Wandering Eyes

Racing has lost one of its true gentlemen with the passing of former leading trainer Fulke Johnson Houghton at the age of 84. Fulke Johnson Houghton was born into the game as both of his parents were top-class trainers, albeit that his mother had to operate unofficially because the Jockey Club had not yet relented on the licensing of women in the days in which she headed the family's stable at Blewbury in Berkshire. Fulke Johnson Houghton's father Gordon was already training (in Cheshire) before the outbreak of the Second World War, during which he put his career on ice to serve in the Cheshire Yeomanry, rising to the rank of Major. Once peace had returned, he and his family moved south to Woodway Stables in Blewbury, previously the base of Steve Donoghue. The stable immediately thrived, helped by the arrival of most of Dorothy Paget's Flat horses. Tragically, he was killed when hunting with the Old Berkshire, run over by a speeding lorry which caused his horse to fall on a road near Faringdon, aged only 42. It was generally assumed that Gordon Johnson Houghton's widow Helen, the twin sister of the successful (mainly) National Hunt trainer Fulke Walwyn, would take over the licence. No woman held a trainer's licence in Great Britain at the time, but Sir Gordon Richards, then arguably the most respected figure in the game, encouraged her to send in an application and assured her that, surely, common sense must dictate that the Jockey Club would give her a licence. That, though, overlooked just how chauvinist British society still was at that time and, although Mrs Johnson Houghton was indeed training the horses, she was not allowed to be acknowledged as their trainer. Consequently the licence was given firstly to Colonel Poole and then to her head lad Charles Jerdein, who thus gained a place in the record books as the trainer of the 1956 2,000 Guineas winner Gilles De Retz (GB) (Royal Charger {GB}). The stable had come close to Classic glory the previous year when Miss Paget's Nucleus (Ire) (Nimbus {GB}) had finished second in the St Leger. Officially Gilles De Retz had a different trainer as a four-year-old because Mrs Johnson Houghton's 23-year-old nephew Peter Walwyn, who had been serving as assistant trainer to Geoffrey Brooke in Newmarket and who subsequently became champion trainer when based at Seven Barrows in Lambourn, was brought in to take over as licence-holder at Blewbury. This was only ever going to be a temporary arrangement because Mrs Johnson Houghton's son Fulke would take over when he attained his majority. Consequently, Fulke took over the licence for the 1961 season, notwithstanding that he didn't actually turn 21 until the second week of May. Aside from having grown up in his parents' stable, he had also gained experience in France working for Major John Goldsmith (author of the wonderful war memoir Accidental Agent) and Jacko Cunnington. Both bred and raised to be a top-class trainer, Fulke took to the job like a duck to water, helped by the fact that he became the principal GB-based trainer for the American millionaire Charles Engelhard. (Engelhard's horses in Ireland were, of course, trained by Vincent O'Brien, most obviously the 1970 Triple Crown hero Nijinsky II.) Engelhard was a huge fan of the progeny of Ribot and, while he was still in his 20s, Fulke trained several top-class Ribot horses for Engelhard including the full-brothers Ribocco and Ribero, who both completed the Irish Sweeps Derby/St Leger double (in 1967 and '68 respectively); Romulus, winner in 1962 of the Greenham Stakes, Sussex Stakes and Queen Elizabeth II Stakes; and Ribofilio, winner of the Dewhurst Stakes in 1968. A star for the pair by another stallion was the Sir Gaylord horse Habitat, winner in 1969 of the Lockinge Stakes, Prix Quincey and Prix du Moulin (and subsequently an outstanding stallion at Airlie Stud in Ireland). Ile De Bourbon wins the Coronation Cup in 1979 | Racingfotos After Engelhard's death in 1971, Fulke trained horses for his widow Jane including the outstanding home-bred Habitat filly Rose Bowl, winner of the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes at Ascot in both 1975 and '76. In both seasons her next race was the Champion S. at Newmarket, which she won in 1975 before finishing second, beaten only a neck, the following year. Good horses trained by Fulke for his English patrons during this period included Commander Emmet's Aegean, winner of the Queen's Prize and Chester Cup in 1966; Clifford Nicholson's Haymaking, successful that year in the Coronation Stakes at Royal Ascot; and Tim Holland-Martin's Parsimony, winner in 1972 of both the Cork And Orrery Stakes at Royal Ascot and the July Cup at Newmarket. Memories of the Engelhard years were rekindled by the successes of Mrs Rogers' horses Libra's Rib and Ad Lib Ra, winners respectively of the Princess of Wales's Stakes at Newmarket in 1975 and the Extel Handicap at Goodwood in 1977. These were both sons of Libra, dam of Ribocco and Ribero, with Libra's Rib being a full-brother to that pair and Ad Lib Ra being by Droll Role. At that same 1977 Glorious Goodwood meeting, Fulke sent out Tim Holland-Martin's So Blessed filly Scarcely Blessed, a daughter of Parsimony, to win the King George Stakes. Eleven years later this same owner/trainer combination won yet another top-class sprint with the same family when Posada (GB) won the Cork And Orrery Stakes at Royal Ascot. Posada was a daughter of the Habitat stallion Homing from Nuppence (GB), a half-sister to Parsimony. Fulke came agonisingly close to winning the biggest race of all in 1977 when Lord Leverhulme's Hotfoot colt Hot Grove (GB) was beaten a short head by The Minstrel in the Derby, having previously won the Chester Vase. Victory in the autumn in the St Simon Stakes at Newbury was only slight consolation for this near miss. Further glory followed courtesy of two of the stable's three-year-olds of 1978, Ile De Bourbon and Double Form (Ire). Ile De Bourbon won the King Edward VII Stakes, the King George VI And Queen Elizabeth Diamond Stakes and Geoffrey Freer Stakes at three, and the G1 Coronation Cup at four; Double Form, bred and raced by Baroness Thyssen, won only one race (the Great Eastern Handicap at Newmarket) at three but was placed in the Greenham, Heron and Cork And Orrery Stakes as well as the July Cup, Stewards' Cup and Prix de l'Abbaye. At four he was outstanding, proving himself Europe's dominant sprinter with victories in the Temple Stakes and King's Stand Stakes, Haydock Park Vernons Sprint Cup and Prix de l'Abbaye. Ile De Bourbon's glory days were nostalgic because, bred by Mrs Engelhard, he was a Nijinsky half-brother to Rose Bowl. She sent him to Blewbury as a yearling but then decided to sell him. Fulke saw more potential than was immediately suggested by the colt's lanky, weak-looking physique and put together a syndicate to buy him, the syndicate consisting of Mr Engelhard's former racing manager David McCall, Sir Philip Oppenheimer, the trainer and his mother. Ile De Bourbon carried Mr McCall's colours at three (including when he won the G1 King George VI And Queen Elizabeth Diamond Stakes which Sir Philip Oppenheimer sponsored via his company De Beers) and ran in the Oppenheimer livery at four. He subsequently did well at stud, siring the 1988 Derby winner Kahyasi (Ire). Another good three-year-old in 1978 was G2 Park Hill Stakes heroine Idle Waters (GB) (Mill Reef), bred and raced by Surrey-based owner/breeders Mr and Mrs Crutchley, for whom Fulke saddled many good winners from their 'Waters' family including Idle Waters' daughter Shining Water (GB) (Kalaglow {Ire}), winner of the Solario Stakes in 1986. Fulke's position among the country's elite trainers looked secure when HH Aga Khan IV decided in 1978 to resume having horses in England and chose him and Michael Stoute as his two trainers. Luck of the draw, though, dictated that the brightest star Shergar (Ire), a member of the second batch of yearlings which His Highness sent to England, ended up in Newmarket rather than at Blewbury. Fulke trained some good horses for the Aga Khan, coming closest to Classic glory when Baynoun (Ire) (Sassafras {Fr}) finished second, beaten a neck by Commanche Run, in the St Leger in 1984. Had that photo-finish gone the other way things might have been different, but as it was his yearling intake from the Aga Khan dwindled to nothing in 1987, by which time Luca Cumani had been added to the great owner-breeder's roster. Gaie and Eve Johnson Houghton with Charlie Bishop at Royal Ascot | Racingfotos Over and above his many big-race wins, much of the pleasure which Fulke received during this period came from the winners which he saddled in amateur races ridden by his wife Gaie, daughter of Major Goldsmith. She had not long retired from race-riding when their son Gordon began to establish himself as a good amateur rider under National Hunt rules. Times change and one of the biggest changes during the 1980s was that Arab owners began to own an ever-greater proportion of the best horses in England. If one trained for one or more of them that was fine; if one didn't, one's stable inevitably declined. Some formerly leading trainers in the latter category, such as Jeremy Hindley, gave up the unequal struggle. Fulke didn't do that, but he found top-class horses ever harder to secure. He never lost his skill, though, and memories of past glories came flooding back early in the 21st century. At Tattersalls Ireland's September Yearling Sale at Fairyhouse in 2001 he bought a colt by Ali- Royal (Ire) for 12,500 Irish guineas. The following year, this colt, named Tout Seul (Ire), proved himself the star of what was by then the trainer's small string by winning the Shergar Cup Juvenile Stakes at Ascot, the Tattersalls' Breeders' Stakes at the Curragh and the G1 Dewhurst Stakes at Newmarket. Fulke retired at the end of the 2006 season and handed the reins at Blewbury to his daughter Eve, who had been his assistant for several years by this time. She has done him proud. Defying the disadvantage of generally not training for any of the big-spenders, she has repeatedly shown that he has inherited her father's (and her grandparents') knack of unearthing good horses and then doing very well with them. Of all the happy days which the family have enjoyed since the handover, the opening day of Royal Ascot in 2018 stands supreme. Bred and raced by Gaie Johnson Houghton (who named him in honour of her father) and trained by Eve, Accidental Agent (GB) proved to be a wonderful campaigner, earning over £750,000 in a 59-race career which ran from 2016 to 2024. He provided the Johnson Houghtons with a host of red-letter days, with his 33/1 victory in the G1 Queen Anne Stakes at Royal Ascot in 2018 being the best day of all. Fulke was a very popular member of a very popular family. He will be remembered as a very good trainer, a very successful trainer and a very nice man; and we offer our condolences to his family and many friends. The post Classic-Winning Trainer Fulke Johnson Houghton Dies at 84 appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

