Wandering Eyes

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

I have enormous respect for TDN writer Chris McGrath and Wayne Lyster. One's an outstanding journalist and eloquent writer who works for an essential trade publication; and, the other's built a highly-successful breeding operation. I, nevertheless, must respectfully disagree with their characterization of calls for replacing dirt tracks with synthetic surfaces as “hysterical.” While I cherish racing's dirt traditions (my goodness, Man o' War is my favorite horse of all-time), I'm also mindful of existing data that explicitly show that synthetic racing is the safest surface in the U.S. Numbers aren't emotional; and that raw data has not been disproven. Just because people speak out in moments of grave concern and sorrow does not negate the validity of such data, nor does it make the call for such change grounded in “uncontrolled, extreme emotion” as the term hysterical is defined. When calls for change are based on raw numbers, it's hardly hysterical or uncontrolled. Do I think it's fantastic that this year's televised Triple Crown's races (and their undercards) were all successful in the sense that all horses and riders returned safely? Absolutely. Am I thrilled that since HISA's assumed oversight over safety that the rate of catastrophic breakdowns has significantly decreased? You better believe it. Do I think dirt tracks should continue to study the issue and implement all existing measures that make dirt racing safer? Undoubtedly–and they are–which really gives me hope. On the flip side of that question, though, is how long will racing “study” the issue of what surface is safer? This is an industry that constantly suffers from analysis paralysis simply because many of its “leaders” and major investors are averse to any kind of change, to the detriment of the sport. This is a sport constantly behind the eight ball. Let's also consider that other televised equestrian sports (i.e., Grand Prix show jumping) have already converted their dirt arenas to synthetic because it's safer. And racing is a much more dangerous sport than show jumping, even when the horses are jumping 1.6m (and everyone who insures a racehorse for mortality has experienced the high cost of premiums as compared to other sport-horses). Does racing want to be an outlier when we face similar outside pressure campaigns from animal rights extremists who don't believe horses should be used for any sport, particularly when this is a sport always at risk for another horrific breakdown on national television? These are legitimate questions that U.S. racing must consider. These are not hysterical questions. These are existential. Heightened awareness of these issues is one of the reasons the industry is making such big moves forward in this very moment. The industry seems to finally be awakened to the fact that making massive changes is desperately needed to ensure racing's social license doesn't evaporate. If the research that HISA is currently conducting regarding surface safety can show that we can consistently make dirt racing on a national level as safe as, or safer than, synthetic (or even turf) racing, I will gladly change my mind. Racing's traditions are important; and the dirt racehorse brings a level of power and strength to the breed that has impacted the sport on an international level. Until then, however, the call for synthetic isn't hysterical, it's necessary as we strive to protect not only the life of the horse, but the life of the sport. –Amanda Luby, Welbourne Stud The post Letter To The Editor: Why Calls For Synthetic Racing Surfaces Aren’t Hysterical appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Gestut Ittlingen's 3-year-old colt Narrativo (Ger) (Adlerflug {Ger}–Nicella {Ger}, by Lando {Ger}), who hit the board in last month's G3 Prix Hocquart at ParisLongchamp, was too good for eight domestic rivals on home soil and booked his ticket to next month's G1 Deutsches Derby with a decisive victory in Sunday's G2 Sparkasse KolnBonn 189th Union-Rennen at Cologne. Trainer Peter Schiergen's four prior winners of the 11-furlong contest include 2022's subsequent Deutsches Derby hero Sammarco (Ger) (Camelot {GB}). Last term's G3 Preis des Winterfavoriten runner-up employed patient tactics from flagfall and settled into a smooth rhythm off the tempo in seventh through halfway. Niggled along to reduce arrears in early straight, the 18-5 chance thundered forward to launch his challenge out wide entering the final furlong and kept on strongly under mild coaxing thereafter to easily account for G3 Bavarian Classic second and fellow Ittlingen homebred Alleno (Ire) (Nathaniel {Ire}) by 1 3/4 lengths. Maxim Pecheur trainee Anspruch (Ire) (New Bay {GB}) was next best in a bunch finish for the minor placing and finished a neck adrift in third. Pedigree Notes Narrativo, who becomes the 22nd pattern-race winner for his sire, is the eighth of nine registered foals and one of five scorers out of an unraced half-sister to G1 Bayerisches Zuchtrennen-winning sire Neatico (Ger) (Medicean {GB}) and GII Las Palmas H. victrix Beautyandthebeast (GB) (Machiavellian). His dam Nicella (Ger) (Lando {Ger}) is also kin the dam of G3 Prix des Chenes and G3 Prix de Guiche scorer Calvados Blues (Fr) (Lando {Ger}) and dual Group 1-placed G2 Prix de Sandringham victrix Volta (Fr) (Siyouni {Fr}). The March-foaled homebred bay is a half-brother to G3 Sibernes Pferd victor Nikkei (Ger) (Pivotal {GB}), G2 Grand Premio di Milano third Novano (Ger) (Samum {Ger}) and a weanling filly by Sottsass (Fr). Sunday, Cologne, Germany SPARKASSE KOLNBONN – 189TH UNION-RENNEN-G2, €72,000, Cologne, 6-16, 3yo, 11fT, 2:16.26, g/s. 1–NARRATIVO (GER), 128, c, 3, by Adlerflug (Ger) 1st Dam: Nicella (Ger), by Lando (Ger) 2nd Dam: Nicola Bella (Ire), by Sadler's Wells 3rd Dam: Valley Of Hope, by Riverman 1ST BLACK-TYPE WIN; 1ST GROUP WIN. O-Gestut Ittlingen; B-Gestut Hof Ittlingen (GER); T-Peter Schiergen; J-Adrie de Vries. €40,000. Lifetime Record: GSP-Fr, 4-2-1-1, €89,000. *1/2 to Nikkei (Ger) (Pivotal {GB}), GSW-Ger & SP-Fr; and Novano (Ger) (Samum {Ger}), GSP-Ity & SP-Ger. Werk Nick Rating: A++. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree, or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. 2–Alleno (Ire), 128, c, 3, Nathaniel (Ire)–Alandia (Ire), by Adlerflug (Ger). O-Gestut Ittlingen; B-Gestut Hof Ittlingen (IRE); T-Marcel Weiss. €15,500. 3–Anspruch (Ire), 128, c, 3, New Bay (GB)–Anna Katharina (Ger), by Kallisto (Ger). 1ST BLACK TYPE; 1ST GROUP BLACK TYPE. (€80,000 RNA Ylg '22 BBAGS). O/B-Gestut Rottgen (IRE); T-Maxim Pecheur. €8,000. Margins: 1 3/4, NK, NK. Odds: 3.60, 3.60, 15.70. Also Ran: Palladium (Ger), Stingray (Fr), Wonderful Boy (GB), Any Moon (Ger), Sign Of Stars (Ger), Koelle (Ire). The post Adlerflug’s Narrativo Too Good in Cologne’s Union-Rennen appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

