Wandering Eyes

What Happy Valley Races Where Happy Valley Racecourse – Wong Nai Chung Rd, Happy Valley, Hong Kong When Wednesday, December 4, 2024 First Race 6:30pm HKT (9:30pm AEDT) Visit Dabble 12 of the world’s best jockeys converge on Happy Valley Racecourse on Wednesday evening, with a bumper nine-race program lined up for the International Jockeys’ Championship. Races four, five, seven and eight are allocated as scoring races in the chase to claim top honours, with James McDonald, Hugh Bowman and Rachel King representing Australia, while Ryan Moore, Yuga Kawada and Zac Purton are just some of the other names set to do battle. The rail is in the A course for the meeting, and with a genuine Good 4 surface expected on Wednesday, the track should play evenly throughout the night. The opening event is scheduled to get underway at 6:30pm local time. Best Bet at Happy Valley: Masterofmyuniverse Masterofmyuniverse was ultra-impressive without winning on debut at this course and distance on November 13 and should’ve claimed victory with even luck. The son of Havana Gold was baulked for a run at a crucial stage before Zac Purton navigated a passage to get within a nose of Street Conqueror. He gets a swing in the weights on that key rival, and although barrier 11 could prove tricky to overcome, Masterofmyuniverse should still prove too classy for this lot. Best Bet Race 6 – #4 Masterofmyuniverse (11) 4yo Gelding | T: John Size | J: Zac Purton (59kg) Bet with Neds Next Best at Happy Valley: Circuit Seven Circuit Seven has been building to a peak performance and gets the ideal setup in this Class 4 contest. The seven-year-old was coming with a withering burst at Happy Valley last time out, but simply had too much to do when being dragged back from barrier 11. He draws gate three this time around, and with Colin Keane set to be positive and hold the one-one, Circuit Seven should get every chance to finish off best at a good price with BlondeBet. Next Best Race 4 – #8 Circuit Seven (3) 7yo Gelding | T: Cody Mo | J: Colin Keane (56kg) Bet with BlondeBet Best Value at Happy Valley: Corleone The Caspar Fownes-trained Corleone had no luck in his latest effort at Sha Tin on November 3, held up for the entire straight when trying to get clear under Hugh Bowman. The Dundeel gelding was never fully tested and appears set to peak third-up in the campaign, and provided he can gain an economical run from barrier seven, expect Corleone to give a good account of himself at a good price with horse racing bookmakers as he takes on Happy Valley for the first time. Best Value Race 3 – #4 Corleone (7) 4yo Gelding | T: Caspar Fownes | J: Hugh Bowman (58kg) Bet with Picklebet Wednesday quaddie tips for Happy Valley Happy Valley quadrella selections December 4, 2024 3-4-5-10 5-6-8-9-10-11 2-3-4-5-9 3-5-6-8 Horse racing tips View the full article

Vincent Ho kicks off a three-timer. Photo: HKJC Vincent Ho completed preparations for his defence of the International Jockeys’ Championship (IJC) at Happy Valley on Wednesday night with a treble at Sha Tin on Sunday – a haul matched by Hugh Bowman and Mark Newnham. Four days after becoming only the 11th jockey to ride 600 or more winners in Hong Kong, Ho struck aboard The Boom Box, Vulcanus and Healthy Healthy – who successfully backed up for Pierre Ng after providing Ho’s milestone victory last Wednesday. Restricted to swimming and trotting exercises since his midweek victory, Healthy Healthy posted his fifth win from 22 starts to seal Ho’s treble. “He was actually a bit fresh, that’s why he pinged the gate and was up there on the speed,” Ho said. “He has rarely raced at Sha Tin, so I think he really enjoyed the change of environment. “It’s exciting to be involved in the (International) Jockeys’ Championship, but I just take it race by race and see what happens.” The first homegrown Hong Kong jockey to win the IJC, Ho will be joined in Wednesday’s four-race series by Zac Purton, Bowman, Karis Teetan, James McDonald, Ryan Moore, Hollie Doyle, Rachel King, Yuga Kawada, Colin Keane, Mickael Barzalona and William Buick. Ho guided Chris So’s first-starter The Boom Box to success, advanced to a race-to-race double aboard Me Tsui-trained Vulcanus and then prevailed on Healthy Healthy. With 20 wins for the season, Ho trails only Purton (44) and Bowman (24), who also shone today atop Reliable Profit, Talents Ambition and Dragon Joy. “It’s just nice for the horses to be running well, winning is good,” Bowman, fresh from a Happy Valley double on Wednesday night, said. “It had been a frustrating month but, in saying that, there was only two or three meetings where I really went home thinking ‘what’s wrong?’ “The other times, even if I wasn’t riding winners, I was riding placings. The IJC is going to be more determined by the horses that are drawn – I know I can do the job if I’m on the right horses.” Newnham vaulted into second place in the Hong Kong trainers’ championship behind Ng with a treble. Taking his tally to 20 wins to move within three wins of Ng (22), Newnham struck with Sing Dragon, Talents Ambition and My Wish under Luke Ferraris. “That’s a little bit surreal. One thing that has been really consistent from day one of the season is that our horses have raced well every week,” Newnham said of his stable’s rise to second in the championship. “We haven’t hit any real slumps yet and naturally with the ratings system that will happen at some stage. But we still have some unexposed horses and hopefully they fill the gaps when the others have found their level. “We came with not a lot of runners (today), but we did have genuine chances all day and it couldn’t have gone better.” Newnham is considering a tilt at the HK$13 million Hong Kong Classic Mile (1600m) with My Wish on January 31. “He’s getting up there to a rating which would suggest that’s a good target for him. He’s still got to show he can run a mile, but with the way he settled today there’s no reason not to try it,” the Australian said. Sing Dragon continued to excel on Sha Tin dirt. Ridden brilliantly by Matthew Chadwick, the gelding made it four wins from five starts on the All Weather. Formerly known as Operative when trained by Chris Waller, Sing Dragon was the first leg of a race-to-race double for Newnham before Talents Ambition landed the Class 3 Mody Handicap (1650m, dirt) under Bowman. Reliable Profit continued his searing All Weather form with a dogged victory for Danny Shum and Bowman. A Hong Kong International Sale graduate, Reliable Profit was winless in his first 13 starts, but has hit form with a vengeance. Bowman completed his spree atop Dragon Joy in the Class 4 Nathan Handicap (1400m) for Ricky Yiu. Purton and David Hayes combined to win on Precision Goal, whose head margin denied French jockey Alexis Pouchin a perfect start to his short-term Hong Kong riding stint. “He (Precision Goal) did a good job. At the 600m, Zac thought he was going to win by four lengths. At the 200m, he thought he was going to get beaten by a neck,” Hayes said. Aca Power notched his fourth course and distance win for David Hall and Alexis Badel. “He’s very consistent and he loves this surface,” Hall said of the eight-year-old, who took his Hong Kong earnings to beyond HK$4.5 million with his fifth win from 44 starts. By Zoffany, the veteran won twice and was placed twice when he raced in Australia as Keen Power for trainer Matthew Dunn. Horse racing news View the full article

