Wandering Eyes

Progressive three-year-old Stop The Rock (NZ) (El Roca) continued his climb through the grades when the Patrick and Michelle Payne-trained gelding ran out a solid winner of the Ken Cox Handicap (2000m) at Flemington on Saturday. The hard-fought victory came under a typically patient Billy Egan ride as the son of El Roca advanced his career record to three wins from four starts. A last start winner at Swan Hill, Stop The Rock came from midfield to narrowly defeat the favourite Shockletz (NZ) (Shocking) and bring up an early double for the Payne stable after Buccleuch (Peltzer) claimed the opening race. “He’s just a lovely horse,” Michelle Payne said. “He’s a real sleeper, actually. All of his trials before he raced were pretty moderate and Patrick put the blinkers on for his first start and he won at good odds at Warrnambool. “He just seems to step up to the mark on race day. He’s just a lovely, progressive horse with a great group of owners in him. “They’re all out here today including Brendan Danaher and all the crew. It was a lovely ride by Billy too.” Stop The Rock is likely to be seen back at Flemington for the A$200,000 Mahogany Challenge Final (2500m) at Flemington in a fortnight. By Westbury Stud stallion El Roca, Stop The Rock is out of the Fusaichi Pegasus mare Shezablonde and stems from the family of Nothin’ Leica Dance. Stop The Rock is a graduate of the hugely successful New Zealand Bloodstock Ready To Run Sale, purchased for $75,000 by Patrick Payne from the draft of Westbury Stud. View the full article

Te Akau Racing’s powerful team of New Zealand two-year-olds brought up their 20th win of the season when Cool Aza Rene (Cool Aza Beel) edged out El Vaquero (NZ) (Ferrando) in Saturday’s Bain McCall Memorial (1000m) at Riccarton. The $35,000 race was the fourth win from only a five-start career for Cool Aza Rene, who is now one of a trio of Te Akau two-year-olds to have won four races during 2024-25. Return To Conquer’s (Snitzel) unbeaten four-win haul culminated in the Gr.1 Sistema Stakes (1200m) at Ellerslie on Champions Day, while the Karaka Millions 2YO (1200m) and Gr.1 Manawatu Sires’ Produce Stakes (1400m) heroine La Dorada (NZ) (Super Seth) also won on four occasions. Cool Aza Rene has yet to emulate those stablemates with a black-type impact, having finished fifth in the Gr.2 Wakefield Challenge Stakes (1100m) in December in her only appearance at that level. But her smart victories in both starts this month hinted that there could be bigger and better things in store as a three-year-old. Trainers Mark Walker and Sam Bergerson kicked off Cool Aza Rene’s latest campaign over 820m at Wingatui on June 1, where she got the better of El Vaquero in the final few strides to win by a head. Riccarton was the scene of a rematch between those same two horses on Saturday, and Cool Aza Rene came out on top for the second time. The pair dominated the race from the moment the gates opened, striding forward to sit side by side in the lead. They both quickened smartly in the straight and left the rest of the seven-horse field in their wake, moving more than three lengths clear to fight out another two-horse battle to the line. Again, El Vaquero fought for all he was worth, but again Cool Aza Rene found that little bit more to pip him by a half-neck. She was ridden to victory by Te Akau apprentice Hayley Hassman. “It was a really good win today, especially on quite testing ground, and a positive ride by Hayley,” Walker said. “She’s put together a really good record, winning four of her five starts, and she deserves a short break now. “We’ll have her back in work with a view to contesting a lead-up race over 1000m in late August before the Canterbury Belle Stakes (Listed, 1200m) in September. “Hunter (Durrant) and the team at Riccarton have presented the filly in great order, continuing on the work from the Matamata stable. She was prepped up north in the early stages of the season, and she’s done well following a freshen-up to win both starts in the South Island.” Bought by David Ellis for A$55,000 from Book 2 of the 2024 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale, Cool Aza Rene has earned $105,000 from her five-start, four-win career to date. Cool Aza Rene comes from the first crop of Cool Aza Beel, who himself carried the Te Akau colours to four wins from six starts, including the Sistema Stakes and Karaka Millions 2YO. He was New Zealand’s champion two-year-old in 2019-20. Now standing at Newhaven Park in New South Wales, Cool Aza Beel has sired five winners headed by the Gr.1 JJ Atkins (1600m), Gr.2 Sires’ Produce Stakes (1400m), Gr.2 Spirit Of Boom Classic (1400m) and Listed Dalrello Stakes (1000m) winner Cool Archie. That exciting colt strung together five consecutive wins during the Queensland Winter Carnival. “It’s satisfying to see Cool Aza Rene racing so well, and for Cool Aza Beel to have just had his first Group One winner,” Ellis said. “I bought Cool Aza Beel as a yearling for $150,000 at Karaka, from Fairdale Stud, having been to inspect the yearlings at their farm. They had three in the sale and I finished up buying all three. Clearly Cool Aza Beel was the best of them, but another was Brando, who won two Group Two races and a Listed race among his nine wins, and they all won races. “We were thrilled that a great breeder like John Kelly at Newhaven Park Stud bought Cool Aza Beel to stand at stud, and they had a very good opinion of his progeny right from the time they were foals. “We’ve got some other promising horses in the stable by Cool Aza Beel, that are still to race, and we’ve bred to him each year.” Adding to the Te Akau flavour of Cool Aza Rene’s pedigree, her dam Irene is a daughter of the multiple Group One-winning former Te Akau star Xtravagant. View the full article

