Wandering Eyes

New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy has signed legislation that will extend the $20 million annual purse enhancement for horse racing in the state, with the appropriation now running through to 2029, the Governor's office announced Friday. Monmouth Park will receive $10 million annually for purses, with the remaining $10 million going toward purses at the Meadowlands Racetrack and Freehold Raceway, as well as money earmarked for bonuses for state-sired horses and breeders' awards. “Given the critical importance of the horse racing industry to not only the state's economy, but to farmland and open space preservation, I am signing this legislation to signal my desire for the state to continue to make this investment each year at the level directed in the bill,” said Gov. Murphy. “New Jersey's horse racing industry is a key economic engine, supporting thousands of jobs and attracting tourists and fans from around the world. The funding promised by this legislation will allow New Jersey to continue to offer one of the most exciting horse racing experiences in the nation, while also providing a boost to an industry that is integral to our economy.” The original legislation designating the purse enhancement for racing was signed by Gov. Murphy in February of 2019. That includes $20 million for purses already appropriated for the state's fiscal year 2025. The post New Jersey Extends Purse Enhancement For Racing appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Everyone knows a life in racing can be a grind, even for the most optimistically minded. While the highs are high, the lows are lower, and there's far more losing than winning. Except for Hubert Guy the past three weeks. From August 22 to September 13, 13 of Guy's equine purchases have been sent out to race. Ten of them have come back winners. The winners have included two-year-old maiden winners, a TDN Rising Star, graded stakes winners, a few promising young horses, and some useful winners. They have spanned a weanling purchase, three yearling purchases, a two-year-old buy, and several private transactions. There have been first-time starters, maiden winners, allowance and handicap horses, and two graded stakes winners at Saratoga “The first one or two, you say, `oh, I'm lucky,'” said Guy. “`I'm on a hot streak.' But it just kept going and going.” The streak began on August 22 when Freja (Fr) (Toronado {Ire}) won a Deauville handicap, and currently stretches to Friday, when Olya (Ire) (Persian King {Ire}), won a Saint-Cloud handicap for Livinia and Andre Fabre. “When you buy a horse, you always think you bought a great horse,” said Guy, standing outside the Keeneland sales pavilion on Thursday. “You come out of Keeneland, where we are now, and think you bought the best, the next Secretariat. It's the way this business works. But of course, there's a lot of disappointment. I have had quite a bit of success buying yearlings. I can't complain about that. I try to buy them thinking, `let's not go overboard.' I try and be reasonable.” During Guy's current streak, Jovialite (Medaglia d'Oro), which he bought as an OBS March two-year-old, sticks out as a special pick. She was a six-length winner in her Sept. 9 debut at Saint-Cloud, and was named a TDN Rising Star. “Jovialite might be the best horse I ever bought,” said Guy. “I bought her in Ocala at the OBS March Sale for $225,000, for the same group that we bought Onesto (Frankel) for; he was subsequently a Group 1 winner. We bought him at OBS April four years ago. Jovialite was a beautiful mover who worked well. She's a Louisiana-bred and I think that's why we didn't have a lot of opposition when we bid on her, because if she had been Kentucky-bred, she would probably be a lot more expensive.” His first graded stakes winner in the run was Beaute Cachee (Fr) (Literato {Fr}), an August 22 winner of the Grade II Ballston Spa Stakes. “Beaute Cachee was a filly I bought privately for Sol Kumin and partners, Michael Dubb, Mike Caruso, and Louis Lazzinnaro,” said Guy. “She was running in big handicaps. She ran 9th in the French Oaks. She was a medium-size filly, not very big, but she moved well and she had a very good attitude. We bought her privately, and she became a Grade I winner. She won the Jenny Wiley, and now a Grade III and a Grade II.” The undefeated Zulu Kingdom is among the streak | Sarah Andrew His next graded stakes win came from Zulu Kingdom (Ire) (Ten Sovereigns {Ire}), whom he had purchased privately from Elisabeth Fabre. “The idea was that if he was good enough, he could maybe run in the Breeders' Cup at the end of the year.” Zulu Kingdom broke his maiden at Saint-Cloud on June 4, where he raced greenly to win. Guy suspected the best was yet to come. “Chad Brown did a wonderful job with him. He won the Grade II With Anticipation first time out in America. Not too shabby. We're pretty happy with that.” Child of the Moon (Fr) (The Grey Gatsby {Ire}) also won at Saratoga for Kumin, Dubb, and Lazzinnaro, taking a Sept. 2 allowance race. The group has graded aspirations for her. The 10th win in the streak came Friday at Saint-Cloud, when Olya (Ire) (Persian King {Ire}), an inexpensive Arqana October yearling, won a handicap. Guy said he never has a lot of orders to fill at the yearling sales, despite the success he has had. “I don't know why,” he said. “People probably think I can only buy horses in training. But I have a group of regular, very strong, very loyal customers,” he said, naming Kumin, Dubb, Lazzinnaro and Caruso. We have had a lot of luck together. Pretty much everything has been trained by Chad, and Chad has been a wonderful asset. He's a really good trainer, and he really understands those European horses. He gives them so much time. He's so patient. It's quite impressive.” The post Thirteen Starters, 10 Winners, 23 Days: Hubert Guy’s Remarkable Run appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Keeneland announced that a 25% fractional interest in the undefeated stakes-winning juvenile filly Kilwin, winner of the Untapable Stakes at Kentucky Downs Sept. 8, will be sold at the inaugural Keeneland Championship Sale on Oct. 30.View the full article

Three Breeders' Cup Challenge Series: Win and You're In races will take place at Leopardstown Sept. 14, led by 2023 Breeders' Cup Turf (G1T) winner Auguste Rodin in the Irish Champion Stakes (G1).View the full article

Golden Sixty, one of Hong Kong's greatest stars and the highest-earning racehorse of all time, has been retired at the age of 9.View the full article

