The Jockey Club projects 35,400 registered foals for 2009, a 3.3% decline from its revised estimate of 36,600 registered foals for 2008.

The foal crop projection is computed using Reports of Mares Bred (RMB) received to date for the 2008 season. The reports are to be filed by August 1 and should be submitted as soon as possible for the 2008 season to avoid delays in receiving Service Certificates.

“After mirroring historical trends during the first three weeks of August last year, the pace of 2007 RMB submissions slowed noticeably thereafter and that prompted us to reduce our previously announced forecast for 2008 by 900 foals,” said Matt Iuliano, the Jockey Club’s vice president of registration services. “Based on RMB returns to date for the 2008 breeding season, the foal crop contraction is likely to continue in 2009.”

Foal registration is to be completed within 12 months of the birth of the foal. Late registration is available for additional fees, which makes actual foal crop counts difficult before December 31 of the crop’s two-year-old year, by which the vast majority of the foal crop has been registered.

RMS can be submitted online at the Jockey Club’s registry website.
(Source: Thoroughbred Times)

My Reflection opened a comfortable lead in early stretch and remained clear to the wire in the seventh race on Thursday at Calder Race Course to become the first winner for freshman sire Roaring Fever.

My Reflection, who is one of two winners from as many starters out of the winning Aloha Prospector mare Frans Reflection, won her debut by 2 1/4 lengths with Eduardo Nunez aboard for owner-breeder-trainer Lynne Scace. The dark bay or brown filly covered five furlongs in 1:00.71 on a track rated as fast.

Roaring Fever, an eight-year-old by Storm Cat out of the Grade 3-placed winning Seattle Slew mare Pennant Fever, stood the 2008 season for $5,000 at Metropolitan Stud in Pine Plains, New York. He has 46 two-year-olds in his first crop. He is a full brother to multiple Grade 1 winner Raging Fever and Grade 3 winner and sire Stormin Fever.

Roaring Fever scored four wins in 19 starts and earned $219,655. He won the 2004 Alysheba Stakes at the Meadowlands and finished second in the Cowdin Stakes (G3) in 2002 at Belmont Park. Roaring Fever also finished third in the 2004 William Donald Schaefer Handicap (G3) and Salvator Mile Handicap (G3).
(Source: Thoroughbred Times)

Reprocolor, a blue hen mare for the Weinfeld family at their Meon Valley Stud in England, died early this summer. The daughter of Jimmy Reppin out of the Majority Blue mare Blue Queen was 32.

Reprocolor’s prominence not only rests on the mare’s five stakes winners, but also on the success achieved by her daughters and granddaughters as broodmares. There are 28 stakes winners descending from Reprocolor.

Cezanne was the best of Reprocolor’s stakes winners. He was a champion in Ireland and Germany and a two-time champion in Dubai. His key win came in the 1994 Guinness Champion Stakes (Ire-I).

Bella Colora and Colorspin also were group winners. Colorspin’s biggest win came in the 1986 Gilltown Stud Irish Oaks (Ire-I), and Bella Colora’s came in the Prix de l’Opera (Fr-II). Both mares excelled in their second careers.

Colorspin produced group I winners Opera House, Kayf Tara, and Zee Zee Top, the first two of which two earned multiple championships in Europe. Opera House’s big win came in the 1993 King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Diamond Stakes (Eng-I). Kayf Tara won two runnings of the Gold Cup (Eng-I) at Royal Ascot.

Bella Colora’s four stakes winners include English and French champion Stagecraft, who also won two U.S. grade II stakes, and English champion Balalaika. A great-grandson of Bella Colora, the colt Alessandro Volta, is an English group winner this year for Sue Magnier, Michael Tabor, and Derrick Smith.

