He gestures towards a rose in a vase. “That's the best analogy, you know,” he says. “Beautiful, but it doesn't last forever. I look at the wonderful broodmares we've been blessed with–these living, breathing creatures–and they're the same. That's part of what makes it so alluring, so intoxicating. Because it's about persistence.”

He remembers what his father used to tell him, and his brother: “Nothing worthwhile is easy, boys.”

Not, he acknowledges with a smile, something you necessarily wanted to hear when young.

“But for sure, as you mature and experience life lessons, you see that it's true,” he says. “If something's given to you, it's probably not going to mean as much.”

He points to shelves displaying some of his racing trophies.

“But I can promise you… That Park Hill? The Debutante, at the Curragh? These are things that I can't tell you how much they mean to me. That's why you do it.”

Both those Group races were won by fillies trained in Ireland by Joseph O'Brien–instructive samples, then, of a program that manages to combine a rigorous focus on quality (barely a dozen mares between Kentucky and Ireland) with an unusual range of application. That is no less than we should expect, perhaps, in one whose own perspectives and engagement have uncommon breadth by the standards of our insular sport. We should duly take heart that for all his passion for art and film, all his success as a real estate developer, nothing animates Heider quite like the animals that bring him here from his principal residence in Omaha.

Cindy and Scott Heider | courtesy of The Heider Family

“My wife and I love cinema,” he says. “In fact, we just got back from the Telluride Film Festival. But I have never seen anything like the Thoroughbred industry. Art, film, these are wonderful things. They can fill your soul, stimulate your mind, hopefully open you to things that you didn't think about or believe before. As my Jesuit friends say, 'Always be open to growth.' So those things are important to me. But the Thoroughbred business? To me, it's just absolute, unlimited possibilities.”

True, he feels that some of these have not been adequately realized. He is dismayed, for instance, that we cannot achieve the same media traction for Cody's Wish (Curlin) as for less edifying news from the racetrack.

“We have such a unique, beautiful, unbelievably passionate industry,” he reflects. “Sometimes I think we don't know how good we have it. There's so much potential.”

In his own case, the magic was first ignited by boyhood visits to Ak-Sar-Ben. During high school and college summers he even worked there as an usher and mutuel teller. Attending the University of Southern California allowed Heider to sample Santa Anita and Hollywood Park, another level again from Nebraska-breds. And soon after he had launched his own career in business, father and son were also exploring this avenue of pleasure together.

First a friend introduced them to the veteran trainer Lyman Rollins. “And that,” says Heider, “was the luckiest thing in the world–because Lyman was just an upstanding guy.”

In 1987 they bought a $14,000 yearling colt from TaylorMade by To-Agori-Mou (Ire), a miler imported from Europe but pretty much a disaster at stud.

“And, as the racing gods would have it, that yearling turned out to be a Californian champion sprinter that won the Hollywood Turf Express three years in a row,” says Heider.

Answer Do, who also won three graded stakes, raced six seasons.

“Back then you'd race until September, October, and then you'd turn them out and bring them back in March,” Heider recalls. “You just stopped, let Mother Nature do her thing. And they lasted forever.

“Anyway, because of Answer Do, we came across all these wildly interesting people that were around at the time: Allen Paulson, John Mabee, Margie Everett, R.D. Hubbard. And we realized that you could put Allen Paulson, founder of Gulfstream, together with a jockey, a trainer, a groom—and everybody would just want to talk horses. It didn't matter what your background was. This was the great leveler, and that's a beautiful thing.”

The Heiders could not have got off to a better start; nor, of course, a more misleading one.

“When that horse finally retired, we spent probably six or seven years trying to find one that could run a third as fast!” says Heider ruefully. By that stage, however, they were hooked. “And, in hindsight, it became a really important bond with my father. I was getting married, having a family, life takes over. But boy, did we enjoy our time traveling around the country together.”

Losing his father in 2015 confirmed Heider in his hope that he might yet share a similar journey with his own children, Grant and Courtney, both recent college graduates. However their interest proceeds, Heider has long felt grateful for the indulgence of their mother Cindy–right back to when she ordered a wedding cake in the shape of a chocolate horse head, iced with a Lukas white bridle.

“As a lot of people in this business know, when someone's horse-crazy, their spouse has to learn to live with it,” Heider says. “But God bless my wife, she has learned to like it, especially the breeding. And she's very involved in the philanthropic side. In the horse business we've found some really talented people and organizations that might be relatively small, but that are definitely punching above their weight and making a real difference.”

These “small but mighty” operations include the Eddie Gregson Foundation, New Vocations, Bluegrass Farms Charities and, most recently, Stable Recovery.

“If you're fortunate, you're born into a situation where you're going to get a couple opportunities to right mistakes,” Heider observes. “But a lot of people don't get that opportunity. And I think the Thoroughbred industry is uniquely positioned to work with some of these folks–not only to give them a second and third chance, in a profession, but because horses are therapeutic. Some of the programs created for children are amazing. At first, they're scared to death of these animals, but just a few days later you see a remarkable bond develop. And it's the same with some of the people that have been incarcerated, or that have other life challenges.”

