Wandering Eyes

After finishing third in the H. Allen Jerkens Memorial Stakes (G1) last month off a 4 1/2-month layoff, grade 2 winner Barnes ships back east to Parx Racing for the $400,000 Gallant Bob Stakes (G2) Sept. 20.View the full article

5th-Churchill Downs, $94,094, Msw, 9-17, 2yo, f, 6f, 1:11.09, ft, 2 1/4 lengths. SCOT'S LAW (f, 2, Tiz the Law–Bodebabe, by Bodemeister) was secured for just $50,000 at last year's Keeneland September Sale a handful of weeks before her half-sister Scottish Lassie (McKinzie, $677,560), took out the GI Frizette Stakes at Aqueduct. Taking advantage of this auction-price restricted spot, but lightly regarded at 15-1 on debut, the chestnut bounced nicely from the inside stall and galloped her rivals along at a modest tempo while being pressed along by second-time starter Noroomformischief (Maximus Mischief). Scot's Law began to gain the upper hand in upper stretch and kept on in the final eighth of a mile to graduate by 2 1/2 lengths. Scottish Lassie, one of three Grade I winners set to contest this Saturday's GI Cotillion Stakes at Parx, has done her part to further enhance her year-younger half-sister's value with a 15 1/2-length romp in the GI CCA Oaks at Saratoga July 19. The current yearling out of Bodebabe is a Corniche colt that was sold to Saffie Joseph, Jr. for $435,000 at Keeneland September and the mare was most recently covered by Practical Joke after failing to produce a foal this year. This is the family of Grade I winners Visionaire (Grand Slam) and Tara's Tango (Unbridled's Song). Sales history: $50,000 Ylg '24 KEESEP. Lifetime Record: 1-1-0-0, $52,320. Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV. O-Millard R Seldin Revocable Trust; B-Winchester Farm (KY); T-John Alexander Ortiz. SCOT'S LAW ($32.38) laid down the law in the 5th at @ChurchillDowns. @johnnyortiz24 trains the 2YO daughter of Tiz The Law (@coolmoreamerica). The 1/2 sister to Scottish Lassie was ridden by Edgar Morales for owners Millard R. Seldin Revocable Trust. pic.twitter.com/pUwp1HU93O — FanDuel Racing (@FanDuel_Racing) September 17, 2025 The post Scottish Lassie Half-Sister Off The Mark On Churchill Debut appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Sea The Stars's Renato (lot 95) led the way at the Tattersalls Online September Sale when selling for 80,000gns on Wednesday. Consigned by Prestige Place, the Timeform 89-rated 3-year-old colt has placed in four of his seven starts and is a full-brother to Call Me Love, a winner of the G2 Premio Lydia Tesio and the G3 Premio Verziere – Mem. A Cirla in Italy and multiple graded-placed in the U.S.; and a half to listed winner Freetown (Speightstown). The grandson of G1 Prix de la Foret heroine Field Of Hope (Selkirk) was sold to dissolve a partnership and was bought by former Italian part-owner Beppa E Gigi SRL. Marco Botti said, “It worked out quite well for the owners who had decided to dissolve their partnership and the online sale was a quick and easy way to do this. In the end, he sold well. He will go to Italy now. There was quite a lot of interest in him and he had been vetted many times.” Ardad's Baker Blue (lot 12) was next at 31,000gns from the Commonstown Stables draft. The placed relative of G1 Matron Stakes heroin Echelon (Danehill) was purchased by Fortune Bloodstock. Both Babylon (Sea The Moon) and Awaafi (Far Above) broke the reached or exceeded the 20,000gns mark, with Hussain Aldossary in action for the former at 23,000gns. Lot 11 was offered by Highfield Stables. Richard Fahey's Musley Bank Stables sent lot 9, Awaafi, through the ring, where he caught the eye of Mohammed Al Khalifa to the tune of 20,000gns. Overall, 88 lots sold from 167 offered (53%) for a gross of 499,100gns. The average was 5,672gns and the median was 2,900gns. The post Renato Leads The Way At The Tattersalls Online September Sale appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Haulin Ice is the perfect poster horse for Arkansas' breeding program, and is on the cusp of dethroning Nodouble—who last raced in 1970—as the highest-earning Thoroughbred bred in the state. View the full article

Grade 2 scorer Allegorie De Vassy (No Risk At All) is one of several mares trained out of Willie Mullins's Closutton Stables confirmed for the Goffs December NH Sale. The Rich and Susannah Ricci runner is in foal to Jukebox Jury and won twice over fences at Grade 2 level. She is also out of a half-sister to six-time Group 1 winner Laurens (Lawman). Other mares set to go through the Goffs ring include G1 Triumph Hurdle fourth Lady Vega Allen (Saint Des Saints), who is also Grade 1-placed; Jet Away's Grade 1-winning Brandy Love, carrying to Jukebox Jury; and Je Garde (Kapgarde), a full-sister to the Grade 1-placed Hors Piste and a half-sister to the Grade 3 winner Kitzbuhel (Cokoriko). Goffs Group chief executive Henry Beeby said, “Following last year's success with Pink In The Park, we are honoured that Willie Mullins and his owners have again chosen Goffs December Sale for these outstanding mares who are sure to capture the imagination of every National Hunt breeder. Their support is a strong endorsement of the sale's established reputation as the premier marketplace for National Hunt breeding stock. From Apples' Jade to Concertista to Marie's Rock, we have offered some of the very best at Goffs in recent years and we anticipate more fireworks in the ring in December with this wonderful draft from Closutton.” The post Allegorie De Vassy One Of Several Closutton Mares Headed 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

The 1-2-3 finishers from last month's Seaway Stakes (G3) at Woodbine venture south to contend for the $300,000 prize in the Presque Isle Downs Masters Stakes (G2) Sept. 19. View the full article

