THURSDAY, MAY 8, 2014 732-747-8060 $ TDN Home Page Click Here MEDICATION A MAJOR FOCUS AT ARC By Michele MacDonald A day after an international racing leader suggested a single set of rules for elite racing worldwide that could penalize American racing if medication remains legal, The Jockey Club President James Gagliano strongly voiced his organization's view that drugs be banned in competition. Speaking to the Asian Racing Conference in Hong Kong on May 7, Gagliano employed clear words following the previous day's salvo from Brian Kavanagh, Chief Executive of Horse Racing Ireland and Chairman of the European Pattern Committee. "Medication reform remains our highest priority," Gagliano said before reaffirming The Jockey Club's position that "horses should compete only when they are free from the influence of medication." Just hours after the ARC began its three-day run of business meetings, Kavanagh called for the establishment of a global set of rules that would bar medication use in competition. Kavanagh made the proposal during discussion about Pattern racing and utilization of the Longines World's Best Racehorse Rankings to promote the sport and its top runners. Medication clearly remains a high-level topic among racing leaders. International Federation of Horseracing Authorities Chairman Louis Romanet reported that IFHA executive council members, during a private meeting on May 5, had unanimously endorsed an anti-doping and equine welfare policy that included a provision for a total ban on race-day medication. "We know it will be difficult to implement in some parts of the world in all races," Romanet said in an apparent reference to the United States, "but at least it should be done for all group and black-type races that make the breed." Other major sports do not allow different rules in various jurisdictions, and neither should racing, asserted Kavanagh, who serves as an IFHA vice chairman along with Gagliano. cont. p3 CHROME GETS BACK TO THE TRACK California Chrome (Lucky Pulpit) made his first trip back to the track since his GI Kentucky Derby victory Saturday. He jogged one mile under exercise rider Willie Delgado. After the jog, Delgado commented that the colt was, AGood, really super. He went out there like he always does. He is his normal self.@ AIt went really good,@ Alan Sherman, the son and assistant to trainer Art Sherman. AHe wanted to train; he was tired of walking.@ Sherman said that he was still unsure when they were going to ship California Chrome to Pimlico. AI still haven=t heard about the plane; whether we will go to Pimlico Monday or Wednesday,@ Sherman explained. AI=d prefer Monday. The key now is to keep him happy.@ PEDIGREE INSIGHTS: UNTAPABLE By Andrew Caulfield Punters who were considering a bet in this year=s GI Kentucky Oaks or the G1 1000 Guineas no doubt spent most of their time evaluating the runners= past performances. They might have been better advised, though, to study the form of the contestants= sires. Prior to the Oaks, Untapable had won two Grade IIs but not a Grade I. However, her sire Tapit had previously been represented by 12 Grade I winners, of which no fewer than eight were fillies. Of course, Untapable promptly outclassed her rivals at Churchill Downs to increase the figure to nine fillies among 13 Grade I winners, leaving no doubt that Tapit is a first- rate sire of the so-called fairer sex (if such a description is allowed nowadays). cont. p12 James Gagliano M MacDonald
Transcript
THURSDAY, MAY 8, 2014732-747-8060 $ TDN Home Page Click Here
MEDICATION A MAJOR FOCUS AT ARCBy Michele MacDonald A day after an international racing leader suggested asingle set of rules for elite racing worldwide that couldpenalize American racing if medication remains legal,The Jockey Club President James Gagliano stronglyvoiced his organization's view that drugs be banned incompetition. Speaking to the AsianRacing Conference in HongKong on May 7, Gaglianoemployed clear wordsfollowing the previousday's salvo from BrianKavanagh, Chief Executiveof Horse Racing Ireland andChairman of the EuropeanPattern Committee. "Medication reformremains our highestpriority," Gagliano saidbefore reaffirming TheJockey Club's position that"horses should competeonly when they are freefrom the influence of medication." Just hours after the ARC began its three-day run ofbusiness meetings, Kavanagh called for theestablishment of a global set of rules that would barmedication use in competition. Kavanagh made theproposal during discussion about Pattern racing andutilization of the Longines World's Best RacehorseRankings to promote the sport and its top runners. Medication clearly remains a high-level topic amongracing leaders. International Federation of HorseracingAuthorities Chairman Louis Romanet reported that IFHAexecutive council members, during a private meeting onMay 5, had unanimously endorsed an anti-doping andequine welfare policy that included a provision for atotal ban on race-day medication. "We know it will be difficult to implement in someparts of the world in all races," Romanet said in anapparent reference to the United States, "but at least itshould be done for all group and black-type races thatmake the breed." Other major sports do not allow different rules invarious jurisdictions, and neither should racing, assertedKavanagh, who serves as an IFHA vice chairman alongwith Gagliano. cont. p3
CHROME GETS BACK TO THE TRACK California Chrome (Lucky Pulpit) made his first tripback to the track since his GI Kentucky Derby victorySaturday. He jogged one mile under exercise rider WillieDelgado. After the jog, Delgado commented that thecolt was, AGood, really super. He went out there like healways does. He is his normal self.@ AIt went really good,@ Alan Sherman, the son andassistant to trainer Art Sherman. AHe wanted to train;he was tired of walking.@ Sherman said that he was stillunsure when they were going to ship California Chrometo Pimlico. AI still haven=t heard about the plane;whether we will go to Pimlico Monday or Wednesday,@Sherman explained. AI=d prefer Monday. The key now isto keep him happy.@
PEDIGREE INSIGHTS: UNTAPABLEBy Andrew Caulfield Punters who were considering a bet in this year=s GI Kentucky Oaks or the G1 1000 Guineas no doubtspent most of their time evaluating the runners= pastperformances. They might have been better advised,though, to study the form of the contestants= sires. Prior to the Oaks, Untapable had won two Grade IIsbut not a Grade I. However, her sire Tapit hadpreviously been represented by 12 Grade I winners, ofwhich no fewer than eight were fillies. Of course,Untapable promptly outclassed her rivals at ChurchillDowns to increase the figure to nine fillies among 13Grade I winners, leaving no doubt that Tapit is a first-rate sire of the so-called fairer sex (if such a descriptionis allowed nowadays). cont. p12
EST Race Click for TV8:50a Prix d’Hedouville-G3, LCP ---------------------- ---------9:15a Huxley S.-G3, CHE Brisnet.com PPs ---------9:45a Chester Vase S.-G3, CHE Brisnet.com PPs ---------
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Noble Mission (GB) (Galileo {Ire}) looks to get it done in Chester’s G3Betfair Price Rush Huxley S.
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Op/Ed
Barry Irwin pens an op/ed in which he speaks of the importance ofinvestigative journalism in the sport.
