Wandering Eyes

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Led by Breeders' Cup winners Fierceness (City of Light) and White Abarrio (Race Day), a talented field of five will line up for Saturday's GI Metropolitan Handicap on the stacked GI Belmont Stakes program at Saratoga. TDN's Senior Racing Editor Steve Sherack takes a closer look at the pedigrees of all five of the runners entered in the stallion-making race. #1 FIERCENESS (c, 4, City of Light–Nonna Bella, by Stay Thirsty) Lifetime Record: Ch. 2yo Colt & MGISW, 10-6-1-1, $4,315,320. O-Repole Stable, Derrick Smith, Michael B. Tabor & Mrs. John Magnier; B-Repole Stable, Inc. (KY); T-Todd A. Pletcher. 'TDN Rising Star' Fierceness is one of two Grade I winners for young Lane's End stallion City of Light, winner of the GI Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile and GI Pegasus World Cup Invitational S. City of Light's sire Quality Road won the 2010 Met Mile and is also the sire of the race's 2024 winner National Treasure. Mike Repole paid $200,000 for Fierceness's second dam Nonna Mia (Empire Maker)–named in honor of his grandmother–at the 2008 Fasig-Tipton Saratoga Sale. She was a talented 2-year-old in her own right, breaking her maiden by 12 lengths at second asking at Belmont Park before finishing third to stablemate Devil May Care (Malibu Moon) in the 2009 GI Frizette Stakes. Nonna Mia, a close relative of MGSW sire Cairo Prince (Pioneerof the Nile), was an immediate hit in the breeding shed, first producing the multiple stakes-placed Nonna's Boy (Distorted Humor) before a mating with Uncle Mo resulted in Outwork, the 2016 GI Wood Memorial S. hero. Fierceness, the champion 2-year-old colt of 2023, was produced by her third foal, the 11-year-old mare Nonna Bella, a daughter of Repole's 2011 GI Travers S. hero Stay Thirsty. Nonna Bella has also produced last year's GIII Futurity S. winner Mentee (City of Light), who set a track record going five furlongs on debut at the Big A last spring. Her 2-year-old filly Nonna's Love (Caravaggio) was a debut third at Keeneland this spring. Nonna Bella is also responsible for a colt by Uncle Mo of 2024 and a filly by Curlin of this year. Legendary 1994 Met Mile winner Holy Bull is the sire of Fierceness's third dam. Hall of Fame trainer Todd Pletcher saddled the aforementioned Quality Road to a win in the 2010 Met Mile as well as 2014 winner Palace Malice. Fierceness's loaded resume includes wins in the 2023 GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile, the 2024 GI Curlin Florida Derby and GI Travers S. and a track-record setting performance in the GII Alysheba S. in his 4-year-old debut on the Kentucky Oaks undercard. He was also a too-good-to-lose second in last year's GI Breeders' Cup Classic at Del Mar. Fierceness is a perfect three-for-three at the Spa. #2 WHITE ABARRIO (h, 6, Race Day–Catching Diamonds, by Into Mischief) Lifetime Record: MGISW, 21-10-2-3, $6,971,920. O-C Two Racing Stable LLC, Gary Barber & La Milagrosa Stable LLC; B-Spendthrift Farm, LLC (KY); T-Saffie A. Joseph, Jr. Sales History: $7,500 Ylg '20 OBSWIN; $40,000 2yo '21 OBSMAR. White Abarrio, a $7,500 OBS Winter yearling turned $40,000 OBS March 2-year-old (:10 2/5), is the lone graded winner for Race Day, a MGSW son of Tapit. The mighty Tapit is the sire of Met Mile winners Flightline (2022) and Frosted (2016). White Abarrio | Sarah Andrew Race Day previously stood at Spendthrift Farm in Kentucky, but was exported to Korea prior to the 2021 season. The Spendthrift Farm-bred White Abarrio is one of 11 graded winners–two at the top level–for the all-conquering Into Mischief as a broodmare sire. The unplaced Catching Diamonds, a $425,000 Keeneland September yearling purchase by Spendthrift, produced White Abarrio as her first foal. A half to MGSW-UAE and MSW-U.S. Cool Cowboy (Kodiak Kowboy) and to the dam of GSW & GISP Mutasaabeq (Into Mischief) and GSW Eclatant (Into Mischief), she is also responsible for a 2-year-old filly by Yaupon and a Taiba colt of this year. Four-time Grade I winner White Abarrio, hero of the 2023 GI Breeders' Cup Classic at Santa Anita, has lined up in this race two previous times, finishing third downstate at Belmont in 2023 and a well-beaten fifth over this course last year. The 2023 GI Whitney S. winner is perfect in two starts this term, winning Gulfstream's GI Pegasus World Cup Invitational S. Jan. 25 and GIII Ghostzapper S. Mar. 29. #3 CASTLE CHAOS (g, 7, Palace Malice–Queen Victoria, by Flatter) Lifetime Record: MGSP, 22-3-6-5, $476,277. O-Sanford J. Goldfarb, Nice Guys Stables, Robert N. Falcone, Jr., John D. Fielding & Beast Mode Racing LLC; B-Dragon Slayer Stable (KY); T-Robert N. Falcone, Jr. We won't take too deep of a dive on the gelded Castle Chaos, a son of the race's previously mentioned 2014 winner Palace Malice, who is responsible for six graded/group winners worldwide. A longshot fourth in this race last year, Castle Chaos will be a huge price once again this weekend following a fourth-place finish in the Knicks Go Overnight S. at Churchill Downs May 3. He's been a fantastic claim by trainer Rob Falcone and owner Sandy Goldfarb, who dropped a $75,000 slip on him out of a runner-up effort on debut at Saratoga back in 2021. #4 JUST A TOUCH (c, 4, Justify–Touching Beauty, by Tapit) Lifetime Record: GISP, 7-3-3-0, $440,778. O-Qatar Racing LLC, Resolute Racing & Marc Detampel; B-Don Alberto Corporation (KY); T-Brad H. Cox. Sales History: $170,000 RNA Ylg '22 KEESEP; $125,000 Ylg '22 FTKOCT; $300,000 2yo '23 OBSAPR. Just a Touch is a son of 2018 Triple Crown winner Justify, already the sire of eight top-level winners worldwide. He was produced by the Tapit mare Touching Beauty, winner of the 2010 GIII Comely Stakes at Aqueduct and an $800,000 Keeneland November purchase by Don Alberto in 2014. Her first foal was the stakes-placed gelding Corps of Discovery (Unbridled's Song). She has a 2024 Mandaloun colt and a 2025 Justify filly in the pipeline. Leading sire Tapit has also achieved a tremendous amount of success as a broodmare sire, led by Horse of the Year and 2023 Met Mile winner Cody's Wish (Curlin) and 2023 GI Belmont Stakes winner Arcangelo (Arrogate). The Justify x Tapit cross has also produced Champions Dream, one of 24 graded/group winners for Justify. After RNA'ing for $170,000 as a Keeneland September yearling, the Don Alberto-bred Just a Touch brought $125,000 from Scanlon Training & Sales as a Fasig-Tipton Kentucky Fall yearling, then $300,000 from Hunter Valley Farm's Fergus Galvin, who serves as an U.S. advisor to co-owner Qatar Racing's Sheikh Fahad, after breezing in a bullet :9 4/5 as an OBS April 2-year-old. Just a Touch, a fantastic second behind subsequent Breeders' Cup Classic winner and 'TDN Rising Star' Sierra Leone (Gun Runner) in last year's GI Blue Grass S., kicked off his 4-year-old campaign with a pair of jaw-dropping allowance wins at Fair Grounds Mar. 1 and Keeneland Apr. 19. #5 RAGING TORRENT (c, 4, Maximus Mischief–Violent Wave, by Violence) Lifetime Record: GISW-US & GSW-UAE, 13-6-1-2, $1,247,400. O-Yuesheng Zhang & Craig Dado; B-Rodney J. Winkler & Alfonso Mazzetti (KY); T-Chief Stipe F. O'Neill. Sales History: $27,000 RNA Ylg '22 KEESEP; $75,000 2yo '23 OBSAPR. Raging Torrent, winner of the GI Malibu S. at Santa Anita Dec. 26 and G2 Godolphin Mile at Meydan Apr. 5, is one of three graded winners and the first top-level winner for Maximus Mischief, a Spendthrift-based son of Into Mischief. He is the lone starter from his winning dam Violent Wave (Violence), who was claimed by Equinox, Inc. for just $6,250 out of her career finale at Gulfstream Park in 2018. Raging Torrent | Sarah Andrew Violent Wave, a $150,000 KEESEP yearling and a half-sister to GSW The Nth Degree (Distorted Humor), was offered with Raging Torrent in utero at the 2021 Keeneland January Sale, but was led out unsold on a bid of $27,000. Raging Torrent was himself bought back for the same price by breeders Rodney Winkler and Alfonso Mazzetti at Keeneland September in 2022, and it was Mark Davis's name (Steve Rothblum, agent) on the ticket when he fetched $75,000 at the 2023 OBS April Sale (:10). The first daughter of Violence to produce a Grade I winner, Violent Wave is also the dam of the unraced 3-year-old colt Contra Mundum (Honor A.P.), a $55,000 RNA at KEESEP in 2023, and the 2-year-old filly Layan (Collected), a $47,000 KEENOV weanling. Violent Wave was bought back for $575,000 in foal to Up to the Mark at the 2024 KEENOV sale. The post Pedigree Power: Fierceness, White Abarrio Top Field of Five for Stallion-Making Met Mile appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

