Wandering Eyes

Casa Creed, the 8-year-old son of Jimmy Creed, retires with a record of 9-5-6 from 36 starts and $2,691,308 in earnings. He won four grade 1s—the Fourstardave (G1) and the Jaipur Stakes (G1) twice each. View the full article

Berkshire Breeze ridden by Ethan Brown wins the Banjo Paterson Series Final at Flemington. (Photo by Reg Ryan/Racing Photos) Ciaron Maher bolstered his formidable Group 1 Melbourne Cup (3200m) prospects with Berkshire Breeze’s victory at Flemington on Saturday. This win further enhances his standing in Melbourne Cup betting, led by another Group 1-winning stablemate. Circle Of Fire is progressing well in his training, aiming to give Maher a second win in Australia’s most prestigious race, following Gold Trip’s triumph two years ago with then-partner David Eustace. The UK import soared to the top of Melbourne Cup betting after his Group 1 Sydney Cup (3200m) victory. “He came over and, for a horse to absolutely thrive and peak that early, we haven’t seen that (before),” Maher said. “He’s probably the benchmark for a horse that just went forward,” Maher said, highlighting Circle Of Fire’s exceptional progress. “He didn’t come in ‘ridden quarantine’ (Werribee in spring) either; he came out in normal quarantine and just thrived.” Circle Of Fire arrived in Australia with one win and three Listed placings from six UK starts. He finished fourth in Benchmark races at his first two Australian starts before winning the Group 2 Chairman’s Quality (2600m) a week prior to his Sydney Cup triumph. Currently, he leads the Melbourne Cup betting at $11, followed by soon-to-be-stablemate Middle Earth at $13, with Berkshire Breeze on the $15 third line after his impressive Banjo Paterson Series Final (2600m) win on Saturday. Maher has yet to finalize a path to the Melbourne Cup for Circle Of Fire, considering a run in the Group 1 Caulfield Cup (2400m) as an option. “We’re not that naïve to think that he’s too good to run in a Caulfield Cup,” Maher said. “If he won it, I’d say ‘well done,’ so he might go through a Caulfield Cup.” Horse racing news View the full article

Mornington Glory on the way to the barriers prior to the running of the Sportsbet Oakleigh Plate at Caulfield Racecourse on February 24, 2024 in Caulfield, Australia. (Photo by Scott Barbour/Racing Photos) Mornington Glory is set to make his first start in nearly five months in the Group 3 Sir John Monash Stakes (1100m) at Caulfield this Saturday. The rising six-year-old had a progressive campaign last season under trainer Gavin Bedggood, beginning as a 63-rater at Ballarat and finishing with a commendable third place in the Group 1 Oakleigh Plate (1100m) behind Queman after ten starts and three wins. “We started pretty low last time and he worked through the grades, but he doesn’t get that luxury this time around. This looks like a nice off-season stakes race to be kicking him off,” Bedggood told Racing.com. “He’s come back well and he’s got improvement to come but he’s fit enough to run a big race.” Bedggood has set his sights on second-tier sprints over the spring carnival, aiming to secure as much prize money as possible. “Races like the Carlyon, the Heath, the Schillaci, the McEwen,” the trainer said. “We’ll poke around the fringes while the better sprinters will be going for the Moir and the Manikato.” Horse racing news View the full article

Twain powers away to score on debut at Tauranga on Sunday. Photo: Megan Liefting (Race Images) Royally bred three-year-old Twain couldn’t have been more impressive on debut at Tauranga on Sunday, winning for John Bell. The son of Per Incanto is out of high-performing race mare Fleur de Lune, who had a glittering career on the track highlighted by her victory in the Group 1 Railway Stakes (1200m) in 2013. In the shades of his star dam, Twain was eye-catching when successful at the trials before kicking off his career on Sunday, where his pedigree and prior performance were noted by punters backing him in $3.20 favouritism with horse betting sites. Benefitting from the three-kilogram claim of in-form apprentice Triston Moodley, Twain was posted three-wide early forcing him to work forward and take over the pace making role from Jethro Tull. Despite this, the gelding cruised into the home straight and swiftly put a margin on the remainder of the field, pulling away from Saint Brigid and Johnny Rondo at the finish to score by 2.25 lengths. Bell, who prepares Twain out of his Cambridge stable, was pleased to see his expectations met by the promising three-year-old. “If he didn’t do that, I’m a bad judge. I definitely expected that from him today,” Bell said. “Triston was most impressed with him as has anyone else that has ridden him. “He has a few issues and my team at home have done a huge amount of work looking after him and they deserve this win, putting him on the tracks that suit him in his work. He’s a work in progress, and that’s why we have put him out and brought him back in. “We’ll see how he comes through today, we’re a bit apprehensive in giving him too much work so we’ll just put the work into him for each race as we see fit. “He’s pretty special.” Fleur de Lune was bred and co-owned by the late Ada Parnwell and the Stravinsky mare’s transition into broodmare life has resulted in two foals to race by Per Incanto, the other a colt named Forte who raced in Hong Kong. Twain was bred by Parnwell’s daughter Elizabeth Martin, who entrusted the gelding in the care of Bell. “He originally came to us from Elizabeth Martin’s Cambridge Thoroughbred Lodge where he was spelling to do some work with and possibly market,” Bell said. “As I say, he’s had his issues otherwise he may have gone to Australia or Hong Kong. “I did a lot of work for Elizabeth’s parents and we have a number of horses for her now. They are mostly related to Fleur De Lune, and another one named Spanish Lad who will possibly get a start at Cambridge on Wednesday. “They have some nice young horses and they’ve gone to good stallions, so they deserve every bit of success as they put a lot of effort into their horses.” Horse racing news View the full article

Baronet cruises to victory under Wiremu Pinn on Sunday at Tauranga. Photo: Megan Liefting (Race Images) Te Akau Racing gelding Baronet continued his winning form on Sunday at Tauranga, aided by a well-rated ride by Wiremu Pinn. After scoring a front-running victory in the opening race with Night Warrior, Pinn was assertive early with designs on the lead aboard Baronet, controlling the tempo through the mid-stages and as the challengers started to level, he pulled away to stretch the field early in the home straight. Storming clear at the 300m, Baronet had the victory all sealed up and cruised to the line comfortably to score by 5.25 lengths to Highly Anticipated and Madiran, who were separated by a nose. The success was Pinn’s second aboard Baronet after winning on June 27 at Te Aroha, breaking a drought dating back to his debut victory in September 2022. Mark Walker, who trains the son of Contributer in partnership with Sam Bergerson, was thrilled to see the gelding continuing to thrive through the winter period. “We think the confidence he gained from the win last time at Te Aroha, and all the schooling he’s doing over the big hurdles, has really turned his form around,” Walker said. “Wiremu had him away from the gates quickly again today, so it was another lovely ride, and the owners are being rewarded for their patience. “He was a debut winner last season over 1200 metres and placed eight times before winning again, so he’s very consistent and now strung a couple of strong wins together. “He’s obviously going to be up in grade now, but I think these wins and the extra maturity will mean that he remains competitive in Rating 75 grade.” The gelding is out of an O’Reilly mare Alpha Dame, who was unraced but is a half-sister to Group Two performer Queen Of Pop. Among his breeders was Simms Davison, who sold the gelding under his Mapperley Stud banner for $135,000 at the 2021 Karaka Yearling Sales to Te Akau principal David Ellis. Horse racing news View the full article

There are four horse racing meetings set for Australia on Monday, July 8. Our racing analysts here at horsebetting.com.au have found you the best bets and the quaddie numbers for the meeting at Albury. Monday’s Free Horse Racing Tips – July 8, 2024 Albury Racing Tips As always, there are plenty of promotions available for Australian racing fans. Check out all the top online bookmakers to see what daily promotions they have. If you are looking for a new bookmaker for the horse racing taking place on July 8, 2024 check out our guide to the best online racing betting sites. Neds Code GETON 1 Take It To The Neds Level Neds Only orange bookie! Check Out Neds Review 18+ Gamble Responsibly. What are you prepared to lose today? Full terms. 2 It Pays To Play PlayUp Aussie-owned horse racing specialists! Check Out PlayUp Review 18+ Gamble Responsibly. Imagine what you could be buying instead. Full terms. Dabble Signup Code AUSRACING 3 Say Hey to the social bet! Dabble Have a Dabble with friends! Join Dabble Review 18+ Gamble Responsibly. THINK. IS THIS A BET YOU REALLY WANT TO PLACE? Full terms. Recommended! Bet365 Signup Code GETON 4 Never Ordinary Bet365 World Favourite! Visit Bet365 Review 18+ Gamble Responsibly. GETON is not a bonus code. bet365 does not offer bonus codes in Australia and this referral code does not grant access to offers. What’s gambling really costing you? Full terms. 5 Next Gen Racing Betting PickleBet Top 4 Betting. Extra Place. Every Race. Join Picklebet Review 18+ Gamble Responsibly. What are you really gambling with? Full terms. 6 Bet With A Boom BoomBet Daily Racing Promotions – Login to view! Join Boombet Review 18+ Gamble responsibly. Think. Is this a bet you really want to place. Full terms. Horse racing tips View the full article

