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Noel Meade: ‘The Oaks Would Be A Dream With Caught U Looking’

Noel Meade has provided an upbeat bulletin on Classic hope Caught U Looking (Ire) and said it would “be a dream” if the daughter of Harzand (Ire) proved herself good enough to compete in the Oaks this season.

Caught U Looking, winner of the G3 Weld Park S. at the Curragh last year, will get her campaign underway in the G3 Irish 1,000 Guineas Trial at Leopardstown on April 7.

Owned by Tally-Ho Stud's Tony O'Callaghan and popular bloodstock agent Peter Kelly's wife Sabina, Caught U Looking was bought for just €27,000 by Peter Nolan and Meade at the Goffs Autumn Sale in 2022. She can be backed at odds as big as 50-1 for the Oaks.

Meade said, “She didn't do a lot wrong as a two-year-old. We probably shouldn't have brought her to Newmarket for the Fillies' Mile because she was far from the finished article at the time. Even though she didn't run her race, she wasn't beaten that far [just over eight lengths], but I am still inclined to forgive her that effort.

Asked if he thought Caught U Looking could develop into an Oaks candidate, Meade added, “That would be a dream. You'd love to think she could run in the Oaks at Epsom or even the Irish Oaks.

Noel Meade and Peter Nolan: bought Caught U Looking | Tattersalls

“There is a lot of water left to go under the bridge but we live in hope that she could be that good. We are lucky to have her and to have Tony [O'Callaghan] and Peter [Kelly] involved in her ownership. The two of them are getting a great kick out of her so hopefully she can go on and do something for them this year.”

Caught U Looking is not the only filly Meade has Classic aspirations for. Impressive Curragh maiden winner Letherfly (Ire) (Churchill {Ire}) is also entered in the Oaks but the trainer revealed that he views the €30,000 Tattersalls Ireland yearling purchase as more of a miler.

He explained, “We put her in the Oaks as well as Caught U Looking but it's probably a mistake–we should have put her in the 1,000 Guineas. She has plenty of pace and obviously has plenty of ability. Even though it was only an auction maiden that she won on debut at the Curragh, she was quite impressive. She's a big, tall and leggy filly with a good back pedigree.”

Older horses Layfayette (Ire) (French Navy {GB}) and Helvic Dream (Ire) (Power {GB}) will form part of what is becoming an increasingly Flat-orientated string at Meade's famous Castletown base in County Meath. The multiple champion national hunt trainer in Ireland and dominant force of his era, Meade expects to have only “a handful” of runners at this year's Cheltenham festival. Meanwhile, Group 1 hero Helvic Dream, a winner over hurdles at Navan on Sunday, could step up in trip on the Flat.

“Layfayette and Helvic Dream will continue on the Flat. We have come to the conclusion that going a bit further might suit Helvic Dream better. Both horses like an ease in the ground and are two nice horses to have. We could stretch Helvic Dream out to a mile-and-a-half. I'm not sure if many Group 1 winners have won over hurdles so he's kind of unusual in that respect but he'll definitely go back on the Flat this year.”

The theory that Meade's stable has become better stocked with Flat horses compared to jumpers is backed up by the stats. The trainer sent out 35 winners on the level last year from 322 runners while last season's tally over jumps stood at 23 wins from 179 runs.

“It has happened almost by accident,” Meade said. “We have 30 two-year-olds in training and, it's the same story as always, none of them cost a fortune. We sold a lot of horses last year. We sold Majestic Speed (Ire) (Churchill {Ire}) to Hong Kong for example. Happy Together (Ire) (Dragon Pulse {Ire}) is another horse we sold to Hong Kong and he's done very well out there–he's won over a million out there. We've sold a good few.”

He added, “I saw HRI have a new Spring Series for those middle-distance horses and that's a great initiative but, it's funny, this year we have a few speedier-bred horses to what I'd usually buy. I am delighted to have them. We have a couple of Far Aboves and they go well. I have one very nice horse by Circus Maximus (Ire) as well.”

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Mating Plans, Presented By Spendthrift Farm: Blue Diamond’s Stonereath Mares

As we approach the opening of the 2024 breeding season, the TDN staff is once again sitting down with leading breeders to find out what stallions they have chosen for their mares, and why. Today we caught up with Imad Al Sagar of Blue Diamond Stud, who added a Kentucky base, Stonereath Farm, in August.