But if privilege brings duty, do we also owe a certain obligation to the breed itself: to consider its best interests, in how we try to make a living? Or is that a luxury in such a precarious walk of life?

“The Thoroughbred industry is a pretty decent microcosm for society,” Heider replies. “For sure, we have people that every day come into work, do a great job, and you know what, they've got bills to pay, they've a family to raise. They might be struggling day to day. But I think those of us in a position to do so can hopefully lead by example, and be involved.”

Accordingly he renounces the question that dictates so much commercial breeding: “What have you done for me lately?”

“We have a lot of stallions that would have been successful if given a chance,” he remarks. “That shorter-term mentality unfortunately permeates every aspect of the business. But then we're in a disposable society. Everybody leases a car, everybody replaces their phone every couple years. But this business is different, or should be anyway. Because the bloodlines that we're entrusted with go back 100, 200, 250 years.”

To that extent, he implies, it's not so much a question of who can afford to do the right thing as whether anybody, in the longer term, can afford not to?

“To me, do the right thing means: be respectful to the horse,” Heider specifies. “And to those working with them. The commercial market's going to have its influence. I'm all for the people that want to find the next stallion: there's plenty of risk, and we need that investment, we need to put those horses in the proper hands to determine their potential. But I think there's a limit. Because we want people to play this game long-term, right?”

The Heider program, then, is all “long ball.” One example has been his cultivation, over recent years, of a transatlantic presence. Whenever he's asked what drew him to Ireland, Heider always ends up—besides the heritage and horsemanship–by pointing to the passion and sheer caliber of the people he deals with. Certainly his admiration for the O'Brien family is not confined to their extraordinary professional accomplishment. But nor did he embrace the experiment merely in some altruistic spirit of adventure: Heider is clear that diversification of bloodlines is not just wholesome for the breed in general, but can also benefit his stable in particular.

“We have a young mare at Mill Ridge, Zofelle (Ire) (Zoffany {Ire}),” he explains. “A Grade III winner here, she ran second in the [GI] Matriarch on her final start. She's beautiful, and from the family of Listen (Ire) and Sequoyah (Ire) [both Group 1 winners by Sadler's Wells]. The kind of thing that I could just lie awake thinking about! But I didn't send her back to Ireland when her racing was over. This spring she had her first foal by Into Mischief, and I bred her next to Not This Time.”

Zofelle | Lauren King

Heider views such stallions as influences for brilliance, rather than any particular surface or distance. Conversely, the class and soundness of the mare's family can also transcend its recent European setting.

“I have no doubt that she's going to throw something on dirt along the way,” Heider vows. “If you look back to the '50s, '60s, '70s, the transfer of blood from Europe to the United States, and vice versa, has taken place for a long time. There's been far less lately, but now we're seeing Justify throw some brilliant horses in Europe. I don't know how many others are out there doing it. But again, it's about trying to do the right thing–in this case, about invigorating the breed.”

Heider stresses that he still loves the dirt racing on which he was raised. At some stage, however, he would enjoy testing convention. Had he bought out his partners in Mia Mischief (Into Mischief), for example, he would have been mighty tempted to have her bred in Europe. (As it is, of course, she was sold to Stonestreet.) “So I'm just as intrigued by having Irish mares over here as by maybe sending something the other way,” he says. “Time will tell whether it's going to look brilliant, or whether people end up saying, 'What's wrong with this person?'!”

Some aspects of the program remain perfectly orthodox. Heider likes his trainers to develop fillies with pedigree, such as the $750,000 daughter of Nyquist and GI Kentucky Oaks winner Believe You Can (Proud Citizen) bought from Airdrie at Keeneland in September, with a view to promotion into the broodmare band. But that, again, is laying up rather than trying to drive the green.

“I was raised in the investment business,” Heider remarks. “And you'd probably think that I'm always looking at the quotes in the Wall Street Journal and Financial Times, checking my phone all the time. I do read the financial papers every day, but really don't pay any attention to daily or weekly fluctuations in values. Those don't matter to me because I'm not selling today or tomorrow. I'm more likely adding to existing positions over time. It's a share in the business that I own. If you're fortunate to own a piece of a really good business, you don't listen to what the next fad is. You make decisions only to benefit the business. You let good grow.”

Sure enough, he isn't going to fret about which stallion or nick might be hot today and abandoned tomorrow. “We don't care about any of that,” he says. “I want good, reproducing female families. If the mare has racing ability, even better.”

Heider shows a catalogue page for which he's responsible, and accepts that he invited market wariness with a stallion prone to produce a turf horse. But he felt the match ideal, both physically and in terms of the sire's versatility and temperament.