5th-BAQ, $85k, Msw, 2yo, f, 1 1/16mT, post time: 3:15 p.m. ET The first foal from 2020 Eclipse Award-winning juvenile filly Vequist (Nyquist), THE JEWELER (Into Mischief) has drawn the inside stall for a race scheduled for the turf, but which could well be transferred to the main track after a day of wet weather in the Northeast. Winner of the GI Spinaway Stakes, GI Frizette Stakes and the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies, Vequist fetched $3.4 million from Spendthrift Farm at the 2021 Fasig-Tipton November Sale. The Jeweler debuts in the Wathnan Racing colors, with Junior Alvarado to ride. Isadora Duncan (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) is a homebred full-sister to SW & GI Belmont Oaks third Opulent Restraint (Ire), both fillies out of Significant Form (Creative Cause), who carried the Stephanie Seymour Brant silks to a pair of graded scores for Chad Brown. The Valentine's Day foal is out of a half-sister to the dam of recent Skidmore Stakes winner Bobrovsky (Daredevil). This is the family of the impressive recent Japanese maiden winner Wayny Su (Into Mischief) and Aqueduct main winner Memorized (Tapit). Belle of Georgia (Ire) (Wootton Bassett {GB}) is a half-sister four winners, including Never So Brave (Ire) (No Nay Never), who took the G1 City of York Stakes Aug. 23. TJCIS PPs 1st-DEL, $45k, Msw, 6f, 12:45 p.m. ET HONOR BRIGHT (Quality Road) cost the Speedway Stables braitrust $850,000 at last year's Keeneland September and has obvious pedigree appeal. The Apr. 26 foal is set to become the 10th runner for dam Justwhistledixie (Dixie Union), a two-time Grade II winner and runner-up in the GI Acorn Stakes at three whose six to salute include GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile hero New Year's Day (Street Cry {Ire}); MGSW Mohaymen (Tapit); Enforceable (Tapit), winner of the 2020 GIII Lecomte Stakes in this country and recently a Group 1 winner in Peru; and GSW Kingly (Tapit). TJCIS PPs The post Thursday Insights: Champion Vequist Represented By First Starter appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

After years as the COO of his family's Three Chimneys Farm, which was bought by the Borges Torrealba family in 2013, Case Clay was ready for a change. So in 2022 he moved full-time to his own business, Case Clay Thoroughbred Management Since then, he has also become the racing manager for Wathnan Racing, which is the Emir of Qatar's stable. On the racetrack, Wathnan is one of the fastest-growing racing operations in the world. Racing in the U.S. for less than two years, Wathnan has won the GI Dubai World Cup with Hit Show (Candy Ride {Arg}) and the GI California Crown with Subsanador (Arg) (Fortify). This week at the Keeneland September Sale, Clay has already purchased 19 yearlings representing a number of clients, including two Into Mischief colts, which both sold for $900,000, and a Flightline colt for $850,000. To discuss his new enterprises, the huge numbers coming out of Keeneland September and even his brief fling with trying to become a standup comic, Clay joined this week's TDN Writers' Room presented by Keeneland. He was the Gainesway Guest of the Week. Clay believes that the robust numbers coming out of Keeneland are due to a number of factors-the huge purses in Kentucky and, in particular, Kentucky Downs, the new tax regulations which allow for 100% bonus depreciation and the overall amount of wealth in the U.S. As the son of Robert Clay, he was exposed to racing at a very young age. “My first foray into racing was when I was in the fourth grade,” Clay said. “My father was in the fertilizer business and the horse business at the time. He told me, 'I'm going to get out of the fertilizer business and do the horse business full time.' I told him that I thought that was a really bad idea, that he had a family to support. His first big horse was Slew o' Gold. Fortunately, it all worked out. We would go to New York and see him run and win races like the Marlboro Cup, the Jockey Club Gold Cup and the Woodward. At that time, I thought, 'Well, this is easy.' You know, you just go up to New York, you watch them win and then you go to Wendy's on the way to the airport. The reason I'm bringing that up is I've always just really loved the racing part of it, even though that wasn't my day-to-day business and the family business at Three Chimneys. But what an absolute pleasure it is for me now that the racing part of it is part of my business.” Wathnan represents deep pockets and the Emir has a desire to win at the highest level. What are the stable's goals? “The idea from the beginning has been to try and buy horses that the Emir and his family would enjoy and be proud of,” Clay said. “That's what we're trying to do-what I'm trying to do in America and what Richard Brown is trying to do in Europe. And, of course, the goal in America is not only to buy horses that the Emir and his family would enjoy and be proud of, but to win the Kentucky Derby, just like everyone else out there at Keeneland right now. ” Had things broken a little bit differently for Clay, he might be on Saturday Night Live right now. His then girlfriend, who is now his wife, took him to a Second City comedy show. When it was done Tina Fey came out on stage and said that they had a training center and invited him to take classes. “That's what I wanted to do, get a day job and try to do the comedy at night,” he said. His classmates included Seth Myers and Jason Sudeikis. He remains good friends with Myers. It didn't work out, but he has nothing but fond memories about that part of his life. “I did love it and I wouldn't trade it for anything the world,” Clay said. “W.T. Young told me when I was 17, take a big risk before you're 30, because if it doesn't work out, you're still young enough and you can go do something else. I had that in my mind. I thought I'm going to take a risk and try this. I'll never kick myself for trying it. I made some great friends and it was a great adventure. I obviously was not funny enough because here I am in the horse business and I'm not in Hollywood or New York.” The Fastest Horse of the Week was Bentornato (Valiant Minister), who got a 108 Beyer in his win in the Louisville Thoroughbred Society Stakes at Churchill Downs. The Fastest Horse of the Week segment is sponsored by WinStar. Elsewhere on the podcast, which is also sponsored by 1/ST TV, the Pennsylvania Horse Breeders' Association, the KTOB and West Point Thoroughbreds, the team of Bill Finley, Zoe Cadman and Randy Moss reviewed the major races from last weekend and took a look ahead at Saturday's card at Parx, which includes the GI Pennsylvania Derby and the GI Cotillion S. They also discussed the phenomenal year Paco Lopez, who leads the nation in wins, is having and whether or not he is an elite talent or someone who wins a lot of races only because he doesn't face off with the best jockeys in the sport on a daily basis. To watch the Writers' Room, click here. To view the show as a podcast, click here. The post Case Clay Joins TDN Writers’ Room Podcast appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