LEXINGTON, KY – The Knelman family's Farfellow Farm, which had a memorable Keeneland September sale three years ago with a million-dollar yearling followed by a $700,000 session topper in Book 3, could have another Book 3 star on its hands with a colt by Good Magic (hip 1301). The yearling received the most timely of updates when his full-brother Mixto captured the Aug. 31 GI Pacific Classic. “The Mixto full-brother is making everybody's list and then we have others that are hitting, so knock on wood, it should be an exciting Book 3 for us,” Jak Knelman said from a rainy sales barn on the auction's dark day Friday. Knelman's parents, Kip and Suzanne, had initially claimed Mixto's dam, Musical Mystery (Concerto), at Gulfstream in 2015 with the intention of reselling her in foal in the fall. But when bidding stalled at Keeneland that November, the Knelmans bought the mare back for $42,000. “My parents claimed her for $12,500,” Knelman said. “They loved the pedigree. At that time we were also trying the claim-and-flip game. So we put her into a mare share with Awesome Again. Quiet honestly, we were shocked she didn't bring more. So we bought out the mare share. That's how we got her.” Musical Mystery is a full-sister to Grade I winner Rigoletta, who is the dam of GI Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile winner Battle of Midway (Smart Strike). The mare's Awesome Again colt sold for $190,000 at the 2017 September sale and her Distorted Humor colt brought $180,000 at the 2019 auction. While Mixto missed the September sale, he ultimately sold for $140,000 at the 2022 OBS April sale. “He had quite a bit of vetting–I think five vettings–and we were pretty confident that we would hit our reserve at $150,000, but I guess no one hit it,” Knelman said of Mixto's appearance at OBS. “He went in :10 2/5, which is fast enough, but I guess not fast enough for people. Right after, I got a call from Eddie Kane to see if it was buy-back. And Calumet bought the horse.” Knelman credits his mother with the mating with Good Magic that produced Mixto and then ultimately the mare's current yearling. “My mom is the pedigree person and she thought the perfect cross would be Good Magic, a first-year stallion, and obviously that turned into Mixto,” Knelman said. “He was a beautiful horse and that had my mom pushing to go back to a bubble year-stallion. Good Magic is such a quality horse, but she wanted to take that risk because we saw such a great result with Mixto. And we got pretty much the same package. That's the feedback that we are getting with this colt–very similar to Mixto–is that he looks like his sire. Musical Mystery is a beautiful mare, big and with perfect angles. I think the Curlin, Good Magic is a perfect physical match for her.” Mixto had hit the board in three graded races before his breakout win in the Pacific Classic. He was runner-up in last year's GII San Antonio Stakes and third this year in both the GII San Pasqual Stakes and GIII Californian Stakes. “If you look back at Mixto's races, he would be finishing strong,” Knelman said. “You don't get any accolades for galloping out strongly in front, but that's what he kept doing. I think putting him on the front end, that's his style and he is able to cruise at high speeds.” While Kip Knelman was out at Del Mar to enjoy the Grade I victory in person, his son watched the race while waiting out a rain delay at a UK football game. “Me and my close friends were screaming at the top of our lungs,” he said. “I think everybody thought maybe we had had too much to drink. It was fun.” The plan now is for Mixto to train up to the GI Breeders' Cup Classic. What would having a horse in the Classic mean to the farm? “It's incredible,” Knelman said. “We are a small farm. It's the dream. It's been a family affair with my parents, years of cultivating families together, and to see it come together like this, it's extremely gratifying. We are enjoying the moment.” Farfellow Farms has just 10 to 12 mares and Knelman gave credit to farm manager Josh Hennessy for much of the farm's success. “Josh Hennessy does a really great job of raising horses and using a very natural hands-on approach,” Knelman said. As for Musical Mystery, the 12-year-old mare had no reported foal this year, but was bred back to Good Magic's Kentucky Derby-winning son Mage this spring. Knelman said there was plenty of activity at the sales grounds Friday ahead of the opening session of Book 3 Saturday morning. “There are a lot of people looking right now,” he said. “If you have the horse, the buyers are here.” The post Knelmans Hope Full to Mixto Provides Another Book 3 Star Turn appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Churchill Downs Incorporated (CDI) has returned as the title sponsor of the 2024 Thoroughbred Makeover Champion, the Retired Racehorse Project (RRP) said in a Friday release. The title is awarded to the horse selected by a panel of judges as having the highest level of training at the Thoroughbred Makeover and National Symposium, presented by Thoroughbred Charities of America, which takes place Oct. 9-12 at the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington. “The continued impact of the Retired Racehorse Project is dependent on racing institutions such as Churchill Downs Incorporated and their recognition that successful aftercare is a multi-faceted issue,” said Kirsten Green, RRP executive director. “The RRP is deeply grateful to CDI for many years of meaningful support and partnership.” Click here to learn more about RRP's Makeover. The post CDI Returns As Title Sponsor Of Thoroughbred Makeover Champion appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Horseman and known storyteller in Kentucky's horse racing community, Neil Huffman has died at the age of 87, according to a release from Churchill Downs on Friday. Huffman's deep love for horses and contributions to the Thoroughbred racing industry spanned more than 50 years, as he leaves behind a legacy of hard work and will be remembered for his warm personality. With an uncle who was a clocker at Churchill Downs, his early education in horse racing led him to co-manage the Skylight Training Center alongside his late brother, William “Blackie” Huffman, where the pair foaled, broke and raced horses. Huffman could hold an audience with his tales from the track, and captivated friends and colleagues alike in places like Wagner's Pharmacy and near barn 46 at Churchill. Huffman is survived by his daughters Carla (Andy) Lucas, Lori (Bob) Liter and Deanna (Keith) Bunner; eight grandkids (Katie, Ally and Sam Dedich; Adam and Andrew Bunner; Christpher Drew Lucas, Kate McMorrow and Emmy Kupper); five nephews (Michael, Patrick, Ben, Daniel and Gary Lee Huffman) and numerous grandnieces and nephews. A celebration of Huffman's life will be held at a later date on the backside of Churchill Downs. The post Storytelling Horseman Neil Huffman Dies At The Age Of 87 appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

