Tag: Europe

Racing to Cease in Macau from April

Racing in Macau will end from April 1 of this year following an announcement on Monday by the Macau Horse Racing Company, operator of the Macau Jockey Club (MJC), that is is to terminate its contract with the Macau government. 

A significant employer in Macau, the MJC in its present guise has been in existence since 1989, though racing on the peninsula on China's southern coast has a centuries-long history. The decision to cease racing in just over two months' time at Taipa racecourse will affect hundreds of employees of the MJC, which includes 12 trainers and stable staff, and around 200 horses. It comes in the wake of the Singapore Turf Club's announcement last June that racing will no longer take place in Singapore after October of this year.

A statement on the MJC website read, “Macau Horse Racing Company Limited regretfully announces that this morning the company signed an agreement with the Macau (SAR) government to terminate the 'Concession Contract for the Exclusion Operation of Horse Racing'.”

It continued, “Macau Horse Racing Company Limited has been operating at a loss, accumulate in excess of 2.5 Billion (approximately £245m/€283m). Moreover, there has been limited room for development and growth of the horse racing industry in Macau over the years, and including the adverse effect brought about by pandemic over these last three years, it has become increasingly difficult to sustain the operations. The Board of Directors has had to make a difficult decision, and commencing from April 1, 2024, the company will cease all racing related operations. However, the current member facilities will remain available to the Club's members.”

The statement also notes that arrangements for the racehorses currently in Macau will be finalised by March 31, 2025. The horse population has dwindled significantly in recent years, and 202 horses are currently listed in training on the MJC website. 

The post Racing to Cease in Macau from April appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post

‘Not Always Dark At Five O’Clock’ – Coolmore Excited By Bright Additions

Coolmore Stud's Mark Byrne has acknowledged that many breeders will be in two minds about covering their mares after what he described as one of the most “unusual” years of trade in 2023 but but encouraged supporters of the stud to retain the faith by saying “it's not always dark at five o'clock.”

Byrne was speaking during the Irish Stallion Trail where visitors to Coolmore got a chance to see newbies Paddington (GB), Little Big Bear (Ire) and The Antarctic (Ire). Parallels were drawn between the quandary facing breeders in 2024 to that of the Covid year of 2020 with Byrne keen to point out that many people were rewarded for their resilience at the yearling sales in 2022.

The polarisation of the market in 2023 was one of the main talking points at almost every sale be it yearlings, breeding stock or even National Hunt. Byrne agreed that 2023 presented challenges but took several positives from last year's trade and says he is looking forward to working with breeders for the upcoming season. 

He said, “There are several ways to look back on last year's market. It was tough. Nobody is doubting it was tough. But it was tough in every aspect–tough for people selling horses but also tough for people buying horses as well. We tried to acquire stallions, yearlings, mares, you name it, and it was still very hard to buy them so there is still a lot of money in the market. It was just so competitive to buy the nicer horses. In that respect, the market was so unusual. I've never seen it so strong at the top and then it falls away rather steeply. I know it's a word we keep hearing a lot but things have become very polarised. 

“Nobody outlays more money in the game than stallion masters do. They put so much up to buy these stallions and they have to make it work. Everyone wants it to work and there's no point in saying the stallion masters charge too much or that the mares aren't good enough. We're all in this together and we have to make it work as a collective. I was looking at some of the figures at the end of last year and on paper it was probably the second best year of all time for turnover, just behind the best year we ever had, which was in 2023.”

Byrne added, “Breeders have to keep going. What's the alternative? If you stop you won't have a product to bring to the sales. But this is an important year for them and now more so than ever breeders will need to steady the ship and use the good stallions that they can afford. There's always an element of risk involved but you don't overstretch that risk by leaving yourself exposed by using a stallion you can't afford. 

