Wandering Eyes

Rocket Can seeks to add another grade 3 victory to his resume in the Fred W. Hooper Stakes (G3) Jan. 25 at Gulfstream Park. He will have to face Harlan's Holiday Stakes (G3) runner-up and last year's winner of the Fred W. Hooper, Tumbarumba. View the full article

Due to the extreme weather conditions that are expected the next couple of days, the nine-race Fair Grounds program scheduled for Thursday, Jan. 23, will be moved to Monday, Jan. 27. View the full article

Despite being one of the most successful Louisiana-breds in history, a graded stakes victory has remained elusive for Free Like a Girl. She aims to check that box Jan. 25 in the $300,000 Houston Ladies Classic Stakes (G3) at Sam Houston Race Park.View the full article

Barnes, the 6-1 favorite in the Kentucky Derby Future Wager Pool 3, worked four furlongs in :48 3/5. Breeders' Cup Sprint (G1) winner Straight No Chaser worked a bullet five furlongs Jan. 20.View the full article

Jerome Hoban has stepped down from both chairmanship of the California Association of Racing Fairs (CARF) and the board itself, according to a short resignation letter to CARF executive director Larry Swartzlander, dated last Thursday. In response, the CARF board will hold a special meeting on Tuesday to elect a new chairman, according to an email Swartzlander subsequently sent to CARF members. “With Jerome's resignation there will also be a board position open. This will not be addressed at the Tuesday meeting,” the email states. “The Tuesday Meeting will also discuss the vice chair position.” The resignation of Hoban, who is CEO of the Alameda County Fair at Pleasanton, has come at a critical moment for Northern California's summer fair circuit, and by extension, for California's broader racing and breeding industry. In the middle of December, the CARF board voted unanimously to rescind a proposed Golden State Racing (GSR) meet spanning the first half of this year, due to much lower than anticipated revenues generated from the GSR meet that ran at Pleasanton between October and December. The purse overpayment at the end of the meet was around $800,000. Thoroughbreds are currently stabled at Pleasanton and being shipped south, as part of a stabling and training agreement with the industry's Southern California interests to provide Northern Californian-based horsemen and women opportunities to run at Santa Anita. However, that agreement currently guarantees stabling at the facility only until Mar. 25. CARF and the Alameda County Fair have “the sole and exclusive right to extend” the agreement to June 10 “by providing written notice no later than Feb. 25, provided there are 500 or more horses stabled at Pleasanton at that time,” according to a statement issued bt Santa Anita on behalf of the Southern California stabling and vanning committee earlier this month. If the agreement isn't extended, that could throw a major wrench into the viability of Northern California's fair circuit, the dates for which have yet to be formally issued. The post Hoban Steps Down From CARF Chair At Critical Moment For Board appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Zedan Racing's Barnes (Into Mischief), perfect in his two career trips to the post, and 'TDN Rising Star' Rodriguez (Authentic) each returned to the worktab at the 'Great RIP' Monday morning. They were joined by their Grade III-winning stablemate Getaway Car (Curlin). Barnes, who defeated recent GIII Lecomte Stakes third Innovator (Authentic) by a head on Churchill debut Nov. 27 , worked a half-mile in :48.60 (16/69), his first breeze since romping by 5 1/2 lengths in the GII San Vicente Stakes Jan. 4. Barnes closed as the 6-1 favorites among the individual betting interests in the Kentucky Derby Future Wager (KDFW) that closed this past weekend. Rodriguez, a well-beaten second behind future San Vicente runner-up Romanesque (Practical Joke) on Del Mar debut in late November, drilled a group of maidens by seven lengths going a mile on the San Vicente undercard, for which he received a revised Beyer of 101. The $485,000 Keeneland September yearling purchase covered his half-mile in :47.60 (3/69) in the company of GIII Best Pal Stakes hero and GI American Pharoah Stakes second Getaway Car, who was assigned the same time. Here are the closing odds for other Santa Anita-based 3-year-olds who were part of the individual betting interests in the KDFW: Citizen Bull (Into Mischief), 17-1; Journalism (Curlin), 20-1; Rodriguez, 22-1; Gaming (Game Winner), 47-1; San Saba (Justify), 44-1; Madaket Road (Quality Road), 47-1; 'TDN Rising Star' Bullard (Gun Runner), 76-1; Romanesque, 79-1; Varney (Vekoma), 80-1; Getaway Car, 83-1. Gaming is entered for Saturday's GII Southwest Stakes at Oaklawn Park and Citizen Bull is scheduled to make his 3-year-old bow in the GII Robert B. Lewis Stakes Feb. 1. Journalism has not breezed since winning the GII Los Alamitos Futurity in December. Also working at Santa Anita on Monday was GI Breeders' Cup Sprint winner and Eclipse Award finalist Straight No Chaser (Speighster), who fired a bullet five furlongs in :59.20 (1/38) in preparation for the G2 Riyadh Dirt Sprint in Saudi Arabia on Feb. 22. The post Baffert Sophomores Return To Santa Anita Worktab appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Ascot, Goodwood, and York have unveiled a lucrative bonus scheme aimed at encouraging the participation of high-class runners from outside Europe in three of Britain's biggest all-age races across July and August.View the full article

Mansfield Racing's 3-year-old daughter of Too Much Bling won or placed six times in seven starts in 2024 and earned more than $178,000.View the full article

