Wandering Eyes

Stephen Marsh is confident he has a pair of live chances heading into the New Zealand One Thousand Guineas (G1) as he bids to tick another classic off his list of achievements Nov. 16 at Riccarton.View the full article

7th-Churchill Downs, $115,950, Msw, 11-14, 2yo, 5f, :57.91, sy, 2 1/4 lengths DONUT GOD (c, 2, Into Mischief–Sweet Kisses {SP, $116,127}, by Carpe Diem) took plenty of money, dropping down from his 8-1 morning line to break as the 7-5 favorite facing a largely inexperienced field. Ridden for early speed from the middle of the gate, the $400,000 KEESEP grad quickly cleared the group and opened up a clear advantage through fractions of :22.39 and :45.56 over a sloppy Churchill main track. El Prestigio (Practical Joke) made a quarter-pole run at the leader but was ultimately no match as Donut God spurted away inside the furlong pole and came home an easy 2 1/4-length winner. Sweet Kisses, who sold for $700,000 at FKTNOV in 2021 to Aaron and Marie Jones, is a half-sister to GSW/MGISP Shancelot (Shanghai Bobby) and to MGSP One True Kiss (Warrior's Reward). Donut God has a yearling half-brother by Charlatan who brought $170,000 at KEESEP this year and a weanling half-brother by Uncle Mo. Sweet Kisses went to Not This Time for 2025. Sales History: $250,000 Wlg '22 FTKNOV; $400,000 Ylg '23 KEESEP. Lifetime Record: 1-1-0-0, $69,000. Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV. O-Flying Dutchmen Breeding and Racing LLC; B-Aaron & Marie Jones LLC (KY); T-Brian A. Lynch. DONUT GOD dunked on 'em! – @TravisStone #8 Donut God ($4.84) and @luissaezpty dominate in Race 7 at @ChurchillDowns for @BLynchRacing and owner @flyingdutchky. Another winner by @SpendthriftFarm's Into Mischief. pic.twitter.com/h8IcLGRBEq — FanDuel Racing (@FanDuel_Racing) November 14, 2024 The post Into Mischief’s Donut God Too Good In Sloppy Churchill Debut appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Edited Press Release The Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority (HISA) is accepting new applications for experienced industry experts to join HISA's Horsemen's Advisory Group to replace several members whose terms are up at the end of the year. The Advisory Group was formed by HISA in 2022 to provide formal feedback to HISA's executive team and standing committees on the implementation and evolution of its Racetrack Safety Program and Anti-Doping and Medication Control (ADMC) Program. The Advisory Group has been responsible for recommending a number of rule modifications that were ultimately advanced to HISA's Standing Committees and Board of Directors. HISA is inviting all racing participants who wish to be considered for membership in the Advisory Group to email horsemensadvisory@hisaus.org indicating their interest and qualifications by Thursday, Dec. 12, 2024. Applicants who have applied in the past and received an email indicating their application was retained will not need to reapply. The Advisory Group's membership, available in full here, includes trainers, owners, veterinarians, backstretch employees and representatives of racing offices and aftercare initiatives who collectively represent a wide variety of viewpoints across racing. Advisory Group members are expected to join monthly virtual (and occasionally in-person) meetings with HISA leadership to provide feedback on HISA's rules and processes, as well as be available to weigh in on time-sensitive issues affecting horsemen as needed. The post HISA Soliciting Applications For Horsemen’s Advisory Group appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

By Brigette Solomon Local trainer-driver David Butcher lines up three runners in the Thames Country Trotting and Pacing Cups at Cambridge tonight, though he won’t be there himself. “They’re all going well, and I think they’re all capable of finishing in the placings tonight but I’m driving at Addington tonight,” says Butcher, who is engaged to drive the Arna Donnelly-trained Mako in the inaugural running of the Hill Lee and Scott THE VELOCITY three-year-old Pace. In the Thames Pacers Country Cup (7.27pm) Butcher starts Louezyana and Hooray Henry, to be driven by Monika Ranger and Peter Ferguson. The pair both start off a 10 metre handicap with it being Louezyana’s first standing start and first race at Cambridge. The Sweet Lou gelding is a winner of five races with a further five placings from just 20 starts, all of those at Alexandra Park. Although a winner two starts ago over a mile, he has more recently found himself racing in good company and finishing midfield in races won by the likes of Always B Elite, Seaclusion and Jeremiah. “Louezyana stepped ok at trials and I think he’ll get away ok but it’s always a question mark at their first standing start as it’s a bit different on race day compared to the trials,” says Butcher, “I think I’d put Hooray Henry over Louezyana tonight, he’s had the experience from a stand and he’s been racing really well lately.” A consistent campaigner, Hooray Henry hasn’t run worse than fifth placing since July and has won at this course and distance on four occasions. His most recent races at Alexandra Park have been over the mile and have seen him finish just behind the place getters from wide starting draws. “There are a couple of decent horses in the races but being over 2200 metres should make it a bit harder for those back markers,” says Butcher. The stand out horses of the field are Jolimont, who ran an Auckland track record when winning his last start, and the Group 1-winning mare Lady Of The Light. Both start the race off the 30 metre mark. Butcher starts talented three-year-old Pantani in the Thames Trotters Country Cup (8.00pm), with Todd Mitchell engaged to drive. The gelding starts from the unruly position off a 10 metre handicap. He’s currently a $4.20 favourite. “This is a better race for him tonight, he’s been racing some tough, seasoned horses in his last couple of starts,” says Butcher, “I think he’s definitely in with a chance tonight and I expect he’ll be in the top three.” Throughout the winter Pantani showed brilliance, winning three in a row before an electric third placing in a Northern Metro Series Final race where he ran a 56.8 second last half with Butcher weaving between runners to the line. However, he has made mistakes in his last two starts, breaking stride briefly on both occasions. Butcher isn’t overly concerned and knows time and experience will benefit the gelding. “He’s quite a big horse and he came through the grades quite quickly so hasn’t had a heap of race experience,” says Butcher, “he actually got quite a fright in his last race when the horse inside him ran out on him in the straight which resulted in him galloping.” “He’s definitely going to be a better horse in a year’s time.” Racing action gets underway tonight with Race one at 5.16pm. View the full article

By Michael Guerin The only filly in the first running of the $500,000 Hill Lee and Scott THE VELOCITY today (6.36pm) may decide the fate of the best boy in the race. Chase A Dream will start a short priced favourite in the slot race for three-year-old pacers but faces the tricky prospect of starting from one on the second line in the 10-horse field. That could be a good or bad thing depending on how the sole filly in the race Coastal Babe leaves from barrier 1 and the attitude of driver Matty White after that. If Coastal Babe leads and stays in front, getting Chase A Dream to the passing lane or even somewhere he can break free of the market peg shackles, then the favourite should win. Without Cold Chisel there and after his huge last-start win Chase The Dream is the best horse in this race and he left little doubt about his form with a win in the Cup trial last week. Of course with Blair Orange driving he may well get off and be too good anyway but if Coastal Babe leads at least early it will make his life, and the watch for favourite punters, a lot easier. So will the filly, a last-start winner of the Victoria Oaks, want to try the same tactics she did that night? “I think the owners are keen on that idea but ultimately it that will be Matty’s decision,” says trainer Steven Reid. “I have only had her back from Australia for a week but she seems really well so she will be in front at some stage.” Jeremiah looks the most logical and maybe only danger in the early rush with the six and four configuration in what looks a wonderful first edition of the new race. View the full article

