December, 2023 | Horse Racing Free Tips

‘We’ll Let Him Do The Talking’: Millionaire Sibelius To Defend His Title In Saturday’s Mr. Prospector

Jun Park and Deliah Nash's 5-year-old millionaire gelding Sibelius, who used his win last year as a springboard to Group 1 glory, returns to make a title defense in Saturday's $125,000 Mr. Prospector (G3) at Gulfstream Park.

The 69th running of the seven-furlong Mr. Prospector for 3-year-olds and up is among four $125,000 stakes on an 11-race Christmas weekend program, joined by the six-furlong Sugar Swirl (G3) for fillies and mares 3 and up, Tropical Park Derby for 3-year-olds and Tropical Park Oaks for 3-year-old fillies, both scheduled for 1 1/16 miles on the grass.

First race post time is 12:10 p.m.

Sibelius will be attempting to become the first horse to win the Mr. Prospector in back-to-back years and just the second two-time winner, joining X Y Jet (2015, 2017). Steve Margolis (2003, 2004) and David Fawkes (Jan. 2011, Dec. 2011) are the only trainers since 1978 to take successive runnings

Based year-round at Palm Meadows, Gulfstream's satellite training facility in Palm Beach County, Sibelius will be racing at his home track for the first time since a 2 ¼-length triumph in the Mr. Prospector on New Year's Eve 2022.

Though he arrived at Gulfstream already a stakes winner, courtesy of the Lite the Fuse at Pimlico Race Course, and with graded-stakes experience, having run fourth by two lengths as the favorite in the Phoenix (G2) at Keeneland, Sibelius took a major step forward in last year's Mr. Prospector.

“The manner in which he won the Mr. Prospector last year I think was very good. He jumped well, traveled strongly throughout the race and kind of drew off, which was visually impressive also, I thought,” trainer Jerry O'Dwyer said.

“Horses, they're like us. They puff out their chest after a victory, especially when they get to travel smoothly in a race and kind of put horses away without having to work too hard which was kind of the performance he put up in the Mr. Prospector,” he added. “Horses do come back feeling good after that.”

Sibelius followed up with a stakes-record effort winning the six-furlong Pelican at Tampa Bay Downs Feb. 11, also under jockey Junior Alvarado, and a dramatic nose victory over defending champion Switzerland with multiple Grade 1-winning millionaire Gunite third in the Dubai Golden Shaheen (G1) March 25.

“Maybe it's the time of year where he's best, I don't know. We'll find out this year. It's going to be his second year in a row trying to take the same path,” O'Dwyer said. “We're looking forward to it. I couldn't be happier with the horse. Junior couldn't be happier with him. We think we have him where we need him, and we'll let him do the talking.”

Sibelius' good looks, curious nature and outgoing personality made him a fan and social media favorite during his week in Dubai. He is winless in three tries since returning to North America, running fourth in the June 3 Aristides at Churchill Downs, seventh by 4 ¼ lengths in the July 29 Bing Crosby (G1) at Del Mar and fifth in the Phoenix Oct. 6.

“It was a fabulous experience, without a doubt,” O'Dwyer said of Dubai. “He did have to work very hard and it probably took more out of him than we anticipated and taken a little longer for the gas tank to fully replenish. But we've been patient with him, we haven't overraced him, we've given him time. He's just a great horse to be around and be associated with.

“Taking a journey like that do Dubai is every trainer's dream and hopefully we can do it again next year,” he added. “That's our goal, is to try and get back to Dubai with him. Obviously he's got to show up in the Mr. Prospector and then maybe the Pelican again. That worked last year, but he'd have to show up in both those races to let us know that he's on his 'A' game to take him back to Dubai. You're taking on Grade 1 horses and you can't be going there half-cocked. You have to be fully loaded.”

Sibelius has breezed five times since mid-November at Palm Meadows for his comeback, most recently going a half-mile in 48.30 seconds, second-fastest of 18 horses. Alvarado will ride back from outermost Post 9.

