Wandering Eyes

Champion Rebel's Romance (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}), who has a pair of GI Longines Breeders' Cup Turf wins on his impressive resume, will return to U.S. soil to contest the GI Joe Hirsch Turf Classic at Aqueduct Racetrack next Saturday. A $14-million earner for Godolphin, the homebred enters off a victory in Germany's G1 Grosser Preis von Berlin Stakes at Hoppegarten, an effort that followed a respectable third for the second consecutive year in Europe's top 12-furlong race of the summer, the G1 King George VI & Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Ascot. On Saturday, Rebel's Romance seeks his 20th career victory and ninth at the top level. The Charlie Appleby trainee also looks to improve upon a disappointing odds-on fourth in this race two years ago, as well as become the first foreign-trained winner of the Hirsch Classic since Aidan O'Brien's Cape Blanco (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) in 2011. Rebel's Romance, guided by Frankie Dettori on Saturday, will be joined by another Godolphin color bearer in El Cordobes (Ire) (Frankel {GB})–a $2.3 million purchase as a Tattersalls yearling. With four wins from 10 starts, the 4-year-old flexed his ascending form last month when taking the GI Resorts World Casino Sword Dancer at Saratoga. “The plan has been to send the pair of them over and they're both in good order,” trainer Charlie Appleby said. “Obviously, El Cordobes is slightly younger, but both he and Rebel's Romance come in off the back of nice successes in their last runs. Hopefully that gives us a little confidence that one of them will be picking up the prize.” As for the American contingent, entries include, GSW Redistricting (GB) (Kingman {GB}), GISP Rebel Red (GB) (Frankel {GB}) and MGISW & 'TDN Rising Star' Far Bridge (English Channel). MSW Bank Frenzy (Central Banker) and Le Gris (City of Light) are entered for the main-track only. The post Champion Rebel’s Romance Back On U.S. Soil For Saturday’s GI Joe Hirsch Turf Classic appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Having owned horses for about 40 years in Brazil and Uruguay, Ricardo Felizzola always dreamed of racing in America. Thanks to No Bien Ni Mal, he is now a graded winner in the United States after just two starts.View the full article

Classy 2-and 3-year-old New York-breds will be featured in four stakes events Sept. 22 at Finger Lakes.View the full article

For C R K Stable, owned by Lee and Susan Searing of Claremont, Calif., the celebration actually started the day before the GI Pennsylvania Derby won by Baeza (McKinzie). The Searings own Baeza, who is trained by John Shirreffs, in partnership with Grandview Equine. His victory came just 27 1/2 hours after the stable unveiled a horse who could potentially be better than Baeza. Yes, 'TDN Rising Star' Englishman (Maxfield) was that impressive. The son of a first crop sire, he annihilated a field of maidens at Churchill Downs winning by 7 1/4 lengths, covering the seven furlongs in 1:21.35, just two-fifths off the track record held by 2013 GI Filly & Mare Sprint winner Groupie Doll (Bowman's Band). She established the new record for seven furloughs on the dirt at Churchill Downs when winning the 2012 GI Humana Distaff Stakes. Englishman earned a 97 Beyer, which is third best among all 2-year-olds this year and that mark puts him behind Grade I winners Brant (Gun Runner) and Ted Noffey (Into Mischief)–also owners of 'TDN Rising Star' badges. It wasn't just the time. He broke sharply but was pressed down the backstretch by $1.4-million OBS April grad Tagermeen (Into Mischief), who was the 9-5 favorite in the race. At the top of stretch, he took off, leaving Tagermeen in his tracks. Englishman was geared down inside the final sixteenth, no longer being asked for his best run by jockey Jose Ortiz. Lee Searing's C R K had a stellar weekend | Benoit None of this came as a surprise to trainer Cherie DeVaux. “We felt he was really talented,” DeVaux said. “We saw that from the start, the breaking process when April Mayberry had him before we started working him. He tipped his hand when he worked from the gate. He went in 59 2/5, but it was basically just a gallop for him. We were hoping he would run well, but I don't think anybody could have expected to see what he did on the track. “Yes, he was the most impressive 2-year-old maiden winner I've ever had. You have to consider that he's just a 2-year-old and really not had not had the screws tightened totally on him.” His debut came too late to make the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile. “Running in the Breeders' Cup this year is not the goal for him,” she said. “He has a bright future ahead of him. He's going to develop and we'll have to see how far he can carry that speed. We'll probably just wait until Churchill opens back up and go from there.” She said options include the GII Kentucky Jockey Club or a one-turn allowance race under the Twin Spires. “We'll look at the Churchill condition book when it comes out and weigh all our options,” she said. Englishman was purchased by April Mayberry for $400,000 at the 2024 Keeneland September sale and is own solely by C R K. Mayberry buys for the Searings and breaks their yearlings before sending them on to their future trainers. DeVaux may soon unveil what could be another star 2-year-old residing in her barn. She is the trainer of Nymue (War Front) an unraced 2-year-old filly out of Zenyatta (Streeet Cry {Ire} and her last foal. Zenyatta has not produced a winner from five previous foals. But DeVaux has high hopes for the filly, who was bred by Ann Holbrook Moss and the Jerome S. Moss Trust. Englishman cools off after a hot start to his career | Horsephotos Nymue recorded her first workout on Aug. 5 at Saratoga, going four furlongs in :50.08. But she has not drilled since Aug. 23. “She just had a little setback,” DeVaux said. “She's almost 17 hands so she's had some problems you get early on with such big horses. We just have to push her forward and then wait for the body to catch up. We're just in one of those spells.” DeVaux likes what she has seen so far. “Physically, she's the spitting image of Zenyatta,” DeVaux said. “They look exactly the same, the same big black coat with a blaze. You can definitely tell she is Zenyatta's daughter. She's going to be a two-turn filly because she's just so big. When she does run its going to be two turns. She doesn't have speed but she carries it. She has huge strides and carries her stride throughout. When we get her back breezing it will be exciting to know that we're getting close to a race.” The post ‘TDN Rising Star’ Englishman Kicks Off Huge Weekend For C R K Stable appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

