Wandering Eyes

It was a nearly weekend for Bankhouse team last week, with the runs of Dear Sire who was travelling well when coming down at the last in the novice chase at Cheltenham and Cloudy Dream running a fine race to finish third in the Old Roan Chase at Aintree. I am looking forward to this weekend with nine runners in total over the two days, we will have runners at Wetherby, Ayr and Ascot on Saturday and then onto Carlisle on Sunday, where there will be big competitive fields and the chase track there is great. Saturday Beach Break Track: Wetherby – 12:55 Jockey: Henry Brooke I wasn’t planning on running him but I entered him because he’s only got a ten-pound penalty for winning three novices and it’s cut up into an average looking race. I think that’s because the ground is fast, which he likes so we will take our chance. Katachenko Track: Ayr – 1:40 Jockey: Brian Hughes We were slightly frustrated with him at Wetherby last week, we spent a long time switching him off because he used to be very keen. He travels to Ayr and we are hoping they don’t get too much rain before his race but there is rain coming and the addition of cheekpieces may just sharpen him up a bit. Ink Master Track: Ascot – 2:25 Jockey: Wayne Hutchinson I bought him last year with a view to him being a low-grade summer horse and the summer has gone well, winning three races and the ground is still quick, we are in the handicap in a small field that is worth £60,000, so we will take a punt. He ran a blinder up at Kelso behind Cubomania and although it didn’t quite happen for him at Wetherby, he deserves to take his chance. Raise A Spark Track: Ayr – 2:50 Jockey: Brian Hughes I had both he and Ink Master in the race but I am running him with a view that there is going to be rain coming, through the day. He hasn’t been doing much wrong of late, he was a little flat at Perth but I think coming back to two miles in a small field, where there might be a bit of pace will really suit him. Chti Balko Track: Ayr – 3:25 Jockey: Will Kennedy He’s a good little horse but unfortunately, he’s badly handicapped at present, this is his first run of the season and I would think that he will be camping out in Haydock for most of the winter because he loves it! He runs at Ayr because we just need to get him started and he loves heavy ground, so I’m hoping they get enough rain through the day to run him. Sunday Knockrobin Track: Carlisle – 1:30 Jockey: Brian Hughes Knockrobin will win plenty of novice chases but it might not be on Sunday because it looks very warm, but it is a good place to start him out and I’m looking forward to the season ahead with him. Spin The Coin Track: Carlisle – 2:05 Jockey: Brian Hughes This looks like the right type of race and right grade for Spin The Coin but there are 20 runners to contend with so it will be very competitive but he looked winning last year when falling at the last at Carlisle and obvious he will come on from his first run. That being said it’s the right race to start him in. Lough Derg Jewel Track: Carlisle – 2:40 Jockey: Brian Hughes He was a little bit unlucky up at Perth where it was his first run against proper handicappers but he ran well. He just made a mistake down the back but still travelled back into the race to finish his race off nicely. We have waited a bit with him and I’m not convinced that he wants 3 miles 2 furlongs around Carlisle but I’d sooner run him against handicappers than drop him down in trip and run him off his feet. Rebel Rock Track: Carlisle – 4:15 Jockey: Abbie McCain He’s not shown much in his one career start at Huntingdon where the ground was much too fast for him but it looked like a good race and I actually purchased the winner of the in the interim. Rebel Rock will be more suited to the 1 mile 6 furlong trip around here on the slower ground and I’d like to see him show a bit more than he did on his debut. Best Chance: Raise A Spark The post Donald McCain Blog appeared first on RaceBets Blog EN. View the full article

William S. Farish's homebred Code of Honor will scratch out of the Nov. 2 Sentient Jet Breeders' Cup Juvenile (G1) at Churchill Downs after spiking a fever the morning of the race. View the full article

Horses from Down Under will be unable to compete at this year’s Longines Hong Kong International Races after the Jockey Club confirmed an interim quarantine arrangement with the Australian Government could not be implemented in time. The Jockey Club and officials from the Australian Department of Agriculture and Water Resources (DAWR) had been trying to broker a deal which would see Aussie-based horses able to bypass the strict quarantine restrictions introduced after Conghua was added to... View the full article

