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Mid December Update

It's mid December now and soon the yearlings will turn to two-year-olds and an exciting new year will start for horse racing.

I have been a little more actively looking for youngsters to include in my crop of 2007 in the past couple of weeks and though most are still unnamed I have quite a shortlist already.

Of the US-breds Liam will likely make the final cut. He is a grey colt from the only crop of Saint Liam, out of Grey Traffic, by Numerous. I like simple names and is he is the first foal of a graded stakes placed dam.
Two ladies, Lady Minx (Atticus x Toot Sweet, by Pirate's Bounty) and Lady Wolf (St Averil x Wolf Lake, by Wolf) are also definite maybes, as are Nordic Dancer (ch colt, Out Of Place x La Belle Danse, by Beau Genius). In a previous post I mentioned Untamed Wolf (ch f Kokand x Wolf Tree, by Wolf Power) and Wind Tamer (dbr c Kitten's Joy x Spent Gold, by Unaccounted For), which are still high on my list. Then there are two Dance With Ravens that I like the sound of, Fire Raven (b f out of Fire Place, by Out Of Place) and Moon Raven (out of Trysail, by Afleet). And there are a few more, but I will keep it at that for now.

As for the UK/IRE ones, I am not that far with that. Very few seem to be named yet. I am building a list with unnamed ones as well, just to keep track of the ones I like to look of. Leith Hill Dancer is one I have added to the list for now. She is a chestnut filly by Imperial Dancer x Leith Hill Star, by Comme L'Etoile. Not sure whether she will be a flat horse or a jumper...

First Musings

A first look at some prospects for inclusion in my Crop of 2007 :o)

EUROPEAN-BRED
I like horses named after animals, so when I saw that a Mark Of Esteem colt was named Siberian Wolf I was pretty excited. He is out of Mary Rose (Royal Academy). However, the breeder seems to be Spanish, so he will probably end up running in that area, which makes it pretty much impossible for me to follow him, so it's no use including him unfortunately...
Same goes for another Mark Of Esteem filly named Bramble out of the Doyoun mare Babalu - lovely name, but likely based in Italy, so another toss.

A lot of Shadwell-breds have been named already. I picked a few of the names I like the sound of, such as Tamaathul (grey colt by Tiger Hill), Kayaan (brown colt by Marju) and Turuqaat (brown filly by Fantastic Light).

Some others under consideration from this side of the Atlantic: Play Of Light (bay colt by Fantastic Light), Oak Leaves (bay filly Mark Of Esteem), Fearlessness (bay colt Exceed And Excel)

NORTH AMERICAN-BRED:
There are plenty of well-named yearlings about, so I will have plenty to choose from. Snow Sprite will likely be part of my crop, partly because this bay filly has a lovely name, but also because her dam is by Thirty Six Red, who is an old favourite. She is by Snow Ridge.

Wind Tamer (dark bay colt by Kitten's Joy) and Untamed Wolf (chestnut filly by Kokand) are also very likely to make it to my final 50 simply based on their names.

another instalment soon!

Decision: Crop of 2007

Instead of following all my past crops on here, I will from now on exclusively dedicate this blog to my Crop of 2007 to make things easy for myself and maybe more interesting as well.

I will document my progress as I choose my 50 2yos of 2009 over the next few months. I have been researching in the last few weeks already, so I will soon be able to list some prospects that I am thinking of including.

By concentrating on one crop I will be able to explain fully why I chose those particular fifty horses and document their progress through their racing careers more closely.

I have already thought long and hard about what kind of horses to include. I really want a nice mixture breeding-wise. Of course I will include some well-bred animals, but I would also like to include some of the non-commercial sires that might only have 10 or 20 mares a year or even fewer.

I have also already seen a lot of youngsters with beautiful names that I am keen to include. Dance With Ravens lends himself to lovely naming options for instance and Fantastic Light always seems to get some nice ones. I am superficial after all and a beautiful name goes a long way in my book!