All the rage ahead of Friday's British EBF Quidhampton Maiden Fillies' Stakes at Salisbury, Valmont and Ballylinch Stud's Ralph Beckett-trained Sandtrap (Ire) (Lope De Vega {Ire}–Zindaya, by More Than Ready) produced all the expected pyrotechnics to become her sire's 17th TDN Rising Star. Always travelling with intent under Hector Crouch shadowing the leader in this seven-furlong test, the 4-5 favourite was shaken up approaching the furlong pole and responded with zest to bound 4 3/4 lengths clear of Jowddah (Ire) (New Bay {GB}) who had been second in a Newmarket novice last month. “She felt very professional, but I was anxious to teach her enough, as she's a filly we hold in high regard and education was paramount,” Crouch said of the full-sister to last month's GI Fourstardave Handicap hero Carl Spackler (Ire) who was bought for 450,000gns at Tattersalls October Book 1. “Today's the first time I've sat on her–Rob [Hornby] rode her last Saturday and was very impressed and on that feel she's given me she's right up there with the best I've ridden. She moved lovely on the ground and she's a big, angular filly so if she falls away a bit after this we might have to put her away. If she bounces out of it, she could be in those big ones at the end of the year.” Beckett knew what he was dealing with after the sparkling piece of work Crouch referred to. “It wasn't a big surprise that she was able to do that, what she did last week was a surprise,” he explained. “It's a race that has been good to us over the last few years and I was keen to come. She's more coat-hanger than anything else, a frame still and it will be next year before she comes to full strength. I'm not hung up about running her again this year, if she needs to she will.” Blimey …. 450,000gns yearling 𝐒𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐩 (Lope De Vega) sparkles on debut in the valuable @BritishEBF Quidhampton fillies' maiden @salisburyraces Just the fourth winner on the day for @RalphBeckett …@BallylinchStud | @HectorCrouch pic.twitter.com/nECDgQ5LbX — Racing TV (@RacingTV) September 13, 2024 The post Lope De Vega’s Sister To Carl Spackler A New TDN Rising Star For Valmont And Ballylinch appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

They say that once horse racing gets in your blood, it never leaves. Lee Vickers has no doubts about that. For him, a passion for the sport was practically embedded into his genetic code. Both his father and his grandfather were jockeys in his native England and Vickers was riding racehorses himself by age 12. Over the past three decades since, Vickers has ridden dozens of top-level horses on both sides of the Atlantic. This year, the assistant trainer and exercise rider for Christophe Clement is enjoying the ride with GI Breeders' Cup Turf hopeful Far Bridge (English Channel). Growing up in Yorkshire, Vickers dreamed of becoming a third-generation jockey. After graduating from the British Racing School in Newmarket, he got his start as an apprentice. Even as he was starting his career, Vickers couldn't help thinking about how hard his father and grandfather had worked and yet they never made it to the top of the jockey ranks. As a backup plan, the young horseman spoke with a bloodstock agency about what he would need to do to become an agent. They told him to get experience, so he worked with yearlings on a stud farm and then moved on to a racing yard. Returning to the racing world brought back the allure of becoming a jockey and he soon began riding again. He found success first as a jump jockey and later transitioned to the flat. “I rode in the Cheltenham Festival in the Queen Mother Champion Chase, which is like the fastest two-mile race over obstacles,” Vickers recalled. “I didn't win, but my horse ran well and I had a great experience in that race. Obviously that's the pinnacle of jumping in England. Then I was lucky enough to ride on the flat as well. I rode at Ascot and I rode a couple of winners at Epsom. I had a lot of good experiences as a jockey and a lot of thrills.” In 2010, Vickers spoke with a friend about an opportunity to improve his skills by coming to ride in America. Vickers was told that riders in the U.S. developed a more polished style of riding than the jump jockeys in England and were trained to maintain an internal clock as they were riding. That winter, Vickers went to work for Christophe Clement in Florida. He soon learned that riding in America required a sharp skill set. “Here, to ride the horse around the track you need to make a connection with the horse and get a rapport with them because there's a lot going on,” he explained. “They are a little bit tougher to ride here than they are in England because you're on a flat track and there's plenty of company galloping around. You need to get a relationship with the horse and figure them out. I think you've got to be more on top of things.” After a brief stint with Clement, Vickers returned to England to try his hand one last time as a jockey, but he couldn't get his mind off of the racing industry in America. “I spoke with Christophe and we sorted out the paperwork,” said Vickers. “He got me straight back over and the rest is history. I fell in love with the sport in America. I loved the way they trained horses and obviously the weather was a bit nicer being in Florida for the winter. I started as a breeze rider and exercise rider for Mr. Clement and it evolved from there.” For the past 10 years Vickers has served as an assistant trainer for Clement, spending the majority of his time in Florida and New York but also traveling with the stable's trainees to various meets throughout the country like the recently concluded Kentucky Downs meet. Vickers and Far Bridge | Horsephotos Some of Vickers's most memorable mounts over the years have been Za Approval (Ghostzapper), who finished second to Hall of Famer Wise Dan in the 2013 GI Breeders' Cup Mile, and four-time graded stakes winner Summer Front (War Front), but his all-time favorite is Tonalist (Tapit). The blaze-faced bay gave the Clement stable its first Classic victory in the 2014 Belmont Stakes and he went on to claim three more Grade I scores. “I rode him every day and he took me to some really top heights,” Vickers recalled. “A fantastic horse to be around. Huge, but a gentle giant.” When Far Bridge arrived at the Clement base in Florida as a 2-year-old, Clement and the rest of the team were high on the son of English Channel from the start. The colt broke his maiden on debut as a 3-year-old at Gulfstream last January, besting future Grade I winner Carl Spackler (Ire) (Lope de Vega {Ire}) by a head, and earned 'TDN Rising Stars' honors in his next start. Clement was eyeing the GI Belmont Derby Invitational Stakes for the promising colt, but then Far Bridge was sold privately to LSU Stables and moved to Todd Pletcher. Vickers and the rest of the Clement team watched from afar as Far Bridge claimed last year's Belmont Derby just as they had hoped and placed in four other graded stakes. At the end of the year, Vickers was pleased to learn that Far Bridge would be returning to the Clement barn. Vickers has been the turf specialist's regular rider since his homecoming. “We are privileged to have him in the barn again,” he said. “He's all hearts and he's got a serious engine. I know the owner adores him and is really behind him, and we love him too.” Far Bridge bested allowance company in his 4-year-old debut this year but was winless in his next three graded starts, racing in mid-pack and never finishing better than third. Vickers and Far Bridge in the paddock ahead of the Sword Dancer | Tod Marks For the GI Sword Dancer Stakes on Aug. 24 at Saratoga, the Far Bridge team tried a different tactic. Jockey Joel Rosario sent the colt straight to the lead and took control of the pace along the inside. When the Charlie Appleby-trained duo of Measured Time (GB) (Frankel {GB}) and Silver Knott (GB) (Lope de Vega {Ire}) came breathing down his neck coming down the lane, Far Bridge dug in and fought to get the win at odds of 8-1. Vickers said that he had been feeling confident ahead of each of Far Bridge's starts this year and knew the colt was more than due for that Sword Dancer score. “I promise you, his last couple of races I had been really bullish and happy with him,” he admitted. “He's been unlucky with his trips, but we've always loved him and he has always been great. We had made a couple of little tweaks and a couple of changes with him going into this last race and it all fell right.” With his win in the Sword Dancer, Far Bridge earned an automatic entry in the Breeders' Cup Turf on Nov. 2 at Del Mar. Before that, he will face a possible rematch with Silver Knott and Measured Time in the GI Joe Hirsch Turf Classic on Sept. 28. “The horse is doing well,” Vickers reported. “He's a happy horse, content. He's a little bit quirky to deal with, nothing bad he just likes to wander around a bit, but he is an incredible horse and we adore him. When things come together, he's a tough cookie.” For Vickers, even though his responsibilities as an assistant trainer require plenty of time and energy, he still can't get over the thrill he experiences every day in his other role as an exercise rider. “I love breezing the horses,” he said. “It wakes you up in the morning and it's fun. Seeing the results and seeing your work come to fruition, I think that's what's really rewarding.” From a young boy with a dream of riding big races on through today, as he rides one of the top contenders in the turf division in the U.S., Vickers's passion for the horse remains steadfast. “I'm incredibly lucky to be involved in the industry,” he continued. “It's a labor of love, but it has taken me all around the world and introduced me to some lovely people, great teams and great horses. I think that's what it's all about. It's being involved with these horses and seeing them progress. It's really rewarding when things go to plan.” https://www.breederscup.com/ The post Breeders’ Cup Connections: Former Jockey Lee Vickers Living for the Thrill with Far Bridge appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