When you think of trainer Eric McNamara, winners at some of Ireland's major jumps meetings spring to mind. However, there has been a notable diversification at the County Limerick yard in recent times, largely driven by the input of his children Conor and Kate. Recent Flat maiden winner Raw Ability (Ire) is a perfect example of that change. The cleverly-named daughter of Belardo (Ire) made an impressive start to her career when winning at Gowran Park at odds of 40-1 and she features among some of the choice lots at the Goffs London Sale on Monday. More importantly for the McNamara family, Raw Ability signifies a promising first step in a new direction for a stable eager to become more of a force over both codes. McNamara said, “We're having a good run. My son Conor and daughter Kate are back with me full-time. It's very much a family-run business now. Things have been going really well. We had 17 winners over jumps and five Flat winners as well last year. We're hoping to get more involved in the Flat. “We got two three-year-olds at the start of the year. Raw Ability was the first one that we ran and she did it nicely at Gowran Park. The other is a Buratino (Ire) called Future Cutlet (Ire) who finished fifth first-time out at Limerick. They are the two Flat horses that we have and they have both done us proud so onwards and upwards hopefully.” Asked if the diversification has stemmed from Conor and Kate's increased involvement in the stable, McNamara replied, “Absolutely. And it's actually something I've regretted not doing for many years now. I have always regretted not getting involved in the Flat sooner. We are going to try and have a few more Flat horses for next summer and plan on buying maybe a half a dozen yearlings this autumn. We haven't done that in the past but, instead of buying a half dozen store horses, we might try and buy a few for the Flat instead.” But McNamara is not keen on taking any of the credit for Raw Ability, instead pointing to Conor as being worthy of all the praise. A talented rider in his own right, Conor has partnered many big winners and enjoyed productive spells based with Willie Mullins and more recently Gavin Cromwell. Victory aboard ex-Mullins inmate Real Steel (Fr) (Loup Breton {Ire}) for his Dad in the Paddy Power Chase at Leopardstown will go down as one of his career highlights and he has been based back at home for the best part of a year now. The 24-year-old said, “I was based in County Meath for five years and, between one thing and another, things dried up a bit. I remember when I started off with Gavin, there was only myself, Ger Fox and Breen Kane riding out there. I know that Gavin has blossomed as a trainer but he could have four or five conditionals now as well as professionals like Keith Donoghoe and Sean Flanagan so it's gone very competitive. “I suppose I am concentrating a bit more on helping Dad with the training these days. Dad has plenty of horses of his own and I brought plenty of clients of my own here when I came back. We've one or two clients involved in Raw Ability and they are interested in getting involved in a few more Flat horses so we'll see how Monday goes.” Shane Foley was the man for the job and, following that debut win, McNamara says he is hopeful that Raw Ability can go some way to advertising the dual-purpose nature of the stable and provide her investors with some funds to reinvest in the autumn yearling sale markets. He explained, “It didn't come out of the blue on debut and, to be fair, a few lads have been a big help to me in getting her ready. Leigh Roche, David Egan and Chris Hayes have ridden work for me when I take them away and have been a huge help. As it transpired, none of those lads were available for her debut but we were keen to get a good lad up and were delighted that Shane Foley was able to ride. “With the lads involved in this filly, if she was to sell well on Monday it would give everyone the opportunity to go back and reinvest. I've sold one or two horses on the Flat myself down through the years and there is a great market out there. If we could get involved in a few more of those types and keep building and attracting a higher calibre of horse, it would be lovely.” The post McNamara Family Hope Raw Ability Can Advertise Dual-Purpose Nature To Stable appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Royal Ascot is a week for stepping up, but there's a lot of stepping down going on in British racing. A power vacuum is heading the industry's way as leaders depart – voluntarily, or with a shove from within. Some are making delayed withdrawals (look out for a hell of a joint-leaving do this winter). The situations vacant columns however already feature the following appointments. British Horseracing Authority – Chairman and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Jockey Club – CEO Great British Racing – CEO Racehorse Owners' Association – CEO Joe Saumarez Smith, Julie Harrington (both BHA), Nevin Truesdale (Jockey Club), Rod Street (GBR) and Charlie Liverton (ROA) are all gone or going. It's boom time for head-hunters as the carousel of executive jobs picks up and drops off administrators. Movement is normal, but the scale of the exodus in racing begs questions. Royal Ascot almost runs itself, along a gilded rail. But who runs racing now, and how, and to what end? Where should the replacements come from, and with what skills? Simply, what does racing want from its bosses? There is a clue in the advert for Saumarez Smith's role. The next BHA chair “will need to be able to think commercially,” which Saumarez Smith, who has been unwell, already did (who could not, in