Wandering Eyes

State regulators have seen important steps toward uniformity in rules, enforcement, and lab standards since oversight of safety, medication control, and anti-doping has shifted from state regulators to HISA in recent years.View the full article

Winner of the Dubai Turf (G1T) this spring, Facteur Cheval (IRE) will switch to dirt this fall for a run in the $7 million Breeders' Cup Classic (G1) at Del Mar Nov. 2, according to Team Valor International's Barry Irwin.View the full article

Owen Burrows hopes his horses are hitting top form at just the right time as he prepares to send Alflaila into a group 1 battle against Epsom Derby (G1) hero City Of Troy in the Juddmonte International (G1) at York Aug. 21.View the full article

The Week In Review by Bill Finley We are in the middle of the Saratoga and Del Mar meets, both of which bring together the best horses the sport has to offer. That was the case last weekend. The quality is there. The quantity? Not so much. There's an alarming trend in racing and it's only getting worse. The 10- or 12-horse field for a stakes race, especially on the dirt, is a thing of the past, no matter the venue, no matter the size of the purse. Even an nine-horse field seems like something out of a different era. There are too many stakes races and not enough horse to fill them. It's really that simple. Never was that more evident than last weekend. Saratoga and Del Mar are huge meets for 2-year-olds, with the top barns eager to unveil their next stars as they take their first steps towards Grade I races and the Breeders' Cup. Del Mar offered the GIII Sorrento S. for 2-year-old fillies on Saturday and the GIII Best Pal S. for 2-year-old males on the following day. The Sorrento had four horses. The Best Pal had four horses. Nothing wrong with the winners. 'TDN Rising Star' Nooni (Win Win Win), the $1.8-million sales topper at OBS March, won the Sorrento. Trained by Bob Baffert (who else?) she was professional in victory and won decisively. She paid $3. Baffert also won the Best Pal with 'Rising Star' Getaway Car (Curlin), who paid $2.60. That Baffert seems to train every good 2-year-old in California certainly doesn't help, but it's not Baffert's job to fill races. Where was everybody else? At least things were better at Saratoga where 'TDN Rising Star' Showcase (Uncle Mo) won an eight-horse race in the GII Sanford S. On Sunday at Saratoga, there was $1.1 million up for grabs in the GI Fourstardave H. and the GI Saratoga Invitational Derby. Each race drew only six horses. Colonial Downs rolled out its best card of the meet Sunday, running the big three grass races that were for so long part of the menu at Arlington Park. The GII Secretariat S., with a purse of $500,000 attracted just six horses. The GII Beverly D., also worth $500,000, had just five starters. The GI Arlington Million was also a six-horse race. What happened at Colonial shouldn't necessarily have been much of a surprise. Kentucky Downs, already an embarrassment of riches, just announced that an additional $3.7 million has been added to the stakes schedule. The GIII Nashville Derby has been bumped to $3.1 million from $2.5 million, making it, for Kentucky-breds, the second richest race run in the state, behind only the GI Kentucky Derby. Total purses for the meet will be $37 million. Seven more stakes at the meet will be worth $2 million and 15 more races will be worth $1 million. With Kentucky Downs set to open Aug. 29, just 18 days after the Colonial races, what is Colonial supposed to do? They can't compete with Kentucky Downs when it comes to purses, and neither can anyone else. Unfortunately, the amount of stakes races with short fields is getting worse all the time. There have been 26 graded stakes races run this year that have had fields of five or fewer. Nine of them have been run in California, a circuit that is having a terrible time trying to compete with the ridiculously rich races run in Kentucky, Arkansas and New York. There have been seven graded races run this year with fields of four or fewer. That list includes races as important as the GI Test S., the GII San Felipe S. and the GI Coaching Club American Oaks. Our best races from a quality standpoint are becoming our worst races from the standpoint of what makes for a good betting race. People don't want to bet on four and five-horse fields, even if they are some of the more prestigious races on the calendar. That's not good for business. Outside of the Kentucky Downs factor, the problem is that, with the foal crops declining each year, there just aren't enough good horses to go around. The Graded Stakes Committee of the Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association (TOBA) has responded by downgrading dozens of stakes over the last few years. But they haven't gone far enough. The real solution is to simply get rid of a bunch of these underperforming races. Does Saratoga really need three stakes races for 2-year-olds and three more for 2-year-old fillies? Won by horses like Kelso, Skip Away, Easy Goer, Forego, Dr. Fager and Buckpasser, the Suburban Handicap, currently a Grade II race, has drawn fields of seven, five, five, six and six over the last five years and has been won by some rather forgettable horses. At Santa Anita, for the second straight year, they could only get four horses for the GII Californian Stakes. Would anybody really miss the Suburban, the California or maybe the Saratoga Special if they simply went away? The answer is obvious, and it is no. Racing secretaries, directors of racing and track presidents need to show some tough love to these races and use their resources elsewhere. The game would be better off for it. Karl Broberg Retires Karl Broberg, 53, has trained the winners of 4,902 races and dominated racing at places like Delta Downs since beginning his training career 15 years ago. He was the leading trainer in the country in terms of wins six years running, from 2014 to 2019. But even with all that success, he has decided to move on. Broberg announced on X last week that he was stepping away from training in order to focus on developing horses at his farm. Broberg, who likes to think outside the box and loves gambling on horses as much as he does training them, told the Daily Racing Form that he also will be working as a bloodstock agent, finding yearlings for clients and himself. He will continue to own some horses and they will be trained by his current assistant Abel Ramirez. “The claiming game at the majority of the tracks that I have historically run at is gone,” he told the DRF. “I figured it would be a great time to take a step back, work to buy yearlings, see if we can do some pinhooking, or just help get horses ready for other people. In the next few years, you are going to see so many more fall to the wayside. I just want to make sure I'm ahead of it.” The post Where Have All The Stakes Horses Gone? appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Racing fans at Colonial Downs Aug. 11 were treated to a duel of Canadian horses of the year as the sixth meeting between 2022 winner Moira and 2023 winner Fev Rover came down to the final jumps of the $500,000 Beverly D. Stakes (G2T).View the full article

The recent Kevin Coleman-trained Leopardstown maiden winner Latin Fever (Ire) (Equiano {Fr}) has been purchased to continue her career in the United States in a deal brokered by Avenue Bloodstock's Mark McStay and Philip Shelton of Medallion Racing. The juvenile filly, who was bred by Donal Boylan and bought as a yearling by Adam Potts and Danny Donovan for €27,000, won on debut at odds of 80/1. Commenting on the purchase, McStay said, “Latin Fever couldn't have been more visually impressive on debut and I'm delighted that we've secured her for a group of American-based owners. Interestingly my form analyst Philip Hackett was extremely keen that we should pay her serious attention and was on the phone immediately after the race.” He continued, “When I presented her to Philip Shelton we were all on the same page. Adam Potts was extremely straightforward to deal with and a lot of credit goes to him and his co-owners [Brian Sheerin and Danny O'Donovan] along with trainer Kevin Coleman. Joe Miller, representing Rancho Temescal, was also interested in her from the outset so they've also joined the partnership, I believe. Completing the ownership group are Omar Aldabbagh, Steve Weston's Parkland Thoroughbreds, Evan Trommer and Medallion Racing. Let's hope she's lucky.” Medallion Racing's Philip Shelton added, “We are very excited about Latin Fever. She won from an impossible position at Leopardstown. She is going to Mark Casse and we are pointing her to the G1 Natalma at Woodbine. We've had good luck with Mark on another Irish import in Papilio.” The post Latin Fever Sold to America After Impressive Maiden Win appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