I am already getting excited about choosing my fifty :o)

Thinking Things Over

What a Breeders' Cup it was! Wahey for Raven's Pass - I really like that horse.

Anyway, I am going to revamp this blog somehow over the next few weeks - I am not sure exactly how yet, but I will think of something.

I have a fair amount of horses I follow and now with my first few crops having offspring as well and trying to keep track of them as well needs a lot of energy and I am trying to think of the most efficient way of doing it.

I might decide to start a 'sister-blog' on which I keep track of the offspring of my crop mares and stallions. I will remove the horses from my 2006 crop that are offspring by earlier crops.

The other dilemma I have is how to keep track of all the offspring of the few stallions I have at stud: Cat Dreams, Certain Storm and Dubawi. Gauguin, Ten Centuries and Shaniko had their first foal crops in 2008. Indy and Echo Of Light will both have their first foals in 2009. I have to come up with an ingenious way of doing this and I haven't yet! I might choose to only track their first crops in detail, but I just have to have a think about it.

Bear with me!

ToF Update - 6 Oct 08

Three of my horses started in graded stakes over the last few days and this is how they fared:

General Eliott ran a very respectable 4th behind Eagle Mountain, Bankable and Ordnance Row on Friday 3 October in the Nayef Joel Stakes (G3) at Newmarket. He was beaten by only 3/4 of a length. He had been off since getting injured in the French 2000 Guineas back in May. It was a very good performance and he can only improve from this. I am expecting a lot from him next season and there should be a group win in him, at the very least.

Sugar Swirl finished 3rd in the Thoroughbred Club Of America Stakes (G3) at Keeneland on Saturday 4 October. She was beaten by Indyanne and Wild Games by a total of 4 lengths. Not bad at all.

I saved the best for last. Callwood Dancer ran 2nd behind Godolphin's Folk Opera in the E P Taylor Stakes (G1) at Woodbine on Saturday. She is entered in the Keeneland November Breeding Stock Sale (hip 578) and the fact that she is now not only a G2 winner (Nassau S), but also G1 placed won't do her any harm at all. I hope she will stay in training next year, but who knows?

A Tribute To Conjugal Visit

It never gets easier to hear when a horse you have followed since they were youngsters has passed away.

I emailed Mountaineer after I heard the news that he was vanned off in his last race. Unfortunately the news coming back was not good. He was euthanized.

Conjugal Visit was a 2003 chestnut gelding by Yes It's True out of Erie Delight. Erie Delight is a Thirty Six Red mare that ran almost 50 races in her career, winning 3.

Conjugal Visit himself ran 15 times. He made his debut at Tampa Bay Downs in March 2006, finishing 10th in a field of 12. He followed up with three consecutive 2nd place finishes in maidens at Philadelphia Park and Monmouth. In September 2007 he won his first race, a maiden claiming at Meadowlands. He won his first race of 2008, a claiming race at Mountaineer on 24 May. It was his last victory.

I will miss him...

Condolences to all his connections.

ToF Update - 1 Oct 08

Life is pretty busy and hectic at the moment (in a good way), so I will stick to these updates for now. I hope to go back to a quieter life at the end of October!

Wordspinner did the unthinkable - he won a race! He broke his maiden in his 51st start on 26 September. He did place and show regularly, so hopefully the step up against horses that have won races as well won't be too hard on him. He won for owner/trainer Daniel Jacobs under Chin Yang in a maiden claiming at Finger Lakes.

It was a bad few days for horses pulling up.

Silver Swallow was pulled up in her race at Oak Tree at Santa Anita on 25 September, but according to her trainer she was fine before and after the race. Hopefully she is in perfect health and will run again soon. I am sure she will have a thorough veterinary check-up first though!

