Wandering Eyes

The six-session under-tack show for the Ocala Breeders' Sales Company's June Sale of 2-Year-Olds in Training kicked off Tuesday morning with juveniles by Bucchero and West Coast sharing the quarter-mile bullet time of :20 3/5, while fillies by Frosted and Munnings shared the day's fastest furlong time of :9 4/5. A colt by West Coast (hip 16) got the under-tack show off to a quick start with a quarter-mile breeze in :20 3/5 just minutes into the day's session. Consigned by Omar Ramirez Bloodstock, the bay is out of multiple stakes winner Overprepared (Quality Road), who is a half-sister to Grade I winner Shadow Cast (Smart Strike). Omar Ramirez purchased the colt for $14,000 at last year's Fasig-Tipton October sale. The :20 3/5 time was matched about a half-hour later by a filly by Bucchero (hip 163) who is consigned by Richardson Bloodstock on behalf of breeder Ricardo Romo. “It's kind of what we've been expecting all year,” Lane Richardson said of the breeze. “She's been a straightforward filly, just really nice and athletic, and kind of typical of the sire. We've enjoyed her all year.” The Florida-bred juvenile is out of Sister Aurora (Majestic City). “[Romo] bred her and raised her and had her all winter,” Richardson said. “He's done a terrific job.” Of the filly's presence in the June sale, Richardson said, “She was kind of on the bubble for the April sale, so we thought to give her more time.” Waiting for the June sale may also allow the filly to bask in the afterglow of a potential Grade I winner for her sire, with Book'em Danno (Bucchero) going postward in the GI Woody Stephens S. at Saratoga Saturday. “You want to have something going for you going into these sales and be on the right note going in,” Richardson said. “So if something happens there, I think it would be fantastic.” A filly by Frosted (hip 144) was first to work the furlong in :9 4/5 Tuesday morning. Consigned by Grade One Investments, she is a daughter of the unraced Shawklit Cake (Majesticperfection), a half-sister to graded winner Shawklit Mint (Air Forbes One). The juvenile was purchased by Grade One Investments for $18,000 at the 2023 OBS Winter sale. A filly by Munnings (hip 34) equaled the :9 4/5 mark some two hours later for Britton Peak. The gray is out of Piccadilly Line (Air Force Blue), a daughter of graded-placed Sloane Square (Giant's Causeway) and a granddaughter of Grade I winner Marleybone (Unbridled's Song). The juvenile was purchased for $70,000 at last year's Keeneland September sale. The under-tack show continues through Sunday with sessions beginning daily at 7:30 a.m. The June sale will be held next Wednesday through Friday. Bidding begins each day at 10 a.m. The post West Coast Colt, Bucchero Filly Share Quarter-Mile Bullet at OBS Tuesday appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Maiden Watch: May 27-June 3View the full article

Things are not always as they might seem when it comes to the Triple Crown. View the full article

