Wandering Eyes

Byron López was 18 years old when he moved from Guatemala and began working for a talented new trainer named Todd Pletcher. He started out as a hot walker and soon moved up to becoming a groom. Twenty-four years later, he now cares for some of the best of the best among Pletcher's elite stable. López shared his story in Spanish, but the deep devotion he has for his equine charges surpassed any language barriers. “I am motivated by the horses,” he said. “They are so affectionate and I get along with my horses well. I never really liked to work, but I like working here. It has been a lot of years and I just got used to it. It became home. I feel good working at the stable with everybody around.” With his quiet presence, soft hands and pockets full of peppermints, López has played a role in developing many of Pletcher's superstars. Invisible Ink was the first top-class horse López remembers looking after. The son of Thunder Gulch was third in the GI Florida Derby and second in the GI Kentucky Derby in 2001. The veteran groom has had a few other favorites over the years: 2010 GI Ogden Phipps and GI Beldame Stakes winner Life At Ten (Malibu Moon), 2014 GI Breeders' Futurity and 2015 GI Blue Grass Stakes hero Carpe Diem (Giant's Causeway), 2019 GIII Sunland Park Derby winner Cutting Humor (First Samurai) and of course his all-time favorite, Malathaat (Curlin). From Malathaat's first Grade I score by a head in the 2021 Ashland Stakes to her sixth and final one in the 2022 Breeders' Cup Distaff, López was there for every step and shared a close bond with the champion. Byron López and Malathaat | Sarah Andrew “She was very affectionate, very intelligent and she always liked to eat,” he said. “I looked after her a lot. I would always carry a bag of peppermints for her.” After Malathaat retired, López didn't have long to wait before he began working with another special horse who would develop into a champion. Fierceness (City of Light) broke his maiden in devastating fashion last summer in Saratoga, winning by over 11 lengths and becoming a 'TDN Rising Star,' and then claimed the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile. “He knows when he's going to the track and he settles himself,” shared López. “He knows what he's going to do on the track. He's very quiet. When I arrive in the morning and put the halter on him, he starts asking for peppermints.” This year Fierceness put in another jaw-dropping performance in the GI Florida Derby and then after a disappointing finish in the Kentucky Derby, the Repole Stable homebred bounced back in his most recent start in the GII Jim Dandy Stakes. Before the race, Fierceness proved to be somewhat of a handful in the paddock at Saratoga. “He started looking around and was very happy,” López said with a smile. “I was not.” Fierceness has maintained a steady win-lose pattern throughout his seven-race career, but he will look to break that trend in the upcoming GI Travers Stakes on Aug. 24 ahead of a potential bid in the GI Breeders' Cup Classic come November. “I know he's going to do well because he's a really good horse,” López noted. “The most important thing for me is I ask God for him to stay healthy for what's expected from him in the race. Hopefully he has the same performance and luck.” This week, López had to part with a colt that he has grown particularly attached to. Kingsbarns (Uncle Mo) had been pointing for the Breeders' Cup Classic after his win in the GI Stephen Foster Stakes, but an injury incurred during training in Saratoga forced the 4-year-old to retire prematurely. The Fierceness team celebrates a win in the GII Jim Dandy | Sarah Andrew Doing everything he can to ensure that his horses are healthy has always been López's top priority. “Every time I see a race or the horses leaving the gate, I always ask God for them to have a safe trip. All of [the horses], not just ours, and the jockeys too,” he said. Working for the same stable for over 20 years is a rare feat. López has been with Pletcher for some of the renowned trainer's very first Grade I wins, on through dozens of training titles and Breeders' Cups, and more recently, Pletcher's Hall of Fame induction in 2021. “I am always grateful to the boss, Todd Pletcher,” said López. “I am thankful for the trust he has always had in me and to all the assistants and the people he has had on the team–because that's what we are, a team.” No matter the outcome of next Saturday's Travers, Fierceness will receive the highest level of care when he gets back to the barn after the race. Long after the track has quieted for the night, López will be there to make sure Fierceness is clean, comfortable and stocked with plenty of peppermints. The post Breeders’ Cup Connections: Fierceness in Good Hands with Byron López appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Tommy Roberts, an ebullient entrepreneur whose innovations helped move the Thoroughbred industry forward over many decades, died Aug. 14 at his vacation home in North Carolina. He was 96. His longtime friend Joe Raucci confirmed Roberts' death. View the full article

Howard Wright, one of the founding members of staff at the Racing Post and a journalist respected across the racing world, died the morning of Aug. 16 after a short illness. He was 79.View the full article

