Wandering Eyes

Winner of the 2023 Del Mar Futurity (G1), Prince of Monaco has been retired due to minor bone bruising and will stand at Claiborne Farm in Kentucky.View the full article

There are people that work with horses and there are people that love horses. In the case of Katie Tolbert, there is no better example of a person that works with horses because of how much she loves them. You see the devotion on a quiet morning on the backside of Churchill Downs as she sits in the saddle, stroking the neck of the horse she is astride or is ponying alongside her. You hear it in the echo of a nicker from an excited trainee, eager for her company, as she makes her way down the shedrow. But you feel it most when she talks about the horses, from the Grade I winners to the young ones still finding their way, as a smile alights her face and excitement sparkles in her eyes. Tolbert's love of animals fueled her from a young age. In spite of not having a horse of her own while growing up in Seneca, South Carolina, she used every opportunity she could through friends and family to be near them. Tolbert eventually pursued a degree in animal science and equine business at Clemson University, graduating in 2006. After graduation, Tolbert relocated to Lexington, Kentucky after being accepted into the Kentucky Equine Management Internship (KEMI) program, which placed her at Juddmonte Farm for the fall. “It was amazing because they have a wonderful farm, the people are wonderful, and [they have] incredible horses. I did a fall semester there breaking yearlings. They let you help with anything else you wanted to help with, so I worked on the breeding shed, I went and helped turn out babies at night, whatever they needed,” said Tolbert. “They set me up to go to Gulfstream one winter to work at the track, because they knew I was interested in it, so I went with Bobby Frankel, who trained all of their horses in the U.S. at the time. I loved it. I rode the pony, helped feed, walked horses, helped groom, and I might have gotten to jog a horse or two.” She remained with Juddmonte for a few years before moving to Maryland to work for Sagamore Farm, where she stayed for nearly a decade. It was during that time that she made her way back to Kentucky to work for Stanley Hough, who was training for Sagamore, until owner Kevin Plank announced that Sagamore would cease its racing operation in November of 2020. Tolbert and Idiomatic, who recently retired to Juddmonte Farm | Sara Gordon Following that, Hough retired, Sagamore began to sell their horses and Tolbert made the decision to head up to New York to work for Horacio DePaz, who she had worked for while at Sagamore. It was there she met Dustin Dugas, an assistant trainer for Brad Cox, who recruited her to join the stable as they ventured to Florida for the winter. “And I've been here ever since,” she said. In the nearly four years she has been a member of the Cox team, she has worked her way up to her current position as assistant trainer and exercise rider. Tolbert has been hands-on with a multitude of top-class horses that many only dream of. A clear standout, and a personal favorite, was none other than dual champion Essential Quality (Tapit). “I started riding him in Saratoga [in 2021] and he was such a cool horse. He was so smart; he was so easy to deal with. That was unbelievable for me. Those are the kind of horses you see on TV and I'd never gotten a chance to [work with anyone like him before]. I rode him all summer and he won the GII Jim Dandy, then the GI Travers, and ended up running great in the GI Longines Breeders' Cup Classic [at Del Mar]. That was exciting to be part of,” said Tolbert. And then came Cyberknife (Gun Runner). “We got a 2-year-old that came with a lot of warnings about his behavior. He was rowdy, rambunctious, and kind of hard to deal with. When we got back to [Churchill Downs] in the fall, none of the guys liked him all that much and 'Essential' had gone back to his regular rider, so I thought maybe if I start riding one that nobody likes, I'd get to 'keep him,'” said Tolbert. “I tried hard to make friends with him and I got along with him pretty good here. Over time he grew up and he got to train more, breeze more, and got some of his energy out. I got to ride him with all the [GI Kentucky] Derby leadup and go over to the Derby with him, which was really exciting.” Though the GI Arkansas Derby winner didn't run particularly well in the first leg of the Triple Crown, he'd go on to win the GIII Matt Winn Stakes and GI Haskell Stakes, later following up with a near score in the GI Travers Stakes and a third-place finish in the GI Pennsylvania Derby. And when it came to the 2022 GI Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile, he was one horse that many people had eyes on in the weeks leading up to the race. Tolbert pays a visit to Cyberknife at Spendthrift Farm | Sara Gordon But tragedy struck Tolbert in the early hours of Friday, Oct. 28, 2022, the weekend prior to the Breeders' Cup at Keeneland. Tolbert, who was meant to be aboard Cyberknife in his final prep before the Dirt Mile, suffered a serious injury to her left leg when the unraced 2-year-old she was on reared up and threw her into a