“I can remember March and April when Covid just broke out. We were wondering whether or not we'd be able to cover mares in 2020. There was a bit of a pullback but people eventually decided to cover their mares. The 2022 yearling sale season was one of the best I ever attended so, the people who decided to pull up during Covid, they might have been left ruing that decision in 2022. I think there are similarities with the dilemma some people are faced with this season in light of the market last year but who's to say what's happening today will be happening tomorrow? It's not always dark at five o'clock.”

Coolmore will be hoping that Paddington can prove something of a beacon of light at €55,000 to breeders. The four-time Group 1 winner is the third top-class son of Siyouni (Fr) to retire to Coolmore in recent years and Byrne says he is confident that the brilliant Irish 2,000 Guineas, Sussex, St James's Palace and Coral-Eclipse winner has all of the right ingredients to be a hit.

He said, “Anyone who sees Paddington will agree that he is a beautiful horse. He is also a hardy horse given he won four Group 1s in the space of just 68 days. He won the Irish 2,000 Guineas, the Coral-Eclipse, the St James's Palace and the Sussex Stakes. Horses such as Kingman (GB), Frankel (GB), Giant's Causeway and Sadler's Wells, they all came close to doing something similar but Paddington is the only one to have been able to do that as a three-year-old. I think that's a massive testament to him as well. 

“Bought by Laurent Benoit on behalf of Coolmore for €420,000 at Arqana, Paddington hails from a lovely Wildenstein family. I think there are loads of good ingredients there for him to be a success and, of course, he is by Siyouni. He is our third son of Siyouni to stand here at Coolmore and the two others [St Mark's Basilica (Fr) and Sottsass (Fr)] are world champions. That bodes well for Paddington.” 

Byrne added, “He's going to be very well-supported and Monceaux has committed a strong selection of mares to him. He was obviously raised by Henri Bozo's Ecurie des Monceaux farm in France. A lot of the top breeders in Britain and Ireland are also keen to row in behind him and give him the support that he deserves.”

While Paddington proved himself at the highest level over a mile and a mile-and-a-quarter, Little Big Bear was devilishly-quick and represents something altogether different at €27,500. The European Champion Two-Year-Old put in arguably one of the most memorable performances posted by any juvenile in recent years when romping to a seven-length success in the G1 Phoenix S. at the Curragh and he clearly has the looks to match that ability.

“Little Big Bear is another beautiful horse,” Byrne said. “I remember when he sold at Deauville he was the talk of the sale and I actually thought he'd make a lot more than €320,000. He went on to become the European Champion Two-Year-Old and got a rating of 124 which is a freakish rating. But then again, he produced a freakish performance in the Group 1 Phoenix Stakes where he was seven lengths clear of his rivals. He was just a phenomenal racehorse and won four times as a juvenile at a combined aggregate of 15 lengths.

“Anyone who comes to see him won't be disappointed as he has size, strength, scope and a lot of quality. Pedigree-wise, he's very well-bred as well. You'd have to think at €27,500, he'll be on a lot of people's lists.”

The Antarctic, a full-brother to the Champion Sprinter Baattash (Ire), will appeal to plenty of smaller breeders at €6,000 and he completes the trio of newbies with Byrne stressing the importance for fresh blood at a stud of Coolmore's status.

He said, “The Antarctic is another interesting horse and is the most expensive colt by Dark Angel (Ie) ever sold at 750,000gns. He won the Lacken Stakes, which Caravaggio and Sioux Nation also won, but The Antarctic won it in record time. He's incredibly well-bred and is a full-brother to Baataash, who we all knew so well. It's a story that every Irish breeder knows and loves with the dam, Anna Law (Ire) (Lawman {Fr}), being bought inexpensively by Paul McCartan and going on to produce brilliant horses like Baattash and The Antarctic, not to mention her latest two yearlings through the ring making a combined 3.3 million gns.

“When you talk about being commercial, this guy was fast, good-looking and has a great pedigree. I think he'll be very popular for breeders who are looking for a bit of value. One thing I've noticed is that he is quite similar to Havana Grey (GB). 