1/ST CONTENT, a provider of North and South American horse racing content, and the Italian Ministry of Agriculture, Food Sovereignty and Forestry (MASAF) have joined forces ahead of the Breeders' Cup. The deal now opens gateway local pool betting on North American, South American and Turkish racing in Italy – and was soft-launched over last month's 100th edition of the Hambletonian at The Meadowlands, NJ. The agreement kicks off with the Breeders' Cup on October 31 and November 1. Other races that will be shown to Italian audiences include: the GI Pegasus World Cup on January 24, the GI Preakness Stakes on May 16, and the GI Belmont Stakes on June 6. Key points of the deal include: Comprehensive Coverage: exclusive signals of all racetracks in the United States, Canada, South America and Turkey, ensuring an extensive and diverse range of racing content for Italian audiences. Cutting-Edge Technology: high-quality, immersive broadcasts, providing viewers with an unparalleled access to live racing and informative content that both engages the seasoned viewer and educates those unfamiliar with the sport. Enhanced Viewer Engagement: accompanying innovative marketing strategies, promotions, and engagement initiatives, enhancing the overall viewer experience and speaking to a dedicated racing community in Italy. Simon Fraser, senior vice president international at 1/ST CONTENT, said, “We're thrilled to be working as a partner with MASAF on a program to rejuvenate their horse racing audience and breathe new life into the Italian industry.” Remo Chiodi, director general for horse racing at MASAF, added, “This partnership is part of a broader framework aimed at strengthening relations between Italy and the United States in the horseracing sector: it is a path that consolidates ties between the two countries, enhances both our national excellence and international achievements, and opens up new opportunities for growth and exchange. Thanks to this agreement, major American racing events will be broadcast free-to-air on EQU TV, expanding the television offering and allowing betting on the races within a fully integrated system.” The post 1/ST CONTENT And Italy’s MASAF Partner Ahead Of Breeders’ Cup appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Susumu Fujita's Shin Emperor has been ruled out of the upcoming G1 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe next month due to a respiratory illness, trainer Yoshito Yahagi posted on X. A Group 2 winner in Saudi Arabia and a Group 3 winner in Japan, the full-brother to 2020 Arc hero Sottsass will target the G1 Japan Cup in November, a race he finished second in last year. Third in the 2024 G1 Irish Champion Stakes, he ran sixth in the 2025 edition of the race. The post read, “Shin Emperor underwent an endoscopic examination on Monday local time due to an abnormality observed in its racing performance. As a result, asthma and moderate pulmonary hemorrhage (EIPH) were identified. “While these conditions do not require immediate complete rest, it was determined that competing in the Arc de Triomphe in optimal condition would be difficult, and the decision was made to withdraw from the race.” The chestnut, who topped the 2022 Arqana August Yearling Sale at €2.1 million, will aim to go one better in the 2025 Japan Cup after he recovers. “Moving forward, the plan is to return to Japan on September 28 and prepare for the Japan Cup,” the post continued. “We kindly ask for your continued support in Japan as well.” The post Shin Emperor Knocked Out Of The Arc With Respiratory Illness, Japan Cup New Target appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

The group-placed Coetzee (Frankel) is one of three wildcards added to the upcoming Arqana Arc Sale on October 4. Consigned as lot 14 and trained by Francis-Henri Graffard, the 4-year-old is rated 98 and is out of the black-type Sing Softly (Hennessy). His extended family features Group 1 winners Mozu Ascot (Frankel), To Honor And Serve, Angela Renee (Bernardini) and La Cara (Street Sense). He was most recently third in the G3 Prix Gladiateur. Lot 13 is three-time winner Stolen Kiss (Chachnak), who bears a mark of 104. A grandson of G1 Prix de l'Opera heroine Satwa Queen (Muhtathir), he is from the family of top-level winners Nations Pride (Teofilo), Militarize (Dundeel), and Lucky Vega. Rounding out the trio is Quinteplus (Telecaster) (lot 31). A dual winner this season, the colt was third in the Listed Prix Frederic de Lagrange. Out of a half-sister to dual Group 1 winner Terre A Terre (Kaldounevees), he is rated 102. To view the catalogue, please visit the Arqana website. The post Coetzee Leads Trio Of Arqana Arc Sale Wildcards appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Caspar Fownes continued his brilliant start to the season, taking over at the top of the trainers’ premiership with a brilliant Happy Valley four-timer spearheaded by Lo Rider’s win in the feature Class Two Shek O Handicap (1,650m) on Wednesday night. Fourth in last season’s Hong Kong Derby (2,000m), Lo Rider had no problem with a drop with the extended Valley mile on his return to action, always sitting handy under Harry Bentley in the run. Peeled into the centre of the track on the turn, the...View the full article

