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Highflyer Bloodstock Strikes for Arqana Autumn Toppers

The second day of the Arqana Autumn Sale kicked off with horses-in-training on Monday. Although the catalogue was not as deep as 2019’s record-breaking sale, 77% of the 160 horses offered found new homes. The gross was €3,050,000 for the 124 sold and two horses were co-toppers at €200,000, with Highflyer Bloodstock snapping up both offerings. In 2019, the highest price was €420,000. The average dropped to €24,597

(-29%) and the median fell to €11,000 (-21%). In addition, the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic also presented some challenges, but the sale was conducted in the new open air ring, just like this past Friday’s Arqana Autumn Flat Yearling Sale.

Tessa Greatrex and David Powell of Highflyer Bloodstock first picked up lot 423, Tax for Max (Ger) (Maxios {GB}), for €200,000. They bought the 3-year-old colt on behalf of Simon Munir and Isaac Souede, who are sending the colt to Willie Mullins. Previously trained by Henk Grewe and offered by Gestut Ohlerweiherhof, the dark bay is rated 109. Tax for Max finished fourth in the G2 Sparkasse KolnBonn Union-Rennen.

Just 11 lots later, the winning gelding Houx Gris (Fr) (Gris de Gris {Ire}) (lot 434) caught their eye again to equal the price of Tax for Max. Sold by Jean-Marie Callier, the hurdler was trained by Sylvain Dehez. Successful in his latest start at Auteuil, he will race in the colurs of Jared Sullivan.

“We’ve bought him for Jared Sullivan,” commented David Powell. “He’ll go to England where he’ll be trained by Paul Nicholls.”

Overall, seven lots brought six figures, with Horse Racing Advisory’s Hubert Barbe and Charlie Swan purchasing three of them, led by Hercule du Seuil (Fr) (Saddler Maker {Ire}) (lot 464) at €185,000. Runner-up in his lone start over hurdles at Strasbourg on Oct. 21, the Michael Seror-consigned 3-year-old colt is from the same family as Grade 2 winner Etoile du Seuil (Fr) (Network {Ger}). The duo also snapped up the dual Flat-winning gelding Goven (Fr) (Poliglote {GB}) (lot 456) from Alain Couetil for €175,000 and lot 471, Head Law (Fr) (Network {Ger}) at €150,000. The latter won over 2300 metres on Nov. 6 and is a half-brother to Grade 2 scorer GA Law (Fr) (Sinndar {Ire}). The HRA quintet was completed by Gaetan Taupin’s Hawai Game (Fr) (Diamond Boy {Fr}) (lot 461) for €90,000 and lot 465, the €60,000 Gold Conti (Fr) (Network {Ger}) from the draft of Arnaud Chaille-Chaille.

“The market is difficult but we bought them at the right price,” said Charlie Swan. “They are all going to start over hurdles and we hope that some of them will go down the chasing route afterwards, we just have to be lucky. The French system is really very well done, the horses are broken in early and progress race by race afterwards from a young age.”

The final two seven-figure lots will both head Down Under, with listed winner Arapaho (Fr) (Lope de Vega {Ire}) bringing €140,000 from Jim Clarke of Clarke Bloodstock and Avenue Bloodstock for the Australian trainer Bjorn Baker. Hailing from the draft of trainer Andre Fabre, lot 418 is out of stakes winner Alzubra (GB) (Dansili {GB}). Consigned by Wertheimer et Frere, Flambeur (Mizzen Mast) (lot 427), who won the Listed La Coupe de Marseille, is bound for the yard of Matthew Smith after hammering for €100,000.

At the end of Monday’s sale, Arqana President and Executive Director Freddy Powell said, “Demand for the horses-in-training was not as strong today as it was last year. We cannot ignore the impact of COVID-19 on the business of many owners, nor the absence of certain buyers due to the movement restrictions caused by the pandemic. We will now focus on the young jumps

prospects and the National Hunt breeding day.”

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‘Ongoing Power Outage’ Forces Second Straight Cancellation At Mountaineer

Both Sunday and Monday's cards at Mountaineer in New Cumberland, WV have been cancelled due to an “ongoing power outage,” track announcer Peter Berry posted on Twitter.

High winds and heavy rain hit the area on Sunday, and power outages have been reported across the region.

Mountaineer races on Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday. No plans have been announced either by Berry or on the track website for the cards on Tuesday, Nov. 17, or Wednesday, Nov. 18.

