Wandering Eyes

After several flash floods damaged the New Mexico track following June wildfires, Ruidoso Downs will transfer the remainder of its meet, which runs until Sept. 2, to The Downs at Albuquerque.View the full article

With her afterburner at maximum capacity, it was Casalu (Caracaro–Key d'Oro, by Medaglia d'Oro) who torched a field of fillies en route to earning a newly-minted 'TDN Rising Star' at Del Mar's seaside oval on Sunday afternoon. Looking to make good on a bullet workout she posted at Santa Anita July 8 when she went four furlongs in :46.40 (1/54), the heavy favorite here blazed out of the gate and clearly established her lead up the backstretch. Casalu felt some hoofbeats around the far turn, but entering the lane her jets kicked in and she ended up winning by some six lengths over Oveta's Hobby (Army Mule). The final running time was :58.05. Out of 49 foals of racing age, this was the fourth worldwide winner and first 'TDN Rising Star' for freshman sire Caracaro (Uncle Mo). Lifetime Record: 1-1-0-0. Sales History: $775,000 '24 OBSAPR. O-Michael E. Pegram, Karl Watson and Paul Weitman; B-LLP Performance Horses LLC; T-Bob Baffert. CASALU ($3.20) and @JJHernandezS19 made winning look easy in @DelMarRacing race 4. The 2-year-old by Caracaro (@CrestwoodKY) won on debut for trainer @BobBaffert. Jump in on the next: https://t.co/GuH0DxgT85 pic.twitter.com/ap6xLzfUJN — FanDuel Racing (@FanDuel_Racing) July 21, 2024 The post Casalu Attains ‘TDN Rising Star’ At Seaside Oval For Freshman Sire Caracaro appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

On paper, there was a lot to like about Immersive (Nyquist) in Sunday's ninth race at Saratoga, a six-furlong maiden for 2-year-old fillies. She is by the top sire Nyquist, owned and bred by Godolphin and trained by Brad Cox. With those credentials, a short price might have been in order, but somehow the bay went off at 10-1. Looks like the bettors got this one wrong. After a perfect stalking trip under Manny Franco, Immersive won by two lengths and paid $22.80. The running time was 1:12.60 for the six furlongs. “It's important to any first timer, you need to break good and need to be able to give them a clean trip,” Franco said. “That was perfect. She got into a good rhythm. When those two horses were in front of me, I thought I had a chance. She came running when I asked her. Sometimes when you hit her, you have to be careful. It's hard for me because there is a lot of adrenaline and I want to win the race. Sometimes, in races like this you have to be gentle with the horse.” Spun Candy (Hard Spun) and Laughing Lady (Practical Joke) vied for the early lead while Immersive stalked the pair from third. The Mark Casse-trained Salted (Tapit) was second and Spun Candy held on for third. Salted stumbled at the start and soon thereafter lagged behind the field. Considering her trip and how she closed in the stretch, she ran a winning race. The winning dam is Gap Year (Bernardini), who won two of eight career starts while earning $124,990. She's had five foals with two horses to race and now two winners. The other is Takingtimeoff (Curlin), who won a maiden special weight race at Delaware Park. 9th-Saratoga, $100,000, Msw, 7-21, 2yo, f, 6f, 1:12.60, ft, 2 lengths. IMMERSIVE (f, 2, Nyquist–Gap Year, by Bernardini), let go at 10-1, chased the early pacesetters through a quarter in :22.76 and rolled up challenge pacesetter Spun Candy (Hard Spun) as the half went up in :46.48. She put that game foe away in deep stretch and pulled away to win by two lengths. Salted (Tapit) closed late to nip Spun Candy for second. Gap Year, a daughter of Grade I winner Dubai Escapade (Awesome Again), produced a filly by Street Sense this year and was bred back to that stallion. Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV. Lifetime Record: 1-1-0-0, $55,000. O/B-Godolphin (KY); T-Brad H. Cox. The post Quiet on the Board, Nyquist First-Timer Immersive Wins Spa Maiden appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Trained by Cherie DeVaux, Without Caution was a professional first-out winner at Saratoga Race Course.View the full article

Four-time Breeders' Cup winning trainer Wayne Catalano won his 3,000th race as a trainer July 21 when Alilnalot took the fourth race at Ellis Park.View the full article

Thorpedo Anna is the undisputed leader of her division after her scintillating scores in the Kentucky Oaks (G1) in May at Churchill Downs and the Acorn (G1) in June during the Spa's Belmont Stakes Racing Festival en route to the CCA Oaks.View the full article