Newmarket's mile maiden on Friday evening's card holds a special place as the race that hosted the debut of Frankel (GB), not to mention Motivator (GB) and others who went on to make their mark in the big league, and this year it was the turn of Julian Richmond-Watson to enjoy the spoils courtesy of his newcomer Anniversary (GB) (Sea The Moon {Ger}–Lixirova {Fr}, by Slickly {Fr}). Racing prominently from the outset under Rob Hornby, the 16-1 shot gained the edge approaching the furlong marker and stayed on strongly to get to the line 3/4 of a length ahead of Ballydoyle's Scandinavia (Justify). Continuing the red-hot form of the Ralph Beckett yard's 2-year-olds, the winner is a son of the 2009 G3 Prix Miesque scorer Lixirova (Fr) (Slickly {Fr}) who cost what looks a bargain 65,000gns at the 2022 Tattersalls December Foal Sale. 2010: Frankel 2017: Roaring Lion 2021: Coroebus 2024: Anniversary The 65,000gns purchase joins an illustrious roll of honour at @NewmarketRace pic.twitter.com/yioMiJQrZp — Racing TV (@RacingTV) August 16, 2024 The post Sea The Moon Colt Wins The Frankel Maiden For Richmond-Watson appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Over halfway through Friday's session of the Arqana August Yearling Sale, a son of Wootton Bassett (GB) (lot 105) was the first yearling to breach the seven-figure mark, hammering for €1.4 million to John Stewart of Resolute Bloodstock. Consigned by Haras d'Etreham, the dark bay is a full-brother to GIII Franklin-Simpson Stakes hero Guildsman (Fr). Their dam, Dardiza (Ire) (Street Cry {Ire}), is a half-sister to the dam of world-beater and current Etreham stallion Almanzor (Fr) (Wootton Bassett {GB}). The seven figure mark has been broken at the #AugustSale as lot 1⃣0⃣5⃣, a filly by #WoottonBassett @coolmorestud from the talented family of multiple Gr.1 winner ALMANZOR was sold to John Stewart by @Haras_d_Etreham for €1,400,000. pic.twitter.com/J8HQLpcWxD — ARQANA (@InfoArqana) August 16, 2024 The post John Stewart’s Resolute Bloodstock Buys Wootton Bassett Colt, From The Family Of Almanzor, For €1.4 Million At Arqana appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Some of the most highly anticipated races during the summer racing season are the 'baby' races during the boutique meetings at Saratoga and Del Mar and at Ellis Park, which attract its fair share of high-priced offspring from a variety of top national outfits. Summer Breezes highlights debuting and stakes-entered 2-year-olds at those meetings that have been sourced at the breeze-up sales earlier in the year, with links to their under-tack previews. Here are the horses entered for ay at Saratoga: Saturday, August 17, 2024 Saratoga 1, $100k, 2yo, 6f, 12:35 p.m. Horse (Sire), Sale, Price ($), Breeze McHale (Maclean's Music), FTMMAY, 220,000, :21 1/5 C-Golden Rock Thoroughbreds, agent; B-Taproot B'stock, agent Saratoga 2, $100k, 2yo, 1 1/16mT, 1:07 p.m. ET Dragoneer (McKinzie), OBSMAR, 450,000, :9 4/5 C-Kings Equine, agent; B-Jones/Everett for Belmar/Hill/Gargan Del Mar 4, $75k, 2yo, f, 1mT, 6:32 p.m. ET Schilflied (Mendelssohn), OBSAPR, 210,000, :9 4/5 C-Paul Sharp, agent; B-TCK USA Del Mar 7, $75k, 2yo, 5 1/2f, 8:02 p.m. ET Toppers At Seaside (Instagrand), OBSJUN, 40,000, :10 1/5 C-Skies Thoroughbreds, agent; B-R B Hess Jr The post Summer Breezes, Sponsored By OBS: August 17, 2024 appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

The Isa Salman Al Khalifa-William Haggas axis, fresh from celebrating the victory of Economics (GB) (Night Of Thunder {Ire}) in Thursday's G2 Prix Guillaume d'Ornano, added lustre to that success as connections' Jewelry (Ire) (Wootton Bassett {GB}–Simply A Star {Ire}, by Giant's Causeway) made an impressive debut in Friday's Tom Mitchell 70th Birthday Celebration British EBF Fillies' Novice Stakes at Newbury. The 280,000gns Tattersalls October Book 1 graduate delivered a decisive closing burst to register a 2 1/2-length win from Toomuchforme (GB) (Too Darn Hot {GB}) in the six-furlong test. Smart debut! Jewelry sparkles first time out at @NewburyRacing for @CierenFallonJr3 and @WilliamHaggas… pic.twitter.com/01TyEM67sQ — At The Races (@AtTheRaces) August 16, 2024 2nd-Newbury, £12,000, Nov, 8-16, 2yo, f, 6fT, 1:11.45, gd. JEWELRY (IRE) (f, 2, Wootton Bassett {GB}–Simply A Star {Ire} {MSP-Ire}, by Giant's Causeway) was positioned in a midfield sixth through the early fractions of a contest won in 2020 by multiple Group 1-winning distaffer Alcohol Free (Ire) (No Nay Never). Nudged along to close at halfway, the 14-1 chance was shaken up to hit the front passing the furlong pole and quickened clear in the closing stages to easily account for Toomuchforme (GB) (Too Darn Hot {GB}) by an impressive 2 1/2 lengths. Jewelry is the sixth of eight foals and third scorer out of Listed Tipperary Stakes runner-up and Listed Curragh Stakes third Simply A Star (Ire) (Giant's Causeway), herself kin to five black-type performers headed by GI Belmont Oaks Invitational winner Athena (Ire) (Camelot {GB}) and G1 Irish Oaks heroine Bracelet (Ire) (Montjeu {Ire}). Simply A Star is also a granddaughter of storied blue hen Urban Sea (Miswaki). The January-foaled bay, full to a yearling filly, is a half-sister to G3 Weld Park Stakes runner-up A New Dawn (Ire) (Zoffany {Ire}) and a weanling filly by Camelot (GB). Sales history: 280,000gns Ylg '23 TATOCT. Lifetime Record: 1-1-0-0, $8,299. O-Isa Salman Al Khalifa; B-Coolmore (IRE); T-William Haggas. The post Wootton Bassett’s Book 1 Graduate Jewelry Impresses in Newbury Debut Win appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Stall Lintec consigned Thursday's Italian listed winner Lips Freedom (Ger) (Free Eagle {Ire}) to the BBAG August Online Sale, and Freddy Tylicki, acting with Andrew Kinirons Racing, snapped up the colt for €43,000 to top proceedings on Friday. Sold as lot 40, Lips Freedom has also placed at Group 3 level twice in Germany. A half-brother to G2 German 2000 Guineas and G1 Grosser Dallmayr-Preis Bayerisches Zuchtrennen hero Lucky Lion (GB) (High Chaparral {Ire}) and the stakes-placed Lips Eagle (Ger) (Gleneagles {Ire}), Lips Freedom is out of multiple stakes winner and two-time Group 3-placed Lips Arrow (Ger) (Big Shuffle). Backes (Ger) (Millowitsch {Ger}) (lot 7) brought a winning bid of €18,000 from Edmund Eitel, and the placed colt will remain with trainer Markus Klug. He is a full-brother to the G3 Schwarzgold-Rennen third Barbelchen (Ger), with the duo out of the Group 3 scorer Butzje (Ger) (It's Gino {Ger}). Rounding out the top three was Lotterbov (Ire) (Protectionist {Ger}) (lot 24), who cost Greg Wroblewski €16,500. The German listed winner is a half-brother to three stakes horses. Both horses were from the draft of Holger Renz. Overall, 24 horses sold for a gross of €187,000. The average was €7,792. The post Listed Winner Lips Freedom Tops BBAG August Online Sale appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