Attrition. (Photo by George Sal/Racing Photos) Ballarat-based trainer Mitchell Freedman has travelled to Perth to oversee the final preparations for his Group 1 winner, Attrition, as the gelding targets a second elite-level victory in the Group 1 Northerly Stakes (1800m) at Ascot this Saturday. The son of Churchill, who claimed the Group 2 Hill Stakes (1900m) at Rosehill in October, last raced at the same track in the Listed Five Diamonds (1800m), finishing fourth behind Pericles last month. “He’s settled in really well,” Freedman said. “He just seems to have thrived on travel the whole prep. He’s done a few trips now, but it doesn’t seem to have affected him.” Attrition is scheduled for a final gallop on Tuesday after completing a 1000-metre trial at Belmont last week. “It was a fast horse’s jump-out, and he was actually very good, albeit beaten a few lengths by what some people would consider below his standard,” Freedman noted of the trial, where Attrition finished fourth of four runners. “He is looking for 1800 or 2000 metres. He has got the freshness out of his legs, but his sectionals were very good, and the way he came through it, it was the right thing to do.” Beau Mertens, who guided Attrition to victory in the Group 1 Toorak Handicap (1600m) at Caulfield last year and in the Hill Stakes, will again take the reins on Saturday. Horse racing news View the full article

"All Other Colts and Geldings from the 2022 Foal Crop" closed as the 9-5 favorite in Pool 2 of the Kentucky Derby Future Wager and recent debut winner Barnes was the 13-1 second choice.View the full article

Globe. (Photo by Scott Barbour/Racing Photos) After clinching the Listed Cranbourne Cup (1600m) in his latest outing, Globe will aim for back-to-back country cup victories when he lines up for the $500,000 Listed Ballarat Cup (2000m) on Saturday. The six-year-old gelding will be stepping up to 2000 metres for the first time, a distance his co-trainer Mick Price believes he will excel over in the future. “I think 2000 metres for him won’t be a drama – that’s a good way for him to finish his spring campaign,” Price, who trains in partnership with Michael Kent Jnr, told Racing.com. “He will have done a good job this campaign and we can reset for the autumn, and that could be Sydney and Melbourne. “I’m pretty confident he’ll get 2000 metres, but he’s going from 1600 metres in two weeks. If he gets grabbed late, so be it.” A five-time winner from just nine career starts, Globe has already proven himself over a slightly longer trip, winning both of his two starts over 1800 metres. Despite his potential, Price is in no rush to push the gelding into the Group 1 ranks too soon. “I’m not in a big hurry to throw him into a Group 1,” Price said. “I enjoy winning with him. He will run in black type races and down the track could end up in a Group 1. He missed a lot of racing due to problems, but he’s been given the chance to mature.” Connections had considered backing up Globe in last Saturday’s Group 3 Eclipse Stakes (1800m) at Caulfield but ultimately decided the larger Ballarat circuit would suit him better. Horse racing news View the full article

By Adam Hamilton Former top Kiwi horseman Brent Lilley thinks he can do his part to give this NSW Inter Dominion some serious New Zealand flavour. An untimely setback to Mark Jones’ emerging pacer Tact McLeod robbed the Kiwis of an actual runner in this Inter Dominion, but Queen Elida has very strong ties across the ditch. The star six-year-old mare was bred in NZ by “Boof” McKenzie and is still owned by him, Tony Barron and their families. Throw in the Lilley connection and there’s lots of Kiwi about Queen Elida. “We thought going into the series she was one of the main hopes and that’s certainly how it looks now after her win at Newcastle (last Friday),” Lilley said. “We were pretty happy to see Just Believe stay in NZ. We’ve chased him home in the past two (Inter Dominion) finals and he’s just too good. He sits outside them and does his thing. “But with him not here, our mare has shown time and time again she’s as good as anything else.” Crucially, Lilley said Queen Elida’s feet, which have given her plenty of trouble at times, were “perfect” for this series. “Last year in Brisbane she jarred-up a track at Albion Park which had a loose surface, but was really hard underneath on night one and it was a bit of a battle with her from then on,” Lilley said. “She got a bit better as it went on, but we never had her 100 percent. “It’s different this time. We did have a few little issues when she pulled a shoe going to Maryborough a few weeks back, but she seems perfect again now. “It was great to see her come out and go so well the other night. “She’s drawn well again at Bathurst (Wednesday night, gate four), so hopefully she can jump on the bunny and win again.” Despite cruising home at Newcastle last Friday night, Queen Elida’s 1min57.5sec mile rate for 2030m was much quicker than the 2min0.7sec The Locomotive ran in the other trotting heat. “That’s the mare I love,” driver Chris Alford said. “She began quickly and did it so easily. She felt great.” Alford has won two Inter Dominion pacing finals – Golden Reign (1995) and Lennytheshark (2015) – but is yet to land a trotting final. The best results from his 13 trotting finals drives have been thirds on Queen Elida in the past two finals behind Just Believe. Alford is also a key player in the pacing series, courtesy Isabel Walsh’s former Kiwi pacer Cantfindabettorman, who brilliantly won his opening round heat at Newcastle. The strongest Kiwi flavour in the pacing series is through the largely Kiwi-owned Minstrel for WA team Greg and Skye Bond and driver Deni Roberts. The rising eight-year-old is $3.50 outright favourite for the final after toying with his rivals at Newcastle. Despite drawing wide (gate eight) at Bathurst, Minstrel still dominates betting at $1.35. View the full article

