Via Sistina rated best mare in the world
Multiple Group 1 winner Via Sistina (Ire) (Fastnet Rock) is now the highest rated filly or mare in the world at 127 on the Longines World's Best Racehorse Rankings, which were released on Thursday.
Via Sistina (Ire) | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
A winner of the G1 Turnbull S. and G1 Cox Plate in October, she added the G1 Champions S. in November and is equal to G1 Derby/G1 International S./G1 Eclipse winner City Of Troy (USA) (Justify {USA}). The highest rated horse in the world is Laurel River (USA) (Into Mischief {USA}) at 128.
New rivalry emerges in NZ
Exciting 3-year-old fillies Alabama Lass (Alabama Express) and Captured By Love (Written Tycoon) will go head-to-head for just the third time in the G1 New Zealand 1000 Guineas with the ledger currently being one win apiece. “Training here at Matamata, we keep a close eye on each other,” Captured By Love’s co-trainer Sam Bergerson told Loveracing.nz.
“She (Alabama Lass) is obviously a high-class filly. There are quite a few other nice chances in the race. There are plenty of fillies on the up and it looks a really interesting race on paper. Fingers crossed the rain stays away and they can race on a good track and everyone gets their chance.”
Guineas again for Love Poem
After running second in the G1 NZ 2000 Guineas against the colts, 3-year-old filly Love Poem (Snitzel) will run for the second time in a week when she lines up in Saturday’s G1 52nd New Zealand 1000 Guineas at Riccarton. “I thought it was a brilliant run,” trainer Stephen Marsh told Loveracing.nz.
Love Poem | Image courtesy of Kenton Wright (Race Images)
“She was just beaten by the season’s benchmark 3-year-old. We went up and had a look at him in the straight, but he just kept finding and won very well in the end. He’s obviously an exciting colt. But hey, we’ve got a beautifully bred Snitzel filly who’s a multiple stakes placegetter, and that now includes a second in a Group 1. That’s a great outcome.
“She’s bounced through it beautifully. We’re happy to back her up again on Saturday with the addition of side winkers.”
Final piece in collection for Forsman
Andrew Forsman has won every Group 1 race for 3-year-olds in New Zealand except the G1 New Zealand 1000 Guineas and he runs Kitty Flash (NZ) (Ace High) in this year’s edition. “She’s done a great job to come all this way in one preparation,” Forsman told Loveracing.nz.
“She seems to be getting better and better all the time, which is very encouraging to see. The way she found the line at Ellerslie was great. One of the best things about her is how tractable she is. When we’ve changed the way we’ve wanted to ride her, she’s adapted to it very quickly. It was a really good performance in the Soliloquy and exactly what we wanted to see as we prepare to step her up over a mile.
“She’s trained on really well since then and handled the trip down to Christchurch perfectly. I think she’s spot on. I think she can run out a strong mile. You never quite know when you’re going into these Guineas races at Riccarton, where it is quite a tough mile. I think most of the other fillies in this field are in the same boat. But she was very strong at the end of her race over 1400m last start, which gives us a little bit of confidence that the extra 200m will be within her grasp.”
Godolphin’s Zeitung ready for G1 Thousand Guineas
Godolphin trainer James Cummings believes Zeitung (Exceed And Excel) is ready for the G1 Thousand Guineas at Caulfield on Saturday. “It's a great challenge for Zeitung, she's done everything right to get here,” Cummings told racenet.com.au.
Zeitung | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
“You couldn't argue that she's not deserving of her place, because she was so strong at the finish of the seven-furlong Vanity on Derby Day. Mark Zahra was most impressed with her and, keep in mind, she drew an inside gate that day and was a little slow away. When hooked to the outside she never looked like losing.”
Golden Slipper placed Coleman to bounce back in Sapphire
Trainer Matt Laurie expects Coleman (Pierata) to rebound in Saturday’s G3 Blue Sapphire S. at Caulfield. “If he produces his best he's got them covered,” Laurie told racenet.com.au.
“Obviously coming off a run well below what he's capable of, I feel like he probably choked down in the Coolmore. Following the race he pulled fine that night, trotted out nice and sound, but after the race it took him a bit to recover, like he was trying to get in the air he didn't get in the run. He's clearly a fit horse so I think that might've been the catalyst for the result, anyway, we move on and he looks well placed.” He will wear a tongue tie on Saturday.