1/ST and Goodwood Racecourse announced an initiative that will see a reciprocal partnership between 1/ST-owned racecourses in North America and Goodwood Racecourse in the United Kingdom.View the full article

The Kentucky Thoroughbred Association (KTA) is the latest organization to come out in opposition to the recent decoupling proposal in the state of Florida that could result in the cessation of racing at Gulfstream Park. At one point in time, Florida mandated that its racetrack conduct live racing operations in order to run a casino. Since those original regulations were eased, many tracks have suspended racing while continuing to run a casino. As the Thoroughbred Horsemen's Association did on Jan. 9, officials at the KTA also issued a statement against the notion of decoupling on Jan. 20. The statement reads: “Tracks and horsemen can forge a common and successful business strategy that need not be adversarial. Such collaboration brings dividends in Washington, Frankfort, Albany, or Tallahassee. Racing in the twenty-first century has shown it is a responsible custodian of alternative forms of gaming and attract billions of dollars of investment equally, to the betterment of our constituents, corporate profit, and tax revenue. We in Kentucky know what it looks like. 'Decoupling' is not it.” While the KTA does have members in Florida, it says it possesses no official role in Florida racing. “On behalf of these members and the greater industry, we are prepared to assist as they direct,” the statement concludes. The post KTA Issues Statement Against Florida Decoupling Proposal appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

There are two horse racing meetings set for Australia on Tuesday, January 21. Our racing analysts here at horsebetting.com.au have found you the best bets and the quaddie numbers for Newcastle. Tuesday’s Free Horse Racing Tips – January 21, 2025 Newcastle Racing Tips As always, there are plenty of promotions available for Australian racing fans. Check out all the top online bookmakers to see what daily promotions they have. If you are looking for a new bookmaker for the horse racing taking place on January 21, 2025 check out our guide to the best online racing betting sites. Neds Code GETON 1 Take It To The Neds Level Neds Only orange bookie! Check Out Neds Review 18+ Gamble Responsibly. What are you really gambling with? Set a deposit limit today. “GETON is not a bonus code. Neds does not offer bonus codes in Australia and this referral code does not grant access to offers. Full terms. BlondeBet Signup Code GETON 2 Punters Prefer Blondes BlondeBet Blonde Boosts – Elevate your prices! Join BlondeBet Review 18+ Gamble Responsibly. WHAT ARE YOU REALLY GAMBLING WITH? full terms. 3 Next Gen Racing Betting Picklebet Top 4 Betting. Extra Place. Every Race. Join Picklebet Review 18+ Gamble Responsibly. What are you really gambling with? Full terms. Recommended! 4 It Pays To Play PlayUp Aussie-owned horse racing specialists! Check Out PlayUp Review 18+ Gamble Responsibly. Imagine what you could be buying instead. Full terms. Dabble Signup Code AUSRACING 5 Say Hey to the social bet! Dabble You Better Believe It Join Dabble Review 18+ Gamble Responsibly. THINK. IS THIS A BET YOU REALLY WANT TO PLACE? Full terms. Bet365 Signup Code GETON 6 Never Ordinary Bet365 World Favourite! Visit Bet365 Review 18+ Gamble Responsibly. GETON is not a bonus code. bet365 does not offer bonus codes in Australia and this referral code does not grant access to offers. What’s gambling really costing you? Full terms. Horse racing tips View the full article

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Due to extreme weather conditions that are anticipated over the next several days in southeastern Louisiana, officials at the Fair Grounds have announced that the nine-race program originally scheduled for this Thursday, Jan. 23 will be moved to next Monday, Jan. 27. The next scheduled card will now take place on Friday, Jan. 24, with racing to continue Saturday, Sunday and now Monday with a first post time of 12:45 p.m. Central time. Wintry weather on the eastern seaboard resulted in the cancellation of live racing Monday and Tuesday at Parx just outside of Philadelphia, while officials at Oaklawn Park took pre-emptive action late last week and canceled Monday's holiday program at the Hot Springs oval. An extra day of racing has been added on Jan. 30 to help make up for the lost days of racing during the current month. The post Fair Grounds Postponing Thursday Program To Jan. 27 appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

A total of 33 lots have been catalogued for Saturday's Tattersalls Cheltenham January Sale after a further six point-to-point winners were added over the weekend. The full catalogue is available to view here, with selling set to start at the conclusion of racing at Prestbury Park. In addition to the 29 horses who have either won or finished placed point-to-points, Karate Kid (Ire) (lot 10) features among a quartet of four-year-olds who have already won under Rules. The son of Spanish Moon was the subject of this TDN feature on Monday after his success in a bumper at Leopardstown's Christmas Festival. Lots will be stabled in the Charles Turner yard and will be available for viewing from 1pm on Friday, January 24 and from 8.30am through to the end of the sale.on Saturday, January 25. The post Full Catalogue for the Tattersalls Cheltenham January Sale Now Online appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Too Much Kiki (Too Much Bling) has been named Texas Horse of the Year and champion 3-year-old filly for her on-track exploits in 2024. Owned by Landon Jordan's Mansfield Racing and trained by Bret Calhoun, gray filly won the first three starts of her campaign, each in stakes (non black-type) and was runner-up in black-type events at Sam Houston and Lone Star Park last spring. She concluded the season with a record of 3-2-1 from seven appearances and earnings of $178,479. Too Much Kiki was the $100,000 topper at the 2022 Texas Summer Yearling Sale while part of the draft of Highlander Training Center. Her dam, Soft Music (Action This Day), also produced Too Much Kiki's full-sister Bling On The Music, the champion Texas 2-year-old filly of 2016. Soft Music was named 2024 Broodmare of the Year and her owner, Daniele Durham, was crowned breeders of the year. The leading accredited Texas-bred money earner for 2024 was Equestris Ltd Inc (dba W.S. Farish). The other divisional champions are as follows: 2-year-old filly: Tapitures Actor (Tapiture) 2-year-old gelding: Ring Seeker (Too Much Bling) 3-year-old gelding: Victory for Vets (Tapiture) Older Female: Reclusive (Flat Out) Older Male: Singapore Flash (Shanghai Bobby) The post Too Much Kiki Named Texas Horse of the Year appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

