US Navy Flag set for Everest challenge after completing unique Group 1 treble
US Navy Flag carved himself a niche in racing history when completing a Newmarket Group 1 triple crown of the Middle Park, Dewhurst and Darley July Cup.
That tells only half the story as his trainer Aidan O’Brien, conqueror of most of the peaks in Europe, is looking to scale The Everest, the fabulously rich sprint at Randwick in Australia in October, with this “amazing horse”.
Watch US Navy Flag’s July Cup win
The astonishment was that the three-year-old managed to shake off three attempts this year to convert him into a Group 1-winning miler, when he would not back down but had come up short.
“He’s unbelievable,” said O’Brien of his fourth July Cup winner but the first since Australian import Starspangledbanner eight years ago.
“What threw us was that he was able to win a Dewhurst, after setting a strong pace, and he nearly won an Irish Guineas, probably the toughest mile any horse can run.
“He was absolutely out on his head in the final furlong but still kept trying, so he’s an unbelievable little horse to be doing that.”
To use an athletics analogy it was like Usain Bolt back over 100m having been beaten up by Mo Farah and co over 1,500m.
Clearly holding no grudge against his trainer, US Navy Flag unfurled his banner from the stalls, with Ryan Moore allowing him to charge down the middle of the course straight as a gun barrel.
Last year’s third Brando, reshod after losing a shoe on the way to the start, came with a strong challenge but was shaken off by a length and three-quarters. That still sank any loyal naval personnel’s forecast with the winner’s stablemate Fleet Review third at 50-1.
The 1980s were littered with three-year-olds who rediscovered their mojo after brave attempts at becoming milers – remember Chief Singer, Green Desert and Ajdal – and more recently came O’Brien’s 2001 winner Mozart and in 2011 Dream Ahead.
The story of the race is simply told as US Navy Flag led the majority of the field down the middle of the track, with Eqtidaar and Redkirk Warrior trying to match him among a quartet on the stands’ rail only to fall away.
Moore, winning his first July Cup, said: “The second came to me and probably got to a neck but he dug in – he’s a very straightforward horse.”
O’Brien added: “He doesn’t need tactics. He’s aggressive and wants to go forward, and if anything wants to take him on they’ll have to be going hard.”
It is likely to be the Australian sprinters who will find that out in The Everest over six furlongs on October 13 and that race being run around a bend holds no fears for connections.
Moore added: “What’s important to him is the ground, today’s ground.”
O’Brien, so far thwarted in his attempts to conquer the early-summer American Classic scene, is looking forward to this new challenge.
“Australian racing is very strong and competitive, so it’s great that we can race through the first half of the year in this country and then go down in the winter for the second half of their season,” said the Ballydoyle trainer.
As to US Navy Flag’s preparation, O’Brien added: “He’ll probably have a little rest now, he’s had a tough time, then we’ll train him for The Everest.”
O’Brien may be in the foothills so far in Australian racing, notwithstanding a Cox Plate and near-miss in the Melbourne Cup, but the 8-1 on offer from Paddy Power and Betfair Sportsbook for The Everest could be substantial.
O’Brien’s previous July Cup heroes
Stravinsky 1999
O’Brien’s first winner of the July Cup had run his four previous races over seven furlongs, most recently finishing fourth in the Jersey Stakes, and was arguably the most unexpected of the trainer’s quartet. Although he was the first-string from three runners, he was allowed to start at 8-1 but beat his 16 rivals easily by four lengths.
Mozart 2001
Mozart’s first run over six furlongs came in the July Cup. He had previously won the Jersey over seven furlongs at Royal Ascot, having finished runner-up in the Irish 2,000 Guineas. At Newmarket he started 7-4 favourite under Mick Kinane and stormed home, beating 17 opponents by upwards of three and a half lengths. Mozart followed up, dropped again in trip, in the Nunthorpe.
Starspangledbanner 2010
O’Brien’s third winner of the race had won the Caulfield Guineas over a mile in his native Australia but had returned to sprinting by the time of his switch to Ballydoyle. After a pipe-opener in the Duke of York, Starspangledbanner won the Golden Jubilee at Royal Ascot and then justified 2-1 favouritism under Johnny Murtagh at Newmarket, winning by a neck from Equiano. He didn’t score again in eight further starts.