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – A final decision on whether or not 'TDN Rising Star' Thorpedo Anna (Fast Anna) will run against the boys in the $1.25 million GI Travers Stakes will be made on Saturday. That's the deadline trainer Kenny McPeek put on himself Sunday morning, the day after his 3-year-old filly dominated the GI Coaching Club American Oaks, winning by 4 1/2 lengths. “We are going to take the week, get her back on the track Wednesday, and I will make a decision Saturday,” McPeek said, sitting in his office at the Oklahoma Annex Sunday morning. “We have to look at her every day and make sure she is going into it as well as she can because she will have to be.” Thorpedo Anna has won six of seven career starts by a combined 36 1/4 lengths. A filly has not won the Midsummer Derby since 1915 when Lady Rotha did it. The last filly to try the Travers was Wonder Gadot (Medaglia d'Oro), who finished 10th in 2018. McPeek could keep Thorpedo Anna against fillies and run her in the $600,000 GI Alabama Stakes Aug. 17. That race, like the Travers which is a week later, is 1 1/4 miles. “She would get a five-pound weight break (Thorpedo Anna would carry 121 pounds in the Travers), would run for twice as much if we would run in the Alabama,” McPeek said. “I have to look at the speed figures, who the possibles are (for the Travers).” McPeek said that Dornoch (Good Magic) who won the GI Haskell Stakes Saturday, would be the Travers favorite. But the idea does intrigue him of having Thorpedo Anna try the colts. He said that since Thorpedo Anna crossed the finish line in the Coaching Club American Oaks, he has been asked about the Travers “about 80 times.” “That's fine,” he said. “She would be talked about in terms of Genuine Risk and Ruffian and Winning Colors … Rachel (Alexandra) and Zenyatta,” he said. “That is rare air that we are flirting with. Maybe she needs a challenge; she really hasn't had one.” Dornoch Back In Saratoga, Travers The Next Goal Just before 11 a.m. Sunday, GI Haskell Stakes champion Dornoch (Good Magic) was back in Saratoga. He vanned back from the Jersey Shore and trainer Danny Gargan was right behind in his car. Gargan was gushing the day after Dornoch beat 'TDN Rising Star' Mindframe (Constitution) to notch his second consecutive Grade I. He won the Belmont Stakes at Saratoga last month. He has three wins in five starts this year and is five for nine for his career. And, right now, he is the best 3-year-old colt in the nation. “I think he can win every time he runs,” Gargan said at the barn, “but I have always thought that. You know that.” The next goal is the $1.25, GI Travers Stakes at Saratoga at the end of the month. Before that, Gargan said, Dornoch will be taking a side trip to GMP Farm in nearby Schuylerville where he will have Hyperbaric Oxygen Chamber therapy, a procedure that delivers increased amount of oxygen to injured tissues. “He has a skin disease,” Gargan said. “This is the best way to clear it up.” Gargan said his runner will be at the farm until Thursday and then be back at his barn where he will be pointed to the Travers. Gargan said he anticipates Dornoch will have two works before the Midsummer Derby. The first will be 15 or 16 days from the race, the second seven or eight days. “We aren't going to do anything crazy,” Gargan said. “We'll keep working him half miles in 48 and change. This is a special horse.” Before Dornoch ever ran, Gargan made the bold statement that the horse would be the best he ever trained. Dornoch is backing his trainer up now. In the Haskell, it looked as though Mindframe was going to blow right by Dornoch at the top of the stretch but it was not to be. Under Luis Saez, Dornoch dug in and refused to lose, winning by 1 1/4 lengths. “It looked like Mindframe was going to win by five or six (lengths),” Gargan said. “He has a tendency to wait on his competition; he does that in workouts and that's why people think he gets outworked sometimes,” Gargan said. “When horses come to him, that's when he really starts running. If someone wants to run real fast, he will run real fast with them.” Dornoch is owned by West Paces Racing LLC, R.A. Hill Stable, Belmar Racing and Breeding LLC, Two Eight Racing LLC and Pine Racing Stables. The group will have some fun as they prepare to watch Dornoch go for his third straight Grade I and cement a championship. “I think we have one of the best horses in the country right now,” Gargan said. “If he stays healthy, he is going to be tough in the Travers.” Fierceness (City of Light), outside with Danny Wright, works 4 furlongs on the main track at Saratoga with stablemate Marche (Mitole) Sunday morning. Fierceness, pointing to the Jim Dandy Saturday for ⁦@PletcherRacing⁩, went in 49.61 (63/135). ⁦@theTDN⁩ pic.twitter.com/U8e9PvUgXL — Tim Wilkin (@tjwilkin) July 21, 2024 Pletcher Turns The Page; Getting Fierceness Ready For Jim Dandy On Saturday, Hall of Fame trainer Todd Pletcher watched Mindframe, the 4-5 favorite, finish second to Dornoch in the GI Haskell Stakes at Monmouth Park. Sunday, he was getting 'TDN Rising Star' Fierceness (City of Light) ready for the $500,000 GII Jim Dandy Stakes at Saratoga on Saturday. Just after 7 on Sunday morning, Fierceness and exercise rider Danny Wright worked four furlongs in :49.61 (61/135) on the main track. They worked in company with stablemate Marche (Mitole), who has one career start. “He is a good breeze horse,” Pletcher said of Fierceness while standing outside his office at the Oklahoma training track. “He did what he always does. We were not looking to do a whole lot six days out, just keep him happy.” Fierceness hasn't raced since finishing 15th as the favorite in the GI Kentucky Derby May 4. Before that, he had been brilliant in the GI Florida Derby, winning by 13 1/2 lengths. Pletcher was not going to go down the road towards the GI Travers with Fierceness. He and owner Mike Repole have both said that the colt needs more time between races than most horses. The Travers is four weeks after the Jim Dandy. That might not be enough. “I don't want to get ahead of myself right now,” Pletcher said. “We are trying to win the Jim Dandy and we will assess his performance in there and see how he comes out of it. I don't want to make any predictions to where he is going after that yet.” Repole, still stinging from Mindframe's 1 1/4-length loss to Dornoch in the Haskell, isn't going to beat the drums for the Travers either. He wants to see what Fierceness does Saturday. “You can only run the Travers at the end of August when you are a 3-year-old,” Repole said by phone Sunday. “Without even seeing the Jim Dandy, it's not even in my mind. Has he proven that he runs better with breaks? Yeah. We expect a huge race (Saturday), but we don't have to get it. We know this game.” Mindframe, who Repole co-owns with Vinnie and Teresa Viola's St. Elias Stables LLC, has two wins and two seconds in his short career. His other runner-up performance came in the GI Belmont Stakes at Saratoga last month when he drifted in the lane, costing him in a race also won by Dornoch. He did not drift as badly in the Haskell, but it was enough that Pletcher and Repole are thinking about maybe making an equipment change. “We will consider it,” Pletcher said about the possibility of adding blinkers. “Look, the winner was good. We were second and I don't think our horse made any big mistakes. Irad (jockey Ortiz Jr.) felt that when he got to the front, (Mindframe) lost focus a little bit. We talked about it (equipment change) but I don't like to make decisions immediately after a race.” Pletcher said that the Travers is still “in play” for Mindframe. “We have not lost confidence in the horse,” he said. “We just need to improve that little bit.” The post Saratoga Notebook, Presented By NYRA Bets: McPeek Says He Will Make Travers Decision on Thorpedo Anna Saturday appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Trained by Cherie DeVaux, Without Caution was a professional first-out winner at Saratoga Race Course.View the full article

Sierra Leone breezed a half-mile solo July 21 over Saratoga Race Course's Oklahoma training track in his final preparation for the July 27 $500,000 Jim Dandy at The Spa. View the full article

Prat takes advantage of stumble by Venti Valentine to get early position and stalks to a 2 1/2-length win.View the full article

Saving her best for last, first time starter Virgin Colada (More Than Ready–Episcopal, by Carpe Diem) mounted a strong charge down the lane to graduate and earn a 'TDN Rising Star' for her effort at Saratoga on Sunday afternoon. Sporting the silks of John Stewart's Resolute Racing, the filly debuted as a 9-2 shot here. The 2-year-old, who remained near the rear of the field until the top of the lane, launched her bid down the center of the course and sailed past the competition to get her picture taken. The final running time was 1:44.32. Lifetime Record: 1-1-0-0. Sales History: $110,000 '23 FTKOCT. O-; B-Fred W. Hertrich III & John D. Fielding; T-Chad C. Brown. #2 Virgin Colada closes in the center of the racetrack to break her maiden at first asking in R7 at Saratoga! Chad Brown trains and Flavien Prat had the mount. pic.twitter.com/OK843N2jE7 — TwinSpires Racing (@TwinSpires) July 21, 2024 The post Virgin Colada Sweeps Home To Scoop Up ‘TDN Rising Star’ Badge At Saratoga appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