In this series, the TDN takes a look at notable successes of European-based sires in North America. This column is highlighted by the victory of Legend Of Time at Aqueduct during the Belmont at the Big A meeting. Legend Has It… Godolphin's Legend Of Time (GB) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) captured the GII Pennine Ridge S. during the Belmont at the Big A meeting for Charlie Appleby on May 25 (video). The 150,000gns Tattersalls October yearling made his first five starts at Meydan, winning four of them, including the Jumeirah Classic in March. The Pennine Ridge was his second start in the States. Bred by Lordship Stud and Sunderland Holdings, the 3-year-old colt is a half-brother to G1 Prix de Royallieu winner Loving Dream (GB) (Gleneagles {Ire}) and stakes winner Amandine (GB) (Shamardal), who was third in the GI American Oaks. The trio are out of the stakes-winning G1 Moyglare Stud S. third Kissable (Ire) (Danehill Dancer {Ire}). Group 1 winners under G1 Oaks runner-up fourth dam Media Luna (GB) (Star Appeal {Ire}) include Brian Boru (GB) (Sadler's Wells), Kodiac (GB) full-brothers Best Solution (Ire) and El Bodegon (Ire) (Kodiac {GB}), and Workforce (GB) (King's Best). Sea The Stars, who stands at Gilltown Stud, has 20 winners from 41 runners (49%) in the U.S. Eight of those (19%), including graded winners Ottoman Fleet (GB), Legend Of Time, Star Fortress (Ire) and Casual Smile (GB) have won at the stakes level level. LEGEND OF TIME wins the Grade 2 Pennine Ridge Stakes under @JRosarioJockey for trainer Charlie Appleby and @godolphin! pic.twitter.com/JLvr986meG — NYRA () (@TheNYRA) May 25, 2024 Sweet Keertana Win For Blonde A group winner in Italy, Atomic Blonde (Ger) (The Grey Gatsby {Ire}) won the Listed Keertana S. in the U.S. (video). Trained by co-owner Christophe Clement for West Point Thoroughbreds and Winters Equine, LLC, the 5-year-old mare was bred in Germany by Gestut Karlshof. She did not meet her reserve when a €75,000 buy-back at the BBAG October Sale in October of 2020, and, after productive 2021 and 2022 campaigns for her breeder and trainer Henk Grewe, the grey was offered by Ecurie des Monceaux at the Arqana December Breeding Stock Sale, where she caught the eye of Clement for €300,000. Her dam's juvenile filly is All I Ever Wanted (Ger) (Isfahan {Ger}), and her latest is a yearling colt by Counterattack (Aus). A daughter of German stakes winner Alwina (Ger) (Areion {Ger}), Atomic Blonde traces to Alte Zeit (Ger) (Surumu {Ger}), a German champion and winner of the German 1000 Guineas/Preis der Diana (German Oaks) when they were both Group 2. In addition, Alte Zeit was second in the G1 Deutsches Derby (German Derby). The Grey Gatsby, a resident of Hars du Petit Tellier, has a 100% strike rate in America, with all four of his runners successful. Atomic Blonde is his second stakes winner in that locale after GIII The Very One S. heroine Mylady (Ger). #4 Atomic Blonde catches Chop Chop to win the Keertana S. at Churchill Downs under @tyler_gaff for trainer @clementstable! #TwinSpiresReplay pic.twitter.com/VgpSzhNhhh — TwinSpires Racing (@TwinSpires) May 25, 2024 Michel Strikes At Woodbine Mont Saint Michel (Fr) (Wootton Bassett {GB}) won a Woodbine affair at second asking for SF Racing, LLC on Saturday (video). Trained by Brendan Walsh, the 3-year-old filly was bred by SF Bloodstock, SC. The seventh foal out of the stakes-placed Black Dahlia (GB) (Dansili {GB}), the dark bay was a €280,000 buy-back out of the Arqana May Breeze-Up Sale last year. She is a half-sister to four black-type horses anchored by G2 Vintage S. hero Dark Vision (Ire) (Dream Ahead), and G3 Round Tower S. winner Lope Y Fernandez (Ire) (Lope De Vega {Ire}), who was placed at the highest level in Ireland, England, America, and twice in France. Her latest half-sibling is a 2-year-old filly by Hello Youmzain (Fr), who sold for €200,000 to One Agency from the draft of Ecurie des Monceaux. Coolmore's Wootton Bassett now has 17 winners from 30 runners (57%) in the U.S. and Canada. Seven of that number (23%) have won stakes, with Breeders' Cup winners Audarya (Fr) and Unquestionable (Fr) leading the way. Loterie Prevails in California Never off the board in five starts, Living The Dream Stables, Medallion Racing, Omar Aldabbagh and Barry Fowler's Loterie (Ire) (Ten Sovereigns {Ire}) finally connected to win at Santa Anita for Phil D'Amato (video). Originally trained by Eddie and Patrick Harty to run third in the colours of Eddie's wife at the Curragh on debut last May, the Lynch Bages-bred filly cost €30,000 as a Tattersalls Ireland September yearling when acquired by Peter and Ross Doyle Bloodstock from the draft of Glenvale Stud. The daughter of All To Do With It (Ire) (Canford Cliffs {Ire}), herself a half-sister to the multiple stakes winner Skiddaw Peak (Aus) (Generous {Ire}), was placed in the Listed Del Mar Juvenile Fillies Turf S. last year. Her dam has a juvenile colt by No Nay Never, an £88,000 Goffs UK Premier yearling buy by Avenue Bloodstock, and a yearling colt by Starman (GB), who was knocked down for €60,000 to Evergreen Bloodstock at the Goffs November Foal Sale to come. One of three winners from six runners (50%) for her Coolmore sire in the U.S., Loterie is also one of three stakes-placed horses for Ten Sovereigns in that locale. #4 LOTERIE ($7.00) breaks her maiden in R8 at Santa Anita Park for trainer @PhilDamato11. @Antonio1Fresu was aboard this three-year-old Ten Sovereigns filly. pic.twitter.com/w9gKk5ilov — FanDuel Racing (Formerly TVG) (@FanDuel_Racing) May 26, 2024 Fourth Time's The Charm For Cathal John Sadler sent out Cathal (Ire) (No Nay Never) to win at Santa Anita on Saturday (video). The Moni Market-bred was third in his American debut over this strip in May. He currently is owned by Diamond T Racing, LLC, Iapetus Racing, LLC, Lady Marion, LLC, and Richard Alphin. Formerly a €120,000 Goffs Orby yearling when picked up by Jason Taylor from Baroda Stud, Cathal raced for Iapetus Racing Syndicate and trainer Paddy Twomey in Ireland, with his best finish in two starts a second at Dundalk over a mile last November. The second foal and winner for his dam, Lucky At The Bay (Lucky Pulpit), herself a half to graded winner and two-time Grade I-placed sire Tamarando (Bertrand), Cathal is followed by the juvenile full-sister Never Not Lucky (Ire) and a yearling half-sister by U S Navy Flag. Cathal is one of 45 winners from 90 runners (50%) in the U.S. for Coolmore's No Nay Never. His Meditate (Ire) won the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies, and she is one of nine stakes winners (10%) the son of Scat Daddy has in that jurisdiction. #7 CATHAL (IRE) ($9) got rolling on the turn and ran down the dueling leaders to get off the mark in the Santa Anita opener. The 3yo colt by @coolmorestud's No Nay Never was ridden by @Antonio1Fresu for @sadlerracing. pic.twitter.com/LId9hyZY95 — FanDuel Racing (Formerly TVG) (@FanDuel_Racing) June 1, 2024 Zoustar's Marian Cross Prevails At Delaware Newstead Stables, LLC's Marian Cross (GB) (Zoustar {Aus}) trotted up a half-length winner at Delaware Park for trainer Graham Motion near the end of May (video). The 3-year-old filly, bred by The Cross Pattee Partnership, was making her fourth start and first away from Gulfstream Park. Sold for €120,000 by Baroda Stud to Form Bloodstock at the Goffs Orby Sale in 2022, the filly is a half-sister to the multiple stakes-placed Golden Spell (GB) (Al Kazeem {GB}) and is her dam, Cross Pattee (Ire) (Oasis Dream {GB})'s second winner. Kin to several high class stayers, Marian Cross is from the same family as Group 1 winner Courage Mon Ami (GB) (Frankel {GB}). Reverse shuttle stallion Zoustar has sired six winners from 11 runners (54%) in America. His best is stakes winner King Of Gosford (GB), while Starlust (GB) ran second in the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint. Advertise Colt Graduates At Santa Anita Siennois (Ire) (Advertise {GB}), who races for Little Red Feather Racing, Madaket Stables, LLC, and William Strauss, won for the first time at Santa Anita for trainer Phil D'Amato earlier this month (video). Part of the Ballylinch Stud/Ecurie des Charmes breeding programme, the dark bay brought €50,000 from Meridian International out of the Goffs Orby Sale when he was offered by co-breeder Ballylinch. Still a maiden after three starts in France for Haras du Logis Saint-Germain and Pia and Joakim Brandt, the colt changed hands privately, with Saturday being his third start in the U.S. His dam, the Teofilo (Ire) mare Cascading (GB) who was placed in the Listed Chalice S., has a yearling filly by Palace Pier (GB). Cascading is a half-sister to Group 1 winner National Defense (GB) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}). Manton Park Stud's Advertise has had four runners in the U.S., with Siennois his first winner there. Internationally, the stallion, whose eldest foals are 3-year-olds, has sired G3 Musidora S. heroine Secret Satire (GB), and two other stakes horses to date. Repeat Winners One of the most consistent Making Waves horses, Anisette (GB) (Awtaad {Ire}) was winning for the fifth time since traveling Stateside, and bagged her third Grade I in the Gamely S. on Memorial Day at Santa Anita (video) for trainer Leonard Powell and owner Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners. Godolphin's Ottoman Fleet (GB) (Sea The Stars {Ire}), featured here after taking the GII Fort Marcy S. last May, was back in the winner's circle in Churchill's GIII Arlington S. for trainer Charlie Appleby (video). Part of a Frankie Dettori stakes double on Friday evening, Poolside With Slim (Ire) (Churchill {Ire}) landed the $150,000 Penn Oaks at Penn National in Pennsylvania for trainer Rusty Arnold (video). Raced by Glenn and Sandra Bromagen and Patrick Lewis, the filly was bred by Kilweelran, Ltd and won at Gulfstream in February. Winner Ever So Sweet (Ire) (Calyx {GB}) padded her resume with a four-length win during the Belmont at the Big A meeting last month for trainer Brad Cox (video). Owned by Gregory Hoffman, R.T Racing Stable and Clay Schere, the 3-year-old filly had appeared in Making Waves when graduating at second asking in September. It's a G1 double for @umbyrispoli! The Italian rider steers JOHANNES to victory in the G1 Shoemaker Mile after earlier winning the G1 Gamely on ANISETTE pic.twitter.com/uCoh1dMDAY — World Horse Racing (@WHR) May 28, 2024 The post Making Waves: Legends In Action appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

