Wandering Eyes

The stage is set for a captivating 2024 Ladbrokes Cox Plate at Moonee Valley this Saturday, with a select field of weight-for-age stars vying for glory. However, pre-race drama has unfolded with a potential scratch and international intrigue. This year’s Group 1 $5 million Ladbrokes Cox Plate (2040m) features a smaller field than usual, but […] The post 2024 Ladbrokes Cox Plate Field & Barriers; Contenders Confirmed appeared first on HorseRacing.com.au. View the full article

Mahrajaan’s Group 1 Melbourne Cup (3200m) preparation has hit a snag this week. Photo: Race Images South Kiwi Melbourne Cup hope Mahrajaan will miss this Friday night’s Group 2 Moonee Valley Gold Cup (2500m) after suffering an insect bite at his Warrnambool base. Cambridge trainer Shaune Ritchie had hoped to use the $750,000 feature as New Zealand and Auckland Cups winner Mahrajaan’s final lead-up to the Group 1 Melbourne Cup (3200m) at Flemington on November 5. But the insect bite, which Ritchie believed was probably a spider bite, has meant a change of plans for Mahrajaan, who could now tackle Wednesday week’s Group 3 Bendigo Cup (2400m). “He’s got an insect bite of some sort and a leg that’s blown up. We’ve scanned it and it’s not a ligament issue but with all insect bites, they take a little bit of time to get the swelling out,” Ritchie said. “He won’t be running Friday night. We’ll have to treat him for the pain and to help with the swelling and he’ll almost certainly go to the Bendigo Cup next week.” Ritchie, who trains in partnership with Colm Murray, noted that the Ciaron Maher-trained Interpretation won last year’s Bendigo Cup before finishing sixth in the Melbourne Cup six days later. “He did back up from a Metropolitan to win a New Zealand Cup last year and while I know that’s a different class, it does show he’s capable of running one week and backing up the following week,” Ritchie said of Kitten’s Joy seven-year-old Mahrajaan. “He’s in great order. The question is whether he has the turn of foot to win a Melbourne Cup, but we do know he runs the two miles out. But I’ll be reluctant to take a spot up if he can’t perform in the Bendigo Cup because we need to see more than what we saw at Caulfield last time.” Mahrajaan, assured of a start in the Melbourne Cup if connections opt to run, finished 13th in the Group 2 Herbert Power Stakes (2400m) at Caulfield, although Ritchie was forgiving of his charge in his first run for five weeks. “He had to go back on a track which had a fierce leaders’ bias and they ran that race slower than any other on the day and the leader was off and gone,” Ritchie said. “We need an improved performance though to justify running in the Cup.” Ritchie was delighted with the way Mahrajaan had settled in at Warrnambool, where he had beach access and was enjoying a slower pace of a country stable. “He’s actually in the box next to where Prince Of Penzance was when he won his Melbourne Cup,” Ritchie said. “They are beautiful big boxes and he’s got access to water walkers and he’s right by the beach. He’s got his paddock which is the same size as home, so his environment is perfect for him as a horse who likes his routine. “From his training, we know he’s in great form, but it will just come down to class and we know the Melbourne Cup is a worldwide race now and it’s not easy to win. But he’s here and it would be nice to have him there in the best possible order to see how good he is.” Horse racing news
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LEXINGTON, KY – The Fasig-Tipton October Yearlings Sale opened Monday with a session which tracked right on par with the auction's 2023 renewal and with a pair of colts sharing top billing when selling for matching $350,000 bids. A total of 265 yearlings sold Monday for a gross of $13,198,000. The average was $49,804 and the median was $20,000. The buy-back rate was 24.5%. During last year's opening session, 264 yearlings grossed $11,339,800 for an average of $42,954 and a median of $20,000. At the conclusion of the 2023 auction, the cumulative average was $48,045 and the median was $24,000. “The results basically tracked very similar to last year on an overall basis,” said Fasig-Tipton President Boyd Browning, Jr. “The buyers said it was very difficult to buy the horses they wanted to buy and I think the consignors were generally satisfied. I don't think there was any euphoria. I don't think anyone is jumping up and down and saying it was insane. I think when we are dealing with a wide variety of horses in a wide variety of price ranges, it was a very satisfactory day.” Trainer Mac Robertson, bidding on behalf of Novogratz Racing Stables, purchased a colt by Quality Road from the Brookdale consignment for $350,000 early in Monday's session and that bid was matched late in the day when BSW/Crow purchased an Into Mischief colt from Blake-Albina Thoroughbred Services. Mac Robertson | Fasig-Tipton Five horses sold for $300,000 or more–compared to two at the 2023 opener–and 12 sold for $200,000 or over, up from 10 a year ago. “It met what our expectations were,” Browning said of the session. “Anybody who has been following the market this year thought we had a pretty similar marketplace throughout the yearling season in 2024 compared to 2023. Those were the trends that we saw today.” The Fasig-Tipton October sale continues through Thursday with sessions beginning each day at 10 a.m. Into Mischief Colt to BSW/Crow The second time through the ring was the charm for a son of Into Mischief (hip 241), who sold for $350,000 Monday at the October sale. Jake Memolo, sitting with Sarah and Paul Sharp, signed the ticket on the yearling in the name of BSW/Crow, agent. The bay colt, bred by Newtownanner Stud Farm and consigned by Blake-Albina Thoroughbred Services, RNA'd for $325,000 at the Fasig-Tipton Saratoga sale in August. “He just grew up a little bit more,” consignor Ron Blake explained. “He was a pretty horse then, but he was a little immature. The mare's foals tend to look a little more athletic as they get older.” Hip 241 c. INTO MISCHIEF o/o Indy Punch sells for $350,000 at Kentucky October Yearlings! Congrats to the connections: B: @BSWCrow, agt C: Blake-Albina Thoroughbred Services, agt Br: Newtown Anner Stud Farm (KY)#FasigKY @spendthriftfarm pic.twitter.com/IHXMJUNQVt — Fasig-Tipton (@FasigTiptonCo) October 21, 2024 Out of the unraced Indy Punch (Pulling Punches), the yearling is a half-brother to multiple graded winner United (Giant's Causeway). “She is a huge mare,” Blake said. “United was a huge horse, this is a big horse. It just takes time for those big horses to look athletic for a sale.” Hip 241 was the third sent through the ring by Blake-Albina Monday and was the third to sell, although hip 25, a son of Tapit, was originally led out of the ring unsold before selling for $285,000 to Taproot Bloodstock. “He was early in the sale and I think that hurt him a little,” Blake said. Also part of the active post-sale trade Monday was the very first hip through the ring. Originally led out unsold, hip 1 eventually was listed as a sale at $250,000 and purchased by her breeder Thirty Year Farm in partnership with Team Penney. Quality Road Colt to Novogratz Trainer Mac Robertson matched the session-topping $350,000 price when bidding on behalf of Joe Novogratz's Novogratz Racing Stables to acquire a colt by Quality Road (hip 39) early in Monday's first session of the October sale. Consigned by Brookdale, the yearling is out of Evocative (Pioneerof the Nile). The