Wandering Eyes

The Florida Thoroughbred Breeders' and Owners' Association's Florida Sire Stakes Series continues Oct. 19 when Gulfstream Park hosts the $200,000 Affirmed Stakes for 2-year-old males and the $200,000 Susan's Girl Stakes for 2-year-old fillies.View the full article

By Emma Berry and Brian Sheerin A memorable Book 2 session of the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale that instilled some much-needed confidence in the bloodstock business culminated with Anthony Stroud going to 1 million gns to secure a colt by Tweenhills stallion Kameko on behalf of Godolphin. The 2,000 Guineas winner Kameko has enjoyed a hugely respectable start at stud with nine individual winners and 12 wins all told in Britain and Ireland. The top lot of the entire Book 2 session hails from a family Godolphin knows well, being a half-brother to the 111-rated Passion And Glory (Ire) (Cape Cross {Ire}) as well as being a full-brother to Qatar Racing's own Grade 1-winning juvenile New Century (GB). Tweenhills boss David Redvers said, “He's actually more like his dad than his brother [New Century]. His brother looks a proper two-year-old but this horse, I can see him being a bit scopier really. The thing that is common with all of them though is they have this incredible temperament, which is why the brother was able to go across to Canada and come back and go on to America. He takes it all so well.” He added, “The mare died foaling this lad in Ireland. It was one of those cruel twists of fate but she has left quite a parting gift.” The only seven-figure lot of Book 2 was confirmed to be heading the way of Godolphin by Stroud, who spent over 11.5 million gns at Tattersalls this week. Stroud, who outbid New Century's trainer Andrew Balding among other interested parties, said, “He's a very nice, quality horse who is a full-brother to a Group 1 winner. Kameko has had a very good start; he's a beautiful colt who will go to Moulton Paddocks.” The momentum from the record-breaking Book 1 session carried over into Park Paddocks this week, where turnover climbed 27% to 68,517,000gns, the median 13%to 70,000gns and the average by 26% to 108,413. Meanwhile, a 91% clearance rate [up 7%] was also posted. Commenting on trade, Tattersalls chief Edmond Mahony said, “The results from Book 1 of the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale last week were pretty remarkable and certainly instilled some confidence leading into Book 2, but yet again the level of trade has outstripped the most optimistic of pre-sale expectations. “The extraordinary success of Book 1 has been well and truly replicated in Book 2 and again it is the outstanding quality of the yearlings and the sale's reputation for consistently producing racehorses of the very highest calibre which have brought the buyers to Tattersalls in overwhelming numbers. Every year British and Irish breeders and consignors place enormous faith in the two weeks of the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale and the unrelenting demand throughout Book 2 shows that their confidence has been fully justified.” He added, “Turnover and average have both reached new heights by considerable margins and the 1,000,000 guineas sale topping Kameko yearling is the highest price ever for a colt at Book 2 of the October Yearling Sale, but it is the clearance rate above 90% and the sheer volume of horses selling for 200,000 guineas or more that have been truly incredible. The demand for quality yearlings from buyers from throughout the world, most notably America, Australia, Hong Kong and throughout the Gulf region, has resulted in 93 yearlings selling for 200,000 guineas or more; a number far in excess of any other European yearling sale except October Book 1 and a huge increase on the previous October Book 2 record of 58. Also noteworthy has been the significant year on year rise in the median demonstrating a market with real depth, driven not only by overseas demand, but also by a strong showing from the domestic British and Irish buyers for whom Book 2 of the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale is always an unmissable event. “Above all, however, we can reflect on another Tattersalls yearling sale which has exceeded expectations at a time when confidence has sometimes understandably been in short supply. It has not all been plain sailing in recent years, but we work hard to bring as many buyers as possible to Tattersalls for the October Yearling Sale and as we move on to Books 3 and 4 we can look forward with a little more optimism and look back on another Tattersalls sale which has brought a collective smile to the face of the British and Irish thoroughbred breeding industry.” Rarefied Territory There are loss-making pinhooks, profitable pinhooks, and then there is the occasional eye-popper and jaw-dropper. A good number have fallen into the latter category at a Book 2 which carried on in a similarly ebullient manner to Book 1, but the leader in that category on the final day had to be the Territories (Ire) colt bought as a foal for 65,000gns by Mark Dwyer, Jim McCartan and Willie Browne and sold on through Dwyer's Oaks Farm Stables for 750,000gns to Nurlan's Bizakov of Sumbe. Bizakov has every reason to like the offspring of the Darley stallion as he races the homebred Lazzat (Fr), winner this year of the G1 Prix Maurice de Gheest and now in Sydney ahead of the A$10m Golden Eagle on November 2. This latest purchase is likely to join the stable of Lazzat's trainer Jerome Reynier in the south of France. Sumbe manager Tony Fry conducted the bidding on Bizakov's behalf and entertained the assembled press by producing a multiple-choice list of answers to all the usual questions (see page 2). Jokes and cliches aside, Fry is a man who keeps his feet on the ground, even when bidding six-figure sums, and admitted that even though Sumbe has enjoyed a good year with Group 1 winners Charyn (Ire) and Lazzat, as well as the three-time Group winner Ramadan (Fr), he berates himself for the horses who have not fared so well on the track. “I'm very fortunate that I have a boss who has the patience and has the ambition still,” he said. “We've had a great year. We have 60 horses in training and three very good ones, but that means there's a lot that aren't good. So I'm always winding it back and thinking, 'Why did we breed that mare, why did we buy that foal?' I take it very personally when they don't do it. You buy a horse hoping that he's going to be a champion, so everything that we buy or breed I think 'This might win the Guineas'. But the reality is they probably won't. “We are buying hopes, dreams and wishes and normally all three of those fail, so I always look back to ask why.” There are, however, some hopes, dreams and wishes left for this season. Charyn looks set to line up as favourite on Saturday for the G1 Queen Elizabeth II Stakes on British Champions Day, while Lazzat could yet enhance his record in Australia. Fry said, “Lazzat is in Australia now. This [yearling] is a similar type of horse and whether lightning will strike twice, I don't know. He is a nice horse, and we can make a case for him, but it is a lot of money. We've got blown out on some others.” Of the champion miler-elect Charyn, who will retire to Sumbe for the 2025 season, he added, “He's a versatile horse and he'll possibly be going to Japan after that before he retires to stud. He's a class horse. We saw him the other day and he looks fantastic. He should be popular with breeders.” The Territories colt (lot 993) is out of the winning New Approach (Ire) mare Never Change (Ire), meaning that he is bred on a similar cross to Lazzat, whose dam is by Australia (GB). He was bred by Ciaran Paterson and is a full-brother to the four-time winner and G3 Marble Hill Stakes runner-up Masseto (GB), who was also fourth in the G2 Coventry Stakes. Catherine Dwyer of Oaks Farm Stables said, “I was shaking and smiling during the bidding, but I turned around and Peter Molony said 'You need to have your poker face on!' It was electric in there and the bids were flying from all directions. Everyone wanted to bid on him. Reflecting on the colt as a foal, she added, “Willie, Jim and Dad all had their eyes on him. The walk is generally a big thing for them and he had a nice page with his full-brother being a good horse. The walk and conformation are the biggest things though. “He went back over to Ireland and Jim McCartan through the winter then came to us in Yorkshire about three months ago. We prepped him at home and he hasn't put a foot wrong. He's turned from a boy to a man during prep.” Talking