A severe thunderstorm bringing heavy rain and lightning through the area caused Gulfstream Park to cancel its final five races Sept. 21 out of an abundance of caution for horses, horsemen, and fans.View the full article

A severe thunderstorm bringing heavy rain and lightning through the area caused Gulfstream Park to cancel its final five races Sunday out of an abundance of caution for horses, horsemen and fans, 1/ST Racing said in a press release on Sunday afternoon. The decision was made following a lengthy weather delay prior to sixth race with steady rain forecast into early evening. Exactas, Trifectas and Superfectas were refunded. The Sunshine meet will resume Friday with a nine-race program. The post Thunderstorms Force Gulfstream To Cancel Rest Of Sunday Card appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Coolmore stallion Practical Joke was represented by his 50th stakes winner Sept. 20 when Gurney Halleck won the Henry Mercer Memorial Stakes at Charles Town.View the full article

One of the more meaningful aspects of Saratoga's summer meet is how it brings people together. Whether they're new faces on the scene or returning regulars of the historic venue, they all seem to share the same passion for the Thoroughbred racehorse. It's a place that brings prestige to all who ride, work and walk upon its grounds, felt during the mornings spent on the Oklahoma training track, to the steps taken across Union Avenue, and the palpable excitement that flows throughout the paddock and winner's circle on race day. And in the case of 16-year-old exercise rider Yomar Ortiz Jr., there was no greater honor than having spent his first summer on the Saratoga backstretch. When the young rider was called up to ride out for Hall of Fame trainer Shug McGaughey earlier this summer, it wasn't a thought to reply 'yes' or 'no,' but simply 'when do you need me?' The opportunity served as a testament not only to the steps Ortiz Jr. was taking to fulfill his dream of one day becoming a professional jockey, but also a justification of the progress he'd already made in pursuit of that dream. It's a dream his father, Yomar Ortiz, knows well. Originally from Puerto Rico, where Ortiz Jr. was born, Yomar Ortiz attended Escuela Vocacional Hípica (EVH), the jockey school located at the island's racetrack, Hipódromo Camarero, before making his way stateside to begin his career as a jockey. Since 2012, Yomar Ortiz has established himself as a multiple stakes-winning jockey in the Mid-Atlantic region with just over 4,700 career starts and $13,643,517 in career earnings. Now, Ortiz Jr. is following in his father's footsteps. Yomar Ortiz Jr. with Dark Assault | Sara Gordon “My dad started at Gulfstream, moved his way to Delaware, and then he ended up in Maryland. And that's how I ended up there. I met a lot of people in Maryland because of my dad and I've learned so much from all of them. Maryland has been a big help to me,” said Ortiz Jr. It started with U.S. Pony Racing, under the guidance of Regina Welsh and later on, Betty McCue, as he progressed from leadline trot races to riding races on his own by the age of 12. “I remember my first time riding in a clinic, before the Timonium pony races. I don't think I had ever galloped [before] and ended up falling off five times that day. I've come a long way, that's for sure,” said Ortiz Jr. “Betty helped me a lot. She taught me how to ride and she's opened a lot of doors for me. It's been very important to have her in my life and she's been a great supporter the whole time. I'm very, very thankful for that.” This past winter, Ortiz Jr. spent two months in Puerto Rico as he attended the same jockey school that his father once did. Yet, when February 2, date of his 16th birthday, came around, Ortiz Jr. was stateside and applying for his exercise rider's license. Following that, he galloped for trainers Suzanne Stettinius, Justin Nixon, Rodolfo Sanchez-Salomon, and breezed a handful of horses for Brittany Russell before he received a call from Anthony Hamilton Jr., McGaughey's assistant trainer. “Anthony called me and said they were looking for a rider, and that's an opportunity you can't turn down, especially at my young age. It was something big for me. So, the Monday after the Preakness, I went up to New York,” said Ortiz Jr. “I remember the first morning I rode for Shug, Anthony told me, 'Kid, I hope you can ride.' I was nervous that day, but it has all worked out. I'm very grateful to have great people by my side, supporting me always. Shug's given me a big opportunity.” For Ortiz Jr., the caliber of horses he's had the privilege to ride, as well as the top-class horsemen and jockeys he's gotten to work with, have provided a learning experience that is second to none. Yomar Ortiz Jr. during training hours | Sara Gordon “I remember the first week up here I was going to breeze [one] on the turf and when I looked at the setlist, I saw Johnny [Velazquez] was breezing with me. I was so nervous that I was running up and down the shedrow all morning. But it was a good [experience], I've learned a lot,” said Ortiz Jr. “I've breezed with Joel Rosario, Luis Saez, and Katie Davis. Jose Ortiz has also helped me a lot. He came out of the jockey school with my dad, so we've always been close. And I've worked some horses for [trainer] Joe Sharp here on the turf. “It's great because I'm getting to learn from the best. But not just from the jockeys, but all of the people back here, including the [jockey] agents, exercise riders, and the grooms. They've all given me a hand and I'm very thankful for that.” Though he's ridden a variety of horses, a handful have left their mark on Ortiz Jr.'s heart, namely a pair of up-and-comers: 2-year-old filly Keto Drink (Twirling Candy) and 2-year-old colt Dark Assault (Violence). “Keto [Drink] is very important to me. The first week I was here I rode her and I worked with her to get her through a lot of things. She was a filly that I was able to show the way to. In her first race up here, she didn't break out of the gate well, but she came with this big run and got up for third. It was special [to watch],” said Ortiz Jr. “Dark Assault has been very good to me and I think he's a very talented horse, that's why I like him so much. “It's the bond you build with these beautiful creatures. When you come in the morning, walk in the barn and get to see that one horse you like…It's always been the bond you grow with the horses that you help develop that's always been something very heartwarming for me. Something with this sport is working with the horses and getting to see them run, rooting for them, it makes you want to work harder.” Since graduating from high school early, Ortiz Jr. plans to spend time learning and expanding his skillset as an exercise rider before officially pursuing a career as a professional jockey. Yomar Ortiz Jr. working horses at the Spa | Sara Gordon “I'm going to keep working for Shug. I'm 16, so I want to wait at least two more winters. Waiting will help me a lot and I'll learn more in the process,” said Ortiz Jr. “Right now, it's so far away, that I just say I'll go where the horses take me and wherever I get a good opportunity.” It's only fitting that this young man, who rides with natural talent and speaks with graciousness, takes the next step in his career at a track where so many greats did the same in decades past. “I'll always be grateful for everything that everybody in Maryland did for me. My dad has helped me and taught me a lot. I know that Maryland is a great place to start,” said Ortiz Jr. “I never thought when I turned 16 that I would get a call to come work for a Hall of Fame trainer, you know? It means a lot.” Remember the name: Yomar Ortiz Jr. The post A Saratoga Summer To Remember For 16-Year-Old Yomar Ortiz Jr. appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Racing begins at King Abdulaziz Racecourse in Riyadh on October 16, the first of 50 meetings before the February 14, 2026 $20-million G1 Saudi Cup concludes the season, the Jockey Club of Saudi Arabia announced on Sunday. The schedule change was made to accommodate the Holy Month of Ramadan, which falls around February 28. The seventh running of the Saudi Cup coincides with the 41st Asian Racing Conference, titled 'Honouring Tradition – Shaping The Future', which takes place in the country from February 9 and closes at The Saudi Cup. The International Jockeys' Challenge (IJC) is set for February 13. Nine-races will be held the following day as the Saudi Cup enters its seventh year with the G2 Neom Turf Cup, G2 Riyadh Dirt Sprint and the G2 Red Sea Turf Handicap offering a host of opportunities. Racing will take place Thursday-Saturday with 12-race cards each day until the finale. The Saudi Cup trials weekend will take place on January 16-17, featuring The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Cup and King Abdulaziz Cups. Qualifiers for The Neom Turf Cup, 1351 Turf Sprint, Red Sea Turf Handicap, Riyadh Dirt Sprint and the G1 Obaiyah Classic and G1 Al-Mneefah Cup will also be held over those two days. The post Saudi Arabian Racing Returns To Riyadh In October, Seasonal Schedule Revealed appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Monday, Fairyhouse, post time: 17:45, BALLYHANE BLENHEIM STAKES-Listed, €27,000, 2yo, 6fT Field: Charles Fort (GB) (St Mark's Basilica {Fr}), Chicago Call (Ire) (Oasis Dream {GB}), Fresh Fade (Ire) (Cotai Glory {GB}), Howd'yadoit (Ire) (Nando Parrado {GB}), Morehampton (Ire) (Sea The Moon {Ger}), Nuevo Slovo (Ire) (James Garfield {Ire}), Sir Alfie (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}), Slaudeen (GB) (Starspangledbanner {Aus}), Tertre Rouge (Ire) (Mehmas {Ire}), Alibah (Ire) (Galileo Gold {GB}), Dawn Romance (Ire) (Mehmas {Ire}), Treasured Royal (Ire) (Nando Parrado {GB}), Yaupon De Replay (Yaupon). TDN Analysis: Ballydoyle's Charles Fort was off the mark at the fourth attempt in style switched back to this trip at Cork and could be ready to take off now. The Ballyhane winner Howd'yadoit could still be improving, while it is possibly significant that Joseph O'Brien is dropping the Gowran Park maiden winner Alibah back from seven. [Tom Frary]. Click here for the complete field. The post Black-Type Analysis: Blenheim Full Of Intrigue appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