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Medication a Major Focus at Arc (cont. from p1) "I believe that the IFHA must move to a singleworldwide set of rules relating to medication and wesimply must find a way of ensuring that these rules canbe enforced in all member countries," said Kavanagh,whose comments came while he was addressing theintegrity of the racehorse rankings and thegraded/group races that are the backbone of theranking system. "I realize this is notstraightforward in somecountries, but in order to havevalue and integrity for our globalrankings and our black-typesystem in sales catalogs, it issimply where we must go,"Kavanagh said. His comments seemed to pointdirectly at the U.S., whichconducts more racing than anyother nation and runs the mostGrade 1 races in the world, yet isamong the relatively few majorjurisdictions allowing medicationin competition. "I do firmly believe, for theintegrity of sales catalogs andfor the integrity of the rankings,that we have to be talking about a level playing pitch inthe sport," Kavanagh said. Currently, four of the top 10 highest-rankedracehorses in the world are based in the U.S.: Game OnDude, second by five pounds to Japanese leader Just aWay, who is ranked at 130; Will Take Charge at 123;California Chrome, 122; and Lea, 121. During the IFHA's annual meeting in Paris lastOctober, Kavanagh had suggested that races allowingmedication perhaps should be denoted with an asteriskor otherwise segmented within the industry due todiffering standards. ARC delegates seemed to share Kavanagh'ssentiments that racing under which medication isallowed should not be viewed as equal to competitionthat bars drugs. A poll among conference attendeesresulted in 82% agreeing that black-type designationsshould be linked to medication rules. In other words, a significant majority of ARCdelegates believe that races allowing medication shouldnot be recognized by worldwide authorities and salescompanies as a validation of quality in racehorses andbloodstock. When asked about Kavanagh's proposal, Gaglianoreplied that it is a "non-starter." Carl Hamilton, chairman and chief executive officerof The Jockey Club Information Systems Inc., reactedwith stronger words. "To use black-type or grades of races as a vehicle toput pressure on our medication policies will have theopposite effect to what some want to achieve--harmonization of rules.@ Hamilton said. cont. p4
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AIn fact, the result could be the implosion of a numberof international committees,@ Hamilton continued.AThere are times we feel this type of talk is purelycommercially motivated by certain countries." While he declined to discuss further which entitiesmay be targeting the U.S. commercially by using themedication issue, Hamilton noted that Americanofficials typically don't get much feedback, constructiveor not, from other nations on the medication issue. "Outside of these conferences, these individualsdon't really approach us about this topic," he said. The Jockey Club officials have noted that the IFHA isnot a regulatory body with the power to enforceregulations, but rather a member organization thatworks to harmonize rules and racing structures andpolicies worldwide. However, IFHA officials--through their unanimouspolicy agreement and in individual comments--appearsteadfastly committed to ending the use of medicationin racing. "One has to say, long-term, that is something wedefinitely have to achieve," said WinfriedEngelbrecht-Bresges, Hong Kong Jockey Club ChiefExecutive and IFHA vice chairman, although heconceded that it will take time. In the interim, racing officials should begin by takinga stand that anabolic steroids "have no place in racing"and horses should not be allowed to compete for atleast six months after being given steroids,Engelbrecht-Bresges said.
Some jurisdictions already have acted to prohibit theuse of steroids in racehorses and in horses sold atpublic auction. "This is a platform we can build on," Engelbrecht-Bresges continued. "I personally feel we have to worktogether and I am confident we will be able to do it." During further discussion in an ARC session titled>Fair Competition and Drug Control,= Gagliano said TheJockey Club would support any measure, includingones proposed by or through U.S. federal intervention,that would create uniform drug rules across all states. Federal regulation would not be an easy process toestablish, he noted, but added that "I see more andmore [American racing] stakeholders interested in afederal solution."
Building Customer Connections...By Michele MacDonald Availability of burgeoning consumer data as well asunprecedented avenues to directly connect withcustomers offer horse racing the inside track toimproving business in an increasingly competitiveworld, delegates to the Asian Racing Conference weretold on May 7 in Hong Kong. The conference's theme, "Customer. Connect.Compete. Create," leapt to life during a discussion onhow to reach out to new and existing customers andgenerate business from them.cont. p5
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Richard Cheung, Hong Kong Jockey Club ExecutiveDirector of CustomerService and Marketing,revealed how the HKJCturned around decliningrevenues in a five-yearperiod by first identifyingfour key customer groups(from newcomers to clubmembers) and thenworking through four"levers" to attract thosegroups (racetrackambiance, digitalexperience, innovations in data and positioning inpopular culture). Knowledge of customers through the gathering andanalysis of data about their preferences and habits andthen utilization of that information in marketing is thewinning formula, Cheung said. "At the Hong Kong Jockey Club, we rely a lot ondata-mining and that is a big advantage to us. We haveidentified customers' changing needs and we knowwhat they want," he explained. Not only has the HKJC set the pace in the racingworld with development of new kinds of data aboutcustomers and potential customers and with thecreation of new types of technology for wagering, italso has led the field in finding digital means tocapitalize on that information. The club's efforts havebeen focused on drawing in many young fans, whichhad been a key goal after HKJC officials determinedthat most of its customers were over 50 when handleplummeted to a low in 2006. With wagering growth in the past four yearsconcentrated on mobile platforms, the HKJC hasconcentrated on distribution through mobile channelswhile also shifting marketing initiatives to social media. "Moving things from the PC platform to the mobileand tablet platform is a must for us and it constitutesmore than 80% of our digital experience work," Cheungsaid, adding, "With a social media network, it's almostfree to reach people with the latest updates." Since the HKJC has identified that customers wanthigher pay-outs without having to study detailed racingform or complicated betting instructions, the club hassought to develop new or upgraded bet types, includingthe Quartet, which now generates about US$1.5 millionin handle per race.
Drawing on the expertise of American-basedcompany Longitude, the HKJC relaunched the Quartetbet in January with technology first used in financialmarkets to provide advanced pari-mutuel calculations ata very high speed with real-time odds display for allpossible combinations. Such information is abreakthrough in a market like Hong Kong, which offersgreat liquidity for bettors. Additionally, as Cheung described it, Longitude is alsoinvolved in a composite win bet innovation that allowssplitting a single bet among several horses that isweighted depending on the odds as they constantlychange. "In everything we do, we try to be data-driven,@Cheung said. AThis matches customers' desire to catchodds movements. Thomas Ascher, Longitude Chief Executive Officer,said his company's work with technology wouldn'thave been possible a decadeago. "Longitude first invented[the technology] for financialmarkets--to deconstruct thepricing into tiny pieces,every possible outcome, andputting them together in theperfect order and coming upwith the odds perfectlybalanced in the fraction of asecond. Ten years ago, thatwould have taken about aday," Ascher said. In today's world, hesuggested to racing leadersthat "the only limit to whatyou can do and what yourcustomers can do is your imagination. You can useprocessing power and allow people to define their ownfutures." While data is essential to innovation and wageringgrowth, racetrack ambiance and connection of racing topopular culture also are highly important, Cheungnoted. Under its master plan, the HKJC has invested inredesigning parts of its track facilities to provide hipand luxurious accommodations for both younger andwealthy customers. The HKJC also tries to harness celebrity star powerto promote racing and works to connect racing withpopular culture, such as enlisting well-known Chineseartist Xu Beihong to paint horses for a video promotionof racing in the current Chinese Year of the Horse.
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Innovations in Racing TV Coverage...By Michele MacDonald When Felix Baumgartner jumped from the edge ofspace and plummeted about 24 miles before softlyparachuting to the red earth of New Mexico in 2012,the pioneering technology that recorded andbroadcasted his history-making leap live powerfullysuggested that new developments in television can beapplied to sports. Horse racing could be one of the beneficiaries of thisemerging technology, delegates to the 35th AsianRacing Conference were told yesterday. Joerg Heise, Managing Director of RiedelCommunications, the company that played an integralrole in Baumgartner's Red Bull Stratos Mission, saidduring a panel discussion of cutting-edge technology intelevision that such new capabilities can put viewersvirtually on the backs of racehorses. These applications undoubtedly will increasefascination with sports and stir emotions, which will beinstrumental in getting people to spend money, Heisesaid. Already, Riedel is working with the Hong KongJockey Club in testing cameras the size of dimesmounted on jockey helmets. While some of this advanced new technology can beexpensive, it also has the potential to multiply returns.The Baumgartner jump cost about $50 million in total,Heise said, but with more than eight million livestreaming transmissions, the coverage value wouldhave been about $500 million. "I'm not suggesting that you need that kind ofinvestment to achieve compelling results, but what iscompelling is the ratio of the investment with thereturn," Heise said. "You can scale it down to yourrequirements." During the same discussion, Oonagh Chan, head ofbroadcasting services with the Hong Kong Jockey Club,reported that the HKJC is pushing ahead to maketelevision more of an interactive medium with fansrather than a passive one. With people in Hong Kongowning at least two mobile devices on average, "livehorse racing in Hong Kong has to change," she said inorder to reach fans in this increasingly mobile world. The HKJC has developed a special platform wherefans can log in to an application from their tabletsduring racing programs and obtain access to videoshots and information, including statistics not availableon television or elsewhere. The app also allows fans tosee entire 360 degree views of the paddock, forexample, by simply turning to look in each direction.Thus, they can find and watch specific horses or take alook at who might be in the parade ring prior to a race. Customers can also use the app to chat with eachother and send messages. Their handicapping selectionsare reviewed and sometimes posted by HKJCmoderators who feel they have particular merit, andthus a fan community is stimulated, Chan said.
