Wandering Eyes

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

The Group One Champions Mile (1600m) at Flemington has been one of the few major miles to elude Mr Brightside, who finished fourth in the race in 2021, third in 2022 and second last year. But it was fourth time lucky on Saturday and the seven-year-old added the A$3 million feature to his glittering CV. Mr Brightside has now won 18 of his 40 starts and more than A$16 million in stakes, and he is showing no sign of slowing down. He has continued his customary consistency throughout this spring, running second in the Gr.1 Memsie Stakes (1400m), winning the Gr.1 Makybe Diva Stakes (1600m), finishing second in the Gr.2 Feehan Stakes (1600m), second in the Gr.1 Might And Power Stakes (2000m) and a last-start fourth in the Gr.1 Cox Plate (2040m). The Bullbars gelding was just edged out for favouritism on Saturday by his old nemesis Pride Of Jenni, who beat him into second in last year’s edition of the race. But this time that result was emphatically reversed. Pride Of Jenni adopted her usual front-running tactics, with Mr Brightside and his regular rider Craig Williams biding their time in fifth along the rail. Pride Of Jenni’s lead was swallowed up soon after rounding the home turn, with Amelia’s Jewel surging past her to take the lead with a likely-looking run. Fangirl, Antino and Stefi Magnetica then launched booming finishes out wide on the track, while Mr Brightside scythed through the pack closer to the inside. In a desperate five-horse scramble to the finish, Mr Brightside’s renowned never-say-die qualities carried him through and he pulled ahead of Antino to win by half a length in a New Zealand-bred quinella. Fangirl finished third, just ahead of Stefi Magnetica and Amelia’s Jewel. ”It’s one of those ‘pinch yourself’ moments to be a part of this horse,” Williams said. “I’ve been with him since the third start of his career, and it’s been an amazing journey with him. “Credit has to go to Ben, Will and JD Hayes for the way they’ve developed him. They built his confidence, he got stronger and he got better. He believed in himself and now he’s this type of horse. So full credit has to go to those boys, but also to Mr Brightside, who just loves to win. “It’s great for him to get another Group One this preparation, because they’re not easy. So it just gives me nothing but another great thrill. “He travelled a lot better in the blinkers today. He felt more professional today and really switched on, but he actually has been feeling like that his last couple of runs. He was amazing in the Cox Plate too but just didn’t get the result. “I saw Antino out wide there today, and he’s a good horse. My only concern was whether he was going to be able to see the competition. But he had nothing else in his mind other than ‘I’m going as fast as I can to that winning post.’ He’s decelerating a lot slower than all those other top horses, which is so remarkable at his age. “He’s the horse that I’ve won the most races on in my career. I’ve been really lucky to have horses like him and Bella Nipotina, but, you know, they line up every day, we demand and ask them to be the best horse they can be against the best opposition and luckily for me, they are usually. I’m very, very grateful and lucky.” The Hayes team were similarly grateful to have Mr Brightside as the undisputed headline horse of their Lindsay Park operation. “It’s quite emotional to be honest,” Will Hayes said. “He really is our flagbearer. We owe this horse everything. He started our momentum as a stable and really generated a lot of hype for us and the way he’s raced today, it was heart-in-your-mouth stuff. We took a risk and put the blinkers on, back in trip, it was suitable and Craig rode him terrifically. We just needed the split and when he took it, he did what champions do and savaged the line. “The old man in Hong Kong (David Hayes) suggested the blinkers, but it’s a team effort and Mr Brightside represents our team so well. It’s such a credit to all our staff across all our locations and to get the win today is just absolutely something special and really something to hang a hat on for the spring.” Mr Brightside was bred by Ray Johnson in partnership with his late wife Martha. He was sold as a yearling for $22,000 via Janine Dunlop’s Phoenix Park at the 2019 New Zealand Bloodstock May Sale, where he was bought by Phill Cataldo. He then failed to meet his $50,000 reserve when re-offered at the Ready to Run Sale. An opportunity later arose for Johnson to buy him back on gavelhouse.com for just $7,750, in conjunction with Cambridge trainer Ralph Manning and good friend Shaun Dromgool. Mr Brightside finished a luckless fifth in his sole New Zealand start at Matamata for Manning, having previously won a trial. He was subsequently sold privately to clients of the Hayes stable via Australian agent Wayne Ormond. View the full article