This day 22nd 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. Australia horse racing news 1 year ago Sixth win for St Lawrence Exciting galloper St Lawrence is continuing his rapid rise through the grades, collecting the sixth win of his seven-start career … Read More Australia horse racing news 1 year ago Barbie’s Fox arrives in time to claim Winter Challenge A well-timed steer from in-form apprentice Zac Lloyd has seen Barbie’s Fox claim Saturday’s Listed Winter Challenge (1500m) at Rosehill … Read More Australia horse racing news 1 year ago Ingratiating claims Group 3 Bletchingly Stakes Despite being poor on face value first-up, Godolphin’s Ingratiating was a smart winner in Saturday’s Group 3 Bletchingly Stakes (1200m) … Read More New Zealand horse racing news 1 year ago Justaskme amazes in Opunake Cup triumph Justaskme produced a sensational late run to claim victory in the feature event at New Plymouth on Saturday, the Listed … Read More New Zealand horse racing news 1 year ago Rocket Science returns with New Plymouth triumph Bryce Revell was confident Rocket Science was ready to make a winning start to a new campaign and so it … Read More New Zealand horse racing news 1 year ago Naval Anthem extends unbeaten record Debut Wanganui winner Naval Anthem extended his unbeaten record when he scored impressively at Tauranga on Saturday afternoon … Read More New Zealand horse racing news 1 year ago Lovearoadie impresses with maiden success Graham Richardson and Rogan Norvall only had one runner at Tauranga on Saturday, but their trip over the Kaimai Ranges … Read More Horse Racing Tips 1 year ago Today’s horse racing tips & best bets | July 22, 2023 15 horse racing meetings are scheduled around Australia today. See the top tips and quaddie selections for free here at … Read More Australia horse racing news 2 years ago NSW country trainers struggling to compete in local cup races There is no greater feeling for a country trainer than to win their hometown cup, but a veteran Tamworth conditioner … Read More Horse Racing Tips 2 years ago Darwin racing tips, top odds & value bets | Saturday, July 23 The Metric Mile takes centre stage at Fannie Bay this weekend on Day 6 of the 2022 Darwin Cup Carnival … Read More Horse Racing Tips 2 years ago Sale racing tips, top odds & quaddie picks | Sunday, July 24 Sale Turf Club plays hosts to an eight-race card on Sunday afternoon, and HorseBetting’s James Herbert presents his best bets … Read More Australia horse racing news 2 years ago Zaaki, Anamoe prominent in early spring futures markets The 2022 Spring Carnival has begun to take even more shape on Friday, with bookies opening futures markets for 19 … Read More Horse Racing News 2 years ago Punt Drunk: Wet tracks, big guns and blow ups It is an exciting time of year, this. The big guns are back at the trials as they gear up … Read More Australia horse racing news 2 years ago V’Landys filthy over Bruno Mars gig clashing with The Everest Racing NSW CEO Peter V’Landys said he thought the New South Wales state government’s decision to book another major event … Read More Horse Racing Tips 2 years ago Today’s horse racing tips & best bets | July 22, 2022 Six 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 Stokes confident in a good performance from Mileva this Saturday Fresh from a courageous victory last start in the Sir John Monash Stakes, Phillip Stokes is confident in another good … Read More Australia horse racing news 2 years ago Kerry Petrick looks at additional options after NT Derby win Fresh from her win in the $135,000 Ladbrokes NT Derby last weekend, Top End trainer Kerry Petrick now has her … Read More Australia horse racing news 2 years ago WA trainer looking for more Darwin Cup Carnival success If he had the opportunity, Broome trainer Robert Gulberti would take horses to the Darwin Cup Carnival every year. Who … Read More Australia horse racing news 3 years ago Luncies impresses for Lees with trial win at Newcastle English import Luncies made his presence felt when winning a trial at Newcastle on Thursday morning, as he looks to … Read More Horse Racing Tips 3 years ago Ipswich racing tips, top odds & value bets | Friday, July 23 HorseBetting’s Queensland form analyst brings you his best bets and quaddie selections for the eight-race program at Ipswich Turf Club … Read More Horse Racing Tips 3 years ago Morphettville tips, value bets & top odds | Saturday, July 24 HorseBetting’s South Australian form analyst brings you his top tips, best value bets and quaddie numbers for the Morphettville meeting … Read More Horse Racing Tips 3 years ago Belmont racing tips, best bets & quaddie | Saturday, July 24 HorseBetting’s Western Australia tipping expert presents his best bets and quaddie selections for the nine-race card at Belmont on Saturday, … Read More Horse Racing Tips 3 years ago Caulfield racing tips, value bets & top odds | Saturday, July 24 HorseBetting’s Victorian racing analyst brings you his best bets, value picks and quaddie selections for the Bletchingly Stakes meeting at … Read More Horse Racing Tips 3 years ago Doomben racing tips & best value bets | Saturday, July 24 HorseBetting.com.au’s Queensland tipsters brings you his best bets and quaddie picks for the Doomben race meeting on Saturday, July 24, … Read More Horse Racing Tips 3 years ago Rosehill racing tips & odds | Winter Challenge Day | 24/7/2021 HorseBetting.com.au has you covered with top tips for the featured Winter Challenge at Rosehill, as well as our best bets, … Read More Horse Racing Tips 3 years ago Mildura betting preview, top tips & odds | Friday, July 23 Mildura plays host to an eight-race card on Friday, July 23 for Mildura Cup Day. See all of the top … Read More Horse Racing Tips 3 years ago Today’s horse racing tips & best bets | July 22, 2021 Horse racing around the country sees five meetings being held around the country on this Thursday afternoon. Our racing analysts … Read More New Zealand horse racing news 3 years ago Half Of Nothing secures bonus at Avondale Trainer Wayne Hillis has been chasing the Pearl Series Bonus with his filly Half Of Nothing for the last three … Read More Australia horse racing news 3 years ago Plenty of spring options for Tofane Triple Group One winner Tofane has plenty of options open to her this spring. Trainer Michael Moroney was initially planning … Read More New Zealand horse racing news 3 years ago Opunake Cup test for Tavis Court Although New Plymouth Raceway is on Tavis Court’s backdoor-step, the seasoned Hawera galloper will have his first start at the … Read More New Zealand horse racing news 3 years ago Trans-Tasman plans for Catalyst Tony Pike is looking forward to spring racing with his new acquisition Catalyst. The rising five-year-old son of Darci Brahma … Read More Australia horse racing news 4 years ago Yardstick races to debut win at Canterbury Jockey Nash Rawiller believes a maiden win on debut at Canterbury by Yardstick will provide a good stepping stone for … Read More Australia horse racing news 4 years ago Former AFL coach trains Sandown winner Frankie Two Angels has provided form AFL coach Denis Pagan with his first win as a trainer taking out the … Read More Australia horse racing news 4 years ago Filly fires to spare Munce embarrassment Brilliant trackworker Centrefire has won midweek at Eagle Farm to finally justify the faith of her trainer Chris Munce … Read More Australia horse racing news 4 years ago Jungle Edge chases another stakes race win Having claimed the Sir John Monash Stakes at Caulfield, Jungle Edge returns to the track for a shot at the … Read More Australia horse racing news 4 years ago Special Missile on target for Listed race After a last-start second in the Listed Glasshouse Handicap in Queensland, Special Missile is set to contest Sydney’s final stakes … Read More Australia horse racing news 4 years ago Patis gets big chance on Kisukano Apprentice Alex Patis has been rewarded for her recent good form with the ride on top filly Kisukano at Doomben … Read More Australia horse racing news 4 years ago Rain to help Tullio in Doomben test Rain late in the week is expected to help in form Tullio as he faces his stiffest test to date … Read More New Zealand horse racing news 4 years ago Well-travelled Crawford grateful to be home Shane Crawford has spent a large portion of his working life overseas in various racing jurisdictions, but the Cambridge trainer … Read More Australia horse racing news 4 years ago Media barred from Alligator Blood inquiry Media outlets cannot attend an inquiry into Magic Million Guineas’ winner Alligator Blood returning a positive swab after the $2 … Read More Australia horse racing news 4 years ago Nothdurft fractures jaw in trackwork fall Queensland’s state and metropolitan jockey premiership leader Baylee Nothdurft has suffered a fractured jaw in a trackwork accident … Read More New Zealand horse racing news 4 years ago Coleman officially calls it a day Michael Coleman has officially made the call to retire from race riding following the serious injuries he suffered at the … Read More New Zealand horse racing news 4 years ago National tilt for Bee Tee Junior Talented New Zealand jumper Tallyho Twinkletoe will be be vying for back-to-back wins in the Grand National Hurdle (4200m) next … Read More New Zealand horse racing news 4 years ago Switched on Ali Baba shapes as exciting jumper Talented galloper Ali Baba is a more motivated horse this preparation and turned in an impressive performance to win the … Read More Australia horse racing news, New Zealand horse racing news 5 years ago Ripcord cruises to Australian victory Talented three-year-old Ripcord is the latest galloper to make the successful move from wily Wanganui trainer Kevin Myers to equally … Read More New Zealand horse racing news 5 years ago Gobstopper Farr too good in Drechsler The Kiwis got the cash in Sunday’s Brendan Drechsler Hurdle (3500m) at Racing.com Park as trainer Andrew Campbell’s Gobstopper led … Read More New Zealand horse racing news 5 years ago Centurion eyes Ashburton prize Riccarton trainer Barbara Blackie reached a massive milestone on the weekend, celebrating a century of birthdays with family and friends … Read More New Zealand horse racing news 5 years ago Comeback apprentices to the fore Comebacks proved rewarding last Saturday for a couple of female apprentice jockeys, Erin Leighton and Mereana Hudson. Leighton (27) notched … Read More Australia horse racing news 5 years ago Nicci’s Gold to step up again at Rosehill Nicci’s Gold will take on a similar field to her her last start at Rosehill when she runs in the … Read More Australia horse racing news, New Zealand horse racing news 5 years ago Homesick Weatherley resuming New Zealand career Sam Weatherley will head home from Sydney next Sunday, not for a holiday, but to reignite his New Zealand riding … Read More Australia horse racing news 5 years ago Bart working towards a racetrack return A jump-out at Ballarat for new trainer Lindsey Smith will determine how Black Heart Bart is progressing in his bid … Read More Australia horse racing news 5 years ago SA trainer Mark Minervini to move to NSW Adelaide trainer Mark Minervini will move his base to Newcastle in NSW in search of better opportunities, saying South Australian … Read More Australia horse racing news 5 years ago Scales Of Justice entered for Bletchingly Trainer Lindsey Smith has entered Scales Of Justice for the Bletchingly Stakes with a Ballarat jump-out to determine whether the … Read More Australia horse racing news 5 years ago Abbott chases homecoming double Eagle Farm trainer Lauren Abbott returns to North Queensland with a chance to win the feature double in Townsville … Read More Australia horse racing news 5 years ago Scratching no knock on Pakenham Polytrack Caulfield trainer Colin Little is sure Pakenham can rectify the problem with its Polytrack that resulted in him scratching Peko … Read More Australia horse racing news, Singapore horse racing news 5 years ago Ben Melham suspended in Singapore Jockey Ben Melham has six rides at the midweek meeting at Sandown before he takes a suspension incurred at the … Read More Australia horse racing news 6 years ago Winx ready for barrier trial at Rosehill Winx will make her first public appearance ahead of her fourth Cox Plate campaign when she runs in a barrier … Read More Australia horse racing news 6 years ago Weir to have strong hand in Bletchingly Voodoo Lad and Black Heart Bart will be among Darren Weir’s representatives in the Bletchingly Stakes, while the race is … Read More Australia horse racing news 6 years ago Familiar path to The Everest for Redzel Peter Snowden is sticking to the same campaign as a year ago for Redzel who is scheduled to run in … Read More Australia horse racing news 6 years ago Matt Dunn looks to bright future Trainer Matt Dunn has reached 100 winners for the season and is looking forward to an even brighter new season … Read More Ireland horse racing news 6 years ago Sea Of Class wins Irish Oaks Sea Of Class has got up in the shadow of the post to land a thrilling victory in the Darley … Read More Australia horse racing news, Horse Racing News 7 years ago Swampland surges late to topple short-priced favourite PROMISING three-year-old Swampland recorded its third career win from 10 starts after running down short-priced favourite Moonlites Choice to score … Read More Horse Racing News, New Zealand horse racing news 7 years ago Not Usual Trip returns from break in fine form Precocious youngster Not Usual Trip booked himself another outing in black type company with a commanding performance at Ruakaka off … Read More Horse Racing News, New Zealand horse racing news 7 years ago Pike’s Chachar heading towards black type races Cambridge trainer Tony Pike is expecting Chachar to be keeping good company in the near future. He produced the Thorn … Read More Horse Racing News 7 years ago Ben Thompson cops Flemington suspension Apprentice Ben Thompson has ridden a Flemington winner but also copped a suspension ruling him out of the final two … Read More Horse Racing News, New Zealand horse racing news 7 years ago Hawtin enjoys another celebration as Money Traill victorious Brendon Hawtin produced his second winner in double quick time when Money Trail’s honesty was rewarded at Ruakaka. The Waikato … Read More Horse Racing News 7 years ago Pelethronius extends winning campaign David Pfieffer-trained Pelethronius has made it four wins from as many starts, with jockey Tye Angland capping his season with … Read More Horse Racing News 7 years ago Blake Shinn suspended at Randwick Blake Shinn has not enjoyed a happy welcome home, with the jockey outed for careless riding at Randwick … Read More Horse Racing News 7 years ago Hugh Bowman retains premiership lead Brenton Avdulla and Hugh Bowman have ended winless streaks at Randwick, allowing Bowman to protect his narrow lead in the … Read More Horse Racing News 7 years ago Williams takes Melbourne premiership lead Craig Williams is two wins clear in the race for Melbourne jockeys’ premiership honours following a winning double at Flemington … Read More Horse Racing News, New Zealand horse racing news 7 years ago Never say die attitude gives Smedley Ruakaka victory Smedley again showed the dour side of his nature at Ruakaka where he successfully defended his ITM Whangarei Gold Cup … Read More Australia horse racing news, Horse Racing News 7 years ago Right race the secret for Pink Chaperone IT might have been just the second win from 66 starts for six-year-old Pink Chaperone at Lismore on Saturday, but … Read More Horse Racing News 7 years ago Pacodali wins again at Flemington Imported stayer Pacodali has beaten stablemates Master Zephyr and Killarney Kid to make it back-to-back wins at Flemington in the … Read More Horse Racing News 7 years ago Rachel King’s star continues to rise Apprentice Rachel King has claimed a Randwick double to cement her place in the Sydney riding ranks … Read More Horse Racing News 7 years ago Best to come for Crack Me Up Crack Me Up has won his third stakes race in the Tattersall’s Mile but trainer Liam Birchley thinks his best … Read More Horse Racing News 7 years ago Play Master back on board at Flemington After a year off with injury, Play Master has recorded his first win in two years at Flemington … Read More Horse Racing News 7 years ago Boss Lane wins again at Randwick Boss Lane has continued his affinity with Randwick in the July Sprint, winning on his home track for the seventh … Read More Horse Racing News 7 years ago Premier jockey Lloyd suspended at Doomben Premier Brisbane jockey Jeff Lloyd has been suspended for eight days for causing interference at Doomben … Read More Horse Racing News 7 years ago First open company win for Sunny Victory Troubled gelding Sunny Victory has put his problems behind him to win his first open company race at Doomben … Read More Australia horse racing news, Horse Racing News 7 years ago Suncraze shines at Randwick for an elated Melanie O’gorman SUNCRAZE finally shed his bridesmaid’s tag when saluting in the Highway Handicap over 1400m at Randwick on Saturday. 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Michael Freedman believes Wings Of Desire, the half sister to champion mare Winx, has the scope to get up to distances in which her famous sibling excelled. View the full article

