Wandering Eyes

Nestled in the heart of Kentucky's rolling hills, Taylor Made Farm has been a cornerstone of the Thoroughbred industry for almost 50 years. Having been the leading consignor in the world 28 times in the last 30 years, Taylor Made is an operation that lives at the epicenter of the horse racing industry. When the idea of putting together a racing division was being batted around, it was a no-brainer for Mark Taylor and his family to begin to construct what is now monikered as Medallion Racing. “You could say we were first drawn into the racing side of the business through our association and partnership in California Chrome back in 2015,” said Medallion Racing Manager Phillip Shelton. “Then came Cathryn Sophia, winner of the 2016 Kentucky Oaks, and we decided this was an excellent way to bring new people into the sport and grow our business.” Taylor Made Farm officially launched Medallion in 2017 and put Shelton at the reins. Shelton has been a lifelong horse racing fan, who learned the game from his dad, while spending many racing/simulcast days at Keeneland. He worked for Taylor Made periodically at Thoroughbred auctions from 2004-2014, breaking up his time studying past performances. “I decided to make a career change and pursue my love of Thoroughbred racing full time,” he said. “I began at the bottom, working as a groom to help prep all our horses for the different auctions throughout the year. I moved into the office in the spring of 2016 as we began working on the plans for Medallion Racing. We launched Medallion Racing, and I have been the racing manager since its inception.” Partner Brad McNulty recalls the beginning of his association with Medallion. “Alex Payne, my current advisor at Taylor Made along, with Mark Taylor, the CEO, made me feel comfortable from the beginning,” McNulty said. “Alex knew I liked racing, so mentioned Medallion and introduced me to Phillip Shelton. I was immediately impressed with Phil's knowledge and passion. I have been studying bloodlines and I have been basically a 'Broken Down Horseplayer' for 50 years. So, I knew this dude knew his stuff. I instantly knew Phil was like a savant regarding bloodlines and studying races.” Brad and Lissa McNulty | courtesy Taylor Made Shelton and the team have posted an impressive record since its arrival at racetracks in North America and across the pond. They have had over 275 starts, 25% of which have been in Grade I races. Their horses have appeared in 12 Breeders' Cup races, four Royal Ascot races, and have sprung from the starting gate under the twin spires in the Kentucky Oaks on three separate occasions. “We take minority interests in fillies and mares that have already run and are proven winners,” Shelton said. “We look for runners that will not only make money on the track, but also when we sell them at the end of their career. Medallion's goal is to provide an exclusive ownership experience at the highest level. It's about the opportunities that exist for the horses we buy into. We look for certain programs that our horses can participate in and look to maximize the upside for our partners.” There are currently 22 partners involved in Medallion Racing and they have seven horses racing and one in foal. One of those horses is two-time Royal Ascot winner Porta Fortuna (Ire) (Caravaggio). Medallion's “Lucky Charm” won the Albany Stakes at two and returned last month to claim the G1 Coronation Stakes at three. She also won the G1 Juddmonte Cheveley Stakes at Newmarket at two and finished a head shy of Hard to Justify in last year's GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf. Porta Fortuna has amassed almost $1.2 million in just nine starts so far in her young career and has taken partners to places they never thought they would go, including partner Ann Kugler. “I've gotten to know bloodstock agents here and across the pond,” said Kugler, “along with visiting Porta and her trainer Donnacha O'Brien at his yard in Ireland [part of a fun, five-star trip with Medallion partners last year]. These horses have taken us to many places that we would not have visited otherwise, including the backside of most tracks to meet our horses and trainers, including during Derby week. Last year, Frankie Dettori's 80th Ascot win was aboard Porta Fortuna. Partners were able to meet him and get pictures taken. He is a legendary celebrity abroad and I'm a big fan. So, this year my husband remarked, 'There's no way we can top last year's Ascot win with Frankie.' Consequently, my chatting-up and shaking hands with the King of England, who presented us the Group 1 trophy, left him shaking his head in disbelief.” Medallion Racing is an exclusive partnership for people who have discretionary income and a passion for Thoroughbred racing. Groups are formed annually and typically close at the end of a two-year cycle. Partners buy in for $50,000 and there are no mark-ups or disposition fees outside of the industry standards of a 5% bloodstock commission on purchases and 5% consignor fee at sale. “We work hard to manage all expenses and keep any administrative costs to a minimum,” said Shelton. “When a new partnership is created, we offer it to existing partners first and then fill in with new people. Because of how we operate, you don't have to wait two to three years to have a horse running at the highest levels. That can happen within months of joining.” That recently happened with Medallion's latest investment in Vodka With a Twist. The 2-year-old filly by Thousand Words out of Sky Mesa's Bourbon and a Kiss broke her maiden May 17. Soon after, Medallion Racing put a deal together and bought in. She instantly paid dividends when she scored in the Debutante Stakes at Churchill June 30, taking the $136,000 winner's share of the purse and being stamped as a GI Kentucky Oaks contender for next year. “We thought she would be very tough in the Debutante off her maiden score. The plan was to go to Churchill and then to Del Mar and hopefully she can continue to improve and work her way to the Breeders' Cup,” said Shelton. Kugler was equally enthusiastic. “No sooner did we return stateside than the newest Medallion find, 2-year-old filly Vodka With a Twist, was entered to run in the Debutante Stakes at Churchill,” said Kugler. “We made the trip there to see her win gate-to-wire in a fast, impressive Debutante Stakes performance. That gave us three wins in 10 days, counting the deserving Papilio (Ire) (Starspangledbanner {Aus}) who also won on June 20.” Vodka With a Twist | Renee Torbit/Coady Media Their expertise in selecting horses is only part of the value Medallion Racing provides for their partners. “Our number one job is the communication of the truth and doing what is right by the horse,” said Sheldon. “We want our partners to be engaged on every level. If we are interested in a horse, we will produce a video explaining our rationale for the purchase and what our goals are for the horse. Using technology like the Racing Manager App and Voice notes, we are able to push out an abundance of information to our partners. I'll make all my trainer calls early in the week and get that information out to each partner. We want everyone to be engaged.” Partner Brad McNulty has seen this firsthand. “The communication from Phil and Molly Hyer of the Medallion team is extraordinary as they consistently provide all members updates and all information on all horses in the stable,” he said. “Additionally, they make sure Medallion horses race at a high level at high-profile tracks–Del Mar, Santa Anita, Keeneland, Churchill Downs, Saratoga, Belmont and of course in Europe at the Curragh and Royal Ascot. This latest experience of winning the Coronation at Royal Ascot in a Group 1 with this amazing 3-year-old filly Porta Fortuna, you can't quite get your head around it especially when you're on the stand with Phil and other partners and we are all shaking King Charles's hand. Haven't washed my hand in 10 days!! Hard for all of us to experience anything close to this if out on our own, no doubt.” Above Phillip Shelton's desk is a sign that reads “Just Say Yes,” and he takes that motto seriously as the racing manager of the partnerships. “I always ask the questions such as, 'are we serving all the needs of our partners? Are we helping our partners achieve their dreams? How can we make this the best experience possible?,'” he said. “That experience includes exceptional concierge services to make the racing experience truly unforgettable. From travel arrangements to premium seating at races, Medallion handles everything, so partners can focus on the joy of ownership. “I believe Taylor Made has a model that can deliver exclusive experiences to an exclusive set of people who love the game. That can mean getting 19 partners to Ireland for a big race or making sure to send someone the right size hat.” The post Partnerships: Medallion Racing appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Following on from the August Yearling Sale, the v.2 Yearling Sale will take place on Tuesday, August 20 in Deauville. The catalogue, that offers a total of 189 lots, is now available on the Arqana website. Since its inception, the v.2 Yearling Sale has produced a number of top-class performers, including the Classic winners Coeursamba (Fr), Teppal (Fr) and Olmedo (Fr). This year the catalogue of 189 lots, “selected for their precociousness” according to the sales company, includes yearlings by leading sires such as Havana Grey (GB), No Nay Never, Siyouni (Fr) and Wootton Bassett (GB). Of note among the yearlings out of black-type mares is lot 330, a filly by Siyouni (Fr) out of the Listed-placed Undertake (GB) (Kodiac {GB}), from the family of the G1 Prix de l'Opera heroine Kinnaird (Ire) (Dr Devious {Ire}), plus lot 489, a filly from the first crop of Victor Ludorum (GB) out of the German Group 3 scorer Salona (Ger) (Lord Of England {Ger}). The post Catalogue Released for Arqana’s V.2 Yearling Sale appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

