Wandering Eyes

Sparkling Plenty (Fr) (Kingman {GB}), winner of the G1 Prix de Diane at Chantilly just over 24 hours previously and billed as the headline act at Monday's Goffs London Sale, was knocked down for a whopping £8,100,000 only for it to emerge that the filly had been brought back by owner Jean-Pierre-Joseph Dubois. Eventually it was revealed that a deal was struck by Al Shaqab Racing to buy into the Patrice Cottier-trained sister to G3 Jersey S. winner Noble Truth (Fr) for £5 million. It was reported that Sheikh Joaan Bin Hamad Al Thani had been in attendance at the sale and it is understood that Sparkling Plenty will remain with Cottier following the part-sale. Out of the Frankel (GB) mare Speralita (Fr) and closely related to the Japanese Classic winners Soul Stirring (Jpn) (Frankel {GB}) and Stars On Earth (Jpn) (Duramente {Jpn}), Sparkling Plenty was sold in absentia. She achieved the ultimate update when swooping to claim Survie (Ire) (Churchill {Ire}) and Tamfana (Ger) (Soldier Hollow {GB}) in a pulsating edition of the Prix de Diane on Sunday. While Sparkling Plenty was the undoubted star of the show, an unraced Kingman (GB) daughter of six-time Group 1 winner Laurens (Fr) (Siyouni {Fr}) was predictably popular with agent Hamish Macauley striking the winning bid for the Oaks Farm Stables-drafted two-year-old on behalf of Amo Racing at £650,000. Amo boss Kia Joorabchian has a number of high-profile horses to look forward to at Royal Ascot this week and warmed up for the meeting with a net spend of £1,130,000 after adding the Dermot Weld-trained Taraj (Ire) (Churchill {Ire}) to his team for £480,000. A 14-1 chance for Thursday's G3 Hampton Court S., Taraj was last seen finishing third behind subsequent Derby-placed Los Angeles (Ire) (Camelot {GB}) in a Group 3 Derby Trial at Leopardstown. The colt was bred by Weld's Springbank Way Stud. There were a number of notable buybacks throughout the session which led to just 13 of the 23 lots offered being sold. The most high profile buyback of them all was Nurlan Bizakov's unbeaten Lazzat (Fr) (Territories {Ire}) at £2,250,000 while Adrian Keatley elected to hang onto leading G2 Coventry S. contender Francisco's Piece (GB) (Mayson {GB}). For the 13 lots sold, it generated £8,040,000 at an average of £618,462 and a median of £200,000. The post Diane Winner Sparkling Plenty Lights Up Goffs London Sale At £5 Million appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

White Birch was a notable absentee as a field of 10 was declared for the Prince of Wales's Stakes (G1) at Royal Ascot June 19. The race will feature a duel between Breeders' Cup winners Auguste Rodin and Inspiral.View the full article

When Jon Clay first got started in the Thoroughbred business, he launched Alpha Delta Stables with ambitious goals in mind. Step one: breed a stakes winner. Step two: breed something good enough to make it to either the Kentucky Derby or the Kentucky Oaks. Nearly two decades later, Clay has checked off every one of those goals, having bred both a Derby and an Oaks starter. Plus, his program has produced something he never could have dreamed up back when he was compiling that wish list of accomplishments. In world-class sprinter Elite Power, Clay has bred a two-time Breeders' Cup champion. “I'd say I have exceeded what I wanted to accomplish,” said the Palm Beach, Florida-based businessman. “To breed a stakes horse is the first step and then to breed a Grade I winner is next, but I never thought I would breed a champion. To have a horse you bred win the Breeders' Cup is pretty special.” Breeding Thoroughbreds is in Clay's blood. His cousin is Runnymede Farm's Catesby W. Clay, whose family has been involved in the breeding industry in Lexington for over 100 years. Clay fell in love with racing when he attended his first Kentucky Derby the year that the filly Genuine Risk came out victorious, but a greater passion developed soon after when he began studying the breeding side of the sport. “I always figured that when I got to a certain stage in my life, I wanted to get into racing and breeding,” Clay explained. “I was really attracted to the breeding end because I think it's important to continue to perpetuate the breed as opposed to just owning racehorses.” After building a successful career in sports marketing, Clay decided to take the plunge and get involved in the Thoroughbred business. He bought his first mare at the 2006 Keeneland November Sale, spending $410,000 on Litany. She was a 7-year-old winning daughter of Holy Bull and a full-sister to GISW Confessional. Litany never produced much of anything for Clay and he sold her four years later for just $7,000. It was his first lesson in how the market can oftentimes make for a rollercoaster ride for commercial breeders. Clay decided that if he wanted to build a successful program, he was going to have to play at the top end. He began looking for mares that were accomplished on the racetrack and had plenty of depth to their pedigrees. At the 2011 Fasig-Tipton November Sale, he paid $1.55 million for Mona de Momma (Speightstown), the winner of the 2010 GI Humana Distaff S. who hailed from the family of Mr. Greeley and Street Sense. Flash forward eight years and Monda de Momma was responsible for GII Blue Grass S. winner and Kentucky Derby runner Vekoma (Candy Ride {Arg}). As a 4-year-old, Vekoma reeled off three straight victories including the GI Carter H. and GI Metropolitan H., making him the favorite going into the 2020 GI Breeders' Cup Sprint. But the Wednesday before the championship meet, he spiked a temperature and was forced to scratch. Clay had gotten a taste of what it was like to have a horse he bred take on the Breeders' Cup. Luckily, he didn't have long to wait before he had another shot at producing a Breeders' Cup champion. Two years after purchasing the dam of Vekoma, Clay spent $2.15 million on Broadway's Alibi (Vindication) at the Keeneland November Sale. The dual graded stakes-winning Robsham Stables homebred was runner-up in the 2012 GI Kentucky Oaks. While the mare's first four foals never made it to the racetrack, her fifth foal-a flashy chestnut son of Curlin-developed into a standout as a youngster at Lane's End Farm. Elite Power as a foal with dam Broadway's Alibi | Lane's End “Elite Power was a decent size and a pretty muscular foal, but as he continued to grow he really blossomed as a yearling and had a lot more strength to him,” recalled Clay. “He was very straightforward–never one of those frisky foals–but he was very racey and muscular.” Elite Power sold for $900,000 to Juddmonte Farms at the Keeneland September Sale, but Clay admitted that he didn't watch the pricey colt too closely early on in his career. It took the Bill Mott trainee four tries to break his maiden, but when he finally stepped up to graded stakes company in the fall of his 4-year-old year, he never looked back. After defeating reigning champion Jackie's Warrior in the 2022 Breeders' Cup Sprint at Keeneland, Elite Power picked up right where he left off last year as a 5-year-old. Clay can remember watching Elite Power in the paddock at Santa Anita before his final career start at the Breeders' Cup. “He walked by me and I thought, 'Boy, this horse has just a huge engine.' I had seen a couple of his races, but that was the first time I had seen him in person in a while and I was impressed with how he had really filled out.” With a second straight Sprint victory, Elite Power joined Midnight Lute and Roy H as two-time Breeders' Cup Sprint winners and he gave Clay some of his proudest memories as a breeder. “To breed a Breeders' Cup winner is pretty awesome, but to have a back-to-back champion is crazy,” he said. “Three Chimneys is a sponsor of the Breeders' Cup and they give a Breeders' Cup trophy to the breeders, so I've got two trophies up on my mantel.” Elite Power" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/djgOWLINIpQ" width="1236" height="695" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"> Clay has a lot to look forward to now, as two horses that he bred launch their careers at stud. Vekoma, who stands for $15,000 in his fourth year at Spendthrift Farm, already has six winning juveniles in his first crop. Meanwhile Elite Power is wrapping up a successful first season at Juddmonte, where the six-time graded stakes winner stands for $50,000. Clay has supported both young sires with mares and is looking forward to their futures. Of course, the breeding business has more than its fair share of dramatic twists. Sadly, the dams of both Vekoma and Elite Power have passed away. Mona de Momma died shortly after producing Vekoma and Broadway's Alibi died before producing a foal this year. Clay has decided to retain Broadway's Alibi's youngest foal, a full-brother to Elite Power that he named Coercive Power. The 3-year-old colt is still preparing for the racetrack, but is showing plenty of promise “You have to have a lot of patience in this business,” said Clay. “There are a lot of ups and downs. You have to take the good with the bad and just savor the good moments. I've got a great team that I work with at Lane's End and at Mill Ridge, where Reynolds Bell helps me on the bloodstock end of it. I am very fortunate to have a really solid team that helps me along the way.” With a broodmare band of around 20 mares split between Lane's End and Mill Ridge, Clay's initial design of gearing his program toward the commercial market is still in place, but he does retain a handful of fillies to race himself and continue the lineage of families he has bred. Alpha Delta Stables's current flagbearer on the racetrack is Raging Sea (Curlin). The Chad Brown trainee was Clay's first homebred to make it to the Breeders' Cup in 2022, when she ran third in the Juvenile Fillies, and she has since won the 2023 GIII Comely S. and 2024 GIII Doubledogdare S. Raging Sea was fourth in her last start in the GI Ogden Phipps S., but Clay remains confident that the 4-year-old will be a competitive member of the Distaff division this year and perhaps, get a shot at returning to the Breeders' Cup. “I think she can compete against fillies like Idiomatic (Curlin), Pretty Mischievous (Into Mischief) and Randomized (Nyquist),” said Clay. “Hopefully there are some Grade I races down the road and if we get lucky, maybe we can get to the Breeders' Cup again.” Three Chimneys' Three Cheers to the Breeder is a series of articles profiling first-time Breeders' Cup-winning breeders. The post Three Chimneys’ Three Cheers to the Breeder: Alpha Delta Stables appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

