While a hot 4-9 favourite to follow up his 1,000 Guineas win at Newmarket three weeks earlier, the rain that hammered down clouded minds as well as skies. But any doubts were proved unfounded as Churchill dismissed his five rivals to give Ballydoyle boss O’Brien an 11th victory in the contest.

In becoming the ninth horse to achieve the Newmarket-Curragh Guineas double – which was first recorded by Right Tack in 1969 –Churchill was a 36th Irish Classic winner for O’Brien, 20 years on from his first.

Churchill scored by two and a half lengths under Ryan Moore, who was sealing his second success in the Classic after riding Gleneagles to victory two years ago.

Godolphin’s Thunder Snow, who performed an embarrassing bucking bronco routine in the Kentucky Derby and had to be pulled up, put those antics firmly behind him to finish a really good second, with Irishcorrespondent third.

Churchill, who hit the front well over a furlong out, has now won his last seven starts and joins Rock Of Gibraltar, Henrythenavigator and Gleneagles as Ballydoyle aces to have completed the 2,000 Guineas-Irish 2,000 Guineas double.

O’Brien said the St James’s Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot would be the next step for the son of Galileo, for which Ladbrokes make him evens (from 11-10), while Paddy Power go 4-6 (from 10-11) and BoyleSports 10-11 (from 11-10).

O’Brien said: “I was a bit worried when the rain came and changed the ground but all the rest of the team weren’t concerned. It might have been different had it been his first run of the season, but he handled the conditions well.

“He’s an exceptional colt and an unusually relaxed one. Nothing fazes him. He cruises through his races and saves petrol and he quickens really well.

“When Ryan said go on him today, all of a sudden he was there and had the race won.

“He can be a bit jig-joggy before a race, but it’s like an athlete warming up for a race or a game, and mentally he always remains relaxed.”

Regarding future plans, O’Brien continued: “We’ll keep him to a mile, certainly in the short term, and the St James’s Palace will be next. But it’s possible we might step him up to a mile and a quarter later in the year.”

Moore said: “Churchill has been a pleasure to ride from day one. We went a good gallop today and you could tell he wasn’t enjoying the ground. With the pace he has, better ground is always going to suit him best.

“I think he’s improved since Newmarket and that he will continue to improve.”

Thunder Snow’s performance understandably pleased trainer Saeed Bin Suroor, given what had happened at Churchill Downs a few weeks earlier, and he said: “Our horse has run very well and was beaten by a better horse – a superstar – on the day.

“We have plenty of time until Royal Ascot, where he’ll have plenty of options.”

Irishcorrespondent, who finished four and a half lengths back in third, could take his chance in the Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby.

His trainer Michael Halford said: “He ran a good race and we’ll probably step him up to a mile and a quarter before deciding about the Irish Derby.”

fonte : RacingPost

Churchill | Racing Post

By Tom Frary

THE PILE DRIVER
The iconic figurehead after who Churchill (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) is titled once spoke of making a point using a pile driver again and again and the Ballydoyle namesake delivered his own “tremendous whack” in Saturday’s G1 Tattersalls Irish 2000 Guineas. With The Curragh hit by a deluge of rain, there was reason to doubt whether Michael Tabor’s powerhouse would go through the ground with his usual zest and although it made his task more laboured there was still a degree of comfort in his completion of the Guineas double. Held up in fourth initially, Ryan Moore had to stir the 4-9 favourite a long way from home but he was able to subdue Thunder Snow (Ire) (Helmet {Aus}) from 1 1/2 out and assert for a 2 1/2-length verdict over the Godolphin raider. “He relaxed so well I had to pick him up, but within two to three strides he was there and in front a lot sooner than I expected,” his rider said. “He’s such a good mover, so he wasn’t really enjoying that ground, but he never misses a beat–he’s so strong underneath you. He does everything you want as a jockey and he ticks all the boxes. I think he’s a very special horse.”