“Havana Grey is out of a Dark Angel mare and this guy is by Dark Angel. They were both rated 113 and have similar enough race profiles as they placed in the Prix Morny. They're not too dissimilar.”

On keeping things fresh with the new blood at Coolmore, Byrne concluded, “It's like a Premier League football team. You need to keep buying new players and freshen up the roster with new talent every year. This is a fast-moving industry and, as a stud, we need proven stallions, stallions who are about to have their first runners and are just getting going, then you have the stallions in between and also the fresh blood coming through. You don't know where the next Sadler's Wells or No Nay Never is going to come from.”

 

The post ‘Not Always Dark At Five O’Clock’ – Coolmore Excited By Bright Additions appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post

Making Waves: Daughter Of Ten Sovereigns Strikes At Gulfstream

   In this series, the TDN takes a look at notable successes of European-based sires in North America. This week's column is highlighted by the victory of Kalispera at Gulfstream Park.

 

Ten Sovereigns Filly Delivers In Florida

William Werner's Kalispera (Ire) (Ten Sovereigns {Ire}) won her American debut at Gulfstream Park for trainer Brian Lynch earlier this month (video).

A product of the storied Annemarie O'Brien breeding programme, the 3-year-old rattled off a trio of group placings at two in her colours when third in both the G2 Debutante S.,–and G3 Newtownanner Stud S., and second in the G3 Prix d'Aumale for former trainer Joseph O'Brien in September. Sold privately to these connections, the filly is a half-sister to G2 Ridgewood Pearl S. second Emphatic Answer (Ire) (No Nay Never) and G3 Silver Flash S. third La Dolce Vita (Ire) (Caravaggio). The trio are out of placed runner Ask Me Nicely (Ire) (Fastnet Rock {Aus}), who is a half-sister to G1 Dewhurst winner Beethoven (Ire) (Oratorio {Ire}).

Kalispera is one of two winners from five (40%) to race in America for her Coolmore sire whose eldest foals are now 3-year-olds. The winner Irish Gent (Ire) was second in the Listed Atlantic Beach S., while the placed Loterie (Ire) was runner-up in the Listed Del Mar Juvenile Fillies Turf S.

 

By Any Other Name

Reeves Thoroughbred Racing and MyRacehorse's Forever Rose (Ger) (Cracksman {GB}) won at Tampa for trainer Greg Sacco this month (video).

Making her third start, the Gestut Etzean-bred bay was a €49,000 Baden-Baden yearling turned €420,000 Arqana May 2-year-old when picked up by Stephen Hillen. Her dam Forever Beauty (Ger) (Dashing Blade {GB}), a winner at two and listed placed over a mile in Germany at four, has a juvenile filly named Fabulous (Ger) (Areion {Ger}) and a yearling colt called Fawkes (Ger) (Protectionist {Ger}) still to come. Forever Beauty is a half-sister to a trio of stakes winners led by G1 Deutsches Derby winner Feodora (Ger) (Lord Of England {Ger}).

Darley's Cracksman is now best known as the sire of French wunderkind Ace Impact (Ire), an undefeated Classic-winning victor of the 2023 G1 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe. However, Cracksman is not a one-horse sire, as he has six other stakes winners worldwide including G2 Premio Dormello victress Aloa (GB). In the U.S., Forever Rose is the first winner from two to race for her sire.

 

Long Live The King

Boardshorts Breeding and Racing's King Julien (Kingman {GB}) graduated at Gulfstream Park at second asking on Jan. 7 (video).

Trained by Brian Lynch, the Glen Hill Farm-bred dark bay sold for $300,000 as a Keeneland September yearling when picked up by Taylor Creek. Dam Deer Valley (Speightstown), who won Monmouth's Crank It Up S., is already responsible for stakes winner Wide West (Ire) (Frankel {GB}), and she was covered by Good Magic last spring. Crisp (El Corredor), a half-sister to Deer Valley and a winner of the GI Santa Anita Oaks, is the dam of star Japanese dirt performer Danon Pharoah (Jpn) (American Pharoah).