Research has shown that social engagement withsports through television is growing by 50% a year,Chan noted, adding that these social communities"incubate your fans, especially your youngercustomers." With sportsevents dominating twitterconversation about TV in2013, "we can't besitting there and waitingfor other sports to absorbour customers--we haveto be moving ahead," shesaid. Looking to the future,the HKJC is testing videostitching technology with high definition cameras thatwould provide a 180-degree view of racing that viewerscould interact with by zooming in to see specific horsesduring the running of a race, for example. Employmentof that kind of technology might be only about twoyears away, Chan said.
Emergence of a Racing Superpower...By Michele MacDonald Many racing leaders might claim that their racingoperation is the best in the world, but few could backup that kind of claim with a range of profound statisticsin the manner employed by William Nader, Hong KongJockey Club Chief Executive of Racing, during an AsianRacing Conference session May 7.cont. p7
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"We have the best racing model in the world," saidNader before quoting famed American boxerMuhammed Ali to underline his point: "It ain't braggingif it is true." With only seven million inhabitants and tworacetracks, Hong Kong racing surpassed Americanracing in total wageringseveral years ago, with2014 forecasts indicatingUS$13.2 billion will be beton the Hong Kong sportwith $10.7 billion onAmerican racing, Nadersaid. Showing just howdramatically the globallandscape has changed,America dwarfed HongKong in betting just eightyears ago, with a total ofUS$14.8 billion inwagering compared toUS$7.7 billion. Nader observed that Hong Kongwagering continues to rise and could eclipse Australia'stotal this year for the first time. Remarkably, an average total of over US$17 million isbet on every race in Hong Kong, and the Hong KongJockey Club is just beginning its initiatives withcommingled pools around the world. After setting upcommingling with the United States, the HKJC now isaiming to open up commingled wagering next year withEurope, Singapore, Macau, Australian, New Zealandand South Africa. But betting was just one part of the Hong Kongracing picture shared by Nader during a session inwhich racing executives profiled their nation'sindustries. Under the Hong Kong model, the largestmeasure of racing revenues are dedicated togovernment and charity, and the Hong Kong JockeyClub will funnel about US$1.5 billion to the governmentthis year to support public projects. The HKJC has built up the sport to be among themost prestigious activities in the region and maintainsfour clubhouses for 23,000 members, including afacility in Beijing. Demand for horse ownership isexceedingly strong, but supply is extremely limited,with only 330 permits given out by ballot a year, andindividual owners are barred from owning more thanfour horses. Most of the horses competing in Hong Kong areimported from Australia (about 40%), New Zealand(30%) and Europe, Nader said. Only 24 trainers arelicensed and up to 25 jockeys, all of whom undergoextensive background checks as part of the HKJC'sattempts to maintain the utmost integrity in Hong Kongracing and wagering. "Only people of the highest reputation and standardsare invited to participate in our racing," Nader said. To run this huge sporting machine, the HKJCemploys 5,700 full-time staff and another 18,000part-time workers.
As part of its vertically integrated structure, theHKJC employs all the clinical and regulatoryveterinarians on its staff, and those professionalsconduct pre-race inspections of all horses the daybefore they compete as well as oversee all medicationsand supplements, which must be provided by theofficial club pharmacy. The HKJC testing laboratory is renowned worldwideand has never returned a false positive test in 44 years.Last year 22,000 samples were analyzed, and randomtesting is done even with feed and bedding. The quality of racing in Hong Kong has consistentlyrisen along with wagering, and currently there are 21 Hong Kong-based runners included in the World'sBest Racehorse Rankings. Five of Hong Kong'sinternational Group 1 races are considered among theworld's top 50 races by the International Federation ofHorseracing Authorities, Nader said. For the future, the HKJC is building a training centerin Conghua on mainland China, which is clearly a targetfor wagering development as authorities there ponderwhether to allow racing with betting. The trainingcenter should be open by 2018, Nader said.
Connecting Racing with Popular Culture...By Liesl King Best-selling Australian author Don Watson openedWednesday's plenary session titled 'Connecting racingwith popular culture' with the intriguing question: "Whydoes one want to own a racehorse?" Watson went on topoint out that theaverage racehorsecauses more heartache than it causesjoy. "Horses are fragilethings--they dropdead, they breakdown, need longspells and themajority of them arejust too slow,@ saidWatson. ASo why dowe persist?@ Yet there has to be a reason why so manypeople own racehorses and keep on acquiring them. According to Watson, the answer lies in the horseand in the age-old relationship that has existed betweenman and horse. "We are wired to the beasts," heexplained. They have exercised and inspired ourimagination for centuries. An animal that just happensto have a gap between its molars where a bit would fitand with a finely tuned flight instinct honed in agewhen they were easy prey for sabre-toothed tigers. "Ofcourse," Watson added with a twinkle in his eye,"that's probably why we have to put blinkers on them,as there is bound to be a sabre-toothed tiger lurking inthat car park adjacent to the home straight." Jokes aside, Watson has probably owned thirty oddhorses during his lifetime and he has certainly heardevery excuse in the book as to why a particular horsecould not win a particular race. cont. p8
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"Besides the physical limitations of the horse, youhave the added influences of the state of the track, thevigor of the jockey or lack thereof and the trainer,farrier or vet's ability to keep it fit, sound and healthy,@Watson said. AThen there is a gene that kicks in toremind the horse that it is a leader and should fight tothe end or that it belongs back in the herd." Yet people still want to own horses. Watson pointsout that much of his childhood was spent dreaming ofan ordinary horse belonging to his father's friend,before he switched the focus of his attention to amagnificent chestnut sprinter called Vain. Vain was achampion, but as Watson pointed out, you need to ownordinary horses to understand how freakish thechampions are. So are we any closer to figuring outwhy people would even want to own a horse or followhorse racing? According to Watson, the one thing that connectsracing to the popular culture is a charismatic horse, achampion that is the face of racing. The ones that writethemselves into the history books and fire theimagination of ordinary people. Yet racing does very little with its champions,treating them almost as an accessory, he argues, andtherein lies the cause of some of the disconnectbetween racing and popular culture. To conclude, Watson ends with another question,one he came across in a questionnaire once: "Whatwould make owning a racehorse more attractive toyou?" The simple answer, according to Watson:Owning a better horse, of course! Bill Barich, lead writer for the TV series ALuck@agreed, pointing out that when he spent 10 weeks onthe backstretch of a racetrack, the stories people toldhim always involved a horse. Racing may be a confineduniverse, where peoples= lives are completelyenmeshed, but it is a great leveler, a great democracyand at its center is the horse. The horse provides thatspark of life, the excitement and the noise as itthunders down the home straight. For Barich, whoseldom speaks in public, the answer is simple: Makeracing more about the horse and you will reconnectwith the popular culture. In closing, Chris Luoni and Gerald Fell explained whythey set up a New Zealand Racing Hall Of Fame. ForLuoni it was very straightforward. "I loved the stories,@he said. AWe had the opportunity to use the digitalmedia to tell the stories of the heroes and their historiesto the young people. Phar Lap's skeleton is on display,but it is a bare sterile bunch of bones. So we put hisstory on film and it was an instant success ." These DVD's have certainly gone some way towardsmaking the horse the center of the story of racing againas Gerald explains: "We have gone back and madeDVD's of our great horses such as Carbine, Phar Lapand Sunline, and these are regularly used as fillers byour local racing channel." Enabling people to reconnect with the stars of thepast will hopefully fire their imagination to follow thestars of the future.