Reprocolor became a part of the Weinfelds’ equine venture when she was bought for 25,000 guineas by agent Richard Galpin at the 1977 Tattersalls December yearling sale. As a 3-year-old in 1979, Reprocolor won three stakes, including the Oaks Trial Stakes (Eng-III) and Lancashire Oaks (Eng-III). She became a broodmare the following year.
(Source: The Blood-Horse)

Bit of Whimsy, one of the top 3-year-old turf fillies of 2007, has been retired because of an injury suffered in the July 26 Diana Stakes (gr. IT) at Saratoga.

“We thought she had ruptured a tendon, but then later found out it was a twisted ankle,” said Bonner Young, who raced the 4-year-old daughter of Distorted Humor with Gerald McManis.

Last year, Bit of Whimsy won the Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup (gr. IT), Mrs. Revere (gr. IIT), and Sands Point (gr. IIIT) Stakes, and ran second in the Garden City Stakes (gr. IT). Her victory in the Sands Point came in a deadheat with Rutherienne.

Bit of Whimsy retired with four wins from 10 races and earnings of $555,133. She will boarded at her birthplace, Hinkle Farms near Paris, Ky., where her dam, Kristi B (by El Prado), also is kept.

Bit of Whimsy was bred by Young and her mother, Joyce B. Rowand. Breeding plans are undecided.
(Source: The Blood-Horse)

Falco may have run his last race according to trainer Carlos Laffron-Parias.

The son of Pivotal belied big odds to win the Group One Poule d’Essai des Poulains [French Guineas] from Rio De La Plata earlier this year.

He was a shade disappointing since and it has emerged that he may not run again.

His trainer told the Racing Post on Wednesday: “Falco has a small problem and is not sure to run again.

“He will probably be retired to stud; a decision will be made this week.”
(Source: Setanta Sports)

Wynn in Command, who is closely related to champion and dual classic winner Afleet Alex, will enter stud in 2009 at Fanlew Farms near Sarepta, La.

A 3-year-old by Northern Afleet, Wynn in Command made two starts and both were at 2. He began his career at Saratoga and was an 8 3/4-length winner at Delaware Park next time up.

Wynn in Command is a full sister to multiple stakes winner Cash’s Girl. He is out of the Mister Jolie mare Jolie Hawk, who is a half-sister to Afleet Alex and additional stakes winner Unforgettable Max, both of whom are by Northern Afleet. Afleet Alex, who won the 2005 Preakness (gr. I) and Belmont (gr. I) Stakes, stands at Gainesway Farm near Lexington.

Wynn in Command will stand for a syndicate and his fee will be announced later.
(Source: The Blood-Horse)

The Leon Corstens stable enjoyed a huge thrill when Saranda, by its former star Helenus, gave the stallion his first winner as a sire with an impressive winning debut at Sandown.

Saranda, a half-brother to Sandown winner Turing, was purchased by Corstens’ son Troy for $102,500 as a yearling in Perth and was brought along patiently before stepping out for the first time in the Caranna Hcp (1000m).

“He’s always shown us a massive amount of ability,” Troy Corstens said.

The stable took the three-year-old colt from its Kyneton base for a gallop at Sandown on Saturday morning to familiarise him with the track.

On-course bookmakers were very wary of the colt, opening him at $1.80, and despite drifting to start $3 favourite he gave his supporters little cause for concern.

After settling fifth of the eight runners, Steven King brought Saranda to the outside of the leaders in the straight and he forged clear to score by 1-3/4 lengths from Papercut ($3.50) with Beynac ($8.50) a neck away third.

“I’m very, very pleased,” Leon Corstens said after the win.

“Steve (King) had said he was a ready-made racehorse. He’s only a little horse, but he has a nice action. He skips over the ground.”

While the going was a heavy (9) King said Saranda, from the first crop of Helenus, would also prove his worth on firmer surfaces too.

“He’s very similar to his Dad,” King said.

“On his back he’s a replica.”

King had a great association with Helenus, riding him in all of his five wins including the 2002 Caulfield Guineas and Victoria Derby and 2003 Rosehill Guineas.

Helenus, a son of Helissio, went to stud in Western Australia but encountered some fertility problems which have since been rectified, according to Troy Corstens.