“Because a brilliant horse is what you're looking for, right?” he says. “Doesn't matter if it's turf or dirt, short or long. I think people like John and Tanya Gunther, who I have so much respect for, get that. They understand long ball, without a doubt. It's tough. A lot of times you stand at the plate and miss but, my goodness, they've bred more than their share of amazing horses. So, no, we really don't breed for a market darling. We breed to improve a family. Eventually, the page will prove out.”

One of his most cherished examples is the dynasty of Jude (GB) (Darshaan {GB}).

“Through four generations, you lose track of all the Grade I performers,” he says. “Well, that's because somebody nurtured it. That's because of Richard Henry. And that, I can tell you, is what you do in business as well. You hire the best people, you keep the best close to you. That's our approach in everything we do. It's never about quick returns. We'll give Flying the Colors, a beautiful young War Front granddaughter of Jude, every opportunity to shine. She's in Ireland, in foal to Night of Thunder, and she's returning to the States this fall to be covered by Uncle Mo. We are committed long term to that Coolmore family, and I will move a mare like her if I see it may benefit her.”

Yet even doing it this way soon fills the present moment with fresh cycles of excitement.

“You want to get me going?” Heider asks with a chuckle. “Just ask me about A New Dawn (Ire) (Zoffany {Ire}), who's a granddaughter of Cherry Hinton (GB) (Green Desert), and I'll tell you about her Kingman (GB) yearling filly that's going to Joseph, or her Wootton Bassett (GB) colt foal. Or our 3-year-old Gun Runner filly, Stunningly, that broke her maiden this summer at Saratoga. I like the balance we have going on. There'll be some interchangeable parts here, some moving back and forth. Time will tell how it all works out. But it's all long-term thinking, and that's what excites me. It's what I know best.”

Stunningly | Sarah Andrew

Yet while his ultimate legacy remains an unknowable horizon, each step on the way emulates the one that first embarked Heider on this journey.

“In the end, for me, it's the same thing as it was day one,” Heider says. “That love and respect for the horse. But I think our true job in this sport is to leave it better than we found it. Now, that may mean trying to improve the breed: introducing new blood, sounder blood, faster blood. Or it may mean a gentleman like Ron Winchell saying, 'I'm going to make Kentucky Downs something like the Cella family has done at Oaklawn.'

“That's long ball. I can relate to that, in the investment world. But then we have everything else. The families on the farms, on the backside. The horses, after their track careers are over. So, if nothing else, by the time I'm ready to run my final furlong, I hope people don't say, 'Boy, he had fast horses,' or, 'He raced Mia Mischief; and he did this and that in Ireland.'

“What I hope they say is, 'There's somebody that tried to do the right thing; tried to improve the sport itself, including the folks that participate and dedicate their lives to it, especially those individuals that maybe don't get nearly enough attention or support.' In our own small way I hope we can leave this incredible game, that we all love so much, a little better than when we found it.”

The post Keeneland Breeder Spotlight: Heider Happy Playing The Long Game appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

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Scott Heider, owner

It made me smile recently when I saw my friend John Sikura shared his opinions in the TDN. Similar to the ongoing discussions we have on the equine industry (and also plenty of non-industry topics), John has gained some real wisdom over the last few decades. But but he's always open to new ideas and he's far from stuck in his ways, which is why he's succeeded and will continue to do so. John's opinions the other day contained some great nuggets including his view on Churchill Downs and The Derby. I will submit that money does not by itself fix problems and I know John very much agrees with this, too. It doesn't work this way in business (perhaps short term occasionally), and it certainly doesn't work this way in philanthropic endeavors. We'd have largely eradicated poverty and poor school systems in this country by now if it did. What it does take in the public and private sectors is leadership. Leadership that has vision and is willing to do whatever it takes to provide its clients with an experience and/or product that they want more of, not less. Leadership that inspires others, both within a company and within an industry, to raise their games and be better. It's largely what this country is built on. I think most of us either live this or at least fully understand and appreciate it.

Churchill Downs is a publicly traded company, and that, in and of itself, is not an issue. Churchill Downs is a very important player in the industry. They are stewards of two of the most important race days our sport offers each year. Two incredibly visible worldwide race days that can and absolutely should represent everything that makes this amazing sport what it is today. In some ways, they do shine a proper light on our sport for these 48 hours and should be commended for the constant reinvestment that takes place. In other ways, they fail pretty spectacularly for all the reasons we know all too well.

Churchill Downs, a storied brand in our industry and a high visibility player that should be setting the proper tone for the sport itself, is not playing long ball. Far from it, in my opinion. That is the real issue. Everything else, from purses to engagement with industry participants to fan experiences, follows. Can it change and what would it take to embrace a larger role as a high-profile industry leader? That's unclear, but I do know we must have Churchill Downs in this role. Can you imagine for a moment if Augusta National adopted a similar mentality to Churchill for its presentation of The Masters? I can't, either.

Rick Dawson, Owner, Rich Strike

In the weeks leading up to Kentucky Derby #148 in 2022, and even after Rich Strike was fortunate enough to make it into the race at the last minute, the value of the purse never entered my mind. Not once.