The $400,000 Matt Winn Stakes (G3) at Churchill Downs June 9 will feature 10 sophomores looking to see where they fit within the division, including Kentucky Derby (G1) longshots West Saratoga and Society Man.View the full article

Four-time grade 1 winner Casa Creed returns to the Belmont Stakes Racing Festival for the fourth straight year, but in a different race: the $350,000 Poker Stakes (G3T) June 8.View the full article

The Tuesday before the Belmont Stakes (G1) last year, trainer Jena Antonucci and owner Jon Ebbert watched trackside at Belmont Park as Arcangelo turned in a breeze-like open gallop that signaled his readiness for the final leg of the Triple Crown.View the full article

In theory, trainer Chad Brown has a 71.4% chance of winning Friday's Just a Game Stakes (G1T). He does train five of the seven starters. View the full article

Nineteen individuals have been elected Breeders' Cup Members by 2023 Breeders' Cup foal and stallion nominators in voting that concluded Monday evening. Each Member will serve a four-year term. The following individuals, listed alphabetically, received the most votes from the Breeders' Cup nominators to fill 19 Member seats: Conrad Bandoroff, Maria Niarchos-Gouaze, Barbara Banke, David O'Farrell, Boyd Browning, Bernie Sams, Chief Stipe Cauthen, Alex Solis II, Matt Dorman, Edward (Ned) Toffey, Craig Fravel, Elliott Walden, Eric Gustavson, Barry Weisbord, Bret Jones, Aron Wellman, Gray Lyster, Jacob West, and Clem Murphy. The elected include three new members: Dorman, Toffey and West. “The knowledge and insights provided by Breeders' Cup Members prove key in our continued efforts to enhance the Breeders' Cup World Championships and our incentive programs while increasing the safety and integrity of our great sport to the benefit of all,” said Banke, Chairman of the Breeders' Cup Board of Directors. “I congratulate those who were newly elected or reelected to serve the Breeders' Cup over the next four years and look forward to working with them.” The Breeders' Cup Members are elected every other year by Breeders' Cup foal and stallion nominators through a proportional voting system based on the level of nominations paid to the organization. There are a total of 39 elected Breeders' Cup Members. The Members meet each July and elect individuals to the Breeders' Cup Board of Directors, which oversees the activities of the organization. The post 19 Elected Breeders’ Cup Members appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Trainer Ron Moquett, a member of the HISA Horsemen's Advisory Committee, was not immune this past year from the threat of an Anti-Doping and Medication Control (ADMC) violation. Last fall after the GII Hagyard Fayette S. at Keeneland, a controlled medication called Mepivacaine, which can be used during the gelding process, was found in one of Moquett's horses named Speed Bias (Uncle Mo). The conditioner mounted a defense which resulted in a May 29 ruling by a HIWU internal adjudication panel that he would not be fined nor penalized for the post-race positive. The conditioner joined TDN for a discussion of what you can do as a 'covered person' if you find yourself in a similar predicament. TDN: Ron, thanks for agreeing to an exchange. Looking back at the Speed Bias case, what would you advise others to do if they find themselves in a similar situation? RM: I would say follow the protocol set forth by HIWU. Things have to be done in a specific order. First, write your response to the notification to let HIWU know that you acknowledge the notice of the positive and how you wish to proceed. You will need to make a statement explaining that you did not knowingly give the drug in question. Then, see if you can help them understand where and how your horse came into contact with the substance. TDN: Are there other resources people might not know about? RM: If you need help with any of the above, reach out to a HISA Advisory Member and or an Ombudsman, whichever makes you feel more comfortable and let them help you navigate the steps. Keep in mind that you may qualify for legal help from a lawyer that has experience dealing with cases such as this for no charge. TDN: Speaking of attorney fees, can you tell us how much this whole process cost you? Didn't Speed Bias have to forfeit the purse money he won for finishing third in the GII Hagyard Fayette S.? RM: Yes, it cost my owners the purse. Besides the stress, it cost me my lawyer fees. Lawyers aren't cheap, but I could not have gone through the process without one. I can tell you that the financial cost to defend this was significantly more than the fine would have been. TDN: Retaining counsel and doing a records search make total sense, but was there any apprehension that the video evidence from Keeneland and the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission could not be obtained? RM: The video provided by the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission of the day's activities in my shedrow and barn was the key evidence needed to defend this case. That and the fact that the medical records kept on the Portal showing the exact drug used in the standing castration verified the introduction of that medication to the particular stall Speed Bias ran out of. TDN: So, if you had not obtained that, would it have been difficult to defend yourself? RM: Without the video it would have been just a trainer stating facts he could not prove while expecting the panel to just take our word of the facts of the case. Instead, they could see it all clearly for themselves verifying what we told them exactly. The post Moquett Q&A: The Steps To Mounting An ADMC Defense appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