Multiple New Zealand Group One winner Belclare has continued her strong form in Australia from her new quarters at Bjorn Baker’s stable. The seven-year-old daughter of Per Incanto won the A$2 million Gr.2 The Invitation (1400m) at Randwick a fortnight ago and it was a case of rinse and repeat when landing the A$500,000 Gr.2 Hot Danish Stakes (1400m) at Rosehill on Saturday. On both occasions Belclare went forward under Tyler Schiller and had her rivals in trouble when showing a good kick mid-straight, with quality mare Magic Time chasing her home for second in both races. “She made her own luck. I was surprised when Tyler got there so easily and there wasn’t a lot of pressure around,” stable representative Luke Hilton said. “I was pretty confident after they’d gone a couple of hundred metres that she was going to be tough to beat. She likes to dictate. Just probably the three runs in succession at 1400m was the only concern and we thought maybe she was looking for a touch further, but Tyler rated her perfectly. “She’s a Group One-winning mare and she showed that today. “We’ve spoken about maybe heading over west to a race like the Railway (Gr.1, 1600m) in a couple of weeks’ time. “We’ll sit down with the owner David Woodhouse, he’s very involved and he loves this mare, so if he gives us the sign off we might look at giving her a crack at another Group One. ” Bred and raced by Woodhouse, time had been called on Belclare’s racing career last season, with the two-time winner of the Gr.1 New Zealand Thoroughbred Breeder’s Stakes (1600m) destined to be sold as a broodmare. She was subsequently offered at Magic Millions’ National Broodmare Sale, where she failed to meet her $700,000 reserve. While initially disappointed with the outcome, Woodhouse has now got good reason to smile as Belclare has added valuable Australian black-type and her earnings have been bolstered to $2,223,780. A winner of 11 races for original trainer Lisa Latta, Belclare has now won two of her four starts since joining Baker. By outstanding Little Avondale Stud sire Per Incanto, Belclare is the third foal from the O’Reilly mare Miss Rhythmic, a winner of one race and herself a sister to Luxe, who ran third in the Listed Taranaki Oaks Prelude. They are out of the Keeper mare Gymnast who in turn was out of the champion filly of her year in Olga’s Pal, whose six wins included the Gr. 1 New Zealand 1000 Guineas (1600m). View the full article

Group 1 winner Dubai Mile (Ire) (Roaring Lion {GB}) will stand at Coolagown Stud in County Cork for 2025. Trained by Mark and Charlie Johnston, Dubai Mile landed the Criterium de Saint-Cloud on his final start at two. He contested the 2,000 Guineas and the Derby at three before retiring initially to Manton Park. Bred by Skymarc Farm, the son of Group 1-performing mare Beach Bunny (Ire) (High Chaparral {Ire}), who has proved herself as a high-class producer, will stand for €4,000 on a live foal basis for 2025. Coolagown Stud's David Stack said, “I'm absolutely delighted to be standing Dubai Mile, a very special horse as one of the best colts by the much-missed Roaring Lion, on behalf of Ahmad Al Shaikh. He's a stunning individual with an incredible action, and both us and Ahmad will support him with some nice mares. “I look forward to showing him off to breeders and thank Federico Barberini for arranging for him to stand here.” The post Group 1 Winner Dubai Mile To Stand At Coolagown Stud appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Four-year-old narrowly denies John Size’s hype machine at Sha Tin on Saturday.View the full article

In-form jockey lands a brace courtesy of Ka Ying Attack and Panasonic Cup victor Green N White.View the full article

Chris Waller‘s star mare Via Sistina continued her stunning spring campaign with a dominant victory in the 2024 VRC Champions Stakes at Flemington. Ridden by James McDonald, the seven-year-old mare settled towards the rear of the field before unleashing a powerful burst in the straight. She quickly overhauled the leaders and extended her advantage to […] The post Via Sistina Dominates Again, Secures 2024 Champions Stakes Victory appeared first on HorseRacing.com.au. View the full article

Mr Brightside, the talented gelding trained by Team Hayes, has claimed the 2024 Champions Mile in a thrilling finish at Flemington on Champions Stakes Day. This victory marks his eighth Group 1 win, solidifying his status as one of Australia’s top racehorses. Ridden by Craig Williams, Mr Brightside settled midfield before launching a powerful finishing […] The post Mr Brightside Too Good in 2024 Champions Mile Triumph appeared first on HorseRacing.com.au. View the full article

