Wandering Eyes

1st-Saratoga, $97,000, Msw, 7-28, 2yo, f, 6 1/2f, 1:20.27, ft, 2 1/2 lengths. RELIABLE SOURCE (f, 2, Volatile–Repeta, by Broken Vow), runner up in her debut going 4 1/2 panels at Churchill Downs June 26, was installed the even-money choice to go one better this time. Quickly to the front, she cut out fractions of :22.14 and :45.17 as Margot's Angel (Practical Joke) pressed the issue to her outside with Buriana (Justify) several lengths back. The top two turned for home in lockstep, and while Margot's Angel did her best to hold on, it was Reliable Source who had the most left in the tank and she crossed the wire 2 1/2 lengths ahead of the closing Buriana. Margot's Angel held third. The winner is a half to Lady Glamour (Discreet Cat), GSP, $126,170; Mucho Del Oro (Mucho Macho Man), MGSW, $421,100; and Funtastic Again (Funtastic), SW & GISP, $408,694. In foal to Not This Time, Repeta brought $70,000 from Mulholland Springs at Keeneland November in 2020. She foaled a filly by that sire the following season and was most recently bred back to Gun Runner this season. Sales history: $250,000 RNA Ylg '23 KEESEP. Lifetime Record: 2-1-1-0, $79,000. Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuelTV. O-Three Chimneys Farm, LLC (Goncalo B. Torrealba); B-Three Chimneys Farm, LLC (KY); T-Steven M. Asmussen. RELIABLE SOURCE, daughter of @Three_Chimneys stallion Volatile, out-dueled Margot's Angel for a win in the opener with Flavien Prat up for Steve Asmussen. pic.twitter.com/7X0h76keS2 — NYRA () (@TheNYRA) July 28, 2024 The post Volatile’s Reliable Source Graduates at the Spa appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Kenny McPeek announced Saturday that his superstar 3-year-old filly Thorpedo Anna (Fast Anna) will make her next start in the Aug. 24 GI DraftKings Travers S. McPeek had kept the decision to himself for a few days, but no one should have been surprised when he picked the Travers. That's McPeek's style, to be bold, to embrace a challenge to think outside of the box. There's no trainer like him. He has pulled this trick off before, winning 2020 GI Preakness S. with the filly Swiss Skydiver (Daredevil). “I just didn't know how good she is,” he said after the Preakness. “You've got to throw them in the ring sometimes to find out.” And he doesn't care if his horse is 4-5 or 45-1. He wasn't afraid to run Sarava (Wild Again) in the 2002 GI Belmont S. He went off at 70-1, and won. His 2024 GI Kentucky Derby winner Mystik Dan (Goldencents) was the only horse to run in all three Triple Crown races. When his horses are doing good, they're going to wind up in the entry box somewhere. He's not afraid of being second guessed. “I do believe that if they're doing well, don't be scared to run,” McPeek told me in 2020. “We buy our racehorses to run not to just watch them train. I do think there is some over analysis, where people say, 'Oh, no, you're running them back too quickly.' When I first started training, it wasn't anything to run a horse back in 10 days, two weeks. Now it's almost as if they write you off if you do that. Four weeks is plenty of time. It's no problem, especially if a horse is healthy. I have always believed that when you have one that is doing well, you shouldn't hesitate.” McPeek's job is not to promote the sport, but he takes on that task willingly. He understands that racing desperately needs more stars and more excitement and if he can fill the void he will. He's student of racing history and understands what a special feat it would be for Thorpedo Anna to win the Travers. He's already talking about encouraging female patrons to wear pink to the race. He gets it. “I think it's fun doing this kind of stuff,” he told the TDN's Tim Wilkin. “It just makes the sport more interesting, doesn't it?” He continued: “I spoke to [NYRA CEO] David O'Rourke last Sunday or Monday, reached out to him, you know how do we approach this if we do this? I'm a big believer that the sport needs stars. It needs to be promoted, it needs to be lifted. She can do that and we're lucky that she's there to do that. The Alabama was a race that is going to be really boring if I run in it. Nobody is going to run against me, I'm pretty sure of that. She could go out there and knock out a third one for us, but I don't think that's a big enough challenge for her.” Some people want to compare Thorpedo Anna to Rachel Alexandra (Medaglia d'Oro). It's way too early for that. Rachel Alexandra, by the end of her 3-year-old year, had beaten boys in the GI Preakness S., the GI Haskell S. and the GI Woodward. The Travers will be Thorpedo Anna's first start against males. Thorpedo Anna has a lot of catching up to do, but, in her trainer, has someone who is eager to prove her greatness. Who knows where she will run next if beating the boys in the Travers? She's only a Grade I win or two from having a serious chance of becoming this year's Horse of the Year. In modern times, the Travers has not been an easy race on fillies. From 1865-1903, six fillies won the Travers. The last filly to win the race was Lady Rotha in 1915 and she was placed first through disqualification. Only four fillies have run in the Travers since 1962 and none since Wonder Gadot (Meadaglia d'Oro) tried it in 2018 and finished last. Saratoga 2024, in almost all respects, has gotten off to a good start. Now, you can add the Travers to a list of must-see races. You can't say that Fierceness (City of Light), if he runs in the Travers, is back after his win in the GII Jim Dandy S. over Sierra Leone (Gun Runner) because you have no idea how he will run next time out. He could be the Fierceness we saw winning the Jim Dandy or the one who struggled so badly in the Derby. Still, he looms a major threat in the Travers. So does GI Belmont S. and GI Haskell S. winner Dornoch (Good Magic). And don't count out Mindframe (Constitution) or Sierra Leone, who is perpetually knocking on the door. It's going to be great race. It's been 109 years since a filly won the Travers and the drought may soon be over. The Chosen Vron is Unstoppable The Chosen Vron (Vronsky) is not a serious candidate for Horse of the Year, even after he won the GI Bing Crosby S. on Saturday at Del Mar for the second straight year. He's a California-bred and the majority of his career starts have come against state-breds. He's not the type of horse Horse of the Year voters gravitate toward. None of which makes him any less special. You just don't get horses like this anymore. He's six years old and has won 19 of 24 lifetime starts, including 17 stakes races. He's also beaten open company in the GIII San Carlos S., the GIII Affirmed S. and the GIII Lazarao Barrera S. Trainer Eric Kruljac had done a masterful job plotting out this horse's campaign and there's no reason to think he can't go on for two or three years more. “I didn't say anything to [jockey] Hector [Berrios],” Kruljac said after the Bing Crosby when asked about giving his jockey instructions. “I have that much faith in him. I expected Baffert's horse [Jackstown] to go hard, but he didn't go that hard and the other speed didn't. He [Berrios] got out and had him in the thick of it. When it was time to move his hands, the rest was history. The other horses tried to keep up with him. He just wouldn't let them. It's one of his best races.” Kruljac didn't say where The Chosen Vron will run next, but the GI Breeeders' Cup Sprint is definitely in the plans. When It Comes to Safety, HISA Is Getting the Job Done There are some legitimate reasons to be concerned about HISA and HIWU, none more troubling than their penchant for catching trainers who obviously don't cheat. They've been working on that and are trying to come up with some answers. But the numbers keep telling us that HISA is making the sport safer, and nothing could be more important than that. Last week, HISA released the numbers for the second quarter of 2024. The fatality rate has declined for four consecutive quarters, including an approximate 49% decrease year over year in the second quarter of 2024. Racetracks operating under HISA's rules and running races in the second quarter reported 0.76 racing-related equine fatalities per 1,000 starts, compared to 1.48 racing-related equine fatalities per 1,000 starts in the second quarter of 2023. Yes, HISA has made some mistakes and should have come up with a better plan when it comes to suspending trainers who are guilty of nothing more than to have a horse test positive due to environmental contamination. But the numbers on equine fatalities should be all anyone needs to know when it comes to either being pro or anti-HISA. Racing is safer now than it was before HISA took over and that should be all the reason you need to back what they are trying to accomplish. The post The Week in Review: McPeek Always Makes Things Interesting appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Sierra Leone (Gun Runner), who rallied from last to finish second behind Fierceness (City of Light) in the GII Jim Dandy Stakes Saturday, will continue on to the Aug. 24 GI DraftKings Travers Stakes, trainer Chad Brown