Watch Starspangledbanner’s win
Galileo’s Kew Gardens is the Grand Prix de Paris Hero
| 5th at LCP, Gr. Stk, €600,000 | G1 Juddmonte Grand Prix de Paris | (12f) | Winner: Kew Gardens (Ire), c, 3 by Galileo (Ire) |
Kew Gardens and Ryan Moore | Scoop Dyga
By Tom Frary
Aidan O’Brien had spoken at Newmarket on Saturday afternoon of his stable’s regime slipping into place and a few hours after U S Navy Flag (War Front) conquered there it was the re-energised Kew Gardens (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) who delivered a group 1 double to Ballydoyle in ParisLongchamp’s Juddmonte Grand Prix de Paris. In some ways, this colt is the epitome of how dramatic a turnaround his trainer can generate in one of his charges as he was at best lethargic and at worst dismal on his first three starts this term which included a 27-length eclipse in the G1 Epsom Derby. At last there was the revival of the colt who had destroyed Dee Ex Bee (GB) (Farhh {GB}) in Newmarket’s Listed Zetland S. in October as he dominated the 14-furlong G2 Queen’s Vase at Royal Ascot June 20 and hold-up tactics were employed once again here as he was served up another relentless gallop by stablemate Nelson (Ire) (Frankel {GB}). Ryan Moore covered the move of Neufbosc (Fr) (Mastercraftsman {Ire}) passing the two-furlong pole and under driving the 7-5 favourite began to edge ahead of that leading domestic hope and on to an ultimately authoritative 1 1/4-length success. The G1 Epsom Derby runner-up Dee Ex Bee was eventually three lengths away in third, after another workmanlike effort which may be down to the summer ground.
Breaking his maiden on soft ground at Killarney in August, Kew Gardens was second to Nelson in the G3 Golden Fleece S. on Irish Champions Day at Leopardstown and fourth to Saxon Warrior (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) in the G2 Beresford S. at Naas in September prior to his tour de force in the Zetland over 10 furlongs at Newmarket the next month. His comeback effort when third in the nine-furlong Listed Feilden S. back at the latter venue Apr. 17 suggested he was some way off a peak and while he was initially sluggish and eventually well beaten into second by Knight To Behold (Ire) (Sea the Stars {Ire}) in the Listed Lingfield Derby Trial over an extended 11 furlongs May 12, it transpired after that he had lost a shoe there and he received a favourable mention from Michael Tabor in pre-Derby discussions. His run in the blue riband was characterised by aggressive early tactics and it may be a combination of that and his dislike of undulating tracks that saw him trail in ninth, but when this stable’s runners go out of TV shot in that race it almost means nothing as he proved in the Queen’s Vase just days later.
With Dee Ex Bee lifeless on ground that was probably too quick and proving another Mark Johnston overseas flop and Nelson being sacrificed for the winner, this renewal may not be worth taking too seriously but Kew Gardens is a colt on the upgrade now and his trainer is looking to put a cat among the older pigeons in the G1 King George VI & Queen Elizabeth S. in a fortnight. “We came here to see if he could go on to the King George,” O’Brien explained. “That was the idea. Royal Ascot first, then back over a mile and a half in the Grand Prix de Paris and then the King George according to this result. Ryan took his time and Kew Gardens is a beautiful colt who moves very well and needs good ground. That’s why Ascot could be for him. He’s easy to ride, he’s good in his head and he stayed 14 furlongs at Royal Ascot.”
Neufbosc’s trainer Pia Brandt is thinking of longer-term targets for the runner-up and said, “I am very proud of my colt. He gave everything today–I thought he could pull it off, but I can’t say I am disappointed because he tried his best. He will now be aimed at the [Sept. 16 G2] Prix Niel on his way to the [Oct. 7 G1] Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe.”
Kew Gardens has now joined his dam in the group 1-winning club, with Chelsea Rose (Ire) (Desert King {Ire}) having proven more precocious in gaining her top-level success in the G1 Moyglare Stud S. From the family of the G2 Prix Eugene Adam winner and GI San Juan Capistrano Invitational H. runner-up River Warden (Riverman) and the GIII Hoist the Flag S. scorer Sweettuc (Spectacular Bid), her other two black-type performers include the speedy G3 Prix de Ris-Orangis winner and G1 Prix Maurice de Gheest third Thawaany (Ire) (Tamayuz {GB}). She also has a 2-year-old full-brother and yearling full-sister to the winner to come.
