. The majority of the Ballydoyle runners are done for the season, although Mendelssohn (Scat Daddy), Magic Wand (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), Gustav Klimt (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), and Hunting Horn (Ire) (Camelot {GB}) are among possibilities for the Hong Kong International Races Dec. 9. A decision will be made by the end of the month. The French contingent also departed for Chicago Sunday, but will have an overnight stop before flying back to France Monday morning. Talismanic (GB) (Medaglia d’Oro) is possible for either the G1 Hong Kong Cup and Vase, however, his participation has not been confirmed by trainer Andre Fabre, who indicated he would make a decision after the horses have returned to Chantilly. Champion mare Enable (GB) (Nathaniel {Ire}), who made history by becoming the first horse to win a Breeders’ Cup race and a G1 Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe in the same season, pleased trainer John Gosden Sunday. “She is absolutely fine [Sunday morning]” Gosden confirmed. A decision as to whether Enable will remain in training in 2019 will be made at a later date. Gosden also reported Quatar Racing’s Roaring Lion (Kitten’s Joy), 14th in the Classic, to be in fine from Sunday. The grey will now be given some time off before heading to stud. Another of the operation’s horses–Lightning Spear (GB) Pivotal {GB}) (Mile)–has run his last race. Trained by David Simcock, the 7-year-old will now start his career as a stallion along with Roaring Lion at Tweenhills. Bermuda Thoroughbred Racing’s Queen of Bermuda (Ire) (Exceed and Excel {Aus}), who finished fourth for trainer William Haggas in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint, will remain in the United States under the guidance of Graham Motion. One Master (GB) (Fastnet Rock {Aus})–fifth in the Mile for Haggas-remains possible for the Hong Kong Mile in December. Katsumi Yoshida’s The Mackem Bullet (Ire) (Society Rock {Ire}), sixth in the Juvenile Fillies Turf, has run her last race for trainer Brian Ellison. She will now be transferred to the U.S.-based operation of Wesley Ward. Juvenile Turf eighth The Black Album (Fr) (Wootton Bassett {GB}) (Juvenile Turf) will remain at Churchill Downs under the guidance of Rodolphe Brisset, while French Group 2 winner Princess Yaiza (Ire) (Casamento {Ire}), ninth in the Filly & Mare Turf, will go to the barn of Christophe Clement. View the full article

VEKOMA (c, 2 Candy Ride {Arg}–Mona de Momma, by Speightstown), an impressive debut winner in September at Belmont, tracked a fast pace and proved best in the stretch Sunday at Aqueduct in the GIII Nashua S. Bet hard Sept. 23 at Big Sandy, the $135,000 KEESEP grad scored a 1 3/4-length tally in a sharp 1:08.93 while getting his final quarter in :23.37. Coming back with a pair of bullet works over the Saratoga training track, the chestnut came away well here at a tick over 2-1 and tracked from third through quick splits of :22.53 and :45.29. Assuming command at the top of the lane under confident handling, he kicked away past midstretch and held sway from late-running Network Effect (Mark Valeski) to score by 1 1/2 lengths in 1:36.62. Lifetime Record: 2-2-0-0, $161,250. O-R A Hill Stable & Gatsas Stables; B-Alpha Delta Stables LLC (KY); T-George Weaver. View the full article

The team at Newsells Park Stud had plenty to celebrate this weekend after God Given (GB) (Nathaniel {Ire}) made it a second Group 1 win on the weekend for her sire following Enable (GB)’s celebrated score in the GI Breeders’ Cup Turf. The victory was also especially meaningful for trainer Luca Cumani, who was collecting the final Group 1 on the European calendar-in his homeland at that–shortly after announcing he would retire at the end of the season. For God Given herself, the Lydia Tesio marked the culmination of a career in which she was consistent in pattern company. Three straight wins last year at three included the G3 Prix Minerve, and she had been busy this season, winning Haydock’s G3 Pinnacle S. and Doncaster’s G2 Park Hill S. either side of a pair of group placings. Cumani confirmed that the beautifully bred God Given would now head to the paddocks on a high. “It’s fantastic. I’m delighted for the filly and delighted for the owner-breeders,” he said. “It’s great to have another Group 1 winner. It brought a tear to my eye–it’s a very emotional day. We knew she was a tough filly, and the mile and a quarter on the heavy ground really brought out her staying power.” “She is finished racing now – she’ll be retired to become a broodmare.” Pedigree Notes Cumani’s second-to-last Group 1 winner prior to God Given, incidentally, was the filly’s older half-brother Postponed (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}), who was among the best of his generation thanks to wins in the G1 King George VI and Queen Elizabeth S., G1 Juddmonte International and G1 Coronation Cup. Postponed and God Given are thus far the only two black-type performers for their dam, Ever Rigg (GB) (Dubai Destination), who died after producing a full-brother to Postponed, named Prejudice (GB) and a winner this year, in 2016. The second dam is the G1 Moyglare Stud S. winner Bianca Nera (GB) (Salse), whose descendants include the GIII Beverly Hills H. winner Turning Top (Ire) (Pivotal {GB}) and the G3 Winter Derby victor Robin Hoods Bay (GB) (Motivator {GB}). The G1 Meon Valley Stud Mile and G1 Falmouth S. winner Simply Perfect (GB) (Danehill) appears under the third dam. Sunday, Capannelle, Italy PREMIO LYDIA TESIO SISAL MATCHPOINT-G1, €407,000, 3yo/up, f/m, 2000mT, 2:16.49, hvy. 1-GOD GIVEN (GB), 127, f, 4, by Nathaniel (Ire) 1st Dam: Ever Rigg (GB), by Dubai Destination 2nd Dam: Bianca Nera (GB), by Salse 3rd Dam: Birch Creek (GB), by Carwhite (Ire) 1ST GROUP 1 WIN. O/B-St Albans Bloodstock Limited; T-Luca Cumani; J-J Watson. Lifetime Record: MGSW-Eng & GSW-Fr, 15-6-2-3. *1/2 to Postponed (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}), 2x Hwt. Older Horse-Eng at 9.5-11f & 11-14f, MG1SW-Eng, GSW-Fr, $2,557,233. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree. Werk Nick Rating: A+. 2-Nyaleti (Ire), 123, f, 3, Arch-America Nova (Fr), by Verglas (Ire). O-3 Batterhams and A Reay; B-SF Bloodstock LLC; T-Mark Johnston; J-J Fanning. 3-Snowy Winter, 127, f, 4, Elusive Quality-Pamona Ball, by Pleasantly Perfect. O-Boadicea Bloodstock; B-Darley; T-Archie Watson; J-G F Carroll. Margins: NK, 2 1/4, 4. Odds: 3.90, 5.00, 14.90. Also Ran: Flower Party (Ire), Well Timed (Ger), Sladina (GB), Prima Violetta (Ire), Navaro Girl (Ire). Click for the Racing Post result. Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. View the full article

