February, 2022 | Horse Racing Free Tips

Palace A Jewel In Cashel’s Crown

While the ever-resilient bloodstock industry barely flinched in the face of a global pandemic–the return of sky-high prices in the sales ring testament to that–the travel industry slowed to a grinding halt.

However, with the news that–whisper it–the world has fully reopened, there's never been a better time to dust off the suitcase and begin planning trips away again. And if it's Ireland you're thinking of, Tipperary might just have the answer, for waiting patiently in the starting stalls is John Magnier's most exciting new prospect.

We're not talking about the Saxon Warrior 2-year-olds burning up the gallops down the road at Ballydoyle, but rather the Cashel Palace, opening on Mar. 1 and a Palladian manor, lovingly restored and reimagined to be a 42-room hotel with a ballroom and luxury spa attached.

Under the reins of Adriaan Bartels, leader of this passion project since the first plans were laid in 2017 right up until the first guest walks through the doors in March and beyond, one can't help but think that Magnier has found a very safe pair of hands. The former general manager at two of Ireland's finest hotels, Bartels says, “This is truly a dream job. It has been fantastic to be a part of a project like this from the start, working closely with Mrs Magnier and Jerome Casey to create a hotel that is just as we want it. We're really excited to throw open the doors now and for guests to see it for themselves.

He continues, “The Cashel Palace offers something that is entirely unique as it's located between town and countryside, giving visitors the opportunity to explore both. Obviously, the thriving Thoroughbred industry on our doorstep is a great asset but Tipperary has a lot more to offer in addition. When it comes to outdoor pursuits, there is no end of spectacular scenery if hiking is your thing, and the hotel also has private fishing rights along the River Suir which guests can avail of. Irish culture runs richly throughout the county and for the history buffs, there are a number of monuments in the area which have great stories to tell.”

None more so than the Rock of Cashel, providing an epic vista from the palace grounds; the most spectacular cluster of medieval buildings in Ireland and more iconic in religious terms than even St Mark's Basilica. The cathedral, not the horse, that is, although there'll be plenty in these parts praying that he too becomes an icon.

On the subject of stallions, the relationship between Coolmore and Cashel Palace is well acknowledged and, at a level, guests will have the opportunity to enjoy “Equine Experiences” that allow them into the stud and even the hallowed training grounds of Ballydoyle.

Indeed, the hotel's association with the racing world is longstanding. In the 1980's a certain Vincent O'Brien was proprietor and the Guinness Bar became a regular haunt for racegoers to enjoy a pint of the “black stuff” on their way home. Revellers will be delighted to learn that the same bar has been restored to its former glory, alongside the original Bishop's Buttery for those with a taste for fine-dining.

“We're spoilt to be situated in Tipperary's Golden Vale which is filled with great food producers, providing the country's natural larder,” Bartels adds. “As far as possible, we'll be using local produce across all of our eateries and we hope to offer guests a wide variety of options. There'll be fine-cuisine in The Bishop's Buttery, Afternoon Tea served in the Queen Anne Room or a more casual dining experience in the already well-established Mikey Ryan's next door.”

Another trump card in the palace's armoury is undoubtedly The Spa which, as well as treatment rooms, includes an indoor/outdoor swimming pool and seaweed baths overlooking the Rock of Cashel. And as for the spa products, they are by Bamford; the creation of another great racing family who have paved the way in hospitality excellence with their growing Daylesford empire in the UK.

Of course, this isn't Magnier's first dalliance into the hotel industry either. The Sandy Lane, a jewel on the Barbadian coastline, is another under his ownership with partners Dermot Desmond and JP McManus, regularly playing host to the great and the good.

While the white sands of Barbados might be a long way from Tipperary, in the Cashel Palace you'll find a rural retreat at a standard that is synonymous with the Magnier family's way of doing things.

The post Palace A Jewel In Cashel’s Crown appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

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2022 Thoroughbred Incentive Program Championships Return To Stable View

The Jockey Club Thoroughbred Incentive Program (T.I.P.) announced today that the T.I.P. Championships in hunters, jumpers, combined test, English pleasure, and English in-hand will return this year to Stable View in Aiken, South Carolina. The event will also include an East Coast Dressage T.I.P. Championship show.