A breeding right in Goliath du Berlais (Fr) topped the Arqana Online January Sale on Monday when going the way of Bertrand Le Metayer (BLM Bloodstock) for €80,000. The leading sire of three-year-old jumpers from his first crop, the Haras d'Etreham stallion was beaten just once in eight starts as a chaser in France, notably winning the G1 Prix Ferdinand Dufaure on his final appearance as a four-year-old. Of the seven lots offered, four sold for a total of €180,000. A 1/60th share in City Light (Fr) was bought by Laurent Benoit (Broadhurst Agency) for €45,000, while a 1/50th share in Beaumec de Houelle (Fr) fetched €30,000 from Michel Haski. The other lot to sell was the Monsun (Ger) mare North Sun (Ger), the dam of the G2 Grosser Preis der Badischen Wirtschaft winner Northern Ruler (Ger) (Ruler Of The World {Ire}). Offered in offered by Gestüt Schlenderhan in foal to Torquator Tasso (Ger), she was purchased by Erwan de Chambord (EDC Agency) for €25,000. A nomination to the Aga Khan Studs stallion Zarak (Fr) was not sold at €78,000. The post Breeding Right in Goliath du Berlais Tops Arqana Online January Sale appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Godolphin's seven-time Group 1 winner and defending champion Rebel's Romance (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) heads a stellar international entry for Qatar's $2,500,000 H.H. Amir Trophy, which is scheduled to be run over 2,400 metres at Al Rayyan Racecourse in Doha on Saturday, February 15. The seven-year-old Rebel's Romance could face up to five other top-level winners if attempting to repeat last year's impressive victory in Qatar's most valuable Thoroughbred contest, with a total of 69 entries from eight different countries being received. The William Haggas-trained Dubai Honour (Ire) (Pride Of Dubai {Aus}), last seen filling the runner-up spot in the G1 Hong Kong Vase at Sha Tin in December, is another previous Group 1 winner in contention, along with Alban de Mieulle's local contender Simca Mille (Ire) (Tamayuz {GB}), who won the G1 Grosser Preis von Berlin when trained in France by Stephane Wattel. The G1 Hopeful Stakes winner Killer Ability (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) leads the potential Japanese challenge, while his compatriot, Satono Glanz (Jpn) (Satono Diamond {Jpn}), could attempt to improve on his third-place finish in last year's renewal. Elsewhere on the card, possible runners in the $500,000 Irish Thoroughbred Marketing Cup include the multiple Group/Grade 2 winners Poker Face (Ire) (Fastnet Rock {Aus}) and Ottoman Fleet (GB) (Sea The Stars {Ire}), while Charlie Appleby, the trainer of both Rebel's Romance and Ottoman Fleet, also has a strong hand in the $400,000 Al Rayyan Mile with Age Of Gold (Ire) (Frankel {GB}) and Aomori City (Fr) (Oasis Dream {GB}). The Irish Thoroughbred Marketing Cup and Al Rayyan Mile are both staged as local Group 2 races. The other big race at the meeting for Thoroughbreds is the $400,000 Dukhan Sprint, which is run as a local Group 3. The entries include Wathnan Racing's talented trio of Crimson Advocate (Nyquist), Dark Trooper (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}) and Rogue Lightning (Ire) (Kodiac {GB}), while Kevin Ryan's Washington Heights (GB) (Washington DC {Ire}) and the Stuart Williams-trained Quinault (Ger) (Oasis Dream {GB}) could both make the trip from Britain. The post Returning Hero Rebel’s Romance Among 69 Entries for H.H. Amir Trophy appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

The first foal by the New York-based Americanrevolution (Constitution) was delivered early on the morning of Jan. 19 at Northview Stallion Station in Warwick, Maryland. Bred by Valencia Leach, the colt is the fourth live produce out of Tiz a Belle (Tiznow), a daughter of the Grade III-placed Mr Hall's Opus (Office), the dam of GIII Palos Verdes Stakes winner Essential Wager (Honor Code) and also hailing from the A.P. Indy sire line. Tiz a Belle's lone foal to the races is the winning Alemam (Catalina Cruiser), an $85,000 Keeneland November weanling and $130,000 Texas 2-Year-Olds in Training purchase. New York-bred Americanrevoultion was raced by WinStar and CHC Inc. and won five of his 12 starts, four of those in stakes company, including a half-length victory as a 3-year-old in the GI Cigar Mile Handicap. Americanrevolution stands at Rockridge Stud in Hudson, NY, in a partnership with WinStar Farm, China Horse Club, Taylor Made Stallions, Fortune Farm and Mill Creek Farm. The post Grade I Winner Americanrevolution Sires First Foal appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

