February, 2021 | Horse Racing Free Tips

Grey Swallow, Hollywood Handsome To Stand At Willow Hill Equestrian In Virginia

Willow Hill Equestrian in Orange, Va. will add two new members to its stallion roster in 2021, in veteran Grey Swallow and newcomer Hollywood Handsome.

Grey Swallow, the winner of the 2004 Irish Derby, will stand the upcoming breeding season for an advertised fee of $3,000.

The 20-year-old son of Daylami previously stood at Calumet Farm in Kentucky. Before that, he stood in Australia and his native Ireland.

Grey Swallow has sired 10 crops of racing age, with 51 winners and combined progeny earnings of more than $2.4 million. He has Grade/Group 1-placed runners in both the Northern and Southern Hemispheres, with Ungrateful Ellen finishing second in Australia's Group 1 Queensland Oaks and Cadet Connelly running second in Canada's Grade 1 Summer Stakes.

Grey Swallow won six of 15 starts during his own on-track career for earnings of $1,607,293.

In addition to his Irish Derby score, his 2004 campaign featured a win in the listed Two Thousand Guineas Trial Stakes and a third-place finish in the Irish Two Thousand Guineas itself. As a 2-year-old, he won the G3 Killavullan Stakes.

Grey Swallow continued to run at a high level when he reached the older horse division, including a victory in the G1 Tattersalls Gold Cup in Ireland. He then became a globetrotter, competing in the U.S., Canada and Australia. His biggest success came in the U.S., where he won the G2 Jim Murray Memorial Handicap and finished third in the G1 Manhattan Handicap.

Bred in Ireland by Mrs. C. L. Weld, Grey Swallow is out of the winning The Minstrel mare Style of Life, who was named Ireland's Broodmare of the Year in 2004. His siblings include Group 3 winner Moonlight Dance, and Group 3-placed Central Lobby, Stylish Ways, and Rustic.

The stallion's extended family includes Italian Group 1 winner Night Style.

Hollywood Handsome, a Grade 2-placed son of Tapizar, will debut at stud in 2021 for an advertised fee of $1,000.

The 7-year-old retired with four wins in 36 starts for earnings of $269,989. After just missing the board in a pair of Kentucky Derby prep races, Hollywood Handsome entered the the 2017 Belmont Stakes but he was pulled up after he clipped heels and the rider lost his irons.

Hollywood Handsome earned his most notable black type at age four, when he finished second in the G2 New Orelans Handicap.

Bred in Kentucky by North Hanover Bloodstock, Hollywood Handsome is out of the winning Forestry mare Ladyflickerflacker, who is the dam of two winners from three foals to race. His second dam is the Grade 2-placed stakes winner Harbor Blues, and his extended family features Grade 2 winner Night Patrol.

The post Grey Swallow, Hollywood Handsome To Stand At Willow Hill Equestrian In Virginia appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

Source of original post

Jeff Blea Named CHRB’s Next Equine Medical Director

Dr. Jeff Blea will become the veterinary voice of the California Horse Racing Board upon the long-planned retirement of Dr. Rick Arthur from the position of Equine Medical Director (EMD).

Dr. Gregory Ferraro, chairman of CHRB and a former equine veterinarian himself on the southern circuit, described Dr. Blea as “a nationally known and widely respected equine veterinarian” and said Blea “is recognized for his clear thinking and fairness in his decision making.”

Under contract arrangements between the CHRB and the School of Veterinary Medicine (SVM) at the University of California, Davis, the EMD serves as a member of its faculty. CHRB Executive Director Scott Chaney said the CHRB worked closely with UC Davis during the process, which was prolonged by the pandemic. A joint panel from UC Davis and the CHRB interviewed candidates and selected Dr. Blea.

“We value this partnership,” Chaney said. “We were fortunate to consider several well-qualified candidates. I am very pleased with the process and the choice. I look forward to working closely with Dr. Blea to make racing safer at this critical time.”

