Sheikh Mohammed Obaid Removes Horses From Trainer Roger Varian
August 19, 2024
Sheikh Mohammed Obaid Al Maktoum has removed his horses from leading Newmarket trainer Roger Varian, bringing an end to an association that had lasted nine years. The news comes after Amo Racing's Kia Joorabchian also removed his horses–including Group 1 winner King Of Steel–from the Newmarket handler back in May. Varian has trained many high-class [...]
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Rich Strike Re-Injured, Retirement Likely
August 18, 2024
As first reported by Horse Racing Nation, 80-1 GI Kentucky Derby shocker Rich Strike (Keen Ice) has suffered another setback due to an injury sustained during a training session in New York. According to an interview with the publication, Rich Strike had been in training with Bill Mott up at Saratoga when a ligament tear [...]
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Nyquist's Tenma Wins Pitched Battle On Debut At Del Mar
August 18, 2024
At sunny Del Mar, it was first-time starter Tenma (Nyquist–Amagansett, by Tapit) who battled a rival filly down the lane to graduate. The OBS April grad who was featured in TDN's Summer Breezes and Sunday Insights, went off as a 6-1 shot here. Even though stablemate Usha (Tiz the Law) came busting out of the [...]
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Fitting Finale at Arqana as Coolmore go to €1.7 Million for St Mark's Basilica Filly
August 18, 2024
By Brian Sheerin and Adam Houghton DEAUVILLE, France – Talk about a fitting finale. After what could only be described as a patchy opening two days to the August Yearling Sale, a St Mark's Basilica (Fr) filly (lot 270) out of Ecurie des Monceaux's blue hen Prudenzia (Ire) (Dansili {GB}) topped Sunday's concluding session at [...]
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Twirling Candy's Kimchi Cat Takes Bolton Landing Stakes At The Spa
August 18, 2024
Joel Politi's Kimchi Cat, entered for main track only, made the most of her stakes debut when the Bolton Landing Stakes came off the turf Sunday at Saratoga. The dark bay filly sat just off of pacesetting favorite Viggiedal through an opening quarter in :22.03. She rolled up four wide into the lane and took [...]
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MV Magnier Buys New Arqana Topper For €1.7 Million, A St Mark's Basilica Filly
August 18, 2024
The second seven-figure yearling tracing to Platonic (GB) (Zafonic) to sell on Sunday and the new sale topper, lot 270, a filly by St Mark's Basilica (Fr), caught the eye of MV Magnier for €1.7 million. Another consigned by Ecurie des Monceaux, the bay filly is a half-sister to Group 1 winners Chicquita (Ire) (Montjeu [...]
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Another Arqana Millionaire, As Night Of Thunder Filly Is Snapped Up By Al Shira'aa Racing
August 18, 2024
Ecurie des Monceaux's lot 249, a filly by Night Of Thunder (Ire), was knocked down to Al Shira'aa Racing during the third session of Arqana's August Yearling Sale in Deauville. The third seven-figure yearling of the sale at €1 million, the daughter of G3 Prix de Lutece victress Paix (Ire) (Muhaarar {GB}) is a granddaughter [...]
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Lope De Vega Filly Brings €1 million From Oliver St Lawrence In Deauville
August 18, 2024
Just a handful of lots into Sunday's session, a filly by Lope De Vega (Ire) (lot 240) brought a cool €1 million from Oliver St Lawrence Bloodstock. The daughter of Normandel (Fr) (Le Havre {Ire}) is the second seven-figure lot of the 2024 Arqana August Yearling Sale. Her dam, best known for winning the G3 [...]
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Fallen Angel Handed Matron Target
August 18, 2024
Classic winner Fallen Angel (GB) (Too Darn Hot {GB}), off the track since sustaining a setback that ruled her out of Royal Ascot, will aim for a start in the G1 Matron Stakes during Irish Champions Weekend at Leopardstown, according to trainer Karl Burke. Successful in the G1 Irish 1000 Guineas in the silks of [...]
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1,000 Wins in North America for Trainer George Weaver
August 17, 2024
When Beautiful Thief (Dialed In) won the 12th race at Saratoga Saturday, a maiden special weight on the turf for fillies three and up, she was doing more than visiting the winner's circle for the first time. Her victory pushed trainer George Weaver over the threshold of 1,000 career wins in North America. “It feels [...]
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Half-Brother To Sioux Nation Debuts At Pontefract
August 17, 2024
Observations on the European Racing Scene turns the spotlight on the best European races of the day, highlighting well-bred horses early in their careers, horses of note returning to action and young runners that achieved notable results in the sales ring. Sunday's Observations features a half-brother to Coolmore sire Sioux Nation. 15.45 Pontefract, Mdn, £22,000, [...]
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Grayosh An Upset Winner Of The Lake Placid
August 17, 2024
Grayosh upset the heavily favored She Feels Pretty to provide trainer Chad Brown with a fourth straight victory in the GII Lake Placid Stakes at Saratoga. Backed at odds of 7-1, the rail-drawn Grayosh raced in an inside third behind a pair of longshot leaders through fractions of :24.22 and :49.67. The gray set her [...]
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