Wandering Eyes

As decisive as Thorpedo Anna was in winning the Kentucky Oaks (G1), the connections of eight other 3-year-old fillies have entered to challenge her in the $500,000 Acorn Stakes (G1) June 7 at Saratoga Race Course.View the full article

After a minor setback delayed her 7-year-old debut, multiple grade 1 winner War Like Goddess will face an international field when she makes her first start of 2024 in the $750,000 New York Stakes (G1T) June 7 on the Mellon Turf Course at Saratoga.View the full article

Bet365 will also be licensed to distribute BetMakers' Thoroughbred racing content to bet365 customers in New Jersey and both Thoroughbred and harness racing in Colorado.View the full article

The unbeaten Hot Darling (Ire) (Too Darn Hot {GB}) will be offered in a pop-up sale via Tattersalls Online on Wednesday, June 12, the auction house announced on Monday. A Listed winner after claiming the Prix des Reves d'Or at Vichy over heavy ground in her second start May 15, she entered that stakes off a determined unveiling Apr. 26 at Chantilly. Consigned by Amy Murphy Racing, she is being offered with an entry in the G3 Prix du Bois on June 16 but could also be aimed at the G2 Queen Mary S. on June 19. Hailing from the female family of G1 Emirates Poule d'Esai des Poulains hero Metropolitan (Fr) (Zarak {Fr}), Hot Darling has a winning half-brother Verdansk (GB) (No Nay Never). Their dam Boater (Ire) (Helmet {Aus}) was Listed-placed as a racehorse, and is herself out of a full-sister to Listed-winning Royal Tigress (Storm Cat), who produced Grade I-placed Tiger Ride (Candy Ride {Arg}) as well as Graded-placed Ol Donyo (Curlin) in the States. Second dam Cercle d'Amour (Storm Cat) is also a half-sister to French Group 1-placed Warm Heart (Diesis {GB}). “She's a fast filly out of a filly who was placed in the Listed Marygate S. and is by Too Darn Hot, the sire on fire who has had two Guineas winners in the last two weeks,” said Murphy. “Hot Darling is a filly that will only keep improving, has an extremely good temperament and we definitely have not seen the best of her.” She added, “[Hot Darling] has been entered for the G3 Prix du Bois on Oaks day at Chantilly but also has the [G2] Queen Mary S. at Royal Ascot as an option. We are only going to see her improve from here on in and we are very much looking forward to lining her up wherever she runs next.” Bidding will take place from 10:00a.m. to 12:00p.m. on June 12 via the Tattersalls Online website. The post Hot Darling to be Offered on Tattersalls Online 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 announced June 3 a selection of special wagers to be offered during the four-day 2024 Belmont Stakes Racing Festival to be held June 6-9 at Saratoga Race Course.View the full article

Horse Racing Radio Network (HRRN) will celebrate 'A.P. Indy Week' in the lead up to Saturday's GI Belmont S. Announced via release Monday, HRRN noted that 'A.P. Indy Week' will run Monday, June 3 through Saturday, June 8 and feature tributes to the 1992 Belmont winner and late Lanes End stallion. Listeners will also hear replays of some of his biggest wins and interviews with some of his connections looking back on his racing career. A Keeneland September Sale topper at $2.9m, A.P. Indy (Seattle Slew) was consigned by Lanes End who would ultimately buy back into the colt as a 3-year-old. Following his victory in the 1992 GI Breeders' Cup Classic, A.P. Indy was named Horse of the Year and Champion 3-Year-Old Colt and retired to Lanes End where he lived until his death in early 2020. HRRN can be heard on Sirius 162/XM 207 and on their website. The post HRRN To Celebrate ‘A.P. Indy Week’ In Belmont Lead Up appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