The first foal of the high-class sprinter Bouttemont (Ire) was born on January 11, Rathbarry Stud announced on Monday. Bred by Equispirit Limited, the bay colt is the first foal out of the Showcasing (GB) mare Rival Queen (Ire) who, in turn, is out of a Galileo (Ire) half-sister to the leading sires Invincible Spirit (Ire) and Kodiac (GB). Bouttemont is a son of Rathbarry's much-missed stallion Acclamation (GB). He covered 81 mares in his first season at stud, including 13 black-type performers, 11 black-type producers and half-sisters to the Group 1 winners Mad Cool (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}) and Zafisio (Ire) (Efisio {GB}). The post First Foal for Rathbarry’s Bouttemont appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

GBBPlus, an extension of the highly successful Great British Bonus (GBB) scheme, has begun issuing its first bonuses. Designed to incentivise and reward the breeding, buying and racing of British-bred staying fillies and chasing mares, GBBPlus officially launched on January 1, and within three weeks, it has already awarded two £30,000 bonuses. The scheme's extension, announced last year, provides all mares born in Britain and sired by a British-based stallion with the opportunity to compete for bonuses of up to £30,000 in Class 1-4 weight-for-age (WFA) and handicap chases. Mares by stallions outside Britain remain eligible but receive half the bonus amounts to promote the use of British stallions. GBBPlus introduces a straightforward “10-20-30” bonus structure with bumpers offering up to £10,000, hurdles up to £20,000, and chases up to £30,000. The first two winners of the £30,000 bonus include the Lucy Wadham-trained Telepathique (GB) (Telescope {Ire}) when she gained her fifth career victory at Fakenham on Sunday, January 19. Simon Cox, chairman of the Thoroughbred Breeders' Association's (TBA) NH Committee, said, “We were really excited to extend GBB to an area of racing that needs additional support. GBB has already done phenomenal work in raising the value and appeal of British-bred mares, and this extension will only amplify that progress. “The number of mares participating in chases has been declining, so we hope the expanded coverage and increased bonus value will encourage owners and trainers to test their mares in these races.” He added, “It's fantastic to see successes like Telepathique's rewarded through the scheme. With her success on the track, she also qualifies for the HBLB funded Elite Mares Scheme (EMS), another TBA initiative, which offers significant discounts on covering fees, further supporting her future potential.” The post GBBPlus Delivers First Bonuses appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

