Wandering Eyes

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

A Heavy 10 track at Pukekohe Park was the key to Loch Katrine’s (NZ) (Ardrossan) biggest career success as a juvenile, and the filly will meet the same conditions when contesting the SkyCity Horizon 1600 on Wednesday. The daughter of Ardrossan won the Listed Champagne Stakes (1600m) in April last year and has been a consistent performer without adding another victory for Matamata trainer Stephen Autridge. “When she won as a two-year-old it was very heavy and basically every time she runs on that sort of track she’s been in the money,” he said. “We’re looking forward to the wetter track on Wednesday with her and from now on. “We’ll have to see where we go now with her, she’s a three-year-old filly but those races are basically finished, so we’ve just got to go through the grades now.” Loch Katrine will be ridden by Autridge’s apprentice Maria Sanson, who was successful in both of her two riding assignments at Te Rapa last Saturday and claims three kilograms off the filly’s 58kg impost. “She’s been jumping well, but the jockeys have just been letting her drift back in her races. We’re going to try to ride her a little bit closer to the pace, so she doesn’t have so much to make up,” Autridge said. “With three kilos off her back from gate five, we should be in a nice spot.” Sanson has recorded 10 wins this season in the saddle and is nearing her career best of 13 from last term, despite several setbacks with injury over the duration of her apprenticeship. “She’s getting more and more rides, and she continues to improve,” Autridge said. “The good thing is, I think she has been granted extra time in her apprenticeship because she has had a few setbacks and time away, which will be good for her.” Autridge will have a sole representative over the weekend in Midnight Monarch, a three-year-old filly by Snitzel who will resume in the maiden 1200m contest at Te Aroha. “She has shown us quite a lot at home, but had to have a little chip taken out of her fetlock which has had her away from the races for some time,” Autridge said. View the full article

Elson Boy (NZ) (El Roca) 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 (NZ) (Tavistock) 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 (NZ) (El Roca) 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 (NZ), whose pedigree page features the Gr.1 New Zealand 1000 Guineas (1600m) winners Insouciant (NZ) (Keeper), Media Sensation (I Am Invincible) and Dorabella (NZ) (Postponed) who also claimed an edition of the Gr.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. View the full article

Matamata trainer Cody Cole. Photo: Trish Dunell 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 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 will aim to add another win for the combination on Wednesday. The daughter of Swiss Ace was eye-catching when breaking maidens at Woodville early last month ahead of Knights Realm, 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 showed her potential when narrowly falling short to three-race winner Pokuru Gold over 1200m last start, and she will face a step-up in distance. “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, 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 and promising four-year-old Navigator. “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.” Horse racing news View the full article

Tabcorp has appointed former AFL boss Gillon McLachlan as the new Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer. McLachlan, who will join Tabcorp on August 5, finished at the AFL at the conclusion of the 2023 season having presided over a tough period, including the covid pandemic and subsequent “player bubbles”, AFL expansion teams GWS and Gold Coast’s growing pains and the birth of the AFLW. The appointment of McLachlan will now be finalised upon regulatory approval and he will act in an observer capacity, while Bruce Akhurst continues as Executive Chairman. “Tabcorp is a wagering, broadcast and integrity services business and the challenges of growing it are appealing,” McLachlan said. “It’s about creating entertainment for our customers in a safe way and providing a unique customer omni-channel entertainment offering across digital, retail and the media business. “Tabcorp is a proudly Australian company that contributed $1.1 billion to the racing industry last year and continues to be one of the racing industry’s biggest partners, as well as the wagering licensee in all states, except for WA. This is a really important component of my decision. “There are enormous opportunities ahead and I’m looking forward to driving the sport category among other things. Tabcorp is part way through its transformation journey and I’m looking forward to working with the leadership team to accelerate and deliver on the growth opportunities.” McLachlan will draw on his considerable business and media clout in his new role, with a big part of his AFL success driven by the bottom line. Under his stewardship, the AFL more than doubled its revenue from $502m in 2013 to $1,063 million in 2023, including striking the biggest broadcasting rights deal in Australian history. McLachlan has long been a figure in Victorian and Australian racing and has been seen regularly on-course at various race tracks. He has owned and bred several horses that have tasted success. Akhurst said the appointment of McLachlan was huge for Tabcorp and believed he has the understanding of wagering sport and racing to continue its growth. McLachlan’s penchant for horse racing was well-known in AFL circles and attracted criticism from some AFL fans, who have long been lobbying for, and sometimes successfully, enforcing more regulations around wagering advertising. However by fostering closer links to gambling companies, including both the AFL and clubs, McLachlan and team have undoubtedly increased the commercial viability of the competition. “Gill needs no introduction – he is recognised as one of Australia’s leading CEOs and securing Gill is a great vote of confidence for Tabcorp’s future,” Akhurst said. “We’ve laid strong foundations and Gill brings a growth mindset and the capability to capitalise on the opportunities ahead of us. “Gill has a deep understanding of sport, racing and wagering, combined with signficant commercial acumen which was highlighted in the substantial growth of AFL revenues under his leadership. “Importantly for us, Gill brings an added dimension of having been responsible for some of the most significant media rights deals in Australian sports history and we’re excited about the potential growth opportunities for our wagering and media business under his leadership.” Mr Akhurst said Tabcorp is well placed to enter this next phase of transformation and growth. “In the two years since demerger we have signficantly improved our customer offering and delivered key structural reforms in Queensland and Victoria. The transformation of Tabcorp is not complete and I am delighted that Gill is joining us to continue to drive change and growth,” he said. McLachlan, who had previously been linked to a Racing Victoria Chairman role, has a Bachelor of Laws from Melbourne University (Hons), a Bachelor of Commerce from Adelaide University and has completed the Senior Executive Program at Stanford University. Our take on Gillon McLachlan’s appointment as TAB CEO? Businesses with such a public profile need a powerful frontman and McLachlan is as polished as any administrator in Australia. While Tabcorp is undoubtedly in a challenging position and has even been bumped as the no.1 wagering operator at times by Sportsbet, they are still a prominent Australian brand. We have seen what a polished marketing man can do for a sporting league or business with Racing NSW Chief Executive Peter V’landys impact on the NRL, since taking over as Chairman of the Australian Rugby League Commission in 2018, undeniable. Like V’landys, McLachlan won’t hesitate to make the tough decision and expect to see significant changes under his stewardship. Horse racing news View the full article