On the 15th anniversary of the passing of Vincent O'Brien, his successor at Ballydoyle, Aidan O'Brien, extended his record at Epsom to 10 wins in the Derby. Vincent O'Brien's daughter and son-in-law Sue and John Magnier were not at Epsom on Saturday but several of the late, great trainer's grandchildren were in the winner's circle to greet City Of Troy. Their own family is now so strongly enmeshed with the man who shares their grandfather's surname but is no relation to the creator of Ballydoyle. Just like City Of Troy, five of Vincent O'Brien's six Derby winners emanated from North America, with Nijinsky and The Minstrel both being sons of Northern Dancer, and his final winner, Golden Fleece in 1982, a son of Nijinsky. From a European perspective, it is impossible to think of Northern Dancer without considering the great faith placed in him by O'Brien on his forays to the Keeneland yearling sales with Robert Sangster, John Magnier and co. These annual pilgrimages changed the face of the bloodstock world. Half a century later Northern Dancer's influence has firmly taken root here chiefly through Sadler's Wells and more recently the latter's son Galileo, as well as through grandsons Danehill and Green Desert, both by Danzig. So it is nothing new to consider what influence American bloodlines have in Europe. They have long dominated and been adapted. The difference now is the shifting of power between sirelines – or branches thereof. At Epsom on Friday, the Aga Khan's Ezeliya (Fr) became a first Oaks winner for Dubawi (Ire), giving a rattle for the Mr. Prospector line. Then, through Justify, City Of Troy increased the posthumous reputation of Scat Daddy (Storm Cat), himself a fifth-generation descendant of Northern Dancer. At Chantilly, the Prix du Jockey Club was won by Look De Vega (Fr), a second French Classic winner for Lope De Vega (Ire) this year following Rouhiya (Fr) in the Poule d'Essai des Pouliches. Emulating both his sire and grandsire Shamardal by winning the Prix du Jockey Club, Look De Vega's male-line ancestry traces to a different son of Storm Cat in Giant's Causeway, who of course made his name known in no uncertain terms on these shores at the turn of this century. Go back far enough up the line, however, and behind all of these American influences we find the name Phalaris (GB), the 17th Earl of Derby's supremely dominant stallion whose success took root between the wars, predominantly through his sons Pharos (GB) and Sickle (GB), ancestors respectively of City Of Troy, Look De Vega, Rouhiya (Fr), Rosallion (Ire) and Elmalka (GB); and Notable Speech (GB), Ezeliya, Metropolitan (Fr), and Fallen Angel (GB). What goes around comes around. A Trojan Effort Within the Coolmore operation, the phasing out of Galileo's close-up influence needs to coincide with the phasing in of a different blend, and that looks to be happening most firmly through Scat Daddy, who died in 2015 at the age of only 11. His sons and grandsons are now spread across North and South America as well as Europe, with at least one in Japan. Scat Daddy's son No Nay Never, winner of the G1 Prix Morny and G2 Norfolk S., has come to the fore in Ireland, with his sons on the Coolmore roster now including Blackbeard (Ire), Little Big Bear (Ire), Ten Sovereigns (Ire) and Arizona (Ire). In America, Justify, born in the year that Scat Daddy died, holds sway. How much his having sired a Derby winner on turf increases his appeal to American breeders is hard to quantify but City Of Troy is now the top-rated three-year-old colt in Europe, where he was also champion two-year-old, and Justify's ability to produce top-class runners on turf and dirt makes him a stallion that top breeders from around the world simply cannot ignore. Shamardal vs Dubawi While Coolmore has two forks of the Scat Daddy line reinforcing its operations on either side of the Atlantic, Darley has the increasingly prolific influences of the late Shamardal and the veteran Dubawi to fall back on. Those two stallions, both Classic winners of 2005, have already played a major role in this year's Classics. Shamardal's son Lope De Vega has two winners to his name in the aforementioned Rouhiya and Look De Vega, while another, the younger Blue Point (Ire), has produced Rosallion from his first crop. In the Dubawi corner, step forward Notable Speech and Ezeliya, while his sons Zarak (Fr) and Too Darn Hot (GB) are responsible for Metropolitan and Fallen Angel. Too Darn Hot is also the sire of the G2 German 1,000 Guineas winner Darnation (Ire). Honours Spread There has been a reasonably egalitarian feel to the winners of this year's Classics in Britain, Ireland and France, certainly by the spread of stables represented. So far, nine have been run and they have been won by nine different trainers or training partnerships: Charlie Appleby, Roger Varian, Mario Barrati, Francis-Henri Graffard, Richard Hannon, Karl Burke, Dermot Weld, Aidan O'Brien, and Carlos and Yann Lerner. We may sometimes rue the demise of the owner-breeder, and it is true that there are fewer individuals operating in that manner these days, but the major breeding operations remain dominant. Only one of the Classics, the Poule d'Essai des Poulains, has been won by a horse sold outright at the sales: Metropolitan at Arqana October for €78,000. Look De Vega was the subject of a private sale at Arqana's August Sale of two years ago but he still races for his co-breeders Joelle Mestrallet of Haras de la Morsangliere and Lucien Urano's Ecurie des Charmes, along with partners Patrick Madar and her trainers, the Lerners. The father-and-son training team had a day to remember at Chantilly, landing their first Group 1 winner since their partnership began, and 23 years after the Spanish-born Carlos Lerner won the same Classic with Anabaa Blue (GB). Later in the day they also won the Listed Prix Marchand d'Or with Jasna's Secret (Fr) (Galiway {GB}) for Wathnan Racing, whose colours are becoming increasingly conspicuous on racecourses around the world. David Menuisier won the G2 German 2,000 Guineas with Devil's Point (Ire) (New Bay {GB}) and continues to put a number of much larger stables to shame by his runners' participation in the Classics. On Friday, the Menuisier-trained War Chimes (Fr) (Summer Front) was a running-on third in the Oaks at 50/1, while Tamfana (Ger) (Soldier Hollow {GB}) was beaten only a length when fourth in the 1,000 Guineas at 33/1. Both fillies hold an entry for the Prix de Diane. Aventure Seeker Whether or not the Prix de Diane in a fortnight's time comes too soon for Aventure (Fr) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) remains to be seen, but the Wertheimer homebred laid down an emphatic marker as to her potential on Sunday in the G3 Prix de Royaumont, which she won by seven lengths. A half-sister to Prix Vermeille winner and Prix de Diane runner-up Left Hand (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}), Aventure was awarded a TDN Rising Star when winning on debut at Chantilly last September, and she boasts a pedigree of international reach. The filly was one of three winners on the Prix du Jockey Club card for Alain and Gerard Wertheimer. The leading breeders in France this season, the brothers were in attendance at the races and also enjoyed seeing the dependable Junko (GB) (Intello {Ger}) land the G2 Grand Prix de Chantilly, while Sosie (Fr) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) was third in the big race. The post Seven Days: Looking Back to Look Forward appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

As part of a new initiative at Newbury, those working within racing may claim a complimentary ticket for themselves and a guest at two upcoming racedays, according to a presser released Monday. The Racecourse's first evening of the Summer Evening Series with Hits Radio on July 4 and the BetVictor Flat Finale with Oktoberfest on Oct. 26 will both offer the complimentary tickets. They may be requested here after completing a short form. “We are all acutely aware of the hard working and dedicated racing staff who form the backbone of the racing industry. Without those who work tirelessly up and down the country, we would not be able to enjoy a day at the races,” said Mark Leigh, interim chief executive offer at Newbury Racecourse. “We are committed to supporting those working within the sport in any way we can. The complimentary tickets we're making available are a gesture of thanks from all of us here at Newbury Racecourse to recognise the dedication of racing staff, while also forming part of our strategy to make our racing experiences as accessible as possible.” The post Newbury Racecourse to Offer Racing Staff Free Tickets appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