4th-FG, $55K, Msw, 3yo, f, 6f, 2:30 p.m. ET. A $1.15 million buy for Mike Rutherford during Keeneland September, BUNDLE (Volatile) makes her debut for Hall of Fame trainer Steve Asmussen. Bred by Three Chimneys, the gray is out of MGISW Love and Pride (A.P. Indy), who is responsible for a pair of stakes winners in Princesinha Julia (Pioneerof the Nile) and Bella Runner (Gun Runner). Bundle's third dam, GISW Cara Rafaela (Quiet American), produced generational sire Bernardini (A.P. Indy). TJCIS PPS 4th-GP, $94K, Msw, 3yo, 1m, 1:47 p.m. ET. Pam and the late Marty Wygod bred GII Wood Memorial Stakes hero Resilience (Into Mischief) and his full-brother Capitol Hill–set for his unveiling under Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott. The first time starter's second dam is MGISW Tranquility Lake (Rahy), who produced MGISW After Market (Storm Cat) and GISW Courageous Cat (Storm Cat). Making the starting gate for Juddmonte is Summit Ridge (Constitution), a homebred trained by Chad Brown. The bay is out of Argentinian dual champion Summer Love (Arg) (Freud), who handed him a full-brother last year. TJCIS PPS 6th-FG, $55K, Msw, 3yo, f, 6f, 3:30 p.m. ET. Swinging back to the Big Easy, Unwavering Trust (Nyquist) is also set to be unveiled on the Risen Star undercard. Bred by Stonehaven Steadings, the $750,000 OBS April grad is trained by Brad Cox and her dam is a half-sister to GSW Lady T N T (Justin Phillip). TJCIS PPS 7th-FG, $55K, Msw, 3yo, 6f, 4:00 p.m. ET. Whisper Hill bought Unrivaled Belle (Unbridled's Song) at the 2016 Keeneland November Sale for $3.8 million and among her offspring is dual champion Unique Bella (Tapit), whose half-brother, Unique Mischief (Into Mischief) debuts for Mandy Pope and trainer Steve Asmussen. The colt's extended female family includes GSW Raise Cain (Violence). Making the gate for his debut is Development Fee (Volatile). Trained by Cherie DeVaux, the 3-year-old's dam is herself a half-sister to current sire Goldencents (Into Mischief). TJCIS PPS 9th-FG, $55K, Msw, 3yo, 1 1/16m, 5:00 p.m. ET. Bookended by a pair of turf stakes races at Fair Grounds, look for Coffee Talk (Medaglia d'Oro) to serve as the color bearer for Godolphin. The homebred's dam counts as a half-sister MGISW Better Lucky (Ghostzapper), who produced GSP Kentucky Wildcat (Tapit). Coffee Talk is trained by Brad Cox. TJCIS PPS 8th-SA, $60K, Msw, 3yo, f, 6 1/2fT, 7:10 p.m. ET. At 'The Great RIP' a 3-year-old filly named Entressa (Twirling Candy) makes her first start for C R K Stable and trainer John Shirreffs. The $575,000 Keeneland September purchase is out of MSP Luzmini Princess (Malibu Moon), a half-sister to MSW Heartwood (Tapit). TJCIS PPS The post Saturday Insights: Pricey Volatile Daughter Debuts With Calm Nerves In The Crescent City appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Classic-winning former trainer Fulke Johnson Houghton has died at the age of 84.View the full article

Multiple Group/Grade I-winner Country Grammer (Tonalist) was represented by his first reported foal, a colt born in early February, at River Valley Stock Farm in New York, WinStar Farm announced via press release. Out of Bernarda (Bernardini), an unplaced daughter of Listed winner and Grade I-placed Nakano (First Samurai), the colt was bred by Scott and Debbie Pierce, who also bred Country Grammer. The dam's most recent to the races is a placed 2-year-old named Low Key (Bolt d'Oro). Bernarda is the distant female family of MGSW Carson City (My. Prospector) and GSW & GISP General Meeting (Seattle Slew). “We are very impressed with our Country Grammer colt,” said Dr. Scott Pierce. “He is quite attractive, correct, and has a great shoulder and hip. He is very athletic like his sire. We couldn't be any happier with our first Country Grammer foal.” The son of Tonalist is the third-leading North American-based earner of all time having won or placed in 10 graded/group races. He was a runner-up in the 2022 and 2023 editions of the G1 Saudi Cup in addition to claiming the 2022 running of the G1 Dubai World Cup. His career total amassed to $14,921,320 with only the late Arrogate, and Gun Runner having earned more in North America. Country Grammer stands at WinStar Farm for $5,000 S&N in 2025. The post First Foal for Country Grammer is a Colt appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Rebel's Romance (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) launches his 7-year-old campaign in defence of his title in Saturday's US$2.5-million G3 H.H. The Amir Trophy in Qatar, where he will face seven other rivals that own nothing close to the resume amassed by the Godolphin homebred. Having defeated a pair of Japanese raiders, including the third-placed and re-opposing Satono Glanz (Jpn) (Satono Diamond by {Jpn}) by a convincing three-length margin 12 months ago, Rebel's Romance landed Group 1s in Hong Kong, Germany and America, where he took out the GI Breeders' Cup Classic for the second time in three years. Last month he was crowned champion turf horse at the Eclipse Awards. “It's great to see Rebel's Romance head back to Qatar for another crack at this race and he goes there in great form,” trainer Charlie Appleby said on the Godolphin website. “He's a year older now and taking on some younger legs, but he continues to display all the enthusiasm that he has shown in the past. Like last year, this looked the ideal starting point to his campaign. “If he turns up in the form that he has shown over the past 12 months, he will be the one they all have to beat. Age is the one thing that is creeping up on him, but all the signs at home have been very positive.” Godolphin are represented earlier on the card by the 3-year-olds Al Qudra (Ire) (No Nay Never) and Age of Gold (Ire) (Frankel {GB}), who take in the US$400,000 Al Rayyan Mile. The Foxes (Ire) (Churchill {Ire}) visits his fifth country and enters the Amir Trophy on the back of a cracking fourth-place effort behind the three-peating Romantic Warrior (Ire) (Acclamation {GB}) in the G1 Longines Hong Kong Cup in December. King's Gambit (Ire) (Saxon Warrior {Jpn}) makes his first start in the Wathnan Racing colours on Saturday. Runner-up in the G3 Hampton Court Stakes and to Alflaila (GB) (Dark Angel {Ire}) in the G2 York Stakes, the chestnut was a close third in the G2 Great Voltigeur Stakes and was a latest seventh in testing ground in the G1 QIPCO Champion Stakes at Ascot in October. The post Rebel’s Romance A Warm Item For Amir Trophy Repeat appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