Winning the most prestigious horse race in the world, in my opinion, was more gratifying than any purse amount.

As for Rich Strike, he's returning to full training with Bill Mott in the next couple of weeks. GO RICHIE!

Larry Kerr, Fan and Gambler, Miami, Florida

Why would anyone be surprised that Churchill Downs Inc.(CDI) has not raised the Kentucky Derby purse in years, that said purse is woefully inadequate and that CDI does not seem to really care, as they know they will get a full starting gate year after year?

After all, this is the same corporate entity that does not even allow the Daily Racing Form to be sold under the Twin Spires.

CDI could care less about what is good for the game. They only care about themselves and their shareholders.

The post Is The Derby Purse Fair? More Opinion from Readers appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

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The Chaplaincy's summer enrichment program provides the children of backstretch workers the opportunity to attend local summer camps when their families travel to Saratoga for work during the race meeting.

“In Hebrew tradition there is a saying which translates to `may her memory be a blessing,' said the Chaplaincy Board President Ramon Dominguez about the gift. “It is up to those of us who knew and loved the person who passed to keep their spirit alive and to remember and share the goodness they brought to the world. This is what Len is doing with this grant. He is honoring and remembering the incredible Lois Green and her love for Thoroughbred racing and the backstretch community. We are humbled and blessed, and we pledge to be worthy of this generosity as we serve those who make racing possible.”

Green said he was inspired by the $10,000 challenge grant issued by the Heider Family Foundation last week. That challenge has been met, raising $20,000 for the program.

“If people want to honor Lois and what she's done, I thought this was a great way to do it,” said Green. “Here, if it can help and other people can do it and pick up on it, just imagine what good it could do for people on the backside! I remember how important summer camp was. Lois used to work on the playground in Red Bank, New Jersey in the summer, with no air conditioning, and I would say, `why would you do that? Why don't you work in an office?' And she'd say, `I'm doing it for the kids.'”

Green said he believed things happen for a reason. “Random things,” he said. “Man plans and God laughs. So many owners never go back to the barns and see what's going on. But I met Chaplain Humberto (Chavez), and he's doing worthwhile things.”

To donate to the challenge, visit the rtcany.org webpage, or click here.

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The Chaplaincy started the summer program 10 years ago to allow families to stay together when racing shifts to Saratoga, sending the children to local summer camp programs while the parents work. “The kids love it,” Humberto Chavez, New York Chaplain for the Race Track Chaplaincy of America told the TDN last week. “They get out of city life and get into the country.”

Scott Heider saw the article, sent it to his wife, Cindy, and the pair decided to jump in and help.

“We race under Heider Family Stables, and we also have a foundation here in Omaha, the Heider Family Foundation,” Cindy explained. “We work with a lot of different organizations, whether it's under-served youth, education, a little bit in the arts, mental health, and over the years have supported some organizations in racing, like the Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation, programs on the backstretch, Blue Grass Farms Charities, and New Vocations. We like to support the good the work that everyone is doing; they're working really hard, and helping a lot of people working really hard that don't have great support systems. Scott saw the article, forwarded it to me, and we saw that the chaplaincy was doing some great work in the summer program. So between us, we said we should help them a little bit. and then when I talked to (General Manager) Karen (Chavez) today, I said to her, `I don't know if it's helpful to do a match, but if so, this is the time to do it.”

Said Chaplain Humberto Chavez, “We are grateful to TDN for allowing us to speak from the heart about what this program means for our families. The kids have the opportunity to experience the outdoors, make new friends, take on new challenges, and develop confidence in themselves and their abilities. We have found that the impact of participating in the summer program is lifelong and we often hear from the kids, now adults, who have come through the program what a difference it has made in their lives. We are thankful for the widespread support from the industry and individuals.”

Said Cindy Heider, “There are people who don't have access to help, and a lot of people don't want to ask for help. But it's important to reach out to those people, especially the kids.”

Asked why they were moved to give, she said simply, “It's not a why. It's a why not.”

The Heiders will match up to $10,000 that is raised from now through July 6. To donate, visit the Chaplaincy webpage's summer enrichment program page by clicking here.

All donations made up until July 6 will count toward the challenge grant.

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Keeneland sold 67 horses Sunday for $6,743,000.  The average of $100,642 rose 9.13% over last year's $92,224, while the median jumped 40% from $50,000 to $70,000. In 2022, 58 horses sold for $5,349,000.

“Today was very positive. This is a sale that is perfectly positioned on the calendar, immediately after the end of our Spring Meet and just before the Kentucky Derby,” Keeneland Vice President of Sales Tony Lacy said. “This sale is really evolving, and there is a lot of energy and enthusiasm surrounding it. Consignors are really happy; a lot of them were here today. We had great participation from established buyers and also new owners, and it was great to see Saudi Arabian participation.”

