MG1SW Too Darn Hot Injured, Retired
Updated: August 5, 2019 at 1:27 pm
Too Darn Hot | Scoop Dyga
European highweighted 2-year-old colt and MG1SW Too Darn Hot (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}–Dar Re Mi {GB}, by Singspiel {Ire}) has sustained a career-ending injury and has been subsequently retired, Watership Down Stud announced on Monday. The 2019 G1 Sussex S. winner and Lord Lloyd-Webber homebred, who also scored earlier this season in the July 7 G1 Qatar Prix Jean Prat for trainer John Gosden, underwent surgery on his right-hind cannon to repair a hairline fracture-thought to have developed during the running of the Sussex on July 31–at Newmarket Equine Hospital. Previously, it had been announced the full-brother to GSWs So Mi Dar (GB), who ran third in the G1 Prix de l’Opera Longines, and G1 St. Leger S. runner-up and MG1SP Lah Ti Dar (GB) would stand at Dalham Hall Stud under the Darley banner.
“Too Darn Hot has undergone emergency surgery to his right-hind cannon after X-rays revealed a hairline fracture,” said the Lloyd-Webbers’ Bloodstock Manager Simon Marsh of the ‘TDN Rising Star’, who struck in the G1 Dewhurst S. as a juvenile. “I am glad to say that he has come safely through surgery. The injury is not life threatening and he should make a full recovery. His future now lies at Dalham Hall Stud in Newmarket where he will recuperate and stand at stud for the 2020 Season.
“The Lloyd Webbers and I are very sad we won’t see this champion on the racecourse again. He has given us all so much excitement winning three Group 1 races over the last 12 months, culminating in his brilliant win last week in the G1 Qatar Sussex S.”
Named a ‘Rising Star’ after winning a Sandown maiden by seven lengths last August, the bay added the Sept. 1 G3 Solario S. and Doncaster’s G2 Champagne S. later that month prior to his Dewhurst tally. Making his 3-year-old bow, Too Darn Hot ran second in the May 16 G2 Dante S. and filled that spot again in the G1 Irish 2000 Guineas on May 25. During Royal Ascot, he once again filled the frame, reporting home third in the G1 St James’s Palace S. on June 18 and he retires with a mark of 9-6-2-1 and earnings of $1,651,829.
Out of English highweight and 2009 G1 Yorkshire Oaks winner Dar Re Mi, who also landed the G1 Pretty Polly S. in Ireland and the G1 Dubai Sheema Classic in the UAE, Too Darn Hot is also a half-brother to French MGSP sire De Treville (GB) (Oasis Dream {GB}). The three-time Group 1 winner is followed by full-siblings, a juvenile colt named Darain (GB) that sold for 3.5 million guineas to top Book 1 of the 2018 Tattersalls October Yearling Sale and a yearling filly. Dar Re Mi, in turn, is a product of the outstanding broodmare and G1SW Darara (Ire) (Top Ville {Ire}), and thus a half-sister to the high-class G1 Prince of Wales’s S. victor Rewilding (GB) (Tiger Hill {Ire}) and Hong Kong champion Diaghilev (Ire) (Sadler’s Wells) among others.
Maxios’s Diamanta Takes the Diana
Updated: August 5, 2019 at 1:28 pm
| 7th at DSS, Gr. Stk, €500,000 | G1 161st Henkel-Preis der Diana – German Oaks | (11f) | Winner: Diamanta (Ger), f, 3 by Maxios (GB) |
Diamanta | Marc Ruehl
By Tom Frary
One of the outsiders for Sunday’s G1 Henkel-Preis der Diana at Dusseldorf, Gestut Brummerhof’s Diamanta (Ger)(Maxios {GB}) made strides on her previous best to put her peers in the shade on the day that counted. Breaking well to bag the rail as one of the leading contenders Ismene (Ger) (Tertullian) unseated her rider exiting the stalls, the 24-1 chance enjoyed a stalking trip in third under Maxim Pecheur before taking over from the 29-10 favourite Durance (Ger)(Champs Elysees {GB}) approaching the final furlong and asserting for a 1 3/4-length success. Fellow longshot Naida (Ger) (Reliable Man {GB}) got up for second in the final stride, a short-head in front of Durance.
Witnessed in public on four occasions prior to this German Oaks, Diamanta who was unraced at two had beaten Naida by four lengths on her second start over this trip at Cologne May 19. Third but beaten just a short head and a head behind Durance in the June 15 Listed Preis Dusseldorf over 10 1/2 furlongs, the homebred had disappointed and lost many followers when last of seventh as the favourite for the 10-furlong Listed Diana Trial in which Ismene and Naida were first and second at Mulheim July 14.
Diamanta, who was providing trainer Markus Klug and his jockey with a first German Oaks winner, also becomes the first group winner for her sire and the first black-type winner for the G3 Preis der Winterkonigin runner-up Diamantgottin (Fantastic Light) who also threw the Scandinavian champion 2-year-old colt and Norsk Derby runner-up Diamant (Ger) (Zamindar).
Diamantgottin is a half to three black-type performers, most notably the Listed Premio Baggio scorer Diamantwelle (Ire) (Xaar {GB}), and hails from the family of the G1 Premio Roma heroine High Hawk (Ire). She is the dam of the triple group 1-winning Breeders’ Cup Turf hero and leading sire In the Wings (GB) (Sadler’s Wells) and a half to the dam of the G1 Epsom Derby hero High-Rise (Ire) (High Estate {Ire}). Also connected to the G3 Prix de Seine-et-Oise winner Seltitude (Ire) (Fairy King), the G3 Prix du Calvados scorer Charlotte O’Fraise (Ire) (Beat Hollow {GB}) and the recent Listed Chelmer S. winner Isaan Queen (Ire) (War Command), Diamantgottin has a yearling colt by Golden Horn (GB) named Diamantis (Ger).
Sunday, Dusseldorf, Germany
161ST HENKEL-PREIS DER DIANA – GERMAN OAKS-G1, €500,000, Dusseldorf, 8-4, 3yo, f, 11fT, 2:15.78, gd.
1–DIAMANTA (GER), 128, f, 3, by Maxios (GB)
1st Dam: Diamantgottin (Ger) (GSP-Ger), by Fantastic Light
2nd Dam: Dunnellon (GB), by Shareef Dancer
3rd Dam: Dunoof (GB), by Shirley Heights (GB)
1ST BLACK-TYPE WIN; 1ST GROUP WIN; 1ST GROUP 1 WIN. O/B-Gestut Brummerhof (GER); T-Markus Klug; J-Maxim Pecheur. €300,000. Lifetime Record: 5-2-0-2, €306,800. *1/2 to Diamant (Ger) (Zamindar), Ch. 2yo-Scan & SP-Nor, $206,525. Werk Nick Rating: B. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Naida (Ger), 128, f, 3, Reliable Man (GB)–Nacella (Ger), by Banyumanik (Ire). O/B-Gestut Niederrhein (GER); T-Yasmin Almenrader. €100,000.
3–Durance (Ger), 128, f, 3, Champs Elysees (GB)–Djidda (Ger), by Lando (Ger). O/B-Gestut Ebbesloh (GER); T-Peter Schiergen. €50,000.
Margins: 1 3/4, SHD, NO. Odds: 23.50, 17.30, 2.90.
