Horse and Hound: Bute to be allowed in sport horse world

Horse and Hound reported today that low levels of bute will be allowed in sport horse competition beginning in 2010. Sheikh Mohammed’s wife Princess Haya, president of the International Equestrian Federation (FEI), refused to re-vote the controversial issue, the publication also reported. Sven Holmberg, vice president of the FEI, has publicly slammed the decision, Horse and Hound said.

New Neuss racetrack is built as multifunctional leisure area

Colorful interior at the new Neuss.

The old grandstand and other structures were demolished at the racetrack in the German city of Neuss last year, and with the backing and funding of the city council a new modernist structure with a distinct butterfly roof – a multifunctional facility, as it’s been described, within a recreational area for the citizens of the city – opened last week in time to conduct the annual Neuss race meet. The track is unique rare for Europe because it can conduct night meets under lights, and the winter program is held over an old all-weather sand track, which was apparently not refurbished. See the evolution of the track, below.

Horses racing over the sand track at the old Neuss track.

Racing Post: US isolationism could harm breeding industry

Philip Freedman wrote in Racing Post recently that unless the US mindset expands past “traditional” dirt racing to embrace the advent of synthetics, the US breeding industry will become isolated from the international arena. He wrote:

The alternative is isolationism – with its racing and breeding industries not only looking to protect themselves against foreign competition but also leaving the sport isolated from the public to whom it must appeal – a position which history suggests will hurt not only American racing but all on whom a healthy global industry depends.”

Click here to read the entire column.

Repent is the eMatings Stallion of the Week, Werk writes

Two weeks ago at the Breeders’ Cup, Crown of Thorns was beaten only a nose in the G1 sprint on Pro Ride. This weekend, the 3yo Repent filly Sweet Repent won the $200,000 Elmer Heubeck Distaff H. at Calder against Florida-breds; and the 2yo Beijin won the $50,000 Donna Freyer S. at Philadelphia Park for Pa-breds. The Repents should do just as well in the restricted program in New York, but they won’t be limited to races for New York-breds, judging by the quality of horses such as Crown of Thorns and others.” — Jack Werk

Click here to read.

Sheikh Hamdan’s Shadwell’s presence felt in S. America

Escolaso won the Uruguayan Derby -- officially, the Gran Premio Nacional - Copa Shadwell -- at Maronas Sunday. Note the Shadwell sponsorship banner.

Sheikh Mohammed’s brother Sheikh Hamdan owns Shadwell, which isn’t as ubiquitous a presence as his brother’s Darley and Godolphin in the racing world. But the Shadwell banner has been strategically prominent internationally, and lately its presence has been noted in South America, from where Shadwell got Horse of the Year Invasor – bred in Argentina and originally raced in Uruguay. In fact, Shadwell sponsored the Uruguayan Derby — the Gran Premio Nacional - Copa Shadwell — this past weekend (see the photo above and the Shadwell banner), won by Escolaso. Invasor won the same race in 2005.

This weekend, Shadwell’s presence moves to Brazil, where it is partnering with the United Arab Emirates and the Jockey Club of São Paulo to sponsor a lucrative race by South American standards, an $85,000 event at 2800 meters (about 14 furlongs) Saturday. According to press reports, a large delegation from Dubai landed in São Paulo to attend the event, which is part of a larger promotional initiative for horse racing and the strengthening of ties between the two countries.  Ambassador of United Arab Emirates to Brazil, Chile, and Cuba, Yussuf Ali Osaimi;  Mirza Al Sayegh, who oversees Sheikh Hamdan’s commercial affairs; and other prominent people from the UAE are expected to be present.

Overdose has returned to Hungary in secrecy, press says

Overdose, a Hungarian icon, is pictured here with constant companion Barbara Budinszki, groom, work rider, and friend.

Press reports from Budapest say that undefeated Hungarian sprint star Overdose, who was convalescing in England from foot injuries, has returned to Budapest with his companion, Barbara Budinszki, who’s been with the horse from the day he entered training with Sandor Ribarszki. Overdose is owned by a partnership headed by Zoltan Mikoczy, an ethnic Hungarian of Slovak nationality who was arrested in Romania last month and sentenced to 19 months for his role in the theft of meat-processing equipment from his own company, which was under bankruptcy protection. Mr. Mikoczy and his partner were charged with forging documents to remove the equipment reportedly valued at €165,000 from his company .

According to press reports, Overdose was flown to Hungary in secrecy because Mr. Mikoczy allegedly fears that Romanian authorities will attempt to place liens on the colt. The owner’s lawyer, however, has said that Romanian authorities would have no rights to the prized colt, who is a celebrity in Hungary.

Overdose was reportedly flown from England to Hungary on Sunday, Nov. 8, and was vanned to his trainer’s yard in Dunakeszi, north of Budapest.

Sadler’s Wells-line sires now getting dirt filly classic winners

Sadler’s Wells, a son of Northern Dancer, is the greatest classic sire in recent European history, and his two high-powered sons, Galileo and Montjeu, are continuing this tradition on the continent, where turf rules. Montjeu also has had success in Australia and New Zealand, where the late Sadler’s Wells stallion Scenic has left his mark as well. Racing in Australia and New Zealand is on turf, too, and grass has been the preferred surface for this line, but things are changing.

