Month: March 2023

Tattersalls to Sponsor Listed Diana Trial at Baden-Baden

Tattersalls this year will sponsor the Listed Diana Trial at Baden-Baden Racecourse in Germany. The nine-furlong contest for 3-year-old fillies will take place on May 20.

The race is a key trial for the G1 Preis der Diana and previously has been won by high-class fillies Ashiana (Ger) (Mastercraftsman {Ire}), Preciosa (Ger) (Sea The Moon {Ger}) and Mascha (Fr) (Le Havre {Ire}), who was subsequently sold for 325,000gns in the inaugural Sceptre Sessions at the 2022 Tattersalls December Mares Sale.

“Tattersalls is delighted to sponsor the Listed Diana Trial at Baden-Baden, a race which is an important stepping-stone to one of the most significant races in the German calendar,” Tattersalls Chairman Edmond Mahony said. “Tattersalls has a history of selling some of the finest German-bred foals, yearlings, horses-in-training and broodmares and our sponsorship of the Tattersalls Diana Trial underlines our commitment to the German racing and breeding industries as well as reinforces our long association with Baden-Baden Racecourse.”

The post Tattersalls to Sponsor Listed Diana Trial at Baden-Baden appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post

‘Auguste Rodin Is The One’ – Aidan O’Brien Dreaming Of Triple Crown Glory

Aidan O'Brien has nominated Auguste Rodin (Ire) (Deep Impact {Jpn}), the ante-post favourite for the 2000 Guineas and the Derby, as being the horse who is most capable of emulating Nijinsky by winning the Triple Crown this season. 

If successful, Auguste Rodin would bridge a 53-year gap, and complete a long-held ambition for the master of Ballydoyle, who came agonisingly close to achieving the feat with Camelot (GB) in 2013.

Auguste Rodin is understood to have come out of an exercise gallop at the Curragh racecourse on Saturday in good shape by O'Brien, who also revealed that he has every faith in last year's crack juvenile Little Big Bear (Ire) (No Nay Never) getting the Guineas trip. 

Both colts were reported to be on course for Newmarket by O'Brien at a Ballydoyle press morning on Monday.

He explained, “Auguste Rodin and Little Big Bear will be aimed at Newmarket and then the lads will have to decide whether they will let the two of them run together or split them up. They were obviously two very classy colts last year, and what Little Big Bear did in the Phoenix was just different, but we were also very impressed with Auguste Rodin in the Vertem Futurity as everything went wrong in the race.”

O'Brien added, “Little Big Bear would be very comfortable and happy to go back sprinting any time, but there's a very good chance he will get a mile. He races very relaxed.

“Auguste Rodin, you would imagine, will have no bother stretching out to a-mile-and-a-quarter or a-mile-and-a-half. He's that type of horse. We were nearly not running him at Doncaster because of the ground, as he's an exceptional mover–a very slick, very long and low mover. 

“He is that type of horse that could start in the Guineas and stretch out. He was always very classy, from the first time Ryan [Moore] rode him. I remember Ryan riding him in February, as a two-year-old, and he was raving about him then. If we have a horse who could do that [win the Triple Crown], he would definitely be the one.”

One horse who won't be seen at Newmarket in May is Statuette (Justify), who has suffered a setback. Unbeaten in both of her starts at two, including the G2 Airlie Stud S., Statuette will be joined on the easy list by Kyprios (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), the reigning Gold Cup hero, who will miss the defence of his Royal Ascot crown due to injury. 

O'Brien said, “Statuette is on a little bit of a hold-up. I don't think she's going to make the Guineas. We'll go gently with her and see what happens.

“I don't think Kyprios will make the Ascot Gold Cup. He got a little bit of an infection in a joint and it's not settling down. We'll just have to wait and see. It happened a month ago and it's just not settling. Sometimes those things can settle very quickly and sometimes they don't. He got an infection inside the joint-an unusual thing-and the joint had to be flushed. And then there was more infection, so they had to flush it a second time.”