Conjugal Visit was pulled up in race 4 at Mountaineer on 27 September and Wildwood Peekaboo was pulled up in race 1 at Hawthorne on 26 September. I am keeping my fingers crossed that both will be ok. I have emailed the tracks to ask their status.

ToF Update - 23 Sept 08

Monsoon Rain made it five wins in a row when he captured the $50k Gold Cup S at Assiniboia Downs on Sunday 21 September. He did it in style, winning by more than 11 lengths over Tejano Trouble in second and Voorhee's Ballad back in third. The bay gelding, by Old Trieste out of Smokey Mirage, by Holy Bull, was bred by Ten Broeck Farm in Kentucky, owned by Larry A Carter and trained by Martin Drexler.

CLAIMS:
17 Sep: Noble Texas was claimed for $5k from race 2 at Northlands Park by trainer Garry Marks and owner Leonard Marks.
19 Sept: Fly With The Wind was claimed out of an allowance optional claiming race at Calder for $16k. His new owner is Pennston Farm and his new trainer is Steven W Standridge. Fly With The Wind finished 6th in the race.

ToF Update - 15 Sept 08

I have been away for a few days, but here's a small recap of what happened with the ToF horses in the meantime:

Richochet, a 7yo grey gelding by El Prado out of Attach, won a claiming race at Mountaineer Park on 9 September. It was his first win in almost a year and his 19th start of 2008. He won the race by 2 1/4 lengths over Yoyo Jabo and ran the 6 furlongs in 1.11.97 over a muddy track. He is owned by Fred C Schunmann and trained by Charles Kieser and it is the first win for them since he was claimed in March 2008 for $5,000. He was bred at Claiborne Farm.

Two 2004 boys I am happy to see back on the work tabs are Z Z Dome and Helsinki. Helsinki ran third in the 2007 editions of the Travers (behind Street Sense) and the Brooklyn H (behind Any Given Saturday). He was never quite good enough to run with the big boys, but I always cheered him on. Z Z Dome is a stakes winner at Sunland Park (2007 Pepsi Cola H) and Zia Park (2007 NM Cup Classic Championship). I hope they will get back to their best.

Ought, a four-year-old Grand Slam filly, won for the second time this year, when she beat her rivals with a front running performance in the 7th at Mountaineer on 14 September.

Frozen Fire unfortunately disappointed in the St Leger. Warringah was in way over his head as his stablemate Conduit took the spoils. Hopefully they will both bounce back well from this.

Keeneland Yearling Results

A few weeks ago I posted the list below of yearlings that are going through the Keeneland Yearling sale that are offspring of my crop horses. I will add the results in this post"

29. bF, Dubawi x Regina Maria, by Unbridled
--> $300,000 to Mark Johnston

103. bF, Giant's Causeway x Wildwood Flower, by Langfuhr
--> $310,000 to Starlight Partners

173. dbF, A P Indy x Ensenada, by Seeking The Gold
-->$475,000 to G Watts Humphrey Jr

188. dbF, Elusive Quality x Golden Sphinx, by Storm Cat
--> $330,000 to Amerman Racing

437. chF, A P Indy x Friendly Michelle, by Artax
--> $320,000 to Kaleem Shah

491. Supreme, bF, Empire Maker x Mon Belle, by Maria's Mon
--> $80,000 to Fares Farm LLC

649. chC, Smart Strike x Allencat, by Storm Cat
--> $500,000 to Blandford Bloodstock

793. grF, Maria's Mon x Greenberg, by Royal Academy
--> $70,000 to Suarez Racing

856. Choral Symphony, dbF, A P Indy x Last Song, by Unbridled's Song
--> $210,000 to John Connelly

1021. bF, Pivotal x Thousand Islands, by Dubai Millennium
--> out (unsurprisingly)

1300. chC, Lion Heart x New Jersey, by Kingmambo
--> $325,000 to Maverick Racing

1564. bF, Indian Charlie x Enchant, by War Chant
--> out

1727. grC, Forest Wildcat x Pier Sixty Six, by Cozzene
--> $150,000 to Kenneth McPeek, agent

