Wandering Eyes

There's a reason why Bob Baffert has won the GIII Robert B. Lewis Stakes 12 times, including the last six running. At this time of year his barn is always loaded with talented 3-year-old colts who have one eye on the Lewis and another on the GI Kentucky Derby. It will be a familiar story at Santa Anita Saturday as Baffert will send out three of the five horses entered in the Lewis. His trio is topped by 2-year-old champion and GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile winner Citizen Bull (Into Mischief), who will be making his first start of the year. But he may not be the favorite. That's how impressive stablemate 'TDN Rising Star' Rodriguez (Authentic) was when breaking his maiden last out by seven lengths while earning a 101 Beyer Speed Figure. Baffert also has Madaket Road (Quality Road), a maiden winner in his last start. All three are owned by the partnership of SF Racing LLC, Starlight Racing and Madaket Stables LLC. Despite his strong hand, Baffert remains cautious when it comes to how these horses might perform in the Derby. He says it is too early to predict anything. “We still have a long way to go,” Baffert said. “We have some nice horses but you really don't know until March or April and that last prep where you stand. You can be in a position where you think you are strong and then it turns out you are not as strong as you thought you were. They're still developing and we're still getting races into them. You try to get as many races into them as you can so you can have them ready and put that foundation into them. You don't really have a Derby horse until those last prep races. Until they go a mile-and-an-eighth, that's when we know. The mile-and-an-eighth separates these horses.” After his front-running win in the Juvenile, Citizen Bull returned to the worktab on Dec. 13. He hasn't missed a beat since. But Baffert said he might be a horse that will do his best running a little later in the year. “The Bull, he's a horse that may need a race or two,” Baffert said. “We found that out in the Del Mar Futurity when he got beat. It was only his second start and Mike Smith said he got a little tired. I'd rather race them than just train them, train them, train them. You have to get races into these horses.” After finishing second in his debut in a 6 1/2-furlong maiden, Rodriguez hammered his opposition in another maiden, this one on Jan. 4 at Santa Anita. “He's always trained like a nice horse,” Baffert said. “He reminds me a lot of Authentic. I think the Authentics are going to be really good. It's just that some of them are slow to mature. It took this one a while to come around. I don't think the distance should be a problem. The race will help him. He's the kind of horse that needs racing. Now, he needs to run.” How the Lewis plays out on the track should be fascinating. Citizen Bull, Rodriguez and the Wesley Ward-trained Clock Tower (Not This Time) all have ample early speed. That sets up the possibility of a speed duel, one that might involve Citizen Bull, Rodriguez or both. Baffert said he will let their jockeys ride their own race. Martin Garcia rides Citizen Bull. Juan Hernandez rides Rodriguez. “I usually let the jockeys ride their own horse,” Baffert said. “The break will be the key. I'm sure they'll play it off of the break. They'll ride their own horses and let them get into a nice rhythm.” As good as Baffert's Lewis trio might be, it's possible that the best 3-year-old in his barn is one who won't be running Saturday. That would be Barnes (Into Mischief), who was bought for $3.2 million by Amr Zedan at the Fasig-Tipton Saratoga sale. After a somewhat lackluster win in his Nov. 27 debut at Churchill Downs, he came back with a dominant performance in the GII San Vicente at seven furlongs. “He still has to go two turns,” Baffert said. “He should handle it, but you don't know until they do it. So far, he looks good and we're trying to just trying to keep him healthy.” Baffert said that he and Zedan are still working on a race schedule for Barnes. Win or lose, this should be a memorable Derby for Baffert since it will be the first one he will be allowed to run in since 2021. Churchill Downs banned Baffert after Medina Spirit (Protonico), who crossed the wire first in the 2021 Derby, was disqualified after testing positive for betamethasone. The ban was lifted last fall and now the only thing Baffert has to worry about is how his horses are doing. “It's over with and everything is good,” Baffert said. “I'm just trying to focus on what's in front of us.” The post Baffert Will Triple Team Them in Robert B. Lewis appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

It can come as quite a shock when we stumble across damaging untruths about ourselves. This is what happened to myself and numerous other trainers at the end of last week when an article appeared on the Racing Post website, based on comments from “Nigel Payne, who is acting for the Professional Racing Association”, the gist of which was that trainers believe that they should receive payment for live interviews on the television and that consequently trainers are taking action to try to obtain the payment to which they feel entitled, neither part of which is true. Payne's words, of course, have prompted widespread derision towards trainers, on social media and elsewhere, so it makes sense to set the record straight. To do this, one should explain the background. A year ago Peter Savill, formerly chairman of the BHB and a longstanding supporter of the game as racehorse owner, breeder, administrator and owner of Plumpton racecourse, set up the Professional Racing Association. Frustrated by the fact that any progress being made towards increasing prize-money achieved by The Thoroughbred Group could be better described as stately rather than dramatic, he felt he could do better. Many trainers share that view so, when invited, many of them (including myself) joined the group, for which no joining fee or subscription is charged. As a racecourse owner, he understands the business and has calculated that it is not unreasonable to expect each racecourse to put at least a third of its race-day income (from entrance fees, entry fees, sponsorship, Levy grant, picture-rights payments etc.) towards prize-money. His approach was and is simple: to identify which racecourses contribute what he sees as a fair share and to encourage owners and trainers to run their horses there; and to try to encourage the less generous tracks to raise their game. If successful in the latter objective, the PRA could trigger an eight-figure annual increase in British prize-money. This is a laudable aim and it is hard to see that anyone with the long-term interests of the sport at heart could object to this. The one problem is that the PRA obviously requires money to function, most notably to pay its staff and the rent for its office, and it has no income. Hitherto Savill has footed the bill himself in its entirety but from the outset he made it clear that, understandably, he did not intend to do so indefinitely. Happily (or so it seemed at the time) a solution appeared to have presented itself. Savill had been made aware that the two satellite television companies pay a six-figure sum each year to the Professional Jockeys' Association in recognition of the co-operation which the jockeys collectively give, via interviews, to the coverage of racing. The idea formed that they might be persuaded to give a similar sum in recognition of the co-operation of trainers, and the PRA would ask for this to enable it to continue to exist. Most of the leading National Hunt trainers agreed, when asked, to endorse the PRA's request; and, to show their support for it, agreed to say that they would decline interview requests if it were not granted. The crucial factors to bear in mind are that, while the PJA's money goes into an insurance scheme of which jockeys are the only beneficiaries, none of the money given in recognition of trainers' collective co-operation would be given to any trainers but instead would pay for the running costs of an enterprise which was aiming to raise significant sums to benefit primarily owners but everyone else who gets a cut of prize-money (ie jockeys, trainers, stable staff, racing charities etc.). Furthermore, in the wider sense, this money, if encouraging racehorse ownership, might benefit not only jockeys, trainers and stable staff but also everyone who would welcome racing becoming more competitive, such as bookmakers, punters, and racegoers. It's easy to be wise in hindsight. And perhaps this request was doomed to failure from the outset. That is unknowable. But what does appear certain is that a consequence of the original article which, prompted seemingly by the words of Nigel Payne, falsely portrayed this request as a request by trainers (which it wasn't) for trainers to be paid for giving interviews (which it wasn't) has meant that it now seems certain not to succeed. Further consequences are the opprobrium which has been undeservedly heaped on trainers in general for their supposed greed; and a hammer-blow to the credibility of the PRA (which now has no source of funds and, unless this situation can be remedied by some other means, will have to close anyway). All of which is rather sad. An effort by a great supporter of British racing aimed at trying to boost prize-money deserved better than this and certainly didn't deserve the ridicule to which it has now been exposed. And trainers certainly didn't deserve to have their support for it so badly misrepresented. As a post-script to this sorry tale, it is probably worth mentioning that the tracks which, according to the PRA's research, already direct a healthy percentage of their race-day income towards prize-money include the 17 listed (alphabetically) below. PRA policy revolves around encouraging people to support such racecourses and we would like to do our bit by giving credit where it is due. Bangor-on-Dee Chelmsford City Fakenham Goodwood Hamilton Park Hexham Kelso Ludlow Musselburgh Newbury Newton Abbot Plumpton Pontefract Ripon Salisbury Taunton York. The post Op-Ed: Beleaguered PRA Laudable but Misunderstood appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Edited Press Release The Pennsylvania Equine Toxicology and Research Laboratory (PETRL), a Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority (HISA) Anti-Doping and Medication Control (ADMC) Program laboratory, has been directed to modify its instrumentation and methodology for TCO2 testing to mass spectrometry so that it is consistent with the Horseracing Integrity & Welfare Unit's three other Program laboratories, HIWU announced Wednesday. PETRL has already transitioned to this methodology, which is also independently endorsed by the International Federation of Horseracing Authorities. HIWU began its review of PETRL's procedures in response to a disproportionately high number of reports of elevated TCO2 levels from the laboratory and worked with horsemen's representatives throughout this process. HIWU first undertook a comprehensive assessment of testing documentation and laboratory processes at PETRL before asking the Kenneth L. Maddy Equine Analytical Laboratory at the University of California Davis to conduct an administration study to compare the findings reported by the Program laboratories. PETRL's instrument (a clinical blood gas analyzer) and related methodology had been used and accepted as valid by the horse racing industry to regulate TCO2 for years prior to the implementation of the ADMC Program, and HIWU found no evidence of laboratory error or instrument failure by PETRL. However, the data from the administration study indicated that PETRL's results did not correlate with those of the three other laboratories, which all used an instrument and methodology (mass spectrometry) different from PETRL's. In response, HIWU has issued a new mandate for mass spectrometry to be adopted as the industry standard for TCO2 analysis confirmation. This method is used to analyze virtually all other substances regulated under the ADMC Program. In the interest of fairness to horsemen, all pending TCO2 cases originating in Pennsylvania have been withdrawn; due to the accelerated degradation of TCO2 samples compared to other analytes, HIWU could not send previously analyzed samples to other Program laboratories to compare the results. For cases that have already been resolved, HISA offered to return purse money, refund fines, notify Equibase to remove the disqualifications, and remove penalty points from the affected trainers' records. Purse money that has already been distributed by racetracks in relation to these cases will not be affected. In total, five trainers–Jorge Diaz, Bernard Dunham, David Jacobson, William Martin and Silvino Ramirez–served 30-day suspensions for TCO2 positives that had been processed by the Pennsylvania Lab. “The discovery of inconsistencies in TCO2 testing across Program laboratories and HIWU's subsequent responsibility to establish harmonization among them represent the benefits of a national ADMC program,” said Ben Mosier, executive director of HIWU. “Unlike under state-based regulatory structures, our Program laboratories are in ongoing communication to discuss and compare methods. This collaboration is what enabled us to identify and resolve discrepancies in TCO2 testing despite the longstanding validity of the methods and instruments being used.” “I commend HIWU for taking action in response to the high rate of TCO2 findings at PETRL and ultimately facilitating the harmonization of TCO2 testing among Pennsylvania and other states,” said Jeffrey A. Matty, Jr., executive director of the Pennsylvania Thoroughbred Horsemen's Association. “Ben and his team listened to our horsemen's concerns and were in ongoing communication with us while the laboratory was reviewed. We're also appreciative of HISA for their decision to offer to withdraw sanctions imposed for cases that have already been resolved. “This process represents an example of how a national, uniform system helps horsemen and how we, HIWU, and HISA can work together for the benefit of the entire industry.” Evaluation of testing at Program laboratories is ongoing to ensure consistency and fairness in results reporting. HIWU has implemented HISA Equine Analytical Laboratory (HEAL) accreditation as of January 1, 2025. HEAL accreditation includes a robust Equine Quality Assurance Scheme sample program. The post HIWU Mandates Uniform Testing Methodology for TCO2 Analysis Across Program Laboratories appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

