Wandering Eyes

Pier’s latest black type success at Eagle Farm prompted major celebrations, but there was also a bittersweet side for connections of the high-class son of Proisir. He demolished his rivals in Saturday’s Listed The Wayne Wilson (1600m) to further his record, which already featured three-year-old victories in the Gr.1 New Zealand 2000 Guineas (1600m) and Gr.2 Hawke’s Bay Guineas (1400m). Pier is trained by the father and daughter combination of Darryn and Briar Weatherley with the former sharing in the ownership group with wife Lou, long-time friend Barry Wright and partners. The Weatherleys and Wright bred the five-year-old and had the misfortune to lose his dam La Vitesse earlier this year. “Unfortunately, she had bad laminitis and Jamieson Park did a wonderful job looking after her and nursing her, but it would have been too cruel for her to go another winter,” Darryn Weatherley said. A daughter of Darci Brahma and multiple Group winner Naturo, La Vitesse was an $80,000 Karaka purchase and was initially prepared by John Sargent during his time at Matamata. “We owned La Vitesse and Sarge won once with her before he went to Australia,” Weatherley said. “I took out my licence then and trained her. She was my first runner to the races at Taupo and she won with Mickey Coleman in the saddle. “I used to do the overflows for Sarge, if he had a 40-horse barn and had 50 in work then we’d have 10 at our place.” La Vitesse’s first foal La Velocitea, by Proisir, was successful on three occasions and then came Maria Farina. The daughter of Contributer won the Gr.3 King’s Plate (1200m) and the Stewards’ Stakes (1200m) and Lightning Handicap (1200m) at Listed level from the Weatherley stable. “If she was held up for that last run, she had an enormous sprint and (son) Sam used to ride her really, really well,” he said. She is now retired and will be mated for the first time this spring to either Paddington or Profondo. “We’ve got a sister (Rumours) to Maria Farina, who trialled very well when third at Ellerslie and we’ve also got a brother to Pier, who has been broken in and is due to come back shortly,” Weatherley said. “They are similar types, he’s not very big but I haven’t seen him for a bit, and they tell me he’s grown and when Pier was at the same stage, he was like a little rabbit. “We had to put a foster mare on the last foal, a colt by Satono Aladdin.” Meanwhile, Pier has now gone for a month’s spell in the warmer climes of Queensland. “He’s going up to Beaudesert so we’re doing the right thing by the horse, and I’m down to one for the week with Dark Destroyer to run in the Ipswich Cup (Listed, 2150m) on Saturday,” Weatherley said. View the full article

Riding from far off the pace is not usually recommended. But for Nitti, lately that has become a recipe for success. The latest example is the San Juan Capistrano Stakes at Santa Anita Park.View the full article

The victory by Hero Or Zero in the eighth race at Santa Anita, a maiden special weight for 2-year-olds, secured the mark for the Southern California-based trainer. View the full article

Lost in the shuffle of the Belmont Stakes Racing Festival June 6-8, was Kilwin's victory in the Leslie's Lady Overnight Stakes at Churchill Downs June 8. She beat a field that included multiple graded stakes-placed Vodka With a Twist.View the full article