“He had a nice breeze the other day. Junior came in and breezed him. He was extremely happy with him and so was I, so it's all systems go. He came out of the work good and he's training away forwardly,” O'Dwyer said. “He loves being at Palm Meadows. It's a wonderful facility, very tranquil, lots of space. It's a big track to train over so nobody's really on top of each other. He enjoys that. He likes standing out and taking in his surroundings and we'd like to keep it that way with him.”

At the opposite end of the gate is Holly Crest Farm's 3-year-old New Jersey homebred Great Navigator, never worse than third in nine career starts with three wins. He is twice graded-stakes placed, having run second in the 2022 Sanford (G3) at 2 and third in his most recent effort, the Oct. 1 Vosburgh (G2) at Aqueduct. Finishing ahead of him that day were Cody's Wish, back-to-back winner of the Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile (G1) and a candidate for Horse of the Year, and three-time Grade 2-placed Accretive.

The Vosburgh marked a cutback to seven furlongs after successive two-turn efforts over his home track at Monmouth Park.

“I think coming out of those two long races, he was much too relaxed and gave himself a little bit too much to do,” trainer Eddie Owens Jr. said. “I mean, he ran into some nice horses. The two horses that beat him, they were nice horses. Cody's Wish was probably the best horse in the country at the time. [Accretive], he had the lead by himself, so I knew he was going to be tough to beat. Cody, he's just a monster.”

Great Navigator will be facing older horses for the sixth straight race, twice beating his elders including a 10-length romp over fellow state-breds in the 1 1/16-mile Charles Hesse III Handicap Sept. 4.

“I was surprised how easy he did it,” Owens said. “He ran into a slow pace that day. They were going slow on the front end and I thought he wasn't going to make it there, and then he just blew them away.”

Hector Diaz Jr. will be aboard for the first time in the Mr. Prospector.

“He's been training down here very well,” Owens said. “I feel good. I think he's going to run a big race. The post position, you don't want to get stuck behind a lot of horses. Hopefully we get a good trip. If he runs his race, he's going to be tough to beat.”

Grade 2 winner Howbeit and fellow multiple stakes-winning stablemate Winfromwithin, who have combined for 12 wins and $767,591 in purse earnings from 52 starts; 2022 Gallant Bob (G2) winner Scaramouche; Hurricane J, a front-running winner sprinting 6 ½ furlongs Nov. 19 at Gulfstream; Dreaming of Kona, promoted winner of Gulfstream's one-mile Mucho Macho Man Jan. 1; Grade 1-placed Gilmore and 2019 Rebel (G2) winner Long Range Toddy complete the field.

The post ‘We’ll Let Him Do The Talking’: Millionaire Sibelius To Defend His Title In Saturday’s Mr. Prospector appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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HIWU Update: Groom’s Prescription For Metformin Reduces Sanctions For Michael Lauer

Trainer Michael Lauer has been suspended 75 days and fined $2,600 over a positive test for metformin in his trainee Mowins, according to the public disclosures section of the website for the Horseracing Integrity & Welfare Unit (HIWU), the enforcement arm of the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority (HISA).

The period of ineligibility is significantly smaller than the two-year suspension a metformin positive can trigger, since the medication often prescribed for treating human diabetes is listed among HIWU's banned substances. The reduction, according to summary documents from an arbitration hearing, is due to a valid legal prescription held by Mowins' groom in Lauer's barn at Horseshoe Indianapolis.

On race day, Aug. 5, groom Jorge Ceballos took his metformin pill during lunch after his morning duties. He then prepared Mowins for the race, which included putting the bridle in the horse's mouth.

“HIWU agreed that Mr. Lauer was able to establish the source of metformin by a balance of probability was unintentional contamination by Mr. Ceballos during his pre-race grooming preparations,” the summary document reads.

Fault is considered to fall in any of three categories: light or insignificant fault; moderate fault; and significant fault. Lauer was determined to bear a light degree of fault for the violation.