Saturday, Curragh, Ireland
TATTERSALLS IRISH 2000 GUINEAS-G1, €300,000, CUR, 5-27, 3yo, 8fT, 1:40.46, yl.
1–CHURCHILL (IRE), 126, c, 3, by Galileo (Ire)
1st Dam: Meow (Ire) (SW-Ire & GSP-Eng), by Storm Cat
2nd Dam: Airwave (GB), by Air Express (Ire)
3rd Dam: Kangra Valley (GB), by Indian Ridge (Ire)
O-Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith & Susan Magnier; B-Liberty Bloodstock (IRE); T-Aidan O’Brien; J-Ryan Moore. €171,000. Lifetime Record: Hwt. 2yo Colt-Eur & G1SW-Eng, 8-7-0-1, $1,328,779. Werk Nick Rating: B+. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Thunder Snow (Ire), 126, c, 3, Helmet (Aus)–Eastern Joy (GB), by Dubai Destination. O-Godolphin; B-Darley (IRE); T-Saeed bin Suroor. €60,000.
3–Irishcorrespondent (Ire), 126, c, 3, Teofilo (Ire)–Contrary (Ire), by Mark of Esteem (Ire). O/B-Ballygallon Stud Ltd (IRE); T-Michael Halford. €30,000.
Margins: 2HF, 4HF, 4. Odds: 0.40, 5.00, 7.00.
Also Ran: Glastonbury Song (Ire), Lancaster Bomber, Spirit of Valor. Click for the Racing Post result or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. Video, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton.

It is 20 years since Aidan O’Brien celebrated the first of his 70 European Classics in the G1 Irish 1000 Guineas here and it could be that Churchill sits near the top of those who have delivered that impressive tally including Rock of Gibraltar (Ire). One of three from the stable to bring up the same Newmarket-Curragh Guineas double, he was similarly imperturbable in his pursuit of superiority among his division and all the while was able to keep something back. That has also been the case with the latest Ballydoyle miler supreme, whose only defeat came on his debut in the six-furlong maiden on this weekend and whose undemonstrative way of racing means that he is always open to challenge. As the undisputed champion of his age group after ticking off the G3 Tyros S. at Leopardstown in July, G2 Futurity S. and G1 Goffs Vincent O’Brien National S. here in August and September and G1 Dewhurst S. at Newmarket in October, he had to prove that he was still top dog against some stern opposition when he returned to the latter venue on the first Saturday in May.

Unlike some former juvenile leaders, the one thing Churchill has is substantial scope and his advanced physique will always put his rivals on the back foot. Especially when the ground is on the quick side, as it was when he disposed of the best opposition he has faced so far in the Guineas, that muscle power is decisive but there was a chance that he would lose his advantage when the driving rain came on the morning of this contest. By the time Lancaster Bomber (War Front) took them to halfway, Ryan Moore was giving out minor signals to disturb the odds-on backers and when his stablemate Spirit of Valor (War Front) started to come back on to him there was a concern that Churchill was in trouble. Instead, he arrived wide with a flourish to overhaul the smooth-travelling Thunder Snow and Christophe Soumillon approaching the final furlong and was sent clear in the run to the line for group 1 number four and an 11th renewal for his trainer.

Aidan O’Brien is under no illusion as to the merit of the winner, who will eventually move up in trip after avoiding the rapid jump to a mile and a half that tackling the Derby would have represented. “He’s a great horse. Obviously, we’re delighted with him as the ground was a concern. Donnacha [O’Brien] rides him in all his work and he said it’d be no problem, so that gave us the confidence to keep going. He also said he had come on a good bit from Newmarket, so Ryan was confident before the race. He says he’s asleep in his races and the next thing he’s there and ground and trip all come alike to him. Coming here, we were thinking we’d go from here to [Royal] Ascot for the [June 20] G1 St James’s Palace S. He’ll probably stay a mile and a quarter later in the year and you’d love to think of the [G1] Irish Champion [S. at Leopardstown Sept. 9].”