such a job). Here we observe the conundrum and contradiction for sport's governing bodies. They are 1. Deal chasers, money makers, finance hunters, balance sheet jockeys, and 2. Regulators, custodians, grass-roots gardeners and image projectors. Trust me when I say those two briefs are often incompatible. Execs are judged by their balance sheets. They're incentivised to prioritise income over institutional coherence. And many have bonuses built into how many sponsorship and revenue tie-ups they can amass. At the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) three years ago, executives shared a £2.1m bonus pot in part for conceiving The Hundred, a new competition that rode a coach and horses through the rest of the sport and is now being sold to private equity. The messiah has not been born who can lead tribes who refuse to be led In racing, execs are similarly expected to “drive revenue” while also dealing with internecine strife, a flawed business model that produces low prize-money, animal welfare, the whip, a lack of diversity, affordability checks and so on. They also have a glorious sport at their disposal – as Royal Ascot will demonstrate – but it comes as no surprise that many buckle under the weight. If racing needs friends in high places, there is comforting news with the probable next Prime Minister's wife's love for the sport. According to the Daily Telegraph, Lady Victoria's “passions are said to be horse racing, music and food.” What a comfort to racing it would be if the dinner table conversation at No 10 suddenly stretched to the Levy, Premier Racing and rescuing the Cheltenham Festival and Derby from falling attendances. For now, we'll need to accept that saving the NHS will concern Keir Starmer more. A familiar tussle is whether racing's leaders should hail from without or within. To chase big money you need business nous but an eye for the deal won't necessarily be accompanied by an understanding of what audiences want, how to communicate or how to update tradition. So, what is the modern racing leader? Commercial warrior, throwback patrician, accomplished diplomat, Westminster smoothie, media sharpshooter? All of the above, the head-hunters cry! Appoint a hot shot from the City with sketchy knowledge of the sport and you can expect a thousand-yard stare when it comes to racing politics. Hire a recruit with 19th century roots in the sport from within the racing bubble and you may not acquire the sharpest moderniser. Good luck to whoever fills all the vacancies listed above. Each will grapple with the 60-year reality that the revenue racing generates – betting turnover – goes straight to an external bookmaking industry, with only crumbs coming back. This sets it apart from the countries making inroads into British racing's dominance. Racing is an archipelago of 'stakeholders': owners, breeders, racecourses, bookmakers, trainers, etc. Until they all accept they share a task to generate a form of entertainment and preserve their audience the turf war will continue. Great leadership in racing is vital. Critical, in fact. But the messiah has not been born who can lead tribes who refuse to be led. Those leaving high office between now and the end of the year all made their mark in the face of relentless pressure, some of it uncontrollable (societal change, for instance). The next wave of recruitment is comfortably the most important the sport has had to make. It sounds old-fashioned, but the first hope for leaders in any sport is that they have integrity, passion, knowledge, experience, an open mind, the courage to make decisions and a willingness to explain and communicate. If that sounds like Superman or woman, the pay is good, and the job satisfaction could be immense. The post All Change: Can British Racing Pull Itself Together to be Led? appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Up in trip for Sunday's G1 Prix de Diane Longines at Chantilly, Jean-Pierre-Joseph Dubois's Sparkling Plenty (Fr) (Kingman {GB}–Speralita {Fr}, by Frankel {GB}) edged another close-run affair in a French Classic in 2024. Held up at the back early by Tony Piccone, the 15-1 shot had to pass runners all quickening off a moderate tempo but had miling speed which set her apart from her middle-distance rivals having won the G2 Prix de Sandringham here last month. With virtaully every rival still to get by two out, the Patrice-Cottier-trained filly at least had clear daylight to do so and responded with a surge to get to the front 100 metres from the finish. In a desperate finale between four fillies, she had a head margin to spare over the Nicolas Clement-trained outsider Survie (Ire) (Churchill {Ire}) as Tamfana (Ger) (Soldier Hollow {GB}) and Aventure (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) ended up half a length behind, separated by a head for third and fourth. Sparkling Plenty is catalogued to be sold as lot 11 in the Goffs London Sale on Monday. Gutsy performance! Sparkling Plenty shows a decisive turn of foot to get up down the outside and score in the G1 Prix de Diane at @fgchantilly for @piccone_tony! pic.twitter.com/Mljof2A22U — At The Races (@AtTheRaces) June 16, 2024 The post Diane Glory For Kingman’s Sparkling Plenty appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Coolmore and Westerberg's hitherto undefeated 'TDN Rising Star' Delius (GB) (Frankel {GB}–Whatami {GB}, by Daylami {Ire}), who added to his win column going 12 furlongs at Chantilly last month, continued on a roll over the same course and distance in Sunday's G3 Prix du Lys Longines to lay down a marker for next month's G1 Grand Prix de Paris. The 8-5 favourite was steadied off the pace through the initial fractions and improved position to track the leaders in fourth approaching halfway. Taking closer order in the straight, he was nudged along with 350 metres remaining and stayed on strongly under mild urging once hitting the front at the furlong marker to secure a career high in ultimately comfortable fashion. At the line, he held a two-length advantage from Saganti (Fr) (Zarak {Fr}) with Internaute (Ire}) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) a neck away in third. “I am very emotional, it is a very difficult moment for us at the stable, and I am sincerely delighted for the