December, 2022 | Horse Racing Free Tips

New Breeze-up Alliance Of Halpin And Davis Enjoys Early Success At Dundalk

The spotlight was cast on the burgeoning breeze-up operation of jockeys Gary Halpin and Sean Davis, best known for riding winners rather than producing them, when their graduate Song For Whoever (Ire) (Galileo Gold {GB}) ran out an impressive winner of the opening six-furlong maiden at Dundalk on Friday evening.

Song For Whoever, who Halpin and Davis bought for €28,000 at the Goffs Sportsman's Sale last year before selling to Howson & Holdsworth Bloodstock for £42,000 at the Goffs UK Breeze-Up Sale, was getting off the mark at the third attempt for trainer John O'Donoghue in the colours of Genesis Thoroughbreds.

Although he was consigned by Tally-Ho Stud at the Goffs UK Breeze-up Sale, Song For Whoever was sourced and produced by the riders, who will be consigning under the name GS Bloodstock from their new base at Ulundi Lodge on the Curragh next year.

“Your judgment is on the line–you are telling people what you think the horses can do and it's important that they back you up,” – Gary Halpin

A delighted Halpin said on Friday evening, “We bought him at the Sportsman's Sale under Rushway Stables for €28,000. We were looking for something that could breeze and he looked sharp enough to do that. We had him on our list and Roger O'Callaghan, who we have worked closely with for a number of years, had seen him as well. It was a help that he liked him.”

He added, “I prepped him at Kevin Prendergast's yard in Friarstown on the Curragh. He was there all winter and did most of his early work while I was riding out in Kevin's and he went from there to Doncaster where he sold to Matt Holdsworth for Noel Hayes. We were very fortunate that Tally-Ho were happy to consign him for us.

“He was actually popular enough to a point at the sales. George Boughey and Mark McStay had a go on him. I think George was the underbidder and I'm pretty sure that Mark was on him for a long while as well. The right people were interested in him, thankfully.”

Halpin enjoyed his best ever season as a rider in 2016 when partnering 36 winners domestically while his biggest success came aboard the Ross O'Sullivan-trained Rocky Sky (Ire) (Rock Of Gibraltar {Ire}) in the Listed Salsibil S. at Naas last term.

Davis has returned to Ireland after a successful spell in Britain, where he rode 56 winners in 2019, and alongside Halpin, will continue to ride whilst preparing the breezers.

However, the name Halpin will not be seen on a racecard anytime soon, with Friday's victory proving a timely tonic for the man sidelined with a fractured jaw.

He explained, “We've 11 in at the moment but there are a few more due back to us in the next few days and we will add another one or two in January. We are looking at having around 15 2-year-olds to breeze next year.

“Sean and I will consign under GS Bloodstock next year. It's exciting. Especially now that everything is cantering and broken in, we can see them progress. Unfortunately, I'm not riding them myself at the minute because I'm out of action with a fractured jaw, but I'm getting to see plenty on the ground.

“I think we've amassed a bunch of horses who are going to get to a good level. The Inns Of Court (Ire) colt that we bought at Doncaster has had three updates since we got him. He's now a half-brother to Believing (Ire) (Mehmas {Ire}), who has done really well to be multiple stakes-placed for George Boughey and Highclere Thoroughbreds.

“She's one we'll be keeping a close eye on next year. Mick Fitzpatrick sold her for 115,000gns at the Tattersalls Craven Breeze-up Sale in April so, all things being equal, we'd be hoping to get our own lad to the Craven safe and sound.”

On the rest of the breeze-up battalion, he added, “We've a lovely Cotai Glory (GB) colt who we gave €65,000 for at Tattersalls Ireland. He was consigned by Tally-Ho and is out of a half-sister to Fairyland (Ire). He's going to be exciting.

“We've been sent a Kodiac (GB) filly who's out of a half-sister to Middle Park S. winner Supremacy (Ire) and there's a nice Dandy Man (Ire) colt from the family of Slade Power (Ire). We've a nice bunch and there's a couple of others there as well.”

Asked how riding winners compares with producing them, Halpin said, “It's totally different. It's a different feeling altogether. Your judgment is on the line–you are telling people what you think the horses can do and it's important that they back you up. As a jockey, your judgment has to be right when you ride a horse work or ride it in a race, your feedback has to be good. This is a little bit more added pressure. It's a different sort of pressure.”

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Woodward, Cigar Mile Among Races Downgraded

The American Graded Stakes Committee released its list of graded stakes for 2023 Friday and it includes five races that were downgraded from Grade I status to Grade II races, including two of NYRA's more prestigious races for older dirt horses, the Woodward and the Cigar Mile H. Also dropping down from the Grade I to the Grade II level were the Clark S. at Churchill Downs, the Starlet S. at Los Alamitos and the Rodeo Drive S. at Santa Anita.