Three Group 1 winners this year have emanated from the Tattersalls Ireland September Yearling Sale, with their wins coming across four glorious days on the biggest stage of all: Royal Ascot. From the opening-day thrill of Docklands (Massaat) holding off Rosallion (Blue Point) in the Queen Anne Stakes came a dual top-level strike on the Friday of the meeting for Cercene (Australia) in the Coronation Stakes and Time For Sandals (Sands Of Mali) in the Commonwealth Cup. To have bought all three of these horses at Fairyhouse as yearlings would have cost €101,000. It is easy to imagine that their trainers, Harry Eustace and Joe Murphy, will be back shopping at Tattersalls Ireland when this year's sale gets underway on September 23. Across Europe, the hunt is already on, but at Fairyhouse, perhaps more than anywhere, you can expect to find a vast array of trainers on the beat. “You have to go to the sales and find your horse, don't you?” A rhetorical question from Simon Kerins, CEO of Tattersalls Ireland. “They get a bit of value, you know. Someone said once that you need a type and I thought 'Well, do we?' You can find the sharp, speedy types, but I know people that have come and bought a big backward type of horse there and they've gone on well.” Wicklow Brave would fall into the category, and what a star he became. An €11,000 yearling bought by Bobby O'Ryan, the son of Beat Hollow returned to Fairyhouse two years later for the Derby Sale in Luke Barry's Manister House Stud draft, with Harold Kirk and Willie Mullins going to €43,000 to ensure he went home with them to Co Carlow. From 59 starts and 17 wins, Wicklow Brave proved to be the ultimate dual-purpose hero, winning the G1 Irish St Leger and the G1 Punchestown Champion Hurdle, and running at Ascot, Flemington, Cheltenham, York, Belmont and beyond. An appropriate flagbearer, then, as a horse who had graduated from Tattersalls Ireland's two flagship sales for each code. “Then there's Pether's Moon,” Kerins adds. “He won the Coronation Cup. He was a huge horse, and he was gorgeous. So I suppose there's all types.” Cercene, pride and joy of the Murphy family | Brian Sheerin Indeed there are, and on Sunday at the Curragh we witnessed those of a more precocious leaning line up in the Tattersalls Ireland Super Auction Sales Stakes, run as part of the Irish Champions Festival. The 16-runner contest went the way of Alparslan (Dandy Man), who was bought by Federico Barberini on behalf of Mohammed Saeed Al Shehhi for €75,000 and contributed to a memorable weekend in Ireland for his trainer Karl Burke. Kerins says, “Karl Burke will turn up perennially and he's a great supporter of the sale. Our sales race is the longest-running race of its kind in Europe. “The likes of Clive Cox has always done well at that sale too, as have some of the breeze-up guys. I've always thought we could compete with any sale at a level.” Kerins, who is now in his 26th year with Tattersalls Ireland and also pops up regularly on the rostrum at Tattersalls in Newmarket, is encouraged by the pan-European support the yearling sale at Fairyhouse receives. This year's catalogue has been trimmed back to the numbers seen in 2023, with 50 fewer horses catalogued for Part 1 (505) compared to last year. Part II, which takes place in one session, has been reduced by 110 lots. He says, “It's a small team at Tattersalls Ireland but they're all passionate about the sale doing well, and they really put their shoulder to the wheel. “Charles [O'Neill] and his team at ITM, again, they're really passionate about the Irish sales doing well and the Irish suffix being the flag that's flown. Having them behind us is really important. We work closely with ITM and they do a great job.” Kerins continues, “Italian buyers bought a huge number last year. They turn up in their droves to the September sale and the breeze-up and they do a lot of business.” It is not just the buyers who count, however. There is something of a paradox in the growing fears of falling foal crops around the world while breeders can still struggle to find a suitable sales spot for their yearlings. The latter is a situation of which Kerins is all too conscious, particularly when he regularly witnesses first-hand the dedication of those breeders. “It's their love of the horse and it's a love of racing,” he says. “For me, what's most satisfying as an auctioneer is seeing someone who has a smile on their face after you sell a horse. Sometimes, when you're out looking at horses, people can be hyper-sensitive in discussions about their horse, because they've either bought the horse or they've sent the mare to the stallion. They've seen this foal gallop across the field. Now it's a yearling and you're not going to take it for the sale that they thought was suitable. So it is tough.” One potential upside to the drop in the number of foals being bred could be that this scenario is played out less frequently. “I suppose in the long run, like anything, it comes down to supply and demand, and if you've a smaller supply of horses, there's good demand,” he admits. “That seems to be the case at the moment, that we're seeing greater demand for horses. And that will help from a breeder or vendor perspective when it comes to getting into a sale, and it helps us as well. “Like I always say, I'm privileged to work in a sales company and go out to see these amazing farms and meet some really fantastic people – small breeders, big breeders, whatever. And we always try to put the horses where we feel they will make the most money.” He adds, “I think numbers contracting will help to a certain degree. It'll bring demand to every level of the market. And that's a good thing.” There is also plenty of encouragement to be drawn from the manner in which the yearling sales season has started this year, with seemingly plentiful demand throughout the middle market at the Goffs UK Premier Yearling Sale and Tattersalls Somerville Sale. “That's a good sign,” Kerins notes. “And there seems to be really good, solid trade. I'd be more hopeful than normal before a yearling sale. I suppose with the year we've had as well, that helps.” The post The ‘Ascot Three’ Sprinkling Extra Stardust on Tattersalls Ireland appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

