Wandering Eyes

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Whirl pulled out all the stops to deny Kalpana in a barnstorming renewal of the Pretty Polly Stakes (G1) June 28.View the full article

The New York State Department of Agriculture has lifted the 14-day quarantine of Barn 28 on the Belmont backstretch, according to a release from the New York Racing Association (NYRA). All horses stabled in Barn 28 are now permitted to enter races as of Saturday, June 28, and to train with the general horse population beginning Sunday, June 29. Barn 28 was placed under quarantine on June 14 after a case of strangles was identified in the barn. The George Weaver-trained 2-year-old gelding Mo Curls was sent for treatment on June 13 and returned a positive result for strangles on June 14. The post Belmont Barn Quarantine Lifted appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Commentator (Distorted Humor–Outsource, by Storm Bird), a two-time winner of the GI Whitney Handicap for owner Tracy Farmer and trainer Nick Zito, was euthanized on Friday, June 27, at Old Friends at Cabin Creek in New York due to long-term complications from Potomac horse fever. He was 24 years old. Bred in New York by Michael Martinez, the chestnut was a $45,000 Keeneland November weanling and was purchased by Farmer for $135,000 out of the 2002 Fasig-Tipton Kentucky Sale. After besting his fellow Empire-breds by over 27 combined lengths in his first three starts in his debut season in 2004, he took Keeneland's Perryville Stakes by seven lengths and completed an unblemished campaign with an eight-length Churchill allowance success. Commentator set demanding factions and held on to win the 2005 Whitney by a neck over future GI Breeders' Cup Classic winner and Horse of the Year Saint Liam, the pair pulling nine lengths clear of Farmer's Sir Shackleton, and added big-margin victories in state-bred stakes company at ages five and six. He celebrated his best season at the races as a 7-year-old in 2008, taking out the seven-furlong GII Richter Scale Handicap by 13 3/4 lengths ahead of a pacesetting runner-up effort in the GI Met Mile. He bossed his rivals from the front to take the 2008 Whitney by nearly five lengths and added the final renewal of the Massachusetts Handicap in his next start, scoring by 14 lengths. A New York-bred stakes winner and third in an attempt to take a third Whitney in 2009, two-time New York Horse of the Year Commentator retired with a record of 14-1-4 from 24 starts and earnings of $2,049,845, the 10th most of any New York-bred in history. He holds the Belmont main-track record for 7 1/2 furlongs (1:27.44) and the Commentator Stakes is held each year in the gelding's honor. Commentator was originally retired to Old Friends' Dream Chase Farm in Georgetown, Kentucky, before being permanently relocated to Cabin Creek in 2016. Commentator spent the final few years of his retirement in the company of Watchem Smokey while helping bring awareness to Old Friends' mission of dignified retirement for all racehorses. “He was well loved and we will miss him forever,” said Old Friends at Cabin Creek manager JoAnn Pepper. “He was a champion through and through and was very brave.” The post Two-Time Whitney Winner Commentator Euthanized appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

1st-Churchill Downs, $118,636, Msw, 6-28, 2yo, 5f, :58.10, ft, neck. PAPA KEN (c, 2, Yaupon–Whatashame, by Blame) took on a field of entirely first-time starters as the 5-2 second choice behind the son of another first-crop sire in 4-5 favorite I C Light (Charlatan). 8-1 longshot Spirit of Royal (Global Campaign) flashed speed from the outside and led this field as far he could through fractions of :22.46 and :45.67 but Papa Ken loomed off the turn from second as I C Light yielded at the quarter pole. In a driving stretch run, Papa Ken surged past Spirit of Royal late and just held on ahead of a charging The Standard (By My Standards) to graduate by a neck. The second winner for Yaupon (by Uncle Mo), Papa Ken was a $160,000 OBS April buy for Ken Reimer. This is the family of MGISW Point of Entry (Dynaformer) and MGISW Pine Island (Arch). Whatashame, who now has a winner from her first runner, sold to Girvin's Girls for $120,000 at FTKFEB and has since twice visited Girvin, producing fillies in both 2024 and 2025. Sales History: $160,000 2yo '25 OBSAPR. Lifetime Record: 1-1-0-0, $69,300. Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV. O-Ken T. Reimer; B-Brad & Misty Grady (KY); T-Steven M. Asmussen. On debut #8 PAPA KEN ($7.04) used a nice stalking trip under @jose93_ortiz to win the opener at @ChurchillDowns. The 2yo son of Yaupon (@spendthriftfarm) is trained by Steve Asmussen and owned by Ken Reimer. Watch more on @FanDuelTV. pic.twitter.com/grUU436m8K — FanDuel Racing (@FanDuel_Racing) June 28, 2025 The post Papa Ken Becomes Yaupon’s Second Winner With Gusty Churchill Stretch Drive appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Old Friends at Cabin Creek has announced the death of longtime resident Commentator, who was humanely euthanized June 27 due to long-term complications from Potomac horse fever. The son of Distorted Humor was 24.View the full article

