OCALA BREEDERS’ SALES MARCH 2YO SALE
Multiple Sovereign Award winning trainer MARK CASSE was busy shopping yesterday at the first session of the March 2yo sale at OBS. Casse, as agent paid $240,000 for a Lemon Drop Kid – Cheerfulcolt from the Nial Brennan consignment.
Casse also signed for a Canadian bred by Forest Wildcat.
ONTARIO BRED RESULTS…
HIP COLOR YEAR
NO. NAME SEX FOALED SIRE DAM
5 …………………….B C……….08 Forest Wildcat………..Acadia – MARK CASSE, AGENT $190,000
14 Hughes Your Dad……….CH C………08 Henny Hughes………….Alycheer – NOLAN HAJAL $130,000
30 …………………….CH C………08 Badge of Silver……….Bacall NOT SOLD ($45k)
44 …………………….CH C………08 Niigon……………….Bob’s Choice NOT SOLD $70k
96 Duettina……………..B F……….08 Roman Ruler…………..Duet NOT SOLD $65K
146 …………………….B F……….08 Badge of Silver……….Hold the Spirit JANIS MAITLIN $5,000
SELLING TODAY
174 …………………….DKB/BR C…..08 Tomahawk……………..Ligurian
239 …………………….CH F………08 Speightstown………….Quite a Ruckus
243 Benjamin Britte……….B C……….08 E Dubai………………Raphael Rose
256 …………………….CH C………08 Grand Slam……………Roman Romance
269 …………………….CH F………08 First Samurai…………Santerra
CHELTENHAM in FULL SWING
Friday is the GOLD CUP!
The week-long smorgasbord of hurdle and chase races that is the CHELTENHAM FESTIVAL is in full swing overseas this week and FRIDAY, the Gold Cup pits the heroes of the sport – KAUTO STAR and DENMAN – in the big event.
FROM REUTERS:
Horse racing-Kauto Star seeks third Gold Cup triumph
By Justin Palmer
LONDON (Reuters) – Twice Cheltenham Gold Cup winner Kauto Star seeks to join an illustrious group of chasers to have won the race three times on Friday but standing in his way is his stablemate Denman known as “The Tank.”
Not since 1964, when Ireland’s Arkle took on and beat English great and then champion Mill House has a Gold Cup generated so much hype and anticipation.
Kauto Star and Denman hail from the stable of champion trainer Paul Nicholls and both have tasted Gold Cup success at the other’s expense.
Successful in 2007, Kauto Star was beaten into second place by Denman in 2008 but recaptured his crown in style last year and is hot favourite to win again.
Cottage Rake (1948-1950), Arkle (1964-66) and Best Mate (2002-04) all won the Gold Cup three times while Golden Miller is the most successful having triumphed in five successive years from 1932.
http://uk.reuters.com/article/idUKTRE62E0HD20100315
COMEBACK KID BINOCULAR JUST CHAMPION
By Martin Kelly, Press Association Sport
Binocular completed a Lazarus-like comeback to emerge a clear-cut winner of the Smurfit Kappa Champion Hurdle, the feature event on the opening day of the Cheltenham Festival.
Trainer Nicky Henderson last month ruled out a crack at the hurdling prize after failing to find any tangible reason for a string of indifferent performances this term.
However, a satisfactory schooling session last week put the the six-year-old right back in the mix and jockey Tony McCoy barely had a moment of worry in the big event.
Sent off at 9-1, McCoy was confident throughout on last year’s third and he quickened right away after the final flight to beat Khyber Kim (7-1) with plenty to spare.
WELCOME BACK TO THE FORT
Thoroughbreds return to Fort Erie ……
FORT ERIE, MARCH 16- Spring officially arrives on Saturday and one day later the thoroughbreds will be making their way back to Fort Erie to begin preparations for the 113th season of live racing at the Historic Oval.
On Sunday, March 21 the backstretch officially opens to the horsemen and training on the main track will begin on Monday.
“We are really looking forward to getting started,” said racing secretary Tom Gostlin. “The horse population looks strong. They’ll be rolling in on Sunday and I think this year the weatherman is on our side and we should be good to go (for training) on Monday.”
A total of 120 trainers have been allotted 1,063 stalls including last years leading trainer Nick Gonzalez.
“I can’t wait to get started,” said the veteran trainer from his farm in Ocala , Florida . “We’ll have horses moving in right away. We’ll have a full barn. We’ll start with about 30 and add more as we go along.”
Gonzalez, who will be seeking his fourth Fort Erie training title, is closing in on 1,000 career wins, he is 31 away. “I really hope we get the win at Fort Erie ,” he said. “It would be fine if it happens at Woodbine, but Fort Erie is home and we’ve already started planning a mini celebration.”
Training hours will be 10:00am – 1:00pm through to Saturday, April 3. Effective Sunday, April 4 training will take place from 7:00am to 11:00am. Once the season gets underway training will start at 6:00am.
Opening day is scheduled for Saturday, May 1.
Subject to regulatory approval, the track will offer 78 days of live racing. Opening weekend will feature live racing Saturday through Monday. Beginning the following weekend the track will begin its regular schedule, racing Sunday through Tuesday, through to Tuesday, October 26.
The $500,000 Prince of Wales Stakes, second jewel in Canada ’s Triple Crown, will be run on Sunday, July 25.
GUESS WHO IS STILL HAVING FOALS??
COURTESY THOROUGHBRED DAILY NEWS
WAVERING GIRL, the Canadian champion 2yo filly 21 YEARS AGO just produced a colt by REPENT on Feb. 11 at WOODFORD THOROUGHBREDS in Kentucky. The Grade 1 stakes producing mare is by Wavering Monarch out of battle Creek Girl.
