Wandering Eyes

Opawa Jack has come of age in his four-year-old autumn preparation and his trainer Chrissy Bambry anticipates the best is still yet to come. The son of War Decree showed early promise over staying distances and contested the Gr.1 New Zealand Derby (2400m) last season, but a year down the track he has won three of his last five starts, comparatively on Awapuni Synthetic over 1200m and in Heavy 10 track conditions at Wanganui. With more of a preference for the drier surface, Bambry has elected to target the Special Conditions 2000m race on the Cambridge Synthetic in a fortnight, with the suitable lead-in race closer to her Foxton base being the Uzabus Handicap (1600m) at Otaki on Saturday. “He doesn’t really like a wet track, he was probably just the best horse on the day (at Wanganui),” Bambry said. “When it’s a little bit puggy like that he seems to handle it, but he doesn’t appreciate it loose. “I think he’ll acquit himself well on Saturday, he’s well-weighted in that race but there’s a few wet trackers that will like it a bit more than he will. “He should still be running well and it should tighten him up nicely for the Cambridge Synthetic final in the first week of August.” Looking ahead, Bambry is happy to continue taking her time with the gelding, with a multiple Group One-winning stayer among his pedigree page. “He’s a lot stronger this prep and will be better this time next year, he’s out of a half-sister to Who Shot Thebarman so time is always going to be his friend,” she said. Bambry will also be represented by Rock Angel and Saint Bernard at Otaki, with the former a three-year-old Road To Rock mare on debut in the Ilone Kelly Racing Stables Maiden (1600m). “She loves a wet track this little mare, so she should go well but obviously she hasn’t got the race-day experience and we’ve got a horror draw (20),” Bambry said. “If she can do everything right on the day I can see her being in the finish.” Saint Bernard was a winner two starts back on the Awapuni Synthetic, and will have the benefit of experienced hoop Johnathan Parkes on board in the Riverside Construction Handicap (2100m). “He’s going well and trained on from his last run, it’s a big assist having Parkesy aboard him,” Bambry said. “It’ll be a bit of a wait and see whether he can handle the wet track at Otaki, but he should run well.” View the full article

Thoroughbreds provide the racing industry with incredible thrills on the race track, and New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing (NZTR) are dedicated to giving back to the equine athletes by assisting in their transition into sport horse careers. NZTR recently sponsored a thoroughbred-focussed training clinic held at the National Equestrian Centre in Taupō, with the NZTR’s Welfare Coordinator Tracey Oakes initiating and assisting two days of learning and development. The clinic was tailored to build confidence and skill between horse and rider, developing partnerships with knowledge of how to move in a positive direction. “We’ve been considering for a while how we can assist thoroughbreds into their first home post-racing or coming out of the Acknowledged Re-Trainer network,” Oakes said. “We wanted to create a super supportive environment for people to bring their thoroughbreds to what could potentially be their first outing after entering their second career. We got a great range of people from those having their first time out, to horses that have had a bit of schooling and some with experience. “The 65cm class were jumping up to about 90cm by the second day, which was a reflection of the confidence between horse and riders throughout the two sessions. We had one rider who had done plenty of schooling at home but was a bit concerned about coming to a public venue, and her horses went beautifully. “We had another participant who competed to a high level in the past but had since had a family and was a bit worried as well, but her horse was flying by the end of the clinic which was fantastic to see.” The combinations were privileged to have lessons with top-class event riders Donna and Elise Edwards-Smith, who are huge supporters of the thoroughbred breed having produced a multitude to compete in the highest levels of eventing, including DSE Tangalooma and DSE Mendoza. “I contacted Donna and Elise to discuss all things thoroughbreds in the equestrian world and we discussed the possibility of running a clinic, which we ended up being able to do,” Oakes said. “They are super enthusiastic, and they love thoroughbreds, they compete on them and are such good advocates for the breed in equestrian sports. We were fortunate to have found the right people at the right time. “They were brilliant, they helped people in the right way with practical, simple support and everyone came away with homework at the end of each class.” Justine Sclater, NZTR’s Head of Welfare and Sustainability, also attended the clinic and was thrilled to see the level of improvement and enthusiasm among the participants, extending to pedigree background. “It was really inspiring and I got a lot of satisfaction seeing the progression and relationship built over the two days. The horses adapted hugely over a short period of time, so it was very worthwhile and positive,” Sclater said. “The riders really enjoyed learning about the breeding aspect through microchip scanning that Tracey undertook, and we were able to discuss the pedigrees and sires in depth which opened another area of knowledge in relation to their horses. “I’m hugely in support of doing more clinics, we are looking to incorporate further opportunities and this one was oversubscribed, indicating the need and appetite for them. “I congratulate Tracey for initiating the clinic, and Donna and Elise are a class act, they had an amazing rapport with the riders and gave fantastic advice and techniques to go forward with.” NZTR will conduct a South Island clinic in Canterbury this Sunday, 28 July, with an altered format hoping to achieve the same positive response. “At the same time as we were discussing the Taupō clinic, we started organising a clinic with Lisa Wilson of Pinoaks Park in Canterbury, who has done the administration for us,” Oakes said. “It is a different style to the Taupō clinic, we will have three coaches for show jumping, dressage/showing and horsemanship/liberty. People were given the option of who they would like to receive guidance from in a lesson, and some are taking the opportunity to see more than one coach through the day. “We have people travelling from as far south as Invercargill and Dunedin, who are making long trips to get to the arena at Selwyn Equestrian Centre to attend.” Beyond Sunday’s clinic, the industry has a long way to go in making the transition from racing to sport horse life seamless, but Oakes saw a glimpse of the bright future in store for thoroughbreds off the track. “We were happy to provide assistance by co-sponsoring participants attendance,” Oakes said. “The riders still had to invest to come, we covered costs of one lesson, the use of the arena, ground fees. The riders paid for Evo Events fees, one lesson and the yarding, so it was a split cost to make our funds last a bit longer. “Moving forward, I would love to see us be able to support clinics across the board, but particularly in that first year or two outside of racing to give people support and a safe space to bring their horses and develop both rider and horse confidence”. View the full article

A rise in distance and heavy track conditions at Rotorua was the winning formula for Step In Time on Thursday, with the gelding causing a minor upset in the Campbell Infrastructure 2200. The son of Time Test is trained at Matamata by Michael Moroney and Pam Gerard, and the latter anticipated an improved performance after he struck an unfavourable race pattern at Hastings last start, finishing back in the field. Her assessment proved correct despite the $23.50 closing quote, with Step In Time looking comfortable throughout the staying contest as he travelled kindly three-wide for stable apprentice Joe Nishizuka. He began to circle the field and Nishizuka set the gelding alight at the 600m, breaking away from the field by a healthy margin. Roc Up Ralph fought on gamely in pursuit of Step In Time in the straight, but Nishizuka’s four-kilogram claim was telling in the finish as he raced away by 2-1/4 lengths. Gerard was pleased to see the gelding back in winning form after breaking maidens three starts back over a mile at Matamata, also with Nishizuka in the saddle. “He’s not a big horse and easy to ride, so it’s good to make use of Joe’s apprentice claim, and he’s just been waiting to get up in trip,” Gerard said. “They walked and sprinted last time over a mile at Hastings, which didn’t suit him, and the ground was a bit better too. “He’s kept stepping up this preparation, hasn’t put in a bad run, so it shows he’s maturing into being a competitive racehorse.” Step In Time was purchased by Paul Moroney Bloodstock and Ballymore for $45,000 at the 2021 Karaka Yearling Sales out of Highden Park’s draft, and he is raced by the stable and Diedre Neville-White. “Deirdre absolutely loves this horse and given he’s going well with a claimer on means he should be able to remain competitive as he steps up in class,” Gerard said. The race was not without some dramatics, with favoured runner Danzino slipping at the 400m mark, dislodging jockey Joe Doyle and subsequently taking out Innocent Victim in the trail with Jasmine Fawcett also falling. The incident resulted in a track inspection and the meeting was abandoned for the final two races. View the full article

When morning-line favorite Roses for Debra scratched with a fever the morning of the race, her stablemate Dontlookbackatall was more than happy to finish the job with a late-closing victory in the Caress Stakes (G3T) at Saratoga Race Course. View the full article

Grade 1 winner Arabian Knight returns to the sight of his biggest victory while making his 4-year-old debut in the $300,000 San Diego Handicap (G2) at Del Mar July 27.View the full article

In 1962's Santa Anita Handicap, jockey Donald Pierce was part of a three-horse entry that included Bill Shoemaker and Alex Maese. Pierce was on a horse named Physician, Shoemaker rode Prove It, and Maese was on Olden Times.View the full article

