Horse Racing
Sent off the 1-2 jolly to opening his account at first asking, Doppelganger (Into Mischief) never felt a crack of jockey Flavien Prat's whip and cruised home a 3 1/2-length winner to become yet another 'TDN Rising Star' for his all-conquering sire. Assigned gate one for the unveiling, the blinkered bay played pinball on three occasions with Asphalt Andy (Tapiture) to the outside, costing him any chance to make the lead, but he settled kindly and traveled comfortably while behind horses into the turn. Going well approaching the long stretch...
Favored at 7-5 to give his connections a second debut winner on the Saturday program at Gulfstream, Emmanuel (More Than Ready) ran them off their feet to become the newest 'TDN Rising Star' Saturday afternoon at Gulfstream Park. It was the second win on the day for connections, who were represented by impressive maiden winner Dean's List (Speightstown) a few races earlier. Having amassed a pretty serious worktab at trainer Todd Pletcher's Palm Beach Downs hub, the $350,000 Keeneland September yearling--the most expensive of 40 More Than Readys sold in...
4th-Gulfstream, $53,000, Msw, 12-11, 2yo, 6f, 1:09.92, ft, 5 1/2 lengths. DEAN'S LIST (c, 2, Speightstown--Mildly Offensive {MSW, $285,826}, by Sharp Humor) drifted out from odds-on to be the 6-5 post-time second choice, but graduated with honors. Heavily favored before being overtaken late in the wagering by Positive Review (Unified), a big-figure second on his course-and-distance debut Oct. 16, Dean's List showed first from his outside gate and took the sit from second as fellow firster Felix (Cupid) showed the way at the inside through a swift opening quarter in...
by Alan Carasso The Longines Hong Kong International Races meeting Sunday at Sha Tin Racecourse has had much to overcome over the last few years. In 2019, massive social unrest--including a cluster at the Chinese University of Hong Kong a stone's throw from the track--left some doubt as to whether the event would go forward at all. At the end of the day, not only did it proceed, but it was supported to the tune of record turnover of HK$1.71 billion. Twelve months ago, in the midst of a pandemic...
A total of 43 horses representing Hong Kong, England, Ireland, France and Japan were entered for Sunday's HK$100 million Longines Hong Kong International Meeting at Sha Tin Racecourse, and the luck of the barrier draw--held Thursday morning in the parade ride at the track--was much in favour of the horses that are anticipated to be at the head of the markets in the four events. For a horse like reigning Hong Kong Horse of the Year Golden Sixty (Aus) (Medaglia d'Oro), who likes to get back and then put his...
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 Chukyo, Nakayama and Hanshin Racecourses. With the season winding down, this year's 2-year-old crop get their crack at Group 1 glory beginning with this weekend's Hanshin Juvenile Fillies. The boys get their chance in next Sunday's Asahi Hai Futurity: Saturday,...
1ST-Meydan, AED82,500, Mdn., 12-9, 2yo & SH 3yo, f, 1400m, 1:25.70. SHAHAMA (f, 2, Munnings--Private Feeling, by Belong to Me), a half-sister to two-time Eclipse Award winner and five-time Grade I-winning Coolmore stallion Lookin At Lucky (Ch. 2yo/3yo Colt-US, $3,307,278), ran them off their feet to break her maiden in exceptionally impressive fashion Thursday at Meydan. Drawn out in gate nine, Shahama was away fairly beneath Adrie de Vries, but slowly made her way forward and raced right on the pace while four wide in the breeze down the backstretch....
European-based jockeys managed victories in three of the four races comprising Wednesday's Longines International Jockeys' Championship at Happy Valley Racecourse on Hong Kong Island, but consistency was rewarded when Zac Purton--out of luck on the evening--had the last laugh, placing in all four legs to take home the HK$500,000 (£48,558/€56,739) first prize. Currently atop the jockeys' premiership in Hong Kong, Purton was winning the IJC for a third time in five years, having taken it in 2017 and again 12 months ago. He joins Frankie Dettori and Douglas Whyte as...
The case of Bob Baffert has been, sad but fascinating to watch. It has served to be the perfect foil for agenda-driven companies and organizations to attach a face to 'the cause.' Due process and the right to defend oneself with veracity is the foundational tenet of this country. It protects citizens from overreaching by entities such as Churchill, NYRA and others banning Baffert from running at their tracks until adjudication is reached--not dictated. The actions of Churchill Downs clearly prioritize what we already know, which is that the value...
4.30 Wolverhampton, Novice, £7,000, 2yo, 9f 104y (AWT) WILD CRUSADE (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) is the sixth foal to be produced by Godolphin's prized broodmare Rumh (Ger) (Monsun {Ger}), introduced a month after his year-older full-brother Yibir (GB) enjoyed the limelight when winning the GI Breeders' Cup Turf. Also a full-sibling to the triple group 1 heroine Wild Illusion (GB), the April-foaled bay is pitched by Charlie Appleby into action alongside a Cheveley Park Stud notable in the John and Thady Gosden-trained Homeric (GB) (Ulysses {Ire}), an unraced half-brother to the...
Frenchman Alexis Badel rode his first race in Hong Kong on a two-month contract on Longines Hong Kong International Races day Dec. 11, 2016 and earned his first local victory a little more than two weeks later, guiding Supreme Profit (Aus) (Encosta de Lago {Aus}) to a 24-1 upset of a 2000-metre Class 2 at Sha Tin for trainer Danny Shum, one of seven wins during that stint. Five years later, the former French champion apprentice will ride for much bigger stakes, with mounts in three of the four races...
Eagles By Day (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}--Missunited {Ire}, by Galileo {Ire}), winner of the G3 John Smiths Silver Cup at York in 2020, has been acquired by Rathbarry & Glenview Studs from Clipper Logistics. The deal was brokered by Joe Foley. The 5-year-old will join the existing national hunt roster of Blue Bresil (Fr) (Smadoun {Fr}), Malinas (Ger) (Lomitas {GB}), Old Persian (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}, Shirocco (Ger) (Monsun {Ger}), Sholokhov (Ire) (Sadler's Wells) and Youmzain (Ire) (Sinndar {Ire}) at Glenview Stud for 2022. Last seen finishing runner-up in the...