By Mike Love Multiple Group 1 winner Oscar Bonavena turned record-breaker at Methven yesterday. The Mark and Nathan Purdon-trained eight-year-old inched ever closer to $1m in stakes earnings with a record third win in the Woodlands Stud Green Mile around the Mt Harding circuit. Blair Orange speared Oscar Bonavena to the lead with arch rival Muscle Mountain sitting parked. Turning for home Oscar Bonavena had a decisive break before Muscle Mountain made his move, cutting the buffer to just half a head at the line. Oscar Bonavena’s winning time of 1:57.59 was a new track record for the trotters over 1609m, beating Everybody Knows’ record (1:58.4) set in 2017. It was substantially quicker than his winning time last year (2:01.00). “He never really settled when he found the front,” winning driver Blair Orange told Harness Unhinged’s Nigel Armstrong post race, “but when I needed to ask him for an effort he knuckled down. It was a game effort.” The Green Mile has been an annual fixture on the grass at Methven since 2010 with Oscar Bonavena being the only horse to have won it three times. The 2023 Trotter of the Year has been in brilliant form of late, following up his third in the Renwick Farms Dominion Trot, with an upset victory over superstar Australian Just Believe in the Livamol New Zealand Trotting Free For All on Show Day at Addington. Oscar Bonavena has now won 28 races from 73 starts, with $965,558 in stakes.. His time mirrored that of Better Eclipse and his driver Greg Sugars in the Methven 4 Square Supermarket Green Mile for the pacers. After sitting parked for the majority of the trip the Australian visitors wore down One Change to win by half a length in 1:57.5. “I was lucky enough to come here and drive earlier in the year but didn’t get a win so very happy to get a win on the board,” said Sugars. Better Eclipse will now head to Auckland for the Franklin Cup and then try to defend the Auckland Cup crown he won last year. Methven Trotting Club president Michael Heenan was very happy with how the meeting went, both on and off track. “It was a terrific day. There were people everywhere with caravans, barbecues and the like,” said Heenan. Adding to the day his own horse Shard De Arch was second in the last of the day, the Bayleys Ashburton Mobile Pace. “We were really happy with her,” says Heenan, “she’s a very promising horse and may be the best I’ve had! She will hopefully just keep getting better.” The Methven Trotting Club races next on January 26. View the full article

Victory came like clockwork for Mrs. Fitriani Hay's Clock Tower Dec. 1 at Del Mar as the 2-year-old Not This Time gelding went gate-to-wire in the $101,000 Cecil B. DeMille Stakes (G3T).View the full article

Cohen formed a partnership group called Rancho Temescal Thoroughbred Partners, which currently has about 17 horses in training. View the full article

SACRED WISH (f, 4, Not This Time–Indian Wish, by Indian Charlie) denied the late charge of favorite Gina Romantica (Into Mischief) to win Del Mar's closing day feature, the GI Matriarch Stakes. The speedy A G Bullet (Twirling Candy) went ahead to set the expected pace from the rail with 12-1 shot Sacred Wish poised just behind her at the fence and the favorite another length back as they raced in pairs up the backstretch through a half in :47.57. With the first jump and a ground-saving move off the far turn, the George Weaver runner put away the pacesetter along the rail and found just enough to stay ahead as Gina Romantica charged at her from the outside in a driving finish. Sunday, Del Mar MATRIARCH S.-GI, $303,000, Del Mar, 12-1, 3yo/up, f/m, 1mT, 1:34.76, fm. 1–SACRED WISH, 123, f, 4, by Not This Time 1st Dam: Indian Wish, by Indian Charlie 2nd Dam: Sister Girl, by Conquistador Cielo 3rd Dam: Scipio, by Danzig 1ST GRADED STAKES WIN, 1ST GRADE I WIN. ($80,000 Wlg '20 KEENOV; $70,000 RNA Ylg '21 KEESEP; $50,000 2yo '22 EASMAY). O-Black Type Thoroughbreds, Swinbank Stables, Steve Adkisson, Christopher T. Dunn and Anthony Spinazzola; B-John R. Penn (KY); T-George Weaver; J-John R. Velazquez. $180,000. Lifetime Record: 17-4-6-3, $985,138. Werk Nick Rating: B+. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree. Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. 2–Gina Romantica, 123, m, 5, by Into Mischief 1st Dam: Special Me, by Unbridled's Song 2nd Dam: Delta Danielle, by Lord Avie 3rd Dam: Domasco Danielle, by Same Direction ($1,025,000 Ylg '20 KEESEP). O-Peter M. Brant; B-Machmer Hall, Carrie Brogden & Craig Brogden (KY); T-Chad C. Brown. 60,000. 3–Ag Bullet, 123, f, 4, by Twirling Candy 1st Dam: Noble Grey, by Forestry 2nd Dam: Never Fail, by Holy Bull 3rd Dam: Peaceful Intention, by Hold Your Peace ($30,000 Wlg '20 KEENOV; $220,000 Ylg '21 KEESEP). O-Calvin Nguyen and Joey C. Tran; B-H & E Ranch (KY); T-Richard Baltas. $36,000. Margins: NK, 3/4, 3/4. Odds: 12.80, 1.30, 3.00. Also Ran: Tax Implications (GB), Aspen Grove (Ire), Child of the Moon (Fr), Mouffy, Nadette (Fr), Aussie Girl (Ire), Prerequisite, Tirupati. Scratched: Kehoe Beach. Click for the Equibase.com chart and the TJCIS.com PPs. VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV. Down to the liiiiiine. Sacred Wish storms to victory in the Grade I Matriarch. pic.twitter.com/p0bQvcC7nl — Del Mar Racetrack (@DelMarRacing) December 1, 2024 The post Sacred Wish Denies Gina Romantica In Matriarch appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Fitriani Hay's Clock Tower (Not This Time), the 4-5 favorite, glided up and over from his outside post to take the early lead and never looked back in a wire-to-wire victory in the GIII Cecil B. DeMille Stakes at Del Mar Sunday. The dark bay gelding was in control through an opening quarter in :23.62 and was under a strong hold while getting a breather down the backstretch as the half went up in :48.75. Second choice Scipio (Caravaggio) made eye-catching progress on the turn and loomed a threat while rolling up four wide at the top of the lane, but Clock Tower had plenty left in the tank, easily turning back that foe and scampering clear to win by 2 1/2 lengths. Clock Tower, third in his five-furlong debut over the main track at Churchill May 24, set the pace before settling for second in a one-mile off-turfer at Saratoga Aug. 10. He romped to a 6 1/2-length maiden victory while making his turf debut going one mile at Kentucky Downs Aug. 29 and set the pace before tiring to third in the 1 1/16-mile GII Bourbon Stakes at Keeneland Oct. 6 last time out. Pedigree Notes: Clock Tower is the 18th graded winner for Not This Time, whose other graded winners on turf include champion Up to the Mark and Cogburn. Hot Stones, winner of the 2014 GIII Bed o' Roses Handicap, was purchased by Clarkland Farm for $250,000 while in foal to Tonalist at the 2016 Keeneland November sale. She has a yearling filly by Authentic, who sold for $80,000 to Barry Berkelhammer at the Keeneland September sale, and a weanling colt by Nyquist. She was bred to Omaha Beach this year. Pouring it on! Clock Tower left plenty in the tank to pull away in the Grade III Cecil B DeMille Stakes with @ljlmvel up. pic.twitter.com/a8wS4u36X6 — Del Mar Racetrack (@DelMarRacing) December 1, 2024 Sunday, Del Mar CECIL B. DEMILLE S.-GIII, $101,000, Del Mar, 12-1, 2yo, 1mT, 1:36.78, fm. 1–CLOCK TOWER, 120, g, 2, by Not This Time 1st Dam: Hot Stones (GSW, $521,356), by Bustin Stones 2nd Dam: Steamed Up, by Freud 3rd Dam: Midnight Tank, by Tank's Prospect 1ST BLACK TYPE WIN, 1ST GRADED STAKES WIN. ($100,000 Ylg '23 KEESEP). O-Mrs. Fitriani Hay; B-Clarkland Farm LLC (KY); T-Wesley A. Ward; J-John R. Velazquez. $60,000. Lifetime Record: 5-2-1-2, $225,938. Werk Nick Rating: A++. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree. Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. 2–Scipio, 120, r, 2, Caravaggio–Soul Spirit, by Quality Road. ($60,000 2yo '24 OBSMAR). O-Calvin Nguyen and Joey C. Tran; B-Don Alberto Corporation (KY); T-Richard Baltas. $20,000. 3–Origami (Ire), 117, f, 2, Sioux Nation–Saiddaa, by Hard Spun. 1ST BLACK TYPE, 1ST GRADED BLACK TYPE. (€10,500 Wlg '22 GOFNO1; €85,000 Ylg '23 GOFOR2). O-JWS Racing LLC, Jeff Berk, David Grund and Amanda E. Oster; B-Myles Sunderland (IRE); T-Jack Sisterson. $12,000. Margins: 2HF, 1 1/4, NO. Odds: 0.90, 1.60, 6.70. Also Ran: Game Warrior, Snowdonia, Prince Dolce, Lazlo. Scratched: Kale's Angel, Pali Kitten. Click for the Equibase.com chart and the TJCIS.com PPs. VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV. The post All Along: Clock Tower Goes Wire-to-Wire in DeMille appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Trainer Ignacio Correas IV said the 4-year-old filly is being pointed to an entry-level optional claiming allowance at Gulfstream following the Christmas holiday.View the full article