By Dave Di Somma, Harness News Desk Will a new record be set at the NZB Standardbred National Yearling Sales at Auckland today? A total of 130 yearlings will go under the hammer at Karaka, starting at 1pm, before the Sales move to the second day at Christchurch next Tuesday. North Island heavyweights Breckon Farms and Woodlands Stud have the biggest drafts today with 38 and 36 yearlings and among Woodlands’ offerings is Lot 70, a colt by Captaintreacherous out of the champion mare that was Adore Me. He’s Adore Me’s first colt and her first foal to be offered publicly. Clearly the colt is going to attract some big numbers. But how big? Could it for instance eclipse the record $340,000 that was forked out for No More Dreaming, Don’t Stop Dreaming’s full brother in Christchurch last year? Lot 70 is likely to be up for sale around 3.15 this afternoon. Not that today is all about one yearling – far from it. There are many others that have prompted a lot of talk including Lot 73, from Breckon Farms, a Captaintreacherous colt out of the multiple Group 1-winning Bettor Twist. Anther buzz yearling is Lot 106, the second foal and first colt by Next Gen sire Face Time Bourbon in Australasia. Face Time Bourbon won 35 races and over $7m in stakes. This is the first time his progeny have been offered for sale at the Yearling Sales. The colt is from Dance Craze (24 wins), a multiple Group 1 winning Muscle Hill daughter of La Coocaracha. Karaka will see 22 Next Gen-eligible yearlings up for sale. Next Gen is HRNZ’s brand new ownership model. To see how Next Gen works click here for the Terms and Conditions A further 48 Next Gen-eligible yearlings will be offered in Christchurch on Tuesday. Coverage of the sales will be live streamed to NZB Standardbred’s website and Facebook page, as well as Freeview Channel 200 in New Zealand. The 2021 sales success story By Rob Courtney Bruce Negus attended the 2021 Standardbred Weanling Sale at Karaka and came home with 14 horses. They included a Sweet Lou – Nicky’s Power filly now known as Misty Blue (pictured above). Last Sunday at Hororata’s race day at Methven, the now 4YO mare scored her second win in 18 starts for the Negus family, driver Sheree Tomlinson and her partner, Canterbury race caller Matt Cross. “Bruce invited us to have a pick of a few in a paddock and she was the one we chose,” Cross shared. Good enough to place in her sole start as a 2YO the win at Methven was not unexpected after a barnstorming finish at Amberley for third a week before and she was a pronounced favourite on the day. She was a cheap enough buy for Negus at $4k and on her most recent form looks now to be quite a bargain. Her earnings so far are just over $27K. Her residual value has also dramatically increased in recent times. She is now a half sister to four winners including Yossi (18 wins and $174k) and the very handy Pinseeker (5 wins to date) who looks like a potential ‘Cup’ horse in the making. From that weanling sale and of the 14 that Negus brought home, seven (50%) have made it to the races so far. Placed with a number of other trainers, Oliver (Colin & Julie DeFilippi), Misty Blue (Ford/Tomlinson) and Munroe’s Mate (Tony Barron) have all won two races to date. Quinn, whom Negus trains himself has also won twice. A Little Silence (Matt Purvis) placed twice in only two starts including a second in the Group 2 2YO Sapling Stakes before being sold to Australia. Ultimatum (Matt Purvis) has been placed three times in a short career to date. Hindsight is a wonderful thing but that 2021 weanling sale resulted in some wonderful progeny. Christopher Dance ($8k purchase) is now a Group 1 winner (Western Australian 3YO Derby) with five wins from only 11 starts and $207k while Kiss ($20k purchase) was a 3YO Breeders Crown winner in Australia last season and has now won six and $183k. Also purchased out of that 2021 Weanling Sale were : Le Major ($30k purchase, five wins and $82k), Leo Lincoln ($27k purchase, four wins and $52k), Ultimate Racy Girl ($15k purchase, two wins and $142k), Mako ($7500 purchase, three wins and $61k) and impressive recent debutante winner Words ($4k purchase). View the full article

On the back of a year which saw Kentucky-breds thriving at the pinnacle of domestic and international competition, the Kentucky Horse Racing and Gaming Corporation has paid out a record $20-million through its Kentucky Thoroughbred Breeders' Incentive Fund (KTBIF) to participating breeders for races won in 2024, it was announced via press release Friday afternoon. Consistently in elite company at home, Kentucky-breds won 289 of 401 graded races in the U.S. including all three legs of the Triple Crown–all by different horses–and captured 10 Eclipse awards led by Horse of the Year and champion 3-year-old filly Thorpedo Anna (Fast Anna); who also claimed the lilies in the GI Kentucky Oaks. Kentucky-breds have won the Derby 116 times, including the last ten runnings, and have won the last eight editions of the Oaks. On the international front, multiple Group 1 hero, Cartier Horse of the Year City of Troy (Justify) and G1 Dubai World Cup victor Laurel River (Into Mischief) were crowned co-holders of the Longines World's Best Racehorse title. The KTBIF was established to ensure the strength of the Kentucky Thoroughbred industry by awarding breeders funds to the winners of qualifying races. For a foal to be designated a Kentucky-bred, the mare must be bred to a registered Kentucky stallion, remain in the Commonwealth during her full gestation period, and foal in Kentucky. It is funded through a percentage of the sales tax paid when a stallion is bred to a mare in Kentucky. A full list of the 2024 award winners, with amounts totaling $20,019,601.10, is available here. “This is one of our favorite times of year, to see our Kentucky breeders rewarded for continually breeding champions here in Kentucky,” said Drew Conners, KHRGC's director of Incentives and Development. “It is a thrill to watch our Kentucky-bred horses win races here at home and across the globe. We are honored to award a record $20-million to our Kentucky Thoroughbred breeders, who give so much to the The post Record Sum Awarded to Kentucky Breeders for Races Won in 2024 appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Coolmore will continue their sponsorship of the first German classic of the year, with the Coolmore City Of Troy German Two Thousand Guineas (G2) to be run at Cologne May 18.View the full article

