Wandering Eyes

Emerging filly Costae(NZ) (Ribchester) has taken the rarest of avenues to the Gr.1 New Zealand 1000 Guineas (1600m) at Riccarton, where she will bid to deliver a dream result for a new ownership group. The daughter of Ribchester successfully progressed through a poly-track path before an impressive last-start victory at Ellerslie to book her place in Saturday’s Barneswood Farm-sponsored Classic. Trained by Shaune Ritchie and Colm Murray, Costae placed in her first two runs on the Cambridge Synthetic track before she won on the Awapuni all-weather. “She was purchased by OTI Racing earlier this week after she came on (agent) Phill Cataldo’s radar after her win at Palmerston North and then at Ellerslie,” Ritchie said. “She will run in OTI’s colours, and it will come down to her performance whether she stays for the Karaka Millions (Listed, 1600m) or transfers to an Australian trainer. “The original owners, including myself, have kept small shares in her.” Costae’s road to Riccarton via a predominantly synthetic build-up was largely determined by the weather. “It’s unusual form for a Group One, apart from her last start, and to be honest I think both Guineas fields may have suffered through wet tracks through the spring,” Ritchie said. “We weren’t comfortable running her on heavy tracks and we’ve got a poly track in our back yard, so it was easier to run her there. “The Pearl Series bonus was why she went to Manawatu, and she was quite dominant in that race. “We didn’t think she was just a poly horse, the way the bonuses set up it was financially more favourable to run her in those races.” Costae subsequently continued her winning trot on the turf with her last start defeat of a handy age group line-up. “We were a little bit cocky when we ran her at Ellerslie and felt she would run a much better race than her form lines would suggest and so it happened,” Ritchie said. “She has come on in leaps and bounds, she’s been interesting and puts herself in the race and she’s drawn a favourable gate (one). “You’d assume she will get the run of the race with a bit of natural gate speed and if it plays like everybody’s map, she’ll follow the favourite (Alabama Lass) and will get every chance. “The only problem with barrier one might be a bit of wear and tear on the rail after two days of racing, but in saying that the track has raced terrific.” The stable will also have a strong chance in Saturday’s northern feature with Pearl Of Alsace in the Gr.2 Gartshore Tauranga Stakes (1600m). The Tavistock mare is coming off midfield finishes in the Gr.1 Livamol Classic (2040m) and the Gr.1 Arrowfield Stud Plate (1600m). “We informed the stewards that she was served by Proisir two weeks ago and she’s walking around the place like she owns the joint, so hopefully that sort of attitude goes into the race on Saturday,” Ritchie said. “I thought her last run was really good, she was wide and had to work hard and was in front halfway down the straight, it was better than it reads on paper.” Pride Of Alsace’s main goal is the TAB Mufhasa Classic (Gr.1, 1600m) at Trentham in three weeks’ time. “These two races set up nicely for her, this one will top her off, but she is ready to go and we are expecting her to be hard to beat.” Meanwhile, promising stablemate Tuxedo will also be in action at Trentham on Friday in the JR & N Berkett 3YO (1400m) after making a winning debut at Te Aroha. “He’s a big strider and needs a long straight, I think he’s a pretty serious horse and will end up a nice stayer in the autumn and is certainly one to watch when he gets up over more ground,” Ritchie said. View the full article

New Plymouth trainer Allan Sharrock is pleased he made a late change to the spring itinerary of Ladies Man(NZ) (Zed), who will now line up in the Gr.2 Gartshore Tauranga Stakes (1600m) on Saturday. The winner of seven of his 29 starts headed by the Gr.1 Livamol Classic (2040m) at Hastings last year, Ladies Man was originally entered for the Gr.3 Thompson Handicap (1600m) at Trentham on October 27. However, his rating of 105 would have seen him carry 60kg in that event while most of his rivals had 53kg or 54.5kg. Sharrock eventually decided to scratch the seven-year-old Zed gelding from the Thompson and redirect him to Saturday’s $150,000 feature at Tauranga, which is run under weight-for-age conditions. “Weight-for-age suits him much better than the Thompson would have under that weight, and especially on a Trentham track that was very heavy and became quite arduous,” the New Plymouth trainer said. “I think we pulled the right rein in the end. “He won a jump out last week and worked brilliantly on Tuesday. He can cope with a bit of rain, so I won’t be too worried if they get some of that in Tauranga leading into the race. “Safely through this, we’ll look to step him back up to Group One level for the Captain Cook Stakes (Gr.1, 1600m) and then the Zabeel Classic (Gr.1, 2000m).” The Captain Cook Stakes is now known as the TAB Mufhasa Classic and will be run at Trentham on December 7, while the Zabeel Classic is back at its traditional home of Ellerslie on Boxing Day after two years at Pukekohe. Sharrock’s other entry at Tauranga on Saturday is the admirably consistent mare Sumi, who looks well placed to continue her strong run of form in the Laser Plumbing Waihi Beach (1400m). Sharrock also has a well-credentialled contingent heading to Trentham on Friday, headed by the blue-blooded and highly talented Lazio. The Per Incanto gelding is a half-brother to elite Hong Kong sprinter Lucky Sweynesse and has shown a glimpse of that family ability in a six-start career to date. He has recorded four wins and two placings, and his wins have come in all of his last four starts. Lazio was a maiden winner at New Plymouth in early June, then won a Rating 65 at Otaki on June 28, an open handicap at Te Rapa on September 15 and another open handicap at Trentham on October 27. The five-year-old will attempt to extend his winning sequence to five in Friday’s The Breeze Wellington (1100m), in which Rihaan Goyaram’s 3kg claim will reduce his weight to 55kg. “He’s a lovely horse,” Sharrock said. “He’s a beautiful animal, a big strong fella. If it hadn’t been for his knee issues, he’d be a Group horse without a shadow of a doubt. “We’re just managing him the best we can and keeping him on rain-affected tracks. This will be his last run this preparation. I’m hoping he can sign off on a high. “He’s been terrific since his last start win. He’s pretty straightforward and only wants to please you, even though he sometimes finds it hard. He’s a bit of a character, old George, as we call him. I don’t think we could have him any better heading into the race this week.” Sharrock’s other runners at Trentham on Friday are promising filly Librero in the JR & N Berkett 3YO (1400m) and last-start winner Swingit Our Way in the Gee & Hickton (2100m). View the full article

Tested by the travails of a challenging season, Jamie Richards combined with Zac Purton to end a frustrating run of outs at Happy Valley on Wednesday night (13 November) with a rare piece of good fortune before the last three races of the meeting were abandoned because of weather-related safety considerations. Richards ended a 47-race run of outs when Lucky Touch(NZ) (Sweynesse) landed the second section of the Class 4 Lung Cheung Handicap (1650m) – the second race on the card – before Hong Kong Jockey Club officials decided to abandon Races 7, 8 and 9 after the Hong Kong Observatory announced it would issue Tropical Cyclone Warning Signal No. 8 at 11.10pm. Acting to ensure the safety of trainers, jockeys, stable staff, Members, racecourse staff and attendees and Off-Course Betting Branch staff and customers, officials stopped the meeting after the running of race six. Richards had not saddled a winner since Gallant Valour’s triumph at Happy Valley on 9 October and the New Zealander was relieved to saddle his second victor of the campaign. “It’s been a bit of a slow start for the stable, the horses have been running well without winning but the team is working hard and hopefully we can go on with it from here,” Richards said. “Zac gave him a beautiful ride and he was able to get across and get into a nice position. “He’s a horse that hasn’t had a lot of luck through his career so far, but hopefully he can get a bit of confidence from tonight and keep going on. He just hadn’t been having a lot of luck at Sha Tin and last season he trialled very well here, so we thought it was worth trying something different with him. Thankfully it worked. I’m hopeful the horse can keep improving.” Richards has had two winners, eight seconds and seven thirds from 89 starters this season, having posted 35 and 31 wins, respectively, across his first two campaigns. While Richards was grateful, the endlessly ambitious Purton was philosophical after closing the abridged meeting with a double, scoring narrowly on Frankie Lor’s Circuit Duffy in the first section of the Class 4 Lei Yue Mun Handicap (1200m). “I feel a bit stiff not to have four winners, but two is good – it keeps the ball rolling,” Purton said, alluding to possible missed opportunities in the abandoned races. The Australian now boasts 1,775 wins in Hong Kong as he closes in on Douglas Whyte’s all-time record of 1,813. Vincent Ho took his career tally of wins in Hong Kong to 599 when Happy Daily clinched the first section of the Class 4 Lung Cheung Handicap (1650m) for Dennis Yip before Mark Newnham and Luke Ferraris continued their burgeoning partnership with Street Conqueror’s victory in the third section of the Class 4 Lei Yeu Mun Handicap (1200m). “The season is ticking over nicely, going at a nice high strike rate and I’m just trying to keep that going,” said Ferraris, who has 10 wins for the season, including six in tandem with Newnham. “This horse was really good tonight. He had a nice soft draw (barrier one) and he was able to pop out and get into his rhythm and I just had to wake him up when the timing was right and he quickened up nicely and put the race to bed.” Hoping to strike with champion Romantic Warrior in the HK$5.35 million G2 BOCHK Jockey Club Cup (2000m) at Sha Tin on Sunday (17 November), Danny Shum scored with Champion Method in the Class 4 Hung Luen Handicap (1000m) under a superb ride by Andrea Atzeni. Seemingly under pressure on the fence well into the straight, Champion Method was angled into the middle of the track by Atzeni and surged late to overall Lean Master by a neck. Hong Kong International Sale graduate Kingly Demeanor made it two wins in a row for Tony Cruz with an all-the-way success in the Class 5 Ngau Chi Wan Handicap (2200m) under Keith Yeung. Winless in his first 11 starts, the Oasis Dream gelding has struck form with a vengeance this month. Hong Kong racing continues at Sha Tin on Sunday (17 November) with Bank of China (Hong Kong) Race Day. View the full article