New Jersey Attorney General Matthew J. Platkin announces the appointment of Sara Ben-David as the acting executive director of the New Jersey Racing Commission.View the full article

By Mike Love It is winter rewards time again. It’s a concept that was developed in recent seasons to accommodate low to mid range horses. Tonight there’ll be five races at Addington and four at Alexandra Park, each worth $25,000. One trainer that has supported meetings up and down the country is Prebbleton trainer Michael House. Tonight he will be represented by seven horses across four finals at Addington. House will line up Boyz Invasion ($26.00FF) in race 4, the IRT. Your Horse. Our Passion. Winter Rewards Final for the rating 35 – 50 trotters over 2600m – the distance for each of the finals – with Gerard O’Reilly in the bike. “He’s had a bit of a freshen up. Starting off a difficult mark with a big field in front of him, he will be running from the moment he steps. He probably can’t get close to it.” Race 5, the Stevie Golding Thanks Racing Clients Winter Rewards Final for the rating 40 – 45 pacers is the first of House’s double chances. Franco Hoffman ($4.60FF) for Blair Orange is, according to House, one of his better chances on the night. “He’s just going through the motions but his 2600m record at Addington is very good. He has a good driver, so if they go around the 3:10 mark he should be finishing it off well if he doesn’t have to do much work mid race.” House’s other runner Santanna Mach ($21.00FF) for Robbie Holmes however is possibly at the other end of the spectrum. “He will just play follow the leader and see what happens. He is a good stayer. Though he was a bit disappointing last week. It’s not his first rodeo! It will just come down to the trip for him.” Eddie Osei ($21.00FF) for Robbie Close and Beaudiene Quick Step ($19.00FF) for Kim Butt line up in Race 7, the Stevie Golding For Your Real Estate Needs for Rating 46 – 66 pacers. “Eddie Osei is quite an interesting horse. He ran a good third in a good race in April. He’s won twice since then but can do things wrong sometimes. But if he does things right, he can be top four – I think Commander Ben will be hard to beat.” Sunday’s winner Beaudiene Quick Step for Kim Butt “will go alright” with an economical run. In race 10, the IRT. Your Horse. Our Passion. Winter Rewards Final for rating 35 – 40 pacers will see Wriggles Rufus ($21.00FF) for Robbie Close and Sweet Spirit ($15.00FF) for Sam Ottley roll the dice one last time for House. “Wriggles just needs the right type of run. He runs his own race and bravens up when things are dropping out around him. He’s a clever horse. His best runs have been over 2600m.” Sweet Spirit raced well for second on Sunday and will need to be brave again from her second line draw. “She’s one that we’ve picked her work up on. I would suspect she will race good over 2600m. Anything can win this race with the right run which is the good thing about racing like with like.” House goes into tonight coming off the back of a recent double at Addington last Sunday with Superstar Legend and Beaudiene Quick Step. He also lines up two other good chances tonight in Delightful Dreams in Race 1, the Continental Event Hire Mobile Pace and debutant Delta Kilo in Race 6, the Downbytheseaside Making A Splash Mobile Pace. Racing commences from 4:47pm at Addington and 6:00pm at Alexandra Park. View the full article

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – It has been a sizzling start to the Saratoga summer for Hall of Fame trainer Mark Casse. Horses from his barn have done little wrong in the first 11 days of the 40-day meet at Saratoga Race Course. Casse has started 19 horses so far and has visited the winner's circle six times. He also has three second-place finishes and one third. Without question this is the best start he has ever had at the Spa. “Oh, by far,” Casse said at his barn on the Saratoga backstretch Thursday morning. “This place has haunted me over the years. But, I have to tell you, when the dust clears, we usually end up having good meets.” If the first quarter of the meet is any indication, Casse could have a great meet. In the last nine years, the most wins Casse has had at Saratoga has been 10. That happened twice, in 2019 and 2016. Before the meet started, Casse handicapped the condition book and thought his barn might do some good in the early days. “You can never predict you are going to have the start we have had,” he said. “I thought for the first couple weeks, we were going to run favorites, or close to it. We were going to run live horses. Most of our horses have shown up. When you win, you win. When you lose, you learn.” Another factor for the early success was Casse had horses at Saratoga early. Because of the Belmont Stakes Festival at Saratoga last month, Casse had horses that were in town early. On opening day, Run for the Hills (Runhappy), a 5-year-old mare, won. Last Saturday, 5-year-old gelding Full Screen (Big Screen) was another winner. “They had been here for a month versus coming in four or five days ahead of time,” Casse said. “Makes a huge difference. This is home now. It's a great environment; you can really see horses flourish here.” It hasn't just been Saratoga where Casse has been winning. Last weekend (Friday-Sunday), Casse entered 38 horses in 27 races at Saratoga, Woodbine, Monmouth and Gulfstream. The barn won 13 races, including the GII United Nations Stakes at Monmouth with 7-year-old gelding Get Smokin (Get Stormy) and the GIII Lake George Stakes at Saratoga with 3-year-old filly Pounce (Lookin At Lucky). He'll enjoy the ride for as long as he can. But it's not as though this just happened. Casse has worked diligently to build his stable this year. “I said in the spring that this is the strongest group we have ever had,” Casse said. “For sure, the pressure is off at this meet, but the pressure now will be to continue it and to do it next year. I know how to keep the ball rolling. We are going to need another young crop next year. If you don't continue to bring in new athletes, you will get run over.” Been a Long Time Between Saratoga Trips for Trainer Cook The last time trainer Jason Cook ran a horse at Saratoga was 1996. That, he is sure of. The rest is a little hazy. “I can see him,” he said when asked who the horse was. “He had a big blaze, a chestnut horse, four white stockings. I just can't remember his name.” Three Technique in the John Nerud | Coglianese The 51-year-old Cook was on the Saratoga backstretch Thursday morning, a day after making a 13-hour drive from his home in Louisville, Ky. He brought a buddy, Jason Webb, along for the ride. And, in the horse trailer hitched up to the truck was the second horse Cook is set to run in the Spa. Three Technique (Mr Speaker), a 7-year-old horse, is entered to run in Friday's ninth race, a $120,000 allowance. A field of 12 is entered in the field, which has come up more than a little tough. Also entered are Scotland (Good Magic), winner of last year's Curlin Stakes at the Spa, Zozos (Munnings), who has won seven of 14 career starts and was the third-place finisher in the Grade I Churchill Downs Stakes two races back; Castle Chaos (Palace Malice), who was fourth in the Metropolitan Handicap and General Jim (Into Mischief), winner of the 2023 GII Pat Day Mile Stakes. Three Technique was once owned by Bill Parcells' August Dawn Farm and broke his maiden at Saratoga in his third start while being trained by Jeremiah Englehart. Cook claimed Three Technique on Nov. 28, 2021 (“it was a 27-way shake. I won,” he said) and he has started 18 times for him. The last win for Three Technique came on July 1 of last year in the GII John A. Nerud Stakes at Belmont Park. “He broke his maiden here impressively (by 5 1/2 lengths),” Cook said. In his other four starts at Saratoga, he has just a second to show for it. Cook is here because he has had a tough time finding a race that fits him. When he saw this one, he loaded up the van and here he is. “I know the history of Saratoga,” he said. “It would be pretty cool to win here.” Cook said that Three Technique is a pleasure to train. After that, all bets are off. “He is no fun to mess with, he doesn't like people,” Cook said, standing outside Three Technique's stall at the barn of Dale Romans. “See how happy he looks now? That's because he's alone. He's a good horse, though. Always shows some grit.” Tapit Trice Makes Sure the Wait Was Worth It Before last Saturday, the last time Tapit Trice (Tapit) was seen at the races was 330 days ago. Or 47 weeks or 27 months, whichever you prefer. Tapit Trice wins Saturday's Monmouth Cup | Sarah Andrew The now 4-year-old colt won the GIII Monmouth Cup Stakes at Monmouth Park on Haskell Day and he looked good doing it. The final margin of victory was 5 1/4 lengths. Welcome back, Tapit Trice. “We were very pleased with it,'” Hall of Fame trainer Todd Pletcher said of the effort outside his barn on the Oklahoma Training Track at Saratoga. Before last Saturday, Tapit Trice's last start came in the GI Travers Stakes at Saratoga last August. He ran good there, too, finishing third behind Arcangelo (Arrogate) at odds of 12-1. After that, it was by design that Tapit Trice disappeared. Pletcher said it was a planned break for Tapit Trice, who has raced seven times during his 3-year-old season. The break went longer than anticipated as Tapit Trice had a minor foot issue that caused him to miss a pair of minor stakes races at Churchill Downs in the spring. He came back with a vengeance at the Jersey Shore. “After not running since the Travers and to come back at a mile and an eighth … we are just super happy with it,” Pletcher said. Owned by Whisper Hill Farm LLC, and Gainesway Stable (Anthony Beck), it won't be such a long layoff this time. Pletcher said the next goal for Tapit Trice will be the GI Jockey Club Gold Cup at the Spa Sept. 1. The post Saratoga Notebook, Presented by NYRA Bets: Casse Off to Blazing Start at Saratoga appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