Saturday, ParisLongchamp, France
JUDDMONTE GRAND PRIX DE PARIS-G1, €600,000, ParisLongchamp, 7-14, 3yo, c/f, 12fT, 2:28.62, gd.
1–KEW GARDENS (IRE), 128, c, 3, by Galileo (Ire)
1st Dam: Chelsea Rose (Ire) (Hwt. 3yo Filly-Ire at 9.5-10.5f, G1SW-Ire & G1SP-Ity, $527,260), by Desert King (Ire)
2nd Dam: Cinnamon Rose, by Trempolino
3rd Dam: Sweet Simone (Fr), by Green Dancer
1ST GROUP 1 WIN. O-Derrick Smith, Susan Magnier & Michael Tabor; B-Barronstown Stud (IRE); T-Aidan O’Brien; J-Ryan Moore. €342,840. Lifetime Record: GSW-Eng & GSP-Ire, 10-4-2-1, €549,605. *1/2 to Thawaany (Ire) (Tamayuz {GB}), GSW & G1SP-Fr, $262,616; and Hamlool (Ire) (Red Ransom), SP-Eng. Werk Nick Rating: A+++ *Triple Plus*. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Neufbosc (Fr), 128, c, 3, Mastercraftsman (Ire)–Nonsuch Way (Ire), by Verglas (Ire). O-Gerard Augustin-Normand; B-Franklin Finance SA (FR); T-Pia Brandt. €137,160.
3–Dee Ex Bee (GB), 128, c, 3, Farhh (GB)–Dubai Sunrise, by Seeking the Gold. O-Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed Al Maktoum; B-Godolphin (GB); T-Mark Johnston. €68,580.
Margins: 1 1/4, 3, 1 1/4. Odds: 1.40, 3.30, 2.20.
Also Ran: Folamour (GB), Nelson (Ire), Downdraft (Ire). Click for the Racing Post result or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. Video, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton.
War Front’s U S Navy Flag Conquers the July
| 3rd at NEW, Gr. Stk, £500,000 | G1 Darley July Cup S. | (6f) | Winner: U S Navy Flag, c, 3 by War Front |
US Navy Flag wins the July Cup | racingfotos.com
By Tom Frary
Aidan O’Brien’s relatively quiet week at Newmarket suddenly burst into life where it really mattered on Saturday as U S Navy Flag (War Front) made all to capture the festival’s feature G1 Darley July Cup. Positively ridden as usual by Ryan Moore, the 8-1 shot who had completed the rare Middle Park-Dewhurst double on the Rowley Mile here in the autumn but who was saying goodbye to a mile after his ninth in the G1 St James’s Palace S. at the Royal meeting was given most to think about by Brando (GB) (Pivotal {GB}) inside the final furlong. Drawing on the inherent valour he possesses and stamina that had seen him finish second in the G1 Irish 2000 Guineas, he pulled away to win by 1 3/4 lengths as stablemate Fleet Review (War Front) grabbed third, a further 3/4 of a length away. The 5-2 favourite Blue Point (Ire) (Shamardal) looked a dubious stayer in seventh. “What threw us was he was able to win a Dewhurst making the running and nearly got the trip in an Irish Guineas, so we had to go a mile [in the St James’s Palace] at Ascot,” Aidan O’Brien explained. “Ryan looked after him there, but he’d had tough races and we were afraid that they had left a mark. He’s a very good horse to come back from a tough campaign like that as a 3-year-old. The plan was to rest him after this and train him for the Everest. In all fairness to him, he deserves a rest.”
U S Navy Flag is in the mould of the stable’s previous 3-year-old winners of this contest, Stravinsky and Mozart (Ire) who were also coming back from a mile when victorious in 1999 and 2001. Like the latter, he was caught late on in the Irish Guineas when asked to make all over The Curragh’s demanding mile May 25 but connections had opted to go again for conclusive proof in the St James’s Palace June 19. They got that as he faded out of the race, having set a formidable tempo, and in many ways this was just a belated return to his optimum a year on from his first demonstration of his inherent ability when second in the G2 July S. at this meeting. Also fifth when stumbling on the bend in a dramatic renewal of the G1 Poule d’Essai des Poulains at ParisLongchamp May 13, the bay is now firmly set to navigate the world’s top sprints.