Dr. Blea brings 28 years of veterinary experience with him, and before that breifly rode as a jockey. He has served in leadership roles nationally with the American Association of Equine Practitioners and regionally with the Southern California Equine Foundation and was a director of the Dolly Green Research Foundation from 1999 to 2015.

“As Equine Medical Director, I look forward to working with industry stakeholders in further advancing the progressive transformation of horse racing in California with the emphasis on horse safety, welfare, and integrity,” Blea said.

“Dr. Blea is an excellent choice to become EMD. He has a broad background in horse racing and is well respected by his colleagues here in California and nationally,” added Arthur.

The post Jeff Blea Named CHRB’s Next Equine Medical Director appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post

Dr. Jeff Blea Named California’s New Equine Medical Director

Dr. Jeff Blea has been a trusted voice in the California horse racing industry for decades, and in July he will become the veterinary voice of the California Horse Racing Board upon the long-planned retirement of Dr. Rick Arthur from the critically important position of Equine Medical Director (EMD).

While Dr. Blea has been committed to his thriving veterinary practice on the Southern California thoroughbred circuit, he recently decided he could be a more valuable resource to the equine veterinary profession and provide greater assistance in the advancement of the racing industry.

Dr. Gregory Ferraro, chairman of CHRB and a former equine veterinarian himself on the southern circuit, described Dr. Blea as: “a nationally known and widely respected equine veterinarian. He is recognized for his clear thinking and fairness in his decision making.”

“We value this partnership,” added Chaney. “We were fortunate to consider several well-qualified candidates. I am very pleased with the process and the choice. I look forward to working closely with Dr. Blea to make racing safer at this critical time.”

Dr. John Pascoe, SVM executive associate dean, commented: 'We very much look forward to Dr. Blea serving as the next Equine Medical Director and continuing the vision of late Senator Ken Maddy for a robust partnership between the University of California-Davis, the CHRB, and the racing industry to improve the health and welfare of racing horses. Jeff brings a wealth of expertise to the EMD position. His extensive knowledge of racing, equine and racetrack practice, his national leadership in equine and racing organizations, and his commitment to research that improves horse racing assure that California will continue to lead the nation in our collective efforts to ensure safe racing.'

Dr. Blea brings 28 years of veterinary experience with him, and before that he rode briefly as a jockey. He always has been interested in improving horse racing, focusing primarily on equine health and welfare, as evidenced by his leadership nationally with the American Association of Equine Practitioners and regionally with the Southern California Equine Foundation. He served as a director of the Dolly Green Research Foundation from 1999 to 2015. The list of the organizations and programs he has served is long and admirable.

Dr. Blea always has been forthcoming, expressing common sense and fairness, regardless of which side he favored on any given issue.

“As Equine Medical Director,” he said, “I look forward to working with industry stakeholders in further advancing the progressive transformation of horse racing in California with the emphasis on horse safety, welfare, and integrity.”

Dr. Arthur added, “Dr. Blea is an excellent choice to become EMD. He has a broad background in horse racing and is well respected by his colleagues here in California and nationally.”

The post Dr. Jeff Blea Named California’s New Equine Medical Director appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

Source of original post

Hollie Doyle Picks Up Saudi Cup Mount On Extra Elusive

Rising star of the saddle Hollie Doyle will compete in the stc International Jockeys Challenge (IJC) on Friday, Feb. 19, before reuniting with Roger Charlton's Extra Elusive a day later in The Saudi Cup at King Abdulaziz Racecourse.

Doyle, who will line up alongside 13 other leading jockeys in the IJC, is hoping her recent overseas experiences will stand her in good stead:

“I'm really excited to be riding in Saudi. I've had a few international trips recently, including Hong Kong, America and Bahrain, and it's great that I'm getting to go to these big meetings around the world.

“Competing in the jockey challenge events is really cool as you get to ride alongside some of the world's top athletes. I've only been to some of these places for a short period of time but I've learnt a lot. That's what will hopefully make me a better jockey and I'll keep taking these opportunities with both hands.”