A joint-record sale price was created in Thursday's session of the Tattersalls Ireland July Store Sale when lot 388A, a gelded son of Order Of St George (Ire), brought €65,000 from Ballycrystal Stud's Matthew Flynn O'Connor. The point-to-point trainer snapped up the wildcard entry from Mount Eaton Stud. He was originally a €21,000 November National Hunt Sale pinhook as a foal and is a half-brother to two winners. His dam, the Shernazar (Ire) mare Miss Cilla (Ire), is a half-sister to the three-time Grade 1-winning hurdler Peddlers Cross (Ire) (Oscar {Ire}). “He was our pick over the two days, and it seems a lot of others thought so, too,” said O'Connor, who stood alongside Ger O'Connor. It was the fourth lot purchased as a whole or in partnership by Ballycrystal over the two-day sale. O'Connor added of the point-to-point prospect, “He is a big, scopey stamp of a horse and he just missed his slot at an earlier store sale. I have not had any by the sire before but have three for this season. All in, I shall have about 50 or 60 pointers for the next season with around 15 for the autumn.” Cooladurragh House's lot 510 brought €45,000 from trainer Steven Crawford. The 3-year-old Wings Of Eagles (Fr) gelding is related to dual graded hurdler winner Gray Steel (Fr) (Turgeon). A gelded son of Telescope (Ire) and Indian Stream (GB) (Generous {Ire}) (lot 287) caught the eye of Terence Thomas Steele to the tune of €38,000. He hailed from the draft of Ballincurrig House Stud and his dam won a listed chase at Cheltenham. Of the 439 lots offered, 266 lots sold (61%) for a gross of €2,399,150. The average was €9,019 and the median was €6,500. Unlike its previous three editions, the catalogue format for this year's July Store Sale was set alphabetically by dam over two days, rather than a select day one, with wildcards placed across both days. Tattersalls Ireland CEO Simon Kerins said, “It has been a mixed summer of store sales, culminating with this week's July Store Sale. The July Store Sale provided National Hunt purchasers with a final opportunity of the year to enter the market, and it was encouraging to see lots of new faces on the ground and on the final purchaser list. “We recognise the current selective nature of the National Hunt market, in particular over the last two days. This selectiveness has presented challenges, especially at the lower end of the market. However, it is very encouraging to see that purchasers in Ireland and the UK retain faith in Irish stores. We are also deeply appreciative of the unwavering support and loyalty of our vendors. “We would like to thank Irish Thoroughbred Marketing for their dedicated efforts in promoting the Tattersalls Ireland Store sales to the UK market.” The post Order Of St George Gelding Ties Record At July Store Sale 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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This day 26th July in horse racing news history From the extensive Horse Betting news archives we present the all the thoroughbred racing action in Australian and overseas racing news in history. Delve in and enjoy our walk back in horse racing time. Horse Racing Tips 58 mins ago Today’s horse racing tips & free betting preview | Friday, 26/7 Seven horse racing meetings are scheduled for around Australia today, on Friday, July 26. Check out HorseBetting’s free betting tips … Read More Horse Racing Tips 1 year ago Echuca racing tips & quaddie selections | Friday, July 28 Echuca Racecourse will host an nine-race card on Friday afternoon. HorseBetting’s Ciaran Jackman presents his best bets and quaddie for … Read More New Zealand horse racing news 1 year ago Medina impresses in Cambridge victory Cambridge trainer Andrew Forsman celebrated a comfortable maiden victory at Cambridge on the synthethic track on Wednesday with Medina … Read More New Zealand horse racing news 1 year ago Stephen Blair-Edie enjoying journey with The Good Shepherd A trip to Karaka five years ago is well and truly paying off for southern trainer Stephen Blair-Edie where he … Read More Australia horse racing news 1 year ago Melbourne campaign for Antino Exciting New Zealand-bred gelding Antino is being readied for a spring campaign with Champion Queensland trainer Tony Gollan keen to … Read More New Zealand horse racing news 1 year ago Sanibel primed for Group 3 Winter Cup Hopes of successfully executing a long-term southern plan with talented mare Sanibel received a timely boost in her final lead-up … Read More Horse Racing Tips 1 year ago Moonee Valley preview & top racing tips | Saturday, July 29 Racing returns to Moonee Valley on Saturday afternoon for a nine-race program. HorseBetting’s James Herbert presents his free best bets … Read More Australia horse racing news 1 year ago Anphina on track for Darwin Cup start after NT Derby win It appears as though Anphina will line up in the Darwin Cup on August 7, having qualified after taking out … Read More Horse Racing Tips 1 year ago Today’s horse racing tips & best bets | July 26, 2023 Five horse racing meetings are scheduled around Australia today. See the top tips and quaddie selections for free here at … Read More Horse Racing Tips 1 year ago Kembla Grange racing preview, best bets & odds | Thursday, July 27 Racing heads to Kembla Grange for eight competitive races on Thursday afternoon. See HB’s free racing tips, betting preview and … Read More New Zealand horse racing news 1 year ago Sharrock Often counts blessings with mare Allan Sharrock continues to thank his lucky stars that he didn’t altogether banish racetrack failure Often from his successful New … Read More Horse Racing Tips 2 years ago Wyong betting tips & quaddie numbers | 28/7/2022 HorseBetting’s New South Wales racing analyst provides his best bets and quaddie selections for the eight-race program scheduled for Wyong … Read More Horse Racing Tips 2 years ago Pakenham racing tips & quaddie numbers | Thursday, July 28 Gallopers will run on the synthetic at Pakenham on Thursday afternoon with eight races on the schedule. See our best … Read More Horse Racing Tips 2 years ago Wednesday’s Darwin racing tips & best value bets – July 27, 2022 We are back at Fannie Bay this Wednesday for Day 6 of the 2022 Darwin Cup Carnival, headlined by the … Read More Horse Racing Tips 2 years ago Doomben Racecourse betting tips & quaddie | Wednesday, July 27 Nine midweek races will be run and won at Doomben Racecourse on Wednesday, July 27, with the first race scheduled … Read More New Zealand horse racing news 2 years ago Leading jumps jockey Phelan on top of the world After one of the most dominant seasons by a jumps jockey in New Zealand history, Shaun Phelan is now looking … Read More New Zealand horse racing news 2 years ago Trelawney celebrate successful season The 2021-22 racing season provided Trelawney Stud with some standout performances. Brent and Cherry Taylor’s racing team focusses on quality … Read More Australia horse racing news 2 years ago Duais’ spring plans revealed Duais already has three Group 1 victories to her name, but Edward Cummings is planning on adding a few more … Read More New Zealand horse racing news 2 years ago Swift return on cards with in-form filly The new owners of Pensardo will recoup their purchase price in double quick time if the filly can continue her … Read More Australia horse racing news 2 years ago Berkeley Square, Scallopini nearing wins | The Follow Files While Randwick got the flick after one race due to the state of the track on Saturday, some good racing … Read More New Zealand horse racing news 2 years ago Turnmeon latest winner for potent combination Cambridge trainer Graham Thomas admits he’s slowed down a bit since hitting “retirement” age, but he’s still going strong training … Read More Horse Racing Tips 2 years ago Today’s horse racing tips & best bets | July 26, 2022 Three horse racing meetings are scheduled around Australia today. See the top tips, best odds and quaddie selections for free … Read More Australia horse racing news 2 years ago Philpot eyeing more Top End success on Darwin Cup Day Having won the Darwin Cup last year aboard Highly Decorated, Alice Springs-based jockey Jessie Philpot is hoping for more success … Read More Horse Racing Tips 2 years ago Sandown Hillside betting tips & value bets | Wednesday, 27/7/22 A competitive eight race program will grace us at Sandown Hillside on Wednesday afternoon with gallopers racing on a predicted … Read More Horse Racing Tips 2 years ago Warwick Farm racing tips & quaddie | Wednesday, July 27, 2022 Warwick Farm plays host to seven metropolitan races on Wednesday afternoon. HorseBetting’s New South Wales racing analyst presents you with … Read More Australia horse racing news 3 years ago Big weekend for Wiggins with Mackay and Sunshine Coast wins Ryan Wiggins had a weekend to remember, winning both the Mackay Cup and the Whitsunday Guineas at Mackay on Saturday … Read More Horse Racing Tips 3 years ago Taree betting tips, quaddie selections & odds | Tuesday, 27/07 HorseBetting.com.au brings you the betting preview for the Taree