The show will kick off with a welcome party on the evening of Thursday, Oct. 6, and will run through Sunday, Oct. 9.

“We are thrilled to be returning to Stable View for T.I.P. Championships in 2022,” said Kristin Werner, senior counsel for The Jockey Club and administrator of T.I.P. “Thoroughbreds continue to prove their versatility across a wide range of disciplines, and we are excited to again team up with Stable View to showcase and promote Thoroughbreds' abilities beyond the racetrack.”

“We look forward to the return of TIP Championships to Stable View, and our intention is to make the event even better than last year,” said Barry and Cyndy Olliff, owners of the United States Equestrian Federation Elite Training Center. “With an added day of competition, and the recent completion of a sixth arena, we are prepared to welcome even more entries. As a bonus, this year, our rider lounges will be stocked with light refreshments during the day, followed by Stable View's signature Graze & Gaze each evening.”

Qualifying information is available on the T.I.P. website at tjctip.com/About/CSI. Prize lists will be made available for the events in the spring. T.I.P. previously announced the dates of the Western T.I.P. Championships and Central Dressage Championships, which will be held in conjunction with the Retired Racehorse Project's 2022 Thoroughbred Makeover and National Symposium, presented by Thoroughbred Charities of America, Oct. 12-15, 2022, at the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, Ky.

Created and announced in October 2011, T.I.P. recognizes and rewards the versatility of the Thoroughbred through sponsorship of Thoroughbred classes and high point awards at sanctioned horse shows, performance awards, and non-competition awards. In addition to the complete schedule of T.I.P.-sponsored shows, other information about the program is available on the T.I.P. website, tjctip.com. Those interested in T.I.P. can follow the program at facebook.com/tjctip.

The post 2022 Thoroughbred Incentive Program Championships Return To Stable View appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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Dark Angel Influence Spreads To Kentucky

Fresh off a season in which he earned the mantle of Europe's leading sire of 2-year-olds, it would seem that Dark Angel (Ire)'s legacy as a sire of precocious and classy sprinter/milers is set. The question inevitably becomes, then, who is next in line to carry on his branch of the Acclamation (GB) sireline?

The 17-year-old Dark Angel already has a Group 1-producing sire son in his G1 Diamond Jubilee S. and G1 July Cup-winning Lethal Force (Ire), whose Golden Horde (Ire) also won at the Royal meeting when he took the G1 Commonwealth Cup in 2020. Both Lethal Force and Golden Horde are now at stud in France. Dark Angel sons Gutaifan (Ire), Markaz (Ire), Alhebayeb (Ire) and Heeraat (Ire) have also sired stakes winners, and a significant chapter could be written over the coming seasons, with Dark Angel's world champion sprinter Harry Angel (Ire)'s first runners set to hit the track in just a few months.

In the meantime, Dark Angel's line also has a chance to branch out intercontinentally, with his son Raging Bull (Fr), a Grade I-winning turf miler, about to cover his first book at Gainesway Farm in Kentucky.

Raging Bull was in no way a small coup for Gainesway, or for Kentucky breeders: with the exception of only the brilliant gelded sprinter Battaash (GB), Raging Bull is Dark Angel's most accomplished son by both earnings (£1,335,394) and Grade/Group 1 wins (3).

Raging Bull was purchased by Eugenio Colombo on behalf of Peter Brant for €90,000 from the Wildenstein Dispersal at Goffs Orby in 2016. Joining trainer Chad Brown from the outset, Raging Bull didn't appear until April of his 3-year-old campaign but soon stamped himself a top-class turf runner in the U.S., winning his first two starts before adding the GII Hall Of Fame S. and the GII Saranac S. at Saratoga, over 1 1/16 miles and 1 1/8 miles, respectively. He capped a 3-year-old season in which he won five of his seven starts with a victory in the 1 1/8-mile GI Hollywood Derby in his first attempt at the highest level.