By Dave Di Somma, Harness News Desk After a close run series, Michael House is New Zealand’s champion amateur driver. The series concluded at Addington yesterday with House and Bruce Hadley both tied on 16 points. A countback then couldn’t separate the pair as both drivers had one win, one second and a third over the four races at Cambridge (Thursday) and Addington (Friday and Sunday). According to the conditions of the Championship “should no winner be identified at the end of the initial count back then the winner shall be the driver who drove the most recent winner in the championship.” And that was House as he won Heat 3 at Addington yesterday with the Bruce Negus-trained Gliding High. Hadley’s only winner came at Cambridge with Billy The Kid on Thursday night. The fourth and final heat was taken out by Craig Sharpe with favourite Stephs Boy while Cheree Wigg won the second heat with Almighty Clever. For House, who is second in the trainers premiership with 72 wins in 2025, it is his first win in the NZ Amateur Driving Championship. Results for House and Hadley for the four races were : Michael House : 8th in Heat 1 (Maria Kirilenko) 2nd Heat 2 (Betterwithbling) 1st Heat 3 (Gliding High) 3rd Heat 4 (Pure Courage) Bruce Hadley : 1st in Heat 1 (Billy The Kid) 10th in Heat 2 (Hope For Love) 3rd in Heat 3 (Waterholes Road) 2nd in Heat 4 (Timbimboo) Final Leaderboard : Michael House 16 Bruce Hadley 16 Frank Phelan 14 Craig Sharpe 10 Cheree Wigg 10 Andrew Sharpe 6 Neil Munro 6 Alan Edge 6 John Kriechbaumer 5 Colleen Negus 1 Big few days for Bruce Hutton at Addington By Mike Love Greendale trainer Bruce Hutton had a very successful couple of days at Addington Raceway over the weekend, lining up two runners for two victories. Whyamihere and driver Jim Curtin took out the Gold Band Taxis Harness 5000 Series (Final) in emphatic style on Friday. It was the three-year-old Sky Major gelding’s second win in just three starts. “He’s a really nice horse. He’s Australian owned by John Durston and his wife. He’s doing a great job at the moment,” says Hutton. “It’s a bit tricky now because he now drops into the better grade of horses, but he’s not that experienced yet. So I’ll have a yarn to the owners and see but he’ll be having a week off now then go somewhere else.” Capping off the weekend was Apatchofgold’s success in the Mike (Got A Bit On) Palermo Pace, also with driver Jim Curtin on Sunday. Apatchofgold made a fast beginning to lead from the 2000m stand. Curtin initially handed up, but then angled out and around to regain the lead in a confident move. On the corner Apatchofgold was being urged along to go up a few gears and was meanwhile temporarily headed by Melton Magnate before tenaciously fighting back to win by half a head at the line. “She’s an eftpos card. I actually broke her in as a weanling, sent her to Bruce Negus and then she came back to me,” says Hutton. “She’ll have a few days off then line up back here probably on a Friday because she’ll be out of the Sunday grade now.” Apatchofgold, the six-year-old Racing Hill mare, has now won six from 83, with 18 placings and total stakes just shy of $80,000. She is raced by Hutton along with Derek Newton. “I’ve got a couple of nice young ones there. We have another nice Sky Major filly who bowls around good, and a Downbytheseaside two-year-old out of Invisible Girl who I’m rapt with.” View the full article

Darby Dan Farm's Modernist got his first winner when his son Stretch romped in a five-furlong maiden special weight race, winning by nine lengths at Lone Star Park June 15. View the full article

One of only two sons of the mighty New Zealand-based stallion Savabeel standing in Australia, Cool Archie continued his irrepressible way with a fifth straight success in Eagle Farm's JJ Atkins.View the full article

Mystik Dan is one of two horses trained by Kenny McPeek nominated to the Stephen Foster. The other, allowance winner and 1 1/8-mile track record holder Gould's Gold, also worked Sunday, covering five furlongs in 1:00 1/5.View the full article

Royal Ascot is expected to start on a mixture of good and good to firm ground, with no rain forecast through the week. And ticket sales are up on last year, according to director of racing and public affairs Nick Smith.View the full article

Owner Jim Bryce has described his United States adventures with Heart of Honor as "crazy" and is relishing more international trips with his dirt star following a well-earned break.View the full article

Meisho Tabaru led gate to wire for an upset victory over Bellagio Opera in the Takarazuka Kinen (G1) June 15 at Hanshin Racecourse in Japan.View the full article

Jockey Dylan Davis, who began a three-day suspension Sunday because of an infraction caused in a June 6 allowance at Saratoga, will also miss Thursday and Friday's cards, reports DRF. He was suspended by the New York stewards because of a ride aboard 'TDN Rising Star' Strategic Focus (Gun Runner), who crossed the wire first but was subsequently demoted to second behind stablemate Malarchuk (Nyquist). Both colts are trained by Chad Brown. Davis, who served a two-day suspension June 12-13 because of a whip violation stemming from a ride at the Big A May 15, was also fined $1,000 for that earlier infraction. The post Dylan Davis Sits Out Sunday at Big A, WilL Miss Two Additional Days appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Gezora Fended Off Bedtime Story in the Prix de Diane (G1) June 15 at Chantilly Racecourse. She earned a spot in the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe (G1) thanks to the new 'Arc Races' series. View the full article