Fawkner Park cruises to victory in the Q22. Photo: Darren Winningham Following his dominant performance to win Saturday’s Group 2 Q22 (2200m) at Eagle Farm, the Annabel Neasham-trained Fawkner Park was propelled into $14 favouritism with horse racing betting sites for the Group 1 Caulfield Cup (2400m) on October 19. The gelding’s victory in the $1.2 million feature grants him ballot exemption from the Caulfield showpiece. Managing part-owner Nathan Bennett confirmed to Racing.com on Sunday that the Caulfield Cup is indeed the plan for Fawkner Park this upcoming spring. “I thought he’d take a bit of beating and obviously the market suggested that, but to win by that margin with that ease was really exciting,” Neasham told 7 Racing. “We’ve seen so many horses in the past two to three years run really well here in Queensland and then go on to have big springs. “I’ll obviously chat with Bennett Racing, but I’m sure the Caulfield Cup will be circled in the calendar to work back from.” Horse racing news View the full article

Trainer Anthony Freedman. (Photo by Brett Holburt/Racing Photos) Cadmus’ barnstorming victory in the last race at Sandown on Saturday was not only thoroughly impressive but also marked Anthony Freedman’s 1000th win as a trainer. Anthony, the third eldest of the Freedman clan, established his own stables at the start of the 2012/13 season. Before his son Sam joined him in partnership in 2020, he initially trained with his brother Lee for a few years. Freedman celebrated two winners on Saturday, with Arqana securing his 999th win before Cadmus brought up the milestone. Jye McNeil, who rode both horses, expressed his delight to Racing.com at being part of Freedman’s landmark achievement. “Congratulations to the team on the 1,000 winners, it’s a great achievement, and great to contribute,” McNeil said. “I’ve ridden for them off and on for a long time now; it’s been a great ride and hopefully, it can continue.” Horse racing news View the full article

It took every inch of the 1 3/4-mile distance, but Planetario got up in time to repeat in the $100,000 San Juan Capistrano Stakes (G3T) at Santa Anita Park June 16 while breaking his own track record.View the full article