2nd-Presque Isle Downs, $30,500, Msw, 6-17, 2yo, f, 4 1/2f (AWT), :52.72, ft, 1 1/4 lengths. WILLOW OAK (f, 2, War of Will–Joyful Cat, by Kitten's Joy) was bet nearly in half from her 8-1 morning line off a promising worktab over the Turfway Tapeta and came away late to become the first winner for her Classic-winning freshman sire (by War Front). Under a hustling ride from Adam Beschizza from gate five, the Dede McGehee homebred was a midpack fifth into the turn, was roused right-handed while progressing leaving the quarter pole and did her best work through the wire, pulling away to graduate at first asking by 1 1/4 lengths. Under her Heaven Trees banner, McGehee purchased Joyful Cat–a sister to GSW Charming Kitten, SW/MGSP Queen'splatekitten and MGSP Portfolio Company–for $150,000 with this filly in utero at the 2021 Keeneland November Sale. Joyful Cat is also the dam of a yearling colt by Dialed In and a Yaupon filly foaled Apr. 28. Bought back as a Keeneland September yearling, War of Will was purchased by Justin Casse for €250,000 at the 2018 Arqana May Breeze-Up Sale. Winner of the 2019 GIII Lecomte S. and GII Risen Star S., the Gary Barber colorbearer was a troubled eighth, promoted to seventh, in the GI Kentucky Derby and wheeled back on the short rest to take the GI Preakness S. at 6-1. Third in that year's GI Pennsylvania Derby, War of Will became a dual-surface Grade I winner in the 2020 Maker's Mark Mile and was retired to Claiborne Farm with earnings of nearly $1.9 million. He is the sire of 113 foals of racing age. Sales history: $35,000 RNA Ylg '23 KEESEP. Lifetime Record: 1-1-0-0, $18,000. Click for the Equibase.com chart and VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV. O/B-Dede McGehee (KY); T-Kelsey Danner. FIRST WINNER FOR WAR OF WILL Willow Oak (2yo filly by WAR OF WILL) makes a big move around the turn and rolls down the lane to break her maiden on debut sprinting 4.5 furlongs on the synthetic at Presque Isle Downs. Congratulations to the connections, including… pic.twitter.com/FMpUJkfWFr — Claiborne Farm (@claibornefarm) June 17, 2024 The post Willow Oak A First Winner For Claiborne’s War of Will appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Ado McGuinness has described losing 11 horses owned by Shamrock Thoroughbreds as “a big blow” after the trainer parted ways with long-time assistant and cousin Stephen Thorne. The split means that Thorne, who has ambitions to train in his own right, will manage the horses belonging to the syndicate alongside County Meath-based handler Jack Davison until he is granted a licence of his own. A Godolphin Flying Start graduate who has spent time working for some of the top trainers all over the world, Thorne returned home to Dublin to work as an assistant for McGuinness almost eight years ago. The pair have enjoyed massive success during that time, including Group 1 triumphs with Prix de l'Abbaye and Al Quoz Sprint winner A Case Of You, and have consistently operated inside the top 10 trainers' standings in Ireland over the past few seasons. The Shamrock Thoroughbred silks have been carried by smart fillies Tiger Belle and Rush Queen as well as classy handicappers Laugh A Minute, Harry's Bar and more. Among the 11 horses set to join Davison's stable is recent £100,000 breeze-up purchase Shamrock Breeze. McGuinness commented on Monday, “Stephen will no longer be working with me. This comes as a big blow to our yard as Stephen, who manages the Shamrock Thoroughbred Syndicate, removed all 11 of the horses belonging to that ownership group on Friday.” He added, “Stephen has always had ambitions to train in his own right and I hope that the past seven years working under my tutelage will stand him in good stead moving forward. I wish him well in his next chapter and thank all of the Shamrock Thoroughbred shareholders for all of their support down through the years. “We enjoyed many unforgettable days together and some of the highlights of my career came in the winner's enclosure with some of those owners.” Thorne has also held down assistant trainer roles with Mike de Kock and Ralph Beckett prior to working with McGuinness. He stressed that the arrangement with Davison would only be a temporary one and outlined his long-held ambitions to hold a trainer's licence of his own. He said, “I will be taking out my trainer's licence and hope to have my first runners in January 2025. I spent seven hugely enjoyable years working with Ado and we've had some brilliant days together. “Some of my best memories in racing came with Ado. I wish Ado and all of his team the best—he's one of the best conditioners of a racehorse that I know and there's no doubt that his yard will continue to go from strength to strength.” Thorne added, “It was by no means an easy decision to make, but it has always been the plan for me to go out on my own. The horses will be trained by Jack Davison on a temporary basis until I am granted my own licence.” The post “Big Blow” For McGuinness After Split With Long-Time Assistant Thorne appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

A private sale has now been agreed for Sparkling Plenty (Fr) (Kingman {GB}), who was bought back at £8.1 million at the Goffs London Sale but has now been part-sold to Al Shaqab Racing for £5 million. A day after winning the G1 Prix de Diane Longines, the filly was the headline act in the 24-lot eve-of-Royal Ascot sale in Kensington Palace and has been part-retained by her owner-breeder Jean-Pierre-Joseph Dubois, who subsequently came to an arrangement with Al Shaqab. Sparkling Plenty, a full-sister to G3 Jersey S. winner Noble Truth (Fr), is trained in France by Patrice Cottier and is now the winner of five of her eight races, including the G2 Prix de Sandringham. Out of the Frankel (GB) mare Speralita (Fr), she is closely related to the Japanese Classic winners Soul Stirring (Jpn) (Frankel {GB}) and Stars On Earth (Jpn) (Duramente {Jpn}). The post Sparkling Plenty Part-Sold for £5m to Al Shaqab in Private Deal appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

