Tag: Horse Racing

DWC Trackside Report: Catnip Me-‘Wow’-ing Them At Meydan

DUBAI, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES — With over 100 of the world's most talented gallopers on hand, it isn't easy to stand out, but John and Susan Moore's G1 Dubai Turf hopeful Catnip (Kitten's Joy) has done just that at Meydan this week.

A strapping, nearly-black gelding, Catnip exits a longshot, but close third to Warm Heart (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) in the GI Pegasus World Cup Turf Jan. 27. Trainer Mike Stidham looked at Catnip's Ragozin sheet and that encouraged him to swing for the fences in a hot renewal of the G1 Dubai Turf, bypassing a considerably easier spot in last weekend's GII Muniz Memorial S. at the Fair Grounds.

“He ran a huge new top in that race,” the freshly arrived Stidham said Wednesday. “We had a choice of running him for $300,000 or $5 million and we decided to take a shot at the $5 million and brought him over. So far, so good.”

Catnip is a half-brother to five-time U.S. graded winner Princess Grace (Karakontie {Jpn}), who was purchased by China Horse Club for $1.7 million at Fasig-Tipton November in 2022 and went on to win a Group 3 while posting a pair of narrowly beaten seconds in Group 1 company in Australia for trainer Chris Waller.

 

 

 

On his last visit to Meydan, Stidham saddled 'TDN Rising Star' Mystic Guide (Ghostzapper) to a victory in the 2021 Dubai World Cup.

Repole Stable and St Elias Stable's GI Pegasus World Cup third Crupi (Curlin) was out in the 5-6 a.m. window reserved for the international contingent, his chestnut colt gleaming under the floodlights before and after a couple of spins around the track. Repole will not be in attendance, as he will be on hand at Gulfstream Park to watch 'TDN Rising Star' and champion Fierceness (City of Light) in the GI Curlin Florida Derby, but here to represent the stable are Pat Cummings and a sleep-deprived Alex Solis II. You'll have to contact him for details.

The American-based, but locally owned Clapton (Brethren) is hard to miss when he comes onto the track, his orange tack and matching polos giving him absolutely no cover. After some internal discussion, the Florida-bred was given the green light for a World Cup bid, and connections are quietly confident he will fire his best shot Saturday.

Trainer Todd Fincher and owner Joe Peacock, Jr. made their way across the track to the starting gate where G1 Saudi Cup hero Senor Buscador (Mineshaft) got acquainted with the stalls before showing good energy in his track gallop. He appears a fresh horse despite his recent travels.

So popular was Jun Park and Delia Nash's Sibelius (Not This Time) leading up to last year's G1 Dubai Golden Shaheen that a DailySibelius hashtag was created on X. By the looks of it, he's grown his fan club and is always good for hamming it up at the outside fence beneath his adoring work rider Allyson Walker.

 

 

 

Also making a good impression was fellow Golden Shaheen entrant Nakatomi (Firing Line), a rare Dubai runner for trainer Wesley Ward. Hopkins (Quality Road), beaten just a length into fourth by Sibelius last year, went through his gears down the lane Wednesday.

Gander S. winner Pandagate (Arrogate) was led onto the track by assistant trainer Miguel Clement, with his wife Acacia Clement not far behind. The New York-bred gray–his late sire's literal body double–stood for what felt like an eternity on the outside rail before taking off around Meydan and wrapping things up with a visit to the gate.

Caramel Chip (Midshipman) looks to have it all to do against the likes of Saudi Crown (Always Dreaming) and Isolate (Mark Valeski) in Saturday's G2 Godolphin Mile, but win, lose or draw, the Jose D'Angelo trainee looks to be doing as well as he could be ahead of the $1-million contest.

The post DWC Trackside Report: Catnip Me-‘Wow’-ing Them At Meydan appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

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Old Friends Welcomes Airdrie Stud’s MGSW McCraken

Airdrie Stud, a longtime supporter of Old Friends, has sent MGSW McCraken (Ghostzapper) to reside at the Thoroughbred retirement farm as of Monday, Mar. 25, the non-profit said via a press release early Wednesday morning.

The 10-year-old stallion was donated to the farm courtesy of Airdrie, who has made three prior contributions to the Old Friends roster.

“It is already evident to me that this well-mannered multiple stakes winner is going to be a real hit with our many visitors to Old Friends,” said John Nicholson, President and CEO of Old Friends. “We are grateful to Bret Jones and all the folks at Airdrie Stud for giving McCraken such a fulfilling retirement and a chance to be celebrated by racing fans everywhere.

