Barbaro Updates: 940
updates are now here.
Update 5589: Paulick Report on Keeneland's second day: LIVE BLOGGING THE 2009 KEENELAND SEPTEMBER YEARLING SALE: DAY TWO.
Update 5588: Sue McMullen with European news:
Confirmation today that the BC Classic remains a possibility for Europe's superstar Sea The Stars or, as he is now known somewhat graphically at Ballydoyle 'Sea His Arse' following the Cape Cross' colt continued dominance over the Ballydoyle armoury.
Maestro John Oxx today confirmed that the brilliant five-time Group One winner (2,000 Guineas, Derby, Eclipse, Juddmonte International and the Irish Champion Stakes) will most likely head to Santa Anita if the ground at Longchamp rules him out of a tilt at the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe.
"If we miss the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe", said Oxx, "then we will obviously have to look at the two races that are left for him - the Champion Stakes at Newmarket or Santa Anita, where it would probably be the Breeders' Cup Classic rather than the Breeders' Cup Turf.
"The horse tells you what you are going to do, he has to be in good form and give us the right signals. It's very late in the year for a horse that has had a run in the 2000 Guineas but if he missed the Arc, then we would have to consider going to America.
"There hasn't been any final decision but it's highly unlikely that he will be in training next season. We haven't actually got as far as discussing it and we are just taking one race at a time. We are enjoying it while it is going on and that will be a decision for another day, probably in a month's time.
"The ratings are there in black and white and his performances are there for all to see. You would have to say that he is by far the best horse in training. Aidan (O'Brien) has some very, very good horses this year, probably among the best he has ever had with the likes of Fame And Glory and Rip Van Winkle, but Sea The Stars has been able to deal with them with some degree of comfort.
"Under performance would get him beat or bad luck in running or some strange thing happening but, if everything went according to plan and he stays in shape, he's obviously going to be very, very hard to beat."
Although he looks unlikely to line up, Sea The Stars guaranteed himself a place in the $3 million Emirates Airline Breeders' Cup Turf with his victory in the Tattersalls Millions Irish Champion Stakes.
The Leopardstown contest is part of the Breeders' Cup Challenge - an international series of 63 races whose winners earn qualifying positions into a corresponding race at the World Championships, following the payment of applicable entry fees on October 26.
There are 11 Challenge races held in Europe this year, with the next events taking place at Ascot on September 26. The three Ascot contests are the Group Two Juddmonte Royal Lodge Stakes (winner receives a place in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf), the Group One Meon Valley Stud Fillies' Mile (winner receives a place in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies' Turf) and the Group One Queen Elizabeth II Stakes, one of Europe's premier all-aged mile contests, for which the victor will be guaranteed a place in the TVG Breeders' Cup Mile.
Meanwhile trainer Freddie Head revealed today that last season's TVG Breeders' Cup Mile winner Goldikova, one of the best fillies to race in Europe in recent years, is on course for the $2 million contest again this year (at Santa Anita on November 7) and will have her prep run over seven furlongs in the Group One Prix de la Foret at Longchamp on Saturday, October 3.
The four-year-old put in an outstanding performance to beat subsequent Group One winner Aqlaam by six lengths in the Group One Fresnay-le-Buffard Jacques Le Marois at Deauville on August 16, her sixth success in Group or Grade One company.
Goldikova holds entries in the Group One Queen Elizabeth II Stakes at Ascot on September 26 and the Group One Sun Chariot Stakes at Newmarket on Saturday, October 3, but Head has decided to keep the filly at home for her next start.
"Goldikova will be running in the Prix de la Foret at Longchamp and then, providing she runs well, she will be heading to Santa Anita," said Head.
"She is very well at the moment and I am very pleased with her. We decided that the best way to target her at the Breeders' Cup would be to run her at Longchamp rather than going to Newmarket or Ascot.
"She could still return to Britain next season if all goes well on her next two starts."
Update 5587: University of Delaware have written a very cool profile of me: Alex Brown, BE '92 MBA.
Update 5586 - Superfecta here, with your regular weekly update.
As much as I like to complain that the racing industry often Gets It Wrong, the Breeders' Cup did two Very Good Things this week (and it's only Tuesday). First, they announced that a race will be airing live between two college football games on October 10th - and while I don't personally see the point of college football (or, really, any football that largely involves the hands), this is a very smart marketing move. Depending on how things shake out, we should have a chance to see either Zenyatta or Mine That Bird in a Breeders' Cup prep.
There will be a good schedule of racing shown October 10th on ESPN in any event (the Goodwood, the Lady's Secret, the Oak Tree Mile, the Shadwell Turf Mile and the Dixiana Breeders' Futurity), but getting at least one of those races out to a new audience is a welcome gesture. It's a shame it couldn't have been the Woodward, but it's a step in the right direction.
The second Good Thing is the launch of Breeders' Cup 360 - it may be aimed primarily at bettors, but it's full of plenty of great content and it's powered by our favorite racing engine, Raceday 360. There's plenty of opportunity for commentary and discussion and it's got a fantabulous layout and design - full marks for everyone involved!
The flip side to all the good news was the very strange outcome of the Prix Vermeille over the weekend, in which the winning filly, Dar Re Mi, was disqualified to fifth - leaving the pre-race favorite Stacelita undefeated. The reasoning was that she interfered with the fifth-place horse, but I would challenge anyone to find anything amiss with the ride - it's certainly not one of those 50/50 calls. Both fillies will likely still point to the Arc - but as impressive as Stacelita has been so far this season, in my mind, she's certainly not undefeated anymore. And if the ground comes up soft in Paris on October 4th, Stacelita, a fan of the wet stuff, may well be the victor - for Sea the Stars won't run if it's damp. In that case, we'd be more likely to see him in the Breeders' Cup in November - but in any event, the race for the Arc has gotten very interesting indeed.
Update 5585: Yet another gorgeous morning this morning for training horses at Woodbine. I had six to gallop for Steve, and all galloped nicely. I also went to the track to watch Salty work, he looked in good form under his jockey, Luis Contreras. Once I was finished I went over to get on Hooh Why, who also went nicely. A very straightforward morning's work.
And to continue our Woodbine Characters series:
David Clark, jockey. David Clark is one of the senior jockeys in the jocks room at Woodbine, just count the wrinkles! David is originally from England (I did not know that), he has won multiple Queen's Plates, has won a Soveriegn Award and more than 1,400 races at Woodbine. David's main clients include Josie Carroll, Bob Tiller.
Update 5584: ABR weekly Facebook Group e-mail: Tweet This: Canadian-bred sale, Steve Asmussen, Gone West, ABR Radio, Rachel Alexandra, Steve Asmussen, Passion Rules number 5,000, Lady Attack, Ajax Downs, Delaware Park, Sea The Stars, Brett Favre, Thistledowns.
And please keep calling.
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ATTENTION PLEASE!!!
I spoke with Makendra at the Cloud Foundation today... They are planning a march in DC for 9/29... THEY NEED ATTENDEES!!!! PLEASE IF YOU CAN GO, DO IT! Details are coming soon...
AND DO NOT STOP CALLING
If we cannot make this march since it is on a weekday....how can we support them?
do separate marches where we live....pick another day....do whatever we can to support them...please.
OUR HORSES VOICES ARE CRYING OUT TO US...OUR ANIMALS AND WILDLIFE ARE CRYING OUT TO US....
Do you hear them????
Posted by: joan roya at September 15, 2009 1:21 PM