Trainer Terry Gillett and jockey Stan Tsaikos, pictured after winning the Pioneer Sprint (1200m) with Supreme Attraction during the 2023 Alice Springs Cup Carnival, combined once again on Sunday as Dakota Lee claimed victory at Pioneer Park. (Picture: Nikki Westover Photography) Not only did trainer Terry Gillett celebrate a winning treble at Alice Springs on Sunday, but his star sprinter Dakota Lee also broke a long-standing track record. The five-year-old mare kept her unbeaten Pioneer Park record alive with victory in an open handicap where she won by 3.7 lengths and ran the fastest-ever 1200m in the Red Centre. The Lynne Williams-trained High Revs stopped the clock at 1:07.91 in the Pioneer Sprint (1200m) during the 2000 Alice Springs Cup Carnival, with Dakota Lee setting a new mark of 1:07.85. It was a shot in the arm for Gillett, as the daughter of Kuroshio has attracted unfortunate headlines for the two years when she refused to enter the gates after developing claustrophobia. After winning seven straight at the start of her career, Dakota Lee was scratched from the 2022 NT Guineas (1600m) when she wouldn’t load. The issue only persisted, and it was 22 months before she returned to racing when ninth in a 1000m BM64 at Moonee Valley in February. Jumping as the $2.60 favourite with online bookmakers on Sunday, Dakota Lee shared the early lead when she sat outside Castlereagh Lid before jockey Stan Tsaikos edged clear at the 700m, and from that point it was all over as a contest. The Greg Connor-trained Flying Start ($13), Alice Springs’ Horse of the Year in 2022, was returning from an 11-month spell and impressed by finishing second, while Gillett’s Supreme Times ($8) was third. Speculation will only intensify as to whether or not Gillett will send Dakota Lee to Darwin for the Palmerston Sprint (1200m) in August. It was another win for trainer Gillett and Tsaikos when Altar Boy, a $1.28 favourite, kicked clear at the 500m to overcome Will Savage’s Fantasy Eagle ($5.50) and Ray Viney’s Zoustorm ($19) by 2.9 lengths in a 1400m 0-58 affair. It was back-to-back wins for Altar Boy, formerly based in Townsville, with the four-year-old gelding setting a new class record of 1:22.20 — eclipsing the previous mark of 1:22.33 set by Texas Miller four years ago. Gillett looked on as Li’lmissprancealot ($8.50), ridden by Dakota-Lee Gillett, led from start to finish to win the 1400m maiden by 3.7 lengths. It took Li’lmissprancealot, who jumped from the inside gate, 12 starts to break the ice, with the four-year-old mare proving too good for Savage’s Becquerel ($3.50) and Lisa Whittle’s Another Val ($3.30 fav). Gillett (22) now sits one win adrift of leader Paul Gardner in the 2023/24 Alice Springs trainers’ premiership. Horse racing news View the full article