George Waud's Englemere (Ire) (Goken {Fr}–Ascot Family {Ire}, by Desert Style {Ire}), who finished within eight lengths of the winner when 14th in Royal Ascot's G2 Queen Mary Stakes, ran second in a Sandown nursery last month and made the transition back to stakes company a winning one in Friday's Listed Highclere Thoroughbred Racing St Hugh's Stakes at Newbury. The 8-1 chance occupied a position at the tail of the larger far-side pack and remained in rear when the field's two groups merged soon after halfway. Making eyecatching progress into contention inside the quarter-mile marker, she launched her challenge passing the furlong pole and was driven out to deny the dual stakes-placed Kaadi (Ire) (Soldier's Call {GB}) and Listed Prix des Reves d'Or third Kuwaitya (Ire) (Soldier's Call {GB}) by a neck and a half-length for a career high in a bunch finish. Quick-fire double for @loughnane_billy and @gbougheyracing! Englemere keeps to the task well at @NewburyRacing… pic.twitter.com/DpaRnqL8dI — At The Races (@AtTheRaces) August 16, 2024 The post Goken’s Englemere Registers Black-Type Win in Newbury Highlight appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

In this continuing series, we take a look ahead at US-bred and/or conceived runners entered for the upcoming weekend at the tracks on the Japan Racing Association circuit, with a focus on pedigree and/or performance in the sales ring. Here are the horses of interest for this Saturday running at Niigata Racecourse: Saturday, August 17, 2024 5th-NII, ¥13,720,000 ($92k), Newcomers, 2yo, 1200mT ECORO SIEG (c, 2, Twirling Candy–Lily Pod, by Bernstein), bred on a variant of the highly successful cross of Candy Ride (Arg) over Storm Cat, cost $95,000 at last year's Keeneland September Sale and was snapped up by trainer Hideyuki Mori for $250,000 after he breezed an eighth of a mile in :9 4/5 (see below) at this year's OBS March Sale. A half-brother to the stakes-placed She's Got a Way (Tonalist), Ecoro Sieg is out of a granddaughter of Snit (Fit to Fight), the dam of GIII Virginia Oaks winner Blind Date (Not For Love). Christophe Lemaire has the call. B-Caldara Farm Inc & William R Hilliard Jr (KY) 6th-NII, ¥13,720,000 ($92k), Newcomers, 2yo, 1800m FLOWER DUET (JPN) (f, 2, American Pharoah–Elizabeth Way {Ire}, by Frankel {GB}) is out of a mare who placed twice from five stars for Godolphin and Mick Halford before changing hands for €58,000 at the 2019 Goffs November Sale. Trained in North America by Roger Attfield, Elizabeth Way won the GIII The Very One Stakes at Gulfstream Park and the GII Nassau Stakes at Woodbine before being retired at the end of 2020 and was bred to this sire the following season. Flower Duet's second dam Maids Causeway (Ire) (Giant's Causeway) won the 2005 G1 Coronation Stakes after finishing runner-up in that year's 1000 Guineas. B-Northern Farm The post American-Conceived American Pharoah Filly On Debut at Niigata appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

In this continuing series, we take a look ahead at US-bred and/or conceived runners entered for the upcoming weekend at the tracks on the Japan Racing Association circuit, with a focus on pedigree and/or performance in the sales ring. Here are the horses of interest for this Saturday running at Niigata Racecourse: Saturday, August 17, 2024 5th-NII, ¥13,720,000 ($92k), Newcomers, 2yo, 1200mT ECORO SIEG (c, 2, Twirling Candy–Lily Pod, by Bernstein), bred on a variant of the highly successful cross of Candy Ride (Arg) over Storm Cat, cost $95,000 at last year's Keeneland September Sale and was snapped up by trainer Hideyuki Mori for $250,000 after he breezed an eighth of a mile in :9 4/5 (see below) at this year's OBS March Sale. A half-brother to the stakes-placed She's Got a Way (Tonalist), Ecoro Sieg is out of a granddaughter of Snit (Fit to Fight), the dam of GIII Virginia Oaks winner Blind Date (Not For Love). Christophe Lemaire has the call. B-Caldara Farm Inc & William R Hilliard Jr (KY) 6th-NII, ¥13,720,000 ($92k), Newcomers, 2yo, 1800m FLOWER DUET (JPN) (f, 2, American Pharoah–Elizabeth Way {Ire}, by Frankel {GB}) is out of a mare who placed twice from five stars for Godolphin and Mick Halford before changing hands for €58,000 at the 2019 Goffs November Sale. Trained in North America by Roger Attfield, Elizabeth Way won the GIII The Very One Stakes at Gulfstream Park and the GII Nassau Stakes at Woodbine before being retired at the end of 2020 and was bred to this sire the following season. Flower Duet's second dam Maids Causeway (Ire) (Giant's Causeway) won the 2005 G1 Coronation Stakes after finishing runner-up in that year's 1000 Guineas. B-Northern Farm The post American-Conceived American Pharoah Filly On Debut at Niigata appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Irish Oaks runner-up Content (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) has been supplemented to the G1 Pertemps Network Yorkshire Oaks, bringing the field to 10 as of Friday. The Aidan O'Brien-trained filly joins stablemate and G2 Ribblesdale Stakes heroine Port Fairy (Ire) (Australia {GB}) in the 1 1/2-mile contest on Aug. 22. O'Brien is aiming for his fourth title in the York race in the last five years. Ralph Beckett-trained fillies have been enjoying a good season, and G1 Irish Oaks winner You Got To Me (GB) (Nathaniel {Ire}) will run in the Yorkshire Oaks for Valmont and Newsells Park Stud Bloodstock, but the participation of fellow Beckett runner and G1 Pretty Polly Stakes victress and G1 King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes runner-up Bluestocking (GB) (Camelot {GB}) is not certain. The Juddmonte homebred is also entered in the G1 Juddmonte International Stakes at York one day prior. “A decision will be made over the weekend about Bluestocking's participation, where she goes,” Beckett said. “Obviously, she is in the [G1] Juddmonte International as well. So, we are going to have a discussion this weekend and make a final decision on that.” “It's nice when you can pinpoint a race from way out and train towards it,” said Alex Elliott, Valmont's racing adviser. “I think she is pleasing Ralph and the team very much and it looks a very warm contest. “It will be interesting to see where Ralph and Juddmonte go with Bluestocking, and Aidan O'Brien is going to run Content who we beat in Ireland. “I think we are going there in hopefully good shape and can hopefully be competitive. I think [a lot will depend] if we can get her to do it properly again and pace is important. We got that in Ireland and it would help us if we could get that again, but it is never guaranteed. However, I think the filly is exactly where we want her at this stage.” The race is not short of quality, as multiple Group 1 winner Emily Upjohn (GB) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) has been entered by John and Thady Gosden. The Gosdens will also run multiple group winner Queen Of The Pride (GB) (Roaring Lion). Dermot Weld will saddle Aga Khan homebred Sumiha (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}), who won the G3 Munster Oaks at Cork in June. The post Yorkshire Oaks Field Takes Shape With Supplementation Of Content appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Yoshito Yahagi has made no secret of his love of shopping for yearlings in Deauville and the Japanese trainer got involved early as the Arqana August Sale got underway with the purchase of a daughter of Frankel (GB) from Haras des Capucines for €800,000. Offered as Lot 28, the filly out of Waldjagd (GB) (Observatory) is a half-sister to the Group 2 winner Waldbiene (Fr) (Intello (Ger}) and Listed winner Urwald (GB) (Le Havre {Ire}) and was bred by Ecurie Calarec. The yearling's two-year-old half-brother Misunderstood (Fr) (Hello Youmazin {Fr}) was the recent winner of the Prix de Crevecoeur on debut at Deauville. The further family also includes the G1 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe winner Waldgeist (GB) and G1 St Leger winner Masked Marvel (Ire). The post Yoshito Yahagi Strikes Early at Arqana for €800k Frankel Filly appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