YOU’VE done your research, consulted your gut, and picked your horse. Good news — here’s why it can win the Melbourne Cup. Bad news — here’s why it can’t win the Melbourne Cup. View the full article

Flat champions were crowned at Naas on Sunday, with Donnacha O’Brien, who won Classics in both Britain and Ireland, becoming the new Irish Champion Jockey. O’Brien rode exclusively for his father Aidan-now Irish Champion Trainer for the 21st time with 152 winners for the season and G1 Irish St Leger hero Flag Of Honour (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) to his credit-and his older brother Joseph. For the former he found Classic glory with Saxon Warrior (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) in the G1 QIPCO 2000 Guineas, and for the latter he booted home Latrobe (Ire) (Camelot {GB}) in the G1 Irish Derby. His accumulated 111 winners over the season, 29 in front of last year’s champion Colin Keane. Shane Crosse was crowned Irish Champion Apprentice on the back of 28 winners, only five ahead of Killian Leonard. Mrs. Sue Magnier earned her 16th Champion Owners’ Title, with Flag Of Honour and Cliffs Of Moher (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) bearing her colours to victory on the year. “Many congratulations to all of our champions for their performances on the track this season,” said Brian Kavanagh, Chief Executive of Horse Racing Ireland. “It was heartening to see such a terrific spread of big-race success throughout the season beginning with a memorable win for Ken Condon and Shane Foley in the Tattersalls Irish 2000 Guineas with Romanised (Ire) (Holy Roman Emperor {Ire}) and culminating with Moyglare Stud S. success for Patrick Prendergast and Ronan Whelan with Skitter Scatter (Scat Daddy).” View the full article

‘TDN Rising Star’ Newspaperofrecord (Ire) (Lope de Vega {Ire}) was one of the more visually impressive winners during the two-day Breeders’ Cup festival at Churchill Downs this weekend, and while her trainer Chad Brown and owner Seth Klaraman of Klaravich Stables have become synonymous with big-race success in America, her breeder, Allan Belshaw, has thus far been much less in the spotlight. That doesn’t mean, however, that he hasn’t produced results from his tiny broodmare band: Simply Times (Dodge), the second dam of Newspaperofrecord, is also the second dam of this year’s G1 Irish Derby winner Latrobe (Ire) (Camelot {GB}). Newspaperofrecord was raised at Richard and Sally Aston’s Goldford Stud near Malpas on behalf of the Lancashire-based Belshaw. He breeds Thoroughbreds under the banner of his engineering company, Times Of Wigan. Richard Aston said, “Allan is an inspiration for all small owner-breeders. We’ve been boarding mares for him for more than 20 years after Simply Times, who was one of the first horses he bought. I think she produced 10 winners including Welsh Emperor and Forever Times, who was sold to Ireland and is the dam of the Irish Derby winner Latrobe.” “We bred Sunday Times, the mother of Newspaperofrecord, who was also a group winner for Peter Chapple-Hyam in Allan’s colours. Newspaperofrecord was foaled in Ireland but came back here soon afterwards. She was a lovely foal, a big and strong filly and I think she’s become more attractive as she’s got older.” “The family has done brilliantly. Juddmonte bought her half-sister Classical Times, which was a real honour, and the dam is now in foal to Churchill. Allan was in Churchill Downs watching the race and has Newspaperofrecord’s yearling half-sister by Gleneagles which he was going to keep, but it wouldn’t surprise me if he starts getting offers from America for her. He never has more than three mares in foal per year, and to have produced a Breeders’ Cup winner and an Irish Derby winner is quite an exceptional achievement from such small numbers.” View the full article