On a quiet Saturday in mid-November, falling between the Nov. 1-2 Breeders' Cup and stakes activity late in the month, only two graded stakes are to be contested Nov. 16 in North America, both worth CA$175,000 at Woodbine.View the full article

The Keeneland November Breeding Stock Sale concluded its nine-day run in Lexington Wednesday with vibrant trade from a diverse buying bench leading to across-the-board increases where were highlighted by a new sales record median. “Overall, this was a very strong, fair market from start to finish,” Keeneland Vice President of Sales Tony Lacy said. “Book 1 gross jumped nearly 15% from last year with a much-improved clearance rate and that momentum powered the sale through the final days.” For the nine days, 2,158 horses sold for $196,442,900. The average of $91,030 was up 7.03% from a year ago, while the median of $40,000 was up 25.00% and broke the auction's previous record of $37,000 set in 2021. The buy-back rate was 16.49%. Those figures include 108 post-sale transactions which grossed $8,885,500 for an average of $82,273 and a median of $50,000. “The market at this November sale has been very good from the get-go,” said Keeneland Senior Director of Sales Operations Cormac Breathnach. “Book 1 was very strong. We were up about $8 million [in gross] and our clearance rate was a lot higher. But more than that, it's just been very satisfying day by day with the level of trade and the number of horses changing hands in a productive manner.” During last year's November sale, 2,221 horses sold for $188,891,000 for an average of $85,048 and a median of $32,000. Those figures include 93 post-sale transactions–led by the auction's $2.9-million top price–for a post-sale average of $132,473 and median of $55,000. Twelve horses sold for seven figures last year, compared to nine this year, led by the $2.4-million Roses for Debra (Liam's Map), who was purchased by Whisper Hill Farm from the Candy Meadows Sales consignment. “We're not the biggest consignment and to have a sale topper is very special for [Candy Meadows owner and Keeneland Trustee] Everett Dobson, with his involvement with Keeneland and the industry,” said Matt Lyons, Senior Vice President and COO of Candy Meadows Farm, which sold 11 horses for $3,068,000. “It was also very special for John O'Meara, who is our partner in Roses for Debra and who I've known for a long time. It was a great thrill.” The November sale included dispersals from Ed Seltzer's Solera Farm, Stuart S. Janney, III, Siena Farm and the late John Hendrickson. “It's always a bittersweet moment with dispersals, but it's equally encouraging to think another wave of people are coming through now who believe Thoroughbred racing and breeding are good, viable activities,” Lacy said. “As we look at results, we see new people buying farms, buying mares to stock their properties and reinvesting in the sport. That is really encouraging because that's Keeneland's mission statement: to support the industry and the market.” Median, Buy-Back Rate Prove Strength of Market The Keeneland November median was a sales-record $40,000, breaking the previous mark of $37,000 was set in 2021. The record median, coupled with a buy-back rate of 16.49%, were proof of strength throughout the market, according to Breathnach. “The median rose at most sessions compared to last year,” Breathnach said. “And the RNA rate is a point or two lower across the board. That really just shows that there is strength and that these horses are marketable and there is a buyer base to pick them up at a very high rate.” While the median fell during the one-session Book 1 and was unchanged during the first session of Book 2, it increased for sessions three through nine and was up by double digits in sessions three, four, five, seven and nine. “That's the barometer of the health of the market that we always come back to,” Breathnach said. “The averages, as I've said many times, are great for headlines, but year to year, when you are looking at how the sales compares, looking at the median and the RNA rate will give you a much more objective view point. So in that sense, we are very pleased.” The buy-back rate fell six of the nine sessions and before concluding at 16.49%, compared to 18.5% a year ago. “During about 45 minutes [Tuesday] we had one RNA,” Lacy said. “I think at the end of the day, our RNA rate was less than 12%. What is perceived as the lower end of the market, there is very strong demand.” Todd Quast, Antony Beck, Mandy Pope, Brian Graves | Keeneland Whisper Hill Secures Another Sales Topper Mandy Pope's Whisper Hill Farm, which purchased the $5-million sale topper at the Keeneland September Yearling Sale two months ago, returned to take the top-price at the Keeneland November sale with the $2.4-million Roses for Debra (Liam's Map). Whisper Hill teamed with Gainesway to take home the auction's co-second highest-priced mare, the $1.8-million Lady Tapit (Tapit). Pope's operation was the auction's leading buyer, with 13 purchased for $6,635,000. The partnership of Whisper Hill and Gainesway was the fourth-leading buyer at the sale, with seven purchased for $2,700,000. For the 27th time since 1987, Taylor Made Sales Agency was the November sale's leading consignor. Taylor Made sold 323 horses for $32,859,600. “We're the only consignor that sells in every session in November. In every session of this sale, our gross has been higher than the year before,” Taylor Made President and CEO Mark Taylor said. “Book 1 was significantly higher. And our number of horses through the ring is on par with last year. The two dispersals kind of buoyed those numbers, but every session has been better than the corresponding session last year, so I think it just shows strength.” Diverse Buying Bench The top 12 highest-priced horses at the Keeneland November sale were purchased by 10 different interests. Japanese buyers were strong at the top of the market, but they were joined throughout the nine-day auction by Australian, European and Middle Eastern buyers. “I am always pleased with the international recruiting that Keeneland does, especially for the second half of the sale” said Gray Lyster of Ashview Farm. “There was plenty of international presence. We have always had strong European presence, but the Australian presence was fantastic, and the Japanese have been coming for decades and seem to be stronger year after year. The globalization of the market has been great.” John Sikura, whose Hill 'n' Dale at Xalapa sold 141 horses for $14,050,900, said, “We had a fantastic sale. It is a reinforcement of the market reality which is that elite mares with race records covered by the right sires are attributes highly coveted by international buyers and results were significant across the board.” Buyers from emerging racing markets which primarily compete on dirt surfaces are attracted to the American product, according to Lacy. “The fruits of our labor, going out and recruiting international buyers and buyers from other domestic regional areas has really started to pay off,” Lacy said. “We have been doing it for decades, but when we go out there and encourage people to come here and to spend, if you look at the results sheet, it's really encouraging to see developing breeding programs around the world that they are coming here to source their bloodstock. American pedigrees are highly sought after. We are the major sellers of dirt pedigrees in the world. That's what the American breed has been primarily focused on and a lot of the evolving jurisdictions are racing on dirt, whether primarily or as a secondary surface.” $900,000 sale-topping weanling | Keeneland First-Crop Sires Dominate Competitive Foal Market A colt by Into Mischief consigned by Taylor Made Sales Agency was the top-priced weanling at the Keeneland November sale, bringing a final bid of $900,000 from Glen Hill Farm. The youngster was one of 11 to sell for $400,000 or more. Through nine sessions, 860 weanlings sold at the 2024 November sale for a gross of $63,110,200. The average of $73,384 increased 4.03% from a year ago, while the median rose 14.29% to $40,000. During the 2023 November sale, 804 weanlings sold for an average of $70,539 and a median of $35,000. A colt by Gun Runner was the auction's top-priced weanling when selling for $750,000. That colt was one of 19 to sell for $400,000 or more. “The weanling market has been really, really healthy the last couple years,” Lacy said. “The pinhookers who have been very successful over the last number of years, they were very strong this year. They were competing against each other in many cases. I think anybody who was on the selling side was very pleased. If they had a horse who passed the vet and had the athleticism they wanted, they were getting a premium for them. It was great to see the breeders getting the return on their investments.” Breathnach added, “Some major weanling buyers said they struggled to buy yearlings, and so some of these top-priced weanlings went to end users too, which is a healthy sign.” Thirteen of the top 20 selling weanlings were by first-crop sires. Leading the way by average was Flightline, who had four weanlings sell for an average of $412,500, followed by Life is Good with eight averaging $325,625 and Jackie's Warrior with 12 sold for an average of $175,833. “The first-crop sires this year are particularly strong–they are always popular at the market–but there was great depth,” Breathnach said. “Thirteen of the top 20 weanlings were by first-crop sires and six first-crop sires were represented in that group. So there is a lot of promise in that class of stallions and it was reflected well here.” Cherry Knoll Farm–a major player in the weanling-to-yearling pinhooking market–was the leading buyer of weanlings at the auction, with nine purchased for $1,760,000. Tyson Leads Book 5 Finale A pair of offerings sold for six figures during Wednesday's final session of the nine-day auction. Multiple graded stakes winner Tyson (Tapit) (hip 3398) brought a final bid of $175,000 from Ed Price, agent, in the sale's final minutes. The 5-year-old stallion prospect was a two-time graded winner over Woodbine's synthetic surface and was third in last year's GI Jockey Club Gold Cup at Saratoga. He was consigned by Hill 'n' Dale at Xalapa. A colt from the first crop of Grade I winner Speaker's Corner (hip 3164) was the top-priced weanling of Wednesday's session. Consigned by Hunter Valley Farm, he was purchased for $135,000 by Hyde Park Racing. During the two-session Book 5 section, 454 horses sold for $6,115,900, The average of $13,471 was up 20.98% from a year ago and the median of $9,000 was up 12.50%. Those figures include seven post-sale transactions for $19,000, an average of $2,714 and a median of $1,000. During last year's Book 5 section, Keeneland sold 524 horses for a gross of $5,834,500 for an average of $11,135 and a median of $8,000. Those figures include 11 post sales for a gross of $123,500, an average of $11,227 and a median of $6,000. 'Something for Everybody:' Horses of Racing Age Sale Thursday As the nine-day November Breeding Stock Sale concludes, the action at Keeneland will shift to horses of racing age with a one-session auction beginning at noon Thursday. The 237 catalogued lots include something for everyone, according to Lacy. “It's what we internally refer to as a transfer portal, to put it in NCAA terms, where horses are able to move into the areas where they need to be for the winter program,” Lacy said. “The timing is perfect, between Oaklawn, Fair Grounds, Florida and California, as well as other racing areas. It's a great opportunity for people to restock and, whether it's a starter allowance level or up through allowance and stakes level, there is something for everybody in every price range.” Racing programs set the table for the rest of the commercial market, Breathnach said. “Obviously, the racing and the purses are what drives a lot of the economic benefits that we are seeing at the yearling and breeding stock sales,” he said. “There have been a lot of inquiries and a lot of international markets that are perusing the catalogue and asking a lot of questions. We will see how we get on tomorrow.” The post ‘Very Good from the Get-Go:’ Keeneland November Sale Concludes with Record Median appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