A 25% fractional interest in the undefeated stakes-winning juvenile filly Kilwin (Twirling Candy), winner of the Untapable Stakes at Kentucky Downs Sept. 8, will be sold at the inaugural Keeneland Championship Sale, to be held the evening of Wednesday, Oct. 30, in the paddock at Del Mar, site of the 2024 Breeders' Cup World Championships Nov. 1-2, the sales company said in a release on Friday morning. Kilwin, owned by BBN Racing and trained by Rusty Arnold, is scheduled to make her next start in the GI John Deere Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf on Friday, Nov. 1. A Keeneland September Yearling Sale graduate, Kilwin is undefeated in two career starts, winning her debut at Ellis Park July 27 before her victory in the Untapable Stakes. The fractional ownership interest in Kilwin will be consigned to the sale by Royal Oak Farm (Damian and Braxton Lynch), agent. “For us at BBN Racing, it's been very rewarding these past few years to bring new people into racing and to have fun and share the ride together,” BBN Racing co-founder Brian Klatsky said. “The memories and friendships we created around [Grade I winner] Concrete Rose were very special. We feel it's a similar situation with Kilwin. We hope to share this journey with someone who wants to experience racing at the highest level. “Our plan is to race Kilwin with our new partner throughout her career and when we retire her for breeding, we will sell her at Keeneland as a broodmare prospect,” Klatsky said. By Twirling Candy, Kilwin is the third stakes winner produced by her dam, Spanish Star, by Blame. Her 3-year-old half-sister is stakes winner Just Basking (Arrogate), who finished third in this year's GI Alabama Stakes at Saratoga on Aug. 17. Kilwin's half-brother One Timer (Trappe Shot) won the Franklin-Simpson Stakes at Kentucky Downs in 2022 and has earnings of more than $900,000. “Keeneland is excited to offer Kilwin at the Championship Sale, and we thank BBN Racing for their support,” Keeneland President and CEO Shannon Arvin said. “Keeneland and BBN Racing share a common goal to provide unique opportunities for prospective buyers to experience the fun of horse ownership and especially the thrill of participating in the Breeders' Cup with a world-class contender.” Paddock at Del Mar | Horsephotos “The Championship Sale is an example of the creative offerings Keeneland is excited to provide as we meet the emerging trends in our sport,” Keeneland Vice President of Sales Tony Lacy said. “We take our relationship with our customers very seriously; our role is to create the best sales environment possible for buyers and sellers to enjoy success.” Horses may be entered in the Keeneland Championship Sale at any time prior to the auction by contacting the Keeneland sales team, who will provide concierge entry services. The catalogue will feature: Horses entered in the Breeders' Cup or Breeders' Cup undercard races; may include full sale or fractional ownership interest; Bloodstock closely related to contenders in the World Championships; Stallion shares or breeding rights in sires. Given the proximity to the Breeders' Cup races, all catalogued horses will be offered remotely, but will be available for inspection by appointment with the seller in their respective locations. Video of each hip will also be provided to prospective buyers. Participation in the Keeneland Championship Sale is by invitation; buyers and sellers will be contacted individually by Keeneland sales representatives. The post Interest In Breeders’ Cup Hopeful Kilwin To Be Offered During Keeneland Championship Sale At Del Mar appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Jockeys from all over the UK helped facilitate public engagement, especially with young people, during the fourth annual National Racehorse Week from Sept. 7-15. The week-long event is a nationwide celebration of the thoroughbred racehorse, giving the public a chance to attend 100+ free events. Over 13,800 free spaces at events were made available to the public and an additional 4,000 people are engaged through the 50 community events which have been taking place, 10 of which being school visits. Helping with an inner-city experience, jump jockey Charlie Todd visited afterschool club Free@last in Birmingham, with trainer Richard Phillips and his racehorse Fighting Poet who had raced at Brighton just the day before. Other community events included: Schools – Jockeys James Bowen, Lilly Pinchin, Jo Mason and Paul Mulrennan have visited schools in York, Hungerford and Oxfordshire. Overall, there has been 10 school visits across the week as well as schools visiting yards and racecourses. Hospitals – New Beginnings (a racehorse retraining and rehoming charity) visited Stockton Hall Hospital with an ex-racehorse. Youth and charity groups – Autism in Racing, Unique Kidz, BHS Changing Lives, West Sussex Minds, Urban Equinz, Free@last and more. During the public open days members of the public can experience the day-to-day workings of a racing yard with the opportunity to meet the racehorses up close. Jockeys have also been giving demonstrations at the public open days throughout the week. To find out more about the week, please visit the National Racehorse Week website. The post Jockeys Natural Ambassadors During National Racehorse Week appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Ralph Beckett was convinced that Tabiti (GB) (Kingman {GB}–Lilyfire, by First Defence) had the speed for six furlongs and he was proved spot-on as the Juddmonte homebred mastered her first stern test in Friday's G3 Ire-Incentive, It Pays To Buy Irish Dick Poole Fillies' Stakes at Salisbury. Impressive on debut over seven furlongs at Newmarket last month, the half-sister to the G2 Linlithgow Stakes winner Old Flame (GB) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}) was in front for the first two furlongs before being headed. Never out of contention, the 11-4 second favourite stayed on to regain the initiative 100 yards out and beat Miss Fascinator (Ire) (Mehmas {Ire}) by half a length. Unbeaten filly 𝐓𝐚𝐛𝐢𝐭𝐢 shows tenacity and class in equal measure to win the Group Three Dick Poole Fillies' Stakes @salisburyraces @RalphBeckett | @Rossaryan15 | @JuddmonteFarms pic.twitter.com/8BqmVKGDBH — Racing TV (@RacingTV) September 13, 2024 The post Kingman’s Tabiti Wins The Dick Poole For Juddmonte appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Golden Sixty (Aus) (Medaglia d'Oro–Gaudeamus, by Distorted Humor), a three-time Horse of the Year and 10-times Group 1 winner in Hong Kong, has officially been retired from racing, owner Stanley Chan announced Friday at the Sha Tin stables of the gelding's trainer Francis Lui. “Golden Sixty has been more than just a racehorse to me and my family; he has been a companion, a friend, and a true champion,” said Chan. “Watching him compete has been one of the greatest joys of my life. “I want to thank everyone who has been a part of his journey– his dedicated team, the fans and, most importantly, Golden Sixty himself for giving us unforgettable moments.” Bred in Queensland by Asco International Pty Ltd., Golden Sixty was purchased for A$120,000 at the 2017 Magic Millions Gold Coast Sale in January 2017 and was subsequently acquired by Lui for NZ$300,000 at the NZB Ready To Run Sale later that year. Short-odds winner of his first three career starts, he stubbed his toe in his 3-year-old finale, then did nothing but win for the next 2 1/2 years. After defeating older rivals in Group 3 company in early 2020, Golden Sixty won the first two legs of the 4YO Classics, flashing his customary turn of foot, but the BMW Hong Kong Derby was in many ways his true coming-out party. With Hong Kong now in the throes of the Coronavirus and before literally just hundreds of onlookers, Golden Sixty was given a typically quiet ride by Vincent Ho–the only jockey to ever sit on his back on raceday–but 289-1 longshot Playa del Puente (Ire) (Elzaam {Aus}) was set alight midrace and pinched a big break. Golden Sixty looked in desperate straits while very wide turning for home, but he closed off his final 400 metres in a spectacular :21.83 to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat (see below). He became just the second to sweep the series, joining the late Rapper Dragon (Aus) (Street Boss). The Derby marked a seventh win on the trot and his winning streak had stretched to 10 by the time he was given his first chance at Group 1 level in the 2020 Longines Hong Kong Mile, where he duly saluted at 30 cents on the dollar. After adding the G1 Stewards' Cup over the 1600 metres, he bested fellow Derby winner Furore (NZ) (Pierro {Aus}) in the G1 Citi Hong Kong Gold Cup (2000m)–albeit just–and capped his first HOTY season in the G1 Champions Mile. A successful defence of his title in the Hong Kong Mile in December 2021 marked his 16th consecutive victory, earning Golden Sixty the chance to equal the streak of the legendary Silent Witness (Aus) when in search of back-to-back wins in the Stewards' Cup. It wasn't meant to be, as the champ got too far off a sedate tempo and couldn't reel in Waikuku (Ire) (Harbour Watch {Ire}). He suffered two losses in a row for the only time in his career when third to Russian Emperor (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) in unsuitably easy ground in the Gold Cup, but he bounced back to win the Champions Mile and another HOTY gong. It was a victorious one-race prep into the 2022 Hong Kong Mile, but as the 1-2 jolly, Golden Sixty couldn't reel in front-running California Spangle (Ire) (Starspangledbanner {Aus}), missing out on a chance to equal the record of three straight wins in the Mile owned by Good Ba Ba. The 2023 Stewards' Cup was his shot at redemption, but it wasn't going to be easy. In a rare confluence of events, Hong Kong's three top-rated gallopers–Golden Sixty; Romantic Warrior (Ire) (Acclamation {GB}), exiting a victory in the G1 Longines Hong Kong Cup; and California Spangle met to settle things on the racetrack. Not favoured in the betting for the first time in 20 starts, Golden Sixty made best use of his late kick to extricate himself from a tight spot and best Romantic Warrior by a length, with California Spangle a neck back in third (see below). For good measure, Golden Sixty handed Romantic Warrior a rare defeat over the Sha Tin 2000 metres in the Gold Cup and clinched a third Horse of the Year title with an unprecedented third straight score in the Champions Mile. Now eight years of age, Golden Sixty was programmed for a fourth try at the Hong Kong Mile last December, but would have to do so without the benefit of a lead-up race. Forced to overcome a 224-absence and a draw that would have done in the vast majority of horses, Golden Sixty nevertheless came to win the race to the cheers of the Sha Tin faithful, with commentator Mark McNamara famously remarking, “that's not a whip, it's a wand!” leaving Chan in tears (see below). A minor setback dictated that Golden Sixty would miss races like the Stewards' Cup and other preps, but he was ultimately green-lighted for the 2024 Champions Mile. Mother Nature got involved, however, as torrential rains pelted Hong Kong throughout the week and on raceday, rendering the course yielding, and Golden Sixty never got untracked, finishing fourth. Connections left open the door for one final crack at the Hong Kong Mile, but the pin was officially pulled on Friday. “It has been an honour to train such an extraordinary horse,” said Lui. “Golden Sixty has brought immense pride to our stable and to Hong Kong racing. His fighting heart is unmatched. I will always cherish the memories we created. Thank you, Golden Sixty.” Added Ho: “It's a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to ride such an amazing horse. He is not just a phenomenal athlete but also a horse with a big heart. I want to thank him for trusting me on the track and for all the incredible experiences we shared. “Over the years, I have tried to enjoy every moment when riding him, no matter during races or trackwork. He will always hold a very special place in my heart.” “This is something special because everytime, even just in the Parade Ring when I mount up, everyone is cheering for him.”@Vincenthocy pays tribute to the retired Golden Sixty at today's announcement… #HKracing pic.twitter.com/a97YjLaZKf — HKJC Racing (@HKJC_Racing) September 13, 2024 The Hong Kong Jockey Club will host a Golden Sixty retirement ceremony at the Celebration Cup race meeting on 22 September at Sha Tin. A Lifetime Achievement Award will be presented to Owner Stanley Chan at the retirement ceremony to recognise Golden Sixty's accomplishments. “I congratulate Stanley, Francis and Vincent on their fantastic management of an extraordinary equine athlete,” said Winfried Engelbrecht-Bresges, CEO of the Hong Kong Jockey Club. “Through their efforts, and Golden Sixty's sheer talent and will to win, Hong Kong has been privileged to watch this amazing horse throughout a glorious career which has brought immense joy to the city and also to his fans around the world. “Golden Sixty has captured the hearts of Hong Kong people and his last win at the 2023 Longines Hong Kong International Races created a strong emotional reaction from our racing fans in celebrating their champion. When he accelerated leaving world-class opposition behind, the reception he received was an experience which many people including myself will never forget. He is a real Hong Kong hero. “While his imperious career has come to an end, we are forever indebted to him and will always cherish his incredible accomplishments.” Overall, Golden Sixty amassed a record of 26-2-1 from 31 starts for earnings of $21,251,720. In addition to his Horse of the Year laurels, he was most popular Horse of the Year on four occasions, the three-time champion miler, champion middle-distance horse (2020/21) and champion 4-year-old (2019/2020). He reached a career-high mark of 126 on the Longines World's Best Racehorse Rankings in 2023. Golden Sixty will head to Australia initially before moving to his permanent retirement home at Northern Farm in Hokkaido, Japan. Unforgettable! @Vincenthocy | #HKracing pic.twitter.com/odpcb6eiiv — HKJC Racing (@HKJC_Racing) September 13, 2024 The post ‘Companion, Friend and True Champion’ Golden Sixty Calls It a Career appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