By Adam Hamilton Kiwi greats Anthony Butt and Cran Dalgety know how to win a Hunter Cup. They also fully understand the importance of good barriers in modern-day racing, which is why their confidence has grown going into Victoria’s biggest race at Melton on Saturday night. Dalgety, who won the 2014 Hunter Cup with Christen Me, co-trains Auckland Cup winner Republican Party, who landed the coveted pole position while Butt, who boasts a record seven driving wins in the Hunter Cup, is caretaker trainer and driver of Mark Jones’ emerging Kiwi pacer Tact McLeod. Butt was delighted when Tact McLeod, renowned for his early brilliance, drew barrier three. Let’s start with Butt given he believes Tact McLeod has the draw and is the right sort of horse to give him his eighth Hunter Cup, but break a drought given it is 12 years since his most recent victory on Mah Sish. “Put it this way, he’s a better horse than some I’ve won a Hunter Cup on,” he said. “The draw, not just for my horse but obviously having Leap To Fame drawn where he has (inside the back row, gate eight) really helps our cause. “The way he began last week, I’m confident he’ll cross Republican Party, hold the rest and lead early and then we’ll have options. “While I think he’d run a good race leading, his best chance against the absolute best would be sitting on a helmet and having the last shot at them. “No doubt Swayzee will be off and running early and he’d be a great horse to sit on. His style is to break their hearts and run along, which makes it hard for those covering ground and trying to get into it. “Sitting on his back would be ideal, especially if Leap To Fame is back in traffic or even had to sit outside him. Butt said it was only in the past two weeks where he and partner Sonya Smith have been really happy with Tact McLeod. “He’s just had a series of niggles since coming down to us after the Inter Dominion in Sydney,” he said. “He tied-up a bit early, then the abscess flared again and there was also a bit of a cough we got on top of by changing a few things. “I said to everyone he’d jumped out of the ground going into last week and I thought he’d run a great race against Leap To Fame, so it was pleasing he pulled ground off him even though the race was a real sprint home. “He’ll be a better horse again in six to 12 months with more experience in these top races, but given the draw and run he should get, he’ll run a huge race this week.” Dalgety said Republican Party might have a strong say against in about Butt’s plan to lead early on Tact McLeod. “I think he’s got the speed to hold them and Carter has to come out as hard as he can for the first 80m or so to see if that’s the case,” he said. “Our preference would be to hold-up early, but if we don’t, we’re still on the marker pegs, maybe three-back, and the more I’ve watched the Melton racing lately and spoken to the trainers and drivers, the pegs is the place to be. “We had to sit outside Leap To Fame last week and I thought he stuck on well. He was gasping between the 500-400m last week, but so too were most others, and he dug in and still finished the race off well. “He’s shown he’s up with the best Kiwis, but now he’s taking on Australasia’s best and that’s another step-up, but the marbles means we’ll have to do less work than most and that gives us a chance.” View the full article