races on Tuesday, July 27. See all the top tips, value … Read More Australia horse racing news 3 years ago Punt Drunk: Mitch Freedman hits headlines on cobalt charges Punt Drunk recaps some of the major stories from over the weekend of racing, including Sansom’s victory in the Group … Read More Horse Racing Tips 3 years ago Today’s horse racing tips & best bets | July 26, 2021 Horse racing around the country sees just two meetings being held around the country on this Monday afternoon. Our racing … Read More New Zealand horse racing news 3 years ago Tappy’s One continues winning streak with Oamaru Cup victory Underrated winter galloper Tappy’s One cemented his claim to being the most improved horse in commission in the South Island … Read More New Zealand horse racing news 3 years ago Johnson hits season goal with Te Rapa double Danielle Johnson is only just starting to allow herself the luxury of enjoying the feeling of satisfaction that comes with … Read More New Zealand horse racing news 3 years ago Quirky customer starting to hit his straps for Bidlake Trainer Aaron Bidlake is quick to point out he didn’t take much of a shine to gritty four-year-old Rocktilyoudrop when … Read More New Zealand horse racing news 3 years ago Special result for Sharrock in Opunake Cup Local trainer Allan Sharrock gained a special result on his home track on Saturday to round out a record-breaking season … Read More New Zealand horse racing news 3 years ago Royally bred filly makes belated debut a winning one Debutante It Might Be You looked to have a bright future ahead of her as she easily won a maiden … Read More New Zealand horse racing news 3 years ago Apprentice comes up aces at Te Rapa Rookie apprentice Ace Lawson-Carroll completed his first winning ride in fine style when he guided handy winter sprinter Crystallize to … Read More Australia horse racing news 4 years ago Cumani eyes early spring with Creedence After winning two of his three starts since joining the Matt Cumani stable, Creedence will be given the chance at … Read More Australia horse racing news 4 years ago Stars set to step out at Randwick trials Several Group One winners are among the horses entered to step out at a star-studded set of barrier trials at … Read More Australia horse racing news 4 years ago Anderson duo to miss spring carnivals Trainer Chris Anderson has opted to hold Ballistic Boy and Profit back from spring carnivals in Sydney and Melbourne to … Read More Australia horse racing news 4 years ago Mr Quickie building towards spring return Trainer Phillip Stokes is likely to kick off Mr Quickie’s campaign below the top level but says he will still … Read More Australia horse racing news 4 years ago Jockey Bakos banned for painkiller use Promising apprentice Anna Bakos is the latest Queensland jockey to be suspended after taking a prescribed painkiller … Read More Australia horse racing news 4 years ago Pride expects Fasika to shine this spring Trainer Joe Pride says Group One placegetter Fasika is blossoming and has a sense of timing about her as she … Read More New Zealand horse racing news 4 years ago Major Tom on target for Winter Cup Versatile galloper Major Tom cemented his bid for the Group 3 Winter Cup (1600m) at Riccarton next month when he … Read More New Zealand horse racing news 4 years ago Kamaruddin lands first winner Seven-year-old gelding Al Haram provided Te Akau apprentice Joe Kamaruddin with the first win of his career on Saturday at … Read More New Zealand horse racing news 4 years ago Tiley continues red-hot run with Avondale four-timer Pukekohe trainer Nigel Tiley continued his fine run of form when he saddled four winners at Avondale on Saturday. Tiley … Read More New Zealand horse racing news 4 years ago Matchmaker makes impressive debut Promising two-year-old Matchmaker got her racing career off to the best possible start when she raced away to an impressive … Read More United Kingdom Horse Racing News 4 years ago Enable wins King George for third time Superstar mare Enable has won a third King George and Elizabeth Stakes at Ascot in a race that produced the … Read More Australia horse racing news 5 years ago Time To Reign primed for race return Time To Reign has shown he is ready for his return as a three-year-old with a blistering turn of foot … Read More Australia horse racing news 5 years ago Free Of Debt sidelined because of injury The Chris Bieg-trained colt Free Of Debt has suffered an injury which has thwarted his spring plans … Read More Australia horse racing news 5 years ago Hayes confident filly can fire first-up Co-trainer Ben Hayes believes filly Pickup The Pieces has improved since last campaign and is confident about her first-up hopes … Read More Australia horse racing news 5 years ago New tactics for consistent Champagne Jet Different tactics could be the key to consistent Champagne Jet returning to the winners’ list at Eagle Farm … Read More Australia horse racing news 5 years ago The wetter the better for Spensierato Trainer Nick Ryan would like to see a significantly wet Caulfield track for three-year-old filly Spensierato who is unbeaten in … Read More Australia horse racing news 5 years ago Aurie’s Star option for Vega Magic return Vega Magic will have another jump-out at Flemington before making his race return, with the Aurie’s Star Handicap his likely … Read More Australia horse racing news 5 years ago Jetsetting Girl ready for Australia A Group winner in Europe and stakes performed in America, Delectation Girl will add an international flavour to the Rosehill … Read More Australia horse racing news 5 years ago Fitter Tshahitsi ready for Caulfield test After a long lay-off, Tasmanian galloper Tshahitsi will strip fitter for the second run of his campaign in the Catanach’s … Read More Australia horse racing news 5 years ago Apprentice Keal in gilt-edged city chance Apprentice Nick Keal has a genuine chance to ride his first city winner with two key rides for trainer Kevin … Read More Australia horse racing news 5 years ago Bletchingly Stakes return for Cliff’s Edge Multiple Group winner Cliff’s Edge will kick off his latest campaign in the Bletchingly Stakes on a path to bigger … Read More Australia horse racing news 5 years ago Gin Runner a first for young trainer Two-year-old Gin Runner, who runs at Rosehill, continues to be a significant horse for fledgling trainer Edward Cummings … Read More Australia horse racing news 5 years ago Qld partnership hopes to rule in 2019-20 The Anderson-Heathcote training partnership hopes to lay a foundation for the new season when Ruling Dynasty races at Eagle Farm … Read More New Zealand horse racing news 5 years ago Bary trio target Taumarunui Hastings trainer John Bary will take a trio of runners north to Taumarunui Racing Club’s meeting at Arawa Park on … Read More New Zealand horse racing news 5 years ago Chipperfield chasing feature double An excited Clayton Chipperfield is preparing for the biggest day of his training career with favourites in both New Zealand … Read More Australia horse racing news 5 years ago Robert Thompson to ride Townsville Cup fav Veteran jockey Robert Thompson gets a great chance to add to his outstanding record on Townsville Cup favourite The Harrovian … Read More Australia horse racing news 5 years ago Just Hubert takes another Cup step Long-term ambitions for the Melbourne Cup have moved a step closer for English horse Just Hubert, a winner at Sandown … Read More Australia horse racing news 6 years ago Salsonic to resume in Winter Challenge The Jason Coyle-trained Salsonic will make his first race appearance of 2018 when he resumes in the Listed Winter Challenge … Read More Australia horse racing news 6 years ago Browne to continue suspension fight Leading Queensland jockey Damian Browne, who is recovering from a facial injury, has lost an internal review of a suspension … Read More Australia horse racing news 6 years ago Bowditch ready for business at Caulfield Jockey Joe Bowditch is looking forward to the challenge of riding full time in Melbourne, starting with two rides at … Read More Australia horse racing news 6 years ago Twilight racing to return to Randwick A 15-meeting schedule for Randwick’s Kensington track means twilight racing will make a return to Sydney … Read More Australia horse racing news 6 years ago Currie horse samples cleared by tests All swabs taken from horses at Ben Currie’s stable on Weetwood Handicap day at Toowoomba have been cleared of any … Read More Australia horse racing news 6 years ago Ethan Brown out to cap successful season Melbourne’s leading apprentice Ethan Brown has a strong book of rides at Caulfield as he bids to reach 50 city … Read More Australia horse racing news 6 years ago Good day ahead for Desleigh Forster Trainer Desleigh Forster is hoping things go smoother for Too Good To Refuse when the gelding heads her strong team … Read More Australia horse racing news 6 years ago Price not sold on Ardrossan in Bletchingly Trainer Mick Price has concerns over the fitness levels of Ardrossan ahead of his first-up run in the Group Three … Read More Australia horse racing news 6 years ago Archer’s Paradox speeds to big pay day A perfect barrier will help Archer’s Paradox again show brilliant early pace as she chases a big pay day at … Read More Australia horse racing news 6 years ago Stuart Kendrick to ensure top 20 spot Stuart Kendrick will back So Invincible up Doomben as he hopes to ensure he finishes in the top 20 Australian … Read More Australia horse racing news 6 years ago Triple Crown winner Justify retired Unbeaten American Triple Crown winner Justify will not race again with an ankle injury halting his career … Read More Horse Racing News 7 years ago Excellent Eccellere a lift for Litt Eccellere has given Warwick Farm trainer Richard Litt a lift at Canterbury as he comes to terms with the retirement … Read More Horse Racing News 7 years ago Williams extends lead in premiership race Craig Williams has moved a step closer to claiming a sixth Melbourne jockeys’ premiership with a winning double at Sandown … Read More Horse Racing News 7 years ago Bowman zeros in on Premiership with treble A Hugh Bowman treble at the Canterbury midweek meeting leaves him in pole position to win the Sydney jockeys’ premiership … Read More Australia horse racing news, Horse Racing News 7 years ago Classy Canberran I Am Kalani only getting better The NICK Olive-trained two-year-old I Am Kalani may have broken its maiden at Canberra just a week ago, but the … Read More Horse Racing News 7 years ago Tony Gollan hits Queensland ton Miss Arabella has given Tony Gollan his 100th Queensland winner for the season and a chance to add the state … Read More Horse Racing News 7 years ago Smart Nictock too good with game-face on The crafty Nictock might act like a pony in the stables but he’s near unbeatable once on the track, impressing … Read More Horse Racing News 7 years ago Fully Maxed on target to run at Caulfield Two-year-old Fully Maxed has come through his first-up win at Sandown well and is in line to step up in … Read More Horse Racing News 7 years ago Sebrarian collapses and dies at Canterbury The Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott-trained gelding Sebrarian has collapsed and died during during a race at Canterbury … Read More Horse Racing News 7 years ago Double joy for trainer Nathan McPherson Hunting Hill and the undefeated Eurack have given Cranbourne trainer Nathan McPherson his finest hour at Sandown … Read More Horse Racing News 7 years ago Sultan in the swing of Australian racing Sultan Of Swing will continue his transition to Australian racing when the former New Zealander takes on the Listed Winter … Read More Horse Racing News 7 years ago Harness racing legend Kevin Newman dies Harness racing and Harold Park legend Kevin Newman has died unexpectedly aged 83 … Read More Horse Racing News, New Zealand horse racing news 7 years ago Breeding career beckons for Bonniegirl A STRING of injuries has ensured the breeding career of the black-type winner Bonniegirl will kick off sooner than expected … Read More Horse Racing News 7 years ago Mertens to ride Supido in Bletchingly Apprentice Beau Mertens has got the nod to ride classy sprinter Supido in the Group Three Bletchingly Stakes at Caulfield … Read More Horse Racing News, New Zealand horse racing news 7 years ago Manhattan Flame on fire for Shane Crawford MANHATTAN Flame has made a red-hot start to its career despite having physical issues that made its trainer doubt the three-year-old’s … Read More Horse Racing News 7 years ago Brave Song settles into rhythm for maiden The Peter and Paul Snowden-trained colt Brave Song has won his maiden at Canterbury to give Hugh Bowman the initiative … Read More Horse Racing News, New Zealand horse racing news 7 years ago Turner’s efforts impress gun horseman A CALL up from one of the country’s premier trainers marks a significant step in the development of Dylan Turner’s … Read More Horse Racing News 7 years ago Matt Dunn with strong Doomben hand Trainer Matt Dunn has enjoyed success with younger horses this season after stocking his stable with new horses … Read More Horse Racing News 7 years ago Bowman holds advantage after two wins Hugh Bowman has ridden the first two winners on the Canterbury program to extend his lead in the Sydney premiership … Read More Australia horse racing news, Horse Racing News 7 years ago Two Blue’s success gives lightly-tried stablemate a fighting hope SIX-YEAR-OLD gelding Bluesbro has its brother to thank when it tries to break maiden grades in the Strathyr Plate at … Read More Horse Racing News 7 years ago Williams consolidates premiership lead Craig Williams has moved a step closer to claiming a sixth Melbourne jockeys’ premiership after the opening race at Sandown … Read More Horse Racing News 7 years ago Canterbury open for spring training The Canterbury course proper will be available to trainers for gallops as they prepare horses or the Sydney spring Carnival … Read More Horse Racing Tips 7 years ago Winter Challenge at Rosehill betting, form and free tips, July 29 THE Winter Challenge is the headline race at Rosehill this Saturday and we have betting, form and free tips for … Read More Horse Racing News 7 years ago Avdulla title bid suffers a blow Scratchings at the penultimate meeting for the season at Canterbury have depleted Brenton Avdulla’s chances as he chases a first … Read More Horse Racing News 7 years ago Ascot ground crucial for Highland Reel Ground conditions will play a key role in the final make-up of the field for the King George VI And … Read More Horse Racing News, New Zealand horse racing news 7 years ago Gentil Tonton returns to favoured track for Taumarunui Gold Cup IRISH-bred gelding Gentil Tonton has done its fair share of travelling, but this Saturday it returns to a favourable track … Read More Horse Racing News 8 years ago Paralysed jockey JT McNamara dies Former jumps rider JT McNamara has died aged 41, three years after breaking his neck in a fall at the … Read More Horse Racing News 8 years ago Search continues for missing NSW trainer The line search for popular NSW racehorse trainer Bindi Cheers is expected to carry into a fourth day as police … Read More Horse Racing News 8 years ago Magnapal to make Bletchingly return Surgery to remove bone chips looks to have been successful as Magnapal prepares for his return at Caulfield … Read More Horse Racing News 8 years ago Single Gaze on G2 Stocks Stakes path The Group Two Stocks Stakes at Moonee Valley will be an early spring target for Group One-winning mare Single Gaze … Read More Horse Racing News 8 years ago Explosive Scene firing up for Sydney race Explosive Scene is preparing for another Sydney race after he finished second behind King’s Officer … Read More Horse Racing News 8 years ago Vic racing minister calls for unity Martin Pakula says the time has come to get the thoroughbred racing industry leaders together for a heart-to-heart meeting … Read More Horse Racing News 8 years ago Vic racing minister calls for unity Martin Pakula says the time has come to get the thoroughbred racing industry leaders together for a heart-to-heart meeting … Read More Horse Racing News 8 years ago Horses thriving in McFarlane’s new set-up Trainer Greg McFarlane believes Super Tycoon will be a middle distance horse, but may wait before testing his theory … Read More Horse Racing News 8 years ago Lord Of The Sky and Oliver team up again Damien Oliver and Lord Of The Sky are yet to taste success together but will get their opportunity in the … Read More Horse Racing News 8 years ago Ryan hopes Monsoon stars at Canterbury Star Of Monsoon begins his journey to Group One racing when he makes his return in a midweek maiden at … Read More Horse Racing News 8 years ago Jungle Edge after city success at Sandown After placings over 1000m at his past two starts in town, Jungle Edge rises to 1200m for his next assignment … Read More Horse Racing News 8 years ago Search for missing trainer Cheers expanded Police and emergency services have stepped up their search for popular NSW racehorse trainer Bindi Cheers … Read More Horse Racing News 8 years ago Search continuing for missing trainer The search for missing racehorse trainer Bindi Cheers is continuing near the Newcastle suburb of Beresfield … Read More Horse Racing News 8 years ago Pakula calls for meeting of administrators Victoria’s racing minister Martin Pakula has called for a meeting of the industry’s administrators to sort out differences … Read More Horse Racing News 8 years ago Lonsdale Cup next for Trip To Paris Trainer Ed Dunlop has the Melbourne Cup among the options for last year’s fourth placed Trip To Paris who will … Read More Horse Racing News 8 years ago Antiquarium to miss Goodwood Cup Leading Sydney jockey James McDonald will bid to end his English riding stint on a high at the Goodwood Festival … Read More Horse Racing News 8 years ago Michael Dee appeals suspension Apprentice Michael Dee will appeal a 10-meeting careless riding suspension in an attempt to continue his bid for Melbourne’s junior … Read More View the full article