8th-Aqueduct, $95,000, Alw (NW2$X)/Opt. Clm ($62,500), 12-1, 3yo/up, f/m, 1m, 1:35.78, ft, 3 1/4 lengths. JULIA SHINING (f, 4, Curlin–Dreaming of Julia {Broodmare Of The Year, GISW, $874,500}, by A.P. Indy) was named a 'TDN Rising Star'–the fifth in her extended female family–after she broke her maiden at first asking over Keeneland's main track as a late juvenile. The well-bred filly won the GII Demoiselle Stakes that December, and the following spring she was third in both the Suncoast Stakes at Tampa in mid-February and in the GI Central Bank Ashland Stakes at Keeneland that April. Ninth in the GI Alabama Stakes at the Spa, Julia Shining wrapped her season over the fall with a fourth-place finish in the GII Mother Goose Stakes in Ozone Park and was the runner-up in the GIII Comely Stakes at the Big A. Off the bench against optional claimers to kick off her 4-year-old campaign at Keeneland in April, the filly was last seen running a well-beaten fourth in the Allaire DuPont Distaff Stakes at Pimilco May 17. The 7-5 choice here took an awkward step out of the gate, which spotted the field several lengths up the backstretch. Mounting a rally approaching the far turn, the bay quickly erased the margin entering the lane and took aim at the leaders with a furlong left. The homebred flexed her class as she won by 3 1/4 lengths over Golden Degree (Goldencents). The winner is full-sister to Malathaat, Ch. 3-year-old Filly, Ch. Older Dirt Female, MGISW, $3,790,825. Dreaming of Julia is also responsible for unraced 2-year-old filly Eco Warrior (Curlin) and a yearling filly by Into Mischief. Out of MGISW Dream Rush (Wild Rush), the 2022 Broodmare of the Year was sent back to Curlin for next season. Lifetime Record: GSW/GISP, 10-3-1-3, $391,275. Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV. O/B-Stonestreet Thoroughbred Holdings LLC (KY); T-Todd A. Pletcher. JULIA SHINING, the 4YO daughter of @HillnDaleFarm stallion Curlin, wins the eighth race under @DavisJockey for trainer @PletcherRacing. pic.twitter.com/cHArp6ky9u — NYRA () (@TheNYRA) December 1, 2024 The post Malathaat’s Sister Julia Shining Returns To The Winner’s Circle At The Big A appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