Corstens said he had now bought four sons of Helenus including a full-brother to Saranda for $150,000.

Earlier today Steve Pateman made it nine wins from his last 11 rides over the jumps when New Zealander Ponce scored an easy win in The Champ Hurdle (3000m).

Pateman, 25, who landed his second Tommy Corrigan medal for excellence riding over the jumps last season, has won at his last five rides over the jumps, two of those on the Kevin Myers-trained Ponce who made it two in a row today.

Sent out $1.75 favourite, the Lord Ballina six-year-old trailed the freegoing Sir Heelan ($15) before racing away for a seven-length win from that gelding with In Detention ($7) four lengths away third.

“He was impressive. He cruised when he won his first start (this preparation, by eight lengths at Hamilton) but today he had pressure from another horse,” Pateman said.
(Source: AAP)

Student Council, a grade I winner on dirt and synthetic surfaces, will be retired at the conclusion of this year’s racing season and will stand at Millennium Farms in 2009 as property of a syndicate that will include breeder Will Farish’s Lane’s End Farm.

Millennium Farms is currently syndicating Student Council; his stud fee will be announced later this year. In the meantime, the 6-year-old son of leading international sire Kingmambo is next scheduled to defend his title in the $1 million Pacific Classic (gr. I) at Del Mar Aug. 24.

“We are thrilled to announce that Student Council will join our stallion roster next year,” said Millennium Farms owner Ro Parra. “His racing career has brought us much excitement and after a few more races this year, we are sure that the combination of his pedigree, conformation, soundness, toughness, durability and great race record will make him desirable to breeders around the world.”

Farish added, “I have always believed that Student Council would make an excellent stallion, which is why Lane’s End has retained an ownership in him. His sire, Kingmambo, is one of the most successful stallions in the world, and his son Lemon Drop Kid, with three grade I winners already, speaks to Kingmambo’s success as a sire of sires.”

Student Council has earnings of over $1.5 million from eight wins, four seconds and four thirds in 29 starts. He is out of the grade II winning mare Class Kris (by Kris S.), and is a half-brother to graded winner Gradepoint. Prior to his purchase by Parra in August of 2007, Student Council took the Maxxam Gold Cup Handicap at Sam Houston Race Park. After his victory in last year’s Pacific Classic in his first start for Millennium Farms, he won the Hawthorne Gold Cup (gr. II).

Student Council won the Pimlico Special (gr. I) in May, and was third in the Hollywood Gold Cup (gr. I) June 28. In his most recent start, the July 26 Whitney Handicap (gr. I) at Saratoga, Student Council ran second to the front-running Commentator, running a 112 Beyer Speed Figure, second best of the year at one mile or more on dirt.

Student Council has raced at 14 different tracks, in eight states and on two continents. He has won stakes in California, Maryland, Illinois and Texas.

Kingmambo is the sire of 80 stakes winners. In addition to Student Council, his group/grade I winners in 2008 include Henrythenavigator and Archipenko.

For more information on Student Council, Ro Parra or Millennium Farms, visit www.millenniumfarms.com. Mare nicking reports for all Millennium Farms stallions, including Student Council, are available at www.truenicks.com.
(Source: The Blood-Horse)

Warren’s Lady Slew rallied from off the pace in the fifth race at Del Mar on Friday to prevail by a length in her career debut and become the first career winner for California-based freshman sire Slew’s Prince.

Trained by Clifford Sise Jr. for owner-breeder Benjamin C. Warren, Warren’s Lady Slew completed 5 1/2 furlongs in 1:04.78 to win the maiden claiming race. John Sadler claimed Warren’s Lady Slew for $32,000 on behalf of Barber, Barber, and La Cresta Farms.

Slew’s Prince, an eight-year-old by Slew’s Royalty out of the winning Stalwart mare Stalwart Princess, stood the 2008 season for $1,500 at Warren’s Thoroughbreds in Hemet, California. He has five-two-year-olds in his first crop.