The Cary Grant Stakes, which has been run 11 times during the fall stand starting in 2014, will now be called The Chosen Vron Stakes, according to a Del Mar Thoroughbred Club release Wednesday. The Chosen Vron Stakes will be run on Saturday, Nov. 8 as part of Del Mar's 20 stakes Bing Crosby Season schedule. It will carry a $100,000 purse and be for California-bred runners aged 3 and up. The gelding by the late sire Vronsky was owned by the partnership of Sondereker Racing, J. Eric Kruljac, Robert Fetkin and Richard Thornburg. Kruljac also trained the chestnut who finished his career with $1,709,678 in purses won. He retired last year after a sparkling five-year career that saw him win 19 of 25 starts. Among his major scores were twice winning the GI Bing Crosby Stakes at Del Mar in addition to the seven-furlong Cary Grant in both 2022 and 2023. He was named Cal-Bred Horse of the Year in both 2023 and 2024. “He was an exceptional racehorse and it was always an exciting day when he came out to run,” said Tom Robbins, Del Mar's executive vice president for racing. “We think it is very fitting that one of our Cal-bred stakes has been renamed in his honor.” The Bing Crosby Season opens on Thursday, Oct. 30 and runs through to Sunday, Nov. 30. The post Del Mar’s Cary Grant Stakes Renamed The Chosen Vron appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

This week's racing on radio and television schedule, compiled by America's Best Racing.View the full article

Wasdell Properties and Martin Tedham's Lifeplan will be given the rest of the season off, with his long-term goal the G1 2000 Guineas at Newmarket next season, according to trainer Declan Carroll. The son of Kodi Bear ran out a length winner of the G2 Gimcrack Stakes at York last month after a Thirsk novice victory in July. Undefeated, the €165,000 Goffs Orby yearling was under consideration for the G1 Middle Park Stakes on September 27. He is currently a 25-1 shot for next year's Classic on May 2. Carroll said, “Lifeplan is fine but myself and the owner had a chat and decided we would leave him for the year now and we will put him away and train him for the Guineas next year. “He's definitely one to look forward to. He'll stay [here] over the winter and keep him ticking over. We're looking at him as a Guineas horse and that's what we'll aim for. We'll start him off in one of the trials and go from there. “It gives us something to look forward to and he's a very exciting horse. We've been very pleased with what he has done in his two runs and we'd be hopeful there is more to come next year.” The post Lifeplan Headed To Winter Quarters With An Eye To The Guineas appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

The 59th International Conference of Horseracing Authorities (ICHA) will be held at Le Meridien Paris Arc de Triomphe in Paris, France on October 6, the International Federation of Horseracing Authorities (IFHA) announced on Wednesday. This year's Conference will highlight the IFHA's achievements over the past 12 months and look ahead to future initiatives. Sports television presenter Rishi Persad will moderate the event. Ben Cleminson, CEO of Square in the Air, an award-winning creative marketing consulting agency for racing and other sports across Europe and Asia, will give the keynote address. The first session will be Racing Wagering & Marketing – What Today's Customers Want and What the Future Holds. Speakers scheduled to take part include Tony Allevato, chief revenue officer and president, NYRA Bets; Felicity Barnard, CEO, Ascot Racecourse; Drew Fleming, president and CEO, Breeders' Cup Ltd; Pablo Kavulakian, president, American Racing Channel; and Atsushi Kikuta, director of International Affairs, Japan Racing Association (JRA). The afternoon session will be Growth of the Illegal Betting Market and Tackling Challenges in Betting Regulation. Speakers scheduled to take part include Tom Chignell, consultant on Integrity Projects, The Hong Kong Jockey Club; Brant Dunshea, acting CEO, British Horseracing Authority; Luca Esposito, executive director, World Lottery Association; Martin Purbrick, chair of the IFHA Council on Anti-illegal Betting and Related Crime; and Vincent Ven, head of Anti-Match-Fixing, Union of European Football Associations (UEFA). A representative from the Jockey Club of Saudi Arabia will also present an overview of the 41st Asian Racing Conference, which is set to take place in Riyadh in February 2026. A live video stream of the 59th ICHA will be available on the IFHA's website. A replay of the live video stream and presentations will be available in the days following the event. “I am looking forward to welcoming IFHA members and key stakeholders to our annual Conference,” said IFHA Chair Winfried Engelbrecht-Bresges, who will deliver the welcoming address. “Racing is facing a number of both challenges and opportunities in regards to engaging with current and future customers, the evolution of betting markets and the regulation of them, and of course, the welfare of our equine athletes. It is important that we stay on the forefront of such key topics.” The post IFHA Conference To Examine Betting Markets And The Customer Experience appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Jockeys Hollie Doyle and Dylan Browne McMonagle lead a quartet of international riders granted Hong Kong temporary licences in the coming months. Doyle, who has participated in the last five Longines International Jockeys' Championships (IJC) at Happy Valley and also ridden at Sha Tin's Longines Hong Kong International Races (HKIR) meeting, has won four times in Hong Kong. Her licence is from November 5-December 23. Doyle said, “I've had the pleasure of riding in Hong Kong over the last few years, albeit for in-and-out trips to compete in the IJC and ride at Sha Tin on the big HKIR Sunday, and I've had a bit of luck at those meetings. This will be different, though, and I'm under no illusion that this first proper stint isn't going to be as easy-going as that. “I like a challenge and I'm going to give it a good go. I've enjoyed riding around Happy Valley and Sha Tin on my trips so far and I think Hong Kong is probably the best place in the world to develop your skills as a jockey. I can do a light weight which is handy I suppose, but there are plenty of high-class international jockeys out there at the same time as me. Hopefully, I can use the time to develop, learn the system in Hong Kong and ride a few winners along the way.” Other British riders currently based in Hong Kong include Harry Bentley, Richard Kingscote and David Kingscote. A Hong Kong newcomer, Browne McMonagle currently leads the Irish Flat Jockeys' Championship. His Hong Kong licence will last from New Year's Day through March 29. French rider Maxime Guyon and regular short-term rider in Hong Kong, James McDonald, have also been granted short-term licences, from November 30 to March 1 and from November 12 to December 23, respectively. The post Hollie Doyle, Dylan Browne McMonagle Granted Temporary Hong Kong Licences appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Like many of you, I met Stuart Angus through our work (he as an account manager for Taylor Made, and me selling seasons for Darley). That is when I remember meeting him, although he would insist he had met me when he had been to my parents' farm in New York as a part of his job when he was working in New Jersey in the 1990s and I was 10 or 11 years old! Having seen where I grew up was always a common ground Stuart valued, and one that shaped our working relationship the last 19 years. As many of you have already said, Stuart enjoyed mentoring and quickly became one of my favorite people to receive a call or email from requesting a season. Stuart's requests were organized (thank you Des) and realistic, and we always had fun seeing the fruits of our labors the following spring on a farm visit, or the next summer at the sales. Stuart was a patient client who recognized he'd been given the rookie and always made me feel valued as a part of his team. No matter how busy Stuart was, he always had time to show you a horse, take your phone call, or just stop and say hello. Stuart loved Keeneland and was always up for an afternoon in the Darley suite and would often bring Drew and Alexa down from Cincinnati. Drew was his pride and joy and he was so proud of him. From his college golf days, to his marriage to Alexa, to his first job in Cincinnati, to their foster journey, Stuart would absolutely glow with pride when talking about Drew and Alexa. For the last 10 years or so, as the Taylor Made business grew in New York, a new dimension of our relationship grew because we were now neighbors at the sales. Stuart quickly observed that the McMahon grandkids were great: they were all raking, haying, watering off horses, but they wouldn't stop coming to steal the cookies at Taylor Made! This summer, in the height of Stuart's illness, I thought of how he'd be so proud that the kids are all grown up now, showing yearlings or even absent from the sales for other jobs or summer internships, and definitely NOT stealing cookies anymore. Stuart will never be forgotten and left us all better having known him. We love you, Stu. The post Letter to the Editor: Stu Story #14 appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

