Tag: Horse Racing

Hill ‘N’ Dale Partners To Buy AU$1.7 Million Topper At Magics

There was an international flavor to the top lot through the ring on Friday's fourth session of the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale in Australia, with Gai Waterhouse, Adrian Bott and Bruce Slade's Kestrel Thoroughbreds teaming up with Jes Sikura of Hill 'n' Dale Farm and William Johnson Bloodstock (FBAA) to secure a filly by I Am Invincible (Aus) for AU$1.7 million (US$1,140,479), as reported by The Thoroughbred Report.

The purchase represents the first foray into the Australian market for Hill 'n' Dale. The farm's Jes Sikura was one of a number of people high-fiving others on the Waterhouse- Bott table as a round of applause broke out in the Magic Millions auditorium moments after auctioneer Clint Donovan brought the gavel down.

Offered by Widden Stud, the filly is the first progeny of the G2 Tristarc S. winner Madam Rouge (Aus) (Zoustar {Aus}), who collected six victories on the track. Her grand dam, Cabernet (Aus) (Al Maher {Aus}) also enjoyed a sextet of successes, headlined by the Listed Summond S. The damline doesn't end there, with great-grandam Golden Weekend (Aus) (Nine Carat) a talented 2-year-old performer and a producer of three foals to race for as many winners.

Sikura was visibly delighted and was quick to thank Johnson, whose relationship with Hill 'n' Dale was pivotal in bringing the group of successful purchasers together. “We really didn't have too much intention to get involved in anything when we came over here, but I have to give complete credit to Will Johnson,” Sikura said. “He's always at the top of his game, he finds the nicest horses in every sale and it wouldn't have happened without him, especially without Gai and Adrian putting together such a good group.

“Being by I Am Invincible, she really ticked all the boxes and we thought if there was some point to get involved, she was the one to do it with.

Trent Needham, Antony Thompson, Noel Greenhalgh, Will Johnson, Jes Sikura, Adrian Bott, Barry Bowditch with Gai Waterhouse, Maria Greenhalgh and Patricia Bourke | Magic Millions

“They [the auctioneer] were definitely fighting for the AU$1.8 million up there and we were shaking a little bit, so we were happy to get it at AU$1.7 million. She was worthy of every dollar and we're excited for the future.”

“It's great to have Jes in Australia and it's great to have that international investment from downtown Kentucky,” Johnson said. “A massive thank you to John Sikura and his family and a massive thanks to Gai, Adrian and Bruce Slade for getting to work because, as we know, these are expensive fillies, so you have to be organized. It's exciting times ahead.”

The AU$1.7 million sale wrote another chapter in the story of Widden Stud and Madam Rouge, with the leading nursery having bred her, sold her as a yearling, retained a share in her to race and then bought out some of their partners to secure her from the Magic Millions National Broodmare sale for AU$2.7 million back in 2022.

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Leslie’s Rose Looked Like A ‘TDN Rising Star’ To Stay Perfect At Gulfstream

6th-Gulfstream, $72,000, Alw (NW1X)/Opt. Clm ($75,000), 1-11, 3yo, f, 7f, 1:23.36, gd, 1 length.
LESLIE'S ROSE (f, 3, Into Mischief–Wildwood Rose {Ire}, by Galileo {Ire}) earned 'TDN Rising Star' honors when she won by 9 1/4 lengths in her first start at Aqueduct Nov. 19. Through the ring as one of the top ten prices, the Keeneland September graduate made her 3-year-old debut with Lasix and was well-backed as the heavy 1-5 favorite here. The filly allowed Gun Song (Gun Runner) to take the lead from her up the backstretch. Ranging up on the pacesetter around the far turn, the Todd Pletcher trainee cranked up the pressure into the stretch, fought her rival gamely and finally put her away in the final jumps to win by a healthy length. Leslie's Rose is out of an unraced dam who is also responsible for a 2-year-old filly by Good Magic and she was bred to Not This Time for this year. Wildwood Rose is a half-sister to 'TDN Rising Star' Materiality (Afleet Alex) and GI Kentucky Oaks runner-up My Miss Sofia (Unbridled's Song), the dam of 'TDN Rising Star' and new sire Annapolis (War Front). The winner's third dam produced SP Expanse (Distant View)–dam to GI Travers S. hero Afleet Express (Afleet Alex) and GI Alabama S. heroine Embellish the Lace (Super Saver). Sales History: $1,150,000 Ylg '22 KEESEP. Lifetime Record: 2-2-0-0, $89,950. Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV.
O-Whisper Hill Farm, LLC; B-John D. Gunther & Eurowest Bloodstock Services (KY); T-Todd A. Pletcher

