Wandering Eyes

Multiple grade 1-winning California-bred sprinter The Chosen Vron will not participate in the $2 million Breeders' Cup Sprint (G1) at Del Mar Nov. 2.View the full article

LEXINGTON, KY – The Fasig-Tipton October Yearlings Sale reached its halfway mark with a vibrant day of trade topped by a $550,000 son of Curlin who was one of the last horses through the ring Tuesday. “It was tremendous second session of the 2024 Kentucky October Yearling sale,” said Fasig-Tipton President Boyd Browning, Jr. “There was really spirited bidding from the very beginning of the sale to the very end of the sale. The level and consistency of the bidding throughout the day was truly encouraging.” Through two sessions of the four-day auction, 544 yearlings have grossed $28,753,000 for an average of $52,855 and a median of $20,000. With just 137 yearlings failing to meet their reserves, the buy-back rate stands at 20.1%. Through two sessions of the 2023 auction, 520 yearlings had grossed $24,157,300 for an average of $46,456 and a median of $22,000. The four-day average of the 2023 sale was $48,045 and the median was $24,000. “It was statistically a magnificent day, with a noticeable increase in the average over the overall sale average last year,” Browning said. “We are tracking really well. Obviously, we are just halfway through, with two more days to go, but we are delighted with the look and the feel and the energy that is on the sales grounds and very pleased halfway through the sale.” Bloodstock agent Alistair Roden, bidding on behalf of Mark Breen, purchased the auction's top offering so far, going to $550,000 to acquire a son of Curlin from the Taylor Made Sales Agency consignment. The colt was one of 10 to sell for $300,000 or more on the day and brought the two-day total to reach that mark to 15. It was 10 at the same point a year ago. Through two days, 34 yearlings have sold for $200,000 or more, up from 24 at the halfway mark of the 2023 auction. “More encouraging was the level and the consistency of bidding throughout the day.”@btbrowning recaps the second session of the Kentucky October Yearlings sale. #FasigKY pic.twitter.com/dHXlTx7H15 — Fasig-Tipton (@FasigTiptonCo) October 22, 2024 The October results continued to show a deep and diverse buying bench with nine of Tuesday's top 10 offerings purchased by unique interests. “The October sale truly has something for everyone,” Browning said. “That's reflected in the buyer group that is on the sale grounds. We could have a United Nations conference in the back walking ring. It's great for our industry to be an exporter of this many horses, as well as to have a healthy racing game here in the United States.” The October sale continues through Thursday with sessions beginning daily at 10 a.m. Curlin Colt a Late Topper for Roden After watching Carlos Manresa sign the ticket at $350,000 on a colt by Tapit, Alistair Roden said ruefully, “That could have been me.” The bloodstock agent eventually got his chance, acquiring a colt by Curlin (hip 801) for a session-topping $550,000 late in the day Tuesday at Fasig-Tipton. Hip 801 c. CURLIN o/o Sass and Class sells for $550,000 at Kentucky October Yearlings! Congrats to the connections: B: Alistair Roden, agent for Mark Breen C: @TaylorMadeSales, agt for Stonestreet Bred & Raised Br: @StonestreetFarm (KY) pic.twitter.com/ykSHeniNOJ — Fasig-Tipton (@FasigTiptonCo) October 22, 2024 “This was for an old client and friend Mark Breen, who lives in Phoenix,” Roden said of the purchase. “He's been in the horse business for a while.” Hip 801 is out of Sass and Class (Harlan's Holiday) and is a half-brother to multiple graded winner Royal Charlotte (Cairo Prince). He was consigned by Taylor Made Agency on behalf of his breeder, Stonestreet Thoroughbred Holdings. “He always dreams of having a nice 3-year-old,” Roden said of Breen. “Which everybody does in this game. He loved this horse's pedigree. I loved his physical.” Of the colt's final price, Roden said, “I was already out. And then the phone rang. He rang and he told me to keep going. But I figured it would be around that price. He's a lovely horse. He's by Curlin. He has a stallion's pedigree and, if he's a Grade I winner, he's a $30-million horse.” Roden added, “Let's hope the horse gods shine on him and we have some luck.” Breen campaigned Endorsed (Medaglia d'Oro), winner of last year's GII Gulfstream Park Mile, as well as 2014 GIII Iowa Derby winner Jessica's Star (Magna Graduate). Woodford, Walden Back for More John Skyes's Woodford Thoroughbreds, which has already enjoyed graded stakes success with young trainer Will Walden this year, will be adding another yearling to the stable after bloodstock agent Ryder Finney secured a colt by Vekoma (hip 510) for $360,000 during Tuesday's second session of the Fasig-Tipton October sale. Hip 510 c. VEKOMA o/o Monarchia sells for $360,000 at Kentucky October Yearlings! Congrats to the connections: B: Ryder Finney, agt for Woodford Thoroughbreds C: @MachmerHallSls, agt for HREH Raised at Springhill Equine Br: Haymarket Farm (KY)#FasigKY @spendthriftfarm pic.twitter.com/v5fEAQWlXM — Fasig-Tipton (@FasigTiptonCo) October 22, 2024 “Will Walden has been training a couple for him that he bought over at Tattersalls and has had some success with the first couple of goes in the States and Mr. Sykes is ready for some more,” Finney said after signing the ticket on the yearling. Consigned by Machmer Hall on behalf of his breeder, Chip Montgomery's Haymarket Farm, the bay is out of the unraced Monarchia (Arch). He is a half-brother to stakes winner Unifying (Union Rags). “He is super athletic,” Finney said of the colt's appeal. “I thought everything about him was so athletic. I loved the way he moved. I loved the way he's made. Will and I talked about it when we saw him the first time. He kind of reminded us of Life Is Good physically. Just super well made. Awesome neck side, great shoulder, big hip. He has everything that we want physically. And Vekoma has obviously been a very hot freshman stallion. Will and I have been high on Vekoma for a while. Everything fit together.” Woodford Thoroughbreds and Walden were in the winner's circle earlier this year with Pipsy (Ire) (Kodiac {GB}), who won the GIII Soaring Softly Stakes in May. They teamed up to win an Oct. 17 Keeneland allowance with Aussie Girl (Ire) (Starspangledbanner {Aus}). Both mares were purchased last December at Tattersalls. Montgomery purchased Monarchia, in foal to Omaha Beach, for $50,000 at the 2022 Keeneland January sale. The mare's Omaha Beach filly sold for $67,000 at last year's October sale. Tuesday's result marked the resumption of the successful partnership of Haymarket Farm and Machmer Hall. “Chip Montgomery was a good friend of mine for a long time,” Machmer Hall's Carrie Brogden said. “We started out as friends 25 years ago. And we just recently got back together. This is a culmination of 25 years of friendship. We had a lot of successes before–a lot–and now we are looking to have a lot of successes in the future again.” Brogden also gave credit to JR Sebastian of Springhill Equine, who prepped the yearling. “I have to give so much credit to JR,” Brogden said. “This horse, the last 30 days, has just blossomed into this beautiful animal. He was always targeted for this sale. It's so thrilling for me to not only have the success for JR–it's thrilling for their staff–and for me and my friendship with Chip and his whole family.” D J Stable Gets More of the Jaywalk Family The Green family's D J Stable captured the 2018 GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies with Jaywalk (Cross Traffic), so it was a no-brainer to bid on a yearling out of a half-sister to that champion, bloodstock agent Kim Valerio said after signing the ticket at $350,000 to secure the filly by Tapit (hip 492) from the Gainesway consignment Tuesday at Fasig-Tipton. Hip 492 f. TAPIT o/o Miss Jessica sells for $350,000 at Kentucky October Yearlings! Congrats to the connections: B: @DJ_Stable /Kim Valerio, agt C: @Gainesway, agt Br: Al Shira'aa Racing & Gainesway Thoroughbreds (KY)#FasigKY @JonGreen2022 pic.twitter.com/K4bn93kc5g — Fasig-Tipton (@FasigTiptonCo) October 22, 2024 “We are looking for fillies to put in the breeding program,” Valerio, who did her bidding upstairs while on the phone with Len Green, said. “And this family just keeps coming on.” The bay filly is out of Miss Jessica J (Empire Maker), who is a half-sister to, not only Jaywalk, but also to multiple stakes winner Danzatrice (Dunkirk), who is the dam of GI Toyota Blue Grass Stakes winner Tapit Trice (Tapit). Asked if she sees similarities between the yearling and Jaywalk, Valerio said, “No, not really. She has more of the bottom side, the Empire Maker, and she is inbred to be bigger and stretchier. I would say she looks more like Untapable. She is big and narrow.” Bidding on the filly, who was bred by Al Shira'aa Racing and Gainesway Thoroughbreds, started out slowly, but built steadily. “Len was on the phone and I had to look down and look back–obviously, they don't mind staying until 9 p.m.,” Valerio said with a laugh. “And then we were all panicking that we were on the wrong horse.” Of the final price, Valerio said, “I was hoping we would get her for $250,000 or $275,000. At Keeneland–if she was ready then–she would have brought that and more.” Valerio is working the 1600-head sale on her own, but said she felt it was important to go through as many horses as possible. “There are a lot of really nice horses here,” she said. “I let my help go on vacation, so I am hustling. I forgot how many horses are here. Maybe I should stop doing all-shows at some point, but I like to see them all.” Valerio, who is a proponent of limiting stallion book sizes to some degree, said it was important to her to look at yearlings by a wide variety of sires. “I am a big proponent for coming to some kind of agreement with the stallion farms,” she said. “I am not saying 140. I am not even saying 180, but to start limiting the books some. So I feel like, if I am going to try to preach to people, then I owe it to the other people to at least look at not all the best stallions. I've looked at all of Chuck Fipke's Danish Dynaformers. I looked at all of his Perfect Timbers. I feel it's important for me, as an agent, to not discount everything when I want the business to move forward in a better direction.” Asked if she has been impressed by any of those sires who might be flying under the radar, Valerio said, “I don't know if he's under the radar, but I've bought a Raging Bull (Fr). I do like those. Cairo Prince isn't under the radar, but he's underlooked.” More Constitution for Twin Creeks Twin Creeks Farm, which campaigned Constitution, acquired a filly by the sire to add to its Red White and Blue Racing syndicate when farm manager Ryan Bardin bid $350,000 for hip 620 from the