Moroney/Thompson aim for first Group 1 win
Mike Moroney and Glen Thompson trained Buffalo River (USA) (Noble Mission {GB}) will line up in the G1 Sir Rupert Clarke S. on Saturday and if he wins, it’ll be the first Group 1 for the partnership. “It would mean a lot and it would mean a lot for me because of Glen being in the partnership, because he's part of the Ballymore family and we treat our owners and that like it's a Ballymore family,” Moroney told racing.com.
“To do it with Glen would be great so early in our partnership and well deserved for him.” Thompson ran the stables while Moroney was in hospital earlier this year and was promoted to co-trainer soon after. Moroney had a collapsed lung and was in a coma for 14 days and was diagnosed with colitis and cancer.
Buffalo River (USA) | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
“The cancer I got on top of pretty quick and while I was in a coma, they did actually treat me with chemo and then of course once I came out of the coma, they did again. That went quickly and then it was really just the colitis x that was really holding me up, I was in and out of hospital with that, trying to get that right, I'd say about four or five times. It's pretty hard to spend a lot of time in and out of hospital, I was there for 20 days at a time, they were trying different drugs to try and get it right.
Buffalo River ran second last start in the G3 Moonga S. “He's going terrific, his last run was heartwarming for me to watch because he's been such a favourite of ours and a crowd favourite. To see him strike that form again after having such a torrid run in transit and then doing what he did was one of his better runs, so I'm looking forward to him going around again. I would say this campaign would be it for him, no matter how good he's going, I think we'll retire him, he's getting on, he's done a great job for the team.”
Stackhouse on good chances for first Group 1 win
Jockey Daniel Stackhouse thinks he has a pair of strong chances for his first Group 1 win. He rides Climbing Star (NZ) (Zoustar) in the G1 Sir Rupert Clarke S. and Stage 'N' Screen (NZ) (Ace High) in the G1 Thousand Guineas. “You have to have confidence going into these meetings, especially because I'm still trying to win a Group 1 as well,” Stackhouse told racing.com.
“You've got to go in with confidence and think you're on the best horse and ride the best race you can. They're both good chances with nice barriers, which is a big help.”
Maiden black type for The Boss Lady
Trainer Michael Lane says 4-year-old mare The Boss Lady (Street Boss {USA}) is on track for her first black type win in Saturday’s Listed Jungle Mist Classic in Perth. “She’s come back really well,” Lane told racingwa.com.au.
“Obviously, coming back, it’s always a concern if they kick up or lose ability somehow. But, she’s comeback well and improved a touch from her 3-year-old year. We’re really happy with her so far and she’s definitely come on since her first up run. Whatever she does tomorrow (Saturday) she’ll improve again. She’s a big girl and doing enormous in the stable.”
NZ raider for Newcastle
Cambridge trainers Roger James and Robert Wellwood will fly Dionysus (NZ) (Ocean Park {NZ}) to Newcastle on Saturday to contest the Beauford S. “He was getting to the stage where he was hard to place here. He was high up in the handicaps and he is possibly not a true weight-for-age horse, he is not very big,” James told Loveracing.nz.
Dionysus (NZ) | Image courtesy of Kenton Wright (Race Images)
“A mile-and-a-half seems to be his pet distance and we spotted that one over there for him. He has come in okay at the handicap, it’s 2300 metres, we discussed it with the owner and thought it was worthy of having a go. Whenever we have lined him up over 2300 metres or 2400 metres he has almost never disappointed us. Hopefully I can be saying the same thing in another 48 hours.”
Injured jockey update
Racing NSW stewards reported that, “Jockey Robyn Freeman has been kicked by her horse behind the barriers prior to the start of Race 1 at Gundagai (on Friday November 11). She has a suspected broken leg.”
Around the Nation: Friday’s highlights
Summer is definitely here with two night meetings on Friday to complement the three day meetings. At Gawler, jockey Tom Madden rode a treble on Chipson (Shamus Award), See De Night (Denman) and Alpine Rocket (Alpine Eagle).