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Final Furlong Farm and Madaket Stables' Honor D Lady added to her growing résumé July 7 as she pulled away to an authoritative win in the $500,125 Delaware Handicap (G2) at Delaware Park.View the full article

As she has done often in her career, War Like Goddess waited for the perfect moment to display her knack for late-race heroics in winning the Robert G. Dick Memorial. View the full article

Tara Watt has been appointed to the new role of sales executive at Barton Stud, the operation announced on Sunday. Watt, who started her career at Barton Stud several years ago, has since spent time in America with Keeneland and more recently with Shadwell's racing manager, Angus Gold, following her graduation from the Irish National Stud course in 2019. “I'm thrilled to be coming back to join Tom [Blain, managing director] and the team at Barton Stud and am very grateful to them all for the opportunity,” said Watt. “Barton has gone from strength to strength and has rapidly established itself as a leading stud farm and consignor. I'm really excited to be able to build on my previous experience and to hopefully help contribute towards their continued success.” Barton Stud, based just outside Bury St Edmunds and with clients from around the globe, were the leading consignors at last year's Tattersalls December Mare Sale, notably selling the Group 1 winner Teona (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) for 4,500,000 guineas. Blain added, “I'm delighted Tara is joining us, she brings a wealth of experience to the horses in training side of the business following her time working for Angus at Shadwell. She has made excellent connections and adds enormously to the team we already have here at Barton. “It's a really exciting time for the stud–we are massively focused on delivering the very best product for our clients, on the farm, at the sales and subsequently on the racetrack. I have no doubt that Tara will be a huge asset to our operation and I'm very much looking forward to working with her.” The post Tara Watt Named Sales Executive at Barton Stud appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Manny Franco was the leading rider and Chad Brown took the leading trainer title at the 35-day Belmont at the Big A spring/summer meet which concluded Sunday. Franco, 29, topped the table on the heels of a prosperous Aqueduct spring meet where he won the title with 28 wins. He visited the winner's circle 41 times as part of a 210-41-41-25 record with $3,148,141 in earnings at the Belmont meeting. “It's special. I have never won this one before, so it's amazing,” said Franco. “I'm so happy to have the opportunity from the owners, trainers, and my agent John Panagot. He's the man behind the scenes. We just hope to keep this momentum going into Saratoga and hopefully, we get some more winners.” Irad Ortiz, Jr. finished second in the jockey standings with 37 wins, while Flavien Prat was third with 34. Four-time Eclipse Award-winning trainer Chad Brown earned his eighth training title at the Belmont spring/summer meet when posting 32 wins. Brown, who earned his 31st training title at a NYRA meet, was also the circuit's leading trainer from 2015-22. Linda Rice finished second in the trainer standings with 22 wins, while Christophe Clement finished third with 17 wins. Seth Klarman's Klaravich Stables claimed its 27th owner's title at a NYRA meeting with 14 wins. NYRA racing shifts upstate to Saratoga, which opens with an 11-race card Thursday. The post Franco, Brown Take Belmont Titles appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Hernandez was complaining of pain to his left arm and collarbone, according to Monmouth Park Medical Director Dr. Angelo Chinnici.View the full article