mare is a half-sister to Justwhistledixie (Dixie Union), who is the dam of graded winners New Year's Day (Street Cry {Ire}), Mohaymen (Tapit), Enforceable (Tapit), and Kingly (Tapit). Hip 39 c. QUALITY ROAD o/o Evocative sells for $350,000 at Kentucky Fall Yearlings! Congrats to the connections: B: Novogratz Racing Stables C: @BrookdaleFarmKY, agt#FasigKY @LanesEndFarms pic.twitter.com/iTNYfGnN7r — Fasig-Tipton (@FasigTiptonCo) October 21, 2024 “I thought he was a quality Quality Road,” Robertson said. “He's a Quality Road who looks fast and the second dam is as good as it gets. So it was hard not to try to get him.” Of the colt's price tag, Robertson admitted, “I was running out of money, so I was glad it stopped at $350,000. [Novogratz] told me I could buy three or four for $150,000 or $200,000. Or buy one or two and run out of money. Maybe I will get to buy another one. We will see.” The yearling was bred by Lynch Bages and Camas Park Stud, which purchased Evocative with the colt in utero, for $550,000 at the 2023 Keeneland January sale. Joseph DiRico signed for the colt for $385,000 at this year's Keeneland January sale and he RNA'd for $435,000 at the Fasig-Tipton Saratoga sale in August. Robertson acknowledged the yearling market has been competitive all season. “It was really, really competitive through three books at Keeneland,” he said. “It just seemed like we vetted a lot of horses and we had maybe $250,000 or $300,000 for them and we just couldn't get them. They were $500,000 or $600,000 or $700,000. It seemed like there were a lot of new buyers and people I didn't know at Keeneland. And it seems like I see a lot of people that I know at Fasig-Tipton.” The post ‘A Very Satisfactory Day’: $350,000 Colts Share Top Billing at Fasig-Tipton October Opener appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Via Sistina ridden by Damian Lane wins the Turnbull Stakes at Flemington. (Photo by Pat Scala/Racing Photos) Leading jockey James McDonald has avoided injury after a fall on key Cox Plate hope Via Sistina in Tuesday morning trackwork at Moonee Valley. While McDonald has been declared fit, Via Sistina, the $4.20 second favourite with Picklebet, is in some doubt for the Group 1 Cox Plate. After dislodging McDonald, Via Sistina continued to run at a steady clip, before being round up and examined, with connections now worried the seven-year-old might struggle to recover from the taxing ordeal. “Nah she seems good and i’m alright,” McDonald said. “She has been going so well for the last two weeks or so and her form has been sensational out of the Turnbull. She was the right horse to do it. “She really enjoys the Valley and she has been worked well here last Thursday and she was working well until she tripped herself over there. “It’s in the lap of the gods really.” Via Sistina, which has eased in Cox Plate betting since the fall and barrier draw, is now paying $4.20 to win the group 1, with Prognosis ($3) the bookies elect. McDonald said the incident appeared not to have fazed Via Sistina, with it believed to have been caused by a loose bandage, which caused her to trip. “First thing I thought she went amiss or broke down, so the most posituve thing is that she’s stayed on her feet and done another lap, sound as a bell,” he said. “It could have been a lot worse.” Via Sistina trainer Chris Waller said he would give the Turnbull Stakes winner up until the last minute to prove her fitness for the Cox Plate. “We’ll accept for Saturday and use all of that time up to Saturday morning to make sure everyone’s happy and the horse is 100 per cent, first and foremost,” Waller said. “We’ll go beyond that and take bloods to make sure the vets are happy and strappers are happy so she will only run if she’s 100 per cent.” Waller will also have Kovalica in the Cox Plate, with the $31 shot set to be partnered by Mark Zahra. Horse racing news
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Pride Of Jenni. (Photo by Pat Scala/Racing Photos) The Group 1 Cox Plate (2040m) has attracted a star-studded field of nine for the $5 million feature set to be run at Moonee Valley on Saturday, October 26. Amongst the field of nine, six are former Group 1 winners, with Prognosis and Docklands bringing excellent international form, it shapes as one of the more even Cox Plate fields in recent times. Prognosis firmed in betting almost immediately once connections drew barrier five during Tuesday morning’s barrier draw at Moonee Valley. The Japanese-trained galloper will look to join 2019 winner Lys Gracieux as a Cox Plate champion from the Land of the Rising Sun. Damian Lane who partnered Lys Gracieux to victory, will also partner Prognosis. Arguably Australia’s best weight-for-age horse Pride Of Jenni holds the second line of betting post barrier draw. The three-time Group 1 winner will need to jump from barrier seven, but under regular jockey Declan Bates, the pair look to be the sole speed influence in this year’s Cox Plate. After an eventful morning at trackwork prior to the barrier draw, Via Sistina will jump from barrier 4. Having dislodged James McDonald at the traditional Tuesday morning trackwork before the Cox Plate barrier draw, their were fears that Via Sistina would not line up in the Group 1 feature after taking herself around Moonee Valley three extra times after dislodging McDonald. Trainer Chris Waller confirmed that she will be given until Saturday 7:30am AEDT to make sure she is 100% ahead of the race. Star three-year-old Broadsiding will look to hand Godolphin a second Cox Plate win in three years when Jamie Kah and the three-time Group 1 winner jump from barrier 8. After a somewhat poor run in the Caulfield Guineas (1600m), Broadsiding will go around with just 49.5kg on his back at his first crack at 2000m. Mr Brightside rounds out the runners at a single figure quote and will be looking to replicate the feat of Anamoe in 2022, returning 12 months after finishing second to claim Cox Plate glory. Craig Williams will once again partner the son of Bullbars, with the pair set to jump from barrier two. The Harry Eustace-trained Docklands along with Royal Patronage, Kovalica and Evaporate make up the remainder of the field. 2024 Cox Plate Final Field 1. Mr Brightside (2) T: Ben, Will & JD Hayes J: Craig Williams W: 59kg F: 2212x Age: 7YO Colour: Bay Sex: Gelding Sire: Bullbars Dam: Lilahjay (NZ) +700 +115 2. Prognosis (5) T: Mitsumasa Nakauchida J: Damian Lane W: 59kg F: x42x1 Age: 7YO Colour: Bay Sex: Horse Sire: Deep Impact (JPN) Dam: Velda (GB) +200 -250 3. Kovalica (9) T: Chris Waller J: Mark Zahra W: 59kg F: 243×5 Age: 5YO Colour: Bay Sex: Gelding Sire: Ocean Park (NZ) Dam: Vitesse (NZ) +4000 +500 4. Royal Patronage (3) T: Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott J: Michael Dee W: 59kg F: 3331x Age: 6YO Colour: Bay Sex: Horse Sire: Wootton Bassett (GB) Dam: Shaloushka (IRE) +4000 +500 5. Docklands (1) T: Harry Eustace J: Blake Shinn W: 59kg F: x7222 Age: 5YO Colour: Bay Sex: Horse Sire: Massaat (IRE) Dam: Icky Woo (GB) +1500 +220 6. Pride Of Jenni (7) T: Ciaron Maher J: Declan Bates W: 57kg F: 2125x Age: 7YO Colour: Bay Sex: Mare Sire: Pride Of Dubai Dam: Sancerre (NZ) +340 -166.67 7. Via Sistina (4) T: Chris Waller J: James McDonald W: 57kg F: 151×2 Age: 7YO Colour: Bay Sex: Mare Sire: Fastnet Rock Dam: Nigh (IRE) +380 -153.85 8. Broadsiding (8) T: James Cummings J: Jamie Kah W: 49.5kg F: 41×11 Age: 3YO Colour: Bay Sex: Colt Sire: Too Darn Hot (GB) Dam: Speedway +500 -117.65 9. Evaporate (6) T: Ben, Will & JD Hayes J: Karis Teetan W: 49.5kg F: 31111 Age: 3YO Colour: Bay Sex: Gelding Sire: Per Incanto (USA) Dam: Savanna (NZ) +2500 +340 Horse racing news
