In Auguste Rodin (Ire) (Deep Impact {Jpn}), we have a Derby winner with the wares to help reconcile a debilitating modern division between the gene pools that produced his grandsire Sunday Silence, and his damsire Galileo (Ire).

If Americans have not yet granted this horse adequate attention, then his owner-breeders have an obvious solution later in the year. For if all remains well with Auguste Rodin, then the GI Breeders' Cup Classic would surely be a bet to nothing. Should he handle dirt as befits a grandson of Sunday Silence, then his exceptionally cosmopolitan pedigree really could be said to have brought together the best of all possible worlds. Should he fail to adjust, however, his stud value would barely lose a cent. (In fact, given the current morbidity about the future of dirt racing, the disclosure of an incompetence on dirt might even be said to enhance that value!)

The fact is that a stallion's career never depends purely on the inherent potency of his genes. If it did, true, Auguste Rodin would be in a very strong place, with the diversity of his pedigree standardized only by its seamless quality. But other things need to fall right-in terms of credibility and sheer narrative momentum-to maximize his opportunity. And that is what sets Auguste Rodin apart even from Saxon Warrior (Jpn), a promising stallion already at Coolmore, who shares as many as 13 of the 16 names behind Auguste Rodin in their respective fourth generations.

Because Auguste Rodin, besides being favored by some startling endorsements by his record-breaking trainer, raises an extra frisson of destiny as one of just a dozen sophomores in the final crop of Deep Impact. With even the most parochial and short-sighted breeders elsewhere now obliged to acknowledge Japan's increasing hegemony in the 21st Century Thoroughbred, the transatlantic market should be primed to embrace Auguste Rodin with a grateful fervor.

Deep Impact | J Fukuda

No doubt John Magnier and his partners at Coolmore first and foremost viewed recourse to Deep Impact in practical terms, having required a top-class outcross for all their Galileo mares. But just as when Scat Daddy proved a sire of sires, it also brought a latent opportunity to turn the dial.

While Coolmore has several effective heirs to Galileo, none can quite match the one that got away, Frankel (GB). But that will matter less with each pass of the baton. Say that down the line you sent Auguste Rodin a mare by Frankel's son Cracksman (GB), who had his breakout winner in the G1 Prix du Jockey-Club on Sunday: the resulting foal would be inbred 3 x 4 to Galileo. That's going to be a familiar scenario in Europe. But what compels interest in Auguste Rodin far beyond that theatre is the way such an international pedigree has coalesced to produce such a consummate athlete.

Very often, a horse's ancestors can only be credited with elite stature because of the sons or daughters that tie them into the pedigree in front of us. But just work your way down the fourth-generation mares behind Auguste Rodin, and you'll see that the potency of their genes has been corroborated by collateral distinctions.

Besides producing Halo, for instance, Cosmah was of course half-sister to the most important broodmare of her time, Natalma. Lady Rebecca, dam of Deep Impact's damsire Alzao, was a half-sister to Chieftain and Tom Rolfe. Fairy Bridge, here as dam of Sadler's Wells, was also half-sister to Nureyev. Allegretta (Ger), here as dam of the legendary Urban Sea, was also dam of one Classic winner King's Best and second dam of another in Anabaa Blue (GB). Highclere, herself a Classic winner, features because her daughter became granddam of Deep Impact, but another daughter is one of Europe's great modern broodmares, Height Of Fashion (Fr). And Rahaam also produced the Royal Ascot winner and stallion Verglas (Ire), as well as Auguste Rodin's third dam.

Okay, so a lot of people won't trouble themselves with that kind of underlying structure. They'll reduce a pedigree to blocks behind sire brands, and duly decide that they know what to expect when both Deep Impact and Galileo both displayed abundant stamina. The further seeding of Auguste Rodin's maternal line, meanwhile, may discourage international confidence, with second and third dams by European turf sires Pivotal (GB) and Indian Ridge (Ire).

But everyone should know Pivotal as an outstanding broodmare sire. And Indian Ridge's maternal family channels such old-fashioned, indigenous British sprint speed that you could hardly find a more vivid foil to other European elements in this page: the sturdy German family behind Galileo, for instance; or the profound stamina source Busted (GB), who sired Deep Impact's second dam. Unnerving stuff for American breeders, no doubt, but remember that Busted is by no means the only bottomless turf influence lurking behind sophomore champion Epicenter (Not This Time).

Auguste Rodin's third dam Cassandra Go certainly inherited the dash of Indian Ridge, winning over five furlongs at Royal Ascot, and she has also produced a dual Group-winning sprinter in Tickled Pink (Ire) (Invincible Spirit {Ire})-who came to American attention last autumn through the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf success of her daughter Victoria Road (Ire), significantly from the first crop of Saxon Warrior.

Another of Cassandra Go's daughters, Theann (GB) (Rock Of Gibraltar {Ire}), was also a Group winner at six furlongs before producing not just Photo Call (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) to be a dual Grade I scorer on grass in the U.S. (later purchased by Katsumi Yoshida for $2.7 million); but also Land Force (Ire) (No Nay Never) to fly down the Goodwood hill in the G2 Richmond S. as a juvenile.

