BIG-RACE REPORTS SANDOWN CORAL-ECLIPSE
Ulysses holds on from Barney Roy in thriller as Stoute equals record
It will inevitably remain a source of considerable frustration to Sir Michael Stoute and the Niarchos family that the one blip in Ulysses’ career came in the race that matters most, but Group 1 success at last in an epic Coral-Eclipse will no doubt go a long way towards making up for it.
As an unexposed son of Galileo and Oaks winner Light Shift, Ulysses was a popular choice in last year’s Derby despite stepping straight out of maiden company but, as Stoute recalled, “he had no chance after being knocked over twice, so there was mitigation”.
Stoute never lost confidence in him and after two Group 3 wins and a Group 1 third to Highland Reel in last month’s Prince of Wales’s Stakes, Ulysses travelled into the Eclipse like a dream on the wide outside and then showed plenty of guts to hold St James’s Palace Stakes winner Barney Roy in a thrilling duel that took the pair three and a half lengths clear in the final furlong.
Stoute, for whom this was a record-equalling sixth win in the race, watched the contest from a poor angle – not that anyone could have been certain of the result wherever they stood – and admitted that the delay while the judge agonised over the photo-finish was “nerve-racking”.
“That was great,” he said. “It was a wonderful horserace. From the furlong marker I always thought he was holding him but my angle was bad, so I didn’t know, and so that was a relief. I’m delighted for the Niarchos family as they are great supporters.”
Stoute, whose first win in the race came with Opera House in 1993, added: “He’s an admirable horse. He’s very consistent and has only ever had one blip in his life. He’s very game, and they’ve come a long way clear.”
Ulysses is around a 6-1 shot for next month’s Juddmonte International Stakes, but Stoute is not committing him yet and a return to a longer trip is on the cards at some stage.
He said: “Don’t rule out going back to a mile and a half. He ran a big race at Santa Anita last year [fourth in the Breeders' Cup Turf] and he’s not as keen now. He settles better, and he’ll get a mile and a half.
While a great result for Stoute, the trainer was given a £1,000 fine from the stewards due to Ulysses entering the parade ring after the signal to mount had been given.
The Niarchos family have been associated with many great horses over the years, including Nureyev, whose controversial disqualification from the 1980 2,000 Guineas had shipping magnate Stavros Niarchos vowing he would never race again in Britain.
Thankfully he relented, and while the likes of Hector Protector, Miesque and Six Perfections were trained in France, and Law Society in Ireland, the colours have remained a fixture in Britain for decades.
Maria Niarchos, resplendent in a dazzling gold suit and accompanied by her niece Electra, was thrilled and said: “It’s wonderful. We’ve always believed in the horse and we are so glad that finally Light Shift’s memory is going to live on.”
fonte : RacingPost
Barney Roy edged out in Eclipse thriller
Barney Roy lost out by the finest of margins when going down by a nose to Ulysses in a tremendous renewal of the G1 Eclipse Stakes at Sandown Park, UK, on Saturday, July 8.
Stepping up to 10 furlongs after scoring over a mile in the G1 St James’s Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot, Barney Roy broke well and soon raced freely in sixth of the nine runners.
The Richard Hannon trained three-year-old was asked to improve by James Doyle with three furlongs to race and quickened strongly to press for the lead passing the furlong pole.
Ulysses swooped to take up the running shortly afterwards and looked to have the measure of Barney Roy in the closing stages, but the Godolphin colt rallied bravely to renew his challenge near the line.
The two runners flashed past the post together, with four-year-old Ulysses getting the verdict in the tightest of finishes to win in 2m 3.49s on good to firm ground. Desert Encounter took third, a full three and a half lengths behind the front pair.
Richard Hannon commented: “Barney Roy is a good horse and he is getting better. He has run a super race and we are delighted.
“He was just a shade unlucky today. I am very proud of him and the team – it was a good effort. He is a brave horse and is only a baby.
“Barney Roy will be a very good middle-distance horse for this year and next year. He is in a lot of good races.
“He is still quite inexperienced, but has run a super race all things considered. He had a hard race at Ascot but has still come out and run his race here.”
