TDN Snippets: Week of May 30-June 5

It was a pretty quiet racing week here, so this installment of snippets is a little European-centric. We hope you find it interesting.

The Mind Boggles…

Tuesday's win in the G1 Cazoo Oaks at Epsom gave Aidan O'Brien a record 41st British Classic winner, including 10 wins in the Oaks. Tuesday was also the 94th Group 1 winner for her sire, Galileo and the second Oaks heroine and third Classic winner for her dam, Lillie Langtry (following Minding and Empress Josephine). Coolmore/Ballydoyle's stats never cease to amaze.

Pletch Being Pletch…

The Todd Pletcher-trained Emmanuel is one of 51 Northern Hemisphere graded/group winners (106 overall) for the ever-present international powerhouse More Than Ready. Pletcher, of course, also trained More Than Ready to victory in the GI King's Bishop at Saratoga, 22 years ago!

Caveat Emptor?…

Richard Brown of Blandford Bloodstock picked up the G1 Cazoo Derby winner, Desert Crown, for 280,000gns ($368,734 using today's exchange rate) at Tattersalls Book 2 for owner Saeed Suhail. His breeder, Strawberry Fields Stud, had actually promoted the son of Nathaniel as a future Classic winner when selling him as a yearling in 2020. It pays to keep an eye on those TDN ads!

100 Years And Counting…

One hundred years on from the late Aga Khan III's initial foray into European racing, the internationally-renowned operation celebrated a Classic victory Sunday as Vadeni dominated the G1 Prix du Jockey Club (French Derby) at Chantilly. It was also a first Group 1 victory for Coolmore stallion Churchill, from his first crop, highlighting the Aga Khan's belief in using the most suitable stallion for each individual mating, regardless of where they stand.

The Rising Star Machine…

Andiamo a Firenze was named the latest 'TDN Rising Star', and is the 23rd son/daughter of Speightstown to claim that honor. Echo Town, Charlatan, Sharing, and Munnings are also all on that particular roll of honor for WinStar's finest.

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TDN Snippets: Week of May 9-15

It was a relatively quiet week in the U.S. as everyone drew breath between Derby and Preakness, but the action came thick and fast in Europe. Here's what grabbed our attention over the last seven days.

From San Antonio to Longchamp…

Tony Parker, former San Antonio Spurs icon, was in the headlines Sunday as part-owner of Mangoustine (Fr) (Dark Angel {Ire}), winner of the G1 Emirates Poule d'Essai des Pouliches. Parker, who joins a growing list of sports stars involved in horse ownership in France, won four NBA championships (2003, 2005, 2007, and 2014) with the Spurs. His number nine jersey was also retired.

Never-Ending Success…

We the People is the second consecutive son of Constitution to win the GII Peter Pan S., following Promise Keeper last year. He's also bred on the same cross as the stallion's best son, Tiz the Law, whose quartet of Grade I wins includes the Belmont S. Although it should be noted that was the year it was run at 1 1/8 miles as the first leg of the Triple Crown in 2020.

2022, No More Drama…

It was reported last week, by the KHRC, that the post-race tests for banned substances in the GI Kentucky Derby and GI Longines Kentucky Oaks horses were cleared. Onwards and upwards.

The World's Greatest?…

Trainer William Haggas didn't quite go that far, after Baaeed (GB) (Sea The Stars {Ire})'s seventh win on the spin, but he also didn't really dismiss it. “I would not go as far as to say he is the best horse in the world–that is the sort of thing others might say–but he has done very well.” Either way, it's worth watching his latest romp in the G1 Al Shaqab Lockinge S. on repeat. Enjoy.

All That Glitters Is Gold For Brant…

She may have cost €3-million when purchased by Michel Zerolo's Oceanic Bloodstock at Arqana in December, and Rougir (Fr) (Territories {Ire}) will have far bigger goals than Saturday's GIII Beaugay S. at Belmont, but she's off to a good start for Chad Brown and new owners Peter Brant and Michael Tabor. Brant is on a terrific run at the moment, which is great to see for such a staunch supporter of the game.

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TDN Snippets: Week of Feb. 28-Mar. 6

It was a jam packed weekend of action from coast to coast. Here's a small, bite-sized sample of its impact on the bloodstock world.

All The Time…

Few sires are hotter right now than Taylor Made's Not This Time, who has the fewest crops of any of the top 10 sires on the 2022 general sire list. In addition to his one-two finish by Simplification and In Due Time in the Fountain of Youth, his Epicenter is also on the GI Kentucky Derby trail.

McGrath's Seal Of Approval…

Not This Time's 17 black-type winners include six graded winners and his sustained success recently prompted Chris McGrath to name Not This Time possibly Giant's Causeway's “principal American successor.”

No One Said It Was Easy…

Morello, who won the GIII Gotham S. Saturday, was the third-priciest Classic Empire 2-year-old sold at last year's Fasig-Tipton Midlantic sale when he brought $250,000, but is out of a mare who once RNA'd for $1,500. Stop the Wedding eventually sold in 2020 at Keeneland January for $11,000 to Robert Tillyer–co-breeder of Morello–while in foal to Cairo Prince. Her offspring at the sales have been all over the place, with some RNA'ing for the low four figures, and another bringing $525,000 as a juvenile.

Not Just California Dreamin'

Although the top three money earners for Union Rags, standing for $30,000 this year, have all excelled in California–Saturday's GI Santa Anita H. victor Express Train, Paradise Woods, and Catalina Cruiser–the Lane's End sire is by no means a one-trick pony. He's had a Grade I-winning 2-year-old colt, as well as two Grade I-winning 2-year-old fillies, a Grade I-winning 3-year-old filly, and now a Grade I-winning older horse. He's had graded winners on dirt and turf, short and long. Along the way, he's accumulated 13 graded winners among his 23 black-type winners.

Brilliant Racehorse, Brilliant Sire…

“It's a great day for Pharoah horses. American Pharoah has meant so much to racing.” — Bob Baffert

American Pharoah has four graded stakes winners on dirt in North America this year, topping TDN's General Sire List by that metric. He's more than the real deal.

Lev Miller Picks Up A Gem…

GII Davona Dale S. heroine Kathleen O. (Upstart) is the first foal out of Quaver, who has been a frequent visitor to Tapwrit in recent years, resulting in a 2-year-old colt named Tap Collector (a $65,000 OBS yearling purchased by PJ Campanella) and a yearling filly. Gainesway, Bridlewood, and the Tapwrit syndicate had bought Quaver with Kathleen O. in utero for $90,000 at the 2019 Keeneland January sale, then resold her at last year's Keeneland November sale in foal to Tapwrit for $140,000 to Lev Miller.

Rising Star Update For Yeguada Centurion…

Taiba, a $140,000 Fasig-Tipton October yearling turned last year's Fasig-Tipton Gulfstream second topper at $1.7 million, became the fourth 'TDN Rising Star' for Gun Runner. Interestingly, his dam, Needmore Flattery (Flatter), racked up more than $730,000 having never earned better than a 75 Beyer Speed Figure while competing mostly in Ohio-bred company. Needmore sold to Leopoldo Fernandez Pujals's Yeguada Centurion for $195,000 at Keeneland November in 2019 before being exported to France and foaling a filly by Uncle Mo.

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