points After a Book 1 bonanza, Anthony Stroud did not pause for breath at Book 2. Outside of Godolphin, the leading agent has major owners like KHK Racing, Peter Harris and more to look after. Throough Godolphin and Stroud Coleman, he ended the sale as the top buyer with over 13.5 million gns spent. To put that into perspective, that business accounted for 17% of the turnover posted during Book 2. Study Of Man (Ire) is fast becoming one of the best value sires in Europe. But that fee of £12,500 is surely set to get bumped up in the coming months. On a day where the Lanwades-based sire enjoyed another winner, with Revoir (GB), a half-sister to Remarquee (GB) winning stylishly at Nottingham, Study Of Man had more success in the ring with Federico Barberini going to 220,000gns to secure a colt by the sire. Five of the right yearlings drafted by Study Of Man cleared six figures at Book 2 with Anthony Stroud, Alex Elliott and Joseph O'Brien also featuring on the buyers' sheet. A 136,375gns average for those eight yearlings is pretty impressive to say the least. One thing that has been refreshing at Park Paddocks throughout the past two weeks is the amount of different stallions whose progeny sold for 500,000gns or more. There were seven different stallions who cleared 500,000gns during Book 2. It was a memorable Book 2 for Matt Bowen and Natalie Foland. Just 24 hours after selling a Sea The Stars (Ire) colt for 550,000gns to Anthony Stroud, the couple's week was sugarcoated when Stroud returned to buy the outfit's Too Darn Hot filly for 460,000 gns. “It has been a very good Book 2-we don't want this sale to finish,” joked Bowen. “This filly was bred by a fantastic client Elaine Chivers, who has supported us from the outset,” Folland continued. “The mare was bought for just €4,000, but she has produced a really good filly for Elaine. The mare is at home with us and is the star broodmare on the farm.” There were 93 horses who made €200,000 or more during Book 2 compared to the previous best of 58 in 2022. On top of that, a total of 42 horses made €300,000 or more compared to the previous best of 34 in 2022. Golden touch Paul McCartan just makes it look easy sometimes. After a memorable Book 1 session last week, where the master of Ballyphilip Stud enjoyed big profits with a filly and a colt by Blue Point, the County Limerick operator was back in profit with lot 1101, a colt by first-season sire Mohaather (GB). Bought for just €33,000 at the Goffs November Foal Sale, the colt left plenty of profit on the table when selling to Harry Charlton for 140,000gns. The previous lot through the ring should probably be mentioned as well as Luke Lillingston got things pretty right with his Hello Youmzain (Fr) filly. Bought for just 45,000gns here in December, she was very popular and went the way of Dan Hayden Bloodstock at 130,000gns. Buy of the day Even at 320,000gns, the case can be made that Ben McElroy got value on the Norelands-drafted Night Of Thunder (Ire) filly bought on behalf of Barbara Banke's Stonestreet Stables. The dam, Sea Empress (Ire), won twice for William Haggas and achieved a rating of 97 for her owner Mrs Tsui. Her first foal caught the attention of many of the big-name buyers and it's fair to say she wouldn't have been out of place in Book 1. Considering the strength of the market at Park Paddocks the past two weeks, the Night Of Thunder filly looks very well bought. Thought for the day At a time when some of the middle- to lower-tier breeders and pinhookers are struggling, is it really good enough that one leading consignor was not showing the Book 3 horses to potential buyers until Wednesday afternoon at the earliest? These are the horses that need every chance they can possibly get before going through the ring on Thursday. If the answer to not showing until that time is a lack of staff, well then surely that begs the question whether some consignments have become too big for their own good. On that note, it's pretty much unfathomable as to why every lot catalogued does not have a video uploaded to the Tattersalls website. It's borderline impossible for buyers to get around to see the majority of the animals in the sale without sharing the workload and videos should be the very minimum a seller can do to aid the process. The post First-Season Sire Kameko Highlights Strong Book 2 Trade At 1 Million Guineas 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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A Planning Commission Public Hearing is scheduled for Thursday, Oct. 17, at 1:30 p.m. ET at City Hall in Lexington, Kentucky to discuss the completed draft of the Urban Growth Master Plan, according to a press release from the Fayette Alliance on Wednesday. Residents of Lexington-Fayette County are encouraged to provide public comment and input on the draft plan during this time. The Planning Commission will then reconvene on Thursday, October 31, at 1:30 p.m. ET at City Hall to review any proposed revisions and consider adoption as an element of Lexington's Comprehensive Plan, Imagine Lexington 2045. The Urban Growth Master Plan must be finalized by Dec. 1, which was a deadline mandated by the Lexington-Fayette Urban County Council. The current draft of the Urban Growth Master Plan encourages diverse housing types, mixed uses, context-sensitive densities, connectivity, parks, open spaces, innovative development, and multi-modal transportation in the proposed growth areas. However, it does not provide detailed information on how the city and private developers will pay for the cost of developing and maintaining the proposed expansion areas with city services, or how future development will create and ensure more affordable housing for Lexingtonians. Expanding Lexington's Urban Service Boundary by nearly 3,000 acres is expected to cost approximately $570 million in upfront infrastructure costs, $8.5 million per year in annual maintenance costs for city services and staff, and estimates an annual budget deficit of negative $30-50 million for the Lexington-Fayette Urban County Government upon the completion of development. Click here to learn more information. The post Fayette County Urban Growth Master Plan Up For Comment Oct. 17 appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Angel of Empire (Classic Empire–Armony's Angel, by To Honor and Serve), who took home the GI Arkansas Derby, has been retired and will join the roster at Taylor Made Stallions for the upcoming breeding season, according to a press release from the farm on Wednesday. The 4-year-old, who last raced in 2023 when he finished third in the GII Jim Dandy Stakes at Saratoga, will stand for $7,500 LFSN. Breeders will have an opportunity to earn a lifetime breeding right to the millionaire earner of more than $1.4 million. “We're very excited to stand Angel of Empire alongside our other stallion at Taylor Made, Not This Time,” said Jason Loutsch of Albaugh Family Stables. “Similar to him and Thousand Words, another promising young sire we campaigned, Angel of Empire is a tremendous physical who excelled over the Classic distances while still being a precocious 2-year-old. We will support him in the launch of his stallion career and are excited to get started.” Racing for Albaugh after they purchased him for $70,000 during the 2021 Keeneland September Sale, the Brad Cox trainee entered the Arkansas Derby off a decisive win in the GII Risen Star Stakes at Fair Grounds. On the strength of his Arkansas Derby and Risen Star victories, the colt was sent off as the race favorite in the GI Kentucky Derby and rallied to finish third. All told, Angel of Empire hit the board in 7-of-9 lifetime starts, banking $1,489,375. “Angel of Empire is as good-looking of a first-year sire you will see this year, and in this commercial market, big and pretty sells,” said Travis White, director of sales for Taylor Made Stallions. “An impressive debut winner at two who developed into a Grade I-winning 3-year-old and the favorite for the Kentucky Derby, Angel of Empire is a horse that will provide breeders real value with the opportunity for a significant return on their investment.” For more information on Angel of Empire, contact Travis White at (859) 396-3508, or Brock Martin at (270) 498-3722. The post GISW Angel Of Empire To Stand At Taylor Made Stallions appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Three Chimneys announced Oct. 16 that homebred Gun Pilot, one of Gun Runner's 13 millionaires and 10 grade 1 winners, will take up stud duty at Three Chimneys alongside his sire, Gun Runner, for the 2025 breeding season.View the full article