1996. bF, Quiet American x Fancy Tale, by Rahy
--> $135,000 to Lucy's Farm

2110. dbC, Forest Camp x Moonlight, by Unbridled
--> out

2117. bF, Dubawi x Mystic Melody, by Seattle Slew
--> out

2139. chF, Fusaichi Pegasus x Pagosa Springs, by A P Indy
--> out

2402. bF, El Corredor x Firebaby, by Marquetry
--> $14,000 to M Doyle

2768. chF, North Light x Dovie, by Coronado's Quest
--> $12,000 to Haymarket

2822. bC, Purge x Gypsy Hollow, by Dixieland Band
--> $17,000 to Luis A. Shirley

2832. Berkley Road, Proud Citizen x Howl At The Moon, by Dynaformer
--> $110,000 to Anthony Stroud Bloodstock

2891. dbF, Dubawi x Menhoubah, by Dixieland Band
--> RNA ($95,000)

2968. bF, Thunder Gulch x Random Chance, by Red Ransom
--> $30,000 to Keith Lazarz LLC

3292. dbF, Orientate x Mississippi Madam, by Smoke Glacken
--> $50,000 to Bar None Ranch

3432. chF, Cat Dreams x Super Glued, by Heart
--> RNA ($30,000)

ToF Update - 9 Sept 08

Callwood Dancer ran a good race on Sunday in the Canadian Stakes (G2) at Woodbine. The liver chestnut daughter of Danehill Dancer only just failed to nodge another stakes win onto her resume when she was overtaken late by J'ray. She will win a nice race yet!

Clinch, a 7-year-old son of Skywalker, is back on the work tab. I had not heard anything about him since May this year and I am glad he is back. I expect him to race fairly shortly. He is a seven-time winner and I hope he will add some more wins soon!

Another back on the work tab is a filly called Carmel Coffee , a 4-year-old Holy Bull half sister to Premium Tap. She has only ran three times, but did show some talent at the time. She won her second start and placed in an allowance in her next start in February 08. She must have gotten injured as nothing was heard from her since March. Nice to see her back and I hope she will continue where she left off.

Looks like Dusk and Southern Mistral will meet each other in the 9.20 at Kempton tomorrow. It is always interesting when two of my horses meet. My guess is that Dusk will finish before Southern Mistral, but that neither will win - we'll see!

Another two that might meet at a slightly higher level are Frozen Fire and Warringah, who both are likely to run in the St Leger at Doncaster. Frozen Fire has not run since his Irish Derby win, but is likely to go off favourite. The distance will be a stiff test, but he goes in the ground, which is likely to be soft, wet and sticky as rain is still battering the British isles. Warringah goes in with less credentials, but will go well in the ground and should run well .

Attention for Howl At The Moon

I was surprised to see Howl At The Moon's name on the Bloodhorse home page. She never did anything special, though she is a nicely bred mare. She won a few races: her last win coming in a claiming race.

She was in the Bloodhorse classifieds as up for sale and caught Scot Gillies' attention, who then decided to highlight her in his blog The Five-Cross Files. Excellent! -->> The Article

I am surprised actually at the $75,000 price tag, as in May 2005 she was claimed for only $12,500 and surely she had the same bloodlines back then!

However, I do expect good things from her offspring as on paper she is a very exciting broodmare. I had honestly hoped she would have gone to more proven stallions. That said, her second foal, named Beth's Angel, is by Olmodavor, a young sire I actually like a lot.

In 2009 her first foal, now named Berkley Road, will be a two-year-old and that signals the real start of Howl At The Moon's journey as a dam.

ToF Update

I have been a bit lazy!