The National Stud certainly cannot be accused of lacking variety in its stallion ranks. The champion stayer Stradivarius (Ire) has been the kingpin of the stallion yard for the last two seasons but now he will have to make room for another much-loved star in Bradsell (GB), the champion sprinter in Europe in 2024. It didn't take long for Bradsell to make his presence felt. Having been sold at the Goffs UK Breeze-up Sale by Mark Grant to Tom Biggs and Archie Watson, he made his debut exactly a month later on the Knavesmire, winning that York novice contest by nine lengths and instantly being named a TDN Rising Star. Further justification of that came another three weeks later when, by now racing in the red-and-white silks of Shaikh Nasser Al Khalifa's Victorious Racing, he won the G2 Coventry Stakes at Royal Ascot from Persian Force (Ire), Royal Scotsman (Ire) and Blackbeard (Ire), all of whom went on to frank the form by becoming Group 1 or Group 2 winners themselves. When he stumbled in the G1 Keeneland Phenix Stakes before hanging to finish fourth of the five runners, it might have been easiest to assume that here was another flash-in-the-pan two-year-old, whose star burned brightly but briefly, and was extinguished for good before the season was out. But such an assumption was to reckon without the tenacity of the power-packed Bradsell, who was skilfully brought back not once but twice from injury by Watson to compile a record that speaks not just to his gumption but also to his good mind. “I think everybody can remember that debut,” says Joe Bradley, head of bloodstock for the National Stud, who is now responsible for ensuring that Bradsell has a similarly explosive start to his second career. “We all know that that two-year-old form, but especially the two-year-old to four-year-old form at a high level, is incredibly important for a stallion, and he has that in abundance.” Indeed, a low-key exit from a desperate draw in the Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint cannot detract from the three Group 1 triumphs added to Bradsell's record at three and four, along with a Listed victory in Deauville last summer as a pipe-opener after almost a year off the track with a fracture. “He was the first three-year-old colt in 15 years to win the King's Stand Stakes,” says Bradley. “And the King's Stand at Royal Ascot is one that sprinters from across the world commonly target. His performance that day was exceptional and for him to perform at the highest level as a three-year-old, then into his four-year-old campaign, was just incredible.” Straight off the plane home from California, Bradsell was in to the National Stud stallion yard and showing for breeders who were in town for the December Sales. Now, with a little time to settle in, he is already letting down and is quite clearly becoming a firm favourite of the team charged with his care. Bradley continues, “It's hugely exciting for the National Stud and for everybody involved with Victorious Racing to have him standing here for the 2025 season. The response has been hugely positive. I think we've been a bit taken aback.” He notes that it is hoped that Bradsell, who is one of only three new Flat stallions in Britain in 2025, will cover a book of around 130 mares in his first season, including a group owned by Victorious Racing and Fawzi Nass. “He looks like exactly what he should look like,” Bradley adds of the son of Tasleet (GB) and the Listed-winning Archipenko mare Russian Punch (GB). “We're looking at a champion sprinter, so he has all the qualities of that physically. Very strong: short-coupled, strong hip, strong shoulder. And he really just looks like that fast, precocious horse that he is. And he's really a pleasure to have around, especially for the people here who handle him daily. It's very important that they have a horse that is easy to handle.” While there were some notable highs at last year's yearling and foal sales, the overall picture can be a little daunting for those smaller breeders operating on a budget and sometimes struggling to get young stock into a sale, never mind to sell at a profit. Their numbers have dropped in recent years, as exemplified by a reduction in the foal crop, which was down by six per cent in Britain and Ireland last year. The departure of a number of stallions to stand overseas – including Bradsell's relatively young sire Tasleet, and Mutsasaabeq (GB), who was sold by the National Stud to India after standing just one season in Newmarket, adds to the uncertainty for breeders currently finalising their mating plans. The National Stud is attempting to ease potential cash flow concerns for breeders around sales time later this year by offering both Stradivarius and Bradsell on Live Foal terms, meaning that payment is delayed until a foal is on the ground next spring. (The farm's other two stallions, Lope Y Fernandez and Rajasinghe, remain on October 1 SLF terms.) “It's just our little additional help that we can do very easily,” Bradley says. “And I think that's reflected, again, in the support that we've seen so far. It really makes a difference for breeders and we're very happy to do it.” He continues, “It's something that's been talked about quite a lot recently, that lower-to-bottom-end market, and that's definitely an area that is struggling. But that's not to say that people aren't still participating and I think the appetite for breeding to horses is still there. “We see breeders who are still very keen to get involved at that level, and we're still seeing a strong uptake on boarding mares, coming not only here to National Stud stallions but also visiting other stallions in Newmarket. So we're very positive for the season ahead. We understand the challenges and we do what we can to help.” The post Bradsell a ‘Hugely Exciting’ Newcomer to the National Stud appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Just over a month after being granted his trainer's licence, Colm Ryan lit up the Leopardstown Christmas festival when the not unfancied Karate Kid (Ire) (Spanish Moon) ran out a most impressive winner of the 2m4f bumper–a race that has been won by subsequent Grade 1 horses Carefully Selected (Ire), Appreciate It (Ire) and Fact To File (Ire) in recent times. This was the first time in six years where the powerful yards of Willie Mullins or Gordon Elliott weren't responsible for the winner of the race and Karate Kid will doubtless pique the interest of some of the bigger outfits when he goes under the hammer at the Cheltenham January Sale on Saturday. Karate Kid is owned by Ryan's close friend John Hayes, who actually held the licence when the horse made a promising start to his career to finish second in a Fairyhosue bumper back in October. From there, connections rolled the big dice by taking on the might of Mulllins and Elliott at Leopardstown and were rewarded ten fold for their bravery. And while Ryan acknowledges something of a flip-flopping of the market that sees potential suitors gravitate towards point-to-point graduates over bumper