Woods Edge Farm consignment Tuesday at the October sale. Hip 620 f. CONSTITUTION o/o Panthera Onca sells for $350,000 at Kentucky October Yearlings! Congrats to the connections: B: Red White and Blue C: Woods Edge Farm, agt Br: Narola LLC (KY)#FasigKY @WinStarFarm pic.twitter.com/0DiuDo0Zag — Fasig-Tipton (@FasigTiptonCo) October 22, 2024 “She is an outstanding physical,” Bardin said of the yearling. “She is a very beautiful filly. I think she's the best I saw at this sale. And she is by Constitution. So we get to support the home team.” Bred by Narola, the yearling is out of Panthera Onca (Super Saver), a daughter of graded winner Molto Vita (Carson City). Red White and Blue Racing campaigns Neat, also by Constitution, who won this year's GII National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame Stakes, as well as this year's GII Beaumont Stakes winner Denim and Pearls (Into Mischief). Of immediate plans for the syndicate's newest acquisition, Bardin said, “She will ship over to WinStar to get broke. [Twin Creek's] Randy Gullatt will determine who suits her as a trainer.” Broman Continues to Dream of Derby Longtime owner and breeder Chester Broman, whose wife Mary passed away last week at 88, continues to pursue the couple's shared dream of reaching the GI Kentucky Derby, with advisors Becky Thomas and Carlos Manresa acquiring a pair of yearlings on his behalf during Tuesday's second session of the October auction. Broman purchased a colt by Tapit (hip 757) from the Gainesway consignment for $350,000 and paid $300,000 for a colt by Nyquist (hip 729) from Blandford Stud. Hip 757 c. TAPIT o/o River Maid sells for $350,000 at Kentucky October Yearlings! Congrats to the connections: B: Becky Thomas, agt for Chester Broman C: @Gainesway, agt Br: Mark Stansell & Tapit Syndicate (KY)#FasigKY pic.twitter.com/C2JWyxBdz5 — Fasig-Tipton (@FasigTiptonCo) October 22, 2024 “It has been a dream of his–both his and his wife–to go to the Derby,” Manresa said. “That is something they shared together and that he wants to continue in her legacy. So that is the plan. We are going to continue to buy horses and try to make that dream come true for him.” Bred by Mark Stansell and Tapit Syndicate, hip 757 is out of graded stakes winner River Maid (Where's the Ring) and is a half-brother to Grade I-placed Cocktail Moments (Uncle Mo). “He has a beautiful body,” Manresa said of the colt. “He could have been placed in any sale anywhere in the country and I think he would have been very popular. Gainesway did a great job with him. We all loved him and we are happy to have him.” Hip 729 is out of Ready Ready Ready (More Than Ready), whose 2-year-old daughter Abientot (Not This Time) won the GIII Matron Stakes earlier this month. “He had a big update, a lot of pedigree, and great physical, especially for a Classic distance,” Manresa said of the yearling, who was bred by Killora Stud. Thomas purchased a pair of yearlings on behalf of Broman at the Keeneland September sale last month, going to $1.15 million for a colt by Gun Runner (hip 73) and $325,000 for a son of Constitution (hip 836). “I think what helps him through the whole process is his love for horses and the fact that he and Mary shared that together,” Manresa said of Broman. The post ‘Something for Everyone:’ Spirited Bidding Punctuates Day Two of Fasig-Tipton October Sale appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Observations on the European Racing Scene turns the spotlight on the best European races of the day, highlighting well-pedigreed horses early in their careers, horses of note returning to action and young runners that achieved notable results in the sales ring. Wednesday's Observations features a Kingman half-sibling to Mostahdaf (GB). 2.20 Newmarket, Novice, £8,500, 2yo, c/g, 7fT MUDBIR (GB) (Kingman {GB}) is one of the key players on an intriguing card made up mainly of 2-year-old contests, being Shadwell's half-brother to the G1 Prince of Wales's Stakes hero Mostahdaf (Ire) (Frankel {GB}) and the G1 Falmouth Stakes and G1 Sun Chariot Stakes winner Nazeef (GB) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}). Like that talented duo, John and Thady Gosden have charge of the homebred son of Handassa (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) whose peers include Juddmonte's Pinhole (GB) (Frankel {GB}), a Sir Michael Stoute-trained full-brother to the G1 Fillies' Mile winner Quadrilateral (GB). 2.55 Newmarket, Mdn, £12,000, 2yo, 10fT THE CURSOR (GB) (Frankel {GB}) is introduced by Andrew Balding over an extreme trip for a juvenile, which may give a clue as to the stamina expectations of this son of the G1 Prix de l'Opera heroine Villa Marina (GB) (Le Havre {Ire}). Representing King Power Racing, the 400,000gns Tattersalls October Book 1 graduate meets Godolphin's 1million gns Tattersalls October Book 1 purchase Arabian Poet (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}), the Charlie Appleby-trained son of Shastye (Ire) (Danehill) who was seventh on debut on the July Course here in August. The post Kingman Half To Mostahdaf And Nazeef Debuts At Newmarket appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Pride Of Jenni will contest Saturday’s Group 1 Cox Plate (2040m) at The Valley. Photo: Bradleyphotos.com.au Pride Of Jenni out ran all of her rivals in her last attempt over 2000m, and she will be out to do that on the biggest stage in Saturday’s $5 million Group 1 Cox Plate (2040m) at The Valley. Prior to last season, Pride Of Jenni had placed at Group One and Group Two level, but she catapulted herself into stardom with stunning front-running victories in the Group 1 Empire Rose Stakes (1600m), Group 1 Champions Stakes (1600m) and the All Star Mile (1600m). Her status as the 2023/24 Australian Racehorse of the Year was cemented with a performance for the ages in the Group 1 Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2000m) at Randwick in April. Returning as a seven-year-old, the Pride Of Dubai mare was defeated by her arch-rival Mr Brightside in the Group 1 Makybe Diva Stakes (1600m) before she turned the tables on him in the Group 2 Feehan Stakes (1600m). While Mr Brightside made his final preparations elsewhere, Pride Of Jenni primed for the Cox Plate in last Saturday’s Group 1 King Charles III Stakes (1600m), where she led to the dying moments before the Kiwi-bred Ceolwulf came storming down the outside to deny the mare a fourth Group One. Ciaron Maher, who won both the The Everest (1200m) and Group 1 Caulfield Cup (2400m) over the weekend, has been pleased with the mare’s progress since Saturday’s contest. “She’s come through it well, I followed her down to the swabbing box post her run on Saturday to see how she was, and she’s pulled up pretty well,” Maher told Racing.com. “She went down to Bong Bong and was in the spa and paddock over the last couple of days, there’s nothing I’ve seen that (would suggest) she wouldn’t back up. “Hyperbaric chambers are well used in people, it’s oxygen infused. She hadn’t been in it before and she was a little bit nervous when she got in, but she settled down over the next few days. It aids everything really, any soft tissue, lung, just the whole recovery process. “She comes back (to Melbourne) on Wednesday night and just ticks over. It’s all about recovery, so you’re keeping them happy and hopefully the trip back is smooth, she can take her place on Saturday. “It’s going to be a tough enough ask, but if any horse can do it, I think she can.” There was an edge of controversy after the King Charles in reference to fellow pacemaker Major Beel, but, Maher emphasised that her usual pattern would not change in the feature. “I think she’ll probably do her normal tactics, Saturday had interesting tactics, but I don’t think it made a hell of a lot of difference to the end result. The winner was very, very good, and I thought she was super,” he said. “Dec (Bates, jockey) said that this whole prep, she’s been wanting the 2000m. Hopefully she can travel back safe and sound and take her place, because you’d think The Valley is made for her. “It’s the best race in The Valley and it’s a pressure cooker.” Horse racing news
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Sandy Cunningham has eyes on a major upcoming domestic prize rather than another trip to Victoria with her proven stayer Noble Knight (NZ) (Ghibellines). The Riccarton trainer’s focus is on next month’s Gr.3 Martin Collins New Zealand Cup (3200m) and her in-form seven-year-old will have his final lead-up on his home track this Saturday. Noble Knight will step out in the NZB Airfreight Road To Jericho (3000m), but there’s no chance a victory would convince part-owner Cunningham to set sail for The Jericho Cup (4600m) at Warrnambool on December 1. “The New Zealand Cup is the aim, so we just need to make sure he settles well over the 3000m,” she said. Noble Knight’s staying ability and versatility will stand him in good stead on Saturday and take any worries about the underfoot conditions out of the equation. “I’m not sure what the weather will do, but then that doesn’t bother me,” Cunningham said. “He seems to run on all tracks now, I do think he is a little better on top of the ground but he can still cope with the wet as well.” Safely through this weekend, Noble Knight will likely bypass the Listed Nautical Insurance Metropolitan Trophy (2600m) and go straight into the Cup on November 16. “I mucked up when I ran him over 2100m (in the Gr.3 Trentham Stakes) the week before the last Wellington Cup (Gr.3, 3200m) and they went really hard and fast,” Cunningham said. “He lost his cool in the Cup and over-raced and did everything wrong, so I don’t want that happening again.” Noble Knight will head into Saturday’s contest off the back of a solid effort a fortnight ago to finish runner-up over 2200m at Ashburton in his first appearance since his four-start winter Victorian venture. The son of Ghibellines’ campaign started encouragingly with a runner-up finish at The Valley before he stepped up in grade to finish eighth in the Listed Pakenham Cup (2500m). The winner Ashrun, who had finished fourth in last year’s Gr.1 Melbourne Cup (3200m), subsequently ran third in the Gr.1 Tancred Stakes (2400m). “He ran quite well in the Pakenham Cup and as it turned out the run he had before actually took just a little bit too much out of him,” Cunningham said. “They race a lot harder over there and I probably needed another week with him before the Cup. I thought he held up pretty well in it, all things considered.” Noble Knight was then plagued by foot issues and required a lengthy break before a pair of midfield finishes at Caulfield to end his time in Australia. “He had quite a few foot abscesses and then he got a virus as well,” Cunnigham said. “Things just went a bit pear shaped, but I wasn’t too unhappy and at least we got some prizemoney.” View the full article

