On Tuesday the European Pattern Committee (EPC) announced that 42 races are at risk of being downgraded in 2025, including Britain's G1 Commonwealth Cup.

Its status will depend very much on its performance in 2024, which will mark the tenth running of the race introduced to the British calendar in 2015 as a readymade Group 1 in order to “create a more balanced programme and better opportunities for high-class sprinters”. The Commonwealth Cup, run at Royal Ascot over six furlongs for three-year-olds only, was initially open to geldings, though this rule was changed from 2020. Its introduction to the race programme coincided with the upgrading to Group 1 status of the Qipco British Champions Sprint S., formerly known as the Diadem S.

The Commonwealth Cup couldn't really have asked for a better inaugural winner than Muhaarar (GB) (Oasis Dream {GB}) and his ascent through the sprinting ranks illustrated to an extent the importance of a springboard such as this. The Shadwell colt, winner of the previous year's G2 Gimcrack S., had finished eighth, some seven lengths behind Make Believe (GB), in the Poule d'Essai des Poulains on his first and only try at a mile. His attempt at the Classic was understandable as Muhaarar had won the G3 Greenham S. over seven furlongs on his three-year-old debut. Dropped back to six, however, his season came alive. From the Commonwealth, which he won by three and three-quarter lengths from Limato (GB), he sailed faultlessly through the July Cup and Prix Maurice de Gheest before returning to Ascot to claim his fourth consecutive Group 1 victory in the newly promoted British Champions Sprint. 

Two more three-year-olds have won the latter since then: Sands Of Mali (Fr) (Panis), who was runner-up in the Commonwealth Cup of 2018, and  three years later Creative Force (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}), who had also won the G3 Jersey S. in 2021.

Commonwealth Cup ratings 

A race is rated through the average mark of the first four horses home. The EPC considers these ratings over a three-year period. The Group 1 parameter is 115, and to retain Group 1 status a race's rating must be within 2lbs of that mark. 

In the case of Group 1 races for three-year-olds only, if the average rating falls more than 2lb below the parameter in two consecutive years, then a majority vote among EPC member countries will decide whether or not the race is to be downgraded.

In 2020, race ratings were discounted owing to the Covid pandemic and the disruption to the racing calendar. The yearly race ratings for the other eight runnings of the Commonwealth Cup are shown below, courtesy of the British Horseracing Authority (BHA), along with the first four finishers for each year. 

2015 115.00 (Muhaarar, Limato, Anthem Alexander, Salt Island)

2016 112.25 (Quiet Reflection, Kachy, Washington DC, La Rioja)

2017 117.25 (Caravaggio, Harry Angel, Blue Point, Bound For Nowhere)

2018 111.50 (Eqtidaar, Sands Of Mali, Emblazoned, Stone Of Destiny)

2019 118.75 (Advertise, Forever In Dreams, Hello Youmzain, Ten Sovereigns)

2020   —  (Golden Horde, Kimari, Ventura Rebel, Royal Commando)

2021 110.75 (Campanelle, Dragon Symbol, Measure Of Magic, Dandalla)

2022 111.25 (Perfect Power, Flaming Rib, Flotus, Cadamosto)

2023 114.50 (Shaquille, Little Big Bear, Swingalong, Ocean Quest)

As we can see, three of the eight rated runnings to date have met or exceeded the Group 1 parameter of 115, and one fell below that by less than 1lb. Of concern is the fact that the other four were all some way short, even with that 2lb concession. The ratings of 2021 and 2022 triggered a warning, and while last year's running was up to par, the three-year average rating for the race remains below 113. 

The race's lowest rating of 110.75 will be discarded from the three-year cycle this year, so a vintage renewal in 2024 will certainly help matters (we're looking at you, Vandeek).

How good were the winners?

Muhaarar was a hard act to follow but Quiet Reflection (GB) (Showcasing {GB}), the first filly to win the Commonwealth Cup, went on to win the G1 Haydock Sprint Cup in the same season as well as finishing third in the G1 July Cup. She remained in training at four and won the G3 Renaissance S in Ireland.

Caravaggio (Scat Daddy) won the Flying Five S. three months after his Commonwealth victory, and that race has subsequently been upgraded to Group 1 status. He led home two sprinting stars in Harry Angel (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}) and Blue Point (Ire) (Shamardal). Harry Angel collected the July Cup and Haydock Sprint Cup that same season, while Blue Point really came into his own at four and five with back-to-back wins in the G1 King's Stand S., the second of which came in the same week that he won the G1 Diamond Jubilee S. in the summer following his victory in the G1 Al Quoz Sprint in Dubai. He was the champion first-season of Britain and Ireland in 2023.

Eqtidaar (Ire) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}) failed to sparkle after his narrow victory in the Commonwealth Cup, but his runner-up Sands Of Mali we have discussed above.

The highest rating achieved in the race came in 2019 when the subsequent Prix Maurice de Gheest winner Advertise (GB) (Showcasing {GB}) had Hello Youmzain (Fr) (Kodiac {GB}) behind him in third, and the latter went on to win that year's Haydock Sprint Cup followed by the Diamond Jubilee in 2020. In fourth that day was Ten Sovereigns (Ire) (No Nay Never), who won the July Cup on his next start, and the redoubtable Khaadem (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}), who won that season's Stewards' Cup, was seventh. Khaadem also won the G2 King George S. in 2022 as well as last year's G1 Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee S. (formerly the Diamond/Platinum Jubilee) as a seven-year-old.

The 2020 winner Golden Horde (Ire) (Lethal Force {Ire}) was subsequently third in both the July Cup and the Sprint Cup, while Campanelle (Ire) (Kodiac {GB}), who was awarded the race in the stewards' room after being headed by Dragon Symbol (GB) (Cable Bay {Ire}) at the wire, returned to Ascot the following year to take third in the Platinum Jubilee. She had also won the G2 Queen Mary S. and G1 Prix Morny during a top juvenile campaign.

Perfect Power (Ire) (Ardad {Ire}) was another crack two-year-old who gathered the G2 Norfolk S., G1 Prix Morny and G1 Middle Park S. before returning at three to lift the Commonwealth Cup. He too had found the mile beyond him when finishing seventh to Coroebus (Ire) in the 2,000 Guineas after winning the Greenham.

And that brings us to Shaquille (GB) (Charm Spirit {Ire}), last year's top-rated three-year-old sprinter in the world on a mark of 120. His Commonwealth Cup victory over the favourite Little Big Bear (Ire) (No Nay Never) was followed by a sound beating of his elders in the July Cup.

Of the seven male winners to date, six are currently at stud in Britain, France and Japan. Eqtidaar died last year. Another eight of the placed horses are now active stallions.

Overall it's a pretty solid roll call for a race which raised eyebrows when being parachuted into the programme as a brand new Group 1 but which generally can be considered to be doing the job it was designed to do.

Following Tuesday's announcement by the EPC, the British Horseracing Authority (BHA) expressed its disappointment at the lack of support for its bid to upgrade the G2 City of York S., a move which would provide another tweak to the sprint programme and make it the sole seven-furlong Group 1 race in Britain. The EPC also turned down an application from the BHA to upgrade the G2 Qipco Champions Long Distance Cup.

What do the experts think?

The BHA's director of international racing and development Ruth Quinn, who also sits on the EPC, recalls the unprecedented decision to create the Commonwealth Cup and award it Group 1 status from the outset.

“It was a project that [the EPC members] were all very passionate about and fully embraced, and they understood the reasons why Britain was putting it forward as a strategic case.

“At the time there was a lot of surprise that we were looking to create a new Group 1 race from scratch, which was unheard of, but it was a brand new concept and we were trying to capture people's attention in a way that the race programme hadn't been able to before. It meant that if you win the Middle Park you don't have to go and try your horse in the Guineas if it's a genuinely speedy animal. Everyone knows that three-year-old sprinters are going to struggle against older horses if we don't give them a helping hand in the first half of the season.”

She adds, “If we hadn't put it in at Group 1 level then I think we would have had a much harder task in making them change their behaviour, and we did hit the ground running with Muhaarar. And we had a good few years of real talking horses for the race over the winter.

“I do feel it is serving a broader, long-term role which just didn't exist in the past.”

Aidan O'Brien saddled the 2017 winner Caravaggio, as well as last year's runner-up Little Big Bear. He says of the possibility of the race being downgraded, “It would be a massive pity. The Commonwealth Cup is a very prestigious race and it is in a great slot in the programme book for the three-year-olds. It has just become a very important race in a relatively short space of time. 

“Strategically, it might not be a great idea if they decided to downgrade the race. I think it should remain a Group 1 because it's a very important race in an important place in the calendar. 

“You get the best three-year-old sprinters turning up there every year. I remember when it wasn't there and its addition has made a massive difference. Everything is right with the race. They might be jumping the gun if they downgraded it.”

Breeder and former trainer Luca Cumani agrees with O'Brien. He says, “I think it's a very important race for three-year-old sprinters and it filled a gap in the calendar that existed before. Before, everybody had to try to make a potential sprinter into a miler by trying him in the Guineas and only then have to revert to sprinting but have nowhere to go in his own age group, but instead having to take on the older horses. So they were marking time for almost a year until the horse became a four-year-old and could start to be competitive again.