grandstand box-seat railing at Churchill. The final diagnosis was a broken femur, which required surgery to insert a metal rod to stabilize the bone. This type of injury would keep most people down for the count for months, if not longer, but not Tolbert. Despite having her entire left leg stabilized in a brace and a crutch under each arm, Tolbert was there at Keeneland a week later for the Breeders' Cup to cheer Cyberknife home as he put forth a valiant effort to finish just a head behind winner Cody's Wish (Curlin). It's quite fitting that friends have coined Tolbert the “Rider of Champions,” as it seems many of the horses that she develops a deep-rooted bond with seem to pay it back handsomely on some of racing's biggest days. And when that happens, Tolbert is always there to greet them in the winner's circle, bestowing a few pats on the head followed immediately by a kiss on the nose. One of the most fulfilling experiences for Tolbert has been the opportunity to work with Juddmonte-owned horses in training with Cox, bringing her full circle with the operation that laid the foundation for her career in the industry. A notable member of that group was Idiomatic (Curlin),the 2023 Eclipse Award champion older dirt female and five-time Grade I winner. Though the winner of last year's GI Longines Breeders' Cup Distaff was set to return to defend her title in this year's running at Del Mar, it was announced Friday morning that she was found to be lame in her left knee and has subsequently been retired to stud. “You could tell she was special,” said Tolbert. “She was so sweet, everybody loved her. She would stand in her stall and want you to snuggle her giant head. She turned out really great for us.” Along with the stars already mentioned, one would be remiss to leave out Set Piece (GB) (Dansili {GB}), another Juddmonte homebred, who was a member of the Cox barn for over four years and a personal favorite of Tolbert's. A multiple graded stakes winner, the hard-knocking gelding finally captured a Grade I in his last season on the track, winning the 2023 GI Arlington Million Stakes at Colonial Downs as a 7-year-old. “He was probably one of the first ones that I got to gallop consistently, [one] that was sort of mine, and he was so easy to ride, which made it fun. He loved to stand in, he loved attention and he loved training, so I got to travel a lot with him. It was always exciting going places with him, especially when you could tell that he was going to do well, and running in the Arlington Million was really cool. He was a barn favorite, kind of quirky also, but classy. We all just loved him, so it was fun to have him for Juddmonte,”said Tolbert. Tolbert and Highland Falls at Churchill Downs | Sara Gordon “It's special to have started off at Juddmonte. Some of the babies that we get, or even grandbabies, [are out of] ones that I knew when I was there. Obviously [Juddmonte has] an excellent breeding program, but it's been fun to find a new connection with them here and still be involved with them.” It's now full steam ahead for Breeders' Cup preparations, with the Cox team set to have an exciting group shipping out that includes Godolphin's GI Jockey Club Gold Cup Stakes winner Highland Falls (Curlin). A contender for the GI Longines Breeders' Cup Classic, he is another on the list of esteemed horses that Katie has worked with consistently. “I've been riding Highland Falls for the better part of two years. He was another one that took time and as he's gotten older, really developed,” said Tolbert. “Over the past year he's just gotten so much stronger and more mature. Sometimes you just have to wait on them a little bit. He ran awesome in Saratoga and he's been training really good. He's not super flashy, and he never really does anything wrong, he's just classy. He stands, trains and does his job, so I don't think he gets a whole lot of attention but he's a super cool horse. “It's fun being part of an operation like this where we do have some older horses and we have horses that we get as babies and we can see their careers develop. It's rewarding, especially when you see them when they're young and you know there's something in there, to be able to see them find it over the next few years.” With most of her time spent on the track, it's in the rare free time that Tolbert gets she often makes the trip from Louisville to Lexington to visit with some of her retired favorites, many of which are now stallions or broodmares. And despite the time that passes, it's evident in their reaction to seeing her again that she remains their 'person.' “I've been really lucky. I've worked for great people and been around a lot of nice horses, but nothing like the ones that we've had over the past few years. It's not something I ever thought that I could be part of, so it's exciting,” said Tolbert. “I love racing and I love everything about what we do, but I just love horses. It's the only reason I do it. I mean, there are plenty of jobs where you can make more money or have a better schedule, but this is the only thing I want to do.” The post Breeders’ Cup Connections: Katie Tolbert, Building the Foundation for Champions appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

