Wandering Eyes

Jockey Ricardo Santana Jr. has pleaded guilty to two charges of driving under the influence of alcohol and is currently serving a week-long prison sentence with work release provisions. View the full article

In the midst of a career-best year in New York, jockey Dylan Davis has decided to spend the winter riding at Gulfstream Park instead of Aqueduct Racetrack.View the full article

Hot Property (Medaglia d'Oro–Milwaukee Appeal, by Milwaukee Brew) was set for his unveiling and the colt did not disappoint as he tackled two turns on the dirt with success at Fair Grounds on Sunday. The TDN 'Insighted' runner was off as a 4-1 shot here. After the bell, the homebred took the lead into the first turn and continued to make every pole a winning one, despite being pressured through the far turn by So Sandy (Omaha Beach). With more to give down the lane, the 2-year-old got the best of his rival and rolled home a winner by over three lengths. Seattle Road (Quality Road) was up for second. The final running time was 1:45.27. Lifetime Record: 1-1-0-0. O/B-Gary & Mary West Stables Inc (KY); T-Brad Cox. Hot Property is a debut winner at 4/1 for the @bradcoxracing barn in the fifth race at @fairgroundsnola! @jockeypedrozajr was up. #TwinSpiresReplay pic.twitter.com/DMMhonMp7I — TwinSpires Racing (@TwinSpires) November 24, 2024 The post Hot Property Tackles Two Turns To Break Maiden On Debut In The Big Easy appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Annabel Neasham and Rob Archibald became the first trainers based outside of Western Australia to land the Railway Stakes (G1) since the Lindsey Smith-trained Scales Of Justice in 2016. View the full article

Atlantic Six Racing's Book'em Danno is entered in the Nov. 25 Steel Valley Sprint at Mahoning Valley Race Course, but trainer Derek Ryan said he will scratch in favor of the $500,000 Cigar Mile Handicap (G2) at Aqueduct Racetrack Dec. 7.View the full article

Over the past week, the TDN has been asking racing personalities with no family involvement in racing what the moment was that got them hooked. Jason Beem, track announcer and podcast host I grew up about five miles from Longacres Race Course in the Seattle suburb of Renton, Washington. My dad was a gambler and loved the playing the horses and started taking me from a very early age. I thought jockeys were the coolest thing ever and my dad has photos of me at age three sitting on the back of some horses at Longacres who were trained by a guy he played poker with. My favorite one was a mare named Rascal Rascal. The street I grew up on was a big oval shape, similar to a track, so after the races at Longacres, we'd come home and I would go out on my bike and get a stick and re-do the days races while riding around the oval street. I'd whip my bike with the stick and do my best impression of track announcer Gary Henson calling them home. Longacres was a beautiful place and even though I was only 12 when they shut it down in 1992, I still have so many memories from those days. The poplar trees on the turn, the brick flooring, the green wall that we leaned against to watch the races. (side note, parts of that green wall still stand on the old Longacres land, hidden in the now overgrown woods) My dad would get me the Longacres media guide every year and I would study it and memorize who won the stakes races in what year. My favorite jockey was Gary Boulanger and I had a stuffed jockey teddy bear named “Gary Bearlanger” that Gary autographed. I told him I wanted to be a jockey, but unfortunately at age 10, I was almost as tall and probably weighed more than he did. Once I turned the ripe betting age of 10, my mom would give me $20 to make bets for the card. My dad would take the $20 and he'd make my bets for me and keep track for the day. My favorite horse of all time was the great Captain Condo and in the 1990 Space Needle Handicap he won over another favorite of mine, Grandstand Gabe. The exacta paid $44 and I hit it. It seemed like the most money ever for a ten year-old. Been chasing that $44 ever since. Barry Irwin, Team Valor International Barry Irwin (left) | Sarah Andrew photo Horse racing first came on my radar as a kid growing up in Los Angeles in the early 1950s. My aunt Bertha, widely known in Beverly Hills as the “perfume lady” from behind her counter at Saks department store on Wilshire Boulevard, had a boyfriend that would take her to the races at Hollywood Park and Santa Anita. I saw a few racing movies on television, noticed that “selected workouts” were a daily feature in our local newspapers, and I started following the ponies in about 1951, much to the horror of my mother and father. We had an uncle in our family that went broke as an unsuccessful horseplayer and my parental units lived in mortal fear that I would somehow follow in his footsteps if I got hooked on the horses. The boyfriend allowed me to send $2 bets with him to the races. He marveled at my luck in picking winners and was only too happy to accommodate me, an occurrence that was kept a secret from my disapproving parents and grandparents. Then came Native Dancer on TV. Followed closely by the advent of Swaps. It was Swaps that truly got me hooked on racing. When he won the Kentucky Derby just after my twelfth birthday, I was pretty much both a seasoned race watcher and a degenerate gambler in the making. Along with my best friend Steve Kallman, we made book on weekend feature races at our junior high school and sold tips for 25 cents on the corner of Robertson and National Boulevards where Steve hawked newspapers for years just down the street from Hamilton High School where we would both graduate a few years later. Swaps not only captured the imagination of local racing fans, he had a Hollywood-style PR machine behind him at Hollywood Park and Santa Anita that knew a thing or two about promotion from the movies. Before and after the Kentucky Derby, the name and image of Swaps was everywhere to be found in and around Los Angeles. The 76 gas station chain produced a beautiful 4-color photo of Swaps with Willie Shoemaker in the saddle. It was suitable for framing. When kids and their families went to the Railbird Theatre at the Railbird Club at Hollywood Park, the star of the show was Swaps. There was something about that chestnut California-bred that grabbed me. His demeanor, his speed when asked to run and his sheer brilliance made me proud to be a Cal-bred myself. When he won the Kentucky Derby it was every bit as exciting as UCLA of USC winning the Rose Bowl. To this day Swaps remains my favorite horse. The post Hooked on Racing: Jason Beem and Barry Irwin appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