Talented galloper Honey Badger (NZ) (El Roca) provided her trainer Tony Pike with the perfect present on his return from a winter break in Fiji as she trounced her three-year-old rivals in the Aongatete Avo-Ject 3YO (1200m) at Tauranga on Saturday. Sent out as a dominating $1.80 favourite, the daughter of El Roca began well and settled on the back of pacemaker Pleasing before rider Michael McNab eased her to that runner’s outside approaching the home bend. After a brief tussle, Honey Badger bounded clear and scored by nearly four lengths from the late-finishing debutant Beau Miller (NZ) (Preferment). Pike was delighted with the effort and believes the filly has more ahead of her due to her liking for the wetter winter tracks. “It was a good, positive ride today and she got track conditions to suit,” Pike said. “She is holding her condition really well and she loves these tracks, so we will definitely give her another couple of runs. She looks like a mare for next season who could pick up a nice black-type race.” McNab, who brought up an early double for the day after scoring aboard The Trendsetter (NZ) (Proisir) in race one with a similar ride, echoed Pike’s sentiments. “She jumped and put herself there (on the pace) while Pleasing was a touch slow and may have just overdone it to get to the lead. “She (Honey Badger) got track conditions to her liking today. It is hard work out there, so happy to be on the board in the first two races.” Bred by Westbury Stud principal Gerry Harvey, Honey Badger was purchased for $30,000 out of the Westbury draft at the 2023 New Zealand Bloodstock Ready To Run Sale at Karaka. Out of the More Than Ready mare Sacred Vow, she is a sister to the stakes-placed mare Miss Cartier (NZ) and closely related to Group Two winner Swissta (NZ) and Australian Group One placegetters The Cloisters and My Middi. Honey Badger has now won three of her eleven starts and over $73,000 in prizemoney. View the full article

Matthew Chadwick is hopeful Pray For Mir can overcome a 21-point jump in the ratings and continue his strong late-season form in Sunday’s Group Three Premier Plate (1,800m) at Sha Tin. Victorious in open company for the first time in last month’s Group Three Lion Rock Trophy (1,600m), Pray For Mir will attempt to complete the same feature-race double Galaxy Patch bagged last season. Penalised so heavily because his last-start win came from 17 points outside the handicap, Pray For Mir will carry...View the full article

Steve and Amanda Telfer had a good night at Addington raceway last night, training two winners to extend their lead in the trainers premiership. C C Ardern smashed them in the Garrards Horse & Hound Handicap pace with driver Tim Williams. The gelding negotiated the standing start well, was restrained but unable to slot in for the first six hundred metres of the race. From there Williams made all the right moves to end up 1×1 from the one thousand metre mark before the field broke up at the quarter. Williams and C C Ardern then shot clear to win by five and a quarter lengths from stablemate Carbon. That was C C Ardern’s third win from ten starts. Akatea made it four wins in a row by winning the Woodlands Winning Yearlings mobile pace. Williams went forward from the gate to lead quickly, before Spirit Of Anarchy and Carter Dalgety came out and around to arrest the lead soon after. From there Williams and Akatea were just biding their time for the passing lane, which they took, punching through to win by a neck from Cheer The Captain giving the Telfers a second stable quinella for the night. “She’s been consistent, getting the right runs and doing the job,” said cotrainer Amanda Telfer. “She will now go into the Silk Road final next week, so this run would have topped her off perfectly. “She will probably have a fortnight to a month off after that, then get ready for the good mares race on Show Day. The owners are the Stonewall Stud No.20 Syndicate. “The owners are lucky, they have her and Seaside Rose.” That was the four year old Art Major mare’s seventh win from thirty four starts. The Telfers now lead the premiership with eighty wins for the season, ahead of Michael House who sits on seventy three wins. It was a night of doubles at Addington, with Oamaru trainer Phil Williamson also making it a double with Atlantic City (Ricky May) and Jimmy Carter (John Morrison) bringing his total training wins to 799. The Dalgety team also joined in the double party by taking out the first two races on the programme with Forever Dream and Sugar Babe both driven by Carter. View the full article

Bidding to add to what has already been a fruitful campaign, Andrea Atzeni has declared he wouldn’t swap Patch Of Theta for any other ride in Sunday’s Group Three Premier Cup (1,400m) at Sha Tin. The Sardinian jockey has legitimate claims in the final two features of the season, with Patch Of Theta and his Group Three Premier Plate (1,800m) mount Bundle Award shaping as strong contenders. Atzeni, who sits third in the jockeys’ championship with 54 wins, hops aboard Patch Of Theta for the first...View the full article