The Philadelphia Cup, the second event in a three-part National Thoroughbred League NTL Cup series, attracted a crowd of 4,260 to Parx Racing–doubling original estimates–and wagering of $1.6 million, 50% higher than originally forecast. Julius 'Dr. J.' Erving is a partner of the league and owner of its Philadelphia Stallions and was on hand for an exclusive meet-and-greet with more than a dozen Philadelphia sports legends. “This past weekend epitomizes why we formed the National Thoroughbred League,” said Randall Lane, co-founder of the NTL. “Many of us grew up mesmerized by horse racing. Every year, millions of Americans tune in to network TV broadcasts throughout the Spring to watch and wager on the sport, but an experience like the NTL can harness that excitement and translate it to the track, building out exceptional races and exciting race weekends that hook people on the exhilarating experiences that this great sport offers.” The final NTL event of the season, The Championship Fiesta Weeekend, takes place Dec. 29 and 30 in Phoenix. The post Record Turnout, Wagering For NTL Event in Philly appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

By Jonny Turner Harness racing fans can expect the real Pinseeker to stand up in the Tuapeka Lodge Tuapeka Cup on Sunday. The brilliant pacer comes into the Ascot feature on the back of two disappointing efforts going by the extremely high standards he had set himself in just nine prior starts. He will start a red hot favourite ($2.05FF). While there may appear to be some doubt as to exactly where Pinseeker is at in his current preparation, trainer-driver Jonny Cox doesn’t share any of those concerns. “He is fit and well, it has probably been circumstances more than anything in his last couple of starts.” “He just got away on the wrong foot at Addington, he took a step backwards and then a step sideways and he went away in a bobble.” “I was happy with his run after that.” In the Methven Cup he just got a bit keen in front, going out of the back he just wanted to go faster and faster,” says Cox, “you can’t afford to do that over 3000m on grass in that kind of company.” “He hasn’t led in too many of his races, hopefully that is something we can work on because he is going to need that kind of ringcraft if he is going to be taking on the good horses.” Pinseeker comes into the Tuapeka Cup with three spring runs under his belt, with the pacer running a slashing fresh up second in the Hannon Memorial. With New Zealand Cup week just a matter of days away, the four-year-old goes is nearing peak fitness ahead of Sunday’s feature. “I would say he is pretty close,” Cox said. “The Methven run brought him on but he was still a little bit fat going into Addington.” “He has come on again with that run.” “It’ll be nine days between runs going into Sunday, so we haven’t had to do a lot with him.” “We have just kept him happy and ticked him over.” Cox brings a travelling companion south with Pinseeker in Hooroo. The mare begins her spring campaign in race 9 on Sunday, the Macca Lodge/ Fitzgerald Contracting Mobile Pace. Drawing barrier 7 over 1700m doesn’t look perfect for the pacer, but she gets the services of leading junior driver Carter Dalgety. “She won her last trial at Ashburton and I was pretty happy with her,” Cox said. “She didn’t run any amazing times but it was just what she needed.” “This looked a nice race for her to kick off in, she is probably 90-95% ready, she just hasn’t had that racing yet to bring her on.” “If she could be handy enough to them, she follows pace well and I’m sure she won’t be far away.” The best of Cox’s outside drives looks to be Sherwood Maggie in race 3, the Kenny Builders/ Mel Kenny Harcourts Balclutha Mobile Pace. The Brian Norman trained mare was unlucky in her last start fifth at Ascot Park. On Sunday she gets a key upgrade in draw to barrier 5 which should allow her to use her early speed. View the full article

She Is For Me Boys (GB) (Clovis Du Berlais {Fr}) (lot 161) was knocked down for 42,000gns to Tom Malone Bloodstock during the Tattersalls Online October Sale on Friday. Consigned by Baltimore Stables, the 5-year-old point-to-pointer won a three-mile mares' maiden at Toomebridge on Oct. 5. Malone said of the mare, “I've seen her plenty in James Doyle's yard and I liked her when I saw her in February. I saw her in September again and then she went and won first time out. The form was solid and she's out of a Presenting (GB) mare. She jumped for fun and that's going to be a big asset when she comes to Britain. She has been bought for Jamie Snowden and owners Karen and John Gunn.” Also in action for debut hurdle winner Cruden (GB) (lot 35), Malone paid 26,000gns for the representative of Jessica Harrington's Commonstown Stables. A winner on the Flat, the son of Time Test (GB) is a full to winner Lada (Ire) and a half-brother to the winner A Kind Of Magic (GB) (Night Of Thunder {Ire}). Commonstown Stables also consigned lot 74, the winning hurdler Pigeon House (Ire) (Saxon Warrior {Jpn}). A two-time winner this year, he was knocked down to JC Racing for 30,000gns. Sea The Stars's yearling filly out of Malakoot (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) (lot 162) was the dearest yearling of the sale, when making 25,000gns to Paragon from Barton Stud. Her second dam is G1 Pretty Polly Stakes victress Ambivalent (Ire) (Authorized {Ire}), also the dam of G1 Prix Vermeille heroine Teona (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}). A pair of broodmares each hammered for 11,500gns–Sugar Beat (Ire) (Australia {GB}) (lot 160) and Pepper Lane (GB) (Exceed And Excel {Aus}) (lot 158). The former, a Whitsbury Manor Stud-consigned mare in foal to Sergei Prokofiev, sold to Ravenswood, while Mohammed Hamad Khalifa Al Attiyah of Qatar bought the latter. Pepper Lane, consigned by Norton Grove Stud, is in foal to Kameko. The gross was 319,900gns for 49 lots marked as sold. The average was 6,529gns and the median was 2,400gns. The post Tattersalls Online October Sale Topped By She Is For Me Boys appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

1st-BAQ , 90K, Msw, 2yo, 6f, 12:10 p.m. TREATY OF ROME (Uncle Mo), the full-brother to GSW/MGISP Donna Veloce, debuts Saturday for trainer Chad Brown and the ownership group of Mrs. John Magnier, Derrick Smith and Michael Tabor, each of whom was involved in racing his full-sister before she sold for $1.9m to M.V. Magnier at FTKNOV in 2022. First dam Coin Broker, a daughter of GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies winner and $7.1m KEENOV broodmare Cash Run who did her racing in Europe, is also responsible for Irish stakes-placed runner Orinoco River (War Front). Treaty of Rome sports a steady work tab heading into Saturday's start and Flavien Prat gets aboard. TJCIS PPS The post Saturday Insights: Full-Brother To Donna Veloce Unveiled At Aqueduct appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

The Indiana Horse Racing Commission (IHRC) approved 123 days of live racing for the 2025 season at Horseshoe Indianapolis during its regular meeting at the track Thursday, Oct. 24. Thoroughbred and Quarter Horse racing will mirror the 2024 schedule. There will be six dates dedicated to Quarter Horses exclusively. Racing will begin Tuesday, Apr. 15 and run through Thursday, Nov. 13, 2025, with first post set for 2:10 p.m. ET Monday through Thursday. The track's marquee events–the GIII Indiana Derby and GIII Indiana Oaks–are scheduled for Saturday, July 5, with a special 12 p.m. start time and the sixth annual Indiana Champions Day will also kick off at the noon hour on Saturday, Oct. 25. Live programs on Memorial Day Monday, May 26 and on Independence Day on July 4 begin at 12 p.m and the track will also conduct live racing on Kentucky Derby day May 3 and Belmont Stakes day June 7. Both of the latter cards begin at 10:45 a.m. “Our racing program has grown over the past few years, and we feel we have a good schedule in place, so we didn't want to make too many changes,” said Eric Halstrom, Vice President and General Manager of Racing. “We worked closely with the horsemen's groups to review our current schedule before presenting it to IHRC. We feel this schedule maximizes our racing product to all types of racing fans. We will still offer seven Saturday racing programs in addition to six all-Quarter Horse racing days, providing some weekend racing opportunities for our local customers again in 2025.” The post Horseshoe Indianapolis To Conduct 123 Days of Racing in 2025 appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

