Marette Farrell

Legendary Australian trainer Gai Waterhouse recently spent five days touring Kentucky's horse country. Upon returning to her headquarters at Tulloch Lodge in Sydney this week, the Hall of Fame trainer of 149 Group 1 wins, including a record seven G1 Golden Slippers, is looking forward to taking her findings and putting them to use at her own exceedingly-successful stable. "You know the old expression--you can't see the forest for the trees if you're there all day," Waterhouse explained. "You have to go away to freshen up. I felt like I...

The Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association is hosting a Pedigree & Conformation Clinic on Saturday and Sunday, Mar. 12-13 in Ocala, Florida. The clinic will be held at the Ocala Breeders' Sales grounds. Speakers include: representatives from the Florida Thoroughbred Breeders' and Owners Association, including Tammy Gantt; Andrew Vanlangendonck and Francis Vanlangendonck of Summerfield Sales; Dr. Jeffrey T. Berk (veterinarian); Marette Farrell (bloodstock agent); Tod Wojciechowski, director of sales for Ocala Breeders' Sales Company; Eddie Woods of Eddie Woods Training Center; Gail Rice (breeder); and more. Meals, educational materials, and...

Presumptive 2-year-old champion male and GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile hero Corniche (Quality Road) will be freshened briefly at WinStar Farm in Kentucky this winter before returning to Bob Baffert's barn, according to a report in Daily Racing Form. Marette Farrell, who purchased the $1.5-million colt for Speedway Stable, said Corniche was sent to Kentucky last Wednesday. "It's time to give him a little bit of a break," Farrell told DRF. "Speedway likes to use WinStar for lay-ups. He can be turned out, graduate to a paddock, and they have a...

by Jessica Martini, Brian DiDonato, and Christie DeBernardis LEXINGTON, KY - The Keeneland November Breeding Stock Sale saved its best to almost last Wednesday with Paris Lights (Curlin) capping a day of solid trade when bringing a final bid of $3.1 million from Spendthrift Farm. The racing or broodmare prospect was one of seven to top the million-dollar mark during the one-session Book 1 section of the 10-day Keeneland November sale. "It was a good, steady, strong session," Keeneland President and CEO Shannon Arvin said Wednesday night. "We felt great...

Demand remained high as the Book 4 section of the Keeneland September Yearling Sale concluded with a daughter of first-crop sire Collected leading home a top one-two-three finish for Ontario-breds when selling for a session-topping $320,000 to Speedway Stables. Bloodstock agent Marette Farrell made the winning bid on behalf of Peter Fluor and K.C. Weiner's operation and the yearling was bred and consigned by Dave Anderson's Anderson Farms. "It's the greatest market I've ever seen in my lifetime," Anderson said of the September sale. "I have never been so busy...

A colt by leading sire Into Mischief that was bred by and consigned to the Keeneland September sale by Greg Goodman's Mt. Brilliant Farm was knocked down to Winchell Thoroughbreds for $1.35 million towards the end of the first day of trade in Lexington. A Valentine's Day foal, hip 177 is out of Ballymacoll's Superioritycomplex (Ire) (Hard Spun), a maiden winner over the Chelmsford all-weather in five starts for trainer Sir Michael Stoute before being purchased by Marette Farrell on behalf of Mt. Brilliant for 400,000gns ($566,076) at Tattersalls December...

   Two weeks ago, the TDN reported the news that Keeneland would offer a two-day Book One with Day One RNAs offered at the end of Day Two. Tuesday, Keeneland revealed the entire schedule for the sale, including a shift of the dark day from after Book 1 to after Book 2. We checked in with a mix of industry participants to see what their reaction to the schedule changes were.                                       Meg Levy, Bluewater Sales I am very proud of the CBA, and the president, Allaire Ryan, who was...

When the gates sprang open for Saturday's Listed Oaks Trial Fillies' S. at Lingfield, Sherbet Lemon (Lemon Drop Kid) wasn't aware of her odds--which, at 28-1, where the longest in the eight-filly field. And while it may have come as a surprise to many when she dug in late over the soft course to overhaul more fancied rivals, the grey was simply doing what her substantial pedigree suggested she should. The name Lemon Drop Kid may not turn many heads in Europe, but Lane's End's five time Grade I-winning relative...

By Jessica Martini & Christie DeBernardis OCALA, FL - A pair of million-dollar juveniles punctuated a day of lively trade in Central Florida as the Ocala Breeders' Sales Company's Spring Sale of 2-Year-Olds reached its midway point with a second session Wednesday. "We certainly picked up where we left off yesterday and the action was just as good, if not better, and we hope it continues to move forward into the next two days," said OBS Director of Sales Tod Wojciechowski. "We came into the sale with some expectations given...

A son of leading sire Quality Road was the first to hit the seven-figure mark at the OBS Spring Sale's second session Wednesday, bringing $1.5 million from Marette Farrell. Bred by Bart Evans and Stonehaven Steadings, the bay is a son of MGSW & MGISP Wasted Tears (Najran). Consigned by de Meric Sales, the :10 flat breeze RNA'd for $385,000 at KEESEP.

You have to shake out a lot of grit from the riverbed before you glimpse that glint of gold. John Ropes started panning just about 40 years ago. He had a girl working for him at the time whose father, Andy Smithers, trained in Canada. When Ropes told her that he'd decided to buy a racehorse, she tried to save him. "No," she implored. "I'm telling you, don't do it." Ropes was adamant. He had always loved horses. His parents took him racing as a kid in Miami and, though...

Thoroughbred Charities of America (TCA), which raises funds and distributes those funds to Thoroughbred-related charities, announced Monday five new additions to its Board of Directors: Leah O'Meara, Andy Hils, Erik Johnson, Marshall Gramm, and Marette Farrell. They join current board members Mike McMahon (president), Nathan McCauley (vice president), Davant Latham (secretary), and Lesley Howard (treasurer), as well as Bob Beck, Bing Bush, Lesley Campion, Bob Edwards, Terry Finley, Brant Laue, Jaime Roth, and Anna Seitz. Gretchen Jackson, Ellen Moelis, Herb Moelis, and Dan Rosenberg are directors emeriti. "We are delighted...