7th-Churchill Downs, $123,355, Alw, 12-1, (NW1X), 3yo/up, f/m, 1m, 1:34.18, ft, 8 1/4 lengths. GRAND JOB (f, 3, Justify–Sure Route {GB} {MSP, $201,163}, by Ishiguru), runner up in three of four starts in Ireland last season, marked her U.S. debut with an easy six-length win going seven-eighths at the Big A Oct. 31. The well-supported 1-2 favorite adding another furlong, the bay went to the front and extended her advantage throughout, winning by 8 1/4 lengths over Viable (Curlin). The winner is a half-sister to Divine Image (Scat Daddy), Hwt.-UAE- at 7 – 9 1/2 f., GSW-UAE, $391,535. Sales history: $105,000 Ylg '22 KEESEP. Sure Route dropped a colt by Golden Pal this term. Lifetime Record: 6-2-3-0, $135,232. Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV. O-Bell Tower Thoroughbreds; B-Fullbury (KY); T-William I. Mott. The post Justify’s Grand Job Remains Undefeated in U.S. with Emphatic Churchill Win appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Race favourite Lemon Pop (Lemon Drop Kid) ran out a determined winner of Sunday's G1 Champions Cup at Chukyo Racecourse to become the first horse to defend the title for over a decade. It was the perfect way to bow out for Lemon Drop, who now retires to Darley Japan as the winner of 13 of his 18 career starts, with his other notable victories including the G1 February Stakes in 2023 when he was crowned the JRA Best Dirt Horse. The 16-strong field also included the latest winner of the February Stakes in Peptide Nile (Jpn) (King Kamehameha {Jpn}), latterly runner-up to Lemon Pop in the Listed Mile Championship Nambu Hai at Morioka in October, as well as the two horses who completed the frame in last year's Champions Cup, Wilson Tesoro (Jpn) (Kitasan Black {Jpn}) and Dura Erede (Jpn) (Duramente {Jpn}). Lemon Pop broke alertly from his inside stall and was sent straight to the front by Ryusei Sakai, with Mitono O (Jpn) (Logotype {Jpn}) for company on his outside. By the home turn Lemon Pop had extended his advantage to around two lengths and the Hiroyasu Tanaka trainee kept going well from there to get the verdict by a nose from the fast-finishing Wilson Tesoro, with another length and a half back to Dura Erede in a carbon copy of last year's one-two-three. Dual G3 Sirius Stakes winner Hagino Alegrias (Jpn) (Kizuna {Jpn}) finished fourth ahead of Peptide Nile in fifth. “It was his last race and I'm glad that he was able to end his career with the best result,” Sakai said of Lemon Pop, who became the first horse to win the race in consecutive years since Transcend (Jpn) (Wild Rush) was successful in 2010 and 2011, back when it was run as the Japan Cup Dirt. “I wanted to ride him as smoothly as possible without any loss and was ready for any challenge. I thought we had won but wasn't quite sure because Wilson Tesoro came from behind with great speed, so I'm glad we were able to win. Lemon Pop is a strong horse–he has won six out of six Group 1-class races in Japan–and there's no other horse like him, and I'm proud to have been on his back.” 【 Champions Cup (G1), Chukyo, 1800m, 3yo&up, approx US$ 1.73m】 Winner: Lemon Pop(USA) J: Ryusei Sakai T: Hiroyasu Tanaka Sire: Lemon Drop Kid Dam: Unreachable#チャンピオンズカップ は、#レモンポップ が優勝！！ pic.twitter.com/FXWpTTtFcr — JRA World Racing (@JRA_WorldRacing) December 1, 2024 Pedigree Notes Lemon Pop is one of four winners from six to the races for Unreachable, whose multiple graded-stakes winning dam Harpia is a full-sister to the legendary Danehill. The mare, who was acquired privately by Chad Schumer for $50,000 after she was led out unsold at Keeneland November in 2020, is also the dam of a two-year-old Ontario-bred colt by Maclean's Music, who fetched $310,000 at Keeneland September last fall, but was bought back on a bid of €340,000 at this year's Arqana May Breeze-Up Sale. Sunday, Chukyo, Japan CHAMPIONS CUP-G1, ¥232,920,000, Chukyo, 12-1, 3yo/up, 1800m, 1:50.10, gd. 1–LEMON POP, 128, h, 6, by Lemon Drop Kid 1st Dam: Unreachable, by Giant's Causeway 2nd Dam: Harpia, by Danzig 3rd Dam: Razyana, by His Majesty ($70,000 Wlg '18 KEENOV). O-Godolphin; B-Mr & Mrs Oliver S Tait (KY); T-Hiroyasu Tanaka; J-Ryusei Sakai; ¥123,444,000. Lifetime Record: Ch. Dirt Horse & MG1SW-Jpn, 18-13-3-0, ¥760,200,000. Werk Nick Rating: A+++ *Triple Plus*. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree. Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. 2–Wilson Tesoro (Jpn), 128, h, 5, Kitasan Black (Jpn)–Chesutoke Rose, by Uncle Mo. O-Kenji Ryotokuji Holdings; B-Ryoken Farm (Jpn); ¥48,984,000. 3–Dura Erede (Jpn), 128, c, 4, Duramente (Jpn)–Marchesa (Jpn), by Orfevre (Jpn). (¥100,000,000 Ylg '21 JRHJUL). O-Three H Racing; B-Northern Farm (Jpn); ¥30,492,000. Margins: NS, 1HF, 3/4. Odds: 1.20, 4.50, 41.60. Also Ran: Hagino Alegrias (Jpn), Peptide Nile (Jpn), Sunrise Zipangu (Jpn), Ater Astrea (Jpn), Peisha Es (Jpn), Gloria Mundi (Jpn), Mitono O (Jpn), Crown Pride (Jpn), Seraphic Call (Jpn), Mick Fire (Jpn), T O Drefong (Jpn), Gaia Force (Jpn), Suleyman (Jpn). Click for the JRA chart & video. The post Lemon Pop Defends Champions Cup Crown on Swansong appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Bjorn Baker declared Overpass a "very special horse" after the 6-year-old extended his Ascot record to a stunning 4-for-4 with a dominant triumph in the 1,200-meter (about six-furlong) Winterbottom Stakes (G1) Nov. 30.View the full article

Amelia Green, 31, whose most recent racetrack job was as an assistant trainer to Todd Pletcher, wasted no time getting her own training career off to a fast as she won Sunday's first race at Aqueduct with her first ever starter. The win came with On Command (Omaha Beach) in a maiden special weight race. Green, a native of England, has served in several roles in racing, as a jockey, exercise rider, foreman and traveling assistant. One of her first stops in the U.S. was to work as an assistant trainer in California to George Papaprodromou. Most recently, she was in charge of Pletcher's string at Keeneland. Green also worked for trainer Sir Henry Cecil for four years, riding races for him as an apprentice. In the U.S., she rode from 2013 through 2015 and had nine winners from 148 starters. She took out her U.S. trainer's license shortly after this year's Breeders' Cup. “I don't think it's quite hit me yet,” she said. “It doesn't feel real yet. It is starting to hit me now I guess. Mostly, it was a relief. I am very happy for the owners [Lucky Hat Racing LLC and V Hop Racing] and the filly herself. She ran very well. I was quietly confident with her coming into this race. I didn't want to say anything out loud, but she had been training very well the last couple of weeks, so I was confident in the way she was coming into it and how everything was aligning and going right. But you never know until the final moment if it is actually going to end the way you hope it does.” Green is based at Belmont and plans to follow the New York circuit. She said she currently has four horses with “a couple more coming in this week.” “This filly winning will hopefully help me get some more clientele,” she said. To have someone like Pletcher as a mentor certainly helps. “He led by example with his dedication to his craft,” she said. “If you're there every day and you put in the work, you're going to get rewarded for it. If you work hard, you're always going to do well.” The post Former Pletcher Assistant Amelia Green Sends out Winner in Her First Try appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