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Pretty Liam Takes To Tapeta In Rousing Debut At Gulfstream

5th-Gulfstream, $70,000, Msw, 1-11, 3yo, f, 5f (AWT) (off turf), :55.37, ft, 3 3/4 lengths.
PRETTY LIAM (f, 3, Liam's Map–Sylphide, by Blame) debuted as the 7-2 second choice with first time Lasix here. The homebred tracked just to the inside of favorite Beanpot (Into Mischief) as the leader clocked a quarter in :21.77. Cutting to the outside just before the top of the lane, the 3-year-old unleashed a barrage down the center of the course and won over the pacesetter by 3 3/4 lengths. The winner is a half-sister to Danse Macabre (Army Mule), GSW, $957,090. A half-sister to MGSW/MGISP Cambodia (War Front), Sylphide produced a 2-year-old filly by Always Dreaming and a yearling filly by Army Mule. She was bred back to that same sire for this spring. Under the third dam we find South African champion Overarching (Arch) and the dam of GISW Abscond (Blame). Sales History: $240,000 RNA Ylg '22 KEESEP. Lifetime Record: 1-1-0-0, $42,000. Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV.
O/B-St. Elias Stables, LLC (KY); T-Todd A. Pletcher.

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Saudi Cup Meeting Attracts Entries From 15 Countries

The Jockey Club of Saudi Arabia (JCSA) has released the names of the 1162 entries–including 41 Grade I/Group 1 winners–from no fewer than 15 racing jurisdictions around the world for the US$33.5 million Saudi Cup meeting to be held at King Abdulaziz Racecourse in Riyadh Saturday, Feb. 23, 2024. Prize money is up by $2.25 million as compared to the 2023 renewal, reflecting the upgrades of the Neom Turf Cup (2100mT) and 1351 Turf Sprint to international Group 2 status. One of the two races for Purebred Arabians–the Al Mneefah Cup– has been accorded Group 1 status for the first time.

White Abarrio (Race Day) is chief among the entries for the $20-million G1 Saudi Cup. The Rick Dutrow, Jr. runner is doing his preparations in California for the 1800-meter test, where he could face Derma Sotogake (Jpn) (Mind Your Biscuits), whom he defeated when last seen in the GI Breeders' Cup Classic at Santa Anita in early November. The Japanese–which have 110 entries across the races–could also be represented by reigning G1 Dubai World Cup winner and Breeders' Cup Classic fifth Ushba Tesoro (Jpn) (Orfevre {Jpn}) as well as Godolphin's Japanese champion dirt horse Lemon Pop (Lemon Drop Kid), who earned a spot in the Saudi Cup field when winning the G1 Champions Cup in December. National Treasure (Quality Road), victorious in last year's GI Preakness S., is one of five entries for trainer Bob Baffert, who has also nominated GI Malibu S. winner Speed Boat Beach (Bayern) and Zedan Racing Stable's Hejazi (Bernardini), runner-up in that seven-furlong test Dec. 26. The Brad Cox barn could be represented by Saudi-owned GI Pennsylvania Derby winner Saudi Crown (Always Dreaming), while Scotland Yard (Quality Road) is among the chief local chances. Aidan O'Brien has entered Luxembourg (Ire) (Camelot {GB}) and Point Lonsdale (Ire) (Australia {GB}) for what would be their dirt debuts in the Saudi Cup.

Japan's Silver Sonic (Jpn) (Orfevre {Jpn}) carried 125 pounds to victory in last year's G3 Longines Red Sea Turf Cup H., but if he is to defend his title in the $2.5-million contest, he will need to tote 134 against a field in which G1 Grosser Preis von Berlin winner Simca Mille (Ire) (Tamayuz {GB}) is top-weighted at 136 pounds. The 3000-meter staying test has also attracted G2 Yorkshire Cup hero Giavellotto (Ire) (Mastercraftsman {Ire}, 133), Godolphin's group/graded winner Siskany (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}, 133), the Dermot Weld-trained 9-year-old G3 Loughbrown S. winner Falcon Eight (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}, 129), Enemy (GB) (Muhaarar {GB}, 126) and G3 Bahrain Trophy second Tower of London (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) for Ballydoyle.