While many of Japan's top horses are at Del Mar prepping for the Breeders' Cup, an accomplished field remains at home to contest the Tenno Sho (Autumn) (G1) Oct. 27 at Tokyo Racecourse.View the full article

Hear from trainer Brad Cox on Idiomatic's retirement from racing and what she meant to his career.View the full article

The 5-year-old daughter of Curlin will not be able to defend her title in the Breeders' Cup Distaff (G1).View the full article

Claiborne Farm will stand for $30,000 LFSN the newly-retired 'TDN Rising Star' and Grade I winner Prince of Monaco (by Speightstown), during the 2025 breeding season, the stud farm said in a Friday press release. “Prince of Monaco has sustained minor bone bruising, preventing him from competing in the Sprint and Malibu races,” said co-owner Tom Ryan of SF Racing. “As a result, we have decided to retire him. He demonstrated brilliance almost every time he stepped onto the racetrack.” The current 3-year-old colt, who will available for inspection at Claiborne in Paris, Kentucky during the November sales, earned his 'Rising Star' badge last year when he broke his maiden at first asking by eight lengths for trainer Bob Baffert over the Los Alamitos course that July. A next-out winner of the GIII Best Pal Stakes at Del Mar a month and a half later, the 2-year-old delivered in the GI Runhappy Del Mar Futurity in early September. As a 3-year-old, Prince of Monaco raced twice and was the runner-up in both the GI Woody Stephens at Saratoga June 8 and in the GI H. Allen Jerkens Memorial Stakes over the same surface Aug. 24. “Running a 103 Beyer as a 2-year-old is a significant achievement and a great barometer of talent and ability,” said Walker Hancock. “Additionally, he was only beaten a combined three-quarters of a length in two premier Grade I races at Saratoga this summer, while dealing with troubled trips. We have a tremendous amount of respect for Stonestreet's breeding program and we are excited to add another one of their homebreds in Prince of Monaco to our stallion roster.” Prince of Monaco at Los Alamitos | Benoit A $950,000 purchase at the Fasig-Tipton Saratoga Select Sale, Prince of Monaco raced for the partnership of SF Racing, Starlight Racing, Madaket Stables, Stonestreet Stables, Dianne Bashor, Robert Masterson, Waves Edge Capital, Catherine Donovan and Tom Ryan. “SF Bloodstock has been Speightstown's biggest fan and supporters for going on two decades now,” said Ryan. “On the heels of having Charlatan, we are very excited to be associated with Speightstown's fastest 2-year-old ever in Prince of Monaco. You would be hard pressed to find a better-looking animal and we are staunch in our beliefs that he will fall into the successful footsteps of his father.” The only son of Speightstown to win a Grade I as a juvenile, Prince of Monaco was bred in Kentucky by Barbara Banke's Stonestreet program and is out of the Medaglia d'Oro mare Rainier, who is a half-sister to SW Laurie's Rocket (Bluegrass Cat) and SW Greeley's Rocket (Mr. Greeley). “I am excited for what lies ahead,” said Banke. “Prince of Monaco has been a standout since birth, with his natural talent and athleticism evident from the start. His speed, heart, and sheer brilliance on the track will make him an extraordinary stallion. He's the complete package, and I can't wait to see him pass on that exceptional talent to future generations.” The post Prince Of Monaco Retired To Claiborne, Will Stand For $30,000 appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