One thing Hall of Fame trainer D. Wayne Lukas was not going to do was fret over the post position assigned to Seize the Grey (Arrogate) for Saturday's GI Belmont S. at Saratoga Race Course. Seize the Grey got the rail for the 1 1/4-mile Belmont. It's a post most dread, but Lukas, who has won 15 Triple Crown races–including four Belmonts–isn't going to lose any sleep over it. “You have no control over it,” Lukas said, sitting a few feet away from Seize the Grey's stall at his barn on the Oklahoma Training Track Tuesday morning. “I just take it in stride. Would I choose the one? No. If I had a choice, I would probably choose the three or the four.” Seize the Grey won the GI Preakness S. going gate-to-wire. Drawing the rail in the Belmont doesn't necessarily mean that Seize the Grey and jockey Jaime Torres will be gunning for the front Saturday. “If we don't send him, we will have horses on the outside and there is a chance we could get caught covered up on the rail,” Lukas said. “This horse is very manageable. You could lay him anywhere in the race and he would be effective. He is not at all a one-dimensional horse. We can do whatever we want with this horse; he is adaptable to any situation.” Ever since he upset the Preakness at 9-1, Lukas has been raving at how well Seize the Grey, owned by MyRacehorse, bounced out of the race. He said the horse looks better to him heading into the Belmont than he did before the Preakness. Lukas took Seize the Grey to the main track early Tuesday morning and he galloped a mile and three quarters. “When he pulled up, you could have said, 'let's do it again,” Lukas said. “It was like he hadn't even done anything.” Taking a Chance with The Wine Steward Trainer Mike Maker said he had been thinking about a match between The Wine Steward (Vino Rosso) and the GI Belmont S. for a while. It goes back to before the New York-bred, owned by Paradise Farms Corp. and David Staudacher, ran in the GIII Stonestreet Lexington S. at Keeneland Apr. 13. The Wine Steward finished second in the Lexington, his first race since last October. “He really came out of the layoff well,” Maker said. “We were talking about [the Belmont] before the Lexington. He is a very consistent horse and he is doing well. We've got to take a chance.” The Wine Steward followed the Lexington with a second in the GIII Peter Pan S., three quarters of a length behind Belmont rival Antiquarian (Preservationist). If he were able to win the Belmont, The Wine Steward would become the fifth New York-bred to do so. The last was Tiz the Law in 2020. In six career starts, The Wine Steward has three wins and three seconds; four of his races have been in open company. Manny Franco will ride The Wine Steward in the Belmont. He replaces Luis Saez, who was on board for the colt's last three starts. Saez has opted to ride Dornoch (Good Magic) in the Belmont. The Wine Steward will start from post position four and is 15-1 on the Belmont morning line. Blazing Sevens Gets Rematch with National Treasure There has been plenty of talk about the agonizing loss trainer Chad Brown had when Sierra Leone (Gun Runner) got beat a nose by Mystik Dan (Goldencents) in the GI Kentucky Derby. Brown experienced another Triple Crown race agony last year when Blazing Sevens (Good Magic) lost by a head to National Treasure (Quality Road) in the GI Preakness S. Brown and Blazing Sevens get a rematch Saturday when they meet in the one-mile GI Metropolitan H. on the GI Belmont S. undercard. The race also includes White Abarrio (Race Day), the 6-5 morning-line favorite. National Treasure is the 8-5 second choice in the six-horse field. Blazing Sevens, owned by Rodeo Creek Racing LLC, is 8-1. “There might not be many horses in the Met Mile, but it's a real war,” Brown said. “[Blazing Sevens] is going to have to come with that Preakness effort to be competitive, but, the way he is training, I do see him doing it.” Blazing Sevens raced just once after the Preakness last year, finishing third in the Curlin S. at Saratoga. He reappeared in an allowance in April and won by a length. “The horse came back better than expected,” Brown said. So much better that Brown has the confidence to bring him into this spot. Manny Franco, who rode Blazing Sevens in the allowance race for the first time, keeps the mount. Brown will also saddle Sierra Leone, the 9-5 morning-line favorite in the GI Belmont S. Saturday. He was originally also going to run Tuscan Gold (Medaglia d'Oro) in the race as well, but pulled the plug at the last minute. He did not like the way Tuscan Gold came out of his four-furlong breeze Saturday. “I didn't want to run him in a race of this magnitude unless he was 100%,” Brown said. “I'm going to take a step back and re-evaluate that horse.” The post Lukas Not Worried About Seize the Grey’s Belmont Post Position appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Trainer George Weaver is one of several trainers whose horses have tested positive for metformin who will have their suspensions deferred as the Board of Directors of the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority has requested additional review of the drug which is heavily prescribed and used to treat diabetes in people. “In line with HISA's Anti-Doping and Medication Control requirements, metformin is included in the Prohibited Substances List because there is no recognized therapeutic use for the substance in horses involved in Thoroughbred racing,” HISA Board Chairman Charles Scheeler said in a Tuesday release from the organization. “In addition, HIWU has intelligence that some horsemen may be using metformin to try and gain a performance advantage. However, there is limited scientific information available regarding the substance's use in horses. The HISA Board feels that further expert analysis on the topic is necessary to determine if any refinement of HISA's rules is appropriate.” HISA and HIWU have asked the Racing Medication & Testing Consortium's Scientific Advisory Committee to conduct a review of the available science relating to metformin. During the review, which is expected to take months, metformin will remain on the prohibited substances list and its presence will result in the automatic disqualification of race results of the relevant covered horse. Weaver faced a two-year suspension after Anna's Wish (Dialed In) returned a positive for metformin following the Cicada S. in March. Through his attorney, Drew Mollica, Weaver had argued the positive was a result of external contamination and that the groom who cares for the horse takes metformin. Weaver's provisional suspension will be lifted as of Wednesday, according to Mollica. “George and I are over the moon that HISA has taken the position it has,” Mollica said Tuesday afternoon. “We have always believed that George and Anna's Wish were the victim of contamination and the draconian penalties they sought were so out of line that it shocked the conscience and I am glad in a bittersweet way that our exposure on this subject has led to an introspection and scientific look at an issue that needed correction. We look forward to further guidance and George being fully exonerated. George will now start the process of repairing his public image and putting his stable back together.” The post Suspensions Deferred as HISA Calls for Metformin Review appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