“So I think it does definitely fill a gap in the Pattern and I would be very sad to lose it as a Group 1 race. I am surprised that it is in danger.”

Kirsten Rausing, breeder and owner of Lanwades Stud, is keen to see the City of York S. upgraded to a Group 1. It has been won in the last two years by the dual Group 1 winner Kinross (GB), and Rausing's homebred Sandrine (GB), herself a treble winner at Group 2 level over six and seven furlongs, has been third in both of the last two runnings. 

She says of the Commonwealth Cup being on the at-risk list, “In general it is of course disappointing but personally I feel the retention of Group 2 status for the City of York Stakes is of more concern. Upgrading that race would have given us a first Group 1 over seven furlongs in the UK. One hopes that the upgrade will come in 2025.

“Re the Commonwealth Cup, [the possibility of] downgrading it must be seen as an admission that the race has not achieved the original ambition of attracting the world's best sprinters. Whether the reason for this is the race date in the context of the worldwide racing calendar, or perhaps the, although rich by UK standards, relatively low prize-money, or the inevitable absence of Japanese representation in a sprint race. Who can tell?”

Richard Fahey, trainer of Perfect Power and Sands Of Mali, says, “One of the problems was that we were selling [sprinters] off to Hong Kong and this race was brought in to try to give us a chance to keep them. We've had a lot of luck in the race and I am hugely surprised to see that it's on the list. 

“It's a stepping stone for the younger sprinters. Yes, it's an easier option for them in some respects, and maybe that's why the ratings aren't standing up, but obviously it's a restricted pool of just three-year-olds. 

“It would be a shame if it's downgraded, as there are some good prep races for it. They upgraded the [G3] Pavilion and the [G2] Sandy Lane when the Commonwealth Cup was introduced, so what happens to them if it becomes a Group 2?”

Joe Foley, owner of Ballyhane Stud, stands Sands Of Mali and was also instrumental in the purchase of Shaquille for Steve Parkin's Dullingham Park. He says, “I was surprised to read that the race is in danger of being downgraded. The Commonwealth Cup has been a very successful race since its inception. Obviously I paid close attention to the race last year and Shaquille was very impressive but then he went on and achieved a big rating on his next start when beating his elders in the July Cup. Last year's Commonwealth Cup was an up-to-scratch renewal. Not only had you Shaquille in there but the runner-up, Little Big Bear, was a high-class two-year-old who achieved some big ratings. You had Swingalong in third and another very good horse in fourth [Ocean Quest]. To see that the race is under the spotlight after such a high-class edition is surprising. I'd be very disappointed if that happened.”

The post The Commonwealth Cup: Pass or Fail for Britain’s Youngest G1? appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

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LEXINGTON, KY – The Fasig-Tipton November Sale, which surpassed the $100-million mark in gross sales for the first time in its history last year, went past that milestone for the second time Sunday when 169 horses sold for $101,214,000.

“Another remarkable November sale just concluded here at Fasig-Tipton,” said Fasig-Tipton President Boyd Browning. “Last year, we surpassed $100,000,000 in gross for the first time–that was kind of one of those goals that we dreamt about, but didn't think it was realistic–and we were fortunate enough to do it last year and we did it again this year. It's kind of a magical night. The excitement and the energy was palpalable and it's a great environment to transact business and to sell some really quality horses.”

The sale average of $598,899 dipped 13.9% from the 2021 figure of $695,966, while the median of $250,000 fell 16.7% from a year ago. With 71 horses reported not sold, the buy-back rate was 29.6%. It was 23.2% last year.

When the final hip went through the ring, 31 horses had sold for seven figures, with champion Gamine (Into Mischief) leading the way when selling to Coolmore's M.V. Magnier for $7 million. The Coolmore team followed up on its big weekend of three Breeders' Cup winners purchasing four million-dollar mares for $17.9 million.

Mandy Pope's Whisper Hill Farm nearly kept pace with the Irish operation, purchasing out partners to wholly acquire GI Kentucky Oaks winner Shedaresthedevil (Daredevil), as well as the $2.9 million Wicked Whisper (Liam's Map) in foal to Curlin.

Despite facing a less-than-favorable exchange rate this year, Japanese buyers were out in force at Fasig-Tipton Sunday, with Emmanuel De Seroux making two six-figure acquisitions, including the $4-million purchase of GI Breeders' Cup Distaff runner-up Blue Stripe (Arg) (Equal Stripes {Arg}), on behalf of Grand Farm. Katsumi Yoshida purchased five mares for $8.05 million, led by the $2.1-million Kalypso (Brody's Cause).

“The thing that was encouraging tonight–just like last year–was the breadth of participation,” said Browning. “We had strong, strong participation from our friends from Japan. We had strong participation from our domestic buyers. We had strong international participation really throughout. The Europeans were active. And it was nice to see our friends from Australia being back and being active in the marketplace. Our industry has become more international in nature and that was reflected in the activity that took place on the sales grounds today.”

Gamine Offers Explosive Finale to Fasig Tipton November

Having done very little wrong throughout a near-perfect racing career, Gamine (Into Mischief) continued to exert her dominance over her contemporaries in the sales ring Sunday, headlining Fasig-Tipton's November Sale with a session-topping $7-million final bid from Coolmore's M V Magnier. Offered in foal to Quality Road, the 2020 champion female sprinter was consigned by John Sikura's Hill 'n' Dale on behalf of Michael Lund Peterson.

“She is just so unique,” said Sikura. “She has the right pedigree, she had freaky ability. If you look at her physically, she is a stud horse. A beautiful face and a big, long beautiful body. She is just a queen.”

He added, “High-end Buyers, like the Coolmore team, they want the very best. They have to feel moved, and that it is a unique opportunity and if they don't buy her, that they missed something.”

A $220,000 KEESEP yearling purchase, Gamine flourished into a $1.8 million juvenile purchase at Fasig-Tipton in Timonium in May. The winner of five of six starts at three, including the GI Acorn, GI Test S. and GI Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Sprint, Gamine added four more wins in 2021–all at the graded level–highlighted by the GI Ballerina and GI Derby City Distaff S.

“That was a very good price for her, but at the end of the day, she was an absolute champion,” said Magnier, who had a busy night. Magnier was listed as the buyer on four mares–for gross expenditures of $17.9 million–Sunday.

“She was an absolute freak on the track,” he continued. “The guys were very keen to get her. She has been fantastic for Michael Lund Peterson and well done to him. In fairness, we don't see much better than her. Let's hope she has a nice foal.”

According to Magnier, she will remain in the U.S. to be bred.

“The way Justify is going right now, there is a good chance she will go to him.”

Asked whether having such a strong showing during this weekend's Breeders' Cup, registering three victories over the course of the two-day championships, played a role in the strength of the operation's buying efforts at Fasig Sunday, Magnier said with a laugh, “Well, it definitely helped.”

“All of our guys are in it for the love of racing and they want to win Breeders' Cup races. Hopefully, she will breed one for them.”

And the weekend's activity both in the sale's ring and on the racetrack highlighted many Coolmore-based sires, both bourgeoning and established.

“American Pharoah has had four Grade I winners this year and Justify is doing things that no one would have expected him to do. Uncle Mo and Munnings have been strong and the young horses are doing very well too. It only happens because there are breeders that support us.” @CBossTDN

Pope Makes a Deal for the Devil

A year ago, Mandy Pope teamed with Staton Flurry and Sheikh Fahad's Qatar Racing to purchase GI Kentucky Oaks winner Shedaresthedevil (Daredevil) (hip 233) for $5 million. While her partners were hoping to race, Pope always had her eye on adding the mare to her broodmare band and the breeder paid the same price again to buy out her partners Sunday at Fasig-Tipton.

“I was buying the partners out and she is going to the breeding shed,” Pope said after signing the ticket on the 5-year-old. “That's why I bought her last year, but we decided to go racing for one more year.”

Shedaresthedevil is out of Starship Warpspeed (Congrats) and is half-sister to graded placed Mojovation (Quality Road). Before going through the Fasig-Tipton sales ring a year ago, she won the Oaks, as well as the GI Clement L. Hirsch S. and GI La Troienne S. for Staton Flurry's Flurry Racing Stables.

For the partnership, the bay mare added a win in the GII Fleur de Lis S., as well as third-place efforts in this year's Clement Hirsch and GII Azeri S. and a runner-up finish in the La Troienne S.

Shedaresthedevil was consigned by Hunter Valley Farm, which also advised Sheikh Fahad on the purchase of Saturday's GI Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint winner Caravel (Mizzen Mast), who was purchased for $500,000 at last year's Fasig-Tipton November sale and who is expected to go through the ring Monday at Keeneland.

“No, to be honest,” Hunter Valley's Adrian Regan admitted when asked about the result. “We thought she wouldn't make as much as last year. But it's just fantastic and we're delighted she's staying in the country. I have to thank Mandy for buying her. Both myself and Fergus [Galvin] say she is the classiest mare we've ever been around.”