In December, trainer Richard Sillaman claimed Freedom Road for $8,000 with co-owners Nick Peters and James Rashid. Eleven months later, he enters the $100,000 Claiming Crown Iron Horse at Churchill Downs Nov. 16 riding a seven-race win streak.View the full article

When bloodstock agent David Ingordo bought Zenyatta (Street Cry {Ire}) for just $60,000 out of the 2005 Keeneland September Sale he probably thought he had found that once-in-a-lifetime horse. Little did he know that the 2010 Horse of the Year, who was admitted to the Hall of Fame in 2016, might not be his very best purchase. Fourteen years after he discovered Zenyatta, he picked out Flightline (Tapit), paying $1 million for the future superstar. There was nothing coincidental about any of these selections. Over the years, Ingordo has solidified his reputation as one of the best in his business. He's also involved with industry issues and has served as a key member of HISA's Horsemen's Advisory Group. Last but not least, he is also married to trainer Cherie DeVaux, who just won her first Breeders' Cup race. To talk Zenyatta, Flighline, HISA and so much more much, Ingordo was this week's Guest of the Week on the TDN's Writers' Room Podcast presented by Keeneland. “Along with Bill Farish, I was invited out to the farm of his breeder, Jane Lyon, in what was Flightline's yearling year,” Ingordo said. “We were there to look at another yearling by Tapit, Triple Tap. He was a half to American Pharaoh. I liked the horse, that is Flightline better. I kind of said something under my breath and Bill Farish kicked me. He said 'look at the other horse, that's who we came out to see.' We got back in the car and I said, 'for what it's worth, I like the bay one.' The other horse was a chestnut. So we went out there several times over the next several months and I kept liking the other horse. “And when we went to Saratoga, they still had the Tex Sutton plane,” said Ingordo. “I got in the back of the plane and one of the attendants said, 'hey, these are all yearlings in the back and it's going to get bumpy.' So I put a shank on one. I'm petting a horse, and he had the name on his halter. It was Flightline. So when we got there Bill said, 'there's the horse you like.' I said, let's buy him' and we put something together and the rest is history. And to answer your question, I think we were just getting started when we bid and we got fortunate that at a million dollars the bidding stopped.” It's no surprise that Ingordo believes that Flightline will become a superior sire. He just purchased the first Flightline foal to come to auction at the Fasig-Tipton November Sale for $675,000. “I like it when a stallion stamps his offspring because the whole point of a stallion is to dominate,” he said. “We're hoping that those genes that made him such a great racehorse come through in the offspring. So I like the fact that [his weanligs] look like him. If you give them a mare, he seems to dominate the mare. Whether she's a small mare or big mare, he seems to impart the Flightline look on them. “I'd seen that foal that we bought on the farm,” Ingordo said. “He was raised here at Lane's End. He was one of the top ones I saw. And then there were several others we tried to bid on. There was another beautiful filly that scratched that I thought was as good a horse as a weanling that I've seen all year, whether at a sale or privately on farms. The thing about Flightline I like, and liked about the foal we bought, was that he's stamping them and this one reminded me a lot of Flightline at that stage of his life.” And what did he see that he liked in Zenyatta? “Zenyatta was a yearling and I actually still have the catalogue, saved with my notes in it,” Ingordo said. “I like buying horses that match their trainers. It is a lot like recruiting for any sports team. If you have a certain kind of offense, you need a certain kind of player. That year I was buying horses for Mr. [Jerry] Moss that were to go to John Shirreffs. Zenyatta looked like a John Shirreffs horse. I fell in love with her. “I can say now because the breeder has passed away, but we had a lot more money for Zenyatta than 60 grand,” he said. “And I told [Zenyatta's breeder] Eric Kronfeld that one time over a couple of bourbons. We really had more money earmarked for her. It was meant to be. There's Zenyatta and I never thought it would get better than that. Now there's Flightline, but you know, Zenyatta was my first. She holds a special place in my heart and in my career.” In our breeding spotlight section we looked at the Winstar stallion Life is Good (Into Mischief). Elsewhere on the podcast, which is also sponsored by the Pennsylvania Horse Breeders' Association, West Point Thoroughbreds, WinStar and XBTV.com, the team of Zoe Cadman, Bill Finley and Randy Moss took a look at some of the Eclipse Award races that are expected to be close, including the one between Fierceness (City of Light) and Sierra Leone (Gun Runner) for the 3-year-old male championship. All three hosts went for Sierra Leone. It was also noted that both are expected to run next year, which is a very welcome development for the sport. Moss also pointed out that the head-on shots of the Breeders' Cup races were never made available for public consumption. To watch the Writers' Room, click here. To view the show as a podcast, click here. The post David Ingordo Joins TDN Writers’ Room Podcast appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