Cassandra Go's daughter by Pivotal, Halfway To Heaven (Ire), has proved well named as it turns out that her racetrack career only represented a beginning, despite winning three Group 1s. She had stretched her maternal speed to win one of those at 10 furlongs, albeit only just holding out, before then dropping back to a mile.

Certainly she had shown enough speed to remain monogamous with Galileo in her next career. Among their foals was the splendid campaigner Magical (Ire), who won 12 of 28 (seven Group 1s) between 7 and 12 furlongs, often proving too tough for colts; and also Rhododendron (Ire), who proved similarly classy, versatile and hardy, beating males in one of her three Group 1s and dropping back in distance after running second in the G1 Oaks. For her first cover, Rhododendron fortunately ducked under the wire to become one of the final mates of Deep Impact-and Auguste Rodin is the result.

Sunday Silence | Patricia McQueen

Perhaps some American breeders might hesitate about delving through this avowedly turf seam to retrieve the lost genetic gold of Sunday Silence. But it starts with a mare, Cassandra Go's dam Rahaam, who shows us precisely the kind of crossover that has been culpably abandoned since.

She was by an Epsom Derby winner in Secreto, albeit don't forget that he was by Northern Dancer out of a Secretariat mare from the family of Majestic Prince and Real Quiet. Rahaam's dam, meanwhile, was by Mr. Prospector out of a Dr. Fager mare-whose own mother was Kentucky Oaks winner Native Street. The latter, when herself covered by Mr. Prospector, produced the dam of both Dowsing (Riverman), winner of the G1 Haydock Sprint Cup; and Fire The Groom (Blushing Groom {Fr}), a GI Beverly D. winner who herself produced another top-class European sprinter in Stravinsky (Nureyev).

Rahaam had been co-bred by Calumet Farm and Stephen Peskoff before her purchase by Sheikh Mohammed, for whom she won a Newmarket maiden in a light career with Henry Cecil. Both Rahaam and her second foal Verglas (whose subsequent success we noted above) were soon culled from the Sheikh's operation, which did however retain her first foal Persian Secret (Fr) (Persian Heights {GB}) to become the stakes-placed dam of 11 winners. She has also consoled her mother's vendors as third dam of their G1 Melbourne Cup winner Cross Counter (GB) (Teofilo {Ire}).

Nor, equally, will even Japan's stunning recent success on the international stage convince every Bluegrass breeder, based as it is in the patient development of bloodlines discarded by America and Europe alike. We can confidently state that Deep Impact himself would never have received commercial support in those environments, having never raced below 10 furlongs and won over as far as two miles.

By this stage, however, you would like to think that people might not be so obtuse as to deny a stallion's capacity to impart speed simply because of his own ability, in his first career, to keep going. Deep Impact has sired plenty of brilliant milers and we really do need to overcome this childish literalism about “stamina” being the opposite of speed. Very often, it is sooner about having the class to carry it.

Magnier clearly understands that, having shown no compunction about choosing Deep Impact for mares by the undeniably doughty genes of Galileo. Saxon Warrior duly had the pace to win a Classic over a mile, and indeed arguably didn't quite get home at Epsom.
Bearing in mind that Deep Impact only covered a handful of Coolmore mares, for a handful of seasons, the results have been staggering. Just a few days ago Saxon Warrior's brother, again from Deep Impact's final crop, won a Group race on only his third start. Between Saxon Warrior, Snowfall (Jpn) (G1 Oaks winner in 2021, by 16 lengths!) and now Auguste Rodin, from very limited chances the Deep Impact-Galileo cross has given Ballydoyle winners of three of the five British Classics.

Sadly the mysterious misfiring of Auguste Rodin as hot favorite for the G1 2,000 Guineas derailed Coolmore's hopes of winning the first British Triple Crown since 1970. Nowadays there seems to be a depressing reluctance for Guineas winners to try even the Derby and, at 14 furlongs, the St Leger is a commercial bridge too far for nearly everyone. It's a real shame, then, that his connections should have been lucklessly denied the incentive to buck that trend by Auguste Rodin's Guineas flop. Nobody, clearly, would now expect the horse to proceed to the St Leger regardless.

So let's hope that another great sporting adventure might be embraced instead, at Santa Anita this fall. Because it's going to take something that bold, and that special, to persuade modern breeders to renew the kind of transatlantic transfusions that once underpinned Classic pedigrees.

Remember that Deep Impact himself was one such cocktail: by a dirt champion out of an Epsom Oaks runner-up. Remember, also, how Japan has tested the mettle of his stock, with its program predicated on soundness and longevity. For that makes the legacy of Deep Impact still more precious, as we strive ever more conscientiously for a Thoroughbred physically equal to its tasks.

To be fair, he made such remarkable use of limited opportunity with mares from outside Japan that there are already one or two attractive conduits to Deep Impact elsewhere. At Lanwades Stud in Newmarket, Study Of Man (Ire) certainly represents quite a package at just £12,500, as a Classic winner out of a daughter of Storm Cat and Miesque. Only his second starter (out of a Galileo mare, of course!) impressed on debut at Leopardstown a few days ago.