Sheikh Mohammed Obaid Al Maktoum's Hankelow (Night Of Thunder), a 210,000gns Tattersalls December foal turned 750,000gns Book 1 yearling, created a favourable impression with a taking debut success in Saturday's Al Basti Equiworld Dubai Novice Stakes over seven furlongs at York. Accepting a tow in third after breaking on the lead, the 3-1 second favourite was shaken up to challenge soon after passing the quarter-mile marker and was driven out in the closing stages to prevail by 2 1/4 lengths from Crest Of Fire (Phoenix Of Spain). Hankelow is the third foal and scorer produced by Listed Upavon Fillies' Stakes runner-up Sagaciously (Lawman), herself a half-sister to the dam of G1 Prix Morny, G1 Middle Park Stakes and G1 Commonwealth Cup hero Perfect Power (Ardad), last week's G2 Norfolk Stakes runner-up Wise Approach (Mehmas) and Listed Chesham Stakes third Golden Mind (Galileo Gold). The January-foaled bay is full to a yearling colt and a half-brother to multiple Group 2-placed Listed Prix Pelleas victor Epic Poet (Lope De Vega) and Listed Prix Melisande third La Filomena (Lope De Vega). 750,00gns buy Hankelow (Night Of Thunder) looks a lovely type in debut success at @yorkracecourse for Sheikh Mohammed Obaid. 37% strike-rate with first-time out juveniles in 2025 for @karl_burke pic.twitter.com/rW9CrxBRxG — Racing TV (@RacingTV) June 28, 2025 4th-York, £25,000, Nov, 6-28, 2yo, 7fT, 1:25.31, gd. HANKELOW (IRE) (c, 2, Night Of Thunder {Ire}–Sagaciously {Ire} {SP-Eng}, by Lawman {Fr}) Sales history: 210,000gns Wlg '23 TADEWE; 750,000gns Ylg '24 TATOCT. Lifetime Record: 1-1-0-0, $17,677. O-Sheikh Mohammed Obaid Al Maktoum; B-George Kent; T-Karl Burke. The post Night Of Thunder’s Hankelow Makes Waves On Debut At York appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Cock Of The North at Ballydoyle in the present moment, Lambourn heads to Sunday's G1 Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby at The Curragh looking to emulate his sire Australia in completing the notable double. A most unlikely Blue Riband hero at this stage last term, the ever-improving colt now sits pretty having mastered the ultimate test. Providing a blueprint of how to perform in a Derby three weeks ago, he is likely to be even better suited by this more conventional galloping track and has few if any weaknesses. With Doncaster's St Leger mooted by Aidan O'Brien in the immediate aftermath of his great triumph, the one who put aside boyish tardiness to become the complete galloping machine should have no problem being asked to do it all again. Taking on once more by the Derby second and third Lazy Griff (Protectionist) and Tennessee Stud (Wootton Bassett) and joined by four others from the yard including the Listed Lingfield Derby Trial winner Puppet Master (Camelot), Lambourn is reunited with Ryan Moore for only the second time which tells the tale of how unexpected his rise through the Ballydoyle ranks has been. “He's a lovely horse and like Australia himself, an absolute gentleman,” commented O'Brien, who is looking for Irish Derby number 17. “He has a great mind, stays well and is uncomplicated. He's a lovely horse to do anything with and he's just one of those very unique horses–he's scopey and classy and obviously we were delighted with him in Epsom.” “Australia was the only horse we ever had here with no fight-or-flight response and this horse is the same. When you put him in first gear he stays in first gear and second gear is the same and third, fourth up along. He's not influenced by any of his surroundings or any horse around him–he's a total independent thinker and those type of horses are really a pleasure to deal with.” Ralph Beckett will be hoping that the Aykroyds' G2 Dante Stakes winner Pride Of Arras (New Bay) can do what several others who hated Epsom can do here and put a poor Derby effort behind him, while Marc Chan's homebred Green Impact (Wootton Bassett) is one of the race's lurkers moving up markedly in trip. The Aykroyds' racing manager Patrick Cooper said of Pride Of Arras, “He's come out of Epsom well, we're just still scratching our heads why he ran so badly. It's a bit of a mystery, he obviously didn't handle the hill and Rossa was easy on him once he knew he couldn't participate in the finish, but we still don't know truly what went wrong, so we can go to the Curragh and hopefully find out more there. Hopefully we get the horse back who showed us how good he was in the Dante, he was impressive that day and we're entitled to keep dreaming.” Green Impact's trainer Jessica Harrington said, “I think he'll stay. He's by Wootton Bassett out of a Galileo mare and is very laid-back and relaxed. He's a big, long-striding horse and the Curragh should suit him.” Sunday's other big race is the G1 Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud, where Calandagan (Gleneagles), Goliath (Adlerflug) and Aventure (Sea The Stars) take part in a renewal that will prove tactically fascinating as the high-class trio prepare for their upcoming international tests. The G2 Prix Eugene Adam on the card is another tantalising affair, with the unbeaten Aga Khan Studs representative Daryz (Sea The Stars) pitched against last year's G1 Vincent O'Brien National Stakes winner Scorthy Champ (Mehmas), Victorious Racing's G2 Champagne Stakes scorer Bay City Roller (New Bay) and the Wertheimers' exciting Sinileo (Siyouni) who is held in such high regard by connections. The post O’Brien Relishing ‘Independent Thinker’ Lambourn’s Quest For Derby Double appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