The 22nd New Vocations All-Thoroughbred Charity Horse Show Presented by Heider Family Stables raised over $184,000, according to a press release from the organization. Proceeds from the event go directly to support New Vocations' efforts to rehab, retrain and rehome retiring racehorses. New Vocations' annual show brought together over 150 retired Thoroughbred racehorses from 14 different states, showcasing the versatility of the breed. Both familiar faces and new exhibitors competed in a variety of classes, including dressage, hunter, jumper, in-hand, Western, and pleasure. New additions to this year's show included an Adult Lead Line Class, Egg and Spoon and Ride-a-Buck classes, and In-Hand Invitational Championship. “New Vocations is proud to have launched the first all-Thoroughbred horse show in the country. It's been incredibly rewarding to watch the event grow and become a key part of our mission to showcase the Thoroughbred's versatility while generating critical funds for our program,” said Anna Ford, New Vocations' Thoroughbred Program Director. “We're deeply grateful for the generosity of our sponsors–many of whom are Thoroughbred owners, breeders, and industry organizations. Their continued support allows us to host a meaningful and successful show year after year.” Show highlights included: – The premiere of an In-Hand Invitational Championship class, won by Radiant Child (Ire), owned by Jean Bickley. – Competitive and well-attended War Horse classes, all of which were sponsored by 100% Racing. – The crowd favorite Open Hunter Derby, won by Atticus, owned by Annabelle Axinn and ridden by Mandy Lynch. At the show's exhibitor party, New Vocations presented several Thoroughbred Specialty Awards recognizing the following entrants: – Oldest Thoroughbred competing–Mr. O.E. owned by Denise Talley, born on 5/13/2001. – Youngest Thoroughbred competing–Briny Breezes, owned by Zoey Faulkner, born on 4/11/2022. – Thoroughbred sold for the highest price at auction–New Vocations graduate Greyes Creek, owned by Amanda Tucker, sold for $850,000 at the OBSMAR 2YO Sale in 2018. – Thoroughbred with the most career starts–King's House, owned by Lara Anderson, with 119 starts. – Thoroughbred with the highest earnings–Twisted Tom, owned by Paul Smith, with $939,135. – Highest Speed Figure–New Vocations graduate Diamond Bachelor, owned by Alison Andrews, with an Equibase speed figure of 115. – Lowest Speed Figure–tie between Dogster, owned by Camden McGlamery, and Around the Moon, owned by Terry Jones, both with Equibase speed figures of 2. – The most recently raced Thoroughbred–Lautrec, owned by Paige Gifford, raced on 3/3/25. Dates and additional details for the 2026 New Vocations All-Thoroughbred Charity Horse Show will be available at newvocations.org/events and on New Vocations' social media channels as they become available. The post New Vocations All-Thoroughbred Charity Show Raises Over $180,000 appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Kentucky Downs will debut a new sports book at The Mint Gaming Hall Kentucky Downs–the home of the historical racing entertainment complex, in Franklin, Kentucky, according to a press release from Circa Sports, the operators of the site. The new 21-and-over venue will feature an 80-foot-wide LED screen, a 31-foot-wide odds board and over 5,100 square feet of space. “After operating in Kentucky for a year, introducing a sports book of this caliber to the region marks a significant milestone for Circa Sports,” said Derek Stevens, CEO of Circa Sports. “Along with Kentucky, we're also seeing tremendous excitement from fans in Tennessee–especially in Nashville. Together with The Mint, we're creating a high-tech betting destination that will bring a new level of live-viewing excitement for customers across both states.” Fans at Circa Sports's new state-of-the-art book can enjoy: 80-Foot Viewing Experience: Fans can watch all the game-day action on an 80-foot-wide LED screen, complete with a 31-foot-wide odds board displaying real-time lines and updates. Premium Seating Options: Guests can relax in comfort in one of 113 stadium-style seats, luxury recliners or three tiers of booth-style seating. Flexible Betting Access: The Circa Sports Kentucky sports book will feature five staffed betting stations, including an ADA-accessible station, and four self-service kiosks. Three self-service kiosks will be located within The Mint Kentucky Downs casino for convenience. Live Broadcast Studio: A VSiN (Vegas Stats & Information Network) broadcast studio will be housed within the book, where live on-air talent, analysis and game-day content will be captured daily. Founded in Las Vegas, VSiN provides coverage across major sports through broadcasts, podcasts and digital content, all designed to inform and empower the betting audience. Johan Mirkovic, The Mint Gaming Hall Kentucky Downs' vice president and general manager said, “The Circa Sports Book adds yet more amenities for our guests enjoying The Mint Gaming Hall's gambling, entertainment and dining options. This region, spanning the Kentucky-Tennessee border, is a true sports enthusiast's haven. The upcoming Circa Sportsbook will elevate the experience, offering the area's premier viewing venue for all your favorite sporting events–no matter where you are.” Click here to watch the video with The Mint Gaming Hall Kentucky Downs's Johan Mirkovic and The Mint properties' co-director of marketing John Wholihan. The post Kentucky Downs To Open Region’s Largest Sports Book At The Mint Kentucky Downs appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Named a 'TDN Rising Star' for her Churchill debut Apr. 30 in which she became Yaupon's first winner, SASSY C W (f, 2, Yaupon–Sassy Miss Sue, by Tiznow) also became her sire's first black-type winner in gate-to-wire fashion in the Astoria Stakes. A step slow from the gate, it was only a matter of strides before the 2-5 favorite was on the lead and not for catching, coming home under wraps under a motionless Jared Loveberry to stay perfect in her young career. Lifetime Record: 2-2-0-0. O-Patricia's Hope LLC and Wilson, Carolyn; B-Harun Kahraman; T-Larry Rivelli. Sales History: $30,000 wlg '23 KEENOV, $190,000 ylg '24 KEESEP, $375,000 2yo OBSMAR '25 Sassy C W ($2.90) blows the break and then blazes home in the Astoria Stakes under jockey @jareth16. The 2-year-old daughter of @spendthriftfarm Stallion Yaupon is now 2-for-2 for trainer Larry Rivelli. pic.twitter.com/nScYk4lfDq — TwinSpires Racing (@TwinSpires) June 5, 2025 The post ‘Rising Star’ Sassy C W Much The Best In The Astoria appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Marc Chan's homebred G2 Golden Fleece Stakes winner Green Impact (Wootton Bassett), who defeated G1 Derby favourite Delacroix twice last year, went postward for Thursday evening's Listed Irish Stallion Farms EBF Glencairn Stakes at Leopardstown returning off a G1 2000 Guineas sixth and bounced back in style to claim a second black-type success in the nine-furlong contest. The 11-8 favourite asserted for an early advantage and set an even tempo through halfway. Holding sway throughout, he was driven to subdue TDN Rising Star Azada (Siyouni) approaching the final furlong and found extra to withstand the late challenge of Currawood (Acclamation) by a half-length in game fashion. Azada finished three lengths adrift in third. Green Impact is the first of two foals and lone performer out of a half-sister to multiple Group-placed G2 Flying Five second Alphabet (Lawman) and the stakes-winning duo Mirage (Oasis Dream) and Amnesia (Invincible Spirit). Amnesia, in turn, is the dam of multiple stakes winner St Anthony (Noble Mission). The January-foaled bay's second dam Applauded (Royal Applause) is a half-sister to dual Group 1-winning sire Power (Oasis Dream), GI E P Taylor Stakes heroine Curvy (Galileo) and G2 Ribblesdale Stakes victrix Thakafaat (Unfuwain). Green Impact, whose fourth dam is Group 3-winning matriarch Glatisant (Rainbow Quest), is kin to a yearling colt by Siyouni. Green Impact back in business @LeopardstownRC @Jessica_Racing pic.twitter.com/2pa5rfHoSa — Racing TV (@RacingTV) June 5, 2025 The post Wootton Bassett’s Green Impact Digs Deep for Glencairn Triumph, Punches Irish Derby Ticket appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

