Wandering Eyes

Super Joy N Fun defeats Reward Smile. A quality Class 3 dash winds up Happy Valley’s eight-race fixture on Wednesday night, where Super Joy N Fun and Reward Smile face off again along with 10 others in the HK$1.86 million Pottinger Handicap (1200m). First and second, respectively, last month over the course and distance, Super Joy N Fun denied a fast-closing Reward Smile by a neck. Aided with gate five that evening, Super Joy N Fun instead steps away from the widest of 12 barriers under jockey Jerry Chau. “He showed his potential last time. He always runs well fresh and after the race he improved and he’s settled down a bit more. But this time we have the worst draw over 1200 metres at Happy Valley,” Chau said. “Hopefully, he can find a nice spot with cover and it’ll be good for him to settle and then finish off the race well.” Super Joy N Fun is one of the brightest talents in Benno Yung’s stable. The 72-rater has won three times from seven starts, racing in the same silks as 2010 Group 3 Al Quoz Sprint (1200m) winner Joy And Fun. Hugh Bowman is yet to triumph aboard Reward Smile, although under top-weight the pair charged from last into second position behind Super Joy N Fun. “His first-up run was outstanding and he’s had a nice trial since then. With a bit of luck, if I chose to go out and not in, he might have won first-up,” Bowman said. Reward Smile is a two-time winner in Hong Kong for trainer John Size. “He’s drawn wide (10), so we’ll adopt the same tactics again. We’ll let him settle in the second half of the field and try to get a clear passage through,” Bowman said. Bowman has ridden five winners at Happy Valley this season from 17 rides, striking at 29%. Reward Smile finished midfield in a recent trial at Sha Tin on 27 September. “My gut feeling is that he’s a horse who likes being a bit on the fresh side. So, I didn’t ask a great deal of him in that trial,” Bowman said. Scotch Tycoon (120lb) seeks consecutive wins in the same contest, pairing with Lyle Hewitson as he returns to Class 3. “It’s been a long time since he’s done anything in Class 3. But he’s been in good form and bouncing off a win, hopefully he can just carry that through to this lighter weight in Class 3,” Hewitson said. Wings Of War (131lb), Equatorial (129lb), Happy Fat Cat (128lb), Golden Empire (123lb), Sovereign Fund (123lb), Parterre (122lb), Righteous Arion (121lb), Chateauneuf (117lb) and Sergeant Pepper (117lb) also feature in the Class 3 finale. David Hayes saddles Star Contact, also a last-start winner, in the Class 3 Pedder Handicap (1650m). The 78-rating Star Turn gelding pairs with jockey Karis Teetan. “He’s gone right through the grades and he’s just improved with age. He’s a big, strong horse with a good constitution. I think his trackwork suggests he’s holding his form,” Hayes said. Hayes has been in fine form this season with seven wins. His earnings of HK$11.1 million are only bettered by Pierre Ng (HK$15.2 million) in the trainers’ standings. Teetan has seven rides at the Valley, including Talents Supremo for trainer Cody Mo. “He ran a really good race last time. He made up a lot of ground. The winner got away from us, I think it’s a competitive field this time. But I think there’s a lot of things in his favour with the good draw (one) and we might find ourselves tracking a few good horses, so that might help,” Teetan said. Teetan is one of four riders, along with Zac Purton (Land Legend), Ben Thompson (Sayedaty Sadaty) and Andrea Atzeni (Zardozi), with bookings in the Group 1 Caulfield Cup (2400m) in Melbourne, Australia. “It’s a great opportunity. We don’t always get called up like that, but with that light weight they called me up and I took the opportunity with both hands. I just feel like every opportunity is a good thing, so I’m looking forward to going there,” Teetan said. Horse racing news View the full article

Fawkner Park cruises to victory in the Q22. Photo: Darren Winningham Fawkner Park, once the favourite for the Group 1 Caulfield Cup (2400m), will not take part in the race, as confirmed by connections. Managing owner Nathan Bennett of Bennett Racing told Racing.com that the horse would not run in next week’s Group 1 event, with spring plans to be made following veterinary checks on Friday. Fawkner Park’s odds had lengthened with horse racing bookmakers after he missed the Group 1 Turnbull Stakes (2000m). Co-trainer Annabel Neasham, speaking after the horse galloped at Caulfield on Tuesday, explained: “He had a slight muscle issue – not even a tear – but he slightly pulled a muscle in his pec. “He’s always a horse you have to keep on top of.” Horse racing news View the full article