“Always the bridesmaid, never the bride” is perhaps an apt way of describing the racing career of Calandagan thus far, even if he does have a Royal Ascot victory to show for his efforts, having been a runaway winner of last year's G2 King Edward VII Stakes. Since then, the son of Gleneagles has been campaigned exclusively at the top level and it's been a case of close but no cigar, with four consecutive runner-up finishes in the Juddmonte International, Champion Stakes, Dubai Sheema Classic and Coronation Cup. Beaten just half a length on the last occasion, having been sent off the 8/13 favourite to take advantage of what looked a golden opportunity to break his Group 1 duck, Calandagan suddenly had questions to answer after that Epsom defeat. Was he simply outstayed by the previous year's St Leger hero, Jan Brueghel, in a contest run at a strong tempo on rain-softened ground? Or did he shirk the battle when moving up to challenge that tough rival entering the final furlong? Could it have been a combination of both? “There are no excuses,” was the verdict afterwards from trainer Francis-Henri Graffard, adding, “He probably took the lead for a small moment and then when they started to climb again you could see that Ryan [Moore, Jan Brueghel's jockey] was finding more. He's a very talented horse and I'm sure he'll win a Group 1 as he always runs his race.” Certainly, Calandagan possesses more than enough ability to gain that elusive Group 1 win under the right circumstances, with a Timeform rating of 127 seeing him ranked in joint-fifth place among the top horses in Europe right now. However, the danger could lie within when he tries to make a belated breakthrough in Sunday's Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud, with stable-mate Goliath (Adlerflug) possessing a rating of 128 from his impressive success in last year's G1 King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes. In total, five runners will face the starter on Sunday, with the others including last year's G1 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe second Aventure (Sea The Stars). She too deserves to win a Group 1 at some stage, having also filled the runner-up spot behind her Arc conqueror, Bluestocking (Camelot), in last year's G1 Prix Vermeille. The Arc, of course, is one race not available to Calandagan as a gelding but, win, lose or draw on Sunday, the fact that there's no rush to send him to the breeding shed should allow him plenty more opportunities in Group 1 races if he can stay in one piece over the next few years. Will he eventually end his racing days with the kind of CV that his talent deserves? Or will he retire as one of the best horses of recent times not to win a Group 1? Here, we take a look at a few names in the latter group whose company Calandagan will be looking to avoid. Norse Dancer, the Ultimate 'Nearly' Horse Not many horses manage to finish in the first four places in 10 different Group 1 races, but that was the achievement of the David Elsworth-trained Norse Dancer earlier this century, with three seconds, three thirds and four fourths to his name. On five of those occasions the son of Halling passed the post less than a length behind the winner, with his narrowest defeat of all coming when he was beaten just a head and a short head in the 2003 Sussex Stakes won by Reel Buddy. Like Calandagan, Norse Dancer reached a peak Timeform figure of 127, although he later had the dreaded Timeform 'squiggle' attached to his rating as he became increasingly temperamental. Sometimes slowly away, he often raced lazily and would carry his head awkwardly before finding little, looking thoroughly ungenuine at times. Among the horses Norse Dancer was knocking heads with around that time were Ace and Maraahel, both of whom fall into the same category, having run well at the top level on several occasions without managing to get their heads in front. Sir Michael Stoute's Maraahel had Ace and Norse Dancer behind him when finishing third in the 2005 Juddmonte International won by Electrocutionist, before being beaten just a short head by stable-mate Notnowcato in the same race 12 months later. So close was the finish that Maraahel's jockey Richard Hills waved his whip in celebration, mistakenly thinking he'd won it, before the official result from the judge revealed otherwise. At the end of his 34-race career, Maraahel had seven Group-race wins to his name, but at the very top level he had to make do with that one runner-up finish, plus five thirds and a fourth in the 2004 St Leger. Like Norse Dancer, he didn't always show the resolution to match his ability, hence why he did much of his racing in later years in a visor or blinkers. As for Ace, he ran in eight Group 1 races for Aidan O'Brien in that 2005 season and the only time he finished outside of the first four places came when he was fifth in the King George held at Newbury that year. Juddmonte Stars with Seconditis When Sir Henry Cecil's Phoenix Tower chased home Duke Of Marmalade in the 2008 Juddmonte International, he matched the achievement of Calandagan by finishing second in