It's easy to see why She Feels Pretty (Karakontie {Jpn}) has become a fan favorite. She's remarkably consistent, never out of the money in 12 career starts. She's gutsy, having fought to claim her latest of five Grade I wins by a narrow head. And she's got personality. Her friendship with an ornery goat named Mickey has a growing following on social media. Enrique Miranda, an assistant trainer for Cherie DeVaux, is the star filly's main exercise rider and can attest: to know She Feels Pretty is to love her. “She can be a little quirky,” he said with a wry smile. “She's an effective communicator, I would say. If she doesn't like something, she'll let you know. In the barn she's actually really quiet and sweet, but in her training, she knows her job very well. She doesn't need your help. She wants you to just leave her to it and she'll do the rest.” Miranda is no stranger to riding superstar horses, having worked with a Breeders' Cup champion just last year. For him, being around the good ones like She Feels Pretty reminds him why he chose this career. Growing up in Northern California, Miranda didn't have much interest in the horse industry even though his father Efrain Miranda was a trainer and some of his uncles were jockeys. Every weekend, Miranda and his brother went to work for their father at the barn, pitching in by walking hots and cleaning stalls. Everything changed when Miranda was 17 and his father asked if he wanted to learn how to ride. “From that day forward, I was hooked,” Miranda recounted. “That was all I wanted to do. I just wanted to ride horses. It's so much fun, like there are so many feelings you get with it. The connection between you and the horse is the main thing and I love adrenaline, so there's the feeling you get from having so much power underneath you.” At age 20, Miranda decided he was ready to step out from under his father's tutelage. He headed south, driving straight to Santa Anita and walking into John Sadler's barn. They weren't hiring exercise riders at the time, but Miranda said he could start off as a hot walker. He landed the job and soon began riding for the Sadler barn. Enrique Miranda | Sarah Andrew One of the first talented horses to make an impact on Miranda was Flagstaff (Speightstown), a hard-knocking gelding who won the 2021 GI Churchill Downs Stakes. “He was super easy to get along with,” Miranda recalled. “He was my buddy and my favorite horse there. Even when he came back as a barn pony, I always wanted to ride him.” Sadler's assistant Juan Leyva, a former jockey who famously rode Breeders' Cup champion and Horse of the Year Flightline (Tapit) in the mornings, proved to be influential to Miranda not only in furthering his riding career, but in developing other aspects of his horsemanship. Leyva showed Miranda the ropes of being a barn foreman and assistant. After six years in Southern California with Sadler, Miranda was ready for a change. He wanted to learn more about the racing industry outside of California. Miranda first met Cherie DeVaux when he took Grade I winner Rock Your World (Candy Ride {Arg}) to the 2021 Belmont Stakes. He followed the then up-and-coming trainer's career from afar over the next few years. In 2023, She Feels Pretty handed DeVaux her first Grade I score in the 'Win and You're In' Natalma Stakes. Miranda saw She Feels Pretty in person for the first time when the filly arrived at Santa Anita for the Breeders' Cup and he watched as she fought to claim third in the Juvenile Fillies Turf. Not long after, Miranda joined the DeVaux team. He started out as an exercise rider and again, quickly worked his way up the ranks. Now an assistant trainer for DeVaux, Miranda travels between the stable's bases at Keeneland, Churchill Downs and Saratoga. Miranda and Cagliostro last summer in Saratoga | Sarah Andrew “We have a lot of good people on our team and I really enjoy working here,” he said. “We're like a family. My role is I oversee the day-to-day operations of the barn and assist Cherie in whatever she needs. I also gallop horses and I'll get on the pony.” Last year, Miranda rode MGSP Cagliostro (Upstart), GIII Pimlico Special Stakes winner and Breeders' Cup Classic contender Pyrenees (Into Mischief) and More Than Looks (More Than Ready), who handed DeVaux her first Breeders' Cup victory when he brought home the Mile. This year, Miranda has played a role in developing one high-profile youngster whose pedigree hints at big things to come. Nymue (War Front), the final foal out of Breeders' Cup champion and Hall of Famer Zenyatta (Street Cry {Ire}), was under Miranda's care during her time in Saratoga this summer. While Nymue's debut has not yet been set, Miranda said the filly certainly has her dam's personality. “She's very intelligent,” he said with a grin. “You've got to be careful with the smart ones. She has her days where sometimes she wants to be a little quirky. As they get fitter, they kind of want to test you a little bit more, so I've got to watch out for her. She's really starting to show a little something. We don't want to get ahead of ourselves, but we're excited.” Miranda also started riding She Feels Pretty on a consistent basis when the 4-year-old arrived in Saratoga in June. After claiming the GI New York Stakes and running second to Excellent Truth (Ire) (Cotal Glory {GB}) in the GI Diana Stakes, the Lael Stables-owned filly went to Woodbine to claim the E.P. Taylor Stakes on Aug. 16. The tough chestnut fought late in the stretch to fend off Godolphin's Diamond Rain (GB) (Shamardal) and win by a head, earning a 'Win and You're In' ticket to the Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Turf. “I was so confident that I thought she was going to win by a mile,” Miranda admitted. “It got a little challenging there, a little tricky at the end, but she pulled it off. I knew she would. I feel like she gets better every day. Every time we take her over to the races, I feel all the confidence in the world in her.” She Feels Pretty is now back at Keeneland and according to DeVaux, will train straight up to the Breeders' Cup. Miranda and Lady Eli's son, 'TDN Rising Star' Dr. Agne, this summer in Saratoga | Sarah Andrew The DeVaux team credits at least a small part of She Feels Pretty's success to her sidekick Mickey. The black-and-white goat accompanies She Feels Pretty to the races and acts as her emotional support companion. Over the past year, DeVaux has documented the antics of the “dynamic duo” on social media. “You can tell if you move Mickey away from her eye line, she'll let you know that she's not happy with that,” Miranda shared. “The funny thing was that when she left to run in Canada, Mickey wasn't able to go with her and it was the first time they'd been separated. Mickey seemed more upset about it than she was. He's got a lot of personality and she just loves him so much. He keeps us all laughing here at the barn.” We were all excited to welcome She Feels Pretty but none more than Mickey. He had been quietly eating grass for a while until this moment. pic.twitter.com/kJSGHJgHC9 — Cherie DeVaux (@reredevaux) August 17, 2025 Getting to know the horses as individuals and honing in on how to get them to perform at their best is one of Miranda's favorite aspects of what he does. “They all have their own specific personalities,” he explained. “Some of them kind of grow on you or in She Feels Pretty's case, you might like one right away. They become your friends when you see them every day and building those connections with them has been something special.” Miranda is proud of how far he has come. His father recently retired from training, but tunes in from California to watch all of the DeVaux barn's races. Miranda has aspirations to open up his own stable one day, but for now he is happy to learn and be a part of an active stable that has a good shot at getting back-to-back Breeders' Cup wins. “One is plenty, but two is just too good,” Miranda said, his excitement evident as he looks toward the weeks ahead. “It's an honor to be around such talented horses. It's like a dream come true.” The post Breeders’ Cup Connections: She Feels Pretty and Enrique Miranda A Winning Duo appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Ashburton will take on an international feel at its November meeting. The “Emerging Talent” meeting to be held on the Thursday of IRT New Zealand Trotting Cup week (November 13) will feature a $20,000 Drivers Invitational race. It will be for 4YO Mares (R35-44) over 1700 metres. It will have a maximum field of 12 (and one ballot). Already dual New Zealand Cup-winning driver Cam Hart has signalled he’ll be there. It comes just two days after the New Zealand Cup where he is aiming for a record-equalling third consecutive New Zealand Cup with Swayzee. The 26-year-old has been in stellar form across the Tasman including a personal best six wins at Menangle (Sydney) last Saturday night. The race could also feature other global stars who will be here for the World Driving Championship that finishes on Cup day. The WDC will feature 10 of the world’s best drivers, including our very own Blair Orange. Invitations for the race will be issued closer to the event once it becomes apparent who is available and keen to take part. “We are always keen to innovate and improve our product and this will add value to what is already a very popular meeting,” says Ashburton Trotting Club President Peter Larkin. The race will be a key part of Ashburton’s second ever “Emerging Talent” meeting during Cup week. The club has traditionally had a Cup week meeting though this one is different with a significant increase in stakes and a renewed focus on attracting the best lower grade horses to the meeting. Last year the meeting featured 14 races, with minimum stakes of $17,000 and was hailed as a huge success with turnover of $1.6m on the day. The meeting is part of a huge double-header for the Ashburton club. On December it will host the first ever Harness 5000 where there will be 12 $60,000 finals. View the full article