George Strawbridge's Augustin Stables capped a trio of graded wins over the week at Del Mar when Will Then (War of Will) powered to a 2 1/4-length victory in the GIII Jimmy Durante Stakes at the seaside oval Saturday. The filly joined stablemates Mrs. Astor (Lookin at Lucky), who won the Nov. 24 GIII Red Carpet Stakes, and Truly Quality (Quality Road), who won the GII Hollywood Turf Cup Friday. All three homebreds are trained by Jonathan Thomas. “I really have to give kudos to Mr. Strawbridge and his breeding program,” Thomas said. “They are all three homebreds. It's an incredible thing for a breeder to accomplish, so we're just blessed to train for him.” Jonathan Thomas | Benoit Strawbridge purchased Mrs. Astor's dam, Causal (Creative Cause), for $400,000 as a Keeneland September yearling in 2015. The mare made just two starts before heading to the breeding shed and the 4-year-old Mrs. Astor is her first foal. Truly Quality is a grandson of Strawbridge's turf champion Forever Together (Belong to Me). His dam, Truly Together (Smart Strike), was third in the Augustin colors in the 2018 GIII Endeavor Stakes and she is also the dam of graded winner Mouffy (Uncle Mo). Will Then's dam Remember Then (Pulpit) was another yearling purchase by Strawbridge, who acquired her for $350,000 at the 2011 Keeneland September sale. Winner of the first three starts of her career in 2012 and 2013, she is also the dam of stakes winner Born Dapper (Union Rags). Will Then, a maiden winner over the Woodbine turf in October, was making just her third lifetime start when she upset the Jimmy Durante at 10-1. Of plans for the 2-year-old filly, Thomas said, “We need to look at the stakes schedule. I think there's a race [the $100,000 Blue Norther on Dec. 28] at Santa Anita going a mile. I think it makes complete sense to wheel back in that spot. The timing's good. She's lightly raced. I don't think she's a filly we shut down. She's just getting the hang of it.” The post Del Mar Fall Festival Graded Triple for Strawbridge, Thomas appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

How did we get hooked on this sport? We all have stories about how our love affair developed and blossomed. The TDN will be reaching out to numerous notable people in the industry to get their stories to find out how they got hooked and stayed hooked on the sport. When I was very young, we would go to the races, my dad, my mom, my brother and I. My dad liked to bet, so he wasn't passionate about racing. But I became passionate very quickly. I started reading the Racing Form at a young age. It became my favorite sport almost instantly. I'm not one of these guys who remembers the first time I was there or the first horse that I watched. I have no idea. I was not in a position to remember because I was so young at the time. We lived in Beverly Hills and would go to Hollywood Park a lot and to Santa Anita. We were there every opening day that I can think of. I got to see some incredible horses. I remember watching Spectacular Bid run. But when I think about horses, the first memory I strongly recall, for whatever reason, is being at Hollywood Park one day and there was a race with Ancient Title and Crystal Water in it. I just had a love for it. I was a big Bill Shoemaker fan. He was my favorite jockey. On the weekends, most people wanted to go to the Dodgers games, Rams games, Lakers game. I just wanted to go to the track. I am going to guess my father first started taking me around the time I turned five. The times I first really remember were when I was about eight. By the time I was nine, I remember being extremely disappointed because my dad wouldn't take me to see Seattle Slew in the Swaps Stakes. He didn't want to fight the big crowd. There were 70,000 people there that day and it was going to be a big headache. I remember vividly listening to that race on the radio. It was on a clock radio we had and I listened to Harry Henson's live call on KNX. When I think of the house we lived in at that the time, that's my most vivid memory, that race, listening on the radio, not eating dinner that night and being very sad because Seattle Slew lost. By the age of nine, I was completely into it. I would watch the replay shows and would listen to 'Horse and Jockey,' a race recreation show at the end of the day that was highly entertaining. The recreations were done by a guy named Jay Richards. I ended up meeting him after I was on TVG. He sent in an email. I asked if this was the Jay Richards. It was and we became close friends. For me, I loved the jockeys. I would get so many jockey autographs. I remember so many times meeting those jockeys at a very young age and how cool they were. I didn't really know it at the time, but that was an amazing colony of riders. They were always accommodating. Shoemaker, Chris McCarron, Eddie D., Don Pierce, they were all very nice to me. It's not that my dad didn't like racing, but he wasn't passionate about it. The reason I know that is that he didn't dig into the Racing Form like I did. He'd rather just play the picks made by the guy in the Los Angeles Times or play numbers. I loved the sport and trying to figure it out. By high school, I was reading the Racing Form regularly. I was very much into it, trying to figure out how to handicap. Then I became fascinated with the race callers. That's because at a young age I was an impersonator. I would go to the track and imitate the track announcers. Amazingly, that's how my race calling career got started. The post How I Got Hooked on Racing: Frank Mirahmadi appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

There is three horse racing meetings set for Australia on Monday, December 2. Our racing analysts here at horsebetting.com.au have found you the best bets and the quaddie numbers for Tamworth. Monday’s Free Horse Racing Tips – December 2, 2024 Tamworth Racing Tips As always, there are plenty of promotions available for Australian racing fans. Check out all the top online bookmakers to see what daily promotions they have. If you are looking for a new bookmaker for the horse racing taking place on December 2, 2024 check out our guide to the best online racing betting sites. Neds Code GETON 1 Take It To The Neds Level Neds Only orange bookie! Check Out Neds Review 18+ Gamble Responsibly. What are you really gambling with? Set a deposit limit today. “GETON is not a bonus code. Neds does not offer bonus codes in Australia and this referral code does not grant access to offers. Full terms. BlondeBet Signup Code GETON 2 Punters Prefer Blondes BlondeBet Blonde Boosts – Elevate your prices! Join BlondeBet Review 18+ Gamble Responsibly. WHAT ARE YOU REALLY GAMBLING WITH? full terms. 3 It Pays To Play PlayUp Aussie-owned horse racing specialists! Check Out PlayUp Review 18+ Gamble Responsibly. Imagine what you could be buying instead. Full terms. Recommended! Dabble Signup Code AUSRACING 4 Say Hey to the social bet! Dabble You Better Believe It Join Dabble Review 18+ Gamble Responsibly. THINK. IS THIS A BET YOU REALLY WANT TO PLACE? Full terms. Bet365 Signup Code GETON 5 Never Ordinary Bet365 World Favourite! Visit Bet365 Review 18+ Gamble Responsibly. GETON is not a bonus code. bet365 does not offer bonus codes in Australia and this referral code does not grant access to offers. What’s gambling really costing you? Full terms. 6 Next Gen Racing Betting pickleBet Top 4 Betting. Extra Place. Every Race. Join Picklebet Review 18+ Gamble Responsibly. What are you really gambling with? Full terms. Horse racing tips View the full article