You've heard of their horses and are familiar with their double blue silks, but who exactly are the owners behind what seems to be a never-ending supply of Amy Murphy-trained winners in France? Daniel Macauliffe and Anoj Don are similar to the majority of people who have ever got involved in the ownership game in that their initial interest was very small. What started out as a good idea in the pub has exploded into the business partners owning their own racing stables in County Mayo, over 20 horses in training across Britain, Ireland and France as well as a small broodmare band and their own stallion. But it is farming juvenile races in France that the pair have become most noteworthy for and Hot Darling (Ire) is the latest example in that success story. Bought for just 25,000gns by Rodrigo Goncalves during the Book 3 session at Tattersalls last year, Hot Darling has already repaid that investment with back-to-back wins in France. The daughter of Too Darn Hot (GB) followed up her hard-fought debut success at Chantilly with a Listed victory at Vichy, leaving just shy of £40,000 in prize-money in her owners' account. However, while Macauliffe and Don are both successful businessmen in their own right, sustaining a string over over 20 horses does not come cheaply and on Monday it was announced that Hot Darling would be offered for sale by Tattersalls on June 12–just in time for Royal Ascot. Amy Murphy and Lemos de Souza | Tattersalls Don, a native of Sri Lanka, explained, “It is of course exciting and it is special to be selling a horse with Royal Ascot claims. We have a price in our minds and won't let her go unless she makes that figure. She has achieved black-type already and the sire won two Guineas in the one day [with Fallen Angel and Darnation] so we said why not bring our filly to the market now rather than later. Even since Monday, when Tattersalls announced that she would be for sale, we have received many calls from people who want to book time slots to view Hot Darling, so that's very exciting.” He added, “We have had plenty of offers for her already but we thought that the best thing to do in order to get her value right was to offer her online with Tattersalls. It is a good time to sell because everybody wants to have a runner at Royal Ascot and she looks like she will go there with a big chance. She will be sold with an entry in a Group 3 race on June 16 in France as well and that could also be a nice option for her.” Macauliffe and Don are the proud owners of Killala House Stables in County Mayo. Diehard fans of the all-weather action at Dundalk will remember the purple patch that the pair enjoyed in 2017/18 with trainer Fergal Birrane, who operates from that training establishment, courtesy of stalwarts like California Lad (GB) (Aussie Rules), Rock On Dandy (Fr) (Rajsaman {Fr}) and more. Targeting races in France is something of a more recent development, with Manhattan Jungle (Ire) (Bungle Inthejungle {GB}) being the filly that forged the pair's relationship with Murphy and her husband Lemos de Souza. Don explained, “The early-season races in France are a bit weaker than they are in Britain and Ireland. Most of the French-bred horses are best over seven furlongs or maybe a mile. We can't go over to France with a mile-and-a-half horse, but we can go over there with a fast two-year-old, and thankfully we have had some success over the past three or four years doing this. “The first one was Manhattan Jungle–she won her first three starts in France and was second in a Group 3 out there. This year we have had three separate winners in France, so it's so far so good.” He added, “We only have a small budget to buy these horses and we work as a team. If you work as a team, you will have more success. Matt Coleman does a lot of our work and he introduced us to Amy. Nirodha (Ire) (Camacho {GB}) was the first horse we had with her. She won four races for us and we still have her. We also have horses with Ivan Furtado, Charlie Fellowes and Kevin Philippart de Foy in Britain while in France we have horses with Gavin Hernon and Francois Monfort.” Macauliffe is an entrepreneur by day. Along with Don, he is heavily involved in property, with the two men the driving forces behind Danoj Developments. Recalling how the business partners first got the bug, he said, “It was in the pub! One of our friends in Lambourn said 'why not come in on a horse' but unfortunately he turned out to be no good. But it just started from there. Then we bought California Lad (GB) (Aussie Rules) with Harry Dunlop and he went on to win three or four races with Fergal Birrane in Ireland. We have some nice two-year-olds this year; Convo (Ire) (Kodiac {GB}) won first time out and was second in a Listed race in France, Rock Hunter (GB) (Expert Eye {GB}) also won first time out and has placed in his last two starts and then Hot Darling as well.” He added, “Pride Of America (Fr) (American Post {GB}), who was in training with Harry Dunlop before going to Amy Murphy, gave us our first big win at York a couple of years ago. We've also been lucky enough to own Fighting Irish (Ire), who won a Group 2 in France, and is now based out there [at Haras d'Annebault] as a stallion. We supported him with about eight mares and now some of his progeny is starting to come through.” But just like in business, there is always a bottom line. While there is huge fun to be enjoyed in the ownership ranks and in breeding, it's the same principals that has sustained Macauliffe and Don in business that has helped them reach the winner's enclosure. “The wheel is always turning,” Don said. “For example, we purchased a lovely New Bay (GB) colt at Arqana and he cost a lot of money [€285,000]. We also bought an Arizona (Ire) colt at Tattersalls Ireland [€60,000] as well. In order to pay the bills, we have to sell some of the horses and make sure that some money comes in.” With that in mind, connections are already planning to send Rock Hunter, who, like Hot Darling, has done extremely well in France this year, to the Goffs London Sale on the eve of Royal Ascot. It begs the question; with all of these classy two-year-olds off to the sales, might Macauliffe and Don end up turning a profit this year? “I don't know about that,” Don laughed. “As I said, we need the money to pay the bills. But I like going to the sales and buying and selling the horses. Sometimes it works. Sometimes it doesn't. But we have had some great luck with Lemos and Amy and hopefully we get a good payday together soon.” The post ‘It All Started In The Pub’ – Meet The Owners Raising A Glass To Amy Murphy appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