The 6-year-old Instit (Fr) (Saint Des Saints {Fr}) topped the fourth and final day of the Tattersalls Ireland November National Hunt Sale at Fairyhouse on Wednesday. Consigned by Neilstown Stud, lot 847 brought €125,000 from Will Kinsey of Peel Bloodstock, one of three lots to break the six-figure mark on the day. In foal to Walk In The Park (Ire), the sale's overall topper who was placed at listed level over hurdles, won a listed chase at Fairyhouse and was also second in the G2 Glencarraig Lady Mares Chase twice at Punchestown. “Like the foal we purchased earlier today [Lot 821] she is for a partnership with my brother-in-law Richard Burton,” said Kinsey. “We have also got a few partners who are new into breeding, all fellow former amateur riders, it is a bit of an ex-amateur riders' syndicate. “Again she is a rare sort, a Saint des Saints broodmare–I have not got one and have been trying to buy one for a long time. She is going back to Richard's from here and we have to make some plans for her next covering, luckily, there are lots of good options in the UK now.” A pair of colt foals earlier in the day shared the highest foal price of €110,000, the top price given for a foal at this sale since 2021. First was a son of No Risk At All (Fr) and Zarkareva (Fr) (Authorized {Ire}) (lot 673) from Coolmara Stables, Ltd. He was knocked down to NBB Racing and is from the family of undefeated Arc heroine Zarkava (Ire) (Zamindar). “It is expensive coming here,” said NBB Racing's Nicolas Bertran de Balanda. “He has been bought for owner Sofiane Benaroussi, who is building a team in France and the colt is going to race in France.” De Balanda added, “This is a very good first foal, by a top stallion, and he has a great pedigree. He is probably going to be a tall horse and we will need to give him a bit of time. Sofiane is buying a lot of very good young stock and is going to have a nice team in France moving forward.” The second foal to reach that price was lot 774, a son of Saint Des Saints from the Clonmult Farm draft. Named Saint Of Saints (Fr), he went the way of Jerry McGrath. He is a half-brother to Kapkiline (Fr) (Kapgarde {Fr}), who has won at listed level over hurdles and was third in the G1 Prix Ferdinand Dufaure Chase. “He has been bought to race in France,” said McGrath. “He is for a client who will probably bring in a few friends now as he cost a bit more than we expected. He is a lovely colt, and Saint des Saints does not need any explaining. “I am spending a lot of time now in France and have seen Olympic Story (Fr) (Masked Marvel {GB}), who is out of the half-sister, she is the best three-year-old filly racing in France.” McGrath added, “He won't be gelded–the dream will be to keep him as an entire, and if he gets to the required level of form we might be able to retire him to stud in France.” A total of 22 foals made €50,000 or higher, with 40 marked as sold for €40,000 or more. The leading consignor was Ballincurrig House Stud, with Michael Moore's operation grossing €601,500 for 25 lots sold. After four sessions, the sale grossed €7,894,900 for 481 lots sold (60%), down 26% on last year's total. The average dropped 7% to €16,414, while the median was €11,000 (-8%). Tattersalls Ireland CEO Simon Kerins said, “After four days of trading there were positives to extract from this week's sale, with two foals selling for €110,000 today, while the black type mare Instit, saw her top the sale, at €125,000. “Whilst there has been sustained demand for what the market sees as commercially attractive foals, the selective nature of the National Hunt market is clear to see and has been evident throughout the year at other National Hunt sales. “We recognise that a percentage of foals failed to meet what the market requires, and we empathise with consignors that found this week a challenge and despite a smaller catalogue we still witnessed a slight drop in the clearance rate on last year's sale. That said there were vendors who attained excellent prices and went away satisfied with their results. It was also encouraging to see buyers drawn to a broader range of stallions, with the progeny of six different stallions among the top 10 purchases. “It was pleasing to have an increased presence from UK buyers over the four days, while both of our top priced foals have been purchased to race in France. “We would like to thank our vendors for their support and to wish all our purchasers well with their new acquisitions, and we look forward to seeing those foals bought this week returning to the Tattersalls Ireland sales ring in the future or excelling on the racetrack.” The post Saint Des Saints Mare Tops Final Day Of Tattersalls Ireland November NH Sale appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

What was worth noting from all over the country for the week ending 14/11/2024 Princess Gracy (2f Sweet Lou – Princess Jessie) Tr. Z Butcher Pukekohe (7/11/24) In front soon after the start of this qualifier, always going well, sprinted sharply to leave her rivals in her wake, off stride very late when well clear and because of this, did not get her ticket even though she was nearly 8 secs under the required time. MR:2:01.3, 800m in 59.8, 400m in 27.6. First foal of a well bred mare who won two in a short career and this filly definitely looks like a positive race prospect. Kevin Kline (2g Always B Miki – Matai Mies) TR. R Green For the second week in a row, the Green-trained runner impressed, settled fourth of 6 but not for long as he improved 1400m to take over, kept up strong run to win untouched. MR:2:02.3, 800m in 57.6, 400m in 27.0. Breeding previously touched on, two race day starts, the last back in early August. No question he is going to be better again this time in and definitely one to follow. Stablemate and early pacemaker Debbie Lincoln off stride at the 400m when looking to take issue and lost any chance it might have had. Con Grazia Love (5m Love You – Con Grazia) Tr. S McCaffrey Began nicely to lead only rival (Lord Popinjay), always going well, stretched out in fine style to suggest she has come back in fine fettle. Last 800m in 58.8, 400m in 27.8. Five-win mare who hasn’t started since May but her race record has always indicated she is a mare well above average. Should be in for a rewarding time in the north if she can replicate this workout effort. Major Burns (3c Art Major – Grace Burns) Tr. K Green Winton (8/11/24) Previously mentioned in this forum as a horse to follow when unqualified, the Green trained runner only had the one rival in this qualifier and after going to the front from barrier rise, only did what he had to do to get his ticket, but easily under the required time. Last 800m in 60.5, 400m in 30.2. Still looks a work in progress but not short on raw ability and should add to the long list of winners for southern owner Tom Kilkelly. Raspalia (2f Johny Rock – Fun Sponge) Tr. T Dewe Gate speed to lead, still there final turn, didn’t flinch when others challenged late. MR:2:03.2, 800m in 60.4, 400m in 28.9. Just the one start back in August when fifth of 5 but likely to be an improved horse this time in, worth looking out for on this effort. Another in the Kilkelly ownership. The well performed Always Dreaming made good ground from the rear to dispute placings, not knocked about with some big targets coming up. Bring On The Muscle (3g Majestic Son – Mass Invasion) Tr. C Barron Got to trail in a non winners pace, used passing lane to challenge, found one better in stablemate and pacemaker Always On Sale. Last 800m in 58.8, 400m in 29.3. Hambletonian winner at last start and looks primed for big effort in his big assignment on the Friday of cup week. Track conditions far from favourable in this heat. Amazon Annie raced fourth of 5, caught eye very late punching through the middle only to be denied racing room last 100m and went to the line under ‘double wraps’. Lightly raced (3x), the last back in May but bred to be above average (dam won 6) and certainly one to paste away in the black book. Just Like Jagger (2f Vincent – Machjagger) Tr. K Green Settled third in this learners pace before improving to lead 1500m, skipped away final turn. Officially 4L clear at the line, overall time not flash (but run in driving rain), Last 800m in 58.7, 400m in 29.7. First foal from a five-win mare who interestingly was by Justa Tiger (C Cullen – Tigerish). Obviously not qualified yet but showing plenty of promise going forwards. Still Rockin (6g A Rocknroll Dance – Insar) Tr. R Gutsell Wyndham (9/11/24) Gate speed to lead, always going freely, cruised clear in straight for an impressive win. MR:2:04.6, 800m in 58.0. Has done a good job winning the seven races and that winning CV might not be finished just yet. Another southerner who might come to Addington for the ‘South of the Waitaki’ race at Addington Always B Paulie (3g Always B Miki – Bubba Ho Tep) Tr. C Ferguson Very slow to go behind mobile and subsequently settled fifth of 5, still well back 400m, picked rivals up with ease down outer and ran on by for an impressive win. MR:2:06.5, 800m in 58.8, 400m in 28.6. Qualified back in May but as yet unraced, the race day debut will be well worth the wait based on this effort. Dam won 4 and her first two foals have become handy winning horses. Kaipaki Jack (5g Love You – Riviera Lass) Tr J Teaz Cambridge (9/11/24) Away best to lead three rivals, still there final turn, just able to stall off So Mystifying who put plenty of dash into her finish. MR:2:08.2, 800m in 60.4, 400m in 29.2. Jack looked full of promise on occasions during his last campaign (2 wins from 9 starts) but not sighted since late May, should be a natural improver. So Mystifying has only won the one race in a short career but she has plenty of breeding to suggest that her record can be enhanced upon, 1 to follow in her own grade Major Break (3f Art Major – Fleeting Moment) Tr. J Teaz Straight to the front, set terms, kicked final turn and did enough to keep rivals at bay. MR:2:03.4, 800m in 60.0, 400m in 29.1. Another from the stable getting ready for a new campaign, just the one win from 7 starts but thereabouts in many of the others, should be better again this time in. Gifted Brigade made good ground final 200m for a closing third. Qualified back in June but as yet unraced. First foal from a family that the Neals have had much success with. Pepper Franco (3f Always B Miki – Pepper Potts) Tr. B Waldron Methven 9/11/24 (grass) Streeted 3 rivals in this qualifying trial on the grass, officially by 12 1/2L at the line, 5 secs under qualifying time. MR:2:12.0, 800m in 62.0, 400m in 30.1. Dam did a good job winning six and her first two foals both winners with Parker (7 wins + $94k) more than handy. Plenty of breeding behind the filly as well (2nd dam won 9 + $183k) and breeder Spreydon Lodge have retained the ownership. Time has been her friend. Times Like These (2g Always B Miki – Bird Of Paradise) Tr. B Ward Recent qualifier warming up for a debut at Ashburton today (Thursday), showed resilience to outpoint Lonnekers (pulled up in only raceday start) and they were well clear of the other three runners MR:2:12.3, 800m in 60.3. First foal from a tough mare who won 13 races + $120k. This family has been consistently successful for trainer Barry Ward especially on the grass tracks Father Time (3g Father Patrick – Firenze) Tr. K Townley Not extended in 10 horse heat to re-establish his credentials for major assignments coming up, always in control, way too good, officially by 10L at the line. MR:2:15.0, 800m in 63.2, 400m in 31.6. Gearing up for the big dance this Friday where he has drawn the front line, mistake maker last time out in the Hambletonian but dealt to many of his rivals the start before, real threat to Aussie star Keayang Zahara especially after this trial. Live On Legend (5g A Rocknroll Dance – A Legend) Tr. K Austin Lightly raced gelding too strong for 6 rivals, powered away final stages (last 400m) and clearly superior at the line, officially by 6L. MR:2:16.5, 800m in 60.6, 400m in 28.5. Freshened since last racing late September, the winner of five who has established a handy race record, deserves respect when lining up next. Royal Grace (4m Royal Aspirations – Commander Del) Tr. M Palermo Only the two rivals, always going well, had no bother getting clear final 200m. MR:2:14.3, 800m in 62.3, 400m in 30.1. Showed promise last time in (from 3 starts), last start early August and definitely looks better than a maiden. Full sister to Royal Del (10 wins + $121k), Grace just the second foal from the mare Itsallaboutthemoney (3f Vincent – Itz All About Me) Tr. S Boyd Again a small heat with just the three runners, the Boyd-trained runner capitalised on an economic trip, too strong over the final stages, nearly 9 secs under qualifying time. (all 3 qualified). MR:2:05.9, 800m in 61.3, 400m in 31.0. Dam has already left 5 winners, is a half to 6 winners herself including Itz Cherry Ripe (9 NZ wins +4156k) and the trainer owns this one himself! To see previous Trials Reports click here View the full article