Triple group 1-winning sprinter Bradsell will stand at the National Stud in Newmarket for the 2025 breeding season.View the full article

The catalog includes 42 2-year-olds, 106 3-year-olds, and 59 horses aged 4 and older with progeny of many of the world’s most sought-after stallions. A print catalog will be available Oct. 31.View the full article

Turfway Park, whose Holiday meet begins Dec. 4, has raised the purses for maiden special weights to $80,000 and allowance races will be up to $86,000, Churchill Downs Inc. reported via a release on Wednesday. Registered Kentucky-breds in maiden special weight races are now increased by $10,000 from last year's amount of $70,000. Allowance races will range from $82,000-$86,000, up from the 2023 rate of $72,000-$80,000. “We're excited to offer top-tier racing opportunities at Turfway Park this winter and continue building on Kentucky's strong year-round circuit,” said Tyler Picklesimer, director of racing and racing secretary for Turfway Park. “With a robust stakes schedule and attractive purses, Turfway is the place to be for winter racing.” The post Turfway Park Raises Maiden Special Weights, Allowance Purses appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

The National Thoroughbred Racing Association (NTRA) will host an Eclipse Awards Charity Golf Tournament, which will directly benefit the Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance (TAA), on Thursday Jan. 23 in advance of the 54th Annual Eclipse Awards ceremony, the organization said in a Wednesday press release. The NTRA will match proceeds to make a contribution to the TAA on behalf of the Thoroughbred racing industry and intends to make a presentation on the red carpet at the awards ceremony. The tournament will be held at the Ocean Course at the Breakers Palm Beach. The tournament will feature a best ball format and include a 10:00 a.m. ET shotgun start, prizes for the winners and unique memorabilia. With a limited number of spots available, the price per foursome is $2,500. For more details click here. The post NTRA Eclipse Golf Tournament To Benefit Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance Jan. 23 appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Haras de Beaumont has welcomed the G1 Prix Jean Prat winner Puchkine (Fr) (Starspangledbanner {Aus}) to its stallion roster for 2025. He will stand for a fee of €8,500 at the Normandy farm alongside Arc winner Ace Impact (Ire), Intello (Ger) and Stunning Spirit (GB). The Chehboub family, owners of Haras de Beaumont, purchased a 50 per cent share in the three-year-old from his owner-breeder Alain Jathiere back in July. Trained by Jean-Claude Rouget, Puchkine was unbeaten in three races as a juvenile and won five of his nine starts. A former TDN Rising Star, he is out of Vadyska (Ire) (So You Think {NZ}), an unraced half-sister to the Listed Diana-Trial winner Romina Power (Fr) (Le Havre {Ire}), and descends from Meon Valley's celebrated foundation mare Reprocolor (GB) (Jimmy Reppin {GB}). Mathieu Alex, stud director at Haras de Beaumont, said, “Puchkine is a magnificent looking horse with an excellent way of moving. He won G1 Prix Jean Prat over seven furlongs, just 0.20 seconds off the race record held by exciting leading young sire Too Darn Hot. “Undefeated at two, he won all three of his races, including an impressive five-length victory on debut in June. By the remarkable Starspangledbanner, the sire of three Group 1 winners in 2024, Puchkine will be strongly supported by his current owners Messrs. Alain Jathière and Gérard Augustin-Normand, along with the Haras de Beaumont, which is always crucial to a stallion's success.” He added, “Puchkine will start at fee of €8,500 and will be syndicated shortly. Everyone is very welcome to visit Puchkine at Haras de Beaumont located 10 minutess from the Arqana sales.” Haras de Beaumont has also recruited a new member to its commercial team in Thibault de Seyssel. “We are also pleased to welcome Thibault de Seyssel,” Alex said. “A familiar face to many, Thibault has a strong international experience and will assist breeders with matings and visits to Haras de Beaumont.” The post Puchkine to Stand for €8,500 at Haras de Beaumont appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

There are horses who are special to us because of their quality, and there are horses who are special for what their names evoke in our memory. And then there are those who are special for both reasons. When Chad Brown left his position as an assistant to Bobby Frankel in 2007, the first person he hired was Mary McKulick, a bookkeeper with whom he credits for helping him build his company. She passed away in October, 2020 after losing a battle with cancer, and so when Brown was given his first offspring to train by Frankel, the sire, he asked Klaravich Stable if he could name the filly after Mary. McKulick (Frankel), doubly special for her incredible, durable career and the memory of Mary McKulick, will be offered as hip 289 at the Fasig-Tipton November Sale on Nov. 4, the first Grade I-winning daughter of Frankel to ever be offered at public auction. “When I went out on my own, the first person I hired was Mary, and she was instrumental in helping me build a company, all the way up to her retirement,” said Brown. “And, sadly, just soon after her retirement, she developed cancer and passed. Bobby Frankel was my mentor, and when I had this opportunity to name a horse by Frankel, I thought it was fitting to name this beautiful Frankel filly after Mary, and the Klarmans were so nice to let me do it.” McKulick did Mary proud right from the start, said Brown. “As soon as we gave her this name that meant so much to us, we were hopeful that she'd turn into a stakes horse. And she's exceeded all expectations, really. Mary's husband, Ron McKulick, has been closely following the horse, as have Mary's brothers and sister and all the different family members. It has just been a great story.” The Grade I stakes winner and six-time graded winner