Aidan O’Brien, who was also close-up fifth with the patiently-ridden Sioux Nation (Scat Daddy), was full of praise for the winner’s temperament as well as class. “It was unbelievable for him to do that, as to nearly make all at The Curragh you have to nearly be a nine- or ten-furlong horse, but he has a very strong mind and it was obviously courage that got him to where he was in the Irish Guineas,” he said. “He was a little bit on the bridle at Ascot, so we had to give him a chance here and he got into a lovely rhythm here. He is out of a Galileo mare and with any horse that has that Galileo in them, they flatten down on the ground when you go after them–their stride doesn’t shorten and they keep going. He has loads of speed and is able to drag horses. Physically he’s not very high, but he has length and has a well-balanced blend of War Front and Galileo in his pedigree. He had a gruelling season at two and even ran on the dirt then, but came back smiling after dancing every dance. For a horse to take that much hardship and come back is rare, but he obviously has an unbelievable constitution.”
With regards to his tilt at the Oct. 13 A$13 million Randwick bonanza, he added, “The weight-for-age is probably a bit wrong in both hemispheres and this horse will probably be a bit wrong when he goes down there, so that’s something to look at in the future. Australia is a young, progressive racing country and the racing is getting very strong and competitive down there, so we’re really looking forward to it.” Sioux Nation, who had the winner behind in last year’s G1 Phoenix S., is staying closer to home after his encouraging effort. “He’s very fast and is probably a five-furlong horse, but as he’s a big horse who has taken time to get fit the plan was to let him run here and then go back [to five] for the [G1] Nunthorpe [at York Aug. 24]. We don’t think we’ll see the best of him until he goes back.”
Blue Point was unable to become the first to complete the King’s Stand S.-July Cup double since Never So Bold (Ire) in 1985 and trainer Charlie Appleby is looking at returning to five furlongs now. “William said he over-raced and was keen enough for the first two [furlongs],” he commented. “We were obviously disappointed, but we’ll drop him to five and go for the Nunthorpe and [Sept. 16 G1] Flying Five at The Curragh and then head back to Ascot for the [Oct. 20 G1] British Champions Sprint. As William [Buick] just said, for whatever reason this horse turns up at [Royal] Ascot–that’s his gig and he seems to like it there.” Brando was placing in this for the second consecutive year and seemed to be disadvantaged by having to race towards the stand’s rail with all the action away from him. Tracking the again-disappointing Australian challenger Redkirk Warrior (GB) (Notnowcato {GB}) only took him so far and jockey Tom Eaves was rueing his fortune. “He’s run a blinder and we’re very happy with him, but as it turns out we were probably drawn on the wrong side,” he said. “I thought I had the winner going to the furlong pole, but all credit to him as he pulled out more.”
U S Navy Flag’s dam Misty For Me (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) was a leading performer for this stable, taking the G1 Moyglare Stud S. and G1 Prix Marcel Boussac at two and the G1 Irish 1000 Guineas and G1 Pretty Polly S. the following season. Her first foal Cover Song, a daughter of Fastnet Rock (Aus), took the GIII Autumn Miss S. before her attentions were turned towards War Front. Her first produce by that sire was in her mould. Roly Poly proved as tough, genuine and consistent a performer as she had been and her unflinching travails last season earned her victories in the G1 Sun Chariot S. and G1 Falmouth S. before U S Navy Flag came along to trump her. The unraced second dam Butterfly Cove produced another Marcel Boussac heroine in Misty For Me’s sister Ballydoyle (Ire), who was also third in the G1 1000 Guineas, and another full-sibling of merit in the SW and MGSP Twirl (Ire). Butterfly Cove is a full-sister to the G3 1000 Guineas Trial S. winner Kamarinskaya and a half to the G1 Phoenix S. and G1 Prix Morny-winning champion juvenile Fasliyev from the family of the MGISW sires Desert Wine and Menifee. Misty For Me’s upcoming War Fronts are all as-yet unnamed, with 2-year-old and foal fillies joined by a yearling colt.
Saturday, Newmarket, Britain
DARLEY JULY CUP S.-G1, £500,000, Newmarket, 7-14, 3yo/up, 6fT, 1:11.32, g/f.