Commissioner Dan Tops Lanz Buying Spree

Commissioner Dan (Commissioner) was one of three lots purchased by Pedro Lanz on behalf of KAS Stables. The agent also signed for Carmel Road (Quality Road) (hip 12) for $260,000 and Naval Aviator (Tapit) (hip 81) for $170,000.

“We were looking for older horses, and I did not know there were 2-year-olds here,” Lanz said. “It was a last-minute call. When I saw Commissioner Dan and saw his numbers and saw he is by Commissioner [sire of 2023 Saudi Derby winner Commissioner King], I told them [we should bid on him]. We saw him for the first time a few days ago. We looked at his videos. He has a lot of potential.”

Lanz admitted that Carmel Road, who was second to Kentucky Derby contender Practical Move (Practical Joke) in the GII Los Alamitos Futurity, was his primary target at the sale.

“We were looking for a [son of] Quality Road for racing in Saudi Arabia,” Lanz said. “This is a great sale to find a horse with potential. He was second to one of the main contenders in the Kentucky Derby. Nice pedigree, stallion potential. We're very happy.”

Of KAS Stable, Lanz said, “They are trying to get the best horses in North America to compete at the best level. Maybe we'll have a horse for the Saudi Cup next year.”

Commissioner Dan was trained and co-owned by trainer Pavel Matejka, who purchased him on behalf of majority owner Bob Grayson for $40,000 at last year's Keeneland September sale.

“He was a really forward horse as a yearling and earlier this year,” said Matejka. “We didn't mind that his pedigree was a little light because he looked like a horse who could train and who could run a little bit. It was lucky for us that he was in Book 6. If he had been in Book 2 or 3, I think he would have been more expensive. We just took a shot and it worked out.”

Commissioner Dan was an 11-1 outsider when he saw off heavily favored Blue Eyed Soul (Ire) (No Nay Never) to win his debut at Keeneland Wednesday (video) by 1 3/4 lengths.

Following that victory, Grayson began fielding calls from buyers interested in the colt, according to Matejka.

“We decided we might as well put him in the sale and see what the market says,” Matejka said. “The final price was one bid over the reserve. We decided that was the price we were willing to let him go at. Otherwise, we would keep him and run him in the Bashford Manor at Churchill. We would have been happy to run him because we don't usually sell horses.”

Matejka admitted the result was bittersweet.

“My assistant and grooms were here and they were all crying,” the trainer said. “They were not happy because he was a very cool horse to be around. But I think he will be successful wherever he goes.”

Also heading to the Middle East after selling at Keeneland Sunday is Talladega (Into Mischief) (hip 76). The 3-year-old, who is coming off an allowance win at Oaklawn Apr. 8, was purchased for $320,000 by Ahmad Alabdullatif.

Kueber Racing, Big Easy Racing and Martin Schwartz teamed up to purchase Promise Me a Ride (Mastery) (hip 55) for $400,000, the second highest-price of the sale. The trio were among a large partnership on the 3-year-old, who romped by 4 1/4 lengths in his debut at Fair Grounds Mar. 19 for trainer Brad Cox.

Hibernacle to Join Walsh Barn

The 2-year-old Hibernacle (Hootenanny) (hip 100), who romped by 7 1/2 lengths in her Apr. 12 debut for owner/breeder/trainer Wesley Ward, will be joining the barn of trainer Brendan Walsh after selling for $310,000 to David Lanigan, agent for Heider Family Racing LLC.

Scott Heider admitted the operation doesn't usually purchase 2-year-olds, but he made an exception after seeing this filly's debut at Keeneland two weeks ago.

“I was down at Keeneland to see Flirting Bridge (Ire) (Camelot {GB}), who was coming off a layoff, and it just happened her maiden race was that day,” recalled Heider. “As I watched this filly race, she was laying fourth and third and then she made that move and showed a turn of foot which is pretty tough to do going 4 1/2 [furlongs]. When I saw she was a late supplement to the sale, I asked David Lanigan to go look at her.”

The team liked what they saw at the barn.

“Her physical make-up surprised us because she's certainly not built like a typical sprinter,” said Heider. “This filly has way more size and scope. She's longer and has a beautiful way of going, but she's not fully furnished yet. And she has a tremendous mind on her. So we thought if we could secure the filly, and she had shown that early talent and looked like she was physically she was going to mature and get stronger, we thought that she might be an ideal filly to put into the program.”

The filly is entered in Thursday's Kentucky Juvenile S. at Churchill Downs, but Heider said she would not make the line-up for the race.

“She will go to Margaux Farm for 12 to 14 days and we will let her unwind,” Heider said. “Then she will go to Brendan. If all goes well, we will send her to New York to the Astoria, but that's still a ways off.”

Heider continued, “I don't usually participate in this end of the market. Most everything we have goes two turns, but this filly really intrigued us. We think she could have a productive summer and into the fall. When they dropped the hammer on her, I said to Brendan, 'I think we just sent you your first dirt bike.' And he laughed and he said, 'I'm excited to have a dirt bike, actually.' We have been so pleased with Brendan for the last three or four years that we've worked with him. He's been amazing. This is a little bit of a pivot for us for sure, purchasing an early 2-year-old. But I am excited to get her into Brendan's program and to see if we can have some fun with her this summer.”