The colt crowned Cartier Horse of the Year in 2021 when he retired as a five-time Group 1 winner; an elite miler who also won five races at the top level, notably at Royal Ascot in both 2020 and 2021; and the GI Breeders' Cup Mile hero of 2021, speedy enough to win the previous year's G1 Prix Maurice de Gheest over six and a half furlongs. Those three summations alone should give some idea of the calibre of racehorse we're dealing with when it comes to the 2025 crop of first-season sires. But that is in the past, their exploits on the track consigned to the history books. Now all attentions turn to their second careers in the stallion ranks, with one of the first big examinations of their credentials set to come at this week's Arqana August Sale when we all get the chance to cast an eye over their first yearlings. Altogether six as yet unproven stallions are represented by yearlings scheduled to go through the ring at Arqana. They include St Mark's Basilica (Fr), who seems destined to take star billing in this category if sheer weight of numbers alone is anything to go by. With 12 lots by St Mark's Basilica in the catalogue, he is the most heavily represented of the first-season sires, ahead of fellow French Classic winner Victor Ludorum (GB) with 10. A half-brother to the 2,000 Guineas winner Magna Grecia (Ire) by Siyouni (Fr), St Mark's Basilica was a seven-figure yearling in his own right when sold to MV Magnier for 1,300,000gns at Tattersalls October Book 1. Almost a year to the day that he went under the hammer at Tattersalls, he returned to Newmarket to crown his juvenile campaign with victory in the G1 Dewhurst Stakes. The title of Europe's champion two-year-old was just the first of many to be earned by St Mark's Basilica, who added four further Group 1 wins to his tally in 2021, first completing a French Classic double in the Poule d'Essai des Poulains and Prix du Jockey Club and then decisively beating his elders in the Coral-Eclipse and Irish Champion Stakes. That sequence of victories saw him retire to Coolmore Stud at the end of 2021 as the world champion three-year-old colt. St Mark's Basilica covered 176 mares, at a fee of €65,000, in his first season at stud, including the Oaks heroine Talent (GB) (New Approach {Ire}) whose filly by the stallion was the highest-priced foal sold in Europe and North America last year when bought by Newsells Park Stud for 575,000gns at the December Foal Sale. If that's a sign of things to come then expect fireworks when the first dozen yearlings by St Mark's Basilica are sold at Arqana. Three of them will be offered by Ecurie des Monceaux whose Henri Bozo spoke with Emma Berry in Monday's TDN, highlighting Lot 178, a half-sister to G1 Grand Prix de Paris winner Feed The Flame (GB) (Kingman {GB}), and Lot 270, a half-sister to the Irish Oaks heroine Chicquita (Ire) (Montjeu {Ire}) and G1 McKinnon Stakes victrix Magic Wand (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), as ones to watch. Another to look out for is Lot 136, a filly out of the winning Frankel (GB) mare Frisella (GB) offered by Haras de Montaigu. Already the dam of the Listed-placed Grand Scoop (GB) (No Nay Never), Frisella is in turn out of a Dansili (GB) half-sister to the outstanding miler and sire Kingman (GB). The standout performer among Kingman's progeny to date is the five-time Group 1 winner Palace Pier (GB), another first-season sire who has four yearlings catalogued to sell at the Arqana August Sale. Palace Pier covered 154 mares in his first season as a Darley stallion, at a fee of £55,000, having retired to Dalham Hall Stud in Newmarket as the winner of nine of his 11 races for the Gosden yard. His five-top level wins included the St James's Palace Stakes and Queen Anne Stakes when appearing at Royal Ascot in consecutive years, while, fittingly for the week that's in it, he also won back-to-back editions of the Prix Jacques le Marois. As for the four yearlings set to be offered in the seaside town where their sire enjoyed two of his finest hours, Lot 58 is sure to attract plenty of interest as a half-brother to the G1 Prix de la Foret winner and sire Aclaim (Ire), consigned by Haras d'Etreham. Similar comments apply to Lot 320, a filly consigned by Haras des Capucines. She is out of the Listed-placed Sun Bear (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}), who is in turn out of the Irish Oaks scorer Great Heavens (GB) (Galileo {Ire}). Palace Pier is one of three Darley stallions with first-time representation at the Arqana August Sale, with the others including the aforementioned Victor Ludorum, who will be standing at Etreham from 2025 after it was announced that Darley's French-based stallions would be on the move having long stood at Julian Ince's Haras du Logis. Victor Ludorum arrived there ahead of the 2022 breeding season as a five-time winner for Andre Fabre. He was unbeaten in three starts at two, culminating with a ready win in the G1 Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere, before gaining the biggest success of his career when winning the G1 Poule d'Essai des Poulains as a three-year-old. Standing at a fee of €15,000, Victor Ludorum reportedly covered 154 mares in his first season at Haras du Logis, including the unraced Mastercraftsman (Ire) mare Harem Mistress (Ire), dam of the G1 Prince Of Wales's Stakes runner-up Zarakem (Fr) (Zarak {Fr}). The result of that mating is Lot 152, a filly described by Etreham's Nicolas de Chambure as “a good showcase for the stallion” when he spoke to TDN last week. Of the other nine yearlings by Victor Ludorum, Lot 32 also deserves a mention. This filly from the La Motteraye Consignment is a half-sister to the G1 Tattersalls Gold Cup scorer Alenquer (Fr) (Adlerflug {Ger}). La Motteraye are also responsible for one of the three yearlings on offer from the first crop of the prolific Space Blues (Ire), who retired to Darley's Kildangan Stud in Ireland as the winner of 11 of his 19 starts for Charlie Appleby. Like Palace Pier, he too enjoyed one of his finest hours at Deauville when winning the Prix Maurice de Gheest in 2020, before bowing out in a blaze of glory the following year with back-to-back top-level victories in the Prix de la Foret and Breeders' Cup Mile. Blessed with a potent turn of foot, Space Blues proved popular with breeders in his first season at Kildangan when covering 160 mares at a €17,500 fee, including the winning Gooseley Chope (Fr), dam of the dual Group 3 winner and sire Goken (Fr), who was also third in the G1 King's Stand Stakes. The resulting colt will be offered by Haras de Colleville as Lot 145, while the filly from La Motteraye comes just two lots later. Her second dam is the classy Naissance Royale (Ire) (Giant's Causeway), the winner of the GII Lake Placid Stakes, GII Nassau Stakes and GII Las Palmas Handicap in North America. La Motteraye's Lot 259, a filly out of an unraced half-sister to the GII New York Stakes and G3 Prix de Psyche heroine Homerique (Exchange Rate), is also significant for being the only yearling by the G1 July Cup winner Starman (GB) to be offered this week. Incidentally, the progeny of Tally-Ho Stud resident Starman are sure to become a more common sight as we progress through the yearling sales season. After all, the son of Dutch Art (GB) was the busiest new stallion in Europe in 2022 when covering a bumper book of 254 mares, at a fee of €17,500. Last but not least, the G1 Phoenix Stakes winner Lucky Vega (Ire), who was also placed in the 2,000 Guineas and St James's Palace Stakes as a three-year-old, will be represented by three yearlings this week. He commanded the lowest fee of the six first-season sires at €15,000, but the team at the Irish National Stud were rewarded with a healthy book of 152 mares. The pick of his three yearlings at Arqana could be Lot 321, a half-sister to the multiple Listed winner Taamol (Ire) (Helmet {Aus}) consigned by Jamie Railton Sales Agency, although Lot 277 shouldn't be allowed to go under the radar, either. The filly offered by Coulonces has an interesting mix of speed and stamina in her pedigree, being out of a half-sister to the G1 Prix du Cadran scorer Mille Et Mille (GB) (Muhtathir {GB}). The post St Mark’s Basilica and Palace Pier Lead First-Season Sires to Note at Arqana appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