Friday’s Gr.2 Moonee Valley Gold Cup (2500m) is looming as a crucial guide to New Zealand’s chances of Gr.1 Melbourne Cup (3200m) success. The Graeme and Debbie Rogerson-trained Sharp ‘N’ Smart (NZ) (Redwood) and the Andrew Forsman-trained Positivity (NZ) (Almanzor) both galloped at Tuesday morning’s Breakfast With The Best trackwork session, pleasing their connections ahead of Friday’s $A750,000 feature at The Valley. Debbie Rogerson was happy with Redwood five-year-old gelding Sharp ‘N’ Smart’s work, in which he wasn’t asked for a strong effort under raceday rider Craig Williams. “He just really had a look around. That was the main thing for him because he’s pretty fit and forward for Friday,” she said. “Craig said he felt fit and that his action felt fantastic, so we were pleased with that.” A three-time Group One winner, Sharp ‘N’ Smart pushed Manzoice to half a length when he was second in the Gr.1 Victoria Derby (2500m) as a three-year-old but he had no luck in his second Victorian start when he faded to 13th in the Gr.1 Turnbull Stakes (2000m) after a tough run earlier this month. “We just want him to really hit the line hard on Friday,” Rogerson said. “He’s very well, a very happy horse. He just wants track conditions to suit so we just hope the weather plays ball.” Sharp ‘N’ Smart has drawn barrier five for Friday’s contest, two places inside fellow Waikato stayer Positivity. Forsman was also satisfied with Positivity’s trackwork under rider Tom Prebble. “She went well. She’s been going great the whole way through,” Forsman said. “We had to scratch her last week through bruised heels and she’s still not 100 percent on them but they’re getting better with each day. We just want to draw well and for everything to go right so she gets her best chance on Friday.” While Almanzor four-year-old Positivity currently sits outside the final field of 24 for the A$8.56 million Melbourne Cup on November 5, Forsman was optimistic she could secure a start if her form warranted running. “She’s still a chance. There’s still a few above her in the order that won’t be going so I’d think she’d get close to getting a run if we go down that path,” he said. “She’d have to run well on Friday, especially how well she’ll be weighted. Provided she gets every chance in the run, if she couldn’t finish top three or four, we wouldn’t be pressing on with a start in the Melbourne Cup.” With the pending defection of Warmonger, Sharp ‘N’ Smart will rise to 12th on the Melbourne Cup order of entry with the Shaune Ritchie and Colm Murray-trained Mahrajaan also assured of a start at 21st on the list, potentially higher if Deny Knowledge tackles the Gr.1 Champion Stakes (2000m) at Flemington on November 9 in preference to the Cup. Positivity sits at 30th on the order, three places ahead of the Grant Cooksley and Bruce Wallace-trained Trust In You, who has finished fourth in the Gr.1 Metropolitan Handicap (2400m) and the Gr.3 ATC St Leger (2600m) at Randwick in his last two starts. Cooksley said connections would pay the $A4,000 third declaration fee next Monday for Trust In You and see where the horse was in the order of entry before deciding whether to head down to Melbourne for the Cup without another lead-up run. Mahrajaan is set to tackle the Gr.3 Bendigo Cup (2400m) on Wednesday week after an insect bite ruled out a start in the Moonee Valley Gold Cup. View the full article

Superstar Trelawney Stud-bred mare Pride Of Jenni out ran all of her rivals in her last attempt over 2000m, and she will be out to do that on the biggest stage in Saturday’s A$5 million Gr.1 Cox Plate (2040m) at The Valley. Prior to last season, Pride Of Jenni had placed at Group One and Group Two level, but she catapulted herself into stardom with stunning front-running victories in the A$1 million Gr.1 Empire Rose Stakes (1600m), A$3 million Gr.1 Champions Stakes (1600m) and A$3.7 million All Star Mile. Her status as the 2023/24 Australian Racehorse of the Year was cemented with a performance for the ages in the $5 million Gr.1 Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2000m) at Randwick in April. Returning as a seven-year-old, the Pride Of Dubai mare was defeated by her arch-rival Mr Brightside in the Gr.1 Makybe Diva Stakes (1600m) before she turned the tables on him in the Gr.2 Feehan Stakes (1600m). While Mr Brightside made his final preparations elsewhere, Pride Of Jenni primed for the Cox Plate in last Saturday’s A$5 million Gr.1 King Charles III Stakes (1600m), where she led to the dying moments before the Kiwi-bred Ceolwulf came storming down the outside to deny the mare a fourth Group One. Ciaron Maher, who won both the A$20 million The Everest (1200m) and A$5 million Gr.1 Caulfield Cup (2400m) over the weekend, has been pleased with the mare’s progress since Saturday’s contest. “She’s come through it well, I followed her down to the swabbing box post her run on Saturday to see how she was, and she’s pulled up pretty well,” Maher told Racing.com. “She went down to Bong Bong and was in the spa and paddock over the last couple of days, there’s nothing I’ve seen that (would suggest) she wouldn’t back up. “Hyperbaric chambers are well used in people, it’s oxygen infused. She hadn’t been in it before and she was a little bit nervous when she got in, but she settled down over the next few days. It aids everything really, any soft tissue, lung, just the whole recovery process. “She comes back (to Melbourne) on Wednesday night and just ticks over. It’s all about recovery, so you’re keeping them happy and hopefully the trip back is smooth, she can take her place on Saturday. “It’s going to be a tough enough ask, but if any horse can do it, I think she can.” There was an edge of controversy after the King Charles in reference to fellow pacemaker Major Beel, but, Maher emphasised that her usual pattern would not change in the feature. “I think she’ll probably do her normal tactics, Saturday had interesting tactics, but I don’t think it made a hell of a lot of difference to the end result. The winner was very, very good, and I thought she was super,” he said. “Dec (Bates, jockey) said that this whole prep, she’s been wanting the 2000m. Hopefully she can travel back safe and sound and take her place, because you’d think The Valley is made for her. “It’s the best race in The Valley and it’s a pressure cooker.” View the full article