a Group 1 for the fourth start in a row, having already occupied that position in the Lockinge Stakes, Prince Of Wales's Stakes and Coral-Eclipse. That record rather belied his excellent attitude and it was just a shame that he never raced again after that sequence of runner-up finishes, with a tendon tear later that year forcing him into a premature retirement. Famous Name provided Prince Khalid Abdullah, the owner of Phoenix Tower, with another close call in 2008 when he was denied by just a head in the Prix du Jockey Club. He went on to prove himself a terrific servant to his connections, retiring as the winner of 20 stakes races, remarkably, but his 10 starts at the top level failed to deliver a win, with four further runner-up finishes being as close as he came. Another Juddmonte performer with a similar profile was Bated Breath, who took second in a trio of top-level sprints in 2011, as well as the G1 King's Stand Stakes the following year. For a few years after his retirement at the end of 2012, Bated Breath stood alongside his sire, Dansili, at Juddmonte's Banstead Manor Stud. Dansili, also the sire of Famous Name, was then pensioned from stud duties in 2018, before his death at the end of 2021. The sire of 24 individual Group/Grade 1 winners in his second career, including elite performers such as Harbinger, Rail Link and The Fugue, Dansili's own achievements as a racehorse had more in common with those of his aforementioned sons. He never quite managed to make the breakthrough at the top level, finishing second on three occasions and third on three others, with his swansong coming when he was beaten just a neck and a nose in the 2000 Breeders' Cup Mile. High-Class Sprinters Hitting the Crossbar Finally, a nod to a few sprinters, a division where they often take it in turns to beat each other, hence why consistent brilliance at the top level deserves to be acknowledged, even if it doesn't always bring its rewards. The Karl Burke-trained Swingalong is a very recent example, having filled the runner-up spot in a trio of Group 1 sprints in 2024, losing out by half a length in the Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes, a neck in the July Cup and a head in the Qipco British Champions Sprint Stakes. She'd done plenty right as a three-year-old the previous season, too, when her efforts included a third-place finish in the G1 Commonwealth Cup. Swingalong is a daughter of the one-time Juddmonte runner Showcasing, who has also given us Tasleet, the runner-up in three Group 1 sprints himself in 2017, while Dragon Symbol is arguably as unlucky as any horse on this list not to have a top-level win to his name. He finished in the first four in four such races in 2021, including when passing the post first in the Commonwealth Cup, before being placed behind Campanelle after causing interference to that rival. Going further back, The Tatling won the King's Stand Stakes in 2004 when the Royal Ascot prize still held Group 2 status. Trained by Milton Bradley, he was among the leading sprinters in training for several years, notably finishing second in three consecutive editions of the Nunthorpe Stakes between 2003 and 2005, as well as the 2004 Prix de l'Abbaye. The post D-Day for Calandagan in Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Saturday's action at The Curragh was all about Wootton Bassett once again as Whirl completed a treble for Coolmore's red-hot sire in a thrilling renewal of the feature G1 Pretty Polly Stakes. Denying Juddmonte's Kalpana (Study Of Man) after a prolonged tussle between Ryan Moore and Colin Keane, Ballydoyle's Oaks runner-up followed on where the stable's Dorset and Beautify had led earlier on the card. Aidan O'Brien was impressed by the battle royal. “It's hard coming back from a mile and a half to this trip, a bit like walking a tightrope but Ryan got it spot-on again. That's what you want to come racing to watch, one we'll remember for a long time,” he said. “They went at it all the way and eyeballed each other and it was ding-dong. With fellas like that riding like they are, it's one to celebrate and enjoy–a great spectacle.” Of the winner, who also took the G3 Musidora Stakes at York in May and is yet another advert for her stratospheric sire, he added, “She's very special and very tough. She doesn't blow and is one of those hard and genuine racing machines with big lungs–she's all muscle and bone.” As she had at Epsom, Whirl was placed on the front end from the outset. Joined and briefly headed by the 5-6 market-leader as the expected duel got underway, the 13-8 second favourite had extra to give close home to prevail by 1 1/4 lengths, with last year's G1 Prix de Diane runner-up Survie (Churchill) 1 3/4 lengths away in third. Group 1 glory! Whirl strikes from Kalpana in a thrilling €300,000 @paddypower Pretty Polly Stakes for Ryan Moore, Aidan O'Brien and Ballydoyle @curraghrace pic.twitter.com/76Eys2rB3i — Racing TV (@RacingTV) June 28, 2025 The post ‘One To Celebrate And Enjoy’: O’Brien Hails Whirl And Kalpana’s Pretty Polly Battle appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