Saturday, Ascot, post time: 15:40, THE QUEEN ELIZABETH II JUBILEE S.-G1, £1,000,000, 4yo/up, 6f 0y Field: Annaf (Ire) (Muhaarar {GB}), Elite Status (GB) (Havana Grey {GB}), Grand Grey (Ire) (Havana Grey {GB}), Iberian (Ire) (Lope De Vega {Ire}), Inisherin (GB) (Shamardal), James's Delight (Ire) (Invincible Army {Ire}), Jasour (GB) (Havana Grey {GB}), Lazzat (Fr) (Territories {Ire}), Run To Freedom (GB) (Muhaarar {GB}), Sajir (Ire) (Make Believe {GB}), Satono Reve (Jpn) (Lord Kanaloa {Jpn}), Storm Boy (Aus) (Justify), Topgear (Fr) (Wootton Bassett {GB}), Flora Of Bermuda (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}), Great Generation (Ire) (Holy Roman Emperor {Ire}), Nighteyes (Ire) (Night Of Thunder {Ire}). TDN Verdict: As competitive as it gets, this renewal has leading lights coming from multiple countries with last year's G1 Commonwealth Cup hero Inisherin battling to ward off overseas threats. He looked a sharper model on his return at York last month and this track is tailor-made for his style. Last year's G1 Prix Maurice de Gheest winner Lazzat is one of his chief rivals and has a lot to commend him on form and on the clock, while his compatriot Topgear drops back in trip and will be a threat to all if able to tighten up sufficiently. Whether Aidan O'Brien can turn Storm Boy around from his seasonal bow is open to question, but he seems to have his annual midas touch this week while the G1 Takamatsunomiya Kinen winner Satono Reve shakes things up even more. [Tom Frary]. Saturday, Ascot, post time: 15:05, THE HARDWICKE S.-G2, £250,000, 4yo/up, 11f 211y Field: Al Aasy (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}), Al Riffa (Fr) (Wootton Bassett {GB}), Bellum Justum (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}), Burdett Road (GB) (Muhaarar {GB}), Candleford (Ire) (Kingman {GB}), Epic Poet (Ire) (Lope De Vega {Ire}), Ghostwriter (Ire) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}), Palladium (Ger) (Gleneagles {Ire}), Rebel's Romance (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}), Space Legend (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}), Sunway (Fr) (Galiway {GB}), Tabletalk (Ire) (Camelot {GB}). TDN Verdict: Rebel's Romance keeps going and going and there is no reason why he won't stamp his class on this. Ghostwriter may stay a mile and a half, but it is not a given and Al Riffa is probably the biggest threat to Godolphin's globetrotter with first-time blinkers. Candleford has won impressively on his seasonal bow at this meeting before and although that was a handicap, it is an interesting move by William Haggas to come here first time. [Tom Frary]. Saturday, Ascot, post time: 16:20, THE JERSEY S.-G3, £150,000, 3yo, Open, 7f 0y Field: Benevento (Ire) (Wootton Bassett {GB}), Brian (Ire) (Shaman {Ire}), Caburn (Ire) (Twilight Son {GB}), Comanche Brave (Ire) (Wootton Bassett {GB}), Dhitjari (GB) (Mehmas {Ire}), Marvelman (Ire) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}), Noble Champion (Ire) (Lope De Vega {Ire}), One Smack Mac (Ire) (Kodiac {GB}), Pellitory (GB) (Sergei Prokofiev), Remmooz (GB) (Blue Point {Ire}), Saracen (Fr) (Siyouni {Fr}), Seagulls Eleven (Ire) (Galileo Gold {GB}), Spy Chief (GB) (Kingman {GB}), Yah Mo Be There (GB) (Mohaather {GB}), California Dreamer (GB) (Mehmas {Ire}). TDN Verdict: Unbeaten and unexposed, Remmooz warrants maximum respect from Owen Burrows who always knows his onions. Second to Henri Matisse in Leopardstown's G3 Ballylinch Stud Stakes in March, Comanche Brave is back to seven furlongs having run fifth in the Irish 2,000 Guineas and gets the Ryan Moore treatment whichis probably worth two or three pounds in itself this week. Joseph takes on Donnacha with Saracen, who was third in a hot renewal of the G3 Greenham Stakes in April and is another unknown quantity. [Tom Frary]. Saturday, Ascot, post time: 14:30, THE CHESHAM S.-L, £110,000, 2yo, Open, 7f 0y Field: Brave Hunter (GB) (Universal {Ire}), Humidity (GB) (Ulysses {Ire}), Tailgunner Joe (Knicks Go), Thesecretadversary (Ire) (St Mark's Basilica {Fr}), Treanmor (Ire) (Frankel {GB}), Waterford Castle (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}), Zooter (GB) (Australia {GB}), Moments Of Joy (Justify), Venetian Lace (Ire). TDN Verdict: TDN Rising Star Treanmor puts his reputation on the line, having impressed with everything he did on debut at Newmarket. Ballydoyle will have something to say on the matter, with the filly Moments Of Joy the chosen one having opened her account at Leopardstown, while Humidity looked a smart prospect on debut at Newbury and can only improve over another furlong. [Tom Frary]. Saturday, Dusseldorf, Germany, post time: 17:00, GROSSER PREIS VON GOTTFRIED SCHULTZ – DIANA TRIAL-Listed, €25,000, 3yo, f, 10 1/2fT Field: Turf Sumy (Ger) (Best Solution {Ire}), Asteria (Ger) (Nutan {Ire}), Dublone (Ger) (Belardo {Ire}), Laminaria (Ger) (Nathaniel {Ire}), Meeresbrise (GB) (Sea The Moon {Ger}), Raposa (Ger) (Frankel {GB}), Silaway (Fr) (Galiway {GB}), Sunshine Baby (Fr) (Areion {Ger}). TDN Verdict: The relatively unexposed Raposa, a clear-cut winner at this venue earlier this month when last seen, will bid to provide trainer Andreas Wohler with his first victory in this contest since 2021. Henk Grewe trainee Meeresbrise enjoys a similar profile to Raposa and shed maiden status–at Baden-Baden last month–in the second of her two starts after collecting place prizemoney on debut. Philippe Decouz sends three-race maiden Silaway across the border from France and she merits respect in an open affair having run third to subsequent G3 Prix de Royaumont victrix Sunly in April. [Sean Cronin]. Sunday, Milan, Italy, post time: 18:20, PREMIO OAKS D'ITALIA-TATTERSALLS-G2, €418,000, 3yo, f, 2100mT Field: Anatara (Ger) (Best Solution {Ire}), Fast Spirit (Ire) (Make Believe {GB}), Grand Byshaman (Ire) (Shaman {Ire}), Ice Capades (Ire) (Kessaar {Ire}), Ismahane (Ger) (Isfahan {Ger}), Klaynn (Ire) (Make Believe {GB}), Lili Marleen (Ger) (Masar {Ire}), Mystery Of Love (Ire) (Ten Sovereigns {Ire}), Pink Black (Ire) (National Defense {GB}), Place Fontenoy (Fr) (War Command), Queen Of Maybe (Ire) (Inns Of Court {Ire}), Sorceress (Ger) (Belardo {Ire}), Thine Be The Glory (Ire) (Showcasing {GB}). Click here for the complete fields. The post Black-Type Analysis: Inisherin And Lazzat Clash With Storm Boy In Jubilee Stakes appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Rebel's Romance is the headliner in the June 21 Hardwicke Stakes (G2) at Royal Ascot.View the full article