This day 8th 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 Wewillrock lands Randwick sprint Talented Kiwi four-year-old Wewillrock collected his first Australian win with a smart performance at Randwick on Saturday … Read More Australia horse racing news 1 year ago Sigh claims Group 3 Sir John Monash Stakes The Peter Moody-trained Sigh has continued her impressive preparation when claiming the Sir John Monash Stakes at Caulfield under Carleen … Read More Australia horse racing news 1 year ago Ucalledit claims Listed Winter Stakes Ucalledit has completed a feature winter double in Sydney, adding Saturday’s Listed Winter Stakes (1400m) at Randwick to his win … Read More Australia horse racing news 1 year ago Our Red Morning shines brightly at Caulfield New Zealand-bred filly Our Red Morning staked her claim for potential black-type assignments in the spring with an effortless victory … Read More New Zealand horse racing news 1 year ago Seajetz digs deep to claim Te Awamutu Cup Seajetz returned to Te Rapa to secure career victory number eight with a fighting performance to take out the feature … Read More Australia horse racing news 1 year ago Torranzino goes back-to-back After scoring a maiden victory at Warracknabeal, talented Tarzino three-year-old Torranzino graduated to city company and delivered the same result … Read More New Zealand horse racing news 1 year ago Ardee Boy wins on debut Stylish trial winning two-year-old Ardee Boy lived up to his private reputation with an eye-catching debut victory at Awapuni … Read More New Zealand horse racing news 1 year ago Caitlyns Wish relishes heavy Te Tapa conditions Caitlyns Wish is doing her late owner Stan Painton and his grand-daughter Caitlyn proud as she continues on her winning … Read More Horse Racing Tips 1 year ago Today’s horse racing tips & best bets | July 8, 2023 13 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 1 year ago Philpot, Alice Springs colleagues back in action on Sunday Alice Springs jockey Jessie Philpot is looking forward to Sunday’s meeting at Pioneer Park. A forecast of heavy rain, the … Read More Australia horse racing news, Horse Racing Tips 2 years ago Darwin racing preview & best bets | Chief Minister’s Cup Day Racing returns to Darwin this weekend for Chief Minister’s Cup Day. See HorseBetting’s top picks for all seven races on … Read More Australia horse racing news 2 years ago Victorian raider Our Destrier to tune up for Darwin Cup After an imposing debut victory in the Northern Territory in early June, Victorian raider Our Destrier continues his progress towards … Read More Horse Racing News 2 years ago Luke Pepper leaving ACT for NSW should make racing industry wary Albury trainer Mitch Beer has issued a passionate plea for anyone in favour of economic industry growth across Australia to … Read More Horse Racing Tips 2 years ago Ballarat racing preview & best bets | Sunday, July 10 Ballarat Turf Club is set to host an eight-race on Sunday afternoon, and HorseBetting’s Victorian form expert presents his best … Read More Horse Racing Tips 2 years ago 2022 South Grafton Cup Day racing tips & quaddie | July 10 It is South Grafton Cup Day on Sunday on what is the first day of the famous Grafton July Carnival … Read More Horse Racing News 2 years ago Punt Drunk: Pikey set to dominate Rocky Cup Week On this Friday edition of Punt Drunk, we look at how one of Racing NSW’s showpiece events for country horses … Read More Horse Racing Tips 2 years ago Today’s horse racing tips & best bets | July 8, 2022 Five horse racing meetings are scheduled around Australia today. See the top tips, best odds and quaddie selections for free … Read More New Zealand horse racing news 3 years ago Watershed moment for Auckland Racing Members of the Auckland Racing Club (ARC) overwhelmingly threw their support behind a merger with the Counties Racing Club at … Read More Australia horse racing news 3 years ago Butler bullish on Last Chance in Rockhampton Newmarket Queensland hoop Ashley Butler will head into Friday’s Rockhampton Newmarket quietly confident as he partners the in-form Last Chance … Read More Australia horse racing news 3 years ago Munce aiming for feature double with Stampe and Palaisipan Brisbane trainer Chris Munce will be hoping that his winning run can continue this weekend as he saddles up Stampe … Read More Horse Racing Tips 3 years ago Rockhampton racing tips, top odds & quaddie | Friday, July 9 HorseBetting’s Nicholas Lloyd takes a look at the best bets and value picks on offer for the Rockhampton Newmarket meeting … Read More Hong Kong horse racing news 3 years ago Jerry Chau closes in on Vincent Ho in Tony Cruz Award battle Jerry Chau’s quest for the Tony Cruz Award, the prize for Hong Kong’s most successful homegrown jockey in 2020/21, intensified … Read More Horse Racing Tips 3 years ago Sale betting tips, value bets & quaddie | Friday 9/7/2021 HorseBetting.com.au’s James Herbert brings you his best bets, value picks and quaddie selections for the eight-race card at Sale in … Read More Australia horse racing news 3 years ago Today’s horse racing tips & best bets | July 8, 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 Carsons scores first training win South Auckland horseman Brad Carsons was delighted to secure his first training win at Arawa Park on Wednesday, courtesy of … Read More New Zealand horse racing news 3 years ago Angelina Lauro victory further solidifies relationship Three-year-old filly Angelina Lauro was a strong winner of the Piako Tractors 3YO (1400m) at Rotorua for Te Awamutu trainer … Read More New Zealand horse racing news 3 years ago Auckland super club one step closer The merger between the Auckland and Counties Racing Clubs is now just one step away. Members of the Counties Racing … Read More New Zealand horse racing news 3 years ago Winter Cup puzzle for Midnight Runner Midnight Runner is on trial for next month’s Group 3 Winning Edge Presentations Winter Cup (1600m) at Riccarton but ironically … Read More Australia horse racing news 4 years ago Spring hopes for Toyetic after Sandown win Despite being locked away on the home turn, Jamie Mott got Toyetic clear galloping room in the straight enabling the … Read More Australia horse racing news 4 years ago Signore Fox wins Listed Ramornie Handicap The Peter and Paul Snowden-trained Signore Fox has finished strongly between runners to bounce back to winning form in the … Read More Australia horse racing news 4 years ago Victorian horses barred from racing in NSW Horses trained in Victoria have been banned from contesting races in NSW effective immediately as following the spike of COVID-19 … Read More Australia horse racing news 4 years ago Intuition leads Goldman charge to Victoria Trainer Kurt Goldman says there is no point stressing about about getting Intuition back to NSW after he runs in … Read More Australia horse racing news 4 years ago Winter Stakes next target for Trumbull Civic Stakes winner Trumbull will be chasing his second-straight Listed race victory when he runs in the Winter Stakes at … Read More Australia horse racing news 4 years ago Acrobatic lives up to breeding at Doomben Smart two-year-old Acrobatic lived up to his strong breeding with an easy midweek win at Doomben … Read More Horse Racing Tips 4 years ago Grafton Carnival betting tips – Day 3 – Thursday, 9 July 2020 Thursday racing in NSW is headlined by the Grafton Cup, which is part of an eight-race program on the final … Read More Australia horse racing news 4 years ago Ballarat turf meeting moved to The Valley Concerns over certain sections of the turf course at Ballarat have prompted officials to move an upcoming meeting to The … Read More Australia horse racing news 4 years ago The Bostonian has plans to scale Everest New Zealand Group One-winning gelding The Bostonian has a spring campaign in Sydney in the pipeline, where The Everest looms … Read More Australia horse racing news 4 years ago Racing continues in Vic despite lockdown Despite the reintroduction of stage three lockdown in Melbourne and the Mitchell Shire, racing will continue in Victoria as it … Read More Australia horse racing news 4 years ago Sixties Groove, Big Duke to run at Grafton Trainer Kris Lees will have Sixties Groove and Big Duke in the Grafton Cup, but has decided not to run … Read More Australia horse racing news 4 years ago Weight concern for resuming Kisukano Trainer Michael Nolan is worried about the big weight allocated to top filly Kisukano when she returns to racing on … Read More Australia horse racing news 4 years ago Waller seeks sentimental Winx Guineas win Champion trainer Chris Waller is hoping improving filly Starla can win the Group Three Winx Guineas, which is named in … Read More Hong Kong horse racing news 4 years ago Yiu’s still swinging as title challenge intensifies Zac Purton has the jockeys’ title more or less wrapped up – the shiny bow is all that’s needed – … Read More New Zealand horse racing news 4 years ago Polly Grey pleases with black-type placing The Kiwi connections of smart mare Polly Grey were delighted to see the daughter of Azamour show a glimpse of … Read More New Zealand horse racing news 4 years ago Schofer back on the horse Weight, it’s the bane of many jockeys’ existence, and late last year it became a bit too much for talented … Read More New Zealand horse racing news 4 years ago Exciting future tipped for promising filly Keep Aimee’s Jewel in your black book. That’s the thought of trainer Trudy Keegan after the filly’s dominant debut victory … Read More Australia horse racing news 5 years ago Mystic Journey set to trial at Devonport Cox Plate favourite Mystic Journey will continue her build-up towards her return to racing in an 800m barrier trial at … Read More Australia horse racing news, Hong Kong horse racing news 5 years ago Sydney a consideration for John Moore With John Moore expected to have to retire from the