The weekly TRC industry digest - a round-up of the international racing news from the past week.
‘Beautiful’ Sottsass ‘ready for stud’
Europe: It has been confirmed that 2020 Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe hero Sottsass has been retired to stud at Coolmore. The colt is owned by the Irish operation and American outfit White Birch Farm.
White Birch Farm’s Peter Brant described the son of Siyouni, who is ranked #5 in the TRC Global Horse Rankings after Sunday’s victory, as a “beautiful horse” that “is so well bred”, adding that, in his opinion, horses “should go to stud when they are ready, when they look fine like a shiny penny, and not beat up”.
The three-time G1 winner, trained by Jean-Claude Rouget, held on by a neck to defeat In Swoop in the ParisLongchamp showpiece, having finished third in the race last year and winning the 2019 Qatar Prix du Jockey Club.
“I am very happy for him not to run again. He was a very courageous horse,” said Rouget, who agreed with Brant that Sottsass is a “classy horse and goes to stud in the best way after a great win”.
Into Mischief’s fee climbs by $50,000
North America: Spendthrift Farm’s star stallion Into Mischief will stand in 2021 for a fee of $225,000 S&N, up from last season’s $175,000.
Into Mischief is currently #1 in the TRC Global Sires Dirt Rankings. Last year, he became the historic Kentucky farm’s first champion general sire in 35 years since Seattle Slew in 1984, as well as topping the 2-year-old sire lists for 2019, when he was responsible for a record-setting 221 individual winners of an incredible 346 races.
There has been no let-up in 2020 on the track, with Kentucky Derby winner Authentic and multiple stakes record-holder Gamine, who Ned Toffey, Spendthrift’s GM, said were both “bred on a $45,000 fee”.
“In our minds, there was only one box left to tick for Into Mischief and that was siring a Classic winner. Authentic was able to do that pretty emphatically in the Kentucky Derby, and we continue to believe the best is still to come for Into Mischief,” said Toffey.
Sussex hero Mohaather to stand at Nunnery Stud
Europe: Shadwell Stud has announced that Mohaather will begin his stallion career next year at Nunnery Stud, where he will stand alongside Eqtidaar, Muhaarar, Mukhadram and Tasleet.
Mohaather proved himself a miler of the highest calibre when landing a vintage running of the G1 Sussex Stakes at Goodwood. The operation’s director, Richard Lancaster, said that the “entire team at Shadwell are delighted” to be standing the son of Showcasing, who won five times during an eight-race career, which includes Group-level victories at two, three and four.
Mohaather was trained by Marcus Tregoning throughout his on-track career, and Lancaster believes that his win in the Sussex is “arguably the best performance of any miler this year” and his “explosive turn of foot will live long in the memory."
Great British Racing International spoke with Shadwell’s Tom Pennington earlier this week about their new stallion. Watch the video here
Rosario double jockey fee overturned on appeal
North America: The Court of Appeals has overturned the 2017 California Horse Racing Board (CHRB) decision to award a $100,000 double jockey fee to Joel Rosario after he was removed from owner-breeder Charles Fipke’s mare Forever Unbridled prior to the draw of that year’s Breeders’ Cup Distaff. She went on to win the race under John Velazquez.
Fipke stated, “I pursued this case because I believe that horse owners have the right to make decisions regarding their horses and ensure that I and other horse owners are neither denied that right nor subjected to arbitrary and unfair sanctions for exercising that right.”
The CHRB was also ordered to pay appellant’s costs.
Elsewhere in racing …
Europe: Tattersalls have appointed Simon Kerins as CEO of Tattersalls Ireland. More here
Europe: BHA and industry leaders have agreed a united approach to Levy reform. More here
Oceania: Aidan and Joseph O’Brien have had their horses in Melbourne for the Spring Carnival out-of-competition tested as a matter of urgency by Racing Victoria. More here
Europe: Irish racing is to continue, alleviating fears of a shutdown - but owners are excluded again. More here
Europe: The new Mrs Paddy Power Mares’ Chase will replace the Novices’ Handicap Chase at the Cheltenham Festival. More here