4th-Churchill Downs, $120,685, Alw (NW2X)/Opt. Clm ($125,000), 11-24, 3yo, 1 1/16m, 1:42.24, ft, 1/2 length. STAR OF WONDER (c, 3, Uncle Mo–Starship Warpspeed, by Congrats) was tabbed a 'TDN Rising Star' following his 3 1/2-length debut victory going one mile at Churchill Downs June 2. He added a seven-furlong allowance tally Sept. 14 before suffering his first defeat when a well-beaten sixth in a nine-furlong allowance at Keeneland Oct. 24. Shedding the blinkers here, the 4-5 favorite lugged in at the break, but straightened out and rushed up to attend the pace while three wide into the first turn. He shadowed the leaders through fractions of :23.69 and :47.79 and surged to the lead into the homestretch before holding Vitality (Street Boss) safe to the wire to win by a half-length. Star of Wonder is a half-brother to Mojovation (Quality Road), GSP, $375,988; and to Shedaresthedevil (Daredevil), MGISW, $2,777,458. Starship Warpspeed, who died this year, leaves behind Lady Scuderia (Uncle Mo), an unraced 2-year-old filly who was purchased by John Stewart for $2.5 million at last year's Keeneland September sale, and a yearling colt by Gun Runner, who sold for $800,000 to Case Clay at this year's September sale. Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV. Lifetime Record: 4-3-0-0, $220,380. O-Siena Farm LLC & WinStar Farm LLC; B-WinStar Farm, LLC (KY); T-Brad H. Cox. Star of Wonder prevails in the end to win R4 at @churchilldowns under Flavien Prat for trainer @bradcoxracing! The Derby City 6 starts next: https://t.co/vh8sfgc63u #TwinSpiresReplay pic.twitter.com/RFISWzzvcU — TwinSpires Racing (@TwinSpires) November 24, 2024 The post Star of Wonder, Half to Shedaresthedevil, Back in Winner’s Circle at Churchill appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Fans at Churchill Downs on Black Friday, Nov. 29, will have the opportunity to honor one of the brightest stars in horse racing, Thorpedo Anna, the 2024 Kentucky Oaks (GI) winner and one of the favorites to win 2024 Horse of the Year honors.View the full article

Explore a multitude of captivating racing promotions offered by horse racing bookmakers on Monday, November 25. Immerse yourself in the thrill with generous bonus back offers, elevating your betting experience. Delve into these promotions from top-tier online bookmakers to maximise your betting opportunities. The top Australian racing promotions for November 25, 2024, include: Today’s best horse racing promotions Blonde Boosts Elevate Your Prices! BlondeBet T&C’s Apply. Login to BlondeBet to Claim Promo Odds Drift Protector If the price at the jump is bigger than the price that you took, we will pay you out at the bigger odds Eligible customers. T&C’s apply. Login to Bet365 to Claim Promo Best Tote and Starting Price Guarantees a dividend equal to the highest of the official win dividend paid by the three Australian TAB pools or the official starting price. Maximum stake: $2,000. 18+ Gamble Responsibly. Login to BoomBet to Claim Promo Owners Bonus – Win a bet on your horse & receive an extra 15% of winnings in cash Account holder must be registered as an official owner of the nominated horse. Fixed odds only. PlayUp T&Cs Apply. Login to PlayUp to Claim Promo Roll The Dice! Discover your next deposit match offer. One ‘Roll the Dice’ promotion per day. Promotion expires at midnight AEDT of the current day. Bonus Cash expires seven days after the issue date. Cash deposit must be turned over at least once before being withdrawn. BlondeBet T&C’s Apply. Select Customers Only. Login to BlondeBet to Claim Promo Top 4 Betting. Extra Place. Every Race. Bet and win up to 4th place. Picklebet T&Cs apply. Login to pickleBet to Claim Promo Daily Multi Insurance Any race. Any runner. Any odds. Get a bonus back if your multi loses. Check your Vault for eligibility Login to UniBet to Claim Promo How does horsebetting.com.au source its racing bonus offers? HorseBetting.com.au meticulously assesses leading Australian horse racing bookmakers, revealing thoroughbred bonus promotions for November 25, 2024. These ongoing offers underscore the dedication of top horse racing bookmakers. In the realm of horse racing betting, when one bookmaker isn’t featuring a promotion, another is stepping up. Count on HorseBetting.com.au as your go-to source for daily rewarding horse racing bookmaker bonuses. Enhance your value with competitive odds and promotions tailored for existing customers. Easily access these offers by logging in to each online bookmaker’s platform. For valuable insights into races and horses to optimise your bonus bets, trust HorseBetting’s daily free racing tips. Horse racing promotions View the full article