One of the UK's biggest weeks is upon us and with perfect good-to-firm ground, Royal Ascot is set to welcome true summer Flat racing. That of the purest variety, favouring the faster of the breed, offering the opportunity for records to be threatened and broken. Two or three big names fell by the wayside on Monday, but most of the ones that matter in Europe will be here over the next five days as well as a select few from further afield. This meeting should be about the ability to move through the gears, to register slick furlong splits which thankfully we can now measure soon after the event to inspect the way the contest really unfolded. In that regard, it hardly gets any more exciting than the Guineas hero Notable Speech (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}), Wednesday's G1 Prince of Wales's S. favourite Auguste Rodin (Ire) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) and Friday's G1 Commonwealth Cup protagonist Inisherin (GB) (Shamardal) to name but three. The former is Godolphin's principal Ascot runner in 2024, defending his unbeaten record in Tuesday's G1 St James's Palace S. Drawn in five for the mile feature, Charlie Appleby's bolt from the blue will relish being able to draft around here awaiting Buick's signal to eat up the ground with that in-built fuel injection. Eerily similar but possibly slightly more talented than the yard's most recent Dubawi powerhouse Coroebus (Ire), who in 2022 became the eighth to complete the 2,000-St James's Palace double this century and fourth since 2015, TDN Rising Star Notable Speech has all of his trainer's proverbial boxes ticked. It is Buick that gets to feel the ultimate buzz of steering him, however. “I don't like to compare horses, but I've never ridden one before who can do what Notable Speech can do,” the rider revealed. “He's an extraordinary horse and the way he won the Guineas was impressive. So far he's shown no chinks.” Metropolitan And Continental… Fortunately, this year's Royal Ascot has a large French contingent willing to risk reputation for ultimate reward and it is refreshing that connections of Metropolitan (Fr) (Zarak {Fr}) have taken the plunge in the St James's Palace. While he is certain to meet a different proposition to the eighth-placed Henry Longfellow (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) he encountered in ParisLongchamp's rain-hit G1 Poule d'Essai des Pouliches and has another stellar miler to contend with in the Irish Guineas hero Rosallion (Ire) (Blue Point {Ire}), it is difficult to put a limit on the potential of Mario Baratti's flagship performer at present. He also has a perfect draw in two and one of the most talented jockeys in Europe on board in Alexis Pouchin, so it's really all down to whether he is good enough. Adding intrigue is Jean-Etienne Dubois' Darlinghurst (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}), who reverts to a mile having beaten the subsequent G1 Prix du Jockey Club runner-up First Look (Ire) (Lope De Vega {Ire}) in the nine-furlong G3 Prix de Guiche at Chantilly last month. By a sire whose progeny excel at Ascot, he proved he can produce rapid fractions on the Polytrack at Cagnes-sur-Mer earlier this year and we all know how all-weather form translates here. “He hasn't really had any tough battles or Classic races, so this is going to be like we say in France, his Arc,” trainer Jerome Reynier said. “I guess this became the plan when he won his Class Two in Cagnes-Sur-Mur. The times and the speed of his turn of foot was quite impressive and we said after that we would give him two months off and go for the Prix de Guiche on turf and then if he wins that we would aim to go to Royal Ascot with a chance.” The X Facteur… France's other big chances on day one come in the G1 Queen Anne S. courtesy of Big Rock (Fr) (Rock Of Gibraltar {Ire}) and Facteur Cheval (Ire) (Ribchester {Ire}), but where their 2023 exploits converge in importance they were carried out on vastly different ground. Big Rock, one of those Thoroughbreds who has had to endure the mysterious merry-go-round of switching yards for reasons unknown and undisclosed, is for sure a specialist when it gets soft. His display in the QEII, where Facteur Cheval was six lengths back in second was impressive, with consecutive early sectionals which killed the contest, but on faster ground in the Lockinge he was at his limit for the first half and where the fast-ground animals kept piling it on he paid the price. Maurizio Guarnieri has the task of getting the best out of Big Rock as Christopher Head did at three, but after the debacle of the Lockinge and the ditching of Aurelien Lemaitre for Christophe Soumillon let's hope this isn't a horror story unfolding. Conversely, Facteur Cheval has continuity on his side having taken Darlinghurst's trainer Reynier to the heights last term. Used at the time of his Sussex second as a stick to beat Paddington with, the clock told the true tale of that race as he ran the final three furlongs faster than Ballydoyle's winning machine. Coming of age last time in the G1 Dubai Turf, he is poised to emulate his sire's success in this in 2017. “We saw him performing really well on good ground in Dubai, so we can go to Royal Ascot with a lot of hope,” his trainer said. “Goodwood and Ascot were his first times out of France and now as a five-year-old he is more mature mentally and physically and he's ready to run even better. Now he is in the shape of his life and we couldn't be any more happier with him.” Stars Out… Tuesday's opening card sees some key TDN Rising Stars on show, with the surprise Lockinge hero Audience (GB) (Iffraaj {GB}) joined by outsider Hi Royal (Ire) (Kodiac {GB}) in the Queen Anne. Audience is just second time over a mile here and the Cheveley Park homebred is as dangerous as he was before Newbury, where he churned out constant sprinting sectionals, but he is no longer under the radar. Hi Royal was twice Classic-placed last term and after a spell in the wilderness is around 40-1, but has a) Ryan Moore on board, b) first-time blinkers on and c) is from Kevin Ryan's yard successful 12 months ago with a 33-1 shot in Triple Time (Ire) (Frankel {GB}). In many ways, those that carry the TDN Rising Star banner in the juvenile races are the most exciting and Camille Pissarro (Ire) (Wootton Bassett {GB}) is the only one to fly the flag in the G2 Coventry S. He has to up his game after losing out in a Marble Hill he was supposed to win, but Aidan O'Brien has remained steadfast in his faith in the colt and he is the sole Ballydoyle representative in a race keenly coveted by the stable. Other TDN Rising Stars on display include the live G1 King Charles III S. outsider Purosangue (GB) (Aclaim {Ire}), the day's kingpin Notable Speech, fellow St James's Palace runners Henry Longfellow and Unquestionable (Fr) (Wootton Bassett {GB}) and the Listed Wolferton S. favourite Israr (GB) (Muhaarar {GB}) and longshot Knight (Ire) (Mehmas {Ire}). USA(scot)! As ever, American owners have a heavy involvement at Royal Ascot this week with Team Valor's Facteur Cheval setting the tone in the opener. Race two sees Barbara Banke's Stonestreet Stables, Tracy Farmer and John Oxley represented by a high-profile runner in the Joseph O'Brien-trained colt Cowardofthecounty (Ire) (Kodi Bear {Ire}). Having beaten Ballydoyle's best 2-year-old seen out so far in Whistlejacket (Ire) (No Nay Never) in authoritative fashion in a fast time at The Curragh in April, he is deeply promising as he bids to emulate the 2011 Coventry success of his relative Power (GB) (Oasis Dream {GB}). Debutantes Dare To Dream… One of Royal Ascot's more intriguing stories this week is the baptism of fire of Raphael Freire. Remarkably, his first runner in Britain comes in the Coventry with Amo Racing's unraced Angelo Buonarroti (Justify). This is surely an impossible task, but he is oven-ready for this in terms of raw ability having fetched €1million at the Arqana Breeze-up and his relative Churchill (Ire) did win the Chesham as a maiden. There are other breakthroughs of significance on day one. Kieran Shoemark has his first Royal Ascot carrying the responsibility of representing the Gosdens, with a couple of rides on no-pressure outsiders to help prepare for the big one on Inspiral (GB) (Frankel {GB}) the next day; plus first-season sires Pinatubo (Ire), Mohaather (GB), Hello Youmzain (Fr) and Without Parole (GB) could have their big moments in the Coventry with the first two represented by the fancied York novice one-two Andesite (GB) and Yah Mo Be There (GB) respectively. The post “He’s an Extraordinary Horse”: Buick Prepared for Notable Speech on Ascot’s Opener appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