Auguste Rodin will spearhead Aidan O'Brien's squad in the July 27 King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes (G1) at Ascot Racecourse as the master trainer bids for a fifth victory in the 1 1/2-mile midsummer showpiece.View the full article

Rebounding from a 3-year-old season in which he lost all six of his starts, Silver Knott, re-energized this year at age 4 as a turf marathoner, seeks a third consecutive stakes triumph July 28 when he races in the $250,000 Bowling Green Stakes (G2T).View the full article

Saratoga Springs, N.Y. — It is no surprise that Hall of Fame trainer D. Wayne Lukas is confident that his GI Preakness Stakes winner Seize the Grey (Arrogate) is up to the challenge he will face Saturday at Saratoga Race Course in the GII Jim Dandy Stakes. Never shy about touting his horses, Lukas, 88, said that the MyRacehorse colt is ready to take on beaten GI Kentucky Derby favorite Fierceness (City of Light) and beaten GI Belmont Stakes favorite Sierra Leone (Gun Runner) in the local prep for the GI Travers. Fierceness, whose three career wins all came when he was on or very near the lead, will be making his first start since the Derby. Sierra Leone has been never worse than third in six starts. He was second by a nose in the Derby and third in the Belmont. Seize the Grey has worked five times since finishing seventh in the GI Belmont Stakes, which was run June 8 at Saratoga Race Course. The most recent was a half-mile in :47.99 Tuesday. When he shipped in from Kentucky in early July, Seize the Grey has also had breezes of five furlongs and six furlongs. “He's doing really well,” Lukas said. “I'm really pleased with where I have him. I have no excuses.” Lukas considered running in the GI Haskell Stakes at Monmouth Park July 20, but opted to keep Seize the Grey at his summer home and give him another week from the Belmont. In addition to Sierra Leone and the Repole Stable homebred Fierceness, the Jim Dandy drew GIII Ohio Derby winner Batten Down (Tapit) trained by Hall of Famer Bill Mott. Seize the Grey drew Post 2 in the field of six. “I feel very comfortable running in that with him,” Lukas said. Seize the Grey will be Lukas's 19th starter in the Jim Dandy and his first since Sporting Chance was fifth in 2018. He has won the race twice–with Is It True in 1989 and Scorpion in 2001–and has been second four times. Since his first Saratoga start in 1984, Lukas has won 264 races at Saratoga, 74 of them in stakes. When it looked like Seize the Grey might not have enough points to make it into the Derby field, Lukas ran him in the GII Pat Day Mile, which he won by 1 1/4 lengths at 9-1. Two weeks later at Pimlico Race Course, he surprised in the Preakness, leading from gate to wire, again at more than 9-1. The Belmont was a different story. He had company up front with Dornoch (Good Magic), and could not sustain the pace in the stretch. Lukas discounted fatigue was a factor in Seize the Grey's sixth start of 2024. “I don't think it was that,” Lukas said. “I think he was a little flat in the Belmont.” Lukas said he expects that Seize the Grey will be an improved horse for the Jim Dandy. “Oh, better than the Belmont,” Lukas said. “I'm thinking he might even be better than the way he went into the Pat Day Mile.” The post Lukas Likes What Sees from Jim Dandy-Bound Seize the Grey appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

The problematic, $10-million turf course that was installed at Churchill Downs prior to the 2022 spring season will be getting another maintenance break that will mean no grass racing in Louisville for the upcoming Sept. 12-29 meet. Usage of the Churchill turf course has been curtailed on several occasions over the past two years because of concerns over its growth, maturity and root establishment. Darren Rogers, Churchill's senior director of communications, told TDN on Thursday that track management expects the course to be usable in time for the autumn meet that spans Oct. 27-Dec. 1. “Absolutely. That won't be a problem,” Rogers said. September, Rogers said, “is just a three-week meet, and with the plethora of grass opportunities at [the tail end of the] the Ellis Park meet, plus all the [grass-only] racing at Kentucky Downs, and then Keeneland starting, we thought it's best not to run over the turf to try to maximize what we're doing to enhance it for the fall meet and next spring.” There was no turf racing in 2021 from September through November while Churchill installed the new course. Then in the spring of 2022, six weeks after the course was unveiled, management capped grass races to a maximum of two per day and moved 19 races listed in the condition book to the main dirt track in order to give the grass a better chance to grow. The track later suspended turf racing for a brief period that same season and subsequently cancelled several stakes at an August mini-meet. The course didn't get fully used at the 2023 spring meet because Churchill cut its meet short and moved all of its racing to Ellis Park in response to the deaths of 12 Thoroughbreds. In the fall of 2023, Churchill conducted just 20 turf races at the September meet and another 20 at the October/November meet. After winter and spring maintenance to start 2024, the course was able to handle 74 grass races at the recently concluded spring season, but the turf showed signs of strain from the usage. “As you know, we've had our challenges along the way,” Rogers said. “And we're committed to getting it to perform to its maximum [by] doing whatever it takes. It's a work in progress. “This year, for the spring meet, it was much improved from last fall,” Rogers continued. “But frankly, we're still dissatisfied with the course's status. We had a number of talks with our team–consultants, engineers, horsemen–and the remedies that we introduced this spring kind of have us heading in the right direction. And we said at that time that our plan is going to be more vigilant in the management of the organic materials.” Rogers detailed the most recent work to the course that was completed over the first two weeks of July. “We closed June 30, and on July 1, we scalped the turf course, cutting the grass real low. That exposes the stems of the grass and the soil to sunlight so it stimulates growth. We did a technique known as verticutting. The blades kind of knife through the soil, and they remove organic buildup, which basically allows it to breathe better. “Next we [aerated] the soil vertically and horizontally,” Rogers said. “That kind of redistributes it across the surface and removes soil from the root zone. And then, like we did this past March, we did this process called DryJect. It's a procedure where you inject different angular sand that goes down about six inches deep and provides stability and eliminates the looseness. Apparently, that enhances the root zones, and increases oxygen levels and nutrient retention. “And then lastly, we sprigged about a thousand bushels of Iron Cutter Bermuda grass around the course, then fertilized it,” Rogers said. At the moment, Rogers said, “It looks brown and yellow. But the green's coming back right now, so the team is hopeful that these remedies kind of have us heading in the right direction. It's been very hot and humid, but that's pretty typical this time of year. That's one of the challenges with this turf course, is we really go through three different seasons: the early spring, the summer, and the cold fall.”' Trainer Mike Maker, who leads all conditioners in both starts and wins over the new Churchill course with a 23-for-107 strike rate since 2022, told TDN that, “Thankfully, Kentucky Downs will be in September. We'll try to run as much as we can there. Of course, fields are going to be full and they're not going to run everything that we want, but it is what it is. If Churchill is ready for November, then we'll be okay. We can't worry about stuff we don't have control over.” The post No Turf Racing at Churchill During September Meet appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