owners and everyone involved back at home,” said Jean-Claude Rouget's assistant trainer Jean-Bernard Roth. “The horse had been working incredibly well before this race and looked awesome the whole week. He has improved with every run and I guarantee he still has a lot of room for improvement. The [G1] Grand Prix de Paris could be next, but we would not want to run him on firm ground on a hot day, so we will play it by ear. There are some important races coming up in the autumn and we want to have him ready for that. He is a very, very good one and we are blessed to have him.” Three out of three for Delius! The Frankel colt picks up the G3 Prix du Lys, advancing to the front approaching the final furlong to defeat Saganti nicely… pic.twitter.com/kn3a9oQJlT — At The Races (@AtTheRaces) June 16, 2024 Pedigree Notes Delius, who becomes the 97th pattern-race winner for his sire, is the ninth of 11 foals and one of five scorers out of a full-sister to Listed Chesham S. victrix Whazzat (GB) (Daylami {Ire}), herself the dam of G1 Prix Maurice de Gheest runner-up and dual Group-winning sire James Garfield (Ire) (Exceed And Excel {Aus}). Descendants of his second dam Wosaita (GB) (Generous {Ire}), herself a half-sister to G1 Prix de Diane-winning matriarch Rafha (GB) (Kris {GB}), also include multiple Grade I-winning US champion and GI Breeders' Cup Mile heroine Uni (GB) (More Than Ready). The February-foaled bay is a full-brother to multiple Group-placed Listed Wolferton S. winner Juan Elcano (GB) and a half to G3 Hoppings S. victrix Nkosikazi (GB) (Cape Cross {Ire}). He is also kin to the unraced 2-year-old filly Whatamoon (GB) (Sea The Moon {Ger}) and a yearling filly by Kingman (GB). Sunday, Chantilly, France PRIX DU LYS LONGINES-G3, €80,000, Chantilly, 6-16, 3yo, 12fT, 2:30.32, g/s. 1–DELIUS (GB), 128, c, 3, by Frankel (GB) 1st Dam: Whatami (GB), by Daylami (Ire) 2nd Dam: Wosaita (GB), by Generous (Ire) 3rd Dam: Eljazzi (Ire), by Artaius 1ST BLACK-TYPE WIN; 1ST GROUP WIN. (675,000gns Wlg '21 TATFOA). O-Susan Magnier, Derrick Smith, Michael Tabor & Westerberg; B-Mr & Mrs David Brown (GB); T-Jean-Claude Rouget; J-Christophe Soumillon. €40,000. Lifetime Record: 3-3-0-0, €67,500. *Full to Juan Elcano (GB), SW & MGSP-Eng, $175,305; and 1/2 to Nkosikazi (GB) (Cape Cross {Ire}), GSW-Eng. Werk Nick Rating: A++. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree, or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. 2–Saganti (Fr), 128, c, 3, Zarak (Fr)–Saghaniya (Fr), by Rock Of Gibraltar (Ire). O-H H The Aga Khan; B-H H The Aga Khan's Studs SC (FR); T-Mikel Delzangles. €16,000. 3–Internaute (Ire), 128, c, 3, Sea The Stars (Ire)–Solemia (Ire), by Poliglote (GB). 1ST BLACK TYPE; 1ST GROUP BLACK TYPE. O/B-Wertheimer & Frere (IRE); T-Carlos Laffon-Parias. €12,000. Margins: 2, NK, NK. Odds: 1.60, 9.00, 9.00. Also Ran: Global Health (Fr), Daring Prince (GB), Coetzee, Trafalgar Square (Fr), Waldora (Fr), Polanzor (Fr), Kind Of Kiss (GB). Video, sponsored by FanDuel TV. The post Frankel’s TDN Rising Star Delius Makes Black-Type Breakthrough at Chantilly appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Bouncing back to form at Cologne on Sunday, last year's G1 Deutsches Derby hero Fantastic Moon (Ger) (Sea The Moon {Ger}) registered a first success since the G2 Prix Niel in September in the re-scheduled G2 Grosser Preis der Badischen Wirtschaft. Keen early under restraint from Rene Piechulek racing in mid-division, the Sarah Steinberg-trained 4-year-old was delivered in the centre of the track and had a slight edge with a furlong remaining. Asserting from there, the 3-1 second favourite had a neck to spare over the 11-5 market-leader Lordano (Ger) (Adlerflug {Ger}). G2 Großer Preis von @wettstar_de over 2200m at Cologne FANTASTIC MOON (Sea The Moon) LORDANO (Adlerflug) ASSISTENT (Sea The Moon) FANTASTIC MOON is bred by @StauffenbergBS, owned by Liberty Racing, trained by Sarah Steinberg and was ridden by @RenePiechulek pic.twitter.com/CfMLJBXmmD — Deutscher Galopp (@DeutscherGalopp) June 16, 2024 The post Fantastic Moon Back To Winning Ways appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Handed a tough task on debut last month in the G3 Marble Hill S., Ballydoyle's The Parthenon (Ire) (Kingman {GB}–Wonder Of Wonders, by Kingmambo) had finished close enough to Arizona Blaze (GB) (Sergei Prokofiev) and Camille Pissarro (Ire) (Wootton Bassett {GB}) when fifth in that Curragh contest to justify the audacity of that decision. In calmer waters on Sunday at Gowran Park, the descendant of Urban Sea (Miswaki) showed tenacity as well as class to master the seven-furlong Irish Stallion Farms EBF Maiden. Keen for Wayne Lordan early, the 4-11 favourite had to work to fend off the challenge of the newcomer Loch Tay (GB) (Bated Breath {GB}) but was up to the task to prevail by 3/4 of a length. The Parthenon hits the line hard @GowranPark1 pic.twitter.com/JM0v4BvgDJ — Racing TV (@RacingTV) June 16, 2024 The post Ballydoyle’s Kingman Blueblood Off The Mark appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Chantilly's G1 Prix de Diane programme opened with a bang when Alain and Gerard Wertheimer's homebred 2-year-old filly Polyvega (Ire) (Lope De Vega {Ire}–Polydream {Ire}, by Oasis Dream {GB}) unleashed a debut performance of note to attain 'TDN Rising Star' status in Sunday's Prix de la Reine Blanche Longines Polyvega was a shade slow from the stands' side stall and raced in fourth after the initial strides of this debutantes' heat. Cruising forward on the bridle once past halfway, the 3-1 second choice was shaken up to seize control approaching the final furlong and kept on powerfully under minimal coaxing in the latter stages to easily account for Apollo Fountain (GB) (No Nay Never) by an impressive 2 1/2 lengths. “I like this filly and I think she is quite good,” reflected trainer Carlos Laffon-Parias. “The second looked smart too, so that is a good sign and she ought to have a future.” Polyvega is the second of four foals and first scorer produced by G1 Prix Maurice de Gheest heroine Polydream (Ire) (Oasis Dream {GB}). herself a daughter of stakes-winning GIII Monrovia H. runner-up Polygreen (Fr) (Green Tune). Polygreen's quartet of black-type performers include G3 Prix Sigy victrix Big Brothers Pride (Fr) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}) and multiple Group-placed Listed Prix Amandine and Listed Prix Isola Bella winner Evaporation (Fr) (Red Ransom). She is also the second dam of Listed Prix Lyphard victor Yoozuna (Ire) (Kizuna {Jpn}), G1 Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere runner-up Gamestop (Ire) (Lope De Vega {Ire}) and Listed Prix Isonomy third Parafection (Ire) (Mastercraftsman {Ire}). Polyvega is kin to the unraced 2-year-old filly Kythira (Ire) (No Nay Never) and a weanling filly by No Nay Never. 