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You have to root for the people who strive so hard to make a go of racing in Northern California after Golden Gate Fields shut its doors for good June 9. Racing has a rich history in Northern California and there are hundreds of people, from hotwalkers to grooms to trainers to breeders, and everybody in between, who depend on the sport to put food on the table. They deserve better than the uncertainty that has left most everyone worrying about their futures after The Stronach Group announced it was closing Golden Gate Fields, which had been operating since 1941. But if the first weekend of the post-Golden Gate Fields era is any indication, this is going to be a tough battle to win. The first of the five fair tracks that make up the California Authority of Racing Fairs (CARF) circuit, opened Friday and the numbers were not good. Pleasanton ran six races on Friday, opening day, and attracted only 33 runners. On Saturday, they ran seven races and there were just 38 starters. That works out to an average of 5.46 starters per race. They fared a little bit better on Sunday, when they were able to cobble together an eight-race card with 51 horses entered. That makes for a bad betting product, but the handle numbers were actually up from last year. The total handle over the first two days was $1,840,674. Last year, the combined handle on the first two days at Pleasanton was $1,501,424. The gain was 22.5 percent. But that was hardly a cause for celebration. The betting public sent a message loud and clear, that wagering on small fields at racetracks people aren't that familiar with is a very tough sell. Averaging $920,337 a day might work for a short fair meet, but the goal in Northern California is to turn Pleasanton into the hub for a circuit that runs for at least six months. The biggest problems the CARF tracks face are horse population and field size. Golden Gate had to cancel racing five times over the last two months because it didn't have enough horses to fill cards. The only way to get bigger fields is to increase purses, but it doesn't look like the public is going to bet enough on these tracks to make it happen. It only figures to get worse since California breeders are likely to cut back with so much uncertainty facing racing not just in the North but in the South as well. California-breds are vital to filling cards in Northern California and their numbers continue to decline. As recently as 2015, 1,855 horses were foaled in the state. In 2022, the number was 1,310. And that's likely to drop even further. A turf course would help. But Pleasanton doesn't have one. The only CARF track that does is Santa Rosa, but its entire 2024 racing season comes down to just nine days. Golden Gate Fields | Shane Micheli/Vassar Photography In past years, the fairs would host racing from mid-June to late October and then Golden Gate would re-open and begin its long meet, which stretched out over nearly nine months. This year racing will return to Pleasanton on Oct. 19 and the meet will be run by a group calling itself Golden State Racing. That meet will run through late December. Then what? Who will hold racing in Northern California during the first five months of 2025? That doesn't mean that someone won't try. Racing officials in the northern portion of the state seem determined to formulate a plan that will save racing in the region. When the California Horse Racing Board met in March and approved the Golden State Racing meet at Pleasanton, CARF CEO Larry Swartzlander issued a statement that was brimming with optimism. “We brought together the best and the brightest of our sport,” Swartzlander said. “Our commitment was to develop a horse racing plan that is modern, enhances the economic and social health of the community, is safe for the horses and jockeys, fun for our fans and generates excitement in Northern California. “[Pleasanton] provides a financially sound location. We anticipate more dynamic racing fields, higher purses, and betting opportunities that enhance the fun. At the same time, we have adhered closely to ideas offered by experts as we continue focusing on the health of our horses and jockeys.” That's all well and good and Swartzlander and his team deserve the chance of what amounts to pulling a rabbit out of their hat. But the bottom line is sobering: not enough horses, only limited opportunities on the grass, handles too small to generate even medium-sized purses, no plans in place yet for next year, plus no chance of receiving money from casinos or slot machines. Northern California racing was having a tough enough time as it was