Zac Purton will partner Land Legend in the Caulfield Cup and Melbourne Cup. Photo: HKJC. Zac Purton has secured his rides for the upcoming Caulfield and Melbourne Cups, with the Hong Kong-based jockey confirmed to partner Land Legend in both races. This follows the Chris Waller-trained galloper’s impressive victory in last Saturday’s Group 1 Metropolitan (2400m). The Hong Kong Jockey Club made the announcement on Tuesday, stating: “Jockey Purton will return to Hong Kong immediately following those race meetings to fulfil his riding engagements in Hong Kong.” Land Legend, who was initially priced at $51 for the Melbourne Cup (3200m) with horse racing bookmakers, has now shortened to $18 after the Metropolitan win. The horse was also handed a 1kg penalty, bringing his weight to 53 kilograms in both Cups. Racing Victoria’s head of handicapping, David Hegan, commented on Land Legend’s performance: “Land Legend’s performance in the Metropolitan was most impressive, drawing away from the rest of the pack with runner-up, VRC Oaks winner Zardozi. “Whilst it was only the narrowest of margins, it was a performance that was worthy of a penalty from a horse that was only third-up from almost a year off the scene.” The 1kg penalty mirrors that given to previous Metropolitan winners No Compromise (2022) and Montefilia (2021). Horse racing news View the full article

Pride Of Jenni ridden by Declan Bates winning the 2024 All-Star Mile. (Photo by Pat Scala/Racing Photos) Pride Of Jenni’s outstanding 2023-24 season was celebrated at an awards ceremony in Adelaide on Tuesday night, where the star mare was named Australian Horse of the Year. Her brilliant season featured three Group 1 victories in Melbourne and Sydney, along with a win in the All-Star Mile (1600m). She garnered more votes than notable rivals, including Cups hero Without A Fight and top sprinter Imperatriz. The award, voted on by key racing administrators and media members, was a proud moment for owner Tony Ottobre. In an emotional speech, Ottobre credited his late daughter Jenni as the inspiration behind his investment in the thoroughbred industry. “It’s been nine years now and we think of her every day,” he said. “Jenni was an exceptional child, in the top 5 per cent of everything she did. She had a big heart, she tried really hard, and I think Pride Of Jenni is the same. “She’s a warhorse and she doesn’t give up. “We came into this to have a little bit of fun and to keep our daughter’s memory alive, so to be standing here is mind-boggling.” Earlier in the evening, Pride Of Jenni was also named Champion Middle Distance Horse of the Year, triumphing over finalists such as Cox Plate winner Romantic Warrior and Mr Brightside. Horse racing news View the full article

As a buyer, Thoroughbred auctions have treated owner Jeff Ganje well, evidenced by his acquisition of eventual graded stakes winners Shotgun Hottie and Beatbox, both for modest sums in a sport where six- and seven-figure purchases are not uncommon. View the full article

The Fasig-Tipton October Digital Sale, which was scheduled to conclude Tuesday, was suspended Tuesday afternoon due to a technical issue. The on-line auction will resume at 8 a.m. Wednesday with hip 208 and entries will begin to close at 2 p.m. Registered bidders will not need to re-register for the auction, which is available at digital.fasigtipton.com. The post Fasig-Tipton Digital Sale Suspended, Will Resume Wednesday appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

He was bred by Summer Wind Farm and raced by Twin Creeks Racing Stable before retiring to Sequel Stallions New York, where he stood since 2013.View the full article

By Mike Love Midweek racing returns to Addington, with the first of three October meetings on today. The eight race programme will start at 4.31pm. In Race 3, the Downbytheseaside Making A Splash Mobile Pace over 1980m Ohoka trainer Trent Yesberg is confident that from the ace draw his four-year-old Bettors Delight gelding Gatecrasher ($3.00FF) can turn his form around. Things didn’t pan out too well last time at Timaru on September 29 – but Yesberg has rectified some issues. “We blame it on the tongue tie. He managed to get his tongue back and ended up flipping his pallet the whole way. He’s never made a breathing noise in his life and John (Dunn) pretty much just eased him down. We’ve gone for a leather tongue tie today,” said Yesberg. Riley Harrison will take the drive today. “He’s trained on super. I think he should be pretty hard to beat.” Yesberg also lines up two first start maidens in Race 6, the Sweet Lou The Most Popular Sire Of 2023 pace over 2000m. Allbetsroff ($14.00FF) will be driven by John Dunn and has been trialling up well leading into today’s debut race. “He’s a big son of Bettors Delight. He’s really just turned the corner in the last month. I do expect him to go well if he can get the start right. ” The Quiet Pirate ($9.00FF), who will be driven by Carter Dalgety, is another that has been trialling well. “I got him off Mark Purdon. He broke down a couple of times. We’ve just taken our time with him and he’s had two quiet trials.” “We thought instead of going around at the trials we might as well race for some money. But we won’t be driving them too hard today as they’ll both need the race day experience.” “They will both go on and do a good job and should win their maidens at fairly short notice. They just lack a bit of ringcraft at present.” View the full article