LEXINGTON, KY–Bidding moves across-town Monday with the first session of the Keeneland November Breeding Stock Sale getting underway at noon. The 12-day auction opens with a single session Book 1 comprised of 250 catalogued head. Last year, Book 1 was comprised of 367 horses and held over two sessions. Of the change to one session, Bob Elliston, Keeneland’s Vice President of Racing and Sales, said, “Last year we had a multi-day Book 1 and one thing we hear from buyers all the time, especially with the Breeders’ Cup in Kentucky, is that principals from all over the world have very busy schedules and they want to see as much stock as they can up front. Last year, we were done at 4:00p.m. and it wasn’t an efficient use of time. We want to have as much of the quality offerings in a quick time frame, so buyers can return to their responsibilities.” In 2017, 18 lots attracted seven-figure bids, including champion Stellar Wind (Curlin) who topped the auction when selling for $6 million to Coolmore’s M.V. Magnier. During 12 sessions a year ago, Keeneland sold 2,424 head and grossed $202,021,700 for an average of $83,342. The market has been exceptionally strong throughout the yearling sales this year and Elliston is one of many industry professionals who believe that will continue into the weanling market. “We are optimistic that the valuables that have contributed to the terrific yearling market are still in place,” Elliston said. “They are a great economy that is still ticking along; enthusiasm in the sport in terms of buyers looking to acquire more talent and upgrade their broodmare bands; and I know our offerings are terrific for as worldwide market.” This term’s Keeneland November catalogue is highlighted by popular champion Lady Eli (Divine Park), who sells in foal to War Front; GISW Zipessa (City Zip), who is offered in foal to Medaglia d’Oro; as well as Grade I winners Lady Ivanka (Tiz Wonderful), Union Strike (Union Rags), Sailor’s Valentine (Mizzen Mast) and Vasilika (Skipshot). Weanling headliners include Tapit half-sisters to champions Honor Code and Arrogate. “We have 251 graded stakes-winning and producing fillies and mares,” Elliston said. “Then you look at what has transpired even more recently. We have updates to horses all the way through Books 3 and 4. We are very keen in terms of the depth of the marketplace. You have the top end in the form of Lady Eli in foal to War Front and Zipessa in foal to Medaglia d’Oro. We are very happy with what our consignors have brought to the marketplace.” Following Monday’s opening session, bidding on subsequent sessions will begin daily at 10 a.m. and the Keeneland November sale will run through Nov. 16. View the full article

Trainer David Menuisier has issued an upbeat report on Thundering Blue (Exchange Rate) as his stable star prepares for the G1 Japan Cup. After finishing second in the GI Canadian International on his last start, the 5-year-old son of Exchange Rate will bid to claim the first top-level victory of his career in the mile-and-a-half contest in Tokyo on Nov. 25. Pulborough trainer Menuisier said, “Thundering Blue is in very good form, and is set to leave on Nov. 14. We are very pleased with him, and he has come out of his race in Canada kicking and bucking. He has had a long season, but it doesn’t look like it. He is quite an amazing horse, really, because he has just got stronger as the year has gone along. We didn’t plan to work him last weekend, but we had to because he was so fresh.” Menuisier admits Thundering Blue’s next global assignment is a step into the unknown. “We are going into the dark a bit, because it is really hard to compare form with the Japanese horses,” he said. “The main thing is that we are sending a horse out that feels really well. I hope he will run another good race.” Thundering Blue won York’s G2 York S. in July, ran third to MG1SW Roaring Lion (Kitten’s Joy) in the G1 Juddmonte International S. on Aug. 22 and was back in the winner’s circle in the G3 Stockholm Cup International at Bro Park in Sweden on Sept. 23. View the full article