After a career spanning more than three decades, Benjie LaRue has announced his retirement from horse training.View the full article

Grade 1 winner She Feels Pretty attempts to get back in the win column Aug. 17 as she is scheduled to compete against 10 other 3-year-old fillies in the $200,000 Lake Placid Stakes (G2T) at Saratoga Race Course.View the full article

The catalogues for Books 2-4 of the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale are now available online. Book 2 comprises 773 yearlings and takes place from October 14-16, while 571 lots are scheduled to go under the hammer from October 17-18 when Book 3 takes centre stage. Book 4 has a further 81 yearlings also selling on Friday, October 18, immediately following the conclusion of Book 3. Recent graduates of Book 2 include a number of Group 1 winners this year, headed by the Queen Anne Stakes scorer Charyn (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}), who doubled his top-level tally when landing Sunday's Prix Jacques le Marois at Deauville. He is joined by the seven-time Group 1 winner Romantic Warrior (Ire) (Acclamation {GB}), last seen winning the Yasuda Kinen at Tokyo in June, and July Cup hero Mill Stream (Ire) (Gleneagles {Ire}). The 2024 catalogue features own or half-brothers and sisters to an impressive 172 Group and Listed winners, including Lot 748, the Sea The Stars (Ire) half-brother to Derby winner Golden Horn (GB); Lot 738, the Palace Pier (GB) half-brother to Group 1-winning sprinter Regional (GB) (Territories {Ire}); and Lot 717, the Ulysses (Ire) half-brother to the G1 Sun Chariot Stakes heroine Integral (GB) (Dalakhani {Ire}). In addition, there are 125 sons and daughters of Group- and Listed-winning mares catalogued, including Lot 1205, the Dubawi (Ire) colt out of the G1 Prix de Diane scorer Star Of Seville (GB) (Duke Of Marmalade {Ire}), and Lot 916, the Mehmas (Ire) filly out of the G1 Prix de l'Abbaye winner Mabs Cross (GB) (Dutch Art {GB}). Tattersalls chairman Edmond Mahony said, “Hong Kong-trained global superstar Romantic Warrior has been an extraordinary ambassador for Book 2 of the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale, as have the locally trained Group 1 stars Charyn and Mill Stream. Along with Group 2 Queen Mary winner Leovanni, purchased for just 20,000 guineas at Book 3 last year, they demonstrate the quality and value on offer during the second week of the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale. “As ever Books 2, 3 and 4 of the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale showcase so many of the finest British and Irish yearlings and the combination of quality yearlings and consistent global success at the highest level is a compelling mix for huge numbers of buyers from throughout Europe and further afield.” The post Catalogues Released for Books 2, 3 and 4 of the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Mark Casse has had plenty of good horses in his career. His favorite is not all that surprising. He has had an audience with one of the most iconic people the world has ever seen. He is one of a select few to have been elected into Racing Hall of Fames in the U.S. and Canada. What does he do when he has a little down time? What's the deal with Tom Cruise? Read more in this week's Saratoga Conversation to find out. TDN: Correct me if I am wrong, but I believe you have won 16 Sovereign Awards as leading trainer in Canada. MC: Yes. Sixteen. TDN: And 13 in a row? MC: Maybe (smiles). TDN: Those are some pretty solid numbers. What does it mean to you? MC: In the beginning, I used to wonder when the Yankees won the World Series a few years in a row, I said, 'what motivates you?' And I would say after winning 16, what motivates me is not losing. TDN: So, it's a quest now. MC: Of course. About two years ago, I came pretty close to losing it for the first time in a long time. And I said, 'well, that's not going to happen again.' TDN: This is something you want to dominate. MC: Well, I don't want to lose it. And I have to dominate it because it's human nature. The voters want to give it to somebody else. TDN: It's like the Yankees. People root against them because they win. MC: I have a lot of people who root against me in Canada. Of course. TDN: You are the evil empire of Canada. MC: I would not want to be described that way … obviously a lot of people don't like me, but they would like to be me. TDN: There is respect there. MC: I would hope so. TDN: In addition to being in the Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame, you are also in the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame here. I think there are three others –Roger Attfield, Lucien Lauren and Horatio Luro. MC: Very good group. TDN: I remember you telling the story where you were at the (U.S.) Hall of Fame with your dad and you said you were going to be in there one day. MC: I was 12. And he said, 'I know you will.' Horses, horse racing have been my entire life. If that is your life, what is it you want to be? You want to be in the Hall of Fame because the Hall of Fame says that you weren't good one year, you weren't good two years, you were good over a long period of time. To get into the Hall of Fame, not only do you have to be good for 25 years, but you have to stay out of trouble, too. Not everyone can do that. TDN: Your career is still going, but, so far, what has been your proudest achievement? MC: The Hall of Fame would be No. 1. One horse, one race? It would be Tepin winning the Queen Anne at Royal Ascot (in 2016) just because it's so difficult to do. We have won Triple Crown races (2019 Preakness with War of Will, 2019 Belmont with Sir Winston), we've won six Breeders' Cup races … but to go over and win and beat them at their own game … We have some horses that go to Europe, but they haven't had as much luck lately at Royal Ascot. We have beat them sprinting, but I don't know if sprinting is their forte. We beat them at their own game, which shows you how great Tepin was. Tepin | Sarah Andrew TDN: You look at the roster you have had. Tepin, World Approval, Classic Empire, War of Will, Fev Rover … just to name a few. Is there a favorite? MC: Nah. There's not a favorite. They are all your kids. When we won the Belmont with Sir Winston, my wife (Tina) said, 'smile! You have to smile.' It was hard. I was excited and happy for the (owners Tracey and Carol) Farmers and to win the Belmont is a great feat, but you have to remember they are our kids. One kid (Sir Winston) achieved greatness that day and the other kid (War of Will, who was ninth) was a failure. Just think about it. You are happy for the one that achieved greatness, but you feel bad for the one that didn't. I run a lot of horses in a lot of races– big races–and a lot of times I run multiple ones. We won seven races a couple weeks ago (at multiple tracks) and four stakes and my focus was on the ones that lost. It's a bad thing, but it's what I do. TDN: So, you smiled at the Belmont, right? MC: I smiled. Because my wife told me to. I listen to her. TDN: Favorite race track. MC: I am going to say, right here. Saratoga. And it's been my Achilles heel on many occasions. This is where I have a lot of memories with my dad (the late Norman Casse Sr., who started the Ocala Breeders' Sales Co. in 1974 and served as the organization's chairman for 27 years). Churchill would be a close second. TDN: Where is Woodbine? MC: Woodbine would probably be third. Now, if you talk about a training