Asked what horses could potentially fill the Gold Cup void for Ballydoyle, O'Brien responded, “We were very impressed with Emily Dickinson (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) at the Curragh, on her last run. She grew another leg when she went to two miles. I'm not sure whether Broome (Ire) (Australia {GB}) will stretch out that far, but I'd imagine Goodwood, Irish Leger and Melbourne Cup, those types of races for him.”

Breeders' Cup scorer Victoria Road (Ire) (Saxon Warrior {Jpn}) will be trained for the French 2,000 Guineas while an audacious plan has been hatched with the speedy Tenebrism (Caravaggio) to win the G1 King's Stand S. and G1 Platinum Jubilee at Royal Ascot. 

O'Brien said, “I think they [Ballydoyle three-year-olds for this season] are strong. There are plenty of chances there, and we have two very strong Guineas chances, and then we have the horse for France [Victoria Road].”

He added, “Tenebrism is going to go sprinting and will probably start in one of the local sprints. She's nearly ready to go. She's a fast filly, and I'd say five or six furlongs would be comfortable for her.

“Last year we were dallying around with her, seeing where we were going to go, but the minute we started sprinting with her, it was very obvious she was a sprinter. She's very quick. She'll be trained differently. Last year, we were trying to stretch her out, to see how far she would go, and she was still very competitive at those distances because she's just a good filly.”

The post ‘Auguste Rodin Is The One’ – Aidan O’Brien Dreaming Of Triple Crown Glory appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post

Rich Strike Owner Files Suit Against Hot Rod Charlie Connections In Shoe-Gate Case

Nearly six months after his loss to Hot Rod Charlie in the Grade 2 Lukas Classic Stakes, the owner of Rich Strike has filed a lawsuit in Kentucky court over Hot Rod Charlie's shoes. Rick Dawson and his Red TR Racing filed a civil lawsuit in Jefferson Circuit Court in Kentucky March 24 alleging “intentional interference with a valid expectancy” over the shoe use. The suit names Gainesway Thoroughbreds, Roadrunner Racing 2018, Boat Racing, Strauss Brothers Racing, and Doug O'Neill — the owners and trainer of Hot Rod Charlie, respectively.

Hot Rod Charlie beat Kentucky Derby winner Rich Strike by a head in the Lukas Classic on Oct. 1, 2022 following an intense stretch battle between the two.

Dawson has taken issue with the outcome of the race since various photographs of the stretch run appeared to show protrusions from Hot Rod Charlie's front shoes. HISA's rule 2276 prohibits toe grabs, rims, and jar calks except either full outer rims of four millimeters or less, or toe grabs of up to four millimeters on hind feet only for traction on dirt races. Toe grabs have been banned on front shoes for some time in Kentucky prior to the implementation of national safety regulations last summer. A protrusion was visible on Hot Rod Charlie's front toes in some photographs, and not immediately apparent in others.

Read our previous reporting about toe grabs and safety regulation here.

Dawson took a complaint to the Kentucky stewards, who determined that the shoes worn by Hot Rod Charlie did not violate national rules. He then filed a complaint with the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority, which reviewed the evidence and the shoes that Hot Rod Charlie had worn.

A report issued by the Authority's board of directors concluded that Hot Rod Charlie had worn Kerckhaert Tradition XTs which previously had toe grabs that his farrier said he had ground down before they were put on the horse's feet to ensure rule compliance. The shoes in question show signs of wear and tear around the edges of the toes.

A comparison of Hot Rod Charlie's shoes to other shoes featuring toe grabs. This image comparison was in the Authority's report on Dawson's complaint.

In Dawson's civil complaint, he claims “a toe grab protrusion of approximately 4 mm, half steel and half aluminum, appeared at the toe of the shoes. The fact that a 2 mm steel extension remains on the shoes calls into question Hot Rod Charlie's farrier's testimony that he ground down the Kerckhaert Tradition XT toe grabs … instead, it appears that, from August 30, 2022, when the farrier says he shod the horse, until October 10, 2022, when the shoes were finally removed, Hot Rod Charlie illegally trained and raced with toe grabs…”

The Authority's investigation focused on whether Hot Rod Charlie's shoes demonstrated signs of a traction device as defined by the rules. They determined that this question could be answered by measuring the highest point of the shoe to the area where the toe grab would have originated from — not from the highest point of the shoe to the ground surface of the shoe.