Donjah (Ger) (Teofilo {Ire}) lined up for Sunday’s G3 Herzog von Ratibor-Rennen at Krefeld with just a 4 1/2-length debut success, going one mile at Cologne in her only prior start last month, to her name. She emerged with an unblemished record and as a leading contender for domestic juvenile honours after posting a resounding six-length tally in Germany’s final group race of the year. The 5-2 second favourite was squeezed for room at the break and raced towards the rear initially, but weaved a passage into a midfield fifth by halfway. Under pressure rounding the home turn, she was ridden to the front approaching the final eighth and powered away from toiling rivals to allow jockey Lukas Delozier time for an exuberant celebration before hitting the line clear of Sibelius (Ger) (Pastorius {Ger}), himself a length in front of €500,000 BBAG September sale topper and stablemate Dschingis First (Ger) (Soldier Hollow {GB}). Donjah, who was previously known as Detonation (Ger), is one of four winners from as many runners and the leading performer produced by Listed Premio Eupili placegetter Dyanamore (Mt. Livermore). She is a kin to Listed Junioren-Preis third Danny Boy (Ger) (Caradak {Ire}), Listed Svenskt Derby third Tiglath (Spa) (Footstepsinthesand {GB}) and the yearling filly Dancing Shoes (Ger) (Kamsin {Ger}). The bay shares her MSW third dam Coast Patrol (Cornish Prince) with MG1SW sire Earl of Tinsdal (Ger) (Black Sam Bellamy {Ire}). Sunday, Krefeld, Germany GROSSER PREIS DES OLYMPISCHEN DORFES IN BERLIN VON 1936 – HERZOG VON RATIBOR-RENNEN-G3, €55,000, Krefeld, 11-4, 2yo, 8 1/2fT, 1:46.42, gd. 1–DONJAH (GER), 122, f, 2, by Teofilo (Ire) 1st Dam: Dyanamore (SP-Ity), by Mt. Livermore 2nd Dam: Dynatrol, by Dynaformer 3rd Dam: Coast Patrol, by Cornish Prince 1ST BLACK-TYPE WIN; 1ST GROUP WIN. (€100,000 Ylg ’17 BBAGS). O-Darius Racing; B-Gestut Karlshof (GER); T-Henk Grewe; J-Lukas Delozier. €32,000. Lifetime Record: 2-2-0-0, €35,000. *1/2 to Tiglath (Spa) (Footstepsinthesand {GB}), SP-Swe, $119,666; and Danny Boy (Ger) (Caradak {Ire}), SP-Ger. Werk Nick Rating: B. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree. 2–Sibelius (Ger), 126, c, 2, Pastorius (Ger)–Shiramiyna (Ire), by Invincible Spirit (Ire). (€19,000 RNA Ylg ’17 BBAGS). O-Art 4 Horseracing; B-Gotz Meyer zu Reckendorf (GER); T-Markus Klug. €12,000. 3–Dschingis First (Ger), 126, c, 2, Soldier Hollow (GB)–Divya (Ger), by Platini (Ger). (€500,000 Ylg ’17 BBAGS). O-Horst Pudwill; B-Gestut Park Wiedingen (GER); T-Markus Klug. €6,000. Margins: 6, 1, 2HF. Odds: 2.50, 16.50, 4.00. Also Ran: Accon (Ger), Manx (Ire), Certain Lad (GB), Jeck Yeah (Fr), Zerostress (Ger), Say Good Buy (Ger). Click for the Racing Post result or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. View the full article

Former Hong Kong Jockey Club chairman Ronald Arculli has had his fair share of Melbourne Cup disappointment but he remained remarkably realistic at Sha Tin on Sunday after his horse Red Verdon was ruled out of the race with a foot issue. Arculli owned famed globetrotter Red Cadeaux, who finished second three times from five Cup starts, and also River Verdon, the first Hong Kong-based horse to compete in the time-honoured staying test back in 1994, but is still chasing his first victory. “... View the full article

Three-time British champion jockey Silvestre de Sousa wasted no time making a mark on his return to Hong Kong racing, notching up a winner with just his fourth ride. While some jockeys have been forced to wait weeks between winners this season, De Sousa got straight to business on Sunday and is on a mission to prove the doubters wrong, adamant his four-month contract here was “not about stats”. Wiser after completing two stints in Hong Kong previously, De Sousa said it was important... View the full article