when Golden Gate was still around. With what is left over, how can racing in that part of the state survive? One can only hope. Fierceness's Little Brother Wins The news on last year's 2-year-old champion Fierceness (City of Light) has not been good of late. After a poor showing in the GI Kentucky Derby he was supposed to reappear in the GI Belmont S. but did not run because trainer Todd Pletcher felt he needed more time and is now pointing the colt to the GI Haskell S. In the meantime, Pletcher could have a new star on his hands and it's Fierceness's full-brother, Mentee (City of Light). He turned his debut Saturday at Aqueduct into a winning one when beating six others in a maiden special weight race. He won by only a nose, but it looked like rider John Velazquez was overconfident in the stretch and wasn't aware that Colloquial (Vekoma) was making a strong late run down the middle of the track. Over time it will be interesting to compare Fierceness and Mentee to see if Mentee has any of the same quirks that have hurt Fierceness and turned him into the sport's most erratic horse. More Good News on Break Down Rates According to a metrics report, HISA announced last week that over the first quarter of 2024 there was a 38 percent decrease in racing-related fatalities year-over-year. The numbers were derived only from tracks that HISA has control over. But if the data holds up throughout the year, the number of racing-related fatalities per one thousand starts will have dipped all the way to 0.89. In 2009, the first year that the Jockey Club started recording fatalities, the number was 2.0 per 1,000 starters. Fifteen years later, the number has never dipped below 1.0. The sport has come together and done an excellent job when it comes to addressing breakdowns. But the goal must remain to reduce the overall number to as few as possible. The post Week In Review: Northern California Racing Begins Its Uphill Battle For Survival appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Working for Bob Baffert were Arabian Knight, who worked a bullet five furlongs in :59 1/5, and Reincarnate who went four furlongs in :49 1/5. Arabian Knight has been sidelined since a fourth-place finish in the Nov. 4 Breeders' Cup Classic. View the full article

Favored to defend his title in Sunday's GIII San Juan Capistrano S., Planetario (Brz) didn't disappoint, breaking his own track record over the 1 3/4-mile distance at Santa Anita in the process. Installed the 3-5 choice to repeat, the 6-year-old settled at the back as longshots Bee Catcher (English Channel) and Rimprotector (Point of Entry) led through moderate opening fractions. Turning for home, 5-2 second choice Rockemperor closed from the outside, while Planetario launched his bid down the center of course. While the former appeared to be en route to victory, the Brazilian bred had the most momentum, sweeping to the front late to post his first victory of the season. A dual Group 1 winner in his native Brazil, Planetario made his initial six starts in the US, topped by wins in this race last June and the 12-furlong GII Hollywood Turf Cup at Del Mar in November. This season, he finished runner-up behind Missed the Cut in both the 10-furlong GIII San Marcos S. Feb. 10 and the GIII San Luis Rey S. over 1 1/2 miles Mar. 23. Favored in his latest, he came home a close-up third in the May 4 GII Charles Whittingham S. Pedigree Notes: Il Doge, Brazil's champion 2-year-old colt in 2014, is a son of Overbrook Farm homebred and 1998 GI Florida Derby winner Cape Town. Despite extremely small reported crops, he is the sire of two Brazilian Group 1 winners. Planetario's female family traces directly back to the Calumet Farm homebred Nellie Flag, who was sired by Man O' War's son American Flag and was Calumet's initial champion. The champion 2-year-old filly of 1934, Nellie Flag became a foundation mare for Calumet. In addition to producing champion Mar-Kell and Kentucky Oaks winner Nellie L., her descendants include three-time Horse of the Year Forego and Kentucky Derby winner Bold Forbes. Watch as Hector Berrios and #6 Planetario (Brz) run down #2 Rockemperor (Ire) to win Santa Anita's $100,000 San Juan Capistrano (G3)! pic.twitter.com/xOvRvuIBRD — FanDuel Racing (@FanDuel_Racing) June 16, 2024 The post Planetario Breaks His Own Track Record To Win Another GIII San Juan Capistrano S. At Santa Anita appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Three Chimneys Farm's grade 1 winning stallion Volatile was represented by his first winner June 16 as Aguas de Cristal won the fifth race, a five-furlong maiden special weight, at Monmouth Park.View the full article