Juddmonte's Kingman has sired 36 winners from 59 runners (61%) in the US and Canada. His eight stakes winners are anchored by Domestic Spending (GB), a winner of three Grade I races; and Grade II winners Technical Analysis (Ire), who was second in the GI Diana S. and GI Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup, and Serve The King (GB), who was second in the GI Joe Hirsch Turf Classic S.

 

 

Repeat Winners

Cheyenne Stable's Ozara (Ire) (Lope De Vega {Ire}) added a first listed victory to her resume in the Ginger Brew S. at Gulfstream Park at the beginning of the year for trainer Christophe Clement (video). She first featured in this column after a win at Saratoga in August.

Another repeat winner is Zoustar (Aus) filly Lunar Impact (GB), who races for D K Racing, LLC, Qatar Racing, LLC, Radley Equine, Inc., Rick Gold and Dave Odmark. She won her second race at Santa Anita near the start of January for trainer Dan Blacker (video).

 

The post Making Waves: Daughter Of Ten Sovereigns Strikes At Gulfstream appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post

‘He Could Be What The Market Is Looking For,’ – Heavyweights Weigh In On Stallion Trail

Whether you're a trainer, a pre-trainer, a breeder or just a general racing nut, it seems as though the Irish Stallion Trail was the place to be on Friday and Saturday. But how much can be gleaned from two days of stallion parades? Quite a lot, actually. 

Relationships have been forged and business has been done on the Trail and luminaries of the industry Johnny Murtagh, Dick Brabazon, Guillaume Vitse and Craig McCracken were left singing the praises of Irish Thoroughbred Marketing [ITM] for what proved to be another stellar weekend. 

Vitse was a notable force on the Trail. Breeder of Unquestionable (Fr) (Wootton Bassett {GB}), winner of the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf, the master of Normandie Breeding was at Coolmore Stud on Friday where the Frenchman promised to make the most of his visit to Ireland.

Vitse said, “It was lovely to see Wootton Bassett. We tried to see him last year but obviously he wasn't here because he was in Australia. We also went to Rathbarry, Castlehyde, Coolmore and Ballylinch today. We are going to Yeomanstown, Kildangan, the Irish National Stud and Tally-Ho Stud on Saturday.”

He added, “I am a big fan of Blackbeard (Ire). He is a stunning horse. I really fancy him. He is just what my wife [Camille] and myself love in a horse. He's the perfect mover and he has everything. I love him. 

“I like quality horses and this guy, from my point of view, has so much quality. I really like Sottsass (Fr) as well. He's another really good mover. He has a short back and is very strong and was a champion racehorse as well. Sottsass and Blackbeard are very different horses but we like both of them.”

While France offers the Route des Etalons, the Irish Stallion Trail is a slightly newer phenomenon with over 30 stallion farms opening its doors to visitors across the two days and Vitse voiced his support of the initiative. 

He said, “This is my first time doing the Stallion Trail. It was pretty cool to go around and see the stallions. I think the Stallion Trail, just like the Route des Etalons, provides you with a good opportunity to meet a lot of people. I think it's a very good initiative and now we have a good idea about the stallions we like. When we get back home, we will discuss with our partners the right pick for our mares.”

Asked what stallions he was most looking forward to viewing on Sunday, Vitse added, “Mehmas (Ire). I am really looking forward to seeing him. I am looking forward to seeing Good Guess (GB) and Kodiac (GB) as well. It is probably the last few years we can use Kodiac so it will be good to see him.”

Leading Irish breeder Craig McCracken of McCracken Farms, top trainer Johnny Murtagh and renowned pre-trainer Dick Brabazon were others who reported to have gotten huge value from the two-day event. 