Though Raging Bull didn't find the winner's circle during a 4-year-old campaign in which he ran exclusively in Grade Is, he was never disgraced and picked up placings in the GI Manhattan S. and the GI Fourstardave H. Raging Bull kicked off his 5-year-old season in 2020 with a win in the GI Shoemaker Mile at Santa Anita before finishing third in the GI Maker's Mark Mile. He would return to Keeneland last spring to win the Maker's Mark, and was also third in the GI Woodbine Mile. In a career that spanned 22 starts over four seasons, Raging Bull ran in 15 Grade Is at seven different racetracks. He won seven times for earnings of over $1.7-million.

Raging Bull stands for an advertised fee of $10,000. He has been syndicated at Gainesway, with Brant staying in, and Gainesway's Director Of Stallion Sales and Recruitment, Sean Tugel, said he expects Raging Bull to cover “150-plus” mares this season.

“He has been very popular,” Tugel acknowledged. “He's been well-supported by his syndicate and that includes Mr. Brant-he's going to breed a large number of mares to him. The breeders who have come to see him, most are leaving here booking a mare to him; they like what they see. Certainly the initial contracts and the initial interest in him tells us he's going to be very well supported his first year.”

Among the black-type mares booked to Raging Bull before the start of the covering season are Boat's Ghost (Silver Ghost), the dam of Grade I-winning turf horse Finnegans Wake (Powerscourt {GB}) and the stakes-winning filly Puca (Big Brown); the multiple stakes-winning and graded-placed Courtesan (Street Sense); the multiple Grade II winner and Grade I-placed Great Hot (Brz) (Orientate); the multiple graded stakes-placed General Consensus (Giant's Causeway); and Concert Strike (Smart Strike), the dam of three stakes horses including the listed-winning Night Strike (Liaison).

Indeed, social media was awash with praise for Raging Bull as breeders ventured out to inspect him during the November sales.

“I think breeders were pleasantly surprised by his physical presence when he comes out,” Tugel said. “He has a lot of leg under him and he has bone and substance. Not everybody who was coming out to see a son of Dark Angel was expecting to see that kind of physical presence. He's an extremely good mover and uses himself extremely well. Everyone wants to breed an athlete and he certainly presents himself as an athlete.”

With his aforementioned size, scope and leg, Raging Bull takes the eye as a dirt horse just as much as a turf horse. That could be down to the American influence lent to his pedigree by damsire Mr. Greeley, a son of Gone West and grandson of Mr. Prospector. Raging Bull's dam, Rosa Bonheur, was also purchased by Brant from the Wildenstein dispersal in 2016; she cost €80,000 in foal to Siyouni (Fr), who was at the time a rising talent but not the breakout star he is today. Rosa Bonheur was bred by the Wildenstein family out of their Rolly Polly (Ire) (Mukaddamah), whose versatility and talent on the track is indicative of her grandson's: Rolly Polly won group/graded stakes races in England, France, Italy and the U.S. during a career that spanned three seasons, 18 starts, 10 wins and eight stakes wins. Though Rosa Bonheur's racing career was shorter, the daughter of Mr. Greeley showed the constitution that is evident in Raging Bull when running eight times between April and December of her 3-year-old campaign.

While breeders will overwhelmingly send their mares to Raging Bull expecting to get a turf animal, Tugel noted that it is a distinct possibility, given his pedigree and physique, that Raging Bull's progeny could handle the dirt, too.

“I think being out of a Mr. Greeley mare–who is from the Gone West line and very influential to American dirt and speed– certainly will help,” Tugel said. “Having Northern Dancer lines as well as multiple Mr. Prospector lines–that blood has worked extremely well in America. The amount of leg that he has; you need leg to win dirt races and get over the dirt. So if he transfers that on to his offspring I think he could absolutely be a multi-surface type of sire.”

