Kentucky Derby hero switches to turf, records shattered at Saratoga, Thurles racecourse shut down – all this and more in our weekly digest of recent international racing news
Mystik Dan switches to turf in Arlington Million
USA: Last year’s Kentucky Derby winner Mystik Dan will make his turf debut on Saturday [August 9] in the Arlington Million, now run at Colonial Downs since the closure of its traditional home.
“I always wanted to try him on the turf and in his work on Friday [in Saratoga], it looked like he loved it,” said trainer Kenny McPeek. “This is a horse that has done everything we’ve asked him to do – the move was so good and the horse is doing so good, I was like yeah, let’s run.”
Morning-line favorite for the Million is Integration, who drew the outside post in a field of eight. The G1 event headlines Saturday’s Festival of Racing, also featuring a pair of G2s each worth $500,000 in the shape of the Beverly D and Secretariat Stakes. More here
Top miler Carl Spackler set to stay in Britain
GB: Former top US miler Carl Spackler is set to stay in England to be trained by John & Thady Gosden instead of travelling to Australia as per the origjnal plans of new owner Yuesheng Zhang and his Yulong Investments vehicle.
The five-year-old has finished down the field in Britain in two races so far under the guidance of leading Aussie trainer Ciaron Maher.
Yulong CEO Sam Fairgray told Australian radio network RSN927: “I think at this stage we'll probably leave him in Europe. There were plans for him to come down for the Cox Plate, but I think we'll leave him there and let him acclimatise a bit and see if we can just get him back on track.”
On the other hand, Yulong have purchased Aidan O’Brien-trained Royal Ascot winner Trinity College to race in Australia. More here
Saratoga Sale: Records broken as Coolmore go to $4.1m for Into Mischief colt
USA: As records tumbled across the board at the 104th edition of Fasig-Tipton’s select Saratoga yearling sale this week, the $4.1 million sales topper was knocked down to the Coolmore team in partnership with Peter Brant.
The colt in question, sold late in the second session of the two-night boutique sale, is a son of Into Mischief (hip 218) from the consignment of Hill ‘n’ Dale at Xalapa, agent for Don Alberto Corporation. It was the highest price at the sale for 25 years at a sale where records were broken for gross, average and median – including topping gross sales of $100m for the first time.
A total of 25 yearlings sold for seven figures during the sale, easily bettering the previous record of 14 million-dollar yearlings sold over two nights set in 2021. More here
Melbourne Cup target for Parchment Party
USA: Parchment Party is set for a trip to the Melbourne Cup after landing a ‘Win and You’re In’ race at Saratoga on Wednesday [August 6].
The Bill Mott-trained four-year-old secured his ‘golden ticket’ to Flemington on November 4 with a one-length victory in the Birdstone Stakes, a $150,000 event over a mile and three-quarters. “It's our plan – go to the Melbourne Cup, quarantine in England then go on to Australia for quarantine and see how he does,” said Bernhard said Dana Bernhard of owners Pin Oak Stud.
On his previous start, Parchment Party won the G3 Belmont Gold Cup by 8½ lengths. More here
Major blow for Irish racing as Thurles is shut down
Ireland: Irish racing has been rocked by the bombshell that Thurles racecourse is to close with immediate effect.
The Molony family, who have owned the County Tipperary racecourse since the early 1900s, announced the shock news last Friday [August 1]. “Ever increasing industry demands and the cost of doing business has also been a major factor,” said Riona Molony.
Thurles, a mainstay of the Irish jumps calendar, becomes the first Irish track to shut down since Tralee in 2008. More here
Field Of Gold ruled out of Juddmonte International
GB: Field Of Gold has been ruled out of the Juddmonte International at York later this month after finishing lame in his surprise odds-on defeat in Goodwood’s Sussex Stakes last week.
Further X-rays were due to be taken on the star three-year-old this week. “He's got a little bit of swelling in his fetlock but but John and Thady [Gosden] are much happier with him,” reported Juddmonte racing manager Barry Mahon. “York, though, is definitely not going to happen at this stage.” More here
Field Of Gold’s name did appear among stellar entries for Qipco British Champions Day at Ascot on October 18, when a record £4.35m will be on offer in prize-money across the seven-race card featuring five G1s. Other big names on the Ascot list include King George winner Calandagan, Delacroix, Ombudsman, Whirl, Trawlerman and Jan Brueghel. More here
Elsewhere in racing …
USA: Keeneland catalogs 4,686 horses for 82nd September Yearling Sale More here
USA: Gulfstream renews decoupling push via lawsuit More here
GB: More than £5m pumped into 2026 fixture list More here
GB: Tattersalls October Sale 2025: Book 1 catalogue now online More here
Australia: Magic Millions Virtual Sale – Wathnan purchase G2 winner Olentia for A$2.6m More here
Canada: ‘Very perplexing’ race under review after controversial defeat for favorite More here
New Zealand: Former jockey Maija Vance commences training career More here
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