The 24-year-old rider enjoyed a remarkable 2020, riding her first Royal Ascot winner in June, first Group winner in July and first Group 1 success in October – a month that saw her shatter her own British record for a female jockey of 117 winners in a calendar year. Doyle also became the first British female jockey to ride a five-timer in England, a winner on Champions Day at Ascot and a winner in Hong Kong.

“Last year was unbelievable, and when you get a taste of success it makes you want it even more. I've now got even more drive and ambition to succeed in 2021.”

Roger Charlton's Extra Elusive formed part of Doyle's Windsor five-timer, and the two are set to join forces again for a crack at The Saudi Cup, the world's most valuable race at $20m.

“It looks as though Extra Elusive has got into The Saudi Cup, so I'd be really excited about riding him in that on the Saturday. The prize money goes all the way down to tenth so it would be great if he took his chance there and could get amongst it.

“I'd like to think he'll handle the dirt as he goes well on slow ground here in England. I'm not sure how similar it would ride to a slow turf track, but I'd prefer to ride him on the dirt than I would on the turf as you'd imagine it will be slower. The Saudi Cup is only nine furlongs, and we know he stays further than that.

“I could have Albadri on the Saturday too, as I know Jane Chapple-Hyam is hoping to go for the Al Rajhi Bank Saudi Derby after his win at Southwell recently. He's a lightly-raced horse that's going the right way at the moment, but he'll need to take another big step forward to get competitive.”

Extra Elusive's trainer, Charlton, said: “There's been a bit of toing and froing but he's going to run in The Saudi Cup.

“We got an invite to The Saudi Cup that we weren't really expecting and, having discussed it with the owner, he's very keen to run in it. The prize money is so much more than the Middle Distance Turf [Neom Turf Cup] – if you finish tenth in The Saudi Cup, it's the same prize money for finishing second in the turf race.

“Over 1800m they'll go very, very quick and the kickback will be something he hasn't experienced before. We're hoping we can get amongst the money.

“In the past he has inclined to be up at the front making the running – this obviously won't be the case so a wider draw would probably be beneficial to keep him out of the kickback.”

Extra Elusive won two Group 3s – the Rose Of Lancaster Stakes at Haydock and Windsor's Winter Hill Stakes – last summer, when Doyle was in the saddle. He was last seen when sixth behind Addeybb in the Champion Stakes at Ascot in October.

Charlton added: “He's been pretty consistent and he won his two Group 3s well last year. He was placed in another and the ground wouldn't have suited him in the Champion Stakes but he ran a good, consistent race again.

“My concern is that he hasn't travelled abroad yet and he's a fairly highly-strung individual. It's how he takes a 16-hour journey door-to-door and how he handles the training on the track out there.

“He had a break after the end of last season and the weather hasn't been very helpful to us – we've had snow here twice. He didn't resume exercise until after Christmas and it's been a steady build-up. He does all his training by himself but he seems in good form. It's important that he's in a consistent and steady routine every day.”

This year's stc International Jockeys Challenge takes place on Friday, Feb. 19 – the day before the $20million Saudi Cup. Jockeys will be made up of seven international women, two local men and five international men. The prize money in each of the four races will be $400,000 and there is a $100,000 prize pot for the Challenge with $30,000 going to the winner.

11 of the 14 riders have now been confirmed:

Sibylle Vogt, 25 (SUI)

Jorge Ricardo, 59 (BRA)

Jessica Marcialis, 30 (ITA)

Maria Lujan Asconiga, 27 (ARG)

Nieves Garcia, 43 (SPA)

Cristian Demuro, 28 (ITA)

Nanako Fujita, 23 (JPN)

Malin Holmberg, 30 (SWE)

Shane Foley, 32 (IRE)

William Buick, 32 (UK)

Hollie Doyle, 24 (UK)

For more information on The Saudi Cup including Entries, Past Performances and Where to Watch: www.thesaudicup.com.sa

The post Hollie Doyle Picks Up Saudi Cup Mount On Extra Elusive appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

Source of original post