In this continuing series, TDN's Senior Racing Editor Steve Sherack catches up with the connections of promising maidens to keep on your radar. Sea Vista (c, 2, Street Sense–Sara Louise, by Malibu Moon) gained valuable racing experience in his unveiling, finishing second over a muddy, sealed track at Saratoga Aug. 3. The Godolphin homebred got the better of his Brad Cox-trained stablemate Immersive (f, 2, by Nyquist)–a smart debut winner earlier in the meet July 21–going four furlongs in :48 4/5 (40/118) at Churchill Downs July 27 and was one of three runners well-backed at odds of 3-1. Sea Vista broke in at the start and was quickly outsprinted while under a ride by Florent Geroux through an opening quarter in :22.12. Last of seven heading into the far turn, he began to find his footing around the bend. Hung out seven wide at the top of the stretch, he raced shoulder to shoulder with the slightly favored third-time starter I Got Game (Game Winner) and bumped repeatedly with that rival as they straightened for home. Sea Vista leveled off from there and came running down the lane to fall just 1 3/4 lengths short of the Todd Pletcher-trained first-time starter Uncaged (Curlin), who enjoyed the run of the race beneath leading rider Irad Ortiz, Jr. The final time for six furlongs was 1:10.55. Sea Vista earned an 80 Beyer Speed Figure for the effort. A stewards' inquiry into the turn focusing on Sea Vista and I Got Game resulted in no change to the order of finish. “I thought it was a positive race,” Cox said. “Honestly thought he'd break a little sharper and be maybe a touch more involved early. But he kinda found himself where he was and he did well to make up some ground with a little bit of a wide trip.” Cox continued, “I think he's a good colt. We would've never taken him up to Saratoga if we didn't think highly of him. We thought he was a horse that could win first time out. He ran very very well and obviously got a lot from it. He came out of it in good order. As of right now, we're looking toward running him back in the seven-eighths at the end of the month at Saratoga.” Sara Louise, who defeated the once-in-a-lifetime Rachel Alexandra in the 2008 GIII Pocahontas Stakes, is also the dam of 'TDN Rising Star' Nash | Sarah Andrew Carrying the colors of Eldon Farm, Sea Vista's dam Sara Louise defeated the once-in-a-lifetime Rachel Alexandra for trainer Dale Romans in the 2008 GIII Pocahontas Stakes at Churchill Downs. Purchased privately by Sheikh Mohammed's operation and turned over to Saeed bin Suroor after finishing second to the aforementioned Hall of Famer in the GII Golden Rod Stakes, Sara Louise added a pair of graded wins to her resume for the 'Boys in Blue' and also finished within a head of two-time champion Indian Blessing in the GII Gallant Bloom Handicap. Sara Louise–a half-sister to GSW Just Louise (Five Star Day), the dam of MGSW & GISP Forbidden Kingdom (American Pharoah)–has also produced the Cox-trained 'TDN Rising Star' and GII Pat Day Mile Stakes runner-up Nash (Medaglia d'Oro) and GSP Sara Street (Street Sense). Sea Vista is bred on the same Street Sense x A. P. Indy cross as GISWs Maxfield and Speaker's Corner, who were produced by Bernardini mares. “He's a young horse,” Cox concluded. “I think the best is yet to come.” The 'Second Chances' Honor Roll is headed by Horse of the Year Cody's Wish (Curlin), fellow two-time Breeders' Cup winner Golden Pal (Uncle Mo) and GISWs A Mo Reay (Uncle Mo), Honor A. P. (Honor Code), Locked (Gun Runner), Paradise Woods (Union Rags) and Speaker's Corner (Street Sense). UNCAGED, the 2YO son of @HillnDaleFarm stallion Curlin, breaks his maiden in the fifth race with @iradortiz up for trainer @PletcherRacing. pic.twitter.com/sLbgpmgZVK — NYRA () (@TheNYRA) August 3, 2024 The post Second Chances: ‘The Best is Yet to Come’ for Street Sense Colt at the Spa appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