2nd-Saratoga, $100,000, Msw, 6-5, 3yo/up, f/m, 1 1/16mT, 1:42.25, fm, 4 lengths. CURLIN'S ANGEL (f, 4, Curlin–Sabrina's Angel, by Scat Daddy), dismissed at 15-1 in this belated debut, was away slowly from her outside post, but recovered quickly and rushed up to midpack before being taken in hand to settle near the back of the field through pedestrian splits. Tipped out three wide approaching the stretch, she exploded down the lane and soared home four lengths in front. Favored Time Stone (American Pharoah) got a head in front of Key Actress (Mo Town) to be second. The winner is a half-sister to Mischievous Angel (Into Mischief), SP, $261,050 and has a weanling half-brother by Practical Joke. Sabrina's Angel is a half-sister to GI Florida Derby winner Audible (Into Mischief). Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV. Lifetime Record: 1-1-0-0, $55,000. O-Parkland Thoroughbreds; B-Parkland Thoroughbreds (KY); T-Jorge R. Abreu. WHAT A DEBUT The 4-year-old Curlin's Angel ($32.60) swallows up and destroys the field in race 2 at Belmont at Saratoga under jockey @DavisJockey for trainer Jorge Abreu. pic.twitter.com/Dn6bcjoFtP — TwinSpires Racing (@TwinSpires) June 5, 2025 The post First-Time Starter Curlin’s Angel Blows By Late In Stylish Debut appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

2nd-SAR, 100K, Msw, 3yo/up, f, 7f, 12:16 p.m. RESURGE (Constitution) is the latest offspring to the races for Juddmonte out of the champion mare Close Hatches who has already produced this runner's three-quarter Tapit siblings–Tacitus, 'TDN Rising Star' Scylla and Batten Down. Close Hatches herself is a full-sister to SW/MGISP Lockdown who has found success as a broodmare as well by producing dual champion mare Idiomatic (Curlin). The blue-blooded family also includes G1 Tattersalls Irish Two Thousand Guineas victor Siskin (First Defence). Amongst those lined up to oppose her is Endorse (Curlin), a $375,000 Repole Stable purchase out of KEESEP in 2023 who is a half-sister to SW/MGSP Jace's Road (Quality Road). She joins Lost Horizon (Into Mischief) for Peter Brant, a daughter of Chilean Horse of the Year Wow Cat (Chi) who came to White Birch Farm for $1.7m from FTKNOV in 2019. They join the rail-drawn Godolphin homebred Ragtime (Union Rags), a half-sister to GSW Snowbell (Tapit). TJCIS PPS 1st-CD, 120K, Msw, 2yo, f, 4 1/2f, 12:45 p.m. One the juvenile front, Spa Prospector (Authentic) sold for $450,000 at KEESEP last year and is a half-sister to both GISP Alys Beach (Omaha Beach) and MSP Praying (Vekoma). This is also the family of GSW Hidden Connection (Connect) who went Spendthrift's way for $1.5m at KEENOV last year. TJCIS PPS The post Friday Insights: Daughter Of Close Hatches Leads Loaded Saratoga Maiden Field appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

The Florida-bred filly MYTHICAL (f, 2, St. Patrick's Day–Lailoni, by Brethren) took it right to the boys from the first jump out of the gate to wire the field in a stylish Tremont Stakes victory to open the Thursday card at the Belmont at Saratoga meet. An impressive 8 1/2-length winner on debut facing her own gender at Gulfstream, the Arindel homebred ran this field off their feet and took Blinging It Back (Volatile) gate to wire over the 5 1/2 furlongs in a final time of 1:03.57. Lifetime Record: 2-2-0-0. O/B-Arindel; T-Jorge Delgado. MYTHICAL with an impressive victory in the Tremont Stakes to kick things off on Day 2 of the @BelmontStakes Racing Festival. The daughter of St Patrick's Day broke on top and never looked back wiring the field for trainer Jorge Delgado and jockey Emisael Jaramillo. pic.twitter.com/UHzSV5h5nN — NYRA Bets (@NYRABets) June 5, 2025 The post Mythical Romps Over The Boys In The Tremont appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

The number of race days was higher and so was wagering compared to a year ago in May, according to information released by Equibase on Thursday. Total wagering of $1,445,615,184 on races during the month represented a 2.97% increase over the same period from 2024, while available purses of over $122 million were lower by 1.56%. The figure of over $118 million for paid purses in May was also down by 1.45%. As for the total number of race days, they increased from 359 to 365 (+1.67%) and the number of U.S. races was lower from 2,958 in May 2024 to last month's tally of 2,933 (-0.85%). Average field size in May was down a tick from over a year ago when it was 7.10, and checked in at an average of 7.09 runners, a slight decrease of 0.14%. Average daily wagering increased by 1.28% to $3,960,590, but the average available purse number per race day was down 3.18% to $336,247 from the figure of $347,292 in 2024. When it comes to the year-to-date figures, through May of 2024 wagering on U.S. races came in at $4.920 billion, while this year the amount is $4.829 billion (-1.85%). Those numbers include worldwide commingled wagering on U.S. races. The post May Economic Indicators: Wagering Up Over More Race Days appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Maryland's Fair Hill Training Center will replace its seven-furlong Tapeta Footings track this summer, an upgrade from one of the synthetic surface's earliest installations to the company's newest iteration Tapeta 13. Work is slated to begin in mid-July and take approximately six weeks, depending on weather and other factors. Fair Hill, home to approximately 700 Thoroughbred racehorses in 18 privately owned barns, was founded in 1983 with a seven-furlong wood-chip track and upgraded to include a one-mile dirt track shortly thereafter. The wood chips were replaced 19 years ago with Tapeta, a synthetic training surface consisting of silica sand, wax and fibers created by former trainer Michael Dickinson, who established Tapeta Footings in 2005. Funds acquired via condominium fees, state grants and a business loan will pay for the project. “It's been a 2 1/2-year project,” said Buddy Jones, co-owner of two barns on the property and spearheaded the funding effort. “A lot of people did a lot of work to get here, and we're excited about the future. Fair Hill has a big economic impact in Cecil County and the state, and that was an important point to keep in mind. We're grateful to the barn owners, the state of Maryland, Tapeta Footings and everyone who helped make this a reality.” Construction steps will include removal of the existing footing, a thorough examination of and repairs to the porous asphalt base, blending of the new material on site and finally installation of the new surface on the same footprint inside the dirt oval. Unlike the nearly black Tapeta 1, the new version is lighter in color and does not use rubber as part of the formula. “The Tapeta has held up well and we've been pleased with it, but we felt it was time to replace it,” said trainer Graham Motion, a Fair Hill barn owner and a member of the association board. “We breezed a lot of good horses on that track. We're excited about it. It will be one more piece to training at Fair Hill.” The Tapeta replacement also comes with the recent re-opening of the Fair Hill turf course for training on state-owned property adjacent to the training center. The one-mile course, rebuilt and redesigned in 2019-20. “I think it's spectacular,” Motion said of the turf. “It will be great to have it when we're replacing the Tapeta, but I think it's genuinely exciting for Fair Hill as a whole. To add access to that to everything else here is great. It's already a great place to train horses and it's getting better.” The post Fair Hill Training Center to Upgrade Tapeta Surface appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