facility, there is no place better to train than Woodbine for so many reasons. But as far as where do I want to win? Right here. TDN: Everyone's watching. MC: You got it. TDN: I know that you love to golf, and you love to fish. If you can only pick one, which one are you doing? MC: I like golf. When I am in Ocala, I wake up at 4 (a.m.) and I play 18 holes on my golf simulator from 4-5. And then I make breakfast for my wife and son (Colby) and I go to work. I usually play a par 3. I shot 10-under one day. I had a hole-in-one at 4:38 in the morning (laughs). TDN: Did you smile then? MC: Oh, yeah. I enjoy that. And we watch horses train. I get videos all morning long. We have this thing I call the VLL–the Video Lameness Locator. Anytime any of my assistants anywhere have an issue, they run this App. You jog the horse, and it takes about a minute. It gets uploaded and it goes to a computer in Stockholm, Sweden. The computer analyzes 100 key points in the horse's stride and, within three minutes, I will have the results. TDN: Modern technology. MC: My Boy Prince has already been sent to me and he's the favorite for the King's Plate. He breezed (Thursday morning) and, at 6 a.m., it showed me how he was. TDN: You have a pond at your farm in Ocala. MC: I have two ponds. TDN: Whenever you catch a fish, you always throw it back, right? MC: Always. I have an older pond that has been there 20 some years and I have a newer pond. I told my wife I was going to build a little pond and she came out and said, 'I thought this was supposed to be little!' It's deeper. Our old pond is only about five feet deep. Our new one is, in some spots, 20 feet deep. If I catch a big bass in the small pond, I carry him over and put him in the big pond so he can grow. TDN: You don't name your fish, do you? MC: Nah! You know what? I have a wonderful life. We have ducks that are there every day. We have a set of geese that come every year, have their babies. They will bring their babies back the next year and then they will run them off and they'll have more. We have three right now. We have baby ducks. I enjoy that. TDN: It truly is an animal farm. MC: Yeah. It is. I am fortunate. I live in paradise. I can walk to work. I can go and fish in the front yard. And I can hit (golf) shots 150 yards to a green or I can go my golf simulator. I need these things because my day is so full that I could not go and do those things. TDN: I ask two questions to everyone. One is, if there was a movie made about your life and you can pick the actor to play you, who are you picking? MC: I don't know. Maybe, simply because of his size, Tom Cruise. We are pretty much the same age. He's not very tall (he is 5′ 7″). I am 5′ 5″. He has dark hair, and I don't have any hair anymore. I am going with Tom Cruise. TDN: The other one question is if you could have dinner with three people, living or dead, who would they be? MC: My dad. JFK. And I loved the Queen (Elizabeth II). She was amazing. Loved horses. I got to meet her. TDN: What was that like? MC: It's a bit of a funny story. When we had Tepin, after she won (at Royal Ascot) I did so many interviews. An hour went by. And I said, 'when do I get to meet the Queen?' And they said, 'you missed her.' I was like, 'you've got to be kidding me!' The next day I did an interview for the “Racing Post.” They asked with the success I have had, would I come back. I said, 'only if I get to meet the Queen.' I didn't know that she read the “Racing Post.” It just happened that the next year, we ran a horse. We were in our box, and we were going to run at about 2:30 (p.m.). At 1, a representative of the Queen showed up and said the Queen would like to meet you. Wow! Tina, Colby and I went there. You have to understand, I have to go saddle this horse. I don't have a lot of time. We are talking, and she keeps talking and we're talking and talking and talking. I am thinking, 'I am going to miss going to saddle this horse.' Her representative said, 'Your majesty, he has to go saddle his horse.' And she goes, “Oh! Tally-ho! Off you go!' And that was it. Colby, who was 12 at the time, said, 'dad, were you nervous?' I said, 'not really.' He said, 'my knees were shaking!' War of Will | Claiborne TDN: Favorite horse racing movie. MC: I have to go with “Seabiscuit.' For sure. Gary (Barber, one of his owners) produced it. TDN: That would be the right answer for you. What is your favorite holiday? MC: Christmas. The kids come around. Memories from when I was young with my mom and my dad. I was born on Valentine's Day. Poor Tina takes a whipping on Valentine's Day because it's my birthday. TDN: Favorite go-to meal. MC: My wife is a very, very good cook. I like steak and potatoes. I am pretty easy. She is amazing. We eat at home all the time. TDN: A horse trainer is not your typical job. When is the last time you had a vacation? MC: I made myself. It was the beginning of December, I got all the kids and grandkids, girlfriends and husbands and wives and Tina and I rented a big house. We all met, and it was near St Petersburg, Fla. And everybody got sick. We've talked about it. Tina and I would like to go to Europe. The problem is the only time we can go is December because we've got the Breeders' Cup. It's not easy. TDN: To do this job, you have to be all in. MC: Yes. I try to take one day up here to catch up and, usually, it's on a Tuesday. I would say my day consists of 30 phone calls and 100 texts. Every day. On the weekends, we run all over so that is a very busy time for us. Monday and Tuesday, everyone (owner) that did not have a horse run over the weekend is catching up with me. TDN: How many horses do you have all over the place? MC: Right now, racing at the track, we have 160, 170. TDN: How do you keep track of them? MC: I have a pretty good system. I have 10 people that have been with me 30 years. TDN: If you had five stalls open at this barn and you could put five horses from history in them, who would they be? But none of them could be yours. MC: Good question. I guess Secretariat. Flightline. I think Flightline might be the best horse I ever saw run. American Pharoah was a heckuva horse. I would have loved to have Desert Vixen (Eclipse Award-winning filly at age 3 and 4) because (owner) Mr. (Harry) Mangurian was a big part of my life and that was his big filly. And I will go with Dr. Fager. TDN: Pretty good starting five. Favorite sport other than horse racing. MC: It comes and goes, but golf. I watch it. Play it. I like poker, too. TDN: Do you play? MC: I do. TDN: Do you have a poker face? MC: Probably. TDN: You are pretty good at it. MC: I have won big tournaments. About 30 years ago, Harry Mangurian told me that this sport is going to take off. This was (Texas) Hold 'Em. He would take me to Vegas when I was working with him, and I played out there and then I stopped playing. OBS recently got a card room. During the week, sometimes I'll go over and play. They call me Computer Man because I always have my computer doing work. I can't go for three hours and not do work. That's why golf is very hard for me. If I do it, then I am in the middle of the night doing my work and I'm tired. TDN: Do you watch TV? MC: Not much. We like the “Formula 1: Drive to Survive.” My favorite movie? “The American President.” TDN: You can't imagine yourself doing anything but this. MC: No. Because it's all I have ever done. Always wanted to do this. The post The Saratoga Conversation: Mark Casse appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