And it's a curious coincidence, given how much genetic material they already share, that the third dams of both Saxon Warrior and Auguste Rodin should have resulted from visits to Indian Ridge in consecutive seasons back in the 1990s. Who knows how their respective futures will play out? But there would be no better way for Auguste Rodin to match his billing, as the anointed final bequest of Deep Impact, than to redeem his stable's agonizing near-misses with Giant's Causeway and Declaration Of War in a race won by his grandsire.

The Thinker, the most celebrated work of the sculptor for whom the Derby winner is named, actually started out as a small figure in another of his masterpieces, The Gates Of Hell. At the moment, everyone seems to think that we are parked right outside the latter. But if we can all be thinkers for a minute, then here's a horse with the potential to help put out the flames.

For it is precisely those virtues now so prized in Japan-an ability to carry speed, and the robustness to keep doing so-that formerly united Classic bloodlines either side of the Atlantic. Auguste Rodin could now just jump through the familiar hoops, banking low-risk dividends through the rest of his track career and equally at stud. Or he could become the horse to close the circle.

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Why is that? When the great Northern Dancer (1961, bay, by Nearctic out of Natalma) ruled the Thoroughbred world, the names of his sons arrived fast and furious with solid connections to the stars of ballet, especially the Russian ones–a very rich vein. The two equine stallion princes of this great dynasty were Nijinsky (last winner of the English Triple Crown, trained by legendary Irishman Vincent O'Brien) and Nureyev (disqualified 2000 Guineas winner and phenomenal sire, trained by legendary Frenchman Francois Boutin). The first was named after the mad, mad, mad genius of the history of dance–while the second was the namesake to an individual greater than ballet itself: incredible performer, Soviet defector, rock star celebrity, handsome & androgynous.

Rudolph Nureyev the ballet dancer (1938-1993) was so good that the greatest ballerina of those golden years cancelled her retirement plans to dance with him, or so the story goes. Margot Fonteyn (1919-1991) was equal if not superior in star power and charisma to his 19-year-younger stage partner, and her life was just as romantic and rocambolesque: internationally bred (British-born, with Irish mother & Brazilian grandfather), childhood sojourns in Kentucky & China, Panamanian coup d'etat-engineering husband later shot by a political rival, prima ballerina of the Sadler's Wells (please note!) ballet company at 20 years of age. Together Nureyev and Fonteyn alighted the ballet stage all over the world.

Rudolf Nureyev's famously said: “At the end of 'Swan Lake', when she left the stage in her great white tutu, I would have followed her to the end of the world.”.

In the case of the equine Fonteyn who triumphed in Newmarket on October 1, 2022, in the Sun Chariot Stakes, following her was all that most of her fellow competitors could do, as she led the race, lost the lead and came back to win at the line–in a determined and graceful move worthy of a very great performer.

ROYAL BAHRAIN SUN CHARIOT S.-G1, £266,875, Newmarket, 10-1, 3yo/up, f/m, 8fT, 1:35.53, g/s.
1–FONTEYN (GB), 128, f, 3, by Farhh (GB)–Luzia (GB), by Cape Cross (Ire). O/B-Sheikh Mohammed Obaid Al Maktoum (GB); T-Kevin Ryan; J-Neil Callan.

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Headline Maker…
With Early Voting's Classic win at Pimlico Saturday, the colt became Gun Runner's fifth Grade I winner. It's a remarkable stat for any stallion, especially one so early in his stud career. It looks likely the Three Chimneys stallion will vie with the mighty Into Mischief for the honor of being America's most expensive sire over the next few years.

Ferguson/Natalma Making Waves…
Natalma has been appearing on buyers' sheets here and in the U.K. since 2021 with the investment portfolio, spearheaded by John Ferguson, having purchased 21 fillies and mares at public auction for an aggregate of $4.6 million during that time. Three of these purchases were at Tattersalls July, three at Fasig-Tipton November, 11 at Keeneland November and four at Tattersalls December. Natalma are also active in the private market. Ferguson is currently at Magic Millions selling three mares, via the Arrowfield consignment, all in foal to Frankel. Watch this space…

Wellman The Explorer…
Following the theme of international expansion, Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners' Aron Wellman recently plucked a filly out of Europe, with the guidance of Mike Levy/Jamie Lloyd, and she's now Royal Ascot-bound. Manhattan Jungle (Bungle Inthejungle), trained by the talented Amy Murphy, won a listed race at Vichy (video), France Friday and looks to have a bright future.

Wellman summed it up nicely, “The world is getting so small, particularly in our industry, and it's wonderful to have an Irish-bred filly, who is three-for-three in France and now destined for Royal Ascot in England and will be supported by a strong contingent of American owners. Very cool stuff!”

Smart juvenile! Manhattan Jungle remains unbeaten with a convincing win in the Listed event at @HippodromeVichy for @almracing, @mickaelbarzalon and @EclipseTBP pic.twitter.com/lv3yEu3LKH

— At The Races (@AtTheRaces) May 20, 2022

First (U.S.) Starter, First Winner…
Social media was buzzing Sunday after Tahoma became Justify's first winner, from his first American runner. Craig Bernick's Aspen Grove had run a promising fifth at the Curragh earlier in the day, in what appeared to be a strong maiden.