The New York Racing Association will be hosting a Belmont Stakes Watch Party just steps from the race's traditional home track on Long Island. The event will be held at Northwell Presents The Park at UBS Arena, a community space unveiled in December featuring two outdoor hockey rinks and a variety of amenities. Northwell Presents The Park at UBS Arena is located in the Belmont Park backyard adjacent to UBS Arena. The Belmont Stakes Watch Party will open at 1 p.m. and is free of charge, with complimentary parking available in the Ruby and Silver Lots. Family friendly activities will include mini golf, an obstacle course, bounce house and a dunk tank. Guests are permitted to bring folding chairs. The classic Belmont Jewel signature drink will also be for sale. Although tickets are not required, guests planning on attending should RSVP at Watch Party. The post NYRA to Host Belmont Stakes Watch Party at UBS Arena appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Coolmore Ashford resident Maximum Security (New Year's Day) collected his first success as a freshman sire when Kentucky-bred colt Monarh Bars annexed his debut run by six lengths at the Pavlovskiy Hippodrome in Russia last month. He doubled his tally with Christopher Head trainee Rosa Salvaje (Ire) in Tuesday's €30,000 Prix Allee d'Amour over seven furlongs at Saint-Cloud. The filly was bred by Yeguada Centurion SLU who purchased the dam, Idle Hour, for $130,000 at Keeneland November in 2020. 3rd-Saint-Cloud, €30,000, Mdn, 6-4, unraced 2yo, f, 7fT, 1:30.50, vsf. ROSA SALVAJE (IRE) (f, 2, Maximum Security–Idle Hour {SP-US}, by Malibu Moon) broke smartly and found a smooth rhythm along the rail in fifth after the opening exchanges of this debutantes' heat. Nudged along with 500 metres remaining, the 51-10 chance made continued headway under pressure to gain a slender advantage passing the furlong pole and was ridden out to assert by 1 1/4 lengths from Vertical Blue (Ire) (Mehmas {Ire}), becoming the second winner for her freshman sire (by New Year's Day). “Rosa Salvaje is off to a very good start today, coming from a stud with whom we have been very lucky. This daughter of Maximum Security showed us a lot of speed and precocity to be maintained until the first 1400m at Saint-Cloud,” Christopher Head told TDN Europe. “She will be prepared for a 1600m programme in France and potentially abroad at the end of the year. She has a very beautiful action and a very good mind. She is already one of the best fillies of the stable for this season.” “I think Maximum Security is going to be a very nice prospect for speed and precocity for the future,” added Head. Rosa Salvaje is the second of three foals and first scorer produced by a stakes-placed daughter of GI La Brea S. heroine Downthedustyroad (Storm And A Half), herself a half-sister to dual stakes winner Princess Jen (Stutz Blackhawk). The March-foaled bay is half to a yearling filly by Phoenix Of Spain (Ire). Sales history: €75,000 Ylg '23 ARQAUG. Lifetime Record: 1-1-0-0, €15,000. Video, sponsored by FanDuel TV. O-Ecurie Francky Defosse, EARL Haras de l'Hotellerie, SNIG Elevage, Frederic Sauque & Christopher Head; B-Yeguada Centurion SLU (IRE); T-Christopher Head. First winner in France for Maximum Security as a sire! Rosa Salvaje wins nicely on debut at Saint-Cloud… pic.twitter.com/L2oKsggfhA — At The Races (@AtTheRaces) June 4, 2024 The post Maximum Security Has Impressive Winner at Saint-Cloud appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Fresh from his victory in Saturday's 3YO 'Dash' at Epsom, Blue Storm (GB) is now being primed to become a first Royal Ascot runner for his rising young trainer Gemma Tutty. The colt is from the first crop of Blue Point (Ire) – a former star of the royal meeting himself when pulling off a Group 1 double in the same week – and is set to run in the Palace of Holyroodhouse S. “He's come out of it no problem at all, we just need to wrap him in cotton wool between now and Ascot,” said Tutty of Blue Storm's third career victory in the colours of Dave Lowe. “Rossa [Ryan] gave him a fantastic ride, it was lovely to see him go and do that and it's very exciting to be going to Ascot on the back of a good win. “Chester didn't work out for us but he had a bit of a blow that day and we knew he'd be absolutely spot on going into Epsom, as long as he could handle the track. We hoped he would; he's a very fast horse and we were hoping we could settle him down the hill but you don't know until you get there.” She added of Blue Storm's owner, who has campaigned the classy sprinters Kachy (GB) and Sparks Fly (GB), “It's wonderful to have a good horse for Dave. It was a real compliment that he took a chance on me in my first season and it would be lovely to reward him for that.” A former jockey, Tutty is in her third season as a trainer and already has 11 wins on the board from 22 horses to have raced this season. The post Tutty Planning to Storm Royal Ascot appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Saturday's fixtures at Epsom in Britain and Eagle Farm in Australia have set a new record for World Pool turnover, with 12 races across the two racedays generating HK$385.2 million (approx. £38.7m/A$74.2m). The previous record for a 12-race composite card came in March of this year when World Pool offered eight races on Dubai World Cup night, alongside two races each from Tancred S. Day and Australian Cup Day, which saw turnover from World Pool bet types of HK$378.1 million (£38m/A$72.6m). The G1 Derby at Epsom itself saw notable growth from its 2023 turnover, up to HK$51.8 million (£5.2m) from HK$41.6 million (£4.2m), an increase of 24%. With an extra race on the card this year, turnover on the day at Epsom was also up on 2023, as World Pool bet types accumulated to reach HK$264.5 million (£26.6m), an increase on last year's total of HK$249.1 million (£25m). Michael Fitzsimons, executive director, Wagering Products of the Hong Kong Jockey Club (HKJC), said, “We have been delighted with the success of World Pool's composite racedays so far this year and it was fantastic to combine all eight races from Epsom Derby Day with our first offering from Eagle Farm, featuring four races on Queensland Derby Day. “To see record turnover across the cards is hugely exciting and shows the appeal of combining some of the biggest races internationally. We look forward to bringing World Pool customers further opportunities to bet on composite racedays in future.” The post World Pool Announces Record Turnover For Epsom and Queensland Derby Days appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Not many changes were made in week 19 of the National Thoroughbred Racing Association's Top Thoroughbred and Top 3-Year-Old Polls, but that is likely to change as the Belmont Stakes Racing Festival begins at Saratoga Race Course.View the full article

The National Thoroughbred Racing Association has launched “Today in Thoroughbred Racing History” to highlight noteworthy moments and accomplishments in the sport from the last two centuries. The NTRA.com website will automatically update daily with rotating historical events that happened on the current date. The events will also be highlighted across all of the organization's social media platforms. “As America's oldest sport, it's important to take a step back and always remember where we came from,” said NTRA President and CEO Tom Rooney. “Like so many other families involved in horse racing, the history of my family has been built in large part because of the events that happened in our sport, and that's something I have always reflected on. As we move through this exciting Triple Crown season, we as a sport have a lot to be optimistic about. Remembering these historical moments is a fun way to remember the traditions we are working to preserve for future generations.” The post NTRA Launches ‘Today in Thoroughbred Racing History’ Campaign appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Saturday's G1 Derby winner City Of Troy (Justify) and progressive four-year-old Passenger (Ulysses {Ire}) head the betting for the G1 Coral-Eclipse S. after the latest entries were released on Tuesday. A total of 40 horses remain in contention for the first big clash of the generations in the middle-distance division, which will be run at Sandown on Saturday, July 6 and offers total prize-money of £750,000. Golden Horn (GB) in 2015 was the last Derby winner to follow up in the Eclipse and trainer Aidan O'Brien identified this race as one of several options on the table for City Of Troy in the aftermath of his sparkling success at Epsom. O'Brien is responsible for 13 of the 40 entries altogether, with the others including a pair of Classic winners from last year, Derby victor Auguste Rodin (Ire) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) and G1 St Leger hero Continuous (Jpn) (Heart's Cry {Jpn}), plus Friday's G1 Coronation Cup winner Luxembourg (Ire) (Camelot {GB}) and Henry Longfellow (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}), who wasn't far behind City Of Troy among the highest-rated two-year-olds of 2023. Passenger, who reappeared this season with a smooth victory in the G3 Huxley S. at Chester, is a likely runner in the G1 Prince Of Wales's S. before a decision is made on his participation in the Eclipse. His opponents at Royal Ascot could include another son of Ulysses (Ire) and Eclipse entry in the recent G1 Tattersalls Gold Cup winner White Birch (GB), while a pair of mares trained by John and Thady Gosden also feature among the star older horses entered, namely the six-time Group 1 heroine Inspiral (GB) (Frankel {GB}) and last year's Eclipse runner-up Emily Upjohn (GB) (Sea The Stars {Ire}). Of the Classic generation, G1 Irish 2,000 Guineas runner-up Haatem (Ire) (Phoenix Of Spain {Ire}) and Derby sixth Dancing Gemini (Ire) (Camelot {GB}) are others who have already shown a high level of form. A pair of three-year-olds who don't currently hold an Eclipse entry are Epsom runner-up Ambiente Friendly (Ire) (Gleneagles {Ire}) and the wide-margin G2 Dante S. winner Economics (GB) (Night Of Thunder {Ire}), though their connections do have the option of supplementing them at a cost of £37,500 at the five-day confirmation stage on Monday, July 1. The post Eclipse Cracker On The Cards As Latest Entries Are Released appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

