Wandering Eyes

Champion on the track and accomplished as a stallion, Blame reached a career milestone Aug. 31 when Crazy Frazy became his 50th stakes winner with a score in the $201,000 Sapling Stakes at Monmouth Park.View the full article

Brightwork (Outwork), who returned from a 10-month layoff to win the GIII Prioress Stakes at Saratoga Saturday, could make her next start in the GII Raven Run Stakes at Keeneland Oct. 19, if all goes well, according to trainer John Ortiz. “We'll let her tell us where to go next,” Ortiz said. “This is the biggest effort I've seen her lay out in the afternoon–she was running against 3-year-olds that have been running and I want to make sure she comes out of it in good shape and has enough time to recover.” Brightwork opened her career last summer with four straight victories, including wins in the GIII Adirondack Stakes and GI Spinaway Stakes. She suffered her first loss when fifth when trying two turns in the 1 1/16-mile GI Darley Alcibiades Stakes and had not been seen since finishing sixth in the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies last November. “She just proved us right that she's an athlete,” Ortiz said of Saturday's return win. “She looked so tired coming down the stretch and [runner-up] Two Sharp (Twirling Candy) was so game with her, and they had a really good horse race. But you could just see the class and the heart that she has for this game–she loves it. She starts nickering any time you put the saddle on for training. She loves her job, and she definitely proved it yesterday.” Brightwork's winning effort in the Prioress matched her career-best 89 Beyer Speed Figure and capped an impressive Spa season for Ortiz, who sports a 11-6-1-1 record at the meet. “It's always great to come to Saratoga,” Ortiz said. “It's one of the biggest stages in the world and it's a place where you want to be seen and recognized to be doing well. Having success at Saratoga is something you want on your resume, but when you crush the meet like we did this year, it speaks volumes about our team.” Ortiz also has a Keeneland stakes assignment on the calendar for Shortleaf Stable's Quietside (Malibu Moon). Tabbed a 'TDN Rising Star' following her 6 1/4-length debut win Aug. 4, the dark bay filly was runner-up in the GI Spinaway Stakes Saturday. Caught four wide after exiting post 11 with Luis Saez aboard in the Spinaway, Quietside made an early move for the lead through the turn, opening up by 2 1/2 lengths at the stretch call, but had to settle for second, landing 1 1/4 lengths back of the rallying Immersive (Nyquist). “We got a little unfortunate with the post, which I initially loved, but we did get caught widest the whole race,” Ortiz said. “Luis tried to cut the corner coming out of the turn to get the jump on the girls, but we just got caught. It was a great ride, great effort and we're happy to see she has real ability to come back and repeat a good effort after winning first time out. She proved she is some quality.” Ortiz continued, “She came out of the race in great form–bright eyed. She ate up her dinner last night and she jogged up sound for us this morning. We're super happy with the winning effort she put out there. Getting caught at the wire is just part of horse racing.” Ortiz said Quietside will now target the Oct. 4 GI Darley Alcibiades Stakes at Keeneland. “We think she'll like the two turns in the long term,” Ortiz said. Trainer Brad Cox confirmed Sunday that the Alcibiades is also the likely next start for Godolphin homebred Immersive. “She looked good,” Cox said. “We expected her to run big and she did. We always thought she showed the potential to stretch out. She got the seven-eighths and she should handle two turns. We will ship her back to Kentucky on Monday, and zero in on the Alcibiades, and go from there.” Immersive, who was a two-length winner going six furlongs in her July 21 debut at Saratoga, broke from the rail while making her second career start in the seven-furlong Spinaway. “She showed she has a tremendous amount of class to overcome the one hole,” Cox said of the filly's effort Saturday. “Manny [Franco] did a good job of putting her in a good position of tracking the frontrunners. Then she was able to show her stamina and class late to get by a very good filly inside the final sixteenth. She had a big gallop-out and I'm looking forward to getting her around two turns.” The post Keeneland Stakes Assignments Likely Next for Brightwork, Immersive appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Finally there's a feeling that Bradsell (GB) (Tasleet {GB}) is starting to get the recognition he deserves following his scintillating success in the G1 Nunthorpe Stakes at York's Ebor Festival. Already a two-time winner at Royal Ascot before that career high on the Knavesmire, he's quietly put together the sort of record which ought to earn him a queue of mares at his stable door by the time his racing days are over. And if for whatever reason it doesn't work out for Bradsell as a stallion, then he'll surely always have a place at Tattersalls as the equine ambassador for the Somerville Yearling Sale, having been bought at Park Paddocks for just 12,000gns in its very first year in 2021. He's been the poster boy ever since. “He's an absolutely outstanding advertisement for the Somerville Yearling Sale,” Tattersalls marketing director Jimmy George said of Archie Watson's sprinting star on the eve of this year's sale. “He was immense in the Nunthorpe and he looks as if he's got all of the credentials to go on to more Group 1 glory. For a sale of this nature, it's fantastic to have flagbearers of this quality.” Bradsell certainly isn't the only one. This year alone the juveniles Arabian Dusk (GB) (Havana Grey {GB}), Enchanting Empress (GB) (Sergei Prokofiev) and Tropical Storm (GB) (Eqtidaar {Ire}) have all won Pattern contests after changing hands at this sale 12 months ago. Listed scorers Enchanting Empress and Tropical Storm sold for 62,000gns and 50,000gns, respectively, while Arabian Dusk, the winner of the G2 Duchess Of Cambridge Stakes, proved a successful pinhook after being picked up for 80,000gns. “She emphasises two aspects to the sale, I think,” George said of Arabian Dusk. “It shows the quality of the horses to be found in the Somerville Yearling Sale, but it's also been a very happy hunting ground for the breeze-up consignors. She was bought for 80,000gns last year and sold for 525,000gns at the Craven Breeze-up Sale–it was fantastic business for all concerned.” He added, “The consistent number of Group and Listed winners coming from the sale tell their own story. Don't forget Anisette, who is arguably the best turf filly in California at the moment. There are only three Grade I races for fillies in California these days and she's won every single one of them. She was purchased for 26,000gns [in 2021] and I think it emphasises the diversity and the depth of the quality available. It's not just a one-dimensional sale.” As well as being far from one-dimensional, the Somerville Yearling Sale is also no longer a one-day fixture. For the first time this year it will be held over two days, with over 430 lots–up from 305 offered in 2023–scheduled to go under the hammer. Selling begins at 10am on Tuesday. Explaining the decision to move to two days, George said, “This sale has well and truly established itself as an important fixture in the European yearling sales calendar. Demand for places in its short history has always been considerable and it was felt that this year it made eminent sense to expand the fixture to two days, in response to that demand. “It's a strong catalogue, obviously significantly larger than we've had before, and it's full of the sort of yearlings that buyers have come to expect from the sale. There are certain areas of the market which are stronger than others, but quality yearlings have always found buyers in abundance and I think we'll see that in the next couple of days.” Only time will tell whether there's another Bradsell to be found, but buyers will have the opportunity to get their hands on a half-brother to the filly who chased him home in the Nunthorpe, Believing (Ire) (Mehmas {Ire}). Lot 279, consigned by Kildallan Farm, is an Inns Of Court (Ire) colt out of the unraced Kodiac (GB) mare Misfortunate (Ire) whose four-year-old daughter also won the G2 Sapphire Stakes at the Curragh in July. Other potential highlights include lot 235, Hazelwood Bloodstock's half-sister to the GI Natalma Stakes heroine La Pelosa (Ire) (Dandy Man {Ire}) by Earthlight (Ire), while the pedigree of lot 204 received a significant update on Sunday when his half-brother, Aesterius (Ire) (Mehmas {Ire}), ran away with the G3 Prix d'Arenberg at Longchamp. This colt from the Ballinafad Stud draft is by Tally-Ho Stud resident Cotai Glory (GB). Last year's Deutsches Derby winner Fantastic Moon (Ger) (Sea The Moon {Ger}) was also in the news on Sunday when he doubled his Group 1 tally in the Grosser Preis von Baden. His breeder, Philipp Stauffenberg, is consigning for the first time at the Somerville Yearling Sale this year, with a pair of fillies set to be offered under the name of his Stauffenberg Bloodstock. The Hello Youmzain (Fr) filly set to go through the ring as lot 223 is out of the German Group 3 runner-up La Merced (Ger) (Tiger Hill {Ire}), while the second dam, La Pilaya (Ger) (Pivotal {GB}), is a half-sister to five black-type performers. The other Stauffenberg offering, lot 185, is from the first crop of A'Ali (Ire), who had eight yearlings sell at the Doncaster Premier Yearling Sale at an average of £57,125 and for an aggregate sum of £457,000. Speaking of last week, it seems right to include a few lines from the leading buyer at Doncaster ahead of a sale where the clientele promises to include many of the same faces. Anthony Bromley, acting on behalf of Classic-winning owner Phil Cunningham, signed for 10 yearlings for a total of £1,010,000 at the Premier Yearling Sale, but overall trade was down on the previous year–the average and median both dropped by 14%–and Bromley expects more of the same as we head into the autumn. “As I thought the top quartile is very strong, but then there's chances,” Bromley said of the market last week. “The lower end is a little bit sticky and there are moments to find value. I know the parameters are going to be a bit down, but it's not going to be any different anywhere else this autumn. All of the averages and medians are going to be down this year. “We've got 450 fast yearlings this week [in Doncaster] and in a weeks' time we've got another 450 at the Somerville Yearling Sale, so it will be interesting to see whether it'll hold up through the whole thing.” The post Bradsell the Poster Boy as Tattersalls Prepares for First Two-Day Somerville Sale appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