Also Ran: Satomi (Ger), Akribie (Ger), Donjah (Ger), Skyful Sea (Fr), Shining Pass (Ger), Mythica (Ire), Apadanah (Ger), Freedom Rising (Ger), Liberty London (Ger). DNF: Ismene (Ger). Click for the Racing Post result or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
Advertise Wins the Maurice de Gheest
Updated: August 5, 2019 at 1:53 pm
| 4th at DVL, Gr. Stk, €380,000 | G1 LARC Prix Maurice de Gheest | (6 1/2f) | Winner: Advertise (GB), c, 3 by Showcasing (GB) |
Advertise | Scoop Dyga
By Tom Frary
Making it a dozen group 1 wins this summer, Frankie Dettori had Advertise (GB) (Showcasing {GB}) to aid his cause of streaking through the major European events in Deauville’s G1 Larc Prix Maurice de Gheest on Sunday. Occupying 11-5 favouritism in this unique 6 1/2-furlong test, Phoenix Thoroughbred Limited’s G1 Commonwealth Cup and G1 Phoenix S. hero and G1 July Cup runner-up travelled strongly behind compatriot Pretty Pollyanna (GB) (Oasis Dream {GB}) who provided an ideal lead in the dominant group racing furthest from the rail. Taking over approaching the furlong pole, the blinkered bay wandered around in the clear but when pressed by the 2017 winner Brando (GB) (Pivotal {GB}) gave an extra surge to prevail by a neck, with 3/4 of a length back to another British raider in Space Blues (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}). “He’s a lovely horse who was in tremendous form and two furlongs from home I had to take a pull, as he idles in front,” Frankie said. “When I saw the others coming I kicked and he showed a good turn of foot. He felt Brando coming and took off again, but I was alone for a while and there to be shot at. He’s a proper horse and deserved it.”
Meeting defeat only twice in five starts as a 2-year-old, Advertise was second to Calyx (GB) (Kingman {GB}) in the G2 Coventry S. at Royal Ascot in June and to Too Darn Hot (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) with the Derby winner Anthony Van Dyck (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) in behind in the G1 Dewhurst S. at Newmarket in October. In between those, he had shown true sprinter’s speed when annexing the G2 July S. at the latter venue and the Phoenix at The Curragh but Martyn Meade remained convinced he would see out the mile of the G1 2000 Guineas well enough to be a factor. As it turned out, his yard’s lull in form during the time he tackled the May 4 Newmarket Classic meant that his soundly-beaten 15th was inconclusive, but it is highly likely that he lacked the requisite stamina in any case.
Blinkered for the first time and reverting to six furlongs for the Commonwealth Cup at Royal Ascot June 21, he showed his familiar dash to stamp some authority on a renewal which is looking stronger every day. The fourth home Ten Sovereigns (Ire) (No Nay Never) bettered him in the July Cup at Newmarket July 13, the fifth Royal Intervention (Ire) (Exceed and Excel {Aus}) went on to take the G3 Summer S. and the seventh Khaadem (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}) was the winner of Saturday’s Stewards’ Cup. This was remarkably straightforward for Advertise, with last year’s winner Polydream (Ire)(Oasis Dream {GB}) and Space Blues isolated towards the stands away from the main action and Pretty Pollyanna drawing the sting from everything in her pursuing pack.
“To win three group ones is fantastic and he ranks as one of the best I’ve trained,” Meade commented. “Last time in the July Cup, he didn’t break too well but this was over further and he stays–that’s his strength. He’s done very well and will be retired at the end of the season, so I want the best for him and won’t throw him in a race just because he has a chance. We’ll try to spot the right ones and he’ll run once or twice more. Maybe he could travel to America for the Breeders’ Cup, we’ll see later on. There are lots of options and the [G1 Prix de la] Foret [at ParisLongchamp Oct. 6] is also a possibility.”
Brando was storming back to at least close to his peak and his trainer Kevin Ryan was felling the usual mixed feelings in such instances. “He’s run a great race and it’s great to see him bounce back,” he said. “It’s always hard to finish second, but we are delighted really as this was probably a better race than we won two years ago. He has proven he is still there and when I saddled him I knew he’d run his race. Sometimes he can be a litle bit edgy, but he was very relaxed today and I’d imagine next it will be the [Sept. 7 G1] Haydock Sprint Cup and then on to Ascot for [the Oct. 19 G1 British Champions Sprint] on Champions day.” Charlie Appleby said of the third, “This was another solid run from Space Blues–there are no excuses, as he was beaten by two group one performers. Potentially, we could try sprint races–the pace today was on the other side rather than his unfortunately.”
Advertise’s dam Furbelow (GB) (Pivotal {GB}) is a full-sister to the stakes scorer Red Diadem (GB) and a half to Adorn (GB) by Pivotal’s son Kyllachy (GB) who is in turn the dam of the G2 Richmond S. winner Saayerr (GB) and Friday’s G3 King George V S. third Ornate (GB) (Bahamian Bounty {GB}). Also responsible for the useful sprint handicapper Flavius Titus (GB) (Lethal Force {Ire}), she is a granddaughter of Heart of Joy (Lypheor) who was successful in four graded-stakes events and was also runner-up in the G1 English and Irish 1000 Guineas. She has the unraced 2-year-old filly Publicise (GB) (Dream Ahead), a yearling full-brother to Flavius Titus and a filly foal by Ulysses (Ire) to come.
Sunday, Deauville, France
LARC PRIX MAURICE DE GHEEST-G1, €380,000, Deauville, 8-4, 3yo/up, 6fT, 1:15.33, gd.
1–ADVERTISE (GB), 125, c, 3, by Showcasing (GB)
1st Dam: Furbelow (GB), by Pivotal (GB)
2nd Dam: Red Tiara, by Mr. Prospector
3rd Dam: Heart of Joy, by Lypheor (GB)
(£60,000 Ylg ’17 GOUKPR). O-Phoenix Thoroughbred Ltd 1; B-Cheveley Park Stud Ltd (GB); T-Martyn Meade; J-Lanfranco Dettori. €217,132. Lifetime Record: G1SW-Eng & Ire, 9-5-3-0, €1,012,748. Werk Nick Rating: A+++ *Triple Plus*. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Brando (GB), 129, g, 7, Pivotal (GB)–Argent Du Bois, by Silver Hawk. (52,000gns Ylg ’13 TAOCT; 115,000gns 2yo ’14 TATBRE). O-Mrs Angie Bailey; B-Car Colston Hall Stud (GB); T-Kevin Ryan. €86,868.
3–Space Blues (Ire), 125, c, 3, Dubawi (Ire)–Miss Lucifer (Fr), by Noverre. O/B-Godolphin (IRE); T-Charlie Appleby. €43,434.
Margins: NK, 3/4, HD. Odds: 2.20, 48.00, 5.80.
Also Ran: Spinning Memories (Ire), One Master (GB), Pretty Pollyanna (GB), Polydream (Ire), So Perfect, Fox Champion (Ire), Mr Lupton (Ire), Le Brivido (Fr), King Malpic (Fr), Invincible Army (Ire), Munitions, Namos (Ger). Click for the Racing Post result or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. Video, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton.
Three King George Triumphs For Battaash
Updated: August 2, 2019 at 1:25 pm
| 4th at GWD, Gr. Stk, £300,000 | G2 King George Qatar S. | (5f) | Winner: Battaash (Ire), g, 5 by Dark Angel (Ire) |
Battaash | racingfotos.com
By Tom Frary
Keeping it simple despite all the pressure before Friday’s G2 King George Qatar S., Jim Crowley steered Battaash (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}) to a record third renewal of Goodwood’s speed test to bring more history to this prestigious meeting. Held on to initially as Ornate (GB) (Bahamian Bounty {GB}) provided a target to his left, Shadwell’s dragster took control two out and found the line a half length ahead of the strong-closing Australian import Houtzen (Aus) (I Am Invincible {Aus}). “Everybody expected him to win by a large margin, but I didn’t have to use my stick and he was idling and not doing an awful lot in front,” Crowley said of the 1-4 favourite. “I tried to keep something in the tank and he’s getting better all the time. I’d have loved a lead and something to slipstream, but I didn’t want to take him out of the race and he was just looking around. He loves it here and is the fastest five-furlong horse around.”
Eclipsing this race’s legendary dual winners Abernant (GB) and Lochsong (GB) and the recent double merchant Take Cover (GB) (Singspiel {Ire}), Battaash joins Tuesday’s G1 Goodwood Cup hero Stradivarius (Ire) (Sea the Stars {Ire}) in accruing three consecutive editions of one of the festival’s key contests. With such a high-mettled racer, the margin between glorious victory and crushing disappointment in defeat is slim and the impressive manner of his wins only serve to augment the catastrophes of his reversals. He does have some glaring omissions from his resume, but the G1 King’s Stand S. monarch Blue Point (Ire) (Shamardal) has been the reason for his failure to score at Royal Ascot while the last two runnings of York’s G1 Nunthorpe S. have happened on rare off-days.