About a year before Drayden Van Dyke won the GI Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Sprint aboard Soul of An Angel (Atreides), no one would have thought he was about to win any sort of major race. His career in shambles, he went 5-for-136 in 2023, and he knew it would not be easy to bounce back. But the story changed. It's now about perseverance. Van Dyke is in Florida, getting ready for the Championship Meet at Gulfstream. His mental health has improved dramatically and, most importantly he is winning races again, including a Breeders' Cup race. “It felt amazing winning that race,” he said. “It was relieving, It was great to do it at Del Mar. I only had the one mount but I was able to prove a lot of people wrong. I showed people I still got it. I felt blessed and thankful.” When Van Dyke first came around, he looked like the type that would settle into the California jockey colony and be a major force for years to come. He won 182 races in 2014 and won an Eclipse Award as the sport's leading apprentice. In 2018, he was the leading rider at both the Del Mar summer meet and the Del Mar Bing Crosby meet. On one occasion, he won seven races in one day. “I thought I'd be in the top five, if not the leading rider for while,” he said. “I thought this is my time now. I showed everyone that I could win a meet and that I could win seven races in one day. I was winning countless stakes that summer and winning Grade Is left and right. I had proven to people that I can perform on the big stage in high-pressure situations. I never got flustered. I was always determined. I never thought I could get as low as I did.” Then it all started to slip away. He won just 46 races in 2022, which proceeded an abysmal 2023. “What happened? I really don't have an answer to that,” he said. “It's just so competitive in California and there is a lack of opportunity there. If you're not riding for the right people, it's a struggle for a lot of the guys. I was riding first call, basically, for Baffert. That stopped. Then I lost my agent, Brad Pegram. With those two things happening all at the same time. I just kind of lost my business. I don't blame anybody but myself. I put it all on myself. It could have been my attitude. It could have been a whole lot of different things. I was burnt out more than anything and I wasn't getting the opportunities that I was used to getting. I was depressed and I was trying to figure out that question, how come no one is using me anymore?” He was determined to become a top rider again, which could only happen if he got to a better place when it came grips with his problems, which included the death of his father in 2014. Seth Van Dyke committed suicide. In October of 2023, he walked away, and did not ride for over three months. “It got to the point where I had to step away from the sport,” Van Dyke said. “I needed to get a handle on the things that were bothering me inside. My mind was frazzled. I couldn't think straight. I was always angry and I was not enjoying riding horses anymore. I knew I needed to get away from this for a while and just lead a normal life.” Looking back, he knows how much that sabbatical helped him. He emerged with a new attitude and the type of positive outlook he had not had for years. “I needed to get away and get my mind right and my body right and face my demons,” said the 30-year-old jockey. “I have always been a spiritual person. I grew up as a Christian and my father was very much into the spirituality of God. I really got in tune with my religion while I was away. Follow God's guidelines, how you're supposed to treat people, how you're supposed to live. It keeps you at peace. When you're at peace with yourself you handle your problems way better than if you're not.” The time off worked, but only to the extent that Van Dyke had a better attitude. As for his riding career, he was right back where he started–at the bottom. He began riding again in January at Santa Anita and promptly lost 38 straight races. “I was coming out in the mornings and working hard and still no opportunities came,” he said. “I was scratching my head. What do I need to do to prove myself to these people? I didn't get it. But that's the business of horse racing. When people want to use you, they will use you. If they don't want to use you they won't use you, no matter who you are.” Then the story changed again. Trainer Saffie Joseph, Jr., who dominates in Florida, was using Edgard Zayas as his top rider but was running so many horses that he need a second stable jockey. He knew of Van Dyke, but had never met him. For some reason, though, he kept thinking about him. “I called his agent, Ryan Cosaco, and asked what are you going to do with Drayden?,” Joseph said. “He told me he had no business. I told him in that case, here's a proposal–come to Gulfstream for a month and if it works out, stay. If it doesn't, go back and no one will know that you were gone. I told him that if he had any business at all, don't come.” He came. Van Dyke rode his first Gulfstream race on June 7 and wasted no time showing everyone that he could still ride. He won with five of his first nine mounts. Now riding for other trainers in addition to Joseph, he's had, through Nov. 13, 15 wins at the current Gulfstream meet. That includes a victory aboard Soul of an Angel in the GIII Princess Rooney S. Van Dyke worried that Joseph would choose a more high-profile rider for the Breeders' Cup assignment, but Joseph stood by Van Dyke. “I was just super happy for Saffie and his whole team,” Van Dyke said. “After what he's done for me, riding his first Breeders' Cup winner meant the world to me,” Van Dyke said. “I just wanted to win for him so bad.” Things will get tougher when the New York and Kentucky riders converge on Gulfstream for the Championship Meet, but Van Dyke has no plans to go anywhere. He's put his tumultuous time in California in his past and is happy to be riding and winning races in Florida. “I'm really happy with the way things have gone for me in Florida,” Van Dyke said. “For the time being, California is not on my radar. I'm following my gut and I've come to believe that your gut feeling is when God is talking to you and telling you what you should be doing. My gut tells me to stay in Florida.” The post How Drayden Van Dyke Became the Comeback Kid appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

The Nov. 15 Bahrain International Trophy (G2) has attracted another stellar line-up from across the world and Spirit Dancer's connections believe he has what it takes to become the first dual winner of the race.View the full article