Hong Kong training ranks after next season, he has indicated … Read More Australia horse racing news 5 years ago Portelli to have two Winter Stakes runners Gary Portelli is looking for improved performances from his Winter Stakes runners, Nicci’s Gold and Testashadow, after the Civic Stakes … Read More Australia horse racing news 5 years ago Hard Empire on target to run in WFA Monash Adelaide sprinter Hard Empire is scheduled to make the trip to Melbourne for his next assignment in the weight-for-age Sir … Read More Hong Kong horse racing news, New Zealand horse racing news 5 years ago Per Incanto’s Unicorn sprints to Cup win Red-hot jockey Zac Purton had to settle for second in Sunday afternoon’s feature at Sha Tin as Classic Unicorn, a … Read More Hong Kong horse racing news, New Zealand horse racing news 5 years ago O’Sullivan successfully rounding off HK season Paul O’Sullivan is following his stable’s fortunes over the final few racedays in Hong Kong during his annual fortnight visit … Read More Australia horse racing news, Hong Kong horse racing news 5 years ago Purton edges closer to HK season record With two meetings remaining, Zac Purton has moved to within six wins of Joao Moreira’s season record for a jockey … Read More Australia horse racing news 5 years ago Guy debating Grafton Cup run The chance to get black-type could mean talented staying mare Protest heads to the Grafton Cup rather than Doomben … Read More Australia horse racing news 5 years ago Deagon to get major training centre The Deagon racetrack in Brisbane’s northern seaside is set to house a major training and education centre … Read More Ireland horse racing news, United Kingdom Horse Racing News 5 years ago Colic ends career of Sea Of Class Sea Of Class has had her racing career ended by a serious bout of colic … Read More New Zealand horse racing news 5 years ago Parsons surprised by milestone John and Karen Parsons were caught by surprise with the latest milestone in their training careers. When Sitarist, a Road … Read More Australia horse racing news 6 years ago Winx nearing barrier trial appearance Champion Winx is not far off a public appearance in a barrier trial ahead of a campaign aimed at a … Read More Australia horse racing news 6 years ago Williams surges clear in premiership race A six-win haul at Flemington has Craig Williams well on target to finish the season as Melbourne’s premier jockey once … Read More Australia horse racing news 6 years ago Colless to ride Tyzone in Ramornie Veteran jockey Glen Colless gets a chance to win his first Ramornie Handicap when he rides Tyzone at Grafton … Read More Australia horse racing news 6 years ago Adelaide option for Sunlight return Trainer Tony McEvoy will consider the Listed Lightning Stakes in Adelaide for Sunlight’s return if he believes the filly needs … Read More Australia horse racing news 6 years ago First Crush set for Grafton Cup In-form stayer First Crush will tackle the Grafton Cup rather than the longer Queen’s Cup at Caloundra … Read More Australia horse racing news 6 years ago Jeff Lloyd second in Durban July The soon-to-retire Jeff Lloyd has finished second in his final attempt to win South Africa’s major race, the Durban July … Read More Australia horse racing news 6 years ago Tarzan to stay at home instead of Grafton Speedy galloper Tarzan is likely to miss the Kirby Quality at Grafton and tackle a race on his home track … Read More Australia horse racing news 6 years ago Godolphin’s Benbatl to run in Cox Plate Godolphin has announced it will take up the invitation to run Benbatl against Winx in the Cox Plate … Read More Australia horse racing news 6 years ago Roaring Lion wins Eclipse at Sandown Roaring Lion has battled on bravely to beat his old rival Saxon Warrior in the Group One Eclipse Stakes at … Read More Horse Racing News 7 years ago Royal Symphony remains unbeaten Quality two-year-old colt Royal Symphony has remained unbeaten with another dominant display in the Listed Taj Rossi Series Final at … Read More Horse Racing News 7 years ago Irish Constabulary makes up for lost time Eight-year-old Irish Constabulary has continued to make up for his late start to racing by winning his eighth race at … Read More Horse Racing News 7 years ago Tom Sadler suspended for one month Jockey Tom Sadler has been suspended for a month after being hit with an improper riding charge and a careless … Read More Horse Racing News 7 years ago Cummings to embrace Godolphin challenge James Cummings says he is relishing the prospect of becoming a better horse trainer in his role for Godolphin … Read More Horse Racing News 7 years ago Mertens notches milestones at Flemington Beau Mertens has extended his lead in the Melbourne jockeys’ premiership to four with a Flemington treble on a day … Read More Horse Racing News 7 years ago In-form Ability wins again at Flemington Emerging sprinter Ability has made it three wins from as many starts this campaign, taking out the Listed All Victorian … Read More Australia horse racing news, Horse Racing News 7 years ago Seventh heaven as Cook’s Conca conquers A SPARKING run of form has continued for Tim Cook’s gelding Conca Del Sogno after the red-hot runner made it … Read More Horse Racing News 7 years ago Bowman premiership blitz continues at Farm Hugh Bowman is closing in on the Sydney jockeys’ premiership after riding two winners at Warwick Farm … Read More Horse Racing News 7 years ago Tshahitsi wins Winter Championship Final Tasmanian gelding Tshahitsi has notched his third Melbourne win of the preparation with a hard-fought victory in the Listed Winter … Read More Horse Racing News 7 years ago Lloyd found not at fault after complaint Stewards have found top jockey Jeff Lloyd was not at fault after trainer Will Hulbert complained about his ride on … Read More Horse Racing News 7 years ago Super Haze gives McEvoy Flemington double Five-year-old stayer Super Haze has given trainer Tony McEvoy a winning double at Flemington after an earlier win to boom … Read More Horse Racing News 7 years ago Kings Of Leon rated a sprinter of future Kings Of Leon has graduated to city-class racing with a come-from-behind win at Warwick Farm … Read More Horse Racing News 7 years ago Beau Mertens outrides his claim A Listed race win at Flemington on Highland Beat has brought up Beau Mertens’ 80th city winner with the 19-year-old … Read More Horse Racing News 7 years ago Nic’s Vendetta takes out Highway Handicap Country apprentice Mikayla Weir has upstaged leading jockey Corey Brown to ride her first city winner at Warwick Farm … Read More Australia horse racing news, Horse Racing News 7 years ago Stunning Star Hills win delights Browell THE city beckons for well-bred two-year-old Star Hills, which torched the field in the third race on the card at … Read More Horse Racing News 7 years ago Mertens brings up a century for the season Beau Mertens has ridden his 100th winner for the season in Victoria, bringing up the milestone on Schism in the … Read More Horse Racing News 7 years ago Tony Gollan reaches 100 winners Trainer Tony Gollan has reached 100 winners for the season courtesy of an early double at Doomben with Khalama and … Read More Horse Racing News 7 years ago Stewards order scratching of Show A Star Stewards have ordered the withdrawal of the Simon Morrish-trained Show A Star from a race at Flemington … Read More Australia horse racing news, Horse Racing News 7 years ago Page’s Powerful outsider wins after flashing home late TRAINER Helen Page took two runners into the Shane (Demons) Coster Handicap on the Gold Coast, but it was the … Read More Horse Racing News 7 years ago Fradd says don’t sack Rancho Montoya Jockey Robbie Fradd says Rancho Montoya is still a horse to follow despite him being beaten by another promising two-year-old … Read More Horse Racing News 7 years ago Spanish Reef wins Rivette Series Final The Ken Keys-trained Spanish Reef has made it back-to-back city wins, taking out the Rivette Series Final at Flemington … Read More Horse Racing News 7 years ago Cummings, Godolphin team up in dream start Two-year-old Manicure has given James Cummings a perfect start to his role as Godolphin’s head Australian trainer … Read More Australia horse racing news, Horse Racing News 7 years ago Ilovevegas puts it together at Doomben with dominant win BEN Currie says he is excited to see what Ilovevegas can do when he steps up over the mile in … Read More Horse Racing News 7 years ago The Star backs Hayes in Everest The Star has backed David Hayes and Lindsay Park in The Everest but the stable’s runner in the $10 million … Read More Horse Racing News 8 years ago Weather concern for Waller stablemates Leading trainer Chris Waller is concerned a wet Randwick will be against his chances to win the Shoot Out Mile, … Read More Horse Racing News 8 years ago Code Noir to make comeback at Doomben Trainer Matt Dunn has waited a long time to get Code Noir back to the races 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Vet Dr Eliot Forbes has been appointed the new CEO of Racing Queensland at a time when greyhound racing is … Read More Horse Racing News 8 years ago Big Orange on track for Goodwood/Melbourne Cup double JAMES McDonald has secured his biggest offshore riding win when Big Orange scored an all-the-way win in the Group 2 … Read More Horse Racing News 8 years ago James McDonald wins G2 race in England Leading Sydney jockey James McDonald has claimed the Group Two Princess Of Wales’s Stakes at Newmarket … Read More Horse Racing News 8 years ago Clipperton accepts Hong Kong contract ONE of Australia’s talented young jockeys will do us proud when he takes up a riding contract in Hong Kong … Read More Horse Racing News 8 years ago Avdulla closing in on jockeys premiership BRENTON “The Gun” Avdulla has the 2015/2016 New South Wales jockey premiership at his mercy and landing two Godolphin rides … Read More View the full article

