Tag: Bloodstock

For the second year in succession, the Tattersalls Ireland Goresbridge Breeze Up Sale produced an outstanding set of record-breaking results with a new record top price of €520,000, the first time in the sale's history that the half million mark has been topped.

The vibrant action throughout the one-day session, the sale back at its Fairyhouse venue for the first time since 2019, produced a record turnover of €6,639,000, as well as a record number of six-figure lots at 11, including four lots that sold for €200,000 and over.

It was also a best-ever average price of €38,155, a second-best median price of €22,000, and horses sold at 85 per cent clearance rate.

The day's cosmopolitan buying bench means that purchased lots from Europe's most progressive breeze up sale are due to embark on racing careers in many different global locations including Dubai, Germany, France, Italy, Sweden, the U.K., and also in Ireland.

Katie Walsh's Greenhills Farm, who sold a previous Goresbridge Sale record-breaker when the Grade 1 and Classic-placed Frankel filly East topped the sale in 2018, repeated the feat this year with a filly by Saxon Warrior (Lot 151), who was sold on behalf of James Hanly's Ballyhimikin Stud.

The chestnut filly is this year's third-most expensive European breeze up filly. She was bought by agent Stephen Hillen on behalf of a new client and she goes into training with Kevin Ryan.

Hillen described the filly as “freakish” after her breeze on Wednesday.

“She is a completely different shape to East, but this filly kind of reminded me of East's breeze – it was almost freakish,” he enthused. “This filly is bred to go a mile plus or 1m2f, with her pedigree she should not be able to do what she is doing, and she is a big, raw individual. Hopefully, once she is able to go a mile, then her speed could be massive.”

A delighted Walsh said: “I think everyone was quite surprised with the time that she did compared to the physical that she is. I was lucky enough to sell East to Stephen Hillen at the old Goresbridge venue and I hope this filly turns out as lucky.

“I knew coming here that she was going to clock well, I had a fair idea that she is a tasty filly – all she had done is please me since I have had her. She has always been a straightforward filly with a great galloping stride and a great attitude. With these fillies it just comes so naturally to them, it is just different gravy.”

Commenting on the Tattersalls Ireland Goresbridge Breeze Up Sale, Tattersalls Ireland CEO Simon Kerins said:

“Today's trade has been outstanding. We are thrilled that the sale returned to its rightful place in Ireland where the first ever Breeze Up Sale in Europe was staged and to produce record breaking results. A remarkable record top price of €520,000 headed eleven horses selling for €100,000 or more and we are delighted that the faith placed in Tattersalls Ireland by both James Hanly and Katie Walsh has been repaid aplenty. Our sincere thanks go to both and all our other vendors who have provided us with quality 2-year-olds.

“The top price is the highest price ever achieved at Tattersalls Ireland. It was fantastic to watch the fierce competition between leading purchasers for this filly and others and proves that when we are provided with the best horses we can deliver. Our hope is that these results and our improved facilities will continue to convince more consignors that they can and will achieve the very best results in the Tattersalls Ireland sales ring.

“The sale produced a healthy clearance rate of 85 percent. The demand we enjoyed has been driven by a truly international buying bench with a flood of overseas buyers with significant parties from UAE, Scandinavia, Germany, Spain, and Italy taking on spirited bidders from the UK and Ireland. To surpass last year's record figures achieved at Tattersalls in Newmarket last year was extraordinary.

“We must also extend our thanks to Charles O'Neill and the team at Irish Thoroughbred Marketing who worked so hard on bringing the abundance of overseas buyers and to the team at Fairyhouse Racecourse for providing us with an excellent safe surface. We turn our attention now to inspections for the September Yearling Sale and putting together a high calibre catalogue to attract a strong bench of purchasers back in September”

The post Saxon Warrior Filly Brings Highest Price Ever Achieved At Tattersalls Ireland Goresbridge Breeze Up Sale appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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More than one top jockey has moved tack away from California in recent months — and a subcommittee of the California Horse Racing Board (CHRB) is willing to think outside the box to try to stop the exodus.

The CHRB's Jockey and Driver Welfare Committee met May 18 to discuss a number of proposals related to rider and driver welfare. One of the ideas up for discussion would be an extra incentive for riders in graded stakes races in California. Oscar Gonzales, vice-chairman of the CHRB, detailed a proposal that would award a single breeding right or season to the rider of colts or horses that win certain stakes races in California.

“About a year and a half ago, Dr. [Greg] Ferraro and I met, and I brought up the issue of, what is it going to take to make sure that jockeys are at the table in a meaningful and equitable way?” said Gonzales. “We now are at a point, I believe, where we need to look at what more we can be doing for riders.

“I believe asking for a one-time breeding right — not a lifetime breeding right, but a one-time breeding right — for a graded stakes win is not too much to ask.”

Fellow subcommittee members were a little skeptical of the concept. For one thing, they weren't sure whether the CHRB could legally require an owner to give a breeding right to a horse's former jockey upon retirement. While some colts, like those on the Kentucky Derby trail, have stud deals completed early in their careers, others may not have this done until much later — which could mean the farm or ownership group in legal charge of the stallion's breeding rights may inherit a requirement from a previous win in the horse's record.

Scott Chaney, executive director of the CHRB, had collected a few comments from industry stakeholders who voiced concern about whether such a requirement would disincentivize owners to send horses to stakes races in California.

Commissioner Thomas Hudnut questioned whether the measure would improve the California rider base unless it could somehow be limited to California-based riders — but this may prove difficult in higher-level races, where a horse and rider may ship in from another state to compete.

“I like the idea of wanting to do something for the riders, and wanting to do something to incentivize riders to come to California and stay in California,” said Hudnut. “I'm not sure this is the best way to do that.”

