Shared Content Archive

Zayat Stables will send out a pair of sophomores Saturday in Oaklawn's GI Arkansas Derby in juvenile champ American Pharoah (Pioneerof the Nile) and Mr. Z (Malibu Moon).  American Pharoah, who took the GI Del Mar Futurity and GI FrontRunner S. in the fall before scratching out of the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile due to a foot ailment. He's made just one start so far this year with a runaway win in the sloppy GII Rebel S. at Oaklawn.  "He's been doing extremely well," Justin Zayat said of the champion. "His works have been...

by Jessica Martini  While Roy and Gretchen Jackson were in the U.S. coping with a sick horse, trainer Gai Waterhouse was busy picking out the couple's first Australian purchase at Tuesday's first session of the Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale. Waterhouse signed the ticket at A$460,000 to secure the filly by Encosta de Lago (Aus) on behalf of the Jacksons, who campaigned GI Kentucky Derby winner Barbaro.  “It was a spur of the moment decision,” Gretchen Jackson said of the purchase Tuesday afternoon. “And also we respect the breeding down...

John Quinn declared himself satisfied after Al Shaqab Racing's G1 QIPCO 2000 Guineas hopeful The Wow Signal (Ire) (Starspangledbanner {Aus}) went through his paces after racing at Pontefract under Frankie Dettori. Breaking from the mile start, the G2 Coventry S. and G1 Prix Morny winner worked over seven furlongs of the West Yorkshire venue, tracking the 90-rated Fuwairt (Ire) (Arcano {Ire}) with Ian Brennan aboard, before Dettori asked his partner to quicken off the bend. The Italian was a little animated as he came clear before being eased at the furlong marker,...

Ed Dunlop will keep Red Cadeaux (GB) (Cadeaux Genereux {GB}) over a mile and a quarter after declaring his entry in the G1 Longines Queen Elizabeth S. at Randwick Saturday, Apr. 11. The Newmarket handler had been considering letting the three-time G1 Melbourne Cup runner-up contest the G1 Schweppes Sydney Cup over two miles on the same card. However, due to a prolonged wet spell at the track turning the ground soft, Dunlop has opted to instead run the 9-year-old in the 10 furlong contest. It will be the second race in...

Carrying a five-pound penalty as one of two in the field as a Group 1 winner and weighing in better than 20 pounds heavier than he was for his last-out defeat of Beauty Flame in the G1 Queen's Silver Jubilee Cup Mar. 15, Able Friend was fractionally less brilliant than he has been in four previous runs, but nevertheless proved far too strong in this final local prep for the G1 Champions Mile May 3.  The second highest-rated horse according the Longines World's Best Racehorse Rankings on the strength of...

by Bill Oppenheim ELITE EIGHT With next Saturday's GI Arkansas Derby at Oaklawn Park (100 points to the winner) and Keeneland's GIII Lexington S. (10 points) the only remaining Derby preps with points, there are now eight colts which dominate the GI Kentucky Derby discussion, pending the confirmation of American Pharoah (Pioneerof the Nile) as one of those 'elite eight' (apologies for the basketball reference) in Arkansas.  Of the eight, two each are trained by Bob Baffert in the West and by Todd Pletcher in the East. Baffert trains American Pharoah and Dortmund (Big...

by Kelsey Riley The Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale got off to a strong beginning in Sydney Tuesday, with gains posted for the average (up 12% to A$291,667) and median (up 17% to A$210,000) from 12 months ago. A total of 132 yearlings changed hands for A$38,500,000--a shade more than last year's first session gross of A$38,349,250. The buyback rate was up 15 points to 27%, with three buybacks over the A$500,000 mark. Three horses sold for A$1 million-plus yesterday compared to four last year, but the number sold for...

Mubtaahij (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) extended his almost perfect record at this year's Carnival when running 2 1/2 lengths clear of Uruguayan champion Sir Fever (Uru) (Texas Fever), with their other rivals left trailing over 10 lengths in their wake. Sir Fever made the running on the outside of the other Mike de Kock representative Ajwad (Arg) (Not For Sale {Arg}), while Mubtaahij sat on the tail of his main rival. As the pace quickened around the bend and most horses were already under pressure, the Sheikh Mohammed bin Khalifa color-bearer zoomed three wide and overtook...

STONESTREET RUNNER WINS DOWN UNDER  The 2013 G1 Blue Diamond S. winner Miracles of Life (Aus) (Not A Single Doubt {Aus}), making her third start since being purchased by Stonestreet Stables for A$900,000 at last year's Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale, won her second group race as a 4-year-old and fourth overall when taking yesterday's G2 Challenge S. at Randwick. Racing in midpack one slot behind 'TDN Rising Star' Rubick (Aus) (Encosta de Lago {Aus}) into the bend, the blaze-faced chestnut worked her way to the lead on the outside in midstretch and drew...

Third in the 2013 G1 Prix du Jockey Club and winner of the G3 St Simon S. at Newbury last time out, Sky Hunter (GB) (Motivator {GB}) made his first start at Meydan a winning one and emulated his half-brother Highest (Ire) (Selkirk) in landing the G2 Dubai City Of Gold. The gelded 5-year-old broke almost too quickly from gate seven and was promptly restrained by James Doyle, who appeared determined to get cover as his mount was returning from a four-month lay-off. With the rail-drawn Cooptado (Arg) (Equal Stripes {Aus}) running to the...

Victorious in the G1 Tattersall's Tiara on her final start of her 3-year-old campaign, Cosmic Endeavour (Aus) (Northern Meteor {Aus}) had been a beaten favorite in both her outings this season, finishing fourth and then second in a pair of Group 3 events, including the G3 Guy Walter S. at Warwick Farm last Saturday. However, punters as well as trainer Gai Waterhouse kept their faith in the 4-year-old mare and were duly rewarded with an all-the-way victory in the G1 Canterbury S. The bay broke alertly from post one and took control...

The connections of Sir Maximilian enjoyed a fruitful campaign with the gelding last season, when he won four of nine outings, including two listed stakes, over this distance in Britain and Ireland. The bay got the year off on a winning note when taking a Chester handicap over Caspian Prince (Ire) (Dylan Thomas {Ire}) in May, and three starts later he landed in the winner's enclosure at The Curragh, once again in handicap company. After finishing seventh, beaten 3 1/4 lengths, in a heritage handicap at Goodwood Aug. 2, Sir...