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Racing in Southland has been far from smooth sailing this season, and Gore’s Wednesday meeting will mark the start of several campaigns for Graham Eade and Brooke Kincaid’s team of horses. Inclement weather has caused havoc in the region with cancellations of several jump-outs, alongside the raceday scheduled at the venue on September 22, which was transferred north to Oamaru. “We’ve had a few setbacks, it’s been that wet that we couldn’t have jump-outs, trials, we couldn’t do anything,” Eade said. “We do the best of our ability, but our horses are working on such wet surfaces that when they strike a nice track, they don’t know where they are. We’ve got a sand track here at Riverton and it’s good one day, then not so good the next. It’s very weather-situated, but we’re lucky to have it. “It’s been very difficult down here this year, probably the worst I’ve ever seen. “But things are starting to dry out and it’ll be great to be racing locally this week.” Eade’s stakes performer Riviera Rebel (NZ) (Pure Champion) will step out to 2000m for the first time at the meeting off a recommendation from Jasmine Fawcett, who rode the gelding to a creditable fifth in the Ashburton Cup (1600m) last Saturday. “Jasmine thought that he was quite a nice horse, and with a bit more distance, we would get a result,” Eade said. “I have been wanting to step him up for a while now, I always thought he would get the trip so I’m looking forward to it. He’s very strong at the start of his races and takes a fair bit of holding which we didn’t want happening in a distance race, so we’ve taken the visor blinkers off to settle him down a bit. “We had intended to go towards Cup Week, but when we took him up there (Riccarton) last time, he jarred up quite a bit, particularly the next day, so we didn’t want to take him back if we could help it. “We’ve had a wee bit of drizzle this morning and I think it’s a Heavy 8 at the moment, so it will help him out on Wednesday.” The son of Pure Champion will line-up in the Kevin Coyle Memorial (2000m), a race that will also feature stablemate The Tui Toiler (NZ) (Highly Recommended). “He was a bit disappointing in his last couple of starts, but when you look back on what he’s achieved, it’s all been on soft tracks,” Eade said. “He was the same after Riccarton, jarring up quite badly so we’ll try to keep him off those firmer tracks if we can.” The Riverton trainers will have a trio of horses lining up across the Paddy’s Bins Maiden (1200m) and Hokonui Rural Transport (1200m), including Orepuki Gem (NZ) (Raise The Flag), a full-brother to Eade’s stakes-winning stayer Orepuki Lad. “He’s a full-brother to Orepuki Lad who won the Dunedin Gold Cup (Listed, 2400m) and Invercargill Gold Cup, so he’s bred for distance,” Eade said. “We would’ve liked to get a couple of trials into him, he’s been a wee bit of a handful. Seeing it’s his first race, we’ll start off here and have a look.” Lightly-tried mare Intercept (NZ) (War Decree) will return off a long spell in the latter, benefitting from a claim courtesy of in-form apprentice Denby-Rose Tait. “She has developed into a very nice horse, she likes firmer ground but she didn’t made the field at Wingatui,” he said. “She’s by War Decree and we quite like her.” Enigmatic galloper Ataahua Pipedream (NZ) (Rip Van Winkle) rounds out the day in the Auto Funds (1335m), with a heavy track playing host to all three of his career successes. “On his day, and he’s got a mind of his own, he can go a tremendous race. It’s all up to him and in his head, but he suits the wetter track,” Eade said. “The track was quite good at Wingatui, so that’s what we put it down too. He’s getting to an age where he may be looking for a bit more distance.” View the full article

After winning her first United States start last month, Les Reys (FR) looks to remain unbeaten in her new home country as she headlines a contentious field of 3-year-old fillies in the $350,000 Valley View Stakes (G2T) at Keeneland Oct. 25.View the full article

With the deadline looming next week for publication of pedigrees for January's Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale catalog, uncertainty over Australia's black-type pattern is set to affect two more races at Randwick Oct. 26.View the full article

There are concerns that Ireland's incoming Gambling Regulation Bill, designed to protect children as well as problem gamblers and responsible gamblers, could backfire and lead bettors to the black market. View the full article

Cox Plate contender Via Sistina dropped superstar jockey James McDonald during her Breakfast with the Best gallop at The Valley, leaving the horse in doubt for Saturday’s $5 million race. View the full article

Two $35,000 Northern Metro series finals at Alexandra Park on Friday night will feature in harness racing action around the country this week. The week kicks off with the “Trot into Tuesday” at Cambridge today with seven races, starting at 4.45pm before the third October mid-week meeting at Addington Raceway on Wednesday. Friday will again see dual venue action at Addington and Alexandra Park before the Tuapeka Cup day meeting at Ascot Park in Invercargill on Sunday and then Ashburton’s massive day on Labour Day Monday which will see the Group 2 Ashburton Flying Stakes as well as two Group 3s. Addington’s card on Friday will be highlighted by the $45,000 Group 3 Macca Lodge Sires’ Stakes 2YO Fillies Classic while Auckland will see the running of $35,000 Finals, for the pacers and trotters. The heats and finals format has become a staple of racing at Alexandra Park in recent months. Friday’s final comes after two heats in both gaits were held last Friday. The trotters’ heats were won by Five O’Clock Gerry and Taylad To use while the pacers’ heats were taken out by Dawson and Seaclusion. The last Final held at the Park was last Friday when the David Butcher trained and driven You Little Beauty won the $30,000 Woodlands Stud Silk Road Northern Series Final. The next heats will be the pacers and trotters’ Northern Metro Pacers Series on November 1. Again there will be two $16,000 heats in each gait, before two $35,000 Finals on Friday November 8. C U There best of Derek Balle’s chances at Cambridge By Brigette Solomon Pukekohe-based trainer Derek Balle lines up a team of four horses at Cambridge Raceway tonight, with C U There rated as his best chance. The stable’s first starter is Boss Jo, driven tonight by Balle’s daughter Neita, in Race 1, the EAC Equine Inside Out Trot over 2200 metres. “She trotted better but hung in last start at Cambridge and as a result didn’t finish off,” says Balle, “we’ve made some adjustments and changed up her steering gear and she could be an each way show if she does everything right.” The five-year-old mare by Sebastian K is yet to break through for her maiden win, and prior to her last two starts where she got things wrong, her form included a string of placings at Alexandra Park indicating a win might not be too far away. Up next Balle has two horses starting in Race six, the IRT. Your Horse. Our Passion. Mobile Pace over 2200 metres including last start winner and the early fixed price favourite C U There ($3.10). The four-year-old mare was gritty when winning at Cambridge on October 8 in the hands of Zachary Butcher who partners the mare again tonight. On