Hudnut pointed out that a proposed rule stated the CHRB would require the gift of these breeding rights, although Gonzales framed it in his verbal presentation more as a request of the horse's owner.

“After reading the vagueness of what we have in our packet, it leaves more questions than answers for me,” echoed CHRB commissioner Damascus Castellanos. “I agree with [commissioner Gonzales] and commissioner Hudnut and everyone else that we need to do something. Purses and everything else are a piece of it, but this is something I think needs a lot more discussion and needs to evolve into something that's more understandable than what we have in front of us right now.”

Gonzales said the mechanism could also go toward better compensating riders for the risky work they do.

“Maybe the public doesn't know, but anyone who thinks jockeys are well-compensated for what they do is off the mark,” said Gonzales. “A rider is entitled to 10% of winnings. So when you take a look at a purse, that's 55% [to the winner], so they get 10% of that 55%. They then are responsible for giving 25% to their agent, and in most cases 5% goes to their valet. If they're jockeys, and most are, who will provide a monetary tip to the exercise rider, the groom, and sometimes the hot walker … we're also talking about riders who are 1099 workers, which means they're also giving what's left over, 18 to 20% [of it] back to the government. I also believe when you take a look at that, and they have no retirement plan, it really makes you wonder how we as an industry will continue to support jockeys across the country but how we are going to be doing our share here in California to set the tone that jockeys matter.”

Gonzales said in his discussions with former CHRB commissioner and Hall of Fame jockey Alex Solis could only recall receiving one or two breeding rights in his career.

Ultimately, the subcommittee agreed to proceed with inquiries about whether it would be legal to make such a regulation before continuing further discussion on whether the idea is a good one.

The post Should Jockeys Get One-Time Breeding Seasons For Colts They Pilot? CHRB Subcommittee Mulls It Over appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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Twenty-two hips have been listed for the 2022 Wanamaker's May Sale. The catalog presents options of all kinds for prospective buyers, including newborn foals selling alongside their mothers, yearlings, 2-year-olds, racing prospects, and broodmares.

Windhorse Thoroughbreds LLC has cataloged six horses for the May Sale. Highlighting the consignment is Scouting Party, a New York-bred filly by Flat Out who hails from the family of stakes-winners Mischief Maker and Makingcents. She is currently in training in Virginia.

Also offered is Causin' Trouble, a 7-year-old broodmare who checked in-foal to Modernist on a March 13 covering. A winner on the track and a half-sister to Mischief Maker, this would be Causin' Trouble's first foal.

Denali Stud is offering a yearling colt by Candy Ride from a black-type laden female family. The colt is out of the Quality Road mare, Emerald Quality, and is closely related to graded stakes performers Our Dahlia and Capital Plan.

For more information on those being offered in the 2022 Wanamaker's May Sale, go to wanamakers.com. Prospective buyers may browse the website to view pedigrees, pictures, and videos of each hip offered. In-person inspections may be scheduled by contacting sellers with the information provided in the catalog.

Bidding will open on May 26 at 8 a.m. ET, with the first listing set to close at 5 p.m. ET. Subsequent listings will close in three-minute increments. Detailed information on the buying process can be found at wanamakers.com/buy.

The post Catalog Released For Wanamaker’s May Sale appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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The achievements of the Alberta Thoroughbred industry were celebrated in person at the Night of Champions held on Friday, May 6 at Century Mile Racetrack and Casino in Nisku, Alberta.

After an absence of two years, over 100 people filled the Paddock Room representing breeders, owners, trainers and backstretch to enjoy the dinner, awards and dancing entertainment.

Master of ceremonies, Ken Gee, got the evening underway with greetings from chief executive officer of Horse Racing Alberta, Kent Verlik, who discussed the best path forward for horse racing in Alberta with the new stakeholder engagement and appeals process. Verlik thanked the industry “for your dedication and passion for the sport of horse racing in Alberta.”

The dinner and entertainment were followed by the award presentations with Greek Geek winning all four of the categories he was eligible for including Horse of the Year, Champion Sprinter, Champion Older Horse and Champion Alberta bred.

The Misremembered gelding earned $174,400 last season with seven wins from nine starts including four stakes; the Alberta Breeders' Handicap, the CTHS Sales Stake, the Century Mile Handicap and the Don Getty Handicap. Greek Geek established a new track record on Aug. 15, 2021 over 1 1/16 miles with a time of 1:42.36. Greek Geek is a 2018 CTHS Alberta sale graduate bred by Moonshine Meadow Ranch and owned by Riversedge Racing Stables Ltd.

Highfield Investment Group Inc. was named leading breeder for the second consecutive year with Highfield-bred runners earning $420,276 from 15 wins last season.

The 2021 Alberta Thoroughbred horse category award winners are listed below:

Champion Claimer – The H.B.P.A. Trophy – Dune d'Oro

Champion Sprinter – The Century Downs Racetrack and Casino Trophy – Greek Geek

Champion 2-Year-Old Filly – The Dwight McLellan Memorial Trophy – Oneofthemgirls

Champion 2-Year-Old Colt – The Rocky Mountain Turf Club Trophy – Asyoubelieve

Champion 3-Year-Old Filly – The Dave Kapchinsky Memorial Trophy, Sponsored by Paddockhurst Stables Inc. – Sheltered Bay

Champion 3-Year-Old Colt – Sponsored by Bar None Ranches Ltd. – Tony's Tapit

Champion Older Mare – The Moore Equine Veterinary Centre Ltd. Trophy – Infinite Patience

Champion Older Horse – The Century Mile Racetrack and Casino Trophy – Greek Geek

Champion Alberta Bred – The Ted Connor Memorial Trophy – Greek Geek

Horse of the Year – The Horse Racing Alberta Trophy – Greek Geek

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