In recognition of Black History Month, the Maryland Horse Library and Education Center will host the traveling exhibit, The Heart of the Turf: Racing's Black Pioneers. The exhibit will open Saturday, Feb. 1 with a talk by the exhibit curator, and Library Director, Roda Ferraro from the Keeneland Library. The exhibit will be available to visit at the MHLEC through Feb. 28. Heart of the Turf highlights the lives and careers of 100 African American horsemen and horsewomen from the mid-1800s to the present. One-of-a-kind photographs from the Keeneland Library collection capture moments across their varied careers, while biographical vignettes honor their lasting legacies. From racetrack superstars to behind-the-scenes caretakers, The Heart of the Turf: Racing's Black Pioneers showcases stories of the countless African Americans who forged their way in horse racing in Kentucky and beyond. “We will take this time to acknowledge the contributions of the many Black horsemen who are the bedrock of horse racing”, said Cricket Goodall, executive director of the MHLEC. “As in so many sports, African Americans were the pioneers in history.” The post Traveling Exhibit Celebrating Racing’s Black Pioneers Opens Saturday appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Tragedy struck Charlie Appleby and the Godolphin team in Dubai last week when their Measured Time (GB) (Frankel {GB}) lost his life in his quest for a second consecutive triumph in the G1 Jebel Hatta. A seven-time winner all told, with his other wins including last year's GI Manhattan Stakes at Saratoga, he was a terrific servant to connections and another star name for whom it all began on the all-weather. In fact, it will be exactly two years ago on Saturday that he ran out an emphatic debut winner at Kempton. Speaking of all-weather anniversaries, there is another one which promises to set tongues wagging over the coming hours, as I write this now on Wednesday morning. After all, it is tonight at Kempton that a potentially informative maiden will be run, that which was won last year by another celebrated Appleby trainee in the subsequent 2,000 Guineas and Sussex Stakes hero Notable Speech (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}). Rest assured, the outcome of both divisions of that race will be picked apart in detail here next week, but for now I can tell you that the odds-on favourite for the first division is a Ghaiyyath (Ire) colt by the name of Opera Ballo (Ire), trained by, you guessed it, Charlie Appleby. Watch this space… Time the Great Healer The loss of Measured Time is sure to leave a significant void at Moulton Paddocks, but if there was an ounce of recompense to be found in recent days, then that too came on the all-weather in the shape of winners at Kempton and Wolverhampton, both three-year-olds with the potential to make their presence felt at a higher level in time. Dunstall Park winner Treasure Fleet (GB) is making his second appearance in this space in as many weeks, having maintained his unbeaten record with a comfortable win in the novice run over an extended mile on Tuesday. Burdened with a 7lb penalty for his debut victory over the same course and distance three weeks earlier, the son of Kingman (GB) and Listed winner Pure Excellence (GB) (Exceed And Excel {Aus}) justified odds-on favouritism with the minimum of fuss, readily asserting in the final furlong to land the spoils by two and a quarter lengths. Admittedly, it's possible to pick holes in what Treasure Fleet achieved–the runner-up had finished well beaten when making his debut the previous month, while the overall time was comfortably the slowest of the four contests run over the extended mile on Monday's card–but jockey James Doyle was complimentary enough in his post-race debrief with Sky Sports Racing, expressing his view that the steady pace didn't see his mount to best effect. “The further he went, the better,” Doyle summarised, suggesting it's over middle-distances that this expensive breeze-up buy is likely to really come into his own. As for Kempton winner Tribal Act (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}), he's already shown himself to be a thorough stayer in the making, having powered to a seven-and-a-half-length win in the maiden run over a mile and three furlongs on Wednesday of last week. It was a performance which saw him fully confirm the promise of his debut over the same course and distance five weeks earlier, when making late headway to finish fifth in a maiden won by stable-mate Aegean Prince (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}). The Godolphin homebred is the fourth winner from five runners out of the Listed winner Show Day (Ire) (Shamardal), a full-sister to the G2 Dahlia Stakes and G2 Duke Of Cambridge Stakes heroine Usherette (Ire) and a half to the Listed winner and GII Canadian Stakes runner-up Magnetic Charm (GB) (Exceed And Excel {Aus}). Already gelded, Tribal Act still looked far from the finished article at Kempton–he was slowly away, before hanging right when produced to lead inside the final two furlongs–and this relentless galloper can only improve as his stamina is drawn out further. Tribal Act (Sea The Stars) does the business nicely at @kemptonparkrace pic.twitter.com/UfLT291vST — Racing TV (@RacingTV) January 22, 2025 Burke Bandwagon Rolls On At the other end of the distance spectrum, Rebel's Gamble (Ire) looked one of the most promising three-year-old sprinters we've seen on the all-weather this winter as the full-brother to Nahaarr (Ire), runner-up in the G2 Duke Of York Stakes, made it two from two with an explosive display in the six-furlong novice at Newcastle on Thursday. When the son of Dark Angel (Ire) won a similar event at Southwell at the start of the month, I wrote that his debut performance didn't really have the wow factor, but it was a different story at Gosforth Park as he brushed aside his chief market rival, Rainbow Nebula (Fr) (Hello Youmzain {Fr}), to whom he was conceding 7lb. Still hard on the bridle when moving up to challenge the leader entering the final two furlongs, he then proceeded to streak clear to win by five and a half lengths with plenty in hand. It wasn't simply a case of style over substance, either. The overall time, for example, compared favourably with that of the class 4 handicap run over the same course and distance earlier on the card, while runner-up Rainbow Nebula brought a solid level of form to the table, having finished a close-up third when making his debut in the Newcastle novice won by The Watcher (Ire) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}) back in December. Rebel's Gamble and The Watcher both hail from the Middleham yard of Karl Burke, who was also among the winners at Kempton on Wednesday when newcomer Zeus Olympios (GB) struck in the seven-furlong maiden at odds of 2-7. That SP suggests anything other than victory for the son of Night Of Thunder (Ire) would have been a disappointment, so it was a case of job done, even if he didn't exactly set the world alight in beating a now-six-race maiden by a length. “He has been working really well at home but he's had his niggles,” jockey Clifford Lee told Racing TV afterwards. “He's done that quite nicely in a race that didn't feel that strong. I thought going to the two-furlong pole I was going to pick them up and do it quite easily, but then the greenness kicked in and I had to get after him.” The first foal out of the Listed-placed Rhea (GB) (Siyouni {Fr}), Sheikh Mohammed Obaid Al Maktoum's homebred Zeus Olympios should certainly improve for the experience and he couldn't be in better hands with Burke, who is ticking along nicely at a 31% strike rate since the turn of the year, having saddled nine winners from 29 runners at the time of writing. Look at him go! Rebel's Gamble is very impressive for @CliffordleexLee and @karl_burke at @NewcastleRaces, making it two wins from as many starts… pic.twitter.com/Wmq55aygpx — At The Races (@AtTheRaces) January 23, 2025 No Stopping Night Of Thunder It's been a similarly blistering start to 2025 for Darley's Night Of Thunder, who has fired in a hat-trick of new three-year-old winners since the last installment of Winter Watch, in which his Purple Rainbow (GB) earned a very favourable mention following her impressive success at Kempton on January 15. In addition to the win of Zeus Olympios, Night Of Thunder enjoyed an across-the-card double on Monday, as Dance In The Storm (GB) battled to victory in the seven-furlong fillies' novice at Wolverhampton, before Thunder Song (Ire) kicked off his career in style in the seven-furlong maiden at Dundalk. The Joseph O'Brien-trained Thunder Song probably didn't face much in the way of meaningful opposition on his debut, but there was plenty to like about the way he overcame greenness to run out a decisive winner, still looking full of running as he hit the line three lengths clear of his closest pursuer. Bred by James Hanly of Ballyhimikin Stud, Thunder Song is out of the winning Oasis Dream (GB) mare Song Maker (GB) who, in turn, is out of the G2 Cherry Hinton Stakes scorer Please Sing (GB) (Royal Applause {GB}). A 90,000gns purchase at Book 2 of the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale, before he was then withdrawn from the Arqana May Breeze-up Sale, this gelding most definitely finds himself in the shop window now, appealing as just the sort to interest overseas buyers. As for Jeff Smith's homebred Dance In The Storm, she's a half-sister to Dancing Star (GB) (Aqlaam {GB}) and Foxtrot Lady (GB) (Foxwedge {Aus}), both winners of the G3 Sceptre Fillies' Stakes at Doncaster. Incidentally, Dancing Star has done her own bit to contribute to Night Of Thunder's electric start to 2025 through her four-year-old son, Storm Star (GB), who has climbed to a BHA rating of 95 following back-to-back wins over a mile at Newcastle. Storm Star is the fourth generation of this family to have been bred by Smith at his Littleton Stud, after his purchase of Peckitts Well (GB) (Lochnager (GB}) around four decades ago. Her first foal was the remarkable Lochsong (GB) (Song {GB}), the European champion sprinter of 1993 and 1994, and she went on to produce another winner of the G1 Nunthorpe Stakes in Lochangel (GB) (Night Shift), the grandam of Dance In The Storm and great grandam of Storm Star. The influence of Night Of Thunder can certainly be seen in Dance In The Storm who, like Storm Star, looks more of a miling type than many in her family. Fifth on her debut at Chelmsford back in November, she showed the benefit of that experience with an accomplished performance at Wolverhampton, albeit she was a shade keener than ideal through the first part of the race. Despite that she was able to save plenty for the finish, ultimately winning by a length and three-quarters, having dug deep to repel what looked a threatening challenge from the runner-up. It was a performance backed up by the clock–the overall time was at least 0.8 seconds faster than both divisions of the class 6 handicap which followed–and this filly is very much one to be positive about for a sire who can seemingly do no wrong at present. Nice performance! Dance In The Storm – a half-sister to Stewards' Cup winner Dancing Star – stamps her class on the race, defeating Dancing Colours under Callum Hutchinson! @AndrewBalding2 | @WolvesRaces pic.twitter.com/2qBIm329KU — At The Races (@AtTheRaces) January 27, 2025 Hello Zaman, Goodbye Rivals Another notable performance on the clock last week came from the James Tate-trained Hello Zaman (Ire), the winner of the first division of the six-furlong novice at Lingfield on Friday, in a time around 1.7 seconds faster than the second division won by Sweet Couture (Ire) (Dandy Man {Ire}). In addition, it was a whole second faster than the class 6 handicap which kicked off the card. The son of Hello Youmzain (Fr) was always to the fore in a race run at a solid pace, so it was testament to how well he maintained the gallop that his closing sectional of 11 seconds flat for the final furlong was the fastest of any horse in the field, skipping clear of the sole previous winner in the line-up, Miraculous (Ire) (Too Darn Hot {GB}), for a three-length success. A first winner for James Tate in the colours of Jaber Abdullah–who raced Hello Youmzain with great success before he was sold to Haras d'Etreham and Cambridge Stud–Hello Zaman was purchased for 40,000gns when offered by Mountain View Stud at Book 3 of the October Yearling Sale. He is the first foal out of the Listed-placed Dandy's Beano (Ire) (Dandy Man {Ire}) who, in turn, is out of a half-sister to the GII San Antonio Stakes scorer Blingo (Artie Schiller). Both that pedigree and the manner of his victory at Lingfield suggest we're dealing with an out-and-out sprinter in Hello Zaman, one who has always been held in high regard, according to his trainer. “I've always liked him a lot,” Tate told the Racing Post. “He had a few babyish niggles as a two-year-old, which is why he didn't appear until December, and he was very green on debut. Thankfully, he showed a bit more like what we think of him there.” Only fifth when making his first racecourse appearance at Southwell, Hello Zaman was clearly a sharper model with that outing under his belt and further progress should ensure that he develops into a smart sprint handicapper, at the very least. He's bolted up! Hello Zaman records impressive sectionals in the final furlong, scoring second time of asking for @CliffordleexLee and James Tate at @LingfieldPark… pic.twitter.com/2upW4VHtjv — At The Races (@AtTheRaces) January 24, 2025 Winners in Waiting Cupola (GB) Harry Angel (Ire)-Adorn (GB), by Kyllachy (GB) Cheveley Park Stud homebred Cupola, a half-sister to the G2 Richmond Stakes winner Saayerr (GB) (Acclamation {GB}) and G2 Flying Childers Stakes runner-up Ornate (GB) (Bahamian Bounty {GB}), came home with a wet sail to take third in the six-furlong novice won by Sweet Couture at Lingfield on Friday. Beaten just half a length at the line, she probably would have won had she not been left with so much ground to make up, albeit that was entirely self inflicted through a slow start and a lack of know-how when first asked for her effort. That experience won't have been lost on her and she can make amends before too long. Dancing Teapot (Ire), runner-up at Dundalk (November 22) since publication Padua (Ire), seventh at Kempton (December 4) since publication Marhaba Ghaiyyath (Ire), winner at Lingfield (December 3) since publication Safe Idea (GB), third at Wolverhampton (December 21) since publication Indian Springs (Ire) Spanish Voice (GB) Noble Horizon (GB) Dixieland Blues (GB) City Of God (Ire), winner at Southwell (January 17) since publication War And Love (GB), runner-up at Chelmsford (January 11) since publication The post Winter Watch: A Notable Anniversary appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Gulfstream Racing, a new mobile app and wagering experience, has been launched by Everi Holdings Inc. and 1/ST, it was announced Wednesday. The new Gulfstream Racing App is now available in the Apple App Store. Phase I of the app launch includes ticketing, dining reservations, promotions, race schedules and a 1/ST-designed in-app horse wagering experience to allow fans to place win, place and show bets. The app launched ahead of last weekend's GI Pegasus World Cup. In addition to Gulfstream Park, Everi and 1/ST will soon roll out a venue app for Santa Anita Park, including an expansion of the horse wagering and wallet funding experiences, as part of Phase II of this mobile deployment. “With 1/ST's experience in delivering world-class entertainment and wagering for horse racing fans, we felt it was a natural fit for Everi to help enhance the venue experience with additional mobile and funding capabilities,” said Darren Simmons, Everi's Executive Vice President and FinTech Business Leader. “Our ability to develop solutions for additional fan engagement, flexible enough to reach them wherever they are, is a key part of our combined strategy to enable seamless, mobile-first, self-service journeys, to meet fans at their preferred touchpoint.” “The collaboration between Everi and 1/ST is about delivering an intuitive, convenient and engaging experience for our fans, and is specially designed for those who are new to horse racing,” said Keith Johnson, President, 1/ST TECHNOLOGY. “The Gulfstream Racing App puts the picks of our horse racing experts readily into their hands with a simplified direct betting interface. It also includes ticketing, dining and key venue event highlights putting everything you need for a fun day at the track in one easy-to-use platform.” The post 1/ST Launches New Mobile App and Wagering Experience at Gulfstream appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Tenma, racing under the Chu's Baoma Corp. banner, gives the couple a chance at possible Oaks glory in May when she enters the starting gate for the Feb. 2 Las Virgenes Stakes (G3) at Santa Anita Park.View the full article

Tyler Gaffalione was a clear winner Jan. 25 with three stakes victories, including two graded, on the blockbuster Pegasus World Cup (G1) 13-race program. The panel of racing experts voted Gaffalione Jockey of the Week for Jan. 20-26.View the full article

The New York Thoroughbred Horsemen's Association and the Jockeys' Guild agreed to a new scale of mount fees for jockeys who ride at New York Racing Association tracks, which will take effect Feb. 1.View the full article

The prize-money for the G3 Watership Down Stud Too Darn Hot Greenham Stakes at Newbury has been increased to £100,000 this year. Set for Saturday, Apr. 12, as part of the Dubai Duty Free Spring Trials meeting, the seven-furlong contest holds an illustrious roll of honour including Mill Reef, Paco Boy (Ire), Frankel (GB) and Kingman (GB). Sponsored by Watership Down Stud since 2019, the race will receive a £10,000 boost to the total prize fund in 2025. The renewal takes place three weeks prior to the first Classics of the season, the G1 Betfred 1000 and G1 Betfred 2000 Guineas, as opposed to the normal two-week gap. Darley sire Too Darn Hot has made a good start to his stallion career. Bred by Watership Down Stud and owned by Sir Andrew Lloyd Webber, he has already sired Group 1 winners Hotazhell (GB) (Futurity Trophy), Fallen Angel (GB) (Irish 1000 Guineas/Moyglare Stud Stakes) and in Australia, Broadsiding (Aus) (Golden Rose, JJ Atkins, and Champagne Stakes). Simon Marsh, general manager of Watership Down Stud, said, “We are delighted to once again be sponsoring the G3 Too Darn Hot Greenham Stakes. We could not be happier with the way Too Darn Hot has started his stallion career being champion first-season sire in both the UK and Australia. We would like to thank all the breeders who have supported him, including those who are sending mares to him this year as he has an exceptional book for the 2025 season.” The post Prize-Money Increase For Watership Down Stud Too Darn Hot Greenham Stakes At Newbury appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