Tahoma, a $160,000 Keeneland September yearling purchase by Dennis O'Neill, is a half-brother to graded stakes winner Legends of War (Scat Daddy). Legends of War, who won the 2019 GIII Franklin-Simpson S. at Kentucky Downs for brother Doug, was actually named a TDN Rising Star May 23, 2018 at Yarmouth under the tutelage of John Gosden. Legends of War is now back in England standing at March Hare Stud for £4,000.

Appleby Can Do No Wrong…
Native Trail (Oasis Dream)'s win in the G1 Tattersalls Irish 2000 Guineas gave Charlie Appleby/Godolphin its third 2000 Guineas win of the year. What's even more staggering is that they did it with three different horses; Coroebus (English 1000 Guineas), Modern Games (Poule d'Essai des Poulains aka French 2000 Guineas) and now Native Trail. Aidan O'Brien won the three races back in 2002 but with two different horses; Rock Of Gibraltar (England & Ireland) and Landseer (France).

The team at Dalham Hall/Kildangan Stud in Europe better start building new stallion boxes to accommodate the array of stallion prospects Appleby is churning out.

The post TDN Snippets: Week of May 16 – 22 appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

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Demand continued to drive healthy gains today, the final day of Book 3, when 282 horses sold for $19,590,500, up 50.33% over the corresponding session of the 2020 November Sale when 235 horses grossed $13,032,000. The average of $69,470 rose 25.27% from last year's $55,455. The median increased 35.71% from $42,000 to $57,000.

At the halfway point in the sale, Keeneland has sold 1,120 horses for $166,206,000, up 29.14% compared to $128,701,000 for 982 horses at this point in 2020. The average of $148,398 increased 13.23% from last year's $131,060, while the median of $95,000 rose 26.67% from $75,000.

Market strength also was reflected in the buy-back rate, which was 15.32%.

Susan Casner paid the day's highest price of $360,000 for a weanling filly from the first crop of Audible who is a half-sister to 2021 Grade 1 Darley Alcibiades winner and G1 NetJets Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies runner-up Juju's Map. She was consigned by Taylor Made Sales Agency, agent.

Super Simple, a winning 5-year-old daughter of Super Saver from the family of 2021 G1 Hopeful winner Gunite, who in foal to Volatile, sold for $300,000 to Woodford Thoroughbreds. Consigned by Warrendale Sales, agent, Super Simple is out of stakes winner Simplify, by Pulpit, and is a half-sister to stakes winner Simple Surprise.

A weanling colt from the first crop of champion Mitole sold for $285,000 to Corinne and Bill Heiligbrodt and Spendthirft Farm. Consigned by Mulholland Springs, he is out of the Quality Road mare Rode Warrior and from the family of G2 winner Three Peat and G3 winner Wacky Patty.

Natalma paid $250,000 and $235,000 for the session's next two highest-priced horses, both cataloged as racing or broodmare prospects.

The first was Union Maiden, a winning, stakes-placed 4-year-old daughter of Union Rags consigned by Indian Creek, agent. Out of Pantanal, by Congrats, Union Maiden is a half-sister to Grade 1-placed Borracho and from the family of graded stakes-placed Selva and Vanzzy.

Natalma's $235,000 purchase was Correctness, a winning 4-year-old daughter of Medaglia d'Oro out of the winning Distorted Humor mare Veracity. Consigned by Denali Stud, agent, Correctness is from the family of G1 winners Elate and Eastern Echo and G2 winners Yell, Roar, and Tax.

Code of Honor LLC/L.E.B., agent, purchased six horses for $690,000 to lead buyers for the second consecutive day.

The leading consignor was Taylor Made Sales Agency, agent, which sold 28 horses for $2,729,000.

The post Keeneland November Sale Passes 2020 Total With Five Sessions To Go appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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Lady Speightspeare was 2-for-2 in 2020 and had punched her ticket to the Breeders' Cup with a victory in the Natalma (G1) at Woodbine. After being sidelined, she did not return to the races until Sept. 6, when she scored a front-running 2-length victory at Woodbine.

“I was hoping to be here in the spring and at Saratoga in the summer,” trainer Roger Attfield said. “She is fine now and ready to carry on with her life. Hopefully, she will have a nice, long career and this is the next step up.”

The next step up is Saturday's $500,000 Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup (G1) Presented by Dixiana going 1 1/8 miles on the grass, the surface on which Lady Speightspeare has made all of her starts.

Lady Speightsphere arrived at Keeneland from Woodbine Wednesday night and has trained on the main track the past two mornings with a visit to the starting gate being a part of Friday's activity. Ally Walker has been aboard both mornings.

Attfield trained Lady Speightspeare's dam, Lady Shakespeare, who won the Bewitch (G3) here in 2010 for Fipke and was fourth I the 2009 Queen Elizabeth Challenge Cup,

“They are similar in a number of ways,” Attfield said of mother and daughter. “They are both very sensible and good to work with and always feeling good.”

Emma-Jayne Wilson, who has been aboard for all of Lady Speightspeare's starts, will be aboard Saturday.