It is impossible to miss the draft from Haras des Capucines as you arrive at the main concourse of the Arqana salåes grounds. For a start it is the largest in the book with 45 yearlings catalogued for sale, and it includes a spacious seating area for viewers to take a break while working their way through lists. This year marks the 30th anniversary of Eric Puerari and Michel Zerolo consigning in Deauville under the Capucines banner. Following the August Sale they will also offer 20 yearlings for next week's V.2 Sale, from which they sold the Poule d'Essai des Poulains winner Olmedo (Fr) (Declaration Of War) in 2016. Eric Puerari says: “With Etreham, we have each of us been on the podium 20 times at this sale since the year 2000. “Over the last few years the Arqana results have been good, and from Capucines we had this year's French Oaks winner, Sparkling Plenty, in our draft, even though she didn't get sold, and also Borna, who missed out on victory in the German Derby by a nose. “Deauville is a really good source of group winners. Everybody knows it and that's what gives us confidence now. It's impossible to say what will happen, and of course for the first time in many years Jean-Claude Rouget will not be present at the sales and we will miss him a lot. He has been a driving force at the sales for so many years and hopefully he will be back in October. We of course also depend a lot on the international market and Arqana does a good job on bringing people to the sale. “Of the three-year-old generation, from horses we sold two years ago, along with Sparkling Plenty and Borna there is also War Chimes, who was third in the Oaks [at Epsom] and altogether we have 11 black-type horses who were sold in that crop, including George Strawbridge's Vigatata [who was third in Sunday's G3 Prix Lady O'Reilly] . “From this year's two-year-old crop Tiego The First, a very good Blue Point colt, won the Prix Roland Chambure and Houquetot has won twice [and was second in the G3 Prix Francois Boutin on Sunday]. It's quite lively for us right now.” Draft highlights: Lot 4, a filly by Kingman (GB) out of Tamazirte (Ire) (Danehill Dancer {Ire}) You'll have to be ringside early to catch this filly going through. A winner at Group 2 and 3 level, Tamazirte was also runner-up in both the Prix de Diane and Poule d'Essai des Pouliches. She has proved equally useful as a broodmare, and this filly is a full-sibling to her dual Group 3-wining son and first-season sire Chachnak (Fr), who has one winner from his five runners to date. Lot 28, a filly by Frankel (GB) out of Waldjagd (GB) (Observatory) “She's a spectacular filly and the two-year-old [Misunderstood] just won the Prix de Crevecoeur on his first start and is aiming for the Grand Criterium,” Puerari notes. A black-type performer, Waldjagd is a daughter of the German St Leger winner Wurftaube (Ger) (Acatenango {Gr}) from an accomplished family which includes the Arc winner Waldgeist (GB) and St Leger winner Masked Marvel (Ire). The yearling is a half-sister to Group 2 winner Waldbiene (Ger) (Intello {Ger}) and Listed winner Urwald (GB) (Le Havre {Ire}). Lot 218, a colt by Galiway (GB) out of Milena's Dream (Ire) (Authorized {Ire}) “We have a very good group of Galiway yearlings; several of them look very racy, including the brother to Etoile,” says Puerari. Milena's Dream was herself fourth in the G3 Prix des Reservoirs as a juvenile and her standout performer at stud so far is the GI EP Taylor Stakes winner Etoile (Fr) (Siyouni {Fr}), who was also won the G3 Prix Cleopatre. Claim to fame: Along with two of this season's Classic winners in the aforementioned Sparkling Plenty (Fr) (Kingman {GB}) and G2 Derby Italiano hero Borna (Fr) (Saxon Warrior {Jpn}), graduates from previous drafts of Capucines at Arqana include the Breeders' Cup winner Zagora (Fr) and Flotilla (Fr). The latter also won the Poule d'Essai des Pouliches and she is joined on the list by fellow Group 1 winners Morandi (Fr), Never On Sunday (Fr) and Etoile, among others. Haras des Capucines has also sold the sole Classic winner to emerge from the V.2 Sale to date in Olmedo, while another Breeders' Cup winner, Audarya (Fr), was offered at the October Sale. Last word: “We'll be showing horses from Tuesday and will be ready early each morning. I always admire the British and Irish buyers who are up very late in the evenings but then arrive very early in the mornings to see the horses. It's impressive: they are well organised and courageous.” The post The Arqana Lowdown: Haras des Capucines 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 weight was lifted off Kieran Shoemark at Deauville. He was not the reason Inspiral had stopped winning. Shoemark was a spectator as Cheveley Park Stud's distinguished Frankel mare was soundly beaten into third behind Charyn in Sunday's Prix du Haras de Fresnay-le-Buffard Jacques le Marois. The ride on Inspiral had passed to Ryan Moore as turbulence gripped Shoemark's season – his first as Frankie Dettori's replacement at the John and Thady Gosden yard. The starting point is that nobody gets to be first jockey to the Gosdens without the necessary talent. The second is that Inspiral's second consecutive slow start and Charyn's brilliance were too much even for Moore. Shoemark will have spotted Callum Shepherd's name on the Marois card. Shepherd, who finished fourth on Quddwah, endured this year's highest profile jocking-off, on Ambiente Friendly in the Derby. Being 'dropped' in racing is as old as the Thoroughbred. Inspiral's best appears to be behind her. But there is no reason why Shoemark cannot absorb the blow of the Inspiral demotion and reboot his year, as Dettori himself did after provoking the displeasure of Gosden snr. The mistake is not to go through a rough patch. It's to surrender to despondency. Shoemark's appointment at Clarehaven could be seen as a classic dance move in sport, where the new No 1 is the polar opposite of his predecessor. Plainly Dettori and Shoemark are contrasting personalities – though Dettori, too, had his substance abuse phase. The perception of Shoemark is bound to be skewed subconsciously by the reality that he isn't Frankie Dettori. All Manchester United managers since Sir Alex Ferguson have suffered in part because they are not him. But 'personality' is only one factor propelling a horse in a race. Ryan Moore manages to be the world's best jockey without putting on a cabaret. His talent does the singing and dancing. Shoemark will be smart enough to know he's toiling in the void left by Dettori; that any perceived error will mutate into a debate about whether he was the right pick in the first place as the Gosdens' go-to rider. A helpful link can be traced to Shoemark's earlier problems with drink and drugs. One lesson of addiction is that it can be overcome (not always, but with luck, and love). A negative publicity maelstrom is also survivable, especially in this age of hurtling events, when every sports story lasts about five minutes. The ignorance of the vengeful keyboard warrior takes no account of balance or context It may help Shoemark to see the adverse comment at Goodwood as a routine pile-on, short-lived, and correctable by winners and good riding. The fundamental truth about pile-ons is that the assailants will soon rush off to start a new one. Only the duration of your own time as the target is in question. Which is not to say that jockeys should be exempt from scrutiny and criticism. Journalists are not meant to be cheerleaders. Journalism must, though, resist the temptation to keep saying what has already been said, to gnaw on the already chewed. I have no difficulty in pleading guilty to that myself in the past. This column will neither revisit the technicalities of his rides on Emily Upjohn or Free Wind at Goodwood, nor pronounce on whether Shoemark is riding badly or well – except to say that an indispensable ingredient of success in all sports is confidence. Even the greatest goalscorers, golfers and Wimbledon champions will tell you that self-belief is no respecter of status. When confidence exits stage left, doubt enters stage right. Clarity of thought then follows self-assurance out of the building. A fog of uncertainty creeps across the normal execution of skills. It should surprise no-one that Shoemark soon found himself in a binary bunfight. That's how most discussions happen. It's not the “media” who torture professional sportsmen and women these days so much as social media, with its drive-by cruelty. The ignorance of the vengeful keyboard warrior takes no account of balance or context. In that world, a feeling is presented as fact. Everyone is a columnist now. People who play sport for a living must learn to distinguish between noise and valid comment. It's not easy. The worst-case scenario would be that Shoemark loses the Gosden retainer, either gradually or suddenly. The best one is that the Gosdens view the past fortnight as a standard patch of turmoil for a good jockey who finds himself in the fiercest spotlight of his career. Emily Upjohn's owner has already given Shoemark his “100% support” and Gosden has been protective. There's no hiding it: the melodrama of elite sport feeds on sackings and rifts and reckonings. In racing, the Gosden-Dettori froideur was much bigger news than the Shoemark kerfuffle. Many seemingly intractable 'issues' resolve themselves with calm discussion and constructive honesty. Shoemark has had a tricky summer. Losing the ride on Inspiral will have hurt him. None of that is terminal. The poet Robert Frost said that everything he had learned about life could be summarised in three words: “It goes on.” The post Inspiral Loss Takes Sting out of Shoemark Pile-On appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

