Triple GISW Jack Christopher Retired to Ashford

WHILE it could hardly be described as a rags to riches story, victory for Señor Buscador in the $20-million Group 1 Saudi Cup at King Abdulaziz Racecourse in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia last weekend did have some fairytale elements to it. The six-year-old is a son of Mineshaft (A.P. Indy) who stands for a mere $10000 at Lane's End, where he has…

The 575k Sale-Topper By St Mark's Basilica | Tattersalls By Friday marked a breakout result for five-time Group 1-winner St Mark's Basilica (Fr) as a filly by Coolmore's freshman sire out of the Oaks winner Talent (GB) (New Approach {Ire}) topped the December Foal Sale at Tattersalls on 575000gns. The aggregate fell 11% compared to this day 12…

Robin Bruss writes that it's more than 50 years since Hawaii became one of the legends of the turf winning 15 of his 18 starts in South Africa before going to race in America and winning 6 of his 10 starts to become Champion Grass Horse of 1970 and retiring to stud to make his mark in history by siring, amongst others, the English Derby winner,…

After a long period of domination by Coolmore, thanks mainly to Sadler's Wells and then his son Galileo, the balance of power in the British and Irish sires' championship has switched from County Tipperary to Newmarket in recent seasons. It's there that Juddmonte's Frankel and Darley's Dubawi have been engaged in a tug-of-war for the title for the…

John Sargent, the genial Randwick trainer, joked that Glad You Think So's insatiable appetite could send him broke. "I can't give that colt enough food,'' Sargent said. "He's the biggest eater in my stable by a mile. He's always hungry so if he leaves anything in his feed bin then there must be something wrong. "But he's tall and lean - I don't…

A fitter Ashford Street will have another crack at causing a Valley boilover in Saturday's Listed Carlyon Stakes (1000m). Ashford Street threatened to pull off a shock first-up win at $41 when fourth, beaten just a half-length, behind quality sprinter Sweet Ride at The Valley on August 12. TAB has given Ashford Street a little more respect this…

Underlining the quality of TDN Rising Star Mr Hollywood (Ire) (Iquitos {Ger}), Liberty Racing's Fantastic Moon (Ger) (Sea The Moon {Ger}) came out of a heavy beating in Munich's G3 Bavarian Classic by that Henk Grewe stable luminary to capture Saturday's G3 Japan Racing Association - Derby-Trial at Baden-Baden. Sent off the 8-5 favourite for the…

Fans of Tom Petty and of the most recent Triple Crown winner will be attracted to an undefeated filly when Sydney's Rosehill Racecourse hosts the world's richest race for 2-year-olds Friday night and Saturday morning U.S. time. Learning To Fly, a daughter of Justify, is the second wagering choice for the Group 1, $3.25 million Golden Slipper. Among…

Coolmore Stud supremo Tom Magnier has laughed off suggestions he will be presenting keys for a new Ferrari to himself if his brilliant filly Learning To Fly wins the $2m Inglis Millennium at Royal Randwick next week. "There is a high chance Learning To Fly will run in the Inglis Millennium, that's the plan,'' Magnier said. "But if she wins the…

Triple Grade 1 winner Jack Christopher, a three-year-old son of Munnings, has been retired from racing and will stand at Coolmore America's Ashford Stud for an advertised fee of $45000, the farm announced on Friday. "Jack Christopher was an exceptional talent," said trainer Chad Brown. "I've never had a dirt horse with such brilliance. He never…

Like an uninvited dinner guest, long shot Caravel ruined Golden Pal's retirement gala with a front-running win in Saturday's $1 million Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint. But it was actually Golden Pal himself who spoiled the party, showing up late and then barely mingling with the other guests before fading from view. Golden Pal was expected to go to the…

Blue Star Racing is excited to announce the arrival of Breaking Lucky to their breeding facilities in Scott, La. After beginning his stallion career at Blue Star Racing, he moved to Florida for the 2021 and 2022 breeding seasons. "After many breeders' requests, we're excited to bring Breaking Lucky back to the Bayou State," said Dex Comardelle of…