Sparkling Plenty showed a superb burst of speed from the back of the pack to run down co-favored Tamfana in a scrambled finish in the Prix de Diane (G1) at Chantilly June 16.View the full article

The Goffs London Sale scaled new heights in 2022 when G1 Derby runner-up Hoo Ya Mal (GB) (Territories {Ire}) sold to Gai Waterhouse, Adrian Bott and Johnny McKeever for £1.2 million, while last year that sum was very nearly matched when the G3 Marble Hill S. winner Givemethebeatboys was bought by Bronson Racing for £1.1 million, less than 24 hours before his commendable fourth-place finish in the G2 Coventry S. at Royal Ascot. Those results leave the 2024 edition of the London Sale with quite the act to follow, but the strength of the catalogue suggests it could well prove equal to the task, with 23 lots–including a number of Royal Ascot contenders–set to be offered when the great and good of the racing and breeding communities descend on Kensington Palace Gardens on Monday for the sale's tenth anniversary. The catalogue received the ultimate update on Sunday when Sparkling Plenty (Fr) (Kingman {GB}) (lot 11) won the G1 Prix de Diane at Chantilly. It would be quite the coup for the London Sale should her connections proceed with their plans to offer the Classic-winning full-sister to the G3 Jersey S. scorer Noble Truth (Fr), out of a half-sister to the six-time top-level winner Stacelita (Fr) (Monsun {Ger}). Classic runner-up Queues Likely (GB) (lot 9) is another potential highlight of the sale, last seen chasing home Darnation (Ire) in the G2 German 1,000 Guineas. Bred by Mickley Stud–who stand Queues Likely's sire, Massaat (Ire)–she is the winner of five of her 13 starts for Stan Moore and holds a special place in the heart of Mickley's Richard Kent because of the circumstances in which he bought the dam, Bakoura (GB). “There was a lovely man who used to milk cows and was an apprentice when he was a young fella,” Kent began. “Anyway, he got out of horses and always wanted to get back into them, but his circumstances didn't allow it. He begged me for years to take him to a sale, so I took him to the Foal Sale in Goffs a few years ago. He had the most fantastic week and helped us out. “He asked me if he could stay on for the Mares Sale [at Goffs] and I begrudgingly said 'yes'. I was going to Newmarket and I suddenly remembered he didn't have a passport. He'd never been on a plane in his life and he'd never been on a boat, only when he went over with the foals. So, I told my sister Nicola to buy the dam of Queues Likely so that he could get a lift back to Mickley on the lorry and we could get him home safely to his wife–he was in his 70s. “Nicola bought the mare for €3,500 for me and the first foal was a Rajasinghe who made 50,000gns and won three times. Then she had this Massaat filly and just to breed a filly like that, by your own stallion and out of a mare who you bought to do a fella a good turn, it was kind of an emotional result [when Queues Likely finished second in the German 1,000 Guineas].” Looking ahead to Monday's London Sale, Kent added, “The vet told Stan Moore that she'd never seen such a fantastic specimen. She said it normally takes her two and a half hours to write a veterinary report and this one would take her two and a half minutes. She's a high-quality horse and very genuine. She doesn't seem ground dependent–she's won on all grounds and on the all-weather surfaces as well. I think she'll be attractive to people from all over the world.” Incidently, Kent was celebrating success on the world stage again on Saturday when Tax Implications (GB) (Mehmas {Ire}), bred by his daughter, Aoife, won the GIII Eatontown S. at Monmouth Park for Chad Brown and Klaravich Stables, while the same connections were represented by Unit Economics (GB) (Showcasing {GB}), co-bred by Mickley Stud and successful in a maiden special weight at Belmont At The Big A. “We bought her mother for £2,500,” Kent said of Tax Implications. “I sold a foal to Roger O'Callaghan a few years ago and part of the deal was that I was to send a mare back to his stallion. He rang me up to remind me and tell me off in April, so I sent the mare out that night. I think the stallion he'd wanted to cover her with was too busy, so I said cover her with whatever you want. “I didn't actually know she was in foal to Mehmas until she foaled the following year. It was a nice surprise–Mehmas is flying–and she was a lovely filly. We covered the mare last year with Supremacy and she had a nice filly last week who is very similar to her [Tax Implications].” The influence of Mickley Stud is likely to be felt strongly at Royal Ascot this week, with stallion sensation Havana Grey (GB)–co-bred by Mickley and the late Lady Lonsdale–set to be represented by the likes of Vandeek (GB) and Elite Status (GB). Before then, Havana Grey has the potential to make headlines at the London Sale when lot 3, a breeding right in the stallion, goes under the hammer. Other standout lots include an unraced Kingman (GB) two-year-old filly out of the six-time Group 1 winner Laurens (Fr) (Siyouni {Fr}) (lot 6) and Adrian Keatley's Listed-winning juvenile Francisco's Piece (GB) (Mayson {GB}) (lot 10). Attendance is strictly by invitation only, with the auction scheduled to begin at 5pm. The post Classic Form To The Fore At Goffs London Sale appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Driver Penalties D Grundmann | Auckland 13 June; out of position at start; fined $100. E Johnson | Auckland 13 June; out of position at start; fined $100. B Hackett | Auckland 13 June; use of whip; fined $300. S Hill | NZ Metropolitan 14 June; use of whip; suspended 15-23 June inclusive. L Dobbs | NZ Metropolitan 16 June; use of whip; suspended 24 June – 14 July inclusive. A Clark | NZ Metropolitan 16 June; breach of push out rule; fined $200. Trainer Penalties G Smith | NZ Metropolitan 14 June; late to present runner on course; fined $100. T Bagrie | NZ Metropolitan 16 June; incorrect gear; fined $100. P & M Robertson | NZ Metropolitan 16 June; failed to report horse treatment; fined $200. C & J De Filippi | NZ Metropolitan 16 June; colour fee; fined $25. Horse Penalties THE MOONSTONE | Auckland 13 June; broke in running; must complete trial. WAIKARI BARB | NZ Metropolitan 16 June; broke at start; must complete mobile start trial. CRUISE LINER | NZ Metropolitan 16 June; atrial fibrillation; veterinary clearance including ECG required and must complete trial. Protests BOSS KENNY | Auckland 13 June; excessive galloping in home straight; disqualified from 4th. CLOVELLY HILL | NZ Metropolitan 14 June; excessive galloping during race; disqualified from 4th. BLACK MACH | NZ Metropolitan 14 June; denied a fair start; declared a non-runner. AMALFI | NZ Metropolitan 16 June; denied a fair start; declared a non-runner. The post 10-16 June 2024 appeared first on RIB. View the full article