Raging Bull's sire, Dark Angel, has certainly proven to be that. While his success as a sire, naturally, has been heavily focused on the turf, he has had 366 winners on the dirt and 13 stakes winners on that surface. Last month, Dark Angel's Golden Goal (Ire) established himself as a leading contender for the Gulf region's best dirt races with a win in the G2 Al Maktoum Challenge R1 at Meydan, while a week later Godolphin homebred Real World (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}) made it five wins in a row with victory in the G2 Zabeel Mile. That win was on the turf, but trainer Saeed bin Suroor was vocal post-race that Real World, who is already stakes-placed on the dirt, may switch surfaces to target the likes of the Dubai World Cup or Saudi Cup.

It is worth noting, too, that Golden Goal and Real World are eight and five, respectively, making them just the latest stakes winners by Dark Angel to still be at the top of their game well into their careers. Dark Angel was among the very first of a wave of commercial stallions to retire to stud at the end of a 2-year-old campaign, and while that trend is a polarizing one in bloodstock circles it has undeniably in this case resulted in a sire that routinely begets that rare combination of early speed, longevity and class. And it won't hurt Raging Bull's profile that another son of Acclamation who retired at two, Mehmas, is already looking like following Dark Angel's path.

Tugel noted that, like all of Dark Angel's best progeny, Raging Bull had speed, and that he was most effective at or around a mile.

“Dark Angel is a source of speed and that's what we're all looking for in America,” he said. “Raging Bull is a miler and we always say milers make sires. Plus you add Mr. Greeley on the bottom side, it's really speed on speed which is what we're trying to produce here in America.”

“Raging Bull ran through his 6-year-old career and he was a multiple graded stakes winner over multiple seasons,” Tugel added. “To be able to hold that type of form is fantastic. In America we need outcrosses, and he is a complete outcross to all major sirelines barring Mr. Prospector, but you can find many different lines of Mr. P and go different ways. The fact that he can go to all the Storm Cat, Unbridled's Song and Unbridled lines, and Seattle Slew; having that ability to mix with every great American line you want will help him.”

It is no small matter, either, that turf milers are a pivotal part of the bedrock on which Gainesway is built; throughout its history, the farm's various owners have imported turf influences to mix with the American breed, including no fewer than five winners of the G1 Poule d'Essai des Poulains: Blushing Groom (Fr), Green Dancer, Riverman, Irish River (Fr) and, most recently, Karakontie (Jpn). The 2014 Poulains and GI Breeders' Cup Mile winner has, with three crops of racing age, established himself as a very solid and versatile source of winners and stakes horses for his $10,000 pricetag; his first crop includes the high-class turf horses Kenzai Warrior and Princess Grace, as well as Sole Volante, the GII Tampa Bay Derby winner on the dirt. It is most certainly not lost on breeders that Gainesway has a proven track record of turning high-class turf horses into a sought-after sires. And Tugel said he expects Karakontie to go to the next level once his better-bred crops hit the track.

“The last two seasons, once Karakontie's runners got to the track, we've seen his best quality books come,” Tugel said. “His initial crop was his most mares bred, but in the past two seasons he has bred his second and third largest books and best quality. He has graded stakes winners in both of his first two crops of racing age and he has black-type horses in his third crop and hopefully they can go on to be graded stakes winners. But the 2-year-olds coming behind them we have great expectations for, as well as the yearlings and the foals that are hitting the ground this year.

“I truly believe over the next several years we're going to see a lot more from Karakontie. He gets you good, honest horses that train on. They run on dirt and turf, they run on synthetic, he's had a Kentucky Derby starter, he's had multiple graded stakes winners on the dirt. Princess Grace looks like she could be a top level filly, and she's almost a millionaire. His commercial presence has continued to grow; he's only averaged about nine to 10 yearlings per year through the ring but still gets multiple six-figure horses throughout the year. He's just a good, honest horse with great value and potential.”

With the path to success for a turf sire paved at Gainesway, Raging Bull has the chance to cement not only his own legacy, but also that of his sire, Dark Angel, as a sire of sires.

The post Dark Angel Influence Spreads To Kentucky appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

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Mating Plans: Machmer Hall

With the 2022 breeding season right around the corner, we will feature a series of breeders' mating plans over the coming weeks. Today Carrie Brogden discuses mating plans for a few members of the 109-mare-strong Machmer Hall broodmare band.