of almost $2 million has been campaigned over four years. She was the leading money-earning three-year-old filly of 2022, won the Grade I Belmont Oaks Invitational, and set a new course record for one mile and three-eighths at Aqueduct in the Jockey Club Oaks Invitational. Remarkably consistent, she has been first, second or third in 15 of 20 starts. A 180,000 guineas Tattersalls October yearling purchase in 2020, McKulick was selected by Mike Ryan. Brown said that Ryan and his wife, Mary, go to the Tattersalls October yearling sale every year to scout horses for him, and he typically goes and physically inspects their short list. “But this was the year of Covid where I couldn't get into the country myself,” said Brown, “so Mike and Mary really picked this one all out on their own. From the start, they just thought she was a really attractive horse that would do well in America, a lighter-framed, smaller horse. She was very early in the sale, and we were able to buy her at a very modest price for a Frankel. We shipped her off to Ocala just like we do all of our Tattersalls purchases, and she really was a star in training from the beginning.” Recalled Mike Ryan, “When we saw her, we thought she was magnificent. An absolutely gorgeous filly, very elegant. Oozes quality and class. It was hard to fault her in any way, shape or form. We've been to Europe every year now for eight years, and I don't think I've ever seen a Frankel filly look as good, or be as nice as McKulick. She's got so much elegance, presence and quality about her. And I stand by that. I don't think I've ever seen a Frankel look like this filly.” With travel being so difficult in 2020, a lot of potential buyers weren't able to get over to the sale, Ryan surmised, which could help to explain how they got her for the price they did. “She was just an absolutely gorgeous physical,” Ryan said. “When people see her, they will appreciate what I'm saying. She will fit so many stallions because her quality is extraordinary. And obviously her race record is outstanding as well. Her performance matched her physical appearance and her quality. And she's by the greatest sire in the world today, Frankel. He's ranked globally the number one sire in the world and has been for some time. An extraordinary stallion, never beaten, 14-for-14 on the racecourse. And as a stallion, he's the fastest horse in history to reach 100 graded or group winners, which is an extraordinary feat.” While she may have been smaller and lighter framed as a yearling, she has grown into an imposing physical presence, said Brown. “It's been wonderful to see her fill out and grow as a trainer would want to see from year to year,” he said. “She's grown into a really solid, strong, good-size mare. Year to year, she's gotten faster, and she's become better in the mornings and a little stronger in her races. And you just love to see that. We have had her from two to five. And the development has been remarkable.” Fasig-Tipton President Boyd Browning said that her sale would represent a first for the company. “The opportunity to offer a Grade I-winning daughter of Frankel's was very special to us at Fasig-Tipton. We've had some spectacular November sales in recent years for some spectacular offerings, and this is the first time we've had an opportunity to sell a Grade I-winning daughter of Frankel. And we're very appreciative of Seth Klarmen, Klaravich Stables and Chad Brown of having that opportunity.” Among her six graded stakes wins, Brown singles out her GI Belmont Oaks, where she defeated multiple graded stakes winner With The Moonlight (Ire) as a particularly special one. “She's had so many great races. I'd say her Belmont Oaks is right at the top of the list. I thought that that race was terrific in the way she went and ran down a really, really top-class horse. It was a really a true Grade I, very solid field and and a close finish between two top fillies at the end. She's had so many nice races and memorable races. But that would be at the top.” To make it more special for Brown, she won the race on Bobby Frankel's birthday. “You just hope to somehow buy a horse that's even close to her in the future,” said Brown. “It's very difficult to do. She's a special horse emotionally.” Browning concurred. “She's been consistent. She's been outstanding. She's been durable. All the superlatives that you want to use to describe a race filly, she fits those bills. She's got a tremendous pedigree. She's a half-sister to two graded stakes winners and out of a graded stakes performing mare. So she's got the the quality of the pedigree that that the collectors are looking for and she's certainly a collector's type of of pedigree and a collector's type of racehorse.” Brown said that when he's shopping for yearlings, soundness in the mare is one of his top priorities. “When I look for young horses to buy at the sales, at the top of my list is if the mare was sound, then a high-level racehorse and was a good-looking horse,” he said. “McKulick is all of those things, and as far as her appeal in the marketplace, I could see the biggest operations all over the world that race on turf interested in this horse. I don't see any particular owner at that level or operation that wouldn't love to have her in their broodmare band.” “She's the type of physical that's going to appeal to to American buyers,” said Browning. “She's going to appeal to a European buyer. She's got size, she's got scope, she's got balance. And when Mike Ryan says she's the best-looking Frankel that he's ever seen, I put a lot of credence in that. We're looking forward to seeing her on the sales grounds and looking forward to seeing how buyers see this kind of once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, a very unique offering to buy a Grade I-winning daughter of Frankel.” Additional reporting by Katie Petrunyak. The post Consistent, `Remarkable’ McKulick, A GI Winner by Frankel, On Offer at Night of the Stars appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