The high-class but lightly-raced Laurel could bid to get her season underway in the Duke of Cambridge S. at Royal Ascot, according to Barry Mahon, Juddmonte's European racing manager. Laurel has not been seen since disappointing when well-fancied for last year's Lockinge at Newbury. As a three-year-old, she was beaten less than a length in the Sun Chariot S., on what was just her third ever run, and connections are keen to see what she is capable of given the chance. “Laurel is on target for Ascot when I was talking to John [Gosden] on Friday,” said Mahon. “Unfortunately she didn't get to have a prep run, but John and Thady just felt there was nothing suitable in the last few weeks so they decided they were happy to go straight to Ascot. “She's very lightly-raced, but we always felt she had high-class ability. She's been off a long time so it's going to be a remarkable training feat to turn up at Ascot and win after over 12 months off, but they have done it before.” On Friday at Doncaster the famous colours filled the first two places in what looked a hot novice race, with a Shamardal filly out of Midday (GB) (Oasis Dream {GB}), the Ralph Beckett-trained Indellible (Ire), beating Amphius (GB) (Kingman {GB}). On those promising youngsters, Mahon said, “I suppose we'll see what handicap mark she [Indellible] gets and she could be a possible for the Sandringham at Ascot. If not she could step up in class if she doesn't get a normal handicap mark. You could see her getting 10 furlongs definitely, 12 I'm not so sure.” He added, “She's a nice filly, she's won two of her three and she can progress as the year goes on, her work at home has always been of a nice level so hopefully she keeps going forward. “She was in the Guineas and the Irish Guineas but she's just taken an age to come to hand, she's had no setbacks or anything, she still had her winter coat on about a week ago and the wet spring took its toll on her. “It looked a good race, we like the second horse Amphius with Harry Charlton, I think he's a nice colt.” Meanwhile on Sunday Kassaya (GB) (Kingman {GB}), a half-sister to last year's Guineas winner Chaldean (GB), easily went one better than on debut and booked her Royal Ascot ticket. “Kassaya has a load of ability, she shows plenty of speed at home and Andrew [Balding] has been excited by her for the last couple of weeks,” said Mahon. “She ran well on debut when the ground was on the soft side and she hit the front plenty early before getting mugged late on. “She'd come forward nicely from that, I thought she still looked green and she can take another jump forward. All being well we'll have a look at something at Ascot for her. “I think we'll stick at five for the minute, the way she hit the line yesterday suggests she could go up to six after that.” The post Juddmonte Team Looking Ahead To Royal Ascot With Lightly-Raced Laurel appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Whit Beckman was watching from behind the Churchill Downs winner's circle as the horses loaded into the gates for the GI Kentucky Derby. Honor Marie (Honor Code) was the trainer's first Derby starter and as the colt's odds dropped to 14-1 before the start of the race, Beckman liked their chances. But as many a veteran Kentucky Derby trainer can attest, a lot can happen when it's a 20-horse field. Only a few moments after the gates sprang open and Honor Marie jumped out of the seventh stall, Beckman knew his horse had lost just about any chance of winning. “From the four horse over to him and then from the 12, they all just kind of crashed right into him,” Beckman recounted. “He couldn't really get out of it. From the first three strides, he was getting jostled around so bad. He never really wanted to be all the way out in the back but at that point, it was kind of where we just ended up by default.” The trip didn't get much better from there. Going into the first turn T O Password (Jpn) (Copano Rickey {Jpn}) swung out in front of Honor Marie, forcing jockey Ben Curtis to check and loose any hope of gaining a better position early. “Even a couple times down the backside, Ben had to steady him,” said Beckman. “Just at no point in the race did he ever get 100 clear yards to run. Down the lane there were a couple of horses tiring in front of him, so he was weaving around them.” As Honor Marie crossed the wire in eighth, it was a moment where all Beckman could do was throw up his hands, celebrate what they had achieved to get into the race and appreciate the heart their colt had shown in the face of adversity. “Honestly the moments after the race were probably the best moments I had all week,” Beckman admitted. “We were really proud of him. He's a horse that always puts in maximum effort. Despite not really getting any room to run, I was really happy with it. Just being in that spot was incredible. We walked back to the barn and had a really nice evening. l was grateful for the experience.” Honor Marie didn't officially turn three years old until Derby Day and in the weeks following the first leg of the Triple Crown, Beckman said the colt has matured by leaps and bounds physically as he prepares for the GI Belmont S. Beckman explained that he would have been confident sending Honor Marie to the Belmont at a mile-and-a-half distance, but at a mile and a quarter, he believes it's the perfect spot for his trainee to put in a big performance. Honor Marie breaks from the seventh position in the GI Kentucky Derby | Coady Media “At this mile and a quarter, I think he's among the top 3-year-olds,” Beckman said. “I believe he's got a great shot to turn it around. If he gets a clean trip, he'll show up on the day. He's been training so well since the Derby and we're really excited to take him up.” Honor Marie's ownership group includes Ribble Farms, Michael Eiserman, Earl Silver and Kenneth and Dave Fishbein. Kerry and Alan Ribble (profiled here) were partners in Legion Racing when Honor Marie broke his maiden on debut last September and they eventually purchased a majority share in his ownership. “The Ribbles are great people–just real salt-of-the-earth, loyal people,” explained Beckman. “Having this experience with them has been great. They appreciate everything that's been going on and this is their first big horse.” Honor Marie has put in three works since his Derby performance. In his final tune-up on Saturday with jockey Florent Geroux aboard, he worked four furlongs in :48.40 at Churchill Downs. Geroux will replace jockey Ben Curtis, who was sidelined by a broken collarbone in May, for Saturday's Belmont. Honor Marie arrived at Saratoga on Monday morning. The Belmont will be Beckman's first time starting a horse in New York, but the horseman has spent plenty of time in Saratoga from his days working as an assistant to Todd Pletcher. “I spent the bulk of my time in Saratoga with the babies,” Beckman recalled. “We would bring all the 2-year-olds up early in the spring and you would get so much experience with different levels and types of horses. Just being up there, everything is geared towards the racetrack. The community is totally integrated with the horses. With all the years I spent up there, it kind of feels like I'm going home in a sense because so many of my early days on the racetrack were spent in Saratoga. I'm excited to head back up.” HONOR MARIE has arrived at Saratoga Racetrack to compete in this years @BelmontStakes pic.twitter.com/1Dk1gGKrEc — Legion Bloodstock (@LegionBldstk) June 3, 2024 Beckman also worked for trainers Eoin Harty and Chad Brown and was a head trainer in Saudi Arabia before going out on his own in 2021. While the stable gained steady moment, Beckman's operation was still in its early stages of development prior to this year. Beckman enjoyed early success with the likes of 2022 GII Jessamine S. third-place finisher Sabalenka (Good Samaritan), Grade III-placed Music Street (Street Sense) and 2023 Tapit S. winner Harlan Estate (Kantharos). But Honor Marie's win in last year's GII Kentucky Jockey Club S. and his subsequent performances on the Kentucky Derby trail, including a runner-up effort in the GII Louisiana Derby, helped Beckman burst onto the scene of rising trainers in Kentucky. “He's been a huge horse for me,” Beckman said. “We just started less than three years ago and [at first] we kind of struggled. At the end of the day, one horse can make the difference between one level to the next. We feel like he's always been that type horse. I think he's waiting on his day to really put himself in the big spots, but I know it's coming. He's so talented and one of the things you can't really train is a trier. He'll put everything on the line and that's all I can ask for. I'm lucky to have him.” The post After a Dramatic Derby, Beckman Looks for Strong Belmont Performance