Wandering Eyes

4th-BAQ, 85k, Msw, 2yo, f, 6 1/2f, 2:37 p.m. ET Irresistible (Munnings), a half-sister to GISW Kingsbarns (Uncle Mo), debuts for Todd Pletcher. The $700,000 KEESEP yearling is owned in partnership by Bass Stables and Cheyenne Stables. Ricardo Santana, Jr. rides. Ms Sophistication (Into Mischief), a $525,000 EASMAY 2-year-old purchase by Colts Neck Stables, also gets her career started here. The daughter of GSP Divine Elegance (Uncle Mo) has been working sharply for her debut. The field of nine also includes Glen Hill Farm's $500,000 KEESEP yearling purchase The Happy Tree (Uncle Mo), a full-sister to narrow GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies runner-up Donna Veloce. TJCIS PPS The post Saturday’s Racing Insights: Half-Sister to Kingsbarns Debuts in New York appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

As we race into the fall championship season, there are 17 major Eclipse Award titles on the line (excluding the media categories). Whether it is Horse of the Year, leading trainer, or jockey–the final scripts are still unwritten. At the end of the calendar year, three finalists in each category are selected. The 200 or so voting members will then cast their ballots and a single winner in each category will receive the Eclipse Award. There is one significant exception to this process and that is the award for Horseplayer of the Year. The question is–WHY? Since 2004, with the strong urging of Steven Crist, a Horseplayer Eclipse Award has rightly been presented which recognizes the nation's best handicapper. Since then, this Eclipse Award has been automatically given to the champion of the NTRA's National Handicapping Championship. But the handicapping contest landscape in 2025 is far different than in 2004. There are now dozens of major handicapping tournaments that generate millions of dollars in pari-mutuel revenues for the industry and the organizations that conduct them (primarily racetracks). For instance, the Breeders' Cup Betting Challenge (BCBC) is widely recognized amongst horseplayers as the elite live money tournament of the year, with an entry fee of $10,000 and it generates over $8 million in handle and awards over $1.6 million in prize money. Numerous tournaments are conducted at Santa Anita, NYRA, Keeneland, Del Mar, Monmouth Park, Churchill Downs, Gulfstream Park, Kentucky Downs, and many other sites. These events attract hundreds and thousands of players, mostly wagering real money through the pari-mutuel pools–thereby creating revenues for the racetracks, horsemen and breeders' groups. These live money events mimic what happens daily at every racetrack in the country. It is time to acknowledge that the Horseplayer of the Year should be decided in much the same manner as the other Eclipse Awards, with three finalists to choose from. Doing so would better reflect the depth of handicapping talent in our sport. While the $2 Win/Place format has its place at the NHC, other tournament formats demonstrate both handicapping and wagering skills prized by most horseplayers. For example, one finalist could be the NHC winner, another finalist could be the BCBC champion and the third could be the NHC Tour winner or another choice based on a formula that recognizes overall achievement throughout the year in the other tournaments. The Eclipse Awards should honor the best of the best, but the current process for selecting Horseplayer of the Year has become outdated. The industry recognizes that horseplayers are a key element of this sport, and their wagering dollars are the lifeblood of this business. It is time to modernize the Horseplayer of the Year Eclipse category to provide a selection process that recognizes the multiple skills found in the horseplayer community. Kenneth Kirchner has been instrumental in the development of handicapping tournaments, managing the NHC for its first seven years (2000-07); authorizing the first online tourney site (nhcqualify.com); and creating the BCBC in 2009. He continues his involvement though Kentucky Downs Racing. The post Letter to the Editor: Time to Change Eclipse Award Selection for Horseplayer of the Year appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Saturday, Newbury, post time: 15:15, THE DUBAI DUTY FREE MILL REEF STAKES (IN HONOUR OF GEOFF LEWIS)-G2, £130,000, 2yo, 6fT Field: Flying Comet (GB) (Havana Grey {GB}), Gold Queen Kindly (Ire) (Lope De Vega {Ire}), Into The Sky (Ire) (Starman {GB}), Rock On Thunder (Ire) (Night Of Thunder {Ire}), Rydale Frosty (GB) (Havana Grey {GB}), Sands Of Spain (Ire) (Sands Of Mali {Fr}), Watcha Snoop (Ire) (Coulsty {Ire}), Words Of Truth (GB) (Lope De Vega {Ire}). TDN Analysis: Newbury has a tendency, for whatever reason, to play host to wide-margin winners who don't always back up their performances elsewhere so all eyes are on Into The Sky who encouraged investment from Doreen Tabor following his 7 1/2-length debut in Berkshire. Godolphin's Words Of Truth comes off professional wins at Ascot and Newmarket, with Watcha Snoop in second on the latter occasion before his own breakthrough at Ascot. Rock On Thunder is the form pick, having run second in the Gimcrack and his trainer rates him highly so this could be a simple case of experience and class telling. [Tom Frary]. Saturday, Newbury, post time: 13:30, THE DUBAI INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT WORLD TROPHY-G3, £85,000, 3yo/up, 5f 34yT Field: Rumstar (GB) (Havana Grey {GB}), Cover Up (Ire) (Exceed And Excel {Aus}), Grand Grey (Ire) (Havana Grey {GB}), Kerdos (Ire) (Profitable {Ire}), Montassib (GB) (Exceed And Excel {Aus}), Rage Of Bamby (Ire) (Saxon Warrior {Jpn}), Shagraan (Ire) (Sioux Nation), Balmoral Lady (Ire) (Invincible Army {Ire}), Habooba (Nyquist), First Instinct (GB) (Bated Breath {GB}), Queen All Star (Ire) (Holy Roman Emperor {Ire}). TDN Analysis: This sees the belated seasonal bow of last year's Haydock Sprint Cup hero Montassib and everything points to this being a sharpener ahead of bigger autumn targets. Five-furlong specialist Rumstar bids for a third Group 3 of the campaign and while he has a penalty for his recent exploits, he defied that at Sandown in July and this is distinctly winnable. [Tom Frary]. Saturday, Ayr, post time: 15:00, THE LADBROKES 'GET REWARDED WITH LADBUCKS' FIRTH OF CLYDE STAKES-G3, £65,000, 2yo, f, 6fT Field: Anaisa (GB) (Ardad {Ire}), Argentine Tango (GB) (Mattmu {GB}), Catching The Moon (Ire) (No Nay Never), Come On Eibhlin (Ire) (Space Blues {Ire}), Coming Attraction (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}), Dandana (GB) (Blue Point {Ire}), Figjam (Ire) (Dandy Man {Ire}), India Love (GB) (Havana Grey {GB}), Isle Of Fernandez (GB) (Lope Y Fernandez {Ire}), Lam Yai (Ire) (Lucky Vega {Ire}), Lightning Polka (GB) (Night Of Thunder {Ire}), Mood Queen (Ire) (Kodiac {GB}), Rogue Attraction (Ire) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}), Solana Rose (Ire) (Mehmas {Ire}), Wateen (Ire) (Profitable {Ire}). TDN Analysis: The Royal runner Lightning Polka was impressive on debut at Haydock and is bred to be Group-class, as is Coming Attraction whose dam Clem Fandango had her finest hour at this track. The Henrys and the Richard Fahey stable combine with another potential luminary in Catching The Moon, who was impressive at Beverley last month, while the established blue-collar Pattern-race performer Argentine Tango and Lowther fourth Dandana bring the smart summer form into the picture. [Tom Frary]. Saturday, Gowran, post time: 14:52, DENNY CORDELL LAVARACK & LANWADES STUD FILLIES'STAKES-G3, €36,000, 3yo/up, f/m, 9f 100yT Field: Fleur De Chine (GB) (Study Of Man {Ire}), Higher Leaves (Ire) (Golden Horn {GB}), Lady Lunette (Ire) (Buratino {Ire}), Lemsairbat (Fr) (Bated Breath {GB}), Purple Lily (Ire) (Calyx {GB}), Thalara (Ire) (Awtaad {Ire}), Zora (Fr) (Toronado {Ire}), And So To Bed (IRe) (Kodiac {GB}), Deressa (Ire) (Zarak {Fr}), Easy Mover (Ire) (Wootton Bassett {GB}), Faiyum (GB) (Frankel {GB}), Offshore Bay (Ire) (New Bay {GB}), She's A Nation (Ire) (Sioux Nation), Sweet Chariot (Ire) (Wootton Bassett {GB}). TDN Analysis: Juddmonte's unexposed Faiyum looks an even brighter prospect after her G3 Jannah Rose Stakes conqueror Barnavara ran away with the Blandford on Sunday and this looks a nice opportunity. The Listed Ruby Stakes winner Thalara and last year's Irish Oaks third Purple Lily come into this with contrasting profiles this term, with a visor employed on the latter. [Tom Frary]. Saturday, Chantilly, France, post time: 13:58, PRIX ECLIPSE – FONDS EUROPEEN DE L'ELEVAGE-G3, €73,200, 2yo, 6fT Field: Ulymine (Fr) (Penny's Picnic {Ire}), Samangan (Ire) (Blue Point {Ire}), Graft (Ire) (U S Navy Flag), No Remorse (Fr) (Mehmas {Ire}), Wor Faayth (Ire) (Ardad {Ire}), Daisy Daisy (GB) (Bated Breath {GB}), Ceramic (Ire) (Lope De Vega {Ire}), Royal Bay Cen (Ire) (New Bay {GB}). TDN Analysis: British contender Wor Faayth, who annexed July's Listed Criterium du Bequet at Bordeaux, was not disgraced when eighth in York's G2 Lowther