When the Fasig-Tipton Saratoga Fall Mixed catalogue came out, Blaine Isaacs earmarked one page in particular and when he was driving home to Lexington Wednesday, he had acquired his objective, purchasing the $230,000 sale-topping daughter of Cyberknife (hip 301) Tuesday in upstate New York. “When they released the catalogue about a month ago, I did the Auction Edge on all the horses in the sale and I was just really impressed by the mare's produce report on her,” Isaacs said. “[D'Fashion] had a McKinzie filly [Cash Call, who sold for $600,000] in OBS April that had the co-fastest breeze of the OBS sales this spring. She hasn't broken her maiden yet, but she's hit the board in maiden special weights twice. So I think she could be a special filly. And then also, the yearling half by Game Winner was the highest-priced Game Winner [$450,000] at Keeneland September Book 2, so there were two really good horses in the pipeline. And when I got to see her in person, she's a beautiful filly and I didn't want to go home without her.” Isaacs, the son of longtime Bridlewood Farm manager George Isaacs, was signing just his second ticket when he purchased the weanling for a record-tying price at the Saratoga Fall sale, but he has already had plenty of pinhooking success in partnerships. “I started pinhooking back in 2021,” he said. “The first pinhook I ever had, I just had a leg of it with Brian Graves, but it ended up being Federal Judge (Army Mule), the horse who won the GII Ogden Phoenix at Keeneland a couple weeks back and is going to the Breeders' Cup. That's the first horse I ever had a piece of pinhooking.” Now a 4-year-old, Federal Judge was purchased for $40,000 at the 2021 OBS Winter Mixed Sale and resold for $200,000 at the following year's Fasig-Tipton July sale. “From there, I met Tami Bobo and did some pinhooking with her,” Isaacs continued. “And then I also bought one at Keeneland November with my dad and it ended up being the Instagrand that sold for $350,000. It was the highest price for the stallion, and he's in training with Bill Mott.” Now named Chatbot (Instagrand), that colt was purchased for $85,000 and sold to Pin Oak Stud at last year's Keeneland September sale. “I had a small piece of the Gun Runner who sold for $2.2 million last April,” Isaacs continued. “I got in with Tami Bobo with that horse for a small percentage. Over the past few years, I got to be in on some really nice horses with some really good pinhookers.” Isaacs made his first solo pinhooking purchase when buying a son of Modernist for $65,000 at last year's Keeneland November sale. Prepped by Carlos and Sarah Estrada and consigned under the couple's C & S Thoroughbreds banner, the colt sold for $100,000 at this year's Fasig-Tipton July sale. “So I kind of broke even on him, made a couple of bucks,” Isaacs said of the result. “Maddie Mattmiller bought the horse for Black-Type Stables and Swinbank Stables and he is going to George Weaver. Maddie says there is a good chance he will be a Royal Ascot horse next year.” In addition to being his first pinhooking purchase on his own, that result marked Isaac's first collaboration with the Estradas. “Tami introduced me to Sarah and Carlos back at the 2021 Night of the Stars sale,” he said. “I spoke to them a lot in the back ring because I had been shopping with Tami and her husband Fernando. I would always just talk to them when we were looking at horses in the chute. When I bought that Modernist colt back in November, I was going to leave the horse up in Kentucky, since I had moved up here. I just walked up to Sarah and Carlos and said, 'Hey, I just bought this colt. Can he go to you guys? They said, 'We just bought a Practical Joke, so he can go on the trailor with him. I went over to the house just about every weekend to see how that horse was coming along and I ended up being really good friends. with them.” The Estradas will be prepping the Cybernife filly for Isaacs for a potential return to the Saratoga sales ring next August. Isaacs, who relocated from Ocala to Lexington last summer, has been working at Taylor Made Farm and currently serves as the farm's sales coordinator. But his involvement in the racing game has been a lifelong endeavor. “From the time I was four or five, my mom had always done Quarter Horses,” Isaacs said. “So I went all over the country riding Quater Horses, Western Pleasure and Cutting Horses. When I was 13, I started working on the farm for my dad. And then I shopped all the sales and short listed horses with my dad. I was part of the selection process when we bought Tapwrit, who won the Belmont back in 2017. I got to see a lot of really nice horses growing up and I got to sales prep a lot of nice yearlings for my dad back home.” Long-term, Isaacs hopes to continue working with Taylor Made while adding to his pinhooking portfolio. “I love working for Taylor Made and the Taylors have been amazing,” he said. “They have treated me like family. And someone that I've always looked up to is Brian Graves. He is one of the top pinhookers in the industry, but he's also the general manager and runs the consignment for Gainesway. I would love to keep working for Taylor Made and do high-end pinhooking like Brian Graves has done over the years. That would be my long-term goal.” In the shorter term, Isaacs can look forward to watching how his newest acquistion matures over the next several months. “The only ticket I had ever signed was the one for $65,000, so this [$230,000] was almost four times as much. I have gotten to be part of some really big horses, but never signed the ticket on them. It was nerve-wracking, but I think she has a lot coming up in the pedigree and I think she can be a special filly next year.” The post Blaine Isaacs Makes a Splash at Fasig-Tipton Saratoga Fall Mixed Sale appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