𝗣𝗼𝗹𝘆𝘃𝗲𝗴𝗮 (@maximeguyon_off/ C. Laffon-Parias/@WertheimerSales) réussit ses débuts en compétition dans le Prix de la Reine Blanche @Longines. Cette fille de la championne Polydream ( de LARC Prix Maurice de Gheest en 2018 Gr.1) fait honneur à ses origines. pic.twitter.com/vuFbXq40qm — Equidia (@equidia) June 16, 2024 1st-Chantilly, €50,000, Mdn, 6-16, unraced 2yo, f, 5 1/2fT, 1:04.94, g/s. POLYVEGA (IRE), f, 2, by Lope De Vega (Ire) 1st Dam: Polydream (Ire) (G1SW-Fr, $500,220), by Oasis Dream (GB) 2nd Dam: Polygreen (Fr), by Green Tune 3rd Dam: Yxenery (Ire), by Sillery Lifetime Record: 1-1-0-0, €25,000. Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. Video, sponsored by FanDuel TV. O/B-Wertheimer & Frere (IRE); T-Carlos Laffon-Parias; J-Maxime Guyon. The post Lope De Vega’s Polyvega Delivers TDN Rising Star Performance at Chantilly appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

There was a familiar story at Chantilly on Sunday as Karl Burke plundered another French prestige prize courtesy of the colt Arabie (GB) (Dandy Man {Ire}) who proved toughest in a pure speed shakedown in the G3 Prix du Bois Longines. Up with the pace set by the favourite Daylight (Fr) (Earthlight {Ire}), Mohammed Al Shahi's York novice winner was under the pump by halfway with Jim Crowley digging in to reserves but where the filly cried enough a furlong out the boy from the North of England held out. Tiring in the closing stages to allow the closer Secret Wood (Fr) (Birchwood {Ire}) to within 1 1/4 lengths at the line, the 11-2 shot had two lengths in total to spare over the burnt-out 11-10 favourite Daylight in third. 𝗔𝗿𝗮𝗯𝗶𝗲 (JV. Crowley/@karl_burke) s'impose en patron dans le Prix du Bois @Longines (Gr.3) à Chantilly. Secret Wood (@BachelotT/ G. Bietolini) Daylight (@mickaelbarzalon/ P. Cottier) pic.twitter.com/qB39YZDM7d — Equidia (@equidia) June 16, 2024 The post Dandy Man Colt Takes The Prix Du Bois appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Having become his sire's first group 1 winner in the Southern Hemisphere, and second globally, when landing Randwick's Champagne Stakes (G1) in April, the Godolphin homebred Broadsiding took his form to even further heights June 15.View the full article

Dog Penalties GOLDSTAR FLORRIE | Southland 12 June; unsatisfactory performance; must complete trial. ZIPPING BASILICK | Waikato 13 June; failing to pursue the lure; stood down for 28 days and must complete trial. ADOBE PEACH | Christchurch 14 June; marring; stood down for 28 days and must complete trial. GO HOPPY | Christchurch 14 June; unsatisfactory performance; must complete trial. GOLDSTAR FRIDAY | Christchurch 14 June; unsatisfactory performance; must complete trial. General Race 10 at Waikato GRC of 13 June was declared a no race due to the boxes opening prematurely. The post 10-16 June 2024 appeared first on RIB. View the full article

Sunday saw the confirmations for 2024 Royal Ascot's opening day fixture, where the G1 St James's Palace S. is the rightful stage for the coming together of the 2,000 Guineas, Irish 2,000 Guineas and Poule d'Essai des Pouliches heroes Notable Speech (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}), Rosallion (Ire) (Blue Point {Ire}) and Metropolitan (Fr) (Zarak {Fr}). The latter has been supplemented for the mile contest and is joined by fellow French raider Darlinghurst (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}), while Ballydoyle rely on last year's G1 Vincent O'Brien National S. hero Henry Longfellow (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) and GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf winner Unquestionable (Fr) (Wootton Bassett {GB}). Sheikh Ahmed Al Maktoum's impressive Listed Heron S. scorer Almaqam (GB) (Lope De Vega {Ire}) and Shadwell's Alyanaabi (Ire) (Too Darn Hot {GB}) round out the eight contestants for a surefire thriller. In the meeting's curtain-raising G1 Queen Anne S., 14 will line up headed by other leading French runners in Big Rock (Fr) (Rock Of Gibraltar {Ire}) and Facteur Cheval (Ire) (Ribchester {Ire). Cheveley Park Stud's surprise G1 Lockinge S. winner Audience (GB) (Iffraaj {GB}), that Newbury contest's runner-up Charyn (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}) and Fitri Hay's impressive G3 Diomed S. winner Royal Scotsman (Ire) (Gleneagles {Ire}) are other notables for the championship mile contest. A total of 17 sprinters will take part in the G1 King Charles III S., with the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint-winning 3-year-old Big Evs (Ire) (Blue Point {Ire}) leading the chase for an open-looking renewal of the five-furlong charge. The fillies and mares have a strong representation headed by the Australian challenger Asfoora (Aus) (Flying Artie {Aus}) and the 2023 G2 Queen Mary S. scorer Crimson Advocate (Nyquist), who is one of Wathnan Racing's team of representatives during the week. Also on the card is the week's juvenile feature, the G2 Coventry S., in which Ballydoyle's TDN Rising Star Camille Pissarro (Ire) (Wootton Bassett {GB}) is the key runner for the stable successful 10 times. He heads a field of 23, with the Joseph O'Brien-trained impressive Curragh maiden winner Cowardofthecounty (Ire) (Kodi Bear {Ire}) in attendance. The post Notable Speech Heads Classic Clash On Royal Ascot Opening Day appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