The Woodward was, perhaps, the most surprising inclusion on the list of newly appointed Grade II races. Twenty winners of the race have made their way into the Hall of Fame, including Kelso, Buckpasser, Forego, Seattle Slew, Affirmed, Spectacular Bid and Cigar. But the race has struggled somewhat in recent years as the NYRA racing department tried to figure out where it fit best on the calendar on how to juggle a glut of late summer-early fall races for the handicap division, including the GI Jockey Club Gold Cup. In 2006, the Woodward was moved from Belmont Park to Saratoga. The race was moved back to Belmont in 2021, trading places with the Jockey Club Gold Cup, which was switched to Saratoga. This year's Woodward was won by a top horse in Life Is Good (Into Mischief), but the race drew only four horses and the three challengers to Life Is Good were a fairly weak lot.

The Cigar Mile was inaugurated in 1988 and initially run as the NYRA Mile. Winners include Forty Niner, Cigar, Tonalist (Tapit) and Maximum Security (New Year's Day). This year's race did not come up particularly strong as Mind Control (Stay Thirsty) beat five others.

One race, the Stephen Foster S., was upgraded from Grade II to Grade I status. The race had been a Grade I through 2018 when it was downgraded. This year's winner was Olympiad (Speightstown).

A total of 97 Grade I races will be contested in 2023.

The committee reviewed 901 stakes races and assigned graded status to 440 of them, nine fewer than were graded in 2022.

Three races were upgraded to Grade II's, the Beaumont S., the Franklin S. and the Ladies Sprint S. Seven races were downgraded from Grade II to Grade III status for 2023: the Sorrento S. at Del Mar; Dinner Party S. at Pimlico; Monrovia S., San Carlos S., San Marcos S. and Santa Ynez S. at Santa Anita Park; and Tampa Bay Derby at Tampa Bay Downs. Four races were upgraded to Grade III status for 2023: the Manila S. at Belmont Park; Blame S. and Shawnee S. at Churchill Downs; and Music City S. at Kentucky Downs. Twelve races were downgraded from Grade III to Listed status for 2023.

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Possible Botulism Contamination In One Brand Of Alfalfa Cubes; 15 Horses Affected, 10 Dead

Top of The Rockies Hay Cubes, which are produced by Mazanola Feeds, released a statement on Nov. 12 asking customers to stop feeding their horses any product dated Nov. 11 through 14.

At least 15 horses have contracted what veterinarians believe is botulism from the cubes; 10 have been euthanized, two died within 48 hours and two are being treated. The condition of the remaining horse is unknown. The ill horses are located in Texas, Oklahoma, New Mexico and Louisiana, reports The Horse.

Samples of various feeds, round bale hay, and water ingested by the sick horses has been sent to the United States Department of Agriculture laboratories in Ames, Iowa, Colorado State University, and the University of California, Davis.

Horses that contract botulism have difficulty swallowing and excessive salivation. They also will have exercise intolerance and weak eyelid and tail tone. How rapidly the horse's condition declines is related to how much toxin is ingested. Severe cases may result in respiratory paralysis and heart failure.

Botulism is the most potent biological toxin known. It can be contracted by horses in multiple ways, but it's suspected that ingestion of animal carcass remnants in feed is the cause of this outbreak. It can also be caused by improperly preserved hay or silage. Botulism spores can also be found in the soil and can contaminate wounds or, when ingested, cause Shaker Foal Syndrome.

A vaccine is available, but is not considered a core vaccination by the American Association of Equine Practitioners.

Learn more about botulism here.

Wagering Markets Course Interviews to Benefit TRF

In partnership with Mill Ridge Farm and In the Money Media Network, Marshall Gramm of Rhodes College will be releasing interviews from his “The Economics of Racetrack Wagering Markets” course to benefit the Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation. The 10 interviews, recorded in the spring of 2022, were conducted with handicappers, figure makers, horsemen and more to provide valuable insight into the sport of horse racing.

“I've never had a course before where I could reach out to knowledgeable experts to aid in helping my students more understand racing,” Gramm said.

Sponsorship money collected from Mill Ridge Farm will be split between In the Money Media and their founding partners, the Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation.

“It's great working with our friends at Mill Ridge who are committed to fostering the connection between the breeding side of business and horseplayers,” said In the Money Media co-founder, Peter Thomas Fornatale. “It's also a pleasure to be partnered with Marshall, who in addition to his skills as a bettor and owner, is also a great interviewer. Though I do worry he'll put me out of a job.”

Gramm's wide-ranging expertise of the racing industry has translated into him being the winner of the 2020 Breeders Cup Betting Challenge, co-founding the ownership group Ten Strike Racing, and being a board member of many industry organizations.

“There is not a more qualified instructor than a BCBC champion,” Price Bell of Mill Ridge Farm said. “We have long admired the perspective Professor Marshall Gramm brings to our industry. We are excited to partner with him, In the Money Media, and TRF to share this exciting content.”

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