confirmed Sunday. “I thought he ran great. He put in a really good performance,” Brown said of his charge's Jim Dandy effort. “He's come out of it well, so we'll move forward and point to the Travers. We're looking forward to getting back out to a mile and a quarter.” Sierra Leone won the GII Risen Star Stakes and GI Toyota Blue Grass Stakes earlier in the year. He was a nose from winning the GI Kentucky Derby and was third in this year's 1 1/4-mile GI Belmont Stakes at Saratoga. Also Saturday, Brown sent Chancer McPatrick (McKinzie) out to a 'TDN Rising Star' debut win. The juvenile, purchased by Flanagan Racing for $725,000 at this year's OBS Spring Sale, rallied from last of 10 under Flavien Prat with a seven-wide stretch run to score by one length in a 6 1/2-furlong maiden special weight. “I was a bit uneasy down the backside when he got shuffled back and he was way out of position,” Brown said. “He's faster than that and I didn't think he had much of a chance from there, but he showed his ability to get up in time. He ended up on a good part of the track out in the center. He was probably helped by being on a better part of the track, but he showed a lot of ability. I was really pleased with him.” Chancer McPatrick is now likely to target the seven-furlong GI Hopeful Stakes at Saratoga Sept. 2. “I think stretching him out to seven is a minimum of what he really wants and down the road longer than that,” Brown said. Chancer McPatrick was Brown's third 2-year-old debut winner of the Saratoga meet and his second to earn 'TDN Rising Star' status. Resolute Racing's Virgin Colada (More Than Ready), who was tabbed a 'Rising Star' following her win last Sunday, is now aiming for the Aug. 28 P.G. Johnson Stakes, while Klaravich Stables' Incentive Pay (Volatile), who won last Saturday, is also under consideration for the Hopeful. Trainer Bill Mott confirmed Sunday that Juddmonte homebred Batten Down (Tapit), third in the Jim Dandy, would also be heading to the Travers. “Absolutely,” Mott said of a potential next start in the Travers. “I'll put it this way, we are surely going to nominate him.” Second in the stretch, Batten Down was on the chase of an outwardly-drifting Fierceness, forcing him to dive inside where he was passed by Sierra Leone for place-honors. Mott said Fierceness' wide stretch run might have intimidated Batten Down, but it was still a strong showing. “It didn't help us. It maybe intimidated our horse a little bit,” said Mott. “Got beat by two awfully good horses. It was a good effort. It was a pretty good effort.” The post Sierra Leone on to Travers appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Godolphin's Cinderella's Dream and Juddmonte's Segesta—1-2 in the July 6 Belmont Oaks Invitational Stakes (G1T) at Aqueduct Racetrack—meet for a second time when they lead a field of seven in the Aug. 2 Saratoga Oaks Invitational Stakes (G2T).View the full article

Progeny of Admire Mars and Tower of London each set 2-year-old track records and moved their sires into the top spots on the JRA Freshman Sires' table.View the full article

With trainer Mike Maker, Paradise Farms has shopped for and found precocious juveniles at reasonable prices. View the full article

7th-ELP, 71K, Msw, 2yo, 6f, 3:52 p.m. EAST AVENUE (Medaglia d'Oro), a Godolphin homebred for Brendan Walsh, is the first foal out of an unraced Ghostzapper half-sister to Horse of the Year and MGISW Cody's Wish (Curlin). Second dam Dance Card, purchased by Godolphin as a 2-year-old for $750,000 and herself a Grade I winner, also produced MGSW Endorsed (Medaglia d'Oro) and SP Bocephus (Medaglia d'Oro). Lined up inside, Mesero (Not This Time) brought a tag of $535,000 for CJ Thoroughbreds and Della Nash at Keeneland September last year for Dale Romans. He is a half to GI New York Stakes winner Bleecker Street (Quality Road) and from the family of GISW Gabriel Charles (Street Hero). TJCIS PPS The post Monday Insights: Godolphin Homebred Tops Monday Maidens appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Mark Boylan has quickly carved out a reputation as being a talented and respected racing journalist based in Ireland. He has been based with the Irish Field since January 2023 having spent a number of years working for the Racing Post prior to that. Not to be pigeon-holed, Boylan also works closely with trainer Ciaran Murphy and has interest in race planning and bloodstock. Of course, few people will forget how he first shot to prominence in the sport, given he was something of a child singer sensation who wrote and sang a number of hit racing ballads. From cutting his teeth in racing journalism to his biggest influences in the sport, the County Offaly native is next up in the Young Guns series. Tell us a bit about your role in racing? I've been working as a full-time racing journalist with The Irish Field since January 2023. The paper's origins actually go back as far as 1870, so it's lovely to feel you're contributing to something with a long history in the industry. Hopefully we can all keep the flag flying into the next 150 years! Away from journalism, I give a hand to Ciaran Murphy, a dual-purpose trainer in Co Westmeath, with some race planning and sales work, and assist Willie McCreery with writing monthly runner reviews for his website. When time allows, I also do MC at a few race meetings – but the Field is certainly the main focus. A lot of people know you from child singer days! Did that help to open doors when it came to making your career in the game? I would only have been about 13 years old, so it certainly wasn't today or yesterday, but it still gets brought up to me at the races from time to time! I suppose it definitely was a help for getting started in journalism. As part of an Injured Jockeys' Fund fundraiser, the Racing Post brought me over to their old Canary Wharf office to record a song I'd written for the Cheltenham Festival, and Bruce Millington, who was editor at the time, was very good to leave the door open for me to come back for an internship down the road. I started working with the Post in 2017 and learned a huge amount from the team there before joining the Field last year. What was it about racing journalism that appealed to you? My parents tell me I essentially learned how to read as a child from picking up racing newspapers, so it's always been a part of my life. I'd often bring The Irish Field to primary school and I'm told the only argument I ever got into with a teacher was when I insisted to her that the Giant's Causeway in Co Antrim must have been named after Aidan O'Brien's iron horse… I'd never heard of this mythological giant she was telling us about. Dad had to break it to me gently after getting home! Who has been the biggest influence on your career? From a journalism point of view, I'd have to say that reading Alastair Down's pieces while growing up was a big part of me getting the bug for writing. I think he's always been different class. What has been your best day in the sport? It wasn't one of the marquee races of the week, but I got a real kick out of a horse called Granville Street winning at the Galway Festival last summer. A great bunch in the Street Wise Syndicate were looking to buy a horse for Galway, and he was one of the first horses I helped with the sourcing of in 2022 after seeing him run a couple of times over the winter at Dundalk. Unfortunately, he picked up a setback and missed that year's Galway Festival, but for him to come back 12 months later and win at the meeting was something I got a great thrill out of. Galway is one of the closest racecourses to where I'm from in Banagher, Co Offaly, so there were plenty of local friends from home who got in on the celebrations too. Who do you admire most in the sport? I'd be surprised if we see another Aidan O'Brien in my lifetime in Irish racing. To be at the top of your profession for decades and still approach every day with the sort of relentless drive he has for constant improvement, I think that's something you'd have to admire in any walk of life. Most difficult person to interview? Now that's a rotten question! To be fair, we're generally very lucky in Irish racing that the vast majority of participants are approachable and willing to give their time to the media. That's something I've never taken for granted and have always been appreciative of, especially compared with plenty of other sports. One instance of getting the run-around as a very green, young journalist comes to mind, though. Not long after starting out, I gave the late Peter Casey a call for a quote on one of his runners for a preview piece. He must have kept me on the phone for more than 40 minutes and steered the conversation towards everything and anything you could think of: Gaelic football, farming, American politics… Everything except the horse I actually rang about. By the time he said he had to go and hung up sharply, I essentially had no quote on the horse, who ended up being very well punted and duly won the next day. He gave nothing away! Peter was a fantastic character. It's a shame we don't have more colourful