It’s been a mere formality for months but Zac Purton officially secured his eighth title at Sha Tin on Saturday, banging in a treble to move 59 wins clear in the jockeys’ premiership with only 50 races left in the season. Purton moved to 126 winners for the campaign – four short of last season’s tally with five meetings remaining – and while he’s miles off his Hong Kong record tally of 179 victories, he’s striking at a ridiculous 23 per cent. “It’s really nice to win another one. Apart from...View the full article

Talented sprinter Beauty Waves made the perfect start to life with new trainer Tony Cruz, banking a tough win in Saturday’s Class One Pearce Memorial Challenge Cup (1,000m) at Sha Tin. Recently transferred to Cruz after four wins for Pierre Ng Pang-chi, the Irish import enhanced his reputation as a straight-track specialist when he proved too slick for strong opposition in Saturday’s feature. Backed from $6.9 to $3.7 late, Beauty Waves was sent forward by Alexis Badel to race on the speed and...View the full article

Denying a treble for Coolmore and Wootton Bassett on The Curragh's Saturday card, Moyglare Stud's homebred Suzie Songs (Starspangledbanner) wore down Ballydoyle's 2-9 favourite Flushing Meadows in a thriller for the G3 Jebel Ali Racecourse And Stables Anglesey Stakes. “She's a nice filly with a bit of size and scope and is bred to go further,” Colin Keane said of the Ger Lyons-trained 7-2 second favourite, who built on her Cork debut win 15 days earlier to prevail by a short head with the market principals 3 1/4 lengths clear of the remainder. “She wants it and seven or a mile is where you'll see best of her.” Ger Lyons has one target in mind. “The one that's missing off my record is the [G1] Moyglare [Stud Stakes] and I'd love to win it–they are my owners and I'd say that's where you'll see her next.” Still unbeaten – but not the one you perhaps expected! Suzie Songs (Starspangledbanner) downs 1/4F Flushing Meadows to land the Group 3 @JebelAliRC Anglesey Stakes for @ctkjockey, Ger Lyons and @MoyglareStud @curraghrace pic.twitter.com/7xPvheZWXo — Racing TV (@RacingTV) June 28, 2025 The post ‘She Wants It’: Suzie Songs Battles For Keane To Upset Flushing Meadows appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Making it two-for-two on the card for the lethal combination of Aidan O'Brien, Ryan Moore and Wootton Bassett, Beautify ended the unbeaten run of Lady Iman (Starman) in The Curragh's G2 Airlie Stud Stakes. Sent to the lead from the outset, the homebred daughter of Dansili's G3 Munster Oaks winner Words and granddaughter of Moonstone kept finding as that 8-15 favourite threatened inside the final furlong. Pulling clear at the line, the 2-1 second favourite who was third on debut over this course and six-furlong trip last month registered a two-length success, with Al Shira'aa Racing's €1million Arqana Deauville August sensation Skydance (Night Of Thunder) 1 1/4 lengths away in third. Upset! Beautify (Wootton Bassett) inflicts a first career defeat on Lady Iman and opens her account at Group 2 level in the Airlie Stud Stakes for Ryan Moore and Aidan O'Brien @curraghrace pic.twitter.com/naiZ5s8s3K — Racing TV (@RacingTV) June 28, 2025 The post Quickfire Wootton Bassett Curragh Double As Beautify Takes Command appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Such is the record of The Curragh's Barronstown Stud Maiden, it is a given that Aidan O'Brien reserves one of his best for the seven-furlong contest and Dorset lived up to the billing to become Wootton Bassett's latest TDN Rising Star. Runner-up on debut to stablemate Amadeus Mozart over course and distance earlier this month, the grey relative of the dual 1,000 Guineas heroine Winter was sent straight to the front by Ryan Moore. Kept company throughout by the yard's newcomer Benvenuto Cellini (Frankel), the 4-9 favourite safely held that son of Newspaperofrecord at bay to score by 1 1/2 lengths, with the Joseph O'Brien-trained Al Haarith (Lope De Vega) 2 3/4 lengths away in third. Making it 15 TDN Rising Stars for the sire, the €400,000 Goffs Orby Book 1 graduate Dorset is one of five among the stable's current crop of juveniles after Albert Einstein, Italy, Simply Astounding and Albert Einstein. “He's a lovely straighforward horse who will get further,” commented O'Brien, who had won this race with City Of Troy, Rip Van Winkle, Gleneagles, Roderic O'Connor, Duke Of Marmalade, Horatio Nelson and Australia. “Ryan gave him an uncomplicated ride and he's a good mover who could go for any of those races–the Futurity, the Tyros or Newmarket for the Superlative. The runner-up is lovely and he travelled well. With the run under his belt, he'll be fairly hot in a maiden next time.” €400,000 buy Dorset, by Wootton Bassett and out of a sister to Winter, makes no mistake second-time out for Ryan Moore and Aidan O'Brien at @curraghrace pic.twitter.com/FOoBRwllsT — Racing TV (@RacingTV) June 28, 2025 1st-Curragh, €20,000, Mdn, 6-28, 2yo, c/g, 7fT, 1:24.48, gd. DORSET (IRE), c, 2, by Wootton Bassett (GB) 1st Dam: Snowflakes (Ire), by Galileo (Ire) 2nd Dam: Laddies Poker Two (Ire), by Choisir (Aus) 3rd Dam: Break Of Day, by Favorite Trick Sales history: €400,000 Ylg '24 GOFOR. Lifetime Record: 2-1-1-0, €16,000. Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. O-Derrick Smith, Mrs John Magnier, Michael Tabor & Westerberg; B-Snowflakes Syndicate; T-Aidan O'Brien; J-Ryan Moore. The post Dorset Becomes Fifth TDN Rising Star For Wootton Bassett In 2025 appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Saturday’s A$160,000 Asahi Super Dry Handicap (1800m) at Rosehill marked a deserved breakthrough for the super-consistent Misterkipchoge (NZ) (Ocean Park). The New Zealand-bred son of Ocean Park had won only once in his 20-race career before Saturday, but his last 12 starts dating back to last September had produced two seconds, five thirds, four fourths and a fifth. The four-year-old was an emergency for Saturday’s Benchmark 78 handicap, but he snuck into the field and capped that long run of consistent form with an overdue win. Misterkipchoge was ridden by Jean Van Overmeire, who pushed him forward out of the gates to take an early lead. He later settled in third behind Ganbare (Maurice) and Monarchs Brae (Highland Reel) when they slid past him from their wide gates and took up the pace going into the back straight. The Chris Waller-trained Misterkipchoge surged through in between that pair to lodge his claim after coming around the home turn, taking the lead at the 250m mark. The biggest challenge came from Misterkipchoge’s stablemate Pure Alpha (NZ) (Ardrossan), who loomed as a distinct danger on his outside. But Misterkipchoge rose to the challenge and held on grimly, snatching victory by a nose. Racing in the colours of Sir Owen Glenn’s Go Bloodstock, Misterkipchoge has now had 21 starts for two wins, eight placings and A$254,925. Misterkipchoge was bred by Cliff Erb and is by Ocean Park out of the Mastercraftsman mare Porotene Mhia (NZ). Second dam Ghia (NZ) (Kaapstad) is a half-sister to Freequence (NZ) (O’Reilly), the dam of Group One winner I Do (NZ) (No Excuse Needed) and Listed Queensland Cup (3200m) winner Iggi Pop (NZ) (Savabeel). Erb purchased Porotene Mhia for $10,000 from a 2020 online auction on Gavelhouse.com. Misterkipchoge began his career in the Stratford stable of Gavin Sharrock, finishing sixth and fourth in two starts at Wanganui and New Plymouth in 2023 before being sold privately. View the full article