Puchkine pulled off a 35-1 shock in the Prix Jean Prat (G1), with British runners failing to make the frame in the group 1 at Deauville July 7.View the full article

Trainer Graham Motion expressed his gratitude for his 32nd career grade 1 victory as Amerman Racing's Trikari got his head down in time to capture the $727,500 Belmont Derby Invitational (G1T) at Aqueduct Racetrack.View the full article

Jockey Jorge F. Hernandez was taken by ambulance to Monmouth Medical Center for “evaluation and X-rays,” according to Monmouth Park Medical Director Dr. Angelo Chinnici, after being unseated from his mount in the third race at the Jersey Shore oval Sunday. Hernandez, a native of Santiago, Chile, who is in his first summer of riding at Monmouth Park, went down at the half-mile pole during the 5 1/2-furlong claiming race on the turf when his mount, Brennan's War, took a bad step. The horse did not suffer any apparent injuries. Hernandez, tied for fifth in the rider standings at Monmouth Park with 10 wins from just 38 starters, was complaining of pain to his left arm and collarbone, according to Chinnici. The post Monmouth Park Spill Sends Hernandez to Hospital appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Informed Patriot (Hard Spun), third in Saturday's GIII Indiana Derby, has been added to the line-up for the Fasig-Tipton July Selected Horses of Racing Age Sale, which will be held Monday in Lexington. He is catalogued as hip 523 and consigned by Taylor Made Sales Agency, agent. Third in last year's GIII Street Sense Stakes, Informed Patriot opened his sophomore campaign with a third-place effort in the Smarty Jones Stakes. He won the Bathhouse Row Stakes at Oaklawn in April. Racing for J. Kirk and Judy Robison and trained by Steve Asmussen, the dark bay has hit the board in six of 10 starts and earned $349,980. Informed Patriot is a full-brother to GI Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile winner Spun to Run. “Informed Patriot is an exciting addition to the catalogue,” said Fasig-Tipton President Boyd Browning. “He's a proven stakes horse with plenty of opportunities available to him this summer and fall, in addition to being a full-brother to a Grade I winner.” Informed Patriot will be available for inspection Monday at Barn 12. The post Indiana Derby Placed Informed Patriot Added to Fasig-Tipton July Horses of Racing Age Sale appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