This could only happen to Brad Cox. He trained the best 2-year-old filly in the country last year as Eclipse Award winner Immersive (Nyquist) whipped everything she faced, including eight challengers in the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies. Earlier this year, she looked like the runaway leader among the fillies eyeing the GI Kentucky Oaks, but came down with a minor injury and will not be ready in time for the Oaks. For most other trainers that would have been a severe setback, losing out on a chance they may never get again. But not Cox. When it comes to 3-year-old fillies, he doesn't rebuild, he reloads. Even with Immersive on the sidelines, he still has a firm grip on the division. Even without Immersive, he trains the top two horses in our first 2025 installment of the TDN Kentucky Oaks Top 10, which is presented by Fasig-Tipton. Muhimma (Munnings) is three-for-three lifetime and has claimed the top sot. Right behind her is Cox-trainee Good Cheer (Medaglia d'Oro), who is undefeated in four starts and could be, as they say, “any kind.” Last week's action was topped by the Martha Washington Stakes at Oaklawn which was won by the Kenny McPeek-trained Take Charge Milady (Take Charge Indy), a comfortable 5 3/4-length winner. The race became easier when Her Laugh (Practical Joke), who was 2-1 on the morning line, had to be scratched. Trainer Whit Beckman said that the snowstorm that hit Louisiana, where she was based at the Fair Grounds, made shipping to Oaklawn too difficult. The new target for her is the Feb. 15 GII Rachel Alexandra at the Fair Grounds. It will be a relatively quiet weekend when it comes to preps for the Oaks. The seven-furlong GIII Forward Gal Stakes Saturday at Gulfstream and the GIII Las Virgenes S. Sunday at Santa Anita could shake things up some. Here's a look at the first installment of our Kentucky Oaks Top 10 for 2025: 1) MUHIMMA (Munnings–Princesa Carolina, by Tapit) 'TDN Rising Star' O-Shadwell Stable; B-Three Chimneys Farm, LLC (Ky); T-Brad Cox. Sale history: $700,000 yrl '23 KEESEP. Lifetime Record: GSW, 3-3-0-0, $279,460. Last Start: Won Dec. 7 GII Demoiselle Stakes. Kentucky Oaks Points: 10. Next Start: GIII Honeybee S, OP, Feb. 22 or GII Davona Dale S., GP, March 1 The Shadwell Stable-owned filly was a little late to get going last year and once she did she was lost in the massive shadow of stablemate Immersive. After she won a maiden by 7 1/4 lengths, picking up 'TDN Rising Star' status, she won an allowance by 5 1/2 lengths and then she won the GII Demoiselle by a length. It was her first start around two turns, but, despite the narrow winning margin, it was probably her best race as she improved 11 Beyer points to earn a 90. Cox said she will kick off her 3-year-old campaign at either Oaklawn or at Gulfstream. If this doesn't work out they can always try the grass as the dam's lone stakes win came on that surface. 2) GOOD CHEER (Medaglia d'Oro–Wedding Toast, by Street Sense) O/B-Godolphin (Ky); T-Brad Cox. Lifetime Record: GSW, 4-4-0-0, $457,630. Last Start: Won Nov. 30 GII Golden Rod Stakes. Kentucky Oaks Points 20. Next Start: GII Rachel Alexandra S., FG, Feb. 15 Consider Muhimma and Good Cheer 1 and 1A. They come from the same barn, are both undefeated, and both came onto the scene late, winning some important fall, post-Breeders' Cup races. Oh, and they both can run. Good Cheer's major wins came in the Rags To Riches S. and the GII Golden Rod S., which she won 2 1/2 lengths. She was very impressive when winning the Golden Rod over Quietside (Malibu Moon). “Her record really speaks for itself and the style in which she's won all of those races has been very impressive,” Cox said after the win. “She is another testament to Godolphin's program. She's handled everything we've done with her, so far, extremely well and I think we haven't seen her best yet.” 3) TENMA (Nyquist–Amagansett, by Tapit) O-Baoma Corp.; B-B Flay Thoroughbreds (Ky); T-Bob Baffert. Sales history: $200,000 yrl '23 KEESEP; $850,000 2yo '24 OBSAPR. Lifetime Record: GISW, 4-3-0-1, $369,000. Last Start: Won Dec. 7 GII Starlet Stakes. Kentucky Oaks Points: 13. Next Start: GIII Fasig-Tipton Las Virgenes, SA, Feb. 2 It's rare that a Bob Baffert-trained horse is overshadowed, but you don't hear a lot of hype about Tenma. That could be because she did not compete in the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies or because she was a poor third in the GII Oak Leaf S. But she put it together in the GII Starlet at Los Alamitos, another race that usually flies under the radar, last out. She won by 1 3/4 lengths that day and was facing off against some quality fillies. At 5-2, she wasn't even the favorite. That race was good enough to suggest that she is probably Baffert's best 3-year-old filly. Baffert is obviously getting her ready as she's had four sharp works already this year. Baffert told the Daily Racing Form that he skipped the Breeders' Cup because he wasn't confident that Tenma was ready for the sort of top effort she showed at Los Alamitos. It looks like she is back. Tenma | Benoit 4) SIMPLY JOKING (Practical Joke–Imply, by E Dubai) O-Grantley Acres, Ryan Conner and Berkels0813; B-Barlar, LLC (PA); T-D. Whitworth Beckman. Sales history: $65,000 yrl '23 KEESEP. Lifetime Record: MSW, 2-2-0-0, $153,000. Last Start: Won Jan. 18 Silverbulletday Stakes. Kentucky Oaks Points: 20. Next Start: TBD Trainer Whit Beckman showed a ton of confidence in this daughter of Practical Joke when starting off her career in a stakes races, the Letellier Memorial S., a six-furlong race at the Fair Grounds. Despite getting bumped at the start, he closed to win a by a neck. But could she go a distance? That question was answered in the one-mile-and-70-yards Fasig-Tipton Silverbulletday S. Leading early, she drew off in the stretch to win by 2 1/2 lengths over a sloppy racetrack. Because of the distance, it was an important test to pass and it was an impressive effort. “She came out of the Silverbulletday in great shape,” Beckman said. “She's possible for the Rachel Alexandra, but we're still finalizing plans for her.” At some point, she may need to prove that she can sit off horses, but for now her early speed is a definite weapon. 5) TAKE CHARGE MILADY (Take Charge Indy–Price Too High, by Scat Daddy) O-James Ball, Magdalena Racing (Sherri McPeek) & Kenneth Rhodes; B-Merriebelle Stable, LLC (Ky); T-Kenneth McPeek. Sales history: $60,000 yrl '23 KEESEP. Lifetime Record: SW, 4-2-1-0, $259,594. Last Start: Won Jan. 25 Martha Washington Stakes. Kentucky Oaks Points: 20. Next Start: GIII Honeybee S, OP, Feb. 22 Can Kenny McPeek win the GI Kentucky Oaks in back-to-back years? Take Charge Milady may not be another Thorpedo Anna (Fast Anna), but she won last Saturday's Martha Washington S. at Oaklawn in her stakes debut and she could continue to have success on the Road to the Kentucky Oaks. She's following a familiar McPeek form cycle. She didn't do much running when sixth in her debut, but has slowly progressed in every race since and is now a stakes winner. “Gosh, she was impressive,” McPeek said of the Martha Washington. “The Honeybee is the logical next step for her. After that either the Fantasy or the Ashland. She's the spitting image of Take Charge Lady. It's the funniest thing. And she's by a son of Take Charge Lady. We've always been really impressed with her. She missed most of her 2-year-old year due to a small issue.” 6) QUIETSIDE (Malibu Moon–Benner Island, by Speightstown) 'TDN Rising Star' O/B-Shortleaf Stable (Ky); T-John Ortiz. Lifetime Record: MGISP, 5-1-3-1, $312,200. Last Start: Second in Jan. 25 Martha Washington Stakes. Kentucky Oaks Points: 18. Next Start: GIII Honeybee S, OP, Feb. 22 or GII Fantasy, March 29, OP If you like consistent horses who always go out and pick up checks, then Quietside is a horse for you. She's only won once, in her first career start, winning a maiden at Saratoga by 6 1/4 lengths. She hasn't visited the winner's circle since, but, as a 2-year-old, she finished second or third in the GI Spinaway S., the GI Alcibiades S. and the GII Golden Rod S. In the Spinaway and Alcibiades she lost to eventual Eclipse Award winner Immersive. She picked up right where she left off in her 2025 debut, finishing second in the Martha Washington S. behind Take Charge Milady. The problem is that it appears that she's no better than fourth or fifth in the division, so what will it take for her to rise to the top? Trainer John Ortiz said either the Honeybee or the Fantasy will be next. 7) LOOK FORWARD (Bolt d'Oro–Troublesome, by Into Mischief) O-Reddam Racing; B-Woods Edge Farm & Ballyfair Bloodstock (Ky); T-Michael McCarthy. Sales history: $285,000 yrl '23 KEESEP. Lifetime Record: 3-2-1-0, $132,400. Last Start: Won Jan. 5 Santa Ynez Stakes. Kentucky Oaks Points: 15. Next Start: TBD No doubt a talented horse, this filly trained by Michael McCarthy used her speed to win the seven-furlong Fasig-Tipton Santa Ynez last out at Santa Anita. In her prior start, she faded in the stretch to finish second in the mile-and-a-sixteenth GII Starlet S. at Los Alamitos. All of which raises the question as to whether or not she can get the nine furlongs in the Oaks? “She'll be headed to Oaklawn,” trainer Michael McCarthy said. “Not sure I'm all that worried about nine furlongs just yet. I think the deep Santa Anita surface just wasn't to her liking and she was classy enough to get the job done [in the Santa Ynez].” If she can win around two turns at Oaklawn, she'll immediately become one of the favorites for the Oaks. Look Forward | Benoit 8) RUNNING AWAY (Gun Runner–Allez Marie, by Unbridled's Song) O/B-Stud TNT; T-Wesley Ward. Lifetime Record: SW, 4-2-1-1, $166,875. Last Start: Won the Jan. 18 Busanda Stakes. Kentucky Oaks Points: 20. Next Start: GI Ashland Stakes, Kee, April 4. This is not your typical Wesley Ward-trained horse. The daughter of Gun Runner was nowhere to be found back in April at Keeneland, when they were running their 2-year-old races. She didn't debut until July at Saratoga and has never run in a race shorter than a mile. No one will care about that if she continues on her winning ways. After breaking her maiden in November, she picked up her first stakes win in the Jan. 18 Busanda S. at Aqueduct. Clearly, she didn't face a very tough field in the Busanda, but she did everything right, winning by 2 1/4 lengths in wire-to-wire fashion. She will face a much bigger test next time out in the GI Ashland S. at Keeneland. 9) SCOTTISH LASSIE (McKinzie–Bodebabe, by Bodemeister) O-Sportsmen Stable, Parkland Thoroughbreds, Photos Finish LLC, Corms Racing Stable & Jorge R. Abreu; B-Winchester Farm (Ky); T-Jorge Abreu. Sales history: $50,000 yrl '23 KEESEP; $85,000 2yo '24 OBSMAR. Lifetime Record: GISW, 3-1-0-1, $332,000. Last Start: Fourth in the Nov. 1 GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies. Kentucky Oaks Points: 16. Next Start: TBD This daughter of McKinzie has been out of sight and out of mind. She has not raced since finishing fourth in the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies and has not had a work since. That means she has a lot of catching up to do. But she's got the ability, which she proved when romping in the GI Frizette by nine lengths. The hope is that she is not a one-race wonder. 10) CHASTEN (Into Mischief–Lockdown, by First Defence) O/B-Juddmonte (Ky); T-Brad Cox. Lifetime Record: 2-1-0-0, $75,000. Last Start: Fourth in the Jan. 18 Silverbulletday Stakes. Kentucky Oaks Points: 4. Next Start: TBD If not for her pedigree, Chasten never would have made this list. She won her debut in November at Churchill, but the time for the seven furlongs was a slow 1:23.26 and she got a Beyer figure of just 68. Still another Brad Cox-trainee, she didn't show a whole lot next out when she finished fourth in the Fasig-Tipton Silverbulletday. But isn't it too early to give up on a half-sister to Idiomatic (Curlin)? By way of comparison, Idiomatic was not at all precocious either. She didn't make her first start until she was three and didn't win a graded stakes until her eighth career start. She turned into a two-time Eclipse Award winner, but just needed time to develop. Could that be the same case with her little sister? Maybe. But she can't waste much time as she is pretty far behind the top members of the division at this point. At the very least, keep any eye on her. Chasten | Coady Media The post The Kentucky Oaks TDN Top 10 for Jan. 30: Cox Reloads appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Nominations for Dubai World Cup night at Meydan on Apr. 5 were released this week. Headlining the nine-race card is the $12-million G1 Dubai World Cup sponsored by Emirates Airline. A total of 173 horses have been entered, led by 20 Group/Grade 1 winners. The winners from 2023 and 2024, Ushba Tesoro (Jpn) (Orfevre {Jpn}) and Laurel River (Into Mischief), respectively, have signed on, as did the world's highest-earning horse, Hong Kong Horse of the Year Romantic Warrior (Ire) (Acclamation {GB}), who drubbed a good field in the G1 Jebel Hatta just last weekend. Japanese Derby hero Danon Decile (Jpn) (Epiphaneia {Jpn}) steps forward on the back of a victory in the G2 American Jockey Club Cup on Sunday, while Forever Young (Jpn) (Real Steel {Jpn}), placed in both the GI Kentucky Derby and GI Breeders' Cup Classic, takes his chance after winning the G2 UAE Derby over the dirt track here last March. The winners of the past two Breeders' Cup Classics are also entered in White Abarrio (Race Day) (2023) and Sierra Leone (Gun Runner) (2024). Part of the supporting cast from the U.S. is Kentucky Derby hero Mystik Dan (Goldencents), and GI Belmont Stakes second Mindframe (Constitution). GI Pacific Classic hero Mixto (Good Magic) is also nominated. The $6-million G1 Longines Dubai Sheema Classic features 109 nominees, 16 of them successful at the top level including Shuka Sho heroine Cervinia (Jpn) (Harbinger {GB}) and last year's third-place finisher and Japanese Fillies Triple Crown victress Liberty Island (Jpn) (Duramente {Jpn}). Standout King George scorer Goliath (Ger) (Adlerflug {Ger}) is part of this bunch, as is his Francis Graffard stablemate Calandagan (Ire) (Gleneagles {Ire}), and defending champion and dual Eclipse winner Rebel's Romance (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}). Facteur Cheval (Ire) (Ribchester {Ire}), will defend his title in the G1 Dubai Turf. Another 2024 Dubai World Cup night winner is Tuz (Oxbow), who is gunning for his second G1 Dubai Golden Shaheen, but faces challengers in Straight No Chaser (Speightster) and Speed Boat Beach (Bayern). Rounding out the Group 1 races is the Al Quoz Sprint, with Hong Kong star California Spangle (Ire) (Starspangledbanner {Aus}) nominated, as well as Howdeepisyourlove (Aus) (Deep Field {Aus}). To view the full list of nominations, please visit here. “We have received some outstanding nominations for the 29th Dubai World Cup meeting from all corners of the globe,” said Sheikh Rashed bin Dalmook Al Maktoum, chairman of the Dubai Racing Club. “This is a testament both to the outstanding facilities for horses at Meydan Racecourse and the strength of the Dubai World Cup meeting, one of the best days of racing on the global calendar.” The post Slew Of Champions Nominated To Dubai World Cup Night In April appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Johannes Brahms (GB) (Siyouni {Fr}), runner-up as the favourite in the Listed Windsor Castle Stakes before filling the same spot in the G2 Gimcrack Stakes while under the care of Aidan O'Brien in 2023, is among a full field of 14 for the first leg of the 4-year-old Classic series in Hong Kong, the Hong Kong Classic Mile. The HK$13-million event anchors Friday's Chinese New Year meeting at Sha Tin. Acquired privately after finishing third in the Weatherbys Scientific £300,000 2YO Stakes at Doncaster in September 2023, the Tattersalls October grad has run with credit in each of his four local runs and posted his first local success Dec. 22, overcoming a checkered passage to take out a Class 3 handicap over 1400 metres. He experienced similar traffic trouble yet again in his Class 2 debut Jan. 12, but got home well for third to the reopposing Rubylot (Aus) (Rubick {Aus}). Mickael Barzalona jets in to take the ride for sharp young trainer Pierre Ng. Francis Lui, who sent out the legendary Golden Sixty (Aus) (Medaglia d'Oro) to win this in 2020, sends out three of the four top-rated horses on Friday, including Packing Hermod (Aus) (Rubick {Aus}). The selection of record-setting jockey Zac Purton, the 93-rater bested Rubylot by a neck in a 1400-metre Class 2 on International Races day Dec. 8, but the tables were turned last time when Rubylot had a significantly better run in transit while Packing Hermod could do no better than a running-on fourth. The extra furlong on Friday could level the playing field. Cap Ferrat (Aus) (Snitzel {Aus}), twice Group 1-placed in Australia for Chris Waller, made a big impression on his first Hong Kong appearance over Friday's trip Dec. 15, tearing home down the centre of the course to be beaten just a neck by the more-experienced Mickley (Ire) (Soldier's Call {GB}), who got through nearer the inside for Hugh Bowman. Lui also saddles Divano (Aus) (Brave Smash {Jpn}), an on-pace winner over 1200m Dec. 22, but a badly hampered eighth to Rubylot last time. Blake Shinn will have to work out a trip from the riverside draw in 14. GONG XI FA CAI Year of the snake pic.twitter.com/sqSjr4So7D — BRENTON AVDULLA (@brentonavdulla) January 29, 2025 The post Ex-Ballydoyle Johannes Brahms A Live Chance In HK Classic Mile appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Tickets for Kentucky Derby Week and the entire 43-day Spring Meet, which spans nine weeks from Apr. 26-June 29 at Churchill Downs, go on sale Thursday at noon (all times Eastern), the track said in a release on Wednesday. Tickets for the 151st Kentucky Oaks and Kentucky Derby May 2-3 are available by clicking here or by calling (502) 636-4447. Churchill Downs also provides a secure, official resale marketplace to purchase Derby and Oaks tickets via the Churchill Downs Ticketmaster Ticket Exchange, which can be found here. Derby Week general admission tickets are $24 on Opening Night and Winsday; $41 on Thurby; and a special $5 offering for 502'sDay. Reserved box seats range from $32-$39 for Derby Week and $55-$71 for Thurby depending on the location. Guests attending Churchill Downs on Thurby will see the debut of the new Starting Gate Courtyard. The redesigned area will feature new, padded stadium-style seating that overlooks the dirt and turf racetracks. Tickets in the new Starting Gate Courtyard are $169 on Thurby for an all-inclusive experience. In addition to Kentucky Derby Week events, tickets for all other Spring Meet racing days can be purchased by clicking here. The post Kentucky Derby Week, Spring Meet Tickets On Sale Thursday At Noon appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