CHP Racing's Rhiannon (Medaglia d'Oro) marked her first race back following a seven-month respite with an emphatic four-length score in a Big A optional claimer Friday. Setting a course record of 1:45.60 for nine panels in the process, the 5-year-old mare may her next start in the GI Dunkin' Diana Stakes at Saratoga July 12, according to owner Phil Hatfield, who operates CHP Racing with his wife Christine. “That's what everybody is talking about, and we hope that happens,” Hatfield said. Trainer Chad Brown, who conditions the mare, has won the Diana a record nine times. “[Brown] loves to win every race there, doesn't he–but the Diana, especially,” Hatfield said. “If she ends up in the Diana, we'll get up there one way or the other. It's fun to have horses with him…Rhiannon has proven herself now, so we'll look forward to seeing where he goes with her.” The lightly-raced bay was making just her fifth career start and first since a confident four-length allowance win in November in her lone start in 2024. She made three sophomore starts, including a second-out graduation in September 2023 before a close fifth in the GIII Pebbles Stakes that November, both at the Big A. “[The win] was an exciting race for us because that mare has been stop, start, stop, start. Chad has done a great job and been very patient with her,” Hatfield added. Rhiannon was selected by Mike Ryan for $550,000 at the 2021 Keeneland September Yearling Sale and was broken in Florida by Niall Brennan. “She's exciting,” said Hatfield of Rhiannon, named after Fleetwood Mac's famed song of the same name. “She's a big mare, probably 16.3 [hands] but a lot of refinement–she's my kind of horse, elegant with a lot of leg underneath her. She has every bit of that.” According to Hatfield, fellow CHP runner Saffron Moon (Malibu Moon), third in her most recent start in the May 2 GIII Modesty Stakes at Churchill Downs, has officially been retired. Winner of last season's GII Hillsborough Stakes and GIII Endeavour Stakes, the daughter of Crocus Hill (Medaglia d'Oro) retires with five wins and $499,325 in career earnings. “She won graded races back-to-back this winter in Florida. Unfortunately, in the race on Kentucky Oaks Day, she came in third and she ended up getting injured and we had to retire her,” Hatfield said. “Hopefully, Rhiannon can pick up where she left off this year.” Praetor (Into Mischief), also trained by Brown and co-owned by CHP, finished third behind Gosger (Nyquist) in Keeneland's GIII Lexington Stakes Apr. 12 and appeared poised to make his return in the June 7 GI Woody Stephens in Saratoga forced to miss what would have been his first shot at the Grade I level. Co-owned with William Lawrence and Gainesway Stable, the $725,000 KEESEP yearling purchase kicked off 2025 with an eye-catching 7 1/2-length score in a Gulfstream allowance Mar. 9. “He was ready to go, [but] he got sick,” said Hatfield. “He was cranked and ready to do well Chad thought and unfortunately, we had to pull back. He's back training again, but I'm not sure where Chad has him pointed.” Third behind 'TDN Rising Star' Ferocious (Flatter) at the Spa last summer, the bay graduated by a neck over subsequent Kentucky Derby and Belmont Stakes hero Sovereignty (Into Mischief) at the Big A last September. The post Course Record Scorer Rhiannon Possible for Diana; MGSW Saffron Moon Retired appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

1st-Belmont The Big A, $82,450, Msw, 6-15, 3yo/up, 1 1/8m, 1:49.19, sy, 10 1/2 lengths. STARS AND STRIPES (c, 3, Not This Time–Pearl River, by Quality Road) debuted in third at long odds during the Belmont At The Big A meet May 17. Trying two turns as the 85 cents on the dollar choice here as the 85 cents on the dollar choice here, the colt was second, just off the flank of a longshot leader for much of the backstretch. Continuing to press the pace at the top of the stretch, Stars and Stripes took off for home and quickly opened up several lengths on his rivals. Hoping the tire tracks, Stars and Stripes graduated in geared down fashion by 10 1/2 lengths over Makes Sense (Street Sense). The winner's dam is responsible for GIII Pucker Up Stakes heroine Waves of Mischief (Into Mischief), who was also bred by the Wygods. Pearl River's final foal is unraced current 2-year-old colt Ten Star Fleet (Nyquist). Stars and Stripes unraced second dam is a full-sister to both champion 2-year-old filly Sweet Catomine (Storm Cat) and MGISW Life Is Sweet. Sales history: $100,000 Ylg '23 KEESEP. Lifetime Record: 2-1-0-1, $56,950. Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV. O-Frassetto Stables LLC; B-Pam & Martin Wygod (KY); T-William I. Mott. The post Not This Time Colt Stars And Stripes Flies Maiden Flag At Big A appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