Trainer Wayne Catalano celebrated his 3000th career win Sunday when 4-year-old gelding Alilnalot (Tapiture) won race four at Ellis Park, a $30,000 maiden claimer. Catalano, who began his training career in 1983 following a successful riding career, has seen over 15,000 horses start under his name including the likes of GI Qatar Racing Breeders' Cup Sprint winner Aloha West (Hard Spun) and dual Breeders' Cup winner Stephanie's Kitten (Kitten's Joy). “I've been waiting on this one a long time,” said Catalano after the milestone Sunday. “I got to have my family here today and it means the world to me.” The post Trainer Wayne Catalano Celebrates 3,000 Career Wins Sunday appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Rider Penalties K Mudhoo | Oamaru 21 July; careless riding; suspended 27 July – 3 August inclusive. A Balloo | Oamaru 21 July; use of whip; suspended 27 July – 4 August inclusive. K Williams | Oamaru 21 July; use of whip; suspended 22-26 July inclusive. T Ladouceur | Oamaru 21 July; use of whip (2 charges); suspended 22 July – 10 August inclusive. Trainer Penalty J & R Vance | Auckland 21 July; incorrect gear; fined $100. Horse Penalty SWEET AND SASSY | Auckland 21 July; late scratching after refusing to load; must complete trial. General The Auckland TR meeting scheduled for 17 July was transferred to 21 July due to mechanical issues. The Hawke’s Bay RI meeting scheduled for 18 July was abandoned due to the weather and track conditions. The Racing Rotorua meeting scheduled for 20 July was abandoned due to the weather and track conditions. The Taranaki RI meeting scheduled for 20 July was abandoned due to the weather and track conditions. The post 15-21 July 2024 appeared first on RIB. View the full article

Following his July 20 victory in the $1 million Haskell Stakes (G1) at Monmouth Park, Dornoch walked off the van early the morning of July 21 and into Danny Gargan's barn at Saratoga Race Course. The trainer was still walking on air.View the full article