A total of 775 lots have been catalogued for the Arqana October Yearling Sale, including a Romanised (Ire) half-brother to this year's G1 Poule d'Essai des Poulains winner Metropolitan (Fr) (Zarak {Fr}), who was bought by Alessandro Marconi for €78,000 at this very sale in 2022. The five-day fixture takes place from Tuesday, October 22 to Saturday, October 26. The Romanised colt (lot 23) will be one of the early lots to go under the hammer during Part 1 of the October Yearling Sale, with lots 1 to 208 set to be offered on the opening day, which gets underway at 11am. Wednesday's session kicks off Part 2 with lots 209 to 338, followed by Thursday's session comprised of lots 339 to 513, with both days beginning at 2pm. The sale concludes with Part 3, starting at 2pm on Friday and featuring lots 514 to 614, before lots 615 to 775 bring proceedings to a close with a final session beginning at 11am on Saturday. Nearly 40% of the yearlings offered during Part 1 are siblings to black-type horses, including 40 siblings to Group winners. In addition, nearly 30% of the colts and fillies offered in Part 1 of the catalogue are out of black-type mares. They include lot 6, a St Mark's Basilica (Fr) filly already named Queen Tanaka (Fr) out of the G1 Prix Marcel Boussac winner Tiger Tanaka (Ire) (Clodovil {Ire}); lot 22, a Victor Ludorum (GB) half-brother to the G3 Hampton Court Stakes winner Jayarebe (Fr) (Zoffany {Ire}), himself a €180,000 purchase at this sale in 2022; lot 65, a Starspangledbanner (Aus) colt out of the Oaks heroine Forever Together (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), who is in turn a full-sister to the G1 Fillies' Mile scorer Together Forever (Ire), the dam of City Of Troy (Justify); and lot 151, a Zarak (Fr) colt out of the G3 Prix de Lutece winner Pacifique (Ire) (Montjeu {Ire}), from the same family as Chicquita (Ire) (Montjeu {Ire}), Magic Wand (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) and the St Mark's Basilica (Fr) filly who topped the Arqana August Yearling Sale at €1.7 million. All yearlings offered at the October Yearling Sale are eligible for the Arqana Series. The full catalogue can be viewed here. The post Sibling to Classic Hero Metropolitan to be Offered at Arqana October Yearling Sale appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