A day after winning the G1 Prix de Diane, Sparkling Plenty (Fr) (Kingman {GB}) was bought back by her owner-breeder Jean-Pierre-Joseph Dubois at £8.1 million when offered for auction at the Goffs London Sale. Bidding through Goffs representative Amanda Zetterholm, Dubois retained the full-sister to G3 Jersey S. winner Noble Truth (Fr) having previously bought her back as a yearling at Arqana for €600,000. Sparkling Plenty, trained by Patrice Cottier, is now the winner of five of her eight races, including the G2 Prix de Sandringham. A daughter of the Frankel (GB) mare Speralita (Fr), she is closely related to the Japanese Classic winners Soul Stirring (Jpn) (Frankel {GB}) and Stars On Earth (Jpn) (Duramente {Jpn}). Sparkling Plenty earned the ultimate catalogue update ahead of her sale tomorrow at #GoffsLondon The daughter of @JuddmonteFarms Kingman has just won the G1 Prix de Diane @fgchantilly Sparkling Plenty is Lot 11 tomorrow pic.twitter.com/HLdmL1Ckih — Goffs (@Goffs1866) June 16, 2024 The post Classic Winner Sparkling Plenty Bought Back at £8.1m at Goffs appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

A share in the Aga Khan Studs stallion Zarak (Fr) will be offered by Arqana Online during a pop-up sale to be held on Wednesday, June 26. Bidding will take place between 5-6pm local time, with registration for bidding already open on www.arqanaonline.com. A four-time winner when trained by Alain de Royer-Dupré, notably landing the G1 Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud, Zarak boasts an exceptional pedigree as a son of Dubawi (Ire) and the unbeaten G1 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe heroine Zarkava (Ire) (Zamindar). He stood his first season at Haras de Bonneval in 2018 and has produced three Group 1 winners–and 20 stakes winners–from his early crops, including last month's Poule d'Essai des Poulains hero Metropolitan (Fr). Haya Zark (Fr) also struck at the top level this year in the Prix Ganay, while Zagrey (Fr) became his sire's first Group 1 winner when successful in the Grosser Preis von Baden in 2023. The share gives the right to one covering per year, plus an additional covering every odd-numbered year, meaning two coverings in 2025 followed by one covering in 2026, and so on. The post Share in Zarak to be Offered at Arqana Online Pop-Up Sale appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Thursday's eight-race card at Woodbine Racetrack has been pushed back and will begin at 6:05 p.m., the track announced Monday. The move was made in the best interest of horse welfare as an extreme heat warning is in effect for the city of Toronto and the surrounding areas. Woodbine noted that the decision to push back the start time was made in consultation with the HBPA. Woodbine is the latest track to alter post times due to the heat joining Finger Lakes, who moved both Tuesday and Wednesday cards up to begin at 11:15 a.m. and Presque Isle Downs who moved their Monday-Wednesday cards up to begin at 1 p.m. UPDATE: We have adjusted our post times for Tuesday and Wednesday this week to 11:15am due to anticipation of excessive heat and humidity. We apologize for any inconvenience and thank you for your understanding. Stay cool and hydrated! View the schedule: https://t.co/9wCTTUYeM4 pic.twitter.com/5i0sJtCOkU — Finger Lakes Gaming (@FlGaming) June 17, 2024 The post Heat Forces Woodbine To Push Back Thursday Post Times appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

They say that good things come in threes. The team at Dalham Hall Stud could be forgiven for bending that old adage a little to say that good things come from Reem Three. This time 12 months ago one of the breeding stories of Royal Ascot week came in the very first race when Sheikh Mohammed Obaid Al Maktoum's homebred Triple Time (GB) (Frankel {GB}) won the Queen Anne S. to become not just the second Group 1 winner for his dam, Reem Three (GB) (Mark Of Esteem {Ire}), but also the mare's third winner at the royal meeting. Triple Time was following the example of his half-brothers Cape Byron (GB) (Shamardal), who won the Wokingham S. in 2019 before returning later that year to win the G3 Bengough S., and Ostilio (GB) (New Approach {Ire}), the winner a year earlier of the Britannia S., which he followed with victory in the G2 Prix Daniel Wildenstein. And it will be no surprise to see the next generation of this family play a leading role again this week, as indeed certain members have been doing since the start of the season. Reem Three was represented by two of her grandsons in this year's 2,000 Guineas. Runner-up Rosallion (Ire) went on to win the Irish 2,000 Guineas for trainer Richard Hannon and is second-favourite for the G1 St James's Palace S. Inisherin (GB), who, like Triple Time, represents Kevin Ryan's stable, was sixth behind him in the Guineas. Dropped back to six furlongs for his next start, Inisherin took the notable scalp of Vandeek (GB) when winning the G2 Sandy Lane S. He is now clear favourite for Friday's G1 Commonwealth Cup following Vandeek's defection. The two colts both represent a sire-line which is becomingly increasingly significant for the Godolphin and Darley operation. Inisherin, out of Reem Three's other Group 1 winner, Ajman Princess (Ire) (Teofilo {Ire}), is by the late Shamardal, himself a former winner of the St James's Palace S. in the year Ascot was run at York. More importantly, Rosallion is the star of the first crop of Shamadal's son Blue Point (Ire), whose most notable achievement on the racecourse was winning two Group 1 sprints at Royal Ascot within the same week back in 2019. He now looks set to be represented at Ascot this week by his other Group/Grade 1 winner to date, Big Evs (Ire), along with Pocklington (GB), Skukuza (GB), Blue Lemons (Ire) and Kind Of Blue (GB), as well as second-crop members Ingot (GB), Spherical (GB), and Make Haste (GB). Reem Three, now 21, is back in foal to Triple Time's sire Frankel and lives in close proximity to her son as well as to her daughter Ajman Princess on the connected studs that are now collectively known as Dalham Hall Stud. Rosallion's dam, the unraced Rosaline (GB) (New Approach {Ire}), is currently at Kildangan Stud in Ireland. Liam O'Rourke, Darley's director of studs, stallions and breeding, understandably takes great pleasure in reflecting on the burgeoning success of the family, whose connection to Sheikh Mohammed Obaid began with his purchase of Reem Three's granddam Donya (GB) (Mill Reef), a daughter of the Prix de Diane and Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud victrix Dunette (FR) (Hard To Beat {Ire}), from her breeder Vincent O'Brien. “It now spans over five generations, back to Donya,” he says. “There were a couple of quieter generations in between, but this has been very much one of Sheikh Mohammed Obaid's creation, and it has been his great passion. “He, of course, encourages us to use the the best quality stallions around. Some of them are Godolphin and Darley [stallions], which is a positive on virtually all fronts, but it's very much his creation and it's come a mighty long way. “We're now arriving at the stage where we are hopefully creating very high-class animals. Group 1 winners in certain cases already, Classic winners very recently, and perhaps a couple of nice stallion prospects as well for the future. So it has come a long way, but he must take all the credit.” Sheikh Mohammed Obaid, the cousin of Godolphin's owner Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, has already been influential in the fortunes of the Darley stallion ranks as the owner of Dubawi (Ire). Triple Time is now several boxes down from the former champion sire in the Dalham Hall stallion wing, where the newcomer covered 161 mares this season, including his owner's G1 Sun Chariot S. winner Fonteyn (GB) (Farhh {GB}). It is only a matter of time before Rosallion and Inisherin find themselves in a similar position. “Triple Time has been extremely well supported and his best win obviously was a year ago in the opening fixture of Royal Ascot, beating Inspiral – a wonderful way to kick it all off,” says O'Rourke. “He's a wonderful looking horse, beautifully bred and he's already a stallion prospect and a stallion in his own right, and hopefully he'll be a very successful one. And now on the same page now we've got Rosallion, a Classic winner – it could just be a serious stallion page emerging. And of course, we've got the Group 2 winner Inisherin close up on the same page as well. It's an exciting family.” Triple Time and owner-breeder Sheikh Mohammed Obaid, second left | Racingfotos O'Rourke's office affords him one of the best views in European bloodstock: from his desk he can see across the lawn to the luxurious stables occupied by Dubawi and co. Behind that desk hangs a portrait of Istabraq (Ire), one of the greatest hurdlers of all time whose image serves as a reminder for O'Rourke of his late and much-missed friend, John Durkan. It is the Flat which is the main focus of attention for the Godolphin operation, however, and as a behemoth of the breeding world, developing families and creating stallions is what it's all about. In a quiet corner of the stud we visit Reem Three, now 21 and back in foal to Frankel. She is carrying her age well and though she is probably faintly bemused at having her hooves oiled to greet her visitor, she takes this interruption to her day of quiet grazing with good grace. Her paddock mate has come along to keep her company and she is almost equally noteworthy as a mare who is fast developing her own dynasty: Modern Ideals (Ire) has already produced the five-time Group/Grade 1 winner Modern Games (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) – another new recruit to the nearby stallion yard – as well as last year's 1,000 Guineas heroine Mawj (Ire) (Exceed And Excel {Aus}). She is now back in foal to Dubawi. Of the relatively small bay mare Reem Three, whose sire Mark Of Esteem was also a former Dalham Hall resident, O'Rourke says, “She began from fairly humble beginnings. She was Listed-placed herself, and we sent her initially to Street Cry. She bred a very good horse from two matings to him, Naqshabban, who was trained by Luca Cumani, who trained most of the family. Because she was an all-quality mare, she wasn't a difficult one to mate up physically and, of course, she has some wonderful crosses of Mill Reef and Never Bend on her page as well, so she suited a variety of stallions. I don't think there was any real rocket science attached to it. Sheikh Mohammed Obaid is very much a person who favours sprinter-milers, perhaps milers slightly over sprinters, but he does like a degree of, or an injection of speed and encourages us to do that. “So we used what we felt were the most sensible stallions about, and just used common sense really in our approach. She's a very correct mare so she was never hard to mate.” Reem Three's highest-achieving daughter, at least as far as racing is concerned, is Ajman Princess, who won the G1 Prix Jean Romanet as well as finishing second in the G2 Ribblesdale S. Now 11, she produced Inisherin as her second foal and her current two-year-old is a Dubawi colt named King Of Cities (Ire). “Ajman Princess is emerging now as a Classic type of broodmare,” O'Rourke says. “She's a beauty, she's a Group 1 winner herself as well. She won over a mile and two furlongs and a mile and a half as well, so there's versatility, and now she has bred a sprinter who looks like he's probably just as effective over seven furlongs if it ever comes to that, but there's versatility right across the page.” He continues, “Rosaline, again, has bred a Classic winner. She's one of the few in the family who didn't race – it's a very sound family as families go, and she had shown ability, but she was injured and couldn't race. But she had been in training with John Oxx and had shown a fair degree of ability at the time.” That soundness – and ability – in the family is borne out by the fact that eight of Reem Three's offspring have earned black type, the latest being three-year-old Bolsena (Ire) (Kingman {GB}), who was recently second in the Listed Agnes Keyser Fillies' S. at Goodwood. The next to surface will hopefully be Reem Three's juvenile filly Triple Tempest (GB) (Night Of Thunder {Ire}), who is in training with Karl Burke. She has another filly coming through in the yearling by Pinatubo (Ire) and she was not covered last year. “She's one of those mares who is much better off, and happier, pregnant,” O'Rourke explains. “She's had a foal just about every year. She was late foaling last year, so we gave her the year off and, if she was all right and looking the part, we said we would have one more go with Frankel this year. She got in foal first cover, looks tremendous, and she's got a grin on her face again.” The post Three’s a Charm: The Wonder Mare Set to Star Again at Ascot appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