James Doyle said: “What a run from Barney Roy. It was a messy race early on but we had a lovely run round. Barney Roy was a little bit green on the track but he turned into the straight nicely and I thought we would win but Ulysses jumped on us quickly.
“I felt that we were definitely beaten and then Barney Roy has rallied back in the last 50 yards. In another stride, I thought that we would have got there. Full credit to the horse, who has run a stormer and improved again.”
fonte : Godolphin
Sandown: #Ulysses regala la 6° perla nelle Coral-Eclipse a Sir Michael Stoute. Battuto Barney Roy, solo quarto Cliffs
È stato uno dei finali più avvincenti che si siano mai visti a Sandown. Lungo la salitona del tracciato inglese si sono affrontati e divisi la posta delle Coral-Eclipse Stakes G1 sui 2000 metri un giovane ed un anziano, divisi solo da un muso. Alla fine ha vinto Ulysses (Galileo), redento dopo il Royal Ascot (dove lo abbiamo puntato pesantemente), che ha mantenuto le aspettative di eterno campione dando ragione a Sir Michael Stoute, che ci ha sempre creduto. In un finale thrilling ha battuto il giovane Barney Roy (Excelebration), il quale ha provato comunque a reagire nella fase finale non rendendo facile il sospiro al portacolori Niarchos. Come dice il nome del vincitore, la sua storia è una piccola Odissea. Presentatosi ad Epsom come cavallo attesissimo, il Derby è arrivato troppo presto. E tra una “gabola” ed un’altra, ci ha messo un pò per trovare la sua dimensione. Super al rientro proprio a Sandown nelle Gordon Richards, tanto ha restituito all’allenatore di Freemason Lodge, alla sesta vittoria nelle Eclipse.
Ma è stata una corsa dove non mancheranno le recriminazioni. A partire da quanto accaduto a Cliffs Of Moher (Galileo), sul quale Ryan Moore è stato vittima di un intralcio molto severo poco dopo la partenza, impacchettato in un sandwich che lo ha in qualche modo condizionato facendogli perdere l’azione. Poi tutto è filato per il verso giusto in dirittura quando Ulysses, posizionato nelle retrovie all’attesa da parte di Jim Crowley, ha tirato fuori presentandosi ancora in mano e dando l’idea di dominare mentre gli altri si spegnevano. L’unico a tenere botta è stato proprio il 3 anni di Godolphin allenato da Richard Hannon che prima è stato ampiamente superato, ma poi è ripartito facendo salire i brividi lungo la schiena di chi aveva appoggiato Ulysses ad 8/1. Alla fine un muso di distacco, con al terzo a sorpresa Desert Encounter (Halling) a 50/1. Crowley nei giorni scorsi era in procinto di montare Eminent, poi il suo tergiversare ha indotto Martyn Meade a ripiegare su Silvestre De Sousa. A bocce ferme abbiamo capito che “Semolino” aveva un asso nella manica. Per la cronaca Cliffs Of Moher è giunto ancora quarto, Eminent quinto mentre Decorated Knight (Galileo), che aveva corso alla grande ad Ascot finendo davanti ad Ulysses nelle Prince of Wales’s Stakes G1 vinte da Highland Reel, ha pagato la salita e soprattutto gli impegni in stagione che sono stati parecchi. Monta non proprio eccellente da parte di William Buick in sella a Salouen (Canford Cliffs), che ha attaccato tutta strada Taj Mahal a mezza botta in seconda posizione all’esterno aria in faccia. Non sappiamo cosa avrebbe voluto e dovuto fare. Mah. Il tempo finale è stato molto buono di 2m 3.49s (fast by 1.81s).
IL VIDEO DELLE CORAL-ECLIPSE STAKES QUI. IL RISULTATO COMPLETO QUI.