Bob Baffert told TDN via text last week it would be “exciting” to have a horse run at Churchill Downs for the first time in more than three years. Four months ago, on July 19, the gaming corporation that owns the track rescinded a ruling-off it had imposed upon the Hall-of-Fame trainer in 2021 because of a string of drug positives in horses Baffert trained, including one in Churchill's most prominent race, that year's GI Kentucky Derby. The colt who tested positive for an overage of betamethasone was Medina Spirit, owned by Zedan Racing Stables. Presumably waiting for the right horse and the right spot to return to Louisville, Baffert chose Barnes (Into Mischief), an unraced 2-year-old colt who sold for $3.2 million as a FTSAUG yearling in 2023, to represent Zedan in a 5 1/2-furlong maiden special weight sprint Nov. 27. The entry will add intrigue to an otherwise quiet Wednesday before Thanksgiving. Lost in the drama accompanying Baffert's return from corporate exile is the fact that he'll be looking to build upon an impressive 5-for-7 first-across-the-wire streak that dates back to when he won with the last two starters he saddled at Churchill 42 months ago. On May 8, 2021, Baffert sent out two fillies, Himiko (American Pharoah) and Crystal Ball (Malibu Moon), to favored victories in a pair of allowance/optional claimers at Churchill. Baffert's previous day of racing at Churchill was one week earlier, on the 2021 Derby Day itself. That afternoon Baffert trainees crossed the finish first in three of five races, with Gamine (Into Mischief) in the GI Derby City Distaff S. and Du Jour (Temple City) in the GII American Turf S. winning before the (much later) DQ'd Medina Spirit. Meanwhile, at the Mountain… Without any notice or fanfare, the 10-year-old mare Traumarama (Adios Charlie) became North America's winningest active female horse in terms of victories when she notched her 23rd lifetime trip to the winner's circle last Tuesday night at Mountaineer Park. Her feat was all the more impressive considering that when you look at the list of winningest active Thoroughbreds on the continent with 20 victories or higher, geldings far outnumber intact horses and distaffers. Traumarama wired a crew of $4,000 claimers Nov. 18, going off at relatively high odds of 6-1 in a five-horse field for owner Caleb Bayley and trainer Randy Bayley. In each of the past six seasons, she has reliably churned out three victories per year while competing primarily in lower-level route races in West Virginia, Ohio and Indiana. Tuesday's win edged up her lifetime earnings to $200,763 from 81 starts. Among still-active distaffers, Traumarama had been tied at 22 wins with fellow mares Panamaniac (Wilko), an Ohio-based 10-year-old, and Infinite Patience (Sungold), a 7-year-old recent stakes winner at Hastings Racecourse. There are a handful of geldings ranked above Traumarama who have won between 25 and 30 races (thanks to Equibase for running a special query to create that list). But most of them haven't raced for months, putting in question whether they're still considered “active” or not. Based on horses who have won at least one race in 2024, the 10-year-old gelding Sevier (Union Rags) tops North America with 30 victories. But he hasn't raced since May 8 at Parx. When you consider “active” to mean Thoroughbreds who have made at least one start in the past two months, the continent's leader is Collusionist (EZ Effort), an 8-year-old gelding who won his 25th lifetime race by 7 1/2 lengths in an Arapahoe Park allowance Nov. 15. 100 Wins…And Counting? Another neat story that flew beneath the radar of the racing media this past week was that of Kim Sampson, a 65-year-old jockey based at Fairmount Park who is contemplating retirement. KSDK-TV in St. Louis had the scoop with a well-done profile broadcast Nov. 18 (watch it here). Sampson's career arc is remarkable considering she followed a childhood dream to become a professional jockey at her hometown track in western Illinois. As a teenager in the 1970s, she was initially booed by crowds that at the time weren't used to seeing a female rider in a traditionally male profession. But Sampson worked hard to keep her dream alive, and enjoyed moderate success on her own terms at Fairmount while teaming with her late husband, the trainer Jerry Sampson. She then stepped away from the sport in 1983, first to take care of her family, then to pursue a career in another almost exclusively male-dominated job–as an ironworker. More than 38 years later, in 2022, Sampson returned to riding at Fairmount. And on Oct. 22, 2024, she won her 100th lifetime race. Most of her victories predate Equibase's recordkeeping, which only shows her career totals from 2022 onward. But Sampson has the winner's circle photos and the newspaper clippings to prove she reached the century mark. “I was an ironworker for Local 392 out of East St. Louis,” Sampson told KSDK-TV. “I was tying rebar the first five years, bent over on a bridge deck. But I was stout from galloping these horses. They said, 'The ironworking made you strong for the horses.' And I said, 'No, the horses made me strong for the ironworking.'” Sampson continued: “When I quit riding at the end of October [1983], and I took it from my last win [it] was 38 years and 180 days. So nobody comes back at 62 years old and goes riding races. Any other ladies that rode races at 65, I don't know.” After being recognized in the Fairmount winner's circle for her 100th lifetime win, Sampson said, “It still never even really hit me emotionally until I got back in the jocks' room. And then the tears hit.” As KSDK-TV reported, Sampson is not certain if the 100th victory will be her last. “I got somebody that keeps trying to talk me into it for next year,” Sampson said. “If it's meant to be I'll be back. And if it's not, I'll be gone fishing or something.” Fast starts at Tampa It was no surprise to see jockey Samy Camacho establish himself atop the Tampa Bay Downs standings by winning five races over the first two days of the meet last week. The 36-year-old veteran is seeking his fifth consecutive (and sixth overall) riding title at Tampa. Camacho won four on Wednesday's opening-day card, and while three of those winners were on characteristically well-backed horses, one was a 29-1 pickup victory in a race in which Camacho's original mount had been scratched. Velocissima (Violence) hadn't won in more than a year going into the $8,000 claiming sprint for NW3L distaffers. “[Rafael Romero, the trainer] helped me get started in Venezuela, back in 2012,” Camacho told Tampa's media team, recalling his start in the sport. “He did a lot for me early in my career, so I was happy to do it.” Behind Camacho in the early standings, three Tampa riders are tied with two wins apiece. One of them is newcomer Sara Hess, a 7-pound apprentice. Hess, 26, scored with her first Tampa mount, a 4-1 shot, on Wednesday. On Saturday she piloted a 24-1 firster, He's Side Eyed (First Dude), to an upset win. Hess rode her first lifetime winner May 20, 2023, at Belterra Park. Her lifetime stats are 22-28-31 from 306 starts. “I've ridden at all the Kentucky tracks; Belterra, Indianapolis, Mountaineer, Mahoning Valley and [now Tampa],” Hess said, adding that her goal for the meet is to “learn as much as possible, get as much experience as I can and ride as much as possible. “I'll ride anyplace somebody names me,” Hess said. The post Week In Review: Win Streaks and Milestones, Both High-Profile and Under-The-Radar appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Report from JapanView the full article