The Kick Up team in Australia has launched a new Breeding Hub to tackle misinformation head-on, following the public backlash after the death of Black Caviar last year when much of what was shouted about the breeding industry was said to be incorrect. “We saw, very aggressively and loudly, possibly for the first time, that there was a lot of criticism towards the breeding industry, and a heck of a lot of misinformation came along with that,” said Nathan Skrivanic of Kick Collective, who is part of the Kick Up team that spearheaded the effort to put together the hub. “When the particularly controvsial ABC article came out, we had a lot of people calling asking Kick Up to help address the lies that were being told. However, all our work needs to be anchored with real information – stats and science – and we'd created that for racing only. It became clear that a resource to correctly communicate about the complexities of breeding, simplified in a way the public could understand, was also very urgently needed.” The Breeding Hub breaks down the information into four sections, focusing on foaling, broodmares, raising and weaning foals, and the process of conception itself. Each section contains several blogs that go more in-depth into relevant topics. Kick Up relies on sponsorships to put resources together, while Kick Collective doubles the impact by matching sponsors with in-kind resources. Skrivanic credits international thoroughbred owner Rick Gold, recipient of the 2024 Thoroughbred Owners of California's Ed Friendly Industry Service Award, for his regular contributions to the organisation. “Rick has fallen in love with the Australian industry, and despite actually being based in California, he is our biggest sponsor. His generosity has provided the base funds to ensure we can keep ticking over each year,” Skrivanic added. The project has also received widespread support from across the industry, including hefty donations from Godolphin Australia, Thoroughbred Racehorse Owners Association and OTI Racing, amongst others, and collaboration with the New Zealand Thoroughbred Breeders' Association. For more information about Kick Up's Breeding Hub, click here. The post New Breeding Hub Launched on Kick Up Platform appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Fasig-Tipton has catalogued 261 selected yearlings for The July Sale, to be held Tuesday, July 8, at Newtown Paddocks in Lexington, Kentucky. The sale will begin at 10 AM. To view the catalog, click here. “We are excited to lead off yearling sales season with a quality catalogue of precocious, selected yearlings,” said Fasig-Tipton President Boyd Browning. “July continues to be at the top of all major North American yearling sales in a variety of performance statistics. It's a sale all yearling buyers need to focus on or risk missing major opportunities.” The sale's graduates include Chancer McPatrick, winner of last year's GI Hopeful S. and GI Champagne S. and Carson's Run, who captured last year's GI Saratoga Derby Invitational S. The sale is also responsible for GSWs Black Forza, Chop Chop, Federal Judge, Maysam, Non Compliant, Shisospicy, Taking Candy and Three Technique. The sale opens with the Freshman Sire Showcase (Hips 1-94), highlighting the offspring of first-crop yearling sires. “This year's crop of Freshman sires is a very exciting group, and they are well represented by some outstanding individuals in July,” noted Browning. “There is also a great mix of proven sires as well, making this a very attractive catalogue.” Nominations are also now open for the July Selected Horses of Racing Age sale, which will be held immediately following the conclusion of the yearling sale, Tuesday, July 8. Fasig-Tipton will accept nominations up until sale time; however, to be included in the catalogue's initial release, entries should be finalized by June 13. The July Sale catalogue will also be available via the equineline sales catalogue app. Print catalogues will be available by June 9. The post 261 Yearlings on Offer, Catalogue for The July Sale Available Online appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Colloquial (Vekoma), the 6-1 fourth choice on the morning line for Saturday's Grade I $500,000 Woody Stephens at Saratoga, will be withdrawn from the race, according to his trainer, George Weaver. “Since his last breeze, he hasn't been moving on the track to our satisfaction,” said Weaver. “He's been jogging and galloping but just not moving one-hundred percent. He's not hitting the ground the way we would like. We don't have time to get really concrete diagnosis done (before the race). We're going to get it done, but we don't feel he should run this weekend.” Weaver was asked if he was disappointed in the turn of events. “He is one of the most talented horses I have ever had,” Weaver said. “We have been looking forward to this race for a long time. It's a disappointment, but I have been doing this long enough that I have been disappointed before and I can take it. He's one of the best horses I have ever trained. He reminds me a lot of his sire, Vekoma.” Owned by Harrell Ventures LLC and Starlight Racing, the three-year-old Colloquial has won both of his 2025 starts, an Aqueduct maiden special weight on February 7 , and Keeneland's Lafayette Stakes on April 7. He was second in his debut on June 15, 2024 at Aqueduct, before an eight-month absence from the races. The post Colloquial Out of Woody Stephens appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