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Australian multiple Group 1-placed Tutta La Vita (Aus) (The Autumn Sun {Aus}), purchased by John Stewart's Resolute Racing for A$3.2 million at the Inglis Chairman's Sale in May, is nearing her U.S. debut after working four furlongs in :49.34 (11/16) over the Tapeta surface at Gulfstream Saturday. Trainer Ignacio 'Nacho' Correas, IV said Sunday that the 4-year-old filly is being pointed to an entry-level optional claiming allowance following the Christmas holiday. “She's doing good. She's eligible for a one-other-than and she's going to run here on the 26th,” Correas said. “So far, so good.” The acclimation from Australian winter to North American summer was slower than anticipated for Tutta La Vita, pushing her first timed work to mid-September at Keeneland and scrapping plans to run at both Saratoga and in the Breeders' Cup. Tutta La Vita has breezed twice over the all-weather Tapeta surface at Gulfstream. She worked five furlongs in 1:00.84 Nov. 23 before her four-furlong work Saturday. On the board in three Group 1 events in her native Australia, including a runner-up effort in the G1 Storm Queen Stakes in March, Tutta La Vita owns a record of 1-3-2 from 12 career starts, all on turf. In her first outing for Resolute Racing, she was eighth in the May 25 G2 ANZ Bloodstock News The Roses last time out. “Mr. Stewart bought her and sent her to me. She ran some nice races in Australia. She has been working here like a good horse. We look forward to a good start in America and then a very good campaign in 2025,” Correas said. “The idea is to run her here and give her a start and go from there. She's training very well and doing very well, so we are very happy with her.” Correas also trains 6-year-old millionaire Didia (Arg) (Orpen) for Resolute and Merriebelle Stable. A two-time Group 1 winner in her home country, she has won four graded stakes in North America, including the GI New York Stakes in June at Saratoga. Most recently third in the GI Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf, Didia is being pointed to a title defense in the GII Pegasus Filly & Mare Turf Invitational next month at Gulfstream, a race she won by a neck as the favorite last January. “Didia is doing good,” Correas said. “She came out of the Breeders' Cup in very good shape. She's back working, and she is expected to make her comeback in the Pegasus Filly & Mare Turf. That was a very exciting day for me and for everybody.” The post Tutta La Vita Nears U.S. Debut appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Lemon Pop capped off his career with a repeat victory Dec. 1 in the Champions Cup (G1) at Chukyo Racecourse.View the full article

