Wandering Eyes

Four-year-old is one of the leading hopes in Sunday’s Group One Grosser Preis von Bayern in Munich.View the full article

The husband and wife team of Terry and Leanne Gillett, highly-successful trainers in Alice Springs, with daughter and apprentice Dakota Gillett after tasting success at Pioneer Park It was fitting that father and daughter Terry and Dakota Gillett had a winning double at Alice Springs on Saturday on the same day they were honoured for their achievements during the 2023/24 season. Ornamental Lady – starting at $2.90 with online bookmakers – saluted over 1200m at 0-64 level before Little Ditty, a $6.50 hope, prevailed over 1100m in 0-58 grade. On Saturday night, Terry was awarded the leading trainer award with 25 wins and Dakota secured the leading apprentice award with 16 wins at the Red Centre Racing Awards. Ornamental Lady, Epaulette’s seven-year-old mare, and Little Ditty, Outreach’s five-year-old gelding, outclassed their rivals earlier in the day after leading from start to finish. Back in grade, Ornamental Lady exploded at the home turn to overcome Paul Gardner’s $2.35 PlayUp favourite Perkova and Kevin Lamprecht’s Ginger Creek by 4.1 lengths. After two minor placings, Little Ditty was in good shape at the 350m once rounding the final bend and was never under threat despite prevailing by 0.6 lengths from Will Savage’s Only The Best and Dan Morgan’s fast-finishing $2.80 favourite Boy Big. Former NSW galloper O’Tycoon, victorious at Newcastle and a placegetter at Randwick, was in the mix over 1100m against 0-70 opposition after rattling home late to finish a narrow second over 1200m in the 0-70 ranks a fortnight ago. When Will Savage’s Talent Quest, who had won five of its past seven starts, was scratched at the barrier, the task for Lisa Whittle’s O’Tycoon – the $2.35 favourite with Sonja Logan aboard – was made easier before sinking Gillett’s Hurn Court and Savage’s Boss Shelby by 4.6 lengths. Barry Cooke’s $2.35 Neds favourite Chief White Sock, ridden by Stan Tsaikos, also led throughout before making it back to back wins with an impressive display over 1100m at 0-58 level. WA trainer Yannick Valenti enjoyed his second win at Pioneer Park when $11 prospect Get Out Mick – partnered by Victorian apprentice Jessica Booth – came from last to salute in Class 2 action over 1100m. Horse racing news View the full article

Following an inspection of the track surfaces by officials from the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority (HISA), the Arizona Horse Racing Commission has notified Turf Paradise that the 2024-2025 live meeting can begin Monday, Nov. 11. Turf Paradise General Manager Vince Francia said, “Thanks to our horsemen and the AzHBPA for helping us establish the new season. Our track maintenance crews did stellar work. We are excited to bring our fans another great season of racing.” The racing calendar will run through May 3. This year's schedule includes live racing on Saturday, including the Saturday following Thanksgiving, Nov. 30. The post Racing At Turf Paradise Confirmed To Begin Nov. 11 appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Live racing returns to Turf Paradise Nov. 11. Following successful track inspections conducted by the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority, the Arizona Racing Commission notified Turf Paradise that all live racing surfaces meet standards. View the full article

The Claiming Crown, which has been compared to a claiming horse owner's Breeders' Cup, returns Nov. 16 to Churchill Downs, featuring eight starter races worth $1.1 million, topped by the $200,000 Claiming Crown Jewel. View the full article

Trainer Charlie Appleby has had the Nov. 10 Grosser Preis von Bayern (G1) in mind for some time for group 1 victor Ancient Wisdom, who was last seen winning the Bahrain Trophy (G3) at Newmarket in July. View the full article

The Chosen Vron has been turned out for several months after an issue was found in his ankle after he was placed on the veterinarian's list. Co-owner and trainer Eric Kruljac said the sprinter is expected to recover and return to the races next year.View the full article