There is joy in Central Kentucky as the Keeneland September Yearling sale surpassed $500 million in revenue for the first time. And I don't mean just by breeders, consignors, agents, and veterinarians. In short order, the ultimate trickle down will commence. Imagine these discussions in the coming weeks at area horse farms: “You know that truck we have been needing to replace …” “You know that mower we keep repairing …” “You know how we have been wanting to purchase a new tractor …” “You know how we have spoken about replacing some fencing …” “You know that new computer system our IT guy says we need …” “You know how we have been putting off hiring a few new people …” So, what transpired in the Keeneland Sales Pavilion the last two weeks not only affects the lives of farm owners and employees but many, many others. It can affect not just the owner of the tractor dealership or paint store, but his employees and their families. Which also trickles down. The employees now have more to spend at local businesses, restaurants, etc. There also are smiles in the boardrooms of any institution that does equine lending. Loans are repaid quicker and new notes and lines of credit care established based on the strength of the industry. That also works hand-in-hand to trickle down. The man who owns the fencing company needs a loan to buy more product because more farms are calling. There would be only one thing that could burst this perfect scenario. That would be the wholesale increasing of stud fees because of the strong sale results. We should always remember that while the sale ring represents a single moment's appraisal of a horse's worth, it is on the racetrack that the real value is seen and established. And, while the past two weeks has been about selling horses, the ultimate goal is to breed winners on the racetrack. Keeping stud fees level–allowing everyone to now focus on what should be a robust mare selling season–is a huge win for everyone. Not just breeders … but the entire Central Kentucky community. Take the win, and move on. The post Letter To the Editor: Level Stud Fees Will Be A Huge Win For Everyone appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Record-breaking Tattersalls Horses In Training Sale buy Sir Delius announced himself as a spring staying force with a win in the Sept. 20 Underwood Stakes (G1), supplying Juddmonte Farms' Frankel with his 40th group 1 winner in the process. View the full article