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

Katie Goodman will be the keynote speaker at the Horse Racing Women's Summit, which will be held Sept. 25-27 in Arcadia, California. “I cannot wait to engage the HRWS community at this year's summit,” said Goodman, an award-winning comedian, author and international speaker. “In a world that combines top athletes–both human and horse–with wagering and premier events across the country, chaos is pretty much a guarantee. Harnessing the tools to navigate change and volatility with confidence will help members of the HRWS handle absolutely anything that comes their way.” Goodman's original comedy songs, writing and comedic performances have been seen on Showtime's The Green Room, on Current TV as a pundit, and on TruTV in one of the most watched Impractical Jokers episodes ever. She is also the creator and headliner of “Broad Comedy,” an international touring satirical musical show that she and her husband Soren Kisiel write and direct. The third annual HRWS Summit will feature programming at both Santa Anita Park and the neighboring Le Meridien Pasadena Arcadia hotel. For more information and to purchase tickets, click here. The post Katie Goodman Named HRWS Summit Keynote Speaker appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

A quarantine put in place at the barns at Assiniboia Downs following a case of equine virus has led to a schedule change at the Winnipeg track. Starting the week of July 15, racing will shift to a two-day Monday-Tuesday schedule until Aug. 12, after which the regular three-day Monday-Tuesday-Wednesday schedule will resume. Following the identification and immediate containment of a single case of equine infectious anemia, the barns at Assiniboia Downs were placed under quarantine to prevent any further spread. The quarantine allows horses stabled at the track to continue racing, but it restricts any new horses from entering or leaving the barn area. This limitation will eventually strain the horse supply, prompting track officials to adjust the racing schedule in an effort to ensure that horses receive adequate rest between starts and that the average field size remains at the highest level for wagering. “It is very unfortunate to have this happen, but we are very pleased it was addressed right away,” said Assiniboia Downs CEO Darren Dunn. “We realize that it is still an ongoing issue with the quarantine, but we are confident that there will not be any further cases after the entire horse population was freshly tested and all returned with negative results, indicating no additional cases. A second and final test of all horses in late July will lift the quarantine should the results remain negative. Regardless of how disruptive this is, the health and welfare of our equine athletes must come first. We appreciate the support and cooperation of our horse people and fans as we navigate through this.” On Monday, the track announced the Manitoba Derby had been removed from the Western Canadian Derby Series due to the quarantine. “The second and final coggins testing is currently scheduled for Monday, July 29 with results proposed to be released on Friday, August 2. Entry date for the $125,000 Manitoba Derby is Thursday, August 1. As there is not certainty to the results, date of release of that information, and the lifting of the current quarantine, it is only responsible to remove our race from the series this year and adjust the bonus opportunities,” Dunn said in the Monday release. “We are still hopeful that entries for the Manitoba Derby will be strong, but we have to acknowledge that in the unlikely scenario of another horse testing positive for EIA or any delay in the removal of the quarantine, that access to the backstretch for horses not already on the property will be denied.” The dates removed from the current schedule will be added to the end of the season, with the final day of racing now set for Sept. 24. The post Quarantine Causes Assiniboia Downs Schedule Changes appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

HOKKAIDO, Japan-The demand for the progeny of Kitasan Black (Jpn) continued at the JRHA Sale on Tuesday as, just 24 hours after supplying the top lot of the yearling session, a half-brother to G1 NHK Mile Cup winner Schnell Meister (Ger) topped the foal segment for the Shadai Station-based stallion at ¥410 million [roughly $2.59 million]. Lot 364, who was consigned by Northern Farm, is out of the German Oaks winner Serienholde (Ger) (Soldier Hollow {GB}), and was bought by prominent Japanese-based owner Toshihiko Tabata. Of the 239 foals offered, 231 were sold at a clearance rate of 96.7%. The aggregate for the foal session was ¥14.421 billion [$89,571,429] while the average was ¥62,428,571 [$387,756] and the median ¥42 million [$260,870]. Between the two sessions, there were 64 lots to sell for ¥100 million [$621,645] or more. Those were the type of stats that left JRHA chairman and Shadai boss Teruya Yoshida describing trade as “incredible” before going on to explain his pleasure at seeing more foreign buyers in attendance. Nobody made quite as big a splash as American-based owner Mike Repole, who bought five yearlings here on Monday and added two foals to the haul on Tuesday. That played a massive part in a record number of lots [12] being secured on behalf of foreign buyers. The previous best was eight in 2022 while the figure stood at just four last year. Yoshida said, “It was an incredible auction–a very strong market. There were a lot of active buyers who were keen to bid over the past two days. This year's Japanese Derby winner Danon Decile (Jpn) (Epiphaneia {Jpn}) is a graduate from this sale and we also had Forever Young (Jpn) (Real Steel {Jpn}) finish very close in the Kentucky Derby. That was one of the big reasons why buyers were very active in this sale. I am very grateful for, not only the buyers, but all of the vendors associated with the horses sold here. They did a great job in preparing them in excellent condition which brings the success of the auction.” He added, “I am very pleased that Mike Repole bought a lot of horses during the foal and yearling sessions. He is now applying to become a licensed owner in Japan, so maybe we will see those colours running in this country shortly. Maybe next year we will have more owners buying horses here. We will have foals by Equinox (Jpn) and Titleholder (Jpn) and I am sure that will attract plenty of people. I hope we will have more good horses coming out of this sale and that our graduates can continue to perform on the world stage.” While proven sires like Kitasan Black and Epiphaneia (Jpn) dominated over the two days, Japanese Triple Crown winner Contrail (Jpn) certainly lived up to market expectations. Of the 25 horses offered by Contrail over the two days, they all found buyers, creating a massive aggregate of $15,503,826. That works out at an average of $620,153. Phenomenal stuff for a young stallion. Yoshida concluded, “The offspring of Contrail are exceptional. They are not big horses but, because they have such quality, they look bigger than they are. They have good quality and you can see that there is a lot of potential.” Flightline Foals Prove Popular Three foals by the unbeaten superstar Flightline sold for a combined ¥470 million [$2.9 million] as a series of big-name Japanese buyers fought hard for the progeny of the Lane's End stallion. Two colts–lots 419 and 436–made ¥210 million [$1.3 million] apiece, to owners Tetsuhide Kunimoto and Masahiro Noda respectively, while a relatively new owner to the game, Tatsuya Nakagoshi, paid ¥50 million [$310,000] for another [lot 347]. Kunimoto's red and white silks have been carried by many good horses, including Shonan Nadeshiko (Jpn) (Orfevre {Jpn}), while Noda needs no introduction given he is the man behind this year's Japanese Derby winner and latest poster boy for this sale in Danon Decile. Yahagi To Train Big-Money Epiphaneia Colt Japanese St Leger-winning owner Toshihiro Hirosaki is dreaming of Derby glory in his home country with the Epiphaneia foal he purchased from Shadai Farm for ¥370 million. Unlike Ask Victor More (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}), who was trained by Yasuhito Tamura when landing the St Leger in 2022, the Epiphaneia foal will go into training with Yoshito Yahagi when the time comes. “This is the best foal in this catalogue so I am very pleased to be able to buy him,” the owner said afterwards. “Of course, the dream is to win the Japanese Derby with this foal.” Big things were clearly expected from lot 384, who is out of GI Acorn Stakes winner Carina Mia (Malibu Moon), a $2.6 million purchase by Shadai Farm at Fasig-Tipton in 2021. Carina Mia is reported to be in foal to superstar Equinox (Jpn). Talking Points • It's not just the American mares who are big in Japan. Monday's sale-topping yearling by Kitasan Black hailed from the former Aidan O'Brien-trained Galileo (Ire) mare Delphinia (Ire) and the Coolmore crew would have taken plenty of credit by how some of its stallions have been performing here this week as well. A St Mark's Basilica yearling sold for $435,000 on Monday and the only foal (lot 345) by his stud mate Wootton Bassett (GB) was knocked down for ¥52 million [$322,000]. • The only foal (lot 398) by Gun Runner in the sale commanded ¥300 million [$1.86 million] to Y's Consignment Sales, another anonymous buyer, who is understood to manage an investment company. He was consigned by Shunsuke Yoshida and is a half-brother to GI Arkansas Derby winner Angel Of Empire (Classic Empire). • Harry Sweeney of Paca Paca Farm offered the first ever foal anywhere in the world by Baaeed (GB). Trained by William Haggas on behalf of Shadwell, the European Horse Of The Year in 2022 won six Group 1s all told. Lot 400 fetched ¥56 million [$348,000] to Cosmo View Farm Ltd. Stephen Collins, Shadwell's European bloodstock manager, said, “Shadwell were very pleased to see the sale of Baaeed's first foal at public auction at the JRA Select Sale. We congratulate the colt's breeder and consigner Paca Paca Farm. As the highest-rated horse in Europe for over a decade, there is huge excitement around Baaeed's first crop of foals. From visiting and speaking to breeders we are delighted with what we have seen and heard. We are looking forward to the foals sales later this year.” • The following lot (401) provided a smattering of stardust with a Kitasan Black filly out of French 1,000 Guineas winner Dream And Do (Ire) (Siyouni {Fr}) selling for ¥200 million [$1.24million]. • While most of the racing on the JRA circuit is on turf, there is still some love for dirt racing in this country and the programme is expanding. Owner Yuji Hasegawa's blue and grey colours have been carried by horses the likes of Perriere (Jpn) (Henny Hughes) and, in lot 333, a colt by Logotype (Jpn), he bought an obvious prospect to go down that route for ¥115 million [$715,000]. The colt is a full-brother to Omega Guinness (Jpn), one of the best dirt performers in Japan. The post Kitasan Black Stars Again At Select Sale – Pair Of Flightline Foals Make $1.3m Apiece appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