L’ultima vittoria in questa corsa per Sir Michael Stoute, che ha raggiunto a quota sei affermazioni nelle Eclipse il record di Alec Taylor, Jr, è stata nel 2007 con Notnowcato, mentre in precedenza ci sono state quelle con Medicean, Ezzoud, Pilsudski ed Opera House. Proprio parlando di quest’ultimo Sir Michael Stoute ha tenuto a fare un confronto con Ulysses, dicendo che i due si somigliano. Per Ulysses ora lavoreranno per portarlo al miglio e mezzo, ma non dovrebbero esserci problemi e quindi il pensiero riguarda l’America e la Breeders’ Cup Turf.
Fatto tutto in casa Flaxman Stables, la succursale irlandese (per motivi di tasse) dei Niarchos, Ulysses è figlio di Galileo (dei 9 partecipanti in 7 c’era il nome di Galileo nel pedigree tra sezione maschile e femminile), è prodotto della campionessa Light Shift (Kingmambo), forgiata da Sir Henry Cecil e deceduta molto presto proprio dopo Ulysses.
Galileo’s Ulysses Battles To Eclipse Victory
| 5th at SAN, Gr. Stk, £500,000 | G1 Coral-Eclipse | (9f 209y) | Winner: Ulysses (Ire), c, 4 by Galileo (Ire) |
By Tom Frary
With its uphill ascent to the winning line, Sandown is accustomed to tight finales but one of the best of recent times was reserved for Saturday’s G1 Coral-Eclipse as Ulysses (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) enjoyed the narrowest of verdicts over Barney Roy (GB) (Excelebration {Ire}). Like his mythical namesake, the Niarchos Family’s homebred has undergone his own odyssey from also-ran in last year’s G1 Epsom Derby to his trainer’s record-equalling sixth Eclipse hero and like his five predecessors from Freemason Lodge is an older horse subduing the Classic generation. Having struck too early when third last time in the G1 Prince of Wales’s S. at Royal Ascot June 21, Jim Crowley who had been jocked off Eminent (GB) (Frankel {GB}) earlier this week waited longer this time with the 8-1 shot travelling visibly clear best in the straight. After he had finally been allowed loose on the lead with a furlong remaining, he was joined by Barney Roy and as that 3-year-old built a head of steam the line came in time with the headbob favouring him by a nose as they pulled 3 1/2 lengths clear of Desert Encounter (Ire) (Halling). “It was great to get the ride on him and I’m very grateful to the owners and Sir Michael Stoute,” Crowley said. “We learnt a little about each other last time and it was a real plus riding him there. It was a little bit rough early on but we were away from that and he settled well, whereas he was a bit fresh with me at Ascot. I got a fantastic feeling off him at Ascot and possibly got there a little bit too soon there, so that was on my mind a little bit today.”
Saturday, Sandown, Britain
CORAL-ECLIPSE-G1, £500,000, SAN, 7-8, 3yo/up, 9f 209yT, 2:03.49, g/f.
1–&ULYSSES (IRE), 133, c, 4, by Galileo (Ire)
1st Dam: Light Shift (G1SW-Eng & G1SP-Ire, $691,954), by Kingmambo
2nd Dam: Lingerie (GB), by Shirley Heights (GB)
3rd Dam: Northern Trick, by Northern Dancer
O/B-Flaxman Stables Ireland Ltd (IRE); T-Sir Michael Stoute; J-Jim Crowley. £283,550. Lifetime Record: 10-4-2-1, $816,903. Werk Nick Rating: A.
Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Barney Roy (GB), 123, c, 3, Excelebration (Ire)–Alina (Ire), by Galileo (Ire). (30,000gns Wlg ’14 TATFOA; £70,000 Ylg ’15 DNPRM). O-Godolphin; B-Eliza Park International Pty Ltd (GB); T-Richard Hannon. £107,500.
3–Desert Encounter (Ire), 133, g, 5, Halling–La Chicana (Ire), by Invincible Spirit (Ire). (32,000gns Ylg ’13 TAOCT). O-Abdulla Al Mansoori; B-Tally-Ho Stud (IRE); T-David Simcock. £53,800.
Margins: NO, 3HF, 1. Odds: 8.00, 2.25, 50.00.
Also Ran: Cliffs of Moher (Ire), Eminent (Ire), Decorated Knight (GB), Lightning Spear (GB), Salouen (Ire), Taj Mahal (Ire).