Not that much has happened in the meantime with my ToF horses - Well a lot of horses ran, but nothing really noteworthy, apart from:

Monsoon Rain won his fourth race in a row when he won the R J Speers S ($30k) at Assiniboia Downs on Sunday. Kudos to him and his connections - very well done. Not quite up there with Cigar or Pepper's Pride yet, but you never know :o)

Fancy Footsteps won a $46k claiming race at Saratoga on the same day. Out of 2001 crop mare Fancy Tale, she won her fourth race in nine career starts.

After 49 starts Wordspinner is still a maiden. He has run 2nd and 3rd plenty of times and he should be capable of winning one! He holds an entry on 5 September at Finger Lakes, race 9. Keep an eye out - it could be lucky No 50!!!!

Shaimaa was winless since October 07, but finally came good. Different tactics were tried with her and she was held well of the pace in handicap hurdle in Killarney (Ireland) on Sunday. She came past the outside of the field and won going away by two lengths. Really pleased with her!

Bahar Shumaal, as far as I know the only Dubai Millennium left in training in Europe, won a class 3 handicap over the all weather at Kempton on Monday. He has been trying higher class handicaps and this is really more his level. Nice to see him win again anyway.

That's it for now - I will try and keep up a bit better ;oP

ToF Weekend Results - 23/24 August 08

I forgot to put up the entries, but I will put up the results anyway!:

Saturday:
Amethyst Dawn - 1.50 Beverley - £5k maiden - 7f turf -
WON - Made all, ridden 2f out, kept on well final furlong
Barbican - R8 Delaware - $100k Kelso S - 1 1/2m dirt -
6th - Lacked a rally
Dark Echoes - 4.10 Newmarket - £21k race - 6f turf -
9th - Prominent, ridden over 2f out, weakened over 1f out
Misty Glade - 4.10 Newmarket - £21k race - 6f turf -
6th - Led, ridden and headed entering final furlong, no extra
Wildwood Peekaboo - R2 Arlington - $10,5 claiming - 1 1/16m aw -
8th- Pressed pace, faded

Sunday:
Blacktoft - 3.55 Goodwood - £6k handicap - 1m 1f turf -
9th - Ridden over 3f out, no headway, behind final 2f
Dawn Wind - 3.30 Yarmouth - £2k handicap - 1m turf -
7th - Held up, ridden halfway, never on terms
Fly With The Wind - R3 Calder - $27k All Opt Cl - 1 1/16m dirt -
3rd - Tired
Indy Moon - R1 Arlington - $11.5k st all - 1 1/16m aw -
3rd - Closed willingly
Mouftari - 4.55 Cork - €10k handicap - 2m hurdle -
12th - Always towards rear
Possum - R3 Arlington - $11.5k claiming - 1 1/16m aw -
5th - Late rally inside
Sandstorm Cat - R8 Saratoga - $63k maiden - 1 1/16m turf -
WON - Drew clear late
Seventeen Red - R10 Woodbine - $24k maid claim - 7f aw -
4th - To rail late turn, game
Shaimaa - 4.10 Ballinrobe - €6k handicap - 2m hurdle -
8th - Prominent, 4th 4 out, ridden and weakened from next
Sugar Swirl - R10 Saratoga - $250k G1 Ballerina S - 7f dirt -
3rd - Steadied, altered 3/8 pole
Wordspinner - R9 Finger Lakes - $9k maid claim - 1m70y dirt -
3rd - Reared start, with interest

Crop of 2006

f = female
m = male
names in capitals: ToF horses

1. Acquiesced (IRE) - b f - Refuse To Bend x North East Bay
2. Adri's Emblem (USA) - b f - Our Emblem x ADRIATICA
3. Amethyst Dawn (IRE) - gr f - Act One x A L'Aube
4. Ancient Future (USA) - ch f - CAT DREAMS x Ma Guerre
5. Barnstorming (USA) - b m - Thunder Gulch x SOUL OF THE CAT
6. Bear Canyon (USA) - gr f - Champali x Miss Vesuvio
7. Bonfire (USA) - dbr m - Runaway Groom x Tenacite
8. Burgee (USA) - b m - Awesome Again x Gold Streamer
9. Captain Captivated (USA) - dbr f - El Corredor x CAPTIVATED
10. Certainly You (USA) - ch f - CERTAIN STORM x Had To Be You