Do Deuce's classy international race victory Nov. 24 in a Japan Cup (G1) that included nine other previous grade 1/group 1 winners provided vindication after struggles in overseas races.View the full article

Multiple Grade I winner 'TDN Rising Star' Thorpedo Anna (Fast Anna) will be paraded at Churchill Downs Friday, Nov. 29 in the paddock during the ninth race, the race track announced Sunday afternoon. One of the candidates for Horse of the Year honors, the presumed champion 3-year-old filly will join the field during the walkover to the paddock and will remain there through the race, from approximately 4:30 to 4:50 p.m. Thorpedo Anna has won five races at the elite level this season, namely the GI Longines Kentucky Oaks, DK Horse Acorn Stakes, Coaching Club American Oaks, Cotillion Stakes, and Longines Breeders' Cup Distaff against older mares. She came a dwindling head short of winning the GI Draftking Travers Stakes back in August as well. The post Thorpedo Anna to be Paraded Between Races on Black Friday at Churchill appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

After White Abarrio (Race Day) trounced his competition in an allowance race Friday, his connections started plotting his upcoming schedule, with the GI Pegasus World Cup as the main goal. Normally, the Dec. 21 GIII Harlan's Holiday S. is the main prep for the Pegasus, but co-owner Mark Cornett said he is leaning toward running the soon-to-be 6-year-old instead in the Dec. 28 GIII Prospector S. at Gulfstream. The Mr. Prospector is run at seven furlongs while the Harlan's Holiday is a mile-and-a-sixteenth race. “We will look at the two races, the Harlan's Holiday and the Mr. Prospector,” said Cornett who operates C-2 Racing Stable along with his brother Clint. “We had such success when we ran him in two one-turn races in New York. He ran in a seven-furlong race and we ran him the Met Mile, a one-turn mile race. It was only after that we stretched him out in the Whitney, which was, arguably, his best race of his career. So I'm tempted to go in the Mr. Prospector going seven furlongs, to give him one more-one turn race and then stretch him out for the Pegasus. We're looking at both spots, but I'm leaning toward giving him one more race at the seven-eighths around one turn until we stretch him out for the Pegasus.” Prior to Friday's allowance, Cornett admitted that he wanted to see a big performance from White Abarrio, which would put to rest concerns that he was no longer on top of his game. He has had just two starts this year, finishing 10th in the G1 Saudi Cup and fifth in the GI Metropolitan H., but a powerful 10 1/4-length victory Friday signaled that White Abarrio is back. “He showed us what we wanted to see, “Cornett said. “Irad [Ortiz, Jr.] did a great job. We had talked to him before the race and said that if he got the opportunity around the eighth-pole to squeeze on him a little bit. We wanted to see a good final furlong and then a really good gallop out, which he did. The horse just kind of ranged up and cruised up to the eighth-pole and when he got to the eighth-pole, Irad did squeeze on him a bit. He quickened and dropped down like we wanted to see and galloped out very good.” Cornett said a return trip to the Saudi Cup will be considered, but that they have made no plans beyond the Pegasus. Prince Faisal of Saudi Arabia is among the ownership group. One C-2 Racing Stable star that is definitely being pointed to the Saudi Cup is the GI Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Sprint winner Soul of an Angel (Atreides). “Soul of An Angel is doing really good” Cornett said. “I saw her Saturday morning. She's at Gulfstream now with Saffie [Joseph, Jr.]. We kind of backed off on her to let her get over the travel back and forth from California. She'll go back to training Monday and she will be pointed to an 11-26, one-turn, one mile race here. That will be her prep. Our ultimata goal with her is the Saudi Cup. We think she's a one-turn specialist and best at seven furlongs to a mile-and-an-eighth.” When asked if he had any reservations about running a mare against males, he said he did not. “I'm not worried about fillies versus boys,” he said. “The purse structure is so big that even if she runs second, third or fourth you're looking at anywhere from $1 million to $5 million. It's hard to make that kind of money in stakes in the U.S.” The post Connections Reveal Plans for White Abarrio, Soul of An Angel appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