The word was out when the Chad Brown-trainee Opulent Restraint (Dubawi {Ire}) made her first career start on July 28 at Saratoga. She was sent off as the 7-10 favorite but couldn't come through. She finished fourth, beaten 1 1/4 lengths. On Sunday at Saratoga she made amends. Sent off this time at 3-2, she won a stretch battle with Good Long Cry (Long On Value) to win the mile-and-a-sixteenth turf maiden by a half-length. “She has shown ability from day one and Chad liked her a lot,” wining rider Irad Ortiz Jr. said.. “First time out, she ran well, but just got beat. We regrouped, turned the page and she ran today the way we expected.” Opulent Restraint is owned by Stephanie Seymour Brant and was bred in Ireland by her husband Peter Brant's White Birch Farm. She is the first foal of Significant Form (Creative Cause), a five-time stakes winner whose list of wins includes the GII Ballston Spa S. and three Grade III stakes. She was also owned by Seymour Brant and trained by Chad Brown. The win Sunday wasn't exactly easy. A half-mile into the race, Opulent Restraint was stalking the pace in fourth . She took the lead at the three-sixteenths pole, but Good Long Cry, who set the pace, would not go away under Manny Franco. After a spirited stretch duel, Opulent Restraint prevailed. “I was right behind Manny and was full of horse,” Ortiz said. “I tipped her out and she responded well. She was still a little green, a little inexperienced. I think she still has something in the tank. We need to keep an eye on her. She can be a nice horse.” The GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf will likely be in Brown's plans. He has won the race six times. Magenta (Into Mischief) finished third for trainer Todd Pletcher and Repole Stable. The winner paid $5.10 and covered the distance in 1:44.17. 2nd-Saratoga, $100,000, Msw, 9-1, 2yo, f, 1 1/16mT, 1:44.17, gd, 1/2 length. OPULENT RESTRAINT (IRE) (f, 2, Dubawi {Ire}–Significant Form {MGSW, $817,216}, by Creative Cause) was fourth as the 3-5 choice in her career debut here July 28 and was installed the 3-2 second choice to make good this time. Settled in a stalking position early after sitting back a hair at the break, the Irish bred was under a tight hold by Irad Ortiz Jr., who tucked her in along the hedge rounding the first turn. Continuing to pull her rider along as Good Long Cry (Long On Value) carved out a quarter in :23.91 and a :49.16 half, the grey eagerly advanced as a seam opened up turning for home. Taking aim at the pacesetter down the stretch, she collared her rival midstretch and inched clear late to graduate by a half length. Good Long Cry was second with Magenta (Into Mischief) rounding out the trifecta. Favored Love Tempo (Ire) (Churchill {Ire}) rallied to be fourth. A half-sister to Grade III winner Hay Dakota (Haynesfield), Significant Form was a $75,000 Fasig-Tipton Kentucky July yearling that was secured for $575,000 by Peter Brant's White Birch Farm the following year at the OBS Spring 2-year-old Sale. A multiple graded stakes winner on the turf for Chad Brown, the grey mare produced Sunday's winner on her first try and followed up another filly by Dubawi (Isadora Duncan) in 2023 and a filly by Kingsman earlier this season. She was bred back to Justify. Lifetime Record: 2-1-0-0, $61,000. Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV. O-Stephanie Seymour Brant; B-White Birch Farm Sc (IRE); T-Chad C. Brown.–CBossinakis The post Dubawi’s Opulent Restraint Gets Up for Spa Win appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Maddy O'Meara missed out on the wedding of her close friend in England Aug. 31, but received a consolation prize when Bellum Justum took home a $1,054,310 payday in the Nashville Derby (G3T) at Kentucky Downs.View the full article