For so long now we have been used to the Galileo factor at Epsom, and while none of his final small crop of 13 has made the line-up for the Derby or the Oaks, we still find his name all over the place on the pages of this year's runners, merely starting to shuffle back a bit in the generation game. Galileo's sons Frankel, Australia and Circus Maximus each have at least one runner in the Derby, and Frankel and Australia also have Oaks runners. Eight of the 19 Derby runners and seven of the nine fillies in the Oaks have a dose of Galileo blood. The more significant influence is of course Galileo's dam, Urban Sea, who, through her other Derby-winning son Sea The Stars, can be found in the pedigrees of 19 of the 28 runners in the two Epsom Classics, and in the case of Nightime Dancer and Tuscan Hills she is there twice, top and bottom. Sea The Stars has two Derby runners – Sea Scout and The Lion In Winter – both bred by his own breeder, the Tsui family's Sunderland Holding. His son Affinisea is the sire of Al Wasl Storm, and Sea The Stars is the broodmare sire of two runners in the Derby and Qilin Queen in the Oaks. What must be acknowledged is the increasing influence of Dubawi through a range of his sons. No fewer than four of those – New Bay, Too Darn Hot, Night Of Thunder, and Ghaiyyath – account for six Derby runners, while Dubawi is himself represented by Delacroix. It is a particularly noteworthy achievement for Ghaiyyath to have his first-crop sons Stanhope Gardens and Nightime Dancer in the Derby field, Ghaiyyath himself being out of Galileo's first ever Classic winner back in 2006, Nightime. Dubawi of course provided last year's Oaks winner, Ezeliya, and is the broodmare sire of 2021 Derby winner Adayar. Of the Derby sires for this year's race, only Frankel, Sea The Stars and Justify have sired a previous winner: Adayar, Harzand and City Of Troy respectively. Frankel has also supplied two Oaks winners in Anapurna and Soul Sister, while one of the early top-liners for Sea The Stars was his Oaks-winning daughter Taghrooda. The late Deep Impact has been represented at Epsom by Derby winner Auguste Rodin and Oaks winner Snowfall, and Deep Impact's son Study Of Man has a runner in each Classic this weekend: Rogue Impact and Revoir. Aside from Coolmore and Godolphin, the only other breeder to be represented in the Derby and the Oaks is Annemarie O'Brien, with Tennessee Stud and Wemightakedlongway. Both are trained by her son Joseph, and in the case of the latter, the filly's sire Australia was also ridden by Joseph O'Brien to win the Derby, trained of course by his father and Annemarie's husband, Aidan. Some family. BETFRED DERBY Al Wasl Storm Affinisea – Dearborn (Martaline) Breeder: Gavin Wallace Yes, on the face of it, Affinisea, who ran only twice at four and five, and whose best winner to date is the Grade 2-winning hurdler Hollygrove Cha Cha, shouldn't really have a runner in the Derby. But when you frame it differently, and consider that the stallion is by Derby winner Sea The Stars and a half-brother to Irish Derby winner Soldier Of Fortune (by Galileo) then it starts to look a lot less unusual. Al Wasl Storm, a €7,000 purchase at the Tattersalls Ireland November National Hunt Foal Sale, is his unraced dam's first offspring. The mare's family is pretty short on black type, but he will certainly see out the trip while others may fall short. He coped readily with the tight turns of Chester when making all to win his maiden there in May, and he had a spin around Epsom in last week's gallops morning, but will need to show significant progress. Al Wasl Storm is one of two runners for Ahmad Al Shaikh | John Hoy Damysus Frankel – Legerete (Rahy) Breeder: Newsells Park Stud & Merry Fox Stud The Dante runner-up was also present for Epsom's Derby gallops morning last week and looked right at home on the track at a click below racing pace. We know Frankel can get a good one at just about any distance, and Legerete was herself a Group 2 winner over 1m4f who has produced two Listed winners over a mile among her eight winners. The extended family also includes Arc runner-up Aventure and Prix Saint-Alary second Audubon Park. Legerete is now 21 but has a colt on the ground this year by Classic sire Nathaniel, and is back in foal to him. This colt is at least named to succeed as, in Greek mythology, Damysus was said to be the fastest giant, and his name translates to 'conqueror'. Delacroix Dubawi – Tepin (Bernstein) Breeder: Tepin Syndicate Tepin, an $8 million purchase at Fasig-Tipton's November Sale, and a winner at the Breeders' Cup and Royal Ascot among her 13 triumphs, died two years ago at the age of 12 and her loss is looking increasingly lamentable. Her third foal, Grateful, a daughter of Galileo, won last season's G1 Prix de Royallieu and now her final foal Delacroix is co-favourite for the Derby. He has romped through two Derby trials in Ireland over 10f and while the extra two furlongs are a step into the unknown, there is cause for hope that he will take it in his stride. Green Storm Circus Maximus – Banimpire (Holy Roman Emperor) Breeder: Banimpire Syndicate Ahmad Al Shaikh has pulled off the feat of having two Derby runners bought collectively for €19,000, for this colt was a €12,000 Goffs Orby purchase and is now rated 107, having won at Yarmouth last September before placing at G1 and G2 level. Admittedly, the G1 Criterium de Saint-Cloud featured only three runners, the winner being Tennessee Stud, and those first two home will line up for the Derby. Green Storm is from the first crop of Circus Maximus, who now resides solely in New Zealand at Windsor Park Stud after three seasons of shuttling between there and Coolmore in Ireland. His dam Banimpire was a classy racemare, winning the G2 Ribblesdale and being beaten a short-head by Blue Bunting to finish second in the Irish Oaks. She's a half-sister to the dam of Melbourne Cup winner Twilight Payment and is out of the 1m4f Listed winner My Renee. Lambourn Australia – Gossamer Wings (Scat Daddy) Breeder: Coolmore His dam was beaten a short-head when second in the G2 Queen Mary Stakes and appeared averse to racing beyond 5f, but Australia has done plenty of lifting here when it comes to stamina and Lambourn is already proven at the trip, having beaten Lazy Griff in the Chester Vase. Gossamer Wings is one of 10 winners for her dam Lavender Baby, four of which earned black type in America, including her full-sister, the Zia Park Oaks (9f) winner Lavender Chrissie. Lazy Griff Protectionist – Linarda (Rock Of Gibraltar) Breeder: Gestut Westerberg If Lazy Griff defies his long odds to win, he would be the first Derby winner since 1906 to be sired by a Melbourne Cup winner after Spearmint, by Carbine. Bred at Gestut Westerberg, outside Frankfurt, by Peter and Aline Rodde, he was bought as a yearling at BBAG for €75,000 and is a full-brother to the G3 Bavarian Classic winner Lambo. Their Danish-bred dam won the Swiss 1,000 Guineas. This trip will be no problem. Midak Footstepsinthesand – Minya (Sinndar) Breeder: Aga Khan Studs In a year in which the late Aga Khan is honoured at Epsom, it is not only good to see his operation with a Derby runner in the supplemented Midak, but also fitting that the G2 Prix Greffulhe winner is out of a mare by Sinndar, the Derby hero of 2000. Minya had plenty of stamina herself, twice winning over 1m6f, and her dam Minatlya, is a sister to the high-class stayer Manighar, a treble Group 1 winner in Australia. This unbeaten colt is an intriguing addition to the race and certainly should not be overlooked, especially when considering the excellent form of his trainer Francis Graffard. New Ground New Bay – Gaining (American Post) Breeder: Juddmonte Farms The second of the French supplementary entries, New Ground is the second foal of his dam, who won the G3 Prix Fille de l'Air before earning further black type in America. Stamina doesn't appear to be a concern, as the colt was pitched straight in over 1m2f for his juvenile debut, which he won. He may well appreciate the rain which is likely to fall over the next few days at Epsom. Nightime Dancer Ghaiyyath – Stella d'Italia (Sea The Stars) Breeder: GCE Farm Not only inbred to Urban Sea 4×3 through Galileo and Sea The Stars, Nightime Dancer also has the same repetition of Colorado Dancer in his pedigree through the colt's paternal great grandsire Dubai Millennium and his half-sister Ragsah, the dam of Stella d'Italia. Proven over the distance but will need to take another big step forward. Nightwalker and Damysus at the Epsom gallops morning | John Hoy Nightwalker Frankel – Sleep Walk (Oasis Dream) Breeder: Juddmonte Farms As discussed in this week's Seven Days, this is a family in the news of late, with Sleep Walk's half-sisters Suffused and Alienate appearing over the weekend as the dams of group winners Sunly and Estrange. Another half-sibling of Sleep Walk is Logician, the winner of the St Leger in 2019 and also by Frankel, making him a close relation of this colt. Bated Breath and Cityscape also feature in the family. Pride Of Arras New Bay – Parnell's Dream (Oasis Dream) Breeder: Mr & Mrs David Aykroyd The Dante winner impressed many on only his second start and another furlong and a half should be within his grasp. His dam won over a mile and a half, and her dam is a sister to the St Leger winner Brian Boru (Sadler's Wells), while Derby and Arc winner Workforce is also a family member. Rogue Impact Study Of Man – Just So (Galileo) Breeder: Eric Chen Yet another winner of the St Leger pops up in this family as Rogue Impact's dam Just So is a once-raced half-sister to Mukhadram, their dam Magic Tree being a half-sister to Godolphin's 2009 winner of the final Classic, Mastery. Rogue Impact beat Al Wasl Storm when breaking his maiden over this trip at Lingfield in April but was later last of the six runners in the Derby Trial back at that track. He clearly has ability and stamina, and he is bred along very similar lines to 2023 winner Auguste Rodin, but this is likely to overface him at the stage of his career. Ruling Court Justify – Inchargeofme (High Chaparral) Breeder: Nursery Place, Manfuso & Wilhite The 2,000 Guineas winner is by the sire of last year's Derby winner out of a mare by the 2002 winner and hails from the same Inchmurrin family as The Lion In Winter. Grade III-placed in America, Inchargeofme is a sister to G1 Racing Post Trophy runner-up Johann Strauss and is a granddaughter of the Listed Ballymacoll Stud Stakes winner Incheni. Sea Scout Sea The Stars – We Do Xin (Shamardal) Breeder: Sunderland Holding Already a winner over course and distance in the Blue Riband Trial, Sea Scout's pedigree holds further Epsom claims in that his granddam Moonshadow is a full-sister to Lordship Stud's Oaks winner Love Divine, later the dam of St Leger winner Sixties Icon. His dam was unraced but has already produced an Australian Listed winner from an earlier mating to Sea The Stars. Stanhope Gardens Ghaiyyath – Pure Art (Dutch Art) Breeder: Tulpark Ltd He's yet to go beyond a mile but there is reason to hope that Stanhope Gardens will cope with the step up. His Barnett-bred dam Pure Art may be by a sprinter but she won over 1m2f herself and is a half-sister to Godolphin's Romsdal, who was third in the Derby and runner-up in the St Leger. Their granddam is the Irish and Yorkshire Oaks winner Pure Grain. Tennessee Stud Wootton Bassett – In My Dreams (Sadler's Wells) Breeder: Mrs Annemarie O'Brien Could Wootton Bassett collect a third Classic of the season? Tennessee Stud was a Group 1 winner over 1m2f on heavy ground last year and has been in action just once this year when third to Delacroix in the Leopardstown Derby Trial. His dam made no impact in two starts but is a Sadler's Wells half-sister to the great Rock Of Gibraltar. The Lion In Winter Sea The Stars – What A Home (Lope De Vega) Breeder: Sunderland Holding Like Ruling Court, he is from the family of Inchinor, and his dam was a 94-rated mile-and-half winner and half-sister to the Irish Oaks runner-up Venus De Milo. He'll need to settle better than he did at York but stamina shouldn't be an issue. Tornado Alert Too Darn Hot – Bint Almatar (Kingmambo) Breeder: Godolphin Fourth in the 2,000 Guineas behind Ruling Court, he's a half-brother to the G1 Metropolitan winner Just Fine (Sea The Stars). His dam won over a mile and is a half-sister to the classy Master Of The Seas, who was just touched off in the Guineas and later won the Breeders' Cup Mile. Bit of a stamina question mark. Tuscan Hills Night Of Thunder – Taqleed (Sea The Stars) Breeder: John Richard Wheeler Oaks winners as his second and third dams should help his cause, as does having the Derby-winning half-brothers Sea The Stars and Galileo in the second and third generations of his pedigree. Taqleed was unraced but her first foal was a Listed-winning juvenile in Italy. The stiff mile of Pontefract was within his range when winning the Listed Silver Tankard Stakes at two but he'll need to improve on his comeback run when seventh in the Dante. BETFRED OAKS Desert Flower Night Of Thunder – Promising Run (Hard Spun) Breeder: Godolphin Stamina will be the only question mark for this champion two-year-old who is already a Classic winner. She certainly has the physique of a middle-distance filly even if her page doesn't guarantee that she will be. Her Brazilian Grade 1-winning granddam Aviacion may come to her rescue here as she is by a son of Shirley Heights and won over the distance herself, as well as producing the Lillie Langtry Stakes runner-up Arabian Comet and a couple of National Hunt winners. Elwateen Dubawi – Tawkeel (Teofilo) Breeder: Shadwell Estate Company A supplementary entry after finishing fourth in the 1,000 Guineas, Elwateen is the first foal of the G1 Prix Saint-Alary winner Tawkeel who is herself a granddaughter of the G2 Prix de Sandringham winner and G1 Prix Maurice de Gheest runner-up Joanna, by High Chaparral. Has to be respected for her gritty run at Newmarket on only the second start of her life but not guaranteed to stay. Giselle Frankel – Newspaperofrecord (Lope De Vega) Breeder: Coolmore & White Birch Farm The Lingfield Oaks Trial winner is the first foal of the very smart miler Newspaperofrecord, herself a daughter of the G3 Sceptre Stakes winner Sunday Times. The latter's half-sister Question Times is the dam of the Irish Derby winner Latrobe and Oaks runner-up Pink Dogwood, both of whom are by Camelot. Go Go Boots Night Of Thunder – Hertford Dancer (Foxwedge) Breeder: Highclere Stud & Mrs Michelle Morris Her fourth dam Rafha certainly made her mark, both as a Classic winner herself in the Prix de Diane, and as the dam of Invincible Spirit and Kodiac. The Prix du Jockey Club winner Mishriff is also from the same family, through Rafha's daughter Acts Of Grace, but it is another daughter, the Empress Stakes winner Massarra, whose line leads to Go Go Boots. Her dam Hertford Dancer won the Lingfield Oaks Trial for John Gosden but missed Epsom for Ascot and a third-placed finish in the Ribblesdale. Go Go Boots has some improvement to find but looks progressive. Minnie Hauk Frankel – Multilingual (Dansili) Breeder: B V Sangster A granddaughter of the Poule d'Essai des Pouliches winner Zenda, Minnie Hauk's dam is a half-sister to Kingman and has already produced the G2 Summer Mile winner Tilsit (First Defence). A €1.85 million yearling from the Goffs Orby Sale, she bids to become the second winner of the Oaks bred by Ben Sangster after Dancing Rain. Oasis Dream also features in this signature Juddmonte family. Qilin Queen Pinatubo – Seagull (Sea The Stars) Breeder: Mrs T Mahon It is only six years since Pinatubo was tearing down the Epsom straight lickety-split to win the Woodcote en route to becoming champion juvenile, and now here he is with his very first Oaks runner. He never quite managed to win at a mile, but his daughter has already coped admirably with the 1m2f of the Childwickbury Stud Sillies' trial at Newbury, in which she beat Revoir by a short-head. That stamina doubtless comes from her dam, a 1m4f maiden winner for Lady Rothschild and a half-sister to the Irish 1,000 Guineas winner Nightime (dam of Ghaiyyath). She is representing the red-hot stable of Ed Walker. Qilin Queen, right, and Revoir, centre | Racingfotos Revoir Study Of Man – Regardez (Champs Elysees) Breeder: Lawn Stud From the second crop of Study Of Man, Revoir represents a family which has been nurtured by former TBA chairman Julian Richmond-Watson for generations, a member of which had already graced the winner's circle after the Oaks. That was Look Here (Hernando) in 2008, who became the first Classic winner for Revoir's trainer Ralph Beckett. Look Here's sister Look So (Efisio) was a four-time winner and though she accrued no black type herself has been the better broodmare. Her son Scope won the G1 Prix Royal-Oak while Revoir's dam Regardez was a Listed winner and has produced the G3 Fred Darling winner Remarquee (Kingman). Wemightakedlongway Australia – Dont Ask Me At All (No Nay Never) Breeder: Mrs Annemarie O'Brien It perhaps bodes well that she is by a Derby winner, who was himself by a Derby winner out of an Oaks winner. Annemarie O'Brien has a long history with this family as Wemightakedlongway's third dam Queen Titi was owned and bred by her and trained at Ballydoyle to win at Listed level. The mare later produced the Dewhurst winner Beethoven along with this filly's grandam Ask Me Nicely (Fastnet Rock), a moderate maiden. The dam Dont Ask Me At All was unraced but as this is her first foal she is well on her way to atoning for that. Wemightakedlongway looked smart and straightforward in her all-the-way win in the Salsabil Stakes, giving the impression that another two furlongs would be within her scope. Whirl Wootton Bassett – Salsa (Galileo) Breeder: Coolmore The first foal of Salsa, a mile maiden winner who is out of the speedy and classy Beauty Is Truth (Pivotal) and thus a sister to three Group 1 winners in Hydrangea, Hermosa and The United States. Whirl looked impressive in winning the Musidora easily, a performance which should help to allay some doubts as to her reserves of stamina. The post Page Impressions: Examining the Derby and Oaks Pedigrees appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Ka Ying Rising (Shamexpress), the world's highest-rated sprinter, has been confirmed as an intended runner in the A$20 million G1 The Everest after the Hong Kong Jockey Club (HKJC) finalised a deal to secure the Australian Turf Club's slot for two years. Trained by David Hayes, Ka Ying Rising was last seen winning the G1 Chairman's Sprint Prize at Sha Tin in April, beating Japanese ace Satono Reve by over two lengths to gain his 12th consecutive win. “I'm absolutely thrilled it's been finalised,” Hayes told the South China Morning Post on Thursday. “And I'm thrilled the club has organised the best deal possible for the owner, which is the most important thing for me.” Outlining the details of the agreement, the HKJC's executive director of racing, Andrew Harding, added, “The club has entered into an agreement with the ATC for rights to use its The Everest slot. “For this year, the Club will use the slot to enable Ka Ying Rising to take part in The Everest. In future years, we will use the slot to either facilitate a Hong Kong horse running or to target Australian or New Zealand sprinters to come onto the Hong Kong International Races after The Everest.” The richest turf race in the world, The Everest is scheduled to take place at Randwick on Saturday, October 18, with Hayes yet to decide whether Ka Ying Rising will have a run on home soil before travelling to Australia. The HKSAR Chief Executive's Cup, a race he won last year, has been identified as a potential stepping stone. “I'm going to work him as if he's heading towards [the Chief Executive's Cup],” said the Australian-born trainer. “Last year I went into it with one trial, but this year if he runs he'll probably go into with two trials. “If he doesn't run, he'll have an exhibition gallop. But in the back of my mind I'm wary that when The Everest hits he'll be six months without a run, which is a long time.” The post Hayes “Thrilled” as HKJC Secures The Everest Slot for Ka Ying Rising appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Entain’s New Zealand and Australia boss Dean Shannon is stepping down. He will depart the company by June 30 and will be replaced in the interim by former Tabcorp executive Andrew Vouris. Shannon says the decision to leave was to allow the business to enter a new phase, declaring “it was the right time for change.” In 2023, with Shannon at the helm, Entain began a 25 year strategic arrangement with the TAB to run its business in this country. Last year it added betcha to its portfolio. “We acknowledge the resignation of Dean Shannon with both gratitude and respect,” says Harness Racing New Zealand Chief Executive Brad Steele. “Dean’s leadership has played a pivotal role in navigating New Zealand racing through a time of transformation and uncertainty. His vision and strategic focus helped lay the foundations for a modernised wagering landscape, and it’s no coincidence that New Zealand is now one of the few countries in the world showing positive wagering results.” Shannon has been with Entain since 2019 and as well as shaking up the business on this side of the Tasman he helped build it into one of Australia’s largest online bookmakers. It had almost 2 million customers last year with a market share of 17 per cent. A highly popular figure, Shannon leaves Entain following the recent departures of fellow executives Lachlan Fitt and Cameron Rodger. He is also a huge supporter of harness racing in this country. Among the many horses he owns under his Montana Park banner are the likes of glamour pacers Merlin and Sooner The Bettor. “Dean’s contribution, especially in aligning innovation and a growth mindset has left a lasting mark on the industry,” says Steele, “As we look ahead, we do so from a position of renewed strength thanks in no small part to the groundwork he helped establish. We wish him every success in his future endeavours.” Entain has already started the process to find a new CEO. View the full article