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“They thought the style of training in America didn't suit her and when she came home Pat McCabe, who rides her out, and I thought she was back working really well and we were proved right,” McDonagh said. “She was lugging out off the fence and was pulling up a bit in the straight, but it is a good confidence-booster. She loves Leopardstown and maybe she'll go to the Matron or something like that now.”

Agartha, who had the misfortune to encounter Homeless Songs (Ire) (Frankel {GB}) when second to that star performer in Leopardstown's G3 Ballylinch Stud 1000 Guineas Trial Apr. 2 and when fifth behind her in the May 22 Irish 1000 Guineas itself, was also runner-up in the G1 Moyglare Stud S. at two. From the O'Briens' Whisperview operation, she is the first foal out of the strong-staying Listed Stanerra S. winner and G3 Irish St Leger Trial third Arya Tara (Ire) (Dylan Thomas {Ire}) from the Aga Khan family of the G1 Prix Ganay hero Astarabad (Alleged), the high-class Azamour (Ire) (Night Shift) and the six-times group 1-winning The Autumn Sun (Aus) (Redoute's Choice {Aus}). Arya Tara's 2-year-old son of Churchill (Ire) named Agathon (Ire) was a €360,000 purchase by Justin Casse at Goffs Orby, while her 2021 and 2022 colts are by Ten Sovereigns (Ire).

Friday, Tipperary, Ireland
COOLMORE STUD NO NAY NEVER FAIRY BRIDGE S.-G3, €55,000, Tipperary, 8-26, 3yo/up, f/m, 7 1/2fT, 1:34.62, gd.
1–AGARTHA (IRE), 128, f, 3, by Caravaggio
     1st Dam: Arya Tara (Ire) (SW & GSP-Ire), by Dylan Thomas (Ire)
     2nd Dam: Anadiyla (Ire), by Barathea (Ire)
     3rd Dam: Anaza (Ire), by Darshaan (GB)
O-Scott C Heider; B-Whisperview Trading Ltd (IRE); T-Joseph O'Brien; J-Declan McDonogh. €33,000. Lifetime Record: G1SP-Ire, 13-3-5-2, $273,516. Werk Nick Rating: A+. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Night Of Romance (GB), 133, f, 4, Night Of Thunder (Ire)–Shohrah (Ire), by Giant's Causeway.
1ST BLACK TYPE, 1ST GROUP BLACK TYPE. (45,000gns Ylg '19 TATOCT; 50,000gns HRA '21 TATTJU; 30,000gns RNA HRA '21 TATMA). O-E & S Racing; B-Llety Farms (GB); T-Joseph O'Brien. €11,000.
3–Spring Feeling (Fr), 128, f, 3, Buratino (Ire)–Royal Memory (GB), by Invincible Spirit (Ire).
1ST BLACK TYPE, 1ST GROUP BLACK TYPE. O/B-Robert Ng (FR); T-Ken Condon. €5,500.
Margins: 1, 2 1/4, HF. Odds: 1.50, 8.50, 6.00.
Also Ran: Sh Boom (GB), Galleria Borghese (Ire), Honey Girl (GB), Prettiest, Improvised (Ire), West Coast (Ire), Illuminazione (Ire). Scratched: Statement (Ire). Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.

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PISTA (m, 5, American Pharoah–Mohini {Ire}, by Galileo {Ire}) to be bred to Dubawi (Ire)
Winner of the 2020 G2 Park Hill S. and second in the G1 Prix de Royallieu, this Joseph O'Brien-trained daughter of American Pharoah is currently in foal to Ballylinch Stud's Lope de Vega (Ire). This mating gives us a desirable 5×5 cross to influential mare Coup de Folie (Halo). Pista's second and third dams, Denebola (Storm Cat) and Coup de Genie (Mr. Prospector), were both champions. Pista is booked this year to Dubawi (Ire). Pista excelled at staying distances, so we like the versatility of both Dubawi and Lope de Vega as we introduce some speed. We are very excited about this talented young mare from a deeply productive Niarchos family.

AMSER (GB) (m, 8, Frankel {GB}–Clepsydra {GB}, by Sadler's Wells) to be bred to Siyouni (Fr)
Amser was acquired in 2020 from Juddmonte Farms. This young Frankel mare is a half-sister to Group I winners Timepiece (GB) (Zamindar) and Passage of Time (GB) (Dansili {GB}), the latter the dam of new sire Time Test (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}). Clepsydra's half-sister Double Crossed (GB) (Caerleon) is the dam of champion Twice Over (GB) (Observatory) and her half-sister Sacred Shield (GB) (Beat Hollow {GB}) is the dam of 2020 GI Matriarch S, winner Viadera (GB) (Bated Breath {GB}). Amser travels to France this year and will be covered by French champion sire Siyouni (Fr) who is an amazing stallion. Amser is Sadlers Wells 3×2. This mating with Siyouni brings in an additional strain of Northern Dancer through the influential Danehill.