Thunder Snow was putting his inexplicable antics at Churchill Downs firmly behind him with this thoroughly genuine running and trainer Saeed bin Suroor was thinking about a rematch with the winner again. “Thunder Snow ran very well. He did everything right during the race and was beaten by a better horse on the day,” he said. “We will keep the options open for him, including the St James’s Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot.”

On the same card, Churchill’s full-sister Clemmie (Ire) put up a highly encouraging performance when third in the opening maiden while Airwave’s Auckland (Ire) also by Galileo won a day earlier at Leopardstown. There is still no proof that this is a pedigree for a mile and a half, but given that Airwave eventually won the G2 Ridgewood Pearl S. over a mile at this meeting there is a strong chance that Churchill will prove equally as effective at that trip. The debut of Meow’s yearling colt also by Galileo will be keenly anticipated and it could come at the 2018 Irish Guineas fixture if this pattern is anything to go by.

Striking Display From Dark Angel’s Harry Angel In the Sandy Lane

 

Harry Angel | Racing Post

By Tom Frary

Royal Ascot’s G1 Commonwealth Cup is shaping up to be one of the key races of the meeting now that Harry Angel followed Caravaggio Scat Daddy) by placing himself firmly in the picture with this scintillating display. Flashing above-average natural talent when breaking his maiden in the G2 Mill Reef S. at Newbury in September, the bay returned to put in an eye-catching effort when 1 1/2-lengths second to Blue Point (Ire) (Shamardal) giving him four pounds in the G3 Pavilion S. at Ascot May 3. This race proceeded a bout of heavy rain in a storm-affected Britain, but Harry Angel skipped across the surface under Adam Kirby and was always comfortable at the head of affairs. Stretching his rivals approaching the final furlong, he hit the line strong from the progressive Second Thought in a rapid time to break the course record.

Kirby was looking forward to his Royal date afterwards. “He’s a very big, strong horse and I think we were all aware that there was nothing in the race quick enough to lead him,” he said. “I just let him do it and it will do him good because he’s had a race and he’ll improve again from today. I was really pleased with the way he behaved, he’s growing up with every run. I think the world of him and we haven’t seen the best of him yet. He’s a machine, this lad.” Trainer Clive Cox was equally excited and added, “It’s just been very exciting having the luxury of training horses like these over the last few years and I couldn’t believe my luck to have this fellow as well. He was pretty raw and had a problem with the stalls, so the team had a lot of rebuilding to do as he had that anxiety. They have given him confidence to prove the ability that’s always been there and he just progressed. He’s a very special horse who is going the right way and maturing.”

In recording his first success in the Mill Reef, Harry Angel was emulating the previous year’s winner Ribchester (Ire) (Iffraaj {GB}) and he possesses the same kind of ability on this performance. His dam Beatrix Potter is a half-sister to Xtension (Ire) (Xaar {GB}), a former Clive Cox trainee who captured the seven-furlong G2 Vintage S. before winning the G1 Champions Mile twice and finishing runner-up in the Hong Kong Derby and Hong Kong Gold Cup for John Moore. Also from the family of the G1 National S. runner-up Wathab (Ire), the GII Seminole H.-winning Minneapple and GII Ohio Derby scorer Private Man and Lord Avie, Steven Got Even and Artemis Agrotera, the dam has a 2-year-old filly by Kodiac (GB) named Cleopatra (Ire).