Sharp ‘N’ Smart will contest Friday’s Group 2 Moonee Valley Gold Cup (2500m) at The Valley. Photo: Kenton Wright (Race Images) Friday’s Group 2 Moonee Valley Gold Cup (2500m) is looming as a crucial guide to New Zealand’s chances of Group 1 Melbourne Cup (3200m) success. The Graeme and Debbie Rogerson-trained Sharp ‘N’ Smart and the Andrew Forsman-trained Positivity both galloped at Tuesday morning’s Breakfast With The Best trackwork session, pleasing their connections ahead of Friday’s $750,000 feature at Moonee Valley. Debbie Rogerson was happy with Redwood five-year-old gelding Sharp ‘N’ Smart’s work, in which he wasn’t asked for a strong effort under raceday rider Craig Williams. “He just really had a look around. That was the main thing for him because he’s pretty fit and forward for Friday,” she said. “Craig said he felt fit and that his action felt fantastic, so we were pleased with that.” A three-time Group One winner, Sharp ‘N’ Smart pushed Manzoice to half a length when he was second in the Group 1 Victoria Derby (2500m) as a three-year-old, but he had no luck in his second Victorian start when he faded to 13th in the Group 1 Turnbull Stakes (2000m) after a tough run earlier this month. “We just want him to really hit the line hard on Friday,” Rogerson said. “He’s very well, a very happy horse. He just wants track conditions to suit so we just hope the weather plays ball.” Sharp ‘N’ Smart has drawn barrier five for Friday’s contest, two places inside fellow Waikato stayer Positivity. Forsman was also satisfied with Positivity’s trackwork under rider Tom Prebble. “She went well. She’s been going great the whole way through,” Forsman said. “We had to scratch her last week through bruised heels and she’s still not 100 percent on them but they’re getting better with each day. We just want to draw well and for everything to go right so she gets her best chance on Friday.” While Almanzor four-year-old Positivity currently sits outside the final field of 24 for the Melbourne Cup on November 5, Forsman was optimistic she could secure a start if her form warranted running. “She’s still a chance. There’s still a few above her in the order that won’t be going so I’d think she’d get close to getting a run if we go down that path,” he said. “She’d have to run well on Friday, especially how well she’ll be weighted. Provided she gets every chance in the run, if she couldn’t finish top three or four, we wouldn’t be pressing on with a start in the Melbourne Cup.” With the pending defection of Warmonger, Sharp ‘N’ Smart will rise to 12th on the Melbourne Cup order of entry with the Shaune Ritchie and Colm Murray-trained Mahrajaan also assured of a start at 21st on the list, potentially higher if Deny Knowledge tackles the Group 1 Champion Stakes (2000m) at Flemington on November 9 in preference to the Cup. Positivity sits at 30th on the order, three places ahead of the Grant Cooksley and Bruce Wallace-trained Trust In You, who has finished fourth in the Group 1 Metropolitan Handicap (2400m) and the Group 3 ATC St Leger (2600m) at Randwick in his last two starts. Cooksley said connections would pay the $A4,000 third declaration fee next Monday for Trust In You and see where the horse was in the order of entry before deciding whether to head down to Melbourne for the Cup without another lead-up run. Mahrajaan is set to tackle the Group 3 Bendigo Cup (2400m) on Wednesday week after an insect bite ruled out a start in the Moonee Valley Gold Cup. Horse racing news
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Francesco Guardi pictured winning the Moonee Valley Gold Cup in 2022, the seven year old is looking to add a second crown on Friday night. (Photo by Pat Scala/Racing Photos) Chris Waller’s charge, Francesco Guardi, has been officially withdrawn from the Geelong Cup. The seven-year-old’s removal was confirmed on Wednesday morning, with plans now shifting towards a start in the Moonee Valley Gold Cup this Friday. Francesco Guardi was paying $9.50 to win the Geelong Cup, behind favourite Birdman ($4), with the seven-year-old now the $3.60 favourite for the Moonee Valley Gold Cup. MORE: GEELONG CUP TIPS & FULL CARD PREVIEW Francesco Guardi is looking to add a second Moonee Valley Gold Cup following the gelding’s victory in the 2022 edition. This marks the second withdrawal for Waller in as many days, following the decision to pull five-year-old Manzoice from the field on Tuesday. Manzoice has also accepted into the Moonee Valley Gold Cup, with Ladbrokes installing it as a $20 chance to win the 2500m feature. The Geelong Cup, which is often used as the final preparation for the Melbourne Cup, lineup is now reduced to 13 competitors. Francesco Guardi is also nominated for the Melbourne Cup, with online bookmakers having it roughly around the $34 quote, with this price set to shorten if he puts in a strong showing at the Valley. The Geelong Cup is set to jump at 4.10pm on Wednesday afternoon. Horse racing news
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Mr Brightside will take his place in Saturday’s $5 million Group 1 Cox Plate (2040m) at Moonee Valley. Photo: Bruno Cannatelli Lindsay Park were runner-up in last year’s Group 1 Cox Plate (2040m) with Mr Brightside, and they are hoping they can go one better in this year’s edition, where they will be represented once more by the Kiwi-bred, as well as his compatriot Evaporate. Mr Brightside heads into Saturday’s $5 million feature at Moonee Valley in good form, having won one and finished runner-up in three of his four starts this preparation, including victory in the Group 1 Makybe Diva Stakes (1600m) at Flemington last month. Trainers Ben, JD and Will Hayes have been pleased with the way he has come through his last start runner-up effort in the Group 1 Caulfield Stakes (2000m), and he was kept up to the mark with a hit-out at ‘Breakfast with the Best’ at The Valley on Tuesday morning. “It (Tuesday’s work) was everything we were looking for,” Ben Hayes told Racing.com. “His action was great and he was really strong through the line. For a final piece of work, I couldn’t be happier. “He is moving great, Craig (Williams, jockey) commented how good his action felt. We are hoping he is ready to peak on the big day.” Mr Brightside worked in winkers, an additional gear change for Saturday, which Hayes is hoping will assist their charge. “We are hoping that (winkers) is the one percenter that can get that extra length,” he said. “He has won a couple of Group Ones with winkers on before.” Mr Brightside has been a consistent performer for the Hayes brothers, and they are confident of another bold showing from their charge. “He is in a good frame of mind, he is a happy horse,” Hayes said. “He is a horse that has never let us down. He has never run a bad race, he is always consistent and you would be crazy to think he is not going to be in the finish. “He is rock hard fit, he had a good, hard run at 2000m, you can just see a bit of rib now, and he is ready to go.” Hayes is also looking forward to lining-up fellow Kiwi-bred Evaporate in the time-honoured race. The three-year-old son of Per Incanto has been in a purple patch of form, winning his first four starts this preparation, including the Group 2 Stutt Stakes (1600m), before placing in the Group 1 Caulfield Guineas (1600m). He will carry a featherweight under the weight-for-age conditions, with Hong Kong-based hoop Karis Teetan booked to ride. “I think we are going to run,” Hayes said. “With 49.5 kilos it is an opportunity you don’t often get. We did think long and hard about it and last minute we thought it would be silly not to, so we are going to have a go. “Karis Teetan has been booked, and we are just thrilled with him. He has done everything right. “When you look back through the three-year-olds, they have got a good record in this race. We beat Broadsiding home (in the Caulfield Guineas) and he has got a great record at The Valley, he is fit and ready to go. “He is running against the best, but with that weight swing you never know, and this is why I think those three-year-olds have a good record in the race. Hopefully it can all go to plan.” The Cox Plate is shaping to be a small but select field this year, and Hayes is looking forward to seeing what unfolds. “This is a unique year,” he said. “I think it is the smallest field they have had in a while. It is going to be very tactical. It has got Pride of Jenni in it and I think it is going to be an exciting race. “Every horse in the race deserves to be there and I am really excited. It is something that as a trainer you work for to try to win, and we have got a genuine chance. Sometimes you have got to sit back and stop stressing and just enjoy it.” 2024 Cox Plate Final Field 1. Mr Brightside (2) T: Ben, Will & JD Hayes J: Craig Williams W: 59kg F: 2212x Age: 7YO Colour: Bay Sex: Gelding Sire: Bullbars Dam: Lilahjay (NZ) +700 +115 2. Prognosis (5) T: Mitsumasa Nakauchida J: Damian Lane W: 59kg F: x42x1 Age: 7YO Colour: Bay Sex: Horse Sire: Deep Impact (JPN) Dam: Velda (GB) +200 -250 3. Kovalica (9) T: Chris Waller J: Mark Zahra W: 59kg F: 243×5 Age: 5YO Colour: Bay Sex: Gelding Sire: Ocean Park (NZ) Dam: Vitesse (NZ) +4000 +500 4. Royal Patronage (3) T: Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott J: Michael Dee W: 59kg F: 3331x Age: 6YO Colour: Bay Sex: Horse Sire: Wootton Bassett (GB) Dam: Shaloushka (IRE) +4000 +500 5. Docklands (1) T: Harry Eustace J: Blake Shinn W: 59kg F: x7222 Age: 5YO Colour: Bay Sex: Horse Sire: Massaat (IRE) Dam: Icky Woo (GB) +1500 +220 6. Pride Of Jenni (7) T: Ciaron Maher J: Declan Bates W: 57kg F: 2125x Age: 7YO Colour: Bay Sex: Mare Sire: Pride Of Dubai Dam: Sancerre (NZ) +340 -166.67 7. Via Sistina (4) T: Chris Waller J: James McDonald W: 57kg F: 151×2 Age: 7YO Colour: Bay Sex: Mare Sire: Fastnet Rock Dam: Nigh (IRE) +380 -153.85 8. Broadsiding (8) T: James Cummings J: Jamie Kah W: 49.5kg F: 41×11 Age: 3YO Colour: Bay Sex: Colt Sire: Too Darn Hot (GB) Dam: Speedway +500 -117.65 9. Evaporate (6) T: Ben, Will & JD Hayes J: Karis Teetan W: 49.5kg F: 31111 Age: 3YO Colour: Bay Sex: Gelding Sire: Per Incanto (USA) Dam: Savanna (NZ) +2500 +340 Horse racing news
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According to reports, multiple grade 1-winning California-bred sprinter The Chosen Vron will not participate in the $2 million Breeders' Cup Sprint (G1) at Del Mar Nov. 2.View the full article