Industry Vocational Training...By Liesl King Denzil Pillay, Chief Executive of the NationalHorseracing Authority of South Africa, chaired the lastplenary session on Wednesday afternoon at the AsianRacing Conference under the banner of 'IndustryVocational Training.' Racing is a labor-intensiveindustry and its workforce needsto be highly skilled andspecialized. Amy Chan, Managerof HKJC's Racing DevelopmentBoard (RDB) and Headmistress ofthe Apprentice Jockeys' Schooldelivered the main presentation.Chan told delegates that theRDB's aim is to "establish a bestpractice training system thatmeets the diverse needs of theHKJC, and which deliverstraining programs to our staffthat enable them to operate at astandard that exceeds accepted industry requirements." Chan explained the Elite Sports Training formula thatis the foundation of the Apprentice Jockeys' School'straining program. It is a simple equation of talent plusattitude plus discipline equals success. Especially in thehigh risk, high reward world of the extreme athlete thatis the professional jockey, talent is a necessaryrequirement. The search for this 'talent' starts right atthe beginning of the selection process, when all theapplicants are required to perform balancing exerciseson horseback, despite most of them never having seena horse before. From the initial 1000 applicants, roughly 25 areselected for the first stage of the training course, whichtakes place at the Guang Ming Riders' Club in Shenzen,mainland China. Here the trainees complete a nine-month course under the guidance of experienced ridingmasters, both racing and equestrian. The trainees learnbasic riding skills, stable management and undergophysical training. Chan went on to explain that awellness program is also included as most of theseyoung trainees find living in dormitory conditions awayfrom home very stressful. The intermediate phase of the training occurs at ShaTin Racecourse at the Apprentice Jockeys' School.Here trainees experience the Equisizer for the first time. Being at the track enables them to get familiar withmorning track work, gives them exposure to topjockeys and enables them to receive training inveterinary care, nutrition and physiology. With a daythat starts at 3 a.m. and ends at 9 p.m., there are oftena number of dropouts at this stage, but the ones whomake it through can look forward to a spell at anoverseas training facility. Currently there are Hong Kong apprenticescompleting their overseas training in South Africa,Australia and New Zealand. Upon their return, theapprentices are indentured to a master trainer in orderto begin their racing careers. cont. p9
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This unique vocational training system of apprenticejockeys by the Hong Kong Jockey Club has delivered aseries of world-class jockeys, such as internationalGroup 1-winning rider Tony Cruz and, more recently,the very talented Mathew Chadwick. In August 2012,Chadwick won the prize for the leading jockey atAscot's Shergar Cup, followed by a sensational victoryin the G1 Longines Hong Kong Cup. With unemployment in Hong Kong at only 3.3 %, it isnot easy to attract new trainees, yet Chan and herdedicated staff seem to have developed a solid trainingprogram that consistently produces top local jockeysthat can hold their own anywhere in the world.
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HOLDING ITS OWN Since Shergar=s day in 1981, the G3 Chester Vasehas enjoyed peaks and troughs as a Derby trial. Foursubsequent Classic winners have triumphed here,including last year=s hero Ruler of the World (Ire)(Galileo {Ire}), who was the first since that great tofollow up at Epsom. While this year=s assembly isprobably below the quality required of the blue riband,the four times-winning Ballydoyle stable supply twointeresting candidates in Michael Tabor, Derrick Smithand Susan Magnier=s Carlo Bugatti (Ire) (Montjeu {Ire})and Orchestra (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}). The former sportsblinkers for the first time after his return fourth in theG3 Ballysax S. at Navan Apr. 12 and is the pick ofJoseph O=Brien, while Ryan Moore is legged up on hisbarn mate, who captured a 7 1/2-furlong Tipperarymaiden when last seen in August and remains anunknown quantity. Now that Sea the Stars (Ire) isfinding his stride as a sire, it could be that his duo hereSeagull Star (GB) and Stars Over the Sea provide thestiffest opposition to the Irish contingent. The formerwas a staying-on third in the Apr. 17 ,200,000Tattersalls Millions 3-Y-O Trophy over 10 furlongs atNewmarket, while more experienced Stars Over the Seaalso looked in need of this trip when filling the samespot in Epsom=s Investec Derby Trial at that samedistance Apr. 23.
Thursday, Chester, Britain, post time: 2:45 p.m.MBNA CHESTER VASE-G3, £60,000, 3yo, c/g, 12f 66yTSC PP HORSE SIRE JOCKEY TRAINER1 1 Automated (GB) Authorized (Ire) Fallon Brittain2 4 Belfilo (Ire) Teofilo (Ire) Murphy Balding3 5 Carlo Bugatti (Ire) Montjeu (Ire) J O'Brien A O'Brien4 7 Festival Theatre (Ire) Danehill Dancer (Ire) Kelly Stoute5 2 Orchestra (Ire) Galileo (Ire) Moore A O'Brien6 3 Romsdal (GB) Halling Buick Gosden7 9 Scotland (Ger) Monsun (Ger) Crowley Balding8 8 Seagull Star (GB) Sea the Stars (Ire) G Lee Haggas
9 6 Stars Over the Sea K Sea the Stars (Ire) Norton JohnstonAll carry 126 pounds.
MISSION POSSIBLE While it has taken Noble Mission (GB) (Galileo {Ire})until the age of five to begin fulfilling early potential,Frankel=s full-brother looks to be on an upward curve atpresent as he steps out at Chester for the G3 BetfairPrice Rush Huxley S. today. So impressive under anaggressive ride in testing ground when beating the re-opposing Telescope (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) by nine lengthsin the G3 Gordon Richards S. at Sandown Apr. 25, therain arrived in time on the Roodeye yesterday andKhaild Abdullah=s homebred=s main concern will be hisoutside draw. J “TDN Rising Star” J Telescopeshould strip fitter this time and connections of lastyear=s G2 Great Voltigeur S. scorer retain all theirabundant faith. AThe first race was very much as SirMichael expected and he just needed it badly from amatch fitness point of view,@ Highclere=s RacingManager Harry Herbert told PA Sport. AI think fitnesswas the most important factor that day. He=s a bighorse and is very relaxed at home, so I think Sir Michaelthought the best way of getting him match fit was tolet him run at Sandown. We will see how he gets on atChester before mapping out plans, but he has an entryin the Tattersalls Gold Cup [at The Curragh May 25]and in the [June 21] G2 Hardwicke S. at Royal Ascot,should we decide that a mile and a half is his trip.@Another J “TDN Rising Star” J Ektihaam (Ire)(Invincible Spirit {Ire}) returns in a bid to make up forlost time, having been off since his disappointingshowing in the G1 King George VI and Queen ElizabethS. at Ascot in July. Talented on his day, the Shadwellrepresentative is dangerous from the front as heshowed when beating the subsequent Hardwickewinner Thomas Chippendale (Ire) (Dansili {GB}) by sixlengths in that track=s Listed Buckhounds S. over 12 furlongs in May.