A NEW DAWN (IRE) (Zoffany {Ire}–Simply A Star {Ire}, by Giant's Causeway) to be bred to Wootton Bassett (GB)
Multiple group placed A New Dawn was trained for us by young Joseph O'Brien. Acquired privately from our friends at Coolmore, we are thankful to have a granddaughter of Cherry Hinton (GB) (Green Desert) in our broodmare band. A New Dawn had her first foal in January, a beautiful daughter by Kingman (GB). The Urban Sea line tends to not be overly large in size, so we are thoughtful on proper matings. A New Dawn is booked this season to Wootton Bassett (GB), a stud we believe will be one of the pre-eminent stallions in all of Europe for a long time coming. He reminds us of Into Mischief here in the States.

MY GENERATION (f, 4, Speightstown–Louvakhova, by Maria's Mon) to be bred to Wootton Bassett (GB)
An Irish stakes winner last year at age three for Joseph, My Generation is a half-sister to our Group III-winning colt Crossfirehurricane (Kitten's Joy) and a half-sister to the dam of recent New York multiple stakes winner Jack and Noah (Fr) (Bated Breath {GB}). A deep European family, Louvakhova is a half-sister to French champion and Breeders' Cup-winning mare Flotilla (Mizzen Mast). My Generation is one of the prettiest and most well-balanced fillies we've bred. She is booked this season to budding superstar Wootton Bassett (GB), giving us Gone West 4×3. It's a terrific physical match, as well.

   Let us know who you're breeding your mares to in 2022, and why. We will print a selection of your responses in TDN over the coming weeks. Please send details to: garyking@thetdn.com.

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Agartha, whose maiden defeats over shorter trips came behind the smart types Prettiest (Dubawi {Ire}) and Sacred Bridge (GB) (Bated Breath {GB}), was second to TDN Rising Star Homeless Songs (Ire) (Frankel {GB}) stepping up to this trip for the first time at Leopardstown July 8 prior to her dynamic Silver Flash display. Bred by the O'Briens, the dam Arya Tara (Ire) (Dylan Thomas {Ire}) who started at Ballydoyle before joining this stable took the 14-furlong Listed Stanerra S. and was third in the G3 Irish St Leger Trial over that trip. Blended with the speed influence Caravaggio, Agartha is the result of that experiment and a notable first foal to be followed by a yearling son of Churchill (Ire). This is an Aga Khan family featuring the G1 Prix Ganay hero Astarabad (Alleged), the high-class Azamour (Ire) (Night Shift) and the six-times group 1-winning The Autumn Sun (Aus) (Redoute's Choice {Aus}).

Saturday, Curragh, Ireland
ALPHA CENTAURI DEBUTANTE S.-G2, €100,000, Curragh, 8-21, 2yo, f, 7fT, 1:27.49, sf.
1–AGARTHA (IRE), 128, f, 2, by Caravaggio
1st Dam: Arya Tara (Ire) (SW & GSP-Ire), by Dylan Thomas (Ire)
2nd Dam: Anadiyla (Ire), by Barathea (Ire)
3rd Dam: Anaza (Ire), by Darshaan (GB)
O-Scott C Heider; B-Whisperview Trading Ltd (IRE); T-Joseph O'Brien; J-Declan McDonogh. €60,000. Lifetime Record: 6-2-2-2, $115,832. Werk Nick Rating: A++. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Sunset Shiraz (Ire), 128, f, 2, Time Test (GB)–Sunny Again (GB), by Shirocco (Ger). (£100,000 Ylg '20 GOFOR). O-Lindsay Laroche; B-Mount Coote Estates (IRE); T-Gavin Cromwell. €20,000.
3–Discoveries (Ire), 128, f, 2, Mastercraftsman (Ire)–Alpha Lupi (Ire), by Rahy. O/B-Niarchos Family (IRE); T-Jessica Harrington. €10,000.
Margins: 2, 2HF, HD. Odds: 4.00, 25.00, 4.00.
Also Ran: Seisai (Ire), Mise Le Meas (Ire), Twinkle (Ire), Concert Hall (Ire), Hapipi Go Lucky (Ire). Click for the Racing Post result or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.

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One of three first-crop stakes winners thus far for Caravaggio, Agartha was placed on four occasions-including second-place finishes to 'TDN Rising Stars' Sacred Bridge (GB) (Bated Breath {GB}) and Homeless Songs (Ire) Frankel {GB})–before breaking her maiden by 2 3/4 lengths in the Silver Flash. She is the first foal out of Arya Tara (Ire) (Dylan Thomas {Ire}), with Group 1 winners Astarabad and Azamour (Ire) appearing under the third dam.

Heider, a Grade I-winning owner in America, has campaigned stakes winners Pista (American Pharoah), Crossfirehurricane (Kitten's Joy) and My Generation (Speightstown) with O'Brien.