If we can have December in November, why not have February in January? That is the case for the two-day Tattersalls February Sale which takes place over this Thursday and Friday, January 30 and 31, and offers a mixture of broodmares, short yearlings and horses in training. This is always a good way to kick off the sales year, as much for the social occasion as for the trade itself. For a start, dry January is almost over, and it's a great chance to get back out on the circuit with fellow breeders and take the opportunity to view some stallions. With that in mind, Tattersalls has stepped into the breach left by the TBA to ensure that the Flat Stallion Parade continues prior to the sale getting underway on Thursday morning. The nine stallions joining the show this year are A'Ali (Ire), Bangkok (Ire), Bradsell (GB), Caturra (Ire), El Caballo (GB), Isaac Shelby (GB), Lope Y Fernandez (Ire), Stradivarius (Ire) and Ubettabelieveit (Ire). More information on the morning's events can be found in this recent TDN article, but as a reminder, the stallion parade will follow the inaugural RoR Showcase, featuring nine former stars of the track now excelling in different disciplines, including Cheltenham Gold Cup hero Native River (Ire). As to the main action itself, there is a sizeable draft of breeding prospects and horses in training heading to Park Paddocks from Godolphin. These include the four-year-old Blue Point (Ire) filly Valdivara (Ire), a Listed-placed winner in France out of a full-sister to the useful stallion Territories (Ire). The consignment also contains Courtly Queen (Ire) (Lope De Vega {Ire}), who is a three-parts-sister to Classic winner Castle Lady (Ire) (Shamardal) from the immediate family of Raven's Pass. The Castlebridge Consignment boasts the largest draft in the sale and features a full-brother to Cracksman (GB) in the 81-rated four-year-old Fireblade (GB) (Frankel {GB}), who has up to now been trained by John and Thady Gosden. Jack Morland has made an eye-catching start to his training career since October and he will consign Angel Of Antrim (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}), who won four races in a row between December 21 and January 4 and now has a rating of 84, having been put up 33lbs in the last month. The Galileo (Ire) mare Facade (Ire) is one of the interesting lots within a decent draft of 15 from Far Westfield Farm and is the only mare in the catalogue to be offered in foal to Study Of Man (Ire), while Hazelwood Bloodstock's two entries include the well-bred Propel (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}). Now 13, the half-sister to Group winners Memphis Tennessee (Ire), Mayhem (Ire) and Royal Bench (Ire) is in foal to Pinatubo (Ire). Throughout Thursday morning there will be hospitality in the Lower Sale Ring Bar sponsored by the British EBF Stallions, and Thursday's sale session will commence at around noon following the RoR Showcase and Stallion Parade. Selling begins at 10am on Friday. In addition to the stallion parade taking place at Tattersalls, the following studs around Newmarket are open this Thursday and Friday as follows: Cheveley Park Stud, open from 9.30am to 3.30pm. Darley, Dalham Hall Stud, open on Thursday and Friday, contact the stud for details. Juddmonte, Banstead Manor Stud, open from 10am to 12 noon and 1pm to 3pm. Lanwades, open from 10.30am to 3pm. Shadwell, Beech House Stud, open from 10am to 3pm. The post Back to Business at Tattersalls as February Sale Begins appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

