Wandering Eyes

Godolphin's relaxation of decade-long boycott of Coolmore stock rewarded View the full article

Owner Peter Brant completed a successful return to racing when his Sistercharlie (IRE) rallied in deep stretch to win the $2 million Maker's Mark Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf (G1T) Nov. 3 at Churchill Downs. View the full article

Chad Brown saddled five runners in Saturday’s edition of the GI Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Turf at Churchill Downs, and it was Sistercharlie (Ire) (Myboycharlie {Ire}–Starlet’s Sister {Ire}) who rose to the top, giving her Eclipse Award winning trainer his fourth renewal of the race. The Irish-bred settled in midpack as stablemate A Raving Beauty (Ger) bounced out to the assume a comfortable lead over Magic Wand (Ire) and Princess Yaiza (Ire) with G1 Prix de l’Opera heroine Wild Illusion (GB) also within striking distance. Carving out splits of :26.20, :51.81, 1:18.56, A Raving Beauty continued to show the way heading into the stretch, but Sistercharlie and Wild Illusion both had designs on the top spot and they inched ever closer to the leader. With dead aim on the frontrunner who appeared to have reached her distance limitations, Sistercharlie ground her way past her rival in midstretch and was comfortably in front of the game 5-2 choice Wild Illusion. A Raving Beauty held on for third. Final time for the 11 furlong test was 2:20.96. Lifetime Record: 11-7-3-0, $2,675,603. O-Peter Brant; B-Ecurie Des Monceaux; T-Chad Brown. View the full article

LEXINGTON, KY – The Fasig-Tipton November Sale, punctuated by a glittering array of graded stakes winners and graded stakes producers, will be held Sunday at Newtown Paddocks in Lexington with bidding slated to begin at 3 p.m. “We are very, very happy with the catalogue that we’ve put together,” said Fasig-Tipton President Boyd Browning, Jr. “It’s as deep a catalogue, in terms of quality, that I can ever remember. It’s a really good collection of horses.” The breeding stock season opens on the heels of a bevy of record-setting yearling sales and continued strong demand at the top of the market. “You’ve got to be optimistic and encouraged by the strength of the yearling market, particularly at the upper levels,” Browning said. “Fortunately for us, that’s what our November sale is. It’s an upper-market sale.” The one-session auction will begin with an offering of 116 weanlings. “We’ve got the best group of weanlings we’ve ever had,” Browning said. “The numbers are up in the weanlings a little bit and the quality is up and the sire power and pedigrees are up.” Last year’s catalogue opened with 81 weanlings and featured a pair of $1-million foals from the first crop of Triple Crown winner American Pharoah. Seven weanlings by the Coolmore stallion will be on offer Sunday afternoon. First-crop sires represented by weanlings in this year’s catalogue include a pair of GI Kentucky Derby winners in California Chrome and Nyquist, as well as GI Preakness S. winner Exaggerator. Other sires with first weanlings are: Air Force Blue, Brody’s Cause, Cinco Charlie, Frosted, Hit It a Bomb, Mshawish, Runhappy, Speightster, Tourist and Upstart. The auction features mares in foal with the first crop of champions Arrogate and Gun Runner, as well as Grade I winners Cupid and Mastery. “The collection of in-foal mares is really good in terms of proven producers,” Browning said. “I think we have a better combination, a better mix, than we’ve had in a long time, in terms of proven producers in foal to top horses, top fillies and mares coming off the racetrack and also young mares in foal carrying their first, second or third foals. And then, with the weanlings, we have the full menu of the real quality offerings that people are hopefully desirous of.” A total of 19 offerings brought seven figures at last year’s November sale, with Mandy Pope’s Whisper Hill Farm paying top price of $9.5 million to acquire champion Songbird (Medaglia d’Oro). In all, 115 head sold for $74,200,000 and an average of $645,217. View the full article

Today’s series of five Hill `n’ Dale ads advertising the upcoming sale of Lady Eli as hip 111 November 5 at Keeneland are the first in the TDN presented in “augmented reality.” Users can download the LifePrint Photo App on iOS or Android devices from the app store. With the app open, users point their device at their computer monitor, tablet, iPad or printed copy of the TDN and watch the stretch run of her five Grade I races—one per ad–as the photo animates within the frame. The ad concept was developed by LGB, Hill ‘n’ Dale and Keeneland. “As an agency, we have always looked to be at the forefront of the curve,” said LGB’s Lance Bell. “In today’s world, it is extremely difficult to get someone’s attention. We are inundated with data and our brains are conditioned to discount information, rather than embrace it. But if ever there were a horse that deserved a special level of attention to showcase her exceptional qualities, it is Lady Eli.” The ads appear in Sunday’s TDN. Augmented reality is an interactive experience of a real-world environment where objects in the real world are augmented by computer-generated perceptual information. View the full article