Pericles after winning the Five Diamonds. Photo: Bradleyphotos.com.au The James Cummings-trained Pericles ($19.00) has been rewarded for a lengthy preparation, bolting clear in the $2 million Five Diamonds (1800m) at Rosehill on Saturday afternoon. The Godolphin five-year-old was set to peak after a testing effort in the Group 1 King Charles III Stakes (1600m) on October 19 and appeared well-placed against his own age group despite being sent around at a big price with Marantelli Bet. He was aided by an outstanding ride by star hoop Kerrin McEvoy, landing into the one-one throughout the journey from barrier 11. The complexion of the race changed from the outset, with most speed map followers thinking the Bjorn Baker-trained Amor Victorious ($41.00) would lead at his own leisure; however, Regan Bayliss had other plans, sending $71.00 rank outsider with Bet365, Osipenko to the top from barrier 13. Yellow Brick ($8.50) crossed to sit on his outside, leaving Pericles and Amor Victorious handing up in the middle stages. Attrition ($4.00) was heavily backed prior to the jump with Playup and lobbed into the ideal position mid-field with cover, while Territory Express ($4.20) had no luck under Zac Lloyd, buried behind a wall of horses throughout. It was all Pericles in the end, however, taking luck out of the equation as he careered away with the prize. 2024 Five Diamonds Replay – Pericles Darren Beadman spoke post-race at Rosehill on the behalf of Godolphin. “He’s been such a great campaigner for us,” Beadman said. “He’s been around in everything but the Bong Bong Bike Race. Great effort from the team. “He (Kerrin McEvoy) rode him such a lovely race from the 400m to the 200m. He’s a little bit suspect at the distance but with the blinkers off today he relaxed well in the run, great training effort by James and Reidy and the team. He’s been a great campaigner. “He’s such a placid animal. He’s a very placid horse. You just don’t realise how big he is. When you go to put the saddle on him, he’s very tall horse. He’s got a lot of substance to him. “He was second last year here in the Golden Eagle, just got touched off by the Japanese horse (Obamburumai). But he adds a lot of enthusiasm to the camp.” Kerrin McEvoy was confident pre-race and couldn’t have been happier with how things unfolded for his mount. “It was great,” he said. “James (Cummings) gave me some good confidence, as did Darren and Dizzy as well, they just said ‘try your luck’. We drew wide but we were on a fit horse. He’s been running well. You look at horses beating him home like Buckaroo, Ceolwulf, they’re all Group One winners. “It was up to us to try to extricate and get into a spot from that draw but we were able to lob into the one-one and they backed off and I got a bit of a rest. And I was ever so confident once we got to the 600m.” Horse racing news View the full article

Sunshine In Paris, trained by Annabel Neasham and Rob Archibald, has claimed a thrilling victory in the 2024 Champions Sprint results at Flemington on Stakes Day. Ridden by the masterful James McDonald, the mare produced a powerful finish to edge out 40/1 outsider Right To Party and secure the prestigious Group 1 title fourth-up for […] The post Sunshine In Paris Shines Bright in Champions Sprint 2024 Results appeared first on HorseRacing.com.au. View the full article

Cup Week is upon us! And we’ve got all the information you need to get involved in the fantastic week of racing Our 2024 Lift-Out includes previews from Michael Guerin, Dave Di Somma and Mike Love; fun facts, selections, full fields for Cup Day, Ashburton happenings and a Sweepstake kit for the office. Click here View the full article

By Adam Hamilton All the signs are great with glamour Aussie trotting filly Keayang Zahara ahead of her first NZ run next week. Driver Jason Lee was all smiles after taking the three-year-old for her first spin around Addington on Saturday morning, ahead of Friday’s inaugural $500,000 Majestic Horse Floats LP THE ASCENT. Keayang Zahara is unbeaten in 11 starts, five of them at Group 1 level. “It’s another box we’ve ticked-off on a trip where everything has gone to plan, maybe even a bit better than Paddy (Lee, co-trainer) could’ve hoped,” Lee said. “We didn’t ask her to do too much, but it’s a different sort of track and good for her, and I, to have a look around it. “She worked with Arcee Phoenix and one of Nathan Purdon’s young trotters and did it well. “She’s really mated-up with Arcee Phoenix and no doubt that’s helped her handle the trip so well.” Keayang Zahara arrived in Christchurch last Wednesday and is stabled at Nathan Purdon’s barn. “Paddy (Lee) has been with her the whole time and he’s been so happy with her. She lost a bit of weight, as you’d expect with two flights to get here, but she’s settled in and is eating up really well. Paddy says eating even better here that at home, “After the workout, I’d have to say there’s no reason she’s not at least as good as she’s been all campaign.” Incredibly, Keayang Zahara only had her first start at Maryborough on April 3. Keayang Zahara hasn’t raced since winning the Group 1 Victoria Trotters’ Derby at Maryborough on October 27. If she runs as hoped in The Ascent, Keayang Zahara will stay in Christchurch for the NZ Trotters’ Oaks and Derby. View the full article