Of the decision to continue racing the mare in 2022, Regan said, “[Trainer] Brad [Cox] still thought there was plenty left in her and there was. Her X-ray report after all her runs, what is it 21 starts, came back perfect. That will tell you what a tough and sound a mare she is. At the end of the day, Mandy got a lovely mare. We hate seeing her leave the farm, but we are grateful she is staying in the country.”

As for mating plans for Shedaresthedevil, Pope said, “We have a couple of stallions in mind, but we will have to see who else is going to retire. She'll probably going to Gun Runner or Flightline or one of the top stallions.”

By the end of Sunday's auction, Pope had signed for two mares, going to $2.9 million for Wicked Whisper (Liam's Map) (hip 253), and a $575,000 weanling half-brother by Authentic (hip 125) to Cyberknife. @JessMartiniTDN

Campanelle A Hot Commodity at Fasig

Group 1 winner Campanelle (Ire) (Kodiac {GB}) (Hip 272) was in high demand, as expected, at Fasig Sunday, summoning a whopping $5 million from Coolmore's M.V. Magnier.

“She was a very nice yearling,” said Magnier. “Her breeder has always liked her, even when she was a foal and a yearling. She is a nice filly. She is very fast. She has done great for Barbara Banke and we look forward to breeding her.”

As for what's next, Magnier said, “We might breed her here and then bring her home [to Ireland]. We have a couple of ideas in mind. We could breed her to Justify or bring her back to No Nay Never. There are plenty of options.”

Ben McElroy went across the pond to secure some European-bred fillies on behalf of Stonestreet's Barbara Banke with the goal of racing both here and in Europe with Wesley Ward. A 190,000gns TATOCT acquisition, the bay opened her account with a trio of victories, including the 2020 G2 Queen Mary S. at Royal Ascot and that year's G1 Prix Morny at Deauville.

She crossed the line a head short in her next trip to the royal meeting for the G1 Commonwealth Cup, but was promoted to first via DQ. Campanelle won twice in 2022, taking the Giant's Causeway S. in April and the GIII Kentucky Downs Ladies Sprint S. Sept. 10. The 4-year-old closed her career with a troubled seventh in the GI Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint Saturday in Lexington and retires with a record of 11-6-0-2 and earnings over $1.05 million.

Campanelle is out of SW Janina (Namid) and her second dam is GSW Lady Dominatrix (Danehill Dancer). —@CDeBernardisTDN

Uncle Mo Filly Tops Weanlings at Fasig-Tipton November

Well into Sunday's session of the Fasig-Tipton November sale, a weanling by Uncle Mo provided fireworks when bringing a $1.35 million final bid. Following a rapid fire volleys, which was precipitated by the eventual underbidder Legion Bloodstock, Paramount Sale's Gabriel Duignan signed for Hip 128, a filly out of multiple Grade I winner Bellafina (Quality Road). The Feb. 11 foal was consigned by Eaton Sales, agent.

“She is just a beautiful filly,” said Duignan, who said he was signing on behalf of a partnership. “She is by Uncle Mo and out of a hell of a mare. She is just drop dead gorgeous. It's as good as it gets. She also seems to be like the good Uncle Mos. You get them really pretty.”

Regarding the final price, he added, “I thought she'd bring about a million. It's just where it is now for the good ones.”

He continued, “I think the market is strong here. It's been strong all year, especially for quality.”

Equally high on the filly was Eaton Sales' Reiley McDonald.     “Any time you get a million or more for a weanling, you're doing well.”

Outlining her allure, he said, “In this case, the filly was exquisite. She looked exactly like her mother. With the long neck and the huge shoulder-depth and length and big hip. So I wasn't surprised at the price. It's a lot of money, but I would say she was worth every penny of that and maybe more.”

He added, “She was a good size, but not too big. And she had all the same traits that her mother had. She had a massive shoulder with great angle. Great, huge depth and a long back. She looks like she's equipped to carry the speed and the long back to carry the distance. Those don't come along too often.”

Bellafina, an $800,000 Fasig-Tipton Florida juvenile purchase by Kaleem Shah, showed her ability early, graduating in her second career start in the GII Sorrento S. before adding victories in the GI Del Mar Debutante S. and GI Chandelier S. Fourth in the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies, she returned at three to annex the GII Santa Ynez S., GII Las Virgenes S. and the GI Santa Anita Oaks. Coolmore bought a stake in the filly following a runner-up finish in the GI Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Sprint that season, and she filled the same position again in the GI La Brea S. She added a win in the GIII Desert Stormer S. at four before retiring with seven wins from 18 starts and earnings in excess of $1.6 million.

“She is a gorgeous filly and obviously she is very well bred,” said Shah. “I'm in partnership on these horses, so it's a practical decision to sell them. But I'll admit, I do have seller's remorse on this filly. She is a gorgeous filly and I wish I had kept her. I hope she'll do well for herself and for the new owners.”

Later in the session, Bellafina sold to Coolmore for $4 million.

–@CBossTDN

Coolmore Comes Back for Bellafina

After going to $1.35 million to buy out partner Kaleem Shah for the first foal out of Bellafina (Quality Road) earlier in the session, the Coolmore team was back in action to acquire the mare herself (hip 264) for $4 million from the Eaton Sales consignment. The 6-year-old mare, who was purchased by Shah for $800,000 at the 2018 Fasig-Tipton Gulfstream sale, won the won the 2018 GI Chandelier S. and GI Del Mar Debutante S. and came back in 2019 to win the GI Santa Anita Oaks. She sold Sunday in foal to 2020 GI Belmont S. and GI Travers S. winner Tiz the Law.

“We raced in her partnership with Kaleem,” said Coolmore's M.V. Magnier. “She's a lovely filly. She's very well bred and she's in foal to Tiz the Law, who was an exceptional racehorse. It was just unfortunate that it was the COVID year because he probably would have won the GI Kentucky Derby if it was run in May.”

Buying out the same partnership, the Coolmore team went to $1.9 million to acquire multiple Grade I-placed Donna Veloce (Uncle Mo), also in foal to Tiz the Law. Shah, who acquired Donna Veloce for $800,000 at the 2019 Fasig-Tipton Gulfstream sale, purchased the mare's first foal, a weanling filly by Justify (hip 159), for $400,000 earlier in the session. @JessMartiniTDN

Grand Farm Secures Distaff Runner-Up

Just one day after almost pulling off a major upset across town in the GI Breeders' Cup Distaff, Blue Stripe (Arg) (Equal Stripes) (Hip 316) was in the spotlight once again, bringing $4 million from Japan's Grand Farm with Emmanuel de Seroux acting as agent.

“She almost won the race,” de Seroux said. “She is a super filly and she is beautiful. On top of that, we love Argentine mares. They do very well in Japan.”

When asked if she will race or retire to the breeding shed, he said, “We will see. There is a good chance she will be bred.”

A four-time winner in her native land including a Group 1, Blue Stripe made her first American appearance in last year's Distaff, finishing a well-beaten seventh. Capturing the GII Santa Margarita S. in her seasonal bow, the bay was a close second in the GII Santa Maria S. in June and won the GI Clement L. Hirsch S. at Del Mar Aug. 6. Given a breather, Blue Stripe came within a nose of soon-to-be two-time champion Malathaat (Curlin) at odds of 24-1 in Saturday's Distaff, earning a 102 Beyer Speed Figure.

Out of Argentinian MGSW Blues For Sale (Arg) (Not for Sale), Blue Stripes is a half to 2019 Distaff winner Blue Prize (Arg) (Pure Prize), who topped that year's renewal of this auction at $5 million. Taylor Made sold the mare for Pozo de Luna.

—@CDeBernardisTDN

Pope Strikes For Mare With Fitting Name

After buying out her partners at $5 million on MGISW Shedaresthedevil (Daredevil) earlier in the session, Whisper Hill Farm's Mandy Pope was back in action, going to $2.9 million for GISW Wicked Whisper (Liam's Map) (Hip 253). The mare sold in foal to super sire Curlin, who was represented by three Breeders' Cup winners Saturday across town at Keeneland.

“It was the perfect name,” joked Pope's advisor Todd Quast. “She is a lovely mare. She has done everything right, great physical, bred to Curlin. We are very, very happy.”

A $500,000 KEESEP purchase by Alex and JoAnn Lieblong, Wicked Whisper won three of eight starts for trainer Steve Asmussen, topped by the GI Frizette S. She failed to get in foal to Uncle Mo last year, so the Curlin she is carrying will be her first foal.

Wicked Whisper is a half-sister to GSW & MGISP Point of Honor (Curlin) and SW Velvet Mood (Lohnro {Aus}). Her dam Zayanna (Bernardini) is a half to MGSW & GISP millionaire Mr Freeze (To Honor and Serve) and GSW Dilemma (Grand Slam).

“She has an amazing physical,” said Conrad Bandoroff of Denali Stud, which consigned the mare. “Alex and JoAnn Lieblong buy very good-looking fillies and she certainly fits that mold. She was fast. She was a good 2-year-old. Not only did she have the physical and the pedigree, but she had the racetrack performance. We wish them the best of luck.”

