Today's Edition:  Record-Setting $1.4M Justify Filly Leads The Way at OBS · Baeza Set for Summer Showdown · Royal Ascot Coverage 2

Horse Racing

Saturday Insights: Pricey City Of Light Colt Gets Going at Keeneland

6th-KEE, $100k, Msw, 3yo, 6 1/2f, post time: 3:40 p.m. ET SOLEVO (City of Light) is the second foal to the races out of the stakes-placed Pleasant Mine (Mineshaft), who was acquired by Windylea Farm New York for $200,000 with this foal in utero at the 2019 Fasig-Tipton November Sale. The Kentucky-bred dark bay colt made a solid return on that investment when hammering for $170,000 at the 2021 Fasig-Tipton July Sale and fetched $685,000 from trainer Cherie DeVaux at last year's OBS April Sale after breezing a furlong in...

[ Read More ]
Well-Bred Malibu Moon Filly On Recovery Mission at Tokyo

In this continuing series, Alan Carasso takes a look ahead at US-bred and/or conceived runners entered for the upcoming weekend at the tracks on the Japan Racing Association circuit, with a focus on pedigree and/or performance in the sales ring. Here are the horses of interest for this weekend running for the grand re-opening of Kyoto Racecourse and Tokyo Racecourses as Group 1 racing takes the week off: Saturday, April 22, 2023 6th-TOK, ¥14,880,000 ($111k), Allowance, 3yo, 1600m PARAIBA TOURMALINE (f, 3, Malibu Moon--Private Jet, by Private Feeling) opened her...

[ Read More ]
Mysterious Night
Another Shadwell Star To Shine In the Craven?

There is no doubt that, in general, Newmarket's G3 Craven S. has lost much of its former relevance as a 2000 Guineas trial, but in the last two years it has enjoyed a revival with winners Master Of The Seas (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) and Native Trail (GB) (Oasis Dream {GB}) going close in the mile Classic. Godolphin and Charlie Appleby have another leading man this time in the GI Summer S. and G3 Prix Francois Boutin scorer Mysterious Night (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}), but the one that really catches the...

[ Read More ]
Sol Oriens A Rising Star For Kitasan Black in Satsuki Sho

Just days after his first-crop son Equinox (Jpn) was named the world's highest-rated racehorse for his stunning victory in last month's G1 Longines Dubai Sheema Classic, successful young stallion Kitasan Black (Jpn) was represented by his first Japanese Classic winner when Sol Oriens (Jpn) came from a near-impossible position 400 metres from home to take Sunday's G1 Satsuki Sho (Japanese 2000 Guineas) by a widening 1 1/4 lengths. Tastiera (Jpn) (Satono Crown {Jpn}) led into the final furlong, but was swamped late on, while favoured Phantom Thief (Jpn) (Harbinger {GB})...

[ Read More ]
Skelly Scorches Rivals In Count Fleet Sprint

One of the most progressive horses to race during this year's meet at Oaklawn Park, Red Lane Thoroughbreds' Skelly (Practical Joke) took Saturday's $500,000 GIII Count Fleet Sprint H. by the scruff of the neck and never gave any of his rivals a chance, as he led past every pole for an impressive first victory at the stakes and graded stakes level. Having earned the right to contest a race of this caliber off big-figure allowance scores in the slop Feb. 25 and over a fast strip Mar. 17, the...

[ Read More ]
Discreet Cat Colt Returns A Winner At Hanshin

Victorious in last year's G2 Keio Hai Nisai S. (1400m), Obamburumai (Jpn) (Discreet Cat) was having his first start since finishing seventh to Dolce More (Jpn) (Rulership {Jpn}) in the G1 Asahi Hai Futurity S. in December. Settled just ahead of midfield as lukewarm favourite Yurisha (Jpn) (Greater London {Jpn}) tore away to lead by nearly double digits over the rain-affected turf, Obamburumai was a bit short of room and with plenty to do with less than 400 metres to race, but he found his best stride late and got...