What Eagle Farm Races Where Eagle Farm Racecourse – 230 Lancaster Rd, Ascot QLD 4007 When Wednesday, July 10, 2024 First Race 12:29pm AEST Visit Dabble Eagle Farm will host a competitive eight-race program this Wednesday, with the meeting scheduled to kick off at 12:29pm AEST. Although the track was rated as a Soft 6 at the time of acceptances, a wet forecast means the surface will deteriorate into the Heavy range by raceday. The rail goes out out to the +11m position for the entire circuit, which should favour on-speed runners. Best Bet at Eagle Farm: Impendor Impendor missed the placings for the first time last start. The Matthew Dunn-trained gelding was made to travel three wide for the entire 1200m trip and did well to finish fourth, beaten by 2.1 lengths. The second horse from that race has come out and won very well since, so if Robbie Dolan can settle behind the speed from barrier one, Impendor can get back to winning ways. Best Bet Race 7 – #5 Impendor (1) 3yo Gelding | T: Matthew Dunn | J: Robbie Dolan (57.5kg) Bet with Picklebet Next Best at Eagle Farm: Victory Win Annabel Neasham and Kyle Wilson-Taylor combine with Victory Win as he looks to follow up his dominant victory over 1600m at the Sunshine Coast on June 9. The three-year-old gelding settled in second, which was at least five lengths behind a runaway leader, before letting down with a strong finish to win by just under a length. This son of Santos will have taken a lot of fitness benefit from that second-up start, and a rise in trip to 1800m should suit him down to the ground. Next Best Race 5 – #8 Victory Win (8) 3yo Gelding | T: Annabel Neasham | J: Kyle Wilson-Taylor (54.5kg) Bet with Neds Best Value at Eagle Farm: Liparota Liparota was made to race out of her normal pattern last start, when the Kelly Schweida-trained filly settled last and finished off nicely to run fourth over 1200m at Doomben. In her first two starts, this daughter of Better Than Ready has raced on speed and shown good pace. Now that she strikes a race where six of her 11 rivals will be on debut, Liparota can break her maiden at the fourth time of asking. Best Value Race 1 – #10 Liparota (1) 2yo Filly | T: Kelly Schweida | J: Cejay Graham (56kg) Bet with Dabble Wednesday quaddie tips for Eagle Farm races Eagle Farm quadrella selections Wednesday, July 10, 2024 1-8 1-2-5-6-13 2-5-7-10-12 1-2-3-10 | Copy this bet straight to your betslip More horse racing tips View the full article

The racing industry is rallying behind Amanda Higgins, with the Ashburton trainer currently undergoing treatment for terminal cancer. Fundraising efforts are now underway, with the proceeds set to help Higgins and her family. A Givealittle page has been set up by the New Zealand Trainers’ Association, while a fundraising dinner will take place at Addington Raceway on July 19. The Salvation Army’s Andrew McKeown has been offering his support to Higgins and her family, and is urging members of the racing community to show their support through the two fundraising drives. “Amanda has been diagnosed with an aggressive form of Leukemia. She had some treatment and it wasn’t very successful, so she is undergoing a second lot of treatment at the moment,” McKeown said. “It is quite a complicated case. She is currently halfway through her second round of treatment, so has moved back to Christchurch for that.” Amanda is married to former jockey turned farrier Stuart Higgins, with the couple having a three-year-old daughter Lizzie, and 16-year-old twin boys Kaydence and Rylie. “They (Amanda and Stuart) met down in Southland when working for Kelvin Tyler,” McKeown said. “They are cool people. “Stu has been up here to care for both Amanda and Lizzie, so he is limited in how much farrier work he can do, hence the reason why we are hoping to up the ante for fundraising for them. They are really good and humble people.” Givealittle campaign: https://givealittle.co.nz/cause/please-help-the-family-of-amanda-higgins Fundraising Dinner What: Buffet dinner and a great night of racing. Where: Addington Raceway When: Friday, July 19 Tickets: $61, with $20 per ticket going to Amanda’s family. There will be raffles throughout the night ($5 per raffle). Tickets can be purchased online – addington.flicket.co.nz. If anyone has any raffle or auction prizes, they can contact Rachel Deegan on 021 734 936 or email rachdeegs@icloud.com View the full article

Lhasa (Hellbent) will be out to continue his unbeaten streak on Cambridge’s Synthetic track on Wednesday when he lines-up in the D & A Diesel 1300. The four-year-old son of Hellbent has won all three of his previous starts at the track, including a last start victory over the same distance, and trainer Mark Treweek is hoping he can keep his winning momentum going. “He is unbeaten at this stage on the synthetic, so he will go around again,” he said. “Hopefully he gets a nice run from there (barrier two). He has drawn in before there (Cambridge Synthetic) and got a nice run. “It’s probably the best field he has come across on the synthetic, so it will be an interesting race. There are a couple in there with very good form on the synthetic as well, mainly Monza, but as long as he gets a decent trip, I think he will be hard to beat. He has been working well, I am really happy with him.” All going to plan on Wednesday, Treweek is looking to head south to Awapuni’s Synthetic meeting on August 9 to try and capture the lion’s share of the $100,000 on offer in the 1400m special conditions race. “Since he has been going so well on the synthetic, we would look at one of the series races,” Treweek said. “There is one at Awapuni over 1400m that we would look to go to. He needs to run tomorrow to qualify for it. “A lot of money has been spent on putting these synthetic tracks in, I enjoy racing on them, and it is nice to see a bit of prizemoney thrown at racing on those tracks.” Following his Awapuni test, Treweek said Lhasa will likely head for a spell ahead of summer racing. “We will probably back off him a bit,” he said. “We only wanted to give him the three or four runs and then give him a bit of a break. He raced well through last summer and he is pretty handy on the grass as well.” Treweek will also head to Cambridge on Wednesday with last start placegetter Seamsew, who will contest the Garry Edge Tribute 970. “He is a big horse who has had a few issues with his knees, so we have tried to keep him fresh and we can’t do too much work with him,” Treweek said. “The 1000m races on the synthetic really suit him, so we just try and target those with him all the time. “He has been working well and should go a nice race. He has drawn out (9), but you have only got one bend from the 970m, so I don’t think it makes too much difference for him.” View the full article