Stakes last month and sets the standard here. Ulymine ran sixth in the former contest and has since posted a clear-cut win at Deauville. Other threats include G2 Prix du Calvados fourth Ceramic, G3 Prix Six Perfections fourth Royal Bay Cen and stakes-winning G3 Prix d'Arenberg fourth Graft. Peter Player's Daisy Daisy stepped off a claiming score to snag a Deauville conditions heat in August, while Samangan finished two lengths ahead of No Remorse when the pair met at on the Normandy coast last month. [Sean Cronin]. Saturday, Chantilly, France, post time: 15:50, PRIX DES CHENES – FONDS EUROPEEN DE L'ELEVAGE-G3, €73,200, 2yo, c/g, 8fT Field: Synaran (Ire) (Mehmas {Ire}), Ikotofetsy (Fr) (Threat {Ire}), Segall (Ire) (Sottsass {Fr}), Oceans Four (GB) (Zoustar {Aus}), Rochfortbridge (Ire) (Mehmas {Ire}), Canalejas (Fr) (Armor {GB}), Elastic (Fr) (Lope De Vega {Ire}). TDN Analysis: Andre Fabre nominee Segall rocks up for this black-type debut returning off a TDN Rising Star display, four lengths ahead of the reopposing subsequent winner Synaran, at Saint-Cloud in early June and will attempt to extend the maestro's record haul in this contest to 11. However, this is no straightforward task and his opposition includes G3 Solario Stakes demotee Oceans Four, who will bid to become a rare overseas winner here, and July's Listed Prix des Jouvenceaux et des Jouvencelles third Canalejas. Christophe Ferland trainee Elastic is match-fit coming back off a decisive win at Saint-Cloud earlier in the month and should not be overlooked, while Ikotofetsy and Rochfortbridge both ran fourth in Group 3 heats when last seen. [Sean Cronin]. Saturday, Chantilly, France, post time: 17:00, PRIX BERTRAND DE TARRAGON – FONDS EUROPEEN DE L'ELEVAGE-G3, €73,200, 3yo/up, f/m, 9fT Field: Zabeel Light (Fr) (City Light {Fr}), Iradie (Fr) (Sommerabend {GB}), Waldora (Fr) (Waldgeist {GB}), Riyabovka (Fr) (Saxon Warrior {Jpn}), Royal Dress (Ire) (Night Of Thunder {Ire}), Mme Jourdain (Ire) (Kodiac {GB}), Euboa (Fr) (Soldier Hollow {GB}), Zuna (Fr) (Kizuna {Jpn}), Al Uqda (Ire) (Ghaiyyath {Ire}), American Gal (GB) (Kameko), Mqse Des Nymphes (GB) (Saxon Warrior {Jpn}), Relaxx (Fr) (City Light {Fr}), Place Fontenoy (Fr) (War Command). TDN Analysis: Godolphin's Ilda Rosa was a neck shy of leading German distaffer Santagada when second in July's G3 Hamburger Stuten Meile and, last seen running third in La Teste's Listed Prix Occitanie, is due an upturn in fortune after four placings at black-type level this term. May's G2 German 1,000 Guineas third Place Fontenoy ran second in the latter contest, while other leading contenders in this open renewal include the dual Group 3-placed Relaxx, Listed Prix de la Cochere runner-up Zabeel Light, G3 Prix Allez France third Euboa and Listed Prix Zarkava victrix Zuna. The British raiding party consists of G1 Prix de Diane seventh American Gal and G1 Prix Jean Romanet eighth Royal Dress. [Sean Cronin]. Sunday, Dortmund, Germany, post time: 16:20, WETTSTAR.DE – 141ST DEUTSCHES ST LEGER-G3, €55,000, 3yo/up, 14fT Field: Caballo De Mar (Ire) (Phoenix Of Spain {Ire}), Kampfer (Ger) (Protectionist {Ger}), Lordano (Ger) (Adlerflug {Ger}), Padre Palou (Ger) (Mastercraftsman {Ire}), Tex Lot (Ger) (Camelot {GB}), Waldnebel (Ger) (Reliable Man {GB}), Asmira (Ger) (Isfahan {Ger}). TDN Analysis: Gestut Ittlingen's homebred Lordano, the winner here in 2023, will head postward as a warm order for this stamina test coming back off a narrow victory in June's G2 Grosser Preis der Badischen Wirtschaft at Baden-Baden. His main domestic rivals are July's G3 Furstenberg-Rennen victor Padre Palou and G1 Deutsches Derby eighth Waldnebel, with the latter stepping up to this trip for the first time. George Scott trainee Caballo De Mar, runner-up in Royal Ascot's Copper Horse Handicap, is the lone overseas challenger. Three-year-old filly Asmira receives a full house of weight concessions and will need them in this first outing beyond 12 furlongs. [Sean Cronin]. Sunday, Bro Park, Sweden, post time: 17:10, STOCKHOLM CUP INTERNATIONAL-G3, SKr1,000,000, 3yo/up, 12fT Field: Moon String (Ire) (El Kabeir), Espen Hill (Swe) (Helsinki), Claymore (Fr) (New Bay {GB}), Captain Chorus (GB) (Paco Boy {Ire}), Nastaria (GB) (Outstrip {GB}), Lion's Head (Ger) (Protectionist {Ger}), Admiral De Vega (GB) (Lope De Vega {Ire}), Ami De Vega (Ire) (Lope De Vega {Ire}), Hard One to Please (Ire) (Fast Company {Ire}), Cotton Eye Joe (Den) (Appel Au Maitre {Fr}), Grandpa's Prince (GB) (Oasis Dream {GB}), Quebello (Ger) (Sea the Moon {Ger}). TDN Analysis: Lope De Vega's Group 3 winners Admiral De Vega and Ami De Vega, the latter finishing fifth here last year, are among the leading contenders for the highlight of a stakes-laden programme in Sweden. Admiral De Vega ran third in Ovrevoll's G3 Marit Sveaas Minnelop last month and Ami De Vega was last seen finishing second to G3 Deutsches St Leger nominee Padre Palou in Hoppegarten's G3 Furstenberg-Rennen. Previous winners Espen Hill and Hard One To Please are back for more in a line-up of the usual suspects, while Jane Chapple-Hyam ships in recent Kincsem Dij winner Claymore for his Scandivanian debut. [Sean Cronin]. Sunday, Hannover, Germany, post time: 14:50, GROSSER PREIS DER PRIVATBANK ODDO BHF – JUNIOREN-PREIS-Listed, €25,000, 2yo, 8fT Field: Abdulhamid (Ire) (Camelot {GB}), Asalet (Ger) (Best Solution {Ire}), Dalyan (Fr) (Romanised {Ire}), Loucas (Ger) (Best Solution {Ire}), Lady Liva (GB) (Lope Y Fernandez {Ire}), Soreanga (Ger) (Siyouni {Fr}). TDN Analysis: With all six contenders making their black-type debut and half the field being maidens, undefeated Krefeld winner Loucas sets the standard in a typically open renewal of this juvenile contest. Henk Grewe entry Dalyan and Polish challenger Lady Liva are the others with winning form in the book. Of the maidens, Gestut Fahrhof's once-raced homebred Soreanga appears best placed to make the breakthough. [Sean Cronin]. Click here for the complete fields. The post Black-Type Analysis: Rock On Thunder the Form Pick in Newbury’s Mill Reef appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

The cars scooting along on the nearby Pennsylvania Turnpike may have little from a speed standpoint on Saturday's GI Pennsylvania Derby in Northeast Philly, as the pace looks to be very much on and that could help those with stalking or closing ability in the final age-restricted Grade I of the season around two turns. But make no mistake: speed has been king–by and large–in the $1-million contest over the past dozen years or so. The Bob Baffert-trained Bayern (Offlee Wild)–next-out winner of a much-discussed GI Breeders' Cup Classic–future champion West Coast (Flatter) and McKinzie (Street Sense) each gave their rivals a galloping lesson more or less from the front, while Hot Rod Charlie (Oxbow), Saudi Crown (Always Dreaming) and Seize the Grey (Arrogate) also led throughout in the last few renewals. While the Parx main track can be friendly to those types of horses, the likes of champion and Classic runner-up Will Take Charge (Unbridled's Song), Frosted (Tapit) and the Baffert-trained 'TDN Rising Star' Taiba (Gun Runner) came with a run from midpack or thereabouts to take down the lion's share of the prize money. After being added to this year's GI Kentucky Derby field at the 11th hour, $1.2-million Keeneland September purchase Baeza (McKinzie) closed into a strong pace to finish third behind Sovereignty (Into Mischief), but he lacked the necessary finish when staying on for third in the GI Belmont Stakes, though he was always within shouting distance. Much handier to the speed in the GII Jim Dandy Stakes, the bay nevertheless dropped a third straight decision to the champion 3-year-old elect on July 26, and it remains to be seen what sort of trip he might sit on Saturday from an outside gate. One thing is for sure. Baeza is doing as well as he can in the week since his arrival in the City of Brotherly Love. “He has settled right in and is feeling good,” trainer John Shirreffs told the Parx media team. “Once he gets into a routine, he is OK. One thing we have seen with Baeza is that he handles different tracks. This would be a great race to win. Grade I, a million dollars. There is a lot on the line.” Seize the Grey upset last year's Preakness before causing a bit of an upset here 12 months ago, and this year's runner-up at Old Hilltop, Gosger (Nyquist), will have his fair share of backers on Saturday. The GIII Stonestreet Lexington Stakes hero looked to have the Preakness all sewn up but for an other-worldly finish from Journalism (Curlin) and it was deja vu all over again in the GI Haskell Invitational Stakes last time, as the Californian found his best stride in the nick of time. Trainer Brendan Walsh is hopeful that the gray colt can finally get over the Grade I hump. “I hope so; at this stage I'd say he probably deserves to get one,” said Walsh, who also saddles the less-exposed Nyquist colt David of Athens for Wathnan Racing. “He's run two really, really good races. He's done nothing wrong since he started. He's only run what, five times now, and hasn't been worse than second. This race sets up good for him. Plenty of speed in there. It looks like a similar setup to the Haskell.” 