The catalog includes 42 2-year-olds, 106 3-year-olds and 59 horses aged four and older with progeny of many of the world’s most sought-after stallions. A print catalog will be available Oct. 31.View the full article

Star dirt marathoner Next logged his final breeze ahead of the Oct. 21 Breeders' Cup pre-entries, leaving a decision on whether he will participate in the World Championships to be decided this weekend.View the full article

Fierceness maintains his hold on the top spot. Despite losing six points in the standings, he grew his lead over filly Thorpedo Anna from four to six points. View the full article

Trainer Chief Stipe Cowans discusses Next's Oct. 16 breeze, the status of his Breeders' Cup decision, and what Next has meant to his team.View the full article

Seize the Grey (Arrogate), the winner the GI Preakness Stakes and GI Pennsylvania Derby, will point directly to the GI Big Ass Fans Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile on Saturday Nov. 2 at Del Mar, the Daily Racing Form first reported on Tuesday, Oct. 15. After taking home his second Grade I score, Seize the Grey's Hall of Fame trainer D. Wayne Lukas left the door open to go to the GI Longines Breeders' Cup Classic, but he told DRF after conferring with ownership groups MyRacehorse and Gainesway Farm that the Dirt Mile would be a better option. “I just think he might be more tactically suited there, we're a good fit there,” Lukas was quoted in the DRF article. “They were leaning toward the Mile and I couldn't argue with that.” As previously reported by turf outlets, the Seize the Grey stallion deal between MyRacehorse and Gainesway has an additional monetary kicker should he win a Breeders' Cup race. “You gotta win it to get it so I don't think that had much to do with [the decision],” Lukas told DRF. “We're more concerned about seeing if we can get the best performance out of him we can.” Seize the Grey has breezed twice at Lukas's base in Louisville. The colt traveled five furlongs in 59 flat Oct. 3 and five furlongs in 59.40 seconds Oct. 13. “He's had two dandy works, he's held his weight beautifully,” continued Lukas in the piece. “I even let him two-minute lick a mile because I thought he might be getting a little heavy on me.” The decision to run Seize the Grey in the Dirt Mile sets up a meeting between the last two winners of the Preakness as National Treasure (Quality Road) is expected to draw in. The post Seize The Grey Headed To Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile At Del Mar appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