Observations on the European Racing Scene turns the spotlight on the best European races of the day, highlighting well-bred horses early in their careers, horses of note returning to action and young runners that achieved notable results in the sales ring. Wednesday's Observations features a half-brother to Classic hero Continuous (Jpn) (Heart's Cry {Jpn}). 3.51 Navan, Mdn, €15,000, 2yo, 8f 10yT LIGHT AS AIR (IRE) (Wootton Bassett {GB}) is one of three Ballydoyle representatives and the sole newcomer, but of much interest as a half-brother to last year's G1 St Leger hero Continuous (Jpn) (Heart's Cry {Jpn}). From the family of Saxon Warrior (Jpn), he encounters 11 in this maiden his stable has fared well in of late. 5.15 Kempton, Novice, £6,800, 2yo, 7f (AWT) AR RAYYAN (IRE) (Siyouni {Fr}) is an important Al Shaqab homebred as a son of their G1 Coronation Stakes and G1 Prix Rothschild heroine Qemah (Ire) (Danehill Dancer {Ire}). Ralph Beckett introduces him against Juddmonte's Detain (Ire) (Wootton Bassett {GB}), the Gosdens' half-brother to Arrest (Ire) (Frankel {GB}) who scored on debut over course and distance in August. 6.15 Kempton, Novice, £6,800, 2yo, f, 8f (AWT) DAWN SKY (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) was a 800,000gns Tattersalls October Book 1 purchase who debuts for Godolphin and Charlie Appleby. Billy Loughnane is on the daughter of the dual group 3 winner Luminate (Ire) (Lawman {Fr}), with William Buick siding with the stable's fellow newcomer Scarlet Princess (GB) (Kingman {GB}), a daughter of the G1 Prix de l'Opera heroine Lady Marian (Ger) (Nayef) and half to the dual group 2 winner Loxley (Ire) (New Approach {Ire}). Also in the line-up is the Meon Valley homebred Club Class (GB) (Frankel {GB}), a James Fanshawe-trained daughter of the same connections' G1 Prix Jean Romanet and G1 Prix de l'Opera winner Speedy Boarding (GB) (Shamardal). The post Wootton Bassett Half To Continuous Debuts At Navan appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

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Delta Downs will kick off its 2024-25 Thoroughbred season Oct. 10 with post time at 4:50 p.m. CT throughout the season that ends Feb. 22.View the full article

There are five horse racing meetings set for Australia on Wednesday, October 9. Our racing analysts here at horsebetting.com.au have found you the best bets and the quaddie numbers for Doomben, Randwick-Kensington & Happy Valley (HK). Wednesday’s Free Horse Racing Tips – October 9, 2024 Doomben Racing Tips Randwick-Kensington Racing Tips Happy Valley (HK) Racing Tips As always, there are plenty of promotions available for Australian racing fans. Check out all the top horse racing bookmakers to see what daily promotions they have. If you are looking for a new bookmaker for the horse racing taking place on October 9, 2024 check out our guide to the best online racing betting sites. Neds Code GETON 1 Take It To The Neds Level Neds Only orange bookie! Check Out Neds Review 18+ Gamble Responsibly. What are you prepared to lose today? Full terms. 2 It Pays To Play PlayUp Aussie-owned horse racing specialists! Check Out PlayUp Review 18+ Gamble Responsibly. Imagine what you could be buying instead. Full terms. Dabble Signup Code AUSRACING 3 Say Hey to the social bet! Dabble Have a Dabble with friends! Join Dabble Review 18+ Gamble Responsibly. THINK. IS THIS A BET YOU REALLY WANT TO PLACE? Full terms. Recommended! Bet365 Signup Code GETON 4 Never Ordinary Bet365 World Favourite! Visit Bet365 Review 18+ Gamble Responsibly. GETON is not a bonus code. bet365 does not offer bonus codes in Australia and this referral code does not grant access to offers. What’s gambling really costing you? Full terms. 5 Next Gen Racing Betting PickleBet Top 4 Betting. Extra Place. Every Race. Join Picklebet Review 18+ Gamble Responsibly. What are you really gambling with? Full terms. 6 Bet With A Boom BoomBet Daily Racing Promotions – Login to view! Join Boombet Review 18+ Gamble responsibly. Think. Is this a bet you really want to place. Full terms. Horse racing tips View the full article