'TDN Rising Star' Goal Oriented (Not This Time) has that speedy profile of those former Baffert trainees listed above and his close third in the Haskell–on the back of a fourth in the Preakness–suggested he can run with this kind of horse. “He's getting better. He's a big beautiful horse,” Baffert said of the $425,000 KEESEP grad. “He's going to have to improve. They're all improving.” Big Truzz (Justify) was named a 'TDN Rising Star' on 6 1/2-furlong debut at Keeneland in April, but dropped his next three before dominating the Aug. 10 Ellis Park Derby by seven lengths going that track's modified one-turn mile. Mo Plex (Complexity) won the GIII Ohio Derby June 21, but stumbled at the start of the Jim Dandy and dropped away to finish better than 10 lengths adrift of Sovereignty in fourth. Joe Ramos, who was in the irons at Thistledown, makes the trip to the Keystone State. Good Cheer Shoots For Oaks/Cotillion Double The $1-million GI Cotillion Stakes serves as a mouth-watering appetizer for the Derby about 45 minutes later and brings together three of the best sophomore fillies in training not named Nitrogen (Medaglia d'Oro). Godolphin's Good Cheer (Medaglia d'Oro) was a bit of a later-starting sort at two, but ran the table in four starts, including the GII Golden Rod Stakes in late November. Dominating winner of the GII Rachel Alexandra Stakes and GII Fair Grounds Oaks, the homebred daughter of Wedding Toast (Street Sense) ran her winning streak to seven in a sloppy renewal of the GI Kentucky Oaks and looks to snap a baby two-race skid here. She cuts back to nine panels off a second to Nitrogen in the GI Alabama Stakes and looks to join the likes of Ashado, Plum Pretty, Untapable and last year's winner Thorpedo Anna as those to complete the Oaks/Cotillion double. “I'm hoping for a little bit better set up in the race Saturday as opposed to the Alabama,” said trainer Brad Cox, who has somewhat surprisingly yet to win the Cotillion. “Just not a lot of pace last time to run into. But she ran well. It was a very good effort. If we can get that effort with a better setup, we're in good position. On paper, we could get that set up. We never really know until we run the race. But this race looks like it could set up for her maybe a touch better than the Alabama did.” Good Cheer | Equi-Photo La Cara (Street Sense) wired the GI Central Bank Ashland Stakes in April, but faded to ninth in the Oaks before bouncing back with a 7-1 upset from the front in the GI Acorn Stakes June 6. This trip is likely more suitable for her than the Alabama, where she weakened out to be a distant fourth. The rail-drawn Scottish Lassie (McKinzie) could kick off a very productive hour for her sire and if her 15 1/2-length romp in the GI CCA Oaks going this distance is a true indication of where she's at, the others may be running for second. That said, she got away with a fairly comfortable pace at Saratoga and there appears to be other quality speed signed on this time around, though she does not need the lead to be effective. “There is a lot of pressure and a lot of nerves,” her trainer Jorge Abreu said. “I feel pressure, but I feel pressure going into every race. Every time I try this filly in a Grade I, she shows up. Nothing bothers her.” To the extent it is relevant, Alabama third Dry Powder (Gun Runner) returned to rout Ourdaydreaminggirl (Instagrand) in the local Cathryn Sophia Stakes on Aug. 19. In the afternoon's other graded events, Barnes (Into Mischief) looks squarely the one to beat in the GII Gallant Bob Stakes dropping out of a good third in the GI H. Allen Jerkens Stakes at the Spa Aug. 23, while Digital Ops (Nyquist) will try to make all from the fence in the GIII Greenwood Cup Stakes over a three-turn mile and a half. Breeders' Cup Berth On the Line In Princess Rooney Trainer Saffie Joseph, Jr. sent out Soul of an Angel (Atreides) to upset the 2024 GI Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Sprint and the conditioner will be represented by three of the remaining seven runners for Saturday's GIII Princess Rooney Stakes with an all-expenses paid trip to Del Mar up for grabs. Mystic Lake (Mo Town) would otherwise figure a strong favorite in the race, but she is set to be scratched in favor of Saturday's Liberty Bell Stakes at Parx. In her absence, Claret Beret (Not This Time) could be the one they have to beat off a near 20-length romp going a mile here on May 11 in her first start since being transferred from trainer Greg Compton and a close runner-up effort to the classy Vahva (Gun Runner) in the GII Chicago Stakes at Churchill Downs June 21. She was eased home when well-bet in the GI Ballerina Stakes at Saratoga Aug. 23, but has worked well since and is a bounce-back candidate. Joseph, Jr. also sends out GIII Vagrancy Stakes heroine, the Arkansas-bred Haulin Ice (Coal Front) and Ultimate Authority (Practical Joke), a two-time winner and Grade II-placed from eight starts in California for Tim Yakteen and making her first start for the barn. Sophomore Fillies Center Stage In NY, KY Three-year-old fillies get a crack at graded stakes company two-turning on the grass at Aqueduct and sprinting over main track at Churchill Downs in the GIII Winter Memories Stakes and GIII Dogwood Stakes, respectively, Saturday afternoon. Chad Brown and the late Christophe Clement have each trained three winners of the Winter Memories, and the former has a couple of chances to build on that record Saturday. Opulent Restraint (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}), the daughter of the talented three-time graded winner Significant Form (Creative Cause), is winless in four starts this season and is exiting third-place efforts in the GI Belmont Oaks Invitational at Saratoga July 5 and in the GII Saratoga Oaks Invitational Stakes on Aug. 9. Interestingly, Flavien Prat deserts the rail runner in favor of Griselda (Fr) (City Light {Fr}), who one just once from five starts in France, but faced males in four of those outings, including a listed-placing on her final European appearance last November. The chestnut defeated her peers in a one-mile Saratoga allowance on U.S. debut Aug. 6. May Day Ready (Tapit) reunites with Frankie Dettori after carrying Jose Ortiz to a front-running victory in the GII Lake Placid Stakes at the Spa on Aug. 23. The Dogwood has attracted a field of eight, topped by a pair of 'TDN Rising Stars'. Godolphin's Ragtime (Union Rags) opened her account at first asking at odds of 9-1 and took a July 5 allowance at Saratoga before just missing in the Aug. 2 GI Test Stakes. Bill Mott takes the blinkers off and Junior Alvarado is in for the ride. Rigney Racing's Delightful Claire (Thousand Words) was a debut third at this venue June 8, then overwhelmed a field of Saratoga maidens by 9 1/4 lengths Aug. 2. Odds-on for the Test, the $250,000 Fasig-Tipton July graduate stumbled at the break and finished with interest for second. The post Baeza Rates The Marquee In Pennsylvania Derby appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Cherie DeVaux unleashed a classy gentleman on Churchill Downs Friday afternoon, and Englishman (Maxfield) strolled in to clock a blistering time as well as securing 'Rising Star' honors. Away from the blocks quickly, and out to control the tempo, he was tracked closely for most of the race by Tagermeen (Into Mischief), who has now run in three straight races against eventual 'TDN Rising Stars'–namely Curtain Call (Tiz the Law) and Ted Noffey (Into Mischief) in his prior two jumps. The latter won the GI Spendthrift Farm Hopeful Stakes while the former ran third. The 2-1 second choice behind Tagermeen, Englishman was traveling well up the backstretch and the pair distanced themselves from the field after an opening quarter in :22.27. After a half in :44.74, he had the measure of that one as they swung for home with six panels posted in 1:08.70. Kicking away in the stretch, Englishman strolled home the easiest of winners to stop the clock in 1:21.35 for seven furlongs on the main track. It was 7 1/4 lengths back to second as Tagermeen was caught late for the runner-up spot in a photo with White Tiger (Constitution). Englishman is Maxfield's third 'Rising Star' and second in North America behind Five Bars at Saratoga last month. The stallion also has one in Japan in Magna Victor. The victor is the most recent to the races for his dam, herself a daughter of SW & MGISP All Due Respect (Value Plus). In It for the Gold (Speightstown) has produced three winners counting Englishman and has two fillies in the wings–a yearling by Authentic and a 2025 Mandaloun. She was bred to Tiz the Law for 2026. Englishman dazzles on debut in R5 at @churchildowns for trainer @reredevaux with @jose93_ortiz aboard! #TwinSpiresReplay pic.twitter.com/LjDyFvfpxe — TwinSpires Racing (@TwinSpires) September 19, 2025 5th-Churchill Downs, $120,805, Msw, 9-19, 2yo, 7f, 1:21.35, ft, 7 1/4 lengths. ENGLISHMAN, c, 2, by Maxfield 1st Dam: In It for the Gold, by Speightstown 2nd Dam: All Due Respect, by Value Plus 3rd Dam: Aunt Due, Devil His Due Sales history: $240,000 Wlg '23 KEENOV; $400,000 Ylg '24 KEESEP. Lifetime Record: 1-1-0-0, $69,300. Click for the Equibase.com chart and VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV. Click for the free Equineline.com catalog-style pedigree. O-C R K Stable LLC; B-Fifth Avenue Bloodstock (KY); T-Cherie DeVaux. The post Maxfield’s Englishman a Dazzling ‘Rising Star’ for Freshman Sire appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