Saturday, Belmont Park, post time: 5:28 p.m. EDTPETER PAN S.-GII, $200,000, 3yo, 1 1/8mPP HORSE SIRE JOCKEY TRAINER WT1 Matterhorn K Tapit Velazquez Pletcher 1162 Fabulous Kid Congrats Alvarado Toner 1163 Commissioner A.P. Indy Castellano Pletcher 1164 Tonalist Tapit Rosario Clement 1165 Tapicero Tapit Zayas Morales 1166 Our Caravan Daaher Lezcano Dilger 1207 Irish You Well K Broken Vow Ortiz Jr. Catalano 116
SOCIAL INCLUSION SHIPS TO PIMLICO Social Inclusion (Pioneerof the Nile), who was third inthe GI Twinspires.com Wood Memorial S. Apr. 5.,boarded a Maryland-bound van Wednesday morning atGulfstream. The Rontos Racing colorbearer, who wasscratched from last Saturday=s Sir Bear S. with a footbruise, is slated for a start in next Saturday=s GIPreakness S. AWe're all set and excited,@ said owner Ron Sanchezof Rontos Racing Stable. AI was a little concernedSaturday with the bruise, then I was happy [Tuesday],and [Wendesday] I'm excited. He went out joggingtoday and everything was great. [Trainer] Manny[Azpurua] and his guys did a great job. Right now he'llgallop Friday, Saturday and Sunday and then we'llbreeze him Monday.@
10 Winning Distinctions: What My Champion Racehorse Taught MeAbout Winning“Watching this year's Kentucky Derby winner, California Chrome, mademe reflect on my own peak experience as an owner in a racehorse whoalso wasn't expected to become anything special amongst the 30,000+racehorses that are born each year.” Dianne Collins, Huffington Post
Monmouth Park Believes It’s On the Right Track“Perceived by many in thoroughbred racing as a track that’s barelyholding its head above water in an industry that’s drowning, Monmouthhas embraced another blueprint for future success” John Rowe,NorthJersey.com
BITING THE HAND THAT FEEDS ME To hear some tell it, I have been biting the hand thatfeeds me for more than 40 years. This has been pointed out to me over the years by adiverse group that includes Daily Racing Form publisherMike Sandler, my DRF overseer Joe Hirsch, my currentfriend Ray Paulick back in an unenlightened incarnationwhen he edited The Blood-Horse, Hollywood Park'sdirector of publicity Bob Benoit and many othersinvolved in the media. My offense has been the unpardonable sin ofwashing the Thoroughbred industry's dirty laundry inpublic. Somewhere along the line I made the mistake ofthinking that just because I worked as a turf writer thatI also was a journalist. It wasn't long before I was put squarely in my placeby my supervisors. I quickly learned that I was nothingmore than a shill for the house. The publications that Iworked for were not set up to cover a beat like a realsportswriter, but to add some color in order toencourage participation, whether it was fromhorseplayers or owners or breeders. Whether it was as a DRF columnist, writer for variousmagazines or as host of TV and radio programs, I triedto operate as a journalist would outside of racing in the"real world." As long as my output was restrictedwithin the confines of trades, subjects of my variousendeavors only occasionally got worked up over it. But when I ventured out into general circulationmedia in a 1978 piece for Southern California-basedNew West magazine, all hell broke loose. The shit stormunleashed was, in its locale, as inflammatory as theindustry response to the PETA/Asmussen/Blasi video. My piece included such tidbits as trainers and jockeysholding horses to cash bets and jockeys exchangingbetting information for illegal drugs, among otherquestionable practices. None of this was news toanybody that attended races in Southern California.These things were talked about every race day at thetrack. But where I made my mistake, according to thosecharged with maintaining the status quo, was to namenames and to reach out to the general public. I had thebad taste to name the two biggest players in the game:Charlie Whittingham and Bill Shoemaker. Johnny Longden became so incensed that at anHBPA meeting he called for my "license" to be revoked.(I had just started racing horses in my own name.)
IN OTHER NEWS...A Daily Roundup of Racing Articles in Other Media
TDN P HEADLINE NEWS • 5/7/14 • PAGE 11 of 14 • thoroughbreddailynews.com
Op/Ed cont. The Pumper calmed down after some worldly boardmembers told him that what I wrote about the jockeysand drugs was the truth. It didn't hurt my credibilitythat shortly afterwards the young rider of SpectacularBid was arrested in the parking lot of Disneyland with abag of cocaine. Anyway, long story short, most of the stuff I wroteabout was eventually corrected and I am convinced thatmy expose advanced the cause of racing, both forhorseplayers and participants alike. Whittingham and Shoemaker eventually startedcracking with first-time starters, for example. Interestingly, few of those whose names I havereferenced ever held any of this against me becausethey knew I was right and they were doing somethingthat needed to be stopped. Whittingham subsequentlytrained for me, including a horse that we owned inpartnership; Shoemaker rode for me; Longden becamevery friendly, and Hirsch and I became much closerafter I moved on from the Form. If people realize that a journalist's heart is in the rightplace, they respect him/her, not rail against them. I only mention this to illustrate how long I have beeninvolved in the industry debate over whether it ishelpful to expose unsavory practices in hopes that byshining a light on them they can be corrected orwhether it is better to sweep them under the carpet ordeal with them privately. We all know what PETA did. They sent in a mole thatover a few months came away with some juicy video,which PETA turned into an edited production itdisseminated. Without judging the quality or integrity ofthe product, it is safe to say that PETA apparently gotwhat it wanted, which was to bring attention to theunderbelly of the Thoroughbred racing industry. The question is what is the goal of PETA? Do theywant to put us all out of business or cause enough of apublic furor to generate changes in how we play thegame? At first I was upset because the video and New YorkTimes article about the video were done in what Iconsidered to be an unprofessional manner. But, withthe passage of time, I now realize that only by adoptingenterprising tactics and forcing racing's hand isanything likely to move The Establishment off the dime. I am aware of two incidents involving entrenchedinterests in racing that knew of illegal and unsavorypractices that took place, which if handled in a morepublic manner, would have resulted in a cleaner sporttoday. But those involved chose to deal with thematters out of the glare of the spotlight. I mention this because my initial thought about PETAwas that if the organization really had the best interestsof the horses at heart, they could have met privatelywith Asmussen and Blasi, showed them what they haddiscovered and perhaps worked out a deal with them toa) cease their unsavory practices, b) voluntarily suspendthemselves or c) leave the game altogether.
Consider the case of two entities, one corporate andone governmental, that did exactly what I justreferenced. A high-ranking executive at a major racing associationwas tipped off that some jockeys were "plugging in"horses. Those in question all hailed from a locale knownfor producing riders that used battery devices toelectrically stimulate horses. The exec knew a guy at the local FBI office. Thisexec asked G Man if he could help him, but requestedthat any evidence be shown only to him. He also askedthat the agent not act on it in his official capacity at theFBI. With in a few days, the agent produced audio, videoand still photographic evidence showing that the tipwas correct. The exec then met privately with theriders, read them the riot act and warned them that ifthey were ever caught with a joint, they would neverride at that track again. Did it work? I seriously doubt it. Would it haveworked for the racing association in question andresidually for every other racetrack in the country if therevelation had gone public? You betcha. But the racingassociation wanted to keep this unsavory news out ofthe eye of the general and racing public. They didn'twant to air racing's dirty laundry! For many years a governmental agency charged withpolicing horse racing in a major locale had as its highestranking non-political appointee a fellow with misguidedjudgment that took the law into his own hands, but asit turned out for the betterment of the miscreants andnot the public. This guy, upon learning of positive test results fordrugs, cut deals with perpetrators, issuing ineffectiveslaps on the wrists that failed to act as a deterrent.After the trainers realized that they could get awaywith murder, a drug culture was established in thisformerly clean racing venue that to this day has notbeen eradicated. The civil service employee actually thought that bykeeping drug positives out of the public eye, he washelping the image of racing. But what he really did wassell out the sport, sell out the public and foster ablatant disregard for authority. Selfishly I established the Stanley Bergstein WritingAward a few years ago to encourage independentinvestigative journalism that would expose things inracing that needed a public airing in hopes that theresult would be an improved image for racing. Now more than ever, as our sport struggles to berelevant in a society that has had enough of animalabuse and drug abusers, we need writers with theingenuity, savvy and talent to keep their eye on the balland find platforms to publish their work. Because onlyby uncovering messes can the sport right itself.
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1st Dam: Fun House (GSW, $432,922), by Prized2nd Dam: Bistra, by Classic Go Go3rd Dam: Carols Christmas, by Whitesburg
O/B-Winchell Thoroughbreds LLC (KY); T-Steven M Asmussen; J-Rosie Napravnik. $576,600. Lifetime Record: 7-5-0-1, $1,124,725. *1/2 to Paddy O=Prado (El Prado {Ire}), GISW, $1,721,297. Werk Nick Rating: B+. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
Click for the brisnet.com chart, the brisnet.com PPs orthe free brisnet.com catalogue-style pedigree. VIDEO.