11. Curlew (IRE) - b m - Cape Cross x Billbill
12. Curragh Mon (USA) - gr m - Maria's Mon x IMARI
13. Damselfly (GB) - b f - Dr Fong x Mazarine Blue
14. Darcey (GB) - ch f - Noverre x Firozi
15. Dark Echoes (GB) - blk m - Diktat x Calamanco
16. Downstream (GB) - b f - Marju x Sister Moonshine
17. Early Morning Rain (IRE) - b f - Rock Of Gibraltar x Honorine
18. Emilia Plater (CAN) - ch f - Ascot Knight x Heavenly Glitter
19. Eochair (IRE) - br f - Key Of Luck x Karaliyfa
20. Ermine Slippers (USA) - gr f - El Prado x Sweet As Honey

21. Firsaan (IRE) - b m - Haafhd x Walayef
22. Flashy Flyer (USA) - b f - Valid Expectations x WOOD DUCK
23. Flowerbomb (USA) - b f - Mineshaft x WILDWOOD FLOWER
24. Hickory Nut (USA) - dbr m - Horse Chestnut x MASKED BALL
25. Legendary Peace (USA) - ch f - Peace Rules x Red Mischief
26. Lipi (GB) - gr m - Sadler's Wells x Frosty Welcome
27. Man Of Faith (USA) - dbr m - Essence Of Dubai x RIVER OF FAITH
28. Marleau (USA) - gr m - CAT DREAMS x Ascalon
29. Masdar (IRE) - gr m - Dalakhani x Balaabel
30. Misty Glade (GB) - ch f - Compton Place x Shifting Mist

31. Morning Mist (USA) - gr f - Holy Bull x Go For Bail
32. Olynard (IRE) - b m - Exceed And Excel x Reddening
33. Omega Wolf (IRE) - b m - Spartacus x Brave Cat
34. Porcupine (USA) - b m - Housebuster x Loon Lake
35. Premium Action (USA) - ch f - Action This Day x Premium Red
36. Ptarmigan (USA) - gr f - Unbridled Jet x Flaine
37. Qelaan (USA) - b f - Dynaformer x Irtahal
38. Race The Breeze (CAN) - dbr f - Theatrical x Wedding Day Blues
39. Rightly So (USA) - dbr f - Read The Footnotes x FIT RIGHT IN
40. Rotterdam (USA) - gr m - Unbridled's Song x Zoftig

41. Run With The Wind(IRE) - b m - Sadler's Wells x Chase The Wild Wind
42. Secret Wish (CAN) - b f - Street Cry x Awesome Lass
43. Shadows Lengthen (GB) - b m - Dansili x Bay Shade
44. Shetan (GB) - ch m - Desert Prince x Seven Notes
45. Shining Dawn (USA) - ch f - Seeking The Gold x Easy 'n Gold
46. Snow Valley (FR) - b f - Choisir x Snow Lady
47. Stoic (IRE) - b m - Green Desert x Silver Bracelet
48. Storm's Ransom (USA) - gr m - CERTAIN STORM x Cushina
49. Sunspear (IRE) - b f - Montjeu x Out West
50. Tiger Tracks (USA) - b m - Storm Cat x Paiota Falls

51. Valkyrie (IRE) - b f - Danehill Dancer x Ridotto

Note:
A few more horses may be added

28 Aug 08: Edited to add: Run With The Wind

TofF Tidbits - 16 August 08

River Of Faith, a 7-year-old Bahri mare out of Atyab, by Mr Prospector, is doing ok as a broodmare. Sterling Faith (2005) was her first foal and broke his maiden last year in a maiden claiming race. Unfortuntely he hasn't been active since November and I hope he is ok. But her second foal, Man Of Faith (2006), now also won a maiden claiming event yesterday, which makes River Of Faith's record 2 winners out of 2 to race. She also has a 2007 colt by Omega Code.