McCracken said, “I've been to Coolmore, Yeomanstown, Tally-Ho, Starfield and Kildangan. Of the cheaper stallions, I'd give Dubawi Legend (Ire) a chance. I have a breeding right in the horse but he did finish second in a Dewhurst and he is a son of Dubawi (Ire) so I can't see him not working. He has every chance at a price. Good Guess (GB) was one of the main takeouts of the weekend for me. He's a very slick horse, a lovely cross between Kodiac (GB) and Pivotal (GB). He could be what the market is looking for. He's a very obvious one for me. At our level, and of the stallions we can afford, I'd be weighing in behind Good Guess, Little Big Bear (Ire) and Native Trail (Ire). Those are the ones who have caught our imagination.”

He added, “I'd be a big fan of the weekend. I mean, in what other industry would you get it? Would the manager of your local football club get the opportunity to pick the brains of Pep Guardiola? The answer is no. Take Mrs Tally-Ho [Anne O'Callaghan] for example. That woman could run the country. For me to have the opportunity to run my thoughts through some of the best in the business, that has to be worth something, so the weekend is of huge value to me.”

It wasn't just the breeders who were out in force. Murtagh and Brabazon were other notable figures to be getting the miles in with the latter revealing the weekend provided a huge networking opportunity.

Brabazon said, “I have one mare and, while I am unlikely to be using some of the top stallions, my clients are using the stallions and it's very important for me to be able to talk to them and say that I have seen the stallions. That's what's important. You see the good points and the bad points and you're clued in to what traits they might pass on to their progeny. 

“Also, when you see horses on the racetrack, it's fascinating to see how they have developed as stallions. Paddington (GB) for example, he's a fine-looking horse but you can still see the racehorse in him, and I can't wait to go back and see him next year when you will see the stallion in him. The other thing I became very aware of is that Siyouni (Fr) is becoming a very important influence. You have Paddington and St Mark's Basilica (Fr) at Coolmore. If you went back a few years, he didn't exist. Now, he's a very important influence. We're slowly seeing the changeover from Galileo (Ire).”

He added, “I did quite a bit of small bits of business on the Trail. I bumped into clients at Ballylinch and we got to talk about their horses. It's an important networking opportunity and I think it's wonderful. We should open up the training yards, open up the studs, and open up the industry more going forward. We're building up the interest in the industry in the sport over those two days and that can't be a bad thing.

“The studs are great that way. I'll give an example, I was down at Coolmore and, the group in front of us, a lot of the visitors had special needs. There was nobody rushing them through or anything like that. They got the same treatment as everyone and it wasn't a case of Coolmore selling a breeding right or anything like that. I think that shows a bit of class from Coolmore and fair play to them for providing everyone on the tour with the same level of care and attention.”

Murtagh has won some of the best races around the world as a jockey. Think Sinndar (Ire), Yeats (Ire) and High Chaparral (Ire). In his role as a trainer, he was busy scouting some of the new kids on the block and he wasn't disappointed.

He said, “We have one mare here belonging to us and I just went down to Kildangan Stud to have a look at some of the stallions I never saw before. I never saw Blue Point (Ire) before and, given he had a phenomenal year, I was keen to see him. On the Friday of the tour, you probably get more of the breeders in attendance while the Saturday is more of a casual racing fan. But, listen, as trainers, we probably don't get around to see these wonderful stud farms as much as we'd like. There were a lot of nice horses on show and we'll probably go and see some of the stallions at the Irish National Stud on Saturday as well.”

Asked about his thoughts on some of the younger sires coming through, Murtagh said, “We've a King Of Change, an Arizona, an Earthlight and a few others by first-season sires. We try to buy a few first-season sires because you never know who is going to be the next superstar. We buy the yearlings on spec. We went last year to the sales with the idea of buying two-year-old types and we bought Havana Greys, Kodiacs, Mehmases, Ardads and Oasis Dreams. You know, we have two-year-old types and we go and buy as many as we can on spec then we try to sell them when we get back. It's a tough business and we put our own money up front but we buy the horses we like and you need to have those two-year-old types.”

 

The post ‘He Could Be What The Market Is Looking For,’ – Heavyweights Weigh In On Stallion Trail appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post

Verified by MonsterInsights