Click for the Racing Post result or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
Cliches are just truths repeated over and over and anybody who has followed European racing since the 1980s accepts as fact that Sir Michael Stoute has an unnatural way with horses he has had the luxury of time with. The owners and breeders he has been linked with down the years have been of the same mentality as the master of Freemason Lodge, with patience the most vital virtue regarding the thoroughbreds in his care. If anything, Ulysses has hit the heights sooner than many from the same long-established powerhouse stable that have eventually scaled them but he was always more precocious than the likes of former Eclipse winners Opera House (GB), Pilsudski (Ire) and Notnowcato (GB). After flashing relative precocity with an eight-length maiden win at Newbury last May, the bay earned himself a tilt at the Derby and was the talk of Epsom but wound up only 12th there.
Like another of the stable’s former leading lights Harbinger (GB) (Dansili {GB}), Ulysses returned to garner the G3 Gordon S. over 12 furlongs at Glorious Goodwood in July but hopes that he would build and build from there received a setback when he found the filly Chain of Daisies (GB) (Rail Link {GB}) a short-head further ahead in Windsor’s G3 Winter Hill S. at this trip in August. With a bid for the Champion S. shelved, he was taken to Santa Anita for the GI Breeders’ Cup Turf in November and managed a fourth placing after a slow start. His 4-year-old debut over this track and trip in the Apr. 28 G3 Gordon Richards S. was marked by a new maturity and with his energy properly channelled he was able to dominate Ballydoyle’s Deauville (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) by far more than the winning margin of a length suggested. In the Prince of Wales’s under Crowley for the first time, he looked to have the measure of his rivals at the furlong pole after delivering his now customary deadly turn of acceleration but he allowed Highland Reel (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) a second chance and duly paid the price.
Crowley was keen to switch off early as Taj Mahal (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) took control of the pace and he was in the right place on the outside when the scrimmaging that badly affected Cliffs of Moher (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) took place towards the front. Keeping dead aim on that 7-4 favourite and Barney Roy throughout, he was tanking as the latter’s rider James Doyle began to make his move with Ryan Moore struggling to get Cliffs of Moher in a challenging position. Hard on the steel as the furlong marker loomed, Ulysses was shaken up to initially swamp Barney Roy and it was only inside the last 50 yards that his year-younger opponent significantly narrowed the gap to force the photo. When it was unveiled, it showed less than a nostril’s width had eventually separated the duo.
Stoute, who is now level with the legendary Alec Taylor, Jr., is pondering a step back up to a mile and a half with Ulysses. “Opera House was pretty close, but not as close as that,” he said. “I felt he was holding on, but I wasn’t at a good angle for the line. He’s been to Santa Anita and Goodwood and is very adaptable. He’s only run one bad race, but he had litigation in the Derby as he was rolled over twice in that. He’s very consistent and can go back up to a mile and a half, as he is not as keen this year. Kevin Bradshaw rides him every day and has done a wonderful job with this horse, as has my head girl Sarah Denniff so it has been good teamwork. Let’s go home now and see how he is in 10 days’ time.”
Connections of Barney Roy can take much from the slender defeat and jockey James Doyle believes he is capable of better. “It was a messy race early and we were on top of each other a bit,” he said. “Ryan [Moore] got hampered down on the inside, but this track isn’t ideal for young horses. We actually had a lovely run round. He was a little bit green on the track, but he turned into the straight nicely and I thought we’d win. Ulysses jumped on us quick and I thought we were definitely beat and then he’s rallied back in the last 50 yards. In another stride I think we’d have got there, but full credit to him, he’s run a stormer.” Trainer Richard Hannon added, “He is good horse and he is getting better. We are delighted, he has run a super race. He was just shade unlucky. I’m very proud of him and the team, it was a good effort. He is a brave horse and he is only a baby. He will be a very good middle-distance horse for this year and next year. He is in a lot of good races. He has come back from Ascot–he had a hard race there but he has still come out and run his race here.”