New Zealand-bred colt Matahga (NZ) (Tivaci) stamped himself as an exciting spring three-year-old prospect with a hard-fought victory in the A$120,000 Listed David Peacock Oaklands Plate (1400m) at Morphettville on Saturday. The step up to black-type level came less than a month after Matahga’s raceday debut, where he finished second over 1100m at Morphettville on May 31. The son of Tivaci won his next race in smart style at Murray Bridge on June 14, earning favouritism for Saturday’s Oaklands Plate. Matahga was squeezed back and settled third-last for jockey Jacob Opperman before starting to weave through the pack. Opperman spotted a narrow opening two off the fence in the straight and drove Matahga through, bounding up on the inside of Ethereum Girl (Maurice) and collaring her in the last couple of strides to win by a neck. “He came off the bit a long way from home,” Opperman said. “I thought there was no point in trying to go around them, which would probably cost us the race. I had to pick and choose and find a way through. “When we got into the clear, I thought he was going to have to really pick up. To his credit, he really put the ears back and had a go and got there.” Matahga has now had three starts for two wins and a second, earning A$144,800 in stakes for the Brook family’s Saddlers Knife. Matahga was bred by Simon Lawson and is by Tivaci out of the Reliable Man mare Mohegan Star (NZ), who is a half-sister to the Gr.1 Blue Diamond (1200m) winner and new Little Avondale Stud stallion Little Brose. Waikato Stud offered Matahga in Book 1 of Karaka 2024, where trainer Phillip Stokes bought him for $80,000. “He’s a nice colt, this horse,” Stokes said. “He dug deep today and went for runs. “We were cursing Jacob for a while, thinking he might have been better to go around them, but he rode him very well. He’ll take a lot out of it, this colt. He’s nice horse going forward. I’m just rapt for the Brooks, who own him. “He’s come a long way in this prep. The team have done a fantastic job with him. He’ll go for a break now and I think he deserves to be aimed at some of the nice three-year-old races in the spring. “We bought him in New Zealand. David (Brook) picked out a few yearlings when we were over at Karaka, and he liked this horse, and we were able to bid on him and get him. He wasn’t an expensive horse either, so it’s going great.” View the full article

Seven-year-old mare Bacio Del Mist (NZ) (Reliable Man) took her earnings past A$300,000 with a career-best triumph in Saturday’s A$160,000 Irresistible Pools Stayers’ Cup (2400m) at Rosehill. The grey daughter of Reliable Man was bought for only A$30,000 from the 2019 Magic Millions National Yearling Sale. She has now had 44 starts for seven wins, eight placings and A$356,505. Trainers Lee and Cherie Curtis stepped Bacio Del Mist down in class for Saturday’s assignment, having lined her up in Listed company in her last two starts for a fifth in the Lord Mayor’s Cup (2000m) and a 10th from a wide gate in the Winter Cup (2400m). She settled in the second half of the field on Saturday for jockey Alysha Collett before warming into her work stylishly in the straight. Bacio Del Mist outstayed fellow grey Mormona through the final 100m and won by a neck, with a similar margin back to Casual Connection (NZ) (Complacent) in third. “She’s a marvel for a $30,000 yearling,” Lee Curtis said. “She has just had no luck in this campaign – not just with the barriers, although they’ve been horrible too, but just missing out on runs in races. “When she ran fifth in the Epona (Gr.3, 1900m), we had her in another race that day and she missed out by one, and she ran super in the Epona. Over the 2400m she would have run really well. “She has had no luck and she has been running good races too. She is such a gutsy thing and so tough.” Curtis suggested that plans to retire Bacio Del Mist to stud might be put on hold after Saturday’s win. “The plan was to go through this prep and wind it up, but the owners might want to race her for another 12 months now,” he said. Bacio Del Mist was bred by Westbury Stud owner Gerry Harvey and is a daughter of Westbury stallion Reliable Man. The dam of Bacio Del Mist is the unraced Encosta de Lago mare Bacio Del Vinto, whose four other winners include the Gr.3 Manawatu Cup (2250m) winner Marroni (NZ) (Makfi) and the eight-race winner St Lawrence (NZ) (Redwood). View the full article