After competitive graded stakes losses in his only two races of 2025, Dresden Row lines up as the 6-5 morning-line favorite in the CA$150,000 Durham Cup Stakes (G3) Sept. 20 at Woodbine. View the full article

Immersive, champion 2-year-old filly of 2024, looks to get back in a winning groove with a class drop into the $175,000 Seneca Overnight Stakes Sept. 20 at Churchill Downs.View the full article

Four races not contested at Canterbury Park the evening of Sept. 18 due to inclement weather will be run Sept. 20. They will follow the existing races scheduled on Saturday, Canterbury's final day of its meet.View the full article

Observations on the European Racing Scene turns the spotlight on the best European races of the day, highlighting well-bred horses early in their careers, horses of note returning to action and young runners that achieved notable results in the sales ring. Saturday's Observations features a full-sister to Breeders' Cup hero Yibir. 1.00 Newmarket, Novice, 2yo, f, 8fT ROMANTIC SYMPHONY (Dubawi) debuts for Godolphin and Charlie Appleby in a race won by the stable with the subsequent Group winners Magic Lily and Beautiful Love in recent times. The ninth foal out of Rumh (Monsun), she is a full-sister to the elite-level winners Yibir and Wild Illusion. 1.22 Chantilly, Debutantes, 2yo, c/g, 8fT MUTANT KING (Kingman) debuts for White Birch Farm and the Francis-Henri Graffard stable and is a son of My Sister Nat (Acclamation). A half to Siyouni's Sottsass, Shin Emperor and Myboycharlie's Sistercharlie, she captured three Group and Graded-Stakes races and was placed three times at the highest level so connections will be keen to see this homebred in action. 1.42 Gowran Park, Mdn, 2yo, f, 8fT COSMETIC (Frankel) is one of two Aidan O'Brien runners in this maiden, won by the stable's high-class Pink Dogwood in 2018, and a daughter of Beauty Is Truth (Pivotal), who produced the Group 1-winning siblings Hydrangea, Hermosa and The United States by Frankel's sire Galileo. Wayne Lordan is on the once-raced Ice Dancer (Wootton Bassett), a full-sister to this year's Irish Derby runner-up Serious Contender, while the Rosegreen p5air encounter Yuesheng Zhang's unraced Noble Honour (Siyouni), a Jessica Harrington-trained half-sister to this year's Grand Prix de Paris hero Leffard (Le Havre). 2.33 Chantilly, Debutantes, 2yo, f, 8fT KYTHIRA (No Nay Never) is a significant runner for the Wertheimers and Christophe Ferland as a daughter of the Prix Maurice de Gheest heroine Polydream (Oasis Dream) who has already produced the stable's smart sprinter Polyvega (Lope De Vega). Also in here is Al Shira'aa Racing's €600,000 Arqana Deauville August purchase Dawn Eclipse (Wootton Bassett), a daughter of the Prix de Diane heroine Channel (Nathaniel) from the Mario Baratti stable. 3.50 Newbury, Novice, 2yo, 7fT VERITABLE (Dubawi) is another newcomer to take the eye on a day replete with them, being the second foal out of the Falmouth Stakes heroine Veracious (Frankel) whose first was Dubawi's Listed-winning TDN Rising Star Formal. Lining up against Cheveley Park Stud's John and Thady Gosden-trained homebred colt is Godolphin's fellow newcomer Castle Rock (Havana Grey), a Charlie Appleby-trained 650,000gns Tattersalls Craven Breeze-Up graduate. The post Godolphin Blueblood Romantic Symphony Kicks Off Saturday Bonanza appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

'Stigma and Suicide: Breaking the Silence to Save Lives' will be held at Eastern Kentucky University Perkins Conference Center on Friday, Sept. 26. Panelists from a variety of professional backgrounds, including Hall of Fame jockey Mike Smith, will discuss the problem of stigma as a barrier to help-seeking and what we can do to address it. Smith will also talk about the significance of stigma in the Thoroughbred industry and how it threatens the lives of jockeys and trainers alike. September is Suicide Prevention Month with Sept. 10 recognized as World Suicide Prevention Day. “At the EKU Psychology Clinic and Trauma and Suicide Prevention Specialty Clinic, our mission is to save lives—one client, one family, and one community at a time,” EKU Psychology Clinic Director, Dr. Theresa Botts said. “From comprehensive trauma assessments to specialized therapies, and outreach trainings, our clinicians help others become more trauma informed and responsive. Through suicide intervention treatments such as CAMS, and suicide prevention programs like ASIST, safeTALK, and QPR, we not only support individuals in crisis but also empower families and communities to recognize signs of suicidality, respond with courage and support, and bring hope where it feels lost. Every service we provide carries one unwavering promise: no one should face their darkest moments alone and our clinicians are here to help.” The post Hall of Fame Jockey Mike Smith a Panelist on ‘Stigma and Suicide’ Conference appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Following the recent retirement of David Maxwell from race-riding, Tattersalls Cheltenham will host the complete dispersal of the leading amateur jockey and owner's racing interests at Cheltenham Racecourse on Friday, October 24. Headlining the dispersal of 17 lots is the five-year-old El Cairos (No Risk At All), who finished an eye-catching fifth in the G1 Weatherbys Champion Bumper at this year's Cheltenham Festival, plus the six-year-old Queensbury Boy (Doyen), a dual winner as a novice hurdler when he also finished fifth in the G1 Champion Novice Hurdle at the Punchestown Festival. “I have been fortunate to enjoy many unforgettable days in the saddle, particularly at Cheltenham, and I am immensely proud of the string of horses we are offering,” said Maxwell. “With several genuine Cheltenham Festival prospects among them, I hope they will bring their new owners the same excitement and success they have given me. I am grateful to Tattersalls Cheltenham for staging this dispersal at the Showcase Meeting, which provides a fitting conclusion to my riding career and the perfect stage for the next chapter in these horses' journeys.” Shirley Anderson-Jolag, Tattersalls Cheltenham sales manager, added, “We are honoured that David has chosen Tattersalls Cheltenham for this dispersal. Staging the sale at the Showcase Meeting, at the home of jump racing, provides a fitting tribute to his remarkable career. With horses such as El Cairos and Queensbury Boy among the line-up, it presents buyers with a rare opportunity to secure outstanding prospects for the major jumps festivals ahead.” All lots will be stabled in the Charles Turner Yard and available for inspection from Thursday, October 23. The full catalogue is available to view here. The post Tattersalls Cheltenham to Stage David Maxwell Dispersal appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Edited Press Release The Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority (HISA) and Jockeys' Guild, in partnership with the Congressional Mental Health Caucus, co-hosted a mental health roundtable on Tuesday, Sept. 16, in the U.S. Capitol. The event brought together jockeys and professional athletes from women's soccer and football to share their personal experiences and highlight both the common and unique mental health challenges they face. “We are committed to keeping the dialogue going on mental health challenges for professional jockeys,” said HISA CEO Lisa Lazarus. “The more we talk about it, the more jockeys feel they can reach out for help. We want them to know that mental health is as important as physical health—and that support is available.” “The well-being of our members extends far beyond the racetrack,” said Terry Meyocks, President and CEO of Jockeys' Guild. “By bringing jockeys together with athletes from other sports, we can shed light on shared struggles, reduce stigma and ensure riders know that resources and support are within reach.” Roundtable participants included Hall of Fame jockey John Velazquez; retired jockeys Trevor McCarthy and Rosie Napravnik; retired NFL player and recovery advocate Montee Ball, Jr.; and Ashley Hatch, forward for the Washington Spirit of the National Women's Soccer League. U.S. Representatives Paul Tonko (NY-20) and Andy Barr (KY-06), both long-time supporters of HISA, also delivered remarks. Rep. Tonko, whose district includes Saratoga Race Course, spoke about his work as a member of the Congressional Mental Health Caucus. Rep. Barr, whose district includes Keeneland, highlighted the interaction of recovery and workforce development within the equine world by presenting Frank Taylor with a statement entered into the Congressional Record. The statement recognized Taylor's organization, Stable Recovery, for its extraordinary work helping people achieve sobriety and build careers in the equine industry. The post HISA and Jockeys’ Guild Host Professional Athlete Mental Health Roundtable in the U.S. Capitol appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