On a sunny Sunday afternoon at Monmouth Park, it was Aguas de Cristal (Volatile–Cedar Hall, by Bayern) who accelerated down the lane to break her maiden at first asking and hand her freshman sire his first winner. Her dam's first foal and as a 7-2 shot here, the juvenile pursued favorite Me Governor (The Factor) up the backstretch. As the pair separated themselves from the rest of the field, they began to trade blows into the lane. With a sixteenth left, it was clear Aguas de Cristal had more in the tank and she blazed home a winner by four lengths. The final running time was :58.82. First-crop sire Volatile, who stands at Three Chimneys, has 124 foals of racing age to his credit. Lifetime Record: 1-1-0-0. Sales History: $75,000 '23 KEESEP. O-Strike Stable; B-Woodford Thoroughbreds LLC (Ky); T-Jorge Delgado. The post Aguas de Cristal Hands Sire Volatile His First Winner At Monmouth Park appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

There was a slew of notable workers on a sunny Father's Day Sunday at Santa Anita. Working for Bob Baffert were Grade I winner Arabian Knight (5f, :59.20) and Reincarnate (4f, :49.20). Arabian Knight has been sidelined since a fourth-place finish in the Nov. 4 GI Breeders' Cup Classic at Santa Anita. Reincarnate most recently was second in the GII Hollywood Gold Cup May 27. Trainer John Sadler worked Tapalo (Tapiture), who a seven-length winner of the May 12 Lazaro Barrera S. at seven furlongs. The ridgling drilled six furlongs in 1:12.80. Tapalo is targeting the 1 1/8-mile Los Alamitos Derby June 29. Johannes (Nyquist) had his first work for trainer Tim Yakteen since taking the May 27 GI Shoemaker Mile. The 4-year-old colt worked four furlongs in :48.60. Trainer Peter Eurton worked his stakes-winning triumvirate of Exaulted (Twirling Candy), Medoro (Honor Code) and Stay Hot (Summer Front). Exaulted, winner of last year's GI Shoemaker Mile at Santa Anita, earned a bullet when working five furlongs in :59.60. The 7-year-old hasn't started since last September when second in the GII Del Mar Mile. Medoro, who is a perfect 4-for-4 with three stakes wins, worked four furlongs on the main track in :47.60. The 3-year-old filly most recently won the Apr. 20 GIII Providencia S. at Santa Anita. Stay Hot, a three-time stakes winner including last December's GIII Cecil B. DeMille at Del Mar, drilled three furlongs in :37.60. It was the 3-year-old's first work since shipping to Churchill Downs and finishing last in the GII American Turf on the Kentucky Derby undercard May 4. Trainer Chief Stipe O'Neill worked stakes winners Happy Jack (Oxbow), E J Won the Cup (Omaha Beach, Anarchist (Distorted Humor) and Miss Lizzy (Classic Empire). Happy Jack, winner of the GII Triple Bend S. June 1, returned to the tab with a four furlong move in :49.20. E J Won the Cup, who collected his second stakes win in the May 27 Texas Derby at Lone Star Park, drilled four furlongs in :48.80. GSW Anarchist, who is on the comeback trail, worked five furlongs in 1:02.00. Miss Lizzy earned a bullet when working four furlongs on the training track in :46.80. Also working on the comeback trail was Masteroffoxhounds (War Front) for trainer Phil D'Amato. Off since finishing 13th in last year's GI Breeders' Cup Mile, Masteroffoxhounds worked five furlongs in 1:01.20. D'Amato also worked multiple graded stakes winners Balnikhov (Ire) (Adaay {Ire}) and Desert Dawn (Cupid). Balnikhov, recent winner of the GIII Dinner Party S. on the Preakness undercard at Plimlico May 18, went three furlongs on the training track in :36.60. Desert Dawn went three furlongs in :36.60. She has been off since a third-place finish in the Apr. 21 GII Santa Maria S. at Santa Anita. There were a combined 184 timed workouts on the main track and training track. The post Santa Anita’s Sunday Worktab Stacked With Stakes Winners appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Trainer Danny Gargan's stable is humming along at a nice clip in the wake of celebrating a little over a week ago his first Grade I win with Dornoch (Good Magic) in the Belmont S. and with Society Man (Good Magic) taking the GIII Matt Winn S. at Churchill Downs a day later. Gargan stopped by the TDN Writers' Room podcast for a conversation. Finally, to cap his stellar week, Complexion (Complexity) broke her maiden at first asking during the Belmont at the Big A meet on Friday, which earned the 2-year-old filly 'TDN Rising Star' honors. Now, the trainer is making summer plans. A half-sister to MGISW and current sire Jack Christopher (Munnings), Complexion cleared the field by 6 1/2 lengths under Hall of Fame rider John Velazquez. “Johnny came back and said she's so impressive,” said Gargan. “She stumbled at the start really bad and she just picked herself up and cleared the field pretty easily. That's hard to do. If she didn't stumble, she would've been five or six lengths ahead in a minute. She's really talented.” Gargan said he will point the juvenile to the Schuylerville S. on Thursday, July 11, which is Opening Day of Saratoga Race Course. The GI Spinaway S. Aug. 31 will be the larger target. Complexion | Coglianese “The stake is coming