Some news from a few days ago. Patti's Classy really is a classy girl. The 6yo chestnut mare ran her 52nd race on 11 August at Finger Lakes and she managed to win for the first time since November 2006. It was her fifth win in total, though she won another race, but was disqualified from 1st place. She is by Regal Classic out of the Thirty Six Red mare Patti's Red Lady. She was bred by Melvin D Schneider and runs for Kathleen and Rodney Mastin. Kathleen Mastin trains her. She has accumulated winnings of $58.4k, just over a grand a race.

ToF Weekend Entries - 16/17 August 08

SATURDAY:
Mr Deputy - Blue Ribbon Dns, R7, allow $8k, 1m drt,
11th - Stopped
Richochet - Mountaineer, R9, claim $10.1k, 1m drt,
Non-runner
Brumby - Penn National, R4, claim $10.4k, 1m70y drt,
4th - Three wide, passed tiring rivals
Black Hawk Soaring - Philadelphia, R3, claim $27k, 1m drt,
scratched
Gentlemen's Gun - Fairmount Pk, R7, claim $5k, 6f dirt,
3rd - Altered 4 wide stretch, got third
Eastern Anthem - 2.40 Newbury, £36k G3 stakes, 1m5f trf,
6th - Chased leaders 3f out, soon ridden, no headway from 2f out
Vogarth - 7.30 Lingfield, £2k seller, 6f all w,
7th - Chased leaders 4f
Miss Ziggy - Presque Isle Dns, R2, claim $14k, 6f all w,
2nd - Six wide stretch, outfinished
Scottish Gale - Evangeline Dns, R7, maid claim $17k, 1m70 drt,
2nd - Outside, clear, no match
Silver Wind - 3.50 Newbury, £11k handicap, 7f turf,
10th - Under pressure over 2f out, weakened over 1f out
Spitfire - 3.30 Newmarket, £18k handicap, 6f turf,
7th - Held up, ridden and headway over 1f out, one pace final furlong

SUNDAY:
Zillah's Knight -Emerald Dns, R3, claim $15k, 1 1/16m drt,
7th - Off rail, no menace
Bitter Lemon - Delaware Pk, R3, all opt cl $46k, 1m70y drt,
5th - Failed to menace
Ought - Presque Isle Dns, R4, claim $15k, 5 1/2 f all w,
3rd - Bid, could not sustain
Lost In The Dark - Finger Lakes, R9, claim $8.5k, 5 1/2f drt,
9th - Tired
Chasin The Tornado - Woodbine, R1, msw $36k, 7f all w,
7th - Always well back, rail
Sarcasm - Finger Lakes, R6, allowance $17k, 5 1/2f dirt,
WON - Drove clear

Eastern Anthem is my only stakes horse this weekend. I do strongly believe he can win his race. He is also one of my favourites from my crops, because he is the first son of Kazzia, my favourite race mare ever! Come on Anthem!!!!

I should stop making these predictions, because I am starting to think I am jinxing these horses!

Keeneland Yearlings

Well, it's almost that time of year: yearling sales time. The biggest sale in the US is the Keeneland September Yearling Sale with 5,555 youngsters catalogued to go through the sales ring between 8 and 23 September.

A surprisingly large number of yearlings by my crop horses are going through the sale, so I thought I'd put together a list and I can add the sales results later on. The horses in bold are in my crops.