It is not inconceivable that the latest in a line of Shadwell sprinting stars will be able to add more editions of this to his record, with retirement a long way off and a new maturity seemingly coming into play. “I think he’s gone a little bit the other way now–he was idling in front today–and that’s a good thing as he can take his races better now,” trainer Charlie Hills said. “That was nerve-racking and quite emotional, as sprints are funny and anything can happen. It depends on the draw and where the pace is in the race, but luckily he got a lead for the first two furlongs and had control after. The second is a good mare and I suspect we’ll have to take her on again at York.”
There is still time for the brilliant 2017 G1 Prix de l’Abbaye hero and winner of the last two renewals of Haydock’s G2 Temple S. to make amends for his Nunthorpe flops and connections are set on a return to the Knavesmire next for the Aug. 23 event. “There are three or four left before the end of the season and York is a track that you would think is tailor-made for him,” Hills added. “I can’t understand why he hasn’t won there and am scratching my head, but he’s not the first good horse to be beaten there. York is such a speed track and maybe the others eyeball him a lot sooner and the race doesn’t suit. We need to be careful how we ride him there, but he’s very lightly-raced really and is taking everything in his stride. He’s much less stressed at the races. He is in a good routine at home now and we know what to do with him.”
Trainer Martyn Meade was excited by the effort of Houtzen on her first start for the stable and said, “She got bumped and had to go round, which didn’t help but she’s a fabulous mare. We thought she was going well at home, but you wonder if it’s a fool’s paradise and she’s not as good as you think. We wondered how she would cope with the wide-open spaces of Manton, but she has absolutely flourished and ran an absolute blinder. I am hoping to run her again, but the idea was this run and then to put her in foal so I’ll talk to the owners. I’d like to keep going with her for another couple of big races. She is a five-furlong horse–I think she was getting to the end of her tether there. I will have to twist their arm and see how convincing I can be. I’ll get the old champagne out and hope for the best”
Battaash is the first foal out of Anna Law (Ire) (Lawman {Fr}), who is a half-sister to four black-type performers headed by Etlaala (GB) (Selkirk) who took the G2 Champagne S. and was third in the G1 July Cup for Shadwell. Her other half-sibling Bird Key (GB) (Cadeaux Genereux {GB}) produced another top-class sprinter to race in these colours in the G2 Duke of York S. winner and G1 Diamond Jubilee S. and G1 QIPCO British Champions Sprint S.-placed Tasleet (GB) (Showcasing {GB}). Anna Law also has Phoenix Thoroughbreds’ unraced 2-year-old filly Valletta Gold (Ire) (Gutaifan {Ire}) in training with John Quinn and a yearling full-sister to Battaash.
Friday, Goodwood, Britain
KING GEORGE QATAR S.-G2, £312,000, Goodwood, 8-2, 3yo/up, 5fT, :56.20, g/f.
1–BATTAASH (IRE), 131, g, 5, by Dark Angel (Ire)
1st Dam: Anna Law (Ire), by Lawman (Fr)
2nd Dam: Portelet (GB), by Night Shift
3rd Dam: Noirmant (Ire), by Dominion (GB)
(200,000gns Ylg ’15 TAOCT). O-Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum; B-Ballyphilip Stud (IRE); T-Charles Hills; J-Jim Crowley. £176,935. Lifetime Record: Hwt. Older Horse-Eur at 5-7f, Hwt. 3yo-Fr at 5-7f, G1SW-Fr & G1SP-Eng, 18-9-2-3, $1,515,451. Werk Nick Rating: A+++ *Triple Plus*. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Houtzen (Aus), 125, m, 5, I Am Invincible (Aus)–Set To Unleash (Aus), by Reset (Aus). (A$52,500 RNA Wlg ’15 INGJUN; A$105,000 Ylg ’16 MMLJAN). O-Aquis Farm Pty Ltd; B-N Leckie (AUS); T-M Meade. £67,080.
3–Ornate (GB), 128, g, 6, Bahamian Bounty (GB)–Adorn (GB), by Kyllachy (GB). (110,000gns 4yo ’17 TATAHI). O-Kings Road Racing Partnership; B-Cheveley Park Stud Ltd (GB); T-David Griffiths. £33,571.
Margins: 3/4, 2HF, 1. Odds: 0.25, 16.00, 33.00.
Also Ran: Rumble Inthejungle (Ire), El Astronaute (Ire), Judicial (Ire), Copper Knight (Ire), Big Brothers Pride (Fr), Rebecca Rocks (GB). Scratched: Intense Romance (Ire), Little Kim (GB). Click for the Racing Post result or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. Video, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton.
Nassau Surprise As Deirdre Wins for Japan
Updated: August 1, 2019 at 12:58 pm
| 4th at GWD, Gr. Stk, £600,000 | G1 Qatar Nassau S. | (9f 197y) | Winner: Deirdre (Jpn), m, 5 by Harbinger (GB) |
Deirdre | Racing Post
By Tom Frary
In the week that Japan lost Deep Impact (Jpn), there was a piece of consolation as the country’s Deirdre (Jpn) (Harbinger {GB}) swooped late to cause an upset in Thursday’s G1 Qatar Nassau S. at Goodwood. Seemingly shy of her best so far this season, Toji Morita’s 5-year-old who had captured the 2017 Shuka Sho was 20-1 taking on the Classic generation but had an ideal pace scenario settled towards the rear as the free-running Mehdaayih (GB)(Frankel {GB}) tanked along in front under Frankie Dettori. That rival looked to have all rivals beaten inside the final two furlongs, but as she veered left and tired Oisin Murphy was enjoying a dream run up the rail and rolled by in the last 75 yards for a 1 1/4-length verdict, with the same margin back to Rawdaa (GB)(Teofilo {Ire}) in third.
Deirdre, who has been based at Jane Chapple-Hyam’s Abington Place Stables, was becoming only the second Japanese-trained winner of a group 1 race in this country after Agnes World captured the G1 July Cup 19 years earlier. The owner’s racing manager Seiko Hashida Yoshimura, also the daughter of trainer Mitsuru Hashida, was aware of the historic nature of the moment. “That was a special performance. This is very important not only for us, but also for the whole of Japan to come over to Britain and have a big-race winner,” she said. “Today’s victory is important for Japan, because it showed that it is not just possible to come here and compete but that it is also possible to win. Hopefully, we can have a good influence on Japanese racing with this win.”
Fourth in the G1 Yushun Himba before landing the Shuka Sho two years ago, Deirdre ran third in the G1 Dubai Turf last March and back in Japan took the G3 Hokkaido Shimbun Hai Queen S. at Sapporo and G2 Fuchu Himba S. at Tokyo prior to running second in the G1 Hong Kong Cup at Sha Tin in December. Sixth in the Feb. 24 G2 Nakayama Kinen and fourth in the Japanese-dominated latest edition of the Dubai Turf Mar. 30, she met trouble when sixth in the G1 QEII Cup back at Sha Tin Apr. 28 before struggling through the soft ground when sixth in the June 19 G1 Prince of Wales’s S. at Royal Ascot.
With Mehdaayih lit up enough to deny the 13-8 favourite Hermosa (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) the lead, Deirdre had only two behind with Murphy playing the waiting game. Ballydoyle’s G1 English and Irish 1000 Guineas heroine checked out in the straight, leaving the Gosden filly exposed but there was little happening in behind for a spell and it seemed that Frankie would be bringing up the dozen until the Japanese mare pounded up the fence to enter the equation. For the winning rider, it was a welcome opportunity after his stint in Japan. “I’m just glad they brought the horse here and she performed, as I know the regard in which they hold their horses,” he said. “I had a lovely draw and would have liked to have sat a bit closer, but I couldn’t go the pace and as there was no pressure on me I rode her on instinct and it paid off. As a physical, she’s an absolute queen and she had worked brilliant last week.”