Very nicely bred 3-year-old gelding Hawkins (Dundeel {NZ}) won at Seymour at his second start for Peter Moody and Katherine Coleman. The $400,000 purchase by the Rosemont Alliance and Suman Hedge Bloodstock (FBAA) from Evergreen Stud at the Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale is a son of Group 1 winner Princess Coup (Encosta De Lago) making him a half-brother to Group 3 winners Argentia (Frankel {GB}) and Thewizardofoz (Redoute’s Choice).
At Gundagai, unbeaten 3-year-old filly Sun ‘n’ Sand (Pride Of Dubai) won her second race for trainers Barbara Joseph, Paul and Matt Jones. Too Darn Hot (GB) sired the first two winners at Canterbury’s night meeting with a pair of 3-year-old fillies Scorching Legend and Zan.
Friday’s Trentham meeting abandoned
Significant flooding at Trentham in New Zealand saw Friday’s meeting abandoned. NZTR said in a statement, “The Trentham track is sodden after significant rain with further rain and showers predicted. The meeting from Friday will not be re-scheduled to Monday. NZTR will look to actively divide races at both Industry and Feature meetings through the remainder of November.”
Smith to retire next month
Trainer Craig Smith is hoping for a fairytale finish to his 30-plus year training career if Keenzap (Better Than Ready) can book a spot in the Country Stampede Final at Doomben on November 30. “I’ve decided it’s time to retire and my last meeting will be at Roma on December 7, and I’ll have eight runners that day,” Smith told racingqueensland.com.au.
Craig Smith | Image courtesy of Racing QLD
“I’ve got a lot of property and run cattle, so I’ve got plenty to do. I still plan to be involved with racing by breeding a few and I’ll race a couple, as well.” Keenzap will be ridden by Adam Sewell in the Country Stampede qualifier at Roma on Saturday.
Changes at Sha Tin to attract families
Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism Kevin Yeung, announced that rules around age for Sha Tin may change as part of a wider plan to boost the city’s attractiveness as a horse racing tourist site. “(You only have to) look at the whole excitement which has been created by the news that Hong Kong racing will be part of an official tourism offer,” HKJC CEO Winfried Engelbrecht-Bresges told scmp.com in response to the news.
“We wanted to create a completely new arrival and new experience for tourists, because what we have currently is not what we think will be a holistic tourist experience. We have a lot of new people come to Hong Kong [that] were not familiar with racing. So what kind of experience do you have to create for them?”
The club is also developing a ‘pony world’ for families in the infield. “Our most attractive offering we see when we do carnivals or in the public riding schools is taking photos with ponies,” Engelbrecht-Bresges said. “So this is a value proposition which obviously works, and for pony rides you always have a long queue. So this will be part of this entertainment experience for the public and especially with families.
“There is no betting. We will create a completely new zone. It’s completely different from the normal racecourse experience. But we feel with this strategy, we want to create an experience for tourists which will be unique.
“When you look at Hong Kong racing, we want to promote the sport and sports entertainment. This is our key value proposition and this is for all segments.”
Bowman jumps off Group 1 winner for Hong Kong’s G2 Sprint
Hugh Bowman has jumped off Group 1 winner Invincible Sage (Thronum) for Sunday’s G2 Jockey Club Sprint and will ride Helios Express (Toronado {Ire}). “Invincible Sage is a Group 1 winner already, Helios Express isn’t, but I just think Helios has the potential to be a very, very good horse,” Bowman told scmp.com.
Hugh Bowman | Image courtesy of the Hong Kong Jockey Club
“He can really gallop, that’s why I’m riding him. Obviously, I rode Sage (in the Premier Bowl), but Helios was outstanding. He had a big weight advantage – he only had 115 pounds, so he meets the favourite (Ka Ying Rising) far worse off, and he even meets Invincible Sage far worse off as well. Invincible Sage with this typhoon is going to get conditions that he’s been crying out for. I feel like he’s been jarring up a bit on the firm tracks, but I will say since his last run, he’s really come on.”