5th-Ellis, $70,913, Msw, 7-7, 2yo, 1mT, 1:34.25, fm, 1/2 length. SING SING (c, 2, Tiz the Law–Galileo's Melody, by Galileo {Ire}), trying the turf and a mile for the first time, went wire-to-wire to graduate by a half-length at Ellis Park Sunday. The bay broke on top from the rail and took the field through fractions of :23.24 and :46.31. He opened up a clear lead at midstretch and held off the late-charging Giocoso (Not This Time) to become the third winner for GI Belmont Stakes victor Tiz the Law (Constitution). Courageous Clay (Catholic Boy) was third. Sing Sing opened his career with a late-starting third-place effort going 4 1/2 furlongs at Churchill Downs May 1 and was fifth going 5 1/2 furlongs in Louisville June 6. A $25,000 KEESEP purchase, he sold for $90,000 at this year's OBS March sale. Sing Sing's dam produced a colt by Bolt d'Oro in 2023 and a filly by that same sire May 9. Sales History: $25,000 Ylg '23 KEESEP; $90,000 2yo '24 OBSMAR. Lifetime Record: 3-1-0-1, $56,885. Click for the Equibase.com chart. O-Hunsicker Equine Associates, LLC, Rocky Top Stable (Ventura), James Ventura, LEMB Stables and Quintessential Racing Florida LLC; B-Champion Equine, LLC (KY); T-Mark E. Casse. Third times a charm for #1 Sing Sing, who graduates in R5 at Ellis Park under @luanmachado85 for trainer Mark Casse! @cp365 The 2YO colt by Tiz The Law went off at 4/1. #TwinSpiresReplay pic.twitter.com/5l4Ztlbf3n — TwinSpires Racing (@TwinSpires) July 7, 2024 The post Tiz the Law’s Sing Sing Graduates Over the Ellis Turf appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Billy Loughnane is set to be in Group 1 action at Newmarket this weekend when he bids for the first top-level success of his burgeoning career in the My Pension Expert July Cup. Loughnane was among the winners on Saturday's Coral-Eclipse card at Sandown, notably landing the Coral Challenge aboard Cicero's Gift (GB) (Muhaarar {GB}) for Charlie Hills, who is set to reward the young rider with the mount on one of his two potential July Cup runners, the Jim and Fitri Hay-owned pair of Khaadem (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}) and Mitbaahy (Ire) (Profitable {Ire}). Jamie Spencer's ban leaves the Hays without the services of their preferred jockey at Newmarket and Loughnane is set to be one of the beneficiaries. Khaadem, in particular, would be a signficant ride for the 18-year-old to pick up after the gelding won the G1 Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes at Royal Ascot for the second consecutive year. “Billy the kid–he's amazing isn't he and great for the future of our sport,” Hills said of Loughnane. “It's great to have a young jockey like that. He's very articulate and a brilliant rider–he has great hands and is very astute in a race. I'm really looking forward to watching his career going forward. “He's going to ride for me in the July Cup and will maybe take the ride on Khaadem. Jamie is unfortunately banned, so absolutely he will take a ride there.” One horse who will not be in action at Newmarket is the Adrian Murray-trained Bucanero Fuerte (GB) (Wootton Bassett {GB}), who has reportedly failed to recover in time from the setback which ruled him out of Royal Ascot. A Group 1 winner as a juvenile when landing the Phoenix Stakes at the Curragh, Bucanero Fuerte was last seen winning the G3 Lacken Stakes on his first start of the campaign at Naas in May, with signs of travel sickness forcing him to miss Ascot when he was among the favourites for the G1 Commonwealth Cup. “He lost a bit of weight [after travelling to Ascot] and we need a few more weeks to get him back to where he was,” said Murray. “It's disappointing, but that's the way it goes. “Long-term, in October when we get soft or heavy ground, he'll love that. I'd say he's a better horse on heavy ground. We've got loads of options, so we'll get him right and see where we go.” The post Loughnane Given July Cup Opportunity, Bucanero Fuerte Ruled Out appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Michael Foster's Next (Not This Time) has earned a host of fans with five straight wins in races 1 1/2 miles and over, most recently storming to a 9 3/4-length victory in the GII Brooklyn S. last Friday. Fans may be hoping to see the 6-year-old gelding cut back in distance for a chance to earn a spot in the Breeders' Cup in a race like the 'Win and You're In' GI Jockey Club Gold Cup, but trainer Chief Stipe Cowans plans to stick with what is working and will aim his charge at the 1 3/4-mile Birdstone Stakes at Saratoga Aug. 4. Next won that race by 11 3/4 lengths last year. “That is the plan today: the Birdstone,” Cowans confirmed. “It is hard for me to take him away from something that he really likes to do. Maybe somewhere along the line I will be forced to. I don't see that many horses out there looking at the Birdstone, maybe if somehow the race doesn't go, we would look at the Jockey Club Gold Cup.” Next earned a 109 Beyer Speed Figure with his second straight win in the Brooklyn Friday. “That is a big number. You think the horse can't get any better and he just keeps on improving, showing up and getting bigger numbers every time,” said Cowans. The post Next to Stick to Marathons; Eyes Birdstone Repeat appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

The X-Ray Files series, now in its second year and presented in cooperation with the Consignors and Breeders' Association, uses conversations with buyers and sellers to contribute to the discussion on the sales and training process. Joseph O'Brien, the son of legendary trainer Aidan O'Brien, has steadily built up an impressive reputation of his own, first as a jockey with 31 top-level wins worldwide and now as a trainer with Group 1 wins from Ireland to Australia, France, England and the U.S. O'Brien became the youngest jockey to win a Breeders' Cup race when he rode St Nicholas Abbey to victory in the 2011 GI Breeders' Cup Turf and eight years later became the youngest trainer to earn a championship weekend victory with Iridessa in the 2019 GI Breeders' Cup F/M Turf. His worldwide success as a trainer has also included a pair of G1 Melbourne Cup wins, as well as a victory in the G1 Cox Plate. O'Brien said his Irish base is ideally located to foster international successes, both in terms of personnel and climate. “I suppose there are a few advantages to training in Ireland,” O'Brien said. “First of all, we are very lucky we have a great team of staff and some great horsemen and women that work for us. Between the riders that exercise the horses every morning to the grooms that look after the horses, we have a highly skilled workforce, particularly a lot of people who have grown up with horses from the time they were kids.” He continued, “And then the climate in Ireland is an advantage. Generally it doesn't get too cold at any stage and generally, it doesn't get too hot at any stage. It doesn't fluctuate hugely and I think that is conducive to horses being healthy and well.” International racing is not for every horse, O'Brien agreed. “When we are deciding what horses to ship and where to ship them, there are horses that we would say are maybe not as suitable for shipping internationally and obviously you have some horses who really thrive on it,” he said. “So it is very much taken on a case-by-case basis.” A case-by-case basis is a common theme when discussing racing and training options with O'Brien. Another example? How frequently to run a horse back. “There are some horses who really thrive on a quick back up and run their best races when they are being kept busy,” O'Brien said. “And there are some horses who really put a lot into a race and it takes them longer to recover. I guess different trainers have different styles and different methods and some trainers are happier to back up on 14 or 20 days and some guys prefer to give it 30 to 50 days. So it really is down to A) the horse and B) the trainer.” The Royal Ascot meet, held just a few weeks ago, provides high-level targets for early-maturing 2-year-olds. Deciding which juveniles will do well at the marquee meet is another case-by-base decision. “Obviously not every horse is mature enough to be ready to go to Ascot,” O'Brien said. “We get a feel for our horses and it becomes pretty obvious which ones are more forward and which ones are not quite as forward.” Participation at the royal meeting as a 2-year-old is just a beginning for most horses and the early star turn shouldn't preclude longer term success, according to O'Brien. “I don't think it affects their long-term success,” he said. “You can look at some of the winners over the last two years and the careers they've had. I suppose an obvious filly this year is Porta Fortuna (Ire) (Caravaggio).” Trained by O'Brien's brother Donnacha–who followed his path from successful jockey to successful conditioner–Porta Fortuna was already a group winner in Ireland when she won the G3 Albany Stakes at the 2023 Royal Ascot meeting. She added a win in the G1 Juddmonte Cheveley Park Stakes and hit the board in three additional Group 1 events, including the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf S. during her 2-year-old campaign. The filly came back as a 3-year-old this season to just miss in the G1 English Guineas and returned to Royal Ascot to win the G1 Coronation S. “She won one of the first 2-year-old races of the year here in Ireland last year,” O'Brien said of Porta Fortuna. “She went on to win at Royal Ascot and she just ran a career best a year later as a 3-year-old back at Royal Ascot. So I believe that once you have the right horse who is ready for it, it doesn't affect their career in the long term.” O'Brien said European trainers may have a head start on their American counterparts when placing their 2-year-old runners. “I guess a lot of your [U.S.] 2-year-olds go to pre-training and they may not come to their trainer until a much later date,” O'Brien said. “Whereas in Europe, the vast majority of 2-year-olds go to the trainers right from the sales to get broken. So we obviously have a feel for the horse at a much earlier stage.” O'Brien purchased 2018 G1 Irish Derby winner Latrobe (Ire) (Camelot {GB}) for 65,000gns at the 2016 Tattersalls October sale. State of Rest (Ire) (Starspangledbanner {Aus}) was purchased in partnership with his father for 60,000gns at that sale in 2019 and went on to win the 2021 G1 Cox Plate and GI Saratoga Derby Invitational, as well as the 2022 G1 Prince of Wales's Stakes and G1 Prix Ganay. Now shopping auctions globally along with his brother Donnacha, O'Brien finds bargains with horses other buyers may have downgraded due to perceived vet issues. “Donnacha and I are quite forgiving when it comes to X-rays and slight issues on the vetting,” O'Brien said. “It's an area where we feel we can get value. You can buy a lot more horse with a slight X-ray issue. Sometimes you might be able to find a horse for half price for a slight defect on an X-ray or a vetting issue. There is a lot of stuff we will be happy to take a chance on and train. Some of the best horses in the world over the last 10 years have been horses who have had slight imperfections on X-rays. And they have raced successfully and soundly for many years at the top level.” Comparing the sales scene in Europe versus America, O'Brien says his focus remains the same no matter where he is shopping. “I think the horses are presented very well in Europe and America,” he said. “Everybody has access to full vettings and Donnacha and I, we try to work the sales hard and we try to find value somewhere in the market and that's what it comes down to. We are just trying to find racehorses.” Two years ago, O'Brien had a stable of horses based in the U.S. While not dismissing a return to the U.S. in the future, the Irishman did admit the experiment had provided its share of surprises. “Everything was different really,” he said. “But I think there were things that we hadn't accounted for coming out there that we had to deal with. The horses struggled a little bit. They spend a week or 10 days in the quarantine barn, but then when they moved into the general population, the ventilation in the stables wasn't as good and it took them four to six weeks to acclimatize to the environment. It is very different living accommodations for a horse. The quarantine barn and the main barns in Saratoga, in particular, are quite different. So we learned a lot and it was a really worthwhile experience. We learned a lot for potential forays in the future.” Despite the challenges, O'Brien's horses were able to land some blows at the lucrative Kentucky Downs meet where Reckoning Force (Air Force Blue) captured the $500,000 Kentucky Downs Juvenile Mile Stakes. “It was nice to finish off the season strong with a couple of placings and a winner in Kentucky Downs,” O'Brien said. “We obviously love American racing. We love to be there and we love to compete with some of the American horses. Hopefully going forward, we can do more of that. And I would love to see some more American horses competing in Europe as well.” For previous stories in the series, click here. The post The X-Ray Files, Season 2: Joseph O’Brien appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

