January, 2024 | Horse Racing Free Tips

Great British Bonus Scheme Reaches £13.5 Million Mark As 999th Bonus Paid

The 999th Great British Bonus was paid to the connections of Miss Bielsa (GB) (Nathaniel {Ire}) after she won on debut in a maiden fillies' race on Jan. 26. A £50,000gns Tattersalls Book 2 alum, the Alan Byrne-owned Miss Bielsa picked up a £20,000 bonus at Wolverhampton.

The Simon and Ed Crisford trainee is a half-sister to the very first GBB winner, Pelekai (GB) (Kodiac {GB}), who won £10,000 on debut, and to Golden Mayflower (GB) (Golden Horn {GB}), who earned £20,000, also in her first appearance. The trio are out of Pelerin (Ire) (Shamardal), a multiple listed winner. The chestnut is the 763rd filly to have secured at least one GBB bonus, with 166 multiple GBB bonus winners. Byrne is one of 562 owners who have seen success with GBB, while her breeder, Newsells Park Stud, is one of 454 who have bred a winning filly.

Philip Newton, the Chairman of the TBA, which runs the scheme, said, “At a superficial level, GBB is supporting the entire industry with immediate financial rewards, but it's doing so much more than that: it's encouraging racing in Britain; it's encouraging more fillies to be tested on the track; it's incentivising the use of British-based stallions; it's creating a demand and increasing the value of British-bred fillies at the sales; it's doing so much and exceeding expectations. It is showing that well thought out and carefully managed incentives can–and do–work.”

Since the scheme's launch, the value of British-bred fillies at sales has increased 16.3%; 13.4% for Flat fillies and 26.5% for NH fillies, according to a study by PWC.

He added, “We're truly grateful to the Horserace Betting Levy Board (HBLB) for its unwavering support of the Great British Bonus. The HBLB not only provides £3.5 million in annual funding to the programme, but also plays a vital role in its management through its representatives on the GBB Management Group. Its continued partnership is instrumental in ensuring the longevity and effectiveness of the scheme.”

The deadline to register 2022 Flat-bred fillies for stage 3 is Feb. 28, 2024. For more information on the programme and to register a filly, please visit the GBB website.

The post Great British Bonus Scheme Reaches £13.5 Million Mark As 999th Bonus Paid appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post

2024 Kentucky Derby Trophy Unveiled

The gold trophy that will go to the winner of the upcoming 150th GI Kentucky Derby was unveiled to the public Tuesday at Churchill Downs. The special Kentucky Derby trophy was handcrafted by silversmiths of S.R. Blackinton in Smithfield, R.I. from 14-karat solid yellow gold and green gold over a period of more than six months. As always, the front of the trophy is adorned by a 14-karat gold horseshoe pointed upward, the top features a 14-karat gold horse and rider, and the sides showcase a pair of horseshoe-shaped wreath handles.

The trophy stands 22 inches tall and weighs just under 68 ounces, excluding its jade base and unique gems added to this year's milestone trophy.

As was the case with previous special anniversaries–1949 (75th), 1974 (100th) and 1999 (125th)–this year's trophy has unique jeweled embellishments to commemorate the special 150th anniversary.

A distinctive garland of roses outfitted with 196 rubies, 96 marquise emeralds and 36 round emeralds is draped across the withers of the horse atop the 2024 trophy. Additionally, there are 12 diamonds on the cover cape beneath the horse, 38 rubies on the circular braid atop the gold cup, and eight diamonds within the horseshoe on the front of the trophy.

Three smaller sterling silver replica trophies are awarded to the winning jockey, trainer and breeder of the Kentucky Derby.

The post 2024 Kentucky Derby Trophy Unveiled appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post

In The Hot Seat: Adam Ryan

Adam Ryan, who assists his father Kevin at their Hambleton Lodge yard in Thirsk, has high hopes for Shamardal colt Inisherin and a rising star on the pony racing circuit.