HE goes by the nickname ‘Big Money Mike’ in the USA and when you look at some of the races and the horses jockey Mike Smith has been associated with then you can understand why. Songbird, Zenyatta, Arrogate and Justify are just some of the star names the 53-year-old has partnered, and he has another strong book of rides on Breeders’ Cup Saturday, headed by the exciting McKinzie. We caught up with the rider to get the lowdown on his rides and take a trip down memory lane. What makes the Breeders’ Cup so special for you? That it’s international. It’s not just that it’s the best of the United States, man, it’s the best horses from around the world. We get most of the best European horses and from South America – it’s great and it really adds to the occasion and the quality of the races. It’s the world coming together. What do you make of the European challenge at the Breeders’ Cup this year? It’s without a doubt very strong, like it is every year. They’re especially strong on the grass but every year they seem to be bringing over horses who are stronger on the dirt too. I’m pretty excited to see them, especially Enable. Enable and Frankie Dettori exercise on the turf track at Churchill Downs Louisville, Kentucky, 31.10.18 Pic: Edward WhitakerYou ride McKinzie in the Breeders’ Cup Classic. Can you tell us a little about him? He’s a brilliant three-year-old. He’s a horse that we certainly haven’t seen the best of yet and I hope that we do on Saturday in the Classic. We don’t think he’s reached his full potential yet and we feel he’s got a lot of talent. Do you think McKinzie is ready to show his class in the Classic? He’s training like he’s ready to run big and put himself in with a real shot of showing us on the track how good we think he is. He’s taking on the older horses for the first time, so we’ll see how he gets on there. He’s super talented. Bob Baffert’s BC Classic hope McKinzie is put through his paces on the main track at Churchill Downs Louisville, Kentucky, 31.10.18 Pic: Edward WhitakerMarley’s Freedom looks to have a leading chance in the Filly & Mare Sprint. How are things with her? She’s a deserving favourite and given a good trip she’ll be difficult to beat. She’ll be coming with a late run and we’ll have to dodge some traffic, but if we can get through she’s going to be tough to beat. She’s got a great finish. If she’s within two lengths of the leaders turning for home then she’ll run them down. Abel Tasman goes for the Distaff. Do you think she can land the contest? If she runs her A race then she’s tough, man. The main competition to her are the two three-year-olds Monomoy Girl and Midnight Bisou. She will need to produce her best but if she does I think she’ll run well. She is a pretty consistent filly bar her last race and we’re just throwing that one out. All three of your rides on Saturday are for trainer Bob Baffert. Tell us a little about him? He’s the guy I do most of my riding for and his record speaks for itself. He’s brilliant at what he does and he’s an incredible horseman – a genius. He’s so good at getting horses ready for these type of races, especially over a mile and a quarter and the Classic races. McKinzie is coming into the race off one race after a layoff but if anyone can get a horse ready off that it’s Bob. Bob Baffert at Meydan racecourse Dubai 27.3.18 Pic: Edward WhitakerSadly, there is no Justify at the Breeders’ Cup this year. How good was he, in your opinion? He was such a brilliant horse. Not only was he supremely talented, he was also so intelligent – he was such a smart horse. I think that’s what made him so difficult to beat. Not only was he good but on top of that he had the ‘IT factor’ which was his mind, he didn’t make mistakes. He was a big horse too, a huge horse and a tremendous physical specimen. You must be disappointed they took the decision to retire Justify to stud rather than race him? Yes, from a selfish point of view. I’d have loved to still have him around. But then what a time for McKinzie to come up and have the torch passed to him. Hopefully we can finish the year off well with him. Given a fair chance I think we can see something special from him this weekend. 2018 triple crown winner Justify in his paddock at Ashford Stud, Versailles, near Lexington Kentucky 29.10.18 Pic: Edward WhitakerAnd, finally, you will always been associated with the brilliant Zenyatta. What was it like being associated with her? She was a special lady – one of a kind. The Classic she won at Santa Anita in ‘09 was probably the greatest, if not the greatest, Breeders’ Cup performance. The whole day was incredible and the atmosphere like nothing I’ve ever known. It was special and she was special. I was very blessed to get the chance to ride her. Zenyatta wins the ClassicThe post Big Money Mike Smith on his chances for more Breeders Cup success appeared first on RaceBets Blog EN. View the full article

