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Australian Derby hero and Sha Tin G1 Hong Kong Cup third Criterion (Aus) (Sebring {Aus}) is in quarantine at the Werribee International Horse Centre for two weeks prior to an autumn campaign reported Racing and Sports. The strapping chestnut is bound for Lindsay Park at Euroa, the country base of co-trainers David Hayes and Tom Dabernig.  "He's a real beauty," Dabernig told Racing and Sports. "He holds his condition. A lot of horses traveling don't, but he does well in that situation. He'll have a couple of weeks there and then head...

by Gai Waterhouse Five years ago, I changed my breaking in process and I changed it for the better. This change has been better for me and--more importantly--for all of my horses. My father Tommy Smith once upon a time broke in 60 to 80 babies at a time at Randwick and he did this with great success. T.J. had three breakers, and they all did the work, and my word, did they work hard. For some reason, my father's breaking-in facilities disappeared with the coming of several new apartment...

by T. D. Thornton The biannual Pan American Racing Conference opens in New York City on Thursday, hosted by The Jockey Club and planned in conjunction with the South American Organization for the Promotion of Thoroughbreds, which represents the sport in nine Latin and South American countries, and the Latin American Racing Channel.  "Globalization" will be the buzzword, a spirit that is reflected in the geographically diverse agenda for the two-day summit, which will also include speakers and presenters from Europe and Asia.  Topics like the importing and exporting of...

The middle of Rockefeller Center, which six months ago was filled with ice skaters, played host to a much different scene on an unseasonably brisk June morning. The plaza was bustling with many of horse racing's elite, as well as a plethora of media, Wednesday for the GI Belmont S. draw, which was held in Manhattan instead of its traditional home in Belmont's Garden Terrace.  The connections of Triple Crown hopeful American Pharoah (Pioneerof the Nile) were the highlight of the draw with cameras clicking away, capturing their every move. Trainer Bob...

Stonestreet Stables's lightly raced 'TDN Rising Star' Rock Fall (Speightstown) gets tested for class as he makes his stakes debut in Belmont's GII True North S. A second-out romper over track and trip last May, he annexed a first-level allowance in June before hitting the bench for an extended break. Brought back successfully at Gulfstream Mar. 15, the 4-year-old Todd Pletcher pupil crushed Keeneland optional claimers by nine lengths Apr. 18, good for a lofty 109 Beyer Speed Figure. The only runner here to have earned a higher Beyer is the somewhat...

Ken and Sarah Ramsey's Stephanie's Kitten (Kitten's Joy) looms an imposing presence as she makes a belated second start of the year in Belmont's GII New York S. Friday. The 2013 GI Just a Game S. heroine was transferred from Wayne Catalano to Chad Brown at the beginning of last season, finishing off the board in Keeneland's GI Jenny Wiley S. in April and in defense of her Just a Game title some 364 days ago before close seconds in the Spa's GI Diana S. July 19 and Arlington's GI Beverly D....

Anthony Bonomo's reign as chairman of the New York Racing Association Reorganization Board lasted barely two months.  According to multiple news reports, Bonomo took a leave of absence from the NYRA board on Tuesday, just days after his company was revealed to have allegedly provided a "no-show" job to the son of former state Senate Majority Leader Dean Skelos. "I do not want to have recent events distract from the ongoing work of NYRA," Bonomo wrote in a letter to Gov. Andrew Cuomo that was reprinted in part by the...

By Steve Sherack Just as he's done all spring in the mornings at Churchill Downs and Pimlico, dual Classic winner American Pharoah (Pioneerof the Nile) continued to show all the right signs during his first piece of light exercise at Belmont Park Wednesday.  With the sun attempting to peek through the clouds on a cool and overcast morning, the Zayat homebred looked as good as ever while entering the track with his neck slightly arched while under a snug hold by his regular exercise rider Jorge Alvarez. Accompanied by assistant trainer Jimmy...

Day 2 of the Magic Millions National Yearling Sale saw trade step up a gear from the opening day session. 3 yearlings sold for A$200,000 or more with proceedings headed by a son of I Am Invincible (Aus) who was knocked down to John Crowley for Mecca Thoroughbreds for A$260,000. The colt, catalogued as lot 1862 will be trained in Sydney with Crowley commenting, "He's the best colt in the sale. He's a very athletic horse. He moves very well and he's going to make a lovely three-year-old - just a real...

Evergreen sprinter Kingsgate Native (Ire) (Mujadil) is to step back up to pattern level following the 10-year-old gelding's heartwarming win in the Listed Achilles S. at Haydock last Saturday. It is 8 years since Cheveley Park Stud's speedster won the G1 Nunthorpe S. as a 2-year-old and judging on last weekends performance under Graham Lee the old boy has a lot more to offer. His trainer Robert Cowell is eyeing the G3 Coral Charge at Sandown July 4 as the next target and commented, "Kingsgate Native is a superstar and, as Graham...

G1 Epsom Derby second favorite Zawraq (Ire) (Shamardal) is reported to have made "substantial improvement" in his race against time to be fit for Saturday's showcase. Dermot Weld's colt has been in the news regularly this week owing to an injury scare following a satisfactory piece of work on Tuesday morning, after which he was found to have been slightly lame. Initial X-rays and scans suggested the injury was not serious and his leg has been iced during the last 24 hours. Hamdan Al Maktoum's unbeaten 3-year-old engaged in light exercise on...

The Richard Hannon-trained filly Illuminate (Ire) (Zoffany {Ire}), who made such a favorable impression when winning a Salisbury maiden on her debut in May, is on course for the G3 Albany S. at Royal Ascot. Her clearcut defeat of stablemate Great Page (Ire) (Roderic O'Connor {Ire}) reads all the better now following the subsequent impressive victory of the runner up in a Listed race at Naas on Monday. Speaking on behalf of owners Denford Stud Paul Webber said, "The thinking is she will go for the Albany. The form took a huge boost on Monday and...