Tuesday's immigration raid at Delta Downs–which resulted in the reported apprehension of 84 undocumented individuals–reminds industry stakeholders once again of a frustrating conundrum. On the one hand, they must navigate an environment of ramped-up immigration enforcement, and the potential that what happened at Delta Downs could happen at any other racetrack around the country. On the other, they face a long-broken system that makes sourcing legal immigrant workers a bureaucratic nightmare. “It's insanely difficult,” said trainer Chief Stipe O'Neill, about a visa system that's necessary to properly staff the racetrack backstretch. “Though [many immigrant workers] may not have been fortunate to have a lot of schoolhouse education, they have a PhD in horse-care. It's virtually impossible to get someone out of high school or college [in the U.S.] and have them be able to learn, and have the work ethic, to do what is needed,” O'Neill said, adding how the raid at Delta Downs has unnerved horsemen and women around the country. It was all the way back in 1986 that major immigration reform was passed on Capitol Hill. And while several legislative vehicles exist that could contain conditions favorable to workers in the horse racing industry, they face a long, embattled path to ever getting through a gridlocked Congress. Last month, a bipartisan group of legislators reintroduced the Farm Workforce Modernization Act, which would, among other things, reform the current H-2A visa program and create a pathway towards legal status for agricultural workers. As currently written, however, it contains no mention of equine workers. The Affordable and Secure Food Act, first introduced in 2022, was reintroduced last year with an amendment establishing a program for equine workers, their spouses and children, to earn legal status, including a pathway to a green card after 10 years of work. The plan is to reintroduce it this summer, said a legislative staffer for Senator Michael Bennet (D-CO), a key figure behind the bill. “Our hope it to try to get some Republicans on board,” the staffer said. Federally, the backstretch workforce falls under the umbrella of the Fair Labor Standards Act, limiting them to H-2B visas only. The H-2B visa program–which affords non-agriculture seasonal immigrant workers jobs in such industries as hospitality or with animals–has its limitations. It comes with a restrictive annual quota. The visa is typically only granted for nine months, but it can be extended for up to three years. “When you do get lucky enough and you are able to get the one or two a year, they're here nine months, and they just start building great relationships with the rest of the crew and the horses, then they've got to go home for three months. And oftentimes, that three months turns into six months,” said O'Neill, who calls for backstretch workers to be categorized as agricultural workers. In 2022, Senator Rand Paul (R-KY) introduced a bill called the Paperwork Reduction for Farmers and H-2A Modernization Act that would have expanded the H-2A program–currently geared towards seasonal or temporary agricultural work–to additionally cover livestock, equine and other workers. That bill is once again knocking around Washington with an eye to a possible reintroduction, said James O'Neill, Director of Legislative Affairs for the American Business Immigration Coalition (ABIC), a nationwide bipartisan coalition of over 1,700 employers and CEOs. “While we're certainly supportive of the expansion of the H-2A visa program, what that bill misses the mark on is the existing workforce that's already here without status,” said O'Neill. “Counterintuitively,” O'Neill added, “some of the biggest developments, legislative and somewhat, have come from the administration.” He pointed to guidance last week by the President and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) that workplace enforcement should be paused at farms, hotels and restaurants, industries that rely heavily on immigrant labor. DHS officials, however, subsequently reversed that order. Sarah Andrew While this is indicative of a “split in the administration” on the topic of immigration, “more importantly, the President understands this issue, and is willing to engage in positive solutions,” said O'Neill. “We're very encouraged by what the President said the other day, and it helps open up space and political room for legislators to take up the mantle and find solutions for the farm workforce,” he added. While O'Neill sees the door open for legislative reform, Oscar Gonzalez, Vice President of the California Horse Racing Board (CHRB) and a former Deputy Chief-of-Staff for Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack, believes that executive action is the likeliest and quickest way to immigration reform in Washington. “That is what I believe is the best solution at this point in time,” Gonzalez said. “What that looks like is anybody's guess,” said Gonzalez. “But what we want to be aware of are a couple things that would be absolute deal breakers. We have to have a pathway or a visa program that really fits our industry.” One of those deal-breakers in any possible immigration reform, said Gonzalez, would be a “touch-back” requirement–in other words, that a law-abiding, undocumented worker must return to their home country as part of the application process. “We have to make sure, if they insist on them going to a foreign soil, that a worker has the ability to go to his or her consulate or something similar to get approved,” said Gonzalez. During his time in the agriculture department, Gonzalez said he witnessed first-hand the obstacles that thwarted immigration reform, as well as the hurdles impeding horse racing's voice in those conversations. “It's the federal agencies' difficulty in understanding horse racing because it is so different to any other industry,” said Gonzalez. There's the counterintuitive urban presence of many racetracks, along with the peripatetic nature of racing life–moving from track-to-track, state-to-state–that makes these conversations tricky. Another is the highly-regulated nature of the average racetrack. “These are the things I would have to explain when I'm talking to the Department of Labor, or Commerce, or the State Department,” said Gonzalez. But the “profound cost” from labor disruptions to horsemen and women who are already straining under the increased financial weight of the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Act (HISA) means the sport has a sound footing from which to argue its cause, he said. “We're seeing costs go up. Labor's going to be tougher to come by. So, we could very well be seeing an acceleration of people's concerns of HISA on the financial front, especially if people's biggest expense is labor,” said Gonzalez, who added that he planned to reach out to HISA to see if they could communicate these concerns with other federal agencies. “There might be some elements in there that could help us make a case for some immigration relief,” he said. In the meantime, concerned trainers should relay to their local congressional representatives their worries, said Gonzalez. He pointed to a survey he conducted that identified 70 congressional members that represent all Thoroughbred, Quarter Horse and harness tracks throughout the country. “Do we have sway in the state capital? I say we do. We just have to be self-aware that we do have that, and that we do have a story to tell,” said Gonzalez. “Even if the [politicians] don't have racing in their district, they probably have sports betting, of which many of their constituents are betting on a sport with a large immigrant workforce.” Gonzalez grew up on the backstretch in Southern California and was present some forty years ago when immigration enforcement officers swept the Del Mar backstretch, leading to hundreds of workers fleeing the track and to the cancellation of racing. “I was on the backstretch at Del Mar during those raids. I have lived this and I have experienced this,” said Gonzalez. “And I'll tell you, we have to start gearing up for some battles ahead if we're to save this great sport.” The post Immigration Reform: “It’s Insanely Difficult” appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Observations on the European Racing Scene turns the spotlight on the best European races of the day, highlighting well-bred horses early in their careers, horses of note returning to action and young runners that achieved notable results in the sales ring. Saturday's Observations features a 'TDN Rising Star'. 2.38 Newmarket, Novice, £10,000, 2yo, 7fT WILD DESERT (IRE) (Too Darn Hot {GB}) impressed sufficiently on debut when winning by five lengths at Haydock to earn TDN Rising Star status and is now aimed at the novice that Charlie Appleby used for last year's G2 Superlative Stakes winner Ancient Truth. With the 2022 winner Victory Dance also sent to that July Festival feature, this is a race that has come to serve as a course-and-distance prep and while the half-brother to Shadow Of Light and Earthlight is the number one, it is interesting that the stable also puts forward the unraced Pacific Avenue (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}), a son of the G1 Cheveley Park Stakes heroine Lumiere (Shamardal) who was impressive enough on her debut to be a TDN Rising Star. He is also a full-brother to the smart Highland Avenue. The post Wild Desert Takes A Proven Path At Newmarket appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