The 2024 Royal Ascot meeting will be carried by over 30 broadcasters and shown in 180 territories across six continents, announced HBA Media vis presser on Monday. Set to run Tuesday, June 18 to Saturday, June 22, the international interest has grown year-on-year for the meeting and in celebration of the event, the Ascot-commissioned 24-minute feature Queens of the Turf will be available to the international broadcasting audience as well as streamed on Ascot digital platforms leading up to the Royal meeting. Distribution will go as follows: UK, Ireland: ITV Racing, Sky Sports Racing, Virgin Media United States/Canada: NBC, Peacock/ Rogers Latin/South America: ESPN (additional coverage by SportsMax for the Carribean) Australia: Channel 9, Racing.com Oceana: Sky Thoroughbred Central, Entain Europe: RAI (Italy), Setanta (Baltics and Eaurasia), Polsat (Poland), CYTA (Cyprus), WeDoTv (Germany, Switzerland, Austria), Silknet (Georgia), Viaplay (Scandinavia) Additional distributors: TransVision (Indonesia), NTV (Mongolia), Sony Pictures Network (Indian Subcontinent), SuperSport (48 countries in sub-Saharan Africa), DMI and Al Kass (19 countries across the MENA region), The Green Channel (Japan), and 20 dark market territories via Eurovision Sport Fans in the air and on the sea will receive coverage with BBC HD Martime providing signals on Anuvu cruise ships, and Sport24 broadcasting Royal Ascot Golden Hour to 11 airlines and 18 cruise ships worldwide. Reuters will also distribute the full event to their networks of news outlets. Viewers are encouraged to check with their providers for specific coverage details. “We are delighted to have extended our working relationship with Ascot Racecourse for a further four years (2024 – 2027) and are immensely proud of the distribution achieved for the Royal Meeting,” said Henry Birtles, chief executive of HBA Media. “Championed by HBA, the enhanced World Feed and the co-produced Golden Hour now befits the international audience, and the commission of Queens of the Turf documentary ensures that Royal Ascot is the jewel in the racing calendar for their broadcast partners.” The post Over 30 Broadcasters to Transmit Royal Ascot Across 180 Territories appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Following Monday's confirmation stage, 19 horses remain in contention for the G1 Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee S. at Royal Ascot, the feature race on the final day of the meeting on Saturday, June 22. They include five of the first six from last month's G2 Duke Of York S. in which Mill Stream (Ire) (Gleneagles {Ire}) held on by a nose from Shouldvebeenaring (GB) (Havana Grey {GB}). Last year's G1 Champion Sprint S. hero Art Power (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}) could manage only fifth on the Knavesmire, but he too will command plenty of respect as one of only three previous top-level winners among the entries, along with defending champion Khaadem (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}) and the prolific Kinross (GB) (Kingman {GB}). Mitbaahy (Ire) (Profitable {Ire}), a stable-mate of Khaadem, is another key contender following his victory in the G2 Greenlands S. at the Curragh, while Shartash (Ire) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}) will be trying to make it three from three since joining Archie Watson. He has recently been bought by Wathnan Racing. Haatem (Ire) (Phoenix Of Spain {Ire}) will also carry the Wathnan colours for the first time if taking his chance in the G3 Jersey S. for which 25 horses have been entered. He was last seen filling the runner-up spot in the G1 Irish 2,000 Guineas at the Curragh, one place ahead of River Tiber (Ire) (Wootton Bassett {GB}) who could be in opposition again on Saturday. Other notable entries include a pair of Juddmonte homebreds who have already shown a high level of form, Kikkuli (GB) (Kingman {GB}) and Task Force (GB) (Frankel {GB}), plus Godolphin's Romantic Style (Ire) (Night Of Thunder {Ire}), who was beaten just half a length in the G1 Poule d'Essai des Pouliches at Longchamp last time. The other Group race on Saturday is the G2 Hardwicke S. in which last year's G1 St Leger scorer Continuous (Jpn) (Heart's Cry {Jpn}) is set to make his return to action. His potential opponents include The King and Queen's Desert Hero (GB) (Sea The Stars {Ire}), Qatar Racing's G3 Aston Park S. winner Middle Earth (GB) (Roaring Lion) and US raider Missed The Cut (Quality Road), who won at the meeting in 2022 when trained by George Boughey. Elsewhere on the card, ante-post fancies Albasheer (Ire) (Shamardal) and Dark Trooper (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}) feature among 66 entries for the Wokingham H., while 26 juveniles are in contention for the Listed Chesham S. The post Nineteen in Royal Ascot’s Feature Sprint at Five-Day Entry Stage appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Santa Anita Park concluded the six-month 2023-24 Winter-Spring season June 16 which, when combined with the six-week Autumn Meet from 2023, produced a near perfect safety year.View the full article