City of Light (Quality Road–Paris Notion, by Dehere) staked his claim as one of the nation’s top sprinters when making all the running and scoring impressively in Saturday’s GI Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile at Churchill. Sent quickly to the front by Javier Castellano as Seven Trumpets, Firenze Fire favored Catalina Cruiser–who broke wide from post 10–pressed the issue to his outside,City of Light ripped off fractions of :22.64, :45.16, 1:09.03. Still in front and moving powerfully turning for home as his early company fell away one by one, City of Light hit another gear in deep stretch and proved too much, crossing the wire 2 1/2 emphatic lengths ahead of closer Seeking the Soul (Perfect Soul {Ire}). Grade II winner Bravazo (Awesome Again), who was cutting back from an extensive Classic campaign last summer, ran on to be third. Catalina Cruiser faded late to finish far back. Final time for the event was 1:33.83. Lifetime Record: 10-5-4-1, $1,712,600. O-Mr. and Mrs. William K Warren. B-Ann Marie Farm; T-Michael McCarthy. View the full article

Gary and Mary West's Game Winner proved just that when he overcame a less than ideal trip to take the Sentient Jet Breeders' Cup Juvenile by 2 1/2 lengths. View the full article

Audible, off for six months, returned to the races with a bang, kicking late to go by the field and win the Qatar Cherokee Stakes by two lengths kicking off the stakes action at Churchill Downs on the second day of the Breeders' Cup. View the full article

Shamrock Rose rewarded those who had the faith to back her at odds of 25-1 in the $1 million Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Sprint (G1) when she put in a furious rally late to catch Chalon at the line in the seven-furlong test at Churchill Downs Nov. 3. View the full article

With 2-1 choice World of Trouble on the lead, last year's winner ranged up with a bold three-wide move off the turn for home. He looked the favorite in the eye and found a stubborn foe, and the two hooked up for a battle down the stretch. View the full article

Stormy Liberal (Stormy Atlantic–Vassar, by Royal Academy), winner of last season’s GI Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint at Del Mar, made it two-for-two with an off the pace run in the 2018 renewal of the race at Churchill Downs. Sent off at 7-1 following a trio of victories, including the GIII Eddie D. at Santa Anita Sept,. 28, the gelding broke quickly from the nine hole and found himself closeup but was eased back to a stalking fourth behind the fleet-running World of Trouble (Kantharos), who carved out splits of :22.50, :45.83 and :57.71. Drawn to the outer turning for home as World of Trouble cut the corner, Stormy Liberal needed the entire length of the stretch to get past the game leader, and was a neck ahead of front runner at the wire. It was a long way back to Disco Partner (Disco Rico) in third. The final time for the 5 1/2 furlong turf test was 1:04.05. Lifetime Record: 30-12-8-1, $1,968,930. O-Rockingham Ranch and David Bernsen LLC; B-Dapple Bloodstock & Gryphon Invest. LLC. View the full article

SHAMROCK ROSE (f, 3, First Dude–Slew’s Quality, by Elusive Quality) unleashed a strong late rally in the final sixteenth to get up in the last jump and upset the GI Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Sprint to get the Championship action started on Saturday at Churchill Downs. Romping in the Pennsylvania-bred Malvern Rose S. Aug. 5 at Presque Isle and repeating with another convincing score in the La Lorgnette S. at Woodbine Sept. 8, the bay kept it rolling with an 18-1 upset when switching to dirt in the GII Lexus Raven Run S. Oct. 20 at Keeneland. Let go at 25-1 here, Shamrock Rose dropped out to travel last of the 14 behind a sharp :21.89 quarter. Angling over to the fence heading into the far turn, she saved ground while still last behind a :44.99 quarter, began to advance in earnest past the three-sixteenths pole and kicked on late between horses to just tag Chalon (Dialed In) on the wire in 1:23.13. Lifetime Record: 10-5-2-1, $967,687. O-Conrad Farms; B-Best A Luck Farm LLC (PA); T-Mark Casse. View the full article

13:55 Naas – RaceBets Bet Of The Day Although the Ballydoyle team have had far more pressing matters across the Atlantic this week they still hold a host of contenders in their native Ireland where we find Ferretti in the fourth on the card. Two mediocre runs were put behind him when doing much better to finish a credible 2nd at this very venue. That looked a much tougher race than this one and it seems as though Aidan O’Brien has found an easier target. A step up to seven furlongs looks a promising move and it’s safe to say it’s likely he’s going to finally shake off his maiden tag this afternoon. Showmethegin May appreciate the softer ground and the top weight Dandys Ocean is very consistent so both deserve a close eye. Of the remainder Only The Brave looks an obvious threat especially with less weight to carry this time around but it’s going to be hard to see past a Ferretti success. FERRETTI (WIN) – NAP Carlisle: 13:00 – One For Rosie (WIN) 13:30 – Donna’s Delight (E/W) 14:05 – Take A Break (WIN) 14:40 – Looksnowtlikebrian (WIN) 15:10 – Dubai Angel (WIN) 15:45 – Thomas Patrick (WIN) Cork: 13:05 – Eclair De Beaufeu (WIN) 13:35 – Milliner (WIN) 14:10 – Young Turk (WIN) 14:45 – Spare Brakes (E/W) 15:15 – Poormans Hill (E/W) 15:50 – Arctic Light (E/W) 16:25 – Royal Illusion (WIN) Huntingdon: 13:10 – Excellent Team (WIN) 13:45 – Oi The Club Oi’s (WIN) 14:20 – Espoir De Loire (WIN) 14:50 – Jackthejourneyman (E/W) 15:25 – Thomas Campbell (WIN) 15:55 – King Cool (WIN) Naas: 12:20 – Roger That (E/W) 12:50 – Miss Power (E/W) 13:20 – Gentle Bellini (E/W) 13:55 – Ferretti (WIN)* 14:30 – Merited (E/W) 15:00 – Family Tree (E/W) 15:35 – Storm Steps (E/W) 16:05 – Snowflakes (E/W) The post Picks From The Paddock Best Bet – Sunday 4th November appeared first on RaceBets Blog EN. View the full article