Each year Flemington Racecourse plays host to The Melbourne Cup Carnival. The main focus of the Carnival is the $7.3 million Lexus Melbourne Cup which is Australia’s most prestigious competition on the racing calendar, and this year the two-mile contest falls on November 6th. The race is a quality Group 1 handicap for horses three years and older. It is of prime interest to the best trainers in the world where twenty-four horses will go to post. The course is now run over two miles. The 1990 winner Kingston Rule is the current record holder with a time of 3.16.3. The first Melbourne Cup was held in 1861 and holds an important role in horse racing history. With some of the more recent winning names being Prince Of Penzance (2015) who was also the fourth ever horse to win the contest priced at 100-1 and was steered by the first ever lady jockey to win the Melbourne Cup, Australian rider Michelle Payne. Last year son of Irish trainer Aidan O’Brien, Joseph, trained the winner Rekindling who did all the running for owner Llyod Williams making the son of High Chaparral the first three-year-old to win the handicap since Skipton in 1941. The young Irish trainer will not defend the trophy this year as original entry Latrobe will now be redirected to the Seppelt Mackinnon Stakes on the final Saturday of the Spring Carnival on November 10th. Owner Lloyd Williams has won the handicap on a total of six occasions, in the years 1981, 1985, 2007, 2012, 2016 and his horse also took the title up to as recent as last year. In 2016 Almandin who won the Cup narrowly over Heartbreak City. The businessman is eager to continue his good trend with the race. Williams owns the current favourite amongst entries, the four-year-old son of Galileo, Yucatan. Trained by Aidan O’Brien he will be the name racing fans will be eager to watch. Set to be ridden by James Mc Donald the pair have been drawn to race from stall twenty-three. This it seems has caused odds to drop slightly for the favourite. In the last decade, only two horses have won the Melbourne Cup with a draw higher than stall 13. The Ballydoyle based trainer has a strong hand among entries including The Cliffsofmoher and Rostropovich bringing his total of runners to three in the field. The Cliffsofmoher is set to be partnered by stable jockey Ryan Moore. The four-year old’s form has been consistent all season and on his last outing finished third in the hot Group 1 Stella Artois Caulfield Cup, at Caulfield Racecourse last month. Connections will be hopeful his form can improve from this and he will certainly be one to watch on the betting market. Best Solution returned to the winners’ enclosure in that Group 1 contest and he now goes up against Saeed Bin Suroor-trained four-year-old. Rostropovich, who finished fifth behind Winx in the Cox Plate on his latest start, has been drawn in stall 21, while The Cliffsofmoher has been given stall nine. Godolphin-owned Best Solution is set to be ridden by Pat Cosgrave and is certainly an entry not to be overlooked. With a strong performance at Caulfield last month to win the Group 1 Stella Artois Caulfield Cup coupled an extremely impressive form in the latter part of the season, 1111, he will be one punters should keep a close eye on. Magic Circle (Fran Berry) wins the Henry II Stakes SandownIan William’s trained Magic Circle is an important name not to be forgotten and has been most backed by ante-post punters. The connections of the promising six-year-old have secured two-time Melbourne Cup-winning jockey Corey Brown for the ride in the race. The champion jockey will be aiming for a third victory in ‘the race that stops the nation’ following wins with Shocking in 2009 and last year’s triumph on board the O’Brien-trained Rekindling. Charlie Fellowes saddled the first Group winner of his short career with A Prince Of Arran who did all the running to win the Group 3 handicap, the Lexus Stakes at Flemington Racecourse on November 3rd to land his confirmation place among the field in the Melbourne Cup. The margin of half a length did not do justice to the ease with which he won and there was more good news for Fellowes shortly afterwards when Racing Victoria’s chief handicapper Greg Carpenter, in what is always the speediest assessment of his year, decided not to penalise the five-year-old for the race that stops a nation. It means he will line up in the 24-runner Group 1 handicap with 53kg (8st5lbs). A race that is known as one to ‘stop a nation’ it will certainly be for thrilling viewing for racing fans alike. Selection: A Prince Of Arran The post The Melbourne Cup Preview: A Race That Stops A Nation appeared first on RaceBets Blog EN. View the full article

Time Warp turned back the clock to edge out his younger brother while Pakistan Star also got up to his old tricks in a Group Three Sa Sa Ladies’ Purse that left more questions than answers. Since winning the Hong Kong Gold Cup in February, Time Warp had failed to beat a runner home in his three subsequent starts, so this handicap was billed as head-to-head contest between the up-and-coming Glorious Forever and fan favourite Pakistan Star. It turned out to be anything but. The Tony Cruz-... View the full article

First year trainer Jimmy Ting Koon-ho says he is as surprised as anyone that he sits atop the trainers’ championship two months into the season after landing a double at Sha Tin on Sunday to pull clear of Tony Millard. Ting took his tally for the season to 16 on the back of victories to Diamond Master and Smiling Pride and the 45-year-old says he must continue to cash in while his horses are well-rated. “I just keep finding winners. I’m surprised, too. Before the season I didn... View the full article