Leading trainer Ciaron Maher is plotting an ambitious spring path with superstar mare Pride Of Jenni (Pride Of Dubai), which will include a nomination for the Gr.1 Melbourne Cup (3200m). But whether they head that way is still to be decided with her preparation set to include back-to-back Group One races in two states, including the Gr.1 Cox Plate (2040m) on October 26. A three-time winner at the elite level, the All-Star Mile winner is set to resume in the Gr.1 Memsie Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield on Saturday, August 31 and Maher has been delighted with her since her return to work. “As she’s gone on, the more relaxed she’s got and the better she’s got,” Maher said. “There’s no reason why she couldn’t again. After the spring we thought could she match what she did last preparation and she did more than that. There’s got to be a ceiling somewhere though.” As for backing up from the King Charles III Stakes at Randwick into the Cox Plate, Maher believes Pride Of Jenni is up to the task. “She’s backed up before after a week but this is a back-up a week apart after an interstate run and then travel home. It’s going to be tough to do but let’s see how we go,” said Maher, who is also likely to nominate her for the Melbourne Cup at the suggestion of owner Tony Ottobre. Maher said the presence of Pride Of Jenni would add an interesting dimension to the Melbourne Cup, although she might not quite provide the international readers with the pacemaker they’d hope. “She wouldn’t be a pacemaker, but a pace killer,” he said. A daughter of Pride Of Dubai, Pride Of Jenni was bred by Trelawney Stud and is out of the O’Reilly mare Sancerre, who was prepared by Cambridge trainer Tony Pike to win on four occasions for the Stud. View the full article

Riccarton horsewoman Anna Furlong will take sole charge of the successful Champagne Racing Stables operation from the beginning of the new term. She is well prepared for the changing of the guard having trained in partnership for the last 13 years with Shane Kennedy, who has announced he will take a step back at the end of this season. “Shane has taught me all I know, having started with him fresh out of school and I owe him everything,” Furlong said. “I couldn’t be more thankful or grateful, and he will still be involved with shares in some of the horses and will maintain a huge interest in the stable, supporting me in the business and attending the sales. “Shane will always be at the end of the phone and we’ll continue to talk regularly, he’s like part of my family.” Furlong joined Kennedy in a training partnership for the 2011/12 season and they have since sent out 166 winners with 12 at stakes level. “All the Listed winners stand out, we have been fortunate to have had wonderful owners who gave us some brilliant horses,” Furlong said. “We’ve had opportunities to get black type for them and the highlight was probably when we trained a Listed double at Dunedin. “We won the Gold Cup (2400m) with Pendleton and the Guineas (1500m) with Excelleration and my first win with Rush’n Prince at Riccarton in 2012 was obviously pretty special as well. “We weren’t lucky enough to gain a Group win, but we had placings including Blue Solitaire who was third in the 1000 Guineas (Gr.1, 1600m).” Furlong therefore has extensive experience to draw on when she takes over the training operation. “It is really exciting and a bit daunting, but realistically nothing will really change,” she said. “It will be a bit odd and more of an emotional thing than anything else. “All of our owners have known that Shane will be stepping back and handing over the reins and we have been really grateful for their support during this transition period.” Kennedy, who has more than 350 training successes to his credit, will now focus on his property development business in Auckland. “I will maintain a high level of interest in Champagne Racing, along with continuing a supporting role to Anna,” he said. “It’s been a wonderful two decades and working with Anna for most of this time, watching her develop her skills and establish her career as a trainer and a role that I am very excited for her to continue to excel at in her own right. “Both Anna and I are truly grateful and humbled by the support we have received from owners and supporters over the years and looking forward to pressing on into the new season at Riccarton Park with a fantastic team of young and well-performed horses.” Among the promising members of Furlong’s team for the spring will be stakes performers Betty Spaghetti, Quintabelle, Miss Layla and Lil Zena. View the full article

Former Central Districts galloper Phats is set to remain in Australia following a pleasing placing in his Australian debut at Flemington on Saturday. The three-year-old son of Embellish won one and placed in four of his 12 starts in New Zealand before trainer Chrissy Bambry elected to test his talent across the Tasman. He passed with flying colours when running home for third in the Mahogany Challenge Final (2500m) and is now set to remain across the Tasman, with Bambry now on the search to find him a Melbourne-based trainer. “He was super, he had awesome sectionals that last little bit and it was just lucky that we had the faith in him. The bookies didn’t, they had written him off, but we thought he would stay all day and it was a pretty impressive performance to do that from last at Flemington,” Bambry said. “We had done a similar thing (Australian campaign) with Lord Bouzeron a few years ago and we thought he fitted the bill and that was a suitable race for him, especially for $200,000, it was definitely worth going over. “He will probably have a couple of more runs over there now. He is probably going to be better suited over there, so we will look for another trainer for him because I am pretty busy with our ones here at home.” Meanwhile, Bambry is looking forward to heading to Wanganui on Thursday where in-form gelding Opawa Jack will tackle the Carpet Maintenance & Cleaning 1600 to keep him on target for the $100,000 2000m innovation race at Cambridge Synthetic next month. “There aren’t any suitable races on the synthetic for Opawa Jack because there are no (rating) 75 stayers’ races on the synthetic, so he is just going to be there for a run,” Bambry said. “He will go to the Cambridge for that 2000m race. He hates a wet track and he has got such a lovely big action that he gets a bit lost on those wet tracks. Last year I sent him up to EventStars for a month during the winter and with those synthetic innovation races it means that he can be in work. He can do that and come back for those spring races once the tracks get better.” Opawa Jack will be joined in his Thursday contest by stablemate Kingfisher Lad, who will benefit from apprentice jockey Crystal Lindsay’s three kilogram claim. “Kingfisher Lad has only had the one trial, so Crystal will get a bit of weight off him,” Bambry said. “He does love Wanganui, but it is just to get his fitness up and hopefully get over a bit more ground in the next couple of weeks.” Bambry will also be represented by Let’s Get Loose in the Manawatu Sound Services Maiden 1600 and debutant Authentic Amani in the Wanganui Insurance Brokers Maiden 3YO 1200. “Let’s Get Loose never gets a good draw but she is in good form, and I think she went really well in her first time over a mile this prep,” Bambry said. “Authentic Amani is a first starter. She has only had a couple of jumpouts, but to get that raceday experience is invaluable, so it is better that she goes there than a trial.” View the full article