Earning his second win of the season, INTEGRATION (c, 4, Quality Road–Harmonize, by Scat Daddy) tagged a pair of front-runners in the final strides to take Saturday's GII Red Smith Stakes at Aqueduct. Second in the GI Arlington Million at Colonials Downs two back, the 6-5 shot sat a ground-saving trip mid pack behind Limited Liability (Kitten's Joy) and Rebel Red (GB) (Frankel {GB}) but came flying down the stretch to nail those two with an outside bid past the sixteenth pole to steal the win. Lifetime Record: MGISP, 10-5-1-1. O-West Point Thoroughbreds and Woodford Racing, LLC; B-Larkin Armstrong; T-Claude R. McGaughey III. Sales History: $700,000 ylg '21 FTSAUG. #2 INTEGRATION ($4.50) picks up the battling leaders late with a burst in the stretch to win the $300,000 Red Smith Stakes (G2) at Aqueduct. The son of Quality Road (@LanesEndFarms) was ridden by Flavien Prat and is trained by Shug McGaughey. Watch more on @FanDuelTV. pic.twitter.com/vDYGvNAkHM — FanDuel Racing (@FanDuel_Racing) November 9, 2024 The post Integration Up In Time To Take Red Smith appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

By Jonny Turner Mark Hurrell has four missions to complete before linking up with one of the south’s biggest chances on New Zealand Cup Day. Hurrell has four drives at Wyndham on Sunday including warm favourite First Light. The mare was only just denied in her first start for the spring when overhauled late by the very impressive Winton winner Muchacho. With several factors looking in her favour this week, First Light looks a big winning chance for Hurrell and trainer Greg Hunter. “She just blew out late in her last start, she missed a race a couple of weeks ago and she just came to the end of her run,” Hurrell said. “The horse that beat her is not a bad horse and once we got past us he went again.” “It was still a good run and from a much better draw this week she should get her chance.” “She should be able to get out pretty good and stay handy.” Hurrell also links up with By Chance who has been trialling well ahead of his return at Wyndham on Sunday. The pacer must overcome starting from the unruly over a mile, but his driver is hopeful he can. “The unruly is the best place for him because he is still green, there is only one horse on the second row so it shouldn’t end up too bad,” Hurrell said. “His trials have been pretty good so hopefully he should go a nice race.” Robyns Art looks another each way threat for Hurrell, with the pacer getting a key upgrade in draw in barrier 4. “It is the first good draw he’s had in a long time, he usually draws 8 or 10 or somewhere like that.” “Hopefully he can stay handy from there, because he can keep going at the same speed.” Beyond Sunday, Hurrell will reunite with Wag Star in the Group Three Junior Free-For-All on New Zealand Cup Day. The Craig Ferguson trained pacer was luckless in the Kaikoura Cup when checked early during a haphazard start before being forced to race three-wide without cover for the final lap of the feature. The great news for Wag Star’s southern fans is that he has progressed well since that tough run. “Craig has been really happy with him, he has been bucking and running around the paddock,” Hurrell said. “Hopefully from the draw (5) he will get a bit more luck this time.” “It is not going to be easy, there are some nice horses in the race.” “Catch A Wave has won over $2million whereas our horse has won about $90k.” “But I know what my horse has got under the hood, he is a pretty good horse.” Hurrell also links up with another southerner in South Seas Rock on New Zealand Cup Day. View the full article