WERRIBEE, Australia—One man who could be forgiven for being a little bleary-eyed at Sunday’s Lexus Melbourne Cup breakfast press call was Charlie Fellowes, who had enjoyed the biggest win of his career less than 24 hours earlier. Victory for A Prince Of Arran (GB) (Shirocco {Ger}) in the G3 Lexus S. on Victoria Derby Day at Flemington was not just a first Group win for the trainer but it also means he is set to have his first runner in Tuesday’s G1 Lexus Melbourne Cup. For a horse that has run in Dubai, America, Britain and now Australia within the last ten months, A Prince Of Arran continues to take his racing well and the trainer said that he’d pulled out a lot brighter than he did on Sunday—but then the gelding wasn’t cavorting on the dance floor in Club 23 until the small hours. Instead, he ate all of his food, had a good rest and trotted up sound. “At no point was it easy viewing,” admitted Fellowes after Saturday’s race, which was delayed for ten minutes after power was lost on the photo finish camera and a rival contender spread a plate at the starts. “But we know he stays and although he does get lazy in front we knew that if something had come to him he’d pick up again. This is the biggest win of my career, my first Group winner, and this means more than getting into the Cup, though that’s amazing of course and we’ll try to enjoy the next few days and the build-up as much as we can.” The Cup picture changed on Saturday in more ways than one. Red Verdon (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), who had suffered a bruised heel on Wednesday, was scratched from the race during the afternoon by trainer Ed Dunlop. This made way for last year’s fifth-place finisher Nakeeta (GB) (Sixties Icon {GB}), who had been bumped out of the race by A Prince Of Arran, to regain his position in the line-up. Godolphin, who enjoyed a fantastic 24 hours over the weekend at the Breeders’ Cup and at Flemington, where James Cummings had three Group winners on Derby day, will have three runners for three different trainers. The G1 Caulfield Cup winner Best Solution (Ire) (Kodiac {GB}) will effectively carry the first colours for Saeed Bin Suroor’s stable, while the Cummings-trained Avilius (GB) (Pivotal {GB}) will have the white cap and Charlie Appleby’s 3-year-old Cross Counter (GB) (Teofilo {Ire}) has the red. The two ‘international’ contenders from the trio, Cross Counter and Best Solution, were among the first out for an easy canter on the sand track at Werribee on Sunday morning. Cross Counter and his fellow 3-year-old Rostropovich (Ire) (Frankel {GB}) will carry joint-bottom weight of 51kg and, like last year’s winner Rekindling (GB) (High Chaparral {Ire}), both are considered 4-year-olds by southern hemisphere time. While Rostropovich took his lead around Werribee from his older stablemate Idaho (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), his two fellow Ballydoyle runners in the Cup, the enigmatic Yucatan (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) and Thecliffsofmoher (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) paired up for an easy spin, with Yucatan out in front and moving very easily. At Epsom and Ascot this summer he has played the whipper-in role in the Coronation Cup and the Wolferton S., but Yucatan’s sole Australian start, when eased down to stroll across the line for a facile G2 Herbert Power S. victory, means that he approaches Tuesday as the short-priced favourite and has James McDonald as partner. Nick Williams, part-owner of both Yucatan and Thecliffsofmoher and seeking a third consecutive victory in the race, explained that the decision to have Ballydoyle’s retained jockey Ryan Moore on the latter is merely because he knows Thecliffsofmoher well and the horse is considered to be less straightforward than his stablemate. Williams also urged the groundsmen to turn on the taps at Flemington after fast ground for Derby day but his wish may be granted by a higher power as it’s set to rain in Melbourne midway through Monday and into Cup day. One horse who will cope well if the ground eases is Marmelo (GB) (Duke Of Marmalade {Ire}), who was the Cup favourite 12 months ago and finished ninth. Ed and Christabel Goodwin’s homebred, who now has several Australian partners involved in his ownership, could not have looked more content as he trotted around Werribee like a dressage horse under Tom Perry on Sunday morning before enjoying a steady canter on the grass. He has Winx’s jockey Hugh Bowman booked again, as well as a plum draw in gate 10. “I think the horse learned something last year, and so did we,” said trainer Hughie Morrison. “Everywhere he’s been this year, whether it’s quarantine, aeroplane or here, he’s just more chilled out about everything. It’s good to have a happy horse. Every horse who stays sound and healthy will improve from four to five. His form this year is the same as last year but hopefully he has improved.” Sheikh Hamdan Al Maktoum has already won the Cup twice—with At Talaq (GB) in 1986 and Jeune (GB) eight years later—the former trained by Colin Hayes and Jeune by the his son David. The owner’s challenger this year will race for Britain’s champion trainer John Gosden for the last time as Muntahaa (GB) (Dansili {GB}) is set to remain in Australia at the Hayes family’s Lindsay Park after the Cup. With Gosden in Louisville for the Breeders’ Cup, his son Thady has been overseeing the horse’s training at Werribee and, shortly after watching Enable (GB) win the Breeders’ Cup Turf followed by a disappointing swansong for Roaring Lion in the Classic, Gosden Jr took to the stage with Sheikh Hamdan’s racing manager Angus Gold to discuss the chances of the stable adding to what has been a superb year in Europe by saddling the winner of the Melbourne Cup. He said, “The journey took a little bit out of him but he’s now coming to himself really well and I’d like to think that he’s back to the same sort of form he was in for the Ebor. It’s incredibly exciting to come here. The public involvement in the race is something we don’t have to same extent at home.” Angus Gold added, “He won the Ebor very well, he’s a 5-year-old gelding and he hasn’t got a lot of miles on the clock so it made sense to aim him for Melbourne. We’ve sent horses down to Australia before who wouldn’t have had anything like the class of this horse. “This is a different way of racing. They’ve got to take to it—some of them absolutely thrive and others just don’t take to it all. He either will or he won’t but there’s no point us worrying about it, and jumping from 13 he has plenty of options.” As colourful as the Melbourne Cup Carnival is, it’s fair to say that it has never produced a press conference quite as startling as that staged on Sunday morning once the microphone was pointed at Dr Marwan Koukash. The flamboyant owner had earlier promised that he would take to the winner’s enclosure wearing nothing but a G-string should his Magic Circle (Ire) (Makfi {GB}) win the A$7.3 million race and he appears to be intending to keep his word. “It’s going to happen,” he warned on Sunday morning, before producing a red G-string from his jeans pocket. “It’s not a threat, it’s a promise.” Magic Circle has been seen in action only twice this year when handing out a six-length thrashing to his rivals in the G3 Henry II S. on May 24, just less than a fortnight after he won the Chester Cup. He comes to Melbourne a fresh horse, though perhaps not as fresh as his owner. “I was hoping for a top three finish but to do what he did against Group horses, not handicappers, took us by surprise,” admitted Koukash. “That’s when we started thinking that not only did we have a horse who could run in the Melbourne Cup but one that could go there with a serious chance. “I’ve gone on record many times saying that there are only two Cups I’d love to win—one is the Chester Cup and the other is the Melbourne Cup. I’m not being disrespectful to Royal Ascot but the Melbourne Cup Carnival is the greatest show on earth and you’d have to be a miserable bastard not to enjoy being here.” Eyeing his owner slightly warily as he sat alongside, trainer Ian Williams, pointing at the Melbourne Cup positioned tantalisingly close to the podium, said, “Who cares what Marwan does, I just want to get my hands on that big boy.” He continued, “I think this horse is a very, very competitive stayer. He’s certainly got the stamina but what he also has is an incredible turn of foot. We’ve been criticised for not running him more this season but we wanted to keep him for here. It’s been quite a revelation with him—back home he got a little bit quiet and just accepted his work but once he went into quarantine he was like a 2-year-old again and since he’s been out here he’s been wild, not dissimilar to how Marwan behaves.” Taking his cue, Koukash insisted on the last word. “I’ve been training for the last six months and I am now a lot more desirable,” he said. “I’ve lost 25kgs and I actually do look good in my G-string. When I look at myself in the mirror now I quite fancy myself. I think my wife thinks I won’t do it and she’ll probably divorce me but it’s a lot easier finding a new wife than it is to win the Melbourne Cup.” View the full article