Wootton Bassett (GB) will command a fee of A$192,500 in 2024 when he covers his fourth book of mares at Coolmore's Jerry Plains operation in New South Wales, Australia, it was announced on Sunday. The son of Iffraaj (GB) is on the brink of having his first Southern Hemisphere-bred runners hit the track. He is already well-established as one of the leading stallions in Europe as the sire of nine individual Group 1 winners, including the European champion three-year-old colt Almanzor (Fr) and last year's G1 Champion Stakes hero King Of Steel. From his initial Southern Hemisphere crop, Wootton Bassett served an impressive array of mares, including the nine-time Group 1 winner Avantage (Aus) (Fastnet Rock {Aus}). The resulting filly from this mating commanded A$2.1 million at this year's Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale. “Wootton Bassett continues to go from strength to strength,” said Coolmore Australia's Tom Moore. “He produced two Group 1-winning two-year-old colts last year and through Henri Matisse, Ides Of March and others, he's well on track to emulate that incredible feat in consecutive years. “From his current two- and three-year-old crops he's already yielded 14 stakes winners, a number which is sure to grow.” Moore added, “Given the quality of mares he's been patronised by in his initial seasons in Australia and the way they were received at the sales this year, we think he represents a great opportunity for Australasian breeders with quality mares this season, particularly those elite mares looking for an outcross option.” The post Coolmore Australia Announce Wootton Bassett’s Fee at A$192,500 appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Recording his first elite-level success since last year's G1 Deutsches Derby, Liberty Racing's Fantastic Moon (Ger) (Sea The Moon {Ger}) proved too strong for Dubai Honour (Ire) (Pride Of Dubai {Aus}) in Sunday's G1 Grosser Preis von Baden. Anchored in rear early by Rene Piechulek, the Sarah Steinberg-trained 2-1 second favourite surged to the front inside the final two furlongs en route to a 1 1/4-length success from the William Haggas raider. FANTASTIC MOON takes the G1 @wettstar_de 154. Grosser Preis von Baden pic.twitter.com/LoZbxuV8BS — Deutscher Galopp (@DeutscherGalopp) September 1, 2024 The post Sea The Moon’s Fantastic Moon Wins The Grosser Preis von Baden appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Some of the most highly anticipated races during the summer racing season are the 'baby' races during the boutique meetings at Saratoga and Del Mar and at Kentucky Downs, which attract its fair share of high-priced offspring from a variety of top national outfits. Summer Breezes highlights debuting and stakes-entered 2-year-olds at those meetings that have been sourced at the breeze-up sales earlier in the year, with links to their under-tack previews. Here are the horses entered for Monday's season-ending program at Saratoga: Monday, September 2, 2024 Saratoga 2, $90k, 2yo, f, (S), 5 1/2fT, 1:07 p.m. ET Horse (Sire), Sale, Price ($), Breeze Forever to Go (Honest Mischief), OBSMAR, 310,000, :9 4/5 C-Coastal Equine LLC (J Hoppel), agt; B-McMahon/Hill Bldstk, agt Giant's Audible (Audible), OBSJUN, 70,000, :10 C-Wildheart Thoroughbreds LLC; B-Mazel Stable Partners Saratoga 6, $90k, 2yo, (S), 7f, 3:20 p.m. ET Brunch (Thousand Words), OBSAPR, 30,000, :10 3/5 C-Royal Bloodstock Sales, agent; B-L Lewis for Philip Harding Saratoga 7, $90k, 2yo, (S), 7f, 3:54 p.m. Daytona Gold (Goldencents), OBSMAR, 150,000, :9 4/5 C-Cesar Loya Training & Sales, agent; B-Kenneth McPeek, agent Sar 10, Hopeful S.-GI, $300k, 2yo, 7f, 5:43 p.m. ET Chancer McPatrick (McKinzie), OBSAPR, 725,000, :21 C-Caliente Thoroughbreds, agent; B-Kimmel & Sallusto, agents Ferocious (Flatter), OBSMAR, 1,300,000, :9 4/5 C-Sequel Bloodstock, agent; B-Marquee Bloodstock Tough Catch (Complexity), OBSAPR, 280,000, :10 C-Longoria Training & Sales; B-Michael Kares & S O K Racing The post Summer Breezes, Sponsored By OBS: September 2, 2024 appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Basilinna (NZ) (Staphanos) has suffered a minor setback heading into her spring campaign, which ruled her out of a first-up run at Caulfield on Saturday. The daughter of Novara Park stallion Staphanos jumped out quietly over 1200 metres at Pakenham on Wednesday, but a post-trial scope revealed a degree of mucus. Accordingly, Emma-Lee Browne, who trains in partnership with her husband David, was happy to skip the weekend and will only kick Basilinna off when she is fully ready. “She trialled well enough, but she just had a bit of mucus when we scoped her,” she said. “So, we just thought, ‘Alright, we’ll hold fire’. There are so many options, so we’ll just wait for a bit and make sure she’s 100 per cent.” Basillina shot up the three-year-old ranks last season, going straight from her maiden win to racing competitively at Group One level in the same campaign. She finished third in the Gr.1 VRC Oaks behind Zardozi and was most recently seen finishing a game sixth in the Gr.1 ATC Oaks, six lengths off Autumn Angel. The now mare was nominated for both a 1400-metre Benchmark 84 and the Gr.1 Memsie Stakes on Saturday, but Browne said the latter was speculative at best. A much more low-key kick-off is likely for Basilinna, in a preparation where the team will let their galloper guide them through. “We just threw a Memsie nomination in because we’d heard from a few of the agents that they didn’t think it would be an overly big field,” she said. “I just thought if she’d bounced through the trial well, she could’ve maybe run into a fourth or a third, which would’ve been good for her pedigree, but that’s definitely off the table. “We might even kick her off at the open-mile race at Ballarat in a couple of weeks, there’s so many options for her. “We’ll just take it as it comes at the moment. We’re really happy with her, but she just picked up one of those early spring colds, so we’ll just feel our way along for a bit.” Talented gelding Le Zebra (NZ) (Rip Van Winkle) is also on track to return after a freshen up, having trialled impressively on the same day as Basillina, trucking into third under no pressure over 1000m. The son of Rip Van Winkle, who was luckless at his most recent start at Flemington earlier this month, is delighting the Brownes with his current work and is set to run at Benchmark 84 level on Moir Stakes Day. “We were so pleased with him, he was really, really good,” Browne said. “Again, we sort of thought about running him over 1400m, but there’s a mile race at The Valley next week that will probably suit him better.” View the full article