This year's G1 July Cup winner Mill Stream (Ire) will begin his stallion career at Yeomanstown Stud next season, the stud announced on Friday. A stud fee will be revealed at a later date. Raced by Peter Harris and trained by Jane Chapple-Hyam, the 4-year-old was a juvenile winner and took the Listed Prix Moonlight Cloud and G3 Prix de Meautry in succession at three. However, he enjoyed his best season on the track this term, which began with a second-place finish in the G3 Abernant Stakes, and a victory in the G2 Duke Of York Stakes. Third in the G1 Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes in June, he clawed out a neck victory in the July Cup. His current record stands at 16-5-3-2 and $859,650 in earnings. Anthony Stroud, who selected the son of Gleneagles (Ire) for 350,000gns out of Book 2 at the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale, said, “Mill Stream was purchased by Mr Harris at the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale. Bred by Redpender Stud, he was an exceptionally good-looking individual who was athletic, light on his feet, with a lot of quality and presence. In training, Mill Stream went on to display a supreme temperament and raced consistently at the highest level. He possesses many of the key attributes necessary to become a top stallion.” Yeomanstown Stud's Gay O'Callaghan said of the son of the winning Swirral Edge (GB) (Hellvelyn {GB}), “I was blown away when I went to see Mill Stream. With his physique, strength, action and quality, I knew we had to have him. The July Cup is always the most important Group 1 sprint of the year. It's the one everybody wants. And he got it in style.” A half-brother to G2 Richmond Stakes winner and G1 Prix Morny third Asymmetric (Ire) (Showcasing), Mill Stream is from the same family as G2 Flying Childers Stakes and G3 Molecomb Stakes winner Wunders Dream (Ire) (Averti {Ire}). The Yeomanstown roster is led by Great Britain and Ireland Champion Sire elect Dark Angel (Ire). The post “I Knew We Had To Have Him” – Mill Stream Bound For Yeomanstown Stud Next Year appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Three Chimneys has released its 2025 roster and fees and topping the list is Horse of the Year Gun Runner (by Candy Ride {Arg})–the sire of 13 millionaires and 10 Grade 1 winners–who after being listed privately in 2024 will stand for a fee of $250,000 LFSN, the farm said via a release on Friday. Currently second on the General Sire list in North America with almost $16 million in progeny earnings, Gun Runner is the sire of four Grade I winners this year including Sierra Leone, Vahva, Society and Gun Pilot, who are all are pointing to this year's Breeders' Cup. Sea Runner, a juvenile filly, is also pre-entered for the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf. In 2024, at the sales Gun Runner had 10 yearlings sell for $1 million or more including a $1.9 million colt at Fasig-Tipton's Saratoga Sale and a $2.2 million colt at Keeneland September. “Gun Runner is continuing to prove our dreams can become a reality, and Thee Chimneys and our partners continue to breed our best mares to him which we believe will further his influence on the breed,” Three Chimneys Chairman Goncalo Torrealba said. “We are excited to also bring home one of his promising Grade I winning sons in Gun Pilot, who was bred and raised here at Three Chimneys.” As previously reported, Gun Runner's son GISW Gun Pilot, new to Three Chimneys for 2025, will have his stud fee announced after the running of the GI Cygames Breeders' Cup Sprint which will be his final start. Into Mischief's son Newgate, who won the GI Santa Anita Handicap, will also be a new roster member. The current 4-year-old colt makes his next start in the GI Longines Breeders' Cup Classic. Volatile (by Violence), who is the sire of 15 winners to date including two Grade I performers, will stand for a fee of $12,500 LFSN. “Volatile is a great value opportunity with a lot of up-side to breeders this year–he already has two legitimate Grade I horses that will be pointing for important races next year, and he has plenty of winners. I believe his runners are showing that they are like him–quick enough at two, but they will be even better as they mature as 3-year-olds,” said Three Chimneys board member and advisor Chief Stipe Cauthen. Sky Mesa (by Pulpit) will stand for $10,000 LFSN while Funtastic (by More Than Ready), sire of First Peace ($778,520), the recent winner of the GII California Crown Eddie D Stakes, will stand for $5,000 LFSN. Stallion/Fee: Gun Runner-$250,000 Volatile-$12,500 Sky Mesa-$10,000 Funtastic-$5,000 Gun Pilot-TBA Newgate-TBA The post Gun Runner To Stand For $250,000 In 2025 appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Battleoverdoyen (Ire) (Doyen {Ire}) (lot 24), offered by Gordon Elliott Racing, was purchased for £13,000 during ThoroughBid's October Sale. Sold to trainer Max Comley, the 11-year-old gelding has nine wins to his name, including Grade 1s over hurdles and fences. Comley, who saddled 22 point-to-point winners in the UK last season, said, “We always flick through the ThoroughBid catalogues, and in this instance, I had an owner who was looking for an older horse, so Battleoverdoyen fitted the bill nicely. We agreed on the price we wanted to go to and were delighted to have got him for that. “He's an older horse but all the form is in the book and he's obviously a quality animal. He won quite well two starts back at Galway, so I do think he's got a bit left in the tank. I'd like to think we can have a bit