What Sandown Lakeside Races Where Sandown Racecourse – 591-659 Princes Hwy, Springvale VIC 3171 When Wednesday, July 10, 2024 First Race 12:25pm AEST Visit Dabble The Lakeside track at Sandown is the destination for metropolitan racing in Victoria on Wednesday afternoon. An eight-race card is set down for decision, with the track rated a Soft 5 and the rail in its true position for the entire circuit. The Sandown races on July 10 are set to commence at 12:25pm AEST. Best Bet at Sandown: Kiko Cliff Brown’s Kiko has returned in fine form, winning first-up before consecutive runner-up performances heading into this 1200m BM70 for mares. The four-year-old was only bettered by Luna Cat on June 19 over 1000m, and she finished half a length off the classy Oak Hill the start prior. Blake Shinn will have the Capitalist mare settled just off the speed, and with a strong finish, Kiko should prove too hard to hold out in the second leg of the quaddie. Best Bet Race 6 – #7 Kiko (8) 4yo Mare | T: Cliff Brown | J: Blake Shinn (59kg) Bet with Neds Next Best at Sandown: Martial Eagle Charlotte Littlefield’s Martial Eagle was held up for a run at a crucial point over the 2400m at Sandown on June 19 when beaten a half-length in fourth. He chased home Senor Uno, who he meets again, this time better at the weights. Blake Shinn sticks on board, and with even luck this time around, Martial Eagle can swoop to victory. Next Best Race 4 – #7 Martial Eagle (8) 6yo Gelding | T: Charlotte Littlefield | J: Blake Shinn (55kg) Bet with PlayUp Best Value at Sandown: The Defender The Defender caught the eye when finishing third on debut at Wangaratta on June 20. Forced to settle at the rear after bombing the start, the son of Winning Rupert made up a stack of ground in the home straight to go down by less than a length over the 1100m trip. The three-year-old steps up to 1200m, which looks ideal, and on the wider surrounds of Sandown, The Defender should have no issues building through his gears and pouncing late. Best Value Race 1 – #10 The Defender (12) 3yo Gelding | T: Mark & Levi Kavanagh | J: Craig Newitt (59.5kg) Bet with Picklebet Sandown Wednesday quaddie tips – 10/7/2024 Sandown quadrella selections Wednesday, July 10, 2024 1-2-5-9-11 1-7 5-7-8-13 5-10-13-14-16 | Copy this bet straight to your betslip Horse racing tips View the full article

What Warwick Farm Races Where Warwick Farm Racecourse – 2 Hume Hwy, Warwick Farm NSW 2170 When Wednesday, July 10, 2024 First Race 12:50pm AEST Visit Dabble Warwick Farm Racecourse is the destination for metro racing on Wednesday afternoon, with a quickfire seven-race program set to get underway at 12:50pm local time. The rail is out +3m the entire circuit for the meeting, and with significant rainfall predicted in the lead-up, punters can expect a genuine Heavy track. Check out our best bets and quaddie numbers for Warwick Farm on July 10. Best Bet at Warwick Farm: Pink Shalala Pink Shalala hit the line well first-up at Wyong on June 27, managing to close within 1.5 lengths of Mostro. He found the one-one on that occasion, but thanks to a slow tempo and on speed favours throughout the afternoon, the son of Shalaa couldn’t reel in the leader. He’ll strip fitter for that effort heading into this BM64, and although Pink Shalala is the only maiden galloper engaged in this, the placement by Chris Waller gives confidence that this guy is up to the task. Best Bet Race 2 – #7 Pink Shalala (2) 3yo Gelding | T: Chris Waller | J: Kerrin McEvoy (57kg) Bet with Unibet Next Best at Warwick Farm: Elsie May Elsie May steps up to the 2100m for the first time after a bold display at this course on June 26. She was no match for Space Age after getting too far back over 1600m, powering through the wire to suggest the step up in trip would be ideal for the daughter of Time Test. The Ciaron Maher-trained mare has been kept in Sydney in search of wet decks, and with another Heavy track likely to play in her favour, Elsie May should get every chance to chalk up her second win of the preparation. Next Best Race 4 – #3 Elsie May (5) 4yo Mare | T: Ciaron Maher | J: Chad Schofield (59.5kg) Bet with Bet365 Best Value at Warwick Farm: Delrico The Chris Waller barn have taken their time selecting a debut assignment for Delrico, but this two-year-old contest appears ideal. His recent barrier trial at Rosehill on June 21 couldn’t have been more impressive, cruising through the line behind Mawjood, who has already franked the form by winning on return. The colt by Kingman might find the 1200m short of his best trip here, but with an each-way price available with online bookmakers, Delrico is worth the risk first-up. Best Value Race 1 – #5 Delrico (1) 2yo Colt | T: Chris Waller | J: Rory Hutchings (56.5kg) Bet with Neds Warwick Farm Wednesday quaddie – 10/7/2024 Warwick Farm quadrella selections Wednesday, July 10, 2024 3-5 3-4-6-8 2-3-4-5-7-9 4-5-6-9-11 Horse racing tips View the full article

Trainer Anna Furlong. Photo: Race Images South Riccarton horsewoman Anna Furlong will take sole charge of the successful Champagne Racing Stables operation from the beginning of the new term. She is well prepared for the changing of the guard having trained in partnership for the last 13 years with Shane Kennedy, who has announced he will take a step back at the end of this season. “Shane has taught me all I know, having started with him fresh out of school and I owe him everything,” Furlong said. “I couldn’t be more thankful or grateful, and he will still be involved with shares in some of the horses and will maintain a huge interest in the stable, supporting me in the business and attending the sales. “Shane will always be at the end of the phone and we’ll continue to talk regularly, he’s like part of my family.” Furlong joined Kennedy in a training partnership for the 2011/12 season and they have since sent out 166 winners with 12 at stakes level. “All the Listed winners stand out, we have been fortunate to have had wonderful owners who gave us some brilliant horses,” Furlong said. “We’ve had opportunities to get black type for them and the highlight was probably when we trained a Listed double at Dunedin. “We won the Gold Cup (2400m) with Pendleton and the Guineas (1500m) with Excelleration and my first win with Rush’n Prince at Riccarton in 2012 was obviously pretty special as well. “We weren’t lucky enough to gain a Group win, but we had placings including Blue Solitaire who was third in the 1000 Guineas (Group 1, 1600m).” Furlong therefore has extensive experience to draw on when she takes over the training operation. “It is really exciting and a bit daunting, but realistically nothing will really change,” she said. “It will be a bit odd and more of an emotional thing than anything else. “All of our owners have known that Shane will be stepping back and handing over the reins and we have been really grateful for their support during this transition period.” Kennedy, who has more than 350 training successes to his credit, will now focus on his property development business in Auckland. “I will maintain a high level of interest in Champagne Racing, along with continuing a supporting role to Anna,” he said. “It’s been a wonderful two decades and working with Anna for most of this time, watching her develop her skills and establish her career as a trainer and a role that I am very excited for her to continue to excel at in her own right. “Both Anna and I are truly grateful and humbled by the support we have received from owners and supporters over the years and looking forward to pressing on into the new season at Riccarton Park with a fantastic team of young and well-performed horses.” Among the promising members of Furlong’s team for the spring will be stakes performers Betty Spaghetti, Quintabelle, Miss Layla and Lil Zena. Horse racing news View the full article

Lhasa will lineup at Cambridge on Wednesday. Photo: Kenton Wright (Race Images) Lhasa will be out to continue his unbeaten streak on Cambridge’s Synthetic track on Wednesday. The four-year-old son of Hellbent has won all three of his previous starts at the track, including a last start victory over the same distance, and trainer Mark Treweek is hoping he can keep his winning momentum going. “He is unbeaten at this stage on the synthetic, so he will go around again,” he said. “Hopefully he gets a nice run from there (barrier two). He has drawn in before there (Cambridge Synthetic) and got a nice run. “It’s probably the best field he has come across on the synthetic, so it will be an interesting race. There are a couple in there with very good form on the synthetic as well, mainly Monza, but as long as he gets a decent trip, I think he will be hard to beat. He has been working well, I am really happy with him.” All going to plan on Wednesday, Treweek is looking to head south to Awapuni’s Synthetic meeting on August 9 to try and capture the lion’s share of the $100,000 on offer in the 1400m special conditions race. “Since he has been going so well on the synthetic, we would look at one of the series races,” Treweek said. “There is one at Awapuni over 1400m that we would look to go to. He needs to run tomorrow to qualify for it. “A lot of money has been spent on putting these synthetic tracks in, I enjoy racing on them, and it is nice to see a bit of prizemoney thrown at racing on those tracks.” Following his Awapuni test, Treweek said Lhasa will likely head for a spell ahead of summer racing. “We will probably back off him a bit,” he said. “We only wanted to give him the three or four runs and then give him a bit of a break. He raced well through last summer and he is pretty handy on the grass as well.” Treweek will also head to Cambridge on Wednesday with last start placegetter Seamsew. “He is a big horse who has had a few issues with his knees, so we have tried to keep him fresh and we can’t do too much work with him,” Treweek said. “The 1000m races on the synthetic really suit him, so we just try and target those with him all the time. “He has been working well and should go a nice race. He has drawn out (9), but you have only got one bend from the 970m, so I don’t think it makes too much difference for him.” Horse racing news View the full article