What Kembla Grange Races Where Kembla Grange Racecourse – Princes Hwy, Kembla Grange NSW 2530 When Thursday, September 18, 2025 First Race 1:40pm AEST Visit Dabble Kembla Grange Racecourse is the destination for NSW racing on Thursday afternoon, with a quickfire seven-part program awaiting punters in the Illawarra region. The rail moves out +3m the entire circuit, with the Good 4 rating at the time of acceptances expected to hold. The opening event is scheduled to get underway at 1:40pm local time. Best Bet at Kembla Grange: Attica Debut winner Attica looks perfectly placed to go on with it in a Class 1 over 1500m. Joseph Pride keeps him at the trip, and from barrier five Adam Hyeronimus can land one-off, stalking what reads a genuine tempo. His maiden win rated like a horse who’ll progress quickly through the grades, and a firm deck won’t worry him. With race fitness on his side, a soft run in transit, and a late surge that he’s shown at provincial level, Attica profiles as the day’s most reliable anchor. Best Bet Race 2 – #1 Attica (5) 3yo Colt | T: Joseph Pride | J: Adam Hyeronimus (59kg) Next Best at Kembla Grange: Jacob’s Ladder Jacob’s Ladder finds a very winnable Midway Class 1 (1200m) following a narrow defeat at Wyong first-up. Zac Lloyd sticks, the draw is ideal to tag the speed and peel into the better lanes, and John Thompson’s lightly raced gelding owns ratings from last prep that stack up against this company. He’s versatile enough to absorb pressure and still quicken, and a good surface is right in his wheelhouse. If Jacob’s Ladder lands just off the leaders and presents at the 300m, his late strength can prove decisive. Next Best Race 5 – #1 Jacob’s Ladder (8) 4yo Gleding | T: John Thompson | J: Zac Lloyd (59.5kg) Best Value at Kembla Grange: Le Mans Le Mans resumes after a quiet build-up and gets a lovely map from barrier three to box seat or land leaders’ back. The Mick Price & Michael Kent (Jnr) yard is patient when crossing borders with these imports, and this six-year-old’s peak figures last prep read better than a standard provincial 64. Ashley Morgan rides Kembla well, and on a Good 4 the Kodiac mare should travel sweetly before pushing into clear air. At the each-way price with horse racing bookmakers, she’s the value to spice up the exotics. Best Value Race 7 – #2 Le Mans (3) 6yo Mare | T: Mick Price & Michael Kent (Jnr) | J: Ashley Morgan (61kg) Thursday quaddie tips for Kembla Grange Kembla Grange quadrella selections September 18, 2025 2-3-4-6 1-3-8 2-10-13 1-2-3-8 Horse racing tips View the full article