The dynamic in the Hong Kong jockeys’ room is set to shift dramatically after the arrival of Silvestre de Sousa and Alexis Badel at Sha Tin this week. It is no secret the Jockey Club wanted to bolster the depth within the riding ranks following a host of off-season changes and these two class European-based riders will certainly do that. And they are set to get even stronger with the imminent return of Joao Moreira as John Size’s stable jockey, but there was some suggestion that De... View the full article

Trainer Chad Brown will look to start the Aqueduct Racetrack fall meet on a strong note by entering both U S Navy Cross and Network Effect in the $200,000 Nashua Stakes (G3) for juveniles going one mile Nov. 4. View the full article

Gigantic Breeze and Gamble's Ghost will set out to defend their titles in this year's editions of the Autumn (G2) and Maple Leaf (G3) stakes, respectively, co-featured in a Nov. 4 Woodbine program. View the full article

THE race for Melbourne Cup spots is still alive with one day left to claim a place in the great race. View the full article

It's positively uncanny how many favorites and prominent contenders drew horribly for the 35th Breeders' Cup. View the full article

Hard-earned first win for Lerner in Singapore View the full article

Dash of hope for Placais in title race View the full article

Little Big Man joins Thai tribute in Stewards' room View the full article

Siam Vipasiri makes winning look easy View the full article

Horses' body weights November 2 View the full article

Track conditions and course scratchings November 2 View the full article

Early scratching November 2 View the full article

Trainer John Gosden and jockey Frankie Dettori stand on the cusp of history in the quest for an unprecedented group/grade 1 Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe-Breeders' Cup double. View the full article

Considering the slim margin of error in turf sprints, last year's Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint (G1T) winner Stormy Liberal finds a way more often than not. View the full article

While Breeders’ Cup Friday will put some of the world’s most accomplished juveniles on full display as part of its “Future Stars” theme, Aqueduct will play host to a 2-year-old stake of its own, with the GIII Tempted S. headlining the track’s opening day card. Godolphin homebred Enliven (Ghostzapper), a daughter of three-time Grade I winner It’s Tricky (Mineshaft) and a half-sister to MGSW/GISP Enticed (Medaglia d’Oro), graduated from the maiden ranks convincingly at Belmont Sept. 30 and shortens up a sixteenth of a mile for her graded stakes debut. The bay has worked twice for trainer Kiaran McLaughlin at Godolphin’s Greentree Training Center in the interim. William Ferrone’s Brucia La Terra (El Padrino) has already proven to be a bargain buy for $20,000 out of last October’s Fasig-Tipton Midlantic Fall Yearlings Sale, having captured her career debut at Saratoga Aug. 12 before closing stoutly to finish second behind GI Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies hopeful Jaywalk (Cross Traffic) in the one-mile GI Frizette S. at Belmont Oct. 7. The New York-bred Surge of Pride (Kantharos) is also proven at the one-mile trip, having won the restricted Maid of the Mist S. at Belmont Oct. 30 for trainer Linda Rice. View the full article