“Mr. Lauer fulfilled his personal responsibility to be knowledgeable of the ADMC Program and to inform all personnel associated with the care, treatment, training, or racing of his Covered Horses of their respective obligations under the Protocol. Mr. Lauer properly educated and instructed [assistant trainer] Ms. Dudley about necessary safeguarding measures he wanted implemented at his barns to minimize the chance drugs or foreign substances would enter his horses' systems, which Ms. Dudley followed. Because Mr. Lauer managed barns in two states simultaneously, he made a reasonable delegation of oversight responsibilities at Horseshoe Indianapolis to Ms. Dudley, while he remained in Churchill Downs Training Center, especially given her adherence to his safeguarding policies and commitment to providing instructions to all personnel working for her and around Mr. Lauer's horses about the necessary safeguards that Mr. Lauer required to have in place.

“The following mitigating factors are present in this case which place Mr. Lauer's degree of fault at the low end of the light degree of fault range: (1) Ms. Dudley is a trusted, diligent assistant trainer who has worked for Mr. Lauer before without incident; (2) the AAF arose from inadvertent contamination (as opposed to intentional administration); (3) Mr. Lauer was not actually aware Mr. Ceballos was using Metformin; and (4) Mr. Ceballos had a current, valid and legal prescription for Metformin.”

Lauer had been provisionally suspended since Oct. 12, following a confirmation of the metformin positive from Mowins' B sample. Accordingly, his 75-day suspension will run through Dec. 26, 2023.

Prior to the original notification of a positive test, Mowins ran eighth in the Bucchero handicap on Aug. 23. Accordingly, the horse has been disqualified from his results on both Aug. 5 and Aug. 23, with purse money ordered returned. Mowins was also suspended for 60 days beginning Aug. 31, and has been reinstated following a negative re-entry test.

In other case news released by HIWU recently, a metformin positive for trainer Anthony Farrior was withdrawn when the B sample was unable to be analyzed due to insufficient volume; trainer Reed Saldana has been suspended two years and fined $37,000 after losing arbitration over a positive test for the vasodilator diisopropylamine; and trainers Jeffrey Englehart and A. Ferris Allen III were both handed seven-day suspensions for their second Class C positive tests.

The previous edition of the HIWU Weekly Roundup is available here, and all public disclosures can be found on the HIWU website.

New Case Resolutions

The following cases have recently been resolved by HIWU, either via admission and acceptance of consequences (ADMISSION), via arbitration (ARBITRATOR), or via final decision of HIWU or the IAP (FINAL).

Note: The accumulation of Penalty Points can lead to suspensions (6-7 points leads to a 30-day suspension).

Trainer Reed Saldana was suspended 24 months with a $25,000 fine after he lost an arbitration over his trainee Ice Queen testing positive for the vasodilator diisopropylamine. Saldana has also been ordered to pay $12,000 toward HIWU's arbitration cost (he was already responsible for his share of the cost), and Ice Queen was disqualified from her third-place finish in a June 16 starter allowance at Santa Anita Park. For more about this result, click here. (ARBITRATOR)
Trainer Jeff Hiles has been fined $3,000 and assessed 3 Penalty Points for a violation of the intra-articular injection rule within seven days of a timed workout with Blue Devil on Nov. 4. (FINAL)
Trainer A. Ferris Allen III was suspended seven days (Dec. 13 through 19) for a second Class C violation. His trainee Aristocratic tested positive for phenylbutazone after finishing second in a starter allowance race at Colonial Downs on Sept. 1; the horse has been disqualified with purse money ordered returned. Allen was also fined $1,000 and assessed 1.5 Penalty Points. (ADMISSION)
Trainer Jeffrey Englehart was suspended seven days (Dec. 13 through 19) for a second Class C violation. His trainee Graywing tested positive for phenylbutazone after finishing fourth in an allowance race at Finger Lakes on July 17; the horse has been disqualified with purse money ordered returned. Englehart was also fined $1,000 and assessed 1.5 Penalty Points. (ADMISSION)
Trainer Tony Lello has been fined $500 and assessed 1.5 Penalty Points over Reel Em In testing positive for methocarbamol after a vet's list workout at the Downs at Albuquerque on Oct. 28. (ADMISSION)
Trainer Joe Pizzurro has been fined $500 and assessed 1.5 Penalty Points over Atlantic Firestorm testing positive for phenylbutazone after a vet's list workout at Mahoning Valley on Oct. 25. (ADMISSION)

