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Gordon Elliott Joins Virtual Live Racing

Irish trainer Gordon Elliott has become a shareholder of Virtual Software Limited, the firm behind Virtual Live Racing. Based on the Isle of Man, the firm is chaired by online betting pioneer and racehorse owner Vincent Caldwell. The VLR product is available to all tote systems in the US via distribution through AmTote International’s Spectrum wagering system which enables tracks to accept wagers from players and create a brand new risk-free revenue system.

“Vincent Caldwell and I have enjoyed winners for the last four seasons,” said Elliott. “Vincent is passionate about Irish racing and works tirelessly like we all do in this industry without complaint as we are lucky enough to work in an industry we love. His focus of wanting to excel and win, just like myself, is what sparked my interest in his new venture Virtual Live Racing (VLR). Vincent’s goal is to give back to racing so that it will flourish for the next generation. By creating virtual replicas of real racetracks, Virtual Live Racing’s software, creates a much needed new revenue stream for racetracks and wagering operators. The software helps promote and build future demand in our beautiful sport. Vincent has created a little bit of racing history here and I am happy to back a winner with Vincent and Virtual Live Racing.”

Added Caldwell. “It’s fantastic to have Gordon on board. He shares VLR’s vision which sees virtual racing as an innovation that has a vital role to play in the future success of the racing industry. The respect and status that Gordon has in the sport, combined with his business knowledge, is a major boost in our drive to support a future proof, sustainable, business model for the racing industry in Ireland, UK, and internationally.”

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Australia On The Cards For Deja

Deja (Fr) (Youmzain {Ire}), recent winner of the Old Newton Cup for Phoenix Thoroughbreds, could be heading to Australia later this year after being given entries for the G1 Caulfield Cup and G1 Melbourne Cup.

The winner of five of his eight starts to date, the 5-year-old, who is trained by Peter Chapple-Hyam, has been raised seven pounds for his most recent victory and looks likely to carry top weight in the Ebor H. at York on Saturday, Aug. 22.

“We have had it on our mind all year to step him up into Group races before the end of the season and the Caulfield Cup and Melbourne Cup are definitely options,” said Phoenix Thoroughbreds’ PR manager and UK representative Jamie Watson.

“If he were to win [the Ebor] or even go close, I think you’d have to strongly consider going for the Melbourne Cup. We think a mile and a half is his minimum and would expect even more from him over longer distances, and there’s every chance he’ll get his ground conditions in Australia at that time of year. We are also looking at the Doncaster Cup and the stayers’ race on Champions Day at Ascot as other options.”

The Phoenix Thoroughbreds team has already tasted Group 1 success in Australia with Loving Gaby (Aus) (I Am Invincible {Aus}) as well as with the homebred Golden Slipper winner Farnan (Aus) (Not A Single Doubt {Aus}), who is raced in partnership with Aquis Farm.

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Tom’s D’Etat Tops First Week Of Breeders’ Cup Classic Rankings

GMB Racing's 7-year-old Tom's d'Etat, winner of the Stephen Foster Stakes (G2), leads the first week of tabulated votes for the 2020 Longines Breeders' Cup Classic Rankings, a weekly rating of the top 10 horses in contention for the $7 million Longines Breeders' Cup Classic (G1) at Keeneland Race Course in Lexington on November 7.

The Breeders' Cup Classic Rankings are determined by a panel of leading Thoroughbred racing media, horseplayers and members of the Breeders' Cup Racing Directors/Secretaries Panel. Rankings will be announced each week through October 13. A list of voting members can be found here.

In the Breeders' Cup Classic Rankings, each voter rates horses on a 10-9-8-7-6-5-4-3-2-1 system in descending order.

Tom's d'Etat, a Kentucky-bred son of Smart Strike, trained by Al Stall Jr., topped all Classic contenders this week with 292 votes. Earning a “Win and You're In” berth into the Breeders' Cup Classic with his runaway 4 ¼-length victory in the 1 1/8-mile Stephen Foster on June 27 at Churchill Downs, Tom's d'Etat scored his second triumph of 2020, following a win in the Oaklawn Mile Stakes on April 11.

Gary and Mary West, Mrs. John Magnier, Michael Tabor and Derrick Smith's 4-year-old Maximum Security (243 votes) is in second place. Now trained by Bob Baffert, Maximum Security won the inaugural $20 million Saudi Cup in February. A bay son of 2013 Breeders' Cup Juvenile (G1) winner New Year's Day, Maximum Security was the 2019 3-year-old Male Eclipse Award winner. Maximum Security is expected to start in this Saturday's San Diego Handicap (G2) at Del Mar. Baffert won the Breeders' Cup Classic in consecutive years with Bayern (2014), American Pharoah (2015) and Arrogate (2016).

Sackatoga Stable's Tiz the Law (210 votes) is one of two 3-year-olds in the top 10. Ranked third, Tiz the Law is unbeaten in three starts this year, taking the Holy Bull (G3), the Florida Derby (G1) and the 1 1/8-mile Belmont Stakes (G1) on June 20. Trainer Barclay Tagg has pointed the New York-bred son of Constitution to the Runhappy Travers Stakes (G1) at Saratoga Race Course on Aug. 8.