South African jockey breaks through with the ninth ride of his stint Down Under, delivering aboard Peridot Star for Phillip Stokes on MondayView the full article

West Coast (NZ) (Mettre en Jeu) may not have any black-type against his name, but he is proving to be one of best performers for his ill-fated sire Mettre en Jeu. On Saturday, West Coast etched his name into the history books when recording his third consecutive Grand National Steeplechase (5600m) victory at Riccarton Park for trainer Mark Oulaghan. It was the nine-year-old gelding’s 11th career victory, all over fences, and brought his earnings to just shy of $500,000. Breeders Nigel and Adaire Auret, of Letham Stud, were proud as punch watching West Coast’s historic feat from the comfort of their Wanganui property. West Coast is a son of their former resident stallion Mettre en Jeu and out of Grosvenor mare Testament, who they had acquired off Dan Myers several years earlier. “Dan (Myers) suggested she (Testament) might be a nice mating with Mettre En Jeu and he wasn’t wanting to use her at that particular time,” Nigel Auret said. “We went ahead and had about two or three out of her, including West Coast.” West Coast was initially trained by their son Hamish, for whom he had two unplaced starts before Awapuni trainer Mark Oulaghan enquired whether he could purchase the youngster. “Mark had Des de Jeu at the time and he asked if we would like to offload this one and get on with things. It worked out really well for all of us,” Auret said. “We have never really been into jumping, so good on Mark Oulaghan for spotting him and taking on the journey. “He was a nice horse, he just needed a bit of time, which Mark has obviously given him. It is no surprise that he is a nice, relaxed jumping horse.” His sire Mettre en Jeu had a solid race record himself, winning the Listed New Zealand Bloodstock Insurance Triple Crown Cup (2100m), and placed in the Gr.1 New Zealand Derby (2400m), Gr.2 Great Northern Guineas (2100m) and Gr.3 Waikato Guineas (2000m). The son of Monjeu retired to Letham Stud where he stood for eight seasons and has sired 40 individual winners to date, including Group Three winner La Fille En Jeu, stakes winner Plays The Game, Group Three performer Overtheriver, and stakes performer Wolfe Tone. “He was never a high-profile horse and did pretty well with the mares he ended up getting,” Auret said. “He was underrated.” Group One winner Unusual Suspect has been the sole stallion standing at Letham Stud over the last few seasons, with stakes winner Unusual Countess and Group Three performer Unusual Culture remaining his highest profile progeny, but plenty of others are leaving their mark on the track, primarily in Australia. “His progeny are going well in Australia, the Aussies love him,” Auret said. “Most of them are ending up there, there aren’t many racing in New Zealand.” “So Unusual won four in a row in Melbourne and he has got a lot of up-and-coming ones. She’s Unusual has had six starts for three wins and three seconds, so she is booming away over there. “Unusual Legacy is working up through the grades for Chris Waller pretty nicely. There is plenty to look forward to.” The breeding season is looming, however, Auret said Unusual Suspect will have a reduced workload this spring, serving just the farm’s own mares. “He’s getting older and I am getting older, so the two of us are trying to retire a little bit,” Auret quipped. “This season we are only going to serve our own mares, we aren’t going to serve any of the public’s. “He was a wonderful racehorse and his progeny are just so easy to deal with. They are relaxed, just like he is. They seem pretty sound and go really well over a trip, so it is working out nicely.” View the full article

Tony Pike is hoping to collect two wins in quick succession with Agera (NZ) (Complacent), who will back up from Saturday’s success into the Richard Bright Memorial (1550m) at Cambridge Synthetic on Wednesday. A son of Complacent, Agera faced a decent task in a fresh state at Te Rapa in early July when finishing fifth, but he was back in firing form a month later at the Waikato venue. Stepping up to a mile, Agera was given a comfortable run midfield by jockey Matt Cartwright before coming out on top in a thrilling five-way finish to the Rating 65 contest. Lightly-raced with just 10 starts under his belt as a five-year-old, Agera added a second victory to his record giving Pike confidence to push on to what is a sentimental race for the local horseman. “He probably was a bit unlucky fresh-up, getting caught three-wide and just peaked on his run late,” he said. “He’s been a little bit of an enigma and although his form has always been solid, it’s nice to get another win on the board. “We entered him in the Richard Bright Memorial just to see how he came through Saturday, we thought he could go close to winning and if he won well, it would be a nice race for him. “Although it’s a quick back-up, he’s trialled and done a lot of work at the poly track here at Cambridge so that shouldn’t worry him at all. “Obviously it’s a very good stake and I was a very good friend of Richard Bright’s as well, so it’s nice to have a runner in the race.” The win was the first for Cartwright on New Zealand soil after recently moving over from Australia, and he will take the ride aboard Agera again on at the midweek meeting. “He came to ride trackwork pretty much straight away on the Monday he arrived, and he’s been riding for us since then,” Pike said. “It’s great to give him an early win and get the monkey off his back which is great going into the spring. He should pick up plenty of rides going forward as some of the better horses start coming out. “He should be a good addition to the New Zealand riding ranks over the next few months.” Elsewhere, Pike will have a relatively quiet week on the racing front but is looking forward to a mix of his proven performers and up-and-coming prospects returning to the races in the coming weeks. “We’ll have another couple of trials then head to Hawke’s Bay on the 7th (of September), that will be our time to kick off the spring team,” he said. “We’ll be pretty busy from then on.” View the full article

Mark Oulaghan is among the most successful and humble figures in New Zealand jumps racing, a sport that witnessed a history-making performance by his stable star West Coast (NZ) (Mettre en Jeu) last Saturday at Riccarton Park. West Coast collected a phenomenal third-straight Grand National Steeplechase (5600m), an achievement never before achieved in the 149-year history of the event, while his younger stablemate Berry The Cash (NZ) (Jakkalberry) also went back-to-back in the Grand National Hurdles (4200m). Reflecting on a successful week in Christchurch, Oulaghan was pleased to defend the titles while adding some history to the iconic feature. “Everyone spoke about making history with the three wins, so to get that done was quite good,” Oulaghan said. “I take satisfaction out of developing horses as they race on through their careers, probably more so with jumpers than flat horses because there is a bit more involved. “West Coast had one or two dents in his armour earlier on in his career and didn’t settle that well, but I thought his run on Saturday was probably the best I’d ever seen him go. He jumped everything well, he was relaxed in a good rhythm and it was close to a perfect performance. “To see those two horses performing like that carrying topweights and as pretty short-priced favourites, it was right up there with one of my best days in racing.” Oulaghan has been travelling to the Grand National Festival for more than 25 years and has made plenty of his own history in that time, winning nine Steeplechase and six Hurdle crowns, the most of any trainer. “When we first started going there, there were a few more local horses going around and more races at the carnival. It’s hard to compare but they were quite hard to win back then, and maybe I didn’t have the horsepower that I have got now as well,” he said. “There hasn’t been a great deal of change otherwise, other than the middle day not including jump races anymore, it’s one of the last jumping carnivals that has really stuck to their guns. “It’s a shame to have lost the Wednesday, but even down to two days of jumping, if they can do that right and carry on, I can’t see why it can’t be a successful carnival in the years to come.” Growing up in Woodville around horses, Oulaghan had followed his father into racing with the guidance of a couple of local legends, including the late Eric Ropiha. “My father originally was a vet in Woodville, he used to do a lot of racehorses in the area and I followed him around a bit which got me into the racing side,” Oulaghan said. “I rode at pony club, went hunting and did a bit of show jumping and things like that, then the natural progression was starting off as an owner-trainer with Dad, we had a few horses together. “It was either racing or farming for me, as a younger person I was keen to go farming but one thing led to another and I got tied up with the horses and stuck to that. “When I started off, there was an old guy there called Ian Bradbury who trained quite a few nice jumpers and I learnt a bit off him. I was involved with Eric Ropiha as well, he had jumping horses too, so they were two that I picked up a few things from. “I started getting a few outside horses and got a public license. I was in Woodville until 1997 and had moderate success there, then I shifted over to Palmy and have been here ever since. “As far as the jumping side goes, my first one or two winners were on the flat, but we always had jumpers in the stable. The first jumper I had was called Borrowdale, he was by a stallion called Acharacle who was owned by Peter Brosnan’s dad Sam. “I’ve always had a handy jumper all the way through, the flagbearer for me was Rand (NZ) (Omnicorp) who raced in New Zealand and we took him overseas and he did pretty well there. I thought I wouldn’t find another like him, but these two horses (West Coast and Berry The Cash) are pretty close. “I’ve focussed on sticking to the basics, if you’ve got a sound horse and you can keep them sound, it’s just a matter of getting them fit and feeding them. Once they’re fit, they should be able to do the rest if they’ve got the heart and ability.” Oulaghan has earned plenty of respect in the flat racing role with Group One wins courtesy of Shadows Cast (NZ) (Per Incanto) and Who Shot Thebarman (NZ) (Yamanin Vital), while jumping has given several of his horses another avenue to succeed in their racing careers. “When I started training, flat racing was pretty competitive in the Central Districts and there were plenty of numbers. I couldn’t attract the better flat horses at that time, so to stay in the game you get success where you can, which is what we did in the jumping,” Oulaghan said. “Some of the flat horses we had weren’t quite up to scratch in that role, and the jumping side gave them another opportunity. “We had a lot of horses win one or two jumping races which was good, but then there was the likes of Counter Punch (NZ) (Yamanin Vital), Yourtheman (NZ) (Yamanin Vital) and these two now, who were just a cut above.” Former top jumps jockey Tommy Hazlett has been a notable figure in Oulaghan’s career, combining for 22 wins, a figure being hunted down by Portia Matthews, who has progressed swiftly in the riding ranks since working under the Awapuni horseman. “It’s always good to combine with people and achieve a common goal. It’s been good for those riders, but it’s also been good for me as a trainer,” Oulaghan said. “In the earlier days, I helped Chris Allen and Jo Rathbone get going in the riding game, so it’s pretty satisfying to see them succeed. Now with Portia, it’s great to see her achieving what she has. “Tommy was a pretty good rider when he started riding a bit for me. He came back from Australia and I felt his record there wasn’t as good as it could’ve been. When he got back here, he really hit his straps and went very well.” View the full article