of fun with him if we place him well–veteran's chases and hunter chases will be the sort of thing we'll be looking at.” Game Line (Ire) (Sandmason {GB}) (lot 39) also cracked the £10,000 mark, making £18,000 from Ross Williams. Sold by Roggie Crew, the 10-year-old gelding is from the same family as Grade 3 chase winner Colnel Rayburn (GB) (Un Desperado {Fr}). Overall, 26 lots sold from 46 offered (56%), for a gross of £104,350. The average was £4,013 and the median was £2,750. CEO of ThoroughBid, James Richardson, said, “There was plenty of interest in the October Sale and it was a busy session of bidding. We were delighted to be entrusted with the draft from Gordon Elliott, and 12 of them finding new homes, including Battleoverdoyen, was a great result. “Max [Comley] is an exciting young trainer to follow, and we wish him all the best with Battleoverdoyen. He won a nice race at the Galway Festival in August and will hopefully have some big days ahead of him for his new trainer.” For the full ThoroughBid results, please visit their website. The post Battleoverdoyen Headed To Ireland After ThoroughBid October Sale appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Darrell Tampin has been appointed general manager of Aislabie Stud. Tampin has held the position of stud manager for the past seven years and, due to the expanding nature of the broodmare band belonging to owners Fawzi Nass and fellow Bahraini Shaikh Nasser Al Khalifa of Victorious Racing, he will resume his new role as general manager. Oliver St Lawrence will continue to oversee the racing and bloodstock interests of the business. Tampin has spent 23 years working in the bloodstock industry and has gained experience in Australia, New Zealand and America. Commenting on his promotion, he said, “I've really enjoyed my first seven years at Aislabie and am looking forward to the very exciting young broodmare band we have for Fawzi Nass and Shaikh Nasser.” He added, “I'd like to thank Fawzi Nass for giving me the opportunity and am very much looking forward to having the foals of Champion Sprinter elect Bradsell here in 2026. Bradsell has spent time on the stud and I, along with all of the team, are thrilled with his success over the past three years. Hopefully we can breed horses as talented and as tough as him.” The post Darrell Tampin Appointed General Manager At Aislabie Stud appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Eclipse Champion Idiomatic (Curlin–Lockdown, by First Defence) was found to be lame in her left knee Friday morning with an issue that should heal readily, according to a Juddmonte Farms press release early Friday. The homebred has been ruled out for the GI Longines Breeders' Cup Distaff where she was set to take on MGISW Thorpedo Anna (Fast Anna). Juddmonte has decided to retire the 5-year-old mare to the breeding shed. This is the first time she has been sidelined over the course of three seasons of racing. Idiomatic won the Breeders' Cup Distaff at Santa Anita in 2023 and prepped for this year's edition when she captured for the second time in a row the GI Juddmonte Spinster Stakes at Keeneland Oct. 6. The accomplished mare won a total of five top level races over the course of her career. The first foal out of Lockdown, Idiomatic has a strong extended female family. Her dam is a full-sister to 'TDN Rising Star' and MGISW Close Hatches. Lockdown also counts as half-siblings 'TDN Rising Star' and MGSW Scylla (Tapit), GSW Batten Down (Tapit) and current sire Tacitus (Tapit). Idiomatic has a 2-year-old half-sister named Chasten (Into Mischief) who is in-training with her conditioner Brad Cox. The post Champion Idiomatic Ruled Out For The Breeders’ Cup With Lameness, Will Retire Says Juddmonte appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Irish Oaks winner You Got To Me (GB) (Nathaniel {Ire}) is one of the highlights of the 991-strong Tattersalls December Mares catalogue, which was released on Friday. The third edition of the Sceptre Sessions will take place on Monday, Dec. 2 and Tuesday, Dec. 3. An additional two sessions of the December Mares Sale will continue on Dec. 4-5. The first Irish Oaks winner (lot 1753) to be sold at Tattersalls as a 3-year-old for over 40 years, the filly will be joined by up-and-coming sprinter Believing (Ire) (Mehmas {Ire}) (lot 1740), as well as 34 group and listed-winning race fillies across the Sceptre Sessions. G1 Pretty Polly Stakes runner-up Stay Alert (GB) (Fastnet Rock {Aus}) (lot 1734) will be offered, as will G1 Matron Stakes second Rogue Millennium (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) (lot 1752), and the 2024 G1 Irish 1000 Guineas bridesmaid A Lilac Rolla (Ire) (Harry Angel {Ire}) (lot 1735). G1 Prix de l'Abbaye victress Mabs Cross (GB) (Dutch Art {GB}) (lot 1724) will sell in foal to Havana Grey (GB); while Cairde Go Deo (Fr) (Camelot {GB}) (lot 1473) and Rawdaa (GB) (Teofilo {Ire}) (lot 1472), both Group 1 placegetters, will sell in foal to Night Of Thunder (Ire) and Lope De Vega (Ire), respectively. Elizabethan (War Front) (lot 1731), a full-sister to Group 1 winners Roly Poly and U S Navy Flag, and Deadly Nightshade (lot 1737), a Justify half-sister to fellow top-level winner Above The Curve (American Pharoah), will sell in foal to Wootton Bassett (GB). Among the Group 1 producers are Frangipani (Ger) (Jukebox Jury {Ire}) (lot 1747), carrying a full-sibling to G1 Deutsches Derby hero Fantastic Moon (Ger) (Sea The Moon {Ger}); Landikusic (Ire) (Dansili {GB}) (lot 1465) and Morning Mist (Ger) (Peintre Celebre) (lot 1464) are in foal