First-season sire Sands Of Mali (Fr) is at the centre of allegations brought by Steve Parkin against Joe Foley's Ballyhane Stud, the Irish Independent reported on Wednesday. Parkin and his company Clipper BCS, LLP say he acquired the horse for £270,000 in August of 2020, but that Foley is now claiming a 50% share of the son of Panis. In his affidavit, Parkin said that the defendants did not purchase any share in the stallion. Parkin also said the defendant claims that he indicated acknowledgment of shared ownership in a WhatsApp message in November 2023. Parkin said, “I sent no such WhatsApp message and deny the contents and indication of such an allegation.” Clipper BCS and Parkin are seeking injunctions and orders requiring the defendants to relinquish possession of the 9-year-old stallion, who has sired 15 winners to date, including the stakes winner Ain't Nobody (Ire). Justice Brian Cregan granted Robert Beatty SC, for Parkin and Clipper BCS, permission to bring short service of the proceedings on the defendants on Tuesday. Only the plaintiff's side was represented, and Cregan indicated the matter could be addressed as early as next week. In the spring, the Parkin-owned stallions Asymmetric (Ire) and Space Traveller (GB) moved from Ballyhane and spent the remainder of the breeding season at Starfield Stud in Ireland. Parkin, the owner of Branton Court Stud in Yorkshire, also stands Soldier's Call (GB) and Shaquille (GB) at his Dullingham Park near Newmarket. The operation has sold a number of yearlings and horses in training throughout the year, including Parkin's homebred dual Group 1 winner Fallen Angel (GB) (Too Darn Hot {GB}), who is now owned by Wathnan Racing. The post Parkin Alleges Sands Of Mali Unlawfully Held At Ballyhane Stud appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Pre-entered fields for the 2024 Breeders' Cup World Championships will be named live on FanDuel TV and on the Breeders' Cup website, official Mobile App, and Facebook, X, and YouTube channels on Wednesday, Oct. 23 at 9:00 a.m. PT/12:00 p.m. ET., the Breeders' Cup said via a press release on Wednesday. Pre-entry is the first of a two-step process for all owners intending to start a horse in one of the 14 Breeders' Cup World Championships races on either Nov. 1 or Nov. 2. The entry stage then takes place on Monday, Oct. 28, when post positions are also drawn. The pre-entry announcement will be hosted by FanDuel TV talent Christina Blacker and Todd Schrupp. The post Breeders’ Cup Pre-Entered Fields Released Live Oct. 23 appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Marathon specialist Next (Not This Time) worked five furlongs in 1:00.60 Wednesday morning at Turfway Park and, as long as things stay on track, he will start in a Breeders' Cup race, reports trainer Chief Stipe Cowans. It was Next's first work since his 10-length romp in the Sept. 21 Greenwood Cup at Parx. “The update is that he breezed well this morning,” Cowans said. “We'll see how he comes out of the work and if all goes well he'll be nominated to both the [GI Longines Breeders' Cup] Turf and the [GI Longines Breeders' Cup] Classic and we'll go from there.” Pre-entries for the Breeders' Cup must be made by Monday, Oct.21. Before shipping to Del Mar, Next will have his final drill Oct. 24. What has yet to be decided is which Breeders' Cup race Next will target. Neither is a perfect fit as the Classic, run at a mile-and-quarter, may be too short for the horse. The Turf, which is run a mile-an-a-half, is a better fit distance-wise, but Next's form suggests he's better on dirt than grass. “I'm not leaning either way at the moment,” Cowans said. “I want to see how both races look, how he would fit and how the race would play into his hands and try to pick the best of the two. As long as he goes back to track on Friday and does well, we'll pre-enter in both. I just want to make sure he's in good order before I nominate him.” Willam D. Cowans | Bill Denver/Equi-Photo Cowans had thought that Next would conclude his year in the GII Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance Stakes, a mile-and-five-eighths race he won in 2022. Though not officially part of the Breeders' Cup, the race traveled to Santa Anita in 2023, but it was discontinued this year. “Last year they had The Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance at a mile-and-five eighths, so there was no thought of anything else,” Cowans said. “If that race was there again we would take the easy road again. They're not having that race this year and I keep asking why and no one will tell me.” Next started to turn into a star after Cowans claimed him for $62,500 in an Apr. 16, 2022 race at Keeneland going seven furlongs. Two starts later, he went in the mile-and-a-half Cape Henlopen Stakes at Delaware Park. The event was taken off-the-turf and Next scorched the field by 18 1/4 lengths. Since then, Cowans has run him exclusively in dirt races at a mile-and-a-half or longer. He has won nine of 10 since and his average margin has been almost 13 lengths. The 6-year-old has run seven times on the turf, with three wins, including a victory in the War Chant Stakes at a mile on the grass at Churchill Downs. “The horse is doing well and we are confident in our horse, so we're willing to give him a shot,” Cowans said. “Number one will be the competition, to see who shows up in each race. Secondly, we'll look at what the pace scenario might look like in both races and where he would fit best in that regard.” The post Next Likely To Be Pre-Entered In Both Classic And Turf appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

The catalogue for the Goffs November Foal Sale, which features 1,021 lots, was released on Wednesday. Set to run from Monday, Nov. 18 through Thursday, Nov. 21, the sale will have lots catalogued alphabetically by dam each day from Monday to Thursday inclusive. Monday and Thursday are billed as equal, Tuesday raising the bar to an extent, and Wednesday traditionally attracting the most black-type pedigrees. Successful alumni include Japanese Group 1 winner Mad Cool (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}), and Classic victories in the G2 German 2000 Guineas by Devil's Point (Ire) (New Bay {GB}) and the G3 Italian 1000 Guineas by Beenham (Ire) (Havana Grey {GB}). Among the lots of note are Sea The Stars (Ire) full-brothers to Group 1 winners Teona (Ire) (lot 566) and Emily Upjohn (GB) (lot 641); lot 754, a Kingman (GB) half-brother to Group 1 winner Jannah Rose (Ire) (Frankel {GB}); a colt by Camelot (GB) who is a half-brother to Classic winner Mother Earth (Ire) (Zoffany {Ire}) (lot 677); a son of Wootton Bassett (GB) (lot 755) out of a sister to Group 1 winner Broome (Ire) (Australia {GB}); a Mehmas (Ire) filly who is a half-sister to the Group 1-placed Soprano (Ire) (Starspangledbanner {Aus}) (lot 667) out of a sister to GI Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint hero Obviously (Ire) (Choisir {Aus}); and a Minzaal (Ire) half-sister to Group 1-placed Gold Vibe (Ire) (Dream Ahead) (lot 547). There are also a variety of sires represented including Blue Point (Ire), Camelot, Dark Angel, Havana Grey, Hello Youmzain (Fr), Invincible Spirit (Ire), Kingman, Lope de Vega (Ire), Mehmas, Night Of Thunder (Ire), No Nay Never, Sea The Stars, Siyouni (Fr), Starspangledbanner, Too Darn Hot (GB), Wootton Bassett, Zarak (Fr) etc, while Goffs November is the first opportunity in Europe to acquire foals by the likes of Baaeed (GB), Bayside Boy (Ire), Blackbeard (Ire), Minzaal, Persian Force (Ire) and State Of Rest (Ire) among other exciting new sires. In 2023, 709 foals sold from 902 offered for a gross of €25,821,500 and a clearance rate of 79%. The average was €36,420 and the median was €24,000. Topping the sale was a full-brother to Ghaiyyath (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) at €700,000. Goffs Group chief executive Henry Beeby said, “Goffs November Foal Sale has enjoyed another season of success on the track followed by many lucrative pinhooks, and we are proud to feature the overwhelming majority share of the best Irish foals once again. We are grateful to our vendors who continue to choose Goffs November as their first choice for their quality foals as they recognise its market leading status. “Foal buyers will find the customary strength, depth and diversity at every level of the market at Goffs this November, whether seeking to race or to resell. For the latter category the sale has so many attributes, not least our unique Customer Loyalty Scheme that rewards pinhookers who buy and resell with Goffs whilst being the first foal sale of the season means that order books are fresh.” After the four-day foal sale, Goffs will conduct the November Breeding Stock Sale on Friday, Nov. 22 and Saturday, Nov. 23. That catalogue will be released later this week. The post ‘Strength, Depth And Diversity’ Highlight The Goffs November Foal Catalogue appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Keeneland has catalogued 209 horses to the November Horses of Racing Age Sale to be held Nov. 14, the day after the conclusion of the November Breeding Stock Sale, the auction company said in a Wednesday press release. The sale will start at noon ET., which will enable trainers and racing entities to complete their morning activities. The majority of horses in the catalogue will be stabled at Keeneland in Barns 18-26 with some horses offered remotely from their training locations. The catalogue comprises 42 juveniles, 106 3-year-olds and 59 horses aged four and older with progeny from a wide-array of stallions such as Constitution, Curlin, Good Magic, Gun Runner, Into Mischief, Justify, McKinzie, Not This Time, Nyquist, Practical Joke, Quality Road, Tapit and Uncle Mo. International sires also present such as Dubawi, Frankel and No Nay Never. “This year's November Horses of Racing Age Sale combines the excitement of the brick-and-mortar auction event with the versatility of selling horses from remote locations,” said Keeneland Senior Director of Sales Operations Cormac Breathnach. “This sale will provide buyers the opportunity to replenish their racing stock with the best horses available ahead of the winter racing season. As always, we will take supplemental entries up to the last minute. We are looking forward to another exciting sale.” A print version for the auction with Equibase past performances for the entrants will be available for pickup at Keeneland as early as Oct. 31. Click here for past performances and other information to assist with pre-sale shortlisting. Internet and phone bidding will be available. The post Keeneland Catalogues 209 Horses For November Horses Of Racing Age Sale appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

