Canadian champion filly Tu Endie Wei died on Dec. 24 in Kentucky while undergoing an operation for fibrous adhesions. The Johar filly had been retired to owner Brereton Jones' Airdrie Stud in Midway, Ky., in November.
The filly, who raced as a homebred for Jones and was trained by Reade Baker, won at first asking and captured the Ontario Debutante Stakes and Glorious Song Stakes, all at Woodbine, in 2011. The campaign earned her the Sovereign Award as Canada's champion 2-year-old filly.
Selkirk, twice rated Timeform’s champion miler in Europe and one of the leading English-based sires of the past two decades, died yesterday at Lanwades Stud in Newmarket, England. The Sharpen Up horse died of the effects of old age at 25.
A George Strawbridge homebred, Selkirk was trained by Ian Balding and won six times—all stakes—in 15 starts and earned $843,661. He won the Group 1 Queen Elizabeth II Stakes in 1991, the Lockinge Stakes (then a Group 2) in 1992, and was the Timeform champion miler in Europe for both years with a rating of 129.
Transcend, a champion dirt horse in Japan and runner-up in the 2011 Dubai World Cup, has been retired from racing and will stand at Arrow Stud in Hokkaido, Japan, reports Japan Racing Network.
The 7-year-old Wild Rush horse was one of Japan’s top runners on dirt over the past few years, highlighted by his consecutive wins in the Group 1 Japan Cup Dirt in 2010 and 2011. He also won the Group 1 February Stakes in 2011 to help secure champion dirt horse honors from the Japan Racing Association for that year.
WinStar Farm stallion Harlan’s Holiday established a North American record for 2-year-old earnings in 2012 when his progeny finished the year with $2,954,556. He eclipsed the previous record of $2,811,337 set by Tapit in 2008.
In 2012, 2-year-olds by Harlan’s Holiday won 26 races, and he sired five stakes winners. His top runner was undefeated Breeders’ Cup Juvenile winner and $1,687,000-earner Shanghai Bobby, the leading candidate for the Eclipse Award as champion juvenile male.
The Thoroughbred Charities of America (TCA) will host its 23rd annual select stallion season auction Saturday, Jan. 5 at the Keeneland Entertainment Center in Lexington, Ky.
The cocktail party-style event begins at 6:30 p.m. Eastern with hors d'oeuvres and dinner, with the stallion season auction scheduled to begin at 8:15 p.m. The Belmont Child Care Association will be honored with the TCA Industry Service Award during the event, while Frank Stronach will be honored with the TCA Leadership Award.
Chachamaidee, credited with the victory in last year’s Group 1 Matron Stakes after the disqualification of Duntle, has been retired.
The 6-year-old Footstepsinthesand mare will be bred to Coolmore stallion Galileo in 2013.
Trained by Henry Cecil for owner Tony Evans, Chachamaidee won seven of 21 career starts, earning $650,743. In addition to her win in the Matron, she claimed the Group 2 Lennox Stakes and Group 3 Chartwell Fillies' Stakes in 2012 and the Group 3 Oak Tree Stakes in 2011. She earned nine other stakes wins or placings.
Adena Springs Kentucky in Paris will hold an open house for breeders on Sunday, Jan. 6 from 9:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Breeders interested in viewing Adena Springs stallions will have the option of taking a free hourly shuttle to the farm from the Keeneland sales pavilion on Sunday, the day before Keeneland’s five-day January horses of all ages sale begins. Food from Cajun chef Tommy Walters will also be served.
Britain’s Racing Post released its 2012 Bloodstock Awards on Monday, covering European breeding and sales. Elite Coolmore stallion Galileo, sire of two-time Cartier Horse of the Year Frankel, was the runaway winner as Sire of the Year, while Magnificient Style, dam of Group 1 winners Nathaniel and Great Heavens as well as $4.2 million Keeneland November price Changing Skies, earned Broodmare of the Year honors. Juddmonte Farms, breeder of Frankel, was awarded Breeder of the Year, and The Castlebridge Consignment took Consignor of the Year honors.
Second-year stallions Backtalk and Motovato will stand at the Appleton family’s Bridlewood Farm in Ocala, Fla., for the 2013 breeding season.
Backtalk, a Grade 2 winner, will stand for a fee of $3,000 when the foal stands and nurses. He stood at Vinery Florida in 2012 for a fee of $3,500. Motovato will stand for $2,500 when the foal stands and nurses, after standing at Stonewall Farm Ocala in 2012 for $4,500.
Coolmore's Ashford Stud in Versailles, Ky. will host an open house for breeders from Monday, Jan. 7 through Friday, Jan. 11.
The Ashford stallions will be available from inspection from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. each day. No appointment is necessary.
The roster includes 2011 juvenile champion Hansen and multiple Grade 1 winner Stay Thirsty, both first-year stallions for 2013.