SAPPORO, Japan — “It's been a hard day's night,” sang Masayuki Goto, vice-chairman of the Asian Racing Federation (ARF), as he took to the stage for his keynote speech during the closing exchanges of the 4oth Asian Racing Conference (ARC). And it is plain that Goto, the former president and CEO of the Japan Racing Association (JRA), and his fellow ARF committee members are looking forward to the day when their counterparts around the world are singing along in perfect harmony, perhaps to the tune of Here Comes The Sun. Those bred for stamina, who sat through all nine sessions across the three days, will hopefully have found plenty on which to cogitate on the flight home from Sapporo, whether betting or breeding, fan engagement or finance is at the top of your wish list for racing. The overriding theme was of the need for unity – both globally and locally. That is of course easier to achieve in countries such as Japan and Hong Kong, where the financial health of racing through strong tote monopolies enables areas in need of improvement to be addressed more readily. Stakeholders within their fellow major racing nations of Australia and Britain are often at loggerheads internally over a range of issues. To a degree, Britain is seen as the fading aristocrat of world racing: sure, it has the heritage, the history and the titles, but the castle roof is leaking and there aren't enough buckets to go round. It is not entirely fair to continue to portray British racing in this manner. At the top end at least, the combined efforts to push the available prize-money upwards through Premier Racing, the expansions of its marquee days in the World Pool, and roll out of a valuable maiden programme backed by some of the biggest breeders in the business, along with Tattersalls and the British EBF, it increasingly holds its own against its nearest neighbours of Ireland and France. In some instances, it outstrips them. Is it too easy to make Britain the whipping boy? Maybe. But it doesn't help itself either, and an exodus of top executives over the coming months will naturally lead to some instability in the handover periods. That was a side issue this week, as Britain, Ireland, France and Germany are not of course ARF members despite being strongly represented in Japan. “It's really a global racing conference,” said Ascot's Nick Smith as he joined a lengthy debate on all matters betting, and he has a point. BHA chair Joe Saumarez Smith, HRI chief executive Suzanne Eade, Henri Pouret and Elie Hannau of France Galop, and Deutscher Galopp manager Daniel Kruger were all in Sapporo to forge important alliances with their neighbours in the Asia and the Middle East. Riyadh Takes up the Baton At the closing ceremony, just before The Beatles tribute band The Parrots bounced on stage and were commanded to play at least four encores, Prince Bandar bin Khalid Al Faisal, chairman of the Jockey Club of Saudi Arabia (JCSA), was handed ARF banner by chairman Winfried Engelbrecht-Bresges in anticipation of the next ARC. That is to be held in two years' time in Riyadh. It may be one of the newest ARF members but Saudi has certainly made its presence felt in the Thoroughbred business in recent times, with the introduction of the world's richest race, the Saudi Cup, in 2020 and a doubling of the number of races staged in the country in the intervening years. Winners from America, Britain, Japan and Saudi itself have given the Saudi Cup a truly international feel and Group 1 status. With the country's racing programme expanding in leaps and bounds, and millions being spent on recruiting runners to fill those races, all eyes will be on how the Saudi racing scene continues to develop. It was encouraging to see representatives from the JCSA at the IFAR conference on Tuesday for every racing jurisdiction, especially one with growing might, must make proper aftercare provisions for those horses retiring from racing. There was barely a presentation during the week that did not make reference to this subject. It was interesting to note that the Hong Kong Jockey Club ensures that each new owner sets aside an 'equine pension fund', which is a mandatory sum of HK$100,000 (approximately €11,500) in order to finance the transition of horses in their retirement from racing to a new role. Pattern vs Prize-Money It shouldn't really be a case of either/or but that was the suggestion made by Widden Stud's Antony Thompson, who, as a guest on an international breeding panel, gave a positive overview of the robustness of the Australian racing industry, reminding those listening that the country hosts a million-dollar-plus race every week on average. “Nick Smith said yesterday that the Pattern is cornerstone of the British racing system. We'd say prize-money is the cornerstone of the Australian racing system,” he explained. The combining of those two objectives would be the ideal situation and, clearly, many involved in the Australian industry consider the returns on offer in Britain to be derisory. But it is concerning that the Australian Pattern Committee has not held a meeting for some years – a situation that Arrowfield's John Messara is at the forefront of trying to resolve in order to keep Australia's group races under regular review. Britain does not act unilaterally when it comes to its Pattern races and liaises closely with its European neighbours in establishing a progression of races both through the distances and throughout the season. And with that in mind, it is worth heeding the words of Shadai Farm's owner Teruya Yoshida in an interview in TDN last year. “We are looking for good horses from anywhere in the world and buying the good-quality mares from Europe is very important,” he said. “European classification of the racing is very correct. If we buy Group 2 or Group 3 mares in Europe, that is their true level. In some other countries we can't believe in it, but if we buy them in Europe we know that they are good-class horses.” Rise of the Sons Prior to the international breeding panel came one focused solely on the Japanese industry and featuring Tetsuya and Shunsuke Yoshida along with Hirokazu Okada, the sons respectively of Teruya and Katsumi Yoshida of Shadai and Northern Farms, and Shigeyuki Okada of Big Red Farm. The succession plan appears strong in Japanese breeding. Of the 7,796 foals born in Japan in 2023, 98% of those were on farms in the Iburi and Hidaka regions of Hokkaido, not far from where the conference was taking place. A good percentage of those are the offspring of mares recruited internationally, primarily but not only by the Yoshida family, with Japanese breeders often putting a premium on racecourse form. The most recent luminary of that breeding programme was the horse deemed to be the world's best racehorse of 2023, Equinox (Jpn), whose rapturous finale in the Japan Cup in turn lifted that race to be rated best in the world last year. It was a twin triumph for Japan as the JRA commenced celebrations of its 70th anniversary. Asked to explain the extraordinary rise in success of Japanese horses on the world stage, Shunsuke Yoshida, vice-president of Northern Farm, replied simply, “I think we paid attention.” Having learned from the established top nations in the business in Europe, the Americas and Australasia, Japan in now teaching all of them a lesson. The cycle of life for a racehorse, from conception through rearing, breaking, training, racing and retirement, is properly funded at every step of the way and, crucially, is well explained to the racing public, including on posters around racecourses. Whatever one's specific interest in racing, it never hurts to be helped to join up the dots and understand just what it takes to get that gleaming Thoroughbred to its peak condition on race days. In turn, those fans betting through the JRA facilities at the racecourses, are doing their bit in putting money back into breeding and prize-money. What goes around comes around. Okada, president of Big Red Farm, which has been in operation since 1982 and stands Benbatl (GB) and Gold Ship (Jpn) among other stallions, explained, “Up until 2010 the yearling sales turnover and production was declining but it has improved since then. Horseracing anime [a mobile game-turned-popular TV series] has really expanded the knowledge of the sport. Young business people are becoming owners. Star jockeys like Yutaka Take led the second Japanese racing boom and with Japanese horses becoming very successful overseas, these owners recognise that racing is popular internationally.” Enhancing fan engagement and recruiting more young fans to the sport was another theme that loomed large in the various presentations throughout the week in Sapporo. Even this 55-year-old big kid could not resist the lure of the plushie stall in the Turfy Shop at Sapporo racecourse on Saturday. A fluffy replica of Nassau Stakes heroine Deirdre (Jpn) is on the way home to Newmarket. Effective Communication One of the most engaging speeches of the week came from Vicky Leonard, owner of the marketing agency Kick Collective and the Australasian daily publication The Thoroughbred Report, which, in the interests of transparency, is a sister publication of TDN. Plenty at the conference took notice of Leonard's compelling talk which impressed upon the delegates the need to have the relevant facts to hand to help combat the sport's detractors. She has been practising what she preaches with the launch in 2o22 of the website and campaign Kick Up For Racing, which is a fact-based resource to correct falsehoods so easily spread about racing on social media and beyond. “If an industry isn't talking it is assumed it has something to hide,” she said, divulging that the most read article on the website is What happens to the slow horses? Again, this links back to an obvious public concern with regard to the second part of a racehorse's life. The growing drive to have visible and proactive aftercare programmes around the world of racing is clearly necessary for what Engelbrecht-Bresges referred to in his opening speech as “social acceptability”. By No Means Least… Lastly, all of those who attended the 40th ARC are in the debt of the unfaltering courtesy and helpfulness of those many people from the JRA and ARF charged with making sure the many attendees got the right bus to the right place at the right time, and ensured the slickest of presentations akin to a night at the Oscars. Arigato gozaimasu. The post Asian Racing Conference: Reflections appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Another Wil ridden by Jamie Kah winning at Caulfield. (Photo by Reg Ryan/Racing Photos) The Ciaron Maher-trained Another Wil has stamped himself as the one to beat in the Group 1 Toorak Handicap (1600m) according to horse racing bookmakers, firming into $6.00, and is the current favourite after dismantling his rivals in the final race at Caulfield on Saturday afternoon. The son of Street Boss had it all to do turning for home, sitting on the three-wide line throughout under Jamie Kah, still proving far too strong for BM100 company as he powered through the line to score by a half-neck. It couldn’t have been a more impressive performance by the five-year-old gelding, with Ciaron Maher suggesting Another Wil has come on nicely after a disappointing effort in the Group 1 Doncaster Mile (1600m) in the autumn. “He went forward in a Donny (Doncaster) and he’s mentally still fairly immature,” said Maher. “I’d say all the speed mappers probably had him forward today but I just didn’t want to send him forward for the future and make him one dimensional, he was already revved up, you can see he’s fairly busy. “He’s still relatively untapped where the ceiling is with him, he’s a big strong horse, got a beautiful action, very clean winded and Jamie (Kah) seems to suit him very well.” When asked if the Toorak would be a possible target, Maher suggested the $1 million feature could be the logical path. “At his rating, that race would certainly be attractive, and he seems to like Caulfield as well.” The 2024 Toorak Handicap (1600m) is set to be run on October 12, with Another Wil currently the $6.00 favourite, while Group 1 Memsie Stakes (1400m) winner Pinstriped is on the second line of betting at $8.00. Horse racing news View the full article