that occasion Butcher settled C U There back in running before making a move three wide with a lap to go to land the parked position outside the race favourite Inlouof. From there on the mare battled on to wear down the leader and hold off a late challenge by the second placed I’m Not The Maid, scoring the win by a length. “She seems well and won nicely last start,” says Balle, “she has trained on well since and from barrier four I think she’s probably my best chance of tonight’s runners.” The dual gaited Conrad H is Balle’s second runner in the same race and with a second and third placing in his last two starts here at Cambridge it would be no surprise to see him feature amongst the place getters. The Love You gelding starts from barrier seven and is driven by Neita Balle. “He keeps stepping up and is loving being a pacer but unfortunately I couldn’t say the same about him as a trotter!” says Balle, “we’re enjoying racing him and he’s very happy horse as a pacer.” The final event of the night is the EAC Equine Instride Handicap Trot in which Balle starts Kimkar Dash. The mare starts tonight’s 2200 metre race off a 30 metre handicap but does drop back in grade after some competitive racing at Alexandra Park over the winter months. “She galloped early in her fresh up run three weeks ago at Auckland, but it probably wasn’t an ideal race for her being a mobile mile because she’s not always fast away,” says Balle, “she’s better from a stand and going left handed and although she’s still not at full fitness yet, I felt she was better suited to this race as opposed to another mobile mile at Auckland on Friday.” “As long as she’s running on I’ll be happy as there is still improvement to come in her yet.” Racing action gets underway with Race 1 at 4.45pm. 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. Tuesday's Observations features the first foal out of a Breeders' Cup winner. 1.30 Curragh, group 3, €55,000, 2yo, f, 8fT GISELLE (IRE) (Frankel {GB}) returns to the scene of her maiden win earlier in the month, having finished second to stablemate Bedtime Story (Ire) (Frankel {GB}) at Leopardstown in June, and takes centre stage in this G3 Staffordstown Stud Stakes for Peter Brant, Coolmore and Westerberg. The first foal out of the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf heroine Newspaperofrecord (Ire) (Lope De Vega {Ire}), she is joined by fellow Ballydoyle representative Island Hopping (Ire) (Wootton Bassett {GB}), last month's Gowran Park maiden winner whose dam is a full-sister to Magical (Ire) and Rhododendron (Ire). The post Giselle Heads Staffordstown Cast appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Anmaat (Ire) (Awtaad {Ire}) is said to be finished for the season following his victory in Saturday's G1 QIPCO Champion Stakes at Ascot, with Shadwell's racing manager Angus Gold hoping the six-year-old can continue to be a flagbearer for the operation in 2025. The Owen Burrows trainee was among the outsiders for Saturday's £1.3 million feature contest at odds of 40-1, having managed only fifth when sent off the 6-5 favourite for the G2 Prix Dollar at Longchamp two weeks earlier. In the event, however, Anmaat proved better than ever at Ascot as he overcame a troubled passage to gain the second top-level win of his career, running on strongly in the final furlong to beat Calandagan (Ire) (Gleneagles {Ire}) by half a length. “Until his last run he'd never been out of the first three in five years of racing,” said Gold. “Had he not run in Paris and gone straight to Ascot from Haydock, then he probably would have been a 12-1 chance and not 40-1. “He fluffed his lines in France, but at the same time he did run the fastest furlong of any of them between the two and the one. It was just unlike him not to finish off his race as he's such a tough horse. “I don't think people realised what such a serious issue this horse had,” Gold added of the injury which sidelined Anmaat after his first Group 1 success in the Prix d'Ispahan at Longchamp in May last year. “He was in his box at Shadwell with his foot injury for months–he had almost a year out of training–so just to get him back at all was an achievement. “To get him back to win was fantastic, but to win at the highest level is huge credit to an awful lot of people at Shadwell and Owen's yard–and massive credit to the horse himself. An awful lot wouldn't have come back from that.” Anmaat was having only his third start of the campaign at Ascot on Saturday and Burrows did not rule out another run overseas in the immediate aftermath of that success, but Gold has now all but ruled out that possibility as the team look ahead to next year. He continued, “To me, the position we are now in with the majority of our older horses likely to be retired, he could be our only flagbearer. Now he's proved he's a Group 1 horse here, he's a very important horse for us next year if Sheikha Hissa wants to keep him in training. “I haven't had that conversation yet, but I can't see any reason why not as he's a gelding. I know he's about to turn seven, but he hasn't got a lot of mileage. She may want him to go to Dubai or Saudi, who knows, but from my point of view we want to be trying to win some big races in Europe and he's our number one. “It's not like we've five or six three-year-olds next year to take over the mantle, he's the number one now and we've got to treat him accordingly.” The post Anmaat Finished for the Season as Shadwell Target More Riches in 2025 appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

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When it came time for Ma'am (Colonel John) to retire from the racetrack back in 2018, one of her owners Lance Gasaway began plotting how his star racehorse would live out her days at his home in Arkansas. Then the mare's trainer Kenny McPeek stepped in. Prior to Ma'am, Gasaway had only owned a handful of Arkansas-breds and he knew next to nothing about the breeding business. McPeek explained that with her pedigree, soundness and easygoing nature, Ma'am had all the credentials to become a good broodmare. Six years later, with her first foal to hit the racetrack, Ma'am provided Gasaway, his family and his partners with an adventure they never could have dreamed up when her son Mystik Dan (Goldencents) reeled off a stellar 3-year-old campaign headlined by a thrilling three-way photo finish win in the 2024 GI Kentucky Derby. Owned in partnership with Four G Racing, Daniel Hamby and Valley View Farm, Mystik Dan is the first horse that Gasaway ever bred and the colt's Derby win–which came a year after Gasaway's father Clint passed away–marked a day that Gasaway would never forget. “Derby Day was so wild,” Gasaway reflected. “So many people are there and everything is such a rush. After you sit back and reflect on it, you kind of really realize what we accomplished. I'm blessed to have a horse of this caliber. With people like Kenny and his whole crew, they deserve all the credit. They're the ones who did all the work. For us as owners, it's just a reflection of how good a job they do.” McPeek's team has had a hand in every aspect of Mystik Dan's success, from foaling him and raising him at Magdalena Farm, breaking him in Florida and then developing him into a Derby winner. And it was McPeek himself who found Mystik Dan's dam back in 2015. Gasaway and his family had owned a few horses with McPeek over the years, but then Gasaway told McPeek that he was looking to improve the quality of his racing stable and asked him