Canterbury Park concluded its 2025 season Sept. 20 with an increase in average daily attendance and daily average on track wagering remaining consistent with the prior season.View the full article

Four stakes for 2-year-olds—including a pair of graded races—highlight the six-day Winter Thoroughbred meet at Los Alamitos Race Course Dec. 5-14.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. Monday's Observations features a daughter of a G1 Moyglare Stud Stakes heroine. 2.43 Leicester, Mdn, 2yo, f, 7fT PALACE ARTOIS (GB) (Palace Pier {GB}) debuts for Mike and Michelle Morris and is the fifth foal out of their 1.7million gns purchase Intricately (Fastnet Rock), the Moyglare Stud Stakes winner. Under the care of William Haggas, the homebred encounters another newcomer of note in The Thoroughbred Racing Corporation's Miss Scott (Night Of Thunder), a John and Thady Gosden-trained 650,000gns Tattersalls October Book 1 purchase who is a half-sister to the classy Grand Stars (Sea The Stars) and Catalina Delcarpio (Lope De Vega). The post Intricately’s Daughter Palace Artois Debuts At Leicester appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

FAIRYHOUSE, IRELAND – Believe it or not, there are some people out there who think the yearling sales are just one big fugazi and that, had you adopted a method of throwing darts at the catalogue, you may well enjoy the same amount of luck – or despair – on the racetrack. Sheila Lavery, Tom Mullins, Paul Flynn, Danny Murphy and Sean Davis operate at the coalface of the industry in Ireland and can pour cold water on the idea of the yearling sales being one big game of chance pretty quickly. These trainers will be putting their hard-earned cash on the line at this week's Tattersalls Ireland September Yearling Sale and know better than most that one or two bad decisions could be detrimental to their business. You wouldn't be overegging the pudding by saying this sale really is make or break for a lot of handlers. How things play out at Fairyhouse, which is realistically one of the few Flat yearling sales in this country where the smaller man or woman can get a look in, will determine how their business will look over the next 18 months or so, particularly for those with one eye on trading. There are few trainers better at making their money stretch at the sales than Lavery and Mullins, yet both trainers have been extremely open about the fact they are feeling the pressure in the build-up to this year's yearling sale season given they have sent out just three winners apiece on the Flat. Sheila Lavery | Tattersalls Lavery explained, “I've had a really tough year. The horses are running well but they are mediocre. I sold a homebred River Boyne colt to OTI Racing out of a barrier trial so that has taken the pressure off a little bit. But apart from that, it has been tough. When you only have 24 horses and four of those need wind operations and two fractured their pelvis, that cuts into things. Some of our owners made a lot of money this year, so I am delighted for them, but the flip side of that is we have sold a lot of highly-rated horses. We sold the likes of Kortez Bay, Torivega, Vestigia and more. They'd all have won two or three races a year so I am having to rebuild myself.” Like Lavery, Mullins has mastered the craft of unearthing diamonds in the rough and has won 18 Irish maidens in the past decade. What's remarkable about that statistic is that Mullins, a brother to the dominant champion National Hunt trainer Willie, only shifted over to the Flat because he found the store horses harder and harder to buy at public auction. None of those Flat maiden winners cost more than €30,000, confirming Mullins's status as one of the shrewdest judges on the sales circuit. “This would be my worst year in both spheres by a long way,” Mullins shared. “I only managed to buy one yearling last year because, just like the stores, I found that they were very expensive. It was actually the first year where I didn't buy four or five yearlings. The day of a trainer getting a load of orders is gone, though. Willie Mullins mightn't even get orders for a Derby or a Land Rover Sale. I think the bloodstock agents are getting orders alright.” He added, “The whole game is changing. Things haven't budged at the bottom for 10 or 15 years but the costs have doubled if not trebled. That's why the lower end of business is simply not viable because the prize-money has not come up in any way, shape or form. With the costs involved in getting a horse to the track, you need to buy to trade and, in all reality, you need to be selling a horse or two every year in order to survive in this business.” More recently, Mullins has had Stela Star (Epaulette) [€23,000 yearling purchase] and Mythical Reel (Highland Reel) [€16,000] traded to America while the 107-rated Belle Image (Kodi Bear), whose Dark Angel filly happens to sell here this week [lot 352], was sourced by Lavery for €50,000 in 2019. “I look at as many horses as I can and I usually go with my first impression on a horse,” Lavery said of her approach to the sales. “Any time I have gone against that, it hasn't gone well for me. Like, I can't buy a horse out of the back ring. I need to have seen that horse leaving his or her stable so I can get a feel for the individual. And if my initial feeling isn't positive, I usually always walk away. One thing I will never look at is a yearling out of a mare who has never run or never bred a runner, even if it is a first foal, because there could be a soundness issue. “Belle Image, who finished fourth in an Irish 1,000 Guineas, came out of this sale, as did Vestigia, who won a couple of races before being traded on. Prince Of Naples was another we sourced here and he was sold on for a profit. We've had a lot of luck at Tattersalls Ireland and even New Energy [second in an Irish 2,000 Guineas] was bought at the breeze-up sale here a few years ago as well.” She added, “I am not very good at selling myself and you really do need to buy horses on spec but I don't because I don't like owing people money. That's to my detriment, I think. I should be braver at the sales. I love going to the sales with orders and I am very, very comfortable at that because I know I am good at buying yearlings. But thankfully, I have a couple of orders for this week.” BBA Ireland's Mick Donohoe and Tom Mullins | Tattersalls Asked about his approach to sourcing talent, Mullins joked, “My approach to buying a yearling or my approach to staying in business as a trainer? The reason I have gone down the yearling route is because the National Hunt store has become too expensive. I was competing with the point-to-point lads in the ring, which wasn't going to work, and then I couldn't sell a bumper horse unless it came out and won impressively. I just found I couldn't buy the horse I wanted to buy at the store sales anymore and that, coupled with the fact Gordon [Elliott] and Willie are so strong, we turned our hand to the Flat. We're 50-50 between Flat and National Hunt now.” He added, “My roots might be in the National Hunt game but I'd never buy a Flat yearling who I think might do both jobs. Never. If I am buying a Flat horse, it's to run on the Flat. I am never thinking in the back of my mind, 'will this ever jump a hurdle?' I'd go as far as saying if I thought the horse looked like he could, I'd walk away. This week, I will be trying to buy a horse for the Flat. That's for sure. Any year I have come up here, I have found it very hard to afford a nice colt, so I'll more than likely be focussing on fillies. A nice, racy filly could be affordable, whereas a good colt might cost a lot of money, which I don't have to spend. I'd be a €40,000 man, maximum.” Davis is unique in that he shops at both ends of the market. A licensed trainer, he is also a prominent breeze-up handler and revealed that he would be changing tack with his approach toward the latter discipline. Davis explained, “The aim is to sell good horses at the breeze-ups so, when I looked at other consignors and how strong the whole breeze-up business has changed, I felt that I needed to become more competitive and buy a classier type. I am going to focus on quality over quantity this year. Over the past few years, we definitely had around 20 horses but this year I'd imagine I'll have 10 or 12.” He added, “I go to the yearling sales with an open mind. There could be a very nice horse that you know will only make €10,000 or €15,000 because