There was no doubting Joe Murphy's popularity after the 70-year-old from Tipperary realized his lifetime ambition thanks to Cercene's tenacious success in the June 20 Coronation Stakes (G1) at Royal Ascot.View the full article

The first five in the betting for the June 21 Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes (G1) at Royal Ascot feature two horses trained in France and one each in Britain, Japan, and Ireland.View the full article

Trainer Karl Burke turned around a frustrating week as the highly regarded Venetian Sun burst home to land the June 20 Albany Stakes (G3) at Royal Ascot under Clifford Lee.View the full article

The form of the GI Derby City Distaff has already been franked on a couple of occasions over the last several weeks, and a pair of also-rans from the Derby undercard contest will look to further flatter the race when they square off in the GII Chicago Stakes beneath the Saturday night lights on the 'Downs After Dark' program in Louisville. Stonestreet Stables' Emery (More Than Ready) won four of her five starts at three last season, including a two-length defeat of My Mane Squeeze (Audible) in Keeneland's GII Raven Run Stakes going seven furlongs, but she has yet to find the winning thread in 2025. Runner-up at even-money in both the GII Inside Information Stakes in January and in the GI Madison Stakes Apr. 8, she sat a four-wide drip from a wide-ish draw in the Derby City Distaff and was beaten nearly 10 lengths into fifth. Florent Geroux rides from the one hole on Saturday. Vahva (Gun Runner) made last year's Derby City Distaff her first elite-level conquest and followed up with a smooth success at long odds-on in this event. It's been tougher sailing in three appearances since, however, and she will need to take a sizable step forward after finishing seventh in defense of her Derby City Distaff seven weeks ago. Derby City Distaff third 'TDN Rising Star' Ways and Means (Practical Joke) returned to dominate the June 6 GII Bed O'Roses Stakes at Saratoga (111 Beyer) while the ninth-placed Mystic Lake (Mo Town) validated 3-5 favoritism in the Memorial Day Sprint at Lone Star on May 26. For her part, My Mane Squeeze gave Derby Day a pass and instead made her most recent appearance in the one-mile GII Ruffian Stakes at Aqueduct on May 10. Narrowly in front to the eighth pole, she weakened slightly to be third as the 13-10 pick. The post Derby City Distaff Form On Display In Chicago Stakes appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Woodbine will delay the starting post time for the Sunday, June 22 card to 4 p.m. due to extreme heat forecast in the Toronto area, the track announced Friday. The release notes that the decision was made to prioritize the safety and wellbeing of [the] horses and all racing participants, with approval from the AGCO and consultation with the HBPA. Throughout the weekend, Woodbine will put additional safety measures in place, including shorter post parades and increased water/hose access for all horses pre- and post-race. Saturday's first post remains unchanged with an 11-race card beginning at 1:05 p.m. The post Heat Forces Woodbine To Delay Sunday Starting Post Time appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