Proudest moment of 2023?
Triple Time (Ire) (Frankel {GB}) winning the Queen Anne S. at Royal Ascot. He was a horse who we'd always held in the highest regard and it was a proud achievement to not only achieve a Group 1 win but to do it on the biggest stage. He also went straight there without a run and I believe that did elevate that performance.

What is your biggest ambition for the new year?
Setting goals is quite difficult but to continue our success is probably the most important thing. All winners are important but to be competitive on the biggest stage is what everyone is trying to achieve. It's always a goal to find that Group 1 winner which is so important.

Give us one horse to follow and why?
Our horse to follow would be Inisherin (GB). He has a wonderful pedigree, being by the late Shamardal and out of a Group 1-winning dam. He ran very well on his debut at Newmarket where the front two pulled a long way clear and always looked the type to progress into a nice three-year-old.

And a young person in the industry to keep an eye on…
A young lad called Mason Paetel. He isn't actually in the industry just yet, but we saw him win a pony race at York last season and met him and his family afterwards. He looks like he could be a bright star in the future.

Who do you think will be champion first-season sire this year?
This is always a difficult one and it looks to be a very good crop this year. Obviously, Pinatubo (Ire) would be very hard to look past, a wonderful racehorse with the pedigree to match. Hello Youmzain (Fr) has also produced some good-looking stock. He was a very good sprinter and also had a great mind. I'm sure he can make a very positive start to his stallion career if passing that on to his progeny.

And the best value stallion in Europe?
We've had a lot of luck with Kodi Bear (Ire) and last season Room Service (Ire) proved to be a cracking two-year-old, winning the valuable sales race at Doncaster. We are hopeful he could continue his progression this year and potentially take the step into pattern company.

What's the one horse you wish you'd bought in 2023?
I think Vandeek (GB) was very impressive in a short space of time. It will be interesting to see what route he goes down this year, but he could potentially be a sprinting superstar.

Biggest regret?
I don't really believe in having regrets, but I would say one of the biggest disappointments was The Grey Gatsby (Ire) just getting touched off in the Prince Of Wales's S. at Royal Ascot in 2015. It was agonisingly close and he was a star for us throughout his career, but if he was to lose then there was no better man to beat us than Pat Smullen.

Biggest influence on your career?
Obviously, my father and being able to witness first-hand all the intricacies of the sport and business. To work as part of a team alongside him is very special. Stephen Hillen would be a big influence, too. He works alongside my father at the sales. It has been invaluable experience to shadow him and see what it takes to source the right horse.

If you could sit down for dinner with three people (dead or alive) who would they be and why?
I would probably say some absent friends and family. To have one more evening with them would be the most important dinner to me.

The post In The Hot Seat: Adam Ryan appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post

First Foal for Happy Saver

Happy Saver (Super Saver–Happy Week, by Distorted Humor), winner of the 2020 GI Jockey Club Gold Cup S., was represented by his first foal when Planeta (Giant's Causeway) produced a filly last week. The filly was born at Hagyard Farm, which was also the birthplace of Happy Saver and home of the Kentucky nursery of his breeder, Wertheimer and Frere.

The foal was bred by Hagyard Farm assistant manager Jose Sarinana, who also helped raise her sire.

“Happy Saver was our best foal, best yearling and went on to be our best racehorse in my time here at Hagyard Farm,” Sarinana said. “I wouldn't expect any less from his foals and having this well-balanced filly carrying Happy Saver's traits makes me very happy.”

Carrying the Wertheimers' colors, Happy Saver hit the board in 11 of 13 starts, with five wins and earnings of $1,258,100. In addition to his Gold Cup win, he also won the 2020 Federico Tesio S. and was second in the 2021 Gold Cup and GI Clark S., as well as the 2022 GI Metropolitan H. and GI Whitney S.

The Wertheimers partnered with Airdrie Stud for Happy Saver's stallion career following his retirement from racing.

Happy Saver will stand the 2024 breeding season at Airdrie for a fee of $10,000.

The post First Foal for Happy Saver appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post