1/ST Racing is looking at a lot of scenarios concerning the future of Gulfstream. There's decoupling, selling the property and building a casino. It's anybody's guess what 1/ST will eventually do with Gulfstream but to think that it will still be open for racing 10 years from now seems overly optimistic. Then again… It may be a small thing but Gulfstream announced on Friday that it will soon launch a state-of-the-art high resolution digital starting gate board. Gulfstream has partnered with BSV Digital to replace the static signage at the starting gate with a digital board that includes a lot of bells and whistles. The new gate will display everything from post positions and race logos to seasonal branding and partner messaging. The starting gate will become a living, breathing bill board, much like some of the billboards you see on the highway that change from one message to another 20 seconds or so. “From billboards to scoreboards, our big screens make landmarks, organizations, and venues across North America more attractive to the crowds you want to engage,” BSV boasts on its website. “If you're looking for signage, a full AV upgrade, curved billboard or a video screen above the water, chances are BSV Digital Displays have tackled it all before.” There's more: “Making racing a breeze-up BSV can manage your full video board project from initial design and concept phase. Racing venues demand high-level product quality. With years of experience in video boards, semaphore boards, parapet signage and winning post screens, we can showcase your races in high-definition clarity and precision,” reads the message on the website. I tried to figure out how much the starting gate message board would costs, but couldn't find even an estimate. But it's obviously not going to be cheap. Which begs the question: why would Gulfstream spend any significant amount of money on the track or track upgrades when it's very possible that the track won't be operating much longer? Is this a sign that Belinda Stronach has done a 180 and is going to dedicate herself to seeing to it that racing survives in Hallandale Beach? Probably not. That would be too much to ask for. Buy why spend the money on the starting gate board when the current one is fine and the track's future is in jeopardy? Shouldn't she be cutting corners to saving money in anticipation of Gulfstream closing? It just doesn't add up. 'TDN Rising Star' Antonio Fresu Antonio Fresu finished fifth in the standings at the Santa Anita meet that concluded on Apr. 29 with 29 winners. It was neither a good meet for him nor a bad meet. Fresu has grown used to finishing behind California kingpin Juan Hernandez in the standings. But with the current meet coming to a conclusion Sunday it looks like Fresu will win his first ever riding title in the U.S. With one day left of racing coming into Sunday's card the Italian born jockey had a 32-29 lead over Juan Hernandez. Hernandez has won the last seven riding title at Santa Anita. “Everybody wants to be the leading rider,” Fresu said. “That's what we work for, to win as many races as we can and to be recognized all over the country. Being the leading rider here is the type of achievement that everyone will see. Juan has been the leading jockey ever since I came here. I came close to him a couple of times. It would be nice for me to bring it home.” Fresu, 33, came to Southern California in April of 2023 after riding in Dubai and Italy and rode just 13 winners in his first full meet here. “To think that I might be leading rider someday would have been too much to expect,” he said. But Fresu still has at least one more major door to knock down. Even with his success in the California, he's not getting called upon to ride in the marquee racing events like the Triple Crown and the Breeders' Cup. He has ridden in just one Derby. He finished seventh with Stronghold (Ghostzapper) in 2024 after guiding that could to win in the GI Santa Anita Derby. He has never won a Breeders' Cup race. He was 0-for-2 in 2023 and 0-for-4 in 2024. Part of the problem is that has made very few inroads into the Bob Baffert barn. He has ridden for him just 11 times and has won three races for the Hall of Famer. Fresu did win Saturday's feature at Santa Anita, the GIII Daytona Stakes aboard Motorious (GB) (Muhaarar ({GB} for trainer Phil D'Amato. When asked about his future, he said: “I can't answer that. Nobody knows the future. I'm just trying to enjoy the moment and see what happens. In this sport you have to find the right horse at the right time, Unfortunately, I haven't been that lucky but we will keep trying.” He said his immediate goals were to keep improving and to have a good meet at Del Mar. He's young, he can ride and people are starting to pay attention. His future should be bright. Delaware's First Derby You can see why every racing jurisdiction wants to be home to a Derby. Saturday, Delaware Park ran its first ever Delaware Derby. It was an ungraded race with a purse of just $200,000 and there were no stars in the field of eight. The race was won by Admiral Dennis (Constitution), who is trained by Brad Cox. The card included five stakes races and only one of them, the GIII Delaware Oaks, was graded. Delaware has had big cards like this before, but never one that included that magic word, “Derby.” So what happened? They shattered their all-time handle record. On a 10-race card, the players pushed $6.5 million through the windows, breaking the record set in 2007. On that occasion, with a 12-race card, they handled $4.98 million. The post Week in Review: A New Starting Gate Board at Gulfstream, What Does it Mean? appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