from Honor Marie appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Nominations for the reimagined Thoroughbred Makeover Ambassador Award for 2024 are now open, the Retired Racehorse Project (RRP) said Monday. Any Thoroughbred Makeover graduate, regardless of whether the registered horse actually competed, is eligible for the award, regardless of its current owner. Nominations will be submitted via an online form at TheRRP.org, which includes fields to describe the horse's post-Makeover competitive career, achievements and general updates. “The RRP has identified tracking and recognizing the accomplishments of Thoroughbred sport horses in a comprehensive way as being crucial to furthering our mission to increase demand for the breed, so we're starting in earnest with Makeover graduates,” said RRP Executive Director Kirsten Green. “We know Makeover graduates have gone on to compete at the upper levels of sport, contribute to sport horse breeding programs, serve as faithful trail mounts, and everything in between – and it's time to better capture and celebrate those accomplishments. The Ambassador Award has been tweaked many times since 2015, but since 2022, it has served as an award to honor chief steward Bill Kraatz, recognizing exceptional horsemanship exhibited by a trainer during Thoroughbred Makeover week. The award will continue as the Bill Kraatz Thoroughbred Makeover Ambassador Award, and is now designed to recognize a Thoroughbred Makeover graduate horse which has gone on to serve as an ambassador for the athleticism and trainability of the retired racehorse in its career beyond racing. Nominations will remain open through July 1. The winning horse will be announced in September and will be honored at the Awards Party Friday, Oct. 11 at the Kentucky Horse Park. The post Retooled Thoroughbred Makeover Ambassador Award Open For Nominations appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Deira Mile (Ire) could be pointed towards the Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby after his fourth-placed effort in the Epsom Classic. The Owen Burrows-trained Camelot (GB) colt was fourth in the Futurity Trophy last season and began this year with a taking four-length victory in a Windsor novice. At Epsom he stepped up to a-mile-and-a-half for the first time and started at 28-1 for the Betfred-sponsored Derby, where he was ridden by Jim Crowley and drawn in stall 14 of 16. Though the running of the race did not favour the Ahmad Al Shaikh-owned three-year-old, Burrows was still pleased with the performance and connections are now considering taking him to the Curragh for the Irish Derby at the end of the month. “I'm not saying we were unlucky in any way, but it wasn't the plan to be that far back,” Burrows said. “We had to sit in mid-div, he just stepped a bit slow and that was where Jim unfortunately found himself. “It was a big run down the outside, we did have a nice clear run in doing that. But the winner had a nice trip down the inner, the second and third had a nice trip, I thought it was a big run. “We'll see how he is through this week but the Irish Derby could suit him, the nature of the track at the Curragh I think would suit him a lot better. We'll play it by ear, he's a Leger horse and that's what Jim felt as well so that will be the ultimate aim. It's about a month away, the Irish Derby, so he'll have a bit of time. It's not definite he'll go, but we'll have a look.” Burrows' stable is also home to another Group 1 performer in Anmaat (Ire) (Awtaad {Ire}), who took the Prix d'Ispahan when last seen around a year ago. Injury interrupted his season in the run up to the Eclipse following that and has kept him off the track since, but he has returned to training and is expected to make a comeback later in the summer. Burrows said, “He's with me, he's been back for a little while now. He won't be going to Ascot as he won't be ready until the end of July, probably. Fingers crossed, he's busy but we've no plans as such. “I've given him an Irish Champion S. entry and we hope he'll come to hand at the end of July. He had quite a complex foot injury when we were prepping him for the Eclipse and that was a pain, but, touch wood, he's had plenty of time to rehab back at Shadwell. “He looks well, he's moving well but like myself, he's carrying that bit of extra condition that he could do with shifting! We'll get busy over the next couple of month and all being well he should be ready by the end of July.” Burrows has also outlined plans for classy sorts Alflaila (GB) (Dark Angel {Ire}), (Ire) (Too Darn Hot {GB}) and War Rooms (Ire) (Churchill {Ire}). Alflaila has an entry for the Prince of Wales's S. over a-mile-and-a-quarter, but the Listed Wolferton S. over the same trip will also be considered. “He's on the march so to speak, so I've left him in the Prince of Wales's at Royal Ascot,” said Burrows. “He did a nice bit of work on Saturday and he's got a couple of important bits this week, we might go for the Prince of Wales's or we might lower our sights a bit and go for the Wolferton. This will be his first run for quite a while, but hopefully you'll see him in one of those races.” Also aiming for the big meeting is Alyanaabi, whose fifth-placed 2,000 Guineas run has looked increasingly useful as the second- and third-placed horses -Rosallion (Ire) (Blue Point {Ire}) and Haatem (Ire) (Phoenix Of Spain {Ire})-filled the first two places in that order in the Irish equivalent. “All being well he is going to go for the St James's Palace, the Guineas form is stacking up pretty strongly,” Burrows said of the colt. “We've got a few lengths to make up on the winner, on the second and on the third, to be fair, but we're on another day and another track. It's different, the old mile, I think it'll suit him better so we're rolling the dice and we're going to go there.” War Rooms is another Burrows inmate with Royal Ascot in his agenda with the trainer concluding, “He'll have an entry in the Hampton Court and I left him in the King Edward VII as well. We'll take a look at both races and speak to the owners to see which is the best option for him-all being well he'll be there.” The post Deira Mile Camp Eye Potential Rematch With City Of Troy In The Irish Derby appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Rick Gold is the recipient of the Ed Friendly Industry Service Award, also known as the TOC Chairman's Award, the Thoroughbred Owners of California announced Monday morning. Following eight years of service to the TOC and other industry boards, Gold is retiring this year. He served as the chairman of the TOC's Integrity & Safety Committee and he played a key role in helping to safeguard California and industry interests during the formation of the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority (HISA), according to a release. Gold has campaigned the likes of GI F. E. Kilroe Mile winner Hit the Road and also has overseas interests, including Athabascan (Fr), recent runner-up in the G1 Sydney Cup and a leading chance for the G1 Melbourne Cup in November. “When I reflect on the distinguished individuals who have received this award in the past, I believe Rick belongs among their ranks,” said TOC Chairman Gary Fenton. “His unwavering dedication, leadership, and compassion exemplify the spirit of the Chairman's Award and embody the best of California racing.” The award is presented annually to recognize outstanding contributions and service to the Thoroughbred racing industry. Former recipients include some of the most prominent names in California racing, including Mace Siegel, John Harris, Bob and Beverly Lewis, Jerry and Ann Moss, and, most recently, Mike Pegram. Gold will be recognized at the TOC's Southern California Annual Meeting at Del Mar Aug. 10. The post Rick Gold To Receive TOC Chairman’s Award appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Listed winner and Group 3-placed Fun With Flags (Ire) (Zoffany {Ire}), who boasts an entry in the Prix de Diane, will add major intrigue at the Arqana pop-up sale next Monday. Trained by Jerome Reynier, Fun With Flags has won three of her four starts, and was only beaten a little over two lengths in the G3 Prix Cleopatre at Saint-Cloud last time. Sold by Airlie Stud as a yearling at the Goffs Orby Sale for €50,000 to Kingsfield Stud, Fun With Flags was then knocked down to Erika Gilliar for €62,000 at the Tattersalls Ireland Goresbridge Breeze-Up Sale in 2023. She is out of Galileo (Ire) mare Marie Celeste, a sister to Listed winner and black-type producer Gemstone, and from the family of Irish 2,000 Guineas winner Bachelor Duke and Irish St Leger scorer Sonnyboyliston. The post Prix de Diane Entrant Fun With Flags To Be Sold At Arqana Pop-Up Sale appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