Observations on the European Racing Scene turns the spotlight on the best European races of the day, highlighting well-bred horses early in their careers, horses of note returning to action and young runners that achieved notable results in the sales ring. Sunday's Observations include a colt out of G1 Oaks heroine Qualify. 12.48 Saint-Cloud, Mdn, €50,000, unraced 2yo, c/g, 7 1/2fT Godolphin's CUALIFICAR (GB) (Lope De Vega {Ire}), is an Andre Fabre-trained son of G1 Oaks heroine Qualify (Ire) (Fastnet Rock {Aus}) and thus kin to this year's G3 Jebel Ali Mile victor Swing Vote (GB) (Shamardal). Qualify, who was a 1.6-million guineas purchase at the 2015 Tattersalls December sale, is scheduled to go under the hammer at this month's Goffs November sale. Opposition to the April-foaled chestnut includes Haras Assiro's Dynamitic (GB) (Hello Youmzain {Fr}), who is a half-brother to this term's G1 Lockinge Stakes third Witch Hunter (Fr) (Siyouni {Fr}). The post Observations: Son of Oaks Heroine Qualify Set for Saint-Cloud Debut appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Fan favorite The Chosen Vron (Vronsky), scratched from the GI Breeders' Cup Sprint last weekend, will be turned out for several months after an issue was detected in his ankle. “We'll take it one step at a time,” trainer J. Eric Kruljac said. “We'll give him four months off and then bring him back. I feel pretty good that he'll come back the same horse.” California's reigning Horse of the Year, the 6-year-old has won 19 of his 25 career trips to the post to date and, after finishing fifth in last year's Sprint, rattled off five consecutive victories this season, capped by a successful defense of his title in the GI Bing Crosby Stakes at Del Mar. He was upended by Raging Torrent (Maximus Mischief) in the GII Pat O'Brien Stakes and was on track for the six-furlong dash on Nov. 2. Veterinarians placed The Chosen Vron on the vet's list 10 days before the Sprint, where he would have had to stay for two weeks. “It's a little blemish, not even as big as an eraser on a pencil,” Kruljac continued. “The races he ran in the Pat O'Brien and the Bing Crosby he had that probably going on then. “He deserves a little rest,” Kruljac said. “Three of the four partners live in close proximity (to Bonsall), so they can go out and visit him. The other guy, Bob Fetkin, lives in St. Pete Beach, Florida. He and his wife Sheila just lost their house in the hurricane. They were renting an apartment on the eighth floor of a high rise and a crane on a building adjacent from his apartment broke off and crashed into his apartment. They took it in stride and they're safe.” At the time of the scratching, Kruljac mentioned the possibility of racing in the Middle East over the winter. “We may still do that,” Kruljac said. “Whatever I voiced out loud probably didn't have a lot thought behind it. Just frustration. But everybody has to do what they have to do. Life in the big city.” The post The Chosen Vron On Turn-Out, Expected To Return in 2025 appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

There are seven horse racing meetings set for Australia on Sunday, November 10. Our racing analysts here at horsebetting.com.au have found you the best bets and the quaddie numbers for Ararat. Sunday’s Free Horse Racing Tips – November 10, 2024 Ararat 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 10, 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

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A €1.4m Arqana Deauville August Yearling acquisition to buy out a partnership for LNJ Foxwoods, EARHART (FR) (f, 3, Siyouni {Fr}– Aviatress {Ire}, by Sharmadal) looked every bit worth the purchase price as the grey filly stepped out to a multi-length win en route to becoming a new 'TDN Rising Star' at Woodbine Saturday. Imported from France, the heavy 4-5 favorite never looked anything but the winner, stepping out to lead from the first stride and having things all her own way on the front end. Unchallenged off the turn, Earhart cruised home to win by as much as she liked while geared down under Rafael Hernandez. Lifetime Record: 1-1-0-0. O-LNJ Foxwoods; B-Ecurie Des Monceaux & LNJ Foxwoods SC; T-Josie Carroll. Sales History: €1,400,000 ylg '22 ARAUG. The post Earhart Soars To ‘TDN Rising Star’ Status In Woodbine Unveiling appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Impressive winner of the GIII Gotham Stakes over the local main track to begin the season, 'TDN Rising Star' DETERMINISTIC (c, 3, Liam's Map–Giulio's Jewel, by Speightstown) has found his footing on the grass during the second half of the campaign and won for second time at the graded level over the surface, validating 7-4 favoritism in Saturday's GIII Hill Prince Stakes at Aqueduct. Victorious in the GIII Virginia Derby ahead of a game runner-up effort in the GIII Jockey Club Derby Invitational Stakes over a mile and three furlongs last time, the $625,000 Keeneland September yearling was away alertly from a low draw and dropped over to the rail to box-seat the nine-panel test as Parx raider Bartlett (Not This Time) was left to his own devices up front. Traveling nicely in hand and switched off down the backstretch, Deterministic was given a nudge entering the turn, pushed away from the inside to deliver his challenge in the two-wide line in upper stretch, took command a furlong out and was always holding 2-1 second choice Cugino (Twirling Candy) for a cozy success. Sales history: $625,000 Ylg '22 KEESEP. O-St. Elias Stable, Langone, Ken, Duncker, C. Steven and Vicarage Stable; B-Hinkle Farms (KY); T-Christophe Clement. Saturday, Aqueduct HILL PRINCE S.-GIII, $200,000, Aqueduct, 11-9, 3yo, 1 1/8mT, 1:46.58, fm. 1–DETERMINISTIC, 124, c, 3, by Liam's Map 1st Dam: Giulio's Jewel, by Speightstown 2nd Dam: Acadiana, by Tiznow 3rd Dam: Amelia, by Dixieland Band ($625,000 Ylg '22 KEESEP). 'TDN Rising Star'. O-St. Elias Stable, Ken Langone, C. Steven Duncker and Vicarage Stable; B-Hinkle Farms (KY); T-Christophe Clement; J-Joel Rosario. $110,000. Lifetime Record: GISP, 9-4-2-1, $886,390. Werk Nick Rating: A. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree. Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. 2–Cugino, 122, c, 3, Twirling Candy–Adorable Miss, by Kitten's Joy. ($225,000 Ylg '22 KEESEP). O-West Point Thoroughbreds and Jimmy Kahig LLC; B-Gage Hill Stables, LLC & W. S. Farish (KY); T-Claude R. McGaughey III. $40,000. 3–Royal Majesty (GB), 118, c, 3, Frankel (GB)–Crown Queen, by Smart Strike. O/B-Besilu Stables LLC (GB); T-William I. Mott. $24,000. Margins: 1, 2HF, 1 3/4. Odds: 1.75, 2.40, 4.50. Also Ran: Right to Vote, Bartlett, Desvio, Main Beach. Click for the Equibase.com chart and the TJCIS.com PPs. VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV. DETERMINISTIC was determined to win on the turf!The 3YO son of @LanesEndFarms stallion Liam's Map wins the G3 Hill Prince Stakes under @JRosarioJockey for trainer @clementstable. pic.twitter.com/d9aaJYcyW7 — NYRA () (@TheNYRA) November 9, 2024 The post ‘Rising Star’ Deterministic Delivers In the Hill Prince appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