“It was a very big challenge to come here,” Hashida Yoshimura added. “We have been in Britain for three months and we are so pleased that we kept believing in her. We had a lot of support and this has made this victory possible. It was a gloriously sunny day at Glorious Goodwood and everything just fell right for her. Goodwood is a beautiful racecourse. It is very different to Japanese racecourses which are usually oval-shaped. We were sure that she would like this track and it worked out very well. We could see at Royal Ascot that she was trying very hard. There was heavy rain there and that did not help her chances. A lot of credit has to go to Oisin Murphy. We did not give him any instructions and just decided to let him ride the horse in the way he felt right. He is a brilliant jockey.”
Connections are still pondering the immediate future of the winner. “We have not yet decided if Deirdre will return to Japan or whether she will stay over here,” Yoshimura said. “We will make that decision in the coming days when we sit down and have a chat about what we should do next. She could possibly stay in Europe. Hopefully, everybody at home was watching.”
Mehdaayih’s trainer John Gosden was magnanimous in defeat and said, “I know the owners and the filly trains across the road from us at Newmarket, so this is fantastic for international racing and very healthy for our sport. Our filly ran a great race and went probably a little hard early. For a young filly, she in front a long time and got a bit lonely. She’s never been in front in her life, so it was a superb performance. Frankie is quite keen to freshen her up and run her in the [G1 Prix de l’] Opera [at ParisLongchamp Oct. 6].”
By the brilliant G1 King George VI and Queen Elizabeth S. hero Harbinger, Deirdre is out of a half-sister to four stakes performers including the G3 Elm S. winner Renforcer (Jpn) (Symboli Kris S) and the G3 Arlington Cup and G3 Capella S.-winning sire Northern River (Jpn) (Agnes Tachyon {Jpn}). Also a half to the dams of the group-winning Jeune Ecole (Jpn) (Kurofune) and the Tokyo Yushun-winning champion Logi Universe (Jpn) (Neo Universe {Jpn}), she is a granddaughter of the G1 Irish 1000 Guineas, G1 Prix du Moulin and G1 Sussex S.-winning champion Sonic Lady (Nureyev) which links her with Monday’s Galway winner Innisfree (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}).
Thursday, Goodwood, Britain
QATAR NASSAU S.-G1, £600,000, Goodwood, 8-1, 3yo/up, f/m, 9f 197yT, 2:02.93, gd.
1–DEIRDRE (JPN), 133, m, 5, by Harbinger (GB)
1st Dam: Reizend (Jpn), by Special Week (Jpn)
2nd Dam: Soninke (GB), by Machiavellian
3rd Dam: Sonic Lady, by Nureyev
(¥21,000,000 Ylg ’15 JRASAL). O-Toji Morita; B-Northern Farm (JPN); T-Mitsuru Hashida; J-Oisin Murphy. £340,260. Lifetime Record: G1SW-Jpn, G1SP-HK & UAE, 25-8-4-3, $4,844,345. *1/2 to Odysseus (Jpn) (Falbrav {Ire}), SP-Jpn, $586,540. Werk Nick Rating: A++. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Mehdaayih (GB), 125, f, 3, Frankel (GB)–Sayyedati Symphony, by Gone West. O-Emirates Park Pty Ltd; B-Rabbah Bloodstock Ltd (GB); T-John Gosden. £129,000.
3–Rawdaa (GB), 133, f, 4, Teofilo (Ire)–Lady Lahar (GB), by Fraam (GB). (280,000gns Ylg ’16 TATOCT). O-Abdullah Saeed Al Naboodah; B-Barry Walters (GB); T-Sir Michael Stoute. £64,560.
Margins: 1 1/4, 1 1/4, 2HF. Odds: 20.00, 3.00, 6.00.
Also Ran: Sun Maiden (GB), Just Wonderful, Nyaleti (Ire), Channel (Ire), Maqsad (Fr), Hermosa (Ire). Click for the Racing Post result or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. Video, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton.
Calyx Bought By Coolmore, Retired
Updated: July 31, 2019 at 12:09 pm
Calyx | Racing Post
Last year’s G2 Coventry S. winner Calyx (GB) (Kingman {GB}-Helleborine {GB}, by Observatory) has been bought by Coolmore Stud and retired from racing. The 3-year-old will stand at Coolmore with owner/breeder Juddmonte Farms retaining an interest in the horse and supporting him.
Calyx was the first winner for his standout young sire last June when winning at Newmarket in a five-length ‘TDN Rising Star’ performance, and he backed up 10 days later with a one-length victory over Advertise (GB) (Showcasing {GB}) in Royal Ascot’s Coventry. Sidelined for the remainder of the season thereafter, Calyx returned a four-length winner of the G3 Pavilion S. at Ascot on May 1 and was last seen finishing second in the G2 Sandy Lane S. on May 25.
Calyx is out of the G3 Prix d’Aumale winner and G1 Prix Marcel Boussac second Helleborine, a full-sister to G1 Sprint Cup winner African Rose (GB), also the dam of G3 Princess Margaret S. winner Fair Eva (GB) (Frankel {GB}). His third dam, Musicanti (Nijinsky), produced G1 Dewhurst S. winner Distant Music (Distant View).
Coolmore’s Director of Sales David O’Loughlin said, “We are thrilled to get Calyx. He had an explosive turn of foot, as did his sire Kingman, while his dam is a group-winning 2-year-old and a full-sister to a Group 1-winning sprinter. He’s a quality individual too so he has the complete package.”
John Gosden, who trained both Calyx and Kingman, said, “Calyx always had that rare brilliance you only see in champions. His performances at Ascot at both two and three years were of the highest standard. He is a very similar type to his sire Kingman and with both Coolmore and Juddmonte supporting him at stud he will be given the best possible opportunity to succeed as a stallion.”
Third Goodwood Cup For Stradivarius
Updated: July 30, 2019 at 12:49 pm
| 4th at GWD, Gr. Stk, £500,000 | G1 Qatar Goodwood Cup S. | (16f) | Winner: Stradivarius (Ire), h, 5 by Sea the Stars (Ire) |
Stradivarius | Racing Post
By Tom Frary
There were fifty shades of grey in the leaden skies above Goodwood on Tuesday, but despite the gloom Stradivarius (Ire)(Sea the Stars {Ire}) put the “Glorious” back into the fixture that once held that title with a third G1 Qatar Goodwood Cup. Greeted by the rain and damp as he had been in that tension-filled Thursday of Royal Ascot, Bjorn Nielsen’s indomitable chestnut was unperturbed by potentially character-testing conditions to once again demonstrate that he has simply forgotten how to lose. Frankie was in irresistible mood following Saturday’s glorious sun-drenched afternoon at Ascot and with the preceding wet and blustery weather relenting for the big race he delivered his latest masterpiece on the 4-5 favourite. Settled in mid-division many lengths off the lone leader Wells Farhh Go (Ire) (Farhh {GB}), he let it all play out in front of him and after being cajoled to the front with 1 1/2 furlongs remaining readily asserted in that customary comfortable manner. Looking after himself as the line approached with Frankie saluting the victory, the homebred who was equalling the feat of the similarly-loved Double Trigger (Ire) (Ela-Mana-Mou {Ire}) in the nineties allowed Dee Ex Bee (GB) (Farhh {GB}) to narrow the margin of another cosy success to a neck. Cross Counter (GB) (Teofilo {Ire}) was 1 3/4 lengths back in third as the class trio drew seven lengths clear. “He’s a push-button ride, a stayer with a turn of foot who follows any pace and always has everything covered,” Frankie said after recording a remarkable 10th group win in two months. “He’s got that burst, but then thinks he’s done enough. The pace was very strong and I had the perfect race. I just put him there and he puts his head in front. He knows he’s good.”
Up to any task handed to him, arguably Britain’s most popular flat horse in training was facing one of his greatest here after silencing some more doubters with his relatively straightforward success given the ease in the ground in the June 20 G1 Gold Cup. There was talk of how Godolphin’s G1 Melbourne Cup hero, who broke the mile-and-a-half track record in the G3 Gordon S. at this meeting 12 months ago, would be ridden more forward this time with that outing at Royal Ascot to sharpen him. There were also bullish noises from the Mark Johnston camp about the Gold Cup runner-up Dee Ex Bee, while the 3-year-olds including two Royal Ascot winners were getting a huge 15 pounds weight-for-age allowance. Added to that, the latest of the random summer storms to hit one of Britain’s showcase festivals complicated the situation with Stradivarius still widely-held to be a fast-ground performer.