It has been a stellar year for Niarchos breeding, with Ulysses’s relative Cloth of Stars (Ire) (Sea the Stars {Ire}) winning the G1 Prix Ganay, G2 Prix d’Harcourt and G3 Prix Exbury and the homebred filly Senga (Blame) capturing the G1 Prix de Diane. By winning this timeless classic of a race, Ulysses was going two places better than his dam’s G1SW half-sister Shiva (Jpn) (Hector Protector) who found Giant’s Causeway and Kalanisi (Ire) too good in the millennium year. The dam Light Shift is of course the 2007 Epsom Oaks heroine, while her half-brothers include the sire Limnos (Jpn) who was successful in the G2 Prix Foy and G2 Prix Jean de Chaudenay and Hyades (Aldebaran) who was second in the 2010 GI Charles Whittingham Memorial H. Her useful half-sister Burning Sunset (GB) (Caerleon) went on to produce the G2 Prix d’Harcourt scorer and G1 Singapore Airlines International Cup runner-up Smoking Sun (Smart Strike) and she was also responsible for the G3 Prix d’Aumale runner-up Ikat (Ire) (Pivotal {GB}). She in turn gave the Niarchos Family another cherished gift in the multiple grade I-winning champion Main Sequence (Aldebaran), while another half-sibling of Light Shift, the modest performer Strawberry Fledge (Kingmambo), is the dam of the aforementioned Cloth of Stars. Unfortunately, Ulysses is the last foal out of the Northern Trick descendant Light Shift, who had only one other foal make the track in the former Sir Henry Cecil-trained Bath handicap winner Dr Yes (Fr) (Dansili {GB}).
Lancashire Oaks Win for Iffraaj’s The Black Princess
| 2nd at HAY, Gr. Stk, £93,000 | G2 bet365 Lancashire Oaks | (11f 175y) | Winner: The Black Princess (Fr), f, 4 by Iffraaj (GB) |
By Tom Frary
Second in the Listed Height of Fashion S. over 10 furlongs at Goodwood last May, The Black Princess was third in the G2 Ribblesdale S. over this trip at Royal Ascot in June and re-emerged from a six-month break to capture the Listed Prix Solitude over the former trip at Saint-Cloud in November. Returning to beat the subsequent G1 Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud third Armande (Ire) (Sea the Stars {Ire}) in Chantilly’s G3 Prix Allez France also over 10 furlongs Apr. 30, the bay was second over slightly further in the G2 Middleton S. at York May 18 and stepped up to provide John Gosden with a record-equalling seventh renewal of this affair. Anchored on the rail early in fifth racing keenly, she was denied a run to her outer as Abingdon (Street Cry {Ire}) was sent on passing the quarter pole. Switched back and launched between rivals as that favourite lugged right, she reeled her in with 100 yards remaining and stayed on gamely for more pattern-race honours.
With Gosden absent, his travelling head lad Tony Proctor was on hand to say, “She’s done nothing wrong since we’ve had her. She went to France and won there. Then she ran at York and made the running, which didn’t suit her. Mentally, she’s been a bit slow at coming to herself. Physically, she’s always been there. She’s not had many races and looked as good today as we thought she would.” Ballymacoll Stud’s general manager Peter Reynolds said of Abingdon, who will be a key member of the dispersal later this year, “She ran a super race, she just got caught but she is group two-placed now and is a valuable lady. She will be sold in December, sadly, but I hope she will give us more fun before then.”
The Black Princess is the second foal out of Larceny, who is a half-sister to three group winners headed by the G1 Prix du Jockey Club hero and sire Lawman (Fr), the G1 Prix de Diane heroine Latice (Ire) (Inchnor {GB}) who in turn is the dam of the dual listed scorer Fencing (Street Cry {Ire}), and the G3 Prix du Palais-Royal-winning sire Satri (Ire). The third dam Light the Lights, who was successful in the G2 Prix de Pomone and ran third in the G1 Prix Vermeille, is a half-sister to three black-type winners headed by the G3 Prix Fille de l’Air winner Liastra (GB) (Artaius) whose descendants include the GIII Tropical Park Derby victor Go Lib Go (Septieme Ciel). Also featuring the G2 Prix de Malleret winner Al Wathna (GB) (Nayef) and the GI American Oaks third Little Journey (Fr) (Great Journey {Jpn}), the family has additions of Larceny’s 2-year-old filly by Dark Angel (Ire) named Gabrielle (Fr) and a yearling filly by Zebedee (GB).