It's been a great weekend for Denali, who sold Saturday's GI Breeders' Cup Distaff winner as a yearling for $1.05 million at KEESEP.

“I've been beaming with pride,” said Bandoroff. “Just to have the smallest little fingerprint on Malathaat gives us tremendous pride. We are eternally grateful to Shadwell and Stonestreet for letting us ride the coat tails on a champion. The fangirl in me, I just love her.” —@CDeBernardisTDN

Kalypso to Japan

Japanese buyers made up a major part of the market at the 2021 Fasig-Tipton November sale and, despite a less favorable exchange rate in 2022, bidders from the Far East were quick to get on the board Sunday in Lexington when Katsumi Yoshida purchased Grade I winner Kalypso (Brody's Cause) (hip 192) for $2.1 million.

“We know that she was racing well and she had an outstanding racing career,” said Shingo Hashimoto, who signed the ticket on behalf of Yoshida. “We thought she was a very good candidate to bring to Japan. We're very excited to have bought her. We will breed her, but we haven't decided to keep her in the U.S. or send her to Japan yet.”

Kalypso, out of a full-sister to graded winner Prospective (Malibu Moon), was purchased for $240,000 at the 2019 Fasig-Tipton July Yearling Sale. Racing for David A. Bernsen, Gainesway Stable, Rockingham Ranch and Chad Littlefield, she won last year's GI La Brea S. and GII Santa Ynez S. and was second in the 2020 GI Starlet S.

Hashimoto agreed the exchange rate would make buying more difficult in Kentucky this year.

“We have a big list, but it's going to be tough to buy,” he said. “It's like 30% that the exchange rate has been depreciated for the Japanese yen. So it's tough, but we've got to deal with it.”

Despite the unfavorable exchange rate, Yoshida was plenty busy Sunday. In addition to Kalypso, his team signed for Beautiful Gift (Medaglia d'Oro) (hip 262) for $2 million; Bella Sofia (Awesome Patriot) (hip 266) for $1.85 million; Going to Vegas (Goldencents) (hip 293) for $1.5 million; and Plum Ali (First Samurai) (hip 220) for $600,000. @JessMartiniTDN

Grace Adler Gives Lund Peterson, Lanni, Even More Reason to Celebrate

Just a few hips after Gamine lit up the board at $7 million from Coolmore, Grace Adler (Curlin) reeled in a cool $2 million from Narvick International. Winner of the GI Del Mar Debutante, Grace Adler was also consigned by Hill 'n' Dale on behalf of Michael Lund Peterson.

Narvick's Emmanuel de Seroux said, “We bought her for Grand Farm of Japan. She was a fantastic 2-year-old and she's a beautiful filly by Curlin. She is everything that we were looking for.”

“The price was fair value, I think. Compared to some of the other horses that brought $3 million, she belongs with them.”

In addition to Lund Peterson and Hill 'n' Dale, a common thread between Gamine and Grace Adler are Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert and bloodstock agent Donato Lanni.

“Bob and I work everything together. We're a team. He really does all the heavy lifting, training them is the toughest part. He's done a great job developing these horses.”

“It's great to see the market as strong as it is. They are fillies that are beautiful, were successful on the racetrack and they retired sound. These are just the kind of mares people want to buy. They are collectors items. But it is just gratifying to see these horses go to the track and do well.” —@CBossTDN

Princess Grace Headed to Australia

MGSW & GISP Princess Grace (Karakontie {Jpn}) (Hip 221) is headed to Australia after being snapped up by the China Horse Club for $1.7 million Sunday evening. A trainer has yet to be determined.

“We thought she was an absolute queen, apex physical, very consistent form,” China Horse Club's Michael Smith said, after signing the ticket alongside the Teo family and other CHC principals. “We are going to take her to Australia and try to make her a Group 1 winner. She has another 12 months of racing in her and then she will be a beautiful addition to the broodmare band.”

As for the price, Smith said, “We really stretched to get her, but considering it was Sheikh Fahad and Coolmore who were the underbidders, I think it shows we were on the right track. Mr. Teo has always had a bold global vision for China Horse Club and we feel that Princess Grace can add to delivering on that given her international pedigree and profile.”

Owned and bred by John and Susan Moore, Princess Grace won a quartet of graded events on the grass and placed three times at the highest level while under the care of trainer Mike Stidham. The dark bay's record currently stands at 14-7-3-3 with earnings of $1,456,223.

Princess Grace is out MSP Masquerade (Silent Name {Jpn}), who is a half-sister to GSW Svea Dahl (Honor Grades).

—@CDeBernardisTDN

Wertheimer Family Gives $1.5M for Thinking of You

In 2015, American Pharoah reached the zenith of American racing when winning the Triple Crown. However, at stud, the Coolmore stallion has shown an international appeal, as illustrated by Thinking of You, who realized $1.5 million at Fasig Tipton Sunday night. Stepping up to secure the daughter of the unraced Galileo (Ire) mare Fabulous (Ire) was Pierre Yves Bureau, signing on behalf of the Wertheimer family. Offered as Hip 245 by Taylor Made Sales Agency, the mare was sold in foal to Triple Crown winner Justify.

“That is a page that we don't see very often in a sale,” said Bureau. “She has a very nice family and by a good young stallion. That makes a difference and I hope she'll be a good one. We thought she'd be more than a million but it was higher than I thought. I was a nice page.”

The 4-year-old is a full-sister to G1 Prix Saint-Alary heroine Above the Curve and a granddaughter of GSW Mariah's Storm (Rahy), who famously produced European Horse of the Year and leading sire Giant's Causeway.

“I thought she'd bring around that number,” said Taylor Made's Mark Taylor. “If you look down the page, it's one of the best families in the catalog. It's the family of Giant's Causeway. She has a sister that is a top-class runner and that is in foal to Justify. For people who breed at the top of the market, she ticks all the boxes. And she was a beautiful mare on the end of the shank, so I was confident she'd bring north of a million, and could bring 1.5 and maybe a touch more. So that was a very fair price.”

Taylor Made is very familiar with the family, also having sold Mariah's Storm.

“We sold Mariah's Storm, carrying Giant's Causeway,” recalled Taylor. “She brought $2.6 million. It seemed like Coolmore paid a lot at the time but it turned out to be a bargain.”

Commenting on the desire for international pedigrees, he added, “The nature of her pedigree is what everyone is looking for. The world is shrinking. You're seeing horses from Japan racing all over the world and European horses racing over here. So I think you'll see that more and more. This pedigree is a great representation.”–@CBossTDN

Gun Runner Filly Proves Popular at FTKNOV

A daughter of red-hot sire Gun Runner (Hip 97) sparked some fireworks during the weanling portion of FTKNOV, summoning $675,000 from Randy Hartley, who purchased her on behalf of a partnership.

“We will see how it goes,” said Hartley, who works in partnership with Dean DeRenzo. “Our goal will probably be to pinhook her back as a yearling. We are just trying to buy some nice babies.”

He continued, “We love Gun Runner so much. Gun Runners are so hard to get. She is a special filly with a big pedigree and we felt she had so much residual down the road. We sold Taiba as a 2-year-old, so we have special feelings for him. We are trying to buy the best Gun Runners we can get our hands on.”

Hip 97 was the second daughter of Gun Runner to eclipse the $600,000 mark Sunday, following Hip 31, who brought $625,000 earlier in the day.

“She is a big, leggy, two-turn horse,” said Hartley, who scooped up a son of Gun Runner (Hip 153) for $550,000 later in the day. “She's all class. Her presence is different than anything I've seen here so far. When the other filly brought $625,000 earlier, we knew we'd have to go to at least $600,000 because this one is a bit stretchier.”

Bred by Newstead Corp, Hip 97 is out of the Tapit mare Temptress, who is also the dam of MGSW & MGISP millionaire Tenfold (Curlin). The weanling's third dam is MGISW millioanire Possibly Perfect (Northern Baby). Hip 97 was consigned by Elite, which is known for selling racehorses and broodmares.

“We are in the weanling business now,” said Elite's Brad Weisbord. “We expected a little less, but Gun Runner is hot, the market is hot and that filly was hot. We're excited for the seller. Randy and Dean do a great job. They will probably turn her into a seven-figure horse.”

He added, “We will probably branch out a bit in '23. The only reason we sold a weanling here is because we had a baby out of a momma that we are selling. We got a call and were asked if we were selling weanlings. We had one, so figured why not take two. But, we said it has to be a great one because Elite sells at the top end of the market, so we only want elite product. The seller said this filly was a superstar. She sold great. We are all very excited.” —@CDeBernardisTDN

The New Hill Makes Most of Kentucky Trip

The New Hill Farm had just one horse in its Fasig-Tipton November consignment, but the operation made the most of the opportunity when selling a weanling filly by Gun Runner (hip 31) for $625,000 to the phone bid of Dell Ennis. The bay, who was bred by Mark Erlandson, is out of the unraced Mama Yay (Mineshaft). Erlandson purchased the mare, in foal to Arrogate, for $20,000 at the 2020 Keeneland November sale. She is the dam of Empire House (Empire Maker), who finished third in the GII Zenyatta S. last month and is from the immediate family of Saturday's GI Breeders' Cup Sprint winner Elite Power.