Pending Violations – Provisional Suspensions For Banned Substances

The following cases include pending violations for banned substances, those that are not permitted in horses. New cases are listed in italics, and active suspensions have the responsible person's name listed in bold.

Postponed suspensions, those for substances yet to be confirmed by split sample, are listed with an asterisk (*).

*Dr. Margaret Smyth – possession of banned substances sarapin and levothyroxine (violation date Oct. 4)
Trainer Adolfo Macias – possession of banned substance levothyroxine (violation date Sept. 20)
Trainer Michael Pappada
- Thisaintjumpstreet, Willie Wando, and Tudox Rue Majestic incurred violations of Rule 3229(b)–Status During Provisional Suspension or Ineligibility
- Runaway Harry, a gelding, tested positive for altrenogest after winning a starter allowance at Presque Isle Downs on Aug. 28.
Trainer Daniel Kenney – possession of banned substance levothyroxine (violation date Aug. 25)
*Dr. Barbara Hippie's provisional suspension has been lifted pursuant to Rule 3247(c)(4), “exceptional circumstances exist that make it clearly unfair, taking into account all of the circumstances of the case, to impose a Provisional Suspension prior to the final hearing on the merits,” after being found to be in possession of banned substances bisphosphonate, pitcher plant extract (sarapin), levothyroxine, and isoxuprine (violation date Sept. 28)
Dr. Scott Shell – possession of banned substances bisphosphonate; gamma aminobutyric acid (GABA), and isoxsuprine (violation date Sept. 28)
Trainer John Pimental (imposed sanctions were vacated when HIWU accepted the trainer's withdrawal of admission of guilt; adjudication restarted)
- Possession of Levothyroxine (violation date July 28)
- Golovkin tested positive for methamphetamine after finishing last (sixth) in a claiming race at Monmouth Park on May 29. A claim on the horse was voided from this race.
*Trainer Hector Palma's provisional suspension was lifted pursuant to Rule 3247(e) after his trainee Baladi tested positive for methamphetamine after finishing fourth in a claiming race at Del Mar on July 30. The 4-year-old gelding remains provisionally suspended from racing.
*Trainer Randy Preston's provisional suspension was lifted pursuant to Rule 3247(e) after Fly Home tested positive for methamphetamine after winning a maiden claiming race at Belterra Park on July 20.
Trainer Milton Pineda's admission of guilt has been withdrawn, and thus his provisional suspension has been reinstated. Eight of Pineda's trainees tested positive for the banned substance diisopropylamine, a vasodilator, between June 2 and July 4 of this year.
Trainer Jim Lewis – Hughie's Holiday tested positive for clenbuterol after winning a claiming race at Ruidoso Downs on July 8. The 5-year-old mare remains provisionally suspended from racing.
Trainer Ramon Rechy – Night Livin tested positive for methamphetamine after winning a claiming race at Horseshoe Indianapolis on July 7.
*Trainer Bruno Tessore's provisional suspension was lifted pursuant to Rule 3247(e) after his trainee Tenebris, a gelding, tested positive for altrenogest on July 18 (no races or workouts listed on that date by Equibase).
Trainer Lorenzo Ruiz's admission of guilt has been withdrawn, and thus his provisional suspension has been reinstated. Three of Ruiz's trainees tested positive for the banned substance diisopropylamine, a vasodilator.
Trainer Donald H. Buckner – In the Midst tested positive for clenbuterol after finishing fifth in an allowance race at Thistledown on June 15. The 4-year-old gelding, though listed as provisionally suspended from racing by HIWU, has raced once at Mountaineer Park in West Virginia since the positive, finishing fifth on Aug. 9 (West Virginia is not subject to HISA regulation due to ongoing legal disputes).
*Trainer Mary Pirone's provisional suspension was lifted pursuant to Rule 3247(e) after her trainee Benny The Jet tested positive for altrenogest after the gelding finished fifth in a claiming race at Emerald Downs on June 24. Under HISA rules, the claim may be voided.
Trainer Joseph Taylor's admission of guilt has been withdrawn, and his provisional suspension has been reinstated. Two of his trainees tested positive for banned substances methylphenidate and clenbuterol.
Trainer Milton Pineda's admission of guilt has been withdrawn, and thus his provisional suspension has been reinstated. Eight of Pineda's trainees tested positive for the banned substance diisopropylamine, a vasodilator, between June 2 and July 4 of this year.
Trainer Jonathan Wong – Heaven and Earth tested positive for metformin after winning a maiden race at Horseshoe Indianapolis on June 1.