Dramatic Queen (Kitten’s Joy) may have been out for a 2 3/4-length handicap stroll going 2400 metres at Kempton just the evening before, but that proved no hindrance for the 3-year-old filly in Thursday’s 2600 metre Listed River Eden Fillies’ S. at Lingfield, and she recorded a remarkable double when coming in an easy one-length winner as the 11/4 favourite (video). Dramatic Queen is trained by William Haggas for Sheikh Juma Dalmook Al Maktoum. After winning on her second of two starts last year at two, she had shown decent form earlier this year with her high-class stablemate Sea Of Class (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}), finishing fourth, 5 1/4 lengths off that dual Oaks winner and Arc runner-up in listed company at Newbury in June. Three-quarters of a length ahead of her that day was the third-placed Princess Yaiza (Ire) (Casamento {Ire}), who takes on this weekend’s GI Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf. Dramatic Queen had run just twice more in the interim, and Haggas said the highly unusual decision to run twice in 24 hours was prompted by the likelihood that she will now be put away for the year. “She was always going to the stakes race today, and she had an entry in yesterday’s race,” Haggas explained. “I hadn’t planned to run her in yesterday’s race but the race was re-opened as they were looking for more runners, so we put her in and she won that easily [Wednesday] night so we decided to back her up today.” “She’s had a very light campaign, with just three runs until Wednesday so we thought, as she’s a big strong filly by Kitten’s Joy, she could take two races provided the first one went right, which it did.” Asked if he has ever attempted such a feat before, Haggas said, “Not with an animal of her quality. It’s not something we normally do, but I think on this occasion the owner and I discussed it at length and we felt that she’s going to stay in training next year, she probably won’t run again for five months, so we thought, clearly it’s a risk, but all the markers were correct with her. She looked well, seemed well and had eaten all her food. Everything as far as we were concerned was good. She stayed the night [Wednesday] night in Kempton and then we brought her over [Thursday] morning to Lingfield; it’s only a short way away.” “She’s a big, strong girl and she’s tough. We’ll check her over tomorrow morning but I’ll be surprised if she hasn’t eaten; she’s tough.” Bred by Gary Chervenell, Dramatic Queen is the second foal out of the stakes-placed Midnight Music (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}). She was born and raised at Brookdale Farm and bought by Blandford Bloodstock for $150,000 at Keeneland September in 2016. In another amazing twist to an already scarcely believable story, the mare’s 2-year-old, Music Major (Street Sense), retained by Chervenell and trained by Roger Attfield, also won on debut at Woodbine on Wednesday night. “In the space of 18 hours, the mare had three winners from two runners,” said Brookdale’s Joe Seitz. Of Dramatic Queen, he said, “It’s surreal, I can’t get my mind around it. I don’t know how a horse can have that kind of resilience.” “She was really nice,” Seitz recalled of Dramatic Queen. “She was pretty substantial-the mare is not really big, so the filly was bigger than what we expected from the mare, and she was very athletic. So it’s not surprising that she runs well because she was quite an athlete. But who would know she’d go on and do something like this?” Midnight Music is still at Brookdale. She has a yearling filly by Animal Kingdom that sold for $35,000 at Keeneland September this year, and unfortunately after producing a dead foal by Palace Malice last year she did not get in foal this year when returned to Kitten’s Joy. Chervenell is a small breeder with three mares at Brookdale and a small handful of mares and racehorses in Europe, Seitz said. Three wins within 24 hours sure isn’t bad, then. View the full article

The fifth Thoroughbred Owner Conference, held in Louisville in conjunction with Breeders’ Cup week at Churchill Downs, concluded Thursday with presentations on the state of the Thoroughbred industry, aftercare, a panel of Kentucky Derby and Breeders’ Cup-winning jockeys, and resources for owners. Topics covered during the first two days of the conference included business planning, sales, veterinary issues, sports wagering, and state incentive programs. Approximately 250 people attended the three-day event, including both longtime horse owners and new or prospective owners. The event’s keynote address was delivered by Jon Miller, the president of programming for NBC Sports. “NBC Sports’ legacy is in storytelling,” Miller said. “There is nothing more iconic in sports than horse racing. It opens itself up to stories, and we have great storytellers.” The conference coincided with many of the main events on Breeders’ Cup week, including the post position draw. “We were thrilled to bring this year’s Owner Conference to historic Churchill Downs and enable our attendees to learn about ownership at the site of one of the most famous racetracks in the world,” said Gary Falter, project manager for OwnerView, which co-hosts the event. “We appreciate the support of Churchill Downs and Breeders’ Cup and hope that one of our new owners will one day end up in the Churchill Downs’ winner’s circle on Derby or Breeders’ Cup day.” A video replay of all panels at the conference will be available at ownerview.com within the next week. View the full article