Trio of sires in hunt for USA freshman sire title
If it stays like this, a single maiden winner might settle it. Because all that separates McKinzie (USA) (US$2,294,679 (AU$3.55 million)) from current leader Tiz the Law (USA) (US$2,339,575 (AU$3.6 million)) in the freshman table is US$44,896 (AU$69,000). But wait, there's more. McKinzie isn't even second. Between the pair lurks Vekoma (USA) (US$2,306,457 (AU$3.57 million), ensuring a desperate three-way contest for the prized laurels of champion first-season sire.
Across all freshman sires in the USA, they have collectively mustered 11 graded stakes winners already, compared with the humiliating aggregate of three scraped together by the 2023 newcomers. The 2022 freshman sires managed 13.
Group 1 winner leads record Tattersalls online sale
King Gold (Fr) (Anodin {Ire}) (Lot 50), a winner of the G1 Prix Maurice de Gheest, anchors the catalogue for the Tattersalls Online November Sale, which was released on Thursday. Featuring 109 horses in- and out-of-training, 42 broodmares, 28 yearlings, 11 foals, four stores, and breeding rights in Group 1 sire Ardad (Ire) (Lot 194) and first-season sire Sergei Prokofiev (Can) (Lot 195), the sale will be held on Nov. 20-21. A total of 196 lots will go under the hammer, a new record for the Tattersalls Online platform.
Share in Wooded added to Arqana
Four additional wildcards, led by a share (1/60th) in G1 Prix Jean Prat hero Puchkine (Fr) (Starspangledbanner) (Lot 15), have been added to the Arqana November Online Sale. The sale will be held from 5-7 pm local time, excluding extra time, on Tuesday, November 26. The share grants the purchaser two coverings a year in 2025, 2026, and 2027, and one covering per year beginning in 2028.
A 1/50th share in Wooded (Ire) (Lot 17) will also be offered, with the son of Wootton Bassett (GB) responsible for nine winners so far from his first crop. The share entitles the buyer to two coverings per year, as well as the Southern Hemisphere's pool when the stallion covers mares at Swettenham Stud in Australia.
More increases at Keeneland
The 2-year-old filly Alyeska (USA) (Vekoma {USA}), an eye-catching, come-from-behind debut winner carrying the famed Marylou Whitney silks at Churchill Downs Sept. 20, brought a sale-topping US$675,000 (AU$1 million) from bloodstock agent Steve Young at Keeneland's single-session November Horses of Racing Age sale Thursday, which produced substantial across-the-board increases.
Keeneland sold 105 horses (through the ring) for US$8,613,000 (AU$13.3 million), an increase of 9.52 per cent from last year's total of US$7,864,000 (AU$12 million) for 155 horses sold (through the ring). The average of US$82,029 (AU$127,000) rose 61.68 per cent from US$50,735 (AU$79,000) in 2023, while the median was up 66.67 per cent from US$30,000 (AU$46,400) to US$50,000 (AU$77,300). The clearance rate was 88 per cent.
Bary retires from training
Multiple Classic-winning trainer Pascal Bary has announced his retirement after 44 years in the French training ranks. The 71-year-old Chantilly trainer saddled the winner of the Prix du Jockey Club on six occasions, starting with Celtic Arms (Fr) in 1994 and most recently with Study Of Man (Ire) in 2018. “I was lucky to have a fabulous job, with magnificent horses that I loved and exceptional people that I would never have met in other environments,” Bary told Jour de Galop.
Pascal Bary | Image courtesy of Scoop Dyga
“I am retiring in very good spirits…Everything changes and all generations think that things were better before, but I refuse to think that way. I did not choose to retire to avoid the challenges of change. It is just the right time to do something else after having practiced a profession, we must not forget, which requires commitment seven days a week and 24 hours a day.”
Tattersalls Ireland foal sale down 41 per cent
The first foal to be offered at public auction by Tally-Ho Stud's Persian Force (Ire) led the way at the Tattersalls Ireland Sapphire Sale when selling to Nigel O'Hare for €50,000 (AU$82,000) on Thursday. However, a 44 per cent clearance rate spoke to the struggles facing smaller breeders and consignors at present.
Albeit the Sapphire Sale offering was down by 42 per cent compared to 12 months ago, the majority of the key figures also fell, including the median, which was down by 31 per cent to €2750 (AU$4490) and the average by 3 per cent to €6567 (AU$10,700). Understandably, the aggregate fell by 41 per cent to €315,200 (AU$514,000).