Slew’s Prince amassed five wins, five seconds, and eight thirds in 32 career starts and earned $308,929 in four seasons for Warren. Slew’s Prince finished on the board five times in stakes races, including a runner-up finish in the 2006 Robert K. Kerlan Memorial Handicap at Hollywood Park and a third-place finish in the Fort Mason Stakes at Golden Gate Fields to close his career.
(Source: Thoroughbred Times)

Shaft, last year’s winner of the prestigious Group 2 Silver Slipper Stakes, is retiring to Darley for the 2008 breeding season.

A $700,000 Easter yearling, Shaft, the imposing son of Champion Sire Flying Spur was a brilliant two-year-old. He is the highest ever rated two-year-old colt by his illustrious sire.

He scored brilliantly on his debut racetrack appearance in the Group 2 Silver Slipper, defeating the top-rated colts Husson Lightning and Murtajill. On his second start, Shaft finished third in the Group 2 Todman Slipper Trial, half a length behind Champion two-year-old Meurice, before contesting the Group 1 Golden Slipper, in which he was beaten only two lengths by his stablemate Forensics.

Shaft is from one of the best families in the Australian Stud Book. His dam Traceable is a daughter of the Champion and four-time G1-winning sprinter, Tracy’s Element. His third dam is the remarkable Princess Tracy, the dam of five high-class Stakes winners and grandam of a further seven Stakes winners.

Darley’s managing director Oliver Tait said: “Shaft was a top two-year-old. Five of his six starts were in Group races and winning a race like the Silver Slipper at his first ever start shows just how talented he was. He’s a great looking horse, he’s by Flying Spur and he’s from a great Australian family. He’ll make a stallion”.

Shaft will stand at a fee of $11,000 inc. GST at Darley, Aberdeen.
(Source: Virtual Form Guide)

La Lynn scored a 10 1/4-victory on Saturday in a 5 1/2-furlong maiden claiming race at Hipodromo Camarero in Puerto Rico and became the first winner for freshman sire Tenpins.
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La Lynn is out of the winning Itajara mare Prima Gioia (Brz), who is a full sister to Grade/Group1 winner and sire Siphon (Brz). A half sister to Vickey Jane, the dam of Grade 2-placed stakes winner Yankee Bravo, La Lynn won the race in 1:06.84 on a sloppy track for owner Estabalo Toa Alta and trainer Jose Caro. She was bred in Kentucky by Keith and Deborah Wenger.

Tenpins, a ten-year-old by Smart Strike out of the winning Deputy Minister mare Maid’s Broom, stood the 2008 season for $6,500 at Walmac Farm in Lexington. The half brother to three stakes winners has 73 two-year-olds in his first crop.

Campaigned by breeder Joseph Vitello, Tenpins recorded nine wins, including five graded stakes victories, in 17 career starts and banked $1,133,449 in earnings. Tenpins’s most lucrative win came in the 2002 edition of the $400,000 Washington Park Handicap (G2) at Arlington Park. He also scored that same season in the Fayette Stakes (G3) at Keeneland Race Course and the William Donald Schaefer Handicap (G3) at Pimlico Race Course and the 2003 editions of the Prairie Meadows Cornhusker Breeders’ Cup Handicap (G3) and Philip H. Iselin Breeders’ Cup Handicap (G3) at Monmouth Park.
(Source: Thoroughbred Times)

It was announced Aug. 6 that the Storm Cat horse Seeking the Dia, a five-time stakes winner, four-time group winner, and earner of more than $5 million, will join the stallion roster at John G. Sikura’s Hill ‘n’ Dale Farms near Lexington for the 2009 breeding season.

A Japanese champion, Seeking the Dia broke his maiden at two and won his next three starts, including the Arlington Cup (Jpn-III) at a mile, as well as the New Zealand Trophy (Jpn-II), previously won by his dam Seeking the Pearl.

