Month: September 2022

Flightline to Lane’s End Upon Retirement

Edited Press Release

Flightline (Tapit-Feathered, by Indian Charlie), who is rated among the best racehorses in history after his momentous 19 1/4-length victory in the GI Pacific Classic this month, will enter stud as the property of a syndicate at Lane's End Farm upon the conclusion of his racing career.

From a prolific Phipps family, Flightline was bred by Jane Lyon's Summer Wind Farm and is raced by Summer Wind in partnership with Hronis Racing, Siena Farm, West Point Thoroughbreds, and Woodford Racing. A $1-million Fasig-Tipton Saratoga yearling purchase from the Lane's End consignment, Flightline is trained by John Sadler and has been ridden in all five of his starts by Flavien Prat.

Flightline displayed star power right from the beginning, winning on debut in April of 2021 at Santa Anita Park. His 13 1/4-length victory earned him 'TDN Rising Star' status and a Beyer Speed Figure of 105. He was scintillating in a first-level allowance at Del Mar at second asking, winning by 12 3/4 lengths and earning a 114 Beyer.

Making his stakes debut in the GI Malibu S. in December of 2021, Flightline continued to assert his dominance, winning by 11 1/2 lengths for a 118 Beyer. Next seen in the GI Metropolitan H. at Belmont Park on June 11, Flightline overcame a troubled trip to score by six lengths, earning a 112 Beyer.

The Pacific Classic on Sept. 3 was Flightline's first attempt stretching out to two turns and a mile and a quarter. It proved to be his most dominant performance to date, as he drew off from G1 Dubai World Cup winner Country Grammer (Tonalist) and GI Santa Anita H. winner Express Train (Union Rags) to win by 19 1/4 lengths, earning a Beyer of 126–the joint second-highest Beyer since Daily Racing Form began publishing Beyer Speed Figures 30 years ago. Thoro-Graph assigned Flightline a – 8 1/2, the fastest number it has ever given out. Flightline's Pacific Classic performance resonated overseas, too: Timeform assigned him a rating of 143, the highest number ever given to an American-trained horse. Flightline also sits atop Timeform's 2022 global rankings, ahead of Shadwell's unbeaten European superstar Baaeed (See The Stars {Ire}). He has earned nearly $1.4-million, and is being pointed for the GI Breeders' Cup Classic at Keeneland on Nov. 5.

Flightline is out of Jane Lyon's Feathered, a daughter of Indian Charlie who won the GIII Edgewood S. at Churchill Downs and finished second in both the GI American Oaks and GI Starlet S. and third in the GI Frizette S. It is an excellent Phipps family, the third dam being the GI Matron S. and GI Acorn S. winner Finder's Fee (Storm Cat), and the fourth dam GISW Fantastic Find (Mr. Prospector).

The post Flightline to Lane’s End Upon Retirement appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

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Practical Joke Colt Tops 2022 CTHS British Columbia Yearling, Mixed Sale

The 2022 Canadian Thoroughbred Horse Society (British Columbia Division) took place Sept. 8, posting declines in gross, but gains in average and median sale price, topped by a $40,000 (Canadian) colt by Practical Joke.

A total of 57 horses changed hands during the auction at Thunderbird Show Park in Langley, B.C., for revenues of $983,100, down 17 percent from the 2021 sale, when 75 horses sold for $1,191,000.

The average sale price increased nine percent year-over-year to $17,247 from $15,880, while the median rose 31 percent to $17,000 from $13,000.

Swift Thoroughbreds Inc., purchased the sale-topper, a Practical Joke colt, for $40,0oo.

The bay colt is the second foal out of the winning Paynter mare Sekhmet's Revenge. The dam is a half-sister to Grade 1-placed stakes winner Zeewat and Grade 3-placed stakes winner Henny Jenney.

The British Columbia-bred's extended family includes Grade 2 winners Cozi Rosie and Lexicon.

Nutritech Ventures Inc. consigned the sale-topper.

The auction's leading consignor by gross was Whitewood Farm, which moved four horses for a combined $105,000. Leading the way for the consignment was a $35,000 Honor Code colt that sold to Tod Mtn. Thoroughbreds.

That buyer was the sale's leading purchaser, securing 10 horses for a total of $208,000. The aforementioned Honor Code colt was the operation's biggest purchase of the sale.

To view the auction's full results, click here.

The post Practical Joke Colt Tops 2022 CTHS British Columbia Yearling, Mixed Sale appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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Gigginstown House Stud Renew Forces With Willie Mullins

Almost exactly six years after a high-profile split that sent shockwaves through National Hunt racing, Gigginstown House Stud have returned to the champion trainer Willie Mullins, with expensive bumper recruit Shanbally Kid (Ire) (Presenting {GB}) set to represent the once-dominant owners this season. 

Michael O'Leary's Gigginstown ownership vehicle was operating at the peak of its powers when the falling out with Mullins over training fees happened in September 2016. 

High-profile horses like Gold Cup third Don Poli (Ire), multiple Grade 1-winning hurdler Apple's Jade (Fr) and the then promising youngster Blow By Blow (Ire) were switched to Gordon Elliott while Valseur Lido (Fr) and others were sent to Henry de Bromhead.

It was in May 2019 that O'Leary announced that Gigginstown would be winding down their racing operation “over an extended four or five-year period” and that they would not be purchasing any more stores or young horses.

However, Eddie O'Leary, who manages Gigginstown on behalf of his brother Michael, revealed exclusively to TDN Europe on Monday that the purchasing of Shanbally Kid represents a new “select approach” by the owners. 

“All I will say is that it is a long road that doesn't turn,” O'Leary said. “We've had some great days with Willie and we are looking forward to having a couple with him this season again. Shanbally Kid will be the first of them. We bought him after he won his bumper at Clonmel.”

Shanbally Kid was knocked down to Harold Kirk and Mullins for £190,000 at the Tattersalls Cheltenham April Sale shortly after bolting up at Clonmel for Richard O'Brien. 

He is not the only classy bumper recruit that will sport the maroon and white of Gigginstown this season with O'Leary also sharing that Land Rover Bumper runner-up Miss Agusta (Ire) (Well Chosen {GB}) has been bought to join Gordon Elliott. 

O'Leary said, “We bought a few bumper horses and got a couple at the store sales so it will be a small and select approach going forward. Miss Agusta is ours and she's for Gordon.”

Miss Agusta was sold for €235,000 to Gordon Elliott Racing at the Goffs Punchestown Sale after her debut second in the Land Rover for Mags Mullins.

Gigginstown may have spent just five years on the roster at Closutton but enjoyed a golden period, kick-started by Sir Des Champs (Fr) landing the Martin Pipe at Cheltenham in 2011. He followed up in the Jewson Novices' Chase in 2012 and would go on to run a gallant second to Bobs Worth in the 2013 Gold Cup. The powerful owner-trainer combination netted 17 Grade 1s all told.

The post Gigginstown House Stud Renew Forces With Willie Mullins appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

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