Pending Violations – Controlled Substances

The following cases include pending violations for controlled substances of Class B or higher, those that are permitted for therapeutic purposes, but not on race days or during vet's list workouts (new cases in italics).

Trainer Bonnie Lucas – Tankinator tested positive for xylazine on Nov. 7 at Parx Racing after a race in which he was pulled up and vanned off. (Class B) – **The same horse was also disqualified from a last-out victory (Oct. 21) under trainer Webster Gayle over a positive test for dexamethasone – a claim on the horse was voided due to the positive, which remains pending under HIWU.
Trainer Lacey Gaudet – violation of the intra-articular injection rule within seven days of a timed workout with Graceful Union (Nov. 29)
Trainer Peter Walder – violation of the intra-articular injection rule within seven days of a timed workout with Hello Jack (Nov. 25)
Trainer Jose Puentes – J and K Express tested positive for acepromazine after a vet's list workout at Golden Gate on Nov. 5 (Class B)
Trainer Peter Eurton – Stayincotai tested positive for acepromazine on Oct. 26. (Class B)
Trainer Gerald Brooks – Breezy Connection tested positive for gabapentin after finishing second in a starter optional claimer at Timonium on Sept. 4. (Class B)
Trainer Jeffrey Englehart –
- Mi Tres Por Ciento tested positive for methocarbamol after a vet's list workout at Finger Lakes on Aug. 23. (Class C)
- Wait A Minute tested positive for acepromazine after a vet's list workout at Finger Lakes on July 18. (Class B)
- Mi Tres Por Ciento tested positive for methocarbamol after a vet's list workout at Finger Lakes on July 18. (Class C)
- Graywing tested positive for phenylbutazone after finishing fourth in an allowance race at Finger Lakes on July 17. (Class C)
Trainer Rodolfo Garcia – violation of the intra-articular injection rule within seven days of a timed workout with Castellana (Sept. 15).
Trainer Ron Moquett – Lundberg tested positive for acepromazine after a vet's list workout at Ellis Park on Aug. 12. (Class B)
Trainer Carlos Mancilla – Cara in the City tested positive for gabapentin after finishing second in a maiden claiming race at Pimlico on Sept. 10. (Class B)
Trainer Jason DaCosta – Poker Partner tested positive for gabapentin after winning a maiden special weight race at Parx on July 18. (Class B)
Trainer Chris Hartman – Necker Island tested positive for acepromazine after winning the Mighty Beau Stakes at Ellis Park on June 18. (Class B)

The previous edition of the HIWU Weekly Roundup is available here, and all public disclosures can be found on the HIWU website.

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Costa Living the Dream After Switch from Australia to Dubai

Michael Costa may be a new name to some European readers, but he is not new to success. The Australian trainer has switched his home of Surfers Paradise for the stunning views of the Dubai skyline. A life-changing move, both personally and professionally, he flew his wife Melanie and four children 12,000km across the Indian Ocean and for the last 18 months has been based at Sheikh Ahmed bin Rashid Al Maktoum's private stable of Jebel Ali.