By Mike Love Canterbury junior driver Carter Dalgety will have to come down from cloud nine after Republican Party went a huge race to finish third in Tuesday’s IRT New Zealand Trotting Cup at Addington Raceway. “I’m over the moon – he ran a thriller. He seems really bright too so he’s come through it super,” said Dalgety. Dalgety is only the second junior driver to have placed in the New Zealand Cup. Dalgety’s friend and mentor Dexter Dunn being the only other junior to achieve that with Bettors Strike, also for Cran Dalgety, finishing second to Monkey King in the 2009 edition of the great race. Drawn the ace, Dalgety will line up again with Republican Party on Show day in the Group 1 Allied Security NZ Pacing Free-For-All. “It’s a huge bonus with the draw we have on Friday.” Before any of that, Dalgety must focus on a backbone meeting at Ashburton today with nine drives on the busy 14-race programme. Dalgety suggests that his best drive of the day comes in Race 10 behind Always B Miki filly Joyride in the Wakanui Ocean Beef Mobile pace over 1700m for his parents Cran and Chrissie Dalgety. “Her fresh up run was super and her training since then has been awesome.” “She’s a big strong staying filly and should suit the Ashburton track.” Another big chance for the Dalgety whanau comes in Race 5 with Rushkinoff. The four-year-old Sweet Lou gelding lands a horror draw but Dalgety believes they can overcome it in the Edward Nathan Memorial Mobile Pace over 2400m. “He is hurt by the draw, but went a really good race at Kaikoura. He won quite easily so I’ll probably drive him cold again. There’s no reason why he can’t run a place with natural improvement.” Outside of the Dalgety runners Martha Stuart for Jason and Ian Thomas will be competitive in the Clem and Russell Brand Memorial Mobile Trot over 1700m. “She was good at Methven. She will really suit the shorter distance and a mobile with good gate speed drawn the front line.” “She keeps giving, so the long straight will be perfect for her.” The rest of Dalgety’s engagements are : Race 1 – Princess Bella Race 2 – Lochdarragh Race 4- Fulla Hot Eyre Race 7 – La Concha Race 11 – Wallflower Race 12 – Major Performer. Racing begins today from 12:30pm. View the full article

There are five horse racing meetings set for Australia on Thursday, November 14. Our racing analysts here at horsebetting.com.au have found you the best bets and the quaddie numbers for Ballarat. Thursday’s Free Horse Racing Tips – November 14, 2024 Ballarat Racing Tips As always, there are plenty of promotions available for Australian racing fans. Check out all the top online bookmakers to see what daily promotions they have. If you are looking for a new bookmaker for the horse racing taking place on November 14, 2024 check out our guide to the best online racing betting sites. Neds Code GETON 1 Take It To The Neds Level Neds Only orange bookie! Check Out Neds Review 18+ Gamble Responsibly. What are you prepared to lose today? “GETON is not a bonus code. Neds does not offer bonus codes in Australia and this referral code does not grant access to offers. Full terms. 2 It Pays To Play PlayUp Aussie-owned horse racing specialists! Check Out PlayUp Review 18+ Gamble Responsibly. Imagine what you could be buying instead. Full terms. Dabble Signup Code AUSRACING 3 Say Hey to the social bet! Dabble Have a Dabble with friends! Join Dabble Review 18+ Gamble Responsibly. THINK. IS THIS A BET YOU REALLY WANT TO PLACE? Full terms. Recommended! Bet365 Signup Code GETON 4 Never Ordinary Bet365 World Favourite! Visit Bet365 Review 18+ Gamble Responsibly. GETON is not a bonus code. bet365 does not offer bonus codes in Australia and this referral code does not grant access to offers. What’s gambling really costing you? Full terms. 5 Next Gen Racing Betting pickleBet Top 4 Betting. Extra Place. Every Race. Join Picklebet Review 18+ Gamble Responsibly. What are you really gambling with? Full terms. 6 Bet With A Boom BoomBet Daily Racing Promotions – Login to view! Join Boombet Review 18+ Gamble responsibly. Think. Is this a bet you really want to place. Full terms. Horse racing tips View the full article

Every barn at Oaklawn Park has been equipped with wifi after the Arkansas Horsemen's Benevolent and Protective Association (HBPA) covered the costs of installation in each of the 38 barns. Each barn is set to have its own router with the wifi password protected, and the Arkansas HBPA will also pay the monthly bills for the Internet access. “Even our older trainers are using the internet now,” said Arkansas HBPA President Bill Walmsley, a horse owner. “We felt this was a type of investment that will help virtually every trainer and, as a result, help virtually every owner. At Oaklawn, there are about 1,400 owners and trainers who will be there during that five-month race meet. Just to have it available, we think is a fantastic thing. And this won't cost them a penny.” While the Internet access can be used for things like watching races on smart devices or streaming replays on a phone, the new wrinkle serves a larger, more important function towards enhancing barn security, said Arkansas HBPA board member and trainer Ron Moquett. “We're very excited to provide this much-needed tool to help add another layer of protection to the horsemen doing the right thing,” Moquett said. “I've used it for years and paid for it myself. The HBPA is 'horsemen helping horsemen,' and we think this is the best way we can help them right now, to help them monitor what is going on in their barn and to protect themselves. That's especially true at a time when the rules are changing. We want to be able to prove we're doing the right thing.” Moquett said that the track has installed its own security cameras in about 40% of the barns and are 'working towards 100%.' The access to wireless internet should encourage horsepeople to install their own cameras, the footage from which may be immediately accessed via their phones. “Look, if they want to use it to stream or watch races, great,” Moquett said. “But the primary reason we're offering it is strictly for communication value, to be able to do all your stuff on your computer, and to offer the bandwidth available to make sure that if you choose not to put your own cameras on there, not having wifi is not the reason.” Moquett can attest to how critical that video can be. When one of his horses at another track had an adverse finding in a post-race drug test for a local anesthetic, Moquett knew it had to trace to the castration of a different horse in that stall several weeks before. His barn video–which documented that his staff thoroughly sanitized the stall multiple times after the castration–helped to absolve the trainer from any responsibility. “The video in the barn was able to prove not only did we not do anything illegal, but we did everything in our power to keep that stuff from happening,” he said, “and sometimes it still does.” Jeanette Milligan, executive director of the Arkansas HBPA, said she's been getting texts about the wifi from appreciative horsemen. “Trainers told me they're going to go get cameras,” she said. “I tell them, 'Just wait. It's going to be Black Friday soon. They'll be on sale then.'” The Oaklawn meeting, offering the country's richest purses over the winter months, begins Dec. 6 and runs through May 3. The post Free WiFi On Oaklawn Backside Opens Door To Enhanced Security appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Claimed for $8,000 last December, Freedom Road has now won seven consecutive races for his new connections who had to be patient with him. Now he starts as a leading contender in the $100,000 Claiming Crown Iron Horse at Churchill Downs Nov. 16.View the full article