“It's such a great boutique sale and all of the right people are here,” said The New Hill Farm's Lili Kobielski. “A filly like this deserves to be here. She is obviously by the right sire and the female family was already fantastic. Then we had that big update with Elite Power winning the Sprint and her half-sister placed in a graded stakes. So the stars all just aligned.”

Of the trip to Kentucky from her base in Hoosick Falls, New York, Kobielski said, “She brought us here. Our farm is in New York and we usually sell in New York at the Saratoga Fall Sale or the Preferred Sale or the Select Sale up there. But this just seemed like the perfect spot.”

Tanya Johnson prepped the filly at The New Hill and admitted the weanling may have been pampered.

“It was a lot of fun and a great pleasure to be given the opportunity to even have a horse like that,” Johnson said. “We knew she was pretty special the minute she got there, so she may have gotten away with a few things that another one might not have.”

Asked to describe the weanling's personality, Johnson smiled and said, “She's a diva.”

While Mama Yay is currently in Kentucky, Erlandson is active in the New York market.

“Mark participates in the New York program and that's how we met,” Kobielski said. “Several of his mares are in New York, but I'm not sure if he's planning on sending her to back to have a New York-bred foal. That would be thrilling, of course. We love the New York-bred program, obviously, and the rewards are fantastic. I am delighted for the breeder. He's very sharp. He bought the mare for $20,000 and he bred to Gun Runner in his bubble year before he became the superstar that he is. So it's just a wonderful result.” @JessMartiniTDN

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“It's hard not to like a filly that has accomplished what she has,” he said with a smile. “Just from being around her, you know how special she is.”

For over two years, Campanelle has been a consistent presence in Ward's converted tobacco barn adjacent to the Keeneland grounds. The Stonestreet Stables representative has thrived on racing's biggest stages throughout her career, earning two victories at Royal Ascot and claiming the 2020 G1 Darley Prix Morny in Deauville, but soon she will make what could well be the final start of her career on her home turf in Lexington.

Over the weekend, the 4-year-old put in her final work over the Keeneland turf, going five furlongs in 1:03.80 on Saturday in preparation for the GI Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint.

Ward spoke highly of how Campanelle is coming into the race.

“She thrives at Keeneland and I'm sure she's probably going to run the race of her life. Every workout is better than the next and she's glowing right now. I think she's going to have a great chance here.”

From there, Campanelle will take one of the shorter journeys of her career to travel to Fasig-Tipton for the 'Night of the Stars' Sale, where she will sell as Hip 272 with Eaton Sales as a racing or broodmare prospect.

Ward has been high on the Irish-bred daughter of Kodiac from the beginning. Picked out by Ben McElroy from Book 1 of the 2019 Tattersalls October Yearling Sale, Campanelle stood out as soon as she arrived in Lexington in the spring of her juvenile year.

“She was a big, beautiful filly and you could tell that physically, she was the standout of that particular group that Ben had sent in,” Ward recalled. “When we started training her we could really see the athleticism, and as soon as we got her on the grass, it was like a fish to water. She just took right off.”

The winner of the G2 Queen Mary S. and G1 Darley Prix Morny during her juvenile season, Campanelle returned to the prestigious Ascot meet at three to defeat males in the 2021 G1 Commonwealth Cup.

This year, the long-striding turf sprinter opened her season with a win in the Giant's Causeway S. at Keeneland, finished in a dead heat for third in the G1 Platinum Jubilee S. in her third trip to Ascot, and then got her first graded stakes win on American soil in the GIII Mint Ladies Sprint S.

“The thing about this filly is that she runs on any track and on any surface as far as conditions go,” Ward explained. “She'll run if it's a deep, soggy going or if it's a hard, firm turf. She just runs on anything there is. Every time you lead her over she tries so hard and physically, she's just a beautiful filly. Anyone could take a look at her and know that she's at the upper echelon of Thoroughbred racing right now.”

Stonestreet's Barbara Banke echoed that Campanelle has the looks and the heart to rank her among the elite members of Stonestreet's accomplished racing stable.

“It's really special to have a horse that can win among stakes competition in three different countries in England, France and the United States,” Banke said. “She carries herself well and she has a sense of dignity. She's got a lot of fight and she always gives it her best effort.”

Placing Campanelle in the Fasig-Tipton November Sale was no easy decision for Banke, but the commercial breeder said that ultimately, she believes that it will put Campanelle in the best position for success as she moves on to the next chapter of her career.

“When she goes on to be a broodmare, I think that she's worthy of the best turf sires in the world,” Banke explained. “Those are found more in Europe or Japan. Stonestreet is a very hands-on, detail-oriented breeding operation here in Kentucky and I don't think I could give her the focus and oversight she deserves if she were somewhere else. I think she needs to go to the elite turf sires. Someday we will have those here in America as well, but for her, I think this is the best thing. She will become the queen of someone's breeding operation.”

“Campanelle really reflects the international nature of our business today,” said Fasig-Tipton's Boyd Browning. “She's a tribute to the vision and the passion of an owner like Barbara Banke. Barbara's commitment to racing and breeding is really second to none and it's cool to see how they developed a plan of pointing these brilliant horses to Royal Ascot and they been able to succeed with it on several occasions.”

“I think the thing that makes Campanelle so attractive to buyers around the world is the combination of speed and consistency,” he continued. “She has answered the bell at Royal Ascot for three years in a row. She's by Kodiac, who has certainly done it the hard way but has been a tremendous stallion in Europe for many years. She's got worldwide appeal. It would not be surprising to see her produce major runners wherever she happens to go from here.”

Sara Gordon

Before Campanelle goes through the ring at Fasig-Tipton, Banke is looking forward to watching the brilliant filly represent her gold and burgundy colors one last time.

“I'm feeling pretty confident going into the Breeders' Cup and the people in the barn are feeling pretty confident in her as well,” Banke said. “She has some good competition in the race, including her stablemate Golden Pal (Uncle Mo), but she's a fighter and so I think my money is on her.”

Ward is also anticipating the return to the Breeders' Cup with his star filly, but he added that he is holding out hope that it won't be their last race together.

“When she goes in the ring, I'll have mixed emotions,” he admitted. “I'll be proud of what our team has accomplished with her, but I'll be sad if she doesn't come back to our barn. She is very lightly raced and is very sound. She is just peaking right now. I believe that with whatever hands she lands in, she's going to have a big year next year. Hopefully she comes back to our tobacco barn here, but whatever happens, it's been a good run so far.”

To take a look at more 'Spotlight on the Night of the Stars' features, click here.

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“The Fasig-Tipton November Sale annually offers the highest concentration of quality breeding stock in the world, and this year's catalogue more than lives up to that billing,” said Fasig-Tipton President Boyd Browning, Jr. “We have 56 graded stakes winners or producers catalogued, 23 of which are Grade 1. Included among these are Eclipse champions, international champions, Breeders' Cup winners, a dual Royal Ascot winner and three Kentucky Oaks winners.”

The sale kicks off with a selection of 180 weanlings, including the offspring of first-crop weanling sires Authentic, Complexity, Game Winner, Gift Box, Global Campaign, Higher Power, Honor A. P., Improbable, Instagrand, McKinzie, Spun to Run, Thousand Words, Tiz the Law, Tom's d'Etat, Vekoma, Volatile, and War of Will.