1–U S NAVY FLAG, 126, c, 3, by War Front
1st Dam: Misty For Me (Ire) (Hwt. 2yo Filly-Fr & Ire, Hwt. 3yo-Ire at 9.5-11f, MG1SW-Ire, G1SW-Fr & GISP-US, $1,124,364), by Galileo (Ire)
2nd Dam: Butterfly Cove, by Storm Cat
3rd Dam: Mr. P’s Princess, by Mr. Prospector
O-Derrick Smith, Susan Magnier & Michael Tabor; B-Misty For Me Syndicate (KY); T-Aidan O’Brien; J-Ryan Moore. £283,550. Lifetime Record: Hwt. 2yo Colt-Eur, GSW & G1SP-Ire, 16-5-2-2, $1,128,302. *Full to Roly Poly, MG1SW-Eng, G1SW-Fr, GSW & G1SP-Ire, $939,537; and 1/2 to Cover Song (Fastnet Rock {Aus}), GSW-US, $122,227. Werk Nick Rating: A+++ *Triple Plus*.Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.2–Brando (GB), 132, g, 6, 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. £107,500.
3–Fleet Review, 126, c, 3, War Front–A Star Is Born (Ire), by Galileo (Ire). O-Susan Magnier, Michael Tabor & Derrick Smith; B-Orpendale, Chelston & Wynatt (KY); T-Aidan O’Brien. £53,800. Margins: 1 3/4, 3/4, HD. Odds: 8.00, 14.00, 50.00.
Also Ran: Sir Dancealot (Ire), Sioux Nation, Dreamfield (GB), Blue Point (Ire), Spirit of Valor, Eqtidaar (Ire), Redkirk Warrior (GB), Limato (Ire), Sands of Mali (Fr), Intelligence Cross. Scratched: Invincible Army (Ire). Click for the Racing Post result or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. Video, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton.
Quorto Emulates Sire Dubawi in the Superlative
| 1st at NEW, Gr. Stk, £80,000 | G2 bet365 Superlative S. | (7f) | Winner: Quorto (Ire), c, 2 by Dubawi (Ire) |
Quorto takes the Superlative | Racing Post
By Tom Frary
Backed with conviction for Saturday’s G2 bet365 Superlative S. at Newmarket, Godolphin’s TDN Rising Star Quorto (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) gave his supporters few concerns as he emerged clear best in this important juvenile staging post. Showing dash to win a six-furlong novice stakes here on debut June 22, the son of the dual Oaks-placed Volume (GB) (Mount Nelson {GB}) was always going to be stronger over this extra furlong and was duly sent off the 5-4 favourite with punters uninterested in anything else. Racing enthusiastically in the hands of William Buick as Cape of Good Hope (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) led at a steadily-increasing tempo, the handsome bay initially followed Blown By Wind (GB) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}) away from that full-brother to Highland Reel (Ire) but his rider was forced to angle him over as his lead began to flounder. Phoenix Thoroughbred Limited’s Neverland Rock (GB) (No Nay Never) loomed to Ballydoyle’s representative against the stand’s rail with just over a furlong remaining, but Quorto was on both their cases and quickly had their measure. Despite not looking entirely comfortable on the fast ground, he stayed on to register a 3 3/4-length success from Cape of Good Hope and provide a passable impression of his sire who took off for the first time in this race in 2004. “He really impressed me there and has done everything right,” Buick said. “He’s very natural and it was lovely the way he did that today. He was green, but travelled so well and ideally I’d have liked to have something to follow for a bit longer. He has plenty of speed, so he doesn’t need to go any further for now and he’ll make into a lovely 3-year-old as well.”
Trainer Charlie Appleby has another strong team of juveniles and can dream of the 2019 Classics now. “We were confident coming here today that he had come forward and that the step up in trip was going to suit,” he said. “He has shown some gears there. William got off and said he has a great racing mind. He travels very sweetly in your hands and he picked up well when he hit the rising ground. He is an exciting horse, for sure. Being by Dubawi one would hope we will see a bit more improvement, with a bit of luck. I would say the [G1 Goffs Vincent O’Brien] National Stakes [at The Curragh Sept. 16] is the more likely target. Seven looks to be his trip, but hopefully further down the line a mile will be for him.” Aidan O’Brien said of Cape of Good Hope, “He ran a lovely race and we couldn’t be happier. We are going gently with him and you can see that with every run he is getting a bit better. I think he is still a baby, so he is progressing. Physically he is strong, but mentally he is still a baby. I don’t think a mile will be a problem when that time comes, but we’ve plenty of time for that and we don’t need to go there yet.”