to find a horse that would fit the bill. Shortly after, McPeek stopped by the Thoroughbred Training Center a few miles down the road from Magdalena to look at a few horses owned by Ted Bassett. “He sent me a video of I think three horses,” Gasaway recalled. “He said, 'Hey, y'all pick which one you want.' And we chose Ma'am out of the bunch. Just a stab in the dark.” It didn't take long for the Gasaways to develop a soft spot for the daughter of Colonel John. She went unplaced in her first two career starts, but was set to make her third start at Oaklawn Park on Gasaway's birthday. Lance Gasaway stops in to visit Ma'am whenever he is in Lexington | Katie Petrunyak “We go to the barn every weekend to feed the horses peppermints and we never could get Ma'am to eat them,” Gasaway explained. “That morning we finally got her to start eating peppermints and then we could hardly stop her. She ended up winning that day.” Ma'am raced for three seasons, accruing four wins and eight additional placings from 23 starts and earning over $167,000. “She was a filly that went out there and tried hard every day,” said McPeek. “She was easy to train and I always felt like if she was just about five or eight lengths better, she was going to be a stakes horse.” After Ma'am retired at age five, her first foal died before making it to the racetrack. Then McPeek recommended the mating to Goldencents that produced Mystik Dan. For McPeek, the most satisfying part about earning his first Kentucky Derby win was the journey that led to the victory, from purchasing Ma'am as a 2-year-old on through watching her foal grow up at Magdalena Farm and then make the starting gate on the first Saturday in May. “How many people get an opportunity to handle a horse from conception through the birth, training and racing? It has just been an amazing journey and it's something that I personally have dreamed of doing all my life,” said McPeek. “Everything Mystik Dan has done has been because he's an extremely intelligent horse. I think that really matters and Ma'am was the same way. She was very easy to handle, a very smart filly, and she was kind from the very beginning.” As special as that Derby victory was for everyone involved, it led Gasaway to making the difficult decision of presenting Ma'am at the upcoming Fasig-Tipton November Sale. “One thing I've learned in this business is if you're going to stay in the horse racing business, number one you have to take money off the table when opportunities are there,” said Gasaway. “With 'Mystik' winning the Derby and all, we feel like this is the time to put her out there and let's see what happens.” Consigned by McPeek's Magdalena Farm as Hip 285, Ma'am will be a unique commodity as the dam of a Classic winner at just 11 years old. “It's very rare that you have the opportunity to sell the dam of the current Kentucky Derby winner,” said Fasig-Tipton's Boyd Browning. “She's in foal to Into Mischief, which produces an offspring very closely related to Mystic Dan. It also produces an offspring by one of the best stallions in the world. Into Mischief gives you both a sales horse and a racehorse and the opportunities are there for whoever buys Ma'am, whether you're buying her to breed to race or to breed to sell commercially.” Katie Petrunyak “Ma'am has a very interesting pedigree as well,” he continued. “She's the immediate family of Grade I winner Siphonic (Siphon {Brz}), Grade I winner Laragh (Tapit), and a successful stallion in Summer Front. She really has all the credentials to continue to be a great broodmare.” The Gasaways will have plenty left in the Ma'am pipeline even after parting with their star broodmare. Mystik Dan, whose resume also includes a win in the GIII Southwest Stakes and placings in the GI Arkansas Derby and GI Preakness Stakes, is back in training and preparing to return for his 4-year-old season. They also have the mare's 2-year-old filly named Yes Ma'am (Unified), a yearling Knicks Go filly called Ford's Ma'am, and a weanling colt by the Gasaway's Grade II-winning sire Wells Bayou named Mystik Bayou. Despite all those young progeny in the pipeline, Gasaway said that saying goodbye to Ma'am will be no easy task. Stopping in to visit Ma'am at Magdalena Farm has become a regular tradition during his visits to Lexington. The Gasaways even made the trip the morning of the Kentucky Derby to give the mare peppermints before her son's big day. “You do get attached to them and she was a kind of special deal,” he admitted. “She was always so personable to you. It's going to be hard. I don't know if we'll make the sale or not. We might watch on TV.” Gasaway said he believes that whoever becomes Ma'am's new owner will be acquiring a mare with a great deal of potential. “With her personality, she transfers that on in the genes because Mystik Dan is identical,” he explained. “He is not like any colt I've ever been around. He'll put his head on your shoulder and love on you just like she does. And even before Mystik Dan ran, Kenny said that this mare was throwing some of the prettiest babies. He said that every baby she throws is the prettiest baby on the farm.” McPeek, who is better known for being a buyer rather than a seller at Fasig-Tipton, said that he typically outsources when offering a horse at auction but opted to consign Ma'am himself because he believes the mare will speak for herself. “I don't think you can go wrong because she's still young and she obviously produces talent,” he said. “It's going to be pretty easy to bring her over there and let her show herself off.” The post Mystik Dan Connections Celebrate the Journey with Star Broodmare Ma’am appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Trainer Matthew Sims experienced the biggest success so far in his young career Oct. 19 when Brunacini, a 28-1 longshot, pulled off the upset against a deep cast in the $259,000 Perryville Stakes (G3) at Keeneland.View the full article

An ultra-long-distance race scheduled on the closing day of a season used to be a staple of North American racing, but these days only a handful of tracks still card (or attempt to fill) them. Fort Erie is one of the few tracks that keeps this offbeat tradition alive, and the Ontario oval doesn't skimp on its version of a marathon: Tuesday's “getaway day” ninth race on the final 10-race program of the meet will go at 2 miles 70 yards. Known locally as the “Tour de Fort,” what the starter allowance/optional claimer might lack in prestige and star power is more than made up for in terms of fun and novelty. Last year's edition featured a wire-to-wire winner who amazingly stayed on by half a length despite opening up a visually arresting sixteenth of a mile lead on the field for the first of two passes under the Fort Erie finish wire. Two mares competing against a field of males accounted for the exacta. The year before, the 2022 Tour de Fort was won by a gelding who rallied from way off the tailgate despite being charted 23 lengths last during the first of two laps. It's unlikely that you'll witness the second coming of long-distance stakes specialist Next (Not This Time) in the Oct. 22 feature at the Fort. But a field of eight will test their staying power, and in a wide-open marathon that lacks a betting standout, Nonno's Little Boy (Giant Gizmo) has been tabbed as the tepid 3-1 morning-line favorite. The 2 miles 70 yards track record at Fort Erie belongs to Parabola, who was clocked in 3:30.87 when demolishing the Tour de Fort field by 18 3/4 lengths over “good” going in 