Capannelle plays host to Italy’s only remaining Group 1 race the Premio Lydia Tesio on Sunday and for those of you, who don’t know where Capannelle is, the racecourse is in the beautiful cosmopolitan city of Rome. Tony Martin who is known more as a jumps trainer took this twelve months ago with Laganore under Colin Keane. This year’s race has attracted a very international field, with the eight runners coming from three different countries to contest this Group 1. It’s a pair of German horses that top the market with Well Timed and Navaro Girl. Well Timed won the German Oaks back in August and ran a possible career-best when last seen running a huge race to finish fifth behind Wild Illusion in the Prix de l’Opera at Longchamp on Arc day. Jean-Pierre Carvalho will be expecting his three-year-old filly to win a second Group One and she is the one to beat. Navaro Girl finished in behind Well Timed in the Prix de l’Opera and she has to give weight away to Well Timed again and I find it hard to see her turn the tables. Mark Johnston runs Nyaleti who has had a globetrotting campaign including a victory in the Group 2 German 1000 Guineas, a credible fourth in the Falmouth Stakes and most recently a third-place finish in a Group 1 at Keeneland. She has had a very busy campaign but she should be right there at the finish. God Given has been a maybe horse for much of the season but got her day in the season when winning the Group 2 Park Hill Stakes at Doncaster in September. She followed this up with a fine sixth on Champions Day at Ascot and although this was a fine run, I think she’ll once again come up short. Archie Watson trained Absolute Blast to finish third in this last year and the up and coming trainer runs Snowy Winter this time around who has already had a good season but again looks short of Group 1 class. Selection: Nyaleti The post Premio Lydia Tesio Preview appeared first on RaceBets Blog EN. View the full article

FORMER champion jockey and 15-times Group 1 winner Simon Marshall gives us his insights into all the runners in the 2018 Melbourne Cup. View the full article

FORMER champion jockey and 15-times Group 1 winner Simon Marshall gives us View the full article

IT’S three-and-a-bit minutes of drama and intrigue, a torrid, gut-busting test of horse and rider. View the full article

Rival jockey Karis Teetan is praying for a brotherly stoush between Time Warp and Glorious Forever this Sunday to set up the Group Three Sa Sa Ladies’ Purse (1,800m) for fan favourite Pakistan Star. The speedy brothers are set to face off for the first time, with the pair sharing the same freewheeling running style that will ensure the feature is run at a fast tempo, potentially setting up a trademark barnstorming Pakistan Star finish. The Mauritian jockey, who is the sixth rider of the... View the full article

THE all-important Melbourne Cup barrier draw has been held after the final 24-horse field for 2018 was confirmed. View the full article

THE all-important Melbourne Cup barrier draw has been held after the final 24-horse field for 2018 was confirmed. How did your horse fare? View the full article

Champion jockey Zac Purton believes promising galloper Superich is capable of bigger and better things, including a possible tilt at the four-year-old series. The Frankie Lor Fu-chuen-trained gelding has won three times in his five-race career to date, but Purton believes it could be just the beginning as he steps up in distance for the first time on Sunday in the Class Two Eleanor Handicap (1,400m) at Sha Tin. The rise in distance will also be met with a step up in grade as the son of Red... View the full article

Alexis Badel is hoping to take the momentum of an outstanding season in France into his winter stint in Hong Kong. The popular Frenchman returns to Sha Tin for a third time, having made a good impression in his first two short-term stretches, winning seven races first time around before doubling that to 14 last season. It means Badel arrives with a spring in his step and he is determined to go to another level. “My season was fantastic, I won my first Group One in Deauville, the Prix Jean... View the full article

EXTRA BRUT has landed Darren Weir a Victoria Derby win with the premier trainer’s first runner in the $2 million race. View the full article

EXTRA BRUT has landed Darren Weir a Victoria Derby win with the premier trainer’s first runner in the $2 million race. View the full article

Tim Glyshaw still has the halter. A piece of forelock. A sales catalog with a horse on the cover, suspended in midair. The memories are all around Barn 3 at Churchill Downs. He's learned to hold onto the good ones. View the full article