City Of Troy (Justify) has been handed a Timeform rating of 127p following his Derby romp on Saturday. That figure places him 2lbs clear of his 2,000 Guineas conqueror Notable Speech (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) while emphatic Dante scorer Economics (GB) (Night Of Thunder {Ire}), whose connections opted against supplementing for the Derby, is next best in the three-year-old brigade on 121p. A Timeform rating of 127p places City Of Troy as the fourth-highest rated of Aidan O'Brien's 10 Derby winners. Galileo (Ire) achieved the highest Timeform figure of 132 in 2001 while 2002 winner High Chaparral (Ire) [130] and Camelot (GB) [128] were also rated higher. Meanwhile, Irish 2,000 Guineas scorer Rosallion (Ire) (Blue Point {Ire}) has been handed a mark of 121, the Irish 1,000 Guineas heroine Fallen Angel (GB) (Too Darn Hot {GB}) 117 and Oaks winner Ezeliya (Fr) (Dubawi {Ire}) 118p. The post No Catching Galileo, High Chaparral and Camelot As Timeform Rate City Of Troy 127p appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

BetMakers has signed two-year market access and content agreements with the betting platform bet365 relating to fixed-odds wagering in New Jersey and Colorado, the Melbourne, Australia-based company said in a release. Bet365 will be licensed by BetMakers to offer fixed-odds bets on Thoroughbred racing to bet365 customers in the state of New Jersey and will also be licensed to distribute BetMakers' Thoroughbred racing content to bet365 customers in New Jersey and both Thoroughbred and Standardbred racing in Colorado.Bet365 will also be licensed to distribute BetMakers' Thoroughbred racing content to bet365 customers in New Jersey and both Thoroughbred and harness racing in Colorado. Bet365 will pay BetMakers a 'Market Access Fee' based on a percentage of all fixed odds bets placed in New Jersey on all Thoroughbred racing events it offers to its customers and a 'Content Fee' based on a percentage of all fixed odds bets placed in New Jersey and Colorado on applicable BetMakers Global Racing Network content. The structure of the market access agreement allows bet365 to seek BetMakers' approval to offer fixed-odds wagering on third party global Thoroughbred racing content to its New Jersey customers from the many rights holders globally. Bet365 will be required to pay BetMakers the Market Access Fee in respect of online fixed-odds wagering in New Jersey on all Thoroughbred racing content, regardless of whether that content is provided by BetMakers or a third party. “We are very excited to be launching fixed-odds betting on Thoroughbreds in partnership with a leading sportsbook in the US,” said BetMakers' CEO Jake Henson. “This is a significant milestone for BetMakers and aligns with our strategy for fixed- odds betting on thoroughbreds in the US. “The sports betting market in the US is starting to mature and the interest from operators in horse racing as a product is expected to become even stronger. The high frequency of horse racing can deliver high engagement and high margin returns to operators. We believe the opportunity for both BetMakers and the racing industry more broadly to be significant in the long term.” The post Bet365 To Go Live With Fixed-Odds Wagering In New Jersey, Colorado appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