by Suzi Pritchard-Jones In recent weeks. this publication has printed two articles by Dan Ross about Thoroughbred racehorses who are falling through the aftercare net, ending up in kill pens for export to either Mexico or Canada for slaughter. Owner Jack Wolf responded with a possible solution in a letter to the editor in last Friday's TDN. Mr. Wolf is not a lone owner. There are many people who are heavily invested in this industry. In today's world when racing's social license to operate is wafer- thin, our industry is increasingly under scrutiny. Are you not concerned, if by nothing else other than the optics of Mr. Ross's pieces? It is time we all row in to allow this sport and business to be recognized with the degree of respect it deserves. There isn't a successful business on the planet that can afford to drop the ball in one area so consistently as this industry does when it comes to breakage–horses without monetary value. Every aspect of the Thoroughbred industry runs like a well-oiled machine…until those horses who did not display enough talent on the racecourse to return to the breeding shed retire from racing. Where do they go, who takes care of them, and whose responsibility is it? How does it look when facilities such as Old Friends in Lexington, Kentucky, who take in 'famous' horses who have earned hundreds of thousands of dollars on the racetrack for their owners, have to rely on successive fundraising campaigns to live out their days? Have we become that spoiled and overindulged that when we tire of a toy or a puppy, we just throw it out? Our parents brought us up better than that. This is not somebody else's problem; it's a horse owners' problem, and it's a horse owners' obligation to solve the problem, because nobody else is going to, and if we don't, we're not going to have an industry. Of that you can be very, very sure. Many owners and several syndicates have a structure in place to take care of their horses. However, this is not the case across the board, and therein lies the problem. This a solvable issue. We do, however, need to come together and work together to resolve it successfully. There is no racing industry without owners. It's time now to take ownership of this great game. For if you don't, who will? Our ace in the hole is that Thoroughbreds are not one-dimensional. They are multifaceted, and they are particularly suited to Equine Assisted Services. Currently, there are numerous programs around the world where EAS are working with Thoroughbreds in a multitude of modalities from helping children with autism, learning disabilities, social anxiety, depression; troubled teenagers, domestic abuse victims, people suffering from PTSD, veterans, first responders, others suffering from addiction. The prison system has also had amazing results with Thoroughbreds within their equine programs. Thoroughbred horses are changing lives the world over, and it is hugely exciting. We have the most powerful drug on the planet in this beautiful creature called the Thoroughbred. In this industry, we not only have the capability of turning racing into a sport and industry to be once again immensely proud of, but we have here the opportunity to create meaningful change. Suzi Pritchard-Jones Pritchard-Jones is the author of BYERLEY, The Thoroughbred's Ticking Time Bomb, and the founder of the Byerley & Godolphin Conservation breeding project. The post Letter to the Editor: Take Ownership appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

The Kentucky Derby Museum has completed upates to its Winner's Circle Exhibit to include Mystik Dan (Goldencents)'s victory in this year's 150th running of the race. Mike Prather, a local artist who was first commissioned by the Museum to airbrush a replica Derby horse in 1999, captured all of Mystik Dan's unique markings and details to match how he looked crossing the finish line at Churchill Downs May 4. The replica jockey was also given a makeover with the team's silks. The new addition to the exhibit includes items on loan which highlight the historic Oaks/Derby double win by jockey Brian Hernandez, Jr. and trainer Kenny McPeek: a halter and a horseshoe worn by Mystik Dan and a halter and a horseshoe worn by Thorpedo Anna (Fast Anna). After taking selfies with the Derby winners, visitors can dive into the story of their journey to victory by learning about the winning connections through a series of self-guided panels in the exhibit. For more information, visit www.derbymuseum.org. The post Museum Completes Derby 150 Updates appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