Saturday, Haydock, Britain
BET365 LANCASHIRE OAKS-G2, £93,000, HAY, 7-8, 3yo/up, f/m, 11f 175yT, 2:33.74, g/f.
1–THE BLACK PRINCESS (FR), 131, f, 4, by Iffraaj (GB)
1st Dam: Larceny (Ire), by Cape Cross (Ire)
2nd Dam: Laramie, by Gulch
3rd Dam: Light the Lights (Fr), by Shirley Heights (GB)
(€170,000 Ylg ’14 ARAUG). O-R J H Geffen; B-Petra Bloodstock Agency Ltd (FR); T-John Gosden; J-Robert Tart. £52,740. Lifetime Record: GSW-Fr, 8-4-3-1, $227,960. Werk Nick Rating: A++. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Abingdon, 131, f, 4, Street Cry (Ire)–Justlookdontouch (Ire), by Galileo (Ire). O/B-Ballymacoll Stud (KY); T-Sir Michael Stoute. £19,995.
3–Ajman Princess (Ire), 131, f, 4, Teofilo (Ire)–Reem Three (GB), by Mark of Esteem (Ire). O-Sheikh Mohammed Obaid Al Maktoum; B-Darley (IRE); T-Roger Varian. £10,007.
Margins: HF, 1, 1 3/4. Odds: 3.00, 1.50, 6.00.
Also Ran: Hertford Dancer (GB), Rich Legacy (Ire), Lucy The Painter (Ire), Dubka (GB). Scratched: Wilamina (Ire).
Click for the Racing Post result or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
Scat Daddy’s Seahenge Prevails in Naas Unveiling
| 1st at NAS, Mdn, €16,500 | Caoga.com Irish EBF Maiden | (6f) | Winner: Seahenge, c, 2 by Scat Daddy |
By Sean Cronin
1st-NAA, €16,500, Mdn, 7-8, 2yo, 6fT, 1:13.97, gd.
+SEAHENGE (c, 2, Scat Daddy–Fools in Love {SW-US, $240,746}, by Not For Love) raced in a handy sixth through the initial fractions of this first go. Shaken up with a quarter mile remaining, the 6-1 chance was switched outside for a clear run passing the eighth pole and picked up in good style in the closing stages to deny Yulong Warrior (Street Cry {Ire}) by an ultimately snug neck in the shadows of the post. “He’s very green and should improve when stepped up to seven furlongs or a mile,” said winning rider Donnacha O’Brien. “He just hung in behind horses a bit, which was greenness more than anything, but he did it nicely in the finish. He’ll have to improve, but could be a stakes horse.” The $750,000 KEESEP yearling is the third scorer from as many foals to race out of the stakes-winning Fools In Love (Not For Love) and is a half-brother to GIII Dania Beach S. third Urban Bourbon (City Zip) and Listed Weber City Miss S. third Frank’s Folly (Mineshaft). He is also half to a yearling colt by Exchange Rate and a colt foal by Honor Code. Fools In Love is kin to three black-type performers headed by MGSW GII Louisiana Derby and GII Risen Star S. victor International Star (Fusaichi Pegasus), from a family featuring GSW sires Halory Hunter (Jade Hunter) and Van Nistelrooy (Storm Cat). Lifetime Record: 1-1-0-0, $11,591.