Sunshine In Paris (middle) ridden by James McDonald winning the Group 1 Champions Sprint at Flemington. (Photo by Scott Barbour/Racing Photos) Sunshine In Paris ($5.50) has claimed her second Group 1 success of her career, following a barnstorming finish in the Champions Sprint at Flemington. For the ninth time at the Melbourne Cup Carnival, James McDonald pulled the right reign on the Annabel Neasham & Rob Archibald-trained mare, who was well backed with horse racing bookmakers and duly saluted in a tight photo finish. As expected, the 1200m contest was run at a solid tempo down the Flemington straight, with Overpass ($6.50) and Estriella ($23) leading the field as they all moved towards the outside rail to find the best ground. When the field hit the course proper with 450m to go, the leaders began to struggle, and Bella Nipotina ($4.20) took over with Baraqiel ($13). McDonald held a strong grip on the eventual winner as he was looking for a run between the tiring pacemakers, and Jye McNeil set off towards the inside of runners on Right To Party ($41). Right To Party sprinted quickly to join Bella Nipotina in the lead before McDonald found a gap at the 150m mark with his mount. In what was a driving finish, Sunshine In Paris launched late and got her head down on the line between the leading duo, defeating Right To Party and Bella Nipotina in that order. 2024 Champions Sprint replay – Sunshine In Paris Annabel Neasham represented the winning stable in the post-race interview. “I feel bad. I wish Rob was standing here,” Neasham said. “I did ask him if he wanted to do it. He said, no, I’ll do Sydney, but no, it was the first person I rang as soon as she crossed the line and I know what that’ll be feeling like for him. “She’s been a great horse. “She’s obviously already won that Group 1, but not in the new ownership with John Camilleri. “So, I’m just delighted for him. He put so much into the sport and, he paid a hefty price for her, but she’s looking cheap now. “She’s been there or thereabouts. She’s probably been a little far back in a few of her runs from awkward draws, but, yeah, fantastic ride by James. “I actually thought mid-race she had come off the bridle a little, but she was still there and then she looked like she bridled up again and there was no room. “But when you’ve got James on, you always, I suppose you sweat less because he just makes good decisions and the split came at the right time and it was her day today.” James McDonald was also quick to mention Rob Archibald post-race. “Rob would be over the moon obviously,” McDonald said. “I’ve had a great association with Annabel and now Rob’s there. They’re a strong team, and their horses are firing. “This mare was turned out immaculate, and she was ready to win. “I was cursing myself a furlong from home as I didn’t want to go when the race built up, but I can’t say what I was saying at the furlong, but anyway, I was lucky I got away with it. “It was just lucky. “I had the right mare to do it and she was willing. She was a very willing partner, took the gap. “I was probably lucky I didn’t really get too itchy and go for a gap I was anticipating to open. “Anyway, it could have ended in tears, that’s for sure. I won’t take much credit for it.” Horse racing news View the full article