Making amends for his defeat in Goodwood's G3 Molecomb Stakes in July, Wathnan Racing's Aesterius (Ire) (Mehmas {Ire}–Jane Doe {Ire}, by Hallowed Crown {Aus}) led from start to finish in Sunday's G3 Prix d'Arenberg at ParisLongchamp. Bagging the rail under James Doyle, the 9-10 favourite saw off all threats to hit the line 1 1/2 lengths ahead of Kaadi (Ire) (Soldier's Call {GB}), with Treasure Isle (Ire) (No Nay Never) a short neck away in third. “At Goodwood, I felt I rode him too quietly so today I wanted to let him run on this flat track and he was very responsive in front,” the winning rider said of the Archie Watson-trained who had won the Listed Dragon Stakes at Sandown prior to finding Big Mojo (Ire) (Mohaather {GB}) too strong in the Molecomb. 𝗔𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗶𝘂𝘀 (J. W. Doyle – Ar. Watson) s'impose dans le Prix d'Arenberg (Gr.3) à @paris_longchamp Il succède à Tiger Belle au palmarès de cette épreuve. Kaadi Treasure Isle pic.twitter.com/TRvcCs9v4F — Equidia (@equidia) September 1, 2024 The post Mehmas’s Aesterius Wins The Prix d’Arenberg For Wathnan appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Driver Penalties D Grundmann | Waikato Bay of Plenty 27 August; careless driving; suspended 28 August – 6 September inclusive. M Perriton | Auckland 30 August; use of whip; suspended 31 August – 6 September inclusive. B Butcher | Auckland 30 August; medical clearance required. K Butt | Ashburton 1 September; medical clearance required. Trainer Penalties S & A Telfer | Waikato Bay of Plenty 27 August (heard Auckland 30 August); failed to report horse treatment; fined $200. T Bagrie | NZ Metropolitan 30 August; incorrect gear (2 charges); fined $250. E Latimer | Ashburton 1 September; failed to affix bandage so as not to come adrift; fined $100. Horse Penalties IVANKA | Waikato Bay of Plenty 27 August; lame; veterinary clearance required. IRON HEART | Auckland 30 August; fell in running; must complete trial and veterinary clearance required. BONJOUR PARIS | Ashburton 1 September; broke in running; must complete trial. VERLANDER | Ashburton 1 September; fell; must complete trial and veterinary clearance required. Protests VISCOUNT MACKENDON | Auckland 30 August; excessive galloping in race; disqualified from 2nd. MASSIVE MERC | NZ Metropolitan 30 August; excessive galloping in race; disqualified from 4th. General Race 5 at Auckland TC of 30 August was abandoned in the interests of safety. The post 26 August – 1 September 2024 appeared first on RIB. View the full article