Siobhan Sheridan was announced as the Irish Racing Excellence Award winner at the 2025 Irish Thoroughbred Industry Employee Awards, supported by Godolphin, which took place at the Keadeen Hotel in Newbridge on Tuesday evening. Sheridan, who is the Yard and Foaling Unit Manager for Olive O'Connor Bloodstock in Redcross, County Wicklow, received a specially commissioned trophy by sculptor Ani Mollereau, plus a cash prize of €5,000, with another €2,500 going the way of her employer to be used for the benefit of her work colleagues. She received the flagship award after seeing off competition from the seven other individual Irish Thoroughbred Industry Employee Award winners, which were announced back in April. In addition, Roscommon Racecourse, won the Racecourse Award, chosen by the Irish Stable Staff Association, for the facilities they offer stable staff. “I am completely stunned to have won the Irish Racing Excellence Award,” said Sheridan, who has worked on stud farms for almost 30 years. “It's hard for me to put into words how much it means and it will take a while to sink in. I am so blessed to work with Olive and work with such good people around me–that means the world to me. “For those of us working in yards, to be seen and recognised like this is so special and it really highlights all the aspects of the work we do, all for the love of the horse. I'm very grateful to Godolphin and all the sponsors to demonstrate through the Irish Thoroughbred Industry Employee Awards how amazing our industry is.” The Irish Thoroughbred Industry Employee Awards are run in conjunction with the Irish Stable Staff Association, the Irish Thoroughbred Breeders' Association, the Racing Post and equuip – Horse Racing Ireland's education and training department. Joe Osborne, managing director, Godolphin Ireland, said, “The 2025 Irish Thoroughbred Industry Employee Awards ceremony was yet again a wonderful celebration of the great people within our industry. All of us at Godolphin extend our congratulations to the recipients and our gratitude to their colleagues who nominated them.” The post Siobhan Sheridan Takes Top Accolade at Irish Thoroughbred Industry Employee Awards appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