Notable weanlings in the catalogue include: A full-brother to Practical Joke (Into Mischief), selling as hip 2 for Bedouin Bloodstock; an Into Mischief half-brother to Grade I winner Leofric (Candy Ride {Arg}), selling as hip 14 through Bluewater Sales; a Kantharos colt who is a half-brother to Grade I winner Promises Fulfilled (Shackleford) and the multiple stakes winner and graded stakes placed Marquee Miss (Cowboy Cal), selling as hip 35 from Vinery Sales; a Tapit colt whose second dam is Drumette (Henny Hughes), the dam of champion Monomoy Girl (Tapizar) and graded stakes winner Mr. Monomoy (Palace Malice), selling as hip 38 for Gainesway; a Gun Runner half-brother to the Grade I-placed Oviatt Class (Bernardini) from the family of champion Essential Quality, selling as hip 48 for Stuart Morris, Agent; a filly by Munnings from the family of Grade I winners Shackleford (Forestry) and Lady Joanne (Orientate), selling as hip 50 for Paramount Sales; a filly by War of Will from the family of GI Metropolitan H. winner Mor Spirit (Eskendereya), selling as hip 62 for Vinery; a Justify filly from the family of Epsom Derby winner Lammtarra, selling as hip 72 from the Frankfort Park Farm consignment; a Union Rags half-sister to GII Fasig-Tipton Fountain of Youth winner Simplification (Not This Time), selling as hip 78 through Taylor Made Sales; an Uncle Mo half-brother to MGSW and GISP Awesome Slew, selling as hip 80 for Paramount Sales; an Into Mischief colt from the family of GI Breeders' Cup Sprint runner-up Shancelot (Shanghai Bobby), selling as hip 93 for Taylor Made Sales; a Gun Runner half-sister to GII Jim Dandy winner Tenfold (Curlin), whose third dam is MGISW Possibly Perfect (Northern Baby), selling as hip 97 for ELiTE Sales; an Honor A. P. Colt whose third dam, Cappucino Bay, produced Medaglia d'Oro, selling as hip 98 for Bridie Harrison, agent; hip 99 from Darby Dan, Dracula (Authentic), from the family of GI Spinaway S. winner Awesome Humor (Distorted Humor); an Improbable colt from a full-sister to GI Santa Anita Derby and Travers winner Colonel John (Tiznow), selling as hip 103 for Ballysax Bloodstock; an Instagrand filly whose second dam produced GI Dixiana Breeders' Futurity winner Noble's Promise, selling as hip 114 for Gainesway; an Authentic half-sister to MGISW Casa Creed (Jimmy Creed), selling as hip 117 for Paramount Sales; a full-brother to MGISW Colonel Liam (Liam's Map), selling as hip 120 for Darby Dan; a Bolt d'Oro colt whose second dam produced English champion and Classic winner Russian Rhythm (Kingmambo), selling as hip 121 for Taylor Made Sales; an Authentic half-brother to multiple Grade I-winning sophomore colt Cyberknife (Gun Runner), selling as hip 125 for Taylor Made Sales; the first foal out of MGISW Bellafina (Quality Road), a colt by Uncle Mo, who sells as hip 128 for Eaton Sales; a Constitution filly from the family of GI winners Rail Trip and Palace Malice, selling as hip 132 for St. George Sales; an Audible filly whose first dam produced Beach Walk (Distorted Humor), the dam of Life is Good (Into Mischief), selling as hip 133 for Ledgelands LLC; a Volatile filly from the family of Grade I winners Girvin (Tale of Ekati) and Midnight Bourbon (Tiznow), selling as hip 146 for Wynnstay Sales; a full-sister to GI Breeders' Cup-winning champion Caledonia Road (Quality Road), selling as hip 150 at Eaton Sales; an American Pharoah half-brother whose second dam is Canadian champion and champion producer Sealy Hill (Point Given), selling as hip 151 for Scott Mallory; the first foal from Diamond Ore, whose dam Bubbler (Distorted Humor) produced Arrogate (Unbridled's Song), a colt by Justify, selling as hip 157 for Taylor Made; hip 159, a filly by Justify and the first produce of 'TDN Rising Star' Donna Veloce from Eaton Sales; a Justify second foal out of Etching, whose dam is GI Kentucky Oaks winner Summerly (Summer Squall), selling as hip 166 for Ballysax Bloodstock; an Omaha Beach filly from the family of Grade I winners Hookedonthefeelin (Citidancer), Pussycat Doll (Real Quiet), and Jimmy Creed (Distorted Humor), selling as hip 170 for Bluegrass Thoroughbred Services; and a Munnings filly whose second dam, the champion Smuggler (Unbridled) is out of champion Inside Information (Private Account), selling as hip 180 for Taylor Made.

The weanling section of the sale is to be followed by 119 broodmares and broodmare prospects. The high-class offerings include, chronologically in the catalogue: GI La Brea S. winner Kalypso (Brody's Cause), selling as a racing or broodmare prospect for Gainesway; Lenni Girl (Candy Ride {Arg}), a half-sister to Eclipse champion Jackie's Warrior (Maclean's Music), selling in foal to Charlatan for Hill 'n' Dale; Del Mar track-record setter in her debut, 'TDN Rising Star' Luminance (Tale of the Cat), the runner-up in the GI Santa Anita Oaks, selling in foal to Gun Runner with Gainesway; Majorette (Will Take Charge), a half-sister to Epicenter, selling in foal to Hard Spun for Bluewater Sales; graded stakes winner Mrs. Danvers (Tapit), a half-sister to four graded stakes winners including War Front, carrying her first foal by American Pharoah, selling for Taylor Made; GI Gamely S. winner Ocean Road (Ire) (Australia {GB}), selling as a broodmare prospect for Hunter Valley Farm; GI Mother Goose S. winner Off the Tracks (Curlin), selling in foal to Gun Runner for Blake-Albina; Ononimo (Hard Spun), daughter of broodmare of the year Oatsee (Unbridled), selling in foal to American Pharoah for Stoneriggs Farm; Onshore (GB) (Sea The Stars {Ire}), the dam of G1 Grand Prix de Paris winner and 'Rising Star' Onesto (Ire) (Frankel {GB}), from a top Juddmonte family and in foal to Wootton Bassett (GB), selling for Gainesway; the multiple stakes-winning Queen Caroline (Blame), whose first foal 'Rising Star' Forte (Violence), won the GI Hopeful S. at Saratoga this summer, selling in foal to Not This Time for Bluegrass Thoroughbred Services; GI American Oaks winner Queen Goddess (Empire Maker) from a top Phipps family, selling as a racing or broodmare prospect for Ballysax Bloodstock; Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf winner Pizza Bianca (Fastnet Rock {Aus}), selling as a racing or broodmare prospect with ELiTE Sales; Secret Oath (Arrogate), the D. Wayne Lukas-trained GI Longines Kentucky Oaks heroine, selling as a racing or broodmare prospect for Bluewater Sales; fellow Kentucky Oaks winner Shedaresthedevil (Daredevil), who brought $5 million at the 2021 Fasig-Tipton November Sale from Mandy Pope, Qatar Racing, and Flurry Racing Stables and who came back to win the GII Fleur de Lis S. and was twice Grade I-placed at five for trainer Brad Cox; Simply Confection (Candy Ride {Arg}), in foal carrying a full-brother to Simplification (Not This Time), this year's GII Fasig-Tipton Fountain of Youth S. winner, selling with Taylor Made; Thinking of You (American Pharoah) a full-sister to G1 Prix Saint-Alary winner Above the Curve, from the family of Giant's Causeway, selling for Taylor Made and in foal to Justify; GI Starlet S. winner Varda (Distorted Humor), selling as a racing or broodmare prospect for Hill 'n' Dale; Wicked Whisper (Liam's Map), a GISW at two and a GSW at three, selling in foal to Curlin for Denali Stud; Awesome Flower (Flower Alley), the dam of leading three-year-old Cyberknife (Gun Runner), in-foal with his full sibling; GI Santa Anita Oaks winner Bellafina (Quality Road), selling in foal to Tiz The Law with Eaton Sales; GI Test S. winner Bella Sofia (Awesome Patriot), selling as a racing or broodmare prospect with Taylor Made; Bell's the One (Majesticperfection), a Grade I stakes winner pointing for the Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Sprint for trainer Neil Pessin, selling with Taylor Made; Chilean classic winner Brooke (Chi) (No Nay Never), selling with Gainesway; Campanelle (Ire) (Kodiac {GB}), the multiple European champion, two-time Royal Ascot winner, Group 1 winner in two countries and a Grade III winner in the U.S., selling with Eaton Sales, agent for Stonestreet Stables; GI Kentucky Oaks winner Cathryn Sophia (Street Boss), selling in foal to Gun Runner for Gainesway; 'Rising Star' Crazy Beautiful (Liam's Map), a millionaire, MGSW and Grade I-placed runner, selling for Denali Stud; Diamond Ore (Tapit), a winning, stakes-placed half-sister to Arrogate (Unbridled's Song), and in foal to Charlatan with a weanling colt by Justify at her side, selling for Taylor Made; 'Rising Star' Donna Veloce (Uncle Mo), a nine-length debut winner who was second by a neck in the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies in just her second start, in foal to Tiz The Law, selling for Eaton Sales; champion 'TDN Rising Star' Gamine (Into Mischief), the Fasig-Tipton Midlantic topper, a five-time Grade I winner and track-record-setter, selling in foal to Quality Road for Hill 'n' Dale; GI Del Mar Oaks winner Going Global (Ire) (Mehmas {Ire}), selling as a racing or broodmare prospect for Elite Sales; and GI Del Mar Debutante winner Grace Adler (Curlin), selling as a racing or broodmare prospect for Hill 'n' Dale.

“This catalogue is as deep in quality as it is internationally diverse,” continued Browning. “Nearly 80% of the racing and broodmare offerings are either a black-type winner or the dam of a black-type winner, providing buying opportunities at a variety of price levels. I think it's one of the strongest if not the strongest November catalogue we have ever assembled. There is great depth amongst the mares and foals and fillies coming off the racetrack. It is unquestionably the strongest group of weanlings we have ever had, from a quality and quantity standpoint. In the Fasig-Tipton tradition, we will continue to accept quality supplements up until the sale.”

The catalogue may now be viewed online, including Fasig-Tipton's popular Enhanced Catalogue.

The Enhanced Catalogue provides up-to-date catalogue pages, Daily Racing Form past performances, and race replays; an Alan Porter pedigree analysis and five-cross pedigrees for all racing/broodmare prospects and broodmares; stallion register pages for all sires of weanlings and covering sires; as well as other tools to aid prospective buyers. All Grade 1-winning females off the track or carrying their first foals will also be profiled with individual feature videos.