Kiwi superstar James McDonald headlines a quartet of jockeys to be granted short-term licences to ride in Hong Kong this season. Two-time Longines World’s Best Jockey award winner McDonald will return for another mid-season stint in the city, riding from November 12 to December 23, while Britain’s Hollie Doyle will join him from November 5 to December 23. Champion French jockey Maxine Guyon will add to Hong Kong’s world-class riding ranks after being granted a licence from November 30 to March 1...View the full article

Progressive three-year-old Single Choice (Anders) recorded the second victory of his career when running out a good winner of the Bendigo Magazine 3YO BM64 Handicap (1300m) on Wednesday for trainer Matt Cumani. Single Choice came from last under jockey Eoin Walsh in a small field to get the better of Mongolian Gobi (NZ) (Ribchester) as he advanced his record to two wins and a runner-up finish from four starts. “It was quite a messy race for him, you never like to see them in a small field being three wide at the back, but I think it probably ended up being a wise move,” Cumani said. “We could have been tempted to go up the inside and potentially been stuck, because later on it was quite tight for those horses on the rail. “So it was nice to have him on the outside making up ground when he was ready to. We did see him lean in a little bit down the straight. I think he will get the hang of that as he strengthens up. But it was a great win, he did it very well, I thought, it was a tough effort and for him to just keep improving it was impressive to do that off a weak race at Ballarat. I really like the way this horse is going. “We are keen to make sure he is a horse that learns it the right way, give him cover where possible. “At some point we may make the most of his eagerness to go forward, but he did look a bit outpaced early, the pace of the race was quite strong and that suited us and we were able to come over the top of them. “We can be a little bit more aggressive on where we go, we have been quite careful not to jump up too much in grade, he is a gelding after all, so there is probably not that need to, but we will see if we can find a nice three-year-old race in town for him next start.” Both Single Choice and Mongolian Gobi are graduates of last year’s New Zealand Bloodstock Ready To Run Sale. Single Choice was purchased for $80,000 from the draft of Riversley Park, while Mongolian Gobi who is a winner and also placed from three starts, was a $75,000 purchase from Pertab Racing. The New Zealand Bloodstock Ready To Run Sale will be held at Karaka on November 12 and 13, with a bumper catalogue of 480 two-year-olds. View the full article

Trainer Ciaron Maher would not be surprised if Smokin’ Romans (NZ) (Ghibellines) was fighting out the finish of the Underwood Stakes at Caulfield. Smokin’ Romans maybe getting on in years, but trainer Ciaron Maher has been buoyed by the gelding’s recent performance and is giving the ‘old boy’ another crack at a Group 1 contest. The Underwood Stakes (1800m) at Caulfield on Saturday will see Smokin’ Romans line up with stablemates Zardozi (Kingman) and Middle Earth (Roaring Lion) in a bid to wind back the clock. At this meeting in 2022, Smokin’ Romans won the Group 3 Naturalism Stakes (2000m) before going on to claim the Group 1 Turnbull Stakes (2000m) at Flemington two weeks later. Smokin’ Romans then went on to start favourite when seventh in the Group 1 Caulfield Cup (2400m) before running seventh to stablemate Gold Trip in that year’s Group 1 Melbourne Cup (3200m) at Flemington. Now a nine-year-old, Smokin’ Romans has 55.5kg in this year’s Caulfield Cup and 53.5kg in the Melbourne Cup and Maher said the gelding was on a path back to Caulfield. Smokin’ Romans has been a good money spinner for connections and the Maher stable, collecting 11 wins from 50 starts and almost $2.4 million in prize money. He was unlucky not to have banked win number 12 at his last start when run down late by Revelare (So You Think) over 2000m at Caulfield on August 30 with Revelare going on the claim the Group 3 Archer Stakes (2500m) at Flemington last week and book a berth in the Melbourne Cup. “He’s in a really good spot, Smokey,” Maher said. “His form is good, and he carried a lot more weight than Revelare last time and Revelare has franked that form. “He’s tracking along well, and I thought we could go back to the 1800 metres and he’s on track for the Caulfield Cup as well.” View the full article