It is full steam ahead to the Group One The Everest (1,200m) for a “thrilled” David Hayes and Ka Ying Rising after the Hong Kong Jockey Club confirmed on Thursday it has acquired a slot for the A$20 million (HK$102 million) sprint on October 18. Talk of Ka Ying Rising heading to The Everest has been bubbling away for most of the Hong Kong season and slot negotiations got under way months ago, with Hayes pleased the deal has been locked away. “I’m absolutely thrilled it’s been finalised and I’m...View the full article

Trainers Patrick and Michelle Payne are aware of the transition horses must make from their three-year-old year to their four-year-old season. A case in point is Bold Soul (NZ) (Embellish) who has won five of his 16 starts but has gone winless through his four-year-old year to date. The Paynes are hoping that will be rectified on Saturday when Bold Soul runs in the TAB We’re On (2520m) at Flemington. Bold Soul had an exceptional start to his racing career, starting with a maiden win at Donald in November 2023, graduating to city success at Flemington two starts later before heading to Tasmania where he won the Listed Launceston Guineas (2100m) and the Listed Tasmanian Derby (2200m) Later in the campaign, Bold Soul was taken to Adelaide when he was placed in the Listed Port Adelaide Guineas (1800m), won the Gr.3 Chairman’s Stakes (2000m) before a midfield finish in the Gr.1 South Australian Derby (2500m). In all, Bold Soul raced nine times through his three-year-old season for five wins and was unplaced in just one of those outings. Bold Soul’s four-year-old season has been a contrast with the gelding filling a place just once in his seven outings. That was at Ballarat last December, although Michelle Payne said the signs were there at Caulfield last Saturday that Bold Soul was about to return to winning form. Payne has had a lot to do with Bold Soul over his brief career, travelling him to Tasmania last year and staying on with him in Adelaide. “I think sometimes when they go from those three-year-old years and then racing up against those older horses as four-year-olds, it can take a little bit of time to level out,” Payne said. “But he’s getting stronger all the time. “He’s been building up and his last run was really good. He was back for a long way, and he hit the line well and he’s getting to a distance that should suit him. “He’s also going to like a bit of give in the ground.” Payne said as part of Bold Soul’s conditioning and strengthening, the four-year-old has done some jumping at her brother’s Plumpton property. “They always do a bit of jumping out there. They love it,” she said. By Cambridge Stud’s Group One winning son of Savabeel, Embellish, Bold Soul is the last foal of the now retired Singspiel mare Twin Soul and was bred by Lou Te Keeti. Bold Soul was sold at New Zealand Bloodstock’s Book 2 Yearling Sale for $20,000 to Wanganui horseman Hamish Auret and subsequently relocated to Payne’s Victorian operation. View the full article

New Zealand-bred sprinter Ka Ying Rising (NZ) (Shamexpress) has secured a coveted slot in the A$20 million The Everest (1200m), the world’s richest turf race. The announcement follows his undefeated season in Hong Kong, culminating in a commanding victory in the Gr.1 Chairman’s Sprint Prize at Sha Tin on April 27, marking his 12th consecutive win. Trained by David Hayes, Ka Ying Rising’s Australian campaign is strategically planned to include two major races in Sydney this spring. The four-year-old son of Shamexpress is set to debut in The Everest (1200m) at Randwick on October 18, followed by the A$3 million Russell Balding Stakes (1300m) at Rosehill two weeks later. A$1 million bonus is on offer for any horse that clinches both races. Bred by Fraser Auret under his Grandmoral Lodge banner, Ka Ying Rising is out of the Per Incanto mare Missy Moo. The winner of a Levin jumpout for Marton-based Auret, Ka Ying Rising was sold to the Lindsay Park team and would go on to win a trial in Australia prior to his export to Hong Kong, Ka Ying Rising will race for new slot-holder the Hong Kong Jockey Club which is understood to have negotiated a lease arrangement for the Australian Turf Club’s slot. Hall of Fame trainer David Hayes had been anticipating Ka Ying Rising’s Everest selection and is already planning the wo-start Sydney spring campaign for the world’s highest-rated sprinter. “I’ve had stables at Randwick before and always had a good relationship with the club (Australian Turf Club) so I’m pleased that it seems likely the Hong Kong Jockey Club has come to a deal with them,” Hayes said. “Now we can concentrate on getting Ka Ying Rising ready for The Everest.” View the full article

Britannia Gold (NZ) (Ten Sovereigns) has made a good impression during her fledgling career and with better fortune on her side could have made even more of an impact. Trained by Graham Richardson and Rogan Norvall, she has already bagged a brace of wins and with going to suit at Ellerslie on Saturday has an opportunity to further her record in the Sistema 3YO (1400m). Britannia Gold will return to age group company following a sound third against older opposition over 1200 metres on the course last month. “Her last run was good, it was just too short for her, and she was under the pump from the half mile home,” Richardson said. “That didn’t suit her, but it was a very good effort by the winner (Old Bill Bone), I must say. “In her two starts before that, she was most definitely very unlucky.” Britannia Gold had previously finished sixth in the Gr.2 Wellington Guineas (1400m) and seventh, after being blocked for room in the straight, in the Gr.3 Cambridge Breeders’ Stakes (1200m). In-form apprentice Triston Moodley has been booked to continue his association after partnering her in her last two appearances. “I’m just hoping it’s not too wet up there and then we’ll tip her out after Saturday,” Richardson said. “If it is that wet, then I’ll make a decision with the owners. She has done a good job, and I really like the filly.” A daughter of Ten Sovereigns, Richardson bought her out of breeder Berkley Stud’s Book 2 draft at Karaka for $25,000 and she has subsequently banked more than double her purchase price. Stablemate Permissive also suffered an interrupted run when resuming with apprentice Bailey Rogerson to again guide her fortunes on Saturday in the Thanks For Your Service Ross Coles Handicap (1600m). “She will improve even more and will head toward Ruakaka at the end of the month,” Richardson said. The stable is also looking forward to the new season with a number of rising three-year-olds, including Blue Point filly Lodi Dodi who won her only juvenile start at Te Aroha before a break. “She was impressive and is back in work now, there’s quite a few of them here with Lollapalooza and I really like a filly called Fleeting Star,” Richardson said. “She was beaten a head and a nose by Lodi Dodi at the trials and was shin sore afterwards.” Fleeting Star is a daughter of Cool Aza Beel while El Roca filly Lollapalooza was third on debut and then finished eighth in the Gr.1 Sistema Stakes (1200m). “She was a bit unlucky not to run in the first three, she’s back in work and we’ll get her ready for the Gold Trail (Gr.3, 1200m),” Richardson said. Unraced Anders two-year-old Cosmopolitan was a recent trial at Te Awamutu while two-time winner and last-start Cambridge Breeders’ Stakes fourth Romilly is another progressive prospect for the new season. View the full article