29. bF, Dubawi x Regina Maria, by Unbridled
103. bF, Giant's Causeway x Wildwood Flower, by Langfuhr
173. dbF, A P Indy x Ensenada, by Seeking The Gold
188. dbF, Elusive Quality x Golden Sphinx, by Storm Cat
437. chF, A P Indy x Friendly Michelle, by Artax
491. Supreme, bF, Empire Maker x Mon Belle, by Maria's Mon
649. chC, Smart Strike x Allencat, by Storm Cat
793. grF, Maria's Mon x Greenberg, by Royal Academy
856. Choral Symphony, dbF, A P Indy x Last Song, by Unbridled's Song
1021. bF, Pivotal x Thousand Islands, by Dubai Millennium
1300. chC, Lion Heart x New Jersey, by Kingmambo
1564. bF, Indian Charlie x Enchant, by War Chant
1727. grC, Forest Wildcat x Pier Sixty Six, by Cozzene
1996. bF, Quiet American x Fancy Tale, by Rahy
2110. dbC, Forest Camp x Moonlight, by Unbridled
2117. bF, Dubawi x Mystic Melody, by Seattle Slew
2139. chF, Fusaichi Pegasus x Pagosa Springs, by A P Indy
2402. bF, El Corredor x Firebaby, by Marquetry
2768. chF, North Light x Dovie, by Coronado's Quest
2822. bC, Purge x Gypsy Hollow, by Dixieland Band
2832. Berkley Road, Proud Citizen x Howl At The Moon, by Dynaformer
2891. dbF, Dubawi x Menhoubah, by Dixieland Band
2968. bF, Thunder Gulch x Random Chance, by Red Ransom
3292. dbF, Orientate x Mississippi Madam, by Smoke Glacken
3432. chF, Cat Dreams x Super Glued, by Heart

That's quite a few! Hope they will sell well and that whoever takes them home will do the best for them and maybe, just maybe, one of them will be the next great champion.

ToF Weekend Entries - 9/10 August 08

SATURDAY:
C R Power - Northlands Pk, r3, $8.6k claim, 1 1/16m drt
WON - Rallied three wide, up late
Bahar Shumaal - Ascot 1.25, £16k handicap, 1m turf,
14th - Ridden and outpaced 2f out, weakened over 1f out
Winterlily - Finger Lks, r8, $17k all opt cl, 1m70y dirt,
6th - Six wide 3/4, tired
Sheikh - Calder, r5, $20k claiming, 1m turf,
5th - Outrun
Shaimaa - Kilbeggan 6.00, €6 maiden, 2m hurdle,
Non-runner
Darian 'n Me - Kamloops, r2, Allowance $3.4k, 4 1/2f dirt,
3rd - Evenly
Filios - Ascot 3.30, £17k handicap, 1m4f turf,
4th - Switched left approaching 1f out, hard ridden, one pace
Cinnamon Hill - Lingfield 6.40, £2.5k handicap, 7f aw,
8th - Pushed along halfway, no impression final 2f
Bitter Bill - Les Bois, r3, $20k stakes, 5f dirt,
3rd - Closed willingly
Silver Wind - Lingfield 7.40, £4.6k handicap, 6f turf,
2nd - Unable to quicken final furlong
Spitfire - Ascot 2.20, £17k handicap, 6f turf,
5th - hung right under pressure final furlong and faded
Sunny Morning - Woodbine, r7, $76k allw, 1 1/16m aw,
8th - Chased three wide, tired in the stretch
Dancinginthestorm - Canterbury, r9, $10k maid claim, 1m70y dirt,
3rd - bumped break, fanned six wide

SUNDAY:
Wildwood Peekaboo - Arlington, r2, $10k claim, 1m aw,
4th - Bid wide turn, no kick
Aragorn - Hastings, r7, $27.7k allowance, 1 1/16m dirt,
Scratched
Sandstorm Cat - Saratoga, r11, $63k maiden, 1m turf,
7th - Never involved
Coal Valley - Laurel Pk, r2, $12k claim, 1m dirt,
3rd - Circled 4 wide, mild gain

Tipped for a win next time out: Dancinginthestorm, Filios