figures like him in the game nowadays. Piece or article you are most proud of? Two features I really enjoyed putting together in recent years were interviews with John Kiely and Christophe Soumillon. Different characters, but equally interesting to get to know them. You couldn't but admire John's attitude towards life as a trainer in his 80s, and it was obvious he still has a genuine bond with the animal after all these years in the game. I found Christophe refreshingly open in talking about the ups and downs of his career too. For me, he's still one of the very best riders anywhere on the planet. If you weren't in the horse racing industry what would you be doing? I recently spent some time in Nashville and loved getting to experience the music scene around there. Don't expect to see me in a cowboy hat anytime soon, but it'd be cool to see what life would be like in the songwriter circles over there. If you were to win the lottery, what would you buy and who would train? From as young as I can remember, I've always had a soft spot for the Breeders' Cup and it'd be magic to go there with a live chance you sourced at home. As for a trainer, I genuinely believe there is massive depth to the Irish training ranks and there are any number of operations up and down the country who would excel if given the chance to train a better quality of horse. To nail down just one, given I've spent time with him first-hand at the sales in recent years and seen him get results with inexpensively-bought horses, I think Ciaran Murphy is someone who falls into that category after just starting out training in his own name in the last couple of years. There are so many astute horsemen and horsewomen across the country, though. It's one of the most competitive racing jurisdictions in the world for a reason. Give us a horse to follow for the remainder of the Flat season. I thought Delacroix was a maiden winner waiting to happen after his debut at second at Leopardstown last Thursday night. He's bred in the purple and showed a fair deal of natural ability despite looking plenty raw against a smart winner, who had the benefit of a run. The post Young Guns: Getting To Know Racing Journalist Mark Boylan appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Two-for-two entering Deauville's seven-furlong G3 Prix Six Perfections on Sunday, the €110,000 Goffs Orby Book 1 graduate Angeal (Ire) (Wootton Bassett {GB}–Curvy {GB}, by Galileo {Ire}) showed that she is not shy of a battle, emerging the other side with her perfect tally intact. Educated at Saint-Cloud over the past two months, the Christopher Head-trained daughter of Coolmore's GI E. P. Taylor Stakes heroine who races for Christophe Brun, Ecurie Normandy Spirit and Gerard Larrieu was settled in second from the outset by Aurelien Lemaitre. Getting to the front at the top of the straight in preparation for warding off the closers, the 23-10 favourite fought hard to retain her advantage and prevail by a short neck and a head from Royalty Bay (Ire) (Kodiac {GB}) and Relaxx (Fr) (City Light {Fr}). The win completed a rare clean sweep in pattern races on the afternoon for the French-trained horses to get Deauville August off to a flyer for the domestic runners. “I'm delighted she remains undefeated with a great performance,” Christopher Head said. “She has a lovely temperament and she never gives up when she has to fight. With her lovely pedigree, to win a group race was most important and it is mission accomplished. We'll now take our time to prepare her for the one-mile [G3] Prix d'Aumale and then the [G1] Marcel Boussac.” Flawless record intact! Angeal holds on to make it three from three in the Gr3 Prix Six Perfections for @CHeadRacing and @lemaitre60LA at Deauville… pic.twitter.com/sqwi6AgqzO — At The Races (@AtTheRaces) July 28, 2024 The post Wootton Bassett Daughter of Curvy wins the Six Perfections appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Patrice Cottier trainee Daylight (Fr) (Earthlight {Ire}–Latita {Fr}, by Silver Frost {Ire}) backed up a May 2 debut score at Chantilly with a third back there in June's G3 Prix du Bois and rebounded in style to register a first black-type score for her freshman sire (by Shamardal) in Sunday's G3 Prix de Cabourg at Deauville. The 29-10 third choice was swiftly into stride and stalked the pacesetting Naana's Diamond (Ire) (Invincible Army {Ire}) in second through halfway. Coming under pressure approaching the quarter-mile marker, she quickened to the fore with 300 metres remaining and was ridden out inside the final furlong to comfortably outpoint 'TDN Rising Star' Polyvega (Ire) (Lope De Vega {Ire}) by 2 1/2 lengths for a career high. Wathnan Racing's G2 Coventry Stakes third and G2 Superlative Stakes fourth Columnist (GB) (Ardad {Ire}) was outbobbed by the runner-up and was a head adrift in third, himself a neck in front of Apollo Fountain (GB) (No Nay Never). “We never made it a secret that we keep this filly in high esteem,” said Pauline Chehboub. “After she won so impressively at Chantilly we ran in the [G3] Prix du Bois and she was not disgraced when finishing third. She was not quite ready for that, she was not mature enough, so we gave her time and skipped the [G2] Prix Robert Papin to target this race. It was the correct decision and now we will have more ambition and target the [G1] Prix Morny. From day one we had that race in the back of our mind for her.” Pedigree Notes Daylight is the second of two foals and lone scorer produced by Listed Criterium du Languedoc victrix and G3 Prix de la Grotte third Latita (Fr) (Silver Frost {Ire}). Latita is the leading performer out of Amazing Story (Fr) (Cricket Ball), who is a full-sister to G3 Prix du Petit Couvert and Listed Criterium de Vitesse winner Manzor (Fr), and hails from the family of GI Breeders' Cup Sprint, G1 Nunthorpe S. and G1 Haydock Sprint Cup-winning European champion Sheikh Albadou (GB) (Green Desert). Px de Cabourg (Gr3, 2ans, 1200m) @fgdeauville Daylight (Earthlight) prend sa revanche et gagne avec brio, comme son père avant elle, qui s'en alla gagner ensuite le Prix Morny (Gr1) 2019. pic.twitter.com/frq5N78CMY — France Galop (@francegalop) July 28, 2024 Sunday, Deauville, France PRIX DE CABOURG-G3, €80,000, Deauville, 7-28, 2yo, 6fT, 1:10.39, g/s. 1–DAYLIGHT (FR), 122, f, 2, by Earthlight (Ire) 1st Dam: Latita (Fr) (SW & GSP-Fr), by Silver Frost (Ire) 2nd Dam: Amazing Story (Fr), by Cricket Ball 3rd Dam: Amarige (Fr), by Lesotho 1ST BLACK-TYPE WIN; 1ST GROUP WIN. (€85,000 Ylg '23 ARQAUG). O-Gousserie Racing & Mme Sandrine Gavrois; B-Ecurie Haras du Cadran & Pierre van Belle (FR); T-Patrice Cottier; J-Mickael Barzalona. €40,000. Lifetime Record: 3-2-0-1, €67,000. Werk Nick Rating: B. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree, or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. 2–Polyvega (Ire), 122, f, 2, Lope De Vega (Ire)–Polydream (Ire), by Oasis Dream (GB). 1ST BLACK TYPE; 1ST GROUP BLACK TYPE. O/B-Wertheimer & Frere (IRE); T-Carlos Laffon-Parias. €16,000. 3–Columnist (GB), 126, c, 2, Ardad (Ire)–Sand And Deliver (GB), by Royal Applause (GB). (8,000gns Ylg '23 TATSOM; £170,000 2yo '24 GOUKB). O-Wathnan Racing; B-Peter Balding (GB); T-Richard Fahey. €12,000. Margins: 2HF, HD, NK. Odds: 2.90, 1.80, 5.80. Also Ran: Apollo Fountain (GB), Naana's Diamond (Ire). Video, sponsored by FanDuel TV. The post First Stakes Winner for Earthlight as Daylight Downs Rivals at Deauville appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Placing her name among some of the elite to have graced Deauville's August Festival, Baron Edouard De Rothschild's Mqse De Sevigne (Ire) (Siyouni {Fr}–Penne {Fr}, by Sevres Rose {Ire}) made it a third group 1 at the meeting as she recorded back-to-back renewals of the G1 Prix Rothschild on Sunday. Sent off the 7-10 favourite as the race's undisputed leading lady having also garnered last year's G1 Prix Jean Romanet here and this term's G1 Prix d'Ispahan at ParisLongchamp, the Andre Fabre-trained homebred was allowed to coast behind the early leaders by Alexis Pouchin. Handing Excellent Truth (Ire) (Cotai Glory {GB}) first run approaching the final furlong, the 5-year-old was able to head that rival soon after without serious effort before readily asserting for a length success. Rogue Millennium (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) was in turn 1 1/2 lengths behind in third. “To win this race, which honours our family and my ancestors, is always great,” De Rothschild said. “She showed earlier this season that she had improved more from four to five and it is not a surprise, as she hails from a late-maturing family. She fully dominated today, it was quite impressive. As we said before, we will go with the program we have mapped out for her which is the Prix Jean Romanet here again as last year and then the Arc.” Mqse de Sévigné (@pouchinalexis / A.Fabre) définitivement dans son jardin à Deauville ! La lauréate du dernier Prix d'Ispahan (Gr. 1) conserve son titre dans le Prix Rothschild (Gr. 1) et sera de nouveau la jument en vue de ce meeting 2024 ! pic.twitter.com/pEFDrbYekI — Equidia (@equidia) July 28, 2024 The post Siyouni’s Mqse De Sevigne doubles up in the Rothschild appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Victorious Racing's €400,000 Arqana Arc sale acquisition Calif (Ger) (Areion {Ger}–Cherry Danon {Ire}, by Rock Of Gibraltar {Ire}), who collected ParisLongchamp's G3 La Coupe when last seen, made a breakthrough at the highest level when annexing Sunday's G1 Grosser Dallmayr Preis – Bayeriches Zuchtrennen at Munich. The eventual winner was steadied to track the leaders in fourth passing the judge first time and held that position until turning for home. Thundering forward in the straight, the 19-5 second favourite was shaken up to launch his challenge with 300 metres remaining and, having been joined by last year's G1 Deutsches Derby hero Fantastic Moon (Ger) (Sea The Moon {Ger}) passing the furlong pole, was ridden out to deny that rival by a length for a career high. The runner-up was four lengths clear of the remainder, headed by Westminster Moon (Ger) (Sea The Moon {Ger}). “This is a very special victory,” commented Adrie de Vries after registering his first win in the 10-furlong contest. “I chose Calif for my boss Fawzi Nass and Sheikh Nasser, so I am naturally very happy that he has now landed a Group 1 victory. I saw that Rene [Piechulek] was coming [aboard Fantastic Moon] and it took a while for Calif to get going. I thought Fantastic Moon was going to go by, but then my horse really took off.” Pedigree Notes Calif, who becomes the second elite-level winner for his late sire, is a son of G3 Hamburger Stutenmeile victrix and G2 German 1000 Guineas runner-up Cherry Danon (Ire) (Rock Of Gibraltar {Ire}) and thus kin to the stakes-winning trio Celebrity (Ger) (Shamardal), Chilly Filly (Ger) (Makfi {GB}) and Cherry Lady (Ger) (Soldier Hollow {GB}). Calif is also a half-brother to the unraced 3-year-old filly Cherry Lou (Ger) (Lope De Vega {Ire}) and a yearling filly by Mehmas (Ire). The April-foaled dark bay's second dam Sherifa (Ger) (Monsun {Ger}) is a full-sister to the stakes-winning dam of three black-type winners headed by multiple Group-winning sire Sommerabend (GB) (Shamardal). From the dam line of legendary champion Schwarzgold (Ger) (Alchimist {Ger}), this is a family which includes GI Hollywood Turf Cup hero Sanagas (Ger) (Lomitas {GB}) and G1 Grosser Preis von Berlin winner Sirius (Ger) (Dashing Blade {GB}). G1 Grosser Dallmayr-Preis – Bayerisches Zuchtrennen ausgetragen seit 1866 over 2000m G1 for 3yo+ horses – 155.000€ CALIF 5yo g by AREION FANTASTIC MOON 4yo c by SEA THE MOON WESTMINSTER MOON 4yo c by SEA THE MOON CALIF is bred by Gestüt Brümmerhof, owned by Victorious… pic.twitter.com/G6mcBLhckw — Deutscher Galopp (@DeutscherGalopp) July 28, 2024 Sunday, Munich, Germany GROSSER DALLMAYR-PREIS – BAYERISCHES ZUCHTRENNEN-G1, €155,000, Munich, 7-28, 3yo/up, 10fT, 2:06.88, sf. 1–CALIF (GER), 132, g, 5, by Areion (Ger) 1st Dam: Cherry Danon (Ire) (GSW-Ger & GSP-Ity, $103,338), by Rock Of Gibraltar (Ire) 2nd Dam: Sherifa (Ger), by Monsun (Ger) 3rd Dam: Shona (Ger), by Windwurf (Ger) 1ST GROUP 1 WIN. (€95,000 RNA Ylg '20 BBAGS; €400,000 4yo '23 ARQARC). O-Victorious Racing; B-Gestut Brummerhof (GER); T-Carlos & Yann Lerner; J-Adrie de Vries. €100,000. Lifetime Record: GSW-Fr & GSP-KSA, 22-5-3-4, €484,075. *1/2 to Celebrity (Ger) (Shamardal), MSW & GSP-Ger; Chilly Filly (Ger) (Makfi {GB}), SW & GSP-Ger; and Cherry Lady (Ger) (Soldier Hollow {GB}), SW-Ger. Werk Nick Rating: A+. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree, or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. 2–Fantastic Moon (Ger), 132, c, 4, Sea The Moon (Ger)–Frangipani (Ger), by Jukebox Jury (Ire). (€49,000 Ylg '21 BBAGS). O-Liberty Racing 2021; B-Graf & Grafin von Stauffenberg (GER); T-Sarah Steinberg. €30,000. 3–Westminster Moon (Ire), 132, c, 4, Sea The Moon (Ger)–My Daydream (Ire), by Oasis Dream (GB). 1ST GROUP 1 BLACK TYPE. (45,000gns Wlg '20 TATFOA; €15,000 Ylg '21 TIRSEP). O-Westminster Race Horses GmbH; B-Kenilworth House Stud (IRE); T-Andreas Wohler. €15,000. Margins: 1, 4, 1HF. Odds: 3.80, 1.40, 16.10. Also Ran: Quantanamera (Ger), Downtown (Ger), Wintertraum (Ger), Penalty (Ger), Straight (Ger), Muhalif (Ger). The post Areion’s Calif Registers Career High in Munich Feature appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Deauville August is underway and with it a new TDN Rising Star as White Birch Farm's homebred Ultrafragola (Ire) (Sottsass {Fr}–Toinette, by Scat Daddy) provided her Prix du Jockey Club and Arc-winning first-crop sire with a sensational breakthrough winner turning the Prix des Marettes into a procession. Well found in the market as the 7-5 favourite, the Jean-Claude Rouget-trained daughter of the four-times graded-stakes winner travelled strongly for Christophe Soumillon in the wake of the early leader Marques (Fr) (Le Havre {Ire}). Looming to that stablemate two out, she was sent into a decisive advantage soon after and was under a hand ride as she outclassed her peers to win this important 7 1/2-furlong newcomers' race by 5 1/2 lengths. In doing so, she recorded a final three-furlong split of 33.85, over a second faster than that completed by the colt Misunderstood (Fr) (Hello Youmzain {Fr}) in the preceding Prix de Crevecoeur and it would be no surprise were she to go on to match the achievements of two of this contest's past winners in Zagora (Fr) (Green Tune) and Antonoe (First Defence). Second was the Tim Donworth-trained Bella India (Fr) (Goken {Fr}), with Marques dropping away to be a further 2 1/2 lengths behind in third. “She is a very gifted filly who has always worked very nicely and easily,” Rouget's assistant Jean-Bernard Roth said of the winner, whose dam enjoyed her highlight when taking the the GII Goldikova Stakes and was a $800,000 Keeneland November purchase in 2020. “We hope that the great moments we enjoyed with Sottsass will be repeated with his progeny and this one could be out of the top drawer.” Impressive! The well bred Ultrafragola, who is the first winner for the stallion Sottsass, makes an eye-catching debut for @CSoumillon and Jean-Claude Rouget at Deauville… pic.twitter.com/sT6DdWDj6R — At The Races (@AtTheRaces) July 28, 2024 Pedigree Notes This was the perfect script for Sottsass's first winner, with his son Chauncey Gardiner (Ire) narrowly denied in the fixture's opener 30 minutes earlier for the same connections. Ultrafragola is the first foal out of Toinette, who was successful in the GIII Edgewood Stakes, GIII Autumn Miss Stakes and GIII Wilshire Stakes as well as the Goldikova and whose 2023 and 2024 offerings are both colts by Frankel (GB). She is out of I Bet Toni Knows (Sunriver), who along with her half-brother Possessed (Posse) captured the New York Stallion Stakes. 2nd-Deauville, €50,000, Debutantes, 7-28, 2yo, f, 7 1/2fT, 1:36.34, g/s. ULTRAFRAGOLA (IRE), f, 2, by Sottsass (Fr) 1st Dam: Toinette (MGSW-US, $580,720), by Scat Daddy 2nd Dam: I Bet Toni Knows, by Sunriver 3rd Dam: Ibetyouwishyouknew, by Mr. Greeley Lifetime Record: 1-1-0-0, €25,000. O/B-White Birch Farm (IRE); T-Jean-Claude Rouget. Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. Video, sponsored by FanDuel TV. The post Sottsass’s first winner a new TDN Rising Star for White Birch Farm appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

With more on his mind than most of us could bear, the BBC's racing commentator texted his understudy at Ascot with a few technical tips about the box he would be calling the big race from. On King George day, Darren Owen wasn't expecting help from John Hunt. Who would? On 9 July – 18 days earlier, John's wife Carol, 61, and their daughters Hannah and Louise, 28 and 25, had been fatally injured at their home in Bushey, Hertfordshire. John and his daughter Amy were in the vortex of an unspeakable personal catastrophe. As the King George approached, John found a few minutes to help a BBC colleague, who was profoundly moved and grateful. Darren Owen sketched out some words of tribute for Radio 5Live's first racing broadcast since the Royal meeting, where several of us sat in the Ascot press box with John watching an England game at the end of another superb day's racing. Owen wrote: “I dedicate today's racing broadcast to John and his family.” The corporation's regular commentator – the heir to Peter Bromley, and Peter O'Sullevan – wouldn't have been at Ascot to describe Goliath winning the King George. John had carved out a parallel career as an Olympic commentator, chiefly in swimming. He has stretched his expertise too to the Winter Games, with its icy, esoteric challenges. But the racecourse is John's natural habitat. Less than three weeks after Kyle Clifford from Enfield, North London, was arrested on suspicion of three counts of murder, the empathy and sorrow for the Hunt family remain palpable. In the midst of personal calamity, we wonder how much support, messages and love can soften the reality of incalculable loss. Maybe the answer is that they are infinitely better than silence. If they have a chance of making a difference, then they serve a