In the race, the jangling nerves connections must suffer every time their beloved star steps out into action were exacerbated by the fact that David Allan sent Wells Farhh Go into a sizeable lead from the outset as he had when surprising his rivals in last year’s G3 Bahrain Trophy. Frankie was exposed for a while, but as the exuberant front-runner went off screen for a moment he had found the ideal lead horse in Cross Counter with the G2 Queen’s Vase winner Dashing Willoughby (GB) (Nathaniel {Ire}) and Dee Ex Bee just ahead. For a few furlongs, there was a sense among the watchers that we could witness another “Sovereign” moment as the long-striding Wells Farhh Go curbed his enthusiasm enough to enjoy a breather but messrs Murphy, de Sousa, Doyle and Dettori know race-tempo well enough not to hurry into premature action.
Turning into the straight, Dee Ex Bee was being asked the question and was responding with his usual languid manner while Cross Counter was comfortable enough despite having the division’s number one directly on his tail. Heading to two out, Wells Farhh Go was a spent force and Dashing Willoughby gave way to Dee Ex Bee and Cross Counter before Stradivarius presented his party-piece dynamic split to jump on them both. As the winning jockey’s celebrations were already underway, Dee Ex Bee got going again to suggest four miles would be fine but it seems that while the Gosden luminary is around and sound there will never be a trip far enough to get his nemesis out of his comfort zone.
Nielsen had some bad news for connections of Dee Ex Bee and just about every other trainer with a stayer of group class, but welcome for everyone else afterwards. “While he’s enthusiastic and healthy, there are no plans to retire him,” he declared. “It depends what happens throughout the rest of this year. He is such a cool horse and mentally so relaxed–walking around the paddock beforehand, it was almost as if he was saying, ‘what, we’ve got to do this again?’ and I think that’s why he’s as good as he is. That and having an unbelievable trainer and a brilliant jockey. He has a great will-to-win and doesn’t expend any unnecessary energy, but it gets more nerve-wracking for us as he goes on. We are starting to realise that he is becoming historic and last night I must have checked the weather forecast about 100 times. A horse like him comes along for a very few people and I’m very lucky. This was a very good field with the three-year-olds getting a lot of weight, so you worry about everything but he had a perfect position and just sat there and picked them off.”
Gosden was pointing at the Aug. 23 G2 Lonsdale Cup at York as the last part of an incredible second Weatherbys Hamilton Stayers’ Million for Stradivarius, but he was taking nothing for granted. “The Lonsdale is probably next, but that was a struggle last year and he has to give weight away with the group 1 penalty,” he said. “To that extent, it’s a tall order but this little–or should I say ‘neat’–horse is in great order. They were very brave to let a very good horse like Wells Farhh Go take 25 lengths out of the field and although it was terrifying Frankie rode coolly and nobody panicked. Frankie used Cross Counter as a target and then our hero jockey started waving to the crowd prematurely, which gave me a couple of palpitations! He put the brakes on and it was lucky Frankie didn’t go over the handlebars. He knows how to win and we never overwork him at home. He’s a grand horse and it’s wonderful to have a horse like this. The owner-breeder feels that horses like this are totally unique and feels he’s a horse that could do something unbelievable. These stayers become national hunt stallions and although that is important, it isn’t as much as the flat. We need horses of this nature and when we get them we must treasure them.”
Mark Johnston, who trained Double Trigger, said of Dee Ex Bee, “We were a bit closer to Stradivarius this time, partly because Frankie dropped his hands. Wells Farhh Go did nothing for us, he was too far in front, but the other horse [Cross Counter] worked well for us. But then there is that little bit where he hits the front and he definitely idles a little bit. It doesn’t have to be much at this level to give it away. The [Oct. 5 G1] Prix du Cadran [at ParisLongchamp] and the [Sept. 13 G2] Doncaster Cup are probably the next ones for him. That is not shirking Stradivarius, but the chances are he won’t meet Stradivarius in those. Whether he stays in training next year will be up to the owners. I think it would be surprising if he didn’t.”
Cross Counter has other prizes to aim at, with trainer Charlie Appleby eyeing a repeat in the Nov. 5 G1 Melbourne Cup. “I am pleased because, at the end of the day, when you go out there and try and beat Stradivarius you know you are punching high,” he said. “Cross Counter has gone and run a very creditable race–when he travelled into contention from the three-furlong marker to the two, I thought we were in the right position to be able to serve it up to Stradivarius, but he is just too good. It was a great race to watch and great for racing. We always had it in the back of our minds that we could hopefully go back to the Melbourne Cup with him and that is still firmly there. We will see how he comes out of this race and we might take in the [G1] Irish St Leger [at The Curragh Sept. 15] before returning to Melbourne. He has strengthened this year. He was a well-handicapped horse when winning last year’s Melbourne Cup.”
Stradivarius is the last living foal out of the dual listed-placed Private Life (Fr) (Bering), whose three other black-type performers include the G3 Furstenberg-Rennen and G3 Bavarian Classic winner Persian Storm (Ger) (Monsun {Ger}). The family features the high-class G1 Melbourne Cup hero and sire Protectionist (Ger) (Monsun {Ger}), the brilliant G1 Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe and G1 Prix du Jockey Club hero and leading sire Peintre Celebre (Nureyev) and Stradivarius’s third dam Pawneese (Ire) (Carvin II), the Epsom Oaks, Prix de Diane and King George VI & Queen Elizabeth S.-winning champion.
Tuesday, Goodwood, Britain
QATAR GOODWOOD CUP S.-G1, £500,000, Goodwood, 7-30, 3yo/up, 16fT, 3:29.11, gd.
1–STRADIVARIUS (IRE), 135, h, 5, by Sea the Stars (Ire)
1st Dam: Private Life (Fr) (MSP-Fr), by Bering (GB)
2nd Dam: Poughkeepsie (Ire), by Sadler’s Wells
3rd Dam: Pawneese (Ire), by Carvin II
(330,000gns RNA Ylg ’15 TATOCT). O/B-Bjorn Nielsen (IRE); T-John Gosden; J-Lanfranco Dettori. £283,550. Lifetime Record: 17-12-1-2, $2,946,104. *1/2 to Persian Storm (Ger) (Monsun {Ger}), Hwt. 3yo-Ger at 9.5-11f & MGSW-Ger, $121,198; Rembrandt Van Rijn (Ire) (Peintre Celebre), GSP-Eng, $167,081; and Magical Eve (Ger) (Oratorio {Ire}), SP-SAf. Werk Nick Rating: A+. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Dee Ex Bee (GB), 135, c, 4, Farhh (GB)–Dubai Sunrise, by Seeking the Gold. O-Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed Al Maktoum; B-Godolphin (GB); T-Mark Johnston. £107,500.
3–Cross Counter (GB), 135, g, 4, Teofilo (Ire)–Waitress, by Kingmambo. O/B-Godolphin (GB); T-Charlie Appleby. £53,800.
Margins: NK, 1 3/4, 7. Odds: 0.80, 5.50, 3.00.
Also Ran: Southern France (Ire), Dashing Willoughby (GB), South Pacific (GB), Harpo Marx (Ire), Wells Farhh Go (Ire). Scratched: Raa Atoll (GB). Click for the Racing Post result or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. Video, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton.