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This weekend's programs mark the seventh and eighth telecasts this year in the “Breeders' Cup Challenge Series: Win and You're In – presented by America's Best Racing” on NBC and NBCSN from some of North America's most iconic racetracks. The series leads to the 38th Breeders' Cup World Championships at Del Mar racetrack in Del Mar, California, on Nov. 5-6, which will be shown live on NBC and NBCSN. The complete series TV schedule can be accessed here.

NBC Sports' coverage will feature commentary and discussion from its International Broadcast Center in Stamford, Conn., led by host Britney Eurton, and analysts Randy Moss and Hall of Fame jockey Jerry Bailey, who won 15 Breeders' Cup races including five victories in the Longines Breeders' Cup Classic (G1). Reporter Nick Luck and handicapper Matt Bernier will be on-site at Woodbine.

Additional highlights of NBC Sports' coverage include:

• The first live race on Saturday's show is the prestigious Pattison Canadian International
• Saturday's show will include a feature on Hall of Fame trainer Mark Casse
• Sunday's show will feature an interview with celebrity chef Bobby Flay, the owner and breeder of Pizza Bianca, who runs in Sunday's Natalma Stakes

A field of 10 has been entered in the 25^th Ricoh Woodbine Mile, which will give the winner a free berth into the $2 million FanDuel Breeders' Cup Mile presented by PDJF (G1). The race is led by Juddmonte's 5-year-old gelding Set Piece (GB), trained by Brad Cox. A talented stretch-runner, Set Piece reeled off three straight victories at Churchill Downs earlier this year, taking the Opening Verse Stakes in April, the Douglas Park Stakes in May, and the Wise Dan Stakes (G2) in June. His streak ended with a second-place finish behind Got Stormy in the Fourstardave Handicap (G1) at Saratoga on Aug. 14, which was also a “Win and You're In” for the FanDuel Breeders' Cup Mile.

Peter Brant's Raging Bull (FR) had a big chance in the 2019 Woodbine Mile, but was impeded in the stretch. He finished fourth but was moved up to third via disqualification. Trained by Chad Brown, Raging Bull has a Grade 1 win this year, taking the Maker's Mark Mile Stakes at Keeneland in April. He will try to rebound from a lackluster performance in the Fourstardave, where he did not accelerate in the final furlong and wound up sixth as the even-money favorite.

The Canadian-based starters are led by Live Oak Plantation's March to the Arch and Gary Barber's Olympic Runner. Both are trained by Mark Casse, who has been inducted into both the Canadian and American Racing Halls of Fame. March to the Arch finished second in last year's race, losing by 1 length after a powerful drive in the stretch came up short. This year, the 5-year-old won the Niagara Stakes over the Woodbine course on July 25, and was recently third in the King Edward Stakes (G3) on Aug. 15. Olympic Runner won the King Edward for his fifth career score. He finished second at Woodbine in the Connaught Cup (G2) prior to the King Edward.

Casse has also entered John Oxley and My Meadowview Farm's 6-year-old Ride a Comet, who has eight wins in 17 races, and is unbeaten in all four of his starts at Woodbine. Racing in the U.S. this year, Ride a Comet has one win in five starts, and was third behind Set Piece in the Wise Dan Stakes.

Clipper Logistics' Space Traveller (GB) will be making his second start in the U.S. this year for trainer Brendan Walsh, after 19 races in the care of Richard Fahey. The 5-year-old Space Traveller rallied well to finish fourth in the Mr. D. Stakes (G1) at Arlington Park on Aug. 14. In 2019, Space Traveller finished eighth in the TVG Breeders' Cup Mile (G1).

On Sunday, the 1-mile Natalma Stakes for 2-year-old fillies will award an automatic starting position into the $1 million Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf (G1), and the 1-mile Summer Stakes for 2-year-olds will offer a free berth into the $1 million Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf (G1).

Mark Casse has entered four runners in the Natalma, led by D.J. Stable and Nexus Racing Club's undefeated Diabolic (IRE). After breaking her maiden in May at Gulfstream Park, Diabolic won her last two starts at Woodbine, taking the 5 ½-furlong My Dear Stakes on July 31 on the all-weather surface, and the 6 ½-furlong Catch a Glimpse Stakes on Aug. 21 on the turf course. Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners and Gary Barber's Canadian-bred Baksheesh broke her maiden by 4-lengths when she won the Muskoka Stakes at Woodbine on Aug. 29 on the all-weather surface.

Godolphin's Wild Beauty GB) has won two races in England this year for trainer Charlie Appleby. After breaking her maiden and winning a novice race, Wild Beauty comes into the Natalma off two-second place finishes, the most recent one being a 1-length defeat as the 5-2 favorite in the Sweet Solera Stakes (G3) on Aug. 7 at Newmarket.

Casse has also entered four starters in the Summer Stakes. His best chance appears to be with Harlequin Ranches' Canadian-bred First Empire, a son of 2016 Breeders' Cup Juvenile (G1) winner, Classic Empire, out of Silsita by 2000 Breeders' Cup Juvenile (G1) winner Macho Uno. First Empire has two wins in three starts, with a 1 ¾-length victory last time out in the Soaring Free Stakes at Woodbine on Aug 21.