What Pakenham Synthetic Races Where Pakenham Racecourse – 420 Nar Nar Goon–Longwarry Rd, Tynong VIC 3813 When Monday, June 17, 2024 First Race 12:30pm AEST Visit Dabble The synthetic surface at Pakenham is the destination for racing in Victoria on Monday, with a nine-part program set down for decision. A cool, but clear winter’s day is forecast for Pakenham, which should ensure competitive racing throughout the day. A new week of racing in Victoria is set to commence at 12:30pm AEST. Best Bet at Pakenham: Special Dancer In the opener, the Phillip Stokes-trained Special Dancer looks primed to break maiden ranks at the fifth time of asking. The three-year-old filly was hitting the line with great intent at Moe on June 3 when coming from the rear of the field to go down by 1.7 lengths. The Needs Further progeny returns to the Pakenham Synthetic 1400m, a track and trip that saw her produced her best finish when beaten a lip on August 8 last year. She produced a barnstorming finish that day, and if Special Dancer can replicate that performance, she should go one better. Best Bet Race 1 – #9 Special Dancer (11) 3yo Filly | T: Phillip Stokes | J: Brian Higgins (57kg) +230 with Neds Next Best at Pakenham: Clock Strikes Despite winning just twice in 17 starts, the Robbie Griffiths & Mathew de Kock-trained Clock Strikes has found the right race to claim another triumph. Having finished second at three of his last six starts, the four-year-old gelding has certainly got his foot on the till. He will gain an economical transit from barrier three on the back of what looks to be a genuine speed. Luke Nolen will need a touch of luck on the home turn, but if the gap comes, Clock Strikes should be the one overhauling some potentially vulnerable leaders. Next Best Race 5 – #2 Clock Strikes (3) 4yo Gelding | T: Robbie Griffiths & Mathew de Kock | J: Luke Nolen (61kg) +200 with PlayUp Best Value at Pakenham: Frederick Michael Huglin’s Frederick was a smart maiden winner at Moe on May 14 over 1200m when settling up on speed and kicking clear of his rivals late. He had put the writing on the wall the start prior, and it seems as though the penny has dropped for the Magnus colt. He draws barrier 16, which is a touch concerning, but if Koby Jennings can have him settled outside lead over the 1200m, he showed last time out he can kick off a strong tempo. The $12 being bet with horse racing bookmakers is incredible value, and with even luck Frederick is in this up to his neck. Best Value Race 6 – #3 Frederick (16) 3yo Colt | T: Michael Huglin | J: Koby Jennings (61kg) +1100 with Dabble Monday quaddie tips for Pakenham Pakenham quadrella selections Monday, June 15, 2024 3-5-8 2-3-4-5-6-7 1-3-4-7-9 2-3-4-7 | Copy this bet straight to your betslip Horse racing tips View the full article

Speedy Per Incanto mare Mrs Chrissie added a fifth win to her CV when she lived up to her favouritism in Saturday’s A$130,000 LockettLED.au Handicap (1000m) at Sandown. The five-year-old chestnut has now had 16 starts for five wins and five placings, earning more than A$275,000 in stakes. All of those five victories have come over either 1000m or 1100m. Mrs Chrissie jumped only fairly from her midfield gate in Saturday’s 1000m dash, but she recovered quickly and moved up into third place for apprentice jockey Celine Gaudray. Gaudray asked her to quicken with 400m remaining and she soon drew up on the outside of the leader and took command. Rattle And Bang briefly loomed as a threat on the outside, but Mrs Chrissie hit top gear and kicked away to score convincingly by a length and three-quarters. Mrs Chrissie was part of a winning double at Sandown on Saturday for Gaudray, who has now ridden 41 metropolitan winners this season. “It was pretty straightforward,” Gaudray said. “We drew a sticky gate, but only one turn, so not too much to worry about. I didn’t want to bustle her early, I just let her come across and she was too strong for them in the end. “I felt like she had a lot there. Especially when the other horse came up next to me – she kept finding and went to the line really well.” Mrs Chrissie was bred by Chris Doak and Rosie Ealden and was exported to Australia as an unraced two-year-old. She is out of the O’Reilly mare Turf Fire, who herself won nine races and placed in the Gr.3 Stewards’ Stakes (1200m). Turf Fire is the dam of three winners from five foals to race, headed by the stakes-placed Don Carlo. Turf Fire produced fillies by Time Test in 2019, Per Incanto in 2020 and Super Seth in 2021. View the full article

Elson Boy took his remarkable winning streak into the city on Saturday and just kept on rolling, collecting his sixth victory in a row in the A$160,000 Rosehill Bowling Club Handicap (1300m) in Sydney. The four-year-old son of El Roca kicked off his hot streak with a win on his home track of Dubbo in early March. He followed it up with further successes at Coonamble, Narromine, Mudgee and a last-start victory during Scone’s metropolitan meeting on May 18. Elson Boy carried on to Rosehill on Saturday and delivered more of the same for his trainer Dar Lunn and apprentice jockey Chelsea Hillier. After jumping from gate six, Hillier sent Elson Boy forward into his customary front-running role and dominated the race from there. Elson Boy kicked hard in the straight and put himself well out of the reach of the chasers, crossing the finish line with a margin of a length and three-quarters up his sleeve. “That’s so good,” Hillier said. “I don’t really have words. I’m just so lucky to be associated with a great trainer, some fantastic owners and a really, really good horse. “He’s unreal. He just keeps going. He won’t stop. As soon as he hears other horses coming, he finds more. He hasn’t really been tested either, so who knows how good he is? “He was a lot fresher today than he has been in the last two runs, so I was worried he might go a bit strong. But he was beautiful – every bit as good as he was last start, and hopefully he’ll be better again next time.” Elson Boy has now had 22 starts for nine wins, a placing and A$343,375 in stakes. His six-race winning streak has earned more than A$289,000 of that amount. “I just hope it keeps going,” Lunn said. “It’s been hard at home, because we’ve had no track to work him on. They’re putting in a new Polytrack at Dubbo and I haven’t been able to get on the grass. I’ve just been working him on a little canter track. “But he’s the type of horse that you don’t have to do a great deal with him. He’s just a pleasure to have around, and Chelsea does such a good job on him.” Bred by Mark and Lorraine Forbes, Elson Boy is by El Roca out of the Pour Moi mare Caramia. Elson Boy was offered by the Forbes’ Kiltannon Stables in Book 2 of Karaka 2021, where he was bought for just $20,000. View the full article