Shamardal’s Pinatubo Excels In the Vintage
Updated: July 30, 2019 at 12:14 pm
| 2nd at GWD, Gr. Stk, £200,000 | G2 Qatar Vintage S. | (7f) | Winner: Pinatubo (Ire), c, 2 by Shamardal |
Pinatubo | Racing Post
By Tom Frary
There were some doubts about whether Godolphin’s Pinatubo (Ire) (Shamardal) could maintain his unbeaten run in Tuesday’s G2 Qatar Vintage S. after the rain, but the answer was as conclusive as it gets as he surged to a five-length success in the Goodwood murk. Having put TDN Rising Star Lope Y Fernandez (Ire) (Lope de Vega {Ire}) in his place when winning Royal Ascot’s Listed Chesham S. June 22 by 3 1/4 lengths, the homebred tracked the leading trio under James Doyle, took control approaching the two-furlong pole and sprinted clear of Positive (GB) (Dutch Art {GB}). Lope Y Fernandez and fellow TDN Rising Star Visinari (Fr) (Dark Angel {Ire}) were well beaten in third and fourth, a further five lengths and 3 1/2 lengths away in what could turn out to be a juvenile championship-defining performance. “That was pretty spectacular,” Doyle said. “They didn’t go that quick, so he surprised me how well he got into a rhythm and how well he settled. I popped him out ready for when they quickened and he just took off. He is horizontal and you wouldn’t notice him at home, but he lights up on raceday. He’s pretty special.”
Introduced over six furlongs at Wolverhampton May 10, Pinatubo had swamped Platinum Star (Ire)(Lope de Vega {Ire}) with now-customary finishing burst before taking Epsom’s Woodcote S. May 31 and moving up a gear in the Chesham. Going through the season at the major meetings like one of the old-fashioned juvenile stars, he is off to Ireland now according to Charlie Appleby. “He is a true professional, he jumped and travelled well, got into a lovely rhythm and galloped out strongly to the line,” his trainer said. “I said to James that there is stamina on the dam’s side and he had won over a stiff seven at Ascot so to keep it simple and keep pushing forward on him. I’ll speak to Sheikh Mohammed, but it will probably be the [G1 Vincent O’Brien] National Stakes [at The Curragh Sept. 15] now.”
Talk of the 2020 2000 Guineas was inevitable afterwards and he was trading as short as 9-4 for the Classic. James Doyle is convinced he has the ability to extend his influence as he goes up in trip into a new season. “He has a great nature and he’s quick–he really drops down and accelerates–and were interested to see how he coped with the bit of ease. It didn’t stop him,” he said. “He is fast, but he does keep going and we still didn’t get to the bottom of him there. I’m sure he’ll see out the mile no problem and he’s got that turn of pace a good horse should possess. He’s not tall, but he’s quite long and has got scope and range about him. He’s never really shown up that much at home, but he’s a proper horse.”
Clive Cox was delighted with the performance of Alan Spence’s impressive Salisbury maiden winner Positive, who beat some top-class prospects with authority despite meeting a rival out of the ordinary. “The winner has won nicely and he is a serious horse to be respected, so I’m very pleased with our fellow and this is the start of his journey,” he said. “It was a big step from Salisbury to here and he has taken that step well. I think we have good reason to be excited about the future. It was a quality performance, it justifies our thoughts and he has confirmed how good we thought he might be.”
Pinatubo should easily stay eight furlongs, as his dam Lava Flow (Ire) (Dalakhani {Ire}) was a winner over 11 furlongs in the Listed Prix de la Seine and is a half-sister to the G1 Gran Criterium runner-up Strobilus (GB) (Mark of Esteem {Ire}). The second dam Mount Elbrus (GB) (Barathea {Ire}) was also successful at listed level at 10 1/2 furlongs and is out of a half-sister to the G1 Prix de Diane heroine and outstanding producer Rafha (GB) (Kris {GB}) of Invincible Spirit (Ire) and Kodiac (GB) fame. Rafha’s G3 Blandford S.-winning half-sister Chiang Mai (Ire) (Sadler’s Wells) is herself the dam of the G1 Pretty Polly S. winner Chinese White (Ire) by Lava Flow’s sire Dalakhani. Lava Flow’s yearling filly is by Sea the Stars (Ire), while she also has a filly foal by Teofilo (Ire).
Tuesday, Goodwood, Britain
QATAR VINTAGE S.-G2, £200,000, Goodwood, 7-30, 2yo, 7fT, 1:27.03, gd.
1–PINATUBO (IRE), 127, c, 2, by Shamardal
1st Dam: Lava Flow (Ire) (SW-Fr), by Dalakhani (Ire)
2nd Dam: Mount Elbrus (GB), by Barathea (Ire)
3rd Dam: El Jazirah (GB), by Kris (GB)
1ST GROUP WIN. O/B-Godolphin (IRE); T-Charlie Appleby; J-James Doyle. £113,420. Lifetime Record: 4-4-0-0, $256,921. Werk Nick Rating: A++. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Positive (GB), 127, c, 2, Dutch Art (GB)–Osipova (GB), by Makfi (GB). (55,000gns Ylg ’18 TAOCT). O-A D Spence; B-Cheveley Park Stud Ltd (GB); T-Clive Cox. £43,000.
3–Lope Y Fernandez (Ire), 127, c, 2, Lope de Vega (Ire)–Black Dahlia (GB), by Dansili (GB). (€900,000 Ylg ’18 ARAUG). O-Derrick Smith, Susan Magnier & Michael Tabor; B-SF Bloodstock LLC (IRE); T-Aidan O’Brien. £21,520.
Margins: 5, 5, 3HF. Odds: 1.50, 12.00, 4.50.
Also Ran: Visinari (Fr), Platinum Star (Ire), Mystery Power (Ire), Milltown Star (GB). Click for the Racing Post result or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. Video, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton.
Laurens Makes It Six Group 1s In the Rothschild
Updated: July 28, 2019 at 1:01 pm
| 4th at DVL, Gr. Stk, €300,000 | G1 Prix Rothschild | (8f) | Winner: Laurens (Fr), f, 4 by Siyouni (Fr) |
Laurens | Scoop Dyga
By Tom Frary
She may not have the level of adoration or the nine Group 1s of Enable (GB) (Nathaniel {Ire}), but Laurens (Fr) (Siyouni {Fr}) was advertising her own prowess at that level when making it an incredible six on Sunday in Deauville’s G1 Prix Rothschild. Successful in Last year’s G1 Prix Saint-Alary and G1 Prix de Diane, the favourite was sent on to make it a test and use her stride by PJ McDonald and led the main group racing up the centre. In front overall approaching the final three furlongs as Beshaayir (GB) (Iffraaj {GB}) faded out of contention towards the stand’s side, she was clear as last year’s winner With You (GB) (Dansili {GB}) and Obligate (GB) (Frankel {GB}) found their stride late and hit the line with a half length to spare over the former, with Obligate 1 1/2 lengths away in third.
Sunday, Deauville, France
PRIX ROTHSCHILD-G1, €300,000, Deauville, 7-28, 3yo/up, f/m, 8fT, 1:36.71, g/s.
1–LAURENS (FR), 129, f, 4, by Siyouni (Fr)
1st Dam: Recambe (Ire), by Cape Cross (Ire)
2nd Dam: Razana (Ire), by Kahyasi (Ire)
3rd Dam: Raysiya (Ire), by Cure the Blues
(£220,000 Ylg ’16 GOUKPR). O-John Dance; B-Bloodstock Agency Ltd (FR); T-Karl Burke; J-P J McDonald. €171,420. Lifetime Record: MG1SW-Eng & G1SW-Ire, 14-8-3-0, €1,935,586. Werk Nick Rating: A. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–With You (GB), 128, f, 4, Dansili (GB)–In Clover (GB), by Inchinor (GB). O/B-George Strawbridge (GB); T-Freddy Head. €68,580.
3–Obligate (GB), 122, f, 3, Frankel (GB)–Responsible (GB), by Oasis Dream (GB). O-Khalid Abdullah; B-Juddmonte Farms Ltd (GB); T-Pascal Bary. €34,290.
Margins: HF, 1HF, 3. Odds: 1.80, 5.70, 4.60.
Also Ran: Joplin (Ger), East (GB), Move Swiftly (GB), Qabala, Magical Dreamer (Ire), Beshaayir (GB). Click for the Racing Post result or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. Video, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton.