“The acquisition of Stonereath Farm in Kentucky last summer has allowed us great opportunity to diversify,” Al Sagar said. “A handful of Blue Diamond mares already resided in Kentucky but with the addition of Stonereath, which covers 252 acres near Paris, we have increased that number; several have been sourced specifically with an eye on breeding and racing in the US while others will continue to switch to and from our base in Newmarket in order to take advantage of the differing bloodlines available in Kentucky. We are lucky to have an excellent team of people overseeing Stonereath, including farm manager Jenn Laidlaw, office manager Erin Dilger and Walter Nathaniel Lobato.”

DAWN OF HOPE (IRE) (11, Mastercraftsman {Ire}–Sweet Firebird {Ire}, by Sadler's Wells), in foal to Lope De Vega (Ire) and visits Justify
Dawn Of Hope was a high-class filly for us, winning the Listed Prix Petite Etoile, and her first three foals are winners. Her first foal, Kind Gesture (GB) (Decorated Knight {GB}), came close to gaining black-type in Britain and is currently running well in Australia, and we are hopeful there is more to come from her 3-year-old Blown Away (GB) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}) with John and Thady Gosden. We have retained her 2-year-old Sea The Stars (Ire) filly Gaugamela (GB), who goes to Andre Fabre.

Like everyone else, we have been impressed with what Justify has achieved with his first two crops–we bred one of his early stakes winners, Wonderful Justice (GB). It is notable how well he has done with Danehill line mares, particularly in Australia–Storm Boy (Aus), Learning To Fly (Aus) and Legacies (Aus) spring to mind.

Dawn Of Hope's family goes back to Native Street via the Fire The Groom branch, so it has had its share of success in America as well. With so much currently going on in the family and her own talent to take into account, we took the decision to ship Dawn Of Hope over from Newmarket specifically to send to Justify.

Also going to Justify is Floret (Ire), a Galileo (Ire) half-sister to Moonlight Cloud (GB) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}) from the Doff The Derby family. She is in foal to Blame and by sending her to Justify, we are repeating the Galileo cross responsible for City Of Troy, Unless and Buchu among others.

Dawn Of Hope and her '23 Pinatubo (Ire) colt | Equuis Images

FREE LOOK (4, Tapit–Wild Mint, by Medaglia d'Oro) to be bred to Gun Runner
Tapit is such a good broodmare sire and we were trying for some time to add a daughter to our broodmare band. Free Look was second in the GII Miss Grillo S. and fifth in the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies' Turf as a 2-year-old, plus she's a very good-looking individual from the immediate family of Violence. So we were delighted to buy her at the Fasig-Tipton July Sale and she went on to win on her first start for us on dirt.

We were keen to start her off with a proven stallion at the highest level and Gun Runner fits the bill with his immense success with Tapit in mind–even allowing for the level of opportunity given the fact both are Winchell horses, it's very notable that Gun Runner already has six stakes winners out of Tapit mares.

I'M WONDERFUL (8, Giant's Causeway–Rebridled Dreams, by Unbridled's Song), had a colt by Blame and visits Tapit
I'm Wonderful is out of Coffee Pot Stable's excellent producer Rebridled Dreams and therefore a sister to Carpe Diem. One of our first mares to be based in Kentucky, her first foal, Wonderful Justice (Justify), won last year's Black Gold S. for us at Fair Grounds. She just had a colt by Blame as part of our strategy to tap into Roberto blood and now heads to Tapit. This mating produces inbreeding to Unbridled, similar to the pattern found in the backgrounds of Tapit's Grade I winners Unique Bella, Sweet Loretta, Valiance and Tapit Trice. However, the key here is to also make use of Tapit. He's become such an important influence, both through his sons and daughters, and we are keen to utilise him while we can.

MANASAROVA (11, More Than Ready–Manaahil, by Mr. Greeley), in foal to Not This Time and visits Blame
From the Ballade family, Manasarova was listed-placed as a 2-year-old and has already produced a really good filly in France called Sicilian Defense (GB) (Muhaarar {GB}), who won a pair of listed races and was Group 2-placed. We have retained her 3-year-old filly by Zoustar (Aus), Yusra, and she is with Andre Fabre. Manasarova is one of three mares we are sending to Blame this season. We hold the Roberto line, with its propensity for throwing sound and talented horses, in high regard. So one of the ideas behind using Blame is to tap into one of the remaining Kentucky-based representatives of that sire line and hopefully produce some fillies for the broodmare band down the line.