of his page. You can't breeze a horse like that anymore because he won't get into any breeze-up sale. Those are the types of horses I can race so it's all about looking at as many yearlings as you can and then fitting them into each bracket.” Sean Davis: buys horses for various different disciplines | Tattersalls You could say Davis has the best of both worlds in that he can trade away with the sexier, and in many ways safer, horses at the breeze-up sales. Then, he can chance a horse like Iriseach, who he sourced for just 15,000gns at the Tattersalls Online breeze-up sale before selling on to America after getting the Ubettabelievit colt to finish fourth in a Navan maiden on debut just over a month later. Davis will be without long-time business partner Gary Halpin this year and opened up how he is striving to achieve the perfect balance between training, pre-training and breezing. “I was actually talking to Roger O'Callaghan about this on the phone the other day,” he explained. “We had a bad year at the breeze-ups last year but it was the horses-in-training that got us out of trouble. Thankfully, the breeze-ups went well for us this year, but the aim would be to get the breezing, the training and the pre-training working in tandem with each other. That's the aim – to be busy all year round and successful at everything you turn your hand to, not have one area of the business propping up another.” Davis added, “But I suppose I'm a small bit fortunate in that I am not just a breeze-up handler. We all know that even the breeze-up market has become incredibly selective so, whether it be a horse like Iriseach or a yearling that I like who may not be by a sexy stallion, I can run those types of horses and try and get them sold from off the track instead.” Paul Flynn: admits to being concerned about the private trade for form horses | Racingfotos.com And then there is Flynn and Murphy, two of the biggest characters in the game. The good news for the industry is that both trainers, who are never short of a line or two, are being rewarded by their owners for what has been a strong run of respective form. Murphy has sent out over 1,000 winners during stints in Macau, Singapore, Malaysia and the UAE. After spending five years working alongside Kieran Cotter upon his return to Ireland, he took out his own licence in 2023 and the winners have been flowing nicely since, with a career-best tally of 14 already on the board domestically. Two of those wins came with two-year-olds and, unsurprisingly, Murphy, who has a need for speed, will be looking for the sharper, racier model this week. Murphy said, “I'll be very busy this week, thank God. I have a few owners who are looking for something but I also plan on buying a few on spec as well. I've been lucky with two-year-olds and, it's funny, I don't look for the horses with these big walks. I actually think those horses are slow. I love fast horses. You can't beat a bit of speed and that's what I will be looking to buy next week. But I love the sales, even though I usually end up walking out Tatts Ireland completely skint!” A former National Hunt jockey, Flynn shares a lot in common with Mullins in that the foundations of his career were set in the jumps game. But he has successfully migrated over to the level, illustrated by the fact he has trained double-figure winners over the past four seasons, including 21 last year. No mean feat. Speaking about his new-found love for the Flat, Flynn, who it must be remembered burst onto the training scene by sending out Moon Dice to win the Galway Hurdle in 2011, said, “We had Ms Willpower (Inns Of Court) who won both of her starts for us before being sold to continue her career with Ralph Beckett. She was owned by a group of lads who want to go again this week. We actually bought her at this sale for €32,000 off Tally-Ho Stud a couple of years ago. We also have a filly, Silkie Sevei (Elzaam), who finished second in a maiden at Navan last week and she came out of Part 2 of this sale. So we've bought a few yearlings at Tatts Ireland and we've bought a few out of fields as well. We're always trying to find value and the plan is to try and buy four or five between Tatts Ireland and Goffs – I won't be going to any yearling sale in England because of the added expenses involved.” He added on his approach, “I am definitely not scared to buy a backward yearling. If I am not trying to sell it myself, and if the order is for a client who is patient, I'd buy a three-year-old type no problem. But we'll definitely try and buy something to trade on. I want to try and buy a colt if I can because I am not convinced by the American market right now. Whether they are getting a bit windy, whether it's the [Donald] Trump factor or whether the punters are not there, I don't know, but that avenue is definitely changing. I would have always sided towards fillies but I might try and buy more colts now, which I would have never done before. It would be easier to trade a colt abroad if they showed something.” Danny Murphy | Tattersalls Interestingly, Curragh-based handler John O'Donoghue made similar points in TDN Europe last week and, while we haven't entered panic stations just yet, the shortage of orders – from America in particular – for form horses is on a lot of trainers' minds heading into the sale this week. “I am not joking,” Flynn continued, “I have sold lots of horses down through the years to America where I wasn't even expecting a phone call. Now, they all worked out, but I wasn't expecting to get them sold and I did. It's a while ago now but I remember I ran a Jeremy filly [Jeremy's Legacy] in a maiden at Dundalk and she finished fourth. We got her sold to America after that and she ended up placing in a Group 3 and won nearly €100,000 in prize-money out there. That's a filly I wasn't expecting a dickie bird for. I don't really think the orders are there for that type of horse anymore.” As Noel Meade famously said, whoever wins in the sales ring usually wins on the racecourse. Winning in the ring doesn't always necessarily translate to spending the most amounts of money. What matters here is where your dart lands and Murphy speaks for everyone by sharing how he will be doing the legwork over the next couple of days in order to hit the bullseye. He concluded, “I am 63 years of age and, if you want to be successful as a racehorse trainer in Ireland, you've got to get out there and push on. In this game, nothing comes to you. You've got to go out there and get it. And that applies to the yearling sales as well, so we're excited about what we might find this week. We'll be trying our hardest anyway.” The post Meet The Smaller Irish Trainers Hoping To Win Big At Tattersalls Ireland appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Mark Johnston was appointed as a new trustee of the Alborada Trust, after a trustees' meeting last week. The Alborada Trust was established in 2001 by philanthropist and distinguished owner/breeder Kirsten Rausing. Since inception the Alborada Trust has supported a broad range of domestic and international charities proving grants to those that evidence a solid track record of impact in their particular fields. It supports a number of global, domestic and local charities raging from medical research, international aid, equine veterinary research, higher education, racing charities and smaller charities operating in East Anglia. Johnston is the UK's winning-most trainer and he and his son Charlie train for Rausing from their base in North Yorkshire. Johnston's racing and veterinary expertise will complement the existing trustees skills matrix. Johnston replaces Newmarket-based bloodstock agent Tom Goff, who resigned after 12 years of invaluable service. For more information on the Alborada Trust and its initiatives, please visit there website. The post Mark Johnston Appointed Trustee To The Alborada Trust appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Cody Mo Wai-kit slotted a race-to-race double in fine style at Sha Tin on Sunday, scoring with talented three-year-old Motor before Emblazon landed a late betting plunge. Placed in two of his five Griffin starts as a two-year-old, Motor returned in a blaze of glory to record a comfortable victory in the Class Four Sam Shing Handicap (1,200m). Backing up a recent trial win at Conghua, the son of Fastnet Rock had a cosy run in the box seat before soaring to the lead under Derek Leung Ka-chun at...View the full article