Godolphin's Albahr (GB) has won his last three races in England, and each time as the odds-on favorite. Also trained by Appleby, in his most recent start, Albahr captured the 1-mile EBF Stonehenge Stakes at Salisbury by three-quarters of length on Aug. 20. The American runners are led by West Point Thoroughbreds, John Ballantyne, and Titletown Racing Stables' Dripping Gold.  A son of Lemon Drop Kid, Dripping Gold was an impressive debut winner at Saratoga on Aug. 7, taking a 1 1/16-mile maiden special weight by 2 ¼ lengths for trainer Shug McGaughey.

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“The owner is planning on being there and we're all excited,” said Pizza Bianca's trainer Christophe Clement. “For an owner/breeder the black type is a big deal for him and the Grade 1 is also a big deal for him because it's more than just one race, it's a long-term plan.”

The winner receives a ticket to the $1 million Breeders' Cup Fillies Juvenile Turf on Nov. 5 at Del Mar, thanks to the Natalma being part of the Cup's “Win and You're In” series. Clement said that is a great bonus, but “the real attraction is it being a Grade 1. A filly with a Grade 1 is a huge deal.”

Pizza Bianca is a daughter of Fastnet Rock (AUS) out of White Hot (IRE) by Galileo (IRE). Her lone career start was a dominant victory in a $100,000 maiden special weight on July 22 on the inner turf at Saratoga with Joel Rosario riding.

“It was her first time out and she's still learning, but I was happy with the way she behaved the first time out and I was happy with the way she finished and Rosario was very positive about it, so it's exciting,” said Clement, who is looking for his first Natalma victory. “She's very honest. She's been very straight forward since Day One… She's training well. We don't know exactly how good she is, but let's give it a shot. It's a very open kind of a race and we've got a great jock Rosario who knows her and he rode her first time out.”

Meanwhile, trainer Roger Attfield, who won the 2020 Natalma with Lady Speightspeare, is hoping to repeat with her half-sister Ready Lady for her lone owner and breeder Charles Fipke.

“[Ready Lady] is much easier than her half-sister. [Lady Speightspeare] is very tough,” Attfield said. “[Ready Lady] is all class, actually. She's just a lovely filly to be around and as of this moment she's very easy to train. She's just a charm to have.”

Like Pizza Bianca, Ready Lady has had just one career start, a half-length victory on August 28 in a $126,800 maiden special weight on the turf at Woodbine.

“It was an encouraging race, I thought,” Attfield said. “She's trained very well since then and we thought if she did we'd give her a chance like we did for her half-sister at this point last year. It's the same type of timing.”

Lady Speightspeare, a daughter of Speightstown out of Lady Shakespeare, won the 2020 Natalma with Emma-Jayne Wilson aboard en route to a perfect 3-for-3 season and the Sovereign Award for Canada's champion 2-year-old filly of the year.

Wilson will also ride Ready Lady, who is a daughter of More Than Ready.

“It's an interesting family because I've got so much of it,” Attfield said. “In fact, the maiden colt that I'm running in the Summer Stakes [Ready for the Lady] is related. The colt is out of a daughter of Lady Shakespeare [Perfect Lady] by Perfect Soul, which is her family, too. It's a big family thing.”

Attfield, a three-time Natalma winner, said the race could be an important step in Ready Lady's career.

“It's a progression and it's a very prestigious race,” he said. “It's a Grade 1 and she's a class filly with a big pedigree. It just happens that we've only had the one race into her, but it's just the timing of the year. She was late getting started… We've arrived at this point and she's well and healthy and I thought she won a very creditable race and I think she will move up off that race.”

The Natalma field also includes Wild Beauty (GB), who has a record of 2-2-0 in five starts racing in England for owner/breeder Godolphin. “She's a little fighter, really. She ran well last time out,” said Chris Durham, who works for trainer Charles Appleby. “She's done well. She's settled in here really well. We're happy.”

The Natalma Stakes is scheduled as the race eight on Sunday while the companion Grade 1 Summer Stakes is the ninth race. Both Breeders' Cup Challenge Series races will be broadcast live on TSN5 from 4:30-6 p.m. ET.

First race post time on Sunday is set for 1:10 p.m. Fans can wager on all the action via HPIbet.com.

$400,000 Natalma Stakes (Grade 1)

Post – Horse – Jockey – Trainer

1 – Ready Lady – Emma-Jayne Wilson – Roger Attfield

2 – Pizza Bianca – Joel Rosario – Christophe Clement

3 – Guileful – Simon Husbands – Nathan Squires

4 – Royal Engagement – Colby Hernandez – Timothy Hamm

5 – Wild Beauty – Frankie Dettori – Charles Appleby

6 – Baksheesh – Kazushi Kimura – Mark Casse

7 – Diabolic – Antonio Gallardo – Mark Casse

8 – Mrs. Barbara – Rafael Hernandez – Mark Casse

9 – Cardio Princess – Justin Stein – Mark Casse

10 – Eminent Victor –Flavien Prat – Chad Brown

The post Bobby Flay Homebred Pizza Bianca Pursuing Fulfilment Of ‘Long-Term Plan’ In Natalma Stakes appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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The Ricoh Woodbine Mile (Grade 1), Natalma (Grade 1) and Summer Stakes (Grade 1) are all part of the Breeders' Cup “Win and You're In” Challenge Series.