What do you get when you breed a mare who is by a sire who never raced because he crashed through a fence to a stallion who also never made it to the races because he, too, tried to run headlong through a fence? If you're Cyndy McKee and her late husband, John McKee, of West Virginia's Beau Ridge Farm, the answer is the 3-year-old filly Direct the Cat, who on July 4 won a seven-furlong, second-level open allowance at Charles Town by 15 1/4 lengths as the 1-to-10 favorite. That was the sixth straight victory for this daughter of Redirect out of the state-bred stakes-winning Fiber Sonde mare Cat Thats Grey. More impressive than the streak are Direct the Cat's gaudy winning margins: The front-running gray has crushed her competition by 58 3/4 cumulative lengths dating back to her first wire-to-wire score in lifetime start number three last August. Her prowess over Charles Town's three-quarters-of-a-mile bullring, where she has raced six of eight times against fellow West Virginia-breds, has led to speculation about whether this filly might be able to handle tougher stakes assignments out of town. It's also caused Direct the Cat to be dubbed a “freak” in the best possible sense of that racetrack term of endearment. In fact, Charles Town announcer Paul Espinosa, Jr. enthusiastically invoked that descriptor in his stretch call of Direct the Cat's fireworks on Independence Day. “I don't take offense to people calling her that, but I don't think she's a freak,” Cyndy McKee told TDN over the weekend. “She's just my amazing girl,” she said, the admiration for her homebred filly coming across in McKee's lilting Appalachian drawl. Beyond Direct the Cat's family propensity for crashing through fences, those hunting for pedigree clues to explain her dominance don't have to look far to spot another offbeat aspect of her breeding: Her sire, Redirect, is a son of 2004 sprint champion Speightstown. Her maternal grandsire, Fiber Sonde, is a half-brother to Speightstown. “I sat there [Thursday] night watching the race, and I'm like, 'What is this filly doing?'” McKee said, reverence evident as she described Direct the Cat's visually impressive turn of foot. “And I know that [jockey] Reshawn [Latchman] is not sending her. He's not trying to break any records. He's not going to do anything to hurt her,” McKee said. “I don't know how good she is, I guess that's the thing,” McKee said. “And it's hard for me to make a–obviously, I want her to be a superstar. Obviously. “But I still have to realize she's done all of her winning at Charles Town,” McKee said. “Not knocking Charles Town. This is my home. I was raised here. My dad was track superintendent at Charles Town for years. I grew up at Charles Town. My husband and I have done well here. We built a farm here. We love it here. “But still…” McKee's voice trails off in thought, searching for the proper balance between letting dreams run wild and being a realist. A Void at Beau Ridge McKee admitted that operating Beau Ridge Farm has been challenging since John died at age 83 on Feb. 25, 2023. The 170-acre spread in the unincorporated community of Kearneysville, just five miles from Charles Town, is home to 80 horses spread across four stables, plus a foaling barn, a show ring, and a three-eighths mile training track. Both Redirect and Fiber Sonde stand there for modest $1,000 stud fees, as do three other stallions. John, born in Kearneysville, served in the U.S. Navy for seven years. He flew two tours in Guam, and ended his Navy career as a recruiter. When he returned home, he raised Black Angus and Pinzgaur Cattle for over 50 years. Along the way he became a Thoroughbred trainer, starting in 1969 with a single horse. He and Cyndy became a couple in the 1970s, and Beau Ridge eventually grew to one of the largest racing and breeding operations in West Virginia. “When John passed, believe it or not, there were almost 60 broodmares here,” McKee said. “I got it down to 39 and I recently made another cut. I'd like to get it down to somewhere around 20, 24 mares. I've got 20 yearlings here, four horses in training at the farm, and another 30 at Charles Town right now. “John was a very strong personality. He was a man's man,” McKee continued. “We were together 47 years, and John was 18 years older than me. I learned a lot from him, and there's a lot of things I do take from him. One of John's strong points was he could put a value on a horse pretty quick. I used to tease him and say he could put a value on a horse a lot quicker and a lot more accurately than me–but I'm the better caretaker. And you know what? We made a pretty good team that way. “I have grooms and farm help, but basically, it's me running the operation–breeder, owner, trainer,” McKee said. “It has its moments. Sometimes I look like a genius, and sometimes I wonder what in the hell I'm doing this for–why I haven't sold everything and I'm not lying on Folly Beach in South Carolina,” she added with a self-deprecating laugh. The McKees bought Fiber Sonde for $8,000 at KEENOV in 2007, not knowing he would entrench himself at or near the top the West Virginia sire standings for the next 17 seasons. “Fiber Sonde went through a fence as a young horse and screwed his legs up,” McKee recalled. “We could have tried to run him. But John said if he got beat at Charles Town, nobody would want to breed to him. So we bred him, and didn't know that he was going to be that strong of a stallion.” Twelve years later at the 2019 KEENOV sale, the McKees were looking to add another budget-friendly stallion to their roster, and were intrigued enough to bid $15,000 for the unraced Redirect because they liked the Seattle Slew influence on the female side of his pedigree. “When the young lady at Keeneland told us that he had gone through a fence and broke his shoulder as a yearling, I knew that if we could afford him, that horse was coming home with us,” McKee said. “That was some kind of an omen–Fiber Sonde went through a fence, and Redirect went through a fence.” Comparing the two, McKee said, “Fiber Sonde, he's just the total package. He's a wonderful horse to be around. He's been so good to us. He's very kind; a very, very nice horse. Redirect is totally different. He's more playful; a tougher horse to deal with. Redirect can be a little bit stronger, more stallion-acting.” The McKee's Redirect–Cat Thats Grey foal arrived in 2021, offering no initial hint that she harbored freakish potential. “Clovis Crane broke her in Pennsylvania,” McKee said. “He does an excellent job. He had four of them up there for us. When they got to the track, they were very well-mannered and did everything correctly. I thought Direct the Cat could run a little bit. But I had no idea she could run like that.” Neither did anyone else. One year ago this past weekend, on July 6, Direct the Cat debuted at 8-1 odds and finished third, beaten seven lengths in a West Virginia-bred maiden allowance. Two weeks later she was second, beaten three lengths, at the same class and mutuel. “Then she drew the one hole going 4 1/2 furlongs,” McKee recalled. “And I thought, 'Man, she's just going to get trapped down inside and this is going to be a disaster.' Little did I know, when that gate opened, she grabbed that rail and was gone–and hasn't been beat since.” Direct the Cat won by 11 lengths, then followed that Aug. 10 coming-out party with a 6 3/4-length drubbing of state-bred juvenile fillies in a Sept. 22 stakes named in honor of Rachel's Turn, the McKee's 15-race-winning Charles Town-based filly they campaigned into a Meadowlands stakes victress in 1991. “What clicked in her brain? I don't know,” McKee said. Direct the Cat closed out 2023 with two more routs, by 12 1/4 lengths and then 7 1/2 lengths, in two more West Virginia-bred stakes. So far in 2024, Direct the Cat has won a pair of N2X open allowances at Charles Town. “She's a rather tall filly. She's not skinny or thin, but she's not a heavy filly either, so she's not hard on herself,” McKee said. “She likes to train. She likes to get out. So when you get started in the morning, she wants to go. She can be at times a little testy if you're doing something to her that she just doesn't quite like. She's big enough to give you a little bit of a problem about it, but she's not a mean filly or anything like that.” Here's another quirk about Direct the Cat: She's a music afficionado. Her tastes include 1970s Europop, specifically the band ABBA. “Jokingly, when she was a 2-year-old, and went through a few different stages, I kind of nicknamed her the Dancing Queen. So I play that song, and she just bobs her head,” McKee said. “We turn her radio off, we have major problems,” McKee confided. So How Good is She? Direct the Cat's two wins at age three translate to Beyer Speed Figures of 88 and 89. Those are numbers that suggest she might be worthy of stepping up in class and venturing beyond Charles Town. But McKee said Direct the Cat is going to stay local for the time being, with the July 27 $75,000 Sylvia Bishop S. for 3-year-old West Virginia-bred fillies at seven furlongs circled as a no-brainer in the condition book. After that, McKee is not sure where her filly might end up. “The [Aug. 23 GII] Charles Town Oaks would be on my radar, big-time, but I don't know if I'm going to be able to get into that race because the conditions include eligibility based on graded stakes earnings,” McKee said. “So it's kind of tricky there. We've looked at other places. I've had some calls. The racing secretary's office at Parx called me [Friday] and talked to me about the [Sept. 21 GI] Cotillion [S.],” McKee said. “I mean, it flattered me greatly to think that somebody would call and want her for a million-dollar Grade I race,” McKee said. “But it's hard for me to–I would just think that would be very ambitious to go from Charles Town to a Grade I race,” McKee said. “There's got to be a next step up, a stepping stone somewhere. A step that far up might backfire in your face. But then, maybe it won't. I don't know. There have to be other options.” So far, those other options haven't included any firm offers to buy Direct the Cat. Would McKee be interested in selling? She answered that question by relating a humorous anecdote from when John was alive, and wheeling and dealing was an everyday part of their horse business. “My husband always used to joke he'd sell me if the price was right,” McKee said with a wistful chuckle. “He'd sell anything.” Then, turning pensive, McKee added, “Me, I'm more to keep things.” Asked if there was anything else about Direct the Cat that she wanted to add that didn't get asked, McKee politely said no and thanked a reporter for taking the time to call. Then she changed her mind. “Just one more thing, and then I'll quit running my mouth,” McKee said, taking a breath and choosing her words carefully. “One thing I do get a little upset about is that John was 83 years old when he passed away. And he worked very hard. He was president of the West Virginia Thoroughbred Breeders Association for a long time. He was a major force in getting our state's breeding program. And he was a very strong advocate for Charles Town and for Charles Town horsemen.” McKee continued, keeping her voice level despite the tears she knows are coming. “This was the best horse we ever raised. And he didn't get to see her run. And that's the only thing bad about this. But hopefully, he's up there looking down, and he's smiling.” The post The Week in Review: Sure, She’s Earned ‘Freak’ Status, but Breeder Says Huge-Margin Charles Town Filly is ‘Just My Amazing Girl’ appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