Trainer Andrew Forsman will be hoping they run races at Te Rapa every Saturday during the winter so that progressive galloper Turn The Ace (NZ) (Turn Me Loose) can further extend his outstanding record at the Hamilton venue. The son of Turn Me Loose won at Te Rapa in his first two starts as a two-year-old, and has since put together five further wins at the venue to take his record to seven wins there from just the 13 starts. Rider Donovan Cooper, who reduced the five-year-old’s carded weight to just 56.5kgs with his 3kg apprentice allowance, followed a well-established pattern with his mount where he bounced straight to the front and dictated terms to his rivals in the Bayonne Construction-sponsored 1600m contest. Turn The Ace hugged the rail rounding the home bend and put a winning break on the field, galloping strongly to the winning post to hold out a late charge from Freeze Frame and race favourite Little Bit Of Love. Forsman was at Te Rapa and was especially proud of his charge who he believes has unofficially equalled the record for the most wins at the venue. “That worked out really well as we thought the track might be a little heavier than he likes,” Forsman said. “The plan was to cut the corner, hug the rail and try and establish a break and Donovan did it perfectly. “We took the punt, and it paid off as he saved many lengths and with the final margin being just under a length, I’m not sure he would have held them out if we had come out to the middle of the track. “He is still a relatively young horse and I think that win puts him level with horses like Spin Doctor and Wordsworth who have also won seven races here. “There could be another race for him here in early July so we will he having a crack at taking the record on his own, although it will definitely depend on the handicapper as weight will get to him at some stage.” Purchased by Forsman for $30,000 out of the Cambridge Stud draft during the Book 1 New Zealand Bloodstock National Yearling Sale in 2020, Turn The Ace has now won nine of his 25 starts and an excess of $238,000 in prizemoney. He comes from an extended family that traces back to a host of Australian Group One winners including Freemason and Mental. View the full article

Standout hurdler Berry The Cash will deservedly dominate the headlines, but his stablemate Super Spirit (NZ) (Super Easy) collected a win of his own later on the Te Rapa card on Saturday to complete a big day for trainer Mark Oulaghan and jockey Portia Matthews. Less than two hours after Oulaghan and Matthews teamed up in another big-race triumph with Berry The Cash in the Fairview Motors Waikato Hurdle (3200m), Super Spirit lined up for maiden steeplechase honours in the Waikato/BOP Racehorse Owners Association Steeplechase (3900m) and prevailed in a stirring contest. The seven-horse field was quickly whittled down to four within the first half a lap as Renegade Fighter and Civil Unrest parted company with their riders and Banks Road became detached and was pulled up out of the race. The remaining quartet raced in a tight bunch for the next circuit of the Te Rapa steeplechase course, but then Super Spirit and Sweet Taboo began to separate themselves from the other pair. Super Spirit and Sweet Taboo drew more than 30 lengths ahead of the third-placed Devoted and fought out a thrilling two-horse war down the Te Rapa straight. Super Spirit produced the better jump of the two at the final fence and looked like he had the race in safe keeping, but Sweet Taboo rebuilt his momentum and clawed his way back up alongside the leader. In a desperate final 100m, Super Spirit dug deep and clung on to win by a short neck. “It’s been a pretty pleasing day for the stable and for Portia as well,” Oulaghan said. “Berry The Cash just keeps fronting up, and I was really pleased with the performance by Super Spirit too. “It was only a maiden steeplechase today, but he did a good job. He’s going the right way and hopefully he can continue to progress the same way and perhaps be competitive in some stronger steeplechase company in the future.” Super Spirit was previously a two-time winner on the flat, so his 28-start career has now produced a total of three wins, four placings and $54,200 in stakes. The formidable partnership between Oulaghan and Matthews has now netted 10 wins from 65 starts. Five of those successes have come from Matthews’ nine rides aboard the Grand National, Awapuni and Waikato Hurdle hero Berry The Cash. View the full article

The winning run of the progeny of former Haunui Farm shuttle stallion Belardo continued on Saturday when his three-year-old son Farravallo (NZ) (Belardo) took out the opening event over 1000m at Trentham. Although facing only four rivals, the Royden Bergerson-prepared runner was up against the unbeaten Mark Walker and Sam Bergerson-trained representative Pokuru Gold who was sent out a $1.60 Fixed Odds favourite by punters as he sought his fourth win in a row. Apprentice Jim Chung made good use of his 3kg claim as he sent Farravallo straight to front from the start and kept the pressure on despite racing four and five wide on the Heavy 10 surface. Chung angled Farravallo even wider in the home straight as he picked a path next to the outside rail, with the move paying dividends as he kept up a powerful gallop to defeat Bella Timing and Brazenbelle, with Pokuru Gold in fourth after struggling in the testing conditions. Bergerson was happy to put his first win on the board with the horse who had had just the one prior run for him after transferring from the stable of Paul Richards. “I was pretty confident when they came across the crossing and I could see Sam’s horse (Pokuru Gold) dipping and diving everywhere,” he said. “It was a good ride by Jimmy as he has come of age with his riding. “I said to him today in a small field you just won’t know what may happen and he has ridden him well, just as he has been riding Bradman the same way for me. “He is a strong horse who is pretty quick, and I think he will go well on the Poly (synthetic surface at Awapuni) as he should fly on that. “I said to his owners he should be hard to beat today. “He’s got a nice future if we keep him to this sort of distance.” Chung was also pleased with the result after staying wide for the better going on offer. “It wasn’t the plan to lead but he jumped nice, so I just let him go,” he said. “I think the outside fence is the place to go as the track is very heavy.” Raced by Ian Farrelly and Chris Rutten, Farravallo was purchased for $20,000 by Rutten out of the Haunui Farm draft during the Book 2 sale at Karaka in 2022. He joined Te Rapa maiden winner Barcelona and three-year-old Caitlyns Wish as early winners on the day for his sire Belardo, who shuttled to Haunui Farm between 2017 and 2022. View the full article