Golden Gift winner, North England. Photo: Bradleyphotos.com.au The Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott-trained North England ($3.30) has justified favouritism with horse racing bookmakers in the Group 3 Golden Gift (1100m) at Rosehill on Saturday afternoon, proving the best of the two-year-olds in the $1 million feature. The son of Farnan made a strong impression running into the minor money on debut in the Group 3 Breeders’ Plate (1000m) at Randwick on October 5, and Tim Clark was happy to adopt similar tactics stepping up to the 1100m, attempting to make every post a winner. He was revved up out of barrier three to cross to the rail, leading out at a moderate tempo, with O’ Ole ($8.00) sauntering to his outside throughout the journey. Icarian Dream ($5.00) and Tupakara ($4.20) lobbed into the ideal stalking position; however, both appeared to be their own worst enemy getting into a bumping duel as the pair turned for home. The debutants West Of Swindon (9.50) and Extractor ($12.00) were storming home after being well-backed with Neds prior to the jump but they were simply no match for North England who was already off and gone with the prize. 2024 Golden Gift Replay – North England Stable representative Neil Payne was on course at Rosehill to discuss the victory. “Terrific win,” Payne said. “What a good win. Tim, he is brilliant on our two-year-olds. He jumped out, he didn’t drive it mad, he just cruised up to the lead, kept a hold of it and the horse kept giving. “But going on what the horse did in the Breeders Plate and then went to a trial at Hawkesbury, and trialled sensationally. “It was a really good move by Gai and Adrian just to give him a few days off and then target him for this race. It was a $1 million race as well.” Tim Clark was delighted with the win and suggested more black-type could be on the cards in the autumn after being tipped out for a spell. “He’s been very straight forward and a horse that has just put his hand up early,” he said. “Obviously he got to the Breeders Plate and ran really well. He couldn’t have done much more there apart from win. Obviously Henry (Field) and the team identified this race and it’s a short turnaround.” “He had a little bit of time out and then had to come back in, so it’s a really long prep for them but he’s handled it really well. And I think that attribute is very much like his old man, Farnan, who I had a lot to do with. “He’s very laid-back and he’s just got the best attitude. Henry (Field) has been a great supporter of mine so it’s good to get a big win for him. “Obviously the great thing about today, and winning today, is he’s in the race so they can pick their mark with him. “He can have a good break now and just come back and have one race in mind for him. And he doesn’t have to improve a lot to be right up there with the best of them in six months time.” North England is now a $18.00 chance in futures markets with Marantelli Bet for the 2025 Golden Slipper on March 22. Horse racing news View the full article

Up-and-comer Kadavar extended his perfect record at 2400m to two-from-two with a stylish victory in Saturday’s A$160,000 TAB Handicap (2400m) at Rosehill. The Tarzino gelding has now had 11 starts for four wins, earning A$170,025 for his owners Neville Morgan and David Devine. Kadavar won the first two starts of his career at Ipswich and Doomben earlier this year, then stepped up to 2400m for the first time with victory on the Kensington track in June. The four-year-old headed into Saturday’s assignment with a form line that had steadily improved as distances increased this spring, finishing fifth over 1580m, fourth over 1800m and a last-start second over 2140m. The step up back up to 2400m on Saturday brought him right into his element, and he finished strongly out of the pack to win by a length for jockey Joao Moreira. “It all went our way,” Moreira said. “He had a good gate and hugged the rail, and they went at a solid tempo out in front. He finished it off strongly in the end.” Kadavar is trained by Chris Waller, who was represented at Rosehill on Saturday by his assistant trainer Charlie Duckworth. “I thought he was a bit unlucky not to win last start,” he said. “He was stepping up in distance and grade today, which isn’t easy. But he got a beautiful run through, and then when he had to be strong late and dig deep, he did that very well.” Kadavar was bred by Gerry Harvey and was offered in Westbury Stud’s draft at Karaka 2022, where Mulcaster Bloodstock and Chris Waller Racing bought him for $300,000. He is one of seven winners from nine foals to race out of the Danehill Dancer mare Arapaho Miss, who herself won the Gr.1 VRC Oaks (2500m). Her daughter Miami Bound followed suit with her own victory in the Flemington fillies’ classic in 2019, while De Little Engine won eight races up to Listed level. View the full article