In recent years, Stonehaven Steadings has been responsible for breeding a Breeders' Cup champion and Eclipse Award winner in Corniche as well as a $2.5 million Keeneland September sale topper. Today, the farm's Adrian O'Meara discusses the mating plans for Stonehaven Steadings in 2025. VENETIAN SONATA (m, 16, Bernardini-Moonlight Sonata, by Carson City) and Miss Costa Rica (m, 7, Hit It a Bomb-Five Star Daydream, by Five Star Day) to be bred to Curlin Venetian Sonata is one of our flagship mares. All three of her daughters are graded stakes fillies and she's been one of our strongest mares in the sales theater too. Curlin's exceptional stakes strike rate with Bernardini mares has been well documented and this is a mating we did two years ago partially based off that. The resulting foal was a beautiful filly that did well last September at Keeneland in spite of a mild radiograph issue that held her back. The dream here would be for a colt with the huge pedigree to back him up. Miss Costa Rica was a Grade II-placed juvenile and had a nice family update with Sandy Bottom (Omaha Beach) being a new stakes winner out of her sister. We unfortunately lost her first foal, an Into Mischief colt, last year but she showed she could throw the right type and we bred her back to Into Mischief off of the quality of that foal. She is a big beautiful mare, probably one of our strongest physically, and should really compliment Curlin in that department. Curlin is one of the legends and we want to make every effort to use horses of this caliber. We take these top-tier stallions for granted but the recent passing of Uncle Mo makes you appreciate the opportunity to have this caliber of stallion available and the pipeline following them is going to be light unless a few stars emerge from these recently retiring groups. Venetian Sonata, who produced this Curlin filly that brought $425,000 as a yearling last year, will go back to the Hill 'n' Dale sire in 2025 | Jennifer M. Keeler/Yellow Horse Marketing TRUE FEELINGS (m, 16, Latent Heat-Grand Charmer, by Lord Avie) and STUNNING SKY (m, 8, Declaration of War-Sky Walk, Unbridled's Song) to be bred to Into Mischief True Feelings has been a star for us but has had a couple of years off since we nearly lost her to a bad colic a few years back. She has bounced back impressively and her Flightline colt will be one of our top three yearlings this year. She has been remarkably consistent in producing quality with a wide range of stallions. One of her better runners was an Into Mischief filly, Feeling Mischief (who coincidentally had a knockout Flightline filly sell in November) so we decided to go back to the proven cross once again. Stunning Sky was a Grade III winner at Keeneland and was Grade II placed at Saratoga. She did her best running on turf but she is built like a dirt runner and her sire nearly won the Breeders' Cup Classic. She has shown a lot of class in her first two foals. Her Quality Road filly is probably the best filly that we'll bring to auction this year and so she continues to be strongly supported in the breeding shed with Into Mischief. These top tier sires are expensive and we really like to see a mare throwing some quality in her foals before committing to these bigger stud fees. We have generally been supporting her with stallions that have shown strong dual surface abilities such as Medaglia d'Oro, Quality Road and she is currently in foal to Justify. These stallions will hopefully increase her chances of getting some dirt runners or compliment her own turf credentials. She puts a lot of size in her foals and that's something that always is a plus with Into Mischief. GREEN UP (m, 6, Upstart-Green Punch, by Two Punch) and FIGURE OF SPEECH (m, 8, Into Mischief-Starlight Lady, by Elusive Quality) to be bred to Nyquist Green Up, a three-time stakes winner including the 2023 Pumpkin Pie Stakes, will visit Nyquist in 2025 | Chelsea Durand Green Up is a new mare we bought in November. She is typical of one of the types of mares we like to try to buy. She was an accomplished dirt runner, winning three stakes against some strong graded stakes-winning fillies like Shotgun Hottie (Gun Runner), Frank's Rockette (Into Mischief), Interstatedaydream (Classic Empire) and she was Grade I-placed to Adare Manor (Uncle Mo). She's by a strong emerging sire in Upstart but you're not paying the premium on the purchase price for a bigger-name sire and some value is found there. Sometimes you just have a strong gut feeling on a mating and herself and Nyquist was one of those for us this year. It's an expensive cover for a first foal but she's a big beautiful mare that gives some confidence that she mightn't be a candidate for a small first foal. The A.P. Indy sireline has been potent with Nyquist and has played a large part in his success so far, so pedigree wise this was a no brainer. The A.P. Indy line can also be prone to passing on a little clubby foot at times so we always try to balance that in matings on either side. Nyquist and his entire line were generally good-footed and will hopefully counterbalance any recessive tendencies she might have in a foal. Figure of Speech was a Saratoga Grade I-placed juvenile and is another one of our younger mares. She had a beautiful Gun Runner filly sell last September to Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners and has a very tidy Curlin filly pointing to Keeneland September for this year, so she continues to get acquainted with the big-name sires. She has a very sharp, classy physique and should complement Nyquist in that department. Although not as potent as the A.P. Indy line, Into Mischief has had a lot of success in these early broodmare stages with Nyquist too. NOTAPRADAPRICE (m, 11, Paddy O'Prado-Brenda's Slew, by Straight Man) and MIDNIGHT DIVA (m, 7, Midnight Lute-Pizza Lady, by Dance With Ravens) to be bred to McKinzie McKinzie has gotten off to the right kind of start and was the obvious up and comer to breed to this year. Prada and Diva are young, graded stakes fillies who are big, pretty profiled mares who will both compliment his big, beautiful frame. Both are nicely conformed in front and while McKinzie throws decent-legged stock, you always have to be conscious of what the sire and grand sire of a stallion has historically thrown and breed accordingly on the conformation side of things. McKinzie offers an opportunity to help a young mare getting started at a lower price point than the bigger names, but hopefully will be well on his way to being one of the bigger names in a few years' time when sale time rolls around for this combination. JILTED BRIDE (m, 8, Wicked Strong-Cry At My Wedding, by Street Cry {Ire}) to be bred to Not This Time Jilted Bride is another young mare for us currently in foal to Justify. Her first foal by Into Mischief will be one of our stronger colts this year. She was a very tough mare and ultra consistent, winning multiple stakes and multiple Grade III placings. The only time she was out of the first three was in a Grade I. She's a big mare herself, but hails from the Danzig line so we're generally looking for a stallion for her that has shown plenty of ability to put some commercial leg into their offspring. Not This Time climbed the ladder the hard way and looks set to remain at the top for many years to come. LA TITINA (m, 10, Distorted Humor-Ask the Moon, by Malibu Moon) to be bred to Medaglia d'Oro Medaglia d'Oro is one in the older brigade but has shown again this year that he can still produce the big horse and support it well with additional graded stakes winners. He is the best value in the proven stallion ranks right now and still well respected in the sales arena. La Titina is still early enough in her career and has shown some quality ability so far, with her daughter topping a 2-year-old sale for $500,000. The Medaglia d'Oro /Distorted Humor combo has been responsible for some very classy horses such as Elate, Golden Sixty, New Money Honey, etc. La Titina is a pretty profiled mare but a little offset in front and Medaglia generally can help in that department. BECKLES ROAD (m, 16, Smart Strike -Padmore, by French Deputy) to be bred to Constitution Beckles Road produced this Into Mischief filly who brought $800,000 at last year's Keeneland September Sale. This year the mare will visit Constitution | Jennifer M. Keeler/Yellow Horse Marketing Beckles Road is in her mid-teens now but still showed her lasting appeal this year with another beautiful Into Mischief colt that was our top seller in September and she has another classy Gun Runner colt this time around. She is a multiple stakes producer and unlucky not to have another stakes horse or two on her resume, but commercial realities being as they are she gets a drop in stud fee but not stallion quality and should really compliment Constitution physically if her previous foals are anything to go by. The pedigree match up is solid. DEBBY D'ORO (m, 12, Giant's Causeway-Dashing Debby, by Medaglia d'Oro) to be bred to Twirling Candy Candy Ride (Arg) built his career largely on the back of his success with the Storm Cat line and his son Twirling Candy has continued the family tradition himself, particularly with Giant's Causeway who is Debby's sire. She had a beautiful Candy Ride filly sell in September in Book 2 and was bred to Twirling Candy last year based off the strength of that filly as a foal. Candy Ride would have been the no brainer to breed back to this year, but unfortunately the way the commercial market treats these mid-20-year-old sires, you have to re-handicap the situation and breed to one of his more commercial sons at the price point that suits the mare. We also would be hoping that the Candy Ride filly turns out to be legit talent and helps the resulting foal come sale time in two years' time. STEELIN' LIBERTY (m, 7, Curlin-Steelin', by Orientate) and STEELIN' MEMORIES (m, 5, Quality Road-Steelin', by Orientate) to be bred to Practical Joke These two fillies are Curlin and Quality Road half-sisters to Shanghai Bobby. We held on to most of his sisters and his first one is already the dam of MGSW Canoodling (Pioneerof the Nile), so we'll see what the future holds for these two. Practical Joke is one of the few stallions in this price bracket that is still young enough to have strong potential upswing and is a very useful sire to help get a younger mare established. His upward trajectory should only continue as his bigger and better-bred crops come down the pipeline. Both fillies are powerfully built but lacking a little commercial leg, which hopefully Practical Joke can help a bit with. The Into Mischief line has been potent with Smart Strike-line mares and should bode well for Steelin' Liberty. Steelin' Memories was originally booked to Uncle Mo, but with his untimely passing she was rerouted here which, while maybe not as strong pedigree wise as the original plan, it is still a very nice combination and maybe a blessing in disguise depending on how it all works out in the long run. There are plenty of stories in the industry where good horses were conceived under similar circumstances. FRESHMAN/FIRST RUNNERS Most of the rest of the broodmare band will be visiting a couple of the other stand outs of the freshman class with first runners in Tiz the Law and Vekoma and also a cross section of the best of the incoming freshman sires. It's an interesting incoming class this year lacking any major stand out, but is a solid bunch of prospects overall. National Treasure was probably our favorite of the bunch and we have three penciled in for him. He showed the most consistency of the group, being a three-time Grade I winner and arguably his best performance was in defeat in the Breeders' Cup. We'll also be sending mares to Seize the Grey, Dornoch, Cogburn and Prince of Monaco. Arabian Knight and Domestic Product were two we liked too but couldn't make work pedigree wise with the mares we were looking to use. It's more mares than we would generally breed to freshmen sires, but market conditions can force your hand. With breeders flooding to these freshmen sires it's getting more and more difficult for young, emerging sires to get established and maintain momentum and tougher for breeders to identify a young talent that has the second and third-crop fire power behind them to build on any positive start they might gain in their first crop. The post 2025 Mating Plans, Presented by Spendthrift: Stonehaven Steadings appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