Dog Penalties HOMEBUSH LEROY | Christchurch 29 August; unsatisfactory performance; must complete trial. GO HOPPY | Christchurch 30 August; unsatisfactory performance; must complete trial. GOLDSTAR JOBLIN | Christchurch 30 August; unsatisfactory performance; must complete trial. General Race 2 at Palmerston North GRC on 27 August was declared a no-race after the lids opened prematurely. The Auckland GRC meeting scheduled for 1 September was abandoned due to track conditions. The post 26 August – 1 September 2024 appeared first on RIB. View the full article

Monovale Farm have found plenty of excitement watching homebred gelding Rise At Dawn (NZ) (Almanzor) succeed across the Tasman, particularly with the next of his dam’s progeny about to hit the track in the farm’s colours. Bred by Monovale principals Joe and Max Smithies, Rise At Dawn was sold to Lindsay Park Bloodstock for $90,000 at the 2022 Inglis Premier Yearling Sale in Melbourne, and has continued to flourish in the care of trainers Ben, Will and JD Hayes. After winning on debut, Rise At Dawn has established an enviable record with seven wins from just 12 appearances, with his most recent success, a third on the bounce, coming in the Listed Heatherlie Stakes (1700m) at Caulfield on Saturday. The stakes victory came in the hands of expat-Kiwi hoop Michael Dee, with the gelding boosting his career earnings over A$492,000. “We were super pleased, we thought a lot of him as a yearling and he was bought by good judges so it’s so nice to see them go on and be rewarded,” Max Smithies said. “He always looked like that distance range would be his best and he’s putting together a great form line.” By Almanzor, Rise At Dawn was the ninth foal out of Kay’s Awake, a Towkay mare who was a four-time Group One placegetter behind the likes of Seachange and Darci Brahma. Kay’s Awake earned a deserved stakes success in the Listed Newmarket Handicap (1200m) in 2006, and retired with over $345,000 in career earnings to her credit, before joining the broodmare band at Monovale where she produced 12 foals before passing in April this year. Alongside Rise At Dawn, the mare produced a further three race winners and the lightly-tried Kay’s Ruebe, who finished third in the Gr.3 Taranaki 2YO Classic (1200m) behind Captured By Love at her second start for John Wheeler. The mare’s remaining progeny include a two-year-old gelding by Proisir and a yearling colt by Tarzino, who will follow differing paths in the coming months. “She (Kay’s Awake) was awesome, great to have around and super tough, as those great mares are,” Smithies said. “Fortunately for us, we still have few of her stock. We have a belting, almost black Proisir gelding who is a two-year-old, he has been broken in and will be racing fairly soon. “We have a yearling colt by Tarzino as well, so we’re very pleased to still have a few of her progeny coming through. “The yearling is sales-bound, but we’d like to trial up the Proisir ourselves and see how he goes, that’s the plan at this stage.” View the full article