Bred and raced by Whitham Thoroughbreds, McCraken, out of the Seeking the Gold mare, Ivory Empress, was foaled on Apr. 13, 2014 in Kentucky. The homebred, trained by Ian Wilkes, closed out his racing career with six wins–three of them graded stakes–and $869,728 in earnings over 14 starts.

McCraken began his stud career at Airdrie Stud in 2019 and he was pensioned following his 2023 season.

“It makes all of us at Airdrie very happy to know that McCraken will live out his retirement in the best possible care,” said Bret Jones, president of Airdrie Stud. “Michael Blowen is a hero of ours and has been a wonderful friend since the earliest days of Old Friends. He began the farm with a vision and has built it into one of the most inspiring legacies in the history of our sport. Airdrie joins the Whitham and Wilkes families in thanking Michael, John Nicholson and the great team at Old Friends for giving McCraken, and all of the horses in their care, the retirement they deserve.”

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Euros Here, There and Everywhere Tuesday At Meydan

DUBAI, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES — Headed by the first appearance from the seven World Cup night horses from the yard of Aidan O'Brien, there was a buzz of activity on both the dirt track and turf course Tuesday morning at Meydan proper as well as back on the Tapeta track a couple of furlongs down the road.

The Ballydoyle septet slowly ambled out of the tunnel near the 1600-metre starting point on the the dirt surface, led by G3 Red Sea Turf H. hero Tower of London (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}, G2 Dubai Gold Cup), with dual Derby and GI Breeders' Cup Turf winner Auguste Rodin (Ire) (Deep Impact {Jpn}, G1 Dubai Sheema Classic ) and Luxembourg (Ire) (Camelot {GB}, G1 Dubai Turf) close in tow. They were followed next in line by Point Lonsdale (Ire) (Australia {GB}, Sheema Classic), the G2 UAE Derby-bound Henry Adams (Ire) (No Nay Never) and Navy Seal (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}), and Cairo (Ire) (Quality Road, Dubai Turf) caboosing the group.

The seven made their way down the chute in front of the international press and did one circuit of the main tack in the wrong direction before then turning around to canter a lap. As can be the case on their first visit to the track, a few–including Auguste Rodin–appeared a bit warm under their saddle cloths on a morning that was equal parts muggy and breezy, with 'widespread dust' headlining the weather conditions at the time.

“They arrived early on Sunday and they're all in great form,” said Pat Keating, ever at the fore on foreign soil. “They just trotted a lap, then cantered for seven furlongs or so. They might go a little bit further as the week goes on but they're here healthy and well and that's the main thing.”

About the same time the Ballydoyle contingent was spotted, the three Andre Fabre participants jumped onto the turf course at about the 1400-metre marker. Junko (GB) (Intello {Ger}), the somewhat surprising winner of the G1 Longines Hong Kong Vase and bound for the Sheema Classic led his longer-winded stable companions Sober (Fr) (Camelot {GB}) and Sevenna's Knight (Ire) (Camelot {GB}) in a light gallop. The latter pair go in the G2 Dubai Gold Cup over two miles.

Runners representing John and Thady Gosden did their Tuesday morning trackwork over the Tapeta track. Four-peat Dubai Turf seeker Lord North (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) and Nashwa (GB) (Frankel {GB}) had steady canters, as did the Sheema Classic-bound Emily Upjohn (GB) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) and Gold Cup entrant Trawlerman (Ire) (Golden Horn {GB}).

Thady Gosden said: “They all got here about 2am on Sunday. They just had an easy day and we might bring them over to the main track on Thursday.

“Lord North is in good form, this is the fifth year–he's actually been over here, he also came in 2020–and he's won the race three times. He's travelled over well, he's an older horse and he's in good order.

“Nashwa had a great season and has done well during the winter. She seems in good form in what will be a competitive race.”

The post Euros Here, There and Everywhere Tuesday At Meydan appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

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Sunday’s Insight: $1.2 Million Gun Runner Colt Makes The Races At Tampa

3rd-TAM, $53K, Msw, 3yo, 7f, 1:18 p.m. ET

CARTUCHO (Gun Runner) tied for the ninth highest return during the 2022 Keeneland September Sale when selling to bloodstock agent Mike Ryan for $1.2 million. The debuting bay colt's ownership group includes his breeder Three Chimneys Farm, William H. Lawrence and Walmac Farm. He is trained by Chad Brown.

Cartucho is out of GISW Malibu Prayer (Malibu Moon). She was a $2 million 2011 Keeneland November purchase for Besilu, who also acquired her dam–SW Grand Prayer (Grand Slam)–at the same sale for $1 million. Grand Prayer produced MGSW Valid (Medaglia d'Oro). TJCIS PPS

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