Well-related gelding Flamin’ Romans (NZ) (Ghibellines) collected his second win from only four starts at Caulfield when he took out Saturday’s A$80,000 Sportsbet BlackBook Handicap (2000m). Previously a winner over the same distance and in the same Benchmark 78 grade at the Melbourne track last October, the five-year-old put in a repeat performance on Saturday. The Ciaron Maher-trained Flamin’ Romans was third-up in a new campaign, having resumed with a seventh over 1500m at Sandown in May before a last-start second in a 2000m race at Mornington on June 9. On Saturday he was right back in peak form. Flamin’ Romans broke sharply from the starting gates and took up a handy position in behind Nation’s Call (Frankel), I Am The Empire (Camelot) and Make It Sweet (Fiorente). Jockey John Allen got Flamin’ Romans rolling as the field made their way down the side of the track. He briefly appeared to be labouring coming around the turn, but then he regathered his momentum after straightening for home. The five-year-old gelding lengthened stride and surged to the front in the final 150m, going on to win by a length and a quarter. A full-brother to his Group One-winning stablemate Smokin’ Romans (NZ) (Ghibellines), Flamin’ Romans has now had 17 starts for five wins, seven placings and A$255,740 in stakes. “The race didn’t pan out too badly for us today,” Allen said. “We found a good position. They kind of slowed it up down the side. We were able to get to the outside and get rolling. “He takes a bit of cajoling, he was off the bridle on the corner, but once we straightened up and got balanced up, he found plenty for me and was good and strong. He went into overdrive and pulled away. “He’s a younger brother to Smokin’ Romans. Like him, he seems to be improving with a bit of age. I’m not sure he’ll get to the level his brother did, but he’ll win plenty of races for his owners anyhow.” Flamin’ Romans was bred by White Robe Lodge’s Brian and Lorraine Anderton and is by the stud’s successful sire Ghibellines. The dam of Flamin’ Romans is the Yamanin Vital mare Inferno (NZ), who herself won 10 races including two editions of the Gr.2 Canterbury Gold Cup (2000m). View the full article

Manzoice (Almanzor) has already been a Group One winner during the Melbourne Cup Carnival at Flemington, and a welcome return to winning form in Saturday’s Gr.3 Tattersall’s Cup (2400m) at Eagle Farm may earn him a return to that big stage. The son of Almanzor ventured to Melbourne and won the Victoria Derby (2500m) in the spring of 2022. He had gone winless through the two and a half years since that classic triumph, but has been a regular placegetter since then including in the Gr.3 N E Manion Cup (2400m), the Premier’s Cup Prelude (1800m), the Listed Wyong Cup (2100m), the Gr.3 Chairman’s Handicap (2000m) and a last-start third in the Gr.3 Brisbane Cup (3200m). On Saturday he broke through for a richly deserved win, finishing powerfully from off the pace to score a commanding win by four and a half lengths. “When I watched his replays, I thought he might have been the forgotten horse in this race,” jockey Andrew Mallyon said. “He was always there or thereabouts without winning against some top stayers. “He’s a nice, relaxed customer and I knew he would stay the trip comfortably, so we just bided our time and when he got the split in the straight, he gave them a galloping lesson. “I love the way he settled and he built really nicely into the race from about the 600m mark. He was really strong through the line, and you’d like to think he’ll be pretty competitive in some spring staying races judging by that performance.” The Chris Waller-trained Manzoice has now had 32 starts for three wins, eight placings and more than A$1.84 million in stakes. “He was very good today,” Waller’s assistant trainer Charlie Duckworth said. “We thought he might be able to roll into the race and make it a staying test, but Andrew cut the corner and saved all the ground, and the horse was good late. It’s been a long time between drinks, but I’m sure his owners will be delighted. “He’s a legend to have a stable, he’s such a lovely horse and it was great to see him have plenty of zip at the end of the race. “He deserves a spell now, then we’ll have a think about what we do with him in the spring. He’s proven over two miles and there’s a pretty big two-mile race in Melbourne in early November, so we might have to have a crack at that.” Manzoice was bought for A$340,000 by Chris Waller Racing and Mulcaster Bloodstock as a yearling. He was bred by the Blenheim-based Stephanie Hole and is out of the Mastercraftsman mare Choice (NZ), a winner of the Gr.3 Eulogy Stakes (1600m) for New Plymouth trainer Robbie Patterson. Choice is the dam of five winners from five foals to race. View the full article