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Louisiana Downs announces the retirement of Director of Racing and Racing Secretary Matt Crawford, following a distinguished career in horse racing.View the full article

Multiple graded stakes winner Mission Impazible (Unbridled's Song–La Paz, by Hold Your Peace) has been retired from stud duties at Sequel Stallions New York and will be sent to Old Friends Equine retirement facility in Georgetown, Kentucky, Sequel announced Tuesday. Winner of the 2010 GII Louisiana Derby and 2011 GII New Orleans Handicap, Mission Impazible sired 2016 Tremont Stakes winner Silver Mission in his first crop and 2017 GII Adirondack Stakes winner Pure Silver in his second crop. He is also the sire of multiple stakes winners Espresso Shot and Dream Bigger. The post Mission Impazible Retired to Old Friends appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Maiden Watch: Week of Sept. 30-Oct. 6View the full article

Top European miler Charyn will embark on his stallion career for Nurlan Bizakov's Sumbe operation in France in 2025. The 4-year-old son of Dark Angel could run two more times, including a possible trip to America for the Breeders' Cup Mile (G1T).View the full article

Keeneland Championship Sale to offer stallion share in Horse of the Year and sire Flightline on Oct. 30 in the paddock at Del Mar before the Breeders' Cup World Championship races there Nov. 1-2.View the full article

A matchup between 3-year-old fillies and older females takes place Oct. 13 in the $350,000 Franklin Stakes (G2T) at Keeneland at 5 1/2 furlongs on turf. Three-year-old Star of Mystery and 5-year-old Roses for Debra lead an overflow field.View the full article

Sir Mark Prescott will take charge of the yearling full-sister to his former stable star Alpinista (GB) (Frankel {GB}) who sold for 2,500,000gns to Amo Racing on Tuesday at Tattersalls. The filly will race in the purple and white silks of Kia Joorabchian's operation, which was the leading buyer on the first day of the sale, with an outlay in excess of £12 million for 14 yearlings, some of which were bought in partnership. As well as Alpinista, Prescott also trained the filly's Listed-winning dam Alwilda (GB) (Hernando {Fr}) and Group 1-winning granddam Albanova (GB) (Alzao) at Heath House Stables for their owner-breeder Kirsten Rausing. Joorabchian said, “Sir Mark has done a wonderful job curating this family. We never had any doubt in our minds when he said he would like to train her. There is no one better to train this filly than the man who has masterminded so many wonderful moments for this family over the last 30 years.” The post Alpinista’s Yearling Sister to be Trained by Sir Mark Prescott appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance will be on site at Laurel Park for the Jim McKay Maryland Million Day card Saturday. The organization will have a race on the card named in its honor and will host the winners of the 2024 VIP Maryland Million experience from the “Off to the Races” online benefit auction. Generously donated by 1/ST RACING and the Hotel at Arundel Preserve, the experience will include a clubhouse table for four at the track and a two-night stay at the Hotel at Arundel Preserve. “The Maryland Jockey Club is excited to once again welcome Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance on Maryland Million Day,” said Maryland Jockey Club vice president of development Georganne Hale. “We are deeply committed to supporting Thoroughbreds beyond their racing careers, and we're thrilled to promote accredited aftercare together.” Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that accredits, inspects, and awards grants to approved aftercare organizations to retrain, retire, and rehome Thoroughbreds using industry-wide funding. The post TAA On Site for Maryland Million Day appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Thieves made away with at least three watches at Santa Anita Park Sept. 28 and an investigation is underway, according to a press release issued by the Arcadia Police Department Oct. 8. According to the report, one of the victims was surrounded by the suspects and were able to remove the victim's watch after creating confusion. In a second incident, the victim had their watch removed after moving through a large crowd of patrons and only realized it several hours later. Police also identified a third incident, three suspects approached the victim, one of whom attempted to hug the victim. A second thief began to remove their watch, but the victim noticed. “The victim felt his watch being removed and confronted the suspects who immediately left the area,” read the police release. “The victim alerted Santa Anita Park security and Arcadia Police officers who were in the area were able to locate one of the suspects involved in the attempted theft and take him into custody.” The suspect was later identified as Camilo Nino-Hernandez, a 24-year-old man from Los Angeles. According to police, Nino-Hernandez was charged with Grand Theft and was also charged with being in possession of a fraudulent social security card. Based on the initial investigation, it appears all three victims were targeted by different organized groups of people. Arcadia Police Department stated it will not release the victim's information, although according to published reports one of the victims is confirmed as Dodgers pitcher Walker Buehler. A Lexington, Kentucky native, Buehler, the 30-year-old is a longtime horse racing fan who owned a micro-share in 2020 Kentucky Derby winner Authentic. As first reported by ABC 7 Eyewitness News in Los Angeles, Buehler was at Santa Anita with his wife, McKenzie Marcinek, when they were surrounded by a group of people, one of whom unbuttoned his shirtsleeve and took his watch, said to be worth $100,000. For the complete Arcadia Police Dept. press release on X, click here. Anyone with information on this incident may contact Arcadia Police Department at (626) 574-5151. Or to provide information anonymously, call 'Crime Stoppers' at (800) 222-8477. The post Police Investigate Thefts at Santa Anita Park, Dodgers Pitcher Walker Buehler Among Victims appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Charlie Appleby is confident that Notable Speech (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) has all the attributes to thrive at Del Mar when the G1 2,000 Guineas and G1 Sussex Stakes hero attempts to become his trainer's fourth straight winner of the GI Breeders' Cup Mile. Appleby certainly knows what is required to win the $2 million-prize, having struck with Space Blues (Ire) in 2021, Modern Games (Ire) in 2022 and Master Of The Seas (Ire) in 2023. Notable Speech will need to bounce back from a below-par effort in last month's G1 Prix du Moulin at Longchamp if he is to continue that winning sequence, but Appleby is taking the positives from his trip to the French capital, with the return to a sounder surface at Del Mar expected to be in his favour, too. “America is still the aim and he's in good order,” said the trainer. “We're just going through the motions at the minute, but we'll start to wind him up over the coming weeks. “Until you have actually been on one of those trips, you don't really know, but we were pleased at Longchamp by the way he conducted himself on the travelling side of it. We had to try the ground to know whether we were going to go to Ascot [for the G1 Queen Elizabeth II Stakes] or not, but the one box he did tick is he travelled well. “Going to America, you would say he is tailor-made for the mile. He will be going a couple of turns and he travels well. All we do need on the day is a good draw.” The post Appleby Aiming to Continue Breeders’ Cup Winning Run with Notable Speech appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