It was pretty much the same story over atNewmarket. Prior to the 1000 Guineas, Dansili had builtan impressive total of 16 Group 1 winners.Significantly, no fewer than 10 of those 16 were fillies,including quite a few, such as The Fugue, Dank,Proviso, Price Tag and the ill-fated Laughing, which arefamiliar to American racegoers. It therefore came as nogreat surprise that his 17th Group 1 winner should alsobe a filly, this being the gallant Miss France. I am going to concentrate here on Untapable, ratherthan Miss France. It is well-documented that Tapit didhis racing in Ron Winchell=s colors and WinchellThoroughbreds is enjoying considerable success with itsold friend=s progeny. Untapable follows Tapizar,Tapiture and War Echo as the fourth graded winnerowned and bred by Winchell, who also ranks as theowner or breeder of several other good Tapits. These four all have something in common, apart fromtheir owner/breeder. Untapable comes from the samefemale line as Tapizar and War Echo and this femaleline also produced Olympio, a Verne H. Winchellhomebred who ranks as the broodmare sire of Tapiture.Olympio also sired the dam of Remit and Retap, a pairof useful Tapits bred and owned by WinchellThoroughbreds.
PEDIGREE INSIGHTS B Y AN D R E W CA U L F I E L D
get the DELAHOOKE advantagepurchased full sister Nov ‘13, now i/f to Medaglia d’Oro
TDN P HEADLINE NEWS • 5/7/14 • PAGE 13 of 14 • thoroughbreddailynews.com
Tapit
PulpitA.P. Indy Seattle Slew
Weekend Surprise
Preach Mr. Prospector Narrate
Tap Your HeelsUnbridled Fappiano
Gana Facil
Ruby Slippers Nijinsky II Moon Glitter
Fun House GSW, 29-5-11-6,
$432,922 8Fls, 2GSW
PrizedKris S. Roberto
Sharp Queen
My Turbulent Miss My Dad GeorgeTurbulent Miss
Bistra 7-3-0-3, $62,250
8Fls, 2GSW 2SP
Classic Go Go Pago PagoClassic Perfection
Carols Christmas 10Fls, 2GSW,1SW,1GSP
WhitesburgLight Verse
UNTAPABLE, f, 2011
Caulfield cont. The Winchell=s connection to this family dates backmore than 30 years, to the purchase of Untapable=sthird dam, Carols Christmas. This mare had been soldtwice as a yearling, with her price going from $3,200 inJanuary to $4,000 in September. She therefore didn=tappear to be anything out of the ordinary, even thoughshe was fast enough to win four of her 12 starts. Hersire Whitesburg had won five times from nineappearances, but his fee had been only $1,000 in theyear of her birth (1977). He had clearly been fast andprecocious, numbering the Bashford Manor S. amonghis three wins from four juvenile starts. However, Carols Christmas proved to be anything butordinary during her time as a broodmare for theWinchell family. Mated to Naskra in 1987 she producedOlympio, who made a bid for the title of champion 3-year-old colt in 1991. That was the year he racked upseven wins and three seconds from 11 starts, includingfour Derbys, of the Hollywood, Arkansas, American andMinnesota varieties. Carols Christmas produced another graded winner inthe Wild Again filly Call Now, who landed the GII DelMar Debutante, and she also had a graded-placeddaughter in the Pass the Tab filly Carol=s Wonder. Verne Winchell retained Call Now and Carol=sWonder, together with Bistra, a winning daughter ofClassic Go Go, and Carols Christmas= talented Star deNaskra filly Christmas Star (a three-parts-sister toOlympio). His faith in the family has been thoroughlyvindicated, with Bistra, Carol=s Wonder and ChristmasStar collectively producing one Grade I winner (theFuturity S. winner Cuvee) and four Grade II winners,including Untapable=s dam Fun House. Anotherdaughter, the Flying Paster filly Dana Nicole, was soldbut she too produced a Grade II winner.
Although Call Now wasn=t one of these daughterswith a graded stakes winner to her credit, she made fullamends via her daughter Winning Call, who producedthe GI Breeders= Cup Dirt Mile winner Tapizar to Tapit.Call Now=s close relative Wild Vision (by Wild Again outof a half-sister to Call Now) visited Tapit=s sire Pulpitand she too hit the Grade I target, with her son Pyrotaking the Forego S. Wild Vision also produced theGrade III winner War Echo to Tapit, so Untapable is aproduct of a tried and trusted formula. Her dam, Fun House, did most of her racing on turf,her best win coming in the GII Buena Vista H. over amile. She no doubt inherited her penchant for turf fromher sire Prized, a sizeable Kris S. stallion who gained hisfinest victory in the 1989 GI Breeders= Cup Turf. There is every reason to be excited about FunHouse=s future. Untapable has the potential to developinto a champion and Fun House also has a 2-year-oldsister to Untapable called Time To Tap, plus a 2013brother and a 2014 sister. Of course Fun House is noone-hit wonder, as her 2007 El Prado colt was PaddyO=Prado, a high-class turf performer who also handleddirt well enough to finish third in Super Saver=s GI Kentucky Derby. Untapable is also likely to stay amile and a quarter, if required. Click here to share this story
While we would have different terms to describe thephenomenon, I=d use Aselected away from@ as opposedto Anobody is bred for,@ Andy Beyer is dead-on with hiscomments to Bill Oppenheim that the North Americanthoroughbred is Adistance challenged.@ (TDN, May 7,2014) . We recently completed a genetic study on some1500+ horses and found that the North Americanbreeding population has the second highest percentageof horses that have been genetically selected forsprinting (unsurprisingly Australia is the highest).However, the precipitous decline in Beyer speed figuresfor the Derby and Belmont from 2008 onwards cannotbe solely blamed on selection of genetics. Because ofthe long intergenerational distance in Thoroughbreds (itis roughly seven years from the time a foal is born untilwe see offspring out of this foal race themselves), itgenerally takes 15 to 20 years of selection for apopulation of Thoroughbreds to shift dramaticallyenough to affect a trait. Unless North Americanbreeders in the late 80=s decided to fundamentallychange the way that they breed en masse, thisselection for sprinting speed has been going on forsome time longer than that and it hasn=t becomeapparent/exposed in performance measures until now.
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Letter to the Editor cont. As a hypothesis I would speculate that it isnoteworthy that Kentucky or New York began formaltesting for bicarbonate loading or Amilkshaking@ in2005, and in 2008 the use of anabolic steriods wasprohibited in racehorses. These two events, occuringvery close together, and both having a fundamentalimpact on the physiology of aerobic performance mayhelp explain the phenomenon of the rapidly decliningspeed figures. Without milkshakes and steroids thehorses that have been selected for and trained asAclassic types@ by bloodstock agents, owners andtrainers are now exposed for the sprinters that theygenetically are. Bill is also right. The reality is, changing the distancesof the Derby, Preakness and Belmont would only be areflection of where the American breeding population isin terms of its genetics. Market forces have selected forsprinting speed in North America so unless the markethas a reason to fundamentally change what it selectsfor the die is cast.
The alternate is to try to instill distance back into thebreed but unless we want to go back to steroids andmilkshakes that would require some significantstructural changes, the first of which would be takingraces like the Breeders Cup Classic, Jockey Club GoldCup and Coaching Club American Oaks up to a mile anda half, and races like the Kentucky Oaks back to tenfurlongs and putting significantly more money intodistance events. A breeding population generally movesto where the money is but even then, it would thentake 15-20 years for those changes to have an impacton measures of performance.