purpose Racing is perhaps the best sport at rallying round the stricken and bereaved. At Ascot on Saturday – as at all race meetings – John's friends and colleagues are grappling with pain and incomprehension that anything so abominable could have happened to such a wonderful family (any family, really). To ask those who know John best how he is coping is to cause tears to flow. Everyone is tight and pained with sympathy for him. All of which offers only a small insight into what he, Amy and his wider family must be enduring. And yet the love from racing has reached him, and is helping, he told two press box friends – Matt Chapman and David Yates, who have conveyed his messages with great sensitivity. Darren Owen too was a fine spokesperson, on a day he must have found immensely challenging, in a commentary box where John has called so many races brilliantly. The help he received from John was in keeping with everything we know about him. John is always interested in others. He always asks how you are, always strikes up a conversation. His warmth and generosity light up a profession he turned to after stints as a trainee nurse and Kilburn police officer – a gig even tougher than calling a 30-runner sprint. It was Carol Hunt who alerted John to a possible career outside the Met. In the Harrow Observer, she spotted a Ladbrokes ad for trainee racecourse commentators. John handed in his badge and displayed a talent for accuracy and lyricism in the calling home of horses, where his rising and resonant voice is the equal of Peter Bromley. Many a car journey has been turned into a thrilling theatrical ride by a John Hunt racing commentary. In the midst of personal calamity, we wonder how much support, messages and love can soften the reality of incalculable loss. Maybe the answer is that they are infinitely better than silence. If they have a chance of making a difference, then they serve a purpose. Through Matt Chapman, John said that “every message that has been sent, every one of those messages feels like a hug.” He urged us all to “make the most of every day.” A fund has been set up to help Amy in the next phase, when coping with so much bereavement may feel like a full-time ordeal. As Chapman said, from the response “we have seen the other side of human nature – it just reminds us there's goodness out there in the world.” Friends talk of the “tiny steps” the Hunt family will try to make. All acknowledge that countless such steps will be required. Racing's extraordinary willingness to rush to the assistance of those in trouble was recently in evidence with the terrible spinal injuries that befell the jockey Graham Lee. Now, it finds another focus, in circumstances awful beyond anyone's imagining. For Radio 5Live listeners the Olympic swimming in Paris is eerie. Something is missing: John's voice, borrowed from racing, a sport that values and needs his authority and verbal skill. John Hunt, racing and Olympic commentator, you couldn't be at Ascot or in Paris, but everyone is with you. The post Missed in Paris and Ascot: John, We Are With You appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Trainer Phil Cole and apprentice Emma Lines following the win by Palmerston Sprint prospect Star Magnum at Fannie Bay on Saturday. Picture: Caroline Camlleri (Fotofinish Racepix) He wasn’t at his best in the Palmerston Sprint (1200m) last year, but it could be redemption for Phil Cole’s Star Magnum this weekend. The six-year-old gelding made it back to back wins on Saturday with another impressive win in open company over 1100m at Fannie Bay. It was the final hit out for the speedsters before the $135,000 Palmerston with Star Magnum, who had star apprentice Emma Lines for company, once again showing his rivals a clean pair of heels. The son of Magnus, ninth in the NT’s biggest race for the flyers in 2023, pinged out of a wide gate and found the fence easily before having Expert Witness and Flying Annie for company. From the 800m to the 400m, Expert Witness ($17) sat outside Star Magnum ($7) before Cole’s horse edged clear turning for home. By the 200m, Star Magnum was two lengths clear before getting home by just under a length from Kym Healy’s fast-finishing Pompeii Empire ($7) and Chris Pollard’s Kerioth – the $2.45 favourite with online bookmakers. Kerioth, a last-start winner over 1200m (0-76) a fortnight ago, had a dirty day after playing up in the gates and losing it’s spot at the 600m, so to finish third was encouraging looking ahead to the Palmerston. Cole, who won the 2021 and 2022 Pioneer Sprint (1200m) in Alice Springs with Smuggling, has every right to have confidence in Star Magnum, who has had 15 Darwin starts for five wins and nine minor placings. After missing the Darwin Guineas (1600m) recently with a leg injury, the Kevin Lamprecht-trained Beyond Ready ($3.80) from Alice Springs returned to overcome fellow three-year-olds in a $40,000 event over 1200m. The son of More Than Ready, who had one win from five starts in Victoria, faced fellow three-year-olds in his first two Pioneer Park starts for a win (1200m) and a third (1400m) before coming second in the $50,000 NT Guineas (1600m) behind Better Not Fuss in late March. Beyond Ready won another race against his own age group by 6.3 lengths over 1200m on Alice Springs Cup Day (April 7) before finishing second behind Starton in his Darwin debut (1200m) in June. With the leaders setting a solid pace out in front on Saturday, Beyond Ready’s rider, Mark Pegus, was happy to settle in fourth place on the fence before winding up approaching the home turn. Getting off the fence, Better Ready rounded the leaders before finally shaking off Cole’s hope, Miami Vice ($8.50), who shared the early lead with Wild Beau ($2.25 fav) and Augusta Moon ($21). Better Ready hit the front at the 100m to overcome Miami Vice by half a length, with Kerry Petrick’s Starton ($10), who looked shot at the 400m, before rallying in the home straight to finish third. Horse racing news View the full article

Cambridge Stud Bloodstock Manager Cameron Ring capped off a weekend to remember after taking away the supreme Entain Excellence Award at the inaugural Industry Excellence Awards in Auckland on Sunday. Fresh off winning the Mary-Lynne Ryan Young Achiever Award at the National Breeding Awards on Saturday night, Mr Ring (29) was voted as the winner of the Leadership category before going on to be named the first-ever winner of the Entain Excellence Award, which was decided out of the nine individual category winners. The awards were created by Entain Australia and New Zealand, the operators of TAB, to recognise the emerging leaders and rising stars under the age of 40 in the ranks across all three racing codes. Mr Ring, who was nominated for the Awards by Cambridge Stud CEO Henry Plumptre, recently moved to the role of Bloodstock Manager at the Stud after previously working in sales and nominations. He now not only oversees the extremely valuable horse population at one of New Zealand’s most famous breeding operations but is also responsible for much of the on-farm management of staff. Each category winner received a $10,000 cash prize, with finalists receiving $2000 cash. Mr Ring also received an extra $5000 on top of his $10,000 category win, and a $5000 educational package. The Awards also received valued support from key industry organizations IRT, Waikato Stud, Windsor Park Stud and Breckon Farms. “We’ve been absolutely thrilled by the response to our inaugural Industry Excellence Awards,” Entain’s General Manager – New Zealand and one of the judges, Jessica Meech, said. “We had many deserving nominations from all codes, and selecting our finalists and winners has been challenging. We are delighted for Cameron and all of our category winners and look forward to building on the success of these Awards next year.” Popular North Island harness trainer and social media identity Jo Stevens claimed the Administrative and Ancillary Services Award, while Greyhound Racing New Zealand Chief Operating Officer Elizabeth Whelan was named National Racing Woman of the year. Matia Grace, who has made a big impact since entering the racing industry as the track manager at Tauherenikau Racecourse in South Wairarapa, won the Newcomer Award, while the judges could not split two of the finalists in the Care and Welfare Award, with Chanelle Dickie and Anna Baigent both collecting $10,000 prizes for their work in this space. Other category winners were: Michaela Sobieska (Equine Handling (Stud or Stable)), Mikayla Clark (The Greyhound Excellence Award), Ryan Figgins (Dedication to Breeding) and Emma Smith (Dedication to Racing). View the full article