NEWMARKET, UK — As a statement of intent it was a pretty serious one. Ten yearlings bought and 11,045,000gns spent by Amo Racing while many at Park Paddocks were still finishing their lunch. Amo principal Kia Joorabchian, amid an entourage which included Nottingham Forest FC owner Evangelos Marinakis and bloodstock agent Alex Elliott, would not be beaten on the day's leading lady, Newsells Park Stud's Frankel (GB) filly out of Aljazzi (GB) (Shamardal). The hammer eventually fell at 4,400,000gns – the second-highest price ever paid for a Book 1 yearling. Joorabchian faced determined opposition from Mitsu Nakauchida, but the Japanese trainer ultimately had to play the role of underbidder for lot 68, the second foal of her Group 2-winning dam. And Amo still had plenty of ammo in reserve, for just four lots later Joorabchian was back, this time taking aim at another prized daughter of Frankel: Staffordstown's full-sister to the six-time Group 1 winner and Arc heroine Alpinista (GB). He made just one bid, at 2,500,000gns, but that was enough to add the bay filly to an increasingly tantalising list of future broodmare prospects. The football agent and prominent racehorse owner initially referred journalists' enquiries to Elliott, but he was eventually cajoled into a few words on his explosive spending spree at Tattersalls. “I don't do interviews,” he said with a grin. “We need strong-pedigreed fillies. We have a lot of horses going to stud in the next year. Bucanero Fuerte will end up at stud, I don't know this year or next year, and King of Steel will go to stud, I don't know this year or next year yet. Soon we will have to make a decision. We have Persian Force at stud and we just need to back them, otherwise we are just going to get left behind. The kind of investment we have made in the last few years, we are going to have to change a little bit and we have to back our stallions to have a chance at winning. It's very hard to buy those mares because the Juddmontes, Coolmores, Shadwells, all the big guys own all the big mares, so we have to come out here and hope that what we are buying in terms of pedigrees, like we did with the fillies in Keeneland. We went after fillies with strong pedigrees – and that's what we are trying to do.” He continued, “It's very hard to buy them afterwards. Once they've won a Group 1 you're up in the eights, nines, tens of millions, so you've got to try to get them earlier and hope that in the next few years that these fillies will do well.” Just for a little variety, the Amo team later added a colt by Frankel to the list of the day's purchases. Lot 85, a half-brother to the Group 3-placed Redressed (GB) (Le Havre {Ire}), whose dam Atone (GB) (Oasis Dream {GB}) is a sister to Juddmonte's multiple Group 1 winner Midday (GB), was bought from the draft of Baroda Stud for 1,100,000gns. “Frankel has had huge success and he just keeps on coming through,” Joorabchian added. “The Champion Stakes in Ireland was a real eye-opener when you looked at the card. There were five Frankels and one Too Darn Hot. You look at all the Frankels and what they're doing, and you just have to back him.” Recounting the bidding duel for the top lot, Elliott said, “Kia and partners wanted the filly very badly – a Frankel filly from that family and with that physique, she was always going to be a collectors' item. “But she is part of Team Amo now – wow. She is a spectacular filly, it is a spectacular price, a spectacular bunch of horses here. I'd like to say I was a cool customer when all that was taking place, but that would be a fib. I have never been in that rarified atmosphere before.” He added, “It is great that she is staying here, it is great for British racing. To have two men say they are going to keep her here, it is huge kudos to them. Kia knows you have got to buy them at the top level to compete at the top level. All the teams select the best horse and it is who blinks first, and Kia did not blink – I think I did.” Marinakis, who had also attended the Goffs London Sale with Joorabchian back in June, when asked if he was one of the partners behind Amo Racing's major outlay, replied, “No, I'm just here to enjoy the day.” Amo Racing, the outright leading buyer so far during Book 1, accounted for almost a quarter of the day's turnover, which was in excess of 42 million gns. They also bought three yearlings in partnership with Al Shaqab