What Warrnambool Races Where Warrnambool Racing Club – 2/64 Grafton Rd, Warrnambool VIC 3280 When Monday, September 22, 2025 First Race 1:30pm AEST Visit Dabble Warrnambool Racing Club is the destination for racing in Victoria on Monday afternoon with a competitive eight-race meeting set down for decision. With rain forecast leading into the meeting and on raceday itself, the track is likely to be in the Heavy range. The rail comes out 3m the entire circuit with action commencing at 1:30pm AEST. Best Bet at Warrnambool: Darth Invader Darth Invader has been knocking on the door and finds a maiden that sets up perfectly. He’s race-fit, draws barrier 10 to stay out of traffic, and maps to camp just off a genuine tempo before launching down the outside. The Shane Nichols & Hayden Black stable has him holding consistent figures at 1200m, while Lachlan Neindorf is riding confidently and suits horses that build through their gears. Darth Invader only needs even luck from the draw to put this away and graduate with authority. Best Bet Race 3 – #1 Darth Invader (10) 4yo Gelding | T: Shane Nichols & Hayden Black | J: Lachlan Neindorf (59.5kg) Next Best at Warrnambool: Tremamore Tremamore brings the right profile for a rain-affected Warrnambool 1400m. The Symon Wilde-trained gelding comes here fresh off a last-start victory and looks like he’s ready to hold form second-up. From barrier 10 he can track the on-speed pair, and the 3kg claim keeps him competitive under BM56 conditions. His recent runs read stronger than many of these; he handles give in the ground, and this looks a touch easier than some of his prior assignments. If Rose Hammond can blend into the race before the bend, Tremamore’s sustained gallop should prove too strong late. Next Best Race 6 – #2 Tremamore (10) 5yo Gelding | T: Symon Wilde | J: Rose Hammond (a3) (62kg) Best Value at Warrnambool: Seattle Hope Seattle Hope can bounce quickly second-up back to 1200m. He’s a proven winner around this grade, draws to stalk from barrier nine, and should appreciate a Softer deck given his past form on rain-affected ground. With Alana Kelly aboard and the Mitchell Freedman stable placing shrewdly at the ‘Bool, he looks the one to surge late if leaders overdo it. His fresh run was a forgive, and the step to a fairer run shape plays right into his preferred pattern. At double figures with horse racing bookmakers, he’s the each-way play to beat the market in the last. Best Value Race 8 – #4 Seattle Hope (9) 6yo Gelding | T: Mitchell Freedman | J: Alana Kelly (60.5kg) Warrnambool races quaddie tips – 22/9/25 Warrnambool quadrella selections Monday, September 22, 2025 1-5-7-8 2-3-5 1-2-3-5-7-9-10 1-4-5-9 Horse racing tips View the full article