Bevan and Robyn Wilson celebrated an almost perfect day at Riccarton with a family that has served them so well for decades. The Ashburton owner-trainers won races on Saturday with homebred half-brothers Victor Rouge and Victorian Charm while their half-sibling Lord Darci finished runner-up. “We were very pleased with the way they all went, they had been racing well apart from Lord Darci who had a bit of a hiccup in the Winter Cup (Gr.3, 1600m),” Bevan Wilson said. “It was nice to see him bounce back in a bit weaker company.” Burgundy’s son Victor Rouge is now a five-time winner, Charm Spirit gelding Victorian Charm has struck twice while Lord Darci, by Darci Brahma, has won four times and was runner-up in the 2023 Gr.3 Winter Cup (1600m). The trio are out of the High Chaparral mare Madam Victoria who was successful on eight occasions for the Wilsons. Her record featured Listed victories in the Warstep Stakes (2000m), NZB Insurance Stakes (1600m), NZB Airfreight Stakes (1400m) and Timaru Stakes (1400m). “We’ve been involved with the family right from the start when my father and I bought a filly at the old Claudelands Sale,” Wilson said. “Her name was Regalitas, she was trained by Pat Corboy and I was too young to be in the book so it was in my mother’s name and the family has all come from there.” Regalitas won five races in the mid-1970s and is the fourth dam of Madam Victoria. Other black type performers from the family they have enjoyed success with are the Gr.3 White Robe Lodge Handicap (1600m) winner Nearly Pal’s and his dual Listed winning half-sisters Bashful Lady and Royal Miss. Madam Victoria also has a daughter of Belardo and last season produced a filly by Circus Maximus before missing to Windsor Park Stud’s three-time Group One winner. “We just had to give up on the Belardo and she’ll be a broodmare,” said former All Black Wilson. “She was difficult but a lovely strong type, but there is a wee bit of a streak in them and she’s got every bit of it. “Madam Victoria is up at Windsor Park and we’ll decide whether we sell the Circus Maximus or bring her home and the mare will go back to the stallion this year. “We’ve got two or three more broodmares, but we will cut down. We’re just a bit far away and it’s tough going for a small breeder. “We would like to keep involved with this family, but we will also probably drop out of the training soon. “It’s a big tie and while we enjoy it, there are other things we’d like to have a crack at in retirement.” Wilson’s wife Robyn also has a lifetime involvement in the racing industry as the daughter of the late New Zealand Hall of Fame trainer Rex Cochrane. View the full article

What Hawkesbury Races Where Hawkesbury Race Club – 1 Racecourse Rd, Clarendon NSW 2756 When Tuesday, August 13, 2024 First Race 1:15pm AEST Visit Dabble Hawkesbury is the destination for NSW racing on Tuesday afternoon, with a competitive seven-part program set to kick off at 1:15pm local time. The rail is out +4m between the 1100m and 450m markers, while the remainder is in the true position. Some scattered showers are forecast in the lead-up, but punters should expect the Soft 5 surface at the time of acceptances to hold true. Best Bet at Hawkesbury: Mogul Monarch Back-to-back trial victories should have Mogul Monarch ready for a first-up assault. The winless three-year-old impressed in his most recent piece of work at this course on August 5, being pressed on to score by 1.6 lengths under Jay Ford. Barrier four should allow the son of Capitalist to gain the early ascendency, and with the conditions likely to suit, Mogul Monarch should be able to shirk the maiden tag at the third time of asking. Best Bet Race 3 – #7 Mogul Monarch (4) 3yo Colt | T: Kim Waugh | J: Jay Ford (56.5kg) +210 with Bet365 Next Best at Hawkesbury: Threatening Threatening produced a strong effort to find the minor money first-up at Canterbury on July 24. The Joseph Pride-trained gelding savaged the line after travelling worse than midfield throughout, suggesting an immediate step up in trip should suit the lightly raced four-year-old. He draws gate six to hold a position this time, and provided he can show a similar turn of foot turning for home, Threatening should be right in this when the whips are cracking. Next Best Race 4 – #7 Threatening (6) 4yo Gelding | T: Joseph Pride | J: Jay Ford (55kg) +200 with Unibet Next Best Again at Hawkesbury: After Match After Match couldn’t have been more impressive when breaking his maiden at this course and distance on July 21. The son of Zoustar sat outside the leader in the four-horse field before swiftly putting them away to by 3.6 lengths. He looked to have plenty left in the locker as he careered through the wire, and although this Class 1 contest has much more depth, expect After Match to continue his winning ways. Next Best Again Race 6 – #2 After Match (6) 3yo Colt | T: Peter Snowden | J: Jean Van Overmeire (57kg) +360 with Neds Hawkesbury Tuesday quaddie tips Hawkesbury quadrella selections Tuesday, August 13, 2024 4-7-11-14 1-5-7 2-4-6-8 3-4-9-10 | Copy this bet straight to your betslip Horse racing tips View the full article