Kevin Myers was at his masterful best at Waverley on Sunday winning all five of the jumping events on the card, and if that wasn’t enough, he produced three quinellas to boot. The Wanganui horseman fittingly took out the first of the day, the Happy 21st Luke Myers (3000m), with his own Mugshot (NZ) (Echoes Of Heaven), who won going away from his rivals at the finish to break maiden status in the hurdling role. A son of Echoes Of Heaven, Mugshot was ridden by Dean Parker, who also partnered eye-catching chestnut Run Jakko Run (NZ) (Jakkalberry) to win the Oulaghan Racing (3000m) in similar fashion drawing clear by three lengths to stablemate Khafeef. Parker is based at Myers’ stable alongside fellow jockey Joshua Parker, who also secured a double on the card commenced by a dominant display from Go Butch. The market for the Murdoch Contracting (3000m) was dominated by capable flat performer Kahu Rock, but the $1.70 favourite fell at the fence exiting the home straight dislodging Shaun Fannin, leaving second-fancy Go Butch (NZ) (Mongolian Khan) with all to play for. The Mongolian Khan six-year-old challenged for the lead along the back straight and looked to be travelling like the winner turning for home, with a flying leap at the final fence securing his 4 ¾ length romp. “He’s a tremendous jumper, we’ve known that since day one when I rode him over hurdles and he ran third,” Joshua Parker said. “I told the owners to give me another chance because I thought he could win his next start, where he ran second. I had to ask for one more opportunity and luckily we got the job done today, they have been so patient with me so I really thank them for the support. “He’s an easy ride, not too keen and you know what you’ve got underneath you. Luke and Jason (Myers) told me to keep hold of him as long as I could to fill him with confidence and hopefully I would be in the right spot turning in, and luckily it worked out that way. “He’s got plenty of stamina, but he gains his lengths jumping and really attacks the fences. I think he has a bright future, potentially going over chase fences in time to come as he’s very bold.” The two Parkers went head-to-head in the finish of the Bob Baker Steeplechase (4000m) aboard stablemate Interllectus and Call Me Jack (NZ) (Jakkalberry), with just a head separating the consistent gallopers at the finish in favour of the latter. “I adore this horse (Call Me Jack), he’s so laidback and when we ride out in the mornings, he’s that easy horse you can canter along on the buckle,” Joshua Parker said. “His owners have been very supportive of me putting me on at every start, he gave me a win at Te Aroha and I thought he was a really nice type. “The key is to be positive on him, he doesn’t like being passed by horses and backed up which is what happened when he ran fifth at Hastings. I was a bit disappointed because I knew there was a lot more for him to show than he did that day, so I was really pleased he put that on display.” The five-win haul also included a comfortable victory by Lochwinnoch (NZ) (Rios) in the Tracmac Sales Service Wanganui (4000m), the Rios gelding having his first start over the steeplechase fences after showing plenty of ability over hurdles. Ridden by Hamish McNeill, the seven-year-old justified his $2.60 favouritism powering away by 2 ½ lengths, with stablemate Sweet Taboo running into second. The win completed a unique weekend double, with Lochwinnoch’s younger full-brother Quid saluting in the Rating 65 2100m contest at Otaki on Saturday for Myers and his apprentice Lily Sutherland. Dominating the jumping scene is nothing new for Myers having taken out four of the last five Jumping Trainers’ Premierships, a title he secured comfortably this season with 23 wins, with a further 24 on the flat placing him in ninth overall. “Kevin is a master at his work, he knows how to get his horses perfectly fit and jumping brilliantly which he has been proving for years with so many winners. We’ve got a fantastic team which helps, but Kevin’s processes are just superb,” Joshua Parker said. “He cares a lot about his horses and he’s extremely intelligent. Speaking to him, he loves to have a laugh and joke around, but he’s usually just testing whether we know what we’re talking about. “He works very hard doing the cows then onto the horses then back to the farm work, you wonder how he keeps up with it all. But, it’s just second nature to him and that’s reflected in how successful his operation is. “He can read a race unbelievably well, even before it’s been run. I’m only riding one horse, but he knows what every other horse in the field is going to do. “There is never a dull moment with Kevin Myers around.” Parker will be heading to Christchurch with Myers’ team at short notice for the upcoming Grand National Week, commencing next Saturday with key lead-up races to the feature contests a week later. “I’m looking forward to riding in the Koral and Grand National, as a child in the UK all you dream of is riding in that race. Obviously it’s a bit different to the English version, but it’s still ticking off a box on the bucket list,” he said. “Kevin will have some lovely horses heading down there, and I’ve got a great ride in Auld Jock for Peter and Jess Brosnan who have been great supporters of me. He went fantastic at Wellington behind The Cossack, he just keeps improving at every run. I’m feeling very positive about him and cannot wait to get down there. “I got told it’s a bit cold, but it’ll be like being back home. “Stephan (Karnicnik) told me to go in the truck on the way down, he said I would be like a dog out of the window because the views are just amazing. Hopefully we have some nice weather so I get to see it all. “I’ve gotten a lot of race experience that will be a big positive when I head back to the UK, and I can’t wait to come back again next season and hopefully I can bring a few friends (jockeys) over too.” View the full article

Dual G1 Gold Cup hero Kyprios (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) remains on target for a second G1 Al Shaqab Goodwwod Cup and heads a field of seven declared for Tuesday's renewal of the £500,000 two-mile marathon. The Aidan O'Brien trainee, who continues on a facsimile of his banner 2022 campaign, is the lone Ballydoyle representative after stablemates Continuous (Jpn) (Heart's Cry {Jpn}) and Point Lonsdale (Ire) (Australia {GB}) were deemed surplus to requirements at the confirmation stage. Ryan Moore has been aboard in all 15 of the six-year-old's prior starts and is again on call for this attempt at a sixth Group 1 success. The Singula Partnership's veteran 2021 winner Trueshan (Fr) (Planteur {Ire}) remains engaged and is in line to make his 15th consecutive start with Hollie Doyle in the plate. Andrew Balding will be hoping it's third-time lucky for Mick and Janice Mariscotti's Coltrane (Ire) (Mastercraftsman {Ire}), who ran fourth to Kyprios in 2022 and finished on the podium last year. John and Thady Gosden will be represented by Normandie Stud's homebred G1 Gold Cup third Sweet William (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) and Wathnan Racing's Gregory (GB) (Golden Horn {GB}), also bred by Normandie Stud, who finished off the radar in the Royal Ascot feature. The line-up is completed by Al Qareem (Ire) (Awtaad {Ire}), representing the in-form Karl Burke stable, and Brian Ellison trainee Tashkhan (Ire) (Born To Sea {Ire}), who was a well-beaten eighth last year. Black-type action on the Sussex Downs commences with the G2 HKJC World Pool Vintage Stakes and features this month's G2 July Stakes third and fifth, Aomori City (Fr) (Oasis Dream {GB}) and Electrolyte (Ire) (Hello Youmzain {Fr}), among a field of eight for the seven-furlong test. Aidan O'Brien, last successful with Battleground (War Front) in 2020, is represented by Gowran maiden winner The Parthenon (Ire) (Kingman {GB}). Eight will also head postward for the G2 HKJC World Pool Lennox Stakes, including Marc Chan's 'TDN Rising Star' Kinross (GB) (Kingman {GB}), who will be seeking a third triumph in the seven-furlong contest. The post Seven Declared for Tuesday’s Goodwood Cup, Kyprios Remains On Target to Reclaim Crown appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Last year's star juvenile Vandeek (GB) (Havana Grey {GB}) will miss his intended engagement in the G1 Prix Maurice de Gheest at Deauville after suffering a setback. The news was released by joint-trainer Ed Crisford on X and came just 24 hours after Vandeek was put through his paces on the July course at Newmarket on Saturday. Ed Crisford said, “Unfortunately Vandeek has met with a setback and it is too early to say how much time he will need before resuming full training. It is very frustrating for everyone concerned as he had looked as good as ever in his recent work.” Vandeek has endured a stop-start three-year-old campaign and Sunday's news is the latest blow to the connections of the dual Group 1-winning two-year-old. Owned by KHK Racing, Vandeek has raced only twice this season, and was last seen finishing two lengths behind Mill Stream (Ire) (Gleneagles {Ire}) when third in the July Cup. The post ‘It Is Very Frustrating,’ – Vandeek To Miss Group 1 Target Following Latest Setback appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Victory Roll (inside) fought back to win against County Kilkenny. Photo: Bradley Photos The decision to buy Victory Roll for just $2250 has paid dividends for the new connections of the Kiwi-bred three-year-old, who scored a hard-fought win at Randwick. After starting his career with four unplaced starts in Queensland, the Belardo gelding was offered in an Inglis Digital online sale in March and was purchased by Goulburn trainer Pat Murphy. Victory Roll has won three of his six starts since then, banking more than $90,000 for his new owners. “One of his owners, Jimmy Bergin, suggested I buy him,” Murphy said. “He told me he’d stay all day and the best was yet to come and he was spot on. “He paid us back when he won his first start at Wagga and now he’s added a Goulburn win and a Highway victory, so we’re over the moon. There’s still plenty more to come too.” Victory Roll was ridden to Saturday’s win by Rachel King, who slid her mount forward to sit on the outside of the leader before going for gold at the home turn. Victory Roll took a clear lead into the straight, but he looked vulnerable when the well-supported County Kilkenny loomed on his outside with 200m remaining. Victory Roll responded to that challenge and lifted again, holding on to win by a head. “When County Kilkenny came at me, I thought I still had something to give,” King said. “Having the blinkers on, he just needed to get a sight of the horse. I let him drift out towards him, and when he got sight of him, he found again.” Horse racing news View the full article