The Listed Prix Finot runner-up Fee Vivianne (lot 56B) topped Friday's Auctav National Hunt Sale when going the way of BLM Bloodstock, on behalf of Carlos de Sousa's Hamel Stud, for €120,000. The six-year-old daughter of Doctor Dino was offered in foal to Goliath du Berlais as part of a signficiant draft from Ecurie Sagara. She is out of an unraced full-sister to the Grade 1-winning sire Nickname, as well as the Grade 3 winner and sire Nom De D'La. Of the 138 lots offered, 66 sold (48%) for an aggregate sum of €872,000 and at an average of €13,212. The median was €7,500. The post Listed-Placed Mare Headlines Auctav NH Sale at €120,000 appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Myah Araki had accompanied her father, Nobu Araki, to plenty of sales while growing up in the heart of horse country in central Kentucky. Yet at this year's Fasig-Tipton Kentucky Winter Mixed Sale, held Feb. 3, what started as a simple trip to drop off a colt at the sales grounds led to a pivotal moment for the 12-year-old girl. “I said, 'You know what, let's look at [some horses] and see what we come out with.' So, we went to the Taylor Made Sales consignment and asked for an all-show. When we went back to the pavilion and sat down, I said, 'So, which one did you like?' And she had actually marked them in her book,” said Nobu. Leading up to the sale, Myah had been saving up her money earned while helping out on her family's farm with one goal: buying an early yearling to pinhook and resell at a yearling sale later in the year. Though her budget was modest, with $3,000 to spend at-most, Myah was determined to put in the work to find a prospect. In the end, it came down to a New York-bred Vino Rosso filly out of Union Tatters (Union Rags). Consigned by Taylor Made Sales, she had walked out of the ring a $7,500 RNA after failing to meet her reserve. “I called up Marshall [Taylor] and said, 'I only have two or three thousand to spend. It's not for me; it's for my daughter.' He called back and said, 'They'll take $3,000.' So, we went up and when I signed the ticket, I wrote 'Polo Green Stable, Agent for Myah Araki,'” explained Nobu. Nobu Araki with daughter Myah and wife Brenda, with Vino Rosso filly | Sara Gordon When they returned the following day to pick up Myah's new purchase, the young girl led the bay filly out of her stall and embraced her neck before walking her onto the trailer bound for her family's farm. In the months that have followed, Myah has spent day in and day out working with her filly—from hand-walking to grooming and assisting with the filming of the walking video—to prepare her for the Keeneland September Yearling Sale. It's been a special chapter for her parents, Nobu and Brenda, to witness and guide her through, reminiscent of their early days in the industry. Nobu was born in Toyota, Aichi, Japan. Though his father was involved in the Thoroughbred racing industry, Nobu did not pursue his own path into it until after college, when he returned home after time spent in Houston, Texas. He first worked for Dr. Masatake Iida of Chiyoda Farm, one of Japan's leading breeders and owners, before he returned to the states, this time as an intern for Taylor Made Farm in 1996. That experience not only led Nobu to a full-time role at Taylor Made for five years, but also to meeting his future wife, with Brenda working there as an intern the year after. In 2003, the couple purchased a 64-acre farm in Versailles, Kentucky, officially founding their own Polo Green Stable. It's a place where they've raised their daughters, Hannah and Myah, alongside generations of Thoroughbreds, both homebred and client-owned alike. Growing up on the farm instilled a sense of appreciation and homegrown work ethic in 12-year-old Myah, but the passion for the horses is something she developed all on her own. “While growing up, I've always really loved horses. We had a horse named Hishi Amazon, [a three-time Japanese champion], and she was probably the first horse that I ever rode. I've been riding since I was in diapers,” said Myah. “I really love being out in the countryside with all of the horses because I get to feel free. I didn't really like the city; it wasn't the place for me.” Though she's had riding horses, and a couple of miniature horses along the way, the Vino Rosso filly she purchased in February is the first horse she's owned herself. And it's something she's very proud of. “It was a little stressful saving up the money, but I was relieved when I got her. It's nice that I finally have my own horse. It's been exciting to work with her and get her ready for the sale. I didn't want to let her go, but it's the best for her,” said Myah. “There was just something in her eye that was really fascinating. She's so calm compared to all of the horses, yet she's so sassy. I learned how to walk her properly and I've also learned that different horses have different attitudes, which is interesting to me.” Already named Aphmau, the filly is part of the Taylor Made Sales consignment as Hip 4451, selling in the final session of the Keeneland September Sale on Saturday, September 20. Myah and her family will be on-hand to watch her sell. Though it will be bittersweet, the experience has been a special one for both Myah and her parents, watching the next generation grow before their eyes. “What I probably wish the most is that she goes home with a family that has a kid,” said Myah. The work that Myah has put in with the filly is apparent in the young horse's quiet demeanor, sensible behavior on the ground and overall kindness. And when it comes to the progress Myah has made herself as a young horsewoman, it gives Nobu a bigger hope for not only the future of their family's Polo Green Stable, but the industry as a whole. “When she works the whole day on the farm, I give her $20, and if she works a half-day, I give her $10. If she does a night feeding, I give her $5. I don't think she does it for the money, but I wanted to give her a preview of what it's like to work in this. That's how you survive in the future,” said Nobu. “I'm getting older, so is my wife, and I don't know if we're going to stop here or keep going. I've taught Myah to see how she does, helping her understand the industry. When I started in the '90s, there were not many women involved, and now there are more involved with plenty more opportunity. If we were talking 30 years ago, having the same conversation as a farm owner with a daughter, I don't know if they'd take over the farm. But now, I think we have a chance.” Just as the yearling sale season inspires excitement for the future racehorses to come, it also offers an opportunity for aspiring horsemen and horsewomen to establish themselves in the Thoroughbred industry. “I'm proud of her,” said Nobu, glancing over at his daughter in the aisle of their main barn. “Whether this filly is going to sell or not, I'm still proud, and that's the main part of this experience. So, we'll try to keep doing it.” The post 12-Year-Old Myah Araki Making Sale Debut, Offering Vino Rosso Filly At Keeneland September appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