to Too Darn Hot (GB) and Sea The Moon with the latter on Southern Hemisphere time; while Sweety Dream (Fr) (Dream Ahead) (lot 1722) and Kentucky Belle (Ire) (Heliostatic {Ire}) (lot 1485) are in foal to Night Of Thunder (Ire). Juddmonte's draft of 37 includes Group 1 winner Capla Temptress (Ire) (Lope De Vega {Ire}) (lot 1689) in foal to Dark Angel (Ire); and Irish 1000 Guineas and G1 Yorkshire Oaks heroine Pleascach (Ire) (Teofilo {Ire}) (lot 1322), in foal to Farhh (GB), anchors the 53-strong Godolphin draft. Barton Stud fields the largest consignment at 85, and they were the leading consignor during last year's December Mares Sale. Their draft contains Desirous (GB) (Kingman {GB}) (lot 2031), a half-sister to G1 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe winner Bluestocking (GB) (Nathaniel {Ire}). The Castlebridge Consignment's Daldiyna (Fr) (Dansili {GB}) (lot 1717), a half-sister to Group 1 winner Dolniya (Fr) (Azamour {Ire}), is pregnant to Wootton Bassett and one of 84 lots in the draft. Other highlights of the catalogue are the Ballylinch Stud-consigned Nariman Point (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) (lot 1422), a half-sister to top-tier victress Place Du Carrousel (Ire) (Lope De Vega {Ire}) in foal to Lope De Vega; WH Bloodstock's Mean Machine (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) (lot 1417), a full-sister to a pair of Group 1 winners in foal to Wootton Bassett; Frill (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) (lot 1375), a half-sister to Group 1 winner Garswood (GB) (Dutch Art {GB}), who will also be offered in foal to Wootton Bassett by Glenvale Stud; Baroda Stud's Hibiscus (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) (lot 1654), a full-sister to Breeders' Cup hero Line Of Duty (Ire) in foal to Too Darn Hot; and Manister House Stud's Allez Alaia (Ire) (lot 1677), a Pivotal (GB) own-sister to Group 1 winner and exceptional broodmare Halfway To Heaven (Ire), in foal to Ghaiyyath (Ire). In 2023, the four-day sale grossed 68,502,085gns for 630 lots sold (75%). The average was 107,544gns and the median was 30,000gns. Barton Sales offered the 4,500,000gns top lot in Teona (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}), who was sold to Juddmonte in foal to Frankel. Tattersalls chairman Edmond Mahony said, “The acclaimed Sceptre Sessions at the Tattersalls December Sale continue to attract an abundance of outstanding fillies and broodmares with Irish Oaks winner You Got To Me exemplifying the quality that buyers from every continent in the world can expect to find at Europe's premier breeding stock sale. The Tattersalls December Sale is an unmissable event for so many, combining not only the quality and diversity to suit all budgets and requirements, but also the depth and numbers which make it the European breeding stock sale worth travelling for. Crucially buyers know that there are future Group 1 producers to be found at every level of the December Sale market with the dams of 2024 superstars Charyn and Kalpana purchased for 3,000 guineas and 35,000 guineas respectively and it is results of such distinction which make the Tattersalls December Mares Sale truly the most influential breeding stock sale in Europe.” The post You Got To Me Stars In Sceptre Sessions, As Tattersalls December Mares Catalogue Announced appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance (TAA) will be at Del Mar for the Breeders' Cup World Championships as the official aftercare partner and will host several events, the non-profit said in a release Friday morning. TAA will be represented with two named races on Friday of Breeders' Cup weekend. Race 2, The GII Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance Stakes is scheduled for 12:10 p.m. PT/3:10 p.m. ET. The GI FanDuel Breeders' Cup Juvenile presented by Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance will be run at 4:45 p.m. PT/7:45 p.m. ET. After each race, a presentation will be made in the winner's circle where the winning connections will receive a Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance gift bag and blanket. As part of their commitment to supporting accredited aftercare, FanDuel will make a $100,000 contribution to the aftercare organization. “The FanDuel Group is proud to have Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance present The FanDuel Breeders' Cup Juvenile for a fifth consecutive year,” said Andrew Moore, FanDuel's general manager of racing. “Accredited aftercare is a vital part of the industry, and we're honored to contribute to the incredible work that Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance does in supporting the aftercare of our equine athletes when they retire from the track.” Also planned, TAA will host the winners of the 2024 VIP Breeders' Cup World Championships experience from the “Off to the Races” online benefit auction. This experience was donated by Breeders' Cup Limited. The winners will enjoy four tickets to the Breeders' Cup Breakfast Marquee on Wednesday, a table for four at the track on Friday and Saturday, paddock passes for The Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance Stakes, and much more. Additionally, TAA will have a booth set up during both days of the Breeders' Cup, where patrons are encouraged to stop by to learn more about accredited aftercare. Branded merchandise will be available in exchange for a donation. The post TAA Front And Center As The Official Aftercare Partner Of The Breeders’ Cup appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

