Across the pond

[Starine]

We won't see Winter at Del Mar; the classy grey filly won't be running again this year.
https://www.paulickreport.com/news/thor ... -yet-2018/
I hope she runs next year. Since she's a bit larger than your average Galileo filly, she might do well if given more time to mature. And be even better as a four-year-old, which could be VERY good.

I was wondering whatever happened to her hunky older full-brother whom I spied on PedigreeQuery. He is one handsome sonofagun.

[ThreeMustangs]

Cracksman is a monster. Frankie may have to make some tough decisions next year. Poor guy.

[Starine]

The appropriately named Boom Time lands the Caulfield Cup at 50-1

https://thewest.com.au/sport/horse-raci ... b88636101z (with replay)

[BaroqueAgain1]

I had to wait until I'd caught up with my DVR'd Ascot card before I opened any horse racing sites. (Sorry, but crack o'dawn is a bit too early for this late-rising Left Coaster. Especially since I'd stayed up to watch the racing from Oz. )
A few thoughts;
* Yeah, Cracksman was impressive. IMO, he's the best horse Frankel has sired.
Brave run by Highland Reel to just miss 2nd, considering how much he doesn't like soft ground. I understand why Ballydoyle chose this race over the BC Turf; that Champions Stakes trophy is something that they really wanted for HR. I would be surprised if we see HR at Del Mar; I have to think today's really hard race would leave him still recovering two weeks from now.
* Wasn't able to see the Long Distance Cup as the race went off before TVG began its coverage, but I'm really pleased for Order of St George. Too bad the race for the stayers isn't also a G1, because now Aiden would have that record. At least he tied Bobby F. with Hydrangea's no-wilting-here win in the G1 F&M Stakes, giving O'Brien 25 G1 wins so far this year.
* I see I have to stop calling Caravaggio the 'nearly-black' colt; he's going grey on his head and his body is covered with grey dapples. Too bad he just missed 2nd in the Sprint, finishing a nostril behind Tasleet and the upset winner, Librisa Breeze.
* Frankie Dettori rode a talented filly to victory in the QE II; this time it was pretty grey Persuasive who earned him time with The Queen, as she handed out the trophies for the race.
* Have to congratulate all the handlers and riders today. The wind was blowing so hard that the horses were really spooked and on edge. But I never saw anyone get kicked or dumped.

[BaroqueAgain1]

I would be surprised if we see HR at Del Mar; I have to think today's really hard race would leave him still recovering two weeks from now.

Or maybe not....
https://www.paulickreport.com/news/bree ... ontingent/
This is why my opinion is humble.
In addition to Coolmore's iron horse, we may get to see a bunch of Ballydoyle stars. The bolding is mine.

Highland Reel will head a typically strong Breeders' Cup squad from Ballydoyle.
“I'm not sure about Hydrangea, but Rhododendron will go for the fillies' race and Roly Poly will either go for that or the Mile,” said O'Brien.
“We will see how Churchill is in the next few days and the lads will make a decision on what they want to do with him. It will be the same with Caravaggio. He could go up in trip, but I don't think he needs to.
And...
“September was second in the Fillies' Mile and could go (to Del Mar), and Happily didn't run at Newmarket so we will see how she is and she could go there. Clemmie is finished for the year.
“U S Navy Flag is a possible, as are the other horses that ran in the Dewhurst.
“Declarationofpeace is going for a five-furlong race out there on grass. War Decree could go for the Classic or the Mile.”

Is there another five furlong grass sprint that weekend, besides the Turf Sprint? Would O'Brien run Declarationofpeace against his stablemate Caravaggio? Maybe Caravaggio would be a good fit for the Mile, where he wouldn't have to face Lady Aurelia, Marsha, Bataash and the grey pocket rocket Disco Partner.

[BaroqueAgain1]

There's a press release on Paulick about the new training center on the Chinese mainland, and the processes for transporting Hong Kong horses to Conghua.
https://www.paulickreport.com/news/the- ... ter-china/

The press release doesn't mention Australia's decision to bar Hong Kong horses...or what steps China is taking to change that.

[serenassong]

Love to see Declarationofpeace come over here and do well.

[ThreeMustangs]

Aidan O’Brien wins the Racing Post with Saxon Warrior to take his 26th G1 of the year, breaking Bobby Frankel’s record.

[BaroqueAgain1]

Looking at the BC pre-entries, I've noticed some names I expected to see are absent, particularly in the Turf Sprint. O'Brien has apparently decided not bring Caravaggio over to face Lady Aurelia and Marsha. Also missing from the list is Bataash, whose connections talked about bringing him to Del Mar after his last race.
The only Coolmore entry in the Turf Sprint is Washington DC (IRE).