James Rashid discusses his journey with Claiming Crown entrant Freedom Road, who he co-owns with Nick Peters and trainer Richard Sillaman, and his love for racing. Riding a seven-race win streak, Freedom Road runs Nov. 16 at Churchill Downs.View the full article

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Fasig-Tipton Digital has released its 2025 sales calendar of monthly auctions, the online sales platform said via a press release on Wednesday. The digital sales dates for 2025 are: January Digital Sale (Jan. 16-21) February Digital Sale (Feb. 20-25) March Digital Sale (Mar. 13-18) April Digital Sale (Apr. 3-8) May Digital Sale (May 8-13) June Digital Sale (May 29-June 3) July Digital Sale (July 17-22) August Digital Sale (Aug. 21-26) October Digital Sale (Oct. 2-7) December Digital Sale (Dec. 4-9) Fasig-Tipton Digital will also offer “Flash Sales” throughout the year of selected offerings when appropriate opportunities arise. “Fasig-Tipton Digital has quickly established itself as the market leader in online Thoroughbred auctions in North America–and the sky's the limit as we look ahead to 2025,” said Leif Aaron, Fasig-Tipton director of digital sales. “We have sold more than 1,000 horses for over $35,500,000 so far this year, and we still have our December Digital Sale to go.” The upcoming December Digital Sale will be held on Dec. 5-10. Click here to submit nominations. “We are accepting nominations through Nov. 20 for December Digital, and I encourage sellers to take advantage of what is typically our largest and strongest digital auction,” Aaron said. To view Fasig-Tipton Digital's 2025 sales calendar, including entry deadlines, click here. The post Fasig-Tipton Digital Releases 2025 Sales Dates appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

By Michael Guerin It says a lot about just how special Keayang Zahara might be that she is almost the most hyped Australian at this New Zealand Cup week. And while the three-year-old Victoria trotter has a long way to go to match the heroics of now dual IRT New Zealand Trotting Cup winner Swayzee and or Renwick Farms Dominion Trot winner Just Believe, her New Zealand debut on Friday is almost as eagerly anticipated. The beautiful and bold Victorian trotter has been lured to Addington by the new $500,000 trotting slot race the Majestic Horse Floats LP THE ASCENT and it is likely her Kiwi rivals will end up wishing she has stayed at home. Keayang Zahara has obliterated her rivals in Australia and while dominant three-year-old trotters are relatively common in harness racing, fillies like her are not. She is already running open class times, albeit aided by the change of official birthdays for harness horses as a few years back Keayang Zahara would have been a four-year-old by this stage of her life. But her age will ultimately prove irrelevant as she has the x-factor of a real deal topliner and a horse who could be something very special if she stays healthy and sound. If she has one weakness it may be her inquistive mind as driver Jason Lee says the black beauty loves to survey new environments, which is why he took her to Addington for a private workout last Saturday. “She is like that at any new track, she loves to look around and she did it here (Addington) on Saturday too,” says Lee. “But now she has been there she will be good as gold and she was actually better at Addington than most times she goes somewhere new.” So that is one ray of hope blocked out for rival connections and it is hard to find many more as under the conditions of The Ascent, Keayang Zahara and other fillies drew inside the boys. Punters taking very short odds will be hoping she trots straight to the front from where she would seem unbeatable if she brings her Aussie best to Addington but Lee admits she is no one-trick glamour pony. “Sure I’d like to lead and that will be the plan but I don’t think if is a disaster if she doesn’t,” he offers. “It is only a small field and she has amazing speed coming from behind so as long as she brings her best, and I have no reason to expect anything else, I think she will be too good.” If the Aussie sensation is to get beaten then fellow filly Empire City is the most logical danger. She has some gate speed and even if she can’t lead she will be handy and she was excellent coming from well back for second at Ashburton last start. If she trails Keayang Zahara and the leader is attacked, which looks unlikely, she could get her chance up the passing lane. There is little between the six boys in the 1980m mobile race and Bring On The Muscle was very strong at Ashburton last start but he has drawn the outside of the second line so will be giving some very smart young trotters a start. The Ascent and the $500,000 Hill Lee and Scott THE VELOCITY for three-year-old pacers are the two centrepieces of a revitalized Show Day, which also moves into a later slot, finishing early evening. The meeting will see Tuesday’s winner of the Dominion in Just Believe return for the $100,000 New Zealand Trotting Free-For-All but both NZ Cup winner Swayzee and runner-up Don’t Stop Dreaming will miss tomorrow’s $200,000 New Zealand Pacing Free-For-All. View the full article

This year's Oaks d'Italia winner Tomiko (Ire) (Footstepsinthesand {GB}) has been added to Arqana's December Breeding Stock Sale and will be offered by Baroda Stud as lot 170 during the opening day of the sale on Saturday, December 7. Trained by Paolo Aragoni for owner Luigi Ginobbi, Tomiko also finished third in the G2 Premio Lydia Tesio. She is one of two winners from four runners out of the unraced Lawman (Fr) mare Testimony (GB), a half-sister to the 10-time winner–including at Listed level–Saltonstall (GB) (Pivotal {GB}). Her second dam is the G2 Prix de Pomone heroine and G1 Prix Royal-Oak runner-up Macleya (Ger) (Winged Love {Ire}), who is in turn kin to the G3 Prix de Barbeville winner Montclair (Ire) (Montjeu {Ire}) and the Listed-placed Miramare (Ger) (Rainbow Quest), the dam of the G1 Prix Ganay winner and sire Mare Australis (Ire) (Australia {GB}). Tomiko was one of five additions to the sale announced on Wednesday. The others include the Listed winners Noir (Fr) (Mastercraftsman {Ire}) (lot 160) and La Guapisima (Fr) (City Light {Fr}) (lot 175), as well as the G3 Prix Thomas Bryon runner-up Iowa City (Fr) (Territories {Ire}) (lot 165) and Listed-placed two-year-old Griselda (Fr) (City Light {Fr}) (lot 150). The full catalogue is available to view here. The post Classic Winner Tomiko Added to Arqana’s December Breeding Stock Sale appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

The 2025 Secretariat's Legacy calendar, the eighth and final edition of the series that has already raised almost $39,000 for equine charities, is available for $25 online, the Secretariat Center said via a Wednesday press release. For the second straight year, calendar profits are shared by the Secretariat Center and Old Friends. An additional share will benefit the Maryland Horse Foundation. The calendar series began with the Living Legends theme in 2018, which honored Secretariat's offspring that were still alive, then transitioned to descendants of his broodmares in 2022. “It has been a wonderful seven-year journey, and the popularity of these calendars is a small reminder of just how much Secretariat means to fans even today, more than 51 years after his incredible racing accomplishments,” said author and photographer Patricia McQueen. Click here to learn more. The post ‘Big Red’ Calendar Benefits Secretariat Center, Old Friends, Maryland Horse Foundation appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