Enable Wins Epic King George Encounter
Updated: July 27, 2019 at 12:55 pm
| 4th at ASC, Gr. Stk, £1,250,000 | G1 King George VI & Queen Elizabeth Qipco S. | (11f 211y) | Winner: Enable (GB), m, 5 by Nathaniel (Ire) |
Enable betters Crystal Ocean in a thrilling stretch duel | racingfotos.com
By Tom Frary
Everybody wanted a great visual outcome to what looked a great race on paper and that is what we all got on Saturday as Enable (GB) (Nathaniel {Ire}) overcame Crystal Ocean (GB) (Sea the Stars {Ire}) in a thrilling tete-a-tete in Ascot’s G1 King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Qipco S. Gaining the edge on the Stoute stalwart two out, the heavily-supported 8-15 favourite kept rolling to hold a slim but definite advantage bar a brief period where they came inches closer inside the final furlong. Frankie was just waving his whip at the great mare all the way to the line, where a neck separated them in one of the King Georges to enter into legend. Waldgeist (GB) (Galileo {Ire}) gave ballast to the form, 1 3/4 lengths further back in third, with seven lengths to Salouen (Ire)(Canford Cliffs {Ire}) in fourth and the likes of Anthony Van Dyck (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) and Defoe (Ire)(Dalakhani {Ire}) soundly beaten. Dettori was just affirming his greatness in a pressure-filled finale that no other jockey would have ridden without applying the whip. “That was the hardest-fought race I’ve ridden in during my career,” explained the maestro, whose whole life journey seems to have led to this midsummer spell of unparalleled brilliance. This was his ninth group 1 success since Anapurna (GB) (Frankel {GB}) took the Epsom Oaks at the end of May. “I haven’t slept for a day and I’m absolutely exhausted, physically and emotionally. She really surprised me today with her will-to-win and courage and she is an amazing horse in every way. I don’t know what to say, I love her.”
With significant rain hitting Ascot on Friday night, the ground had shifted to good-to-soft which could only play more to Enable’s strengths and the late gamble that had taken place before the July 6 G1 Eclipse S. was played out once again as she prepared for her latest overture. Not as exuberant from her wide stall as she had been in 2017, she was taken back to race in eighth with all inside positions already taken up by her rivals. As expected, Ballydoyle’s sheepskin cheekpiece-fitted trio of Norway (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), Magic Wand (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) and Hunting Horn (Ire) (Camelot {GB}) forged ahead with Crystal Ocean enjoying the best draft in fourth outside of Anthony Van Dyck.
That G1 Epsom Derby hero was the first under pressure, with Ryan Moore struggling to conjure any of the magic that had seen him claim the latest blue riband and he was beaten before they had reached the half-mile marker. Soon after, James Doyle let out some rein on Crystal Ocean who was travelling with as much purpose as he has ever done and so Frankie was keen to keep the Rothschild silks in plain view. Rounding for home, the horse that he had steered to success in the G1 Prince of Wales’s S. looked to be going better but in an instant Dettori employed all of his experience to attack early and from the two-furlong pole the pair propelled each other on with the game Waldgeist in tow. This was no Grundy-Bustino finish with whips flying however, and despite the strenuous efforts of the first and second the winning rider’s finesse was always notable.
Dettori was at pains to express how hard it had been for the winner, who led an unprecedented one-two-three-four for the 5-year-olds. “Full credit to Crystal Ocean, he really put it up to me,” he said. “The original plan was to move forward from the start, but Boudot kept me wide [on Waldgeist] and so I took a chance and dropped back. I must admit, on the bad ground in the back straight I wasn’t too comfortable. I saw James sitting pretty and going really well, so I had to make a race of it and jump on him. I probably took him by surprise and then the gloves were off.” Doyle said of the runner-up, “He gave it all there. I had a superb trip throughout the race and they went a nice pace. He settled in a lovely position and Frankie said pulling up ‘my mare had to dig really deep there’. I headed her for a second, but she just digs into her reserves.”
Now officially the most accomplished racehorse in history in terms of a tally in prestige races, it is ludicrous that Enable gets three pounds from entire horses that she is physically superior to. That is the constant fate of Crystal Ocean, who will go down as one of the best horses not to win this prize but it is debatable whether he would be able to upstage her even if the allowance was ever taken away. Her one blot came when debuting on turf when 2 1/2-lengths third behind stablemate and Frankie’s pick Shutter Speed (GB) (Dansili {GB}) in Newbury’s Dubai Duty Free Golf World Cup EBF Stallions Conditions S. in April 2017. Were it not for that, there would be a flawlessness to her incredible race record to match the one horse that keeps all others in the shade.
Juddmonte’s ability to turn up these machine-like processors of big races without hitch is remarkable and arguably Enable has now placed Khalid Abdullah’s operation above all others. She has one more top-level victory to carry out to match the ten of Frankel (GB) and it would be apt were she to do it in York’s G1 Juddmonte International that he dominated in such sensational style in 2012. If she makes that Aug. 21 feature of the Ebor meeting, it will be the only race to be graced by both of the great homebreds and then she will be Arc-bound for a third time as she bids to cap it all with a magical exit.
Just a few years after Treve (Fr) (Motivator {GB}), the world has a chance to witness something that may never be matched if she is able to pull off a treble in the French monument. Frankie is making the most of the time he has left on board and said, “I ride her twice a week and she gives me emotions no other horse has given me in my life. We’re probably only going to see her twice more, so let’s enjoy her.”
What would have been a tactical disaster for most horses was no problem for the gifted mare and her Clarehaven handler was standing back in admiration once again. “The wide draw is never easy here–Frankie was forever trying to get a position where he wasn’t three or four-wide and she was ultimately left with a lot to do,” John Gosden said. “The pace was solid and in the end she carried him into the race a little too easily and he was in front a long way out. Crystal Ocean showed all the courage in the world and the first two are wonderful. It was a great King George and while sometimes these races disappoint this was not an anticlimax. Frankie was all hand and heels–I said when he came back in, ‘we weren’t trying to get handicapped you know!’ but he’s so fond of her he wanted her to do it within herself.”
York is on the agenda now, in either the G1 Yorkshire Oaks she won in 2017 or the owner-breeder’s sponsored race which, Ebor aside, is the real feature race of the meeting next month. “We’ll just play with her now, as she is one of those that tells you what to do and let her quietly come along in the next ten days,” Gosden continued. “We’ll discuss it all, but she’s pencilled in for York in either the Juddmonte International or Yorkshire Oaks, as that gives us a nice six weeks until the Arc. I’m very privileged to have her. It comes with a lot of responsibility and she’s very much the people’s filly like Pretty Polly was at the turn of the century. It’s all about Prince Khalid, who bred her and let her race at five. He had the courage to keep her in training and that’s very important for racing.”
Khalid Abdullah’s legacy is all over Enable’s pedigree, but so is Northern Dancer’s as the listed-winning and group-placed dam Concentric (GB) (Sadler’s Wells) is crossed with her sire’s grandson Nathaniel giving the mare a 3×2 inbreeding to Sadler’s Wells. What can be seen in the world outside of the intellectual sphere of breeding racehorses as a weakening influence has actually turned out to be a stroke of pure genius by her owner-breeder. Concentric’s daughter Contribution (GB) by Champs Elysees (GB) was runner-up in the G2 Prix de Pomone and her 3-year-old filly Entitle (GB) by Dansili (GB) was second in this year’s G3 Musidora S., but it is the Nathaniel factor which has made the vast difference here.
The second dam is the smart G3 Prix de Royaumont winner Apogee (GB) (Shirley Heights {GB}), who is kin to the G2 Grand Prix de Chantilly scorer Daring Miss (GB) also by Sadler’s Wells who ran second to Montjeu (Ire) in the 2000 G1 Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud. Apogee’s G2 Prix de Royallieu winner and G1 Prix de Diane runner-up Dance Routine (GB) was also by Coolmore’s great sire Sadler’s Wells, while her G3 Prix Thomas Bryon winner Apsis (GB) was by Sadler’s Wells’ son Barathea (Ire). Dance Routine is in turn the dam of the multiple group and grade I hero Flintshire (GB) (Dansili {GB}) and the second dam of the GII Baltimore/Washington International Turf Cup scorer Projected (GB) (Showcasing {GB}) and the recent G2 Prix Eugene Adam scorer Headman (GB) (Kingman {GB}) who is another outstanding Juddmonte prospect. Concentric’s unraced 2-year-old filly by Frankel (GB) is named Portrush (GB), while she has a yearling colt by Sea the Stars (Ire) and a 2019 full-brother to Enable.