Toby Sheets, a longtime assistant trainer to Hall of Fame trainer Steve Asmussen, was found dead Sunday on a beach on the Greek Island of Mathraki, Sheets's family has confirmed to the TDN. Sheets's death is the most recent in a series of foreign tourists to disappear or be found dead on the Greek islands in the past week, according to the Associated Press. The confirmation was provided by Greg Sheets, who said he was Sheets's cousin. “He did pass away in Greece,” he said. “As of right now that's all we know. The family is trying to figure out what happened.” Mathraki is a quiet island, west of the more popular Greek island of Corfu, with a population of 100 people. “Toby was a part of our stable for many years, including our Belmont Stakes win with Creator, as well as his expert handling of Haynesfield among others,” Asmussen told the TDN. “He will be deeply missed by his family and many friends.” Sheets's death was the latest in a series of incidents in which tourists in the Greek islands have died or gone missing. According to a CBS report, another tourist found Sheets's body in the old port of Mathraki and informed the police. Sheets was first reported missing on Thursday and was last seen alive Tuesday at a café in the company of two female tourists. According to the Associated Press the two tourists have since left the island. The cause of death was not immediately disclosed. According to ABC News a coroner was dispatched to Mathraki Sunday to conduct a preliminary investigation. The body was to be taken to nearby Corfu, where an autopsy will be performed According to Athens News Agency, Sheets came to Mathraki to spend some vacation time with a Greek American friend. Mathraki has a population of just 100 and is a heavily wooded island covering 1.2 square miles. Sheets's passing marked at least the third death of a tourist in recent days on Greece's Islands The others were Dr. Michael Mosley, a British TV anchor and author, and a 74-year-old Dutch tourist. ABC News also reported that a retired Los Angeles County Sheriff's deputy has been missing since Tuesday. The post Asmussen Assistant Toby Sheets Found Dead In Greece appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Santa Anita Park's Winter-Spring season, conducted from September through June, ended June 17 with a near perfect 99.97% safety mark according to a press release from the track Monday morning. The release notes that the mark is the highest in the world among tracks racing with a similar schedule. Over the six-month period, a total of 6,678 horses ran in races over the track's dirt and turf courses. “Santa Anita Park veterinarians performed nearly 6,400 examinations prior to horses working at Santa Anita since Sept. 1 of last year,” said Chief Veterinary Officer for 1/ST Racing Dionne Benson “The heightened scrutiny has allowed for additional opportunities for everyone to work for the best interest of the horse. We are pleased that since HISA adopted many of the Santa Anita Park and California protocols in the last year, the overall safety of the sport has improved throughout the country.” The post Santa Anita Concludes Winter-Spring Season With Near Perfect Safety Record appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

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Wednesday's Royal Ascot cards were finalised on Monday, with the feature G1 Prince of Wales's S. made up of 10 runners but not, as expected, White Birch (GB) (Ulysses {Ire}). The G1 Tattersalls Gold Cup winner's absence is one less obstacle for Ballydoyle's star colt of 2023, Auguste Rodin (Ire) (Deep Impact {Jpn}), with Cheveley Park Stud's Inspiral (GB) (Frankel {GB}) and Yeguada Centurion's Blue Rose Cen (Ire) (Churchill {Ire}) looking the chief threats to the Ballydoyle runner. Blue Rose Cen is joined by compatriots Horizon Dore (Fr) (Dabirsim {Fr}), Zarakem (Fr) (Zarak {Fr}) and Snobbish (Ire) (Dawn Approach {Ire}), who will act as pacemaker for Blue Rose Cen. The field is completed by Alflaila (GB) (Dark Angel {Ire}), Lord North (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}), Royal Rhyme (Ire) (Lope De Vega {Ire}) and Auguste Rodin's pacemaker Hans Andersen (GB) (Frankel {GB}). The post No White Birch In The Prince Of Wales’s As Ascot Wednesday Fields Confirmed appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

The Commonwealth Cup has been blown wide open after market leaders Vandeek and Bucanero Fuerte were ruled out of Friday's Group 1 at Royal Ascot. Bucanero Fuerte was reported to have suffered from travel sickness by his owners Amo Racing while Vandeek will miss the six-furlong contest due to a poor blood count. A statement released by Simon and Ed Crisford on Monday morning read, “Unfortunately Vandeek will not be able to run in the Commonwealth Cup at Royal Ascot this Friday due to an abnormal blood count.” It added, “He had been working very well in his preparation and this is very frustrating for everyone concerned but the most important thing now is for him to return to full health. All being well he will be fit and healthy in time for the July Cup in three weeks.” Vandeek had been a general 3-1 chance for the Commonwealth Cup while fellow Group 1 scorer Bucanero Fuerte was available at 8-1. Their defections has seen Inisherin installed as the clear market leader at odds of 5-2 with Elite Status next best in the betting at 5-1. Reporting the news that Adrian Murray's Bucanero Fuerte would miss the royal meeting, Amo Racing said, “Bucanero Fuerte will miss the Commonwealth Cup on Friday. After arriving in Ascot yesterday he was showing signs of travel sickness and was subsequently transferred to Newmarket Equine Hospital as a matter of caution where he has been monitored overnight. “He spent a comfortable night there and remains well this morning but he will be forced to miss his intended engagement on Friday. We now look forward to his swift recovery and the rest of the season ahead.” The post Market Leaders Vandeek And Bucanero Fuerte Ruled Out Of Commonwealth Cup appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