If there has ever been a quintessential Saturday afternoon sire–as well as Breeders' Cup sire and champion sire–Curlin would have to be at the top of the list. He tends to churn out top-level horses at a dizzying rate. “Not to take anything away from other great stallions, but I don't believe Curlin is second to anybody when you speak of Grade I performers and accomplishments,” said John Sikura, who stands the 2007-08 Horse of the Year at Hill 'n' Dale at Xalapa. “If you think of the Breeders' Cup, he takes something that's never been done before, accomplishes it, and then equals it the next year. It's hard to put into words.” Sikura is, of course, speaking of one of the most remarkable feats in modern history. In 2022, Curlin was responsible for three Breeders' Cup winners in a single day. It was an unprecedented accomplishment, something never before done and something so singular it was unlikely to ever be duplicated–or so it was thought. Unbelievably, Curlin repeated that extraordinary feat in 2023. With eight individual Breeders' Cup victories, Curlin leads all sires, living or dead, by wins on the sport's championship days. When a sire breathes such rarified air, expectations grow heavy, whether that's fair or not. Might there be extra pressure in standing a stallion like Curlin and feeling the weight of those expectations? “No,” said Sikura, “because his legacy and his achievement absorbs any pressure there might be. It's the unique thing about greatness: the higher he reaches, the more he delivers. He's one of the world-class elite horses who is achieving the multiplicity of success. “The standard of excellence he delivers is not random, but consistent. I read something once and I never forgot it, something like greatness is so elusive that you really don't think it even exists but every once in a while it does, just to remind you it does. That's Curlin.” Curlin's regular prowess was on display last weekend when champion Idiomatic kicked off Saturday with a thrilling victory in Monmouth's GIII Molly Pitcher Stakes, then Solo Album followed shortly after with Woodbine's GIII Trillium Stakes, giving Curlin wins in 20% of the graded stakes in North America Saturday. On Sunday, only one graded event, the GII Shuvee Stakes at Saratoga, was contested on the continent. Was it any surprise to see the Hill 'n' Dale super sire's daughter Raging Sea adding to his weekend tally? If that wasn't a big enough weekend, Curlin's debuter Getaway Car was dubbed a 'TDN Rising Star' at Del Mar and his son Good Magic was the sire of GI Haskell Stakes winner Dornoch. TDN Stallions: Curlin from Thoroughbred Daily News on Vimeo. “We're very proud of the horse and very thankful to [Stonestreet's] Barbara Banke and her team,” said Sikura. “We've had a great relationship of success with Barbara with Curlin, Maclean's Music, and Good Magic. I think there a synergy when you have good people who get along and respect each other with no ego involved; it's not science but that environment of compatibility. All that karma works for the favor the horse. “We all support the horse with our best mares. We're cheerleaders for the horse with the same goals in mind. It's a great reward for everyone. They trust these horses to us and then support them it. I don't take any personal credit. We're lucky enough to have a great horse that people recognize as a rare stallion. Early in a career with a stallion, you're waiting for a horse's limitations to present, but with him limitations don't exist. All those things that start to emerge as self-limiting factors for most horses do not apply to him. He seems limitless and boundless in his ability to achieve. It's so rare. You're waiting for the door to close, but it doesn't with him. “We're lucky to have him and continue to support him with the best mares.” For most stallions, it's often a metric of how many Grade I winners one has sired that emphasizes success. Curlin has 22, which puts him tied for third among all living North American sires with his 13th crop now aged two. Twelve of those 22 have won two or more Grade I events. There's a sheer volume in quantity as well as in quality when it comes to Curlin. His runners have won or placed in 128 Grade I races in the dozen years he's had runners. For a hint of what a remarkable number that is, one only needs realize there are 93 Grade I races in the U.S. carded for 2024. Not too many of them haven't been impacted by Curlin progeny in the last dozen years, some several times over. “It's not bias or any emotion on my part, strictly on fact,” said Sikura. “Some sires jump up and have a banner year, but he's consistently a sire of Grade I horses. It's now almost commonplace for him. He's just a great sire and now his son [fellow Hill 'n' Dale stallion Good Magic] has two different Classic winners in two crops. “Not to take away from anyone else, but obviously Good Magic is another supernatural horse and we hope that's the heir apparent for Curlin. He's still at a relatively young age for a great stallion, but now with his sons winning Classic races, it looks like it's going to perpetuate his legacy.” In addition to the aforementioned Dornoch, who won this year's GI Belmont Stakes, Good Magic also sired his full-brother Mage, who won last year's GI Kentucky Derby. The year before that, Curlin's son Keen Ice sired Derby winner Rich Strike. Curlin himself had a Classic winner in his first crop with Palace Malice in the 2013 Belmont. He would add a second Classic winner from his fourth crop in 2016 with Exaggerator in the GI Preakness Stakes. He has come tantalizingly close to many more: his progeny have an additional two Preakness placings, three more Belmont placings, and two runner-up finishes in the Kentucky Derby. “I think everyone is probably aware of everything the horse is,” said Sikura. “If you point to his accomplishments, you might be somewhat surprised at his versatility. He gets colts and fillies. He may not have as many good 2-year-olds as his horses get better over time. Just look at Idiomatic [maiden winner at three, eight-for-nine champion at four, Grade I winner this year at five]. “They're ascending in their ability as they age. When they're retired, it's often due to the economics and their value as a stallion or broodmare. When you're as good at five as you were at three, that's pretty unique. “Every year, his horses are as good or even better than they were the year before. There's no limit. They're tougher, faster, sounder, and more durable each year, which is probably something you don't see with a lot of horses.” Champion Idiomatic (rail) battles to a gutsy Molly Pitcher win Saturday | Sarah Andrew Overall, Curlin has an enviable body of work. He has eight individual U.S. champions and one Canadian champion among his 105 black-type winners. In addition to those eight individual Breeders' Cup wins already mentioned, his 59 graded winners have another nine Breeders' Cup placings. There's a GI Kentucky Oaks win, a GI Travers Stakes win, and the list goes on. Is there anything the son of Smart Strike cannot do? “He's not a turf specialist,” said Sikura, “but the only reason he doesn't have turf horses is he doesn't have turf mares. When he has the opportunity, he's gotten graded winners on the turf.” He has, indeed. Curlin has six graded winners on the grass. He had the opportunity to run just once on the lawn himself, finishing second in the GI Man o' War Stakes in 2008. It was one of the few losses in a Hall of Fame career that encompassed wins in the GI Breeders' Cup Classic, the Preakness, the G1 Dubai World Cup, and a number of other races at the highest echelon. The two-time Horse of the Year, who retired as North America's all-time leading money winner, was responsible for three individual Eclipse Award winners of 2022 and three in 2023. Only one of those was a repeat winner (Elite Power); another was named Horse of the Year, as well as older dirt male (Cody's Wish). In the history of the Eclipse Awards, only five former Horses of the Year have themselves sired a Horse of the Year. Curlin joined Saint Liam (Havre de Grace), A.P. Indy (Mineshaft), Seattle Slew (A.P. Indy), and Secretariat (Lady's Secret) when he did it last year. Sikura said that Curlin is not slowing down at age 20. “I guess there's always some physical changes to a degree, but his fertility is excellent, his libido is excellent, and his performance on the racetrack is still elite. I hear the word 'age' a lot in different contexts, but you're only old in anything when you can no longer do it. There's always outliers with the greats in any field. Tom Brady, Muhammad Ali… They didn't do what the normal athlete does under normal expectations. “It really doesn't matter how old Curlin is, but whether he's still accomplishing at the same level. We manage him closely, he covers about 100 mares [a season]. We don't overbreed him. He has a fantastic book, supported by the world's best breeders.” Standing for $250,000, the co-highest published fee in North America, Curlin's first foals raced in 2012. That was the same year as Into Mischief, the other U.S. stallion at $250,000 in 2024, had his first runners. Each has been extraordinary and each has sire sons proving themselves at the top level. Curlin, who had the top-priced yearling in the U.S. last year (a colt out of champion Beholder who brought $4 million at Fasig-Tipton Saratoga), has four sons at stud (Good Magic, Keen Ice, Connect, and Palace Malice) who have already sired Grade I winners. He also has a number of top young sons coming up, including two of his best runners–Cody's Wish and Elite Power–who stood their first seasons in 2024. It's safe to say the sport will feel the long-reaching effects of Curlin's influence for a long time to come. Sikura has a long history himself at the heights of the sport, including co-owning and consigning Better Than Honour, the 2007 Broodmare of the Year who produced back-to-back Belmont winners and still holds the world record for a broodmare at public auction when selling for $14 million in 2008 at Fasig-Tipton. He was asked how he believes standing Curlin will rank among his own lifetime accomplishments. “My goal every year is to be accomplishing things that I haven't accomplished in the past, so how the story is last written will have to wait and see, but certainly nothing will be more rewarding than standing Curlin, although you can't really compare or contrast it. It's singularly its own special achievement indelibly etched in whatever we have accomplished or will still accomplish. I've had Better Than Honour and other proud moments, for lack of a better word, but nothing competes with or takes away from the Curlin legacy. It's like with your kids–you're proud of the one who just graduated law school and also of the daughter who just had her first child. “Curlin having three Breeders' Cup winners in a day is an almost-impossible thing to do, and then he did it again. Great horses drag you along with them. Their rarity and greatness is what makes it all so special.” The post Saturday Sires: Curlin appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

A small, but very select field of five 3-year-old colts is set to face the starter in Friday's $200,000 GII Amsterdam Stakes at Saratoga, a contest in which an argument could be made for each of the entrants. Godolphin's Jefferson Street (Street Sense) broke his maiden by nine lengths as a 1-4 mortal at Keeneland in April and after stubbing his toe when third to next-out Maxfield Stakes hero Raging Torrent (Maximus Mischief) in the race immediately following the GI Kentucky Derby May 4, defeated older allowance foes by some eight lengths over this course and 6 1/2-furlong distance June 7, good for a field-best 102 Beyer. “I thought he ran very well. He ran very good,” said Mott of Jefferson Street, who is bred on the successful cross over Bernardini. “He's maintained everything pretty well, I just hope he runs as well as he did last time. They get stronger as they go along, and he's slowly worked his way to that.” His off-pace running style could suit him well in a field that looks to contain plenty of early types. 'TDN Rising Star' World Record (Gun Runner) flaunted his speed to graduate by an eased-down 6 1/4 lengths going seven furlongs in Louisville May 27, but he was outrun early in the Maxfield and ended up a clear third. Trainer Rodolphe Brisset puts the blinkers on the $410,000 Keeneland November purchase. Donegal Momentum (Uncle Mo) broke his maiden with consummate ease first time out to earn his 'Rising Star' at Aqueduct May 16 and looked like he got a bit lost out in front in a one-mile allowance against older rivals June 27 and was run down close home. The cutback in trip can aid his cause here. With 10 career starts under his belt, Valentine Candy (Justify) is easily the most experienced of Friday's runners, and he's shown a fair bit of talent to boot, with a pair of black-type scores at two at Oaklawn Park and a victory over subsequent GIII Chick Lang Stakes winner Frost Free (Frosted) in the Bachelor Stakes in Hot Springs Apr. 27. The Heiligbrodt runner exits an even fourth to recent Jersey Shore Stakes hero Book'em Danno (Bucchero) in the GI Woody Stephens Stakes June 8. Juddmonte Farms' Pure Force (Constitution) is perfect in two starts to date, an easy debut success on Derby Day followed by a five-length allowance tally June 19 in which he enjoyed a soft time of things on the engine. The 9-2 longest shot on the board is not completely out of this, but will need to improve by several lengths on his figures. The post Jefferson Street Faces ‘Rising Star’ Duo in Amsterdam appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Reversing plans to use its troubled turf when it resumes racing, Churchill Downs now will race strictly on dirt during its Sept. 12-29 meet, according to Darren Rogers, the track's senior director of communications and media services.View the full article