It's probably now just about safe for the TDN team to leave our desks briefly without fear of another stallion fee announcement dropping into the inbox. So, now that the numbers are in, here is a little further investigation as to who's going where and for how much. There were cautionary notes among last year's stallion fee announcements, just as there have been again this time around, which is no surprise given that the foal crop in Britain and Ireland has dropped again, this time by six per cent, to 12,578 foals born in 2024, according to the returns up to September 30. Shadwell's press release spoke of the “unpredictable climate” facing breeders, while Joe Foley of Ballyhane Stud said that he was standing in solidarity with breeders in uncertain times by limiting his new recruit Sakheer to 140 mares. Class of 2025 Ireland appears to be the greatest beneficiary of the new recruits to the stallion ranks, with currently 10 new names signed up to Flat studs. Britain has only three Flat newcomers – Bradsell (GB) at the National Stud, Vandeek (GB) at Cheveley Park Stud and Isaac Shelby (GB) at Newsells Park Stud. Interestingly, all three of these stallions were bred in Britain by female small breeders: Deborah O'Brien, Kelly Thomas and Elaine Chivers respectively. In France, which still has a vast regional spread of stallions farms with Normandy as the acknowledged Flat heartland, there are six new recruits, while Classic winner Fantastic Moon (Ger) will join Gestut Ebbesloh back in his native Germany after his run in the Japan Cup. The Elite Of the nine stallions who command six-figure fees, the world's joint-most expensive stallions, Dubawi (Ire) and Frankel (GB) will remain at their 2024 price of €350,000, but there has been plenty of upward movement in this elite bracket. Wootton Bassett (GB) and Sea The Stars (Ire) were both €200,000 last year and will be €300,000 and €250,000 respectively in 2025. Lope De Vega (Ire) has moved up to €175,000 from €125,000 and Night Of Thunder (Ire) has also taken a €50,000 hike to €150,000. What is almost certain that is all these horses are already full with waiting lists. At this level it is practically a case of name your price. Movers Switching farms for next year are Twilight Son (GB), who has spent eight years at Cheveley Park Stud and heads to Ireland's Annshoon Stud, while Dubai Mile (GB) leaves the UK after one season at Manton Park to join Davey Stack's Coolagown Stud. Making the reverse trip across the Irish Sea is Magna Grecia (Ire), who joins March Hare Stud in England from Coolmore, and Waldgeist (GB) leaves Ballylinch Stud for Germany, where he will stand at Gestut Lunzen. A longer journey yet is in store for Territories (Ire), who has been sold by Darley to Poonawalla Stud Farms in India, the country which is also now home to one-term National Stud resident Mutasaabeq (GB), Bradsell's sire Tasleet (GB) and Prince Of Lir (Ire). You can read more about the Indian stallion scene in this recent piece by Adam Houghton. The 2020 Arc winner Sottsass (Fr) has left Coolmore for the JBBA Stallion Station in Japan. Shakers This really has to be Amo Racing, which is launching three new stallions this year: the Wootton Bassett (GB) horses King Of Steel and Bucanero Fuerte (Fr) have retired to Tally-Ho Stud and Go Bears Go (Ire) becomes the first son of Kodi Bear (Ire) to join the stallions ranks at Springfield House Stud. Tally-Ho also welcomes Big Evs (Ire), who will become the first son of Blue Point (Ire) at stud. It was confirmed this week that Amo Racing's Kia Joorabchian has made an offer to buy Freemason Lodge from Sir Michael Stoute. Don't bet against him buying a stallion stud to go with it eventually. Coolmore 3 – Darley 0 Coolmore has three new additions to its roster for 2025. Henry Longfellow (GB) becomes the first son of Dubawi (Ire) to stand in Tipperary, where he will be alongside the last two Derby winners, Auguste Rodin (Ire) and City Of Troy. For the first time in a long time, Darley will have no new name on the list, with the likes of Notable Speech (GB) and Rosallion (Ire) remaining in training. Live Foal Terms When Stradivarius (Ire) retired to the National Stud in 2023, he was introduced on Live Foal terms, and the stud has followed suit this year with Bradsell. General manager Joe Bradley said that it was “just [to] help breeders that little bit more”, and this arrangement, which is fairly standard in France, has also been adopted by Joe Foley at Ballyhane Stud, who is offering Live Foal terms and the above-mentioned limited first book for Sakheer (Ire). It is easy to see how these terms could help breeders who may well have sold yearlings or foals by the time the next crop is born in the spring, which would not always be the case for October 1 terms. Limiting Books Ah, that thorny topic. We all know that it will never be made mandatory to cover only a set number of mares, but good on those studs that do impose a limit. Goodness knows how hard it must be to stick to your guns when faced with endless telephone calls from imploring breeders. To a degree, the only thing harder than having an unpopular stallion is having a really popular one, as it's a surefire way to make oneself unpopular with clients whose mares don't make the cut. But surely such a policy reaps rewards in the long run by driving up prices at the foal and yearling sales for youngsters with a rarity value? However, with a far higher proportion of sires failing rather than making it at stud, the temptation to cover all-comers and be 'out' of a stallion in a few years makes business sense, if not horse sense. A Tall Order We don't know what the fee for Havana Grey (GB) is this year as it is listed as private but we do know is that for the first time ever a height restriction warning was made public knowledge for the Whitsbury Manor Stud stallion. No mare taller than 16hh will be covered by Havana Grey, who himself measures just over 15.2hh. Joe Callan, head of bloodstock and sales at Whitsbury Manor, said that though the stallion is still open for business “for a restricted number of outside mares” his fee being switched to private from last year's £55,000 was in order to ensure he covered mares “of a suitable height…for his own welfare and continued good fertility.” Where's the Value? Nathaniel (Ire) has produced the winners of the Oaks in England, Ireland and France – one of the those being the brilliant Enable – and a Derby winner to boot. He's gone back up to £20,000 for next year (from £17,500) but he is still (and has always been) terrific value. Champion sire-elect Dark Angel (Ire) remains at his fee of the last four years of €60,000, even though he could legitimately have been raised to somewhere closer to his previous high of €85,000. Study Of Man (Ire) has doubled in price at Lanwades, to £25,000, but he is the stallion on many people's lips, and his results on the track from limited books to date back up the chat. It is surely now a case of breeders forming an orderly queue. At €10,000, the regally-bred Derby winner Australia (GB) stands out as a sound choice, for owner-breeders in particular, as does Ballylinch's Make Believe (GB) at €8,000. Of the new boys, Bradsell and Auguste Rodin have both been fairly priced for their considerable achievements, and the latter has a particularly strong pedigree. Last Word: Luxembourg We could probably argue all day about whether he deserves to be at a Flat stud. If you agree that he should, there is absolutely no reason not to send him a Flat mare simply because he is standing on a National Hunt roster. We don't know what his fee will be yet but you can be damn sure that it will be an awful lot less than some other stallions who have achieved an awful lot less. Let's not forget that he's a Group 1 winner in the last four seasons who just happens to be by a sire who provided this year's Arc winner. New Flat Stallions for 2025 Al Hakeem – Haras de Bouquetot – €5,000 Auguste Rodin – Coolmore, Ireland – €30,000 Big Evs – Tally-Ho Stud, Ireland – €17,500 Big Rock – Haras de Grandcamp, France – €12,000 Bradsell – National Stud, Britain – £10,000 Bucanero Fuerte – Tally-Ho Stud, Ireland – €12,500 Charyn – Sumbe, France – €35,000 City Of Troy – Coolmore, Ireland – €75,000 Fantastic Moon – Gestut Ebbesloh, Germany – €9,000 Feed The Flame – Haras de la Hetraie, France – €4,500 Go Bears Go – Springfield House Stud, Ireland – €8,000 Henry Longfellow – Coolmore, Ireland – €15,000 Isaac Shelby – Newsells Park Stud, Britain – £7,000 King Of Steel – Tally-Ho Stud, Ireland – €20,000 Metropolitan – Haras d'Etreham, France – €15,000 Mill Stream – Yeomanstown Stud, Ireland – €12,500 Puchkine – Haras de Beaumont, France – €8,500 Sakheer – Ballyhane Stud, Ireland – €6,500 Shouldvebeenaring – Irish National Stud, Ireland – €6,500 Vandeek – Cheveley Park Stud, Britain – £15,000 The post Stallion Fees for 2025: The Talking Points appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Woodbine announced that training on the synthetic Tapeta main track would resume the morning of Nov. 13, following a thorough review and extensive maintenance conducted over the last couple of days.View the full article