When Vertical Blue (Ire) (Mehmas {Ire}) won the G1 Prix Marcel Boussac she led home a one-two for her trainer Francis Graffard as she pipped the Aga Khan Studs' Zarigana (GB) (Siyouni {Ire}) on the line. The runner-up, who went into the race unbeaten, including a victory in the G3 Prix d'Aumale, had started odds-on favourite with Vertical Blue as one of the outsiders of the field, but the latter's success came as no surprise to Graffard, who had held her in high regard from the outset. “She's a big filly with a lot of attitude – but a good attitude, I've always liked her,” he says. Vertical Blue now presents the rare opportunity to buy a readymade Classic prospect. The Group 1 winner, owned by Gemini Stud and Argella Racing, heads to the second Sceptre Session of the Tattersalls December Mares Sale next Tuesday as a wildcard entry, lot 1770A. The filly who thwarted the Aga Khan's runner on Arc weekend traces back to a family which has been incorporated into the Aga Khan Studs as her fourth dam is Vadsagreya (Fr) (Linamix {Fr}), who was bred by Jean-Luc Lagardere. Closer up in the family, Vertical Blue's granddam Spinacre (Ire) (Verglas {Ire}) won the listed Flame of Tara Stakes, while her dam Krunch (GB) is a dual-winning daughter of Sea The Stars (Ire) who made €310,000 when sold at Arqana as a yearling. Vertical Blue is her first foal. Graffard recalls, “She showed some precocity so she started early in Saint-Cloud. She had a bad draw but she showed an impressive turn of foot so we were pleased with that run and the form of that race has worked out really well.” From her debut runner-up slot, Vertical Blue had to settle for second again when she appeared next at Chantilly. “She was again unlucky on her second start and again showed a good turn of foot, but for me as her trainer, these two runs were very important for the filly for the rest of her career because she matured without having a hard race,” Graffard says. At Clairefontaine in July, Vertical Blue stepped up to a mile and made it a case of third time lucky. “She showed what we all thought about her at that stage,” says the trainer. “Then the plan was to go for a listed race and get some black type. She was very unlucky in that listed race at Lyon. She got too far back and finished strongly but too late. Mickael [Barzalona, jockey], when he saw he wasn't going to catch the winner, just gave her an easy race.” Another second-place finish in the book and some black type earned. It may well have been off to winter quarters for Vertical Blue then had it not been for the fact that she was indicating to Graffard that she was still very well in herself. “We always thought she would make a nice three-year-old but she was so well we decided to give her one more run on Arc weekend because I was very pleased with the condition of the filly,” he says. “We put absolutely no pressure on [jockey] Alexis Pouchin. We were just hoping for her to run well. My Aga Khan filly took her with her when she accelerated and Vertical Blue is a fighter and she put her head in front. “My other filly is a very nice prospect for next year and the form was really strong. I think it will work out well.” Despite her achievements of this year, Graffard says that he fully expects Vertical Blue to improve again at three. He notes, “She's a big, scopey filly with a big stride and she is very nice and relaxed during her races so I don't see why she won't stay a trip next year. Her mother is by Sea The Stars and for me she is very effective over a mile. She has experience because she has run five times this year, and she could be an Oaks filly too in France over 10 furlongs. I don't see why not. She has run on fast ground and obviously she can also cope with soft ground. “She's the highest-rated two-year-old in France, even above the colts, so it's good to have her in the boxes.” Vertical Blue is one of three juvenile Group 1 winners for her sire this year, along with the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint winner Magnum Force (Ire) and National Stakes winner Scorthy Champ (Ire). “My wife and myself recommended to the owner to buy a Mehmas,” Graffard says. “I've been very lucky with him – I've had [group/graded winners] Malavath and Chez Pierre – so they bought this filly, and obviously he's been a lucky stallion for me but also for lots of other people as well.” He adds of Vertical Blue, “She has a good eye on her, she's happy, and I can't wait for next year with her.” The post France’s Top Juvenile Vertical Blue Bound for Tattersalls appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