Trained by Cherie DeVaux, Without Caution was a professional first-out winner at Saratoga Race Course.View the full article

Driver Penalties S O’Reilly | NZ Metropolitan 19 July; medical clearance required. H Chief Stipelas | NZ Metropolitan 19 July; incompetent driving; suspended 22 July – 29 August inclusive. C Butt | NZ Metropolitan 19 July; use of whip; suspended 20 July – 4 August inclusive. Protest DANCING GLENIS | NZ Metropolitan 19 July; raced in incorrect gait for a distance; disqualified from 5th. The post 15-21 July 2024 appeared first on RIB. View the full article

Trainer Penalty B Pringle | Non-raceday dated 17 July; failed to present runner free of prohibited substance (2 charges); fined $7,000. General The Southland GRC meeting scheduled for 15 July was abandoned due to a frozen track. Protests GRANDE VUE ACE | Auckland 28 January; raced with prohibited substance in system; disqualified from 1st. GRANDE VUE ACE | Christchurch 15 February; raced with prohibited substance in system; disqualified from 1st. The post 15-21 July 2024 appeared first on RIB. View the full article

With plenty of power left in her tank down the lane, Raging Sea (Curlin–Stormy Welcome, Storm Cat) took home the GII Shuvee Stakes at Saratoga on Sunday afternoon. Last seen running fourth in the GI Odgen Phipps Stakes over this course last month and as an 8-5 shot here, the 4-year-old chestnut set up shop just behind pacemaker Misty Veil (Tonalist) once the backstretch began to unfurl. The homebred waited her turn and the rail opened up at the top of the stretch. Kicking for home, the filly flashed her late speed and won by two lengths over Shotgun Hottie (Gun Runner). The final running time was 1:51.95. Lifetime Record: 10-5-1-1. O/B-Alpha Delta Stables, LLC; T-Chad Brown. Your 8/5 favorite Raging Sea pulls away in the G2 Shuvee S. at Saratoga under Flavien Prat for trainer Chad Brown! The third stakes win for this 4YO filly by Curlin. pic.twitter.com/nlSz35br84 — TwinSpires Racing (@TwinSpires) July 21, 2024 The post Raging Sea Keeps Afloat Down The Lane To Win Shuvee Stakes At Saratoga appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Sakima, an AU$1.25 million daughter of 2013 Alcibiades (G1) winner My Conquestadory, earned her first career victory at Kensington July 17.View the full article

It was announced during the telecast of the GI Haskell Stakes that Dornoch (Good Magic) will stand at stud at Spendthrift Farm. Spendthrift General Manager Ned Toffey addresses another big move by his team. TDN: What is it about Dornoch that makes him a good stallion candidate? NT: He's obviously got a great pedigree and he's a very talented horse. We always thought he was a really talented horse. They tried to rate him in the Blue Grass and he got wiped out from the one hole in the Derby. The luster went off him a little bit. He's now come back and shown what he truly is. He's a horse that when you put him in a race, he likes to gauge other horses. I've always likened him to a kid who just loves to compete. He's out there playing but when you go to compete with him that's when he shows his talent and his toughness and competitiveness. He was a very nice horse as a 2-year-old and as an early 3-year-old. In the last two races he's re-established what he's able to do. He's a big, beautiful, classy-looking animal. With that pedigree and with his looks, that made him a no-brainer as stallion prospect. When he won the Belmont, we felt like it was time to try to get something done on him. This was a good deal for both sides and we're thrilled he's coming to Spendthrift. TDN: Can you give us a time line on how and when the deal was struck? NT: It was after the Belmont. Every stud farm is watching all these races. (Spendthrift owner) Eric Gustavson asked the question, if they win the Belmont, who would we go after? We named a few horses and he was one of them. TDN: He will be one of the first sons of Good Magic to go to stud. How much did you take into account how well-bred he is? NT: Puca has established herself as a heck of a mare. Curlin is a phenomenal sire. You worry about trying to stand the son of a younger stallion. But we felt that Good Magic has established himself now to a level where it's very appealing to stand a son. The sire line has been so good and Good Magic is establishing himself as a very nice stallion. That he is the sire was certainly a plus. TDN: Spendthrift has been very aggressive lately and has not been afraid to go after any stallion. What is the mantra at Spendthrift right now? NT: Early on, if you look at some of our success, it was really shaped by Malibu Moon and, more recently, Into Mischief. These were horses who started at a very low level before rising to the highest levels of the sport. That has shaped a lot of what we've done. We realize a good stallion could come from anywhere, but the reality is, with the way the market has evolved over the last 10 to 15 years, everybody's filter has gotten a little finer, so far as the yearlings they'll buy, the pedigrees they'll buy, the individuals they will buy and then who will they breed to. The commercial market is a huge factor in shaping the decisions we make. We understand that nobody knows where the best stallions are going to come from. But it's safe to say that what a stallion needs to be successful is opportunity. And opportunity comes from breeders being willing to breed to a stallion. What breeders are willing to do and what range they'll play in is what has caused our shift so far as playing at a higher level. Into Mischief was a struggle. So was Malibu Moon, who started as a regional horse. Those are horses that would struggle even more today. People are so discerning now so far as what they'll buy and who they will breed to and that's really what has formed a lot of our thinking. We recognize that there are breeders at all levels of the market and there are good horses that come from all levels of the market. We've always tried to have horses that fit a variety of price points. We'd like the breeding game to work for all breeders at all levels. That is very important to us. It is realities of the market have caused us to shift to a higher end horse. The post How Spendthrift Got Dornoch: A Q&A With Ned Toffey appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