Saturday, Ascot, Britain
KING GEORGE VI & QUEEN ELIZABETH QIPCO S.-G1, £1,250,000, Ascot, 7-27, 3yo/up, 11f 211yT, 2:32.42, g/s.
1–ENABLE (GB), 130, m, 5, by Nathaniel (Ire)
1st Dam: Concentric (GB) (SW & GSP-Fr, $117,776), by Sadler’s Wells
2nd Dam: Apogee (GB), by Shirley Heights (GB)
3rd Dam: Bourbon Girl, by Ile de Bourbon
O-Khalid Abdullah; B-Juddmonte Farms Ltd (GB); T-John Gosden; J-Lanfranco Dettori. £708,875. Lifetime Record: Hwt. 3yo-Eur at 11-14f, Hwt. Older Mare-Eur at 11-14f, MG1SW-Fr, G1SW-Ire & GISW-US, 13-12-0-1, $12,116,080. *1/2 to Contribution (GB) (Champs Elysees {GB}), MGSP-Fr; and Entitle (GB) (Dansili {GB}), GSP-Eng. Werk Nick Rating: F. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Crystal Ocean (GB), 133, h, 5, Sea the Stars (Ire)–Crystal Star (GB), by Mark of Esteem (Ire). O-Sir Evelyn de Rothschild; B-Southcourt Stud (GB); T-Sir Michael Stoute. £268,750.
3–Waldgeist (GB), 133, h, 5, Galileo (Ire)–Waldlerche (GB), by Monsun (Ger). O-Gestut Ammerland/Newsells Park; B-The Waldlerche Partnership (GB); T-Andre Fabre. £134,500.
Margins: NK, 1 3/4, 7. Odds: 0.50, 3.50, 12.00.
Also Ran: Salouen (Ire), Hunting Horn (Ire), Cheval Grand (Jpn), Norway (Ire), Morando (Fr), Defoe (Ire), Anthony Van Dyck (Ire), Magic Wand (Ire). Click for the Racing Post result or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. Video, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton.
First Black-Type Winner For Night of Thunder In the Princess Margaret
Updated: July 27, 2019 at 1:06 pm
| 1st at ASC, Gr. Stk, £50,000 | G3 Princess Margaret Keeneland S. | (6f) | Winner: Under The Stars (Ire), f, 2 by Night of Thunder (Ire) |
Under The Stars | Racing Post
By Tom Frary
One of the least experienced in the line-up for Saturday’s G3 Princess Margaret Keeneland S. at Ascot, Saeed Manana’s Under the Stars (Ire) (Night of Thunder {Ire}) had the right material to belie odds of 25-1 and register a first black-type success for her sire who had also caused a shock in these colours in the 2000 Guineas. Anchored in last early by PJ McDonald having missed the break from the stall nearest the stands, the bay who had won with panache after a similarly tardy start on debut over this six-furlong trip at Ripon July 8 was soon comfortably in touch with Good Vibes (GB) (Due Diligence) too keen in front. Arriving to tackle fellow outsider Aroha (Ire)(Kodiac {GB}) inside the last 75 yards, the homebred who failed to make more than 6,000gns at the Tattersalls October Book 3 Sale asserted to score by a half length, with Living In the Past (Ire) (Bungle Inthejungle {GB}) a head away in third.
“The best thing about her is her attitude and she probably gets that from her sire,” trainer James Tate said. “She doesn’t do too much at home and doesn’t worry about anything. We didn’t really know what she had under the bonnet, but we got a glimpse there and it’s exciting. I’m sure we will go for the [Aug. 22 G2] Lowther [at York] and the [G1] Cheveley Park [S. at Newmarket Sept. 28], as I’m sure that’s the obvious route. I’m sure we will invest some of that prize-money, as hopefully the Lowther supplementary costs less than that.”
While her task was possibly made easier by the withdrawal of TDN Rising Star Ultra Violet (GB) (Gleneagles {Ire}) after the rain which also may have impacted on the disappointing performance of the Listed Empress Fillies’ S. winner and fellow TDN Rising Star Summer Romance (Ire) (Kingman {GB}), Under the Stars is a filly who has abundant potential winning a six-furlong juvenile black-type contest as her sire did in the Listed Doncaster S. Summer Romance’s rider James Doyle said of the 4-5 favourite, who finished sixth, “If I’d ridden the race again I would have let her bowl along, but she got quite excited beforehand and I wanted to get the first part of the race right.”
Winning jockey PJ McDonald was impressed with Under the Stars. “She’s all heart,” he said. “She’s so tough and an absolute pro. We wanted to let her warm up into the race and she wanted it the last two furlongs. She does everything so well at home, we were surprised that she was green first time out and she completely switched off for the first part of this race and came good at halfway to put the race to bed nicely. She surprised me today and you couldn’t ask her to do any more than that. She’s beaten a very experienced field, so I’m very confident she’ll go a bit further this year. She got the six very well on easy ground at Ascot, so you wouldn’t think stepping up in trip in the future would be a problem but she can stay at six for now.”
The dam Jumeirah Palm Star (GB) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}) is a granddaughter of the GII Palomar H. winner Shir Dar (Fr) (Lead On Time), whose leading performer is the G3 Sandown Sprint S. runner-up Gee Kel (Ire) (Danehill Dancer {Ire}). The fourth dam Irish Sea (Irish River {Fr}) is a half-sister to the G3 Meld S.-winning prolific producer Sailor’s Mate (Shirley Heights {GB}) and to Grecian Sea (Fr) (Homeric {GB}) who was responsible for the G1 Yorkshire Oaks heroine Hellenic (Ire) (Darshaan {GB}). Jumeirah Palm Star’s yearling colt is by The Last Lion (Ire), while she also has a colt foal by Slade Power (Ire).
Saturday, Ascot, Britain
PRINCESS MARGARET KEENELAND S.-G3, £50,000, Ascot, 7-27, 2yo, f, 6fT, 1:17.04, g/s.
1–UNDER THE STARS (IRE), 126, f, 2, by Night of Thunder (Ire)
1st Dam: Jumeirah Palm Star (GB), by Invincible Spirit (Ire)
2nd Dam: Golden Flyer (Fr), by Machiavellian
3rd Dam: Shir Dar (Fr), by Lead On Time
1ST BLACK-TYPE WIN; 1ST GROUP WIN. (6,000gns Ylg ’18 TAOCT). O-Saeed Manana; B-Rabbah Bloodstock Ltd (IRE); T-James Tate; J-P J McDonald. £28,355. Lifetime Record: 2-2-0-0, $39,970. Werk Nick Rating: A+++ *Triple Plus*. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Aroha (Ire), 126, f, 2, Kodiac (GB)–Surrey Storm (GB), by Montjeu (Ire). (€68,000 Wlg ’17 GOFNOV; £45,000 RNA Ylg ’18 GOUKPR). O-Anna Sundstrom & Robert Sinclair; B-Ballinacurra Stud Ltd (IRE); T-Brian Meehan. £10,750.
3–Living in the Past (Ire), 126, f, 2, Bungle Inthejungle (GB)–Ayr Missile (GB), by Cadeaux Genereux (GB). (€65,000 Ylg ’18 GOFSPT). O-Clipper Logistics; B-Newlands House Stud & Mrs A M Burns (IRE); T-Karl Burke. £5,380.
Margins: HF, HD, 1 3/4. Odds: 25.00, 16.00, 12.00.
Also Ran: Dark Lady (GB), Good Vibes (GB), Summer Romance (Ire), So Sharp (GB), Flaming Princess (Ire), Diligent Deb (Ire). Scratched: Applecross (Ire), Punita Arora (Ire), Ultra Violet (GB). Click for the Racing Post result or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. Video, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton.
(fonte : TDN)