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In this series, the TDN takes a look at notable successes of European-based sires in North America. This column is highlighted by the second victory of Rebel's Romance in the GI Breeders' Cup Turf. Another Turf Title For Rebel's Romance Godolphin's Rebel's Romance (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) delivered his second GI Breeders' Cup Turf in three years at Del Mar for trainer Charlie Appleby on Nov. 2 (video). He also took out the 2022 renewal at Keeneland. A Group/Grade 1 winner in Hong Kong, the UAE, and Germany besides his American heroics, the homebred is out of the stakes-placed Minidress (GB) (Street Cry {Ire}). Besides producing the dual Breeders' Cup winner, Minidress foaled the listed-placed Petticoat (GB) (Cape Cross {Ire}) as her first foal, and her 2020 Frankel (GB) colt Measured Time (GB) won the G1 Jebel Hatta and GI Manhattan Stakes in his career so far. Her latest foal is a yearling full-brother to Rebel's Romance. Second dam Short Skirt (GB) (Diktat {GB}) is a two-time Group 3 winner who was also second in the G1 Yorkshire Oaks and third in the G1 Oaks. Darley stallion Dubawi has sired 45 winners from 88 runners (51%) in America and Canada. His total stakes winners number 24 (27%), with 18 (20%) of those at the graded level. Rebel's Romance is one of 10 Grade I scorers (11%) and five multiple Grade I winners in that jurisdiction. Breeders' Cup Redemption For Starlust Fitriani Hay's Starlust (GB) (Zoustar {Aus}), third in the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint last term, delivered in the GI Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint at Del Mar for trainer Ralph Beckett on Nov. 2 (video). The Branton Court Stud-bred 3-year-old colt was a 55,000gns Book 2 Tattersalls October yearling buy by Dermot Farrington. A winner of the G3 Sirenia Stakes at two, Starlust added a listed event this term prior to his Breeders' Cup heroics. Beyond Desire (GB) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}) did her best work in the G3 Prix de Saint-Georges as a 5-year-old, and Starlust is one of two stakes winners for her, with Queen Of Desire (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) striking in a British listed affair in 2019. Group winners Mazuna (Ire) (Cape Cross {Ire}) and Beautiful Romance (GB) (New Approach {Ire}) are under the third dam, Keswa (Ire) (King's Lake), who placed in a stakes in Italy. Former reverse shuttler Zoustar stood at Tweenhills Farm and Stud for several seasons, and he is responsible for seven winners from 12 runners (58%) in North America. Starlust is one of two stakes winners (17%) there, with the other the multiple stakes winner and GII Eddie D Stakes third King Of Gosford (GB). Double For O'Brien On Breeders' Cup Friday Wootton Bassett (GB)'s Henri Matisse (Ire) capped a strong Friday showing at Del Mar for the Coolmore partners with a neck victory in the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf (video). It was trainer Aidan O'Brien's second BC win on the card, after Lake Victoria (Ire) (Frankel {GB}) in the GI Juvenile Fillies Turf. Racing for Merriebelle Stable, Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith, and Mrs. John Magnier, the two-time Group 2 winner and G1 National Stakes runner-up is a half-brother to dual Group 1 winner Tenebrism (Caravaggio), and G2 Airlie Stud Stakes heroine Statuette (Justify). Immortal Verse (Ire) (Pivotal {GB}) won both the Coronation Stakes and Prix Jacques le Marois at the highest level, with her latest foal a weanling colt by Justify. She was covered by the American Triple Crown winner this spring. Bred by the Immortal Verse Syndicate, Henri Matisse is a grandson of stakes winner and G3 Prix Fille de l'Air second Side Of Paradise (Ire) (Sadler's Wells), while influential runner and sire Last Tycoon (Ire) (Try My Best) is under the third dam. Coolmore's Wootton Bassett's American stats feature 19 winners from 39 runners (49%) lifetime. Eight of those are stakes winners (20%), and of his seven graded winners (18%), three of them are Grade I scorers (8%), with both Audarya (Fr) (F&M Turf) and Unquestionable (Fr) (Juvenile Turf) also Breeders' Cup winners. Frankel Filly Remains Perfect In Juvenile Fillies Turf Already a Group 1 winner in Ireland and England, 'TDN Rising Star' Lake Victoria (Ire) (Frankel {GB}) defended her perfect record with a 1 1/2-length score in the GI John Deere Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf at Del Mar at the beginning of the month (video). Racing for Mrs. John Magnier, Derrick Smith and Michael Tabor, she was the first of two Breeders' Cup winners on the day for Aidan O'Brien. Bred by Coolmore, the daughter of G1 Commonwealth Cup/G1 Sprint Cup victress Quiet Reflection (GB) (Showcasing {GB}) is the fourth foal and second stakes horse for her dam, after G2 Dante Stakes third Bluegrass (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}). Quiet Reflection has a pair of full-brothers to the winner foaled in 2023 and 2024, respectively. Juddmonte's Frankel now has 32 winners (49%) from 65 runners in the U.S. Of his 13 stakes winners (20%), eight are graded winners (12%) and four are Grade I winners (6%). Lake Victoria is his second Breeders' Cup winner after the 2023 victory of Inspiral (GB) in the GI Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf. Mehmas Colt Forces The Issue In Juvenile Turf Sprint Sheikh Abdulla bin Isa Al Khalifa's homebred Magnum Force (Ire) (Mehmas {Ire}) kicked off Breeders' Cup Friday in fine style with a half-length win in the GI Juvenile Turf Sprint (video). Trained by Ger Lyons, the son of Tropical Rock (GB) (Fastnet Rock {Aus}) had placed in the G2 Flying Childers Stakes earlier in the year. Magnum Force is the fourth foal and second winner out of his dam, who won twice as a juvenile over six furlongs for trainer Ralph Beckett. His granddam Tropical Treat (GB) (Bahamian Bounty {GB}) won the Listed Land O'Burns Fillies' Stakes, and farther back in the family is sire and G2 Champagne Stakes hero Sri Pekan (Red Ransom). Magnum Force is his Tally-Ho sire's first Breeders' Cup winner. However, from 28 runners, Mehmas has 16 winners (57%) in North America, with six of them stakes winners (21%). A quintet of those are graded winners, and his other top-level scorers in the U.S. are Going Global (Ire) and Chez Pierre (Fr). Blue Point Filly Strikes In Goldikova On the Breeders' Cup Saturday undercard, Raqiya (Ire) (Blue Point {Ire}) made all to take the GIII Goldikova Stakes under Frankie Dettori (video). A homebred for Shadwell, the Owen Burrows trainee had landed the G3 Oak Tree Stakes during the Goodwood meeting in July. Her dam, the Dansili (GB) mare Rihaam (Ire), was unraced, but that hasn't prevented her from popping out winners like clockwork, with the Goldikova winner her fourth foal and scorer. After selling in foal to Dark Angel (Ire) for 540,000gns to Blandford Bloodstock at the 2022 Tattersalls July Sale, Rihaam foaled a filly from that mating who sold for 100,000gns to Ollie Sangster from Camas Park Stud during Book 1 of the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale this autumn. She also has a colt foal by Camelot (GB). Raqiya is a half-sister to the listed-placed Ribhi (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}), and she is also kin to Group 1 winners Alfareeq (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}) and Bahri (Riverman) among others. Already a Breeders' Cup sire with the victory of Big Evs (Ire) last year, Darley's Blue Point (Ire) has been represented by three winners from seven runners (43%) in the U.S. Raqiya is his second stakes winner (28%) there. 'TDN Rising Star' For Siyouni LNJ Foxwoods-owned Earhart (Fr) (Siyouni {Fr}) bolted up a 6 3/4-length winner on her debut over the Woodbine all-weather on Nov. 9, good for a 'TDN Rising Star' nod (video). Bred by Ecurie des Monceaux and LNJ Foxwoods in France, the Josie Carroll-trained grey was a €1.4-million Arqana August yearling buy. Alex Solis and Jason Litt selected the youngster from the Monceaux draft. Out of Aviatress (Ire) (Shamardal), Earhart is followed by a yearling filly by Dubawi (Ire). Their dam won the Listed Prix de Saint-Cyr, and is a half-sister to stakes winner and multiple graded placed 'TDN Rising Star' Gidu (Ire) (Frankel {GB}) and GII Seaway Stakes heroine Marbre Rose (Ire) (Smart Strike), while Grade I winner and producer Zoftig (Cozzene) is under the third dam. The Aga Khan Studs' Siyouni (Fr) has sired 18 winners from 44 runners in North America (41%). His five stakes winners (11%) are led by a quartet of graded winners (9%)–Sacred Life (Fr), La Signare (Fr), Love And Thunder (Ire), and Beautiful Love (Ire). Muhaarar Filly Surprises In Long Island Michael Ryan's 'TDN Rising Star' Be Your Best (Ire) (Muhaarar {GB}) earned a career high in the GIII Long Island Stakes at Aqueduct on Nov. 10 (video). Trained by Saffie Joseph, Jr., the 4-year-old filly was bred by St. Croix Bloodstock. The daughter of Kamakura (Medaglia d'Oro) won on debut and the Listed P.G. Johnson Stakes in succession at Saratoga in 2022. After placing in four graded stakes including the 2023 GI Del Mar Oaks and GI American Oaks, Sunday's victory was her first since then. One of two winners for Kamakura, Be Your Best has a yearling colt by Too Darn Hot (GB), a weanling filly by Baaeed (GB), and she was covered by Cody's Wish this spring. Be Your Best is out of a half-sister to Medaglia d'Oro's stakes winner and GIII Discover Handicap winner Bay Of Plenty, with Italian Group 1 winner Flagbird (Nureyev) listed as the third dam. Haras du Petit Tellier's Muhaarar has accrued seven winners (47%) from 15 runners in the U.S. All four of his stakes winners (27%) have prevailed at the graded level, with GII Kentucky Downs Turf Sprint Stakes victor Bran (Fr) his flagbearer. All Together Now Chad Brown saddled Venencia (Fr) (Recoletos {Fr}) to a neck victory in the Forever Together Stakes at Aqueduct on Nov. 10 (video). Campaigned by an ownership group of Bradley Thoroughbreds, Laura Leigh Stable, Jim Cone, Belmar Racing and Breeding, Team Hanley and Cambron Equine, the 4-year-old filly was bred by Patricia, Ines and Fernando Laffon Lomba. A three-quarter length winner of her lone French start for Patricia, the wife of trainer Carlos Laffon-Parias, the filly was subsequently sold to her current connections. Sunday's victory was her fifth North American start. The second foal and winner out of Sign Of Life (Lemon Drop Kid), Venencia has a yearling full-sister. This is the clan tracing to high-class French runner Northern Trick (Northern Dancer), the third dam of Venencia, who won both the G1 Prix de Diane and G1 Prix Vermeille. Recoletos, who stands at Haras du Petit Tellier, has done well from only a few runners in America, with two winners from three to race (66%). Besides Venencia, he has the Listed Sweet Life Stakes heroine Antifona (Fr), and Revalita (Fr), who has placed in a pair of graded races. Repeat Winner Imaboutago (Ire) (Calyx {GB}) featured in the final Making Waves column of 2023, and the consistent filly added a Del Mar allowance to her haul on Breeders' Cup Saturday (video). She is owned by e Five Racing Thoroughbreds and trained by Wesley Ward. The post Making Waves: Europeans Shine At The Breeders’ Cup & Beyond appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Romantic Warrior headlines the marquee race Nov. 17 at Sha Tin Racecourse as the local horses make their case for the Dec. 8 Longines Hong Kong International Races.View the full article