DEAUVILLE, France — One man who has truly made his mark on Deauville's summer season is Nurlan Bizakov. First his unbeaten Lazzat (Fr) (Territories {Ire}) took the G1 ARC Prix Maurice de Gheest, continuing his relentless surge through to the top ranks. To round off that successful day, another homebred, Ramadan (Fr) (Le Havre {Ire}) won the G3 Prix Daphnis. Next came Charyn (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}) – already a Group 1 winner at Royal Ascot this year – who strode to success in the following weekend's G1 Prix du Haras de Fresnay-le-Buffard Jaques Le Marois. As we hit the third weekend of Group 1 action in Deauville, Bizakov will dominate Sunday's racing in a different manner as the sponsor of the entire Prix Morny card through his breeding operation Sumbe. “We've been lucky in France but I have been in this game for a long time and there have been plenty of bad days so I am just trying to enjoy the good days,” says Bizakov, who is currently sitting in third place in the owners' table in France, behind only Wertheimer et Frere and HH The Aga Khan. “France is good to me and I won my first Group 1 here with Belbek a couple of years ago, but now having three Groups 1 wins this year is unbelievable.” The Prix Jean-Luc Lagardère winner Belbek (Fr) (Showcasing {GB}) was among the first wave of horses bred by Bizakov in France as he broadened his interests there from his original base at Hesmonds Stud in England. That expansion has included the purchases of Haras de Montfort et Preaux, which is now home to the Sumbe roster of stallions which includes Belbek, and then Haras du Mezeray from Charles-Henri de Moussac. “We have tried to bring only very good racehorses to become stallions,” Bizakov says. “Mishriff is a world champion and Angel Bleu was champion two-year-old in France. We wanted to support the stallion game in France because after the days of Le Havre and Wootton Bassett there is a big gap. We want to stand stallions that will bring Irish, English and German mares to France. The [covering] numbers were good this year and now it's up to their progeny.” Eventually that roster is likely to feature Charyn, now four, and bought by Bizakov as a yearling from his breeders Guy and David O'Callaghan. “It's more likely that we won't go to America for the Breeders' Cup Mile so we have two options,” says Bizakov of Charyn's more immediate career concerns. “The Moulin in September is our main target now. It's another Group 1 and another opportunity to show his ability to French breeders, and then we hope to go to Ascot for the QEII. After that we will make a decision but it's more likely he will stay in training next year since he's improving. But we'll see how he is through his next two races and make a decision.” He adds, “I was very impressed by the reception given to Charyn by French breeders. Everyone is congratulating me and saying that they can't wait until he is in his box at Montfort. Whether that will be next year or not, we'll see. For the gelded Lazzat a stud career is not an option but international travel is now on the cards for the three-year-old whose race record now stretches to six straight wins. “Lazzat has been amazing this year,” says Bizakov. “Unfortunately he is a gelding but that means we can enjoy him racing. So far everything has been good and he hasn't missed a single dance. “Sending any horse to Australia isn't easy. He'll have to get through all the veterinary checks and if he is accepted he will go to the Golden Eagle [in early November]. That's Plan A and we'll try to get there but Plan B would be the Prix de la Foret.” He continues, “I'd like to send a few good horses to Australia. I have set up a company there and prize-money in Australia is unbelievable. I believe that horses at Listed level here can be competitive enough.” In the meantime, Bizakov and his family can look forward to welcoming their guests, many of them fellow breeders, to Deauville on Sunday for the nine races sponsored by Sumbe, including the two Group 1 features, the Prix Morny and Prix Jean Romanet. “When France Galop approached me last January and told me there was this opportunity I grabbed it,” he says. “It's a big day for French racing and for French breeding – everyone is here for the sale and it's a nice way for us to say thank you to France Galop for everything they have done, and to the breeders. I am very happy and proud to be sponsoring this day.” The post ‘It’s a Nice Way for Us to Say Thank You’: Bizakov Enjoying the Summer of Sumbe appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Darwin trainer Chris Nash is bound for the annual Katherine Turf Club meeting at the Jim Jackson Racecourse on Saturday with Son Of Bielski. (Photo: Caroline Camilleri/Darwin Photography Professionals) After missing an Alice Springs Cup start in April with Son Of Bielski, Darwin trainer Chris Nash is eyeing Saturday’s Katherine Cup with the eight-year-old gelding. Nash, who had 14 wins in last season’s Top End and Country premiership and had four wins during the recent Darwin Cup Carnival, has never won an Alice Springs or Katherine Cup. Nor the Darwin Cup, but Nash did win the 2021 Palmerston Sprint (1200m) with Mayameen. Son Of Bielski lines up in what has been rated by many good NT judges as the strongest ever Katherine Cup (1700m). An emergency for the Darwin Cup (2050m) on August 5, the gelding got a start and impressed when fifth behind Hadouken. That prompted Nash to head to Katherine with the former NZ, Victorian and SA galloper. Fifth in his Top End debut over 1100m (BM54) last September, the gelding won five straight from 1300-1600m from October-March as he stepped up in grade. Victory in the St Patrick’s Day Cup (1600m) sealed his Alice Springs Cup (2000m) ticket, but Son Of Bielski missed a start with a foot abscess. Success back at Fannie Bay in June over 1300m (BM76) was followed by two poor results during the Darwin Cup Carnival in July – 10th in the Chief Minister’s Cup (1600m) and seventh in the Buntine Handicap (2050m). “He’s been up for a long time, he’s runs have been pretty well spaced,” Nash said. “He’s not a terribly difficult horse to train, you just find your race and get him ready for it. “There’s two runs where he went off the boil that left you scratching your head. “I thought he might have been showing a few signs of training off, but he was very sound and well and healthy going into them. “He went on to the Cup and I don’t think he could have raced any better – he actually ran out of his skin.” Nash wasn’t sure how Son Of Bielski would handle Katherine’s sand track, he will also weigh up the gelding’s future following Saturday’s race. “There’s a lack of options for horses wanting longer distances in Darwin after Katherine, so within the next month or six weeks he’ll probably head south for a spell,” he said. Horse racing news View the full article