SARATOGA SPRINGS, NY – The Fasig-Tipton New York-Bred Yearling Sale kicked off its two-day run with an abbreviated session featuring competitive bidding from start to finish Sunday evening in the Humphry S. Finney Pavilion in Saratoga. “It was a strong start to the 2024 Fasig-Tipton New York-Bred Yearling Sale,” said Fasig-Tipton President Boyd Browning, Jr. “There was very consistent trade from start to finish. I think the thing that was probably most encouraging tonight was the buy-back rate. This sale has traditionally had a little bit of a higher buy-back rate because the breeders have so many opportunities themselves to race these horses. So oftentimes, it is maybe more important for them to have a horse racing in New York than it is to get them sold and move to another state. It was very encouraging to see a very manageable RNA rate tonight.” From a catalogue of 100 yearlings, 87 went through the ring Sunday for a gross of $6,860,000. The session average was $103,939 and the median was $89,000. With 21 horses reported not sold, the buy-back rate was 24.1%. During last year's opening session, 53 horses sold for $5,999,000 for an average of $113,189 and a median of $100,000. The buy-back rate was 34.6%. “We don't make any bold predictions or comparisons with just one night,” Browning said. “We have 200 more to go [Monday]–we are a third of the way through the sale. There was very, very good trade tonight and we are looking forward to tomorrow.” Eddie Rosen and Jacob West | Fasig-Tipton Early in the session, Jacob West and Eddie Rosen, acting on behalf of Mike Repole, paid $300,000 for a colt by Constitution from the Elite consignment. That session-topping price was matched late in the day when trainer Christophe Clement purchased a son of Vekoma from the Taylor Made Sales Agency consignment. A total of 29 horses brought $100,000 or more during the session–the same number as last year's opening session. “We didn't have any “breakouts” tonight, but a bunch of horses sold for over $100,000,” Browning said. “We are pleased with the start and look forward to continue the positive momentum tomorrow.” The Fasig-Tipton New York-Bred Yearling Sale continues with a final session Monday with bidding beginning at noon. Constitution Colt Takes the Early Lead A colt by Constitution (hip 315) helped get the Fasig-Tipton New York-Bred Yearling Sale off to a strong start when selling to Mike Repole for $300,000 early in Sunday's session. Consigned by Elite, the yearling was bred by Ten Strike Racing. He is out of See the Forest (Forestry) and is a half to stakes winners Whittington Park (Midnight Lute), Critical Value (Bodemeister) and Looms Boldly (Goldencents). Hip 315 | Fasig-Tipton “Mike has been a great supporter of the [New York-bred program],” said Repole's advisor Eddie Rosen while seated alongside bloodstock agent Jacob West. “We breed here, we've stood stallions here. We are also hoping in this case that he is a horse who will compete in open competition. Being by Constitution makes you hope that he will be more than a New York-bred.” Ten Strike Racing's founding partner Marshall Gramm claimed See the Forest for $12,500 in 2010. Looms Boldly won the John Morrissey Handicap in the Ten Strike colors just three days ago. Of the process that led the team to bid on the yearling Sunday evening, West said, “When it all gets whittled down and whittled down, he was one that was near the top [of our list].” West came back 40-some hips later to acquire a colt from the first crop of Galilean (Uncle Mo) (hip 350) for $220,000 from the Eaton Sales consignment. The yearling is out of Three AM Tour (Ire) (Strategic Prince) and is a half-brother to stakes-winner Set (Oscar Performance). Clement Strikes Late for Vekoma Colt Trainer Christophe Clement got into the action late in Sunday's first session of the New York-bred Yearling sale, going to $300,000 to acquire a colt by fast-starting freshman sire Vekoma (hip 386) from the Taylor Made Sales Agency consignment. The chestnut is out of the unraced Alana's Allure (Shackleford) and is a half-brother to multiple stakes winner Allure of Money (Central Banker). The mare's 2-year-old Leon Blue (Mo Town) was a late-closing second in his debut at Saratoga July 24. Hip 386 | Fasig-Tipton “He looked fast,” Clement said when asked about the yearling's appeal. “It was probably too much money, but we are keeping the dream alive. I liked him very much. He looked very athletic. My son Miguel told me about him. At the moment, I bought him on spec, so I need to find some owners to help me and support me and we will go from there. He is a lovely horse.” In addition to his 13 winners, Vekoma's first crop of 2-year-olds includes stakes winner Louisiana Jess and stakes-placed Bella Sorella and Fortuna Mia. “I train one Vekoma who I like,” Clement said. “But this is a very live family. One horse just won very well from the same family. And unfortunately that's the way it is. You always have to overpay for what you like.” Good Luck Farm purchased the yearling for $100,000 at last year's Fasig-Tipton New York Mixed Sale. The post Pair of $300k Colts Pace Solid Opener to Fasig-Tipton New York-Bred Yearling Sale appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Group 1 winner Amelia’s Jewel. Since being transferred to the Annabel Neasham & Rob Archibald barn in the winter, former Western Australia Group 1 winning mare Amelia’s Jewel has stepped out for the first time at Warwick Farm on Monday morning. She was sent around in heat four on the course proper, with Tommy Berry doing the steering over the 900m journey. The daughter of Siyouni was pushed forward early to sit outside the leader before cruising through the wire under her own steam to finish in second place, while the Michael Freedman-trained Ducasse sat three wide to score by a head under Zac Lloyd. The five-year-old looks on song for a return, with the Group 1 Memsie Stakes (1400m) on August 31 earmarked as her return date in preparation for a lengthy spring campaign. Amelia’s Jewel currently sits on the fourth line of betting as a $15.00 chance with online bookmakers for Victoria’s first Group 1 of the season. Meanwhile, the Ciaron Maher-trained Semana caught the eye in the opening trial of the morning, scoring an impressive four-length victory over 1000m with Dylan Gibbons in the saddle. The Group 1 Tatt’s Tiara (1400m) runner-up was far too strong with residual fitness from her trip to Queensland, making every post a winner to stamp herself as a genuine contender for the Group 1 Winx Stakes (1400m) on August 24. Semana shares the third line of betting at $8.00 alongside Celestial Legend for the Winx Stakes, while Fangirl is still a firm favourite at $2.70 for the first Group 1 of the 2024/25 season. Horse racing news View the full article

Muramasa ridden by Daniel Moor winning the 2023 Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Flemington. (Photo by Brett Holburt/Racing Photos) Muramasa remains on track for the Group 1 Melbourne Cup (3200m), despite some lacklustre performances in the autumn, according to co-trainer Trent Busuttin. The five-year-old gelding, a dual Group 3 winner last spring, struggled with an eighth-place finish in the Group 2 Blamey Stakes (1600m) and a fourth-place finish in the Listed Victoria Gold Cup (2000m) during his brief autumn campaign. “The big dream is the Melbourne Cup, but he needs to get back to his spring form,” Busuttin, who trains in partnership with Natalie Young, told Racing.com. “Over autumn, he didn’t run well in his two races, and he didn’t trial well either, so we pulled the pin. “He was due to kick off in the Heatherlie at Caulfield over 1700 metres (on August 29), but he got a temperature spike, and it knocked him around a little. “But he’s ready to go, and he’ll run at Flemington over the same distance on September 14.” Horse racing news View the full article

Arkansaw Kid. (Photo: George Sal/Racing Photos) Co-trainer Ben Hayes is optimistic that a gelding operation will help Group 1 Blue Diamond Stakes (1200m) placegetter Arkansaw Kid reach his full potential at the top level. The four-year-old gelding impressed on Friday morning with a win in an 800-metre jump-out at Flemington. His rider, Mark Zahra, who guided him to a second-place finish in the Group 2 Sandown Guineas (1600m) last season, reported positive changes in the horse. “Mark Zahra said he’s a different horse as a gelding and we’re very happy with him,” said Ben Hayes, who trains in partnership with his brothers JD and Will. “I think he’s got the ability to be able to do it (at Group 1 level), and I really feel as a gelding there’ll be a big change in him.” Arkansaw Kid is expected to kick off his campaign in this Saturday’s Listed Regal Roller Stakes (1200m) at Caulfield. “We’ve always really liked him. He’s just a good-looking horse, he’s got a good physique on him, and he’s got the ability,” Hayes added. “He’s shown ability at home, and he’s converted it to the racetrack as well. “He’s now a gelding, he’s got a lot of racing left in him, and they can improve (once gelded).” Horse racing news View the full article

Consigned by Tom McCrocklin, the 2-year-old didn't breeze at the 2024 OBS March Sale of 2-Year-Olds in Training, nonetheless impressing buyers and bringing the third-highest price at the sale.View the full article