While Dubai World Cup (G1) victor Laurel River retains the top spot as the world's highest-rated horse with 128, Breeders' Cup Classic (G1) hero Sierra Leone improved his rating to 125 from 120 with his 1 1/2-length score over Fierceness Nov. 2.View the full article

7th-DMR, 61K, O/C, 3yo/up, f, 6f, 6:33 p.m. TAMARA (Bolt d'Oro), the daughter of four-time Eclipse winner Beholder, makes her long-awaited return to the races Friday after a year-long absence following last year's GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies. Named a 'TDN Rising Star' in her summer debut over course and near distance, the Richard Mandella trainee gave visions of her illustrious mother when romping by 6 3/4 lengths in the GI Del Mar Debutante. Heavily favored to complete the hat trick at the Breeders' Cup, Tamara came home eased after setting the early pace and was found to have an injury prompting the time off. Her road back to the races hasn't been a smooth one but she draws the rail here and picks up Lasix with regular pilot Mike Smith aboard. TJCIS PPS Look at this girl go. Tamara & @mikeesmith10 could not be more impressive in the Grade I FanDuel Racing Del Mar Debutante. pic.twitter.com/CAMTpy2UGB — Del Mar Racetrack (@DelMarRacing) September 10, 2023 6th-CD, 120K, Msw, 2yo, f, 5f, 3:26 p.m. Homebred Desert Adventure (Hard Spun) is a daughter of GISW Dubai Escapade, a $2,000,000 purchase by John Ferguson Bloodstock on behalf of Godolphin as a 2-year-old in 2004. From six foals to race, she's got six winners including the Gap Year (Bernardini), the dam of soon-to-be champion 2-year-old filly Immersive (Nyquist). Second dam Sassy Pants was a $4.5m buy for Hill 'n' Dale Bloodstock out of the 2006 KEENOV sale and her production record includes GISW and $3.1m FTKNOV broodmare buy Madcap Escapade (Hennessy), the dam of GISW Mi Sueno (Pulpit). T he family also includes SW/GISP Crystal Ball (Malibu Moon) and MGISP Clyde's Image (Get Stormy).TJCIS PPS The post Friday Insights: Tamara Makes Long-Awaited Return appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

King Gold (Fr) (Anodin {Ire}) (lot 50), a winner of the G1 Prix Maurice de Gheest, anchors the catalogue for the Tattersalls Online November Sale, which was released on Thursday. Featuring 109 horses in- and out-of-training, 42 broodmares, 28 yearlings, 11 foals, four stores, and breeding rights in Group 1 sire Ardad (Ire) (lot 194) and first-season sire Sergei Prokofiev (lot 195), the sale will be held on Nov. 20-21. A total of 196 lots will go under the hammer, a new record for the Tattersalls Online platform. King Gold is rated 113 on Timeform and will be sold as a racing or stallion prospect. Listed winner Cuban Tiger (GB) (Havana Grey {GB}) (lot 29) is currently rated 102 by Timeform and will be offered, as will the Grade I-placed hurdler Forever William (GB) (Sea The Moon {Ger}) (lot 35). The catalogue also features the Alne Park Stud Partial Dispersal, consisting of 12 broodmares and four foals. Among the broodmares is Robyn De Galles (Ire) (Robin Des Champs {Fr}) (lot 187), a half-sister to G2 Kingwell Hurdle winner Blue Heron (Ire) (Heron Island {Ire}), who placed at the highest level, in foal to Midnights Legacy (GB). On the Flat, the broodmare Lockerbie (GB) (New Approach {Ire}) (lot 179), herself a half-sister to multiple group winner and Group 1-placed Hamish (GB) (Motivator {GB}), will be consigned in foal to Cracksman (GB); while Cthulhu (Henrythenavigator) (lot 165), a half-sister to GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile second Gaming (Game Winner), is also part of the catalogue. A third Flat mare of note is G2 Ribblesdale Stakes-placed Sparkle Roll (Fr) (Kingman {GB}), a half-sister to G1 Derby winner Wings Of Eagles (Fr) (Pour Moi {Ire}) in foal to Kameko. The post Group 1 Winner King Gold Heads Tattersalls Online November Catalogue appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Two new slot races will make Show Day like none before it at Addington Raceway today. Both are for the three-year-olds and are worth $500,000 with the Majestic Horse Float LP THE ASCENT for the trotters going at 5.36pm and the pacing’s edition, the Hill Lee and Scott THE VELOCITY at 6.36pm. This is the first time slot races have been held at Addington with Chase A Dream the favourite in THE VELOCITY and Australian visitor Keayang Zahara dominating the market for THE ASCENT. The 13 race programme, which will feature four Group 1s as well as three Listed races, starts at 1.47 with the last due at 8.24pm. Entry is by gold coin donation, which will go to the Horse Ambulance Trust. There will also be a TAB Show Day Punter of the Year Challenge. To see details click here To see todays fields click here View the full article