Conor Wixted has quickly climbed the ranks at Goffs. In three years with the company, he has quickly become a familiar face within the company, and currently holds the role as Senior Bloodstock Executive at just 28 years of age. Outside of Goffs, Conor holds the position as chairman of the ITBA Next Generation and has already proved himself as a shrewd judge of young stock through his successful pinhooks and breeding ventures. What can you tell us about your role as Senior Bloodstock Executive at Goffs? What would a typical week look like for you? It is quite a varied role, it really depends on the time of the year. We are always working towards the next sale. From mid-January to March I would be on the road looking at stores for the Arkle Sale. It's then on to viewing yearlings in May and June ahead of the Orby [yesterday, we finished finalising what is an exciting catalogue and it should be online very soon]. Throughout August we will be working towards the November Foal and Breeding Stock Sale. When I went for my first interview at Goffs with Nick Nugent and Mary Kilduff, Nick compared the role to a chef working in a kitchen, in that there is often a lot going on in the background that you don't see. In September during the yearling sales, we will be finalising foal placings and entries while the sale is happening. Outside of Goffs, you are the driving force behind the ITBA Next Generation, which has made massive strides in recent years. The seminars and events have been a huge success but what other things are in the pipeline for the Young ITBA? Since it's revival two years ago, there has been a huge appetite from young people-not just from those in the industry but also from those solely with an interest in the game. I must say we have huge support from some of the biggest players in the game which has been massively appreciated. It is heartening that they give up their time and recognise the importance of helping and supporting the future of the industry. One of Cathy Grassick's goals as Chair of the ITBA was to relaunch the Next Generation Internship. The internships will be a year-long, fully paid, offering successful candidates invaluable experience working in three different industry areas for four months each. One of the internships will focus on an office placement and working with businesses within the industry. While the second placement will be a practical placement with work on stud farms offering hands-on experience. The interviews have been completed and the successful candidates will be announced in the coming weeks. And you couldn't work for Goffs and be the chairman of the ITBA Next Generation without having some skin in the game! I gather you have had quite a bit of success at pinhooking in recent times and I know you work closely with Clare Manning of Boherguy Stud. It would be hard not to be involved in some way or another. It's exciting watching foals and yearlings develop. It's not always simple but that's what makes it all the more interesting and all the better when it works out. I couldn't do it without the help of my parents and sister at home in County Clare and of course Clare Manning who does the foaling and prep. Last year, we took the plunge on a foal in America so that's exciting. She's by Vino Rosso and is based with Adrian Regan and Fergus Galvin at Hunter Valley who have been extremely helpful. That has been a completely different experience for us and let's see how it goes. What has bee your best result/greatest day in the sport? To date, it has been selling a foal to one of the most successful breeding and pinhooking operations, Ballyphilip Stud [Paul and Marie McCartan]. I have respect for Paul and Marie-they have bred so many brilliant horses and came up with the goods again this year with Royal Ascot winner Fairy Godmother (Ire) (Night Of Thunder {Ire}). For people like that to have bought a foal off me was quite humbling. What it is about the trading aspect of the game that appeals to you. If anything, it must be an excellent way of getting out and about and meeting people, which can only be beneficial for your role with Goffs. You're not always going to get it right but, when you do, it's very satisfying. I think by doing some breeding and trading, you can really understand both the challenges and opportunities involved. Chatting about stock is always a great talking point and can often be a good conversation breaker. You come from a sport horse background. What principals have you carried over from your sport horse days and how have you refined your eye to working with thoroughbreds. I did a lot of showing and hunting when I was younger. A lot of the principals are the same, particularly from a management perspective. Attention to detail is everything and a nice horse is a nice horse. The Horse Sport Ireland and Teagasc Young Breeder programme was a great grounding, I learned a huge amount about conformation, movement and showing in hand and in 2019 I was lucky enough to win the National Young Breeder competition. If Goffs handed you a hypothetical €100,000 sales voucher to be spent at any of the sales–be that yearling, foals or mares–what would you seek out and whose advice would you call upon? I'd love to buy a stakes-placed filly off the track by a proven broodmare sire with the help of John O'Connor [Ballylinch Stud] because they are excellent breeders. Best advice you have ever been given? In this business, hard work and honesty are imperative. Henry is always telling us that auctioneers trade on their integrity and that is our biggest asset as we work for the vendor and the purchaser acting as the honest broker between the two. Give us one horse to follow for the remainder of the Flat season? The Lion In Winter (IRE), a two-year-old by Sea The Stars who was a very impressive maiden winner last Saturday at the Curragh. He's actually a TDN Rising Star, has a Goffs Million entry and is the favourite for next year's Derby, so he's probably one of the most exciting colts in training right now. I suppose I'm talking with my Goffs hat on here as well as he was a €375,000 graduate from the Orby Sale, which makes it extra special following his career. And a young person in the industry to keep an eye on… Ben Hensey-he's currently doing an internship with us in Goffs and he'll go far! The post Young Guns: Getting To Know Goffs Senior Bloodstock Executive Conor Wixted appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Breeders' Cup issued a reminder that Aug. 1 at 11:59 p.m. ET is the deadline to nominate foals born in 2024 to the Breeders' Cup program at the one-time nomination fee of $400. View the full article

Grade 1 winner Arabian Knight returns to the sight of his biggest victory while making his 4-year-old debut in the $300,000 San Diego Handicap (G2) at Del Mar July 27.View the full article

Coming off a Curragh maiden success last month, the Silverton Hill Partnership's Hotazhell (GB) (Too Darn Hot {GB}–Azenzar {GB}, by Danehill Dancer {Ire}) was on top at the end of Leopardstown's G3 Japan Racing Association Tyros Stakes to provide the Jessica Harrington stable with a double on Thursday. Settled in the wake of the Ballydoyle pace-setter Swagman (Ger) (Wootton Bassett {GB}) throughout the early stages, the 100-30 second favourite was sent upsides that rival by Shane Foley at the furlong pole and asserted to score by 1 1/2 lengths, with another 2 1/2 lengths back to Ballydoyle's 5-6 favourite Surpass (Ire) (Saxon Warrior {Jpn}) in third. Hotazhell The son of Too Darn Hot is a two-year-old going places and scoops the Group 3 Japan Racing Association Tyros Stakes for @Jessica_Racing at @LeopardstownRC. A good day at the office for the trainer & Shane Foley. pic.twitter.com/I9KSHOpsVx — Racing TV (@RacingTV) July 25, 2024 The post Too Darn Hot’s 200K Craven Breeze-Up Graduate Hotazhell Wins the Tyros appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Simply a nice introduction and a placing would have been encouraging for Cheveley Park Stud as they unveiled their unraced homebred Formal (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) in Newbury's seven-furlong fillies' maiden on Thursday evening, so an impressive win for the first foal out of their G1 Falmouth Stakes heroine Veracious (GB) (Frankel {GB}) made her instant TDN Rising Star material. Held up initially by Jason Watson, the Sir Michael Stoute-trained 6-1 shot was delivered to swamp Juddmonte's experienced 8-15 favourite Glistening (GB) (Frankel {GB}) without being asked a serious question approaching the furlong marker en route to a cosy 1 1/4-length success, with 4 1/4 lengths back to Qilin Queen (Ire) (Pinatubo {Ire}) in third. Beautifully bred winner! Formal – daughter of Falmouth Stakes winner Veracious – strikes on debut in eyecatching fashion at @NewburyRacing for @_JasonWatson and Sir Michael Stoute… pic.twitter.com/WVVeAkIaM4 — At The Races (@AtTheRaces) July 25, 2024 2nd-Newbury, £12,000, Mdn, 7-25, 2yo, f, 7fT, 1:26.41, g/f. FORMAL (GB), f, 2, by Dubawi (Ire) 1st Dam: Veracious (GB) (G1SW-Eng, $597,607), by Frankel (GB) 2nd Dam: Infallible (GB), by Pivotal (GB) 3rd Dam: Irresistible (GB), by Cadeaux Genereux (GB) Lifetime Record: 1-1-0-0, £6,480. Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. O/B-Cheveley Park Stud Ltd (GB); T-Sir Michael Stoute; J-Jason Watson. The post Latest TDN Rising Star for Dubawi as Formal Dazzles at Newbury appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article