March Hare Stud's new recruit Magna Grecia (Ire) will stand at £5,500 with limited breeding rights available. A son of Invincible Spirit (Ire) , the 2,000 Guineas and Futurity Trophy winner spent five seasons at Coolmore Stud. Magna Grecia is a half-brother to Dewhurst winner and champion three-year-old St Mark's Basilica (Fr). He will stand alongside Middle Park Stakes winner Charming Thought, who has been set at £3,000 while Roseman, who has his first runners next year, remains at £4,000. Tip Two Win will stand for £2,500 while Diplomat and Master Carpenter are both set at £1,500. The post Magna Grecia To Stand For £5,500 In Debut Season At March Hare Stud appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

A major owner/breeder of California-bred stakes winners, Valpredo served on the CTBA, CHRB, and TOC.View the full article

Roger Varian will join British-based trainers Charlie Appleby, Saeed bin Suroor, John and Thady Gosden and Simon and Ed Crisford on the Godolpin roster for 2025. The news was revealed by the Racing Post on Saturday that Varian would receive four yearlings on behalf of Godolphin ahead of the new season. The support comes as a timely boost for Varian, who lost high profile owners Sheikh Mohammed Obaid Al Maktoum and Amo Racing this year. Godolphin have previously had horses in training with Varian, highlighted by Group 1 winner Belardo, who the operation bought into along with Prince Faisal. The post Roger Varian Added To Godolphin’s Training Roster For 2025 appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

1st-Aqueduct, $87,300, Msw, 11-9, 2yo, 6 1/2f, 1:17.39, ft, 3 1/2 lengths. TUX (c, 2, Tapit–Fancy Dress Party {GSW, $267,405}, by Munnings), a first-time starter in a well-met field of homebred maidens, broke in stride from the outside draw and moved up to stalk the pace of the only experienced runner in the field, Math Tutor (Algorithms). The top four stayed bunched together in pairs of two up the backstretch past the half in :46.89 and for a moment, it looked as though Math Tutor might break loose at the top of the lane. But as his strides began to shorten, Tux was grinding away with his closing kick down the center of the track, collared the leader at the sixteenth pole and opened up to the line to graduate by 3 1/2 lengths. The second foal out of GIII Beaumont Stakes winner Fancy Dress Party, Tux has a yearling Into Mischief half-brother and a weanling full-brother. His dam went to Good Magic for 2025. Lifetime Record: 1-1-0-0, $49,500. Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV. O/B-LNJ Foxwoods (KY); T-William I. Mott. On debut the @LNJFoxwoods home-bred #6 TUX ($9.50) gets the lead late and pulls away to easily win the opener at Aqueduct. The son of Tapit was ridden by @JuniorandKellyA and is trained by Bill Mott. Watch more on @FanDuelTV. pic.twitter.com/pPvajs2MkL — FanDuel Racing (@FanDuel_Racing) November 9, 2024 The post Tux A Flashy Debut Winner For LNJ Foxwoods At Aqueduct appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