It must be said that he has made an eye-catching start: with 19 wins from 60 runs so far this season, Costa is currently the leading trainer in the region. He is set to saddle five runners at Meydan's meeting this Friday.

Head-hunted by the sheikh's racing manager Mohamed Al Shehhi, he is highly respected in his homeland. In the words of Australian Hall of Fame trainer Chris Waller, “Michael Costa gets improvement out of any horse he's given.”

Costa previously studied Equine Acupuncture and spent time as a steward before starting training the hard way from scratch. Famed for having an enviable strike rate, he was also known for getting the best from his team and placing his horses well. His stable star, Phobetor (Aus) (Dream Ahead), won the 2021 G2 Missile S., a highlight to Costa's CV and the perfect way to end that chapter of his career.

The move to a different country has reshaped the trainer's professional trajectory. When based at the Gold Coast, Costa primarily purchased from horses-in-training sales to sweeten horses up for improvement via a change of scenery before strategically placing them for syndicate ownership. Going from mostly syndicating to now working exclusively for Sheikh Ahmed, much adapting has taken place. Expanding from six afternoon staff to 76 full-time staff members is just one difference that illustrates the magnitude of training for such a prominent owner.

He says, “The fact that we've hit the ground running this season is all due to the staff's determination and positive outlook over the summer which has put us in this position of the horses performing so well.

“Being a trainer in Australia you have to wear many hats: you're selling, you're marketing, you're doing all these things, whereas in this role you're more usually pointing the people in the right direction and the hard work is done by the staff. We've got a great team.”

Costa continues, “The biggest hurdle that trainers have to face in Australia, and I'm sure it's the same in other parts of the world, is owners' communication, accounts and staffing issues, and those three things are now completely lacking in my role. My role is about finding the best horses that we can and getting the greatest outlook, as well as managing my team.

“I treat this operation as if it is still my own business. We're not going crazy at the sales. We've only purchased one horse in Book 1 so far. The rest has all been below the average and just buying good physicals, and that filters through to how we operate, with no excess, and with efficiency.

“I'm still in the mode of running my own business as I did in Australia, but I'm just very lucky that I don't have to spend as much time on chasing accounts and those sorts of things. That puts me in a very lucky position to do what most trainers get involved in it to do, and that's because they love the horse. So I've managed to get back close to the horse and now I go home smelling like a horse and that's what it all about.”

For Costa, last year was very much a fact-finding mission. He had to get to know all the horses for starters, as well as his new facilities, from dirt tracks, to the traits in the European pedigrees of some of his horses. Costa and his team found their feet quickly and managed to bring 13 winners home, which was more than the previous four seasons combined for the Jebel Ali stable.

This injection of fresh ambition, along with significant investment in horseflesh, is all part of Sheikh Ahmed's rejuvenation of Jebel Ali. Plans include a new grandstand along with using more of the desert land that surrounds the racecourse and training stables to better effect, including planting more trees. The revival mission is well underway and starting to reap rewards.

As a modern-day trainer with global ambitions, Costa has every corner covered when it comes to recruiting horses, from buying yearlings and having agents in a variety of countries looking out for any early potential and sourcing exciting prospects such as Mawthog (NZ) (Echoes Of Heaven {Aus}), who was noticed when winning a trial at Ruakaka. Another is Homebrew (Street Sense), a lightly-raced listed winner in the US for Brad Cox, while Carolina Reaper (NZ) (Vespa {NZ}) won a Group 3 at Pukekohe Park in New Zealand. These are just three examples that were all privately purchased, and they have joined a good mix of battle-hardened older horses who know the walks of Jebel Ali well. Then there are the annual picks from Sheikh Ahmed's European-based horses who bring strong form. This year they include Newbury maiden winner Lajooje (GB) (Showcasing {GB}) and last year's G2 Vintage S. winner Marbaan (GB) (Oasis Dream {GB}).

As the temperatures rose for the UAE summer, Costa conducted an international shopping spree, starting from the Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale in Sydney to the United States for the breeze-ups and horses-in-training sales.