The connections of Far Bridge are hoping to put to rest a couple of assumptions about their horse and the Nov. 2 Breeders' Cup Turf (G1T).View the full article

The Challenge, presented by GaineswayView the full article

John Gosden has revealed that Frankie Dettori will ride Emily Upjohn (GB) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) in the Breeders' Cup Turf rather than tackling the Filly & Mare Turf which had been the original target. “It's very simple, she is going to run in the Turf, Frankie is based in America, he's ridden Del Mar hundreds of times, so to that extent it is very clear he will be riding the filly, he knows the filly and he knows the track,” Gosden told the Nick Luck Daily podcast. He added, “Kieran (Shoemark) knows the filly, but has never really ridden much in America and certainly hasn't ridden at Del Mar. “You've got to remember about this track that it is built inside the old main Jimmy Durante turf course, it is the tightest and certainly has the shortest straight of any course I ever knew in America. “When you straighten up you only have just over a furlong to run. It's all about tactical position on a turning track, it's not exactly a place you want to go unless you are fully aware of how it works and Kieran is fully understanding of that. “We're leaning towards the Turf because it's a longer run to the first bend and she's better at a mile and a half on the track.” The post Dettori To Replace Shoemark Aboard Emily Upjohn In Breeders’ Cup Turf appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Okita Soushi ridden by Billy Egan winning the Moonee Valley Gold Cup. (Photo by George Salpigtidis/Racing Photos) Okita Soushi has managed to outstay his rivals in convincing fashion when claiming Friday night’s Group 2 Moonee Valley Gold Cup (2500m). On the back of a determined effort last time out in the Herbert Power Stakes (2400m), the former European managed to break his Australian maiden, and in doing so inserted himself in to Melbourne Cup calculations. The son of Galileo finished 11th in last year’s Melbourne Cup (3200m) and a second crack at the great race is firmly on the agenda following his half-length victory over Serpentine and Sharp ‘N’ Smart a further two-lengths back in third. WATCH: ALL MOONEE VALLEY GOLD CUP NIGHT RACE REPLAYS It wa sa stop start affair as let-start Bart Cummings winner Just Fine looked to control proceedings, but having had to work to find the lead, the early work tolled, and the race was set up for those with fitness on their side. Enter Billy Egan and Okita Soushi. Having sat one off the rails just behind the lead, Okita Soushi hit the lead on the home term and did well to hold off the fast-finishing Serpentine. Brayden Star was cruelly held up for a run at a crucial point and was obliged to finish closer to the winner than his 2.6-length defeat suggests, however, it was all honours the winner. 2024 Group 2 Moonee Valley Gold Cup Replay When asked if Okita Soushi would go on to the first Tuesday in November, Ciaron Maher’s assistant trainer Jack Turnbull was quick to confirm the idea. “100%. It’s always been the long-term plan when he came to us off the back of his last campaign in spring,” Turnbull said when asked about the Melbourne Cup. “It’s really good and pleasing when things work out in terms of timing. It’s all working out. It’s fantastic. “We thought he was going really good into that last run. He’s just a classic stayer that wants twelve furlongs. “Once you get him to that level, and at a level of fitness, he excels.” Following the win, horse racing bookmakers have tightened Okita Soushi into a $26 chance for the Melbourne Cup, with some bookies offering as much as $81 before Friday night’s triumph. Horse racing news
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With an aggregate 104 engaged at the beginning of the week, contestants for Sunday's two juvenile Group 1 contests at Saint-Cloud have been whittled down to 10 after declarations were confirmed Friday morning. The one-mile G1 Criterium International has six declared for a mouthwatering renewal which features 'TDN Rising Stars' Maranoa Charlie (Fr) (Wootton Bassett {GB}), the lone French-trained runner remaining, and supplementary entry Twain (Ire) (Wootton Bassett {GB}). The latter, who makes a swift return to action after debuting in style at Leopardstown last Saturday, is set to be accompanied by his Aidan O'Brien-trained stablemate Mount Kilimanjaro (Fr) (Siyouni {Fr}), who was the joint highest-priced lot when knocked down for €420,000 at last year's Arqana October yearling sale. The line-up is completed by Goffs Million victor Apples And Bananas (Ire) (Wootton Bassett {GB}), G3 Solario Stakes runner-up Matauri Bay (Ire) (Lope De Vega {Ire}) and the Andrew Balding-trained maiden Spirit Of Summer (GB) (Mohaather {GB}). The 10-furlong G1 Criterium de Saint-Cloud has just four engaged with those remaining all from overseas. Aidan O'Brien relies on G1 Fillies' Mile third and supplementary entry Ballet Slippers (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}), the lone filly across both fields, while son Joseph will saddle G2 Beresford Stakes runner-up Tennessee Stud (Ire) (Wootton Bassett {GB}). The quartet also includes Peter Chapple-Hyam trainee Harvey (Fr) (Le Havre {Ire}), who ran third behind Maranoa Charlie in last month's G3 Prix Thomas Bryon, and Charlie Johnston representative Green Storm (Ire) (Circus Maximus {Ire}). With five runs under his belt, the latter is the most experienced left standing and was last seen running second in this month's G3 Zetland Stakes at Newmarket. France's final Group 1 contest of the season, the G1 Prix Royal-Oak, takes place later on the card and has attracted a field of eight. Last year's winner Double Major (Ire) (Daiwa Major {Jpn}) will return off a fifth in the G1 Prix du Cadran on Arc weekend and his rivals include mud-loving Cadran runner-up Trueshan (Fr) (Planteur {Ire}) and G1 St Leger fifth Grosvenor Square (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}). The post Declarations for Saint-Cloud’s Group 1 Juvenile Contests Revealed, Just 10 Confirmed Runners Across Both appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Top sprinter Big Evs will stand at Tally-Ho Stud next season. The son of Blue Point will retire following his run in the G1 Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint at Del Mar, a race he is a general 8-1 chance for. Big Evs is the leading sprinter of his generation, a G1-winning two-year-old who has beaten some of the best older horses in a series of top-class efforts this season at three for trainer Mick Appleby. Sourced by Conor Quirke on behalf of Paul and Rachael Teasdale's RP Racing Ltd from Micky Cleere early in his juvenile year, he was a dominant winner at Royal Ascot when running out a three-length winner of the Listed Windsor Castle Stakes. From there, he won the G3 Molecomb Stakes at Goodwood and then the G2 Flying Childers Stakes at Doncaster before heading to Santa Anita for the Breeders' Cup, where he landed the Juvenile Turf Sprint with fellow Royal Ascot winners Valiant Force and Crimson Advocate in behind. Roger O'Callaghan of Tally-Ho Stud commented, “We are delighted to be standing a horse with such pure speed and consistent class. He looked very special the day he won the Windsor Castle Stakes and his performances since have confirmed his place as an elite sprinter of recent years. “Few horses have the pace to be able to challenge American sprinters on their home soil, and what he did in the Breeders' Cup last year underlined his brilliance. We are very much looking forward to standing the first son of Blue Point and to supporting him strongly at stud.” O'Callaghan: 'We will be supporting him strongly' | Goffs Big Evs returned this year to defy a penalty in the Listed Westow Stakes and later claimed the scalp of top Australian sprinter Asfoora in the G2 King George Stakes. He also ran third in the G1 King's Stand Stakes at Royal Ascot. Campaigned exclusively over five furlongs, Big Evs is the first son of leading young sire Blue Point to stud. Out of a daughter of Oasis Dream, he hails from a family steeped in juvenile talent as a grandson of champion Queen's Logic, whose daughter Lady Of The Desert and granddaughter Queen Kindly both won the G2 Lowther Stakes. A stud fee for Big Evs will be announced at a later date. The post “Very Special” Sprinter Big Evs To Stand At Tally-Ho Stud Next Year appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Having won more than 400 group/grade 1 races worldwide, few important races have eluded Irish trainer Aidan O'Brien. Yet the $7 million Breeders' Cup Classic (G1) is one of them. City of Troy might be the horse to give him that elusive victory.View the full article