Kimari (Munnings) tuned up for the GI Breeders' Cup F/M Sprint with an effortless victory in the GII Gallant Bloom S. at the Belmont at Aqueduct meet Sunday. The 3-5 favorite sat just off pacesetting Lady Rocket (Tale of the Cat) through an opening quarter in:23.55. The pacesetter looked to skip away into the stretch after a half in:46.98, but Joel…

SARATOGA SPRINGS - After trying two turns, Jack Christopher returned on Saturday to what he is - an exceptional 3-year-old sprinter. In his first start since a third-place finish in the nine-furlong Haskell at Monmouth Park last month, Jack Christopher cut back in distance impressively with a 1 1/4-length victory in the Grade I Allen Jerkens run at…

Trainer Chad Brown's brilliant 3-year-old Jack Christopher got back to his winning ways on Saturday at Saratoga Race Course, where he took the Grade 1, $500000 H. Allen Jerkens Memorial by 1 1/4 lengths to remain unbeaten around one turn. A chestnut son of Munnings, Jack Christopher began his career with four straight victories before facing his…

Jim Bakke, Gerald Isbister, Coolmore Stud, and Peter Brant's Jack Christopher tracked the pace from second early, then moved to the lead nearing the stretch and captured his third win at the elite level in the $500000 H. Allen Jerkens Memorial Stakes (G1) Saturday at Saratoga. The 3-year-old Munnings colt suffered his first loss last time out when…

The $1 million, Grade 1 TVG.com Haskell Stakes at Monmouth Park isn't part of the Triple Crown, but it often seems like a summer extension of the spring classics. The prestigious 1 1/8-mile prize annually draws some of the best 3-year-old Thoroughbreds in the country, including alumni from the Grade 1 Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve,…

Nasser Bin Omairah's Mo Strike attended a strong pace but had plenty of stamina to spare en route to an impressive score in Saturday's Grade 3, $175000 Sanford, a six-furlong sprint for juveniles at Saratoga Race Course. Trained by Brad Cox, the Uncle Mo bay entered from a prominent three-quarter length debut win in a 5 1/2-furlong maiden special…

One of the biggest weeks in Flat racing kicks off on Tuesday, with everything bloodstock enthusiasts could wish for including runners by first-season sires and international stallions being represented. We take a look at some of the potential bloodstock angles that could pop up at the royal meeting. There would be no bigger cheer this week than a…

Dream on Hitotsu, $2m Bentley Australian Derby is where dreams come true, at Royal Randwick's Sydney Autumn Racing Carnival, also Day 1 of The Star Championships. 'Where Stories are Made,' it's the Ciaron Maher and David Eustace trained Hitotsu who's $3.50 fav. with Ladbrokes, again with John Allen in the irons, having last won the Australian…

As one Kentucky Derby hopeful underwent surgery, another underwent surgery to his Derby futures odds after winning his stakes debut. Jack Christopher, who was the 9/5 morning-line favorite before being scratched from the Breeders' Cup Juvenile, had a screw placed in a left shin, according to Blood-Horse. After Dr. Larry Bramlage performed the…

There's a common phrase in horse racing that says "horses aren't machines," and the truth behind this phrase is rarely more apparent than when a talented horse isn't quite running to expectations. Such was the case with a talented colt named Lure, who began his career in 1991 by breaking a track record for five furlongs at Belmont Park only to lose…

You can plot the graph of Gleneagles' odds for next Saturday's Qipco 2000 Guineas quite easily. He was 33-1 after he won his maiden at the Curragh last June, 25-1 after he won the G3 Tyros Stakes at Leopardstown in July, 20-1 after he won the G2 Futurity Stakes at the Curragh in August, 16-1 after he won the G1 National Stakes at the Curragh in…

When the Queen Anne Stakes starts the proceedings at Royal Ascot on Tuesday, the punters may have little trouble placing the namesake of Coolmore's runner, Verrazano. But if the 16th-century Italian explorer Giovanni da Verrazzano comes to mind, it would be not quite right. With a slightly different spelling, Verrazano the horse, a European…