French jockey Marie Velon is counting down the days until her return to Ascot on Saturday when she reunites with her beloved Iresine (Fr) (Manduro {Ger}) in a red-hot edition of the G1 QIPCO Champion Stakes, with top-class three-year-olds Economics (GB) (Night Of Thunder {Ire}) and Calandagan (Ire) (Gleneagles {Ire}) featuring among the likely opposition. Trained by Jean-Pierre Gauvin, Iresine provided his rider with a landmark success in October 2022 when winning the Prix Royal-Oak, the first Group 1 victory of Velon's career. The pair struck again last year in another Group 1, the Prix Ganay, and most recently they won last month's G2 Prix Foy at Longchamp to take their overall tally of wins together to 15. Having been a part of the winning Ladies Team at this year's Shergar Cup on her only previous visit to a British racecourse, Velon is hopeful of another memorable result back at Ascot on Saturday when she teams up with Iresine in the £1.3 million feature race on QIPCO British Champions Day. “Im very excited to be returning to Ascot,” she summed up. “My first experience of it was amazing. I didn't win but my team did! To ride in the Champion Stakes on Iresine is a dream, as he is the best horse of my life. We grew up together, so to run in this big race is unbelievable, for both me and the team.” Velon added, “Calandagan and Economics are the best horses of the season, but I will count on Iresine's experience to beat them. It's a beautiful challenge and we will do our best. He is in great form, better than last time. He will be 100% for Saturday and the ground will be perfect for him. I can't wait!” Suborics Seeking Biggest Victory as a Trainer with Quantanamera Former jockey Andreas Suborics is another Shergar Cup alumnus set to be involved in the action at Ascot on Saturday, this time as a trainer when he saddles Quantanamera (Ger) (Lope De Vega {Ire}) in the G1 QIPCO British Champions Fillies and Mares Stakes. A four-length winner of the G2 Grand Prix de Deauville when last seen in August, Quantanamera is a general 10-1 chance to provide the Austrian-born Suborics with his most notable success since he turned his attentions to training, with the testing conditions at Ascot promising to play to her strengths. “We have been looking forward to this race and the ground is ideal for her,” said Suborics. “She had her best performance on this kind of ground. Hopefully, they stay on the outside track and don't move to the inside. She's in great condition and everything has gone brilliantly with her.” He continued, “She was a champion two-year-old in Germany, but then she injured her back leg in March last year, so for all of her three-year-old season we were more concerned with keeping her healthy than her races. This time she started out not too bad. She was second at Saint-Cloud [in the G2 Prix Corrida] and then she had an infection when she ran at Cologne. I brought her back a bit too quickly from that at Hamburg. “In Munich [when finishing fourth in the G1 Grosser Dallmayr-Preis – Bayerisches Zuchtrennen) she was the fastest horse in the end, but the 2,000 metres is just a bit sharp for her, so I was confident going into Deauville and the way she won was impressive. She showed her true ability that day.” On his previous experiences at Ascot as a rider, Suborics added, “I rode there three or four times in the Shergar Cup and won two or three races. I rode Paolini in the Prince of Wales's Stakes, so I know the track a bit. I also rode Overdose in the Group 1 sprint [the King's Stand Stakes] and finished fourth, so I have had a few rides at the track. “Of course, there's an amazing grandstand now and it's brilliant to be a part of this big day as a trainer–I'm really looking forward to flying over for Saturday.” The post Velon Hoping to Challenge Champion Stakes Headliners with Iresine appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article