The connections of Simca Mille could opt for the G2 Neom Turf Cup, a $2-million race over an extended mile and a quarter. John and Thady Gosden sent out Mostahdaf (GB) (Frankel {GB}) to a barnstorming win in last year's race and the father-and-son partnership has Tattersalls Autumn Horses in Training acquisition Jack Darcy (Ire) (Gleneagles {Ire}) engaged. Luxembourg holds a Neom Turf Cup entry, while narrow GI Breeders' Cup Mile runner-up Mawj (Ire) (Exceed and Excel {Aus}) has also been handed this stamina-stretching option by Saeed bin Suroor. Spirit Dancer (GB) (Frankel {GB}) could try to make it consecutive wins in the race for his sire, having most recently defeated the Gosdens' Israr (GB) (Muhaarar {GB}) and Point Lonsdale in the G2 Bahrain International Trophy back in November. American entries include Missed the Cut (Quality Road), unplaced when well-fancied last year, and the consistent Webslinger (Constitution).

America's Casa Creed (Jimmy Creed) has endured a pair of excruciating defeats in the 1351 Turf Cup and could return for a third attempt at the race, as he remains in training into an 8-year-old campaign in 2024. The globetrotting Bathrat Leon (Jpn) (Kizuna {Jpn}) dropped his head down on the line first in last year's race for trainer Yoshito Yahagi and could be back to defend his title against a group that could also include Saudi Arabia's Raaed (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}), a cracking third last year, Godolphin's Real World (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}), Amo Racing's Walbank (Ire) (Kodiac {GB}), an impressive handicap winner over 1200 metres at Meydan for George Boughey Jan. 5, and Forbidden Kingdom (American Pharoah), all-the-way winner of the GII Joe Hernandez S. for MyRacehorse and Spendthrift Farm at Santa Anita Dec. 30.

Japanese runners have proved formidable in the G3 Riyadh Dirt Sprint and a strong team includes Remake (Jpn) (Lani), who was a good third to the now-retired top American sprinters Elite Power (Curlin) and Gunite (Gun Runner) in the 1200-meter test last February. The North Hills homebred was last seen finishing runner-up to Igniter (Jpn) (Espoir City {Jpn}) in the valuable Listed JBC Sprint at Ohi Racecourse in November, and he also holds an entry. Speed Boat Beach could be re-routed for this shorter option, while other entries from the US include reigning G1 Dubai Golden Shaheen hero Sibelius (Not This Time), the in-form Bold Journey (Hard Spun) for 2023 winning conditioner Bill Mott, Forbidden Kingdom, Hejazi and recent Oaklawn allowance winner Skelly (Practical Joke). Last year's Saudi Derby winner Commissioner King (Commissioner) features among the local Sprint contingent.

Over 200 entries were taken for the G3 Saudi Derby going a metric mile on the dirt. Zedan Racing's 'TDN Rising Star' Muth (Good Magic), recent winner of the GII San Vicente S. for Bob Baffert, has been given an entry as has his Grade I-placed stable companion Wine Me Up (Vino Rosso) and San Vicente runner-up Pilot Commander (Justify). Yahagi's Group 3 winner and Group 1-placed Shin Emperor (Fr) (Siyouni {Fr}) holds an entry as does his stablemate Forever Young (Jpn) (Real Steel {Jpn}), who appears set to make the journey to the desert after convincingly defeating Aigle Noir (Jpn) (Bricks and Mortar) in the Listed Zen-Nippon Nisai Yushun at Kawasaki last month. An intriguing possibility from the Weld yard is Taraj (Ire) (Churchill {Ire}), placed in one of two starts on the turf and a latest maiden winner going a mile over the Dundalk all-weather Nov. 24. Among the locals, Saudi Neom (Connect) is among the possibles, having run his record to two wins and a second from three runs with a victory over the Derby course and distance Jan. 6.

Top Qatari galloper Bolthole (Ire) (Free Eagle {Ire}), third in last year's Listed H. H. The Amir Trophy and winner of a Class 2 conditions race over 2000 metres at Al Rayyan Jan. 4 for Wathnan Racing and Alban de Mieulle, is the joint-highweight for the $500,000 Saudi International H. (90-110) over 2100 metres on the grass.

Click here for the full list of entries.

 

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