The post ‘Ongoing Power Outage’ Forces Second Straight Cancellation At Mountaineer appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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Serengeti Empress Retires to Taylor Made

Taylor Made Farm welcomed dual Grade I winner Serengeti Empress (Alternation) home to her birthplace on Monday afternoon. The 2019 Kentucky Oaks victress will be bred to red hot sire Into Mischief.

Shipping in from the Tom Amoss barn at Churchill Downs, Serengeti Empress will become barnmates with several other high-profile maiden mares, including Larry Best’s recent $1.95 million Keeneland November purchase Concrete Rose (Twirling Candy).

“It’s just special,” said Frank Taylor, the Vice President of Boarding Operations for Taylor Made. “When you get these Grade I winners come to the farm, it’s what we thrive on. We’ve had some great ones here, but we’ve now raised close to 110 Grade I winners, and she’s one of them. So whenever they get to come back home, it’s special.”

Serengeti Empress was bred by Tri Eques Bloodstock, a group made up of agent Jacob West, Mike Hardig and Val Henson. Henson, Taylor shared, is the Director of Maintenance and Special Projects at Taylor Made Farm and Serengeti Empress was the first mating he was a part of.

“Unfortunately, I talked him into selling her because I thought the bills she would bring in would be too high to keep her,” Taylor admitted. “But he’s gotten a few checks along the way. That makes it even more special. Our team takes great pride in raising horses like this. And to have another Oaks winner here is special.”

The daughter of Alternation was a $25,000 weanling-turned-$70,000 yearling pinhook.

“She was a very good foal when she was born here, a great individual,” Taylor said. “She was a standout. She sold pretty well for her pedigree, but every time out she just exceeded expectations.”
A 5½-length winner first time out, Serengeti Empress was a dual stakes winner by the end of her juvenile season. At three, she took the GII Rachel Alexandra S. before giving trainer Tom Amoss his first GI Kentucky Oaks victory. Also as a sophomore, she ran second in two Grade I races in the Acorn S. and Test S. and then wrapped up the season with a third-place effort in the GI Breeders’ Cup Distaff.

This year, the fleet-footed bay added wins in the GII Azeri S. and the GI Ballerina S. to her resume before finishing out her racing career with a runner-up effort behind Gamine (Into Mischief) in the GI Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Sprint.

The over-$2.1 million dollar earner is the first graded stakes winner for owner Joel Politi, an orthopedic surgeon from Columbus, Ohio. Upon her retirement, Politi opted to retain the mare instead of offering her at this fall’s breeding stock sales.

“She’s become part of his family,” Taylor said of Politi’s relationship with the talented filly. “Joel and his daughter and wife are all very excited to be part of her broodmare career. Joel is a super guy, and it’s going to be exciting to get that Into Mischief baby and see what happens.”

Of the stallion choice, Taylor added, “Basically you’re breeding the best to the best. I guess there’s no better choice to go with. You know, she got beat by Gamine in her last start so that just makes it more important to breed to Into Mischief. He’s a stallion that’s in his own league.”

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Strangulating Lipoma: Surgery The Only Option

Strangulating lipomas are a common cause of colic in horses older than 10. These fatty tumors take years to develop; they eventually wrap around the small intestine or small colon and block ingested feed and hay from moving. If left long enough, they will eventually cut off blood flow to the tissues as well.

Why these tumors occur isn't known, but they don't only occur in overweight equines. Colic from a strangulating lypoma cannot be managed with on-farm treatments like hand walking or medicating—surgical removal is the only remedy for this type of colic.

A horse with a strangulating lipoma may have only mild abdominal pain as the tumor grows. His pain will escalate as the tumor increases in weight, which causes the loop to tighten and block more ingested material. Eventually the blood supply to the tissue may be cut off, causing it to die.

The horse may initially appear restless, he may roll, paw or bite at his sides. Stretching out to ease the pull and sweating is not uncommon, nor is an elevated heart rate and depression. A horse with a strangulating lipoma most likely will not eat or pass manure. This form of colic may cause the horse to have a distended abdomen from the buildup of fluids.

This type of colic is diagnosed through observation of behavior, as well as through palpation of the small intestine, presence of abdominal distention and an increase in proteins and white blood cells in the peritoneal fluid.

The only treatment for a horse with a diagnosed strangulating lipoma is surgery, which will remove the tumor as well as any damaged intestine.