The under-tack show for next week's Ocala Breeders' Sales Company's June Sale of 2-Year-Olds in Training begins Tuesday morning and continues through Sunday. All six sessions begin at 7:30 a.m. During Tuesday's first session of the under-tack show, hips 1 through 175 are scheduled to breeze, followed Wednesday by hips 176-350; on Thursday by hips 351-525; on Friday by hips 526-700; on Saturday by hips 701-875; and on Sunday by hips 876-1027. Horses of racing age, hips 1101-1115, will also breeze Sunday. The June sale will be held Wednesday, June 12 through Friday, June 14, with bidding beginning each day at 10 a.m. OBS will be offering online bidding during the June sale. For more information and to register, click here. The post OBS June Under-Tack Show Begins Tuesday appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

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Roger Teal is eyeing up a crack at the Coral-Eclipse for Dancing Gemini (Ire) (Camelot {GB}) who ran with credit to finish sixth in the Derby on Saturday. Having already run a huge race this season to be an unlucky second in the Poule d'Essai des Poulains, Dancing Gemini was stepping up to a mile-and-a-half for the first time at Epsom. Drawn in stall 15, Dylan Browne McMonagle had to take his medicine and found himself at the back of the pack before working his way into contention with a furlong to run, only to fade in the final 100 yards behind impressive winner City Of Troy (Justify). “He seems fine, all is good with him,” said Teal. “He made up a lot of ground but we were just in the wrong position on the track and he had to use up a lot of horse to get into a position and then he weakened close home. “He'd made a big effort to get among the placings but it didn't go as smooth as we would have liked. It was a big field and there was a lot of congestion around Tattenham Corner, he ended up going wider than he would have liked. “What he has shown is that he belongs in those races, he hasn't disgraced us at all and he ran with credit. With a clearer run he might have been placed.” Looking towards the future, Teal added, “Timing-wise, I think the Eclipse looks the favourable race to go for. We had him in the St James's Palace but we took him out as we thought he'd probably have a hard race in the Derby and it would come too quick. The Eclipse gives us time to freshen him up so as we stand, that's his target at the moment. “I'm not sure where the winner will go, possibly the Irish Derby. I just thought he had a bad day at Newmarket, I never bought into the fact he hadn't trained on. Had he won the Guineas ironically there might have only been eight runners in the Derby which would have suited us but because he got beat a few more threw their hat in the ring.” The post Coral-Eclipse Could Be Next For Derby Sixth Dancing Gemini appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Danny Shum’s superstar not only becomes the first galloper to land both the Cox Plate and the Yasuda Kinen, but he does it in a season also featuring three Group One victories at homeView the full article

Trainer Craig Lidster has paid tribute to the “inspirational” Rob Burrow as the racing industry came together to pay tribute to the former rugby star who died on Sunday. Burrow, an England international rugby league player who spent his whole career with Leeds Rhinos, was diagnosed with motor neurone disease in 2019 after retiring two years prior. After his diagnosis he threw himself into charity work, dedicating his final years to raising over £20 million to benefit those with MND in the future. A part of this effort was the Rob Burrow Racing Club, a syndicate overseen by the Good Racing Company that donated all of its profits to Burrow's cause. The syndicate owned Burrow Seven and Beep Beep Burrow, trained by Jedd O'Keeffe, and more recently Macarone, who is based with Lidster in York. Lidster trained the horse to two victories last year, including a nursery handicap at Beverley when Burrow and his family were present. Leeds Rhinos announced Burrow's death aged 41 on Sunday evening, triggering widespread messages of condolence to his friends, former teammates and his family; wife Lindsey and children Macy, Maya and Jackson. “It's a devastating news, my thoughts are with his family, he was just an inspirational man and an inspirational father-it's a sad loss to the sporting world,” said Lidster. “He stayed in the public eye after his diagnosis and him and Doddie Weir brought the disease to the forefront of people's minds. Without them plenty of people would be none the wiser. “That was a very emotional day at Beverley, his kids picked up the trophy and it was bittersweet, that memory will be with me forever now. Our thoughts are with his family and friends, we're just gutted for them. It's very, very tough.” The post Trainer Craig Lidster Pays Tribute To “Inspirational” Rob Burrow appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