Showmanship returns a winner after a long time between drinks for Damian Lane. Photo: Bruno Cannatelli Formerly a rising star of Western Australian ranks, lightly raced eight-year-old Showmanship returned to the winners’ circle for the first time in almost two years at Caulfield. The son of Showcasing races in the colours of leviathan Perth owner Bob Peters. He made a sensational start to his career with victories in seven of his first eight starts, including the Listed Chandler McLeod Stakes (1200m) at Moonee Valley in September of 2020. Showmanship had almost two years off the scene after that, then returned in 2022 with a placing in the Listed Wangoom Handicap (1200m) in May and a win in the Group 3 Show County Quality (1200m) at Randwick in August. He was later unplaced in the Group 1 Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield before another two-year lay-off. Now in the care of Pakenham trainer John Leek Jr, Showmanship finally returned to action earlier this season with a fourth in the Listed Doveton Stakes (1200m) and unplaced finishes in the Wangoom Handicap, a 1400m handicap at Sandown and the Listed Winter Stakes (1400m) in Sydney. Showmanship was an overlooked $20 outsider with horse racing bookmakers for his first attempt over 1600m on Saturday, but he turned back the clock and made a triumphant return to form in the hands of jockey Damian Lane. Showmanship was slow to leave the starting gates and settled at the tail of the field, but he warmed into his work down the side of the track and began to make eye-catching progress through the field. The favourite Jimmy The Bear hit the lead and looked the winner at the top of the home straight, but Showmanship emerged as the danger on his inside. That pair fought out a tight tussle to the finish, and it was Showmanship who found that little bit more to claim a narrow win. The third placegetter finished five and a half lengths behind the first pair. Showmanship has now had 16 starts for nine wins, a placing and $520,350 in stakes. “It’s fantastic,” Leek said. “He’s a beautiful horse. He’s had a lot of problems along the way. “He was able to really let down today in that rain-affected ground. I saw him weaving his magic through the field just before the home turn, and I realised we might be actually going to win a race with him. It’s just fantastic. “We worked him up the rise on Tuesday and we’ve just swum him since. We rarely put a saddle on him and just try to keep him happy. “Now that we’ve got him back in winning form, hopefully we might get suitable track conditions again, convince Damian Lane to ride him again and see if we can repeat this result.” Lane was having his first raceday ride on the rising nine-year-old. “I was hoping to settle a little bit closer than he has been lately, but he began poorly so I had to go straight to Plan B straight away,” he said. “But he always travelled well and I was quite confident a long way out. He was picking up very strongly from about the 600m. “One advantage of settling in that back and inside position is that I had the opportunity to cut through the field, rather than having to loop around. “Credit to John. He’s done a great job to turn this horse around.” Horse racing news View the full article

Portia Matthews didn’t believe a Jump Jockey’s Premiership title was even a possibility twelve months ago, but a phenomenal season in the saddle has put any self-doubt firmly to rest. Based with master trainer Mark Oulaghan at Awapuni, the 26-year-old had her first full season riding last term and came away with five winners, a total she more than doubled to finish with 14 winners and a pair of prestige victories in her tally this season over the jumps. “I went into this season with no particular goals, I didn’t think winning the premiership would even be possible,” Matthews said. “My main goal was just to improve my riding and get better and more consistent, I was falling off a lot last year which was tough as I take a lot of pride in turning up and being professional. “I’ve got lovely horses with Mark Oulaghan, I can’t thank him enough for his support because I believe over half of my wins this year have come from him. He’s been an outstanding person in my corner the way through. “For me, the premiership is more about how far I’ve come. I’m not someone who has always had a lot of belief in myself and my ability to ride, my biggest fear with riding on race day was disappointing people. “It feels like a tick in the box that I am good enough to be here and I can do this. Now that I’ve done it once I don’t feel like I need to do it again, but we’ll see what happens.” Oulaghan’s star hurdler Berry The Cash has played an instrumental role in the success of Matthews this season, with their five wins as a combination including the highlight of her career to date, the Grand National Hurdles (4200m). “The Grand National was everything for me. A lot of people probably don’t know this, but in the three meetings leading up to it, I had four falls,” Matthews said. “I had zero confidence in myself, I was doubting whether this was the career for me and I felt like it was the universe telling me so. My body was sore and I was struggling to have much faith, but Mark had every faith in the world in me. “I thought I had ridden the Sydenham really poorly on Berry The Cash for third and I was called into the stipes room because they thought I had not ridden with enough vigour and in reserve. “Going into the National, I told myself, if Mark thinks I can do this then I can, and that race changed the course of my career in such a massive way. “I would not be the rider I am today without that win. “After he won that, that horse owes me nothing. Every win that has come since has just been icing on the cake, I never expect anything from him and I’m so thankful for everything he has done for me.” Matthews and Berry The Cash will return to Riccarton Park over the next fortnight aiming for a defence of their National title, while she has also secured rides in the feature Grand National Steeplechase (5500m) and the undercard hurdle event. “I’m on Berry The Cash in the hurdle, he’ll carry the topweight of 73kg which just slightly more than at Hastings,” Matthews said. “I learnt a lot from that run, I didn’t ride it exactly how I should’ve so I’m going into the National knowing that we’ll both always do our best and if it pays in our favour, that’s perfect. “I’m on Lucy de Lautour’s nice horse Donardo in the open steeplechases, she has been a quiet supporter of mine right from the start. I thank her a lot because she kept putting me back on when I wasn’t riding very well. “Semper Magico is also in the 0-1 hurdle on the second day and he’s an exciting wee horse. A couple of years ago I schooled this horse when I first started at Mark’s, and I told him that if he jump raced, I won’t be riding him because the jumping was such a negotiation. “He went into them full tear, he wouldn’t concentrate and back then, I wasn’t skilled enough to handle him. It’s taken some time to get him at the stage to go to the races, but he’s shown now he’s a serious contender over the hurdles. “He’s turned into a lovely horse that I am lucky enough to pinch from the flat races when I can, as we still feel he has plenty to offer in that role as well.” Behind every success story is a solid support system and for Matthews, there have been several key figures along the way. “My parents have been amazing, everyone knows my mum at the races as she travels far and wide to be there for me. She’ll be coming down to Christchurch for the week, she’s actually been down to every National so far,” she said. “She’s been my number one since day one and she knows how to support me mentally when I get in my head about the races, I can’t thank her enough. “I got a lot of