Close to 1,500 foals have changed hands at Goffs and Tattersalls over the past fortnight during what industry stakeholders have acknowledged to be a magic marketplace. This was the year to sell a foal with all of the key figures jumping dramatically at both sales houses. Not only were the pinhookers predictably strong after what was widely agreed to be an unexpectedly good end to the yearling sales, but a number of end-users–Godolphin, Yulong, Juddmonte and more–really stepped up to the plate at both sales. There were records broken at Tattersalls and Goffs and, the fact that the Wednesday foals in Ireland averaged just €14,178 less than the Orby Sale tells you everything you need to know about the strength of the foal sales. While there are still a number of foals set to sell at Arqana, it seems as though now is a fair time to press pause and take stock of some of the key themes that have emerged from the past fortnight. From top judges Philipp Stauffenberg, Eddie O'Leary and Joe Foley to consignors and stud owners, some of the big names of the industry have weighed in on what young sires to follow, market predictions and more. Philipp Stauffenberg, pinhooker When you think back to the foal sales at Goffs, the average was close to the Orby. That tells you enough. Then here at Tattersalls, if you go through the results at the high end of the market, it is dominated by end users. Because of the strength of the yearling market, obviously some people decided to try and land a punch at the foal sales. That makes life difficult for us pinhookers. But the trade was amazing. I bid very strongly on Chaldean (GB) as a foal. Loved him. I knew that it would be difficult to try and buy his sister [last Friday] and unfortunately I couldn't fend off other buyers when I opened her at 1 million gns! She actually was not for pinhooking, though–I have one client who is keen to buy a really top-class filly and he was willing to go to 2 million gns but we didn't have a chance. I am very happy with the horses I bought. My only regret was that I didn't pick up as many high-end foals as I'd have liked to. I still think I bought one of the nicest colts we saw at any sale in the Night Of Thunder (Ire) colt we bought at Goffs-he was just absolutely gorgeous. I would have liked to have bought two or three more high-end fillies in particular but I stretched myself out of my comfort zone for every one I did bid on and then they made even more to end-users. Looking at some of the younger stallions, I bought a Minzaal (Ire) out of a black-type mare at Goffs and I would give that stallion a big chance. From what we have seen of his stock, he is more or less the one who looks good. O'Leary: “If you see a bull calf you don't need to see the bull so I think people could breed to him blind.” | Tattersalls Eddie O'Leary, Lynn Lodge Stud You can get more than ever for the nice horse but less than ever for those that don't make the grade. The lesser horses are desperately hard to sell. I've never seen the floor of the market so low. It's all about the nicer horses. Why's that? Prize-money. Nobody wants the fun horse. The demand is for the high-end horses. Now the pinhookers are teaming up to buy the better calibre of horse and that's making them even dearer to buy. I bought 15 in Goffs and 11 here at Tattersalls. I sold yearlings by Lope Y Fernandez (Ire) and A'Ali (Ire) this year and found them to be lovely horses. I tried to buy foals by them again but I actually couldn't buy an A'Ali in the end. Of the stallions with first foals, Minzaal is doing well. Perfect Power is throwing horses much better-looking than he is. If you see a bull calf you don't need to see the bull so I think people could breed to him blind. He's throwing Kodiacs if you ask me. I think it's fair to say we were expecting a kick up the you know what coming into Book 1 but we didn't get it, largely down to Kia Joorabchian's involvement. We all seriously hope that Kia and Evangelos Marinakis have a good year next year and, who knows, they might bring even more people into the game. That will be important. Caoimhe Doherty, Forenaghts Stud The yearling sales were very strong but a lot of pinhookers did lose money. We bought two foals this year and four last year. We bought at a level–an Australia (GB) filly for €30,000 and a Naval Crown (GB) for €24,000. We're happy at that level and time will tell if we bought value or not. We have a Navan Crown filly at home at Forenaghts Stud and we think she's very smart. There's a lot of Dubawi about his stock and he's one I like. Barry Lynch, bloodstock agent I was mainly selling at the foal sales and we had a very positive experience. There was great footfall and, the horses who were good physically and were up to the market, they were very well received. We had Minzaal and Sioux Nation colts that sold very well around the mid-market level. Sioux Nation seems to be gone to another level and certainly seems to be exceeding expectations. He's got well-bred crops to run for him going forward and you'd hope that those horses will be prolific and he will continue on an upward trajectory. As for Minzaal, I have been a huge fan of his from the start and his foals have been very well received as well. The Blackbeard (Ire) foals seem to be strong, well-built horses and I liked the Persian Force (Ire) foals as well. They sold well and were well-supported. Tally-Ho Stud has a great system and a great history of making stallions. He's covered a good book of mares and will be given every chance. At the end of the day, the European yearling market is worth somewhere in the region of 300 million so, when Amo Racing come to play, that moves the market. There was obviously a knock-on effect. The other thing that stuck out to me at the foal sales was the broad spectrum of sires that sold well. There were some stallions in the mid-market, the likes of Cotai Glory (GB) and Gleneagles (Ire), that sold very well. I think that's a great sign of the market that it's not just the 60 grand and above stallions who sold well. David Cox, Baroda Stud People got a lot of money out of yearlings and were always going to reinvest. I knew it was going to be strong but seeing the end users coming in was very interesting. I thought Alex Elliott's comments after buying Chaldean's sister were interesting. He said, 'We bought her for 2.5 million gns but would probably have had to spend a lot more on her as a yearling.' That purchase made sense for Amo Racing. But, on the whole, it was great trade. I bought a few foals but played it fairly safe with the sires. We didn't get any first-crop sires but we did buy a Ghaiyyath (Ire) and I would be confident that we haven't seen the best of him yet. I was actually stabled beside the Perfect Power (Ire) colt who topped the sale on Saturday at 72,000gns and he stood out to me. Plenty of people seem to be talking about Minzaal and Blackbeard and we sold a couple of nice Persian Force foals at Goffs so he definitely has a chance. Oliver St Lawrence, bloodstock agent I'm not a major foal buyer but, the same as everyone else, I thought the Minzaals were very nice. Caturra (Ire) seems to be getting nice foals as well. I don't entirely understand how everyone seems to have forgotten how tricky the yearling sales were. I mean, we had some really tricky sales prior to Book 1. Everyone seems to think that Book 1 is the market but I'm not so sure. It will be interesting to see how some of these mares who aren't in foal to the right stallions sell this week. I think things could look a bit trickier after this week. There were some serious holes in the yearling market, particularly earlier in the year, and, at the later sales, you had to be by the right stallion. We obviously work closely with breeders through our nominations and we are getting more people than ever ringing us looking for foal shares to the bigger stallions. That's just the way it has gone. But there will be some value to be had if one is clever enough to source it. Anthony O'Donnell, Darley The one thing I took from the foal sales at Goffs and here at Tattersalls was the great energy that young pinhookers brought to the whole thing-and not just for the 10 or 20 grand foals, either. A lot of younger men and women partnered up to buy the better calibre of foals and that's what you need to be doing now because that window at the yearling sales appears to be getting smaller. Another thing I found interesting was, on the plane home from the foal sales the other day, I got speaking with a buyer who didn't manage to buy anything here. He hadn't planned on shopping at the mare sales but, because he didn't get a foal, he's back looking for a mare with a good cover so that's what you call thinking on your feet. Speaking with my Darley hat on, we have been genuinely delighted by the start that Perfect Power and Naval Crown have made. Not only have they sold well, but they have been bought by some brilliant people. That's exciting. Joe Foley: “Baaeed was the one for me.” | Tattersalls Joe Foley, Ballyhane Stud I wasn't surprised by the strength of the foal sales. How could you be? After Book 1, which had a knock-on effect at Book 2, there was always going to be a huge demand for foals that looked like they could be high-end candidates at the yearling sales. There are newer players who are after coming into the game and they want to compete with the top guys. To do that, they had to spend a lot of money. The market has risen accordingly and the elite horses at the elite sales have been hard to buy. One thing I would say is that the middle tiers were solid enough as well. Given everything that is going on in the world, it was okay. Now, it was hard work at times, don't get me wrong, but it was reasonable. I saw a lot of foals at Goffs and at Tattersalls and Baaeed was the one for me. They look like they are going to turn into better yearlings, which you wouldn't be surprised about. He was an exceptional racehorse and his foals didn't disappoint. The Perfect Powers are also very nice. He was a weapon of a racehorse and I've actually bought into three foals by him. The post ‘Trade Was Amazing’ – Industry Leaders Have Their Say On Fantastic Foal Sales appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

A few minutes after his horse had strolled away for a 20-length win in the $300,000 Jericho Cup (4600m) on Sunday, part-owner Peter Groidis struggled to talk of how his racing dream had come true. Groidis, who sourced 20-length winner Farag (NZ) (Sacred Falls) from New Zealand to win the race that commemorates one of Australia’s most famous World War I battles, struggled with his emotions in a post-race Racing.com interview as he put the victory in heavy going into perspective. “It’s about the horse and about the occasion,” he said. “You don’t get too many races in Australia where it means so much to the people of Australia. “If you are a patriotic Australian, and you love horse racing, this is the race to win. You can have your Melbourne Cup as there is no other race to win as a family.” Farag was certainly no fluke winner. His victory for jockey Will Gordon and local trainer Aaron Purcell was his seventh in 2024 for his connections. And by far his most impressive. On the line, after travelling like the winner for the entire trip, Farag ran clear to beat Split (NZ) (Turn Me Loose) by 20 lengths, with a further length to Glen Massey (NZ) (Roc de Cambes) in third place. Gordon had won the race previously with Wil John, but he said he would never tire of winning such a race. “It’s massive,” he said. “It’s such an historic race, It means a lot, like, the carryings-on before it with the silence and that firing and stuff, there’s a lot of meaning behind this race and it doesn’t go unnoticed at all, so it’s a credit to everyone for putting it together.” Purcell said he enjoyed the watch for much the entire 4600-metre journey. “I thought the horses from the pack would chase him down, but I was confident our horse wouldn’t stop, so I was happy to see him hit the front as I knew he’d be a hard horse to get past.” Farag was sold by breeder Bruce Sherwin as a unraced 3yo on Gavelhouse for $1000 to Shelley Wright who retains some ownership interest. View the full article