Quorto, who was the first juvenile by his sire to win in 2018, is the only foal so far out of the Luca Cumani-trained Volume who captured the Listed Swettenham Stud Fillies Trial S. before filling third spot in the G1 English and Irish Oaks in 2014. Stamina for beyond a mile is assured, with her second dam being Victoire Bleue (GB) (Legend of France), heroine of the 2 1/2-mile G1 Prix du Cadran who later produced the G2 Prix Hubert de Chaudenay and G3 Prix du Lys winner and G1 St Leger runner-up Vertical Speed (Fr) (Bering {GB}).
Saturday, Newmarket, Britain
BET365 SUPERLATIVE S.-G2, £80,000, Newmarket, 7-14, 2yo, 7fT, 1:25.48, g/f.
1–QUORTO (IRE), 127, c, 2, by Dubawi (Ire)
1st Dam: Volume (GB) (SW & G1SP-Eng & G1SP-Ire, $210,078), by Mount Nelson (GB)
2nd Dam: Victoire Finale (GB), by Peintre Celebre
3rd Dam: Victoire Bleue (GB), by Legend of France
1ST BLACK-TYPE WIN; 1ST GROUP WIN. O/B-Godolphin; T-Charlie Appleby; J-William Buick, £45,368. Lifetime Record: 2-2-0-0, $66,892. Werk Nick Rating: A. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Cape of Good Hope (Ire), 127, c, 2, Galileo (Ire)–Hveger (Aus), by Danehill. (240,000gns Ylg ’17 TATOCT). O-Susan Magnier, Michael Tabor & Derrick Smith; B-Hveger Syndicate (IRE); T-Aidan O’Brien. £17,200.
3–Neverland Rock (GB), 127, c, 2, No Nay Never–Jessica Rocks (GB), by Fastnet Rock (Aus). (€480,000 Ylg ’17 ARAUG). O-Phoenix Thoroughbred Ltd; B-Deveron Ltd (GB); T-Richard Hannon. £8,608.
Margins: 3 3/4, HF, 4HF. Odds: 1.25, 6.00, 8.00.
Also Ran: Certain Lad (GB), Daafr (Ire), Forseti (GB), Blown By Wind (GB). Click for the Racing Post result or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. Video, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton.
Dubawi colt a new Rising Star at Newmarket
| 5th at NMT, Mdn, 12000 | Weatherbys British EBF Maiden S. | (7f) | Winner: Al Hilalee (GB), c, 2 by Dubawi (Ire) |
New TDN Rising Star Al Hilalee | Racing Post
By Tom Frary
Newmarket’s July festival marks the arrival of the juveniles from the major yards with Classic pretensions and Friday’s Weatherbys British EBF Maiden S. could prove a hotbed for some likely types with that in mind. Godolphin were four-strong and Ballydoyle were represented by the 2-1 favourite Mount Tabora (Scat Daddy) in the race that was won by future group-winning sires Elusive Pimpernel (Elusive Quality) and Native Khan (Fr) (Azamour {Ire}) and in which Postponed (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) was fifth on his debut five years ago.
William Buick’s mount Art Du Val (GB) (No Nay Never) was withdrawn at the start after being upset in the stalls and it was his lesser-fancied stablemate Al Hilalee (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) who stepped up to the fly the flag for the Charlie Appleby yard. A son of the G1 Pretty Polly S. heroine Ambivalent (Ire) (Authorized {Ire}), he travelled kindly towards the rear but was well in touch racing up the centre. Jinking right away from the whip inside the final quarter mile, the bay gathered his composure to grab the lead approaching the furlong pole and stayed on to score by 3 1/4 lengths from Al Mureib (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}), who nosed out Mount Tabora.
Appleby, who saddles another TDN Rising Star by this sire in Quorto (Ire) in Saturday’s G2 Superlative S. here, said, “As an individual you cannot fault him, his work has been nice at home. We’ll get him home and see where we are, but I have it in the back of my mind that he could be a horse for something like the [G1] Racing Post Trophy later in the season. He’s got a bright future.”