Accelerate rallied in the far turn, out-dueled Thunder Snow in the stretch, and had enough to hold off a late move by Gunnevera to win the $6 million Breeders' Cup Classic (G1) Nov. 3 at Churchill Downs. View the full article

For about five-sixteenths of a mile in the $200,000 Golden State Juvenile Nov. 3 at Santa Anita Park, two California-bred colts who could end up making noise down the line against any kind of competition engaged in a battle to the wire. View the full article

Capped by a picture-perfect fall day at Churchill Downs, the 35th Breeders’ Cup World Championships recorded total handle of $157,445,841 for the two-day event held Nov. 2-3. The figure was the fifth-highest since the Breeders’ Cup went to a two-day format in 2007. Total handle for Saturday’s nine championship races was $96,018,060, a 4% decrease from last year. Common-pool handle on Saturday’s 12-race Breeders’ Cup card was $105,229,197. Churchill was hosting the Breeders’ Cup for the ninth time. Saturday’s attendance was 70,423, bringing the two-day total to 112,672. It was the third-largest attendance in Breeders’ Cup history, topped only by 118,484 in 2016 at Santa Anita and 114,353 in 2010 at Churchill. “Once again the Breeders’ Cup proved a fitting showcase for world championship performances and the best in international racing,” said Breeders’ Cup President and CEO Craig Fravel. “We want to thank our gracious hosts from Churchill Downs, the greater Louisville community, our fans around the world as well the owners and breeders who participate in our racing programs for an incredible week capped by two extraordinary days of racing.” The Breeders’ Cup has already announced it will return to Santa Anita in 2019, Keeneland in 2020, and Del Mar in 2021. View the full article

Accelerate rallied in the far turn, out-dueled Thunder Snow in the stretch, and had enough to hold off a late move by Gunnevera to win the $6 million Breeders' Cup Classic (G1) Nov. 3 at Churchill Downs. View the full article