TIZ DIXIE (m, 9, Tiznow — Comeon Dixie, by Mr. Greeley), to be bred to Constitution

We bought this 9-year-old mare as a maiden for Golden Pedigree for $5,500 and we subsequently did the mating and then foaled and raised her first foal, a colt by Constitution who became stakes winner Never Surprised (Constitution). He just ran second in the GI Pegasus World Cup Turf Invitational S.

When Golden Pedigree liquidated their broodmare band due to an illness, we bought her privately. As far as a mating plan, it seemed like a no-brainer to book her back to rising supersire Constitution.

MISS SHOP (m, 19, Deputy Minister –Shopping, by Private Account), to be bred to Into Mischief

We owned and raced her half-sister, Shop Again (Wild Again), when Miss Shop won the 2007 GI Personal Ensign S. at Saratoga, so when Miss Shop came through the back ring as a graded stakes producer, I just had to have her.

We bred her to Into Mischief for her second year with us and the resulting yearling filly might be the best Into Mischief filly we have had (and we have had a LOT of Into Mischief foals!). Even though he has sadly passed out of our comfort range in terms of stud fee, how could we not make an exception and breed back to him just one last time hoping to duplicate the filly we currently have on the ground?

2021 Into Mischief filly out of GISW Miss Shop as a weanling | photo courtesy Carrie Brogden

SPECIAL ME (m, 16, Unbridled's Song — Delta Danielle, by Lord Avie), to be bred to Twirling Candy

Special Me is the dam of Grade I-winning Lane's End stallion Gift Box (Twirling Candy), so I'm not sure why we have not repeated this breeding sooner. Currently in foal to Into Mischief, this three-time graded stakes producer who we bought as a maiden mare for just $6,000 will be bred back to Twirling Candy, who has been a superstar for us as Gift Box, Rombauer, Fore Left, Trophy Chaser and Sweetontheladies were all Machmer Hall-raised or pinhooks for us.

LAYREEBELLE (m, 16, Tale of the Cat — Voodoo Lily, by Baldski), to be bred to Candy Ride (Arg)

The dam of GSWs Spellbound (Bernardini) and Kid Cuz (Lemon Drop Kid) and the granddam of GSW Soothsay (Distorted Humor), Layreebelle is a homebred out of our former pensioner Voodoo Lilly, the granddam of Justify. After hurting her shoulder as a yearling, Layreebelle (named for my kids Layne, Reece and Isabelle) has been quite the producer for Machmer Hall.

She is currently in foal to Candy Ride (Arg), who I believe is one of the top values at stud, especially if you have a mare that throws size and bone–which she does. She is booked right back to this lovely, well-priced stallion who throws so much heart with runners of all shapes and sizes.

DEFY (m, 8, Into Mischief — Shy Lil, by Lil's Lad), to be bred to Charlatan

This stakes-winning Saratoga yearling is currently in foal to one of my favorite proven stallions, Speighstown. After having two Speightstown foals in a row for two proven-sired foals, we looked for a “sizzle” first-year sire. Defy is booked to Charlatan, who in my opinion is one of the top physicals to go to stud this year.

QUEENIE'S PRIDE (m, 11, Special Rate — Solo Rolo, by Air Forbes Won), to be bred to Silver State

We bought this young, multiple stakes producer privately after watching her daughter Joy's Rocket (Anthony's Cross) win a stake at Keeneland. She's bred very modestly but is producing impressive runners from very inexpensive stallions.

'Queenie' is currently in foal to Vino Rosso. This 15'2-hand mare could double as a quarter horse and since she is proven, we decided to breed her back to a stallion that could give her some stretch and speed. Enter GI Met Mile winner, Silver State!

FANCY KITTEN (m, 8, Kitten's Joy — Endless Fancy, by Ghostzapper), to be bred to Independence Hall

Fancy Kitten is a stakes-placed Kitten's Joy mare whose first foal was a very solid 2-year-old colt in Japan last year. She is currently in foal to Mendelssohn, who I would hope is the heir apparent to Into Mischief.