I read with interest the TDN article about Jorge Duarte, which is the latest in a pattern of stories about trainers (George Weaver, Rusty Arnold, etc.) with positive tests that have seemingly come from contamination. Glen Hill Farm has been racing and breeding horses since 1967. We are an American-based operation but have been building in Europe and Australia for the last decade. Having served on many industry boards, I always understood the goal for medication reform was for American racing to first have uniformity between states and then hopefully to come in line with international standards. To sum up 40-plus years of infighting in one sentence, the Lasix debate prevented real progress or consensus for decades, and HISA was ultimately advocated for and pushed through. I am a supporter of HISA as it's a better system to advocate for change from one organization making policy instead of many. However, from my experience, the European and Australian rules and governing organizations are simpler and way more practical than ours. Referenced here is a race we participated in at Le Mans, a small racetrack in France, on April 29. Our horse, Bet Me, finished third in the race. The second-place finisher was owned by Godolphin and trained by Andre Fabre, and was disqualified for having a positive test. It was for a banned substance. Google Translate is a wonderful tool, and I learned that France-Galop investigated and found the positive test came from contamination, as none of banned substance was found in the yard. So the horse was disqualified, but the trainer had no suspension, which to me is the correct course of action in a case like this. –Craig Bernick is the president of Glen Hill Farm. The post Letter To the Editor: How The International Community Deals With Contamination appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Wathnan Racing's Aesterius (Ire) (Mehmas {Ire}–Jane Doe {Ire}, by Hallowed Crown {Aus}) registered a second stakes success in ParisLongchamp's G3 Prix d'Arenberg at the beginning of this month and embellished his record with a game victory in Friday's G2 Carlsberg Danish Pilsner Flying Childers Stakes at Doncaster. The £380,000 Goffs Breeze-Up graduate and 7-2 third choice broke swiftly and raced on the front end throughout this five-furlong dash. Coming under pressure at halfway, he refused to buckle in the closing stages and was driven out to deny familiar foe Big Mojo (Ire) (Mohaather {GB}) by a neck after a thrilling ding-dong tussle. Irish raider Magnum Force (Ire) (Mehmas {Ire}) finished 1 1/4 lengths adrift in third. “He hasn't done a lot wrong, I perhaps rode him too conservatively and felt I did a couple of things wrong in the [G3] Molecomb [when defeated by Big Mojo],” explained James Doyle. “When we went to France, I was keen to make use of his speed and did so again today. I spoke to Archie [Watson] beforehand and he told me to let him get out and do his thing. We raced pretty much by ourselves most of the way and he did have a look at the crowd when I put him under pressure, so that can only be a good sign.” Watson added, “James said he's still very babyish and he came off the bridle early enough today. He's still looking at things beside him as he's running down the track. He won the Prix d'Arenberg last time out and just 12 days later he has backed it up, which is the same double we did with Soldier's Call [in 2018]. He's a very talented two-year-old and we're very lucky to train him. I think next year is the time to explore six furlongs. The Breeders' Cup will be his end-of-season target and it should really suit him. The question mark is do we have a crack at the [G1] Prix de l'Abbaye in the meantime. He'll get 18 pounds off his elders and Soldier's Call was only just beaten by Mabs Cross after winning this, so that will be discussed. It's obviously going to be trickier next year for him so I often think it's worth running them [in the Abbaye] at two if you're happy with them. He'll either have two more runs this year or one.” The Breeders' Cup remains the target for Big Mojo, according to Mick Appleby. “He's run well, the ground has probably just gone a little softer than he'd like, but he's run well,” the trainer said. “He maybe just hit the front a bit too soon today. Maybe he just needs holding on to a bit longer as, when he hits the front, he thinks he's done enough. It was another great run, we're happy with that and the plan is to still head for the Breeders' Cup.” Pedigree Notes Aesterius is the first of three foals produced by a half-sister to G3 Horris Hill S. victor and G2 German 2000 Guineas third Tawhid (GB) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}). His multiple Grade III-winning second dam Snowdrops (GB) (Gulch) is out of the stakes-placed Roses In The Snow (Ire) (Be My Guest), whose descendants include G1 Prix Marcel Boussac heroine Tiger Tanaka (Ire) (Clodovil {Ire}). The January-foaled bay is half to a yearling colt and a weanling colt by Cotai Glory (GB). AESTERIUS wins Gr.2 Flying Childers Stakes at the St Leger Festival for @Archie_Watson & Wathnan Racing! The @Tattersalls1766 Book 2 graduate has now won three Stakes races in six career starts. This year's sale takes place in one month!pic.twitter.com/tR7vEp7NqO — GBRI (@GBRI_UK) September 13, 2024 Friday, Doncaster, Britain CARLSBERG DANISH PILSNER FLYING CHILDERS STAKES-G2, £130,000, Doncaster, 9-13, 2yo, 5f 3yT, :59.11, gd. 1–AESTERIUS (IRE), 129, c, 2, by Mehmas (Ire) 1st Dam: Jane Doe (Ire), by Hallowed Crown (Aus) 2nd Dam: Snowdrops (GB), by Gulch 3rd Dam: Roses In The Snow (Ire), by Be My Guest (52,000gns Wlg '22 TADEWE; 60,000gns Ylg '23 TATOCT; £380,000 2yo '24 GOUKB). O-Wathnan Racing; B-Sean Maguire (IRE); T-Archie Watson; J-James Doyle. £73,723. Lifetime Record: 6-4-1-0, $196,405. Werk Nick Rating: B. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree, or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. 2–Big Mojo (Ire), 129, c, 2, Mohaather (GB)–Jm Jackson (Ire), by No Nay Never. (175,000gns Ylg '23 TADEY). O-RP Racing Ltd; B-Ringfort Stud Ltd & The Ladies (IRE); T-Michael Appleby. £27,950. 3–Magnum Force (Ire), 129, c, 2, Mehmas (Ire)–Tropical Rock (GB), by Fastnet Rock (Aus). 1ST GROUP BLACK TYPE. O-Abdulla Al Khalifa; B-Sheikh Abdulla bin Isa Al Khalifa (IRE); T-Ger Lyons. £13,988. Margins: NK, 1 1/4, 1 1/4. Odds: 3.50, 3.33, 2.75. Also Ran: Tropical Storm (GB), Zayer (Ire), Ain't Nobody (Ire), Mr Lightside (Ire), King's Call (Ire), Maw Lam (Ire), Make Haste (GB). Scratched: Arizona Blaze (GB), Coto De Caza (Ire). The post Wathnan Racing’s Aesterius Prevails in Flying Childers Thriller appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