Te Akau Racing celebrated five winners across three venues on Saturday, including the exciting return of stakes-bound filly The Victress (Zousain) at Riccarton Park. Te Akau trainers Mark Walker and Sam Bergerson posted four successes on home soil, including a treble at Riccarton Park headed by the Zousain filly, who won the open three-year-old contest named in memory of the late Kevin Hickman. The Victress collected her maiden success as a two-year-old in January, and indicated there is plenty to come in her spring campaign with a dominant front-running victory under Wiremu Pinn, while stablemate About Last Night completed the quinella. “It was a good ride of Wiremu’s to get a pretty soft lead and they don’t seem to be making up much ground with the rail out,” Walker said. “It’s good that she’s now had a look down the chute at Riccarton, because next start she’ll be in the Canterbury Belle Stakes (Listed, 1200m). “The Victress is just a bit stronger this year and I think she’ll really go on with it.” The Victress was purchased by Te Akau principal David Ellis for $250,000 out of the draft of Coolmore Stud at the 2023 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale, and is one of two fillies raced by the Te Akau 2023 Magic Fillies’ Breeding Syndicate, with the other being multiple Group One-performer Captured By Love. Pinn was in firing form at the Southern meeting, saluting aboard Fellini in the Group One Raceday Party 14 September Rating 75 (1800m), and Kabugee in the Racecourse Hotel & Motor Lodge Rating 65 (1400m). Aboard Fellini (NZ) (Belardo), Pinn adopted similar tactics to his earlier success settling on-speed outside of Peecee Pussycat, and once kicking clear in the straight, the gelding was never headed and powered away from Northern visitor Cee Are El by 1 ¼ lengths. A winner of six races, the son of Belardo had shown early promise placing in the Karaka Millions 2YO (1200m) as a juvenile and was back in the winner’s circle for the first time since his three-year-old term, boosting his overall earnings beyond the $200,000 mark. “It was really good to see him back in the winner’s circle today,” Walker said. “He’s been quite a while since winning and the owners have been super patient, but he’s also been very consistent. “He’s also got a hidden talent. He’s been schooling very well over the jumps and we think that is really helping his form.” Kabugee (Satono Aladdin) was another front-running victor for the stable, leading the field up and holding off the late charge of Retail Therapy to collect his fourth success in 18 starts. “I thought it was really good effort, given he was well and truly headed at the 300m and he fought back to win, so that was encouraging,” Walker said. “We just hope he’s now got that winning feeling again, because it will give him confidence to go on with it.” Back in the north, To Bravery Born picked up the opening juvenile race of the season at Wanganui, while class mare Quintessa was on the board swiftly as a four-year-old across the Tasman with a success in the Gr.3 Cockram Stakes (1200m). View the full article

Rugged galloper Master Marko (NZ) (Contributer) was toughness personified at Riccarton on Saturday when he produced a front-running victory in the main race on the day, the TAB Open Mile (1600m). Shooting for his third win in his last four starts, the Kelvin Tyler-trained six-year-old gelding carried just 54.5kgs thanks to the 2kg claim of in-form apprentice Yogesh Atchamah. He had Master Marko bowling along at a steady clip from barrier rise and didn’t panic when stablemate Prince Alby loomed outside him at the 800m to inject more speed into the race. Master Marko shook off that challenge shortly after straightening and kept kicking against the fence to withstand a late burst from Charbano, who closed nicely from midfield, while outsider Deep Beauty snatched third off Fierce Flight. Tyler was delighted with the run and more importantly with the recovery his charge made after the race. “He was pretty strong to the line, and I think he may have even been starting to get away on them again in the last 50m,” Tyler said. “The plan wasn’t to be in front, but I did say to Yogesh before the race he needed to be handy as that was the pattern of the day. He rode him really well as he kept him in a good rhythm and saved enough to make sure he had a good kick in the straight. “You wouldn’t think he had a run this morning as he is bouncing around and has licked his bowl clean.” Tyler has some big decisions to make over the coming months as he has his charge entered in some of the best races on the spring calendar including the Gr.1 Arrowfield Stud Plate (1600m) and the Gr.1 Livamol Classic (2040m) at Hastings, along with the TAB Mile (1600m) during Cup Week at Christchurch. “I’m not sure if he is right up to that top level but the way he keeps improving he deserves his shot at them,” he said. “We’re a fair way down the list of entries in the Arrowfield ,but it can drop away a little as can the Livamol so he might sneak his way into one of them. “We’re taking him up to Otaki on Wednesday and we will make a base there for him, so he doesn’t have a whole heap of travelling over the next few weeks. “If he doesn’t make those races there are still events like the Metric Mile (Gr.3, 1600m) at Wanganui for him, so we have plenty of options ahead of us.” By Mapperley Stud-based stallion Contributor, Master Marko is out of the Exceed And Excel mare Miss Haydn and comes from an extended family that includes Group One winners Cannsea, Librici and Procol Harum. He has now won seven of his 42 starts and over $251,000 in prizemoney for Tyler and his wife Vanessa. View the full article