The New York Thoroughbred Horsemen's Association (NYTHA) and the Jockeys' Guild agreed to a new scale of mount fees for jockeys who ride at NYRA tracks which will take effect Feb. 1, according to a Wednesday release from the Guild. Under the new fee agreement, jockeys will receive a minimum of a $125 losing mount fee for races at all NYRA racetracks as well as a $500 minimum fee in races with purses of $1 million or more. This scale also includes a 4th place incentive. “We have come to a three-year agreement with the Jockeys' Guild on jockey fees at the NYRA tracks, which includes the first increase since 2018,” said NYTHA President Tina Marie Bond. “These riders demonstrate their skill and bravery on a daily basis, and they are indispensable to our sport.” “We appreciate the efforts and continued commitment to the jockeys by Tina Marie Bond and NYTHA's Board on behalf of its membership,” said President and CEO of the Jockeys' Guild Terry Meyocks. “In addition to the direct benefits for the jockeys who ride at NYRA tracks, we have worked with NYTHA on several important issues including maintaining a safe racing environment. We pledge to work with all parties to provide New York racing fans with the best Thoroughbred racing in the world.” Under this agreement, both parties are pleased to continue with the overall commitment to the industry, and in particular the equine and human athletes. Since the agreement in 2018, NYRA jockeys have donated $1 per mount to the PDJF and $1 per mount to NYTHA's aftercare program, TAKE THE LEAD and have agreed to continue under the new agreement. NYTHA has agreed to continue to pay the PDJF $20,000 per year. “It is through the working relationships like the one we have with NYTHA that our industry can flourish,” said Meyocks. “Our hope is that other states and horsemen's organizations will follow the lead of those like NYTHA, California, Kentucky, and New Mexico to increase the losing mount fees for the jockeys.” Click here for the fee schedule. The post NYTHA And Guild Agree On New Mount Fees For NYRA Jockeys appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Godolphin has been announced as the winner of the Queen's Silver Cup for leading British-based Flat breeder for the 11th time in the TBA's statistical awards for 2024. Starting the season well with 2,000 Guineas winner Notable Speech (GB), Godolphin was also represented by the dual Group 1-winning juvenile Shadow Of Light (GB), who landed the Middle Park Stakes, followed by the Dewhurst Stakes a fortnight later. The operation's flagship sire Dubawi (Ire) was crowned the leading British-based stallion for the tenth time in 11 years with total progeny earnings of £4,425,502. He was also awarded the British EBF Barleythorpe Stud Silver Cup. Dubawi's good season included the aforementioned Notable Speech as well as the Oaks winner Ezeliya (Ire) and the Eclipse Award winner Rebel's Romance (Ire). Claire Sheppard, chief executive of the TBA said, “The statistical awards are important in highlighting track success of British-based breeders and stallions over the course of the year. Britain has the highest proportion of world-class thoroughbreds relative to the total number of foals born, indicating the quality of bloodlines and breeding operations, and all underpinned by many of the best stallions in the world. Our congratulations to Godolphin and Dubawi, and we look forward to presenting them and all the winners in person at the annual Flat Season Awards ceremony on 9 July.” Sam Bullard, director of stallions for Darley and Godolphin, said, “Everyone at Godolphin is delighted that the Queen's Silver Cup is heading back to Dalham Hall Stud. 2024 was a tremendous year for both Team Godolphin and the Darley Stallions and it is very fitting that Notable Speech, by our flagbearer Dubawi, has contributed to both the leading breeder award and to Dubawi's double success. Dubawi continues to excel at the highest level and is now being challenged by his own sons as the future champions in waiting. We are incredibly fortunate to have him.” Simon Sweeting, Chairman of the EBF added, “The British EBF is pleased to be sponsoring the Barleythorpe Stud Silver Cup this year. The award focuses on a stallion's winners-to-runners strike-rate which is an important indicator for breeders of a stallion's ability to produce winning progeny. Our congratulations to all connections of Dubawi. Again, he has proven himself an icon of the British stallion ranks, and we are grateful for the support his enduring success makes to the British EBF's prize-money contributions.” Whitsbury Manor Stud received the Tattersalls Silver Salver for leading freshman sire for the fourth time, with Sergei Prokofiev taking the title in 2024. He followed the lead of Showcasing (GB), Adaay (Ire) and Havana Grey (GB). Among Sergei Prokofiev's 23 British and Irish winners was the Andrew Bengough and Partners-bred Arizona Blaze (GB), who won the first Irish maiden on the Curragh on March 18, and later won the G3 Marble Hill Stakes, was third in the G1 Phoenix Stakes and ended his season by running second in the G1 Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint. Ed Harper, stud director of Whitsbury Manor, said, “We are delighted that Sergei Prokofiev has won the leading first-season sire award. With 29 individual juvenile winners worldwide, including a second in the G1 Breeders Cup Juvenile turf sprint, and top performers in the Middle East, he offers British breeders an exciting commercial option.” The statistical awards cover the calendar year 2024 and relate to racing in Britain and Ireland only. The post Godolphin and Dubawi Dominate TBA Flat Awards appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Te Akau will hope a stellar weekend at the Karaka Millions is followed up with further success on Saturday with Quintessa’s (NZ) (Shamus Award) return in the $200,000 Geoffrey Bellmaine Stakes (1200m) at Sandown. A winner when fresh in the Cockram Stakes in the spring, a quiet jumpout at Cranbourne on Monday morning has the Group 1 Levin Classic winner ready for her return with Mick Dee taking the ride. “She normally goes well fresh … then she ran on wet tracks and it derailed the campaign, but she’s going well,” co-trainer Mark Walker said from the Karaka sales grounds. “Most mares as a general rule are better in the autumn and I think that will be the case.” Quintessa showed her versatility winning at 1200 metres first-up in her spring campaign, having concluded her autumn preparation with a fourth in the 2400-metre ATC Oaks. “I think anything between 1400 and 2000 metres is pretty good for her,” Walker said of the daughter of Shamus Award’s best distance. “We will take it one step at a time and probably keep her in mares’ company and she could even have just a short campaign and perhaps go to Brisbane in the winter.” Walker will also be represented at Sandown by It’s Business Time (NZ) (Turn Me Loose), who will be ridden by Blake Shinn, and suggested the mare could run a ‘cheeky race’ fresh. Te Akau recently completed the build of its on-course stables at Cranbourne, allowing them to house up to 70 horses. View the full article

Fresh from a pair of million-dollar successes at Ellerslie and another leading buyer title in Book 1, Te Akau Racing’s David Ellis remained in the headlines with some Book 2 fireworks at Karaka on Wednesday afternoon. In the final hour of a solid opening day of trading in the Book 2 sale, Ellis secured the top-priced yearling of the day with his $260,000 purchase of Lot 855. The filly by Satono Aladdin was offered by Brighthill Farm and is a full-sister to this month’s Gr.2 Eclipse Stakes (1200m) winner Too Sweet. Ellis, who bid on the filly on the phone with bloodstock consultant Marcus Corban, has more than one reason to be familiar with this filly’s family. Too Sweet has spent most of the last month at the Te Akau stable as part of a reciprocal agreement between trainer Roydon Bergerson and his son Sam, who trains for Te Akau alongside Mark Walker at Matamata. The Awapuni-based Too Sweet, who is also part-owned by Sam Bergerson, remained in the north between her Eclipse Stakes victory on New Year’s Day and an unplaced finish from a wide gate in Saturday’s Karaka Millions 2YO (1200m). The sale-topping filly’s third dam Madame Echezeaux, meanwhile, is an unraced half-sister to the Group One performers and sires Darci Brahma and Burgundy, who were both purchased by Ellis for seven-figure prices as yearlings at Karaka. “I was delighted to buy this filly today, and the demand that we’ve already had for shares in her just shows what a quality filly she is,” Ellis said. “She wouldn’t have been out of place in Book 1. We’ve already sold 80 percent of the shares in her. “Having a classy two-year-old like Too Sweet as a full-sister is a tremendous advertisement for her, but I also thought she was just an outstanding individual in her own right. She stood out to me as a filly that would have every chance of making it to the Karaka Millions 2YO (1200m) this time next year.” Ellis knows a thing or two about that race, having purchased eight of the last nine winners – Melody Belle, Avantage, Probabeel, Cool Aza Beel, On The Bubbles, Dynastic, Tokyo Tycoon and Saturday’s winner La Dorada. Damask Rose, who was runner-up in last year’s edition, returned on Saturday and went one better in the Karaka Millions 3YO (1600m). “Another thing that stood out to me about this filly today is that she’s closely related to Darci Brahma and Burgundy,” Ellis said. “They both went on to successful careers on the racetrack and at stud, and I’ve always said that Burgundy is the fastest horse we’ve ever had at Te Akau. I wouldn’t be surprised if this filly had some of that brilliance as well.” Lot 855 was the only purchase of the day for Ellis, who secured 26 yearlings from Book 1 for a total spend of $4,497,500. “The quality of the yearlings at Karaka this year has been very high,” Ellis said. “It’s been a competitive buying bench, but I’ve felt that I’ve been able to buy the horses I wanted at what I thought was good value. “It’s just so exciting to go around the farm today and look at some of these lovely young horses that we’ve bought. A lot of them will be racing in 12 moths’ time, and I can’t wait.” Leading buyer John Foote Photo: Angelique Bridson The leading buyer on the opening day of Book 2 was respected bloodstock agent John Foote, who bought six colts for a total of $530,000 and an average price of $88,333. Five of his purchases are bound for Hong Kong, with the other set to head to Victoria. “It’s been pretty good shopping today, really,” Foote said. “The horses have made their money, but not too high. “You find some good opportunities when you stick around for Book 2 of the sale. There’s always nice horses here. We’ve bought some horses from this sale that have gone on to win good races in Hong Kong. “When you buy from this second tier, you may have to give away a little bit in terms of pedigree, but I’ve never found that pedigree means too much when it comes to Hong Kong. You always try to buy as much pedigree as you can, but you’re really buying an athletic individual with a bit of size that looks like it can run. “Stallion-wise, you don’t have to be too particular. There are winners by all sorts of stallions in Hong Kong, including some that do extremely well up there and don’t do so well here. You don’t have to be too fussy.” Foote’s highest-priced purchase on Wednesday was Lot 686, a colt by first-season sire Noverre out of the Showcasing mare La Jolie Fille. A member of Ardsley Park’s draft, he was bought for $130,000. “We didn’t buy any of Noverre’s progeny in the first book, but I was happy to buy one here because I thought he was the nicest one we saw,” Foote said. Foote also made a pair of $100,000 purchases – a Hello Youmzain colt from the Kilgravin Lodge draft, and a Shocking colt from Rich Hill Stud. “I said to Eion Kemp that I thought the Hello Youmzain colt should have been in the first book, and so did he,” Foote said. “I was pretty happy to get him today. “Wrote is going very well in Hong Kong. I bought that colt for David Hall, who rang me up this afternoon and said he wanted to buy the horse.” Foote also bought an Ardrossan colt for $80,000, a Reliable Man colt for $75,000 and a Shocking colt for $45,000. “The Shocking will go to Victoria for a good client of mine who only buys stayers,” Foote said. “If they can’t run a mile and a half, he doesn’t want them. This horse fit the bill perfectly. He’s a lovely Shocking out of a Zabeel mare. There’s a lot of Zabeel in him and a lot of quality. For $45,000, he’s pretty good really.” Lot 855: A Satono Aladdin sister to Group Two winner Too Sweet Photo: Glenys Randell View the full article