[ Read More ]
Chez Pierre Right at Home in Maker's Mark; Modern Games Second

The public bet reigning Eclipse Award-winning turf male Modern Games (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) like he couldn't lose Friday's GI Maker's Mark Mile at Keeneland, but Lael Stables Chez Pierre (Fr) (Mehmas {Ire}) had other designs, as he kicked hard into the stretch and ran out a very easy winner in stakes-record time. Alertly into stride from gate three, the 5-year-old dueled inside and heads apart with Peter Brant's Dr Zempf (GB) (Dark Angel {Ire}) around the first turn and tugged his way to the front beneath Flavien Prat to lead...

[ Read More ]
Sol Oriens Goes For Three Straight In 'Impact'-Free Satsuki Sho

For the first time in what seems a lifetime--13 years, to be precise--no 3-year-old son of Deep Impact (Jpn) heads to the gate for the opening leg of the Japanese Triple Crown, the G1 Satsuki Sho (Japanese 2000 Guineas) at Nakayama Racecourse. But the 2000-metre affair does not lack for intrigue, as a typically full field of 18 is set to face the starter Sunday afternoon. Sol Oriens (Jpn) (Kitasan Black {Jpn}) could continue a magical roll for his sire--who is also responsible for the world's top-rated runner Equinox (Jpn)--and...

[ Read More ]
Coen To Join Tattersalls Ireland

Officials at Tattersalls Ireland have announced the appointment of Luke Coen as a bloodstock representative. An experienced and respected figure in the industry, Coen has excelled in both the eventing and Thoroughbred industry. Having represented Ireland at both Junion and Young Rider level in the European Championships, Coen has been surrounded by such equine superstars as My Dream Boat, Quel Spirit and Faugheen from a young age and has also gained knowledge as a pinhooker through his Q-Cross Stables. "We are delighted to welcome Luke to the Tattersalls Ireland team,"...

[ Read More ]
Produce of Grade I Mares On Display at Hanshin

In this continuing series, we take a look ahead at US-bred and/or conceived runners entered for the upcoming weekend at the tracks on the Japan Racing Association circuit, with a focus on pedigree and/or performance in the sales ring. Here are the horses of interest for this weekend running at Hanshin Racecourse: Saturday, April 15, 2023 2nd-HSN, ¥10,480,000 ($79k), Maiden, 3yo, 1800m AUDIBLE CALL (GB) (f, 3, Medaglia d'Oro--Callback, by Street Sense), whose dam won the 2015 GI Las Virgenes S. and sold to Katsumi Yoshida for an even $2...

[ Read More ]
Equinox Ascends To Top of Longines WBRR

Japanese horses have readily left their marks at racetracks in the Middle East over the first three months of 2023, and accordingly, the nation is now home to the top-rated gallopers in the world on both turf and dirt according to the latest edition of the Longines World's Best Racehorse Rankings (WBRR) that was made public Thursday. On the strength of his mesmerising front-running victory in the G1 Longines Dubai Sheema Classic at Meydan Mar. 25, Silk Racing's Equinox (Jpn) (Kitasan Black {Jpn}) has been assigned a rating of 129,...

[ Read More ]
Wuheida
Observations: Wuheida's Half-Sister Debuts At Newcastle

14.45 Newcastle, Novice, £8,000, 3yo/up, f/m, 10f 42y (AWT) SAHARA MIST (GB) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) is the fifth foal out of Godolphin's G1 Fillies' Mile and GI Yellow Ribbon S. winner Hibaayeb (GB) (Singspiel {Ire}), who provided the operation with the GI Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf and G1 Prix Marcel Boussac heroine Wuheida (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}). Charlie Appleby also saddles last month's Wolverhampton fourth Joyful Act (GB) (Frankel {GB}), a homebred daughter of the G1 1000 Guineas, G1 Irish Oaks and G1 Yorkshire Oaks heroine Blue Bunting (Dynaformer).

[ Read More ]