winners compared to what would have been the case a decade previously, the rookie handler remains optimistic that the gelding can make his value in the ring. Ryan, who is in his early 40s, explained, “There have been a good few calls but it made the most sense to bring him to the sales. The market does seem to be heavily biased towards point-to-pointers and we're not in that circle at the moment. Maybe if this was six or seven years ago, people would be knocking down the door for a Leopardstown bumper winner. But the market has been flipped on its head for whatever reason.” He added, “What some of those point winners are doing is nothing related to what Karate Kid did at Leopardstown. A lot of them run in a point-to-point in November and then they aren't seen for 12 months. The other thing is the level of form they achieve. They are getting away with murder, really. Okay, they may be good horses but there's no real value to what they are doing–hacking around and quickening up from the second last. “Compare that to the three-year-old hurdles at Auteuil in April and you've 18 runners and fields spread out like the washing. It's just a different test altogether. There's various examples of horses winning a point-to-point and being put away for a year. They can't run for 12 months because they can't handle the system of any of those big yards. The likes of Karate Kid and the system that he's in, he'd go into Willie's, Henry's [de Bromhead] or Gordon's in the morning and slot in straight away. There's no doubt about that.” Karate Kid was sourced for just £13,000 at the Goffs UK Spring Store Sale back in 2023. There were phone calls after that promising Fairyhouse debut but nothing materialised and he went on to deliver that memorable breakthrough victory on one of the biggest National Hunt stages of them all for Ryan. From the outside looking in, the decision to run Karate Kid in what is typically one of the hottest bumpers all winter looked ambitious at best. But it was one that was made easy given the form of the horse at home on the gallops, according to the handler. He said, “Three to four weeks out from the run, the decision became an easy one to make. It was just black and white as he was working so well. You talk about a young horse's ability but a lot of it is conjecture. This fella ran away fine on debut at Fairyhouse. It was a middle-of-the-road run. But sometimes these young horses can just improve and really start to roll and that's what he did after that run. They become really trainable and every day you do something with them they feel better. From the beginning of December, he was really flying and it was just a matter of hoping you weren't going to meet the second coming out of Willie's at Leopardstown. “Whether you are a singer, or an artist or whatever, the standard is unbelievable and the shape a good horse can itself into is phenomenal. Then you have other horses and you're persuading yourself all the time about what they might do. But the simplest thing about Karate Kid is that he took himself to Leopardstown. You didn't have to make any case for him. He did it himself. It was just clear-cut. People talk about galloping but it's nothing to do with galloping. It's a strong daily routine and the good ones will keep coming forward. I've no doubt that he's a good horse. Especially with how he came out of his race. We'd have had no problem going to the DRF [Dublin Racing Festival] with him–he was ridden out two days after the run because he was getting too fresh.” Ryan may be a rookie on paper, with Karate Kid just the second horse he has run in his own name, but Leopardstown was far from his first rodeo. After enjoying initial success, he was almost lost to the game after a series of investments went awry. It was only after teaming up with fellow Limerick-based handler Richard O'Brien in 2019 where his spark was reignited and the stable sent out four bumper winners in that time, including Ryan's homebred and Springs A Girl (Ire) and Hayes's homebred Shanbally Kid (Ire). “It's only in the last couple of years where this whole thing has become something real,” he explained. “The other side of it is that it's almost a second act if you like. A lot of people my age will have established themselves in life whereas I am starting again. I got out of horses for a good period of time. “Going back to the very beginning, there wouldn't have been any history of horses at home. My father just arrived home from the mart one day with a mare and sure we didn't have a clue what we were doing. We put her in foal anyway and put the progeny in training with Charles Byrnes. It was through that horse [Drive On (Ire)] that I got a job with Charles. I got a few quid together and I came home and put down a gallop.” He added, “The first store horse I bought by myself was named Lismakeery (Ire) and he went and won a bumper and I got him sold to JP McManus but I didn't know what I was doing at the time. I went off and bought seven or eight horses with the money I got from that horse and the whole thing just went up in smoke. I just got out of the game for a while after that. I was out of it for no other reasons than inexperience and stupidity. I went farming for six or seven years and had an attitude that it didn't work out because I wasn't up to it. The reality was I just didn't have enough exposure or experience.” He added, “I met Richard by chance. He had been calling into David O'Meara when he was based in the north of England and obviously Karl Burke, Kevin Ryan and Richard Fahey are based around there as well. This system of training that Richard brought back from his time over there was really invigorating. There was something really fresh about it and it really hit me. I would have been very blinkered and wouldn't have known anything other than the standard way of training horses and getting them fit–quite old-fashioned methods. This was back in 2019 and it created a completely new interest in racing for me.” It was last year when Ryan decided it was time enough to stand on his own two feet. And while allergic to self praise, he acknowledges that the role he played in nurturing a number of young horses who went on and won races provided the confidence to apply for the trainers' course. And the management of Karate Kid has been a vindication of that leap of faith. He said, “You can't really go saying these things about yourself, but I had a bit of success over the past couple of years and started to think that this might be something I could be good at. Usually, when you are dealing with a small number of horses, you might get a result every few years. But in the past three or four years, the results have been a lot more regular. It felt like there was something solid happening.” On the future, he added, “For the past five or six years, I have just been going non-stop 24/7. Now, I have got a good few quid out of horses but I found myself in a position where I was going to Leopardstown with Karate Kid and everything was revolving around how he ran. We were relying