Though he accumulated earnings of over $1 million on the turf, it was his switch to dirt in his 4-year-old season where Seeking the Dia found his championship form. Throughout his career, Seeking the Dia won or placed in 15 group events, 10 of which were group Is, including consecutive runner-up efforts in the 2005 and 2006 Japan Cup Dirt (Jpn-I). He scored in races ranging from seven furlongs to 1 1/4 miles on dirt and turf.

Seeking the Dia was bred in Kentucky by Richard Santulli’s Jayeff “B” Stables and is out of French and European champion Seeking the Pearl, by Seeking the Gold.

Seeking the Dia hails from the female family of prominent North American and European champion sire Lyphard.

“We are extremely pleased to be able to offer a horse like Seeking the Dia to American breeders,” said Sikura. “We live in an ever-shrinking world, and this horse is the complete package who, similar to Heatseeker, should garner a true international audience. He was an elite performer from a great female family. He’s by Storm Cat and really looks the part.”

A stud fee has not yet been determined for Seeking the Dia.
(Source: The Blood-Horse)

Fate will decide whether Arrowfield Stud’s two most prized mares Miss Finland and Alinghi head to the same stallion in 2008, or go down different paths.

Alinghi

Champion two and three-year-old Miss Finland (by Redoute’s Choice) is a confirmed booking for the stud’s Champion Second Season Sire Hussonet (Mr Prospector) and will be ready for an early service upon commencement of the new breeding season in September.

Arrowfield’s John Messara said it was a perfect mating for the five times Group 1 winner, who retired with earnings of $4.6million earlier this year.

“It’s a very nice physical mating and a good genetic mating as well,” Messara said.

“He (Hussonet) loves Northern Dancer and he loves Mr Prospector as well.”

Messara pointed out the great record Hussonet has with Fappiano (by Mr Prospector) line mares, highlighted by Fappiano’s son Roy.

Hussonet over Roy mares has provided five stakes winners, including Host and Husson – both multiple Group 1 winners who make their Australian stud debuts at Swettenham and Patinack Farm respectively in 2008.

Miss Finland encompasses both Northern Dancer (through Danzig/Danehill) and Mr Prospector, being from the Woodman mare Forest Pearl.

Whether Alinghi (Encosta De Lago) follows Miss Finland as a partner for Hussonet in 2008 depends on fate.

A four time Group 1 winner of $3.4million, Alinghi produced a Hussonet filly last year – her first foal - and is back in foal to the same stallion, although the foal is not due until October.

“If this one’s a colt, then she will be going to Redoute’s Choice. If not, she will go back to Hussonet,” Messara said.

“We are terribly keen to get a son out of her.”

A well performed Hussonet colt from a mare of Alinghi’s calibre would be an invaluable asset to the Australian industry, desperate for more Danehill outcrosses.

A decision is also pending on whether Alinghi’s first filly will go to sale next year or be retained, with Messara set to discuss the matter with the other partners in the next few days.
(Source: Racing & Sports)

Stakes winner Fisher Pond sired his first winner on Monday when filly Lemon Pepper won a maiden special weight race at Northlands Park.

Lemon Pepper, who was bred in Alberta by Gordon Wilson and is out of the Lemon Drop Kid mare Lemon Drop Martini, completed six furlongs in 1:14.40 for owner Lomar Stables and trainer Pam McDougall.

Fisher Pond stood the 2008 season for $2,589 at Paddockhurst Stables in Nisku, Alberta. The nine-year-old by A.P. Indy was bred by Gayno Stables out of the Alydar mare Chipeta Springs, dam of 2008 Virginia Derby (G2) winner Gio Ponti. He has 17 two-year-old in his first crop.

Trained by Todd Pletcher and David Bell for Laura and Eugene Melnyk, Fisher Pond won three of 21 starts and earned $251,490. His lone stakes victory came in the 2002 Lawrence Realization Handicap at Belmont Park. He finished second that season in the Red Smith Handicap (G3) and third in the Gallant Fox Handicap (G3).
(Source: Thoroughbred Times)

International conqueror Haradasun is scheduled to touch down in Australia today in readiness for a debut stud season where he will be afforded a stellar book of mares, including bluebloods Skates and Shania Dane.