Maiden Watch: Week of Oct. 14-Oct. 20View the full article

Two-time GI Bing Crosby Stakes winner The Chosen Vron (Vronsky), who holds a 'Win and You're In' berth for the GI Breeders' Cup Sprint Nov. 2, will bypass the race, according to a report by Zoe Cadman on X. Cadman, part of the team who hosts the TDN Writers' Room Podcast, attributed the news to The Chosen Vron's co-owner John Sondereker. The Chosen Vron won six straight after a fifth behind champion Elite Power (Curlin) in last year's Breeders' Cup Sprint and most recently finished second by a neck in the Aug. 24 GII Pat O'Brien Stakes at Del Mar. The California Horse Racing Board (CHRB) placed the 6-year-old gelding on the vet's list Monday due to “unsoundness” at Santa Anita. A 17-time black-type winner, The Chosen Vron is trained by J. Eric Kruljac and campaigns for Kruljac, Sondereker Racing LLC, Robert S. Fetkin, and Richard Thornburgh. Per Owner John Sondereker The Chosen Vron will NOT run in this years @BreedersCup sprint — zoecadman (@zoecadman) October 22, 2024 The post The Chosen Vron to Miss Breeders’ Cup appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

By Michael Guerin The NZB Airfreight Ashburton Flying Stakes is usually the battle for IRT New Zealand Trotting Cup favouritism. That is looking increasingly unlikely for this Monday’s event at Ashburton now that it seems certain Australian superstar Leap To Fame is coming to the Cup. He is currently a $1.75 favourite to take out the big race on Tuesday, November 12. But the $60,000 Group 2 will definitely sort out the local pecking order. The two big names of New Zealand pacing Merlin and Don’t Stop Dreaming meet for the first time this campaign in the 2400m standing start and with both securing front line draws their manners early could be crucial. Don’t Stop Dreaming will start from barrier 3 in the Flying Stakes while Merlin will begin from barrier 8, probably not a bad thing to be a bit wider so early in his standing start career and having never been on the front line before. The field also contains the next best Kiwi in the Cup market in Republican Party (10) so will go a long way to establishing the local favourites behind Leap To Fame, who races at Menangle on Saturday. The What The Hill Flying Trot has also drawn the biggest local names in Bet N Win (1), Oscar Bonavena (6) and Muscle Mountain (7) over the mobile 1700m, with the two older stars better suited that when under handicap conditions last start but still possibly having to come from behind the young star. On a stunning day the meeting also hosts the $60,000 Ladies Sprint featuring round two of Princess Meritaten (7) versus Mantra Blue (1 on second line) and the $40,000 Neumanns’s Hambletonian Trot in which the two favourites Father Time (9) and Empire City (3 on second line) have difficult draws. Add in the Garrard’s Sires’ Stakes $50,000 Sophomore Classic for the three-year-old male pacers, a Nevele R heat for the three-year-old girls and a stacked Dunstan Horse Feeds Sires Stakes heat for the juvenile fillies headlined by Youretheonethatiwant (R5, No.14) and the meeting serves as a wonderful next step towards Cup week. To see the fields on Monday click here To see the early market for the Ashburton Flying Stakes click here View the full article