ASCOT, UK — It was a day when so many of those engaged at Royal Ascot were thinking also of a great man gone away in Ireland. Kevin Prendergast would undoubtedly have revelled in the splendid results for some of his fellow Irish trainers on Ascot Heath as they in turn paid tribute to him. And there was even a winner for his old friend Awtaad, the last of the trainer's Classic winners, whose son Ethical Diamond triumphed in the Duke of Edinburgh Stakes after another, Ascending, had won Tuesday's Ascot Stakes. Breakthrough moments are key in any stallion's career, and there is arguably no finer place for them to happen than at Royal Ascot when all the racing world is watching. Sands Of Mali has been in the news for less joyful reasons this year but there can be no denying his progress in the only area that matters: siring decent winners on the track. The best of them to date, his first-crop daughter Time For Sandals, stepped up to the plate and hit a sensational home run to claim the G1 Commonwealth Cup – a race denied to Sands Of Mali himself when he was second here to Eqtidaar in 2018. By then he had already won the Gimcrack, Prix Sigy and Sandy Lane Stakes, and he was on his way to taking the Qipco British Champions Sprint later that year. A proper racehorse, he's starting to look like a proper stallion, too. As impressive as the rise of Sands Of Mali is that of his trainer Harry Eustace, who was claiming his second Group 1 of the week – and of his nascent career – as well as a second in the Royal Hunt Cup to boot. To describe the trainer's pedigree is to say that he is bred in the purple: his sire- and dam-lines both boast trainers of note, and his full-brother David is already a Group 1-winning trainer in Australia who is now cutting a swathe through the Hong Kong ranks. Anyone who knows Joe Foley, who stands Sands Of Mali at his Ballyhane Stud, will probably not be surprised to hear that he has been “sticking my oar in” and “helping” Eustace in his placing of Time For Sandals. “We've both been saying she's a Group 1 filly,” said an excited Foley while on his way home from a wedding. What is it with people getting married in the middle of Royal Ascot week? He continued, “I was involved in selling the filly through the Rathbride operation and loved her myself. David Appleton and Harry Eustace loved her. I remember encouraging them significantly to buy her and they were clever enough to appreciate the inbreeding in her pedigree. I am delighted that she has worked for them.” That inbreeding is one of the reasons Foley was so interested in buying Sands Of Mali, a son of Panis, who is a grandson of Mr. Prospector. Time For Sandals, whose dam Days Of Summer is by Bachelor Duke, was bred under the name of Ballyhane on behalf of Sands Of Mali's co-owner Steve Parkin. “I organised the mating for the filly, who is inbred 3×3 to [Mr. Prospector's son] Miswaki. When I bought Sands Of Mali, I was keen to duplicate Mr. Prospector in the matings and it seems to be working well. Interestingly, she's the one who is the most inbred to Mr. Prospector and she's the best,” Foley said. “I think Sands Of Mali is an incredible stallion. He's upgrading his mares. To be kind to the dam of Time For Sandals, she she would have been one of the lesser lights, similar to the dam of Ipanema Queen. It's encouraging to see him replicate his brilliance. He was a brilliant two-year-old and three-year-old and he was an unlucky loser of the Commonwealth Cup himself, so he deserves this.” Foley also reported that Sands Of Mali has covered his largest book of mares to date in his fifth season at stud. He added, “He's had tremendous support from breeders this year and I would like to think he's going to cement his reputation into the future with the quality of mares he's had.” Sands Of Mali is a year farther down the line in establishing a name for himself at stud but the horse riding in on his coat-tails among this year's freshmen is Starman, who provided quite the result for Tally-Ho Stud, where he stands, as the breeders of the Albany Stakes winner Venetian Sun. Out of the Iffraaj mare Johara, the Starman filly remained unbeaten on her second start for Karl Burke, and is another smart juvenile to win for the Tally Ho team at Royal Ascot after Campanelle (Kodiac). Tally-Ho principal Tony O'Callaghan is also the owner and breeder of Starman's other group winner to date, Lady Iman, and the stallion also had the runner-up in Wednesday's Queen Mary Stakes in the Charlie Clover-trained 100/1 shot Flowerhead, for Amo Racing. Roger O'Callaghan was quick to praise Starman's owner-breeder David Ward for the success of the stallion and added, “Dave and his wife Sue are such good people that I think the horse is looking after them.” O'Callaghan also paid tribute to National Hunt-turned-Flat trainer Joe Murphy, whose filly Cercene downed the colours of Zarigana to land the other Group 1 contest of the day, the Coronation Stakes. For 70-year-old Murphy, it was a deserved first Group 1 winner after 50 years with a licence, and Cercene also gave another boost to her sire Australia after the Derby triumph of Lambourn. “Joe Murphy deserves huge credit for that filly,” he said. “It's the day of the Joes – a brilliant day for them.” The post Of Soaring Stars and One Sadly Fallen appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

ASCOT, UK — Plaudits have rightly been dished out to popular 70-year-old trainer Joe Murphy, who notched his first Group 1 victory in sensational style when Cercene outpointed the Poule d'Essai des Pouliches winner Zarigana to land the Coronation Stakes. Appropriately enough for a daughter of Derby winner Australia, the filly is owned by Queenslander Shane R Stafford, who is now based in Ireland. Stafford, who describes himself as “just a boy from the Bush”, said as he was about to be called up to collect his trophy from the King, “This is the biggest thrill of my whole life.” He continued, “I bought some property in Ireland and we sold our cattle properties in Australia, and we ran into these lovely people. The filly did really well and we received a large offer for her, but I didn't want the Murphys to lose the horse so I bought an extra share so that she was kept in the family.” Cercene, who had previously run third in the Irish 1,000 Guineas behind Lake Victoria, was sent off at odds of 33/1 at Royal Ascot in the hands of Gary Carroll. “I've had full faith in this filly, I must say, and I've met some lovely people through the horse, and I think that's important,” Stafford said. “I'm overcome. It's hard to talk. I'm deeply saddened that some of my family couldn't come with me but we've got a new granddaughter in Australia and my lovely wife is over there. “I've had so many messages and missed calls from Australia – it was run at 1.20am and they're all up watching.” The owner was also represented on Thursday at Ascot by Waterford Flow (Ghaiyyath), trained by Joseph O'Brien, who ran ninth in the King George V Stakes. He added, “I've only got two three-year-olds and they've both run at Royal Ascot. I did have a listed winner at Perth in November with a filly I called Cashel Palace after the Magniers' hotel, but this is by far my biggest winner so far. We're just country people and we race horses in the country, and to be here on this occasion is just overwhelming. We're all big royal supporters in our family.” The post Cercene’s Owner Enjoys ‘Biggest Thrill Of My Whole Life’ appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