up at Saratoga, we will train her like we are going there,” Gargan said. “Hopefully everything goes well, and we make it there. She's a talented filly, we will see how she's doing and then the Spinaway would be the ultimate goal.” The conditioner said Complexion, a chestnut with a distinct white blaze, boasts physical similarities to Jack Christopher and was pleased to see Friday's performance resemble his ability well. “Their faces are so much alike, said Gargan. “Their legs even. She definitely resembles him a ton and she's got talent like him. Knock on wood, I'm blessed, I trained a full-brother to a Derby-winner [Mage] and won the Belmont, and now I have Jack Christopher's half-sister and she looks talented. A lot of people say you can't get siblings that can run, but we've been blessed lately.” Speaking of Dornoch, the plan is still to point him towards the GII Jim Dandy S. July 27 at Saratoga or the GI Haskell S. July 20 at Monmouth Park, with the long-term goal being the GI Travers S. Aug. 24 at the Spa. Gargan said that Society Man will aim for the GIII West Virginia Derby Aug. 4 at Mountaineer Racetrack, but will also nominate him for the Jim Dandy. “I'll nominate him to it [the Jim Dandy] and see what it is coming up like, but I'm leaning towards the West Virginia Derby with him. I'll keep Dornoch probably in New York, who could run in the Haskell or Jim Dandy,” Gargan said. The post Gargan Makes Summer Plans for ‘TDN Rising Star’ Complexion appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Jaber Abdullah's Marhaba Ya Sanafi (Ire) (Muhaarar {GB}–Danega {GB}, by Galileo {Ire}) took five attempts to add to last term's G1 Poule d'Essai des Poulains heroics, doing so in March's Listed Prix Altipan at Saint-Cloud, and suffered another three reversals before regaining the winning thread in Sunday's G3 Prix Bertrand du Breuil Longines at Chantilly. Marhaba Ya Sanafi, whose only prior visit to this right-handed venue yielded a third in last term's G1 Prix du Jockey Club, went postward for this coming back off a sixth in ParisLongchamp's May 26 G1 Prix d'Ispahan and shadowed the pace–set by Left Sea (GB) (Frankel {GB})–in a close-up second after exiting the outside stall. Bustled along to tackle Left Sea passing the two pole, the 11-10 favourite forged ahead approaching the final furlong and was driven out to hold the late lunge of Andromede (Fr) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) by a head. Bullace (GB) (Toronado {Ire}) was best of the remainder and finished 2 1/2 lengths back in third. “One mile most certainly is his best trip,” said trainer Andreas Schutz. “He won the French 2000 Guineas last year and, even though he had run well over further, his best runs are over a mile. Therefore, it was not a surprise to see him win again today. His owner is keen to see him run again this season in the [Aug. 11 G1] Prix Jacques Le Marois [at Deauville], so that will be his next target.” Pedigree Notes Marhaba Ya Sanafi, half to a yearling colt by Hello Youmzain (Fr), is the fourth of six foals and one of two scorers out of an unraced half-sister to G2 Derrinstown Stud Derby Trial and G3 Ballysax S. runner-up Fergus McIver (Ire) (Sadler's Wells). The March-foaled bay's G3 Noblesse S.-winning second dam Danelissima (Ire) (Danehill) is out of the dual stakes-winning Zavaleta (Ire) (Kahyasi {Ire}), herself a daughter of stakes-winning matriarch La Meilleure (Ire) (Lord Gayle). Descendants of Zavaleta include G1 Dewhurst S.-winning sire Intense Focus (Giant's Causeway), G1 Moyglare Stud S. heroine Skitter Scatter (Scat Daddy) and last year's G1 Belmont Oaks Invitational victrix Aspen Grove (Ire) (Justify). Sunday, Chantilly, France PRIX BERTRAND DU BREUIL LONGINES-G3, €80,000, Chantilly, 6-16, 3yo/up, 8fT, 1:38.84, g/s. 1–MARHABA YA SANAFI (IRE), 130, c, 4, by Muhaarar (GB) 1st Dam: Danega (GB), by Galileo (Ire) 2nd Dam: Danelissima (Ire), by Danehill 3rd Dam: Zavaleta (Ire), by Kahyasi (Ire) O-Jaber Abdullah; B-Rabbah Bloodstock Ltd (IRE); T-Andreas Schutz; J-Mickael Barzalona. €40,000. Lifetime Record: G1SW-Fr, 14-5-3-1, €708,760. Werk Nick Rating: A+. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree, or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. 2–Andromede (Fr), 127, m, 5, Sea The Stars (Ire)–Honor Bound (GB), by Authorized (Ire). 1ST GROUP BLACK TYPE. O-Sheikh Mohammed bin Khalifa Al Thani; B-Al Shahania Stud (FR); T-Francis-Henri Graffard. €16,000. 3–Bullace (GB), 130, g, 6, Toronado (Ire)–Redstart (GB), by Cockney Rebel (Ire). (45,000gns 4yo '22 TATAUT; €10,000 RNA 5yo '23 ARQNOV). O-Sheikh Khalifa Hashir Khalifa Saeed Al Maktoum; B-A D G Oldrey & G C Hartigan (GB); T-Carlos & Yann Lerner. €12,000. Margins: HD, 2HF, 1 1/4. Odds: 1.10, 2.70, 8.10. Also Ran: Fast Raaj (Fr), Left Sea (GB), Fort Payne (Fr). Video, sponsored by FanDuel TV. The post Poulains Hero Marhaba Ya Sabafi Regains the Winning Thread at Chantilly appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

As much as trainer Chad Brown exited the Belmont Stakes Racing Festival with a couple of grade 1 victories, there was also a case of classic disappointment.View the full article