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Baron Edouard de Rothschild's four-time Group 1 winner Mqse De Sevigne (Ire) (Siyouni {Fr}), who successfully defended her G1 Prix Rothschild title at Deauville last month, will return to the Normandy venue in an attempt to register back-to-back victories in Sunday's G1 Sumbe Prix Jean Romanet. She will encounter four rivals after all five overnight contenders stood their ground for the €250,000 10-furlong contest. Opposition includes 'TDN Rising Star' Left Sea (GB) (Frankel {GB}), who was supplemented at a cost of €18,000, and the enigmatic Blue Rose Cen (Ire) (Churchill {Ire}), another four-time Group 1 winner who is winless in three outings this term. The line-up is completed by the Joseph O'Brien-trained duo American Sonja (GB) (Tasleet {GB}) and Maxux (Ire) (Frankel {GB}). The card's other Group 1 contest, the €350,000 G1 Sumbe Prix Morny, also saw all overnight nominees confirmed as runners and nine will head postward for the six-furlong highlight. Last week's G1 Phoenix Stakes runner-up Whistlejacket (Ire) (No Nay Never) will make a swift return to action and has drawn stall two. Rivals include Wathnan Racing's G2 Norfolk Stakes hero Shareholder (Not This Time) and Manton Thoroughbreds' G2 Coventry Stakes victor Rashabar (Ire) (Holy Roman Emperor {Ire}), with both making their first start since basking in Royal Ascot glory. Other notable contenders include Mohamed Saeed Al Shahi's G3 Prix du Bois and G2 Prix Robert Papin winner Arabie (GB) (Dandy Man {GB}), G3 Prix de Cabourg victrix Daylight (Fr) (Earthlight {Ire}) and 'TDN Rising Star' and Cabourg runner-up Polyvega (Ire) (Lope De Vega {Ire}). Shaikh Duaij Al Khalifa's G2 Duchess Of Cambridge Stakes runner-up Arabian Dusk (GB) (Havana Grey {GB}) has been supplemented for a fee of €25,200 and the Simon and Ed Crisford trainee is one of five overseas challengers. Cuadra Mediterraneo's hitherto unbeaten Estepona (Fr) (Mehmas {Ire}) and Yeguada Centurion's Epson Blue Cen (Ire) (Blue Point {Ire}) complete the line-up. The post Deauville’s Sunday Group 1 Fields Finalised, Mqse De Sevigne and Whistlejacket Declared appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Helena Baby will line up at Arawa Park on Sunday. Photo: Kenton Wright (Race Images) John Bell came close to picking up a lucrative prize during the week at the Cambridge Synthetic, and he will now switch his focus over the fences on Sunday with rising jumping star Helena Baby. Spanish Lad represented the local horseman in the Richard Bright Memorial (1500m) on Wednesday after two comfortable victories on the surface in his last two appearances. Among a tidy line-up of seasoned gallopers, the son of Shocking held his own, flying late into second behind the well-performed Monza. Bell was pleased with the gelding having just his seventh start, with plenty to look forward to as the turf tracks begin to improve through the spring. “We got a bit trapped coming down the back behind a wall of horses and pushed wide, but he’s run home beautifully, and it was a nice field,” he said. “He’s proving that he’s got some ability and a stride or two over the line he was in front. “I’m looking forward to the better tracks through the spring and summer months because he’s proved that he can’t handle the wet tracks.” Further down the road at Rotorua, Bell’s quartet of representatives is headed by Helena Baby in the Team Wealleans Hurdle (3000m), having transitioned seamlessly into his jumping role after being a multiple-stakes winner on the flat. A pair of wins at Te Aroha in maiden and open company has set the son of Guillotine on a path towards the Great Northern Hurdle (4200m) in September, however, navigating a path to the feature is proving difficult for Bell. “He’s an athlete, but it’s been difficult with the changing of venues being available to set him for a race,” he said. “With the likes of him, Ata Rangi and Denzel, they’ve been racing on the flat to get them in some sort of shape for their mission on Sunday. “After Sunday, I’m not quite sure where we will go with Te Aroha being out, but they hopefully are fit enough to do well.” Ata Rangi commenced his career over fences with a creditable run in behind two classy types in Dictation and Semper Magico at Hastings, and lines up among the key hopes in the Seeka Limited Hurdle (3000m). “He’s a courageous horse, he’s never afraid of anything and he does from time to time attack his fences,” Bell said. “We don’t have any problems with our horses jumping, it’s just getting them to the fences correctly which they’ve been taught over a number of years. Hopefully that can come together on Sunday for him.” Stablemate Denzel will be on jumping debut in the other maiden event, the Rotorua & BOP Life Members Hurdle (3000m), with jockey Nick Downs a key figure in the development of the Redwood gelding. “He’s a stunning looking animal with a pedigree to stay, hopefully it won’t be too wet for him, but he jumps nicely,” Bell said. “We’ve put a lot of time and effort into him, Nick Downs and my team at home have done a tremendous job with these jobs and put a lot of time and effort into all of them. “Nick’s been a great help and he’s riding all four of ours.” With solid efforts over hurdles to his credit, Curious George will try his hand over the bigger fences in the K.T Myers Racing Stables Steeplechase (3500m), with the potential for a heavy track the only query. “Unfortunately, he didn’t handle the wet track and was pulled up at Te Rapa last time, so he’s over the steeples where they may just go that little bit slower,” Bell said. “He’s more of a firm track horse than the other three.” Horse racing news View the full article