By Michael Guerin There is no hiding from the reason for Merlin’s defeat in the IRT New Zealand Trotting Cup and he won’t be hiding in tonight’s Allied Security New Zealand Free-For-All at Addington either. The form New Zealand pacer of the year only battled into fourth in the Cup won by Swayzee on Tuesday and while there is no shame in being beaten by the winner the fact Merlin was run down for third by Republican Party made his performance clearly below par for co-trainer Scott Phelan. “He just didn’t finish the 3200m off as well as he would a shorter trip,” says Phelan. “That is not to say he won’t win a 3200m race in the future and maybe an Auckland Cup may suit him better than a New Zealand Cup. “But he wasn’t as good over 3200m and maybe he never will be. That’s just being honest.” Phelan and training partner Barry Purdon can turn the page quickly as Merlin is back to the more suitable 1980m mobile of the NZ Pacing Free-For-All at today’s reinvigorated Show Day twilight meeting. With two scratchings inside him he will start from barrier 5 and Phelan says he wants to see Merlin in front and feeling good to get his mojo back. “He came through the Cup well and we know he has gate speed so I’d like to see him lead, which might make Republican Party the danger if he sits on our back.” Crucial players in those that early burn could be the Australian pair Catch A Wave and perhaps to a lesser degree The Falcon, now trained by Jason Grimson. Phelan and Purdon have had a sometimes frustrating southern campaign, including Duchess Megxit getting run down late in her Group 1 on Tuesday after copping pressure. “Six months ago we were winning everything and now we aren’t but that is racing and we have some really good chances on Friday,” says Phelan. They include Jeremiah in the new $500,000 pacing slot race Hill Lee and Scott The Velocity, in which the stable also have Better Knuckle Up. “Jeremiah has some gate speed so he could go forward and even lead so he will be hard to beat. “Better Knuckle Up could need some luck from two on the second line but if Chase A Dream gets a good run through and has any luck I think we all might struggle to beat him.” Can Muscle Mountain challenge the champ? By Michael Guerin Punters can expect a refreshing change in the Livamol New Zealand Trotting Free-For-All today — a Kiwi horse actually taking it to one of the Aussies. That doesn’t mean a change of result as Victorian champion Just Believe should still win the Group 1 but it might at least make for a more interesting spectacle. Just Believe strode to the front effortlessly on his way to winning the $400,000 Dominion on Tuesday, hours before Swayzee did the same in the New Zealand Cup for the second year running. There were no drivers at fault in either, the Aussies had too much horsepower and that will likely be the case as Just Believe tries to remain unbeaten in New Zealand in today’s 1980m mobile. But rival driver Ben Hope on Muscle Mountain at least wants to stretch the little Aussie superstar. Muscle Mountain missed both the Dominion on Tuesday and the Flying Stakes at Ashburton after knocking a leg but has tangled with Just Believe before and come off second best. On two of those occasions though he was able to beat him off the mobile gate at the start and Hope says that will be his plan today. “I am confident I can get across him and if I do I want to stay in front,” says Hope. “I don’t see any point handing up because then we can’t beat him and they will be pretty confident they can sit parked outside us and beat us because they have done it before. “And that might be the case again because he could be an all-time great.” Hope says his father Greg, who co-trains Muscle Mountain with wife Nina, took Muscle Mountain to Addington for a private workout last Saturday and loved what he felt. “He has a real glint back in his eye and I feel like he is ready to go a big race.” View the full article

Selections for Show Day at Addington Race Michael Guerin Journalist/Presenter Matt Cross Commentator Race 1 1.47pm 12 Forgiveness 10 Freya 14 Tu Tangata 2 What The Bell 12 Forgiveness 10 Freya 14 Tu Tangata 5 Paris Prince Race 2 2.12pm 2 Rise Up N Dance 9 Terra Sancta 5 Itoje 6 Ultimate Challenge 2 Rise Up N Dance 9 Terra Sancta 12 Bobbies Rock 8 Still Rockin Race 3 2.47pm 10 Meant To Be 8 Habibti Pat 7 Atlantic City 9 Ya Rite Darl 10 Meant To Be 8 Habibti Pat 9 Ya Rite Darl 7 Atlantic City Race 4 3.22pm 2 Melody Banner 11 Miki Bennett 14 Salute 9 Dynasty 14 Salute 7 Mouton Cadet 1 Bettor Be Sharp 4 Commander Joe Race 5 4.00pm 9 Borrisokane 8 It’s Tough 12 Bazooka 14 Next Level 8 It’s Tough 9 Borrisokane 12 Bazooka 11 Miki’s Courage Race 6 4.35pm 4 Just Believe 5 Muscle Mountain 1 Mighty Logan 8 Oscar Bonavena 4 Just Believe 1 Mighty Logan 5 Muscle Mountain 8 Oscar Bonavena Race 7 5.02pm 3 Youretheonethatiwant 10 Captains Mistress 9 General Jen 4 Stella Rouge 4 Stella Rouge 1 Winelight 3 Youretheonethatiwant 9 General Jen Race 8 5.36pm 3 Keayang Zahara 1 Empire City 6 Tyron Eros 5 Father Time 3 Keayang Zahara 1 Empire City 6 Tyron Eros 7 Paramount Kiwi Race 9 6.06pm 6 Mantra Blue 8 Mr Kaplan 9 Princess Meritaten 3 Dance Till Dawn 6 Mantra Blue 9 Princess Meritaten 8 Mr Kaplan 1 Lakelsa Race 10 6.36pm 7 Chase A Dream 4 Jeremiah 11 Dreams Are Free 1 Coastal Babe 7 Chase A Dream 6 Renegade 1 Coastal Babe 2 Hes From Heaven Race 11 7.09pm 7 Gold Bullion 9 Aroha Kenny 2 Sheza Gift 12 Julie Jaccka 9 Aroha Kenny 7 Gold Bullion 2 Sheza Gift 4 Masterly Race 12 7.48pm 7 Merlin 2 Republican Party 5 Catch A Wave 9 Better Eclipse 5 Catch A Wave 2 Republican Party 7 Merlin 9 Better Eclipse Race 13 8.24pm 7 Vessem 6 Charlie Brown 9 Da Vinci 13 Smoke On The Water 6 Charlie Brown 2 Helium 7 Vessem 13 Smoke On The Water View the full article

Alphonse Le Grande (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) has been reinstated as the winner of last month's Cesarewitch Handicap at Newmarket after his connections were successful in their appeal against his disqualification, with successful rider Jamie Powell also having his suspension reduced to 20 days. Apprentice jockey Powell was ruled to have used his whip 10 times in the closing stages, four more than the permitted allowance, and due to the value of the race the Whip Review Committee awarded the historic prize to the original runner-up, Manxman (Ire) (Cracksman {GB}). However, trainer Cathy O'Leary and owners the Bet Small Win Big Syndicate appealed that decision, as did Powell, who had originally been handed a 28-day suspension. An independent British Horseracing Authority (BHA) disciplinary panel has now concluded that one of Powell's strikes was not intentional, as he made contact with the horse whilst moving his whip from one hand to the other. Thriller! Irish challenger is given the verdict over Manxman in a cracking finish to the £175,000 Cesarewitch @NewmarketRace. pic.twitter.com/5dyEMs3Kb5 — Racing TV (@RacingTV) October 12, 2024 Panel chair Sarah Crowther KC said, “We find that his body position was different to the first nine strikes. It seems to us that he was somewhat crouched and off balance to his left and very low in the saddle. “Whilst his arm and hand were in the same angle as the previous strikes, the change in body position and the different stride of the horse had the effect of changing the angle of the strike. “It was common ground, that as Mr Powell retrieved his whip from that strike on the way back, pulling it back towards his right-hand side and bringing it forward, there was contact. It seemed to us the question for us was whether that contact constituted use of the whip.” Crowther added, “Adopting a pragmatic interpretation of the word 'use' in context of the rules as a whole and from our experience of panel of racing, we find it is not every single contact between a whip and a horse that will amount to a use. “We do find this is a fact sensitive question and specifically on the facts of this case we find the contact was made in circumstances where Mr Powell was retrieving his stick from the wrong side of the horse and it was effectively an unavoidable contact which could not have had any material impact on the performance of the horse. “Therefore, we find that in total there were nine uses, three above the permitted level. The horse will be reinstated and the suspension will be 20 days.” The post Alphonse Le Grande Reinstated as Winner of Cesarewitch on Appeal appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

While Dubai World Cup (G1) victor Laurel River retains the top spot as the world's highest-rated horse with 128, Breeders' Cup Classic (G1) hero Sierra Leone improved his rating to 125 from 120 with his 1 1/2-length score over Fierceness Nov. 2.View the full article