While torrential rain had poured over Deauville in the last few days, a late summer atmosphere floated around the Arqana sales complex when the first lot made its way through the ring for the October Yearling Sale. In the wake of buoyant renewals of the Tattersalls October Book 1 and Book 2 sessions, the opening day set new records for both average and median price, at €104,882 (+15%) and €73,500 (+5%), respectively. Eighty-six percent of the 197 yearlings on offer changed hands, a 4% increase from a year ago, and they grossed a combined €17,830,000, up 11%. Such whopping figures owed a lot to the impressive rise in the number of horses to command €300,000 or above. Only three achieved this feat in 2023 while there were 10 of them this year, headed by a pair of colts who were knocked down for €500,000 apiece. Lot 13, a brown son of Kingman (GB) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}) from the draft of Andreas Putsch's Haras de Saint-Pair, caused an early stir when reaching the half-million mark on a bid from Jason Kelly and Paddy Twomey. His dam Via Pisa (Fr) (Pivotal {GB}) was a great colourbearer for Saint-Pair, winning a duo of Listed races and running third in the G1 Premio Lydia Tesio under the care of Freddy Head. “He is for an existing client, said Twomey, who successfully transitioned from pinhooking and breeze-up consigning to full-time training in 2016. “I am delighted to have been able to buy this magnificent colt from a very good farm.” €500,000 from Jason Kelly & @paddytwomey secures lot 1️⃣3️⃣, a son of Kingman?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Kingman @JuddmonteFarms out of Listed winner VIA PISA, offered by @saint_pair at the #OctoberYearlingSale. pic.twitter.com/BClHZzSVhT — ARQANA (@InfoArqana) October 22, 2024 Twomey has been in a fine position to assess the quality of Haras de Saint-Pair's stock as his best horse to date, the G1 Matron Stakes heroine Pearls Galore (Fr) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}), was a homebred of Putsch's operation. The granddaughter of Saint-Pair's foundation mare Pearly Shells (GB) (Efisio {GB}) was sent to Twomey on the back of her 2-year-old campaign where she was unplaced in two starts for Freddy Head. She won seven of her 13 starts for Twomey including a couple of Group 3 events, the G2 Lanwades Stud Stakes and also took second in the G1 Prix de la Forêt and Matron Stakes. Pearls Galore was beaten by Godolphin's Space Blues (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) on two occasions, in the Group 1 Prix de la Forêt, where the mare had two lengths to find in second, and a month later in the GI Breeders' Cup Mile at Del Mar, where she was beaten three lengths in sixth. Understandably Putsch was keen to support the new Kildangan Stud resident, and that decision was handsomely rewarded when lot 17, the first foal out of Wismar (Ger) (Soldier Hollow {GB}), a Group 3 performer in Germany, commanded €420,000 from Ross Doyle. “He is a great physical, the agent said. We saw him three or four times and liked him every time. I've been very taken by the Space Blues, we bought a few at this year's yearling sales. This one is for Stall Perlen and will go into training with Pia Brandt.” The hammer comes down at €420,000 for lot 1️⃣7️⃣ as @Doyle_Racing buys the colt by #SpaceBlues @DarleyEurope offered by @saint_pair at the #OctoberYearlingSale. pic.twitter.com/FcTVZ5oXxE — ARQANA (@InfoArqana) October 22, 2024 Chappet & Moran Aiming For Victory The same price tag was achieved minutes later by another first-crop stallion who did his racing in the Godolphin colours. Victor Ludorum (GB) (Shamardal) stood at Julian Ince's Haras du Logis when lot 22 was conceived, but the Group 1-winning juvenile has now been relocated to Haras d'Etreham. The half-brother to classy three-year-old Jayarebe (Fr) (Zoffany {Ire}), who only found Economics (GB) (Night Of Thunder {Ire}) too good in the G2 Prix Guillaume d'Ornano and won the G2 Prix Dollar on Arc weekend after the catalogue was printed, was knocked down to trainer Fabrice Chappet and owner Jean-Christophe Moran. Moran's first ever thoroughbred purchase came in the same ring only five months ago when he spent €400,000 on a Too Darn Hot (GB) filly at the Arqana Breeze-Up Sale. Named Morena Queen (Ire), she opened her account at third asking last month and is entered in the G3 Prix Eclipse at Chantilly next Saturday. “I used to race trotters and was keen to try thoroughbreds,” said Moran after signing for the Haras d'Ombreville offering. “This yearling is by a young sire but he has great balance. His brother is very talented and was only beaten by Economics on his penultimate start. I have great confidence in Fabrice Chappet who is a very competent trainer.” The son of Victor Ludorum and stakes winner Alakhana (Fr) (Dalakhani {Ire}) was bred by Oliver Pawle, a long-time member of the Thurloe Thoroughbreds syndicates who branched out as a breeder in his own name. Pawle sent a few broodmares to Céline Gualde's Ecurie Cap Orne and the first of the resulting foals with a career on the Flat in mind was Jayarebe. Lot 2️⃣2️⃣, a brother by #VictorLudorum to #OctoberYearlingSale graduate & Group winner JAYAREBE, consigned by @HarasOmbreville, is knocked down to @ChappetRacing & Jean-Christophe Moran for €420,000. pic.twitter.com/NCCYlAvcyx — ARQANA (@InfoArqana) October 22, 2024 Barberot Finds A Night To His Liking Deauville-based trainer Yann Barberot is becoming increasingly prominent in Group races in France and beyond, as exemplified by the consistent Beauvatier (Fr) (Lope de Vega {Ire}) who caught the eye when third to Ramatuelle (Justify) in the G1 Prix de la Forêt and was only beaten half-a length in fourth in the G1 QIPCO British Champions Sprint Stakes. And he certainly made his presence felt around the sales ring when offering half a million for a Night Of Thunder (Ire) colt (lot 153), the first foal out of Listed performer Paramount (Fr) (Siyouni {Fr}). Bred by Ecurie des Monceaux, Paramount was purchased by Prime Equestrian for €140,000 at the 2017 Arqana August Yearling Sale and retired to their Haras du Mont dit Mont at the end of her racing career. It was the second-highest price ever achieved by a yearling offered by Mont dit Mont. “I have bought him for a new client,” said Barberot, who spent €1,085,000 on five yearlings overall, filling the runner-up spot in the buyers' standings. “He was my pick of the sale.” Lot 1️⃣5️⃣3️⃣, a colt by #NightOfThunder @DarleyEurope consigned by Haras du Mont Dit Mont, sells to @BarberotYann for €500,000 at the #OctoberYearlingSale. pic.twitter.com/857qDl1JTr — ARQANA (@InfoArqana) October 22, 2024 Kinane Strikes For Wootton Bassett Colt Wootton Bassett (GB) has enjoyed another stellar season on the track thanks to the likes of Group 1 horses Camille Pissarro (Ire), Al Riffa (Fr), Henri Matisse (Ire) and unbeaten Group-winning juvenile and 'TDN Rising Star' Maranoa Charlie (Fr) among others. His yearlings commanded up to 4.3 million guineas at Tattersalls earlier this month and demand showed no signs of abating in Deauville. Mick Kinane went to €400,000 for lot 52, a colt out of a winning daughter of Oaks runner up Wonder Of Wonders (Kingmambo) offered by La Motteraye Consignment. “He was a nice colt, but expensive,” said the Hong Kong Jockey Club international bloodstock advisor. “I've been trying to find Wootton Bassetts in the last few weeks but the market was very strong, so I am very happy to get him. Hopefully he can repay on the track. We're looking for sound horses for Hong Kong. We need to pre-train them and sell them on at auction so it's a long way and a big gamble, but it's a service that the Hong Kong Jockey Club wants to be able to provide to its members. Anything that I got from Arqana seems to have made it to Hong Kong and raced so I'm always here trying to find more horses.” Offered by @La_Motteraye at the #OctoberYearlingSale, lot 5️⃣2️⃣, a son of #WoottonBassett @coolmorestud from the family of Urban Sea, sells to @MichaelJkinane for €400,000. pic.twitter.com/A6VJA47x4o — ARQANA (@InfoArqana) October 22, 2024 Mission Passible For McStay Later in the afternoon, a filly by the same sire out of Group 2 Prix de Sandringham heroine Mission Impassible (Ire (Galileo {Ire}) (lot 129) was knocked down to Mark McStay of Avenue Bloodstock, standing alongside Paddy Twomey, for €360,000. “She is a beautiful filly who was immaculately presented by Etreham,” said McStay. “Obviously, Wootton Bassett needs no introduction; he's had another brilliant season and is a brilliant sire of fillies. The mare was a superb mare, she won a Sandringham and was second in a Group 1. “She's been purchased to go into training with Paddy Twomey for a couple of existing clients. Steve and Debbi Weston's Parkland Thoroughbreds in Florida–they are part owners of Porta Fortuna and [Steve is] a very lucky man–they've taken a piece of her along with an Irish client of mine. Let's hope she's lucky for Paddy. She's a lovely filly, she was the one we really wanted to buy and we had to dig a bit deeper to get her. She's got the pedigree, she's got the sire, she's got the physique. A lot of the lads were after her and we're delighted to get her.” Consigned by @Haras_d_Etreham , Lot 1️⃣2️⃣9️⃣ a daughter of #WoottonBassett @coolmorestud out of Group 2 winner MISSION IMPASSIBLE, found buyers in @mcstayagent (@AvenueBstock), @paddytwomey & Parkland Thoroughbreds for €360,000. pic.twitter.com/vXCqayIQPh — ARQANA (@InfoArqana) October 22, 2024 Monceaux On Top Again Ecurie des Monceaux topped four out of the last five renewals of this session and this year made no exception, with their 26 offerings bringing a combined €3,140,000. A daughter of Dark Angel (Ire) out of the stakes-winning mare Easter Lily (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) (lot 53) was notably knocked down for €300,000 to Trevor Harris's One Agency, while a filly by Sea The Stars (Ire) out of White Satin Dancer (Ger) (Oasis Dream {GB}) (lot 16) sold for €380,000 to Anthony Stroud who was seated next to Jane Chapple-Hyam and Peter Harris. The trio made the headlines this year courtesy of Mill Stream (Ire) (Gleneagles {Ire}), a 350,000 guineas purchase at Tattersalls who went on to win the July Cup Group 1. Lot 5️⃣3️⃣, a #DarkAngel @YeomanstownStud filly consigned by @EcurieMonceaux, is knocked down to One Agency for €300,000 at the #OctoberYearlingSale. pic.twitter.com/Kk8xN7PAVE — ARQANA (@InfoArqana) October 22, 2024 “She is a gorgeous filly from a very good farm,” Stroud commented. “Her 2-year-old brother made a nice debut. She is going to Jane Chapple-Hyam.” Offered by @EcurieMonceaux at the #OctoberYearlingSale, lot 1️⃣6️⃣, a daughter of #SeaTheStars @AgaKhanStuds from the close family of Group 2️⃣ winner WILD COCO, is knocked down for €380,000 to @StroudColeman. pic.twitter.com/DcdcXzZcG9 — ARQANA (@InfoArqana) October 22, 2024 The sibling in question is a son of Wootton Bassett and commanded €720,000 from MV Magnier at last year's Arqana August Yearling Sale. Named First Wave (Fr), he was only beaten a neck on his first racecourse appearance for Aidan O'Brien, October 5, and the winner Expanded (Ire) (Wootton Bassett {GB}), went on to take a close second in the G1 Dewhurst Stakes. Stroud also signed at €320,000 for a Space Blues half-brother to Group 3 victress Elounda Queen (Ire) (Australia {GB}) from the late Lady O'Reilly's Haras de la Louvière (lot 85) and ended the day as leading buyer with a shopping list of seven horses for a total €1,770,000. Another farm to enjoy a successful day was Mathieu and Solenn Gouesnard's Haras d'Ombreville, who in addition to the aforementioned Victor Ludorum colt sold a son of Dark Angel bred by Rashit Shaykhutdinov for €320,000 to Federico Barberini (lot 193). “He was a lovely horse who will stay in France to be trained by Francis Graffard for Sheikh Ahmed Al Maktoum,” the agent said. He is by a very hot sire and a lovely individual.” Pinhooking Fortunes On Tuesday Of the 208 horses catalogued during Tuesday's session, 12 were pinhooks, and all lots visited the ring. One lot did not meet its reserve and was a buy-back, leaving 11 yearlings marked as sold. Of the latter group, nine made a profit ranging from €14,000 to €200,500. Two lots lost money. The 11 pinhooks marked as sold were acquired for €776,200 as foals and made €1,160,000 on Tuesday representing a 44.3% return. We have multiplied the price of the foal by 1.1 and added a running cost of 12,000gns (for foals bought in guineas), £12,500 (for foals bought in pounds) or €15,000 (for foals bought in euros) for keep, feed, veterinary, shoeing, sales prep and sales entry fees. Depending on whether someone has their own farm, or where they choose to board a horse, will obviously mean that costs for each individual can vary significantly. It is worth noting that sometimes a horse can appear to be bought and sold by different names but have actually not changed ownership at all. The sales runs until Saturday with parts two and three of the catalogue. Sessions will begin at 2 p.m. daily, barring Saturday, Oct. 26, which begins at 11 a.m. The post 500K Kingman And Night Of Thunder Colts Lead The Way At Arqana October appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