The Tattersalls December Sale is played out, akin to panto season, over two weeks, matinees and evening performances, incorporating almost every facet of the bloodstock sales business, from foals to yearlings, horses in training, broodmares, and sometimes the odd stallion or two. The Sceptre Sessions are only in their third year but they are already embedded as an integral part of the annual finale at Park Paddocks. And there is little doubt that the theatrical highlights come on the Monday and Tuesday of the second week, as dusk settles in and and the ring fills up. Few who were there will forget Dancing Rain (Ire) going through that ring carrying would would become one of the first-crop foals of Frankel (GB). Then there was Marsha (Ire), a six-million-guinea showstopper who rendered even her loquacious trainer Sir Mark Prescott speechless for a moment or two. In Dancing Rain's year, Immortal Verse (Ire) topped the sale at 4,700,000gns. An eye-watering price for many, but in hindsight, and in the fevered tier that is the top end of the bloodstock market, one could almost call that money well spent. Her offspring now include the dual Group 1 winner Tenebrism (Caravaggio), Group 2 winner Statuette (Justify) and, most recently, the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf winner Henri Matisse (Ire) (Wootton Bassett {GB}). “That was a great December Mares Sale day,” says Jimmy George, hijacking Breeders' Cup Friday as only a marketing man could but, as it turns out, with some justification. “Henri Matisse is out of Immortal Verse, [Juvenile Turf Fillies winner] Lake Victoria is out of Quiet Reflection, who made 2,100,000gns, and [Juvenile Turf Sprint winner] Magnum Force is out of a mare that cost 38,000gns. “So that's the December Sale encapsulated. With sales like this, you want people to feel confident at all levels of the market. And when you are shelling out huge sums of money, like 4,700,000 on Immortal Verse, well, Coolmore have now got a stallion.” He adds, “Then last year there was the extraordinary Via Sistina, turning 2,700,000gns into about £3,500,000 in prize-money, within a year, and she's still going.” The example of Via Sistina (Ire) (Fastnet Rock {Aus}) is all the more remarkable given that she first appeared at the December Sale in the yearling section, when she was sold for 5,000gns to Stephen and Rebecca Hillen, in whose colours she later won the G1 Pretty Polly Stakes at the Curragh. The race was sponsored by Yulong, who five months later owned the winner. If you'd like a quick historical reminder of how the elite sale within a sale got its name, here's an account of the life of the great racemare Sceptre from TDN two years ago. Looking ahead to this year's Sceptre Sessions, it is easy to imagine a few more footnotes in the 258-year history of Tattersalls will be written. While Goffs had Gouache (Ger) (Shamardal), the dam of Goliath (Ger) (Adlerflug {Ger}), the mother of another of this year's Japan Cup runners, Fantastic Moon (Ger), is catalogued at Tattersalls. Frangipani (Ger) (Jukebox Jury {Ire}) is being offered by The Castlebridge Consignment as lot 1747 on behalf of her breeders Philip and Marion Stauffenberg and the 10-year-old mare is again carrying to Fantastic Moon's sire Sea The Moon (Ger). The 2023 German Classics were kind to Sea The Moon. As well as the Fantastic Moon's Deutsches Derby win, he was also responsible for the G1 Preis der Diana winner Muskoka (Ger), and her dam Morning Mist (Ger) (Peintre Celebre), who is from the family of one of the modern-day German greats in Monsun (Ger), is also in the Sceptre Sessions as lot 1464 from Ronald Rauscher. She is carrying to Sea The Moon once more. Remaining on the German theme for one moment, there is the chance, also within the Rauscher draft, to buy a full-sister to the 2021 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe winner Torquator Tasso (Ger) (Adlerflug {Ger}) in the form of Tiara Hilleshage (Ger). The four-year-old filly has not one but two Group 1-winning brothers, including Tunnes (Ger) (Guiliani {Ger}), and she is herself a winner, in the colours of her Dutch breeder Paul H Vandeburg. From The Track To The Ring Some of this year's star performers on the track will doubtless produce notable performances of a different kind at Park Paddocks next week. The Irish Oaks winner You Got To Me (GB) (Nathaniel {Ire}) is still very much a racing prospect and is naturally a major draw in that prime Tuesday slot, selling as lot 1753, just one lot after the G2 Duke Of Cambridge Stakes winner Rogue Millennium (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) for what will be her third appearance in this sale in just four years. As an unraced two-year-old she was a good buy by Billy Jackson-Stops at 35,000gns. Last year she fetched 1,650,000gns when sold from Tom Clover's stable. The four-year-old Believing (Ire) (Mehmas {Ire}), offered as lot 1740 from Highclere Stud, has had a busy and fruitful year highlighted by her win in the G2 Sapphire Stakes. She was also twice runner-up to Bradsell (GB) – in the G1 Nunthorpe and G1 Flying Five. You Got To Me wins the Irish Oaks | Racingfotos “I think it caught the imagination from the word go, some innovations do, some don't. But this one very definitely has,”says George of the Sceptre Sessions. “I think it's slightly aspirational as well, for people who've got smart fillies and mares. And the buyers, as well, recognise it as a hallmark of quality – these are elite fillies and mares. It doesn't mean there aren't elite fillies and mares throughout the catalogue, because of course there are others. And we've always got these very smart consignments from Godolphin, Juddmonte and Shadwell, that are mini annual dispersals of some very smart stock. So it's not just about the Sceptre Sessions, but they are a focal point.” Alex Elliott manages to juggle various responsibilities come sales time, and as well as being a busy agent he also set up his own consigning business, Imperium Sales, several years ago. He has his most important client to date among the owners of the horses in this year's draft as lot 1733, Azure Blue (Ire) (El Kabeir), whose eight wins include the G2 Duke of York Stakes, is owned by his mother, Anne, in partnership with Peter Appleton. Another notable 'blue' is Mehmas's daughter and Classic prospect Vertical Blue (Ire), the winner of the G1 Prix Marcel Boussac, who is making her way over from Francis Graffard's Chantilly stable to come under the hammer in Newmarket as lot 1770. George's tenure at Tattersalls, which stretches back to 1986 with a brief three-year hiatus in the early days, will soon be coming to an end, so he speaks with experience when he notes significant purchases from the lower end of the price spectrum. He says, “There's quality throughout the December Sale. And as we all know, a jewel can be found anywhere. Looking back, I think it was my first year here, 1986, the lowest-priced filly or mare of the Jim Joel Dispersal turned out to be the most influential. [Regal Beauty] became the dam of High Estate and King's Theatre, and Michael Poland bought her for 5,200 guineas.” George continues, “Then there was Senta's Dream, the dam of Order Of Australia, Iridessa and Santa Barbara. She was bought on the last day of the December Sale, back in 2013, for 14,000gns. “You never know where your life-changing filly or mare is going to spring from and I think that's the hallmark of the December Sales, and it's what brings so many people from so many different parts of the world every year. Certain people will have their own pet families, their own favourites, and it might not be that obvious on the catalogue page.” Another last-day purchase in 2023 was the Cape Cross (Ire) mare Zurigha (Ire), herself a listed winner and a half-sister to Group 3 winner Lily's Angel (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}) from the high-flying family of Bellarida (Fr) (Bellypha {Fr}). At 25,000gns she was the fourth-top lot of that final session and, though she had been covered by Too Darn Hot (GB) she was not in foal when sold. In the interim, however, her Too Darn Hot three-year-old Oversubscribed (GB) – a 400,000gns Book 1 purchase by Mike Ryan for Klaravich Stables – has won the listed Wild Applause Stakes at Aqueduct and was recently runner-up in the G3 Pebbles Stakes. Unsurprisingly, Zurigha, now in foal again to the young Darley sire, returns to Park Paddocks next week as lot 1687 with Barton Sales. Blue Chip Bloodstock, her purchaser last year, looks set to make a nice profit. International Outlook, Inward Investment Along with the buyers attending Tattersalls with a view to exporting mares around the world, the new wave of high-spending owners to have based their racing interests in the UK and Ireland will doubtless start to be felt at the mares sales as well as in the yearling and breeze-up sector. Emerging international operations such as Amo, Wathnan, Victorious and KHK Racing, all have or will have stallions to support, even if they are not standing under their own banner – think King Of Steel, Bucanero Fuerte (Fr) Persian Force (Ire) at Tally-Ho Stud, Isaac Shelby (GB) at Newsells Park Stud, Vandeek (GB) at Cheveley Park Stud, and Bradsell (GB) at the National Stud. Amo's Kia Joorabchian was explicit in his intentions when buying well-bred individuals during Book 1, stating that he and his partners have their hearts set on competing consistently at the top level. That is likely to include the purchase of some established broodmares or well-credentialed race fillies too. “It's hugely important and demonstrates that enduring appeal, and a diverse appeal,” George says. “Apart from anything else, it's bringing overseas investment into Britain, something that might be lost on the current government, given their stance on all things agricultural, but might be something that should be drawn to their attention. That inward investment in the rural community and rural-based industries is massively important, and it is encouraging to see.” He continues, “There's no shortage of quality in the catalogue. You've got an Irish Oaks winner in the shape of You Got To Me, you've got the highest rated two-year-old in France, in the shape of Vertical Blue, and the likes of Believing, and Idea Generation and Rogue Millennium, and the dam of Kalpana as well, Zero Gravity. And of course there's a handful of very well-bred mares, in foal to Southern Hemisphere time, all of them to Too Darn Hot.” George adds, “We have a Tattersalls Online Sale in association with Inglis Online, where we'll be featuring mares bred to Southern Hemisphere time as well, taking place in the middle of December. This is a part of the market that's growing, and the online platforms make that easier to do.” The post December Mares Sale: ‘A Jewel Can Be Found Anywhere’ appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Veteran handler attends a race meeting for the first time this season at Sha Tin on Sunday.View the full article