2010. Recent runnings of the Tour de Fort have been timed in the 3:35 to 3:42 range, so there's a bit of wiggle room built into the “most entertaining 3 1/2 minutes” billing of this article's headline. The post ‘Tour De Fort’ WIll Be Tuesday’s Most Entertaining 3 1/2 Minutes In The Sport appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Grade I winner Catholic Boy (More Than Ready) has been relocated to California and joined the roster at Harris Farms for the 2025 breeding season, a release announced Monday afternoon. A winner at the highest level on turf and dirt, and only the third American 3-year-old in history to accomplish the feat by winning the GI Travers and GI Belmont Derby Invitational Stakes, he has two crops of racing age with 65% starters, 26% winners, and one stakes winner, El Catolico in Puerto Rico as of Oct. 21. He also has seven stakes-placed runners with Faith Understood a recent flagbearer in his adopted home state with a third-place effort in the GIII Honeymoon Stakes at Santa Anita in June. Catholic Boy will stand for $6,000 live foal. “I feel Catholic Boy has unlimited potential, and will be a major player. He is one of the best stallions Harris Farms has had, and we have had several,” said John Harris, president and chairman of the board of Harris Farms. Jonny Hilvers, the general manager, added, “Catholic Boy had speed that could carry, winning Grade 1 [races] on both dirt and turf at a mile and one-quarter. We are very excited for the opportunity to stand him in California.” The post Catholic Boy Relocates to Harris Farms for 2025 Season appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

On a bright autumn afternoon at Ascot, Oisin Murphy raised and then kissed a silver trophy that symbolised the arc of his redemption. Banned for 14 months for twice failing breath tests and misleading the British Horseracing Authority over a trip to Mykonos during Covid, Murphy stood on Champions Day as the embodiment of a fall-and-rise narrative. There are lots of those in sport, and they sure as hell beat the opposite, which is fall-and-stay-fallen. The 2024 Champion Jockey was given a guard of honour by his fellow jockeys and crammed onto the podium with 20 family members, among them, his uncle Jim Culloty, who later called him, in a complimentary way, “a kind of flawed genius”. The gifted star with demons elicits a special fascination. We watch them up there on their tightrope, struggling in public with 'issues' that most folk face in private. Salvation, recovery, are seldom linear. Murphy had counselling on the morning he looked ahead, in a media conference, to winning a fourth jockeys' championship. On Champions Day itself he went on Radio 4's flagship Today programme and talked with superb fluency and insight about the meeting, racing's whip rules and his fondness for the poetry of Sylvia Plath (he speaks Irish, English, French and German and displays the measured eloquence of a bookish man.) “I had a love for Sylvia Plath [in his schooldays],” Murphy told Today. “It's a little bit deep, and some would say dark, and it's certainly that, but it offers a fresh perspective, particularly when you've been hurtling around on the back of a horse. It can resonate with the majority of people.” In elite sport, a line of Plath's jumps out: “I desire the things which will destroy me in the end.” Talent is compulsion, success an addiction, and the pressure unrelenting. In return–yes, the money is good. Murphy spoke candidly in interviews about his old life of being out of control on vodka and champagne. He knows there is no switch you can flick to turn chaos into order but has ridden his guts out this year to win the jockeys' championship easily, and to prove a point–mostly to himself. He has been in counselling since October 2021 and become something of a beacon to people struggling with alcoholism. No other jockey can make that claim. The trials of Walter Swinburn and Pat Eddery for example were hidden from public view. Frankie Dettori had a lapse with cocaine in 2012 but presented it more as an aberration than a warning to others. Fair enough, not everyone wants to be a cautionary tale. Murphy on the other hand has chosen the route of openness in the hope that it might add to our understanding of addiction. “Daily I receive messages from people wanting me to do well,” he said in the winners' enclosure at Ascot. In The Mirror a few days previously he admitted, “I drank more in eight years than a normal man drinks in a lifetime. But it's been phenomenal the amount of messages I've had off normal people on Instagram and Twitter. They tell me how much they can relate to my story. They tell me that they've been sober for six months or whatever. And they thank me for sharing.” There are piercing recollections in that interview of him being collected by a driver after the last race and drinking all the way home. “Regularly I'd never remember going to bed,” he said. “So that is a blackout. That was regular.” This was in the “Belvedere Vodka and champagne” years from 2019-2021. Anyone reading those lines would have been struck by how content, how focused, he looked on the Ascot podium after winning the title by more than 50. “There are some incredible riders in Britain: William Buick, Tom Marquand, Rossa Ryan, Hollie Doyle,” he said on Today. “I've had a good few more rides than the rest of them, but I have a healthy strike rate so I'm glad the hard work's paid off.” His hard work is undeniable. When Murphy was back in the weighing room to prepare for his ride on Tamfana in the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes, I asked Culloty, who rode Best Mate and won the Cheltenham Gold Cup as a trainer too, how Murphy had turned it round. “Like anybody who has had issues, they help themselves. You can get all the advice and this and that, it's down to yourself,” Culloty said. “Oisin is ambitious and hungry. The time off he had has done him the power of good because since he left school he never had the chance to stand back and take stock of his life, what he actually wants, his true values. “You have to educate yourself and write down, 'Where do you want to be in 20 years? What do you want from life?'. He did that. And he's standing by it.” The post ‘A Kind of Flawed Genius’ – Oisin Murphy at the Summit Again appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

There's virtually no chance that Vinnie Viola would have bought a horse like Rated by Merit (Battalion Runner) at the sales. That's where he goes every year to spend big bucks in search of a star. At this year's Keeneland September sale alone, Viola bought 18 horses for $9.1 million. Rated by Merit is undefeated at 3-for-3 after winning Saturday's Affirmed S., the second leg in Gulfstream's series for 2-year-olds by Florida-based sires. An overachiever, he is by a stallion who stands for $2,500 and out a mare who was 1-for-11 in her career. He wouldn't have checked any of Viola's boxes. All of which is why it is so ironic that Rated by Merit, a homebred by Battalion Runner (Unbridled's Song), has been Viola's best 2-year-old this year and is a horse who will likely be pointed to next year's GI Kentucky Derby. “This goes to show you that good horse can come from anywhere,” said Monique Delk, who is the director of racehorse development for the Viola stable. Delk and Vinnie and Teresa Viola had plenty to celebrate last Saturday as they were on hand at Gulfstream Park to watch Rated by Merit win the Affirmed S. Though he has yet to face open