Mathew de Kock is set to return to his native South Africa to join forces with his father, Mike de Kock, in the launch of a new training partnership, the family announced on Wednesday. In 2020, Mathew and his wife Monique emigrated to Australia to broaden their knowledge and skill set, training in partnership with Robbie Griffiths in Cranbourne for four years. The Griffiths/De Kock association celebrated close to 250 winners during that period, including 12 stakes winners, and regular occupied a place in the top 10 of the Victoria Country Trainer Premiership. Initially, Mathew's return to South Africa will see him based full-time at De Kock Racing's Randjesfontein barn in Johannesburg, while Mike oversees operations from Summerveld in Durban. “We'll be able to devote quality time to our horses at both centres, and eventually, we'll consider a satellite string in Cape Town,” said Mathew. “The move back to South Africa is obviously a major one for Monique and I, and several factors have played a part in our decision. The over-riding reason is that our family dynamic has changed and that we'd like to be closer to family and friends.” He added, “We'll be forever grateful to Robbie and Shiranee Griffiths for the opportunity they gave us to join their established business. We have learnt much working alongside them and will be taking the knowledge we have gained back to South Africa with us. They have been fantastic and understanding of our decision.” Mike de Kock, who has 141 Grade/Group 1 winners and around 3,800 career winners to his name, said that he'd come close to retiring just a few months ago. He explained, “I was on the verge of retiring, but Mat's decision has given me a new lease on life. He is a top trainer in his own right, most capable of taking over from me in due course. “For now, I am postponing retirement. Mat is ambitious, young and talented. We are able to continue the De Kock legacy, and he'll start off with more than I did when I was his age. I will eventually take a back seat, oversee the transition and, if all goes well, help him to set up yards in other parts of the world so we can compete in suitable races. “From what I've seen recently from SA-breds in the US, our horses are not too far off the higher world ranks, even after the period of relative isolation. This is an exciting turning point for our family.” The post Mike and Mathew de Kock Announce New Training Partnership in South Africa appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

By Josh Spasaro, courtesy of The Thoroughbred Report Hello Romeo (NZ) looked like a chip off the old block with the classy front-running fashion in which he saluted in a two-year-old race at Bendigo on Wednesday. And Cambridge Stud, where his sire Hello Youmzain (Fr) currently stands, believe their stallion can reach the same heights in the Southern Hemisphere as he did in France and England. The Lindsay Park colt became the first victor from Group 1 winner Hello Youmzain's New Zealand crops at Cambridge Stud. Hello Youmzain was the leading first-season sire in France by earnings, winners and stakes winners, and his first Northern Hemisphere two-year-olds include Group 3 victors Misunderstood (Fr) and Electrolyte (Ire). Cambridge Stud CEO Henry Plumptre was delighted with the high-cruising speed Hello Romeo displayed under jockey Koby Jennings at Bendigo on Wednesday, before finding another gear on the straight to comfortably hold off stablemate for Ben, Will and JD Hayes, Mrs Iglesia (Aus) (Dirty Work {Aus}). “It was quite like his old man. Hello Youmzain was a horse who didn't come from the back with a withering burst,” Plumptre told The Thoroughbred Report. “He just sat up on the pace and kicked away from them in his really good wins, like the Haydock Sprint Cup and Diamond Jubilee Stakes. “He sat on the pace and toughed it out, and that's the style of horse he was. And that was pretty much what that colt did [on Wednesday]. It was good to see.” Hello Youmzain has now produced 19 winners from 46 runners, with 105 named foals in total, and Cambridge Stud shares the belief that he will continue producing winners. By Kodiac (GB), the sire of 102 stakes victors, Plumptre said demand for Hello Youmzain progeny would continue to increase next year. “He [Hello Youmzain] has got five or six stakes horses across France and England,” he said. “So his first year up there was very good, and good enough for his fee to go from €25,000 to €40,000. “He's obviously going to be in demand next year. And we've got a lot of faith in the horse.” The post Hello Youmzain Sires First Winner in the Southern Hemisphere appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Every week, the TDN posts a roundup of the relevant Horseracing Integrity and Safety Act (HISA) related rulings from around the country. NEW HISA/HIWU STEWARDS RULINGS The following rulings were reported on HISA's “rulings” portal and through the HIWU “pending” and “resolved” cases portals. Resolved ADMC Violations Date: 11/12/2024 Licensee: Jesse Compton, trainer Penalty: 15-day period of Ineligibility for Covered Person, beginning on Nov. 13; Disqualification of Covered Horse's Race results, including forfeiture of all purses and other compensation, prizes, trophies, points, and rankings and repayment or surrender (as applicable); a fine of $1,000; imposition of 2 Penalty Points. Final decision by internal adjudication panel. Explainer: Medication violation for the presence of Cannabidiol (CBD)–controlled medication (Class B)–in a sample taken from Sisaway Now, who finished second at Prairie Meadows on 7/14/24. Date: 11/11/2024 Licensee: William Martin, trainer Penalty: Disqualification of Covered Horse's Race results, including forfeiture of all purses and other compensation, prizes, trophies, points, and rankings and repayment or surrender (as applicable); a fine of $500; imposition of 1.5 Penalty Points. Final decision of HIWU. Explainer: Use or attempted use of a Class C controlled medication on Super Model Stroll during the race period. Date: 11/08/2024 Licensee: A. Ferris Allen III, trainer Penalty: 15-day period of Ineligibility for Covered Person, beginning on Nov. 9; Disqualification of Covered Horse's Race results, including forfeiture of all purses and other compensation, prizes, trophies, points, and rankings and repayment or surrender (as applicable); a fine of $1,000; imposition of 1.5 Penalty Points. Final decision by internal adjudication panel. Explainer: Medication violation for the presence of Phenylbutazone–controlled medication (Class C)–in a sample taken from Aristocratic, who finished second at Laurel Park on 6/16/24. Date: 11/07/2024 Licensee: Kevin Eikleberry, trainer Penalty: 7-day period of Ineligibility for Covered Person, beginning on Nov. 8; Disqualification of Covered Horse's Race results, including forfeiture of all purses and other compensation, prizes, trophies, points, and rankings and repayment or surrender (as applicable); a fine of $1,000; imposition of 2 Penalty Points. Admission. Explainer: Vets' list medication violation for the presence of Magnesium Sulfate–a controlled substance (Class B)–in a sample taken from Alexiana, who won at Prairie Meadows on 9/28/24 Date: 11/06/2024 Licensee: Bennie Woolley, trainer Penalty: Disqualification of Covered Horse's Race results, including forfeiture of all purses and other compensation, prizes, trophies, points, and rankings and repayment or surrender (as applicable); a fine of $500; imposition of 1.5 Penalty Points. Final decision by HIWU. Explainer: Medication violation for the presence of Dexamethasone–a controlled substance (Class C)–in a sample taken from Clear the Coast, who finished third at Canterbury Park on 9/21/24. Date: 11/06/2024 Licensee: Juan Rizo Patron, trainer Penalty: A written Reprimand (per 9/26/23 HISA Guidance). Final decision by HIWU. Explainer: Vets' list medication violation for the presence of Omeprazole–a controlled substance (Class C)–in a sample taken from Bestial on 10/4/24. Date: 11/06/2024 Licensee: Donald Simmonds, trainer Penalty: A fine of $500; imposition of 1.5 Penalty Points. Final decision by HIWU. Explainer: Vets' list medication violation for the presence of Phenylbutazone–a controlled substance (Class C)–in a sample taken from Gun Lap on 9/23/24. Date: 11/06/2024 Licensee: George Leonard III, trainer Penalty: Disqualification of Covered Horse's Race results, including forfeiture of all purses and other compensation, prizes, trophies, points, and rankings and repayment or surrender (as applicable); a fine of $500; imposition of 1.5 Penalty Points. Final decision of HIWU. Explainer: Medication violation for the presence of Dimethyl Sulfoxide (DMSO)–a controlled substance (Class C)–in a sample taken from Maylen, who finished fifth at Belterra Park on 9/21/24. Pending ADMC Violations 11/12/2024, Angel Quiroz, trainer: Pending medication violation for the use or attempted use of a Class C controlled medication on Beautiful Astray during the race period. 11/12/2024, Isidro Castro, trainer: Pending medication violation for the presence of Triamcinolene–a controlled substance (Class C)–in a sample taken from Bourbon Delight, who finished third at Hawthorne on 9/8/24. 11/11/2024, Alan Shuchman, trainer: Pending medication violation for the presence of Capsaicin–a controlled substance (Class C)–in a sample taken from Wahoowa Wahoowa, who won at Penn National on 10/23/24. 11/08/2024, Christopher Davis, trainer: Pending medication violation for the presence of Dantrolene–a controlled substance (Class C)–in a sample taken from Morunning, who finished second at Keeneland on 10/10/24. 11/08/2024, Eduardo Mavel Jr., trainer: Pending medication violation for the presence of Valerenic Acid–a controlled substance–in a sample taken from Party News, who finished second at Finger Lakes on 9/25/24. The post Weekly Stewards and Commissions Rulings, Nov. 7-13 appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Races seven to nine were called off on Wednesday night as Tropical Storm Toraji edges closer to Hong Kong.View the full article