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Sunday's G1 Grosser Allianz Preis von Bayern, the final Group 1 event of the season in Europe, has attracted a field of 11. The 12-furlong heat marks the return of Charlie Appleby trainee Ancient Wisdom (Fr) (Dubawi {Ire}), who comes back off a win in July's G3 Bahrain Trophy at Newmarket. Last term's G1 Futurity Trophy hero finished a well-beaten eighth in Epsom's G1 Derby in his penultimate start. “We had this race pencilled in for Ancient Wisdom for some time, hoping that the ground would be on the soft side,” said Appleby. “It's a very competitive event and we are coming up against some solid older horses, so he needs to step forward from his Bahrain Trophy win. The ground is the key with him and he stays a mile-and-a-half well. He looks great and I can't fault his preparation.” The four-strong British raiding party also features G1 British Champions Fillies & Mares third Tiffany (Ire) (Farhh {GB}), G1 Oaks third War Chimes (Summer Front) and the latter's David Menuisier-trained stablemate Panthera (Fr) (Cracksman {GB}). Last year's winning stable of Andre Fabre is represented by Godolphin's multiple Group 2-placed Marquisat (Ire) (Zarak {Fr}). “Marquisat is a consistent horse who has never disappointed us throughout his career,” commented Godolphin's Louise Benard. “This end-of-season Group 1 fits well in his season and he should perform well.” The home defence includes last year's runner-up Assistent (Ger) (Sea The Moon {Ger}), the dual Group 1-placed G2 Gran Premio del Jockey Club victor Straight (Ger) (Zarak {Fr}), this term's G2 Grand Prix de Deauville victrix Quantanamera (Ger) (Lope De Vega {Ire}), July's G1 Deutsches Derby third Augustus (Ger) (Soldier Hollow {GB}) and Gestut Ittlingen's ultra-consistent stayer Lordano (Ger) (Adlerflug {Ger}). The latter was 2 3/4 lengths adrift of Straight when third to GI Breeders' Cup Turf hero Rebel's Romance (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) in September's G1 Preis von Europa at Cologne. Sarka Schutz trainee Atoso (Ger) (Guiliani {Ire}) completes the roll call. The post Ancient Wisdom Primed for Munich Test appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