Exciting southern mare The Grey Goose (NZ) (Reliable Man) continued her faultless preparation with an impressive performance to win Sunday’s Hyde Landscaping and Wash Rite Winton Cup (1400m) at Ascot Park. Prepared at the course by Jo-Ann Gordon, The Grey Goose rose through the grades last term culminating in a victory in the ODT Southern Mile Final (1600m), before finishing a game fourth in the TAB Southern Alps Challenge (1600m). Returning from a lengthy spell, the daughter of Reliable Man showed her customary strong finish to win fresh-up at Wingatui on Melbourne Cup Day, and with Rohan Mudhoo back in the saddle, she was rated a $2 chance ahead of Willis ($4.50) in the local feature. The Grey Goose was away positively from barrier five but soon settled back, with the only runner in her rearview being Willis, who missed the start by five lengths. Racing fiercely at times behind a slow tempo, Mudhoo angled The Grey Goose out three and four-wide approaching the home turn and she soon was in the fight with pacemaker The Good Shepherd, who didn’t lay down and was only beaten a half-length by the mare at the post. Willis was an eye-catcher in the field, storming into third under Tina Comignaghi. Often seen settling well back in her races, Gordon was pleased to see The Grey Goose so prominent in the running on Sunday. “It’s nice to see this year that she’s keeping up with them a lot more, last year she could be five-six lengths off the second last horse at times,” she said. I thought this may be too short for her and the track has dried out, so I thought she might struggle. “They do usually run off the front, but today, they didn’t go too hard and she sat there quite comfortably, in fact she was over-racing. It was a good win, really nice. “We’ve always really rated her but I’ve always spaced her races to keep head right. This year, she’s grown up a lot, she’s been lovely to be with all day. “We’re getting there slowly.” Before the race, Gordon had indicated the upcoming Southern Staying Series was an appeal for The Grey Goose, but her performance over 1400m could warrant a change in plans. “I was looking at the Southern Staying Series after Christmas, but I always thought a mile was her distance,” she said. “We’ll just keep her shorter, around 1400 for a bit and go from there.” The Grey Goose was a $2000 purchase through gavelhouse.com as a weanling and she is raced by Maurice Paskell. From just 16 starts, she has won six races and over $245,000 in stakes. The five-year-old is out of an unraced Sakhee’s Secret mare Out Of The Barn, who also produced Mother Goose, a winner of two races for Gordon’s stable. View the full article

Local jockey overcomes recent run-ins with stewards to land three-timer, including Class Two Chevalier Cup (1,600m).View the full article

Second-season handler continues hot form thanks to victories from Super Wise Dragon, Alluring Laos and Offroad Master.View the full article

Trainer Penalty L Anderton | Non-raceday dated 18 November 2024; failed to present runner free of prohibited substance; fined $1,000 (sentence suspended for 1 year). Dog Penalties ALPHA SHELDON | Christchurch 18 November; cramped; must complete trial. HURUNUI MOUSE | Christchurch 20 November; unsatisfactory performance; must complete trial. GOLDSTAR HARMONY | Christchurch 22 November; marring; stood down for 28 days and must complete trial. Protests SAPPORO BALE | Christchurch 9 September; raced with prohibited substance in system; disqualified from 1st. LOVE IT | Auckland 24 November; denied a fair start; declared a non-runner. The post 18-24 November 2024 appeared first on RIB. View the full article

Driver Penalties J Buckland-Stevens | Rangiora 20 November; use of whip; suspended 21 November – 20 December inclusive. T Herlihy | Auckland 22 November; out of position at start; fined $100. Horse Penalties DREAM ON LOU | Manawatu 19 November; late scratching on veterinary advice; veterinary clearance required. BONO BROWN | Rangiora 20 November; atrial fibrillation; veterinary clearance including ECG required and must complete trial. LA DAMA | Manawatu 21 November; muscle tie-up; veterinary clearance required. BURNING LOVE | Invercargill 22 November; broke in running; must complete trial. SMART I AM | Invercargill 22 November; late scratching on veterinary advice; veterinary clearance required. TAIKA | Timaru 23 November; broke in running; must complete trial. LONNEKERS | Timaru 23 November; broke in running; must complete trial. KOTARE RATA | Banks Peninsula 24 November; unsatisfactory performance; must complete trial. RADIOACTIVE JAFFA | Banks Peninsula 24 November; broke in score up; must complete mobile start trial. Protests WAI B NGARO | Manawatu 19 November; late scratching after displaying unsatisfactory manners prior to start. SOD’S LAW | Timaru 23 November; denied a fair start; declared a non-runner. DONTTELLTHEBOYS | Banks Peninsula 24 November; denied a fair start; declared a non-runner. The post 18-24 November 2024 appeared first on RIB. View the full article