'TDN Rising Star' Sierra Leone (Gun Runner) breezed a solo four furlongs Sunday in :49.73 over the Oklahoma training track for trainer Chad Brown in his final work before Saturday's GII Jim Dandy Stakes. NYRA clockers noted an opening quarter-mile in :25.25 and a gallop out in 1:02.68, 1:14.93 and 1:28.92. “He did super. He's in a nice rhythm,” said Brown. “He's been working solo on the training track – I'm liking it. He galloped out with good energy. That's just what I'm looking for six days out.” Sierra Leone was third last out in the GI Belmont Stakes to Dornoch (Good Magic) who returned July 20 to win the GI Haskell Stakes at Monmouth Park. “He's at a stage of his development where it was something to transition into,” Brown continued. “I'm very flexible in training them and observing where they are in their development. For right now, at this point of his campaign, it's working for him taking him out of company for a little bit. He's very fit and I'm just looking to bring him to the race healthy and focused.” 3rd place @BelmontStakes finisher SIERRA LEONE was spotted on the Oklahoma Training Track this morning! Next stop, G2 Jim Dandy? pic.twitter.com/pOTMDTiRCF — NYRA () (@TheNYRA) July 21, 2024 The GII Jim Dandy Stakes will serve as a prep for GI DraftKings Travers Stakes Aug. 24 at Saratoga. Joining Sierra Leone in the Travers will be stablemate Unmatched Wisdom (Cairo Prince) who won the listed Curlin Stakes July 19. “I think he's earned his right,” Brown said. “If all the horses in this division stay healthy, it's shaping up to be a really strong edition of the Travers, so he's going to have to step up considerably but he's undefeated and he has good positional speed. I think his best races and his best numbers are ahead of him. With that said, if he moves forward, he could be in the mix.” Ways and Means (Practical Joke), another Brown-trained 'TDN Rising Star', also got a prep in over the Oklahoma track for the GI Test Stakes Aug. 3. “She's in a nice rhythm breezing by herself,” Brown said. “After that big win here – a confidence-building allowance race Belmont week – she's really where I need her to be fitness wise and now it's just some maintenance coming into the Test. She'll have one more work and that might not be a big field, but that will be a strong field and she'll really have to show her best stuff.” The post Sierra Leone Gets Final Jim Dandy Prep For Brown appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Dornoch (Good Magic) didn't get much respect heading into the GI Belmont Stakes, and his bandwagon wasn't exactly overburdened with supporters after his 17-1 victory over 'TDN Rising Star' Mindframe (Constitution), either. On Saturday at Monmouth Park, bettors let the winner of the third leg of the Triple Crown go as the tepid 3.4-1 third choice in the seven-horse GI Haskell Stakes, believing with 4-5 certainty that a now-more-experienced Mindframe wouldn't, for a second straight race, allow Dornoch to claw back the lead in deep stretch like he did six weeks ago at Saratoga. Yet that's exactly what happened. The colt with the higher perceived potential again yielded to the rival who was believed to have already peaked. Beyond producing the same one-two result, there were enough tactical similarities between Dornoch's 1 1/4-length score over nine furlongs at the New Jersey shore and his half-length win over 10 furlongs at the Spa for the headlines to term the Haskell a “repeat” of the Belmont. But that's an oversimplified analogy that again shortchanges Dornoch in the respect department. Dornoch's lack of gravitas within the 3-year-old pecking order is nothing new. As a full brother to 2023 GI Kentucky Derby winner Mage, this $325,000 KEESEP colt debuted at Saratoga last summer with outsized-and perhaps unfair-expectations. He lost his first two starts, broke his maiden as a 6 1/2-length, favored winner at Keeneland, then prevailed in a pair of Grade II stakes in which he was widely deemed to have been the beneficiary of the competition either committing late-race blunders or not showing up at all. In April, Dornoch flubbed his final Derby prep, then beat only half the field in the Derby itself. But the star of trainer Danny Gargan's barn has since rebounded with back-to-back Grade I wins, eclipsing his big brother's post-Triple Crown career arc and establishing Dornoch as a no-drama, no-quit grinder. Dornoch still doesn't resonate as a “Wow!” colt. But he is now firmly established as a speed-centric stayer who punches back well above his weight when accosted. That's a dangerous combination entering the second half of a season in which a number of A-list contenders in the older male dirt route division have earned their reputations based on flash and panache, yet are light in terms of consistency and reliability. Last Dec. 2, Dornoch won the nine-furlong, GII Remsen Stakes at Aqueduct by outgunning five rivals for the lead, taking mid-race pace pressure, swatting back several fresh challengers on the far turn, then brushing the inside rail in the stretch before re-surging late to snatch back the lead from 'TDN Rising Star' Sierra Leone, a $2.3-million Gun Runner colt who would end up being the next-out winner of the GII Risen Star Stakes and the eventual second-favorite in the Kentucky Derby. At the time, the popular narrative was that even though both colts lost focus through the lane, Dornoch supposedly prevailed only because the lugging-in Sierra Leone wasn't fully cranked for prime time in only his second career start. Over the winter, Gargan, who admitted Mage's little brother had a tendency to “goof off,” expressed a desire to teach Dornoch how to settle and rate from off the pace. He thought that opportunity would come in the colt's next start, the Mar. 2 GII Fountain of Youth Stakes at Gulfstream. But that race was decimated by four late scratches that left the race void of speed, and Gargan called a last-minute audible, telling jockey Luis Saez to instead send Dornoch straight to the front per usual. Dornoch ended up administering a straightforward wiring over four weak rivals at 1-5 odds. Here too, his performance was panned, because he didn't beat any contenders of consequence and his Beyer Speed Figure took a one-point dip off the 91 he had earned in the Remsen. Gargan still wanted to see how Dornoch could handle coming from a bit farther behind, and even though many trainers wouldn't think of trying so drastic a tactics change in a final race before the Kentucky Derby, Gargan instructed Saez to do just that in the Apr. 6 GI Toyota Blue Grass Stakes at Keeneland. Saez had a hard time trying to keep his colt under wraps around the first turn, and Dornoch, pelted with dirt kickback while hemmed midpack at the rail for most of his trip, then only had mild response and ran up on the heels of a rival when asked for late-race response. The winner, Sierra Leone, blew by in upper stretch and Dornoch ended up a punchless fourth. Gargan then admitted he had made a mistake, and vowed to let Dornoch revert to doing as he liked out of the gate, which meant rolling to the lead in the Derby and taking the field as far as he could on the front end. Then the post position gods intervened and buried Dornoch in the dreaded one hole, a gate placement in the 20-horse Derby that has not produced a winner since Ferdinand in 1986. On the first Saturday in May, Dornoch got bumped and brushed at the break, then never settled while pinned inside. He launched into a decent bid coming free from cover on the far turn, then checked hard when a hole in the pack of contenders closed turning for home. He had some mild interest in upper stretch but encountered more roughhousing, and Saez didn't hammer on Dornoch when it became apparent tenth place was the best he'd be able to attain in the Derby. Dornoch wins the GI Belmont Stakes | Sarah Andrew If you looked at Dornoch's chances in the Belmont Stakes through the lens that he had been forced well out of his comfort zone in two consecutive races after not getting much out of that cakewalk win in his first start at age three, you were rewarded with that juicy 17-1 overlay in Saratoga's truncated (from 12 furlongs to 10) version of the third leg of the Triple Crown. From post six in the Belmont Stakes, Dornoch put outside pressure on rail-drawn GI Preakness Stakes upsetter Seize the Grey (Arrogate), took over on the far turn, then was under siege and under the whip at the head of the lane with Mindframe drawing dead aim. Admirably and somewhat unexpectedly, Dornoch dug in and sparred hard, while Mindframe came unglued for a few strides and couldn't seal the deal. Mindframe re-rallied belatedly in the shadow of the wire, but Dornoch had built up enough of a cushion to win by a diminishing margin. By capturing the Belmont, Dornoch had beaten both the winners of the Kentucky Derby and Preakness-Mystik Dan (Goldencents) and Seize the Grey-plus his arch-rival, Sierra Leone (who was third), and the up-and-coming Mindframe. Yet the betting public still believed Dornoch had more to prove in the Haskell, emphatically backing Mindframe to odds-on favoritism while installing 'TDN Rising Star' Timberlake (Into Mischief) as the second choice off a nearly four-month layoff. Dornoch broke alertly from post one while Mindframe stumbled and was bumped coming out of gate six. The stutter-step start alone was not Mindframe's undoing, as Irad Ortiz, Jr. recovered him well enough to place Mindframe fourth down along the inside. But the difference in their breaks enabled Dornoch to establish command without pressure through an opening quarter in :23.32, and once the field sorted itself out onto the backstretch run, Saez expertly backed down the second quarter-mile split to a waltzing :24.76. Quickening to :23.97 for the third quarter, Dornoch got double-teamed three-eighths out, first by Timberlake and then the full-of-steam, four-deep Mindframe. Timberlake edged in front only for an instant, but Midframe powered past with what looked to be the winning Haskell move 2 1/2 furlongs from the wire. Mindframe held that lead to the three-sixteenths marker through a fourth