GI Kentucky Derby winner Mystik Dan (Goldencents) returned to the Churchill Downs work tab Sunday with a five-furlong breeze in 1:00 under jockey Brian Hernandez Jr., preparing for a likely start in the $1-million GI Stephen Foster Stakes June 28. Mystik Dan, who won the GII Blame Stakes on May 31, breezed at 7:15 a.m. EST. He began his move with a three-furlong split of :36.80 before galloping out six furlongs in 1:12, according to Churchill Downs clocker John Nichols. Owned by 4 G Racing, Lance Gasaway, Daniel Hamby and Valley View Farm, Mystik Dan is one of two horses trained by Kenny McPeek nominated to the Stephen Foster. The other, GSP Gould's Gold (Goldencents), also worked Sunday, covering five furlongs in 1:00.20. A total of 20 horses were nominated to the 1 1/8-mile Stephen Foster, including Sierra Leone, winner of the GI Breeders' Cup Classic; Hit Show (Candy Ride {Arg}), winner of the G1 Dubai World Cup; and Mindframe (Constitution), who was victorious in the GI Churchill Downs Stakes on the Kentucky Derby undercard. The post Mystik Dan Works for Stephen Foster appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Taking charge at Chantilly on Sunday, Christophe Soumillon supplemented his Diane success with the card's G3 Prix du Lys Longines as Rafale Design capped another stellar afternoon for the Belgian. Coming off a win in ParisLongchamp's G3 Prix Hocquart last month, the Yann Barberot-trained son of Starspangledbanner was launched from rear to swoop on Surabad (Bated Breath) and Oracle (Too Darn Hot) with 300 metres remaining and assert to beat that duo by two half-length margins. Entered in Monday's London Sale in Goffs, the G1 Grand Prix de Paris entry provides his many owners including Cormac Farrell and Laurent Dassault with an enviable quandary. What a day it's been for Christophe Soumillon! Four winners on the day for the Belgian as Rafale Design comes home best of all to land the Group Three Prix du Lys at Chantilly! pic.twitter.com/vGtkgS1yu5 — At The Races (@AtTheRaces) June 15, 2025 Sunday, Chantilly, France PRIX DU LYS LONGINES-G3, €80,000, Chantilly, 6-15, 3yo, 12fT, 2:29.56, g/s. 1–RAFALE DESIGN (IRE), 128, c, 3, by Starspangledbanner (Aus) 1st Dam: Fashion Design (Ire), by Montjeu (Ire) 2nd Dam: Sense Of Style, by Thunder Gulch 3rd Dam: Save Me The Waltz (Ire), by Kings Lake (€48,000 Wlg '22 GOFNOV; €75,000 Ylg '23 GOFORB; €195,000 RNA 2yo '24 ARQMAY). O-Beaumelles Racing, Cormac Farrell, Laurent Dassault, Jean-Noel Bocahut, LTN Racing, Meridian International SARL & Frank Dhooghe; B-Newstead Breeding LLC; T-Yann Barberot; J-Christophe Soumillon. €40,000. Lifetime Record: 6-4-0-0, €117,500. Werk Nick Rating: A+. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree, or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. 2–Surabad (GB), 128, c, 3, Bated Breath (GB)–Sunita (Fr), by Motivator (GB). 1ST GROUP BLACK TYPE. O/B-Aga Khan Studs; T-Francis-Henri Graffard. €16,000. 3–Oracle (GB), 128, c, 3, Too Darn Hot (GB)–Ligne D'Or (GB), by Dansili (GB). 1ST BLACK TYPE; 1ST GROUP BLACK TYPE. O-Wertheimer & Frere; B-Dayton Investments Ltd; T-Andre Fabre. €12,000. Margins: HF, HF, 5. Odds: 3.20, 2.80, 2.90. Also Ran: Hotheaded (GB), Golden Weaver (Fr), Ephesus (Fr), Lakota Beau (Fr), Duty (Fr). Scratched: Croquis (Ire). The post Soumillon Stars Again As London Sale Entry Rafale Design Takes The Prix du Lys appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Francis-Henri Graffard looked set to have the one-two-three in Sunday's G1 Prix de Diane Longines heading to the closing stages, but while ultimately that didn't transpire he was in the right place in the end with Gezora (Almanzor). Bringing off the Saint-Alary-Diane double in the process, White Birch Farm's 11-2 shot had first run on Ballydoyle's revitalised Bedtime Story (Frankel) under Christophe Soumillon and made that count with a length success with Cankoura (Persian King) and Mandanaba (Ghaiyyath) in third and fourth for the winning stable. “She's a wonderful filly who tries so hard and has a great attitude,” Peter Brant said of the daughter of the 2006 Diane runner-up Germance. “This is one of most important races in the world and I'm very proud and happy to win it.” Gezora comes home strongly to take the Group One Prix de Diane! pic.twitter.com/O1JhO9qCH2 — At The Races (@AtTheRaces) June 15, 2025 Sunday, Chantilly, France PRIX DE DIANE LONGINES-G1, €1,000,000, Chantilly, 6-15, 3yo, f, 10 1/2fT, 2:06.57, g/s. 1–GEZORA (FR), 126, f, 3, by Almanzor (Fr) 1st Dam: Germance (G1SW-Fr, $558,680), by Silver Hawk 2nd Dam: Gaily Tiara, by Caerleon 3rd Dam: Majestic Role (Fr), by Theatrical (Ire) 1ST GROUP 1 WIN. O-White Birch Farm; B-Haras d'Etreham; T-Francis-Henri Graffard; J-Christophe Soumillon. €571,400. Lifetime Record: 7-4-1-1, €731,500. *1/2 to Garance (Fr) (Teofilo {Ire}), MSP-Fr. Werk Nick Rating: F. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree, or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. 2–Bedtime Story (Ire), 126, f, 3, Frankel (GB)–Mecca's Angel (Ire), by Dark Angel (Ire). TDN Rising Star. 1ST GROUP 1 BLACK TYPE. O-Derrick Smith, Mrs John Magnier & Michael Tabor; B-Coolmore (IRE); T-Aidan O'Brien. €228,600. 3–Cankoura (Fr), 126, f, 3, Persian King (Ire)–Candarliya (Fr), by Dalakhani (Ire). 1ST GROUP BLACK TYPE; 1ST GROUP 1 BLACK TYPE. O/B-Aga Khan Studs; T-Francis-Henri Graffard. €114,300. Margins: 1, HF, 1 1/4. Odds: 5.50, 3.90, 15.00. Also Ran: Mandanaba (Fr), D'Ores Et Deja (Fr), Better Together (GB), American Gal (GB), Rosa Salvaje (Ire), Shes Perfect (Ire), Sand Gazelle (GB), Zia Agnese (Fr), Merrily. The post Graffard And Brant Celebrate Diane Success As Almanzor’s Gezora Strikes appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