Racing, while Kia's son Maxi Joorabchian co-signed with trainer George Scott for a colt by first-crop sire Lucky Vega (Ire) at 180,000gns. Park Paddocks Abuzz It is hard to recall a stronger start to a sale than that witnessed at Tattersalls on Tuesday. The signs were there over the weekend, with plenty of consignors reporting strong footfall during inspections, despite the clash with the Arc meeting in Paris. A huge crowd doesn't always translate to bumper returns, however, but there was no sign of first-day jitters here. Those buying teams that have become the stalwarts of the scene: Godolphin, Juddmonte, Shadwell and Al Shaqab, have been joined in recent years by the dominant forces of Yulong and Amo Racing, who in turn have been met by emerging operations from Bahrain, Qatar and Saudi Arabia, such as Victorious Racing, Wathnan Racing and Salhia Stud. New money and old was in play at Book 1 – to an almost dizzying degree. This diverse participation coupled with a tightening of numbers to around 450 yearlings has contrived to send the Book 1 statistics through the roof. As an elite event, it is routinely a strong sale but the day 1 figures were up across the board. A clearance rate of 90% was derived from the sale of 117 yearlings for a total of 42,680,000gns, which was up by 36% on last year's opening day. The average rose by 48% to a record 364,786gns and the median by 27% to 260,000gns. Eight individual buyers made an outlay into seven figures on Tuesday. American expenditure was also notable, with 12 different entities from the US signing for 15 yearlings, including Klaravich Stables, Mike Repole, David Ingordo and WinStar Farm. Newsells Park Blazes a Trail He is used to being in the top spot at this sale, but Newsells Park Stud's managing director Julian Dollar admitted that even he was taken aback at the price tag for Aljazzi's Frankel filly. Trained by Marco Botti to win the G2 Duke of Cambridge Stakes, G3 Atalanta and two Listed contests, the mare was offered by her breeders Saleh Al Homaizi and Imad Al Sagar at the Horses-in-Training Sale six years ago, where she was picked up by Newsells Park for 1,000,000gns. Tuesday's result has certainly repaid that investment, despite several visits to Frankel and his sire Galileo (Ire). Dollar, casting his mind back to that purchase, said, “We'd had a good sale a few weeks before and I said to [former Newsells Park Stud owner] Andreas Jacobs that there's a filly in this sale that might just get missed because she should be in December. He was brave enough to let me go to a million for her, which was our absolute limit.” He continued, “Her first [foal] by Galileo didn't quite meet expectations but this was always a stunning filly. I dreamt that if we were really lucky she might make a million and that would have been great, but that was unbelievable. It just shows that if you have two people who really want a filly what can happen. I've never had a horse vetted as much – she had 20 vets. Hopefully she's a good filly for Team Amo and I'm very grateful to Mitsu too.” With seven yearlings sold for 6,895,000gns through the first day, Newsells Park Stud is leading the consignors' list. Godolphin Lands Top-Priced Colt Godolphin picked up the top-priced colt on the day, a No Nay Never half-brother to G2 Champagne Stakes winner Iberian (Ire) (Lope De Vega {Ire}), who was described by Ballylinch Stud's John O'Connor as the nicest horses the operation has ever brought to the sales. That big opinion was backed up by the price tag, with Anthony Stroud holding off stiff opposition from the Coolmore team to secure the colt on behalf of Godolphin for 2,200,000gns. “He was the one horse we really wanted today,” Stroud said, before commenting on the market. “There are a lot of people from all around the world here. It's good. It [the market] needs it.” The No Nay Never colt is very much a Ballylinch Stud-nurtured family through and through. The grand dam, Uncharted Haven (GB) (Turtle Island {Ire}), was bought by O'Connor for 320,000gns at the December Mares Sale in 2001 while the colt's dam, Bella Estrella (Ire) (High Chaparral {Ire}), carried the green and orange silks to Listed success when trained by Dermot Weld. O'Connor commented, “You never know quite what they will reach but I did expect that he would make a big price. I bought the granddam at the December Sale as a filly out of training. She comes from one of the