The dates for the 2026 edition of La Route des Etalons have been confirmed, with breeders and racing fans having the opportunity to view many of France's leading stallions when the farms open their doors on Friday, January 23 and Saturday, January 24. More information regarding which farms will be taking part will be announced in December via the website. The post Save the Date for La Route des Etalons in 2026 appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Deuce Again, the dam of this year's G1 Champion Hurdle heroine Golden Ace, has been added to the Goffs December NH Sale, which takes place from December 8-11. She will be offered in foal to Overbury Stud's Golden Horn, who is also the sire of Jeremy Scott's high-class mare. The 14-year-old daughter of Dubawi is owned by Meon Valley Stud and will be consigned at Goffs by Stephen Kemble Bloodstock. The Champion Hurdle marked a second consecutive Cheltenham Festival success for Golden Ace, who also won the G2 Mares Novices' Hurdle in 2024. “Deuce Again complements a superb early selection of the very best National Hunt mares catalogued for the Goffs December NH Sale, which has proved so popular and vibrant in recent years,” said Goffs Group chief executive Henry Beeby. “We are grateful to Meon Valley for their faith in the Goffs service and look forward to another strong renewal of the sale which we are proud to say is the clear first choice for so many these days.” Entries for the Goffs December NH Sale will close on Friday, October 10. A seven-strong draft from the stable of Ireland's champion National Hunt trainer Willie Mullins has already been confirmed, headed by the top-level performers Allegorie De Vassy (No Risk At All), Lady Vega Allen (Saint Des Saints) and Brandy Love (Jet Away). Brookhouse Racing to Hold Dispersal at Doncaster October Sale Entries are also open for the Goffs October HIT & Yearling Sale at Doncaster, which will feature a 15-lot dispersal from Brookhouse Racing. The dispersal includes the Listed bumper winner Aslukgoes (Yorgunnabelucky) and the four-year-old Love You Darling (Land Force), a winning half-sister to the Group 3 scorer and Group 1-placed mare American Sonja (Tasleet). Entries for the Goffs October HIT & Yearling Sale at Doncaster will close on Friday, September 26, with the sale to be held on October 21-22. Entries can be made here. The post Dam of Champion Hurdle Winner Golden Ace Added to Goffs December NH Sale appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Ken Freirich, who was part of the ownership group behind Horse of the Year Flightline, has made a $500,000 gift to Breeders' Cup Charities in an effort to positively impact the Thoroughbred industry's culture of giving by illustrating the importance of long-term commitments, the Breeders' Cup said via a press release on Friday. Funds from Freirich will be released over a 3 1/2-year period. This major gift is in addition to the $100,000 match the international philanthropist provided to Breeders' Cup Charities in July during the organization's Annual Day of Giving, which raised a total of $200,963. From the gift, Freirich will utilize $50,000 for a match this fall for funds raised during Breeders' Cup Charities' “Champions Give Back” campaign, which kicks off Oct. 1 and runs through the World Championships on Oct. 31-Nov. 1. In addition to the unprecedented donation of all royalties received on Breeders' Cup merchandise, the campaign will include several fundraising initiatives which will be announced in the coming weeks. In addition to his financial commitment, Freirich will take on an advisory role with Breeders' Cup Charities. The post Horse Owner Ken Freirich Gifts $500k To Breeders’ Cup Charities appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Racing will take place in Ireland on Good Friday for the first time in 2026, with the Curragh set to stage a fixture on April 3. Horse Racing Ireland (HRI) published the new fixture list on Friday with the number of meetings staying the same for the third consecutive year. The Flat season will also see an enhanced programme of Sunday fixtures beginning in May, while there will be seven blank Sundays in total – one more than in 2025. Racing on Good Friday will come from the current allocation of fixtures at the Curragh, which will mean the Guineas meeting will revert to two days for 2026. The Good Friday meeting is on an initial two-year trial basis. There will be a condensed National Hunt season at Thurles to allow for more prudent ground preparation – moving one fixture from mid-March into late-January and two fixtures in October to November and December. Fixtures at Thurles post March 2026 have been labelled 'to be confirmed' until the future of Thurles is resolved. There are 11 fixtures allocated to Tipperary from April to October but, once the track's all-weather projects proceeds, some of these will be reallocated. Jonathan Mullin, HRI's director of racing, said, “Throughout the fixture process we were very conscious that a number of summer weekends, and in particular Sundays, needed a better-quality Flat offering and the fixture list for 2026 features a number of changes to reflect that aim. “It can be seen from tweaks made to the winter National Hunt programme over the past couple of years, that consecutive Sundays of quality racing works well in terms of promotion and awareness, and returning some Flat fixtures of high quality to the Sunday roster has been brought about for 2026. “The Good Friday fixture is a change of policy for Horse Racing Ireland and once the HRI fixtures committee reaffirmed their view at the outset of the process that this was a priority for 2026, we sought applications from racecourses and several expressed an interest. “Ultimately, the successful application came from the Curragh, which will include a number of community and industry initiatives as well as a considerable investment in extra prize-money.” The post The Curragh to Stage First Good Friday Fixture in Ireland appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Adrian Keatley trainee Chairmanfourtimes (Nando Parrado) had annexed one of six prior starts heading into Friday's Listed British EBF Stallions Harry Rosebery Stakes at Ayr and became his freshman sire's first black-type winner with a determined victory in the five-furlong contest. Positioned towards the rear through the initial fractions of this stakes debut, the 12-1 chance made relentless headway under pressure once past halfway and quickened smartly inside the final furlong to usurp Our Cody (Kodi Bear) by a half-length in the dying strides. Chairmanfourtimes continues a fine @Ladbrokes Ayr Gold Cup Festival for @adrian_keatley and @McsweeneyOisin in the Listed @BritishEBF Harry Rosebery Stakes pic.twitter.com/P5QqLRLr3W — Ayr Racecourse (@ayrracecourse) September 19, 2025 Pedigree Notes Chairmanfourtimes is the fourth of six foals and one of two scorers produced by an unraced half-sister to multiple stakes-winning G1 The Metropolitan runner-up Hawk Island (Hawk Wing). His Listed Salsabil Stakes-winning second dam Crimphill (Sadler's Wells) is the leading performer out of a half-sister to G2 Beresford Stakes and G3 Classic Trial victor Gulf King (Kings Lake) and Listed Hong Kong Derby winner Canadian Star (Northfields). The March-foaled bay, kin to a yearling filly and weanling colt by Invincible Spirit, hails from the family of Group 1-winning sire Royal Applause (Waajib), G1 Nunthorpe Stakes heroine Lyric Fantasy (Tate Gallery) and G1 Dewhurst Stakes hero In Command (Sadler's Wells). Friday, Ayr, Britain BRITISH EBF STALLIONS HARRY ROSEBERY STAKES-Listed, £35,500, Ayr, 9-19, 2yo, 5fT, 1:02.10, sf. 1–CHAIRMANFOURTIMES (IRE), 131, c, 2, by Nando Parrado (GB) 1st Dam: Occupation (Ire), by Dragon Pulse (Ire) 2nd Dam: Crimphill (Ire), by Sadler's Wells 3rd Dam: Vernonhills (Ire), by Hard Fought (Ire) 1ST BLACK-TYPE WIN. (15,000gns Wlg '23 TADEWE; £15,000 Ylg '24 GOFFUK; £50,000 2yo '25 GOUKB). O-Andy Finneran & Garry Wilkie Wilson; B-Bernard Cooke; T-Adrian Keatley; J-Oisin McSweeney. £20,132. Lifetime Record: 7-2-3-2, $70,355. 2–Our Cody (Ire), 126, f, 2, Kodi Bear (Ire)–Dubai Sunset (Ire), by Pivotal (GB). 1ST BLACK TYPE. (£3,000 Ylg '24 GOFFUK). O-Mrs J Woods, R P Gallagher & Partner; B-Ballyphilip Stud; T-Richard Hughes. £7,633. 3–Arduis Invicta (Ire), 126, f, 2, Invincible Army (Ire)–First Link, by First Defence. 1ST BLACK TYPE. (5,000gns Ylg '24 TATSOM). O-Hopyard Farm Racing; B-Stuart McPhee Bloodstock; T-Craig Lidster. £3,820. Margins: HF, 3/4, 3/4. Odds: 12.00, 16.00, 40.00. Also Ran: Pearl Fortune (Ire), Hanney Girl (GB), Temple Of Athena (GB), Shine On Me (GB), Daneh Of Dandy (Ire), Ipanema Queen (Ire), Boston Dan (Ire), Rikki Tiki Tavi (Ire), Lebron Power (GB). Scratched: Spicy Marg (GB). The post Chairmanfourtimes Becomes First Stakes Winner for Nando Parrado at Ayr appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Patience is an essential quality in any individual wishing to be a part of Quantum Leap Racing, but even the most ardent supporter of the successful syndicate will have been pushed to their limit by events of the past few months. It's one thing having to wait for your unraced juvenile to make his or her debut, but it's quite another having to wait for a filly like Tamfana to make her return to the Group 1 stage. It's the glorious uncertainty of what the future might bring versus the painful realisation that the present is passing you by with your stable star stood in her box. Thankfully, that is soon about to change. Tamfana, last seen finishing down the field in May's Lockinge Stakes at Newbury, is being primed for a racecourse return on the first weekend in October, with the Prix de l'Opera currently preferred to a defence of the Sun Chariot Stakes crown she won so impressively last year. “The Prix de l'Opera has been the plan all summer,” begins Eamonn O'Connor, the syndicate's founder and chairman. “I would say that is the favourite at this stage, but we've kept our options open. “David [Menuisier, trainer] is very happy with her. We gave her the summer off and she looks a picture. It's been a bit frustrating, but our syndicate members are very patient. They're taught to be patient because of the type of horse that we buy. We're not buying flashy two-year-olds, we're