6th-BEL, $77,000, Alw, NW1$X, 3yo, 1m, 1:35 4/5,ft.BAY OF PLENTY, c, 3, by Medaglia d=Oro
1st Dam: Kotuku (GB), by A.P. Indy2nd Dam: Flagbird, by Nureyev 3rd Dam: Up the Flagpole, by Hoist the Flag
Bay of Plenty made it two wins in a row with adevastatingly easy victory at Belmont Park Wednesday.The dark bay colt was soon at the head of affairs, wasalways in control through fractions of :22.76 and:45.29 and pulled clear effortlessly in the stretch to winby 9 1/4 lengths as the 4-5 favorite. Roman Approval(Roman Ruler) was second and Divine Energy (Tapit),after a troubled start, was third. Bay of Plenty, fourthbehind subsequent GII Tampa Bay Derby winner RingWeekend (Tapit) when stretched out to 1 1/16 milessecond time out at Gulfstream Feb. 8, graduated by afront-running 7 1/4 lengths at that distance atAqueduct Mar. 22. Bay of Plenty is out of Darleyhomebred Kotuku, a half-sister to the dam of GISWLittle Belle (A.P. Indy). The 11-year-old mare, alreadythe dam of Fortify (Distorted Humor, GISP, $323,407),has an unraced 2-year-old filly by Street Cry (Ire), ayearling filly by Medaglia d=Oro and she produced aDistorted Humor colt this spring. Bay of Plenty=s seconddam, Group 1 winner Flagbird, was also campaigned byDarley. VIDEO. Click for the brisnet.com chart orbrisnet.com catalogue-style pedigree. Lifetime Record:4-2-1-0, $95,200. O-Godolphin Racing LLC. B-Darley (KY). T-Kiaran PMcLaughlin. Click here to share this story
8th-BEL, $77,000, Alw, NW1$X, 3yo/up, f/m, 1 1/4mT, 2:05 1/5, fm.AULD ALLIANCE (IRE) (f, 4, Montjeu {Ire}--HighlandGift {Ire}, by Generous {Ire}), a maiden winner over 1 1/2 miles at Chepstow last June, had not been outsince running third in a Haydock handicap last July forher breeder Ballymacoll Stud Farm and trainer MichaelStoute. Purchased by James Delahooke as agent forBobby Flay for 550,000gns out of last year=s TattersallsDecember sale, she was making her first start for Flayand trainer Graham Motion as a 2-1 shot. The bay fillywas away well and settled into a stalking position whilecovered up along the rail as Glorious Chant (Giant=sCauseway) set a pedestrian pace. Forced to wait forracing room turning for home, Auld Alliance lookedbeaten at midstretch, but kicked into gear once in theclear and just nailed Precarious (Lemon Drop Kid) on theline to win by a nose. Glorious Chant was a neck backin third. Even-money favorite Satisfaction (AwesomeAgain) rallied to reach contention in upper stretch, butflattened out to be fourth. Auld Alliance is a half-sisterto Golan (Ire) (Spectrum {Ire}, GSW-Fr & MG1SW-Eng,G1SP-Ire, $1,624,185); Gift Range (Ire) (Spectrum{Ire}, GSP-Ire); Tartan Bearer (Ire) (Spectrum {Ire},MGSW & MG1SP-Eng, G1SP-Ire, $1,556,290). Click forthe brisnet.com chart or VIDEO. Lifetime Record:7-2-2-2, $57,915. O-Bobby Flay. B-Ballymacoll Stud Farm Ltd (Ire). T-HGraham Motion.
First/second-crop starters to watch: Thursday, May 8Sire (Sire’s Sire), current farm, 2010 Fee, #foals of racing age/Winners/BlackTypeWnrs * Race #-track, race type, distance, runner, odds (if available)DESERT CODE (E Dubai), Harris, $2K, 68/8/01-SA, Msw, 4 1/2f, +Desert Steel, $130K BAR MAR 2yo, 5-2DUNKIRK (Unbridled's Song), Ashford, $10K, 185/25/27-BTP, Stk, 6 1/2f, Conniption Fit, $14K RNA FTK OCT yrl, 8-5IN THE WOODS (Forest Wildcat), Xanthus, $2K, 14/0/04-PEN, Msw, 6f, +Eddie'sinthewoods, 10-1OLD FASHIONED (Unbridled's Song), Taylor Made, $8K, 156/18/31-PIM, Msw, 8.5f, +Old Fashioned Song, $145K RNA KEE APR 2yo, 8-1TALENT SEARCH (Catienus), Ramsey Farm, $3K, 60/10/04-PEN, Msw, 6f, +Bayott, 10-1
AROUND THE WORLD THURSDAY, MAY 8, 2014
Kiaran McLaughlin@KPMRacingStable Bay of Plentyeasily wins the 6th at Belmont for@godolphin with Irad Ortiz! #wow #veryimpressive
get the DELAHOOKE advantage
GrahamMotion @GrahamMotionGood US debut for @bflay AuldAlliance thanks to a great rideby @ljlmvel That’s why you get the big bucks!
NYRA @TheNYRA Hard to say who looks most proud of AuldAlliance's #Belmont win, @ljlmvel, @bflay,@grahammotion's… http://instagram.com/p/nth8COrMgh/
1st Dam: Anna Amalia (Ire), by In the Wings (GB)2nd Dam: Anna of Saxony (GB), by Ela-Mana-Mou (Ire)3rd Dam: Anna Matrushka (GB), by Mill Reef
O-Nurlan Bizakov; B-Hesmonds Stud (GB); T-R Varian; J-A Atzeni. ,22,684. Lifetime Record: 7-3-1-1, ,31,339. *1/2 to Ave (GB) (Danehill Dancer {Ire}), GISW-US, GSW-Ire, SW-Eng, $540,196; and Dubawi Phantom (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}), MGSP-Eng.2--Secret Pursuit (Ire), 126, f, 3, Lawman (Fr)--Secret Melody (Fr), by Inchinor (GB). (i98,000 yrl >12 ARQAUG; i140,000 2yo >13 ARQMAY). O-Mr Guy Brook. ,8,600.3--Bright Approach (Ire), 126, f, 3, New Approach (Ire)-- Zam Zoom (Ire), by Dalakhani (Ire). (52,000gns yrl >12 TATOCT). O-Saeed Manana. ,4,304.Margins: HF, 1HF, 3 1/4. Odds: 16.00, 16.00, 2.50.Also Ran: Psychometry (Fr), Terrific (Ire), Full Moon Fever (Ire), Lady Tyne(GB), Groovejet (GB), Brown Diamond (Ire). Click for the Racing Postresult. VIDEO, courtesy Racing UK. Unsuccessful in four juvenile starts, Anipa stepped upmarkedly on wins in a Mar. 8 Windsor maiden and anApr. 14 Wolverhamton handicap, and dented theaspirations of a clutch of G1 Epsom Oaks hopefuls byspringing a surprise in this Classic Trial. Positioned thirdwithin striking distance, the hooded chestnut wasnudged into second with three furlongs remaining andwas game under a drive after challenging at the eighthpole to assert superiority over long-time leader SecretPursuit. AShe=s a tough little filly who keeps improvingand you have to enjoy moments like these,@ commentedwinning trainer Roger Varian. AOn ratings, she had tostep up on what she=d done previously and her pricereflected her chance. We were hoping to finish in thefirst three and delighted to have won. At this stage wewouldn=t commit [to paying a ,30,000 supplementaryfee for the June 6] G1 Epsom Oaks until we see howshe comes out of this race. I think the G2 RibblesdaleS. would be the race to go for, but I=ll have a discussionwith Mr. Bizakov.@
STANJAMES.COM CHESTER CUP (HERITAGEHANDICAP), ,120,000, CHS, 5-7, 4yo/up, 18f 147yT,4:07.85, gd.1--SUEGIOO (FR), 130, g, 5, Manduro (Ger)--Mantesera (Ire), by In the Wings (GB). (50,000gns yrl >10 TATOCT; 70,000gns HRA >13 TATHIT). O-Dr Marwan Koukash; B-Rabbah Bloodstock Ltd (FR); T-Marco Botti; J-Ryan Moore. ,74,700. Lifetime Record: 15-2-6-3, ,109,460. *1/2 to Nideeb (GB) (Exceed and Excel {Aus}), GSW-Eng, $161,749.2--Angel Gabrial (Ire), 128, g, 5, Hurricane Run (Ire)-- Causeway Song, by Giant=s Causeway. (i40,000 wlng >09 GOFNOV; i50,000 yrl >10 GOFSPT). O-Dr Marwan Koukash. ,22,368.3--Communicator (GB), 127, g, 6, Motivator (GB)-- Goodie Twosues (GB), by Fraam (GB). O-Lady Davis. ,11,184.Margins: HF, 3 3/4, 3/4. Odds: 10.00, 7.00, 6.00.Click for the Racing Post result. VIDEO, courtesyRacing UK. Suegioo first hinted that he might develop into astayer when fourth in a 14-furlong handicap at Ascotlast July and confirmed that impression with a one-paced third on his last start behind the potential grouphorse Battalion (Ire) (Authorized {Ire}) over a mile and ahalf at Ripon Apr. 26. Held up early in the midst of thepack tightly bunched by the steady pace, Suegioochestnut saved ground hard against the fence, but wasrunning up the back of the frontrunners approachingthe home straight. Angled out as Angel Gabrial sweptto the front from rear, he gathered in that errant rival inthe final 75 yards for an ultimately comfortable score.In the process, Suegioo led home a one-two for hisowner, the Chester enthusiast Dr. Marwan Koukash.AIt=s a race I target every year and I only had five in therace,@ he said. AIf you ask me what the plan is for thesehorses, the answer is to come back next year for thisrace again.@ Trainer Marco Botti added, AThe geldingoperation has definitely helped, but he stays and therain helped.@
1st-CHS, ,20,000, Cond, 2yo, 5f 16yT, 1:01.53, gd.MUKHMAL (IRE) (c, 2, Bahamian Bounty {GB}--MayDay Queen {Ire} {GSP-Ire}, by Danetime {Ire}), heavilypenalised for his debut win at Musselburgh Apr. 18,showed dash to gain the early lead from his wide draw,which is normally a killer at this venue. Keeping uprelentless pressure, the 6-1 shot hit the line with 1 1/4 lengths to spare over Roudee (GB) (Kodiac {GB}).AIt takes some doing from that draw--I can=t rememberthe last time I was drawn 10 of 10 here and won likethat,@ jockey Paul Hanagan said. AHe was quick awaythe first day when Dane O=Neill rode him and he=s sostraightforward. I was going a stride quicker than Iwanted to, but he pricked his ears in front and wentagain.@ Sales history: ,60,000 yrl >13 DONAUG. LifetimeRecord: 2-2-0-0, ,22,306. VIDEO, courtesy Racing UK.O-Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum. B-Pier HouseStud & Martinstown (IRE). T-Mark Johnston.