Stratford trainer Tony Dravitzki. Photo: Peter Rubery (Race Images Palmerston North) Tony Dravitzki has only one nagging worry with Tobias ahead of Saturday’s feature contest at New Plymouth. The Stratford trainer has his son of Complacent in prime order for the ITM New Plymouth Interprovincial (1600m), in which he will chase his fourth consecutive victory. “He’s in really good form and ready to go again, the only concern I have is that even with the four-kilo claim, he is still going to have to carry 57kg,” Dravitzki said. Tobias will be ridden by Elle Sole who partnered the gelding to a last-start victory at Hastings and three runs back over Saturday’s course and distance. Fellow apprentice Ciel Butler successfully guided Tobias in between times, also over 1600m at New Plymouth. “The weight is fair enough, he has earned it but it is still going to make it hard, that’s for real,” Dravitzki said. “We’ve had this race in mind for him for a while and he had two weeks off after his last win and it’s going to be 49 days since he last raced. “That’s not a concern though, he goes well when he’s kept on the fresh side.” Tobias is relatively lightly raced for a seven-year-old as the winner of six of his 24 career appearances. “One year, he was only two races into a campaign when he had a truck accident which put him out for eight or nine months,” Dravitzki said. “That was more the trainer’s fault than the horse, he got cast in my truck after the races at Waverley one day. “He got his front legs and belly over the partition and we had to sedate him to roll him off the truck, it was the only way we could get him off. “He is a very tough horse though and always has been.” With recent racing, Tobias has become easier to work with and evidenced by his golden run of form this preparation. “He can be quite excitable until he’s out on the track. He has settled down quite a bit lately, but he was hard work until this campaign,” he said. “I’m hopeful rather than confident and only because of the weight issue. “He has been racing out of his class and getting in on the minimum and I’ve been claiming on him, but we haven’t had any hiccups since he last raced.” Dravitzki co-bred the gelding with his brother John and brother-in-law Ian McCaul and they race the gelding with friend Noel George. The family has been involved in the industry around the Taranaki region for many years. “We’re related to Sandy and Brendon Dravitzki and Dennis Dravitzki, Claire’s another trainer who has a few in Stratford,” he said. “We’ve all got the racing blood in us and Sandy’s daughter Miranda was a jockey and rode a winner for me very early on in my training career.” Horse racing news View the full article

Mahrajaan will line up at Ruakaka on Saturday. Photo: Race Images South Shaune Ritchie and Colm Murray scooped the major Cups last season with Mahrajaan, and with the ultimate two-mile contest now on their radar, he will appear for the first time this season at Ruakaka on Saturday. After being purchased out of the Tattersalls Autumn Horses In Training Sale in 2022, Mahrajaan more than proved himself on Kiwi soil last season, winning both the Group 3 New Zealand Cup (3200m) and Group 2 Auckland Cup (3200m). His Cambridge trainers opted to contest the Group 1 Sydney Cup (3200m) after his phenomenal form over the distance, but a long and successful season was telling as he finished back in the field. After a well-deserved holiday, Ritchie and Murray have their sights set on another Australian mission with the son of Kitten’s Joy, this time the Group 1 Melbourne Cup (3200m) at Flemington in November. The long road to the Cup will commence at Ruakaka, where Mahrajaan has enjoyed a week preparing on the sunny beaches in the north. “He loves getting out on the beach, he’s got Nereus as his sidekick this time around,” Ritchie said. “He does take all of the two miles to get to his best as he’s proven in the past, in fact I think his form is duck-egg, win, duck-egg, duck-egg, win. “So, he’s unlikely to be competitive on Saturday and he’s still got half of his winter coat, which I think is a bit of an English thing with the cold winters up there. Hopefully with the sun on his back up here and a run on Saturday will bring that through. “He’s on a Melbourne Cup campaign and we’re not expecting him to get to his best until he gets to a mile-and-a-half at least, so he’ll get back and run on. If he can pick up a couple that would be nice, but if he follows them around so be it.” Mahrajaan’s classy stablemate Nereus will kick-off his campaign in the race, after a rapid rise through the grades in the second-half of last season. Nereus won four races including the Group 2 Awapuni Gold Cup (2100m) and placed in the Remutaka Classic (2100m), with his campaign culminating in a creditable sixth in the Listed Mornington Cup (2400m) in Victoria. Ritchie said the son of Savabeel would also use the race as a springboard onto further distance targets, but his class places him in the mix at sprint range. “Nereus has got a nice enough turn of foot, he’s a sharp enough horse to be competitive first-up as a stayer but obviously his targets are not this Saturday either,” he said. “Neither of them have had trials so they aren’t tuned up for this race, but they did have an exhibition gallop at Cambridge last week. “I expect them both to hit the line strongly, then we’ll look for some further distances.” Bred and raced by Waikato Stud, Nereus has been nominated for both the Group 1 Arrowfield Stud Plate (1600m) and Group 1 Livamol Classic (2050m) during the Hawke’s Bay Spring Carnival, while a trip across the Tasman is also up for discussion. “It sounds like a good lunch over a few red wines with Mark Chittick (owner) to sort out where he may go, but last time we spoke, Melbourne was certainly on the cards,” Ritchie said. “We thought we would see how he performed in his first couple of runs back in, he’ll advance from a 1400m to a mile and then a run over ground. “He’s in a position where we can probably avoid those Group Ones and stay in handicaps, he’s carried 59 and 60 kilos to success at Trentham last year so the weight, despite the fact he’s not the biggest horse, doesn’t seem to bother him. “If we can work his rating up a little bit, we may have a crack at Melbourne.” Horse racing news View the full article