Print catalogues will be available by Thursday, Oct. 6. The catalogue will also be available via the Equineline sales catalogue app.

Online bidding and phone bidding will be available.

The post Catalogue for Fasig-Tipton’s The November Sale Online appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

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Campanelle has more frequent flier miles than many people: bred in Ireland, she made her first start in the U.S. (a debut maiden win at Gulfstream), then shipped to Royal Ascot for a win in the G2 Queen Mary S. Back to the U.S. to train, she shipped to France for a G1 Darley Prix Morny victory, then back stateside again for a fourth in the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf. And that was just as a 2-year-old. Campanelle opened her 3-year-old campaign at Royal Ascot with a win in the G1 Commonwealth Cup, came back to the U.S. to train, and shipped overseas again but faltered in France at Deauville. She closed out her sophomore year in the U.S. and then began her 4-year-old account at Keeneland before the third at Ascot and now the Franklin, Ky. win. Combined, the dizzying schedule and top wins have turned Campanelle into one of the most respected female turf sprinters in the world, making her 3-5 price in the Ladies Sprint no surprise.

Her performance was no surprise either. A close-up fourth as Creative Credit (Creative Cause) flew through a :21.55 first quarter, Campanelle continued rating and was patiently parked in third at the :44.73 half. The bay came flying five wide and menacingly on the outside as Bay Storm (Kantharos), who had been tracking the leader all the way, had the wire measured. The two battled late and drove together down the stretch with neither wanting to give an inch. Campanelle edged in front and Bay Storm fought back, but Campanelle's class prevailed to get her nose down on the wire as Bay Storm had to settle for the runner-up sport after being heartbreakingly close to notching her first graded win.

“She is a fighter,” said Barbara Banke, in whose Stonestreet Stables silks Campanelle runs. “She's super fast, and she is not going to let anyone get by her if she can help it. [Jockey Irad Ortiz, Jr.] cut it a little close, but she's really good.”

Ortiz agreed: “I love her. She's the most kind, fun to ride. She's crazy good. She made the lead a little earlier today. I hit her a couple of times. She responded so I put the stick away, keeping busy on her. Maybe she got confused a little. But she saw that filly and fought back.”

Pedigree Notes:

Standing at Tally-Ho Stud in Ireland, Kodiac (GB) counts 37 group/graded winners among his 81 Northern Hemisphere-bred black-type winners. Two–Campanelle and English GSW Shaden (Ire)–are out of Namid (GB) mares, quite a statistic since they represent exactly one-third of the stakes winners out of Namid daughters. Tally-Ho, who also bred Campanelle, bought her dam for 39,000gns at Tattersalls July in 2016, got an Exceed And Excel (Aus) filly out of her in 2017, and promptly bred her back to Kodiac, resulting in Campanelle, who is the last reported foal out of Janina (GB).

Saturday, Kentucky Downs
MINT LADIES SPRINT S.-GIII, $736,030, Kentucky Downs, 9-10, 3yo/up, f/m, 6 1/2fT, 1:14.57, fm.
1–CAMPANELLE (IRE), 121, f, 4, by Kodiac (GB)
          1st Dam: Janina (GB) (SW-Eng), by Namid (GB)
          2nd Dam: Lady Dominatrix (Ire), by Danehill Dancer (Ire)
          3rd Dam: Spout House (Ire), by Flash of Steel (Ire)
(190,000gns Ylg '19 TATOCT). O-Stonestreet Stables LLC;
B-Tally Ho Stud (IRE); T-Wesley A. Ward; J-Irad Ortiz, Jr.
$317,130. Lifetime Record: Hwt. Filly at 2-European, English &
French Free Hand, G1SW-Fr & Eng,  10-6-0-2, $1,060,417.
Werk Nick Rating: A++. Click for the
eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
Free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Bay Storm, 123, f, 4, Kantharos–Stormy Regatta, by
Midshipman. 1ST GRADED BLACK TYPE. ($400,000 2yo '20
OBSAPR). O-Bridlewood Farm; B-Candy Meadows LLC (KY);
T-Jonathan Thomas. $186,000.
3–She Can't Sing, 123, m, 5, Bernardini–Distorted Music, by
Distorted Humor. 1ST GRADED BLACK TYPE. O/B-Lothenbach
Stables, Inc. (Bob Lothenbach) (KY); T-Chris M. Block. $93,000.
Margins: NO, 3, 1. Odds: 0.78, 13.17, 33.29.
Also Ran: Brooke Marie, Jouster, Star Devine (Ire), In Good Spirits, Creative Credit, Candace O, Violenza, Elle Z, Tobys Heart. Scratched: Honey Pants, Ready To Venture (GB), Recoded, Touch of Class.
Click for the Equibase.com chart or the TJCIS.com PPs. VIDEO, sponsored by TVG.

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There would have been more competition had Real Madrid taken to the field against a bunch of schoolboys such was the authority of the display. Love Reigns burst into the lead from stall one, powered home to win unchallenged, and the clock backed up what filled the eye.

Not even Golden Pal (Uncle Mo), who won the G2 Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint over the same course and distance in 2020, could run a quicker time than Love Reigns did in that scintillating debut.

“Any time Ben McElroy vets your horse, you know you have something special, so I was delighted that Ben bought her. When you breed horses, all you can hope for is that they go to the best trainers, and we couldn't have dreamed of better connections buying Love Reigns,” – Eoghan Grogan

Now her breeders, the father and son team of Pat and Eoghan Grogan at Killourney Mor Farm in County Offaly, are rightly dreaming about what the filly might go on to achieve at Royal Ascot.

“It's not often you see 2-year-olds win maidens by about ten lengths, especially over five and a half furlongs, and we were gob-smacked watching it,” said Eoghan, who works full-time on the farm alongside his Dad.

“I watched it with my father and, as soon as she crossed the line, I turned to him and said, 'this is a monster.' She looked incredible at Keeneland and it's the stuff of dreams to have bred one like her.”

He added, “We always loved her and she was the pick of that crop in 2020. She was a tank, a real ball of muscle.

“For her to go on and do that, it was just unreal. There has been a fantastic buzz around town and we're really looking forward to Royal Ascot now.”

Pat Smullen put Offaly on the map. The Faithful County, as it is known, is also famous for being home to Open Championship-winning golfer Shane Lowry as well as the internationally recognisable Irish whiskey Tullamore Dew.

Love Reigns may soon join that list of famous Offaly produce which is all the more remarkable given the Grogans never set out to become breeders.

Pat, a builder by trade, was once owed money by a man who settled the debt with a horse. While that horse was never much use, it sparked a love affair with the sport that burns bright to this day, and the family are keen to capitalise on their recent run of success.

“It's mad really, because if he [Pat] never got that first horse, I don't know if he'd have come down this route at all. I had no interest in horses at the time either,” explains Eoghan.

“That horse he got as part of the deal didn't work out but he was bitten by the bug and then he bought Don't Care (Ire) (Nordico) a year afterwards. She was a very good producer and got things going for us which caught my interest. I saw that you can make a good living out of this game if you have the right stock and that's what it's all about really.”

He added, “We've eight mares of our own and there's six boarders for other clients. Myself and my father are at it full-time and it's starting to take off in the past three or four years but it has been 20 years in the making. Some of the families are starting to develop as we wanted so it's great.”

Love Reigns is out of Humble And Proud (Ire) (Pivotal {GB}), whose career at Ballydoyle was cut short through injury, but she has become a proven producer on the farm. Not that things have been all plain sailing with her second career as a broodmare. They haven't.

Before her most prolific son, Glorious Empire (Ire) (Holy Roman Emperor {Ire}), became a Group 1 winner in America, Humble And Proud didn't go in foal for three years but, after having one of her ovaries removed, has gone in foal in each of the last four seasons and is bidding for a fifth in the coming weeks.

Grogan explained, “She's gone from being written off to one of our best broodmares and it wasn't as if her progeny were a massive success in the sales ring at the start either. They weren't. I think the best price we got for one before Love Reigns was £40,000.”

In Love Reigns, the Grogans certainly brought something special to the Orby Sale last year and were rewarded when Ben McElroy went to €160,000 to secure the filly on behalf of Barbara Banke's Stonestreet Stables.

Grogan remembers, “There was loads of interest in her. She was vetted five or six different times and all of the good guys were on her. Any time Ben McElroy vets your horse, you know you have something special, so I was delighted that Ben bought her. When you breed horses, all you can hope for is that they go to the best trainers, and we couldn't have dreamed of better connections buying Love Reigns.”

He added, “She was a stunning individual with a temperament to match her looks. She actually had a colic on the Saturday of the Orby Sale and I was wondering if it was going to work out or not with her but she settled down pretty quick. She tightened up a good bit and didn't show herself as well as she can on the Saturday but, she bounced back great on the Sunday, and from then on she was great. She has always had a great temperament and nothing really fazed her.”

It is that bombproof temperament which should stand to Love Reigns when she makes the trip over to Royal Ascot for the Queen Mary.