on him running well if not winning. That's a really bad position to find yourself in and thankfully he ran well and he looks a selling prospect now. But irrespective of the sale, if he didn't perform, it would have been fairly bleak stuff. I am at a point in my life now where I'd like this to work. I am not married and I don't have any kids. I have a huge interest in training but I'm still not in a position where things are normal-you're relying on a big result every year. The dream would be to have a batch of young horses coming through every year and to achieve a semblance of normality.” The post ‘We Were Relying On Karate Kid Winning – It Would Have Been Bleak If He Didn’t’ appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Retired Hall of Fame jockey Ramon Dominguez and his wife Sharon are among the four new board members of Therapeutic Horses of Saratoga (THS), a non-profit organization dedicated to providing sanctuary for retired racehorses and to sharing their horses and farm with the community through programs focused on mental health and wellness. Along with the Dominguezes, new board members are Keith Augustine and David Swank. “The addition of these dedicated individuals to the THS board will ensure that the organization continues to thrive and expand its equine-assisted therapy programs,” said THS co-founder Dr. Erin Christopher-Sisk. “Their unique expertise, shared passion for our mission, and commitment to mental health will help us make a lasting impact on our community. We are excited to work together as they bring their talents and insights to help move THS forward.” The post Ramon and Sharon Dominguez Join Therapeutic Horses of Saratoga Board appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Ascot, Goodwood and York, three of Britain's largest independent racecourses, announced today the 'British Midsummer Bonus', a new initiative designed to incentivise connections of horses trained outside of Europe to target three of the most prestigious Group 1 races in the British Flat racing calendar. Up to £1 million in bonuses will be available to connections who saddle international runners in both the £1.5 million King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Ascot and £1 million Qatar Sussex Stakes at Goodwood, which are run days apart from each other, minimising travel complexities. The £1 million win bonus will pay out should the winners of both races be owned or trained by the same person (or entity in the case of owners). If the horses are placed in both races, a £250,000 bonus will be paid. Additionally, any horse who is successful in either the King George or Sussex Stakes and then lines up in the £1.25 million Juddmonte International at York will receive an appearance fee of £250,000, while any horse who is placed in the King George or Sussex Stakes and then contests the International will receive an appearance fee of £150,000. Any horse who simply lines up at Ascot or Goodwood will be guaranteed an appearance fee of £50,000, should they then go to York afterwards. Nick Smith, director of racing and public affairs at Ascot Racecourse, said, “We have been collectively considering how to maximise global attention on the midsummer period in Britain, when there are less major overseas events taking part than at other times of the year. “The thinking behind the Midsummer Bonus is that the opening races are, effectively, the same week, and this presents an opportunity to promote the whole week and all its international options as one entity. By linking the high-summer flagship races at Ascot, Goodwood and York and promoting them together, with bonuses, we are hoping that there is a greater incentive to travel horses to the UK for this significant spell of racing with seven Group 1s. “We are offering full equine travel costs, stabling and such like within the bonus scheme, along with business class flights and hotels for connections, very much as is expected at major international meetings around the world these days.” Yoshito Yahagi, a leading trainer in Japan, said, “I am excited to hear the news about this original bonus scheme which is very attractive for owners and trainers in Japan. Ascot, Goodwood and York Racecourses are adored by Japanese trainers, and this new scheme will certainly mean we give consideration to the venture when we plan our international programme. I hope I can become the first trainer to win the King George and Sussex Stakes in the same year.” The post British Midsummer Bonus Introduced for Horses Trained Outside of Europe appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Coming off its best year ever, Coteau Grove Farms now ranks among the leading buyers in the country. The operation, based in Sunset, Lousiana with a broodmare band of 63 head, was represented by four black-type winners from 71 starters in 2024 and the earners of nearly $3 million. The farm's advisor Andrew Cary of Cary Bloodstock gave TDN a sampling of the variety of stallions the operation is breeding to in 2025, both in Kentucky and in Louisiana. ANIMA GEMELLA (8, Ghostzapper–Naive Enough, by Street Sense) is booked to Cogburn. She is a young half-sister to Coteau Grove-bred GSW Tumbarumba (Oscar Performance). We originally purchased her as a 2-year-old in-training and she won her only turf start for Graham Motion during the challenging COVID racing schedule of the spring and summer of 2020. A big, grand-looking mare, her first foal by Caravaggio (Scat Daddy) was gorgeous and sold for $100,000 at Keeneland September last year to Bob Feld as agent for Amerman Racing, the same connections involved with Tumbarumba. Breeding Anima Gemella to an elite sprinter worked well the first time and they don't come any faster than Cogburn. A beautiful-looking horse by the elite sire Not This Time, Cogburn has a great chance to be successful at stud. Though ultimately at his best on the grass, he did break his maiden in his second start as a 2-year-old, going six furlongs on the dirt at Churchill Downs in 1:09 and change. BAYERNESS (8, Bayern–Weight No More, by Pure Prize) is booked to Wit. She is one of our top young mares. She was a multiple SW/GSP earner of $433,823 on the racetrack for Cherie DeVaux and her first foal is an awesome Kentucky-bred yearling filly by Flightline that we will sell later this year. She is due to Horse of the Year Cody's Wish. Bayerness is booked back to our new stallion, multiple GSW/G1 placed Wit (Practical Joke), who we own in partnership with Whispering Oaks Farm, where he will stand. Coteau Grove will be heavily supporting Wit with around 30 mares in his first season at stud. He is a great physical specimen, standing 16.2 hands, and was the highest-priced yearling by Practical Joke from his first crop. Wit was among the best colts of his generation as a 2-year-old, winning the GIII Sanford S. at Saratoga by open lengths and running a game second to Gunite (Gun Runner) in the GI Hopeful S. after a troubled start. He returned to win the GIII Bay Shore S. and place in the GI Hollywood Derby as a 