W.S. Farish's 4-year-old Code of Honor is ranked fourth with 200 votes. Winner of the Westchester Stakes (G3), and a third-place finisher in the Metropolitan Handicap (G1), Code of Honor won both the Travers Stakes and The Jockey Club Gold Cup (G1) before finishing seventh in last year's Breeders' Cup Classic for trainer Claude R. “Shug” McGaughey.

Garnering the fifth-most votes in the poll is Bloom Racing, Madaket Stables and Allen Racing's 5-year-old mare Midnight Bisou. The Steve Asmussen-trained dark bay daughter of Midnight Lute stormed from the back of the pack against male rivals in the Saudi Cup in January and finished second, just three-quarters of a length behind Maximum Security at the wire. Midnight Bisou (174 votes) continued her solid form in her return to the races last month, dominating the Fleur de Lis (G2) at Churchill Downs, for fillies and mares, romping to an 8 ¼-length victory.

CRK Stable's Honor A. P. is the second 3-year-old in the top 10 of this week's rankings, taking the sixth position. Trained by John Shirrreffs, who saddled Zenyatta to victory in the 2009 Breeders' Cup Classic, Honor A. P. (125 votes) won the Runhappy Santa Anita Derby (G1) on June 6.

Allied Racing Stable's By My Standards (122 votes) is next in seventh place. By My Standards has won two Grade 2 stakes this year for trainer Bret Calhoun. The 4-year-old bay son of two-time Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile (G1) winner Goldencents registered victories in the New Orleans Handicap and the Oaklawn Handicap before finishing second to Tom's d'Etat in the Stephen Foster.

Juddmonte Farms' 4-year-old Tacitus (92 votes), in eighth place, ended a long winless drought in his last start, rolling to a 8 ¾-length victory in the Suburban Stakes (G2) at Belmont Park on July 4. His trainer, Bill Mott, has saddled Breeders' Cup Classic winners Cigar (1995) and Drosselmeyer (2011).

R.A. Hill Stable and Gatsas Stable's 4-year-old Vekoma, is next in ninth place with 83 votes. Trained by George Weaver, Vekoma is unbeaten in three starts this year, two of those being Breeders' Cup Challenge Series races at shorter distances. The chestnut son of Candy Ride (ARG) won both the Runhappy Carter Handicap (G1), for the Breeders' Cup Sprint (G1), and the Runhappy Metropolitan Handicap (G1), for the Big Ass Fans Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile (G1).

Rounding out the top 10 is the 4-year-old Improbable (82 votes), owned by WinStar Farm, China Horse Club International and SF Racing. Trained by Bob Baffert, Improbable won the 1 ¼-mile Hollywood Gold Cup (G1) at Santa Anita on June 6.

Breeders' Cup Classic Rankings – July 21, 2020*

RANK	HORSE	TOTAL VOTES	FIRST-PLACE VOTES
1	Tom's d'Etat	292	17
2	Maximum Security	243	9
3	Tiz the Law	210	2
4	Code of Honor	200	2
5	Midnight Bisou	174	3
6	Honor A. P.	125	0
7	By My Standards	122	0
8	Tacitus	92	0
9	Vekoma	83	1
10	Improbable	82	0

The post Tom’s D’Etat Tops First Week Of Breeders’ Cup Classic Rankings appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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Freshman Sire Charming Thought Off the Mark at Great Yarmouth

Darley stallion Charming Thought (GB) (Oasis Dream {GB}), who operated out of Dalham Hall Stud for a fee of £5,000 this year, became the latest European freshman sire off the mark when the Tick Tock Partnership’s Alicestar (GB) claimed a debut score going a shade over six furlongs in Wednesday’s Southwold Novice Auction S. at Great Yarmouth.

5th-Great Yarmouth, £5,400, Nov, 7-22, 2yo, 6f 3yT, 1:13.47, g/f.
ALICESTAR (GB) (f, 2, Charming Thought {GB}–Atheera {Ire}, by Shamardal) found cover in fifth from the outset of this unveiling. Angled into the clear approaching the quarter-mile marker, the 4-1 second favourite was ridden to go second entering the final eighth and pushed out late to assert by 1 1/4 lengths from Soldier Lions (Ire) (Equiano {Fr}), becoming the first winner for her freshman sire (by Oasis Dream {GB}). She is the latest of four winning foals produced by a winning granddaughter of G1 Irish 1000 Guineas heroine Mehthaaf (Nureyev), herself a half-sister to G1 July Cup-winning sire Elnadim (Danzig). Sales history: 8,000gns RNA Wlg ’18 TATFOA; £10,000 Ylg ’19 TASAYG. Lifetime Record: 1-1-0-0, $4,448. Video, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton.
1ST-TIME STARTER. O-Tick Tock Partnership; B-Lordship Stud (GB); T-David Simcock.

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