The 12th edition of the Fasig-Tipton July Selected Horses of Racing Age Sale kicks off Monday with a single session consisting of 117 cataloged entries set to go under the hammer beginning at 3 p.m at Newtown Paddocks in Lexington, KY. And despite several impactful withdrawals over the last week, the sale was reinforced with the addition of multiple quality supplements as late as Friday and looks to provide the perfect springboard into summer racing. In fact, Fasig-Tipton President Boyd Browning needed just two words to describe its appeal: “Instant action.” With meets poised to kick off around the country in destination spots like Del Mar and Saratoga along with popular regional meets like Colonial Downs, buyers will have the opportunity for a quick return on investment. “It's always a very interesting sale,” Browning continued. “We get a hodge-podge of horses and there's really, quite literally, something there for everyone. We've got some pretty exciting racing prospects that look like they've got some very bright futures. We've got some fillies and mares that have some pedigree. We've got some young 2-year-olds who have shown tremendous promise already. And we've got some horses who will fit in a lot of different racing circuits in the catalog. So it's a very good catalog. Something for everyone. It's probably the most vibrant portion of the marketplace today in terms of activity and interest. Excited to be able to kick it off on Monday.” One consigner testing the waters for the first time at Fasig-Tipton Monday will be Ted Voute's Blue Diamond Stud and Stonereath Farm who bring a 4-year-old son of Triple Crown champion and sire-on-the rise Justify across the Atlantic to auction under their own name for the first time in Wonderful Justice (GB) (hip 495). A stakes winner as a 3-year-old, the homebred colt, who RNA'd for 250,000gns as a Book 1 yearling at Tattersalls October Sale in 2021, is out of a full-sister to MGISW and sire Carpe Diem. “I just thought it was an opportunity, with a horse in training that has all the form on the page to attract people, to dip our toe in the water,” said Voute. And while Voute's team may just want to dip a toe in, Wonderful Justice may provide a new owner the ability to dive right in. Wonderful Justice (GB) | Amy Lanigan “It [the sale] is a bit of a learning curve for our team. We're sort of bringing everyone together and letting this be sort of a pilot route in that everything's on [his] page for people to come and see him and then it's up to us to persuade them that he's a good buy for them. We've had a few people visit on the farm, which is great for them to get that exposure. He's either going to have appeal as a small stallion somewhere, maybe in the Middle East, maybe in South America. And we've had one or two people look at him as a race horse. They price themselves at that sort of level. You're not going to read us a headline but as long as we sell him nicely, we'll be very happy.” Certainly the appeal of a stakes-winning son of Justify could not be overstated. “Justify we're a big fan of. The farm sent three mares to [him] this year so we're backing him as are probably another 200-plus mare owners,” Voute said with a laugh.” Wonderful Justice has always been very, very consistent. He can run in some conditioned races and some allowance and he'll make someone a pretty good purchase for a horse to run around, earn them some prize money and pay his way. It's just time to refresh and let someone else have a go. He's given us some great days out and I think there's plenty left in him for the future. He's a sound, good looking horse. The sale offers opportunities for both buyers and sellers to replenish racing stock and look forward to the 2024 breeding season. While Voute brings only the one colt to auction, he may have his sights set on bringing something else home. “Every sale that comes along nowadays, we look at some of the top fillies to see whether they might fit in the broodmare band. So we'll definitely be doing that here. Whether that ultimately turns into a purchase or not, it depends. We've got a long road to go but we'll definitely be working both sides of the fence. Thankfully ones a colt and we'll be trying to find a filly.” To those with an eye towards shopping, Browning added: “There's going to be a lot of range of value Monday. I think we'll see very active bidding on virtually all types of horses. There's proven form on most of the horses that are in the catalog. I think we'll see a very active and vibrant marketplace and lots of interest.” Monday's Horses of Racing Age sale will be followed by the Fasig-Tipton July Sale of Selected Yearlings, which will be held Tuesday beginning at 10 a.m. The post Fasig-Tipton July Horses Of Racing Age Sale Looks To Provide Post-Holiday Fireworks Monday appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Up in trip to seven furlongs for Sunday's Listed Prix Roland de Chambure at Deauville, Magne Jordanger and Finn Blichfeldt's TDN Rising Star Tiego The First (Fr) (Blue Point {Ire}–Kotama {Fr}, by Siyouni {Fr}) needed every bit of the new trip to register his black-type breakthrough. Held up early by Mickael Barzalona behind the pace set by the British raider Assertively (Ire) (Acclamation {Fr}), the Pia and Joakim Brandt-trained 19-10 favourite got that long-time leader just in time for a short-head success, with Madero (Fr) (Lope De Vega {Ire}) a head back in third. Having earned TDN Rising Star status on debut over six in the Prix Hunyade at Saint-Cloud in May, Tiego The First's subsequent defeat at Chantilly last month led to a sense of anti-climax so this was a welcome resurgence. He is currently the last known foal out of the dam, who was second in this track's Listed Prix Yacowlef and is a half-sister to the G3 Prix Edmond Blanc runner-up and G2 Prix du Muguet third Kokaltash (Fr) (Haafhd {GB}) from the family of High Chaparral (Ire) (Sadler's Wells) and the G1 Prix de Diane heroine Fancy Blue (Ire) (Deep Impact {Jpn}). So close! A late run from Tiego The First just denies Assertively at @fgdeauville!@mickaelbarzalon | @RacingBrandtPJ pic.twitter.com/37dqK2GKaZ — At The Races (@AtTheRaces) July 7, 2024 Sunday, Deauville, France PRIX ROLAND DE CHAMBURE-Listed, €60,000, Deauville, 7-7, 2yo, 7fT, 1:25.92, g/s. 1–TIEGO THE FIRST (FR), 126, c, 2, by Blue Point (Ire) 1st Dam: Kotama (Fr) (SP-Fr), by Siyouni (Fr) 2nd Dam: Kozaka (Fr), by Mark Of Esteem (Ire) 3rd Dam: Kozmina (Ire), by Sadler's Wells TDN Rising Star. 1ST BLACK-TYPE WIN. (€170,000 Ylg '23 ARQOCT). O-Magne Jordanger & Finn Blichfeldt; B-Ecurie Jean-Louis Bouchard (FR); T-Pia & Joakim Brandt; J-Mickael Barzalona. €30,000. Lifetime Record: 3-2-0-1, €50,100. 2–Assertively (Ire), 126, c, 2, Acclamation (GB)–Merci Layan (Ire), by Kodiac (GB). 1ST BLACK TYPE. (75,000gns Ylg '23 TATOCT). O-J Laughton & Mrs Elaine Burke; B-Thomas Hassett (IRE); T-Karl Burke. €12,000. 3–Madero (Fr), 126, c, 2, Lope De Vega (Ire)–Cordova (Ire), by Galileo (Ire). O/B-Wertheimer & Frere (FR); T-Christopher Head. €9,000. Margins: SHD, HD, 2. Odds: 1.90, 9.00, 2.10. Also Ran: Griselda (Fr), Fly Half (Fr), Gondolo (Ire), Oasis Sunrise (Ire). Video, sponsored by FanDuel TV. The post Blue Point’s TDN Rising Star Tiego The First Wins the Roland de Chambure appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Every year, the Fasig-Tipton July sale offers the first chance for buyers to get a look at a new crop of yearling sires. Many buyers were seeing these sires' yearlings for the first time this week, and while it's admittedly early, we took a little survey to get their first impressions. The group includes: Basin, Beau Liam, By My Standards, Charlatan, Core Beliefs, Essential Quality, Independence Hall, Knicks Go, Known Agenda, Leinster, Lexitonian, Maxfield, Modernist, Raging Bull, Rock Your World, Silver State, Tacitus, Uncle Chuck, and Yaupon. LIZ CROW: Tacitus (Tapit), Taylor Made, 2022 stud fee: $10,000 Beau Liam (Liam's Map), Airdrie Stud. 2022 Stud fee: $6,000. I don't think that anyone can tell who is going to be the leading freshman sire, especially this far out. We're just looking at them in July and they're so immature and you're just looking at a small handful of them. Constitution was eighth on the freshman sires average yearling price list, and so obviously, all of us were wrong about him. So I'm just going with what my eye has liked here so far, knowing that I could pretty much be incorrect. I have liked the Tacitus yearlings. I have seen 10 or 12 of them. They seem to have a nice shape, nice lines to them. I probably left the most of that freshman sire on my short list. These are really the first group of them I've seen. I haven't seen any of them at the farm, and it just seems to be the freshman sire I'm landing on the most at this time. The other one is Beau Liam. I have seen quite a few of those that I have liked. They have nice, big hips. He was obviously very fast and I think you can see that in his progeny so far. They have all the makings of quick, early two-year-old types from what I've seen so far. PRICE BELL: Beau Liam I'm going to answer the question by return on investment for the stud fee. I am really impressed with the Beau Liam foals that I'm seeing. I thought his stud fee was really attractive, and I think he'll have the best ROI to stud fee from the first crop. I bet that he will average $55,000, so I'm guessing that's going to be 9x, which I'm thinking just on pure math will be impossible for Charlatan or most others to hit. CONRAD BANDOROFF: Charlatan (Speightstown), Hill 'n' Dale, 2022 stud fee: $50,000 Charlatan will be the leading freshman sire. We sold him as a yearling. He brought $700,000 in September in Book 1. He was an absolutely gorgeous specimen. I'm seeing a lot of his athleticism in his progeny, and a lot of the balance and the brilliance that Charlatan showed early on and in his racing career. I'm going to go with Charlatan, but that being said, this is as close a year as we've seen in a while. I've been very impressed with the Maxfield (Street Sense)s (Darley, 2022 Stud Fee $40,000). They are very strong, forward, mature-looking horses and they physically made me stop and look. The Essential Qualitys are nice, also, and I think when we finish the year, you're going to look and it's going to be a pretty close race at the top. DAVID INGORDO: Charlatan I like the Charlatans .They all look pretty uniformly like nice horses, with balance. They're fast-looking and should be early and quality, which is what we need. The Maxfields look pretty good. They look like two-turn horses, and I've been impressed by their hind ends. They're really strong. I thought Maxfield was beautiful when he was running, and the foals look a lot like him. JACOB WEST: Yaupon (Uncle Mo), Spendthrift, 2022 stud fee: $30,000 I've only been through four barns, but if I could just give you one, it would be Yaupon, just from what I've seen through four barns and what I've seen out on the farm. He's a beautiful horse and he's passing on incredible characteristics. He's a son of Uncle Mo who was really fast. Everybody likes speed in America and I think that what he's got here is a pretty good representation of what he is and what he could be. HUBERT GUY: Rock Your World (Candy Ride {Arg}), Spendthrift, 2022 Stud Fee: $10,000. So far, I've liked the Rock Your Worlds. He's a son of Candy Ride. They look very racy and they all move fairly well. Candy Ride has been such a success as a sire of sires that it's a real possibility. I have also seen a lot of nice Beau Liams. LAUREN CARLISLE: Yaupon and Knicks Go (Paynter), Taylor Made, 2022 stud fee: $30,000,. Yaupon has stuck out. They look fast. They're pretty correct for the Uncle Mo line. Sometimes they can struggle with their knees but those horses have been very pretty and seem to be good movers. And Knicks Go. I saw some nice individuals at Taylor Made. They look fast early. That's going to be a pinhooker horse, I would say, just because of how fast he was. That's what they're looking for. Those stuck out to me. Nice horses, put together, look solid, and fast. OLIVIA PERKINS-MACKEY: Tacitus From what I've seen today, and that didn't catch my eye as weanlings. Tacitus. I think people will make money. They didn't pay much for them, or didn't sell them, and they all have good bodies. They just look like nice horses that will be fast at the two-year-old sales. JAY KILGORE: Tacitus It's Tacitus right now. I haven't seen enough. I've only seen them this morning, but they're standouts. I like them. Most of them are quite nice. But my sample size is still very, very small. STEVE ASMUSSEN: Yaupon He was beautiful and his babies are beautiful. They have extremely racy lines. Very athletic looking. PHIL HAGER: Lexitonian (Speightstown), Calumet, 2022 fee: $10,000 There have been a few that I have liked, but I would say the most consistent body types that I've seen thrown is Lexitonian as a stallion. They all look like they have a race body, good size, good shoulder, good hip, so I've been most impressed with him. SUSAN MOULTON: Independence Hall (Constitution), WinStar, 2022 fee: $10,000 Our absolute favorite new sire is Independence Hall. They're big, fluid movers, and well-balanced. They look like racehorses. I like the Beau Liams and the Rock Your Worlds. The Rock Your Worlds, there are two or three that I really like, and being Candy Ride, they're bigger than I expected. JAMES KEOGH: Charlatan and Yaupon I've been very very impressed with the Charlatans. Very attractive horses, very athletic. I'm excited about a few that we have to sell, so definitely Charlatan would be the horse that's going to come out of this year's crop. For me, Yaupon was such a fast, fast racehorse and a very exciting prospect, and there's nothing but good things to say about his stock that I've seen so far. The post Early Impressions from Fasig: Whose First-Crop Yearlings Caught Your Eye? appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article