The first foal to be offered at public auction by Tally-Ho Stud's Persian Force (Ire) led the way at the Tattersalls Ireland Sapphire Sale when selling to Nigel O'Hare for €50,000 on Thursday. However, a 44% clearance rate spoke to the struggles facing smaller breeders and consignors at present. Albeit the Sapphire Sale offering was down by 42% compared to 12 months ago, the majority of the key figures also fell, including the median, which was down by 31% to €2,750 and the average by 3% to €6,567. Understandably, the aggregate fell by 41% to €315,200. And while the majority of vendors struggled, there was still space for foals by the younger brigade of stallions to capture the imagination. Along with the Persian Force colt going the way of O'Hare for €50,000, Steve Parkin paid €43,000 for a colt by his own stallion Space Traveller (GB). Consigned by Kildallan Farm, the Persian Force was snapped up by the owner who is perhaps best known for his association with the Ado McGuinness-trained dual Group 1-winning sprinter A Case Of You (Ire). O'Hare, who also bought a Time Test (GB) filly on the day for just €2,500, commented on the top lot, “He will go to County Armagh and he will run alongside another colt. He has a lovely walk, he is strong boned, he has come well recommended and has a bit of size about him. We generally like to race all our horses and it is difficult to buy them as yearlings. We have horses with Natalia Lupini, Gavin Cromwell and Ado McGuinness.” Amo Racing recently announced King Of Steel, Bucanero Fuerte (GB) and Go Bears Go (Ire) would be taking up stallion duties in the new year and it was Persian Force who became the first horse owned by that powerful operation to join the stallion ranks. A speedy and precocious son of Mehmas, (Ire) Persian Force won the Group 2 July Stakes at Newmarket before chasing home Little Big Bear and Blackbeard respectively in a pair of Group 1s. All told, he placed three times at the highest level and wasn't beaten far when a rattling-home fourth in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf at Keeneland. Meanwhile, the colt foal by a young sire Space Traveller met the requirements in the ring when selling to Micheál Orlandi of Compas Stallions on behalf of Parkin's Clipper Logistics. Space Traveller, winner of the Jersey and Boomerang Stakes, was famously moved to Orlandi's County Westmeath farm after Parkin split with long-time advisor Joe Foley last year. Michael Orlandi speaks to Robert Hall having purchased the first ever Space Traveller foal to go through the sales ring on behalf of owner Steve Parkin. Out of a Frankel mare, the colt was consigned by @Castledillon4.#SapphireSale pic.twitter.com/lgZJRer8mf — Tattersalls Ireland (@Tattersalls_ie) November 14, 2024 Orlandi was on hand to secure the first foal to go under the hammer by the stallion on behalf of the owner, and said, “Steve is keen to support the stallion, as he has always done with his stallions. The foal will go to Rathbride Stud and then possibly on to Branton Court Stud. Steve is hoping to buy a number by the sire this winter and I came here looking for the best of them-and this is it. He is out of a Frankel mare from a fast pedigree and comes from Castledillon Stud, Timmy Hillman's good nursery, and the mare is back in foal to the stallion.” Orlandi added, “The reports are very positive about the foals. We are looking forward to buying some more. He will probably be kept to race, at the end of the day, Steve is an end user. He is definitely going to have a number of the Space babies in training.” It wasn't just the progeny of young stallions that caught the imagination at Tattersalls Ireland on Thursday as Katie Walsh was busy getting some last-minute shopping done in time for the upcoming breeze-up season. The leading handler in that sphere, who operates under the banner of Greenhills Farm, admitted to finding the going tough at many of the European yearling sales this season and described herself as happy to have added a filly and a colt by Lope Y Fernandez (Ire) and Bungle Inthejungle (GB) respectively for a combined €38,000. Walsh said, “Every breeze-up handler seems to be down on numbers and I was lacking one or two so I said I'd come to this sale and see if I could get something I came last year but didn't buy anything. I bought a nice filly [for €20,000] off Denise [O'Brien, of Clonbunny Stud], who works the sales with me. She's a lovely individual and I was happy to chance her. I bought a fine Bungle Inthejungle colt off Rathasker Stud [€18,000] out of a mare who won a Listed race while the half-brother [Aleezdancer (Ire) (Fast Company {Ire})] is rated 91. I thought he was a nice fit to come back to the Tattersalls Ireland Breeze-Up Sale next year. Bungle Inthejungle can get them and he's having a good time of it. I haven't had one for a long time but he looks to be a bull of the colt and, at that money, he fits the bill.” Looking back on the yearling sales as a whole, Walsh said, “We've 12 or 15 bought and I will go over to Newmarket for the December Yearling Sale to see if I can get my hands on something over there as well. I am very happy with the ones we do have. I'd love a few more but I think we shopped well overall. It was a very tough market and I was just conscious that we bought what we wanted. It was a difficult year all-round for breeze-up consignors but I am happy with the bunch that we have so far, so hopefully. Hindsight is a great thing and maybe we should have shopped harder at some of the earlier sales. But on the other hand, I am glad we didn't panic and start buying horses for the sake of it. I'm very happy with the horses that we have and that's what's most important.” The post Foal By Newbie Stallion Persian Force Stands Out At Tattersalls Ireland Sapphire Sale appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Four additional wildcards, led by a share (1/60th) in G1 Prix Jean Prat hero Puchkine (Fr) (Starspangledbanner {Aus}) (lot 15), have been added to the Arqana November Online Sale. The sale will be held from 5-7 p.m. local time, excluding extra time, on Tuesday, Nov. 26. The share grants the purchaser two coverings a year in 2025, 2026, and 2027, and one covering per year beginning in 2028. A 1/50th share in Wooded (Ire) (lot 17) will also be offered, with the son of Wootton Bassett (GB) responsible for nine winners so far from his first crop. The share entitles the buyer to two coverings per year, as well as the Southern Hemisphere's pool when the stallion covers mares at Swettenham Stud in Australia. There is also a 1/50th share in Beaumec De Houelle (Fr) (lot 16) up for sale. The Haras de Montaigu resident is already the sire of black-type horse La Pinsonniere (Fr). The share gives the right to one covering a year. Rounding out the wildcards is a breeding right in lot 14, Paradiso (Fr). The only son of Kapgarde (Fr) at stud, the stallion is a group winner over hurdles. The buyer of the breeding right is allowed one covering per year. The post Share In Puchkine One Of Four Wildcards Added To Arqana November Online Sale appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