Haradasun
Photo by Bronwen Healy
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The son of Fusaichi Pegasus will land in Sydney with the European contingent of Coolmore’s shuttle roster.

Coolmore’s Colm Santry today confirmed a number of high class mares that will visit Haradasun in his first year at stud.

These include the likes of Skates, Shania Dane, Bespoken (dam of Bel Esprit), Presumed Innocent and Cashier, who are all permanent residents on the farm at Coolmore’s Jerrys Plains operation.

Outside mares include classy stakes winners like Brief Embrace, Dandify, Emlozza, Niagara Falls, Classy Dane, Ambers Halo and Red Ivory.

Others among the book are proven producers like Natural Is My Name (dam of Zizou), Freckled Face (dam of Face Value), Ballycairn (dam of G2 winner Pure Harmony), Boo Ticket (dam of G1 winner Macedon Lady), Escapade (dam of Ain’t Seen Nothin’), November Song (dam of November Flight) and Kaapstad Glamour (dam of dual G1 winner Grout).

This follows the announcement last week that G1 Stradbroke Handicap winner La Montagna would also be among Haradasun’s first book of mares in 2008.

“Haradasun will cover an exceptional book of mares for his first season at stud,” Santry said.

“We couldn’t be happier with the way he’s been received.

“He’s going to cover the quality of book that his pedigree and race record demands. He was a champion in Australia and then he proved to the world how good he was at Royal Ascot.”

Shania Dane and Skates rank as two of the most valuable mares in Australia.

A daughter of Danehill from the wonderful producer Subterfuge (Machiavellian), Shania Dane was a dual Group 2 and dual Group 3 winner, in addition to being multiple Group 1 placed.

Subterfuge is also the dam of Hong Kong Group 1 winner Scintillation (Danehill) and her last three yearlings to sell have fetched $800,000 (Giant’s Causeway filly), $1.3million (Rock Of Gibraltar filly) and $1.25million (Encosta De Lago filly).

Shania Dane produced her first foal last year, a colt by Encosta De Lago and then returned to the same stallion.

Skates is a daughter of the 1993 Doncaster Handicap winner Skating and was stakes placed on the racetrack.

Also by Danehill, Skates became a Group 1 producing dam when Juste Momente (Giant’s Causeway) won this year’s Robert Sangster Stakes.

John Foote Bloodstock went to $800,000 to secure Skates’ Fusaichi Pegasus colt at Easter in 2007, while her Encosta De Lago colt fetched $1.7million to the bid of Ingham Bloodstock at this year’s Easter sale.
(Source: Racing & Sports)

Kentucky breeder Ben Walden Jr. has purchased a new farm to replace his Gracefield, which he sold earlier this year.

“I never expected to sell Gracefield,” Walden said, “but with the World Equestrian Games coming along and its location, these show horse people wanted it.”

Gracefield, which Walden can occupy for the rest of this year, is located at the intersection of Newtown and Iron Works Pikes in Lexington, just south of the Kentucky Horse Park where the World Equestrian Games will be held in 2010.

“I bought a really nice farm in southern Woodford County, about 200 acres, called Valhalla. It already has a nice foaling barn, and I’ve got to build a yearling barn and put in an Aquaciser and develop it. It’s about 70% developed, I’d say.

“We’re going to get down to about our 20 best mares from the 50 or 60 we have now. It has an 1812 Federal-style house on it, and I’m going to rename it. I’m going back to its original name, which was Paul’s Mill. Hopefully we can retire on it.”

Walden is the son of late Kentucky breeder Ben Walden Sr. and brother of WinStar Farm Vice President Elliott Walden. He and his wife, Elaine, developed Gracefield. They bred and sold 2007 Metropolitan Handicap (G1) and Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile winner Corinthian in partnership with longtime partner Hargus Sexton.
(Source: Thoroughbred Times)

Aidan O’Brien’s Peeping Fawn, who won four consecutive Group Ones last season, has been retired.