A total of 23 horses have been nominated to the $1 million Ricoh Woodbine Mile (Grade 1).

Chad Brown leads all trainers with four horses nominated to the Ricoh Woodbine Mile (Grade 1), including multiple Grade 1 winner Raging Bull (FR) and graded stakes winner Blowout (GB), both for owner Peter Brant.

Mark Casse and Michael Maker each have three trainees nominated to the Ricoh Woodbine Mile (Grade 1).

Gary Barber's Olympic Runner captured the Grade 2 King Edward on Aug. 15 at Woodbine in dazzling fashion for trainer Casse. Live Oak Plantation's March to the Arch, who was second in last year's Ricoh Woodbine Mile (Grade 1), and multiple graded stakes winner Ride a Comet for owners John Oxley and My Meadowview Farm complete Casse's trio.

Maker's trio includes last year's Ontario Derby (Grade 3) winner Field Pass for Three Diamonds Farm and multiple graded stakes winner Somelikeithotbrown for Skychai Racing and Sand Dollar Stable.

Stronach Stables Silent Poet, the recent winner of the Grade 1 Highlander at Woodbine on Aug. 22, is nominated again to the Ricoh Woodbine Mile (Grade 1). The multiple graded stakes winner could deliver more magic for trainer Nick Gonzalez.

This season's Connaught Cup (Grade 2) winner Avie's Flatter for owner Ivan Dalos and trainer Josie Carroll is nominated. Carroll also has Nassau Stakes (Grade 2) winner Jolie Olimpica nominated for Fox Hill Farms.

The Ricoh Woodbine Mile (Grade 1) will be contested for a purse of $1 million on Saturday, Sept. 18.

After a year hiatus, the Pattison Canadian International (Grade 1) returns in 2021.

A total of 13 horses have been nominated to the legendary mile and a half turf contest. Michael Maker is the only trainer with multiple horses nominated (Dynadrive, Glynn County) out of the group of 13.

Queen's Plate runner-up Riptide Rock is notably nominated to the Pattison Canadian International (Grade 1) for Stronach Stables. The Sid Attard trainee rallied from well back to narrowly miss in the $1 million Queen's Plate on Aug. 22 and is the lone 3-year-old nominated to the International.

Josie Carroll trainee Belichick, who won last year's Breeders' Stakes winner at a mile and a half over the E.P. Taylor Turf Course, is nominated for NK Racing and LNJ Foxwoods.

Recent Singspiel Stakes (Grade 3) winner Corelli for Augustin Stable and trainer Jonathan Thomas is among the group of 13.

The $600,000 Pattison Canadian International (Grade 1) will also be contested on Saturday, Sept. 18.

The Grade 1 stakes action will continue Sunday, Sept. 19 with the $400,000 Summer Stakes (Grade 1) for 2-year-olds and the $400,000 Natalma (Grade 1) for 2-year-old fillies. Both races, part of the Breeders' Cup “Win and You're In” Challenge Series, will be contested a mile on the E.P. Taylor Turf Course

The Summer Stakes (Grade 1) received 21 nominations, while the Natalma (Grade 1) received 23 nominations.

To full list of nominated horses for the Ricoh Woodbine Mile (Grade 1), Pattison Canadian International (Grade 1), Summer Stakes (Grade 1) and Natalma (Grade 1) can be viewed at the links below:

Ricoh Woodbine Mile
Pattison Canadian International
Summer Stakes
Natalma Stakes
To view the full list of nominated horses to all Woodbine stakes races, visit www.Woodbine.com/Horsepeople/.

The post Twenty-Three Nominated To ‘Win And You’re In’ Woodbine Mile appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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The retired longtime manager of Claiborne Farm, Koch was a Marine and a Vietnam veteran.

Koch was the subject of one of the TDN and Keeneland's Life's Work Oral History project, and Chris McGrath's story on him may be read here.

Hired when Seth Hancock took the reins at the farm, Koch was at the helm at Claiborne for 31 years, running perhaps the best lineup of stallions ever assembled. “Secretariat, of course, was the hype name for non-horse people,” Koch told McGrath in 2019. “Then we had Danzig, Mr. Prospector, and Nijinsky. Sir Ivor, Damascus. The stallions we had in that barn were just unbelievable.”

Koch grew up on a gain farm north of Cincinnati. HIs father wrote for periodicals on agriculture as well as on horse racing and auctions.

“We always had riding horses,” Koch said. “My first was a former lead pony from River Downs. Horse named Billy. I loved that horse. My dad just loved racing and we were always at the Keeneland sales, or at the old Latonia, or at a fair meet.”

He volunteered for the Marine Corps when he graduated at High School at 18 in 1966, and was sent to Vietnam in July of that year. He was stationed in Da Nang, and was honorably discharged at the end of his service. His son Matthew also served in the Marines as an intelligence officer.