buying horses that will be there for the long term. “We looked at a couple of those Group 1 races for fillies and thought, 'Oh dear, if only we were there.' They looked winnable and there's no doubt she would have been more than competitive in some of those. It's a shame but, if she performs well in the Prix de l'Opera, then it will all be forgotten.” In the Prix de l'Opera, Tamfana will return to ParisLongchamp for the first time since she finished fourth, beaten less than three lengths, in last year's Grand Prix de Paris. The daughter of Soldier Hollow is yet to win beyond a mile, but O'Connor cites that performance, against strong stayers such as Sosie (Sea The Stars) and Illinois (Galileo), as proof of her stamina for when she steps back up to a mile and a quarter on Arc day. “In the Grand Prix de Paris [over a mile and a half], she was still in contention with a furlong to run,” O'Connor remembers. “That was an excellent race, in hindsight. The form is tremendous when you look at the competition and what they did subsequently. “I don't think she'll have a problem over a mile and two [furlongs]. I'm pretty confident that she will stay and a lot of the jockey feedback we've had is that we might even see a better horse. “Arguably, she was a little bit unlucky in the Prix de Diane [when finishing third last year]. She was forced into making her own running and just got collared by a couple on the line. I think she deserves another attempt at that distance to show that she does stay and just how good she is.” Here's hoping that Tamfana has the opportunity to show the full extent of her talent at ParisLongchamp, since there's a very real possibility it will be her last dance on a racecourse, at least for her current connections. A €20,000 purchase at the BBAG Yearling Sale, she promises to sell for many multiples of that sum when she is offered at public auction later this year, although which of the major sales houses will be graced with her presence is yet to be decided. “We haven't thought beyond the Prix de l'Opera,” O'Connor adds. “She'll be sold this year and we've got to be cognisant to some extent of her commercial value. She'll be sold almost certainly as a broodmare and a racing prospect. We'll just bear that in mind when plotting her campaign beyond the Prix de l'Opera – if there is a campaign beyond the Prix de l'Opera.” Whatever the future holds for Tamfana, she's already given her syndicate of owners memories to last a lifetime, from her maiden win at Kempton, by no less than nine and a half lengths, to her first Group 1 victory in the Sun Chariot. Certainly, no horse deserved that Newmarket breakthrough more, following a series of agonising near-misses at the top-level, notably when meeting trouble on her way to a never-nearer fourth in the 1,000 Guineas. “Probably the Kempton race,” O'Connor says of when it first dawned on him that they might have a special filly on their hands. “I remember her debut at Ffos Las. We were following another horse at Doncaster, but I think David knew she was a good filly before her debut, which she didn't win, funnily enough. I think he was quietly confident we had a good filly on our hands, but I don't think we were in a position to believe it until that Kempton performance. “The day of the Guineas we remember well because David told us we were going to win it. I'm sure she was 100/1 when he told me that, and I'm talking about the morning of the race, not months out. We were wavering about whether to go to France or not, but David was absolutely decisive and thought that we belonged at Newmarket. He wasn't wrong.” He continues, “For some of the syndicate members, Tamfana was their first horse and she took them to Group 1 races. The Sun Chariot was a tremendous day. Colin Keane came over to ride her and we had 20-25 syndicate members on course. Everybody has got their own recollection of it. I was just happy for the filly, and for the trainer – David deserved it as well. He's done a tremendous job with her.” It was back in 2021 that Menuisier saddled his first runner for the syndicate, namely the juvenile Ottilien (Holy Roman Emperor) who, in her three-year-old season, won a Listed race at Saint-Cloud and finished third in the Prix de Royallieu. At the end of that year she sold for €600,000 at Arqana, allowing the syndicate to go again at the sales with a replenished pot. According to O'Connor, that renewal is fundamental to the strategy of Quantum Leap Racing, plus an appreciation of the staying horse which brings us back to that necessity for patience, both among the syndicate's members and its trainers. “We don't rush him and he doesn't expect us to be in a hurry with our horses,” O'Connor says of Menuisier. “Our interests are aligned like that. I get the impression, just talking to trainers, generally, that sometimes they do come under pressure from owners, especially from syndicates, to get horses out and on the track to give the members some excitement and a bit of interest. “We're not all things to all men. I tell anybody who phones and asks about getting involved in the syndicate to be aware in their first year that, if you buy a yearling with us in the autumn, you probably won't see it on the track until the following autumn. “That's how we sell the syndicate. We sell it on patience and the fact that our members will be rewarded when the horse matures in its three-year-old season and is running in the sort of races that we enjoy – proper middle-distance races. Those are the races that we enjoy competing in and we buy horses accordingly.” He continues, “We have produced a good horse every single year since I founded the syndicate. Our definition of a good horse is one who achieves a rating between 90 and 105. I mention those parameters because horses who fall within those parameters are generally going to be far more valuable commodities in other jurisdictions – Australia, Hong Kong and places like that. “Our modus operandi is to race them for two years, sometimes beyond, and if they fall within those parameters, then we'll sell them to those jurisdictions where they'll be far more valuable, because they'll be racing for an awful lot more money than they would be over here. We replenish the pot and then we go again. “But we're not on a permanent hamster wheel, doing the same thing year in, year out. The objective of replenishing the pot and going again is to get a Group-class horse in the Northern Hemisphere. That's our ultimate aim and in those cases we'd usually hold on to them, as we have Tamfana.” Another filly who is unlikely to be going anywhere soon is the unbeaten two-year-old Inis Mor (Galiway), who looked destined for bigger and better things when defying a penalty to follow up her debut success on Newmarket's July Course last time. She is now being prepared to join stable-mate Tamfana in a twin assault on the riches of Arc weekend. “We're very excited about her,” O'Connor says of the €72,000 purchase out of Arqana's October Yearling Sale. “She's surprised us a little bit. I didn't expect her to show quite the turn of foot that she did, both on her debut and the second time under a penalty. I had it in my mind that she'd be a proper stayer next year but, now that she's shown that speed, she might be more of a miler or a mile-and-two horse as well. We're finding fast horses despite ourselves, aren't we? “Obviously, we had to think about whether we go for black-type with her, but we'll defer that. We're going for the sales races on the Saturday of Arc weekend and we'll try to win a pot of money. We'll take it from there and she'll have plenty of chances to show what level she's at after that race. She's a horse to look forward to for next year, that's for certain.” He adds, “It's going to be quite the weekend with 20-25 people going over to Paris. We're a relatively small syndicate and we've got a horse running on the Saturday and almost certainly a horse running on the Sunday as well. That takes some doing, I think, so credit to the buyer, Jeremy Brummitt, credit to David and credit to the syndicate, I suppose, because we only buy five horses a year. I think we punch way, way above our weight.” The post ‘We’re Not All Things To All Men’ – Syndicate With A Difference Counting Down To Tamfana Swansong appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Woodbine-based Norm McKnight is a multiple graded stakes-winning trainer.View the full article