Also heading to Blame is Jousi (GB), a homebred Dubawi (Ire) granddaughter of Irish 1000 Guineas winner Classic Park (GB) who won an Ascot maiden as a 2-year-old for us, and Star Of Bristol, a Speightstown half-sister to Mastercraftsman (Ire). Star Of Bristol's first two foals have both won and we have retained her Wootton Bassett (GB) 2-year-old filly, who goes to Christopher Head. Given Blame's affinity with mares carrying Mr. Prospector, we hope that she will be a good fit.

OCEAN SAFARI (5, Temple City–Media Access, by Devil's Bag) to be bred to Not This Time
One of two stakes-winning Temple City mares we bought last November, Ocean Safari won the Honey Ryder S. Not This Time has been extremely impressive to date and his progeny seem versatile as well, which suits an operation like Blue Diamond that races on turf and dirt. We have two mares due to foal to him this year in Grade I winner Abscond, who is back in Newmarket ahead of a visit to Frankel (GB), and Manasarova.

In the case of this mare, Not This Time has already been effective with the Hail To Reason/Roberto line, to whom Ocean Safari is inbred; Cogburn, Simplification, Midnight Stroll, Howling Time being examples. The cross also produces inbreeding to Ballade, a pattern which we've seen behind several stakes winners by Giant's Causeway and his brother Freud. Not This Time is very much on the rise, with his versatility in the mould of his sire Giant's Causeway; all things considered, he should be a very good starting point for a young mare like Ocean Safari.

QUEEN OFTHE TEMPLE (6, Temple City–Queenameina, by Read The Footnotes) to be bred to Uncle Mo
Another hard-knocking daughter of Temple City who won the Santa Barbara S. and was multiple graded stakes-placed. Like Ocean Safari, we were keen to start her off with a proven sire. Uncle Mo is so reliable, he's a good option for starting off a young mare, and he's also versatile when it comes to dirt and turf. Although he's out of an Arch mare, he's had good results when bred back to the Hail To Reason/Roberto line–runners like Bast, Bye Bye Melvin, Mo Ready and Royal Mo for example.

Stonereath Farm in Kentucky was acquired in August of last year and is now an American base for the operation | Blue Diamond Stud

ANGLE OF ATTACK (7, Maclean's Music–Bourbon Warfare, by Colonel John) to be bred to Bolt d'Oro
It's hard not be impressed by Bolt d'Oro's early results, especially his statistics. Angle Of Attack, a young stakes-winning mare who is owned in partnership with Kuwait Racing Syndicate, already has a yearling filly by him and we've decided to send her back; Bolt d'Oro's early success with the mares from the Distorted Humor line, highlighted by Major Dude, certainly adds weight on paper.

Joining Angle Of Attack on a return trip to Bolt d'Oro is New Jazz. She is a winning daughter of Scat Daddy and that particular cross has already produced Bobby O.

ARWA (IRE) (10, Holy Roman Emperor {Ire}–Another Storm, by Gone West) to be bred to Elite Power
Arwa is a winning half-sister to six stakes horses including Order Of St George (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) and out of a daughter of Storm Song so it's a versatile family with championship form on dirt and turf under the first two dams. For us, Elite Power is an extremely appealing package; a brilliant sprinter who retired sound with the looks and pedigree to support his talent. We are looking forward to supporting him at Juddmonte.

DANCING KIKI (7, Blame–Justenufappeal, by Exchange Rate), in foal to Medaglia d'Oro and visits Violence
A tough stakes-winning daughter of Blame who was effective on dirt and turf. She is in foal to Medaglia d'Oro and we are staying on the same theme by sending her to Violence, who of course sired Forte out of a Blame mare.

Interested in sharing your own mating plans? Email garyking@thetdn.com.

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The Week In Review: It’s Not Just The Derby; Now Baffert Has Top Oaks Candidate As Well

Saturday's GIII Las Virgenes S. at Santa Anita was a big test for the Bob Baffert-trained filly and 'TDN Rising Star' Kinza (Carpe Diem). She was coming off a scintillating maiden win in which she got a 96 Beyer, but was facing a much stronger challenge in the one-mile stakes. Not only did she have to prove she could go two turns, but she was facing another potential star in the undefeated Kopion (Omaha Beach), the winner of the GIII Santa Ynez S.