As CEO of the UK Tote Group, Alex Frost may have his hands full with the politics of punting but he remains an avid fan of and participant in racing and breeding. A member of the racecourse committee at Epsom, he and his wife Olivia own Ladyswood Stud in Wiltshire, which is currently home to 12 broodmares, including the odd boarder for family and friends. As much devotees of National Hunt racing as of the Flat, the Frosts also have mares with their friends and co-breeders Harry and Lorna Fowler at Rahinston Stud in Co Meath. “We do lots of to-ing and fro-ing with Rahinston,” Frost says. “The National Hunt mares particularly will go to and from, and then we've got some fairly permanent residents as well. We've got seven to foal this year and we're quite big on Chaldean. He is the one we are particularly keen on.” In what is not an uncommon theme at the moment, particularly from smaller breeders, Frost admits that he continues to take a serious look at the business of breeding, though it is plain to hear in his comments on the mares that this is as much a passion project as a commercial one. “I think everyone's looking at their cost base going up by 50 per cent or so – that's roughly what our cost base has done, and I must say, we've found it difficult. It quickly goes from enjoyment and a hobby to, 'Jesus, this is actually really quite tough.' But I think we've got to the right place now and Jamie Trotter has been super helpful. “Thankfully we've got absolutely wonderful staff, and it feels like they are part of our family. Without that, we would have had a real wobble, I think. It's definitely a challenge.” Through his role with the Tote, Frost has been heavily involved with the World Pool since its launch by the Hong Kong Jockey Club in 2019. “There's a lot going on, so it's exciting,” he says. “The Hong Kong Jockey Club is working towards adding as many of the IFHA top 100 races to the World Pool as possible, making it an increasingly attractive consumer proposition, all for the benefit of global horse racing.” He also paid tribute to his friend Joe Saumarez Smith, who stepped down as chair of the British Horseracing Authority in January and died from cancer this week at the age of 53. “Joe never drew a salary for his BHA role and only three weeks ago he he was speaking at Westminster in the House of Commons [at the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Racing and Breeding],” he says. “What really shone through with him is that he was incredibly bright and just a very decent person.” Below, Frost talks us through the plans for the Ladyswood Stud mares this season. Queen of Time, by Harbour Watch (Ire) ex Black Belt Shopper (Ire) (Desert Prince {Ire}) “We had her in training and she was just perfect for our crowd [the First Of Many syndicate] in that she ran in 18 stakes races and was placed in, I think, six or seven. She never won a Group race, but she picked up a fair amount of black type along the way. She was very talented, slightly found out at the very top level, but just great fun. And we think she's clearly passing it on to her offspring. “She had a St Mark's Basilica (Fr) foal last year who was sold for 75,000gns. She's in foal to Chaldean (GB) and will be quite late to foal this year, but we'll try and sneak in to something decent. We want to keep her at a good level. She's one of those where you just need to keep backing yourself.” The consistent Queen Of Time wins at Goodwood | Racingfotos Empress Consort (GB), by Dubawi (Ire) ex Placidia (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) “She's a sister to a horse who did very well in the Middle East for Godolphin, called Soft Whisper [winner of the UAE 1,000 Guineas and a treble Listed winner in the UK]. She had a very nice Blue Point (Ire) filly we sold last year for 150,000gns and now she's in foal to Chaldean and is also due to foal late. She's a bit of a star.” Plutonic (Ire), by Wootton Bassett (GB) ex Lorelei Rock (Ire) (Camacho {GB}) “She was with Harry Charlton and she is a winner but she got injured twice in training. She was one of those ones that really frustrated us but she goes to Gleneagles (Ire). I love Gleneagles and he had a great year last year with Calandagan (Ire), Ambiente Friendly (Ire), Flying Scotsman (Ire) and Mill Stream (Ire) but he's still a bit under the radar.” High Spirited (Ire), by Belardo (Ire) ex Spirited Charm (Ire) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}) “My dad [Tom] has High Spirited, who won the [Listed] Upavon Fillies' Stakes last year. She retires to Ladyswood this year and she comes from the family of Ghaiyyath that's really coming up. So she's very exciting, and we're going to Wootton Bassett with her. That's our big bet of the year.” Spring Fling, by Assertive (GB) ex Twilight Mistress (GB) (Bin Ajwaad {Ire}), a half-sister to dual Group 1-winning sprinter Twilight Son (GB) “We absolutely love Spring Fling. She lost her Shaquille (GB) foal this year, but she had a nice Sioux Nation filly, who we sold at the foal sale, and she will be going to Henry Longfellow (Ire). I must say, I've had such a good experience with Dubawi. I just think they try and they're honest horses.” Essence (GB), by Le Havre (Ire) ex Entity (GB) (Shamardal) “We've got a really nice Ghaiyyath yearling from Essence who I think we might keep to race. She's in foal to Shaquille and we haven't booked her in yet, but Nathaniel (Ire) is up next this year.” Manisanda (GB), by Presenting (GB) ex Ruby Royale (GB) (King's Theatre {Ire}) “She's absolutely the kids' favourite and she's gorgeous. She is in foal to Logician (GB) for the first time and I think she'll probably go back to him. She's owned by Pete Davies, who is very keen to support UK stallions. He has some lovely horses in training – Djelo (Fr) is his big one at the moment with Venetia Williams.” Gambling Girl (Ire), by Hawk Wing ex Gambling Spirit (GB) (Mister Baileys {GB}) “Our favourite is Gambling Girl and she's got a lovely Karaktar (Fr) yearling on the ground and is in foal to Cracksman (GB). She'll be going to Golden Horn (GB) this year. I love Golden Horn and we've got a nice filly by him in training with Claire and Dan Kubler called Royale Goodnight (Ger). “[Gambling Girl's five-time-winning daughter] Queens Gamble will be going for the [Grade 1] Mares' Hurdle at Cheltenham. We'll roll the dice, but I think spring ground for her is pretty crucial.” Malaya (Fr), by Martaline (GB) ex Clarte d'Or (Fr) (Kender {Fr}) “Johnny de la Hey is a lovely man and is very excited about his mare Malaya [winner of the G3 Imperial Cup]. She's got a very nice Walk In The Park (Ire) yearling filly on the ground at the moment and he's been mad keen to use all English stallions so there's a Ulysses (Ire) and Golden Horn coming through, all of which will go into training with Paul Nicholls, I imagine. She was rested this year, but goes to Jeu St Eloi (Fr) at Glenview Stud, so he is going to use an Irish stallion for the first time.” The post ‘That’s Our Big Bet Of The Year’: Tote Boss Alex Frost Talks Ladyswood Stud Mating Plans appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Yoshito Yahagi has nominated Hong Kong star Romantic Warrior (Ire) (Acclamation {GB}) as the biggest danger to his Forever Young (Jpn) (Real Steel {Jpn}) in the $20 million Saudi Cup next Saturday. The Japanese native is one of the most successful trainers at the Saudi Cup meeting with four wins on the board including a Saudi Cup strike with Panthalassa (Jpn) in 2023, while Forever Young returns as the 2024 Saudi Derby champion. The four-year-old last year went on to post agonisingly narrow defeats in the Kentucky Derby and the Breeders' Cup Classic and will come up against dirt debutant and ten-times Group 1 winner, Romantic Warrior on his Riyadh return. “Romantic Warrior should be the biggest danger, but he is not the only rival to us,” said Yahagi. Forever Young touched down into Saudi Arabia overnight on Thursday along with his stablemates Shin Emperor (Fr) and Mistress (Jpn), who will head for the newly upgraded Group 2 $2m Howden Neom Turf Cup and the Group 3 $1.5m Saudi Derby presented by ZOOD Realty respectively. Yahagi commented, “All the three horses had nice gallops for the final preparation before they left for Riyadh and I am very satisfied with how healthy they are at the moment.” And the man who has broken new ground for Japan with wins in Australia's Cox Plate, the Breeders' Cup and multiple hits in both Saudi Arabia and Dubai, added, “Of course my goal is to win all three races.” The post Yahagi Says Romantic Warrior “The Biggest Danger” To Forever Young In Saudi Cup appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

The National HBPA has sent correspondence to Florida horsemen and racing fans urging them to send a letter to Florida senators to vote no on decoupling. In it, the organization urges readers to flood the Senate, and the Florida State Senator representing their address' district, with a prepared letter explaining the grave danger HB 105–and its virtual twin Senate Bill 408–poses to a key state industry. While the Senate measure has a separate number bill from the House, the objective is reportedly the same–allow racetracks to keep their gaming licenses and/or card clubs without the current restriction of conducting live racing. The latter is also in the passage pipeline having been referred to the Senate's Appropriations Committee on Agriculture, Environment, and General Government Rules. Florida residents with a seasonal or a business-related address may use this link to send the letter. Those without a Florida address may still help by signing this petition to the Florida lawmakers. The NHBPA urges fans and Florida residents to share this Senate letter link with anyone currently in Florida with an interest in Thoroughbred racing, not just industry participants. The post NHBPA Issues New Call to Action to Stop Florida Decoupling Measure appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