A number of trainers in Dubai have more horses than he does. Jebel Ali holds 70, and one of those boxes is home to a past successful homebred in Morshdi (GB) (Slip Anchor {GB}), who is now 25 and long retired. He was quite the jet-setter back in his prime, taking the G1 Derby Italiano before finishing second to Galileo (Ire) in the G1 Irish Derby.

Costa's attention to detail has prompted some major upgrades to facilities at Jebel Ali. The changes include grass pens, an equine swimming pool, two treadmills, a spa, plus an arena with some poles and jumps, which can be hugely beneficial to the horse's mind with getting them to think and use themselves in a completely different way than when galloping around a track.

Costa was temporarily joined by his fellow Australian, jockey James Orman, who flew over to kick the first six winners home before Irishman Ben Coen took over as retained first jockey for the season.

“The season we are in now is about getting back Dubai dominance,” he says. “Once our yearlings come in and start to filter through for year three and onwards, we will start to look at travelling horses more abroad. With the way that the 2-year-olds have hit the track so far and the way we are rebuilding in the stable from the ground up, the 2-year-olds turning three will be the best opportunity for our horses to travel, so we are just getting into the crunch time now of coming into the better races, and we will know shortly what will travel.”

So if all goes to plan, we could be seeing more of Michael Costa and his team on the world stage.

He continues, “Initially, the first season I was just looking at what the other successful trainers in the UAE were doing, and their approach was a lot of form horses and a lot of breeze-up horses. What I wanted to do was ask the question–you get all these internationals arrive, and while we do get some UAE horses who are competitive on the big night, it is dominated a lot by the international horses, and there are not a lot of UAE horses who travel. So the question I asked myself was, 'Why is this?' The simple answer we came up with was that we've got to be buying the same horses that Chad Brown is buying, or William Haggas is buying, or the prominent trainers.

“His Highness's approach was to go to buy yearlings of varying types from Australian speed to European stamina to the dirt horses. Ultimately we just look for an athletic horse and a fast horse, and we've got the beauty of running on the dirt or the turf. Ultimately we want a fast horse first, and if they win a Group 1 on the turf, we're not going to be worried, or if they win a Group 1 on the dirt then that's great as well. I've spent some time with a few very good agents in the US, and everyone has their own idea of what makes a good dirt horse, but I think you can overcomplicate it. You're just looking for an athletic horse and if you start there then the rest should fall into place.”

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Bolshoi Ballet Retires to The Beeches Stud

Bolshoi Ballet (Ire), the dual Grade I-winning son of Galileo (Ire) and Alta Anna (Fr) (Anabaa), has been retired from racing to join Coolmore's National roster. He will stand at the McCarthy family's The Beeches Stud in Co Waterford.

Having been named a 'TDN Rising Star' when breaking his maiden at Leopardstown at two, Bolshoi Ballet, bred by Lynch Bages and Rhinestone Bloodstock, then emulated his sire, as well as Yeats (Ire) and High Chaparral (Ire), when winning both the G3 Ballysax S. and G3 Derrinstown Stud Derby Trial the next season. Following a seventh-place finish in the Derby at Epsom, he bounced back to win the GI Belmont Derby, earning the highest Beyer Speed Figure of any turf horse in North America last year. He closed out his career with another Grade I success at Saratoga, recording an easy win in the Sword Dancer S. this August.

“Bolshoi Ballet is an exceptional looker and walker, extremely genuine and clean-winded,” said his trainer Aidan O'Brien. “He had the class to win a Grade I over a mile and a quarter and also stayed a mile and a half well.”

Robert McCarthy of The Beeches Stud added, “I was very taken with Bolshoi Ballet when we went to see him at Ballydoyle earlier in the year. He's a super-looking horse with real presence about him, a great colour, plenty of size and a very good walk. I have no doubt that breeders will be impressed when they come to see him.”

Bolshoi Ballet's fee will be announced in the coming days.

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