In most barns, after winning a $500,000 handicap at Kentucky Downs on Sept. 1 the 7-year-old gelding Goliad (War Front) would have gone to the sidelines, the trainer not daring to run him back in less than six weeks or so. Not Goliad. Hall of Fame conditioner Richard Mandella brought him back in six days. With so much money available at Kentucky Downs, a number of trainers ignored conventional wisdom and gave their horses two starts at the seven-day meet. That meant layoffs of no more than 13 days, with some horses running in as little as six days. Fifteen horses made two starts at the meet, and the results were eye-opening. Four of the 15 won in their second try at Kentucky Downs. The list is headed by Goliad, who won the $2 million GIII Mint Millions Stakes just six days after the win in the handicap race. He beat GSP Cash Equity (Fr) (Toronado {Ire}) who was also coming back in six days after running in the same handicap. Goliad paid $21.14 and the Goliad/Cash Equity exacta paid $232.84. A third Mint Millions starter, GSP Irish Aces (Mshawish), came back after nine days, but finished sixth. “It all depends on the horse,” Mandella said. “He's a big strong horse and that track you have a horse-for-course situation. Once we knew that he liked it we didn't hesitate to go right back. Over the years, I haven't run a lot back that quick but among the ones that I did I can't remember one that didn't run well. You usually have to give them a rest after that. I was surprised that he beat as good horses as did. He was full of confidence and that helped.” With their horse making two starts at the meet, Goliad's owners Perry and Ramona Bass made $1,482,800 in just six days. On the Sept 8 card two horses who were making their second start at the meet won. Tiztastic (Tiz the Law) won the $1 million Kentucky Downs Juvenile Mile Stakes for Steve Asmussen. Five races prior Black Iron (Constitution) won a maiden special weight race off a 10-day layoff. He, too, was trained by Asmussen. Tiztastic | Coady Media Tiztastic, a two-time winner at the meet, made $4,000 in his first start, running fifth in a maiden race at Saratoga. Over the span of two races and 10 days, he earned another $738,300 for the ownership group of Winchell Thoroughbreds and Coolmore. The fourth winner among the group was Ramsey Pond (Divisidero) the winner of a maiden race for Saffie Joseph Jr. after a 13-day layoff. “She bounced out of her first start there really good and we had another chance to run for that kind of money,” Joseph said. “It was the same race [a maiden special weight] that she ran in the first time. You don't often see that, the same race being carded just 13 days apart. You have to do what is right for your horse and she was showing me that she was ready for this. They do this quite often in Europe.” No trainer was more willing to run his horses back on short rest than Joseph. He had five entered that made two starts at the meet. In addition to Ramsey Pond and Cash Equity, he finished second with Bellavinino (Get Stormy) in the $1 million Kentucky Downs Juvenile Fillies off a 10-day rest. The juvenile filly is being offered in the Inglis Digital September Sale later this month. Joseph also had success Axthelm (Into Mischief), who ran third in the GII Turf Sprint S. off a six-day layoff. “It's amazing how well all these horses [running for the second time at the meet] did. It was a great betting angle,” Joseph said. The post Horses Coming Back On Short Rest Thrived At Kentucky Downs appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