A dream spring for Savaglee, his trainer Pam Gerard and jockey Sam Spratt culminated in something very special in the Gr.1 Al Basti Equiworld Dubai 52nd New Zealand 2000 Guineas (1600m) at Riccarton on Saturday. Savaglee began his three-year-old season somewhat below the radar, albeit with two wins to his name from seven starts last season including the Gr.3 Matamata Slipper (1200m). But the Savabeel colt has blossomed before our eyes this spring and become a standout of his generation, winning four of his five starts including the Gr.2 Hawke’s Bay Guineas (1400m), Gr.2 Sarten Memorial (1400m) and Saturday’s $650,000 classic. He has been expertly guided through his breakthrough campaign by trainer Pam Gerard, who has made a triumphant start to her tenure as solo trainer at Ballymore Stables in Matamata. Having previously trained in partnership with Mike Moroney for just under a decade, Gerard went out on her own in August when the Melbourne-based Moroney relinquished his New Zealand licence. Gerard has rapidly racked up 14 winners this season, headlined by Savaglee’s black-type treble. The other piece of the Savaglee puzzle is Spratt, who is riding in the form of her life. She arrived at Riccarton on Saturday with 30 wins to her name and a three-win premiership lead over Craig Grylls. Spratt proceeded to add another four wins to that tally over the course of the afternoon, including a clean sweep of the black-type features with Illicit Dreams in the Listed Donaldson Brown Pegasus Stakes (1000m), Mehzebeen in the Listed Nautical Boat Insurance Metropolitan Trophy (2600m) and Savaglee in the one that mattered most. Savaglee’s commanding form leading into the 2000 Guineas meant his win on Saturday hardly came as a surprise. He was sent out as one of the hottest favourites in the race’s recent history, jumping as a $1.70 chance. But his performance was something out of the very top drawer. Spratt initially settled Savaglee in third behind So Naive and When Stars Align. Second favourite Love Poem slid up alongside him and kept him firmly in her sights, threatening to force him into a pocket along the rail. But Spratt was having none of that, driving Savaglee through a narrow gap between So Naive and When Stars Align just before the home turn. Savaglee stuck his head in front at the top of the straight and quickly took command, drawing away from his outclassed opponents and winning by two and three-quarter lengths. Love Poem crossed the line in a distant second, with longshot Domain Ace running into third. Savaglee’s Guineas win came in a sizzling time of 1:33.86 – the third-fastest recorded in the race. It was beaten only by Xtravagant’s 1:33.59 in 2015 and Ugo Foscolo’s 1:33.81 a year later. Savaglee, who was a $400,000 yearling purchase at Karaka from the draft of breeders Waikato Stud, has now had 12 starts for six wins, two placings and $744,975 in stakes. “He’s been brilliant,” Gerard said. “I wasn’t worried until about 10 minutes before the race, but then it all hits home. You start thinking, ‘Have I done it right?’ “But Sam’s riding like a demon today. She was always very confident. And this is just a really good little horse that’s gone from strength to strength this season. It was probably easy in the end, but it’s never easy to watch. “It’s special to come back to my old home town and win this race. I’ve run second a couple of times before, so this is fantastic. “The Oaks Stud is amazing. I’m so honoured that they’ve entrusted me with this horse, and he’s done the job for them today. He’s halfway to being a stallion now. It’s amazing.” Fellow Savabeel colts Embellish and Noverre went on to stud careers after winning the 2000 Guineas in 2017 and 2021 respectively. Spratt was full of praise for Savaglee’s Guineas performance. “That was pretty much perfect, he came back to me so nicely and just cruised along,” she said. “I briefly thought he was a bit flat around the 800m, but then as soon as I dug him up, I had plenty of horse there. “They loomed up to us in the straight, but he’s got an amazing turn of foot. He just kicked away and was too good. “I haven’t ridden a lot of colts like him in my time, so it’s very special to be riding him and winning this race today.” Savaglee became the second 2000 Guineas winner in the last five years for owners The Oaks Stud. Their blue and white colours were carried to victory in the 2019 edition of the Christchurch classic by the homebred gelding Catalyst. Four years before that, The Oaks Stud also won the Gr.1 New Zealand 1000 Guineas (1600m) with Risque. “It’s always a huge honour to win a race like this,” The Oaks Stud general manager Rick Williams said. “We’ve been lucky enough to be on the receiving end of Al Basti Equiworld’s generous sponsorship a couple of times now. “It’s fitting that we won this race today with Pam Gerard. A few years ago, when she was an assistant trainer with Te Akau, she came down here with our filly Risque and spent about three months here with her during that spring. She ended up winning the 1000 Guineas, so as far as I’m concerned, Pam and The Oaks Stud are two-from-two together now. “Sam Spratt is riding at the absolute peak of her powers as well. I really appreciate the way she’s stuck with this horse and the relationship she’s formed with him. “He’s just an exceptional colt, and I’m hoping we’ll see a bit more of that in the future.” That could include the inaugural $3.5 million NZB Kiwi (1500m) at Ellerslie in March. The Canterbury Jockey Club owns a slot for the lucrative race, with the connections of the 2000 Guineas winner having the first option to negotiate use of their slot. The 2000 Guineas is also a bonus eligible race, meaning Savaglee’s connections could have the chance to compete for an additional $1 million in bonuses if he lines up in the NZB Kiwi. View the full article