The 2025 Inglis Digital USA June Sale, which includes a catalog of 29 entries, opened Friday with bidding running through Wednesday, June 25. Leading the catalog is 4-year-old filly Tap the Champagne (Tapit) (hip 6), a daughter of Champagne Royale who most recently placed second in a turf maiden special weight at Churchill Downs June 18 for trainer Pavel Matejka. She is a half-sister to GISWs Majestic Harbor (Rockport Harbor) and Danza (Street Boss) who also picked up third in the GI Kentucky Derby behind California Chrome (Lucky Pulpit). “The filly came back from her race in great shape,” Matejka said. “She ran incredible first time on grass after a layoff. We'll be looking for even bigger improvement for her next race. Ellis Park, Saratoga, and Kentucky Downs are on our radar. Del Mar, with its 'Ship and Win' incentive, is another possibility.” Tap the Champagne is available for inspection at Matejka's barn at The Thoroughbred Center in Lexington, KY. The June sale also features Tralee Girl (Mendelsson) (hip 7), who broke her maiden during the Belmont Stakes Racing Festival at Saratoga Race Course June 5. The New York-bred 3-year-old filly is being pointed toward the $150,000 Suzie O'Cain Stakes on July 16 at Saratoga for trainer Miguel Clemente. “She won really well at the Belmont Festival,” Clement said. “We've been really happy with her and have a New York-bred stake picked out for her at Saratoga in July.” Breeders looking to get an early start to building their broodmare bands for the next foaling season will have several options, including mares in-foal to California stallions Storm the Court and Tizamagician. Some of those mares are offered with foals at side by Tizamagician and Eight Rings. The catalog also features several yearlings, including offerings from the first crops of Kentucky stallions Mystic Guide, Pinehurst, and Sir Winston. “We had some momentum from our May sale, and we are very pleased with the sellers who continue to support us,” said Kyle Wilson, senior director of sales and recruiting for Inglis Digital USA. “We have some really quality offerings, and we're excited to get started with our sale.” Interested parties must register for an account on the Inglis Digital USA website and request a bidding limit in order to place bids. To view the catalog and register to bid, click here. The post Tap The Champagne Leads Inglis Digital USA June Sale Catalog appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

1st-LRC, $45K, Msw, 2yo, 5f, 4:00 p.m. ET. Debuting for Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert, ST PETERSBURG (Constitution) was a $700,000 purchase during the Fasig-Tipton Saratoga Select Yearling Sale. Owned by SF, Starlight, Madaket, Stonestreet, Dianne Bashor, Determined Stables, Golconda Stable, Waves Edge Capital and Catherine Donovan, the colt is one of five foals out GIII Schuylerville Stakes heroine Catherinethegreat (Uncaptured), who was acquired by WinStar for $175,000 at the 2019 Keeneland November Sale. The first-time starter hails from an extended female family which includes SW Katinka (Kantharos). TJCIS PPS The post Saturday Insights: Constitution Colt St Petersburg Marks First Start At Los Alamitos appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Time For Sandals continued a dream week for trainer Harry Eustace when causing a 25-1 upset in the Commonwealth Cup (G1) under Richard Kingscote June 20 at Ascot Racecourse.View the full article

LONGSHOREMAN (c, 2, Twirling Candy–Lady Pauline, by Munnings) squandered a four-length advantage in the final furlong to finish a disappointing and money-burning second to Listed Windsor Castle Stakes also-ran Tough Critic (Caravaggio) on Keeneland debut Apr. 24. The betting public's darling here at 1-2, the $260,000 Keeneland September graduate was in front in a matter of strides and took them along at a solid early gallop. Awaiting word from Irad Ortiz, Jr. as they neared the entrance to the stretch, Longshoreman responded when asked and opened up on them to take it by some six to seven lengths. Strong (Raging Bull {Fr}), a debut fourth to 'TDN Rising Star' Outfielder (Speightstown) but beaten only two lengths for second on course-and-distance bow on May 23, completed the exacta at boxcar odds ahead of Thebabeslayer (Collected), third in the latter event. Final time for the five furlongs on fast turf was :56.33. Sales history: $260,000 Ylg '24 KEESEP. O-For the People Racing Stable LLC, Haagsma, John R. and Cestaro, James; B-Stonestreet Thoroughbred Holdings LLC (KY); T-Wesley Ward. When the gates opened #4 LONGSHOREMAN ($3.06) made quick work of the field in race 2 at @ChurchillDowns going gate-to-wire. The son of Twirling Candy (@LanesEndFarms) was ridden by @iradortiz and is trained by Wesley Ward. Watch on @FanDuelTV and bet with @FanDuel. pic.twitter.com/bo4ICg5vgZ — FanDuel Racing (@FanDuel_Racing) June 20, 2025 The post Twirling Candy’s Longshoreman Unloads On Churchill Maidens appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Atoning for the eclipse of the Aykroyds' Derby hope Pride Of Arras, their other prized homebred Amiloc (Postponed) maintained his unbeaten sequence in Friday's G2 King Edward VII Stakes at Royal Ascot. Sent off the 11-8 favourite for the mile-and-a-half “Ascot Derby”, the Ralph Beckett-trained Listed Cocked Hat Stakes winner followed Ballydoyle's Galveston (Frankel) before taking over two out and asserting for a 3/4-of-a-length verdict under Rossa Ryan. Zahrann (Night Of Thunder) closed to be second, two lengths ahead of the tiring Galveston. ALL HEART! AMILOC WINS THE KING EDWARD VII STAKES! #ROYALASCOT pic.twitter.com/eRkzOlFkNr — At The Races (@AtTheRaces) June 20, 2025 The post King Edward VII Glory For The Aykroyd’s Amiloc appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