The corporate hospitality company Eventmasters, which celebrates its 40th anniversary this year, will sponsor Royal Ascot Trials Day on April 30. Eventmasters will put its name to four races on the card worth a total £315,000 in prize-money as well as having headline sponsorship for the meeting. Eventmasters has worked with Ascot Racecourse throughout its 40 years of trading with Royal Ascot being a key event in the calendar with upwards of 3,500 guests due to be in attendance. The company has also sponsored at Doncaster, Kempton, Warwick, Windsor, Wolverhampton and York Racecourses. “Eventmasters are longstanding hospitality partners of ours and to formalise this relationship with the headline sponsorship of one our most important fixtures in the calendar is really exciting,” said Felicity Barnard, Chief Executive at Ascot Racecourse. Denise Sheasby, CEO of the Eventmasters Group, added, “We are delighted to have the ability to sponsor Royal Ascot Trials Day, this will give us the opportunity to celebrate a special year. We would like to say a very big thank you to all of our clients for their business over very many years. We would like to thank all of the individuals and venues with whom we have worked throughout, our success could not have been achieved without their help and support.” The post Eventmasters to Sponsor Royal Ascot Trials Day appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Feroce (NZ) (Super Seth) has taken a step towards his racing return with a trial placing at Geelong. Trainer Dominic Sutton has a decision to make with Feroce in the lead-up to Australian Guineas at Flemington. The Caulfield Guineas runner-up will have only one run before the Group 1 Australian Guineas (1600m) at Flemington in March. That first-up run will come in either the Group 2 Autumn Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield on February 8, or the Group 3 C S Hayes Stakes (1400m) at Flemington the following week. “He’s better performed at Caulfield, but the Group 1 is at Flemington,” Sutton said. “I think the more exposure we can give him at Flemington would be better leading into a Group 1 race, but he seems to be furnishing.” Sutton gave Feroce his second trial in preparation for his return when the gelding chased home Sophia’s Magic in a 1200m heat at Geelong on Wednesday morning with Billy Egan in the saddle. “I decided to trial him over the 1200 metres rather than the 1000 metres, simply because we’re going first-up over 1400 metres and then straight into the Australian Guineas,” Sutton said. “I wanted him to have a nice, strong piece of work this morning and he was excellent. “Billy’s comment after the trial was that he feels like he’s matured again this time in. “He relaxed nicely, went through his gears in the right manner to the line.” Sutton said Feroce was only afforded a couple of weeks off after his spring campaign which wound up after finishing third in the Group 3 Carbine Club Stakes (1600m) at Flemington on November 2. “I wanted to give him plenty of time to have him ready for the Guineas second-up,” Sutton said. “We didn’t want to overtax him. He’s had two nice trials now. “We’re just going to weigh-up whether we go to Caulfield, Saturday week, or we wait for the C S Hayes the week after.” Sutton now has 18 boxes at Flemington which he moved into earlier in the month and after starting his campaign at Ballarat, Feroce headed there after his jump-out at Werribee on January 17. “He’s housed there now and has settled in very well and hopefully we might be able to sneak onto the course proper for a gallop before the Guineas if we’re lucky,” Sutton said. View the full article

Trainer Matthew Williams will be hoping history can repeat when the Group 3 Geoffrey Bellmaine Stakes is run at Sandown on Saturday. Normally held at Caulfield, the Bellmaine Stakes for mares will be staged at Sandown on this Saturday’s program, which had to be transferred from its regular venue following the recent grandstand fire there. The Bellmaine was also held at Sandown two years ago and on that occasion Wrote To Arataki (NZ) (Wrote) strode to victory on the Hillside course over 1300m. Saturday’s renewal is on the Hillside circuit over the race’s usual 1200-metre distance and Warrnambool-based Williams has been encouraged by the way Wrote To Arataki – who has not won since the G2 Tristarc Stakes during the 2023 spring – has been preparing for her return. The mare won a recent jumpout and Williams said he had changed a few things up with the six-year-old this preparation in a bid to get her to return to her best racing form. “I’m pretty happy with how she has prepped up,” Williams said. “We did a couple of things a little bit different. “She did some pre-training down at Balnarring Beach – had a bit of a working holiday down there with Cheryl Weller – and she came back from that in good order. “She has galloped well and in her trial the other day, I thought that was probably better than how she trialled up in the preparation before.” Williams has also elected for the mare not to wear earmuffs this time around and believes taking them off seems to have ‘switched her back on again’. He said Wrote To Arataki is also being trained out of a paddock set-up this time in. “I’ve just tried to do things a little bit different, to see if we could switch her on again,” Williams said. “And I must say, I came away from the trial the other day thinking we’re a chance to have her back maybe going at her best. “Last preparation we thought she was probably two or three lengths off her best.” Wrote To Arataki also ran in the Bellmaine Stakes last year at Caulfield, finishing fourth when first-up. Dean Yendall rode Wrote To Arataki when she won the 1000-metre jumpout at Camperdown on January 20 and he is booked for the ride for Saturday’s race. Wrote To Arataki defeated the Archie Alexander-trained Bizot in that jumpout and that mare is also among the Bellmaine Stakes nominations. “I liked when Archie’s horse started to get to her in that trial and Dean asked her for a little bit more, she just kept giving him a little bit more all the way to the line,” Williams said. “I think the black earmuffs off have certainly helped because she can hear a bit more now in the run and a bit of a change in training so hopefully that shows on race day that she’s switched back on.” Should Wrote To Arataki turn in a pleasing performance on Saturday, Williams said there are other Stakes races on the agenda for her in the coming weeks, including the Frances Tressady Stakes (1400m) at Flemington two weeks later. “There’s a nice mares’ program through the autumn for her,” he said. “She has followed that path before.” View the full article

An exciting autumn calendar awaits formidable Kiwi-bred galloper Mr Brightside (NZ) (Bullbars), who will defend his crown in the Gr.1 C.F Orr Stakes (1400m) next Saturday after a comfortable trial win at Geelong. The son of Bullbars has accumulated eight Group Ones and over A$16.3 million in stakes in a 40-start career, where he has been the leading light for Lindsay Park Racing, headed by brothers Ben, Will and JD Hayes. Ben Hayes was on course at Geelong on Tuesday, where his star galloper sat in behind the speed for regular rider Craig Williams, before rolling over the top of classy filly Arabian Summer to take the 1000m heat. “He was great, exactly what we wanted,” Hayes told Racing.com. “It was nice to have Craig come in and ride him, he wasn’t feeling very well today so it was good of him to come in. “He was super, he sat just in behind the speed and did everything we wanted. He extended to the line, he’s come back having a nice healthy blow, and more importantly, Craig gave him a big tick and said he looks fantastic. “If you go through his preps, spring through to autumn, he’s always carrying that residual fitness, so he’s come to hand really nicely. We’re very comfortable with where he’s at.” 12 months ago, Mr Brightside followed a similar schedule to his plan in 2025, with the Orr preceding runs in the Gr.1 Futurity Stakes (1400m) and Gr.1 All Star Mile (1600m). The gelding went on to contest the Gr.1 Australian Cup (2000m), but this year, an international trip to take on the Gr.1 Hong Kong Champions Mile (1600m) is firmly on his radar. “If they work perfectly, you stick to the same recipe,” Hayes said. “We’re doing very similar, last year we were supposed to trial on this day and we had to scratch him, so he ended up trialling the following Friday. That’s what we’ve done slightly different, but he hasn’t had any hiccups at all, he’s lovely and sound, a happy horse. We feel we’ve got him spot on for the Orr. “They’re the three runs he will head towards if everything goes to plan, and hopefully that’s how it goes. If he’s in form and we’re happy after the All Star Mile, we’ll work out if we go to Sydney and have a run, then go to Hong Kong. They are all decisions to make in three runs time.” Fellow New Zealand-bred in the Lindsay Park contingent, Here To Shock (NZ) (Shocking), also featured at Geelong, winning his 1000m heat under Craig Newitt. In the spring and summer months, the son of Shocking landed some lucrative prizes winning the $1.5 million Alan Brown (1400m) and $1 million Supernova (1400m). Meanwhile, in search of their next Kiwi star, the Hayes were active buyers at New Zealand Bloodstock’s National Yearling Sale this week, purchasing eight yearlings out of Book 1. Among their selections was Lot 261, the half-sister to Group One winner Ruthless Dame, and Lot 547, a Savabeel half-brother to Group Two winner Spanish Whisper. View the full article