All winners in the U.S. race on Lasix unless otherwise indicated
TDN P AROUND THE WORLD • 5/8/14 • PAGE 3 of 4 • thoroughbreddailynews.com
B R E E D E R S’ E D I T I O NAMERICA
5th-CHS, ,14,000, Mdn, 3yo, 10f 75yT, 2:15.00, gd.PRINCE OF STARS (GB) (c, 3, Sea the Stars {Ire}--Queen=s Logic {Ire} {Ch. 2yo Filly-Eur, Hwt. 2yo Filly &G1SW-Eng, $288,571} by Grand Lodge), fifth on debutin Newmarket=s Wood Ditton S. Apr. 17, was forced torace wide without cover early halfway down the field.Delivered approaching the furlong pole, the 11-8favorite was always holding Dursey Island (ElusiveQuality) and hit the line with a length to spare. Thewinner is a half to Lady of the Desert (Rahy), Hwt. 3yoFilly-Eng at 5-7f, MGSW & MG1SP-Eng, G1SP-Fr,$487,845. AI think coming from the Wood Ditton tohere, it=s a bit of an ask mentally but he=s done it well,@trainer John Gosden said. AHe=s a promising colt andwe=ll see what the handicapper does. I think he=s veryhappy at a mile and a quarter.@ Lifetime Record:2-1-0-0, ,9,057. VIDEO, courtesy Racing UK.O-Jaber Abdullah. B-Rabbah Bloodstock Limited (GB).T-John Gosden.
1st-BTN, ,4,000, Mdn, 2yo, 5f 59yT, 1:05.04, gd/fm.DOUGAL (IRE) (c, 2, Zebedee {GB}--Liscoa {Ire}, byFoxhound), a one-length runner-up at Windsor on debutApr. 28, stalked the pace in third after an alert break inthis second go. Cruising to the front passing the eighthpole, the 2-7 lock lengthened clear in hand from thereto easily best Brown Velvet (GB) (Kodiac {GB}) by fivelengths. Dougal becomes the third winner for hisfreshman sire (by Invincible Spirit {Ire}). Sales history:i55,000 wlng >12 GOFNOV. Lifetime Record: 2-1-1-0,,3,454. VIDEO, courtesy attheraces.com.O-Mrs J Wood. B-Ardrums House Stud (IRE). T-RichardHannon.
Tuesday=s Results:5th-KMP, ,6,000, Mdn, 3yo, f, 8f (AWT), 1:40.24, ft.+PROVENANCE (GB) (f, 3, Galileo {Ire}--Echelon {GB},by Danehill) chased the leading wave through the earlystages of this debut. Making smooth headway off thehome turn to challenge at the quarter-mile marker, the12-1 chance surged clear once taking over approachingthe final eighth to score by an impressive 4 1/2 lengthsfrom Award (Ire) (Tamayuz {GB}). Colourful (GB)(Champs Elysees {GB}), a half to Powerscourt (GB)(Sadler=s Wells) from the family of Frankel (GB) (Galileo{Ire}), raced in advance of the eventual winner, butcould not match that rival=s late kick and finishedfourth. Provenance is a half to Integral (GB) (Dalakhani{Ire}), GSW & G1SP-Eng, $163,472. Lifetime Record:1-1-0-0, ,3,881. VIDEO, courtesy Racing UK.O/B-Cheveley Park Stud Ltd (GB). T-Sir Michael Stoute.
Yesterday=s Results:1st-SRO, i16,500, Mdn, 2yo, 5fT, 1:10.40, sf.PANCHO (ITY) (c, 2, Pounced--Pasionaria {Ire}, byCeltic Swing {GB}) became the first NorthernHemisphere winner for 2009 GII Breeders' Cup JuvenileTurf hero Pounced (Rahy) here. The homebredresponded well when challenged by Zan O'Bowney (Ity)(Blu Air Force {Ire}) and landed a clear 2 1/2-length win.The winner is a half-brother to Papetti (Ity) (Shantou),G1SP-Ity, $317,662. Pounced, who failed to run afterhis win at Santa Anita, started his stud duties in Brazil,where he had his first winner two weeks ago, and wasshuttled to Italy at SAB Allevamento di Besnate. He hasa first crop of 37 2-year-olds and, after two moreshuttle seasons, was forced to stay in Brazil due toquarantine issues. VIDEO. Lifetime Record: 1-1-0-0i6,375. O-Quafin; B-Allevamento Dei Lagoni; T-Stefano Botti.
Brilliant speed at 2, winning a 5½-fur.Woodbine MSW and the Bull Page S.-NTRat Woodbine, 6 furlongs in 1:08.84.
Canadian Champion 3YO won 4 stakes at 3 including the 1¼-mile Queen's Plate.
Racing millionaire out of millionaire and multiple Graded SW BOURBON BELLE.
By Not Impossible (IRE), son of leading international sire of sires SADLER'SWELLS andsire of 2 champions from very limited opportunities; Not Impossible (IRE) is a full brother tomillionaire, champion, and Keeneland record holder PERFECT SOUL (IRE) [G1], sire ofBreeders’ Cup-winning millionaire PERFECT SHIRL [G1], 2013 Kentucky Derby runner-upGOLDEN SOUL, and 2013 Northern Dancer S. [G1] runner-up PERFECTTIMBER!
First foals race at 2 in 2014.
NOT BOURBONNot Impossible (IRE) - Bourbon Belle, by Storm Boot2014 Fee: $5,000 (Canadian funds) live foal
INQUIRIES:Nancy Wheatley 866.425.7469, 905.640.8051 Fax 905.640.2137John Burness 416.984.5200 or 905.640.8051