original Ballylinch families from during the McCalmont times, so I was keen to get one back. It's been a very successful family for us and he [lot 92] was very typical of that family. I don't think I've ever brought a nicer colt to the sales. That is confirmed by our yearling manager at home, Ronan Wade, who gave him the highest mark I have ever seen him give a horse. So we expected him to do really well and the top judges all had him on their lists.” Salhia Stud Laying Foundations Representing Saudi Arabia's Salhia Stud, Richard Knight signed for four yearlings throughout the first session for a total of 2,190,000gns. At the head of the list was another Newsells Park Stud filly, this one by Dubawi (Ire) out of the G2 Prix de Malleret winner Waldlied (GB) (New Approach {GB}). A family that has served Newsells Park well over the years, the yearling's dam is a half-sister to the Arc winner and Ballylinch Stud stallion Waldgeist (GB) and it is hoped that the youngster could eventually form one of the cornerstones of the burgeoning Salhia Stud operation, which has plans to establish a broodmare band in Britain. “I absolutely adored her when I saw her. Newsells Park have a fantastic group of horses and she has been beautifully prepared,” Knight said of lot 39. “We're lucky to be able to add her to the racing band, who we will breed from at the end of the day. Mohammed Saleh Bin Laden's Salhia Stud, which has been represented on the track this season by the winners Bintjeddah (GB) (Too Darn Hot {GB}) and Binadham (Ire) (Kodiac {GB}), currently has 10 fillies and two colts in training in Newmarket with William Haggas, Roger Varian, William Knight and Kevin Philippart de Foy. Knight later bought lot 44, Furnace Mill Stud's Kingman (GB) half-sister to three black-type winners including Delius (GB) (Frankel {GB}), for 420,000gns. Book 1 Talking Points By Brian Sheerin Tattersalls couldn't have wished for a better start to the opening Book 1 session. No less than 18 horses cleared 500,000gns, which speaks to the international appeal of top-notch bloodstock. The level of American interest in Book 1 continues to grow. Along with the usual suspects like Mike Ryan/Klaravich Stables, Mike Repole and Stonestreet, there was a broad depth of US interest on day one. Alex and Shane Power of Tradewinds Stud have been enjoying a decent time of it with their pinhooks this year and in lot 37, a Mayson (GB) colt that was sourced by the pair for 38,000gns, they secured more profit with a 100,000gns sale to agent Richard Ryan. Another power-packed performance from the brothers. It must be an auctioneer's dream to have everyone in the auditorium eating out of the palm of their hand. Well, for John O'Kelly, one of the best in the business, that happened not once but twice in the space of just a few minutes when he sold the Frankel fillies for 4.4 million gns and 2.5 million gns respectively. Not a bad afternoon's work! Both of those fillies were snapped up by Amo Racing, who emerged as the surprisingly-dominant force on day one with 10 yearlings sourced for 11,045,000gns, along with several more in partnership with Al Shaqab Racing. Coolmore continued its support of young gun St Mark's Basilica (Fr) by snapping up a filly and a colt by the stallion for 300,000gns and 220,000gns respectively. All told, St Mark's Basilica enjoyed a respectable day's trade with four yearlings averaging 297,500gns. It would appear as though the tighter book really hit the mark on Tuesday. Despite offering 24 fewer horses compared to this day 12 months ago, the opening session concluded with a major rise in all of the key figures. Golden touch One of the most encouraging aspects of the day's trade was the amount of successful pinhooks. Michael Fitzpatrick was once again turning water into wine with lot 6, a Blue Point (Ire) colt that he sourced for €85,000, who went the way of Sumbe for 400,000gns. But perhaps it is worth acknowledging the feat achieved by Gerry Burke of Glidawn Stud, who sold a Ulysses (Ire) colt out of Listed winner Zuhoor Baynoona (Ire) (Elnadim) for 85,000gns. The colt had been sourced for just 13,500gns by BBA Ireland at the Tattersalls December Foal Sale, which makes him the cheapest pinhook prospect to have walked through the ring on the opening day of Book 1. Let's face it, these have been a trying few months for pinhookers in Europe. Burke's result, and the overall state