It is strange that the one who dominates the market for Saturday's G1 Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes is not a hardened sprinter, but Lazzat (Territories) is all class and ready to fire in the final big one of Royal Ascot week. Campaigned mostly over seven furlongs last term, the Sumbe homebred who now sports Wathnan's silks had them all won before the closing stages before repeating the trick in the G1 Prix Maurice de Gheest over 110 yards less. It was his stunning comeback effort in Chantilly's Listed Prix Servanne which convinced all that he is fast enough for this six and his extra stamina will be invaluable for this stiff test. “We were deeply impressed with what he did in France on his comeback run, the time was very good and I think the straight six furlongs at Ascot will be right up his street,” Wathnan's racing adviser Richard Brown said. “He's a great addition to the team and we're looking forward to seeing him in the Wathnan colours.” Emphatic in last year's G1 Commonwealth Cup over the distance, Inisherin (Shamardal) was below that level in two starts but looked back in business when beating Flora Of Bermuda (Dark Angel) in York's G2 1895 Duke Of York Clipper Stakes last month. He showed there that he has sharpened up considerably and is now a faster, slicker model. Drawn close to Lazzat, he will be able to use that long stride to put most under pressure from halfway. “We made no secret of the fact he was only about 80 per-cent at York and we feel he's taken a big step forward in his training since,” trainer Kevin Ryan said. “The stiff six obviously suited him down to the ground last year, so you can't be anything but happy coming back here. It's going to be a top-class race, we're under no illusions, but I wouldn't swap him for anything.” Like Lazzat, the G1 Takamatsunomiya Kinen winner Satono Reve (Lord Kanaloa) has produced the kind of effort on the clock that you would expect from one who can land a top prize in Japan. He will be reserved off any early speed duel, which could be the right tactic if Lazzat and co blaze from the gates. Aidan O'Brien has only won this with Australian imports and that bodes well for Storm Boy (Justify), whose best performance in his native country was probably his win in the 5 1/2-furlong G3 San Domenico Stakes last year. It all went awry on his European debut in the G2 Greenlands Stakes at The Curragh last month, but his trainer seems convinced he has put matters right in the interim as he has on so many occasions in the past. Whether Topgear (Wootton Bassett) has the speed to get involved here is open to debate, having found his niche over seven, but Hisaaki Saito's representative certainly belongs in this category based on recent evidence, which is also the case for Flora Of Bermuda. By a sire in Dark Angel whose progeny seem to excel at this meeting, she will be sharper for her York return and has course-and-distance form having been third in the G1 British Champions Sprint Stakes in October. Romance Looms Saturday's G2 Hardwicke Stakes seems there for the taking for Godolphin's Rebel's Romance (Dubawi), whose effort when third in the King George over course and distance in July is the clear standard. Stretched over 14 furlongs on his return in the G2 Yorkshire Cup, the dual Breeders' Cup Turf hero will be more at home over this optimum trip which cannot be stated with a guarantee concerning Ghostwriter (Invincible Spirit). “I keep telling people, if I need to explain what Rebel's Romance is all about, they are probably not racing fans,” Charlie Appleby said. “He comes here in great order and he's well renowned for what he can do. I think the trump card could be the drop back to a mile and a half and that is going to be more comfortable for him. It was his guts that got him over the line at York, he's an absolute star.” Third in the Eclipse and Juddmonte International last term, Ghostwriter is worth a try at a mile and a half with the 10-furlong races so tough to win. Last year's G1 Grosser Preis von Berlin winner Al Riffa (Wootton Bassett) is the third big runner here and he looked ready to go back up to this trip last time when fourth in the G1 Prix Ganay at ParisLongchamp. All Eyes On Treanmor Royal Ascot's Listed Chesham Stakes almost seems the first port of call for seeking the following year's Guineas contenders of late and Godolphin's TDN Rising Star Treanmor (Frankel) is already at the head of the betting for the Newmarket Classic. His Newmarket debut win was as smooth as they come, but he will have to work here with Ballydoyle's well-regarded filly Moments Of Joy (Justify) and Wathnan's Newbury maiden winner Humidity (Ulysses) in attendance. The latter is a full-brother to Holloway Boy who took this on debut in 2022. In the G3 Jersey Stakes, there is a buzz about Sheikh Ahmed Al Maktoum's dual Doncaster winner Remmooz (Blue Point), while the G3 Ballylinch Stud Stakes runner-up Comanche Brave (Wootton Bassett) and G3 Greenham Stakes third Saracen (Siyouni) are the standard-setters from the yards of both O'Brien Jrs. The post ‘The Straight Six Will Be Right Up His Street’: Lazzat Ready For Jubilee Test appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Time For Sandals continued a dream week for trainer Harry Eustace when causing a 25-1 upset in the Commonwealth Cup (G1) under Richard Kingscote on June 20 at Ascot Racecourse.View the full article

Trainer Karl Burke turned around a frustrating week as the highly regarded Venetian Sun burst home to land the June 20 Albany Stakes (G3) at Royal Ascot under Clifford Lee.View the full article