For the second year running, the G1 Epsom Derby winner was bred from one of Coolmore's countless Galileo (Ire) mares outcrossed to an American sire line. But whereas Sunday Silence's son Deep Impact (Jpn) gave Auguste Rodin (Ire) further turf genes from his mother's European family, City Of Troy's sire is a conduit for virtually unadulterated dirt blood. Justify's first four dams are, respectively, by grandsons of Deputy Minister, Seattle Slew, Northern Dancer and Bold Ruler. The third of those names, of course, transformed the European breed, albeit alongside other American brands such as Sir Ivor, Mill Reef and Roberto. In fact, City Of Troy draws on five different lines of Northern Dancer, four initiated through sons trained in Europe. Three of those, indeed, preceded him at Ballydoyle: Storm Bird, at the root of Justify's sire-line; Sadler's Wells, the sire of Galileo; and Nijinsky, grandsire of Justify's third dam. Then we have Nureyev, the French-trained half-brother to the dam of Sadler's Wells, who figures as grandsire of City of Troy's second dam. Only Justify's damsire Ghostzapper traces to a son of Northern Dancer trained in North America, Vice Regent. Yet European horsemen, around a generation ago, appear to have decided that they had taken all they needed from Kentucky stallions. Of the two reasons for this consensus, only one had merit: the laxity of the American medication regime, permitting latent deficiencies to be recycled. (And the painful progress towards greater credibility in this respect feels plainly threatened by news from Louisiana last week.) The other standard objection to American blood, that it had been blindly confined to the single dimension of speed, was always a fatuous misapprehension. I know that I have shared previously my vexation with an elite European agent who scoffed that he never goes to American sales because “over there they're only interested in speed.” But how could someone entrusted with lavish funding be so obtuse? If anything, it is the commercial market in Ireland and Britain that has gone down that road. Breeders there seem increasingly unable to distinguish mere precocity from the speed that signposts class. In contrast, the majority even of American commercial matings remain governed by the ideal of the first Saturday in May. The two-turn dirt horse certainly needs speed, but also the constitution and endurance to carry that speed–precisely as Justify did himself, even as a son of Scat Daddy, in the GI Belmont S. In the same way Nijinsky became the last winner of a Triple Crown that in Britain demands far greater range (eight, 12 and 14 furlongs). And it is the disclosure of this underlying robustness that should prevent us meddling with the standards maintained by our predecessors in both the scheduling and distances of the U.S. series. Now why is it that a “piece of wood” at Epsom has been long revered as determining the selection of the Thoroughbred? It's because the Derby, much like two-turn dirt racing, showcases the full package. It requires not just stamina, but speed, agility, athleticism. I've been saying for years that speed-carrying dirt stallions were the way to break the stranglehold Coolmore had established on Epsom through Galileo and another son of Sadler's Wells, Montjeu (Ire), above all when the European gene pool was otherwise being diluted by cheap speed. Presumably even that infuriatingly insular agent has finally grasped the point, now that it has been made so vividly by the genius whose fingerprints are all over Justify's sire-line. It is true that necessity was the mother of invention; that John Magnier needed extraneous cross-pollination for a broodmare band dominated by the same strains. It's also true that City Of Troy bears very little resemblance to his sire, whose brawn qualifies him so luminously for dirt. As a physical specimen, in fact, Justify could scarcely have less in common with Northern Dancer. But that surely just implores us to break down the barriers to imagination. The migrations of Nasrullah or Northern Dancer didn't succeed simply because they were built a certain way, but because some elusive variation either redressed or complemented what had become too isolated a gene pool. Back in 2018, Tapit's son Wissahickon put up one of the most remarkable performances in the long history of the Cambridgeshire H. at Newmarket, a 3-year-old laughing at 32 rivals under 131lbs. As it happens, that horse had one or two issues and disappointed when transferred to the U.S. the following year. But since his departure, a grand total of three Tapits have raced on British racetracks. Into Mischief, meanwhile, has had four British starters in his entire career. Such parochialism beggars belief. But that's why last Saturday felt historic. Instead of people like me berating and boring everyone, year after year, City Of Troy has condensed all the preaching into an unmissable moment of joy. Scylla Joins Idiomatic in Promoting Tacitus The world appeared to be at Scylla's feet, this time last year, when she followed up her debut success with an eight-length allowance romp at Churchill. But she then disappeared until the spring and only now, after regrouping through her first couple of starts back, is she putting it all together. Her success in the GIII Shawnee S. confirms Scylla to be an exceptional broodmare prospect even by the standards of Juddmonte. Serial visits to Tapit by her dam, champion Close Hatches (First Defence), have already produced Tacitus to bank $3.75 million on the racetrack. And meanwhile Idiomatic (Curlin), out of a GI Kentucky Oaks-placed sister to Close Hatches, has lent still greater luster to the page as winner of the GI Breeders' Cup Distaff. A half-sister to the second dam has also produced Siskin, by the same sire as Close Hatches, to win a Classic in Ireland before catching the astute eye of Shadai. One way or another, then, this branch is duly contributing to the great dynasty founded by Scylla's fifth dam, Best In Show. The mystery is how Xaar, a brilliant champion juvenile in Europe bred from Scylla's fourth dam Monroe–the daughter of Best In Show and Sir Ivor–contrived to disappoint at stud when so many of his siblings showed their genetic prowess as either runners or producers. Having started his career for his breeders, Xaar was cashed out while still racing. One way or another, he never caused them to repent the way they must have done of selling Danehill. While Scylla and Tacitus have been able to draw upon royal maternal genes, the choice of Tapit for a daughter of First Defence looks pointed. Tapit's damsire Unbridled is also First Defence's grandsire, while First Defence is out of a daughter of Seattle Slew, whose sire-line Tapit extends. But what a daughter! Honest Lady was the only female among the four elite winners produced by the blue hen Toussaud (El Gran Senor), one of few mares in the modern breed to stand comparison with Best In Show. Whatever Scylla does from here, her emergence certainly doesn't discourage the suspicion that Tacitus, standing at just $10,000, is going to redeem the frustrations he occasionally invited in his first career. His fourth generation aligns a daughter of Best In Show, not only with Toussaud, but also with Weekend Surprise and Narrate (behind Tapit's beautifully bred sire Pulpit). No missing rungs on that ladder. Pound Paying Off the Long Way Round Three years before Xaar, Andre Fabre had supervised a similarly dominant juvenile in Pennekamp. Unlike Xaar, the son of Bering came through in the Guineas and duly started hot favorite at Epsom. But he bombed out there and disappeared to stud, where he achieved nothing beyond a handful of daughters that produced competent runners. The basic functionality of his genes had been attested by siblings on the racetrack. Black Minnaloushe (Storm Cat) won two Group 1s at a mile and Nasr El Arab (Al Nasr {Fr}) won a Group 2 by six lengths. But Black Minnaloushe was soon exported from Ashford to South Africa, and only their half-sister Gift of Dance (Trempolino) would keep the flame alive despite failing to break her maiden in 10 attempts. Her daughter by Awesome Again, Round Pound, won the GI Breeders' Cup Distaff in 2006 and cost Sheikh Mohammed $5.75 million on her retirement. She was naturally given every chance with her matings, but only posthumously has she begun to salvage the investment. She was admittedly still with us when her son Long River (A.P. Indy) became a surprise Group I winner in Dubai at the age of seven. But her unraced daughter by Bernardini, Tyburn Brook, has meanwhile deployed his influence as a broodmare sire to produce GI Carter H. winner Speaker's Corner (Street Sense) as well as the brilliantly promising but evidently fragile Knightsbridge (Nyquist). And now Round Pound's final foal, Highland Falls (Curlin), has won a first graded stakes in the GIII Blame S. This maturing horse may yet become a force in the senior division, not least granted some extra yardage in races like the GI Jockey Club Gold Cup. One step at a time, but I would always take a second look at a stallion that duplicates Deputy Minister the way he does (as damsire of Curlin and grandsire of Round Pound). But whether he can someday join Speaker's Corner at stud, or merely boosts him along with a couple of sisters in the broodmare band, it's “a pound to a penny”–or maybe a Round Pound to a Pennekamp–that this family is not yet confined to past glories. The post Breeding Digest: Justify Carries Speed Back to Europe appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Wednesday's top tips from the Post's racing teamView the full article

Dariyan (Fr), the winner of the G1 Prix Ganay and G2 Prix Eugene Adam, has died at the age of 12, according to an announcement by the Aga Khan Studs. A son of Shamardal and the G1 Hong Kong Vase winner Daryakana (Fr) (Selkirk), Dariyan was trained by Alain de Royer -Dupre and is a half-brother to the GII Knickerbocker S winner Devamani (Fr) (Dubawi {Ire}). His granddam was the G1 Prix de Diane winner Daryaba (Ire) (Night Shift). Dariyan retired to Haras de Bonneval in 2017 and moved earlier this year to Haras du Mont Goubert. He is the sire of G3 Prix La Force winner Mister Saint Paul (Fr) and the Group 2 runner-up Galaxie Gold (Fr). “It is with sadness that the Aga Khan Studs announce the loss of Dariyan, who was humanely euthanised on Thursday following an illness, despite the best efforts of the veterinary team,” read a statement on the Aga Khan Studs website. “Winner of the Prix Ganay and Prix Eugène Adam, Dariyan had been a model of consistency during his racing career, finishing in the first five in 11 of his 13 starts.” The post Aga Khan Studs’ Dariyan Euthanised at Age 12 appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article