Sunday’s meeting at Sha Tin was abandoned after eight races due to “unprecedented rainfall”, while Wednesday’s Happy Valley card has been cancelled as Hong Kong continues to brace for Typhoon Ragasa. The Heir and Inno Super lost their footing on the bend between the 600m and 500m point in the Class Four Kowloon Bay Handicap (1,400m), leading to an inspection by a Jockey Club delegation and leading jockeys Zac Purton, Hugh Bowman and Alexis Badel. It was ultimately decided racing could not...View the full article

Hugh Bowman produced a pair of outstanding rides to bag his first Sha Tin victories of the new season on Sunday, making light work of wide draws aboard Hakka Radiance and Solid Win. The top Australian jockey got off to a perfect start in Sunday’s opener, helping Danny Shum Chap-shing’s Hakka Radiance break through for a maiden local win at start 25 in the Class Five Kowloon Tsai Handicap (1,800m). Set a task from barrier eight in the field of 10, Bowman sent the British import forward to...View the full article

This season’s breakout steeplechaser Jesko (NZ) (Atlante) put the icing on top of a phenomenal jumping campaign when outstaying his rivals in the inaugural Ben and Ryan Foote Great New Zealand Steeplechase (6200m) at Te Aroha on Sunday. The son of Atlante started the season as a maidener over the bigger fences, but under the guidance of co-trainer and rider Shaun Fannin, the gelding swept through the ranks seamlessly with victories in the Manawatu Steeplechase (4000m), Wellington Steeplechase (4900m) and Koral Steeplechase (4250m), before a game second behind Captains Run in the Grand National Steeplechase (5600m) in early August. He was set for a much-anticipated rematch with Captains Run in the feature, but the National winner was scratched late in the week, leaving Jesko a clear favourite at $2.90 ahead of Run Jakko Run ($5.40) and Pakuranga Hunt Cup (4300m) winner Nedwin ($5.60). Jesko has often found himself in the pacemaking role this year but it was his stablemate Fourty Eight who broke quickly from the barriers, skipping over the first of 25 fences and leading the field into a marathon three laps of the Te Aroha course. The experienced field put on a beautiful display of jumping through the first two laps, albeit a couple of those racing keenly, which began to tell as runners began to tire in the final circuit. Fannin had remained close to the speed aboard Jesko and he was right in contention along the back straight, where Nedwin had taken over and looked to be travelling boldly, before dipping on landing and dropping Hamish McNeill at the fourth-to-last fence. Jesko needed a little bit of encouragement from Fannin to pick up near the 800m, but as he always does, the gelding found another gear and hit the lead a long way from home. His main danger was one of the outsiders, Mr Fabulous, who gave a sight under Bella Oliver, but Jesko showed his class late, navigating the final two fences and powering to the line to score by 4 – ¾ lengths. Mr Fabulous put in a career-best effort to finish second, with 2021 Northern winner Te Kahu returning to near his best form in third. Fannin added a first Great New Zealand crown to his six Great Northern wins in the saddle, and this was undoubtably that little bit more special, having prepared the gelding alongside his wife Hazel Fannin. “It’s something out of this world, he hasn’t been an easy horse the whole way through,” he said. “We always had a bit of confidence that he would stay and he jumped well at home from the start. “He was quite keen for the first couple of laps and dropped the bridle at the worst possible time down the back, but I gave him a couple and he picked up underneath me. When Nedwin fell, he scooted past him and off we went again. “I was worried I might’ve been left in front a long way out, but carrying the 70kgs, you’ve got to keep them up to the mark there and he was tough in the finish. “It’s only his first season this year, so you’d think they’ll only get better with the more they do.” Hazel Fannin, also a successful jockey in her own right, watched on with pride as the pair took the lion’s share of the $200,000 stake. “It’s a real testament to how tough this horse is, the last six weeks have been an uphill battle so I’m so proud of him,” she said. “As I’ve said before, he’ll always come off the bridle at about the 800 and then finds again, and we always thought he would see out this distance, so it’s nice to see that he did. “The greatest thing about him is his jumping ability, he just skips through his fences, he can get it a bit wrong and still accelerates away. It’s just exciting to have a horse as good as him in the stable.” Jesko gained a large following through the season, particularly with fractional syndication company The FRAC Club coming into his ownership group, and the Te Aroha crowd was packed with supporters of the eight-year-old. “It’s gone to another level this season with the FRAC Club, and we’ve brought on Graham Bruton and Matt Hill in Australia, I’m sure he’ll be watching closely,” Shaun Fannin said. “What a wonderful story with all the people involved and we’ve got so many people here to enjoy it with us, which makes it all the more special.” Bred by Goodwood Stud, Jesko was purchased by Fannin for just $3,300 in late 2021, and four years later, the gelding has accumulated $355,350 in prizemoney with nine victories in 27 starts. View the full article