A daughter of the great sire Danehill, she has not run since winning the Yorkshire Oaks nearly 12 months ago and has failed to fire on the gallops this year.

“We took her away from home to work before she was due to run in the Pretty Polly Stakes in June and thing’s weren’t quite 100% with her afterwards,” said O’Brien.

“While the problem wasn’t a major one, she didn’t come back the way we had thought she would.

“As she has been such a great filly, we took the decision on Friday morning to retire her. She will be covered next year,” he told the Racing Post.

After being unraced at two, Peeping Fawn did not lose her maiden tag until her fourth race before she finished third in the Irish 1000 Guineas at the Curragh.

She then belied her 20-1 starting price in the Oaks at Epsom to finish second to Light Shift before beginning her four-race winning streak.
(Source: Sporting Life)

Brian O’Rourke, a former Central Kentucky farm manager who had been working as a bloodstock agent, has been hired as managing director of the National Stud in Newmarket.

O’Rourke, 39, will replace David Somers, who is resigning to take a new position at Eliza Park in Australia.

O’Rourke is a bloodstock agent in Kentucky for London Thoroughbred Services. He previously was manager of Wimbledon and Doninga Farms in Lexington. His appointment is effective October 1.

“While I have greatly enjoyed my stay in Kentucky, I jumped at the opportunity to return to Europe to manage the National Stud,” O’Rourke said. “I am very much looking forward to managing the stud’s services to the breeding industry and overseeing the role of offering training courses for stud staff and the provision of public access, activities which make the stud unique in this country. It is a challenging and exciting opportunity.”

O’Rourke is the brother of Liam O’Rourke, manager of Dalham Hall Stud in Newmarket, and Garrett O’Rourke, manager of Juddmonte Farms in Lexington.
(Source: Thoroughbred Times)

Silver Deputy, one of North America’s top veteran stallions, is facing an uncertain future in the breeding shed. The 23-year-old son of Deputy Minister found it increasingly difficult to get mares in foal during the 2008 breeding season, according to Ric Waldman, who manages the bay horse’s stallion career.

In 2007, when Silver Deputy was bred to 65 mares, he got approximately 60% of them in foal, Waldman reported. This year, the stallion’s in-foal rate was about the same at the beginning of the breeding season, “but his fertility decreased as we progressed deeper into the season,” Waldman said.

No decision has been made about whether Silver Deputy will return to the breeding shed in 2009.

Silver Deputy, who is owned by a syndicate, stands at Fred Seitz’s Brookdale Farm near Versailles, Ky. The stallion is the sire of 74 stakes winners. His offspring include Silverbulletday, the champion 2-year-old filly of 1998 and the champion 3-year-old filly in 1999, and Canadian champions Deputy Inxs, Archers Bay, Deputy Jane West, Scotzana, Poetically, and Larkwhistle.

International Thoroughbred Breeders bred Silver Deputy in Canada and sold him, through Parrish Hill Farm, for $200,000 to Windfields Farm at the 1986 Fasig-Tipton Kentucky July select yearling auction. Carrying Windfields’ colors, Silver Deputy won both of his career races, including the Swynford Stakes at Woodbine.
(Source: The Blood-Horse)

Notional, a multiple graded stakes winner, has been retired from racing after breaking the coffin bone in his left front foot when he finished fourth in last weekend’s Grade 1 Whitney Handicap at Saratoga.

Owned by Paul Reddam and trained most recently by Mark Hennig, the 4-year-old Notional won 4 of 12 starts, including the Grade 2 San Rafael and Grade 3 Risen Star at 3, both when trained by Doug O’Neill. For Hennig, Notional won the Grade 3 Salvator Mile at Monmouth Park, a Win and You’re In race that earned him a spot in the Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile at Santa Anita on Oct. 25.

Notional, a son of In Excess, earned $733,240. No plans have been made for his stud career.
(Source: NTRA)