The Breeders’ Cup rarely disappoints and the 2018 edition was no exception. From the start on Friday through John Sadler’s cathartic win with Accelerate (Lookin At Lucky) in the GI Breeders’ Cup Classic, there seemed to be unforgettable moment after unforgettable moment. But 25 years from now, when they are running the Breeders’ Cup for the 60th time, this year will be remembered as the year of Enable (GB) (Nathaniel {Ire}). How can it not be? We had never seen a horse pull off the G1 Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe-GI Breeders’ Cup Turf double, which wasn’t exactly a surprise. To do so, you have to run the race of your life against the very best in Europe, come back four weeks later, ship across the ocean and, again, put in a sensational effort against the best turf horses from two continents. Eight horses had tried prior to Saturday’s Turf and all eight had returned home without a Breeders’ Cup trophy. We came to learn over the years that only an exceptional horse could do this, and Enable is an exceptional horse. She won the Arc last year, as well, but had had a long campaign and trainer John Gosden and her owner, Juddmonte Farms, decided not to send her to the Breeders’ Cup. The story was different this year. In May, it was announced that Enable had suffered a setback in training and would not return until the late summer. Her first start of 2018 came in a modest spot, the G3 September S. on the all-weather surface at Kempton. But that race set her up for a return trip to the Arc, and she won again, bravely holding off a late rally from Sea Of Class (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}). The Arc was just her second start of the year, which meant that Gosden, unlike last year, had a fresh horse for the Breeders’ Cup. Everyone knew that Enable was talented. Yesterday, we learned she is a fighter. Jockey Frankie Dettori said she was “spinning her wheels” until he got her out into the middle of the turf course where he believed the footing was better. Seven or eighth paths off the rail, she hooked Magical (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) at the top of the stretch and both fillies battled hard to the wire. Enable just battled a little harder. “It was a big ask of the filly as everyone knows she has had a difficult year,” Gosden said. “She didn’t quite come here in the form she would have come with last year. It was a tough race, but she did it. It was a wonderful stretch run between two great fillies and two great jockeys [Dettori and Ryan Moore] and we came out on top. Full marks to the filly. She’s been very brave and mentally very strong to get herself here. She did it today with sheer guts and determination.” Magical, a 3-year-old filly, also ran a winning race as she finished nine lengths in front of the third-place finisher Sadler’s Joy (Kitten’s Joy). Not that anyone needed convincing, but Gosden also proved what a gifted horsemen he is, having guided Enable through a difficult season, one that ended with wins in two of the biggest turf races run on the globe. But he’s been doing this for a long time, so long that he won a race on the first ever Breeders’ Cup Day card way back in 1984 at a racetrack that will soon be a football stadium. He won the inaugural GI Breeders’ Cup Mile, run at Hollywood Park, with Royal Heroine (Ire) (Lypheor {GB}). Despite the giddy nature of the prior 600 words I have written, Enable will not get my Eclipse Award vote for champion turf filly or mare. That would be terribly unfair to Sistercharlie (Ire) (Myboycharlie {Ire}). With her win yesterday in the GI Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf, she has won four Grade I races this year, all of them on U.S. soil. She shouldn’t be overtaken by a horse who raced just once this year in this country. The other big story yesterday, of course, was Accelerate. You had to feel good for the classy John Sadler, who was in the spotlight all week for all the wrong reasons. His 0 for 41 record in the Breeders’ Cup was one of the biggest stories of the week and Sadler had to hear about it over and over again. He handled it with dignity and never got ruffled. As the day went on, you really were starting to believe that someone out there had a Sadler voodoo doll and was sticking pins in it. Selcourt (Tiz Wonderful) looked like a strong contender in the GI Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Sprint and finished 12th. On paper, Catalina Cruiser (Union Rags) looked like he couldn’t lose in the GI Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile. He ran sixth. Sadler fared much better in the Mile where Catapult (Kitten’s Joy) was second. Still, it was another loser and Sadler went into the Classic at 0 for 44. Though winning the Classic, Accelerate will still go down as one of the unluckier horses in recent times. In virtually any other year he would have been a unanimous choice for Horse of the Year. This year, there’s very little chance that he will win out over Triple Crown winner Justify (Scat Daddy). It was also a remarkable day for Peter Miller, who had two winners, both of them repeat winners in the Breeders’ Cup. That’s not easy to do, but Stormy Liberal (Stormy Atlantic) won the GI Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint for the second straight year and Roy H (More Than Ready) did the same in the GI Breeders’ Cup Sprint. What was also notable about this Breeders’ Cup is that it shed further light on the divide between the haves and have nots in horse racing. The “little guys” never stood a chance. The tone was set when the very first winner, Bulletin (City Zip), won the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint for Todd Pletcher and the ownership group of WinStar Farm LLC, China Horse Club and SF Racing LLC. We saw two wins by Juddmonte, one from Godolphin, Seth Klarman, Peter Brant, Gary and Mary West and Sol Kumin and partners. On the trainer front, Chad Brown won twice and other winners included Charlie Appleby, Bob Baffert, Michael Stoute, Mark Casse and Gosden. This was not a Breeders’ Cup for the Uriah St. Lewises of the world. It will be hard for the 2019 Breeders’ Cup to top this one, but it might just find a way. How about Enable coming back after winning her third straight Arc and going for her second straight Turf? One can always dream, can’t they. View the full article

Painting Corners seemed to put away the entire Senator Ken Maddy (G3T) field as she sprinted into the stretch Nov. 3 at Santa Anita Park, but could not hold off Storm the Hill in the final furlong. View the full article

Sent out as the even-money favorite in the Chilukki Stakes (G2) Nov. 3 at Churchill Downs, Divine Miss Grey made short work of the five-horse field of older fillies and mares and completed the one-mile test in 1:36.64. View the full article

Irad Ortiz Jr., who won two races and finished in the top four in five other races from 13 mounts, won the 16th Bill Shoemaker Award, given to the most outstanding jockey of the World Championships hosted by Churchill Downs. View the full article

Irad Ortiz Jr., winner of a pair of races and in the top four in five other races from 13 mounts, won the 16th Bill Shoemaker Award, given to the leading of the World Championships hosted by Churchill Downs. The Shoemaker Award is based on a 10-4-2-1 scoring system on first- through fourth-place finishes in each of the 14 Breeders’ Cup World Championship races. Ortiz collected 35 points, edging Joel Rosario (32) and Javier Castellano (30). Castellano collected the award at Del Mar in 2017. Ortiz’s victories were registered aboard Newspaperofrecord (Ire) in Friday’s GI Juvenile Fillies Turf and Shamrock Rose in Saturday’s GI Filly & Mare Sprint. He finished second three times–Uncle Benny (Juvenile Turf), World of Trouble (Turf Sprint) and Gunnevera (Classic). He also had one third-place finish with Analyze It in the Mile and a fourth with Firenze Fire in the Dirt Mile. Rosario rode three winners during the two-day series: Accelerate (Classic); Game Winner (Juvenile) and Jaywalk (Juvenile Fillies). He also had a third-place finish in the Turf Sprint on Disco Partner. The Shoemaker Award is named in honor of legendary horseman Bill Shoemaker, who captured the Kentucky Derby four times, won over 8,800 races in a career that spanned over four decades 40 years. In 1987, at age 56, Shoemaker won the Breeders’ Cup Classic aboard Ferdinand at Hollywood Park. View the full article