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A £30,000 Goffs UK Premier Yearling Sale purchase by Jason Kelly, Twilight Spinner was third at first asking at Pontefract in April for Hambleton Racing and trainer David O'Meara before breaking her maiden at Ripon. She won the six furlong Listed Cecil Frail S. at Haydock by 6 1/2 lengths on May 21.

“Kevin Blake picked her out for Scott and she looks like she's a progressive filly,” said O'Brien, who has trained the likes of Crossfirehurricane (Kitten's Joy), My Generation (Speightstown) and Pista (American Pharoah) for Heider. “Scott has been a great supporter of the yard and we've been lucky together. We have a very good relationship and we're hoping this filly can continue that on.

“Scott also has, and is building, a very high-class broodmare band and the hope is that she'll be a strong addition to that at some stage in the future.”

Heider said that Twilight Spinner had been on his, Blake's and O'Brien's radars for some time prior to her black-type score.

“This is a filly that has only made three starts, and on her second start at Ripon, the field split,” he recalled. “She won that day off by herself, she was about nine or 10 in front of anyone else in her group. She came back two weeks later in a listed stake at Haydock. There were some nice fillies in there, she went off at 8-1 and ran a really impressive race-the fractional times, the final time, the way she did it, to draw off and win by six lengths, and she was rated 108 post-race.

“Kevin was watching her and Joseph had noticed her and once she won the listed stake she became more obvious. She vetted perfectly and it all came together in about 72 hours, and all credit to Kevin Blake for making it move in 72 hours. She arrived at Joseph's last week and she's into his regular training regime.”

Heider said he hopes to see his silks at Royal Ascot next week aboard the Listed Patton S. winner My Generation, but that it will likely be a bit longer before Twilight Spinner is seen in his maroon and gold colours.

“I think you probably won't see her for three to four weeks as Joseph is just getting her into his programme, but there is a variety of group stakes for her and ultimately she was purchased to be top-class and compete in the best races,” he said. “It would appear at this point that she's a filly that could potentially stretch [in trip], but looking at the family and at her physically she probably is a filly that will go six and seven furlongs, and that'll probably be where she excels. When you watch her races she relaxes and she has a really nice turn of foot, but she's perhaps bred to be a quicker filly so I think initially what we're talking about are group stakes going six and seven. But I think there will be a temptation there to see if we could stretch her out, because watching her races it does appear that she could get another eighth of a mile if not further.”

Twilight Spinner certainly boasts the pedigree of a top-class sprinter, being one of two stakes winners from the first crop of the dual Group 1-winning sprinter Twilight Son, a grandson of Pivotal (GB). Her dam, Spinatrix (GB) (Diktat {GB}), is bred on a similar cross to last year's GI Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint winner and triple Group 1 scorer Glass Slippers (GB), who is by Diktat's son Dream Ahead. Both are out of daughters of Mind Games.

“She comes from an interesting family,” Heider said. “I wouldn't call it a blue-blooded family but it's a family that really runs. Her mother won 10 times and was placed 22 times. She wasn't a stakes winner but she was very highly rated. Twilight Spinner is very sound and she's from the first crop of Twilight Son, who honestly didn't catch my eye with his first 2-year-olds, but he's getting a lot of winners now, so hopefully we'll have the best Twilight Son out of that first crop.”

“Our intention would be to keep her over there [in Ireland] to race as a 3- and 4-year-old, and it would be exciting to see her next year at Keeneland for the Breeders' Cup. I'm pleasantly surprised we were able to get something done as quickly as we could, and I'm very grateful.”

Twilight Spinner's arrival must be all the more welcome in light of the fact that Heider had to make the difficult decision earlier this year to retire his exciting filly Pista, who won the Listed Vinnie Roe S. and G2 Park Hill S. last year and was second in the G1 Prix de Royallieu, and had G1 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe aspirations as a 4-year-old for 2021. The daughter of American Pharoah has been covered by Lope De Vega (Ire).

“Pista got her time off, and as she started to go back into training she was a little off, and that happens from time to time when they get time off like that,” Heider said. “We did a full check on her and she had a little something bothering her. It was something that was going to set her back; she was going to miss about half the season. Ultimately we decided, with consultation with Joseph, to go ahead and get her to Norelands Stud and let her be a mother.”

Pista, a $675,000 Keeneland September yearling, will have every chance to excel at stud, being a great-granddaughter of the influential producer Coup De Genie (Mr. Prospector).

“For a while it broke my heart that we couldn't continue the dream of the Arc path with her, but sometimes these things happen and you just need to make the best decision,” Heider said. “She was maybe the best filly we've ever owned. Coming from the family she comes from I want to play long ball with her, which means she was always going to be a broodmare for us. So we made the decision to do what we thought was best for her.

“These horses are like roses. When you have the rose you need to stop, you need to admire and you need to appreciate it's beauty. Sometimes the rose lasts longer than you think, and other times it doesn't.”

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