O-Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith & Susan Magnier; B-K & G Stables (KY); T-Aidan O’Brien.
fonte : TDN
KOREA: Busan Mayor’s Cup 2017: Triple Nine & Clean Up Joy (And More!) – Full Preview (July 9)by gyongmaman |
Last December Clean Up Joy bested Triple Nine to win Korea’s most prestigious race, the Grand Prix Stakes at Seoul. Since then Clean Up Joy has harvested listed races against inferior opposition in the Capital while Triple Nine was taken to the Dubai World Cup where despite the Godolphin Mile being a race too far, he managed to acquit himself admirably. There are 6 races at Busan from 13:25 to 17:40 and 11 at Seoul from 11:45 to 19:00
Their paths now collide in what is often called the “Summer Grand Prix” over 1800M at Busan. All eyes will be on the start. A notoriously troubled starter, at Seoul Clean Up Joy (Purge) has special dispensation to begin in the widest gate and not having a horse on his outside has settled him down enormously in his most recent appearances. At Busan he is afforded no such special treatment and indeed in last year’s race, he blundered coming out of gate 5 and could only rally late for an eventual 4th. This time he is in gate 2 but most seem to think that under Djordje Perovic, Clean Up Joy can overcome.
As for Triple Nine (Ecton Park), the two time President’s Cup winner has had a rest since arriving back in Korea in April and cantered through a trial last week looking in shape and ready to go. It’s not necessarily a two horse race though. The Thomas Gillespie trained Champ Line (Curlin) enters on a five-race winning streak and only looks to be getting better. He has a great draw and could well be a factor.
Then there are the up and comers. Kiwi trainer David Miller saddles the highly thought-of I’m Your Father (Tiznow) in his first Group race and the colt is not without a chance. Not is Triple Nine’s stablemate Mupae (Paddy O’Prado), who has won five of six starts to date.
It’s set to be the hottest race of the year so far and should offer plenty of clues ahead of the 1 Billion Won international Korea Cup, which will be run over the same distance in Seoul in September. Race cards are here and form comments for the whole card at Busan are below:
Galileo Colt Graduates at Tipperary
| 1st at TIP, Mdn, €15,000 | Glenvale Stud Irish EBF Maiden | (7f 100y) | Winner: Berkeley Square (Ire), c, 2 by Galileo (Ire) |
By Sean Cronin
1st-TIP, €15,000, Mdn, 7-6, 2yo, 7f 100yT, 1:39.83, g/f.
BERKELEY SQUARE (IRE) (c, 2, Galileo {Ire}–Homecoming Queen {Ire} {Hwt. 3yo Filly-Eng at 7-9.5f, G1SW-Eng & GSW-Ire, $458,335}, by Holy Roman Emperor {Ire}), a June 22 runner-up going one mile at Leopardstown after running sixth over seven furlongs there on debut May 26, improved on an early third to race in a stalking second after the initial exchanges here. Sent forward off the home turn, the 1-5 lock eased to the fore approaching the final eighth and was pushed out in the latter stages to best Swing Till Dawn (Ire) (Dawn Approach {Ire}) by a comfortable 2 3/4 lengths. “He came forward lovely from his first to his second run and Seamus [Heffernan] was very happy with him again,” said trainer Aidan O’Brien. “He might come back here for the [Aug. 11] Listed [El Gran Senor S.] next month. He’ll get a mile well this year and will be a middle distance horse next year. It was nice for him to get a lead and he learned something today. He’ll be a nice colt.” He is the second winner from as many foals to race out of G1 1000 Guineas-winning British highweight Homecoming Queen (Ire) (Holy Roman Emperor {Ire}), herself kin to four black-type performers including European Horse of the Year and MG1SW sire Dylan Thomas (Ire) (Danehill), G1 Cheveley Park S.-winning European champion juvenile filly Queen’s Logic (Ire) (Grand Lodge) and G1 Epsom Oaks runner-up Remember When (Ire) (Danehill Dancer {Ire}). He shares his second dam Lagrion (Diesis {GB}) with GSW G1 Nassau S. runner-up Wedding Vow (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), a daughter of Remember When, and dual Group 2 winner and MG1SP British highweight Lady of the Desert (Rahy), a daughter of Queen’s Logic and herself the dam of last year’s G2 Lowther S. heroine Queen Kindly (GB) (Frankel {GB}). Lifetime Record: 3-1-1-0, $14,222. Video, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton.
O-Susan Magnier, Michael Tabor & Derrick Smith; B-Homecoming Queen Syndicate (IRE); T-Aidan O’Brien.
fonte : TDN