The Sadler’s Wells horse El Prado, who passed away this year, started the dirt revolution for this line in the new world, and his son Medaglia d’Oro is continuing the fight. His first crop, age 3 this year, includes the future hall of famer and classic-winning filly Rachel Alexandra, who beat colts in the Preakness, Haskell, and Woodward.

Another son of Sadler’s Wells, Water Poet, is the leading sire in Venezuela, where his 3-year-old daughter Bambera is a multiple classic winner on dirt who’s defeated colts, like Rachel Alexandra.

Yesterday in Argentina (Nov. 14), the Sadler’s Wells shuttler Poliglote, who is mediocre in Europe but has seven Group 1 winners in Argentina, was represented by the Oaks winner Kalath Wells, who won the race on dirt. 

Note that all three fillies have speed and race on or with the pace. Bambera is in the light blue silks below and starts in second before taking over; Rachel sets the pace; and Kalath Wells, a gray, also races on the lead.

See the fillies below. First up is Bambera, shown winning the Clasico Simon Bolivar at La Rinconada Oct. 25 over 2400 meters; next is Rachel Alexandra’s Preakness, at 1 3/16 miles at Pimlico; and finally, Kalath Wells’s Oaks at Palermo over 2000 meters yesterday.

Thoroughbred Times Today: Horses are starving in China

Thoroughbred Times Today (Nov. 15 edition) has a link to this story about the starvation of horses in China.

Beijing Jockey Club: Located in the TongZhou district of Beijing, the club is housed on 160 hectares.

Tweets on first-crop sires and why you shouldn’t avoid ‘em

I posted the follwing notes on Twitter on Nov. 12 and made a post from them, below the tweets.

  

why u should not avoid unproven sires: Street Cry (sire of Street Sense and Zenyatta), Medaglia (Rachel), Birdstone (2 Birds) all 1st crops 9:53 PM Nov 12th from web

  

Darley wins in HOTY vote: Stands Street Cry (Zenyatta) and Medaglia d’Oro (Rachel); former for $150K, latter for $100K 9:51 PM Nov 12th from web

Choosing stallions for mares is similar to picking ball players in the MLB draft. College players, like proven sires, are “known” quantities with three more years of baseball under their belts than high school prospects. But the latter group, although riskier, has more upside potential. Only the best high school prospects have a chance to be drafted, and those that aren’t go to college to play and mature. The high school prospects, then, are the first-crop sires of the equine world, and if you ignore them, do so at your risk. They are Street Cry, Birdstone, and Medaglia d’Oro. Horse of the Year will be decided between Zenyatta, a first-crop daughter of Street Cry, and Rachel Alexandra, a first-crop daughter of Medaglia d’Oro. Birdstone is the sire of Derby winner Mine That Bird and Belmont winner Summer Bird, both from his first crop. And aside from Zenyatta, Street Cry sired Kentucky Derby winner Street Sense from his first crop, too.

Good hunting.

Hear No Evil gets 2nd SW from only 11 2yos; success story

The freshman Florida stallion Hear No Evil, a son of Carson City and the Cox’s Ridge mare Nizy, is making a name for himself with only 11 registered 2-year-olds of 2009 representing his first crop. This is unheard of these days, with some stallions represented by more than 100 2-year-olds, but Hear No Evil is quality over quantity. Today, he got his second stakes winner when Hear Ye Hear Ye won the $150,000 Jack Price Juvenile Stakes at Calder at 20-1. He joins the  nationally ranked 2-year-old colt Jackson Bend, a winner of 5 of 6 starts who swept the Florida Stallion Stakes series at Calder. Both stakes winners and their sire were bred and raced by Fred and Jane Brei’s Jacks Or Better Farm, Inc. The Breis obviously know what they are doing, and they’re getting paid for it, too.  Three-quarters of Jackson Bend was recently sold to Robert LaPenta, who will campaign the colt as a classic prospect with trainer Nick Zito. The asking price for the colt before the sale was believed to be $2 million, so it was a score for the homebreeders, who are following the same game plan that Ken and Sarah Ramsey utilized for Kitten’s Joy, another leading freshman sire. The Ramseys, who bred and raced Kitten’s Joy, have campaigned four 2-year-old homebred stakes winners by him and singlehandedly brought him to national prominence as a sire.

Jackson Bend isn’t the only major score for the Breis in 2009. In March, the couple sold the Medaglia d’Oro colt Cup o’ Joe, whom they bred, to John Ferguson, representing Sheikh Mohammed, for $1.6 million — the top price at the Fasig-Tipton Florida select 2-year-olds-in-training sale at Calder. Subsequently renamed Al Zir, the colt is Group 1 placed for Godolphin in Europe and is considered a classic prospect.