quarter-mile split of :25.23, yet Dornoch cut the corner closest to the rail under stern right-handed encouragement and simply wouldn't give up. At the same time that Dornoch was responding to all-out rousing, Mindframe was still being hand-ridden, and as he drifted out to the five path, Mindframe disengaged like a ship adrift. Ortiz resorted to belated stick work on alternating sides, but his efforts yielded more lateral movement than forward progress from Mindframe. Dornoch kept Mindframe at bay through a final furlong clocked in a moderate :13.03. So how fast was Dornoch's Haskell? The answer depends upon whether you prefer raw final times or Beyer Speed Figures, which take into account class-related par times while also factoring in how the track was playing on that particular day. Dornoch's final time of 1:50.31 was the slowest Haskell since Authentic ran 1:50.45 in 2020. In fact, the only other sub-1:50 clocking in the past decade was when Dornoch's sire, Good Magic, stopped the timer in 1:50.01 in 2018. But Dornoch's assigned Beyer of 103 equates to the fastest figure for the Haskell since American Pharoah ripped through nine furlongs with a 109 Beyer in 2015. The post The Week In Review: You Still Don’t Respect Dornoch? That’s Your Problem, Not His appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Harry Sweeney is one of Irish racing's finest exports. A qualified vet, he has been based in the Far East for 35 years, where he operates from the world renowned Paca Paca Farm as well as holding the position of President at Darley Japan. From big-money pinhooks to sleepless nights after some frightening losses, breeding Japanese Derby winner Deep Brilliante and how he engineered a plan to be granted an owner's licence in the country, Sweeney makes for a fascinating and entertaining Q&A. The Marco Polo of Irish racing sat down with Brian Sheerin for breakfast following the Select Sale in Japan. How do you reflect on the JRHA Select Sale? I was reasonably pleased-I wasn't elated. I mean, it certainly wasn't the bonanza of last year for Paca Paca. Traditionally, we used to assess this sale in sumo terms. There is a term we commonly refer to in Japan that relates to sumo. It's when a mid-ranking wrestler would set out to win more bouts than he lost in a 13-day tournament. Then they were happy. That's called kachi-koshi. That is our bar for Paca Paca going into any sale and we achieved that. We had seven foals in the sale–one was consigned under a slightly different name–and we sold four. You have to be reasonable and, even with the weak exchange rate, the Baaeed (GB) foal sold for £275,000. For a foal of just three months old, that is fantastic business. There won't be many foals by Baaeed who sell for more than that at Tattersalls in December so I have to be pleased. However, when you look at what that same exact foal might have made had he been offered by Northern Farm for example, there is a little bit of a difference. But Northern Farm has a huge brand and the market appreciates their brand. Do you know the way they were selling Aston Martin cars on the sales complex? Well, some of my fellow breeders will be driving Aston Martins after the sale. I will be driving a Toyota Land Cruiser. But a Toyota Land Cruiser is still a very fine car and it suits me better. And do you know what? I feel privileged and lucky to have it. Can that be frustrating? Of course it can be frustrating but I have been here for 35 years so I accept it. And you might look across and question things but Japan is still a very good place to make a living so I am happy. This is a very special market, the Select Sale especially, and certainly Northern Farm is extremely dominant. You don't need AI to work that out. But even AI would be confounded by the scale of the dominance. But, listen, Northern Farm has invested heavily in its broodmare band and everyone working there works very hard so they deserve a lot of the success they are enjoying. While other farms might begrudge that success, I don't, because a rising tide lifts all boats. But I have been selling at the Select Sale since day one and I have seen good days, I have seen bad days and I have also seen brilliant days. I am reconciled with it. It's not the pressure that it used to be. Our kids are grown up and we've paid for their education. My farm is also paid for so it's not the do-or-die scenario of continuing in business or going bankrupt like it used to be. Does that change how you operate? With less responsibility you can essentially take more risk. We can take more risks, of course. But you sleep a bit better when doing so. Including lot 400, who will be the first Baaeed foal to be sold anywhere in the world. He's one of six foals being offered by Irishman Harry Sweeney of Paca Paca Farm. pic.twitter.com/pZTxVNmjbZ — Brian Sheerin (@BrianSheerin91) July 9, 2024 Can you tell me about some of those sleepless nights? There were times when you bit off a lot. There were good years and bad years. When the market crashed in 2008, that Select Sale was an absolute disaster for us. A wipeout. I think we had 12 foals in the sale and we sold just one. We had four young sons at the time. I can remember we had planned a holiday in Indonesia and Borneo shortly after the sale. I can remember being in the middle of the jungle in Borneo, deep inside the rainforest and thinking, 'I am in some hole right now'. I was in deep-I was deeply fu***d. That's all I could think of on that holiday and there was some sort of poeticness to the whole thing as, here I was in the middle of the jungle cut off from civilisation when, in business, I was in the biggest hole I had ever found myself in. How did you get out? I worked hard. Worked really, really hard. A lot of well-known horses in Japan, America and even in Europe were born and raised in Paca Paca. Even last year's St Leger winner Continuous (Jpn) is a graduate of yours. That must give you a lot of pleasure. We have a lot of good clients and it's great to see them doing well. Maybe we don't deserve some of the accolades because, here in Japan, there is a clear distinction between the mare's owner and where a foal is born. Oftentimes, it's the farm at which a racehorse was born that receives the accolades. The racing papers carry the breeding farm, but that is not the breeder. So, if Brian Sheerin for example has a mare at Paca Paca, he won't get mentioned in the papers but Paca Paca will. In your role with Darley Japan, you have welcomed well-known horses in Europe like Hukum (Ire) and Adayar (Ire) to the stallion roster. How have they been received and is it difficult taking on the might of a 30-strong Shadai Stallion Station roster? We welcomed another new horse, Palace Malice, to Japan recently. He's standing at ¥3.5 million and has covered 262 mares and has more than 200 of those in foal. You know, if you bring the right product, you will do well. A lot of good mares–some from Northern Farm and Shadai Farm–have been sent to Palace Malice. So if you have the right stallion at the right price, you can survive. But you need to be lucky as well. Two days after we announced the deal for Palice Malice, his son Jantar Mantar (Jpn) won a Group 1 race. A lot of people in Japan thought 'Harry Sweeney is brilliant' and I haven't dissuaded them from that thought! But the fact is, we were really lucky. Jantar Mantar went on to become the champion two-year-old in Japan and is a Group 1 winner at three as well. So it worked out but there are plenty of occasions in bloodstock when it doesn't. You have a number of horses in the Selection Sale. What sort of trade should we be expecting there? It will be decent trade without being the bonanza of the Select Sale but that is a complete bubble. That's why I would advise absolute caution for a foreigner looking in on the Select Sale. The Selection Sale is the real market. If you were to find yourself in a position of power or one where you could make meaningful change to the way racing was run back home in Ireland, what would you bring back from your learnings in Japan? I'm not really interested in commenting on that as I don't know enough about it. But, the big difference here is that we have a Tote that runs betting and we have a government subsidiary that owns the Tote, the tracks and the two main training centres and they are reinvesting in racing in Japan. It's all controlled by one body and there's great transparency. We don't have competing forces. We have the JRA and then we have a second body, which is the NAR. While the JRA is effectively a semi-state body, a subsidiary of the department of agriculture, the local racing is run by the NAR. That is run by the local municipal governments as well so that is effectively a semi-state body, albeit at a different level. They work very much in tandem together so it is a very well-regulated and uniformed body which has one focus. Unfortunately, racing has evolved in a very different way in Europe. Japan is a racing utopia…..almost. Now, the 'almost' in that sentence carries plenty of weight, but there are a lot of great things about racing here-enormous prize-money, great fan attendance, great love of the horse, an excellent demographic of young people going to the races and more. You go to any of the big meetings in Japan and it costs £1 of an admission fee and that includes a racecard. People dress casually as well. It's very casual, they bring their kids, bring a picnic and it's just a great day out. And what could I take back home to Ireland? Outside of prize-money and fan engagement, the biggest thing I have taken from this trip is how important distance is to the breed over here? For example, there are only two Group 1 races over sprint trips in Japan. Credit to the JRA for that. Even our 2,000 Guineas, that's run over 10 furlongs. Japan is the country of 10 furlong two-year-old maidens. Where else would you find that? Even Deep Impact (Jpn). He debuted over 10 furlongs. That's the way it is. The reverse is true, in that there are very limited opportunities for sprinters over here. If I was to go back to my main employment with Godolphin, as opposed