One of her last pieces of work was reported to have gone well at Keeneland, according to McElroy, who is predicting a big performance from the filly in the Queen Mary, provided she gets her ground.

He said, “She worked on Sunday and it's all systems go for Royal Ascot now. The ground was actually soft at Keeneland and I definitely think she will want it firm at Royal Ascot. Hopefully we get lucky with the weather and, if we do, I'd be very happy about her chances in the Queen Mary.”

McElroy knows a thing or two about what a Royal Ascot winner looks like. Dual Royal Ascot scorer Campanelle (Ire) (Kodiac {GB}), who returns in Ward's raiding party for the this year, was also sourced in Ireland by McElroy on behalf of Stonestreet for 190,000gns and the renowned agent recalls how Love Reigns was just what he looks for in sourcing a royal runner.

He explained, “Barbara Banke loves Royal Ascot so, when we go to the sales, we're looking for something that's going to be a precocious 2-year-old that will suit Wesley Ward and be out in April or early May. That sets you up, if you are good enough, to take a tilt at one of the 2-year-old races at Royal Ascot. Obviously in her case, she always showed herself to have a lot of potential and Irad Ortiz rode her in two or three pieces of work before she ever ran and relayed to Wesley that she was his best 2-year-old, never mind Stonestreet's.”

McElroy added, “We were excited for her debut at Keeneland but she was drawn one in a 12-horse field, which is always a worry, but she proved Irad right on that performance. One of the reporters from the DRF told Wesley that it was the fastest 2-year-old performance in Keeneland, which encompasses Breeders' Cup races, meaning she ran faster than Golden Pal did as a 2-year-old. Visually, it looked very impressive, and the clock backed it up.”

Humble And Proud, the rather aptly-named broodmare, gave birth to a Mehmas (Ire) colt last week, and the Grogan family are now contemplating a return to US Navy Flag (War Front) on the strength of what Love Reigns did on debut.

She may only have graced the track once, but it's not often that a filly has left such an impression. Like McElroy, the Grogans will be hoping that Love Reigns can prove their eyes-and the clock-right in the Queen Mary.

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“I thought he had an unbelievable breeze today,” Ward said. “The turf was soggy, and I love to breeze on a deep, soft turf. They come in and out of the works so good. He broke off 10 lengths in front of a 2-year-old filly, ['TDN Rising Star'] Love Reigns (Ire) (U S Navy Flag)–she's no match for a horse like him at this stage of her career–but she had a target. She had a great work (1:03.60) following the fastest horse in the world. He skipped over it–it was unbelievable. That's what you want to see.”

Love Reigns, owned by Stonestreet Stables, scored a 9 3/4-length victory at Keeneland in her Apr. 29 career debut sprinting on turf. She is scheduled to race in the G2 Queen Mary S. June 15.

Stonestreet also owns G1 Platinum Jubilee S.-bound Campanelle (Ire) (Kodiac {GB}) (1:04) and Palace of Holyroodhouse S. contender Ruthin (GB) (Ribchester {Ire}) (1:04.80) (video). Campanelle is bidding for her third win at Royal Ascot, following triumphs in the Queen Mary in 2020 and G1 Commonwealth Cup in 2021.

Ward's other Royal Ascot worker was Andrew Farm and For the People Racing Stable's No Nay Hudson (Ire) (No Nay Never) (1:06.40), who is headed to the Windsor Castle June 15. No Nay Hudson won his career debut at Keeneland Apr. 28 on the dirt.

On June 8, they have a direct flight from Indianapolis to London Stansted Airport, “and they land and have a 10-minute ride to Chelmsford Racecourse, where they'll stay for three days until they go to Ascot,” Ward said.

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Away fairly, the 190,000gns Tattersalls October acquisition settled in fifth position and raced a touch keen three off the inside into the turn. Going well on the turn, she was eased out into the four path at the quarter, was shaken up and hit the front with a little less than a furlong to race and pulled away to take it by about two lengths in the stakes-record time of 1:01.98. 'TDN Rising Star' Star Devine (Ire) (Fastnet Rock {Aus}) sat a perfect inside trip and kicked on to be second.

Winner of the G2 Queen Mary S. at Royal Ascot in 2020, Campanelle added a two-length success in Deauville's G1 Prix Morny, but failed to see out the mile when fourth in the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf. Second past the post in last year's G1 Commonwealth Cup at the Royal meeting, the bay was put up to the victory, but was a disappointing 12th in the G1 Prix Maurice de Gheest in August and was a quietly ridden third in this track's GIII Franklin County S. when last seen Oct. 15.

While it has been an uncharacteristically quiet beginning to the Keeneland meet with his 2-year-olds, trainer Wesley Ward is quickly snapping up the turf stakes, having saddled Golden Pal (Uncle Mo) in the GII Shakertown S. last Saturday and Ruthin (GB) (Ribchester {Ire}) in Friday's Limestone S. Ward indicated that Campanelle is on track for the £1-million G1 Platinum Jubilee June 18, Ward said. Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by TVG.

GIANT'S CAUSEWAY S., $162,461, Keeneland, 4-16, 3yo/up, f/m, 5 1/2fT, 1:01.98 (NSR), gd.
1–CAMPANELLE (IRE), 122, f, 4, Kodiac (GB)–Janina (GB) (SW-Eng), by Namid (GB). (190,000gns Ylg '19 TATOCT). O-Stonestreet Stables LLC; B-Tally Ho Stud (IRE); T-Wesley A. Ward; J-Irad Ortiz Jr. $83,700. Lifetime Record: Hwt. 2yo Filly-Eur, Eng & Fr, G1SW-Eng & Fr, 8-5-0-1, $644,789.
2–Star Devine (Ire), 122, f, 4, Fastnet Rock (Aus)–Stars At Night (Ire), by Galileo (Ire). 'TDN Rising Star' (200,000gns Ylg '19 TATOCT). O-Lawrence Goichman; B-Rockhart Trading Ltd (IRE); T-Jorge R Abreu. $27,000.
3–Goin' Good, 122, f, 4, Congrats–Good Deed, by Broken Vow. O/B-Klein Racing (KY); T-Brad H Cox. $17,992.
Margins: 2HF, 1HF, NO. Odds: 1.90, 17.30, 9.30.
Also Ran: Change of Control, Elle Z, Jouster, Risky Reward, Phantom Vision, Violenza, A G Indy, Hear My Prayer, Headline Hunter, Ghosting Kim. Scratched: Ambassador Luna, Social Chatter.

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Happy Soul (Runhappy) is set to represent Ward in the GI Central Bank Ashland S., her first try around two turns, and the Gayla Rankin-owned filly blitzed six furlongs in a race-like 1:11.20 Saturday morning. Since dropping her career debut at Keeneland last April, Happy Soul has won three straight including the Feb. 19 Dixie Belle S. at Oaklawn Park. John Velazquez has the call in the Ashland.

Working on a Keeneland turf course with a bit of give in it were Ward's two 2021 Breeders' Cup winners, Golden Pal (Uncle Mo) and 'TDN Rising Star' Twilight Gleaming (Ire) (National Defense {GB}). Winner of last year's GI Turf Sprint to go along with his victory in the 2020 GII Juvenile Turf Sprint, Golden Pal makes his 4-year-old debut in the GII Shakertown S. Apr. 9 and covered the distance in 1:01.20. Twilight Gleaming, who took out last year's Juvenile Turf Sprint, was timed in 1:01.40 and goes in the Listed Palisades S. Apr. 10.

Campanelle (Ire) (Kodiac {GB}), whose two wins at Royal Ascot include the 2021 G1 Commonwealth Cup, galloped five furlongs on turf in 1:02.40.

“I'm feeling great,” said Ward, in search of a fourth consecutive spring title at Keeneland. “We've got a lot of horses in various different categories–a lot of nice stakes horses. The 2-year-olds are always fun to see which ones blossom. This is the highlight of opening up my year to see how we're going to progress. We're really looking forward to it–as is everyone who comes to Keeneland in the spring. It's a great place to be–the only place to be.”

Ward is also set to saddle defending champ and 'Rising Star' Kimari (Munnings) in Saturday's GI Madison S. and one of her chief adversaries, Bell's the One (Majesticperfection), got her final tune up Saturday in Lexington. A dead-heat second last year, the 6-year-old went an easy half-mile in :49.60.

“I didn't want anything real fast,” trainer Neil Pessin said. “All of her major work was done at Fair Grounds [where she had eight works following a 2 1/2-month break].”

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Al Stall saddles a live contender in Bal Mar Equine's In Good Spirits (Ghostzapper). An optional claimer winner at Fair Grounds Jan. 30, she was fourth in the course-and-distance Giant's Causeway S. Apr. 10, which was won by the re-opposing Change of Control (Fed Biz). Runner-up in Saratoga's GIII Caress S. July 24, the bay captured the GIII Kentucky Downs Ladies Sprint S. Sept. 11, defeating Catch a Bid (Real Solution) by two lengths.

Change of Control captured the GIII Intercontinental S. At Belmont June 3 and was third in the GII Royal North S. at Woodbine next out Aug. 1. She enters off a 10th in the GI Woodbine Mile Sept. 18.

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