Hear No Evil, a stakes winner on dirt and turf for the Breis and a winner of $599,415, entered stud in 2006 at Rising Hill Farm for $5,000 and stood the 2009 season there for $2,500. Judging by the limited number of foals from his first crop, Hear No Evil was not popular, except with his owners. That’s all changed now, with the stallion among the first-crop leaders nationally, and he will stand the 2010 season at Brent Fernung’s Journeyman Stud — among the leading farms in Florida these days by sire power and visibility.

 Carson City, the sire of Hear No Evil who stood at Overbrook, started off poorly as a sire of sires, but lately he’s had a number of sons emerging as stallions, including Pollard’s Vision, whose first crop is 2 also; City Zip; Cuvee; and Islam, a leading sire in Peru.

Steve Crist to IFHA over Rachel, Zenyatta: Anyone home?

Steve Crist at Daily Racing Form believes the International Federation of Horseracing Authorities (IFHA) wasn’t seeing straight when it released its rankings of the best racehorses in the world. He wrote:

“Did anyone at the federation actually watch the Breeders’ Cup? Horses who, in the eyes of the Europeans, were supposed to win laughing because they had been finishing close behind Sea the Stars failed to assert this presumed superiority time and time again. Mastercraftsman, Rip Van Winkle, and Delegator, each of whom finished second to Sea the Stars by just 1 or 1 1/2 lengths earlier this year, all were badly beaten in three different races. Yet Rip Van Winkle is rated better than Zenyatta and Youmzain is as good as Rachel Alexandra?”

Click here to read the column.

Alan Porter on Medaglia d’Oro’s first male Group 1 winner

Up until today, the only stakes winner from Medaglia d’Oro’s second crop was the filly, Dashing Debby. However, the perspective on Medaglia d’Oro was radically changed on Saturday, when his son, Passion for Gold, took the Criterium de Saint-Cloud (gr. I) by six lengths. This is a ten furlong race for two-year-olds, so not only did Medaglia d’Oro gain a male group one winner, but he also has a colt who is guaranteed to stay the 10½ furlongs of the French Derby (gr. I) and may well get the 1½ miles of the English Derby (gr. I).”

Click here to read Alan’s post. Click here to read a post from Sept. 6 that predicted success for Passion for Gold and Al Zir — now Group 1 placed.

Blast from past: PM Advertising acquires Starquine.com

Bloodhorse.com ran the story recently about PM Advertising acquiring Starquine.com. The latter is an online thoroughbred trading marketplace; PM is one of the up-and-coming advertising agencies in the business. In the late 90s, after I’d left Daily Racing Form, I developed the website broodmares.com with Jack Werk. This became Starquine, after it was sold to a group of investors, with pedigree guru Alan Porter spearheading the deal. PM will take this to a new level, I’m sure.

Email message to Sheikh Mohammed sent @9:00am today

Your Highness:

Mr. Ramzan Kadyrov, president of Chechnya, raced a stable in Dubai last winter. Will his stable be welcome this year, given that Lt. Gen. Tamim has placed Mr. Adam Delimkhanov, Mr. Kadyrov’s right-hand man, on Interpol as the primary suspect in the assassination of Mr. Sulim Yamadayev in Dubai on World Cup Day — March 28?

Kind Regards,

Sid Fernando

John Ferguson missing at Keeneland but spotted in Dubai

John Ferguson

The Kentucky mixed-sale season started yesterday in Lexington at Keeneland and Fasig-Tipton and numbers, as expected, were down across the board at both venues. Foreign buyers, here to take advantage of the weakness of the dollar, were prominent, with the notable exception of John Ferguson, Sheikh Mohammed’s bloodstock adviser and agent.

Instead of roaming the sales grounds outdoors in Kentucky during fall weather, Mr. Ferguson was spotted indoors at the Raffles Hotel in Dubai Monday, seated intently behind Sheikh Mohammed in a blue business suit. He was part of the Dubai business glitterati attending an investment conference organized by Merrill Lynch. In the video below, filmed Monday, Mr. Ferguson appears at approximately 34 seconds into it (far left of video).

Giselle Davies

Why is Mr. Ferguson here? Because he is vice chairman of the Dubai firm Falcon and Associates, second on the masthead to chairman Ahmed Abdullah Al Sheikh, the media escort of the Ruler of Dubai and managing director of  the Media Office. The company is run by CEO Giselle Pettyfer (formerly Davies), the former spokesperson for the International Olympic Committee (IOC). Falcon and Associates was established by Sheikh Mohammed this summer and was described by the Media Office in the following manner: “The new entity will work to deepen understanding and appreciation of Dubai’s vision both nationally and internationally, through the establishment of media-related business concerns. Falcon and Associates will maintain full or part ownership in these entities in collaboration with the Media Office for Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum.”

In the video below, filmed on Nov. 2 in Dubai at a meeting chaired by Sheikh Mohammed’s son, Dubai Crown Prince Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum (sitting next to Sheikh Mohammed in the dark robes and in his mid-20s), Mr. Ferguson appears at approximately 1:17 minutes into it. The meeting, by the way, is to explore Dubai’s chances for the Olympics in 2020. It appears that Mr. Ferguson’s business acumen transcends bloodstock, and he’s achieved a level within Dubai that has elevated him into an inner sanctum.