Saturday, Haydock, Britain
ARMSTRONG AGGREGATES SANDY LANE S.-G2, £90,000, HAY, 5-27, 3yo, 6fT, 1:08.56 (NTR), fm.
1–HARRY ANGEL (IRE), 126, c, 3, by Dark Angel (Ire)
1st Dam: Beatrix Potter (Ire), by Cadeaux Genereux (GB)
2nd Dam: Great Joy (Ire), by Grand Lodge
3rd Dam: Cheese Soup, by Spectacular Bid
(£44,000 Ylg ’15 DNPRM). O-Peter Ridgers; B-CBS Bloodstock (IRE); T-Clive Cox; J-Adam Kirby. £51,039. Lifetime Record: 4-2-2-0, $146,234. Werk Nick Rating: A++. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Second Thought (Ire), 126, c, 3, Kodiac (GB)–Bobby Jane (GB), by Diktat (GB). (70,000gns Ylg ’15 TAOCT). O-Liam Sheridan; B-Tally Ho Stud (IRE); T-William Haggas. £19,350.
3–Mubtasim (Ire), 126, c, 3, Arcano (Ire)–Start The Music (Ire), by King’s Best. (€22,000 Wlg ’14 GOFNOV; 38,000gns Ylg ’15 TAOCT). O-Sheikh Rashid Dalmook Al Maktoum; B-Mrs Natasha Drennan (IRE); T-William Haggas. £9,684.
Margins: 4HF, 1 3/4, 1 3/4. Odds: 0.80, 3.50, 5.00.
Also Ran: Poet’s Vanity (GB), Medicine Jack (GB), Brian The Snail (Ire), Alphabet (GB). 

Click for the Racing Post result or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. Video, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton.

 

Kodiac’s Brother Bear Takes the Marble Hill

3rd at CUR, €60,000

Listed Cold Move Irish EBF Marble Hill S.

(6f)

Winner: Brother Bear (Ire), c, 2 by Kodiac (GB)

 

 

Brother Bear | Racing Post

Irlanda: #Churchill completa il doppio classico, sue anche le #Tattersalls Irish 2000 Guineas. In Inghilterra Khalidi..

 

 

Troppo più forte. Churchill (Galileo) ha aggiunto un’altra perla al suo palmares risolvendo la pratica Tattersalls Irish 2,000 Guineas G1 in stile impeccabile, in maniera quasi fin troppo facile, contro soli 5 avversari al Curragh e provvedendo a regalare a Padre Aidan O’Brien la 11° vittoria nella Classica. Churchill, favorito a 4/9, aveva in sella Ryan Moore che l’ha tenuto nella prima parte di gara in seconda linea, dietro ai primi, quando all’ingresso in retta ha chiamato ha fornito una bella progressione dalle retrovie per affiancare Thunder Snow (Helmet) e superarlo di slancio, senza trovare avversari degni sulla sua strada. Al terzo posto, ma a distanza è arrivato Irishcorrespondent (Teofilo) per Michael Halford, precedentemente imbattuto in 2 uscite, a 4 lunghezze e mezzo dal secondo. Un pò appannato Lancaster Bomber (War Front), giunto quinto di sei. Di proprietà del Coolmore partnerariato da Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith e John Magnier, Churchill ha completato ora le 7 vittorie consecutive, ed in più ha completato il doppio Ghinee inglesi irlandesi come Rock Of Gibraltar, Henrythenavigator e Gleneagles, tra i campioni di stanza a Ballydoyle, a cui va aggiunto anche Cockney Rebel (Val Royal), autore di un doppio nel 2007. 

Di Churchill, che ha maturato al volo un 125 dal Racing Post Rating, il più alto della sua carriera, ci si chiede se possa fare il Derby oppure no: L’antepost lo considera possibile, ma da quanto filtra dalla Cenaia irlandese l’obiettivo dovrebbe essere quello delle St James Palace’s Stakes G1 al Royal Ascot, prevedendo per il campione del Coolmore un percorso sul miglio e basta. 

 

Continua a leggere…»

 

PUBBLICATO DA GABRIELE CANDI A SABATO, MAGGIO 27, 2017

 

 

Aste: #Goresbridge Flat Breeze-Up con movimento oltre i €6 (+15%). Top un Bated Breath. Tanti italiani presenti..