On paper, this was a match race. But Kinza turned it into a one-horse show. She only won by two lengths, but at no point did it look like Kopion could pass the front-running Baffert filly. Kinza got a 93 Beyer to cement her status as the fastest 3-year-old filly in training.

Under normal circumstances, this performance would have stamped Kinza as the clear early favorite for the GI Kentucky Oaks. But there is nothing normal about this year's Oaks or, for that matter, the GI Kentucky Derby.

Kinza, a New York-bred, won't be allowed to run in the Oaks because Baffert was banned by Churchill Downs shortly after Medina Spirit (Protonico) tested positive for betamethasone after crossing the wire first in the 2021 Derby. The same goes for his colts. A week earlier, the Baffert-trained Nysos (Nyquist) looked like Triple Crown-winning material when crushing his opposition in the GIII Robert B. Lewis S. Baffert also has 'TDN Rising Star' Muth (Good Magic), the winner of the GII San Vicente S. and runner-up in last year's GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile. Nysos and Muth are one-two in the NTRA's 3-Year-Old poll. He also has 'TDN Rising Star' Maymum (Frosted), an impressive maiden winner who was entered in Sunday's sixth race at Santa Anita.

In past years, most of Baffert's owners turned their horses over to other trainers, most notably Tim Yakteen, which made them eligible to run at Churchill. But this year, in a surprising display of loyalty, not one Baffert owner took a horse away from him. They put their loyalty to Baffert over their dreams of winning the Kentucky Derby.

This wasn't supposed to happen. Baffert's Churchill ban was originally for two years, which meant he was supposed to be free and clear to run horses there this year. But on July 3, 2023, out of the middle of nowhere, the company announced that it was extending Baffert's ban at least through the end of 2024. It was a shocking development and it was unfair. Baffert's original penalties, which also included a 90-day suspension from the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission and a one-year ban from NYRA, were extremely harsh as it was considering the worst thing Baffert had done was to have positives that stemmed from overages of medications that in no way could be considered performance-enhancing. Since being handed the various suspensions and bans, Baffert has done nothing wrong. He has not had any more positives. He even went so far as to announce on Jan. 22 that he and Medina Spirit's owner Amr Zedan had dropped all legal actions regarding the Derby disqualification. It was an obvious peace offering, but one that was quickly and decisively dismissed by Churchill, which announced that the dropping of the lawsuits changed nothing. Baffert was still banned for, at the very least, all of 2024.

This time, Churchill had gone too far. There's no doubt that their battle with Baffert had turned personal and when that happens, fairness and reason get tossed out the window. Punishing the trainer remained the priority.

But now the script has flipped. That no Baffert horses, no Kinza, no Nysos, no Muth, no Maymum, will appear in Derby week stakes at Churchill will hurt Churchill a lot more than it will hurt Baffert. These will be races that will require asterisks because they did not include some of the best 3-year-old talent in the country.

One theory was that the ban was extended because Churchill didn't want Baffert's return to overshadow the festivities being planned to celebrate the 150th running of the race. It looks like Churchill never imagined that the Baffert owners would effectively boycott the Derby. But that's exactly what has happened. And one of the results of that is the very situation Churchill had hoped to avoid is now going to happen. The major storyline all week will not be the 150th renewal of the race or whoever emerges as the main contenders. It will be all about the missing stars from the Baffert barn, the impact that will have on the race and how it has weakened this Kentucky Derby and this Kentucky Oaks.

There's nothing anyone can do about it now. It's too late for Churchill to reconsider, not that they ever had any intention of doing so. The shot has been fired and it hit squarely in the corporate foot of Churchill Downs Inc. This was all so unnecessary. All they had to do was let Baffert back after the two-year ban ended. Instead, they kept moving the goal posts and double downed on what was a dubious punishment in the first place. This Derby and this Oaks will not be what they should be and Churchill has no one to blame but itself.

Oh, well. At least it should be a good GI Preakness S.