to my hobby farm at Paca Paca [!], we raced some fine horses over here, including Fine Needle (Jpn). He was a champion miler/sprinter but in truth he was a sprinter. There are only two Grade 1 races in the entire programme under a mile out here and he won both of those. Another thing that was quite noticeable was how the Japanese place perhaps even more emphasis on the book rather than the model compared to other parts of the world. Oh yes. But, to be honest, this is an imprecise science. A few years ago, myself and my farm manager, James Butler, set ourselves a task of finding what we thought would be the worst value of the Select Sale. It was just a little bit of a game between ourselves. We had looked at nearly all of the yearlings in the sale. There was one filly in particular and she had shocking-and I mean shocking-front legs. She went on to make a lot of money and we both agreed that she was the worst value of the sale. What happened? She went on to become a Group 1 winner in Japan. Pedigree is very important in Japan. And size, actually. They are not as critical on conformation and things like that. But, you know what, maybe they're right. Maybe we are too caught up on conformation and things like that at home. I have just had a text message from Jack Cantillon asking 'how the Christopher Columbus of Irish racing is getting on…..' Well, if Jack was more familiar with his history, he might have said the Marco Polo of Irish racing because Christopher Columbus sailed west whereas Marco Polo went east! I actually didn't know a lot about you or Paca Paca before this trip and it's only now that I am realising the scale of the achievement. I'm not just saying this because you're sitting in front of me but, what you have achieved in Japan, it must be up there with some of the great pioneering feats in Irish racing. Well, that's a very kind thing to say, so thank you. But it has been acknowledged, and I did win the inaugural Wild Geese Award at the ITBA Awards a number of years ago. That was a great honour. But you talk about great pioneering feats, but sometimes fate deals you a hand. You have to understand that when I came out here it was a very different era. I graduated from college in 1983 and those were very dark days in the Irish economy. There were huge unemployment rates in Ireland at that time. A lot my class emigrated because there were simply no other options. It was by chance that I ended up in Japan. Now, it was a tough job, but one I was well paid for. Because I was being well paid, and because things were so bad in Ireland, I was going to f****** suck it up. I'm not saying it was easy because it wasn't but anyone who succeeds in business does the same. Life is not easy and success doesn't come easy to anyone. So yes, I did work hard. But, do you know what? I worked hard because I had no other option. And that's the truth. It needed to work. When I first came here, I was a bit like you. I could see the scale of things. All I could think was 'wow'. I could see the scale of opportunity here. I said to myself, 'imagine, just imagine, if I could get a tiny piece of the pie-even a tiny piece of the crust.' So I set about doing that and got a few crusts along the way. It's a big, big pie out here. Given your veterinary background and the Japanese approach to buying horses, did you have to forget much of what you learned with regards to conformation etc? There is a very big distinction between buying a horse to sell on and buying a horse to race. They are completely different things. Generally speaking, they need to be correct but I can tell you that, the longer you stay in this business, the more you realise that winners-and champions-come in all shapes and sizes. Yes, I am a little less critical of certain things as opposed to when I came out here first. One thing that is unique in Japan is that most horses in Japan race and Japanese trainers do a very good job in getting their horses to the track. If you end up with a sound horse, there's a fantastic programme out here. A lot of yearlings in Europe will have had corrective measures such as screws etc. Would that be as big out here? It's not as big but it's coming along. There were certain yearlings at the Select Sale and it was clear that they had had screws. It's funny, you don't have to declare that but you do have to declare if they have had any OCD surgery. At the Selection Sale, you need to declare where any surgery took place where an anaesthetic was used. So there are different rules for each sale. I could name a number of horses who had screws and went on to win Classics. There are plenty of great-looking horses, with great legs and a great walk, but they turn out to be bloody poor racehorses. Plenty! So I think we can get a little bit caught up on that. Say you are walking down the high street and you see this beautiful suit and you say, 'I want that'. Okay, it looks great, but it might not keep you warm. You might be better off going down the road and buying something half the price. It might not look as good but it will do a better job of keeping you warm and it costs you less money. In fact, the cheap horses are earning the very same as the expensive horses do here in Japan. Possibly, the best value to be had at the sales here in Japan is by buying the horses who RNAd. Lord Kanaloa (Jpn), the champion sprinter and sire of Almond Eye (Jpn), is a famous example of a high-class horse who failed to sell in the ring. Continuous: Coolmore's St Leger winner was born and raised at Paca Paca | Scoop Dyga Would you say that breeding the Japanese Derby winner Deep Brilliante (Jpn) stands out as your greatest achievement in the sport? It's a big achievement when you can survive in business, educate your family and make a living. Anybody who can do that is doing well. But I would consider being granted my JRA owner's licence as my biggest achievement. That was huge because there was a lot of red tape there and I was aiming to be the first foreigner ever to be granted a JRA owner's license. On a lighter note, another thing I am proud of is the decriminalisation of wearing shorts to the sales! Can you paint a picture as to how difficult it was to get your foot on the ladder here in Japan? Okay, well one of the first things I saw an opportunity to make money on was pinhooking here in Japan. So buying foals or yearlings in Japan and bringing them back and selling them in Europe or the USA. We had some astounding profits and some shocking losses doing that. But it was 25 or 30 years ago now when I tried to buy my first horse in Japan and, at that time, you didn't have to register to buy a horse but you did have to bring a deposit. That deposit was roughly $25,000 in cash. Now, there was a lovely filly at this particular sale and I can remember thinking, 'I need to give this a go.' Typical Irishman, I arrived at the sales company with my brown paper envelope with $25,000 in cash inside and there was pandemonium. Here was a foreigner wanting to buy at the sales. What do we do? They brought me upstairs to the office. So here I was, sitting at this long rectangular boardroom table, with a room full of white envelopes stuffed with $25,000 in cash along with my brown envelope. I was left thinking, why is my brown envelope not being treated the same as all of these white envelopes? Is my money not the same? The sales company would only let me buy the horse if I didn't use my own name. I needed to go through an agent. Also, I had to get a guarantor. That pissed me off big time. I was being treated differently, which wasn't very nice. But I ended up buying the horse and I kept the name card of that filly and got it framed. So, if you ever come to Paca Paca, you will see that hanging proud on the wall. That is where this all started. From there, I spent a lot of time reading up on what I could and couldn't do at the sales and in racing in Japan. It spurred me on. Don't piss off an Irishman! I had to harangue people but I got a lot of support. I even got support from within the Irish government. To become a JRA owner, it's very difficult. It's much easier to become an owner in Europe than it is over here. The amount of paperwork that you have to submit is enormous. Most people wouldn't go through with it as it is very invasive. I spent years getting ready for this as there are all sorts of parameters you need to hit in terms of pay and taxes before you could be accepted. When the time came to consider my application, I thought, 'do you know what would be a big help here is a little bit of a word of endorsement for Harry Sweeney'. Through a friend of mine who happened to be working in the Government press office, I asked if there would be any chance that our then Taoiseach Bertie Ahern would write a letter of support. The good news came and I was told to draft something and send it in. I drafted something, where it mentioned the great relationships between Japan and Ireland, some of the horses who had been based at the Irish National Stud for Japanese clients and the fact that Rathbarry had a Japanese-bred stallion at the time. And then at the end, by the way, Harry Sweeney is currently applying for his JRA owner's licence and we consider this to be very important. Something like that. It was addressed to the president of the JRA but, when Bertie and his colleagues sent it over, they crossed out the president of the JRA and wrote, 'Dear Mr Koizumi' instead. Who was Mr Koizumi? He was the Japanese prime minister at the time. So the letter came through in the diplomatic bag where diplomatic communications are shared. The ambassador gets it, he toddles down to the Department of Foreign Affairs, and then it gets circulated to the Department of Agriculture. It finally percolates down to the JRA. Here we have the Japanese and Irish prime ministers advocating for Harry Sweeney who is applying for his owner's licence. You couldn't make it up. So, when I said I had support, I had a lot of it. Brian Kavanagh supported me as well. I didn't do this entirely on my own and I am grateful for everybody who has helped me. 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