What Moe Races Where Moe Racing Club – Waterloo Rd, Moe VIC 3825 When Monday, September 2, 2024 First Race 1pm AEST Visit Dabble A new week of racing in Victoria commences at the Moe Racing Club on Monday afternoon, where a nine-race meeting is set down for decision. With spring in the air, it is likely we will be racing on a Good 4 surface come raceday, despite the Soft 5 rating at the time of acceptances. The rail comes out 2m the entire circuit, with action commencing at 1pm AEST. Best Bet at Moe: Fully Calculated Fully Calculate has been impressive in two synthetic starts to begin her campaign this time in, and as long as she can transfer those runs to the turf, she looks a class above her BM58 rivals. The Deep Field filly races close to the speed throughout, and from barrier one, Jye McNeil will likely have her stalking the speed throughout. The pair will need a touch of luck approaching the home turn, but if the gap appears, Fully Calculated should kick clear of her rivals late on over 1005m. Best Bet Race 5 – #9 Fully Calculated (1) 3yo Filly | T: Ben, Will & JD Hayes | J: Jye McNeil (57.5kg) Bet with Neds Next Best at Moe: Irrefutably Having won at Geelong on a heavy deck on debut back in April, the Anthony & Sam Freedman-trained Irrefutably has seemingly found the right race to return a winner in. The Hellbent filly seemingly has a strong finish under her bonnet, and in BM58 grade with 57.5kg on her back, she gets conditions that will suit her perfectly. With a genuinely run 1205m expected, the race sets up perfectly for Irrefutably to launch down the heart of the track and blouse her rivals. Next Best Race 9 – #12 Irrefutably (5) 3yo Filly | T: Anthony & Sam Freedman | J: Jye McNeil (57.5kg) Bet with Dabble Best Value at Moe: Alotofsoju Three-year-old filly Alotofsoju has finished second at each of her last three runs, but Monday looks the day she breakthroughs for that elusive maiden success. The Sir Prancelot filly is a natural frontrunner but has been run down inside the final 100m, so a win should not be too far away. Caitlin Hollowood hops on board claiming 2kg, so the instructions will likely be to run her rivals ragged. With raceday experience on her side at Moe and a tactical advantage over her rivals, Alotofsoju will take some running down. Best Value Race 2 – #8 Alotofsoju (10) 3yo Filly | T: Trent Busuttin & Natalie Young | J: Caitlin Hollowood (a2) (56kg) Bet with Dabble Monday quaddie tips for Moe Moe quadrella selections Monday, September 2, 2024 1-2-3-8 1-2-4-5-9-10 1-2-3-4-11 2-6-12 | Copy this bet straight to your betslip Horse racing tips View the full article

Third-season handler hopes a fast start to the 2024-25 campaign can put him in pole positionView the full article

The aptly named Conclude closed out the final race of Pacific Classic Day with a victory, taking the $302,500 Del Mar Mile Stakes (G2T) and giving trainer Phil D'Amato a sweep of the three graded races on turf at Del Mar Aug. 31. View the full article

Quite the Catch rallied determinedly to win the $75,000 Louisiana Cup Juvenile Fillies Stakes by a neck Aug. 31 at Louisiana Downs and give Red River Farms' stallion Requite his first stakes winner.View the full article

Calumet Farm's Mixto posted a 22-1 upset in the $1 million Pacific Classic Stakes (G1) Aug. 31 at Del Mar, earning a fees-paid berth to the Breeders Cup Classic (G1) Nov. 2 at the same track.View the full article

Motorious showed his affinity for the Del Mar Racing turf course when closing late to win his second consecutive $152,500 Green Flash Handicap (G3T) Aug. 31, part of the Breeders' Cup Challenge Series.View the full article

Just more than a month after becoming the first winner for freshman sire Imperial Hint, Tdz Hint of Power also became the multiple grade 1 winner's first stakes winner in the $75,000 Louisiana Cup Juvenile Stakes at Louisiana Downs Aug. 31.View the full article

It wouldn't rise to the level of a horse like Dare and Go stunning Cigar in the 1996 renewal, but it was a surprise of similar magnitude in Saturday's GI FanDuel Pacific Classic, as Calumet Farm's MIXTO (c, 4, Good Magic–Musical Mystery, by Concerto) plugged on late and grabbed an exceptionally game Full Serrano (Arg) (Full Mast) to earn a fees-paid berth into the field for the GI Breeders' Cup Classic at odds of 22-1 some may have considered underlaid. Mixto, who owned just a maiden victory from 13 starts prior to Saturday, was aggressively ridden by Kyle Frey from the outside stall and was put into the race immediately, forcing the pace through reasonable early fractions of :23.42 and :46.95 as favored Dr. Venkman (Ghostzapper) enjoyed a beautiful trip from just behind the pacesetters in third. Full Serrano still had Mixto breathing down his neck after six furlongs in 1:11.62 and was still going great guns turning for home, with Frey now hard at work aboard Mixto. Still battling gamely into the final furlong, Full Serrano began to shorten stride and began to look for the wire, and Mixto was along in the final few jumps to cause the upset. Reincarnate (Good Magic) wasn't far away in third, while Dr. Venkman, who had to alter course, but was never a true winning chance, settled for fourth. Sales history: $140,000 2yo '22 OBSAPR. O-Calumet Farm; B-Farfellow Farms Ltd (KY); T-Chief Stipe O'Neill. #9 MIXTO ($46.40) pulls off the upset in the $1,000,000 FanDuel Racing Pacific Classic (G1) at @DelMarRacing. @FreytheF rode the @DougONeill1 trainee to his first graded victory. Mixto has guaranteed himself a spot in the starting gate for the @BreedersCup Classic. pic.twitter.com/qh7h1SaUGQ — FanDuel Racing (@FanDuel_Racing) September 1, 2024 The post Good Magic’s Mixto Registers 22-1 Upset In the Pacific Classic appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article