help from Buddy Lammas early in the season, he helped with my high weight riding and learning how to ride out a finish, which also helped me develop more of a style on the horse. “I thought that was really important because I was never a natural-looking rider growing up going through pony club and things. I take a lot of inspiration from Aaron Kuru, I’d love to be able to follow in his footsteps in that regard. “Shelley Houston has also been another massive role model of mine, she’s helped me get involved in the jumps racing community. Although this (the premiership) was never the goal, it came about without me focussing on it because I was trying to better myself and I was trying to emulate these riders as much as I could. “Jess and Peter Brosnan helped me so much in the early days as well, I would have been out there every week schooling anything and everything they had to improve my jumping and eye. They’ve been consistent supporters of mine from day zero and are an asset to the jumps community. “Also to the team at Oulaghan Racing, they are an awesome bunch of girls that work so hard and carry out every bizarre request I have of them. We wouldn’t be able to produce the jumpers and results we do without the team at home, they’ve been a key role in my success and the success of the Oulaghan horses.” After a win aboard Lochwinnoch at Waverley on Sunday, Hamish McNeill finished in second position in the Premiership with ten wins, while Dean Parker’s double took him into third place with eight. View the full article

Matamata trainer Mark Brosnan’s rich vein of winter form continued with an impressive performance by Sterling Express (NZ) (Shamexpress) in Saturday’s Property Brokers & Katie Walker 3YO (1400m) at Te Rapa. Brosnan has trained 12 winners this season, with five of those victories coming since the beginning of June. Grace ‘N’ Glory and Sterling Express kicked off that winter run with a double at Ruakaka on June 8, followed by successes by Diamond Jak at Te Rapa on July 6 and Fly My Wey in the $60,000 ITM/Gib Whangarei Gold Cup/Winter Championship Stayers’ Final (2100m) at Ruakaka on July 13. Sterling Express kept that sequence going with an outstanding come-from-behind performance in Saturday’s $50,000 three-year-old race, while Diamond Jak was runner-up in the $50,000 Callinan Family Taumarunui RSA Gold Cup (2200m) “We’ve been going alright through the winter, and it was another really good day today,” Brosnan said. Sterling Express settled at the back of Saturday’s 11-horse field, then produced a withering finish in the Te Rapa straight. Unleashed down the outside of the track by jockey Warren Kennedy, Sterling Express bounded to the lead and drew away to score by two and three-quarter lengths from Did The Trick and Dior Sauvage. Raced by his breeders Gail Macrae and Joanne McKeagg, Sterling Express has had nine starts for three wins, a second and $79,050 in stakes. The three-year-old Shamexpress gelding is a full-brother to his stablemate Grace ‘N’ Glory, who has also been a three-time winner. “Sterling Express was impressive today,” Brosnan said. “He’s a horse that’s always shown a fair bit of ability, but he’s just had a few things go wrong along the way. He’s starting to put things together now. “I’m not too sure what we’ll do with him next. He’s a year older on Thursday. His rating will go up a little bit from today’s win, but hopefully we’ll still be able to find some nice races for him in that Rating 75 grade in the meantime.” Brosnan was left wondering what might have been with Diamond Jak, who was taken very wide around the first corner but produced a highly creditable performance to get to within a head of the Taumarunui Cup winner Hula Beat. “That was a big effort without a lot of luck,” Brosnan said. “Nine times out of 10, he might have been able to win that race. But that happens in racing, and you have to take the good with the bad. “I’m not sure where we’ll go next with him either. He’s an open-class horse now and there’s not very many options coming up for him. He does like Te Rapa and handles wet ground well. He also appreciates a bit of space between his runs, so we’re happy to take our time in finding something.” View the full article

What Albury Races Where Albury Racing Club – 16-46 Fallon St, Albury NSW 2640 When Monday, July 29, 2024 First Race 12:10pm AEST Visit Dabble The new week of racing gets underway at Albury Racing Club on Monday afternoon, with a competitive nine-race program lined up for punters. The rail is out +7m between the 650m marker to winning post, while the remainder is out 5.5m the rest of the way around. There are only minor showers forecast in the lead-up, so expect the Heavy 10 surface to see some improvement for race-day. All the action is scheduled to get underway at 12:10pm local time. Albury Best Bet: Brial Rose Brial Rose couldn’t have been more impressive returning at Narrandera on July 14, breaking her maiden by 4.4 lengths as she made every post a winner under Jason Lyon. The Ron Stubbs-trained filly seemingly relished the bottomless conditions, and with a similar scenario likely to unfold in this BM58 contest, watch for Brial Rose to head forward from barrier five, proving hard to chase down in search of back-to-back wins. Best Bet Race 3 – #6 Brial Rose (5) 3yo Filly | T: Ron Stubbs | J: Jason Lyon (59.5kg) +170 with PlayUp Next Best: Thoughtful Thoughtful smashed his rivals debuting at Goulburn on July 5, storming down the outside running rail to score by 2.8 lengths. The son of So You Think justified the short quote with online bookmakers on that occasion, with Nick Heywood taking luck out of the equation to lead every step of the way. Expect similar front-running tactics second-up, and provided Thoughtful can cross easily enough from barrier nine, this guy should prove too classy for this lot. Next Best Race 5 – #3 Thoughtful (9) 4yo Gelding | T: Matthew Dale | J: Nick Heywood (59.5kg) +200 with Neds Best Value: Ashau Valley Ashau Valley got a pass mark first-up at Narrandera on July 14, hitting the line well over 1400m to get within 2.8 lengths of Smart Poppy. The firming conditions should be ideal for the son of Outreach, with his best form at the end of last preparation coming over 1600m on top of the ground. The three-year-old should get the gun run throughout under Jake Duffy, and provided he gets the breaks when the whips are cracking, Ashau Valley should figure in the finish at an each-way price with Picklebet. Best Value Race 6 – #5 Ashau Valley (4) 3yo Gelding | T: Craig Weeding | J: Jake Duffy (61kg) +1800 with Picklebet Monday quaddie tips – Albury Races Albury quadrella selections Monday, July 29, 2024 1-3-5-9 3-4-5-6-10 2-6-7-10 1-3-6-7 | Copy this bet straight to your betslip Horse racing tips View the full article

Wolfburn, ridden by Jarrod Todd, takes out the $50,000 Metric Mile (1600m) at Fannie Bay on Saturday. Picture: Darwin Turf Club Gary Clarke’s Wolfburn completed his Darwin Cup preparations stylishly on Saturday with victory in the $50,000 Metric Mile (1600m) at Fannie Bay. For the five-year-old gelding, it was his eighth win from 14 Top End starts. The son of Snitzel is a serious contender in the $200,000 Darwin Cup (2050m) on August 5. Clarke will be aiming for his fourth Cup come the first Monday in August following Lightinthenite (2015), Zahspeed (2018) and Playoffs (2022). Darwin’s leading trainer, who claimed his 12th straight Top End and Country premiership, won the 2000 Cup as a jockey on Steve Paynter’s Star Bullet. Jarrod Todd, who sealed the jockeys’ premiership for the fifth consecutive year, partnered Wolfburn – the $2.20 favourite with online bookmakers – in the Metric Mile before saluting by 2.5 lengths. It was Clarke’s fourth win in the Darwin Cup Carnival feature after Austpak (2007), Java (2018) and Savatoxl (2020). Todd won the Metric Mile for Kyneton trainer Neil Dyer in 2017 on Royal Request, a former NT Derby winner, before the trio combined to win the Cup. Apart from Royal Request, Lanson (2005), Nozi (2006), Hawks Bay (2011) and Ihtsahymn (2019) have won the Metric Mile since 2000 before winning the Cup. Jumping from gate three in the seven-horse field on Saturday, Wolfburn led for the first 400m before Chloe Baxter’s He’s The Ultimate ($15), last year’s winner, went four deep before taking over in front once entering the back straight. He’s The Ultimate employed similar tactics in 2023 and led Wolfburn by two lengths for the next 800m with Dyer’s Hettinger ($2.70), Carrol Hunter’s Desert Lass ($26) and Clarke’s Pink Panther ($7) in pursuit. Turning for home and with 350m to go, Wolfburn eyed the leader before taking over at the 100m with Pink Panther storming home to make it a Clarke quinella with He’s The Ultimate third. Hettinger, a spectacular Toyota Finance Cup (1600m) winner on July 17, travelled three deep for the first half of the race before tiring to finish fourth. Wolfburn, a former Darwin Guineas winner, has had five Darwin starts since returning from Phillip Stokes’ Morphettville stable for four wins and a second. Horse racing news View the full article