The Friday action at Doha attracted the attention of racing fans from all over the world after suspended jockey Pierre-Charles Boudot, who hasn't ridden in public since 2021, received the call up to ride the Al Shaqab Racing-owned Al Jori (Fr) in the Purebred Arabian 4yo Cup. Trained by Jean De Mieulle, Al Jori could only manage fourth under Boudot, who came in for the ride at the eleventh hour. He is also set to ride Aziza in the fourth race on the card. The multiple Group 1 and Classic-winning French native had his licence “withdrawn indefinitely” by France Galop in November 2022 after Boudot was indicted on a rape charge in 2021. He is understood to have been riding work as part of the Al Shaqab team in Doha this week. More to follow The post Suspended Boudot Makes Surprise Return To The Saddle In Doha On Friday appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Simply Joking was failed by 17 vets at the Keeneland September Sale, but Geoff Nixon had an inside track into the filly's history. The daughter of Practical Joke had spent some time at his farm, Grantley Acres, as a yearling and Nixon had liked what he saw. Plus, he knew that her half-brother Drum Roll Please (Hard Spun) was showing promise as a 2-year-old. Nixon took a chance and bought the filly from his friends at Ballysax Bloodstock for $65,000. “To the Thoroughbred world it's not a ton of money, but to a lot of us that's a lot of money,” admitted Nixon. “We took a chance with her as a broodmare prospect really, with the hope that maybe we could get her to the racetrack one day.” Simply Joking was sent back to Grantley Acres and given some time to develop. Meanwhile her half-brother scored in the Jerome Stakes. Eventually, she was sent to Travis Durr's training center and, after showing promise there, went on to trainer Whit Beckman. Now, the filly is two for two in a pair of stakes in New Orleans and she'll make her graded stakes debut this weekend in the GII Rachel Alexandra Stakes at Fair Grounds. At 4-1 morning-line odds, she'll be the third choice behind highly touted Good Cheer (Medaglia d'Oro) and Ballerina d'Oro (Medaglia d'Oro). “It's deeper water, but she's shown that she can come to these waters and tackle this company,” said Nixon. “It looks like some rain is in the forecast, but she ran in the slop last out and it's home turf for her, so we feel very confident. The jockey [Jaime Torres] is great. He works her every weekend. She has a lot of momentum going into this race and that's what you need when you get to these big races.” Nixon might start getting used to watching these promising fillies sport the Grantley Acres silks on important race days. Last weekend, he went to Tampa Bay to watch Grantley Acres homebred Her Laugh (Practical Joke) run second in the Suncoast Stakes. Her Laugh shares a similar story to Simply Joking in that she was never going to reach her full potential at the sales due to some X-ray issues. Nixon had bought the filly's dam Truth Goddess (Point of Entry) as a yearling for $30,000 and raced her to a maiden win at Keeneland in 2018. Her Laugh was the mare's first foal, so he wasn't willing to part with her for less than what he believed her to be worth. The filly joined the Grantley Acres racing stable. A winner in her first two starts for Beckman including the Untapable Stakes, Her Laugh missed the break and trailed three lengths behind the field in the Suncoast, but she came flying late with Irad Ortiz Jr. aboard to get up for second. “Irad said when they went around the turn, she kicked into a whole new gear and did all that by herself,” reported Nixon. “He saw an opening and guided her through it, never got the whip out, and she just took off and obviously was never going to catch the winner, but she made a huge effort.” With two fillies on the Kentucky Oaks trail, Nixon can hardly believe their stable's good fortune. But he is quick to credit the team behind the two fillies including Travis Durr and Whit Beckman, who he has supported since the former Todd Pletcher and Chad Brown assistant went out on his own. Her Laugh wins the Untapable Stakes | Hodges Photography “In this business it's the highest of highs and the lowest of lows, but at the end of the day it's awesome people and really it's a team effort,” he noted. “It takes a village. I can't do it all by myself.” Nixon, who is based in Texas and owns a construction company there, got involved in racing a decade ago. He and his wife Brandi purchased a farm in Midway, Kentucky in 2018 and recently moved their Kentucky base to a new farm in Versailles. Formerly known as Tolo Thoroughbreds, they renamed the operation to Grantley Acres after their two children, Graham and Brantley, and have celebrated success breeding the likes of Grade I winner Queen Goddess (Empire Maker) and graded stakes victor Dennis' Moment (Tiznow). With around 50 broodmares in their program, Nixon said their goal is to produce Saturday horses. Most are bred with the intention of selling, but a few are retained with the same goal of competing at the highest level. “I put a lot of effort into the breeding,” said Nixon. “It's kind of my baby and I go through a program that I have and look at physicals for mares and stallions. I can't just go to the best of the best, so I have to set a budget and fit every mare inside of that.” Nixon was a big fan of Practical Joke from the start of his stallion career, so it's not purely coincidental that both of the Grantley Acres Oaks hopefuls are sired by the Coolmore stallion. Describing the two fillies, Nixon said, “In terms of how you're around some horses and you're like, 'Wow, just the presence and pedigree,' well, that's Simply Joking. Her Laugh doesn't have that same presence about her so people automatically go to the more well-bred filly. So Her Laugh is kind of the underdog.” And Her Laugh maybe has some sentimental partiality as well. “My daughter, who is nine years old, has the most incredible laugh,” shared Nixon. “Once you get her going, you start laughing just because she's laughing. We wanted to name a horse after her laugh somehow and we finally said, 'Why not just 'Her Laugh?'” He continued, “With her being a homebred it is special and we've had many offers on both fillies from respectable outfits. We've respectfully turned them down and said we'll keep the line of communication open, but something in my stomach says keep this going.” Geoff Nixon and Mike Abraham | Fasig-Tipton Simply Joking is owned by Grantley Acres in partnership with Ryan Conner, a friend of Nixon's since high school, and Berkels0813, which is Nixon's mother and stepfather. Nixon has yet to miss either of his star fillies race. This weekend, a slew of supporters including Nixon and his 16-year-old son Graham, Ryan Conner, Nixon's two sisters and his father and stepfather will all be in attendance at Fair Grounds. Nixon is an outspoken advocate of racing and he said if he is able to get even one of his fillies into the Oaks starting gate, he plans to use his platform to help grow the game. “I hope I can help gain excitement by saying, 'Hey, these weren't the perfect fillies' and 'Hey, you don't have to dive in and spend a million dollars,'” said Nixon. “I think that can be used as momentum to help grow the industry and have fun and enjoy the atmosphere. Going to a race is very fun and if you can get in the winner's circle, I mean, that's another level. But seeing the horses in the paddock and just talking with other owners, there's more to it than just winning or losing.” He continued, “We're looking at some ideas to try to bring new owners to the game. I know there are a lot of people out there who are more vocal about it, like the John Stewarts and the Mike Repoles, but I also think there are a lot of smaller people like Grantley Acres out there that also really care about the industry and want it to change and grow for generations to come. As a smaller guy, you feel like you've got to do it slowly and the right way because you don't want to go up against the goliaths of Repole or Stewart and I don't want to go against them, I want to go with them.” After purchasing the dam of Simply Joking privately last fall, Nixon now has the dams of both his Oaks hopefuls at home at Grantley Acres. With both mares expecting foals this year and plenty of road left on the way to the Kentucky Oaks, Nixon and his family have a lot to look forward to in the coming months. “To win a graded stakes race is obviously a dream for any breeder or owner,” he said. “Just to get to the starting gate in the Kentucky Oaks has always been a dream. And so what's better than one? It'll be a special moment to share with my family and my friends and everybody involved. If we get there, we'll have an entourage.” The post What’s Better Than One? Grantley Acres Has Two Fillies on the Oaks Trail appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

2024 Iroquois Stakes (G3) winner Jonathan's Way will scratch from the Feb. 15 Risen Star Stakes (G2) at Fair Grounds, trainer Phil Bauer told racetrack publicist Kevin Kerstein.View the full article