One of the youngest consignors in the business, Fearghal Hogan has enjoyed some brilliant pinhooking results under his own Churchland Stud banner and at just 33 years of age, he can boast something that the majority in this business can only ever aspire to achieve, through his joint-ownership of Group 1 winner Laws Of Indices. The County Carlow native is refreshingly honest about the fact he found the going tough at the yearling sales in 2024, opens up about some of his biggest touches in the game and shares plans for recent stallion acquisition Inns Of Court (GB) in the first TDN Europe Q&A of the winter. How do you reflect on the year? I'll be completely straight with you, I only had an okay year–not as good as the past three or four years. I don't know what that was down to. I've only been consigning horses for four or five years now and, while we have sold some good horses, it is still hard to compete with the bigger outfits. There was a tightening in the market. It may not have looked like there was after Book 1 and 2 and even the Orby, but I know there was a tightening. When there is a bit of a correction to the market happening, it can be easier for the bloodstock agents to go back to the consignors that they've had success with in the past. That's something I found at the yearling sales this year. I also didn't have sire power. I brought nice horses to the sales but they were by horses that may not be the most fashionable. I'm a divil for doing that-buying the horse first and the page second. I had an Australia (GB) colt in Book 1 for example. I thought he was a belter-he is a first foal out of a black-type mare. But he only made 95,000gns and cost me €72,000 as a foal. I'd say if he was by something sexier, he'd have made a lot of money. When you are selling yearlings, sire power is a massive part of it. You say that, but the one thing I took from Book 2 was the amount of different sires who had horses selling for 500,000gns or more. A colt by Territories (Ire), for example, made 750,000gns. But Territories is a good sire. He's exactly the type of sire I'd like to buy a foal by. But you go and try to buy a nice Territories, it will cost you plenty of money. I'd buy one all day long. I got out this year but didn't make any money. You see, I'd be kind of old-fashioned in my ways. I don't really buy sprinters. I prefer to buy back-end middle-distance types and I don't mind putting horses in training either. If they didn't run at two for me, it wouldn't be the end of the world at all. The real money in this game is for those mile-plus horses and, if you have patience, it can be rewarding. What was it about setting up your own consignment and pinhooking that appealed to you in the first place? I'd no experience working on a farm at home or anything like that. My parents ran a pub in Carlow town and I just started working on a farm close to home and it just took off from there. I spent time in England, worked here at Goffs with Andrew Nolan in the property department because I actually studied auctioneering and valuations in college. But the first few horses I bought, I got lucky and had a few touches. It took off from there. What touches did you get? A few cheap foals I bought went on and made decent money as yearlings. I was giving three or four grand for foals and getting 16 and 17 grand for them as yearlings. I thought it was easy, but of course it wasn't. I loved trading horses from the start and I still do. It's probably hard to buy those cheaper foals these days with the way the whole game has gone. No, those days are finished. Gone. You can't do that anymore. There's just no bottom to the market. I think the bottom of the market is completely gone. It's so expensive to keep a horse in training that, with stagnant levels of prize-money, people probably don't want the fun horse anymore. Most of my luck has come from horses in training. We had a filly in training with Willie McCreery called Come September (Ire) (Roderic O'Connor {Ire}) and she won first time out at Gowran Park and got sold afterwards. Shortly after that, we had a horse called Laws Of Indices (Ire) (Power {GB}), who Ken Condon trained to win a Group 1 for us. It's a funny business model but, for me, I think it's the best business model there is. Laws Of Indices | Goffs It's the ultimate test when you put them in training. It's the ultimate test and you might go through five, six or seven horses before you get a good one but, when you do, it's brilliant. That's my favourite part of the game, having horses in training. Everyone thinks I'm mad. I don't breeze horses. Anything yearling I buy, I put them into training. You're plucky. Every time I open up the calendar I see you down for owning bits and pieces of a new horse nearly every week! I'm lucky in that I'm friendly with a few trainers. I was very lucky with Ken, Willie and I've a good few horses with John and George Murphy as well. They are top-class operators. Mark Fahey is another man I have a few horses with. He's a very shrewd man. He's probably still a bit underestimated actually. Tell me a bit more about Laws Of Indices. That's some story. Andrew Nolan and his wife Charlotte, Martin Walsh, Dermot Farrington and Viv Noone owned the horse with me. Charlotte was at the sales at Goffs one day and rang me to say she'd found one. I was working in England at the time and said that I'd take him no problem. I can't take any credit for finding him or anything like that. He won his maiden on his second start, went on to win the Railway Stakes, and then he went on to win the Group 1 Prix Jean Prat after that. We sold half of him to continue his career in Australia and he did well down there. He was the horse of a lifetime for me and got me going. Between him and Come September, they got me up and running. Now, I have gone through a good few of them since but I don't mind that because, when you do hit on one, you can get well paid. I love that you can buy a foal or a yearling for reasonable money in this game and, in a year's time, you don't know where you could be. You have a chance of making a lot of money for a relatively small investment and that's the bit I love about this game. You can dream. You had some good touches in the ring last year. Yes, George