As well as winning the Pretty Polly, the quirky Ambivalent also captured the G2 Middleton S. and was third in the G1 Coronation Cup and G1 Dubai Sheema Classic. Al Hilalee is her first foal, while she also has a yearling full-sister and a 2018 filly by Sea the Stars (Ire). She is a half to two other black-type performers and also Diary (Ire) (Green Desert), whose progeny include the G1 Prix de l’Abbaye de Longchamp hero Total Gallery (Ire) (Namid {GB}) and the G1 Fillies’ Mile runner-up Lady Darshaan (Ire) (High Chaparral {Ire}). The third dam Flamenco (Dance Spell) captured the G3 Waterford Candelabra S., which is now known as the Prestige, and was also runner-up in this meeting’s G3 Child S., now the Falmouth.
5th-Newmarket, £12,000, Mdn, 7-13, 2yo, c/g, 7fT, 1:26.00, g/f.
AL HILALEE (GB), c, 2, by Dubawi (Ire)
1st Dam: Ambivalent (Ire) (G1SW-Ire, GSW & G1SP-Eng, G1SP-UAE & GSP-Tur, $1,014,955), by Authorized (Ire)
2nd Dam: Darrery (GB), by Darshaan (GB)
3rd Dam: Flamenco, by Dance Spell
Sales history: 300,000gns Ylg ’17 TATOCT. Lifetime Record: 1-1-0-0, $10,252. O-Godolphin; B-Rabbah Bloodstock Limited (GB); T-Charlie Appleby.
Click for the Racing Post result or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. Video, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton.
fonte : TDN
KOREA : Special Stone Wins The 2018 Korea Oaksby gyongmaman |
Special Stone has won the 2018 Korean Oaks. The Limitless Bid filly, sent off as a 22/1 chance among the sixteen-strong field, raced away to win the fillies’ Classic by a clear seven-lengths, ridden by trainer Kim Jeong-jun for Seoul trainer Kang Hwan-min at Busan Racecourse on Sunday afternoon.
In a race that always looked fiendishly difficult to predict, Yeonghui Sidae was ultimately sent off as a very slight favourite, ahead of Blue Flag, Gyohaksangjang and Yeongcheon Derby. None of them would get close though with Blue Flag the best of the in 4th. By the time she crossed the line, jockey Kim Jeong-jun was celebrating his biggest career win to date.
Special Stone began steadily as an overly keen Star Cat set the early pace. Jockey Kim kept his mount to the rail and the pair steadily gained ground in the back straight, improving to 2nd on the turn for home. Once they hit the straight and others swung wide, Special Stone found the front and then found another gear, leaving the rest trailing far down the track.
Seoul horses completed an unlikely 1, 2, 3 with Firewind coming home in 2nd and Seouri Byeol beating out Blue Flag in the photo-finish for 3rd, the Tierce paying out on that combination at 25850/1.
Trainer Kang Hwan-min only took out his license a year ago and has now won a Classic having had only slightly over 100 starters.
Special Stone is by Limitless Bid, a Korea-based Japanese-bred stallion by Sunday Silence. He is out of Grey Stone, Korean-bred mare who did her racing at Seoul, winning 2 of 28 starts between 2010 and 2013. Special Stone was her first foal. Grey Stone was by Walkslikeaduck (Blushing John), who also did his racing in Korea.
Korea Oaks (KOR G2) – Busan Racecourse – 1800M – July 15, 2018
1. Special Stone (KOR) [Limitless Bid - Grey Stone (Walkslikeaduck)] – Kim Jeong-jun – 22.9, 7.6
2. Fire Wind (KOR) [Colors Flying - Chukje (Bellamy Road)] – Jeong Jeong-hee – 5.7
3. Seouri Byeol (KOR) [Limitless Bid - Busanui Byeol (Generous)] – Parl Eul-woon – 16.3
Distances: 7 lengths / 0.75 lengths
Also Ran: 4. Blue Flag 5. Gyohaksangjang 6. Yeongcheon Derby 7. Catch Nine 8. Mone Flying 9. Yeonghui Sidae 10. Peace Tour 11. Queen Of Captain 12. Magic Ten 13. Yuhwi 14. Star Cat 15. Uju Daewang 16. Nike Street