His first job in the racing industry was for Charles Kenney at Stoner Creek Farm, working on the feed truck. He was exposed to Standardbreds there, and started learning about equine reproduction while working with artificial insemination. After five years, he went to work for E. P. Taylor, at Oshawa, where he worked with Natalma, Northern Dancer and The Minstrel.

In 1977, he was approached by Seth Hancock at the suggestion of Stuart Janney.

“Seth needed somebody who could handle stallions, run a breeding shed, handle broodmares,” Koch told Chris McGrath. “Do the whole thing. I just looked him in the eye and said, 'Seth, I can do this. You want some references?' He said, 'No, I'm a pretty good judge of a man.' I never asked him what he'd pay me. He never asked me what I wanted. We shook hands because both of us knew it was the right thing to do.”

For years, Koch had the pleasure of showing off the most famous racehorse in the world, Secretariat, to the thousands of tourists and dignitaries who came to the farm to see him, including Queen Elizabeth. Koch told McGrath that she had arrived with a camera around her neck, just as all the others did.

“I'd be leaving the farm on a Saturday night, and here comes a vanload of people from Michigan,” Koch said to McGrath. “'We're closed.' 'Aw, we just drove all day. We just want to see the big red horse.' And I'd walk up there and show them Secretariat. That horse could load a camera. He loved to have his picture taken. One of the most photographed horses in history, I'm sure. He just never did a thing wrong: easy to breed, easy to handle, easy to keep his weight on.”

Koch retired in 2009.

“It's a sad day,” said Seth Hancock Saturday. “He was a whale of a man, not only was he a wonderful manager out here at the farm, but he was a wonderful father, wonderful husband, 10 kids, all of them solid citizens. Just a life well lived for sure. He was part of the family, which is a little bit unusual, because he was not from around here, he was from Ohio. He had worked a little bit at Stoner Creek Farm, but he came to us from Winfields, first in Canada, and then in Maryland.

“He wasn't a Kentucky basketball fan,” Hancock said with a laugh, “like everyone else around here is, but he quickly became part of the family just because of who he was, and the way that he lived his life and all the respect we all had for him.”

Dell Hanock recalled him similarly. “Gus was a fine person as well as a good horseman,” she said. “He was always upbeat and just delightful.”

As a parishioner at the Church of the Annunciation in Paris, Ky., he faithfully led the Rosary before Saturday evening mass for nearly 40 years, was a past Grand Knight of The Knights of Columbus (4th degree), and was past president of the Parish Council. Gus proudly served the Kentucky Thoroughbred Farm Managers' Club as president in 1987 and was honored by that group as the 2004 Farm Manager of the Year. He was also a past member of both the Bourbon County School Board and the Bourbon Community Hospital Board.

Visitation will be Tuesday, March 23, 5-8 p.m. at the Church of the Annunciation in Paris with Rosary preceding at 4:45 p.m. Rev. Daniel Fister will celebrate the Mass of Christian Burial at the church Wednesday, March 24, at 10 a.m. and live streamed on www.facebook.com/paris.cdlex. Interment will follow at Mt. Olivet Cemetery, Paris. His sons and sons-in-law will serve as pall bearers.

He is survived by his wife of 50 years, Theresa, and 10 children: Charles (Katie) Koch, Jennifer (Drew) Alvarez, Becky (Mark) Mitchell, Stephen (Wendy) Koch, Matthew (Kristen) Koch, Anthony (Jill) Koch, Amy (Brian) Sellers, Cecilia (Drew) Adams, Gus (Shelley) Koch, and Mary (Bryan) Flachbart, 33 grandchildren and two foster grandchildren.

All five of Koch's sons work in the Thoroughbred industry; Charles, at Lake Horse Transportation; Stephen, 1/ST; Matthew, Shawhan Place; Anthony, Hallway Feeds; Gus, Shawhan Place.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to The Horse Farm Workers' Educational Assistance Fund (www.horsefarmworkerseducationfund.com) or Church of the Annunciation Building Fund, 1007 Main St., Paris, KY, 40361

The post Longtime Claiborne Manager Gus Koch Dies at 74 appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

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Jimmy Toner ships one in who certainly has the pedigree of a Grade I winner in Seasons (Tapit), daughter of Winter Memories, who won seven graded events, two of which were Grade Is. Seasons won her debut going two turns at Saratoga Aug. 9.

Another debut winner jumping up the class ladder here is Charles Fipke homebred Lady Speightspeare (Speightstown), who donned cap and gown by 3 3/4 lengths in a seven-panel event on the Woodbine lawn Aug. 22. Big Big Plans (Point of Entry) also enters off a first-out graduation, winning by six lengths in a $25,000 maiden optional claimer on the aynthetic Aug. 20.

Completing the field are a pair of maidens in Sleek Lynx (GB) (War Front) and Stunning Princess (Cairo Prince). Trained by Mark Casse, Sleek Lynx finished a half-length second as the favorite in a one-mile turf event at Gulfstream July 23. Danny Gargan pupil Stunning Princess was runner-up in a pair of 1 1/16-mile tests on the Saratoga lawn July 23 and Aug. 19. The bay receives Lasix for the first time in this “Win and You’re In” event.

The post Alda Seeks BC Berth in Natalma appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

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