Rebounding from an 11th-place finish in the Kentucky Oaks (G1), Courtlandt Farms' Our Pretty Woman fended off a stretch bid from graded stakes winner Intricate to win the $173,700 Monomoy Girl Overnight Stakes June 15 at Churchill Downs.View the full article

With two Grade I winners and two 'TDN Rising Stars' comprising half the GIII Salvator Mile S. field at Monmouth Park Saturday, it was Repole Stable and St. Elias Stables LLC's Bright Future (h, 5, Curlin–Sophia's Song, by Bellamy Road)–one of the former Grade I winners who was also coming off a seven-month layoff–who got the win after a tight trip on the rail. Fellow GISW Shirl's Speight (Speightstown), who has done his best running on the lawn but was third in this race in 2022, tired to sixth. The winner broke alertly, but was outfooted to the front and got locked into a joint-third inside spot with Shirl's Speight behind Charles Town star Coastal Mission (Great Notion) and Gulfstream stakes winner Oscar Eclipse (Oscar Performance ) through :24.05 and :48.16 fractions. Surrounded on all sides with no where to go and shuffled back to sixth on the far turn, Bright Future miraculously had the seas part in front of him just after the announcer noted him “plodding in place” coming off the turn. The chestnut accelerated sharply at the top of the stretch, found yet another gear late in the lane, and blasted right by Coastal Mission and last-out Parx allowance victor Movisitor (Uncle Mo) for a 1 3/4-length triumph. “That was a big performance,” said Anthony Sciametta, assistant to winning trainer Todd Pletcher. “We're very pleased. The horse was training well at Belmont so I'm really not surprised. They obviously liked him. When he started falling back a little bit we got a little worried but then he came running again. It's a big win for him. He is coming off the bench and it's really good for him going forward.” Bright Future has been off since a sixth-place finish behind White Abarrio (Race Day) in the GI Breeders' Cup Classic last November, a spot he earned on the merits of a GI Jockey Club Gold Cup S. win in the waning days of the Saratoga meet in September. Those two starts followed an open daylight allowance win at Saratoga, the first in a string of three consecutive races that netted triple-digit Beyer Speed Figures for Bright Future. His last several works upon returning have been very sharp, including a :47 3/5 move over four furlongs (3/172) on Belmont's training track June 8. #2 BRIGHT FUTURE ($4.20) got rolling down the inside to win Monmouth's $150,000 Salvator Mile Stakes (G3). This is the first start of the year for the G1 Jockey Club Gold Cup winner, who was ridden by @jjcjockey for @PletcherRacing and owners St. Elias Stable & @RepoleStable. pic.twitter.com/zVhIOs9AlY — FanDuel Racing (@FanDuel_Racing) June 15, 2024 Pedigree Notes: Bright Future is one of 59 graded winners from 105 black-type winners for Hill 'n' Dale's super sire Curlin, who has 10 stakes winners (six graded) on the year thus far. Bright Future's win also marks the third consecutive weekend Curlin has had a graded winner, starting with GIII Blame S. winner Highland Falls June 1 and continuing with GII Suburban S. winner Crupi June 8. Sophia's Song, a listed winner at Laurel who was also GSP at Charles Town, sold at last November's Fasig-Tipton 'Night of the Stars' sale on the heels of Bright Future's Jockey Club Gold Cup win. Shadai Farm picked her up in foal to Jackie's Warrior for $1.35 million and promptly shipped her to Japan. The mare had several headlining months. In addition to Bright Future's GI win in September, her debuting 2-year-old, Booth (Mitole), was named a 'TDN Rising Star' at Keeneland in October and, in December, her sophomore daughter Musical Mischief (Into Mischief) finished third in the GI American Oaks. Sophia's Song currently has a juvenile colt by Tiz the Law and a yearling colt by Maxfield. The mare is out of an unraced full-sister to dual champion sprinter Housebuster from the same family as last year's GI Hopeful S. winner Nutella Fella (Runhappy). Damsire Bellamy Road, the 2005 GI Wood Memorial S. winner, has an even dozen black-type winners out of his daughters. Saturday, Monmouth SALVATOR MILE S.-GIII, $155,000, Monmouth, 6-15, 3yo/up, 1m, 1:36.96, ft. 1–BRIGHT FUTURE, 118, h, 5, by Curlin 1st Dam: Sophia's Song (SW & GSP, $155,892), by Bellamy Road 2nd Dam: Dreamscape, by Mt. Livermore 3rd Dam: Big Dreams, by Great Above ($350,000 Ylg '20 KEESEP). O-Repole Stable and St. Elias Stables LLC; B-Clearsky Farms (KY); T-Todd A. Pletcher; J-Javier Castellano. $90,000. Lifetime Record: GISW, 9-5-0-2, $926,940. *1/2 to Musical Mischief (Into Mischief), GISP, $189,084. Werk Nick Rating: A+++. *Triple Plus* Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree. Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. 2–Coastal Mission, 122, g, 5, Great Notion–Smart Crowd, by Crowd Pleaser. 1ST GRADED BLACK TYPE. O/B-Coleswood Farm, Inc. (WV); T-Jeff C. Runco. $30,000. 3–Movisitor, 118, c, 4, Uncle Mo–Ristretto, by Medaglia d'Oro. 1ST GRADED BLACK TYPE. ($135,000 RNA Ylg '21 FTKOCT; $120,000 3yo '23 FTKHRA). O-Waldorf Racing Stables LLC; B-Forgotten Land Investment Inc (PA); T-Marya K. Montoya. $15,000. Margins: 1 3/4, NK, 2HF. Odds: 1.10, 6.20, 21.00. Also Ran: Stage Raider, Oscar Eclipse, Shirl's Speight, Artorius, Sherlock's Jewel. Click for the Equibase.com chart and the TJCIS.com PPs. VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV. The post Curlin’s Bright Future Back in Business in Monmouth’s Salvator Mile appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article