The $60,000 ITM/GIB Progressive Championship Final provided a thrilling finale to the Winter Championships raceday at Ruakaka on Saturday, with the fast-finishing Reinstatement (NZ) (Wrote) snatching victory in a tight photo finish. The Kylie Hoskin-trained Reinstatement went into the race somewhat under the radar despite placing in all of her three previous starts – most recently a 2100m Rating 65 at Ellerslie on June 7. She was sent out as a $15.30 chance among a competitive line-up of emerging talents who had no more than one win to their name on May 5. The race proved to be as keenly contested on the track as it was on paper, with chances lining up across the track halfway down the straight and less than a length covering the first five horses at the finish line. Reinstatement launched a withering finish down the extreme outside in the hands of comeback apprentice Elen Nicholas. She swept up alongside the local hope Richie’s Dream (NZ) (Ace High), and the pair hit the finish line locked together. After a lengthy wait, the judge ruled in Reinstatement’s favour. “That was a great win and a real thrill,” Hoskin said. “I really didn’t know whether we’d got up or not. I was watching the race next to Noel Harris, who told me he thought we’d won it. But then I went out the front and talked to Kenny Rae, who thought his horse (Richie’s Dream) might have got it. He wanted to toss a coin for it! But I was really happy to get the win.” Bred and part-owned by Tony Gavigan, Reinstatement is a six-year-old daughter of Wrote and the Iffraaj mare Everything (NZ). Her 19-race career has produced two wins, five placings and $63,475 in stakes. “She’s a pretty promising mare who’s starting to put things together nicely now,” Hoskin said. “We’ve just taken a while to figure out her racing style, but it seems that riding her really cold works best. It’s a bit of a nerve-racking way to do it, but she’s shown that she can really fly home. That’s what she did today.” View the full article

Locals dominated the ITM/GIB Winter Championship Finals at Ruakaka in 2023 and 2024, but the tide turned in Saturday’s 2025 edition with Matamata and Cambridge scoring two wins each in the $60,000 features. Age-group honours went to the Tony Pike-trained Boombox (NZ) (Spirit of Boom) in the 2YO Final and Ken and Bev Kelso’s Levakia (NZ) (Priosir) in the 3YO Final. Later in the card, Mark Brosnan and Andrew Forsman took centre stage with outstanding performances by four-year-olds Sterling Express (NZ) (Shamexpress) and Pacifico (NZ) (Ardrossan) in the two open handicaps. Sterling Express set himself up for a potential Group One tilt in the spring with his hard-fought victory for Brosnan in Saturday’s ITM/GIB Sprinters’ Championship Final (1400m). The son of Shamexpress settled fourth-last before swooping into contention out wide around the home turn. He was made to work hard down the Ruakaka straight, with Stonybreck (Tavistock), Illicit Dreams (NZ) (Vancouver) and Tide And Time (NZ) (Time Test) all throwing everything they had at him along his inside, but Sterling Express held that trio at bay and won by a neck. It was the seventh win of an 18-start career for Sterling Express, and a pleasing return to form after finishing at the tail of the field at Ellerslie in his previous appearance on June 7. “That was good to see,” said Brosnan, whose Ruakaka raids from his Matamata base have produced 23 wins from just 142 starters. “I still don’t know what went wrong last time, but that was a good effort today. I might freshen him up now and set him for some better races in the spring, maybe even something like the Tarzino (Gr.1, 1400m). He needs a little bit of cut out of the ground, but doesn’t like it too wet, so hopefully he’ll get conditions to suit.” The ITM/GIB Whangarei Gold Cup Stayers’ Final was won in bold front-running style by the Forsman-trained Pacifico, who was backing up and stepping up in distance after winning a 1600m Rating 75 at Tauranga seven days earlier. The Ardrossan gelding was ridden by Michael McNab, who dictated terms before upping the ante down the side of the track. He pinched a break on the field and never let them reel him in, going on to beat gallant local Bosch by a length and a half. There was a four-length margin back to Texas in third. “That was a very good effort,” McNab said. “I’ve seen a bit of this horse but hadn’t had a lot of experience riding him. I got some great instructions from Andrew Forsman and that was the key to winning the race. He went along nicely out in front, picked up well and then fought hard in the straight. He’s a nice stayer on the rise.” Pacifico is raced by his breeders Jomara Bloodstock and has now had 19 starts for five wins, seven placings and $149,165 in stakes. View the full article

Lambourn led throughout when galloping his 17 rivals into submission in the Group One Epsom Derby (2,405m) earlier this month and he is the favourite to prove that was no fluke in Sunday’s 10-runner Group One Irish Derby (2,400m) at the Curragh. If the son of 2014 Irish Derby winner Australia achieves that feat, he will be the 20th horse to land the historic Classic double as well as being an extraordinary 17th Irish Derby victor for his trainer Aidan O’Brien. Ryan Moore takes over on Lambourn...View the full article

Training great Barry Hills, who sent out more than 3,000 winners including five British Classics throughout his storied career, has died aged 88. Along with those five British Classics, Hills achieved Stayers' Hurdle success with Nomadic Way in 1992 while a Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe trophy came in 1973 with Rheingold. Entirely self-made, Hills retired from training in 2011 and passed on the licence to his son Charlie. Including Rheingold, he will forever be associated with horses like Tap On Wood, Haafhd, Ghanaati, Royal Applause, Red Clubs, Equiano and more. The post Training Great Barry Hills Dies Aged 88 appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Tashi Breaks Through in Thrilling Tattersall’s Tiara Triumph Peter Snowden‘s talented mare Tashi shed her bridesmaid tag in spectacular fashion at Eagle Farm on Saturday, unleashing a powerful finishing burst to claim an impressive two-length victory in the 2025 Tattersall’s Tiara and end a frustrating sequence of second-place finishes. The five-year-old daughter of Sebring arrived […] The post 2025 Tattersall’s Tiara Winner Tashi No Longer the Bridesmaid appeared first on HorseRacing.com.au. View the full article