company, he has been ultra impressive in his three career stats and the Beyer numbers suggest he can compete at any level. He was given a 99 in the Affirmed, the fastest number given to any 2 year-old this year. “The story has everything to do with the fact that Mr. Viola loves this sire, Battalion Runner,” Delk said. “He owns him outright and purchased him with Jimmy Crupi. Battalion Runner was a really, really good horse and Vinnie just grew very fond of him.” Delk will tell you that Battalion Runner never lived up to his potential on the racetrack. After he broke his maiden in his lone start as a 2-year-old, he won an allowance race and then finished second in the GII Wood Memorial. He ran just twice more, finishing third in the Grade III Dwyer S. and fifth in the Smarty Jones S. “This was the same year that we had Always Dreaming,” Delk said. “They were always kind of neck-to-neck together and then Battalion Runner kind of stubbed his toe along the way and wasn't able to proceed. In all of our minds, Battalion Runner was every bit as good but just had some bad luck.” Viola, who owns the Stanley Cup champs, the Florida Panthers, is a shrewd and successful businessman. But, apparently, he is not immune from putting his passions ahead of the bottom line. “A lot of this about how this horse tugged at Vinnie's heartstrings,” Delk said. “He owns Battalion Runner outright and stands him privately at Ocala Stud. It is a little bit of a passion project. We purchased 12 or 13 mares to breed to him. So far, he has had very small crops. To have a horse this good by this stallion is a dream come through for all of us.” Battalion Runner has had 30 foals of racing age and just 17 starters. Rated by Merit is by far the best horse he has produced. The dam, Banner Waving (Speightstown), is another who didn't figure to be a success as a broodmare. She was purchased by Viola for $19,000 at the 2020 Keeneland November sale. Delk appreciates the irony, that Viola's best horse in training is the homebred without the fancy pedigree or price tag. “We go to the sales and we buy a lot of horses but we're as excited about this horse ands much as we have been with any horse,” Delk said. “We are very humbled and grateful that we have him.” In someone else's hands Rated by Merit might have wound up in the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile. Instead, Viola, Delk and trainer Michael Yates have decided to stay in Florida and point for the next leg in the series, the Nov. 30 In Reality S. Delk said they will try Rated by Merit against open company as a 3-year-old with their sights set on races like the GI Florida Derby. “There is no pressure here, so we were able to do the right thing by the horse and let him develop in his own time,” Delk said. “We landed on Michael Yates, who is a seasoned horseman and a humble, honest guy who does a great job. We placed the horse with him and in Florida and we figured we would just see what happens and let him develop in his own time.” The Breeders' Cup Juvenile has come up. “There was some talk after his first race that he should be in the Breeders' Cup.” Delk said. “The horse had run one time and to fly him to New York, California or Kentucky for one of these preps, would that have been in the horse's best interests? I don't know. I do know that I love the path Mr. And Mrs. Viola have chosen for him. It's allowed him to develop at his own pace. With expensive horses you buy at the sales you sometimes can't do that.” The In Reality is a $300,000 race. With a win, Rated by Merit's career earnings increase to $400,000. Machado's Gaffe For misjudging the finish of a race last week, Luan Machado was suspended for three days and fined $2,500 by the stewards. Considering that he simply made an honest mistake, the punishment seems fair. As much fuss that his ride has caused, it will never overshadow what Bill Shoemaker did in the 1957 Derby. Aboard Gallant Man, he misjudged the finish, likely costing his horse a Derby victory. “If I could change anything, it would be missing that finish line on Gallant Man,” he told the New York Times decades later. “If you're going to make a mistake, they say, make a big one.” Shoemaker's penalty was far worse than what was handed down to Machado. He was suspended for 15 days. Gallant Man's trainer, John Nerud told the New York Times that the suspension was as lengthy as it was because Shoemaker wasn't honest with the stewards. Nerud told the Times that Shoemaker originally contended that the horse took a bad step, but he relented after being confronted by the stewards. The post Week In Review: Vinnie Viola’s Unlikely Derby Contender appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Opportunities to source next year's two-year-old talent is running thin on the ground and leading buyers like syndicate manager Nick Bradley, bloodstock agent Federico Barberini and breeze-up handler Johnny Collins revealed that they are hoping to stock up at the October Yearling Sale at Arqana this week. This year's French 2,000 Guineas winner Metropolitan (Fr) (Zarak {Fr}) was sourced at this sale in 2022 and, after a number of buyers reported to finding the competition tough at Tattersalls over the past two weeks, a strong cohort of British and Irish-based buyers have made the trip to Arqana for one of the last yearling sales of the season. Barberini was one of the busiest agents at Tattersalls and spent over 4.7 million gns on 25 yearlings during Books 1, 2 and 3 of the October Yearling Sale. However, the Italian native still has orders to fill at Arqana this week. He said, “The strength of the market took us by surprise at Tattersalls. I wasn't surprised by the trade at the top, but the strength of the market at every level was very good. I always come back to Deauville, so I was planning on coming to this sale anyway, but obviously a lot of people were not able to fill orders in Newmarket and they have come here as well in search of a bit of value.” Barberini added, “It can be frustrating. Unavoidably, you have to stretch sometimes but mostly you just put a value on a horse and stop when it hits that value. On one hand, it is very frustrating but, on the other, the market is healthy. Long may that continue because we need the market to be strong for the overall health of the industry.” The Arqana October Yearling Sale has been a happy hunting ground for Barberini. It was at this sale that the agent sourced dual Group 2 winner Jadoomi (Fr) (Holy Roman Emperor {Ire}) on behalf of Sheikh Ahmed Al Maktoum for just €75,000 while Group 2-winning filly Wed (Fr) (Profitable {Ire}) was also picked up cheaply here at just €32,000. “The stock is good here-as expected,” Barberini continued. “As usual, there is a good selection of horses here and there is no doubt that more good horses will come out of this sale again.” Bradley has had similar luck shopping in France. He revealed that unlike Collins who is in search of a colt to complete his shopping for next year's breeze-ups, the syndicate manager is solely making the trip to Deaville to find a filly to sport the white and black silks next term. Interestingly, while a number of British-based trainers have bemoaned the lack of orders for yearlings in the current climate, Bradley reported that he is in front with regards selling shares in Nick Bradley Racing Syndicate horses compared to this time last year. He said, “I try to buy the best-looking horses that I can from unfashionable pedigrees. That's my business model and it's what I seem to