Murphy, Gary Dowling and myself sold a Galiway (GB) colt for 145,000gns at the Somerville Sale. We bought him for €27,000 as a foal. I'd a good result with a Saxon Warrior (Jpn) colt at the Orby this year as well. I gave €8,000 for him as a foal and got €50,000 as a yearling so that was decent going. But the Galiway was very special because it took place around the time of Gary's father's anniversary. There was a lot of emotion surrounding that and we were all delighted for Gary, What yearlings did you buy to put into training this year? I bought an Invincible Spirit (Ire) filly out of Gorane (Ire) (Dream Ahead) for 15,000gns and I thought she was good value. Gorane was quite a good filly for Henry de Bromhead and Clipper and I can remember her from my time spent down with Joe Foley at Ballyhane Stud. I bought into a Havana Grey (GB) as well and then there are a few yearlings who I didn't bring to the sales so there's five or six to look forward to there. I didn't realise you worked at Ballyhane. You've crammed a lot in. Michael and Ruth Foley, who ran the farm close to my home in Carlow, taught me a lot. Then Joe and Jane Foley were very good to me at Ballyhane as well. As I mentioned, Andrew Nolan was also good to me in Goffs. I used to work the yearling sales with Dermot Farrington and learned plenty doing that. He is a brilliant judge–one of the best in the game. When you go through some of his big-name purchases, they are actually quite cheap with respect to what they went on to achieve on the track. He's great fun to be around and was a great man to learn from. He looks at things differently to a lot of people and has huge success. That's one thing I learned from him, the ability to buy a good horse by sires who may have gone cold. What drives you out of bed in the morning? I just love horses and love working with them. But I suppose my favourite thing to do is go racing. The lads give me awful abuse but, I could go racing three or four days a week, especially in the summer when there's evening racing. I love it. I don't mind having a bet either. We've had a few touches at that down through the years as well. We backed a horse that Mark Fahey trained during Covid–66s, 33s, those sort of prices. That was some day. How did you get to know Mark? He's clearly a very good operator. I was introduced to Mark through another good friend of mine, Richie Scahill. Richie had horses with Mark for years and had a lot of luck with him. Richie's father, Dessie, is obviously the legendary commentator, and he actually buys some foals with us every year. Dessie loves the game and it's great having him involved. Legendary commentator Dessie Scahill: gets involved in pinhooking with Hogan | Racingfotos.com You have a lot of clients and consign horses on behalf of a lot of breeders. How are the smaller breeders reacting to the recent sales and have many of those breeders shared whatever plans they might have for the future? A lot of smaller breeders will be pulling back. But the way the thing is gone, there are probably 10 sires that you'd like to use, but they are not affordable to the smaller breeder. The rest of the sires are probably okay but they're not commercial so some breeders have a bit of a dilemma to face into. I have a few mares in partnership with friends but I just let them pick the sires. I'd be looking at it with the view of trying to produce a racehorse whereas they might be more commercially minded. You'd probably go broke trying to do it my way as a breeder so that's why I let them decide the matings. There is a big difference between breeding a racehorse and a sales horse. You've got a lot of friends in the industry. There are some great success stories of young people making a go of it, including yourself, in the bloodstock game. It's a brilliant game. I'd be very close with George Murphy, who I already mentioned, and Jerry Horan as well. Actually, Jerry and I bought Inns Of Court during the summer of Tally-Ho Stud. We bought him on behalf of an Iranian client and we're not quite sure what we're going to do with him yet. We could stand him in France. I think he's an underrated sire and has a very good end to this season. Our client is very happy so hopefully he's something to look forward to. The post Fearghal Hogan Q&A: ‘I Love Trading Horses – You Can Dream In This Game’ appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Tattersalls has donated £50,000 to the Retraining of Racehorses charity for the calendar year 2024. Having supported the RoR as sole sponsor of their popular Showing Series for thoroughbreds since its inception in 2015, the £50,000 Tattersalls contribution reflects a commitment to the Showing Series, but also to the wider work of the ROR whose strategy published earlier this year has been widely praised within the racing and breeding industry. Commenting on the donation, Tattersalls Chairman Edmond Mahony said, “Tattersalls has been the proud sponsor of the Retraining of Racehorses Showing Series for many years now and the series has always provided wonderful opportunities for thoroughbreds to showcase their versatility and prowess at all levels in the show ring, and show just how much enjoyment they can bring to all those involved with them. We hope that our increased commitment to such an important charity will enable the Showing Series to continue to flourish while also supporting wider RoR initiatives designed to ensure the welfare of former racehorses and increasing awareness of the important role played by RoR. We are delighted that this series has given so many people a reason to enjoy thoroughbred horses outside the traditional sphere of racing.” David Catlow, Managing Director of Retraining of Racehorses, added, “RoR is incredibly grateful to Tattersalls for this generous support. Their long-standing commitment to the Showing Series has been invaluable, and this additional contribution will have a significant impact on our wider welfare initiatives. Together, we are ensuring that former racehorses are not only cared for but celebrated for their versatility and achievements beyond the track.” The post Tattersalls Makes £50,000 Donation To Retraining Of Racehorses Charity appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