3-year-old, showcasing his distance and surface versatility. Practical Joke continues to go from strength to strength in his own right and you just can't go wrong with the Into Mischief sire line in this country. CALL TO SERVICE (9, To Honor and Serve–Game For More, by More Than Ready) is booked to Gun Runner. She has gotten off to a tremendous start to her broodmare career, as her first foal is the SW/G1SP The Wine Steward (Vino Rosso), who is working well at Gulfstream Park towards his 4-year-old debut. Her 3-year-old Acknowledge (Authentic) recently broke his maiden at Fair Grounds by 9 1/4 lengths for Repole Stable and Joe Sharp and will hopefully be another blacktype performer for the mare. Call to Service also has a 2-year-old filly by Curlin that was retained and a Kentucky-bred yearling colt by Justify that we are hopeful will be a great sales yearling later this summer. She was bred once last year to Uncle Mo and didn't catch, so she will be ready to go early to leading sire Gun Runner. The Wine Steward | Chelsea Durand CILLA (7, California Chrome–Sittin at the Bar, by Into Mischief) is booked to Star Guitar. She is one of our foundation mares for the future, a Grade II winning/Grade I-placed daughter of the top producer Sittin at the Bar (Into Mischief), who herself has already produced four stakes winners from her first five foals to race, including the Grade I-winning Alva Starr (Lord Nelson) and SW/MGSP Club Car (Malibu Moon). Cilla recently transitioned to the Louisiana program and is in-foal to Gun Runner carrying her first foal. She will be bred back to top Louisiana sire Star Guitar, the sire of eight SWs in 2024, including graded winners Ova Charged and Manama Gold, as well as millionaire Touchuponastar (another Coteau Grove-bred). ELFIN QUEEN (8, American Pharoah–Pretty 'n Smart, by Beau Genius) is booked to Wit. She boasts a quality pedigree, as she is a half-sister to four stakes winners, including Grade I winner Cupid (Tapit) and Grade III winner Heart Ashley (Lion Heart). Recent graded stakes performers from the immediate female family include Ain't Easy (Into Mischief), Kathleen O (Upstart), V V's Dream (Mitole) and Opus Forty Two (Mendelssohn). Elfin Queen's first foal is the newly turned 3-year-old filly Supa Speed (Justify), a $460,000 Keeneland September sales yearling that is now multiple stakes-placed in Southern California for Flying Dutchmen Breeding and Racing and trainer John Sadler. Elfin Queen's 2-year-old colt by Into Mischief sold for $575,000 at the 2024 Fasig-Tipton Saratoga sale and will be trained by Hall of Famer Steve Asmussen. Elfin Queen is carrying a full-sibling to Supa Speed and is another of our top mares booked back to Wit for his first season. One more interesting note, the Into Mischief/American Pharaoh cross is responsible already for the exciting, undefeated Kentucky Derby hopeful Barnes. FIREFOOT (11, Tapizar–Empty the Bases, by Grand Slam) is booked to Arabian Knight. Firefoot was a nice bargain buy for $20,000 a few years ago. Her first foal Drewmazing (Bayern) has won over $140,000 and her second foal, Freeburn (Mitole), is multiple SP and has earned $217,500 to date racing for Coteau Grove and will join our broodmare band upon the conclusion of her racing career. Arabian Knight was an easy selection for Firefoot. He's a 10/10 physical for me and showed elite ability on the racetrack. His debut at Keeneland was eagerly anticipated and he delivered in spectaclar style reminiscent of his legendary sire who we lost too soon. I thought Arabian Knight was the best-looking horse at the 2023 Breeders' Cup at Santa Anita where he ran a gallant fourth in the GI Breeders' Cup Classic after setting very strong fractions. I'm very bullish on his future. HIGHLAND GRACE (5, American Pharaoh–Caroline Thomas, by Giant's Causeway) is booked to Into Mischief. Highland Grace is one of our most recent acquisitions, purchased for $320,000 as a broodmare prospect at last year's Keeneland November sale. She was Grade GII-placed at Belmont Park and was competitive against some of the top turf distaffers in her generation on several occasions. She comes from a quality family as well. Her dam Caroline Thomas won the GII Lake Placid S. and was third in the GI Queen Elizabeth Challenge Cup and her granddam Bit of Whimsy won that same Grade I race at Keeneland. This is a family that rarely comes on the market, so we took advantage of the opportunity to get in by buying Highland Grace, and then were fortunate enough to acquire her 3-year-old full-sister Katherine Thomas about 30 minutes later in the same session. Hopefully they can both help each other's pages even further as the years progress. Katherine Thomas is booked to Cogburn for her first breeding this year. Highland Grace will get every opportunity to get off to a fast start at stud with six-time leading sire Into Mischief, who has shown great versatility with his runners over the years. We think this family can produce runners that can thrive on any surface and that sort of flexibility is the name of the game now. Once again, this is the same cross of the budding young star Barnes, one that is sure to be emulated by many breeders in years to come. NAIVE ENOUGH (14, Street Sense–Light From Above, by A.P. Indy) is booked to Oscar Performance. This is a repeat of the mating that produced the GSW/MGSP Tumbarumba, one of the gamest and toughest horses in training currently. Tumbarumba concluded a stellar 2024 campaign with an excellent fourth in the GI Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile at Del Mar. He was purchased by powerhouse stable Wathnan Racing midway through last season and remains in training for 2025. Oscar Performance's ability to sire top-class horses on any surface is incredibly promising and his record of stakes horses to runners is excellent. He will be an important sire in the years ahead. Tumbarumba | Ryan Thompson TOUCH MAGIC (5, Lion Heart–Unifier, by Deputy Minister) is booked to Wit. Touch Magic is the dam of 2023 Louisiana Horse of the Year Touchuponastar (Start Guitar), who recently went over $1 million in career earnings with his third straight win in the Louisiana Champions Day Classic at Fair Grounds Racecourse in December. Touch Magic has also produced the promising 3-year-old Voila Magic (Volatile), who was a 'TDN Rising Star' last fall after a debut romp at Keeneland and has progressed to be multiple stakes-placed, including an excellent second in a swiftly run Louisiana Futurity at the end of December. His future looks bright. Touch Magic is currently in-foal to Horse of the Year Flightline and is another of our top mares slated to go to our new stallion Wit in his first season at stud. Other Kentucky stallions we are breeding to in 2025 include: Domestic Product, Muth, National Treasure, Prince of Monaco and Vekoma. Interested in sharing your own mating plans? Email garyking@thetdn.com. The post 2025 Mating Plans: Coteau Grove Farms, Presented by Spendthrift Farm appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article