Phats will remain across the Tasman after placing in his Australian debut. Photo: Peter Rubery (Race Images Palmerston North) Former Central Districts galloper Phats is set to remain in Australia following a pleasing placing in his Australian debut at Flemington on Saturday. The three-year-old son of Embellish won one and placed in four of his 12 starts in New Zealand before trainer Chrissy Bambry elected to test his talent across the Tasman. He passed with flying colours when running home for third in the Mahogany Challenge Final (2500m) and is now set to remain across the Tasman, with Bambry now on the search to find him a Melbourne-based trainer. “He was super, he had awesome sectionals that last little bit and it was just lucky that we had the faith in him. The bookies didn’t, they had written him off, but we thought he would stay all day and it was a pretty impressive performance to do that from last at Flemington,” Bambry said. “We had done a similar thing (Australian campaign) with Lord Bouzeron a few years ago and we thought he fitted the bill and that was a suitable race for him, especially for $200,000, it was definitely worth going over. “He will probably have a couple of more runs over there now. He is probably going to be better suited over there, so we will look for another trainer for him because I am pretty busy with our ones here at home.” Horse racing news View the full article

Tomodachi Kokoroe is a four-time winner in Hong Kong. Tomodachi Kokoroe is aiming crown a superb season when he steps up in distance on Wednesday night at the season’s final Happy Valley fixture. Untested beyond 1400m, Tomodachi Kokoroe has won four times over 1200m in Hong Kong for trainer David Hayes. The Written Tycoon gelding was a six-time winner in Australia pre-import, scoring over 875m, 950m (twice), 1200m, 1250m and 1400m. “We’re trying the mile. He’s had a marvellous season. I think the tempo of a mile in this class, like over the 1400 metres, is probably better suited to him than sprints,” Hayes said. Tomodachi Kokoroe attempted to make all last start at odds of +6700 with horse racing bookmakers in Class 2 over seven furlongs at Sha Tin. The five-year-old was caught late by a short-head. “I thought he’d won, really, we just got beaten on the post. It was very, very good. It’s hard to think he can go much better than he’s gone but he has proven that he can compete off his current rating (94),” Hayes said. A Class 1 winner at Happy Valley, Tomodachi Kokoroe steps away from gate four with jockey Zac Purton tomorrow night, assigned 134lb, against Helene Feeling (135lb), Outgate (131lb), Adefill (129lb), Chill Chibi (126lb), Yellowfin (126lb), Berlin Tango (125lb), Turin Mascot (117lb), Woodfire Bro (117lb) and Universal Horizon (116lb). Hayes has 47 wins this term and is looking forward to next season. “I think it’s gone pretty good. I’ve had around 48 horses for most of the season, it’s built up with the horses I am planning to run next season. I might get to 50 winners this week if I can have a couple of winners, so it’s been pretty good. “I’ve got some nice horses coming through and a potential top-line sprinter (Ka Ying Rising). I also have a lot of horses who are well rated for next season, so I have more horses and I have some well rated ones,” Hayes said. While Hayes nears the end of his 14th season in Hong Kong (across two stints), Mark Newnham is currently closing out a stellar debut campaign which has returned 31 wins from 331 runners. “I had a target in my mind of 30 wins and we got there with a couple of meetings to spare. I think it’s gone as I hoped and as I planned, I thought it would be a good second half and it has been,” Newnham said. Newnham was a long-time assistant to Gai Waterhouse in Sydney, Australia before going out on his own to net over 400 wins Down Under, including a handful at Group 1 level. “We still have a lot of untried horses in the stable. There are around 20 horses in the stable who haven’t raced in Hong Kong. I’m planning to improve and I hope the horses follow the plan, I think we’ve set ourselves up to have a good next season – we have some depth and some untried stock,” Newnham said. Newnham saddles three runners at Happy Valley, led by Youthful Spirits, who chases consecutive wins under Purton. “He’s in really good order. I gave him a gallop myself on Thursday on the grass and he was really sharp. You have to use his speed and Zac (Purton) did that the other day, so it was great,” Newnham said. The Shamus Award gelding has drawn barrier one tomorrow night. “He went fast all of the way and he ran them into the ground. His asset is his speed and that’s how you have to ride him. “He might step up to 1200 metres in the future but he’ll need to learn to use himself a little bit better throughout the early part. At the moment while there is a 1000 metre race on that’s his target,” Newnham said. Meanwhile, Pierre Ng and Francis Lui continue their trainers’ championship tussle with Ng leading by one win (67-66). Lui has entered nine runners to Ng’s eight at the Valley. Danny Shum leads the unofficial Happy Valley trainers’ championship by one win ahead of Caspar Fownes (32-31). Fownes, Hong Kong’s most successful trainer at the inner-city course, has seven chances to catch Shum. Horse racing news View the full article

Last Saturday, the final day of the Queensland Racing Carnival at the Sunshine Coast was postponed after four races, which left punters with Flemington and Randwick as the feature race meetings. In this week’s edition of The Follow Files, we have found three runners from those two meetings that are worth following in their upcoming starts and into the early weeks of spring. You can add these horses to your blackbook with your chosen bookmaker and receive notifications when they accept for their next start. Randwick Track rating: Heavy 9 (up to Heavy 8 after R3) Rail position: +3m entire circuit Race 4: Class 3 Handicap (1200m) | Time: 1:12.18 Horse to follow: Clear Thinking (1st) Clear Thinking made her metropolitan debut at Randwick last weekend and the Paul Messara & Leah Gavranich-trained mare was able to keep her undefeated record intact. The daughter of Dubawi was well-backed with online horse racing betting sites and after a few nervy moments for her followers, the race favourite saluted under Zac Lloyd. Lloyd navigated a path of the fence and picked his way through the pack before asking for the ultimate effort from his mount, and she responded with a blistering turn of foot to claim victory by a long neck on the line. When to bet: Post-race, Messara confirmed that Clear Thinking would go for a spell before returning in the spring to potentially target The Kosciuszko at the same track and trip as last weekend’s victory. Race 5: Benchmark 78 Handicap (2000m) | Time: 2:06.67 Horse to follow: Age Of Sail (3rd) Age Of Sail dropped back from Benchmark 90 grade to a Benchmark 78 last Saturday and the decision to drop in grade nearly paid off for Kris Lees and his team. The five-year-old gelding settled in the back half of the field over 2000m and in the home straight, Nash Rawiller chose to run down the outside fence in an attempt to find firmer ground. Even though this son of Frankel ran further to find the outside fence, he finished off strongly and recorded a strong third-place finish. When to bet: After two solid runs this preparation, Age Of Sail will be peaking third-up, and if Lees can find a similar race to last weekend, he will prove very hard to beat. Flemington Track rating: Soft 5 (up to Good 4 after R3) Rail position: True entire circuit Race 5: Leilani Series Final (1400m) | Time: 1:23.34 Horse to follow: Cindy Falls (1st) Cindy Falls was sent over from New Zealand to join the Lee & Shannon Hope stable in May, and since joining the Seymour-based trainers, she has run well at both starts. The five-year-old mare let down with a blistering finish at Flemington to nab Brazen Lady in the shadows of the post in the Leilani Series Final over 1400m. Dean Yendall chose to settle at the back of the field from barrier 12, before letting his mount run down the outside of the field. Cindy Falls recorded the fastest last 800m (44.81s), 600m (33.36s), and 400m (22.38s) sections of the entire meeting. When to bet: Shannon Hope confirmed post-race that Cindy Falls will stay in work and they will step her out to 1600m next start. The Rising Stars Final for fillies and mares over 1600m at Flemington on July 20 looks to be the ideal race. Top horse racing sites for blackbook features Horse racing tips View the full article