The Victorian Racing Club has named top AFL executive Kylie Rogers as its new Chief Executive Officer. Rogers replaces the outgoing Steve Rosich in the position and brings with her a wealth of experience across sport, commercial media and major events. She is the 14th CEO of the of the VRC and the first female to hold the role. VRC Chairman Neil Wilson said Rogers’ extensive experience had lead to her selection over a strong batch of candidates, over a six week process. “Kylie is one of Australia’s most well-known and respected senior executives. Having more than 25 years’ experience working across the AFL, Mamamia and Network Ten, she brings a high level of commercial acumen, and impressive customer and media experience across major events, entertainment and sport,” he said. “As part of an impressive resume, Kylie has overseen the significant commercial growth of the AFL, been instrumental in the redevelopment of Marvel Stadium, the growth of AFL’s digital and marketing platforms, and has been pivotal in improving the customer experience and fan acquisition strategy. “We believe Kylie’s career experience and leadership qualities are extremely well aligned to our strategy and the delivery of the next exciting chapter for the VRC, which includes accelerating our local and global ambitions across racing, events and media, including the Melbourne Cup Carnival, and to build the next generation of the Flemington Racecourse precinct as a year-round sport and entertainment destination.” Rogers, who was one of 10 Executive General Managers working under AFL CEO Andrew Dillon, thanked the VRC for the opportunity to join such an important organisation. “The VRC is one of the world’s greatest sporting and cultural institutions, and it is an organisation I am extremely excited and honoured to be leading,” she said. “I love racing, and I look forward to working with Neil, the board, and the entire VRC team to elevate the club and the Flemington precinct into the future.” Dillon said the AFL was disappointed to lose Rogers, but wished her well in her new endeavours. “Kylie is a great leader, a great strategist but above all she is simply a great person that everyone wants on their team,” Dillon said. Rosich departs the role having guided the VRC from midway through the pandemic, and achieved significant milestones including record membership and growth in Melbourne Cup-week crowds. Another AFL figure, former CEO Gillon McLachlan has been heavily linked to the Racing Victoria Chairman’s position. Rosich’s last day will be July 31. Horse racing news View the full article