NT jockey Paul Denton, now 60 years of age, brought up his 500th Alice Springs race win on Sunday at Pioneer Park. Veteran NT jockey Paul Denton is enjoying a fabulous season and on Sunday rode his 500th winner in Alice Springs. The 60-year-old hoop celebrated the milestone when he piloted the Greg Connor-trained Delago Lad to victory, and he ended the day with a winning double after he guided Connor’s Filthy Rich home. With 23 wins, Denton has extended his lead over Sonja Logan (16.5) in the Alice Springs jockeys’ premiership. “To get that 500th Alice Springs win was fantastic, it’s been a long time coming and it’s good to crack milestones like that, especially at my age,” he said. “I knew on Sunday that only I had one win to go, that makes it 22 wins in Alice this season — the other win was at Tennant Creek. “I’ve had a good run this season, but I was behind the eight ball in late September and didn’t think I was any chance as Kerry Petrick, who I ride for, rested her horses after taking them to Kununurra. “Kerry then had about 20 horses in work and they started hitting form, so it was just prior to carnival that I thought I was half a chance. “I was also picking up wins for other trainers and started creeping up the premiership ladder.” Denton, who resides in the Red Centre, has won both the Alice Springs and Top End premiership on two occasions, as well as many NT feature races. He has combined with Alice Springs trainer Petrick for 125 wins, and the pair will be hoping for a third consecutive NT Derby (2050m) win together when they team up with Starton during the forthcoming Darwin Cup Carnival. “I’m currently in Darwin and was debating whether to go down for the last three Alice Springs meetings,” Denton said. “I thought, ‘well, I hadn’t won the Alice premiership for 30 years and at 60 it’s unlikely I’ll have many other opportunities’, so I headed down on Sunday. “Greg Connor rang me a couple of weeks ago and had a few rides lined up for me, so I decided to go. “It worked out alright and it’s enhanced my premiership hopes — I’m going to be pretty hard to beat now. “I’ll definitely ride at the next meeting in a fortnight and maybe the one after that, but I probably won’t go for the last one. “They race in Darwin on the Saturday and then it’s Alice on Sunday and Darwin on the Wednesday before Cup weekend on Saturday and Monday. “Hopefully, I will be well clear by then and won’t have to worry about that last Alice meeting.” Despite his advancing years, Denton is still enjoying life in the saddle. “I just love race day and I think I’m riding as well as ever,” he said. “I’m probably lighter now than when I was 17 and I don’t have to waste, so that helps. “I’m fit, strong and healthy, and while Kerry has got these new owners who have good horses it’s given us both a new lease on life. “It’s actually nice to come to work when you’re no longer riding slow ones.” Horse racing news View the full article

What Hawkesbury Races Where Hawkesbury Race Club – 1 Racecourse Rd, Clarendon NSW 2756 When Tuesday, June 18, 2024 First Race 12:10pm AEST Visit Dabble Provincial racing in NSW heads to Hawkesbury on Tuesday afternoon, with a competitive eight-part program set for decision. The rail is out +5m between the 1100m to 450m markers, while the remainder is in the true position. The track is rated a Soft 7 at the time of acceptances, but with pristine conditions forecast in the lead-up, punters should expect an upgrade to the Good range prior to the opening event at 12:10pm local time. Best Bet at Hawkesbury: Stray Stray put in a bold performance at Randwick on May 25 and should appreciate dropping back into Class 1 company. The daughter of Thunder Fantasy found a tough assignment first-up behind Bakeroo at BM72 grade, hitting the line well despite what the 6.5-length margin may suggest. She looks primed to strike second-up at the mile, and with barrier one allowing Jason Collett to take closer order, watch for Stray to be powering over the top to secure her second-career victory. Best Bet Race 4 – #1 Stray (1) 5yo Mare | T: Richard Collett | J: Jason Collett (59.5kg) +210 with Neds Next Best at Hawkesbury: Monty Be Quick Monty Be Quick debuts for the Nathan Doyle barn after a 271-day spell and looks to have acclimatised well to Australian conditions. The four-year-old European import was winless across his five starts in the UK but has shown glimpses of class at the barrier trials leading into this first-up target, cruising through the wire to score at Gosford on May 27. This maiden contest lacks depth, and with Jean Van Overmeire likely to slot into an ideal stalking position, Monty Be Quick should get every chance to shirk the maiden tag. Next Best Race 5 – #1 Monty Be Quick (5) 4yo Gelding | T: Nathan Doyle | J: Jean Van Overmeire (59kg) +190 with Unibet Tuesday quaddie tips for Hawkesbury races Hawkesbury quadrella selections Tuesday, June 18, 2024 1-5-10 2-5-6 1-3-5-6 1-3-8-11 | Copy this bet straight to your betslip Horse racing tips View the full article

Elson Boy winning at Rosehill on Saturday. Photo: Bradleyphotos.com.au Elson Boy continued his stunning run of form at the weekend to set up a winning offshore double for Kiltannon Stables. The son of El Roca stretched his victory roll to six on the bounce when he produced another bold frontrunning performance to trump his rivals over 1300m at Rosehill on Saturday while Casa Legend struck in Hong Kong. Elson Boy was bred by Cambridge couple Mark and Lorraine Forbes, principals of breaking-in, pre-training and sales preparation operation Kiltannon Stables. He was offered through their New Zealand Bloodstock National Yearling Sale draft in 2021 and was knocked down for $20,000 to Hong Kong interests. Later that year, Elson Boy sold for $6,000 via the Inglis digital platform and has since proved an outstanding money spinner with nine career successes and more than A$340,000 from the Dubbo stable of Dar Lunn. “He is going really well and it would be nice if his sister could do something,” Forbes said. Forbes trains Tomoe Gozen and is hoping the three-year-old sibling can show a measure of the family ability with the addition of headgear at her next appearance. “She has been pretty disappointing at the races, she has showed us a lot at the trials,” he said. “She has won two and been placed and will go to Te Aroha on Sunday and hopefully with the blinkers applied we can see a different horse.” Forbes also has a juvenile half-sister to the pair by Preferment. “She is going through the system and will probably have a jump-out this preparation, she is going to need more time,” he said. They are out of the late Pour Moi mare Caramia, whose pedigree page features the Group 1 New Zealand 1000 Guineas (1600m) winners Insouciant, Media Sensation and Dorabella who also claimed an edition of the Group 1 Captain Cook Stakes (1600m). Caramia, whose racing career was prematurely ended by knee issues, was sold with her Embellish colt via gavelhouse.com last year for $2,500. Hong Kong winner Casa Legend is a son of the late Tavistock bred by Cambridge Stud and sold on their behalf during the 2020 Book 2 sale at Karaka by Kiltannon Stables. He was purchased by Sam Lennox for $16,000 and relocated to Hong Kong following a trial win at Waverley. Meanwhile, Forbes will again be selling at the Inglis Ready2Race Sale and NZB’s Ready To Run Sale under his Kiltannon banner later this year. “We’ll have six go to Australia and they’ll come in on July 1 and we’ve got 12 on our books for New Zealand, they’ll come in on August 1,” he said. Horse racing news View the full article

A successful season is nearing a close for Cody Cole and the Matamata trainer has three strong chances to extend his personal best tally of winners on Wednesday at Pukekohe Park. Among Cole’s 24 wins this term, a career-best figure after recording 23 last season, was Renegade Rebel’s (NZ) (El Roca) Listed Gingernuts Salver (2100m) victory in January, assisting in his $765,695 in stakes earnings. Gerry Harvey’s colours have figured prominently in Cole’s success, and Part Time Lover (NZ) (Swiss Ace) will aim to add another win for the combination when she contests the Acknowledging ATR Partners 1200 on Wednesday. The daughter of Swiss Ace was eye-catching when breaking maidens at Woodville early last month ahead of Knights Realm (NZ) (Castledale), who has won two subsequent races, while Part Time Lover finished fourth in her sole appearance since. “She was probably just a touch disappointing at Te Rapa last start, seeing what the second horse from Woodville has done since,” Cole said. “I think the long trip down to Woodville with a two-week backup may have just knocked her around a little bit and she didn’t quite perform up to her best. “Her work indicates she’ll take some beating on Wednesday, and if the best version of her turns up, she’s got to be one of our better chances. “Being the end of the day in those conditions is a question mark, but she’s proven on heavy although maybe not quite this testing.” Fast-improving filly Rareza (NZ) (Exosphere) showed her potential when narrowly falling short to three-race winner Pokuru Gold (NZ) (Darci Brahma) over 1200m last start, and she will face a step-up in distance in the Auckland Co-Op Taxis 1400. “She was super in her last run, she ran into a pretty nice horse there,” Cole said. “Parmar (Niranjan Parmar, jockey) said she actually had a bit more left but just hit the front, knocked off and wasn’t able to pick back up again. “She’s up to 1400 which I think will suit her, hopefully the track isn’t out of her range being a bit wetter than she’s run on before. If she cops that and runs up to her work, she should be a pretty good chance. “She’s still a work in progress, I don’t think we’ll see the best of her for another preparation or two yet.” Completing Cole’s representatives will be Camden (NZ) (El Roca), another Harvey-bred and owned filly who made a strong impression with a luckless trip on debut and will step out over the mile. “She went really well on debut, she was four-wide in the open at Taupo and didn’t give it away. She’s got that real toughness about her and I think that’ll take her a long way on the heavy going,” Cole said. “She’s a super genuine filly and she’ll be another that’ll be better next preparation, the penny hasn’t quite dropped yet but she’s a runner’s chance on Wednesday.” Cole will enjoy a rare weekend away from the races following the midweek meeting, with the focus now with his spring prospects, including the return of stakes-placed juvenile Renovations (NZ) (Ardrossan) and promising four-year-old Navigator (NZ) (El Roca). “At this stage, we’ll have nothing running over the weekend and are just about shut down for the season now. We’ve got a handful left to race, then we’ll be looking forward to the Hawke’s Bay carnival,” he said. “Renovations came back into the stable last week and she’s one we are really looking forward to this spring. Navigator is also coming back this week, and Kind Thoughts is looking for good tracks, so she’ll be out for a few more weeks yet. “We’ve got some younger types that look to have good upside, so fingers crossed we’re in for a good season.” View the full article