Rider Penalties D Danis | Rotorua 19 November; medical clearance required. K Stott | Te Aroha 12 November (heard Rotorua 19 November); careless riding; suspended 24 November – 14 December inclusive. R Beeharry | South Canterbury 21 November; use of whip; fined $250. M Hashizume | Taranaki 22 November; careless riding; suspended 1-6 December inclusive. T Mitchell | Auckland 23 November; use of whip; suspended 28 November – 5 December inclusive. J Riddell | Auckland 23 November; weighed in heavier than weighed out; fined $200. K Chowdhoory | Wanganui 23 November; careless riding (2 charges); suspended 29 November – 19 December inclusive. R Muniandy | Winton 24 November; careless riding; suspended 2-11 December inclusive. K Mudhoo | Winton 24 November; failed to make weight; fined $200. D Tait | Winton 24 November; medical clearance required. Trainer Penalties L O’Sullivan & A Scott | Rotorua 19 November; late rider declaration; fined $50. S Simon | Non-raceday dated 22 November; failed to ride trackwork free of prohibited substance; fined $3,000 and costs of $187.50. S Gordon | Wanganui 23 November; late rider declaration; fined $50. Horse Penalties PINKER | Rotorua 19 November; late scratching after becoming fractious in barriers; must complete trial. RED STAR BELLA | South Canterbury 21 November; late scratching after failing to load; must complete trial. DIABLO BLANCO | South Canterbury 21 November; elevated heart rate and sore; veterinary clearance required. WYWORRY | Taranaki 22 November; late scratching after failing to parade to start; must complete trial. FREEBELLE | Taranaki 22 November; late scratching after throwing itself to track in preliminary; must complete 2 trials. MR FANTASY | Taranaki 22 November; late scratching after becoming fractious in barriers; must complete trial. Protest VELTON | Wanganui 23 November; caused interference; relegated from 1st to 2nd. The post 18-24 November 2024 appeared first on RIB. View the full article

Ridden quietly from the tail of the field by 55-year-old Yutaka Take, DO DEUCE (h, 5, Heart's Cry {Jpn}–Dust and Diamonds, by Vindication) produced a telling turn of speed down the Tokyo straight in Sunday's G1 Japan Cup at Toyko Racecourse and held off a resurgent 2022 Arqana August topper Shin Emperor (Fr) (Siyouni {Fr}) and top stayer Durezza (Jpn) (Duramente {Jpn})–who dead-heated for second–en route to a narrow victory. Shin Emperor took up the running prior to the first corner, but was displaced on the front end by 2023 G1 Kikuka Sho (Japanese St Leger) hero Durezza, who was sent into the lead by William Buick midway down the backstretch. Take had Do Deuce three wide and out of harm's way into the final 1200 metres and held him together entering the second turn. Durezza was committed by Buick at the top of the long Tokyo straight, banking on his strong staying ability, but Take went for Do Deuce in earnest and they sprinted home best of all to prevail, albeit narrowly. As he did when third in the G1 Irish Champion Stakes, Shin Emperor displayed admirable battling qualities late in the piece and fought on to earn a share of second at the wire. Goliath (Ger) (Adlerflug {Ger}) was outrun in the early stages and tugged Christophe Soumillon right onto the back of Shin Emperor down the back before sitting three back the fence into the turn. He remained in contention deep into the final stages before finishing sixth. Auguste Rodin (Ire) (Deep Impact {Jpn}), having the final start of his career, got a bit warm in the preliminaries, but traveled nicely throughout and was in position, but couldn't muster the necessary kick and finished eighth. Fantastic Moon (Ger) (Sea The Moon {Ger}) was 11th, but beaten only about a half-dozen lengths. It was a fifth Japan Cup for Take. Lifetime Record: 16-8-1-1. O-Kieffers Co Ltd; B-Northern Farm; T-Yasuo Tomomichi. DO DEUCE with a great turn of foot and magnificent ride by legend Yutaka Take, wins the G1 JAPAN CUP, SHIN EMPEROR with a great comeback finished 2nd in a Dead Heat with DUREZZA DO DEUCE cae con fuerza desde los 400 finales para aventajar a SHIN EMPEROR y DUREZZA,… pic.twitter.com/cZ1T5nNufJ — Agentes305 (@agentes305) November 24, 2024 The post Do Deuce Defeats Shin Emperor, Durezza in Japan Cup, Goliath Best of Euros appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

The Karaka Millions 2YO (1200m) has been the goal for Sierra Leone (NZ) (Sun City) from the moment she was purchased at the Yearling Sales, and she took an important step towards the $1 million feature with a game second in Saturday’s Listed Counties Challenge Stakes (1100m). A filly by Sun City, Sierra Leone showed plenty of promise on debut splitting subsequent race winners Cool Aza Rene and Abbakiss, earning herself an opportunity for black-type honours at Pukekohe Park. The Mark Walker and Sam Bergerson-trained Return To Conquer was back as though unbeatable in the juvenile field and delivered on that promise, but Sierra Leone gained plenty of admirers, tracking the colt throughout and finding a tidy turn-of-foot in the finish, the final margin between the pair being 2 – ½ lengths. Sierra Leone is trained by Hollie Wynyard at Cambridge, who was pleased with her filly’s efforts. “It was a tough run, she was trying to foot it with the colt (Return To Conquer) the entire race and she was off the bridle and out of her comfort zone, but she was tough to the line,” Wynyard said. “When he quickened, she got left a bit flat-footed and a bit lost going right-handed for the first time, but when she got to the 200 and picked herself up, she’s found the line really well. “She’ll just have one more run before the Karaka Millions, obviously she’s in now, so we’ll find a nice race in between and hopefully she’ll be peaking for that.” Sold from the draft of Westbury Stud, Sierra Leone was purchased for $130,000 by Wynyard’s former training partner Johno Benner, who owns the filly alongside Simon Barber, Noel Nicholson and Sam Pinfold. Benner has had a multitude of success in the past at Karaka Millions, winning the 2014 edition of the 2YO contest with Vespa and the $1 million Karaka Millions 3YO Classic (1600m) in 2018 with Scott Base, the latter while training with Wynyard. “Johno bought her as a real two-year-old Karaka Millions filly, she had a lot of speed on the dam side and I think Sun City is the leading Australian two-year-old sire,” Wynyard said. “She really appealed to him as a Karaka Millions type, that’s what the owners were looking for and that’s what it looks like she’s going to be.” The fourth foal out of an unraced Dream Ahead mare in Flippity Lass, Sierra Leone is a half-sister to Inundation, who has won four races in Australia for Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr. View the full article