The Road presented by Gainesway and Darby Dan Farm.View the full article

Perry Ouzts has ridden in almost 54,000 races, and has won almost 7,500 of them. And at 70 years old, he's still going strong, making him one of the most enduring jockeys in history. Ouzts appears as the guest in episode three of jockey and veterinarian Dr. Ferrin Peterson's Boundless podcast, highlighting some of racing's stories of resilience and determination. “I started riding in '73,” he tells Peterson. “Me and Pat Day, we both started in '73, and in '74, Chris McCarron and Russell Baze started riding. We all had the bug together, so it was a good year for bug riders.” Asked if he had ever planned for another career-or if he was planning for a post-riding career now, Ouzts said, “I never really thought about anything else since I graduated from high school. I still get that same thrill after 50-something years. I get that same thrill when I cross the finish line. I think I've surpassed all the goals I ever set. Ever. I thought once I started riding, if I could get 20 years, it would be a good career. Then 20 years came and went, and I said, `well, maybe you can get 30 years.' That would be great. That came and went and I said, `I'm going to try for 40.' And then that came and went,” said, laughing. “Now I'm past 50 and still going. And all these years, it's never gotten old.” The video podcast is available on YouTube by clicking here, with the audio podcast available on Spotify, here; and Apple Podcasts, here. The post Perry Ouzts, the Blue-Collar Jockey, In Episode Three of Boundless Podcast appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Following on from the eye-catching performance of Audubon Park (Fr) (Dubawi {Ire}) at Chantilly on Friday, the Yeguada Centurion homebred Tito Mo Cen (Ire) (Uncle Mo–Raven's Lady {GB}, by Raven's Pass) delivered the ultimate display of one-upmanship as he stormed to TDN Rising Star status in the colts' division. Dominating from the front throughout the 9 1/2-furlong Prix de la Grange de Commelles staged on the Polytrack, the Victoria Head-trained half-brother to the luminary Ramatuelle (Justify) really turned it on from two out and opened up to hit the line almost 1 1/2 seconds faster than the impressive filly who had earlier lit up the card. At the line, the 13-10 favourite had seven lengths to spare over Amilcare (Fr) (Wooded {Fr}), with another 2 1/2 lengths back to Salam Dubawi (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) in third to provide his recently-deceased and much-missed sire supreme with a 12th TDN Rising Star and first in Europe. Tito Mo Cen, who was steered to success by Stephane Pasquier, is the second foal out of the G2 Goldene Peitsche and G3 Summer Stakes winner Raven's Lady (GB) (Raven's Pass), with the first being the aforementioned Ramatuelle who boasts the G1 Prix de la Foret and G2 Prix Robert Papin on her resume as well as a third-place finish in the G1 1,000 Guineas and who was sold to M V Magnier for $5.1million at the Fasig-Tipton Kentucky November Sale. Raven's Lady's unraced dam Pivotal Lady (GB) (Pivotal {GB}) is a half-sister to the G1 Prix d'Ispahan winner Best Of The Bests (Ire) (Machiavellian) out of the G3 Fred Darling Stakes winner Sueboog (Ire) (Darshaan {GB}), with the fourth dam being the high-class producer Nordica (Ire) (Northfields). Raven's Lady's 2-year-old colt Mr Lope Cen (Ire) is by Lope De Vega (Ire). Wow! A half-brother to Ramatuelle, Tito Mo Cen (Uncle Mo x Raven's Lady) dazzles for Stephane Pasquier and Victoria Head at @fgchantilly… pic.twitter.com/RATfX0iDxb — At The Races (@AtTheRaces) February 14, 2025 4th-Chantilly, €27,000, Debutantes, 2-14, 3yo, c/g, 9 1/2f (AWT), 1:57.05, st. TITO MO CEN (IRE), c, 3, by Uncle Mo 1st Dam: Raven's Lady (GB) (GSW-Eng & Ger, $238,499), by Raven's Pass 2nd Dam: Pivotal Lady (GB), by Pivotal (GB) 3rd Dam: Sueboog (Ire), by Darshaan (GB) Lifetime Record: 1-1-0-0, €13,500. O/B- Yeguada Centurion SLU (IRE); T-Victoria Head. Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. The post Uncle Mo Half To Ramatuelle A New TDN Rising Star For Yeguada Centurion appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

In this continuing series, TDN's Senior Racing Editor Steve Sherack catches up with the connections of promising maidens to keep on your radar. Gearing up for a potential debut run at Saratoga last summer, She's a Gemma (f, 3, Nyquist–Florida Fabulous, by High Cotton) posted seven workouts for Hall of Famer Bill Mott at Belmont Park in the spring. “When she got to Belmont, (Mott) told us–and you don't get a whole lot out of him–that she was one of the nicest 2-year-olds in his barn there,” said CJ Johnsen, who campaigns She's a Gemma in partnership with 14 buddies under his CJ Thoroughbreds banner. “I remember another conversation where he said, 'Man, she's outworking everything I'm throwing at her.'” Just a couple of weeks later, however, Mott was forced to hit the brakes when She's a Gemma came up a “little ouchy” after working four furlongs in late June. A subsequent X-ray revealed a non-displaced chip in her ankle. “We did the surgery at (Cornell) Ruffian (Equine Specialists) right there at Belmont and sent her to Fair Hill to rehab,” Johnsen said. “She got back to Bill's (Payson) barn in the middle of November and picked up where she left off. It was all good news from there.” Good news, indeed. Off at odds of 6-1 in her 6 1/2-furlong unveiling on the Sam F. Davis Stakes undercard last Saturday, She's a Gemma was off to a slow beginning after getting slammed into by a neighboring rival at the start. Up against it in seventh through fractions of :22.25 and :45.34 over a Tampa Bay Downs surface playing very kindly to speed, the $175,000 Keeneland September graduate began to make her move on the far turn and was in with a big chance as they straightened for home. She continued to kick powerfully in the stretch and came up just a head short of the Shug McGaughey-trained firster Cassiar (City of Light) while finishing up in a field-best :30.12. Both Cassiar and She's a Gemma received matching 82 Beyer Speed Figures. CASSIAR ($27.60) gets her nose down on time to take the 3rd at @TampaBayDownsFL. Shug McGaughey trains the debuting daughter of City Of Light (@LanesEndFarms). @JOCKEYSMARIN was up! Play the next: https://t.co/uED0jFYMFd pic.twitter.com/OFyTkL8pGZ — FanDuel Racing (@FanDuel_Racing) February 8, 2025 “We've always been high on her and were very excited for that debut,” Johnsen said. “With the slower start, that didn't help, and from what I saw that day, everything was front running and winning. The fact that she was able to make up seven or eight lengths shows us a lot.” Bred in Kentucky by Eden Farm, the daughter of leading sire Nyquist was produced by 'TDN Rising Star' Florida Fabulous, a flashy, front-running winner in her first two career starts for e Five Racing Thoroughbreds and David Fawkes at Gulfstream Park back in 2017. The well-related Florida-bred is a half-sister to former E. Paul Robsham Stables standouts GSW & GISP Discreet Dancer (Discreet Cat); GSW Travelin Man (Trippi); and SW & GSP Sweet N Discreet (Discreet Cat), the dam of MGSW & GISP Sweet Melania (American Pharoah) and the stakes-winning 'Rising Star' Sweet Rebecca (American Pharoah). This is also the extended female family of Broodmare of the Year Weekend Surprise, dam of the legendary A.P. Indy and Summer Squall. “She didn't have the typical huge price tag for a Nyquist,” Johnsen said. “But (bloodstock agent) Marette Farrell helps us pick out our horses and she's very good at finding value. We've done very well in that range.” Johnsen concluded, “I think we're gonna have some fun with her. She came out OK, and everything is good. Bill's confident that she'll be two turns. Whatever he wants to do, we trust him with her.” The 'Second Chances' Honor Roll is headed by Horse of the Year Cody's Wish (Curlin), fellow two-time Breeders' Cup winner Golden Pal (Uncle Mo) and GISWs A Mo Reay (Uncle Mo), Honor A. P. (Honor Code), Locked (Gun Runner), Paradise Woods (Union Rags) and Speaker's Corner (Street Sense). Colloquial (Vekoma), profiled in these same pages Dec. 14, followed up with a 'TDN Rising Star' performance for trainer George Weaver at the Big A Feb. 7, good for a crop-leading 106 Beyer Speed Figure. The post Second Chances: She’s a Gemma — ‘We’ve Always Been High on Her and Were Very Excited for That Debut’ appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Coolmore are to continue its sponsorship of the first German Classic of the year, the Group 2 Coolmore City of Troy German 2,000 Guineas, which will be run at Cologne on Sunday May 18. “German breeders have been terrific supporters of Coolmore over the years and we have been long-time race sponsors in the country. We are thrilled to be sponsoring the Group 2 Coolmore City Of Troy German 2000 Guineas again.” said Coolmore's Joe Hernon. City of Troy, whose name will be carried on this year's race, was rated European Champion two-year-old of 2023 and World Champion Racehorse of 2024. The best son of Justify, he is out of the Group 1-winning juvenile Together Forever, herself an own-sister to Epsom Oaks heroine Forever Together. Philipp Hein, General Manager of the Cologne Racing Club, commented, “It is once again a great honour for the Cologne Racing Club to have a partnership with the world-famous Coolmore Stud in order to continue to strengthen the German 2000 Guineas nationally and internationally. We would like to thank all supporters who were active in the implementation and are looking forward to a highlight in the Cologne racing calendar.” The post Coolmore To Continue Sponsorship Of German 2,000 Guineas appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