The American division of Juddmonte Farms, which currently stands two young stallions, has announced stud fees for 2025, according to a release Tuesday afternoon. Elite Power, a two-time Eclipse champion sprinter as well as a dual GI Breeders' Cup Sprint winner, will stand for $50,000, stands and nurses. It represents the same introductory fee he stood for in 2024, his first season at stud. His first foals will arrive next spring. 2021 GI Kentucky Derby winner Mandaloun, whose first foals are weanlings this fall, will stand for $15,000, stands and nurses. While Elite Power, by Curlin, was a $900,000 Keeneland September purchase by Juddmonte, Mandaloun, by Into Mischief, is a four-generation Juddmonte homebred. “We were very pleased with Elite Power's first book of mares. They really are a stellar group,” said Juddmonte USA's General Manager Garrett O'Rourke. “Mandaloun, who will have his first foals offered for sale next month, appears to have some standouts here on the farm.” The post Juddmonte Sets 2025 Fees for Elite Power, Mandaloun appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Porter on PedigreesView the full article

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Since joining the New York Thoroughbred Horsemen's Association board about 10 years ago, Tina Bond has stressed the need for more marketing and public relations initiatives to present positive messages about the sport. Now she has launched one.View the full article

Horse racing has a PR problem. Tina Bond has a possible solution. “It's to create a new narrative and to help elevate the sport,” said Bond, president of the New York Thoroughbred Horsemen's Association (NYTHA), and the mastermind behind The Heart of Horse Racing, a new campaign–one undergoing something of a soft launch–to cultivate new followers to the game by sharing the stories of those already in it. In the campaign's own words, “our mission is to win over the hearts and minds of a new generation of fans while nurturing the passion of our existing community.” In Bond's own words, “there's just so much opportunity for us to share our stories, we're just not very good at it,” said Bond, highlighting the fractured nature of the sport. “We're not like the NFL or baseball or soccer that's centralized. You have all these different tracks and all these individual trainers are individual businesses. This is a [unified] movement, and I think it's desperately needed.” The campaign has begun with a three-minute video containing name-brands like Jena Antonucci, Todd Pletcher and Frankie Dettori discussing just what it is about horse racing that makes their roles less of a job and more of a vocation. The video has already played on The New York Racing Association's (NYRA) America's Day at the Races. “I think this is a good time to launch it prior to the Breeders' Cup. Maybe it'll get some traction at that kind of level,” Bond said, of the timing of the campaign's roll-out. “We started it in New York but it's going to go across the country, because it impacts the entire Thoroughbred industry.” The firm Bond hired to manage the campaign–the New York-based FINN Partners–has something like 10 hours of footage recorded this summer at Saratoga, she said, mainly interviews with trainers, jockeys, owners and others in the industry. “All of these things will be ready to go, whether it's on YouTube channel or through social media, but I think there'll be a lot more video content. I think the video is important–that's what people gravitate to,” she said. Where does the project go from here? The answer lies with the industry itself, said Bond. “We need to get people to support it,” she said. “There's a lot of work that we can do to reach people that we've never reached before.” NYTHA has already thrown its money and weight behind the project, she said. Fasig-Tipton and the Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association (TOBA) have also voiced interest in the venture, she added. Starting gate | Sarah Andrew “We don't yet have a big budget to go on the national level,” Bond said. “We have to build ambassadors for this and get sponsors.” Bond has talked partnering with the figures behind the recently-launched Light Up Racing, its mission statement to educate stakeholders in how to best manage difficult conversations with those from outside of the sport. Safety Runs First is another relatively new program focused on equine welfare. “This is the hook,” said Bond, of the role The Heart of Horse Racing can play in conjunction with those other two twin programs. “This will hook people in.” Interestingly, Bond doesn't believe public attitudes towards the sport are as intractable as many stakeholders suspect–nor as bleak. According to research conducted for the campaign, only 1.3 % of horse racing media coverage is negative. Some 62% of people asked had favorable perceptions of the sport, while only 10% held a negative one. As for some of the obstacles to cultivating and growing a new audience, only 21% of those asked believed the sport is family friendly and inclusive, more than one-quarter harbored horse welfare concerns, while 42% of potential fans identified not knowing how to access the sport as the biggest barrier to participation. Ultimately, 40% said they were “most interested” in experiencing the racetrack for themselves. “I think we often miss that selling point,” Bond said, of the way the sport is too often marketed as a game of gambling, rather than one geared around the horse. “But the horses have a short career, usually, at the top level. That's why you've got to make the jockeys a focal point, and their love for the horses. And you make the trainers a focal point, and their love for the horses. Then you have the owners,” said Bond. “I don't know exactly what we need to do to launch this and take the industry to the next level, but we need to reinvent ourselves,” said Bond. “As Jena [Antonucci] says, this is not your grandpa's sport. This is not your dad's sport. This is our sport. So, we have to do this now or we're going to miss the boat-we can't get any more obsolete.” Anyone looking to partner with The Heart of Horse Racing can contact Bond directly: theheartofhorseracing24@gmail.com The post Heart Of Horse Racing Seeks To Tell A Different Story appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

A divided board of directors of the Pennsylvania Thoroughbred Horsemen's Association is embroiled in an internal dispute that has spilled over into a state court lawsuit.View the full article

Since joining the New York Thoroughbred Horsemen's Association board about 10 years ago, Tina Bond has stressed the need for more marketing and public relations initiatives to present positive messages about the sport. Now she has launched one.View the full article

The form of Emily Upjohn's recent third in the Prix Vermeille (G1) at Longchamp Sept. 15 could not have worked out any better, as she was preceded by the subsequent Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe (G1) one-two Bluestocking and Aventure.View the full article