Chanel Minnifield is not typically one for tempered expectations. She moved to Los Angeles from Kentucky with actorly aspirations, and last year appeared in the Oscar-nominated movie, “Rustin.” Minnifield started riding when she was a child and now, as a professional showjumper, has her sights set on competing at the 2028 Olympic Games. She has a book coming out; produces a podcast. But when earlier this year Minnifield applied to the California Retirement Management Account's (CARMA) Messineo Makeover Scholarship, she hoped it would help pay for a trip to the annual Retired Racehorse Project's Thoroughbred Makeover this October in Kentucky. She didn't expect it to cover the entire round-trip. Nor that it would also allow her compatriot at Zen Heart Horsemanship–the non-profit she co-founded to help Black, Indigenous and kids of Color in underserved communities get involved with off-track Thoroughbreds–to join her. The scholarship is a reality thanks to the largesse of horse-lover Nancy Messineo, a former racehorse owner who passed in June of 2023 after a long battle with cancer. Messineo bequeathed sizeable sums of money to CARMA and several other Thoroughbred aftercare charities. Rather than loudly broadcast her intentions, however, Messineo kept her cards close to her chest–indeed, the recipients of her generosity only found out about these gifts after she had passed. “Being in California, getting a horse to Kentucky is a really huge feat,” said Minnifield, pricing out the entire roundtrip at about $4,000 per horse. “When we got the email that we received the scholarship, and that they were going to take care of the transportation, I literally hit the ground and was just screaming,” Minnifield said. “Now we're able to take other monies that we'd set aside for horse transportation, that we'd fundraised, and really put it into the development of the horse. That's why I've been allowed to go to so many horse shows,” she added. Minnifield and her Zen Horse teammate, Nathan Bonner, are two of six recipients of this year's scholarship, geared towards those in CARMA's placement program. KC Horse Transportation will assume vanning duties. “It made perfect sense to us that if we could help, if Nancy could help, get six horses there to showcase and to compete and to proudly carry the banner, it just seemed like a no-brainer,” said Lucinda Lovitt, CARMA's executive director, about the evolving shape the scholarship, which originally was to have supported only one or two applicants. Lucinda Lovitt | CARMA “This is our first step in using her gift in helping placement program horses, which is what Nancy wanted–she wanted to support the placement program in transitioning racehorses from the track into their next career,” said Lovitt. As to the rest of Messineo's gift to CARMA, Lovitt said that uncertainty currently surrounding the future of the California racing industry, under its new consolidated form, has made the board a little circumspect about how they use it. “With out placement program, we have at any given time between 20 and 30 horses in the program that we're caring for,” said Lovitt. “As racing continues to contract here, we view that program as a safety net for our horsemen. And if racing were to stop, our funding for that stops,” said Lovitt. Currently, owner contributions to CARMA are matched by 1/ST Racing when Santa Anita is operating. “Nancy's gift is going to be crucial in ensuring that we're going to be able to take care of these horses if we have no more funding for that program,” said Lovitt. At the same time, Lovitt said, “we will continue to explore ways to create a legacy and honor her gift, but we just don't have any other firm plans right now. We're taking it slow.” As to this year's scholarship, the funds will mean Minnifield will be able to take her ex-racer, La Peer, a five-year-old Girvin mare, to Lexington this October 8-11 for the Makeover. “My girl's got sass, for sure,” said Minnifield about Le Peer, who raced under the Little Red Feather Racing banner for trainer Phil D'Amato. “She's a quiet leader, I'll say that. She has so much heart–she's very transparent and very honest,” Minnifield added. “When she has questions she asks them, but she's a fast learner.” The Los Angeles Olympics will come around too soon for La Peer, who Minnifield believes to have that kind of potential. She's surprised more of her equestrian peers don't see the top-level potential in Thoroughbreds. “In the 80s and 90s, that's all the Olympians had–everybody rode the Thoroughbred. But I think over time, Thoroughbreds got a bad rap for being too hot. And I'm like, 'you all need to step up being a horsewoman. You all need to start riding better. That's a sports car if you've ever seen one,'” Minnifield said. “My whole game,” she added, “is the Thoroughbred.” The post Messineo’s CARMA Gift Funds OTTB Riders, Supports Vital Safety Net appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

The Challenge, presented by GaineswayView the full article

David Hayes said no stone has been left unturned in the preparation of his stable star Ka Ying Rising (NZ) (Shamexpress) as he galloped at Sha Tin on Friday (19 September) ahead of his trip to Australia to tackle the world’s richest turf race, The Everest (Gr.1, 1200m). In his final workout on the grass before leaving Hong Kong, the world’s top-rated sprinter clocked 56.9s over 800m – completing the final 400m in 23.6s – in a showing that his Australian handler called “a good piece of work”. “He looked like he probably finished off (the final 200m) in about 11.5 (seconds), doing it very easy. And when he came back, he didn’t blow a candle out,” Hayes said. “We weighed him and he’s thriving. He’s at about 1,164 (lb) this morning, and he raced (in the Class 1 HKSAR Chief Executive’s Cup Handicap) at around 1,150, so that’s a good sign. They normally drop about 10 pounds when they travel, so he’ll be right on his winning weight when he gets there.” Ka Ying Rising, Hong Kong’s reigning Horse of the Year, is being kept in quarantine ahead of his departure for Sydney on Sunday (21 September). The five-year-old, who has won his last 13 races, including four Group One victories, will compete overseas for the first time. For regular rider Zac Purton, it’s been a long road to the Sydney showdown. “It’s been a big build-up – nearly 11 months in the making, really. So, it’s been a topic of discussion for a long time now,” said the eight-time Hong Kong champion jockey. “It’s exciting to go down there, obviously, back to Australia and Sydney’s sort of where I’m from,” Purton added. “There’s going to be a lot of people going down there with the horse.” The 2025 edition of the AU$20 million (approx. HK$102.8 million) The Everest at Royal Randwick on 18 October is hugely anticipated by racing fans across the world, but Hayes said the excitement hasn’t been limited to the racing public. “The staff are very excited. He’s getting the rockstar treatment! He’s travelling with his vet, his farrier, his riding boy, his mafoo, and just to make it a good thing, my assistant trainer’s going down to make sure everything goes smoothly when he walks in the quarantine, so we’re not leaving a stone unturned,” he said. View the full article

What Gold Coast races Where Gold Coast Turf Club – Racecourse Dr, Bundall QLD 4217 When Saturday, September 20, 2025 First Race 1:08pm AEST Visit Dabble Gold Coast Turf CLub is the destination for the premier meeting in Queensland on Saturday, with a bumper nine-race meeting set down for decision. Showers are forecast for the region on raceday, meaning the Soft 5 track rating is likely to downgrade further as the meeting goes on. The rail comes out 1m from the 1000m-400m and remains true the remainder. The Gold Coast races on Saturday, September 20 commences at 1:08pm AEST. Best Bet at Gold Coast: Weigall Tiger Weigall Tiger arrives rock-hard fit and maps to control or sit outside the lead in a winnable BM85 (1300m). He was dominant winning a CL6 at Doomben on September 6, and retains a 3kg claim to offset topweight. From barrier two, Corey Sutherland can hold a forward rail spot on a Soft 5, and with proven 1350m strength, the drop to 1300m only sharpens his turn of foot late. He’s 7:3-0-1 at 1300–1400m and gets ideal conditions to go back-to-back. Best Bet Race 6 – #2 Weigall Tiger (2) 5yo Gelding | T: Kelly Schweida | J: Corey Sutherland (a3) (61.5kg) Next Best: Menazzi Menazzi looks ready to cash in,dropping back to 1800m in a small Class 6 where he maps handy from barrier three. He brings rock-solid recent figures, including a close second in a Doomben BM85 last start, carries just 55.5kg, and draws to control the race shape with Jake Bayliss. With proven form at the trip and a soft map, Menazzi should be too strong for his rivals late. Next Best Race 2 – #3 Menazzi (3) 7yo Gelding | T: Stuart Kendrick | J: Jake Bayliss (55.5kg) Best Value at Gold Coast: Heartoni Heartoni looks over the odds in a sharp 1000m BM85 to close the card. He was a tough Ipswich winner last start and draws to stalk the speed from barrier seven. With race fitness, genuine 1000–1100m speed, and Jake Bayliss taking the reins, he profiles to get the last crack at a few speedy types who may overdo it. If they run along early, his late strength can tell at an each-way price with horse racing bookmakers. Best Value Race 9 – #3 Heartoni (7) 6yo Gelding | T: Stuart Kendrick | J: Jake Bayliss (58.5kg) Saturday quaddie tips for Gold Coast – 20/9/25 Gold Coast quadrella selections Saturday, September 20, 2025 2-7-9 2-3-4-5 5-6-7-9-11-14 3-4-9-11-13 Horse racing tips View the full article