of play on Tuesday, will have provided some encouragement for operators big and small. The post ‘Kia Did Not Blink’: Amo Racing’s £12 Million Spree appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Jairo Rendon was enjoying one of the best years of his career. He finished the Monmouth meet with 66 winners, just 10 winners behind perennial Monmouth riding champion Paco Lopez. He stuck around a few more days to ride some at the all-turf meet at the Meadowlands, but after riding there Sept. 21, he was ready to go home. After the short Meadowlands meet ended, Rendon would have no problem heading to Aqueduct or maybe Gulfstream Park, two places where he could make a lot of money and ride a lot of winners. But Rendon, when he says “it's not about the money,” he means it. That's why every year after the New Jersey racing season is over, Rendon soon heads back to his native country, Colombia. It is there that he and his family own a 210-acre cattle ranch. It's a much different lifestyle than the racetrack, but Rendon has stood firm in his decision not to ride in the U.S. for almost half the year. He'd just rather spend that time with his family. “The wintertime is coming and if I were to stay in America I'd have to move from Monmouth to another track and start business all over again,” Rendon said. “I have my family here in Colombia, and my house. It's easier to come home rather than going to another track and starting all over and not have my family here. When I go back to Colombia, I see my father, mother, brothers, everybody is there.” Rendon, 41, began his career in his native country, but there is no longer any racing in Colombia as the track there closed in 2008. Two years earlier, he made the switch to Panama and was leading rider there in 2007. Then it was on to Saudi Arabia, where he spent eight years. In 2016, he came to the U.S. He started off slowly, winning just 12 races the first two years he was here. It all came together for him in 2019, when he won 139 races while riding nearly the entire meet at Gulfstream. Then Covid hit and he rode sparingly in 2020 and took all of 2021 off. He had found out that he could lead two lives, professional jockey and gentlemen rancher. By 2022, he was making enough riding in the U.S. that he could afford to come home and take half of the year off. In 2022, he stayed until Nov. 13 and didn't leave the country in 2023 until Nov. 5. This year was his earliest exit ever. He said things would be different if his family members were to agree to stay with him while he is riding in the U.S. He has a 17-year-old son and a 13-year-old daughter. “They never were interested in staying with me in the U.S.,” Rendon said. “They don't want to change their lifestyle. I asked them a few times if they wanted to come over and they said no.” The time he spends in Colombia is not a vacation. He keeps busy and fit working on the ranch. “And it's not like I go home to my country and sleep for five months,” he said. “I have things to do there. I work the farm every day I am there. That helps keep me in shape.” He is considering riding at the Keeneland spring meet next year. Whether he does or not, he'll be ready to go for opening day at Monmouth. About three weeks beforehand, he starts to get racing fit by galloping horses for trainer and friend Jorge Duarte, Jr. “The thing is that Jairo has built a good relationship with the Monmouth Park horsemen,” said Duarte, who trains exclusively for Colts Neck Stable. Rendon got off to such a fast start this year, that he topped the standings through the first two weeks of the meet. Was he ready to dethrone Paco? “Everyone said this year, 'You're going to beat Paco Lopez, you're going to beat Paco Lopez.' I wasn't looking for that,” he said “I'm looking to win some races, do good. I'm not looking to be the leading rider.” This probably wouldn't work for many jockeys. Stay away from the track for six months and you're bound to have a tough time getting going again. But trainers have learned to trust him and know he can make this rather odd schedule work. “They kind of expect what he does now,” Duarte said. “They know he will be back right before Monmouth Park starts and they know he will be ready because of his work ethic. They know horses run for him, too.” The post Racing’s Part-Time Jockey, Jairo Rendon is Making it Work appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article