There was something to warm the hearts of Flat lovers at Chantilly on Friday as Craig Bernick's newcomer Audubon Park (Fr) (Dubawi {Ire}–Right Hand {GB}, by Lope De Vega {Ire}) became one of the late winter's notebook performers with an impressive debut display. From the well-stocked Francis-Henri Graffard stable with all its high-class yardsticks, the blueblood bred by a partnership at Ecurie des Monceaux was the talk of the town heading to post for the 9 1/2-furlong Prix du Chateau de la Reine Blanche for unraced 3-year-old fillies on the Polytrack and did not disappoint. Tucked under cover more than halfway down the field throughout the early stages by six-pound claimer Luca Carboni, the €390,000 Arqana August purchase was angled off the fence at the top of the straight and eased to the front approaching the furlong pole to assume total command. At the line, the 7-5 favourite had four lengths to spare over Aura (Fr) (Belardo {Ire}) without being asked a serious question to suggest a bright future. Prix du Château de la Reine Blanche @fgchantilly Chantilly – Inédites – Pouliches – 3 ans – 1900m – 10 Pts – 27 000 € Audubon Park (f) (Fr) Luca Carboni (Dubawi (Ire) @DarleyEurope – Right Hand (Gb) par Lope De Vega (Ire)) Francis-Henri… pic.twitter.com/ZJYV5nDIZ8 — French and International Horse Racing (@Vincenzo0612) February 14, 2025 The winner is the first foal out of a Wertheimer blueblood who is a daughter of the G2 Prix de Royallieu scorer Balladeuse (Fr) (Singspiel {Ire}). She is responsible for last year's G2 Prix de Pomone winner Aventure (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}), who was runner-up in the Arc and G1 Prix Vermeille, the Vermeille heroine and G1 Prix de Diane runner-up Left Hand (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}), the G1 Prix Jean Romanet-placed Romanciere (Ire) (Dansili {GB}) and her listed-winning full-sister Blissie (GB) whose son First Look (Ire) (Lope De Vega {Ire}) was second in last season's G1 Prix du Jockey Club. Balladeuse is also kin to the G1 Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud heroine Plumania (GB) (Anabaa), who was also third in the Diane and produced four black-type performers headed by the G2 Prix du Muguet winner Plumatic (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) and is also the second dam of the G1 Prix Saint-Alary-placed Solsticia (Ire) (Le Havre {Ire}). Another listed-placed half-sibling is Dansili's Dancequest (Ire), in turn the dam of the dual G1 Prix Royal Oak hero Double Major (Ire) (Daiwa Major {Jpn}), while this is also the family of Groom Dancer, Pivotal's G1 Poule d'Essai des Poulains-winning sire Falco, the dual G1 Takamatsunomiya Kinen-winning Japanese champion sprinter and miler Kinshasa No Kiseki (Aus) (Fuji Kiseki {Jpn}) and the trio of Australian group 1 winners Nettoyer (Aus) (Sebring {Aus}), Absolutely (Aus) (Redoute's Choice {Aus}) and Abbey Marie (Aus) (Redoute's Choice {Aus}). Right Hand's 2-year-old daughter of Siyouni (Fr) named Yimmna (Fr) was a €650,000 acquisition by The Thoroughbred Racing Corporation Limited at last term's Arqana Deauville August, while she also has a yearling filly by Wootton Bassett (GB). Sales history: €390,000 Ylg '23 ARQAUG. Lifetime Record: 1-1-0-0, €13,500. O-Craig Bernick; B-Ecurie des Monceaux, Langlais Bloodstock, Noir 2nd-Chantilly, €27,000, Debutantes, 2-14, 3yo, f, 9 1/2f (AWT), 1:58.46, st. AUDUBON PARK (FR) (f, 3, Dubawi {Ire}–Right Hand {GB}, by Lope De Vega {Ire}) Lifetime Record: 1-1-0-0, €13,500. O-Craig Bernick; B-Ecurie des Monceaux, Langlais Bloodstock, Noir Et Or Elevage SA & C Hirst (FR); T-Francis-Henri Graffard. The post Craig Bernick’s Daughter Of Dubawi Audubon Park Lights Up Chantilly appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

By Michael Guerin New Zealand harness racing’s newly-crowned owner of the year Dean Shannon liked what he saw at Alexandra Park on Friday night. In fact, Shannon has been liking lots of things he has seen in New Zealand harness racing over the last six months. Shannon is these days best known as the boss of Entain Australia, which runs the TAB, but way before that he was Mr Montana, a consistently successful owner and big investor in bloodstock here. He got to enjoy that thrill again with his latest good horse when Greased Lightnin made it three wins on end in the opener at Alexandra Park on Friday night, looking like a horse who could give Shannon at least a shot at a third straight Northern Derby. The Queenslander has won the last two with Merlin and Cold Chisel and while they were both more advanced as two-year-olds than Greased Lightnin, he is catching up quick now he has turned three. The son of Vincent, purchased by Shannon at the NZB Standardbred Weanling Sale, came off stablemate Invisible’s back to beat him, rating 1:53.5 for the 1700m. That is a serious time for an early season three-year-old and while the very big shadow of Marketplace hangs over the Derby market and entire three-year-old crop Shannon is set to have some fun with his latest musically-named star. The win came less than a week after Shannon’s pride and joy Merlin was named NZ Pacer of the Year at the national awards and Shannon himself won Owner of the Year. Even for the now most powerful man in New Zealand racing that was a humbling experience. “I didn’t expect to win and I couldn’t wait to tell my wife,” says Shannon. “I remember when I first started following the trots and punting and I was in awe of how good the New Zealand horses were. “To own some of those horses now and to win that award, it was very special.” Shannon’s belief in New Zealand harness racing is being rewarded by some of those other things he has liked seeing this summer. “I think New Zealand harness racing would be one of the few jurisdictions in the world experiencing growth,” he offers. “We have good leadership at Harness Racing New Zealand with Brad Steele and some important changes have been made. “The two-year-old bonus system is already working and getting horses into circulation earlier but also getting owners returns quicker so that has been very encouraging. “And we see initiatives like Next Gen kicking into gear with the sales this week so it really is a positive time for harness racing. “And it isn’t finished yet, we still have other things we can roll out.” Shannon says that positivity spilled over to the Karaka sales ground on Friday where he joined other potential buyers doing inspections. “The vendors were all telling us they has been consistently busy so that is a really good sign.” So is the new Owner of the Year, who estimates he has around 14 horses in New Zealand, most of which he owns outright, keen to go again? “I will be trying,” he says of Saturday’s first day of the NZB Standardbred sale. “I have seen some lovely colts but I am sure some other people will be on them as well. “And I have seen a yearling or two I want to buy to use for the Next Gen scheme. So we will see how we go.” Greased Lighnin’s older half-sister also won at Alexandra Park on Friday night with Ultimate Racy Girl super impressive after sitting parked for in-form junior driver Harrison Orange. One of the other stars of the night was Matthew White, who trained two winners with Lord Popinjay and Spirit Of Waiheke while he also drove In The Summertime to win for trainer Tate Hopkins. View the full article

Ryan Moore has partnered with World Pool, the globe's largest horse racing pool, for the 2025 season. Stable jockey to Aidan O'Brien, the 41-year-old has ridden Group 1 winners all over the world and will be riding at many of the major World Pool meetings this year. In his role as an ambassador, Moore will provide regular blogs and insight ahead of key World Pool race days, as well as being featured in advertising and marketing campaigns. World Pool ambassador Moore said, “World Pool has been such an important addition to the entire racing industry over the past few years and I'm delighted to be an ambassador for the brand. “The Hong Kong Jockey Club should be congratulated for all the effort and investment they've put into it. I've always said that Hong Kong is the blueprint for the way horseracing should be run, and World Pool is helping to amplify the very best racing on a global stage. It's great that racing fans from around the world get the chance to bet into these large pools. “It's important that the racing world starts to work together, and to have everyone pulling in the same direction. If we're speaking with one voice and trying to achieve the same goals it will really help the whole sport to prosper. World Pool plays a big part in that, and I look forward to being part of that journey.” The post Ryan Moore Becomes World Pool Ambassador For 2025 Season appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Group One winner El Vencedor. Photo: Kenton Wright (Race Images) In-form gelding El Vencedor will get his chance to test his talent in one of the most competitive racing jurisdictions in the world when he heads to Hong Kong in April to contest the Group 1 QEII Cup (2000m) at Sha Tin. Following the six-year-old gelding’s impressive run of form, culminating in victory in last Saturday’s Group 1 Herbie Dyke Stakes (2000m) at Te Rapa, trainer Stephen Marsh received an invitation from the Hong Kong Jockey Club, and he and owner-breeders Mark Freeman and David Price jumped at the opportunity. “We received an email from Hong Kong (Jockey Club) who asked if we would potentially be interested and we said ‘if we’re invited we would certainly be interested’, so they said ‘here’s your invite’,” Marsh said. “It will be a great trip and he looks like the right sort of horse to do it. He will cop the travel and it will be a great experience.” While racing in Asia is nothing new to Marsh, with his father Bruce having trained in Singapore, the Cambridge horseman has never been to Hong Kong and he is excited about the opportunity. “I have never been to Hong Kong, but I am looking forward to it,” Marsh said. “It will all be pretty straight forward. They (Hong Kong Jockey Club) look after you well and I will do a lot of homework on it before I go.” While the Queen Elizabeth is a welcome addition to El Vencedor’s preparation, Marsh said it won’t change his immediate targets back at home. “He runs next Saturday at Ellerslie in the Otaki mile (Group 1, 1600m) and then he will go to the Bonecrusher (Group 1, 2000m), and then six weeks into the QE II Cup,” Marsh said. “We will work out when flights are and how long he will be up there for and what we will do with him beforehand, but nothing is going to change between now and the Bonecrusher.” Marsh said both Freeman and Price are over the moon to get the opportunity to compete in Hong Kong with El Vencedor, who is giving the pair the ride of a lifetime. “They are thrilled,” Marsh said. “It is a once in a lifetime experience and this is what racing is all about.” Horse racing news View the full article