Legendary trainer backs consistent galloper to overcome barrier 10 at final city circuit meeting of the termView the full article

by Christina Bossinakis & Stefanie Grimm LEXINGTON, KY-Up until its final moments, the Fasig-Tipton July Selected Horses of Racing Age Sale unfolded much like last year's edition of the summer auction. Consistent trade throughout, but with the majority of the bidding action leaning toward the more accomplished offerings. That was until Informed Patriot (Hard Spun), a last-minute supplement to the sale, blew the doors off proceedings when drawing a $1.55-million final bid from agent Ibrahim Rachid, acting on behalf of HRH Prince Saud bin Salman Abdulaziz. “Quite a way to end a horse sale,” enthused Fasig-Tipton President and CEO Boyd Browning, Jr. “You know, it just goes to show you the magic of an auction process.” He continued, “The horse literally ran [third in the GIII Indiana Derby] Saturday. [Consignor] Taylor Made called [owners J. Kirk and Judy Robison] and Steve Asmussen and asked, either that night or Sunday morning, 'hey, would you consider adding the horse to this sale?' [Taylor Made] talked to me Sunday morning and I said 'we'll get it in.' We had to make sure we could get the horse shipped down here and he started showing this morning. He did all the vetting on the horse with pictures and walking videos and so forth. It goes to show you just what can happen when several people are in a very competitive mode to buy quality horses. It was a tremendous way to literally finish with a bang. That would be an understatement today.” According to Browning, the more fluid methods for selling horses has changed the landscape of selling in recent years, which has helped grow rewards for both buyers and sellers. “The last horse through the ring in February sold for $2 million and this was the last horse through the ring and they were both supplements, which I think shows you the evolving nature of the world that we live in,” Browning explained. “People want action. They want to have the opportunity to buy a unique piece or to buy something that's special. So obviously, we were thrilled with the last horse, but even before that, it was a day of really solid trade. A lot of activity for those horses.” When asked about the slightly scaled back catalog from last year, Browning explained, “We always had fewer horses this year. And that's a function of the success of digital sales. I think that there's a time and a place for horses. Some are better suited for digital sales and some are better suited for live sales. That's really what we're here to do, is to serve the marketplace. We're pro digital and pro live sales. I think we saw some of that magic today and I think we saw some of the magic of a digital horse sale last week.” At the end of Monday's session, the HORA figures of the 2023 edition of the sale were largely on par with this year's session, despite the smaller catalog in 2024. This year, a total of 65 horses sold for $6,708,500, averaging $103,208 and with a median of $62,000. Last term, 144 realized gross figures of $14,052,000 with an average of $97,583 and a median of $60,000. “The world's changing, people are becoming more engaged and there's more ways to reach people,” Browning said. “It wasn't just one or two people bidding on that last horse. There was significant activity above a million dollars from at least four bidders on a horse like that.” In regard to the strong participation from the international buying bench, Browning added, “[The Middle East] is an area that we've identified as having an increase in dirt racing. And the one thing that is clear is that the best dirt race horses in the world come from the United States.” Looking ahead to Tuesday's select yearling session, Browning was pragmatic. “I always go into the first yearling sale of the year with jitters,” he admitted. “The 2-year-old sales just ended and people are going to get into the yearling mindset. I think we've got a group of nice, physically conformed horses. It's a good group. We're excited to roll them through and see what happens.” He continued, “The activity on the sales grounds has been good. There's always a bit of trepidation. And there's always a bit of, frankly, fear. Fear is the greatest motivator of all. When you start off a new sales cycle, you're always worried people are going to comment and what's the attitude going to be. I think that we've seen on the sales grounds Saturday, both on race horses and yearlings, a lot of activity. I'm encouraged by today's results and look forward to the continuation of the momentum tomorrow.” Informed Patriot Brings $1.55M, To Head to Saudi Arabia As the final horse of the afternoon strode into the ring, it appeared that things would wrap up swiftly and with little fanfare. Think again. Cataloged as Hip 523, Informed Patriot (Hard Spun) certainly looked the part, however, it was likely his recent form that pushed it over the edge. With the day's action churning along at a steady pace throughout the afternoon, it was clear that something was about to happen when the 3-year-old strode into the arena. In a moment, the bidding rose at an accelerated rate, with no less than four bidders in the melee, including three Saudi Arabian groups and the price surpassed the $1-million mark in a flash. When the dust had settled, however, it was Ibrahim Rachid, the bloodstock agent representing HRH Prince Saud bin Salman Abdulaziz, who won the day, slamming the door on the others with a $1.55 million final bid. The sale represented a record figure at the July Sale. “I had told [Prince Saud] that the reserve would be around $500,000 and he asked that I get him on the phone when [the bidding] gets into that range,” explained Rachid. “He was on the phone with me the whole time. I can't bid over that amount without his permission. But he kept telling me to go. He said to go for it, don't stop at all. The Prince had been waiting for him and he got him. I looked at 20 horses and this was the only one we wanted.” Ibrahim Rashid | Fasig-Tipton Campaigned by J. Kirk and Judy Robison, the $90,000 Keeneland September yearling purchase won the Bathhouse Row Stakes earlier this spring and just this past Saturday, the Steve Asmussen trainee showed speed before finishing third in the 1 1/16-mile GIII Indiana Derby at Horsehoe Indianapolis. Winner of two of 10 starts to date, the Gainesway Thoroughbreds and Whisper Hill Farm-bred colt has earned just under $350,000 to date. “He's a good-looking horse,” Rachid said, when asked about the colt's merits. “And the prince chose him.” “He is a good, clean horse. It just so happened that two princes wanted him, so he went for that money. I just think he was the best horse in this sale.” When asked what the longer-term plan was for his latest purchase, Rachid said next year's G1 Saudi Cup would be the ultimate goal. “Of course, that will be the goal for him,” he said. “Maybe he'll be able to handle that distance over there. We will see. Good luck to him.” As for the immediate future, Rachid outlined, “The horse will go to quarantine for 35 days and then he will be sent to Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. I'll ask the prince what the plans are for him, and he might stay here for a few weeks and then we ship him to Saudi Arabia.” The connections have already reaped the rewards of this sale, paying $255,000 for a son of Quality Road at the 2022 edition of the sale. On the board in three of four U.S. starts, Scotland Yard won the 2023 Listed King's Cup and was second in that race this year for trainer Nicholas Bachalard. “The prince also bought Scotland Yard from this sale as well and we did very well,” Rachid said. “We've had success with Fasig-Tipton before, we have a very good relationship with them. So we try our very best every year to buy horses here.” —@CBossTDN Audible Colt Cats By Five To Dubai For RRR Stables Trainer Chief Stipe Watson, shopping the Fasig-Tipton July Horses of Racing Age Sale for the first time Monday, picked up 3-year-old graded-stakes placed Cats by Five (Audible) (hip 454) for $400,000 on behalf of RRR Stables, an operation owned by Sheikh Rashid bin Humaid Al Nuaimi. Consigned by Taylor Made Sales Agency, the colt is a half-brother to GIII Whitmore Stakes winner Bob's Edge (Competitive Edge) and to SW Watch Me Burn (Hold Me Back), and out of a half to GSW/MGISP Restrainedvengence (Hold Me Back), SW B G Suavecito (Suave) and GSP Latent Revenge (Latent Heat). He will be bound for Dubai after a career in America which saw him finish second in the GIII Chick Lang Stakes and third in the Bachelor Stakes just in the last three months. “Usually we buy them privately, but I'm on holiday and I said, 'I'll come down here and see,'” said Watson, standing with bloodstock agent Conor Foley, who signed the ticket. “He's a very nice horse, maybe cost a little bit more than we'd hoped, but he's very nice. He'll go into quarantine for the trip over and we'll give him about six weeks to relax after a busy season.” Chief Stipe Watson and Conor Foley | Fasig-Tipton Watson, an eight-time leading trainer in the UAE who spent several years in Dubai as an assistant to Kiaran McLaughlin, noted that the colt would be prepped for their winter racing carnival in December. “He's a 3-year-old trending [up] and hasn't stretched out yet, so who knows? I think six [furlongs] will be his game,” Watson said. Evidenced by his stakes-placed speed, Watson and Foley agreed that the colt would be a good fit in the Middle East program. “With the form that he has here, it's got to translate. You've got to have speed. He's a real nice horse, real athletic looking and I'm excited,” said Foley. Cats by Five, bred in Kentucky by Westwind Farm, brought $575,000 as a yearling at Keeneland September. He was raced by Three Chimneys Farm and trained by Steve Asmussen. Most recently second by a neck in allowance company June 21, his earnings are now over $157,000. Speaking after the sale, Mark Taylor of Taylor Made Sales was pleased to see the colt sell so well. “I think he sold well, but I also think that the buyer got a very nice horse,” Taylor said. “He ran unbelievably well last time out and, just getting beat a nose, he kept the condition. So he could've gone anywhere you want and he was also a beautiful horse on the end of the shank. He's a very, very exciting racehorse.” There was plenty of appeal for Taylor Made's owners to bring horses to the racing age sale ahead of the Fall yearling sales. “Connections think 'let's turn this horse into cash going into the yearling sales.' It's such a good jumping-off point. Buyers can look for horses to go run at Saratoga, Del Mar or Kentucky Downs, wherever you would want to go,” Taylor said. Taylor had reason to be looking forward as, in addition to hip 454 early in the session, Taylor Made also consigned the $1.55-million sales-topper Informed Patriot (Hard Spun) (hip 523) as the last hip through the ring. “The sale's been really great so far,” he said. “We've been conservative with our reserves. Sellers acknowledge that, while these horses aren't bad, they're claiming horses. And they don't want to squeeze every nickel out of them. It's up to the buyers to settle it out in the ring. I think that's a healthy way to approach it at the sales and you end up getting more anyway.” @SGrimmTDN The post ‘Magic of An Auction Process’: Fasig-Tipton Horses of Racing Age Sale Ends on a High appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Melbourne Cup winning trainer Sam Freedman. (Photo by Brett Holburt/Racing Photos) Anthony and Sam Freedman will follow a proven path with their imported mare, Place Du Carrousel, this spring. Like Without A Fight, the five-year-old mare is expected to target the Group 1 Underwood Stakes (1800m) before aiming for the Group 1 Caulfield Cup (2400m) and Group 1 Melbourne Cup (3200m), with a possible run in the Group 1 Turnbull Stakes (2000m) also on the cards. “We will go down a similar path as we did last year with Without A Fight to the Caulfield Cup with her,” Sam Freedman told Racing.com. “We are looking at her running in the Underwood Stakes but we might add in the Turnbull Stakes.” Place Du Carrousel, who won the 2022 Group 1 Prix de l’Opera (2000m) under the training of Andre Fabre in France, debuted for the Freedman partnership with a second-place finish to Via Sistina in the Group 1 Ranvet Stakes (2000m) and subsequently finished seventh behind Pride Of Jenni in the Group 1 Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2000m). Horse racing news View the full article