do best at. I never get orders for horses. I bought 35 yearlings last year and I am on 29 for this yearling sale season. I would like to buy three more fillies and, with regards to sales of shares with Nick Bradley Racing, we are actually in front compared to this time last year. That comes down to the fact we've had another pretty good year and are nearly at 50 winners and a million quid in prize-money. I haven't seen a drop-off. I'd imagine plenty of trainers have, but I haven't.” Reflecting on trade at Newmarket, he continued, “I looked at 70 fillies on Day one at Book 1 and had 20 fillies to follow in. I thought it was ridiculous what they were making. I waved the white flag for the rest of Book 1 after that. But I worked Book 2 hard and saw every filly. I was able to buy five and, whilst it was strong and there definitely was a certain carry over from Book 1, there were still gaps in places. I bought some good pedigrees and some good models-I can't really afford both. So I thought Book 2 was achievable. We also bought some horses in Book 3. There were some very nice-looking horses in Book 3. “I thought trade at Doncaster and the Somerville was weak. At that point, I thought people would be giving horses away at Book 3 but it didn't turn out that way. When I went over to the Goffs Orby Sale, I was quite bullish about buying something, but Orby Book 1 was very strong. From that sale onwards, things have become very competitive.” Collins is one of the few breeze-up handlers who is not down on numbers compared to 12 months ago. Many leading operators opened up last week about how a decision to keep their powder dry for the Orby and Book 1 and 2 backfired but Collins says just one more colt would complete his shopping for the season. He said, “It has been very tough to buy this year. I'm probably short a colt but a lot of other breeze-up handlers are down on numbers. I had dinner with a very big handler the other night and he said that he is nowhere near last year's numbers. I think there are a lot of fellas in the same boat and they will be trying to top up this week in France.” Collins added, “The problem was, things were very weak to start with and then, suddenly things got very strong. I don't think anyone could have predicted that. Newmarket was exceptional. That was as difficult as I can ever remember it.” Those needing any extra confidence to go and fill orders in France this week should look no further than the fact Group 1 winners Paddington (GB), Iresine (Fr) (Manduro {Ger}), Audarya (Fr) (Wootton Bassett {GB}), Wooded (Ire) (Wootton Bassett {GB}), Lord Glitters (Fr) (Whipper) and more were sourced at this sale in recent years. The action kicks off at 11am local time on Tuesday. The post “Good Selection Of Horses Here” – Top Buyers Target Arqana October Yearling Sale appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Paintings by Jack Butler Yeats, from the collection of Vincent and Jacqueline O'Brien, are to be sold at auction at Adam's in Dublin, Ireland on Wednesday, December 4. Among the highlights from the collection is The Horsemen, which was painted in 1947 and has an estimated worth of €500,000–€800,000. Stuart Cole, managing director of Adam's, said, “This auction joins together two legendary Irish figures of the 20th century–Ireland's greatest painter, painting his favorite subject, horses, and one of the all-time greatest Irish horse trainers and breeders, together in a once-in-a-generation combination.” Special previews of the O'Brien paintings, as well as a selection of other paintings included in the December auction, will take place in Belfast (November 14-15), London (November 18-20) and Dublin (November 20-December 4). The post Paintings Belonging to Vincent O’Brien to be Sold at Auction appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

This year will be the 41st edition of the Breeders' Cup Classic. Much has changed in the sport of horse racing since the first edition in 1984, but history can guide us in multiple ways in terms of what to look for in a Classic winner.View the full article

Haras d'Etreham's homebred Gezora (Fr) (Almanzor {Fr}–Germance, by Silver Hawk), who bagged one of two midsummer outings at Dieppe, fell a neck shy of victory in last month's G3 Prix de Conde and remained upwardly mobile with a dominant performance in Monday's G3 Darley Prix des Reservoirs at Deauville. The 53-10 chance broke swiftly to race third through the initial stages and improved one spot before reaching halfway in this one-mile distaffers' heat. Inching ahead in early straight, she scooted clear under urging approaching the furlong pole and was ridden out in the closing stages to easily withstand the threat of 'TDN Rising Star' Sandtrap (Ire) (Lope De Vega {Ire}) by 1 3/4 lengths for a career high. “Her last race was extremely good and the question mark, like for many others I imagine, was the [heavy] ground,” commented winning trainer Nicolas Le Roch. “She won with class and we now know that she can handle any ground, like good horses do. Her year is finished and she will now head to the paddocks for a good rest. I am already impatient for next year and I'm really looking forward to it. She should develop into a top filly and a Classic prospect.” ⁦@DarleyEurope⁩ Prix des Réservoirs (Gr3, F2, 1600m) ⁦@fgdeauville⁩ L'animatrice Gezora (Almanzor) ⁦@Haras_d_Etreham⁩ contient sûrement l'attaque de la favorite Sandtrap (Lope de Vega). pic.twitter.com/hTySp4qgVv — France Galop (@francegalop) October 21, 2024 Pedigree Notes Gezora, the latest of 11 foals, is one of eight scorers produced by G1 Prix Saint-Alary victrix and G1 Prix de Diane runner-up Germance (Silver Hawk), herself kin to Listed Derby du Midi and Listed Prix Michel Houyvet victor Gaily Game (GB) (Montjeu {Ire}) and to the dam of the multiple stakes-placed Out Of Town (Fr) (Kentucky Dynamite). The February-foaled homebred bay is a half-sister to three-time stakes placegetter Garance (Fr) (Teofilo {Ire}). Her third dam is G1 Prix de la Salamandre runner-up and Listed Tyros Stakes-winning matriarch Majestic Role (Fr) (Theatrical {Ire}). Monday, Deauville, France DARLEY PRIX DES RESERVOIRS-G3, €80,000, Deauville, 10-21, 2yo, f, 8fT, 1:51.51, hy. 1–GEZORA (FR), 123, f, 2, by Almanzor (Fr) 1st Dam: Germance (G1SW-Fr, $558,680), by Silver Hawk 2nd Dam: Gaily Tiara, by Caerleon 3rd Dam: Majestic Role (Fr), by Theatrical (Ire) 1ST BLACK-TYPE WIN; 1ST GROUP WIN. O/B-Haras d'Etreham (FR); T-Nicolas Le Roch; J-Aurelien Lemaitre. €40,000. Lifetime Record: 4-2-1-0, €74,000. *1/2 to Garance (Fr) (Teofilo {Ire}), MSP-Fr. Werk Nick Rating: F. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree, or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. 2–Sandtrap (Ire), 123, f, 2, Lope De Vega (Ire)–Zindaya, by More Than Ready. TDN Rising Star. 1ST BLACK TYPE; 1ST GROUP BLACK TYPE. (450,000gns Ylg '23 TATOCT). O-Valmont & Ballylinch Stud; B-Fifth Avenue Bloodstock (IRE); T-Ralph Beckett. €16,000. 3–D'Ores Et Deja (Fr), 123, f, 2, Zarak (Fr)–D'Or Et Diamant (Fr), by Teofilo (Ire). 1ST BLACK TYPE; 1ST GROUP BLACK TYPE. (€60,000 Ylg '23 ARQOCT). O-Al Shaqab Racing; B-Mme Isabelle Corbani (FR); T-Fabrice Chappet. €12,000. Margins: 1 3/4, 3HF, 6. Odds: 5.30, 2.20, 6.00. Also Ran: Miss Tonnerre (Ire), Pinky Cen (Ire), Blown By The Wind (Fr), Zakharova (Fr), Lady Be Good (Fr), Aivlis (Fr), Li Ban (Ire). Scratched: Yoga Master (GB). The post Almanzor’s Gezora Passes Reservoirs Test at Deauville appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article