McKulick (GB)

by Jessica Martini, Christina Bossinakis, & Jill Williams LEXINGTON, KY - The Fasig-Tipton November Sale failed to continue its streak of $100-million plus gross results, but did produce a day of vibrant trade from a diverse international buying bench Monday in Lexington. Twenty-five mares sold for $1 million or more during the auction, matching the figure from 2023. Nine sold for $2 million or more and four sold for $3 million or over, compared to 16 and 10, respectively, a year ago. "It was another tremendous November sale," said Fasig-Tipton...

La Mehana (Fr) (Al Wukair {Ire}) made a shrewd move up the rail in the final furlong and earned the first graded/group stakes win of her career in the GIII Waya at the Big A on Friday. Prior to going for €400,000 last December at the Arqana Mixed Sale, La Mehana began her career as a late juvenile in France under the care of Henri-Alex Pantall where after a second-place debut she made the switch to the yard of Jean-Claude Rouget. Over the course of the next two years, the...

   In this series, the TDN takes a look at notable successes of European-based sires in North America. This week's column is highlighted by the victory of Kertez in the Pan American S. in Florida.   Pan American Win For Kertez Michael Dubb, Morris Bailey and West Point Thoroughbreds' Kertez (GB) (Intello {Ger}) put it all together for a victory in the GII Pan American S. at Gulfstream Park at the end of March (video). The Christophe Clement trainee was bred by Wertheimer et Frere. Trained earlier in his career...

Observations on the European Racing Scene turns the spotlight on the best European races of the day, highlighting well-pedigreed horses early in their careers, horses of note returning to action and young runners that achieved notable results in the sales ring. Tuesday's Observations features a half-sister to Grade I winner McKulick. 18.30 Wolverhampton, £9,980, Mdn, 2yo, 7f 36y (AWT) Sheikh Mohammed bin Khalifa Al Maktoum's ROBEENA (GB) (Calyx {GB}), one of two debutantes representing Roger Varian, is a homebred half-sister to three black-type performers headed by last year's GI Belmont...

   In this series, the TDN takes a look at notable successes of European-based sires in North America. This week's column is highlighted by the victory of Nations Pride in the Canadian International at Woodbine and two other graded wins for Godolphin colourbearers.   Nations Pride Adds Another Graded Win To His Resume Autumn in North America is a rich seasonal hunting ground for Godolphin's European raiders, particularly those trained by Charlie Appleby, and Nations Pride (Ire) (Teofilo {Ire}) scooped Woodbine's GI Canadian International S. recently (video). The royal blue...

   In this series, the TDN takes a look at notable successes of European-based sires in North America. This week's column is highlighted by Elusive Princess, who won the GIII Saratoga Oaks Invitational S. on Friday. Princess Reigns In Saratoga Oaks LNJ Foxwoods, Ecurie Victoria Dreams, and NK Racing's Elusive Princess (Fr) (Martinborough {Jpn}) made her Stateside debut a winning one at Saratoga for trainer Jean-Philippe Dubois on Friday (video). Bred by her trainer, she won three of her first four French starts for Ecurie Victoria Dreams, and was runner-up...

The influence of Champion grass horse and MGISW English Channel both on the racetrack and in the breeding shed cannot be overstated. After stints at Hurricane Hall, Lane's End and finally, Calumet, we sadly lost him late in 2021, but he still has an active group that continues to carry home his legacy. Who is his most successful offspring? Maybe it's Chicago's own, MGISW The Pizza Man? Or how about MGISW Channel Maker, who just added another graded trophy to his collection last weekend at the ripe old age of...

Trainer Chad Brown will saddle the top two choices on the morning-line for Saturday's GI Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup S. at Keeneland, one of three graded stakes races on the afternoon. McKulick (GB) (Frankel {GB}), the even-money choice to become Brown's fifth winner in this prestigious affair, broke through with a career high in the GI Belmont Oaks Invitational S. July 9 and added the GIII Jockey Club Oaks Invitational S. at Aqueduct Sept. 17 two starts later. She cuts back in trip to 1 1/8 miles here. McKulick...

Sent off the 27-5 fourth choice and only the second best-fancied of the three fillies in the race for trainer Chad Brown, Klaravich Stables' McKulick (GB) (Frankel {GB}) hit top gear with a furlong to race and ran out a facile winner of Saturday's GI Belmont Oaks Invitational S. to become the first American top-level winner for her all-conquering Banstead Manor-based stallion. With The Moonlight (Ire) completed a Frankel exacta, while the winner's commonly owned stablemate Consumer Spending (More Than Ready) finished with interest for third. It was a fourth...

by Stefanie Grimm & Patrycja Szpyra With the Fourth of July holiday weekend in the rear-view mirror, the summer turf season kicks into high gear starting with a pair of Grade I's at Belmont Park Saturday. The home team takes on a new wave of European challengers in the 1 1/4-mile GI Caesars Belmont Derby Invitational S., the first leg of the Caesars Turf Triple Series. Tiz the Bomb (Hit It a Bomb), last seen finishing ninth behind longshot GI Kentucky Derby winner Rich Strike (Keen Ice), finally gets back...