The Jockey Club Oaks Invitational Stakes (G3T) may carry a $350,000 purse and offer graded stakes status to the top finishers, but it also will provide the winner with another prize.View the full article

The Challenge, presented by Gainesway View the full article

A dedicated horsewoman who ran Ridgefield Farm in Shelbyville, Kentucky, Dani L. Parrish passed away Aug. 29. She was 59 years old. Born in Denver, Colorado, Parrish was one of seven who grew up going to racetracks and her love of horses drew her to enter the business which spanned over 40 years. She and her partner, trainer Robert “Boston Bob” Pincins, built their business from the ground up at Ridgefield. Mainly racing in Kentucky, Indiana and Ohio, the pair developed young horses and Parrish was integral to farm's success with her ability to rehabilitate equine athletes in need of care or attend to those that just needed some time off. Described by her family as a “horse whisperer,” Parrish was deeply committed to animal welfare and compassionate care. She is survived by her mother, Shirley A. Jones, siblings, Brian H. Jones, Denise S. Smith (Dennis), Diane C. Link (Steve Brown), Ron E. Jones (Karla) and Stephen W. Jones. Parrish was preceded in death by Pincins, who passed away in February of last year, her father, Lawrence R. Jones, and her brother, Kenneth S. Jones. In accordance with her wishes, Parrish will be cremated and there will be no services. The post Bluegrass Horsewoman Dani Parrish Passes Away appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Jockey Vincent Ho pays tribute to Golden Sixty’s ‘mindset of a champion’ and the magnificent miler’s affinity with fans.View the full article

Tattersalls Cheltenham has appointed Ger Hannon as its Irish-based bloodstock representative for its point-to-point and horses-in-training sales. Hannon, who runs the County Clare-based Ralahine Stud and is a successful producer of store horses, is well-known on the Irish point-to-point circuit as a commentator. He also sources point-to-pointers for British and Irish trainers, many of his graduates having gone on to enjoy Graded success under Rules. “I am delighted to be appointed as bloodstock representative for Tattersalls Cheltenham,” said Hannon. “I have a great passion for National Hunt and point-to-point racing and I have been involved with every aspect of the industry from buying jumps foals and selling stores to recommending point-to-pointers. I look forward to working with such a renowned team and I'm excited about the season ahead.” The post Ger Hannon Appointed as Bloodstock Representative at Tattersalls Cheltenham appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

The spring stage is set. View the full article

Sunday's field have now been set, with the group 1 races at The Curragh and ParisLongchamp hosting some major names including Ballydoyle's elite-level winners Kyprios (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) and Opera Singer (Justify). The former bids for a second G1 Irish St Leger during the second day of the Irish Champions Festival in Kildare, while the latter is one of a dozen fillies set to contest the G1 Qatar Prix Vermeille which is the feature of the French Arc Trials card. Kyprios will face seven in the 14-furlong contest including Scuderia La Tesa Limited and Vaibhav Shah's multiple group 2 winner Giavellotto (Ire) (Mastercraftsman {Ire}), while among Opera Singer's rivals in the mile-and-a-half test are Al Shaqab Racing and Jean Pierre Dubois's G1 Prix de Diane heroine Sparkling Plenty (Fr) (Kingman {GB}). Also at The Curragh, Victorious Racing's G1 Nunthorpe Stakes hero Bradsell (GB) (Tasleet {GB}) takes on 17 fellow sprinters in the G1 Flying Five Stakes, the G1 Goffs Vincent O'Brien National Stakes sees the progressive 2-year-old colts Henri Matisse (Ire) (Wootton Bassett {GB}) and Aomori City (Fr) (Oasis Dream {GB}) head a field of eight. Ballydoyle's brilliant 2-year-old filly Bedtime Story (Ire) (Frankel {GB}) is the star attraction in the G1 Moyglare Stud Stakes, where Al Shaqab Racing's impressive G2 Prix du Calvados winner Simmering (GB) (Too Darn Hot {GB}) also features in a select five. Also at ParisLongchamp, the G1 Prix du Jockey Club hero Look De Vega (Fr) (Lope De Vega {Ire}) tries the Arc track and mile-and-a-half trip for Al Shaqab, Ballylinch and partners in the G2 Qatar Prix Niel, where he will meet the Gredley Family's Derby runner-up Ambiente Friendly (Ire) (Gleneagles {Ire}) and the Wertheimers' G1 Grand Prix de Paris hero Sosie (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}). Ballydoyle's G1 St Leger winner Continuous (Jpn) (Heart's Cry {Jpn}) is one of five in the G2 Qatar Prix Foy. The post Opera Singer And Kyprios Head Sunday Star Cast appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article