What Happy Valley Races Where Happy Valley Racecourse – Wong Nai Chung Rd, Happy Valley, Hong Kong When Wednesday, June 5, 2024 First Race 6:40pm HKT (8:40pm AEST) Visit Dabble Hong Kong racing returns to the bright lights of Happy Valley Racecourse on Wednesday evening, with a bumper nine-race program set for decision. The rail is in the A position, and with more heavy rainfall expected to hit the track in the lead-up, punters should anticipate a yielding surface. The opening event is scheduled to get underway at 6:40pm local time. Best Bet: Intrepid Winner Intrepid Winner looks perfectly placed dropping back into Class 4 company for the first time. The son of Fastnet Rock finds himself at his lowest Hong Kong rating of 60, but it hasn’t been without trying hard at the bottom of Class 3. His last win came at this course and distance on December 20, so provided he can handle the 61kg on his back, Intrepid Winner should have the quality to dispatch this lot. Best Bet Race 2 – #1 Intrepid Winner (4) 6yo Gelding | T: Michael Chang | J: Keagan De Melo (61kg) Bet with Bet365 Next Best: Sky Trust Sky Trust couldn’t have been more impressive at Sha Tin on May 19, careering away to score by a half-length. It was a much-deserved win for the Caspar Fownes-trained three-year-old, breaking his maiden after finding the minor money on three occasions. He’s drawn to slot into a mid-field position throughout the 1650m, and although this is his first time seeing Happy Valley, Sky Trust only needs to handle the conditions to be figuring in the finish. Next Best Race 6 – #3 Sky Trust (7) 3yo Gelding | T: Caspar Fownes | J: Hugh Bowman (60kg) Bet with Bet365 Best Value: Draco Draco had no luck at this track and trip on May 22 and should’ve finished much closer than the three-length margin may suggest. The son of Deep Field was cast wide without cover throughout, never getting a breather under Lyle Hewitson. He draws gate three this time to get an economical run and transit, and provided Hugh Bowman can lob into a prominent position, Draco should give a bold sight at an each-way price with online bookmakers. Best Value Race 3 – #7 Draco (3) 3yo Gelding | T: Francis Lui | J: Hugh Bowman (58.5kg) Bet with Bet365 Hong Kong Wednesday quaddie picks – 5/6/24 Happy Valley quadrella selections Wednesday, June 5, 2024 3-4-11 4-10-11 1-3-5-6-10-12 2-3-4-5-11 Horse racing tips
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Central Districts jockey Darryl Bradley has been in a career transition over the last few years, and he feels now is the right time to officially call time on his riding career. It brings the curtain down on four decades in the saddle where the 57-year-old horseman has recorded 1,832 wins, and 103 of those at stakes level. For the last five years, Bradley has been transitioning to a career as a racecourse manager, for which he is now the track manager of Manawatu Harness Racing Club in Palmerston North, following stints at Awapuni and Foxton racecourses. “I knew my riding career was starting to dry up, so I was searching for another job, and I was lucky enough to get the course manager’s job at Foxton Racing Club five-and-a-half years ago. That was a great start,” Bradley said. “The club allowed me to continue doing track work and riding raceday. “I really started to enjoy course management and I was told Foxton would never be a raceday venue again and I wanted to grow and be a racecourse manager. Manawatu Harness (track manager job) came up a little while later and I got the job, and I am very grateful.” While Bradley made a career in the saddle, harness racing isn’t foreign to him, having grown up with a dual-code trainer father, Graham Bradley. “I was brought up in harness when I was an apprentice, because my father trained both codes,” Bradley said. “My career is all due to my father, who was a sheep and beef farmer. His father was into harness and he used to drive in races himself. “We moved to Stratford and Dad started to get a little (racing) team around him of both codes – thoroughbreds and standardbreds.” Surrounded by both thoroughbreds and standardbreds growing up, it was the former that captured a young Bradley’s imagination, and he was intent on pursuing a career as a jockey. “When I was a kid, even though I had very little to do with racing, I loved the horses, the speed and the colours, and I always said ‘I want to be a jockey when I grow up’,” he said. However, he still held a passion for harness racing, so attempted to go down both paths in his youth. “I did my cadetship as a harness driver and did the probationary part of that – I drove in trials. I went to apply for my raceday license and NZTR (New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing) wouldn’t allow me to be a dual code license holder, so naturally I kept my thoroughbred license, I was three years into my apprenticeship by then.” Bradley said his father was instrumental in launching his riding career. “If I hadn’t been with my Dad, I would have been one of those typical apprentices that was mucking out and doing the dirty work all the time and got the occasional slow ride just to keep me happy,” he said. “But with Dad, he put me on everything, and we were self-taught, and I gradually learned the trade.” Bradley rode his first winner for his father in 1984, while his first stakes win came several seasons later. “Choir Path was my first winning ride, he was Dad’s horse,” he said. “My first stakes winner might have been Sir Daniel in the Hawke’s Bay Cup in 1992.” Bradley enjoyed his time working under his father, but decided a move to Palmerston North was important to help further his riding career. “One day I said to Dad, ‘if I want to grow then I have got to go to Manawatu, that is where the heart of Central Districts racing is’, and I moved to Manawatu in 1994,” he said. “I had to gradually get more confidence and more trainers’ support. I rode for Felix Campbell and that is when it started to turn, when you are riding Group winners.” Bradley’s career trajectory continued to rise, and eventually he became the country’s leading jockey in the 1998/99 season when riding 133 winners, eight at stakes level, and more than $1.3 million in prizemoney. “A season before that I really started to hit my straps,” Bradley said. “A very good trainer friend of mine in Invercargill started to push me and said ‘let’s target the premiership next year’.” Bradley said he has had a number of highlights in his career, but none more so than winning the 2016 Gr.1 Auckland Cup (3200m) with El Soldado. “That was a race I thought I would never win,” he said. “I find Ellerslie the hardest track to ride. It was something special about El Soldado winning. “He was only just ahead of Sapio winning the Doomben Cup and New Zealand Cup.” Bradley also enjoyed a lot of success on a number of other horses and enjoyed a solid record with a number of Central Districts trainers. “There was Chad, he won 14 races and I won 13 on him, and I won 12 on King Of Ashford,” he said. “I had a good association with Karren Zimmerman when she was at Otaki, I rode just over 100 winners for her. Then joining the stable of Lisa Latta, the list goes on there. “In the mid-nineties, I got a call from Kay Marsh, Bruce Marsh’s wife and she asked if I wanted to join their stable. That was a big boost to my career, Bruce was a very astute trainer.” Bradley’s riding career also afforded him the ability to travel internationally. “I have ridden in four states of Australia, with a couple of placings and the Group One win in the Doomben Cup,” he said. “When I won the (New Zealand Jockeys’) premiership, I was lucky enough to represent New Zealand in the World Jockeys’ Championship in Japan. After the first day, I was first equal, and I ended up seventh overall. “I rode Sapio in Hong Kong for an international race, I had four months in Malaysia where I rode 17 winners, and I spent two months in Mauritius before I got sick and had to come home. I had three wins there from 20 rides. “If it wasn’t for horse racing, I wouldn’t have probably gone out of the country. The people you meet and places you go are just beautiful.” While Bradley will miss riding on raceday, he said it is the people that have made his career so special. “There are a lot of fantastic people in the industry,” he said. View the full article

Former quality three-year-old Pier made a welcome return to racing at Te Aroha on Monday when he strode to an impressive first-up victory in an open 1300m contest. The strapping son of outstanding Rich Hill Stud stallion Proisir hadn’t been seen since finishing sixth in the Gr.1 Arrowfield Stakes (1600m) at Hastings last September, and has subsequently been rehabilitating a cannon bone issue. Prepared by the father-and-daughter training partnership of Darryn and Briar Weatherley, the now four-year-old warmed up for his assignment with a comfortable victory over 1000m at the Te Aroha trials last month. Rider Sam Weatherley allowed the gelding to find his feet at the rear of the field and was still back a clear last with 600m to travel. Pier looped the field rounding the home bend and once he found clear air out widest on the track, he unleashed a powerful sprint that carried him to a convincing one length victory over Dusty Road who fought on bravely after making the pace throughout and Fonteyn who stuck well for third. Weatherley was delighted with the result, although his first reaction was one of relief. “A big sigh of relief and very happy to see him do that,” he said. “The big question mark for me was the track, which was more testing than we would have liked, but like a good horse he copped everything that was thrown at him and still got the job done. “I also thought he may be one run short, but those really top athletes just have that ability to give their best even when not everything is in their favour and he showed that today.” Weatherley has always held the highest opinion of his charge and that hasn’t changed over the past year. “It has been a real exercise in patience as he had that niggly problem and we had to give him a good break,” he said. “We did everything we were told and his x-rays since then have been very good. “He handled his trial well, so we pressed on and now he has had this race I’m going to tip him out again and get ready for the spring. “This will have topped up his confidence as it has certainly done it for me, so now I can’t wait to get him back in and have him show people just how good he is.” Bred by Weatherley and his wife Lou, along with long-time friend Barry Wright, and raced in partnership by the trio and leviathan Australian-based owner Ozzie Kheir, Pier has now won four of his 10 starts and more than $473,000 in prizemoney. View the full article