There can have been no ignoring the explosive entrance of the Emir of Qatar's Wathnan Racing to the European racing scene in particular over the last 18 months. The 2023 Royal Ascot winners Courage Mon Ami (GB) (Frankel {GB}) and Gregory (GB) (Golden Horn {GB}) gave advance warning as to what was to unfold in the ensuing period, with their victories respectively in the G1 Gold Cup and G2 Queen's Vase coming on their first starts in the Wathnan silks after being bought privately from their owner-breeders, Anthony Oppenheimer and Philippa Cooper. There have been plenty more high-profile purchases since then, notably Kind Of Blue (GB) (Blue Point {Ire}), who won the G1 Qipco Champions Sprint on his first run for Wathnan Racing, and Classic winner Fallen Angel (GB) (Too Darn Hot {GB}), who has made two starts for Wathnan since winning the Irish 1,000 Guineas in May. The ambition is clear: to be associated with top-class racing prospects, whether acquired as horses in training, or at the breeze-ups or yearling sales. The next logical step is for Wathnan Racing to branch out as Wathnan Breeding, especially when one considers some of the fillies and mares either currently in training or recently retired or purchased. Official word from the Wathnan camp is that the emphasis is very much on the racing for now, and that after all is where the real fun is to be had. But amid the stallion announcements this week came the news that Isaac Shelby (GB), who had been the first runner for Wathnan Racing in Europe when running an agonisingly close second in the G1 Poule d'Essai des Poulains of 2023, would be standing as a stallion next year. The son of Night Of Thunder (Ire) will be at Newsells Park Stud, where Wathnan Racing also now boards some mares. “He's a fine horse by a very special young stallion and we'll be very keen to see all his offspring when they come to market,” said Richard Brown, Wathnan's racing manager, in a press release issued by Newsells Park Stud on Tuesday. Along with Fallen Angel, Wathnan Racing is now listed as the owner of another two of Steve Parkin's good broodmare prospects, according to Weatherbys' recently published Return of Mares. Romantic Proposal (Ire), winner of the G1 Flying Five in the Clipper Logistic colours when trained by Eddie Lynam, and the dual Group 2 winner Dramatised (Ire) are both listed as having been covered by Wootton Bassett (GB) this year for Wathnan Racing. The latter was mated for the first time earlier this year, while Romantic Proposal produced her first foal, a colt by Dubawi (Ire), in January, bred by Parkin's Branton Court Stud. Among other potential broodmare prospects for Wathnan Racing are the G3 Fred Darling Stakes winner Remarquee (GB) (Kingman {GB}), whose two-year-old half-sister Revoir (GB) (Study Of Man {Ire}) recently made an eye-catching debut at Nottingham. Then there's Leovanni (Ire) (Kodi Bear {Ire}), who was one of four winners for Wathnan Racing at this year's Royal Ascot when landing the G2 Queen Mary Stakes. Since Bolthole (Ire) (Free Eagle {Ire}) won the Listed Grand Prix de Bordeaux in May 2023 to become the operation's first stakes winner, a further 19 black-type victories have come Wathnan's way in Europe, headed by the aforementioned Group 1 winners Courage Mon Ami and Kind Of Blue, and including the Group 2-winning colts Shareholder (Not This Time) and Aesterius (Ire) (Mehmas {Ire}). Another five stakes victories have come in America, where Subsanador (Arg) (Fortify) won the GI California Crown Stakes, while Hit Show (Candy Ride {Arg}) has won both his Grade II starts for Wathnan to date. With such firepower to work with, it surely won't be long before we see some homebreds racing in the Wathnan silks. Whether or not we see a Wathnan stallion operation launching in the coming years is anyone's guess, but it does not require too much of a leap of faith to see the Emir following the example of some of his close family members in eventually retiring his top colts to stand under his own banner. The post Wathnan Racing Breaking New Ground in Breeding appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Veteran handler claims Saturday’s final two races with talented four-year-old and consistent galloper.View the full article