Munhamek ridden by Jamie Mott winning the Winter Championship Series Final at Flemington. (Photo by Brett Holburt/Racing Photos) Last weekend’s Listed Winter Championship Series Final (1600m) at Flemington saw Munhamek clinch his third consecutive victory. The eight-year-old, trained by Nick Ryan, is set to be targeted at the Group 2 PB Lawrence Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield on August 17. “He pulled up super,” Ryan confirmed the gelding’s positive post-race condition in an interview with Racing.com. “He was down at the beach this morning at Altona, he’s going to head down to Fulmen Park for the week; in the paddock and on the water walker later on in the week and then probably back next week.” The absence of Mr Brightside from the PB Lawrence Stakes has further motivated Ryan. “That certainly gives us a lot of encouragement to go there,” the trainer said. “I’m sure it will still be a strong race, but no Mr Brightside is a big help. “He’s (Munhamek) going to have that rating now where he’s going to have to go to some races like that, there’s not going to be many other options.” Horse racing news View the full article

The Phil Cole-trained Star Magnum, a six-year-old gelding by Magnus, and Darwin apprentice Emma Lines head to the gates before sealing victory at Fannie Bay on Saturday. Picture: Caroline Camilleri (Fotofinish Racepix) Trainer Phil Cole can feel optimistic in regards to future Darwin Cup Carnival success. This year’s event kicked off on Saturday at Fannie Bay, and Cole had two wins with sprinters Star Magnum, bound for the $135,000 Palmerston Sprint (1200m) on August 3, and Exceedingly Magic, with star apprentice Emma Lines as the pilot. Although three-year-olds Rhesus (third) and Bryce (fifth) finished behind He’s Maverick in the $75,000 Darwin Guineas (1600m) they were far from disgraced and have big hopes in the $135,000 NT Derby (2050m) on July 20. Star Magnum exploded from the outside gate (eight) and was in front in an open 1100m handicap within 200m before going on to win by 3.8 lengths. The six-year-old gelding, who found another gear when challenged mid-race, boasts four wins and eight minor placings from 14 starts for Cole. It was an outstanding Palmerston trial for the son of Magnus, it’s his first win since October after finishing ninth behind Early Crow in last year’s race. “He’s been going super this preparation, he showed everyone his true colours on Saturday,” Cole said. “He’s definitely going well, he’ll run in an open 1100m in a couple of weeks and then go to the Palmerston. “If he draws a bad gate, he’ll probably go to the Lightning (1000m) on Cup Day. “Last year, he drew barrier 10 (out of 12) in the Palmerston and I hadn’t nominated him for the Lightning. “It was all over when he got caught off the track the whole race. “Star Magnum has always showed potential, he’s always been in the mix at an open level since he’s been here. “Sometimes the barrier draws haven’t been great when there’s an abundance of speed. “It’s his second season here, he’s definitely adapted a lot more to the Darwin style of racing.” At one stage in the Guineas, a race Cole won last year with Tubthumper, Rhesus (Lines), the $3 favourite with online bookmakers, was eighth, while Bryce (Noel Callow) was last before the stablemates clicked into gear. “I thought Rhesus ran well, just travelled probably too well from the 600m to the 400m waiting to get a run,” Cole said. “I he could have improved and pinched a few lengths there I think he wins the race. “However, I thought he still hit the line well and I just think he’ll race a little bit closer to the front over the 2050m in a couple of weeks. “Very happy with Bryce, he hit the line solidly. “It was a very slow run Guineas and Bryce copped a lot of interference getting to the first corner. “He was actually in front of Rhesus early – he was going to settle fourth of fifth – and then got shuffled back to near last. “He’s pulled up well and I reckon he’s definitely looking for the 2050m probably more than Rhesus.” Saccharo, a likely starter in the $60,000 Chief Minister’s Cup (1600m) this weekend, remains Cole’s big hope in the $200,000 Darwin Cup (2050m) on August 5. Horse racing news View the full article

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