Dragon Joy (outside) is a two-time Sha Tin winner. Ricky Yiu is hopeful Dragon Joy can take a crucial step towards emulating the feats of decorated stablemate Voyage Bubble when the emerging talent contests the Class 3 Rose Handicap (1600m) at Sha Tin on Sunday against several other HK$26 million Hong Kong Derby (2000m) aspirants. Yiu has ambitious plans for Dragon Joy after the gelding’s eye-catching last-start 1600m victory at Sha Tin on January 12 against a string of Four-Year-Old Classic Series contenders including Markwin, Sky Heart, Silvery Breeze and Mickley. Rated 70, the son of Saxon Warrior again clashes with a host of Hong Kong Derby nominees in Sunday’s finale including Allcash, Bundle Award, Embraces, Sky Heart, Morgan Success, Beauty Viva, Spanish Flame, Everyone’s Star, Another World and Winning Wing. To be partnered by Matthew Poon, Dragon Joy will again have to overcome barrier 14 and carrying 127lb – an increase of 12lb from his previous start. “He’s a lightly-raced, up-and-coming young horse. He won well last start from a wide barrier and he’ll keep improving. Hopefully we can do the same thing. The jockey knows him well. I strongly believe that he will perform again. I’m still optimistic he can beat them again,” Yiu said. “He’s a horse who tries very hard. He always shows his best in the morning and in the races. I like him very much. He’s a pure racehorse.” Yiu hopes Dragon Joy can press for a start in the HK$13 million Hong Kong Classic Cup (1800m) at Sha Tin on March 2 after two wins and a luckless third from his past three starts. Yiu famously enjoyed Four-Year-Old Classic Series success in 2023 with Voyage Bubble’s Hong Kong Classic Mile (1600m) and Hong Kong Derby triumphs and is confident his stable spearhead is on course for the HK$13 million Group 1 Hong Kong Gold Cup (2000m) at Sha Tin on February 23. Having already won the first leg of the Triple Crown Series with victory in the Group 1 Stewards’ Cup (1600m) on January 19, Voyage Bubble will bid for a fourth Group 1 success after finishing third in a 1200m trial on the dirt at Sha Tin on Thursday behind Helios Express. “He jumped ordinary and the jockey (Poon) commented that he really didn’t like the kick back. It was only a small field and he was about four lengths behind the leader and from the top of the straight, he pulled him out and asked him to go forward and he accelerated. Without the kickback, he enjoyed it. It was a good trial,” Yiu said. David Eustace will unveil Hong Kong first-starter Colourful King in the Class 3 Osmanthus Handicap (1000m) under Andrea Atzeni after patiently guiding the Australian import through his acclimatisation. “We took our time and he has his little quirks but, from a training and trackwork point of view, he’s been relatively straight forward,” Eustace said of the two-time winner at Sandown in Australia for Mathew Ellerton. “He trialled in a straight line well in Conghua and the race has been targeted for a little while. He doesn’t work really flashy on the dirt – he just does enough – but he’s definitely a different horse on the grass. He’s sort of ticked all the boxes.” By Blue Point, Colourful King has won two trials at Sha Tin since transferring from Conghua. Ka Ying Rising limbered up for the HK$13 million Group 1 Queen’s Silver Jubilee Cup (1400m) at Sha Tin on February 23 with an effortless trial win over 1200m at Conghua on Friday morning under Karis Teetan. “I don’t know about the opposition, but he was very good this morning and he actually sat in behind them before winning easily,” Hayes said. “Karis was very happy. Physically, Ka Ying Rising’s in peak shape and he’s tapering into the big race now. “He’ll return to Sha Tin tomorrow, do some swimming and he’ll do a bit of work in the middle of the week and then be ready for the races.” With a record-breaking victory in the Group 1 Centenary Sprint Cup (1200m) on January 19, when he broke his own track record by clocking 1m 07.20s, Ka Ying Rising took his unbeaten streak to nine races and secured the first leg of the Hong Kong Speed Series. In today’s hit-out, Ka Ying Rising settled third behind Regal Gem and Absolute Honour before peeling out in the straight and forging away to win by two and three-quarter lengths in 1m 11.38s. Sunday’s 11-race card at Sha Tin starts with the Class 5 Camellia Handicap (1600m) at 12.30pm HKT. Horse racing news View the full article

What Alice Springs Races Where Pioneer Park Racecourse – Stuart Highway, Connellan, NT, 0870 When Saturday, February 15, 2025 First Race 2:01pm ACST Visit Dabble It will be a lot cooler in the Red Centre on Saturday with 44 runners lining up for the Alice Springs Turf Club’s six-event program. The past two meetings have started in the morning because of oppressive conditions, but it will be a normal afternoon kick-off this weekend. After showers on Thursday, further light rain is tipped for Friday with partly cloudy conditions and a top temperature of 29C on Saturday. It will be a good dirt surface and the rail will be in the true position. Best Bet at Alice Springs: Hellivit Hellivit enjoys sitting on the speed, but his hopes will hinge on whether he can settle on the fence. On January 5 and February 2, the five-year-old gelding held sway out in front on the rails before winning comfortably over 1100m at 0-58 and 0-64 level. The son of Hellbent was forced deep over 1000m in 0-58 and BM54 grade on December 21 and January 18 before finishing a narrow fourth each time. Hellivit will carry an extra 2kg, but he has another good gate, and his last start win was full of merit. Best Bet Race 4 – #1 Hellivit (2) 5yo Gelding | T: Kerry Petrick | J: Paul Denton (60kg) Next Best at Alice Springs: Cavendish Cavendish is backing up after taking out last Saturday’s 1400m maiden in his first NT appearance. Forced three deep when competing for the early lead, the three-year-old gelding was well clear at the 1000m and from that point it was one-way traffic. The son of Capitalist was challenged briefly before kicking clear at the 400m to win by 3.8 lengths. Cavendish is eyeing the NT Guineas next month and drops 3kg on Saturday. Next Best Race 5 – #2 Cavendish (3) 3yo Gelding | T: Dick Leech | J: Hannah Le Blanc (a2) (56.5kg) Best Value at Alice Springs: Governor Governor must be considered despite a last start seventh over 1100m in 0-64 grade two weeks ago. On January 5, the six-year-old gelding was tailed off after missing the start before winding up on the fence to seal a great win over 1100m in 0-58 grade. The son of I Am Invincible blew the start over 1000m and covered plenty of ground before and after that win for two thirds. Governor, who jumped well last start before chewing up a lot of petrol, only has to start well and settle nicely to be a threat. Best Value Race 2 – #4 Governor (7) 6yo Gelding | T: Paul Gardner | J: Raymond Vigar (60kg) Saturday quaddie tips for Alice Springs Alice Springs quadrella selections Saturday, February 15, 2025 1-3-5-6 1-4-5 1-2 1-2-3 | Copy this bet straight to your betslip Horse racing tips View the full article