Ghazzah (Akeed Mofeed) was purchased earlier this year to fill a void in Olivia Duffy’s racing team, and he has proven to be an astute purchase by the Hawera horsewoman. The four-year-old gelding had won two of his 13 starts for previous trainer Danica Guy before he was offered on gavelhouse.com and caught the eye of Duffy who was in search of a tried horse. Retiring a couple of her older horses and with a couple of juveniles still a fair way off making it to the races, Duffy wanted to keep her hand in the racing game and felt Ghazzah ticked the box. “I had a couple of two-year-olds and I had to retire my older horse, she went to stud,” Duffy said. “I had Big Ben and he is retired and my next lot were these two-year-olds. They are in and out educating and I said to my husband, Mark, that I need a horse I can get my teeth into a little bit to keep me interested. “I like to ride my own work and I wanted to keep on going with them, but I just needed one a little bit older. I had been looking for a long time and missed out on a couple. I saw him advertised on gavelhouse and he has proven to be a superstar for us and just fits our mould.” Duffy said she immediately fell in love with Ghazzah, with his soft nature proving a hit with her younger stock, while he has also proven to be a talent on the track, placing at just his second start for Duffy before winning the Wellington Seamarket 1400 at Trentham last Saturday. “A week after we first got him I said to Mark I didn’t care if he didn’t race again, he is just an absolute gem to have around, and he works in with my babies,” Duffy said. “On Thursday before the races he worked with two two-year-olds out on the track. He goes around like a darling. He isn’t naughty and is great to have around, he does road work, he does everything. He has been a real asset to the team for us down here in regard to the other horses, with the added bonus of being able to race him. “He has been good to us. He has had three starts for us for a fifth, third and a win. Having him here has been so cool, he is such a neat horse.” Duffy was hesitant heading into the weekend, unsure how her new pride and joy would handle the Heavy10 Trentham surface after placing on a Good4 at Hawera the start prior. But he proved she needn’t have worried, getting up on the line by half a head over Knock Off. “I was worried about Trentham,” she said. “We all know what the track can be like down there at this time of the year. I know the horse has a huge heart and I knew he was fit and has a little bit of talent on his side, but I was concerned about the surface. “I didn’t think he would like the wet, but he seemed to handle it alright, and it was a gutsy win.” Ghazzah will now enjoy some time in the paddock before returning for some late winter targets. “He has pulled up enormous, he is as bright as a button,” Duffy said. “We are wary of that (heavy) surface taking a bit out of him, so he will have the week off and he will tell us what he wants to do after that.” Horses have been a lifelong passion for Duffy, however, training was the furthest thing from her mind until she was encouraged to take out her license by her husband 15 years ago. “I have loved horses since I was a little girl,” she said. “Neither of my parents would know the front end of a horse from the back end. I have always had farming in my blood, so animals have always been a big part in my life. “We are sheep and beef farmers here at Ararata. I was dealing with horses when I met Mark and I was breeding a couple, and Mark said to me one day “why don’t you get your own license”. I thought he was crazy.” Now more than 15 years on, Duffy has now recorded 11 wins and has had plenty of highlights. “Saturday was pretty good, it is always good to win on a big racecourse like that,” she said. “My highlight as a trainer was winning the Te Awamutu Cup with Big Ben. He was a real warhorse who had a lot of physical problems, but he gave it his best every single time. “We have still got Big Ben and Austin Road here, who we won five races with as well. They will stay here until they cross the rainbow. The horses are a passion for me. They are not just here for a job, they are something I love. They cost me a heap, but hey, they give me plenty back. “There is something about working with an animal and getting the best out of them. Racing has been good to me. It is hard game, but those sweet nuts that you get now and then keep you going.” Duffy enjoys heading into Hawera Racecourse every day to work her small team, however, she said she does take advantage of their farm as well. “We live on a sheep and beef farm and it is not always conducive, especially in the wet weather, to working the horses here,” she said. “They go to the track each day, but a couple of days of the week I like to try and do a bit of road work or farm work just for something different for them to keep their mind fresh. It is a bit of a haul some days (to get to the track), but when you get results like Saturday it is certainly easier to slip the slippers off and put the gummies on. “I just love to get up in the mornings and go to work with my horses. They are my mates at the same time. I do everything with them so it is even more rewarding, especially when you can get there with one you have bred.” View the full article

After several tries and a couple of near misses in the feature races, Kong Fu Panda (NZ) (Showcasing) finally landed the knock-out blow when he revelled on a very wet track to win the RM150,000 BYD Ipoh Gold Vase over 1100m at Perak Turf Club in Malaysia on Sunday. With in-form jockey Rizuan Shafiq in the saddle, Kong Fu Panda raced in midfield till the course proper. At the 400m he had worked to be just behind the leaders before drawing clear to win by two and three-quarters lengths. After taking local racing by storm with seven wins in 2021 and 2022, the son of Showcasing beat all but Black Thorn (NZ) (Redwood) in the Selangor Gold Cup (1600m) in 2022. The New Zealand gelding gave some very good performances against the best last year but was placed six times without winning. Kong Fu Panda finally returned to the winner’s circle in March when he won the Chairman’s Trophy, a race restricted to five-year-olds & below over 1400m at Selangor. Kong Fu Panda was headed for victory in the Tunku Gold Cup (1200m) a month later but was caught on the line by Cheval Blanc (Red Jazz), beaten by a head. “He was unlucky when beaten a head by Cheval Blanc in the Tunku Gold Cup,” said trainer Tiang Kim Choi. “He worked well on Tuesday but with the rain today, I didn’t know how he was going to handle the going. In the end, it was a very impressive performance on the soft track. He won convincingly, he’s a fighter and there will be more wins coming from him. Kong Fu Panda, a grandson of Gr.1 Thorndon Mile winner Silver Chalice (NZ) (St Hilarion), has now taken his record to nine wins and ten placings from 30 starts. “I didn’t do much on him today”, said jockey Rizuan Shafiq who had a winning double with Golden Cup (NZ) (Turn Me Loose) in the opening race. “He travelled well behind the leaders and when he got to better ground in the last 300m, he went into another gear. No one’s going to catch him today, he was just too good. “I was not worried about the (soft) going because I know the horse well. He could handle it and run all day.” Kong Fu Panda was sold out of the draft of Martindale Stud at the 2020 Karaka Book 2 Sale then sold by Kilmore Farm at the Ready To Run Sale where trainer Tiang Kim Choi paid NZ$38,000 for the son of Showcasing. View the full article