There was no disguising what winning Sunday’s time-honoured Duke Of Gloucester Cup (2200m) meant to amateur rider Caitlin Rennie as she crossed the line victorious aboard Joejoeccini (NZ) (Puccini). The 21-year-old had partnered the Sam Mynott-trained galloper in a similar event at Te Aroha at the end of August when finishing into third, and chasing her first success in the saddle, her mount was well-backed closing second favourite behind Autumn Beauty. Rennie allowed Joejoeccini to stride forward from the gate and sat outside the leader in Leprekhan early, before easing back in the one-one alongside Carignan. The pace was genuine along the back straight and there was challengers lined across the track as they turned for home, with Joejoeccini and Rennie hitting the front early. In A Pickle and series leader Abhay Seesa looked the big danger coming through the centre and Smokin Mo was powering down the outside, but Rennie lifted her charge in the shadows of the post, pumping her fist in the air as they took the iconic event by half a length. She was all smiles returning to the winner’s circle, having her parents and well-known racing identities Kim Clapperton and Andy Rennie on course to celebrate the result. “I couldn’t be more thrilled, it’s super special to have Mum and Dad here today, which is probably the most important thing,” Rennie said. “Sam (Mynott) has supported me from the minute I got there, she set this horse up for this race and it’s a massive honour to be able to pull it off for her.” While Rennie was delighted to take the race described by visiting race caller Ric McIntosh as the ‘Melbourne Cup for Amateur Riders’, it was also a sense of redemption for the young hoop, having had a difficult ride aboard stablemate Linkin Park at the Te Aroha meeting on Friday. “I had a bit of making up to do after Friday’s performance, so I’m glad to get this one across the line,” she said. “It still looked pretty rough in the last 100, but we got up on the line and that’s the main thing. The horse tries so hard, it was a bit wet for him last time but he still gave it his all for third, and today he’s dug deep.” Mynott, who prepares the five-year-old out of Cambridge, couldn’t have been happier for Rennie. “We’ve redeemed ourselves now, I’m stoked with that,” she said. “We put a plan in motion a couple of months ago with this horse, and it’s her (Rennie) first win, so it’s awesome for the whole team. “I said to either land in the one-one or sit outside the lead, and it’s a long straight so be patient. She’s ridden it out, it was a good finish and she’s worked hard for this, so I’m really proud of her. “It’s pretty cool, I’ve still got a bit of the shakes, so we’ll be having a drink tonight for sure.” While Seesa had to settle for second in the feature, he won the Waitoa Haulage Maiden (2200m) aboard Tempest Moon earlier in the card, and secured the series title with four wins from 11 rides across the season. View the full article

Cambridge Stud owned mare Joliestar (Zoustar) pulled off a stunning win in the Gr.2 Shorts at Randwick on Saturday, beating fellow Everest contenders Briasa and Private Harry despite sitting back without cover throughout. The Chris Waller-trained mare, who hadn’t run since a similarly unbelievable win in June’s Gr.1 Kingsford-Smith Cup, was set a task when drifting to the tail and sitting four lanes from the fence but still slid into the race with purpose. Joliestar ($4.80) and Briasa ($3.10) set off to fight the race out, but the former always looked the more likely and got the job done, making a big statement a month out from the A$20 million Everest. She quickly shortened from $13 to $7 in Everest betting after the win. “She was awesome. She’s come back well, and she’s four weeks out from a very big race,” Waller said. “We haven’t asked her (to do a lot) to be truthful, but I can see a more mature horse now. “I’ve seen the horse trial well, and I’ve just got an all-around more confident horse, so we were confident. We knew from the draw was going to be tricky, so our plan was just to come back, find some cover. We didn’t get the cover, but we didn’t need it.” James McDonald was never worried in running, even if Joliestar’s backers may have been, with his only goal to keep his mount comfortable, no matter where she ended up in the run. And even when this eventuated as four-wide with no cover, McDonald didn’t alter tactics and his faith was rewarded handsomely. “I only had one objective. It was just to get her in a smooth rhythm. I didn’t want a stop-start affair,” he said. “She slid around, albeit deep, but what I was thinking was that Briasa was the one to beat and he was just inside me. “It wasn’t like he was on the fence and I was four-wide. He was not far off me, and she was game as anything. She’s a solid horse that runs seven furlongs, so she can do that. That was thrilling because she deserves a spot in The Everest. I think she’ll make her presence felt.” View the full article

Stradbroke Handicap winner War Machine (NZ) (Harry Angel) will miss Friday night’s Gr.1 Manikato Stakes (1200m) at The Valley after suffering an untimely foot abscess. Co-trainer Ben Hayes explained connections are still hopeful of gaining a slot in next month’s A$20 million The Everest, with War Machine now likely to run first-up either at Flemington or Randwick early next month. “He got a very minor foot abscess so he missed a week, which put us on the back foot, so he’ll probably run now in the Gilgai,” Hayes said. “He’ll run Turnbull Day (October 4) at Flemington or in Sydney in the (Gr.2) Premiere (1000m), so he’ll be dual accepted that day and we’ll choose which will be the best race for him. “We were very happy with him, he was going great. He’s trialing again next Thursday and then he should be spot on for the straight race or up in Sydney.” Another Lindsay Park horse returning from a setback is Gr.1 hopeful Evaporate (NZ) (Per Incanto), who is set to have his first run since his Gr.2 P.B. Lawrence Stakes (fifth) effort more than a month ago. “Evaporate, he runs next week in the (Gr.3) Sandown Stakes,” Hayes said. “He got a little virus and we needed to back off him but he had a trial (at Flemington) on Friday and he’s all back on track.” Meanwhile Mr Brightside (NZ) (Bullbars) is unlikely to be matched up against super mares Treasurethe Moment and Pride Of Jenni at The Valley on Friday night, with connections preferring to concentrate on his ultimate spring goal in Sydney next month. Co-trainer Ben Hayes said while the stable was tempted to take the last-start Makybe Diva Stakes (1600m) hero to the Gr.2 Feehan Stakes on Friday night, the plan now revolves around getting to the A$5 million Gr.1 King Charles III Stakes (1600m) at Randwick on October 18 in the best possible order. “He pulled up great but a couple of years ago we went straight into the King Charles and we just got beaten, so we’ll follow that recipe,” Hayes said. “He’s got a great record there (Randwick mile) and he’s got five weeks to it. “He’ll trial on the same day in Sydney as Ka Ying Rising on the 7th (of October) and then go to the King Charles ready to turn in his best.” View the full article