Gentian Blue will contest the Vale Catherine Rae (1400m) at Caulfield on Saturday. Photo: Kenton Wright (Race Images) Cambridge trainer Maxim van Lierde dreamed of campaigning a horse in Melbourne when he spent time at Lindsay Park last year, and now that has turned into a reality. “Last year I took a horse called Henry Robin over to Lindsay Park and I spent over two weeks with them,” van Lierde said. “I got on quite well with Will (Hayes, co-trainer) especially because I did quite a lot of track work with him. We have become good friends over the last year and the knowledge that they have got is second to none. He is very giving with his advice and knowledge, which has helped us immensely.” With victory at Ellerslie on Derby Day in March and a fifth placing in the Group 3 Cuddle Stakes (1400m) at Trentham a fortnight later, Gentian Blue identified herself as a possible candidate to campaign in Melbourne, and that fate was sealed with a pleasing first-up placing over 1400m at Ruakaka in June. The six-year-old mare travelled to Melbourne earlier this month where she beat just the one runner home in her Australian debut over 1620m at Flemington, but van Lierde said she can be forgiven for that run. “It didn’t look very good to the eye but she was five weeks between runs and she had a bit of a virus when she got there,” van Lierde said. “We were on the back foot a little bit, but she has come on immensely from the run.” Van Lierde’s wife, Samantha, is currently across the Tasman with their two-win mare, who is set to line up at Caulfield on Saturday in the Vale Catherine Rae (1400m) where she will jump from barrier six with good friend Daniel Stackhouse aboard. “Dan Stackhouse is a good friend of my wife, Sam, they grew up riding ponies together. It is a bit of a full-circle moment having him ride a horse for us,” van Lierde said. “We probably rode her a little outside her comfort zone last start with the hot speed in the race, so we are just going to let her find her feet and hit the line. We are back in trip with the blinkers on, so we are expecting a much better performance.” Initially set to be a two-run campaign, van Lierde said they may extend that on the advice of their Australian host. “The initial plan was to head home after this run, but talking with Will he said the time we had with the virus, she is essentially only second-up on Saturday, so he thinks she will peak third-up over there,” van Lierde said. “We might as well look at one more run, but we will just see how she comes through Saturday.” Van Lierde said they have enjoyed their Australian experience, and he is hoping they can find another horse that is capable of testing their talent in the competitive racing jurisdiction. “If we have got a horse that measures up, we will go over there and chase some prizemoney,” he said. Horse racing news View the full article

Full Force will contest the Group 3 Northland Breeders’ Stakes (1200m) at Ruakaka. Photo: Race Images Palmerston North Cambridge trainer Hollie Wynyard will attempt to turn the clock back 10 years on Saturday to maintain her perfect record at New Zealand’s most northern circuit. Her hopes will rest with Full Force, who has enjoyed a trouble free preparation ahead of his return to racing at Ruakaka in the Group 3 Northland Breeders’ Stakes (1200m). “It’s a nice race for him and I’ve only ever had one runner at Ruakaka before and that was Vespa and he won,” Wynyard said. She formerly operated in partnership with Johno Benner, who decided to take an indefinite break from training at the end of last season. Full Force will be her first runner in her own right and the son of Cosmic Force measured up favourably against the best of his age group last season. He won once from six appearances and collected three minor placings, including a third in the Karaka Millions 2YO (1200m). “He had a good spell after his two-year-old season and he’s grown a lot and developed,” Wynyard said. “He’s a lot more mature now so I’m looking forward to his three-year-old season. “We’ll just take it one step at a time and there’s plenty of races for him, we’ll kick off on Saturday and then see where we go.” Full Force emphasised his readiness to return when he placed last week in a 900m heat at Te Rapa in the hands of Ryan Elliot, who will be aboard again. “He trialled brilliantly and didn’t have the blinkers on, he’ll have them back on for race day and probably needs them,” Wynyard said. “He just cruised around and had a good blow out. He recovered really well and he’s improved with the trial. “I expect him to go pretty well, he’s fresh-up but he is forward enough.” Previously based at Otaki, Wynyard moved north to Cambridge to establish her solo career. “I’m training out of Trent Busuttin and Natalie Young’s old barn behind the pool,” she said. “It’s a good set-up with 20 boxes and they’re pretty much full, I’ve got really good owners, nice horses and great staff so I couldn’t ask for any more.” Among the proven members of the stable back in work are multiple winners Pride Of Aspen and Colorado Silver while two-year-old Toretto is shaping promisingly ahead of his debut. “Pride Of Aspen had a good spell and we’re bringing her up quietly,” Wynyard said. “Colorado Silver had a long break and she’s a talented horse, she’s always been a bit weak and needed time. “Toretto trialled at Te Rapa and hopefully he’ll run at Wanganui, I really like him.” Horse racing news View the full article

Drifting winning the 2024 Magic Night Stakes. Photo: RacingNSW Blake Shinn is feeling confident about his upcoming ride on Drifting in Saturday’s Group 3 Quezette Stakes (1100m) at Caulfield after a recent jump-out at Flemington. The Peter Snowden-trained filly, who won the Group 3 Magic Night Stakes (1200m) in the autumn, will be making her first appearance of the season from barrier three. “She’s a really lovely filly, this girl,” Shinn told Racing.com. “I jumped her out last Friday, and I was very impressed by the feel she gave me. Physically, she’s a really solid three-year-old, and mentally, she’s really there. She’s got great gate speed, tactically she’s brilliant. “I expect her to put herself in a great position from a good draw. This is a great line-up of fillies, but I think she’s a very talented horse.” Horse racing news View the full article

Godolphin trainer James Cummings. (Photo by Reg Ryan/Racing Photos) Tarpaulin, the promising colt by Harry Angel, will remain in Sydney for Saturday’s Listed Rosebud (1100m) instead of travelling to Melbourne for the Group 3 Vain Stakes (1100m). Trainer James Cummings explained that the decision to withdraw the Godolphin three-year-old from the Caulfield race was made with the horse’s long-term prospects in mind. While Tarpaulin appeared well-suited for the Melbourne race, Cummings opted for Rosehill, where the colt will carry 55 kilograms under the Quality Handicap conditions. “He is quite nicely weighted in the handicaps as a horse on the way through, rather than the set weights and penalties in Melbourne,” Cummings said. Cummings further emphasised the importance of managing the horse’s workload. “It’s probably just as important to keep the horse held together and not travelling too much in case he gets further along in the spring for races like the Danehill (Stakes), which is maybe seven weeks later, or even a Coolmore. “It’s a long spring ahead but there is a chance that if I’m very pleased with him this weekend, I’ve got some time to freshen him up and leave something in the tank for later.” Tarpaulin, out of the Lonhro mare Shelters, closed his two-year-old season with consecutive wins on heavy tracks. He is also a half-brother to Godolphin’s Group 2-winning sprinter, Aft Cabin. Horse racing news View the full article