We wanted a young stakes mare to breed to Independence Hall, who I believe is the best-priced first-year stallion for his looks, race record and sire.

MISS SOUTHERN MISS (m, 8, More Than Ready — Miss Atlantic City, by Stormy Atlantic), to be bred to Essential Quality

We bought this stunning stakes-winning mare privately and realized that she needs a bit of stretch in her matings. She's currently in foal to a super consistent and now great-priced proven guy, Medaglia d'Oro. After mating her to three proven sires to give her a good start to her career, we are opting to send her to champion 2-year-old and first-year stallion Essential Quality.

2021 Audible filly out of Homesteading | Mathea Kelly

HOMESTEADING (m, 10, Unbridled's Song — Homebound, by Dixie Union), to be bred to Audible

We bought this young Unbridled's Song mare in foal and she had a disappointing foal, but she had been bred to the same sire line three times in a row. We thought that maybe the mating was just not a good one because the mare is super pretty.

We decided to breed her to Audible to see if the change in sire line was what she needed. From the moment her 2021 filly by Audible was born, we have just said, 'Wow, wow, wow.' Like so many Audible weanlings I saw and short listed at the mixed sales, her 2021 baby is nothing short of spectacular. It was a no-brainer to breed her back to that sire and hope she runs to her looks.

ASTRAY (m, 8, Bernardini — Away, by Dixieland Band), to be bred to Hard Spun

We bought Astray as a maiden mare. She is one of the prettiest Bernardini mares I have ever seen but is also from a beautiful family. She is currently in foal to Authentic, along with four other Machmer Hall mares, but we really wanted to give her a shot at another proven sire after her Curlin colt did so well at Keeneland September [sold for $470,000].

She is booked back to Hard Spun, who does not always get you a “sales horse” but there is no doubt that he always throws a racehorse. He's great value for a proven sire and we have him booked to two of our young, pretty mares.

STORY UNTOLD (m, 11, Old Fashioned — Shappy, by Really Secret), to be bred to Tiz the Law

We bought Story Untold as a weanling to pinhook and unfortunately she fractured her knee in a paddock accident as a yearling, rendering her an instant broodmare to join the band.

Story Untold's first foal Arella Rockstar (Astrology) was a graded stakes winner and she had a lovely Bernardini yearling at Keeneland September. She's currently in foal to Candy Ride (Arg) and is booked back to Tiz the Law. How can you not admire what Tiz the Law did as a racehorse and his sire continues on his march to stardom. We figured that Story Untold had the bone and size that Tiz the Law would want physically and hopefully his extraordinary talent on the racetrack will translate onto his babies.

WEIGHT NO MORE (m, 18, Pure Prize — Aunt Nola, by Olden Times), to be bred to Goldencents

This multiple stakes-horse producer has been with us since 2010 when we bought her and her third foal at the same mixed sale. That foal, Skinny (Private Vow), went on to become her first stakes horse.

To look at this plain Jane mare, you would never think that she throws the beautiful athletes that she has for us. Her striking daughter Bayerness (Bayern) went on to be a listed stakes winner and was graded stakes placed at Saratoga. Her Goldencents yearling filly sold back to those same connections at the Keeneland September Sale.

I have long thought that Goldencents has been an incredible value sire. You just have to breed him to a mare that throws a lot of leg, like Weight No More, and he seems to throw the body and the heart. We have booked this girl back to Goldencents as her filly was one of my favorite yearlings we had last year.

TWO SHAKES (m, 6, Exchange Rate — Perfectforthepart, by Dynaformer), to be bred to Maxfield

We probably overpaid for this stakes-placed filly as a broodmare prospect, but damn she is good looking. Her first foal, a yearling colt by Constitution, is everything you would want in a first foal and she is a pretty enough mare to go back to a stallion that has been so good to us, Flatter. She is due in February and now that she will have two proven sire babies in front of her, we turned to a beautiful son of Street Sense, Maxfield.

Let us know who you're breeding your mares to in 2022, and why. We will print a selection of your responses in TDN over the coming weeks. Please send details to: garyking@thetdn.com.

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