Observations on the European Racing Scene turns the spotlight on the best European races of the day, highlighting well-pedigreed horses early in their careers, horses of note returning to action and young runners that achieved notable results in the sales ring. Today’s Observations features two sons of Group 1-winning mares. 12.30 Newmarket, Novice, £8,000, 2yo, c/g, 7fT BATTLE FOR GLORY (War Front) debuts in the Susan Magnier silks for the John Gosden stable representing a partnership between Coolmore and his breeder Merribelle Stable. The latter bought the G1 Coronation S. and G1 Prix Jacques le Marois heroine Immortal Verse (Ire) (Pivotal {GB}) for 4.7-million gns at the Tattersalls December Mares Sale and this February-foaled bay is her second foal. He is joined by stablemate Fightwithme (Ire) (Shamardal), Jaber Abdullah’s similarly-unraced son of the G1 Falmouth S. winner Music Show (Ire) (Noverre). View the full article

The connections of 47 Breeders’ Cup contenders have pledged their support to racehorse aftercare by participating in the New Vocations Breeders’ Cup Pledge. Now in its ninth year, the Pledge has raised over $480,000, with 100% of funds raised supporting the program’s rehabilitation, retraining and rehoming efforts. “New Vocations is a program the LNJ Foxwoods team believes in,” said Jaime Roth of LNJ Foxwoods. “Their mission to give horses a brighter future through love, compassion and belief in them is what aftercare is all about. We choose to make a difference by supporting the Breeders’ Cup Pledge. Best of luck to all Breeders’ Cup horses, but most importantly a safe trip to all.” New Vocations will continue to seek pledges from additional owners and trainers until Nov. 2. Complete pledge information, including a full list of participants, can be found at newvocations.org. View the full article

Lane’s End Farm has debuted an all-new website, LanesEnd.com, updated with new features highlighting its stallion roster, sales, boarding and bloodstock services. Included in the new look are industry-first 360-degree conformation photos of select Lane’s End’s stallions. These interactive photos allow potential breeders to view stallions from all sides, providing a more comprehensive and detailed view of each stallion. The feature is currently available for five of Lane’s End’s stallions: Connect, Honor Code, Liam’s Map, Tonalist and Unified. The new site also includes a “Submit a Mare” page, new information on sales services and records, bloodstock services, as well as news from the farm and a look back at the storied property’s history. View the full article