A new work of art commemorating Queen Elizabeth II's last winner at Royal Ascot will be unveiled on Monday, June 16. The painting is by Nichola Eddery, artist in residence at the National Horseracing Museum in Newmarket, and goes on display at the Osborne Studio Gallery in London on the eve of Royal Ascot 2025. Titled 'The Sport of Kings and Queens', the painting depicts jockey James Doyle in the royal silks that he wore to victory on Tactical in 2020, the late Queen's 24th and final winner at the Royal meeting. The exhibit lasts until Saturday, July 5. Eddery, a daughter of former champion jockey Pat Eddery, said, “James Doyle very kindly came and posed for me on the equicizer at the National Horse Racing Museum wearing the royal colours. I was able to loan a number cloth from Ascot Racecourse and the number 14 was carried by Tactical when winning the Windsor Castle Stakes. It also symbolises the current King's birthday, the 14th of November. “The painting is a homage to Royal Ascot as a whole and I wanted to include the history by using one of the early depictions of Ascot Racecourse, so I chose a famous piece by 19th century artist James Pollard called 'Ascot Heath Races' as the backdrop.” The post Queen Elizabeth II’s Last Royal Ascot Winner Commemorated In New Painting appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

A berth in the GI Breeders' Cup Turf in the autumn was on the line in Sunday's 2200-metre G1 Takarazuka Kinen at Hanshin, and 10-1 chance Meisho Tabaru (Gold Ship) landed a mild upset in pillar-to-post fashion. He is the second Japanese horse to punch his ticket to the Breeders' Cup at Del Mar this month, after Jantar Mantar (Palace Malice) won last Sunday's G1 Yasuda Kinen, a “Win and You're In” for the GI Breeders' Cup Mile. The seventh pick in the 17-horse field, Meisho Tabaru was steered immediately to the vanguard and opened up on the field passing the winning post for the first time. Clicking off easy fractions of :23.40 for the first 400m, :46.90 for the 800m, and 1:11.30 for 1200m, he cut the corner into the final bend. Meisho Tabaru came under heavy pressure from the persistent stalkers June Take (Kizuna) and Libyan Glass (Kizuna) thereafter, but that duo ran out of steam turning into the lane. Cued by veteran Yutaka Take while still glued to the fence, the eventual winner found more in the straight to win cozily. Race favourite Bellagio Opera (Lord Kanaloa) unleashed a withering rally inside the final furlong, but Meisho Tabaru had built up too much cushion. The margin at the wire was three lengths, with Justin Palace (Deep Impact) a neck back in third. “My plan was to take the lead, and although I was unsure about the pace, I think we were able to race at just the right pace,” said Take, who was winning his 84th Japanese Group 1 title. He has now won five Takarazuka Kinens, the other being in 1986 with Inari One, in 1993 with Mejiro McQueen, in 1997 with Marvelous Sunday and in 2006 with Deep Impact. “I knew the other horses were going to make bid early but my mount had good momentum going around the fourth corner and I was hoping that he would manage to push through.” A juvenile winner over 2000 metres and successful in both the G3 Mainichi Hai and G2 Kobe Shimbun Hai at three, Meisho Tabaru had yet to win in two 2025 apperances. He was back in 11th behind Lord Del Rey (Lord Kanaloa) in the G2 Nikkei Shinshun Hai over this trip at Chukyo in January, and was fifth to Soul Rush (Rulership) in the G1 Dubai Turf at Meydan in April. Pedigree Notes Meisho Tabaru is the second Group 1 winner for Stay Gold after G1 Yushun Himba (Japanese Oaks) heroine Uberleben. He is also one of 10 stakes winners for the Big Red Farm-based sire. This is the same cross as Gold Ship's G2 Nippon Sho Stayers Stakes runner-up Plume d'Or. The sire of 113 stakes winners (64 group/graded), the late French Deputy also has 17 top-level winners to his credit. Spread across six countries, these include The Man o'War Stakes winner Hi Happy (Pure Prize), February Stakes/Champions Cup hero Gold Dream (Gold Allure), and Japanese Derby hero Makahiki (Deep Impact). The fifth foal and third winner out of the dual winner Meisho Tsubakuro (French Deputy), the winner is followed by the 3-year-old gelding Meisho Hinkaku (Roger Barows), a 2-year-old filly by Dee Majesty, a yearling colt by Al Ain, and a full-sister born this year. Meisho Tsubakuro is a half-sister to G2 Kyoto Daishoten winner Meisho Kampaku (Grass Wonder). Sunday, Kyoto, Japan TAKARAZUKA KINEN-G1, ¥575,160,000, Kyoto, 6-15, 3yo/up, 2200mT, 2:11.10, gd. 1–MEISHO TABARU (JPN), 128, c, 4, Gold Ship (Jpn) 1st Dam: Meisho Tsubakuro (Jpn), by French Deputy 2nd Dam: Dancing Happiness (Jpn), by Dance in the Dark (Jpn) 3rd Dam: Meisho Sachikaze (Jpn), by Crystal Glitters 1ST GROUP 1 WIN. O-Yoshio Matsumoto; B-Mishima Bokujo (Jpn); T-Mamoru Ishibashi; J-Yutaka Take; ¥303,612,000. Lifetime Record: 11-5-0-0, ¥439,708,392. Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. Werk Nick Rating: A+++. *Triple Plus*. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree. 2–Bellagio Opera (Jpn), 128, h, 5, Lord Kanaloa (Jpn)–Air Routine (Jpn), by Harbinger (GB). O-Shorai Hayashida; B-Shadai Farm (Jpn); ¥121,032,000. 3–Justin Palace (Jpn), 128, h, 6, Deep Impact (Jpn)–Palace Rumor, by Royal Anthem. (¥190,000,000 Ylg '20 JRHAJUL). O-Masahiro Miki; B-Northern Farm (Jpn); ¥75,516,000. Margins: 3, NK, 3/4. Odds: 10.40, 3.00, 30.50. Also Ran: Shonan la Punta (Jpn), Chuck Nate (Jpn), Sol Oriens (Jpn), Libyan Glass (Jpn), Lord del Rey (Jpn), Durezza (Jpn), Boldog Hos (Jpn), Regaleira (Jpn), Chevalier Rose (Jpn), Pradaria (Jpn), Urban Chic (Jpn), Rousham Park (Jpn), June Take (Jpn), Yoho Lake (Jpn). Click for the JRA chart & video. The post Gold Ship’s Meisho Tabaru Takes Takarazuka Kinen Field Pillar-To-Post appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Royal Ascot's Tuesday fields have been confirmed, with the key contest on the opening fixture being the 2,000 Guineas rematch between Godolphin's Ruling Court and Juddmonte's Field Of Gold in the seven-strong G1 St James's Palace Stakes. The sons of Justify and Kingman will be met by Wootton Bassett's G1 Poule d'Essai des Poulains hero Henri Matisse from Ballydoyle, with the most notable withdrawal being Godolphin's dual Group 1 winner Shadow Of Light. In the opening G1 Queen Anne Stakes, the field of 11 features all the four main protagonists of the G1 Lockinge Stakes, with Lead Artist (Dubawi), Dancing Gemini (Camelot), Rosallion (Blue Point) and Notable Speech (Dubawi) set to re-oppose alongside Yulong Investments' triple Grade I winner Carl Spackler (Lope De Vega) and Marcstown's G1 Prix d'Ispahan runner-up Sardinian Warrior (Saxon Warrior). The other Group 1 contest is the King Charles III Stakes, where the cast of 23 sprinters include last year's winner Asfoora (Flying Artie), Coolmore's G1 Al Quoz Sprint heroine Believing (Mehmas) and Lord Lloyd Webber and Arthur Mitchell's G2 Temple Stakes scorer Mgheera (Zoustar) in a female-dominated tussle for the five-furlong prize. Tuesday's other highlight is the meeting's principal 2-year-old race, the G2 Coventry Stakes, where the field of 21 feature Wathnan Racing's TDN Rising Star Postmodern (Too Darn Hot) and two exciting Wootton Bassett colts in Godolphin's Military Code and Ballydoyle's Warsaw. The post Ruling Court Field Of Gold Rematch The Focus Of Royal Ascot Opener appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Driver Penalties D Anderson | Invercargill 12 June; careless driving; suspended 13 June – 17 July inclusive. A Pyers | Non raceday dated 6 June; misconduct; fined $650. Trainer Penalties T Bagrie | NZ Metropolitan 13 June; late gear notification; fined $50. C & C Dalgety | Non raceday dated 5 June; failed to present runner free of prohibited substance; fined $5,750. Horse Penalties ABITIBI | Waikato Bay of Plenty 12 June; broke in score up; must complete mobile start trial. SEBASTIAN STARK | Invercargill 12 June; broke at start; must complete standing start trial. ABULL | Invercargill 12 June; laceration to left front leg; veterinary clearance required. TED | Invercargill 12 June; atrial fibrillation; veterinary clearance including ECG required and must complete trial. ST JOHN EIGHT | Auckland 13 June; broke in running; must complete trial. LINCOLN MAREE | Auckland 13 June; broke at start; must complete mobile start trial. MY FRIEND LOUIE | NZ Metropolitan 13 June; broke in running; must complete trial. Protest BESIDE ME | Nelson 10 January; raced with prohibited substance in system; disqualified from 1st. The post 9-15 June 2025 appeared first on RIB. View the full article