If it stays like this, a single maiden winner might settle it. Because all that separates McKinzie ($2,294,679) from current leader Tiz the Law ($2,339,575) in the freshman table is $44,896. But wait, there's more. McKinzie isn't even second. Between the pair lurks Vekoma ($2,306,457), ensuring a desperate three-way contest for the prized laurels of champion first-season sire. It's even closer than this time last year, when four stallions were divided by barely $200,000. In the end, Mitole actually extended his lead down the stretch. But the fact that the four protagonists increased their aggregate earnings by over a quarter, during these closing weeks, shows how much there is still to play for. An abundance of juvenile racing will allow less precocious stock to find their feet, while remaining graded prizes include the GII Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes and GII Remsen Stakes. Nor is it just the still tighter margins that make things so much tenser this time round. In 2023, remarkably, the Spendthrift team knew by midsummer that they housed the champion freshman: all four contenders were on their roster. This time their hopes of a third consecutive title (Bolt d'Oro was tops in 2022) are vested in Vekoma, with Tiz the Law going out to bat for Coolmore and McKinzie for Gainesway. Two things leap out about Tiz the Law's position, precarious as it may be, at the head of the table. One is that his principal earner has contributed a good deal more to his bank than is the case for his rivals, thanks to the lavish endowment of the stakes he won at Kentucky Downs. Subsequently runner-up in the GIII Street Sense Stakes, Tiztastic accounts for almost precisely a third of his sire's total. Chancer McPatrick has earned 23 percent of McKinzie's, while fellow 'TDN Rising Star' Jonathan's Way chips in a mere 9 percent for Vekoma. Chancer McPatrick | Sarah Andrew But the other obvious remark about Tiz the Law redresses that imbalance impressively, in that he has had considerably fewer starters: he has fielded 43 to date, compared with 64 for Vekoma and 54 for McKinzie. (All data, incidentally, correct through Nov. 13.) Surprising as it may seem, given his farm's history, Tiz the Law is working from much the smallest debut crop of the trio. He has 88 named foals, against 147 for Vekoma (representing another operation notorious for volume) and 141 for McKinzie (whose farm strikingly appears to have released the brakes). For while he certainly covered fewer mares (159) than the other pair (Vekoma 222/McKinzie 214) in 2021, his available arsenal additionally reflects a somewhat lower final percentage of live foalings that first year (101, versus 174 for McKinzie and 161 for Vekoma). Tiz the Law has successfully ironed out that disparity since, however, and has a much bigger second book to launch next year (218 mares producing 154 live foals). In that context, he deserves particular credit for also heading the class as the only sire with five stakes winners; and for sharing with just McKinzie the additional distinction of four graded stakes performers. Two of those (Scythian, GII Miss Grillo Stakes; No Complaint, GII Oak Leaf Stakes) have won at that level, something matched only by the early trailblazer Complexity (who has faded to fourth, nonetheless an outstanding debut from 98 named foals) and again McKinzie. Tiz the Law's good start has earned him a hike to $30,000 for 2025, consecutive trims having previously halved his opening fee to $20,000. He's an easy horse to root for, his trajectory having crossed with that of the maturing Authentic during a controversial revision of the Classic schedule during the pandemic. He had certainly flaunted the precocity sought by commercial breeders, and his family has meanwhile continued to flourish: fourth dam Evil Elaine now has another GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile under her shade, besides her son Favorite Trick (Phone Trick), as she's the third dam of Citizen Bull (Into Mischief). Tiz the Law's expanded second book has been represented by a class-high 109 yearlings into the ring this year, 90 selling at a median $66,695-a heartening advance on the rather tepid $53,500 yield of his first yearlings. (His average, conversely, stands at $79,092 from $99,835.) He has a smaller third crop incoming (98 live foals) but with his sire Constitution now beyond most pockets, Tiz the Law is laying sustainable foundations whether or not he retains his lead. Vekoma | Autry Graham Vekoma has somewhat reversed Tiz the Law's experience: though he again covered 200 mares in 2022, it was his turn to achieve (temporarily, also) a somewhat lower ratio of live foals, producing “only” 128 in his second crop, down from 161. But these have proved big winners at the sales, where 65 sold (of 73 offered) to move his average up to $141,841 from $98,432, and his median to a cracking $110,000 from $60,000. He duly exemplifies the Spendthrift model. He was launched at $20,000, a fee that as usual traded accessibility for likely catalogue competition; and, sure enough, has had plenty of runners (albeit with plenty still to follow). As his perspiring neighbor Authentic can attest, however, that does not guarantee prolific success and Vekoma's ratio of winners–33 from 64 starters–is outstanding. Eleven have also reached a black-type podium, four of them making the winner's circle including Jonathan's Way, his first graded stakes scorer in the GIII Iroquois Stakes. Having taken a couple of clips to $15,000, Vekoma has climbed to $35,000 for 2025. He has a bumper third crop on its way, comprising 154 live foals, and while he managed no more than eight starts across three campaigns, his excellence at four–including in the commercially appealing GI Met Mile and GI Carter Handicap–augurs well for the continued development of his stock. Having majored in speed, not least by the standards of his sire (of sires) Candy Ride (Arg), it'll be fascinating to see how some of the later Vekomas may deal with longer distances. His mother (Grade I winner in the slop) was out of a half-sister to Mr. Greeley and theirs is also the family of Street Sense, so everything is in place for Vekoma to build on these auspicious foundations. Speaking of Street Sense, however, there's no mistaking a consensus that the biggest hitter of this intake will turn out to be his son McKinzie. In fact, his fee for next year has rocketed to $75,000 from $30,000. In fairness, even before his stock reached the track, the marketplace had paid McKinzie an unusual compliment. As a rule, the agents and managers dutifully ensure that first-crop yearling averages almost slavishly mirror the sequence of covering fees, and they duly paid much the most for the first crop of Authentic (retired at $75,000). But they had already made McKinzie something of a rockstar with his first weanlings ($132,500 median) and followed through with his class-high offering of 144 at the 2023 yearling sales. (As noted, Gainesway were not going to let other farms beat him with quantity.) These achieved 110 sales at an average $149,157, albeit a $90,000 median measured his good fortune in covering Puca (Big Brown), whose son Mage (Good Magic) had meanwhile made their colt worth $1.2 million. McKinzie | Gainesway Now it must be acknowledged that McKinzie has marshalled his resources quite ingeniously to this point. His 16 winners from 54 starters are pretty pedestrian (30%) relative not only to his big rivals (Vekoma 52%/Tiz the Law 42%) but also to several with lesser resources. Moreover, his two stakes winners similarly leave him behind that pair (and Complexity) and matched by a handful of others. But he has made his punches tell in crushing fashion: both his black-type winners (Chancer McPatrick, Hopeful Stakes/Champagne Stakes; Scottish Lassie, Frizette Stakes) have won Grade I races; while two others placed in graded stakes company, Quickick and McKinzie Street, have similarly done so at the elite level (actually twice apiece). These headline acts have helped McKinzie's second crop achieve a $156,159 average and $130,000 median from 88 sold (100 offered). Moreover 21 of 22 third-crop weanlings have sold for a stellar $150,000 median (and a remarkably similar average). The Gainesway team have been recruiting very purposefully as Tapit enters the evening of his career, and must be hugely excited by McKinzie's start. After all, he has shown less of his hand (has started 38 percent of named first-crop foals) than Tiz the Law (49 percent) and Vekoma (44 percent); and himself offers a wholesome template for continued progress as a Grade I winner at two, three and four, harvesting 11 triple-digit Beyers. That record demonstrated a genetic functionality that wouldn't have been obvious with his first three dams by Petionville, Houston and Navajo, but his mother Runway Model had done as much already, as a dual Grade II winner. McKinzie's physique has obviously been driving much of his auction vogue and, while he will have rather less volume through the next two crops (133/121 live foals), he covered 185 mares last spring and can now drool over a major upgrade in their caliber for 2025. Whether or not he can overtake his rivals by Dec. 31 feels pretty incidental, really: no horse in the intake has superior momentum. Granted that it is all a numbers game, we must beware of unduly exalting this trio when several others in the intake have punched well above weight. Some will doubtless feature in our upcoming Value Sires series, but for now we should reiterate the superb start of Complexity, plus some excellent work from limited mares by Thousand Words. As noted above, Complexity was working from a smaller arsenal than those above him. Those who nonetheless persevered (what courage, in this day and age!) for his second season, again at just $12,500, have been celebrating a six-figure average at the yearling sales. Complexity | Sarah Andrew Let's hope that some of the others to have outperformed more expensive start-ups will also be given the oxygen of opportunity. After all, the freshman title itself brings no guarantee of lasting stardom. Yes, it has been won over the past decade by the likes of Gun Runner, Nyquist, Uncle Mo and Quality Road. But you wouldn't want to be emulating Overanalyze, exported to Korea just a couple of years later. It is clearly premature to be judging the overall caliber of this intake. Given that the first book tends to be the biggest and best ever assembled by the majority of stallions, however, the self-fulfilling prejudices of the market should guarantee plenty of good first-crop graduates every year. To its credit, this lot have collectively mustered 11 graded stakes winners already, compared with the humiliating aggregate of three scraped together by the 2023 newcomers. It already feels clear that the 2022 table featured several that will last the course, and they duly managed 13. That laid the ground for a remarkable total of 37 graded stakes winners they compiled last year, between their first sophomores and second-crop juveniles, whereas last year's freshmen have only reached 10 in 2024 so far. Nowadays commercial judgements are made with ruthless haste. The theory goes that if you can't afford the big guns, you roll the dice on a rookie in the hope of landing on the next Gun Runner. If that were so, however, farms would not be experiencing so much difficulty in maintaining mare traffic through the three springs, often at diminishing fees, that divide first covers from a meaningful sampling of first runners. Many breeders just hop from one group of rookies to the next, determined to be safely out of range long before stock gets anywhere near the gate. History duly tells us that even the three contesting this race cannot be complacent of lasting success; but it also shows, perhaps even more clearly, that the writing must already be on the wall for many in their wake. The post Freshman Title Going to the Wire appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