 

 

Come ampiamente annunciato nei giorni scorsi, nella giornata di venerdì si sono tenute le Goresbridge Flat Breeze-Up Sale 2017 da Gowran Park che avuto un risultato di grandissimo rispetto. Il trend già annunciato in positivo con i breeze up organizzati da Tattersalls, Goffs UK ed Arqana si sono materializzati anche in Irlanda dove tutti gli indicatori sono a freccia in su, rispetto al 2016. Il numero dei cavalli sopra a cifre da 100,000 in su sono diventati 13 rispetto ai 9 dello scorso anno, con un incremento dei cavalli venduti ad almeno 50,000 euro. 

In catalogo c’erano 237 cavalli di cui offerti 2017 e venduti 175, l’85% dell’intero catalogo. Il movimento globale è stato di €6,086,000 (+15.1%), con una media in salita a €34,977 (+21%) ed il mediano a €21,500 (+34%). 

Come spesso accade l’Italia è molto presente in queste aste, con acquisti anche interessanti di cui daremo conto più sotto contando, in linea di massima, quanti effettivamente siano stati i cavalli acquistati e destinati alle nostre corse. Ne abbiamo comunque contati più di 20, ma essendo gli italiani da sempre molto attivi in queste aste, molto spesso ci imbattiamo in pedigrees che conosciamo molto bene con attinenze tecniche ed appigli che via via vi spiegheremo senza dimenticare di dare menzione a tutti i risultati completi.. basta continuare a leggere!

 

Continua a leggere…»

 

PUBBLICATO DA GABRIELE CANDI A SABATO, MAGGIO 27, 2017

 

 

 

Europa news: fine settimana di grandissimo livello in Europa. In Giappone c’è il Derby, Demuro favorito

 

 

Il weekend che ci apprestiamo a vivere con tanta Irlanda (Irish 2000 e 1000 Guineas, Tattersalls Gold Cup etc) poi Francia con Ispahan G1 con 6 cavalli al via tra cui Dicton (Lawman) in pista per Gianluca Bietolini (campo partenti QUI), Italia con Oaks e Vittadini. Tra l’altro nell’Ispahan G1 l’altra nota di italianità è garantita da Cristian Demuro che sarà in sella a Robin Of Navan (American Post). Sabato a York c’è una Listed sulla lunga distanza dove si rivede in pista Dylan Mouth (Dylan Thomas) con Antonio Fresu in sella in una corsa con 11 partecipanti e chance dell’italiano da outsider a 17/1. Oggi ad Haydock correrà in Listed anche la ex italiana Evil Spell (Dutch Art), per i colori della Qatar Racing ed il training di Robert Cowell. La femmina ex di Endo Botti era stata venduta in training nell’autunno scorso per €75,000, ma in 2 uscite della nuova carriera non è mai entrata nel marcatore ottenendo un quinto ed un ottavo posto tra Bath e Nottingham. Oggi ad Haydock è a 33/1. Il suo score QUI.

 

Ma anche l’Oriente non sarà da meno perchè Tokyo ospiterà il Derby Giapponese sui 2400 metri con 18 cavalli al via, che includono i primi 6 delle 2000 Ghinee giapponesi (video qui) tra cui il vincitore Al Ain (Deep Impact) il quale vinse a sorpresa a 21/1 nei confronti di Persian Knight (Harbinger) e lo sparo a 55/1 Danburite (Rulership). Tra gli altri ci sono Satono Arthur (Deep Impact), che ha linee con Al Ain, poi Rey De Oro (King Kamehameha), sfortunato quinto nella prima Classica giapponese e a suo agio sulla distanza e con in sella Cristophe Patrice Lemaire in rimonta in Classifica fantini JRA (Mirco capeggia a quota 70, 7 vittorie sul collega francese), e soprattutto uno dei più attesi in Admirable (Deep Impact) con Mirco Demuro in sella, già vincitore sui 2400 metri per 2 volte incluso un trial per il Derby G2 dove ha battuto il British-bred Best Approach (New Approach) a fine Aprile (VIDEO QUI). Admirable è allenato da Hidetaka Otonashi per Hideko Kondo. Fozza Milco!

 

PUBBLICATO DA GABRIELE CANDI A SABATO, MAGGIO 27, 2017