Rider Penalties F Moerman | Taranaki 10 June; use of whip; fined $300. S Mxothwa | Taranaki 10 June; use of whip; suspended 15-22 June inclusive. S Toolooa | Waimate 10 June; careless riding; suspended 11-18 June inclusive. N Yuen | Waimate 10 June; use of whip; suspended 16-26 June inclusive. A Najib | Waimate 10 June; use of whip; suspended 16-28 June inclusive. L Hemi | Waimate 10 June; use of whip; fined $250. B Queiroz | Riccarton 11 June; use of whip; fined $500. N Downs | Waikato 14 June; use of whip; fined $325. L Satherley | Waikato 14 June; use of whip; fined $300. M McNab | Matamata 15 June; failed to make weight; fined $100. Trainer Penalties L Stewart | Waimate 10 June; late rider declaration; fined $100. S & E Clotworthy | Matamata 15 June; late rider declaration; fined $50. Horse Penalties MAGGIE MCMUFFIN | Riccarton 11 June; late scratching when found to be lame; veterinary clearance required. PLAYINASANDPIT | Matamata 15 June; late scratching after failing to load; must complete trial. ROSES N’ BEAUS | Matamata 15 June; epistaxis; stood down for 3 months and veterinary clearance required. IN DISGUISE | Oamaru 15 June; late scratching after failing to load; must complete trial. NO BOUQUET | Oamaru 15 June; late scratching when found to be lame; veterinary clearance required. The post 9-15 June 2025 appeared first on RIB. View the full article

Dog Penalties XISCO BALE | Waikato 12 June; marring; stood down for 28 days and must complete trial. WENDY PEFFERCORN | Auckland 15 June; unsatisfactory performance; veterinary clearance required and must complete trial. The post 9-15 June 2025 appeared first on RIB. View the full article