With so many roads now leading to Del Mar, traffic may feel pretty slow just now. But we should make a virtue of that, in that our preoccupation with the elite program tends to deny due attention to those achieving their success a tier or so below the very top. After all, such people have typically required no less skill, endeavor and patience, often denied the very highest rewards only through lacking similar parity in resources. Take the breeder of GIII Ontario Derby winner Dresden Row (Lord Nelson), whose emergence among Canada's leading sophomores is underpinned by a pedigree as interesting as it was inexpensively contrived. His dam Elle Special cost Richard Reed just $1,200 when culled by Calumet Farm at the 2018 Keeneland November Sale. That would have seemed a ridiculous price when she stood in the Fair Grounds winner's circle after her debut in a turf sprint in 2010. For the ability she had revealed made plenty of sense: she was by Giant's Causeway out of an unraced Seeking the Gold half-sister to G1 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe winner Peintre Celebre (Nureyev). Unfortunately Elle Special did not consolidate. In fact, she ended up running under a tag at Mountaineer, albeit she'd won a couple of minor races in the meantime. Calumet was able to buy her for $20,000 on retirement, and she made the most of such chances as she had there: her first foal, by Eye of the Leopard, managed a couple of wins in Mexico; and her second, a son of Raison d'Etat, won at Keeneland and Churchill before being beaten barely a length in his solitary try in graded company. Elle Special's next registered foal, in 2017, did better yet. A son of Oxbow sold for just $6,000 as a yearling, he remained unraced when Reed bought his dam but subsequently emerged as Hopeful Treasure to win the GIII Fall Highweight Handicap at Aqueduct. Now the fact is that Reed and Tiffany Zammit have finite resources at TCR Ranch. They graze only a handful of mares on 100 acres, 20 minutes south-west of Keeneland, yet have bred a bunch of stakes horses over the years. The expertise required to do so was demonstrated in finding this mare, but sadly yielded scant reward. First they received just $11,000 for Elle Special's short yearling by Lord Nelson, that luckless sire having just succumbed to his final health crisis, at the 2022 January Sale. And then real disaster struck, a few weeks later, when they lost the mare and her last foal together. Dresden Row is therefore the bequest of two tragic parents in Elle Special and Lord Nelson. He elevated his value to $70,000 when pinhooked to True North Stables at OBS last year; and has really thrived for Lorne Richards, winning five of his last six including the GIII Durham Cup against his elders and now Saturday's big race. Super Chow | Sarah Andrew His talent rewards quite a gamble in the choice of Lord Nelson for Elle Special, both being out of Seeking the Gold mares. But a similarly concentrated formula has produced another of Lord Nelson's principal talents, Super Chow, a triple graded stakes winner this year. Not only is his damsire Warrior's Reward is out of Seeking the Gold mare; Super Chow's granddam is actually full sister to Lord Nelson's, both by Southern Halo out of Argentinian blue hen Miss Peggy (Arg). Anyhow the net result, for Dresden Row, is wonderful quality through the third generation: besides Seeking the Gold twice, the other gentlemen in the equation are Storm Cat and A.P. Indy; while the four ladies are the aristocrat Preach (another representative for Seeking the Gold's sire Mr Prospector); Argentinian champion Miss Linda (Arg) (Southern Halo); matriarch Mariah's Storm (Rahy); and Peintre Bleue (Alydar), whose champion son Peintre Celebre was only the icing on a sumptuous Wildenstein cake. Herself winner of the GII Long Island Handicap, she produced a further series of black-type performers and/or producers, the most recent being granddaughter Pensee Du Jour (Ire) (Camelot {GB}), a Group 2 winner in France this year. That this is no accident can be judged from TCR Ranch offerings at the imminent Keeneland sale. Smarthalf (Smart Strike), already responsible for graded stakes performer Clayton (Bodemeister), is out of an A.P. Indy half-sister to champion juvenile filly Halfbridled (Unbridled). Offered as Hip 2445 in foal to Maclean's Music, she'll be followed into the ring by her Goldencents colt. And look out for Hip 1795, a son of highflying McKinzie out of another Calumet cast-off, Dram Girl (English Channel). This mare, out of Grade I winner Notable Career (Avenue of Flags), was found at the same sale as Elle Special and nearly as cheaply. She was carrying a son of Big Blue Kitten who has gone on to black-type success, a rare distinction for his sire. So while a cruel fate has denied Dresden Row's breeders the chance to capitalize on his dam, perhaps the acuity they showed in taking her from Calumet will instead pay off with this parallel project. CLEVER AND NOT SO COSTLY No surprise to see Emery (More Than Ready) continuing to thrive, the GII Raven Run Stakes winner having laid down her foundations at Nursery Place. Her ongoing success will remind prospectors to check out that exemplary farm's weanling consignment back at the Keeneland November Sale, where she was found by the Stonestreet team for $235,000 three years ago. Emery | Coady Media It was obvious that they were delighted with her progress when they returned in 2022 to pick up her dam Athena (Street Sense) for only $130,000, with an Improbable filly on board. Athena had carried the silks of Emery's breeder Mary Grum through a 7-for-27 track career featuring three stakes wins on dirt between six and eight furlongs. That made her much the best of the otherwise modest winners out of an unraced Rock Of Gibraltar (Ire) half-sister to Peeping Tom. Winner of the GI Carter Handicap, and twice placed in the GI Met Mile while banking over $1.4 million, Peeping Tom was ingeniously named as a son of Eagle Eyed out of the Nasty and Bold mare Artful Pleasure. Herself graded stakes-placed, Artful Pleasure was among several talented performers and/or producers out of Clever But Costly (Clever Trick): her siblings included GI Futurity Stakes winner Traitor (Cryptoclearance); GII Pennsylvania Derby winner Sun King (Charismatic); four-time graded stakes scorer Ocean Drive (Belong To Me); and the unraced dam of two multiple graded stakes winners. That's a major family to have fallen rather fallow for a generation, but the embers have been stoked now and Stonestreet will doubtless ensure that More Than Ready's growing (and global) legacy as a broodmare sire will someday be enhanced by Emery. Already this month his daughters have produced elite winners Carl Spackler (Ire) (Lope De Vega {Ire}) and She Feels Pretty (Karakontie {Jpn}). In the meantime Emery's emergence has consoled the purchasers of Athena's previous foal, a Candy Ride (Arg) filly, for $210,000 at the 2021 September Sale. She never made the racetrack, but now finds herself a radiant broodmare prospect in returning to Keeneland as Hip 1094, in foal to Up to the Mark. DAMSIRE DOUBLES UP IN DOWAGER More Than Ready's big month as a broodmare sire last weekend prompted a similar posthumous push by Giant's Causeway. As already noted, one of his daughters produced Dresden Row-and next day two others sent out fillies to share a photo for the GIII Dowager Stakes. (For good measure, the third home was by his son Not This Time.) Chop Chop (Outside) and Forever After All (Inside) | Coady Media Julia Tuttle, who's out of a sister to Candy Ride (Arg), has already produced Tom's d'Etat by Smart Strike, and her daughter Forever After All (Connect) is similarly thriving with maturity. She took nine attempts to break her maiden but here failed by just a nose against millionaire Chop Chop (City of Light). The winner is out of Grand Sofia, an unraced half-sister to GI Hollywood Gold Cup winner Rail Trip (Jump Start) who failed to meet her reserve at $875,000 carrying a Flightline colt at Fasig-Tipton last November. We'll have to see how ambitious connections of Chop Chop prove when she appears in the same ring; while her 3-year-old half-sister by Omaha Beach, Sweet Miss Maggie, sells at Keeneland [Hip 1635]. City of Light, incidentally, had been indebted to yet another daughter of Giant's Causeway for a further turf winner, Fearless Soldier, at Santa Anita only the previous day. More important, perhaps, was an impressive debut last Thursday by Uncle Jim, on the same Keeneland dirt that saw another City of Light juvenile, Filoso, claim a Grade I podium earlier this month. Valuable fresh blood, then, to back up Mentee–who somewhat emulated his boom-bust brother Fierceness when bouncing back from his GI Hopeful eclipse with a graded stakes success at Belmont earlier this month. He switched surfaces there and these glimpses of chlorophyll are intriguing in City of Light, whose granddam was half-sister to Cacoethes (by Alydar, yet memorably ran Nashwan to a neck at Ascot in 1989). And of course his sire Quality Road is by the versatile Elusive Quality out of a Strawberry Road mare. Elite European programs take note. The post Breeding Digest: Dresden Breeders Show A Special Eye appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article