Churchill Downs the home of the Kentucky Derby welcomes the Breeders’ Cup this weekend where thousands of people, will watch hundreds of horses do battle for an extraordinary $30 million over this two-day extravaganza. This is one horse racing’s greatest events and justifiably attracts leading equine talent from all over the world. It also marks the end of the flat season with the last big race after this being the Melbourne Cup. Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Game Winner heads the market for this Grade 1 contest and in truth, he looks the most likely winner having won on debut by nearly six lengths and then followed this up with a brace of Group Ones, on what was just his second and third career starts. The son of Candy Ride has looked very impressive on each occasion and should take all the beating under Joel Rosario. The biggest threat may come from one of the outsiders Gunmetal Gray, who proved no match for the favourite when the pair met in the Grade 1 American Pharoah at Santa Anita. That being said, Gunmetal Gray was only having his second career start on that occasion and there could be more improvement to come from the son of Exchange Rate. Another horse worth mentioning is Complexity who has won both his starts in fast times and has done some from the front. The Chad Brown-trained colt was an impressive winner of the Group 1 Champagne Stakes when beating Code Of Honor by three lengths. He will be looking to extend his unbeaten record. Selection: Game Winner Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Bellafina tops the market and she was an $800,000 purchase from the sales and she has won all three career starts, two of which came in Grade 1 company. She looks like the filly to beat but it’s unlikely that she will get an easy lead on the front. Simon Callaghan’s two-year-old filly looks like a potential superstar and is one to keep on the right side of. The Thomas Amoss trained filly Serengeti Empress has been incredibly impressive looking in winning her last two starts by a combined 33 lengths. On paper, she looks the part but on further inspection, these might not have been the strongest races and the winning times were on the slow side. Restless Rider is the final filly I like in this, firstly she’s unbeaten on the track, she was an impressive winner of a Grade 1 at Keenland last month and she is versatile in terms of tactics, which can be very important in a race of this nature. Selection: Restless Rider Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf This race has been farmed by Chad Brown in recent years with Rushing Fall making it four wins in the last ten years in 2017. Newspaperofrecord flies the flag for the yard this season and is a leading fancy for the race. The daughter of Lope De Vega has romped home on both career starts and looks best suited by the forecasted wet conditions having won both these starts with “juice” in the ground. Aidan relies on Just Wonderful to continue his incredible record this year and she looks worthy of this faith considering she was a very snug winner of the Rockfel when last seen in action. It hasn’t all been smooth sailing for the daughter Dansilli, she found it all happening too fast around her when trailing in a disappointing favourite in the Albany at Royal Ascot and she let her supporters down in the Moyglare behind the progressive Skitter Scatter. That being said she is a dual Group winner this season and Aidan knows what it takes to win at the Breeders’ Cup. French-raider Lily’s Candle would appreciate the rain staying away, given that she won the Prix Marcel Boussac on a sound surface. Although she has won on soft ground, I think she is best with “Good” in the going description. The British trio of East, Le Pelosa and The Mackem Bullet all hold chances but it would be a surprise if they have the quality required to take this. Selection: Newspaperofrecord Anthony Van DyckBreeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf There are a few key stats to bear in mind when trying to pick the winner of this; eight of the last ten winners were trained in Europe, Aidan O’Brien has won four of the last seven renewals and three of the last six winners ran in the Dewhurst. The horse that ticks all these boxes in Anthony Van Dyck who hails from the Ballydoyle stable and was third in this season’s Dewhurst behind Too Darn Hot. Prior to this, he had finished second in the National Stakes at the Curragh behind Quorto. This should give Charlie Appleby a good line of form as he trains Quorto and Line Of Duty who runs in this. Line Of Duty took three runs to break his maiden but has been impressive in two starts since then including a Group 3 event at Chantilly. A stat that Charlie will be proud of is that he’s trained two winners from three runners at the Breeders’ Cup and he’ll be hoping Line Of Duty can add to this enviable record. Current could be the surprise package in the race having only been beaten once and that was behind a next time Grade 1 winner. Todd Pletcher is a dab hand with his two-year-olds and he looks like a big each-way play. Selection: Anthony Van Dyck Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint This is the inaugural running of the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf sprint so there are not much stats to go on, so a decision will have to be made based on the bare form on offer. Unsurprisingly European raiders top the market, with the Archie Watson trained Soldier’s Call likely to start favourite. Victories in the Windsor Castle Stakes at Royal Ascot and the Flying Childers were followed by a fine third place finish in the Prix de l’Abbaye against the seasoned sprinters at Longchamp when last seen. This run should be good enough to take this contest. The l’Abbaye can sometimes produce funny results so I would take the form with a pinch of salt. Aidan O’Brien runs two but it’s the filly So Perfect that makes the most appeal following good runs in a brace of Group Ones on her last two starts. She looks like a decent price to hit the frame. Wesley Ward prides himself on producing precious talent and has become a regular at the Royal meeting in recent times. He left with another win under his belt when Shang Shang Shang had too much for her rivals in the Norfolk Stakes. We haven’t seen her since this win but Wesley knows how to ready a horse for the big day and if she reproduces her Norfolk form then she must go close. Selection: So Perfect The post Breeders’ Cup Preview – November 2nd appeared first on RaceBets Blog EN. View the full article