“Of course, whatever the explanation for how or why the toe grabs appeared on the shoes of Hot Rod Charlie on the day of the Lukas Classic Race, the Horse still ran in violation of HISA Rule 2276,” the civil complaint read.

Dawson is seeking compensation for the damages alleged, pre-judgment interest, punitive damages, and court costs. He points out he has lost out on the $305,520 purse difference between first and second prize, the value of the race's trophy, and potential impact to Rich Strike's syndicate value.

HISA shoe regulations do not specify whether a horse who runs a race in prohibited shoes must later be disqualified as a result.

The allegations in a civil complaint represent only the plaintiff's view of a case. A response has not yet been filed on behalf of the defendants.

The post Rich Strike Owner Files Suit Against Hot Rod Charlie Connections In Shoe-Gate Case appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

Source of original post

Ed Brown Fellow, Scholar Embark On Internships With 1/ST Racing

As the second year of the 1/ST partnership with the Ed Brown Society (EBS) has begun, the partners are excited to announce the second cohort of 1/ST interns placed through the Ed Brown Scholars-Fellows program. The interns will gain experience in multiple professional disciplines over the next ten weeks at Gulfstream Park, Santa Anita Park and Pimlico Race Course.

The interns for the 1/ST Spring 2023 cohort are Zaharia Selman and Shaska Davis.

Zaharia Selman, an Ed Brown Fellow, graduated Magna Cum Laude from the University of Georgia in May of 2022, with a Bachelor of Science degree in Animal Science. Shaska Davis, an Ed Brown Scholar, is on schedule to graduate with honors, from Kentucky State University in July of 2023, with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Mass Communications.

“We are very excited to embark upon year two of our groundbreaking partnership with 1/ST and to facilitate this tremendous opportunity for Zaharia and Shaska, as they undoubtedly gain professional experience that will place them on the pathway to successful careers in the Thoroughbred industry,” said Ed Brown Society Chairman Greg Harbut.

“We are thrilled to welcome second-year Ed Brown Society interns Zaharia and Shaska to 1/ST and look forward to having them as part of our team as they gain valuable experience across our 1/ST RACING venues,” said Jodie Vella-Gregory, VP, Industry Relations at 1/ST RACING. “Our first-year interns, Charles Churchill and Deja Robinson set a high bar of success with Charles now a full-time 1/ST team member working out of Gulfstream Park and Deja pursuing her veterinary passions at Rood and Riddle Equine Hospital. The partnership with the Ed Brown Society is one that we are particularly proud of.”

Of the placement of Selman and Davis, Charles Churchill said, “As a 2022 Ed Brown Scholar, it's extremely encouraging for me to see that the partnership between the Ed Brown Society and 1/ST has quickly become an ongoing effort to expose talented students of color to the kinds of experiences in the Thoroughbred industry that lead to professional career opportunities.”

1/ST became the first member of the Ed Brown Partnership in January 2022. The Ed Brown Partnership is the highest designated level of participation, in support of the work of the Ed Brown Society (EBS). EBS is named in honor of Edward Dudley Brown, who was born into slavery in Lexington, KY, and went on to become one of the most accomplished horsemen in the history of Thoroughbred racing.

Founded in 2020, EBS celebrates the rich history of African-Americans in the Thoroughbred industry, and creates opportunities for young people of color to gain exposure, training and experience, through scholarships, fellowships and internships, that will qualify them to successfully embark upon professional careers in all aspects of the Thoroughbred industry.

About the Ed Brown Society

Founded by Living The Dream Stables, the Ed Brown Society (EBS) celebrates the rich history of African-Americans in the equine industry while creating opportunities for young people of color to gain industry exposure, training and experience, through academic scholarships, development programming and professional internships. EBS focuses on identifying and qualifying students of color, with demonstrated interest, skills and commitment, to become successful professionals in all aspects of the equine industry. For more information about EBS visit www.EdBrownSociety.org.

The post Ed Brown Fellow, Scholar Embark On Internships With 1/ST Racing appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

Source of original post

Verified by MonsterInsights