Maymun | Benoit

John Pimental Doesn't Get a Break

HISA/HIWU resolved its case against small-time trainer John Pimental last week. He has been handed a 15-month suspension and a fine of $10,000 for possession of banned thyroid medication, Thyro-L. Pimental also has an outstanding case against him for a methamphetamine positive. So he may be facing still more serious penalties.

You can read more about his story and his case by clicking here.

Yes, the rules are the rules and Pimental was not careful and did not properly dispose of the thyroid medication, even though he had a prescription to administer it to a stable pony. As for the methamphetamine positive, it almost has to be the result of human contamination. The bottom line is that the punishment does not come anywhere close to fitting the crime. John Pimental is not a cheat or a horse doper. At the very worst, he's guilty of not being careful when it came to the Thyro-L.

Yes, HISA/HIWU is a work in progress and since HIWU got off and running last May, they have altered some of their policies and have been less draconian when it comes to catching and penalizing people for drug violations.

But they haven't come far enough and the Pimental case is a prime example. By no means did he do anything to warrant a 15-month suspension and a $10,000 fine.

HISA needs to hire a Vice President of Common Sense, someone who understands racing, understands what is cheating and what is not, and can put the brakes on the organization when they go after people like John Pimental.

A Loaded Risen Star

With the exception of Mandaloun (Into Mischief), who was awarded the win in the Kentucky Derby after Medina Spirit was disqualified, the GII Risen Star S. at the Fair Grounds has never produced a Kentucky Derby winner. That could easily change this year as the 2024 edition is loaded with talent. Trained by Chad Brown, Sierra Leone (Gun Runner) is a $2.3 million Fasig-Tipton Saratoga purchase and will be favored. He was last seen closing from last to just miss by a nose in the GII Remsen S. He is clearly Brown's best chance yet to add a Derby win on to his record.

He'll have to come into New Orleans ready to run as the competition includes Hall of Fame (Gun Runner), also bought at Saratoga as a yearling for $1.4 million, who is coming off an impressive maiden win for Steve Asmussen. Then there's GII Kentucky Jockey Club winner Honor Marie (Honor Code); Smarty Jones winner Catching Freedom (Constitution) and GIII Lecomte S. Winner Track Phantom (Quality Road).

The post The Week In Review: It’s Not Just The Derby; Now Baffert Has Top Oaks Candidate As Well appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

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Sunday Insights: Pin Oak’s Revised Statute Picks Tough Spot For Debut

6th-SA, $100K, AOC, 3yo, 1m, 4:30 p.m.

Richard Mandella has ambitiously spotted REVISED STATUTE (Consitition) for his debut Sunday. The colt set expectations high when he nearly topped the 2022 Keeneland September Yearling sale, selling to Pin Oak Stud for $1,800,000. A son of GI Madison S. winner and $1.5m NEENOV broodmare Last Full Measure, Revised Statute is a half to GI Juddmonte Spinster S. heroine Valiance (Tapit), herself a $3m FTKNOV broodmare purchase. His second dam is Lazy Slusan, also a dual Grade I winner. Revised Statute will need to bring his best on debut as he lines up just to the inside of a pair of more-experienced Bob Baffert stablemates including $900,000 OBSAPR buy and 'TDN Rising Star' Maymun (Frosted) along with $1.05m KEESEP yearling Imagination (Into Mischief). TJCIS PPS

2nd-GP, 89K, Msw, 3yo, f, 1mT, 12:40 p.m.

Another big KEESEP purchse, Last Episode (Into Mischief) went for $900,000 and starts over the grass for Todd Pletcher and the partnership of WinStar Farm and Siena Farm at Gulfstream. The filly is a half to champion 2-year-old colt Shanghai Bobby (Harlan's Holiday) and to the dam of MGSW Canoodling (Pioneerof the Nile). She is the last foal out of the stakes-winning mare Steelin' who RNA'd for $1.775m at FTKNOV in 2015. TJCIS PPS

6th-GP, $89K, Msw, 3yo, f, 6f, 2:38 p.m.

Juddmonte homebred Save Time (Into Mischief) debuts Sunday out of the Chad Brown barn. The filly is the first foal out of a daughter of MGISW Sightseek (Distant View). This is also the family of MGISW Tates Creek (Rahy), MGSW Fulsome (Into Mischief) and European champion 2-year-old filly Special Duty (GB) (Hennessy). TJCIS PPS

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