[Treve]

https://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing ... qus_thread

Tiberian (FR) and Marmelo (GB) among foreign invaders to the Melbourne Cup

[BaroqueAgain1]

It looks like Joseph O'Brien just beat his dad, Aiden, with the three-year-old colt Rekindling. Johannes Vermeer 2nd.

[Sparrow Castle]

This Melborne Cup Fox Sports 1 broadcast is really good. Thanks, NYRA!

Glad for Rekindling, Corey Brown, and Joseph O'Brien too.

[Northport]

Every O'Brien interview is the same "Listen, the lads at home, listen, it's great for the team, listen, everything went great for the horse"

What an accomplishment for O'Brien Jnr, to win his first time out in the Melbourne Cup at age 24 (I'm the same age, so it feels like he's getting a lot more done than I am!), and beating one of his dad's horses - with a three year old no less! First time since Skipton in 1941.

A lot of the time, the European trained purchases by Lloyd Williams only race once or twice in Australia for their European trainers before being transferred to Nick Williams, but it sounds like Rekindling will be heading back to Ireland with Joseph to prepared for a tilt at the Ascot Gold Cup.

[Sparrow Castle]

Enable Honored as Cartier Horse of the Year

Juddmonte Farms' homebred 3-year-old filly Enable was named Cartier Horse of the Year at the 27th annual Cartier Racing Awards ceremony Nov. 14 at the Dorchester Hotel in London.
...
Enable also easily took home Cartier 3-year-olld filly honors from Winter, Lady Aurelia, and Roly Poly, while her stable companion Cracksman, owned by Anthony Oppenheimer, was named the Cartier 3-year-old colt following his impressive seven-length success in the QIPCO Champion Stakes (G1) at Ascot in October. Cracksman is set to return as a 4-year-old with Gosden eyeing a mouth-watering clash with Enable in the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe.

Even by his own high standards, Ireland's champion trainer Aidan O'Brien enjoyed an outstanding 2017 as he sent out a worldwide record of 27 grade/group 1 wins. O'Brien is responsible for both the 2017 Cartier 2-year-old colt, U S Navy Flag, and Cartier 2-year-old filly, Happily, while Order of St George scooped the Cartier Stayer Award for the second year in succession.

U S Navy Flag, bred in Kentucky by Misty For Me Syndicate, is the first horse since Diesis in 1982 to win both the group 1 Juddmonte Middle Park Stakes and Darley Dewhurst Stakes.

Thrilling Harry Angel is the winner of the 2017 Cartier Sprinter Award. The Godolphin-owned 3-year-old colt, trained by Clive Cox, showed tremendous versatility with victories over six furlongs on good to firm ground in Newmarket's Darley July Cup Stakes (G1) and on heavy ground in the 32Red Sprint Cup Stakes (G1) at Haydock Park.

"The prospect of Enable, Cracksman, and Harry Angel, the Cartier Sprinter for 2017, all retuning next year is a mouth-watering prospect," Herbert said.

Ulysses is the Cartier Older Horse for 2017 after registering a group 1, 10-furlong double in the Coral-Eclipse at Sandown Park and the Juddmonte International Stakes at York. Ulysses rounded off his career with another commendable effort, taking third behind Enable in the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe at Chantilly Oct. 1. He shipped to California to contest the Longines Breeders' Cup Turf (G1T), but was ruled out on veterinary advice due to a minor issue with his ankle.

https://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing ... ium=social

[Sparrow Castle]

HKJC Racing‏Verified account @HKJC_Racing
The Tin Man has been withdrawn from the Hong Kong Sprint. Notice from Chief Stipendiary Steward Kim Kelly. #HKIR

[Miss Woodford]

Did a double-take when I saw that name. That's the 2012 model, not the late American warhorse.

[bare it all]

TONY wins his return. Hope he does big things for them this year! Not mentioned here is that he dumped Frankie on the way to the gate

https://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing ... -lingfield

[Sparrow Castle]

TONY wins his return. Hope he does big things for them this year! Not mentioned here is that he dumped Frankie on the way to the gate

https://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing ... -lingfield

It wasn't pretty, but not bad considering the circumstances. I hope he does well too. He's a bit of a nut alright.

'It's a fairytale' – glasses raised again as Toast Of New York wins on return
https://www.racingpost.com/news/news/gl ... eld/311225

Easy tiger: a boisterous Toast Of New York bucks off Frankie Dettori before his winning return at Lingfield
Edward Whitaker (racingpost.com/photos)

[Starine]

On a crappy day, TONY's winning return was a pick-me-up. And if he really was only 70% today then he might be competitive at the group level after all. From the photos I've seen he seems to have matured into a handsome animal.

It will be interesting to see if he is pointed to the Pegasus or the World Cup.

[Izvestia]

Did they geld him?