River Tiber (Ire) becomes the latest son of Wootton Bassett (GB) to join the stallion ranks and will stand in France at Haras de la Huderie in the Pays d'Auge having been bought by a collection of French breeders. His fee in his first year at stud will be €5,500. The group consists of Sebastien Desmontils, David Salabi, Guillaume and Camille Vitse, and Jean-Pierre and Guillaume Garcon, all of whom have had successful associations with the offspring of Wootton Bassett in the past in some shape or form. “River Tiber's arrival at stud in France is the result of a growing association of breeders who have already had success with his father,” said Desmontils. “The Vitses produced Unquestionable. The Garcon family sold me the excellent Topgear. David Salabi and I were both shareholders in Wootton Bassett when he was in France. So it's great to be able to roll the dice again all together.” Unbeaten in the first three starts of his career, the Pier House Stud-bred colt won last year's G2 Coventry Stakes before finishing third in the G1 Prix Morny, G1 Middle Park Stakes and G1 Irish 2,000 Guineas for the Coolmore partners. River Tiber is the real deal and wins the Coventry for Ryan Moore and Aidan O'Brien! #RoyalAscot @Ascot pic.twitter.com/r8yQ2truYB — At The Races (@AtTheRaces) June 20, 2023 Bought from Book 1 of the October Yearling Sale for 480,000gns, River Tiber is out of a half-sister to the Group 3-placed sprinter Shermeen (Ire) (Desert Style {Ire}), who is in turn the dam of G1 Phoenix Stakes winner Sudirman (Henrythenavigator). Beranger Bussy of Haras de la Huderie said, “We are delighted to be able to welcome River Tiber to Huderie. He is a perfect stallion for French breeders who meets all the expectations of the market while offering the possibility of generating profit with his attractive fee.” King Of Steel and Bucanero Fuerte (Fr), both Group 1 winners by Wootton Bassett, have recently retired to Tally-Ho Stud in Ireland. The post French Collective Buys River Tiber; Fee Set at €5,500 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, we take a look ahead at US-bred and/or conceived runners entered for the upcoming weekend at the tracks on the Japan Racing Association circuit, with a focus on pedigree and/or performance in the sales ring. Here are the horses of interest for this weekend running at Tokyo and Kyoto Racecourses: Saturday, November 16, 2024 11th-TOK, Tokyo Sports Hai Nisai S.-G2 ($461k), 2yo, 1800mT DEL AVAR (c, 2, Frankel {GB}–Amour Briller, by Smart Strike) was impressively off the mark at first asking going this distance at Fukushima June 30, overcoming a slow start and a very wide passage on the second turn to graduate by a 1 1/2 lengths (see below, SC 4). The North Hills homebred has pedigree power to boot, as his six-times stakes-winning dam is a daughter of Tenno Sho victress Heavenly Romance (Jpn) (Sunday Silence), who is also responsible for MGSW/MG1SP Awardee (Jungle Pocket {Jpn}) and GSW/GISP Lani (Tapit). B-North Hills Co (KY) 2yo DEL AVAR (Frankel x Amour Briller) will line up in the highly sought Gr2 Tokyo Sports Hai this Saturday Race won by many Classic/Gr1 winners including World Best Racehorse EQUINOX, Triple Crown winner CONTRAIL, Japan Derby winners ISLA BONITA, WAGNERIAN etc in recent years. pic.twitter.com/Kh9lfeJbsu — Jess Samy (@FrankelWatch13) November 12, 2024 Sunday, November 17, 2024 4th-TOK, ¥13,720,000 ($88k), Newcomers, 2yo, 1600m LAKE STRIPES (JPN) (c, 2, American Pharoah–Infartame {Arg}, by Equal Stripes {Arg}) is the first foal from his dam, upset winner of the 2020 G1 Estrellas Juvenile Fillies for Haras Abolengo before making her way to the US to be bred to this Triple Crown winner. A full-sister to Argentinian Group 3 winner Issa (Arg), Infartame has produced one foal since her import into Japan, a filly by Maurice (Jpn) born this past Apr. 25. B-Lake Villa Farm 4th-KYO, ¥13,720,000 ($88k), Newcomers, 2yo, 1200m CHIANINA (f, 2, Take Charge Indy–Carpe Solis, by Carpe Diem) fetched $30,000 at last year's Keeneland September Sale, but improved into a $310,000 OBS March 2-year-old after breezing an eighth of a mile in a smooth :10 flat. The Feb. 9 foal, set to debut in the colors of Kazumi Yoshida and to be partnered by Christophe Lemaire, is out of a daughter of 2005 GI Kentucky Oaks winner Summerly (Summer Squall), who also serves as the second dam to the stakes winners Workaholic (Sky Mesa) and Legalize (Constitution), both from an A.P. Indy sire line. B-WinStar Farm LLC (KY) The post US-Bred Frankel Colt Del Avar Resurfaces In Group 2 Company at Tokyo appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Multiple Group 1 winner Via Sistina (Ire) (Fastnet Rock {Aus}) is now the highest rated filly or mare in the world at 127 on the Longines World's Best Racehorse Rankings, which were released on Thursday. A winner of the G1 Turnbull Stakes and G1 Cox Plate in October, she added the G1 Champions Stakes in November and is equal to G1 Derby/G1 International Stakes/G1 Eclipse winner City Of Troy (Justify). The highest rated horse in the world is Laurel River (Into Mischief) at 128. Next in the rankings are the trio of Calandagan (Ire) (Gleneagles {Ire}), Goliath (Ger) (Adlerflug {Ger}) and Sierra Leone (Gun Runner) at 125. The last-named horse scored in the GI Breeders' Cup Classic at the beginning of the month over Fierceness (City Of Light) at 123) with Forever Young (Jpn) (Real Steel {Jpn}) (120) third. Charyn (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}) has increased his rating to 124 after winning the G1 Queen Elizabeth II Stakes over Facteur Cheval (Ire) (Ribchester {Ire}) (120), and he goes for the G1 Mile Championship on Nov. 17. New to the rankings are Anmaat (Ire) (Awtaad {Ire}), Do Deuce (Jpn) (Heart's Cry {Jpn}), and Rousham Park (Jpn) (Harbinger {GB) all at 122 after victories in the G1 Champion Stakes, G1 Tenno Sho (Autumn) and a second-place finish in the GI Breeders' Cup Turf to the 123-rated Rebel's Romance (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}), respectively. Hong Kong's Ka Ying Rising (NZ) (Shamexpress {NZ}) is now also ranked at 120 after his win in the G2 Premier Bowl. The post Via Sistina Moves Up To Joint-Second On Longines WBRR appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article