Entain plc, the global sports betting and gaming group, has announced that Dean Shannon, CEO of Entain Australia and New Zealand will be stepping down on 30 June 2025. The Australian and New Zealand businesses are entering a new phase of their development and Mr Shannon has agreed it is time for change. This transition coincides with the completion of the AML/CTF Uplift Programme and the introduction of a ‘legislative net’ to support the New Zealand racing and wagering industry – both are expected to be completed in June, and over the last two years Shannon has been critical to the delivery of both priorities. Shannon is committed to ensure a transparent and orderly transition to set the business up for long-term success. “We thank Dean for his significant contribution to Entain, and for managing the Australian and New Zealand businesses,” Stella David, Group CEO of Entain said. “The growth and integration of Neds and Lads into our global portfolio of podium position brands has been a particular highlight and he has more recently delivered what we believe is a market leading compliance programme in Australia.” “As the Australian business enters its next phase, we will continue to demonstrate our commitment to compliance and responsibly deliver great products to our customers.” Andrew Vouris has been appointed Interim CEO. Vouris brings 17 years of leadership experience in wagering, operations and innovation at some of Australia’s biggest wagering operators, including Tabcorp and Entain. During his tenure at Tabcorp, Vouris had leadership roles in its multi-billion-dollar wagering and media business. He also played a key role in managing complex regulatory and compliance matters—including the remediation of commercial operations in response to Tabcorp’s AUSTRAC proceedings and direct engagement with the Northern Territory Racing and Wagering Commission. More recently, Vouris led the global operations of a pioneering esports and wagering platform and worked with private equity backing early-stage ventures in esports. Shannon becomes the latest, and most high-profile executive to depart the Australian and New Zealand operation of the global giant, which runs the Ladbrokes and Neds brands in Australia and has a long-term agreement in place to operate TAB NZ, as well as the betcha brand in New Zealand. A process has commenced for a permanent CEO. View the full article

An inglorious performance by Engine Room (NZ) (Super Seth) at Gosford’s stand-alone meeting left trainer Bryce Heys scratching his head but all the signs point to the gelding being on his best behaviour at Randwick this weekend. The three-year-old son of Super Seth was sent out favourite for a 1600m race on May 10 following impressive back-to-back wins in midweek grade. But after initially settling midfield, he began to hang out near the 1200m and gave jockey Alysha Collett a torrid ride from that point, including in the home straight when he was unable to be tested to the line and finished last. “He obviously had to go back to the trials and he went straight back there three days later on a tight-turning track and was tractable enough, so no problems there,” Heys said. “There was nothing wrong with the horse post-Gosford, hence why I went to the trials straight away, just to get him back on track and reset. “He looks great and we’re happy to go again.” Engine Room will line up in Saturday’s Midway Handicap (1500m) with a month between runs and Heys says the horse has responded well to the freshen-up. Zac Lloyd partners him from barrier four and Heys is expecting the three-year-old to put his best foot forward. “For whatever reason, he has appreciated the time given to him and he presents really well for Saturday,” he said. “He has definitely got some progression about him. There’s no doubting he has still got a bit to learn but he’s a nice horse and given what we’ve been through, we just want to get him back on track.” Engine Room was sourced by Heys at the 2023 Karaka Book 1 Yearling Sales from the draft of Elsdon Park, outlaying $150,000 for the son of Super Seth and the stakes performed Verglas mare Mary d’Or. The winner of two of his five starts, Engine Room is a half-brother to South African Group Two winner Frosted Gold. View the full article

Microshare syndicator The Frac Club hit gold straight away with their promising filly Zormella, and their gold colours are set to appear on the track over winter through two recent purchases. Zormella put the syndicator on the map when she replaced stablemate Dealt With in the inaugural $3.5 million NZB Kiwi (1500m) at Ellerslie in March, and while she beat just three runners home, she bounced back to win her next start and then secured black-type when runner-up in the Gr.3 Championship Stakes (2100m). The Roger James and Robert Wellwood-trained filly is enjoying a break over winter, and keen to keep their momentum going, The Frac Club’s Melissa Robinson recently bought into winter hopefuls Jesko and Fourty Eight out of Shaun and Hazel Fannin’s Awapuni barn. “It is exciting to have Melissa and the team involved with the stable,” Shaun Fannin said. “They have only got a few horses and nothing really racing at the moment. They have got a lot of owners involved in the club and they wanted to have something racing through the winter, and they thought these two looked like horses that might be in for a good winter.” Exciting jumper Jesko will be the first of the pair to carry the club’s new colours when he contests the Presidential Homes Manawatu Steeplechase (4000m) at Trentham on Saturday. The seven-year-old gelding is undefeated over the bigger fences, winning his debut outing last month, and he has been kept up to the mark when winning his 1600m trial at Foxton last week. “He won well at Wanganui in his first steeplechase and it’s a month between runs, so he had a tick over trial to keep his fitness up to scratch,” Fannin said. “He was the first horse that I bought years ago, so he’s my pet and I have a pretty good bond with him.” Stablemate Fourty Eight will also carry The Frac Club’s colours when he lines-up in the Power Farming Manawatu 2140 at Awapuni’s synthetic meeting on Sunday. He was victorious in a highweight at Hawera last month before finishing last in an open hurdle at Te Rapa a fortnight ago, and Sunday’s test will gauge whether he is ready to return to jumping. “Fourty Eight was a bit flat the other day at Waikato, he had a bit of a problem with one of his hooves, so we have been on top of that,” Fannin said. “Before heading back to a hurdle race, we thought we need to make sure he is right when he comes under a bit of pressure. “He has got a good record on the synthetic track, and it is on our backdoor step, so we will get a good line on him on Sunday before we head to a hurdle race.” Stablemate Poppy’s Girl will also head to their home meeting on Sunday where she will contest the Richard Simpson Contracting 1200. “Poppy’s Girl ran really well first-up (fourth over 1000m), she had some good sectionals late and she was fresh-up into that without a jumpout or trial, so she would have taken great benefit out of that,” Fannin said. “She has drawn a bit wide on Sunday, but if she was within shot of them turning for home I am sure she will run really well.” A day prior, Jesko will be joined at Trentham by stablemate Opawa Scarlett, who will contest the Happy Hire 1600. “She won her first start at Trentham 12 months ago,” Fannin said. “She ran well first-up, she hit the line strongly, and she had a trial at Foxton last week and trialled well. “Her fitness is up to the mark and I am sure she will like a heavy track too. On a light weight (52.5kg), I think she will be hitting the line strongly.” Fannin is also looking forward to reuniting with champion jumper West Coast for the first time this year when he rides him in the Manawatu ITM Manawatu Hurdles (2500m) for trainer Mark Oulaghan. “It’s just in a hurdle race and it is probably more of a conditioning run for an upcoming steeplechase, but it will be nice to get back on him and see how he is travelling heading into the big steeplechases ahead,” he said. Further north at Ellerslie, the stable will be represented by the Graham Stewart-owned pair of Linara and The Precursor, who will contest the Thanks For Your Service Ross Coles 1600 and Horizon By SkyCity 2100 respectively. “Both horses don’t like it too wet,” Fannin said. “The best going at this time of year is Ellerslie, so we have opted to head up there, which will be better going than Trentham on Saturday.” View the full article

Voyage Bubble’s historic Triple Crown triumph prompted Ascot officials to invite the Hong Kong superstar to run in July’s Group One King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2,406m), but connections have knocked back the offer. Voyage Bubble gained international attention for his stunning Group One Champions & Chater Cup (2,400m) victory last month, which saw him become the first horse in 31 years and second all time to claim Hong Kong’s Triple Crown. The Deep Field gelding demolished his...View the full article